VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE CURRENT AFFAIRS UPSC (APRIL ) Main Office At. Vetrii IAS Study Circle. Anna Nagar (E), Chennai 102.

Transcription

1 VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE CURRENT AFFAIRS UPSC (APRIL ) Main Office At Vetrii IAS Study Circle F Block New No. 1, 9 th Street, 1 st Avenue Main Road, Anna Nagar (E), Chennai 102. Phone: / / Branch Office At Vetrii IAS Study Circle, No:189/1, Meyanoor Road, Near ARRS Multiplex, Opp. Venkateshwara Complex, Salem 4 Branch Office At Vetrii IAS Study Circle, 243 Cauvery Nagar, Opp. New Housing Unit, Thanjavur- 05. Cell: Phone: / /

2 UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS IR March CONTENT SL. NO TOPIC PAGE NO 1. International Affairs / India and World 1 2. Polity And Governance Defence & Internal Security Economy Environmental Issues Science & Technology Also in News Sports Social Issues Person In News / Awards Important Articles Important Questions /

3 INTERNATIONAL/INDIA AND WORLD INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION The ILO is a United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all. It was established in 1919 as an agency of the League of Nations and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. India is a founder member of the ILO. At present, it has 187 members. The principal means of action in the ILO is the setting up of International standards in the form of Conventions, Recommendations and Protocol. So far India has ratified 45 Conventions, out of which 42 are in force. Out of these 4 are Fundamental Conventions. Why it is in News? Recently Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratification of two fundamental conventions of International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning with Child Labour. They are Minimum Age Convention and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention About Minimum Age Convention: The Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, is a Convention adopted in 1973 by the International Labour Organization. It requires ratifying states to pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour and to raise progressively the minimum age for admission to employment or work. Countries are free to specify a minimum age for labour, with a minimum of 15 years. A declaration of 14 years is also possible when for a specified period of time. Laws may also permit light work for children aged The minimum age of 18 years is specified for work which is likely to jeopardise the health, safety or morals of young persons. Definitions of the type of work and derogations are only possible after tripartite consultations / Page 1

4 About Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention: The Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, known in short as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in By ratifying this Convention, a country commits itself to taking immediate action to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour. The ILO s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour is responsible for assisting countries in this regard as well as monitoring compliance. The convention includes forms of child labour, which are predefined worst forms of child labour. They are also sometimes referred to as automatic worst forms of child labour. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY ASSOCIATION International Energy Association is an inter-governmental organization established in 1974 as per framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It was established in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis after the OPEC had shocked the world with a steep increase in oil prices. At Present it has 29 member countries. India is lone associate member of IAE. With Headquarters at Paris, France. Its prime focus is on the 3Es of effectual energy policy: energy security, economic development and environmental protection. It also seeks to promote alternate energy sources, rational energy policies and multinational energy technology co-operation. It acts as energy policy advisor to 29 member countries and also non-member countries like China, India and Russia. All reports of IEA will be published by World Energy Outlook. Today, IEA is an important part of global dialogue on energy, providing research, statistics analysis and recommendations on the global energy sector. Over 70% of world s energy consumption is now under the IEA umbrella which increases its relevance in global energy governance manifold. Why is it in News? Recently India became associate member of IEA and it is also world s 3rd largest energy consumer India will also now have a greater say in global energy issues and now IEA formally covers 70% of the world s energy consumption, thus increasing its relevance It also gives an opportunity to India to be the voice of the developing world and represent the interests of the emerging markets. It will enable India to be involved in the key committees and dialogues of the IEA / Page 2

5 SOUTH ASIA SUBREGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION SASEC program is a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries and strengthening regional economic cooperation. It was established in 2001 in response to the request of the four countries of South Asia Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal from ADB to assist in facilitating economic cooperation among them. ADB is the secretariat and lead financier of the SASEC program. So far, it has supported 46 projects worth $9.17 billion in transport, trade facilitation, energy and information and communications technology (ICT). Its seven members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and SriLanka Why is it in news? Recently Myanmar became the 7th member of South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program of Asian Development Bank Benefits Of Including Myanmar In Sasec: Road corridors in Myanmar can provide key gateway between South Asia and Southeast Asia, while its ports can provide alternate routes and gateways to the landlocked northeastern region of India. Development of multimodal connectivity between India s northeastern region, Bangladesh, and Myanmar has potential of unleashing tremendous economic energy in the sub-region SASEC S energy connectivity and energy trade prospects will be enhanced with the inclusion of Myanmar,involving its substantial resources of hydropower and natural gas Developmental impacts of economic corridor in the SASEC sub-region will be maximized by exploring potential synergies with corridors in Myanmar that are linked to those in other Southeast Asian Countries INDIA-MALAYSIA News: Recently India and Malaysia have signed an seven agreements in order to bind stronger releationship between both the countries Seven agreements signed by both countries: MOU on implementation of 4th Generation Technology Park in Andhra Pradesh MoU on Air services Agreement i.e it revised an agreement of 1974 on ASA MoU on technology development in the field of palm oil is signed between Malaysian Palm Oil Board and India s Institute of Chemical Technology / Page 3

6 MoU on sports sector for exchange of sportspersons, instructors, information on sports regimen and training curriculam. MoU on fertilizer sectors. MoU on Mutual Recognition of the Educational Qualifications is singed between Association of Indian Universities and Malaysian Qualifications Agency. MoU for cooperation in training between Malaysian Human Resource Fund and EDII, Ahmedabad. NATO MEMBER TO LAUNCH CYBER COMMAND UNIT News: Recently Germany became first NATO member to launch Cyber and Information Space Command What is the use? It has been designed to shield IT and weapons systems from growing attack. The Cyber Command Unit will be the youngest branch of Germany s military Bundeswehr. It will operate and protect German military s own IT infrastructure and computer-assisted weapons systems, and tackle online threats. It will also focus on war-game offensive skills and capabilities INDIA-AUSTRALIA MOU News: Recently Union Cabinet approved MoU between India and Australia in the field of Health and Medicine This MoU is signed with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties between both the countries and it will also enhance cooperation in the field of health Highlights of Mou: Communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis and Malaria. Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health. Anti-Microbial Resistance and responding to public health emergencies. Regulation of vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Digital Health. Tobacco Control Any other area of cooperation decided mutually by both countries INDIA-BANGLADESH MOU News: Union Cabinet has approved MoU on passenger cruise services on the coastal and protocol routes between India and Bangladesh for starting regular movement of passengers and tourists in water crafts between the two countries. They are Ashuganj-Zakiganj stretch of Kushiyara river and Sirajganj-Daikhawa stretch of Jamuna river. The MoU will considerably help to reduce the logistics cost of cargo movement to North Eastern states of India. It will also reduce the dependence and congestion through the narrow Siliguri Chicken s Neck corridor / Page 4

7 INDIA-UAE CULTURAL FESTIVAL India-UAE cultural festival is celebrated as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at Abu Dhabi India-UAE Cultural Celebrations celebrates the long-standing relationship between the two countries and looks to strengthen existing cultural and economic ties The initiative proposes to bring some of the diversity of India to the UAE by bringing artists from both the countries on the same platform to work and collaborate. The programme supported by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, UAE and the Indian Business and Professional Group BIMSTEC GRID INTERCONNECTIONS The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a subregional group of seven countries in South Asia and South East Asia lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal viz. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. It was established on 6th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered at Dhaka, Bangladesh Why it is in news? The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with member states of BIMSTEC for establishing BIMSTEC of grid interconnections for the trade in electricity It will be signed among member states of BIMSTEC at the upcoming 3rd BIMSTEC Energy Ministers Meeting to be held in Nepal shortly. What is the use of MoU? MoU will provide a broad framework for the Parties to cooperate towards the implementation grid interconnections for the trade in electricity with a view to promoting rational and optimal power transmission in the BIMSTEC region / Page 5

8 It will promote efficient, economic, and secure operation of power system needed through the development of regional electricity networks G20 MEETING ON DIGITAL ECONOMY News: G20 Ministers have issued a declaration on Shaping Digitalisation for an Interconnected World, laying out priorities and a roadmap for policies.it was held in Germany Highlights of Declaration: The declaration talks about the need for greater availability of affordable broadband connectivity, improved digital skills, and literacy, greater digital entrepreneurship and broader adoption of digital technologies and services for the digital economy to contribute to achieving the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development It includes three annex papers on Digital skills in vocational education and training, A Roadmap for Digitalisation: Policies for a Digital Future and G20 Priorities on Digital Trade. Another core theme is support for MSMEs which might be constrained by their scale in adoption of digital technologies. MSMEs benefitting from the digital revolution is crucial for inclusive growth G20 Summit: The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies. It was founded in 1999 with the aim of studying, reviewing, and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability. The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union / Page 6

