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Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Preparation
01. 06. 2018
1. U.S. Pacific Command renamed
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
• The United States renamed its
strategically important Pacific
Command (PACOM) as the U.S. Indo-
Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
• It has been renamed to Indo-Pacific
instead of Asia-Pacific.
Convergence between India and USA
• S. Indo-Pacific Command is critical for
“a region open to investment and
free, fair and reciprocal trade”.
• The US shares India’s concerns about
China’s “One Belt, One Road” policy
for the region.
Waiver for India from anti-Russian
sanctions
• India is currently caught in the
crossfire of anti-Russian sanctions
mandated by the U.S Congress and
the US has called for a waiver for
India.
• This is because India has significant
defence cooperation with Russia.
Implications of the Renaming of PACOM
• The renaming reflects the existing
geographic coverage of the command
and the acknowledgement of the
increasing connectedness between
the two oceans i.e. the Pacific Ocean
and the Indian ocean.
• Renaming the combatant command is
strategically significant as it reflects a
recognition within the U.S.
government that East Asia and the
Indian Ocean Region are gradually
becoming a single competitive space.
• It's also a way of reaffirming to New
Delhi and to the rest of the world that
India is an indispensable pole of the
future Asian order.
The flip side
• Such a step can have organizational
implications, and affect the policy
debate outside government as well.
• Moreover, the US and India have
different ideas of what constitutes the
Indo-Pacific.
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Related Information
About PACOM
• United States Indo-Pacific Command
(USINDOPACOM) is a unified
combatant command of the United
States Armed Forces responsible for
the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
• It is the oldest and largest of the
unified combatant commands.
Topic: GS-II: Effect of policies and politics of
developed and developing countries on
India's interests, Indian diaspora.
Source: The Hindu
2. Government launches India’s first
ever guidelines for Adventure
Tourism
• The Government is for the first time
issuing guidelines for Adventure
Tourism in India.
• The guidelines on Safety and Quality
Norms for Adventure Tourism in India
have been formulated along with the
Adventure Tour Operators Association
of India (ATOAI).
• In an effort to make adventure sports
safer, the set of guidelines list out the
basic minimum standards required for
adventure tourism activities in India.
• Adventure tourism has grown rapidly
over the past few years playing a vital
role in the economic growth of India
as well as attracting a large number of
travellers from across the globe to the
country.
• The sole aim of this initiative is to help
adventure tour operators understand
and execute safety guidelines in a
better manner.
• These guidelines cover land, air and
water-based activities which include
mountaineering, trekking, bungee
jumping, paragliding, kayaking, scuba
diving, snorkelling, river rafting and
many other sports.
• The Ministry of Tourism along with
ATOAI and all the tourism
stakeholders are committed for India
to be looked at as one of the best
adventure tourism destinations, with
a strong safety management system
in place.
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What is adventure tourism? • It is a consortium of state cricket

• Adventure travel is a type of niche associations and the state
tourism, involving exploration or associations select their
travel with a certain degree of risk representatives who in turn elect the
(real or perceived), and which may BCCI officials.
require special skills and physical • Today, the BCCI has 30 full-time
exertion. members.
Topic: GS-II: Polity and Governance • It organizes – among others – the
Source: PIB Indian Premier League.
3. BCCI and UN Environment sign
Topic: Important for State PCS and CSE
agreement to promote Green
Prelims
Cricket in India
• The Board of Control for Cricket in GS-III: Environment
India (BCCI) has signed Letter of Source: Hindu Business Line
Intent (LoI) with UN Environment to 4. Gaj Yatra launched in Garo Hills of
promote green’ cricket in India. Meghalaya
• The partnership aims to spread
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and
greater awareness about key
Climate Change (MoEFCC) rolled out
environmental challenges India is
‘Gaj Yatra’, an awareness campaign to
facing and highlight alternate and
protect elephants from Tura in Garo
more sustainable solutions.
Hills of Meghalaya.
• Through this LoI, BCCI will endeavour
to reduce its environmental impact by • It was organised by the Wildlife Trust
greening its operations and engaging of India in collaboration with the State
cricketers and fans in green Forest Department.
initiatives. • It was launched to the acknowledged
• It will also focus on phasing out good gesture of villagers from Garo
single-use plastic across stadiums in Hills who had set aside part of their
the country. community-owned land to create
Green Cricket Initiatives village reserve forests for human-
• The film with messages from captains elephant harmony.
of various franchises will be aired in Gaj Yatra
stadiums highlighting hazards of • Gaj Yatra is an 18-month-long
plastic pollution during the course of national campaign aimed to protect
Indian Premier League (IPL). elephants in 12 elephant range states.
• At the four matches played at Holkar
• The elephant is India’s national
Stadium in Madhya Pradesh, a Green
heritage animal.
Protocol based on the concept of 3Rs
– to reduce, reuse and recycle was • It was launched in August 2017 by
implemented. Environment and Forest Minister
• M Chinnaswamy stadium in Harsh Vardhan on the occasion of
Bengaluru, Karnataka replaced plastic World Elephant Day 2017.
cups and bottles with environment- • It aims to involve people from all
friendly alternatives. walks of life in the conservation of
About the BCCI elephants.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in • Win-Win: The aim this project is to
India (BCCI) is the national governing rehabilitate people affected by man-
body for cricket in India. elephant conflict in corridor areas
• The board was formed in December while ensuring uninterrupted
1928 as a society, registered under movement of elephants between key
the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration habitats.
Act.

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About the Wildlife Trust of India
• The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is an
Indian nature conservation
organisation to conserve wildlife and
its habitat and to work for the welfare
of individual wild animals.
• WTI was formed in November 1998 in
response to the rapidly deteriorating
condition of wildlife in India.
• WTI is a registered charity in India.
Topic: Important for State PCS and CSE
Prelims
Source: The Hindu
5. Mission Raftaar
• The Indian Railways conducted a one-
day workshop 'Mission Raftaar' in
which officials discussed ways to
increase the average speed of freight
and passenger trains.
• Issues such as punctuality, rolling
stock, removing bottlenecks in terms
of traffic, elimination of unmanned
level crossings were discussed at the
workshop.
What is Mission Raftaar?
• 'Mission Raftaar' aims at doubling the
average speed of freight trains and
increasing the average speed of
coaching trains by 25 kmph over a
five-year period.
• Increasing the average speed of trains
is considered essential for reducing
travel time for passengers, transit
time for cargo, operational cost, and
improving revenues and the railway's
market share.
Topic: Important for State PCS and CSE
Prelims
Source: Zee News
02.06.2018
1. Malabar Exercise 2018 to be held
off the coast of Guam in the
Philippine Sea
• Trilateral Naval Exercise Malabar 2018
between India, Japan and the United
States will be held off the coast of
Guam in the Philippine Sea from June
6-15, 2018.
• It will be the 22nd edition of the naval
exercise.
4
• The exercise comes at the time of
increased friction between China and
US along with nations bordering
resource-rich South China Sea (SCS)
as China is militarising reclaimed
islands in it to further strengthen its
claim.
• Indian Navy participation in this year’s
exercises will include indigenous
stealth frigate INS Sahyadri, fleet
tanker INS Shakti, anti-submarine
corvette INS Kamorta.
About Malabar Exercise
• Malabar Exercise was started as Indo-
US bilateral naval war drill in 1992.
• Since then it is held annually.
• Japan had formally joined the exercise
as the permanent participant in 2015,
making it trilateral exercise.
• The primary aim of this multilateral
exercise is to increase interoperability
amongst navies of three countries and
develop the common understanding
of procedures for Maritime Security
Operations and deepen defence
relations between them.
• In 2007, the exercise also saw the
participation of Australia and
Singapore.
Topic: Important for State PCS and CSE
Prelims
Source: The Hindu
2. Facebook, NCW partner to launch
digital literacy mission for women
in India
• Facebook has announced a
partnership with National Commission
for Women, under which it has
launched a Digital Literacy Program.
• This programme will run in
collaboration with the Cyber Peace
Foundation and attempts to conduct
training across local languages to
ensure the safe use of the internet.
• Facebook’s digital literacy program for
women will begin with a one-year long
pilot phase, that aims to train 60,000
women in universities through
interactive sessions.
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Why is digital literacy important for
women?
• In today’s internet age, opportunities
for women are immense.
• NCW has seen an increasing number
of complaints related to cybercrimes,
that have been registered over the
past three years.
Topic: GS-I: Role of women and women's
organization,
Source: Indian Express
3. India’s First Advanced Forensic
Lab in Chandigarh dedicated to
women related cases
• Minister for Women and Child
Development laid the foundation
of Sakhi Suraksha Advanced DNA
Forensic Laboratory in the campus
of Central Forensic Science Lab,
Chandigarh.
• Forensic analysis plays a critical role
in criminal investigation and the
Advanced Lab will contribute to
addressing the gap in forensic DNA
analysis of pending sexual assault
cases in the country.
• The lab is being set up as a model
forensic lab and would be replicated
in other parts of the country.
• 5 more advanced forensic labs would
come up in Mumbai, Chennai,
Guwahati, Pune and Bhopal.
• This Project is a joint effort of Ministry
of Home Affairs and WCD Ministry and
it will play a vital role in justice
delivery system.
Four Units in the Lab
In Sakhi Suraksha Advanced DNA Forensic
Laboratory, four units are to be established
to address cases related to women:
• Sexual Assault and Homicide Unit
• Paternity Unit: Paternity Unit is
essential to solving cases related to
criminal paternity, gender selection &
child swapping in hospitals.
• Human Identification Unit: Human
Identification Unit is important in
cases of missing person or children.
• Mitochondrial Unit: Mitochondrial Unit
will conduct mitochondrial DNA
analysis in cases where regular
Nuclear DNA analysis is not possible
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such as in case of highly degraded
samples. The Mitochondrial Unit can
also be used to better explore family
relationships.
Special forensic kits for rape cases:
• Underscoring the importance of the
forensics in nabbing the culprits in
sexual assault cases, special forensic
kits for rape would be distributed to all
the police stations and hospitals by
the month of July.
• These inviolable kits will be used for
providing uncontaminated evidence.
• These kits would contain a complete
list of evidence/samples to be
collected along with the equipment
required to collect the evidence.
Related Information
Central Forensic Science Labs
• The Central Forensic Science
Laboratory (CFSL) is a wing of the
Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, which
fulfils the forensic requirements in the
country.
• These labs are responsible for
conducting forensic analysis of all
cases in the country including sexual
assault, criminal paternity and
homicide.
Topic: GS-I: Role of women and women's
organization,
Source: PIB
4. Online Analytical Tool to monitor
foreign contributions under FCRA
• Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath
Singh launched an Online Analytical
Tool to facilitate closer monitoring of
the flow and utilisation of foreign
contributions received by various
organisations registered or permitted
under the Foreign Contribution
(Regulation) Act, 2010.
• It is a web-based tool and it will
enable decision-makers in various
Departments of Government to
scrutinise source of foreign funds and
their actual use in India.
• It gives them capacity to take data-
driven and evidence-based decisions
regarding the compliance of the
provisions of the FCRA, 2010.
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• It has analytical features to • On April 1 it also banned the import of

conduct big data mining and data
exploration.
• Its dashboard will be integrated with
the bank accounts of the FCRA-
registered entities through the Public
Financial Management System for
updation of transactional data on a
real-time basis.
• It will help the stakeholders
in Government to better regulate
acceptance and utilisation of foreign
contributions.
Related Information
Public Financial Management System
(PFMS)
• It is an end-to-end solution for
processing payments, tracking,
monitoring, accounting, reconciliation
and reporting.
• It is implemented by Controller
General of Accounts and administered
by the Department of Expenditure.
• It provides a unified platform to
scheme managers for tracking
releases and monitoring their last mile
utilisation.
• It also provides the single platform for
efficient management of funds by
tracking them and real-time reporting
of expenditure and receipts through
treasury and bank interface.
• It is also used for Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) payments under
MGNREGA and other notified schemes
of the Centre.
Topic: GS-II: Pressure groups and
formal/informal associations and their role in
the Polity.
Source: PIB
5. Sikkim: 1st state to outlaw
pesticides and chemical fertilizers
• Fifteen years ago, the Sikkim
launched a radical experiment: Its
leaders decided to phase out
pesticides on every farm in the state.
• In the years since the shift to organic
(Sikkim has declared the first organic
state in 2016), Sikkim has outlawed
pesticides and chemical fertilizers,
aided farmers in certifying about
190,000 acres of farmland as organic
many nonorganic vegetables from
other states.
• The transition has not been always
easy
o Some farmers have complained
that their crop yields have
decreased
o Farmers also claim that they
haven't gotten enough support
from the government.
o Some farmers say their income
has decreased or have quit
farming altogether.
• Note: Sikkim banned disposable
plastic plates in 2016. Roadside snack
stalls use plates fashioned from leaves.
• To encourage farmers to make the
switch to organic, Sikkim tapered off
its supply of chemical pesticides and
fertilizers - making their use a
criminal offence in 2014 - launched
education programs, and installed
thousands of composting pits.
Advantages accrued to Sikkim
• The country's move to all-organic also
has been a boon to its tourist industry,
with a growing market for eco-tours
and farm vacations.
• The Lonely Planet travel guide named
it the world's top destination in 2014,
and the number of foreign visitors has
more than doubled since 2011
Topic: GS-III: Environment
Source: NDTV
6. Ruthenium: Fourth single element
to show ferromagnetism
• Scientists have discovered that the
chemical element ruthenium (Ru) is the
fourth element to have unique magnetic
properties at room temperature.
• The discovery could be used to
improve sensors, devices in the
computer memory and logic industry,
or other devices using magnetic
materials.
• Until now, only three elements on the
periodic table have been found to be
ferromagnetic at room temperature -
iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni).
Topic: Important for State PCS and CSE
Prelims
Source: Economic Times

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04.06.2018 • The first missile of the Agni series

(Agni-I) was developed under the
1. Exhibition cum sale event ‘the Integrated Guided Missile
Pankha’ (Hand-Fans) Development Program and tested in
• Union Tribal Affairs Minister launched 1989.
an exhibition cum sale event, Related Information
‘the PANKHA’ (Hand-fans), through Name (Type) Range
TRIFED and Tribes India. Agni-I (MRBM) 700 – 900 km
• This initiative is aimed at providing Agni-II (MRBM) 2,000 – 3,000 km
marketing support to tribal artisans so Agni-III (IRBM) 3,500 – 5,000 km
as to help to revive the same. Agni-IV (IRBM) 3,000 – 4,000 km
• TRIFED is advised to market this craft Agni-V (ICBM) 5,000 – 8,000 km
through various Tribes India Outlets Topic: GS-III Science and Technology
located across the country. Source: The Hindu
• e-commerce giants like Amazon, 3. India and Singapore
Flipkart, Snapdeal, GeM, etc. are also • India and Singapore have agreed to
invited to market hand fans along with upgrade their Comprehensive
other tribal handloom and handicraft. Economic Cooperation Agreement
Topic: GS-II Welfare schemes for vulnerable (CECA).
sections of the population by the Centre and • Recently the second review of CECA
States and the performance of these was concluded.
schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and • The review includes
bodies. o expanded tariff concessions for an
Source: PIB additional 30 products
2. India successfully test-fires nuclear o improved rules to provide more
capable long range Ballistic missile flexibility for Singapore exports to
Agni-5 qualify for preferential tariffs
under the agreement.
• India successfully test-fired its
• It will boost bilateral trade in the field
indigenously developed nuclear
of training of public service officials,
capable Long Range Ballistic Missile
cybersecurity, narcotics control and
‘Agni-5’ from the Abdul Kalam
defence cooperation.
Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast.
• Another key benefit from the
• Agni-V is a solid
upgraded CECA includes
fuelled intercontinental ballistic
o a mutual recognition agreement
missile (ICBM) developed by
on nursing to facilitate a better
Defence Research and Development
understanding in regulating
Organisation (DRDO) of India, strike
training and practice of nursing.
range of 5,000 kilometres.
• Along with it, India and Singapore
• It can carry a nuclear warhead of signed eight more agreements which
more than one tonne. are as follows
• It is the longest missile in India’s o Implementation agreement
arsenal capable of reaching most signed between the Indian Navy
parts of China. and Republic of Singapore Navy
• With a smaller payload, the range can concerning mutual coordination,
go up much higher. logistics and services support
• The missile features many new o for naval ships, submarines
indigenously-developed technologies and naval aircraft (including
like RINS, MINS which improves the Shipborne Aviation Assets)
accuracy of the missile. visits.
• Agni-5 is expected to be inducted into o Extension of MoU between CERT-
the Strategic Forces Command very IN and SINGCERT for
soon. cybersecurity.

