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INDEX

1. National news

1.1 India slams China’s renaming of places in Arunachal 1.2 Govt regulates usage of Red beacon 1.3 Govt plans home delivery of petrol 1.4 Kohinoor not in our jurisdiction: SC 1.5 Delhi-Rewari-Alwar RRTS Project 1.6 Step up spending on infra, PM tells states 1.7 Underwater Tunnel in Kolkata 1.8 Panel moots UID number for Cows 1.9 Aadhaar – PAN linkage meant to plug tax leaks says SC 1. 10 PM launches low cost regional flights

2. International News

2.1 Madheshis willing to participate in local polls 2.2 Major Korea conflict possible US

3. Polity and Governance

3.1 Centre mulls nodal body for transport 3.2 SC seeks law to regulate NGO funds 3.3 Judicial performance index proposed: NITI 3.4 Money laundering may be made criminal offence

4. Economy

4.1 RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee warns inflation 4.2 Auction may help private coal mines tap 100 mn tonnes 4.3 India aims to cut oil products imports on its spurs alternatives 4.4 NITI Aayog moots taxing agriculture income 4.5 Merging PSU banks will help: RBI Patel

5. Science and Tech

5.1 Navy test fires land attack variant of Brahmos 5.2 New hepatitis figures show infection spike 5.3 Doctors worry about quality as center pushes for generics 5.4 Next Generation Sequencing 5.5 First Malaria vaccine

6. India and World 6.1 India South Korea ink pacts on artillery guns 6.2 Logistic Pact with US almost done 6.3 India – Sri Lanka sign energy pact 6.4 India to seal pact with Russia led grouping 6.5 India – Cyprus relations



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6.6 Bhutan exit from BBIN

7. Short News 7.1 Campaign to save 4000 trees gains momentum 7.2 BEL, ECIL to make VVPAT 7.3 K.Vishwanath wins phalke award 7.4 Internet link issues may delay GST



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Current Affairs (21 April to 30 April, 2017)

1. National news

1.1 India slams China’s renaming of places in Arunachal

● India rejected China’s move to rename six towns in Arunachal Pradesh, giving them new Chinese names in its official record.

● Government stated that Renaming or inventing names of states of your neighbour do not make illegal occupation as legal.

● China had announced that it has "standardised" official names for six places+ in the northeastern state and termed the provocative move as a "legitimate action".

● The Chinese move came days after Beijing lodged strong protests with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to the Arunachal Pradesh.

Why Arunachal Pradesh was Dispute between India and China?

● The essential dispute is over China's refusal to acknowledge the McMohan Line as the border between the two nations, and staking claim to large tracts of land as a contiguous part of Tibet.

● In the middle, or southern part of Tibet, China asserts that the border dividing Tibet and Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh are also disputed. And in the east, it lays claim to the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh.

● While China officially stakes claim to all of Arunachal Pradesh, it is a small district called Tawang, which borders Tibet and Bhutan, which it is most interested in.

1.2 Govt regulates usage of Red beacon

● Recently, Union Cabinet has decided to disallow the use of the red beacon on vehicles on India’s roads.

● From May 1 onwards, only vehicles on emergency services, such as ambulances, fire trucks and police cars, will be permitted the use of a blue-coloured beacon.

● Central government amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989, so that the Central and State governments lose the power to nominate categories of persons for the red-beacon distinction.

● Government amended the act to restrict the over usage of red beacon and to curb the growing VIP culture in India.



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1.3 Govt plans home delivery of petrol

● India is considering a plan for home delivery of petroleum products to consumers if they make a pre-booking to cut long queues at fuel stations, the oil ministry tweeted on Friday.

● About 350 million people come to fuel stations every day. Annually 25 billion rupees ($387.00 million) worth of transactions takes place at fuel stations.

● India, the world's third biggest oil consumer, will be introducing daily price revision of petrol and diesel in five cities from May 1, ahead of a nation-wide rollout of the plan.

1.4 Kohinoor not in our jurisdiction: SC

Recently, Supreme Court refused to further dwell on a petition seeking a judicial declaration to bring the Kohinoor diamond back from the United Kingdom, leaving the task to the wisdom and efforts of the government.

