July 2017

IAS Prelims 2019 Course Book by BestCurrentAffairs.
com
NATIONAL
NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS
 The National Register of Citizens (NRC) contains names of Indian citizens of Assam. The NRC was prepared in 1951, after 1951
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Census of India.
 The NRC Update of 2014–2016 across Assam includes the names of those people (or of their descendants) who appear in the NRC
1951, or in any of the Electoral Rolls up to the midnight of 24 March 1971 or in any one of the other admissible documents is sued up
to the midnight of 24 March 1971, which would prove their presence in Assam on or before 24 March 1971. The NRC (1951) & the
Electoral Rolls up to the midnight of 24 March 1971 together are collectively called Legacy Data.
 On 30th July, 2018, the final draft of NRC was released. Names of 40 lakh (4 million) people were still left out in the final draft.
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 For inclusion in the updated NRC, there are two requirements - existence of a person‘s name in Legacy Data or any one of the
admissible documents issued up to midnight of 24 March 1971 and proving linkage with that person. Application Forms (family-wise)
will have to be submitted for getting names included in the updated NRC.
 These Application Forms will be verified and based on the results of verification of particulars submitted; the updated NRC will be
prepared. A draft NRC shall be published after the verification of the Application Forms to facilitate applicants with another opportunity
to submit claims, objections, corrections etc., before publication of the final NRC.
 The website to check a person's name in the NRC is http://nrcassam.nic.in/. Wipro manages the NRC website, as it was appointed as
the system integrator to update it. Wipro employs data entry executives who update the NRC.
 Policy decisions, guidelines and funds for NRC updates are provided by the Central Government of India, but its implementation is
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done through the State Government machinery under the Registrar General of India who functions as the Registrar General of Citizen
Registration under Rule 15 of Citizenship Rules, 2003 as amended in 2009 and 2010.
 The modalities for NRC updates have been developed jointly by the Government of Assam and the Government of India in adherence
to these statutes.
 Eligibility criteria for inclusion in NRC:
 Persons included in the 1951 census
 Persons on the Electoral Rolls up to midnight 24 March 1971
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 Descendants of the above-mentioned persons
 Persons who came to Assam on or after 1 January 1966 but before 25 March 1971 and registered themselves in accordance to
the rules made by the Central Government with the Foreigners Registration Regional Officer (FRRO) and those who have not
been declared as illegal migrants or foreigners by the authority
 ‗D‘ voters can apply to be included if the appropriate Foreigner Tribunal declares them as non-foreigners
 Persons who can provide any one of the documents issued up to midnight of 24 March 1971 as mentioned in the list of
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documents admissible for citizenship.
 As per the court direction, the Registrar-General of India is to publish the final list on June 30 to segregate Indian citizens from those
who illegally entered the State from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971.
 The process of filing claims and objections will start on 30 August, during which people whose names have been left out of the NRC
Assam, can once again appeal to have their case reconsidered. Those left out are not yet being labelled as ―foreigners‖ or being sent
to detention centres. However, only those applicants who had submitted their applications in 2015 will be considered.
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 Why was there a demand to update Assam‘s NRC? Since Independence till 1971, when Bangladesh was created, Assam witnessed
large-scale migration from East Pakistan that became Bangladesh after the war. Soon after the war on March 19, 1972, a treaty for
friendship, co-operation and peace was signed between India and Bangladesh. The migration of Bangladeshis into Assam continued.
To bring this regular influx of immigrants to the notice of then prime minister, the All Assam Students Union submitted a memorandum
to Indira Gandhi in 1980 seeking her ―urgent attention‖ to the matter. Subsequently, Parliament enacted the Illegal Migrants
(Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983. This Act, made applicable only to Assam, was expected to identify and deport illegal migrants
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in the state.
 The people were not satisfied with the government‘s measures and a massive statelevel student agitation started, spearheaded by All
Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP). This movement resulted in the ‗Assam Accord‘
signed on August 15, 1985, between AASU, AAGSP and the central and state governments.
SANITATION ACTION PLANS PREPARED FOR 10 NEW SWACHH ICONIC PLACES

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 Ten new heritage sites of the country firmed up action plans for raising their sanitation standards to exemplary levels. These Places
are Sri Raghavendra Swami Mutt Mantralayam (Andhra Pradesh), Hazarduari Palace (West Bengal), Shri Brahma Sarovar Temple
(Haryana), Vidur Kuti Temple (Uttar Pradesh), Mana village (Uttarakhand), Pangong Tso (Jammu and Kashmir), Shri Nag Vasuki
Temple (Uttar Pradesh), Nupi Keithel (Manipur), Sree Dharma Sastha Temple (Kerala) and Kanvashram (Uttarakhand), which
constitute Phase-III of the Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) initiative of the Swachh Bharat Mission, coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking
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Water and Sanitation.

 The plans were formulated at a two-day consultation in Hyderabad held between Central and State Government agencies, local
administrations and the Trusts/ Boards of the iconic places.
 Simultaneously a review was done of the work already taken up at the 20 Phase-I and Phase-II Swachh Iconic Places. Work under
Phase-I started in 2016 at Meenakshi Temple (Tamil Nadu), Ajmer Sharif Dargah (Rajasthan), Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus
(Maharashtra), Shree Jagannath Temple (Odisha), Manikarnika Ghat (Uttar Pradesh), Golden Temple (Punjab), Kamakhya Devi
Shrine (Assam), Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh), Shri Mata Vaisho Devi Temple (Jammu and Kashmir) and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam
(Andhra Pradesh).
 Another ten sites, Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple (Madhya Pradesh), Charminar (Telangana), Convent & Church of St. Francis of Asisi
(Goa), Somnath Temple (Gujarat), Gomateshwara Statue (Karnataka), Kalady (Kerala), Gangotri Temple (Uttarakhand), Yamunotri
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Temple (Uttarakhand), Gaya Teerth (Bihar) and Baidyanath Temple (Jharkhand) were taken up in 2017 under Phase-II.
 The Swachh Iconic Places initiative aims to achieve a distinctly higher level of sanitation at these places, especially in the peripheries
and approach areas. Following the clarion call by the Prime Minister to make Swachhata everybody‘s business, the Centre and
selected States have taken up joint efforts for making the country‘s iconic places Swachh. The special Swachhata initiatives at these
places have received CSR support from public and private companies.
JULY 2018 BestCurrentAffairs.com Page No.1

IAS Prelims 2019 Course Book by BestCurrentAffairs.com
TEACHING, PATIENT / CLINICAL CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
 The Union Cabinet has approved the Strengthening of teaching, patient / clinical care and public health programme implementation -
Shifting of more experienced doctors belonging to Central Government and Central government entities to teaching/ clinical / Public
Health Programme implementation activities.
 The approval seeks to ensure that the doctors belonging to Central Health Service (CHS) and of other Ministries / Departments /
entities of the Central Government, after attaining the age of 62 years, work exclusively in their respective fields of clini cal expertise.
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This would be done by amending the decision of the Union Cabinet taken in its meeting held on 15.06.2016 for removal of difficulties
experienced in effective implementation of this decision.
 This will result in capacity building and leadership development of more Central Government doctors besides availability of more
experienced doctors for medical education, clinical / patient care services and for implementation of national health programmes.
 The decision will make available more experienced doctors for patient / clinical care, medical teaching activities and implementation of
National Health Programmes etc., which is likely to benefit society at large.
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 The benefits of this proposal will percolate down the line throughout the country.
 Background: In order to tackle the problem of shortage of doctors, low joining and high attrition rate in Central Health Service, Union
Cabinet in its meeting held on 15.06.2016, approved increase in age of superannuation of doctors of the Central Health Servic e to 65
years. Subsequently, in its meeting in 2017, the Union Cabinet increased age of superannuation of doctors working in various other
Ministries/Departments including those of Indian Railways, AYUSH, Central Universities and NTs, etc. to 65 years. It is, however, felt
that there is a need to make available the services of senior doctors above the age of 62 years for core medical profession, such as,
clinical / patient care/ teaching in medical colleges / implementation of health programmes, Public Health programmes & funct ions,
etc.
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ENHANCEMENT OF AGE OF SUPERANNUATION OF DOCTORS
 The Union Cabinet has approvedthe proposal of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to enhance the
age of superannuation of General Duty Medical Officers, Specialist Grade doctors and Teaching medical faculty working in Bhopal
Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal to sixty-five years at par with doctors of Central Health Services and doctors working
under other Central government hospitals/institutes.
 The age of superannuation in respect of General Duty Medical Officers and Specialists included in Teaching, Non-Teaching and
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Public Health sub-cadres of Central Health Services was increased to sixty-five years vide a Notification in January, 2018.
 The Government decision will meet the shortage of faculty and specialist doctors in the BMHRC and improve the patient care facility to
the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy and members of their families.
ADDITIONAL STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES

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 The Union Cabinet has approvedestablishment of additional 6.5 Million Metric Tonne (MMT) Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)
facilities at two locations, i.e. Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka, including construction of dedicated SPMs (Single Point
Mooring) for the two SPRs.
 The SPR facilities at Chandikhol and Padur will be underground rockcaverns and will have capacities of 4 MMT and 2.5 MMT
respectively. Government had announced setting up of two additional SPRs during the budgetannouncement for 2017-18.
 ISPRL has already constructed underground rock caverns for storage of 5.33MMT of crude oil at three locations, viz. Vishakhapatnam
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(1.33 MMT), Mangalore (1.5 MMT) and Padur (2.5 MMT).
 The total 5.33 MMT capacity under Phase-I of the SPR programme is currently estimated to supply approximately 10 days of India‘s
crude requirement according to the consumption data for FY2016-17.
 Cabinet‘s approval for establishing additional 6.5 MMT Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities will provide an additional supply of about
12 days and is expected to augment India‘s energy security.
 The construction phase of the SPRs at Chandikhol and Padur is likely to generate significant direct & indirect employment
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opportunities in the states of Odisha and Karnataka.
MECHANISM FOR PROCUREMENT OF ETHANOL
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Modi has approved the Mechanism for procurement of ethanol
by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme- Revision of ethanol
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price for supply to Public Sector OMCs.

