May 27
What is 100 RC programme?
This multimillion dollar programme was launched in 2013
Agency: New York-based Rockefeller FoundationObjective:
To bolster the living standards of all members of an urban
community while incorporating resilience planning and
principles
This is to make the cities shock-proof to the growing social,
economic and physical challenges of the 21st century
Other selected Indian cities include Surat, which was
selected in the first round (2013), while Bengaluru and
Chennai were added in the second (2014)
May 27
China slowdown a significant risk for global
economy: Rajan
RBI Governor cautioned about a sharp slowdown in Chinese
economy This remains a significant risk for the global
economy
Spill-over: A sharp contraction in Chinas imports has led
to spill-overs through the trade, confidence, tourism and
remittance channels
And that SAARC nations have not been able to avert its
impact
May 31
India climbs three notches in global
competitiveness- I
Survey by: Switzerland-based IMD World Competitiveness
Centre (WCC)
Improvement: Indias global competitiveness rank rose three
notches to 41 from last year
Reasons: Significant improvement in exchange rate stability,
fiscal deficit management and efforts to tackle corruption
and red tape
However, the ranking is lower than the 35th position India
secured in 2012
May 31
India climbs three notches in global
competitiveness- II
Plus points: Attractive economic indicators, cost
competitiveness, skilled workforce and a dynamic economy
Drags: Higher consumer price inflation, lower public
spending on education, tax revenue collection and
merchandise exports
Challenges: Sustaining high growth rate, increasing the
share of research and development in the economy and
implementation of the Goods and Services Tax
Regime, Infrastructure development and disbursing public
benefits digitally
June 02
TRAI seeks more power
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has
approached the government seeking powers to impose
penalty in order to ensure quality of service from telecom
operators
Background: This follows the Supreme Court quashing the
TRAIs regulation to impose penalty on operators for call
drops, calling it arbitrary
June 02
TRAI dedicated to quality service delivery
TRAI is looking at various options to ensure that telecom
operators work to improve service quality, including
reviewing call drop parameter which is set at 2%
It rolled out a dedicated website for publishing result of test
drive that it conducts
To make it easier for consumers to file a compliant against
telemarketers, TRAI also unveiled DND Services mobile
application
TRAI has developed a mobile App for easy registration of
Unsolicited Commercial Complaints (UCC) to the service
providers
Currently, consumers can log complain about messages
and calls from telemarketers through toll free number 1909
11
Economy
June 03
Railways to stop footing bill on passenger travel
concessions
Indian Railways provides more than 50 concessions as a
part of social service obligation, incurring huge losses every
year
The concessions include those for senior citizens,
differently-abled and patients
Railway Ministry: The financial burden should be borne by
the ministries concerned such as social justice for senior
citizens, home affairs for freedom fighters and so on
The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry already pays the full
ticket fares for Members of Parliament travelling on railway
concession passes
June 03
Singapore Arbitration Centre to open India office
The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) will
establish a representative office at the Gujarat International
Finance Tec-City (GIFT City)
Aim: To resolve international commercial disputesAs per the
the agreement, GIFTCL, GIFT SEZ and SIAC will collaborate
to promote the use of arbitration, mediation and other
dispute resolution mechanisms
It also includes the innovative Arb-Med-Arb service offered
by the SIAC and the Singapore International Mediation
Centre (SIMC)
Further, SIAC will establish a representative office at GIFT
City to promote its international arbitration services to Indian
users
Indian parties are among the top five foreign users of SIAC
in the last five years and India was the top foreign user of
SIAC in 2013 and 2015
12 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 03
What is an international arbitration centre?
IAC is a centre where disputes arising out of commercial
agreements from sectors like insurance, shipping,
construction, private equity and other trades are handled
Arbitration is different from court litigation and is typically
less time-consuming
Why? Because it is done in private between the lawyers
representing the aggrieved parties
June 03
RBI begins work on IT arm
Context: A new initiative of RBI to form IT subsidiary
Purpose: For IT and cyber security of financial sector, to
assist RBI in IT system audit and assessment
It will have advisory committees to provide guidance on
cyber security, current and future requirements of entities
regulated by the RBI
It will report to apex-level committees of RBI, including the
Board for Financial Supervision, BPSS and the RBIs central
board
BPSS: Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment
and Settlement System
June 03
Reserve Bank tells lenders to expedite cyber
security policy
Context: Increasing cyber attacks in the financial system
and RBIs new policy
Cyber security policy: Includes setting up an adaptive
incident response, management and recovery framework to
deal with adverse incidents/disruptions
Cyber Crisis Management Plan (CCMP): It is a part of the
approved policy includes 4 aspects - Detection, Response,
Recovery and Containment
June 06
Onus lies on States to revive torpid airports
The Union government has put the onus on states to
secure commitments from airlines to start operations before
dormant airports can be revived
The move follows the Centres ambitious plans to revive 50
dormant airports in three years
Competition: The first movers to bring a proposal for revival
of airports will have an advantage as they will have priority
in the limited central funds to be set up for the regional
connectivity scheme
June 06
Agency to analyse services trade data- I
Context: The Centre will soon establish an institutional
framework for better collection and analysis of data on
Indias services export and import
Objective: To improve targeting of incentives based on
services exports
Also to firm up a superior strategy for the country to be used
in negotiations on bilateral free trade agreements as well as
on regional and multilateral trade pacts
Framework: Setting up of a nodal agency for international
trade data in services, creation of an international services
trade business directory
Also, provisions mandating enterprises to report their
international services trade to the proposed nodal agency
June 06
Agency to analyse services trade data- II
Legality: To ensure legal certainty to the framework, the
above provisions could be incorporated as amendments to
the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008
A new law is also being considered as the Collection of
Statistics Act is not specific to services sector
Nodal agency: It could be the Directorate General of
Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIandS- currently
compiles and analyses only goods trade data) or an entirely
new one
Deterrent: There could be stringent penalties for
misreporting and for failing to report
June 06
A background on services trade data framework
Panel: In 2011, an expert panel was set up by the Central
Statistical Office for identifying the gaps in collection and
analysis of services trade data
Following the panels report, another panel was constituted
in November 2013 under the chairmanship of the
DGCIandS
DGCIandS: Asked the Delhi-based think-tank ICRIER
to submit a report on four service sectors- logistics,
audiovisual, professional and telecommunication
The ICRIER report with policy recommendations and the
problems related to collection and analysis of such data will
be released on June 7
June 06
Significance of services for India
Contribution: The services sector accounts for over half of
Indias GDP and its foreign investment inflows as well as
more than a quarter of its total trade
India has also found a place in the top ten World Trade
Organisation-member countries in services exports and
imports
Despite services being such a crucial part of the countrys
economy, there has so far been no institutional framework
on services trade data collection and analysis
The government has been relying on the Reserve Bank of
India for services trade data
13
Economy
June 06
India Post to boost financial inclusion
India Post got the approval for starting payments bank
The new entity would be known as India Post Payments
Bank (IPPB), a public limited company under the
Department of Posts, with 100% Government of India
equity
Competition: It would be the single largest bank in terms of
accessibility
Accessibility: India Post has a strong pan-India network
(especially in the rural areas) and the huge franchise built
over the years
It would also encourage the move towards a cash less
economy
Challenges: Lack of technological upgradation and training
of its personnel
June 06
Govt. lines up $2.5 bn to boost rooftop solar units
Context: Govts target of installing 40 GW grid-connected
solar rooftop systems
Loans extended by World Bank, Asian Development Bank
and New Development Bank
A national workshop on Roof Top Solar Power is to be
organised in this week
June 07
Govt to develop 6 bulk drugs, medical devices
parks- I
Govt of India has decided to establish three bulk drugs and
three medical devices parks, which will entail a combined
investment of Rs. 60,000 crore
Aim: To reduce importEstimates: Once these parks become
operational, they can bring down the cost of production of
devices and bulk drugs by at least 30%
In the long-run, this will help the general public also
Need: As much as 80% of our total requirement of bulk
drugs and 65% of total demand of medical devices is met
through imports
14 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 07
Govt to develop 6 bulk drugs, medical devices
parks- II
The drug parks will be established on the public private
partnership mode
Govt is also considering to provide one-time financial
support for these bulk drug parks
They will have common facilities like testing, power and
effluent treatment plants
Also, there will be common utilities and services such as
storage, testing laboratories, IPR management, designing
and guest house/accommodation, maintained by a separate
special purpose vehicle
June 07
Policy on bulk drugs soon
Department of Pharmaceuticals is working on a policy for
bulk drugs
The department has taken into considerations all
recommendations of V M Katoch committee
It was constituted in 2013 to study the whole issue of active
pharmaceutical ingredients of critical importance
June 09
Centre to evolve norms to enhance product quality
Context: The Commerce Ministry will soon bring out a five-
year National Standards Strategy Paper
Aim: To weed out substandard products from the domestic
market and boost Indias exports of high quality goods
Also, improving regulations to ensure that India moves
gradually towards adoption of more mandatory standards
(also called technical regulations) that are harmonised with
international standards
An inter-ministerial panel is already working on identifying
goods that do not conform to safety, security, environment
and health standards
June 09
Why a National Standards Strategy?
A strong standards and regulatory framework would help
domestic industry in becoming competitive in the world as
well as domestic market
This would help in increasing the exports by measuring up
to standards and conformity assessment procedures both in
quantitative terms and also getting higher value exports
Also, such a regime shall fulfil the vision of zero defect, zero
effect (meaning, environment-friendly) and Make In India
campaigns
It would also help prevent flooding of domestic market
with unsafe/sub-standard imports which adversely affect
consumers and domestic industry
June 09
Standard regimes from an international
perspective
It is essential to develop a coordinated national response to
meet the challenges of the World Trade Organisation regime
in standards and conformity assessment
Trade agreements: Mega-regional free trade agreements,
including TPP and TTIP are promoting high standards for
global trade
It is therefore important to anticipate the future scenario on
standards and technical regulations in the context of TPP
and TTIP
Quality consciousness: The strategy of having different
standards for domestic market and export market has not
worked anywhere
June 10
Rajan calls for global coordination to tackle spill-
over economic effects
RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has urged greater co-
ordination among countries to tackle spill-over effects (the
impact that economic policies in some countries may have
on other economies)
Rajan: The world is quite integrated and therefore, policies
across countries have spill-over effects and today we dont
have a system to coordinate these spill-overs each country
does what it has to and other countries have to accept that
and the consequences
We need to alter global governance to accommodate
important countries like India which are growing stronger by
the day
Rajan has been critical of ultra-low monetary policies
adopted among some countries in the developed world
Their decisions to keep interest rates low to support growth
and re-inflate their economies have impacted emerging
market economies
June 11
Action plan to put sick PSUs back on track- I
An action plan to put public sector undertakings back on
track is soon to be rolled out
The plan is being readied under the headship of
M.P .Sukumaran Nair, chairman of the public sector
Restructuring and Internal Audit Board (RIAB)
It is a two-pronged action plan with short-term and long-
term targets
It envisages turning around PSUs within two years, and
effecting minor course corrections in sick units within three
months
How? By sourcing funds from the cooperative sector, active
involvement of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and also
tapping other avenues
15
Economy
June 11
Action plan to put sick PSUs back on track- II
Thrust: It runs contrary to the popular perception that PSU
revival can be achieved only through infusion of private
capital
Co-operative: Instead of opting for private capital,
the government could well rely on the support of the
cooperative sector, which is flush with funds
NRIs:Govt can also rope in NRIs by offering firm surety and
higher returns for their investment in the public sector
Private capital is often accompanied by appendages and
can be secured only as part of a technology acquisition
package
Since the government is determined on fortifying the public
sector, resource mobilisation may not be a major hassle
June 11
Action plan to put sick PSUs back on track- III
Losses: The number of profit-making PSUs in the State had
come down from 23 in 2011 to 10 in 2015-16
Issues: Lack of professionalism, major drift from the goals
for which they were incepted
The government has started the stock-taking process and
core issues that have slackened their functioning are being
identified
It has also been proposed to lay accent on the micro small
and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, which is expected
to generate a large number of job opportunities
June 11
Initiatives to boost textile industry- I
Credit: Textiles ministry is in talks with the finance ministry
on measures to ensure that the textiles sector gets access to
credit at affordable rates
Policy: A national textiles policy will be announced soon and
a Cabinet note has been floated in this regard
Efforts are also on to increase the competitiveness of the
Indian textiles and apparel sector in global markets
China: India has to take advantage of the rising wage costs
in China, which is the predominant player in the sector now
June 11
Initiatives to boost textile industry- II
Export target: $48.5 billion in FY17, on textiles and apparel
products, from $45 billion that was achieved in FY16
The textile and apparel exports managed a resilient
performance in FY16, mainly on account of high growth
registered in carpets, handicrafts, jute and even readymade
garments
ATUFS: Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme
was rolled out in January 2016 with a budget provision of
Rs.17,822 crore for the next seven years
It is expected to attract an investment of Rs. 1 lakh crore
and generate jobs for 30 lakh persons
Integrated Processing Development Scheme is rolled out
to provide up to 50% assistance for Common Effluent
Treatment Plants with Zero Liquid Discharge system

June 11
Power looms running on solar energy likely to get
subsidy from Centre
Context: Centre is considering granting subsidy to power
looms operating on solar energy as part of its clean energy
initiatives
From August 15, power looms in the country will utilise solar
energy for running their operations
Aim: To increase the earning of handloom weavers to Rs
500 per day
Initiatives: More than Rs.6,500 crore has been spent by
the textile ministry on various schemes, for promotion and
development of the textiles sector
Approximately five lakh additional jobs have been created in
the past two years in the textiles sector

