ENVIRONMENT-

BLUE FLAG CERTIFICATION-

 The Blue Flag beach standards were established by Copenhagen-based

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in 1985 in France. The Blue Flag is
an environmental award for beaches, sustainable boating tourism operators, and
marinas.
 Only local authorities or private beach operators can apply for a Blue Flag for
beaches.
 The criteria for Blue Flag beaches cover four main area:

o water quality,
o environmental management,
o environmental education and
o safety.
 Chandrabhaga beach of Odisha's Konark coast was the first to complete the tag
certification process will be the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification.

NILGIRI THAR-

 The Nilgiri tahr inhabits the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from
1200 to 2600 m (generally above 2000 m) of the South Western Ghats.
 Their range extends over 400 km from north to south, and Eravikulam National
Park is home to the largest population.
 Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and as Endangered on IUCN
Red List.
 Adult males develop a light grey area or “saddle” on their backs and are hence
called “saddlebacks”.
 It is state animal of Tamil Nadu.

SAGAR NIDHI-

 Indian Ocean Research Vehicle (IORV) Sagar Nidhi as part of India- US

expedition seeking to find answers to vagaries of Bay of Bengal fed South-West
Monsoon was set out in Indian Ocean.
 The project is funded by Ministry of Earth Science, India and US office on Naval
Research.
 It will try to find out the answers about the unpredictability of South-West
Monsoon

PET COKE-

 India recently banned the import of petcoke for use as fuel.

 Petroleum coke or pet coke, is a solid carbon rich (90% carbon and 3% to 6%
sulfur) material derived from oil refining.
 It is categorized as a “bottom of the barrel” fuel.
 It is a dirtier alternative to coal and emits 11% more greenhouse gases than coal
and nearly 17 times more sulphur than coal.
 Petcoke is a source of fine dust which can get lodged in the lungs.

PETROLEUM COKE -High calorific value, releases more carbon-dioxide, higher sulphur
content, zero ash content and used in cement industry

 Petroleum coke or petcoke is a final carbon-rich solid material that is derived

from oil refining or other cracking processes.
  It is a bottom-of-the-barrel residue while refining crude oil, which is high-calorific
value petroleum residue, helps to conserve natural resources.
 It is over 90 percent carbon and emits 5 to 10 percent more carbon dioxide (CO2)
than coal on a per-unit-of-energy basis when it is burned.
 It is a dirtier alternative to coal and emits 11% more greenhouse gases than
coal and nearly 17 times more sulphur than coal.
 Petcoke contains 75,000 ppm of sulphur content when compared to coal which
has just 4,000 ppm of sulphur
 It can contain vanadium, a toxic metal which is toxic in tiny quantities, 0.8
micrograms per cubic meter of air.
 It is a key input material for cement producers and a highly polluting fuel.
 Pet coke and other polluting fuels such as furnace oil are widely used by
cement factories, dyeing units, paper mills, brick kilns and ceramics businesses.

Anupam Verma Committee- Pesticide Ban-

 The Government of India has decided to ban the use of 18 pesticides following the
recommendations of the Anupam Verma Committee.

CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION PROJECT-

 National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), is nodal agency for the Cheetahs
reintroduction plan.
 In 2009 Project Cheetah was launched and Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary (MP) and
Shahgarh area in Rajasthan were also identified as other two sites for cheetah
reintroduction plan.
 Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. was found to be the most
suitable area for the cheetahs as its forests are not very dense to restrict the fast
movement of Cheetahs.
 Madhya Pradesh forest department seeks to revive the plan to reintroduce
Cheetahs in Nauradehi sanctuary.
 Cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952 and last spotted in Chhattisgarh
1947.
 Cheetah is the flagship species of the grasslands. This will help dryland
ecosystems of India to return to their natural state.
 It inhabits different habitats like dry forests, scrub forests, and savannahs.
 IUCN status: Vulnerable (Asiatic Cheetah – Critically endangered)

NEW ELEPHANT RESERVE- Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaland-

 Nagaland government declared the Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary as an Elephant

Reserve, with the approval of central government
 Other protected area of Nagaland- Intanki National Park, Puliebadze Wildlife Sanctuary,
Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary and Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary

GREEN-AG-

 The Government has launched the “Green – Ag: Transforming Indian Agriculture
for global environmental benefits and the conservation of critical biodiversity and
forest landscapes” in association with Global Environment Facility (GEF).
 The project would be implemented in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) in high-conservation-value landscapes of five States namely,

o Madhya Pradesh: Chambal Landscape,
o Mizoram: Dampa Landscape,
 o Odisha: Similipal Landscape,
o Rajasthan: Desert National Park Landscape and
o Uttarakhand: Corbett-Rajaji Landscape
 The Green-Ag project seeks to integrate biodiversity, climate change and
sustainable land management objectives and practices into Indian agriculture.
 The project aims to catalyze a transformative change of India’s agricultural sector
to support the achievement of national and global environmental benefits and
conservation of critical biodiversity and forest landscapes.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT-

 The IPCC has released its Special Report titled “Global Warming of 1.5°C”.
 Present global warming status: Human-induced global warming in 2017
has already reached 1°C above pre-industrial levels;
 Impacts of global warming at 1.5°C: World would witness greater sea level rise,
increased precipitation and higher frequency of droughts and floods, hotter days
and heatwaves, more intense tropical cyclones, and increased ocean acidification
and salinity.
 Hothouse Earth: A situation in which a planet has passed a tipping point
(approximately 2 degree Celsius) beyond which its own natural processes trigger
uncontrollable warming.

KATOWICE COP 24-

 The 24th Session of the of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 24) was held in Katowice,
Poland.
 Overall Mitigation in Global Emissions (OMGE): It is voluntary and new element
under the Paris Agreement, that takes carbon markets beyond the offsetting
approaches of the existing markets like the CDM. The primary purpose of OMGE is
to deliver on cost-effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, rather
than creating carbon markets for their own sake.
 Overall Mitigation of Global Emissions (OMGE)is stipulated under sub-article 6.4 of
the Paris Agreement. This provision was made with an aim to deliver emission
reductions that go beyond solely offsetting.

Virtual Climate Summit-

 It is organized as part of the Talanoa Dialogue.

 It is a Heads of Government level conference held entirely online as the first
Virtual Summit (#VirtualClimateSummit) of global political leaders, eliminating
emissions and promoting inclusive dialogue.
 It was organised by the Climate Action Network (CAN) and the Climate
Vulnerable Forum (CVF).

SUVA EXPERT DIALOGUE ON LOSS AND DAMAGE -

 Suva Expert Dialogue on loss and damage was held at COP-23 UNFCCC, Bonn.
 In simple terms, loss and damage is a concept where rich countries, who have
historical responsibility for climate change, are asked to be liable to developing
countries, who are already facing climate change.
 Establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) under the Cancun
Adaptation Framework at COP 19, 2013
  Article 8 of the 2015 Paris agreement which emphasizes the “importance of
averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse
effects of climate change”
 The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, established at the CoP22
(UNFCCC), aims to mobilize climate actions quickly and to reap the benefits in
efficiency and effectiveness through partnerships and coordination between
different actors.

Global Air Pollution and Health Conference- WHO

 WHO organised the first global conference on air pollution and health in Geneva,
Switzerland.
 Theme: ‘Improving Air Quality, Combating Climate Change: Saving Lives.’
 Target: To reduce the number of deaths from air pollution by two thirds by 2030
as mandated by World Health Assembly (decision making body of WHO).
 Plan: ‘Geneva Action Agenda to Combat Air Pollution’ has been proposed.

NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME-

 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was recently launched by Ministry of

Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
 It is a pollution control initiative to cut the concentration of particles (PM10 &
PM2.5) by 20-30% by 2024. It will have 2017 as the base year for comparison and
2019 as the first year.
 It is to be implemented in 102 non-attainment cities. These cities are chosen on
the basis of Ambient Air Quality India (2011-2015) and WHO report 2014-2018.
 It is not legally binding.
 Its objectives include-
o Stringent implementation of mitigation measures for prevention, control
and abatement of air pollution.
o Augment and strengthen air quality monitoring network across the
country.
o Augment public awareness and capacity building measures.
 Framing a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound
reduction target.
 It has tried to incorporate measures for urban as well as rural areas. Further,
NCAP also identifies the trans-boundary nature of air pollution.
 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shall execute the nation-wide
programme for the prevention, control, and abetment of air pollution within the
framework of the NCAP .

SYSTEM OF AIR QUALITY AND WEATHER FORECASTING AND RESEARCH (SAFAR)-

 It monitors UV-Index, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, Mercury, Black Carbon, Sulfur Dioxide,
Ozone, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, Benzene, Toluene and Xylene.
 It is implemented in four cities of India – Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and
Ahmedabad.
 It is developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and
operationalized by India Meteorological Department (IMD).

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY -COP-14- Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration

 Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the Convention on Biological Diversity

(CBD) was held, adopting Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration
 India also recently submitted Sixth National Report (NR6) to the CBD.
  NR6 provides an update of progress in achievement of 12 National Biodiversity
Targets (NBT) developed under the Convention, in line with the 20 global Aichi
biodiversity targets.
 India has achieved two NBTs (6&9), it is on track to achieve 8 NBTs and in
respect of the remaining 2 NBTs.
 Adoption of Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration on Investing in Biodiversity for People
and Planet.
 New Deal for Nature: It is an agreement on a comprehensive and participatory
process to develop post-2020 global biodiversity framework to further achieve the
2050 Vision for Biodiversity.
 Launch of International Alliance of Nature and Culture to advance work on
biological and cultural diversity in collaboration with the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and indigenous
peoples and local communities.

ASIATIC LION CONSERVATION PROJECT-

 Asiatic Lion, Panthera Leo Persica is listed in Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection

Act, 1972 and in Appendix-I of CITES, while IUCN lists it in endangered
category.
 Their population is limited to only five protected areas in Gujarat – Gir National
Park, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary and Girnar Sanctuary.
 23 Lions died in short period of 20 days in 2018, due to Canine Distemper Virus
(CDV) and tick-borne Babesiosis.
 It will be funded from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife
Habitat (CSS-DWH) with the contributing ratio being 60:40 of Central and State
share.

FIRST INTER-STATE TRANS-LOCATION OF TIGER-

 As part of the country’s first inter-state translocation of tigers project, a female

cub was shifted from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh to
Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha.
 It is conceived by the MoEFCCC, NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India (WII),
Dehradun.

The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019-

 2nd Asian Rhino Range Countries (i.e. India, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia and
Malaysia) meeting, has signed- The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019.
 It intends to conserve and review the population of the Greater one-horned, Javan
and Sumatran rhinos (three species of Asian Rhino) every four years to reassess
the need for joint actions to secure their future.
 The great one-horned rhino or Indian Rhino is the largest of the rhino species
found commonly in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India.
 In India, it is found in Assam – Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park,
Pobitora Reserve Forest, Orang National Park, Laokhowa Reserve Forest etc.
 It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is protected under the Schedule
I of the Wildlife Protection Act. It is threatened by poaching habitat destruction,
flooding etc.
 Indian Rhino Vision 2020 – It has been implemented by Assam State
Government with the Bodo autonomous council as an active partner
and supported by WWF- India. The aim is to increase the number of Rhinos and
provide long term viability of the one-horned rhino population.
 The government of Assam has raised the Special Rhino Protection Force from
people living in the fringe areas of the Kaziranga National Park.
Snow Leopard

 Snow leopards had been listed as endangered since 1972 until the new upgrade.
 Now, it is upgraded to the category of ‘vulnerable’ in the recent assessment.
 The snow leopard is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and
South Asia.
 It is found in 11 countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
 These countries formed the Global Snow Leopard Forum (GSLF) and signed the
Bishkek Declaration to acknowledge its importance as the indicator of the health
and sustainability of mountain ecosystems.
 It is the State animal of Himachal Pradesh.
 It is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and
Arunachal Pradesh.

GLOBAL WILDLIFE PROGRAMME-

 The GWP is a World-Bank led global partnership that promotes wildlife

conservation and sustainable development by combatting illicit trafficking in
wildlife.
 the theme of the Conference is - “Peoples’ participation in wildlife conservation
 GWP’s priority and immediate focus is combating wildlife poaching, trafficking,
and demand.
 The GWP is funded by the GEF and overseen by a steering committee. Since 2015,
the Bank has chaired the program steering committee, which includes the GEF
Secretariat as well as the previously mentioned GEF agencies and associated
institutions that are leading in the field
 In an attempt to address illegal wildlife trade across 19 countries of Asia and
Africa, India is hosting the Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) jointly with World
Bank and United Nations Development Programme.
 Led by the World Bank, the Global Wildlife Programme was initiated in
2015. Earlier, four similar Programmes had been convened at Gland
(Switzerland), Hanoi (Vietnam), Nairobi (Kenya) and Liberville (Gabon). India
hosted the fifth Global Wildlife Conference in Delhi

COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT-

 People’s Forests Report was released by Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE) on Community Forest Resource (CFR) management.
 National Forest Policy, 1988, led to the emergence of joint forest management
(JFM), leading to increased availability of non-timber forest produce (NTFPs),
fuelwood and improved forest protection.
 In 2006, The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition
of Forest Rights) Act or the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was passed which provides
for recognition of forest lands as community forest resources (CFR).
 Joint Forest Management (JFM) Vs Community forest resource (CFR)
management-

o The primary and most significant basis for JFM is provided by the National
Forest Policy of 1988. Thus, it lacks any statutory sanctity unlike CRF
which is a right recognised under the FRA, 2006.
o Under JFM, both forest department and the local community form a Joint
Forest Management Committee (JFMC) and an executive committee to
manage and protect forests by sharing the cost and benefits. However, CFR
 management committees (CFRMCs) comprise members exclusively from
the gram sabha with no representation of forest or other officials with
100% authority over collection and sale of all NTFPs.
o CFR rights is the most empowering provision of
the Act because it restores gram sabha’s [village council] control over
governance of forests fromthe forest department, thereby democratising
the country’s colonial forest governance as a whole.
o CFR management committees (CFRMCs) are created by Gram Sabha, which
are expected to prepare a conservation and management plan for
community forest resources in order to sustainably and equitably manage
CFR areas.

PRADHAN MANTRI JI -VAN (JAIV INDHAN- VATAVARAN ANUKOOL FASAL AWASHESH

NIVARAN) YOJANA-

 The scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) will
provide financial support to Integrated Bio-ethanol Projects using lignocellulosic
biomass and other renewable feedstock.
 The ethanol produced by the scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily supplied to
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to further enhance the blending percentage
under Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme.
 Centre for High Technology (CHT), a technical body under the aegis of MoP&NG,
will be the implementation Agency for the scheme.

GLOBAL SOLAR COUNCIL-

 Global Solar Council is international non-profit association of the national, regional and
international associations in solar energy and the world ‘s leading corporations.
 It was founded at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference.
 National Solar Energy Federation is a founding member of the Global Solar Council (GSC).

COASTAL REGULATION ZONE (CRZ) NOTIFICATION 2018-

 The Union Cabinet has approved the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification,
2018 (under the Environment Protection Act, 1986), based on the
recommendations of Shailesh Nayak Committee report (2016).
 Salient Features-

o Easing FSI norms: This notification de-freezes the restrictions imposed on
Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) under CRZ, 2011 in
accordance to 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels.
o No development zone (NDZ) reduced for densely populated areas from 200
mtr from HTL to 50 mtr from HTL
o Temporary Tourism infrastructure for basic amenities to be promoted at a
minimum distance of 10 metres from HTL.
o CRZ clearances are needed only for projects located in CRZ-I and CRZ IV.
o States to have the powers for clearances w.r.t. CRZ-II and III with
necessary guidance.
o NDZ of 20 meters has been stipulated for all Islands

ECO-SENSITIVE AREA / ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES-

 These are ecologically important areas notified under the Environment Protection
Act, 1986, to be protected from industrial pollution and unregulated
development. The government can prohibit industrial operations such as mining,
sand quarrying and building thermal power plants in sensitive areas.
  The Act does not mention the word ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’. However, section 3(2)(v)
gives authority to the central government to restrict areas in which any industries,
operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be
carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards.
 ESA act as transition zone (shock absorber) from areas of high protection to
areas involving lesser protection.
 While some of the activities could be allowed in all the ESAs, others will need to
be regulated/ prohibited

INDIAN OCEAN WAVE EXERCISE 2018 (IOWAVE18) -

 India along with 23 countries participated in this major Indian ocean-wide

tsunami mock drill, namely IOWAVE18.
 It is being organised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of
UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO).
 The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), based out of the Indian
National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad,
participated in it.
 INCOIS is an autonomous institution under the Union Ministry of Earth
Sciences.