9 457 VISA ABOLISHED News: Recently Australia abolished 457 visa,which is largely used by Indians and also foreign workers Why did Australia take such decision? In order to address the unemployment issue in Australia they have adopted first preference to Australians than to skilled migration Why is India worried? In Australia there are about 95,757 people working on 457 visa among them majority are Indians followed by UK and China Is there any alternative to it? Skill is important for the growth and investment of the country s businesses, it intends to replace the 457 visa programme by another visa programme, with new restrictions The new visa will ensure that foreign workers are not brought into Australia just because it is easy for the employers to recruit a foreign worker than go to the trouble of hiring an Australian About 457 Visa: The 457 visa allows Australian employers to employ foreign workers for a period up to four years in skilled jobs where there is a shortage of Australian workers. The visa holders are eligible to bring family members, who have unrestricted work and study rights in Australia. H1-B VISA NORMS TIGHTEN News: Recently Donald Trump has signed an executive order to tighten the H-1B visa programme, widely used to bring high-skilled foreign workers to the US The main reason to tighten visa norms is to promote employment to Americans with saying as Buy American and Hire American What is H1-B Visa? The H-1B program grants 65,000 work visas a year to foreigners, with 20,000 more visas granted to foreigners with advanced degrees and an unlimited number of extra visas available for universities, teaching hospitals and other nonprofit organizations. The program is aimed at highly skilled workers, and most of the visas are awarded to technology companies, although other specialty industries such as fashion also use the visas / Page 7

10 Under federal law, employers that use a large number of H-1B workers are supposed to document that they tried to hire Americans for the jobs. All H-1B employers are also required to pay prevailing wages to the immigrant workers who receive the visas. Labour Department data shows that about 40% of the visas go to entry-level workers and another 40% go to people with limited experience and skills. The Trump administration says that more of the jobs performed by those people could and should be filled by Americans Is India Affected by this Decision? Of course yes, because most of the Indian IT companies which sends a huge number of software engineers to the US on H1-B visa will be upheld and it would likely have fewer visas approved once the changes proposed by Trump are adopted INDIA-CYPRUS: Cyprus is the eighth largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative foreign direct investment of about $9 billion in areas such as financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between both the countries was revised in Diplomatic ties between India and Cyprus were established in Cyprus got the support of India during its struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Bilateral trade between both the countries stood at EUR 76.5 million in The major commodities exported by India to Cyprus are organic chemicals, vehicles & accessories and iron & steel. India s main imports are aluminium and its products, wood pulp, machinery, boilers, engines, and plastic Why it is in News? Recently India and Cyprus have signed four agreements they are: An executive programme on culture education and scientific cooperation for the years 2017 to A work plan under a programme of cooperation in agriculture for the period Agreement on cooperation in the area of merchant shipping. Agreement to boost air services between the two countries. The two sides also called for the need for early reforms of the United Nations Security Council. Cyprus reiterated its support to India s bid for inclusion a permanent member in the UNSC. Cyprus will also award its highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee / Page 8

11 INDIA-POLAND: India and Poland established diplomatic relations in The two countries share common ideology like opposition to colonialism, imperialism, and racism. Poland is India s largest trade partner and export destination in the east European region. Investments made by India in Poland are around USD 3 billion and Polish investments in India are around 600 million USD. India s major exports to Poland include tobacco, processed minerals, chemicals, rubber, plastic, machinery, drugs, transport equipment, and ready-made cotton garments etc. Poland hosts around 3,000 members of the Indian community who are mostly traders who settled in Poland after the collapse of communism Why it is in News? Recently Poland supported India for its permanent membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group and a permanent seat in the expanded UN Security Council (Poland is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group) Both the countries acknowledged the need for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN. INDIA-SRILANKA News: India and Srilanka signed MOU in order to host energy and infrastructure projects across the island MOU Includes: Setting up of a liquefied Natural Gas(LNG)plant in suburban Colombo and a solar power plant in Sampur in Trincomalee Indian assistance to enhanced use of natural gas in srilanka Joint investment in the petroleum sector and partnerships in highway and transportation The spotlight remains on the proposed joint venture to develop a world war-era oil storage facility in Tricomalee, the strategically located port town on the island s east coast BHUTAN BACKS OUT OF MOTOR VEHICLE PACT: News: India s plan for sub-regional motor vehicle agreement faced a setback as the Bhutan government announced that it is not ready to go ahead with the process at present It asked other members of BBIN group-india,bangladeshand Nepal to continue to operationalise it without Bhutan Reason: The decision to step out of the BBIN process comes on the back severe domestic opposition to the motor vehicles agreement / Page 9

12 It is primarily on fears of vehicular pollution and environmental degradation if trucks from neighbouring countries are given access to Bhutan, a country that prides itself on its carbon neutrality and preserving the environment. Background: The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement, signed on June 15, 2015, allows vehicles to enter each other s territory and does away with trans-shipment of goods from one country s truck to another at the border, a time consuming and costly process. INDIA-SOUTH KOREA MOU: News: India and the Republic of Korea have signed an Inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Industry Co-operation in Shipbuilding. The Inter-Governmental MOU, was conceived under the overall umbrella of the Special Strategic Partnership between both sides as declared in the Joint Statement of the Prime Minister of India and the President of Republic of Korea in May Highlights of MOU: Develop and strengthen defence industry co-operation between Republic of India and the Republic of Korea. The two sides will recommend the organisations for collaborating in the implementation of specific projects. The organisations recommended for co-operative projects may conclude separate agreements (contracts) between them to implement the specific projects. The MoU will come into effect from the date of signature by both sides and will be initially valid for a period of five years and would be automatically extendable for further successive five year at a time / Page 10

13 POLITY AND GOVERNANCE PRADHAN MANTRI UJJWALA YOJANA / Page 11

14 Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched in 2016 for the first time in Uttar Pradesh. The main of the scheme is to Empower women and protect their health by shifting them from traditional cooking based on unclean cooking fuels or on fossil fuels to clean cooking gas. Under the scheme, an adult woman member of a BPL will be given deposit-free LPG connection with financial assistance of Rs 1,600 per connection by the Centre. Beneficiares for scheme will be identified with the help of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) in consultation with state governments and Union territories. The scheme is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It is first welfare scheme implemented by the Ministry. Why this Scheme is in News? The number of beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for providing LPG connections to BPL households has crossed 2 crore mark in less than a year MAHATMA GANDHI PRAVASI SURAKSHA YOJANA News: Recently Union Cabinet has approved closure of the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana is a special social security scheme Indian Affairs for the overseas Indian workers in possession of Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. It is a voluntary scheme designed to help workers to meet their three financial needs: saving for retirement, saving for their return and resettlement, and providing free life insurance offering coverage for death from natural causes. Why this Scheme is in News? The scheme was closed because subscription under it was very low and no new subscription was received for more than a year. The closure of the scheme will obviate the avoidable recurring administrative and recordkeeping expenditure POWER FOR ALL SCHEME Power for All scheme is a joint initiative of the central and state governments, with the objective of providing 24X7 electricity to all households, industry, commercial businesses and other electricity-consuming entities within the time span of four years. The government strives to provide 24 7 power across the country by Why it is in News? Recently Uttar Pradesh government has signed an agreement with the Centre for Power for All. With this, Uttar Pradesh, which was the only state in the country which had not signed the agreement, has finally come on board the central government scheme / Page 12

15 ASCI ISSUES NEW NORMS FOR CELEBRITIES News: Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has come up with a set of norms for celebrities endorsing products. As per the guidelines, celebrities are personalities from the field of entertainment and sports and also includes other well known personalities like doctors, authors, activists and educationists who gets compensation for appearing in advertisements. Highlights of Norms: Celebrities are banned from endorsing any advertisement of a product or treatment or remedy that is prohibited for advertising under the Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act and the Drugs & Cosmetic Act. Celebrities must exercise due diligence to make sure that all description claims and comparisons made in the advertisements that they endorse are not misleading and deceptive Celebrities are also banned from appearing in any ad in which a product which by law requires a health warning is injurious to health on its packaging or advertisement. If a celebrity seeks advice directly or through the agency from ASCI on whether the advertisement potentially violates any provisions of the ASCI code or not, then the he would be considered as having completed due diligence. However, ASCI s Advertising Advice will not be construed as pre-clearance of the Advertisement. ASCI: ASCI is a self regulatory, voluntary, non-governmental body of the advertising industry founded in The aim of ASCI is to enhance the public s confidence in advertising and ensure that all advertising material is truthful, legal, honest, decent and not objectify women and fair WEB PORTAL NAKSHE News: The Survey of India has launched new web portal called Nakshe to make open series maps available to Indians for free. It will offer free download of 3,000 Topographic maps or Open Series Maps in a pdf format on 1:50,000 scale through Aaadhar enabled user authentication process. The maps are meant for development activities in the country, and can be also used to plan scientific expeditions, research and planning development projects. The maps will make it easier for residents of villagers and panchayats to readily access information. Currently, organisations and people who want specific maps need to fill forms and sometimes visit the SoI. Survey of India: Survey of India, The National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of Science & Technology, is the oldest scientific department of the GOVT. of INDIA. It was set up in 1767 and has evolved rich traditions over the years. It prepares maps for defence and civilian purposes and are considered a standard reference for the shape, extent and geographic features of the country. So I has surveyed and mapped each and every part of the country and these maps have played valuable role in nation building and were pivotal in almost all major developmental activities of modern India / Page 13

