 Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017?

It ends the liability of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government on the demonetised Rs.500
and Rs. 1000 currency notes. 2. It prohibits the holding, transferring or receiving of demonitised notes
from 31 December, 2016 and confers power on the court of a first class magistrate to impose the
penalty. Possessing more than 10 pieces of old notes by individuals and more than 25 pieces for study,
research or numismatics purposes will attract a fine of Rs. 10,000 or five times the value of cash held,
whichever is higher.

 Article 239AA:- Special provisions with respect to Delhi:

i. 69th Amendment Act of 1991: provided a special status to Union Territory of Delhi, ii. National
Capital Territory of Delhi & administrator of Delhi as lieutenant (lt.) governor. iii. It created a
legislative assembly & council of ministers for Delhi. iv. Strength of the assembly is fixed at 70
members, directly elected by people. The elections are conducted by election commission of
India. vi. The Assembly can make laws on all matters of State List & Concurrent List except 3
matters of State List (public order, police & land) But, laws of Parliament prevail over those laws
made by Assembly. vii. Strength of council of ministers is fixed at 10% of total strength of
Assembly,7: 1CM & 6 ministers. viii. Chief Minister of Delhi is appointed by President (not by the
lt. governor).
 Railway Protection Force (RPF):-: 1. Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a security force of India
entrusted with protecting railway passengers, passenger area and railway property of the Indian
Railways . This is the only central armed police force (CAPF) which has the power to arrest,
investigate and prosecute criminals. 2. The force is under the authority of Ministry of Railways
(India).
 IRNSS-1H set for launch on Thursday 2. Industry co-built regional navigation satellite will back
up, replace • 1A of series 3. Country’s eighth regional navigation satellite gets lined up for
launch. The launch will take place from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of Satish Dhawan Space
Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
 The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is an Indian Government owned
telecommunications technology development centre.  It was established in 1984 with initial
mandate of designing and developing digital exchanges.  C-DOT has expanded to develop
intelligent computer software applications.
 30.08-Indian Meteorological Department (IMD): 1. Under Earth & Science Ministry 2. IMD also
deal with Seismology- Earthquake 3. Research in Antarctica Environment Impact on India:
Missions: 4. 1983: Dakshin Gangotri/ 1990: Matri/ 2015: Bharati. For research about to climate
change and its affect on indian climate.
 NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force  It comes under Ministry of Home Affairs  It
is the only dedicated disaster response force in the world  Established in 2006  HQ: New Delhi
 BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa. 2. Originally the first four were grouped as "BRIC" (or "the
BRICs"), before the induction of South Africa in 2010. 3. The BRICS members are all leading
developing or newly industrialized countries, but they are distinguished by their large,
 sometimes fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional affairs. 4. All five are G-
20 members. 5. Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits. 6. China
will host 9th BRICS summit in Xiamen on September 3, 4 and 5th , 2017 7. India held the BRICS
Chairmanship in 2016 and hosted the 8th BRIGS Summit on 15-16 October, 2016 in Goa 8. China
held 9th BRICS Summit during September 3-5, 2017 at Fujian province. Problem with Brics- Not
support doklam issue and not establishing multi polar world.
 CBI: (Mostly Controversial Body) 1. 1963 by resolution, MoHA transferred to Ministry of
Personnel 2. CBI is not statutory body/ powers from DSPE, 1946/assistance to CVC. 3. DPEA:
Delhi Police Establishment Act, 1946. Can investigate criminal matter, economic matter,
corruption matter. In state, Govt/court can order to probe CBI Investigation after center
consent. Appointment Committee of CBI: 1. PM/ 2. Leader of Opposition/ 3. Chief Justice of
India.
 International Atomic Energy Agency : 1. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an
international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to
inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. 2. The IAEA was established
as an autonomous organisation on 29 July 1957. Austria-Vienna. Though established
independently of the United Nations through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute,the
IAEA reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
 Kazakhstan is all set to open the world’s first Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Oskemen.