KELP FORESTS-

 Climate change could lead to decline of underwater kelp forests.

 They are large brown algae seaweeds. They grow in "underwater forests" (kelp
forests) in shallow oceans.
 Generally speaking, kelps live further from the tropics than coral reefs, mangrove
forests, and warm-water seagrass beds.
 Although kelp forests are unknown in tropical surface waters, a few species have
been known to occur exclusively in tropical deep waters.
 Kelps and coral reefs are composed of algae that grow in the shallow parts of the
ocean in warm and sunny waters. However, kelp forest grows in nutrient-rich
waters while corals can develop in low nutrient waters.
 The environmental factors necessary for kelp to survive include hard substrate
(usually rock), high nutrients, clear shallow coastal waters and light.
 The productive kelp forests tend to be associated with areas of significant
oceanographic upwelling.
 They are known for their high growth rate.
 Kelp forests are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic
ecosystems on Earth. Smaller areas of anchored kelp are called kelp beds.
 They are considered as Keystone Species and their removal is likely to result in a
relatively significant shift in the composition of the community and perhaps in the
physical structure of the environment.
 It increases productivity of the near shore ecosystem and dumps carbon into that
ecosystem. Kelp primary production results in the production of new biomass,
detrital material etc.
 It slows down the flow of the water which is important in situations where
animals ares pawning and releasing their larvae.
 They are natural breakwaters and prevent coastal erosion.
 It is an important source of potash and iodine. Many kelps produce algin, a
complex carbohydrate useful in industries such as tire manufacturing, ice-cream
industry.
 Ocean warming and ocean acidification can cause changes in the microbiome on
the surface of Kelp, leading to disease-symptoms like blistering, bleaching and
eventually degradation of the kelp's surface.
 This will affect the Kelp’s ability to photosynthesize and potentially survive.
POLAR VORTEX-

 It is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s North and
South Pole.
 The term refers to the counterclockwise flow (clockwise over south pole) of air
that helps keep the colder air close to the poles.
 There are not one but two polar vortexes in each hemisphere.

o One exists in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere. The
tropospheric polar vortex is the one that affects our weather.
o The other exists in the second-lowest, called the stratosphere. It is much
more compact than its tropospheric counterpart.
o If the two polar vortexes line up just right, very deep freeze conditions
may occur.
 The boundary of the polar vortex is really the boundary between the cold polar air
to the north, and the warmer sub-tropical air (considering Northern Hemisphere).
And that boundary is actually defined by the polar front jet stream- a narrow
band of very, very fast-moving air, moving from west to east.
 But that boundary shifts all the time. It shrinks in summer, pole-ward while in
winter, the polar vortex sometimes becomes less stable and expands, sending
cold air southward with the jet stream. This is called a polar vortex event
(“breaking off” of a part of the vortex). The break in polar vortex appears to be
linked to the long and chilly winter in the north India this year.
 Why cold air plunges south (in Northern Hemisphere)?
o Greenhouse gas emissions has amplified Arctic warming resulting into
dramatic melting of ice and snow in recent decades, which exposes darker
ocean and land surfaces that absorb a lot more of the sun’s heat.
o Because of rapid Arctic warming, the north-south temperature difference
has diminished. This reduces pressure differences between the Arctic and
mid-latitudes, weakening jet stream winds which tend to meander.
o Large north-south undulations in the jet stream generate wave energy in
the atmosphere. If they are wavy and persistent enough, the energy can
travel upward and disrupt the stratospheric polar vortex. Sometimes this
upper vortex becomes so distorted that it splits into two or more swirling
eddies.
o These “daughter” vortices tend to wander southward, bringing their very
cold air with them and leaving behind a warmer-than-normal Arctic.

IRAN SEES ‘REVIVAL’ OF LAKE URMIA-

 It is an endorheic (which do not drain to the sea) salt lake in Iran.

 The lake has shrunk to 10% of its former size due to damming of the rivers that
flow into it, and the pumping of groundwater from the surrounding area.
 Lake Urmia is designated as a site of international importance under the UN
Convention on Wetlands.

Climate Change Performance Index- By German Watch and Climate action Network
Europe

 The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an annual publication by

German watch and Climate Action Network Europe.
 It evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of 56 countries and
the EU, which are together responsible for more than 90 percent of global
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  The top three rankings are still unoccupied as the report says no country is on a
Paris-compatible path yet that aims to keep the average global temperature rise
well below 2 degrees Celsius and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celcius.
 Countries are ranked across four categories -
o Greenhouse Gas Emissions,
o Renewable Energy,
o Energy Use,
o and Climate Policy.
 Sweden ranks fourth in this year's CCPI, following the empty top three
 India is ranked 14th in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)
2018 from 20 in 2017

Global Geoparks Network (GGN)

 UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and
landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic
concept of protection, education and sustainable development.
 Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable
development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular
 The Geopark tag is akin to that of a ‘World Heritage Site’ for historical monuments
that can bring India’s famed geological features to the global stage.
 The sites chosen are- Lonar Lake in Maharashtra and St. Mary’s Island and Malpe
beach in coastal Karnataka are the GSI’s candidates for UNESCO Global Geopark
Network status.
 a UNESCO Global Geopark is given this designation for a period of four years after
which the functioning and quality of each UNESCO Global Geopark is thoroughly
re-examined during a revalidation process.
 The Global Geoparks Network (GGN), of which membership is obligatory for
UNESCO Global Geoparks, is a legally constituted not-for-profit organisation with
an annual membership fee.
 While Biosphere Reserves focus on the harmonised management ofbiological and
cultural diversity and World Heritage Sites promote the conservation of natural
and cultural sites of outstanding universal value, UNESCO Global Geoparks give
international recognition for sites that promote the importance and significance of
protecting the Earth’s geodiversity through actively engaging with the local
communities.

INDIA COOLING ACTION PLAN -

 the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the India
Cooling Action Plan—a 20 year road map (From 2018 to 2038).
 Key targets of ICAP

o Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38.
o Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38,
o Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38,
o Recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under
national S&T Programme, Training and certification of 100,000 servicing
sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission
 India is one of the first countries in the world to develop
a comprehensive ‘Cooling Action Plan’, to fight ozone layer depletion
adhering to the Montreal Protocol.
 To lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand, enhancing energy
efficiency and better technology options.
 COOL COALITION-

 o The first-ever global coalition on clean and efficient cooling (the Cool
Coalition) was launched at the First Global Conference on Synergies
between the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement in Copenhagen, Denmark.
o The Cool Coalition aims to inspire ambition and accelerate action on the
transition to clean and efficient cooling.
o It is a global effort led by UN Environment, the Climate and Clean Air
Coalition, the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program, and Sustainable Energy for
All (SEforALL).

PEATLAND-

 Recently, United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, has adopted

its first ever resolution on peatlands.
 The adoption of the global resolution on the Conservation and Sustainable
Management of Peatlands urges member States and other stakeholders to give
greater emphasis to the conservation, sustainable management and restoration of
peatlands worldwide.
 However, it is not legally binding.
 Peats are a heterogeneous mixture of plant material (vascular plants, mosses and
humus) that had accumulated in a water-saturated area and are only partially
decomposed due to absence of oxygen.
 The natural areas covered by peat are called peatlands. Various types of peat are
– swamp forests, fens, bogs or mires.
 While peatlands cover only three per cent of the global land surface, they store
nearly 550 billion tonnes of carbon – as much carbon as is contained in all
terrestrial biomass and twice as much as in all the world’s forests.
 world's peatlands are under increased threat from drainage for agriculture,
forestry, resource extraction and infrastructure development.
 They are mostly found in permafrost regions towards the poles and at high
altitudes, in coastal areas, beneath tropical rainforest and in boreal
forests. Countries with largest peatland areas are – Russia, Canada, Indonesia,
USA, Finland etc.
 Peat is partially decayed plant material that accumulates under water-logged
conditions over long time periods. Natural areas covered by peat are called
peatlands. Terms commonly used for specific peatland types are peat swamp
forests, fens, bogs or mires. Peat is found around the world – in permafrost
regions towards the poles and at high altitudes, in coastal areas, beneath tropical
rainforest and in boreal forests.
 Brazzaville Declaration: was signed to promote better management and
conservation of Cuvette Centrale Region in Congo Basin in the backdrop of the 3rd
Conference of Partners of the Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI), 2018.
 Global Peatlands Initiative:

o It is an effort by leading experts and institutions to save peatlands as the
world’s largest terrestrial organic carbon stock and to prevent it being
emitted into the atmosphere. It is led by UN Environment.
o The Global Peatlands Initiative is an international partnership formed in
2016 to save peatlands as the world’s largest terrestrial organic carbon
stock. Twenty-five international partner organizations and four major
tropical peatland countries of Indonesia, Republic of Congo, Democratic
Republic of Congo and Peru have come together to work to improve the
conservation, restoration and sustainable management of peatlands
globally.

WETLANDS (CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT) RULES 2017-

  Decentralisation of wetland management. Under the new rules, the powers have been given
to the State governments so that protection and conservation can be done at the local level.
The central government has mainly retained powers regarding monitoring.
 The new rules have replaced the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) with the
National Wetland Committee, which has a merely advisory role.
 The State or UT Wetlands Authority will have to prepare a list of all wetlands and also will
develop a comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within notified
wetlands and their zone of influence.
 The new rules also prohibit encroachments on wetlands, solid waste dumping, discharge of
untreated waste and effluents from industries and human settlements.
 Shortfalls-

o the 2017 rules, in the defnition of wetland do not include river channels, paddy felds,
man-made water bodies/tanks specifcally for drinking water purposes and structures
specifcally constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation, and irrigation
purposes.
o The older provision of appealing to the National Green Tribunal does not exist in the
2017 Rules.

INDIA STATE OF FOREST REPORT-2017-

 Forest and Tree Cover of the country has increased by 8,021 sq km (1 %) as compared
to assessment of 2015
 India ranks among the top ten countries of the world in terms of forest area,
despite the fact that none of the other 9 countries has a population density of more than 150
persons per sq km, compared to India, which has a population density of 382 persons per sq
km.
 Increase in the forest cover has been observed as 6,778 sq km and that of tree
cover as 1, 243 sq km. “The total forest and tree cover is 24.39 per cent of the
geographical area of the country”. Forest cover is 21.53% increase in the forest
cover has been observed in Very Dense Forest (VDF), as VDF absorbs maximum carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
 Andhra Pradesh (2141 sq km), followed by Karnataka (1101 sq km) and Kerala
(1043 sq km) have shown the maximum increase in forest cover.
 “Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover of 77,414 sq km in the country in
terms of area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 66,964 sq km and Chhattisgarh
(55,547 sq km)
 In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to the total geographical area,
Lakshadweep with (90.33 per cent) has the highest forest cover, followed by
Mizoram (86.27 per cent) and Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.73 per cent)
 As per the ISFR 2017, the total mangrove cover stands at 4,921 sq km and has
shown an increase of 181 sq km. All the 12 mangrove states have shown a
positive change in the mangrove cover, as compared to the last assessment.
 The increasing trend of forest and tree cover is largely due to the various national
policies aimed at conservation and sustainable management of our forests
like Green India Mission, National Agro-Forestry policy (NAP), REDD plus policy, Joint
Forest Management (JFM), National Afforestation Programme and
funds under Compensatory Afforestation to States.
 Top 5 states where forest cover has decreased are Mizoram (531 sq km),
Nagaland (450 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (190 sq km), Tripura (164 sq km) and
Meghalaya (116 sq km).
 The report for the first time contains information on decadal change in water
bodies in forest during 2005-2015, forest fire, production of timber from outside
forest, state wise carbon stock in different forest types and density classes.
 The survey, which has for the first time assessed water bodies, said that during
last decade, the area under water bodies is increased by 2647 sq.km.
  The India State of Forest Report 2017 is 15th such report in the series. Forest
Survey of India (FSI) has been assessing the forest and tree resources of our
country on a biennial basis since 1987. FSI is headquartered in Dehradun

ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING -

 Andhra Pradesh government is supporting Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

through self-help groups to improve livelihood of farmers and fight climate
change in drought-prone regions.
 It is a natural farming technique in which farming is done without use of
chemicals and without using any credits or spending any money on purchased
inputs.
 ZBNF reduces the cost of production down to zero due to utilisation of all the
natural resources available in and around the crops. Farmers use earthworms,
cow dung, urine, plants, human excreta and other biological fertilizers for crop
protection.
 Zero budget‘ farming promises to end a reliance on loans and drastically cut
production costs, ending the debt cycle for desperate farmers.
 The word budget‘ refers to credit and expenses, thus the phrase 'Zero Budget'
means without using any credit, and without spending any money on purchased
inputs.
 Intercropping is an important feature of ZBNF.
 4 Pillars are- Bijamrita (Seed Treatment), Jiwamrita (no fertilizers and chemicals),
Mulching and Waaphasa

KYOTO PROTOCOL 2nd COMMITMENT PERIOD-

 the Union Cabinet had approved the ratification of the second commitment period
(2013-2020) of the Kyoto Protocol on containing the emission of greenhouse
gases. First commitment period- 2008-2012. At Doha in 2012, the amendments to
Kyoto Protocol for the 2nd commitment period (the Doha Amendment) were successfully
adopted for the period 2013- 2020.(COP-18)
 It requires ratification from a total of 144 of the 192 parties of the Kyoto Protocol
to become operational.
 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and
entered into force on 16 February 2005.
 The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7
in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2001, and are referred to as the "Marrakesh Accords."
 The protocol was developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change-UNFCCC.
 It has three mechanism- emission trading, Clean Development Mechanism and
Joint Implementation.

Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017-

 Bamboo is taxonomically a grass.Yet it was legally defined as a tree under the

Indian Forest Act, 1927.
 The amendment exempts bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of
tree.
 It will promote cultivation of bamboo in non-forest areas to achieve twin objectives of
increasing the farmer incomes and also increasing the green cover.
 National Bamboo Mission renamed as National Agro-Forestry & Bamboo Mission (NABM) is
being implemented as per the set objectives and targets of the Mission.
 National Agro-Forestry & Bamboo Mission (NABM)-
 o It envisages promoting holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting area-
based, regionally differentiated strategy and to increase the area under
bamboo cultivation and marketing.
o Steps have been taken to increase the availability of quality planting
material by supporting the setting up of new nurseries and strengthening
of existing ones.
o to strengthen marketing of bamboo products, especially those of
handicraft items.
o It is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
(DAC), Ministry of Agriculture as a sub scheme under the Mission for
Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

Green Growth Indicators 2017- released by OECD

 Green Growth is is fostering economic growth and development while ensuring

the natural assets continue to provide the resource and environment services on
which our well- being relies.
 Global Green Growth Institution (GGGI) -

o Headquartered in Seoul (South Korea) it is a treaty based inter-
governmental organization.
o India is not founding member but associated with research work.
o Established in 2012, at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development.
o Initiative on Green Growth and Development in India is a collaborative
project of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI).

