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• The recent global economic meltdown 8. Core sector growth slows to the
has put pressure on governments and four-month low of 4.3% in
institutions across the globe to September
regulate their economic assets. This • According to the index of eight core
council is seen as India's initiative to industries released by Ministry of
be better conditioned to prevent such Commerce and Industry, the Growth
incidents in future. of eight infrastructure sectors slowed
• The new body envisages down to 4.3% in September re.
strengthening and institutionalising • This is the lowest in the last four
the mechanism of maintaining months, as the production of crude oil
financial stability, financial sector and natural gas declined.
development, inter-regulatory Related Information
coordination along with monitoring • The Eight Core Industries comprise
macro-prudential regulation of the nearly 40.27% of the weight of items
economy. included in the Index of Industrial
Composition of the council Production (IIP).
Chairperson: The Union Finance Minister of
• These are Electricity, steel, refinery
India products, crude oil, coal, cement,
Other Members included:
natural gas and fertilisers.
• Governor Reserve Bank of India (RBl),
Index of industrial production
• Finance Secretary and/ or Secretary,
• The Index of Industrial Production
Department of Economic Affairs (DEA)
(IIP) is an index for India which
• Chairman, Securities and Exchange
details out the growth of various
Board of India (SEBI)
sectors in an economy such as
• Chairman, Insurance Regulatory and
mineral mining, electricity and
Development Authority (IRDA)
manufacturing.
• Secretary, Department of Financial
Services (DFS) • It is compiled and published monthly
• Secretary, Ministry of Corporate by the central statistical organisation
Affairs (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and
• Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Programme
Finance etc. • The level of the Index of Industrial
Topic- GS Paper 3-Economic development Production (IIP) is an abstract
Source- Indian Express number.
7. Karnataka launches SC/ST • The base year was at one time fixed
entrepreneurship scheme: at 1993–94 so that year was assigned
Samruddhi scheme an index level of 100.
• Karnataka Social Welfare Department • The current base year is 2011-2012.
launched the Samruddhi scheme to Topic- GS Paper 3 – Industries
boost employment opportunities for Source-Live Mint
SC/ST youth through
entrepreneurship. 02.11.2018
• The Samruddhi scheme is targeted at
socially marginalised communities to
1. Ministry of Railways rolls out:
provide them with skill development
UTSONMOBILE’ app
and alternate means of employment.
• The scheme is partnering with private • Ministry of Railways has introduced
enterprises to train the youth from All-India Unreserved Mobile Ticketing
backward communities to create facility (UTS on Mobile).
‘industry owned private enterprise’ to • The facility of booking unreserved
make them financially independent. tickets, including season tickets and
Topic- GS Paper 2 – Government Scheme also platform tickets is available
Source- The Hindu through the ‘UTSONMOBILE’ app.
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5. 18th Indian Ocean Rim Association • This ship will be fitted with advanced
Council of Ministers Meeting technology navigation and
• The Republic of South Africa, as the communication equipment, sensor
current IORA Chair, will host the 18th and machinery.
IORA Council of (Foreign) Ministers • The ship will also be equipped with an
Meetings (COM) in Durban. Integrated Bridge System (IBS),
• The theme of “IORA is – Uniting the Integrated Platform Management
Peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia System (IPMS), Automated Power
and the Middle East through Enhanced Management System (APMS) and
Co-operation for Peace, Stability and High Power External Fire Fighting
Sustainable Development. (EFF) system.
• IORA Nelson Mandela ‘Be the Legacy’ • ICGS Varaha will carry one twin-
internship programme was also engine helicopter and four high-speed
launched which help in contribution to boats, including two inflatable boats,
empowering and capacitating the for boarding operation, search and
youth of the Indian Ocean region. rescue, law enforcement and
Related Information maritime patrol.
Indian-Ocean Rim Association • Induction of these vessels would
• The Indian Ocean Rim Association is provide a needful impetus to the
an international organisation deterrence role of ICG in security or
consisting of coastal states bordering safety of maritime interests.
the Indian Ocean. • It will also be capable of carrying
• The IORA is a regional forum, pollution response equipment to
tripartite in nature, bringing together contain the oil spill at sea.
representatives of Government, Topic- GS Paper 3 – Defence
Business and Academia, for Source-PIB
promoting co-operation and closer 7. MoU signed between OMCs and CSC
interaction among them. SPV for collaboration in LPG Services
• It is based on the principles of Open • A MoU for collaboration in LPG
Regionalism for strengthening services was signed between Oil
Economic Cooperation particularly on Marketing Companies (IOCL, HPCL &
Trade Facilitation and Investment, BPCL) and CSC e-Governance
Promotion as well as Social Services India Limited.
Development of the region. • This MoU will help in filling the gaps in
• The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA reaching the rural and far-flung areas,
is located at Ebene, Mauritius. by appropriate use of the technology
Topic-GS Paper 2–International Relation and harnessing the enterprising spirit
Source- Economics Times of the people of India.
6. Offshore patrol vessel ICGS Related Information
Varaha launched • Common Services Centre will help
• ICGS Varaha the fourth in the series beneficiaries to provide the above
of 98 M offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) OMCs service near to their home,
of Indian Coast Guard was launched accessing through Digital Seva Portal.
at L&T Kattupalli. About Common Service Centre
• The 98 M OPV has been designed and • Common Services Centers (CSCs) are
built indigenously by Larsen & Toubro. astrategic corner stone of the Digital
• The first and second ships of this India programme.
project have already been delivered to • CSCs are envisaged as assisted front
ICG and are presently based in the end ICT (Information and
Western Coast and Eastern Coast of Communication Technology) enabled
India and the third OPV will be centres for delivery of various G2C
delivered in early 2019. (Government to Citizen) and other
Related Information B2C (Business to Citizen) services to
About the Patrol Vessel the citizens.
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What's special about locating the INO in • It can also address the bad loan
the South? problem staring at banks, as
• A project report says most of the corporate debtors will not be able to
neutrino detectors are at latitude over borrow across banks without
35 deg. disclosing existing debt.
• It is possible to push such a detector • A PCR may also help raise India’s rank
down to almost 8 deg latitude in South in the global ease of doing business
India, within proximity to the Equator. index.
• This permits neutrino astronomy Why PCR is necessary
searches covering the whole celestial • Credit information is now available
sky and study of solar neutrinos across multiple systems in bits and
passing through the Earth’s core. pieces and not in one window.
Topic-GS Paper 3–Science & Technology • Data on borrowings from banks, non-
Source- The Hindu banking financial companies,
2. RBI kicks: to set up a digital Public corporate bonds or debentures from
Credit Registry to curb bad loans the market, external commercial
• The Reserve Bank has initiated steps borrowings (ECBs), foreign currency
to set up a wide-based digital Public convertible bonds (FCCBs), masala
Credit Registry (PCR) to capture bonds, and inter-corporate
details of all borrowers, including borrowings are not available in one
willful defaulters and also the pending data repository.
legal suits in order to check financial • PCR will help capture all relevant
delinquencies. information about a borrower, across
• The PCR will also include data from different borrowing products in one
entities like market regulator Sebi, place.
the corporate affairs ministry, Goods Topic-GS Paper3–Economics & Development
and Service Tax Network and the Source- The Hindu
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of 3. Ganga Grams: The role model for
India. village cleanliness
• It helps to enable the banks and • Ganga Gram is a concept to transform
financial institutions to get a 360- the villages on the bank of river
degree profile of existing and Ganga into ideal villages with
prospective borrowers on a real-time emphasis on Open Defecation Free,
basis. Solid and Liquid Waste Management,
Related Information Water Conservation, Ground Water
Public Credit Registry (PCR) Recharge, modern crematorium, tree
• A public credit registry is an plantation, organic and medicinal
information repository that collates all plants.
loan information of individuals and • Ganga Gram' project had been
corporate borrowers. launched by the Union government as
• A credit repository helps banks part of its clean Ganga mission,
distinguish between a bad and a good named Namami Gange, for holistic
borrower and accordingly offer sanitation development in villages on
attractive interest rates to good the banks of the Ganges.
borrowers and higher interest rates to • In August the Centre declared all
bad borrowers. 4,470 villages on the banks of the
• The move is based on the Ganges, located in Uttarakhand, Uttar
recommendations of a committee, Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West
headed by Y.M. Deosthalee. Bengal, open defecation-free (ODF)
• PCR will address issues such as • Of these villages, the Centre and the
information asymmetry, improve state governments have identified 24
access to credit and strengthen the villages to be taken up under a pilot
credit culture among consumers. project to transform them into 'Ganga
Grams'.