 Now, CCEA has approved the following for the forthcoming sugar season 2018-19 during ethanol supply period from 1st December
2018 to 30th November 2019:
 To fix the ex-mill price of ethanol derived out of C heavy molasses to Rs.43.70 per litre (from prevailing price of Rs.40.85 per litre).
Additionally, GST and transportation charges will also be payable.
 To fix ex-mill price of ethanol derived from B-heavy molasses and sugarcane juice at Rs.47.49 per litre. Additionally, GST and
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transportation charges will also be payable.

 As the price of ethanol is based on estimated FRP for sugar season 2018-19, it will be modified by MoP&NG as per actual Fair &
Remunerative Price (FRP) declared by the Government.
 For ethanol supply year 2019-20, ethanol prices will be modified by MoP&NG as per normative cost of molasses and sugar derived
from FRP of sugarcane.
 All distilleries will be able to take benefit of the scheme and large number of them are expected to supply ethanol for the EBP
programme. Remunerative price to ethanol suppliers will help in reduction of cane farmer's arrears, in the process contributing to
minimizing difficulty of sugarcane farmers.
 Ethanol availability for EBP Programme is expected to increase significantly due to higher price for C heavy molasses based ethanol
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and enabling procurement of ethanol from B heavy molasses and sugarcane juice for first time. Increased ethanol blending in petrol
has many benefits including reduction in import dependency, support to agricultural sector, more environmental friendly fuel, lesser
pollution and additional income to farmers.
 Government has notified administered price of ethanol since 2014. This decision has significantly improved the supply of ethanol
during the past four years. The ethanol procured by Public Sector OMCs has increased from 38 crore litre in ethanol supply year
2013-14 to estimated 140 crore litre in 2017-18.
 The sugarcane and sugar production in this sugar season is very high leading to dampening of sugar prices. Consequently,
sugarcane farmers‘ dues have increased due to lower capability of sugar industry to pay the farmers. Government has taken many
decisions for reduction of farmer's dues.

 As realization from ethanol is also one of the components in revenue of sugar mills/distilleries, Government has decided to review the
price of ethanol derived out of C heavy molasses.
 Government is also deciding the price of B heavy molasses and Sugarcane juice for the first time which is likely to positively impact
the capability of sugar industry to pay farmers dues and increase availability of ethanol for EBP Programme. This is also in line with
the National Policy on Biofuels -- 2018 announced by the Government during May, 2018 which has widened the scope of raw material
for ethanol production.
 Background:Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was launched by the Government in 2003 on pilot basis which has been
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subsequently extended to the Notified 21 States and 4 Union Territories to promote the use of alternative and environmental friendly
fuels. This intervention also seeks to reduce import dependency for energy requirements and give boost to agriculture sector.
NIMHANS DIGITAL ACADEMY LAUNCHED
 Union Minister of Health inaugurated the NIMHANS Digital Academy and addressed the first batch of professionals enrolled for
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undergoing courses in the fields of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Social Work.
 The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences is a medical institution located in Bangalore, India. Established in 1925,
NIMHANS, the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country, operates autonomously under the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.
 NIMHANS has established infrastructure for starting a Digital Academy to provide large scale training to healthcare service providers
like Medical Officer, Psychologists, Social Workers and Nurses to deliver quality mental healthcare services throughout the c ountry
with the objective of exponentially increasing skilled capacity in mental health in the country.
 Similar training programmes would also be started by the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand and Lokopriya Gop inath
Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam and the Institutes supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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for establishment of Centres of Excellence in the field of mental health.
 The passing of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 brings forth a stronger and more robust legal scaffold and humane and patient-centric
rights based approach for mental healthcare in our country.
 Under Ayushman Bharat, 150,000 sub-centres will be converted into Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) that will deliver
comprehensive primary health care. The HWCs would provide preventive, promotive, and curative care for non-communicable
diseases, dental, mental, geriatric care, palliative care, etc.
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PM LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR KEY PROJECTS IN AIIMS
 The Prime Minister laid the Foundation Stone of the National Centre for Aging at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in
New Delhi.This will provide the older population with multi-speciality healthcare. It will have 200 general ward beds.
 Prime Minister also inaugurated the 555-bed Super Speciality Block in Safdarjung Hospital. He dedicated the 500-bed New
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Emergency Block in Safdarjung Hospital; the 300-bed Power Grid Vishram Sadan in AIIMS; and the Connection Motorable Tunnel
between AIIMS, Ansari Nagar and Trauma Centre.
 The National Centre for Ageing will provide state of art clinical care to the elderly population and shall play a key role in guiding
research in the field of geriatric medicine and related specialties. The Centre will also be a key training facility for under graduate and
post graduate courses. The Centre will provide multi-specialty health care and will have 200 general ward beds, which will include 20
medical ICU beds. The centre will be developed at a cost of Rs 330 crores and shall be completed by February, 2020.
 Under Ayushman Bharat, 150,000 sub-centres will be converted into Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) that will deliver
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comprehensive primary health care. The H&WC would provide preventive, promotive, and curative care for non-communicable
diseases, dental, mental, geriatric care, palliative care, etc. He further stated that the Government has initiated universal screening of
common NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and common cancers along with Tuberculosis and Leprosy and everybody above the
age of 30 years will be screened for these diseases and as such this will eventually help in reducing the disease burden of the country.
 India has set a target to eliminate TB by 2025, which is well before the global target of 2030.
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MISSION SHAURYA TEAM
 The Prime Minister Modi met a group of ten tribal students from Maharashtra. The students were a part of a team of the ―Mission
Shaurya‖ initiative of the Adivasi Vikas Vibhag of the Maharashtra State Government.
 Five students out of this group successfully scaled Mt. Everest in May 2018.
 The students shared their experiences during the training and ascent of Mt. Everest. The Prime Minister congratulated the students on
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their achievements. He exhorted them to take up a sport, and pursue it regularly. He felicitated all the members of the group.
MOBILE APP 'REUNITE'
 Union Minister of Commerce launched a mobile application called ReUnite which helps to trackandtrace missing and abandoned
children in India. Minister appreciated the work being done by the NGO,BachpanBachaoAndolan&Capgemini for developing this app.
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 The app is multiuser where parents and citizens can upload pictures of children, and provide detailed description like name, birth
mark, address, report to the police station, search and identify missing kids. The photographs will not be saved in the mobile phone‘s
physical memory. AmazonRekognition, web facialrecognition service, is being used to identify missing kids. The app is available for
both Android and iOS.
 BachpanBachaoAndolan, (BBA) is India‘s largest movement for the protection of children and works along with law enforcement
agencies and policymakers. BBA has played a very important role in formulation of several lawsfor protection of child‘s rights. It began
from the Nithari case in 2006 which finally culminated with the Supreme Court passing the landmark judgement in 2013 ordering that
FIR has to be lodged in all cases of missing children.
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NATIONAL GENERIC DOCUMENT REGISTRATION SYSTEM
 The Union Minister for Rural Development inaugurated the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS)in all sub-
registrar offices in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
 To aptly address the diversity and variations prevailing across the States on account of languages, processes, formulae and formats,
the Department of Land Resources has developed a National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) through the National
Informatics Centre (NIC) to include the requirements of all the States.
 This generic customizable software, when universally adopted in the Country, will enable ‗anywhere access‘ to data and information to
both the common man and the enforcement and regulatory agencies. He also said that transparency will be promoted due to
registration through digital means and people will get the benefits in a hassle-free manner.

