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Current Affairs: May 2018 IAS Edge

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CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS EDGE

This Document was prepared under the supervision of Mr. Pramod Singh,

Academic Head, IAS Edge. Current Affairs, May 2018



Index

GS 2: Polity & Governance

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme ………………………... 7

PMGSY ………………………... 7

India‟s 1st Sports University In Manipur ………………………... 8

PRAGATI ………………………... 8

Universal Service Obligation Fund [USOF] ………………………... 9

Leisang in Manipur ………………………... 10

Van Dhan Vikas Kendra ………………………... 10

Commonwealth innovation index ………………………... 11

Commonwealth Innovation Fund ………………………... 11

DARPAN-PLI App: ………………………... 12

Protected Area Permit regime ………………………... 12

Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance 2018 ………………………... 13

Domestic Violence Act applies after divorce too ………………………... 13

Special Category Status for Bihar ………………………... 14

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana ………………………... 14

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) Polity

………………………... 15

Intellectual Property mascot – IP Nani ………………………... 16

WIPO ………………………... 16

Inter-State Council (ISC) ………………………... 17

Citizenship Bill may have to wait for House nod ………………………... 18

―Transformation of aspirational‖ districts programme ………………………... 19

GS 3: Economics and Social Development

Manas National Park ………………………... 21

Kaleswaram project ………………………... 21

Coastal Regulation Zone ………………………… 22

National Bamboo Mission ………………………... 22

First organised census for Indus dolphins Environment

………………………... 23

Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries get GI tag ………………………... 24

―Green‖ Cricket in India ………………………... 24

Gaj Yatra ………………………... 25

NGT issues notices on plea to halt road through Corbett

………………………... 25

GS 3: Environment & Ecology

Economic freedom index ………………………... 26



Sebi amends norms for REITs ………………………... 27

US places India under watch list ………………………... 27

Prompt corrective action ………………………... 28

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) ………………………... 29

Govt weighs linking drug prices to WPI inflation ………………………... 30

BSE becomes India‟s first exchange to be recognized

as a DOSM by the US SEC ………………………... 30

GS 3: Science & Technology

Point Nemo: Ocean Point of Inaccessibility ………………………... 32

Oxytocin ………………………... 33

Newly discovered antibiotic class, Odilorhabdins ………………………... 33

Parker Solar Probe: ………………………... 34

NAAMES Mission ………………………... 34 Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) ………………………... 35 Lunar ―Gateway‖ space station ………………………... 35 Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight)

………………………... 36

Limiting the Transfat ………………………... 36

Nigeria has announced that it is free from Lassa fever outbreak

………………………... 37

NASA Mars Helicopter ………………………... 38

NCDRC ………………………... 38

Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) ………………………... 39

ISRO making green propellant ………………………... 39

GS 2: International Relations and Internal Security

What is China‟s Tiangong 1 ………………………... 41

Peace Mission ………………………... 41

Priority Watch list, USTR Special 301 Report & India ………………………... 41

Hague Convention ………………………... 42

Nathu La pass has been reopened for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

………………………... 42

NAFTA ………………………... 43

Islamic Cooperation countries (OIC) ………………………... 43

India‟s second IT corridor in China ………………………... 44

RIMPAC naval exercises ………………………... 44

Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Programme ………………………... 45

PM‟s Singapore visit: ………………………... 46

Global transit routes must be peaceful ………………………... 46

INDOPACOM ………………………... 47



Miscellaneous

GI tag for rural crafts ………………………... 49

Mission Raftar ………………………... 49

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-2018 ………………………... 49

Bharosa ………………………... 50

Samarath ………………………... 51

National Policy on Biofuels – 2018 ………………………... 52

Micro-irrigation fund ………………………... 53

Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) ………………………... 54

Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) ………………………... 56

Network For Spectrum (NFS) project ………………………... 56

Swachh Survekshan 2018 ………………………... 57

WHO list of essential diagnostic tests ………………………... 58

INSV Tarini ………………………... 59

ALIMCO ………………………... 59

―Clean Air India Initiative‖ launched ………………………... 60

SURYA KIRAN-XIII: ………………………... 60

Women Safety Division in MHA ………………………... 60





Polity & Government Schemes

1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme The Ministry of Women and Child Development recently held a National Conference of 244 Districts under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) in New Delhi.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme was launched in January, 2015. The scheme is aimed at promoting gender equality and the significance of educating girls. The Scheme is targeted at improving the Child Sex Ratio through multi sectoral interventions including prevention of gender biased sex selection and promoting girls‘ education and her holistic empowerment. It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development. The low and falling child sex ratio in the country is a matter of policy concern, not only because it violates the human rights of unborn and infant girls but also because it deprives the country of the potential economic and social contribution of these ‗missing women‘. In addition, there may be longer-run adverse impacts from a marriage market squeeze caused by an excess supply of male relative to female youth. Already, states like Haryana and Punjab, where the sex ratio has been extremely distorted for several decades, have been experiencing bride trafficking.

2. PMGSY A parliamentary panel has found discrepancies including diversion of funds, issuing tenders prior to technical sanctions, incomplete projects, preference to certain villages etc. in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) — a flagship programme of the Central government to provide rural last mile connectivity. The panel also found that some states had deviated from the prescribed procedures. Consequently eligible habitations were either left out or wrongly shown as connected. About PMGSY: PMGSY was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country. The programme‘s target is to connect the 178,184 habitations identified as unconnected when the programme was launched. The present government has set an accelerated goal of achieving this target by 2019, ahead of the initial timeline of 2022.



For most intensive Integrated Action Plan (IAP) blocks as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs the unconnected habitations with population of100 and above (as per 2001 Census) are eligible to be covered under PMGSY. The aim was to provide roads to all villages: With a population of 1000 persons and above by 2003. With a population of 500 persons and above by 2007. In hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 500 persons and above by 2003. In hill states, tribal and desert area villages with a population of 250 persons and above by 2007.

3. India‟s 1st Sports University In Manipur President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the ordinance to set up the country‘s first national sports university in Manipur. The Bill establishes a National Sports University located in Manipur. It will promote sports education in the areas of: (i) sports sciences (ii) sports technology, (iii) sports management, and (iv) sports coaching. It will function as a national training centre for select sports disciplines. It may also establish campuses and study centres in other parts of the country. The University will be empowered to grant degrees, diplomas and certificates. Objectives: The key objectives of the University are: (i) research, development and dissemination of knowledge in physical education and sports sciences, (ii) strengthening physical education and sports training programmes, (iii) generating knowledge capabilities, skills and competence at various levels, and (iv) training talented athletes to help them to evolve into international level athletes. The University will be required to maintain a fund which will be credited with the

funds that it receives from the central government, state government, and fees and money received from any other sources (grants and gifts). All funds of the University will be invested as decided by the Board on the recommendation of the Finance Committee.

4. PRAGATI The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, recently chaired his twenty-sixth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. PRAGATI is a unique integrating and interactive platform. The platform is aimed at addressing common man‘s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing



important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments. The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology. It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States. With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and State officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation. It is also an innovative project in e-governance and good governance. It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States). Issues to be flagged before the PM are picked up from the available database regarding Public Grievances, on-going Programmes and pending Projects. The system will ride on, strengthen and re-engineer the data bases of the CPGRAMS for grievances, Project Monitoring Group (PMG) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. PRAGATI provides an interface and platform for all these three aspects. The system has been designed in-house by the PMO team with the help of National Informatics Center (NIC).

5. Universal Service Obligation Fund [USOF] USOF aims to enable rural Indians to achieve their fullest potential and participate productively in the development of the nation by virtue of being effectively connected through a reliable and ubiquitous telecommunications network, access to which is within their reach and within their means. USOF, established in 2002, provides effective subsidies to ensure telegraph services

are provided to everyone across India, especially in the rural and remote areas. It is headed by the USOF Administrator who reports to the Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Funds come from the Universal Service Levy (USL) of 5% charged from all the telecom operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) which are then deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India, and require prior parliamentary approval to be dispatched. The USOF works through a bidding process, where funds are given to the enterprise quoting the lowest bid. However, the funds for NOFN were made an exception to this process since BBNL was the sole party involved in the implementation having being specifically created for it.



This network would be used by the security personnel deployed in LWE affected areas. Project will also provide the mobile services to help the residents in unconnected inhabited villages which would improve the economic activities in the region. It will give impetus to the e-Governance activities in the backward and LWE affected area with the availability of digital mobile connectivity.

6. Leisang in Manipur

Leisang in Manipur has become the last village to be added to the national power grid under the Rural Electrification Scheme. The government considers a village electrified if it has basic electrical infrastructure and 10% of its households and public places including schools, local administrative offices and health centres have power. The government had allocated Rs75,893 crore for the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana with the aim of providing electricity access to all villages. About DDUGJY:

Government of India has launched the scheme ―Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana‖ for rural electrification. The erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) scheme for village electrification and providing electricity distribution infrastructure in the rural areas has been subsumed in the DDUGJY scheme. Rural Electrification Corporation is the Nodal Agency for implementation of DDUGJY. The Yojana also includes the components: To separate agriculture and non-agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural areas and Strengthening and augmentation of sub transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/consumers.

7. Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Ministry of Tribal Affairs is planning to launch first ever ―Van Dhan Vikas Kendra‖ at Bijapur, Chhattisgarh for value addition of Forest Produce. Value addition assumes critical importance in ensuring remunerative prices to the tribals in this approach. This first model Van Dhan Vikas Kendra is being implemented for training of 300 beneficiaries with a total outlay of Rs 43.38 lakhs for training, providing equipments & tools for primary level processing and infrastructure & building for housing the Kendra.

It provides skill upgradation and capacity building training and setting up of primary processing and value addition facility.



The selection of the tribal beneficiaries and formation of the SHGs under this has been undertaken by TRIFED.

8. Commonwealth innovation index A new Commonwealth Innovation Index has been launched as part of a new Commonwealth Innovation Hub on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in London. About the index: The index has been created in partnership with the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and its annual Global Innovation Index (GII). It is aimed at providing a tool that allows member states, organisations and citizens to benchmark themselves against 53 countries of the Commonwealth, with the new innovation hub offering a dedicated online space for Commonwealth countries to showcase what they have to offer and share with other members. Performance of countries:

India is ranked 10th. Bangladesh has been ranked 24th. The index is topped by the UK, Singapore and Canada. About GII: The Global Innovation Index (GII), co-published by World-Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD with CII as a Knowledge Partner since inception, has been ranking world economies including India since 2007 according to their innovation capabilities and outcomes using 82 indicators among a host of other important parameters.

9. Commonwealth Innovation Fund A new Commonwealth Innovation fund has been launched on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in London. About the Commonwealth Innovation Fund: The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) will work as the delivery partner to host a new Commonwealth Innovation Fund (CIF), which will use GIFs existing due diligence processes for sourcing, evaluating and investing to generate a high-quality portfolio of enterprises that are aligned with the Commonwealth Secretariats priorities. The GIF will manage the fund and its investments, which will be targeted at innovative projects across Commonwealth countries that ―save and improve lives‖.



