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CURRENT AFFAIRS 21ST TO 31ST JANUARY 2019

CONTENT

1. INSOLVENCY & BANKING AWARENESS

PROGRAMME………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 2. EXERCISE SEA VIGIL………………………………………………………………………………………2 3. IAFTX 2019………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 4. BHARAT PARV…………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 5. INS KOHASSA……………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 6. RESOURCE EXERCISE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY……………4 7. GST APPELLATE TRIBUNAL.…………………………………………………………………..4 8. NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY……………………………………………………………….5 9. GLOBAL MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX

2018……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....5 10. TECHNOLOGY MISSION CENTRE ON SOLAR ENERGY

& WATER TREATMENT………………………………………………………………………………..7 11. JAN SHIKSHA SANSTHAN……………………………………………………………………….7

12. MICROSAT & KALAMSAT-V2…………………………………………………………….8 13. UDAN 3.0……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 14. EAC-PM……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9 15. ARTISAN SPEAK………………………………………………………………………………………………….9 16. VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS…………………………………………………………………….10 17. NAHEP………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10 18. FCI & BIS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11 19. PISA…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 20. 4TH ANNUAL CARNOT PRIZE……………………………………………………………...12 21. FUTURE OF RAIL: IEA…………………………………………………………………………………..12 22. SOLID & LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT……………………………..13

23. RAG RAG MEIN GANGA………………………………………………………………………….14 24. PETROTECH 2019……………………………………………………………………………………………..14 25. REIMBURSABLE ADVISORY SERVICE………………………………………14 26. TAMIL NADU DEFENCE CORRIDOR……………………………………………14 27. WORLD CAPITAL OF ARCHITECTURE…………………………………….15 28. CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY

COMMISSION………………………………………………………………………………………………………15 29. KINNAR AKHARA…………………………………………………………………………………………16

30. OXFAM REPORT 2019………………………………………………………………………………….16 31. LIVING FOSSIL…………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 32. DEEN DAYAL HASTAKALA SANKAL………………………………………16 33. DRUG PRICE CONTROL…………………………………………………………………………….17 34. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM……………………………………………………………..17 35. GLOBAL TALENT COMPETITIVENESS INDEX 2018……….17 36. KURUMBA PAINTING……………………………………………………………………………..….18

37. E-COURT SERVICE………………………………………………………………………………………...18 38. TEN THREAT TO GLOBAL HEALTH 2019…………………………………19 39. PITHORA PAINTING………………………………………………………………………………..…….19 40. BIOJET FUEL………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19 41. AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL…………………………………………………………………..20 42. CORISA…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….20 43. ASSAM RIFLE………………………………………………………………………………………………………20 44. ELEPHANTA CAVES…………………………………………………………………………………….21 45. TECHNICAL TEXTILE……………………………………………………………………………………21 46. SATKOSIA TIGER RESERVE………………………………………………………………….22 47. INTEGRATED REFINERY EXPANSION PROJECT

COMPLEX……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...22 48. JAWAHAR NAVODYA VIDYALAYA…………………………………….22 49. NATIONAL CHILIKA BIRD FESTIVAL……………………………………….22 50. FOLK ART……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….23 51. KISAN GANDHI……………………………………………………………………………………………….23

52. GLOBAL SYNDEMIC………………………………………………………………………………….23 53. SARUS CRANE…………………………………………………………………………………………………..24 54. INDIAN POST PAYMENT BANK………………………………………………………24 55. KRANTI MANDIR……………………………………………………………………………………………24 56. DIPP………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24 57. WILDLIFE CORRIDOR………………………………………………………………………………25 58. BLANDM-1-GENE………………………………………………………………………………………….25

59. CHIN REFUGEES……………………………………………………………………………………………..26 60. PONG DAM WETLAND……………………………………………………………………………26 61. SMART FOOD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL……………………………………….26 62. GOLDEN LANGUR………………………………………………………………………………………..27 63. ALLAINCE TO END PLASTIC WASTE…………………………………………27 64. OPERATION KABADDI……………………………………………………………………………27 65. MANIYARO………………………………………………………………………………………………………….28 66. SMALL WOOD BROWN BUTTERFLY………………………………………..28 67. ANTI DEFECTION LAW…………………………………………………………………………….28 68. MOSS ROSE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..29

69. LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS…………………………………………………………………………29 70. NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME………..30 71. ARAB ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

SUMMIT……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………30

72. FLAMINGO FESTIVAL………………………………………………………………….…………...31 73. PAKKE PAGA HORNBILL FESTIVAL…………………………….……………31 74. SIZE INDIA PROJECT……………………………………………………………………….…………..31 75. N.K. SINGH COMMITTEE……………………………………………………………….………….31 76. GLOBAL COMMISSION ON FUTURE OF WORK…..……….32 77. ARROW 3 INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM……………………………………….……….32 78. PRAVASI TEERATH DARSHAN YOJANA…………………………….33 79. INTERMEDIATE RANGE NUCLEAR FORCES

TREATY……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..33 80. WORLD INTEGRATED MEDICINE FORUM………..…………………33 81. KEERIAN GANDIAL BRIDGE……………………………………………..………………33

82. SC/ST ACT……………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..34 83. SOUTH ASIAN NITROGEN HUB………………………………………..…………….34 84. BANDIPUR TIGER RESERVE……………………………………………………..………….35 85. E-WATE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….35 86. INDIAN OCEAN NAVAL SYMPOSIUM……………………………..…….36 87. AWARDS………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………36 88. ZEARALENONE……………………………………………………………………………………..…..……37 89. WHO WORLD MALARIA REPORT 2018……………………………..…..37

90. JAN SWASTHYA ABHIYAN……………………………………………………………....37 91. JIBAN SAMPARK PRJECT……………………………………………………………………..38 92. SERIOUS FRAUD INVESTIGATION OFFICE…………………………38 93. INDIA’S 2ND TULIP GARDEN………………………………………………………………..39 94. ATAL SETTU………………………………………………………………………………………………………...39 95. PAHARI COMMUNITY……………………………………………………………………………..39 96. VOTE ON ACCOUNT, INTERIM BUDGET &

BUDGET………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………39 97. INSTITUTION OF EMINENCE SCHEME…..…………………………………..40 98. NSDC………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….40 99. PERIODIC TABLE…………………………………………………………………………………………..40 100. CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX-2018……………………………..41 101. AFRICA CENTRE FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………………………………………………………..41 102. BROADCAST AUDIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL OF

INDIA………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….42 103. NATIONAL STATISTICAL COMMISSION……………………………….42 104. DELHI GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED MSP FOR

FARMERS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..42 105. INTERNATIONAL STOCK TAKING CONFERENCE ON

TIGER CONSERVATION…………………………………………………………………………..43 106. ESG FUND……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….43 107. PM-KISAN………………………………………………………………………………………………………………43

108. PM SHRAM YOGI MAANDHAN………………………………………………….….44 109. STANDARD DEDUCTION………………………………………………………………………44 110. GREEN INDIA MISSION…………………………………………………………………………….44 111. CMB-BHARAT………………………………………………………………………………………………….45 112. X-RAY TELESCOPE: Erosita…………………………………………………………………..46 113. FACTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………46

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INSOLVENCY & BANKRUPTCY AWARENESS PROGRAMME The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, in association with the three Insolvency Professional Agencies, namely, the Indian Institute of Insolvency Professionals of ICAI (lead partner), the ICSI Institute of Insolvency Professionals, and the Insolvency Professional Agency of Institute of Cost Accountants of India, organized an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Awareness Programme at Vadodara, Gujarat recently. INSOLVENCY & BANKRUPTCY BOARD OF INDIA ▪ The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India was established on 1st October, 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Code, 2016 (Code). ▪ It is a key pillar of the ecosystem responsible for implementation of the Code that consolidates and amends the laws

relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner for maximization of the value of assets of such persons, to promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance the interests of all the stakeholders.

▪ It is a unique regulator: regulates a profession as well as processes. ▪ It has regulatory oversight over the Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency Professional Agencies, Insolvency Professional

Entities and Information Utilities. ▪ It writes and enforces rules for processes, namely, corporate insolvency resolution, corporate liquidation, individual

insolvency resolution and individual bankruptcy under the Code. ▪ It has recently been tasked to promote the development of, and regulate, the working and practices of, insolvency

professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities and other institutions, in furtherance of the purposes of the Code.

▪ It has also been designated as the ‘Authority’ under the Companies (Registered Valuers and Valuation Rules), 2017 for regulation and development of the profession of valuers in the country.

▪ It handles the cases using two tribunals like NCLT National company law tribunal) and Debt recovery tribunal. ▪ IBBI will have 10 members, including representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Law, and the Reserve Bank of

India.

EXERCISE SEA VIGIL Ten years after "26/11" the Indian Navy coordinated the largest coastal defence exercise off the Indian coast on 22-23 Jan 19, Exercise SEA VIGIL. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The exercise, a first of its kind, is being undertaken along the entire 7516.6 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of

India and involves all the 13 coastal States and Union Territories along with all maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities.

▪ The exercise is a build up towards the major theatre level tri-service exercise TROPEX [Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise] which Indian Navy conducts every two years.

▪ The conduct of the exercise SEA VIGIL has been facilitated by the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fisheries, Customs, State Governments and other agencies of Centre/ State.

▪ Post '26/11', operational responsibilities for coastal security were entrusted to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. In the discharge of these very responsibilities that Exercise 'SEA VIGIL' has been planned by the Indian Navy.

▪ Exercise SEA VIGIL aims to comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since '26/11'. ▪ The exercise will entail both seaward and shore-based monitoring. ▪ The exercise will in addition to covering the entire coastline, will also go deeper into the hinterland. Evaluation of critical

areas and processes, including inter-agency coordination, information sharing and technical surveillance will be undertaken.

INDIA AFRICA FIELD TRAINING EXERCISE (IAFTX) 2019

The final planning conference to work out the modalities for Indian Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX)-2019 conducted at Pune on 23-24 January 2019. Delegates from Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, Uganda, Niger & Zambia attended the conference.

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HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Indian Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX)-2019 is scheduled to be conducted at Aundh Military Station and College of

Military Engineering, Pune from 18 March to 27 March 2019. ▪ The joint training exercise is being conducted with more than a dozen African countries & India. ▪ It aims at synergizing humanitarian mine action and joint peace operations. ▪ The initial planning conference for the exercise was held in December 2018. ▪ The IAFTX-2019 is a positive step towards growing political and military ties with the member nations of African continent

and will boost the already strong strategic cooperation between the countries.

BHARAT PARV The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with other central Ministries has organized the 4th edition of ‘Bharat Parv’ event showcasing the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat at Red Fort in the capital during 26th to 31st January 2019. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Bharat Parv is a five-day festival organised by Ministry of Tourism (India), Government of India to showcase the cuisine and

culture of different states of India. ▪ The festival is held annually at the end of January EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. HRD Ministry has taken up several initiatives under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign. The EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Engagement Matrix between States and UTs for the First year would be as follows: 1. Jammu & Kashmir 2. Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh 3. Himachal Pradesh & Kerala 4. Uttarakhand & Karnataka 5. Haryana & Telangana 6. Rajasthan & West Bengal 7. Gujarat & Chhaftisgarh 8. Maharashtra & Odisha 9. Goa & Jharkhand

10. Delhi & Sikkim & Assam 11. Madhya Pradesh & Manipur & Nagaland 12. Uttar Pradesh & Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya 13. Bihar & Tripura & Mizoram 14. Chandigarh & Dadra & Nagar Haveli 15. Puducherry & Daman & Diu 16. Lakshadweep & Andaman & Nicobar

INS KOHASSA

Naval Air Station (NAS) Shibpur was commissioned as INS Kohassa. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ INS Kohassa has been named after a White-Bellied Sea Eagle, which is a large bird of prey, endemic to Andaman and

Nicobar Islands. ▪ NAS Shibpur was established in 2001 as a Forward Operating Air Base (FOAB) for enhanced surveillance in North

Andaman. ▪ The close proximity of Coco Islands (Myanmar) and wide expanse of Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

makes the base a very vital asset. ▪ The airfield provides sustained detached operations of Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard aircraft. The Air

Station presently operates Short Range Maritime Reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft and helicopters. ▪ These aircraft undertake EEZ Surveillance, Anti-Poaching Missions, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Aid and

Disaster Relief (HADR) missions within the ANC Area of Responsibility. ▪ NAS Shibpur was identified by NITI Aayog as one of the ‘Early Bird’ project as part of holistic island development.

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RESOURCE EFFICIENCY & CIRCULAR ECONOMY NITI Aayog and European Union Delegation to India unveiled the “Status Paper and Way Forward on Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy” and “Four Sectoral Strategy Papers on Resource Efficiency on Steel, Aluminium, Construction & Demolition Waste, Secondary Materials Management in Electrical & Electronics Sector” in a release event hosted by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the European Union delegation to India. HIGHLIGHTS The objective of the RE Strategy was to make recommendations for enhancing the resource-use efficiency in the Indian economy and industry, develop indicators for monitoring progress, and create an ecosystem for improving the resource security and minimizing environmental impacts. NITI AYOG had undertaken the role of a facilitator to mainstream the approaches and measures related in the direction of resource efficient and circular Indian Economy. CIRCULAR ECONOMY RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

MoEFCC, Nodal Ministries, State Governments, Civil Society and other partners for implementation of RE strategy. The status paper on Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy brings out 30 recommendations out of which 14 recommendations have identified as priority actions. 1. Formulation of a National Policy on RE/CE. 2. Establishment of Bureau of Resource Efficiency (BRE). 3. Mainstreaming RE&CE in existing flagship missions. 4. A Modern Recycling Industry with level playing between primary and secondary producers. 5. R&D for development of scalable technologies for RE & CE. 6. Development and promotion of skill and capacity building programmes for informal sector. As part of ambitious 'Circular Economy Package', waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and land filling, strengthening provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility has been adopted, which Member States are required to transpose the directives into national law by 5 July 2020.

GOODS & SERVICES TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL

The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of National Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT). HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The National Bench of the Appellate Tribunal shall be situated at New Delhi. ▪ GSTAT shall be presided over by its President and shall consist of one Technical Member (Centre) and one Technical

Member (State).

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▪ Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the forum of second appeal in GST laws and the first common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and States.

