Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Bail-in clause
Chakravyuh Problem
twitter.com/NEXTIASMADEEASY www.facebook.com/NEXTIASMADEEASY
www.nextias.com
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
A N I N I T I AT I V E O F GROUP U N D E R T H E G U I DA N C E O F M r. B . S I N G H ( C M D , M A D E E A S Y G R O U P )
Next IAS, an initiative of MADE EASY Group, is here to become a Friend, Philosopher and Guide for Civil Services
aspirants. MADE EASY- a name synonymous with success in ESE and GATE exams is known for imparting quality
education, its professionalism and for service to students. Our organisation strongly believes in quality of
teaching and service.
Next IAS aims to bring the same level of expertise and dedication for student services who are preparing for
Civil Services Examination.
Classroom Courses
General Studies Prelims cum Main Foundation Course
General Studies (Prelims Exclusive Batches)
CSAT (Prelims Exclusive) Essay writing (Mains Exclusive)
Exclusive Batch on ‘Current Issues’ for Main Examination
Optional Subjects (Civil Engg., Mechanical Engg., Electrical Engg.)
Test Series
General Studies (Preliminary)
General Studies (Mains) Essay (Mains)
Optional Subjects (Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Electrical Engineering, Public Administration, Geography)
Reasons to Choose
Panel of 12 renowned faculties from UPSC guidance arena. Comprehensive coverage of syllabus. Well designed and in-depth study material.
Frequent motivational and counseling seminars. Pre planned class schedule, with accurate implementation of time-table.
Interactive classrooms - As we believe in “see and learn”, we have best quality teaching tools with equipped audio-visual classrooms.
Old Rajinder Nagar Centre : Saket Centre (Classes) : 316/274, Westend Marg
Ground Floor, 6, Old Rajinder Nagar (Opp. MADE EASY Centre), Saidulajab, Near Saket Metro Station, New Delhi-30
(Near Salwan School Gate No. 2) New Delhi - 110060; Admission & Enquiry : 44-A/1, Kalu Sarai, Near Hauz Khas Metro Station,
Ph : 011-49858612, 8800338066 New Delhi-110016; Ph : 011-45124642, 8800776445
info@nextias.com www.nextias.com
Current Affairs
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
An initiative of Group
January, 2018
Chief Editor
B. Singh (Ex. IES)
CMD, MADE EASY Group
Editor
Aniruddh Pratap Singh
© Copyright 2018
MADE EASY Publications has taken due care in collecting the Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the au-
thors and do not necessarily reflect policy or position of CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine
data before publishing this book. Inspite of this, if any inaccuracy
or MADE EASY Publications. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the
or printing error occurs then Made Easy Publications owes no author/ authors. The MADE EASY assumes no responsibility for views and opinions ex-
responsibility. Made Easy Publications will be grateful if you could pressed nor does it vouch for any claims made in the advertisements published in the
point out any such error. Your suggestions will be appreciated. Magazine. While painstaking effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and authentic-
ity of the informations published in the Magazine, neither Publisher, Editor or any of its
© All rights reserved by MADE EASY PUBLICATIONS. No part of
employee does not accept any claim for compensation, if any data is wrong, abbreviated,
this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form without the cancelled, omitted or inserted incorrect.
written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy-
ing, recording or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher.
Contents
Anti-Competitive Conduct .................................................................................... 67
Mission 41K ................................................................................................................ 67
Insolvency Ordinance ................................................................................................6 Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) ........................................................................... 67
FRDI Bill, 2017 ...............................................................................................................9
Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) ........................................................................... 68
Mid-term Review of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 .................... 13
Legatum Prosperity Index 2017........................................................................... 68
Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), 2017 ................................................ 17
100 Years of One Rupee Note ............................................................................... 69
Ease of Doing Telecom Business.......................................................................... 20
Seaplane...................................................................................................................... 21 Age for joining NPS increased to 65 years ....................................................... 69
Panel to Address NPAs in The Power Sector .................................................... 61 INS Sarvekshak .......................................................................................................... 78
Tesla Semi ................................................................................................................... 62 Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces – 2017.................................... 79
Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017................................................. 63 Uber Hack: The Latest Data Heist to Hit Millions ............................................ 81
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policy or position of CURRENT AFFAIRS Magazine or
MADE EASY Publications. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author/ authors.
Advt.
6
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• The ordinance provides clarity on the eligibility criteria for • The existing promoters have better understanding of their
the resolution applicants. This ensures that due diligence is companies and they understand the reasons for the failures
followed to determine the credentials, creditworthiness and better. Outside investors may place much lower bids than the
capability of resolution applicants. reasonable value of the business and this may result in loss
for the creditors.
• The amendment will deter chronic defaulters from regaining
control of the company in the guise of a resolution plan. After • And, worse, by making the amendments retrospective
all, the purpose of the IBC would be defeated if fraudulent to cover even those cases already referred to the
promoters re-acquired the assets. National Company Law Tribunal, the Centre may have
ended up, unintentionally, throwing the baby out with
• In September, 2017 the rating agency CRISIL estimated
the bathwater.
stressed assets to be Rs 11.5 lakh crore, nearly 14 per cent
of the total advances made by banks. Recent amendments • In short, No other restructuring law in the world has such
to the IBC will allow the banks to deal with stressed assets restrictive thresholds. There is fear that it could reduce the
better. number of revival proposals that may come up during the
process.
Concerns regarding people barred:
• The category of people barred includes promoters and
Concluding remark:
those in management whose loan accounts are classified • IBC is not intended to serve as a mere instrument of liquidation.
as non-performing assets for one year or more. It should be Instead, it is to provide an enabling legal framework for
remembered that the not all bad loans are a result of mala insolvency resolution in a time bound manner and promote
fide intent on the borrower’s part. entrepreneurship, among other goals.
• It ignores the genuine business failures and doesn’t provides • With the IBC still evolving, it needs to be seen if it can indeed
opportunity to the existing promoters who may have viable deliver where earlier resolution structures failed.
resolution plans
Meaning of Terms
(1) FINANCIAL FIRMS: (3) DEPOSIT INSURANCE:
• Types: Financial firms include banks, insurance companies, Need:
and stock exchanges, among others.
• Protecting the deposits made by people in banks is very
• Task: These firms accept deposits from consumers, channel important to ensure confidence in the banking system. The
these deposits into investments, provide loans, and manage common form of providing safety to depositors is deposit
payment systems that facilitate transactions in the country. insurance.
• As witnessed in 2008, the failure of a firm (Lehman Brothers) Institutional mechanism in India:
impacted the financial system across the world, and triggered • Deposit Insurance Corporation and Credit Guarantee
a global financial crisis. Corporation (DICGC): In India, the deposit insurance was
Meaning: started with the launch of the DICGC of India in 1961. DICGC
is fully owned by the RBI.
• Resolution regime is a government created legal framework
that resolves a failed bank/financial institution in an orderly • Coverage amount: The premium charged is on a flat rate basis
way so the financial markets do not collapse. Simply, it is an which is 10 paise per Rs 100. The amount of coverage is
insolvency regime for financial institutions. presently limited to Rs one lakh.
• Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF): A DIF is built up from the
Institutional mechanism in India:
premium received from insured banks and the coupon
• Currently, there is no specialised law for the resolution of
received from investment in central government securities.
financial firms in India.
• In the event of a bank failure, DICGC protects bank deposits
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 enacted by the
that are payable in India.
Parliament provides for resolution and liquidation of non-
financial firms. Institutions covered under deposit insurance:
• In the Budget 2016-17, it was announced that the Code for • Deposit insurance is mandatory for all banks including foreign
resolution of financial firms, together with the Insolvency and banks functioning in India.
Bankruptcy Code will provide a comprehensive resolution Types of deposits insured by the DICGC:
mechanism for our economy.
• The DICGC insures all deposits such as savings, fixed,
• Accordingly, Government has proposed the Financial current, recurring, etc.
Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017.
• Exemption: Deposits of foreign and Central/State
The FRDI Bill is complementary to the Insolvency and Governments; Inter-bank deposits; Deposits of the State
Bankruptcy Code-2016 for resolving bad loans Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank.
10
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Corrective action:
(for firms at Material and Imminent risk)
• Restrictions: If the firm is at a higher risk to failure (under
‘material’ or ‘imminent’ categories), the Resolution Corporation
or the regulator may:
w prevent it from accepting deposits from consumers,
w prohibit the firm from acquiring other businesses, or
w require it to increase its capital.
• Resolution and Restoration plans: Further, these firms will
formulate resolution and restoration plans to prepare a
strategy for improving their financial position and resolving
the firm in case it fails.
Subsuming DICGC:
Resolution by corporation: • In India, deposits in banks are insured for a maximum of
Rs 1 lakh by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
(for firms at critical risk)
Corporation (DICGC), which is now an arm of the RBI.
• Take-over of management: The Resolution Corporation
• The Bill proposes to subsume the functions of the DICGC
will take over the management of a financial firm once it is
under the Resolution Corporation.
classified as ‘critical’ (i.e. if it is on the verge of failure).
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 11
January, 2018
12
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Bail-In Provisions
What is bail-in? Safeguards for creditors:
• It is one of the various method specified in the bill to resolve There are certain safeguards which seek to protect creditors and
a failing financial firm. ensure continuity of critical functions of the firm when resolving
• Bail-in allows a financial firm to be rescued by internally a firm through bail-in.
restructuring its debt. It allows for cancellation or writing down • The power of the Corporation while using bail-in to resolve a
of liabilities of a financial firm firm will be limited.
• Bail-in vs bail-out: Bail-in differs from a bail-out which • The Corporation will have to ensure that none of the creditors
involves funds being infused by external sources to resolve receive less than what they would have been entitled to
a firm. This includes a failing firm being rescued by the receive if the firm was to be liquidated.
government. • A liability is be cancelled or converted under bail-in only if
the creditor has given his consent to do so in the contract
Methods of bail-in: governing such debt.
• Under bail-in, the Resolution Corporation can internally
• The terms and conditions of bank deposits will determine
restructure the firm’s debt by: (i) Cancelling firm’s liabilities
whether the bail-in clause can be applied to them.
that the firm owes to its creditors, or (ii) Converting its liabilities
into any other instrument (such as equity), among others. Clarification by Government: (07-December-2017)
• The Bill allows the Resolution Corporation to either resolve a The government has clarified that
firm by only using bail-in, or using bail-in in combination • India’s FRDI Bill is more depositor-friendly than that of many
with other resolution methods like a merger or acquisition. other jurisdictions that provide for statutory bail-ins, where
the consent of creditors or depositors is not required for bail-
Rationale behind bail-in:
ins.
• This method is used where it is necessary to continue
• It does not propose in any way to limit the scope of powers to
the services of the firm, but the option of selling it is not
extend financing and resolution support to banks, including
feasible.
public sector banks.
• It also aims to minimise the cost of any such failures of financial
• The government’s implicit guarantee for public sector banks
firms to taxpayers (who suffer in bail-out). Shareholders of
remains unaffected. That is perhaps an indication that the
banks and creditors must also pay their share of costs, rather
sovereign may not want to foreclose the option to back a
than governments or taxpayers absorbing all losses.
failed bank.
Concerns:
Comment:
• Bail-in has caused a lot of concern among depositors who
• The recent clarification from the finance ministry doesn’t fully
are worried they may lose their hard-earned money deposited
address saver concerns. Asserting that the FRDI Bill provides
with banks in case a bank fails.
‘additional protections’ to depositors, it doesn’t elaborate on
• The bail-in clause matters because it formalises the risk
what these are.
associated with depositing money in banks. Even now,
• It says that FRDI bail-in provisions are far friendlier than other
deposits are not risk-free. In the case of a bank being forced
jurisdictions, but depositors are more worried about changes
to liquidate, deposits are insured only up to `1 lakh; the rest
to their status quo.
is forfeited.
• The reiteration of the sovereign guarantee to PSBs is
• There are concerns that the Bill may not clearly lay down
reassuring, but informed depositors may like more details
the quantum of protection for deposits, or classify deposits
about how the insurance mechanism will change under the
separately.
FRDI and the extent of discretionary powers to the Resolution
• This assumes greater importance in the light of the
Corporation.
government’s recent efforts to increase banking coverage.
• The FRDI Bill must specify the amount guaranteed
About 30.7 crore bank accounts have been opened under
the Jan Dhan Yojana. • The time is also ripe to sharply increase the measly deposit
insurance cover of ₹1 lakh per depositor set over two decades
• The banking sector is under stress, with non-performing
ago.
assets rising to alarming levels, especially for public sector
banks. • The JPC must incorporate these aspects into its ongoing
review of the FRDI Bill.
Mid-Term Review
FTP 2015-20
On December 5, 2017, the Minister
of Commerce and Industry, Shri
Suresh Prabhu released the Mid-term
Review of the Foreign Trade Policy
(FTP) 2015-20.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Ease of Trading Across Borders: Focus on agricultural exports for increasing farmers’
• Focus is on improving Ease of Trading across Borders for income:
exporters and importers. • New Agricultural Exports Policy is under formulation to focus
• Professional team has been envisaged to handhold, assist and on increasing exports of agricultural value added products
support exporters with their export related problems, accessing through elements like:
export markets and meeting regulatory requirements. w a stable and `open’ export policy for the long term.
w effective handling of sanitary and phytosanitary standards
Trade facilitation: (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) issues in
• National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC): domestic and destination markets.
w It has set up under Cabinet Secretary following ratification w creating cold chain and transport logistics facilities from
by India of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). the farm to the ports and airports.
w It broadly covers provisions related to transparency, w promoting organic exports through appropriate policy
technology, simplification of procedures, risk based interventions.
assessment and infrastructure augmentation.
Greater participation in the global and regional value
• National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP):
w It has been drawn out in consultation with the stakeholders,
chains (RVCs and GVCs):
identifying 76 trade facilitation measures with implementation • Focus is on increasing participation in high value segments of
timelines, of which 51 are TFA-plus activities. RVCs and GVCs to increase India’s exports, in recognition of
the fact that products manufactured through GVCs account
New Logistics Division: for two-thirds of world trade in manufactured Goods.
• A new Logistics Division has been created in the Department • This would be facilitated by a focus on automating port and
of Commerce to develop and co-ordinate integrated customs operations, allowing green channel clearances and
development of the logistics sector. bench marking the turnaround time of ships with the best
• These steps would improve India’s ranking in the Logistics global practices.
Performance Index (LPI).
Leveraging services for increasing exports:
State-of-the-art Trade Analytics: • New Services division has been set up in DGFT to examine
• A State-of-the-Art Trade Analytics division has been set up in EXIM policies and procedures from the point of view of
DGFT for data based policy actions. “Services”.
• The initiative envisages processing trade information from • The very successful Global Exhibition on Services
DGCIS and other national and international databases institutionalized as an annual event to showcase India’s
related to India’s key export markets and identify specific strengths in the Services.
policy interventions.
Export promotion schemes:
Exploring new export Markets: • Scope and incentives as a percentage of exports under
• Focus on high potential regions like Africa, Latin America and Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and Service
the Caribbean region, to cover not just trade in goods and Exports from India Scheme(SEIS) has been enhanced.
investment but also in capacity building, technical assistance • New Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) was
and services such as healthcare and education. launched in March 2017 to enhance export competitiveness
• Sectors like agro processing, manufacturing, mining, by bridging gaps in export infrastructure, creating focused
textiles, consumer goods, infrastructure development and export infrastructure, first mile and last mile connectivity for
construction would be focus areas. export-oriented projects.
• Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme to act as a catalyst to
Exploring new export products: promote exports on a focus product-focus country approach,
• Focus is on increasing exports of products which have so as to evolve specific markets and products through market
become important in the world trade of late. studies/surveys.
