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Upsc Monthly Current Affair June 2019 English 29 PDF
Upsc Monthly Current Affair June 2019 English 29 PDF
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• They are scheduled tribe which • However, the revised draft retains the
belongs to the Dravidian family. recommendation to introduce a three-
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve language formula from Class 1
• The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is an onwards; it simply removes the clause
International Biosphere Reserve in stipulating the specific languages that
the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills students must choose.
ranges of South India. • The controversial sentence appeared
• It was declared a World Heritage Site in Section 4.5.9, titled ‘Flexibility in
by UNESCO in 2012. the choice of languages’.
• It includes the Aralam, Mudumalai, Original Draft
Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and • In keeping with the principle of
Silent Valley national parks, as well as flexibility, students who wish to
the Wayanad and Sathyamangalam change one of the three languages
wildlife sanctuaries. they are studying may do so in Grade
• Tribal groups like the Todas, Kotas, 6, so long as the study of three
Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, languages by students in the Hindi-
Edanadan Chettis, Allar, Malayan, speaking states would continue to
etc., are native to the reserve. include Hindi and English and one of
Topic- GS Paper 1 –Art and Culture the modern Indian languages from
Source- Indian Express other parts of India.
9. New Zealand 'wellbeing' budget
• While the study of languages by
• New Zealand is the first western
students in the non-Hindi-speaking
country to design its entire budget
states would include the regional
based on wellbeing priorities.
language, Hindi and English.
• The budget includes life expectancy,
education levels, air quality and "a Revised Draft
sense of belonging. • In keeping with the principle of
• There will be increased spending on flexibility, students who wish to
mental health, indigenous welfare and change one or more of the three
child poverty in a budget. languages they are studying may do
Related Information so in Grade 6 or Grade 7, so long as
• It is a second innovation step after the they are able to still demonstrate
Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan first proficiency in three languages (one
floated the idea of prioritising language at the literature level) in
happiness overgrowth in the early their modular Board Examinations
1970s and introduced a Gross sometime during secondary school.”
National Happiness Index in 2008. Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
Topic- GS Paper 3– Economics Source- The Hindu
Source-Live Mint 2. UdChalo’ Portal
• ‘UdChalo’ is a travel portal that caters
04.06.2019 for the personal travel of the military
and paramilitary forces personnel by
1. Mandatory Hindi goes out of draft aggregating defence fares and gets
education policy exclusive discounts.
• The clause recommending mandatory • The Army’s Paraplegic Rehabilitation
Hindi teaching in all schools was Centre has joined hands with UdChalo
dropped from the draft National with an aim to empower the disabled
Education Policy by the Union military veterans.
Government. Related Information
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for drugs developed outside India and 2. Scientists edit chicken genes to
to 30 days for “discovery, research make them resistant to bird flu
and manufacture” in India. • Scientists have used gene-editing
• The Ministry of Health and Family techniques to stop bird flu spreading
Welfare marked “stem cell-derived in chicken cells grown in a lab that
products” under the definition of “new could halt a human flu pandemic.
drugs”. • They use the gene editing technology,
• It also mandated that such known as CRISPR.
formulations be approved by the • It helps to remove a section of the
Central Drugs Standard Control birds’ DNA responsible for producing a
Organisation (CDSCO). protein called ANP32, on which all flu
• The new rules require clinics engaged viruses depend to infect a host.
in such “new drug” therapy to acquire • Cas9 (or "CRISPR-associated protein
a marketing licence. 9") is an enzyme that uses CRISPR
• Clinical trials are research studies that sequences as a guide to recognize and
explore whether a medical strategy, cleave specific strands of DNA that are
treatment or device is safe and complementary to the CRISPR
effective for humans. sequence.
• Before a drug is launched in the • Cas9 enzymes together with CRISPR
market, it has to be tested for its sequences form the basis of a
safety and efficacy. technology known as CRISPR-Cas9
Central drug Standard Control that can be used to edit genes within
Organisation (CDSCO) organisms.
• Central drug Standard Control Related Information
Organisation (CDSCO) regulates Bird Flu
clinical trials under Drugs and • Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is
Cosmetics Act, 1940. a viral infection that can infect not
• The Central Drugs Standard Control only birds but also humans and other
Organization (CDSCO) is the national animals. Most forms of the virus are
regulatory body for Indian restricted to birds.
pharmaceuticals and medical device. • H5N1 is the most common form of
• It functions under the Drugs and bird flu.
Cosmetics Act,1940. • It’s deadly to birds and can easily
• CDSCO comes under Directorate affect humans and other animals that
General of Health Services, Ministry of come in contact with a carrier.
Health & Family Welfare. • Currently, the virus isn’t known to
CDSCO is responsible for spread via human-to-human contact.
• Approval of New Drugs • H5N1 occurs naturally in wild
• Conduct of Clinical Trials waterfowl, but it can spread easily to
• Laying down the standards for Drugs domestic poultry.
