GS III : MONEY LAUNDERING

1,900 Indians under scanner for Panama links

The Income-Tax Department has launched a probe into the suspected

undisclosed foreign assets held by more than 1,900 persons of Indian origin, who
either control or have financial interests in close to 3,000 companies
incorporated in Panama.
A scrutiny of the data, provided by the Enforcement Directorate, revealed that
several high net-worth individuals had interests in as many as 20 companies.
Among the prominent names in the list is that of Vijay Mallya, said to be linked
to Panama-based Vee Tee International Inc, set up in August 1992.
Incidentally, the company's name had earlier surfaced during the probe into
offshore business interests and assets of Mr. Mallya.
The list of 1,900 is in addition to over 400 individuals already being examined by
the I-T Department after their names surfaced in papers leaked from a Panama
law firm last year.
In the Panama Papers case, almost 90% of the companies were incorporated in
the British Virgin Islands and the rest were in Switzerland and the U.K.
jurisdictions.
However, these companies were set up in Panama itself. The I-T Department is
now expected to send requests to the Panama tax authorities under the
information exchange agreement for further details on the data provided by the
ED.
The Directorate has already received confirmation from the Panama's Financial
Intelligence Unit on the existence of at least 60% of the companies.
However, the legally admissible documents will have to be collected by the I-T
Department from the Panama authorities for further probe.
It is suspected that a significant part of the funds generated through unlawful
acts like tax evasion and money laundering was parked abroad.
Before formal investigations against the individuals, the authorities will confirm
their residential status at the time of alleged commission of offence, as NRIs are
not legally required to report their offshore interests.
GS II : SOCIAL SCHEMES

Small savings interest rates cut by 0.1%

The government has lowered interest rates on small saving schemes such
as Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra(KVP) and Sukanya Samriddhi
scheme by 0.1 per cent for the April-June quarter, a move that would prompt
banks to cut their deposit rates.
A Finance Ministry notification said investments in the PPF scheme will fetch lower
annual rate of 7.9%, the same as 5-year National Savings Certificate.
The existing rate for these two schemes is 8%.
KVP investments will yield 7.6% and mature in 112 months.
The one for girl child savings, Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, will offer
8.4% annually, from 8.5% at present, while it will be the same at 8.4 % for the
five-year Senior Citizens Savings Scheme.
GS II : GOVERNANCE POLICY

New visa regime kicks off today

India's new liberalised visa structure will kick off from 1 April 2017, months after
it was cleared by the Union Cabinet.
These include liberalisation of the e-visa scheme, tourist, business, medical and
employment visas. New categories of visas such as intern visa and film visa have
been introduced," a Home Ministry statement said.
E-visas have further been divided into e-tourist visa, e-business visa and e-
medical visa.
The e-visa facility has been extended to the nationals of 161 countries for entry
through 24 airports - earlier being done through 16 airports and three sea ports,
Kochi, Goa and Mangaluru - to tap the potential of cruise tourism from different
countries.
This service will also be provided from Mumbai and Chennai seaports shortly.
The window for application under the e-visa scheme has been increased from 30
to 120 days and duration of stay on e-visa has been increased from 30 to 60 days
with dual entry on e-tourist and e-business visa and triple entry on e-medical
visa.
GS II : SOCIAL-EDUCATION

Notify HIV-hit children as disadvantaged group: SC

A Bench of Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and D.Y. Chandrachud gave States
four weeks to issue the notification underSection 2 (d) of The Right of Children
to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009, which mandates the State
governments concerned to issue a notification that a child belongs to a
disadvantaged group based on reasons ranging from caste, social, cultural,
linguistic, geographical, gender, etc.
The Act makes education compulsory for children between six and 14 years of age.
The order was based on a petition filed by NGO Naz Foundation (India) Trust,
represented by senior advocate Anand Grover, which pointed out that HIV-hit
children face denial of admission, outright expulsion, segregation, breach of
confidentiality to being given chores like cleaning toilets.
According to NACO estimates in 2012-2013, around 20.9 lakh people were living
with HIV in 2011. Children less than 15 years of age account for seven percent
(1.45 lakh) of all infections.
GS III : ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION

Industries grossly pollute Ganga

Nearly 30% of the so-called Grossly Polluting Industries (GPI), along the Ganga,
were not complying with norms according to a year-long survey by the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
GPIs are defined as industries that discharge more than 1,00,000 litres of waste
water and/or hazardous chemicals.
The CPCB has identified a total of 764 major polluting industries along Uttar
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Bihar.
Between December 2015 to January 2017, 302 GPIs were inspected by the CPCB
of which ... 141 units were found to be complying with stipulated norms, whereas
96 were found non-complying and 65 were found closed. Closure directions were
issued to 45 non-complying units, show cause notices to 37 and letters to 14 non-
complying units.
Tanneries comprise the bulk of polluting industries and 80% of the polluting
industries are located in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, according to the
National Mission for Clean Ganga, a Water Ministry body.
GS II : BILATERAL INDIA-USA

India may be hit by U.S. trade review

India is among the 16 target countries in a review of trade ties that President
Donald Trump ordered.
A "country-by-country, product-by-product" report will be prepared in 90 days
that would form the basis of further measures that the Trump administration
would take to reduce the country's trade deficit.
The report will identify "every form of trade abuse and every non-reciprocal
practice that now contributes to the U.S. trade deficit," Mr. Ross said.
India is the ninth biggest trading partner of the U.S. and had a trade surplus of
around $26 billion with the U.S in goods trade alone last year.
Of its top 20 trading partners, the U.S. has a surplus with only five. With China, the
U.S. had a deficit of $347 billion in 2016.
The review will be to assess whether deficit is being caused by cheating, specific
trade agreements, lax enforcement or World Trade Organization rules.
Mr. Trump has never named India, but the 100% duty that India imposes on high-
power motorcycles was mentioned in his first speech the U.S. Congress recently.
The trade review will touch upon a litany of American concerns about trade with
India - inadequate protection of intellectual property, state subsidies and tariff
and non-tariff barriers.
GS III : ECONOMY

Core sector growth slows to more than 1-year low

The growth of eight core sectors slipped to a more than one-year low of 1% in
February mainly due to decline in output of crude oil, natural gas, refinery
products, fertilisers and cement.
The growth rate of eight infrastructure sectors of coal, crude oil, natural gas,
refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity was 9.4% in February
2016.
The core sectors contribute 38% to the total industrial production.
GS III: ECONOMY - INFRASTRUCTURE

Infra deficit to take two decades to bridge'

India has an infrastructure deficit that could take almost two decades to bridge,
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at the inauguration of the regional office of
European Investment Bank (EIB) in Delhi.
Stressing that investment will be required in sectors such as public transport,
water management, rural infrastructure among others, he said investment will
pick up momentum in the years to come.
He added that there are no noises of protectionism in India as witnessed in other
parts of the world. "Contrary to all the global noises we see in various parts of the
world, there are no noises of protectionism in India and therefore, we are
amongst the most open economies in the world," the Finance Minister said.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced commitment of 450 million for
supporting sustainable transport and renewable energy projects. Out of 450
million funding, EIB has committed a loan of 200 million to State Bank of India
for fundingsolar projects across India. The interest on the loan will be at a
concessional rate.
Besides, the EIB has also committed to release the second tranche of 250 million
for construction of Lucknow Metro.
"As the world's largest multilateral public bank and a global leader in financing
climate action, the EU Bank recognises that the time is right to increase our
engagement across South Asia," EIB President Dr. Werner Hoyer said.
GS III : S&T-HEALTH