 Similarly, all 173 sub-registrar offices in the State of Punjab have been computerized and the NGDRS has been adopted in all 173
offices. State-wide inauguration of the NGDRS was done by the State Government on 27th June 2018 with the technical assistance
and collaboration of NIC including its software development unit at NIC Pune and its technical unit in Department of Land Resources,
Ministry of Rural Development.
 The NGDRS system has been piloted in 3 States (Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra).
 6 more states and UTs (Goa, A&N Islands, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Mizoram) are moving towards this system. Moreover, 5 states
(HP, AP, MP, Kerala, Uttarakhand) have shown interest to adopt this common software (NIC has given them guidance and technical
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demos).
 The Department is presently focussing on implementation of NGDRS in these 14 States, to optimally use the available funds in a cost-
effective, productive and time-bound manner.
 Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP):With its priority to updated and error-free land records and easy
access to information thereto, Government of India made the DILRMP into a cent per cent centrally-funded central sector scheme
from 01st April 2016.
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 National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for rural and urban areas:Computerization of sub-registrar offices is
beinggiven focussed attention.Out of total 5083 sub-registrar offices in the Country, 4509 have been computerized and 2769 have
been connected with tehsils.
HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF ISLANDS
 The Union Government had constituted the Islands Development Agency on June 1st, 2017.
 26 islands have been listed for holistic development.
 NITI Aayog made a presentation on the elements of holistic development, including key infrastructure projects, digital connec tivity,
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green energy, desalination plants, waste management, promotion of fisheries, and tourism-based projects.
 Reviewing the work done in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Prime Minister emphasized on the need for developing an integrated
tourism-centric ecosystem, in the areas identified for tourism development. He called for expeditious pursuit of energy self-sufficiency
in the islands, which could be based on solar energy.
 The Prime Minister was also briefed on the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, to dispense with the requirement of Rest ricted
Area Permit for foreigners visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Greater connectivity of these islands with South East Asia was
also discussed.
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 During the review of development work in Lakshadweep, the Prime Minister was apprised of the steps taken to boost Tuna fishing,
and the promotion of ―Lakshadweep Tuna‖ as a brand. The Prime Minister appreciated Lakshadweep‘s initiatives on cleanliness.
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA LAUNCHES MOBILE APP
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The Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat, along with the Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa launched a
mobile app, called ‗Cvigil,‘ for citizens to report any violation of the model code of conduct during elections.
 ―cVIGIL" is a user-friendly and easy to operate Android application. It will be operational only where elections are announced.
However, the beta version of the app will be made available for the public and election staff to download so that they can ac quaint
themselves with its features and also try sending dummy data.
 Upon successful completion of the trial that is underway, the application will be made available for general use by all, right from the
forthcoming Assembly elections in the States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan. The practical use of the app
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during the four-state Assembly polls will also serve as a pilot initiative before it is put to extensive use during the next Lok Sabha
General Elections.
 The app requires an Android smartphone equipped with a camera, good internet connection and GPS access. The operating system
should be Android Jellybean and above. The application supports all the latest Android smartphones.
 ―cVIGIL‖ will allow anyone in the election-bound state to report violations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that comes into effect from
the date of announcement of elections and goes on till a day after the polls. By using this app, citizens can immediately report on
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incidents of misconduct within minutes of having witnessed them and without having to rush to the office of the returning off icer to
lodge a complaint.
 The vigilant citizen has to click a picture or record a video of upto two minutes‘ duration of the scene of violations of the model code.
The photo or video is to be uploaded on the app. The automated location mapping will be done by the app using the Geographic
Information System. After its successful submission through the app, the vigilant citizen gets a Unique ID to track and receive the
follow up updates on her or his mobile. A citizen can report many incidents in this manner and will get a unique id for each report for
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follow up updates. The identity of the complainant will be kept confidential.

 Once the complaint is lodged, the information beeps in the District Control Room from where it is assigned to a Field Unit. A field unit
consists of Flying Squads, Static Surveillance Teams, Reserve teams etc. Each Field Unit will have a GIS-based mobile application
called ‗cVIGIL Dispatcher‘, which allows the unit to directly reach the location through navigation technology and take action.
 After a Field Unit has taken action, it messages and uploads the relevant document as ‗action taken report‘ via the ‗cVIGIL Dispatcher‘
to the returning officer concerned for his decision and disposal. If the incident is found correct, the information is sent to the National
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Grievance Portal of the Election Commission of India for further action and the vigilant citizen is informed about the action taken within
a hundred minutes.
KVIC LAUNCHES E-MARKETING SYSTEM
 The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched its in-housedeveloped,single-umbrella e-marketing systemnamed
Khadi Institution Management and Information System (KIMIS) in New Delhi. The system can be accessed from anywhere in the
country for the sale and purchase of Khadi and Village Industries products.
 KVIC IT team has developed a foolproof software, which may have cost millions of rupees if purchased from a third party. This
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software will give real-time data of sales and will also give the updated status of stocks of khadi bhawans and godowns, allowing
better planning and control of inventory of the KVIC.
 480 Khadi institutions and showrooms are linked with this billing software and it will be useful in raising demand and supply of goods in
high demand. KVIC Chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena
SCHEMES FOR REHABILITATION OF MIGRANTS
 The Union Cabinet has given its approval for continuance of the 8 existing schemes of the Ministry of Home Affairs upto March 2020
for relief and rehabilitation of migrants and repatriates under the Umbrella scheme "Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and
Repatriates".

 The financial implication for this purpose is Rs. 3183 crore for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20. The year-wise phasing of the scheme
will be- Rs. 911 crore in 2017-18, Rs.1372 crore in 2018-19 and Rs. 900 crore in 2019-2020.
 Schemes will provide relief & rehabilitation assistance to refugees, displaced persons, civilian victims of terrorist/communal/LWE
violence & cross border firing and mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory and riot victims of various incidents etc.
 The 8 schemes approved for continuance are already in operation, and the benefits under each will be extended to intended
beneficiaries in accordance with the approved criterion.
The schemes are as under:
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1. Central Assistance for one-time settlement of displaced families from Pak Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Chhamb settled
in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
2. Rehabilitation Package and up-gradation of infrastructure of theBangladeshi Enclaves and Cooch Behar District after transfer
of enclaves between India and Bangladesh under Land Boundary Agreement.
3. Relief assistance to Sri Lankan refugees staying in camps in Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
4. Grant-in-Aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) for five years for administrative and social welfare expenses of Tibetan
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settlements.
5. Grant-in-Aid to Government of Tripura for maintenance of Brus lodged in relief camps of Tripura.
6. Rehabilitation of Bru/Reang families from Tripura to Mizoram.
7. Grant of enhanced relief of Rs. 5.00 lakh per deceased person, who diedduring 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots.
8. Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist/Communal/LWE Violence and Cross Border Firing and
Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory'.
 Background: To enable the migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income
and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities, the Government, at different points of time, started 8 schemes.
These schemes provide assistance for - relief and rehabilitation of displaced families of PoJK and Chhamb; Relief assistance to Sri
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Lankan refugees, Relief assistance to Brus lodged in relief camps in Tripura; Rehabilitation of BRU/Reang families from Tripura to
Mizoram; enhanced relief to 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims; Relief to Civilian victims/family of victims of terrorists/Communal/LWE
violence and Cross Border firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory and Repatriation of Indian Prisoners from abroad; Gr ant-in-
aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC).
 Government is also providing Grant-in-Aid to West Bengal for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India
situated in Cooch Behar District for resettlement of 911 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.
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CREATION OF NEW POSTS IN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SAFAI KARAMCHARIS
 The Union Cabinet has approvedthe creation of one post each of Vice-Chairperson and Member in the National Commission for Safai
Karmacharis.
 The decision is intended to optimize functioning of the Commission and for fulfilling desired objectives of welfare and development of
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the target group.
 Background: The National Commission for SafaiKarmacharis is working for the welfare of both SafaiKaramcharis and Manual
Sacavengers. It is mandated to work towards elimination of inequalities in status facilities and opportunities for SafaiKaramcharis and
has an important role to ensure rehabilitation of all the identified manual scavengers on a time-bound basis. Under Section 31 of the
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, the Commission is to perform functions namely:
a) To monitor the implementation of the Act;
b) To enquire into complaints regarding contravention of provisions of the Act; and
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c) To advice Central and State Governments for effective implementation of the Act.
HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCING AGENCY
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister has approved the proposal for expanding the scope of Higher
Education Financing Agency (HEFA) by enhancing its capital base to Rs. 10,000 crore and tasking it to mobilise Rs. 1,00,000 crore for
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Revitalizing Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022.