• Promising product groups are: Medical devices/ equipment, • Supplies of goods and services to Special Economic Zones to
technical textile, electronic component, project goods, defence be treated as zero rated under GST so as to get the benefit of
and hi-tech products, Ayush, diamond, gold and jewelry. tax refund on the pattern of actual exports.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 15
January, 2018
2 ESE 2018 Prelims : GS and Engineering Aptitude Theory : Volume-I 700 38 PSUs: Practice Book : Electronics Engineering 550
3 ESE 2018 Prelims : GS and Engineering Aptitude Theory : Volume-II 700 39 4400 MCQs : Mechanical Engineering - Practice Book for ESE, GATE & PSUs 750
4 GS and Engineering Aptitude Practice Book - 3000+ Solved Questions 750 40 3200 MCQs : Civil Engineering- Practice Book for ESE, GATE & PSUs 575
5 ESE 2018 Prelims : Civil Engineering Objective Paper - Volume I 775 41 3500 MCQs : Electrical Engineering- Practice Book for ESE, GATE & PSUs 700
6 ESE 2018 Prelims: Civil Engineering Objective Paper - Volume II 775 42 2500 MCQs : General Studies- Practice Book for ESE and PSUs 275
7 ESE 2018 Prelims: Mechanical Engineering Objective Paper - Volume I 725 43 BSNL DRDO ISRO : Electronics Engineering : Previous Solved Papers- 2018 500
8 ESE 2018 Prelims: Mechanical Engineering Objective Paper - Volume II 725 44 DRDO, ISRO : Mechanical Engineering : Previous Solved Papers - 2018 400
9 ESE 2018 Prelims: Electrical Engineering Objective Paper - Volume I 625 45 ISRO : Computer Science : Previous Solved Papers - 2018 300
10 ESE 2018 Prelims: Electrical Engineering Objective Paper - Volume II 625 46 Practice book for Electrical Engineering: GENCO.TRANSCO & DISCOMS 425
11 ESE 2018 Prelims : E &T Engineering Objective Paper - Volume I 675 47 UPPSC Previous Years Solved Papers- Civil Engg. : Volume-1 500
12 ESE 2018 Prelims: E &T Engineering Objective Paper - Volume II 625 48 UPPSC Previous Years Solved Papers- Civil Engg. : Volume-2 500
13 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: Civil Engineering Conventional Paper - I 775 49 A Text Book on Production Engineering 500
14 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: Civil Engineering Conventional Paper - II 775 50 A Text book on Engineering Mechanics for GATE, PSUs & UPSC Exams 300
15 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: Mechanical Engineering Conventional Paper - I 600 51 A Text Book on Analog Electronics: EE/E&T/IN 360
16 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: Mechanical Engineering Conventional Paper - II 600 52 CE & ME: Strength Of Materials through Ques. &Ans. for ESE,GATE & PSUs 400
17 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: Electrical Engineering Conventional Paper - I 700 53 A Text Book on Industrial Engineering , Mechatronics & Robotics 450
18 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: Electrical Engineering Conventional Paper - II 700 54 IAS, IFS : CE & ME - SOM- Previous Years Solved Papers (Obj. & Conv.) 325
19 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: E & T Engineering Conventional Paper - I 700 55 General Studies - 2018 for UPSC, SSC, Railways, PSUs and Bank PO 650
20 ESE 2018: Mains Examination: E & T Engineering Conventional Paper - II 700 56 CSAT Paper II : UPSC Civil Services Examination 399
21 GATE 2018: Civil Engineering Solved Papers 700 57 SSC : JE Civil Engineering Previous Year Solved Papers 425
22 GATE 2018: Mechanical Engineering Solved Papers 800 58 SSC : JE Mechanical Engineering Previous Year Solved Papers 425
23 GATE 2018: Electrical Engineering Solved Papers 800 59 SSC : JE Electrical Engineering Previous Year Solved Papers 425
24 GATE 2018: Electronics Engineering Solved Papers 800 60 Civil Services Examination: Civil Engineering Prelims Previous Year Solved Paper 450
25 GATE 2018: Computer Science and IT Engineering Solved Papers 800 61 Civil Services Examination: ME Prelims Previous Year Solved Paper 400
26 GATE 2018: Instrumentation Engineering Solved Papers 600 62 Civil Services Examination: EE Prelims Previous Year Solved Paper 400
27 Engineering Mathematics for GATE and ESE Prelims 600 63 Civil Services Mains Exam : Civil Engineering Solved Papers- Volume -1 775
28 General English for for GATE and ESE Prelims 450 64 Civil Services Mains Exam : Civil Engineering Solved Papers- Volume -2 775
29 Reasoning & Aptitude for for GATE and ESE Prelims 500 65 Civil Services Mains Exam : Mechanical Engineering Solved Papers- Volume -1 650
30 A Handbook for Civil Engineering 350 66 Civil Services Mains Exam : Mechanical Engineering Solved Papers- Volume -2 675
31 A Handbook for Mechanical Engineering 350 67 Civil Services Mains Exam : Electrical Engineering Solved Papers- Volume -1 800
32 A Handbook for Electrical Engineering 350 68 Civil Services Mains Exam : Electrical Engineering Solved Papers- Volume -2 700
33 A Handbook for Electronics Engineering 350 69 UGC-NET: Computer Science & Applications: Previous Year Solved Papers 600
34 A Handbook for Computer Science /IT Engineering 300 70 IFS : Civil Engineering : Previous Years Solved Papers : Volume 1 650
35 A Handbook on Instrumentation Engineering 350 71 IFS : Civil Engineering : Previous Years Solved Papers : Volume 2 650
36 A Handbook of Engineering Mathematics 300 72 IFS: Mechanical Engineering : Previous Years Solved Papers : Volume 1 650
What is it?
• GES is the preeminent annual gathering of emerging
entrepreneurs, investors and business & government leaders
from around the world.
• Its objective is to empower entrepreneurs through networking,
mentoring, and workshops.
GES 2017:
• This was the eighth edition of the GES organized jointly by
United States of America and the Republic of India.
• The first seven summits were held in Washington DC, Istanbul,
Dubai, Marrakech, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, and Silicon Valley. MITRA
• Over 1500 delegates from over 150 countries attended the
• Launch: At the GES 2017, Mitra Robot was launched by
Summit.
PM Modi and Ivanka Trump.
• Venue: Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
• Development:
w This was the first time that GES was held in South Asia.
w Mitra is an indigenous, Made in India humanoid robot.
• Theme: "Women First, Prosperity for All" w A humanoid robot is a robot with its body shape built to
w This theme was chosen to focus on supporting women resemble the human body.
entrepreneurs because Investing in women entrepreneurs w It has been developed by a Bengaluru-based start-up
not only fuels economic growth, but also drives innovation Invento Robotics, founded by Balaji Vishwanathan.
to address the critical challenges faced by communities
• Working:
worldwide.
w Made of fibre-reinforced plastic, the five-foot-tall hu-
w This was the first GES in which women are the majority (52
manoid is capable of face and speech recognition and
% of the participants).
can interact with human beings smartly.
• Focus areas: The summit focussed on four innovative, high-
w It works on facial recognition technology to identify cus-
growth industries:
tomers.
1. Healthcare and life sciences
w Mitra has inbuilt applications to help individuals in cus-
2. Digital economy and financial technology tomer interactions and provides contextual information
3. Energy and infrastructure to customers using a recommendations engine similar
4. Media and entertainment to what Facebook and Google use for their services.
18
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• Their collective strength is used as social collateral to avail Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA):
loans from financial institutions.
• SEWA meaning "service" in several Indian languages, is a
• Allowing women direct access to financial services might trade union based
improve their possibilities to become entrepreneurs, thus in Ahmedabad, In-
increasing their individual incomes, their chances to become dia that promotes the
more independent, and their participation in family and rights of low-income,
community decision-making. independently-em-
ployed female work-
Initiatives taken for helping women entrepreneurs in
ers.
India:
• SEWA was founded
• The Indian government is running a series of initiatives
in 1972 by Gandhian
such as MUDRA and ATAL Innovation Scheme to foster
and civil rights leader
entrepreneurship across the country, and especially boost
Ela Bhatt as a branch
the participation of women in running their own businesses.
of Textile Labour As-
• NITI aayog is setting up a Women Entrepreneurial and
sociation (TLA), a la-
Innovation Cell that will offer women financial support through
bour union founded
the Rs. 10,000 crore Fund of Funds and Mudra micro-loan
by Gandhi in 1918.
scheme apart from mentorship facilities.
• With over 2 million participating women, SEWA is the largest
• Stand-up India scheme provides loans from Rs 10 lakh to Rs
organization of informal workers in the world and largest non-
1 crore to women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from the
profit in India.
scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC/ST).
20
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• Transfer/Merger of Licences: DoT should spell out a definite • There have been proposals in the past, including by the
timeline, not exceeding 30 days post National Company Law Justice Shivraj V Patil committee, to streamline the operations
Tribunal’s (NCLTs) approval, for providing written approval to of the various regulatory units in the sector. However, these
transfer/merger of licences by the Licensor. proposals remain on paper.
• Guidelines on Trading of Access Spectrum: Spectrum trading • In short, TRAI’s proposals for improving ease of doing
should be permitted in all the access spectrum bands which business are welcome but to seriously improve the ease of
have been put to auction. doing business in the telecom sector it should go beyond the
changes proposed by TRAI and look at a major overhaul of
the overall policymaking scenario.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 21
January, 2018
Quest Kodiac Plane: • The project however failed to commence owing to protests by
• The seaplane is a the local fishing communities.
powered fixed- (c) Private sector initiatives:
wing aircraft ca- • Private players like Seabird Seaplane Pvt Ltd and Mehair had
pable of taking announced seaplane services way back in 2011-12.
off and landing
• But these private service providers however ceased
(alighting) on wa-
operations due to commercial non-viability and issues over
ter. It requires a
governmental permissions.
runway length of
just 300 metres
Importance of Seaplane Service:
and is equipped
with floats that al- • India has roughly 14,500 km of navigable waterways.
low it to land on waterways. • Introduction of seaplane travel is a right step in the direction
• He travelled in a Quest Kodiac plane, which is a seaplane. of diversifying the transportation system within the country
• Quest Aircraft Company is a company based in Idaho, United and to ensure air connectivity to remote and unconnected
States. It introduced its first aircraft, the Kodiak 100, in 2007. destinations.
• UDAN: Keeping this in mind, under the ambitious Regional
Did PM Modi travel on the first ever seaplane in India? Connectivity Scheme (RCS), seaplanes are permitted to fly.
No The RCS, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik)
PM Modi’s seaplane ride was touted as the first ever in the aims to connect unserved and under-served airports as well
country by the Prime Minister’s website and repeated by news as make flying more affordable.
outlets when that was clearly not the case, nor was the PM the first
• Union transport minister has also requested Japanese firm
Indian to travel in a seaplane.
Setouchi to manufacture seaplanes in the country following
This narrative was initially played up and then quietly retracted the successful trial runs of the firm’s aircraft here.
on PM Modi’s website.
Following below are the earlier seaplane services in India: Violation of Safety Norms?
(a) Jal Hans: • His seaplane ride attracted controversy over flouting of safety
• The first ever commercial seaplane service was Jal Hans norms for travel of VIPs.
which was launched in India in 2010. • The Kodiak seaplane that the PM flew in is a single-engine
• The service was jointly operated by Pawan Hans, the public aircraft, while norms require him to travel in a twin-engine
sector helicopter service provider and the administration of aircraft.
the Andaman & Nicobar islands.
• Twin-engine planes are considered safer as pilots may be
• The Jal Hans service has now been stalled.
able to take off or land on one engine even if the other fails.
(b) Kerala seaplane service:
• Later on, Union Transport minister stated that rules will be
• In 2013, the Kerala seaplane service promoted by Kerala
framed for such form of transport on the lines of regulations in
Tourism Infrastructure Ltd was announced to connect the
Canada, the U.S. and Japan.
waterways of the state.
22
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Membership Criteria: Unlike the NSG or the MTCR, Wassenaar How the WA works?
Arrangement has defined criteria for participation. 1. WA Control Lists:
The eligibility of a state to participate in the Wassenaar w The Arrangement works according to what it calls WA
Arrangement is based on following four criteria Control Lists.
1. Whether it is a producer/exporter or arms or industrial w There are two broad categories of control list under the
equipment respectively. WA:
2. Whether it has taken the WA Control lists as a reference in its i. Munitions list.
national export controls. ii. Lists of dual-use goods and technology (Items placed in
3. Whether it is adhering to non-proliferation policies. this list are referred to as the General Technology).
4. Whether it is adhering to fully effective export controls.
2. The WA Participating States:
Objectives: w have agreed to maintain national export controls on items
included in the WA Control Lists. These controls are
1. To promote transparency in transfers of conventional arms
implemented via national legislation.
and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing
w exchange information on sensitive dual-use goods and
destabilising accumulations.
technologies.
2. To prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Ship recycling:
• Ship breaking may also be known as ship dismantling, ship
cracking, or ship recycling.
• Benefits:
w The parts broken can be sold for re-use, or for the
extraction of raw materials, chiefly scrap.
w This lowers the demand for mined iron ore and reduces
energy use in the steelmaking process. Equipment on
board the vessel can also be reused.
w The ship breaking yards of India, Bangladesh, China and
Pakistan employ 100,000 workers as well as providing a
large amount of indirect jobs.
w In Bangladesh, the recycled steel covers 20% of the
country's needs and in India it's almost 10%.
w It is also the most common and most environmentally
accepted method of ship disposal.
• Harms:
w While ship breaking is sustainable, there are concerns
about the use of poorer countries without stringent
environmental legislation.
w It is also considered to be "amongst the most dangerous
of occupations, with unacceptably high levels of fatalities,
injuries and work-related diseases.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 29
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Refuelling System
PROBE-AND-DROGUE FLYING BOOM
a.k.a Hose and Drogue
Meaning This refueling method employs a flexible hose that trails from The boom is a rigid, telescoping tube that an
the tanker aircraft. A drogue (a small windsock) at the end of operator on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts
the hose stabilizes it in flight, and provides a funnel for the into a receptacle on the aircraft being refueled.
aircraft being refueled, which inserts a probe into the hose.
Advantages • Simpler tanker design. • Higher fuel flow rates can be achieved with the
• Tankers can be equipped with multipoint hose-and- large diameter of the pipe in the flying boom,
drogue systems allowing two (or more) aircraft to refuel requiring less time to complete refueling
simultaneously, reducing time spent in refuelling. operations than probe-and-drogue systems.
• Multiple refueling points also offers redundancy over the • Less susceptible to receiving aircraft pilot
single refueling point system. error and fatigue.
• Aircraft are easily equipped with a refueling probe. • Less susceptible to adverse weather
conditions.
Disadvantages • Lower flow rates due to a lower pressure and limited hose • Due to requirement of a boom operator, there
diameter. is added complexity of modification with
• Subject to turbulence and aerodynamic forces (bow wave) attaching a boom to an aircraft.
of approaching aircraft. • Boom only allows for one receiver at a time.
• Requires greater receiving pilot input and susceptible to
receiving pilot fatigue.
• Susceptible to adverse weather conditions.
AKASH MISSILE
About:
• Surface-to-air missile Akash was successfully test fired
with an indigenous radio frequency seeker from the Launch
Complex-III at Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha.
• This is the first surface-to-air missile with indigenous seeker
that has been test fired.
• With this success, India has achieved the capability of
making any type of surface-to-air missile.
• This his missile is being inducted into Army as Short Range
Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM).
32
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
ANALYSIS
(d) Geo-strategic significance:
w The missile can potentially reach Pakistani targets in the
west and in Tibet in the east with 99.99 per cent accuracy.
Significance of Testing of ALCM:
w Development of these indigenous long range and
(a) Cruise missile triad: accurate weapons in adequate quantity will partially
w The IAF becomes the world’s first air force to launch a offset the capability deficiency resulting from the IAF’s
multi-platform, multi-mission, self-propelled attack missile dwindling force structure.
of this kind. w Beyond the technical details, the BrahMos venture’s
w Variants can be designed to be deployed in Rafales success signifies is the durability of India-Russia ties.
and advanced medium combat jets too.
w Thus BrahMos is now capable of being launched from Way Ahead:
land, sea and air, completing the tactical cruise missile (a) Enhancing accuracy:
triad for India. w Three aspects of BrahMos are still in progress: extending
(b) Enhanced Range: its range, increasing its speed to hypersonic level, and
w A standoff range of 300 to 400 km keeps the mother shrinking its size so that three missiles can be carried by a
aircraft outside the lethal zone of all known terminal single aircraft.
defence weapons. w Of these the most significant change is enhancing the
w If need be, the mother aircraft can go deep inside the missile’s accuracy which will actually reduce the number
adversary’s territory to attack the target systems hitherto of weapons required to achieve the desired effect.
not reachable. This effectively increases the range by 25 (b) Operationalising it:
to 30 %. w Originally scheduled to be operational by 2012, the
(c) Difficulty in interception: BrahMos ALCM is heading to become a reality after a
w Carrying out attacks against targets defended by multi- delay of five years.
layered air defence weapons systems has risks. w Work needs to be carried out on finalising the modification
w Although BrahMos itself can be intercepted, owing to its of the aircraft, the manufacture of suitable pylons and
relatively smaller Radar Cross Section (RCS) and high changes in the weapon to ensure seamless compatibility
speed, interception is much more difficult. and communication between the three.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 33
January, 2018
What is Tribunal?
• ‘Tribunal’ is an administrative body established for the
purpose of discharging quasi-judicial duties.
• They are setup to adjudicate disputes related to specified
matters.
• It is neither a Court nor an executive body. It stands
somewhere midway between them.
TIMELINE
(a) The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), State
Administrative Tribunals (SAT) and Joint Administrative
Tribunals (JAT).
Evolution of Tribunals in India: • Additional courts: Apart from these, Article 247 of the
constitution gives parliament power to establish certain
• History of tribunals in India dates back to the year 1941,
additional courts. So all other tribunals not covered by the
when first Tribunal was established in the form of Income-Tax
above mentioned articles comes under it.
Appellate Tribunal.
• Tribunalization of India: Now tribunals have replaced high
• Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976: Based
courts for disputes under the Companies Act, Competition
on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee,
Act, SEBI Act, Electricity Act, and Consumer Protection Act
Part XIV-A was added by the Constitution (Forty-second
among others. The number of tribunals increased to 36, in
Amendment) Act, 1976, titled as ‘Tribunals’ which provided
2016.
for the establishment of
w ‘Administrative Tribunals’ under Article 323-A: It gives • The Finance Act, 2017: The Finance Act, 2017 has merged
exclusive power to the Parliament for establishing eight tribunals on the ground of functional similarity and has
tribunals. given the power to the Government to appoint and remove
w ‘Tribunals for other matters’ under Article 323-B: It gives the members.
power to the concerned State Legislature to constitute
Background to LCI report:
Tribunals for the respective subjects specified therein.
• Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd v. Essar Power Ltd (2016): Earlier,
the Supreme Court, in the case of Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam
Ltd. v. Essar Power Ltd., had directed the LCI to examine the
functioning of tribunals.
• Scope: The report examined issues related to:
w Constitution of tribunals,
w Appointment of the chairman and members of tribunals,
and
w Service conditions of the members of tribunals.
w In October 2017, LCI submitted its report.
ANALYSIS
• Uniformity in service conditions
Need of tribunals: w Currently there is no uniformity in the age of retirement of
tribunal members.