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o NCB of India and CNB of
Singapore signed a MoU on
cooperation to combat illicit
trafficking in narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and their
precursors.
o MoU on cooperation in the field of
Personnel Management and
public administration.
o The NITI Aayog and Singapore
Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) also
signed a MoU on cooperation in
the field of planning.
Topic: GS- II Bilateral, regional and global
groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting India's interests
Source: The Economic Times
4. Sickle cell anaemia (SCA)
• Tribal children in Srikakulam,
Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East
and West Godavari district are found
to be sick with SCA.
• The tribals are prone to it due to
various factors including malnutrition
and consanguineous marriages.
• Tribal Welfare department has taken
up the study under thalassemia,
anaemia and sickle cell anaemia
(TAS) programme.
Recent information:
Sickle cell anaemia:
• SCA is a condition in which there
aren't enough healthy red blood cells
to carry adequate oxygen throughout
your body.
• It is genetically inherited disease.
• In sickle cell anaemia, the red blood
cells become rigid and sticky and are
shaped like sickles or crescent moons.
• These irregularly shaped cells can get
stuck in small blood vessels, which
can slow or block blood flow and
oxygen to parts of the body.
• There's no cure for most people with
sickle cell anaemia.
• But treatments can relieve pain and
help prevent problems associated
with the disease.
• Its symptoms include:
o Anemia i.e. shortage of RBCs.
o Periodic episodes of pain.
o Painful swelling of hands and feet.
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o Frequent infections.
o Delayed growth
o Vision problems.
Topic: GS-II Issues relating to development
and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health
GS-III Science and technology
Source: The Hindu
5. Exhibition firms
• Companies engaged in organizing
exhibitions in India are seeking
industry status to further contribute
to the growth of the economy.
• Top officials of the Indian Exhibition
Industry Association (IEIA) would
meet Union Minister with a
representation to press their case.
• While the developed world had been
according to high priority to exhibition
sector, India had so far neglected it.
• An industry status will lead to a
plethora of educational platforms
o for professional management,
training and development at the
root level, safety,
o and sustainability initiatives,
thereby attracting more talented
people to the domain.
• The exhibition sector, which is
growing at a rate of 8.8% for past five
years is set to grow at a rate of
12.13% in the next five years.
Topic: GS-III Indian Economy and issues
relating to planning, mobilization of
resources, growth, development and
employment.
Source: The Hindu
6. Air India stake sale
• Center has decided to retain the
significant minority stake in debt-
laden Air India after its privatization.
• It is seen as a primary reason behind
the muted response to the proposed
disinvestment in the national carrier.
• Niti Aayog, the government’s policy
think tank, had recommended that
the government completely exit Air
India.
• However, the alternate mechanism, a
panel of ministers set up to supervise
the carrier’s sale, ruled in favour of
initially retaining a 24% in the airline
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• And exiting completely at a later stage
—may be after three years.
• The asset monetisation of the carrier
will go on as usual despite the bidding
process not going as expected.
• The government has put the condition
that it should be run only by Indian
investors.
• The balance sheet of Air India also
contains unusual assets that include
o collected artwork, sculptures, and
paintings, apart from land plots in
major cities in India, such as New
Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, and
in London and Tokyo
o several prime slots for takeoff and
landing at major international
airports in several countries.
• The loss-making airline has been in
talks with potential investors,
including lenders such as the State
Bank of India, to divest its non-core
assets to pare its crushing debt load.
Topic: GS-III Effects of liberalization on the
economy, changes in industrial policy and
their effects on industrial growth.
GS-III Infrastructure: Airports.
Source: The Economic Times
05.06.2018
1. Blue Flag Certification Programme-
Odisha beach is Asia’s first to get
‘Blue Flag’ tag
• The Chandrabhaga beach on the
Konark coast of Odisha became
first in Asia to get the Blue Flag
certification.
• It awarded the honour on World
Environment Day on June 5.
• Twelve more beaches in the country
are being developed by the Society for
Integrated Coastal Management
(SICOM), an Environment Ministry’s
body working for the management of
coastal areas, in accordance with the
Blue Flag standards.
• Among them are the Chiwla and
Bhogave beaches in Maharashtra and
one beach each from Puducherry,
Goa, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Related Information
9
Blue Flag
• The Blue Flag is a certification by the
Foundation for Environmental Education
(FEE) that a beach, marina or
sustainable boating tourism operator
meets its stringent standards.
• The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by
FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-
governmental organisation consisting of
65 organisations in 60-member
countries in Europe, Africa, Oceania,
Asia, North America and South America.
• The Environment Ministry embarked
on the Blue Flag project in December
2017.
Blue Flag standards
• To achieve the Blue Flag standards, a
beach must be plastic-free and
equipped with a waste management
system.
• Clean water should be available for
tourists, apart from international
amenities.
• The beach should have facilities for
studying the environmental impact
around the area.
• The standards were established by
the Copenhagen-based Foundation
for Environmental Education (FEE)
in 1985.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- The Hindu
2. Govt launched 'Krishi Kalyan
Abhiyaan' to help farmers in
Aspirational Districts to raise
their income
• The Agriculture Ministry in line with
the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
vision of doubling farmers’ income by
2022 has launched the “Krishi Kalyan
Abhiyaan” from 1st June to 31st July
2018.
• Under the scheme, farmers in select
villages will be given assistance and
advice on ways to improve farming
techniques and raise their income.
• The scheme aims to help farmers in
25 villages with more than 1,000
population each in 111 Aspirational
Districts identified in consultation with
Ministry of Rural Development as per
directions of NITI Ayog.
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• Farm science centres called Krishi
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will coordinate
and implement the programme.
• As many as 111 officers have also
been made in-charge of one district
each for overall coordination and field
level monitoring.
• These officers have been selected
from
subordinate/attached/autonomous
organizations/PSUs etc of Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Topic- GS-3- Agriculture
Source- AIR
3. The government launched
‘JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA’ – Oxo-
biodegradable Sanitary Napkin
• Union Minister of State for Chemicals
& Fertilizers launched the
‘JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA’, the Oxo-
biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under
the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
• The affordable sanitary napkins will
now become available at over 3600
Janaushadhi Kendras functional in 33
States/UTs across India.
• This unique product would ensure
Affordability, Hygiene as well as Ease
of use and disposal for them.
• Unhygienic aids cause fungal
infections, Reproductive Tract
Infection, Urinary Tract Infection,
Cervical cancer and also make women
vulnerable to infertility.
• Jan Aushadhi Suvidha comes with a
special additive, which makes it
biodegradable when it comes in
contact with oxygen after being
discarded.
• This would ensure ‘Swachhta,
Swasthya and Suvidha’ for the
underprivileged Women of India and
go a long way in the achievement of
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s
vision of Affordable and Quality
Healthcare for All.
Topic- GS-2- Health Schemes
Source-PIB
4. Ganga Praharis to Boost Bio-
Diversity conservation to educate,
motivate and ensure the
10
protection of aquatic species of
river Ganga
• A new grassroots-level volunteer
workforce is out to protect the
biodiversity of river Ganga called
Ganga Praharis.
• A group of trained volunteers are
reaching to each and every house in
areas along river Ganga to educate
them about the importance of
protecting river’s biodiversity.
• They are spread over Ganga basin
states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal.
• Ganga Praharis of the five main stem
Ganga basin states will be linked
through mobile applications such
as Bhuvan Ganga app, my gov app
and Swachhta app thereby creating
a broad network among them.
• Roped-in by Wildlife Institute of India
(WII), Dehradun as part of the
“Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga
Rejuvenation” project being
sponsored by National Mission for
Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the aegis
of the Namami Gange programme.
• These Ganga Praharis are well trained
in the ecological monitoring of Ganga
aqua life, plantation techniques,
awareness creation and community
mobilization.
• Ganga Praharis are playing a crucial
role in reporting and rescuing of
aquatic wildlife in distress, reporting
of illegal activities like poaching etc.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source-PIB
5. Centre to start measuring ‘green
GDP’ of States
• India’s environmental diversity and
riches are universally recognised but
have never been quantified.
• Starting this year, the government
will begin a five-year exercise to
compute district-level data of the
country’s environmental wealth.
• The numbers will eventually be used
to calculate every State’s ‘green’
Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
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• The metric will help with a range of 06.06.2018

policy decisions, such as
compensation to be paid during land 1. India among the top five
acquisition, calculation of funds countries in e-waste generation
required for climate mitigation, and so • According to the recent study of
on. ASSOCHAM-NEC, India continues to
• A pilot project is set to begin this be generating highest e-waste vis-à-
September in 54 districts. vis China, USA, Japan and Germany.
• The land will be demarcated into • In India, Maharashtra contributes the
“grids” with about 15-20 grids per largest e-waste of 19.8%, followed by
district. Tamil Nadu (13%) and Uttar Pradesh
• These will capture the diversity in the (10.1%) respectively.
State’s geography, farmland, wildlife, • E-waste generated in India is about 2
and emissions pattern, and will be million TPA (tonnes per annum), the
used to compute a value, she added. quantity that is recycled is about
Other Information 4,38,085 TPA.
• The government has also launched a • The sad part is that a mere 5% of
‘green skilling’ programme under India's total e-waste gets
which youth, particularly school recycled due to poor
dropouts, would be trained in a range infrastructure, legislation and
of ‘green jobs’— as operators of framework which lead to a waste
scientific instruments used to of diminishing natural resources,
measure environmental quality, as irreparable damage of
field staff in nature parks, and as environment and health of the
tourist guides. people working in the industry.
Green GDP • Over 95% of e-waste generated is
• Green GDP is a term used generally managed by the unorganised sector
for expressing GDP after adjusting for and scrap dealers in this market,
environmental damage. dismantle the disposed of products
Topic-GS-3- Economic Development instead of recycling it.
Source- The Hindu Related Information
6. Navy sends ship to Socotra island E-waste
in Yemen to rescue 38 stranded • E-waste includes all forms of waste
Indians products containing as a
• Around 38 Indians are stranded in and manufacturing component that runs
around Socotra island in on either battery or power supply.
Yemen after a cyclone “Mekunu” hit • E-waste typically includes discarded
the area and the Indian Navy has computer monitors, motherboards,
launched an operation to rescue Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), Printed
them. Circuit Board (PCB), mobile phones
• The Navy has already deployed its and chargers, compact discs etc.
ship INS Sunayna as part of • High and prolonged exposure to these
the 'operation Nistar' to evacuate chemicals/ pollutants emitted during
the Indians. unsafe e-waste recycling leads to
• INS Sunayna, which was deployed in damage to nervous systems, blood
Western Arabian Sea, is now heading systems, kidneys and brain
towards Socotra for the humanitarian development etc.
and disaster relief (HADR) operation. • Computer equipment accounts for
Topic- GS-3-Defence almost 70% of e-waste material
Source- Times of India followed by telecommunication
equipment (12%), electrical
equipment (8%) and medical
equipment (7%).

11
www.gradeup.com
Associated Chambers of Commerce and
Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
• The Associated Chambers of
Commerce and Industry of India
(ASSOCHAM) is one of the apex trade
associations of India.
• The goal of this organisation is to
promote both domestic and
international trade and reduce trade
barriers while fostering the conducive
environment for the growth of trade
and industry of India.
• ASSOCHAM was established in 1920
by promoter chambers, representing
all regions of India.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- Times of India
2. S-400 missile deal with Russia
• India has made it clear that it will go
ahead with the Rs 39,000-crore deal
with Russia for the S-400 Triumf air
defence missile systems for the
IAF despite US sanctions on Russia.
• Top American lawmakers and experts
have warned that imposition of
sanctions on India under CAATSA if it
bought the S-400 air defence missile
system from Russia could be
disastrous for Indo-US ties.
Related Information
Countering America's Adversaries
Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)
• The Countering America's Adversaries
Through Sanctions Act, CAATSA is a
United States federal law that
imposed sanctions on Iran, North
Korea, and Russia.
Topic- GS-3- Defence
Source- Indian Express
3. State of India’s Environment
(SoE) in Figures, 2018
• India, which was ranked 141 out of
total 180 countries on the Global
Environmental Performance Index
(EPI) rankings in 2016, has slipped
further to the 177th position this year.
• Failure to improve its air quality,
protect biodiversity and cut
greenhouse gas emissions has been
cited as the reason for placing the
country at the bottom, according to
the State of India's Environment
(SoE) 2018 in Figures.
12
• The SoE in Figures is an annual
compendium of environmental statistics
put together by Down To Earth
magazine, which Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE) helps publish.
• The country is far behind in achieving
any of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and ranked at 116 out
of 157.
• Six out of Ten Indians continue to be
poor, surviving on less than the US
$3.20 per day.
What does the SoE in Figures say about
key environmental parameters?
• The state of our air: India scored 5.75
out of 100 in air quality.
• India’s disappointing performance
and the gravity of the situation is
further highlighted when compared
with countries such as Switzerland
and Japan which have scored over 90.
The state of our water
• The Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation launched the “Har Ghar Jal
Yojana” to provide piped water supply
to every household by 2030 to meet the
Sustainable Development Goals.
• However, in 18 Indian states and UTs,
over 82 Percent rural households,
which is the national average, remain
without a tapped connection.
• The dependency on groundwater has
increased between 2004 and 2013.
The state of our sanitation
• Under the Swachh Bharat scheme,
72.1 million individual household
toilets in rural India have been
constructed; however, little has been
done to popularise their use.
The state of our energy
• After missing its targets for two
consecutive years, the Centre, it
appears, is fast losing interest in
meeting its ambitious target of
installing 175 gigawatts (GW)
renewable energy by 2022.
• Centre’s Ujjwala Yojana has covered
all states, but LPG distribution has
taken place significantly in only 15
states. And even here, a substantial
portion of rural population relies on
unhealthy firewood for cooking.
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The state of our forests Ratna Award for their individual

• While India's total forest cover has performances.
registered a 0.2 Percent increase • These awards were instituted
between 2015 and 2017, there are by Prime Point Foundation in 2010
some serious concerns over the based on the suggestion given by late
growth pattern. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to
• The bulk of the increase has taken celebrate achievers.
place in the open forest category, Topic- GS-2-Indian Polity
which includes commercial Source- Business Standards
plantations–which is worrying. 5. Geo-Intelligence Asia - 2018
• Overall, there has been a 146 Percent • The Eleventh edition of
increase in forestland diversion for GeoIntelligence Asia 2018 organised
non-forest activities in the past one by GeoSpatial Media and
year with maximum diversions Communication with Directorate
recorded in Madhya Pradesh, General of Information System as
Telangana and Odisha. Knowledge Partners and Military
• Increasing number of forest fires in Survey as Co-organisers.
the country–which have gone up by • The theme of Seminar was
125 Percent within just two years ‘GeoSpatial: A Force Multiplier for
(2015-2017). Defence and Industrial Security’.
The SoE on environmental crimes • The seminar brought together
• Since the National Green Tribunal the military, security officials
(NGT) was set up in 2010, the number including BSF and Police Forces,
of environment-related police cases Government and industry together
seem to be gradually decreasing. to examine the latest technology
• However, the number of court cases solutions and on the critical role of
has drastically gone up. geospatial technology in military and
Related Information security applications.
Environmental Performance Index (EPI) Topic- GS-3- Defence
• EPI ranking is a bi-annual report Source-PIB
produced by researchers at Yale and 6. Taj Declaration to Beat Plastic
Columbia Universities in collaboration Pollution adopted in Agra
with the World Economic Forum. • A ‘Taj Declaration to Beat Plastic
Topic- GS-3- Environment Pollution’ was adopted as part of
Source- Down to Earth which efforts would be made to make
4. Parliamentary Standing the 500-metre area around the 17th-
Committee on Finance to get century monument litter-free.
Sansad Ratna Award Topic- GS-3- Environment
• The Parliamentary Standing Source- The Hindu
Committee on Finance will be
awarded the Sansad Ratna Award 07.06.2018
2018 for its outstanding performance.
• Veerappa Moily, Chairman of the 1. India moves up to 137th rank on
Parliamentary Standing Committee on 2018 Global Peace Index
Finance will receive the award. • India has moved up four places to the
• There are 24 Departmentally 137th rank among 163 countries on
Related Standing Committees in the 2018 Global Peace Index.
Parliament. Sixteen are known as • India has improved by four positions
Lok Sabha Committees and eight as in the overall ranking from 141st to
Rajya Sabha Committees. 137th.
• In addition, seven MPs (six from Lok • It is due to a reduction in the level of
Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha) will violent crime driven by increased law
also be honoured with the Sansad enforcement, according to a report.

13
www.gradeup.com

• The report is published by the in the World Bank’s ease of doing

Sydney-based Institute of Economics
and Peace (IEP).
• Iceland remains the most peaceful
country in the world, a position it has
held since 2008.
• Syria remains the least peaceful
country in the world, a position it has
held for the past five years.
• India was also among the countries
with the biggest decreases in the
number of deaths, along with Sri
Lanka, Chad, Colombia, and Uganda.
Topic- GS-3-Economic Development
Source- Indian Express
2. RBI to set up public credit registry
to curb bad loans
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said
it would set up a public credit
registry—an information repository
that collates all loan information of
individuals and corporate borrowers.
• A credit repository will help banks
distinguish between a bad and a good
borrower and accordingly offer
attractive interest rates to good
borrowers and higher interest rates to
bad borrowers.
• The move is based on the
recommendations of a committee it
set up last year, headed by M.
Deosthalee.
• The committee has also
recommended that registry should
also capture data such as external
commercial borrowings, market
borrowings, and all contingent
liabilities to provide a holistic picture
of the borrower’s indebtedness.
• The public credit repository will
address information asymmetry,
improve access to credit and
strengthen the credit culture among
consumers.
• It can also go a long way in addressing
the bad loans problem facing the
banking system, as corporate
borrowers will be unable to lend from
multiple banks without disclosing their
existing debt.
• Setting up the public credit registry
will also help improve India’s rankings
business index.
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
Source- Livemint
3. Scheme to provide fortified rice to
be rolled out in 115 most
backward districts
• The government will provide fortified
rice (enriched with essential vitamins
and minerals) to all the poor under
National Food Security Act (NFSA)
across the country.
• To begin with, the scheme is likely to
cover the 115 ‘aspirational’ districts
across the country.
• Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said
the proposal is being prepared with
the support of Niti Aayog under the
National Nutrition Mission.
• The government has taken up the
task of improving socio-economic and
health conditions in the 115 most
backwards or aspirational districts.
• Providing fortified rice is being seen as
a move in that direction considering
that majority of these districts are
primarily rice consuming ones.
Fortification of rice
• Fortification is the practice of
deliberately increasing the content of
an essential micronutrient, i.e.
vitamins and minerals (including trace
elements) in a food.
• It is done to improve the nutritional
quality of the food supply and provide
a public health benefit with minimal
risk to health.
• Rice can be fortified by adding a
micronutrient powder to the rice that
adheres to the grains or spraying of the
surface of ordinary rice grains in several
layers with a vitamin and mineral mix to
form a protective coating.
• These micronutrients are such as iron,
folic acid and other B-complex
vitamins, vitamin A and zinc.
• Rice can also be extruded and shaped
into partially precooked grain-like
structures resembling rice grains,
which can then be blended with
natural polished rice.
Topic- GS-2- Welfare Programmes
Source- WHO + Times of India