The new partnership aims to provide financing for incubating and accelerating impact-oriented ideas and innovations within the Commonwealth countries. It is a $200 million venture capital firm that invests in social innovations that aim to improve lives and opportunities in the developing world through the use of grants and risk capital. About the Global Innovation fund: The Global Innovation Fund is a non-profit innovation fund headquartered in London with an office in Washington D.C. that invests in the development, rigorous testing, and scaling of innovations targeted at improving the lives of the world‘s poorest people. GIF is a unique hybrid investment fund that supports the piloting, rigorous testing, and scaling of innovations targeted at improving the lives of the poorest people in developing countries.

10. DARPAN-PLI App:

The government has launched DARPAN-Postal Life Insurance App. The App will help in collection of premium for postal life insurance and rural postal life insurance policies at branch post offices anywhere in India, with online updation of the policies. DARPAN project: With a view to achieve total digitisation of postal operations in the country, the department has launched Digital Advancement of Rural Post office for a new India (DARPAN) Project, which aims at connecting all one lakh 29 thousand Rural Branch Post Offices.

11. Protected Area Permit regime

The Union Home Ministry has decided to relax the six-decade-old Protected Area Permit regime from Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur for five years with effect from April 1. Implications: Foreign tourists, except those from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan, would now be allowed to visit some of the most pristine locations of the country which, so far, were out of bounds for them without a special permit. What is protected area permit?

Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the Inner line and the International Border of some states have been declared as protected areas.



The protected areas currently include whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, besides parts of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Some parts of Sikkim fall under the protected area regime while others under the restricted area. How are these regions different? As per the guidelines, a foreign national is not normally allowed to visit a protected or restricted area unless the government is satisfied that there are extra-ordinary reasons to justify his or her visit. Every foreigner, except a citizen of Bhutan, who desires to enter and stay in a protected or restricted area, is required to obtain a special permit from a competent authority having the power to issue such permits to a foreigner, seeking it. In cases, where the power to issue such permits has not been delegated to a subordinate authority by the Union government, the application for the special permit has to be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs for prior approval, at least eight weeks before the date of the expected visit.

12. Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance 2018 Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Finance Ministry‘s proposal of promulgating the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018 which will empower authorities to attach and confiscate properties and assets of economic offenders like loan defaulters who flee the country. Definitions: A Fugitive Economic Offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued in respect of a scheduled offence and who has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution, or being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution.

A scheduled offence refers to a list of economic offences contained in the Schedule to this Ordinance.

13. Domestic Violence Act applies after divorce too THE Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that the Domestic Violence Act, intended to safeguard women against marital abuse, will apply even after divorce. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi on May 10 dismissed a petition challenging a 2013 Rajasthan High Court judgment, which had ruled to this effect. The High Court also held that the Act would not apply only to marital relations, but the expression ―domestic relations‖ was wide enough to include ―consanguinity,



marriage, a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or as family members living together as a joint family‖. The case pertained to an application under the Act filed before a Jodhpur magistrate court in 2007. The court dismissed it and this was upheld by the sessions court. On appeal, the High Court referred it to a division bench due to two conflicting decisions, with one of them saying the Act was applicable irrespective of whether the woman was divorced and the other saying it will not apply where marriage was dissolved prior to coming into force of the Act. The High Court held that ―a plain reading of the definition of ‗aggrieved person‘ spells out that the intended beneficiary of the protection as provided for under the Act, is not only a woman who ‗is‘ in domestic relationship with the respondent but also the woman who ‗has been‘ in a domestic relationship with the respondent…‖

14. Special Category Status for Bihar Six states — Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Orissa and Rajasthan — at different points in time have been demanding special category status. However, the Inter-Ministerial Group had rejected Bihar‘s plea to be considered a special category State. It is observed that Bihar not only had the highest number, but also the highest proportion of backward districts compared with any other state. As many as 36 out of 38 districts in Bihar were backward as per the rankings of Inter Ministry Task Group (IMTG). It is also a fact that Bihar has occupied the last rank in terms of real per capita GSDP among all States in all the years 2000 through 2012. Bihar accounted for roughly 2.8 % of the GDP but 8.2% of the country‘s population during 2009-12. There is no provision of Special status category in the Constitution; the Central government extends financial assistance to states that are at a comparative

disadvantage against others. The concept of emerged in 1969 when the Gadgil formula (that determined Central assistance to states) was approved.

15. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana he Government of India and the World Bank today signed a $500 million loan agreement to provide additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project, implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, which will build 7,000 km of climate resilient roads, out of which 3,500 km will be constructed using green technologies. The World Bank has supported PMGSY since its inception in 2004. So far it has invested over $1.8 billion in loans and credits mostly in the economically weaker and hill states across North India - Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya,



Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. It has built and improved about 35,000 km of rural roads and benefited about eight million people with access to all-weather roads. The PMGSY and the Bank‘s involvement under this additional financing, will emphasize on managing the rural road network through green and climate-resilient construction using green, low-carbon designs and new technologies – far beyond merely funding civil works. This will be done through the following measures: Climate vulnerability assessment during the design process to identify the critical locations affected by floods, water-logging, submergence, cloud bursts, storms, landslides, poor drainage, excessive erosion, high rainfall, and high temperatures. Special treatment for flood-affected areas through adequate waterways and submersible roads to allow easy passage of water, use of concrete block pavements, and improved drainage; Use of environmentally optimized road designs and new technologies which uses local and marginal materials and industrial by-products such as sand, local soils, fly ash, brick kiln wastes, and other similar materials in place of crushed rocks; Innovative bridges and culverts through use of pre-fabricated/pre-cast units for roads and bridges having better ability to withstand earthquakes and water forces such as continuous beams, bearing free construction, and river training works; Use of hill cutting material in hill roads ensuring its productive use and resolving its disposal problem, use of bio-engineering measures, improved drainage and other treatments for landslide prone areas and providing adequate slope protection.

16. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) Polity The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education

in the country. PMSSY has two components: (i) Setting up new AIIMS.

Six AIIMS are already functional.

AIIMS Rae Bareli is under construction.

Thirteen more AIIMS are announced. Out of which, Five AIIMS are approved by cabinet.

(ii) Upgradation of government medical colleges. The setting up of new AIIMS at Deoghar will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the population while also helping to create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region to be available for primary and



secondary-level institutions/facilities being created under the National Health Mission (NHM). Setting up new AIIMS in various states will lead to employment generation for nearly 3000 people in various faculty & non-faculty posts in each of the AIIMS. Further, indirect employment generation will take place due to facilities & services like shopping centre, canteens, etc. coming in the vicinity of new AIIMS. The upgradation programme is carried out in selected Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) by agencies appointed by the Government of India under the direct supervision of the Central Government. Post-Graduate seats and additional faculty posts as per norms will be created and filled up in these GMCs by the respective State/UT Governments. The construction activity involved for creation of the physical infrastructure for the various new AIIMS and Government Medical Colleges‘ upgradation projects being undertaken under the scheme is also expected to generate substantial employment in the construction phase as well.

17. Intellectual Property mascot – IP Nani Government has launched the Intellectual Property (IP) mascot – IP Nani. Mascot IP Nani is a tech-savvy grandmother who helps the government and enforcement agencies in combating IP crimes with the help of her grandson ―Chhotu‖ aka Aditya. The IP mascot will spread awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) among people, especially children, in an interesting manner. This character is also in line with the World Intellectual Property Organization‘s (WIPO) campaign for the World IP Day which celebrates the brilliance, ingenuity, curiosity and courage of the women who are driving change in our world and shaping our common future. It also highlighted that how a strong IP system can support innovative and creative women and indeed everyone in their quest to bring their

amazing ideas to the market.

18. WIPO The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations. It was created in 1967 ―to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world.‖ It has currently 188 member states, administers 26 international treaties, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Non-members are the states of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, South Sudan and Timor-Leste. Palestine has observer status. India is a member of WIPO and party to several treaties administered by WIPO.



19. Inter-State Council (ISC) Inter-State Council Standing Committee under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh completes its deliberations on Punchhi Commission report. Background: The recommendations in Volume VI of the Punchhi Commission report are related to Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure. The recommendations in Volume VII are related to Socio-economic Development, Public Policy and Good Governance. Punchhi Commission: Punchhi Commission notified in 2005 submitted its report in 2010. The recommendations of the Punchhi Commission, which are contained in seven Volumes pertain to History of Centre-State Relations in India; Constitutional Governance and Management of Centre-State Relations; Centre-State Financial Relations and Planning; Local Self-Governments and Decentralized Governance; Internal Security, Criminal Justice and Centre-State Cooperation; Environment, Natural Resources & Infrastructure; and Socio-Economic Development, Public Policy and Good Governance. About the inter-state council: What is it? The Council is a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects, in which some or all of the states or the union government have a common interest. Key facts: Article 263 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of an Inter-State

Council. It considers recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action, and also matters of general interest to the states. The inter-state council is not a permanent constitutional body for coordination between the states and union government. It can be established ‗at any time‘ if it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of such a council. The Council shall consist of:

Prime minister who is the chairman. Chief ministers of all states who are members. Chief ministers of union territories and administrators of UTs as members.



Six union ministers of cabinet rank in the union council of ministers nominated by the prime minister are also members. Centre notifies Cauvery authority Union government on Friday issued a notification for the Cauvery Water Management Authority Background: On 16th February, 2018 the apex court had directed the government to form the authority within six weeks. The Supreme Court through its verdict marginally increased Karnataka‘s share of Cauvery water, reduced the allocation for Tamil Nadu and sought to settle the protracted water dispute between the two southern states. Composition of Cauvery Water Management Authority: It would comprise a chairman, eight members besides a secretary. Out of eight members, two each will be full-time and part-time members, while the rest four would be part-time members from states. Mandate of Cauvery Water Management Authority:

To monitor the storage, apportion shares, supervise operation of reservoirs and regulate water releases with assistance of the regulating authority.

The authority has also been tasked to advise the states to take suitable measures to improve water use efficiency, by way of promoting micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler), change in cropping pattern, improved agronomic practices, system deficiency correction and command area development.

Cauvery Water Management Authority is also expected to look at regulated release of water by Karnataka, at the inter-state contact point presently identified as Billigundulu gauge and discharge station, located on the common border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Significance of notification: This would help to solve the long running conflict on distribution of Cauvery waters. It will make the management of Cauvery water scientific.

20. Citizenship Bill may have to wait for House nod The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, is unlikely to be tabled in the monsoon session of Parliament because the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that is examining the legislation intends to have wider consultations. What is the citizenship amendment bill 2016? Introduced on July 19 in the Lok Sabha, the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 seeks to allow illegal migrants from certain minority communities in Afghanistan,



Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for Indian citizenship. In other words, it amends the Citizenship Act of 1955. The Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks to allow illegal migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian religious communities coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan to not be imprisoned or deported. It also appeals for the minimum years of residency in India to apply for citizenship to be lessened from at least 11 to six years for such migrants. The Bill, however, does not extend to illegal Muslim migrants. It also does not talk about other minority communities in the three neighbouring countries, such as Jews, Bahais etc. Why are people in assam not happy about it? The Citizenship Amendment Bill has not been sitting well with the Assamese as it contradicts the Assam Accord of 1985, which clearly states that illegal migrants heading in from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, would be deported. Who are the illegal migrants?