SC stand on Kohinoor issue

● SC stated, it was surprised that such petitions are filed. ● In a recent affidavit, Government stated, it was continuing to explore ways for a satisfactory

resolution over the diamond with the U.K. ● The affidavit said the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972, which prevents the export of

precious articles and treasures from the country, was toothless as the British East India Company confiscated the Kohinoor from the boy king Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1849 — “it is a known historical fact.”

● Though both India and the U.K. were signatories to the UNESCO Convention on Means of Prohibiting and Preventing Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the restitution of Kohinoor would require a “special agreement” between both countries.

History of Kohinoor Diamond

● 1306:The diamond – not yet christened Kohinoor – is mentioned for the first time in some historical texts as belonging to the Rajas of Malwa around this time.

● 1526: The first ‘verified’ mention of the stone crops up in the Baburnama, the writings of Mughal ruler Babur. Babur acquired the rock after defeating Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans, in the first battle of Panipat.

● 1739: Persian general Nadir Shah defeats Mahamad to conquer Delhi – and the diamond -- in 1739 and gives it its now-famous name. He takes the stone back to Persia but is assassinated eight years later.

● 1813: The diamond returns to India when Shah ShujaDurrani, a descendant of Ahmad Shah, escapes from his quarrelling brothers in Kabul, brings it to Punjab and gives it to Maharaja Ranjit Singh – the founder of the Sikh empire -- in return for being granted asylum.

● 1839-1843: Maharaja Ranjit Singh dies, leaving the diamond – and his kingdom – to his sons.



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● 1849: The British win the second Anglo-Sikh War and annexe the Sikh kingdom of Punjab under the Treaty of Lahore. 11-year-old Duleep Singh signs over the kingdom and the diamond over to them before stepping down from his throne.

● 1852: The diamond is taken to England and showcased to the public. ● Ever since: Despite claims of ownership by four countries -- India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and

Britain -- the United Kingdom has maintained its ownership over the gem.

1.5 Delhi-Rewari-Alwar RRTS Project

● Commuters from the Delhi will soon be able to reach Alwar in just 104 minutes by Delhi-Rewari-AlwarRegional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project.

● The project was discussed at the Ministry of Urban Development, ahead of a detailed project report being submitted for approval.

● The project, which is expected to be completed in about six years, will be funded by the Centre, State governments concerned and other funding agencies.

● With a design speed of 180 km/h, an operating speed of 160 km/h and an average speed of 105 km/h, the journey between Delhi and Alwar could be completed in 104 minutes.

National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC)

● The NCRTC, a joint venture of the Governments of India, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan is planning to undertake three prioritised RRTS corridors — Delhi-Alwar, Delhi-Meerut and Delhi-Panipat.

● Also, eight such corridors have been identified under the Integrated Transportation Plan, 2032, prepared by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).

● Among the other RRTS corridors are Delhi-Baraut, Delhi-Hapur, Delhi-Khurja, Delhi-Palwal, and Delhi-Rohtak.

1.6 Step up spending on infra, PM tells

states

● Stating that the vision of ‘New India’ could only be realised if all States work together, Prime Minister urged them to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation.

● Addressing the third meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog, PM pointed out while there has been a 40% increase in overall fund allocation to States between 2014-15 and 2016-17.

● Stating that poor infrastructure was hampering economic development, PM said more expenditure on basics such as roads, ports, power and railways would help accelerate the pace of growth.



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1.7 Underwater Tunnel in Kolkata

● Kolkata was the first city in the country to have the underground Metro railway service. And now Kolkata is all set to become the first city in India to have the underwater Metro rail connection across River Hooghly.

● It will be just like the tunnel service under the English Channel that connects Dover in England with Calais in France.

● The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is going to give the final presentation for the nation's first underwater Metro - connecting the east and west banks of the Hooghly in Kolkata.

1.8 Panel moots UID number

for Cows

● The Centre has proposed issuing “Unique Identification Number Sequences” for cows and their progeny to protect them from cattle smuggling.