14
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4. IBSA summits
• External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj attended meetings of BRICS
and IBSA in South Africa.
• During the visit, Swaraj participated
in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa) Foreign
Ministers’ meeting on June 4 which is
expected to lay the foundation for the
annual summit of the grouping in
Johannesburg next month.
• She also chaired a meeting of Foreign
Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South
Africa), another bloc working to
deepen coordination among the three
countries on major global issues.
Related Information
IBSA Trust Fund agreement
• India, Brazil and South Africa signed
the IBSA Trust Fund Agreement that
seeks to fight poverty in developing
countries.
• The agreement was signed at the 8th
IBSA trilateral Ministerial Commission
Meeting in Durban on 21st October
2017.
• Each country contributes USD
1 million annually to this fund which is
managed by the UN Development
Programme's (UNDP) Special Unit for
South-South Cooperation.
Topic- GS-2- Bilateral, regional and global
groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting India’s interests
Source- Hindustan Times
5. India to take part in 2nd
quadrilateral meet on ASEAN
sidelines
• The meeting will take place in
Singapore on the sidelines of the
Senior Officials’ meeting (SOM) on
ASEAN.
• The ASEAN SOM is the opening event
for a string of meetings within the
ASEAN, ASEAN Plus 3, East Asia Summit
and the ASEAN Regional Forum that are
taking place from June 5-7.
Related Information
ASEAN
• Established in 1967 in Bangkok via
Bangkok Declaration.
15
• Currently, there are 10-member
states and 2 observer states are part
of it.
• The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) is a regional
intergovernmental organisation
comprising ten Southeast Asian
states which promote
intergovernmental cooperation and
facilitates economic, political, military,
educational and cultural integration
amongst its members and Asian states.
• Its headquarter is in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• India is not a member of it.
• The 10-member states of ASEAN are
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
• The ASEAN Way- the doctrine that
the member countries will largely
business when it comes to internal
matters of member countries.
• ASEAN Plus Three: Was created to
improve existing ties with China,
Japan and South Korea.
• ASEAN Plus Six: includes China,
Japan, South Korea, New Zealand,
Australia and India.
East Asia Summit
• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a
forum held annually by leaders of,
initially, 16 countries in the East
Asian, Southeast Asian and South
Asian regions.
• Membership expanded to 18 countries
including the United States and Russia
at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
• EAS meetings are held after annual
ASEAN leaders' meetings.
Topic- GS-2- Important International
institutions
Source- Indian Express
08. 06. 2018
1. India not yet ready to sign the
Hague treaty
• The government is not yet ready to
sign the Hague treaty on the inter-
country abduction of children by
parents fleeing a bad marriage.
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• There has been immense pressure
from the U.S. on the government to
sign the treaty though the
government has long held the view
that the decision could lead to
harassment of women escaping
marital discord or domestic violence.
Background
• A committee constituted by the
Centre to examine legal issues
involved in international parental
abduction submitted its report in April
2018, opposing a central provision of
the Hague Convention.
• It also recommended setting up of a
Child Removal Disputes Resolution
Authority to act as a nodal body to
decide on the custody of the child as
well as a model law to deal with such
disputes.
• However, the government is
contemplating assigning the National
Commission for Protection of Children
the responsibility to adjudicate on
such cases along with a judicial
expert.
Related Information
Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction
• It is a multilateral treaty developed by
the Hague Conference on Private
International Law (HCCH) that
provides an expeditious method to
return a child internationally abducted
by a parent from one member country
to another.
• The Convention has concluded 25
October 1980 and entered into force
between the signatories on 1
December 1983.
• The Convention was drafted to ensure
the prompt return of children who
have been abducted from their
country of habitual residence or
wrongfully retained in a contracting
state not their country of habitual
residence.
• The Convention applies only to
children under the age of 16.
• Currently, there are 98 states are
party to the convention.
16
• In 2017, Tunisia and Jamaica acceded
to the convention.
Topic- GS-2-International Conventions
Source- The Hindu
2. Fuego volcano’s eruption
• Volcan de Fuego, which means
"Volcano of Fire is an active
stratovolcano in Guatemala.
• Volcan de Fuego exploded on June 3
in its most devastating eruption in
more than four decades, showering
ash on a wide area and sending rapid
pyroclastic flows through nearby
towns.
• Satellite pictures showed a lava- and
ash-ravaged landscape in southern
Guatemala after Fuego volcano's
calamitous eruption, which has killed
at least 99 people.
Topic- GS-1-Physical Geography
Source- DD news
3. Three Indian cities among top 10
for GDP risk from terrorism
• Three Indian cities, including Delhi,
Mumbai and Bengaluru are ranked
among the top 10 cities globally for
GDP risk from terrorism threats.
• Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore
stood at fifth, sixth and seventh in this
aspect, in the latest edition of Lloyd's
India's City Risk Index (CRI).
• The study further noted that threats
from conflict and terrorism account
for more than half (58 per cent) of the
risk to India's economic output
annually amounting to USD 9 billion.
• Lloyd's City Risk Index (CRI) has
measured GDP risk from 22 separate
threats in 279 cities across the world.
• The findings for India reflect the
geopolitical tension in the region.
• Lloyd's CRI included 10 major cities in
India, Ahmedabad, Bangalore,
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kanpur,
Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Surat.
Topic- GS-3-Economic Development
Source- Economic Times
4. India shows impressive gains in
reduction of Maternal Mortality
with 22% reduction since 2013
• India registered a significant decline
in Maternal Mortality Ratio.
www.gradeup.com
• According to the just-released SRS
bulletin (2016), India has shown
impressive gains in reduction of
Maternal Mortality with 22% reduction
in since 2013.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio of India has
declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to
130 in 2014-2016.
• The decline has been most significant
in the EAG (Empowered Action Group)
States and Assam from 246 to 188.
Among the Southern States, the
decline has been from 93 to 77 and in
the Other States from 115 to 93.
• The latest SRS figures reveal that we
have gone beyond the MDG target of
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 139
by 2015 and have reached 130.
• Amongst the States, Uttar Pradesh
with 30% decline has topped the chart
in the reduction of Maternal Deaths.
• Three states have already met the
SDG target for MMR of 70 per
100,000. These are Kerala,
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are
within striking distance.
Initiatives by Government
• Mission Indradhanush and
Intensified Mission Indradhanush
• Janani Suraksha Yojana- a country.
conditional cash transfer scheme to
motivate pregnant women for
institutional deliveries. It is under
National Rural Health Mission.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha
Karyakaram (JSSK)- entitles all
pregnant women delivering in public
health institutions to free delivery,
including C-sections.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit
Matritva Abhiyan- pregnant women
can walk into private establishments
on the 9th of the month.
Related Information
Infant mortality rate
• The number of deaths of children less
than 1 year old per 1,000 live births.
Maternal mortality ratio
• The number of maternal deaths per
100,000 live births due to causes
related to pregnancy or within 42 days
of termination of pregnancy,
17
regardless of the site or duration of
pregnancy.
Child mortality rate
• The number of deaths of children less
than 5 years old per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal mortality
• It is defined as death within the first
four weeks of life.
Topic-GS-2- Issues relating to development
and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human
Resources.
Source- Indian Express
5. World Bank approved Rs. 6,000
crores for Atal Bhujal Yojana
• The World Bank has approved Atal
Bhujal Yojana (ABHY), a Rs.6000 crore
Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• The scheme is to be implemented
over a period of five years from 2018-
19 to 2022-23, with World Bank
assistance.
Other Information
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY)
• Atal Bhujal Yojana has been
formulated by the Ministry to address
the criticality of groundwater
resources in a major part of the
• The scheme will also cover two major
types of groundwater systems found
in India - alluvial and hard rock
aquifers.
• The scheme aims to improve
groundwater management in priority
areas in the country through
community participation.
• It will be launched in Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh, covering 78 districts, 193
blocks and more than 8,300-gram
panchayats.
• The duration of the ABY will be five
years.
Background
• The scheme was announced as
National Groundwater Management
Improvement Scheme (NGMIS) in
budget 2016-17.
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• The scheme is renamed as Atal Bhujal
Yojana.
Topic- GS-3- Environment Conservation
Source-PIB
6. C18-Mica-4 can remove the
majority of pollutants from urban
wastewater
• Spanish scientists have identified
absorbent materials that can help
soak up pollutants found in urban
wastewater in less than 24 hours.
• The results show that the material
C18-Mica-4 is capable of eliminating
the majority of pollutants that were
evaluated in urban waste water, as
well as surface water and potable
water.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- AIR
09.06.2018
1. Scientists unveiled the genome of
India’s national bird
• After a two-year long effort, a team of
researchers from IISER-Bhopal has
been able to sequence the genome of
India’s national bird, the peacock.
• Knowledge of the genome can provide
insight into the genetic reasons that
enable peacocks to have ornate
feathers and fly despite their weight.
• When these genes were compared
with those of closely related birds like
chicken and turkey, the researchers
found that up to 99 genes in peacock
are strikingly different.
• Peacocks live for 25 years, much
longer than other closely related birds
such as the chicken, which lives for 7-
8 years and the turkey, which lives for
about 10 years.
• It is possible that the immunity-
related genes unique to peacock help
them ward off diseases much better
than other birds and consequently
have a longer life.
Related Information
Genome
• A genome is the complete set of
genetic information in an organism.
18
• It provides all of the information the
organism requires to function.
• In living organisms, the genome is
stored in long molecules of DNA called
chromosomes.
• Small sections of DNA, called genes,
code for the RNA and protein
molecules required by the organism.
• In eukaryotes, each cell's genome is
contained within a membrane-bound
structure called the nucleus.
• Prokaryotes, which contain no inner
membranes, store their genome in a
region of the cytoplasm called the
nucleoid.
• The full range of RNA molecules
expressed by a genome is known as
its transcriptome, and the full
assortment of proteins produced by
the genome is called its proteome.
Genomics
• Genomics is the study of the full
genetic complement of an organism
(the genome).
• It employs recombinant DNA, DNA
sequencing methods, and
bioinformatics to sequence,
assembles, and analyse the structure
and function of genomes.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Down to Earth
2. Scientists developed early
flowering transgenic mustard
• Researchers at Delhi-based TERI
School of Advanced Studies have
developed an early flowering
transgenic variety of mustard.
• Researchers figured out the role of a
regulatory gene, called MIR172
belonging to the micro RNA family,
that is present in functionally varied
forms in Indian mustard and is
responsible for a number of traits
including the timing of flowering.
• In plants, this microRNA enacts by
negatively regulating the expression
of some protein-coding genes
involved in flowering time.
• By increasing the expression of this
microRNA, the researchers have
developed an early flowering
transgenic plant of Indian mustard
cultivar Brassica junceacv.
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• By manipulating flowering time, one
can develop a plant variety with
shorter life cycle and thus help have
better yields through reduced
exposure to the harsh climatic
conditions in the fields.
Why is it important for India?
• Indian mustard is a major oilseed crop
in the country and due to changing
climate the number of cold days
required for full plant cycle has
shrunk.
• Scientists have been working on
improving crop varieties by modifying
plant genes to make them more
adaptable changing climate.
• Early flowering and maturing varieties
can help cope with climate change,
without compromising on yields.
Topic- GS-3- Biotechnology
Source- Down to Earth
3. Cabinet approves Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle Mark-III
Continuation Programme – Phase
6
• The Union Cabinet has approved the
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
Continuation Programme (Phase 6)
and funding of thirty PSLV operational
flights under the Programme.
• The operationalisation of PSLV has
made the country self-reliant in the
launching capability of satellites for
earth observation, disaster
management, navigation and space
sciences.
• The PSLV Continuation programme
will sustain this capability and self-
reliance in the launching of similar
satellites for national requirements.
• All the operational flights would be
completed during the period 2019-
2024.
Related Information
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
• It is the third generation launch
vehicle of India.
• It is the first Indian launch vehicle to
be equipped with liquid stages.
• It was successfully launched in
October 1994.
19
• PSLV has emerged as a versatile
launch vehicle to carry out Sun-
Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO),
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)
and low inclination Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) missions.
• Important Mission-
(a) Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 through
PSLV-XL C11 and
(b) Mars Orbiter Spacecraft
(Mangalyaan) in 2013 through PSLV-
XL C25
• Variants- There are currently three
operational versions of the PSLV.
(a) The standard (PSLV)
(b) The core-alone (PSLV-CA) without
the six strap-on booster motors
(c) The (PSLV-XL) version, which
carries more solid fuel in its strap-on
motors than the standard version.
Topic- GS-3-Space Technology
Source-PIB
4. Cabinet approved Continuation
Programme for Geosynchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III
• The Union Cabinet approved funding for
the for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III)
continuation programme (Phase-I).
• The GSLV Mk-III continuation
Programme – Phase 1 is the first
phase of operational flights that will
enable the launch of 4 tonne class of
communication satellites to meet the
country’s satellite communication
requirements.
• The operationalisation of GSLV Mk-III
will make the country self-reliant in
the launching capability of 4 tonne
class of communication satellites into
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)
and sustain & strengthen the space
infrastructure and reduce the
dependence on procured launches
from foreign countries.
Related Information
GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle)
• The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) project was initiated in
1990 with the objective of acquiring
an Indian launch capability for
geosynchronous satellites
www.gradeup.com
• Variants-
(a) GSLV rockets using the Russian
Cryogenic Stage (CS) are
designated as the GSLV Mk I. It is
capable of launching around 1500 kg.
(b) Versions using the indigenous
Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) are
designated the GSLV Mk II. It is
capable of launching 2500 kg into the
geostationary transfer orbit.
(c) GSLV Mk III
• All GSLV launches have been
conducted from the Satish Dhawan
Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Topic- GS-3-Space Technology
Source-PIB + Wiki
5. IN Ships arrived Guam to
participate in Ex-Malabar 2018
• Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti
and Kamorta of the Eastern Fleet
arrived at Guam on 07 June 18 to
participate in the 22nd edition of
Exercise Malabar with US Navy from
07 to 16 June 2018.
• Exercise Malabar started as a bilateral
exercise between the US Navy and
the Indian Navy in 1992, has
evolved over the years with the
participation of the Japanese
Maritime Self-Defense Force
(JMSDF) from 2007.
• It is for the first time that the exercise
is being conducted off Guam, a
major US Naval Base in the Western
Pacific.
Topic- GS-3- Defence
Source-PIB
11.06.2018
1. Use of DSI technology in the
thermal power plant to curb SO2
emission
• The NTPC’s Dadri Power Plant is
opting for a Dry Sorbent Injection
(DSI) system for controlling sulphur
dioxide (SO2) emissions and ensuring
compliance with the 2015
environmental norms within the
stipulated deadline.
20
• The power plant has been asked by
the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) to comply with the
environmental norms for coal-fired
thermal power plants by December
31, 2019.
What is DSI (Dry Sorbent Injection)?
• DSI is the practice of injecting a dry
alkaline mineral into a flue gas stream
to reduce acid gas emission.
• DSI offers advantages in comparison
to traditional acid gas scrubber
technology:
(a) Lower capital cost,
(b) Wide range of favourable
operation conditions,
(c) Much lesser time for completing
installation and commissioning.
(d) Improves the efficiency of the
electrostatic precipitator (ESP), thus
reducing the emission levels of
Particulate Matter (PM) further
• While conventional wet limestone flue
gas desulphurisation (WLFGD) takes
over two years, DSI takes only 12-14
months to be up and running.
• It also reduces emissions of other
acidic gases and heavy metals like
mercury.
• Sodium sesquicarbonate (or Trona)
and sodium bicarbonate are sorbent
materials (which can collect molecules
of another substance by sorption),
though hydrated lime can also be
used sometimes.
• India has surplus sodium bicarbonate
production. Thus, the reagent is also
not very expensive, eliminating high
operational costs as a barrier.
Other Information
• Sorbent injection is not a new
technology. It is not entirely unknown
to India.
• Sorbent injection with hydrated lime
as the reagent has been in practice for
a long time in the cement and steel
industries in the country to control
SO2 emissions.
www.gradeup.com
• The CSE, which has been at the
forefront of advocating implementation
of the 2015 environmental norms, had
recommended that the smaller power
generation units (less than 500MW)
should be adopting alternatives to the
FGD (flue gas desulphurisation) system
to achieve compliance with the
prescribed standard.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- Down to Earth
2. Adoption of Qingdao declaration
in SCO Summit 2018
• The SCO summit in 2018, which was
held in the Chinese city of Qingdao,
concluded with the adoption of the
Qingdao declaration.
• The declaration calls for implementing
the three-year plan to combat
terrorism, separatism and
extremism.
• It also calls for the implementation of
the treaty on long-term good
neighbourliness, friendship and co-
operation.
• A total of 22 documents have been
signed by the SCO countries,
including preventing radicalization of
youth and prevention of narcotics.
• The SCO Action plan for 2019 to 2020
was also signed.
India and SCO Summit 2018
• Indian Prime Minister underlined the
importance of security and
connectivity.
• Prime Minister Modi floated the
concept of SECURE:
'S' for security for citizens,
'E' for economic development,
'C' for connectivity in the region,
'U' for unity,
'R' for respect of sovereignty and
integrity, and
'E for environment protection.
• He also called for setting up a specific
roadmap for the 25th anniversary of
SCO in 2026 for the organisation to
grow.
• PM highlighted India's universal
brotherhood, and neighbourhood
policy and called upon member states
to cooperate in the fields of Agriculture,
Water Resources and Pharma.
Topic- GS-2-International Organization
21
Source- DD news
3. Dhanush, India’s first indigenous
long-range artillery gun, clears
final test; ready for induction
• India’s first indigenous, long-range
artillery gun “Dhanush” has passed its
final test at Pokhran, paving the way
for its induction into the Army.
• Dhanush is a 155mm x 45mm calibre
artillery gun and is also called the
“desi Bofors”.
• The design is based on Bofors, now
Haubits FH77 which India acquired in
the 1980s.
• The gun has been developed by the
Ordnance Factory Board (OFB),
Kolkata and will be manufactured by
the Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage
Factory (GCF).
• The GCF (Gun Carriage Factory) got
the Dhanush project in October 2011
and the first prototype was made in
2014.
• It has a strike range of 38 kilometres
and 81 Percent of its components are
indigenous.
Topic- GS-3- Defence
Source- Financial Express
4. Delhi most vulnerable UT in
India’s first disaster risk index,
Maharashtra leads states
• A national disaster risk index mapping
hazards and vulnerabilities across
640 districts puts Maharashtra at
the top of the chart followed by West
Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh, while Delhi is most at risk
among Union territories (UTs).
• The index is currently in the form of a
draft report prepared by the Union
home ministry with support from the
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP).
• The lower hazard ranking to states
like those in the north-east and others
like Uttarakhand and Himachal
Pradesh, which are prone to
earthquakes or floods, seems
surprising but the index takes into
account economic vulnerabilities and
actions taken to mitigate risk.
www.gradeup.com
• The index factors in the exposure of
population, agriculture and livestock
and environmental risk in drawing up
the rankings.
• Capacity building by Gujarat, Tamil
Nadu, Assam, Tripura and Himachal
Pradesh has lowered their net risk to
population and economic losses.
• States like UP, MP and Rajasthan are
considered high-risk states despite
facing lower natural hazard
possibilities due to high vulnerability
and low capacity-building, the report
notes.
Related Information
• This national disaster risk index is also
in line with India’s commitment to the
Sendai Framework, successor to the
Hyogo Framework, where it has to
substantially bring down disaster
losses in terms of lives and properties.
Topic- GS-3- Disaster Management
Source- Times of India
5. Scientists find the new system to
detect paraben level in water
bodies
• The researchers came up with a
method that is based on
nanotechnology and a system known
as ‘Lab-on-Valve’.
• The project is aimed at identifying
parabens and triclosan in water
bodies to help develop measures to
correct their harmful effects.
• The research team added carbon-
coated titanium dioxide nanotubes to
the ‘Lab-on-Valve’ systems for
paraben extraction at a low
concentration.
• Till now, the usage of nanomaterials
in the ‘Lab-on-Valve’ systems was not
possible because of their
characteristic of forming a cluster or
lump in the liquid medium.
• However, the research team
synthesised the nanoparticles that
can be easily dispersed and were also
compatible with the lab value system.
Related Information
Parabens
• These are a group of organic
compounds used as preservatives in
22
cosmetics and hygiene products, are
harmful to human health and it has
danger impact on the environment.
• Use of cosmetics with parabens could
pose-
• (a) A risk of breast cancer in women
and when these personal care
products end up in water bodies with
urban and hospital waste,
• (b) They become a threat to corals
and
• (c) May cause hormonal disruptions in
dolphins and other marine animals as
well.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Down to Earth
12.06.2018
1. ISRO’s scientists discover an
‘EPIC’ planet
• The team from the Physical Research
Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has
spotted for the first time a distant
planet six times bigger than Earth and
revolving around a Sun-like star about
600 light years away.
• PRL, described as the cradle of space
sciences in India, conducts
fundamental research in a host of
physical sciences including astronomy
and space.
• Both the planet and the star have
been named EPIC.
• With this discovery, India has joined a
handful of countries which have
discovered planets around stars.
• Significantly, the discovery was made
using a PRL-designed spectrograph,
PARAS, to measure and confirm the
mass of the new planet.
• EPIC 211945201b (or K2-236b) is the
name given to the planet.
• The host star is named EPIC
211945201 or K2-236.
• Such a discovery is of importance for
understanding the formation
mechanism of such super-Neptune or
sub-Saturn kind of planets that are
too close to the host star
Related Information
www.gradeup.com

PARAS (PRL Advance Radial-velocity • Using the newly developed intron

Abu-sky Search) seqFISH technique, each intron is
• The spectrograph is the first of its kind labelled with a unique fluorescent
in the country which can measure the barcode, enabling it to be seen with a
mass of a planet going around a star. microscope.
• They measured the mass of the planet • Seeing introns reveals which genes
using the indigenously designed PRL are currently turned on in individual
Advance Radial-velocity Abu-sky cells, how strongly they are
Search or PARAS spectrograph expressed, and where they are
integrated with the 1.2-metre located.
telescope located at PRL’s Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Gurushikhar Observatory in Mount Source- Science Daily
Abu, Rajasthan. 3. Govt forms a new committee to
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology bring more transparency in
Source- The Hindu employment-related data
2. seqFISH (sequential fluorescence releases
in situ hybridization) • The Union government has formed a
• Scientists have developed a new new committee under the
technique called seqFISH, that chairmanship of former Chief
enables them to identify what goes on Statistician Prof. C.A. Anant to bring
across the genome in hundreds of more transparency in employment-
different cells at once. related data releases.
• Previously, researchers could only Related Information
image four to five genes at a time in • Labour Bureau conducts two major
cells with microscopy. surveys on employment scenario i.e.
• Scaling seqFISH up to a genomic level Annual Employment-Unemployment
now enables the imaging of over Survey (EUS) and Quarterly
10,000 genes -about half of the total Employment Survey.
number of genes in mammals -- • The Annual Employment
within single cells. Unemployment Survey was later
How does it work? replaced by Periodic Labour Force
• In order for genetic instructions to be Survey (PLFS).
turned into an actual functioning • The Periodic Labour Force Survey
protein, a process called transcription would not only have annual data on
must first occur. employment-unemployment on the
• First, a gene will be read and copied rural sector but will also have
into a precursor messenger RNA, or quarterly data on employment-
pre-mRNA, like jotting a quick, rough unemployment on urban sector based
draft. on larger sample size.
• This molecule then matures into a • On the other hand, the Quarterly
messenger RNA, or mRNA, akin to Employment survey (New Series)
editing the rough draft. is an enterprise-based survey and
it captures the employment size of
• During the "editing" process, certain
about 2.40 crore workers only as
regions called introns are cut out of
against the total workforce of about
the pre-mRNA.
47 crores.
• The team chose to focus on labelling
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
introns because they are produced so
early in the transcription process, Source- Economic Times
giving a picture of what a cell is doing 4. Railway Minister launched 'Rail
at the precise moment of gene Madad' App and 'Menu on Rails'
expression. App