16 RESERVATION HIKE BY TELANGANA News: Recently Telangana passed a bill which increases the reservations for Scheduled Tribes and backward sections among the Muslim community in government jobs and educational institutions under Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2017 Key facts of Bill: Under the bill reservation of socially and educationally backward Muslims will be increased from 4% to 12% and for Scheduled Tribes from 6% to 10% The total reservations in the state, consequently, will go up to 62% from the existing 50% ie it crosses the ceiling fixed by set by the Supreme Court The state government wants the centre to include the bill in the 9th schedule of the Constitution for purpose of judicial review Is there any states that crossed 50% reservation? State of Tamilnadu and Jharkhand have reservations that crossed more than 50 percent. Why state government wants to reserve the bill under 9 th schedule? Reservation bills under 9th Schedule of the Constitution protects it from judicial review. Ninth Schedule contains more than 250 legislations receiving protection from the judicial scrutiny. With the burgeoning laws which are placed under the Ninth Schedule, it has today become a constitutional dustbin and house for every controversial law passed by the government. For example, former PM Indira Gandhi made amendments to the Representation of Peoples Acts of 1951 and 1974 and placed in the Ninth Schedule along with the Election Laws Amendment Act, 1975 to make her election valid / Page 14

17 SAUNI PROJECT NEWS: Recently Prime Minister inaugurated phase-1 pipeline canal of SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation)project in Gujarat This is considered as a second milestone of the Rs 12,000 crore projects to pump Narmada water to the arid Saurashtra region. Sauni Project: The project aims to utilize the floodwater which otherwise overflows the Narmada dam during monsoon and drains into the sea and this water will be pumped to major reservoirs in the region under the SAUNI project Under SAUNI project, instead of open canals, pipelines are used that will run underground and thus requires no acquisition of farmer s land and results in less water loss Therefore it is technically known as linking project, where the water will be filled in irrigation dams that are already equipped with canal network. This network of canals will then help channel water into farms SC REFERS ANTI-DEFECTION LAW TO LARGER BENCH NEWS: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea of former Samajwadi Party leader and MP Amar Singh seeking its direction that anti-defection law is not applicable to an elected member of a House, who had been expelled by his party Will anti-defection law applicable to expelled members of either house of parliament or legislative assemblies? In the case of Viswanathan versus Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly sc concluded that a legislator expelled from his party is deemed to have voluntary given up his membership of that party who got him elected and nominated him to the house This legal ficition of deeming him to continue in the party post-election as an unattached member makes him therefore vulnerable to disqualification from the house on the ground of defection under tenth schedule(antidefection law)of the constitution Under the Viswanathan judgement, the expelled legislator would still be susceptible to the whims and fancies of the leaders of the party which threw him out despite the fact that subsequently, after his explusion, he had gone ahead and formed his own political party Anti-Defection Law: The 10th Schedule to the Constitution, popularly referred to as the Anti-Defection Law, was inserted by the 52nd Amendment in / Page 15

18 The grounds for disqualification are mentioned under Articles 102 (2) and 191 (2). A Member of Parliament or state legislature is deemed to have defected: When the elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party. If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party or anyone authorised to do so, without obtaining prior permission. Independent members would be disqualified if they joined a political party. Nominated members who were not members of a party could choose to join a party within six months; after that period, they were treated as a party member or independent member. Exceptions under the Law: Any person elected as speaker or chairman could resign from his party, and rejoin the party if he demitted that post. A party could be merged into another if at least two-thirds of its party legislators voted for the merger NOTE: Anti-defection law important for prelims JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE INDEX News: NITI Aayog has proposed the introduction of a judicial performance index AIM: To reduce delays and the outsourcing of non-core functions of the police to private agencies or other government departments in a bid to fix justice system that is in dire need of reform Uses: A judicial performance index should be introduced to reduce delays. This could help High Courts and their chief justices keep track of the performance and processes at district courts and subordinate levels for reducing delay. The performance index for courts will entail fixing of non-mandatory time frames for different types of cases to benchmark when a case has been delayed. The index can also include certain progress on process steps already approved by High Courts and such an annual evaluation should give judges in High Courts a sense of where they are failing and what they need to fix. Since the subordinate judiciary is largely within the domain of the High Courts, this could also spur competitive reform of the judiciary in those States. Repeal all irrelevant legislation by March 2019 and reform land ownership laws which account for 67% of litigants in civil suits. Citing inordinate delays in India s judicial system and its low rank on enforcing contracts in the World Bank s ease of doing business report for 2017, the think tank has also called for streamlining judicial appointments on the basis of online real-time statistics on the workload of pending cases. Such data will help enable priority appointment of judges at the lower judiciary levels keeping in mind a scientific approach to assess the number of judges needed to tackle pendency. India s police to population ratio should reach the United Nations norms of 222 per lakh population, over the next seven years, from the current level of / Page 16

19 Red-flagging the adverse implications of crimes against women beyond the obvious horror for affected individuals, the Aayog has asked the Home Ministry to push for greater hiring of women in the police force, with a target of 30% of all new recruits. NITI has also called for streamlining judicial appointments on the basis of online real-time statistics on the workload of pending cases SC SEEKS LAW TO REGULATE NGO FUNDS News: The Supreme Court has asked the government to frame a statutory law to regulate the flow of public money to the NGOs and appointing NITI Aayog as the nodal agency for NGO registration The Ministry of Rural Development had framed the accreditation guidelines to regulate manner in which the VOs/NGOs, which are recipient of grants, would maintain their account, the procedure for audit of the account, including procedure to initiate action for recovering of the grants in case of misappropriation and criminal action. Issues: CBI records filed in 2016 in the Supreme Court had shown show that only 2,90,787 NGOs file annual financial statements of a total of 29,99,623 registered ones under the Societies Registration Act. In some States, the CBI said the laws do not even provide for the NGOs to be transparent about their financial dealings. In the Union Territories, of a total of 82,250 NGOs registered and functioning, only 50 file their returns. New Delhi has the highest number of registered NGOs among the Union Territories at 76,566. But none of these organisations submit returns, the CBI chart showed. In Kerala, which has 3,69,137 NGOs, there is no legal provision to submit returns. The same is the case for Punjab with 84,752 and Rajasthan with 1.3 lakh NGOs. Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of NGOs at 5.48 lakh among the States, has only 1.19 lakh filing returns. Tamil Nadu has 1.55 lakh NGOs registered; however, only 20,277 file returns. Andhra Pradesh has 2.92 lakh NGOs, but only 186 file financial statements annually. West Bengal has 2.34 lakh registered NGOs, of which only 17,089 active NGOs file annual returns. Important Guidelines: NITI Aayog has been appointed as the nodal agency for the purpose of registration and accreditation of VOs/NGOs seeking funding from the Government of India. The Aayog has been also tasked with maintaining of database systems to manage and disseminate information relating to NGOs/VOs. As per the new guidelines, an NGO will be blacklisted if it provides false and misleading information to the Centre. Under the stringent guidelines, NGOs would be provided a unique ID and subjected to the Income Tax Act and Foreign Contribution Regulations act. They would be granted accreditation after their internal governance and ethical standards are evaluated. Past record of NGOs too would be scrutinized before they are given accreditation. A three-tier scrutiny would be in place to evaluate utilization of funds and the process would also include quality of work done by the NGOs / Page 17

20 It would be mandatory for the NGOs to execute a bond to refund the amount with 10% interest if they fail to execute the project for which the grant is allocated. Misappropriation of funds would invite both criminal and civil cases. SC FOR BROAD ANTI-TORTURE LEGISLATION SC: India may be finding it tough to secure extraditions because there is a fear within the international community that the accused persons would be subject to torture It is a matter of both art 21 and of International reputation that the government must consider promulgating a standalone, comprehensive law to define and punish torture as an instrument of human degradation by state authorities The court Referring to the setback suffered by the CBI in its efforts to get Kim Davy a Danish citizen and prime accused in the Purulia arms drop case of 1995 extradited from Denmark A Danish court had rejected the plea on the ground that he would risk torture or other inhuman treatment in India. CONVENTION: India has signed the UN Convention against torture way back in But, it has still not ratified it. The Convention defines torture as a criminal offence Petition:No steps have been taken to implement the Prevention of Torture Bill 2010 though bill was also proposed in this regard. But, no action has been taken even six years after it was passed by the Lok Sabha on May 6, 2010 and recommended by a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha of which he had been Chairman. NOTE: Important for prelims PANCHAYATI RAJ DIWAS National Panchayati Raj Day is the national day of India celebrated by Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24 April annually. This date marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of political power to the grassroots level. The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24th April, 1993 has institutionalized Panchayati Raj through the village, Intermediate and District level Panchayats / Page 18