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• She started the Karak dynasty by • Small RNA dictates whether a gene
marrying a local king. may express itself and make a
• Some Chinese-language texts claim protein; they control the way genes
that the then King of Ayodhya had a express themselves in the phenotype.
dream where God ordered him to send Topic-GS Paper3–Biodiversity & environment
his 16-year-old daughter to South Source- The Hindu
Korea to marry King Kim Suro. 8. Nuclear submarine: INS Arihant
Topic-GS Paper 3–International Relation • Nuclear submarine INS Arihant
country’s first indigenous nuclear
Source- The Hindu
submarine successfully completed its
7. NCBS: Loss of small RNA molecule
"first deterrence patrol.
is key to rice domestication
• It will signify the underwater predator
• This is the first report revealing the has undertaken its maiden long-range
role of non-coding RNA regulators in mission with "live" nuclear-tipped
domestication. missiles.
• The domestication of rice can be • It is India's long-awaited nuclear
tracked to the loss of a small RNA triad, or the capability to fire nuclear
molecule (miR397), according to a weapons from land, air and sea.
study carried out at the National • INS Arihant (which means annihilator
Centre of Biological Sciences (NCBS), of enemies), armed with the 750-km
Bengaluru. range K-15 missiles, incidentally,
• This finding can be used to improve comes at a time when a Chinese
crops for the future submarine is once again prowling
Related Information around in the Indian Ocean Region
• Thousands of years ago humans (IOR).
domesticated wild plant varieties that • The success of INS Arihant gives a
yielded flowers, fruit, grains and fitting response to those who indulge
medicines. in nuclear blackmail.
• Indica rice, a subspecies of Oryza Related Information
sativa, was domesticated from two INS Arihant
wild species Oryza nivara and Oryza • The Arihant-class submarines are
rufipogon. nuclear powered ballistic missile
• Both the wild species have weak submarines built under the Advanced
stems and lie prostrate near edges of Technology Vessel (ATV) project.
water bodies. • This will be the first nuclear
• The process of domestication selected submarines designed and built by
useful traits from these: stronger India.
stems, absence of seed shattering, • The submarines are powered by a
more grains per plant, aroma, colour pressurised water reactor with highly
etc. enriched uranium fuel.
• After studying the two wild species, Topic- GS Paper 3 – Defence
the domesticated high-yielding Source- AIR
varieties and several rice lines in 08.11.2018
between (land races).
1. India re-elected as the member of
• They screened 12 and sequenced 7 —
ITU council
the team identified a small RNA
• India has been elected as a member
controlling laccases and named them
of the International
miR397.
Telecommunications Union Council
• Laccases are enzymes involved in the (ITU) from 2019 to 2022.
polymerisation of monomers of lignin, • India ranked third among the 13
which contribute to stem woodiness. countries elected to the council from
If the plant produces more laccases the Asia-Australasia region, and
then more lignin gets accumulated in eighth among the 48 countries elected
the plant. to the council globally.
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• The elections to the council were held Topic-GS Paper 3–Important Institution
during the ongoing ITU Source- Indian Express
Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 at 3. Gujarat govt keen on renaming
Dubai, UAE. Ahmedabad as Karnavati
Related Information • The Gujarat government keen on
International Telecommunication Union rechristening Ahmedabad as
• The International Telecommunication Karnavati.
Union is a specialized agency of the Related Information
United Nations (UN). • The area around Ahmedabad has
• It was founded on the principle of been inhabited since the 11th century
international cooperation between when it was known as Ashaval.
governments (Member States) and • Chaulukya ruler Karna of Anhilwara
the private sector (Sector Members, (modern Patan) had waged a
Associates and Academia) successful war against the Bhil king of
• ITU has been an intergovernmental Ashaval and established a city called
public-private partnership Karnavati on the banks of the
organization since its inception. Sabarmati river.
• It is responsible for issues that • Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411 A.D. had
concern information and laid the foundation of a new walled
communication technologies. city near Karnavati and named it
• The ITU allocates global radio Ahmedabad after the four saints in the
spectrum and satellite orbits, develop area by the name Ahmed.
the technical standards that ensure Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
networks and technologies seamlessly Source- Indian express
interconnect, and strive to improve 4. U.S. exempts Chabahar port work
access to ICTs to underserved from sanctions
communities worldwide. • The Chabahar port in Iran will be
• ITU currently has a membership of exempt from U.S. sanctions which
193 countries and almost 800 private- following the 180-day cool-off period
sector entities and academic after the U.S. withdrew from the Joint
institutions. Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran
• ITU is headquartered in Geneva, Deal).
Switzerland • This waiver will bring some measure
Topic-GS Paper 3–Important Institution of relief to India which had been
Source- Economics Times discussing a sanctions exemption for
2. UN postal agency issues special Chabahar, having signed an
Diwali stamp agreement with Iran and Afghanistan
• The United Nations Postal in May 2016 for the port’s
Administration issued a special event development.
sheet to commemorate the festival of • India has also committed to building a
Diwali. railway line from Chabahar to Hajigaj
• The sheet of the stamps featuring in Afghanistan.
festive lights and the symbolic lamps Related Information
known as diyas. • Iran has provided for an exception
Related Information from the imposition of certain
• The United States Postal Service sanctions under the Iran Freedom and
(USPS) had in October 2016 launched Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012
a commemorative stamp in honour of (IFCA) with respect to the
the festival of Diwali. development of Chabahar port and
• Diwali, also known as Deepawali is the the construction of an associated
joyous and popular festival of lights, railway and for the shipment of non-
which is celebrated in India and by sanctionable goods through the port
followers of many faiths across the for Afghanistan.
world.
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How these projects help Andhra achieve higher fuel efficiency in the
Pradesh? transport sector.
• The project will support the state’s • AMF TCP also provides an opportunity
strategic shift that puts climate for fuel analysis, identifying new/
resilience at the core of agricultural alternate fuels for deployment in the
growth and rural development in transport sector and allied R&D
Andhra Pradesh. activities for the reduction in
• The project will take up a series of emissions in fuel-intensive sectors.
activities at the farm level to make Related Information
agriculture both climate-resilient and • Prime Minister at UrjaSangam, 2015
profitable. had directed to reduce the import in
• By adopting climate-resilient seed the energy sector by at least 10% by
varieties which have short maturity, 2022.
are drought and heat resistant, and • The government of India has recently
salt tolerant, the project will help notified National Policy on Biofuels-
reduce risks of climate-related crop 2018 which focusses on giving
failure and help enhance farmer’s impetus to R&D in the field of
income. advanced biofuels such as 2G Ethanol,
Help to reduce GHS Bio-CNG, biomethanol, Drop-in fuels,
• India’s per capita emission of Green DME etc.