16 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016

June 11
Salient features of the Central Port Authorities Act
To reduce the extent of litigation between Public Private
Partnership operators and Ports
An independent Review Board has been proposed to carry
out the residual function of the erstwhile Tariff Authority for
Major Ports (TAMP) for major ports
It will look into disputes between ports and PPP
concessionaries, review stressed PPP projects and suggest
measures to review stressed PPP projects
At present, there is no independent body to look into these
aspects
A distinction has been made between the usage of land for
port and non-port related activities in terms of approval of
leases
The need for Government approval for raising loans,
appointment of consultants, execution of contracts and
creation of service posts has been dispensed with
The new bill is proposed to keep pace with the changing
times as the existing one is more than 50-years-old and also
the rules will enable ports to function like a corporate firm
June 11
Centres new bill to give more power to major sea
ports
Context: The Central Port Authorities Act 2016 proposed by
the Shipping Ministry
Leasing: Major ports will be able to lease land for port-
related use for up to 40 years, and for non-port related
activities up to 20 years
A simplified structure for the board by bringing it down to
nine members
The proposed bill would provide more autonomy and
flexibility to the 11 major ports and will bring in a
professional approach in their governance
It will replace more than the five-decade-old Major Port
Trust Act 1963 and will enable port authorities to function
like a corporate entit
Of the 12 ports, the Kamaraj Port Ltd has already been
corporatised
June 13
India plans to be power surplus in 2016-17
Context: Load Generation Balance Report (LGBR) for 2016-
17
The Govt is planning to make India an energy surplus
country
Target: Generating 1,178 billion units, leading to a 1.1%
overall electricity surplus this fiscal and a peak surplus of
2.6%
Earlier: The Govt used to plan generation with deficit of
power in the past in its LGBRs
Imports from power projects in Bhutan and availability from
non-conventional and renewable energy sources in the
country are also factored into the report
With the commissioning of these transmission lines, the
inter-State and intra-State capabilities of power transfer in
the country enhanced considerably
Rigorous monitoring is being done to add capacity in the
12th plan period
June 13
Lets know more about LGBR
Why? Load Generation Balance Report is brought out every
year to project electricity demand and supply situation
The report covers the month-wise anticipated energy
requirement and availability as well as peak demand
and availability for the year against an all India annual
generation target
Finalised by: The Central Electricity AuthorityApproved
by: The Power Ministry (after detailed discussions with
the States/ utilities and Central/ State/ Private generation
companies)
17
Economy
June 13
What more does LGBR say?
A generating capacity above 16,654.5 mw has been
considered in the LGBR for 2016-17
These measures are expected to help the deficit states
reduce their shortfall.
Surplus: Anticipated at 3.3% and 6.9% in the southern and
western regions, respectively
Shortage: Anticipated in Northern, eastern and northeastern
regions at 1.8%, 10.3% and 8.3%, respectively
Peaking shortages: Likely to prevail mainly in the northern,
southern and northeastern regions at around 1.6%, 10.0%
and 3.8%, respectively
Power shortage: At 2.1% (last fiscal), it is the lowest level in
a single year
Surplus states (expected): Delhi, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu
Deficit states (expected): Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand
June 13
Army to involve industry in its long-term plans
Context: The Indian Army is attempting a major reworking
of weapons design and procurement by incorporating
academia and industry in its long-term perspective plans
This will be done under the soon to be set up Army Design
Bureau (ADB)
This is done on the lines of the Navys design bureau which
has been successful in indigenising warship design
Aim: To bring together academic institutions and the
industry to develop indigenous knowhow (Knowledge and
ideas are with academia, while industry has the resources)
Priority areas: Small arms, smart munitions, communication
and electronic warfare systems and Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAV), both surveillance and combat etc
18 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 13
The army and the industry engagement- a
background
The Army, which has been traditionally reluctant to engage
with the industry, is now opening up with the governments
emphasis on Make in India
While the idea is welcome, there is need for policy clarity
on how these projects will work within the larger Defence
Procurement Procedure (DPP) which guides all defence
procurements
In fact, DPP 2016 has created a new category, indigenous
Design Development and Manufacturing, which will be the
preferred procurement route for procurement
June 14
Postal payments bank to be set up in major
districts
The Govt is plannig to set up 650 branches of India Post
Payments Bank at all major district headquarters by
September 2017
Aim: To leverage the extensive outreach of the Department
of Posts
In the coming days, the role of all employees, including
Grameen Dak Sevaks, will be very significant in successful
rollout of the Payments Bank to make financial inclusion
possible for every Indian
June 14
A background to India Post Payments Bank
The Cabinet on June 2 cleared the proposal to set up India
Post Payments Bank (IPPB) with a corpus of Rs.800 crore
and a plan for 650 branches operational by September
2017
It will be scaled up further to cover the entire country by the
end of 2018-19
Department of Posts is gearing up to launch the payments
bank with a workforce of 3.5 lakh
June 14
Advantages of having an IPPB
The move can further aid the financial inclusion objective
of the government and the RBI as more people can now
potentially have access to a bank
With more people getting access to a bank, it could improve
the efficiency of passing on the government-sponsored
benefits to the beneficiary directly through their bank
accounts
It can potentially improve financial literacy levels and also
the countrys financial savings
It would also encourage the move towards a cash less
economy
June 14
State-owned banks widen reach quicker than
private lenders
Context: Recent data released by the Reserve Bank of India
comparing private and public sector banks
Public sector banks have increased their presence across
the country in terms of ATMs and points of sale devices, far
faster than private sector banks have
ATMs and POS: There were 142,500 PSB ATMs as of
March 2016, which amounts to 72% of the total number of
ATMs in the country
The issuance of credit cards and the share in credit
card transactions are two areas where the private sector
outshines the public sector
There are 27 public sector banks and 19 private sector
banks in operation currently
June 14
ABB links TN solar project to national grid
Context: ABB, a Swedish-Swiss MNC has commissioned
five substations to integrate a 648-megawatt (MW) solar
project in Tamil Nadu to the national transmission grid
Largest: The solar photovoltaic project, made up of five
plants in a single location, is the largest of its kind in the
world
At full capacity this facility will account for nearly 10 per
cent of the countrys current solar capacity of around 7 GW
June 15
Interlinking of highways on anvil
Context: Govt has prepared a roadmap to connect some of
the major national highways in the country
Aim: Inter-linking the highways from North to South and
East to West in the pattern of a grid, allowing smooth and
uninterrupted access from one region to another
Grid formation or connecting the national highways in
the form of a grid is one of the basic practices of highway
planning
The National Highways Authority of India has prepared a
grid of 27 vertical and horizontal highways for connection
June 15
The benefits of linking the highways
The proposal to link highways would give a fillip to the
overall economy by providing better connectivity
Even today about 65% of the cargo moves by
roadsCurrently, Indias total road network is about 33 lakh
km, of which national highways constitute over 96,000 km
and state highways about 1.32 lakh km
As per the current proposal the distance connecting the two
highways would be reduced from 70-80 km earlier
June 15
Lets know about Bharatmala Project
Govt plans to construct 70,000 km of new highways
connecting the coastal and border areas under its ambitious
Bharatmala project
Initially, about Rs 50,000 crore would be spent on the
construction of highways under this project
Contracts for construction of highways under Bharatmala
have been awarded in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Punjab and Bihar
19
Economy
June 15
Anti-dumping duty on chemical from 5 nations
India may impose anti-dumping duty of up to $168.76 per
tonne on imports of Purified Terephthalic Acid
It is mainly used in textile and packaging industry
DGAD, under the finance ministry, has found that Purified
Terephthalic Acid has been exported to India below its
normal value which has resulted in dumping
It is imported from 5 countries- China, Iran, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Taiwan
DGAD: Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied
Duties
June 15
How is ADD imposed?
Anti-dumping steps are taken to ensure fair trade and
provide a level-playing field to the domestic industry
While DGAD recommends the duty, the Finance Ministry
imposes it
Probe: Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to determine
if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-
cost imports
To counter it they impose duties under the multi-lateral
WTO regime
June 15
E-commerce transactions in GST net
Context: The model GST law comprises all e-commerce
transaction
Tax will be collected by service operator as the supplier
receives payment
The e-commerce companies will need to file a statement
providing details of all supplies made through e-commerce
platforms
The law will be applicable for all those with an annual
turnover of Rs.10 lakh or more
This limit is Rs 5 lakh to north eastern statesThis law might
make the e-commerce operations complicated
20 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 15
Know more about the model GST law in this regard
The model GST law: It has 162 clauses and 4 schedules
The law provides an Authority for Advance Ruling to
comprise one authority to examine the process
Will consist of one Central GST member and one state GST
member appointed by Central and State Govt respectively
It also includes composition levy for persons having
turnover less than 50 lakhs
The people on the sale of goods and services in a single
state will have to pay a tax of not less than 1%
June 16
India sets sights on gold in ocean
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal by the Earth
Sciences Ministry to sign the agreement with the
International Seabed authority (ISA)
Aim: To get exclusive rights to mine for so-called
polymetallic sulphides over 10,000 sq km around parts of
central and southwest Indian ridges in the ocean
Importance: While the long-term mining projects will fructify
only over decades, they will be of immense strategic and
commercial value
Background: In 2002, India was granted permission only to
explore ocean regions and prospect for precious metals
The ISA, under the United Nations Convention on Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS), governs non-living resources of the
seabed of international waters
June 16
What are Deep seabed polymetallic sulphides?
Contain: Iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold and platinum in
variable constitutions
Formation: These are the precipitates of hot fluids from
upwelling hot magma from the deep interior of the oceanic
crust
Interest: These compounds in the ocean ridges have
attracted worldwide attention for their long-term commercial
and strategic values
June 16
Survey of polymetallic sulphides
Initial estimated resource of polymetallic nodules on the site
retained by India on the central Indian Ocean basin is 380
million tonnes
However, the actual estimates will vary depending on the
results of a detailed survey and exploration, coupled with
results of test mining of nodules upon developing the
mining technology
Indian organisations such as the National Institute of Ocean
Technology and the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean
Research are involved with these surveys and developing
specialised shipping vehicles
Challenge: To develop the specialised drills and extraction-
technology required to fish out the metals
June 16
New Civil Aviation Policy- No more 5/20
Context: Indias first National Civil Aviation Policy has been
cleared by Govt
Motto: Connecting the unconnected and serving the un-
served
Objectives: Increasing air connectivity, allowing new
domestic airlines to fly abroad quickly and opening up the
skies for European and SAARC countries
No more 5/20: Start-up airlines can now fly abroad after
operating at least 20 planes or 20 per cent of their total
flying capacity, whichever is higher, on domestic routes
5/20 rule: A domestic airline is allowed to go international
only after flying for five years to domestic destinations and
operating at least 20 aircraft
A Fact: India has 9th largest civil aviation market in the
world, with a size of around $16 billion
June 16
New Civil Aviation Policy- Open Skies
Open-sky policy: For countries beyond the 5,000-km radius
from Delhi on a reciprocal basis
Implication: Airlines from European or SAARC countries will
have unlimited access, in terms of number of flights and
seats, to Indian airports
Impact: Increased flight frequencies with these countries
Earlier: While India has full open-sky with U.S., it has a near
open-sky agreement with the U.K. with a restriction on the
frequency of flights to and from Mumbai and Delhi
June 16
New Civil Aviation Policy- Regional connectivity
scheme
Regional connectivity: Passengers will be charged Rs.
2,500 for an hours flight on regional routes by the airlines
The government will provide financial support to fund
airlines losses on such un-served routes
Funds? This will be done through a small levy per departure
on all domestic routes except in remote and north-eastern
States
Local airports: Govt also has grand plans to revive 50
airports in the next two years through this scheme
Issue: It is yet to ascertain how it will mop up funds for
providing the viability gap funding
June 16
Fed leaves rates unchanged; no hint on timing of
next hike
Context: US Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Meeting
Rates: Fed is keeping interest rates unchanged in light of an
uncertain job market
Why? The pace of job growth has slowed even as the overall
economy has picked up speed
Uncertain future: It offering no specifics about when its next
rate hike might occur
Fed: Need a clearer picture of economic developments
before raising rates again
Expectation: A July rate increase is possible if the job
market rebounds and markets remain calm after Britains
vote next week on whether to leave the European Union
June 17
Widening the tax net in India
News: Modi asked senior tax officials to aim for widening
the tax net to include more non-agricultural income
households (from the present 5.4 crore households to 10
crore households)
Trend: In India, 92% of tax revenues come from self-
assessments, advance tax payments and tax deducted at
source
8% of tax revenues are raised by the tax administrators,
through assessments and scrutiny of returns
Five-point charter: The changes could be implemented
through a five-point charter, RAPID - Revenue,
Accountability, Probity, Information and Digitisation
21
Economy
June 17
SBI floats Rs 200 crore fund to aid fintech firms
News: State Bank of India (SBI) has floated a Rs 200 crore
fund, IT Innovation Start-up Fund, to help the fintech start-
ups
Limits: Up to a maximum of Rs 3 crore per a fintech start-
up
Fintech: Fintech (Financial Technology) industry uses
technology to increase the efficiency of financial services
Indian examples include Paytm, MobiKwik, Citrus Payments
etc.
Global trend: Traditional banks across the globe have
been open to work with new age fintech firms, which are
disrupting business models by using technology to deliver
services at lower cost
June 17
Govt. IT spending in India to reach $7 billion in
2016: report
Context: A report by information technology research and
advisory company Gartner
Govt will spend $7 billion on IT products and services in
2016, an increase of 3.1% over 2015
Included: Expected spending to be made by various state,
local governments and the Centre
Services: Internal services, software, IT services, data
center, devices and telecom services
Also, the software market will be led by growth in
infrastructure
June 17
Forecast of growth in different IT services
IT service: Including consulting, software support, business
process outsourcing, IT outsourcing, implementation, and
hardware support is expected to grow 8.8% in 2016 to
reach $1.6 billion
BPO: Business process outsourcing sub-segment will grow
by 22%
Software: Govt spending will total $938 million in 2016, a
9.9% increase from 2015
Telecom services will be at $1.5 billion, with the mobile
network services sub-segment recording the fastest growth
of 3.5 percent in 2016 to reach $793 million
Driver: The Digital India initiative is driving the investments
in the government sector
22 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 17
NITI Aayog submits proposals for divestment- I
Context: The NITI Aayog has submitted two sets of
recommendations to the Centre for strategic disinvestment
of State-owned companies
First is a list of recommendations on each of the sick and
loss-making government-owned companies and there are
about 74 such companies
Closure: Suggested for about 25 companies in which revival
plans were attempted but had failed
After closure: Their assets, especially land holdings,
could be disposed off and employees be offered voluntary
retirement
In the remaining cases, either mergers with other public
sector units or strategic disinvestment is recommended
In some companies, the Aayog preferred to let revival plans
run their course, before taking a call on their future
June 17
NITI Aayog submits proposals for divestment- II
The second set of suggestions is a separate list of 15 PSUs
in which it has recommended strategic disinvestment on
priority
This list has been submitted to the Department of
Investment and Public Asset management in the Finance
Ministry
Background: The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs had directed the Aayog to identify PSUs that the
Department could take up for strategic disinvestment and
also suggest norms for doing so
Any disinvestment of governments shareholdings, closure
or mergers of PSU will need the Union Cabinets approval
June 17
Draft wind-solar hybrid policy proves restrictive
Context: Govts draft policy for wind and solar hybrid plants,
released for public comments recently
Aim: To facilitate hybridisation of existing solar or wind
systems, besides new hybrid projects
Comments: It is a good step, but restrictive as it puts a cap
on the size of such units and also lacks in details relating to
tariffs
Restrictive: Hybrid capacity addition, for existing plants,
must be limited to the sanctioned transmission capacity
This could pose a problem for areas where transmission
capacity is not enough to cater to the energy potential
How? In wind farms with low turbine density, a significant
solar potential could be tapped (even of the order of 500
kW to 1 MW), which would require additional transmission
capacity
June 18
India must transform its unorganised food system:
U.S. think-tank- I
Context: Investing to Nourish Indias Cities, a report by
American think-tank, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Indias food system is largely unorganised and highly
fragmented inhibiting large-scale procurement, distribution,
and retail sales
Urban: Indias population is set to double in the next 40
years and with growing urbanisation, India has to transform
its food system to feed that urban growth
Need: Reform government procurement, tariff and tax
policies affecting urban food delivery to feed its growing
cities
Also, substantial public investments are needed to
expand and increase the quality of storage, handling and
transportation infrastructure
June 18
India must transform its unorganised food system:
U.S. think-tank- II
Supply system: Areas of improvement- transit, warehousing,
cold chains, retail and processing that could improve urban
food security in India
Feeding cities: Increasing urban employment and rising
incomes portend significant growth for Indias $360-billion
food market
Investment: Targeted public investments and involvement of
private sector
It has also recommended reduction of regulatory complexity
and enhancing food testing capacity
June 18
NRIs can now join National Pension Scheme online
News: Non-resident Indians can now join the NPS online,
provided they have either an Aadhaar card or a PAN card
Both on repatriable and on non-repatriable basisRepatriable
accounts: Indian rupees can be transferred back to any
foreign currency
Non-Repatriable accounts: Money cannot be converted to
any foreign currency
Till now, NRIs could only open NPS accounts only offline
Trivia: India has the second-largest diaspora in the world,
with 29 million people living in over 200 countries and out
of these 25% live in the Gulf countries
June 18
Centre is planning to revive merchandise exports
News: Centre is planning to revive merchandise exports
through interest subsidies and other measures
The government is studying sector-wise contraction in
exports in order to extend help through interest subsidy and
other incentives
Context: Merchandise exports have been shrinking for 18
consecutive months since December 2014
Merchandise exports: Those exports which are tangible.
Includes goods and excludes services
23
USTRs Special
301 Report &
Indias Priority
Watchlist status

Special 301 report still puts India as a Priority

Watchlist nation. Why?

24 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016

If you have been following our coverage on this story Intel-
lectual Property Rights in India along with the CD explains
article written on the same link, you would be aware of a latest
development
After releasing our National IPR Policy, our commerce minister,
Nirmala Sitharaman maintained that
India does not recognise
unilateral measures such as
the U.S. Special 301 Report
that tries to create pressure
on countries to enhance
IPR protection beyond the
World Trade Organisations
Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of IPRs (TRIPS).
So, this is a classic case of Uncle Sam bullying the minions with
its internal reports!
The Report: Comes under US Trade Act 1974, Section 301
and is prepared by office of USTR
Office of US Trade Representative (USTR) has to prepare a
list of countries, whose IPR regime has negative impact on
American products in their markets
The resultant? Lo and behold, its the Special 301 report which
rants about
Weak and incompetent IPR regimes of a list of countries
Elaborate on their inadequate IPR policies and press for
a censure
The Special 301 report eventually
ends up classifying countries into 3
groups:
1. Priority Foreign Countries (PFC) Red Flag! Most egregious
offenders (Hello Ukraine!),
2. Priority Watch List (PWL) Serious offenders (India is
here),
3. Watch List (WL) Less serious offenders
Being in the PWL, India does not have much to fear and that
probably is the reason why we could make bold statements like
the one above! We have been a PWL since the inception of the
report, which begs an inquiry into whats the issue with Indias
IPR and USTR?
What does the 2016 Special 301
report has to say about India?
+ives
#1. In 2016, the United States continues to prioritize making
progress on IPR issues through the High Level Working Group
on Intellectual Property (IP Working Group), established by
President Obama and Prime Minister Modi
#2. The 2015 passage of the Commercial Courts, Commercial
Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill
may provide an important new tool for new patent and trademark
applications
#3. Acknowledged and applauded the establishment of Indias
first anti-piracy policy unit in Telangana and Andhra Pradeshs
anti-piracy campaign, which resulted in the arrest of 11 individ-
uals
#4. Welcomed the deliberate and transparent process employed
in Indias evaluation of a compulsory license application in 2015
25
-ives
1. Doesnt have separate Anti-Camcording law to combat video
piracy.
2. Doesnt have special takedown procedures against piracy
websites
3. Indian Patents Act prohibits ever greening of patents. As
a result, Novartis lost patent of anti-cancer drug Glivec.
USTR interprets it as an obstacle to IPR of MNCs.
4. India permitted a domestic company NATCO to produce
cheaper generic version of Bayer Pharmas patented drug
Nexvar. USTR interprets such Compulsory licensing as
an obstacle to IPR of MNCs.
5. Indias Drug Price Control Order 2013, permits certain
Indian manufactured drugs to be sold at higher price. Same
relaxation not given to foreign companies.
6. India is the top supplier of counterfeit pharmaceuticals to
USA. Patent holder lose billions of dollar each year due to
counterfeit / pirated products.
26 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
Should India (really) worry about
the Priority Watchlist tag?
Special 301 report violates WTO principles. It permits US gov-
ernment to take unilateral actions against any country. Despite
the fact that USA, India, China all have agreed to sort disputes
through WTO dispute resolution mechanism
Americans have just kept the carrot dangling, by keeping India in
the Priority Watch List, so that the threat remains. And, OCRs
are nothing but keeping the pressure on, so US will continue to
play their games with Modi or whoever else comes in power.
Americans only concerned with maximizing their profit. (Hard-
eep Singh Puri, Ex-UN representative)
How is ease of
doing business
linked with the
Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code?
In India, lack of resolution of insolvency is one of the
significant factors for the failure of credit market in the
country. The present legislations governing insolvency
are fragmented, multi-layered and the adjudication
of insolvency matters take place in multiple forum,
resulting in an unpredictable regime.