21 DEFENCE & INTERNAL SECURITY DEFENCE MINISTRY NOD TO BUY BARAK MISSILES News: The Defence Acquisition Council(DAC) of Defence Ministry approved the purchase of Barak surface-to-air missiles(sam) for Indian Navy from Israel What is Defence Acquisition Council? The DAC is Defence Ministry s highest decision making body for capital acquisition proposals forwarded by the Indian armed forces. It was set up in 2001 as part of the post-kargil reforms in defence sector, it approves accords acceptance of necessity (AON) to begin acquisition proposals, and has to grant its approval to all major deals through all their important phases. It also has the power to approve any deviations in an acquisition, and recommends all big purchases for approval of the Cabinet committee on security Key facts of Approval: Barak missiles are short range surface-to-air missiles. The missiles will be procured under Buy Global category from Rafael Advance Defense Systems Limited of Israel at an approximate cost of around Rs 500 crore. Almost all ships of the navy will be equipped with these missiles / Page 19

22 INDO-MONGOLIAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE NEWS: The twelfth edition Indo-Mongolian Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2017 has begun at Vairengte in Mizoram Highlights of Exercise: The first joint Nomadic Elephant was held in 2004 and since then it is annually held The main aim of exercise is to train the troops in Counter Insurgency & Counter Terrorism Operations under the United Nations mandate. The joint training will also lay emphasis on conducting operations by a joint subunit, comprising of troops from both the armies, in adverse operational conditions aimed at enhancing the interoperability between the two armies. CHINA-NEPAL MILITARY EXERCISE China-Nepal will be holding their first joint Military exercise- Sagarmatha Friendship-2017 The main aim of the exercise is to combat terror attack and disaster management This exercise is named after Mt.Everst in Nepali it is called as Sagarmatha that is bordering between Nepal and China. Is India worried about this exercise? As per India-Nepal peace treaty joint military exercise between Nepal-China is not violative but India is worried because China s definition of terrorism includes Tibetan agitators as well. MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS News: The United States on April 13,2017 dropped a massive GBU-43 bomb in eastern Afghanistan against a series of caves used by Islamic State Millitants / Page 20

23 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb(moab)also known as mother of all bombs is the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat by the United States It is designed to destroy heavily reinforced targets or to shatter ground forces and armour across a large area It is a demolition bomb containing 18,700 pounds of the explosive H6with a blast yield equivalent to 11 tonns of TNT While it has a blast radius that stretches a mile in each direction the bomb leaves no lasting radiation effect because it is non-nuclear. CANBERRA TO JOIN NAVAL GAMES News: Recently Australia has taken decision to join Malabar trilateral naval exercises among India,Japan and US and requested for observer status Australia had been a part of the exercises in 2007 But a sharp response from China, which saw the joint erercises as a coalition against it, put an end to the quadrilateral format The Malabar drills, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the US has since grown in scope and complexity, acquiring considerable heft in recent times In 2015,it was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan NOTE: Important for prelims OPERATION MEGHDOOT Operation Meghdoot was launched 33 years ago on 13 April 1984 by Indian Armed forces with an aim to capture the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir During the operation, Indian troops landed on Bilafond La on Saltoro ridge, west of Siachen glacier, on Friday, April 13, It was a Baishakhi day. The military action resulted in gaining control over the world s highest battlefield / Page 21

24 MONEY LAUNDERING TO BE A CRIMINAL OFFENCE News: The Central government is considering a proposal to make money laundering a separate criminal offence to be investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, irrespective of a probe by other agencies. Effect: This will facilitate quick action against those indulging in money laundering The Special Investigation Team on black money has also been of the view that money laundering investigations by the Enforcement Directorate should be allowed without any dependence on registration of cases by other police agencies under the legal provisions listed in the schedule of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act Current Arrangement: The fate of money laundering cases depends on on that of the probe and prosecutions in predicate offences pursued by primary agencies. Many in government agencies are in the view that certain restrictions on money laundering investigations on several occasions cause impediments in taking the cases to their logical conclusion View on money laundering in other countries: Money laundering itself has been defined as a criminal offence in several countries Besides there are separate legislations for dealing with funds generated through activites like drug trafficking or terror financing The United States has very stringent laws to check money laundering In the United Kingdom, police have to prove predicate offence through circumstantial evidence, linking it to the funds generated and laundered / Page 22

25 Wherever money laundering is treated as a stand-alone crime, U.K. agencies are not required to wait for the outcome of investigations into the predicate offence. Also, they are not supposed to prove that the funds are proceeds of a particular offence. Based on enough circumstantial evidence, they have to just establish that the proceeds had a criminal origin. According to experts,the Indian government will have to bring about several amendments to PMLA PREVENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING ACT 2002 PLMA 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to prevent money-laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from money-laundering. PMLA and the Rules notified there under came into force with effect from July 1, The Act and Rules notified there under impose obligation on banking companies, financial institutions and intermediaries to verify identity of clients, maintain records and furnish information. ALL WOMAN BATTALION The Centre has decided to raise an all-woman India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jammu and Kashmir to tackle women stone throwers. The all women contingent will be among the five IRBs sanctioned by the Centre for the State last year. The women battalion would also be assigned other law and order duties but its personnel will be primarily deployed for tackling protesters. The IRBs are being raised to provide jobs to the local youths with 60% of the vacancies to be filled with candidates from the border districts. The cost of raising each battalion is around Rs. 61 crore, and 75% of the expenditure will be borne by the Centre. IRB personnel are normally deployed in their respective States but they can be sent elsewhere if required. INDIA FIFTH LARGEST MILITARY SPENDER The report titled Trends in world Military expenditure, 2016, which ranks countries based on their military spending was recently released. The report was released by Swedish think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). India is now the world s fifth largest spender on defence for 2016 after having moved up from the 7th place following its largest annual military spending increase since While India spent $55.9 billion in 2016, its northern neighbor China the second largest spender did four times more at $215 billion. Pakistan does not figure in the top 15 spenders. The US is the top spender at $611 billion. Russia is third at $69.2 billion and Saudi Arabia fourth at $ 63.7 billion / Page 23

26 ECONOMY BANKS MERGED WITH SBI News: Recently Bharatiya Mahila Bank along with five other associate banks merged with SBI Why Banks Undergo Merging? The merger will help SBI to rationalise its branch network by relocating some of the branches to maximise reach. This will also help to optimise its operations and improve profitability. It will also bring in substantial cost saving and synergy in treasury operations. Moreover, the combined entity will enhance the productivity, mitigate geographical risks, increase operational efficiency and drive synergies across multiple dimensions of the SBI Highlights of Present Merger: Post-merger, all the customers of associate banks will now enjoy the benefits of a wide array of digital products and services offered by SBI SBI s market share has increased to % from 17% with total business of over 37 lakh crore rupees. The merged entity now has a deposit base of more than Rs. 26 lakh-crore and advances level of Rs lakh crore accounting for one-fourth of the deposit and loan market in the country TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMPETITIVE INDEX News: As per the report released by World Economic Forum 2017 on Travel and Tourism Competitive Index India ranked 40 th among 136 economies across the world Travel and Tourism Competitive Index: The index compiled by World Economic Forum (WEF) ranks 136 countries across 14 dimensions under subindexes. It measures set of factors and policies that enable sustainable development of travel and tourism sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country. It further reveals how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector / Page 24

27 Highlights of Recent Report: In the global ranking Spain (1st), France (2nd), Germany (3rd), (4th), the United Kingdom (5th) the United States (6th), Australia (7th), Italy (8th), Canada (9th) and Switzerland (10th) have been in top 10 rankings The travel and tourism industry is considered force for good in largely stagnant global economy. This sector accounts for 10% of global GDP, growing faster than other sectors and providing one in 10 jobs India Related Facts: India is one of the countries that improved the most as it gained 12 places in Asia, but lagged behind its other Asian peers like Japan and China which were ranked way ahead at 4th and 13th place, respectively. Some of the factors that helped India climb up the ladder include international openness through strong policies such as implementing visa on arrival and e-visas, and improvements in the country s ground transport infrastructure which benefited the travel and tourism sector in the country. India has seen continued growth in international arrivals over the past 15 years, reaching the 8 million mark in The report, however, noted that though health conditions are improving, they remain inadequate. Similarly, ICT readiness, security concerns and human resources are improving, but remain weak. MONETARY POLICY REVIEW News: Recently RBI released its first bimonthly monetary policy review of the financial year , has kept the key policy rate, the repo rate unchanged, but raised reverse repo rate by 25 bps to 6%, from 5.75%. Highlights: Repo rate: It is the rate at which RBI lends to its clients generally against government securities. It was unchanged at 25%. This was the third successive quarterly review in which the RBI has kept its repo rate unchanged at 6.25% / Page 25