• Due to growing commercial ventures and welfare activities
w It is despite the fact that Supreme Court has held that
by the Government in different sectors, Tribunals have been
the as Tribunals are substitutes of the High Courts, thus
established in almost all the countries for the reason that they
service condition should be same.
are
w cheaper (cost-effective). • Appeal system:
w accessible. w Tribunals were established to reduce the burden on
w free from technicalities & expeditious (as they follow the courts.
principles of natural justice, instead of Indian Evidence w But as the decisions of appellate tribunals are regularly
Act, 1872 that is commonly followed in Courts) appealed before High Courts, the purpose of establishing
w efficient as they are manned by experts having detailed tribunals gets defeated.
knowledge of their particular subject. • Accessibility (benches of tribunals):
• Lack of tribunals leads to crisis of delays and backlogs in the w Tribunals are also not as accessible as high courts.
administration of justice. w E.g. A shareholder in Northeast would have to travel to the
Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) in Mumbai to challenge
• One should remember that Right to Fair and Speedy Trial is very
any order by the SEBI. This makes justice expensive.
much a part of right to life and personal liberty, a fundamental
right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India
Recommendations of law commission:
Criticism of their functioning: 1. Selection of members:
w To ensure impartial selection of members of tribunals,
• Pendency in Tribunals (Source: LCI report no. 272):
involvement of government agencies should be minimal
w The top five central tribunals in the country have a
combined backlog of over 3.50 lakh cases. w They should be appointed by a selection committee
headed by the Chief Justice of India or a sitting judge of
w Thus the objective of setting them up has not been
the Supreme Court. It should have only two nominees of
achieved.
the central government.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
NALYSIS of
NTI DEFECTION LAW
IMPORTANCE: • Main reason for bring anti – defection law was to curb
• Incidence of defection has reduced due to the enactment of defection, not dissent.
anti-defection law. • Recommendation: Thus Whip should be restricted for only
• It provides stability to the government by preventing shifts of those votes that determine the stability of the government i.e.
party allegiance. (i) Confidence motion and (ii) Money bill.
B. IMPORTANCE OF A REGULAR
PARLIAMENT SESSION:
Regular and predictability sittings of parliament is key to a well-
functioning democracy.
• Over the years, there has been a decline in the sitting days of
• Legislation: Law-making is dependent on when Parliament
Parliament. While Lok Sabha met for an average of 130 days
meets.
in a year during the 1950s, these sittings came down to 70
days in the 2000s. • Accountability: Parliament also has the important role of
holding the government to account for its actions.
• In 2011, political parties agreed to cut short the Budget
Session so they could campaign for Vidhan Sabha elections • According to B.R. Ambedkar, parliamentary system
in five states. as compared to presidential system provides a better
accountability of the government through regular assessment
• Lesser number of sittings indicates that Parliament was able
by members in the form of questions, motions and debates
to transact less business compared to previous years.
on addresses.
• View of NCRWC: To address this, the National Commission to
• One should remember that, In a parliamentary democracy
Review the Working of the Constitution has recommended
the executive is accountable to Parliament. Allowing the
that Lok Sabha should have at least 120 sittings in a year,
government to call the Parliament to meet could be in conflict
while Rajya Sabha should have 100 sittings.
with this principle.
Scenario in states: • Instead, Parliament should convene itself, if a certain number
• In several States the situation is dire. Data for 20 Assemblies of MPs agree, so that it can effectively exercise its oversight
over the last five years (2013-2017) indicate that they meet for functions and address issues without delay.
29 days a year on average. There are various ways of doing this:
• States such as Haryana (12 days a year) and Uttarakhand
(13 days) rarely meet.
Defining hate speech is one of the most significant task. We 3. Lawful ‘hate speech’
need not ban or curb all the speeches as that will lead to curving
freedom of expression.
• Expression may be inflammatory or offensive, but not meet
any of the thresholds described above. This expression may
Therefore, to ensure the balance between Freedom of Speech
be characterised by prejudice, and raise concerns over
and Public order, ‘hate speech’ can be divided into three
intolerance, but does not meet the threshold of severity, at
categories:
which restrictions on expression are justified.
1. Hate speech that must be prohibited • This does not preclude States from taking legal and policy
Under international law, States are required to prohibit the most measures to tackle the underlying prejudices of which this
severe forms of ‘hate speech’. The prohibitions are tailored to category of ‘hate speech’ is symptomatic, or from maximising
preventing the exceptional and irreversible harms the speaker opportunities for all people, including public officials and
intends and is able to incite. institutions, to engage in counter-speech.
These are: Case Study of lawful hate speech:
• Direct and public incitement to genocide” • A teenage boy, with a small number of followers on Twitter,
• Any advocacy of discriminatory hatred that constitutes tweets an offensive and sexist joke that trivialises the
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence disappearance and likely murder of a local schoolgirl. It
provokes a strong critical response against the boy online,
2. Hate speech that may be prohibited
and he eventually deletes the tweet.
International human rights law permits States to restrict
expression in limited and exceptional circumstances, complying • Though the communication is offensive and reflects a broader
with the three-part test under Article 19(3) of the International problem of misogyny in society, he did not intend to incite any
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These restrictions harmful conduct against a particular group, and in any case
must be: he does not have this kind of influence over his followers. This
kind of ‘hate speech’ may justify soft intervention from local
1. Provided for by law.
actors in positions of authority, such as teachers in his school
2. In pursuit of a legitimate aim, such as respect for the rights of
or other community leaders, but it does not justify the State
others.
imposing sanctions or other restrictions.
3. Must be necessary in a democratic society.
4. Social: We can see several hate speeches in social sphere.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• A total of 48.3 lakh cognizable crimes comprising 29.7 lakh Crime against Children:
Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes and 18.5 lakh Special &
• Major crime heads under ‘Crime Against Children’ during
Local Laws (SLL) crimes were reported in 2016, showing an
2016 were kidnapping & abduction (52%) and cases under
increase of 2.6% over 2015.
the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
• During 2016, IPC crimes have increased by 0.9% and SLL (34%) including child rape.
crimes have increased by 5.4% over 2015.
• Share of IPC and SLL cases: Percentage share of IPC was Juveniles in Conflict with Law:
61.6% while percentage share of SLL cases was 38.4% of • Over 44,000 juveniles were apprehended in over 35,000 cases.
total cognizable crimes during 2016. • 74% of juveniles in conflict with law apprehended were in the
age group of 16 years to 18 years during 2016.
Scenario in states:
• Highest number (IPC): Uttar Pradesh accounted for 9.5% Crime/Atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs):
of total IPC crime reported in the country followed by • Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of cases of
Madhya Pradesh (8.9%), Maharashtra (8.8%) and Kerala atrocities against SCs accounting for 25.5% followed by
(8.7%). Bihar with 14% and Rajasthan with 12.5% during 2016.
• Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty with
• Highest rate (IPC): Delhi UT reported the highest crime rate
7.7% (3172 cases) reported the highest number of cases of
(974) under IPC crimes followed by Kerala (727) against
crimes/atrocities against SCs followed by Rape with 6.2%
national average of 233. (2541 cases) during 2016.
• Highest number (SLL): Kerala has reported highest number of
cases of SLL crimes (24%) followed by Gujarat and Tamil Crime/Atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs):
Nadu (15.5% each) of total SLL crimes reported in the country • Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of cases
during 2016. of atrocities against STs accounting for 27% followed by
Rajasthan with 18% and Odisha with 10% during 2016.
• Highest rate (SLL): Kerala reported highest SLL crime rate
• Rape cases reported the highest number of cases of crimes/
of 1,252.7 in the country during 2016 followed by Gujarat
atrocities against STs accounting for 15% during 2016.
(457.1) against national average of 145.
Riots:
Murder cases:
• The cases of riots reported in 2016 were down by 5%
• Murder cases in the country have shown declining trends compared to 2015.
during the last three years. • A total of 61,974 cases of riots and group clashes took place
• Murder cases decreased by 5.2% in 2015-16, from 32,127 in the country in 2016 compared to 65,255 the previous year.
cases in 2015 to 30,450 cases in 2016. • The highest - 11,617 cases - were registered in Bihar, 8,018
in Uttar Pradesh and 7,898 in Maharashtra.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 43
January, 2018
Juveniles:
• There is a rise in the number of cases involving juveniles.
• A focussed programme to universalise education and skills
training would potentially keep juveniles from coming into
Do You Know?
conflict with the law.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB):
• HQ: New Delhi.
Police reforms:
• The orders of the Supreme Court on police reforms issued
• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
in 2006 have not been implemented in letter and spirit by all
• Establishment: It was set-up in 1986 on the recommendation
States.
of National Police Commission by merging the Directorate
• With genuine measures, Ministerial superintendence over
of Coordination and Police Computer (DCPC), Statistical
the police would become more transparent and socially
Branch of BPR&D, Inter State Criminals Data Branch of
accountable, eliminating political interference in its
CBI and Central Finger Print Bureau of CBI.
working.
• Functions:
• This would lead to a reduction in crimes committed with
w Collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the
impunity and raise public confidence in the criminal justice
Indian Penal Code (IPC).
delivery system.
w Acts as a National repository of fingerprints of all
criminals. • As a measure of data improvement, it should be mandatory to
w Implementing Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks record not just the principal offence in a case, as the NCRB
and Systems (CCTNS). does, and list all cognisable offences separately.
46
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
ANALYSIS
w Oil marketing companies (OMCs) will have to upgrades
their refineries to supply fuel that can match the BS-VI
standards.
w But questions have been raised about it. The full
Reason for advancing the implementation:
transition to BS-IV took seven years because refiners
• The implementation of advanced norms is a critical step as India
were unable to produce the superior fuel in required
is the world’s third largest emitter after China and the US.
quantities.
• India being a signatory to the 2015 Paris Climate Change w For the recent shift they need substantial investment
Conference, has agreed to reduce its carbon footprint by 33- (anything between Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 80,000 crore).
35% from the 2005 levels.
3. Challenges for automakers (Technological hurdles):
• There exists a broad public sentiment against the air pollution w The introduction of higher grade fuel will be beneficial
in major Indian cities. only if it is done in sync with the rollout of BS-VI compliant
• While advancing the date, ministry argued that the "health of vehicles. Using BS-VI fuel in the current BS-IV engines
the people is more important than the commercial interest of (a) may be ineffective in curbing vehicular pollution, and (b)
automobile manufactures". may damage the engine in the long run.
w For automakers, the big hurdle in jumping directly from
BS-IV to BS-VI norms lies in equipping cars with two
key components and road-testing them within the time
schedule.
w These two critical components are: diesel particulate filter
(DPFs) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) module.
w But including them to Indian specific conditions of driving
could take an estimated three-four years apart from
massive capital.
4. Flaws of a Piecemeal approach:
Rolling out higher grade fuel and vehicles first in the cities
has inherent drawbacks, as was evident in the BS-IV
implementation.
w Just outside the peripheries of designated BS-IV cities,
BS-III vehicles could be registered. BS-IV vehicles
(especially heavy vehicles) were more expensive, and
BS-III fuel was cheaper than the BS-IV equivalent.
w Interstate trucks and buses, the biggest polluters, were
forced to stay on with BS-III engines simply because the
fuel outside cities did not conform to BS-IV norms.
w It also doesn’t make practical sense for automakers to
build BS-VI compliant vehicles for just one city.
Hurdles:
There are various practical, financial and technological hurdles
to meet the deadlines of having super clean fuel in Delhi by April, Concluding Remark:
2018 • Ideally, the technologies must be introduced in series (i.e.
1. Past experience: stage V and then stage VI), and then synergised. It’s no
w It took as many as seven years for the entire country to surprise that auto firms are not too enthusiastic about the
shift to BS-IV. shift.
w Attempt to leapfrog one stage — BS-V — altogether, and • But it is a reality that industry must contend with. The challenge
that makes the switch to BS-VI that much more difficult for can be met by a significant leap in technological capability,
the two major industries: (1) Oil Industries (2) Automobile timely infusion of capital along with the Centre helping out on
Manufacturers. the regulatory front.
50
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Resource efficiency is a strategy to achieve the maximum • This is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals
possible benefit with least possible resource input. (SDGs) 12 which aims to Ensure Sustainable Consumption
and Production Patterns.
Rationale for Resource Efficiency • Eight other SDG goals (2, 6, 7,8,9,11,14 and 15) also have a
• Economic benefits: bearing on resource efficiency.
w RE has enormous potential for job creation, not only in the
recycling sectors, but also high skilled jobs in innovative India’s response: Existing Policy scenario
design and manufacturing. In India, there are many existing policies influencing resource
w RE has the potential to improve resource availability that use at different lifecycle stages starting from mining to designing,
is critical to the growth of industries. followed by manufacturing, consumption and ultimately end-of-
w By using resources more efficiently, or by utilizing life management (disposal or recycling).
secondary resources, industries can improve • At the mining stage, the National Mineral Policy already
competitiveness and profitability, since material cost is includes zero-waste mining as a national goal and emphasizes
typically the largest cost for the manufacturing sector. the need to upgrade mining technology.
• At the design stage, policies like the National Housing and
w Scientific mining can help increase recovery of primary
Habitat Policy, 2007 and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
and associated materials from mined ores.
(PMAY), 2015 emphasize on developing appropriate
w New industries can be created including those in the
ecological design standards for building components
recycling sector, as well as in innovative design and
• At the manufacturing stage, flagship programmes like “Make
manufacturing, and India can aspire to become a key
in India” that provide special assistance to energy efficient
innovation hub for RE (like it has for ITES).
technologies can promote RE.
w Finally, reduced import dependence for critical minerals
• While an eco-labelling scheme from MoEFCC is in place, its
helps to improve the country’s trade balance and promote
impact has been rather limited;
economic stability.
• In case of end-of-life stage policies, there are policies existing
• Social benefits: to tackle all types of waste enforcement has been limited
w India’s mineral rich areas are under dense forests and due to lack of support for business models that lead to better
inhabited by indigenous communities. implementation.
w Extraction pressures have contributed significantly to
conflicts due to displacement, loss of livelihood and have Highlights of the RE Strategy by NITI Aayog:
led to opposition by tribals and other local communities It includes the core-action plan for the period 2017-2018 and medium
including fishermen in Andhra Pradesh. term action plan for 2017 – 2020 with the following key elements:
w These social and political conflicts also pose significant • Institutional development including setting up an inter-
threat to internal security. departmental committee and Task force of experts.
• Environmental benefits: • Setting up a Bureau for Resource Efficiency (BRE) which
w Reduced extraction pressures due to adoption of RE creates a prominence and enabling platform for this topic like
strategies will help to reduce ecological degradation and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in India.
pollution associated with mining. • Capacity development at various levels for strengthening of
w Reduced waste generation will not only reduce pollution capacities and sharing of best practices.
associated with disposal but also save related costs.
• Development of an indicator monitoring framework for
w Finally, resource extraction and use is highly energy
baseline analysis.
intensive.
• Launch of Short term course on RE under the GIAN Programme
Global response: Sustainable Development Goals of Ministry of HRD.
(SDGs) • Development of Industrial clusters and waste-exchange
• Resource Efficiency is a key element of Sustainable platform, information sharing & awareness generation along
Development. with development of sectoral action plans.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 51
January, 2018
GOAL 12 TARGETS
• By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient
use of natural resources.
• By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and
FACTS & FIGURE consumer levels and reduce food losses along production
and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
Water • By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management
• Less than 3 per cent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in
of which 2.5 per cent is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and accordance with agreed international frameworks, and
glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 per cent for all significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order
of man’s ecosystem’s and fresh water needs. to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the
• Man is polluting water faster than nature can recycle and environment.
purify water in rivers and lakes. • By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through
• More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
water. • Encourage companies, especially large and transnational
• Excessive use of water contributes to the global water stress. companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate
• Water is free from nature but the infrastructure needed to sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
deliver it is expensive. • Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable,
in accordance with national policies and priorities.
Energy • By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant
• Despite technological advances that have promoted energy information and awareness for sustainable development and
efficiency gains, energy use in OECD countries will continue lifestyles in harmony with nature.
to grow another 35 per cent by 2020.
• Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific
• Commercial and residential energy use is the second most and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable
rapidly growing area of global energy use after transport. patterns of consumption and production.
• One-fifth of the world’s final energy consumption in 2013 was • Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable
from renewables. development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates
• If people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs jobs and promotes local culture and products.
the world would save US$120 billion annually. • Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage
wasteful consumption.
52
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Event: second most polluted among the world’s big cities. WHO
• Sri Lankan cricket team played a three match test series in has described the condition as equivalent to smoking 30
India from 16 November 2017 till 6 December 2017. cigarettes a day.
• During the second day of the third Test, the Smog in Delhi • In November 2017, Costa Rica’s Ambassador Mariela Cruz
forced the Sri Lanka cricketers to wear anti-pollution masks. Alvarez was forced to move to Bengaluru because she found
This was the first time in the 140-year history of test cricket the capital’s air, “unbreathable”.
that players wore masks on the field. • Thus India’s cricket governing body not only erred in
• Sri Lankan bowlers complained of breathlessness, One Sri scheduling the Delhi match, its criticism of the Sri Lankan
Lankan even vomited on the field and several of his teammates cricketers has shown it to be a bad sport.
had to rush to the dressing room to use oxygen cylinders.
Economic impact of smog:
• Play was suspended more than three times. Lankans came
• The damage done by smog extends beyond sport. It
close to forfeiting the match as team was reduced to 10 men
highlights the dangers ahead for north India.
with no sub willing to come out. Coach Nic Pothas offered to
• Delhi’s pollution is making waves in international media and
field, prompting Virat Kohli to declare at 536/7.
toxic air contributes greatly to the national capital region’s
A Melodrama? reputation as a hardship post for expatriates.