Under the Citizenship Act of 1955, foreigners who come into India without valid travel documents, or stay in the country beyond their visa period, are considered illegal migrants. Over the years, certain exceptions have been made to this law. In September 2015, illegal migrants belonging to minority communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan and coming to India on or before December 31, 2014, were allowed to stay. This allowed the illegal migrants to stay in India without being imprisoned or deported. This exception was sought again in July this year. How does one get indian citizenship at the moment? Anybody who is born in India, has an Indian parent, or has lived in India for over 11 years, is eligible for Indian citizenship. At present, illegal migrants to do not fit this

category. What else does the citizenship amendment bill say? The Bill also seeks to cancel the registration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders if they violate any law.

21. “Transformation of aspirational” districts programme The Tata Trusts has joined hands with the government to help it in development initiatives in eight worst Naxal-affected districts in Chhattisgarh, which were covered under the ―transformation of aspirational‖ districts programme. As per the pact, the Tata Trusts will help the government in conducting surveys and providing ground level



and technical support in raising the living standards of citizens and ensuring inclusive growth for all. The broad contours of the programme are Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, State level ‗Prabhari‘ Officers & District Collectors), and Competition among districts driven by a mass Movement. This will converge the central and state schemes, collaborate central, state and district collectors to strengthen these districts by identifying the low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement, measure progress and then rank the district by getting the data on a real-time basis. The 115 districts, including 35 affected by left-wing extremism, were selected on parameters like deprivation (extent of landless households), health & nutrition (institutional delivery, stunting of children and wasting in children), education (elementary dropout rate and adverse pupil-teacher ratio) and infrastructure (un-electrified homes, lack of toilets, villages not connected by road and lack of drinking water). With states as the main drivers, this program will focus on the strength of each district, identify low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement, measure progress, and rank districts. Under the programme, identified districts are prodded and encouraged to first catch-up with the best district within their state, and subsequently aspire to become one of the best in the country, by competing with, and learning from others.



Environment & Ecology

1. Manas National Park Assam Spring Festival is being held at the Manas National Park where visitors will get to experience the state‘s local food, music, handloom and handicrafts. The aim of the event is to promote the local food and culture of the fringe villagers. It is an attempt to

create a model of alternative livelihood through food, handloom and culture. Key facts on Manas National Park: Manas National Park is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. The Manas river flows thorough the west of the park and is the main river within it. It is a major tributary of Brahmaputra river and splits into two separate rivers, the Beki and Bholkaduba as it reaches the plains. The Manas river also serves as an international border dividing India and Bhutan. The bedrock of the savanna area in the north of the park is made up of limestone and sandstone, whereas the grasslands in the south of the park stand on deep deposits of fine alluvium. The combination of Sub-Himalayan Bhabar Terai formation along with the riverine succession continuing up to Sub-Himalayan mountain forest make it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. The park is well known for species of rare and endangered wildlife that are not found anywhere else in the world like the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog.

2. Kaleswaram project Central Water Commission (CWC) recently appreciated the Telangana government for the speedy execution of work on the Kaleshwaram irrigation project aimed at creation of over 18 lakh acres of new irrigation potential and stabilising another 18 lakh acres of the existing command area. What‟s the project? The Kaleshwaram project is an off-shoot of the original Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme taken up by the Congress government in 2007 when Andhra



Pradesh was not divided. After the formation of Telangana in 2014, the TRS government redesigned the project on the ground that the original plan had too many environmental obstacles and had very low water storage provision — only about 16.5 tmc ft. After conducting a highly advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey for a couple of months, the government separated the original component serving the Adilabad area as the Pranahitha project and renamed the rest as Kaleshwaram by redesigning the head works, storage capacity and the canal system based on the data of availability of water at different locations along the course of the Godavari and its tributaries.

3. Coastal Regulation Zone The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has framed a new draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018. The salient features of the draft CRZ Notification, 2018 and changes with respect to CRZ Notification, 2011, are as under: CRZ limits on land along the tidal influenced water bodies has been proposed to be reduced from 100 meters or the width of the creek, whichever is less, to 50 meters or the width of the creek, whichever is less. A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been proposed to be stipulated for all Islands close to the main land coast and for all Backwater Islands in the main land. For CRZ-III areas, two separate categories have been proposed viz.: CRZ-III A – Densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall have an NDZ of 50 meters from the HTL as against 200 meters from the HTL stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011. CRZ-III B – Rural areas with population density of below 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011

Census. Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL. Ease of procedures: Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I & IV areas, shall be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the MoEF&CC. For all other project activities located in CRZ-II/III areas, CRZ clearance shall be considered at the level of the CZMA.

4. National Bamboo Mission The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Bamboo Mission (NBM) under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) during remaining period of Fourteenth Finance Commission (2018-19 & 2019-20). The Mission would ensure holistic development of the bamboo



sector by addressing complete value chain and establishing effective linkage of producers (farmers) with industry. The restructured NBM strives to: To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change. To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units, treatment and seasoning plants, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure. To promote product development at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry. To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India. To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector. Implementation:The Mission will focus on development of bamboo in limited States where it has social, commercial and economical advantage with focus on genetically superior planting material of bamboo species of commercial and industrial demand. Adoption of end to end solution in bamboo sector i.e. complete value chain approach starting from bamboo growers to consumers would be emphasized. Mission has been developed as a platform for integration of Ministries/ Departments/Agencies with implementation responsibilities given based on their mandate. Capacity building of the officials, field functionaries, entrepreneurs and farmers through skill development and trainings will be emphasised. Focus will be given on Research & Development (R&D) to increase the production and productivity of bamboo. Beneficiaries: The scheme will benefit directly and indirectly the farmers as well as local artisans and associated personnels engaged in bamboo sector including associated industries. Since it is proposed to bring about one lakh ha area under plantation, it is expected that about one lakh farmers would be directly benefitted in

terms of plantation. States/ districts covered: The Mission will focus on development of bamboo in limited States where it has social, commercial and economical advantage, particularly in the North Eastern region and States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

5. First organised census for Indus dolphins Environment

For the conservation of Indus dolphins – one of the world‘s rarest mammals – the Punjab government along with WWF-India are conducting the first organised census on their population.



About Indus Dolphins are a blind species that communicates through echo like bats do, Indus dolphins are one of the seven freshwater dolphins found across the world. They are found only in India and Pakistan. In Punjab, they are confined to only a 185 km stretch between Talwara and Harike Barrage in India‘s Beas river in Punjab.The most flourishing population of the Indus dolphin, platanista gangetica minor, is found across Pakistan where their numbers are estimated to be around 1,800 over a stretch of 1,500 km of the Indus river. It is listed by the IUCN as endangered on its red list of threatened species. IUCN suspects the population size of the Indus river dolphins has reduced by more than 50% since 1944.

6. Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries get GI tag Context: Two craft forms that are unique to Telangana were recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the GI registry in Chennai. Adilabad Dokra: It is an ancient metal craft that is popular in the state‘s tribal regions. The uniqueness of this art form is that no two sculptures are the same, as they are not made out of a pre-designed cast. The craftsmen of this art form belong to the Woj community, commonly referred to as Wojaris or Ohjas in the rural areas of Telangana. They use brass as their main material and an ancient casting technique called ‗cire perdue‘. As part of this technique, the craftsmen use clay and design a model of the sculpture that they want to create. They wrap the clay with wax threads before baking the mould, so that the wax melts away and the molten metal is poured into the mould. The common items made by the craftsmen include small idols and statues of tribal

deities, jewellery, bells, small-scale animal sculptures and others.

7. „Green‟ Cricket in India The main aim of the partnership is to spread greater awareness about key environmental challenges that are facing the country and highlight alternate and more sustainable solutions. The partnership aims to spread greater awareness about key environmental challenges facing the country, and highlight alternate and more sustainable solutions. The BCCI will endeavor to reduce its environmental impact by greening operations and engaging cricketers and fans in green initiative. The partnership will also focus on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums in the country.



Through the agreement, the BCCI will endeavor to reduce its environmental impact by greening its operations and engaging cricketers and fans in green initiatives. The partnership will help make cricket green and sensitise spectators towards minimising waste generation during matches. The partnership will also focus on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums and cricket events in the country.

8. Gaj Yatra Gaj Yatra‘, a nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of World Elephant Day in 2017. The campaign is planned to cover 12 elephant range states. The elephant is part of India‘s animal heritage and the Government celebrates this day to spread awareness about the conservation of the species. The 15 months campaign will be led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The campaign aims to create awareness about elephant corridors to encourage free movement in their habitat. Gaj Yatra‘, a nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of World Elephant Day in 2017. The campaign is planned to cover 12 elephant range states. The elephant is part of India‘s animal heritage and the Government celebrates this day to spread awareness about the conservation of the species. The 15 months campaign will be led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The campaign aims to create awareness about elephant corridors to encourage free movement in their habitat.

9. NGT issues notices on plea to halt road through Corbett A plea seeking a stay on the construction of a link road linking Kotdwar to Ramnagar

through the Corbett Tiger Reserve has led the National Green Tribunal to seek responses from the Uttarakhand government and the Centre. A Bench headed by NGT acting chairperson Jawad Rahim on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, National Tiger Conservation Authority, National Board for Wildlife, NBBC (India) Limited and State government. The authorities have been asked to file their replies within two weeks. The plea filed by an advocate alleged that the construction of the road was in violation of previous Supreme Court orders that prohibited the construction of any road through the Corbett Tiger Reserve.



Economics and Social Development

1. Economic freedom index The Heritage Foundation has released its Index of Economic Freedom report 2017. The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative public policy think-tank based in Washington.

About the index: Economic freedom is measured based on 12 quantitative and qualitative factors, grouped into four broad categories, or pillars, of economic freedom: Rule of Law (property rights, government integrity, judicial effectiveness). Government Size (government spending, tax burden, fiscal health). Regulatory Efficiency (business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom). Open Markets (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom). Each of the ten economic freedoms within these categories is graded on a scale of 0 to 100. A country‘s overall score is derived by averaging these ten economic freedoms, with equal weight being given to each. Highlights of the report: India‘s economic freedom score is 54.5, making its economy the 130th freest in the 2018 Index. In 2017, India with a score of 52.6 points was ranked at 143 among 180 countries. India is ranked 30th among 43 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and its overall score is below the regional and world averages. China is ranked 111 and Pakistan is now at 131 position. India‟s performance: India is developing into an open-market economy. However, traces of its past autocratic policies still remain. Economic liberalisation measures, including industrial deregulation, privatisation of state-owned enterprises and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, that began in the early 1990s, accelerated growth. More recently, the government reformed one of its more opaque operational practices to make the auctioning of rights to exploit state-owned resources more transparent. Challenges: Corruption, underdeveloped infrastructure, a restrictive and burdensome regulatory environment, and poor financial and budget management continue to undermine overall development. The judiciary is independent, but the Indian courts are understaffed and lack the technology necessary to clear an enormous backlog. Although officials are often caught accepting bribes, a great deal of corruption goes unnoticed and unpunished.