New way to fight drug resistant superbugs

Scientists have found that an unusual approach of removing antibodies from the
blood stream could reduce chronic infections, an advance that may help humans
in the fight against drug resistant superbugs.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University in the
U.K. identified two patients with bronchiectasis who suffered with chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that were resistant to many antibiotics.
Bronchiectasis is a disease that leads to permanent enlargement of the airways
in the lung.
"We used a process known as plasmapheresis that is somewhat like kidney
dialysis," said Tony De Soyza, Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University.
"The plasmapheresis involved the removal, treatment, and return of blood
plasma from circulation, and was done five times in a week in order to remove
antibody from the patients," said De Soyza.
"We then replaced antibodies with those from blood donations. This treatment
restored the ability for the patients' blood to kill their infecting Pseudomonas," he
said.
GS III: S&T SPACE

SpaceX rocket makes history

SpaceX successfully launched and then retrieved its first recycled rocket on 30
March 2017, a historic feat and the biggest leap yet in its bid to drive down costs
and speed up flights.
It was the first time SpaceX founder Elon Musk tried to fly a booster that soared
before an orbital mission. He was at a loss for words after the Falcon 9 core landed
on the bull's-eye of the ocean platform following lift-off with a broadcasting
satellite for the SES company of Luxembourg.
Longtime customer SES got a discount for agreeing to use a salvaged rocket,
This particular first stage landed on an ocean platform almost exactly a year
ago after a space station launch for NASA.
SpaceX refurbished and tested the 15-story booster, still sporting its nine original
engines.
 Editorial
1 APRIL 2017

The mob's bias

attack on Nigerian in Noida reflects our racial prejudices

The attack on a small group of Africans in Greater Noida, a suburb of the national
capital located in Uttar Pradesh, has once again thrown a spotlight on a disturbing
trend in the country: mob violence, and specifically the targeting of persons of
African origin in many of these instances. What is particularly disturbing and shameful
is that the attack took place in a busy shopping mall without a single bystander,
shopkeeper or security guard intervening. This has, understandably, touched an
anxious chord about their personal safety among the thousands of African nationals
who live, work and study in and around Delhi. While the police have made some
initial arrests and opened cases against several hundred unnamed persons on charges
of rioting in the wake of video footage of the attack going viral, such incidents of racial
violence need a stronger response from the administration and civil society. That the
attack was ostensibly triggered by accusations that some African students were
linked to drug-dealing and were somehow responsible for the death of a local
studentis no justification for taking the law into one's hands, leave alone indulge in
such violence. That the law enforcement machinery and the courts are the only places
for seeking redress for any breaches of law cannot be overemphasised. That a mere
rumour can trigger such violence is truly alarming.

It is difficult to see this incident in isolation from other instances of discrimination

against African nationals who have taken up residence in cities around the
country. Last year, the murder of a Congolese student in Delhi compelled African
Heads of Mission to threaten a boycott of Africa Day. The message was not lost on
anyone that the envoys had been moved to consider such an extreme step just months
after New Delhi hosted the Third India-Africa Forum Summit, in October 2015, where
they had announced their resolve to "enhance Africa-India relations... based on the
principles of mutuality, complementarity and true sense of solidarity as well as the
promotion of people to people interactions." In the end, Africa Day went as planned,
but the point had been made, that even as India makes abundant effort to deepen ties
with the 54 countries of the African Union, this cannot be achieved without
understanding and acting upon the aspirations of nationals of these countries. In
modern diplomacy, the quality of people-to-people contact is a factor in determining
the overall strength of a bilateral relationship. But even as Indian diplomats move to
assure African students in Greater Noida about their safety, with External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj discussing the matter with U.P. Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath, this issue is not about foreign affairs. It is a reminder of the latent racism
in India, of the terrible prejudices too many of us harbour, and of the need for a
political and social effort to overcome it.

Connected by air

Udan to tap on India's civil aviation opportunities

Six months from now, 43 cities will be mainstreamed on India's flight connectivity
grid, an outcome of the Udan scheme launched to spur regional flights covering
distances up to 800 km. These include a dozen airports where limited but irregular
flights operate, and as many as 31 destinations that are not connected at all despite
the existence of airport facilities. The scale of India's untapped civil aviation
opportunities can be gauged by the fact that these constitute less than 10% of India's
inactive airports/airstrips - 394 out of 450 are dormant currently. The Udan scheme
is a critical component of the national civil aviation policy unveiled last June. It
offers viability gap funding to operators to fly smaller aircraft to such airports with a
commitment to price tickets for at least half of the seats at ?2,500 for an hour-long
flight. In the first round of bids, 11 new or existing airline operators pitched for more
than 200 routes. The Centre has approved 27 proposals from five players, adding 128
routes to India's aviation map. The estimate is that this will add 6.5 lakh new seats
with a subsidy of ?200 crore.