▪ The appeals against the orders in first appeals issued by the Appellate Authorities under the Central and State GST Acts lie before the GST Appellate Tribunal, which is common under the Central as well as State GST Acts.

▪ Being a common forum, GST Appellate Tribunal will ensure that there is uniformity in redressal of disputes arising under GST, and therefore, in implementation of GST across the country.

BACKGROUND Chapter XVIII of the CGST Act provides for the Appeal and Review Mechanism for dispute resolution under the GST Regime. Section 109 of this Chapter under CGST Act empowers the Central Government to constitute, on the recommendation of Council, by notification, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, an Appellate Tribunal known as the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the Appellate Authority or the Revisional Authority.

24 JAN: NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY

The Women & Child Development Ministry celebrated National Girl Child Day (NGCD), the 24th January, 2019 at Pravasi Bharti Kendra, New Delhi. The programme also observed anniversary of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme. The theme of this NGCD is “Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow” and celebrating with objectives of generating awareness on the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and create a positive environment around valuing the girl child. ▪ A booklet on “Innovations under BBBP” also released on the occasion. ▪ The Ministry has compiled 38 Innovative Activities from Districts across the country to set an example for other Districts. ▪ These interventions have been categorized according to five themes, which are Survival, Protection, Education,

Participation and Valuing Girls. BBBP The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme has been introduced in October, 2014 to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). The Scheme was launched on 22ndJanuary, 2015 at Panipat in Haryana. ▪ It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human

Resource Development. ▪ The Pan India Expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) covering all 640 districts of the Country was launched on 8th

March 2018. ▪ Objectives:

1. Prevent gender biased sex selective elimination. 2. Ensure survival & protection of the girl child. 3. Ensure education of the girl child.

▪ A budgetary allocation of 100 Cr. has been made under the budget announcement for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign

and 100 Cr. will be mobilized from Plan Outlay of the Planned scheme ‘Care and Protection of Girl Child - A Multi Sectoral Action Plan’ for the 12th Plan.

▪ Additional resources can be mobilized through Corporate Social Responsibility at National & State levels. The estimated cost of the Scheme is 200 cr.

▪ The MWCD will be responsible for budgetary control and administration of the scheme at the Central level. ▪ The MWCD will transfer the funds to the consolidated funds of the State Government after approval of Action Plan of the

respective Government.

GLOBAL MULTI-DIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX 2018 The pace of reduction of poverty in India has speeded up in recent years as per the Global Multi-dimensional Poverty Index 2018. THEME- The New Global MPI 2018: Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.

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BACKGROUND ▪ The original MPI was co-designed and launched in 2010 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human

Development Report Office (HDRO) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at University of Oxford.

▪ It was first published in 2010 as part of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Human Development Report (HDR). ▪ The improvements in the global MPI coincide with the start of the Third Decade on Poverty Reduction (2018–2027). ▪ They reflect inputs from a consultative process encompassing academics, UN agencies, national statistics offices, and civil

society organizations. ▪ They build upon, insofar as data permit, the recommendations of the World Bank’s Atkinson Commission on Monitoring

Global Poverty (World Bank 2017) that are concerned with non-monetary poverty measures.

HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) identifies

people’s deprivations across three key dimensions – health, education and living standards.

▪ MPI covers 105 countries in total, home to 75% of the world’s population, or 5.7 billion people. Of this proportion, 1.3 billion are identified as multi-dimensionally poor, and half of them are younger than 18 years old.

▪ The latest data further reveals the vast majority of the multidimensional poor – 1.1 billion people – live in rural areas around the world, where poverty rates are four times higher than among those living in urban areas.

▪ 83% of the world’s poor live in South Asia and Africa.

India’s performance ▪ India has made momentous progress in reducing multidimensional poverty, bringing down its poverty rate from 55% to

28% in ten years. ▪ Between 2005-06 and 2015-16, more than 271 million people have come out of the clutches of poverty in India. ▪ However, India still has the largest number of people living in multidimensional poverty in the world- around 364 million

people. ▪ Among states, Jharkhand had the greatest improvement, with Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Nagaland only

slightly behind. ▪ However, Bihar is still the poorest state in 2015/16, with more than half of its population in poverty. ▪ Across nearly every state, poor nutrition is the largest contributor to multidimensional poverty. ▪ Not having a household member with at least six years of education is the second largest contributor. ▪ Insufficient access to clean water and child mortality contributes least. BACKGROUND The Deendayal Antodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is aimed at alleviation of rural poverty through building sustainable community institutions of the poor. It seeks to mobilize about 9 crore households into SHGs and link them to sustainable livelihood opportunities by building their skills and enabling them to access formal sources of finance, entitlements and services from both public and private sectors. It is envisaged that the intensive and continuous capacity building of rural poor women will ensure their social, economic and political empowerment and development.

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TECHNOLOGY MISSION CENTRE ON SOLAR ENERGY & WATER TREATMENT Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will be launching three important centre’s set up by Department of Science and Technology (DST), nucleated at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) on 25th January 2019 at IIT Madras in Chennai. HIGHLIGHTS 1. The first of these is the establishment of DST –IITM Solar Energy Harnessing Centre.

▪ The Centre will focus on a wide range of research and technology development activities such as silicon solar cells that promise high efficiency and are suited for Indian conditions.

2. Second in line is the DST-IITM Water –IC for SUTRAM of EASY WATER (DST- IITM Water Innovation Centre for

Sustainable Treatment, Reuse and Management for Efficient, Affordable and Synergistic Solutions) which has been established with an aim to undertake synchronized research and training programs on various issues related to wastewater management, water treatment, sensor development, storm water management and distribution and collection systems. ▪ This multi institutional Virtual Centre will be looking into a sustainable approach for water resources protection and

augmentation through wastewater treatment and reuse and storm water management. ▪ The Centre will provide a unique opportunity for the various groups in different premier organizations working in the

area of wastewater management, water treatment, sensor development and storm water management to collaborate and work in synergized manner to ensure adequate, safe, reliable and sustainable sources of drinking water for rural and urban India and process water for highly polluting and water intensive industries, through research, technology development and capacity building.

3. The third one would be the Test bed on Solar thermal desalination solutions which are being established by IIT Madras

and Empereal KGDS as solution providers in Naripaaiyur, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu with the aim to deliver customized technological solutions to address prevalent water challenges in the arid coastal village located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. ▪ The development would provide customized technological water solution to provide potable water to coastal areas

using solar energy.

JAN SHIKSHA SANSTHAN In a bid to boost skill training and entrepreneurship in the remotest corners of the country Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Petroleum and Natural Gas (MSDE) announced comprehensive reforms for Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), to further strengthen the skills ecosystem benefiting those in the underprivileged sections of society. BACKGROUND Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) has been instrumental in skill training and introducing avenues of entrepreneurship among the socio-economically backward and educationally disadvantaged groups such as neo-literates, semi-literates, SCs, STs, women and girls, slum dwellers, migrant workers. By bringing them under the aegis of the national skill framework, the agenda was to align all skilling activities to a common cause of skill development at the district and gram level. By aligning JSSs to the National Skill Framework, the Government aims to provide standardized training across sectors. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ GUIDELINES

▪ Alignment of JSS course and curriculum to National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) to standardize training. ▪ Decentralization of powers for JSSs- giving more accountability and independence to district administration. ▪ To identify and promote traditional skills in the district through skilling / upskilling. ▪ Evidence based assessment system. ▪ Easy Online certification.

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▪ Linking JSS to PFMS (Public Finance Management system) maintaining transparency and accountability of the ecosystem.

▪ Creating livelihood linkages. ▪ Training of Trainers to develop the capacity through NSTIs (National Skills Training Institutes).

▪ JSS PORTAL The Ministry also announced the launch of a new website (www.jss.gov.in); which will furnish information on action plans, database of beneficiaries and stakeholders, details of finance and expenditure and other ongoing developments along with a public log-in access. ▪ BLENDED TRAINING SYSTEM The pilot launch of Amrita University’s Blended Training System at Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) with e-content entailing selected skill courses. This is a comprehensive ICT -based platform that provides numerous benefits for trainees and trainers. ▪ MSDE and NSDC signed a MoU with NACER, the apex body for Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) under

MoRD. The objective of this collaboration is to provide skilled PMKVY candidates from PMKKs for the 10-day residential Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) at RSETIs. RSETIs shall also support the candidates to access loans through credit linkages with public sector banks and also provide two-year mentorship support to the candidates. NACER has a strong institutional set up and also provides two- year mentorship to the candidate post loan linkage & Successful record for availing credit from banks.

MICROSAT R & KALAMSAT-V2

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C44) successfully injected Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2 satellites into their designated orbits. HIGHLIGHTS Microsat-R is a 130-kg military imaging satellite. ▪ It was put together by a handful of DRDO laboratories. ▪ Microsat-R was successfully injected into intended orbit of 274 km. After injection, two solar arrays of the satellite were

deployed automatically and ISRO Telemetry Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bengaluru assumed control of the satellite.

The Kalamsat is a 10cm cube nano-satellite weighing about 1.2kg. ▪ The satellite's life span is about two months and its cost is about Rs. 12 lakh. ▪ The Kalamsat would be the first to use the rocket's fourth stage as an orbital platform. ▪ Subsequently, the fourth stage (PS4) of the vehicle was moved to a higher circular orbit of 453 km after two restarts of the

stage, to establish an orbital platform for carrying out experiments. ▪ Kalamsat-V2, a student payload, first to use PS4 as an orbital platform. ▪ This flight marked the first mission of PSLV-DL, a new variant of PSLV with two strap-on motors. In the previous PSLV

launch on November 29, PSLV-C43 had successfully launched India’s HysIS as well as 30 customer satellites from abroad. PSLV-C44 ▪ PSLV-C44 will lift the Kalamsat and Microsat R off from Sriharikota. ▪ The PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. ▪ Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. ▪ It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. ▪ In its normal configuration, the rocket would have six strap-on motors hugging its first stage. ▪ However, the PSLV-C44 will be a two strap-on motors configuration and is designated as PSLV-DL (D standing for

demonstration). ▪ The rocket PSLV-C44 is the first mission of PSLV-DL and is a new variant.

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UDAN 3.0 The union Minister for Civil Aviation and Commerce Shri Suresh Prabhu announced the results of Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) Scheme. UDAN 3.0 ▪ Inclusion of Tourism Routes under UDAN 3 in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism. ▪ Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes. ▪ Bringing in a number of routes in the North-East Region under the ambit of UDAN.

BACKGROUND ▪ UDAN is an innovative scheme to develop the

regional aviation market. ▪ It is a market-based mechanism in which airlines bid

for seat subsidies. ▪ This first-of-its-kind scheme globally will create

affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man.

▪ It envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports.

▪ The operators could seek a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) apart from getting various concessions.

▪ The scheme also provides for various benefits including no airport charges and three-year exclusivity on the routes.

▪ The States have a key role under the scheme. The selection of airports where UDAN would start would be done in consultation with State Government and after confirmation of their concessions.

▪ The scheme would be in operation for a period of 10 years.

▪ Regional Connectivity Fund levy per departure will be applied to certain domestic flights along with 20% contribution from states

EAC-PM

The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) had a meeting on 25th January, 2019. ▪ Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC) is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body

constituted to give economic advice to the Government of India, specifically the Prime Minister. ▪ The council serves to highlight key economic issues facing the country to the government of India from a neutral

viewpoint. ▪ It advises the Prime Minister on economic issues like inflation, microfinance, and industrial output. ▪ For administrative, logistic, planning and budgeting purposes, the NITI Aayog serves as the Nodal Agency for the PMEAC

ARTISAN SPEAK

To further strengthen the handlooms and textiles sector of India, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is presenting “Artisan Speak”, a unique event which will showcase the rich handloom and textile tradition of India. The event held at UNESCO World Heritage site, Elephanta Caves near Mumbai, on January 28, 2019.

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BACKGROUND India’s handlooms are a generational legacy closely associated with the cultural tradition and rich history of our country. The tradition is kept alive by our highly skilled weavers and artisans against all odds and uneven competition from machine-made products. ▪ Kancheepuram of Tamil Nadu. ▪ Baluchari and Jamdani of West Bengal. ▪ Paithani of Maharashtra. ▪ Chanderi and Maheswari of Madhya Pradesh. ▪ Muga of Assam. ▪ Patola of Gujarat.

▪ Kani of Kashmir. ▪ Tie & Dye, Vichitrapuri and Bomkai of Orissa, ▪ Brocades of Varanasi. ▪ Balarampuram of Kerala. ▪ Pochampally of Andhra Pradesh are a few examples

of our precious handloom tradition.

Patenting exclusive crafts with GI registration is one such step which holds great promise for economic and social upliftment of weavers and artisans. About 168 handlooms and handicrafts products have been registered under GI. Artisan Speak will mark another step in this direction, wherein GI textiles will be showcased and private sector will enter into collaboration with the Government in promoting India’s handlooms.

VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS Minister of Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal announced the name Vande Bharat Express for Train 18, acknowledging it’s made-in-India status. He called it a ‘vandaniya’ step towards realisation of New India vision. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ This train set has been manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in the period of 18 months under 'Make in India'

program. ▪ Since the launch of Rajdhani trains, Vande Bharat Express is the next major leap for Indian Railways in terms of speed and

convenience. It is India's first semi-high-speed train equipped with world class passenger amenities. ▪ It can achieve high speeds (max speed of 160 kmph) due to faster acceleration & deceleration and will reduced journey

time by 25% to 45%. ▪ Scheduled commute between New Delhi & Varanasi will take approximately 8 hours making it 40-50% faster than the

fastest train currently connecting these two cities. ▪ Vande Bharat Express incorporates many modern features which debut for the very first time on Indian Railways. It has

been provided with ‘State of the Art’ passenger amenities like On-board wifi entertainment, GPS based passenger information system, CCTVs, bio-vacuum toilets, rotating chairs in executive class, etc. at par with global standards. It also has provision of Divyang-friendly facilities.

▪ Further, it has intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE HIGHER EDUCATION PROJECT ICAR has recently launched Rs 1100 crore ambitious National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) to attract talent and strengthen higher agricultural education in the country. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ This project will be funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on a 50:50 basis. ▪ In addition, a four-year degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Forestry has been declared a professional degree. ▪ Rajendra Agriculture University has been upgraded as Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University to strengthen the

government’s effort to bring green revolution in Eastern India including North East. ▪ Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has been set up in Barhi, Jharkhand on the lines of IARI, Pusa New Delhi, and

another IARI is being set up in Assam. ▪ In order to promote the participation of students in agricultural business, Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship

Awareness Development Yojana) scheme is being run, under which practical experience of agriculture and entrepreneurship is provided to undergraduate students.