• Control over the quality of imported • The disease is transmitted to humans
Drugs in the country and through contact with infected bird
• Coordination of the activities of State feces, nasal secretions, or secretions
Drug Control Organizations by from the mouth or eyes.
providing expert advice with a view to Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and
bring about uniformity in the Technology
enforcement of the Drugs and Source- The Hindu
Cosmetics Act. 3. Nilekani Recommendations to
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance boost digital transactions
Source- The Hindu
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NEFT System for other fund transfers • Gujarat Chief Minister launched
(below Rs 2 lakh). India’s first trading programme to
Related Information combat particulate air pollution on
Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) World Environment Day 2019, which
• RTGS systems are specialist funds has air pollution as its theme.
transfer systems where the transfer of • The programme is a market-based
money or securities takes place from system where the government sets a
one bank to any other bank on a "real cap on emissions and allows
time" and on a "gross" basis. industries to buy and sell permits to
• Settlement in "real time" means a stay below the cap.
payment transaction is not subjected • Being initiated in Surat by the Gujarat
to any waiting period, with Pollution Control Board (GPCB), the
transactions being settled as soon as emission trading scheme (ETS) was
they are processed. " designed with the help of a team of
• The gross settlement" means the researchers from the Energy Policy
transaction is settled on a one-to-one Institute at the University of Chicago
basis without bundling or netting with (EPIC), the Economic Growth Center
any other transaction. at Yale University and others from The
• The minimum amount to be remitted Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
through RTGS is Rs 2 lakh. (J-PAL).
• There is no upper ceiling for RTGS • Under the cap and trade system, the
transactions. regulator first defines the total mass
• RTGS payments typically incur higher of pollution that can be put into the air
transaction costs and usually over a defined period by all factories
operated by a country's central bank. put together.
• Recently RBI extends RTGS transfer • Then, a set of permits is created, each
timings window for customer of which allows a certain amount of
transactions (initial cut-off) from 4.30 pollution, and the total is equal to the
pm to 6 pm. cap.
National Electronic Funds Transfer • These permits are the quantity that is
(NEFT) bought and sold.
• It is an electronic fund transfer • Each factory is allocated a share of
system introduced by the RBI in 2005. these permits (this could be equal or
• It has maintained by Institute for based on size or some other rule).
Development and Research in • After this, plants can trade permits
Banking Technology (IDRBT). with each other, just like any other
• NEFT enables bank customers in India commodity on the National
to transfer funds between any two Commodity and Derivatives Exchange
NEFT-enabled bank accounts on a Limited (NCDEX).
one-to-one basis( not on a real-time • Globally, cap-and-trade systems have
basis as in RTGS ) been used to reduce other forms of
• No settlements are made on the pollution, such as programmes that
second and fourth Saturday of the have successfully reduced sulphur
month, or on Sundays, or on public dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides
holidays. (NOx) in the United States. But the
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Banking System Gujarat programme is the first in the
Source- The Hindu world to regulate particulate air
6. Gujarat launches India’s first trading pollution.
programme to combat particulate air Related Information
pollution
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• Emissions trading (also known as cap machine did not record his or her vote
and trade) is a market-based correctly is allowed to cast a test vote.
approach to controlling pollution by • If the voter fails to prove the
providing economic incentives for mismatch, poll officials can initiate
achieving reductions in the emissions action against the complainant under
of pollutants. Section 177 of the Indian Penal Code,
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment which deals with giving false
Source- Down To Earth submission.
7. Indian Navy steams ahead with its go • Under the Section, a person can be
‘green’ plans in eco-friendly push punished with a jail term up to six
• Indian Navy has formulated a plan months, or fine to the tune of Rs
called as Indian Navy Environment 1,000 or both.
Conservation Roadmap (INECR). Topic- GS Paper 2 –Indian Polity
• Under the INECR, numerous policies Source- New Indian Express
aimed at reduction of energy 9. CII launches new Index "Fiscal
consumption and environment Performance Index" to measure fiscal
sustenance have been formulated and performance
disseminated to all ships, as well as • Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
shore establishments. has launched a Fiscal Performance
• The roadmap aims for a reduction in Index (FPI) to assess state and
energy consumption and central budgets.
diversification of energy supply as the • The Index incorporates qualitative
key result areas. assessments of revenue expenditure,
• Indian Navy has pledged 1.5% of its capital expenditure, revenues, fiscal
works Budget towards Renewable prudence and the level of public debt
Energy generation. arrive at a more holistic picture of
• Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects have fiscal performance than the fiscal
been one of the focus areas of the deficit to GDP ratio.
Navy since the inception of the INECR. • A single criterion such as the ‘fiscal
• Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) projects deficit to GDP ratio’ does not tell us
consisting of both rooftop and land- anything about the quality of the
based solar panels are under Budget. Hence, the Government
execution at various shore should use multiple indicators to
establishments of the Navy under the measure the quality of Budgets at the
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Central and the State levels rather
Mission. than a single indicator.
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment • The CII has used this index to analyse
Source- The Hindu state and central budgets from 2004-
8. Election Commission may revisit 05 to 2016-17.
penal provision on a test vote Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economic
• The Election Commission of India may Development
revisit a rule that provides for Source- Economic Times
prosecution of an elector if a
complaint regarding malfunctioning of 10.06.2019
the EVM or VVPAT machine turns out
to be false. 1. All States, Union Territories can
• Under Rule 49MA of the Conduct of now set up Foreigners Tribunals
Election Rules, a voter who claims • The Ministry of Home Affairs has
that the EVM or the paper trail recently amended the Foreigners
(Tribunals) Order, 1964.