 Women Transforming India Awards was launched by NITI Aayog,  in partnership with the UN in
India and MyGov,  to recognize the transformational impact of work undertaken by women
across India's villages, towns and cities.
 SAMADHAN (S-Smart Policing and Leadership;  A –Aggressive Strategy,  M-Motivation and
Training,  A-Actionable Intelligence;  D-Dashboard for Development and Key Performance
Indicators,  H-Harnessing Technology for Develo  pment and Security,  A-Action Plan for each
Theatre and  N-No access to Financing) has also been introduced to control the situation in the
LWE affected states.
 NHRC- Power & Function of NHRC 1. Steps of NHRC: 1. Payment of compensation/ 2. initiation
proceed/ 3. grant interim relief/ 4. approach SC, HC for writs 2. Role- 1. No power to punish/
recommendation not binding 2. limited role on armed 3. informed about action taken within
1month-reason of non acceptance. 4. Suo Motu power. 5. Civil Court powers 6. annual-special
reports to Central/state govt. 3. Working: 1. Civil Court powers , investigating staff 2. Utilize
services central+ state 3. Case can not applied after expiry of 1yr.
 Jhelum River-Source- Verinag, Srinagar 2. Jhelum has its source in a spring at Verinag in the
south-eastern part of the Kashmir Valley. 3. 4. Destination- Chenab 5. Length- 725 km 6. Jhelum
Divides India & Pakistan
 Inland water way- last mile connectivity, tourism – against- sanitation, biodiversity will affect.
 6th Schedule: Deals administration of tribal areas in 4 NE states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura &
Mizoram. 1. Tribal areas in 4 NE states constituted as autonomous districts. But, not outside
authority of state 2. Governor is empowered to organize and re-organize autonomous districts.
3. He can increase/decrease their areas or change their names or define their boundaries. 4. If
 different tribes in autonomous governor can divide district into several autonomous regions. 5.
Each autonomous district has District Council ( administer, land, agri, edu with assent of Gov) of
30: 4 nominated by governor & 26 elected 6. Elected members hold office for term of five years
& nominated pleasure of the governor. 7. Each autonomous region also has a separate regional
council.
 Acts of Parliament /state do not apply to autonomous districts & autonomous regions
 The Society is a non-profit organisation solely devoted to academic pursuits in science,
engineering, technology and allied fields related to oceans. 2. The objectives of the Ocean
Society of India (OSI) are advancement and dissemination of knowledge in Science, Technology,
Engineering and allied fields related to oceans. 3. It provides a forum for sharing the knowledge
and experience of individuals, scientific institutions and industrial organizations for promoting
the said objectives and acts as a link among academic and R&D institutions, national policy
making bodies, operational organisations and ocean industries by organizing programs such as
courses, lectures, symposia and topical reviews.
 Context: 1. It is an autonomous research centre to promote scientific and technological research
and development studies in the earth sciences. 2. NCESS pursues problems related to land, sea
and atmosphere. 3. It was instituted by government of Kerala in 1978, at Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala. 4. CESS was the earliest institute in the country to embrace the concept of Earth System
Science (ESS)..
 Appointment of District Judges 1. He should not already be in the service of the Central or the
state government. 2. He should have been an advocate or a pleader for seven years. 3. He
should be recommended by the high court for appointment.. Appointment:- 2. By the governor
of the state in consultation with the high court
 They are known to congregate at Pulicat lake in Tamil Nasdu and migrate back to Gujarat after
winter.
 The Kaziranga National Park sustains a population of about 2,000 Indian rhinos,  a mega
herbivore and vulnerable species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (
IUCN) in 2008  Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) is a partnership between the Assam Forest
Department, the Bodoland Territorial Council, WWF, IRF, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 
Its goal is to have a wild population of at least 3,000 Greater onehorned rhinos in the Indian
state of Assam – spread over seven protected areas – by the year 2020. S.
 DGFT- The is the agency of the ministry of commerce and industry of the government of india, 
Responsible for execution of the import and export policies of india.  It was earlier known as
chief controller of imports & exports (cci&e) till 1991.  Dgft plays a very important role in the
development of trading relations with various other nations  Help in improving not only the
economic growth but also provides a certain impetus needed in the trade industry. How to
implement FTA.