27
Why does India need a Bankruptcy Was any committee formed to
law? suggest Insolvency reforms?
Currently it takes, on an average, more than 4 years to resolve
insolvency in India. The proposed Bankruptcy Code will replace
over a century-old archaic insolvency act The Presidency Towns
Insolvency Act, 1909.
Delays in making decisions on the viability of business.
Sometimes, company promoters try to delay reorganisation
or attempts to sell-off assets or change of management.
Delays in disposing off cases by Debt Recovery Tribunal.
Continued litigation at various levels and delays in appellate
level.
Currently, there are 4 different agencies viz. the HC, the
Company Law Board, the BIFR and the DRTs that handle
insolvency-related cases.
How can a modern law help?
Speedy closure will help firms on the verge of brink in two
ways, i.e. either restructure the firm or sell-off the assets to
recover the money.
It will promote efficient allocation and greater availability
of credits for businesses, as it frees up capital.
Development of financial markets such as bond market, due
to clarity on repayment for debtors.
What is the international
experience in this regard?
US Bankruptcy Code provides for fairly quick liquidation or
reorganisation of the company.
In UK, once the cases are filed, then after 12 months, either
the part of assets are discharged to pay-off debt or court-
appointed administrators handle the case, if company can
be turned around.
28 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
The Bankruptcy Law Reform Committee (BLRC) was set
up in August, 2014 under the chairmanship of Mr. T.K.
Vishwanathan.
It was the first committee with the mandate of suggesting
comprehensive and not incremental reforms.
The BLRC extensively studied the insolvency regime within
India as well as various international jurisdictions.
What was the recommendation of
the Committee?
The committee proposed an all-encompassing law for
corporate and individual insolvency, reflecting the best
practices from across the globe.
The corporates should assess the viability of an enterprise
in the early stages of insolvency, such that the creditor and
the debtors can negotiate a financial arrangement while
preserving the economic value of the enterprise.
However, if the negotiations fail, then the enterprise is
liquidated. The insolvency resolution is required to be done
within a period of 180 days.
It also suggested fast track insolvency resolution for certain
entities which is required to be completed within 90 days.
What are the provisions of draft
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?
The code aims to bring modern framework to deal with
bankruptcy and insolvency of variety of economic players,
including individuals, but excluding financial firms.
It will restore some power to creditors, both financial and
operational.
 It will fast-track mechanism of insolvency resolution What about Financial Sector
process may be applicable to certain categories of entities.
The corporate insolvency would have to be resolved within Insolvencies?
a period 180 days, extendable by 90 days.
It also provides for fast-track resolution of corporate FSLRC recommended creation of a resolution corporation
insolvency within 90 days. to monitor financial firms and intervene before they go bust.
Debt Recovery Tribunals will be adjudicating authority over The aim is to close-down the firms which cant be revived or
both individual & unlimited liability partnership firms. change their management to protect investors or depositors.
National Company Law Tribunal will be adjudicating The reform is dubbed as 2nd most important reform after
authority with jurisdiction over companies with limited GST, as it will also improve the ease of doing business in
liability. India.
It has a clause to provide for insolvency professionals
who will specialize in helping sick companies. <These
professionals will help revive control the management of
distressed firm to revive it>
It also provides for information utilities that will collate all
information about debtors to prevent serial defaulters from
misusing the system
To setup Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India to act as
a regulator for these utilities and professionals.
The bill also seeks to establish Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Fund of India.

29
30 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
Polity
May 30
PMO website launched in six regional languages
Context: The official website of Prime Ministers Office in six
major regional languages
Languages: Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and
Bengali
Aim: To reach out the people and communicate with them
Also to enhance the interaction between people from all
parts of the country and the Prime Minister on various
issues concerning their welfare and development
June 01
Tobacco farmers, traders protest display directive
Context: Govt made it mandatory to display of 85% graphic
health warnings on tobacco products
Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) said
that it will destroy local tobacco industry and result in unem-
ployement of the manpower involved
Claim: Beedies are unique to India and the industry is the
third largest employer after agriculture and construction
Demand: Make a policy which is in favour of tobacco
formers and which can create alternative livelihood for them
June 02
Police stations to be graded on performance
The Bureau of Police Research and Development
(BPRandD) has developed parameters on which the police
stations would be graded
Also a new concept of tourism police is being considered
For this, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has
prepared a concept paper, and it is being examined in the
Ministry
There are also plans to replicate the meeting of the Direc-
tors-General of Police (DGP) at the State level, involving
senior police officers of the State
38 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 02
Experts see need for major overhaul
Context: The fire accident at the Central Ammunition Depot
in Pulgaon
Reform: Experts have called for a complete overhaul of the
Armys ammunition management system
Need: To study the best practices of developed nations, how
their armies store their ammunition
Human resource: The personnel are well trained to handle
all kinds of ammunition
Proving: Army would carry out a technical procedure called
proving all the ammunition in the area
It is a long exercise that involves a close examination of all
ammunition
June 02
Ammunition management steps taken so far
Modernisation plans for storing of ammunition have been
ongoing since 2000-01
75-80% of ammunition are now kept in specialised huts
however, still 25% are stored outside under tarpaulin covers
or in temporary sheds
Also, all ammunition is segregated based on their volatility
Electrification is done in such a way that it did not pose a
risk, grass was cut regularly and surprise visits were made
to check compliance
June 02
Deficiencies in ammunition management
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Parliamen-
tary Standing Committees had on various occasions pointed
to deficiencies in ammunition management and suggested
corrective measures
2015 CAG report: (For the period 2008-09 to 2012-13) The
depots are functioning with risk of fire accident, as the fire
fighting equipment is not held as per requirement
Also, the movement of ammunitions suffered from inad-
equacies such as delay in issuing them, lack of proper
accounting by depots and transportation by means other
than the specified vans
June 02
Only ill-gotten assets a crime, observes SC judge
Context: SC hearing the wealth case involving Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
SC: Acquisition of assets per se is not a crime unless proved
that the source of funds is illegal
The court asked how Karnataka could prove that the money
circulated among the co-accused was that of Ms. Jayalali-
thaa
Ms. Jayalalithaa had argued that the prosecution cannot
presume that she was the source of the money flow merely
because the co-accused lived in the same house as her
June 02
MSP of pulses hiked to boost output
Context: Govt has announced the increase in minimum
support price of pulses
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has
given approval to MSP for year 2016-2017
Aim: To boost the domestic production of pulses during the
kharif season
Also to motivate farmers to bring more agriculture area
under pulses
June 02
Know more about CCEA
CCEA has a mandate to review economic trends on a con-
tinuous basis and evolve an economic framework
Fixation of prices of agricultural products, Reviewing prog-
ress of activities related to rural development are in CCEAs
domain
CCEA also lays down priorities for public sector investment
It is chaired by PM and its members are drawn from various
ministries
June 03
Colleges must comply with sexual harassment
norms
Context: The SC, in the Vishakha judgment in 1997, man-
dated internal committees at workplaces to look into sexual
harassment cases
UGC guidelines are based on the Saksham report pro-
posed after inputs from open forums and internal MHRD
consultations
The regulations are exhaustive - cover physical, verbal,
non-verbal abuses
Penalty: Failure to comply with report might result in loss of
recognition from UGC
June 03
Key points about the Saksham Report 2014
Saksham = UGC Report on Gender Sensitisation and Safety
on Campuses
Findings of the report are in consonance with Justice Verma
Committee Report and the Vishaka Guidelines
Gender sensitization discussions should be made an inte-
gral part of public discourse
The task force was set up in the wake of the aftermath of
the Nirbhaya incident of December 2012 in the Capital
June 08
Election Commission seeks more teeth
Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has written
to the Centre seeking amendment to the Representation of
the People Act (RPA)
Why? To confer specific powers on the ECI to postpone or
countermand polls based on evidence that money power
was used to influence voters
Currently, there is no specific provision in the law to this
effect and the Constitutional provisions need to be invoked
sparingly
Clause 58 A of the RPA empowers the Election Commission
to cancel polls only if there is an evidence of booth-cap-
turing or use of muscle power to influence the outcome of
elections
39
Polity
June 08
Background to ECIs demand for more teeth
The ECIs demand comes after it rescinded the poll notifica-
tion for two Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies, Aravakuri-
chi and Thanjavur
Why? Reports of large-scale distribution of money and gifts
to voters by the candidates and political parties
The action was taken under Article 324 of the Constitution
A 324: The superintendence, direction and control of the
preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of,
all elections to Parliament, state legislatures, President,
Vice-President shall be vested in ECI
ECI is yet to announce the fresh dates for elections in the
two constituencies
June 09
Social media details not compulsory: EC
Context: EC stated that there is no need to give social media
details of candidate in main form
But a candidate should be directed to give such details on
a plain paper
Form 26: Form to be submitted by candidates contesting
elections to both Houses of Parliament and State Assem-
blies
June 10
Sexual harassment law likely to be amended
Centre plans to amend the rules dealing with sexual harass-
ment cases
Changes: To make the committee on sexual harassment
share its findings with the complainant in cases where no
action is recommended against the accused
The panel will not only have to provide a copy of its report
to the complainant but would also have to consider any
representation against its findings as an appeal before
completing its report
40 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 10
India says NO to Google Street View
India has declined to give security clearance to the Googles
Street View service
Why? Objections by the Defence Ministry about security of
sensitive defence installations
It is not possible to monitor the service once it is launched
and it would be detrimental to national security
Pathankot: The proposal was rejected in February itself,
primarily amid security concerns after the terror attack at
the Pathankot airbase
Investigating agencies suspect that terrorists used Google
maps as they were aware of the airbases topography
Street View service: Allows users to have a panoramic view
of places in cities, as they would look in real life
Google uses cars and bikes fitted with cameras to collect
360-degree images of a place
June 11
Renewable energy capacity has surpassed the
hydro power generation
Reason: New policy initiatives by Govt and early stage
private investments in solar and wind power
The total capacity of renewable energy sector increased
to 42,849.38 MW, while the total hydro power capacity is
42,783.42 MW
The government has ambitious plans for deployment of 175
GW renewable power capacities by 2022, including 100
GW of solar and 60 GW of wind
June 11
How did Renewable energy move ahead of Hydro-
power?
Hydro power suffered from multiple challenges and limited
opportunities for the private sector
Challenges: Non-availability of long-term financing; the cost
imposed by royalty power to be offered free to the state
government
The Govt has proposed policy to give attention to hydro
power
Proposal: Govt is taking efforts to implement cross-border
transmission and utilise hydropower from North Eastern
states for the same
Govt is negotiating with Bangladesh on this proposal
June 14
Water resources ministry becomes nodal agency
to implement PMKSY
The Union water resources ministry will once again become
the nodal ministry for implementing the Pradhan Mantri
Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
It was initially the nodal department for implementing the
programme, but the responsibility was later shifted to agri-
culture department
However, as most big projects and dams are executed un-
der the ministry of water resources, PMKSY has once again
gone back to the ministry
June 16
An app to aid volunteer workers at govt. schools
Context: A new scheme, Vidyanjali launched to enable
volunteers to reach out to govt. school and devote time and
efforts
21 states already on board with this initiativeConstraint:
As RTE does not allow classroom support from non-teach-
ing staff, these volunteers will be able to help only with
non-scholastic activities
It is hoped reading sessions helmed by volunteers would
make a small difference
May 21
Largest gene database of Indians soon
Context: Bangalore based Medgenome with a Southeast
Asian consortium will create a largest repository of Indian
genomes
It will take 100,000 south Asian genome including 30,000
Indians
Project will be completed in phases and entire record will
ready till 2020
Aim: To understand wide genetic variety of Indias various
ethnic group, medications and new genetic aberrations for
untreatable diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular
diseases etc
Earlier: Human genome was first sequenced in 2003 in
Genome Asia 100K project by UK for collections of Asian
genome
May 21
Sticky coating to glue pedestrians to cars if hit
41
Defence
Procurement
Procedure 2016

To promote indegenisation and give fillip to domestic

industry, recently, the DPP 2016 was launched at
defence Expo. The emphasis is on ensuring that
Indian players tap the best domestic technical
intellect, generously invest in R&D, and thereby, retain
ownership of the all-important applied technology.

42 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016

What is the state of Defence What does the DPP offer for foreign
production in India? investors?
India, the worlds largest arms importer, relies on imports
to meet more than 70% of its defence requirements
So far, technology was imported and the products
manufactured at home, at cut-rate prices
Currently, the FDI in Defence Sector is capped at 49% and
cases for higher FDI are considered on case to case basis
What is DPP and historical
background?
DPP is the governing manual for all defence procurement. It
was part of a set of military reforms undertaken to address the
many deficiencies noticed during the 1999 Kargil war.
It was launched for the first time in 2002, and since then, DPP
has been revised periodically. The DPP 2016 is based on the
recommendations of the expert committee headed by former
Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh, which submitted its report
last year; most of its suggestions are accepted.
Whats new in the DPP 2016?
It seeks to address the concerns of defence manufacturers and
suppliers and enhanced transparency.
Included a new category to acquire weaponsIDDM
(Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured).
IDDM will be the first preferred category of preference
A 10% weightage has been introduced for superior
technology, instead of selecting the lowest bidder only in
financial terms
Govt funding for R&D and recognition of the MSME in
technology development
Defence Acquisition Council to take a fast-track route
to acquire weapons, something which was limited to only
armed forces till now
Defence export clearances will now be granted online
The offset threshold will be raised, with foreign vendors liable
for offsets only in contracts worth over Rs 2,000 crore, from
earlier Rs 300 crore. Apart from this, govt has also decided to
fast track the procedures.
What are the important categories
in the policy?
Buy (Indian-IDDM) : At least 40% of a product must
be manufactured in India for it to qualify for the Indian
Designed, Developed and Manufactured category. If the
equipment is not indigenously designed, but constitutes
60% indigenous content on cost basis of total contract
value. This will be also accorded priority. This category
will be preferred to vendors offering equipment designed
abroad
Buy (Indian): An equipment from Indian vendors could
be procured, only if it comprises of a minimum of 40%
indigenous content on cost basis of the total contract
value
Make category: Make-I category utilises critical
technologies and involves huge infrastructure
investment; on the other hand, Make-II category
entails use of commercial, military or even dual-use
technologies, and is operated on a smaller scale. It seeks
to promote SMEs
The DPP accords higher priority to categories, which mandate
high levels of indigenisation, while it gives lower priority to
categories, which allow a greater role to foreign production.
43
Why it is necessary to go for Future
Indigenisation of defence The FDI ceiling in defence should be revised upward from
current 49%. Original equipment makers are not willing
equipments? to part with their technology when they dont have control
Employ multipliers (assigning higher value) where
First of all, India has all the necessary prerequisites for a foreign companies manufacture defence wares identified
robust military-industrial complex: a diverse private sector, to be of critical need for the services in offset clauses
a large base of engineering institutes, and a growing defence In order to gain technology transfer, there is a need
budget. for an enabling architecture that would guarantee the
protection of foreign companies Intellectual Property
However, India also faces a combination of security threats Rights and commercial interests
from both state and non-state actors is an obvious reason by
it needs to be self-reliant in military equipment. It will also
significantly reduce the potential for corruption in military Criticism
procurement.
The all important chapter on strategic partners is not yet
The move will give fillip to make in India and job creation. It to be notified
will also bring down dependence on imports. Some argue that there was very little reflection of the
problems faced by the industry
The issue around the intellectual property rights in
the Make programme, or the eligibility criteria for
participation in it, still remains unresolved