The most heartening aspect is that these include six proposals for 11 routes that don't
seek any subsidy under the scheme, proving there is an untapped economic
potential. The benefits for tourist hotspots such as Agra, Shimla, Diu, Pathankot,
Mysuru and Jaisalmer - that would now be just a short flight away, replacing
cumbersome road or rail journeys - are obvious. But the significant multiplier effects
of aviation activity, including new investments and employment creation for the
local economies of other destinations could be equally profound. Provided this model
is sustainable and more regional flights come up under the scheme, the availability of
slots at larger airports that would emerge as hubs could become an issue -
particularly at capacity-constrained airports such as Mumbai. The second airport at
Navi Mumbai may help ease congestion, but that is still years away. In cities where
new airports have been developed, such as Bengaluru, abandoned old facilities could
be revived as dedicated terminals for low-cost and regional flights. Separately, new
no-frills airports must be encouraged where traffic is expected to hit saturation point
in coming years. Recently, four new foreign investors and a few domestic players have
expressed interest in managing operations at state-run airports such as Jaipur and
Ahmedabad. This marks a revival in investor interest after a long lull. It is time to revisit
provisions that offer existing private operators of large airports (burdened by
debt) the right of first refusal on any new airport proposed within 150 km. Most
interested bidders for the Navi Mumbai airport stayed away over this clause. Last but
not the least, this development must start a rethink within the Indian Railways, as it
could now lose traffic on some routes.
 1st APRIL 2017

QUESTION BANK

(1 Question)

Answer questions in NOT MORE than 200 words each. Content of the answer is more
important than its length.

Links are provided for reference. You can also use the Internet fruitfully to further
enhance and strengthen your answers.

GS II : POLITY BILL/ACT

1. Discuss the major provisions of the Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients Bill,
2016. Should euthanasia be allowed in India? Discuss judicial rulings on the matter.

(Similar question on 8th Oct 2016)

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/terminally-ill-patients-bill-sharpening-a-
pro-choice-debate/article17752949.ece

The Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients Bill, 2016 contains several prominent
features:

1. It defines "terminal illness":

This Bill defines "terminal illness" as a persistent and irreversible vegetative

condition under which it is not possible for the patient to lead a "meaningful
life".
 The use of this subjective phrase would require second parties to decide whether
a person in a permanent vegetative state is living a life that is meaningful.
It also gives rise to the practical question of how a person in a permanent
vegetative state will be able to self-administer the lethal dosage of drugs to
commit suicide.

2. It recognises the validity of advance medical directives by terminally-ill patients,

which physicians will be bound to respect while treating them

3. It emphasises the need to account for palliative care when making end-of-life-
care decisions.

4. However, the provisions most likely to attract popular attention are those
permitting physician-assisted suicide for terminally-ill patients.

5. Right to assisted suicide

The first efforts have been made in this direction through this Bill, which
recognises the right of terminally-ill patients to withhold and refuse medical
treatment. It does not permit active euthanasia.
Once the practitioner is satisfied that the patient is competent and has taken an
informed decision, the decision will be confirmed by a panel of three independent
medical practitioners.
In the case of incompetent patients, or competent patients who have not taken
an informeddecision about their medical treatment, the Bill lays down the process
before any action can be taken for the cessation of life.
Once the medical practitioner and independent panel are satisfied that
euthanasia is medically advisable, permission would have to be sought from the
High Court. The practitioner would then have to receive clearance from the
Medical Council of India (MCI).