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STUDENT READY SCHEME ▪ The Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) programme aims to provide rural

entrepreneurship awareness, practical experience in real-life situation in rural agriculture and creating awareness to undergraduate students about practical agriculture and allied sciences.

▪ It also aims to provide opportunities to acquire hands-on-experience and entrepreneurial skills. ▪ The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural

Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India and the largest National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES) in the world.

FCI & BIS

An Inter-Session Consultative Committee Meeting of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Inter-Session Consultative Committee Meeting was held to review the functioning of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). FCI ▪ The Food Corporation of India is an organization created and run by the Government of India. ▪ The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was set up on 14 January 1965 having its first District Office at Thanjavur – rice bowl of

Tamil Nadu – and headquarters at Chennai (The Headquarters later shifted to Delhi) under the Food Corporations Act 1964 to implement the following objectives of the National Food Policy: 1. Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the poor farmers. 2. Distribution of food-grains throughout the country for Public Distribution System (PDS). 3. Maintaining a satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of food-grains to ensure National Food Security. 4. Regulate market price to provide food-grains to consumers at a reliable price.

BIS ▪ The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national Standards Body of India working under the aegis of Ministry of

Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India. ▪ It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 which came into effect on 23 December 1986. ▪ The Minister in charge of the Ministry or Department having administrative control of the BIS is the ex-officio President of

the BIS. ▪ The organization was formerly the Indian Standards Institution (ISI). ▪ Its headquarters are in New Delhi, with regional offices in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Delhi and 20 branch

offices. ▪ It also works as WTO-TBT enquiry point for India

INDIA & OECD: PISA

A Signing ceremony of Agreement between India and OECD for India’s participation in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2021 was held in New Delhi. HIGHLIGHTS The participation in PISA 2021 would indicate the health of the education system and would motivate other schools /states in the subsequent cycles. This will lead to improvement in the learning levels of the children and enhance the quality of education in the country. Following are some of the important features of India’s participation in PISA: ▪ Schools run by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and schools in the UT of Chandigarh

will participate. ▪ Within the country (or specific geography to be covered in case of large countries), PISA covers a sample of 15-year-old

students representing all forms of schooling i.e. public, private, private aided etc.

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▪ PISA is a competency-based assessment which unlike content-based assessment, measures the extent to which students have acquired key competencies that are essential for full participation in modern societies. It would lead to recognition and acceptability of Indian students and prepare them for the global economy in the 21st century.

▪ Learnings from participation in PISA will help to introduce competency-based examination reforms in the school system and help move away from rote learning. The CBSE and NCERT will be part of the process and activities leading to the actual test.

More than 80 countries, including 44 middle-income countries, have participated in the assessment since the first round of testing in 2000. Next round of PISA is going to be held in 2021. The list of registered countries includes Brazil, China (certain areas like Shanghai and Beijing) and countries from South-East Asia like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. PISA ▪ PISA is a triennial international survey (every three years) which aims to evaluate the education system worldwide by

testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students. ▪ Students are assessed in reading, mathematics, science and collaborative problem-solving. ▪ Participation in PISA allows benchmarking performance against a wide range of countries. ▪ PISA uses test items aligned with international benchmarks. Test items are adapted to the local context and language, pilot

tested and validated before being used for the test. ▪ OECD have agreed to contextualize the questions for Indian students.

4TH ANNUAL CARNOT PRIZE The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design formally presented the fourth annual Carnot Prize to Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways & Coal and former Minister of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Government of India, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The 2018 Carnot Prize is a recognition of India’s efforts towards eliminating energy poverty with sustainable energy

solutions. The rural electrification drive helped in achieving ‘24x7 Affordable, Environment Friendly Power for all’. ▪ The massive thrust to green energy is reflected in India’s 175 GW target by 2022, which is the world’s largest renewable

expansion programme. The Carnot Prize recognizes India’s “solid footing to reach a 40% renewable mix by 2030” (Kleinman Center for Energy Policy).

▪ 2018 Carnot Prize awarded money will be donated to the International Solar Alliance to institute the Diwakar Award. ▪ The Diwakar award will recognize, every year, an outstanding organization that has been working for special children and

maximizing the use of solar energy. ▪ The Carnot Prize is the Kleinman Center’s annual recognition of distinguished contributions to energy policy through

scholarship or practice. ▪ The most prestigious award in the energy sector, Carnot Prize is named after French physicist Nicolas Sadi Carnot who

recognized that the power of the steam engine would “produce a great revolution” in human development. ▪ The Carnot Prize is intended to honor those leading revolutions in energy policy to further progress and prosperity.

THE FUTURE OF RAIL: IEA Minister of Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal launched the report “The Future of Rail” of International Energy Agency (IEA). HIGHLIGHTS ▪ “The Future of Rail” the first-of-a-kind report analyses the current and future importance of rail around the world through

the perspective of its energy and environmental implications. ▪ The report reviews the impact of existing plans and regulations on the future of rail, and explores the key policies that

could help to realize an enhanced future rail. ▪ This first ever global report has a focus on India, elaborating on the unique social and economic role of rail in India,

together with its great enduring potential, to show how India can extend and update its networks to harness rail at a scope and scale that is unparalleled.

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▪ India has been the focus of many recent IEA analyses and reports for instance through the special focus chapter on the Indian Power sector of the Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) publication and the World Energy Outlook (WEO).

▪ IEA has also held workshops and training programmes in India on energy data training, energy efficiency, strategic petroleum reserves, and the integration of renewables into the grid.

IEA ▪ Established in 1974 as per framework of the OECD. ▪ MISSION – The IEA works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 30 member countries and beyond &

mission is guided by four main areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide

▪ Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France ▪ A candidate country must be a member country of the OECD. But all OECD members are not IEA members (Ex:Chile,

Iceland, Israel, Latvia and Slovenia). ▪ IEA mandate: To focus on the “3Es” of effectual energy policy:

1. Energy security. 2. Economic development. 3. Environmental protection.

▪ IEA REPORTS

1. Global Energy & CO2 Status Report 2017. 2. World Energy Outlook. 3. World Energy Statistics 2017. 4. World Energy Balances 2017. 5. Energy Technology Perspectives.

SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG) of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, held a National Workshop on Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in New Delhi. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The workshop emphasized the importance of Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) for rural census towns and large dense

villages and Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource–Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) in rural areas. ▪ It also covered Plastic Waste Management, Grey Water Management and featured case studies from across the country. ▪ Kerala showcased the “Green Protocol” being implemented in Thiruvananthapuram district using the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse

and Recycle) to minimize waste generation. GOBAR DHAN YOJANA Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has launched the GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) - DHAN scheme. ▪ The scheme is being implemented as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). ▪ GOBAR-Dhan shall cover 700 districts in 2018-19. The scheme will be implemented in 350 districts on pilot basis.

Remaining districts would be covered in second half of the financial year 2018-19. ▪ The programme will be implemented using SLWM funding pattern of SBM-G Guidelines. ▪ The total assistance under SBM (G) for SLWM projects is worked out on the basis of total number of households in each

GP, subject to a maximum of Rs 7 lakh for a GP having up to 150 households, Rs.12 lakh up to 300 households, Rs. 15 lakh up to 500 households and Rs.20 lakh for GPs having more than 500 households.

▪ Funding for SLWM project under SBM (G) will continue to be provided by the Central and State Government in the ratio of 60:40 as per the existent formula.

▪ Only those Gram Panchayats which have not availed SLWM funds under SBM(G) are eligible to receive the financial assistance under GOBAR-Dhan scheme, subject to the limits of guidelines.

▪ However, States shall have the flexibility to provide additional funds to any GP based on viability under the scheme.

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RAG RAG MEIN GANGA Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Road Transport & Highways and Shipping and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports launched travelogue program “Rag Rag Mein Ganga” and quiz show “Meri Ganga” on Doordarshan. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The travelogue series “Rag Rag Mein Ganga” has been made by Doordarshan in collaboration with National Mission for

Clean Ganga (NMCG). ▪ The 21 episode series, covering River Ganga’s journey from Gomukh to Gangasagar, has been shot using state-of-the-art

techniques including Drone Cameras and Go-Pro Cameras in HD Format. ▪ The show relays the message of the need of rejuvenating River Ganga while also informing about the efforts of the

Government to clean Ganga – presented in a unique and interesting format. ▪ The quiz show ‘Meri Ganga’ has also been made by DD in collaboration with NMCG. It attempts to cover school children

from all zones of the country and trigger curiosity in them to feel closer to the cause of cleaning Ganga.

PETROTECH-2019 PETROTECH-2019, the 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, being organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, is all set to be inaugurated on February 10, 2019. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ India’s flagship hydrocarbon international conference is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India. ▪ PETROTECH 2019 exhibition will focus on development in technologies for exploration & production, process control,

refining and pipeline and services, systems, products, oil field hardware, software, analytical instruments, Renewable, R&D, HSE, training and publications of technical literature.

REIMBURSABLE ADVISORY SERVICE

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari at the conclusion of a legal contract for procurement of the Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) from World Bank for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Transport Sector in New Delhi said, the States need to improve their public transport strategy especially in urban areas. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ MoU with Transport for London (TFL) on 10th January, 2018 with the aim to bring in the best practices from world was also

signed. ▪ TFL is an agency that manages the transport system for Greater London, and has demonstrated its capability by creating

strong and dependable public transport system in the city of London. It has created a unique system of operating buses in PPP model with over 17 operators under a single brand. MoU is aimed at using the expertise of TFL to revamp the public transport architecture in a few select cities in the country.

▪ Through this advisory service, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will assist the recipient states Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and their State Transport Undertakings (STUs) in improving their Public Transport Policy.

▪ RAS would also enable the Ministry to guide States in public transportation matters and to carry out certain pilot projects in the recipient States which can be replicated in other States for the betterment of Public Transport system.

▪ The RAS is likely to help States improve their service definition and planning, enhancement capacity of public transport system through innovating contracting methods and improve service quality and safety through leverage of technology.

TAMIL NADU DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR Defense Minister launched a series of projects in the defense Industrial corridor at Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu.Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Defense public sector units and private sector companies like TVS group announced investments worth of Rs. 3,123 crores.

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HIGHLIGHTS

▪ In the 2018 Budget, two Defense corridors were announced in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. ▪ The Tamil Nadu Defense Industrial Corridor, also called the Tamil Nadu Defense Production Quad, will include Chennai,

Hosur, Salem, Coimbatore and Tiruchi. ▪ These nodal cities have defense ecosystem in the form of OFBs, vendors working with Defense PSUs, and other allied

industries. ▪ Development of these corridors will help in accelerated growth and regional industry agglomeration. ▪ It will also facilitate a well-planned and efficient industrial base which will lead to increased defense production in the

country and the region. ▪ This will also help the industry to integrate with the global supply chain of defense manufacturing.

WORLD CAPITAL OF ARCHITECTURE The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020. ▪ Rio as one of the oldest cities in Brazil, has a mix of modern and colonial architecture, with world-renowned sites. ▪ Rio will be the first city to receive the title under a programme launched together by UNESCO and the International Union

of Architects (UIA) in November 2018. ▪ Rio houses some world-renowned sites like the statue of Christ the Redeemer and contemporary constructions like

the Museum of Tomorrow. ▪ The city is also home to works of renowned architects such as Oscar Niemeyer, who also designed the capital city of

Brasilia. CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) had been established by the Government of India under the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERC) Act, 1998. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ CERC is the Central Commission for the purposes of the Electricity Act, 2003 which has repealed the ERC Act, 1998.

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▪ The Commission consists of a Chairperson and four other Members including Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority who is the ex-officio Member of the Commission.

▪ Major functions of CERC under the Act, inter-alia, are 1. to regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government. 2. to regulate the tariff of other generating companies having a composite scheme for generation and sale of electricity

in more than one State. 3. to regulate the inter-State transmission of electricity and to determine tariff for such transmission of electricity, etc.

KINNAR AKHARA

▪ Kinnar Akhara is a group of transgender saints pursuing religious activities. ▪ It has emerged as a very significant feature at Prayagraj Kumbh. ▪ The group, which had attended the Ujjain Kumbh in 2016, has been taking part in the holy baths at the ongoing Kumbh

Mela along with the other akharas. ▪ Akharas in India literally means a wrestling ring in Hindi. ▪ Adi Shankaracharya was the founder of seven major Indian Akharas known as Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan,

Agni and Anand Akhara.

OXFAM REPORT 2019 According to the annual report by anti-poverty campaigner Oxfam India’s top 9 billionaires own as much as the country’s poorest half. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The world’s richest 26 billionaires own as much wealth as the 3.8 billion people in the bottom half of humanity. ▪ Globally, billionaires’ fortunes rose by 12% to $900 billion, or $2.5 billion a day in 2018, whereas the poorest half of

the world’s population saw their wealth decline by 11. ▪ Oxfam noted that 13.6 crore Indians, who make up the poorest 10 per cent of the country, continued to remain in debt

since 2004. ▪ The survey also shows that women and girls are hardest hit by rising economic inequality. ▪ Oxfam further said getting India’s richest 1 per cent pays just 0.5 per cent extra tax on their wealth could raise enough

money enough to increase the government spending on health by 50 per cent. ▪ Globally, the tax rates for wealthy individuals and corporations have been cut dramatically.

LIVING FOSSIL ▪ The term "living fossil" is an imperfect concept. ▪ The term is meant to describe an organism that has remained relatively unchanged over millions of years, or one that has

no, or very few, close surviving relatives. ▪ The term “living fossil” was originally used by Charles Darwin to describe ancient species, like the ginkgo tree or horseshoe

crab that appeared little changed over millions of years. ▪ The concept is an informal window into the past, a way to consider species as they may have been millions of years ago by

observing their modern descendents. ▪ If a species does not constantly have to adapt to survive, it will have little need to change. ▪ The coelacanth is the most famous and widely recognized species of "living fossil".

DEEN DAYAL HASTKALA SANKUL The Prime Minister inaugurated Centres of Excellence at Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi, Uttra Pradesh recently. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ It is a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts. ▪ It aims to facilitate weavers, artisans and exporters in promoting handlooms and handicrafts. ▪ The Crafts Museum in the Sankul will preserve the traditional handloom/handicrafts products of Varanasi.