44 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016

45
World
May 31
Indias ties with African countries good: Hamid
Ansari
Context: Vice President Hamid Ansaris visit to Morocco and
Tunisia
He described Indias ties with African countries as good
Areas of engagement: IT, tele-medicine, agriculture
Morocco: Substantive relationship due to one product-
phosphate India has also invested in Morocco in this sector
June 01
Dont make binding concessions for APEC
Warning: The Commerce Ministry has cautioned the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) against ceding to
demands to secure an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) membership
Concessions demanded: India should offer binding
concessions for an agreement to reduce industrial tariffs
to very low levels or eliminate them over a specified time
period
Also, an early deal on a Bilateral Investment Treaty with the
U.S., and its participating in negotiations for a proposed
Investment Facilitation Agreement at WTO-level
June 01
GDP growth accelerates to 7.9 %
Context: Data on GDP from Central Statistical Office (CSO)
Growth: GDP grew 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2015-16
This increased overall growth for the entire year to 7.6%
With this, India has maintained its position as the fastest-
growing major economy
Consumption: Gross Value Added (GVA) for the year grew
by 7.2% which indicates a consumption-led recovery
54 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 01
Pakistan still promotes good jihadis: NGO- I
Context: The report Pakistans Jihadist Heartland: Southern
Punjab by the International Crisis Group, an NGO engaged
in advocacy to prevent and resolve conflict
Good v/s Bad: The case of southern Punjab (which borders
India) best illustrates Islamabads abject failure to end the
distinction between good and bad jihadists
Continued state sponsorship remains a source of
empowerment for good jihadists, such as the Jaish, which
has networks across the province
June 01
Pakistan still promotes good jihadis: NGO- II
The background and aftermath of the Pathankot airbase
attack in India symbolise the impunity accorded to good
jihadists
Initiatives: By both India and Pakistan- the unscheduled
visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lahore in 2015
were meant to enhance peace process
However, derailing the nascent process was likely the
motive for a major attack on the Pathankot base the very
next month
Pak: After the Peshawar terror attack on an Army Public
School in December 2014, military and civilian Pakistani
establishment announced a 20-point National Action Plan
for countering terrorism
It included measures to prevent banned groups from
operating and/or regrouping under new names, preventing
terror funding, and dismantling terrorist communication
networks among others
June 01
Southern Punjab region and the jihadist links
Key Region: Southern Punjab must be central to any
sustainable effort to counter jihadist violence within and
beyond Pakistans borders, given the presence of militant
groups with transnational links
The region hosts two of Pakistans most radical Deobandi
groups- Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the sectarian
Laskhar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ)
JeM: Held responsible by India for the January 2, 2016
attack on Pathankot airbase
LeJ: Partly responsible for the March 27 Easter Sunday
attack that killed more than 70 in Lahore
June 01
Learn more about APEC
About: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a
regional economic forum established in 1989
Aim: to create greater prosperity for the people of the region
by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative
and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic
integration
Members: 21Structure: In APEC, all economies have an
equal say and decision-making is reached by consensus
No binding commitments or treaty obligations Commitments
are undertaken on a voluntary basis and capacity building
projects help members implement APEC initiatives
Permanent secretariat: Singapore
June 02
Maldives opposition forms shadow govt. in London;
seeks help from India
Context: A new multi-party opposition platform was
launched in London that pledged to lead the fight for the
restoration of democracy in the Maldives
Maldives United Opposition: Former Vice-President of the
Maldives, now living in exile in the United Kingdom, Dr.
Mohamed Jameel Ahmed will head the Shadow Cabinet of
the newly formed opposition
Mr. Nasheed: The first democratically elected leader of the
Maldives who was recently given political asylum in the UK,
chose to take a back seat in the Shadow Cabinet with the
post of Advisor
India: One of the first tasks of the new party would be to
formally seek recognition and assistance for their cause
from India
China: The Maldivian opposition has been critical of the
growing economic footprint of China in the Maldives
Opposition believes that Mr. Yameen has encouraged China
to counter Indias influence in the Indian Ocean region
June 03
Pak needlessly internationalising Kashmir: India
India: Kashmir issue is not the main cause of tension but
externally sponsored terrorism is the central issue
Pak needs to end its illegal occupation of parts of Jammu
and Kashmir and stop interfering in Indias internal matters
India completely rejected the insinuations by the vested
interests against India which has rightful sovereignty over
the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir
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June 03
India joins The Hague Code of Conduct
Indias joining HCoC strengthened the worldwide attempt to
contain the spread of ballistic missiles
It signals our readiness to further strengthen the global non-
proliferation regimes
HCoC has been focused on West Asia, South Asia and the
East Asia due to the rising missile and nuclear arms race
among rival powers
In the latest meeting of the HCoC, a special mention was
made of the increased number of missile launches by North
Korea in 2015
India is on track for membership in other technology
regimes like the Missile Technology Control Regime
June 03
Lets know more about the Hague Code of conduct
The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile
Proliferation (HCoC) was established on 25 November 2002
It is a voluntary legally non-binding multilateral body
Aim: Preventing the spread of ballistic missiles that can
deliver weapons of mass destruction
It is the only normative instrument to verify the spread of
ballistic missiles
It does not ban ballistic missiles, but it does call for restraint
in their production, testing, and export
Its membership stands at 138 (including India)While the
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) has a similar
mission, it is an export group with only 34 members
56 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 03
Sri Lanka panel proposes Bill of Rights
The official committee on constitutional reforms in Sri Lanka
has come up with an exhaustive Bill of Rights
It also has provisions for curtailment of powers of the office
of Governor, a subject that has been of great interest to the
Northern and Eastern Provinces
If the Bill of Rights as proposed by panel is accepted
by the country, it would be among the the most modern
documents on rights in the world
It covers 32 types of rights, ranging from right to life (not
included in the 1978 Constitution) to freedom of religion to
rights of people with diverse sexual and gender identities
June 03
Constitutional issues in Sri Lanka- I
The official committee on constitutional reforms in Sri Lanka
has not been able to arrive at a consensus while making
recommendations on several contentious areas
These include the nature of state, national flag, religion,
merger of provinces and land powers
In many ways, views of the committee present a microcosm
of diversities of views and positions in society
Flag: The committee favours retaining the present national
flag or designing one without any reference to ethnicity,
while representing Sri Lankan collective life
Or framing a new flag symbolising the equality of all ethnic
groups
Nature of the state: The panel has suggested three
formulations, one has no reference to unitary or federal
Another proposal uses the term unitary and talks of multi-
tier governance systems
June 03
Constitutional issues in Sri Lanka- II
Religion: Despite the existing constitutional position of
providing Buddhism the foremost place, the Supreme Court
has called Sri Lanka a secular State
Suggestion: All religions be given equal status while
protecting and fostering Buddhism
Most controversial: The merger of the Northern and Eastern
provinces
One of its suggestions allows the current structure of nine
provinces with constitutional provisions for power- sharing
June 03
India, U.S. to share data on terrorists
Context: India has joined the global terror database
maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) of the
U.S.
TSC? Has details of 11,000 suspects on its database
including nationality, date of birth, photos, finger prints and
passport number
Both the countries will give each other access to terrorism
screening information through designated contact points,
subject to domestic laws and regulations
History: The proposal was initially made by the U.S. in
2012 but had made no progress due to objection of Indian
security agencies
June 04
Violations against children in conflict rose in 2015
: UN
Context: The UN chiefs annual report on children and
armed conflict
The recruitment and killing of children in conflicts escalated
last year especially in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Iraq,
Somalia and South Sudan
Violations: Abduction of children and aerial attacks by some
governments and international coalitions which killed and
maimed many youngsters
UN Chief called on all parties to conflicts to immediately
end violations against children and take measures to
prevent the recruitment, killing, abduction and sexual abuse
of children caught in conflicts
He warned that combatants who violate childrens rights will
find themselves under scrutiny by the United Nations and
stressed that accountability remains a key priority
June 04
UN towards the protection of children in conflict
zones- a background
The UN Security Council in 2005 approved a resolution to
identify governments and armed groups that recruit child
soldiers
It was the first major step to prevent the victimization of
young people in war zones
In 2009, the council voted to name and shame countries
and insurgent groups engaged in conflicts that lead to
children being killed, maimed and raped
In June 205, the council voted unanimously to name
and shame governments and armed groups that abduct
children
The latest report names nine government security forces
and 51 armed groups that committed grave violations
against children last year
June 04
WTO welcomes TFA proposal
WTO has welcomed Indias proposal for a Trade Facilitation
Agreement (TFA) in Services
Proposal: Easier temporary movement of skilled workers to
boost global services trade
The proposal was reiterated during the informal meeting
of trade ministers from 25 WTO member countries on the
sidelines of OECD ministerial council meeting in Paris
WTO also emphasised on working on Trade Facilitation in
Services including Mode 4
Mode 4: It pertains to temporary movement of natural
persons including skilled workers
June 04
TFA in Services- a background
India had proposed the TFA in Services after the December
2015 WTO ministerial conference in Nairobi (Kenya)
The proposed TFA in Services is on the lines of the WTOs
TFA on goods that is aimed at easing customs rules to
expedite trade flows
India has already ratified the TFA on goodsServices:
Account for over half of Indias GDP
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June 04
Other issues at WTO
India also reiterated taking up of the remaining Doha
Development Agenda (DDA) issues including agriculture
before taking up of new issues at WTO
Aim: To improve the trade prospects of developing and poor
nations
Remaining DDA issues: Special Safeguard Mechanism
(SSM) and public stockholding of food grains for food
security purposes
SSM: For developing countries to counter import surges of
farm items
India also emphasised on the need for implementing the
WTOs Bali and Nairobi Ministerial decisions
These issues will lay the foundation for the outcomes of the
WTO Ministerial Conference in 2017
June 04
What is Bali Package?
In December 2013, 9th WTO ministerial conference was
held at Bali, Indonesia
Bali Package is the collection of three prime outcomes of
this summit
Trade facilitation agreement: To cut down the red tape in
customs clearance
LDC exports: Exporters from Least developing countries,
will get Duty free, quota free (DFQF) access to markets in
foreign countries
Food stockholding: As per the original Agreement on
agriculture (AoA), the developed and developing countries
have to keep their Amber box subsidies within De-minimus
level i.e. 5% and 10% of their agriculture production in
1986-88 respectively
India opposed this base year and limits, because it would
make impossible to implement the food security programs
for the poor and MSP for the farmers
Therefore, as a measure of temporary relief, Bali summit
enacted a peace clause for the AoA
58 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 04
What is there in the Peace Clause?
No WTO member can drag any developing country to
Dispute settlement mechanism of WTO for violation of De-
minimus limits in AoA
This is, provided that the said developing country is paying
subsidies for staple foodcrops or for public stockholding
program or for food security purpose
And also that it is providing annual information of its food
security Program to WTO
Permanent solution will be taken no later than 11th
ministerial conference int December 2017
June 04
Deal on Iran gas field may be sealed by October
Context: Indias Farzad-B gas project by a consortium of
Indian companies led by ONGC Videsh
Farzad-B gas project: A common project by Iran and India
to develop the Farzad-B field
It is discovered in 2012 and estimated to have 21.68 trillion
cubic feet (tcf) of gas reserves
ONGC Videsh: The overseas arm of state-run Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation
June 04
India, Singapore hold defence dialogue
Context: India-Singapore Joint Declaration on Strategic
Partnership put forward by Defence Ministers Dialogue
(DMD) between 2 countries
It had been signed during the visit of PM to Singapore in
November 2015
Both countries agreed to set up industry level working
mechanisms to foster cooperation in aerospace, electronics
and other areas of mutual interest
Earlier: India and Singapore signed a Defence Cooperation
Agreement (DCA) in 2003 which was revised in 2015
June 04
India seeks help of friends for Nuclear Suppliers
Group entry
Context: China has announced to block Indias membership
for NSG
Membership of NPT is a precondition for any new
membership of the NSG
Criticism: India has traditionally opposed the NPT as a
discriminatory instrument and did not sign
PM will discuss the issue with Switzerland, the U.S. and
Mexico which are part of his five-nation trip
Mexico and Switzerland are known as non-proliferation
hardliners who constitute a strong group in the NSG
Nuclear Suppliers Group: Group of countries which controls
supply of nuclear material and technology in the world
June 04
Indo-Bangladesh border to be fenced by Dec
Aim: To maintain safety and security of country and to stop
illegal migration from Bangladesh
A major initiative of fencing the border between two
countries will be completed by Dec
Immigrants would not be allowed without proper passport
from both the side
June 06
Pentagon chief moots Asia-Pacific security
network
Context: United States is proposing to accelerate and
deepen defence cooperation in the Asia-Pacific
How? By expanding a security network of countries whose
militaries would train together and eventually operate
together This security network would represent the next
wave in Asia-Pacific security Inclusive:
Any nation and any military, no matter its capability,
budget, or experience, can contribute China would also be
welcomed in this network Complain: China unnerving its
neighbours with expansive moves to build up reefs, islets
and other land features in the disputed South China Sea
June 06
India, Qatar to share data on terror financing,
hawala
Need: To isolate the sponsors and supporters of terrorism
and urgent action against all such entities which support
terrorism and use it as an instrument of policy, must be
taken
Committee: To constitute an inter-ministerial high-level joint
committee to regularly review all bilateral matters, as well as
regional and global issues of mutual interest
Hawala: An MoU was signed between the Finance
Intelligence Unit-India (FIU) and Qatar Financial
Information Unit to share intelligence on illegal movement
of money
Info: Also an agreement to exchange financial intelligence to
combat terrorism financing and other economic offences
June 06
Sri Lanka, Maldives free of elephantiasis: WHO
Elephantiasis refers to a parasitic infection that causes
extreme swelling in the arms and legs
Most cases are symptomlessReasons for Success:
Intensified mosquito control efforts, treatment of the
infected population and close monitoring
Elephantiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases
(NTD) and its elimination boost the achievement of SDGs
SDG: Sustainable development goals
June 06
India, Qatar sign 7 agreements to boost bilateral
ties
Qatar is an important Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
member
Agreements include sectors such as Tourism, custom
matters, financial intelligence and infrastructure
MoUs also signed in the field of youth and sports, skill
development and health
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June 07
Climate change to be a priority in talks in Indo-US
talks
Context: Modi will have a bilateral meeting with President
Barack Obama and address a joint session of Congress
Agenda: Advancing the ambitious climate change and clean
energy agenda and enhancing our security and diplomatic
cooperation across the Indo-Pacific
Mr. Modi is visiting the U.S - the fourth time since he took
over as PM in 2014
June 07
Swiss back Indias bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group
membership
Context: India has been pushing for membership of
the NSG for last few years and has formally moved its
application
Switzerland promised India support in its efforts to become
a member of NSG
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to the nuclear
sector and its membership will help India expand its atomic
energy sector
June 07
What is Nuclear Suppliers Group?
The NSG is a multi-national body which aims at reduction of
proliferation of nuclear weapons
It is a 48-member body which was established to stop
civilian nuclear trade from being used for military purpose
The NSG was set up in response to Indias first nuclear test
in May 1974
India hasnt signed the NPT or CTBT and hence there has
been aversion from China to accept it in the NSG bloc
60 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 08
India clears final hurdle to join missile control
group
The members of the Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR) have agreed to admit India
A deadline for members of the group to object to Indias
admission had expired on Monday without any of them
raising objections
Under the silent procedure, Indias admission follows
automatically
Next stage: Each of the 34 member countries need to send
a diplomatic note stating formally that they accept Indias
membership
This could take weeks or even months, given the internal
processes of each country
India will also soon receive membership documents which it
must ratify and return
June 08
What after MTCR membership?
Admission to the MTCR would open the way for India to buy
high-end missile technology
It will also make Indias aspiration to buy state-of-the-art
surveillance drones such as the U.S. Predator, made by
General Atomics
Membership would require India to comply with rules- such
as a maximum missile range of 300 km (186 miles)- that
seek to prevent arms races from developing
It also restricts export of missiles carrying more than 500
kg payload as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with
mass destruction capabilities
India is also hopeful of building on the MTCR entry with
membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the
Australian and Wassenaar arrangements next
June 08
Africa reaches out to Indian States
Context: Govt is trying to step up its Africa outreach by
involving the States in a major boost to its ties with Africa
Countries like Mali and Tunisia have added to Africas ties
with Indias States by coming up with plans for engaging the
States
Earlier: The promotion of States in foreign affairs had begun
with the opening of the Centre-States division in the Ministry
of External Affairs two years ago
South Africa was the first from Africa to begin State-
centric approach by forging ties with Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra
However, time has come for other African states also to look
beyond the big cities of India
Areas: Education, IT, tourism, manufacturing businesses,
cotton textiles etc.
June 08
African countries and their engagements in Indian
states
Mali is one of the top cotton producers of the world and so
is India
Focus: Tamil Nadu- which is one of the most important
centres of textile industry in India and Mali will send a
delegation to India in July to firm up ties in the textile sector
Mali would also focus on Goas tourism sector and use its
best practices to contribute to Malis famed tourist hotspot
of Timbuktu
The State-focus was visible also during the latest visit of
Vice-President Hamid Ansari to Tunisia and Morocco which
have emerged as crucial sources for phosphate for India
Phosphate is the main item that Tunisia is selling to India
and its trade has drawn Tunisia towards Gujarat due to the
States history of being business-friendly and the Gujarat
State Fertilizer and Chemicals Ltd which is a major partner
of Tunisia
June 08
Students well-being behind African outreach
Another reason for exploring the States of India is due
to the fact that almost 30,000 African students study in
educational hotspots of Maharashtra, Punjab, and smaller
towns of Karnataka
And it is by maintaining working relations with the States so
that the African students can be well looked after
June 08
Modi, Obama welcome work on nuclear reactors in
India
Context: India-U.S. will start work together on six nuclear
reactors in India very soon
India and the U.S. Export-Import Bank intend to work
together toward a competitive financing package for the
project
US: Fulfilling the promise of Civil nuclear agreement and
demonstrating the commitment to meet Indias growing
energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels
June 08
India, US and Japan to hold major naval drill in
Western Pacific- I
Context: Malabar, a large scale joint naval exercise between
India, U.S., Japan will start for eight days
Exercise will take place in the Western Pacific, close to a
Japanese island chain, part of which China claims
Malabar: An annual event between the U.S. and India, and
Japan is joining it this year for the first time since 2007
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June 08
India, US and Japan to hold major naval drill in
Western Pacific- II
Conflict: A group of uninhabited isles, known as the
Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, which are
controlled by Japan and claimed by China
The islands are located around 220 km (137 miles) west of
Taiwan
China claims most of the neighbouring South China Sea
But the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei
have overlapping claims
Concern to US: Chinas extending influence into the
Western Pacific, with a growing fleet of submarines and
surface vessels to ply distant oceans
June 08
Is MTCR a treaty and what is its relation with UN?
MTCR is NOT a treaty and does not impose any legally
binding obligations on Partners (members)
Rather, it is an informal political understanding among
states
MTCR and the UN: While there is no formal linkage, the
activities of the MTCR are consistent with the UNs non-
proliferation and export control efforts
For example, applying the MTCR Guidelines and Annex on
a national basis helps countries to meet their export control
obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1540
June 08
Lets know more about MTCR
MTCR: Missile Technology Control Regime is an informal
political understanding among states that seek to limit the
proliferation of missiles and missile technology
When? Was formed in 1987 by the G-7 industrialized
countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK,
and the United States)
Purpose: The MTCR seeks to limit the risks of proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by controlling
exports of goods and technologies that could make a
contribution to delivery systems (other than manned
aircraft) for such weapons
Focus: Rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of
delivering a payload of at least 500 kg to a range of at least
300 km and on equipment, software, and technology for
such systems
62 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 09
Were working with India to ensure security in
Indian Ocean: Seychelles
Seychelles: India and Seychelles have very close relations
and both counties are working together to ensure safety and
security in the Indian Ocean
Naval base: Work will start this year in the Assumption
Island to jointly develop a naval base by India and
Seychelles
Seychelles has allocated a plot on the Assumption Island for
the base, which will help enhance maritime security along
Indias west and south coast
This initiative has come following Chinas announcement
that it would build its first African naval base in Djibouti
June 09
Tourism in Seychelles relations
Economy of Seychelles is heavily dependent on tourism and
India is an important source of tourism for it
Last year, about 8,000 Indians travelled to Seychelles to
spend holidays
Indians can travel visa-free to Seychelles and the
connectivity is also good
The direct share of tourism in the economy 27 per cent,
which goes up to 62 per cent if the indirect contribution is
factored in
June 09
India eyes uranium from Africa
India might ask African countries to relax commitment to
the Pelindaba Treaty
India would try to convince Namibia to implement a bilateral
treaty with India and supply uranium to Indian nuclear
energy projects
Namibia: India and Namibia signed two MoUs on
Cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources
and Cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy in 2009
However, Namibias membership of the Pelindaba Treaty
has prevented it from ratifying the agreements
Namibia is the fourth largest producer of uranium
June 09
What is Pelindaba Treaty?
The Treaty controls supply of uranium from key mineral
hubs of Africa to the rest of the world
It was signed in 1996 and is also known as the African
Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty
Aim: Preventing nuclear proliferation and preventing
strategic minerals of Africa from being exported freely
June 09
India eases curbs on conference visas for China
India has removed conference visas for Chinese participants
from the prior referral category
China has, on several occasions, pressed India for lifting
restrictions on conference and research visas
It was a major hindrance for the Chinese to come here and
share technological advancements and strategies
The timing of the move is seen as an attempt to soften the
atmosphere in the run-up to the meetings of the NSG in
Vienna
June 09
India, U.S. to ratify Paris deal by 2017
India and the U.S agreed to initiate domestic processes to
ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change and complete
the process within this year
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCL) and
nuclear reactor builders, Westinghouse, will immediately
start the engineering and site design work on six reactors to
be set up in Gujarat under an early work agreement
All commercial agreements will be completed by June 2017
This is a step ahead in civil nuclear cooperation
June 09
India becomes third largest oil consumer
Context: With demand of 4.1 million barrels a day, India is
now the third-largest consumer behind the U.S. and China
India accounted for 4.5% of world oil consumption in 2015
This data is released by BP Statistical Review of World
Energy
Oil is the Worlds leading fuel accounted for 33% of global
energy consumption
Coal comes second at 29% and natural gas at 24%
June 10
After Switzerland, Mexico extends support to India
for NSG membership
Both Mexico and Switzerland also announced support for
Indias membership of NSG
PM Modi is on a trip to these countries and it was aimed at
garnering their backing for the NSG
Why? Both countries have held strong positions on no-
proliferation in the past, very much like India
USA: India has shown strong support for the objectives of
the NSG and the global nuclear nonproliferation regime and
is a like-minded state deserving of NSG admission
US support is a part of its commitment from the 2008
civilian nuclear deal to help India win access to international
nuclear regimes
June 10
Indias biggest concern to join NSG comes from
China
China: NSG members must be signatories to the Non-
proliferation treaty (NPT)
Also, granting membership to India would further
undermine efforts to prevent proliferation
It would also infuriate Indias rival Pakistan, which
responded to Indias membership bid with one of its own
and has the backing of its close ally China
India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel and South Sudan are
amongst the countries that arent signatories to the NPT
Given Chinas public opposition, India has been working on
whittling down other countries in the NSG in a bid to isolate
China
Other countries which are said to be opposing Indian
membership include New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South
Africa and Austria
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June 10
Swedish general appointed to head UN India
Pakistan military observers
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has appointed Swedish
Major General Per Lodin to head the UN Military Observer
Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
He is to succeed Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi of
Ghana, who is completing his two-year assignment in July
Lodin is currently the head of Strategic Material
Management at Forsvarets materielverk (FMV), the Swedish
defence ministrys procurement and logistics arm
He had earlier served as the head of the task force centre
of Kosovo Force (KFOR), the multi-national peacekeeping
mission led by NATO in 2006-2007
June 10
What is UN Military Observer Group in India and
Pakistan (UNMOGIP)?
UNMOGIP monitors the situation in Kashmir however India
does not recognise the UNMOGIPs mandate
It began operations in 1949 and has personnel from 10
countries comprising 44 military members and 72 civilian
staff
India maintains that the UNMOGIP has been made
irrelevant by the 1972 Simla Agreement between Prime
Ministers Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
The Shimla Agreement recognises the Kashmir dispute as a
bilateral issue
In 2014, India asked the UNMOGIP to leave the
government building it had provided the mission
Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand,
has called for an expansion of the UNMOGIP
And Pakistan continues to file complaints with it about
alleged Indian ceasefire violations
64 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 13
Exim Banks African credit to boost services
exports
Context: Exim Bank of India is looking to disburse $10
billion to Africa in the next three years
It wants the credit which has a mix of concessional and
commercial rates to be used for boosting Indias services
exports to Africa
Shift: (in Exim Banks credit disbursal strategy to Africa)
From mainly to help build infrastructure and industrial
projects to help boost services exports
Why? Infrastructure building is something that China has
been doing in Africa and with its huge financial resources,
China probably has greater capacity to do it than India
Indias strength is in services, especially in sectors such as
healthcare, information technology, education and even
agriculture-related services and it needs to be actualised
June 13
Exim bank has a greater say now
The change in approach of Exim bank follows the
government giving a greater say to Exim Bank in identifying
Indias best interests while it promotes economic diplomacy
As part of the new strategy, it is also important to encourage
more Indians to move to Africa on short-term projects in
services sectors
Exim Bank has been extending credit to Africa through
concessional Lines of Credit, Buyers Credit (meant to
finance imports of overseas buyers, in this case African
buyers, from India) etc.
June 13
India-Africa trade stats
Source: International Trade Centre dataEXIMs: India-Africa
goods trade in 2014 was around $75 billion with Africa
exporting $40 billion to India and India exporting around
$35 billion to Africa
Fall: This had fallen to about $60 billion in 2015 with Africa
exporting $34 billion and India exporting $26 billion
June 13
NSG: Modi seeks Moscow route to China
Context: PM will meet Russian president for its support to
India in NSG
Reason: China has maintained a division of nations within
the group who agree Chinas stance
Occasion: PM will meet Chinese and Russian President in
SCO meeting later in this month
Shanghai Cooperation Agreement(SCO): A six-member
Central Asian grouping seen as a counterpoint to the US-
European military bloc NATO
PM Modi will also meet Kazakhs President as a final
attempt to push Indias membership
June 13
NSG: Modi seeks Moscow route to China- II
India needs Russias help as it is moving as a mediator
between India and China
Though Russia is supportive to India but it will also use its
influence with countries like Kazakhstan and Turkey
Concern: At the meeting of India, Russia and China in
April, the three countries hammered out an acceptable
formulation on the contentious South China Sea
But India omitted the explicit reference to the South China
Sea in the joint statement with the U.S. last week as well
June 14
UN expresses concern over targeted Bangladesh
killings
Context: About the targeted killing of activist, minority group
people in Bangladesh
Cases of murder of freethinkers, liberals, religious minorities
and LGBT activists in Bangladesh have been on an increase
Bangladesh denies need of any help from any foreign
country and says that minority group people feel secure in
the country
June 14
South Korea alleges North Koreas involvement in
cyber attacks
Context: Origin of attack traced to North Korean capital -
Execution patterns finds similarity with the 2013 attacks
The malicious code affected more than 140,000 computers
at large South Korean conglomerates and government
agencies
Fact: The identical internet address was used in a 2013
cyber attack against South Korean banks and broadcasters
Earlier: In March 2016, South Korea had intercepted
an attack on their computer networks linked with their
transport system
June 15
India warned against pitfalls in ASEAN trade
agreement
Context: Issue of pharma IPRs in ongoing Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations
Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) has warned India that it
will no more remain the pharmacy of the developing world
if the proposals in the pact are adopted
MSF Access Campaign and other civil society organisations
are pushing for the removal of harmful intellectual property
provisions
Such provisions could potentially increase drug costs
by creating new monopolies and delaying the entry of
affordable generics in the market
65
World
June 15
Issues in RCEP negotiations- Data Exclusivity
Two of the most worrying are the demands for Data
Exclusivity and Patent Term Extensions both intellectual
property obligations that Least Developing Countries are
exempted from till 2033
Data exclusivity: A form of legal monopoly protection for a
drug, over and above the patent protections and is given
expressly to compensate for the investment made during
clinical trials
Impact: Regulators cannot approve a similar drug with
similar data for the next five years, delaying the entry of
generic, affordable versions
For India, agreeing to data exclusivity will mean amending
the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (FDA law)
It would prohibit Indian Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA)
from registering a more affordable version of a medicine as
long as the exclusivity lasts over the clinical trial data
June 15
Issues in RCEP negotiations- Patent Term
Extensions
Patent term extensions: These are given to compensate the
company for delays in processing patent applications
A company gets a 20-year patent monopoly on a drug
from the date that the application is filed; but sometimes
processing these applications takes time and the companies
get only 13 years instead of 20
A patent term extension will give another five-year monopoly
to the innovator company, again delaying the entry of
generic drugs in the market
June 15
India, Ghana sign 3 pacts
Context: India is the largest foreign investor in Ghanawith
more than 700 projects
Out of 700, more than 222 projects are in the
manufacturing sector
The three agreements: 1st- For visa waivers for holders of
diplomatic and official passports
2nd: For setting up a Joint Commission to review multi
dimensional ties
3rd: Explore the possibilities of reducing dependence on
traditional energy sources
66 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 16
Pranab wants a push for U.N. reforms
Context: The participation (voting) in UN has not evolved as
per teh changing world order
President Pranab Mukherjee made out a strong case
to make the United Nations more democratic and
representative
The president was visiting Ivory Coast and was decorated
with National Grand Croix, Cote DIvoires highest honour.
June 17
India downplays US Senate rejecting bill on
special status
Context: The US Senate failed to recognise India as a
global strategic and defence partner of the US after a
key amendment necessary to modify its export control
regulations could not be passed
News: India is of the view that it is premature to
speculate about the final content of the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA)
June 17
Beijing calls for restoration of Stillwell Road
Context: Chinese media reports on restoring the Stilwell
Road
Chinese media: India, China and Myanmar should establish
a joint dialogue mechanism to restore the Stilwell Road to
revitalise trade in the region
China: Completed the reconstruction of the section from
Kunming to the Sino-Myanmese border and connected the
road to Chinas well-developed road system
Myanmar: Accomplished restoration of the section from the
Sino-Myanmese border to Myitkyina, with Chinas help
India: However, the sections from Myanmar to India and
within India are barely usable and some parts have already
been deserted due to bad conditions
June 17 June 18
What is Stilwell Road? India, South Korea to review free trade pact
Connects: India, China and MyanmarEarlier: Called the tomorrow- I
Ledo Road, but renamed after Stilwell at the suggestion of Aim: To further boost bilateral trade and investment ties
Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek Review: Assessments of the benefits derived from both the
Ledo: A small town in northern India, is the starting point of countries under the existing CEPA like fresh negotiations on
this legendary road elimination/ reduction of duties on various products
From Ledo in Upper Assam to Kunming in Southwest CEPA: Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Chinas Yunnan Province, the road is 1,800-km-long AgreementThis CEPA had come into effect in 2010
It is obvious that the road that connects China, India and
Myanmar bears economic significance for South Asia,
Southeast Asia and East Asia June 18
India, South Korea to review free trade pact
tomorrow- II
Problem: Low utilisation rate due to complex rules of origin
June 17 and low level of concessions
Issues with Stilwell Road in India and Myanmar South Korea (SK): Only 62% of Korean exports to India are
Myanmar: Started to renovate another section of the road, enjoying the benefits of CEPA with India vis--vis around
but the reconstruction is not smooth 80% with other countries
Why? Lack of funds and technologies and the presence of Steel: SK is seeking to expand the scope of FTA by
Indian and Myanmarese ethnic insurgents in the area including more products such as machinery and some steel
India: Worried about the reconstruction of the road for two products under the pact
reasons Indian steel makers want steel products to be excluded
First, the road starts from Assam, a State where local from the scope of FTA with Japan and Korea following a
militants have become increasingly active surge in cheaper steel imports hurting them
Second, China-made products can flood into the Indian Why? Imported steel is cheaper compared to the local due
market through the road to the advantage they enjoy under Indias FTAs with them
giving them duty concessions
Opportunity: Indian companies should invest in Korea as
they can get access to Chinese market with which Korea
June 17 has an FTA
Way forward on restoring Stilwell Road
Despite its concerns, India has toned down the two
concerns because of the Look East policy
The process of advancing the strategy requires the stability
of northern India, in which a well-functioning road system
matters a lot
In line with these developments, Assam has recently started
to fix part of the road
China as a more developed country should play a major role
in the reconstruction work
All three countries should set up a joint dialogue
mechanism, in which their concerns and problems can be
put on the negotiating table
Dialogues will also include how to make peace with ethnic
insurgents, and the three countries can find out solutions
together
The ethnic groups living in this area can seize the chance
and prosper