Non-tariff barriers significantly impede trade. The government‘s openness to foreign investment is below average. State-owned institutions dominate the financial sector, and foreign participation is limited. In public-sector banks, troubled assets account for about 10% of total assets.

2. Sebi amends norms for REITs Sebi has amended REITs and InvITs regulations to facilitate the growth of such trusts. As per the amendments, REITs and InvITs will now have to provide a mechanism for resolution of disputes with their shareholders and partners in the holding firm. What are REITs? REITs are similar to mutual funds. While mutual funds provide for an opportunity to invest in equity stocks, REITs allow one to invest in income-generating real estate assets. How does an REIT work?

REITs raise funds from a large number of investors and directly invest that sum in income-generating real estate properties (which could be offices, residential apartments, shopping centres, hotels and warehouses). The trusts are listed in stock exchanges so that investors can buy units in the trust. REITs are structured as trusts. Thus, the assets of an REIT are held by an independent trustee on behalf of unit holders.

3. US places India under watch list The United States Treasury Department has put India again on the currency manipulator watchlist as the country‘s foreign exchange net addition and the bilateral

trade surplus with the US have breached two of the three criteria determining manipulation. What is Treasury report all about? The Treasury report is required by Congress to identify countries that are trying to artificially manage the value of their currency to gain a trade advantage, for example by keeping the exchange rate low to promote cheaper exports. The US Treasury Department uses three parameters to determine a currency manipulator: Bilateral trade surplus with the US to be $20 billion, current account surplus at 3% of country‘s GDP, and net purchases of foreign currency to 2% of country‘s GDP over a year.



Key facts: The ―monitoring list‖ includes those ―major trading partners that merit close attention to their currency practices.‖ In addition to India, the other countries in the list are China, Germany, Japan, Korea and Switzerland. Countries remain on the list for two report cycles ―to help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not due to temporary factors.‖ Way ahead: The report called for all the countries on the list to implement economic reforms to address their surpluses. Warangal durries: In this style of durries, weavers create beautiful patterns and dye them using vegetable colours, which are washed in flowing water after the printing process. Warangal district became a renowned hub for weaving these rugs due to the availability of cotton, which is grown by farmers in the area.

4. Prompt corrective action

Reserve Bank has initiated prompt corrective action against public sector lender Dena in view of high non-performing loans, restricting the bank from giving fresh credit and new hiring. What is Prompt Corrective Action? To ensure that banks don't go bust, RBI has put in place some trigger points to assess, monitor, control and take corrective actions on banks which are weak and troubled. The process or mechanism under which such actions are taken is known as Prompt Corrective Action, or PCA.

Why the need for PCA The 1980s and early 1990s were a period of great stress and turmoil for banks and financial institutions all over the globe. In USA, more than 1,600 commercial and savings banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) were either closed or given financial assistance during this period. The cumulative losses incurred by the failed institutions exceeded US $100 billion. These events led to the search for appropriate supervisory strategies to avoid bank failures as they can have a destabilizing effect on the economy. Too big to fail?

Due to the adverse impact on the economy, medium sized or large banks are rarely closed and the governments try to keep them afloat. Bank rescues and mergers are far more common than outright closures. If banks are not to be allowed to fail, it is



essential that corrective action is taken well in time when the bank still has adequate cushion of capital to minimise the losses.

5. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that operates Common Service Centres (CSCs). Through the MoU, the SIDBI seeks to extend financial support to the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) of Common Services Centers, with minimum one year of operation, under the Direct Financing Window of SIDBI. Under the Direct Financing Window, CSC SPV will approve the list of VLEs, within 25 km distance of SIDBI Branch Offices, who require financial support. To avail the loan, the VLEs need to submit their CSC project, with maximum project outlay of Rs. 3.50 lakh and term loan requirement not exceeding Rs. 2 lakh per project. Through the MoU, both CSC SPV and SIDBI seek to work together to bring more citizens under the ambit of financial inclusion. Moreover, it also seeks to enhance the financial viability of CSCs by including additional services in their bouquet of products. What are CSCs? Common Services Centers (CSCs) are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme. They are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society. CSCs enable the three vision areas of the Digital India programme: Digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen.

Governance and services on demand. Digital empowerment of citizens. Significance: CSCs are more than service delivery points in rural India. They are positioned as change agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods. They are enablers of community participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with key focus on the rural citizen. The CSC project, which forms a strategic component of the National eGovernance Plan was approved by the Government in May 2006, as part of its commitment in the National Common Minimum Programme to introduce e-governance on a massive scale. It is also one of the approved projects under the Integrated Mission Mode Projects of the National eGovernance Plan.



Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) was set up on 2nd April 1990 under an Act of Parliament. It acts as the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector as well as for co-ordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.

6. Govt weighs linking drug prices to WPI inflation The government is considering the feasibility of linking the permitted annual increase in prices of non-scheduled formulations to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in a bid to regulate the prices of drugs. The NITI Aayog has recommended an amendment to the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, suggesting that prices of non-scheduled drugs be also be linked to WPI to regulate them like the prices of scheduled drugs. It has also suggested development of a separate index for pharmaceutical products. According to DPCO 2013, prices of scheduled drugs are revised in line with the wholesale price index (WPI) of the previous calendar year. As a corollary, the companies are even required to cut the prices if there is a decline in the annual WPI. Pharma companies see this proposal as a serious adverse development and say it has the potential to cause irreparable damage to the Indian Pharma industry. Given the real annual inflation, increase based only on WPI is not at all reasonable as the industry has to deal with the rising cost of manufacturing. Additionally, according to the proposal, in case of a negative WPI, mandating the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to change the ceiling price of scheduled drugs and it will not be required for individual drugs to reduce their MRPs if they are already lower than such revised ceiling price. Pharma lobby groups have supported the equalization of the annual price increase between scheduled and non-scheduled drugs.

7. BSE becomes India‟s first exchange to be recognized as a DOSM by the US SEC

Asia‘s oldest bourse BSE has become the first Indian exchange to be designated as a ‗Designated Offshore Securities Market‘ (DOSM) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) The DOSM status allows sale of securities to US investors through the trading venue of BSE without registration of such securities with the US SEC, which eases the trades by US investors in India. Prior to this recognition, investors who wished to sell such securities (i.e., equity or debt securities issued by BSE listed companies in a private placement under the U.S. securities laws) had to take certain measures to ascertain the location of the purchaser prior to re-selling.



An IDR is a depository receipt denominated in Indian rupees issued by a domestic depository in India. Much like an equity share, it is an ownership pie of a company. Since foreign companies are not allowed to list on Indian equity markets, IDR is a way to own shares of those companies. These IDRs are listed on Indian stock exchanges. IDRs and equity shares: IDRs are similar to equity shares. IDR holders have the same rights as shareholders; They can vote for or against company moves or decisions as and when it comes to them, get dividends, bonus and rights issues as and when the company declares them.



Science & Technology

1. Point Nemo: Ocean Point of Inaccessibility Scientists were initially planning to push the Tiangong-1 satellite to Point Nemo. However, they could not do so as they lost control of it. China‘s defunct Tiangong-1 space lab mostly broke up on re-entering the Earth‘s atmosphere above the South

Pacific. About Point Nemo: Point Nemo, or ―ocean point of inaccessibility,‖ is a region in the South Pacific that is the loneliest place on the planet. It is used as a graveyard for controlled re-entries and a place where space junk can be dropped safely. Where is it located? Point Nemo, named after the submarine captain in Jules Verne‘s classic science fiction novel 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, is about 2,688 kilometers from the nearest land – Pitcairn Islands – which lies to the north of this point. Also, Motu Nui — one of the Easter Islands — lies to the northeast and Maher Island, part of Antarctica, to the south. Why this place? The region is safe to land all kinds of waste because there is also not much life in the water here. Coincidentally, it is also biologically not very diverse. So it gets used as a dumping ground — ‗space graveyard‘ would be a more polite term — mainly for cargo spacecraft.

Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiment (ASPIRE) Science

A supersonic parachute that will help NASA missions to land on Mars, was successfully launched into the sky during a key test designed to mimic the conditions of entering the red planet. The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiment (ASPIRE) was launched aboard a sounding rocket from NASA‘s Wallops Flight Facility in the US. Background: An ambitious NASA Mars rover mission set to launch in 2020 will rely on a special parachute to slow the spacecraft down as it enters the Martian atmosphere at over 12,000 mph (5.4 kilometers per second). The Mars 2020 mission will seek signs of ancient Martian life by investigating evidence in place and by caching drilled samples of Martian rocks for potential future return to Earth.



2. Oxytocin The Union government has banned imports of the hormone oxytocin to stop its misuse in the livestock industry, where activists say it causes hormonal imbalances and shortens the lives of milch animals. The government has also asked customs officials to step up vigilance against those likely to try and smuggle oxytocin into India. The government has decided to rely on domestic production to satisfy requirements of the hormone. Background: A panel of top drug experts had recommended an import ban in February. It also recommended that sale be limited to registered government hospitals and clinics, a bar code system used on all forms of the drug to ensure tracking and prevent abuse. About Oxytocin: Oxytocin has also been dubbed the hug hormone, cuddle chemical, moral molecule, and the bliss hormone due to its effects on behavior, including its role in love and in female reproductive biological functions in reproduction. Oxytocin is a hormone that is made in the brain, in the hypothalamus. It is transported to, and secreted by, the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. It acts both as a hormone and as a brain neurotransmitter. The release of oxytocin by the pituitary gland acts to regulate two female reproductive functions: Childbirth and Breast-feeding. Concerns: The drug is used by diary owners and farmers to boost milk production and make vegetables look bigger and fresher. But, it was found that indiscriminate use of Oxytocin in milch animals and by farmers was causing irreversible hormone damage. The drug‘s abuse in animals shortens their lives and makes them barren sooner. Implications to human health are humongous, from reproductive complications to hormonal imbalances.

3. Newly discovered antibiotic class, Odilorhabdins Researchers have discovered a new class of antibiotics- Odilorhabdins. Odilorhabdins, or ODLs, the antibiotics are produced by symbiotic bacteria found in soil-dwelling nematode worms that colonise insects for food. The bacteria help to kill the insect, and secrete the antibiotic to keep competing bacteria away. How they function? ODLs act on the ribosome — the molecular machine that makes proteins cells needed to function — of bacterial cells. When bound to the ribosome, the antibiotic disrupts



its ability to interpret and translate genetic code. When ODLs are introduced to the bacterial cells, they impact the reading ability of the ribosome and cause the ribosome to make mistakes when it creates new proteins,‖ said Mankin. ―This miscoding corrupts the cell with flawed proteins and causes the bacterial cell to die. Significance of the discovery: Odilorhabdins is unique and promising on two fronts: its unconventional source and its distinct way of killing bacteria, both of which suggest the compound may be effective at treating drug-resistant or hard-to-treat infections. According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistant is one of the biggest threats to global health today and a significant contributor to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.