• BCCI president C. K. Khanna accused the Sri Lankan team • Pollution — in Delhi and elsewhere in India — is taking a huge
of making “unnecessary fuss” fuss while Indian spectators toll in terms of human lives and economic costs.
called the team "melodramatic". • Winter pollution could greatly affect foreign investment
• Ex-cricketer Virender Sehwag slammed Sri Lanka for smog coming into NCR or into north India in general.
complaints by calling it strategy to stop Virat Kohli from • In addition, since north India attracts most international
scoring runs. tourists in winter, the tourist trade will be damaged as well.
New constellations
based on modern
day inspirational
figures have been
created in a bid to
get more children
interested in the
universe.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Summary Facts: BN Srikrishna Committee However, the unregulated and arbitrary use of data, especially
• Timeline: It was constituted in August 2017; submitted its personal data, has raised concerns related to centralisation of
report in November, 2017 and has sought comments on databases, profiling of individuals, increased surveillance and a
certain questions raised by it till January 31, 2018. consequent erosion of individual autonomy and privacy and cyber
attacks.
• Scope:
w To examine issues related to data protection, Do You Know?
w recommend methods to address them, and
The massive online attack using ransomware WannaCry
w draft a law for data protection.
allowed hackers to seize control of computers across
• Objective: To ensure growth of the digital economy while
100 countries. In India, too, there have been a number of
keeping personal data of citizens secure and protected.
incidents wherein cyber thieves have stolen information from
Background: A Digital India in a Digital World the Aadhaar database.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
DNA
• What is it? DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary
material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly
every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.
• Location: Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is
called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be
found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial
DNA or mtDNA).
• Bases:
w AGCT: The information in DNA is stored as a code made
up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G),
cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
w How many? Human DNA consists of about 3 billion bases,
and more than 99 percent of those bases are the same in
all people.
w Sequence: The order, or sequence, of these bases
determines the information available for building and
maintaining an organism, similar to the way in which
Law Commission (Report No. 271)
About DNA Profiling: • Patenting of genes: Ensuring that commercial interests do not
Meaning: DNA profiling is also known as DNA fingerprinting, limit equity and access.
DNA testing, DNA typing. It is a technique to ‘compare the DNA Do You Know?
sequences’ of any two individuals.
• A gene patent is the exclusive rights to a specific
Working: it works on the principle of polymorphism. Polymorphism
sequence of DNA (a gene) given by a government to the
means variation at genetic level. It involves the following:
individual, organization, or corporation who claims to have
• First Short tandem repeats (STR) are collected. STR means
first identified the gene.
“a repeating sequences of 2-6 base pairs of DNA”. It is also
• Once granted a gene patent, the holder of the patent
called as microsatellite.
dictates how the gene can be used, in both commercial
• Then STR are processed which results in bands that are
settings, such as clinical genetic testing, and in
unique enough to be used for identification. This creates a
noncommercial settings, including research, for some
DNA profile.
years from the date of the patent.
• Then this STR is compared with STR of other samples with
whom we have to match.
Law Commission (Report No. 271):
Importance of DNA profiling: The DNA based technology (use and regulation) Bill, 2017
• Accurate technique: It is an accurate technique. Supreme According to Law Commission of India in its Report No.271,
Court in its various judgements has stated that the DNA test there is absence of an appropriate regulatory mechanism for
has 99.99 % chance of correct conclusions. handling of DNA samples and profiles in India.
• Longer storage: Unlike blood found at a crime scene, DNA Most of the countries have enacted appropriate laws for the
material remains usable for an endless period of time. aforesaid purposes.
• Applications: Due to this, it is helpful for Merely amending the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, may
w forensic science that guides in criminal investigation by not serve justice to this important issue.
identifying the offenders. In the above background, in July 2017, it recommended a bill for
w disaster victim identification. regulating DNA profiling.
w establishing biological relationships between individuals.
w medical research purposes.
Its salient features are:
Ethical issues: • Only for identification: DNA profiling would be undertaken
Ethical Issues that arise are generated from: only for identification of a person and not for extracting any
other information.
• Misuse: information from DNA samples can also reveal more
intrusive information like their allergies, or susceptibility to • Informed Consent: The draft has introduced a new provision
diseases. Thus the data can be misused causing harm to that explicitly prohibits the collection of any “bodily substance”
individual. from an arrested individual (for the purposes of a DNA test)
without his/her consent.
• Privacy: Informed consent and confidentiality of data are key
principles of medical ethics which are at risk. Supreme Court • Privacy: Strict confidentiality will be maintained with respect to
has recently declared Right to privacy a fundamental right. keeping off records of DNA profiles and their use. Sharing of
DNA profiles with foreign governments or other government
• Limitations of genetic testing: While in some cases, genetic
agencies, organisations or institutions would only be for the
tests provide reliable and accurate information on which
purpose of this Act or any of its agencies.
people can make decisions, in other cases it may not be
possible to obtain a definitive result. • DNA Profiling Board: It will be constituted as a statutory body
w The individual’s environment can modify the expression of which will be responsible for supervising, inspecting and
genetic messages to the body and many factors are not assessing DNA laboratories.
genetic that make an individual who they are. • DNA Data Bank: DNA Data Banks will be created at national
• Inappropriate applications: Inappropriate applications and regional (states) level which will store DNA profiles
of genetic testing such as for the sole purpose of family received from DNA laboratories.
balancing (sexing of a fetus for this reason) or its use in • Penalties: The violators of the provisions would be liable for
paternity testing without the informed consent of all parties punishment of imprisonment (up to three years) and a fine
involved. which (up to Rs two lakhs).
ON THE RISE
58
Current Affairs MADE EASY 1.5 MILLION
deaths caused
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
An initiative of Group
January, 2018
by diabetes
422
adults have diabetes
MILLION
THAT’S 1 PERSON IN 11
w Either when the pancreas does not produce enough • Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting
insulin. glycaemia (IFG) are intermediate conditions in the transition
w When the body cannot effectively use the insulin it between normality and diabetes.
produces. • People with IGT or IFG are at high risk of progressing to type
• Insulin: Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. 2 diabetes, although this is not inevitable.
Mainuncontrolled diabetes.
types of diabetes Consequences
• Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of
Consequences:
Diabetes
Diabetes cantolead
can lead to complications
complications in many partsin
of many parts of
the body
Type of Diabetes: the body and increase the risk of dying prematurely.
and increase the risk of dying prematurely.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
juvenile or childhood-onset. Stroke
• Characterized by: Deficient insulin production Blindness
Body does not produce
and requires daily administration of insulin.
enough insulin
• Cause: it is not known and it is not preventable
with current knowledge.
• Symptoms: Excessive excretion of urine,
Heart attack
thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision
changes, and fatigue.
Type 2
TYPE 2 DIABETES
• Previously known as: non-insulin-dependent,
or adult-onset (this type was seen only in Kidney failure
Body produces insulin
adults but is now also occurring increasingly
but frequently in children).
can’t use it well
• Characterized by: Body’s ineffective use of
insulin.
• Cause: It is largely the result of excess body
weight and physical inactivity.
GESTATIONAL
• Symptoms: Symptoms mayDIABETES
be similar to those Amputation
of type 1 diabetes, but are often less marked.
A temporary condition in
As a result, the disease may be diagnosed
pregnancy
several years after onset, once complications
have already arisen.
Gestational • It is a temporary condition in pregnancy.
diabetes • It is hyperglycaemia with blood glucose
How can the burden of diabetes be reduced?
values above normal but below those
• Prevention: Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining
diagnostic of diabetes, occurring during
a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to
pregnancy.
www.who.int/diabetes/global-report #diabetes
• Women with gestational diabetes are at
prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
• Cure: Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided
an increased risk of complications during
or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular
pregnancy and at delivery.
screening and treatment for complications.
Article Current Affairs MADE EASY 59
January, 2018
• Why November 14? The day marks the birth anniversary In 2017, IDF estimates that:
of scientist and Nobel laureate Frederick Banting who • One in 11 adults (20-79 years) has diabetes (425 million).
discovered insulin (in 1922). • One in two adults with diabetes are undiagnosed (over 212
• Objective: To create awareness about the effects of diabetes. million people).
• Origin: • Some 12% of global health expenditure is spent on diabetes
w it was started in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (USD727 billion).
(IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). • One in six births (16.2%) is affected by gestational diabetes.
w The day became an official United Nations Day in 2006.
• 4.0 million deaths globally are attributable to diabetes.
w A blue circle logo, adopted in 2007 serves as the global
symbol for diabetes. By 2045, IDF estimates that:
• One adult in ten will have diabetes (629 million).
WDD 2017 • Diabetes-related health expenditure will exceed USD 776
• Theme: “Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future”. billion.
• Reason for choosing this theme:
Top 5 countries of most people living with diabetes:
w Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women
globally. Rank Country Number of Country Number of
(18-99) People with (20-79) People with
w Two out of every five women with diabetes are of
Diabetes (18- Diabetes
reproductive age. 99) (20-79)
w Approximately one in seven births is affected by gestational
1 China 114.1 million China 109.6 million
diabetes (GDM).
2 India 70.2 million India 69.2 million
• It contains data on diabetes cases, prevalence, mortality and • Prevalence among Children’s:
expenditure on the global, regional and national level. w India is home to the second largest number of children
and adolescents aged 0-19 years with type 1 diabetes in
Changes in methodology:
the world, after the USA.
The following modifications have been made in the IDF Diabetes
• Mortality:
Atlas 8th Edition:
w The region had the second highest number of deaths
• The children and adolescent age group has been expanded
attributable to diabetes, after West Pacific.
to 0-19 years old from 0-15 years old.
w India is the largest contributor to the regional mortality,
• Estimates for diabetes prevalence among adults aged 18-99
with nearly 1 million estimated deaths attributable to
years has also been calculated in addition to 20-79 years.
diabetes.
60
Chapter 1
Current Affairs MADE EASY
January, 2018
ECONOMY
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
An initiative of Group
In early November 2017, the Government of India launched Initial coin offerings are becoming a rage. Dozens of
the BHARAT-22 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) managed by ICICI companies including celebrities like Boxer Floyd Mayweather
Prudential Mutual Fund as a part of the Centre’s disinvestment and Paris Hilton have raised billions of dollars via it.
programme.
What is an ICO?
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF): • An ICO (Initial Coin Offerings) is also called "token sale".
• An ETF is an open-ended mutual fund scheme with an • It is the process in which the developers of a new
objective to track and reflect the performance of its underlying cryptocurrency offer the chance to investors to buy a part of
index. their token.
• It achieves this through a passive investment strategy of • This "early adoption" is a popular way for them to fund their
investing in the same stocks and in the same proportion as project but also to bring liquidity to the coin they are about to
they constitute the underlying index. release.
• Advantages of an ETF:
w Investments in ETFs are highly liquid as they are held How does an ICO works?
through a Demat account and can be traded on a stock • Most of the cryptocurrencies works with "emissions"
exchange like direct equity shares. (the amount of coins that are going to be injected in the
w Also, being passively managed, they have lower expense network in total). What an ICO offers you to do is to buy
ratios in comparison to actively managed mutual funds. a part of that emission and be in the group of the initial
investors.
Bharat 22 ETF: • Most of the developers; as a reward of gratitude for your
• The government of India, in the Budget speech of 2017, investment; will offer a "bonus percentage" (that is different
announced its plan to achieve a divestment target of Rs from projects to projects) of coins depending on the amount
72,500 crore in the FY 2017-18. of BTC you decide to put in their token.
• Bharat 22 ETF has been set up as one of its vehicle to achieve • Some of them also offers a share of the cryptocurrency
the target. depending on the percentage you decided to invest.
• It is an open-ended Exchange Traded Fund which will invest
in similar composition and weightages as they appear in How can an Initial Coin Offerings be profitable?
Bharat 22 Index. • Being an early supporter; you will be in control of the
• The index is collectively comprised of 22 stocks of Central initial capital of the coin once it is released into the market
Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE), Public Sector Banks and (Exchanges, etc...).
private companies which are Strategic Holding of Specified • This can be a great opportunity to make a lot of profit since
Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI). you bought the cryptocurrency at its minimal worth (and
• The said 22 stocks are spread across six sectors (Basic might have got a bonus percentage at the same time.)
Materials, Energy, Finance, FMCG, Industrials and Utilities).
What's the catch/risk?
• The index invests a maximum of 15% in a single stock and 20
• The biggest and major problem with ICO's (and what makes
per cent in a particular sector.
it different from an IPO crowdfunding) is that you are putting
• The government of India has appointed ICICI Prudential AMC money into a coin that hasn't been launched yet. thus there is
to create, launch and manage Bharat 22 ETF. a lot of risks to take in the process.
• The scheme is intended for investors who are seeking long- • The ICO's scene has been victim of a lot of scams in the last
term wealth creation through a diversified portfolio which is years (developers hyping the coin; making profits from the
largely comprised of high-quality public sector undertakings. Initial Coin Offering but never released the token).
Economy Current Affairs MADE EASY 61
January, 2018
GDP, GVA ACCELERATES What is the relationship between Gross value added (GVA) and
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
India’s economy regained momentum in the September
• When the value of taxes on products (less subsidies on
quarter.
products) is added, the sum of value added for all resident
units gives the value of gross domestic product (GDP).
• Thus, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any nation
represents the sum total of gross value added (GVA)
(i.e. without discounting for capital consumption or
depreciation) in all the sectors of that economy during the
said year after adjusting for taxes and subsidies.
SANKALP
India Signs Loan Agreement with World Bank for US$ 250
Million for (SANKALP) Project.
About:
• Acronym: SANKALP stands for “Skills Acquisition and
Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion”.
About:
• Objective: To enhance institutional mechanisms for skills
Following are the key highlights of the official data released by
development and increase access to quality and market-
the government:
relevant training for the work force.
• GDP growth: GDP growth recovered in the second fiscal • Result areas: The Key result areas for the project include
quarter from a three-year low of 5.7% in the preceding three- w Institutional Strengthening at the National and State
month period. Levels for Planning, Delivering, and Monitoring High-
• GVA growth: Gross Value Added (GVA) growth accelerated to Quality Market-Relevant Training.
6.1% from 5.6% in the first quarter w Improved Quality and Market Relevance of Skills
• Agriculture: Agriculture, however, remained a cause for Development Programs.
concern. The performance of agriculture sector was worse w Improved access to and completion of skills training for
as it grew at 1.7%. female trainees and other disadvantaged groups.
• Manufacturing: This quarter’s positive result has been w Expanding skills training through private-public
impacted significantly by growth in manufacturing. The partnerships (PPPs).
manufacturing sector expanded by 7% in the quarter, a • Time period: The closing date for the project is 31st March,
robust acceleration from 1.2% in the first quarter. 2023.
• Service: Experts are also pointing to the slowdown in the
services sector, especially finance, transport, and hotels, all PANEL TO ADDRESS NPAS IN THE POWER
of which saw growth slowing in the second quarter compared SECTOR
with the first quarter.
Government has set up a panel to address Non-performing
Comment: assets (NPAs) in the power sector.
Overall performance indicates that perhaps the impact of
demonetisation and GST is now behind us and hopefully in the About:
coming quarters we can look for an upward trajectory. • Chairman: NITI Aayog chief executive Amitabh Kant.
Do You Know? • Objective: To address the problem of NPAs in India's power
sector.
What is Gross value added (GVA)?
• Background: According to the second volume of the
It is the value of output less the value of intermediate
Economic Survey 2016-17 released in August, 2017, NPAs in
consumption. Value added represents the contribution of
power generation accounted for around 5.9% of the banking
labour and capital to the production process.
sector’s total outstanding advances of Rs4.73 trillion.
62
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
The National Power Portal (NPP) has been launched. Despite steady rise in FDI inflow to India, it is only 2% of global
total.
• It is a centralized hub for the collation and dissemination of
information on the Indian power sector Although foreign direct investment inflow to India is rising at
• It will serve as a single source of power sector information for a steady pace, the total inflow of foreign funds to establish
apex bodies like courts and government bodies; utilities for business operations and acquire assets in India is very small
use in analysis, planning, and monitoring efforts; as well as when compared other large economies.
for public users.
• The portal can be accessed at http://npp.gov.in/.
• Implementing agencies:
w The nodal agency for the implementation of NPP and its
operational control is Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
w The system was conceptualized, designed, and
developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
TESLA SEMI
About:
Tesla Semi is an all-electric heavy-duty truck.
Features:
• The company claims that it has a remarkable 500-mile (over
800-km) range in one charge
• A 30-minute charge can add 400 miles to the Tesla Semi.
• The battery and motor can last up to one million miles.
• It can hit 60 mph three times faster than a regular truck. Ex-
perts say the mileage can be around $1.26 a mile. That’s
impressive, given that a regular diesel trucks takes $1.51 for
the same distance.
• It has no transmission, clutch, big engine or any such typical
components one generally finds in a conventional truck.
The model unveiled is, of course, a testing prototype, but could
may enter mass-production mode by 2019.
Economy Current Affairs MADE EASY 63
January, 2018
INDIAN FOREST (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 6. Though India has 19% share of world’s area under bamboo
cultivation, its market share in the sector is only 6%. At
2017
present, India imports timber and allied products, such
as pulp, paper, furniture etc. The amendment will help in
Union government has promulgated Indian forest
addressing some of these issues.
(amendment) ordinance, 2017.
Significance:
Promote cultivation of bamboo in non-forest areas has lot of
benefits:
1. Increasing the agricultural income of farmers and Tribals,
esp. in North-East and Central India.
2. Increasing the green cover of the country. it will create
a viable option for cultivation in 12.6 million hectares of
cultivable waste land.
3. It has various other ecological benefits such as soil-moisture
conservation, landslide prevention and rehabilitation,
conserving wildlife habitat, enhancing source of bio-mass,
besides serving as a substitute for timber.
4. Enhancing supply of raw material to the traditional craftsmen
of rural India, bamboo based/ paper & pulp industries,
cottage industries.