67
Enviro & Biodiversity
May 29
What is the Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme
Under this programme, urban citizens contribute money to
protect hornbill nests around Pakke Tiger Reserve
It is a collaboration of Ghora-Aabhe Society, Nature
Conservation Foundation and the Forest Department
It has been a major step towards conservation of four
hornbill species that are found in the adjoining areas of
Pakke Tiger Reserve
May 31
Coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef
Mass bleaching: Killed more than a third of the coral in the
northern and central parts of Australias Great Barrier Reef
However, corals to the south have escaped with little
damage
Recovery: Bleached corals that havent died can recover if
the water temperature drops
However, older corals take longer to bounce back and likely
wont have a chance to recover before the next bleaching
event occurs
This is the third and most extreme mass bleaching event in
18 years to strike the Great Barrier Reef
May 31
Why coral bleaching?
The damage to Great Barrier Reef is part of a massive
bleaching event that has been impacting reefs around the
world for the past two years
Reason: Beaching has been triggered by global warming
and El Nino, that changes weather worldwide
Hot water puts stress on coral, causing it to turn white and
become vulnerable to disease
Other reefs: Have suffered even more severely from the
recent bleaching
Example: Some Pacific islands have reported over 80%
coral death rates
72 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
May 31
How southern reefs were spared of bleaching?
This time, the southern half of the reef was spared largely
due to a lucky break that arrived in the form of a tropical
cyclone
The remnants of the storm which had lashed the South
Pacific brought cloud cover and heavy rains to the region
This cooled the ocean enough to stop bleaching that had
just begun in the south
About 95 per cent of the coral in the southern portion of the
reef has survived
June 02
LEAF seeks lifting of stay on NGT order
Context: Lawyers Environmental Awareness Forum has
demanded to vacate the High Court order staying the
directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT)
LEAF: A green wing of the Kerala High Court Advocates
Association
Earlier: HC has stayed the directive of NGT which banned
registration of 2000cc or above diesel vehicles in response
of writ petition filed
Major concerns: Risk of uncontrolled pollution, vehicles
spread poisonous gases which threaten the healthy life of
people
June 07
Indias e-waste growing at 30% per annum: study-
I
Context: A study on Electronic Waste Management in India
conducted by ASSOCHAMcKinetics on World Environment
Day
India: Emerging as one of the worlds major electronic waste
generators and likely to generate 52 lakh metric tonnes
(MT) per annum by 2020 from the current level 18 lakh MT
Growth: A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about
30%
Global: Volume of e-waste generated is expected to reach
130 million tons in 2018 from 93.5 million tons in 2016 at a
compound annual growth rate of 17.6% from 2016 to 2018
June 07
Indias e-waste growing at 30% per annum: study-
III
Over 95% of e-waste generated is managed by the
unorganised sector and scrap dealers in this market,
dismantle the disposed products instead of recycling it
About 4-5 lakhs child labours between the age group
of 10-15 are observed to be engaged in various e-waste
(electronic waste) activities, without adequate protection
and safeguards in various yards and recycling workshops
Despite the Indian government stringent law to regulate
e-waste trade, destitute children still face hazards picking
apart old computers, TV etc.
Health: About 2/3 of e-waste workers in India suffering from
respiratory ailments like breathing difficulties, irritation,
coughing, choking, tremors problem
Need: To bring out effective legislation to prevent entry of
child labour into its collection, segregation and distribution
June 07
Indias e-waste growing at 30% per annum: study-
IV
Main sources: The government, public and private
(industrial) sectors, which account for almost 75% of total
waste generation
The contribution of individual households is relatively small
at about 16%, the rest being contributed by manufacturers
Though individual households are not large contributors
to waste generated by computers, they consume large
quantities of consumer durables and are, therefore,
potential creators of waste
June 07
Arctic regions getting greener due to climate
change: NASA
Context: A new NASA study on Arctic regionFinding: Due
to changing climate, Arctic regions of North America are
getting greener, with almost a third of the land cover looking
more like landscapes found in warmer ecosystems
Temperatures are warming faster in the Arctic than
elsewhere, which has led to longer seasons for plants to
grow in and changes to the soils
Observation: Grassy tundras changing to shrublands, and
shrubs growing bigger and denser changes that could
have impacts on regional water, energy and carbon cycles
The study was done using Landsat
June 07
What is Landsat?
Landsat is a programme that provides the longest
continuous space-based record of Earths land vegetation in
existence
Like other satellite missions, it can use the amount of
visible and near-infrared light reflected by the green, leafy
vegetation of grasses, shrubs and trees to characterise the
vegetation
Then, with computer programmes that track each individual
pixel of data over time, researchers can see if an area is
greening
High resolution: It can also see if more vegetation is
growing, or if individual plants are getting larger and leafier
June 07
Have you heard about the Tiger Express?
A semi-luxury tourist train to spread awareness of tiger
conservation started by IRCTC
The tourist package comprises travel safari, inter-city rail
travel, hotel stays and travel insurance
Major attractions: Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Dhuadhar Falls in
Jabalpur
73
Enviro & Biodiversity
June 08
Gangotri glacier retreated by 3 km in two centuries
Retreat: The rate of retreating Gangotri glacier has
increased sharply since 1971
It is 22 metres per yearReasons: Lesser ice formation each
year than its current rate of melting of ice
Climate change and global warming are the main reasons
Dwindling snowfall affects volume of water fed to the
Bhagirathi, the main source of the Ganga
Concern: Due to melting of ice, small lakes are forming on
the top of glacier
Earlier: The blast of one such glacial lake in Chorabari that
led to the June 2013 flood disaster in Kedarnath
Also the shape of the Gangotri glacier is changing from
convex to concave
June 08
Eurasian Otter found in Kanha-Pench corridor
Context: Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) was found in Satpura
Tiger Reserve Madhya Pradesh and Kanha-Pench Corridor
Eurasian otter: One of the rarest Indian mammalsThere
are two more species namely the smooth-coated otter
(Lutrogale perspicillata) and Asian small-clawed otter
(Aonyx cinerea) present in India
They were discovered during this years camera trapping
exercise by Wild Conservation Trust and Madhya Pradesh
Forest Department
They are widely found in Europe, Africa and AsiaIt is listed
as a Near Threatened as per IUCN Red List (2004, 2008)
June 09
Centre plans alternative to Bt cotton
Purpose: To develop genes that can be integrated into
traditional varieties for larger outputs
This project would be led by CSIR (Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research) and DBT (Department of
Biotechnology)
Cotton is the only genetically-modified seed thats legally
allowed in India
GM food crops such as Brinjal and Mustard still face
opposition by anti-GM activist groups
74 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 09
Bt cotton has always been controversial. Whats
new?
Agriculture Ministrys new policy on GM crop changes the
way seed companies and seed-technology companies such
as the MMB share royalty, technology
Aim: India should not be dependent on foreign technology
and untimely price fluctuations
Challenge: While India has a healthy repository of GM
technologies, translating genes into commercial products is
a huge challenge!
June 09
Good News: Numbers of Chinese white dolphins on
a rise
Context: The population of endangered Chinese white
dolphins living near an estuary of the Pearl River is
increased
It has increased in the last five years in China and now
stands at healthy 2060
Chinese white dolphins: They are a first-class protected
animal having a low reproduction rate and high habitat
requirements
Female dolphins only give birth every 3 years, and the
calves have only a 20% chance of survival
June 10
Whats new about NASAs CORAL?
CORAL: Coral Reef Airborne LaboratoryIt is an airborne
mission to survey reefs at select locations across the Pacific
for 3 years
Context: NASA and other top scientists are launching a
campaign to collect the data on coral reefs
Area of study: Will study the reefs of Hawaii, Palau, the
Mariana Islands, and Australias Great Barrier Reef
Need? To understand how the environmental changes are
impacting these delicate and important ecosystem
PRISM: It is the instrument that will use in the project to
address coastal and water science questions
June 10
Why is a coral reef study important for NASA?
Reefs are among the first ecosystems to be directly
impacted by global warming
Importance: They drive many tourist economies around the
world, but they provide much more than pretty places to
dive and snorkel
Scientists have discovered pharmaceutical applications
from coral reefs, including pain killers
Concern: 50 % of coral reefs have been largely or
completely degraded in past few decades
Why? The environmental forces including global warming,
acidification and pollution have impacted coral reefs
June 10
Ken-Betwa project mired in some conflicts
Context: Indias first river interlinking project become a
subject of conflict
Conflict: The project might affect the tigers and vultures of
Panna Tiger Reservoir
Wildlife Board has constituted a committee to study the
impact on wildlife
Problems: Project involves clearances of forest lands,
affects endangered animals, relocations of farmers
June 10
The basics of Ken-Betwa Project
First of the 30 river interlinking project proposed by NDA
Govt
The project proposes Daudhan dam and a 2.5 km canal
It will transfer surplus water from the Uttar Pradesh section
of the Ken to the Betwa in Madhya Pradesh
Dam will submerge at least 4,000 hectares of Madhya
Pradeshs Panna tiger reserve
June 10
Pros and Cons of the Ken-Betwa Project
Pros: It will irrigate nearly 7,00,000 hectares in drought-
ravaged Bundelkhand
Create fresh water reservoirs and attract herbivores which
would serve as prey for tigers
Will rejuvinate the denuded forests of the Panna reserve
Cons: Dam will submerge at least 4,000 hectares of
Madhya Pradeshs Panna tiger reserve
This can threaten the population of tigers and ecosystem of
reservoir
Vultures nests will be threatened by the height of the dam
June 11
Renewable energy capacities surpass hydro
generation- I
Context: The Central Electricity Authority dataFinding: The
renewable energy sector has for the first time surpassed
hydro power generation
Data: The total capacity of renewable energy sector
increased to 42,849.38 MW, surpassing the total capacity
of hydro power sector at 42,783.42 MW, out of the nations
total installed capacity of a little over 3 lakh MW on April 30,
2016
Reasons: The renewable energy investments in solar and
wind have benefited from a strong central policy and several
years of early-stage private sector investment, respectively
June 11
Renewable energy capacities surpass hydro
generation- II
Thermal: The total capacity of the thermal sector stood at
2,11,420.40 MW
Hydro: It suffers from multiple challenges, including non-
availability of long-term financing
Also the cost imposed by royalty power (from 12% to 36%)
to be offered free to the state government and limited
opportunities for the private sector
This is potentially changing, as the central government has
proposed to give policy attention to hydro power too
Further, the governments bilateral efforts with Bangladesh
to implement cross-border transmission means that hydro-
power from the north-eastern states can be delivered to the
load centres cheaper than before
75
Enviro & Biodiversity
June 13
Work on eco-tourism project by September
Context: Wagamon-Thekkady-Idukki-Gavi Eco-tourism
Circuit project
Aim: To give a boost to the tourism sector in the Area
A walkway will be built in the pine valley forestDevelopment:
Eco Friendly infrastructure and facilities
June 14
On wings of fire: Solar plane completes U.S. trip
The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2, which is on a globe
circling voyage, landed in New York
Its trip began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital
of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman,
Myanmar, China and Japan
The Solar Impulse 2s wings, which stretch wider than those
of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that
power propellers and charge batteries
The plane runs on stored energy at nightIdeal flight speed
is about 28 mph, although that can double during the day
when the suns rays are strongest
June 15
Environment ministry defines forests, legally
Context: The Union environment ministry has defined what
constitutes a forest under the Forest Conservation Act 1980
(FCA)
The move is expected to have far-reaching consequences
for protection of forests while ensuring ease of doing
business for mining sector, realty sector and industry
The legal definition, pending since 2006, will help in
identifying areas where development and industrial activity
can take place without statutory clearances under the FCA
At the same time, clearances, compensatory afforestation
and payment of levies would be compulsory for the areas
now defined as forests
76 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 15
Why define a forest?
Forest Conservation Act requires clearances and charges
levy for using forest lands but, forests are not defined in it
Supreme Court asked that law apply to all patches that have
forests as in dictionary meaning
However, lack of definition and identification lead to multiple
legal disputes
June 15
What is a forest?
Forests are now to be defined as those identified already in
state land records by different regional names
Identified geographical features will also get notified as
forests, if they have green patches
In states with low forest cover, such as Haryana, patches
that have above 10% forest density will get FCA cover
In states with high forest cover, patches that have more than
40% forest density to get FCA protection
Plantations will be kept out of purview of forest definition
and only natural forests will be protected
June 15
Haryana to go in for climate-resilient farming
methods. Why?
Aim: To intensify crops and cropping systems achieve
production at a less cost by adopting climate-resilient
technologies
Reasons: There are many areas with water storage structure
resulting in low productivity
The ground water level is also going down2 agro-climatic
zones in Haryana: The north-western part is suitable for
rice, wheat, vegetable and temperate fruits
The south-western part is suitable for high-quality produce
such as tropical fruits, exotic vegetables, herbal and
medicinal plants
The project will be implemented in the northern part
June 18
Lets know about Giant African Snails (GAS)- I
Context: GAS are proliferating in Kerala by growing from a
small population to cover 125 locations
GAS: Aka Achatina fulica, feed on several plants and can
live in a dormant state for 2-3 years
Highly invasive: Considered one of 100 most invasive
species in the world)
Rapid proliferation: A single snail lays about 200-500 eggs
and 80% of these survive
Ills: Could decimate standing crop and threaten the health
of children
Crops: Feeds on several plants- mulberry, betel vine,
capsicum, areca, banana, tomato, vanilla, potato, spinach,
radish and tomato
June 18
Lets know about Giant African Snails (GAS)- II
Calcium: It requires large amounts of calcium to maintain
its big shell
As the soil in Kerala is poor in calcium content, the species
utilise the calcium in compound walls and buildings, thus
damaging them
An intermediate host of the rat lung worm that causes
oesinophilic meningitis in children below five
Dispersion: Through timber, ornamental plants, soil and
manure and sometimes hitchhikes on vehicles
June 18
Giant African Snails Eradication drive
Taking note of the health risk and serious impact on
agriculture, the KFRI has initiated an eradication drive.
Awareness classes in many districts, grama panchayats and
municipalities on eradication are underway
In many sites, snail eradication has been successful with
the help of local self-governments, the Kudumbasree
Mission, the local community and the Health Department
June 18
Forest cover is shrinking in JandK due to
encroachment
Over 12,000 hectares of demarcated forest land in Jammu
and Kashmir is under encroachment of various persons
Shrinking of forest cover is due to degradation of the
demarcated forests, caused by various biotic pressures
including human beings
A minister and some luxury hotels were among those who
have encroached forest land
Efforts are on to recover the land
77
Guide to
understanding
the National
Biodiversity
Authority
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established
in 2003 to implement Indias Biological Diversity Act (2002)
The NBA is a Statutory, Autonomous Body
It performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory function
for the Government of India on issues of- conservation,
sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equi-
table sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological
resources
Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Structure: The Authority, Secretariat, SBBs, BMCs and
Expert Committees
Since its establishment, NBA has supported creation of
SBBs in 29 States and, facilitated establishment of around
37,769 BMCs
78 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
The Biological Diversity Act 2002
The Biological Diversity Act (2002) mandates implementa-
tion of the Act through decentralized system
It mandates NBA to focus on advising the Central Govern-
ment on matters relating to:
1. The conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its com-
ponents and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the
utilization of biological resources
2. Advising the State Governments in the selection of areas of
biodiversity importance to be notified as heritage sites and
measures for the management of such heritage sites
The Act covers conservation, use of biological resources and
associated knowledge occurring in India for commercial
or research purposes or for the purposes of bio-survey and
 bio-utilisation
It provides a framework for access to biological resources
and sharing the benefits arising out of such access and use
The Act also includes in its ambit the transfer of research
results and application for intellectual property rights
(IPRs) relating to Indian biological resources
The Act covers foreigners, non-resident Indians, body
corporate, association or organization that is either not
incorporated in India or incorporated in India with non-In-
dian participation in its share capital or management
These individuals or entities require the approval of the
National Biodiversity Authority when they use biological
resources and associated knowledge occurring in India