4. Parker Solar Probe: Parker Solar Probe, which is humanity‘s first mission to the Sun, has begun final preparations for its launch in July. After launch, it will orbit directly through the solar atmosphere – the corona – closer to the surface than any human-made object has ever gone. About the Parker solar probe: What is it? NASA‘s historic Parker Solar Probe mission will revolutionize our understanding of the sun, where changing conditions can propagate out into the solar system, affecting Earth and other worlds. Parker Solar Probe will travel through the sun‘s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions — and ultimately providing humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star. Journey: In order to unlock the mysteries of the sun‘s atmosphere, Parker Solar Probe will use Venus‘ gravity during seven flybys over nearly seven years to gradually bring its orbit closer to the sun. The spacecraft will fly through the sun‘s atmosphere as close as 3.9 million

miles to our star‘s surface, well within the orbit of Mercury and more than seven times closer than any spacecraft has come before. Goals: The primary science goals for the mission are to trace how energy and heat move through the solar corona and to explore what accelerates the solar wind as well as solar energetic particles

5. NAAMES Mission In a first, NASA is conducting a study of the world‘s largest phytoplankton bloom in the North Atlantic, named the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) mission, to see how the tiny sea critters influence the climate in every season.



It is the first research mission to conduct an integrated study of all four distinct phases of the world‘s largest phytoplankton bloom. About NAAMES Mission: The North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) is an interdisciplinary investigation resolving key processes controlling marine ecosystems and aerosols that are essential to our understanding of Earth system function and future change. NAAMES is funded by the NASA Earth Venture Suborbital Program and is the first EV-S mission focused on studying the coupled ocean ecosystem and atmosphere. NAAMES consists of four, combined ship and aircraft field campaigns that are each aligned to a specific event in the annual plankton lifecycle. Scientific objectives: The North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) studies the world‘s largest plankton bloom and how it gives rise to small organic particles that leave the ocean and end up in the atmosphere, ultimately influencing clouds and climate.

6. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) TESS, NASA‘s planet-hunting satellite was recently launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Mission: The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA mission that will look for planets orbiting the brightest stars in Earth‘s sky.

7. Lunar „Gateway‟ space station National Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s (Nasa) is planning to award its first contract for the lunar ―Gateway‖ program in 2019. About the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway: The Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway is Nasa‘s planned ―staging‖ area intended for studies of the moon and the deep-space environment. Eventually, it will function as a way station for astronauts travelling to and from Mars. The Gateway would also further Nasa‘s goal of another human landing on the moon and will help determine whether water near the surface could be used to manufacture propellant for deep-space missions.



The moon‘s gravity could also help a spacecraft reduce the blistering speeds used for six-month voyages back-and-forth to Mars, thus facilitating re-entry to Earth‘s atmosphere.

8. Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) NASA is set to launch Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) on May 5, the first-ever mission to study the heart of Mars. About InSight Mission: InSight is part of NASA‘s Discovery Program, managed by the agency‘s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It will be the first mission to peer deep beneath the Martian surface, studying the planet‘s interior by measuring its heat output and listening for marsquakes, which are seismic events similar to earthquakes on Earth. It will use the seismic waves generated by marsquakes to develop a map of the planet‘s deep interior.

9. Limiting the Transfat WHO has released draft recommendations on limiting the intake of trans fats. These draft recommendations, the first since 2002, are aimed at controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are responsible for an estimated 39.5 million death (72%) of the 54.7 million deaths worldwide in 2016. Trans fatty acids (TFAs) or Trans fats are the most harmful type of fats which can have much more adverse effects on our body than any other dietary constituent. These fats are largely produced artificially but a small amount also occurs naturally. Thus in our diet, these may be present as Artificial TFAs and/ or Natural TFAs.

Artificial TFAs are formed when hydrogen is made to react with the oil to produce fats resembling pure ghee/butter. In our diet the major sources of artificial TFAs are the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO)/vanaspati/ margarine while the natural TFAs are present in meats and dairy products, though in small amounts. Harmful effects: TFAs pose a higher risk of heart disease than saturated fats. While saturated fats raise total cholesterol levels, TFAs not only raise total cholesterol levels but also reduce the good cholesterol (HDL), which helps to protect us against heart disease. Trans fats consumption increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.



It is also associated with a higher risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, infertility, certain types of cancers and can also lead to compromised fetal development causing harm to the yet to be born baby. Why they are increasingly being used? TFA containing oils can be preserved longer, they give the food the desired shape and texture and can easily substitute ‗Pure ghee‘. F These are comparatively far lower in cost and thus add to profit/saving.

10. Nigeria has announced that it is free from Lassa fever outbreak With six weeks of declining numbers and only a handful of confirmed cases reported in recent weeks, the critical phase of Nigeria‘s largest-ever Lassa fever outbreak is under control, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, Nigeria is endemic for Lassa fever and people could be infected throughout the year, making continued efforts to control any new flare ups crucial. In the last reporting week, ending on 6 May 2018, three new confirmed cases of Lassa fever were reported. This year a total of 423 confirmed cases including 106 deaths have been recorded. The national case numbers have consistently declined in the past six weeks, and have dropped below levels considered to be a national emergency when compared with data from previous outbreaks. ―Nigeria is to be congratulated for reaching this important milestone in the fight against Lassa fever,‖ says Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, Regional Emergencies Director for Africa. ―But we cannot let our foot off the pedal. We must use the lessons learnt to better prepare at risk countries in our region to conduct rapid detection and response.‖

WHO will continue to support the Nigerian government to maintain an intensified response to the current Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria. Thirty-seven health workers have been infected with Lassa fever, eight have died. This highlights the need for implementing standard infection prevention and control precautions with all patients – regardless of their diagnosis – in all work practices at all times. WHO continues to help states which have reported new cases by strengthening their capacity to conduct disease surveillance, treat patients, as well as implement infection prevention and control measures, laboratory diagnostics, and engage with communities. Lassa fever is a viral infection, primarily transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine, faeces, or blood. Person-to-person transmission is through direct or indirect contact with body fluids of an infected person. Prevention of Lassa fever relies on promoting good community hygiene to keep rats out of the house and prevent contamination of food supplies. Effective



measures include storing grains and other foodstuff in rodent-proof containers, proper disposal of garbage far from the home, and maintaining clean households.

11. NASA Mars Helicopter NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars. The Mars Helicopter, a small, autonomous rotorcraft, will travel with the agency's Mars 2020 rover mission, currently scheduled to launch in July 2020, to demonstrate the viability and potential of heavier-than-air vehicles on the Red Planet. Started in August 2013 as a technology development project at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Mars Helicopter had to prove that big things could come in small packages. The result of the team's four years of design, testing and redesign weighs in at little under four pounds (1.8 kilograms). Its fuselage is about the size of a softball, and its twin, counter-rotating blades will bite into the thin Martian atmosphere at almost 3,000 rpm -- about 10 times the rate of a helicopter on Earth. The helicopter also contains built-in capabilities needed for operation at Mars, including solar cells to charge its lithium-ion batteries, and a heating mechanism to keep it warm through the cold Martian nights. But before the helicopter can fly at Mars it has to get there. It will do so attached to the belly pan of the Mars 2020 rover. Once the rover is on the planet's surface, a suitable location will be found to deploy the helicopter down from the vehicle and place it onto the ground. The rover then will be driven away from the helicopter to a safe distance from which it will relay commands. After its batteries are charged and a myriad of tests are performed, controllers on Earth will command the Mars Helicopter to take its first autonomous flight into history.

12. NCDRC

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), India is a quasi-judicial commission in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. The commission is headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. Section 21 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 posits that the National Consumer shall have jurisdiction:- to entertain a complaint valued more than one crore and also have Appellate and Revisional jurisdiction from the orders of State Commissions or the District fora as the case may be. Section 23 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986, provides that any person aggrieved by an order of NCDRC, may prefer an Appeal against such order to Supreme Court of India within a period of 30 days. The National Commission was constituted in the year 1988. It is headed by a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The National Commission is presently



headed by Hon‘ble Mr. Justice D. K. Jain, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India as President.

13. Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) gives an option to a company looking for exploring hydrocarbons to select the exploration blocks on its own, without waiting for the formal bid round from the Government. Under Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), a bidder intending to explore hydrocarbons like oil and gas, coal bed methane, gas hydrate etc., may apply to the Government seeking exploration of any new block (not already covered by exploration). OALP was introduced vide a Cabinet decision of the Government dated 10.03.2016, as part of the new fiscal regime in exploration sector called HELP or Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, so as to enable a faster survey and coverage of the available geographical area which has potential for oil and gas discovery. (India has a sedimentary area of 3.14 million sq. km. comprising of 26 basins. At the end of 2012-13, about 48% of this sedimentary area remains unapprised. This includes, 65% of the total on-land sedimentary area, 22% of the shallow off-shore basin (bathymetry upto 400m) and around 49% of the deep off-shore (bathymetry beyond 400m) sedimentary area. Further, it is estimated that India has exploited only 3% of its proven natural gas reserves and around 5% of its proven oil reserves. Till 2016, exploration was confined to blocks which have been put on tender by the Government.

14. ISRO making green propellant Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have reported progress in the development of an environment-friendly propellant to power satellites and spacecraft.

The effort is to replace the conventional hydrazine rocket fuel, a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical, with a greener propellant for future missions. Initial tests by a research team at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) here have shown promising results in the formulation and associated tests of a propellant blend based on hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN). Due to its high performance characteristics, hydrazine has dominated the space industry as the choice of propellant for over six decades, despite its environment and health hazards and the challenges faced in its manufacturing, storage, ground handling and transportation. The LPSC team comprising Arpita Dash, B. Radhika and R. Narayan formulated the HAN-based monopropellant and carried out a variety of tests to investigate its characteristics, like thermal and catalytic decomposition and compatibility with different materials. A monopropellant is a chemical propulsion fuel which does not



require a separate oxidizer. It is used extensively in satellite thrusters for orbital correction and orientation control. The in-house formulation consists of HAN, ammonium nitrate, methanol and water. While methanol was added to reduce combustion instability, the choice of AN was dictated by its capacity to control the burn rate and lower the freezing point of the propellant. In a paper presented at the national conference on Future Directions in Propulsion organised by the Aeronautical Society of India here, the researchers said the propellant formulation was tested for compatibility with four metal samples over a period of six months.



International Relations and Internal Security

1. What is China‟s Tiangong 1 The Tiangong 1 module is China‘s first spacecraft designed for orbital docking tests and space research. It‘s name translates to ―Heavenly Palace‖ in English. The Tiangong 1 space lab intended to serve as a space station module prototype for China, which is the third country (after Russia and the United States) to develop the capability to launch astronauts into space and return them safely to Earth.

