Trending Topics Part 3 of 10 Prelims

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Index
Trending Topics
1. Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Indian Parliament

2. The Aadhaar Act, 2016
3. Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill
4. Reservation for Women in Forces
5. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Yojana
6. UGC and AICTE
7. "Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalaya"
8. FSSAI
9. Central Water Commission
10. Contempt of Court
11. Uniform Civil Code
12. Nobel Prize 2016
13. One Rank One Pension
14. Inner Line Permit
15. SECC 2011
16. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy
17. Green Finance
18. Green Bonds
19. Shale Gas
20. Krishi Kalyan Cess
21. Traditional Knowledge Digital Library
22. Inter-state River Water Dispute
23. Special Category Status
24. Indus Water Treaty
25. Disha (District Development Committee)
26. National Institutional Ranking Framework
27. Office of Profit
28. Surrogacy Regulation Bill
29. Social Audit
30. Sutlej-yamuna Link Issue
Notes
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LEADER OF OPPOSITION (LOP) IN INDIAN

PARLIAMENT
In the year 1977- The leaders of opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were given statutory recognition.
They provide constructive criticism of the government policies.
Gets same salaries and allowances that are equivalent to a Cabinet minister paid by the government.
To become leader of opposition, the single largest political party in opposition should have atleast 10%
seats in the Lok Sabha. The Leader of such a party acts as the Leader of Opposition.
House Total 10% of Seats Current LoP in Houses
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Rajya Sabha 245 25 Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress got- 67 seats
Lok Sabha 543 55 Post is Vacant, Congress- 47 Seats, AIADMK- 37 Seats.
Eligibility criteria of the LoP:

OR
Each house has a LoP leader of the largest party that has not less than one-tenth of the total strength
of the house. In Lok sabha, total strength = 545, one tenth = 55.
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Largest party in opposition and its leader is recognized by the Speaker / Chairman as a matter of
convention established by 1st lok sabha speaker GV Mavlankar. Main oppositions strength must be 10%
of the total strength. The convention was later incorporated in Direction 121c, Directions by the Speaker.
LoP accorded statutory status and defined under Salary and allowances of Leaders of Opposition in
Parliament Act, 1977.
Significance of the LoP:
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To provide constructive criticism on the policies of the government.

Helps to represent a view contrary from that of government.
LoP is required on the panels that recommend key appointments like Lokpal, CVC, CIC etc.
As per the 2nd ARC setup a Civil service Board- for transfer posting of top bureaucratic posts, the
members of this Committee, will be selected by PM and LoP.
Different committees and Role of the LoP:
CVC PM + Home minister + leader of opposition in LS.
Although 2003 CVC Act defines, if no LoP then leader of single largest party can be made
part of the Committee.
But same Act also defines, if vacancy in Committee, still appointment can be done.
CIC PM + Union minister + Leader of opposition in LS.
RTI Act -leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha.
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NHRC PM+ Home minister + speaker of LS + dept. chair of RS + leader of Opposition of LS

+ leader of Opposition of RS.
As per Protection of Human Rights Act 1993. - If vacancy in Committee, still appointment
can be done.
LOKPAL PM + CJI +speaker of LS + leader of opposition in LS + eminent jurist.
Even here, if vacancy in Committee, still appointment can be made as per Lokpal Act
2013.
Current Controversy related to the post (10% Rule):
Congress being the second largest party has 44 seats. Even If; in count the whole UPA alliance- its 60
members. It falls short of the 10% norm. After 10 years of being in the power, it does not get even LoP.
Therefore, Speaker of the LS declares, neither congress nor the UPA leader can be declared as the leader
of opposition in Lok Sabha because none has won the required 55 seats.
Congress has been demanding the post of LoP but the Speaker rejected their proposal citing conventions
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and norms. However, her decision was criticized as there is no law that mandates the 10% eligibility.
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(In 16th Lok Sabha Assembly, National congress party did not get the requisite number and made the leader
of opposition ( LoP ) in spite of not having LoP recognition , Mallikarjun Kharge has been inducted in CIC
selection panel.)
Comparison with other Countries:
Britain- the opposition is formally designated Her Majestys Loyal Opposition. They also form the Shadow
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Cabinet to balance the ruling cabinet and prepare its members for future ministerial offices.
United States The President is held accountable by minority parties in Congress.
A flourishing democracy should accommodate the fundamental right to dissent. Inclusion of LoP provides
objectivity and a contrarian perspective to decisions and appointments made by the government.
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Notes
2
THE AADHAAR ACT, 2016

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) of Indian Constitution mandates government to provide
various kinds of welfare measures to the people. These initiatives like old age pension, scholarships, food
supply at cheap prices suffered from issues of leakages in absence of proper universal identification tool.
Aadhaar initiative uses the advancements in technical fields to sort out the legacy issues of exclusion, corruption
and provide many other ancillary benefits. The Aadhaar Act gives statutory backing to whole process.
The Act intends to provide for targeted delivery of subsidies and services to individuals residing in India by
assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar numbers.
Salient features:
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Every resident shall be entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number. A resident is a person who has resided in
India for 182 days, in the one year preceding the date of application for enrolment for Aadhaar.

OR
To obtain an Aadhaar number, an individual has to submit his, (i) biometric (photograph, finger print, iris
scan) and (ii) demographic (name, date of birth, address) information.
The key functions of the UID authority include, (i) specifying demographic and biometric information to
be collected during enrolment, (ii) assigning Aadhaar numbers to individuals, (iii) authenticating Aadhaar
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numbers, and (iv) specifying the usage of Aadhaar numbers for delivery of subsidies and services.
The UID authority will consist of a chairperson, two part-time members and a chief executive officer.
The chairperson and members are required to have experience of at least ten years in matters such as
technology, governance, etc.
iometric information such as an individuals finger print, iris scan and other biological attributes (specified
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by regulations) will be used only for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, and for no other purpose.
In two cases, information may be revealed:
a) In the interest of national security, a Joint Secretary in the central government may issue a direction
for revealing, (i) Aadhaar number, (ii) biometric information (iris scan, finger print and other biological
attributes specified by regulations), (iii) demographic information, and (iv) photograph. Such a decision
will be reviewed by an Oversight Committee (comprising Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Legal
Affairs and Electronics and Information Technology) and will be valid for six months.
b) On the order of a court, (i) an individuals Aadhaar number, (ii) photograph, and (iii) demographic
information, may be revealed.
A person may be punished with imprisonment upto three years and minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh for
unauthorised access to the centralized data-base, including revealing any information stored in it.
No court shall take cognizance of any offence except on a complaint made by the UID authority or a
person authorised by it.
Notes
3
ENEMY PROPERTY
(AMENDMENTAND VALIDATION) BILL
In the wake of the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, there was migration of people from India to
Pakistan. Under the Defense of India Rules framed under the Defense of India Act, the Government of India
took over the properties and companies of those who took Pakistani nationality.
These Enemy Properties were vested by the central government in the Custodian of Enemy Property for
India.
The Enemy Property Act was enacted in the year 1968 by the Government of India, which provided for the
continuous vesting of enemy property in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. The Central Government,
through the Custodian, is in possession of enemy properties spread across many states in the country.
The bill has been proposed to amend it.
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The Bill amends the Enemy Property Act, 1968, to vest all rights, titles and interests over enemy property in
OR
the Custodian
The Bill declares transfer of enemy property by the enemy, conducted under the Act, to be void. This applies
retrospectively to transfers that have occurred before or after 1968.
The Bill prohibits civil courts and other authorities from entertaining disputes related to enemy property.
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The Billprohibits civil courtsfrom entertaining any disputes with regard to enemy property. It does not provide
any alternative judicial remedy in terms of tribunals.
The properties vested in the custodian of enemy property for India includes both moveable and immovable
properties. The immovable properties are valued at more than Rs 1 lakh crore, while themovable property is
valued at more than Rs 3,000 crore.
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Definition of enemy: The 1968 Act defined an enemy as a country (and its citizens) that committed
external aggression against India (i.e., Pakistan and China). The Ordinance expands this definition to
include: (i) legal heirs of enemies even if they are citizens of India or of another country which is not an
enemy, (ii) nationals of an enemy country who subsequently changed their nationality to that of another
country, etc.
Notes
4
RESERVATION FOR WOMEN IN FORCES

It is well accepted that a society or a nation can progress rapidly in an equitable manner if and only if women
are provided equal opportunities to participate in social, political and economic activities. The police is the first
line of interface between citizens and the Governmental law enforcement machinery. It has been observed that
many women do not approach the police, as they may have to confide or report the incident to a male police
officer. This is particularly so in respect of sex related crimes. A skewed police force with adequate gender
representation is a major practical barrier in effective implementation of legislation intended for the protection
of women.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for making reservation of 33 percent for women, horizontally and in each
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category (SC/ST/OBC and others) in direct recruitment in non-gazetted posts from Constables to sub-inspector
in the police forces of all Union Territories, including Delhi Police.
OR
This decision will help in augmenting the representation of the women in the police forces of all UTs and Delhi
Police so as to make the police more gender sensitive. It will also instill confidence among women to enable
them to approach the police without hesitation for seeking protection and assistance as and when required.
Union Home Minister has announced 33 percent reservations would be provided for women in all paramilitary
forces.
SC
There will be 33% reservation for women at constable-level posts in Central Reserve Police Force and
Central Industrial Security Force, and 14-15% reservation at the constable level in border guarding forces i.e.
Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Indo Tibetan Border Police.
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Notes
5
PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHIT

MATRITVA YOJANA
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan envisages to improve the quality and coverage of Antenatal Care
(ANC), Diagnostics and Counselling services as part of the Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and
Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Strategy.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, the pregnant ladies will be given free health check-up
and required treatment for free on 9th of every month. The scheme will be applicable for pregnant women
to avail in all Government hospitals across the country.
Objectives
Provide a healthy life to the pregnant women
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Lowering the maternity mortality rate
Making pregnant women aware of their health issues/diseases.
OR
Making sure safe delivery and healthy life of the baby
Main features of Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
The scheme is applicable only for the pregnant women in their pregnancy period of 3 to 6 months.
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The free checkup will take place on 9th of every month.