State Biodiversity Boards

State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) are to be established under
Section 22(2) of the Act
So far 29 States have established the SBBs
Functions of SBBs:
Advise the State Governments on matters relating to con-
servation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components
and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilization of
biological resources
Regulate by granting approvals or otherwise request for
commercial utilization or bio-survey and bio utilization of
any biological resource by Indians
Perform such other functions as necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act or as prescribed by the State Govern-
ments
Biodiversity Management
Committees
As per the Act, the local bodies constitute the BMC in accordance
with Section 41, within their area of jurisdiction
Purpose:
Promoting conservation, sustainable use and documenta-
tion of biological diversity
Preservation of habitats, conservation of land races, folk
varieties and cultivars, domesticated stocks and breeds of
animals, micro-organisms
Chronicling of knowledge relating to biological diversity
Composition: A Chairperson, and six persons nominated by
local bodies, including 1/3rd women and 18% SC/ST
Functions:
Prepare, maintain and validate Peoples Biodiversity Regis-
ter (PBR) in consultation with the local people
To maintain a Register giving information about the details
of biological resources and traditional knowledge available
within the jurisdiction of BMC
Advice on any matter referred to it by the State Biodiversity
Board or Authority for granting approval
To maintain data about the local vaids and practitioners
using the biological resources