 The UNHCR, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is a UN programme mandated to protect
and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their
voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.  Its headquarters is
located in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is a member of the United Nations Development Group. 
The UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace Prizes (in 1954 and again in 1981).
 JAM Trinity- 1 billion unique Aadhaar numbers linked to 1 billion bank accounts and 1 billion
mobile phones.  Once that is done, all of India can become part of the financial and digital
mainstream.  Just as GST created one tax, one market, one India, the PMJDY and the JAM
revolution can link all Indians into one common financial, economic, and digital space.  No
Indian will be outside the mainstream. This is nothing short of a social revolution”.
 91st 2001 amendment, state can appoint 15 % of Minister of total legislative assembly. And Delhi
only 10 %.
 ISTD- Indian soicty and training and development- Established in April 1970,  national level
professional & non-profit society  Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.  It has
a large membership of individuals and institutions involved in the area of training and
development of Human.
 ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations  It is a political and economic
organisation of 10 SE Asian nations  Formed in 1967  Founding members were Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand i.e. all 10 current members were not founding
members. India SAARC Member, Maldive SARC member- Trade Deficit increase- consumer
electronics grew at the highest pace in 2016-17 (18.33%), followed by ships and boats (12.82%),
electronic components (11.72%) and telecom instruments (9.17%).  India’s second-largest
export commodity to ASEAN — buffalo meat — saw a 4.92% increase in 2016-17 to reach $2.78
billion.—Pharmaceutical and service IT should be exported more.
 Why Trade Deficit-Lack of diversity in products  Absence of quality norms  Non- tariff barriers-
delay in clearance due quality norm is not good.
 What can be done-Better market access  Quality norms  Reduction in tariffs  Correct Inverted
duty structure.—Promote make in india. Less tax on raw material.
 Nuakhai or Nuankhai (Odia Language: ନନନନନନ or ନନନ ନନନନ and ନନନନନନ) is an
agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha in India.[6]  Nuakhai is
observed to welcome the new rice of the season.
 FR-Part III  Article 12 & 35 2. Not absolute but qualified 3. Justiciable 4. Defended, 5.
Guaranteed by Supreme Court 6. Directly enforceable 7. Not permanent.
 The Railway Board, the premier decision making body of the country’s largest transporter, 
comprises a chairman and members for five different functions –  Traffic, Traction, Rolling
Stock, Engineering and Staff.  In the hierarchy of the Indian Railways, the Board is right after
the Railway Minister and his Ministers of State.  It is interesting to note that though several
critical Railway functions are headed by Members, there is no position for Member (Safety).
 An Irrawaddy dolphin spotted in the Rambha sector of Chilika lake. Protection Status: IUNC has
classified it as Vulnerable in Red Data list. 4. Threats: Fishing nets, developmental projects like
construction of dams, tourism and diseases
 The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization. 2. It is
founded in 1961 3. It has working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction
of humanity's footprint on the environment. 4. The world’s leading conservation organization,
WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by more than one million members in the United
States and close to five million globally.
 The Mechi River is a trans-boundary river flowing through Nepal and India. It is a tributary of the
Mahananda River. The Mechi originates in the Mahabharat Range in Nepal.
 Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will be visiting the Sri Mookambika Temple
at Kollur in Udupi district on Saturday.
 “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) -The objective of PMKSY is to supplement