 In order to expand this facility to all institutions, especially to the institutions set up after 2014, Central Universities which have very
little internal resources, and the school education/health education infrastructure like AllMSs, Kendriya Vidyalayas, the CCEA has
approved the following five windows for financing under HEFA and the modalities of repaying the Principal portion of the fund (interest
continues to be serviced through Government grants in all these cases):
 Technical Institutions more than 10 years old: Repay the whole Principal Portion from the internally generated budgetary
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resources.
 Technical Institutions started between 2008 and 2014: Repay 25% of the principal portion from internal resources, and receive
grant for the balance of the Principal portion.
 Central Universities started
 Prior to 2014: Repay 10% of the principal portion from internal resources, and receive grant for the balance of the Principal
portion.
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 Newly established Institutions (started after 2014): for funding construction of permanent campuses: Grant would be
provided for complete servicing of loan including the Principal and interest.
 Other educational institutions and grant-in-aid institutions of Ministry of Health: All the newly set up AIIMSs and other health
institutions, the Kendriya Vidyalayas / Navodaya Vidyalayas would be funded and the Department/Ministry concerned will give a
commitment for complete servicing of the principal and interest by ensuring adequate grants to the institution.
 The Cabinet has also permitted the HEFA to mobilise Rs 1,00,000 crore over the next 4 years till 2022 to meet the infrastructure
needs of these institutions. The CCEA has also approved increasing the authorized share capital of HEFA to Rs. 10,000 crore, and
approved infusing additional Government equity of Rs. 5,000 crore (in addition to Rs. 1,000 crore already provided) in HEFA.
 The CCEA has also approved that the modalities for raising money from the market through Government guaranteed bonds and
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commercial borrowings would be decided in consultation with the Department of Economic Affairs so that the funds are mobilized at
the least cost.
 This would enable addressing the needs of all educational institutions with differing financial capacity in an inclusive manner.
 This would enable HEFA to leverage additional resources from the market to supplement equity, to be deployed to fund the
requirements of institutions. Government guarantee would eliminate the risk factor in Bonds issue and attract investment in to this
important national activity.
 Background: HEFA has been set up on 31st May 2017 by the Central Government as a Non -Profit, Non Banking Financing
Company (NBFC) for mobilising extra-budgetary resources for building crucial infrastructure in the higher educational institutions
under Central Govt. In the existing arrangement, the entire principle portion is repaid by the institution over ten years, and the interest

portion is serviced by the Government by providing additional grants to the institution. So far, funding proposals worth Rs. 2,016 crore
have been approved by the HEFA.
COAL MINE SURVEILLANCE & MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LAUNCHED
 Union Minister of Coal Piyush Goyal launched the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and Mobile Application
‗Khan Prahari‘ developed by CMPDI, Ranchi a Subsidiary of CIL and Bhaskarcharya Institute of Space Application and Geo-
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informatics (BISAG).
 Illegal mining is a serious problem in the country today, particularly in the areas where coal mining is carried out. Illegal coal mining
not only causes a loss to the nation‘s resources but is also harmful to the environment.
 It is understood that coal is a main source of livelihood for many poor families residing in coal belts, but their sustenance should not be
totally dependent on illegal coal mining. It is not only about saving national resources but also about improving the quality of life of
those people.
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 Ministry of Coal has taken a major initiative in this direction by developing a Web GIS application called ‗Coal Mine Surveil lance &
Management System (CMSMS) and a mobile app called ‗Khan Prahari‘.
 The launch of the Coal Mine Surveillance Management System and ―Khan Prahari‖ on Swami Vivekananda‘s death anniversary is a
fitting tribute to him because Swamiji stood for highest levels of integrity.
 In the first quarter for the current financial year, Coal India has produced 136.87 MT of Coal, which is a growth of 15.2% over the
corresponding quarter of last year. Coal Indian has dispatched 122.84 MT of the coal to the Power Sector alone compared to the
same period last year which was 106.46 MT.
 The basic objective of CMSMS is reporting, monitoring and taking suitable action on unauthorised coal mining activities. The CMSMS
is a web based GIS application through which location of sites for unauthorised mining can be detected.
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 The basic platform used in the system is of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology‘s (MeiTY) map which provides village
level information. The leasehold boundary of all the coal mines are displayed on this map. The system will use satellite data to detect
changes by which unauthorised mining activity extending beyond the allotted lease area can be detected and suitable action can be
taken on it.
 It is the working of the concept of ‗cooperative federalism‘ in action. The complaint originating from coal mines allotted to Coal India
will go to Coal India Offices and those originating from coal blocks not allotted to Coal India will go straight to the State Government
Officers and for each complaint the alert will also go to the District Magistrate and SP of the district.
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 The system also uses information provided by responsible citizens using smartphones using the mobile application ―Khan Prahari‘.
 Khan Prahari is a tool for reporting any activity taking place related to illegal coal mining like rat hole mining, pilferage etc. One can
upload geo-tagged photographs of the incident along with textual information directly to the system. Hence, both satellite data and
human information will be used to capture information on the unauthorised mining activities.
 Once reported, the information will be automatically directed to the nodal officers to take suitable action on those activities. The
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complainant can also track his complaint through the system. The identity of the complainant shall not be revealed. This app can
easily be downloaded in Android and IOS.
 The uniqueness of the system is that it uses satellite data as well as public input to capture information on unauthorised coal mining
activities and also take appropriate action on them with due transparency.
 The CMSMS will also provide other important information like reclamation work being done by Coal India Limited which is being
monitored every year by CMPDI using satellite data. Status of Environmental Clearances /Forest Clearances etc. are also linked for
information in this system.
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MONUMENT MITRAS TO HERITAGE SITES
 The ―Adopt a Heritage – Apni Dharohar Apni Pehchaan‖ is a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture,
Archaeological Survey of India and State / UT Governments.
 It aims to encourage public/private sector companies and corporate citizens/NGOs/individuals to take up the responsibility of making
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our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of World Class tourist infrastructure and
amenities at ASI / State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.
 Ministry of Tourism in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched ―Adopt a Heritage
Project‖ to provide world class tourist facilities at the various natural/cultural heritage sites, monuments and other tourist sites to make
them tourist friendly, enhance their tourist potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner across the country.
 The project primarily focuses on providing basic amenities that include cleanliness, public convenience, drinking water, ease of access
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for tourists, signage etc. and advanced amenities like TFC, Souvenir shop, Cafeteria etc.
 The project envisages that selected public sector companies, private sector companies and individuals will develop tourist amenities at
heritage sites. They would become ‗Monument Mitra‘ and adopt the sites essentially under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
activity. They would also look after the operations and maintenance of the adopted site initially for the 5 years subject to review at any
time.
 The project began with 93 ASI ticketed monuments and has now been expanded to other natural and cultural heritage sites and other
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tourist sites across India. The project was launched by the President of India on 27th Sept, 2017 on the occasion of World Tourism
Day. The heritage sites/monuments enlisted are categorized as green, blue and orange on the basis of tourist footfall and visibility. As
a part of project guidelines, it is mandatory for Monument Mitra, who is opting for a monument from green category to choose at least
one site from either orange or blue category.
 The most competitive and innovative vision would be considered as the successful bidding entity. The interested parties selecting
more numbers of monuments from orange and blue category shall be given higher weight age. The Interested parties may also opt for
any other heritage site/monument or tourist site not mentioned in the above list, under the project and the unlisted tourist site will
automatically considered under blue category.
 The project focuses on active industry participation to ensure a sustainable model formulation. Resources for the capital and recurring
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cost is proposed through industry participation, through CSR or any other funding option subject to review and approval of Oversight &
Vision Committee.
 Monument Mitras would associate pride with these activities and will be provided limited visibility in the monument/site premises.
INDIA SMART CITIES FELLOWSHIP AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHED
 Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched several new initiatives under AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission. These include
the India Smart Cities Fellowship (ISCF) Program, India Smart Cities Internship (ISCI) Program and The Smart Cities Digital
Payments Awards 2018 and the ‗CITIIS‘ challenge under the Smart Cities Mission and the Local Area Plan (LAP)/Town Planning
Scheme (TPS) to be implemented in 25 cities on pilot basis under AMRUT.