79
Animal Welfare
Board of India
The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory
body on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare
in the country
It is the first of its kind to be established by any Government
in the world
Established: 1962
Under: Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act, 1960
Headquarter: Chennai
It was started under the stewardship of Late Smt. Rukmini
Devi Arundale, a well-known humanitarian. <Can you tell
us more about Rukmini Devi Arundale? Especially about
her contribution to Art & Culture. Answer in comments>
It has been the face of the animal welfare movement in the
country for the last 50 years- From ensuring diligent fol-
lowing of animal welfare laws to providing grants to such
organisation & advising Govt on such issues
Organisation: The Board consists of 28 Members. The term
of office of Members is for a period of 3 years
Roles & Functions:
To keep the law in force in India for the Prevention of Cru-
elty to Animals under constant study and to advise the
government on the amendments to be undertaken in any
such law from time to time
To advise the Central Government on the making of rules
under the Act with a view to preventing unnecessary pain or
suffering to animals generally, and more particularly when
they are being transported from one place to another or
when they are used as performing animals or when they
are kept in captivity or confinment
To advise the Government or any local authority or other
person on improvements in the design of vehicles so as to
lessen the burden on draught animals
To take all such steps as the Board may think fit for ame-
lioration of animals by encouraging, or providing for the
construction of sheds, water troughs and the like and by
providing for veterinary assistance to animals
80 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
To advise the Government or any local authority or other
person in the design of slaughter houses or the maintenance
of slaughter houses or in connection with slaughter of ani-
mals so that unnecessary pain or suffering, whether physicrd
or mental, is eliminated in the pre- slaughter stages as far
as possible, and animals are killed, wherever necessary, in
as humane a manner as possible
To take all such steps as the Board may think fit to ensure
that unwanted animals are destroyed by local authorities,
whenever it is necessary to do so, either instantaneously or
after being rendered insensible to pain or suffering
To encourage by the grant of financial assistance or other-
wise, the formation or establishment of Pinjarapoles, rescue
homes, animals shelters, sanctuaries and the like, where ani-
mals and birds may find a shelter when they have become
old and useless or when they need protection
To co-operate with, and co-ordinate the work of associations
or bodies established for the purpose of preventing unnec-
essary pain or suffering to animals or for the protection of
animals and birds
To give financial assistance and other assistance to Animal
Welfare Organisations functioping in any local area or to
encourage the formation of Animal Welfare Organisations
in any local area which shall work under the general super-
vision and guidance of the Board
To advise the Government on matters relating to the medical
care and attention which may be provided in animal hos-
pitals, and to give financial and other assistance to animal
hospitals whenever the Board think it is necessary to do so
To impart education in relation to the humane treatment
of animals and to encourage the formation of public opin-
ion against the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering to
animals and for the promotion of animal welfare by means
of lectures books, posters, cinematographic exhibitions and
the like
To advise the Government on any matter connected with
animal welfare or the Prevention of infliction of unnecessary
pain or suffering on animals
Central Zoo
Authority
Central Zoo Authority is an autonomous statutory body
It regulates the functioning of zoos
It has been constituted under the Wild Life (Protection)
Act
Organisation: The Authority consists of a Chairman, ten
members and a Member Secretary
Main objective: To complement the national effort in con-
servation of wild life
Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992:
Standards and norms for housing, upkeep, health care and
overall management of animals in zoos
Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition
from the Authority for its operation
The Authority evaluates the zoos with reference to the
parameters prescribed under the Rules and grants recog-
nition accordingly
Zoos which have no potential to come up to the prescribed
standards and norms may be refused recognition and
asked to close down
Roles & Functions:
The Authoritys role is more of a facilitator than a regula-
tor
It, therefore, provides technical and financial assistance
to such zoos which have the potential to attain the desired
standard in animal management
Primary function grant of recognition and release of
financial assistance
It also regulates the exchange of animals of endangered
category Listed under Schedule-I and II of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act among zoos
Exchange of animals between Indian and foreign zoos
is also approved by the Authority before the requisite
clearances under EXIM Policy and the CITES permits are
issued by the competent authority
The Authority also coordinates and implements pro-
grammes on capacity building of zoo personnel, planned
breeding programmes and ex-situ research including
biotechnological intervention for conservation of species
for complementing in-situ conservation efforts in the
country
Some major initiatives:
Establishment of Laboratory for Conservation of Endan-
gered Species at Hyderabad for carrying out research in
biotechnology, planned breeding of Red Panda and its
restocking into the wild
Upgradation of diagnostic facilities for disease diagnosis
at selected veterinary institutions and their networking
with zoos on regional basis for better health care of ani-
mals
81
Forest Survey of
India
Forest Survey of India (FSI), is a premier national orga-
nization under the union Ministry of Environment and
Forests
It is responsible for assessment and monitoring of the
forest resources of the country regularly
In addition, it is also engaged in providing the services of
training, research and extension
Background:
Established on June 1,1981, the Forest Survey of India suc-
ceeded the Pre-investment Survey of Forest Resources
(PISFR)
PISFR is a project initiated in 1965 by Government of
India with the sponsorship of FAO and UNDP
The main objective of PISFR was to ascertain the avail-
ability of raw material for establishment of wood based
industries in selected areas of the country
In its report in 1976, the National Commission on Agricul-
ture (NCA) recommended for the creation of a National
Forest Survey Organization for a regular, periodic and
comprehensive forest resources survey of the country
leading to creation of FSI
After a critical review of activities undertaken by FSI,
Government of India redefined the mandate of FSI in
1986 in order to make it more relevant to the rapidly
changing needs and aspirations of the country
Objectives:
To prepare State of Forest Report biennially, providing
assessment of latest forest cover in the country and moni-
toring changes in these
To conduct inventory in forest and non-forest areas and
develop database on forest tree resources
To prepare thematic maps on 1:50,000 scale, using aerial
photographs
To function as a nodal agency for collection, compilation,
storage and dissemination of spatial database on forest
resources
82 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
To conduct training of forestry personnel in application of
technologies related to resources survey, remote sensing,
GIS, etc
To strengthen research & development infrastructure
in FSI and to conduct research on applied forest survey
techniques
To support State/UT Forest Departments (SFD) in forest
resources survey, mapping and inventory
To undertake forestry related special studies/consul-
tancies and custom made training courses for SFDs and
other organisations on project basis
Organisation:
FSI is headed by a Director General supported by two
Joint Directors and eight Deputy Directors at headquar-
ters
Each Zonal office is headed by a Regional Director and
supported by one or two Deputy Directors
The Joint Directors at the headquarters head two units
namely National Forest Data Management Centre
(NFDMC) and Training & Forest Inventory (TFI)
NFDMC conducts assessment of forest cover, thematic
mapping, production of maps, etc
TFI unit is concerned with inventory of tree resources
inside and outside the forests, conducting of training
courses, extension works, publication of reports, mainte-
nance of library, etc
The total sanctioned strength ofthe organisation is 436,
which includes members of the Indian Forest Service and
Indian Statistical Service on deputation
Major Activities:
Forest Cover Assessment
Inventory of Forest areas
Thematic Maps
Inventory of Trees Outside Forests (Rural & Urban)
Inventory data processing
Methodology Design
Training and Extension
Projects and Consultancies
Central Water
Commission
Central Water Commission is a premier Technical
Organization of India in the field of Water Resources
It is presently functioning as an attached office of the
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and
Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India
Functions:
Mission Statement:
To promote integrated and sustainable development and
management of Indias Water Resources by using state-of-art
technology and competency and coordinating all stake holders.
Organisation:
CWC is headed by a Chairman, with the status of
Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India
The work of the Commission is divided among 3 wings:
1. Designs and Research (D&R) Wing
2. River Management (RM) Wing
3. Water Planning and Projects (WP&P) Wing
A separate Human Resources Management Unit headed
by a Chief Engineer, deals with Human Resources
Management or Development, Financial Management,
Training and Administrative matters of the CWC
National Water Academy, Pune is responsible for training
of Central and State in-service engineers and it functions
directly under the guidance of Chairman
Responsibilities:
The Commission is entrusted with the general
responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering
schemes for control, conservation and utilization of water
resources throughout the country
It is done in consultation of the State Governments
concerned & for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation,
Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power
Development
It also undertakes the investigations, construction and
execution of any such schemes as required
The Commission, if so required, can undertake the
construction and execution of any such scheme
To carry out Techno-economic appraisal of Irrigation,
flood control & multipurpose projects proposed by the
State Governments
To collect, compile, publish and analyze the hydrological
and hydrological data relating to major rivers in the
country, consisting of rainfall, runoff and temperature,
etc. and to act as the central bureau of information in
respect of these matters
To collect, maintain and publish statistical data relating
to water resources and its utilization including quality of
water throughout India and to act as the central bureau of
information relating to water resources
To provide flood forecasting services to all major flood
prone inter-state river basins of India through a network
of 175 flood forecasting stations
Monitoring of selected major and medium irrigation
projects, to ensure the achievement of physical
and financial targets. Monitoring of projects under
Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), and
Command Development (CAD) programme has also been
included in its field of activities
To advise the Government of India and the concerned
State Governments basin-wise development of water
resources
To undertake necessary surveys and investigations as
and when so required prepare designs and schemes for
the development of river valleys in respect of power
generation, irrigation by gravity flow or lift, flood
management and erosion control, anti-water logging
measures, drainage and drinking water supply
To undertake construction work of any river valley
development scheme on behalf of the Government of
India or State Government concerned
83
 To advise and assist, when so required, the State
Governments (Commissions, Corporations or Boards that
are set up) in the investigation, surve1 preparation of river
valley and power development schemes for particular and
regions
To advise the Government of India in respect of Water
Resources Development regarding rights and disputes
between different States which affect any i for the
conservation and utilization and any matter that may
be referred Commission in connection with river valley
development
To impart training to in-service engineers from Central
and State Organizations in various aspects of water
resource development
To initiate studies on socio-agro-economic and
ecological aspects of irrigation projects for the sustained
development of irrigation
84 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
To conduct and coordinate research on the various
aspects of river development schemes such as flood
management, irrigation, navigation, power development,
etc., and the connected structural and design features
To promote modern data collection techniques such
as remote sensing technology for water resources
development, flood forecasting and development of
related computer software
To conduct studies on dam safety aspects for the existing
dams and stand related instrumentation for dam safety
measures
To carry out morphological studies to assess river
behavior, bank erosion/coastal erosion problems and
advise the Central and State Governments on all such
matters
To promote and create mass awareness regarding the
progress and achievements made by the country in the
water resources development, use and conservation
Central Water
Commission
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a public
interest research and advocacy organisation based in New
Delhi
CSE researches into, lobbies for and communicates the
urgency of development that is both sustainable and
equitable
Established in 1980, CSE works as a think tank on
environment-development issues in India, poor planning,
climate shifts devastating Indias Sundarbans and advocates
for policy changes and better implementation of the already
existing policies
The Director of CSE is Sunita Narain who is named among
the 100 most influential persons by The Time Magazine
Aim:
The scenario today demands using knowledge to bring about
change. In other words, working Indias democracy
Thus the aim of CSE is to raise concerns, participate in
seeking answers and more importantly, in pushing for
answers and transforming these into policy and so practice
CSE does this through its research and by communicating
the understanding through its publications. This is called
knowledge-based activism
Two-pronged challenge of balance:
On the one hand, millions live within a biomass based subsistence
economy, at the margins of survival. The environment is their
only natural asset. But a degraded environment means stress on
land, water and forest resources for survival. It means increasing
destitution and poverty. Here, opportunity to bring about change
is enormous. But it will need a commitment to reform, a structural
reform, in the way we do business with local communities
On the other hand, rapid industrialization is throwing up new
problems: growing toxification and a costly disease burden. The
answers will be in reinventing the growth model of the Western
world for ourselves, so that we can leapfrog technology choices
and find new ways of building wealth that will not cost us the
earth
CSEs efforts are built around five
broad programmes:
#1. Communication for Awareness
CSEs publications and informational products have been its
strength and they have always combined research and readability
to get the message across
CSEs tools for awareness raising are periodicals, publications,
films/short spots, briefing papers, exhibitions, posters and other
products
CSEs informational products reach people in more diverse ways
such as features service, website and e-news bulletins
#2. Research and Advocacy
CSEs efforts are specifically designed to create awareness about
problems and propose sustainable solutions
Research at CSE often consists of in-depth learning about an
environmental problem and then finding answers in accordance
with CSEs core values
85
#3. Education and Training #5. Pollution Monitoring

There is a growing interest amongst professionals, public
administrators, private sector executives NGO professionals,
students and others in environmental issues
With this in mind, CSE, has for some years, been developing
programmes in the area on non-formal environmental education
programmes
CSEs Pollution Monitoring Laboratory is an independent,
analytical laboratory that monitors toxic contamination of the
environment and uses the results of this monitoring to advocate
for improved regulation of the use of toxins in the country

#4. Knowledge Portal

The overall aim is to develop into an excellent resource centre

with information printed and visual on sustainable
development issues, which is possibly the best in India
For a knowledge-based organisation like CSE, information
collection is the basic foundation for all its research and advocacy
activities

86 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016

Tiger and Other
Endangered
Species Crime
About
Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau
is a statutory multi-disciplinary body
Established by the Government of India on 6 June 2007, by
amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 197
Functions under the Ministry of Environment and Forests
Headquarter- New Delhi
It complements the efforts of the state governments,
primary enforcers of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife
and other enforcement agencies of the country crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in
Aim: To combat organized wildlife crime in the country prosecutions related to wildlife crimes
The Bureau was initially headed by a Senior Police Officer Advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife
of Inspector General of Police rank, Ms. Rina Mitra, and crimes having national and international ramifications,
the organisation achieved substantial progress under her relevant policy and laws
leadership

Other functions/ initiatives

Mandates
Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it
is mandated to:
Collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife
crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and
other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to
apprehend the criminals
Establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank
Co-ordinate actions by various agencies in connection with
the enforcement of the provisions of the Act
Assist foreign authorities and international organization
concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action
for wildlife crime control
Capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies
It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in
inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the
provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM
Policy governing such an item
WCCB is also partnering with United Nations University and
CIESIN-Earth Institute at Columbia University through the
Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System Initiative
Recognition
Won the prestigious 2010 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law
Enforcement Award for its outstanding work on wildlife law
enforcement in the country

87
National Ganga
River Basin
Authority
Need
The need for revamping the river conservation programme was
widely recognised in view of the shortcomings in the approach
followed in GAP. It was felt necessary that a new holistic approach
based on river basin as the unit of planning and institutional
redesign should be adopted.
Accordingly, the Government of India has given Ganga the status
of a National River and has constituted the National Ganga River
Basin Authority (NGRBA) on 20th February 2009 under Section
3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
About
It is a planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating
body of the centre and the states
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and
Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR, RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry
for the NGRBA
It is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members
the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the
States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others
This initiative is expected to rejuvenate the collective efforts
of the Centre and the States for cleaning the river
Objectives
Ensuring effective abatement of pollution and conservation
of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to
promote inter-sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive
planning and management
88 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
Maintaining environmental flows in the river Ganga with
the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally
sustainable development
Functions
It has both regulatory and developmental functions. It will take
measures for effective abatement of pollution and conservation
of the river Ganga in keeping with sustainable development
needs. These include:
Development of a river basin management plan
Regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and
abatement of pollution in Ganga to maintain its water
quality, and to take measures relevant to river ecology and
management in the Ganga basin states
Maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river
Ganga
Measures necessary for planning, financing and execution
of programmes for abatement of pollution in the river
Ganga including augmentation of sewerage infrastructure,
catchment area treatment, protection of flood plains,
creating public awareness
Collection, analysis and dissemination of information
relating to environmental pollution in the river Ganga
Investigations and research regarding problems of
environmental pollution and conservation of the river
Ganga
Promotion of water conservation practices including
recycling and reuse, rain water harvesting, and decentralised
sewage treatment systems
Monitoring and review of the implementation of various
programmes or activities taken up for prevention, control
and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga
 Issue directions under section 5 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 for the purpose of exercising and
performing these functions and for achievement of its
objectives

Progress
The NGRBA is fully operational and is also supported by
the state level State Ganga River Conservation Authorities
(SGRCAs) in five Ganga basin States which are chaired by
the Chief Ministers of the respective States
Under NGRBA programme, projects worth Rs. 4607.82
crore had been sanctioned up to 31st March 2014
It has started the Mission Clean Ganga with a changed
and comprehensive approach to champion the challenges
posed to Ganga through four different sectors- wastewater
management, solid waste management, industrial pollution
and river front development

89
May 31
New anaesthesia to cut painkiller use after surgery
A boon for patients of breast cancer surgery, this anaes-
thesia is free of opioid drugs
Opioid drugs: Drugs which are taken by patients after their
breast surgery
Side effects of drugs: Respiratory depression, post-operative
nausea and vomiting, itching and bowel obstruction
May 31
NASA probe beams best close-up images of Pluto
Remember NASAs New Horizons, which is circulating Pluto
from last year?
It obtained images from a Long Range Reconnaissance
Imager (LORRI), at about 15,850 kilometres from Pluto
The images affords scientists and the public to examine the
fine details of the various types of terrain on Pluto
Use: Helps in the study of cratered uplands, zones of thin
nitrogen, and dark mountainous highlands, its size, shape
etc
June 02
Planet 9 may have been stolen by the Sun. Whats
that?
Context: A new discovery of exoplanet inside the solar
system
Exoplanet: A planet located outside our solar system also
called as an extrasolar
Planet 9 was probably captured by the Sun when coming
into close contact while orbiting another star
Fact: There is still no image of Planet 9, not even a point of
light
June 07
What are bulk drugs?
Bulk drugs are also known as active pharmaceutical ingre-
dient (API)
These are the ingredients in a drug that give it its therapeu-
tic effect
India imports almost 90% of its bulk drugs from China
Common imported bulk drugs include painkillers such as
paracetamol and aspirin, and antacid ranitidine - known by
its trade name of Zantac
June 07
HRD Ministry to telecast IIT lectures live soon
Setting up of 32 Direct-to-Home channels to beam lectures
from 6 IITs and some other institutes is in process
How? The Department of Space has agreed to allot two
transponders on a GSAT series satellite for this project
These channels will be freely available on Doordarshans
FreeDish DTH platform
June 08
Quick facts about e-waste
E-waste typically includes discarded computer monitors,
motherboards, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), Printed Circuit
Board (PCB), mobile phones and chargers
Also, compact discs, headphones, white goods such as
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)/ Plasma televisions, air condi-
tioners, refrigerators
The recovery of metals like gold, platinum, copper and lead
uses caustic soda and concentrated acids
Computers, televisions and mobile phones are most dan-
gerous because they have high levels of lead, mercury and
cadmium- and they have short life-spans so are discarded
more
E-waste accounts for approximately 40% of the lead and
70% of heavy metals found in landfills
These pollutants lead to ground water and air pollution and
soil acidification
Health: High and prolonged exposure to these pollutants
leads to damage of nervous systems, blood systems,
kidneys and brain development, respiratory disorders, skin
disorders, bronchitis, lung cancer, heart, liver, and spleen
damage
95
Science & Tech
June 08
What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality is an artificial environment that is created with
software and presented to the user in such a way that the
user suspends belief and accepts it as a real environment
On a computer, virtual reality is primarily experienced
through two of the five senses- sight and sound
The simplest form of virtual reality is a 3-D image that can
be explored interactively at a personal computer
More sophisticated efforts involve such approaches as
wrap-around display screens, actual rooms augmented with
wearable computers, and haptics devices that let you feel
the display images
It is also known as immersive multimedia or computer-sim-
ulated reality
June 10
Monsoon forecasting to get a high-tech makeover
Context: Indian Meteorological Department is spending $60
million on a new supercomputer
Aim: To improve the accuracy of one of the worlds most
vital weather forecasts in time for next years rains
The new system is based on a U.S. model tweaked for
India and requires immense computing power to generate
three-dimensional models to help predict how the monsoon
is likely to develop
Benefits: Better forecasting could help India raise its farm
output by nearly 15%
How? By helping farmers tweak the best time to sow, irrigate
or apply fertiliser to crops and if rains fail plan state-wide
measures
Currently: A statistical model is used for forecasting which
was introduced under colonial rule in 1920s
June 14
NASAs Juno probe inches closer to Jupiter
NASAs Juno mission is now 26 days and 17.8 million kilo-
metres away from Jupiter
On the evening of July 4, Juno will fire its main engine for
35 minutes, placing it into a polar orbit around the gas giant
Giant Jupiter lies in the harshest radiation environment
known, and Juno has been specially designed to safely
navigate the brand new territory
96 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 14
Lets know more about Juno Mission
The Juno mission was launched on August 5, 2011
Aim: Improving our understanding of the solar systems
beginnings by revealing the origin and evolution of Jupiter
Juno will investigate the existence of a solid planetary core,
map Jupiters intense magnetic field
It will also measure the amount of water and ammonia in
the deep atmosphere and observe the planets auroras
June 15
Jupiter-like planet orbiting two suns discovered
News: NASAs Kepler Space Telescope has discovered new
planet orbiting a system of two stars
Kepler-1647: The planet has a mass and radius nearly
identical to that of Jupiter
Circumbinary Planet: Planets that orbit two stars are known
as circumbinary planets
Features: Kepler-1647 is 3,700 light-years away and about
4.4 billion years old, roughly the same age as the Earth
June 16
Andhra Pradesh to start Internet-based phone
service
Context: AP is starting its own IPTV - Internet Protocol
based Television network as part of its Fibre Grid project
Andhra Pradesh becomes first state who gets licence from
Telecom Ministry for internet telephone system
Primary Aim: To provide affordable net connectivity in every
corner of the State
Can also provide free telephone services within the region
through internet
Think about skype, google hangouts and other video call
services
June 16
Second breakthrough for LIGO detectors
Context: LIGO scientists have announced of finding second
pair of merging black hole
Gravitational wave detectors at Livingston, Louisiana, and
Hanford have detected the wave
The detection of this merger required the use of sophisticat-
ed noise filtering and mathematical analyses
Earlier: A gravitational wave (GW151226) detected on
December 26, 2015 and scientists conclude about the
emergence of two black holes
June 18
First complex organic molecule discovered in
space
Context: The molecule, propylene oxide (CH3CHOCH2),
was found near the centre of our Galaxy in an enormous
star-forming cloud of dust and gas known as Sagittarius
B2 (Sgr B2)
It is the first complex organic chiral molecule discovered in
interstellar space
Understand: How prebiotic molecules are made in the Uni-
verse and the effects they may have on the origins of life
Chirality: A chemical property- like a pair of human hands,
certain organic molecules have mirror-image versions of
themselves
June 18
Lets know more about Chiral molecules
Chirality: A chemical property- like a pair of human hands,
certain organic molecules have mirror-image versions of
themselves
The mirror images of a chiral molecule/ion are called enan-
tiomers or optical isomer
Examples: Many biologically active molecules are chiral,
including the naturally occurring amino acids and sugars
These molecules are essential for biology and have been
found in meteorites on Earth and comets in our Solar
System
Homochirality: Every living thing on Earth uses one, and
only one handedness of many types of chiral molecules
Homochirality is critical for life and has important implica-
tions for many biological structures, including DNAs double
helix
Scientists do not yet understand how biology came to rely
on one handedness and not the other
97
Reusable Launch
Vehicle (RLV-TD)