● The Ministry of Agriculture has devised a method of tamper-proof identification of cattle using polyurethene tags with Unique Identification Number Sequence.

● This may be made mandatory for all cow and its progeny throughout India for all cattle that is owned.

● The Committee (led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs) recommended that each animal be tagged with proper records of identification details, including age, breed, sex, lactation, height, body, colour, horn type, tail switch and special marks.

1.9 Aadhaar – PAN linkage meant to plug tax leaks says SC

● Supreme Court referred to the mandatory linking of Aadhaar to the Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Income Tax returns as an instance of the government’s efforts to bring “new and new laws to stop leakages.”

● SC commented on Indian citizens tax evasions and how that affects India’s development progress, on hearing the petition filed, that challenged the constitutionality of Section 139AA inserted in the Income Tax Act by the Finance Act, 2017.

● The provision makes Aadhaar mandatory for getting a PAN. Possession of an Aadhaar card is



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necessary for the continuing validity of an existing PAN and for filing returns under the income tax law.

● As per government records 5 to 10 lakh fake PAN cards generated every year.

1. 10 PM launches low cost regional flights

● Prime Minister launched a regional air connectivity UDAN Scheme. ● PM inaugurated the first UDAN flight on the

Shimla-Delhi route and simultaneously flagged off flights on the Kadapa-Hyderabad and Nanded-Hyderabad sectors through a video conference from Shimla.

UDAN Scheme (UdeDeshkaAamNaagrik)

● It is a first-of-its-kind scheme globally to stimulate regional connectivity through a market-based mechanism.

● It is a key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was released on June 15, 2016.

● Airfare for a 1-hour journey of appx. 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for 30 minute journey on a helicopter would be capped at Rs. 2,500.

● Under this programme, the government intends to connect 45 unserved and under-served airports. Five airlines were awarded 128 routes under the scheme last month after a bidding process.

Govt takes steps to make air and rail travel easier

● The Government is working on a DigiYatra plan to allow paperless travel for air passengers,

including digital boarding passes at airports.

● The Centre is looking to make either Aadhaar or passport mandatory to book air tickets so that

passengers needn’t carry a printout of the ticket or document proof while entering the airport.

● Government initiated – DigiYatra – where an appropriate identification proof will be associated

with PNR number, either its Aadhaar or passport, and it will be securely identified so that no

documents are needed.

● The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad had started a pilot project in 2015 allowing

passengers to enter Aadhaar number at kiosks set up at one of the entry gates.



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2. International News

2.1 Madheshis willing to participate in local polls

● Marking a major shift in strategy, agitators from Nepal’s plains declared that they would participate in the upcoming elections if Kathmandu addresses “some” of the concerns about constitutional amendments.

● The new shift is a significant development in view of the earlier Madhesi position on boycotting the three-tier elections to be held in Nepal.

● The unification of the political parties took place after Nepal’s Foreign Minister stated that the Madhesi parties are unprepared to face the electorate.

2.2 Major Korea conflict possible US

● U.S. President Donald Trump said a “major, major conflict” with North Korea was possible over

its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

● US president wanted to solve the North Korean crisis diplomatically.

China’s worry

● China, the only major

ally of North Korea, has

been increasingly

uncomfortable in

recent months about

its neighbour's pursuit

of nuclear weapons

and long-range ballistic

missiles in violation on

U.N. resolutions.

● China banned imports

of North Korean coal in

February, cutting off its

most important export,

and Chinese media this

month raised the

possibility of restricting

oil shipments to the

North if it unleashed

more provocations.

● China has been

angered by the

deployment of the

Terminal High Altitude



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Area Defence (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its

security.

North Korea missile tests

● North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this

month, a day before a summit between Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi in Florida.

● North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce,

not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear

and missile programmes to counter perceived U.S. aggression.

● In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

called on North Korea and other countries to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase

tension.



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3. Polity and Governance

3.1 Centre mulls nodal body for transport

● Centre has begun discussions to set up a national level nodal body for all transport-related matters across modes including aviation, railways, surface transport and waterways.

● The proposed ‘Logistics and Integrated Transport Board’ will initially work on improving inter-ministerial co-ordination to facilitate an efficient multi-modal transport system in India.

