PT CURRENT AFFAIRS BULLETIN (1-7 OCTOBER)

Ð ß Ð» ³ ² Û ³ ² ±² л ó øîðð ³ µ Ü«±² æ Ì ± ±«i ݲ»ª»² ±º ² ±² ²¼ ²» ² ±² ³ ± ²½»ò i Ø ± ±º ²¼ ²¼ ²¼ ² Ò ±² Ó±ª»³»² ò i ²¼ ² ²¼ ɱ ¼ Ù»±¹ óð ½ ô ͱ½ ô Û½±²±³ ½ Ù»±¹ ±º ²¼ ²¼» ɱ ¼ò i ²¼ ² б ²¼ Ù±ª» ² ²½»óݱ² «±²ô б ½ Í»³ô Ð ²½ Î ô Ы¾ ½ б ½ ô Î ¹ ô» ½ò i Û½±²±³ ½ PT CURRENT AFFAIRS BULLETIN (1-7 OCTOBER) 1. GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION BRU REPATRIATION CENTRE POLIO VIRUS CONTAMINATION DEPORTATION OF ROHINGYA MUSLIMS 2. ECONOMIC AFFAIRS UDAY KOTAK IN CHARGE OF IL&FS MANUFACTURING PMI RISES TO 52.2 RBI POLICY RATE 3. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS MACEDONIANS REFERENDUM FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMF CHIEF ECONOMIST NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NOBEL MEDICINE PRIZE PHYSICS NOBEL TINY SPHERES CAN TRAP WATER POLLUTANT ASIATIC GIR LIONS EURASIAN OTTER EASTERN GHATS FACE LOSS OF FOREST RARE DRAGONFLIES 5. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 6. SOCIAL JUSTICE BIHAR LIQUOR PROHIBITION LAW ODISHA LAUNCHES OWN FOOD SECURITY SCHEME TOILET-FOR-ALL RIGHTS ACTIVIST GETS ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA AWARD PICTORIAL WARNING ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS SEWER DEATH CASES S-400 MISSILE DEAL 7.SECURITY CSE 2018 1

1. BRU REPATRIATION THE CONTEXT: Only two families of displaced Brus returned to Mizoram from relief camps in adjoining Tripura as the deadline for their repatriation ends. An agreement was signed by the Centre, Mizoram government, Tripura government and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People s Forum (MBDPF) setting in motion the plan to provide homes and employment to around 32,876 persons in three districts of Mizoram. Each Bru refugee family will get Rs 4 lakh as fixed deposit, Rs 5000 every month for a period of two years and Rs. 1.50 lakh for constructing houses. They have been assured of free ration for two years. Officials entrusted with the repatriation process said 5,362 of the 5,407 refugee families had stayed put despite the Centre deciding to stop rations and cash compensation. The Bru (Reang) refugees are spread across six relief camps, three each in Panisagar and Kanchanpur subdivisions of Tripura. Thousands of Brus fled Mizoram in 1997 after ethnic violence between Bru and Mizo. 2. CENTRE POLIO VIRUS CONTAMINATION THE CONTEXT: The government has ordered an inquiry into the type-2 polio virus contamination detected in the vials used for immunisation in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana. The last case due to type-2 wild poliovirus globally was reported from Aligarh in India in 1999. India was declared polio free in 2014 and the last case was reported January 2011. India eliminated the type-2 strain in 2016, and the type-2 containing poliovirus vaccine (ToPV) was phased out in April 2016. Traces of polio type-2 virus were found in some batches of oral polio vaccine (OPV) manufactured by a Ghaziabad-based pharmaceutical company. ABOUT POLIOMYELITIS It is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It is usually spread from person to person through infected fecal matter entering the mouth. The disease only occurs in humans. The first polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s by Jonas Salk. The oral polio vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin. Today, only 3 countries in the world have transmission of polio (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria). There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. 3. DEPORTATION OF ROHINGYA MUSLIMS THE CONTEXT: the Supreme Court has dismissed an application to restrain the government from deporting seven Rohingya men detained in Assam since 2012. Additional Solicitor-General submitted that the men were prosecuted under the Foreigners Act, 1946, for illegally entering India Myanmar has already accepted them as its nationals and issued them Certificates of Identity. CSE 2018 2