KIGALI AGREEMENT- ON HFC

 The Kigali Amendment amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol to now include gases
responsible for global warming and will be binding on countries from 2019.
 It also has provisions for penalties for non-compliance.
 Under it, developed countries will also provide enhanced funding support
estimated at billions of dollars globally. The exact amount of additional funding
from developed countries will be agreed at the next Meeting of the Parties in
Montreal in 2017.
 The Kigali Agreement to the Montreal Protocol aims to curbing the use of climate-
altering hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) which have Green house gases warming
potential
 Agreement will lead to a reduction of 0.5 degree in global temp by the end of the
century and enable us to achieve the goals set in Paris.
 The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding and will come
into force from January 1, 2019 and penal provision for non-compliance
 The Agreement upholds the principle of Common but Differentiated
Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR & RC). It recognizes the
development imperatives of high-growth economies like India, and provides a
realistic and viable roadmap for the implementation of a phase-out schedule for
high global warming potential (GWP) HFCs.
 Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) are widely used in fridges, air conditioning and aerosol
sprays.
 The new agreement will see three separate pathways for different countries.
Richer economies like the European Union, the US and others will start to limit
their use of HFCs within a few years and will decrease it by at least 10 per cent
from 2019. Some developing countries like China, nations in Latin America and
island states will freeze their use of HFCs from 2024. Other developing countries,
specifically India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and the Gulf states will not freeze their use
 until 2028. China, the world's largest producer of HFCs, will not actually start to
decrease their production or use until 2029. India, will start even later, decreasing
its first 10 percent reduction in use in 2032 ,20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85%
in 2047.
 The negotiations at Kigali were aimed at including Hydrofluoro Carbons (HFCs) in
the list of chemicals under the Montreal Protocol with a view to regulate their
production and consumption and phase them down over a period of time with
financial assistance from the Multilateral Fund created under the Montreal
Protocol. HFCs are not ozone depleting but global warming substance and if
controlled, can contribute substantially to limiting the global temperature and
advance actions for addressing climate change.
 the Kigali Amendment include:
o Innovative and flexible structure;
o Ambitious phasedown schedule;
o Incentive for early action;
o Broad participation;
o Enforcement and accountability; and
o Multiple opportunities to increase ambition.

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FORUM-

 India hosted the 16th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial Meeting at
New Delhi.
 The IEF Ministerial meetings are informal dialogues, at both the political and
technical levels, aimed to improve policy and investment decisions, and through
increased knowledge and experience sharing.
 The biennial IEF Ministerial Meetings are the world’s largest gathering of Energy
Ministers who engage in a dialogue on global energy issues.
 India had earlier hosted the 5th IEF Ministerial in 1996 at Goa.
 The International Energy Forum (IEF) is an inter-governmental arrangement set
up in 1991. It is based in Riyadh.
 Covering all six continents and accounting for around 90% of global supply and
demand for oil and gas, the IEF is unique in that it comprises not only consuming
and producing countries of the IEA and OPEC, but also Transit States and major
players outside of their memberships, including Argentina, China, India, Mexico,
Russia and South Africa.
 Hosted by India and co-hosted by China and Korea, IEF16 aims to focus on how
global shifts, transition policies and new technologies influence market stability
and future investment in the energy sector
 The International Energy Forum also coordinates the Joint Organisations Data
Initiative (JODI) which is a concrete outcome of the global energy dialogue.

NEW MARKET MECHANISM UNDER PARIS AGREEMENT- ARTICLE 6

 The New Market Mechanism is intended as a means to stimulate ambitious

climate action by the Parties, and the public and private sectors. It is likely to be
complex, with participation from both developed and developing countries.
 Two Mechanism under this

o Sustainable Development Mechanism (market mechanism for reduction of
emission)- the new market mechanism should “contribute to the
mitigation of greenhouse
gas emissions and support sustainable development”.1 This is often r
eferred to as the new “Sustainable Development Mechanism” (SDM).
It can be used to contribute to the reduction in emission levels in the
host Party or can be credited to other Parties towards achieving their NDC
targets.
 o Sink Mechanism (non- market mechanism for enhancement of sink)- for
non-market approaches (such as technology transfer, capacity building, and support
in mitigation and adaptation) to assist the Parties in implementing their NDCs.
 overall mitigation in global emissions (OMGE)-

o introduced by the Paris Agreement to explain the idea that carbon trading should
generate a net benefit for the climate, rather than being a zero-sum game.

MOMNETUM FOR CHANGE- UNFCCC

 Momentum for Change is an initiative spearheaded by the UN Climate Change secretariat to

shine a light on the enormous groundswell of activities underway across the globe that are
moving the world toward a highly resilient, low-carbon future. Momentum for Change
recognizes innovative and transformative solutions that address both climate change and
wider economic, social and environmental challenges.

CLIMATE NEUTRAL NOW- UNFCCC (PARIS AGREEMENT)-

 The UNFCCC secretariat launched its Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2015.
 Climate Neutral Now is an initiative launched by the UN Climate Change in 2015, aiming at
encouraging and supporting all levels of society to take climate action to achieve a climate
neutral world by mid-century, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement adopted the same year.
 Climate neutrality is a three step process, which requires individuals, companies and
governments to:

o Measure their climate footprint;
o Reduce their emissions as much as possible;
o Offset what they cannot reduce with UN certified emission reductions.

Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action- UNFCCC

 The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action supports implementation of the Paris
Agreement by enabling collaboration between governments and the cities, regions,
businesses and investors that must act on climate change.
 The Partnership will focus on immediate climate actions between now and 2020 to support
the success and overachievement of the Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, and
National Adaptation Plans, or NAPs.
 Uniting for Climate Action. Further, Faster, Now

GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT-

 The Global Climate Action Summit will showcase the actions states and regions, cities,
companies, investors and civil society have taken already to reduce their emissions; secure
bold commitments to do even more, show that decarbonization; job generation and resilient
economic growth go hand-in-hand and galvanize a global movement for climate action that
leaves no one behind.
 The Summit will take place from 12-14 September, 2018 at Moscone Center South in San
Francisco, California
 State and local leaders to businesses, investors, scientists, students and nonprofits are critical
agents who can not only help unleash the opportunities from climate action but catalyze the
world's Presidents and Prime Ministers to go further and faster too.

INITIATIVES BY UNEP-

 Climate and Clean Air Coalition-


 o As a founding partner and host of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, UN
Environment works to reduce black carbon, methane, and other pollutants that
contribute to climate change and endanger human health.
o The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is the only global effort that unites governments,
civil society and private sector, committed to improving air quality and protecting the
climate in next few decades by reducing short-lived climate pollutants across sectors.
 The Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV)-

o Established at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002 in
Johannesburg, the PCFV brings together 73 organizations representing developed
and developing countries, the fuel and vehicle industries, civil society, and leading
world experts on cleaner fuels and vehicles.
 GLOBAL FUEL ECONOMY INITIATIVE-

o The Global Fuel Economy Initiative promotes the introduction of cleaner, more
energy efficient vehicles in developing and transitional countries
o The objective of the GFEI is to help stabilize greenhouse gas emissions from the
global light duty vehicle fleet through a 50 per cent improvement of vehicle fuel
efficiency worldwide by 2050.
o The Global Fuel Economy Initiative is a collaboration between UN Environment, the
International Energy Agency, the University of California at Davis, the International
Council on Clean Transportation, the International Transport Forum and the FIA
Foundation
 CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AND NETWORK (CTCN)-

o The Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) is the operational arm of the
UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, hosted by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UN Environment) and the UN Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO).
o The Centre promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies
for low carbon and climate resilient development at the request of developing
countries.
o The Climate Technology Centre & Network facilitates the transfer of technologies
through three core services :
o
 Providing at the request of developing countries to accelerate the transfer
of climate technologies;
 Creating access to information and knowledge on climate technologies.
 Fostering collaboration among climate technology stakeholders via the
Centre’s network of regional and sectoral experts from academia, the private
sector, and public and research institutions.
o the CTCN aims to address barriers that hinder the development and transfer of
climate technologies

ECONOMY-

Regional Rural Banks (RRB)-

 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are financial institutions which ensure adequate
credit for agriculture and other rural sectors.
 It was set up on the basis of the recommendations of the Narasimham Working
Group (1975), and after the legislations of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976.
 The equity of a regional rural bank is held by the Central Government, concerned
State Government and the Sponsor Bank in the proportion of 50:15:35
 RRBs are at par with commercial banks as far as compliance requirements to CRR
and SLR is concerned.
  However, Priority Sector Lending (PSL) target of RRBs is 75% of total
outstanding advances (PSL norm is 40% for a commercial bank).
 The RRB’s have also been brought under the ambit of priority sector lending on
par with the commercial bank.
 Regional Rural Banks are regulated by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD)

SMALL FINANCE BANK-

 They provide basic banking services like accepting deposits and lending to the
unbanked sections such as small farmers, MSMEs and unorganized sector entities.
 They are dedicated to a small area,prominently in semi-urban and rural areas.
 The minimum paid-up capital for small finance banks shall be Rs. 100 crores with
a minimum regulatory CRAR of 15%.
 They are required to maintain Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity
Ratio (SLR)
 They are required to extend 75% of its Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) as
Priority Sector Lending (PSL).

CAPITAL CONSERVATION BUFFER- under BASEL NORM III

 It is the mandatory capital that financial institutions are required to hold

above minimum regulatory requirement.
 According to CCB norms, banks will be required to hold a buffer of 2.5% Risk
Weighted Assets (RWAs) in the form of Common Equity, over and above Capital
Adequacy Ratio of 9%.
 CCB currently stands at 1.875% and remaining 0.625% was to be met by March
2019.
 Regulations targeting the creation of adequate capital buffers are designed to
reduce the procyclical nature of lending by promoting the creation
of countercyclical buffers as suggested Basel III norms.
 It will increase the resilience of banks to losses, reduce excessive or
underestimated exposures and restrict the distribution of capital. These macro-
prudential instruments limit systemic risks in the financial system.

NON-BANKING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS-

 It is a company engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of

shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local
authority.
 Foreign Investment is allowed up to 100%.
 NBFCs functions are regulated and supervised by RBI.
 Difference between NBFCs & Banks: -
o Provides Banking services to People without holding a Bank license,
o They can only accept time deposits and not demand deposits ,
o An NBFC is not a part of the payment and settlement system and as such,
o An NBFC cannot issue Cheques drawn on itself, and Deposit insurance
facility of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not
available for NBFC depositors, unlike banks
o An NBFC is not required to maintain Reserve Ratios (CRR, SLR
etc.) However, deposit taking NBFCs are required to maintain at least
15% of its public deposits as liquid assets.
o An NBFC cannot indulge Primarily in Agricultural, Industrial Activity, Sale-
Purchase, Construction of Immovable Property.
  Earlier, only privately owned NBFCs had to maintain a minimum Capital to Risk
Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 15 percent if Tier-1 capital is 10 percent. Now, the CRAR
requirements same as that of private NBFCs have been made applicable to
government NBFCs .
Government NBFCs have to achieve this by 2022.
 IL&FS NEWS-
o IL&FS is a Systematically Important Non-Deposit Core Investment
Company (CIC-ND-SI) i.e., any crisis at IL&FS would not only impact equity
and debt markets but could also stall several infrastructure projects of
national importance.
o PARTIAL CREDIT ENHANCEMENT-
 Credit enhancement means improving the credit rating of a
corporate bond or in this case, that of NBFC. i.e from BBB to AA
 This is done to provide an additional source of assurance or
guarantee to service the bond.
 Higher the credit rating, lower is the cost of raising funds.

FIRST FREIGHT VILLAGE- Varanasi

 India’s first freight village is being developed in Varanasi.

 The objective of the project is to support economic development in the hinterland
of the multimodal terminal at Varanasi and reduce logistics cost in the Eastern
Transport Corridor and its influence zone.
 The village is being funded by the World Bank and it is being implemented by the
inland waterways authority of India.

CONCESSIONAL FINANCE SCHEME-

 Recently, government extended the Concessional Financing Scheme (CFS) for five
years till 2023.
 The scheme is aim to support Indian entities bidding for strategically important
infrastructure projects abroad.
 Under the scheme government provide counter guarantee and interest
equalization of 2 % to EXIM Bank to offer concessional finance to any foreign
Govt. or controlled entity, if any Indian entity, succeeds in getting contract for the
execution of a project.
 It will now cover all Indian entities, compared to the earlier stipulation of
minimum 75 per cent Indian shareholding.
 EXIM Bank extends credit at a rate not exceeding LIBOR (avg. of six months) +
100 bps. The repayment of the loan is guaranteed by the foreign govt.
 Under the scheme Ministry of External Affairs selects the project, keeping in view
strategic interest of India and sends the same to the Department of Economic
affairs

Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)-

 It is the apex department to control and administer manufacture, storage,

transport and handling of explosives, petroleum, compressed gases and other
hazardous substances in India.
 It functions under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry. HQ at Nagpur

INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK (IPPB)-

  India Post Payments Bank has been incorporated as a public sector company
under the department of posts, with 100% government equity and is governed by
the Reserve Bank of India.
 It will focus on providing banking and financial services to people in rural areas,
by linking all the 1.55 lakh post office branches with India Post Payments Bank
services by the end of 2018. This will create the country’s largest banking network
with a direct presence at the village level.
 It will offer a range of products—savings and current accounts, money transfer,
direct benefit transfer, bill and utility payments, enterprise and merchant
payments. These products, and services, will be offered across multiple channels
(counter services, micro-ATM, mobile banking app, SMS and IVR).
 It will also provide access to third-party financial services such as insurance,
mutual funds, pension, credit products and forex.
 It will not offer any ATM debit card. Instead, it will provide its customers a QR
Code-based biometric card. The card will have the customer’s account number
embedded and the customer does not have to remember his/her account number
to access the account.
 How IPPB is different from traditional banks -
o A payments bank is a differentiated bank, offering a limited range of
products.
o It can accept deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh per customer.
o Unlike traditional banks, it cannot issue loans and credit cards or provide
insurance
o It will offer three types of savings accounts—regular, digital and basic—at
an interest rate of 4% per annum.
o It will provide doorstep banking facility at a charge of Rs.15-35 per
transaction. The limit for doorstep banking is ₹ 10,000.

EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL BORROWING-

 It refers to commercial loans raised by eligible Indian resident entities from non-
resident lenders with minimum average maturity of 3 years.
 It can be in the
form of bank loans, buyers’ credit, suppliers’ credit or securitized instruments
.
 ECBs are governed under the FEMA guidelines. They can be assessed under two
routes i.e.automatic route and approval route.
 The negative list, for which the ECB proceeds cannot be utilized includes: real
estate activities, investment in capital market, equity investment and repayment
of Rupee loans except from foreign equity holder.
 But, ECBs increase foreign debt (i.e. debt in foreign currencies) and future
repayment liabilities of the country.

RBI to link interest rates to external benchmarks replacing MCLR-

 Currently Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) is the internal
benchmark lending rates. Based upon this MCLR, interest rate for different types
of customers is fxed in accordance with their riskiness.
 As and when the external benchmark rate changes, it will refect in the change in
interest rate of the loan as well.
 It proposed that all new foating rate personal or retail loans i.e. housing, loans
etc. will be linked to the new benchmark with effect from April 1, 2019.
 According to the proposal, the loans can be benchmarked to any one of the
following:
o Reserve Bank of India policy repo rate, or
o "Government of India 91 days Treasury Bill yield produced by the Financial
Benchmarks India "Private Ltd (FBIL), or
 o Government of India 182 days Treasury Bill yield produced by the FBIL, or
o Any other benchmark market interest rate produced by the FBIL.
 However, the spread over the benchmark rate is to be wholly decided by the bank
at its discretion.
 It should remain unchanged through the life of loan unless the borrowers’ credit
assessment undergoes a substantial changes, said the statement. The banks are
free to offer these external benchmark linked loans to other types of borrowers as
well.