● The ‘umbrella’ Board — likely to be chaired by a Union Cabinet minister or a Secretary to Government of India — will include top officials from other ministries concerned such as Finance, Commerce & Industry, External Affairs and Home, as well as senior representatives from the Indian industry.

Why nodal agency in transport?

● The aim is to gradually set up a single unified transport ministry by merging the ministries of Aviation, Railways, Surface Transport and Shipping to ensure greater ease of doing business and boost India’s internal and external trade.

● The development comes at a time when conglomerates such as Adani Group are expanding their multimodal logistics operations and when the government looking to expedite the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax regime to make India a unified market.

● The Centre is considering the report of the National Transport Development Policy Committee, chaired by Rakesh Mohan submitted in 2014.

● The report pointed out that “nearly all of the 100 largest economies, all of the OECD countries, and all of India’s emerging market ‘peers,’ the BRICS countries, have a Ministry of Transport or similar integrated equivalent rather than the collection of mode-specific ministries found in India.”

Goal on unified agency

● The report suggested that “India needs to have a single unified ministry with a clear mandate to deliver a multi-modal transport system that contributes to the country’s larger development goals including economic growth, expansion of employment, geographic expansion of opportunities, environmental sustainability, and energy security.”

● The Centre is also reportedly planning to build 35 multi-modal logistics parks by investing more than Rs 50,000 crore.

● It will help Indian traders to have access to hassle free global system for movement of goods by road or multi- modal means across the territories.



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3.2 SC seeks law to regulate NGO funds

State No of NGOs registered

NGOs files tax returns

New Delhi 76,566 0 Kerala 3,69,137 0 Punjab 84,752 0 Rajasthan 1.3 lakh 0 Uttar Pradesh

26 lakh 5.48 lakh

Tamil Nadu 1.55 lakh 20,277 Andhra Pradesh

2.92 lakh 186

West Bengal 2.34 lakh 17,089 ● Supreme Court suggested that the government ought to frame a statutory law to regulate the

flow of public money. ● The Centre handed over to the Supreme Court the new guidelines framed for accreditation of

nearly 30lakh NGOs and voluntary organisation in the country.

Non Filing of tax returns by NGOs

● CBI records filed in 2016 in the Supreme Court had shown show that only 2,90,787 NGOs file annual financial statements of a total of 29,99,623 registered ones under the Societies Registration Act.

3.3 Judicial performance index proposed: NITI

NITI Aayog has proposed the introduction of a judicial performance index to reduce delays and the outsourcing of non-core functions of the police to private agencies or other government departments, in a bid to fix justice system that is in ‘dire need of reform.’

Judicial Performance Index

● The performance index for courts will entail fixing of ‘non-mandatory time frames for different types of cases to benchmark when a case has been delayed.’

● The index can also include certain progress on process steps already approved by High Courts and such an annual evaluation should give judges in High Courts ‘a sense of where they are failing and what they need to fix.’

● The subordinate judiciary is largely within the domain of the High Courts, this could also spur competitive reform of the judiciary in those States.

● The think tank has also called for streamlining judicial appointments on the basis of online real-time statistics on the workload of pending cases.

Police Reforms

● The government’s think tank has also mooted changes in criminal justice and procedural laws, a repeal of all irrelevant legislation by March 2019 and reforms in land ownership laws — which account for 67% of litigants in civil suits.



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● To improve the quality of policing, the think tank has proposed to create a task force to identify ‘non-core functions’ that can be outsourced to private agents or government departments in order to reduce the workload of the police.

The creation of a judicial performance index that could help High Courts and their chief justices keep track of the performance and processes at district courts and subordinate levels for reducing delay, should be ‘the first step’ in judicial system reforms

3.4 Money laundering may be made criminal offence

● Government is considering a proposal to make money laundering a separate criminal offence to

be investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, irrespective of a probe by other agencies.

● Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money has also been of the view that money

laundering investigations by the Enforcement Directorate should be allowed without any

dependence on registration of cases by other police agencies under the legal provisions listed in

the schedule of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Current Procedure

● Under the current arrangement in India, the fate of money laundering cases depends on that of

the probe and prosecutions in predicate offences pursued by primary agencies.