 India Smart Cities Fellowship (ISCF) Program: The India Smart Cities Fellowship Program is designed to provide valuable
experience to the youth interested in smart cities specifically, and urban renewal sector in general and will bring in new ideas, passion
and energy to the challenging but exciting work of implementing cutting edge, high-impact solutions to key urban problems. MoHUA
will engage 30 young graduates/post graduates and PhDs in the fields of Urban Planning, Urban Design, Engineering, Information and
Technology, Urban Mobility, Finance, Social Sector, and Environmental issues as Smart Cities Fellows. The period of engagement is
1-year extendable upto 3 years. They will provide necessary support to Office of Mission Director, Smart Cities in MoHUA and/or
CEOs of selected Smart Cities in terms of analytics, research, documentation, independent assessment, visualization or any ot her
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related activities including preparation of reports, posters, dossiers, etc.
 India Smart Cities Internship (ISCI) Program: MoHUA will engage students pursuing Under Graduate/Graduate/Post Graduate
degree as Interns to help implementation of Smart City Projects in various States/Cities. The internship will be on unpaid basis for a
period of 6 to 12 weeks. They will be given an Experience Certificate at the end successful completion of the program. ISCIs will be
given exposure in the following areas of development under Smart Cities Mission including Urban Planning, Urban Design,
Engineering, Information and Technology, Urban Mobility, Finance, Social Sector, and Environmental issues.
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 The Smart Cities Digital Payments Awards 2018:The Smart Cities Digital Payments Awards (SCDPA) 2018 ‗100 days Challenge in
100 Smart Cities‘ is part of the initiatives of MoHUA to promote ease of living for India‘s urban residents. The objective of these
awards is to guide, motivate, recognize and reward the Smart Cities for promoting digital payments and carrying out innovative
payment initiatives in their respective cities.
 Best digital payments adopter:This award will be conferred to the Smart City that exhibits an overall excellence in digital payments
across different channels and payments instrument to ensure anytime, anywhere payments for all.
 Best digital payments innovator:This award will be conferred to the Smart City that exhibits the most innovative implementation of
the digital payments options for its citizens.
 Fastest growing Smart City focusing on digital payments:The award will be given to the city having the highest growth rate in
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digital payment transactions by volume and value in the recent past.
 Cities Investment To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) Challenge:When Smart Cities Mission was launched on 25 June
2015 a competitive, challenge process was used to select the 100 Smart Cities. Now, the Challenge process is being applied to
project implementation, in line with the NITI Aayog guideline where under the Indo-French partnership program, at least 15 projects
would be selected through an All-India Challenge. The projects would be in four sectors- Sustainable Mobility, Public Open Spaces,
Urban governance & ICT and Social and Organizational Innovation in low-income settlements. The duration of the program will be
three years (FY2018-19 to FY2020- 21).
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 A Loan of EUR 100 million would be extended by AFD to selected CITIIS projects in the form of grant. The repayment of the principle
and interest would be equally shared by the Central Government and State Government on 50:50 basis. Each awarded CITIIS project
will benefit from a grant ranging from INR 20 Cr. to INR 80 Cr (max project outlay: 160 crore). The CITIIS grant is expected to cover
from minimum 50% up to 80% of the project cost subject to a maximum of INR 80 Cr. and additional funding amounting to least 20%
to be secured by the awarded cities through its own resources.
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In addition, EUR 6 million would be given as grant to be shared between the SPVs of the Smart Cities, State Governments and
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for capacity building activities. The National institute of Urban Affairs would conduct the
Challenge process for selection of projects under the Indo-French partnership.
 The financial support and foreign technical assistance will help Smart Cities to access World Class expertise for selected innovative
projects. It also intends to improve peer learning activities & cooperation within the smart cities and enhance the knowledge both at
the State and National Level.
 LOCAL AREA PLAN (LAP) & TOWN PLANNING SCHEME (TPS): The Local Area Plan (LAP) and Town Planning Scheme (TPS)
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has been formulated under the AMRUT to enable planning for developing infrastructure in the Brownfield areas (those parts of the city
that are already developed but not able to sustain the pressure on the existing infrastructure) & the Greenfield areas (periphery of the
city that is prone to haphazard growth and development), respectively. They will be implemented in 25 selected cities on pilot basis.
The existing areas or Brownfield areas can be redeveloped by preparing Local Area based Plans (LAP). While at the same time, the
Town Planning Schemes (TPS) can be implemented for planned urban expansion in the peripheral Greenfield areas.
 The Scheme will enable the selected cities to formulate Local Area based Plans (LAP) and Town Planning Schemes (TPS) for which
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100% central assistance would be available. Based on the formulation of Local Area based Plans (LAPs) and Town Planning
Schemes (TPS) by the city concerned, prioritization of urban infrastructure projects would be taken up.
 An amount of Rs. 50 crore would be provided as Central assistance @ Rs 2.00 crore per city for identified 25 cities for prepa ring
LAP/TPS. The Central Assistance shall be released in 3 installments; 20% with submission of preliminary proposal, 40% during
submission of draft plan and remaining 40% during submission of final plan.
 The exercise of preparing Local Area Plan and Town Planning Scheme is expected to be completed in a period of one year; the
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preliminary proposal in two months, the draft plan in 10 months. Town and Country Planning Organization (TCPO) will provide
handholding support to the state nodal agency.
 The Scheme shall enable the cities to identify the areas for Local Area Plan and Town Planning Scheme and encourage bottom up
approach to resolve the area based infrastructure problems in a short period of time.
(List of 25 cities):
Sl. No City State
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1 Greater Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh
2 Guwahati Assam
3 Vadodara Gujarat
4 Indore Madhya Pradesh
5 Chennai Tamil Nadu

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6 Bengaluru Karnataka
7 Thiruvananthapuram Kerala
8 Warangal Telangana
9 Pune Maharashtra
10 Varanasi Uttar Pradesh

11 Jaipur Rajasthan
12 Amritsar Punjab
13 Patna Bihar
14 Faridabad Haryana
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15 Bhubaneswar Odisha
16 Ranchi Jharkhand
17 Raipur Chhattisgarh
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18 Panaji Goa
19 Shimla Himachal Pradesh
20 New Kolkata West Bengal
21 Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir
22 Dehradun Uttarakhand
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23 Aizawl Mizoram
24 Gangtok Sikkim
25 Imphal Manipur
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EDUCATIONAL ‗INSTITUTIONS OF EMINENCE‘
 The Government has shortlisted Six Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) including 3 from Public Sector and 3 from Private Sector. An
Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) in its report recommended selection of 6 institutions (3 from public sector and 3 from private
sector) as Institutions of Eminence. The details of these Institutions are as under:
 Public Sector: (i) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka; (ii) Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Maharashtra; and (iii)
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Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
 Private Sector: (i) Jio Institute (Reliance Foundation), Pune under Green Field Category; (ii) Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences,
Pilani, Rajasthan; and (iii) Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka.
 It will ensure complete autonomy to the selected institutions and facilitate them to grow more rapidly. At the same time, they will get
more opportunity to scale up their operations with more skills and quality improvement so that they become World Class Institutions in
the field of education.
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 It is expected that the above selected Institutions will come up in top 500 of the world ranking in 10 years and in top 100 of the world
ranking eventually overtime.
 To achieve the top world ranking, these Institutions shall be provided with greater autonomy to admit foreign students up to 30% of
admitted students; to recruit foreign faculty upto 25% of faculty strength; to offer online courses upto 20% of its programmes; to enter
into academic collaboration with top 500 in the world ranking Institutions without permission of UGC; free to fix and charge fees from
foreign students without restriction; flexibility of course structure in terms of number of credit hours and years to take a degree;
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complete flexibility in fixing of curriculum and syllabus, among others.

 Each public Institution selected as ‗Institution of Eminence‘ will get financial assistance up to Rs. 1000 Crore over the per iod of five
years under this scheme.
 Background:The Finance Minister in his budget speech 2016 had announced that ―It is our commitment to empower Higher
Educational Institutions to help them become world class teaching and research institutions.
 An enabling regulatory architecture will be provided to ten public and ten private institutions to emerge as world-class Teaching and
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Research Institutions. This will enhance affordable access to high quality education for ordinary Indians. A detailed scheme will be
formulated‖.
 Accordingly, the Government / UGC approved the scheme of providing Regulatory Architecture for setting up / upgrading of 20
Institutions (10 from public sector & 10 from private sector) as world class teaching and research institutions called as ‗Institutions of
Eminence‘.
 The Regulatory Architecture has been provided in the form of UGC (Declaration of Government Institutions as Institutions of
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Eminence) Guidelines, 2017 for public Institutions and UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017
for private Institutions.
 Under this scheme, 114 applications (74 from public sector & 40 from private sector) were received in the Ministry for select ion of
IoEs. In order to select the Institutions as IoEs, an Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) comprising of Shri N. Gopalaswami
(Chairman), Prof. Tarun Khanna, Prof. Pritam Singh & Smt. Renu Khatore was formed. The Committee in its report recommended
selection of only 6 institutions (3 from public sector and 3 from private sector) as Institutions of Eminence.
FIRST DOUBLE STACK DWARF CONTAINER SERVICE
 In order to capture the lost traffic through new delivery model for domestic cargo, Indian Railways has introduced Double Stack Dwarf
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Container Services. This freight train was flagged off on 7th July, 2018 from Western Railway‘s Rajkot railway station on its maiden
commercial run.
 This train was booked from the Reliance Rail Siding at Kanalus to Rewari in the state of Haryana; it was loaded with 82 containers
Polypropylene Granules. Due to this Double Stacked Dwarf Container service, Indian Railways has received increased revenue of Rs.
18.50 lakhs.
 The Double Stacked Container is 6 ft 4 inches in height and can run on electrified tracks. Despite being smaller in size, the dwarf
containers can hold a capacity of 30,500 kgs.
 In comparison with regular containers, these containers are 662 mm short but 162 mm wider. The dwarf containers can hold a volume
of approximately 67% more when compared to traditional containers.