All kinds of medical checkups under this scheme will be completely free.
Tests will took place at the medical centers, government and private hospitals and private clinics across
the country.
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Women will be marked differently based on their health problems so that doctors can easily detect the
problem.
Notes
6
UGC AND AICTE

UGC and AICTE are two apex organisations that cater for the higher studies in India.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory organization established by an Act of Parliament in
1956 for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education.
E
OR
Apart from providing grants to eligible universities and colleges, the Commission also advises the Central
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and State Governments on the measures which are necessary for the development of Higher Education.
It functions from New Delhi as well as its six Regional offices located in Bangalore, Bhopal, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune.
UGC approves universities in the country. It provides funds for affiliated universities and colleges. When
talking about the function of the University Grants Commission, the UGC ACT says that, the first
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function is to look into the financial needs of universities. It then allocates and disburses grants to these
universities. Well, the other academic functions come only after these functions.
UGC, along with CSIR currently conducts NET for appointments of teachers in colleges and universities.
It has made NET qualification mandatory for teaching at Graduation level and at Post Graduation level
since July 2009. However, those with Ph.D are given five percent relaxation.
Accreditation for higher learning over Universities under the aegis of University Grants Commission is
overseen by following fifteen autonomous statutory institutions:
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
Distance Education Council (DEC)
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Bar Council of India (BCI)
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
Medical Council of India (MCI)
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Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

Indian Nursing Council (INC)
Dental Council of India (DCI)
Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH)
Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM)
National Council for Rural Institutes (NCRI)
State Councils of Higher Education (SCHE)
Council of Architecture.
Reforms:
In 1976, the Union Minister of Education made open the government of Indias plans to close down UGC
and the related body All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in favour of a higher regulatory
body with more sweeping powers. This goal, proposed by the Higher Education and Research (HE&R)
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Bill, 2011, intends to replace the UGC with a National Commission for Higher Education & Research
(NCHER) for determination, coordination, maintenance and continued enhancement of standards of
OR
higher education and research.
The bill proposes absorbing the UGC and other academic agencies into this new organisation. Those
agencies involved in medicine and law would be exempt from this merger to set minimum standards for
medical and legal education leading to professional practice.
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The bill has received opposition from the local governments of the Indian states of Bihar, Kerala, Punjab,
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, but has received general support. UGC has directed ten institutions to
immediately shut down their off-campus centres.
In December 2015 the Indian government set a National Institutional of Ranking Framework under UGC
which will rank all educational institutes by April 2016. UGC has suggested to all Universities in India
to set up an Online Admission System from the academic session commencing in 2016-2017.
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Recently UGC has released 22 fake universities, 9 are from Uttar Pradesh, 5 from Delhi, 2 from West
Bengal and one each from Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
Whereas, The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the statutory body and a national-level
council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource
Development (HRD).
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Established in November 1945 first as an advisory body and later on in 1987 given statutory status by an Act
of Parliament. However, UGC was formally inaugurated by the Education, Natural Resources and Scientific
Research Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, in 1953.
The AICTE is only a statutory body, which deals with co-ordinated development and proper planning of
the technical education system in the country. All the Engineering, MBA and Pharmacy colleges are
affiliated with the All India Council for Technical Education.
AICTE is responsible for proper planning and coordinated development of the technical education and
management education system in India. The AICTE accredits postgraduate and graduate programs under
specific categories at Indian institutions as per its charter.
The AICTE ACT gives priority to undertaking surveys in various fields of technical education at all levels.
The funds allocation and disbursement comes second to this.
It is assisted by 10 Statutory Boards of Studies, namely, UG Studies in Eng. & Tech., PG and Research
in Eng. and Tech., Management Studies, Vocational Education, Technical Education, Pharmaceutical
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Education, Architecture, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Information Technology, Town and
Country Planning.

OR
The AICTE has its new headquarters building in Delhi which has the offices of the chairman, vice-
chairman and the member secretary, plus it has regional offices at Kanpur, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Mumbai,
Bhopal, Baroda, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.
As per the Supreme Court judgment, as per provisions of the AICTE Act and University Grants Commission
(UGC) Act, the council has no authority which empowers it to issue or enforce any sanctions on colleges
SC
affiliated with the universities as its role is to provide guidance and recommendations.
Subsequently, AICTE was getting approval from the Supreme court to regulate technical colleges on a year to
year basis till January 2016, when AICTE got blanket approval for publishing the Approval Process Handbook
and approve technical colleges including management for the session 2016-17 and in all future sessions.
The AICTE comprises following bureaus, namely:
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E-Governance (e-Gov) Bureau

Approval (AB) Bureau
Planning and Co-ordination (PC) Bureau and Academic (Acad) Bureau
University (UB) Bureau
Administration (Admin) Bureau
Finance (Fin) Bureau
Research, Institutional and Faculty Development (RIFD) Bureau
Apart from this there are 10 Board of Studies dealing with technician, vocational, undergraduate engineering,
postgraduate engineering and research, architecture, town and country planning, pharmacy, management,
applied arts and crafts, hotel management and catering technology education.
For each bureau, adviser is the bureau head who is assisted by technical officers and other supporting staff.
The multidiscipline technical officer and staff of the Council are on deputation or on contract from
government departments, University Grants Commission, academic institutions, etc.
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Reforms:
In 2016 three important initiatives were taken up by AICTE:
A responsibility given by MHRD to evolve a national MOOCs platform SWAYAM.
Launching a Smart India Hackathon-2017 challenging the young bright talented students of technical
colleges to solve the 598 problems of 29 different Government departments.
Launching of an AICTEs Student Start up Policy by Hon. President on November 16, during visitors
conference from Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In 2009, the Union Minister of Education formally communicated his intentions of closing down AICTE and
related body, the University Grants Commission (UGC).
This later led to reforms in the way the AICTE approves institutes, and to establishing the National Board of
Accreditation (NBA) as an independent body. As of 2013 the AICTE still operates.
The UGC is free to do whatever it likes but AICTE is not free from the intervention of the Human Resources
Development Ministry.
E
OR
SC
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Notes
10
"KENDRIYA AND NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA"

Kendriya Vidyalaya is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource
Development.
The objectives are:
i. To cater to the educational needs of children of transferable Central Government including Defence and
Para-military personnel by providing a common programme of education;
ii. To pursue excellence and set the pace in the field of school education;
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iii. To initiate and promote experimentation and innovations in education in collaboration with other bodies
like the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Council of Educational Research and
Training (NCERT) etc. and
OR
iv. To develop the spirit of national integration and create a sense of 'Indianness' among children.
They follow the CBSE curriculum. As on date, there are 1115 functional schools with 1175595 students.
On the other hand, Navodya Vidyalayas were established with the primary objective to provide good quality
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modern education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas, comparable to the best in a
residential school system, without regard to their family's socio-economic condition.
Navodaya Vidyalayas are run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), an autonomous organisation under
the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, Govt. of
India. The Chairman of the Samiti is the Hon'ble Minister of Human Resource Development.
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Notes
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FSSAI
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and
Standards, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in
various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for
articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability
of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing the following functions:
Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and
specifying appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified.
E
Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification
of food safety management system for food businesses.
OR
Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and notification of the accredited
laboratories.
To provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State Governments in the
matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety
and nutrition.
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Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk,
contaminants in food, residues of various, contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging
risks and introduction of rapid alert system.
Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, Panchayats etc receive
rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern.
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Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.
Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phyto-sanitary
standards.
Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.
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CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION

The Central Water Commission is the apex technical organisation in the country for development of
water resources and is attached organization of the Ministry of Water Resources.
The Commission is responsible for initiating, coordinating and furthering, in consultation with the State
Governments, the schemes for control, conservation, development and utilization of water resources
throughout the country for the purpose of irrigation, flood management, power generation, navigation etc.
Implementation of the National Water Policy is another important concern of the Commission.
E
Over the years, the Commission has developed the technological knowhow in planning, investigation,
appraisal, design and construction of projects, monitoring and management of projects, hydrological
observations and flood forecasting.