● Many in government agencies are of the view that certain restrictions on money laundering

investigations on several occasions cause impediments in taking the cases to their logical

conclusion.

● Money laundering in itself has been defined as a criminal offence in several countries. US and

UK have stringent laws against Money laundering.



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4. Economy

4.1 RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee warns inflation

● Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy committee (MPC) cited upside risks to inflation arising from price pressure excluding food and fuel as the main reason for keeping its policy rate unchanged.

● MPC unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.25 percent in early April, had raised a secondary rate called the reverse repo rate, which is used to drain excess funds from banks.

● The MPC, which aims to bring down inflation to 4 percent in the medium term, maintained its hawkish stance on inflation, with most members expressing concern over upside risks to core inflation.

4.2 Auction may help private coal mines tap 100 mn tonnes

● Private players will be able to bid for mines with about 100 million tonnes of coal reserves in the initial phase of auctions for commercial mining rights.

● Public sector major Coal India Limited is gearing up to compete with private competition for the first time since 1973 when coal blocks were nationalised and will shut down all unviable mines in the coming years.

Positive outcome of coal auction

● Allowing competition in the commercial mining space will create a positive disruption in the market.

● It will give equal opportunity to both private and public sector in coal mining. ● The eligibility criteria for bidders will be kept simple and the auction process would be

absolutely transparent.

4.3 India aims to cut oil products imports on its spurs alternatives

● India is aiming to cut its oil products imports to zero as it turns to alternative fuels such as methanol in its transport sector.

● India also plans to start 15 factories to produce second-generation ethanol from biomass, bamboo and cotton straw as it aims to develop its mandate to blend ethanol into 5% of its gasoline.

● India imported about 33 million tonnes of oil products over April 2016 to February 2017, up almost 24% from the same period a year earlier, government data showed. The majority of the imports comprise petroleum coke and LPG.

Three-year action plan post 12FYP

● The Five Year Plans — the last one ended on March 31 — were relegated to history, to be replaced by a three-year action plan. This was to be part of a seven-year strategy that would in turn help realise a 15-year long-term vision.

● Draft action agenda for the three years till 2019-20, with 300 specific action points was



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prepared by governing council. This agenda is meant to be the first step towards attaining the envisioned outcomes by 2031-32.

● This ‘New India’,will ensure housing for all, with toilets, LPG, power and digital connections; access to a personal vehicle, air conditioner and white goods for ‘nearly all’; and a fully literate population with universal health care.

4.4 NITI Aayog moots taxing agriculture income

● Government think-tank NITI Aayog has suggested that agriculture income be brought under the purview of personal Income Tax in a bid to curb tax evasion.

● The recommendation is part of a 15-year perspective plan circulated among states at the NITI Aayog’s governing council.

● Excluding income from farming, which accounts for about 15% of India’s $2.2 trillion gross domestic product, out of the tax net forces the government to keep personal income tax rate high.

● NITI Aayog that since taxing agriculture income was politically sensitive, it will finalise the draft document only after it received responses from the state governments.

4.5 Merging PSU banks will help: RBI Patel

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Urjit Patel has favoured consolidation of some public sector banks to create fewer but healthier banks and resolve the problem of stressed assets.

Recent Merger

● Five associate banks of the State Bank of India (SBI) and the BharatiyaMahila Bank became part of SBI on 1 April in a merger seen as the likely first step in the consolidation of India’s banking system, weighed down by Rs7 trillion of stressed assets.

Challenges in Indian Banking System

● India’s central bank was grappling with was the large stressed banking sector balance sheets. ● RBI has taken series of measures have been taken in the past year on resolving the problem of

the non-performing assets (NPAs), including completion of a comprehensive asset quality review of the banks.

● Instance of the insolvency and bankruptcy code, RBI has been preparing actively for the next step in an orderly resolution and this will be undertaken concomitantly with the resolution of the weakest bank balance sheets under the aegis of a revised prompt corrective action framework.

● Public sector banks need to do is to raise private capital from the market and not rely on government largesse.