23
www.gradeup.com
‘Menu on Rails’ App
• Passengers can now check the
maximum retail price (MRP) of food
items on IRCTC's newly-launched
"Menu on Rail" application and be sure
that they are not taken for a ride.
• The app will display menu to
passengers travelling in Mail/Express,
including Humsafar Train, Rajdhani,
Shatabdi, Duronto, Gatiman Express
and Tejas Express.
• The app can be used on laptops or
computers as a website version of the
same has been made available.
‘Rail Madad’
• The railway minister also launched
'Rail Madad' application to expedite
and streamline passenger grievance
redressal.
• The Rail Madad, allows passengers to
lodge complaints through mobile
application/web platform and enables
them to check real-time feedback on
the status of redressal of their
complaints.
Topic- GS-2- E-governance
Source- DD News
5. India gave Rs 99 million to Nepal
for the Nepal-Bharat Maitri
Irrigation Project
• India extended a financial aid of Rs 99
million to Nepal for the construction of
2,700 shallow tube well irrigation
systems in 12 districts of the
country's southern Terai region to
boost agricultural productivity.
• The assistance has been extended as
part of the final payment for the
Nepal-Bharat Maitri Irrigation
Project, which was launched in
January 2017 to boost growth to the
Himalayan nation's agricultural sector
through enhanced facilities.
• Recognising the scope for improving
agricultural productivity in Nepal,
India has been partnering with Nepal
for development of Deep Tube Wells
(DTWs) and Shallow Tube Wells
(STWs) in various regions for several
years.
Topic- GS-3- Bilateral Relations
Source- Business Standards
6. Paraguay now malaria-free
24
• Paraguay has become the first
country in the Americas to be granted
the malaria-free status by the World
Health Organization since Cuba in
1973.
• In 2016, the WHO had identified 21
countries, including Paraguay, Belize,
Costa Rica, El Salvador and others,
where they could eliminate malaria by
2020 and include them in the ‘E-2020
initiative’.
Related Information
E-2020 initiative
• In April 2016, WHO identified 21
countries with the potential to achieve
zero indigenous cases of malaria by
2020.
• The analysis, published on World
Malaria Day, was based on trends in
malaria case incidence between 2000
and 2014; the declared malaria
objectives of affected countries; and
the informed opinions of WHO experts
in the field.
• Together, these 21 countries
represent the “E-2020”.
Topic- GS-2- International Affairs
Source- Down to Earth
13.06.2018
1. Ten new Swachh Iconic Places
launched under Swachh Bharat
Mission Phase III
• The project envisioned by the Prime
Minister is being coordinated by Ministry
of Drinking Water and Sanitation with
the support of State governments and
local administration.
• These new sites have joined the 20
iconic places under Phase I & II where
special Sanitation work is already
underway.
Swachh Iconic Places (SIP)
• The Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) is
an initiative under the Swachh Bharat
Mission.
• It is a special clean-up initiative
focused on select iconic heritage,
spiritual and cultural places in the
country.
www.gradeup.com
• The initiative is being coordinated by
the Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation in association with the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,
Ministry of Culture, Ministry of
Tourism and the concerned State
governments.
Phase-1
• It was launched in 2016.
• The Phase I iconic places are:
• Ajmer Sharif Dargah, CST Mumbai,
Golden Temple, Kamakhya Temple,
Maikarnika Ghat, Meenakshi Temple,
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Shree
Jagannath Temple, The Taj Mahal and
Tirupati Temple.
Phase-2
• It was launched in Nov 2017.
• It includes-
• Gangotri, Yamunotri, Mahakaleshwar
Temple, Charminar, Convent and
Church of St. Francis of Assissi,
Kalady, Gommateswara, Baidyanath
Dham, Gaya Tirth and Somnath
temple.
Phase-3
• It includes-
• (a) Raghavendra Swamy Temple
(Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh) (b)
Hazardwari Palace (Murshidabad,
West Bengal) (c) Brahma Sarovar
Temple (Kurukshetra, Haryana) (d)
VidurKuti (Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh) (e)
Mana village (Chamoli, Uttarakhand)
(f) Pangong Lake (Leh-Ladakh, J&K)
(g) Nagvasuki Temple (Allahabad,
Uttar Pradesh) (h) ImaKeithal/market
(Imphal, Manipur) (i) Sabarimala
Temple (Kerala) and (j) Kanvashram
(Uttarakhand)
Swachh Bharat Mission-
• The Swachh Bharat Mission was
launched on 2 October 2014 at the
birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The mission was divided into two
parts — urban and rural.
• The Swachh Bharat Mission Urban is
managed by the Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs, while the Swachh
Bharat Mission Gramin (Rural) is led
by the Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation.
25
Note-
Ministry of Urban Development has been
merged with Ministry of Housing. The new
Ministry is named as Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs. All the schemes under Ministry
of Urban development have been subsumed
under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Topic- GS-2-Governance
Source-PIB
2. Community-led strategies offer
hope for east Himalayan
biodiversity
• The Singchung Bugun Village
Community Reserve, won the
National Biodiversity Discovery Award
on May 22, 2018, in Hyderabad for its
unique endeavour to conserve rare
local wildlife on the fringes of the
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is an NGO from the West Kameng
district of India’s north-eastern state
of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The award highlighted the role of civil
society organisations in preserving
the unique biodiversity of the region.
East Himalayan biodiversity
• The jungles of Northeast India host
some of the world’s most interesting
species such as one-horned rhino,
Hoolock Gibbon, pygmy hog, white-
winged wood duck, golden langur,
river dolphins and mahseer.
• There is a staggering variety of
wildlife in the marshes and forests of
Arunachal Pradesh, part of the
eastern Himalayas.
• A large array of new species has been
found in recent years such as-
• (a) New ornamental fish –
Microphis ignoratus – in a tributary
of the Siang river etc. This was the
first discovery of a freshwater
pipefish in the sub-continent.
• (b) Three species of mammals and an
amphibian. The mammals include two
mountain pikas and Himalayan
marmot (ground squirrel).
• (c) In 2012, a new species of frog
from the Dicroglossidae family was
discovered at Mawphlang, near
Shillong in Meghalaya etc.
What are the concerns regarding
biodiversity in East Himalayan?
www.gradeup.com
• Native forests are crucial
conserving biodiversity. However,
local studies have shown that forests
have decreased in some of India’s
most important biodiverse areas.
• The India State of Forest Report
(ISFR) 2017 showed a decrease in
forest cover in six states of Northeast
India, which include loss of 630
square kilometres in the eastern
Himalayas.
• The reasons for the decrease are said
to be-
(a) Shifting cultivation
(b) Rotational tree felling
(c) Diversion of forest land for
developmental activities
(d) Submergence of forest cover
(e) Agriculture expansion
(f) Natural disasters and other
pressures
Conservation strategies
• The government led conservation
efforts have failed to reach this corner
of India.
• India’s biodiversity legislation has
three main objectives, conservation of
biodiversity, its sustainable use and
ensuring equitable sharing of the
benefits from the use of the country’s
biological resources or related
traditional knowledge.
• To achieve this, the Biodiversity Act
has a three-tier institutional
structure—
• (a) The National Biodiversity
Authority (NBA),
• (b) State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
in every state and
• (c) Biodiversity Management
Committees (BMCs) at local
village/urban levels.
• One effective conservation strategy is
“seed saving”, or the practice of
saving, exchanging and reusing seeds
that were handed down generation to
generation through families
communities over centuries.
• The KMSS (Krishak Mukti Sangram
Samitee) is a people’s movement
committed to upholding the rights of
for farmers and protect local heritage and
resources.
Related information
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• It was established by the Central
Government in 2003 to implement
India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002).
• It performs facilitative, regulatory and
advisory functions for the
Government of India on issues of
conservation, sustainable use of
biological resources and fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising
out of the use of biological resources.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- Down To Earth
3. India to host the first military
exercise of the BIMSTEC
• India will host the first military
exercise of the BIMSTEC group
focussing on counter-terrorism in
September 2018.
• The exercise is scheduled to be held in
Pune.
• The aim of the exercise is to promote
strategic alignment among the
member-states and to share best
practices in the area of counter-
terrorism.
Other Information
• India conducted the First ‘BIMSTEC
Disaster Management Exercise- 2017’
in October 2017 in Delhi
Related Information
BIMSTEC-
• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-
Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an
international organisation involving a
group of countries in South Asia and
South-East Asia.
• These 7 countries are Bangladesh,
India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Bhutan and Nepal.
• The BIMSTEC states are among the
countries dependent on the Bay of
Bengal.
or • Its secretariat is located in Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
Topic- GS-2- Bilateral, regional and global
groupings and agreements
Source- The Hindu
26
www.gradeup.com
4. World's largest iceberg B-15 set
to disappear after the 18-year-
long journey- NASA
• The largest iceberg ever recorded,
that broke away from Antarctica's
Ross Ice Shelf 18 years ago, could be
nearing the end of its voyage.
• When iceberg B-15 first broke away
in March 2000, it measured about 296
kilometres long and 37 kilometres
wide.
• B-15 has since fractured into
numerous smaller bergs, and most
have melted away.
Related Information
Iceberg
• An iceberg or ice mountain is a large
piece of freshwater ice that has
broken off a glacier or an ice shelf.
Topic- GS-1- World Geography
Source- India Today
5. Odisha govt announced ‘universal
health coverage’ scheme
• Odisha govt announced that the state
government will launch the Biju
Swasthya Kalyan Yojana on August
15, to provide free healthcare to all
families in the state.
• Each and everyone visiting any
government health institution from
district to sub-centre level will be
provided with all health services free
of cost.”
• Under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana,
secondary and tertiary cashless
healthcare assistance will be provided
up to Rs 5 lakh per family per annum.
• The govt also announced a “drop
back” or transport assistance of Rs
500 to all pregnant women or infants
visiting public health facilities.
Topic- GS-2-Schemes
Source- Indian Express
6. Kashmir Super 50
• It a joint initiative by Indian Army,
Centre for Social Responsibility
and Leadership (CSRL) and
PETRONET LNG Limited (PLL) was
launched on 22 March 2013 to
transform the educational status of
children from economically weaker
sections in the Kashmir region.
27
• As part of the 11-month program,
selected students are provided with
complete free residential coaching for
IIT-JEE, JKCET and other premier
Engineering Institutes.
Topic- GS-2-Schemes
Source-PIB
14.06.2018
1. Gujarat tops Niti Aayog's
composite water management
index
• The government has ranked Gujarat
as the top state in composite water
management in the country followed
by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• While Tripura has emerged as the
top performer in north-east,
Rajasthan has emerged as the best
performer in the incremental
progress over last two years.
• Niti Aayog has ranked all states
through first of its kind index on the
composite water management
comprising of nine parameters and
28 indicators.
• These include various aspects of
groundwater, restoration of water
bodies, irrigation, farm practices,
drinking water, policy and
governance.
• For the purposes of analysis, the
reporting states were divided into two
special groups – ‘North Eastern and
Himalayan states’ and ‘Other States’,
to account for the different
hydrological conditions across these
groups.
• This index will help build pressure on
states who have not performed well to
improve their water management
techniques as this is directly linked to
agriculture prosperity in different
states.
Topic- GS-2- Governance
Source- Economic Times
2. Indian scientists developed an
environment-friendly device
“GreenDispo” to dispose of
sanitary napkins
www.gradeup.com

• Indian scientists launched a new high- • This is when Africa is the least
tech device “GreenDispo” to ensure responsible for climate change.
that the growing popularity of sanitary Benefits of the tree
napkins does not end up becoming an • The baobabs can grow in the harshest
environmental nightmare. of conditions while adapting to their
Concerns regarding the Inappropriate environment by shedding leaves to
handling of the used pads require less water, being able to
• Inappropriate handling of the used access water during dry seasons
pads is already posing a major through tap roots and being
challenge as the pads grow harmful unaffected by bushfires owing to its
pathogens causing serious health and thick bark.
environmental hazards. • Medicinal benefits
• In addition, blocking of drainage paths • Provide fruit etc.
due to the disposed of napkins is Topic- GS-3- Biodiversity
becoming a critical issue. Source- Down to Earth
How will the new device help? 4. Solar Charkha Mission
• The device has been designed in such • The Solar Charkha Mission of the
that it will incinerate the sanitary Ministry of Micro Small & Medium
napkins completely with minimal flue Enterprises (MSME), will be
gas emission. launched by the President on June 27,
• The specially designed heaters of the 2018 in New Delhi.
device generated a temperature of • The Mission will cover 50 clusters and
more than 800 degrees Celsius, which every cluster will employ 400 to 2000
helped in complete combustion of the artisans.
used pad. • The scheme also aims at linking five
crore women across the country to
• It also had a secondary heating
chamber with a temperature of 1050 the initiative.
degrees Celsius to take care of any • The Mission will disburse subsidy of
hazardous emissions from the Rs. 550 crores to the artisans.
incinerator. • Fifteen new state-of-the-art
technology centres are being set up
• Use of ceramic holders for the device
all over the country including North-
to ensure that the heat is channelized
East, of which 10 centres will become
most effectively.
operational by March 2019.
Topic- GS-3-Science and Technology
Related Information
Source- Down to Earth • The work being done by the Ministry
3. “Baobabs”- Biggest and longest- has promoted Ease-of-Doing-
living angiosperm tree Business with the setting up of 4
• Baobabs, the “biggest and longest- portals:
living angiosperm tree” of Africa is (a) MSME Sambandh
fast dying and scientists suspect (b) MSME Samadhaan
climate change to be the cause. (c) Udyog Aadhaar and
• The baobabs are mainly present in (d) Udyam Sakhi
southern Africa, particularly in the Topic- GS-2- Government Schemes
savannah region, live anywhere Source-PIB
between 1,100 and 2,500 years. 5. Indian Railways introduce mobile
What are the concerns? app “utsonmobile” to book
• Within a matter of few years, there unreserved tickets
has been a rapid increase in the • The Railways has introduced a new
apparently natural deaths of many mobile application “utsonmobile”
mature baobabs, which are popularly which will enable booking and
known as the “upside down trees”. cancellation of unreserved tickets.

28
www.gradeup.com

• The app will also enable issue and Organized Crime and Corruption
renewal of season and platform Reporting Project (OCCRP)
tickets, check and load R-wallet • It was founded in 2006, is a
balance and help maintain user profile consortium of investigative centres,
management and booking history. media and journalists operating in
• The application is developed by Eastern Europe, the Caucasus,
Centre for Railway Information Central Asia and Central America.
System (CRIS) and it can be used by • It is a non-governmental organization
both Android and Windows (NGO).
phones. • OCCRP is the only full-time
Topic- GS-2- E-Governance investigative reporting organization
Source- Indian Express that specializes in organized crime
6. Express-OCCRP report and corruption.
• AT Least 21 Indians who were Topic- GS-2- Important International
investigated by The Indian Express in institutions
partnership with the International Source- Indian Express + Wiki
Consortium of Investigative
Journalists (ICIJ) for their ties to
offshore entities in tax havens are 15.06.2018
linked to the high-end real estate in
1. DRDO turns Pinaka rocket system
Dubai. into guided missile, developmental
• The database was accessed by The trials soon
Indian Express in partnership with the • The indigenous Pinaka rocket system
Organised Crime and Corruption of the DRDO, is being evolved into a
Reporting Project (OCCRP), an precision-guided missile, with
international investigative reporting enhanced range and accuracy to hit
platform formed by 40 non-profit its targets.
investigative centres, and journalists
Related Information
and regional organisations. The
entries were investigated by around Pinaka
50 media groups in as many • Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher
countries. produced in India and developed by
Related Information the Defence Research and
International Consortium of Development Organisation (DRDO)
Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for the Indian Army.
• It is an independent Washington D.C.- • The system has a maximum range of-
based international network. (a) 40 km for Mark-I
• ICIJ became a fully independent (b) 70 - 80 km for Mark-II
organisation in February 2017 which • It can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in just
includes more than 200 investigative 44 seconds.
journalists and 100 media • The system is mounted on a Tatra
organizations in over 70 countries. truck for mobility.
• They work together on "issues such as • Pinaka saw service during the Kargil
"cross-border crime, corruption, and War, where it was successful in
the accountability of power. neutralising enemy positions on the
• The ICIJ's most recent investigation is mountain tops.
the 2017 Paradise Papers, a cross- Topic- GS-3- Defence
border, global investigation that
Source- Indian Express
reveals the offshore activities of some
of the world's most powerful people 2. Maharashtra: New treatment
and companies. strategy to Eliminate Lymphatic
Filariasis

29
www.gradeup.com
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)
• Also known as elephantiasis, is a
human disease caused by parasitic
worms known as filarial worms.
• The worms are spread by the bites of
infected mosquitoes.
• It is marked by severe swelling in the
arms, legs, breasts, or genitals.
• The skin may become thicker as well,
and the condition may become
painful.
• India bears approximately 40 per cent
of the global LF burden.
• Maharashtra is one of the states with
a higher incidence of LF.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Indian Express
3. The pride of Sahyadri – Warli art
What is Warli art?
• Warli is a tribal art form that was
mostly created by the Adivasis of the
Western Ghats.
• It is one of the oldest art forms in
India.
• It originated in Maharashtra and is still
practised.
• Warli painting is registered with a
geographical indication under the
Intellectual Property Rights Act.
History and style
• This tribal art form is thought to date
back to the 10th century A.D.
• The Warli tribe, which does these
paintings, is one of India’s largest
tribes located on the outskirts of
Mumbai.
• Their culture basis itself around the
concept of Mother Nature; therefore,
elements of nature serve as focal
points for Warli paintings.
• These artists used to use the clay
walls of their huts as a canvas for their
paintings.
Specifications of the paintings
• Most of these paintings use a set of
geometric shapes – circle, triangle
and square.
• The circle represents the sun and the
moon, while the triangle represents
the mountains and pointed trees.
30
• The square, on the other hand, is a
human invention, indicating a sacred
piece of land or enclosure.
• In a ritualistic Warli painting, the
central motif would be the square with
a depiction of ‘Palaghata’, the mother
goddess symbolising fertility.
• This central motif would be
surrounded by scenes of hunting,
farming, fishing, trees and animals.
• Festivals and dances are also common
scenes found in a ritual painting.
• Apart from ritual paintings, Warli
paintings also cover day-to-day
activities of the village people.
• Most Warli paintings also depict the
tarpa dance.
Note- Tarpa is a trumpet-like
instrument played by the village men.
Topic- GS-1- Art and Culture
Source- The Hindu
4. India ranked at 120th Among 122
Countries in Water Quality Index-
NITI Aayog
• The report, titled ‘Composite Water
Management Index’ (CWMI), said the
water crisis is only going to get worse.
• By 2030, the country’s water demand
is projected to be twice the available
supply, implying severe water scarcity
for hundreds of millions of people and
an eventual 6 percent loss in the
country’s GDP.
• The report pointed out that with
nearly 70 per cent of water being
contaminated, India is placed at
120th among 122 countries in the
water quality index.
• CWMI has been developed by NITI
Aayog comprising nine broad sectors
with 28 indicators.
Topic- GS-2-Governance
Source- Indian Express
5. Raja Parba: Odisha’s festival
• A four-day festival celebrated every
year in June, it calls for women to
come together and acknowledge the
gift of Mother Earth or Bhudevi – as
they call it.
• Each day of the festival has its own
name and significance —
(a) The first day is called Pahili Rajo
www.gradeup.com
(b) The second day is Mithuna
Sankranti, which signifies the
beginning of the solar month of
Mithuna i.e., the rainy season
(c) The third day is Bhu Daaha or
Basi Raja
(d) The fourth day is called Vasumati
Snana
• The festival is natively pronounced as
‘raw-jaw’, while ‘Raja’ is derived from
the world ‘Rajaswala’ which means
menstruating women.
• According to the religious belief, it is
said that during the first three days,
‘Bhudevi’ (Mother Earth), the wife of
Lord Jagannath undergoes
menstruation cycle and on the fourth
day, she is given a ceremonial bath.
Topic- GS-1- Art and Culture
Source- Indian Express
6. Swajal Launched in 115
Aspirational Districts of India
• Union Minister for Drinking Water and
Sanitation announced that Swajal
schemes in 115 aspirational districts
of the country will involve an outlay of
Rs 700 crores through flexible-funds
under the existing NRDWP budget.
• Govt also earmarked Rs.1000 crores
for addressing the drinking water
needs of 27,544 arsenic and fluoride
affected habitations of the country in
this financial year under the National
Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM).
• Central govt called upon the states to
ensure that the Sustainable
Development Goal ‘safe drinking water
for all’ is achieved in India by 2030.
Swajal Scheme
• It is a community-owned drinking
water programme for sustained
drinking water supply.
• These schemes will aim to provide
villages with piped water supply
powered by solar energy.
• The scheme will train hundreds of
rural technicians for operation and
maintenance of Swajal units.
• The Minister also announced the
modernisation of 2000 water quality
testing laboratories spread across the
country.
Topic- GS-2- Schemes
31
Source-PIB
7. Naval Women Mountaineers
Summit Mount Deotibba
• All women Naval mountaineering team
led by Lt Cdr Kokila Sajwan summited
Mount Deotibba a 10 Jun 2018.
• Mount Deotibba provided the
excellent opportunity to the team in
honing their mountaineering skills.
Related Information
Mt. Deo tibba
• It is the second highest peak (6001M)
in the Pir-Panjal range in Himachal
Pradesh.
Topic- GS-1- Indian Geography
Source-PIB
16.06.2018
1. The new type of photosynthesis
discovered
• The vast majority of life on
Earth uses visible red light in the
process of photosynthesis, but the
new type uses near-infrared light
instead.
• It was detected in a wide range of
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
when they grow in near-infrared light,
found in shaded conditions like
bacterial mats in Yellowstone and in
beach rock in Australia.
• Plants and some bacteria use a process
called photosynthesis to create sugars
from carbon dioxide and water, which
they use as a power source.
Photosynthesis beyond the red limit
• The standard, near-universal type of
photosynthesis uses the green
pigment, chlorophyll-a, both to collect
light and use its energy to make
useful biochemicals and oxygen.
• Chlorophyll-a is present in all plants,
as well as algae and photosynthetic
bacteria, and scientists long assumed
that there was a “red limit” on
photosynthesis.
• Astrobiologists have used this
supposed limit to gauge whether
complex life could be evolving on
distant planets in other solar systems.
• However, some photosynthetic
bacteria known as cyanobacteria have
another trick up their microscopic
sleeves.
www.gradeup.com
• Researchers found another form of
chlorophyll working in communities of
these creatures growing in shaded
conditions in “bacterial mats” in
Yellowstone National Park and inside
rocks found on Australian beaches.
• In the near-infrared light, the
chlorophyll-a systems of these
bacteria shut down and a different
variety – chlorophyll-f – begins
operating in lower energy conditions
“beyond the red limit”.
• Until now, it was thought that
chlorophyll-f just harvested the light.
Related information
• Another
cyanobacterium, Acaryochloris, is
already known to do photosynthesis
beyond the red limit.
• However, because it occurs in just this
one species, with a very specific
habitat, it had been considered a 'one-
off'.
• Acaryochloris lives underneath a
green sea-squirt that shades out most
of the visible light leaving just the
near-infrared.
• The chlorophyll-f based
photosynthesis reported represents
a third type of photosynthesis that
is widespread.
• However, it is only used in special
infrared-rich shaded conditions; in
normal light conditions, the standard
red form of photosynthesis is used.
• These insights could be useful for
researchers trying to engineer crops
to perform more efficient
photosynthesis by using a wider range
of light.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Science Daily
2. Heat and dust in NCR and Graded
Response Action Plan
• Since June 12, a large part of
Northern India has been engulfed in a
massive haze of dust.
• Weather scientists from the India
Meteorological Department (IMD) say
that an aggressive, westerly wind
blowing at a speed of 40-50 km over
a vast expanse of Punjab, Haryana,
32
Rajasthan, Delhi, the plains of
Uttarakhand and Western Uttar
Pradesh is picking up the huge swathe
of dust.
• Due to the suspension of dust,
visibility is low and airborne particles
have crossed the danger mark in Delhi
and the surrounding region.
• Online air quality monitors are already
beeping danger as the larger particle
size of 10 microns (PM10) that are
highly impacted by dust, show an
increase eight to nine times over the
permissible level.
• With this rising plume of dust, the
tinier PM2.5 particles have also
reached the “Very Poor” level.
Differences between summer and winter
pollutions
• Summer pollution is very different
from winter pollution when lack of
wind, low temperature and inversion
trap pollution inside the city.
• The study mentions that air is more
toxic in winter than in summer as it
contains a much larger contribution of
combustion products in the former
than in the latter.
How dangerous is dust?
• The yellow-brown dust is an odd mix
of natural erosion of soil, sand and
rock mixed with pollen, microscopic
organisms, plant material and dander.
• Wind-blown dust from deserts,
digging activities, and re-suspension
of road dust, all add up to create the
dust haze.
• Relatively bigger particles fall out of
the air quickly and fairly close to
where it got lifted but smaller particles
remain airborne for a longer period of
time.
• Normally, in its pristine nature, dust is
not considered that toxic and is seen
as a respiratory irritant.
• But what makes dust deadly is the
way it accumulates toxic substances
from other combustion sources
including vehicles, industry, solid
waste and biomass burning in urban
environments.
www.gradeup.com