 Presently, due to its height, the regular double stack ISO containers can run only on few chosen routes on Indian Railways but these
short-heighted Double Containers can run on most tracks very easily. These containers in double stack formation can run under 25kV
overhead lines. With the use of these double-stack dwarf containers, the cost of the unit will be significantly reduced due to the rail
transport being cheaper than the road.
 Currently, 'Low Density Products', such as plastic granules, PVC polyester fabric, white goods, FMCG products, polyethylene, auto
car, etc. are being transported mostly by road, but due to the low cost of transportation in dwarf containers, Railways now offers a
viable transport. At the general freight rate, the double-stack dwarf container trains can generate more than 50% of the revenue.
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CENTRE FOR SKILLING & TECHNICAL SUPPORT
 Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Ananthkumar inaugurated the CIPET: Centre for Skilling & Technical Support (CSTS) at ITI
Building and laid the foundation stone of new Central Institute of Plastics Engineering &Technology (CIPET) Building at Doiwala,
Dehradun.
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 CIPET: CSTS, Dehradun is the 32nd CIPET centre in the country.
 1500 students would be admitted in the first year itself, which would be increased to 2500 in the second year. In the third y ear, 3000
students would be trained at CIPET Dehradun.
 Till 2014, 23 centres of CIPET were functioning that were training around 40,000 students, now CIPET is developing 1,00,000
technicians per year and in the last 4 years the total number has crossed 2.5 lakhs.
 Further, govt will take the number of CIPETs to 50 across India by this Golden Jubilee year of CIPET.
 Minister also proposed one more CIPET centre in Uttarakhand.
 The CIPET: CSTS at Dehradun, under the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Government of India, is being established with
a total project cost of Rs. 51.32 crore having funding support of Government of India and Government of Uttarakhand on 50:50 basis.
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 833.25 acres of excess land lying with Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd.(IDPL) in the State has been transferred by Government of
India to the State Government for the welfare of the people of Uttarakhand.
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN MARITIME & SHIP BUILDING
 The Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Shipbuilding (CEMS), a well-funded startup in skill development for maritime and shipbuilding
sector has announced thatits hi tech labs at Visakhapatnam are ready for starting orientation programmes for trainees.
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 A seminar was held in Vishakhapatnam to inform stakeholders about the facilities in the labs and to begin the process of training.
 This is shortly after CEMS announced the readiness of its Mumbai labs. CEMS is promoted by Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass)
in partnership with Siemens and Ministry of Shipping. Its Visakhapatnam campus is located in the Indian Maritime University (IMU)
premises.
 Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) is a key initiative of Sagarmala programme for improved skill develo pment
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in ship building and ship repair. It will provide industry-relevant employable skills to students in the port and maritime sector. This
initiative will further boost Make in India and Skill India efforts in the maritime sector.
POLICY ON PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACTS IN NELP BLOCKS
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the policy framework for streamlining the operations of Production Sharing
Contracts (PSCs) for increased domestic production of hydrocarbon resources. The policy framework includes:
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a) Special dispensation for E&P activities in North Eastern Region (NER):Based on recommendations in 'Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for
North East', Government has extended timelines for exploration and appraisal period in operational blocks of North Eastern region of
India considering geographical, environmental and logistical challenges. The exploration period has been increased by two years and
appraisal period by one year. Further, to stimulate natural gas production in NER, Government has also allowed marketing incl uding
pricing freedom for natural gas to be produced from discoveries which are yet to commence production as on 1st July, 2018. PSC
blocks in NER will be benefited from this special dispensation.
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b) Sharing of Royalty and Cess in Pre-NELP Exploration Blocks:Government has created an enabling framework for sharing of statutory
levies including royalty & cess in proportion to the participating interest of the Contractor in Pre-NELP Exploration Blocks, and same
has been made cost recoverable with prospective effect. This will benefit Pre-NELP Exploration Blocks in which fresh investment for
additional development & production activities is expected as sharing of royalty and cess, and cost recoverability of same will help in
making additional investment commercially viable for Licensee company; ONGC/OIL.
c) Extending tax benefits under Section 42 of Income Tax, 1961 prospectively to operational blocks under Pre-NELP discovered fields for
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the extended period of contract under PSC extension policy dated 28th March, 2016. Section 42 of Income Tax allows the companies
to claim 100% of expenditure incurred under a PSC as tax deductible for computing taxable income in the same year. While signing
PSC of Pre-NELP discovered fields, 13 contracts out of 28 contracts did not have provision for tax benefit under Section 42 of Income
tax Act. Now, this will bring uniformity and consistency in PSCs and provide incentive to contractor to make additional inves tment
during the extended period of PSC.
d) Relaxing the timeline from 7 days to 15 days for giving written notice to notify the occurrence of a Force Majure event in the PSCs.
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 The approval is expected to help in ensuring expeditious development of hydrocarbon resources.
SAMAGRA SHIKSHA SCHEME
 The Department of School Education and Literacy has formulated the Samagra Shiksha - an Integrated Scheme for School Education
as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and it is being implemented throughout the country with effect from year 2018-19.
 This programme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). It is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from
pre-school to class XII and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education.
 It envisages the ‗school‘ as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary levels.
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 The major interventions, across all levels of school education, under the scheme are: (i) Universal Access including Infrastructure
Development and Retention; (ii) Gender and Equity; (iii) Inclusive Education; (iv) Quality; (v) Financial support for Teacher Salary; (vi)
Digital initiatives; (vii) Entitlements under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 including uniforms,
textbooks etc.;(viii) Pre-school Education; (ix) Vocational Education; (x) Sports and Physical Education; (xi) Strengthening of Teacher
Education and Training; (xii) Monitoring and (xiii) Programme Management.
 The main emphasis of the Scheme is on improving quality of school education and the strategy for all interventions would be to
enhance the Learning Outcomes at all levels of schooling.