House Gases (GHG) is also on the rise,
• These advanced fuels can be
though current per capita levels of produced from various kind of wastes
2.44 tCO2 equivalent in 2012.
such as crop residues, Municipal solid
• The agriculture sector is the second
waste, Industrial waste, waste gases,
largest contributor with around 18
Food waste, plastic etc.
percent of the country’s total GHG
About Advanced Motor Fuels Technology
emissions.
Collaboration Programme
• Enhanced soil-water conservation and
• Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas,
climate-resilient farm management
Government of India has joined AMF
have the potential to help India
TCP at 2018.
reduce its GHG emissions
significantly. • The other member Countries of AMF
Topic- GS Paper 2 – Governance TCP are USA, China, Japan, Canada,
Source- The Hindu Chile, Israel, Germany, Austria,
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain,
Republic of Korea, Switzerland and
09.11.2018
Thailand.
1. Advanced Motor Fuels Technology • AMF TCP is an international platform
Collaboration Programme for co-operation among countries to
promote cleaner and more energy
• The Union Cabinet has been apprised
efficient fuels & vehicle technologies.
of India joining as Member of
Advanced Motor Fuels Technology • The activities of AMF TCP relate to
Collaboration Programme (AMF TCP) R&D, deployment and dissemination
under International Energy Agency. of Advanced Motor Fuels and looks
• AMF TCP works under the framework upon the transport fuel issues in a
of International Energy Agency to systemic way of taking into account
which India has "Association" status the production, distribution and end-
since 2017. use related aspects.
• The primary goal of joining AMF TCP Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment
by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Source-PIB
Gas (MoP&NG) is to facilitate the 2. Cabinet approves Laying down
market introduction of Advanced procedure and mechanism for
motor fuels/ Alternate fuels with an sale of enemy shares
aim to bring down emissions and
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• The Union Cabinet has approved the into force and the Enemy Property Act
mechanism and procedure for sale of in 1968.
the enemy shares. • With the amendment of 2017, an
• ‘In principle’ approval has been enabling legislative provision was
accorded for sale of enemy shares created for the disposal of enemy
under the Custody of Ministry of Home property.
Affairs/ Custodian of Enemy Property • With the approval, now, of the
of India (CEPI), section 8A of the procedure and mechanism for sale of
Enemy Property Act, 1968. enemy shares, an enabling framework
• Department of Investment and Public has been institutionalized for their
Asset Management have been sale.
authorized under the provisions of • The decision will lead to monetization
subsection 7 of section 8A of the of movable enemy property lying
Enemy Property Act, 1968, to sell the dormant for decades.
same. • Sale proceeds from this may be used
for development and social welfare
• Sale proceeds are to be deposited as
programmes.
disinvestment proceeds in the
Enemy Property amendment 2017
Government Account maintained by
• According to amendment, as in
Ministry of Finance.
subsection 7 of section 8A of the
• The CEPI shall certify that the sale of Enemy Property Act, 1968.
the Enemy Shares is not in • Central Government may direct that
contravention of any judgment, disposal of enemy property shall be
decree or order of any court, tribunal made by any other authority or
or other authority or any law for the Ministry or Department instead of
time being in force and can be Custodian.
disposed off by the Government. Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economics
Related Information Source-PIB
• The Enemy Property Act, 1968 3. Global IT Challenge for Youth with
provides for continued vesting of Disabilities, 2018
enemy property vested in the • “Global IT Challenge for Youth with
Custodian of Enemy Property of India Disabilities, 2018” is being organised
(CEPI) under the Defence of India by the Department of Empowerment
Rules, 1962 and the Defence of India of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)
Rules, 1971. under Ministry of Social Justice and
• In the Act of 1968, the definition of Empowerment.
"enemy" was as follows: "enemy" or • India is hosting the event in
"enemy subject" or "enemy firm" collaboration with the Government of
means a person or country who or Korea and Rehabilitation International
which was an enemy, an enemy (RI).
subject or an enemy firm, as the case • The Global IT Challenge for disability
may be, under the Defence of India is a capacity building project that
Act and Rules, but does not include a helps youth with disabilities to
citizen of India. overcome their limitations and
• In the amendment of 2017, this was challenges for a better future through
substituted by “.... including his legal heir access to ICT.
or successor, whether or not the citizen of
• It will alleviate the digital divide and
India or the citizen of a country which is
expand the participation of youth with
not an enemy or the enemy...who has
changed his nationality”? disabilities in the society.
Impact • It propagates implementation of the
• The decision will lead to monetization United Nations Convention on Rights
of enemy shares that had been lying of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
dormant for decades since coming - Article 21 relates to access to
information.
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• Such points are also ideal for parking • India has about 14,500 km of
satellites and other space vehicles as navigable waterways which include
the fuel consumption is considerably rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks
lower here. among others.
• They will be essential for space Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
exploration projects as transfer Source- Indian Express
stations where space shuttles and 7. RBI relaxes ECB norms for
stations can stop over on long infrastructure companies
journeys to other planets and even • The Reserve Bank has liberalised the
the Sun. norms governing foreign borrowings
• There are five such points of stability for infrastructure creation "in
identified in any such two-body consultation with the Government".
system including the Earth-Moon • The minimum average maturity
system. requirement for ECBs (external
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and commercial borrowings) in the
Technology infrastructure space raised by eligible
Source- Down to Earth borrowers has been reduced to three
years from earlier five years.
6. Multi-Modal Terminal in Varanasi
• Also, the average maturity
• Prime Minister will inaugurate a Multi-
requirement for mandatory hedging
Modal Terminal on River Ganga in
has been reduced to five years from
Varanasi.
earlier ten years.
• The Multi-Modal Terminal in Varanasi
• The provisions have been reviewed
is the first of three Multi-Modal
and decisions are taken "in
Terminals being constructed on River
consultation with the Government of
Ganga.
India.
• A total of three Multi-Modal Terminals Related Information
and two Inter-modal Terminals are • The move comes amid concerns
being constructed on the river as part surrounding the availability of funds
of the central government’s Jal Marg following a liquidity squeeze and the
Vikas project. difficulties being faced by non-bank
• The project aims to promote inland lenders, especially those facing asset
waterways for cheaper and liability issues due to heavy reliance
environment-friendly conveyance, on short-term funding for long-term
especially for the transportation of assets.
cargos. • This, along with defaults by infra
Related Information lender IL&FS, has hurt the credit
• The project entails construction of markets.
three Multi-Modal Terminals at • The Government has been
Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia, unequivocal in suggesting remedial
• Being implemented by Inland measures which will address the
Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), needs of the economy.
the Jal Marg Vikas project is • The relaxations in the ECB norms
technically supported by World Bank. follow other moves by the RBI,
• The total estimated project cost is including last week's permission to
being equally shared between the banks to use credit enhancement to
World Bank and the Government of help NBFCs raise medium to long-
India. term funds.
• The operation, management and Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economics
further development of the MMTs are Source- Business Standard
proposed to be consigned to an 8. The UK India Business Council
operator on Public-private partnership Launches New Report - 'Beyond
(PPP) model. the Top 200'
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• In this case, an appeal filed by the • GSAT-19, the first of the series, was
State of Mizoram against an order sent up in June 2017 from Sriharikota.
passed by the Gauhati High Court in • ISRO is also preparing for a PSLV
August 2015, upholding a Special mission to launch HySIS, a new
Court decision to decline to entertain variant of Earth observation satellites,
a second charge sheet filed in a along with 20-30 small commercial
corruption case against the accused, satellites.