5. Overall it will greatly aid the success of recently constituted
National Bamboo Mission.
64
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
NEW DIRECT TAX LEGISLATION Depot (ICD) with minimum investment of Rs. 50 crore and
minimum area of 10 acre,
Union government has constituted a new task force for w Cold Chain Facility with minimum investment of Rs.15
drafting a new direct tax legislation. crore and minimum area of 20,000 sq. ft, and/or
w Warehousing Facility with investment of minimum Rs. 25
crore and minimum area of 1 lakh sq ft.
Background:
• Benefits: It will enable the Logistics Sector
• During the Rajaswa Gyan Sangam held on 1st and 2nd
September, 2017, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi w to avail infrastructure lending at easier terms with
had observed that the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) enhanced limits,
was drafted more than 50 years ago and it needs to be w access to larger amounts of funds as External Commercial
re-drafted in consonance with economic needs of the Borrowings (ECB),
country. w access to longer tenor funds from insurance companies
and pension funds and
Terms of reference: w to be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing
• The Terms of Reference of the Task Force is to draft an Company Limited (IIFCL).
appropriate Direct Tax Legislation keeping in view: (i) The • Background:
direct tax system prevalent in various countries, (ii) The w Logistics cost in India is very high compared to developed
international best practices. (iii) The economic needs of the countries which reduces the competitiveness of Indian
country and (iv) Any other matter connected thereto. goods.
w Development of logistics would give a boost to both
Members:
domestic and external demand thereby encouraging
The Task Force has been constituted with the following Members:
manufacturing and 'job creation'.
1. Arbind Modi, Member (Legislation), CBDT - Convener
w This will in turn be instrumental in improving country's
2. Girish Ahuja, practicing Chartered Accountant and non- GDP.
official Director, State Bank of India;
3. Rajiv Memani, Chairman & Regional Managing Partner of
E&Y; MSME SAMBANDH
4. Mukesh Patel, Practicing Tax Advocate, Ahmedabad;
5. Mansi Kedia, Consultant, ICRIER, New Delhi; Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for MSME,
launched MSME Sambandh.
6. G.C. Srivastava, Retd. IRS (1971 Batch) and Advocate.
Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) will be a
permanent Special Invitee in the Task Force. About:
• What is it? It is a Public Procurement Portal for Micro and
Time period: Small Enterprises (MSEs).
• The Task Force shall submit its report to the Government
• Objective of portal: To monitor the implementation of the
within six months.
Public Procurement from MSEs by Central Public Sector
Enterprises.
LOGISTICS SECTOR GRANTED • Background:
INFRASTRUCTURE STATUS w The Procurement Policy launched in 2012 mandates the
Central Government Departments / CPSUs to procure
The Logistics Sector has been granted Infrastructure status. necessarily from MSEs.
w i.e. they shall set an annual goal for procurement from the
About: MSE sector at the beginning of the year, to achieve an
• Logistics Infrastructure has been included in the Harmonized overall procurement goal of minimum of 20 % of the total
Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors in the renamed annual purchases of the products or services produced or
category of ‘Transport and Logistics’. rendered by MSEs.
• Logistics Infrastructure includes w By creating an online portal, the Ministries and the CPSEs
w Multi-modal Logistics Park comprising Inland Container can assess their performance.
Economy Current Affairs MADE EASY 65
January, 2018
Significance:
• The new stand adopted by India is in line with the commonly
accepted practices abroad.
• It will further improve India’s ease of doing business
rankings.
Transfer Pricing:
• It is the rates/prices that are used when selling goods or
About:
services between company divisions and departments, or • By this, Hyderabad became the ninth Indian city to get
between a parent company and a subsidiary. the Metro. The earlier eight are: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta,
Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Jaipur and lucknow.
• In principle a transfer price should match either what the
seller would charge an independent, arm's length customer, • It is being implemented entirely on public-private partnership
or what the buyer would pay an independent, arm's length (PPP) basis, with the Telangana government holding a
supplier. minority equity stake.
• However, they have become a major tool for tax avoidance. • The first stretch that was inaugurated covers 30 km, the
i.e. they are misused to: longest stretch in the country to be operationalised at one go.
w Lower profits in a division of an enterprise that is located • It is the world's largest elevated Metro Rail PPP project
in a country that levies high taxes (less profit, less tax based on DBFOT basis (Design, Built, Finance, Operate and
payed) and Transfer).
w Raise profits in a country that is a tax haven that levies no • Mascot: The mascot of Hyderabad Metro Rail is Niz. It was
or low taxes. derived from the word Nizam, who ruled the princely state of
Hyderabad.
66
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
MERCHANT DISCOUNT RATE (MDR) to install PoS terminals. Getting small merchants to install PoS
machines has been a challenge, as cash transactions entail
Union Cabinet has approved subsidizing MDR charges on no extra costs to them, while cards do.
debit card/BHIM UPI/AePS transactions of value less than • Due to the recent decision, the consumer and the merchant
Rs.2000. will not suffer any additional burden in the form of MDR
thereby leading to greater adoption of digital payment modes
for such transactions.
What is MDR?
• It is estimated that the MDR to be reimbursed to the banks in
• MDR is the fee that the store accepting your card has to pay
respect of transactions less than Rs.2000 in value would be
to the bank when you swipe it for payments.
Rs.1,050 crore in FY 2018-19 and Rs.1,462 crore in FY 2019-
• The MDR compensates the bank issuing the card, the bank
20.
which puts up the swiping machine (Point-of-Sale or PoS
terminal) and network providers such as Mastercard or Visa
for their services. LEGATUM PROSPERITY INDEX 2017
• MDR charges are usually shared in a pre-agreed proportion
between them. In India, the RBI specifies the maximum MDR Legatum Prosperity Index 2017 was recently released.
charges that can be levied on every card transaction.
About:
• The Legatum Pros-
perity Index is an
annual ranking
developed by the
L o n d o n - b a s e d
Legatum Institute.
• It is based on
104 different vari-
ables which are
grouped into 9
sub-indexes.
• The 9 sub-index-
es are: Economic
Union cabinet decision:
Quality, Business
• Union Cabinet has approved that the Merchant Discount
Environment,
Rate (MDR) applicable on all debit card/BHIM UPI/ Aadhaar
Governance, Ed-
enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions upto and
ucation, Health,
including a value of Rs. 2000 will be borne by the Government.
Safety & Security,
• This will be borne by for a period of two years with effect from Personal Free-
1st January, 2018 by reimbursing the same to the banks. dom, Social Capital and Natural Environment.
• A government committee will look into the industry cost
structure of such transactions which will form the basis to 2017 Rankings:
determine the levels of reimbursement. • In the 2017 rankings, there were 149 countries ranked.
• Top 3: Norway topped the list, followed by New Zealand and
Impact of this approval:
Finland.
• When payment is made at a merchant point of sale, MDR
• India:
is payable by the merchant to the bank. Citing this, many
w Overall Prosperity: In the overall Prosperity Index rankings,
people make cash payments inspite of having debit cards.
India has climbed to by 4 positions from 104 in 2016 to
Similarly, MDR is charged on payments made to merchants
100.
through BHIM UPI platform and AePS.
w Pillar Rankings: In the Prosperity Pillar rankings, India
• To ensure wider adoption of plastic, banks must have more performs best on Governance and Economic Quality and
cards/PoS machines in circulation and more merchants need scores lowest on the Natural Environment pillar.
Economy Current Affairs MADE EASY 69
January, 2018
The nation marked the 100th birthday of the Rs. 1 note on One Rupee Note Vs Other Note
November 30, 2017. • While all other notes have the RBI governor’s signature, the
Rs 1 note is signed by the finance secretary as a testimony
that it is the base unit of the currency system and an “asset”
Note The Journey:
of the government. Hence, the note does not say “I promise
• Introduced on November
to pay the bearer”, unlike other notes.
30, 1917, the note was
• Basically, when the RBI governor says I promise to pay Rs
brought in as minting
10, he essentially means he will pay 10 one-rupee coins or
silver coins became too
notes, which are assets of the sovereign.
costly during the First
World War. The first Rs
1 note was printed in
England with a photo of
AGE FOR JOINING NPS INCREASED TO 65
King George V on it. YEARS
• This note, along with
other small-value notes The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
such as the exotic Rs 2 (PFRDA) increased the upper age limit for joining the National
and eight annas were Pension System (NPS) from 60 years to 65 years.
discontinued on January
1, 1926, on cost-benefit About:
considerations. • Currently, any Indian between the age of 18 to 60 years may
• The rupee started getting voluntarily join the NPS.
printed in India only after • The Authority observed that due to better healthcare facilities
the Security Press and and increased fitness, people are living an active life allowing
Currency Note Press them to be employed productively for longer.
was established in Nasik, • Consequently, it has increased the age limit for joining the NPS.
Maharashtra, in 1928.
• A subscriber joining the NPS after the age of 60 years will
• After the establishment be eligible to continue in the system till the age of 70. Such
of the Reserve Bank of subscribers will have the same investment choices as
India (RBI) in 1935, the available to those joining before 60 years.
rupee, including the Rs
1 note, started becoming
the fiat currency of the PULSES
nation.
• In 1940, the Rs 1 note The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has taken
was re-introduced with the status of a rupee coin. The note various decisions related to pulses.
had the image of a rupee coin with a photo of King George
VI. Decisions taken:
• After Independence, the currency presses were busy printing • Export:
notes for both India and the newly-created Pakistan. Once w It approved the removal of prohibition on export of all
that arrangement was over, Independent India’s first Rs 1 types of pulses.
note was printed in 1949 with the Lion Capitol of the Ashoka w It also enabled a Committee (Chair: Secretary, Department
Pillar. of Food and Public Distribution) to review the export and
• The note was signed by India’s first Finance Secretary R K import policy on pulses.
Shanmukham Chetty. • Buffer stock: it also approved the utilisation of a part of the
• The Rs 1 note has seen several revisions, and after being buffer stock of pulses to provide nutrition to beneficiaries
discontinued in 1994, was reintroduced in 2015, quickly under the central government schemes such as the Mid-day
scaling up to 160 million pieces in two years. Meal scheme.
70
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
BIMSTEC member states discussed draft text of coastal Yamal LNG project began gas exports when the first cargo of
shipping agreement. liquefied natural gas (LNG) left from Sabetta.
About: Location:
• Recently, member States of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative • Yamal LNG project is located on Russia’s Yamal Peninsula.
for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) • It is located above the polar circle in the estuary of the Ob
discussed the draft text of BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement River, a wild, remote region that is frozen for seven-to-nine
drafted by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India. months a year.
• Objective of agreement: To facilitate coastal shipping in the
region, thereby giving a boost to trade between the member
countries.
• Significance:
w Coastal ship movements require smaller vessels and
lesser draft, and therefore, involve lower costs.
w Once the agreement is ratified by the member countries and
becomes operational, a lot of cargo movement between the
member countries can be done through the cost effective,
environment friendly and faster coastal shipping route.
• Background: The meeting of the Working Group is a follow up of
the BIMSTEC leaders’ call at the Retreat hosted by PM Modi in
Goa in October 2016, to enhance connectivity in the region.
Partners:
• The project is operated by Yamal LNG company, which is
owned by
w Russian independent gas producer Novatek (50.1%)
w French company Total (20%)
w China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) (20%)
w Silk Road Fund (9.9%)
Overview of project:
• Objective: To tap natural gas reserves totaling more than 4
billion barrels of oil equivalent.
• Strategy to achieve the objective:
w To do so, more than 200 wells have been drilled and three
liquefaction trains built, each with a capacity of 5.5 million
metric tons.
w Every year, nearly 16.5 million metric tons of LNG will
transit through the port of Sabetta, with all LNG production
sold to customers in Europe and Asia under 15- to 20-year
BIMSTEC: contracts.
• BIMSTEC is an international organization involving a group of
Significance:
countries in South Asia and South East Asia.
• Russia, the world’s biggest gas exporter, has for decades
• Formed in: 1997.
relied on pipeline supplies of the fuel to Europe as a major
• Membership: Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, source of income.
Myanmar and Thailand.
72
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
About:
• A Pakistani court has ordered the full release of Hafiz
Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the Islamist militant group
that carried out the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, 10 months
after the government placed him under house arrest, his
lawyer said.
74
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• Mr. Saeed had long been one of the most-wanted militant HWASONG-15
leaders in the region, but he had been living in the open in
Pakistan for years despite a $10 million American bounty on On 28 November 2017, North Korea launched Hwasong-15.
him.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
SAUDI-UAE PARTNERSHIP • Abu Dhabi’s powerful Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Zayed
al-Nayhan, also is believed to have a closer relationship with
UAE and Saudis formed a new partnership separate from GCC. Saudi Arabia’s young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
G5 SAHEL
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
IS still exists:
• It would be blind to deny that the group doesn’t exist
anymore. It is not known, for instance, what happened to
its self-declared Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
• In Syria it still controls territory, even if it is under growing
pressure of Russian-American bombing and Kurdish
attacks.
Coordinated approach under Haider al-Abadi’s
leadership: Lessons from past:
• In 2006-07, al-Qaeda in Iraq had faced similar military
• At the peak of its influence, the IS controlled almost a third
setbacks. But when Iraq’s sectarian rivalry took a turn for
of Iraq, including Mosul, its second largest city.
the worse and civil war broke out in Syria, it regrouped and
• Mr. Abadi, who took over as Prime Minister in September
reinvented itself as the IS.
2014 when the country was in the middle of the civil war,
• Mr. Abadi has to see that this doesn’t repeat itself. In order
adopted a cautious, gradualist approach with direct help
to do so, he must, besides keeping the military on alert,
from the United States and Iran to take on the IS.
reach out to the country’s disaffected Sunnis and Kurds.
• Iraqi troops first stopped the IS’s southward expansion Only a united Iraq can hold off the resurrection of the
in the suburbs of Baghdad and then started offensive extremists.
operations in the group’s small pockets of influence.
• After capturing cities such as Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraqi
troops moved to Mosul, the jewel in the IS crown. Iran-
JOINT TRAINING DOCTRINE INDIAN ARMED
trained Shia militias and Kurdish Peshmerga troops joined FORCES – 2017
the ground battle, as the U.S. provided air cover.
‘Joint Training Doctrine Indian Armed Forces – 2017’ was
• When Mosul was liberated in July after nine months of
released.
fighting, it was arguable whether a final victory over the IS
was just a matter of time.
About:
• Mr. Abadi claims Iraqi soldiers have established control
over the vast Iraq-Syria border after ousting IS fighters • It was released by Admiral Sunil Lanba, Navy Chief and
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, in the presence of other
from small border towns where they had retreated after
two Service Chiefs.
losing urban areas.
• Objective: To promote ‘Integration’ amongst the three Services
Concerns: A divided nation leading to optimum utilisation of resources.
• This is a moment of both relief and accomplishment, but it • How it works: The doctrine brings out our approach to joint
may be far too simplistic to conclude that Iraq is totally rid of training at macro-level, fundamentals, objectives, joint
the IS threat. structures, planning and organisation.
80
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Nomenclature:
• Kalvari is named after the dreaded Tiger Shark, a deadly
deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.
• Kalvari was also the name of the first Indian submarine to
be commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1967. The previous
Kalvari served for nearly three decades, before being
decommissioned in 1996.
Tiger Shark
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a species of
requiem shark and the only extant member of the genus
Galeocerdo.
It is commonly known as the "Sea Tiger".
Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body, which
resemble a tiger's pattern but fade as the shark matures.
Populations are found in many tropical and temperate
waters, especially around central Pacific islands.
Project 75:
• Kalvari was built indigenously under a venture called Project
75, at Mumbai’s Mazagon Docks.
• Under this project, the Indian Navy was authorised to build
six submarines in collaboration with French firm DCNS at a
cost of around Rs 350 crore.
• Construction of the first submarine had started in 2009 and
the project ended way behind schedule.
Internal Security Current Affairs MADE EASY 81
January, 2018
Uber recently revealed that data of 57 million customers was stolen by hackers in 2016. But what was more trouble-some was its
admission that it tried to cover up the data theft by paying hackers to delete the data. The firm now faces a multi-million dollar
lawsuit for withholding news of the breach.
Below we present a brief overview of the major data breaches, the millions affected, and the costs entailed.
4
82
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR) of the participating States of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar
Pradesh.
UP's Shamli Is 23rd District To Be Part Of NCR. This was decided • Under this NCR and the associated National Capital Region
in the 37th Meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Planning Board (NCRPB) were created in 1985 to plan the
Board (NCRPB). development of the region and to evolve harmonized policies
for the control of land-uses and development of infrastructure
in the region.
having regard to its location, population and potential for • Topics covered by it included transport, telecommunications,
growth as a ‘Counter Magnet Area’ in consultation with the power and water supply, waste and sewerage, education,
State Government concerned with a view to achieving the health, the environment, housing and the "counter magnet"
objectives of the Regional Plan. areas.
• At present (as on March 2017) the following nine counter
magnet areas to NCR have been identified:
PRABHARI OFFICERS
w Hissar and Ambala in
Haryana
Cabinet Secretary and CEO of the NITI Aayog jointly chaired
w Bareilly and Kanpur
the first meeting of Prabhari Officers.
in Uttar Pradesh
w Kota and Jaipur in
Rajasthan About:
w Patiala in Punjab • In keeping with the PM Modi’s vision of a New India by 2022,
w Gwalior in Madhya Government has embarked upon a major policy initiative for
Pradesh the rapid transformation of 115 backward districts across the
w Dehradun in country.
Uttrakhand • In this background, senior Government officials in the rank
of the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary have
Regional planning: been designated as Prabhari Officers.