The Rohingyas are a minority Muslim community from the Rakhine state in Myanmar. The government of India has estimated that more than 40,000 Rohingyas are living in India. 4. UDAY KOTAK IN CHARGE OF IL&FS THE CONTEXT: The government has finally intervened in the IL&FS crisis, superseding its board and appointing new members, with banker Uday Kotak as chairman. The government has moved the National Company Law Tribunal(NCLT) for superseding the Board, which was granted with immediate effect. The NCLT also approved the induction of six directors recommended by the government. Serious Fraud Investigation office has also initiated an investigation into IL&FS and its subsidiaries. Serious Fraud Investigation office works under Ministry of Corporate affairs. The IL&FS Group has assets of over Rs 1,15,000 crore but is facing tremendous debt pressure and struggling to service around RS 91,000 crore debt. 5. MANUFACTURING PMI RISES TO 52.2 THE CONTEXT: Manufacturing activity improved in September on the back of stronger gains in new orders, output, and employment, according to a private sector survey. MPORTANT POINTS The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 52.2 in September from 51.7 in August. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion while one below 50 denotes a contraction. India s manufacturing economy recorded an improvement in growth during September amid firmer gains in new orders, output and employment. The strong growth was linked to gains in both domestic and foreign demand. However, the stronger U.S. dollar continued to raise the relative price of goods such as steel and fuel, thereby raising input costs for manufacturers. 6. RBI POLICY RATE THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India has kept its key rate unchanged at 6.5% in its policy review report. However, the RBI has changed its stance from neutral to calibrated tightening, indicating that there was no possibility of a cut in rates in the near future. The policy did not go down well with the markets, which were expecting a hike in interest rates and measures to support the embattled rupee and non-banking finance companies. The rupee has breached the 74-mark against the dollar to touch 74.22, before closing the day at 73.76. Rate hike was expected after the U.S. Fed raised rates last month. 7. MACEDONIANS REFERENDUM THE CONTEXT: Macedonian has voted for a plan to rename the country aimed at ending a decadeslong spat with Greece. This referendum will clear the path to Nato and EU membership. CSE 2018 3

Greece has welcomed the result with the foreign ministry saying it remains committed to its agreement with Macedonia. The non-binding referendum on renaming Macedonia needs to be ratified in parliament by a two-thirds majority. The vote is an emotional moment for a country that has struggled for recognition of its name since its independence from Yugoslav in 1991. The dispute has history context with both countries vying to lay claim to Alexander the Great s ancient empire of Macedon. 8. FREE TRADE AGREEMENT THE CONTEXT: Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have signed a new free trade pact after more than a year of talks to revamp an existing pact. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) would replaces North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canada and the U.S. overcame their differences that covers a region of 500 million residents and conducts about $1 trillion in trade a year. Canada will now open its dairy market further to U.S. producers, and The US will not change the dispute settlement provisions. Alongside changes to the dairy market in Canada,it also includes stronger protections for workers, tough new environmental rules, and updates the trade relationship to cover the digital economy and provides groundbreaking intellectual property protections. It adds provisions to prevent manipulation of the trade rules, including covering currency values, and controls over outside countries trying to take advantage of the duty-free market. 9. IMF CHIEF ECONOMIST THE CONTEXT: Indian origin Gita Gopinath has been appointed chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She was working as professor at Harvard University. She studied at the Delhi School of Economics holds a Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University. She was previously working as a co-director of the International Finance and Macroeconomics Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She is the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and of Economics at Harvard University. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had served as Chief Economist of the IMF. 10. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE THE CONTEXT: The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Congolese gynaecologist Dr. Denis Mukwege and Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad. Denis Mukwege is known for his role in defending victims of wartime sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nadia Murad is the symbol of atrocities committed against Yazidi. CSE 2018 4

Ms Murad is one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the Islamic State. The panel had received nominations for 216 individuals and 115 organisations. Among those put forward this year are Syrian civilian aid group White Helmets, Russia s Novaya Gazeta newspaper, whistle-blower Edward Snowden and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The winner last year was the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. 11. NOBEL MEDICINE PRIZE THE CONTEXT: Two immunologists, James Allison of the U.S. and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, won the 2018 Nobel Medicine Prize for research into how the body s natural defences can fight cancer. IMPORTANTPOINTS Unlike more traditional forms of cancer treatment that directly target cancer cells, Dr. Allison and Dr. Honjo figured out how to help the patient s own immune system tackle the cancer more quickly. The discovery has led to treatments targeting proteins made by some immune system cells that act as a brake on the body s natural defences killing cancer cells. In 1995, Dr. Allison was one of two scientists to identify the CTLA-4 molecule as an inhibitory receptor on T-cells. T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play a central role in the body s natural immunity to disease. Around the same time, Dr. Honjo discovered a protein on immune cells, the ligand PD-1, and eventually realised that it also worked as a brake, but acted in a different way. The duo will share the Nobel prize sum of nine million Swedish kronor (about $1.01 million). 12. PHYSICS NOBEL THE CONTEXT: Three scientists haves won the Nobel Physics Prize, including the first woman to receive the prestigious award in 55 years, for inventing optical lasers. It have paved the way for advanced precision instruments used in corrective eye surgery. Mr. Ashkin, 96, was honoured for his invention of optical tweezers that grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells with their laser beam fingers. Mr. Ashkin is the oldest winner of a Nobel prize, beating out American Leonid Hurwicz who was 90 when he won the 2007 Economics Prize. Arthur Ashkin of the U.S. won one half of the nine million Swedish kronor (about $1.01 million) prize, while Gerard Mourou of France and Donna Strickland of Canada shared the other half. 13. TINY SPHERES CAN TRAP WATER POLLUTANT THE CONTEXT: Scientists have created tiny spheres that can catch and destroy bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used to make plastics that often contaminates water. BPA is commonly used to coat the insides of food cans, bottle tops and water supply lines, and was once a component of baby bottles. While BPA that seeps into food and drink is considered safe in low doses, prolonged exposure is suspected of affecting the health of children and contributing to high blood pressure. CSE 2018 5