2. Peace Mission It is a multi-nation counter-terror exercise that will take place under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The main aim of the exercise will be to enhance counter-terror cooperation among the eight SCO member countries. Peace Mission exercises are held once in two years. This year‘s exercises will be the 10th edition. The last time, it was held in 2016 in Kyrgyztan. The 2018 edition will be held in the Ural mountains of Russia. For the first time, India and Pakistan will be part of this exercise. It will be for the first time since Independence that India and Pakistan will both be part of a military exercise, though the armies of the two nations have worked together in UN peace keeping missions. SCO: The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted as observers of the grouping in 2005. Both the countries were admitted as full members of the bloc last year.

3. Priority Watch list, USTR Special 301 Report & India In its latest 2018 Special 301 Report, the USTR has placed 12 countries on its priority watch list. India continues to remain on the priority watch list for longstanding challenges in its intellectual property framework and lack of sufficient measurable progress. As per the report, the country is also one of the world‘s most challenging major economies in the area. Office of US Trade representative (USTR) has to prepare a list of countries, whose IPR regime has negative impact on American products. Section 306: US government can put sanctions on such countries listed under Section 301 report. Therefore, USTR office prepares an annual report, after conducting public hearings, where private sector lobbyists and foreign government representatives can participate. Result is the Special 301 report. It contains list of countries with weak IPR regimes (Intellectual property rights).



4. Hague Convention A committee set up by the Centre to prepare a report on the issue of inter-country parental child abduction has questioned one of the basic principles of the Hague Convention by arguing that the return of the child to his or her habitual residence may not necessarily be in the best interest of the child. The Committee recently submitted its report to the Women and Child Development Ministry. Justice Rajesh Bindal Committee was set up last year to suggest a model legislation to safeguard the interest of the child as well those of the parents when an NRI (Non Resident Indian) marriage goes sour and one of the parents flees from one country to another with the child. In 2016, the government had decided not to be a signatory to the on the ground that it can be de The panel has prepared a draft law to safeguard the interest of the children, as well as those of the parents, particularly mothers. The proposed legislation lays down nine exceptions under which a child will not be returned to the country of habitual residence. The important conditions under which a child‘s return can be refused are — best interest of the child, domestic violence or mental or physical cruelty or harassment against the parent who fled with the child, the parent claiming the return of the child was not exercising the custody rights at the time of removal, and if there is a grave risk that the child would be exposed to physical or psychological harmtrimental to the interest of the women fleeing an abusive marriage.

5. Nathu La pass has been reopened for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Background: China had shut down the Nathu La pass in Sikkim and denied entry to the Kailash Mansoravar (located in Tibet) pilgrims last year due to the standoff in Doklam between troops of India and China at the border on account of security reasons.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) is known for its religious importance, cultural significance and arduous nature. The annual pilgrimage holds religious importance for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. The Yatra is organized by the government of India in close cooperation with the Government of the People‘s Republic of China. State Governments of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Delhi, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (KMVN) are other major Indian partners of the Ministry in organizing the Yatra. Mansarovar Lake is located at an altitude of 14,950 ft (4,558 m) is said to be the highest freshwater lake in the world. It is located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, 940 kilometres from Lhasa. To the west of it is Lake Rakshastal and to the north is Mount Kailash. Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China‘s Tibet Autonomous Region. It is also one of the four officially agreed BPM (Border Personnel Meeting) points between the Indian Army



and People‘s Liberation Army of China for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies, which helps in defusing stand-offs. There are five BPM points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Bum La and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh, and Nathu La in Sikkim.

6. NAFTA Negotiators fail to reach NAFTA deal, Trump launches new attack Senior American, Canadian and Mexican officials ended a week of talks without a deal to modernize NAFTA, agreeing instead to resume negotiations soon, ahead of a deadline next week issued by U.S House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan. The failure to secure a quick deal underscores uncertainty over the North American Free Trade Agreement, which U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said ―has been a horrible, horrible disaster for this country.‖ Trump, who blames the 1994 pact for U.S. manufacturing job losses to lower-cost Mexico, often threatens to walk away unless the other two member countries agree to major changes. After meeting for barely half an hour, the top Mexican and Canadian politicians involved in the talks to update the agreement made it clear that big differences remained. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said officials would continue working in Washington while ministers returned home for consultations. ―We plan to meet again as needed, which I think will be soon. ... The negotiation will take as long as it takes to get a good deal,‖ she told reporters after the meeting. Pressure to reach a deal increased this week after Speaker Ryan said he needed to be

notified of a new NAFTA by May 17 to give the current Congress a chance of passing it. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said he wants a deal in place soon to avoid potential political problems stemming from Mexico‘s July 1 presidential vote and U.S. midterm congressional elections in November. In a statement, Lighthizer said the United States was ready to continue working with Mexico and Canada but made no mention of a deadline.

7. Islamic Cooperation countries (OIC)

Russia has come in support of Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries (OIC) in their effort to enter the Russian market.



Russia‘s trade turnover with OIC countries stands at about $75 billion, with exports accounting for about $58 billion. Imports from OIC countries total about $17 billion. About the OIC: Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states. It is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations. The organisation states that it is ―the collective voice of the Muslim world‖ and works to ―safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony―. The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.

8. India‟s second IT corridor in China India launched its second IT corridor in China to cash in on the burgeoning Chinese software market which remained elusive despite the presence of top Indian technology firms. India has been demanding China to provide market access to Indian IT and pharmaceutical firms for several years to reduce bilateral trade deficit. The two corridors, which were started in collaboration with China's provincial governments, are expected to provide the much-needed big opening for Indian IT firms, Sabharwal said. The newly established Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza (SIDCOP) platform at Guiyang in China provides market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market. The Guiyang corridor will focus on Big Data. Last December, the NASSCOM established its first SIDCOP platform in the Chinese port city of Dalian, which is

India‘s first IT hub in China. Dalian corridor‘s focus was on IOT (Internet of Things). The corridor is aimed at setting up local offices and assisting companies from Guiyang to establish software and IT units in India.

9. RIMPAC naval exercises The United States has decided to disinvite China from participating in the Rim of the Pacific naval exercise, held near Hawaii. The decision to withdraw the invitation extended to China was made in response to Chinese activity in the South China Sea. Background: China first participated in the RIMPAC exercises in 2014, as noted by The Diplomat. Back then China‘s participation was lauded and viewed as a step toward cooperation.



In Asia‘s current climate, these exercises are especially important. Tension in both the South China Sea and East China Sea tends to increase during summer months, when activity is on the rise due to the presence of fishing and trade vessels. What is RIMPAC? RIMPAC is the world‘s largest set of international maritime war games. The exercises occur every two years and are led by the U.S. Navy‘s Pacific Fleet, headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. They are seen as a unique opportunity for Pacific Rim nations to cooperate as they train and work together to solve problems. Also, the games are seen as a way of ensuring open access to important shipping lanes in Asia‘s increasingly contested waters. The exercises are also a display of power — in the sense that participants are able to understand the technological capabilities of other participants — and thus perhaps act as a deterrent to further aggressive action. Observer nations: Several observer nations are usually invited, including China, Ecuador, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and Russia. While not contributing any ships, observer nations are involved in RIMPAC at the strategic level and use the opportunity to prepare for possible full participation in the future.

10. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Programme Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has shipped the first oil cargo for India‘s strategic petroleum reserve at Mangalore. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) had then signed an agreement with ADNOC which allows the firm to store 5.86 million barrels of crude in the strategic facility at Mangalore at its own cost. India can use the entire available crude oil stored by ADNOC in the Mangalore facility during an emergency situation. The Agreement

with ISPRL also allows ADNOC to sell part of the crude oil to Indian refineries on commercial basis while adhering to mutually agreed minimum crude storage which is for the exclusive use of the Indian government. In 1990, as the Gulf war engulfed West Asia, India was in the throes of a major energy crisis. By all accounts India‘s oil reserves at the time were adequate for only three days. While India managed to avert the crisis then, the threat of energy disruption continues to present a real danger even today. It is unlikely that India‘s energy needs will dramatically move away from fossil fuels in the near future. Over 80% of these fuels come from imports, a majority of which is sourced from West Asia. This is a major strategic risk and poses a massive financial drain for an embattled economy and its growing current account deficit. To address energy insecurity, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government mooted the concept of strategic petroleum reserves in 1998. Today, with India consuming upwards of four



million barrels of crude every day (January 2015 figures), the case for creating such reserves grows stronger. In January 2016, India signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates that allows the Gulf OPEC country to fill half of the underground crude oil storage facility of ISPRL at Mangalore. Therefore, the UAE‘s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will store about 6 million barrels of oil at Mangalore.

11. PM‟s Singapore visit: PM Modi hailed Singapore as a strategic partner of India. India and Singapore agreed to deepen their economic and defense ties as they signed 8 agreements including an agreement on logistic cooperation‘s. The two countries signed an implementation agreement between their navies on mutual coordination, logistics and services support for visits of naval ships, submarines and naval aircraft including ship borne aviation assets. India has formalised a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in nursing with Singapore which would allow nurses trained in seven nursing institutions across India to gain employment in the South-East Asian country. India and Singapore recently concluded the second review of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). PM‘s Shangri-La Dialogue address- Singapore is our springboard to ASEAN: Singapore, for centuries has been a gateway for India to the broader east. We have a growing political, economic and defence ties with each Southeast Asian country. India and China must work together: With trade between both the countries growing, Indo-China cooperation is expanding.

We have displayed maturity and wisdom in managing issues and ensuring a peaceful border. There is growing intersection in our international presence.

12. Global transit routes must be peaceful The Indian Ocean has shaped much of India‘s history. It now holds the key to our future. The ocean carries 90 per cent of India‘s trade and energy sources. It is also the lifeline of global commerce. India‘s vision for the Indo-Pacific region is a positive one and it has many elements. India stands for a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific region, which embraces us all in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity. It includes all nations in this geography as also others beyond who have a stake in it.