• The planning body for the region is the National Capital
• Their task is to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the
Region Planning Board (NCRPB).
states in addressing the specific developmental needs of the
• It has issued the "Regional Plan 2021, National Capital Region" districts.
approved in 2005.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
SECTION 126 (1) OF THE RPA, 1951 and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from
polling station.”
Both BJP and Congress have accused each other of violating the • “All political parties and candidates shall – not allow
Model Code of Conduct and Section 126 of the Representation unnecessary crowd to be collected near the camps set up by
of the People Act, 1951. the political parties and candidates near the polling booths
so as to avoid Confrontation and tension among workers and
It is alleged that Rahul Gandhi (for giving Interview Ahead of sympathizers of the parties and the candidate.”
Polls) and PM Modi (for doing Roadshow After Casting Vote) have Concluding remark:
violated election norms during the Gujarat assembly elections. • ECI should ensure that not only it is impartial, but is also seen
to be impartial.
Violation by Rahul Gandhi?
• Fair elections are the cornerstone of a democracy and all
On December 13, 2017 the Election Commission of India issued
violators should be brought to justice by the law. The phrase
a show cause notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi for
“all violators” holds utmost significance here.
violating The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951.
• Thus the guardian of free and fair elections in the country should
According to ECI, Rahul Gandhi gave an interview to a Gujarati
hold responsible all parties, for violating elections norms.
channel a day before the second phase of the Gujarat polls (i.e.
during the 48-hour period before polling), in which he talked
about Gujarat election. This is in violation of section 126(1)(b) MINISTERS NOT UNDER RTI
of RPA, 1951.
Show-cause notice means an order seeking for explanation on an Delhi High Court has ruled that Ministers are not under RTI.
incident, misconduct, etc. and giving reasons why action should
not be taken against the party. About:
Section 126 (1) of the RPA, 1951 • 2014: A Maharashtra resident moved an application before
Additional Private Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, to
According to Section 126 (1) of the RPA, 1951 no person shall:
know how to get an appointment with the Union Law Minister.
(a) convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or
As the information sought was not received, the matter
procession in connection with an election; or
reached the CIC.
(b) display to the public any election matter by means of
• 2016: Central Information Commission (CIC) declared
cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus; or
Ministers as “public authorities” under Section 2(h) of the Act
(c) propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by and thus answerable under the Right to Information law.
arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical
• 2017: Delhi high court overturned the CIC verdict arguing that
performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a
“direction issued by CIC are outside its scope”.
view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any
polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with
the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in JUDICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
that polling area.
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the
Violation by PM Modi? centrally sponsored scheme for development of infrastructure
In retaliation, the Congress accused BJP of using EC “as a tool
facilities for the judiciary.
for its political gains” and criticized them for “double standards”.
They argued that after casting his vote, PM Modi did a roadshow
in Ahmedabad, with people cheering him as he passes showing About:
off his inked finger. • Period of implementation: The scheme will be implemented
This is alleged to be in violation of Election Commission’s Model beyond the 12th Five Year plan (i.e., 2012 to 2017) till March
Code of Conduct which says: 31, 2020 at a cost of Rs 3,320 crore.
• “All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all • Objective: Under the scheme, court halls and residential
activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the accommodation will be constructed for judicial officers of the
election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, district and subordinate courts.
impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 meters of • Funding: Funds for the scheme will be shared in 60:40 ratio
polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of between central and state government. The ratio for north-
48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, eastern and Himalayan states will be 90:10.
5
Social Issues Current Affairs MADE EASY 85
January, 2018
Background:
• In 2016, a parliamentary standing committee on health and
family welfare tabled a report which exposed the scam-
infested Medical Council of India, the country’s sole medical
regulatory body.
• The report alleged, the MCI had become a “club” of influential
doctors who perform their roles as regulators (approving the
setting up of medical colleges and monitoring conduct of
doctors) with little care for the basic norms of governance or
fear of regulation.
• According to report, corruption and bribery thrived in
approvals for setting up these medical institutions, and
further down the line even in the inspection process.
End of MCI:
• The bill would replace the existing apex medical education NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION
regulator Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body
named National Medical Commission. The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of National
Nutrition Mission (NNM).
• Structure of commission:
w The commission will have government nominated
chairman and members. Background:
w A search committee under the Cabinet Secretary will • There are a number of schemes directly/indirectly affecting
select the board members. the nutritional status of children (0-6 years age) and pregnant
w There will five elected and 12 ex-officio members in the women and lactating mothers.
commission. • Inspite of these, level of malnutrition and related problems in
the country is high.
Autonomous boards:
• This is because of not of shortage of schemes but lack of
According to a senior government functionary, the draft bill
creating synergy and linking the schemes with each other to
provides for the constitution of
achieve common goal.
• Four autonomous boards would be constituted under the
• NNM through robust convergence mechanism and other
National Medical Commission.
components would strive to create the synergy.
86
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Features: Impact:
• The NNM, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix • The programme through the targets will strive to reduce
targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth
the Ministries. weight babies.
• The proposal consists of • It will create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts
w Mapping of various Schemes contributing towards for timely action, and encourage States/UTs to perform, guide
addressing malnutrition. and supervise the line Ministries and States/UTs to achieve
the targeted goals.
w Introducing a very robust convergence mechanism.
• More than 10 crore people will be benefitted by this
w ICT based Real Time Monitoring system.
programme.
w Incentivizing States/UTs for meeting the targets.
w Incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using IT
based tools. SUB-SCHEMES UNDER ICDS
w Eliminating registers used by AWWs.
w Introducing measurement of height of children at the Cabinet approved Continuation of sub-schemes under
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). Umbrella Scheme “Integrated Child Development Services
w Social Audits. (ICDS)” for the period till November, 2018
w Setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses
through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition The Cabinet has also approved phasing out of the on–going
through various activities, among others. Kishori Shakti Yojana for out of school girls in the age group of
11-14 years.
Financial Outlay:
• it has been approved with a three-year budget of Rs. 9,000 Background:
crore commencing from 2017-18. The ongoing schemes have been rationalized by the Government
in financial year 2016-17 and have been brought under Umbrella
• This will be funded by Government Budgetary Support (50%)
ICDS as its sub-schemes.
and 50% by IBRD or other MDB.
• Government budgetary support would be 60:40 between The approved Sub-Schemes include:
Centre and States/UTs, 90:10 for NER and Himalayan States
and 100% for UTs without legislature. Sub-Scheme Objective
• Total Government of India share over a period of three years Anganwadi Holistic development of children under the
would be Rs. 2849.54 crore. Services age of six years. its beneficiaries are chil-
(ICDS) dren of this age group and Pregnant Women
Coverage: & Lactating Mothers.
• All the States and districts will be covered in a phased Scheme for Empower Adolescent Girls through im-
manner i.e. 315 districts in 2017-18, 235 districts in 2018-19 Adolescent proved health status, mainstreaming out of
and remaining districts in 2019-20. Girls school AGs into formal/non formal education
and providing information/guidance about
Implementation strategy and targets:
existing public services.
• Implementation strategy would be based on intense
monitoring and Convergence Action Plan right upto the Child Protec- Provide safe and secure environment for
grass root level. NNM will be rolled out in three phases tion Services children in conflict with law and children in
from 2017-18 to 2019-20. need of care and protection, reduce vulner-
abilities through a wide range of social
• NNM targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, Anaemia
protection measures.
(among young children, women and adolescent girls)
and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per National Cre- Providing a safe place for mothers to leave
annum respectively. che Scheme their children while they are at work, and
• Although the target to reduce Stunting is atleast 2% p.a., thus, is a measure for empowering women
Mission would strive to achieve reduction in Stunting as it enables them to take up employment.
from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022 (Mission 25 by At the same time, it is also an intervention to-
2022). wards protection and development of children
in the age group of 6 months to 6 years.
Social Issues Current Affairs MADE EASY 87
January, 2018
CENTRE TO GIVE RS. 500 TO TB PATIENTS w 50% of adult men weigh below 43 kg.
w 50% of adult women weigh below 38 kg.
EVERY MONTH
Tuberculosis:
About 35 lakh identified Tuberculosis patients across the
• Cause: Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria
country will get Rs. 500 every month from the Centre as social
(Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs.
support.
Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of TB disease and
death. More than 20% of TB cases worldwide are attributable
to smoking.
• Transmission: TB is spread from person to person through the
air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they
propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale
only a few of these germs to become infected.
• Symptoms: Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough
with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness,
weight loss, fever and night sweats.
• Who is most at risk?
w Age Group: Tuberculosis mostly affects adults in their
most productive years. However, all age groups are at
risk.
w Regions: Over 95% of cases and deaths are in developing
countries. Six countries account for 60% of the total, with
India leading the count, followed by Indonesia, China,
Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa.
TRACHOMA
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Antibiotics to clear C. trachomatis infection. w India met the goal of trachoma elimination as specified by
Facial cleanliness. the WHO under its GET 2020 program.
Environmental improvement to reduce transmission.
• WHO resolution: The World Health Assembly adopted
NATIONAL AYUSH MISSION (NAM)
resolution WHA51.11 in 1998, targeting the global elimination
of trachoma as a public health problem. Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of National
• Indian scenario: Trachoma infection of the eyes was the most Ayush Mission (NAM) for a three-year period (from 01.04.2017
important cause of blindness in India in 1950s and over 50% to 31.03.2020) with an outlay of Rs. 2400 crore.
population was affected in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and
Uttar Pradesh. It was the most important cause of corneal
About:
blindness in India, affecting young children.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which was launched in
• Global scenario: It is known to be a public health problem in
September, 2014.
41 countries, and is responsible for the blindness or visual
impairment of about 1.9 million people. In 2016, 190.2 million • It is being implemented by Ministry of AYUSH.
people lived in trachoma endemic areas and were at risk of
Objective:
trachoma blindness.
It’s primary objective is to provide cost effective AYUSH
Services, with a universal access which involve, among other
things –
• upgradation of AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries,
• co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers
(PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District
Hospitals (DHs),
• strengthening institutional capacity at the State level through
upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, State Govt,
ASU&H Pharmacies,
• Drug Testing Laboratories and ASU & H enforcement
mechanism,
• supporting cultivation of medicinal plants by adopting Good
Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to provide sustained supply of
quality raw-materials
National Trachoma Survey Report (2014-17): Key 2. Improvement in AYUSH education through well-equipped
Findings enhanced number of AYUSH Educational institutions.
• India is now free from ‘infective trachoma’, and termed this as 3. Improved availability of quality AYUSH drugs by
a momentous achievement. increased number of quality pharmacies and Drug
Testing Laboratories coupled with stringent enforcement
• The active trachoma infection has been eliminated among
mechanism.
children in all the survey districts with overall prevalence of
only 0.7%. 4. Increased awareness and acceptance of the Yoga &
Naturopathy as promotive and preventive health-care
• This is much below the elimination criteria of infective
systems.
trachoma as defined by the WHO
w Active trachoma is considered eliminated if the prevalence 5. To meet the increasing domestic demand of herbal raw-
of active infection among children below 10 years is less materials and also to promote export.
than 5%.
Social Issues Current Affairs MADE EASY 89
January, 2018
INDIA HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South
Africa.
INITIATIVE (IHMI)
There are 350 universities in the five BRICS countries.
India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI) has been In the overall rankings, the top three remained unchanged from
launched. the 2017 list— Tsinghua University, Peking University and Fudan
University, all from China.
About:
• Need of IHMI: Around 200 million adults in India have high
blood pressure, yet control rates for the condition remain low.
• Objective: Reducing disability and death related to
cardiovascular disease (CVD) by
w Improving control of high blood pressure (hypertension).
w Reducing salt consumption.
w Eliminating artificial transfats.
• Components: It is focused on five essential components of
scalable treatment of hypertension.
w Adoption of standardized treatment plans for managing
high blood pressure.
w Regular and uninterrupted supply of quality-assured
medications.
w Patient-centered services that reduce the barriers to
treatment adherence.
w Data on hypertension to be improved through streamlined The rankings brought a mixed bag of news for India.
monitoring systems.
• IIT-Bombay was the best-ranked among Indian universities.
w Lessons learned and practice-based evidence will inform
It broke into the Top 10 list by bagging the ninth position
further interventions to improve cardiovascular care.
(overall).
• Coverage: IHMI will be progressively rolled out in 25 districts
selected by the Health Ministry in the first two years for • Sadly, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, lost the
screening and treatment activities for hypertension. sixth position it had secured in 2016; it now ranks 10. IISc,
• Agencies involved: It is a joint collaboration by Indian Council though, continues to be among the top institutions among
of Medical Research (ICMR), Union Health Ministry, State BRICS nations.
governments and World Health Organization (WHO). • Unchanged from 2016, four Indian universities—IIT-Bombay,
• Link with NPCDCS: IHMI aims to strengthen the cardiovascular IISc-Bangalore, IIT-Delhi at 15 and IIT-Madras at 18—
disease component of the Health continued to feature among the Top 20.
• Ministry’s National Program for Control of Cancer, Diabetes, • The highest ranked private Indian university is BITS Pilani
Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). at 109, followed by Thapar University at 137 and Symbiosis
International University at 144.
• In total, 65 Indian universities are ranked among the published
top 300. This is more than Brazil’s 61 and South Africa’s 12,
but fewer than Russia’s 68 and China’s 94.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
About:
• Objective: To empower rural women through community
participation to create an environment so that they can
realize their full potential. To increase the care, protection
MISSION FOR PROTECTION AND and development of women across the country.
EMPOWERMENT FOR WOMEN • Background: During budget speech in 2017, Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley has stated that Mahila Shakti Kendra will be setting
Union Cabinet has approved expansion of umbrella scheme up at Anganwadi centres. Nearly 14 Lac Anganwadi centres are
"Mission for protection and empowerment for women". there in India. Recently the cabinet has given nod to MSK.
• MSK centres:
Union cabinet has approved expansion of the schemes of w The union cabinet ministry has said that around 920
Ministry of Women and Child Development under Umbrella Mahila Shakti Kendra or centres will be established in 115
Scheme "Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women" districts that are backward. The centres will be setting up
for a period 2017-18 to 2019-20. at block-level.
w On these Kendras, the government will provide some
Key Features: facilities including skill development, employment, digital
• Objective: The main purpose of this scheme is to enhance literacy, health and nutrition for women.
women’s quality of life. Starting from saving and surviving • Ministry in-charge: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
of girl child, their primary as well as secondary education • Volunteers: 3 Lac students will be volunteered in this scheme.
and overall quality of life will be improved through the They all will be from colleges. Along with them NSS and NCC
implementation of this scheme. students will also be associated with this scheme.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme gets extension: Along • Phases: The scheme will be implemented in different phases.
with this scheme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao will also be As of now no news regarding phases have come out from the
extended. Cabinet said that currently BBBP scheme is authority. It will soon be published.
operating in 161 districts and soon it will reach to 640 • Implementation: The scheme will be implemented at district,
districts in India. state and national level. A common task force will be formed
• One Stop Centre: The cabinet ministry has confirmed that under the scheme to plan, review and monitor the progress
nearly 150 One Stop Centres for women will be established of the schemes. Also it has been said that Niti Aayog will be
in various districts. These centres will be beneficial for the engaged in this scheme for the digital monitoring.
survival of sexually harassed cases. They will be provided • District level Agencies: There will be district and state level
medical, psychological, legal and police protection under agencies that will be responsible to implement the schemes
these centres. at grass root level.
• Helpline: There will be round-the-clock helpline in 36 states
and UTs for the women. They can ask for help at anytime by RAPE OF MINORS TO ATTRACT DEATH IN M.P.
dialling the helpline numbers.
• Volunteer: The government has targeted students to volunteer The Madhya Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill awarding death
in this scheme. There will be more than 3 Lac students to those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 and below.
who are said to volunteer in this scheme and will help it to
implement in grass root level.
About:
• Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme: Apart from these schemes
• Capital punishment would be awarded to convicts under
Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme will also be extended.
Section 376 (A), which is related to rape, and Section 376 (D,
Currently in India, only 10 districts from 5 states have this
A), pertaining to gang-rape.
scheme implemented. After getting an extension 65 districts
will be covered. • All parties supported the Bill in Assembly. Justifying the bill,
legislators argued that “There are people in society who can
be set right only by severe punishments. Apart from this,
PRADHAN MANTRI MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA awareness will also be raised in society against such crimes.
• The Bill will now be sent to the President for his assent, after
Union government has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Mahila which it will become a law.
Shakti Kendra (PMMSK) Scheme. • With this, MP becomes the first State where those convicted
of such rapes will death penalty.
Social Issues Current Affairs MADE EASY 91
January, 2018
Union Cabinet has approved expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Government of India has launched “Laqshya- Labor Room
Padhao (BBBP). Quality Improvement Initiative”.
Background: About:
• BBBP was launched by the PM in 2015 at Panipat, Haryana • Objective: To improve the quality of care that is being
as a comprehensive programme to address the declining provided to the pregnant mother in the Labour Room and
Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment Maternity Operation Theatres, so as to reduce preventable
of women over a life-cycle continuum. maternal and new-born mortality, morbidity and stillbirths.
• It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Women and Child • Implementation:
Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and w This initiative will be implemented in Government Medical
Ministry of Human Resource Development. Colleges (MCs) besides District Hospitals (DHs), and
high delivery load Sub- District Hospitals (SDHs) and
• The Sectoral interventions under the programme include
Community Health Centres (CHCs).
the following:
w The initiative plans to conduct quality certification of
w Ministry of WCD: Promote registration of pregnancies in
labour rooms and also incentivize facilities achieving the
first trimester in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs); Undertake
targets outlined.