Scientists at Rice University in the U.S. have developed something akin to the Venus flytrap of particles for water remediation. The micron-sized spheres resemble tiny flower-like collections of titanium dioxide petals. In the lab, the researchers determined that 200 mg of the spheres per litre of contaminated water degraded 90% of BPA in an hour, a process that would take more than twice as long with unenhanced titanium dioxide. 14. ASIATIC GIR LIONS THE CONTEXT: There is 21 lions death in Gir national park which is a cause of concern for forest officials and conservationists. IMPORTAN TPOINTS The wildlife experts suspect that mutation in a virus is the likely cause of deaths. In 1994, the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) was responsible for an epidemic in the Serengetti region of Africa, where 1,000 lions died in 3 weeks. While there is existence of virus in local tiger populations in Gujarat and is linked to deaths every year, this year it has seen a spike. The last lion census in 2015 recorded 523 lions and with a 3% growth. The government is importing a vaccine from the United States as a preventive measure against future outbreaks. 15. EURASIAN OTTER THE CONTEXT: The researchers have confirmed the presence of the elusive Eurasian otter in the Western Ghats. Scientists at Hyderabad s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology have confirmed the presence of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Though the Eurasian otter has been recorded historically from the Western Ghats, this is the first photographic and genetic confirmation of its presence here. While the species is widespread across Europe, northern Africa and several south Asian countries, it is not as frequently sighted. Although otters are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), they are often illegally poached for pelts. 16. EASTERN GHATS FACE LOSS OF FOREST THE CONTEXT: A recently published study shows that the Eastern Ghats has lost almost 16% of its forest area over a span of 100 years. Researchers from the University of Hyderabad studied historical maps and satellite images from 1920 to 2015 to understand the changes in land use and land cover. The forest cover, which was 43.4% of the total geographical area in 1920, has reduced drastically to 27.5% in 2015. Over the years, about 8% of forest area was converted into agricultural fields, while about 4% converted into scrub or grassland. The report also found that the number of patches of land had increased,indicating fragmentation. CSE 2018 6

In 1920 there were about 1,379 patches which kept steadily increasing over the years reaching a whopping number of 9,457 in 2015. Previous studies have shown that the Eastern Ghats is home to more than 2,600 plant species and this habitat fragmentation and destruction can pose a serious threat to the endemic plants. While agriculture was the main reason for deforestation during the early years, post 1975, mining and other developmental activities such as the construction of dams, roads were the culprits. 17. RARE DRAGONFLIES THE CONTEXT: The Silent Valley National Park is emerging as one of the largest havens of dragonflies and damselflies. The survey have confirmed the presence of 82 species, among which 14 are extremely rare. The survey was jointly conducted by the Forest Department and odonate enthusiasts under the Indian Dragonfly Society. This is the first time that an exclusive survey was conducted in the buffer zone. Hitherto, they were focussed on the core zones of the national park. It is a matter of concern that the number of several common species of damselflies found in the region is alarmingly low. 18. BIHAR LIQUOR PROHIBITION LAW THE CONTEXT: Bihar police have arrested more than 1.6 lakh people under the prohibition and excise law enacted in 2016, but only 141 of them have been sentenced so far. Police have conducted raids at over 4,00,000 locations while the State excise department has conducted raids at more than 2,00,000 locations seizing over 16 lakh litres of foreignmade and nine lakh litres of country-made liquor. More than 1.33 lakh violation of prohibition cases have been registered at different police stations of the State since April 5, 2016. Around 10,000 people are lodged in different jails in the State in connection with these cases. The State government had recently asked officials to review details of those arrested under the prohibition law and to ascertain their caste status. It had earlier been reported that most of the people arrested under the liquor law were from the Scheduled Castes and Extremely Backward Class. 19. ODISHA LAUNCHES OWN FOOD SECURITY SCHEME THE CONTEXT: The Odisha government has launched its own food security scheme on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. It will benefit 25 lakh people who were left out of the National Food Security Act. The beneficiaries will get 5 kg of rice per person per month at the rate of Rs 1 per kg. The State government will spend Rs 443.5 crore per annum to support the scheme and Rs 221.75 crore in the current financial year. The government had decided to launch its own food security scheme after the Centre did not respond to its request to add additional beneficiaries under the NFSA. CSE 2018 7