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• This amendment has empowered • Section 9 of the Act states that, where
district magistrates in all States and the nationality of a person is not
Union Territories to set up tribunals to evident as per preceding section 8,
decide whether a person staying the onus of proving whether a person
illegally in India is a foreigner or not. is a foreigner or not, shall lie upon
• It will help to detain and deport such person.
foreign nationals staying illegally Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
across the country. Source- The Hindu
• Earlier, the powers to constitute 2. IndSpaceEx: A space warfare exercise
tribunals were vested only with the • India is planning to conduct its first-
Centre. ever simulated space warfare exercise
Related Information named IndSpaceEx in July 2019.
Illegal Migrants (Determination by • The exercise will basically be a ‘table-
Tribunal) Act, 1983 top wargame’, with all stakeholders
• The Illegal Migrants (Determination from the military and scientific
community taking part in it.
by Tribunal) Act was an Act of the
• It helps to underline the seriousness
Parliament of India enacted in 1983
with which India is taking the need to
by the Union government.
counter likely threats to its space
• It was struck down by the Supreme
assets from countries like China.
Court of India in 2005 in Sarbananda
• IndSpaceEx will help us better grasp
Sonowal v. Union of India.
the strategic challenges in space that
• This act described the procedures to
need to be handled.
detect illegal immigrants (from
• India took the first step towards
Bangladesh) and expel them from
developing a credible counter-space
Assam.
capability under ‘Mission Shakti’.
• The Act was pushed through mainly Related Information
on the grounds that it provided special Mission Shakti
protections against undue • Mission Shakti is India’s test of an
harassment to the “minorities” anti-satellite weapon called ASATs.
affected by the Assam Agitation. • Anti-satellite weapons (ASATs) are
• It was applicable to the state of Assam created to destroy or incapacitate
only whereas, in other states, satellites placed in low earth orbit.
detection of foreigners is done under • It helps towards step securing India's
The Foreigners Act, 1946. safety, economic growth and
Foreigners Tribunals technological advancement.
• The tribunals are quasi-judicial • There are only four countries have
bodies, unique to Assam. ASAT capabilities, US, USSR, China
• It helps to determine if a person and now India.
staying illegally is a “foreigner” or not. Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science & technology
• When the ‘foreigner’ has been Source- Economics Times
apprehended by the police for staying 3. First Trains services opened in the
illegally, he or she is produced before Arctic
a local court under the Passport Act, • Russia has launched the first tourist
1920, or the Foreigners Act, 1946, train named Zarengold (means ‘The
with the punishment ranging three Tsar’s gold’ in German) to the Arctic
months to eight years in jail. region.
• The Foreigners Act, 1946 defines a • The train will travel through Russia’s
foreigner as a person who is not a Arctic region on to Norway and take
citizen of India. 11 days to complete the whole trip
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• The Penna (also known as Pennar, • Stem cells are cells that can
Penner, Penneru or North Pinākinī) is differentiate into other types of cells,
a river of southern India. and can also divide in self-renewal to
• The Penna rises in Nandi Hills in produce more of the same type of
Chikballapur District of Karnataka stem cells.
state and runs north and east through • In mammals, there are two broad
the states of Karnataka and Andhra types of stem cells:
Pradesh to empty into the Bay of • Embryonic stem cells, which are
Bengal. isolated from the inner cell mass of
• Tributaries blastocysts in early embryonic
• Left Bank - Jayamangali, Kunderu, development.
Sagileru • Adult stem cells, which are found in
• Right Bank - Chitravati, Papagni, various tissues of fully developed
Cheyyeru mammals.
Topic- GS Paper 1 –Major Project Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and
(Geography) Technology
Source- AIR Source- Down to Earth
8. New injectable hydrogel may improve
stem cell uptake 11.06.2019
• Researchers from the Mohali-based
Institute of Nanoscience and 1. Pakistan faces FATF blacklist
Technology have devised a method to • The Joint Group of Asia Pacific Group
encapsulate adult stem cells, called (APG) has informed Pakistan that its
Mesenchymal Stem Cells, in an action plans on terrorist groups were
injectable hydrogel. inadequate after it was grey-listed by
• The use of stem cells in regenerative the Financial Action Task Force for
medicine remains a challenging task terror financing.
because of problems associated with • APG has said that Pakistan has time
the survival of transplanted cells. until September 2019 to either
• Stem cells, when transplanted on a comply with the demands made by
wound site, releases chemicals called FATF members or it could be
Paracrine factors which stimulate blacklisted.
other cells in the vicinity to initiate • The blacklisting will prevent
tissue regrowth. institutions like IMF from financially
About the Gel supporting Pakistan which is
• The injectable hydrogel has been anticipating a financial crisis.
derived from natural materials like • Pakistan was placed on FATF’s grey
cellulose and chitosan (found in list for terror financing in June 2018,
seashells) and it biodegrades in about on a proposal moved by the US, UK,
a month. Germany and France.
• The hydrogel was fabricated by Related Information
connecting an aldehyde group with an Asia Pacific Group
amino group, by employing a method • Asia Pacific Group is the FATF-style
called the Schiff base reaction. regional body for the Asia-Pacific
• “The hydrogel addresses the issue of region founded in 1997, Bangkok.
the long-term survival of adult stem • It is autonomous regional anti-money
cells in simulated cultures that mimic laundering body by unanimous
the actual body tissue. agreement among 13 original
Stem cell founding members.