agriculture, modernize processing and decrease Agri-Waste. Like-Mega Food Parks.
 24-08-NITI Aayog will launch the Mentor India Campaign, a strategic nation building initiative to
engage leaders who can guide and mentor students at more than 900 Atal Tinkering Labs,
established across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission. Atal Tinkering Labs are
dedicated works spaces where students from Class 6th to Class 12th learn innovation skills and
develop ideas that will go on to transform India.
 23.08- Triple Tlaq-
 TYPES OF MAJORITY: 1. 1) By Simple Majority : Majority (> 50% ) of the total membership of
House present & voting 2. 2) By Absolute Majority: Majority (> 50% ) of the total Strength of the
House 3.---SC Judge Impeach ment 3) By Special Majority: 2/3 of total Strength Or Simple + 2/3
of members of House present & voting 4. 4) By Special Majority of Parliament & Consent of
States: (Example: impeachment of the President) 1. If bill to amend federal provisions, it must
ratified by legislature of half of states by simple majority
 newly discovered Nasikabatrachus bhupathi could set the bar a couple of notches lower
 Close cousin of Seychelles( Indian Ocean)’ Purple frog,
 FSDC- Financila stability will develop and not statutory body made by govt decision. Member of
Head SBI, RBI. IRDA)
 22-08
 Project ‘Varshadhari’ was launched by the Karnataka government in Bengaluru on Monday
under which an aircraft will spray chemicals to induce rainfall.
 Scientists have discovered two new primitive species of earthworm in the Western Ghats
mountain ranges in Kerala.  They have named the new earthworm species Drawida
polydiverticulata and Drawida thomasi
 21.08
 The decks have been cleared for a 1.5 crore project to develop Ghantasala village in the Krishna
district as a major Buddhist tourist destination in the State. 3. “The new facility will be themed
around the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. 4. A two-storied structure in Buddhist architecture,
resembling a pedestal, with a 100-ft wide and 70-ft high Buddha in the Mahaparinirvana
posture, will be a major highlight,” said the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s
(APTDC) Executive Director Mallikarjuna Rao.
 Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a programme of multi
interventions through different modes and media designed to educate citizens
 The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952,is one of the most significant film
festivals in Asia.  Held annually in the state of Goa, on the western coast of the country,  the
festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the
excellence of the film art;.
 20/19-09
 The West Bengal government on Friday advised the Supreme Court against evolving a central
selection mechanism for appointing judicial officers in State subordinate judicial services, saying
it is against the principle of federalism practised in Indian democracy. Mr. Dwivedi said a central
mechanism would usurp the constitutional duty of the State High Courts under Article 233 of
the Constitution. 6. Constitutional duty The Article provides that the Governor should appoint
district judges in consultation with the High Court concerned.
 As per Article 233, (2) A person not already in the service of the Union or of the State shall only
be eligible to be appointed a district judge if he has been for not less than seven years an
advocate or a pleader and is recommended by the High Court for appointment.
 Parasite- Kammchore
 Kala Azar-It is transmitted by Sand Fly bites. Hence it is common in families living in close
proximity to livestock or in humid condition. The South bank of Ganga River is the global
epicentre for Kala-Azar.
 India and US have resolved to enhance peace across the IndoPacific region by establishing a new
2-by-2 ministerial dialogue that will elevate their strategic consultation.  The US has strategic
consultations in this format with key partners and allies including Australia, Japan and the
Philippines.  India has had a dialogue in the two-plus-two format with Japan with secretaries or
senior-most bureaucrats from the foreign and defence ministries engaging each other.