Training of stakeholders; Community Mobilization &
Sensitization; Involvement of Gender Champions;
Reward & recognition of institutions & frontline workers.
w Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: Monitor
implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal
Diagnostic Techniques (PCP&DT) Act, 1994; DR AMBEDKAR SCHEME FOR SOCIAL
Increased institutional deliveries; Registration of births; INTEGRATION THROUGH INTER-CASTE
Strengthening PNDT Cells; Setting up Monitoring
MARRIAGE
Committees.
w Ministry of Human Resource Development: Universal
NDA government has changed rules of a scheme to promote
enrolment of girls; Decreased drop-out rate; Girl Child
inter-caste weddings.
friendly standards in schools; Strict implementation of
Right to Education (RTE); Construction of Functional
Toilets for girls.
About the scheme:
• “Dr Ambedkar scheme for social Integration through inter-
Expansion: caste marriage” was initiated in 2013 aiming to provide a fiscal
• The programme will be completing 3 years shortly and incentive to at least 500 such inter-caste couples every year.
in this short duration, BBBP has been well-received and • Objective is to enable the couple to “settle down in the initial
favourable trends are visible in many of the districts. phase of their married life.
• It has been realized that no district can be left out of BBBP • It is believed that people who marry outside their caste often
ambit if a real dent is to be made on overall CSR. face social ostracisation and in such instances, financial
help from the state can help the couple to rebuild their lives
• Accordingly, Union Cabinet has approved the expansion
independent of traditional social institutions.
for Pan India Coverage with a proposed outlay of Rs.
1132.5 Crore from 2017-18 to 2019-20, to be funded 100% • An Inter-caste marriage, for the purpose of this Scheme means
a marriage in which one of the spouses belongs to Scheduled
by the Central Government.
Caste and the other belongs to a Non-Scheduled Caste.
• The expansion would include Multi sectoral intervention
• It shall be the discretion of the Minister of Social Justice &
in 244 districts in addition to existing 161 districts. 235
Empowerment & Chairman of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation
districts are to be covered through Alert District Media,
(under the ministry) to sanction the incentive to the Couple.
Advocacy and Outreach, thus covering all the 640 districts
of the Country. • The incentive for a legal inter-caste marriage shall be Rs.2.50
lakh per marriage.
92
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Importance of inter-caste marriages: • The preference of a majority of people to marry within their
The institution of marriage is crucial to the preservation and own caste is a disturbing sign of continuing social orthodoxy.
perpetuation of caste. Hence, Babasaheb Ambedkar wrote It also points to a failure of politics.
that “the real remedy for breaking caste is inter-marriage”.
“Nothing else,” he said, “will serve as the solvent of caste.”
KERALA ALCOHOL PROHIBITION
• Mahatma Gandhi , who started as a supporter of the varna
system, would in his later years allow only inter-caste State cabinet in Kerala has decided to raise the legal drinking
marriages to be conducted at his ashram. The founding age to 23.
fathers of the republic were clear that caste must go.
However, to avail the benefit of the scheme, the ministry has • The Cabinet decision to raise the legal drinking age to 23 is
made it mandatory for the couples to submit their Aadhaar perceived to be an attempt to blunt the criticism against the
numbers and details of their Aadhaar-linked joint bank government.
account. • But critiques argue that the new law would merely drive
underage drinking underground. Maharashtra and New Delhi
Reason for easing the rules: had raised the age to 25 but found it had little impact on the
• Many states that have similar schemes that do not have an ground.
income limit; so the Centre too decided to remove it.
• The scheme hasn’t been well implemented at the ground level
HAUSLA-2017
since its very inception. In 2015-16 merely 72 couples were
given the beneficiary amount as against an annual target of
Child Rights Week (Hausla 2017) was recently celebrated.
500.
• Getting the approval to avail the scheme has also been
problematic. From the 409 proposals that the social justice About:
ministry received in 2017, only 74 couples got the clearance • Every year, the country celebrates the Children’s Day on
from the government. 14th November and the International Child Rights Day is
celebrated on 20th November.
Comment: • The period between the two important events (16th to 20th
• While such schemes — state governments have similar November, 2017) was celebrated as Child Rights Week
initiatives — serve a purpose in financially supporting inter- (Hausla 2017) by Ministry of Women and Child Development
caste couples, they seem to have had only limited success in WCD Ministry.
encouraging inter-caste alliances. • It was an Inter CCI Festival for the children who reside in
• As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III) (2005-6), Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
inter-caste marriages constitute only about 11 per cent of the • WCD Ministry celebratd Child Rights Week by hosting an inter
whole. CCI Festival “Hausala 2017” between 16th to 20th November.
Social Issues Current Affairs MADE EASY 93
January, 2018
YOUTHQUAKE • When celebrated: it is observed every year all across the India
from 19th of November to the 25th of November.
'Youthquake' was named 2017 word of the year by Oxford • Objective: To foster and reinforce the strength of public
Dictionaries. harmony and national integration.
• How is it celebrated? During whole week various programmes
Meaning: are held related to the specific theme of each day celebrations.
• It means “A significant cultural, political, or social change • Themes: The whole week celebrations are titled as the:
arising from the actions or influence of young people.” w National Integration Day on 19th of November.
w Welfare of Minorities Day on 20th of November.
• It represents the awakening of millennials striving for change
w Linguistic Harmony Day on 21st of November.
during a turbulent 12 months across the world.
w Weaker Sections Day on 22nd of November.
Reason for choosing the word: w Cultural Unity Day on 23rd of November.
• Data collected by editors at Oxford Dictionaries revealed a w Women’s Day on 24th of November.
huge increase in usage of the word in 2017 compared with w Conservation Day on 25th of November.
2016. • National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH):
• The British election called by Prime Minister Theresa May in w NFCH is an autonomous organisation with the Ministry of
early June is believed to have caused a spike in usage. Home Affairs.
w It organises Communal Harmony Campaign coinciding
• Britain saw a huge turnout of young voters hoping to make
with the Qaumi Ekta Week and observes the Communal
an impact as they rallied behind Labour Party leader Jeremy
Harmony Flag Day on 25th November.
Corbyn. The Guardian and other publications dubbed their
collective actions a “youthquake.” w The Foundation promotes Communal Harmony and
strengthens National Integration.
Origin:
• The word “youthquake” may be the winner for 2017, but it is
not new.
• It was coined in 1965 by Vogue Editor Diana Vreeland, who
used it to highlight changes young people drove in the
fashion and music industries.
Deen Dayal Divyangajan Sahajya Scheme
• The scheme was launched on the occasion of International
QUAMI EKTA WEEK Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3).
• Under the scheme every differently abled person in the state
Quami Ekta Week or National Integration Week was recently
of Assam would be entitled to a one-time grant of Rs 5,000 for
celebrated.
their treatment.
94
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
About:
• It is an official United Nations international observance day
on 19 November.
• Objective: To reach, SDG #6 i.e. to reach everyone with
sanitation, and halve the proportion of untreated wastewater
and increase recycling and safe reuse.
• History:
w it was established by the World Toilet Organization in
2001.
w Twelve years later, the UN General Assembly declared
World Toilet Day an official UN day in 2013.
• Official Convener: UN-Water.
UN ENVIRONMENT ASSEMBLY
About:
• Christened Hemidactylus sushilduttai, the lizard is the 32nd
species of Hemidactylus gecko found in India.
• Name:
w Hemidactylus sushilduttai is commonly known as Dutta’s
Mahendragiri gecko
w This species was named after Prof. Sushil Dutta in honour
of his immense contributions in Indian Herpetology.
• Region:
w The lizard is found in northern Andhra Pradesh’s
Mahendragiri hill range.
w It is the second gecko to be found endemic to the area.
The discovery highlights the biodiversity importance of
the region.
• Features:
w Dutta’s Mahendragiri gecko has golden eyes and pale,
black-bordered horizontal bands.
96
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Environment, Disaster Management and Geography Current Affairs MADE EASY 97
January, 2018
Location: In 2017, Costa Rica ran on 100% Renewable Electricity for 300
• it is a range of mountains in western India running Days.
approximately 692 km in a northeastern direction across
the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana, About:
ending in Delhi. • Costa Rica is a green country blessed with lush rainforests
• The famous Delhi Ridge is the last leg of the Aravalli Range, and flora and fauna.
which traverses through South Delhi and terminates into • Now the country is taking its green initiative to a whole other
Central Delhi where Raisina hill is its last extension. level by making massive strides towards becoming carbon
• The southern end is at Palanpur near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. neutral by 2021.
Origin:
• The Aravalli range are the oldest fold mountains in India.
• Old fold mountains are characterized by having stopped
growing higher due to the cessation of upward thrust
caused by the stopping of movement of the tectonic plates
in the Earth's crust below them.
• It dates back to a pre-Indian subcontinental collision with
the mainland Eurasian Plate.
• The range rose in a Precambrian event called the Aravalli-
Delhi orogen.
• In 2015, Costa Rica generated 100 % of its electricity from
Highest peak: renewable energy sources (combination of hydro, wind,
geothermal, biomass and thermal energy) for 299 days.
• The highest peak is Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu in Rajasthan.
• In 2016 it was 271 days an in 2017 it ran for 300 days.
Rivers:
• Numerous rivers rise amidst the ranges including the
Way ahead:
Banas River, the Luni River, the Sahibi, the Sakhi, and the • While this green initiative is forward-thinking, its automobiles
Sabarmati River. continue to run on internal combustion engines, which are
damaging to air quality and the climate.
• Chambal and Luni are two main rivers that flow through
Rajasthan. • Thus it could also do some work on transforming its
automobiles’ carbon footprint.
• In ancient times they were extremely high but since have
worn down almost completely by millions of years of
weathering. In contrast, the Himalayas are continuously SHARED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SOLAR
rising young fold mountains of today.
PARKS PROJECT
Mining
India signs loan agreement with world bank for USD 100
• Mining of copper and other metals in the Aravalli range
million for “Shared infrastructure for solar parks project”
dates back to at least 5th century BC, based on carbon
dating.
About:
• Recent research indicates that copper was already mined
• Objective: To increase solar generation capacity through
here during Sothi-Siswal period going back to c. 4000
establishment of large-scale parks in the country.
BCE. Ancient Kalibangan and Kunal, Haryana settlements
obtained copper here. • Components: The project consists of two components viz.
w Shared Infrastructure for Solar Parks.
w Technical Assistance.
98
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• It is being created only with modular, demountable structures, • Choquequirao forms part of a government scheme to increase
including shipping containers for catering, media and even tourist arrivals to seven million by 2021.
staircases.
• The stadium could also be used to supply modules for other
ERUPTION OF MOUNT AGUNG
smaller venues like amphitheatres, indoor arenas or smaller
sports venues.
Mount Agung erupted multiple times in late November 2017.
• It's designed with the 2022 World Cup in mind.
About:
MACHU PICCHU’S “SACRED SISTER” • Mount Agung or Gu-
nung Agung is a vol-
Peru’s government is planning to open up the mountaintop cano in Bali, Indone-
citadel of Choquequirao with new roads and a cable car to sia.
take visitors to the remote Incan ruins. • This stratovolcano is
the highest point on
Bali.
• Gunung Agung is an
active volcano, with a
large and deep cra-
ter that occasionally
emits smoke and ash.
2017 eruptions:
• Tectonic earthquakes from the volcano had been detected
since early August, and volcanic activity intensified for
several weeks before decreasing significantly in late
October.
• A second, more violent period of major activity began in
late November.
• it erupted multiple times in late November 2017, causing
thousands to evacuate and disrupting air travel.
• The recent eruptions caused surrounding airports (Lombok
International Airport, located on the neighboring island of
Lombok and Ngurah Rai International Airport to be temporarily
closed).
Choquequirao:
• Also known as:
w Machu Picchu’s “sacred sister”.
w “Cradle of gold” in the local Quechua language.
• Origin: It was built by the Incas around the turn of the 16th
century.
• Currently only accessible to hikers willing to make a five-day
round trip, Choquequirao sees about 5,800 visitors a year
compared to Machu Picchu’s 1.2 million.
Environment, Disaster Management and Geography Current Affairs MADE EASY 101
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
ADITYA-L1:
• It is a spacecraft whose mission is to study the Sun.
• It will be inserted in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point
1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is 1.5 million km from
the Earth. The satellite carries additional six payloads with
enhanced science scope and objectives.
• Objective:
w It will provide observations of Sun's Photosphere (soft and hard
X-ray), Chromosphere (UV) and corona (Visible and NIR).
w In addition, particle payloads will study the particle flux
emanating from the Sun and reaching the L1 orbit, and
the magnetometer payload will measure the variation in
magnetic field strength at the halo orbit around L1.
• Present status: The project is approved and the satellite will
be launched during 2019 – 2020 timeframe by PSLV-XL from
Sriharikota.
• Significance:
Structure of Lagrange points in sun-earth system:
w A Satellite placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian
• There are five such points, labeled L1 to L5, all in the orbital
point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system has the major
plane of the two large bodies.
advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any
eclipses. • The first three are on the line connecting the two large bodies;
w Only NASA and ESA have successfully placed satellites the last two, L4 and L5, each form an equilateral triangle with
at the L1 point as of date. the two large bodies.
w This will be the first Indian space mission to study the Sun. • The two latter points are stable, which implies that objects
w It will be India’s third big extra-terrestrial outing after Moon can orbit around them in a rotating coordinate system tied to
and Mars. the two large bodies.
Science & Technology Current Affairs MADE EASY 103
January, 2018
Advances in DNA analysis challenge the traditional “Out of In a study released by the journal Nature, Scientists mentioned
Africa” model that modern humans evolved in Africa and then about the discovery of a new dinosaur species.
dispersed across Asia in a single wave about 60,000 years ago.
About:
Key Feature:
• Its charging speed is five times faster than today’s lithium-ion
batteries.
• The battery can maintain a highly stable 60 degree Celsius
temperature, with stable battery temperatures particularly
key for electric vehicles.
Working:
• Researchers applied graphene and discovered a mechanism
to mass synthesise it into a 3D form like popcorn using
affordable silica.
• This “graphene ball” was utilised for both the anode protective
layer and cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries.
• This ensured an increase of charging capacity, decrease of
charging time as well as stable temperatures.
Significance:
• This provides promise for the next generation batteries,
particularly related to mobile devices and electric vehicles.
104
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• Unique shape: The highly-elongated shape of the object itself Fourth conference 2015 Hague
looks very different than any asteroid or comet we’ve seen in Fifth conference 2017 New Delhi
our own solar system.
Science & Technology Current Affairs MADE EASY 105
January, 2018
EXCITONIUM
What is Excitonium?
• Excitonium is a condensate
it exhibits macroscopic
quantum phenomena,
like a superconductor, or
superfluid, or insulating MIT scientists have found a way to induce plants to give off dim
electronic crystal. light.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
The 100MW Tesla Powerpack, built by Tesla, has now been Key features of the Bill:
activated in South Australia. The company claims that the • Regulatory mechanism: The central government is
battery is three times as powerful as the next largest in the responsible for setting mechanisms and promoting space
world. activity. This includes exploration and use of outer space,
and development of the sector.
• Functions of central government: The central government can:
w Grant, transfer, or terminate licenses to any person for
commercial space activities,
w Provide professional and technical support, and
authorisation to launch or operate space objects, and
w Monitor the conformity of space activity with international
space agreements to which India is a party.
Science & Technology Current Affairs MADE EASY 107
January, 2018
• Terms and conditions of licences: A license granted by the • The BIOS takes care of the basic initialisation processes
central government includes: in a PC; it boots (starts) the hardware and makes the first
w Permission for the central government to inspect any checks on it to make sure the hardware is in good health, the
space activity and documents related to space activity, keyboard is connected, the random-access memory (RAM) is
and alive and kicking.
w Obligation on the licensee to insure himself against any
liability incurred due to any activity authorised by the Rise of BIOS:
license. • American computer scientist Gary Kildall came up with the
• Penalties: The draft Bill provides for penalties for: (i) term BIOS in 1975.
unauthorised commercial space activity, (ii) causing • It then appeared in the so-called CP/M (Control Program/
environmental damage, and (iv) entry into prohibited areas Monitor) operating system.
• Liabilities: A licensee should compensate the central • Soon, it became part and parcel of personal computers
government for damages arising out of commercial space and got super popular with the arrival of Microsoft’s Disk
activities covered under the license. Operating System or DOS. BIOS was part of IBM’s first PC in
• Protection of action taken by the central government: No legal 1981.
proceedings can lie against the central government with • Computer companies that wanted to build systems that
respect to anything done in good faith in pursuance of space worked with the PC had to build systems that essentially
activity. worked with the BIOS if they wanted their software to run well
• Intellectual property rights (IPRs): IPRs developed on the back of the OS.
during the course of space activity will be protected
Fall of BIOS:
under the law. Further, any IPR developed on-board a
• But as time went by, the importance of BIOS and its services
space object in outer space will be the property of the
started waning.
central government.
• Advancements in technology empowered the OS much more
than expected and pushed the BIOS to the initial system
R.I.P. BIOS….WELCOME UEFI boot, with the OS handling most of the operations.
Intel has announced that the PC BIOS will be phased out by Rise of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI):
2020, marking the full transition to UEFI firmware. • Recently at an event organised by the Unified Extensible
Firmware Interface (UEFI) Forum, chipmaker Intel
revealed that by 2020 it will phase out the last remaining
What is it BIOS?
relics of the PC BIOS. This will mark a permanent shift to
• The BIOS ("Basic Input/Output System") is a small piece of
UEFI firmware.
code embedded into a PC's motherboard that handles the
• What is UEFI? UEFI also connects a computer’s firmware to its
basic initialization and booting of hardware.
OS like BIOS does. It is also installed when the computer is
made and is the first program that goes live when you switch
on a computer.