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• New Zealand became the world's first • The appointee for the office is
to grant its third largest river, approved by Appointments
Whanganui, the same legal rights as a Committee of the Cabinet headed by
human being. Prime Minister, based on the
Topic- GS Paper 3 – Environment appointee's ability and the confidence
Source- Down to Earth of the Prime Minister.
4. India gets its first Dinosaur Museum • The Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio
• India's first Dinosaur Museum cum head of the Civil Services Board, the
Park inaugurated at Raiyoli near Cabinet Secretariat, the Indian
Balasinor in Gujarat's Mahisagar Administrative Service (IAS), and all
district. civil services under the rules of
• The museum will exhibit remains of business of the government.
various dinosaurs and fossil records. • The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible
• It was the country's first such for the administration of the
museum and the world's third park. Transaction of Business Rules, 1961
• Raiyoli is known to be the third largest and the Allocation of Business Rules,
dinosaur fossil site in the world, and 1961 of the Government of India.
also the second largest dinosaur • It helps in facilitating a smooth
hatchery in the world, where transaction of business in
thousands of eggs had been found. ministries/departments of the
• This dinosaur museum was equipped Government.
with modern technology like 3D Topic- GS Paper 2 – Governance
projection, virtual reality Source- The Hindu
presentations, interactive kiosks and 6. Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media
life-size dinosaur replicas. Samman (AYDMS)
Topic- GS Paper 3 – Environment • The Ministry of Information and
Source- Business Standards Broadcasting (I&B) has instituted its
5. Govt amends 60-year-old rule to grant first Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media
an extension to Cabinet Secy Samman.
• The Centre has amended a 60-year- • The aim of the award is to
old rule to grant a three-month acknowledge the positive role &
extension to Cabinet Secretary responsibility of media in
Pradeep Kumar Sinha. disseminating the outreach of Yoga in
• According to All India Services India and abroad.
(Death-Cum-Retirement-Benefits) • The award will be conferred to Media
Rules, 1958, the government can give Houses engaged in Print Media,
extension in service to a cabinet Electronic and (Television & Radio).
secretary provided the total tenure Categories:
does not exceed four years. The award would be given under the
• As per the modified rules notified the following categories:
central government may give an 1. Best Media Coverage of Yoga in
extension in service for a further Newspapers - Eleven Sammans will be
period not exceeding three months, conferred in 22 Indian languages and
beyond the period of four years to a English
cabinet secretary. 2. Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Radio
Related Information - Eleven Sammans will be conferred in
Cabinet Secretary of India 22 Indian languages and English
• The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most 3. Best Media Coverage of Yoga in
executive official and senior-most civil Television - Eleven Sammans will be
servant of the Government of India.
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can be easily transmitted to humans powerful than any local system that
and cause life-threatening infections. can pull the monsoon winds moving
• Another pathogen detected was the northeast.
Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that • Thus by sucking all the moisture from
can infect all warm-blooded animals the monsoon winds towards itself the
and cause toxoplasmosis. northward progress, especially in
Related Information interior areas, would not be possible
Snow Leopard till the cyclone dissipates
• It is a large cat native to the mountain Different Cyclonic Alerts
ranges of Central and South Asia. • Yellow: Be Updated
• It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN • Orange: Be prepared
• Red: Take action
Red List.
• Green: No warning
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment and
Arabian Sea Cyclones
Biodiversity
• Arabian Sea cyclones are also
Source- Down to Earth
relatively weak compared to those
emerging in the Bay of Bengal.
12.06.2019 • In the last 120 years, just about 14%
of all cyclonic storms, and 23% of
1. Gujarat on alert as cyclonic storm severe cyclones, around India have
Vayu inches towards the coast occurred in the Arabian Sea.
• The India Meteorological Department • Gujarat coastline, where most of the
issued an orange alert over Cyclone cyclones emerging in the Arabian Sea
Vayu which is expected to reach the are headed, is not very densely
Gujarat coast. populated, ensures that the damage
• Cyclone Vayu, named by India. potential of the cyclones on the
• It is moving towards the North western coast is comparatively low.
(expected to hit Gujarat coast) and is HOW ARE CYCLONES NAMED?
expected to draw moisture away from • India falls under the southern region
the monsoon that in turn will delay the of the world.
arrival of monsoon. • A total of eight countries fall under
Related Information this group and they give names to
Conditions for cyclone formation: cyclones one by one.
• The countries involved are
1. Warm sea temperature of about 27
Bangladesh, India, Maldives,
Celsius
Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
2. Presence of Coriolis force
and Thailand.
3. Calm atmospheric conditions • These countries name cyclones one by
How does Cyclone affect monsoon? one, which are discussed in the
• Cyclones are sustained by very strong meeting of all countries and then later
low-pressure areas at their core. finalised.
• Winds in surrounding areas are forced Topic- GS Paper 1 –Geography of World
to rush towards these low-pressure and India
areas. Source- The Hindu
• Similar low-pressure areas, when 2. Defence Space Agency: New agency
they develop near or over land, are to develop space warfare weapon
instrumental in pulling the monsoon systems
winds over the country as well. • The government has approved the
• But right now, the low-pressure area setting up of a new agency called
at the centre of the cyclone is far more Defence Space Agency to enhance the
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security, industrial safety and welfare, • The proposed space station would
and industrial relations. weigh around 20 tonnes.