 National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority- Proposed Draft Policy- Key objective: to make
essential drugs accessible at affordable prices to common people while providing a long-term
stable policy environment for the pharmaceutical sector.  cap on “unreasonable trade margin s
 ( Curb essential high rate medicine) ” Ending “unethical marketing practices ( Doctor prescribe
high rate medicine, promote generic medicine.
 MyFASTag is a consumer App that can be downloaded from the App Store for both Android and
iOS systems. A consumer can purchase or recharge FASTags on this App.
 FASTag Partner is a merchant App. Agencies like Common Services Centre, banking partners and
vehicle dealers can sell and enroll FASTag through this App.
 Tajmahal turing green by insect name geoldiichironomous.
 World heritage site- part of UNESCO- Edu, scientific and cultural organization. They are legally
protected during war by UN International treaties.
 UNESCO- Promote peace and securities by international collaboration in EDU, Natual SCE, Social
SCE, and CUL reforms. HQ Paris. Organ Of UN.
 RFIT- radio Frequency Indentification Technology. FAST TAG
 Defense Acquisition council ( Acquire defence equipment, apache helicopter)- Chairman-
Defense Minister.
 World Most Livable city index by EIU Economist intelligence unit’s
 KRT ( 6000) has Highest no of elephants followed by Assam( 50000. ASIA natural conservation
foundation Nonprofit charitable trust published date of elephant
 Attoneney general of India- not right to vote.
 North Kol river- Ranchi Plateu..meet son river and sone river meet in ganga. Petla national part
(JH) and palamau tiger reserve- National wildlife board under-wildlife protection act 1972.
Animal welfare board- prevention of animal cruelty act.
 16-08-
 Parsar Bharti- Autonomous Body and comes under Ministry of information and Brodcasting.
 Gopalpur. Dopper system –help to forecast cyclic storm.
 Kanjia lake part of nandankanan biological park- Orissa—wetland
 Gemarket launced by commerce industry with collaboration of Business group CII Confedration
of indian industry.
 Pushu Sanjivini -National Bovine( cattle) mission productivity- milk animal data collected help to
govt for scheme of improvement health and productivity of animal.
 12 and 13..
 TORA –Transparency of rule act—all rule and regulation published in their website.
 The surrogancy regulation bill 2016—ban on commercial surrogacy, clinic not registered. Still to
be pass. Study IQ
 BIMSTEC- 1997 in Bangkok. Bhutan is not chairman
 CBFC- film certification (statutory body)- Min of in and brod- provide certificate U- Evryone- U/A
guidance with family. Adult-not family. SS SS –for special class.
 Hotest Planet- Venus- because Mercury has no atmosphere and venus is twin Earth’s
 Export credit guarantee cooperation of india- to safe rist of exporter company .
 Aajivika gramin express yojna- fund to SHG will help buy vehicle and connectivity will improve
and development will enhance.
 11.08
  Lingyas – KNTK, parsi, jain, muslim, sikh, parsi, budha. Not require amendment in constitution
for minority status.
 Kenya location- eastern cost Africa
 GUAM- Spain Teritory- now its usa.
 DIPP depTT of Mini of Commerce industry.
 Kyoto protocol- divide in annex and non annex countries. Annex develop countries provide fund
to developing countries and less emission of GHG-Co2, Ch4, n20, hfc, pfcs, sf6. The developing
has not set target for emission. Established- in 1997.
 2008--Valid 2020. After paris climate change will valid.
 10.08
 Inter state water dispute 1956- SC in not empower to resolve to dispute. KNK and TN fight
between. Kavery –kurg district—harangi, lokpavti—vati— perennial river like Himalaya river.
 Central waqf council—statutory board.
 Rajya Sabha- Article 80, two power- all india service can create—by special majority 2/3 and
impeachment of president. 245 seat- 4 U/T, 12 – Nominated member, in scince, art, social
science, literature. 4 schedule deal with it.
 Barakar-tributries—damadar river.
 Kali Tiger reserve—eco sensitive zone- env protection act .
 Grass hopper- CH
 GM Musterd scheme-? Study iq
 Under the control of the Ministry of Defence, Formed in 1960.
The BRO is engaged in road construction to provide connectivity to difficult and inaccessible
regions in the border areas of the country.