Euthanasia:

Over a decade ago, the government felt that legislation on euthanasia would
amount to doctors violating the Hippocratic Oath and that they should not yield
to a patient's "fleeting desire out of transient depression" to die.
Euthanasia deals with the question whether patients who are terminally ill and
possibly beyond the scope of medical revival can be allowed to die with dignity.
The question was raised with a great deal of passion in the case of Aruna
Shanbaug, a nurse who lay in a vegetative state in a Mumbai hospital between
1973 and 2015.
Judicial rulings

In its judgments in theAruna Shanbaug (in 2011)andGian Kaurcases, the

Supreme Court has stated that the law currently only permits passive
euthanasia, i.e. withdrawal of life-saving treatment.
The administration of a lethal drug dose by a physician (active euthanasia) or by
the patient herself (assisted suicide) would constitute attempts to commit or
abet suicide under the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
However, in both these judgments, the court stated explicitly that assisted suicide
was only illegal in the absence of a law permitting it. Therefore, assisted suicide
could be legalised if legislation was passed by Parliament to that effect.
The question before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on a petition by
the NGO Common Cause is whether the right to live with dignity under Article
21 includes the right to die with dignity, and whether it is time to allow living
wills', or written authorisations containing instructions given by persons in a
healthy state of mind to doctors that they need not be put on life-support systems
or ventilators in the event of their going into a persistent vegetative state or state
of terminal illness.

Centre's stand on euthanasia:

After 14 years of debates and several draft Bills, the government has said in
January 2016 that it is ready to frame a statutory law onpassive euthanasia, the
act of withdrawing medical treatment with deliberate intention of causing the
death of a terminally-ill patient.
The affidavit filed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Supreme
Court on January 28, 2016 informed the Supreme Court that an expert panel has
made changes and cleared the formulation of legislation on passive euthanasia
after extensive debates, from July 2014 to June 2015.
The committee however refused on legalising active euthanasia' - an intentional
act of putting to death a terminally-ill patient - on the grounds that this would
lead to potential misuse and is practised in "very few countries worldwide".
However, it said its "hands are stayed" because of a pending litigation in the
Supreme Court on mercy killing.
 The issue is under the consideration of a Constitution Bench of the Supreme
Court since February 2014.

History of Legislations:

The affidavit traces back to how the debate on legalising and regulating
euthanasia began with a Lok Sabha private member's Bill - The Euthanasia
(Regulation) Bill, 2002 - which was examined by the Health Ministry.
The debate kick-started again four years later, following the 196thLaw Commission
Report on euthanasia and the drafting of theMedical Treatment of Terminally Ill
Patients (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners) Bill, 2006.
But the Ministry's experts under the Director General Health Services took a
stand against euthanasia for reasons that it amounted to "intentional killing"
and against the Hippocratic oath.
The affidavit said of how the Government even viewed euthanasia as an act
against progressive medical science's objective to rehabilitate and treat patients.
"Death may be a fleeting desire arising out of transient depression" and doctors
should not fall for the patient's wish to escape suffering by embracing death, it
said.
The affidavit also said the Government's perceptions about euthanasia changed
in 2011 when the Supreme Court issued comprehensive guidelines allowing
passive euthanasia in the tragic case of the bed-ridden former Mumbai nurse
Aruna Shanbaug. In her case thestaff of KEM Hospital took care of her till her
natural death in 2015.
The apex court's guidelines, accepted by the Government, led to the Law
Commission's 241stReport recommending a re-look at passive euthanasia in
2012.
The Law Commission subsequently took full two years to draft a new law on the
subject. The Ministry had received the draft Bill in April 2014 and begun its task to
fine-tune the law - The Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients (Protection
of Patients and Medical Practitioners) Bill, 2016.
However, there seems to be no support for the idea of a living will', as the draft
says any such document will be void' and not binding on any medical
practitioner. It is logical that it should be so, as the law will be designed
specifically to deal with patients not competent to decide for themselves
because of their medical condition.
The Supreme Court has said Parliament or the "people's court" should be the
final judge to decide the legality of passive euthanasia and "Living Will".