BANKS BOARD BUREAU-

 It is an autonomous recommendatory body. body of the Government of India

tasked to improve the governance of Public Sector Banks, recommend selection of
chiefs of government owned banks and fnancial institutions and to help banks in
developing strategies and capital raising plans.
 IMP FUNCTIONS-
o Recommend appointments to leadership positions and boards in PSBs and
advise them on ways to raise funds and how to go ahead with mergers and
acquisitions.
o Search and select heads of public sector banks and help them develop
differentiated strategies of capital raising plans to innovative fnancial
methods and instruments.
o Be responsible for selection of non-executive chairman and non-ofcial
directors on the boards.
o Steer strategy discussion on consolidation based on the requirement.
 It was announced by Union Government in August 2015 as part of seven point
Indradhanush Mission to revamp PSBs and started functioning in April 2016. It
had replaced Appointments Board of Government. It is housed in Reserve Bank of
India’s (RBI) central office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

INTER-CREDITOR AGREEMENT (ICA)-under aegis of Indian Bank Association

 The inter-creditor agreement is aimed at the resoluton of loan accounts with a

size of `50 crore and above that are under the control of a group of lenders.
 It is part of the “Sashakt” plan approved by the government to address the
problem of resolving bad loans.
 ICA Framework is part of project ‘Sashak’. Under it, lead lender (having highest
exposure) will be authorised to formulate resolution plan for operatiion
turnaround of assets which will be presented to lenders for their approval. It will
be applicable to all corporate borrowers who have availed loan and financial
assistance for amount of Rs. 50 crore or more under consortium lending or
multiple banking arrangements. Each resolution plan will be submitted by lead
lender to Overseeing Committee.
 The decision making under ICA framework will be by way of approval of majority
lenders i.e. lenders with 66% share in aggregate exposure. Once resoluton plan is
approved by majority lenders, it will be binding on all lenders that are party to
ICA.
 Inter-creditor Agreement was prepared under aegis of Indian Banks’ Association
(IBA) to serve as platform for banks and FIs to come together and take joint and
concerted actions towards resolution of stressed accounts.

PARIWARTAN SCHEME FOR POWER SECTOR REVIVAL-

 The ‘Pariwartan’ scheme is being considered to protect value of stressed power

projects and prevent their distress sale under the insolvency and bankruptcy code.
  The ‘Pariwartan’ scheme is inspired by the Troubled Asset Relief Programme, or
TARP, which was introduced in the US during the 2008 fnancial crisis.
 The government plans to warehouse stressed power projects totalling 25,000 MW
under an asset management frm to protect the value of the assets.
 This will prevent their distress sale under the insolvency and bankruptcy code
until the demand for power picks up.
 While the promoter’s equity will be reduced to facilitate a transfer of management
control to the fnancial institutions, the lenders will convert their debt into equity.

PUBLIC CREDIT REGISTRY- based on recommendation of Y.M. Deosthalee

 It is an information repository that collates all loan information of individuals and

corporate borrowers.
 A credit repository helps 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, headed by Y.M.
Deosthalee.
 PCR will address issues such as information asymmetry, improve access to credit
and strengthen the credit culture among consumers. It can also address the bad
loan problem staring at banks, as corporate debtors will not be able to borrow
across banks without disclosing existing debt.
 Setting up the PCR will help improve India’s rankings in the World Bank’s ease of
doing business index.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has shortlisted six major It companies, including
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (tCS), Wipro Ltd and IBM India, to set up a wide
baseddigital Public Credit Registry for capturing details of all borrowers and
willful defaulters.

TOKENIZATION OF CARD TRANSACTIONS-

 The Reserve Bank of India has allowed tokenization of debit, credit and prepaid
card transactions to enhance the safety of the digital payments ecosystem in the
country.
 Tokenization will replace card details with a code, called a “token,” which will be
specifcally for the card, the token requestor and the device being used to pay.
 Instead of the card’s details, the token will act as the card at point of sale (POS)
terminals and quick response (QR) code payment systems.
 Tokenisation involves a process in which a unique token masks sensitive card
details. Thereafter, in lieu of actual card details, this token is used to perform card
transactions in contactless mode at Point Of Sale(POS) terminals, Quick
Response(QR) code payments, etc.
 Tokenisation refers to the replacement of actual card details with a unique
alternate code called the “token”, for a combination of card, token requestor and
device.
 It will make digital transactions more secure and less prone to hacking-related
frauds.

THE SOCIETY FOR WORLDWIDE INTERBANK FINANCIAL TELE-COMMUNICATION-

(SWIFT)-

 It is global financial messaging service that enables financial institutions

worldwide to send and receive information about financial transactions in secure,
standardized and
reliable environment.
 It is used to transmit messages relating to cross border financial transactions.
  It was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in La Hulpe, Belgium.
 It is a cooperative society under Belgian law owned by its member financial
institutions with offices around the world.
 SWIFT does not facilitate funds transfer, rather, it sends payment orders, that
must be settled by correspondent accounts that institutions have with each other.
 SWIFT transports financial messages in a highly secure way but does not hold
accounts for its members and does not perform any form of clearing or
settlement.

PARTICIPATORY NOTES- OFF SHORE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT

 These are the fnancial instruments required by investors to invest in Indian

securities without having to register with the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI).
 Any dividends or capital gains collected from the securities goes back to the
investors. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs), issue the fnancial instruments to
investors in other countries who want to invest in Indian securities.
 Participatory notes are popular investment due to the investor remaining
anonymous.
 Although, P-note holders are not subject to any domestic tax laws as they are not
registered in India, the liability of STCG fall on FPIs issuing instruments.

DEVELOPMENT IMPACT BONDS-

 A group of global philanthropic foundations, including UBS optimus

Foundation,British Asian trust, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and tata trust
haveannounced a Development Impact Bond (DIB) worth $11 million.
 It is an innovative education fnancing modelbased on measurable
outcome (performance-based) ratherthan the present input model of social
fnancing that does not bother about result.
 To be known as Quality Education India, it is expected to improve education
outcome of 300,000 students in Delhi and Gujarat.It is the largest education DIB
in the world.
 DIB is not a money market instrument.
 Impact bonds are an innovative way to fnance development. They are 100%
focused on outcomes and have the potential to leverage private investor capital to
address some of the world’s greatest challenges.

BHARAT 22 ETF (EXCHANGE TRADED FUND)-

 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are mutual funds listed and traded on stock
exchanges like shares.
 The Bharat 22 ETF allows the Government to park its holdings in selected PSUs in
an ETF and raise disinvestment money from investors at one go.
 This index is made up of 22 PSU stocks and with a few private sector companies.
 ETFs are cost efcient. Given that they don’t make any stock (or security choices),
they don’t use services of star fund managers.
 It is managed by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund targeting an initial amount of
about Rs.8,000 Crore for govt. through disinvestment.
 Bharat 22 which will comprise 22 stocks including those of central public sector
enterprises (CPSEs), public sector banks and GOI’s holdings under the
Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI).

 Compared to energy heavy CPSE ETF, Bharat 22 is a well Diversified portfolio with
6 sectors (Basic Materials, Energy, Finance, FMCG, Industrials & Utilities).
  The Bharat 22 Index will be rebalanced annually. ICICI Prudential AMC will be the
ETF Manager and Asia Index Private Limited (JV BSE and S& P Global) will be the
Index Provider.
 ETF are vehicle of disinvestment
 Large Investors (Sovereign/Pension Funds) prefer investing in ETFs due to the
benefits of ETF being Low cost & Less risky; being Highly Liquid assets;
Transparent Investment and that these can be traded at Real Time Market Price
 Weight of sectors-

o Basic material- 4.4%
o Energy- 17.5%
o Finance-20.3%
o FMCG- 15.2%
o Industrials- 22.6%
o Utilities- 20%
 ETF is different from Mutual Fund (MF) in a way that it is traded on public stock
exchanges and its ownership can bought, sold or transferred in the same way as
stocks. This is unlike MFs where transaction is done only by the fund manager.

TRADE RECEIVABLE DISCOUNTING SYSTEM (TReDS)-

 A digital platform where Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)can get
access to capital by auctioning their trade receivables.
 RBI has launched TReDS in order to remove constraints faced by MSME's in
obtaining adequate fnance, particularly in terms of their ability to convert their
trade receivables into liquid funds.

ANGEL TAX-

 Angel tax is a term used to refer to the income tax payable(30%) on capital raised
by unlisted companies via issue of shares where the share price is seen in excess
of the fair market value of the shares sold.
 In other words it is tax for having raised capital above the fair value of their
shares.
 The excess realization is treated as income and taxed accordingly. The tax was
introduced in the 2012 Union Budget by then fnance minister Pranab Mukherjeeto
arrest laundering of funds.
 It has come to be called angel tax since it largely impacts angel investments in
startups.
 It is a 30% tax that is levied on the funding received by startups from an external
investor. However, this 30% tax is levied when startups receive angel funding at
a valuation higher than its ‘fair market value’. It is counted as income to the
company and is taxed.
 NEW RULES-
o Any company less than 10 years old with turnover less than Rs.100 cr are
eligible for angel tax exemption.
o Investments upto 25 cr are exempt from angel tax.
o Investments made by listed company with a net worth of more than 100 cr
or a turnover of more than 250 cr & NRIs will be fully exempt from the
tax.
o Start-up must be registered with the Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade.
 ANGEL INVESTOR VS VENTURE CAPITALIST-
o An Angel investor is a high net worth individual who puts their own finance
into the growth of a small business in the formative stages of the startup’s
business as seed funds for debt or equity ownership.
 o A Venture Capitalist enters in the later stages of development of a start-up
for a portion of equity or debt ownership in an effort to advance
the growth, launch IPOs or undertake mergers/acquisitions.

PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (PLFS)-

 National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme

Implementation has recently released draft report of the first Periodic Labor Force
Survey (PLFS).
 PLFS was launched in 2017 by the NSSO, replacing the earlier Employment-
Unemployment Survey where data was available only every 5 years.
 The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has launched a Periodic
Labour Force Survey that which will provide quarterly labour and employment
data for urban India and annual data for rural India.
 The data will be collected from large and small enterprises and so we will be
able to measure informal sector activity as well. The first release of data will be in
December 2018, after we have collected a year’s worth of data
 The Periodic Labour Force Survey will also incorporate a Computer Assisted
Personal Interviewing (CAPI) method, with field operators using tablets to enter
the data. This would generate more accurate and timely information
 PLFS launched in April 2017 to obtain employment data at shorter intervals.
 PLFS aims to –
o Measure quarterly changes in statistical indicators of labour market in
Urban Areas;
o Generate annual estimates of labour force indicators in both Rural and
Urban Areas.
 Data will be taken using 2 approach-

o Usual Status (US) approach: where the person remained unemployed for
major time during 365 days , thus capturing long term employment
o Current Weekly approach- where the person did not find the work for an
hour or any day in the preceding week, thus capturing open chronic and
seasonal unemplyoyment.

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX NETWORK-

 Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) is a Section 8 (under new companies Act,
not for profit companies are governed under section 8), non-Government, private
limited company.
 It was incorporated on March 28, 2013.
 Erstwhile, The Government of India holds 24.5% equity in GSTN and all States of
the Indian Union, including NCT of Delhi and Puducherry, and the Empowered
Committee of State Finance Ministers (EC), together hold another 24.5%. Balance
51% equity is with non-Government fnancial institutions.
 Acquisition of entire 51% equity held by the Non-Government Institutions in
GSTN equally by the Centre and the State Governments and allow GSTN Board to
initiate the process for acquisition of equity held by the private companies.
 The restructure GSTN, with 100% government ownership shall have equity
structure between the Centre (50%) and the States (50%)
 The Company has been set up primarily to provide IT infrastructure & services to
Central and State Governments, tax payers and other stakeholders for
implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Status paper on debt management-

  The objectives of debt management strategy are to mobilise borrowings at low
cost over the medium to long-term, with prudent level of risk and stable debt
structure, while also developing a liquid and well-function in secondary domestic
debt market.
 findings-
o Gross fscal defcit (GFD) as a percentage of GDP has declined from 5.9 per
cent in 2011-12 to 3.5 per cent in 2017-18 (RE).
o The Centre’s total debt as a percentage of GDP reduced to 46.5% in 2017-
18 from 47.5% as of March 31, 2014.
o The total debt of the States has risen to 24% in 2017-18, and is estimated
to be 24.3% in 2018-19.
o In absolute terms, the Centre’s total debt increased from Rs.56,69,429
crore at the end of March 2014 to Rs.82,35,178 crore in 2017-18,
representing a 45% increase.
o The total debt of the States increased from Rs.24,71,270 crore to
Rs.40,22,090 crore over the same period, an increase of almost 63%.
 N.K. Singh-headed FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Review
Committee report had recommended :-
o The ratio to be 40% for the Centre and 20% for the States, respectively,
by 2023.
o It said that the 60% consolidated Central and State debt limit was
consistent with international best practices, and was an essential
parameter to attract a better rating from the credit ratings agencies.

USE OF GDP INSTEAD OF GVA TO MEASURE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN COUNTRY-

 The Reserve Bank of India has decided to switch back to Gross Domestic Product
(GDP)-based model from Gross Value Added (GVA) measure to provide its
estimate of economic activity in the country.
 While GVA gives a picture of the state of economic activity from the producers’
side or the supply side, GDP gives the picture from the consumers’ side or the
demand perspective.
 GVA + taxes on products - subsidies on products = GDP
 GDP-
o It gives the economic output from the consumers’ side. It is the sum of
private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government
investment, government spending and net foreign trade (difference
between exports and imports).
 GROSS VALUE ADDED-
o Put simply, it is a measure of total output and income in the economy. It
provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in
an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have
gone into the production of those goods and services.
o It also gives sector-specifc picture like what is the growth in an area,
industry or sector of an economy.
 A sector-wise breakdown provided by the GVA measure can better help the
policymakers to decide which sectors need incentives/stimulus or vice versa.
Some consider GVA as a better gauge of the economy because a sharp increase in
the output, only due to higher tax collections which could be on account of better
compliance or coverage, may distort the real output situation.

UDHYAM ABHIlLASHA- National Level entrepreneurship Awareness Campaign-

 Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) had launched a National

Leve Entrepreneurship Awareness Campaign, Udyam Abhilasha in 115 Aspirational
Districts identifed by NITI Aayog in 28 States and reaching to around 15,000
youth.
  the objectives of the missionary campaign includes :-
o to inspire rural youth in aspirational districts to be entrepreneurs by
assisting them to set up their own enterprise,
o to impart trainings through digital medium across the country,
o to create business opportunities forCSC VLEs,
o to focus on women aspirants in these aspirational districts to encourage
women entrepreneurship and
o to assist participants to become bankable and avail credit facility from
banks to set up their own enterprise.
 About SIDBI-
o Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is a development
financial institution in India, headquartered at Lucknow and having its
offices all over the country.
o Its purpose is to provide refinance facilities and short term lending to
industries, and serves as the principal financial institution in the Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. SIDBI also coordinates the
functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.
o It was established on April 2, 1990, through an Act of Parliament. It is
headquartered in Lucknow. SIDBI operates under the Department of
Financial Services, Government of India.

PM SHRAM-YOGI MAANDHAN YOJANA (PMSYM) - pension plan for informal workers

 Ministry of Labour and Employment launched pension plan ‘PM Shram-Yogi

Maandhan Yojana’ for informal workers.
 Objective- Providing financial security to workers from unorganized sector with
adequate flexibility and exit options
 Unorganized workers whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less
and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years are eligible
 Should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State
Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
(EPFO)
 Should not be an Income Tax payer
 Minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after age of 60 years
 PMSYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basis,
where Govt. will make a matching contribution
 In case of death during the receipt of pension, spouse will receive 50% of the
amount as family pension
 In case of death before 60 years, his/her spouse will be entitled to join and
continue the scheme or exit the scheme.
 APY Vs PMSYM-

o APY also targets the unorganized sector and is co-contributory in nature,
and promises a minimum pension between Rs. 1,000-5,000 while the
PMSYM pension is capped at just Rs.3,000 per month.
o PMSYM is only open to those with monthly income of up to Rs.15,000,
whereas APY contains no such income limit.
o In APY, contribution is monthly, quarterly or half yearly, which is of great
help to those with irregular income. PMSYM only allows monthly
contributions.
o APY provides for return of corpus on the death of the subscriber and his
spouse. In PMSYM, workers only get a pension and do not accumulate a
corpus for their family. On the death of the worker and his/her spouse, the
corpus is forfeited to PMSYM.
o PMSYM will be directly managed by the government unlike APY, which is
regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
(PFRDA).
Agri–Market Infrastructure Fund-

 Agri–Market Infrastructure Fund with a corpus of Rs. 2000 crore with NABARD to
develop & upgrade agricultural marketing infrastructure in Gramin Agricultural
Markets and Regulated Wholesale Markets.

ENSURE PORTAL -

 The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched an online

portal “ENSURE- National Livestock Mission- Entrepreneurship Development and
Employment Generation (EDEG)” to make subsidy transfer process quicker &
faster.
 The National Livestock Mission’s component EDEG, under which subsidy payment
for activities related to poultry, small ruminants, pigs etc. were given through
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and goes directly to the beneficiary’s account.
 This portal has been developed by NABARD and operates under the Department
of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries.