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▪ It will also showcase the handloom & handicraft products, which will be an inspiration for the new generation, scholars, designers and tourists.

▪ The Finance Minister in the Budget 2014-15 had announced setting up of a Trade Facilitation Centre and a Crafts Museum to develop and promote handlooms, handicrafts and silk products of Varanasi.

DRUG PRICE CONNTROL

The government has authorized think-tank NITI Aayog to recommend drugs that could be put under price control. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The decision will dilute the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s (NPPA) powers. ▪ Earlier the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) was drawn by the Health Ministry and the Department of

Pharmaceuticals (DoP). ▪ The list would merely notify the list for prices to be fixed. ▪ Now a Standing Committee on Affordable Medicines and Health Products (SCAMHP) has been constituted, with VK Paul,

Member (Health), NITI Aayog, as the Chairman. ▪ It will act like a recommending body to NPPA on prices of drugs and health products. ▪ NLEM is based on a list of essential medicines released by the World Health Organization. ▪ It basically says that such medicines should be affordable and be available to the population of each country. National Pharmaceutical and Pricing Authority (NPPA) ▪ NPPA is an organization of the Government of India and is under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizer. ▪ It was established to fix/ revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability

of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. ▪ The organization is also entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the

controlled drugs from the consumers. ▪ It also monitors the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps. ▪ It collects/ maintains data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of

companies etc, for bulk drugs and formulations.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM The Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum is being held in Davos, Switzerland. The theme of WEF 2019 is “Globalization 4.0: Shaping a New Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. BACKGROUND ▪ It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ▪ It is an independent and impartial International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. ▪ Its objective is to improve the state of the world. ▪ It does not promote any political, commercial or personal interests, nor does it use the names of its participants for

promotional purposes. ▪ The Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the

highest standards of governance. ▪ The Key reports and indices by WEF are:

1. Global Competitiveness Report. 2. Global Enabling trade Report. 3. Global Gender Gap Index. 4. Human Capital Index. 5. Inclusive Development Index.

GLOBAL TALENT COMPETITIVENESS INDEX

It is a report released by INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group.

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HIGHLIGHTS ▪ It is an annual benchmark measuring how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent, providing a unique resource

for decision makers to understand the global talent competitiveness picture and develop strategies for boosting their competitiveness.

▪ It looks at 68 variables such as ease of ease of hiring, gender earnings gap, and prevalence of training in firms. ▪ GTCI 2019 addresses the topic of entrepreneurial talent and global competitiveness. ▪ According to the report, Switzerland followed by Singapore, the US, Norway and Denmark were the top five on the list of

countries. ▪ China emerged as the best performer among the BRICS countries, with an overall position of 45th. ▪ India has moved up one position to 80th rank. ▪ According to the report, India's biggest challenge is to improve its ability to attract and retain talent. ▪ However, India performed better than its lower-income peers when it comes to growing talent and access to growth

opportunities.

KURUMBA PAINTING Kurumbas are the tribe who live in the mid-ranges of the Nilgiris or “blue-mountains”.

▪ The Kurumba art is traditionally practiced by only either by the male members of the temple caretakers, or priest to the Kurumba village.

▪ The women of the family contribute to the decorations at home in the form of borders around the door and windows and kolams on the floor.

▪ The art is primarily ritualistic, describing various facets of tribal life.

▪ Often it is painted on the outer wall of the temple and the house.

▪ Eluthu paarai is an ancient 3000-year-old rock-painting site of Kurumbas in the Kothagiri region of the Nilgiris.

▪ The rock art depictions in this site come under the category of ‘petrographs’ means “rock art”.

▪ Rock engravings are called ‘petroglyphs’.

E-COURT SERVICE Court case information of all computerized district and subordinate courts of the country was made available across all Common Service Centers in the country recently. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Court case information are judicial proceedings/decisions, case registration, cause list, case status, daily orders, and final

judgments. ▪ The Government of India had initiated second phase of the e-Courts project as one of the National e-Governance projects

in 2015. ▪ The e-Courts project has made significant progress under the guidance of e-Committee of Supreme Court of India in

computerizing district and subordinate courts of the country. ▪ It was done through installation of case information software, hardware and local area network in courts. ▪ They are also being connected on Wide Area Network through a dedicated network offering bandwidth up to 100 Mbps ▪ E-Courts services have now been successfully rolled out through SMS, email, web, mobile app etc. benefiting millions of

litigants and advocates. ▪ Now the Department of Justice has decided to deliver e-Courts services to them through around 2 lakh Common Service

Centers (CSCs) to bridge the digital divide among citizens.

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▪ CSCs are the access points for delivery of essential public utility services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the country.

TEN THREATS TO GLOBAL HEALTH 2019

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently released a list of “Ten threats to global health in 2019”. HIGHLIGHTS 2019 sees the start of the World Health Organization’s new 5-year strategic plan – the 13th General Programme of Work. This plan focuses on a triple billion target: ensuring 1 billion more people benefit from access to universal health coverage, 1 billion more people are protected from health emergencies and 1 billion more people enjoy better health and well-being. Reaching this goal will require addressing the threats to health from a variety of angles. 1. Air pollution and climate change 2. Non-communicable diseases 3. Antimicrobial resistance 4. Ebola and other high-threat pathogens 5. Weak primary health care 6. Vaccine hesitancy

7. Dengue 8. HIV 9. Global influenza pandemic 10. Fragile and vulnerable settings

PITHORA PAINTING

The Pithora painting form is traditionally performed on walls inside the homes of the Rathvas tribe.

▪ The Rathva community of Gujarat like most Adivasi communities of India has a revered cultural diversity.

▪ Rathva culture is full of colourful mythology, historical lore, music, festivals, rituals and preeminently their art.

▪ Pithora painting is a part of an elaborate ritual performed to complete vows to gain the boon of the chief god of the Rathvas, Baba Pithora.

▪ In times of difficulty, Rathva seek the guidance of Badva, the chief priest or shaman of the village.

▪ Badva performs readings based on the skills he has acquired through ancestral schooling, and recommends undertaking a vow to paint Pithora in the home in order to gain a boon from Baba Pithora.

▪ The person who undertakes the vow is known as Ghardhani, or in simple terms, home owner.

▪ The Ghardhani and Badva invite a Lakhara (individual who paints Pithora) of repute in the community. ▪ The completion of the painting would signify the end of the ritual and fulfillment of the vow, and is followed by a village

dinner.

BIOJET FUEL The indigenous produced bio-fuel has been finally cleared for use by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Any hardware or software which is to be used on Indian military aircraft, including those operated by Indian Navy or Army

has to be cleared for use by CEMILAC before being inducted for regular use.

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▪ The premier airworthiness certification agency of the country agency has formally granted its approval for use of this fuel. ▪ This fuel is produced from non-conventional source i.e. non-edible vegetable/ tree borne oil to be used on military aircraft. ▪ The bio-jet fuel has been produced from seeds of Jatropha plant sourced from Chhattisgarh and processed at CSIR-IIP’s lab

at Dehradun. ▪ This approval enables the IAF to fulfil its commitment to fly the maiden IAF An-32 aircraft, with a blend of bio-jet fuel. ▪ This clearance is a major step for continued testing and eventual full certification of the bio-jet fuel for use on a

commercial scale by civil aircraft as well. ▪ Increased demand of bio-jet fuel would give impetus to increase in collection of tree-borne non-edible oil seeds, which, in

turn, will help generate ancillary income, increase remuneration for tribal and marginal farmers, and enthuse cultivation/ collection of oilseeds.

AUTONOMOUS COUNCIL

The Union Cabinet has approved the constitutional amendment which seeks to increase the powers of the autonomous council recently. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The amendment to Article 280 and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution has been approved. ▪ It will significantly improve the financial resources and powers of the autonomous district councils in Assam, Meghalaya,

Mizoram and Tripura, fulfilling longstanding aspirations of the tribal population in these Northeastern states. ▪ At least 1/3rd of the seats will be reserved for women in the village and municipal councils in the Sixth Schedule areas of

Assam, Mizoram and Tripura. ▪ At least two of the nominated members in all autonomous councils in the North East Sixth Schedule areas will also be

reserved for women resulting in empowerment of women. ▪ There will be State Election Commissions for holding elections to the autonomous councils, village and municipal councils

in the areas of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura. ▪ There will be a provision for anti-defection too. ▪ Meghalaya has for the time being kept out of the purview of the provision for elected village and municipal councils and

one-third reservations for women. CORSIA

Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORISA) is a global scheme to address the increase in total CO2 emissions from international aviation above 2020 levels. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The aviation industry is committed to technology, operational and infrastructure advances to continue to reduce the

sector's carbon emissions. ▪ On average (2021-2035), flights subject to CORSIA's offsetting requirements will account for over 600 million tons of CO2

per year. ▪ This makes CORSIA one of the largest carbon pricing instruments in the world in terms of greenhouse gas emissions

coverage. ▪ CORISA is expected to complement other planned measures such as:

1. aircraft technology evolution. 2. operational improvements. 3. the greater use of sustainable aviation fuels.

▪ In 2018, International Civil Aviation Organization adopted the international Standards and Recommended Practices

(SARPs) for CORSIA. ▪ The adoption of global standards for CORSIA will ensure the necessary level of uniformity in regulations which our industry

needs.

ASSAM RIFLES All women marching contingent of the Assam Rifles took part for the first time in the Republic Day Parade.

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FACTS ▪ The Assam Rifles came into being in 1835, as a militia called the ‘Cachar Levy’. ▪ Other names are ‘Sentinels of the North-East’, ‘Friends of the Hill People’. ▪ The Post-Independence role of the Assam Rifles continued to evolve ranging from conventional combat role to

peacekeeping role. ▪ Important Role played by Assam Rifles,

1. Sino-India War 1962. 2. Operated in foreign land as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in 1987 (Op Pawan) in the

North-Eastern areas of India in the face of growing tribal unrest and insurgency wherein the maintenance of law and order.

3. Assam Rifle is majorly involved in countering insurgency and reassuring the people of the region.

ELEPHANTA CAVES A unique event which will showcase the rich handloom and textile tradition of India is being held at Elephanta Caves. The first-of-its-kind event at Elephanta Caves is being organized by the Ministry of Textiles, in partnership with IMG Reliance. HIGHLIGHTS

▪ Elephanta Caves near Mumbai is a UNESCO World Heritage site. ▪ The Elephanta Caves are located in Western India on Elephanta Island. ▪ It is also known as the Island of Gharapuri (City of caves). ▪ They were named Elefante – which morphed to Elephanta – by the colonial Portuguese when they found elephant statues

on it. ▪ The masterpiece “Sadashiva” dominates the entrance to one of the caves in Elephanta. ▪ Sadashiva sculpture represents three aspects of Shiva: the Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer. ▪ It is identified, respectively, with Aghora or Bhairava (left half), Taptapurusha or Mahadeva (central full face), and

Vamadeva or Uma (right half). ▪ The sculptures are also noteworthy for their forms, dimensions, themes, representations, content, alignment and

execution.

TECHNICAL TEXTILE Ministry of Textiles will hold National Conclave on Technical Textiles in Mumbai. HIGHLIGHTS

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▪ Technical textiles are textile material and products manufactured primarily for technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.

▪ They find application not only in clothing but also in areas like agriculture, medical, infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, sports, defense and packaging.

▪ The technical textile sector is the sunshine sector for the textile industry and it is one of the fastest growing segments of the Indian Economy.

▪ Technical textiles constitute 12-15% of the total textile value chain in India, whereas in some of the European countries technical textiles constitute 50% of the total textiles value chain.

SATKOSIA TIGER RESERVE

Trained elephants will help ground-level forest guards patrol deep in the forest of Satkosia Tiger Reserve. FACTS ▪ Satkosia spreads along the magnificent gorge over the mighty river Mahanadi in Odisha. ▪ The area is also a part of the Mahanadi elephant reserve. ▪ Satkosia is the meeting point of two bio-geographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats,

contributing immense biodiversity. ▪ Satkosia Tiger Reserve comprises of two adjoining Sanctuaries of central Odisha named as Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and

Baisipalli Sanctuary.

INTEGRATED REFINERY EXPANSION PROJECT COMPLEX

Prime Minister laid foundation stone for Integrated Refinery Expansion Project Complex (IREP) at Kochi, Kerala. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ IREP will be a modern expansion complex and transform Kochi refinery into the largest PSU Refinery in India with world

class standards. ▪ It will be equipped for production of cleaner Fuels for India. ▪ It will double the production of LPG & diesel and commence production of feedstock for petrochemical projects in this

plant.

JAWAHAR NAVODYA VIDYALAYA The Finance Ministry recently cleared a proposal to hire counsellors for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas or JNVs in rural areas in the wake of a number of suicides. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ JNVs were envisaged as pace-setting schools for talented rural children in the National Policy on Education, 1986. ▪ According to norms, at least 75% of the seats in each JNV are set aside for rural children and so it is never sanctioned for a

district with a 100% urban population. ▪ Seats are reserved for children from SC and ST communities in proportion to their population in the district where the

school is located but is not to be less than the national average, which is 15% for SCs and 7.5% for STs. ▪ All JNVs are managed and run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, which is an autonomous body under the HRD Ministry.

NATIONAL CHILIKA BIRD FESTIVAL The 2nd National Chilika Bird Festival was inaguarated at Mangalajodi, Chilika. ▪ The aim is to promote Ecotourism and preservation of birds in the state. ▪ The two days festival includes photo exhibitions, seminars and visit to Nalabana Island. ▪ It is jointly organized by Odisha Tourism and Chilika Development Authority.

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▪ The National Chilika Bird Festival Award was awarded to Mangalajodi Ecotourism Group for their active involvement in bird protection.

▪ Chilika, which lies in the Central Asian Flyway for birds, is a major stopover for migratory birds from the the Arctic and the Sub-Arctic regions in the course of their onward and return migration along the east coast.

FOLK ART

The Vice President witnessed folk and classical dances presented by Tableaux Artists who participated in Republic Day Parade. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Artists from Tamil Nadu presented the Karakkatam folk dance, while Taakala Folk Dance was performed by artists from

Maharashtra. ▪ North Eastern states Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim and Tripura presented Monpa, Satoiya Nitya, Tamang Seto and

Mamita folk dances respectively. ▪ Artists from Jammu Kashmir performed the Fusim Dance reflecting the compositie culture of the State. ▪ The artistes from Gujarat performed Misra Raas, while Hudka Chhudka from Uttarakhand and Bhangra from Punjab were

also performed.