Related Information • It serves as a facility where
astronauts could stay for 15-20 days
• Labour is a subject in the concurrent
and would be placed in an orbit 400
list of the Constitution of India and
km above the earth.
both the centre and states can enact
• It also provides a small module for
laws on labour matters.
microgravity experiments.
• There are 44 central laws and more Related Information
than 150 state laws on labour. International Space Station (ISS)
• NSSO report showed that the • The ISS programme is a joint project
unemployment rate across the between five participating space
country stood at 6.1%, the highest agencies: NASA (United States),
since 1972-73. It also showed that Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan),
joblessness was higher in urban India ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
(7.8%) than in rural India (5.3%). • It is a space station, or a habitable
• However, there is a stiff opposition artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit
from labour unions who alleges that about 400km.
Industries are already flouting labour • The ISS is the largest human-made
regulations and any dilution of the body in low Earth orbit and can often
existing laws will compromise be seen with the naked eye from Earth.
employee’s welfare. • The ISS serves as a microgravity and
space environment research
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
laboratory in which crew members
Source- TOI conduct experiments in biology,
8. Bancha, the first solar kitchen only human biology, physics, astronomy,
village in India meteorology, and other fields.
• Bancha in Betul district, Madhya • It circles the Earth in roughly 92
Pradesh is the first village in India to minutes and completes 15.5 orbits
have zero wooden stoves and almost per day.
no use for LPG cylinders with all its Topic-GS Paper 3–Science & Technology
houses relying on solar-powered Source- The Hindu
stoves to meet their cooking needs. 2. Global Peace Index 2019
• The Institute for Economics and Peace
Topic- Important for PCS Exams
recently released Global Peace Index
Source- Economic Times 2019 in which India's rank has slipped
five places to 141 among 163
countries.
14.06.2019
Highlights of the report
1. India will have its own space • Iceland remains the most peaceful
station country in the world, a position it has
• India plans to have its own space held since 2008.
station at a time frame for launch • It is joined at the top of the Global
would be 5-7 years after Gaganyaan. Peace Index (GPI) by New Zealand,
• Gaganyaan will be the first manned Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.
mission of India scheduled for August • Afghanistan is now the least peaceful
2022 which is launched by GSLV Mk- country in the world, replacing Syria.
III launch vehicle.
Indian Proposed Space Station
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• The weapon has been developed by • The BEPS Project identified 15 actions
the Naval Science and Technology to address base erosion and profit
Laboratory (NTSL), Visakhapatnam. shifting (BEPS) in a comprehensive
Varunastra manner.
• It is a ship-launched, electrically- Multilateral Instrument/Convention
propelled underwater weapon • It will enable India to modify its tax
equipped with one of the most treaties to curb revenue loss through
advanced automatic and remote- treaty abuse or BEPS strategies where
controlled guidance systems. companies park their profits in low-
• The weapon system uses its own tax jurisdictions.
intelligence in tracing the target. • It will ensure profits are taxed where
• Varunastra is considered to be 95% substantive economic activities are
indigenous. carried out and where value is
• It can be launched from ships and created.
submarines and also from ashore. • The US is not a signatory of this
• Varunastra can hit stealth submarines Multilateral Convention as it believes
underwater. that it has a robust tax treaty network
• The operational range is 40 km and it that prevents treaty abuse.
can carry a warhead weighing 250 kg. Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economics
Note: Source-Live mint
3. Scientists unravel the fungus responsible
• Torpedo is a self-propelled
for Sheath Blight disease in rice
underwater missile, launched from a
• A team of scientists has unravelled
submarine, surface vessel, or airplane
the two Indian strains of Rhizoctonia
and designed for exploding upon
solani (Fungus) that causes the
contact with the target.
dreaded Sheath Blight disease in rice.
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Defence • Rhizoctonia solani is a fungal
Source- The Hindu pathogen that causes the dreaded
2. Multilateral instrument to curb tax Sheath Blight disease in rice.
treaty abuse Related Information
• The Union Cabinet approved the Sheath Blight Diseases
ratification of the multilateral • Sheath Blight disease is a major issue
instrument (MLI) which helps in in rice cultivation.
preventing tax treaty abuse under the • It can cause up to a 60% reduction in
umbrella of the base erosion and rice yield.
profit shifting (BEPS) action plan. • It is difficult to breed disease-
• The Multilateral Instrument/ resistant rice varieties as there is a
Convention are an outcome of the lack of natural source of disease
OECD and G20 Project to tackle the resistance.
BEPS Project. • The scientists have identified several
Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) genes and gene families in the strain
• The BEPS Project objective is to tackle that might account for their disease
base erosion and profit shifting aggressiveness.
through tax planning strategies that • This genomic insight is expected to
exploit gaps and mismatches in tax help develop rice varieties resistant to
rules to artificially shift profits to low sheath blight disease.
or no-tax locations. Topic-GS Paper 3–Environment &
• It takes place where there is little or Biodiversity
no economic activity resulting in little Source- Down to Earth
or no overall corporate tax being paid.