management. OR
Central Water Commission has presence in almost all the aspects of water resources development and
The main functions of Central Water Commission being discharged through its India?wide field basin
oriented setup are -
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a) Hydrological observations and studies,

b) Maintaining water resources information system for each river basin,
c) Providing assistance in regulation and development of inter?state rivers,

d) Issuing flood/inflow forecasts,
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e) Carrying out techno?economic appraisal of projects,
f) Taking up survey and investigation of projects on request,

g) Providing design consultancy, and
h) Advising and assisting the Government of India on related matters.
The committee in its report 21st Century Institutional Architecture for India's Water Reforms: Restructuring
the CWC and CGWB has recommended for the formation of a new National Water Commission (NWC) to
be established as the nation's apex facilitation organisation dealing with water policy, data and governance.
Key recommendations are -
1. National Water Commission has been proposed which will subsume the Central Water Commission
(CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
2. A paradigm shift is required in both surface and groundwater management policies to face new national
challenges. It says that existing institutions are inadequate to address our water needs.
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3. CWC and CGWB were created in a different era and needed restructuring to work on a new mandate
in a manner that overcomes the schism between groundwater and surface water. The one issue that really
highlights the need to unify CWC and CGWB is the drying up of India's peninsular rivers, the single most
important cause of which is over-extraction of groundwater.
4. By focusing on water stored in dams we could add 35 million hectares to irrigate area over next 10 years
at a very low cost. For this we need to shift focus from construction to management and maintenance.
5. NWC be headed by a chief national water commissioner and should have full time commissioners
representing hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrometeorology, river ecology, ecological economics, agronomy
(with focus on soil and water) and participatory resource planning and management.
6. To adopt the participatory approach to water management that has been successfully tried all over the
world, as also in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
7. View groundwater and surface water in an integrated, holistic manner.
8. If river rejuvenation is the key national mandate of the Ministry of Water Resources, then this cannot
happen without hydrologists and hydrogeologists working together, along with social scientists, agronomists
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and other stakeholders.
9. Focus on river basins which must form the fundamental units for management of water. We have
OR
carefully studied the regional presence (or absence) of the CWC and CGWB and proposed a way forward
whereby the NWC is present in all major river basins of India.
SC
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Notes
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CONTEMPT OF COURT
Contempt of court refers to any actions which defy a court's authority, cast disrespect on a court, or impede
the ability of the court to perform its function.
It is divided as:
1. Civil Contempt
Under Section 2(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act of 1971, civil contempt has been defined as wilful
disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an
undertaking given to a court.
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2. Criminal Contempt
any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which:

(i)
OR
Under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act of 1971, criminal contempt has been defined as the
publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise) of
Scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court, or
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(ii) Prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with the due course of any judicial proceeding, or
(iii) Interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other
manner.
Punishment
Article 129 and 215 of the Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court and High Court respectively
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to punish people for their respective contempt. Section 10 of The Contempt of Courts Act of 1971 defines
the power of the High Court to punish contempts of its subordinate courts. Power to punish for contempt
of court under Articles 129 and 215 is not subject to Article 19(1)(a).
Under Section 12 of Contempt of Court Act, 1971, a contempt of court can be punished with simple
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand
rupees, or with both.
However, in civil cases if the court considers that a fine will not meet the ends of justice and that a sentence
of imprisonment is necessary shall, instead of sentencing him to simple imprisonment, direct that the he be
detained in a civil prison for such period not exceeding six months as it may think fit.
The court is not supposed to impose a sentence for contempt of court in excess of what is prescribed under
this section either in respect of itself or of a court subordinate to it.
An accused may be discharged or the punishment awarded may be remitted on apology being made by the
accused to the satisfaction of the court. An apology is not supposed to be rejected merely on the ground that
it is qualified or conditional if the accused makes it bona fide.
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UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

Uniform Civil Code generally refers to that part of law which deals with family affairs of an individual
and denotes uniform law for all citizens, irrespective of his/her religion, caste or tribe.
A Uniform Civil Code administers the same set of secular civil laws to govern different people belonging
to different religions and regions. This supersedes the right of citizens to be governed under different
personal laws based on their religion or ethnicity. The common areas covered by a civil code include:
a) Personal Status
b) Rights related to acquisition and administration of property
c) Marriage, divorce and adoption

E
Uniform Civil Code will in the long run ensure Equality. Also, UCC will help to promote Gender equality.
OR
The need for a uniform civil code is inscribed in Article 44 (Article 35 in the draft constitution). This
article is included in Part IV of the Constitution dealing with the directive principles of state policy. The
legal nature of the Directive Principles is such that it cannot be enforced by any court and therefore these
are non judicial rights. The Constitution further calls upon the State to apply these principles in making
laws as these principles are fundamental in the governance of the country.
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Article 44, which deals with the Uniform Civil Code states: "The State shall endeavor to secure for the
citizens, a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India". The objective of this article is to effect
an integration of India by bringing all communities into a common platform which is at present governed
by personal laws which do not form the essence of any religion.
In India, Goa is the only state to have implemented the directive principle on the Uniform Civil Code
and converted it into a law called the Goa Civil Code or the Goa Family Law. It is the set of civil laws
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that governs all the Goans irrespective of the religion or the ethnicity to which they belong.
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NOBEL PRIZE 2016

The Nobel Prize is a set of annual international awards bestowed in a number of categories by Swedish and
Norwegian institutions in recognition of academic, cultural, and/or scientific advances Any of six international
prizes awarded annually for outstanding work in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economics,
and the promotion of peace.
List of the Nobel Prize 2016:
Physics
David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz- "for theoretical discoveries of topological
phase transitions and topological phases of matter"
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These theoretical discoveries revealed the possibility of a bizarre world where matter can take on different,
and strange, states. Using advanced mathematics, the trio examined weird states of matter, such as superfluids,
include thin magnetic films and superconductors.

Chemistry
OR
or substances that behave like liquids but have zero viscosity or resistance to flow. In superfluids, there is no
friction impeding the liquid's flow and so its particles act as one super particle. Other exotic states of matter
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa- "for the design and synthesis of molecular
SC
machines"
They have developed the world's smallest machines by linking together molecules into a unit that, when
energy is added, could do some kind of work. These machines, a thousand times thinner than a strand of hair,
included a tiny lift, mini motors and artificial muscles.
Physiology or Medicine
GS
Yoshinori Ohsumi- "for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy "in which cells take unneeded or damaged
material, including entire organelles, and transport them to a recycling compartment of sorts - in yeast cells,
this compartment is called the lisosome, while vacuoles serve a similar purpose in human cells.
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel
Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrm- "for their contributions to contract theory"
The two economists provided "a comprehensive framework for analysing many diverse issues in contractual
design, like performance-based pay for top executives, deductibles and co-pays in insurance, and the privatisation
of public-sector activities."
It has become especially relevant in the years after the 2008 financial crisis, which was blamed on the short-
term risk encouraged by huge cash bonuses paid to investment bankers. It also touches on themes of moral
hazard, which arises where those that take the risks don't share in the costs of failure.
Literature
Bob Dylan- "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition"
Peace Prize
Juan Manuel Santos- "for his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end"
Notes
17
ONE RANK ONE PENSION

One Rank One Pension means payment of uniform pension to military personnel retiring in same rank with
same length of service, irrespective of date of retirement. Further any hike in pension rates to be automatically
passed on to past pensioners.
The difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the
number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank.
In 1973 the government following the Third Central Pay Commission in an "ex-parte" decision terminated
OROP and the issue is still under focus.
Reasons for demand:
E
a) In the government services the age of retirement is 59-60 years and even after that government officer
gets good pension whereas in case of military services the retirement age is generally between 37-39 years
OR
and rest of his life the person has to live on pension or end in becoming home guards or small farmers
(if have land in village) or landless labours.
b) During service they work with full honour and zeal but after retirement the things vanishes.
c) They leave their families behind and work in dangerous and hostile regions, with no guarantee to life.
SC
Work conditions are tough and so is the pressure but in turn they get meager salary and pension.
d) Successive pay commissions have widened gap between veterans who have retired earlier and those who
retire later.
Proposed benefits:
a) It will help in boosting the confidence and morale of serving Army persons.
GS
b) Ex-servicemen drawing pensions will benefit from the OROP scheme, especially those who retired before
2006.
c) The scheme will benefit all three services -- air force, navy and army.
Notes
18
INNER LINE PERMIT

Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to allow travel of
an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside
certain states, to obtain such a permit.
At present, the ILP is in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. In Manipur, large scale protests
have called for its implementation for years.
Under the ILP system, a certificate can be issued to outsiders only for travel in the areas covered by ILP. A
non-resident also cannot buy property in these areas. Long term residence however, is allowed under certain
kinds of ILP. Such provisions though are not valid for Central government employees and security personnel.
E
The other concept is Protected Areas Permit.
OR
Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the 'Inner line', as defined in the
said order, and the International Border of the State have been declared as a Protected Area. Currently,
Protected Areas are located in the following States: -
(i) Whole of Arunachal Pradesh
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(ii) Parts of Himachal Pradesh
(iii) Parts of Jammu & Kashmir
(iv) Whole of Manipur
(v) Whole of Mizoram
GS
(vi) Whole of Nagaland

(vii) Parts of Rajasthan
(viii) Whole of Sikkim (partly in Protected Area and partly in Restricted Area)
(ix) Parts of Uttarakhand
A foreign national is not normally allowed to visit a Protected / Restricted Area unless it is established to
the satisfaction of the Government that there are extra-ordinary reasons to justify such a 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 delegated with powers to issue such a special permit to
a foreigner, on application.
Recently, Jammu and Kashmir government has relaxed the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime to enable
foreigners to visit restricted areas in Leh district of Ladakh, a decision which is expected to increase the
footfall of tourists and give considerable boost to the local economy. It will create a positive impact on the
life and livelihood of the people residing in these remote areas.
Notes
19
SECC 2011
SECC-2011 is the study of socio economic status of rural and urban households.
The Ministry of Rural Development Government of India, commenced the Socio Economic and Caste
Census (SECC) 2011, in June 2011 through a comprehensive door to door enumeration across the country.
SECC 2011 has three census components which were conducted by three separate authorities but under the
overall coordination of Department of Rural Development in the Government of India. Census in Rural Area
has been conducted by the Department of Rural Development (DoRD). Census in Urban areas is under the
administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA). Caste
Census is under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs: Registrar General of India (RGI) and
Census Commissioner of India.
E
The SECC, 2011 has the following three objective:
OR
a) To enable households to be ranked based on their socioeconomic status. State Governments can then
prepare a list of families living below the poverty line.
b) To make available authentic information that will enable caste-wise population enumeration of the country.
c) To make available authentic information regarding the socioeconomic condition, and education status of
SC
various castes and sections of the population.

The highlights of the Census are:
a) In 75 per cent of 17.9 crore households in rural India, the monthly income of the highest-earning member
is less than Rs.5,000
b) Nearly 40 per cent are landless and work as manual casual labourers
GS
c) 25 per cent of the rural households still do not own a phone

d) 25 per cent rural households have no access to irrigation
e) Only 8.29 per cent of rural households have a member earning over Rs.10,000 per month
f) 10.69 crore rural families, or 60 per cent, qualify for "deprivation"
g) Of these over 100 million deprived households, 21.5 per cent belong to scheduled castes or tribes.
h) This census takes caste into account for the first time in any such exercise since 1931.
Notes
20
HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION AND

LICENSING POLICY
The government has decided to launch new Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) to cover
all hydrocarbons such as oil, gas, coal bed methane etc. under a single licensing framework.
What were the flaws in NELP?
The present policy regime for exploration and production of oil and gas, known as New Exploration Licensing
Policy (NELP), been in existence for 18 years but various issues are present under this.
1. There are separate policy regimes for conventional oil and gas, coal-bed methane, shale oil and gas and
gas hydrates.
E
2. Different fiscal terms are also in force for allocation of acreages for exploration for different hydrocarbons.
3.
4. OR
Unconventional hydrocarbons (shale gas and shale oil) were unknown when NELP was framed.
This fragmented policy framework leads to inefficiencies in exploiting natural resources. For example,
while exploring for one type of hydrocarbon, if a different one is found, it will need separate licensing,
adding to cost.
SC
5. The pricing of gas in the current system has undergone many changes and witnessed considerable litigation.
Currently, the producer price of gas is fixed administratively by the Government. This has led to loss
of revenue, a large number of disputes, arbitrations and court cases.
6. The current policy regime, in fixing royalties, does not distinguish between shallow water fields (where
costs and risks are lower) and deep/ultra-deep water fields where risks and costs are much higher.
Thus the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy have the following key features:
GS
1. There will be a uniform licensing system which will cover all hydrocarbons, i.e. oil, gas, coal bed methane
etc. under a single license and policy framework.
2. Contracts will be based on "biddable revenue sharing". Bidders will be required to quote revenue sharein
their bids and this will be a key parameter for selecting the winning bid. They will quote a different share
at two levels of revenue called "lower revenue point" and "higher revenue point". Revenue share for
intermediate points will be calculated by linear interpolation. The bidder giving the highest net present
value of revenue share to the Government, as per transparent methodology, will get the maximum marks
under this parameter
3. An Open Acreage Licensing Policy will be implemented whereby a bidder may apply to the Government
seeking exploration of any block not already covered by exploration. The Government will examine the
Expression of Interest and justification. If it is suitable for award, Govt. will call for competitive bids after
obtaining necessary environmental and other clearances. This will enable a faster coverage of the available
geographical area.
4. A concessional royalty regime will be implemented for deep water and ultra-deep water areas. These
areas shall not have any royalty for the first seven years, and thereafter shall have a concessional royalty
of 5% (in deep water areas) and 2% (in ultra-deep water areas).
Notes
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5. In shallow water areas, the royalty rates shall be reduced from 10% to 7.5%.
6. The contractor will have freedom for pricing and marketing of gas produced in the domestic market on
arms length basis. To safeguard the Government revenue, the Government's share of profit will be
calculated based on the higher of prevailing international crude price or actual price.
Proposed benefits
1. It is expected to stimulate new exploration activity for oil, gas and other hydrocarbons and eventually
reduce import dependence.
2. It is also expected to create substantial new job opportunities in the petroleum sector.
3. Marketing and pricing freedom will further simplify the process.
4. These will remove the discretion in the hands of the Government, reduce disputes, avoid opportunities
for corruption, reduce administrative delays and thus stimulate growth.
E
OR
SC
GS
Notes
22
GREEN FINANCE
Green Finance is a strategic approach to incorporate the financial sector in the transformation process towards
low-carbon and resource-efficient economies, and in the context of adaptation to climate change.
Green finance refers to financial support for green growth.
The environmental benefits include, for example, reductions in air, water and land pollution, reductions
in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improved energy efficiency while utilizing existing natural resources,
as well as mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and their co-benefits.
Green finance involves efforts to internalize environmental externalities and adjust risk perceptions in
E
order to boost environmental friendly investments and reduce environmentally harmful ones.
Green finance covers a wide range of financial institutions and asset classes, and includes both public and

financial system.
OR
private finance. Green finance involves the effective management of environmental risks across the
Green finance is a phenomenon that combines the word of finance and business with environmentally
friendly behavior.
SC
Green finance can be expressed differently depending on the participant, and it may be led by financial
incentives, a desire to preserve the planet, or a combination of both.
Green finance is about avoiding the promotion of any business or activity that could be damaging to the
environment now or for future generations.
Green Growth for Green Finance
GS
Green growth is defined as growth generated through the harmony between the economy and the
environment.
It aims to achieve the goal of a low-carbon economy.
It strategically promotes green industry, including environmental pollution prevention projects and renewable
energy development projects.
Green growth is the solution to three current threats to the global economy:
Climate change
Energy constraints
Financial crisis.
Key options to create an enabling environment for mobilizing private capital for green investment
Provide strategic policy signals and frameworks
Promote voluntary principles for green finance
Expand learning networks for capacity building
Notes
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Support the development of local green bond markets

Promote international collaboration to facilitate cross-border investment in green bonds:
Encourage and facilitate knowledge sharing on environmental and financial risk
Improve the measurement of green finance activities and their impacts
Categorization of green finance in private sector:
E
OR
SC
GS
General challenges to green finance and selected country/Market practices to address such challenges
Notes
24
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Over the past decade, various complementary financial sector options have emerged in many G20 countries,
E
from both private and public actors, to support the development of green finance. These include:
Voluntary principles for sustainable lending and investment,