28 Reverse Repo Rate: It is the rate at which banks lend funds to the RBI. It was raised the Reverse Repo (RR) rate by 25 bps to 6%. Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate: It is rate at which the scheduled banks can borrow funds overnight from RBI against government securities. It is a very short term borrowing scheme for scheduled banks. It was cut to 5%. Bank Rate: It is rate charged by the central bank for lending funds to commercial banks. It was set to 5%. It influences lending rates of commercial banks. Higher bank rate will translate to higher lending rates by the banks. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): It is the amount of funds that the banks have to keep with the RBI. It was unchanged at 4%. The RBI uses the CRR to drain out excessive money from the system. Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): It was unchanged 20.50%. It is amount that banks have to maintain a stipulated proportion of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) in the form of liquid assets like cash, gold and unencumbered securities, treasury bills, dated securities etc FAME INDIA SCHEME The FAME India scheme was launched in 2015 under National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) with an aim to promote eco-friendly vehicles in the country. It objectives is to provide fiscal and monetary incentives for adoption and market creation of both hybrid and electric technologies vehicles in the country. It will also support the hybrid or electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing eco-system in the country in order to achieve self-sustenance in stipulated period. It is being administered by the Heavy Industries Ministry. It will provide demand incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles from two-wheeler to buses. Why is it in News? Recently government has withdrawn subsidy given to mild hybrid vehicles under FAME India scheme. Mild Hybrid Vehicle: Mild Hybrid Vehicle is an electric motor, which on its own cannot run a vehicle but assists normal engine by using recovered energy stored in a battery and helps save fuel It uses the energy generated while applying the brakes and turns it into electric energy which is then stored in a battery. This energy can then be used to turn the starter motor when the car s start stop system needs it. Mild-hybrids are 7-15% more fuel efficient as compared to conventional hybrid systems that can run on pure electric power for short distances too. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK The African Development Bank Group is a multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries. The African Development Bank was founded in 1964 and comprises three entities: The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund / Page 26

29 The main aim of this bank is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region. This bank is controlled by a Board of Executive Directors, made up of representatives of its member countries by their Minister of Finance, Planning or Cooperation who sits on the African Development Bank Board of Governors. Governors meet once a year to take major decisions about the institution s leadership, strategic directions and governing bodies The voting power on the Board is split according to the size of each member s share, currently 60%-40% between African countries and non-regional member countries. The largest African Development Bank shareholder is Nigeria with nearly 9% of the vote The African Development Bank is using a Unit of Account which is registered as XUA as ISO 4217 standard currency code. It is not exchanged directly by individuals, it is used for accounting between state members Why it is in News? India is all set to host 52 nd annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Ahmedabad BITCOIN Bitcoin is a form of digital currency or virtual currency created and held electronically. No one controls it that is not regulated by any central bank or government. They aren t printed, like dollars or euros they re produced by people, and increasingly businesses, running computers all around the world, using software that solves mathematical problems. It is also called a cryptocurrency since it is decentralized and uses cryptography to prevent doublespending, a significant challenge inherent to digital currencies. Bitcoin is a distributed peer-to-peer digital currency that functions without the inter-mediation of any central authority. It can also be traded on an open market and its exchange rate fluctuates much like a stock market i.e. based on the demand. Why it is in News? Recently Japan officially recognized bitcoin and digital currencies as legal money along the lines of other currencies It will make these digital currency as property of value, meaning that they can be used for payment in the broader marketplace and that it may be bought or sold The recognition means regulations governing banks and financial institutions will be applicable to cryptocurrency and digital currencies exchange platforms / Page 27

30 BHIM-ADHAAR DIGITAL PLATFORM News: Government launched BHIM-Aadhaar platform a merchant interface linking the Unique identification number to the Bharat Interface for Money mobile application at Nagpur on 126 th birth anniversary of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar How Does it Work? The new interface will enable customers to make payments using a merchant s biometric-enabled device The merchant merely has to download the BHIM app on his smart phone and link the device to an Aadhaar biometric reader Any citizen without access to smartphonesinternet,debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM-Aadhaar platform As per norms customer has to first link his bank account to his Aadhaar number and his fingerprint will serve as password to authenticate the transaction This scheme will be administered by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and implemented by National Payments Corporation of India Under this scheme, merchants will get cash back on every transaction using BHIM. The merchants can get cashback of up to Rs 300 per month Under this scheme, both the existing BHIM users and the new users will get a cash bonus credited directly to their account. PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR NPAS News: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come out with a revised prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for banks, spelling out certain thresholds, the breach of which could invite resolutions such as a merger with another bank or even shutting down of the bank. Highlights of Revised Framework: The revised norms have set out three thresholds. The thresholds are based on capital, net nonperforming assets, profitability and leverage ratio. The breach of the first threshold will invite restriction on dividend distribution or require parents of foreign banks to bring in more capital. This will get triggered if capital adequacy ratio (including capital conservation buffer) falls below 10.25% or common equity tier-i (CET1) capital ratio falls below 6.75%. Breach of either CAR or CET1 would trigger corrective action. The trigger for net NPA is 6% and 4% for leverage ratio. Two consecutive years of negative return on assets (RoA) will also be classified in threshold one. The breach of the second threshold will occur when the capital adequacy ratio falls below 7.75% or CET1 goes below 5.125%. The net NPA threshold is breach of 12% and leverage ratio below 3.5%. Three consecutive years of negative ROA will also trigger threshold two / Page 28

31 Breach of threshold two will result in restrictions on expansion of branches and higher provisions. The breach of the last threshold happens when CET1 falls below 3.625% and net NPA goes above 12%. Negative ROA for four consecutive years will also be considered as a breach of the third threshold vis-a-vis the profitability parameter. Restrictions, in addition to that of threshold one and two, will be put on management compensation and directors fees if the third level is breached. Corrective action that can also be imposed on banks includes special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plan. The banks can also be asked to bring in new management, or even can supersede the bank s board, as a part of corrective action. PRADHAN MANTRI MUDRA YOJANA The PMMY Scheme was launched in April, The scheme s objective is to refinance collateral-free loans given by the lenders to small borrowers. The scheme, which has a corpus of Rs 20,000 crore, can lend betweenrs 50,000 and Rs 10 lakh to small entrepreneurs. Banks and MFIs can draw refinance under the MUDRA Scheme after becoming member-lending institutions of MUDRA. Mudra Loans are available for non-agricultural activities upto Rs. 10 lakh and activities allied to agriculture such as Dairy, Poultry, Bee Keeping etc, are also covered. Mudra s unique features include a Mudra Card which permits access to Working Capital through ATMs and Card Machines / Page 29

32 Three types of Loan Under the Scheme: Shishu (up to Rs.50,000). Kishore (from Rs.50,001 to Rs.5 lakh). Tarun (from Rs.500,001 to Rs.10,00,000). Why this Scheme is in News? Loans extended under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana during have crossed the target of Rs. 1,80,000 crore for Data compiled so far indicates that the number of borrowers this year were over 4 crore, of which over 70% were women borrowers. COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE VIRTUAL CURRENCY News: Recently Ministry Of Finance appointed a inter-disciplinary committee to examine virtual currency (digital/crypto currency) eg: bitcoin, prime coin, dark coin etc Composition of Committee: It is composed of nine-member inter-disciplinary committee chaired by Dinesh Sharma, special secretary in the economic affairs department. The committee will also have representatives from the Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Financial Services, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Home Affairs, IT ministry, Reserve Bank of India, NITI Aayog and State Bank of India. Why Committee is Required? Committee recommends measures to close the regulatory gaps to keep a check on virtual currencies, including Bitcoins The panel has been asked to submit its report within three months and its terms of reference require it to take stock of the present status of Virtual Currencies both in India and the world over, examine the existing regulatory and legal structures governing them and suggest measures for dealing with such currencies. The committee will necessarily examine how to cope with money laundering opportunities as well as consumer protection concerns that could arise from the use of virtual currencies. WHAT IS TECHNICAL TEXTILES AND GEO TEXTILES? Technical Textiles: It is also known as functional textiles, considered a sunrise sector in the country, because it is used in infrastructure projects, including ports, roads and railways and in sectors such as agriculture Geo Textiles: It is permeable fabrics that are used in association with soil and which have the ability to separate and filter Agro Textiles: It is used in shading and in weed and insect control / Page 30