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• The scheme will be implemented over largest fish producing country in the
a period of three years with effect world as it accounts for 6.3 per cent
from 1st April 2019. of the global fish production.
• The FAME II is an expanded version of • The fisheries sector in the country is
FAME I, launched in 2015 which aimed growing at a rate of 7 per cent,
to support hybrid/electric vehicles sustaining 14.5 million fishermen.
market development and • There is a huge potential in
Manufacturing ecosystem. harnessing tuna and tuna-like species
• FAME scheme is under Ministry of in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone
Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. (EEZ).
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance • 30 per cent of the Indian EEZ is
Source- Economics Times spread across the Andaman, Nicobar
and Lakshadweep Islands, but only 1
4. AWaRe: A tool for safer use of
per cent comprises the production of
antibiotics, curb resistance
tuna fish.
• WHO has launched a global campaign
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
that urges countries to adopt its new
• It is an intergovernmental
online tool called "AWaRe".
organization that coordinates the
• The tool aimed at guiding policy-
regulation and management of tuna in
makers and health workers to use
the Indian Ocean.
antibiotics safely and more
• A multilateral treaty, the Agreement
effectively.
for the Establishment of the Indian
• It’s another objective is to limit drugs Ocean Tuna Commission was
that are at risk of resistance. approved by the Council of the Food
• The tool, known as ‘AWaRe’, classifies and Agriculture Organization of the
antibiotics into three groups: United Nations in November 1993.
(a) Access — antibiotics used to treat • The agreement entered into force on
the most common and serious 27 March 1996 after it had been
infections accepted by a tenth party.
(b) Watch — antibiotics available at all • The Agreement is open to any state
times in the healthcare system that has coasts within the Indian
(c) Reserve — antibiotics to be used Ocean region (or adjacent seas) as
sparingly or preserved and used only well as any state that fishes for tuna
as a last resort in the Indian Ocean region.
• The campaign aims to achieve a 60 • The agreement is also open to
per cent increase in the use of regional economic organizations.
antibiotics under the Access group • The IOTC is the successor to the Indo-
cheap, ‘narrow-spectrum’ drugs (that Pacific Tuna Development and
target a specific microorganism rather Management Programme, which was
than several) and also lower the risk established in 1982.
of resistance. • There are 31 members of IOTC.
• It also reduces the use of the Topic- GS Paper 2 –International
antibiotics most at risk of resistance Relations
from the Watch and Reserve groups. Source- Business Standards
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Health issues 6. Om Birla unanimously elected as
Source- Down To Earth Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha
5. India accounts for 6.3% of global fish Related Information
production Speaker of Lok Sabha
• According to the Fisheries
Department, India is the second
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• The Speaker is elected by the Lok Committee and the General Purpose
Sabha from amongst its members (as Committee.
soon as may be, after its first sitting). • His salaries and allowances are fixed
• The date of election of the Speaker is by Parliament and charged on the
fixed by the President. Consolidated Fund of -India and thus
Role, Powers and Functions are not subject to the annual vote of
• The Speaker is the head of the Lok Parliament.
Sabha and its representative. • He is placed at seventh rank, along
• He is the guardian of powers and with the Chief Justice of India which
privileges of the members, the House means he has a higher rank than all
as a whole and its committees. cabinet ministers, except the Prime
• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha derives Minister or Deputy Prime Minister.
his powers and duties from three Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
sources, that is, the Constitution of Source- AIR
India, the Rules of Procedure and 7. Piped water at every rural home by
Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, 2024
and Parliamentary Conventions • The government announced to roll out
(residuary powers that are unwritten a new mission to ensure “Nal se Jal”
or unspecified in the Rules). (water from the tap) for each house in
• He presides over a joint sitting of the villages in the next five years i.e by
two Houses of Parliament when the 2024.
sitting is summoned by the President • Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, both
to settle a deadlock between the two ground and surface water will be used
Houses on a bill. to meet the requirement.
• He decides whether a bill is a money • The quality of water sources both
bill or not and his decision on this surface and ground sources is hardly
question is final. suited to drinking.
• He decides the questions of • According to NITI Aayog, nearly 70
disqualification of a member of the per cent of all of the country’s fresh
Lok Sabha, arising on the ground of water sources is contaminated.
defection under the provisions of the Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
Tenth Schedule. Source- The Hindu
• In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that 8. Libra is Facebook’s cryptocurrency
the decision of the Speaker in this • Facebook has decided to launch a
regard is subject to judicial review. crypt currency called Libra.
• He acts as the ex-officio chairman of • The currency is designed not to be a
the Indian Parliamentary Group which speculative asset, like Bitcoin, but a
acts as a link between the Parliament form of digital money backed by a
of India and the various parliaments reserve of assets.
of the world. Related Information
• He also acts as the ex-officio chairman • The Marshall Islands has also decided
of the conference of presiding officers to launch “Sovereign” (SOV), a
of legislative bodies in the country. cryptocurrency which can be used as
• He appoints the chairman of all the a legal tender.
parliamentary committees of the Lok • In 2018, Venezuela launched Petro,
Sabha and supervises their becoming the first country to officially
functioning. launch its own cryptocurrency.