 An allocation of Rs 75,000 crore over the period 1st April, 2018 to 31st March, 2020 has been approved which is a 20% increase over
the current allocations. It sees school education holistically without segmenting it into various levels of education. Its main features,
inter alia, are as follows:
 Annual Grant of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000/- per school for strengthening of Libraries.
 Composite school grant increased from Rs14,500-50,000 to Rs25,000-1Lakh & to be allocated on basis of school enrolment.
 Annual Grant for sports equipments at the cost of Rs. 5000 for Primary Schools, Rs. 10,000 for upper primary schools and up to
Rs. 25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools.
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 Allocation for children with Special Needs (CwSN) increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 3,500 per child per annum including a stipend
of Rs. 200 per month for CWSN girls to be provided from Classes I to XII. – earlier it was only for classes IX to XII.
 Allocation for uniforms enhanced from Rs. 400 to Rs. 600 per child per annum.
 Allocation for textbooks enhanced from Rs. 150/250 to Rs. 250/400 per child per annum.
 Upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) from Class 6-8 to Class 6-12.
 Strengthening Teacher Education Institutions like SCERTs and DIETs to improve the quality of teachers with SCERT as the
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nodal institution for in-service and pre-service teacher training
 Enhanced use of digital technology in education through smart classrooms, digital boards and DTH channels.
NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES FOR PREPARING ONLINE TRAINING MATERIAL
 The Government has proposed to set up National Resource Centres (NRCs) to prepare online training material with focus on latest
developments in the discipline, new & emerging trends, pedagogical improvements and methodologies for transacting revised
curriculum.
 In the first phase, 75 discipline-specific National Resource Centres have been identified, under the Ministry‘s Pandit Madan Mohan
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Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT) located in Central Universities, IISc, IUCAA, IITs, IISERs, NITs,
State Universities ; UGC‘s Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs), National Institutes for Technical Teachers Training
(NITTTRs), IIITs, Open Universities.
 These NRCs cover wide ranging disciplines of Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Design & Manufacturing,
Humanities, Language Teaching, Commerce, Management, Education Planning and Administration, Public Policy, Leadership &
Governance, Library & Information Science, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Assessment and Evaluation, Pedagogy and research
methods , cutting edge areas of Nano-sciences, Internet of Things, etc.
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 Under this initiative, all in-service teachers, irrespective of their subject and seniority have an enabling opportunity to keep abreast of
the latest developments in their disciplines through the technology based online refresher course, through SWAYAM platform.
NATIONAL MISSION ON TEACHERS TRAINING
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The Central Sector Scheme of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers & Teaching having All India coverage,
was launched by the Prime Minister of India on 25th December, 2014 with an outlay of Rs. 900 crore and the scheme has been
approved for continuation till March 2020.
 The Mission addresses current and urgent issues of supply of qualified teachers, attracting talent into teaching profession and raising
the quality of teaching in schools and colleges. The Mission also pursues the long term goals of building a strong professional cadre of
teachers by setting performance standards and creating top class institutional facilities for innovative teaching and professional
development of teachers.
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 Ten Project Approval Board (PAB) meetings have been held till now under the Scheme PMMMNMTT and out of 137 proposals
received from various Universities/Institutes from all over the country and presented to PAB, a total of 64 proposals have been
approved till now for setting up institutional arrangements under various components of the Scheme viz. (i) Schools of Education, (ii)
Centres of Excellence for Curriculum and Pedagogy such as Teaching Learning Centres, Faculty Development Centres, Centres of
Excellence in Science & Maths Education, (iii) Inter-University Centres for Teachers‘ Education, (iv) National Resource Centre for
Education, (v) Centres for Academic Leadership and Education Management, (vi) Innovations, Awards, Teaching Resource Grant,
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including Workshop & Seminar, (vii) Subject Networks for Curricular Renewal and Reforms, (viii) Induction training programmes of
newly recruited faculty in higher education and (ix) Academic leadership development programme for senior academic and
administrative functionaries of higher education institutions and (x) National Resource Centres for online refresher courses. Schools of
Education which have been set up in Central Universities are required to collaborate with international institutions and such tie-ups are
within the academic autonomy of the concerned Universities. A total of Rs. 213.81 crore has been released till now under the scheme.
 Some of the gainful outcomes and benefits that have accrued from the Scheme are (i) Pre-Service Training of Teachers in Central
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Universities, (ii) Specialised research in teacher education undergoing in Central Universities, (iii) Professional development, In-
Service teacher/faculty training and capacity building done which were propelled by different training programs conducted by the
Centres of Excellence in Curriculum & pedagogy, (iv) Teaching Resources being developed which can be categorized into ICT
enabled, low cost infrastructure, e-content, course modules, etc., (v) Inclusive education and Special focus areas in Disability Studies,
focus on women‘s University, teacher education in tribal areas, NER and educationally backward regions, (vi) Subject Based Networks
setup, (vii) Academic Leadership development training programme for Vice-Chancellors, Principals, HoDs, Registrars etc. and (viii)
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Induction training programmes for Faculty & Academic Staff in Central and State Universities, CFTIs and Degree & PG Degree
colleges to familiarize them in their roles as freshly inducted university teachers.
175 GW OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY BY THE YEAR 2022 HAS BEEN SET
 The Government has set a target of installing 40 GW of grid connected rooftop solar capacity in the country including Delhi and
National Capital Region (NCR) by year 2022.
 As per the Delhi Solar Policy, 2016 notified by Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, target has been set for installation of
1 GW of solar power by year 2020 and 2 GW of solar power by year 2025 in Delhi.
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The Government has set a target of installing 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022 in the country. A target of installing 175 GW of
renewable energy capacity by the year 2022 has been set, which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-
power and 5 GW from small hydro-power.
 The Ministry of Urban Development had requested all States & UTs, in 2014 to issue necessary directives to all State Government
Departments for using rooftop of buildings under their control for solar power generation on mandatory basis and also to local bodies
under their jurisdiction to incorporate the similar provision in their building bye-laws so that installation of Roof Top Systems (RTS) on
rooftops of all types of buildings in their jurisdiction may become mandatory.
 Further, the Ministry of Urban Development also issued Model Building Bye-Laws, 2016, in which suitable provisions for installation of
RTS on buildings have been incorporated.

 Four States/UTs viz. Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have already issued mandatory notifications for
installation of RTS in different categories of buildings.
 The Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of solar power projects is less than thermal, hydro, nuclear, wind and bio-mass power projects.
The Government has launched several schemes for promotion and development of renewable energy including solar energy in the
country from time to time.
 The Government is promoting development of solar energy in the country by providing various fiscal and promotional incentives such
as accelerated depreciation, waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges and losses, financing solar rooftop systems as
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part of home loan, and permitting Foreign Direct Investment up to 100 per cent under the automatic route.
RECONSTITUTION OF NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION
 The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has been launched this year with the approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) dated 26th April, 2018 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for implementation with the
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objectives inter alia:
 To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and
contribute towards resilience to climate change as well as availability of quality raw material requirement of industries. The
bamboo plantations will be promoted predominantly in farmers‘ fields, homesteads, community lands, arable wastelands, and
along irrigation canals, water bodies etc.
 To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of
production, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.
 To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at
micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.
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 To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India.
 To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to
market demand.
 During 2018-19, a budget allocation of Rs. 300 crore as Central Share has been received.
LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RAILWAY SAFETY
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Initiatives for following systems which are partly ‗Make in India‘ have been taken:-
 An Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System called Auxiliary Warning System (AWS) is presently functional on 364 RKMs in the
Mumbai suburban section of Central Railway (240 RKMs) and Western Railway (124 RKMs).
 Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety for verification of track occupancy by electrical means instead of human
element is completed at about 5989 stations upto 31.05.2018.
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Axle Counter for Automatic clearance of Block Section (BPAC) to ensure complete arrival of train without manual intervention before
granting line clear to the next train and to reduce human element have been provided on 5117 block sections upto 31.05.2018.
 Interlocking of Level Crossing Gates to protect Level Crossing Gate with signals to avoid accidents has been done at 11057 gates
upto 31.05.2018.
 Integrated Track Monitoring System (ITMS) capable of recording identifiable track component defects.
 Self Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing (SPURT) Cars for detection of internal flaws in rails.
 Axle box level accelerometers to monitor track defects daily
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Following improvements in techniques/technology have been adopted during last 2 years:-
 Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System called Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) has been implemented on 342 RKMs
(200 RKMs Delhi-Agra Section, 117 RKMs Chennai Suburban section and 25 RKMs of Metro Railway, Kolkata).
 An ATP System being indigenously developed called Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is under trial on 250 RKMs of South
Central Railway as a pilot project.
 Automatic Train Protection system (ETCS Level-2) has been included in the Works Programme 2018-19 for implementation for
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complete 60,000 RKMs on Broad Gauge network of Indian Railways subject to expenditure on this project to be made only after
following due processes/mandatory approvals and sanctions.
 Electrical/Electronic Interlocking System with centralized operation of points and signals are being provided to eliminate human failure
and to replace old mechanical systems. These systems have been provided at 5781 stations upto 31.05.2018.
 Crew Voice/Video recording system ensures the effective and temper proof video and voice recording of locomotive cab for post
failure event analysis. Loco No. 32001 fitted with Crew Voice/Video recording system has been commissioned in December, 2017 on
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trial basis
 Online Monitoring of Rolling Stock (OMRS) system monitors defective bearing, wheel flats and defect report are generated on r eal
time basis and corrective action is taken. Of the 65 OMRS planned for installation on Indian Railways network, the first one has been
installed at Panipat Station and the remaining are at various stages of installation.
 15 Nos. of Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILDs) to automatically identify the defective wheels in Rolling Stock by measuring the
impact of wheels on track are operational in Indian Railways
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 Mechanised preheating, Three piece prefabricated mould, Auto Tapping Thimble, Single short crucible has been provided for
improved quality of welding.
 New specifications for Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing machines have been issued by Research Design & Standards
Organization (RDSO) which has features for location tagging, time stamping of recording and improved scan (B-scan) capability.
 Thick web Switches & Weldable CMS Crossings have been introduced. This will help in better track maintenance and safety.
 Advanced Integrated Track Monitoring System (ITMS) and Self Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing (SPURT) cars.
 A work for daily track health monitoring through deploying Axle Box Level Accelerometers on one/two bogies of Rajdhani type trains
on Group–A route has been sanctioned. This will ensure daily monitoring of track defects on routes covered.
 Indian Railways has already adopted the technological upgradation in safety aspects of coaches and wagons by way of introducing
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Modified Centre Buffer couplers, Bogie Mounted Air Brake System (BMBS). Improved suspension design and provision of Automatic
fire and smoke detection system in coaches are being carried out which would eventually lead to enhanced safety standards.
COCHIN PORT SIGNS WORK ORDER FOR CRUISE TERMINAL
 A new Cruise Terminal having facilities to handle 5000 tourists will come up at Ernakulum Wharf of Cochin Port by February 2020.
 Cochin Port Trust has issued work order to the contractor for commencing the construction of the new Cruise Terminal.
 The facilities inside the Terminal, having 2253sq mtrs area, would include passenger lounge, crew lounge, 30 immigration counters, 8
customs clearance counters, 7 security check counters, Wi-Fi, tourist information counter, duty free shopping, souvenir/artefact/curio
shops, medical care, book store, mini conference hall, gaming zone, ATM/bank services, foreign exchange counter, cafeteria, luggage