Advantages of Merging

● It willrestore some market discipline and get the banks and their shareholders to more seriously care about management decisions.

● Consolidation of banks could also entail sale of real estate where branches are redundant as well as offering voluntary retirement schemes to manage headcount and adding younger,



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digital-savvy personnel.

5. Science and Tech

5.1 Navy test fires land attack variant of Brahmos

● The Indian Navy successfully carried out the maiden test-firing of the land attack variant of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a stealth frigate in the Bay of Bengal.

● The land attack variant provides the naval ships the capability to precisely neutralise selected targets deep inland, far away from coast, from stand-off ranges at sea.

● Majority of the frontline ships of the Navy, like the Kolkata, Ranvir and Teg classes of ships, are capable of firing this missile.

● BrahMos, derived from Russian P-800 Oniks or Yakhont missile, is a joint product of India and Russia.

● The present range of the BrahMos is 290 km, which is now in the process of being extended up to 450 km following India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime last year.

5.2 New hepatitis figures show infection spike

● According to United Nations, an estimated 325 million people are living with hepatitis B or C and few are aware of their condition. Death tolls from the viruses are rising.

● World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest hepatitis report identifies the condition as a grave public health threat that needs an “urgent response.”

● Hepatitis killed 1.34 million people in 2015, a toll roughly in-line with HIV and tuberculosis. ● But in contrast to HIV and TB, hepatitis deaths are increasing, the WHO says, recording a 22%

mortality rise from 2000 to 2014. ● Hepatitis is often symptom-free, but types B and C can trigger liver cirrhosis and cancer if

untreated.

Hepatitis Affected Region

● The hepatitis B problem is most acute in the WHO’s Western Pacific Region, which includes China, Malaysia and Southeast Asia. An estimated 115 million people in the region have the virus.

● Second worst is Africa, with 60 million hepatitis B cases. An effective vaccine exists for hepatitis B.

● The WHO’s latest data show that hepatitis C — for which there is no vaccine — is most commonly spread through unsafe injections, notably among drug users.

● Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region are afflicted with the most hepatitis C cases at 14 million and 15 million respectively.

● The WHO is trying to ramp up the global hepatitis response, aiming to treat some 80% of sufferers worldwide by 2030.



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5.3 Doctors worry about quality as center pushes for generics

● Following the Centre’s advisory to physicians to prescribe drugs with generic names, doctors across the country are worried that any change in drug — especially for patients with chronic illnesses and critical care — may risk patients not getting the full benefit of a particular drug.

Doctors against Generic Drugs

● Doctors against generic drugs argue there is no concrete evidence to show that generic drugs are equal to branded drugs, with respect to bioavailability, potency, efficacy and impurity content.

● They argue, there can be complications and some of the ailments and diseases can go out of control.

● The same company manufacturing a branded drug also manufactures a generic drug means that there is a shift in quality.

● Companies manufacturing generics see the composition of a particular drug and manufacture them without any research and clinical trials.

PaDifference between generic and brand-name drugs

● Drugs have generic names and brand names. For example, the generic name of Prilosec is omeprazole. Prilosec owned exclusive rights to sell the drug because they created it and patented it. Once their patent expired, other manufacturers could make and sell Prilosec. They just have to call it by its generic name, omeprazole. Besides that, not much is different.

Are the ingredients the same?

● Yes, the active ingredients are the same. It has same strength and dosage as the brand-name product, and they’re just as safe and effective.

Advantages of using generic drugs

● The biggest advantage is the price. Patients can save as much as 90 percent over the cost of brand-name medications.

● Generics average 40 to 60 percent less than brand-name drugs. That’s a real plus for older adults on a fixed income who take numerous medications.



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5.4 Next Generation Sequencing

● Strand Life Sciences, a Bengaluru-based company, began offering a test called ‘STRAND LB’ that claims to be able to detect traces of a tumour “from a simple blood draw”.

● MedGenome, another company based in Bengaluru — also announced the launch of “ONCOTRACK”, another ‘liquid biopsy’ test.

● Experts opine that management of cancer will undergo a massive transformation in India with NGS (next-generation sequencing).