• He is the chairman of the Business
Crypto Currency
Advisory Committee, the Rules
• Cryptocurrency is an encrypted
decentralized digital currency
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the relevant parties of the case and • But the following dissolution of some
shall record their views. Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and
• No lawyer shall be permitted to 1969 and that of the Lok Sabha in
present the case before the DRC. December 1970, elections to State
Topic- GS Paper 2- Indian Polity Assemblies and Parliament have been
Source- Business Line held separately.
7. Sri Lanka successfully launches • The idea of reverting to simultaneous
its first satellite 'Ravana-1' into polls was mooted in the annual report
orbit of the Election Commission in 1983.
• Sri Lanka’s first satellite, ‘Ravana-1’, • The Law Commission’s Report also
was successfully launched into orbit referred to it in 1999.
from the International Space Station Positive Argument of Simultaneous
(ISS). Election
Related Information • It will reduce the enormous costs
Ravana-1 involved in separate elections
• This is a low orbit cube research • It will help ruling parties focus on
satellite. governance instead of being
• The lifespan of the satellite is constantly in election mode.
minimum one and a half years but is • Help to boost voter turnout
expected to be active for 5 years. • Also, help to free up security forces for
• Ravana 1 is expected to fulfil five deployment in their core areas.
missions which include: Arguments against the simultaneous
a) capturing of pictures of Sri Lanka polls
and surrounding regions, • National and state issues are different
b) Glue Mission: to find COTS and holding simultaneous elections is
alternative to expensive space glue likely to affect the judgment of voters
c) active attitude stabilization Earth • Since elections will be held once in five
Magnetic Field measurement, years, it will reduce the government’s
d) Provide ciphered short messages in accountability to the people
its beacon in the 437 MHz band and • When an election in a State is
e) Remote Data Collection. postponed until the synchronised
Topic- GS Paper 3- Science and phase, President’s rule will have to be
Technology imposed in the interim period in that
Source- The Hindu Business Line state will be a blow to democracy and
8. New Panel will study the ‘1 nation, 1 federalism.
poll’ issue Topic- GS Paper 2- Governance
• Prime Minister has said that a panel Source- The Hindu
will be formed to examine the issue of 9. United States-Mexico-Canada
‘One Country, One Election’. Agreement (USMCA)
• The panel will come up with the • Mexico became the first country to
suggestions in a time-bound manner. ratify the trade deal to replace NAFTA,
• One Country, One Election is the known as the United States-Mexico-
method of holding single elections for Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
both Lok Sabha and States instead of • The USMCA is essentially NAFTA 2.0,
separate and continuous elections. with a few updates.
Background of simultaneous elections in • The pact has been tweaked to include
India changes for automakers, stricter
• Simultaneous elections are not new to labour and environmental standards,
India; they were the norm until 1967. intellectual property protections, and
digital trade provisions.
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• It is an online portal to facilitate bank freight rates for different lanes and
customer grievance redressal vehicles across the country.
processes. Why was it required?
• The portal can be accessed on RBI’s • The Indian road freight market size is
website and complaints can be lodged estimated at $150 billion-$160 billion,
against any of the entities regulated of which $130 billion-$140 billion is
by the central bank. full-truckload (FTL) market, but it has
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economy been facing a growing challenge of
Source- Business Standard shortage of truck drivers.
4. Device to trap ocean plastic waste • Logistics account for nearly 14% of
relaunches India’s GDP and 70% of it comes from
• A floating device designed to catch road transportation.
plastic waste has been redeployed in • But, there is no pricing transparency
a second attempt to clean up an island and the working conditions of drivers
of trash swirling in the Pacific Ocean is deplorable. Nobody wants to be a
between California and Hawaii. truck driver anymore and the country
• The device, developed by the could face a 50% shortage of truck
Netherlands-based engineering NGO drivers by 2023.
Ocean Cleanup was first deployed in Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economic
2018 for the cleaning of Great Pacific
Development
Garbage Patch.
Source- Livemint
• However, during the first run, the
6. CJI writes to PM for removal of
device broke under constant waves
Allahabad High Court judge
and wind.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Chief Justice of India has written to
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also Prime Minister to initiate a motion for
known as Pacific trash vortex is a gyre the removal of Allahabad High Court
of marine litter. judge, Justice S.N. Shukla, for his
guilty of misconduct.
• It is the largest accumulation of ocean
plastic in the world. • A three-judge committee, comprising
Chief Justices Indira Banerjee, S.K.
• It is located in the North Pacific
Agnihotri and P.K. Jaiswal of the
Subtropical Gyre, between Hawaii and
Madras, Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh
California.
High Courts formed in 2018 to inquire
• It covers an estimated surface area of
the complaint against Justice Shukla.
1.6 million square kilometres
Related Information
• The Great Pacific garbage patch
Procedure for the removal of High Court
formed gradually as a result of marine
Judges
litter gathered by rotating ocean
• A judge of a high court can be
currents called gyres. removed from his office by an order of
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment the President.
Source- TOI • The President can issue the removal
5. ‘National Freight Index’ for live order only after an address by the
freight rates Parliament has been presented to him
• In its bid to bring transparency in the in the same session for such removal.
road-freight marketplace, Gurgaon- • The address must be supported by a
based tech-enabled logistics start-up special majority of each House of
Rivigo has launched National Freight Parliament (i.e., a majority of the
Index (NFI) that will provide live total membership of that House and
majority of not less than two-thirds of
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the members of that House present Driving Licence for the whole of the
and voting). country.