33 Why it is in news? Recently government made a push for use of technical textiles in its projects What is the use of technical textiles? The main aim is to create awareness, promote use of technical textile which can be woven and non-woven Secondly technical textiles is a thrust area for government because of the value addition involved Challenges: The main challenges for technical textiles in the country are awareness among consumers, need for technology and knowledge about it among entrepreneurs, the investments and time needed to be innovative and develop applications, and raw material availability. NOTE: Read definitions for prelims GLOBAL EXHIBITION ON SERVICES News: Recently President inaugurated Global Exhibition on Services-2017 in order to highlight and boost Indias export services This exhibition is organised by Ministry of Commerce and Industry together with the Confederation of Indian Industry and Services Export Promotion Council with an aim to draw various investments in service sectors and make India to stand as leader in service sector This exhibition will focus on various sectors like information technology, tourism and hospitality, logistics, education and financial services. This year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will showcase its offering of application of space technology on a real-time basis for implementing and monitoring of public programmes. Besides, the Ministry of Tourism will host Incredible India Haat, a cuisine, culture and handicrafts show / Page 31

34 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RAJASTHAN RAIL ROUTE GETS GREEN CORRIDOR News: Recently Barmer-Munawab and Pipad Road-Bilara rail routes in Rajasthan was declared as Green Corridors With this at present we have five corridors Other three are Manamadurai Rameswaram stretch of Southern Railway was India s first Green corridor. Second Okha-Kanalus and third Porbandar-Wasjaliya railway sections of Gujarat also have been declared green corridors. What is Green Corridor? The Green Corridor ensures zero toilet discharge on rail tracks as part of its commitment to clean environment under the Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat initiative. Trains in the section have been equipped with bio-toilets to ensure zero discharge of human waste on the rail tracks and preventing corrosion of the tracks. FUNGUS THAT EATS PLASTIC News: Scientists have identified a soil fungus, which uses enzymes to rapidly break down plastic materials Aspergillus tubingensis is a fungus, which ordinarily lives in the soil but also grows on the surface of plastics It secretes enzymes onto the surface of the plastic, and these break the chemical bonds between the plastic molecules or polymers Significance: It is an advance that could help deal with waste problem that threatens our environment Plastic problem: Humans are producing ever greater amounts of plastic-much of which ends up as garbage Since plastic does not break down in the same way as other organic materials, it can persist in the environment over long periods of time Attempts to deal with plastic waste through burying, recycling, incineration or other methods are variously unsustainable, costly and can result in toxic by-products, which are hazardous to human health NEW TREE-LIVING CRAB SPECIES FOUND IN KERALA News: Scientist have discovered a new species of long legged, tree-dwelling crabs in Western Ghats of Kerala The new species named as Kani maranjandu i.e it is named after kani tribe in Kerala The characteristic traits of the crab include the structure of its hard upper shell, its male abdominal structure and reproductive parts and diagnostic elongated walking legs Kani maranjandu is the first crab species o of an arboreal crab / Page 32

35 EARTH DAY Earth Day 2017 is being celebrated around the world on April 22. This year s campaign is dedicated to an ambitious goal to achieve global climate and environmental literacy in the space of three years, by Earth Day Earth Day was first celebrated in The idea for it was first proposed at a UNESCO conference a year earlier, when activist John McConnell suggested a day to honour the planet and the idea of peace. US senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day in the US. It was made into an international day in 1990 and now is celebrated by over 193 countries every year. The aim of the day is to bring attention to environmental issues to spark changes that will result in a healthy, sustainable environment. This includes addressing climate change and finding ways to protect the planet for future generations / Page 33

36 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ECLIPSES OF BINARY STAR SHED LIGHT ON ORBITING EXOPLANET News: A team of scientists from Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, and University of Delhi have seen for the first time indications of a massive planet orbiting a low mass X-ray binary star system. MXB :It is the star system in question This system is nearly 30,000 light years away and the planet is expected to be nearly 8000 times as massive as the earth It is an X-ray binary and a part of the constellation of the ophiuchus X-ray binaries consist of a pair of stars orbiting each other of which one is compact one such as a black hole or a neutron star. In this case it is a neutron star which draws matter from its less-massive companion and generates X-rays which are detected by detectors placed in satellites in space X-Ray observation technique is a new method used in observation system.this technique is also used to detect exoplanets X-ray observations are done from space observatories such as NASA S Chandra X-ray observatory Background: It was Discovered in 1976, this binary star system is so far and so faint that it may be observed only when it shows outbursts of X-rays. That is, an increase in X-ray intensity by a factor of 100 or more. Recently this system showed an outburst. This provided researchers with an excellent opportunity to try to trace the orbital evolution of this system. ENCELADUS CAN BE HABITABLE News: Recently NASA announced that Saturn s Enceladus can be habitable due to presence of some ingredients which supports life How scientist can say life is possible? A peculiar type of vents are found on rocky core of Enceladus. They release water that has been heated by geothermal activity, and the jets of hot water carry minerals and nutrients that could support life Enceladus is a small, icy moon which has an abundance of hydrogen molecules in water plumes. 98% of the gas in the plumes was found to be water and 1% is hydrogen and the remaining is a mixture of molecules of carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia. Microbes are capable of using the process of methanogenesis, in which hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide dissolved in the water, to obtain energy. This process creates methane as a by product, which is a critical ingredient for life This fissures were found with the help of Cassini-Huygens unmanned spacecraft and the Hubble Telescope / Page 34

37 BELLE-2 DETECTOR SYSTEM News: High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation completed the rolling-in of the Belle-II experiment in Tsukuba, Japan What is the use of Experiment? Belle II experiment consists of an upgraded detector to record the enormous numbers of particle processes that are produced by the Super KEKB accelerator. The experiment is designed to study violations of the Standard Model of particle physics. The Belle II experiment will accumulate 50 times more data than the previous experiment, Belle, and pursue violations of the symmetry between particles and anti-particles as well as new laws of physics. It is a grand collaboration of 700 scientists from 23 countries including India Does India have any role in it? Belle-II has a significant Indian participation both on experimental and theoretical sides The fourth layer of the six-layer, highly sensitive particle detector, which is at the heart of Belle-II, has been built by Indian scientists. Scientists from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Guwahati and Hyderabad; the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai; Punjab University; Punjab Agricultural University; MNIT (Malaviya National Institute of Technology), Jaipur; IISER (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research) Mohali; and TIFR, Mumbai, are participating in this research. AGNI-111 News: Recently Agni-3 successfully underwent fresh trails it was carried by Strategic Forces Command with logistics support from Defence Research Development Organisation Agni III was inducted into the armed forces in June 2011 and several successful tests. The main aim to reestablish test is to know operational effectiveness of the weapon system and make missile a foolproof and a proven missile. About Agni-3: Agni-III is an intermediate range (3,000 km to 5,000 km) surface-to-surface nuclear capable intermediate-range ballistic missile indigenously developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes The missile has been equipped with the hybrid guidance, navigation and control systems along with an advanced onboard computer. Uses: Missile has a two-stage solid propellant system and is capable of re-entering the atmosphere at a very high velocity / Page 35

38 Agni-III is a rail mobile system capable missile and can be launched from various platforms anywhere in the country. The missile forms the mainstay of India s nuclear deterrence programme as it provides the strategic secondstrike capability. SCIENTIST CREATE ARTIFICIAL WOMB NEWS: Recently Scientists have successfully tested an artificial womb filled with clear liquid on pre-natal lambs About Artificial Womb: A fluid environment is critical for foetal development. The foetus breathing liquid, as it would in the womb lies in a clear-plastic sack filled with a synthetic amniotic fluid. It is designed to continue what naturally occurs in the womb. The umbilical cord is attached via tubes to a machine outside the bag, which removes CO2 and adds oxygen to blood passing through it. There are no mechanical pumps it is the foetus heart that keeps things moving. Sheep have long been used in experiments for prenatal treatment, especially because lung development is highly similar. Importance of Artificial Womb: The artificial wombs can facilitate development of premature babies in a uterus-like environment. New system mimics life in the uterus and could, if approved for human use, dramatically improve the odds. This could help extremely premature babies avoid death or life-long disability / Page 36