Dr. C. Sangnghina, on the ground of Topic-GS Paper 3–Science & Technology
double jeopardy. Source- The Hindu
About Double Jeopardy 2. Odisha CM has requested the
• Double jeopardy is a procedural Central govt to conduct an inquiry
defence that prevents an accused regarding the replacement of
person from being tried again on the artistic stone carvings at Konark
same (or similar) charges and on the Sun Temple with plain stones
same facts, following a valid acquittal Related Information
or conviction. Konark Sun Temple
• Article 20 (2) of the Constitution • Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century
mandates that a person cannot be CE sun temple at Konark on the
prosecuted or punished twice for the coastline of Odisha.
same offence. • The temple is attributed to king
Topic- GS Paper 2 – Judiciary Narasingha Deva I of the Eastern
Source- The Hindu Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.
• The Temple is dedicated to the Hindu
12.11.2018 god "Surya".
• This temple was called the "Black
1. ISRO’s communication satellite Pagoda" in European sailor accounts
GSAT-29 will soon launch from as early as 1676 because its great
GSLV Mk III tower appeared black.
• GSAT-29 is a high-throughput • The temple represents a chariot of the
communication satellite developed by Sun God and is one of the World
the Indian Space Research Heritage sites declared by UNESCO.
Organisation (ISRO). • Konark Sun Temple was given Adarsh
• The satellite is through the second Monument tag by the Archaeological
developmental flight of GSLV Mk III. Survey of India (ASI).
• The flight name is GSLV Mk III D2. Other
• The mission aims at providing high- • The other three monuments of
speed bandwidth to Village Resource eastern India were given Adarsh
Centres (VRC) in rural areas. Monument tag are
• The two Ku and Ka operational o Hazarduari Palace in Murshidabad
payloads will provide communication district of West Bengal.
services to Jammu and Kashmir and o Vaishali-Kolhua in Bihar.
northeastern regions under Digital o Rang Ghar in Sibsagar
India programme. (Sivasagar) district of Assam.
Related Information • The Jagannath Temple in Puri was
• ISRO had launched another called the "White Pagoda".
communication satellite, GSAT-6A, on Topic- GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture
March 2018 but lost it in space a day Source- The Hindu
later. 3. World’s largest brain-like
• The GSAT-29 satellite itself is one of supercomputer switched on for
the planned Indian HTS quartets. the first time
• The HTSs or high throughput satellites • The world’s largest supercomputer
are being sent out to provide a vastly designed to work in the same way as
improved and faster Internet the human brain has been switched
connectivity. on for the first time.
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• The pH and salinity of the waters • This will support the overall objective
exceeded permissible limits for of the project that is aligned with the
ecologically sensitive zones. goals of the government's National
• This will create a threat to the Mission for Enhanced Energy
Migratory birds. Efficiency.
• Though it is a protected area and a • It also aims to expand the market for
Ramsar site, chemical companies and energy-efficient technologies and
small-scale shrimp farms around the reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
wetland have started to pose a threat Related Information
to the biodiversity and ecosystem of About EESL
the sanctuary. • Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL),
Related Information under the administration of Ministry of
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Power, Government of India
Sanctuary • It is working towards mainstreaming
• The wildlife sanctuary located in energy efficiency and is implementing
Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. the world’s largest energy efficiency
• It comprises of sandy coastal, saline portfolio in the country.
swamps and thorn scrub forests • EESL has begun its operations in UK,
around the backwater. South Asia and South-East Asia.
• The sanctuary was created in 1967 for Global Environment Facility
the conservation of the near • The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
threatened blackbuck antelope, an was established on the eve of the
endemic mammal species of India. 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle
• It is famous for large congregations of our planet’s most pressing
water birds, especially greater environmental problems.
flamingos. • The GEF unites 183 countries in
• This is IUCN category IV partnership with international
(habitat/species management area) institutions, civil society organizations
and also a Ramsar Wetland. (CSOs), and the private sector to
Topic- GS Paper 3 – Environment and address global environmental issues
Biodiversity while supporting national sustainable
Source- The Hindu development initiatives.
8. ADB grants EESL $13 million to The GEF also serves as a financial
promote efficient energy usage in mechanism for the following
the country conventions:
• The Asian Development Bank and the • CBD Convention on Biological
Energy Efficiency Services signed an Diversity.
agreement for a Global Environment • United Nations Framework
Facility to grant of USD 13 million for Convention on Climate Change
establishing an Energy Efficiency (UNFCCC)
Revolving Fund. • UN Convention to Combat
• EERF aims to expand and sustain Desertification (UNCCD)
investments in the energy efficiency • Stockholm Convention on Persistent
market in India, build market Organic Pollutants (POPs)
diversification, and scale up existing • Minamata Convention on Mercury
technologies. Topic-GS Paper 3–Important Institution
• The ADB funding is helping EESL Source- PIB
finance energy service utilities for
installing established energy-efficient 13.11.2018
technologies such as light-emitting 1. Samudra Shakti – 2018
diode (LED) street-lights with • Samudra Shakti is a bilateral Navy
municipalities while exploring newer exercise between India and
technologies and their self-sustaining Indonesia.
business models.
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• The 6×6 Field Artillery Tractor has chemicals which causes significant
been indigenously developed by damage.
Ashok Leyland and will provide the • The chemicals from sunscreen, which
much-awaited replacement for the washes off swimmers or enters the
ageing fleet of artillery gun towing ocean through the sewer system and
vehicles. also causes grave harm to these coral
Topic- GS Paper 3 – Defence reefs.
Source-Indian Express • The step was taken by Palau
5. Bannerghatta National Park: New government after a report on 2017
Draft Policy reduces Eco Sensitive that found sunscreen products to be
Zone “widespread” in Jellyfish Lake, one of
• The draft re-notification of the Eco the country’s UNESCO World Heritage
Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Bannerghatta sites.
National Park (BNP) by the Centre Related Information
reduces the ESZ area from the earlier • Researchers found that even a low
268.96 sq km to 168.84 sq km. concentration of sunscreen in the
• The new draft states that only 77 water can hinder the development of
villages will fall under the ESZ against young coral.
the earlier 147 villages. • Studies have also shown that
Related Information chemicals in sunscreen can cause
• Bannerghatta National Park is localized coral bleaching and can
situated near Bangalore, Karnataka. disrupt the reproduction of fish by
interfering with their hormonal
• The Bannerghatta Biological Park,
systems.
popularly known as BBP, has been an
integral part of Bannerghatta National • A 2015 study found that oxybenzone
Park and emerged out as an in sunscreen stunts coral growth and
independent establishment during the is toxic for the algae that live within
year 2002. reefs.
Eco-Sensitive Zone Coral reef
• Eco-Sensitive Zones or Ecologically • A coral reef is an underwater
Fragile Areas are areas notified by the ecosystem characterized by reef-
Ministry of Environment, Forests and building corals.
Climate Change Government of India • Reefs are formed of colonies of coral
around Protected Areas, National polyps held together by calcium
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. carbonate.
• The purpose of declaring ESZs is to • Most coral reefs are built from stony
create some kind of “shock absorbers” corals, whose polyps cluster in
to the protected areas by regulating groups.
and managing the activities around • Often called "rainforests of the sea",
such areas. shallow coral reefs form some of
• They also act as a transition zone from Earth's most diverse ecosystems.
areas of high protection to areas • They occupy less than 0.1% of the
involving lesser protection. world's ocean area, about half the
Topic- GS Paper 3 – Environment area of France, yet they provide a
Source-The Hindu home for at least 25% of all marine
species.