KISAN GANDHI The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was awarded First Prize for its Tableau, ‘Kisan Gandhi’ in the Republic Day Parade – 2019. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The ICAR Republic Day tableau - 2018 rolled down at Rajpath with the theme of integrated farming, “Mishrit Kheti,

Khushiyon Ki Kheti”. ▪ The ICAR tableau displayed the importance of dairy farming, use of indigenous breeds and livestock based organic

agriculture for rural prosperity. ▪ The Gandhian philosophy included promotion of Swadeshi breeds, organic agriculture and goat milk for better health. ▪ Gandhi, to gain more insight, attended a training program on dairy farming for fifteen days in 1927 at Bangalore Centre of

the ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute. ▪ He also visited and appreciated the 'Indore method' of composting at the Institute of Plant Industry, Indore in 1935.

GLOBAL SYNDEMIC A Lancet Report states that the pandemics of obesity, under nutrition, and climate change are interlinked. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The report shows that the three “pandemics” are interplaying with each other and terms it as “global syndemic”. ▪ They represent as the paramount challenge for humans, the environment and our planet that presses the need for urgent

action. ▪ For example, Climate change will increase under nutrition through increased food insecurity from extreme weather

events, droughts, and shifts in agriculture. ▪ Likewise, foetal and infant under nutrition increases the risk of adult obesity and the harms caused due to obesity. ▪ Climate change may also affect prices of basic food commodities, especially fruit and vegetables, potentially increasing

consumption of processed foods. ▪ Food and agriculture policies, transportation, urban design and land use systems are driving these 'The Global Syndemic'. ▪ The above factors are in turn driven by policies and economic incentives that promote overconsumption and inequalities. ▪ The report calls to establish a Framework Convention on Food Systems (FCFS) similar to global conventions for tobacco

control and climate change. ▪ The FCFS is to restrict the influence of the food industry in policy making and to mobilise national action for healthy,

equitable and sustainable food systems.

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SARUS CRANE ▪ Sarus Crane’s population in Uttar Pradesh has steadily grown since 2013.

▪ The main reason was that the wetlands had been thrived and farmers & fisher folk nurtured their nests.

▪ The bird’s population was threatened by habitat degradation and human callousness.

▪ It is the world’s tallest flying bird. ▪ As per the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) it is also India’s

only resident breeding crane. ▪ It is also the official State bird of Uttar Pradesh. ▪ The International Union for Conservation of Nature

(IUCN) has marked it as ‘vulnerable’ in its list of threatened species.

▪ The Sarus habitat is outside protected areas, in natural wetlands with low water depth, marshy and fallow areas and agricultural fields.

▪ They play a vital role in ecological balance by controlling the population of harmful insects and have significant cultural importance, while also being sociable.

INDIAN POST PAYMENT BANK

▪ IPPB completed two years since its pilot launch recently. ▪ IPPB was launched as a pilot project on 30 January 2017 in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh). ▪ It was launched on 2018 by the Prime Minister of India at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. ▪ India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) was setup under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication. ▪ Government of India owns 100% equity in IPPB. ▪ IPPB will provide the banking services to urban and rural areas, but it’s primary focus would be on rural segment.

KRANTI MANDIR

Four museums were inaugurated on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Jayanti which were related to India's rich history and culture. This complex includes Museums on 1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army. 2. Yaad-e-Jallian Museum (Jallianwala Bagh and World War 1). 3. Museum on 1857- India’s First War of Independence and. 4. Drishyakala Museum on Indian Art, spanning three centuries with over 450 works of art. ▪ All 4 museums have been named as Kranti Mandir. ▪ Kranti Mandir is a tribute to the revolutionary zeal and courage of our great freedom fighters. ▪ The INA trial was conducted at Red Fort in the id 1940s and it had stirred the whole nation.

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION (DIPP) The government has notified changing the name of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The notification has also included four new categories of responsibilities to DIPP. It includes:

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1. The promotion of internal trade (including retail trade). 2. The welfare of traders and their employees. 3. Matters relating to facilitating Ease of Doing Business. 4. Matters relating to start-ups.

▪ These are in addition to the previous responsibilities of the erstwhile DIPP relating to general industrial policy,

administration of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, industrial management, productivity in industry, and matters related to e-commerce.

▪ Internal Trade has remained the domain of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Now certain divisions from it will be transferred to DPIIT.

WILDLIFE CORRIDOR

A 10-month-old female leopard was run over by a heavy vehicle on Gurgaon-Faridabad road. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Environmentalists have long been demanding a wildlife corridor, so that animals can cross the area without actually

having to go through the vehicles. ▪ A wildlife corridor is an area of habitat that provides passage for wildlife across artificial obstacles. ▪ Artificial obstacles can be any dam, road, and railway. ▪ It is also known as a habitat corridor or a green corridor. ▪ In addition to connecting wildlife to habitats, wildlife corridors also facilitate the migration, interbreeding, and migration of

animals. ▪ The type or design of these corridors varies depending on the animal species that are intended to use them. ▪ For instance, amphibian corridors are small tunnels, while fish corridors can be made of artificial torrents. ▪ Wildlife corridors exist to aide in the survival of animals. They provide safe passage and refuge for animals in areas

threatened by humans or predators. ▪ Corridors can contribute to three factors that stabilize a population:

1. Colonization—animals are able to move and occupy new areas when food sources or other natural resources are lacking in their core habitat.

2. Migration—species that relocate seasonally can do so more safely and effectively when it does not interfere with human development barriers.

3. Interbreeding—animals can find new mates in neighboring regions so that genetic diversity can increase and thus have a positive impact on the overall population.

BlaNDM-1 GENE A new study has found traces of antibiotic resistance genes in the High Arctic region. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ It includes the ‘superbug’ or the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 protein (coded by blaNDM-1 gene), which was first

detected in urban India in 2008. ▪ The detection reinforces how rapidly AR (antibiotic resistance) can globalize. ▪ Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from around the world are accumulating in even the most remote locations. ▪ Bacteria with the NDM-1 gene are part of a larger group of superbug bacteria that are extremely hard to treat and can

spread easily in hospitals. ▪ Most NDM-1 strains are resistant to all commonly used antibiotics. ▪ A superbug, also called multi-resistant, is a bacterium that carries several resistance genes. These are resistant to

multiple antibiotics and are able to survive even after exposure to one or more antibiotics.

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CHIN REFUGEES Eight organizations of the Chakma community submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking the inclusion of Chin refugees in India. FACTS

▪ The Chin state is a mountainous region in west

Myanmar, bordering India and Bangladesh. ▪ The Chins are one of the major ethnic groups in

Myanmar, and are mostly Christians. ▪ Buddhist-majority Myanmar was governed by a

military junta since the 1960s, until recently. ▪ They carried out forced assimilation and repression of

the Chin people, which resulted in numerous and often violent civil conflicts.

▪ A census shows 478,801 Chins living in Myanmar. ▪ Globally, there are about 30,000 Chin refugees in

Malaysia and 3,300 in India registered with UNHCR.

PONG DAM WETLANDS

The bird watchers in association with the state Forest Department are organizing the annual census of waterfowl species at the famed Pong wetlands of Kangra Valley, Himachel Pradesh. FACTS ▪ Water fowls are the birds that depend on water bodies for roosting and feeding. ▪ It is the only place in the country after the Bharatpur sanctuary in Rajasthan where the red-necked grebe descends every

year. ▪ The wetland is one of the largest man- made wetlands of the Northern India. ▪ It is formed by the construction of Pong Dam during 1974 across the Beas River. ▪ The Pong dam reservoir is also known Maha Rana Pratap Sagar. ▪ It was declared a “RAMSAR SITE” in the year 2002.

SMART FOOD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Associations including the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) together have formed the Smart Food Executive Council. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Formed under the aegis of the Smart Food Initiative that was launched in 2013. ▪ Stemmed from the strategic thinking around the need for food that fulfils the criteria of being good for the consumer,

good for the planet and good for the farmer. ▪ Objective: To diversify staples which can have the strongest impact on nutrition, the environment and farmer welfare. ▪ This would contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for overcoming poverty and hunger (SDG 1 and 2),

responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), along with adaptation to climate change (Goal 13). The approach taken will include gender equality (SDG 5) and action through partnerships (SDG 17).

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▪ The Smart Food initiative is founded by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) and aims to build food systems where the food is good for you (highly nutritious), good for the planet and good for the smallholder farmer.

▪ It is an initiative which will initially focus on popularizing millets and sorghum.

GOLDEN LANGUR Assam Environment and Forest Minister announced the success of the Golden Langur Conservation Breeding Program in the State. FACTS

▪ Golden langur, is an old world monkey found in a small region of western Assam, India and in the neighboring foothills of the Black Mountains of Bhutan.

▪ The golden langur ( Trachypithecus geei ) is currently endangered.

▪ The langur’s coat is a golden to creamy white, gaining a more reddish tinge in winter.

▪ It inhabits evergreen and deciduous tropical forests.

ALLIANCE TO END PLASTIC WASTE

An alliance of global companies has launched a new organization- AEPW- to help eliminate plastic waste, especially in the ocean. ▪ The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), comprising about 30 companies, pledged over $1 billion to eliminate plastic

waste across the world. They aim to invest $1.5 billion over the next five years for the same. ▪ The alliance is designed as a non-profit organization. ▪ It includes companies from across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa as well as the Middle East

are part of the Alliance. ▪ The aim is to develop solutions to mitigate plastic pollution and promote a circular economy by utilizing used plastics. ▪ Member companies include those that make, use, sell, process, collect and recycle plastics, as well as chemical and plastic

manufacturers, consumer goods companies, retailers, converters, and waste management companies, also called the plastics value chain. From India, Reliance Industries will advance efforts towards a sustainable future.

OPERATION KABADDI

It was to be the largest planned operation by the Indian Army to end cross-LoC infiltration by capturing at least 25 selected Pakistani posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in September 2001. However, owing to some issues it was not carried out. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Operation Kabaddi would include a “wide spectrum of evolving punitive operations such as the execution of deliberate fire

assaults to destroy military and terrorist points, and area targets across the LoC; ambushes and raids across the LOC; and company, battalion, and brigade-sized deliberate offensive attacks to capture objectives of tactical importance across the LoC that would improve the Indian Army’s counter-insurgency (CI) posture.”

▪ The objective of Operation Kabaddi was to change the geography of the LoC with access to tactical points there, which would then help the Army tackle the infiltration of militants by the Pakistani side.

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MANIYARO MANIYARO is a variety of folk dance of Gujarat.

▪ It carries the sentiments of heroism in the Dandiya RAAS of Maher community in Gujarat.

▪ In Gujarat and especially in Saurashtra region, generally Men wear traditional costumes, having preset sized wooden sticks and present Maniyaro.

▪ Maniyaro is usually being played with the ancient instruments like Drum, Flute, and RAVAN Hattho etc.

▪ Lyrics of the songs that are being sung in Maniyaro are sometimes flowing enjoyment, at times expressing the feeling of separation and sometimes inspiring heroism.

SMALL WOOD BROWN BUTTERFLY

After a span of 120 long years, researchers in Sikkim have rediscovered the Small Woodbrown butterfly species from Bakhim in Khanchendzonga National Park. FACTS

▪ The Small Woodbrown butterfly, scientifically known

as Lethe nicetella is named after its brown-colored wings patched with white round spots.

▪ It is amongst the smallest members of the genus Lethe, with wings that are up to 50 millimeters long.

▪ The species is endemic to the eastern Himalayas and occurs in forests lying between elevations of 1,800-2,800 metres.

▪ Across the world, species of Lethe are found in Sunda Islands, Japan, Siberia, Himalayas and peninsular India. Of the 41 species of Lethe that are found in India, 32 species are reported from Sikkim alone.

ANTI-DEFECTION LAW

The Punjab Assembly has issued notice to Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Former rebel AAP leader and MLA from Bholath, for disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. S HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985 by the 52nd Amendment Act. It lays down the process by

which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.

▪ The decision on question as to disqualification on ground of defection is referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, and his decision is final.

▪ The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies. ▪ If a member of a house belonging to a political party:

1. Voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party, or 2. Votes, or does not vote in the legislature, contrary to the directions of his political party. However, if the member has

taken prior permission, or is condoned by the party within 15 days from such voting or abstention, the member shall not be disqualified.

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3. If an independent candidate joins a political party after the election. 4. If a nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member of the legislature.

▪ Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances. The law allows a party to

merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favor of the merger. In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.

MOSS ROSE

Two new species of moss rose discovered in south India. FACTS

▪ Portulaca badamica and Portulaca

lakshminarasimhaniana. Portulaca badamica is named after the site of its discovery that is, the Badami hills, while the second new species—Portulaca lakshminarasimhaniana—honours

▪ Pakshirajan Lakshminarashimhan, who is the head of the Botanical Survey of India, western regional circle in Pune, for his significant contribution to plant taxonomy.

▪ IUCN Status: Portulaca badamica- data deficient category and Portulaca lakshminarasimhaniana- critically endangered.

LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS

A pilot project to administer triple drug therapy with the long-term aim of eradicating lymphatic filariasis was recently launched in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Nagpur is one of the five districts in the country and only one in Maharashtra where this triple drug therapy campaign is being launched. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending three drug treatment to accelerate the global elimination of

lymphatic filariasis. ▪ The treatment, known as IDA, involves a combination of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate and albendazole. ▪ It is being recommended annually in settings where its use is expected to have the greatest impact. ▪ The third drug being used in this therapy will help control adult worms of lymphatic filariasis. Micro filariasis, which is

produced by adult worms, is the cause of swollen leg. Previously the adult worms were sterilized by drugs and remained inactive for a year. Now that period will increase to two years.

▪ The plan is to administer these drugs for two consecutive years. The life of the adult worm is hardly four years, so it would die a natural death without causing any harm to the person.

LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS ▪ Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. ▪ Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system. ▪ Lymphatic filariasis is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea. ▪ Lymphatic filariasis, considered globally as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic,

thread-like worms.

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▪ The adult worms only live in the human lymph system. ▪ The lymph system maintains the body’s fluid balance and fights infections. ▪ Lymphatic filariasis is spread from person to person by mosquitoes.

NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME The Rural Development Ministry has proposed to bring in the following changes in monthly pensions under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) ▪ For the elderly poor, disabled and widow pensions are to be increased from the current ₹200 to ₹800. ▪ For those above the age of 80, the proposal is to increase the pension from ₹500 to ₹1,200 a month. BACKGROUND ▪ The NSAP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development. It came into effect from 15th

August,1995. ▪ It represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the DPSP in Article 41 of the Constitution. In particular, Article 41

of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development.

▪ It aims to provide financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions. ▪ Presently NSAP comprises of five schemes:

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS). 2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS). 3. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS). 4. National Family Benefit Scheme NFBS). 5. Annapurna

ARAB ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

Arab leaders and officials have urged the international community to support nations hosting Syrian refugees and take steps to minimize the impact of the refugee crisis. The call was made in the Beirut Declaration at the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit that concluded in the Lebanese capital recently. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ This is the first time Arab countries have reached a consensus on encouraging Syrian refugees to return to their country. ▪ The declaration said, the refugee crisis in Arab countries is the worst humanitarian problem since World War II. It points

out that the crisis leads to an economic slowdown, increases the expenditure and deficit, imposes burdens on public sectors and infrastructure and poses risks to the society.

▪ They are summits of the Arab League, held at the head of state level to address issues of economic and social development among member-states.

ARAB LEAGUE ▪ The Arab League is a regional organization of Arab countries in and around North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Arabia. ▪ It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Kingdom of Egypt, Kingdom of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi

Arabia, and Syria. ▪ Currently, the League has 22 members, but Syria’s participation has been suspended since November 2011, as a

consequence of government repression during the Syrian Civil War. ▪ The League’s main goal is to “draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between

them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab Countries “.

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FLAMINGO FESTIVAL ▪ Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism in Pulicat and Nellapattu. ▪ Flamingo Festival is being organized for the past 12 years. ▪ Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is considered one of the biggest habitat for some hundreds of pelicans and other

birds. Located about 20 km north of the Pulicat Lake on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, the sanctuary is spread in about 459 hectares.

▪ Pulicat lake is the second largest brackish water lake or lagoon in India, after Chilika Lake. ▪ It straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states with over 96% of it in Andhra Pradesh. The lake

encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. ▪ The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. ▪ Two rivers which feed the lagoon are the Arani river at the southern tip and the Kalangi River from the northwest, in

addition to some smaller streams. ▪ The Buckingham Canal, a navigation channel, is part of the lagoon on its western side.

PAKKE PAGA HORNBILL FESTIVAL The government of Arunachal Pradesh has declared the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF)–the state’s only conservation festival, as a “state festival”. ▪ The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) also known as the great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger

members of the hornbill family. ▪ Great hornbills are found in the forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, Mainland Southeast Asia, Indonesian Island of Sumatra and

North eastern region of India. The distribution of the species is fragmented over its range in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

▪ Its impressive size and color have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals. ▪ The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity. ▪ IUCN status: Vulnerable (uplisted from Near Threatened in 2018). ▪ It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES.

SIZE INDIA PROJECT The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) will work with the Union Ministry of Textiles in the “Size India” project, which is expected to be launched next month. CMAI will conduct a study across India to arrive at standard sizes. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The ‘Size India’ project will help create a India-specific size chart for the textiles and garment industry. ▪ Aims to arrive at standard Indian sizes for apparels. ▪ The project will reduce overall prices and the consumers will stand to benefit from it. ▪ Under the project, anthropometric data will be collected from 25,000 sample (with men and women in equal numbers)

population in age group 15 to 65 years across six major cities. ▪ It will create database of measurements that will result in standardized size chart which is representative of Indian

population and can be adopted by apparel industry.

N.K. SINGH COMMITTEE The N.K. Singh-headed FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Review Committee report had recommended the ratio to be 40% for the Centre and 20% for the States, respectively, by 2023. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The 60% consolidated Central and State debt limit was consistent with international best practices, and was an essential

parameter to attract a better rating from the credit ratings agencies. ▪ The FRBM review committee had recommended a debt-to-GDP ratio of 38.7% for the central government, 20% for the

state governments together and a fiscal deficit of 2.5% of GDP, by financial year 2022-23.

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▪ The committee has recommended adopting fiscal deficit as the key operational target consistent with achieving the medium-term debt ceiling, at 3% of GDP for three years, between 2017-18 and 2019-20.

▪ Revenue deficit-to-GDP ratio has been envisaged to decline steadily by 0.25 percentage points each year from 2.3% in 2016-17 to 0.8% in 2022-23.

▪ The Committee proposed a draft Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Bill, 2017 to replace the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 (FRBM Act).

▪ The Committee proposed to create an autonomous Fiscal Council with a Chairperson and two members appointed by the centre. To maintain its independence, it proposed a non-renewable four-year term for the Chairperson and members. Further, these people should not be employees in the central or state governments at the time of appointment.

GLOBAL COMMISSION ON THE FURTURE OF WORK

The Global Commission on the Future of Work released its report on Jan 22. The document calls on governments to take steps to address the challenges caused by unprecedented transformations going on in the world of work. RECOMMENDATION ▪ A universal labor guarantee that protects fundamental workers’ rights, an adequate living wage, limits on hours of

work and safe and healthy workplaces. ▪ Guaranteed social protection from birth to old age that supports people’s needs over the life cycle. ▪ A universal entitlement to lifelong learning that enables people to skill, reskill and upskill. ▪ Managing technological change to boost decent work, including an international governance system for digital labour

platforms. ▪ Greater investments in the care, green and rural economies. ▪ A transformative and measurable agenda for gender equality. ▪ Reshaping business incentives to encourage long-term investments. GLOBAL COMMISSION ON THE FURTURE OF WORK ▪ The formation of ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work marks the second stage in the ILO Future of Work

Initiative. ▪ Its job is to undertake an in-depth examination of the future of work that can provide the analytical basis for the delivery

of social justice in the 21st century. ▪ Its job also includes identifying the key challenges facing the world of work and making practical recommendations about

how these may be addressed in the future.

ARROW 3 INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM Arrow 3 interceptor system was recently successfully tested. FACTS ▪ Arrow 3 is intended to serve as Israel’s highest-altitude missile interception system. ▪ It is jointly funded, developed and produced by Israel and the United States. ▪ The system is designed to shoot down missiles above the atmosphere. ▪ Israel’s Arrow system, partly financed by the United States, was developed and produced by Israeli Aerospace Industries in

partnership with Boeing. ▪ Arrow 3 may serve as an anti-satellite weapon, which would make Israel one of the world’s few countries capable of

shooting down satellites.

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PRAVASI TEERATH DARSHAN YOJANA Govt has launched the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Under the scheme, a group of Indian diaspora will be taken on a government-sponsored tour of religious places in India

twice a year. ▪ The group will be taken to the religious places of all major religions in India. ▪ The tour would be completely government sponsored. ▪ Under the eligibility criteria, all people of Indian-origin, aged between 45 and 65 can apply and a group will be selected out

of them. ▪ The first preference will be given to people from ‘Girmitiya countries’ such as Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad

and Tobago and Jamaica. ▪ Girmityas or Jahajis are descendants of indentured Indian labourers brought to Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, East Africa, the

Malay Peninsula, Caribbean and South America (Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname) to work on sugarcane plantations for the prosperity of the European settlers and save the Fijians from having to work on these plantations and thus to preserve their culture.

▪ The term Girmitiya was coined by Mahatma Gandhi who referred to himself as first Girmitiya. ▪ The countries where these indentured Indian labourers settled are known as Girmitiya countries.

INTERMEDIATE RANGE NUCLEAR FORCES TREATY

The Russian military has released the specifications of its new missile- SSC-8 ground-fired cruise missile (also known as the Novator 9M729), seeking to dispel the U.S. claim that the weapons violates the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. INF TREATY ▪ The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty, formally Treaty between the United States of America and the

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles) is a 1987 arms control agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union.

▪ Under the INF Treaty, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. agreed to eliminate within three years all ground-launched-missiles of 500-5,500 km range and not to develop, produce or deploy these in future.

▪ The U.S. destroyed 846 Pershing IIs and Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCMs) and the U.S.S.R., 1,846 missiles (SS-4s, SS-5s and SS-20s), along with its support facilities.

WORLD INTEGRATED MEDICINE FORUM

▪ The World Integrated Medicine Forum on the regulation of Homoeopathic Medicinal Products is being held in India. ▪ Theme: ‘Advancing Global Collaboration’. ▪ Organized by Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH), with the support of Ministry of AYUSH and many others. ▪ The Forum will be serving as the only truly global platform in which the public and private sector can meet and exchange

ideas on how to ensure and increase the availability of safe and effective homeopathic medicines worldwide, now for the second time.

▪ The first forum on similar lines was organized by CCRH in 2017.

KEERIAN-GANDIAL BRIDGE ▪ Keerian – Gandial bridge, over river Ravi, was recently inaugurated. ▪ The bridge over Ravi at Keerian – Gandial will benefit over 2,20,000 people living on the two sides – Kathua in Jammu, and

Pathankot in Punjab. ▪ It will reduce the distance between the two cities from 45 kms to 8.6 kms. ▪ The Keerian – Gandial bridge will improve inter-state connectivity.

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SC/ST ACT Supreme Court has refused to stay amendments to SC/ST Act. BACKGROUND In March 2018, Supreme Court diluted the stringent provisions of SC/ST Act (Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra). The verdict saw a huge backlash across the country. The government filed a review petition in the Supreme Court and subsequently amended the 1989 Act back to its original form. SC/ST (Amendment) Act, 2018 ▪ Preliminary enquiry may be conducted by a DSP to ensure allegations are not “frivolous or motivated” before a case is

registered. ▪ It added that a public servant if accused can be only arrested with the permission of the appointing authority. ▪ Others can be arrested only after permission is granted from the Senior Superintendent of Police of the district. ▪ The SSP will have to record in writing the reason for granting permission and hand it to the accused and the concerned

court. AMENDMENTS The Amendment seeks to insert three new clauses to Section 18 of the original Act. ▪ The first stating the purposes of the Act that, a “preliminary enquiry shall not be required for registration of a First

Information Report (FIR) against any person. ▪ Second that “the arrest of a person accused of having committed an offence under the Act would not require any

approval”. ▪ While third says that the provisions of Section 438 of the CrPC which deals with anticipatory bail, shall not apply to a case

under this Act, “notwithstanding any judgment or order of any Court”.

SOUTH ASIA NITROGEN HUB A major international research programme is being carried out to tackle the challenge that nitrogen pollution poses for environment, food security, human health and the economy in South Asia. The research programme will be carried out by South Asian Nitrogen Hub. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The South Asian Nitrogen Hub, a partnership led by the UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and comprising around 50

organizations from across the UK and South Asia, will be established with funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under its Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

▪ The Hub is one of 12 GCRF hubs announced by the UKRI to address intractable challenges in sustainable development. ▪ The interdisciplinary hubs will work across 85 countries with governments, international agencies, partners and NGOs. ▪ India is a major partner with 18 Indian institutions in this project. ▪ India is the only country in South Asia that has completed its nitrogen assessment over a year ago and is already co-leading

the South Asian nitrogen assessment with CEH, UK, for the UN Environment. NITROGEN ▪ Nitrogen, which is a vital macronutrient for most plants, is the most abundant element in the atmosphere. ▪ A little over 78% of dry air on Earth is nitrogen. But atmospheric nitrogen, or dinitrogen, is unreactive and cannot be

utilized by plants directly. ▪ Until the beginning of the 20th century, farmers depended on a natural process called nitrogen fixation for the conversion

of atmospheric nitrogen into reactive nitrogen in the soil: nitrogen-fixing bacteria like rhizobia live symbiotically with leguminous plants, providing nitrogen to the plant and soil in the form of reactive compounds like ammonia and nitrate.

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▪ But the natural nitrogen cycle was inadequate to feed the growing population. Scientists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch solved this problem by producing ammonia by combining atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen gas at high temperature and pressure—known as the Haber-Bosch process.

▪ The Green Revolution, which was instrumental in establishing food security in the developing countries in the 1960s, was driven by artificial nitrogen-fixation. Today, about half of the world’s population depends on this process for its nutrition.

BANDIPUR TIGER RESERVE

The differences of opinion between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways over the proposal to construct elevated roads through sections of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve have given a sliver of hope to the State government to tackle the night traffic ban on National Highway 766. ISSUES The contention between the two Central Ministries on the issue, in which Kerala and Karnataka have stakes, had led the Supreme Court to ask the Centre to arrive at a consensus within six weeks. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has not concurred with the project for an elevated 5-km road over Bandipur while the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is willing to construct five elevated sections, of which four will be in Bandipur and one in Wayanad. BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK ▪ Located in Karnataka. ▪ Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park, Mudumalai National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, it is part

of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve making it the largest protected area in southern India and largest habitat of wild elephants in south Asia.

▪ The park is flanked by the Kabini river in the north and the Moyar river in the south. The Nugu river runs through the park. ▪ The highest point in the park is on a hill called Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.

E-WASTE

To highlight the rising challenge posed by mountains of discarded electronics worldwide, seven UN entities have come together to launch the report- “A New Circular Vision for Electronics – Time for a Global Reboot”- at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in a bid to offer some solutions to a behemoth-sized problem that is making the world sicker and adding to environmental degradation. The joint report calls for a new vision for e-waste based on the “circular economy” concept, whereby a regenerative system can minimize waste and energy leakage. E-waste export, though, is regulated under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which has been ratified by 188 nations. CONCERN It lies in the fact that globally, only up to 20% of e-waste is recycled. The rest is undocumented and experts predict that it gets buried under the ground in landfills for centuries as it is not biodegradable. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The report calls for systematic collaboration with major brands, small and medium-sized enterprises, academia, trade

unions, civil society and associations in a deliberative process to reorient the system and reduce the waste of resources each year with a value greater than the GDP of most countries.

▪ To capture the global value of materials in e-waste and create global circular value chains, use new technology to create service business models, better product tracking and manufacturer or retailer take-back programmes.

▪ The report notes that material efficiency, recycling infrastructure and scaling up the volume and quality of recycled materials to meet the needs of electronics supply chains will all be essential for future production.

▪ The producers should also have buy-back or return offers for old equipment, and plans to incentivise the consumer financially.