39 CASSINI SPACECRAFT Cassini spacecraft was named after the 17th-century astronomer Giovanni Cassini. It was launched into space in October It is a joint endeavour of NASA, European Space Agency (ESA) and Italian space agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI). Cassini was the fourth space probe to visit Saturn and the first to enter its orbit. The Robotic spacecraft included a Saturn orbiter and an atmospheric probe called Huygens for the Saturn s moon Titan which entered and landed on Titan in Sixteen European countries and the United States make up the team responsible for designing, building, flying and collecting data from the Cassini orbiter and Huygens probe. Huygens was developed by the European Space Research and Technology Centre What is use of this Spacecraft: Cassini and Huygens have revealed the existence of earth-like geographic features, great lakes of liquid nitrogen gas on Titan s surface. Cassini also found evidence for the existence of Underground Ocean on the moon Enceladus. In April, NASA announced that the spacecraft has found evidence that the underground ocean could sustain some form of life. Cassini has generated a rich volume of data that will fuel scientific study for decades to come. Why it is in News? NASA Cassini spacecraft successfully travelled between Saturn and its rings and space between Saturn and its rings, a region no spacecraft has been before. It will perform another 21 dives through the same gap and will send more detailed information about Saturn and its rings. These series of 22 manoeuvres that brings Cassini closer to Saturn s surface before plunging into it is called as the spacecraft s grand finale. NOTE: Important for prelims / Page 37

40 FIRST MALARIA VACCINE: Ghana, Kenya and Malawi will pilot the world s first malaria vaccine from 2018, offering it for babies and children in high-risk areas as part of real-life trials. Combined with existing malaria interventions, such a vaccine would have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in Africa. The injectable vaccine, called RTS,S or Mosquirix, was developed by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline to protect children from the most deadly form of malaria in Africa. This is WHO s pilot programme to assess whether the Mosquirix s protective effect in children aged 5 to 17 months can be replicated in real-life. It will also assess the feasibility of delivering the four doses needed, and explore the vaccine s potential role in reducing the number of children killed by the disease TIANGONG-2: NEWS: China s first cargo spacecraft-tianzhou-1 cargo resupply spacecraft, docked successfully with the Tiangong- 2 space lab recently, marking a major step towards Beijing s goal of establishing a permanently manned space station by / Page 38

41 About Tiangong-2: The Tiangong-2 space laboratory, or Heavenly Palace 2, was home to two astronauts for a month last October in China s longest ever manned space mission. The cargo spacecraft mission provides an important technological basis to build a Chinese space station. It can reportedly carry six tonnes of goods, two tonnes of fuel and can fly unmanned for three months. It is part of China s plan to establish a manned space station around It is placed at 380 kilometres above Earth. ISRO TO PROBE VENUS The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has invited scientists to suggest studies for a potential orbiter mission to Venus somewhat similar to the one that landed in Mars in ISRO plans to send a spacecraft that will initially go around Venus in an elliptical orbit before getting closer to the Yellow Planet. It will carry instruments weighing 175 kg and using 500W of power. Venus, the second planet from the Sun, comes closest to Earth roughly every 583 days, or about 19 months. Venus, our closest planetary neighbour, is similar to Earth in many aspects. However, it takes only 225 days to revolve around the Sun. Secondly, the surface is very hot due to nearness to the Sun. Ever since the then USSR sent the Venera mission to Venus in February 1961, there have been close to 30 missions to the planet, the last one being Japan s Akatsuki in These comprised orbiters, landers, atmospheric probes and fly-bys. The erstwhile Soviet Union tops the list with 16 Veneras and two Vegas. The US had Mariner, Pioneer and Magellan missions / Page 39

42 ALSO IN NEWS INDIA S GIGA CITY City of pearl s Hyderabad became first Giga-enabled city in India after The Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT) Fibrenet launched 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) wired broadband internet service in the city 1 Gbps offers 400 times faster internet speed than the average speed of 2.5 megabits per second in India AUTISM AWARENESS DAY Every year April 2 nd is observed as World Autism Awareness Day The main aim of this day is to create awareness about autism and problems faced by people suffering from it theme: Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination It is also one of only four official health-specific UN days In India Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, had organised a National Conference on Autism NATIONAL MARITIME DAY Every year 5 th of April is observed as National Maritime Day In India, April 5 is marked as the National Maritime Day commemorating the first voyage of the SS Loyalty, the first ship of Scindia Steam Navigation Company towards United Kingdom on this day in 1919 National Maritime Day was first celebrated on 5 th April 1964 with this year it is celebrating 54 th edition with a theme Connecting India through Shipping INDIAN INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM AND ENERGY News: The Union Cabinet has given its approval for setting up of Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as an Institute of National Importance through an Act of Parliament The Institute will have the governance structure as well as legal mandate to grant degrees in a manner similar to that enjoyed by Indian Institutes of Technologies The enactment of separate Act will impart the required status to the IIPE to become a Centre of Excellence in petroleum and energy studies. The objective of setting up IIPE is to meet the quantitative and qualitative gap in the supply of skilled manpower for petroleum sector and promote research activities needed for the growth of the sector / Page 40

43 URJA MITRA APP URJA MITRA App, which was launched recently by the Ministry of Power, empowers citizens by real time information sharing on power supply The app is a first of its kind application which provides a central platform, Web-Portal as well as Mobile App, for State Power Distribution utilities to disseminate power outage information to urban/rural power consumers across India through SMS/ /push notifications. 100 YEARS OF CHAMPARAN SATYAGRAHA News: Swachhagraha Bapu Ko Karyanjali Ek Abhiyan, Ek Pradarshani was inaugurated in NewDelhi in order to mark 100 years of Champaran Satyagraha. The exhibition aims to sensitise future generations to fulfill Gandhi s dream of Swachh Bharat, where society s reflection would be as clean as the thought within, of every citizen of India. The digital and experimental exhibition hopes to from a link between the essential principle of Satyagrah Jeevan-Chakra evolved with the Swacchagraha movement. Champaran Satyagraha: Champaran Satyagraha was Mahatma Gandhi s first experiment of Satyagraha. It was undertaken in the erstwhile undivided Champaran district in northern Bihar in April When tenants from Champaran were forced under the law to plant three out of every twenty parts of his land with indigo for his landlord under the so called Tinkathia system. VISTADOME BY INDIAN RAILWAYS Indian Railways has launched the country s first ever Vistadome coach services on Visakhapatnam-Araku route. Features of the coaches include glass roof, LED lights, revolving seats and GPS-based info system INTERNATIONAL BASAVA CONVENTION NEWS: Recently Vachana a form of Kananda literature penned by Basavanna and other saints was translated into 23 Indian languages on occasion of Basava Jayanti About Basavanna: Basavanna was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, Kannada poet and a social reformer who lived in Karnataka during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I During 12 th century he was social reformer and rejected gender or social discrimination, superstitions and rituals. He worked for social awareness through his writings and to bring equality during 12 th century / Page 41

44 INDIA S FIRST BOOK VILLAGE First book village in the country will come up in Bhilar a small village in Satara district of Maharashtra Under this initiative, tourists and locals can come and read books, magazines, newspapers stacked at 25 artistically decorated locations around the village The concept of book village is inspired by Britain s Hay-on-Wye, which is a Welsh town located in the United Kingdom, famous for its bookstores and literature festivals. CHANNAKESHAVA TEMPLE NEWS: Recently Channakeshava temple in Belur turned 900 this year. Belur, along with Halebid, is proposed as a UNESCO heritage site. The temple, constructed by Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty, is a monument recognised by the ASI. Considered to be the first temple of Hoysala style, it was built between 1106 and The temple is regarded a marvel of architecture in typical Hoysala style. It commemorates the king s victory in HONORARY CONSULATE IN GIFT CITY Belgium has become the first country to open an honorary consulate office in GIFT city(gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gujarat Belgium already has two Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai, and an honorary consulate in Kolkata. Gift City: GIFT is a central business district located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat GIFT will include a special economic zone, international education zone, integrated townships, an entertainment zone, hotels, a convention center, an international techno park, Software Technology Parks of India units, shopping malls, stock exchanges and other service units. The li GIFT City project cost approximately is Rs 70,000 crore. SWACCH ICONIC PLACES INITIATIVE The government has announced the names of ten new Iconic places under the Phase II of Swachh Iconic Places initiative. Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission The aim of this initiative is to make these places intensely clean and transform them as model Swachh Tourist Destinations, that will enhance the experience of visitors from India and abroad. The ten new iconic places that will be undertaken in Phase II of Swachh Iconic Places initiative are: Gangotri, Yamunotri. Mahakaleshwar Temple (Ujjain), Char Minar (Hyderabad), Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assissi (Goa), Adi Shankaracharya s abode Kaladi in Ernakulam, Gomateshwar in Shravanbelgola, Baijnath Dham (Devghar), Gaya Tirth (Bihar) and Somnath temple in Gujarat / Page 42