20. TOILET-FOR-ALL THE CONTEXT: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the world will not reach the goal of universal sanitation coverage by 2030 unless countries make comprehensive policy shifts and invest more funds. IMPORTANTPOINTS The WHO has advised to adopt WHO s new guidelines to reduce the diarrhoeal deaths due to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. For every US $1 invested in sanitation, WHO estimates a nearly six-fold return as measured by lower health costs, increased productivity and fewer premature deaths. Worldwide, 2.3 billion people lack basic sanitation (with almost half forced to defecate in the open). They are among the 4.5 billion without access to safely managed sanitation services. Sanitation is a fundamental foundation of human health and development and underpins the core mission of WHO. 21. RIGHTS ACTIVIST GETS ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA AWARD THE CONTEXT: Binalakshmi Nepram, a rights activist supporting women survivors of violence in northeast India, was named as one of two winners of an annual award recognising female human rights workers. The award recognises the women's bravery in speaking out and defying "injustice, violence and extremism. Ms Nepram shared the Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) Anna Politkovskaya Award with Nobel literature laureate Svetlana Alexievich, an investigative journalist and writer from Belarus. Both women have suffered death threats or persecution which forced them to leave their home countries. 22. PICTORIAL WARNING ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS THE CONTEXT: India has been ranked fifth in the listing of countries that have pictorial health warning on tobacco products. The Cigarette Package Health Warnings Report was released by the Canadian Cancer Society. It has ranked 206 countries and territories on the size of their health warnings on cigarette packages, and lists countries and territories that require graphic picture warnings. Canada was the first to insist on picture health warnings in 2001. East Timor is ranked first with 85% of the front and 100% of the back of the packaging being used for pictorial warnings followed by Nepal. Indian packaging has the warning on 85% of both sides. The report found that 118 countries and territories have now made picture health warnings on cigarette packages mandatory, up from 100 in 2016. India is the only SAARC country to have a Quit-Line number on tobacco products and the fourth in Asia after Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. CSE 2018 8

The 85% pictorial warnings on all cigarettes, bidis and chewing tobacco packages manufactured and sold in India have resulted in 92% of adults (surveyed under GATS 2016-2017) believing that smoking caused serious illness and 96% saying use of smokeless tobacco causes serious illness. 23. SEWER DEATH CASES THE CONTEXT: A study of deaths due to sewer and septic tank cleaning since 1992, shows that none of the death has led to a trial or prosecution of any sort. The report shows that FIR were filed in only 35% of the cases and Only 31% of affected families received cash compensation, while none received the rehabilitation or alternative jobs to which they are entitled by law. The study was released by the Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan (RGA) with the Union Ministry of Social Justice for an ongoing manual scavenging census. The NGO says it had identified 302 deaths in 140 incidents in those States, but admits the actual numbers could be even higher. The Union Ministry of Social Justice Ministry reported 323 deaths nationwide in 2017 alone. In 1993, India banned the employment of people as manual scavengers. As per the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC-2011), there were 2 lakh manual scavengers in the country. 24. S-400 MISSILE DEAL THE CONTEXT: Despite US opposition, India and Russia has concluded the contract for five S-400 Triumf missile systems. IMPORTANTPOINTS India will start getting the deliveries of S-400 at the end of 2020. As per procedure, India would pay about 15% in advance, likely through the rupee-rouble mechanism. Earlier, the U.S. had warned that the deal would invoke sanctions under the Countering America s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law. The CAATSA applies while conducting defence purchases from Russia, Iran and North Korea,, unless US President grants a waiver. However, the both sides failed to conclude two other major deals, for stealth frigates and assault rifles. ABOUT S-400 The S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is an air defence missile system developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau of Russia. It was developed as an upgrade of the S-300 series of surface-to-air missile systems. The system entered service in April 2007 and the first S-400 was deployed in combat in August 2007. The S-400 Triumph air defence system integrates multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre. It can an engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km. It canan simultaneously engage 36 targets. CSE 2018 9

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