Next Generation Sequencing

NGS refers to techniques to scan genes and look for mutations that may cause cancer.

Earlier method used in Cancer testing

● Traditionally, ferreting out cancer requires scooping out tissue from a suspected organ and testing them for the disease. Depending on the location of the cancer, this frequently involves invasive surgery.

● Moreover, even after surgery or chemotherapy, several more biopsies are continually required to check if the cancer has disappeared or worse, relapsed.

● Biopsies are also required to check if the cancer is caused due to specific kinds of mutations that would render certain kinds of treatment ineffective.

Advantages of NGS

● NGS involve being able to catch free-floating pieces of a tumour or particular pieces of tumour DNA in the blood.

● These are then analysed to see if the DNA contains mutations that are known to be linked to particular kinds of cancer.

Statistics on India’s cancer patients

● India is likely to have over 1.73 million new cases of cancer and over 8,80,000 deaths due to the disease by 2020.

● Around 70% of all cancer patients approach the doctor when the disease has advanced and chances of a cure are very low.

5.5 First Malaria vaccine

● World Health Organisation (WHO) will begin pilot tests of the injectable malaria vaccine RTS,S (or Mosquirix) on 750,000 children aged 5-17 months in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi by next year.

● The vaccine has been successfully put through a Phase III trial, in which the drug is tested for safety and efficacy.

● If the vaccine does indeed prove to be ready for large-scale use, it will be a milestone in the fight against malaria.

Four doses of vaccine



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● The vaccine, given in four doses, protects against Plasmodium falciparum, which is the most prevalent malaria parasite in Africa.

● The first three doses of the vaccine will be administered with a minimum interval of one month between each dose, followed by the fourth dose 15 to 18 months after the third dose.

● The first dose will be administered at about five months of age and the third dose has to be completed by nine months of age.

According to WHO estimates, Africa accounted for 92% of these deaths, and 90% of the 212 million new cases that year. In such a scenario, even a vaccine with limited benefits could yield a substantial improvement.



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6. India and World

6.1 India South Korea ink pacts on artillery guns ● India and South Korea signed two agreements to build artillery guns for the Indian Army and

for collaboration in shipbuilding. ● One of them is an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between the governments while the

other is a manufacturing agreement between two private companies. ● The MoU was conceived under the overall umbrella of the ‘Special Strategic Partnership’

between both sides. ● The Inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for defence industry

co-operation in shipbuilding. India has already nominated Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam while South Korea will designate their shipyard soon

● Indian engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Hanwa Techwin of South Korea signed a contract to manufacture the K9 Vajra-T tracked, self-propelled artillery guns for the Indian Army.

6.2 Logistic Pact with US almost done

India is expected to notify the operationalising of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the U.S.

Why the pact is significant?

LEMOA gives access to both countries to designated military facilities on either side for refuelling and replenishment in primarily four areas — port calls, joint exercises, training and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Australia wants a LEMOA

● Australia has put forward a proposal to have a logistics support agreement with India on the lines of the one concluded with the US.

● India has said that it would first like to get the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (LEMOA) with the U.S. operational.



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● India and Australia have been expanding their military-to-military cooperation, especially in the maritime domain, given their shared interests and concerns in the Indian Ocean, with the rapid expansion of China’s naval presence in the region.

● To facilitate cooperation in this regard, Australia has proposed a logistics agreement and has already submitted a draft to India.

● India has informally conveyed that it would like to first operationalise the LEMOA with the U.S. and would like to take up other such agreements after that.

6.3 India – Srilanka sign energy pact

● Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Sri Lanka, both sides will collaborate in a host of energy and infrastructure projects across the island.

● India aims to promote connectivity and development takes Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas to our external environment, and naturally to neighbourhood first.

MoUs Signed between Indian and Srilanka

● Setting up of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in suburban Colombo and a solar power plant in Sampur in Trincomalee.