• The current situation in Delhi and the (b) Birsa Munda Central Jail (Ranchi),
NCR warrants emergency action Jharkhand
under the Graded Response Action (c) Raipur museum, Chhattisgarh
Plan (GRAP). (d) Lambasingini museum, Andhra
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Pradesh
• The Union Environment Ministry had (e) Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh
notified a ‘Graded Response Action (f) Kozhikode, Kerala
Plan’ against air pollution for Delhi and • In these two will be of national
the National Capital Region. importance i.e. Narmada (Gujarat)
• The plan was prepared by the and Birsa Munda Central Jail (Ranchi).
Supreme Court-mandated • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will
Environment Pollution Control contribute Rs 130 crore, while an
Authority (EPCA). equal amount will be spent by the
• The job of ensuring implementation of respective states for the museums.
the action plan will be EPCA’s under Topic- GS-2-
the Environment (Protection) Act, Source-PIB + Indian Express
1986, which will delegate the 4. Sulabh International founder
responsibility to the concerned “Bindeshwar Pathak” honoured
departments. with Japan’s Nikkei Asia Prize
• The graded response action plan has • Noted social reformer and founder of
proposed stratified levels of action Sulabh International, Bindeshwar
according to the air pollution levels Pathak, was honoured with Japan’s
classified by air quality index, which prestigious ‘Nikkei Asia Prize for
range from moderate to poor to very Culture and Community’ for his
poor to severe to severe+ or significant work in tackling poor
emergency. hygiene and discrimination.
• The graded action plan implements if • Launched in 1996, the award honours
PM2.5 levels stay over 300 people in Asia who have made
micrograms per cubic metre and significant contributions in one of the
PM10 levels stay above 500 three areas:
micrograms per cubic metre. (a) Regional growth
• The Delhi specific comprehensive (b) Science, technology and
action plan was prepared by the innovation
Central Pollution Control Board (c) Culture and Community.
(CPCB). • Former Prime Minister Manmohan
Topic- GS-3- Environment Singh and Infosys Chairman Narayan
Source- Down to Earth Murthy are among the few Indians
3. National Tribal Museum proposed who have won the prize in the past.
to be set up at Delhi Topic-
• A National Tribal Museum along with Source- The Hindu Business Line
a National Level Tribal Research
Institute is proposed to be set up at
18.06.2018
Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
(MoTA).
• The Museum will showcase the rich 1. SAARC fund to launch social
tribal culture and heritage using state- enterprise programme in India
and 7 other member nations
of-the-art technologies.
• The Centre will set up six museums • SAARC Development Fund (SDF) will
dedicated to tribal freedom fighters soon be launching a social enterprise
in- development programme (SEDP) to
fund 80 entities annually across the 8-
(a) Narmada, Gujarat
member states including India.

33
www.gradeup.com
• SDF is in the process of launching the
SEDP as part of its social window.
• The programme will be implemented
in all the SAARC member states with
the objective of identifying and
building social enterprises by using a
mix of grants and concessional
returnable capital.
• SDF is currently implementing 12
regional projects with more than 70
implementing and lead implementing
agencies covering all the member
countries under the social window
funding.
Related Information
SAARC Development Fund (SDF)
• In 1996, a first funding mechanism
was created in SAARC, ‘South Asian
Development Fund (SADF), merging
the SAARC Fund for Regional Projects
(SFRP) and the SAARC Regional Fund.
• A primary reason for establishing SDF
was that the existing South Asian
Development Fund (SADF) was found
to be inadequate i.e. in terms of
required quantum of funds and its
limited scope of work.
• In 2005, SAARC Financial Experts
decided to reconstitute SADF as
SAARC Development Fund (SDF).
• SDF was established by the Heads of
the eight SAARC member states in
April 2010 and its Governing Council
comprises finance ministers of these
eight countries.
• It is based in Thimphu, Bhutan.
SAARC
• The South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the
regional intergovernmental
organization and geopolitical union of
nations in South Asia.
• Its member states (8 countries)
include Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8th
December 1985.
• Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu,
Nepal.
• Amjad Hussain B Sial is the current
Secretary General of SAARC.
34
SAARC Apex Bodies-
• SAARC has six Apex Bodies, they are
(1) SAARC Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (SCCI)
(2) South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation in Law
(SAARCLAW)
(3) South Asian Federation of
Accountants (SAFA)
(4) South Asia Foundation (SAF)
(5) South Asia Initiative to End
Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC)
(6) Foundation of SAARC Writers and
Literature (FOSWAL)
Topic- GS-2- Bilateral, regional and global
groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting India’s interests
Source- Economic Times
2. India has the trade deficit with 10
Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP)
members
• India's trade deficit with seven
countries (Indonesia, Thailand, China,
Japan, South Korea, Australia and
New Zealand) of RCEP has in fact
increased in 2017-18 as compared to
the previous fiscal.
• However, the trade gap has dipped
with the remaining three nations -
Lao, Brunei, Malaysia -in 2017-18.
What is India’s concern?
• The strength of the domestic
manufacturing is weak, India would
not be able to take advantage of such
free trade agreements.
• Our exports to countries like
Singapore, with which India has a
trade surplus, is not increasing with
the healthy pace.
• India does not have a free trade
agreement with two of its biggest
trading partners - the US and China -
but the country has the highest
positive balance of trade with the US,
while it has the highest deficit with
China.
Relative Information
Trade deficit
• The difference between imports and
exports.
www.gradeup.com
RCEP (Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership)-
• RCEP aims at liberalising norms for
trade in goods and services and boost
investment among 16-member
countries.
• The members comprise 10 ASEAN
members and their six FTA partners -
India, China, Japan, South Korea,
Australia and New Zealand.
• RCEP negotiations were formally
launched in November 2012 at the
ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.
• RCEP is viewed as an alternative to
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
ASEAN
• Established in 1967 in Bangkok via
Bangkok Declaration.
• Currently, there are 10-member
states and 2 observer states are part
of it.
• The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) is a regional
intergovernmental organisation
comprising ten Southeast Asian
states which promotes
intergovernmental cooperation and
facilitates economic, political,
military, educational and cultural
integration amongst its members and
Asian states.
• Its headquarter is in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
• India is not the member of it.
• The 10-member states of ASEAN are
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
Source- Economic Times
3. India seeks answers as
Seychelles backs out of the
military base
• Recently, Seychelles President Danny
Faure said that the development of a
military base on Assumption Island by
India “will not move forward”.
• He said that their govt will put funds
for them to build a coast guard facility
on Assumption themselves.
35
• Seychelles funding its own coast
guard facility was not an issue, India
is hoping it would not be kept out of a
project, envisaged as a 20-year
agreement, that it sees as crucial to
its strategic interests- particularly
given China’s growing influence in the
area.
• The two countries have an established
relationship in defence and maritime
security, through which India helps
patrol the waters of Seychelles and
gives equipment to the island nation’s
defence forces.
Related Information
Assumption Island
• The Assumption Island is situated
southwest of the Seychelles main
island of Mahe and falls in the Indian
Ocean maritime routes.
• In early 2018, Seychelles and India
signed an agreement to build and
operate a joint military facility on a
portion of the island.
Other Projects by India
• Port Duqm in Oman
• Port Chabahar in Iran
• Agalega Islands- in Mauritius
Topic- GS-2- Effect of policies and politics of
developed and developing countries on
India’s interests, Indian diaspora
Source- Indian Express
4. Fourth Governing Council Meeting
of NITI Aayog Concludes
• The fourth meeting of the Governing
Council of NITI Aayog was held under
the chairmanship of the Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
• It was attended by 23 Chief Ministers
and the Lieutenant Governor of
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, apart
from Union Ministers, who are ex-
officio members and special invitees.
• The Prime Minister highlighted the
importance of the Governing Council
of NITI Aayog as a platform to inspire
cooperative federalism, stressing the
need for effective centre-state
cooperation to advance development
outcomes and achieve double-digit
growth for India.
www.gradeup.com
• He called upon States to fix growth
targets for their economies as the
world looks towards India soon
becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.
Related Information
NITI (National Institution for
Transforming India) Aayog
• It is established in 2015 by the
government to replace Planning
commission (was based on top-down
model).
• It is based on the bottom-up model.
• It is the policy-making body for whole
India.
• The Ex-officio chairman of Aayog is
prime minister.
• Current Vice President of Aayog is
Rajiv Kumar.
• Current CEO of NITI Aayog is Amitabh
Kant.
• Permanent members of the
governing council-
(a) All state Chief Ministers
(b) Chief ministers of Delhi and
Puducherry
(c) Lieutenant Governor of Andaman
and Nicobar
(d) Vice chairman nominated by the
Prime Minister.
Topic-GS-2- Indian Polity
Source-PIB
5. Nitin Gadkari releases Nabard
Publication on Water Productivity
mapping of major Indian crops
• The Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari
has released a book ‘Water
productivity mapping of major Indian
crops’ published by NABARD.
• The book ‘Water productivity mapping
of major Indian crops’ is based on a
study of 10 important crops by a team
under the leadership of Dr Ashok
Gulati (agricultural economist).
• The ten important crops include rice,
wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds,
sugarcane, cotton, and potato etc.
• The book suggests realigning
cropping pattern keeping in view
water scarcity of irrigation, ration
irrigation supplies in canal irrigation
system, improve micro-irrigation and
36
invest in water harvesting and
artificial recharge.
Topic-GS-3- Agriculture
Source-PIB
19.06.2018
1. ‘Rani Rashmoni’ commissioned
• The last of the five Fast Patrol Vessel
(FPV) project of Indian Coast Guard
‘Rani Rashmoni’ was commissioned
into the Indian Coast Guard.
• So far four such ships such as-
(a) ICGS Rani Abbakka,
(b) ICGS Rani Avanti Bai,
(c) ICGS Rani Durgavati and
(d) ICGS Rani Gaidinliu
have been commissioned and are in active
service at various locations on the eastern
seaboard.
• The FPVs are equipped with advanced
sensors and state-of-the-art
equipment and are designed to
perform multifarious tasks such as
surveillance, interdiction, search and
rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-
poaching, operations.
• The 51-metre ship is propelled by
three MTU 4000 series diesel engines
of 2720 capacity each, coupled with
Rolls Royce Kamewa jets.
• The patrol vessel is fitted with an
advanced Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS), to carry
out search and rescue operations.
• The FPV was indigenously built by
Hindustan Shipyard.
• The ship will be based in
Visakhapatnam.
• the shipyard has done well overall
weight reduction and achieving the
contractual speed of 34 knots.
Topic- GS-3- Defence
Source- The Hindu
2. Volcano erupts on the small
Galapagos isle
• The La Cumbre volcano, located on
Fernandina Island in the Galapagos
archipelago off the coast of South
America, has exploded recently.
• The eruption occurred on the north-
eastern sector of the volcano.
www.gradeup.com
• Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity
reflects the processes that formed the
islands.
Related Information
Galapagos islands
• They lie 1,000 km from the coast of
Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean.
• According to UNESCO, “This
archipelago and its immense marine
reserve is known as the unique ‘living
museum and showcase of evolution’.
• The 19 Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO
heritage site, with their unique
wildlife, inspired Charles Darwin’s
theory of evolution following his 1835
visit.
• Its geographical location at the
confluence of three ocean currents
makes it one of the richest marine
ecosystems in the world.
Topic- GS-2- World Geography
Source- Down to Earth
3. 'COP CONNECT mobile App for
Telangana police launched
• 'COP CONNECT', a mobile app to
support the professional
communication and collaboration
needs of the entire police department
of Telangana has been launched.
• The app will connect over 60,000
police force across 31 districts in the
state.
• COP CONNECTs end-to-end
encryption with the server being with
Police Department ensures absolute
security and confidentiality of internal
Police communication.
Topic- GS-2- E-Governance
Source- Business Standard
4. Gaming addiction classified as
'mental health disorder' by WHO
• The WHO's International Classification
of Diseases (ICD), a reference bible of
recognized and diagnosable diseases,
classified addiction to digital and
video gaming as "mental health
disorder”.
• The WHO's expert said an addicted
gamer "loses control over the gaming
and ignores other essential activities
like sleep, like eating, like taking part
in education or work."
37
• The WHO stressed that only a small
minority of people who play digital
and video games would develop a
problem but said recognition of early
warning signs may help prevent it.
Related Information
International Classification of Diseases
(ICD)
• The International Classification of
Diseases (ICD) is the international
"standard diagnostic tool for
epidemiology, health management
and clinical purposes.
• The ICD is published by the WHO.
• It forms a basis for the WHO and other
experts to see and respond to trends
in health.
• This latest version - known as ICD-11
- is completely electronic for the first
time, in an effort to make it more
accessible to doctors and other health
workers around the world.
Topic-
Source- DD News
5. 11th Common Review Mission
(CRM) report
• Minister of State for Health and Family
Welfare released the 11thCommon
Review Mission (CRM) report of the
National Health Mission (NHM).
• India has registered a record 22%
reduction in MMR since 2013, which is
the highest percentage decline so far
when compared to all the previous
reductions in MMR as per the earlier
rounds of SRS.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio in India has
declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to
130 in 2014-2016.
• The Ministry has undertaken to
strengthen Sub Health Centres as
Health and Wellness Centres (HWC-
SHC) in a phased manner so as to meet
the commitment of operationalizing
1,50,000 HWC by 2022.
Related Information
National Health Mission (NHM)
• The National Rural Health Mission
(NRHM) was launched on 12th April
2005, to provide accessible, affordable
and accountable quality health services
to the poorest households in the
remotest rural regions.
www.gradeup.com

• From narrowly defined schemes, action on integrated and sustainable

the NHM was shifting the focus to water resources management
a functional health system at all worldwide.
levels, from the village to the district. Related Information
• National Health Mission (NHM) was 2018-2028 International Decade for
launched by the government of India Action, ‘Water for Sustainable
in 2013 subsuming the National Rural Development’
Health Mission and National Urban • Sustainable development and
Health Mission. integrated water resources
• NHM provides multi-sectoral flexibility management to implement SDG 6
and convergence to the States to through a lens of conflict prevention.
implement shared health goals. Note-
• Annual Common Review Mission has SDG (Sustainable Development
been one of the important monitoring Goals) 6- Clean Water and
mechanisms under NHM. Sanitation.
• Eleventh Common Review Missions • The United Nations General Assembly
(CRMs) undertaken so far have has proclaimed the decade 2018-
provided the valuable understanding 2028 as the International Decade for
of the strategies which were Action ‘Water for Sustainable
successful and those which warranted Development’.
mid-course adjustments. • It began on World Water Day 22
Topic- GS-2- Health Issues March 2018 and will end on World
Source-PIB Water Day, 22 March 2028.
6. IAF MI 17 uses Bambi Bucket to Topic- GS-3- Environment
Douse Offshore fire on the ship Source-PIB
• A Mi-17 V5 Helicopter of the Indian
Air force was requisitioned for dousing 20.06.2018
the flames on a merchant's vessel MV 1. United States pulls out of UN
SSL on the shores of Sunderbans. Human Rights Council
• The Helicopter carried out Bambi
• United States pulled out of UN Human
bucket operations from Franzergunj
Rights Council for “being biased
Harbour helipad in West Bengal.
against Israel.
• The operations by IAF Mi-17 V5
• Since January 2017, it has announced
Helicopter controlled the massive fire
its withdrawal from the Paris climate
and fully doused it within a short
accord, left the U.N. educational and
period of time.
cultural organization and pulled out of
Topic- GS-3- Defence
the Iran nuclear deal.
Source-PIB
• Other contentious moves have
7. Shri Nitin Gadkari to attend the
included slapping tariffs on steel and
conference on “International
aluminium against key trading
Decade for Action: Water for
partners, recognizing Jerusalem as
Sustainable Development 2018-
Israel’s capital and moving the U.S.
2028” in Tajikistan
Embassy there from Tel Aviv.
• Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari is
• Israel is the only country in the world
left for a two-day official visit to
whose rights record comes up for
Tajikistan from 20-21 June 2018.
discussion at every US council
• He will attend a high-level conference
session, under “Item 7” on the
on “International Decade for Action:
agenda.
Water for Sustainable Development
• Item 7 on “Israel and the Occupied
2018-2028” being held in Dushanbe,
Palestinian Territories” has been part
Tajikistan.
of the council’s regular business
• The conference aims to promote
almost as long as it has existed.
national, regional and international