6. Palau becomes the first country to
ban sunscreen to save coral reefs • They are most commonly found at
shallow depths in tropical waters, but
• The Western Pacific nation of Palau
deep water and cold water coral reefs
has become the first country to ban
exist on smaller scales in other areas.
many kinds of sunscreen, in a move
to protect its coral reefs from Topic- GS Paper 3 – Biodiversity
Source- The Hindu
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• Since 1879, the kilogram has been • The International Bureau of Weights
defined as the weight of “Le Grand K”, and Measures is an organization that
a cylinder of platinum and iridium is based in Sèvres near Paris in
weighing a little over 2 pounds and France.
kept in a locked vault in Paris. • It is an inter-governmental
• Different countries have their own organization established in 1875
"prototype kilograms" that serve as under the terms of the Metre
national standards and are calibrated Convention through which Member
to the Le Grand K, founded by 17 States act together on matters related
nations in 1875. to measurement science and
• Now though, scientists say, the measurement standards.
system needs to change since over Topic-GS Paper 3–Science & Technology
time, the prototype has lost atoms Source- Down to Earth
and therefore mass because it is
“susceptible to damage and 16.11.2018
environmental factors”.
1. NITI Aayog Constitutes
• Scientists are proposing to calculate
Himalayan State Regional Council
the kilogram based on the Planck’s
• NITI Aayog has constituted the
constant, which is measured by an
‘Himalayan State Regional Council’ to
instrument called the Kibble Balance,
ensure sustainable development of
first developed at London’s National
the Indian Himalayan region.
Physical Laboratory by British
• Recognizing the uniqueness of the
scientist Bryan Kibble.
Himalayas and the challenges for
• The change will have applications in
sustainable development, Five
computing, manufacturing,
Working Groups were constituted by
pharmaceuticals, climate change
NITI Aayog in 2017.
studies and other disciplines which
• The Council has been constituted to
require very precise measurements.
review and implement identified
Related Information
action points based on the Reports of
• Scientists say that the redefinition of
five Working Groups, which were
the kilogram using a constant will
established along thematic areas to
ensure it remains reliable, and enable
prepare a roadmap for action.
far more accurate mass
The five thematic areas are:
measurements in the future.
• Inventory and Revival of Springs in
• The value of the kilogram will not change.
the Himalayas for Water Security.
• The kilogram is the last unit from
• Sustainable Tourism in Indian
1875 which has not yet changed.
Himalayan Region
• The standard for other basic units like
• Shifting Cultivation: Towards
the metre for length, the second for
Transformation Approach
time, the ampere for electric current,
• Strengthening Skill &
the Kelvin for temperature, the mole
Entrepreneurship (E&S) Landscape in
for the amount of a substance and the
the Himalayas.
candela for luminous intensity have all
• Data/Information for Informed
been improved upon.
Decision Making.
• For instance, the metre is defined as
Related Information
the length that light travels in a
• The Himalayan State Regional Council
vacuum in 1/299,792,458th of a
will be chaired by the Dr VK Saraswat,
second rather than a metal bar.
Member, NITI Aayog and will consist
General Conference on Weights &
of the Chief Secretaries of the
Measures
Himalayan States as well as the
• The General Conference on Weights
Secretaries of key Central Ministries,
and Measures is the supreme
senior officers of NITI Aayog as well
authority of the International Bureau
as special invitees.
of Weights and Measures.
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• Barnard’s star is the next closest star as they are heavily dependent on
to the Sun after the Alpha Centauri these natural products for their
triple system. livelihood.
• It is a type of faint, low-mass star • TRIFED also works as an agency to
called a red dwarf. the FCI for procurement of Wheat and
• Red dwarfs are considered to be the Rice.
best places to look for exoplanet Topic- GS Paper 2 –Welfare Scheme for
candidates, which are planets outside Vulnerable Section
our solar system. Source-PIB
• The researchers used the radial 6. India votes against UNGA draft
velocity method during the resolution on the use of the death
observations that led to the discovery penalty
of Barnard’s star b. • India has voted against a UN General
• This technique detects wobbles in a Assembly draft resolution on the use
star which are likely to be caused by of death penalty, saying it goes
the gravitational pull of an orbiting against the statutory law of the
planet. country where an execution is carried
• These wobbles affect the light coming out in the "rarest of rare" cases.
from the star. • The draft resolution, taken up in the
Topic-GS Paper 3–Science & Technology Third Committee (Social,
Source-The Hindu Humanitarian, Cultural) of the
5. Aadi Mahotsav General Assembly.
• “Aadi Mahotsav” a National Tribal • India was among the countries that
Festival was organized in New Delhi voted against the resolution, which
by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and would have the Assembly call on all
TRIFED. States to respect international
• It is celebrated to cherish and standards on the rights of those facing
promote the spirit of tribal craft, death penalty and ensure that it is not
culture, cuisine and commerce. applied on the basis of discriminatory
• The theme of the festival was: “A laws or as a result of the
Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal discriminatory or arbitrary application
Culture, Craft, Cuisine & of the law.
Commerce”. Related Information
• The Mahotsav will comprise of display • "In India, the death penalty is
and sale of items of tribal art and exercised in 'rarest of rare' cases,
craft, tribal medicine & healers, tribal where the crime committed is so
cuisine and display of tribal folk heinous that it shocks the conscience
performance. of the society.
Related Information • Indian law provides for all requisite
(TRIFED)- Tribal Cooperative Marketing procedural safeguards, including the
Development Federation of India Limited right to a fair trial by an independent
• It is a national-level apex organization Court, the presumption of innocence,
functioning under the administrative the minimum guarantees for defence,
control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs. and the right to review by a higher
• It was established by the Ministry of court.
Welfare under Multi State Cooperative UN General Assembly
Societies Act 1984 (which has now • The United Nations General Assembly
been replaced by Multi-State is one of the six principal organs of the
Cooperative Societies Act, 2002). United Nations.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi. • It is the only one in which all member
• Its core objective is to institutionalize nations have equal representation,
trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and the main deliberative, policy-
and Surplus Agriculture Produce making and representative organ of
(SAP) collected or cultivated by tribals the UN.
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• The loss of confidence would also nominated by him in this behalf, shall
result in an outflow of funds from the also have powers of general
equity markets as confidence in the superintendence and direction of the
economy would go down. affairs and the business of the Bank,
Topic- GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy and may exercise all powers and do all
Source- Economics Times acts and things which may be
exercised or done by the Bank.
4. Section 7 of RBI Act
Note: The section empowers the government
• Section 7 of the RBI Act has come into to issue directions in public interest to the
the spotlight amid the war between central bank, which otherwise does not take
the Central government and the orders from the government.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Why has the government invoked Section 7?
• The provision in the RBI Act • The government believed that easing
empowers the government to issue of lending rules for the banks under
directions to the RBI. the prompt corrective action
• The government has invoked Section (PCA) framework could help reduce
7 which has never been used before. pressure on MSMEs.
• Exercising powers under this section, • However, the regulator stood its
the government has sent several ground arguing that such a move
letters to the RBI governor in recent would put the clock back and undoes
weeks on issues ranging from liquidity clean-up efforts.
for non-banking financial companies • With the credit markets tightening after
(NBFCs), the capital requirement for the IL&FS default in September, non-
banking finance companies lobbied the
weak banks and lending to micro,
government for more liquidity.
small and medium enterprises
• But RBI maintained its position since
(MSMEs).
the banking system did not witness
Related Information any spike in borrowing costs and the
What is Section 7? market was just repricing risk in an
• The RBI is an entity independent of evolving situation.
the government as it takes its own Topic-GS-3-India Economy
decisions. However, in certain Source- Economic Times
instances, it has to listen to the 5. India's first microsatellite
government. "ExseedSAT 1" by students
• This provision in the RBI Act is launched from Hyderabad
contained in its Section 7 which says: • India’s first private satellite
(1) The Central Government may "ExseedSAT 1" developed under the
from time to time give such directions aegis by Hyderabad-based startup
to the Bank as it may, after Exseed Space.
consultation with the Governor of the • ExseedSAT 1 was launched on Nov 19
Bank, consider necessary in the public from SpaceX launchpad at Vandenberg Air
Force Base, California.
interest.