OR
Enhanced environmental disclosure and governance requirements,
Financial products such as green loans, green bonds, green infrastructure investment trusts, and green index
products.
International collaboration among central banks, finance ministries and regulators (focused in large part on
SC
knowledge sharing and capacity building).
Way forward
Green finance is part of a broader occurrence from the incorporation of various non-financial or ethical
concerns onto the financial universe.
GS
Generally green finance is considered as the financial support for green growth which reduces greenhouse gas
emissions and air pollutant emissions significantly.
Green finance in agriculture, green buildings and other green projects should increase for the economic
development of the country.
The challenge, before developing economies is to mainstream green finance so as to incorporate the environmental
impact into commercial lending decisions while simultaneously balancing the needs of economic growth and
social development. This will necessarily mean setting out on the journey of integrating financial system and
sustainable development which has numerous goal-posts.
Notes
25
GREEN BONDS
A green bond is like any other bond where a debt instrument is issued by an issuer for raising funds from
investors. However what differentiates a Green bond from other bonds is that the proceeds of a Green Bond
offering are 'ear-marked' for use towards financing 'green' projects.
The key benefits of issuing green bonds are as under:
i. Positive public Relations: Green bonds can help in enhancing an issuer's reputation, as this is an effective
way for an issuer to demonstrate its green credentials. It displays the issuers commitment towards the
development and sustainability of the environment. Further, this may also generate some positive publicity
for the issuer.
E
ii. Investor Diversification: There are specific global pool of capital, which are earmarked towards investment
in Green Ventures. This source of capital focuses primarily on environmental, social and governance
(ESG) related aspects of the projects in which they intend to invest. Thus, green bonds provide an issuer
OR
the access to such investors which they otherwise may not be able to tap with a regular bond.
iii. Potential for pricing advantage: The green bond issuance attracts wider investor base and this may in
turn benefit the issuers in terms of better pricing of their bonds vis-a-vis a regular bond. Currently there
is very limited evidence available in this regard, however as demand of green bonds increases it is likely
to drive increasingly favorable terms and a better price for the issuer. Further, with increasing focus of
SC
the global investor community towards green investments, it is expected that new set of investors will
enter into this space leading to lowering the cost of funding for green projects.
GS
Notes
26
SHALE GAS
Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations due to their low permeability and cannot
escape to the surface as easily as Conventional Natural Gas. Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can
be rich resources of petroleum and natural gas.
Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed by the accumulation of sediments at the Earth's surface and within bodies
of water. Common sedimentary rocks include sandstone, limestone, and shale.
The extraction process of shale gas involves two methods
Horizontal drilling:
E
Under this technique a vertical well is drilled to the targeted rock formation and then at the desired depth,
the drill bit is turned horizontally, exposing the well to more of the producing shale.
Hydraulic Fracturing:
In this technique, water along with
chemicals and sand are pumped into
OR
the well and a fracture or crack is
SC
developed in the shale rock to release
the hydrocarbons trapped in shale
formations to flow from the shale into
the well. Hydraulic fracturing when
used in conjunction with horizontal
drilling, it enables gas producers to
GS
extract shale gas at reasonable cost and

rapidly as it enhances the flow of gas
quickly to the desired well.
Problems in Extraction:
The importance of shale gas can be
gauged from the fact that an estimated
35% of world surface rock is made of
shale formations. However, extraction
of shale gas is difficult and tardy
process. The difficulty is mainly
because of less permeability of the
shale rocks, which does not allow
significant fluid flow.
Due to low permeability, commercially
viable production of shale gas needs
fracturing of the rocks for, the
fracturing provides permeability. For
many years, this gas was produced
Notes
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from natural fractures, but as there was development of modern technologies such as horizontal drilling /
hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking); more and more artificial fractures around the well bores were created.
This skyrocketed the production of shale gas and led to the so called Shale Gas Boom in United States. This
shale gas boom has also contributed partially in the recent fall of global oil prices. The hydraulic farming aided
shale gas production has rejuvenated the natural gas industry in the United States.
India-Shale Scenario:
Shale Gas in India Various estimates, including those by leading firms, put Indian reserves of shale oil and gas
at large numbers describing Shale oil and gas are more widespread than natural oil and gas. Major regions of
availability are Gujarat, Rajasthan-Cambay, Central India-Gondwana, Krishna and Godavari Basin and
offshore areas in Bay of Bengal, Indo-gangetic plains, Cauvery onshore and Assam-Arakan.
The assessment of shale formations has started in India at various sites. Also, a MoU have been signed between
USA and India for sharing technical knowledge in shale-gas exploration. According to the Energy Information
Administration report, India's shale gas reserves equals 96 trillion cubic feet which can supply for 26 years of
the country's Gas demand. As per the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) Hyderabad, claimed
to identify 28 sedimentary basins of shale gas (natural gas found trapped in shale formations under the ground),
E
including ten potential producing basins, across India. These have been classified according to their hydrocarbon
potential, and hold an estimated 527 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of reserves.
OR
Jambusar located near Vadodara in Gujarat is India's first shale gas exploratory successfully drilled by ONGC
in Cambay region which is estimated to have a shale gas potential of 20 TCF (trillion cubic feet).
Challenges and Environmental concerns:
A potential problem in India could be that shale is mostly found about 2,000 meters deep on shore, in
SC
areas of human habitation; unlike oil drilling that takes place offshore. Specially designed water bore-wells
may be needed in such areas to tackle escaping methane gas. Use of high-power compressors and other
equipment could also unsettle local populations, while shale drilling could affect groundwater reserves.
Also the Land acquisition will be a big problem in India.
The gas produced from such reservoir rocks is known as 'tight gas' and it requires massive hydraulic
GS
fracturing technique. So the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing locally and downstream of drilling
areas is also a big concern. Hydraulic fracturing involves drilling through the water table into deep underground
shale gas reserves. Millions of gallons of water are then used to break the shale and release the gas. In
theory, all wells should be completely incased until past the water table level. This is also a big challenge
in India due to it's lax and corrupt system. Because even after having highly strict rules and regulations
in countries like US and UK, there have been numerous instances of cases breaking or being improperly
formed and hazardous water being released into the groundwater. This contaminated groundwater then
allows for gas to enter homes and soil, creating potentially dangerous situations, including exploding homes
Of the 344 chemicals used for drilling, many of which have little to no safety information associated with
them, over 75% are known to cause skin, eye, and sensory organ irritation. 20 to 30% cause reproductive,
mutagenic, or cancerous complications. These chemicals are commonly transmitted through the air and
water. Benzene, a known carcinogen, is commonly found at levels far exceeding standards in the air around
fracking sites.
Shale gas is definitely going to be a useful additional energy resource for India. But the challenge lies in making
it sustainable and safe.
Notes
28
KRISHI KALYAN CESS

A cess is a tax that is levied by the government to raise funds for a specific purpose. Collections from the
Education Cess and the Secondary and Higher Education Cess, for instance, are supposed to be used for
funding primary and higher and secondary education respectively.
The new cess is supposed to be levied at a rate of 0.5% on all goods and services where the government can
levy service taxes.
It is supposed to promote various initiatives in the domain of agriculture and also finance them. The government
already charges service taxes at the rate of 14% and the Swachh Bharat Cess is applied at a rate of 0.5%. With
the KKC, the total service tax rate would effectively go up to 15%.
E
KKC would be levied, charged, collected and paid to Government independent of Service Tax. This needs
OR
to be charged separately on the invoice, accounted for separately in the books of accounts and paid separately
under separate accounting code.
The proceeds of the Krishi Kalyan Cess shall first be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and the
Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, utilise such sums
of money of the Krishi Kalyan Cess for such specified purposes.
SC
GS
Notes
29
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL LIBRARY

TKDL is an initiative to provide the information on traditional knowledge existing in the country, in
languages and format understandable by patent examiners at International Patent Offices ( IPOs), so as
to prevent the grant of wrong patents.
TKDL is a collaborative project of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the
Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, is situated in Ghaziabad,
U.P.
TKDL acts as a bridge between the traditional knowledge information existing in local languages and the
patent examiners at IPOs.
Apart from that, the non-patent database servers to foster modern research based on traditional knowledge,
as it simplifies access to this vast knowledge of remedies or practices.
E
It has signed agreements with leading international patent office's such as European Patent Office (EPO),
United Kingdom Trademark & Patent Office (UKPTO) and the United States Patent and Trademark
OR
Office to protect traditional knowledge from biopiracy, by giving patent examiners at international patent
offices access to the TKDL database for patent search and examination.
At present, as per the approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, access of TKDL is available
to nine International Patent Offices (European Patent Office, United State Patent & Trademark Office,
Japan Patent Office, United Kingdom Patent Office, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, German
SC
Patent Office, Intellectual Property Australia, Indian Patent Office and Chile Patent Office), under TKDL
Access (Non-disclosure) Agreement. Negotiations are under way to conclude the Access Agreement with
Intellectual Property Office of Russia and Malaysia. As per the terms and conditions of the Access
agreement, examiners of patent office can utilize TKDL for search and examination purposes only and
can not reveal the contents of TKDL to any third party unless it is necessary for the purpose of citation.
TKDL Access Agreement is unique in nature and has in-built safeguards on Non-disclosure to protect
India's interest against any possible misuse.
GS
In addition, pre-grant oppositions are being filed at various International Patent Offices, along with prior-
art evidences from TKDL. Significant impact has already been realized. So far about 200 patent applications
of the pharmaceutical companies of United States, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, China etc. have either been
set aside/ withdrawn/ amended, based on the Prior art evidences present in the TKDL database without
any cost and in few weeks/months of time, whereas APEDA had to spend about seven crores towards
legal fee only for getting few claims of Basmati rice patent revoked. Similar outcome is expected in about
1200 more cases, where TKDL has filed pre-grant opposition.
TKDL is proving to be an effective deterrent against bio-piracy and is being recognized as a global leader
in the area of traditional knowledge protection. In 2011, an International Conference was organized by
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with CSIR on 'Utilization of Traditional
Knowledge Digital Library as a Model for Protection of Traditional Knowledge', at New Delhi. Pursuant
to this, WIPO in collaboration with CSIR and DIPP (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) organized an
'International Study Visit To TKDL' for 19 countries interested in replication of TKDL.
TKDL has made waves around the world, particularly in TK-rich countries by demonstrating the advantages
of proactive action and the power of strong deterrence. The idea is not to restrict the use of traditional
knowledge, but to ensure that wrong patents are not granted due to lack of access to the prior art for
Patent examiners.
Notes
30
INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTE

The Inter-State River Water Disputes are governed by the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956. As per the
current provisions of the 1956 Act, a tribunal can be formed after a state government approaches Union
Government with such request and the Centre is convinced of the need to form the tribunal.
This act was further amended in 2002 to include the major recommendations of 'The Sarkaria Commission'.
The amendments mandated a one year time frame to setup the water disputes tribunal and also a 3 year time
frame to give a decision.
Procedure for Adjudication of Disputes
When a Tribunal has been constituted under section 4, the Central Government shall, subject to the prohibition
contained in section 8, refer the water dispute and any matter appearing to be connected with, or relevant to,
the water dispute to the Tribunal for adjudication.
E
The Tribunal shall investigate the matters referred to it and forward to the Central Government a report setting
out the facts as found by it and giving its decision on the matters referred to it within a period of three years.
OR
Provided that if the decision cannot be given for unavoidable reason, within a period of three years, the
Central Government may extend the period for a further period not exceeding two years.
If, upon consideration of the decision of the Tribunal, the Central Government or any State Government
is of opinion that anything therein contained requires explanation or that guidance is needed upon any point
SC
not originally referred to the Tribunal, the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be,
within three months from the date of the decision, again refer the matter to the Tribunal for further
consideration, and on such reference, the Tribunal may forward to the Central Government a further report
within one year from the date of such reference giving such explanation or guidance as it deems fit and
in such a case, the decision of the Tribunal shall be deemed to be modified accordingly:
Provided that the period of one year within which the Tribunal may forward its report to the Central Government
GS
may be extended by the Central Government, for such further period as it considers necessary".
If the members of the Tribunal differ in opinion on any point, the point shall be decided according to the
opinion of the majority.
LIST OF EXISTING WATER DISPUTE TRIBUNALS
No Name of Tribunal States concerned
1. Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh &
Odisha
2. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -I Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
3. Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra
4. Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
5. Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
6. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal -II Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra
7. Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal Andhra Pradesh &Odisha
8. Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra
Notes
31
SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

The concept of a special category state was first introduced in 1969 when the 5th Finance Commission sought
to provide certain disadvantaged states with preferential treatment in the form of central assistance and tax
breaks. Initially three states Assam, Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir were granted special status but since
then eight more have been included (Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand). The rationale for special status is that certain states, because of inherent
features, have a low resource base and cannot mobilize resources for development.
The criteria for granting special status are as follows:
Some of the features required for special status are: (i) hilly and difficult terrain; (ii) low population density
or sizeable share of tribal population; (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries; (iv)
E
economic and infrastructural backwardness; and (v) non-viable nature of state finances. The decision to grant
special category status lies with the National Development Council, composed of the Prime Minster, Union
OR
Ministers, Chief Ministers and members of the Planning Commission, who guide and review the work of the
Planning Commission.
The special category states have some distinct characteristics. They have international boundaries, hilly terrains
and have distinctly different socio-economic developmental parameters. These states have also geographical
disadvantages in their effort for infrastructural development. Public expenditure plays a significant role in the
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Gross State Domestic Product of the states. The states in the North-East are also late starters in development.
In view of the above problems, central government sanctions 90 percent in the form of grants in plan
assistance to the states in special category. The most important prescription for special category states is
interest free loan with rationalization of public expenditure based on growth enhancing sectoral allocation of
resources.
Advantages of getting special category status
GS
Preferential treatment in federal assistance and tax break

Significant excise duty concessions. Thus, these states attract large number of industrial units to establish
manufacturing facilities within their territory leading to their economy flourishing
The special category states do not have a hard budget constraint as the central transfer is high
These states avail themselves of the benefit of debt swapping and debt relief schemes (through the
enactment of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act) which facilitate reduction of average
annual rate of interest.
Significant 30% of the Centre's gross budget goes to the Special category state
In centrally sponsored schemes and external aid special category states get it in the ratio of 90% grants
and 10% loans. For the rest of the states as per the recommendations of the 12th Finance Commission,
in case of centrally sponsored schemes only 70% central funding is there in the form of grant. The rest
of the states receive external aid in the exact ratio (of grants and loans) in which it is received by the
Center.
Notes
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Raghuram Committee recommendations

Raghuram Committee proposed changes in providing special status. The proposed methodology allocates
funds across states based on need thus underdevelopment index has been constructed.
The underdevelopment index the Committee proposes includes the following ten sub-components: (i) monthly
per capita consumption expenditure, (ii) education, (iii) health, (iv) household amenities, (v) poverty rate, (vi)
female literacy, (vii) percent of SC-ST population, (viii) urbanization rate, (viii) financial inclusion, and (x)
connectivity. The Committee recommends that "least developed" states, as identified by the index, be eligible
for other forms of central support that the Central Government may deem necessary to enhance the process
of development.
Following the constitution of the NITI Aayog (after the dissolution of the Planning Commission) and the
recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC), Central plan assistance to SCS States has
been subsumed in an increased devolution of the divisible pool to all States (from 32% in the 13th FC
recommendations to 42%) and do not any longer appear in plan expenditure.
E
OR
SC
GS
Notes
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INDUS WATER TREATY

The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing arrangement signed by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru and then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan on September 19, 1960, in Karachi. It covers the water
distribution and sharing rights of six rivers -- Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The agreement
was brokered by the World Bank.
Under the Treaty, all the waters of the Eastern Rivers - Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi - were allocated to India for
unrestricted use, except during the transition period of 1 April 1960 to 31 March 1970, during which water
had to be supplied to Pakistan so that Pakistan might construct replacement works (two storage dams, eight
inter-river link canals and six barrages) for water that was being received earlier from the Eastern Rivers. India
agreed to make a fixed contribution of 62 million towards the cost of the replacement works. Pakistan
E
received unrestricted use of the Western Rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab - which India is "under obligation
to let flow" and "shall not permit any interference with these waters," except for irrigating existing areas and
to develop a further 701,000 acres of irrigation from these rivers subject to certain specific conditions. Specific
OR
provisions were made for regular exchange of river and canal data between the two countries
The treaty also provides for the partitioning of the rivers by drawing a virtual line on the map of India to split
the Indus Basin into upper and lower parts, limiting India's full sovereignty rights to the lower section (the
eastern flowing rivers) and reserving for Pakistan the upper rivers of J & K the so called western flowing rivers.
SC
A Permanent Indus Commission was established to implement the Treaty. Each country has an Indus
Commissioner, and they meet regularly - every six months these days - to exchange information and data, and
to settle minor disputes. Meetings of the Indus Commissioners have never been suspended - more than 110
rounds of meetings, held alternately in India and Pakistan, have taken place so far.
About Indus River
GS
The River Indus rises in Tibet, near Lake Mansarowar. Flowing west, it enters India in the Ladakh district
of Jammu and Kashmir. Several tributaries, the Zaskar, the Nubra, the Shyok and the Hunza, join it in the
Kashmir region. The Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock.
The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum joins together to enter the Indus near Mithankot
in Pakistan. Beyond this, the Indus flows southwards eventually reaching the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi.
Notes
34
DISHA (DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE)