SMART FOOD INITIATIVE-

 Smart Food Initiative founded by the International Crops Research Institute for
the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) and aims to build food systems where the food is
good for you (highly nutritious), good for the planet and good for the smallholder
farmer.
 ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural
research for development in the dry lands of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
 ICRISAT is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana, with two regional hubs
(Nairobi, Kenya and Bamako, Mali).

Government e-Market (GeM) portal-

 To accelerate the adoption and use of Procurement by Major Central Ministries,

States and UTs and their agencies (including CPSUs/PSUs, Local Bodies) on the
GeM platform.
 It is launched under Ministry of Commerce & Industry
 It is hosted by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) where
common user goods and services can be procured
 Achieve cashless, contactless and paperless transaction , in line with Digital
India objectives.
 Increase overall efciency leading to signifcant cost saving on government
expenditure in Procurement.
 Swayatt initiative-

o It is an initiative to promote Start-ups, Women and Youth Advantage
Through eTransactions on Government e Marketplace (GeM).
o This will bring together the key stakeholders within the Indian
entrepreneurial ecosystem to Government e-Marketplace the national
procurement portal.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority-

 National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted

vide Government of India Resolution dated 29th August, 1997 as an attached
office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals &
Fertilizers as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure
availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
  It is an executive body of experts whose primary function is to fix & revise the
prices of scheduled formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control Order (DPCO).
 It also undertakes monitoring & enforcement of prices of scheduled drugs through
market surveillance.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL COMMISSION -

 National Statistical Commission was established in 2005 based on the

recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission.The commission was established
through an executive order(i.e resolution) and it works under the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation.
 The NSC has four Members besides a Chairperson, each having specialization and
experience in specified statistical fields. and Chief Executive Officer of the NITI
Aayog as ex-officio member.

GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES-

 The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), instituted in 1971 under the aegis
of UNCTAD, has contributed over the years to creating an enabling trading
environment for developing countries. The following 13 countries grant GSP
preferences: Australia, Belarus, Canada, the European Union, Iceland, Japan,
Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey
and the United States of America.
 It is a preferential arrangement in the sense that it allows concessional low/zero
tariff imports from developing countries to developed countries (also known as
preference receiving countries or beneficiary countries).
 It involves reduced/zero tariffs of eligible products exported by benefciary
countries to the markets of GSP providing countries.
 GSP allows India to export certain kinds of goods to US markets duty free,
therefore make them more attractive to retailers and buyers in the US market.

MOST FORWARD NATION STATUS-

 Article 1 of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1994, requires every
WTO member country to accord MFN status (or preferential trade terms with
respect to tariffs and trade barriers) to all other member countries.
 A country which provides MFN status to another country has to provide
concessions, privileges, and immunity in trade agreements.
 Most Favoured Nation status is given to an international trade partner to ensure
non-discriminatory trade between all partner countries of the WTO.
 Accordingly, India accorded MFN status to all WTO member countries,
including Pakistan, from the date of entry into force of the so called Marrakesh
Agreement
 MFN only ensures non-discriminatory trade. It makes sure that any country
receiving MFN status avoids any disadvantageous situation in comparison to the
granter’s other trade partners.
 An MFN status helps reduce trade barriers and results in a reduction in tariffs.
Thereby, promoting freer trade between two or more countries.

INSTEX – Instrument in Support of trade exchanges-

 Germany, France and Britain (E3) have offcially set up a European mechanism to
facilitate non-dollar trade with Iran called InStex – instrument in support of trade
exchanges.
 The move will allow the European Union to circumvent U.S. sanctions in an effort
to continue humanitarian trade with Iran.
  It will uphold what is left of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly
known as the Iran nuclear deal.
 It will support legitimate European trade with Iran, focusing initially on the
sectors most essential to the Iranian population – such as pharmaceutical,
medical devices and agri-food goods.
 It aims in the long term to be open to economic operators from third countries
who wish to trade with Iran and the E3 continue to explore how to achieve this
objective.
 INSTEX will be based in Paris and will be managed by German banking expert Per
Fischer, a former manager at Commerzbank. The UK will head the supervisory
board.

DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE-

 DIPP has been renamed as Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal trade
 DIPP was established in the year 1995, and was reconstituted in the year 2000
with the merger of Department of Industrial Development.
 It is responsible for formulation and implementation of promotional and
developmental measures for growth of the industrial sector, keeping in view the
national priorities and socio-economic objectives.
 It is also responsible for facilitating and increasing the foreign direct investment
(FDI) fows to the country.
 Apart from the previous responsibilities of DIPP relating to general industry
policy, Administration of the Industries (Development and regulation) act, 1951,
industrial management, productivity in industry, and matters related to e-
commerce; the newly-named department will take care of new responsibilities
and matters related to:

o Promotion of internal trade including retail trade (matters related to
internal trade were earlier under the domain of the Ministry of Consumer
Affairs).
o Welfare of traders and their employees
o Facilitating ease of doing business and start-ups

Advanced Motor Fuels technology Collaboration Programme-

 The primary goal of joining AMF TCP by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
(MoP&NG) is to facilitate the market introduction of Advanced motor fuels/
Alternate fuels with an aim to bring down emissions and achieve higher fuel
efciency in transport sector.
 India has joined Advanced Motor Fuels technology Collaboration Programme
(AMF tCP) as its 16th member under International Energy Agency (IEA)

Human Capital Index- WORLD BANK-

 first Human Capital Index (HCI) was released by World Bank. HCI is part of
the World Development Report (WDR).
 It measures the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to
attain by age 18. It conveys the productivity of the next generation of workers
compared to a benchmark of complete education and full health.
 The HCI has three components:

o Survival, as measured by under-5 mortality rates;
 o Expected years of Quality-Adjusted School which combines information on
the quantity and quality of education
o Health environment using two proxies of (a) adult survival rates and (b)
the rate of stunting for children under age 5.
 The HCI uses survival rates and stunting rate instead of life expectancy as
measure of health, and quality-adjusted learning instead of merely years of
schooling as measure of education.
 The key observations regarding HCI for India in the Report are as under:

o Human Capital Index: A child born in India today will be only 44 per cent
as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete
education and full health.
o The HCI in India for females is marginally better than that for males.
o India at the 115th position, lower than Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and
Bangladesh.

WAYS & MEANS ADVANCES-

 The Ways Means & Advances Scheme which commenced in 1997 was designed to
meet temporary mismatches in the receipts and payments of the central & state
government.
 Under the WMA system, the Reserve Bank extends short-term advances up to
the pre-announced half-yearly limits, fully payable within three months.
 Interest rate for WMA is currently charged at the repo rate.
 The limits for WMA are mutually decided by the RBI and the Government of
India.
 Whenever the government resorts to WMA, it effectively also adds to the liquidity
in the system.
 RBI, in consultation with Government of India, has decided that limits for Ways &
Means Advances (WMA) for H1 of FY 2019-20 (April to September 2019) will be
Rs 75000 crore.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ENSEMBLE PREDICTION SYSTEMS (EPS) -

 IMD recently launched the Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS) to provide

probabilistic weather forecasts upto next 10 days.
 It has been developed jointly by the IMD, NationalCentre for Medium Range
Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
 Under this, the area of spatial resolution, which is 23 km presently, will reduce to
12 km, enabling the meteorological department to give district-level warning.
 With this new model, India joins the US with a model that predicts with a 12 km
resolution. Only the 'European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast' has a
better 9km resolution.

SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE-

 The science-based targets initiative is a global team comprised of people from all
partner organisations – the United Nations Global Compact, CDP, WWF and World
Resources Institute.
 Targets adopted by companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are
considered “science-based” if they are in line with the level of decarbonization
required to keep global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius compared
to pre- industrial temperatures.
  In March 2018, Mahindra Sanyo Steel became the first Indian company to set its
science-based target. Globally,it is also the first steel company to set a target.

DRY SORBENT INJECTION (DSI)-

 Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) system is a pollution control system for the reduction
of SOx (SO2, SO3), HCI and heavy metals like mercury.
 It is a dry process in which a sorbent (a material used to absorb or adsorb liquids
or gases) is injected into the coal fired boiler where it interacts with various
pollutants like SOx, HCl and the resultant dry waste is removed via either an
electrostatic precipitator (ESP) or a fabric filter baghouse.
 It offers various advantages in comparison to traditional acid gas scrubber
technology such as: lower capital cost, wide range of favourable operation
conditions, and much lesser time for completing installation and commissioning.

INDIA’S FIRST ROBOTIC TELESCOPE - GROWTH INDIA

 The 0.7 m (70cm) GROWTH-India telescope at the Indian Astronomical

Observatory located in Hanle, Ladakh, has made its first science observation
which is a follow-up study of a nova explosion. Novae are explosive events
involving violent eruptions on the surface of white dwarf stars, leading to
temporary increase in brightness of the star. Unlike a supernova, the star does not
go on to die but returns to its earlier state after the explosion
 It is a fully robotic telescope which has been funded by the Science and
Engineering Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology.
 It is a joint project of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore and the
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB).
 It is a 70cm telescope and the primary objective of the project is the time domain
astronomy.
 It is mostly an imaging telescope and the spectroscopy (analysis) will happen at
Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT).
 About GROWTH Initiative -

o It is a part of multi-country collaborative initiative known as Global Relay
Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) to observe
transient events in the universe.
o The initiative will focus on three scientific themes in the field of time-
domain astronomy – cosmic explosions (supernova), small near-earth
asteroids and the electromagnetic identification of gravitational wave
sources.
o United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, India, Taiwan
and Israel are part of the initiatives.

WIPO TREATIES-

 DIPP approved accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performers
and Phonograms Treaty
 WIPO Copyright Treaty -
o It is a special agreement under the Berne Convention (for protection of
literary and artistic works) that deals with the protection of works and the
rights of their authors in the digital environment.
 WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty-
o It deals with the rights of two kinds of beneficiaries, particularly in the
digital environment:
 performers (actors, singers, musicians, etc.); and
  producers of phonograms (persons or legal entities that take the
initiative and have the responsibility for the fixation of sounds)

FORMALIN-

 Formalin is being used in the fishing industry to increase the shelf-life of fish.
 Formalin (formaldehyde) is an anti-decomposition agent.
 It is a colorless flammable chemical used in pressed wood products, fabrics,
insulation materials
 It is also used as fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant.
 International agency for research on cancer and US FDA both classify
formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. It increases risk of leukaemia, blood cancer
etc.

GAGANYAAN MISSION-

 It will be first human spaceflight mission into the space by 2022.

 GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle will be used to launch Gaganyaan.
 The mission will aim to send a three-member crew to space for a period of five to
seven days. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400km.
 This will be the first human mission indigenously developed by ISRO, though to
accelerate the programme, ISRO may consider collaborations with space agencies
from friendly countries.
 It will comprise of a crew module and service module that constitute an orbital
module. The crew will do microgravity experiment during the mission.
 It will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight
Mission after USA, Russia and China.

5G Technology-

 5G is a wireless communication technology using radio waves or radio frequency

(RF) energy to transmit and receive data.
 It is the next generation mobile networks technology after 4G LTE networks. 5G
technologies will enter services gradually, beginning in 2019 and advance to a full
range of services by 2024.
 The final standard for 5G will be set up by the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU).
 Technical specification for 5G –

o high data rates (1 Gbps for hotspots, 100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps
upload for wide-area coverage)
o massive connectivity (1 million connections per square kilometre)
o ultra-low latency (1 millisecond)
o high reliability (99.999% for mission critical ‘ultra-reliable’
communications), and
o Mobility at high speeds (up to 500 km/h i.e. high-speed trains

PRIME MINISTER'S SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COUNCIL (PM-STIAC)-

headed by Principal scientific Advisor

 Union Government recently constituted new 21-member advisory panel on

science, technology and innovation called Prime Minister’s Science, Technology
and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
 It will be chaired by the government’s Principal Scientific Advisor, Dr K. Vijay
Raghavan. It will replace twoscientific advisory committees for the prime
 minister and the cabinet, and is aimed to streamline as well ascut down the
number of committees and councils.
 The new panel will advise the PM on all matters related to science, technology and
innovation, and would also monitor the implementation of the PM's vision.

REPURPOSE USED COOKING OIL (RUCO)-

 Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) is an initiative launched by The Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

It has been launched with an aim to enable collection and conversion of used
cooking oil to bio-diesel.

 Cooking oil may have saturated fatty acids (palm oil) or unsaturated fatty acids
(soyabean).
 The saturated fatty acids such as in palm oil are more stable that the unsaturated
fatty acids which decompose easily at high temperature forming polar
compounds.
 Thus, it makes oils with saturated fatty acids fit for frying. However, oils with
unsaturated fatty acids are healthier provided they are used just once for frying.
 FSSAI launched Repurpose Used cooking Oil (RUCO) initiative.

THERMAL BATTERY PLANT- ANDHRA PRADESH

 World’s first-ever thermal battery plant was inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh.

 Thermal batteries, on the other hand, use thermal energy to operate, i.e.,
the energy created by temperature differences.
 A thermal battery consists of two parts: a cool zone known as sink, and a hot
source called source.
 Both these sides consist of compounds known as phase-changing materials
(PCMs), which can change their state of matter on the basis of a
physical/chemical reaction.
 When the sink of a thermal battery receives heat, it transforms physically or
chemically, thereby storing energy, while the source cools down.
 They can help maintaining a low carbon footprint and last longer than the lithium
batteries. Lithium batteries currently in use have a heavy carbon footprint and are
expensive.
 Its integration with power grids, can help meet industrial demand.
 This could help solve power issues in remote areas.

BACTERIA WOLBACHIA-

 Several experiments have demonstrated the positive correlation between

presence of Wolbachia bacteria in mosquitoes and reduced spread of diseases
such as Malaria and Dengue.
 Wolbachia is a tiny bacterium that is present in up to 60% of all species of insects,
including several mosquito species.
 But it is usually not present in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary species
responsible for transmitting dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
 When present in the mosquito, the viruses cannot replicate and hence small
numbers of wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes are released in target areas.
 The World Mosquito Program introduces Wolbachia into Aedes aegypti
mosquitoes. Once Wolbachia carrying mosquitoes are released, they breed with
wild mosquitoes and over time, the majority of mosquitoes carry Wolbachia.

NEW INFLUENZA RESEARCH PROGRAMME-

  Indian and European Union (EU) collaborated for new influenza research
programme to develop Next Generation Influenza Vaccine.
 The programme will get fund of EUR 15 million under EU funding programme for
research and innovation called 'Horizon 2020'
 HORIZON 2020-

o It is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme with nearly €80
billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020).
o It is helping to achieve research and innovation on excellent science,
industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges.

GSAT-11-

 GSAT-11, the heaviest satellite built by ISRO was launched from French Guiana
by Ariane-V Rocket of Arianespace (a joint venture of Airbus and Safran).
 It weighs around 5855 Kg, double the size of biggest satellite built by ISRO till
now. ISRO’s most powerful launcher GSLV-Mk III can launch satellite weighing
up to 4000 kg only.
 It is part of ISRO’s high-throughout communication satellite (HTS) fleet that
will drive the country’s Internet Broadband from space to untouched areas. It is
built to provide throughput data rate of 16 gbps.
 It carries 40 transponders in Ku (32)/ Ka (8) Band. For the First time use of Ka-
Band is introduced in India through GSAT-11.
 It will be placed in a circular geo-stationary orbit almost 36,000 Km away and
settle at 74 E in India.
 It has a lifespan of 15 years.

HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SATELLITE (HYSIS)-

 HysIS is an earth observation satellite built around ISRO’s Mini Satellite-2 (IMS-
2) bus weight 380kg
 It was placed into polar sun synchronous orbit and has mission lifespan of 5
years.