Related Information
(2) Subject to any such directions, the
Exseed
general superintendence and
• Exseed makes advanced small
direction of the affairs and business of
satellites and scientific spacecraft for
the Bank shall be entrusted to a
commercial, government and
Central Board of Directors which may
academic customers.
exercise all powers and do all acts and
• Exseed SAT 1 operates on very high
things which may be exercised or
frequency (VHF) and ultra-high
done by the Bank.
frequency (UHF) signals, and will take
(3) Save as otherwise provided in
UHF signals up and transmit VHF
regulations made by the Central
signals back down, thus enabling easy
Board, the Governor and in his
communication for private radio
absence the Deputy Governor
operators
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(a) Lemon basil or Tea bush (Ocimum developing, attracting and retaining
gratissimum) talent.
• The Lemon basil is an aromatic • China is ranked lower at 39th
perennial herb. "because of its difficulties in attracting
• It is native to Africa and Madagascar. foreign skilled workers paired with a
(b) Red-flower rag leaf (Crassocephalum level of public expenditure on
crepidioides) education that is below the average of
• Red- flower rag leaf, a succulent herb. other advanced economies.
• It is classified as one of the most • The rankings are based on three
aggressive weeds occurring in tropical factors: Investment and
and subtropical regions. Development, Appeal, and Readiness.
(c) Blue snakeweed or cayenne snakeweed
• These factors include indicators that
(Stachytarpheta cayennensis)
capture the resources invested in
• “Cayenne snakeweed is a perennial
developing local talent, the extent to
evergreen herb.
which a country attracts and retains
• It is native to South and Central
talent, and the quality of skills
America and Caribbean.
available in the talent pool.
Related Information
With Respect to India
Invasive Species
• An invasive species is a species that is • Its position has declined from 55th in
not native to a specific location (an 2017 to 53rd this year.
introduced species), and that has a • The country performs above the
tendency to spread to a degree average in terms of the quality of its
believed to cause damage to the talent pool (Readiness factor, 30th
environment, human economy or position).
human health. • On the other, the quality of its
Characteristics educational system and the lack of
• Invasive species generally have a high investments in public education
sexual reproductive capacity. heavily penalise the talent potential of
• Ability to reproduce asexually the country (Investment and
• A great dispersal and colonization Development factor, 63rd).
efficiency Topic-GS-3 Economic Development
• a high tolerance to environmental Source- Times of India
heterogeneity and disturbances
• A high adaptation to environmental 22.11.2018
stress (phenotypic plasticity) and a
1. Sentinelese tribe
greater competitive capacity than
• The American national allegedly killed
native species,
by people belonging to the protected
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Biodiversity
Sentinelese tribe in the North Sentinel
Source- The Hindu
Island of Andaman and Nicobar.
10. India slips two places to 53rd
Related Information
position on global talent ranking
Who are the Sentinelese?
• India has slipped two places to rank
• The Sentinelese, a Negrito tribe who
53rd on a global annual talent ranking
live on the North Sentinel Island of the
released by IMD Business School
Andamans, has not faced incursions
Switzerland.
and remains hostile to outsiders.
• Switzerland has topped the global
• The inhabitants are connected to the
ranking for the fifth year in a row, it is
Jarawa on the basis of physical, as
followed by Denmark, Norway,
well as linguistic similarities.
Austria and the Netherlands in the
• Based on carbon dating of kitchen
top-five.
middens by the Anthropological
• Within Asia, Singapore has topped the
Survey of India, Sentinelese presence
charts with a global 13th place on the
was confirmed in the islands to 2,000
list that ranks 63 countries in
years ago.
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• It will encourage the creative energy • The Bill provides for setting up of an
of our student population to work on Allied and Healthcare Council of India
new ideas and innovation and and corresponding State Allied and
promote them to create start-ups and Healthcare Councils which will play
entrepreneurial ventures. the role of a standard-setter and
• MHRD’s Innovation Cell (MIC) will facilitator for professions of Allied and
focus on creating the complete Healthcare.
ecosystem which will foster the Related Information
culture of Innovation across all Major Impact of the Bill
educational institutions from ideas • Bring all existing allied and healthcare
generation to pre-incubation, professionals on board during the first
incubation and graduating from the few of years from the date of
incubator as successful start-ups. establishment of the Council.
• It will provide Opportunity to create
• MIC will also work on designing the
qualified, highly skilled and
ranking system to identify institutions
competent jobs in healthcare by
in the forefront of innovation.
enabling the professionalism of the
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Education Policies allied and healthcare workforce.
Source- Indian Express • High quality, multi-disciplinary care in
line with the vision of Ayushman
23.11.2018 Bharat, moving away from a 'doctor
led' model to a 'care accessible and
1. UP govt launches Nari team-based’ model.
Sashaktikaran Sankalp Abhiyan • Opportunity to cater to the global
• Nari Sashaktikaran Sankalp Abhiyan demand (shortage) of health care
or Women Empowerment campaign workforce which is projected to be
launched by Uttar Pradesh about 15 million by the year 2030, as
government. per the WHO Global Workforce, 2030
• The campaign is aimed to empower report.
women in the state through various Beneficiaries
programmes. • It is estimated that the Allied and
Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 will
• It includes many issues like education,
directly benefit around 8-9 Lakh
self-employment, health, cleanliness,
existing Allied and Healthcare related
nutrition.
professionals in the country.
• During the campaign, women officers • Bill is directed to strengthen the
and female staff of the state healthcare delivery system at large, it may
government will go door-to-door in be said that the entire population of the
villages of their respective blocks in country and the health sector as a whole
every district and inform and educate will be benefited by this Bill.
women about the schemes being run Requirement of this Bill?
by central and state governments for • Allied and Healthcare Professionals
their welfare and security. constitute an important element of
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Women the health human resource network.
Empowerment • The skilled and efficient Allied and
Source- AIR Healthcare Professionals can reduce
2. The Allied and Healthcare the cost of care and dramatically
Professions Bill, 2018 improve the accessibility to quality
• The Union Cabinet has approved the driven healthcare services.
Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, • In the current state of the healthcare
2018 for regulation and system, there exist many allied and
standardisation of education and healthcare professionals, who remain
services by allied and healthcare unidentified, unregulated and
professionals. underutilised.
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• Among the first such studies likely to members Commission under article
kick off is a joint investigation by the 340 of Constitution in October 2017.
CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative • It is headed by former Chief Justice of
Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) and the Tata Delhi High Court Justice (Retd) G.
Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai. Rohini.
• The studies into the therapeutic potential • Its report is expected to recommend
of marijuana are part of a larger earmarking sub-quotas for the
governmental thrust to making new drugs extremely backward classes within
derived from herbs and plants that find
the OBCs.
mention in Ayurvedic and other
traditional-medicine knowledge systems. Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
Related Information Source- The Hindu
Marijuana 5. Sangai Festival begins in Manipur
• Marijuana is a greenish-grey mixture • Sangai Festival showcasing Manipur's
of dried, shredded leaves, stems, rich cultural heritage, adventure
seeds and flowers of Cannabis sativa activities inaugurated at Hapta
– the hemp plant. Kangjeibung which is the historic
• Most people smoke marijuana, though palace compound in Imphal.
it can also be used in other forms such • It is the grandest festival of state
as edibles, powders and oils. named after state animal, Sangai.
• It used for controlling pain for medical • The festival aims to promote Manipur
issues, like cancer, nervous system as a world-class tourism destination.
diseases, glaucoma, migraines, etc • The focus areas of the festival are
and also used to treat nausea and Manipur’s rich cultural heritage and
improve appetites for people with HIV love for the art of various tribes
or other chronic illnesses. inhabiting the state.