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▪ The report also advocates a system of ‘urban mining’ by strengthening the extended producer responsibility provision. The report supports the work of the E-waste Coalition, which includes International Labour Organization (ILO); International Telecommunication Union (ITU); United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR); United Nations University (UNU) and Secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions.

INDIAN OCEAN NAVAL SYMPOSIUM (IONS) Navy commanders of the Indian Ocean littoral states will convene in Bandar Abbas (IRAN) next month for participating in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). IONS ▪ IONS, the 21st century’s first significant international maritime security initiative launched in February 2008, provides a

forum for discussion of regional maritime issues and promotes friendly relationships among member nations. ▪ It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian

Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues and, in the process, endeavors to generate a flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common understanding and possibly agreements on the way ahead.

▪ Under the charter of business adopted in 2014, the grouping has working groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Information Security and Interoperability (IS&I) and anti-piracy now renamed as maritime security.

▪ The 35 members nations of the IONS are grouped into four sub-regions- South Asian, West Asian, East African and South East Asian and Australian.

▪ There are nine states with observer status.

AWARDS BHARAT RATNA: The Centre conferred former President Pranab Mukherjee the Bharat Ratna, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer and musician Bhupen Hazarika have also been awarded posthumously. ▪ It is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. ▪ The provision of Bharat Ratna was introduced in 1954. ▪ Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for these awards. ▪ There is no written provision that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Indian citizens only. ▪ It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. ▪ The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science and public services but the government

expanded the criteria to include “any field of human endeavour” in December 2011. PADMA AWARDS: one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. ▪ They were instituted in the year 1954. ▪ The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering,

trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ➢ Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service. 1. Ms. Teejan Bai - Art-Vocals-Folk - Chhattisgarh 2. Shri Ismail Omar Guelleh (Foreigner) -Public Affairs - Djibouti 3. Shri Anilkumar Manibhai Naik - Trade & Industry Infrastructure - Maharashtra 4. Shri Balwant Moreshwar Purandare - Art-Acting-Theatre - Maharashtra ➢ Padma Bhushan is awarded for distinguished service of high order. ➢ Padma Shri is awarded for distinguished service in any field. ▪ The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. ▪ The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider

giving an award posthumously if the demise of the person proposed to be honoured has been recent, say within a period of one year preceding the Republic Day on which it is proposed to announce the award.

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ZEARALENONE

A Journal of Food Science study detected zearalenone in wheat, rice, corn and oats from markets in Uttar Pradesh. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India does not impose maximum limits for zearalenone, though the European Union (EU) does. ISSUE Fungal toxins are commonly found in food, and can be a public health concern. India regulates the levels of some of these, including aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, ergot and patulin. The first three infest cereals, while patulin is found in apples. Each of these toxins has been associated with disease outbreaks. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies aflatoxin as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is enough evidence for its carcinogenicity. In zearalenone’s case, there is no strong evidence of toxicity in humans so far, though several research groups are investigating. As a result, the IARC classifies it as a Group 3 carcinogen, which means evidence is not sufficient for an evaluation yet. ZEARALENONE Zearalenone behaves like oestrogen, the female sex hormone, and could cause endocrine disturbances in humans. Its nasty effects in animals, such as pigs, are documented. When fed with mouldy corn, pigs develop inflamed vaginas, infertility and other symptoms. This is why countries like Brazil regulate zearalenone levels in animal feed. In humans, the data are fuzzier.

WHO WORLD MALARIA REPORT 2018 As per World Health Organiaztion’s World Malaria Report of 2018, India is the only country among the 11 highest-burden countries that saw substantial progress in reducing disease burden: it saw a 24% decrease in 2017 compared to 2016. HIGHLIGHTS India’s progress in fighting malaria is an outcome of concerted efforts to ensure that its malaria programme is country-owned and country-led, even as it is in alignment with globally accepted strategies. At the East Asia Summit in 2015, India pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030. Following this public declaration, India launched the five-year National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination. This marked a shift in focus from malaria “control” to “elimination”. The plan provides a roadmap to achieve the target of ending malaria in 571 districts out of India’s 678 districts by 2022. DAMAN INITIATIVE ▪ Among states, Odisha’s Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) initiative is significant. ▪ The initiative aims to deliver services to the most inaccessible and hardest hit people of the State. The initiative has in-built

innovative strategies to combat asymptomatic malaria. ▪ The programme is jointly implemented by Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Malaria Research

(ICMR-NIMR), National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Odisha and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).

JAN SWASTHYA ABHIYAN

The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), a national platform working on health and healthcare services, urged the Ministry of Health to immediately implement the Charter of Patients’ Rights and ensure the inclusion of the entire range of patients’ rights without any dilution. In August 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced its plans to implement this Charter, which was placed in the public domain for inviting comments up to 30th September, 2018. Although nearly 4 months have elapsed since this declaration of intent, there seems to have been no further progress on finalization and adoption of the charter. The draft Charter of Patients’ Rights:

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▪ It has been prepared by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). ▪ The draft charter includes 17 rights with description, inspired by international charters and guided by national level

provisions, with the objective of consolidating these into a single document. ▪ The proposed Charter draws upon all the existing relevant provisions, thereby making them publicly known in a coherent

manner.

JIBAN SAMPARK PROJECT Odisha has launched Jiban Sampark project for the welfare of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The Project is being undertaken in association with UNICEF. ▪ It aims to generate awareness among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Odisha on various development and

welfare initiatives of State Government, especially on women and child welfare. ▪ The focus areas of the Project are skill development, empowering communities, cooperation and innovation among the

groups. PVTGs ▪ PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. ▪ In 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called

PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).

▪ Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12).

BACKGROUND ▪ In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed

among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

▪ PVTGs have some basic characteristics -they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social institutes cast in a simple mould, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a slower rate of change etc.

▪ The Scheme for Development of Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), came into effect from April 1,2008. ▪ The Scheme defines PVTGs as the most vulnerable among the Scheduled Tribes and the Scheme therefore seeks to

prioritise their protection and development. ▪ It identifies 75 PVTGs. ▪ The Scheme seeks to adopt a holistic approach to the socio-economic development of PVTGs and gives state governments

flexibility in planning initiatives that are geared towards the specific socio-cultural imperatives of the specific groups at hand.

▪ The Scheme is then funded entirely by the Central government.

SERIOUS FRAUD INVESTIGATION OFFICE ▪ SFIO comes under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). ▪ It is a multi-disciplinary organization that investigates and guides prosecution in white-collar fraud requiring expertise in

forensic auditing, corporate law, information technology, capital markets, taxation, and other allied fields. ▪ It was established in 2003, based on recommendations by the Naresh Chandra Committee on Corporate Audit and

Governance. ▪ It received statutory powers under the Companies Act, 2013. ▪ The rules giving it the power to make arrests came into effect in 2017. ▪ Since its inception, the SFIO was understood to be a specialized organisation that would require a wide spectrum of

expertise, and recruitment would be in large part deputation-based, drawing on expertise from various civil services cadres, and on consultants with the required expertise.

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▪ Cases are assigned to the SFIO based on the scale of financial misappropriation or extent of public interest that is at stake.

INDIA’S 2ND TULIP GARDEN India’s second Tulip garden will be set up in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand at a cost of Rs 50 crore. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ First one is located in Srinagar of Jammu and Kashmir. ▪ The Tulip Garden will be developed by ONGC, under its corporate social responsibility programme in over 50 hectares of

forest land near Chandak hilltop. ▪ The site was selected under the 13 districts, 13 new destinations’ scheme, to attract more tourists to the Pithoragarh

district of Uttarakhand.

ATAL SETU ▪ “Atal Setu” on the Mandovi river in Goa has been inaugurated. ▪ It is 5.1-km long cable-stayed bridge connecting state capital Panaji with north Goa. ▪ The bridge is constructed by the GIDC (Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation) in collaboration with construction

major Larsen and Toubro. ▪ Mahadayi, also known as the Mandovi river, is known as a lifeline in the northern parts of Karnataka. ▪ The river originates and flows for 28 kilometer in Karnataka and goes through Maharashtra and Goa before meeting the

Arabian Sea.

PAHARI COMMUNITY Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has given his approval for the Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2014, providing reservation to the persons belonging to Pahari community of the State. The legislation is aimed at providing job opportunities to the Pahari people residing in backward areas of the State. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ Pahari is a linguistic group, comprising both Muslims and Hindus, and is mainly located in Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara and

Baramulla districts. ▪ Because of the remoteness and inaccessibility of the areas of their residence, the Pahari community has historically faced

considerable economic distress leading to overall socio-economic backwardness.

VOTE ON ACCOUNT, INTERIM BUDGET & BUDGET Article 266 of the Constitution of India mandates that Parliamentary approval is required to draw money from the Consolidated Fund of India. Besides, Article 114 (3) of the Constitution stipulates that no amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund without the enactment of a law (appropriation bill). BUDGET ▪ The Union government's Annual Financial Statement or the Statement of the Estimated Receipts and Expenditure for each

financial year is popularly known as the Budget. ▪ Through Budget, the government prioritises its total spending, categorised under two broad heads: plan and non-plan. ▪ Under Article 112 of the Constitution, the budget, which is presented by means of the Financial Bill and Appropriation Bill,

has to be passed by the House before it can come into effect on April 1, the start of financial year. INTERIM BUDGET ▪ An Interim Budget is not the same as a 'Vote on Account'. ▪ While a 'Vote on Account' deals only with the expenditure side of the government's budget, an Interim Budget is a

complete set of accounts, including both expenditure and receipts.

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▪ An Interim Budget gives the complete financial statement, very similar to a full Budget. ▪ While the law does not debar the Union government from introducing tax changes, normally during an election year,

successive governments have avoided making any major changes in income tax laws during an Interim Budget. VOTE ON ACCOUNT ▪ When the Union government needs to withdraw any money from the Consolidated Fund of India to cover its expenditure

(especially during the time when elections are underway and a caretaker government is in place), it has to seek approval from Parliament.

▪ Article 266 of the Constitution mandates that parliamentary approval is required to draw money from the Consolidated Fund of India.

▪ A special provision is, therefore, made for a 'Vote on Account' by which the government obtains the vote of Parliament for a sum sufficient to incur expenditure on various items for a part of the year.

▪ This enables the government to fund its expenses for a short period of time or until a full Budget is passed. ▪ Normally, the 'Vote on Account' is taken for two months for a sum equivalent to one sixth of the estimated expenditure for

the entire year under various demands for grants. But it can be for a slightly longer period of time (3-4 months) as well. ▪ Most importantly, a 'Vote on Account' cannot alter direct taxes since they need to be passed through a Finance Bill.

INSTITUION OF EMINENCE SCHEME ▪ The institutes of eminence scheme under the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry aims to project Indian

institutes to global recognition. ▪ The selected institutes will enjoy complete academic and administrative autonomy. ▪ The government will run 10 of these and they will receive special funding. ▪ The selection shall be made through challenge method mode by the Empowered Expert Committee constituted for the

purpose. ▪ Eligibility: Only higher education institutions currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National

Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence tag. ▪ The private Institutions of Eminence can also come up as greenfield ventures provided the sponsoring organization

submits a convincing perspective plan for 15 years.

NSDC Renault-Nissan has signed a pact with National Skill Development Corporation to train its workforce in the alliance plant in Chennai for future technologies. NSDC would assist the Renault-Nissan workforce develop competency standards in emerging manufacturing technologies. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ National Skill Development Corporation India (NSDC), established in 2009, is a not- for- profit company set up by the

Ministry of Finance. ▪ NSDC was set up by Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. ▪ The Government of India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital

of NSDC, while the private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital. ▪ NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. ▪ It also provides funding to build scalable and profitable vocational training initiatives. ▪ Its mandate is also to enable support system which focuses on quality assurance, information systems and train the trainer

academies either directly or through partnerships. ▪ It also develops appropriate models to enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives.

PERIODIC TABLE To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the organization of the periodic table, UNESCO has launched the International Year of The Periodic Table. FACTS

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▪ Russian scientist Dmitry Mendeleev published the first periodic such table in 1869. ▪ The table organizes all chemical elements by the number of protons in a given atom and other properties. ▪ There are seven rows, called periods, and 18 columns, called groups, in the table. ▪ Elements in the same group share similar properties. Those in the same period have the same number of atomic orbitals. ▪ Most elements on the table are metals divided into six broad categories – alkali metals, alkaline earths, basic metals,

transition metals, lanthanides and actinides. ▪ They are located on the left, separated from the non-metals on the right by a zig-zag line. ▪ Lanthanides and actinides, often called “inner transition metals”, are commonly hived off as a separate section under the

main table as including all 30 – including Uranium – would make the table too wide. ▪ The table is a useful tool for people to derive relationships between the different properties of the elements. It can also

help predict the properties of new elements that have yet to be discovered or created. The International Union of Pure Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is responsible for maintaining the periodic table. ▪ IUPAC is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations that represents chemists in individual countries. ▪ It is a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU). ▪ Headquarters of IUPAC is in Zürich, Switzerland. ▪ Established in 1919 as the successor of the International Congress of Applied Chemistry for the advancement of chemistry. ▪ Its members, the National Adhering Organizations, can be national chemistry societies, national academies of sciences, or

other bodies representing chemists. ▪ The IUPAC’s Inter-divisional Committee on Nomenclature and Symbols (IUPAC nomenclature) is the recognized world

authority in developing standards for the naming of the chemical elements and compounds.

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX 2018 Corruption Perception Index 2018 has been released. ▪ Since its inception in 1995, the Corruption Perceptions Index, Transparency International’s flagship research product, has

become the leading global indicator of public sector corruption. ▪ The index offers an annual snapshot of the relative degree of corruption by ranking countries and territories from all over

the globe. ▪ The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and

business people. ▪ It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. ▪ It is a composite index that draws from 12 surveys to rank nations around the globe. ▪ It has become a benchmark gauge of perceptions of corruption and is used by analysts and investors. ▪ India’s ranking increased from 81st in 2017 to 78 in 2018. India had slid from 79th rank in 2016.

AFRICA CENTRE FOR CLIMATE & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development was inaugurated by the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at Rome. ▪ The centre has been opened by the Italian government in association with the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). ▪ The centre would facilitate coordination among the G7 and African countries on common initiatives in Africa to achieve

the goals set by the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. ▪ The Centre would contribute towards addressing the needs of Africa by providing a platform for G7 countries to steer their

cooperation to contrast environmental degradation and promote sustainable economic growth in the region. ▪ The centre will provide a fast-track, demand-driven mechanism for African countries to access grant resources that

support policies, initiatives, and best practices on climate change, food security, access to water, clean energy, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.