The goal is to study the earth’s surface in the visible, near infrared and shortwave
infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

 It combines the power of digital imaging and spectroscopy to attain both spatial
and spectral information from an object.
 This result can be then used to identify, measure and locate different materials
and their chemical and physical properties. Every pixel in the image contains a
continuous spectrum (in radiance or reflectance) and can be used to characterize
the objects in the scene with great precision and detail.
 Hyperspectral images provide much more detailed information about the scene
by dividing the spectrum into many more bands than a normal color camera,
which only acquires three different spectral channels corresponding to the visual
primary colors red, green and blue.
 Hyperspectral remote sensing is used for a range of applications like agriculture,
forestry, soil survey, geology, coastal zones, inland water studies, environmental
studies, detection of pollution from industries and the military for surveillance or
anti-terror operations.
 Hyperspectal imaging uses multiple bands across the electromagnetic spectrum
like using infrared, the visible spectrum, the ultraviolet, x-rays, or
some combination of the above

GSAT-29-
  With a lift-off mass of 3423 kg, GSAT 29 is a multi-beam, multiband
communication satellite of India and is the heaviest satellite launched from
India. It will bridge the digital divide of users including those in Jammu
& Kashmir and North Eastern regions of India. For the first time, an optical
communication payload will be utilised for data transmission at a very high rate.
 launch vehicle-

o GSLV Mk-II: is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. First stage
using solid rocket motor, second stage using Liquid fuel and
Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II. has the
capability to launch satellites of lift-off mass of up to 2,500 kg to the GTO
and satellites of up to 5,000 kg lift-off mass to the LEO (low earth orbit).
o GSLV MK-III: It is a three stage vehicle with an indigenous cryogenic
upper stage engine (C25) with two solid fuel strap-on engines in the
first stage, a liquid propellant core as second stage. It has been designed
to carry heavier communication satellites weighing up to 4000 kg into
the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit or satellites weighing about 10,000 kg
to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The indigenous cryogenic C25 engine helps
to keep fuel loads on the rocket relatively low. India is among six nations
— apart from the US, Russia, France, Japan and China — to possess
cryogenic engine technology.

GSAT -7A -

 GSLV F-11 has launched ISRO’s 39th communication satellite GSAT-7A with a lift
off mass of 2250 kg in Geostationary orbit.
 It is the heaviest satellite launched by GSLV Mk-II.
 It will service communication needs primarily for network-centric operations of
the Indian Air Force and 30% for the military.
 It will be the first satellite built primarily for the IAF to qualitatively unify its
assets and improve combined, common intelligence during operations.
 It carried communication transponders in Ku band which will enable superior real
time aircraft-to-aircraft communication; and between planes that are in flight and
their commanders on the ground.

GSAT-9/ SOUTH ASIA SATELLITE-

 South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication satellite launched

by GSLV-F09 with a lift off mass of 2230 kg.
 The primary objective of GSAT-9 is to provide various communication applications
in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries.
 It is launched for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
region.
 This idea was mooted by India in 18th SAARC summit held in Nepal in 2014
 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka are the users of
the multi-dimensional facilities provided by the satellite.
 The benefits the countries would receive in communication, telemedicine,
meteorological forecasting and broadcasting.
 Its mission life is 12 years.

ExseedSAT – 1-

 It is a CubeSat mission by the Indian private space company Exseed Space.

 It was launched by Spacex, a private aerospace company, from California satellite
launch pad.
  It was the first Indian Private entity satellite launched by Spacex, in its Falcon9
rocket.
 The satellite with a communication payload, will provide a major boost to ham
radio operators in the country.
 It was placed in a sun-synchronous low-earth orbit.

YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAMME (YUVIKA)-

 Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has recently launched Young Scientist
Programme/ YUva VIgyani KAryakram (Yuvika) for school students.
 It aims to inculcate and nurture space research fervor in young minds of students
of class 9th and 10th.
 All the expenses of travelling and boarding will be funded entirely by ISRO.
 Under this, six incubation centres will be established in various parts of the
country -North, South, East, West, Centre and North-East, and the first such
centre has been established in Agartala in Tripura.

FOXSI Mission-

 Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI) is a sounding rocket mission by

NASA.
 It aims at directly focus at Sun and search for nanoflares using its X-ray vision.
 FOXSI rockets travel above the Earth’s atmosphere for a peek at space before
falling back to the ground.
 It is the first instrument built specially to image high-energy X-rays from the Sun
by directly focusing them.

Insight Mission -

 Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy & Heat Transport, is a

Mars lander, launched in2018.
 It is the first outer space robotic explorer to study in-depth the "inner space" of
Mars - its crust, mantle, and core.
 It also measures tectonic activity and meteorite impacts on Mars.
 The lander carries a robotic arm and set of instruments to study the makeup and
dimensions of the planet’s core, mantle and crust.
 Along with the spacecraft, a pair of mini satellites known as Mars Cube One, or
MarCO also reached Mars.
 It will be a first test of miniaturized CubeSat technology at another planet, which
researchers hope can offer new capabilities to future missions.
 This mission is part of NASA's Discovery Program for highly focused science
missions that ask critical questions in solar system science.

NEW FRONTIERS PROGRAMME- Explore the solar system

 3 on going missions-

o Juno Spacecraft-
o The aim of JUNO is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter,
investigate the existence of a solid planetary core, map Jupiter intense
magnetic field, measure the amount of ammonia and water in deep
atmosphere, observe planet aurora
o It will orbit Jupiter from pole to pole, 5,000 kilometers above planet’s
cloud tops and has a mission life of 2 years.
 o It is second spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, after Galileo probe that had orbited
from 1995–2003. Galileo probe in its mission had foundevidence of subsurface
saltwater on Jupiter’smoons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
o OSIRIS-REX-
o
 The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification,
Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) pacecraft will travel to a
near-Earth asteroid, called Bennu.
 It will bring sample back to Earth for study and help scientists
investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as
improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.

o NEW HORIZON SPACECRAFT-
o
 It is the first mission to the Pluto system and Kuiper Belt and
fastest spacecraft ever launched.

o
 It was launched in 2006 to explore Pluto and its largest moon,
Charon, which are known as "ice dwarfs."

o
 The mission seeks to understand where Pluto and its moons ―fit in‖
with the other objects in the solar system, such as the inner rocky
planets (Earth, Mars, Venus and Mercury) and the outer gas giants
(Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune).
 Recently it is reported that the spacecraft will reach icy object
nicknamed Ultima Thule (TOO-lee). Ultima Thule will be the farthest
world ever explored by humankind, no spacecraft has visited
anything so primitive.

o
 Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return (CAESAR) for
visiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
 Dragonfly: spacecraft to study Titan, Saturn’s largest moon

VISIONS – 2-

 The VISIONS-2 mission, short for Visualizing Ion Outflow via Neutral Atom
Sensing-2, is a sounding rocket going to be launched by NASA.
 It aims to explore how the Earth’s atmosphere is slowly leaking in to space.

Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment Mission-

 AIDA is a dual-mission concept, involving two independent spacecraft NASA’s

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), and European Space Agency’s Asteroid
Impact Mission (AIM).
 It will be the first demonstration of the kinetic impact technique to change the
motion of an asteroid in space.
 It targets binary near-Earth asteroid Didymos, which pose a hazard to earth.
 DART spacecraft will cause deliberately crashing itself into the asteroid at a speed
of approximately 6 km/s. The collision will change the speed of the asteroid in its
orbit around the main body by a fraction of one percent, enough to be measured
using telescopes on Earth.

EcAMSat Mission-
  EcAMSat – E.coli Anti-Microbial Satellite Mission was launched to International
space station to investigate spaceflight effects on bacterial antibiotic resistance
and its genetic basis.
 It aims to determine the lowest dose of antibiotic needed to inhibit the growth of
E.coli.

Gaia mission-

 Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (Gaia) It is a European Space

Agency’s mission, to chart a 3-D map of the home galaxy, revealing in the process
its composition, formation and evolution.
 It will provide unprecedented positional measurements for about one billion
stars – about 1 per cent of the Galactic stellar population – in our Galaxy and
Local Group.

Aeolus Satellite- to gather information on wind

 Aeolus is a European wind survey satellite launched by Arianespace, world’s

leading satellite launch company
 It is part of the Copernicus project, a joint initiative of the European Union and
the European Space Agency (ESA) to track environmental damage and aid disaster
relief operations.
 It will use advanced laser technology to track global winds and improve weather
forecasts.
 It will probe the lowermost 30 kilometres of the atmosphere in measuring winds
around the Earth.
 It is the world's first space mission to gather information on Earth's wind on a
global scale.

SENTINEL-5P-

 European satellite Sentinel-5P sends images of global air pollution

 The Sentinel-5P satellite is designed to make daily global maps of the gases and
particles that pollute the air.
 Sentinel-5P is the latest spacecraft in a fleet of Earth observers being
commissioned by the European Union
and the European Space Agency.
 It carries an instrument called Tropomi – a spectrometer that observes the
reflected sunlight coming up off the Earth, analysing its many different colours.
 This helps detect the presence of trace gases such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone,
sulphur dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.

MINERVA-II1 -

 MIcro Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for Asteroid (MINERVA) is the second-
generation rover developed by Japanese Space Agency.
 It is the world’s first man-made object to explore movement on an asteroid
surface.
 It recently landed on Asteroid Ryugu and the world's first rover to land on the
surface of an Asteroid.
 This is also the first time for autonomous movement and picture capture on an
asteroid surface.
 It will collect a sample of the primitive world during its stay at Ryugu, to bring to
Earth for laboratory analysis.
ICESat (Ice Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite)-2-

 ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2), part of NASA's Earth
Observing System, is a satellite mission for measuring ice sheet elevation and sea
ice thickness, as well as land topography, vegetation characteristics, and clouds
 Launched into a near-circular, near-polar orbit with an altitude of approximately
496 km

BepiColombo Mission- to study mercury

 It is Europe's first mission to Mercury, set off in 2018 and reach there in 2025.
 A UK-built spacecraft will determine if the nearest planet to the Sun contains
water.
 It is a joint mission between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA).
 Mercury is the smallest planet in our Solar System.
 Till now only NASA’s Mariner 10 and US Space Agency’s Messenger have flown
past the planet.

Chang’e-4 spacecraft-

 It is part of the second phase of China’s lunar programme.

 It is the first mission to land on the far side of the Moon. It landed at the South
Pole- Aitken Basin.
 Far side is the hemisphere of the Moon that always faces away from Earth.
 From Earth, only 59% of the moon is visible over a period of time due to:

o Tidal locking

o Lunar Vibrations
 Queqiao or Magpie bridge- Queqiao, which will serve as a communication relay
satellite between Earth and the lunar farside

INDIA-BASED NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY-

 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld the environmental clearance granted
to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO).
 It is located within 5 km of Madhikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district of
Kerala and hence also requires specific approval by the National Board for Wild
Life.
 neutrinos are second most abound particles in the universe.
 They interact very little with anything and pass through everything that’s
why it’s hard to detect them.
 They carry no electrical charge and nearly massless.
 Benefits: understanding the particle, understanding the evolution of the universe,
understanding of dark matter (as they interact with it), role in nuclear non-
proliferation through remote monitoring, study of Geoneutrinos might help
creating an earthquake warning system, map natural resources inside the earth.
 They are least harmful of elementary particles, as they hardly interact with
matter. In fact, trillions of solar neutrinos pass through our body every second
without doing any harm to us.

ADITYA - India's First Solar Mission-

  Mission ADITYA will allow the scientist to study the solar maxima- an event of intense
activity on the sun that repeats every 11 years.
 The major scientific objective of the Aditya-1 mission are-

o to achieve a fundamental understanding of the physical processes that heat the
solar corona;
o to study the solar winds and magnetic field.
o it will also study the crucial parameters of space weather.
o The Aditya L1 is expected to help study that why the photosphere, the deeper
layer of the sun is at much lower temperature than the corona.
 It is low earth orbit mission at an altitude of 800 km.
 It is a Joint venture between ISRO, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangaluru, Inter
University centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research, Mumbai.
 It will be Placed at L1- or Lagrangian Point.
 Lagrangian point are the locations around a planet's orbit where the Gravitational
forces and the orbital motion of the spacecraft, Sun, and planet interact to create
a stable location in order to make obervation.
 A Lagrange point is a location in space where the combined gravitational forces of
two large bodies, such as Earth and the sun or Earth and the moon, equal the
centrifugal force felt by a much smaller third body.
 L1 is the point where the spacecraft is placed directly between the Sun and Earth, so the
gravity of the earth pulls it in the opposite direction and cancels some of the sun's pull
providing a good position to monitor the sun.

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (NISAR)-

 It is the world's most expensive earth imaging satellite being jointly developed
by India and USA to expected to launched in 2021.
 NISAR is a dual frequency L-band(NASA) and S- band(ISRO) radar mission, that
will map Earth every 12 days from two directions.
 It will make global integrated measurements of the causes and consequences of
land surface changes.
 The satellite will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequency and it is
planned to be used for remote sensing to observe and understand natural
processes on Earth.
 It is designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet's most
complex processes, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and
natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
 NASA will provide the mission's L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a high-
rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid state
recorder, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO will provide the satellite bus, an S-
band synthetic aperture radar, the launch vehicle and associated launch services.

Kordylewski Clouds-

 The Kordylewski clouds are two mysterious swarms of dust trapped between the
competing gravitational fields of Earth and the Moon.
 These clouds occupy positions that are called Lagrange points.

Ryugu Asteroid-

 A Japanese Probe “Hayabusa2” has recently reached “Ryugu”, an asteroid 300

million km away from Earth.
 The aim of the mission is to collect information about the birth of the solar
system and the origin of life.
  It identify suitable sites to take samples from once the probe touches down on the
asteroid. It will deploy a small lander and three rovers.

TRAPPIST-1-

 It is a system of seven Earth-size planets orbiting an ultra-cool dwarf star about

40 light-years away.
 This is by far the largest collection of Earth-like planets in the habitable
‘Goldilocks’ zone of a star
 Goldilocks represents a zone which is neither too close nor too far from a star,
which raises the possibility of liquid water being present on the surface.
 Since the initial discovery of three planets was made using the Chile-based
Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope, the exoplanet system is
called TRAPPIST-1.

Kepler 90i-

 NASA has recently announced that it found another solar system with 8 planets.
 The historic discovery was made by new scientific analysis of data obtained by the
Kepler space telescope.
 Kepler 90 is the first star to host as many planets as our own solar system.
 The new planet “Kepler 90i” is a small rocky planet, but very close to the sun
which is hotter than Earth The planets in the Kepler 90 system orbit much closer
to their host star than Earth is to the sun.

ARIES Telescope-

 ARIES telescope is a joint collaboration between Indian, Russian, and Belgian

scientists
 The telescope is located at Devasthal, Nainital at a height of 2,500 metres
 The telescope will be used in the study and exploration of planets, starts,
magnetic field and astronomical debris.
 The high end technology incorporated in the telescope enables it to be operated
with the help of remote control from anywhere in the world.

GRAPES-3 Experiment- Muon Tracking telescope to study the effects of solar storms
reaching earth.

 The GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3) experiment is

a special telescope-array established in Ooty, Tamil Nadu
 Its aim is to detect muons from cosmic ray showers.
 It is an Indo-Japanese collaboration where Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research of India and the Japanese Osaka City University and Nagoya Women’s
University are collaborating with each other.
 It can be used to study solar storms and space weather at distances up to two
times the earth’s radius, unlike satellite-based studies that give information only
about what is happening in their vicinity.
 Sun gives out bursts of energy because of its fusion reactions, in the form of solar
flares and coronal mass ejections.
 This phenomenon can disrupt satellites and various electronic communications
present on Earth.
 It sends a stream of electrical charges and magnetic fields toward the Earth.
 The earth’s atmosphere provides a shield against UV rays and other incident
particles. But its protection stretches to less than 100 km around the earth. The
stronger protection comes from the earth’s magnetic field which stretches to
around 10 times the radius of the earth – about 60,000 km beyond the surface.
 This magnetic field deflects most of the galactic cosmic rays – high-energy
charged particles that are incident on earth from space. The magnetic field forms
the first line of defence against cosmic rays by imposing a threshold energy per
unit charge. Only charged particles that have higher energy than this threshold
can fall on the earth.
 If the earth’s magnetic field were to be weakened by extreme solar storms,
charged particles would shower on to the planet. Apart from rendering electronic
devices defunct, charged particles in an extreme solar storm can also short
current carrying over-head high voltage lines, leading to large-scale transformers
burn out and thereby, power blackouts.
 Muons and other particles are produced when cosmic rays bombard air particles surrounding
the earth. The muons produced can have positive or negative charge. These particles have
about half the spin of electrons but 200 times the weight, and are very good at penetrating
matter.
 For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty
recently measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud simultaneously.