• Cannabis is banned in most countries • It also showcases ‘Ras Leela’, state’s
but number countries have started classical dance form along with
decriminalising its use in recent years. various other folkdance performances
What is its historic significance in India? like Bamboo dance, Maibi dance,
• Cannabis has been used since ancient Kabui Naga dance, Lai Haraoba dance,
times in India, dating back to 2000 Khamba Thoibi dance etc.
BCE. Related Information
• The cannabis plant has been Sangai Deer
mentioned as one of the five sacred • Sangai Deer (Rucervus eldii) also
plants in the Vedas. called the Dancing Deer.
• Bhang, an edible preparation of • It is the state animal of Manipur.
cannabis, which is ‘consumed either in • It is endemically to Manipur once it
the form of a drink or smoked’, is was found across Manipur Valley in
common during the Hindu festivals of abundant now only its remaining
Holi and Mahashivaratri. natural habitat is found in Keibul
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Health Lamjao National Park (KLNP), only
Source-PIB floating national park in the world.
4. Sub-categorization of OBCs in the • It is listed as endangered species by
central list International Union for Conservation
• The Union Cabinet approved the of Nature (IUCN).
extension of the term of the • Keibul Lamjao National Park is a
commission examining the issue of floating biomass in Manipur’s Loktak
sub-categorisation of other backward Lake.
classes (OBCs) in the central list till Topic- GS Paper 1 –Art and Culture
May 31, 2019. Source- The Hindu
6. India to host 50th Union World
Related Information
Conference on Lung Health in
• Union Government with the approval
2019 in Hyderabad
of President had constituted five
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• IMD is also one of the six Regional Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and
Specialised Meteorological Centres of the technology
World Meteorological Organization. Source- Indian Express
• It has the responsibility for 8. A smart ‘Vaccine for Goat plague
forecasting, naming and distribution • Researchers from the UK and India,
of warnings for tropical cyclones in the including a team from the Tamil Nadu
Northern Indian Ocean region, Veterinary and Animal Sciences
including the Malacca Straits, the Bay University, have jointly developed a
of -Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the ‘smart’ vaccine which has the
Persian Gulf. potential to help eradicate goat
Topic-GS Paper 3 –Disaster Management plague.
Source- AIR • The major contribution from British
7. Human microbiome scientists were providing a template
• Pune hosted an international for developing a smart vaccine, which
conference on microbiome research, a is also called DIVA vaccine.
field of study that is still in its infancy • It is one of the first smart Peste des
in India. petits ruminants (PPR) vaccines that
• In this conference, they would study help distinguish between animals
and map the human microbiome which are vaccinated and infected,
across the country. which is impossible with conventional
Related Information live or killed virus vaccines.
• The human body carries diverse • These vaccines induce the immune
communities of microorganisms, response which is different from that
which are mainly bacterial are induced by natural infection.
referred to as “human microbiome”. Related Information
• These organisms play a key role in • Goat plague or Peste des petits
many aspects of host physiology, ruminants (PPR), is a highly
ranging from metabolism of otherwise contagious viral disease that afflicts
complex indigestible carbohydrates goats and sheep in many parts of the
and fats to producing essential country.
vitamins, maintaining immune • The disease kills small ruminants in
systems and acting as the first line of large numbers unless they are
defence against pathogens. vaccinated.
• Research on the human microbiome • Apart from India, goat plague is
has thrown light on various aspects prevalent in many African countries,
like West Asia, China and Mongolia.
(a) How different parts of the human Topic-GS Paper 3–Science & Technology
body are occupied by characteristic Source- The Hindu Business line
microbial communities, and how 9. India Skills Report 2019
various factors contribute to shaping • It is a joint initiative of Wheebox, a
the composition of the microbiome. Global Talent Assessment Company,
(b) It also includes the study of PeopleStrong, a leading HR Tech
genetics, dietary habits, age, Company and Confederation of Indian
geographic location and ethnicity. Industry (CII), and supported and
• The project will include the collection backed by renowned partners like
of saliva, stool and skin swabs of United Nations Development
20,000 Indians across various ethnic Programme (UNDP), All India Council
groups from different geographical for Technical Education (AICTE) and
regions. Association of Indian Universities
• India provides for a wide range of (AIU).
research with more than 4,500 ethnic • Andhra Pradesh has topped the list of
groups and presence of two global states with the highest employability
biodiversity hotspots (Himalayan in India.
range and the Western Ghats).
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6. Odisha now has a lexicon for rare • It comprises the Dudhwa National
tribal languages Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
• Odisha government unveiled 21 tribal and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
dictionaries and proficiency modules • It shares the north-eastern boundary
for rare tribal languages. with Nepal, which is defined to a large
• The State Government through its extent by the Mohana River.
Academy of Tribal Language and Note: Dudhwa Dam is located in Dhamtari
Culture (ATLC) has brought out the district of Chhattisgarh in India. It is built
tribal bilingual dictionaries for across the Mahanadi river in the village of
multilingual education and tribal Dudhawa.
trilingual proficiency modules to
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment
preserve and promote tribal
languages. Source- The Hindu
• Odisha is the only State in the 8. Ukraine declare Martial law
country, to have formulated all tribal • Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko
bilingual dictionaries and trilingual has introduced martial law to parts of
tribal language proficiency modules. his country as tensions with Russia
Related Information escalate.
Unique tribal profile • The decision was taken aftermath of a
• Odisha has a unique place on the naval clash off the Crimean Peninsula
tribal map of India for having the on 25 November, which saw the
maximum number of Scheduled Tribe Russian coastguard capture three
communities. Ukrainian ships and their 23 crew
• The State is home to 62 different members on the Sea of Azov.
tribal communities, including 13 • Russia accused the two Ukrainian
particularly vulnerable tribal groups. artillery boats and a tug of crossing
• These tribes speak 21 languages and into its waters along the Kerch Strait
74 dialects. without permission, despite the two
• Of the 21 tribal languages, seven have nations have signed a 2003 maritime
their own scripts. treaty agreeing the passage to the
• However, Odia is used as the medium Black Sea was shared territory.
of communication in the dictionaries.
Related Information
Topic- GS Paper 2 – Welfare Scheme for
vulnerable section of society • In Ukraine, a state of martial law has
Source- The Hindu been declared for the first time since
7. SSB to patrol Dudhwa tiger 1945 in 10 strategic border regions.
reserve • Ukraine is a large country in Eastern
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Sashastra Europe known for its Orthodox
Seema Bal have joined hands to churches, Black Sea coastline and
provide security to Dudhwa forests forested mountains.
and its rich wildlife. • Its capital is Kiev.
• It was agreed that joint long route Topic- GS Paper 2 –International Crises
patrolling comprising SSB, central and Source- The Hindu
local intelligence officers, customs
and excise officials, Special Tiger
29.11.2018
Protection Force and the reserve’s
field staff would be at regular 1. Emergency Response Support System
intervals. (ERSS) for Himachal Pradesh
Related Information • The Union Home Ministry launched an
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Emergency Response Support System
• The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a (ERSS) for Himachal Pradesh.
protected area in Uttar Pradesh that • Himachal Pradesh is the first state to
stretches mainly across the launch pan-India single emergency
Lakhimpur Kheri & Bahraich districts. number ‘112’ under ERSS.
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• With this amendment, the erstwhile • The Minister of State for Home Affairs
National Commission for Scheduled inaugurated the 14th Formation Day
Castes and Scheduled Tribes was of National Disaster Management
replaced by two separate Authority (NDMA).
Commissions namely- (i) the National • The theme of this year’s Formation
Commission for Scheduled Castes Day is ‘Early Warning for
(NCSC), and (ii) the National Disasters’.