The District is the Principal Administrative unit below the state level responsible for implementation of
almost all the centre and state level schemes. It is a unit of administration covering most of the departments
of Government. In the words of the study team on district administration constituted by the Administrative
Reforms commission:
"The district is the most convenient geographical unit where the total apparatus of public administration can
be concentrated, and where it comes into direct contact with the people. Most departments of the state
Government out-side the secretariat, have external services which are located in the district. The sum totals
of the activities of these departments and some others, which may also be connected with the affairs of the
E
Central Government, together constitute the administrative machinery in the district."
The Municipalities, Nagar Nigam, block and village level bodies are generally executive in nature, while the
OR
district level body mostly has a co-ordinating and supervisory role.
As both centre and state governments are running various welfare schemes, these schemes are facing various
challenges in implementation at district level such as crunch of financial resources, lack of manpower, etc.
Thus the Union government has formed a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee
SC
(DDCMC) in place of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (DVMC) for effective implementation
of Central government schemes.
These Committees would monitor the implementation of 28 schemes and programmes of Ministry of Rural
Development and other Ministries to promote synergy and convergence for greater impact.
Objectives:
GS
The main purpose of this committee is to coordinate with Central and State and local Panchayat
Governments.
It has been created for effective coordination and development of Central Government's programme for
infrastructure development or Social and human resource development.
Efforts will be made to ensure the participation of people's representative at all levels in it and successful
implementation of flagship programme of central government.
The terms of references of the committee will include:
Ensure that all programmes are implemented in accordance with the Guidelines.
Look into complaints/alleged irregularities received in respect of the implementation of the programmes,
including complaints of wrong selection of beneficiaries, mis-appropriation / diversion of funds and
recommend follow-up action.
The Committee should have the authority to summon and inspect any record for this purpose. The
Committee may refer any matter for enquiry to the District Collector/CEO of the Zilla Panchayat/
Project Director of DRDA (or Poverty Alleviation Unit).
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Suggest suitable action to be taken in accordance with the rules which should be acted upon by him within
30 days.
Closely review the flow of funds including the funds allocated, funds released by both Centre and the
State, utilization and unspent balances under each Scheme.
The Member Secretary should ensure that meeting notice, agenda notes and proceedings of meetings are
uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Rural Development and also the website of the State.
Structure of the DISHA:
The Chairperson of the committee will be the senior most Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) elected
from the district, nominated by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
The other Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) representing the district will be designated as Co-
Chairpersons. One MP (Rajya Sabha) representing the State and exercising option to be associated with
the district level Committee of that district (on first come basis) will be designated as Co-Chairperson.
All Members of the State Legislative Assembly elected from the district, All Mayors / the Chairpersons
E
of Municipalities, chairperson of the Zilla Panchayat, Five elected heads of Gram Panchayat including
two women, One representative each of SC, ST and Women to be nominated by the Chairperson will
be among other members of the committee.
OR
The Member Secretary of DISHA should be the District Collector / District Magistrate/ Deputy
Commissioner except in cases where specific exemption has been given by the Union Government
It will ensure the participation of people's representative at all levels and successful implementation of
flagship programme of central government which have clear time-bound deliverables like Swachh Bharat,
SC
Digital India besides looking at the programmes of rural development.

The meetings of the committee should be held once in every Quarter (Third Saturdays of April, July,
October and February) and this has been made mandatory.
The few programmes to be covered under are:
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
GS
Deen Dayal Antordaya Yojna - NRLM

Deen Dayal Upadhyay - Gramin Kaushalya Yojna (DDU-GKY)
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojna (PMAY-G)
Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin (SBM- G)
Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme (NLRMP)
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission - National Rurban Mission (NRuM)
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna (DDUGJY)
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Housing for All - Urban), etc.
Notes
36
NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL RANKING

FRAMEWORK
MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development) has released Ranking System Framework for Higher
Educational Institutions of India. This is the first time that a reliable, transparent and authentic ranking system
is being implemented in the country for Higher Education.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has been launched to rank higher educational institutions
in the Country based on objective, verifiable criteria. The ranking system is expected to promote excellence
in education in a competitive environment.
India Rankings 2016 is the country's first exercise to rank the higher educational institutions in the country
based on objective, identifiable parameters. The ranking, which will be an annual exercise, was done by an
E
independent and autonomous body National Board of Accreditation (NBA).
OR
These clusters have been assigned certain weightage and this weightage is a function of type of institution.
Ranking methods have been worked out for 6 categories of institutions viz. Engineering, Management,
Pharmacy, Architecture, Universities and Colleges There are separate rankings for different types of institutions
depending on their areas of operation.
Significance of the ranking:
SC
NIRF ranks the institutions broadly on Five clusters of parameters viz. these ranking has follows the Indian
approach Including:
1) Teaching-learning; Teaching, Learning & Resources (30%)
2) Research, Professional Practice & Collaborative Performance (30%)
GS
3) Graduation Outcome (15%)

4) Outreach and Inclusivity (15%)
5) Peer group Perception (10%)
The rankings are arrived at after detailed analysis and validation of the data submitted by more than 3,600
higher educational institutions in the country classified in 6 categories. Each of these has been further subdivided
into nearly 20 sub criteria to comprehensively assess an institution.
Importance of such rankings in India:
In the list is its timing. With the 'admissions season' round the corner, students looking to study in reputed
institutions will not have much time to make up their minds.They can make their choice of the institution
they wish to take admission into on the basis of the ranking of the institute.
Prior to this initiative, Indian students have had to rely on the Shanghai or the QS World Rankings which
do not take into account the peculiarities of our subcontinent.
In many countries, this exercise has been outsourced to third parties, so the move by the Indian government
is praiseworthy.
Notes
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The grounds of criticism:

There has been no cross-verification of data before announcing the ranking. The data used for evaluation
was submitted by the institutions themselves (Self-verification criteria) and the responsibility for accuracy
and authenticity of the data lies with the respective institutions.
The stated intent of the government was to prepare India-centric ranking parameters that were sensitive
to metrics such as access to higher education and social inclusion. Interestingly, the weightage given to
India-specific parameters is not pronounced.
The IITs have chosen to participate in the rankings under the "engineering" category. They should have
competed under the category of "universities". Institutions devoted to specific disciplines like Institute of
Chemical Technology is ranked along with multidisciplinary universities like JNU/BHU.
Some top institutions could not have figured in the ranking because they did not participate in the process
and submit the data for judging them over various parameters.
Disciplines like literature, commerce and social work appear to have been left out. The country is also
being well served by many autonomous institutions that have their own expertise and excellence. Have
E
they been taken into consideration is a question mark.
Way forward:
OR
The self-verification criteria are advisable to be cross-checked with an independent agency. The methodology
needs to be improved.
Ways and means should also be found to reassure students about the authenticity of the data.
SC
The categories should include the arts and sciences.

The rankings should include 'IPs/ patents by the institute', 'student satisfaction', etc.
Outreach and inclusivity are useful data to help students get a feel of the composition and outlook of the
university.
The NIRF should be transparent about the criteria adopted by it to rank Indian universities.
GS
The rankings are a step towards bringing the Indian institutes on a global platform.
List of top 10 India Rankings 2016 is as follows:
Notes
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E
OR
SC
GS
Notes
39
OFFICE OF PROFIT
The concept of office of profit has evolved in England to preserve the independence of the legislature by
keeping the members away from any temptations from the executive that can come in the way of independent
discharge of their duties. It also seeks to enforce the principle of separation of power between the legislative,
the judiciary and the executive - a basic feature of the Constitution.
Office of profit under Indian Constitution
The term office of profit has not been defined in the Constitution. But, articles 102 (1) and 191 (1) - which
give effect to the concept of office of profit -- prescribe restrictions at the central and state level on lawmakers
accepting government positions. Any violation attracts disqualification of MPs or MLAs, as the case may be.
According to Article 102 (1) (a), a person shall be disqualified as a member of Parliament for holding any
E
office of profit under the government of India or the government of any state, "other than an office declared
by Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder". Article 191 (1) (a) has a similar provision for the members
OR
of state assemblies.
However, articles 102 and 191 clarify that "a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit under the
government of India or the government of any state by reason only that he is a minister".
Further, the last part of the two provisions protects a lawmaker holding a government position if the office
has been made immune to disqualification by law.
SC
Principles of declaring Office of Profit

Four broad principles have evolved for determining whether an office attracts the constitutional disqualification.
First, whether the government exercises control over appointment, removal and performance of the
functions of the office.
GS
Second, whether the office has any remuneration attached to it.

Third, whether the body in which the office is held has government powers (releasing money, allotment
of land, granting licences etc.).
Fourth, whether the office enables the holder to influence by way of patronage.
Office of profit under NCT Act, 1991
Section 15(1)(a) of the government of national capital territory of Delhi act, 1991, says "a person shall
be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the legislative assembly if he holds any
office of profit" under the government of India, a state or a union territory" other than an office protected
by law.
Like articles 102 (1) and 191(1), Section 15(2) of the NCT act also protects ministers at the Centre, in
states or union territories from disqualification. Section 15(3) of the NCT act says in case of a dispute
over disqualification of an MLA, the matter would be referred to the President, whose decision would
be final.
But, before deciding on a petition seeking disqualification, the President, says the NCT act, has to get
the opinion of the election commission which is binding on him.
Notes
40
SURROGACY REGULATION BILL

Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a baby for the couple who want to have a child.
What are the types of surrogacy?
Straight (or traditional) surrogacy
The surrogate mother uses an insemination kit to become pregnant using the intended fathers semen. The baby
will therefore be conceived using the surrogates egg.
Host (or gestational) surrogacy
E
Host surrogacy is when IVF is used, either with the eggs of the intended mother, or with donor eggs. The
surrogate mother therefore does not use her own eggs, and is genetically unrelated to the baby. It is physically
OR
more complicated and considerably more expensive than straight surrogacy.
What is the objective of the new draft bill?
The Bill aims to prevent exploitation of women, especially those in rural and tribal areas.
The Bill promises to ensure parentage of children born out of surrogacy is legal and transparent.
SC
What are the salient features of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill?
The new Bill proposes complete ban on commercial surrogacy but allows ethical surrogacy to needy
infertile couples.
It also prohibits Single parents, homosexual couples, live-in relationships couples to opt for altruistic
surrogacy.
GS
The bill effectively bans foreigners to seek an Indian surrogate mother. This includes non-resident Indians
(NRIs). TheAssociated Press reportedthat the Indian surrogacy industry is at around $1 billion a year
and growing.
For the surrogacy the couple should be married for at least five yearsbefore approaching a surrogate
mother, according to the proposed legislation. Further, the womanhas to be between23-50 years of age
and the man should be 26-55 years old.
A surrogate child would have equal inheritance rights as a biological or adopted child.
The surrogate mother has to be a close relative.
10 years of imprisonment, up to Rs 10 lakh fine for abandoning surrogate child, mistreatment of surrogate
mother.
Notes
41
SOCIAL AUDIT
Social Audit is a tool through which government departments can plan, manage and measure non-financial
activities and monitor both internal and external consequences of the departments social and commercial
operations. Social Audit gives an understanding of the administrative system from the perspective of the vast
majority of people in the society for whom the very institutional/administrative system is being promoted and
legitimised. Social Audit of administration means understanding the administrative system and its internal
dynamics from the angle of what they mean for the vast majority of the people, who are not essentially a part
of the State or its machinery or the ruling class of the day, for whom they are meant to work.
Social Audit is an independent evaluation of the performance of an organisation as it relates to the attainment
of its social goals. It is an instrument of social accountability of an organisation.
E
Objectives of Social Audit:
1. Accurate identification of requirements
OR
2. Prioritization of developmental activities as per requirements
3. Proper utilization of funds
4. Conformity of the developmental activity with the stated goals
SC
5. Quality of service
A social audit will generally examine the organisations policies and practices in the following key areas:
Ethics what the organisations policies are, whether or not they are being upheld or undermined by the
enterprises day-to-day activities.
Staffing how the enterprise rewards, trains and develops its staff, as well as the way in which the
GS
enterprise ensures that it is non-discriminatory, fair and equitable to everyone working there.
Environment the enterprises policies relating to caring for the environment, waste management and
disposal, and damage reduction, and whether or not the enterprise is adhering to these policies.
Human rights how it ensures that it does not violate human rights, or deal, trade with or support any
organisation that violates human rights.
Community the organisations policies relating to the local community, and community involvement;
these policies might, for example, cover community partnerships or community projects, and checks will
be made during the social audit to ensure that agreements are being upheld.
Society the organisations policies relating to society as a whole, and the way in which the enterprise
seeks to improve or benefit society.
Compliance how the organisation complies with statutory and legal requirements, such as health and
safety, employment law, environmental law, criminal law and, of course, financial and tax laws.
Notes
42
SUTLEJ-YAMUNA LINK ISSUE

Sutlej-Yamuna is a proposed 214-kilometer (133mi) long canal inIndiato connect theSutlejandYamunarivers
of which 122 km was to be in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana.
SYL canal was envisaged in 1976. Centre allocated 3.5 MAF of water to Haryana, 3.5 MAF to Punjab
and 0.2 MAF to Delhi. Haryana constructed portion of SYL in its territory, and moved SC seeking direction
to Punjab to construct SYL; then Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal challenged validity of Section 78 of
Reorganization Act.
Recently the issue came up as the Supreme Court has scrapped Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act,
2004 which unilaterally allows Punjab to stop sharing Ravi, Beas waters with other States. Ruling in this regard
E
was given by a five-judge SC Constitution Bench led by Justice Anil R. Dave.
The SC bench gave its opinion on a Presidential Reference made by then President APJ Kalam in 2004 to the
OR
apex court under Article 143 (1) of the Constitution questioning the constitutional validity of the Act.
SC
GS
Notes
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Direction of Supreme Court:

The law unilaterally enacted by Punjab was illegally designed to terminate a 1981 agreement entered into
among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to re-allocate waters of Ravi and Beas. By introducing the 2004 Act,
Punjab defied two back-to-back apex court verdicts, pronounced in 2002 and 2004. Punjab exceeded its
legislative power in proceeding to nullify the decree of this court and therefore. State Legislative Assembly
cannot through legislation do an act in conflict with the judgment of the highest court which has attained
finality.
Timeline of dispute
1966: The creation of Haryana from Punjab in 1966 threw up the problem of giving Haryana its share of river
waters.
Since then, Punjab has opposed sharing waters of the Ravi and Beas Rivers with Haryana, citing riparian
principles, and arguing that it had no water to spare.
1976: After dividing Punjab, Union Government allotted Haryana 3 million acre-feet (MAF) of water of the
Ravi and Beas in 1976.
E
1981: CMs of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan signed an agreement for allocation of surplus Ravi-Beas waters
in presence of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. According to this agreement, available supplies of the Beas and
OR
Ravi Rivers were recalculated to be 17.17 MAF. Rajasthan. Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi got 0.65 MAF and
0.20 MAF.
1982: Gandhi inaugurates digging of SYL canal at Kapuri in Patiala, leading to SAD launching its Dharma
Yudh Morchas. To enable Haryana to use its share of waters of Sutlej and its tributary Beas, Union Government
started Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal Project in 1982 to link Sutlej with the Yamuna.
SC
July 24, 1985: Rajiv-Longowal Accord signed, includes agreement to construct canal by August 15, 1986
April 2, 1986: Eradi Tribunal for settling water disputes constituted. Submits interim report, Punjab files
review; matter pending.
1996: However, the work of canal was completely stopped after local political issues and militant attack on
GS
workers in Punjab. In 1996, Haryana approached Supreme Court for the early completion of the canal.
Jan 15, 2002: SC tells Punjab to make canal functional in a year.
June 4, 2004: SC asks Centre to take control of SYL canal works within a month and get it constructed from
a central agency
July 12, 2004: Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004, passed, terminating the 1981 agreement and other
agreements with non-riparian states for allocation of Ravi-Beas waters.
2016: Ever Since, SYL has been a bone of content between Haryana and Punjab. But on 15th March, 2016,
Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land ((Transfer of Property Rights) Bill 2016
unanimously. This bill aims at transferring 3,928 acres of land free of cost to the original landowners.
Punjab Assembly unanimously passes Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Property Rights) Bill, 2016
to return 3,928 acres of acquired land. However, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has
directed Punjab to maintain status quo.
Supreme Court started hearings into a presidential reference to decide on the legality of the Punjab Termination
of Agreements Act, 2004. The presidential reference was made by the Centre days after the Punjab Assembly
passed the Act.
Notes
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As the hearings resumed, the Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of the Centre, took a pro-Haryana stance,
saying the Centre stood by the SCs orders asking Punjab to complete the work on SYL in its territory. The
development has triggered a political storm in Punjab.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh who was Chief Minister when
the 2004 Act was passed had launched a blistering attack on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, the alliance
partner of the BJP, which leads the government at the Centre, and had announced a march to protect Punjabs
waters.
Punjab demanded a fresh tribunal to ascertain the present flow of waters and decide the entitlement of each
state on the basis of the rights of riparian and non-riparian states under national and international law.
The Congress moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly on the issue, but the Akali Dal pre-empted the
move, with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal moving a resolution against sharing any water, and the
attempts to force Punjab to build the SYL canal.
E
OR
SC
GS
Notes
45

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1. Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Indian Parliament

LEADER OF OPPOSITION (LOP) IN INDIAN

To provide constructive criticism on the policies of the government.

NHRC PM+ Home minister + speaker of LS + dept. chair of RS + leader of Opposition of LS

THE AADHAAR ACT, 2016

RESERVATION FOR WOMEN IN FORCES

PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHIT

The free checkup will take place on 9th of every month.

UGC AND AICTE

Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

E-Governance (e-Gov) Bureau

"KENDRIYA AND NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA"

CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION

a) Hydrological observations and studies,

c) Providing assistance in regulation and development of inter?state rivers,

e) Carrying out techno?economic appraisal of projects,

f) Taking up survey and investigation of projects on request,

h) Advising and assisting the Government of India on related matters.

any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which:

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

NOBEL PRIZE 2016

include thin magnetic films and superconductors.

ONE RANK ONE PENSION

INNER LINE PERMIT

(vi) Whole of Nagaland

various castes and sections of the population.

c) 25 per cent of the rural households still do not own a phone

HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION AND

Support the development of local green bond markets

extract shale gas at reasonable cost and

KRISHI KALYAN CESS

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL LIBRARY

INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTE

SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

Preferential treatment in federal assistance and tax break

Raghuram Committee recommendations

INDUS WATER TREATY

DISHA (DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE)

Digital India besides looking at the programmes of rural development.

Deen Dayal Antordaya Yojna - NRLM

NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL RANKING

3) Graduation Outcome (15%)

The grounds of criticism:

The categories should include the arts and sciences.

Principles of declaring Office of Profit

Second, whether the office has any remuneration attached to it.

SURROGACY REGULATION BILL

SUTLEJ-YAMUNA LINK ISSUE

Direction of Supreme Court:

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