Currently, the organisation maintains operations in twenty-one states, one UT (Andaman and
Nicobar Islands), and neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri

Lanka .
Navika Sagar Parikrama:= Navika Sagar Parikrama is a project wherein a team of women officers of the
Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini.

This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The project is scheduled
to commence in early Sep 17.

INSV Tarini is the sister vessel of INSV Mhadei.

Aims of the Expedition are as follows:

 Push For Women EMpowerment

 Sailing encourages use of environmental Friendly non conventional renewable energy sources.
 Make in India (Since INS Tarini is Indigenously Built).
 Crew will monitor and report Marine Pollution on high seas.

 The principal tributaries of KOl river are the Auranga and the Amanat.
 16-08About the TAPI Pipeline Project :- The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Natural
Gas Pipeline (TAPI) Project is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development
Bank.

From the Galkynysh field in Turkmensitan, the pipeline will run to Herat and Kandahar province
of Afghanistan, before entering Pakistan.
In Pakistan, it will reach Multan via Quetta before ending at Fazilka (Punjab) in India.
 IMMSAREX: IONS’s maiden maritime search and rescue exercise will be held in November
2017:= Indian Navy will be joining the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in a maiden maritime
search and rescue exercise to be chaired by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
(IONS) in November this year.

There are 35 members.

(QUESTION ABOUT IONS came in UPSC 2017 )

About IONS?

The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states, represented by their Navy chiefs,
launched by India in February 2008. It presently has 23 members and nine observers.

It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the
littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for
discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues and, in the process, endeavors to generate a
flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common understanding and
possibly agreements on the way ahead.

UPSC 2017 Question:=

Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

 Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
 IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the
littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
 (a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: B
 India and Russia for first time are going to conduct Indra tri-services exercise,involving their
armies, navies and the air forces in October 2017 to further ramp up military ties.

It will be for the first time India will participate in a tri-services exercise with a foreign country.
 YUVA – a skill development programme :- An initiative by Delhi Police under Pradhan Mantri
Kaushal Vikas Yojana was recently launched.

The ‘YUVA’ initiative by Delhi Police aims to connect with youth by upgrading their skill as per
their competencies
 Why Was IRNSS-1H Launched??:- The IRNSS-1H was being sent to space to back up and replace
the functions of India’s first navigation satellite IRNSS-1A (launched in July 2013) as its three
rubidium atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning.

The rubidium atomic clocks on board of IRNSS-1A that stopped working were imported from
European aerospace manufacturer Astrium. The atomic clocks are used to find satellite’s
position with an accuracy of 0.5 metre.
 What is AFSPA?

 AFSPA, enacted in 1958, gives powers to the army and state and central police forces to shoot to
kill, search houses and destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents in areas
declared as “disturbed” by the home ministry.

 The Act provides army personnel with safeguards against malicious, vindictive and frivolous
prosecution.
 Security forces can “arrest without warrant” a person, who has committed or even “about to
commit a cognizable offence” even on “reasonable suspicion”.
 The National Handloom Day is being observed every year on 7 August to honour the handloom
weavers in the country and also carter an impetus to India’s handloom industry.

This year it was third edition of the National Handloom Day after it was instituted in 2015.

Handloom sector contributes to nearly 15% of the cloth production in the country and also
contributes to the country’s export earnings. 95% of the world’s hand woven fabric comes from
India.
 3)The Centre in association with the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) today
launched ‘Tele-Law’ scheme in Bihar with an aim to provide an opportunity to the common man
to access legal aid easily.

 NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to provide free legal
services to weaker sections of society.
 The aim is to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by
reasons of economic or other disabilities.

Important functions performed by NALSA:=

NALSA organises Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

 Removal:- The term may also terminate earlier by removal. The Vice President can be removed
by a resolution by the members of the Rajya Sabha.
To move such resolution, a 14 days’ notice is to be given. Such a resolution, though passed by
the Rajya Sabha only, but must be agreeable to the Lok Sabha.

There is no need of impeachment of Vice President for removal. As per article 66, the candidate
contesting for election of Vice-President of India.
 World Bank has allowed India to construct Kishanganga, Ratle hydroelectric powerfacilities on
tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers with certain

Background:-

Pakistan had opposed the construction of the Kishanganga (Jhelum River) and Ratle (Chenab
River) hydroelectric power plants built by India in Jammu and Kashmir.

Both countries had disagreed over the technical design features of the two hydroelectric plants,
as these two rivers are part of “Western Rivers” along with Indus River under.

IWT has given Pakistan full control over these three western rivers for unrestricted use. Besides,
it also allow India to construct hydroelectric power facilities on these rivers along with other
uses, subject to constraints specified in annexures to the treaty.

SC bans use of five heavy metals in firecrackers:=

The Supreme Court has imposed ban on use of five harmful heavy metals like lithium, antimony,
mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacturing of firecrackers as they cause air pollution.

Heavy metals in firecrackers:=

 Lithium is a metal used to impart red colour to fireworks.

 Antimony is used to create glitter effects.
 Lead oxide provides a special crackling effect which, if inhaled, in high concentration can cause
damage to the nervous system.
 PESO is the apex department to control and administer manufacture, storage, transport and
handling of explosives, petroleum, compressed gases and other hazardous substances in India.
 It functions under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
 It is headed by Chief Controller of Explosives and is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.