Commission for Scheduled Tribes • Early warning is a major element of
(NCST). disaster risk reduction and can
Composition minimize the loss of lives and
• The Commission comprises a economic impacts.
Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and • Timely early warning is key to a
three full-time Members (including structured and efficient response.
one lady Member). Related Information
• The term of all the Members of the National Disaster Management
Commission is three years from the Authority (NDMA)
date of assumption of charge. • In 2005, the Government of India
Functions enacted the Disaster Management
• To investigate and monitor all matters Act, which led to the creation of the
relating to the safeguards provided for National Disaster Management
the Scheduled Tribes under the Authority (NDMA).
Constitution or under any other law • NDMA is headed by the Prime
for the time being in force or under Minister, and State Disaster
any order of the Government and to Management Authorities (SDMAs)
evaluate the working of such headed by respective Chief Ministers,
safeguards. to spearhead and implement a holistic
• To inquire into specific complaints and integrated approach to Disaster
with respect to the deprivation of Management in India.
rights and safeguards of the Topic-GS Paper 3 –Disaster Management
Scheduled Tribes. Source-PIB
• To participate and advise in the 7. El Nino may hit already hurt
planning process of socio-economic Indian farmers
development of the Scheduled Tribes • Six Indian states have already
and to evaluate the progress of their declared a drought this season and
development under the Union and any many others, like Gujarat, Assam,
State. Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, with
• To present to the President, annually large rainfall deficits will soon join this
and at such other times as the list.
Commission may deem fit, reports • The IMD says moderate El Nino
upon the working of those safeguards. Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
• To make in such reports, conditions are currently prevalent in
recommendations as to the measures the equatorial Pacific Ocean region
that should be taken by the Union or and the El Nino is likely to develop in
any State for effective the next two months.
implementation of those safeguards • If the El Nino continues into the spring
and other measures for the and summer seasons, it might bring
protection, welfare and socio- down the average rainfall during the
economic development of the 2019 monsoon and cause warmer
Scheduled Tribes. than usual summer temperatures.
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Constitutional Bodies • The development of an El Nino might
Source- The Hindu also have been responsible for the
6. 14th formation day of National unusually low rainfall in September
Disaster Management Authority and the post-monsoon months in
(NDMA) India.
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• While the country saw a rainfall deficit • This change in wind direction leads to
of 24 percent in September 2018, in warmer winters and summers and a
the post-monsoon months it has been decrease in rainfall during the
as high as 49 percent (October 1- monsoon.
November 21). • Most of the time, it also leads to
• The situation is the worst in central drought.
India which has received 64 percent Topic- GS Paper 3- Environmental issue
less rainfall than normal. Source- Down to Earth
• The east and north-east India and the 8. RBI launches a survey on Indian
Southern Peninsula have received 58 startup sector
percent and 42 percent deficient • The Reserve Bank of India launched a
rainfall respectively. Survey on India’s Startup Sector
Related Information (SISS).
• In the 135 years between 1880 and • Its aim is to capture profiles of these
2014, around 90 per cent of all businesses and get firsthand
evolving El Nino years have seen information on their profitability,
below normal rainfall and 65 per cent among other factors.
of them experienced droughts. • The survey comes amid calls to the
• In fact, six of the worst droughts in RBI to do more for easing access to
the country since 1871 have been credit for the country’s small and
triggered by El Nino—the most recent medium enterprises.
being in 2009. Related Information
• All the weather models around the Government Initiatives
world had predicted a high probability • The government has already launched
of an El Nino event towards the end of PMMY (Pradhan Mantri Mudra
this year or the beginning of the next Yojana), the MUDRA (Micro Units
year. Development and Refinance Agency)
• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Bank, a new institution set up for
another ocean temperature anomaly development and refinancing
between the Bay of Bengal and the activities relating to micro units with a
Arabian Sea, is also in its positive refinance Fund of ₹200 billion.
phase currently. • Startup India Programme is a
• But, the IMD predicts that this campaign based on the Startup Action
condition is temporary. Plan by the Government of India,
• A positive IOD means that the Arabian aimed to promote entrepreneurship.
Sea is warmer than the Bay of Bengal • The Standup India initiative is also
and is usually associated with an El aimed at promoting entrepreneurship,
Nino event. but among SCs/STs, women
About EI Nino communities.
• In a normal year, a surface low Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economics
pressure develops in the region of Source- TOI
northern Australia and Indonesia and
a high-pressure system over the coast 30.11.2018
of Peru. 1. KONKAN 18 - India –UK Navy
• El Nino refers to the unusual warming exercise
of the central and east-central • The bilateral KONKAN exercise
equatorial Pacific Ocean which leads between the Indian Navy and the
to air pressure drops over large areas Royal Navy of the United Kingdom
of the central Pacific and along the started off at Goa.
coast of South America. • This Bilateral exercise provides a
• The warmer waters of the Pacific platform for the two Navies to
Ocean cause the winds in various periodically exercise at sea and in a
regions to reverse harbour, so as to build interoperability
and share best practices.
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• The naval cooperation is a tangible heat wave between 2000 and 2017
symbol of the commitment of both compared to the baseline period of
nations in ensuring a positive climate 1986 to 2005.
at sea for enhancing strategic stability • From 2014-2017, the average length
and promoting economic prosperity. of heatwaves in India ranged from 3-
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Defence 4 days compared to the global
Source-PIB average of 0.8-1.8 days.
2. J&K to amend laws to punish • Indians were exposed to almost 60
sexual harassment by public million heat wave exposure events in
servants with jail 2016, a jump of about 40 million from
• The government has decided to 2012.
amend the existing provisions of the
• The report prepared jointly with the
Ranbir Penal Code, Criminal
Public Health Foundation of India also
Procedure Code, Evidence Act and
urges a review of existing
also the Prevention of Corruption Act.
occupational health standards, labour
(Representational).
laws and sectoral regulations for
• Under this provision, unwanted sexual
worker safety in relation to climatic
activity by a public servant in Jammu
conditions.
and Kashmir, including sexually
suggestive conduct and touching a • The agriculture sector was more
woman in exchange of some benefit, vulnerable compared to the industrial
will soon be punishable with and service sectors because workers
imprisonment of not less than three there were more likely to be exposed
years and fine. to heat.
• According to the draft amendment, Recommendation for India in Report
any persons in a position of authority • Indian policymakers must take a
or in a fiduciary relationship, or a series of initiatives to mitigate the
public servant who abuses such increased risks to health, and the loss
position or fiduciary relationship to of labour hours due to a surge in
employ physical or non-physical form exposure to heat wave events in the
of coercion to extort, request or country over the 2012-2016 periods.
demand sexual favours from any • It also includes identifying “heat hot-
woman in exchange of benefits that spots” through appropriate tracking of
such a person is empowered to grant meteorological data.
or withhold shall be guilty of the • Promoting “timely development and
offence of “sextortion" implementation of local Heat Action
Related Information Plans with strategic inter-agency
• Ranbir Penal Code or RPC is a criminal coordination and a response which
code applicable in Jammu and targets the most vulnerable groups.”
Kashmir.
• The India Meteorological Department
• The code was introduced during the
had reported that from 1901 to 2007,
reign of Dogra dynasty with Ranbir
there was an increase of more than
Singh as its ruler.
0.5°C in mean temperature, with
• Indian Penal Code is not applicable
considerable geographic variation,
here under Article 370 of the Indian
and climate forecasts by research
constitution.
groups project a 2.2-5.5°C rise in
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Women Security
temperatures in northern, central and
Source- Indian Express
western India by the end of the 21st
3. India among countries worst hit
century.
by climate change, says a report
Related Information
• According to the Lancet Countdown
2018 on Health and Climate Change How, then, does the government classify
report globally each person was disasters/calamities?
exposed to an additional 1.4 days of
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