Globalisation key to development This is a world of inter-dependent fortunes and failures. No nation can shape and secure it on its own. It is a world that summons us to rise above divisions and competition to work together. Equal access as a right The Prime Minister also called for equal access as a right under international law to the use of common spaces on sea and in the air that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

13. INDOPACOM US military has renamed its Pacific Command to US-Indo Pacific Command, underlining the growing connectivity between India and Pacific Oceans. The symbolic move came in recognition of the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in US strategic thinking. The renaming reflects the existing geographic coverage of the command and the acknowledgment of the increasing connectedness between the two oceans — Pacific and India —, but also, more broadly, the process of India‘s re-entry into the US government‘s ―Asia‖ orbit.‖ Background Formerly known as United States Pacific Command, it is a unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. It is the oldest and largest of the unified combatant commands. Its commander, the senior U.S. military officer in the Pacific, is responsible for military operations in an area which encompasses more than 100 million square miles, or

roughly 52% of the Earth‘s surface, stretching from the waters off the west coast of the United States to the west coast of India, and from the Arctic to the Antarctic. The Commander reports to the President of the United States through the Secretary of Defense and is supported by Service component and subordinate unified commands, including U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific, U.S. Forces Japan, U.S. Forces Korea, Special Operations Command Korea, and Special Operations Command Pacific. Significance: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is critical for ―a region open to investment and free, fair and reciprocal trade, not bound by any nation‘s predatory economics or threat of coercion, for the Indo-Pacific has many belts and many roads.‖ Also, renaming the combatant command is strategically significant, in that it reflects a recognition within the U.S. government that East Asia and the Indian Ocean Region are gradually



becoming a single competitive space. It‘s also shrewd marketing — a way of reaffirming to New Delhi and to the rest of the world that India is, and ought to be, an indispensable pole of the future Asian order. The US move comes in the wake of a series of measures by China that have raised tensions in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area. The US also rejects China‘s claims of ownership of the area. However, the effectiveness of an Indo-Pacific defense and security strategy and US-India cooperation will still depend on the level of discussion and coordination across combatant commands and bureaus.



Miscellaneous

1. GI tag for rural crafts The Chau mask of Purulia, the wooden mask of Kushmandi, the Patachitra, the Dokras of Bengal, and Madhurkathi (a kind of mat) have been presented with the

Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India. A GI tag connects the quality and authenticity of a given product to a particular geographical origin, thereby ensuring that no one other than the authorised user can use the popular product‘s name. GI tags are given on the basis of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The first product to be included in the list was Darjeeling Tea. Once the GI protection is granted, no other producer can misuse the name to market similar products. It also provides comfort to customers about the authenticity of that product.

2. Mission Raftar With a view to increasing speed of trains in Indian Railways, ‗Mission Raftaar‘ was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17. The mission envisages a target of doubling of average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of all non-suburban passenger trains by 25 kmph in the next 5 years. Principal routes have been identified for raising of speed under Mission Raftaar. These are six routes on Golden Quadrilateral and diagonals namely, Delhi – Mumbai, Delhi – Howrah, Howrah- Chennai, Chennai – Mumbai, Delhi – Chennai and Howrah – Mumbai. These six routes carry 58% of freight traffic and 52% of coaching traffic with a share of only 16% of the network. Golden Quadrilaterals and its Diagonal routes have been prioritized for replacement of loco hauled short distance passenger trains.

3. „Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-2018‟ To celebrate the idea of unity in diversity, the Ministry of Culture is organising the 7th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat matrix in Karnataka. The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 31st October, 2016 to promote engagement amongst the people of different states/UTs so as to enhance mutual understanding and bonding between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing stronger unity and integrity of India. The State paired with Karnataka is Uttarakhand. The Mahotsav will cover a profusion of art forms from classical and folk, music and dance, theatre to literature and the visual arts and



would offer the chance to experience the best in established and emerging virtuosity. A handloom and handicrafts-utsav is part of the proposed event. The gastronomic culture of several partnering states will be showcased through a food festival.

4. Bharosa Bharosa,‘ an initiative of Hyderabad City Police, is a state-of-the-art centre to support women and children who are victims of violence. Since its inception in 2016, a total of 3,560 victims have approached ‗Bharosa‘ centre with a range of problems. ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center Women & Children is intended to support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace. Women facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, irrespective of age, class, caste, education status, marital status, race and culture will be facilitated with support and Redressal. Aggrieved women facing any kind of violence due to attempted sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, honour related crimes, acid attacks or witch-hunting who have reached out or been referred to the Center will be provided with specialized services. ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center Women & Children for women in distress is being set up in the Ground Floor in HACA Bhavan,Saifabad, Hyderabad to provide integrated assistance through Police, Medical, Legal, and Prosecution Services along with Psycho therapeutic Counselling apart from relief and rehabilitation as per her requirements. Objectives:

(i) To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces under one roof.

(ii) (ii) To facilitate immediate, emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological and counseling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.

(iii) (iii) To work towards a balanced society where equality between Men &Women exists by resolving Conflict in the families & society at large which helps in creating a safe city for women.

How it works: The ―Bharosa‖ –Support Centerwill work on a holistic convergence approach where a victim in distress will get all the help and support at one place. 24/7 Help Line run by Police Department with number 100 will take the Calls related to women cases and directs these calls to ―Bharosa‖ –Support Centerwhere each case will be received and directed to the concerned service experts. Every case which comes to ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center will be recorded by well trained Case Workers who will interact with the victim empathetically and prepare a Case



Profile, categorize each Case and guide the victim depending on the requirement of her needs. Preliminary enquiry about the facts of the case will be taken up with the help of the local Police, NGOs working in the field or by Women SHG groups. The report will be taken by the Case Workers over phone to enable her to guide the victim accordingly. Depending on the assistance required the victim will be sent to Psychological Counsellor / Legal Counsellor / Medical Officer /Temporary Shelter. These concerned personnel will take the case forward. If it is not an emergency and the victim intends to see an Expert, she will be sent to the Empanelled Expert in the field of Psychology / Legal / Health / Rehabilitation / Language after fixing an appointment with them. The environment will be made conducive for the victim and her supporters at ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center by providing proper seating arrangements, Child Play area and refreshments. Every registered Case will be taken up until the victim receives Justice, relief and rehabilitation and is brought to a logical conclusion before closing the case. An Induction Training will be organized for the Staff of ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center and to the different stakeholders. Refresher Trainings will also be organized for them every two months in the initial periods and later once in six months. A Website and Facebook page for ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center, Hyderabad will be maintained by the concerned staff of the assigned technical organization. The ―Bharosa‖ –Support Center will be registered as a non-profit Society under Societies Registration Act and an Executive Body along with Advisory Board will be set up involving all the Nodal Officers of Line Departments, Concerned Academic, Legal, Training Institutions and NGOs. Eminent Professionals belonging to Medical, Legal, Counselling and Rehabilitation will be on the Advisory Board.

5. Samarath The broad objective of the scheme is to skill the youth for gainful and sustainable employment in the textile sector covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving. The scheme is intended to provide demand driven, placement oriented National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programmes to incentivize and supplement the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the textiles sectors. The scheme targets to train 10 lakh persons (9 lakh in organised and 1 lakh in traditional sector) over a period of 3 years (2017-20), with an outlay of Rs. 1300 crore.



National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) organizes qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. These levels are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must possess regardless of whether they were acquired through formal, non-formal or informal learning. There are 10 levels in the framework, with the entry level being 1, and the highest level being 10. This will enable a person to acquire desired competency levels, transit to the job market and, at an opportune time, return for acquiring additional skills to further upgrade competencies. The framework would be anchored and operationalized by the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Finance, mandated to coordinate and harmonize skill development efforts of the Government of India and the private sector.

6. National Policy on Biofuels – 2018 The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved National Policy on Biofuels – 2018. Salient Features: The Policy categorises biofuels as "Basic Biofuels" viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and "Advanced Biofuels" - Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category. The Policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.

Farmers are at a risk of not getting appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production phase. Taking this into account, the Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee. With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years in addition to additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels. The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops. Roles and responsibilities of all the concerned Ministries/Departments with respect to biofuels has been captured in the Policy document to synergise efforts.



In order to promote biofuels in the country, a National Policy on Biofuels was made by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy during the year 2009. Globally, biofuels have caught the attention in last decade and it is imperative to keep up with the pace of developments in the field of biofuels. Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with the ongoing initiatives of the Government such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill Development and offers great opportunity to integrate with the ambitious targets of doubling of Farmers Income, Import Reduction, Employment Generation, Waste to Wealth Creation. Biofuels programme in India has been largely impacted due to the sustained and quantum non-availability of domestic feedstock for biofuel production which needs to be addressed. 1st generation biofuels are also called conventional biofuels. They are made from things like sugar, starch, or vegetable oil. Note that these are all food products. Any biofuel made from a feedstock that can also be consumed as a human food is considered a first generation biofuel. 2nd generation biofuels are produced from sustainable feedstock. The sustainability of a feedstock is defined by its availability, its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, its impact on land use, and by its potential to threaten the food supply. No second generation biofuel is also a food crop, though certain food products can become second generation fuels when they are no longer useful for consumption. Second generation biofuels are often called ―advanced biofuels.‖ 3rd generation biofuels are biofuel derived from algae. These biofuels are given their own separate class because of their unique production mechanism and their potential to mitigate most of the drawbacks of 1st and 2nd generation biofuels.

7. Micro-irrigation fund ‗Micro Irrigation Fund‘ (MIF) has been setup with NABARD under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). An allocation of Rs2,000 crore has been made for

this fiscal while Rs3,000 crore has been earmarked for the 2019-20 fiscal. NABARD will extend the loan to state governments during this period. NABARD will provide this amount to states on concessional rate of interest. Borrowings from NABARD shall be paid back in seven years including the grace period of two years. The lending rate under MIF has been proposed at 3% lower than the cost of raising the fund by NABARD. This cost would be met from the ongoing scheme of PMKSY-PDMC (per drop more crop component) by amending the existing guidelines. The dedicated fund would supplement the efforts of PMKSY programme and help bring about 10 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation.



The fund will facilitate States to mobilise resources for their initiatives, including additional (top up subsidy) in implementation of PMKSY-PDMC to achieve the annual target of about 2 million hectares per year during the remaining period of 14th Finance Commission. The states might access this fund for innovative integrated projects, including projects in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode and also for incentivizing micro irrigation. Farmers Producers Organization (FPO)/Cooperatives/State Level Agencies can also access the funds with state government guarantee or equivalent collateral. Farmers Co-operatives may access this fund for innovative cluster based community irrigation projects. PMKSY is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. and also new schemes like Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.

8. Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Delhi - Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is India's most ambitious infrastructure programme aiming to develop new industrial cities as "Smart Cities" and converging next generation technologies across infrastructure sectors. The objective is to expand India's Manufacturing & Services base and develop DMIC as a "Global Manufacturing and Trading Hub". The programme will provide a major impetus to planned urbanization in India with manufacturing as the key driver. In addition to new Industrial Cities, the programme envisages development of infrastructure linkages like power plants, assured water supply, high capacity transportation and logistics facilities as well as softer interventions like skill

development programme for employment of the local populace. In the first phase eight new industrial cities are being developed. The programme has been conceptualized in partnership and collaboration with Government of Japan. Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Project is a flagship programme of Government of India with the aim of creating futuristic Industrial Cities by leveraging the "High Speed - High Capacity" connectivity backbone provided by Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).



Western Corridor: In October 2006, the Indian Government established a dedicated body, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL), to carry out the project. The western DFC will separate freight and passenger traffic to increase the speed of freight movement. It will be used to transport fertilisers, food grains, salt, coal, iron & steel and cement. The project will eventually be linked to the Eastern DFC to form four hubs known as India‘s Golden Quadrilateral including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor covers a distance of 1504 km of double line electric track from JNPT to Dadri via Vadodara-Ahmedabad-Palanpur-Phulera-Rewari.