38
www.gradeup.com
Related Information
UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights
Council)
• It is a United Nations System inter-
governmental body responsible for
promoting and protecting human
rights around the world.
• The headquarters of UNHRC is in
Geneva, Switzerland.
• There are 47 countries in the Human
Rights Council, elected by the U.N.’s
General Assembly with a specific
number of seats allocated for each
region of the globe.
• Members serve for three-year terms
and can serve only two terms in a row.
New York Declaration for refugees (UN
comprehensive refugee response
framework)
• In September 2016, the UN General
Assembly adopted a non-binding
political declaration, the New York
Declaration for Refugees and
Migrants, pledging to uphold the rights
of refugees, help them resettle and
ensure they have access to education.
• In December 2017, US announced to
withdraw from a United Nations pact
to improve the handling of migrant
and refugee situations, deeming it
“inconsistent” with its policies.
Topic- GS-2-Important International
institutions, agencies and fora- their
structure, mandate.
Source- The Hindu
2. 7th OPEC International Seminar
• Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
participated in the 7th OPEC
International Seminar which was
organized in Vienna on June 19-20,
2018.
• India's engagement with OPEC is
important as India sources about 82
Percent of crude oil, 75 Percent of
natural gas and 97 Percent of LPG
from OPEC member countries.
• Recently, India expressed his concern
over high international oil prices and
nudged them to move to responsible
pricing that balances interests of both
producers and consumers.
39
• Production cuts by OPEC have led to
international oil prices hit a four-year
high.
Related Information
OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries)
• It is an intergovernmental
organization of 14 nations, founded in
1960 in Baghdad by the first five
members (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Venezuela).
• It is headquartered in Vienna since
1965.
• As of May 2017, OPEC's members (14
countries) are Algeria, Angola,
Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon,
Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia (the de facto
leader), United Arab Emirates, and
Venezuela, while Indonesia is a
former member.
Asian Premium
• Asian Premium is the extra charge
being collected by OPEC countries
from Asian countries when selling oil.
Topic- GS-2-Important International
institutions, agencies and fora- their
structure, mandate.
Source- Times of India
3. Reserve Bank eased norms for
FPIs to invest in debt
• The Reserve Bank has eased
investment norms for foreign portfolio
investors (FPIs) in debt, especially
into individual large corporates.
• This move can help attract more
overseas flows and thereby help
arrest the recent fall in the rupee on
one hand and also lift the recent fall in
demand for corporate bonds.
• FPIs are allowed to invest in various
debt market instruments such as
government bonds, treasury bills,
state development loans and
corporate bonds, but with certain
limits and restrictions.
• The RBI increased the FPIs cap on
investment in government securities
to 30% of the outstanding stock of
that security, from the 20% earlier.
www.gradeup.com
• FPIs were allowed to invest in
government bonds with a minimum
residual maturity of three years.
Related Information
FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)
• A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an
investment in the form
a controlling ownership in a
business in one country by an
entity based in another country.
• There are two routes by which India
gets FDI.
(1) Automatic route- By this route,
FDI is allowed without prior approval
by Government or Reserve Bank of
India.
(2) Government route- Prior
approval by the government is
needed via this route. Foreign
Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)
which was the responsible agency to
oversee this route was abolished on
May 24, 2017.
Foreign portfolio investment (FPI)-
• Foreign portfolio investment (FPI)
consists of securities and other
financial assets passively held by
foreign investors.
• It does not provide the investor
with direct ownership of financial
assets and is relatively liquid
depending on the volatility of the
market.
• Foreign Investors portfolio
managed by financial professionals.
• FPI is part of a country’s capital
account and shown on its balance of
payments (BOP).
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
Source- The Hindu
4. Kaiga unit sets record
continuous operation
• Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating Station
(KGS-1) of NPCIL at Kaiga in Uttara
Kannada district created a new record
for continuous operation for 766 days.
• The station has broken the earlier
record of 765 days set by unit-5 of
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
(RAPS-5) in 2014.
Related Information
State Nuclear Power Station
Gujarat Kakrapar Nuclear power station
Haryana Gorakhpur Atomic Power Station
Karnataka Kaiga Nuclear power station
Tarapur Atomic power station
Maharashtra
(first in India)
of
(i) Kundakulam Nuclear Power
Tamil Nadu Plant (ii) Kalpakkam Nuclear
Power Plant
Uttar
Narora Atomic Power Station
Pradesh
Rajasthan Rawatbhata
Topic- GS-3- Energy
Source- The Hindu
5. India to have own GPS-like
satellite navigation system
• India will soon have its own satellite
navigation system “NavIC” on the
lines of-
(a) GPS by the US
(b) GLONASS by Russia
(c) European Union’s Galileo
(d) China’s BNS
• NavIC, or navigation with Indian
constellation, developed by the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
allows navigation in the Indian Ocean
region using Geosynchronous Orbit
(GSO) satellite and Geostationary
Orbit (GEO) satellite.
Topic- GS-3- Space Technology
Source- Financial Express
is 6. Govt. to set up fifth national data
centre
• The Centre will set up the country’s
biggest data centre in Bhopal.
• The data centre will be set up by the
National Informatics Centre (NIC),
under the Ministry of Electronics and
for Information Technology (MeitY).
• This will be the fifth National Data
Centre after the ones at
Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Hyderabad and
Pune.
• These National Data Centres host
government websites, services and
applications.
Topic- GS-3- Cyber Security
Source- The Hindu
40
www.gradeup.com
21.06.2018
1. World's most powerful
supercomputer “Summit” unveiled
• US scientists have unveiled the
world's most powerful and smartest
scientific supercomputer “Summit”
that can complete over 200,000
trillion calculations per second.
• It is developed by IBM.
• Summit also possesses more than 10
petabytes of memory paired with fast,
high-bandwidth pathways for efficient
data movement.
• Summit takes accelerated computing
to the next level, with more
computing power, more memory, an
enormous high-performance file
system and fast data paths to tie it all
together.
• Summit will empower scientists to
address a wide range of new
challenges, accelerate discovery, spur
innovation and above all.
• Summit also possesses more than 10
petabytes of memory paired with fast,
high-bandwidth pathways for efficient
data movement.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Economic Times
2. NASA’s new instrument
“ECOSTRESS” to monitor plant
water use from space
• NASA plans to install on the
International Space Station (ISS) an
instrument that will measure the
temperature of plants from space,
enabling researchers to determine
plant water use and to study how
drought conditions affect plant health.
• The instrument, called ECOSTRESS, or
ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal
Radiometer Experiment on Space
Station, will hitch a ride to the space
station on a SpaceX cargo resupply
mission scheduled to launch from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
How will it help?
• Plants draw in water from the soil, and
as they are heated by the Sun, the
water is released through pores on the
plants’ leaves through a process
called transpiration.
41
• This cools the plant down, much as
sweating does in humans.
• However, if there is not enough water
available to the plants, they close
their pores to conserve water, causing
their temperatures to rise.
• Plants use those same pores to take
up carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere for photosynthesis — the
process they use to turn carbon
dioxide and water into the sugar they
use as food.
• If they continue to experience
insufficient water availability, or
“water stress,” they eventually starve
or overheat, and die.
• The data from ECOSTRESS will show
these changes in plants’
temperatures, providing insight into
their health and water use while there
is still time for water managers to
correct agricultural water imbalances.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Indian Express
3. India launched its first national
healthcare facility registry
• The Union ministry of health and
family welfare launched the National
Health Resource Repository (NHRR),
the first-ever registry in the country
registry of authentic, standardised
and updated geospatial data of all
public and private healthcare.
• The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) is the project
technology partner for providing data
security.
• It will now be possible to provide
comprehensive data on all private and
public health establishments and
other resources, including Railways,
Employees’ State Insurance
Corporation (ESIC), defence and
petroleum healthcare establishments.
• This resource repository shall enable
advanced research towards ongoing
and forthcoming healthcare
challenges arising from other
determinants of health such as
disease and the environment.
www.gradeup.com
• The NHRR project aims to strengthen
evidence-based decision making and
develop a platform for citizens and
provider-centric services by creating a
robust, standardised and secured IT-
enabled repository of India’s
healthcare resources.
• The health minister also released the
National Health Profile (NHP)-2018,
prepared by CBHI (Central Bureau of
Health Intelligence).
• The National Health Profile covers
demographic, socio-economic, health
status and health finance indicators,
along with comprehensive information
on health infrastructure and human
resources in health.
Topic- GS-2- Government policies and
interventions for development in various
sectors and issues arising out of their design
and implementation.
Source- Livemint
4. Andhra Pradesh became the first
State to complete automation of
Crime Records Bureau
• The Andhra Pradesh police
have become the first in the country
to complete automation of the State
Crime Records Bureau (SCRB).
• i-App cloud is now helping the police
access the entire information of
crimes under various IPC sections.
• i-App is providing comparative
analytics of gender violence, bodily
offences and property offences in
each unit, range, region and State
using data charts.
• The i-App cloud application can
collect, store, process and retrieve
data and generate reports every
month.
• The data is further integrated into the
National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB) and Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) data banks.
Topic- GS-2-E-governance
Source- The Hindu
42
5. World’s first Intl Centre for
Humanitarian Forensics launched
in Gujarat
• The world's first International Centre
for Humanitarian Forensics was
launched at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• It is a joint venture of the Regional
delegation of the International
Committee of the Red Cross in India,
Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives and
also Gujarat Forensic Science
University.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- AIR
6. Haryana government’s “7-Star
Gram Panchayat Rainbow
scheme”
• Haryana government has decided to
give star rankings to its panchayats
on the basis of seven social
parameters under the state’s 7-Star
Gram Panchayat Rainbow scheme.
• The scheme was launched in January
2018.
• As many as 1,120 villages of the state
have achieved the rankings under the
scheme.
• Seven parameters under the scheme
are-
(a) Sex ratio,
(b) Education,
(c) Hygiene,
(d) Environment preservation,
(e) Governance and
(f) social participation.
• The villages would be rewarded Rs
one lakh for achieving each
parameter.
• The villages having equal or more girl
population will be given Rs 50,000 as
the bonus with their reward money.
• Similarly, the villages which adopt
Swachhta Mission will be given
additional Rs 50,000 as the reward.
• Ambala topped the star ranking with
407 stars followed by Gurugram with
199 stars and Karnal with 75 stars.
Topic- GS-2- Government Schemes
Source- Indian Express
www.gradeup.com
7. “I-HARIYALI” App launched by
Punjab govt
• The Punjab govt has launched an app
“I-hariyali” aimed at increasing the
green cover and to provide fresh air in
the stat.
• Ludhiana will distribute 2.5 lakh
saplings through newly-launched
mobile app ‘ihariyali’.
• The people can book saplings of their
choice in the app.
• There are several varieties of saplings
including fruit, medicinal, tree,
timber, ornamentals, and shrubs.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- Times of India
22.06.2018
1. India’s first robotic telescope
“Growth” opens its eyes to the
universe
• The telescope located at the Indian
Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at
Hanle in Ladakh is the country’s first
robotic telescope and the first one
designed to observe dynamic or
transient events in the universe.
• The facility is called as Global Relay
of Observatories Watching
Transients Happen (GROWTH).
• The fully robotic optical research
telescope is designed to capture
cosmic events occurring in timescales
much shorter than light years – years,
days and even hours.
• Universities and research institutes
from the US, the UK, Japan, India,
Germany, Taiwan and Israel are part
of the initiative.
• The primary research objective of the
project is time-domain astronomy,
which entails the study of explosive
transients and variable sources in the
universe.
• The Rs 3.5 crore telescope is a joint
project of the Bangalore-based Indian
Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and the
Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay (IITB).
• The project is fully funded by the
Science and Engineering Research
43
Board (SERB) of the Department of
Science and Technology (DST) under
the PIRE project, administered by Indo
US Science and Technology Forum.
• The 70 cm robotic telescope joins
other larger facilities at IAO in Hanle -
the Himalayan Chandra
Telescope, the gamma-ray array
telescope (HAGAR), and the
imaging Cherenkov telescope
(MACE).
Related Information
Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO)
• It is located near Leh in Ladakh, India
has one of the world's highest sites for
optical, infrared and gamma-ray
telescopes.
• It is operated by the Indian Institute
of Astrophysics, Bangalore.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Down to Earth
2. Government to scrap subsidy for
private electric cars under FAME
India scheme
• The Centre plans to scrap cash
incentives currently offered to buyers
of electric cars under FAME India
scheme because it neither makes a
“substantial difference in promoting
sales nor serves the purpose of a
clean environment”.
• Currently, the government offers a
discount of up to Rs 1.3 lakh on an
electric car as part of its clean-energy
programme, FAME (faster adoption
and manufacturing of hybrid and
electric vehicles).
• The current incentives on electric
buses cover 60% of the cost of the
vehicle. This will come down to 40%.
• This is being proposed to be removed
in the new FAME Phase 2 draft policy
drawn up by the heavy industries
ministry.
• The government feels that the
addition of cab aggregators like Ola
and Uber to the list of subsidy
beneficiaries would prompt these
companies to go for electrics.
• The government had said it wants the
entire car industry in India to switch
to electric by year 2030.
www.gradeup.com
• FAME scheme had a budget of under
Rs 1,000 crore, the ministry has
proposed to raise it to over Rs 9,000
crore in the second phase.
Related Information
FAME India Scheme
• The FAME-India (Faster Adoption
and Manufacturing of (hybrid &)
Electric vehicles in India) scheme
was launched in 2015 under National
Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP)
with an aim to promote eco-friendly
vehicles in the country.
• Its objectives are to provide fiscal and
monetary incentives for adoption and
market creation of both hybrid and
electric technologies vehicles in the
country.
• It is being administered by the Heavy
Industries Ministry.
• The FAME India Scheme is aimed at
incentivizing all vehicle segments that
is 2-Wheeler, 3-Wheeler Auto,
Passenger 4-Wheeler Vehicle, Light
Commercial Vehicles and Buses.
Phase-1
• The phase-1 of FAME India Scheme,
which was originally for a period of 2
years i.e. up to 31st March 2017, was
extended for a further period till 31st
March 2018, with slight modification.
Topic- GS-2-Government policies and
interventions for development in various
sectors and issues arising out of their design
and implementation.
Source- Economic Times
3. Nasscom launches programme
“Women Wizards Rule Tech” to
support women techies
• In an effort to increase the number
of women at senior levels in the
Information Technology (IT) industry,
Nasscom unveiled its 'Women Wizards
Rule Tech' programme for women
techies.
• The initiative will aid women techies in
core technologies like IT-Information
Technology Enabled Services (ITES),
Business Process Management (BPM),
product and research and
development (R&D) sectors by
44
equipping them with the skills
required for an edge in their career.
• The Women Wizards Rule Tech was
announced in March at the Nasscom
Diversity and Inclusion Summit in
Chennai as a joint initiative by the
Nasscom Sector Skills Council and the
Data Security Council of India.
Topic- GS-1- Role of women and women’s
organization
Source- Business Standard
4. Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme
• Pattiseema, the lift irrigation project,
interlinks Godavari and Krishna Rivers
through the Polvaram right canal.
• The project has one of the largest
pump houses in Asia with 24 pumping
units spread across an area of 7,476
square meters.
• These pumps deliver excess water
drawn from the river Godavari in
Pattiseema into the Polavaram Project
Right Main Canal for the benefit of
farmers in the Krishna river delta.
• The Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme
will help revive the Krishna delta to its
past glory and infuse life back into the
Krishna that has dried up completely.
Topic- GS-3- Agriculture
Source- The Hindu
5. June 21- the longest day of the
year in the Northern hemisphere
• June 21 was summer solstice, the
longest day of the year as compared to
the night — in the northern hemisphere.
• Winter solstice occurs on December
21 or 22 when the night hours are the
longest.
Solstice
• On each Tropic, the sun is directly
overhead at noon once a year.
• When this happens on the Tropic of
Cancer, it is summer solstice in the
northern hemisphere.
• When on the Tropic of Capricorn, it is
winter solstice.
• On the Equator, the sun is directly
overhead on two days.
• These are the spring equinox in
21st March and the autumn equinox in
23rd
www.gradeup.com
• Across Earth, day and night are of
equal length on these two dates. On
the Equator, day and night are equal
every day.
But why are the hours of daylight not the
same every day?
• The explanation lies in Earth’s tilt.
• The planet’s axis of rotation is tilted at
an angle of 23.5°C.
• This tilt- combined with factors such
as Earth’s spin and orbit- leads to
variations in the duration of sunlight
on any location on different days of
the year.
• The tilt is also responsible for the
different seasons.
Related Information
• It is at latitudes higher than 66.5° (in
either direction) that days of constant
darkness or light occur.
Topic- GS-1-Geography
Source- Indian Express
23.06.2018
1. UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals 2018 report
• The number of hungry people in the
world has risen for the first time in
more than a decade, according to the
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
2018 report.
• There are now approximately 38
million more undernourished people
in the world, rising from 777 million in
2015 to 815 million in 2016.
• According to the report, conflict is now
one of the main drivers of food
insecurity in 18 countries.
• Conflict, drought and disasters linked
to climate change are among the key
factors causing this reversal in
progress.
• There is little country-specific data in
the report, it does examine the
performance of various regions in
meeting the 17 SDGs, which were
adopted by UN member nations in
2015. The deadline to meet them is
2030.
• South Asia, which includes India, has
seen child marriage rates plunge, with
45
a girl’s risk of getting married in
childhood dropping by 40% from 2000
to 2017.
• On the other hand, water stress levels
for many countries in the region are
above 70%, indicating fast-
approaching water scarcity.
Related Information
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• The Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) is a set of 17 “Global Goals”
with 169 targets covering various
sectors like health, education and
climate change among others.
• They replaced UN’s Millennium
Development Goals.
• It is Spearheaded by the United
Nations.
Topic- GS-2- Issues relating to poverty and
hunger
Source- The Hindu
2. Smart City Awards
• The Union Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs had launched the India
Smart Cities Award on 25 June 2017
with the mission to develop 100 cities
across the country making them
citizen friendly and sustainable.
• The India Smart Cities 2018 Awards
were announced on 20 June 2018.
• Nine awards in three categories-
(a) Project Award,
(b) Innovative Idea Award and
(c) City Award has been announced
under the India Smart Cities
Awards.
• This year, the city award is being
given to Surat. It is for showing great
momentum in the implementation of
projects especially in the categories of
urban environment, transport and
mobility and sustainable integrated
development.
• The Innovative Idea award is being
given to a project/idea particularly
remarkable for its innovative, bottom-
up and transformative approach.
Bhopal for their Integrated Command
and Control Centre (ICCC) and
Ahmedabad for Safe and Secure
Ahmedabad (SASA) Project were
awarded this year.
www.gradeup.com
• The Project awards are being given to
most innovative and successful
projects in several categories.
Topic- GS-2- Governance
Source- Indian Express
3. Shillong 100th city to be selected
under Smart Cities Mission
• Shillong has been selected as the 100th
city to receive funding under the
Centre's flagship Smart Cities Mission.
• Till now, 99 smart cities had been
selected and with this announcement,
selection of 100 cities has been
completed under the Smart Cities
Mission.
• Under the scheme, each city will get
Rs 500 crore from the Centre for
implementing various projects.
• An equal amount, on matching basis,
will have to be contributed by the
state or urban local bodies.
Related Information
Smart City Mission
• The 100 Smart Cities Mission was
launched by Prime Minister on June
25, 2015.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs is responsible for implementing
the mission in collaboration with the
state governments of the respective
cities.
• The objective is to promote cities that
provide core infrastructure and give a
decent quality of life to its citizens, a
clean and sustainable environment
and application of ‘Smart’ Solutions.
Topic- GS-2- Governance
Source- Economic Times
4. Assam, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh
worst state to be born in
• While India’s birth rate has dipped
from 21 births per 1,000 population in
2014 to 20.4 births per 1,000
population in 2016, some states have
seen a significant increase in birth
rate.
• Worryingly, the laggard states such as
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh have the highest
birth rate: 26.8 births and 26.2 births
per 1,000, respectively.
• In fact, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand,
other laggard states, have seen the
46
birth rate increase from 23.4 births
and 23.8 births in 2014 to 24.3 births
and 24.5 births respectively in 2016.
• Interestingly, union territories such as
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman &
Diu have seen the highest growth in
urban birth rate: 27.7 births and
25.68 births respectively.
Projected birth rates in India and other
states
• The southern states such as Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil
Nadu will continue to maintain the
trend of low birth rates.
• Between 2021 and 2025, these states
will see 13.7, 13.8, 12.3 and 12.5
births per 1,000.
• Even then, the birth rate in laggard
states will be much higher than the
national average of 16 births.
Life expectancy
• States such as Assam, Odisha,
Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,
which were lagging behind the
national average of life expectancy of
males and females in 2001, will not be
on par with the national average of
69.8 years (male) and 72.3 years
(female) even during 2021-25.
Infant and maternal mortality
• As opposed to the national average of
34 per 1,000 live births, infant
mortality rate (IMR) was 47 per 1,000
live births in Madhya Pradesh in
2016—worst in the country.
• It is followed by Assam (44), Odisha
(44) and Uttar Pradesh (43).
• Goa is the only state that had a single-
digit IMR (8 per 1,000 live births) in
2016.
• North-eastern states such as Manipur
and Nagaland recorded one of the
lowest IMR in the country.
• While national MMR has improved
from 212 to 167—a 21 Percent
reduction—states are yet to keep up
with that pace.
Neo-natal mortality rate
• Urban India has seen about 44
Percent reduction from 24.9 per 1,000
live births to 14.
www.gradeup.com
• In rural India, the reduction in
percentage comes down to 39 Percent
from 44 per 1,000 live births in 2001
to in 27 per 1,000 births in 2016.
Related Information
Infant mortality rate
• The number of deaths of children less
than 1 year old per 1,000 live births.
Maternal mortality ratio
• The number of maternal deaths per
100,000 live births due to causes
related to pregnancy or within 42 days
of termination of pregnancy,
regardless of the site or duration of
pregnancy.
Neonatal mortality
• It is defined as death within the first
four weeks of life.
Topic-GS-2- Issues relating to development
and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human
Resources.
Source- Down to Earth
5. Gujarat govt announced Wind-
Solar Hybrid Power Policy-2018
• Gujarat Government has announced
Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Policy-2018.
• The benefits of the new policy can be
accrued for 25 years or until its life or
whichever is shorter.
• It entails the developers can set up
wind power unit on the land meant for
existing solar power unit, or vice
versa.
• The electricity produced from such
hybrid wind and solar units will be
exempted from electricity duty,
allowing land use for dual purposes.
• Under this policy, the Gujarat govt
has announced 50 Percent concession
in cross-subsidy surcharge and
additional surcharge while selling
electricity to any third party.
• For captive power plants under hybrid
projects, it entails total exemption
from cross subsidy surcharge and
additional surcharge and 50 Percent
relief in wheeling charges and
distribution loss.
Topic- GS-3- Energy
Source- AIR
47
25.06.2018
1. Suryashakti Kishan Yojana (SKY)
• Gujarat government announced
Suryashakti Kishan Yojana (SKY) in
which farmers can sell surplus power to
the state-owned power companies at
Rs7 per unit for a period of seven years
under this scheme.
• As per the new scheme, a farmer
signing up for it will have to spend only
5 % amount of the total expenditure for
installing the solar project (including
solar panels and inverters).
• The central and state governments
would pay 60 % amount as a subsidy.
• While remaining 35% amount would
be a loan to the farmer, interest on
which would be paid by the state
government.
• The duration for repayment of the
loan amount has been fixed for seven
years.
• The central government has been
aggressively promoting clean and
renewable energy initiatives with an
ambitious target to install 100
gigawatts (GW) of energy capacity
from solar power by 2022.
• SKY would be an able element in
fulfilling Prime Minister’s pledge to
double the income of farmers by year-
2022.
Topic- GS-2- Schemes
Source- Livemint
2. Modi govt plans ‘Pariwartan’
scheme for power sector revival
• The government plans to warehouse
stressed power projects totalling
25,000 MW under an asset
management firm to protect the value
of the assets and prevent their
distress sale under the insolvency and
bankruptcy code till the demand for
power picks up.
• State-run Rural Electrification Corp.
Ltd (REC) has identified projects with
a total debt of around Rs 1.8 trillion as
part of the scheme, which is under
government consideration and has
been tentatively named Power Asset
Revival through Warehousing and
Rehabilitation, or ‘Pariwartan’.
www.gradeup.com
• The ‘Pariwartan’ scheme is
inspired by the Troubled Asset
Relief Programme, or TARP, which
was introduced in the US during
the 2008 financial crisis.
• These stressed power projects will be
housed under an asset management
and rehabilitation company (AMRC)
that will be owned by financial
institutions.
• The AMRC will manage the projects
and may ask utilities such as NTPC Ltd
to operate and maintain them.
Topic- GS-3- Energy
Source- Livemint
3. India is the largest borrower from
Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank
• With the total project portfolios of
US$4.4 Billion, India has been the
largest borrower of Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB) lending since the time the Bank
started its operations.
• Unlike most other multilateral
development banks set up by
advanced economies, AIIB is the first
major multilateral development bank
where principal contributors are the
borrowing members themselves.
• AIIB will consider investing in projects
outside Asia as long as they serve to
benefit the Asian regions too. So far,
AIIB has only invested in one solar
power project in Egypt, Sir Alexander
said.
• While 75% of the capital is from Asia,
several non-Asian regions like Europe,
North America, some East African and
Latin American countries have also
joined the bank as members.
• The third Annual Meeting of AIIB is
being organized by Government of
India, in collaboration with
Government of Maharashtra at
Mumbai during 25-26 June 2018.
Related Information
AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank)-
• The Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral
development bank that aims to
48
support the building of infrastructure
in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The bank currently has 56 members
states.
• Currently, It has 86 approved
members from around the world.
• It is headquartered in Beijing, China.
• Current President of AIIB is Jin Liqun.
Topic- GS-2- Important International
institutions
Source-PIB
4. AIIB to invest $200 million into a
NIIF fund of funds
• The AIIB is likely to invest USD 200
million in a fund of funds set up by
India to take interest in infra projects.
• They are investing USD 100 now and
USD 100 million in the time to come.
Related Information
National Investment and Infrastructure
Fund (NIIF)
• National Investment and
Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is a fund
created by the Government of India
for enhancing infrastructure financing
in the country.
• This is different from the National
Investment Fund.
• The NIIF will be established as one or
more Alternate Investment
Funds (AIF) under the SEBI
Regulations.
• NIIF would have full autonomy for
project selection.
• NIIF would formulate guidelines and
would follow due processes for
selection criteria for AMCs (Asset
Management Company’s) and Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
/ Financial Institutions (FIs).
National Investment Fund
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) on 27th January 2005
had approved the constitution of a
National Investment Fund (NIF).
• The Purpose of the fund was to
receive disinvestment proceeds of
central public-sector enterprises and
to invest the same to generate
earnings without depleting the
corpus.
www.gradeup.com
• The earnings of the Fund were to be
used for selected Central social
welfare Schemes. This fund was kept
outside the consolidated fund of India.
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
Source- Economic Times
5. First satellite “RemoveDEBRIS” to
collect space junk set deployed
from ISS
• The first-ever satellite to test possible
solutions in cleaning up space junk
has been deployed by the
International Space Station (ISS) and
would soon begin experiments in
orbit.
• The Britain-built satellite, named
RemoveDEBRIS mission, is one of the
world’s first attempts to tackle the
build-up of dangerous space debris
orbiting the Earth.
• The 100-kg RemoveDebris spacecraft
will attempt to capture simulated
space debris using a net and a
harpoon while also testing advanced
cameras and radar systems.
• The experiment is important as there
are thousands of pieces of space
debris circulating the planet, many
travelling faster than a speeding
bullet, posing a risk to valuable
satellites and even the International
Space Station itself.
• Once the experiments are complete, it
will unfurl a drag sail to bring itself
and the debris out of orbit, where it
will burn up as it enters the earth’s
atmosphere.
• It was launched on a SpaceX Dragon
spacecraft from Florida in April 2018.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- Indian Express
6. 19th International Indian Film
Academy Awards (IIFA) Awards
2018
• 19th IIFA Awards were presented in
Siam Niramit Theatre in Bangkok,
Thailand.
Best Film Tumhari Sulu
Best Actor (Male) Irfan Khan (Hindi Medium)
Best Actor (Female) Sridevi (Mom)
Anirudh Roy Chaudhary
Best Director
(Pink)
49
Related information
IIFA (International Indian Film
Academy Awards)
• IIFA Awards are a set of awards
presented annually by the
International Indian Film Academy to
honour both artistic and technical
excellence of professionals in
Bollywood.
• The first awards were presented in
2000 at The Millennium Dome in
London, United Kingdom.
Topic- Important for PCS Exams
Source- AIR
26.06.2018
1. The Global Status Report (GSR) of
REN21
• The Global Status Report (GSR) by
REN 21 shows that global investments
in RE were to the tune of US $280
billion in 2017, drawing heavily from
developing countries.
• China accounted for nearly 45 Percent
of all global investments in RE, while
India’s US $10.9 billion amounted to
4 Percent of the total.
• Globally, RE shares in the power
sector continued to grow, but its share
in the total final energy was a meagre
10.4 per cent.
• Aside from the power sector, highest
energy consuming sectors namely
transport and heating and cooling saw
minimal RE inclusion (10 Percent and
3 Percent respectively).
• The power sector continues to be the
star with shares of RE reaching 2195
GW globally (not including
hydropower).
• China leads this with 334 GW of
installations, with the United States,
Germany and India trailing with 161
GW, 106 GW and 61 GW respectively.
• Distributed renewable energy is
gaining ground, due to its ability to
provide remote/rural households who
lack access to energy.
Hydropower
• Hydropower is still the largest
contributor at 16.4 per cent in power
sector.
www.gradeup.com
• Last year saw the annual addition of
nearly 19 GW of hydropower capacity.
• China leads the globe in cumulative
installations to date and India’s 44.6
GW is the fifth-largest.
Solar Power
• Wind and solar PV generation
accounted for 7.5 per cent of the total
electricity demand.
• Solar PV capacity marched on;
reaching a cumulative 402 GW, again
lead primarily by China.
• India saw 9.1 GW worth of
installations, taking its total installed
capacity to 18.3 GW.
• Cumulative installations of
concentrated solar thermal power
(CSP) have reached 4.9 GW, with
large additions from Spain.
Wind Power
• The global offshore wind market grew
by 30 Percent.
• Pumped storage accounted for 96
Percent of the global energy storage
capacity, which grew to a staggering
total of 153 GW installed worldwide.
• India was only the fifth largest
contributor to wind installations
despite breaking records at home.
• Annual additions of 52 GW took the
global installed capacity to 539 GW.
Bioenergy
• Bioenergy is the largest RE
contributors to total final energy
demand (13 Percent) due to the
widely prevalent traditional biomass
use (8 Percent).
• In the electricity sector, generation
from biomass saw an 11 Percent
growth.
Ocean energy
• It has a total installed capacity of 529
MW, is beginning to take off with
capacities for tidal stream and wave
energy.
Related Information
Renewable Energy Policy Network for
the 21st Century (REN 21)
• It is the global renewable energy
policy multi-stakeholder network that
connects a wide range of key actors.
50
• REN21 was launched in June 2004 as
an outcome of the International
Conference for Renewable Energies in
Bonn, Germany.
• The REN21 Secretariat is based at UN
Environment in Paris, France, and is a
registered non-profit association
under German law.
• The organisation has more than 60
members and with its governance
structure consists of the Bureau, the
Steering Committee and REN21
Members.
Topic- GS-3-Enemy
Source- Down to Earth + Wiki
2. A new approach to deal with
stressed assets in making
• The idea is to put in place a large ARC,
which will step in to offer a better
value to lenders, who are caught with
an asset where it is tough to realise
value and using the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (IBC) may not be
the best option.
• The proposed asset reconstruction
company (ARC) may be positioned as a
buyer of last resort with the banks and
the government leaving the operations
to a professional management.
• While the blueprint for the ARC is
being prepared by a committee
headed by Punjab National Bank
chairman Sunil Mehta.
• It is not as if all the assets will go to
the ARC. It will step in if it’s a viable
option and banks realise better value.
• At the same time, it will ensure that
there is value left in the asset to nurse
it back to health or sell it and make
money.
Related Information
Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC)
• It is a specialized financial institution
that buys the NPAs or bad assets from
banks and financial institutions so that
the latter can clean up their balance
sheets.
• The Securitization and Reconstruction
of Financial Assets and Enforcement
of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act,
2002; enacted in December 2002
provides the legal basis for the setting
up ARCs in India.
www.gradeup.com
• The SARFAESI Act helps the
reconstruction of bad assets without
the intervention of courts.
• Currently, there are 24 ARCs, which
are registered with the RBI.
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
Source- Economic Times
3. ‘Women in Prisons’ report
launched by the Ministry of
Women and Child Development
• The report titled ‘Women in Prisons’
which aims to build an understanding
of the various entitlements of women
in prisons, the various issues faced by
them and possible methods for
resolution of the same.
• Various changes in the National Model
Prison Manual 2016 have also been
suggested to bring it in line with
international standards and norms.
Topic- GS-2- Issues relating to development
and management of Social Sector
Source-PIB
4. WCD Ministry to organise TECH-
THON: Seminar on Technology
Partnership for POSHAN Abhiyaan
• Ministry of Women and Child
Development will organize a Seminar
on Technology Partnerships for
Steering POSHAN Abhiyaan called
‘TECH-THON’ for POSHAN Abhiyaan in
New Delhi.
• ICDS-CAS (Common Application
Software) has been specially designed
to strengthen the Service Delivery
System as well as the mechanism for
Real Time Monitoring (RTM) for
nutritional outcomes.
Related Information
POSHAN (PM’s Overarching Scheme for
Holistic Nourishment) scheme
• POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched by
the Prime Minister in Jhunjhunu on
8th March 2018.
• The Executive Committee is the Apex
body under the POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• National Council on India’s nutritional
challenges under, NITI Aayog, also
has been set up under the POSHAN
Abhiyaan.
• The scheme aims to ensure holistic
development and adequate nutrition
51
for pregnant women, mothers and
children.
• It also targets to reduce the level of
stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia
and low birth rate.
• The following nutrition strategies and
interventions include under Abhiyaan-
(a) Supplementary nutrition
(b) Adolescent nutrition
(c) IYCF (Infant and Young Child
Feeding) immunisation
(d) Maternal health etc.
Topic- GS-2- Governance
Source-PIB
5. Sreedharan panel to lay down
metro standards
• ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan will head a
newly constituted high-level
committee to lay down indigenous
technical standards for all metro rail
systems across the country.
• The multi-disciplinary committee will
set indigenous technical standards for
the entire ecosystem of metro
functioning in India, including rolling
stock, signalling, track and the like.
Topic- GS-3- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports,
Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Source- Indian Express
27.06.2018
1. ISA plans global solar bank to
finance $150 billion of power
projects
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA)
plans to approach multilateral
development banks (MDBs) such as
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB) to create a special purpose
vehicle (SPV) to specifically finance
solar projects.
• This SPV aimed at financing $150
billion would become a World Solar
Bank.
• ISA has inked joint declarations with
the eight multilateral development
banks (MDBs) which are-
(a) World Bank
(b) African Development Bank
(c) Asian Development Bank
www.gradeup.com
(d) AIIB
(e) New Development Bank
(f) European Investment Bank
(g) European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development
(h) Green Climate Fund (GCF) for
enhancing cooperation in the solar
energy area.
• ISA has been working on a $300-
billion risk mitigation fund as part of a
strategy to create a sustainable
financing architecture for solar
projects worldwide.
• The fund will be used to insure solar
power projects against risks such as
default in payment by electricity
procurers, foreign exchange
fluctuations and regime change.
Related Information
International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• The ISA is an Indian initiative, jointly
launched by the Prime Minister of
India, Shri Narendra Modi and the
President of France on 30th November
2015 in Paris, on the sidelines of COP-
21, the UN Climate Conference.
• The alliance's primary objective is-
(a) Work for efficient exploitation of
solar energy to reduce dependence on
fossil fuels.
(b) Mobilise $1 trillion in funds for the
future solar generation, storage and
technology across the world.
• The ISA, headquartered in India, has
its Secretariat located in the
Gwalpahari, Gurgaon, Haryana.
• India has offered to meet ISA
Secretariat expenses for initial five
years.
• ISA is an alliance of more than 121
countries, most of them being
sunshine countries, which come either
completely or partly between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn.
Topic- GS-2- Important International
institutions
Source- Livemint
2. World's largest multilateral naval
exercise “RIMPAC”
• The world's largest multilateral naval
exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)
52
will begin off Hawaii in the Western
Pacific Ocean.
• The two-month long biennial exercise
is likely to be attended by navies of 26
countries including India.
• Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri reached
the Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to
participate in the 26th edition of
RIMPAC exercise.
• India's participation in the exercise
provides a platform for increased
interoperability and development of
the common understanding of
procedures for maritime security
operations.
Topic- GS-3- Defence
Source- UNI India
3. S Ramesh appointed the chairman
of CBIC
Central Board of Indirect taxes and
Customs (CBIC)
• In Budget 2018-19 central
government announced to rename
CBEC (Central Board of Excise and
Customs) as CBIC.
• It is the nodal national agency
responsible for administering
Customs, GST, Central Excise, Service
Tax & Narcotics in India.
• The Customs & Central Excise
department was established in the
year 1855 by the then British
Governor General of India.
• Currently, the Customs and Excise
department comes under the
Department of Revenue, Ministry of
Finance.
• The CBIC is headed by a chairman and
can have a maximum of six members.
Topic- GS-3- Indian Economy
Source- Times of India
4. World largest oil Refinery
“Ratnagiri Refinery”
• The world largest oil refinery cum
petrochemical project is set to come
up in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri.
• UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil
Company or ADNOC along with Saudi
Arabia's ARAMCO will together have a
50% stake in the greenfield Ratnagiri
refinery project.
www.gradeup.com
• While 50% stake will be shared
between Aramco and Adnoc the rest
will be with Indian Oil, Hindustan
Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum.
• The project is being considered
significant for India's energy security.
Topic- GS-3- Energy
Source- DD News
5. UAE to hold first-ever 'World
Tolerance Summit'
• The United Arab of Emirates (UAE) will
host a two-day "World Tolerance
Summit" in November 2018.
• The International Institute for
Tolerance, part of Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives,
announced the launch from November
15-16 to coincide with the
International Day of Tolerance.
• The theme of the summit will be,
"Prospering From Pluralism:
Embracing Diversity through
Innovation and Collaboration".
• The platform will seek innovative
solutions and forge fruitful
partnerships to help promote respect
for diversity and productive pluralism.
• The summit will also explore the use
of social media and digital networking
in advocating the significance of
tolerance with respect to its societal
and economic benefits.
Topic- Important for PCS Exams
Source- Business Standards
6. Odisha’s Pallavi Darua crowned as
India's first 'Tribal Queen'
• Pallavi Durua, who belongs to
Odisha's Koraput district, was
crowned as the first Tribal Queen.
• The Adi Rani Kalinga Tribal Queen
competition was held at the held at
Utkal Mandap in Bhubaneshwar.
• The prime objective of the event was
to promote tribal art and culture.
Topic- Important for PCS Exams
Source- Business Standards
7. Vice President launched of the
book “Human Rights, Values and
Cultural Ethos”
• Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu
launched the book “Human Rights,
Values and Cultural Ethos”.
53
• It is a collection of essays and lectures
written by Dr R.P. Dhokalia.
• The thrust of the book is on the
connection between human rights and
the intrinsic and core human values
which in turn manifest in the cultural
ethos of a society.
Topic- Important for PCS Exams
Source-PIB
8. Godikan village panchayat of
Haryana passed “No Toilet, No
Bride” resolution
• The Godikan panchayat in Haryana
has become the first panchayat in the
country to pass a resolution to marry
off girls only to families that have a
toilet in their house.
• It is aimed to ensure safety and well-
being of the womenfolk.
• The Godikan panchayat has already
been declared an Outdoor Defecation
Free panchayat.
Topic-GS-2- Government policies and
interventions for development in various
sectors
Source- Business Standards
28.06.2018
1. India increases grants to $15
million to handle global
environment crises
• India announced to increase grants to
$15 million for the next four years to
the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
a mechanism to provide grants for
environmental projects.
• India has decided to increase its
commitments from $12 million to $15
million to the GEF’s new four-year
investment cycle, known as GEF-7.
Related Information
GEF (Global Environment Facility)
• The Global Environment Facility was
established in October 1991 as a $1
billion pilot program in the World Bank
to assist in the protection of the global
environment and to promote
environmentally sustainable
development.
www.gradeup.com