The RLV-TD is a series of technology demonstration

missions that has been considered as a first step
towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully re-
usable vehicle.

98 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016

Technology demonstration (TD) project by ISRO is to test
different parameters related from the launch to landing of a
Reusable launch Vehicle viz.

1. Testing the characterisation of aero-thermo dynamics of

hypersonic flight
2. To test autonomous mission management of hypersonic
vehicles
3. To test re-entry technology for the vehicle

Important Points
1. RLV-TD-HEX1, a prototype of actual vehicle, successfully
launched on 23 May 2016
2. Launched From SDRC, Sriharikota, AP
3. 2 Stage Process launching rocket (HS9 Solid state booster)
& RLV-TD (atop the rocket)
1st phase of testing RLV Launched beyond the atmosphere
after which RLV-TD separated & atmospheric reentry began
@Ma5 (Hypersonic speed) Navigation guidance and control
system steered it accurately for a controlled descent landed
in Bay of Bengal, 450km from Sriharikota.
RLV will require 5km landing airstrip which is not available
as of now. Will be build at SDRC, Sriharikota in near future.
Ultimate Aim & Advantages of the RLV would be to send
manned missions, including satellites into space and re-enter the
Earths atmosphere without extreme P and Heat condition (T)
Development Process
1. In Jan 2012 Prototype of RLV-TD was approved to be built
& tested
2. RLV-TD developed at VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram
3. Aerodynamic characterisation done by National Aerospace
Laboratories in India
Thermal tiles does at VSSC, Trivandrum Critical
component during atmospheric reentry of the flight to prevent
the structure damage due to sudden rise in T due to Hypersonic
speed (Ma5)
Total 4 phases of Technology demonstration and assessment
Technology will be developed and tested in phases through as
series of experimental flights

Successful launch of RLV will have a huge impact on
launching cost will slash it down by 80% RLV aims to
achieve a low cost, reliable and on-demand space access
Future Moon and Mars missions, Inter-Planetary missions
Make India competitive Space player globally in terms of
cheap affordable satellite launched (for LDCs), regular
and periodic space missions and various space exercises
like building its own Space Station in future similar to ISS,
Tiangong-1
India will join select league of nations Only USA
(Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour, Atlantis),
Russia (Soyuz) & China (Shenzhou) have their own Space
flights. After successful induction of RLV, India will also have
its own manned spacecraft capability. Development Process
1. HEX Hypersonic Flight Experiment Done May 23, 2016
2. LEX Landing Experiment
3. REX Return Flight Experiment
4. SPEX Scramjet Propulsion Experiment
The final version will take 10-15 years to be ready. Still long
time to go!! Other agencies involved in building reusable
launch vehicles
1. SpaceX Elon Musk
2. ESA
3. JAXA Japan
4. Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos Amazon)

99
May 31
Know more about NACO
National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) is a part of Dept.
of Health under the Health Ministry
Was formed in 1992 to formulate policy and implementation
of programmes for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS
For nearly a decade, NACO has been instrumental in
providing free antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment
NACO has also been primarily responsible for ensuring
provision of safe blood to help avoid the infections of of HIV,
HBV and hepatitis C, malaria and syphilis
May 31
IRCTCs e-catering gains traction
Context: The e-catering service of railway is become popular
among the passengers
It will provide qualitative and hygienic food to passengers
Process: One can book food online and get it delivered at
your berth
Food on Track service is also available across 19 A1 and
A stations in the Ernakulum region of the IRCT
IRCTC is taking help of self-help groups and societies
having experience in catering for serving food at affordable
rates
June 01
An unsavoury fact: India tops global slavery index
Context: The 2016 Global Slavery Index, released by
Australia-based human rights group Walk Free Foundation
India: Has the highest absolute numbers of people trapped
in modern slavery with 18.35 million slaves among 1.3
billion population
Modern slavery: It refers to situations of exploitation that a
person cannot leave because of threats, violence, coercion
and abuse of power or deception
Examples: Victims of forced labour, ranging from
prostitution and begging
June 01
Global estimates of slavery
Globally: An estimated 45.8 million people, including
women and children, are subject to some form of modern
slavery in the world, compared to 35.8 million in 2014
Highest prevalence: (By the proportion of population) North
Korea, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Cambodia, India, and Qatar
Lowest prevalence: (By the proportion of population)
Luxembourg, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland,
Austria, Sweden and Belgium, the United States and
Canada, Australia and New Zealand
June 01
Five Asian countries account for 58% of the
worlds enslaved
Asian countries occupy the top five places in term of slavery
numbers China (3.39 million), Pakistan (2.13 million),
Bangladesh (1.53 million) and Uzbekistan (1.23 million) are
behind India in the list
These five countries combined accounted for almost 58%
of the worlds enslaved, or 26.6 million people
North Korea: has the highest incidence (4.37 per cent of
the population) and the weakest government response to
deal with it
June 01
Govt. actions and responses to curb slavery
124 nations have criminalised human trafficking in line with
the U.N. trafficking Protocol and 96 nations had developed
national action plans to coordinate government response
India: Significant progress in introducing measures to tackle
the problem
Measures: Criminalisation of trafficking, slavery, forced
labour, child prostitution and forced marriage
Govt is also tightening legislation against human trafficking,
with tougher punishment for repeat offenders
The law will also offer protection and recovery support to the
victims
Least action: Such Govts are North Korea, Iran, Eritrea,
Equatorial Guinea, Hong Kong, Central African Republic,
Papua New Guinea, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of
the Congo and South Sudan
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Trivia
June 01
How does a body turns a toxin into nutrient!
The labile heme: One of the body toxin which is known for
its role at the core of haemoglobin
Haemoglobin: The component of red blood cells
responsible for transporting oxygen
Use: In miniscule amounts, Heme acts as an essential
catalyst but its quantity needs to be managed by cells
The researchers used ratio-metric sensor to illuminate
hemes movements
June 01
Australia to sell bitcoins seized as crime proceeds
Context: About $13 million in bitcoins will be auctioned in
Sydney and this is second such auction in the world
Bitcoin: A digital currency that allows people to purchase
goods and services and exchange money without involving
banks or third parties
June 02
Proposal to hire private sector talent in PSUs wins
approval
The Cabinet gave an ex-post facto approval for amending
public sector recruitment rules to allow the selection of
candidates from the private sector and state public sector
enterprises
The nod is for the selection of candidates as non-internal
candidates for a period of five years for appointment in
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)
Aim: To bring in greater efficiency
June 02
Govt. is against the monopolies over seed
technologies
Context: Genetically modified seeds are only permitted in
cotton and one company seems to be having the monopoly
in deciding the prices
Govt may consult with seed firms and farmers before
introducing a new policy for technology for GM crops
Aim: To ensure that the final licensing guidelines do not
contradict the National IPR Policy, released on May
104 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 03
Railways gets top rating in poll
Context: Railway Ministry tops in the ratings given by people
on the Govts new portal
Mygov.in: A portal run by the government of India for
feedback on Govts projects
Railway is followed by Road and Highway Ministry, External
affair Ministry and make in India initiative
June 04
An app to get the voice of citizens out
Context: A smart city app launched by Karnataka Govt
Use: It will enable every citizen to get across any civic-
related issue as well as any crime to the correct authority
Will integrate the data from social media, its municipal
corporation and the crime records bureau
Will cover 5 broad subjects including emergency, garbage,
civic violations, traffic and disaster and 11 sub subjects
June 06
Worlds biggest cruise ship docks in Barcelona
Harmony of the Seas, The worlds biggest cruise ship!
The French-built ship is taller than the Eiffel Tower and is
the widest cruise ship ever built
It can carry 6,360 passengers
June 07
What are the components of a drug?
Any drug is composed of two components or aspects.The
first is the actual Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API),
which is the central ingredient.
The API is the chemically active substance, which is meant
to produce the desired effect in the body.
The second is known as an excipient, which are the inactive
or inert substances present inside a drug.

June 07
Indias e-waste growing at 30% per annum: study-
II
Components: Computer equipment accounts for almost
70% of e-waste material followed by telecommunication
equipment (12%), electrical equipment (8%) and medical
equipment (7%)
Other equipment, including household e-crap account for
the remaining 4%
Recycling: A mere 1.5% of Indias total e-waste gets
recycled
Reasons: Poor infrastructure, legislation and framework
Effects: A waste of diminishing natural resources,
irreparable damage of environment and health of the people
working in industry
June 07
Pakistani Sindhi Hindus to get Indian citizenship
Context: Nearly 35,000 Sindhis from Pakistan were living as
refugees in M.P.
The Centre will set up a 4-day camp here to grant Indian
citizenship to those who migrated to India from Pakistan
between 1971 and 2009
The application process is divided into three categories to
bucket them according to their year of migeration
June 11
Your job is to certify, not to censor: Court to CBFC
Context: The controversy surrounding Udta Punjabs release
Bombay HC told the Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) that the boards power is to only certify movies for
public exhibition and not censor them
The film deals with drug abuse in Punjab and was asked to
accommodate 89 cuts by CBFC
Court told film producers to tone down the volume of cuss
words in the film
June 11
New names proposed for 4 elements
Context: The elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 of periodic
table will get new confirm names
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has
announced proposed names for these elements
Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine and Oganesson are the
names which are proposed for elements 113, 115, 117 and
118
These elements are superheavy, radioactive, place in the
7th row of periodic table
IUPAC: It is a gatekeeper to the periodic table, handles the
new discoveries of elements and patent of their names
June 11
Marking system launched for newspapers for
govt. ads
Context: To promote transparency and accountability in the
release of its ads
The marking system is to incentivise Newspapers who have
better professional standing
Based on 6 objective criteria which are verified by Audit
Bureau of Circulations (ABC) or Registrar of Newspapers for
India (RNI)
According to marks obtained after verification, the list of
new paper will be announced by advertisement
June 11
Lives lost in road accidents on a high
Official data on road accidents announced by Union Road
Transport and Highways Ministry
Deaths: 46 lakh people were killed in road accidents in
India in 2015
Increase of 5% in 2015 (YoY)Concern: Majority of victims
are from the age group of 15-34
Top Grossers: 13 states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh
Ministry has sent a note to cabinet to set up a National
Road Safety and Traffic Management Board to advise Govt
on road safety and standards
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Trivia
June 11
Centers response on the increasing road
accidents
The Centre has decided to form a National Road Safety and
Traffic Management Board
Purpose: To advise on rules and regulations, road safety
and road engineering
Arrangement: Five or six members with expertise in road
engineering, road safety, automobile manufacturing, traffic
and trauma care
The body is likely to be chaired by a former Road Transport
Secretary
June 13
Radar probe to zero in on tomb of King Henry I
starts in U.K.
Context: Survey to find the tomb of King Henry I by using
ground-penetrating radar equipment
The tomb of the Henry I was buried when the Abbey was
partly destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries
by Henry VIII
Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121, which closed to
the public in the summer of 2009 due to its poor condition
Henry I: Son of William the ConquerorAfter his death in
Normandy in December 1135, his body was brought to
Reading sewn into a bulls hide
June 14
Suicide stats show wide gap between SCs and
others in Gujarat, Tripura
Source: This never published data which was collected by
NCRB in 2014, has been accessed through RTI
NCRB: National Crime Records Bureau, collects crime data
as defined by IPC
The average suicide rate in Gujarat is 11.7 per lakh
population, and that for Dalits in the state is 18.7
Similar stats in Tripura and huge disparity in tribal vs. non
tribal population in Kerala
Tribals fare poorly in Kerala. What do you make out of all
this?
106 UNIQUE CIVILS | AUGUST 2016
June 14
J-K govt bans all private airborne activity near
defence installation
Context: Indian Air Force (IAF) issued an alert that terrorists
may use sub-conventional methods like paragliders,
parachutes, air balloons etc. to target IAF, defence and
police installations
Permission of the District Magistrate shall be required in
case any such activity is to be conducted anywhere in the
district
June 16
Facebook launches suicide prevention tools in
India
Facebook has introduced tools and educational resources
to help people in India who may be struggling with self-
injury or experiencing suicidal thoughts
Partners: These are being rolled out in India in collaboration
with local partners (AASRA and The Live Love Laugh
Foundation) in English and Hindi
Countries: These tools are already available in US, Australia,
New Zealand and the UK
How it works? If someone posts something on Facebook
that makes a user concerned about the persons well-being,
they can reach out to the person directly and can also
report the post to the US-based firm
Vulnerable users will then be encouraged to connect to the
AASRA India helpline or the Live Love Laugh Foundation or
a friend
Or they may be redirected to seek self-help advice from
resources and tips provided on how they can work through
these feelings
June 16
Help a Friend in Need
Facebook has also introduced Help a Friend in Need guide
Aim: To help people identify when someone is distressed
and what steps to take to get help
The guide also offers suggestions on how to approach their
friend, what to say, how to react and what to avoid
It gives people the skills to reach out without fear of making
the situation worse
Languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam,
Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and Marathi
June 17
470 million years old meteorite found in Swedish
quarry
News: Osterplana 65 (Ost 65), a first of its kind fossilized
meteorite that fell on the Earth 470 million years ago, was
found in a limestone quarry in Sweden
Importance: Shower of meteorites such as Ost 65 may have
led to the evolution of more diverse and complex life forms
on our planet Earth
Background: 470 million years ago, somewhere in our
Solar System, there was an enormous collision between two
asteroids resulting in a metorite rain on earth
But Ost 65 is different from the rest and may lead tonew
findings
June 18
What are the options available with NRIs to
deposit in India?
An NRI can open 2 kinds of savings accounts in India, both
of which are denominated in Indian Rupees - Non-Resident
Ordinary Rupee Account (NRO) and Non-Resident External
Rupee Account (NRE)
Difference is in repatriation, ie, transfer of funds from India
to a foreign country seamlessly
In an NRE account, an NRI is allowed to repatriate
seamlessly
In an NRO account, repatriation is restricted for specific
purposes (education, medical expense, current income)
and has an upper limit
An NRI can also choose to open a fixed deposit account,
denominated in major foreign currencies - Foreign Currency
Non Resident Account (FCNR)
FCNR accounts are also fully repatriable
June 18
Namibia assures uranium supply to India
News: Namibia assured that it will look into legal ways
through which its uranium can be supplied to India for civil
nuclear power projects
Context: As India is not a member of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty, Namibia, one of the member states of Pelindbaba
treaty, is not allowed to supply uranium to India
Namibia and India also shared similar views about the need
for reforms in the United Nations
June 18
What is Pelindaba Treaty?
Pelindaba Treaty (Also known as the African Nuclear
Weapon Free Zone Treaty or ANWFZT) controls uranium
supply from key mineral hubs in Africa
As India is not a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty,
the member states of Pelindbaba treaty (ANWFZT) are not
allowed to supply uranium to India
Named after South Africas main nuclear research centre, a
location where South Africas nuclear bombs of 1970s were
developed and stored
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