• Advantages of UEFI: UEFI addresses several handicaps and
limitations of BIOS.
w It is faster, for one. It can handle large hard disk partitions,
and do much more. In simple terms, many experts call it
as a micro OS.
w It is “programmable”, and this facility enables PC makers
add applications and drivers to it. This wasn’t possible
with BIOS, which was very much dependent on the CPU
or central processing unit of the computer.
w Many computer scientists also feel that BIOS has
Functions of BIOS: become (un)suitably vulnerable. UEFI, they hope, will
modernise modern computing enhancing security and
• It does the preliminary checks before an OS kicks in to
performance..
perform heavier duties.
8
108
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Y
ou are the newly • Try and haggle with
appointed CEO the board a justified let
of Bharat So- off package for employ-
lar Pvt. Ltd. A leading ees who are to be let off.
company in solar power • Give out this news in
generation, the compa- the best possible man-
ny was once the market ner.
leader in solar power generation but since few years it Regarding losing respect among the employees after this
has been facing stiff competition from other similar play- decision we need to focus on the overall good of the com-
ers. As part of a cost cutting measure many employees pany and hence have to take such harsh decision. We need
of the company have been made to quit in the past few to make the employees understand the necessity of such
months which has had a negative impact on the morale a decision and show them that the best possible thing has
of the employees as there is fear among them that they been done for them. At the same time we need to motivate
can be asked to pack their bags any day, this has in-turn them to work even harder and smarter to sustain their jobs.
led to fall in their performance at work and ultimately
the company is the one which suffers. As soon as you Final Answer:
join the company you address all the employees to work This decision is a harsh one and hence those affected and
more efficiently and not to be worried about losing the their colleagues have to be handled in a sensitive manner.
job. Gradually you are able to connect with them and To disclose this news I will try and personally meet each
in the coming months their performance improves, they and every individual affected and make him understand
start trusting you and respecting you for your style of why such a decision had to be taken. I will personally see
working. But the whole solar power generation sector is to it that they are compensated properly and timely after
going downhill and hence nothing much can be done this decision. I will assure them that they have been given
and in the Annual General Meeting of the company it is the best possible deal and if possible will suggest some
decided that some more job cuts will have to be made. other job opportunities that they could make use of.
You as the CEO know that this will be unfair to your hard- As an aftereffect of this decision the other employees of
working employees but nothing much can be done and the company may lose hope and their performance may
this step has no alternative solutions. go down. To ensure that such a thing does not happen
A. How will you disclose this news to your employees? I will
B. After this decision you may lose respect among your • Talk to them and make them understand that such deci-
employees and their performance can go down what sions have to be taken sometimes but the best employ-
will you do so as to ensure that such a thing does not ees and the most efficient ones never suffer and hence
happen? each and everyone of them needs to improve and be-
come more efficient.
Rough Answer:
• Make them understand that the number of those let off
This is a very common problem in the private sector. This
has been kept at the minimum and they have been giv-
problem tests your overall managerial skills. Yes it will be
en a decent let off package too.
a harsh decision to just put off some of your hardworking
• Make them pledge that they will work with more enthusi-
employees but it has to be made. So what one can do is
asm from now on.
112
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
• Some of the basic tenets of the Constitution, particularly the • Black money: That does not mean he did not recognise
balancing of fundamental rights with the maintenance of law concentration of wealth as a social problem and unethical.
and order in the state, and the reservation of a whole set of His argument was that it was not merely ethical and patriotic,
citizen’s rights as non-justiciable directives of the state were but even economically pragmatic, to channelise “Hoarded
evolved by Patel. Wealth” in economic undertakings, where the returns were
• Patel's emphasis for a strong Centre and his anxiety to guarantee certain to be richer.
the privileges of the princes is reflected in the Constitution. • Ease of doing business: He wanted to see India industrialise
• He also dispensed with separate electorates and seat quickly. The imperative being to reduce dependence on
reservations for the minorities with the unanimous consent of external resources. His promise to industry was for no
their leaders. “impediments, bottle-necks or red-tape”.
• Sardar Patel’s approach was balanced, pragmatic and
Economic thoughts on….: liberal. Economics was an “intensely practical science” for
• Self-sufficiency: Self-reliance was among the chief tenets of him. Short cuts and arbitrary policies of temporary palliatives
his economic philosophy, on which, his views were closer or artificial reductions in prices or stimulation of investment
to those of Pandit Nehru than Mahatma Gandhi’s, who were not acceptable to him.
championed self-sufficiency at the village level.
• Socialism: The role he envisaged for the government was that Foreign Policy:
of a welfare state, but he was unimpressed with the slogans • He pre-empted the relevance of Independent Tibet as a
raised for socialism, and spoke often of the need for India to buffer state between India and China.
create wealth before debating over what to do with it, how to • Patel had written a letter in November 1950 to Nehru warning
share it. him of the dangers of China's ambitions in the north of India.
• Nationalisation: Nationalisation he rejected completely; clear • It was Patel who sent Indian navy to the port of Lakshadweep
that industry ought to be the sole preserve of the business at an appropriate time, as Pakistan was equally keen to
community. occupy the strategically important islands.
• Planning: He was a great believer in planning, especially • On Kashmir, the realist Patel had advised Nehru against
of the kind practised in the developed and industrialised going to the UN.
countries.
• Profit: To him, the profit motive was a great stimulant
Conclusion:
to exertion, not a stigma. He wholly approved of it, and The invaluable contribution of Sardar Patel in building a modern
advocated it for even the non-capitalist classes, the middle and unified India needs to be remembered by every Indian as
classes, the labour and even the agriculturists. the country marches ahead as one of the largest economies in
the world.
114
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
One can take the path of revolution but there is no place for violence in revolution.
The main task before India today is to consolidate herself into a well-knit and united power.
Character is very essential for real success. One who has no character can succeed neither in politics
not in commerce.
A war based on Satyagraha is always of two kinds. One is the war we wage against injustice, and
the other we fight our won weaknesses.
9
Culture Current Affairs MADE EASY 115
January, 2018
Chapter CULTURE
KATAS RAJ TEMPLE w It is believed by Hindus to be the site where the Pandava
brothers engaged in a riddle contest with the Yakshas, as
While stressing the conservation of Katas Raj Temple, the described in the Yaksha Prashna.
Supreme Court of Pakistan called it a national heritage. • Restoration: In 2006, the Pakistani government began
restoration works at the temples, with further improvements
announced in 2017.
About:
• He was an eminent exponent of the Gwalior gharana of
Hindustani classical music
• He also devoted a considerable amount of his career
to Marathi natya sangeet (enactment of musicals on
stage).
• Location: The complex is located in the Potohar Plateau region
• He is survived by his son, Pandit Kedar Bodas, himself a
of Pakistan's Punjab province. The temples are located near
luminary of the Gwalior gharana.
the town of Kallar Kahar, and are near the M2 Motorway.
• Also known as: The Katas Raj Temples are also known as Qila Gwalior Gharana:
Katas. • Origin:
• About them: w It is the oldest Khyal
w The Katas site houses the Satgraha, a group of seven Gharana.
ancient temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, five other w The rise of the Gwalior
medieval temples, havelis scattered around a pond Gharana started with
named Katas which is regarded as sacred by Hindus. the reign of the great
• Architecture: Mughal emperor Akbar
w The temples at Katas are mostly constructed on square (1542–1605). Miyan
platforms. Tansen in the court of
w The elevation of the sub shrines seems to form a series of Akbar came from the
cornices with small rows of pillars, crowned by a ribbed town of Gwalior.
dome. • Key features:
w The seven temples were built in an architectural style w A distinguishing feature
similar to Kashmiri temples, with dentils, fluted pillars, of the gharana is its simplicity: well-known ragas (melodic
trefoil arches, and rooflines that are pointed. modes) rather than obscure ones are selected.
• Mythological significance: w The sapat taan is important to the Gwalior style. It is the
w The name Katas (Raj temple) is derived from Kataksha, a singing of notes in a straight sequence and at a vilambit
Sanskrit word meaning ‘tearful eyes’. pace.
w The temples' pond is said in the Puranas to have been • Exponents: Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, Pandit Omkarnath
created from the teardrops of Shiva, after he wandered Thakur, Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Malini Rajurkar.
the Earth inconsolable after the death of his wife Sati.
116
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
SALVATOR MUNDI
Salvator Mundi, a painting was sold at auction by Christie's in New
York, on 15 November 2017, for $450.3 million, setting a new mark
for most expensive painting ever sold.
About:
• Salvator Mundi, Latin for Saviour of the World, is a subject in
iconography depicting Jesus Christ.
• Christ is depicted with his right hand raised in blessing and his
left hand holding an orb surmounted by a cross, known as a
globus cruciger. The latter symbolizes the Earth.
• The theme was made popular by Northern painters such as Jan
van Eyck, Hans Memling, and Albrecht Dürer.
• A painting of the subject has been attributed or reattributed to
Leonardo da Vinci since 2011. This painting broke records in 2017,
when it was sold for the highest auction price in the world.
10
118
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Chapter MISCELLANEOUS
ROHIT SHARMA
About:
• Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (born 1994) is an Indian female
weightlifter.
• She hails from Manipur state of India.
• Championships won:
w Recently, she who won Gold medal in the 48 kg category
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN at 2017 World Weightlifting Championships held in
Anaheim, United States.
Ravichandran Ashwin of India has become the fastest
w Earlier she had won silver medal in the women's 48 kg
cricketer to take 300 wickets in test cricket breaking the record
weight class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games at
of Dennis Lillee of Australia.
Glasgow.
Miscellaneous Current Affairs MADE EASY 119
January, 2018
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Real Madrid star Cristian Ronaldo has claimed his fifth Ballon
d’Or, equalling rival Lionel Messi.
MOTHER TERESA MEMORIAL AWARD
Ballon d'Or ("Golden Ball")
Mother Teresa Memorial Awards were recently presented.
• It is an annual football award.
w It has been awarded since
1956, although between
About:
2010 and 2015, an • Objective: These are awards to honour individuals and
agreement was made with organizations that promote peace, equality and social justice.
FIFA and the award was • Origin: These are given in honour of Mother Teresa since
temporarily merged with 2005 annually or biannually.
the FIFA World Player of the • Organization: They are an initiative of Harmony Foundation,
Year, and known as the FIFA an organization created by Abraham Mathai in Mumbai. It is
Ballon d'Or. the only award in the name of Mother Teresa recognised by
w But the partnership was the Missionaries of Charity.
ended in 2016 and the award been reversed back to
Ballon d'Or while FIFA also renamed its traditional award. 2017 awardees (organizations and people):
• Presented by: France Football; a French weekly magazine (Indian organizations and people have been highlighted)
containing football news from all over the world. • UNHCR
• Who are honoured? • A21
w It honours the male player deemed to have performed the best • Hellenic Rescue Team
over the previous year, based on voting by football journalists. • Shigeru Ban
w Originally, only European players were in contention for
• Mercy Corp
the Ballon d'Or. Since 2007 all players from around the
• Khalsa Aid
world are eligible.
• Caritas Internationalis
MOST BALLON D’ OR TITLES • Bayat Foundation
About:
• What was it? It was the first International Conference on Sports
Medicine & Sports Sciences.
• Organized by: Sports Authority of India (SAI).
• Theme of the conference: ‘Scoring Goals in Sports with
Science and Technology’.
• Objective: Promoting scientific temperament in country and
inspire students, researchers and educationists alike to take
up sports science and research to next level.
120
Current Affairs MADE EASY B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Manushi Chhillar of India (born in Rohtak, Haryana) was crowned as Miss World 2017 on 18 November 2017 in Sanya, China.
This is the sixth time that India has won the Miss World, tying it for the most title wins with Venezuela.
MISS UNIVERSE 2017 • This event was jointly conducted by the Union Ministry of
Information and broadcasting, Directorate of Film Festivals
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned as Miss Universe 2017. and the Government of Goa.
• Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh, who was appointed head of the jury
of the Indian panorama section, resigned from the position
About:
on 14 November after alleging that the Ministry of Information
• Miss Universe 2017 was the
and Broadcasting dropped two films S Durga and Nude from
66th Miss Universe pageant,
screening in the Indian Panorama section for their controversial
held on 26 November 2017.
theme.
• The event was held in Las
Vegas, Nevada, United States. Awards:
• Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South • Golden peacock award for best film: 120 BPM.
Africa was crowned as Miss • Best director award: Vivian Qu (for her 2017 film ‘Angels Wear
Universe 2017. White’)
• Special jury award: Take off.
48TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF • Best actor (female): Parvathy thiruvoth kottuvatta
INDIA (IFFI) • Best actor (female): Nahuel Perez Biscayart
• Lifetime achievement award: Atom Egoyan
48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded in • Indian film personality of the year: Amitabh Bachchan
Goa on November 28, 2017. • ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal: Marathi Film ‘Kshitij- A Horizon’.
w This award, instituted by the International Council for Film
About: & Television, Paris and UNESCO is given to a film that
• The 48th IFFI was held from 20 to 28 November 2017 in Goa. portrays the Gandhian values of peace and harmony.
Miscellaneous Current Affairs MADE EASY 121
January, 2018
ICCR DISTINGUISHED INDOLOGIST AWARD Gurbir S. Grewal has been nominated as the next Attorney
General of the US state of New Jersey.
The President of India conferred the 3rd ICCR Distinguished
Indologist Award on Professor Hiroshi Marui of Japan. About:
• He is a prominent Sikh-American
lawyer.
• A public prosecutor, he has previously
served as an Assistant US Attorney in
New York and New Jersey.
• With this nomination, Mr. Grewal
is set to become the first Sikh-
American State Attorney General in the United States.
SHASHI KAPOOR
Shashi Kapoor died on 4 December 2017 due to prolonged
liver cirrhosis.
Indology:
• Indology is the academic study of the history and cultures,
About:
languages, and literature of India.
• Shashi Kapoor (1938 – 2017) born
ICCR Distinguished Indologist Award: as Balbir Prithviraj Kapoor was an In-
dian film actor and producer.
• It is an annual award instituted in 2015 by Indian Council for
Cultural Relations (ICCR). • He appeared in over 168 films.
Group
An initiative of
January, 2018
Kaisar-i-Hind Medal:
• She was also involved in various social services.
• Rukhmabai (1864 - 1955) was an Indian physician and
• In recognition of her services to the Indian nation, she was
feminist.
awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal in 1909 by British
• Age of Consent Act in 1891: Monarch.
w She was involved in a landmark case that involved her
marriage as a child bride between 1884 and 1888.
w The case raised significant public debate which ultimately CHRISTIAN DOPPLER
contributed to the Age of Consent Act in 1891, which changed
the age of consent from 10 to 12 years across British India. Google doodle celebrated Christian Doppler’s 214th Birthday.
• As a physician:
w In 1894, she received her Doctor of Medicine from the
London School of Medicine for Women.
w Doctors Kadambini Ganguly and Anandi Gopal Joshi
were the first Indian women to have received medical
degrees in 1886.
w But only Dr. Ganguly went on to practice medicine,
making Rukhmabai the second Indian woman to both
receive a medical degree and practice medicine.
w In 1895, she returned to India and worked as the Chief
Christian Andreas Doppler (1803 –1853) was an Austrian
Medical Officer at the Women's Hospital in Surat.
mathematician and physicist. He is most known for his principle
• Purdah:
“Doppler effect”.
w In 1929 after her retirement, she started publishing a
pamphlet titled "Purdah - the need for its abolition" arguing Doppler effect:
that young windows were being denied the chance to
• The whistle of a fast moving train appears to increase
actively contribute to Indian society.
in pitch as it approaches a stationary observer and it
appears to decrease as the train moves away from the
CORNELIA SORABJI observer.
• The phenomenon of the apparent change in the frequency of
A Google Doodle celebrated her 151st birthday on 15 sound due to the relative motion between the source of sound
November 2017. and the observer is called Doppler effect.
Applications:
About: • Sirens, explaining the Speed of stars, explaining the colours
Cornelia Sorabji (1866 – 1954) was the first Indian woman to of stars, Radar (Radio detection and ranging), Sonar (Sound
• graduate from Bombay University, navigation and ranging) are some of the application of
• study law at Oxford University (indeed, the first Indian national Doppler effect.
to study at any British university),
B I G L E A R N I N G S M A D E E ASY
A N I N I T I AT I V E O F GROUP U N D E R T H E G U I DA N C E O F M r. B . S I N G H ( C M D , M A D E E A S Y G R O U P )
General Studies
Pre cum Main Batches for CSE 2019
Batches Commencing from June / July 2018
at Saket and Old Rajinder Nagar Centres
Well framed modules with systematic subject sequence.
Timely completion of syllabus.
Team of experts for guidance on improving answer writing skills for Main examination.
Current based approach as a pivot for targeted preparation.
Daily news & editorial updates (with analysis) of important newspapers.
Weekly test for self appraisal for both Pre and Main exam.
Includes Prelims and Mains test series for G.S.
Facility of course fee payment in installments.
Questions in accordance with UPSC pattern, with thorough coverage of entire syllabus.
Test to be held on every Sunday, simulating exam environment.
Detailed test report and performance analysis.
ISBN 978-93-5147-321-3
Old Rajinder Nagar Centre : Saket Centre (Classes) : 316/274, Westend Marg
Ground Floor, 6, Old Rajinder Nagar (Opp. MADE EASY Centre), Saidulajab, Near Saket Metro Station, New Delhi-30
(Near Salwan School Gate No. 2) New Delhi - 60 Admission & Enquiry : 44-A/1, Kalu Sarai, Near Hauz Khas Metro Station,
Ph : 011-49858612, 8800338066 New Delhi-110016; Ph : 011-45124642, 8800776445
info@nextias.com www.nextias.com