Spiking Neural Network Architecture Machine-SpiNNAKER

 Recently world’s largest brain like supercomputer called Spiking Neural Network
Architecture (SpiNNaker) was turned on for the first time.
 SpiNNaker mimics the working of human brain with the help of about thousand
interconnected circuit boards.
 It has computational capability of more than 200 million actions per second.
However even at this rate it has achieved only 1 percent of scale of human brain
and that too with lots of simplifications.
 SpiNNaker is unique because, unlike traditional computers, it does not
communicate by sending large amounts of information from point A to B via a
standard network.
 Instead it mimics the massively parallel communication architecture of the brain,
sending billions of small amounts of information simultaneously to thousands of
different destinations.

Shakti Microprocessor-

 It’s India’s first microprocessor developed by IIT Madras.

 Shakti is an open-source initiative by the Reconfigurable Intelligent Systems
Engineering (RISE) laboratory at IIT Madras with funding by Union Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology.
 Earlier, an initial batch of 300 chips named RISECREEK was fabricated free at
Intel’s facility at USA to run on the Linux System. But now fabrication also in the
country has made the microprocessor completely indigenous.
 The Shakti team is also almost ready with ‘Parashakti’ which is an advanced
microprocessor for super computers. It can be used in desktops and if 32 such
microprocessors are attached together then it could be used in supercomputer.

CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS-

 National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) which is

to be implemented by Department of Science &Technology for a period of five
years.
 CPS is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the deployment of computer-based
systems that do things in the physical world. It integrates sensing, computation,
control and networking into physical objects and infrastructure, connecting them
to the Internet and to each other.
  Examples of cyber physical systems are Smart Grid Networks, Smart
Transportation System, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Utility
Service Infrastructure for Smart Cities, etc.
 CPS are physical and engineered systems whose operations are monitored,
coordinated, controlled and integrated by a computing and communication core.
 CPS engineering has a strong emphasis on the relationship between computation
and the physical world.
 They are not necessarily connected with internet.

TRANS-FAT-

 Trans Fatty Acids (TFA), they are of 2 types-

 Natural Trans-Fat- Occur naturally in the dairy and some meat products.
 Artificial Trans-Fat- They are created when the oil goes through hydrogenation,
which involves adding hydrogen to the liquid oil to make it more solid.
 They help to increase the shelf life of oils and foods and stabilise their flavours.
 The current permitted level of trans fat is 5 per cent (by weight) in India. FSSAI
has further proposed to limit the maximum amount of trans fat in vegetable oils,
vegetable fat and hydrogenated vegetable oil to 2 per cent to make India trans-
fat free by 2022, a year ahead of the global target by the WHO for complete
elimination of trans fat.

Drug regime in India-

 Drugs are regulated by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and
Cosmetic Rules, 1945.
 Central Drugs Standard Control Organization(CDSCO), under the MoHFW, is the
authority that approves new drugs for manufacture and import.
 State Drug Authorities are the licensing authoritiesfor marketing drugs.
 Drugs Technical Advisory Body (DTAB): It is thehighest statutory decision-making
body under the Union Health ministry on technical matters related to drugs. It is
constituted as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) -

 It is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 It is created to set standards of drugs in the country.
 It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of
adding new and updating existing articles in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia
(IP).
 It also promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National
Formulary of India.

WEST NILE VIRUS-

 They are typically spread by culexmosquitoes and can cause neurological disease and death
in people
 It is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the same family of Japanese
encephalitis - Flaviviridae.
 Its transmission cycle, by nature, revolves between birds and mosquitoes. Humans, horses
and other mammals can be infected.
 Unlike other mosquito-borne diseases, it does not cause symptoms in everybody that
contracts the virus.
 To date, no human-to-human transmission of WNV through casual contact has been
documented.
  It may be transmitted through contact with other infected animals, their blood or other
tissues.

NIPAH VIRUS-

 Nipah virus was first identified in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998.
 The first outbreak in India was reported from Siliguri, West Bengal in 2001.
 The natural host of the virus is the fruit bat but it can also infect pigs or any
domesticated animals.
 The virus is present in bat urine, faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids which then
transmits it to Humans climbing trees or drinking raw palm sap covered in it.
 Transmission of Nipah virus also takes place through direct contact with other
NiV-infected people.
 Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can
also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. In
infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical)
infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also
cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic
losses for farmers.

QUADRIVALENT INFLUENZA VACCINE -

 WHO recently for the first time recommended the use of quadrivalent influenza
vaccine. Sanofi Pasteur’s injectable influenza vaccine (FluQuadri)
 The quadrivalent vaccine will contain four influenza virus strains (two A subtypes and two B
subtypes — H1N1 and H3N2, and Victoria and Yamagata respectively), while trivalent
influenza vaccine used to contain both A subtype viruses but only one of the B subtype virus.
 Avian influenza virus subtypes A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2) and swine influenza virus
subtypes A(H1N1), A(H1N2) and A(H3N2).

CELIAC DISEASE-

 Celiac disease also called sprue or coeliac, is an immune reaction to

eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
 It is a kind of an autoimmune disorder (wherethe immune system mistakes
healthy cells and substances for harmful ones and produces antibodies against
them (antibodies usually fight off bacteria and viruses) occurring in people who
are genetically predisposed.
 In celiac patient, eating gluten triggers an immune response in small intestine.
Over time, this reaction damages small intestine's lining and prevents absorption
of some nutrients (malabsorption). The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea,
fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications.
 There's no cure for celiac disease.
 India has many Gluten free grains grown locally- Jowar, Bajra, Makki, Ragi,
Kuttu.

Oxytocin Ban-

 Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in human also called as Love
Hormone.
 It plays a role in reproduction, child birth and lactation, apart from social interaction in
humans.
 It also has physical and psychological effects, including influencing social behavior and
emotion.
 Oxytocin is used both for humans and animals, to accelerate normal labour.
  It is being misused in the livestock industry to stimulate the mammary gland and induce milk
production in farm animals.
 The drug’s abuse in animals shortens their lives and makes them barren sooner.

HYDROGEN-CNG-

 Delhi is set to be India’s first city to launch hydrogen-enriched CNG (HCNG)

buses in 2019.
 HCNG is a vehicle fuel which is a blend of compressed natural gas and hydrogen,
typically 8-50% hydrogen by volume
 It does not need any modification of the engine or retrofitment.
 It has potential to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon
monoxide (appx 70%) and hydrocarbon emissions (appx 15%) vehicle emissions
compared to traditional CNG.
 Hydrogen addition to natural gas can decrease engine’s
unburned hydrocarbons and speed up the combustion process.
 It improves the engine efficiency, lowers fuel consumption upto 5 per cent as
compared to a CNG bus.
 The thermal efficiency of both Natural gas and HCNG increases with increase in
load which makes it an ideal fuel for high load applications and heavy-duty
vehicles.

MISSION INNOVATION-

 It was launched at COP21 of UNFCCC in Paris in November 2015. It is a global

platform of 23 countries and European Union aimed at accelerating clean energy
innovations through-
o Enhanced Government funding,
o Greater public-private sector partnership and
o Enhanced global cooperation.
 It seeks to double investments in clean energy innovation over five years.
 India is founding member of Mission Innovation and part of the Steering
Committee besides co-lead of innovation challenges on smart grids, off grids and
sustainable bio-fuels.
 Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is nodal agency of this mission in India.
 The first Ministerial meeting was held in June 2016 in San Francisco. 4th MI
Ministerial will be hosted by Canada, Vancouver in May 2019.

Gas hydrates-

 Natural gas hydrates are a naturally occurring, ice-like combination of natural gas
and water found in oceans and polar regions.
 They are considered as vast resources of natural gas (estimated to exceed the
volume of all known conventional gas resources) and are known to occur in
marine sediments on continental shelf margins.
 Most of the gas hydrates are located in coarse-grained sand-rich depositional
systems in the Krishna-Godavari and Cauvery Basins.

FREE SPACE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION-

 It is an optical communication technology in which data is transmitted by

propagation of light in free space allowing optical connectivity.
 Working of FSO is similar to OFC (optical fiber cable) networks but the only
difference is that the optical beams are sent through free air or vaccum instead
of glass fiber.
  It is a Line of Sight (LOS) technology. It consists of an optical transceiver at both
ends to provide full duplex (bidirectional) capability.
 It is capable of sending up to 1.25 Gbps of data, voice, and video
communications simultaneously through the air.

Super critical carbon di oxide Brayton test loop facility -

 Indian scientists have developed a super critical carbon di oxide Brayton test loop
facility that would help generate clean energy from future power plants including
solar thermal.
 This next generation technology loop was developed indigenously by Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore.
 Super Critical Carbon Dioxide- The term “supercritical” describes the state of
carbon dioxide above its critical temperature of 31°C and critical pressure of 73
atmospheres making it twice as dense as steam.
 This is India’s first test-bed for next generation, efficient, compact, waterless
super critical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle test loop for power generation.
 The technology is perhaps the first test loop coupled with solar heat source in the
world.
 Significance-

o The efficiency of energy conversion could be significantly increased by as
much as 50% or more if S-CO2 is operated in a closed loop Brayton cycle.
o Increasing power generation and making the process more efficient,
o Smaller turbines and power blocks can make the power plant cheaper,
while higher efficiency would significantly reduce CO2 emissions for fossil
fuel based plants.
o Moreover, if the power plant used solar or nuclear heat source, it would
mean higher capacity at lower operating costs.

Antibiotic odilorhabdins, or ODLs-

 The antibiotic called odilorhabdins, or ODLs, are produced by symbiotic bacteria

found in soil-dwelling nematode worms that colonise insects for food. The
bacteria helps in killing the insect and, importantly, secretes the antibiotic to keep
competing bacteria away
 ODLs act on the ribosome of bacterial cells.
 Like many clinically useful antibiotics, ODLs work by targeting the ribosome. ut
ODLs are unique because they bind to a place on the ribosome that has never
been used by other known antibiotics
 It may help combat drug-resistant or hard-to-treat bacterial infections

MICROBIAL FUEL CELL-

 A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical device that harnesses the

power of respiring microbes to convert organic substrates directly into electrical
energy. At its core, the MFC is a fuel cell, which transforms chemical energy into
electricity using oxidation reduction reactions.
 Microbial fuel cells work by allowing bacteria to do what they do best, oxidize and
reduce organic molecules. Bacterial respiration is basically one big redox reaction
in which electrons are being moved around.
 A MFC consists of an anode and a cathode separated by a cation specific
membrane. Microbes at the anode oxidize the organic fuel generating protons
which pass through the membrane to the cathode, and electrons which pass
through the anode to an external circuit to generate a current.
  When an organic "fuel" enters the anode chamber, the bacteria set to work
oxidizing and reducing the organic matter to generate the life sustaining ATP that
fuels their cellular machinery. Protons, electrons, and carbon dioxide are produced
as byproducts, with the anode serving as the electron acceptor in the bacteria's
electron transport chain.
 The newly generated electrons pass from the anode to the cathode using the wire
as a conductive bridge. At the same time protons pass freely into the cathode
chamber through the proton exchange membrane separating the two chambers.
Finally an oxidizing agent or oxygen present at the cathode recombines with
hydrogen and the electrons from the cathode to produce pure water, completing
the circuit.
 The most immediately foreseeable application of an MFC is in waste water
treatment, used as bio-sensors and can be used to produce methane

BIOMARKERS-

 Biomarkers are indicators that help in determining the presence or severity of a

disease.

4D Printing-

 It can be used to create complex, shape-changing objects.

 4D printing is conventional 3D printing combined with the additional element
of time as the 4th dimension.
 The 4D printed objects can re-shape or self-assemble themselves over time with
external stimuli, such as mechanical force, temperature, or a magnetic field.

Redefining the International system of units (SI)-

 Kilogram- mass- to be based on planks constants

 Ampere- Current- to be based on electrons charge
 Kelvin- Temperature- to be based on Boltzmann constant
 Mole- Amount of substance- to be based on Avogadro Constant

MISSION SHAKTI-

 India tested its first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile as part of ‘Mission

Shakti’ against a “live” satellite launched by it a few months earlier.
 An anti-satellite weapon is anything that destroys or physically damages
or incapacitates a satellite for strategic military purposes. Only the United States,
Russia, China, and now India have demonstrated this capability successfully.
 Mission Shakti is India’s response to the potent case of future weaponization
of space, where enemy nation can indulge in space war to disrupt critical
infrastructure of the nation.
 Mission Shakti was done in a low orbit of less than 300 kilometres and at a
particular angle to ensure that minimal debris were disbursed above into space to
avoid damage to other satellites or the International Space Station (ISS).

PSLV C-45-

 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C45

rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh),
which injected EMISAT and 28 international customer satellites into
their designated orbits.
 It was the first time ISRO launched a rocket that injected satellites in three
different orbits.
  For placing the satellites in 3 different orbits, the rocket needed to undertake 2
revolutions around the Earth. This was achieved by reigniting the 4th stage
engines (employed for the first time)
 The 4th and last stage of the rocket will function as a satellite itself for some
time, instead of being rendered junk after ejecting its payloads.

EMISAT- by DRDO, First electronic Measurement satellite, to measure electromagnetic

spectrum-

 Developed by DRDO under Project Kautilya, it is the primary satellite placed

in sun-synchronous polar orbit of 748 km height by PSLV-C45, intended for
electromagnetic spectrum measurement.
 It is India's 1st Electronic Intelligence Satellite. It will increase the situational
awareness of the armed forces by providing the location and information of
hostile radars placed at the borders.

CABINET NOD FOR JOINING NICE, VIENNA, LOCARNO AGREEMENTS - WIPO

AGREEMENTS

 the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for Accession of India to the Nice,
Vienna and Locarno Agreements, related to the World Intellectual Property
Organization’s (WIPO) international classification systems.
 Applicants for national or international IP protection are required to determine
whether their creation is new or owned/claimed by someone else. To determine
this, huge amounts of information must be searched.
 WIPO administers various Classification treaties/agreements for this purpose.
 NICE AGREEMENT- For Trade Marks-

o The Nice Agreement (1957) establishes a classification of goods and
services for the purposes of registering trademarks and service marks (the
Nice Classification).
 LOCARNO AGREEMENT- for Industrial Design

o The Locarno Agreement (1968) establishes a classification for industrial
designs (the Locarno Classification).
 VIENNA AGREEMENT-

o The Vienna Agreement (1973) establishes a classification (the Vienna
Classification) for marks that consist of, or contain, figurative elements.

S-400 Triumf Missile System -

 India and Russia have concluded the contract for five S-400 ‘Triumf’ missile
systems, one of the biggest defence deals in recent times.
 It is an air defence missile system that can take down enemies’ aircraft in the sky
from the surface itself.
The S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile
defence system, capable of destroying hostile strategic bombers, jets, missiles
and drones at a range of 380-km.

HELINA- Helicopter Launched Nag Missile-

 It is an acronym for “Helicopter Launched Nag” missile.

 Nag is a third generation Anti-Tank guided missile indigenously developed under
“Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)” of DRDO.
  Anti-Tank Guided Missiles are primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily
armored military vehicles.
 It is a heavier and longer-range version of the vehicle mounted Nag missile with a
7-km range.
 Typically, a land version of Nag missile has a range of only 4 km.

AGNI- surface to surface

 It is an intercontinental surface-to-surface, nuclear capable ballistic missile.

 It is an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km
and can reach most parts of China.
 It is powered by three stage solid fuelled missiles. It can carry a payload of 1.5
tonnes.
 At present, US, China, Russia, UK, France and Israel are known to have ICBMs.
 It has been equipped with very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial
Navigation System (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINS).
 India has reportedly also been working on multiple independently targetable
reentry vehicles (MIRV) for the Agni-V in order to ensure a credible second strike
capability or credible minimum deterrence.