The Western Corridor passes through 5 states- Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

9. Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) recently organized a conference on successful completion of two years of the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted by the Government of India in May 2016. The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, which was approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2016, is a significant move forward to encourage creativity and stimulate innovation in the country. Outreach and Promotion is the first and foremost objective of the National IPR Policy and is critical to shaping an IP environment that is conducive to fostering creativity & innovation in the country. CIPAM is a professional body under the aegis of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) which ensures focused action on issues related to IPRs and addresses the 7 identified objectives of the policy. CIPAM assists in simplifying and streamlining of IP processes, apart from undertaking steps for furthering IPR awareness, commercialization and enforcement. CIPAM is working towards creating public awareness about IPRs in the country, promoting the filing of IPRs through facilitation, providing inventors with a platform to commercialize their IP assets and coordinating the implementation of the National IPR Policy in collaboration with Government Ministries/Departments and other stakeholders.

10. Network For Spectrum (NFS) project

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for enhancement of budget by Rs.11,330 crore for the Network For Spectrum (NFS) project. The project is being implemented by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Network For Spectrum (NFS) project is for laying of alternate communication network for Defence Services. The project is being implemented by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The project will also have forward linkages to other related industries such as telecom equipment manufacturing and other telecommunication related services. The NFS project will boost the communication capabilities of the Defence Forces in a major way leading to enhanced national operational preparedness. The project is crucial since the armed forces will migrate all their communication needs to this optic-fibre network and free more bandwidth for commercial telephony services.



11. Swachh Survekshan 2018 As a prelude to encouraging cities to improve urban sanitation, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (formerly Ministry of Urban Development) had conducted ‗Swachh Survekshan-2016‘ survey for the rating of 73 cities in January 2016 followed by ‗Swachh Survekshan-2017‘ conducted in January- February 2017 ranking 434 cities. In a bid to scale up the coverage of the ranking exercise and encourage towns and cities to actively implement mission initiatives in a timely and innovative manner, MoHUA now proposes to conduct its third survey to rank all 4041 cities based on assessment of progress from January 2017 till December 2017 under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U). The objective of the survey is to encourage large scale citizen participation and create awareness amongst all sections of society about the importance of working together towards making towns and cities a better place to live in. Additionally, the survey also intends to foster a spirit of healthy competition among towns and cities to improve their service delivery to citizens, towards creating cleaner cities. In order for cities to reap the maximum developmental bene ts from the survey, concerted efforts are being taken to strengthen the capacities of the cities to understand the modalities and spirit of the survey. In addition to giving towns and cities more time to prepare for the survey, there will be intensive interactions with ULBs to familiarize them with the survey methodology, survey process and output indicators, and also clarifying their expectations from the survey. Since citizen participation is a very crucial component of this survey, social media and other traditional media channels will be used strategically at both national, state and city levels in order to educate citizens about the objectives of the survey and survey methodology, as well as to reinforce the importance of their participation in the survey, in order to ensure signi cantly higher levels of participation from all citizens. Performance of various cities: Indore has emerged as the cleanest city, followed by Bhopal and Chandigarh. Indore

was the cleanest city last year as well. Jharkhand has been adjudged as the best performing state, followed by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Cleanest State Capital/UT: Greater Mumbai. India‘s ‗Cleanest big City‘: Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh). India‘s ‗Fastest Mover‘ big City: Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh). India‘s Best City in ‗Citizens Feedback‘: Kota (Rajasthan). India‘s Best City in ‗Innovation & Best Practices‘: Nagpur (Maharashtra). India‘s Best City in ‗Solid Waste Management: Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra). India‘s Cleanest Medium City: Mysuru (Karnataka). India‘s ‗Fastest Mover‘ Medium City: Bhiwandi (Maharashtra). India‘s Best City in ‗Citizens Feedback‘: Parbhani (Maharashtra). India‘s Best City in ‗Innovation & Best Practices‘: Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh).



India‘s Best City in ‗Solid Waste Management: Mangalore (Karnataka). India‘s Cleanest Small City: New Delhi Municipal Council. India‘s ‗Fastest Mover‘ Small City: Bhusawal (Maharashtra). India‘s Best City in ‗Citizens Feedback‘: Giridih (Jharkhand). India‘s Best City in ‗Innovation & Best Practices‘: Ambikapur (Jharkhand). India‘s Best City in ‗Solid Waste Management: Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh).

12. WHO list of essential diagnostic tests The World Health Organization (WHO) published the first edition of the Model List of Essential in Vitro Diagnostics (EDL) in May 2018, in recognition that IVDs are an essential component to advance universal health coverage, address health emergencies, and promote healthier populations, which are the three strategic priorities of the WHO Thirteenth General Programme of Work (2019–2023) (GPW). The EDL is also intended to complement the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and enhance its impact. The list concentrates on in vitro tests – i.e. tests of human specimens like blood and urine. It contains 113 products. 58 tests are listed for detection and diagnosis of a wide range of common conditions, providing an essential package that can form the basis for screening and management of patients. 55 tests are designed for the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of ―priority‖ diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus and syphilis. Some of the tests are particularly suitable for primary health care facilities, where laboratory services are often poorly resourced and sometimes non-existent. These tests do not require electricity or trained personnel. Other tests are more sophisticated and

therefore intended for larger medical facilities. For each category of test, the Essential Diagnostics List specifies the type of test and intended use, format, and if appropriate for primary health care or for health facilities with laboratories. The list also provides links to WHO Guidelines or publications and, when available, to prequalified products. An accurate diagnosis is the first step to getting effective treatment. However, many people are unable to get tested for diseases because they cannot access diagnostic services. Many are incorrectly diagnosed. As a result, they do not receive the treatment they need and, in some cases, may actually receive the wrong treatment. For example, an estimated 46% of adults with Type 2 diabetes worldwide are undiagnosed, risking serious health complications and higher health costs. Late



diagnosis of infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis increases the risk of spread and makes them more difficult to treat. Way ahead: WHO will update the Essential Diagnostics List on a regular basis. In the coming months, WHO will issue a call for applications to add categories to the next edition. The list will expand significantly over the next few years, as it incorporates other important areas including antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens, neglected tropical diseases and additional noncommunicable diseases.

13. INSV Tarini INSV Tarini has completed a historic global Circumnavigation. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The sail boat Tarini is being inducted into the Navy and is slated to be the platform for First Indian All Women Circumnavigation of the Globe expedition of the Indian Navy. During her 254 day long voyage, the vessel has covered over 22,000 Nautical miles, visiting five countries – Australia, New Zealand, Falkland Islands (UK), South Africa and Mauritius. During the course of her voyage, the vessel has met all criteria of circumnavigation, viz. crossing the Equator twice, crossing all Longitudes, as also the three great capes (Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope). The expedition was covered in six legs, with halts at 5 ports: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Port Louis (Mauritius). INSV Tarini is a 56 foot sailing vessel built in India by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Goa. It was inducted into the Indian Navy recently in February 2017. It has Raymarine navigation suite and an array of satellite communication systems for perfect navigation anywhere in the world. It showcases the ‗Make in India‘ initiative on the International forum.

14. ALIMCO

ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India) is a ―Not For Profit‖ Central Public Sector Undertaking working under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. For past 40 years, it has been relentlessly manufacturing various types of aids and appliances on mass scale to meet the requirements of PwDs including orthopedically, visual and hearing impaired etc. Since its inception, it has been serving on an average around two lakhs of disabled population every year and has supplied 42 lakhs of aids & appliances (approx.).



15. „Clean Air India Initiative‟ launched Context: Clean Air India initiative was recently launched by Prime Minister of Netherlands Mark Rutte, who is in India on a two-day visit. About Clean Air India initiative: The Clean Air India Initiative is a collaborative project between Get In The Ring, a platform for start-ups, the government of the Netherlands, Start-up India, and INDUS Forum, an online matchmaking platform of Indian and Dutch businesses. The campaign aims to curb air pollution in Indian cities by promoting partnerships between Indian start-ups and Dutch companies and build a network of entrepreneurs working on business solutions for cleaner air. Governments need to be articulate about the problems they want to solve, bring together the right partners, and channelise entrepreneurs in the right direction to find solutions to global problems.‖ ―Sustainable businesses present an opportunity to do social good, as they represent a for-profit orientation in the right framework. They advance the U.N.‘s Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] in a smartly profitable way.

16. SURYA KIRAN-XIII:

What is it? It is a joint Military Exercise between India and Nepal that will be conducted at Pithoragarh. About Surya Kiran: The Surya Kiran series of Exercises are being conducted annually, alternatively in Nepal and India. Notably in the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, Surya Kiran series with Nepal is the largest in terms of troop‘s participation. The aim of this exercise is to conduct battalion level joint training with emphasis on

Counter Terrorism in mountainous terrain. Aspects of Disaster Management have also been included in the exercise. The Joint Battalion Level Exercise will enhance defence co-operation and relations between the two nations. It is an ideal platform for the contingent of both nations to share their experience and gain mutually. The Exercise will be yet another step towards taking traditional friendship between the two nations to greater heights.

17. Women Safety Division in MHA

MHA has created a new Division to address issues of women safety comprehensively. This Division would deal with all aspects of women safety in coordination with relevant Ministries/Departments and State Governments.



The division, headed by a joint secretary level officer, would deal with all aspects of women‘s safety in coordination with the relevant ministries, departments and state governments. The new Division will deal with the following subjects:‑

(i) Crimes against women, SCs&STs. (ii) Crimes against children, elderly persons. (iii) Anti-trafficking Cell. (iv) Matters relating to Prison legislation and prison Reforms. (v) All schemes under NIRBHAYA fund. (vi) Crime and Criminal Tracking & Network System (CCTNS) (vii) National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

In order to address offences against women particularly rape in a holistic and time bound manner, the Division would focus to enhance capacity of the existing administrative, investigative, prosecution and judicial machinery, along with appropriate measures for rehabilitation of victims and bringing attitudinal changes in society. It was considered to create a National Mission for the safety of women, with participation of stakeholder Ministries/Departments, who would undertake specified actions in a time bound manner. These included setting up of Special Fast Track Courts (FTCs), strengthening of forensic set up and building up of National Registry of Sexual offenders, appointing additional Public Prosecutors, and providing appropriate medical and rehabilitation facilities to victims. Issues like sensitization of children through appropriate changes in school curriculum, a media campaign for raising awareness, checking proliferation of pornography materials and online contents etc. will also be addressed. The National Mission for Safety of Women would result in following:

For giving a credible response to emerging situation of crimes against women, especially minor girls

Focus on time bound implementation of measures with tangible impact on women safety

Improved coordination by Stakeholder Departments; Justice, MHA, WCD, School Education, Health, Deity, Legal Affairs, Information & Broadcasting

Improved Monitoring at Mission level of the time bound prosecution and investigation in cases of rape and other matters related to women safety.





Documents

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