▪ The centre would be hosted by UNDP which would utilise its extensive country office network and programmatic hubs, and global expertise and knowledge, to enable the African countries to access the resources available through it.

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BROADCAST AUDIENCE RESEASRCH COUNCIL OF INDIA ▪ It is a collaborative Industry Company founded in 2010 by stakeholder bodies that represent Broadcasters, Advertisers,

and Advertising and Media Agencies. ▪ BARC India was set up as per guidelines of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. ▪ Promoters of BARC India are Indian Broadcasting Foundation, Indian Society of Advertisers and Advertising Agencies

Association of India. ▪ BARC India has evolved a transparent, accurate, and inclusive TV audience measurement system on the foundation of

robust and future-ready technology backbone. ▪ Together with the audience measurement system, BARC India provides a suite of Insight products designed for

Broadcasters, Advertisers and Agencies.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL COMMISSION ▪ The Government of India through a resolution dated 1st June, 2005 set up the National Statistical Commission (NSC). ▪ The setting up of the NSC followed the decision of the Cabinet to accept the recommendations of the Rangarajan

Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001. ▪ The NSC was constituted with effect from 12th July 2006 with a mandate to evolve policies, priorities and standards in

statistical matters. ▪ The Commission consists of a part-time Chairperson, four part-time Members, an ex-officio Member and a secretary. ▪ The Chief Statistician of India who is the Head of the National Statistical Office is the Secretary of the Commission and the

Chief Executive Officer of the NITI Aayog is the ex-officio Member of the commission. ▪ The commission has also been entrusted with the functions of the Governing Council of the National Sample Survey Office

which include overseeing the conduct of National Sample Surveys (NSS) on various socioeconomic subjects through the NSSO and the State Directorate of Economics and Statistics.

DELHI GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED MSP FOR FARMERS

The Delhi government has decided to introduce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers based on the report of the MS Swaminathan Commission. A three-member committee was formed in December to study the MS Swaminathan Commission’s report. The committee has submitted its report. The report will be put before experts for suggestions. Once the MSP is finalised, the government will hold meetings with farmers, seeking their views and thereafter it will be sent to the Cabinet. SWAMINATHAN COMMISSION REPORT ▪ The National Commission on Farmers (NCF), with MS Swaminathan as its chairman, was formed in 2004. ▪ Aims to come up with a system for sustainability in farming system and make it more profitable and cost competitive in

farm commodities. ▪ To also recommend measures for credit and other marketing steps. ▪ The commission submitted five reports between December 2004 and October 2006. The fifth and final report is considered

the most crucial as it contains suggestions for the agriculture sector as a whole. ▪ Farmers need an assured access to and control over basic resources of farming. These include land, water, fertilizers and

pesticides, credit and crop insurance. Knowledge of farming technology and markets is also key. ▪ Farmers’ concerns and other agriculture-related issues must be implemented in the concurrent list, to make it a high

priority for both state and central governments.

RECOMMENDATIONS ▪ Distribute ceiling-surplus and wasteland among farmers, prevent the non-agricultural use of farmland, secure grazing

rights and seasonal forest access to forest tribals. ▪ Establish a National Land Use Advisory Service, which would link land use decisions with ecological and marketing factors

of season and geography-specific basis. ▪ Reform irrigation resources and its distribution among farmers. Use rainwater harvesting, water level recharging to

increase water supply.

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▪ Spread outreach of institutional credit by reducing crop loan interest rates, provide a moratorium on debt recovery, agricultural risk fund and a separate Kisan Credit Card for women farmers.

▪ To address the growing farmer suicides, provide affordable health insurance at primary health centres in rural areas. ▪ The recommendations included an extension of national rural health mission to suicide-prone areas. ▪ Restructuring of microfinance policies, covering all crops by insurance and social security net for support were also sought. ▪ Give farmers a minimum support price at 50% profit above the cost of production classified as C2 by the Commission for

Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). C2: The CACP defines production costs of crops under three categories — A2, A2+FL (standing for family labour) and C2. ▪ A2 is the actual paid-out expenses incurred by farmers — in cash and kind — on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired labour,

fuel, irrigation and other inputs from outside. ▪ A2+FL includes A2 cost plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour. ▪ C2 is the most comprehensive definition of production cost of crops as it also accounts for the rentals or interest loans,

owned land and fixed capital assets over and above A2+FL.

INTERNATIONAL STOCK TAKING CONFERENCE ON TIGER CONSERVATION The 3rd Stock Taking Conference on Tiger Conservation was recently inaugurated in New Delhi. ▪ Third in a series of Stock Taking Conferences, this is the second to be held in India after 2012 and is expected to have wide-

ranging discussions on the status of the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) by the 13 tiger range countries besides deliberations on combating wildlife trafficking.

▪ 13 Tiger range States—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

▪ The conference is being hosted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in close collaboration with the Global Tiger Forum which is an International, Intergovernmental Organization for conserving tigers in the world.

▪ During the St. Petersburg declaration in 2010, tiger range countries had resolved to double tiger numbers across their range by 2022.

ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE FUND

Three former Tata Group executives in partnership with Quantum Advisors will launch a $1 billion Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Fund. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The Fund will invest in Indian companies that value the environment, society and corporate governance to the core. ▪ The proposed equal joint venture (JV) would mobilise funds from long-term foreign investors such as pension funds,

sovereign wealth funds and family offices of high net worth individuals (HNIs) who value ESG. ▪ The fund will aim to drive higher ESG performance in Indian corporates and it will adopt an engaged, private equity

approach to public markets investing, with a focus on working with companies willing to recognize the long-term advantages of actively adopting ESG standards of excellence.

PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI

The Finance Minister has announced a Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, or assured income support scheme for small and marginal farmers across the country. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi will provide assured income to small and marginal farmers. ▪ All Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) with 2 hectares of cultivable land will be provided income support of Rs 6000 per

year. ▪ The amount will be transferred directly into their account in 3 equal installments.

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▪ The complete expenditure of Rs 75000 crore for the scheme will borne by the Union Government in 2019-20. ▪ Over 12 crore farmer families will be benefitted under the scheme. ▪ The scheme will be effective retrospectively from December 1, and the first instalment will be paid before the end of

March this year.

PRADHAN MANTRI SHRAM YOGI MAANDHAN The government has now proposed a mega pension scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ PMSYM is a mega co-contributory pension scheme for unorganised sector workers with monthly income of up to Rs

15,000. ▪ It promises to provide assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month from the age of 60 years, in return for making a monthly

contribution of a nominal sum during the working age. ▪ The scheme will cover 10 crore workers in the unorganised sector in the first 5 years, making it one of the largest pension

schemes in the world. ▪ The benefits and the design spelt out in PMSYM are much in line with the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

STANDARD DEDUCTION

▪ The Standard Deduction is a deduction allowed as per the Income Tax irrespective of the expenses met or the investment

made by the individual. ▪ An individual need not disclose any investment proofs or expense bills for this purpose, the Standard Deduction is allowed

at a standard rate. ▪ Standard Deduction is a fixed deduction from the salary irrespective of the position held in the organization. Since a fixed

amount is deducted from the annual salary, it reduces the taxable income, and hence the tax paid amount will also reduce. ▪ A Salaried employee and a pensioner can claim Standard Deduction. ▪ For this purpose, Salary includes wages, annuity, leave encashment, pension, fees, gratuity, commission, perquisite, the

advance of salary, less deductions under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, like house rent allowance and conveyance allowance.

▪ In its interim budget of 2019, the government has upped the standard deduction to Rs 50,000 from the existing Rs 40,000 per annum

GREEN INDIA MISSION

A study looks critically at India’s National Mission for a Green India, arguing that contemporary afforestation goals set under such a mission “assume arbitrary targets” that are rooted in habits of “(neo)colonial governance” rather than “sound science”. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ The National Mission for Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate

Change (NAPCC). ▪ It aims at protecting; restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover and responding to climate change by a

combination of adaptation and mitigation measures. ▪ It envisages a holistic view of greening and focuses on multiple ecosystem services, especially, biodiversity, water,

biomass, preserving mangroves, wetlands, critical habitats etc. along with carbon sequestration as a co-benefit. ▪ This mission has adopted an integrated cross-sectoral approach as it will be implemented on both public as well as private

lands with a key role of the local communities in planning, decision making, implementation and monitoring. GOALS ▪ To increase forest/tree cover to the extent of 5 million hectares (mha) and improve quality of forest/tree cover on another

5 mha of forest/non-forest lands.

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▪ To improve/enhance eco-system services like carbon sequestration and storage (in forests and other ecosystems), hydrological services and biodiversity; along with provisioning services like fuel, fodder, and timber and non-timber forest produces (NTFPs).

▪ To increase forest-based livelihood income of about 3 million households. PLANTING V. GREENING Tree-planting is NOT greening. ▪ Greening would take a socio-ecological approach that treated the system as a whole, a ‘Restoration Ecology’ of grasslands,

streams, mixed scrub, agro-forestry, and so on. The incredible and beautiful diversity of the Indian ecological mosaic deserves a true ‘greening’ approach, that takes seriously the genius loci, the peculiarity of local systems, and restores these with local people.”

CMB-BHARAT With CMB-Bharat, India can take lead in listening to faintest murmurs of early universe project Cosmic Microwave Background-Bharat is under consideration by ISRO. CMB expands into Cosmic Microwave Background, and the scientific space project CMB-Bharat has been presented as a proposal to ISRO. This was one highlight of the workshop that also saw discussions on the X-ray telescope eROSITA which is to be launched in June 2019. HIGHLIGHTS ▪ CMB-Bharat is a proposal for comprehensive next generation Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) mission in

international collaboration with major Indian contribution. ▪ It proposes ‘near-ultimate’ survey polarization that would exhaust the primordial information in this ‘gold-mine’ for

cosmology.” ▪ The CMB was discovered serendipitously in 1965 and it accounts for almost the entire radiation content of the universe. ▪ CMB-BHARAT, a 4th generation mission targeting this final frontier of CMB science, implementing further advanced

cutting-edge technology. ▪ CMB observations from space have provided the cleanest and richest source of data for understanding our Universe. ▪ There is a unique window of opportunity to achieve the goal of an Indian CMB space mission in joint international

collaboration. This will enable exchange of high-end technology that will enrich well-planned technology development programmes in the Indian laboratories and institutions.

▪ The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is radiation leftover from the time the first atoms formed in the universe, about 378,000 years after the Big Bang. In other words, it’s been around since when the universe was only 0.0027% as old as it is today. It is the smoke of the ‘smoking gun’, as it were.

▪ The other major feature of the CMB apart from its temperature is its polarisation. ▪ As electromagnetic radiation, the CMB is made up of electric and magnetic fields. When the electric fields bump into

certain forces or objects in their path, the direction they’re pointing in changes. This flip is called a polarisation. GOALS ▪ Its goals are classified broadly as ultra-high energy and high energy. ▪ The ultra-high energy regime refers to a very young universe in which its energy was packed so tightly together that

gravitational and quantum mechanical effects didn’t express themselves separately, as they do today. Instead, they were thought to have manifested in the form of a unified ‘quantum gravity’.

▪ It will also be able to map the distribution of dark matter; and track baryons (composite particles like protons and neutrons) in the observable universe.

▪ The mission will explore problems in neutrino physics, including help determine how many kinds of neutrinos there actually are and the order of their masses. This is also one of the goals of the planned India-based Neutrino Observatory in Tamil Nadu.

▪ Additionally, the instrument will also be able to study the Milky Way galaxy’s astrophysical properties in greater detail.

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X RAY TELESCOPE: eROSITA

▪ eROSITA will be the primary instrument on-board the Russian "Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma" (SRG) satellite which will be launched from Baikonur in 2019 and placed in an L2 orbit.

▪ It will perform the first imaging all-sky survey in the medium energy X-ray range up to 10 keV with an unprecedented spectral and angular resolution.

▪ The main scientific goals are: 1. To detect the hot intergalactic medium of 50-100 thousand galaxy clusters and groups and hot gas in filaments

between clusters to map out the large-scale structure in the Universe for the study of cosmic structure evolution. 2. To detect systematically all obscured accreting Black Holes in nearby galaxies and many (up to 3 Million) new, distant

active galactic nuclei and 3. To study in detail the physics of galactic X-ray source populations, like pre-main sequence stars, supernova remnants

and X-ray binaries.

FACTS

➢ Global Economy Watch report has been released by London based multinational professional services network-Price water house Coopers (PwC). PwC’s Global Economy Watch is a short publication that looks at the trends and issues affecting the global economy and details its latest projections for the world’s leading economies.

➢ 1001 Inventions: UNESCO has also launched its educational initiative, 1001 Inventions: Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry. Consisting of educational material and science experiments to help young people improve their understanding of chemistry and its numerous uses, the initiative will be brought to schools around the world during 2019.

➢ India has replaced Japan as the world’s second-largest steel producing country, only behind China, which is the largest producer of crude steel accounting for more than 51 per cent of production, as per the latest report by World Steel Association.

➢ As a new initiative in sync with the Digital India campaign of the Government, Ministry of Defence had launched a mobile app 'RDP India 2019' on the Republic Day, with the intent of making available the highlights of the Republic Day event, not only to the spectators at Rajpath, but also to the general public all over the world.

➢ Union Minister for Tourism will be inaugurating the project “Development of North East Circuit: Rangpo– Rorathang- Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang-Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok-Phodong- Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu-Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok-Tuminlingee- Singtam” implemented under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

➢ The central banks of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have launched a common digital currency called ‘Aber’, which will be used in financial settlements between the two countries through Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers technologies. The use of the currency will be restricted to a limited number of banks in each state. In case that no technical obstacles are encountered, economic and legal requirements for future uses will be considered.

➢ In late 2018, the government decided to set up three new agencies — the Defence Cyber Agency, the Defence Space Agency and the Special Operations Division — in order to address the new age challenges to national security. While this is indeed a useful step in the right direction, it is also important to note that the constitution of these agencies is a far cry from the crucial recommendations given by the Naresh Chandra Task Force and the Chiefs of Staff Committee, both of which had suggested the formation of three separate joint commands to deal with new challenges to India’s national security in the cyber, space and special operations domains.