Brahmos-

 It is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from

submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the
world.
 Its range was initially capped at 290 km as per obligations of the Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Since India’s entry into MTCR, the range has
been extended to 450 km and the plan is to increase it to 600km

PRITHVI-

 Both Prithvi-I and Prithvi-II are short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
 While Prithvi I has a range of 150km (used by Army), Prithvi II has a range of
350 km (used by Airforce).
 Dhanush (also known as Prithvi III), a naval variant of this Prithvi missile, has a
range of 350 km.

NAG-

 It is a third generation “fire and forget” anti-tank guided missile.

 It can be launched from land and air-based platforms.
 The helicopter-launched configuration, designated as helicopter-launched NAG
(HELINA), can be fired from Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) and HAL Rudra
attack helicopter.
 The land based version (NAMICA) has maximum range of 4 km while air based
version has a maximum range of 7 km.

AKASH MISSILE- surface to air

 It is a supersonic surface-to-air missile.

 It has a strike range of about 30 km and can carry a 55- kg fragmentation
warhead.
 It's designed to neutralise multiple aerial targets attacking from several directions
simultaneously.
 The system is autonomous and its operation is fully automated.
ASTRA MISSILE-

 It is the indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

(BVRAAM).
 It was successfully test fired from Su-30 aircraft.
 It comprises a launcher and a missile and it is designed as a BVR missile with a
long range of 110 km and short range of 20 km.

TRISHUL MISSILE-

 It is a Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile.

 It can be used as an anti-sea skimmer from a ship against low flying attacking
missiles.

Igla-S missile-

 It is a Russian man-portable Surface to Air missile with a range of 5km

 Very Short Range Air Defence
 It offers superior performance over earlier supplied SA-18 missiles to India.It is
designed for use against visible aerial targets at short range such as tactical
aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), cruise missile, head-on or
receding, in presence of natural (background) clutter and countermeasures. As
per requirements of Indian Army,
 It will have maximum range of 6km, altitude of 3km along with all-weather
capability.

BARAK-8 MISSILE- surface to air missile-

 Barak 8 (the Hebrew word for Lightning), jointly developed by India and Israel, is
a long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM).
 It is designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft,
helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat
jets.
 Its main features include:

o Capability to take down an incoming missile as close as 500 meters away;
o Maximum speed – Mach 2
o Operational range - 70 Km (which has been increased to 100 Km)
o Simultaneous Engagements on multiple targets in all weather conditions.

AVANGARD HYPERSONIC SYSTEM -

 Russia successfully test fired Avangard Missile.

 It’s liquid-fueled intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM), with the ability
to flyas fast as Mach 20 (more than 15,000 miles per hour), and can carry nuclear
and conventional warheads.
 It could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manoeuvre up and down, meaning
that it could breach defence systems.

Nirbhay - Sub Sonic cruise missile-

 It is India’s first indigenously designed and developed Long Range Sub-Sonic

Cruise Missile.
 It can be deployed from multiple platforms.
  The missile has the capability to loiter and cruise at 0.7 Mach, at altitudes as low
as 100 m.

Feihong-98-

 It is a world’s largest unmanned transport aircraft which can carry payload of 1.5
tonnes.
 It was successfully tested by China recently.
 It has a cruising speed of 180 km/hour and a maximum range of 1,200 km.
INDEX AND REPORTS-

Ease of Doing Business - World Bank

World Development Report -World Bank

Universal Health Coverage Index - World Bank

Ease of Living Index - World Bank

Global Economic Prospect (GEP) report- World Bank

Global Financial Development Report - World Bank

Logistics Performance Index- World Bank

Energy Efficiency Implementation Readiness- World Bank

HUMAN CAPITAL INDEX- WORLD BANK-

 Survival-under 5 mortality rate

 Expected year of quality adjusted learing
 Health- adult survival rate & rate of stunting for children under 5

REGULATORY INDICATORS FOR SUSTAIABLE ENERGY- WORLD BANK

Global Financial Stability Report- International Monetary Fund (IMF)

World Economic Outlook- IMF

Government at a Glance Report OECD

World Trade Outlook Indicator WTO

Global Financial System Report Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

GLOBAL MONEY LAUNDERING REPORT- FATF

Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report WEF

ENABLING TRADE REPORT- WEF

Global Competitiveness Report- WEF

Global Environment Performance Index WEF

Inclusive Development Index -WEF

Energy Transition Index – WEF

Global Manufacturing Index WEF

Global Gender Gap Index WEF

Gender Parity Index -UNESCO

Global education monitoring Report United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)

World Investment Report- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT REPORT- UNCTAD

World Economic situation and Prospectus Report UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA)

World Happiness Report UN – Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

World Employment and Social Outlook ILO

Global Wage Report ILO

Gender Inequality Index UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

Global Environment Outlook UNEP

Emission Gap Report UNEP

Greenhouse Gas Bulletin World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

World Migration Report International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

World Energy Outlook (WEO) International Energy Agency (IEA)

Global Hunger Index -WELTHUNGERLIFE AND CONCER WORLDWIDE (IFPRI not part this year)-
Undernourishment , child mortality, child wasting and child stunting

Global Talent Competitiveness Index -INSEAD, Adecco Group and the Human Capital Leadership

World Inequality Report World Inequality Lab, Paris School of Economics

Global Innovation Index Cornell University, INSEAD & WIPO

Financial Stability Report RBI

RESIDEX National Housing Bank

Global Climate Risk Index 2018- GERMAN WATCH

Inclusive Development Index (IDI) - WEF

The index is computed by WEF to provide a more complete measure of economic development than GDP
growth alone.

The index has 3 pillars –

1. Growth and Development

2. Inclusion and Intergenerational Equity &

3. Sustainability.
Global Human Capital Index, 2017 - INDIA -103

It is published by WEF.

It ranks countries on how well they are developing their human capital.

The rankings are based on four thematic dimensions — capacity, deployment, development, and know-how.

India is ranked lower than its BRICS peers. Russia (16th), China (34th), Brazil (77th) and South Africa (87th).

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX- Institute for Economics and peace

GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX- - Institute for Economics and peace

Global slavery index- walk free foundation

HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE AGENCY-

 HEFA was setup in 2017 by the Central Government as a Non-Profit, Non-

Banking Financing Company (NBFC) for mobilising extra-budgetary
resources (funds from the market using market-based instruments) for building
crucial infrastructure in the higher educational institutions under Central
Government.
 The total authorized equity capital of HEFA has been raised to Rs.10,000 crore.
 HEFA is a joint venture of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and
Canara Bank with an agreed equity participation in the ratio of 91% and 9%
respectively.

DELHI DECLARATION ON DIGITAL HEALTH -

 The Delhi Declaration on digital health for sustainable development was adopted
at the 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit.
 It called for WHO’s leadership in digital health.
 It committed to accelerate and implement the appropriate digital health
interventions to improve health of the population at national and sub-national
levels by 2023.
 The Global Digital Health Partnership Summit was hosted by the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with World Health Organization
(WHO) and the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP).
 The Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) is a collaboration of governments
and territories, government agencies and WHO, to support the effective
implementation of digital health services.

ASTANA DECLARATION- to strengthen primary health care

 Global Conference on Primary Health Care by UNICEF and World Health

Organisation (WHO), has concluded with Astana Deceleration in Kazakhstan. All
the 192-member countries of the United Nations, including India, signed the
Astana Declaration.
 It is the global commitment to strengthen Primary Health Care.
 This declaration reaffirms the historic 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata. Alma-Ata
Declaration was the first declaration which identified Primary Health Care as a
key to the attainment of the goal of Health for All.
PARTNERS FORUM 2018-

 The fourth Partners’ Forum was recently held in New Delhi.

 It was hosted by the Government of India, in association with the Partnership
for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH).
The PMNCH is an alliance of more than 1000 organizations in 192 countries from
the sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn,child and adolescent health
communities, as well as health influencing sectors.
 It was launched in September 2005 to accelerate efforts to reduce child and
maternal mortality, improve adolescent, child, newborn and maternal health.
 Its Secretariat is hosted at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
 The PMNCH Partners' Forum serves as a regular global platform to consolidate
and increase members’ commitment to the objectives of The Partnership and
maintains and reinforces high level political commitment.
 This is the second time India is hosting the Partners’ Forum (earlier in 2012).

DUBAI DECLARATION’ ADOPTED TO MEASURE PROGRESS OF SDGS-

 At the conclusion of the UN World Data forum, 2018,‘Dubai Declaration’ was

adopted.
 Dubai Declaration was adopted which detailed measures to boost funding for data
and statistical analysis for monitoring and speeding up progress towards the 2030
SDGs.

Digital Health Resolution- WHO

 The world Health Organization 71st World Health Assembly was recently held in
Geneva, Switzerland.
 the Meet Primary focus was on Universal Health Coverage.
 Digital Health Resolution initiated by India was adopted as its resolution on
Digital Health

PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2018-

 Giving a bribe is an offence now, punishable by 7yrs except when one is forced to
give a bribe. however it should be reported within 7 days
 only 2 forms of criminal misconduct from earlier 5. these are misappropriation of
property entrusted to public servant, intentionally enriching oneself illicitly
 Pre-investigation approval required of relevant authority or govt
 Sanction required for former officials for offence done under their term
 forfeiture of property- special court can attach and confiscate property
 time bound trail

COMMERCIAL COURTS, COMMERCIAL DIVISION AND COMMERCIAL APPELLATE

DIVISION OF HIGH COURTS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018 -

 Reduction in the limit of commercial courts and commercial divisions of high

courts to adjudicate commercial disputes with a value of three lakh rupees from at
least one crore rupees earlier.
 Allowing state governments to establish commercial courts at the district level
 Introduces the Pre-Institution Mediation (PIM) process to provide an opportunity
to the parties to resolve commercial disputes outside courts through the
authorities constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MINORITIES-

  It was set up under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
 It is a quasi-judicial body with powers of a civil court.
 It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and five Members to be nominated
by the Central Government –all should be from Minority communities.
 The Chairperson and every Member shall hold office for a term of three
years from the date he assumes office.
 The central government presents its report to the parliament.
 The constitution recognises minorities based on religion and language.
 But it neither defines the term 'minority' nor delineates the criteria for
determining a minority.
 Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs,
Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been
notified as minority communities by the Union Government.
 States governments are also empowered to designate state minorities and set up
State Minority Commissions.

NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS-

 NRC was first prepared after the Census of 1951.

 It is a list of all bona fide Indian citizens of Assam, the only state with such a
document. Other states such as Tripura are also demanding for NRC.
 The NRC is being updated as per the provisions of The Citizenship Act, 1955 and
The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards)
Rules, 2003.

NORTH EASTERN COUNCIL-

 It is a statutory advisory body established under the North Eastern Council Act,
1971, as amended in 2002.
 It is the apex level nodal agency for the economic and social development of the
North Eastern Region.
 Ex-officio Chairman – Union Home Minister (earlier it was Ministry of DoNER)
 It is mandated to function as a Regional Planning Body for the North Eastern
Region.

INTER STATE COUNCIL (ISC)-

 Article 263 of the constitution provides for the establishment of an Inter-State

Council (ISC).
 It was set up on the recommendation of Sarkaria Commission by a Presidential
Order in 1990.
 It is a recommendatory body on issues relating to inter-state, Centre–state and
Centre–union territories relations. It aims at promoting coordination between
them by examining, discussing and deliberating on such issues.
 It is not a permanent constitutional body. It can be established 'at any time' if it
appears to the President that the public interests would be served by its
establishment.
 Prime minister as the Chairman

NATIONAL COMMISSION ON BACKWARD CLASSES-

 The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 seeks to grant the National
Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC) constitutional status, at par with the
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission
for Scheduled Tribes.
  Currently, under the Constitution the NCSC has the power to look into complaints
and welfare measures with regard to Scheduled Castes, backward classes and
Anglo-Indians. The Bill seeks to remove the power of the NCSC to examine
matters related to backward classes.
 The NCBC has the power to examine complaints regarding inclusion or exclusion
of groups within the list of backward classes, and advise the central government
in this regard. The Bill seeks to establish the NCBC under the Constitution, and
provide it the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding
socially and educationally backward classes
 The Constitution Amendment Bill states that the President may specify the
socially and educationally backward classes in the various states and union
territories. He may do this in consultation with the Governor of the concerned
state. However, a law of Parliament will be required if the list of backward
classes is to be amended.
 Under the Constitution Amendment Bill, the duties of the NCBC will include: (i)
investigating and monitoring how safeguards provided to the backward classes
under the Constitution and other laws are being implemented, (ii) inquiring into
specific complaints regarding violation of rights, and (iii) advising and making
recommendations on socio-economic development of such classes. The central
and state governments will be required to consult with the NCBC on all major
policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.
 The NCBC will be required to present annual reports to the President on working
of the safeguards for backward classes. These reports will be tabled in
Parliament, and in the state legislative assemblies of the concerned states.

The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019 (124th Constitution Amendment Bill) -

 To provide 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to

the economically weaker sections (EWS) among those who are not covered
under any reservation plan.
 BEFORE ONLY SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BACKWARDNESS AS A CRITERIA WAS
PROVIDED IN THE CONSTITUTION

MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT-

 The MCC is a set of guidelines laid down by the Election Commission to govern
the conduct of political parties and candidates in the run-up to an election. This is
in line with Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives the Election Commission
the power to supervise elections to the Parliament and state legislatures.
 The MCC comes into force the moment an election is announced and remains in
force till the results are declared.
 The MCC is not enforceable by law.
 The Election Commission has argued against making the MCC legally binding;
stating that elections must be completed within a relatively short time (close to
45 days), and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not
feasible to make it enforceable by law.
 The Standing Committee that the MCC be made a part of the Representation of
the People Act, 1951. At present it is not a part of RPA

ELECTORAL BONDS-

 The electoral bonds were introduced by amendments made through the Finance
Act 2017 to the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, Representation of Peoples Act
1951, Income Tax Act 1961 and Companies Act.
 An Electoral Bond is an interest free financial instrument like a promissory note
for making anonymous donation to political parties.
  It can be purchased by a citizen of India or a body corporate in India.
 Denomination- 1000, 10000, 100000, 1 million, 10 million
 It can only be purchased from selected branches of SBI.
 Available for purchase for 10 days each in January, April, July, October
 Redeemable in the designated a/c of political party within 15 days from the
issue and bonds will not carry the name of payee
 Political parties who have received at least secured 1% votes in last Lok Sabha or
state assembly elections and are registered under Sec 29A of RPA, 1951
 The electoral bonds have also been exempt from IT Act.

LOKPAL-

 Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which

50% shall be judicial members and 50% shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities
and women.
 The selection committee for lokpal comprises of: the Prime Minister, the Speaker
of the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India (or his
nominee) and an eminent jurist (nominated by President based on the
recommendation of other members of the panel).
 President will appoint the recommended names.
 JURISDICTION-

o The jurisdiction of Lokpal extends to-
o
 Anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the
Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials
of the Union government under Groups A, B, C and D.
 The chairpersons, members, officers and directors of any board,
corporation, society, trust or autonomous body either established
by an Act of Parliament or wholly or partly funded by the Centre.
 Any society or trust or body that receives foreign contribution
above Rs. 10 lakh.
o Exception for PM-
o
 It does not allow a Lokpal inquiry if the allegation against the PM
relates to international relations, external and internal security,
public order, atomic energy and space.
 Complaints against the PM are not to be probed unless the full
Lokpal bench considers the initiation of inquiry and at least 2/3rds
of the members approve it.
 Salaries, allowances and service conditions of the Lokpal
chairperson will be the same as those for the Chief Justice of India;
those for other members will be the same as those for a judge of
the Supreme Court.
 The act also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property
acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.
 Suspension, removal of Chairperson and member of Lokpal: The Chairperson or
any Member shall be removed from his office by order of the President
on grounds of misbehaviour after the Supreme Court report. For that a petition
has to be signed by at least one hundred Members of Parliament.
 Issues with act

o Requirement fo Govt. Approval
o Time Framework Limitation of 7yrs for complaints to be entertained.
No inquire into any complaint, made after seven years from the date on
which the offence has been committed.
o No Suo Moto power with Lokpal