• In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, the 2. Government proposes to set up

GEF was restructured and moved out 3000 Van Dhan Kendras
of the World Bank system to become • The Government proposes to set up
a permanent, separate institution. 3000 Van Dhan Kendras involving
• Since 1994, however, the World Bank 30,000 SHGs across the country
has served as the Trustee of the GEF under the Van Dhan Scheme of the
Trust Fund and provided Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
administrative services. Related Information
• Currently, the GEF is the largest public Van Dhan Scheme
funder of projects to improve the • The Van Dhan Scheme is an initiative
global environment. of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and
• The GEF also serves as the financial TRIFED.
mechanism for the following • It was launched on 14th April 2018
conventions: and seeks to improve tribal incomes
(a) CBD Convention on Biological through value addition of tribal
Diversity products.
(b) United Nations Framework • Under Van Dhan, 10 Self Help Groups
Convention on Climate Change of 30 Tribal gatherers is constituted.
(UNFCCC) • The establishment of "Van Dhan Vikas
(c) UN Convention to Combat Kendra" is for providing skill
Desertification (UNCCD) upgradation and capacity building
(d) Stockholm Convention on training and setting up of primary
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) processing and value addition facility.
(e) Minamata Convention on Mercury • They are then trained and provided
• At its 51st meeting in October with working capital to add value to
2016, the GEF Council initiate the products, which they collect from
discussions on the seventh the jungle.
replenishment of resources of the • Working under the leadership of
GEF Trust Fund (GEF-7). Collector these groups can then
• The replenishment meetings provide market their products not only within
an opportunity for Contributing the States but also outside the States.
Participants to review GEF • Training and technical support is
performance and evaluate progress, provided by TRIFED.
assess future funding needs, and
• Initially, the focus of the scheme will
agree on a financing framework. be in aspirational districts and
Green Climate Fund (GCF) gradually the scheme will be
• It is a fund within the framework of implemented in all tribal areas.
UNFCCC Topic- GS-2- Schemes
• It is founded to assist developing Source-PIB
countries in adaptation and mitigation 3. India gets two Giant Aldabra
practices to counter climate change.
Tortoise from Seychelles
• It was Formed in 2010. • In a goodwill gesture, Seychelles has
• World Bank is chosen as a temporary gifted a pair of giant Aldabra tortoise
trustee of the fund. to India.
• It is headquartered in Incheon, South • The creatures are a symbol of "ever-
Korea. lasting" friendship.
• It is intended to be the centrepiece of • Gifting Aldabra tortoise on loan to
efforts to raise Climate Finance of friendly countries is a part of the
$100 billion a year by 2020. Seychelles diplomacy.
Topic- GS-3- Environment • The pair will be kept at Hyderabad
Source- Financial Express Zoo, a Ministry of External Affairs.