● Indian assistance to enhanced use of natural gas in Sri Lanka. ● Joint investment in the petroleum sector and partnerships in highways and transportation. ● The spotlight remains on the proposed joint venture to develop a World War-era oil storage

facility in Trincomalee, the strategically located port town on the island’s east coast. ● India and Srilanka will also jointly set up Industrial Zones and Special Economic Zones in Sri

Lanka. Colombo has been keen on attracting Indian investment into the island.

6.4 India to seal pact with Russia led grouping

● India is set to formalise a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, clearing the

decks for negotiations on deepening trade relations with the five former Soviet republics.

● The joint statement on the FTA is likely to be issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s

meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at St. Petersburg on June 1.

● The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The FTA is expected to open up a huge market with a trade potential of $37 to 62 billion.

● Trade between India and the five Eurasian countries stands at about $11 billion. “The FTA with

the Eurasian countries was dictated by India’s need to diversify into new markets.

6.5 India – Cyprus relations

● Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades strongly pitched for

decisive action against states supporting, sheltering and sustaining “violence factories” in their

regions.

● Both sides also signed four pacts, including one for air services and another on cooperation in



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merchant shipping.

● Both countries agreed there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those

states which generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions.

● The two sides also agreed on the need for early reforms in the UNSC as Mr. Modi expressed

India’s appreciation for Cyprus’ support to India’s bid for inclusion in the world body as a

permanent member.

6.6 Bhutan exit from BBIN

● Bhutan’s announcement that it is unable to proceed with the Motor Vehicles Agreement with

Bangladesh, India and Nepal is a road block, and not a dead end, for the regional sub-grouping

India had planned for ease of access among the four countries.

● The sub-grouping, BBIN as it is referred to, was an alternative mooted by the government after

Pakistan rejected the MVA at the SAARC summit in Kathmandu in 2014.

● It seeks to allow trucks and other commercial vehicles to ply on one another’s highways to

facilitate trade.

● Of the other SAARC members, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are not connected by land, and

Afghanistan could only be connected if Pakistan was on board.

● Down to just three countries now after Thimphu’s decision, India, Nepal and Bangladesh will

have to decide whether to wait for Bhutan to reconsider or to press ahead with a truncated

‘BIN’ arrangement.



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7. Short News

7.1 Campaign to save 4000 trees gains momentum

● 4,000 trees would be cut for widening the 61 km stretch from BarasatDakBunglow More to Petrapole (checkpoint on India-Bangladesh border) on the NH-35.

● Thousands of people signing an online petition; a documentary film doing the rounds on social media; a campaign of hugging of trees like the Chipko movement and a legal battle in the Calcutta High Court.

● In July 2015, an order was passed to expand the 61 km long stretch, from Barasat to Petrapole.To convert the two-lane road to a four-lane one.

7.2 BEL, ECIL to make VVPAT

● With the Union Cabinet clearing fund allocations, the Election Commission has issued a letter of intent for buying 16.15 lakh voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines.

● The machines will be procured in 2017-18 and 2018-19 at an estimated cost of ₹3,173.47 crore from the public sector undertakings Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd.

7.3 K.Vishwanath wins phalke award

● Renowned filmmaker and actor KasinadhuniViswanath, best known for his award-winning movies in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi, has won the DadasahebPhalke award for the year 2016.

● He will be the 48 recipient of the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of ₹10 lakh and a shawl.

● A recipient of five National Film Awards, Viswanath is celebrated for his film Sankarabharanam, SagaraSangamam, Swati Mutyam, Saptapadi, Kaamchor, Sanjog and JaagUthaInsaan. Mr. Viswanath, who has made about 50 films since 1965, is known for his plots that revolve around social themes.

7.4 Internet link issues may delay GST

● Poor Internet connectivity is turning out to be a challenge for the rollout of the Goods and

Services Tax (GST), particularly in the North East, as the Centre pushes for the July 1 deadline to

implement the new indirect tax regime.

● The implementation of GST requires high-speed connectivity between the GST server and the

State VAT data centre, and also between District VAT office and State VAT office since the

processing of returns, among other processes, is done online.



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NeoStencil – Live Online Classes For IAS Preparation |+91 ... · 4 Current Affairs (21 April to 30 April, 2017) 1. National news 1.1 India slams China’s renaming of places in