• The grounds of removal are two— • It is under the flagship application
proved misbehaviour or incapacity. called SARATHI developed by NIC
Thus, a judge of a high court can be which has a common countrywide
removed in the same manner and on database of all driving license holders.
the same grounds as a judge of the SARATHI
Supreme Court. • The SARATHI application has the
• The Judges Enquiry Act (1968) feature to identify duplicate records
regulates the procedure relating to online in real time and access
the removal of a judge of a high court information about the challans if any.
by the process of impeachment: Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
(a) A removal motion signed by 100 Source- AIR
members (in the case of Lok Sabha) 8. Five countries had zero malaria
or 50 members (in the case of Rajya cases in 2018: WHO
Sabha) is to be given to the • According to the WHO E-2020
Speaker/Chairman. initiative: 2019 progress report, four
(b) The Speaker/Chairman may admit countries from Asia — China, Iran,
the motion or refuse to admit it. Malaysia, Timor-Leste and El
(c) If it is admitted, then the Salvador(Central America) reported
Speaker/Chairman is to constitute a no indigenous cases of malaria in
three-member committee to 2018.
investigate into the charges. Related Information
(d) The committee should consist of WHO Initiatives to Eliminate Malaria
(a) the chief justice or a judge of the • World Health Assembly approved a
Supreme Court, (b) chief justice of a Global Technical Strategy for Malaria
high court, and (c) a distinguished to eliminate malaria by 2030 in 2015.
jurist. • The strategy targeted 2020 to
(e) If the committee finds the judge to eliminate malaria in at least 10
be guilty of misbehaviour or suffering countries.
from an incapacity, the House can • In 2016, WHO launched E-2020
take up the consideration of the initiative to scale up efforts to
motion. eliminate malaria by 2020.
(f) After the motion is passed by each • The 21 countries were identified by
House of Parliament by special WHO in 2016 as having the potential
majority, an address is presented to to become malaria-free by 2020.
the president for removal of the India is not among the 21 countries
judge. under E-2020 initiative.
(g) Finally, the president passes an • Recently, the WHO declared Algeria as
order removing the judge. malaria-free which became the
Note: Till now no judge of a high court has second E-2020 country to achieve
been impeached so far. certification, after Paraguay.
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance • Uzbekistan and Argentina though not
Source- The Hindu E-2020 countries, were also awarded
7. Government to launch Universal the malaria-free certification in 2018
Smart Card Driving License and 2019, respectively.
• Road Transport and Highways Eligibility for Malaria Free Certification
Ministry have prescribed a common • Countries that have achieved at least
standard format and design of the 3 consecutive years of 0 local cases of
malaria are eligible to apply for the
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WHO certification of malaria • The Index ranks the States and Union
elimination. Territories based on 23 health-related
World Malaria report 2018 indicators.
• According to the World Malaria Report The indicator includes
2018, more than 200 million people 1. Neonatal mortality rate,
were affected by malaria in 2017. 2. Under-five mortality rate,
• India (4%) along with the Nigeria 3. Proportion of low birth weight among
Democratic Republic of the Congo, new-borns,
Mozambique, and Uganda accounted 4. Proportion of districts with functional
for nearly 50% of all malaria cases Cardiac Care Units,
worldwide. 5. Full immunisation coverage and
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Important Report proportion of specialist positions
Source- Down to Earth vacant at district hospitals.
9. Continental axis hypothesis Highlights of the Index
• It was first proposed by American • Kerala continued to top the list for the
geographer Jared Diamond in his best performing State in the health
popular 1997 book Guns, Germs, and sector whereas Uttar Pradesh retained
Steel. the worst performer tag among the 21
• This hypothesis is referred to as why larger states.
certain regions of the world • Among the UTs, Chandigarh is on the top.
throughout history experienced more • The report stated that only about half
economic development than others. the States and UTs shows an
• It states that regions of the earth that improvement in the overall score of
are spread across a large latitudinal between 2015-16 (base year) and
area, that is east-west, are more 2017-18 (reference year).
likely to witness greater development • The report added that among the
than regions that extend eight Empowered Action Group
longitudinally, that is north-south. States, only three States —
• This is because temperatures are Rajasthan, Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh
largely similar across latitudes, which — showed improvement in the overall
helps technology and ideas to spread performance.
among a larger population. • The eight socioeconomically backward
• It also results in more cultural states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
homogeneity. Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa,
• It is also known as “Continental Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Uttar
orientation hypothesis. Pradesh, referred to as
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economic Terms the Empowered Action Group
Source- The Hindu (EAG)
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Important Report
26.06.2019 Source-The Hindu
2. DRDO scientist develops a herbal
1. NITI Aayog’s Health Index drug to treat leucoderma
• NITI Aayog recently released its • DRDO has developed ‘lukoskin' for
second edition of State Health Index. the treatment of Leucoderma on
• The report ‘Healthy States, International Vitiligo Day 25 June.
Progressive India: Report on Rank of Vitiligo or Leucoderma
States and UTs’ has ranked in three • Leucoderma is a skin condition in
categories — larger States, smaller which white patches develop on the
States and Union Territories. skin due to lack of melanin (a pigment
in the skin).
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