54
www.gradeup.com

• The giant tortoise, endemic to the organization founded in 1989 on the

east African island nation, weighs initiative of the G7 to develop policies
around 120 and 150 kg and have the to combat money laundering.
ability to live for up to 200 years. • In 2001 its mandate expanded to
Topic- GS-3- Biodiversity include terrorism financing.
Source- NDTV • It monitors progress in implementing
4. Researchers created world’s the FATF Recommendations through
smallest computer device "peer reviews" ("mutual evaluations")
“Michigan Micro Mote” of member countries.
• Researchers at the University of • The Secretariat is located at the OECD
Michigan in the US have come out Headquarters in Paris.
with the world’s smallest “computer”- • Currently, there are 37 members are
a device measuring just 0.3 mm to a part of it. India is also a member of
side the organization.
• Unlike traditional desktops that retain
• Pakistan is not a part of the
their program and data with or organization.
without a power back-up, these new
G7
microdevices lose all prior
programming and data as soon as • The Group of 7 (G7) is a group
they are switched off. consisting of Canada, France,
• In addition to the RAM and Germany, Italy, Japan, the United
photovoltaics, the new micro- Kingdom and the United States.
computing device —"Michigan Micro • The European Union is also
Mote”—has processors and wireless represented within the G7.
transmitters and receivers. • These countries are the seven major
• As the Motes are too small to have advanced economies as reported by
conventional radio antennae, they the International Monetary Fund.
receive and transmit data with visible Topic- GS-2- Important International
light. institutions
• A base station provides light for power Source- AIR
and programming, and it receives the 6. Oxytocin formulations ban to
data. come into effect from 1st July
• The device can help in oncology (the 2018
study and treatment of tumours) • The Ministry of Health and Family
research. Welfare has restricted the
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology manufacture of Oxytocin formulations
Source- The Hindu for domestic use to public sector only
5. FATF officially placed Pakistan on from 1st July 2018.
its greylist • It has also banned the import of
• The Financial Action Task Force Oxytocin and its formulations.
(FATF) has officially placed Pakistan • Only Karnataka Antibiotics &
on its greylist. Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KAPL), a public-
• Once placed in the “grey list”, sector company, would be
countries face the risk of the manufacturing this drug for domestic
downgrade by multilateral lenders like use from that date.
IMF, World Bank, ADB etc. and further
• India banned hormone oxytocin to
reduction in their risk-rating by
halt misuse in livestock industry
agencies.
Issues with oxytocin hormone
Related information
Financial Action Task Force • It shortens their lives and makes
them barren sooner.
• The Financial Action Task Force
(FATF) is an intergovernmental Related Information

55
www.gradeup.com
Oxytocin Hormone
• Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and
neuropeptide.
• Oxytocin is normally produced by the
paraventricular nucleus of the
hypothalamus (Part of the brain) and
released by the posterior pituitary.
• It was discovered by Henry Dale in
1906.
• Often called the "love hormone",
oxytocin is released naturally in
human bonding activities such as sex,
childbirth and breastfeeding.
• It may also have benefits as a
treatment for several conditions,
including depression, anxiety, and
intestinal problems.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source-PIB
29.06.2018
1. India moves up a spot to 35th on
real estate transparency index
• India has moved up just one spot in
the global real estate transparency
index from 36 in 2016 to 35 in 2018,
despite the implementation of the
Real Estate (Regulation and
Development) Act or RERA.
• It is published in a report by real
estate advisory firm Jones Lang
LaSalle Inc. (JLL).
• The report comes out every two
years.
• The UK, Australia, the US, France and
Canada are the top five countries.
• The report said that India is one of the
10 countries that have registered
maximum improvement in
transparency in real estate over the
last two years.
• Since 2014, India has moved up by
five spots from 40th in the global real
estate transparency index.
• The index measures transparency
based on factors such as
(a) Data availability
(b) Authenticity and accuracy
(c) Governance of public agencies as
well as stakeholders of the realty
sector
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(d) Transaction processes and costs
associated with those and
(e) The regulatory and legal
environment
• India is thus yet to figure among the
transparent markets, despite the
regulatory changes and the possibility
of a Real Estate Investment Trust
(REIT) listing.
Related Information
Real Estate (Regulation and
Development) Act or RERA
• The Real Estate (Regulation and
Development) Act, 2016 is an Act of
the Parliament of India which seeks to
protect home-buyers as well as help
boost investments in the real estate
industry.
• The Act establishes Real Estate
Regulatory Authority (RERA) in each
state for regulation of the real estate
sector and also acts as an adjudicating
body for speedy dispute redressal.
• However, unlike a few states such as
Maharashtra and Karnataka, several
states have been slow in its
implementation.
• The new law states that the
Regulatory Authority should
endeavour to dispose of the
complaints within 60 days from the
date of filing.
• However, the Authority can take more
time and is only required to record the
reasons for not completing the
proceeding within the 60-day period.
• RERA must grant/reject an application
within 30 days of submission of all
required documents.
Topic- GS-2-Important International
institutions
Source- Livemint
2. Madhya Pradesh to be awarded
for reducing maternal mortality
• Madhya Pradesh will be awarded for
reducing maternal mortality under
Prime Minister's Safe Motherhood
Campaign.
• The Prime Minister’s Safe Motherhood
Campaign has been launched to ensure
quality care of over 3 crore pregnant
women of the country before delivery.
www.gradeup.com
• Madhya Pradesh has been registered
an unprecedented 48-digit decline in
maternal deaths as per the report of
the Registrar General of India from
2014 to 2016.
• The maternal mortality rate was 221
in the year 2011-13, which has now
dropped down further to just 173.
• There has been a significant decline of
22% in the last three years in the
state.
Topic- GS-2-Government policies and
interventions for development in various
sectors and issues arising out of their design
and implementation.
Source- AIR
3. COMCASA: Why US, India can’t
connect?
• A US military negotiating team was in
Delhi last week to respond to Indian
objections and formulate a mutually
acceptable text for the
Communications Compatibility and
Security Agreement.
COMCASA (Communications
Compatibility and Security Agreement)
• COMCASA is meant to provide a legal
framework for the transfer of
communication security equipment
from the US to India that would
facilitate “interoperability” between
their forces and potentially with other
militaries that use US-origin systems
for secured data links.
• The general agreement signed by the
US is called the Communication and
Information on Security Memorandum
of Agreement (CISMOA) but the name
was changed to COMCASA to reflect
its India-specific nature.
• It is part of a set of three military
agreements that the US considers
“foundational” for a functional military
relationship.
• In August 2016, India had signed the
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of
Agreement (LEMOA), which allows the
military of each country to replenish
from the other’s bases.
57
• Negotiations on the third agreement,
Basic Exchange and Cooperation
Agreement for Geo-spatial
Cooperation (BECA), have not yet
begun.
Current status
• The two sides could, however, make
an announcement of the intention to
sign the COMCASA during the
inaugural 2+2 meeting between their
Defence and Foreign Ministers.
• COMCASA will facilitate the use of
high-end secured communication
equipment to be installed on military
platforms being sold to India and fully
exploit their potential.
• The signing of COMCASA, however,
becomes imperative if India is to get
the armed version of the Sea
Guardian drones from the US.
India’s concerns
• India is believed to be concerned
about intrusive American access to
Indian military communication
systems, and about the violation of
Indian sovereignty due to visits by US
inspectors to Indian bases to inspect
the COMCASA-safeguarded
equipment.
• There is also a fear that a lot of
Russian-origin and indigenous Indian
military platforms may not be
compatible with COMCASA.
Topic- GS-3-Bilateral, regional and global
groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting India’s interests
Source- Indian Express
4. Govt approved 2 more strategic
oil storages in Odisha and
Karnataka
• The government decided to set up two
more underground crude oil storages
in Odisha and Karnataka to increase
emergency stockpile cover by 12 days
to 22 days.
• The Cabinet has approved setting up
of 4 million tonnes (MT) storage at
Chandikhole in Odisha and 2.5 MT
storage at Padur in Karnataka.
www.gradeup.com
• The storages will be added to the
existing rock caverns to shore 5.33
MT of crude Visakhapatnam (1.33
MT), Mangalore (1.5 MT) and Padur
(2.5 MT).
Related Information
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
• The Indian Strategic Petroleum
Reserve (ISPR) is an emergency fuel
store.
• The total 5.33 MT capacity under
Phase-1 of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve (SPR) programme
estimated to supply approximately 10
days of India's crude requirement.
• The government's strategic reserves
in India are run by the Indian
Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd, an
SPV set up by the Oil Industry
Development Board, under the
petroleum ministry.
Topic- GS-3- Energy
Source- DD News
5. Cabinet approves a Corpus to
National Export Insurance
Account Trust
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs has approved the contribution
of Grant-in-Aid (Corpus) of Rs.1,040
crore to National Export Insurance
Account Trust (NEIA).
• The Corpus is to be utilised for three
years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
• The Corpus would strengthen NEIA to
support project exports from the
country that are of strategic and
national importance.
Topic- GS-3- Economic Development
Source-PIB
6. Gabon’s ‘orange crocodiles’
• The West African state of Gabon is
famous for its biodiversity.
• In 2008, researchers discovered a
group of strange orange crocodiles in
a remote region of Africa.
• They found the 1.5-metre-long (5 ft)
reptiles in an Abanda cave in Gabon,
western Africa, where they fed only on
bats and crickets.
Topic- GS-3-Biodiversity
Source- The Hindu
7. 18 Chinkaras die within
fortnight in Jaisalmer
• A total of 18 Chinkaras or Indian
gazelles have died in Rajasthan’s
border district of Jaisalmer in the past
fortnight bringing back into focus, the
plight of the species.
• Chinkaras are categorised under
Schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972.
Related Information
Wildlife Protection Act 1972
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is an
is Act of the Parliament of India enacted
for the protection of plants and animal
species.
• It extends to the whole of India,
except the State of Jammu and
Kashmir which has its own wildlife act.
• It has six schedules which give
varying degrees of protection.
• Schedule I and part II of Schedule II
provide absolute protection - offences
under these are prescribed the
highest penalties.
• Species listed in Schedule III and
Schedule IV are also protected, but
the penalties are much lower.
• Schedule V includes the animals which
may be hunted.
• The specified endemic plants in
Schedule VI are prohibited from
cultivation and planting.
Vermin Species
• Under the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972, states can request the Centre
to declare some species as “vermin”
if their population becomes
unmanageable, thereby removing
protections assured by the Act.
• Essentially, the species can then be
hunted or culled.
• The Central Government may declare
any wild animal other than those
specified in Sch. I and part 11 of Sch.
H to be vermin for any area, so long
as such notification is in force,
such wild animal shall be deemed
to have been included in Sch. V.
a Topic- GS-3- Bio Diversity
Source- Down to Earth
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www.gradeup.com

30.06.2018 temperatures increase by 2.4°C by

2100 relative to pre-industrial levels.
1. World Bank’s report ‘South Asia’s • Carbon-intensive, on the other hand,
Hotspots’ represents a future in which no
• A World Bank report has found that actions are taken to reduce emissions
rising temperatures and changing and global annual average
monsoon rainfall patterns from temperatures increase 4.3°C by 2100
climate change could cost India 2.8% relative to pre-industrial levels.
of GDP and depress the living
Topic- GS-3- Important International
standards of nearly half the country’s
institutions
population by 2050.
• The report, ‘South Asia’s Hotspots: Source- Indian Express
The Impact of Temperature and 2. ‘Disha’ for timely implementation
Precipitation Changes on Living of Central Schemes
Standards’, has been authored by • DISHA Week is being celebrated from
World Bank. June 25 to 29 to mark completion of
What does the report look at? two years of the District Development
• It looks at six countries in South Asia Coordination and Monitoring
and how projected changes in Committee.
temperature and precipitation will Related Information
affect living standards in these
District Development Coordination and
countries.
Monitoring Committee (DDCMC) or
• Using annual household consumption
Disha
as a proxy for living standards, the
report identifies “hotspots” — districts • The Union Government had
where these changes will have a constituted the District Development
notable effect on living standards. Coordination and Monitoring
What has it found? Committee (DDCMC) for effective
development coordination of almost
• For the region, it has found that India,
all the programmes of Central
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Government.
will be adversely affected by these
changes, while Afghanistan and Nepal • The main purpose of this committee is
will benefit as they are relatively cold. to coordinate with Central and State
• For India, it has projected that living Governments and local Panchayat for
conditions in Chhattisgarh and successful and timely implementation
Madhya Pradesh will decline by more of the Central schemes.
than 9%, followed by Rajasthan, Uttar • The first meeting was held in Aug
Pradesh and Maharashtra. 2016.
• Of the top 10 most affected hotspot • The Chairperson of the committee will
districts, 7 (Chandrapur, Bhandara, be the senior-most Member of
Gondiya, Wardha, Nagpur, Raj Parliament (Lok Sabha) elected from
Nandgaon, Durg) are in Vidarbha and the district, nominated by the Ministry
the remaining 3 in Chhattisgarh and of Rural Development.
MP. Topic- GS-3- Schemes
What is carbon-intensive?
Source- AIR + PIB
• The report looks at two scenarios:
climate-sensitive and carbon- 3. Can India manage its toxic e-
intensive. waste?
• Climate-sensitive represents a future • The matter came to light in March
“in which some collective action is 2018 when the Delhi High Court was
taken to limit greenhouse gas hearing a petition on solid waste
emissions and global annual average management.

59
www.gradeup.com
• The court in its order on May 22
directed the Union Ministry of
Environment to devise a proper
method of inventorization of e-waste”
and come up with “a strategy and
plan” for the proper management of
e-waste in a time-bound manner.
Growth of e-waste
• India is one of the biggest producers
of e-waste in the world.
• The Global E-waste Monitor 2017,
published by the United Nations
University, states that India
generates about 2 million tonnes of e-
waste annually.
• And ranks fifth among e-waste
producing countries, after the US,
China, Japan and Germany.
• However, there is no government
data on e-waste generated in the
country. The Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) had projected in 2005
that by 2010, India would generate
0.8 million tonnes of e-waste. Since
then, no projection has been made.
• The 2016 law tasks the state pollution
control boards (SPCBs) to make the
estimates, but no SPCB has done that
as yet.
What does the law say?
• The law says that producers of
electronic items should provide the
postal address, e-mail and toll-free
numbers of collection centres—where
consumers can drop their
equipment’s—through websites and
producer user booklet to facilitate the
return of e-waste items.
• The law details different mechanisms
to collect and recycle e-waste.
• These include deposit return schemes
(where the producer takes a lacks the human resource and the
surcharge at the time of the sale and
refunds it when the customer returns
the product) and exchange schemes.
• The producers must obtain an
Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR) authorisation from CPCB which
will ensure that they channelize the e-
waste to the recycler/dismantler and
meet their annual collection targets.
60
• The producers have to meet targets,
which should be 20 Percent of the
waste generated by their sales.
• This will increase by 10 Percent
annually for the next five years.
• Both the dismantlers and recyclers
must file reports to SPCB to certify
that they have used scientific
methods in their operations.
Gaps in the system
• In the first year of its implementation,
though all companies claimed to have
met their targets, there is no
mechanism to verify their claims.
• Since there is no monitoring system,
there is no guarantee that the waste
collected by producers does not go to
unauthorised recyclers.
• The process includes manual
dismantling, separation and
shredding; unsafe removal and
collection of solder by heating; acidic
extraction of metals; and, burning of
waste to remove combustible plastics
and isolating metals.
• These cause severe pollution in air,
water and soil and severely affects the
worker’s health.
Importing trouble
• According to the Hazardous and Other
Wastes (Management and Trans-
boundary) Rules, 2016, importing e-
waste for disposal is banned in India.
• For recycling, a prior permission from
the government is required and in the
last five years, the government has
given no such permission, said Dave
in the Rajya Sabha reply.
• It is allowed only for the refurbishing
of second-hand products.
• However, the nodal agency, the
Central Board of Excise and Customs,
infrastructure to distinguish between
a second-hand product and e-waste.
• They have to be re-exported to the
country of origin in 1-3 years.
• Over 95 per cent of e-waste recycling
is done by the informal sector.
• One of the major hubs in India,
Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- Down to Earth
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4. In a first, Madras High Court sets
up ‘Environmental Fund’
• Madras High Court has directed the
Tamil Nadu State Legal Services
Authority, Chennai, to open a
separate account under the name
“Environmental Fund” (EF).
• In which amounts received from
various courts, in the form of costs
ordered to parties, would be used to
finance tree plantations or maintain
water bodies.
Topic- GS-3- Environment
Source- Down to Earth
5. NASA postpones James Webb
Space Telescope launch to 2021
• The NASA has delayed the launch of
its flagship highly anticipated James
Webb Space Telescope
• The JWST is scheduled to launch on
March 30, 2021.
Related Information
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
• The James Webb Space Telescope
(JWST) is a space telescope
developed in collaboration between
NASA, the European Space Agency,
and the Canadian Space Agency that
will be the scientific successor to the
Hubble Space Telescope.
• It will be bigger than Hubble.
• Webb will not orbit Earth as Hubble
does.
***
61
• Webb will orbit the sun in a spot on
the other side of the moon.
• The Webb telescope will be able to see
a different kind of light than the light
Hubble sees.
Hubble Space Telescope
• The Hubble Space Telescope is a large
telescope in space.
• NASA launched Hubble in 1990.
• Hubble travels around Earth at about
5 miles per second.
• Hubble faces toward space.
• It takes pictures of planets, stars and
galaxies.
What Makes Hubble Different from
Telescopes on Earth?
• The mixture of gases that surround a
planet is called its atmosphere.
• Earth's atmosphere changes and
blocks some of the light that comes
from space.
• Hubble flies around, or orbits, high
above Earth and its atmosphere.
• So, Hubble can see space better than
telescopes on Earth can.
• Hubble uses a digital camera.
• Then Hubble uses radio waves to send
the pictures through the air back to
Earth.
Topic- GS-3- Science and Technology
Source- NASA
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