45 The ten Iconic places that are already under implementation in Phase I are: Ajmer Sharif Dargah, CST Mumbai, Golden Temple (Amritsar), Kamakhya Temple (Assam), Maikarnika Ghat (Varanasi), Meenakshi Temple (Madurai) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (Katra, J&K), Shree Jagannath Temple (Puri), The Taj Mahal (Agra), Tirupati Temple (Tirumala) INDIA S FIRST SEA ROPE WAY India s first and longest ropeway is planned to be constructed by the Mumbai Port Trust to link Mumbai with the famous Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea. Elephanta Island has got global recognition for its famed Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Elephanta Island has several archaeological remains famous for its cave sculptures. The island is locally known as Gharapuri Caves CIVIL SERVICES DAY The Civil Services Day is organized on 21st April every year, when civil servants re-dedicate themselves to the cause of the citizens and renew their commitment to public service. This day coincides with the date on which SardarVallabhbhai Patel had addressed the first batch of probationers at the All India Administrative Service Training School at Metcalfe House, New Delhi in / Page 43

46 SPORTS INDIA RANKS THIRD IN WADA India was ranked third in doping violation report published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for 2015 In 2015, 117 Indian athletes were punished after testing positive for banned substances. India followed the Russian Federation (176) and Italy (129), the same position as in the reports of 2013 and The ranking was done based on the chart prepared by WADA after compiling information of analytical findings and sanctions rendered till January 31, 2017 by various accredited anti-doping bodies. It was the first set of Anti-Doping Rule Violation statistics under the revised WADA Code and third such report in its history since World Anti-Doping Agency: WADA is global Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that aims at harmonizing anti-doping regulations in all sports and countries. It is collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee. It was established in 1999 in Lausanne Switzerland under so called Declaration of Lausanne to coordinate, promote and monitor the fight against drugs in sports. Its headquarters is in Montreal, Canada. INDIA GETS SUPER SERIES TITLE Sai Praneeth defeated the world No 29 Kidambi Srikanth in an all-indian men s singles final and clinched Singapore Open Superseries badminton title. With this, India has become only the fourth country after China, Denmark and Indonesia to have its nationals in a men s singles Superseries final. He holds the distinction of being the first Indian to claim a Superseries title after the graded events became part of the world badminton calendar. INDIA S FIRST VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO COMPLETE BOSTON MARATHON Sagar Baheti has become the first visually impaired Indian runner to complete the historic Boston Marathon. Boston Marathon: Historic Boston Marathon is the world s oldest, most competitive and the hardest marathon to qualify for. It is an annual event hosted in several cities in greater Boston, United States. It is always held on the third Monday of April. It is one of the six Marathon Majors held throughout the world / Page 44

47 VIDEO GAMING FULL SPORT-2022 ASIAN GAMES Competitive video games will become a medal sport for the first time ever at the 2022 Asian Games. They will appear as a demonstration event at the 2018 edition of the next Asian Games, to be held in Indonesia, as part of the run-up to esports official inclusion as a medal sport in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Asian Games is a multi-sport competition, touted as second only to the Olympics in terms of size. It is held every four years. P.V.SINDHU N0:3 IN WORLD RANKING Ace shuttler PV Sindhu has been ranked No. 3 in the latest BWF ranking. Sindhu who was at No.5 climbed up two places on the basis of making the quarter-finals of the recentlyconcluded Singapore Open Super Series. As per the latest BWF ranking, London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal has been ranked eighth. Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth have been placed at 21st and 22nd positions respectively. Sindhu grabbed Silver medal in Rio Olympics. With that, she became the second Indian female shuttler to win an Olympic medal after Saina Nehwal (2012 London Olympics). She has been awarded Padma Shri in 2015, which is India s fourth-highest civilian honour. MANPREET KAUR WINS GOLD AT ASIAN GRAND PRIX Shot putter Manpreet Kaur broke her own 2015 national record at the Asian Grand Prix in Jinhua, China. Her performance in the event has helped her to earn a gold medal and qualify for the World Championships to be held in London in August Kaur had become the first Indian woman to qualify for the shot put event at the Rio Olympics. But she managed to finish only 23rd in Rio. KERALA TO HOST TRANSGENDER ATHLETIC MEET Kerala has conducted the country s first-ever transgender one-day athletic meet in Thiruvananthapuram. The event was jointly organised by Kerala sports council and Sexual Gender Minority Federation of Kerala 19 FOOTBALL TALENT HUNT TOURNAMENT-2017 The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will conduct Oorja CAPFs Under-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament 2017, throughout the country The tournament will be jointly organized by CAPF under the aegis of All India Police Sports Control Board. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will conduct the tournament in Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. Bruno Coutinho, an Arjuna Awardee, has been made as the brand ambassador for Oorja in Goa / Page 45

48 MONTE CARLO TENNIS TOURNAMENT Rafael Nadal has once again won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record 10th time wi victory over Albert Ramos- Vinolas. With this win, he has made history by becoming the first man in the Open era to win the same event 10 times. Earlier, Rohan Bopanna and his Uruguayan partner Pablo Cuevas had won the men s doubles crown at the Monte Carlo About Tournament: Monte Carlo Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players which is played on clay courts. It is held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France. The championship was first held in The tournament is part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour / Page 46

49 SOCIAL ISSUES GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO FIGHT FAKE NEWS News: A global alliance of tech industry and academic organisations has unveiled plans to work together to combat the spread of fake news and improve public understanding of journalism The initiative s mission is to advance news literacy, to increase trust in journalism around the world and to better inform the public conversation. The founding funders include Facebook and the Craigslist founder Craig Newmark s philanthropic fund along with the Ford Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Tow Foundation, AppNexus, Mozilla and Betaworks. Helping the public understand the difference between fraudulent news and serious journalism will constitute an important element of the effort. Why is it in News? Fake news became a serious issue in the U.S. election campaign, when clearly fraudulent stories circulated on social media, potentially swaying some voters. Concerns have been raised since then about hoaxes and misinformation affecting elections in Europe, with investigations showing how click farms generate revenue from online advertising using made-up news stories. OPERATION DURGA Recently Haryana government launched Operation Durga in order to ensure women safety in the state It is similar to Uttar Pradesh anti-romeo squad Under this operation a flying suad will be visiting public places such as schools, colleges, bus stands and railway stations and caught persons indulging in crime activities against women like eve-teasing, stalking, harassment and other such activities NEW TAXI POLICY TO ENSURE WOMEN SAFETY News: Recently Ministry of Women and Child Development recommended safety measures to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping concerning safety of women commuters availing of cab services And the new recommendations are included in new taxi policy Highlights of New Policy: The taxis should be mandatorily fitted with GPS panic devices. For the safety of women and child passengers, the central locking system in the taxis should not be allowed / Page 47

50 The driver s identification along with the photo and registration number of the vehicle should also be prominently displayed in the taxi. Violation of the stipulated rules by the taxi operators/drivers should be strictly dealt in accordance with law. Sharing of seat should be subject to willingness of passengers. RUSA NEWS: Recently Union Minister of Human Resource Development launched the unique portal and mobile app of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) The main aim of RUSA is to improve quality of education by improving the research labs,infrastructure,creating smart class rooms and various other programmes by which the quality enhancement and value addition to students takes place The portal is a one-stop for states Higher Education Plans,decision of the States higher education councils and details of the resources under this scheme RUSA is Centrally Sponsored Scheme (in the ratio of 60:40 for general category States, 90:10 for special category states and 100% for union territories) of the Department of Higher Education,MHRD which aims to provide strategic central funding to State Higher Education Departments and Institutions and achieve the broad objectives of access,equity and excellence State Higher Education Departments and Institutions undertake certain governance,academic and administrative reforms as a pre-requisite to be entitled for RUSA grants NOTE: Important for prelims(ministry to be remembered) / Page 48

51 RASHTRIYA MADHYAMIK SHIKSHA ABHIYAN The scheme was launched in March, 2009 with the objective to enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality. It is envisaged to achieve an enrolment rate of 75% from 52.26% in at secondary stage of implementation of the scheme by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of any habitation. Main Objectives of Scheme: Improving quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, providing universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e., by the end of 12th Five Year Plan and achieving universal retention by Important quality interventions provided under the scheme are: Appointment of additional teachers to reduce PTR to 30:1, focus on Science, Math and English education, In-service training of teachers, science laboratories, ICT enabled education, curriculum reforms; and teaching learning reforms. Important equity interventions provided in the scheme are: Special focus in micro planning, preference to Ashram schools for upgradation, preference to areas with concentration of SC/ST/Minority for opening of schools, special enrolment drive for the weaker section more female teachers in schools; and separate toilet blocks for girls. Implementation mechanism of the Scheme: The scheme is being implemented by the State government societies established for implementation of the scheme. The central share is released to the implementing agency directly. The applicable State share is also released to the implementing agency by the respective State Governments. Why it is in News? 596 students who had dropped out of school have returned for admissions in Tripura under a special campaign by the State s School Education Department and the Centre s Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. The campaign was carried out in all eight districts of the State / Page 49