counter, toilets, parking area for buses and cars, trolleys, wheel chairs etc. The estimated cost of construction of the terminal is Rs
25.72cr and of this Rs 21.41cr has been sanctioned as grant by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
 In the recent years the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Tourism have jointly taken several initiatives to promote cruise tourism in
India. This includes rationalization of tariff for cruise vessels to a subsidized composite tariff, exemption of cruise touri sts arriving with
e-visa from the requirement of bio-metric enrolment, constitution of Task force under the joint chairmanship of Secretary - Tourism and
Secretary – Shipping, Government of India, implementation of Standard Operating Procedures etc.
 Being one of the prime cruise tourism destinations in India, Cochin has been getting around 40 cruise liners every year bringing tens
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of thousands of high net worth international tourists to Kerala.
 Cochin Port Trust has been promoting cruise tourism in Cochin as it is beneficial for the local tourism trade and economy. It is
estimated that every cruise tourist spends on an average 400 US Dollars per day during local visits. In order to support local trade
Cochin Port Trust has been offering space to local tourism entrepreneurs inside the wharf during cruise arrivals at a very nominal rate
to facilitate kiosks/ stalls for selling handicrafts/ curios to the tourists.
 Currently cruise vessels having length upto 260mtrs are handled at the BTP berth and Samudrika, the cruise passenger facilitation
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centre. However, vessels having length more than 260mtrs are handled at Ernakulam Wharf. It is in this context the new cruise
terminal has been envisaged at Ernakulam Wharf.
 Ministry of Tourism has been supporting Cochin Port Trust in developing tourism infrastructure in the port area. This includes Rs.4.61
Crores for developing Samudrika, cruise passenger facilitation centre, Rs.9.01 Crores for developing 2.1 kms waterside walkway
between BOT bridge and Kannaghat bridge in Willingdon Island and Rs.21.39cr for developing dedicated cruise berthing facilities at
BTP.
NATIONAL MISSION FOR MANUSCRIPTS (NMM)
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 In 2003, National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), a Mission mode Project, was launched by the Ministry of Culture for documentation,
conservation, preservation and digitization of manuscripts.
 Till date NMM has documented 43.16 lakh manuscripts, conserved 434.56 lakh folios of manuscripts, digitized 283 lakh pages of 2.96
lakh manuscripts and published 44 rare and unpublished manuscripts.From its inception in 2003 to 31st March, 2018, an amount of
9666 lakh was released by the Ministry of Culture and an amount of9544 lakh was spent on it.
 The manuscripts documented and digitized by the NMM will be made available to researcher and scholars through a Trusted Digital
Repository.
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 The ultimate object of the Mission is to establish a Digital Manuscripts Repository at IGNCA in which researchers and scholar s can
view and consult the manuscripts to understand our past in its totality.
UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN 2.0 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED
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The Government has successfully launched Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0. The UBA 2.0 was officially launched on 25th April, 2018 in
AICTE, Vasantkunj.
 Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship programme of the Ministry of HRD, it aimsto link the Higher Education Institutions with set of
atleast (5) villages, so that these institutions can contribute to the economic and social betterment of these village communities
usingtheir knowledge base.
 It is a significant initiative where all Higher Learning Institutes have been involved for participation in development activities,
particularly in rural areas.
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 Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is inspired by the vision of transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge
institutions to help build the architecture of an Inclusive India.
 It also aims to create a virtuous cycle between the society and an inclusive university system, with the latter providing kno wledge
base; practices for emerging livelihoods and to upgrade the capabilities of both the public and private sectors
 Objective of the scheme are (i) To engage the faculty and students of Higher Educational Institutions in understanding rural realities;
(ii) Identify and select existing innovative technologies, enable customization of technologies, or devise implementation methods for
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innovative solutions, as required by people; and (iii) To allow Higher Educational Institutions to contribute to devising sys tems for
smooth implementation of various Government Programs.
 Currently 748 Institutions are participating under the scheme. In the phase -2 of the scheme 605 institutions are selected. Out of these
313 are Technical Institutions and 292 are Non-Technical Institutions. Also, the number of institutions which took part in phase-1 are
143.
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‗STUDY IN INDIA‘ PROGRAMME
 To facilitate Internationalization of Higher Education in India, a Programme viz. ‗Study in India‘ has been launched on 18.04.2018 with
the objectives to make India an education hub for foreign students; improve the soft power of India with focus on the neighbouring
countries and use it as a tool in diplomacy; to rapidly increase the inflow of inbound International Students in India throug h a
systematic brand-building, marketing, social media and digital marketing campaigns; to increase India‘s market share of global
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education exports; improvement in overall quality of higher education; to reduce the export-import imbalance in the number of
international students; growth in India‘s global market share of International students; and increase in global ranking of India etc.
 To start with, the programme focuses on International students from select 30 countries across South-East Asia, Middle East and
Africa for a period of two years i.e. for the academic years 2018-19 and 2019-20.
 The programme envisages participation of select reputed Indian institutes/universities by way of offering seats for the International
students at affordable rates. This Programme does not offer any Scholarships, however, fee waivers to meritorious foreign students
ranging from 100% to 25% are offered.
 A centralised admission web-portal (https://studyinindia.gov.in/) acts as a single window for the admission of foreign students.
EdCIL(India) Limited is the implementing agency for the Programme.
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NATIONAL POLICY FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS
 Union government has prepared a draft policy with regard to domestic workers. Discussions are underway regarding a Policy for
Domestic Workers, the salient features of which are as follows:
 Inclusion of Domestic Workers in the existing legislations
 Registration of Domestic workers.
 Right to form their own associations, trade unions
 Right to have minimum wages, access to social security, protection from abuse, harassment, violence
 Right to enhance their professional skills

 Protection of Domestic Workers from abuse and exploitation
 Domestic Workers to have access to courts, tribunals, etc.
 Establishment of a mechanism for regulation of placement agencies.
 Many of the State Government like Rajasthan, Kerala, Punjab, Tamilnadu and Tripura have included domestic workers in the schedule
of the Minimum Wages Act and workers are, therefore, entitled to file cases before the concerned authorities in case of any grievance
in this regard.
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MEASURES ADOPTED FOR AUTHENTICATION OF AYUSH TREATMENT
Measures adopted for authentication and recognition of drugs and medical treatment practices of AYUSH and outcomes & achievements
thereof are as under:-
1. Analytical techniques and equipment used for the testing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs and medical
interventions are the same as applicable in modern system of medicine. Research Councils and Pharmacopoeia Committees of
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AYUSH undertake the work of standardization and quality testing of drugs by adopting pharmacognostical and physico-chemical
methods including macroscopic, microscopic and various instrumental techniques such as Thin Layer Chromatographic fingerprints.
GCP guidelines, ICMR‘s ethical guidelines and WHO guidelines are followed, as and where required, for clinical validation of AYUSH
interventions and evaluation of efficacy & safety of drugs. Research & Development interventions in AYUSH are by and large done on
the basis of integrated protocols and methodologies involving both AYUSH and modern scientific parameters of analysis and
assessment. In this direction, collaborative research activities in AYUSH are being promoted involving premier medical and sc ientific
institutions and registration of clinical research studies for ASU&H drugs is done in Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI) maintained
by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
2. Regulatory provisions are laid down prescribing conditions required to be fulfilled for grant of license to manufacture Ayurvedic,
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Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathic (ASU&H) drugs, which include compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and proof of
safety and effectiveness as prescribed under Drugs & Cosmetics Rules and adherence to quality standards of identity, purity and
strength of drugs as prescribed in the respective pharmacopoeia. WHO-GMP and Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP)
guidelines are applicable for quality certification of ASU herbal drugs intended for export and international trade.
3. Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970 & Homoeopathic Central Council (HCC) Act, 1973 are modeled and implemented
on the lines of Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956 for the purpose of regulating the education and practice of ASU&H systems of
medicine and registration of the practitioners in central or state register is mandatory for doing medical practice in these systems.
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4. Achievements & outcomes reflecting the acceptability and demand for AYUSH systems among the general public areas under:-
 National Health Policy-2017 contains much about promotion of AYUSH based healthcare services for the people.
 There is increasing prevalence of AYUSH health facilities in the country. As per available information AYUSH infrastructure in
the country includes 7,71,468 registered practitioners, 550 teaching institutes, 170 Postgraduate institutes, 3,639 hospitals and
26,405 dispensaries in Government sector and 8,667 Drug manufacturing units. Besides, with the strategy of mainstreaming of
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AYUSH in place under National Health Mission and National AYUSH Mission, AYUSH facilities have been set up in about 506
District Hospitals, 374 Sub district hospitals, 2871 CHCs, 8995 PHCs, and 5716 in other medical centers. 15649 AYUSH
practitioners are appointed for implementation of Rashtriye Bal Suraksha Karyakram (RBSK) under National Child Health
Program and 12263 for imparting general health services from PHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals.
 Eleven National Institutes, five Research Councils, two central pharmacopoeia laboratories, Pharmacopoeia Commission with
four pharmacopoeia committees and two Regulatory Councils of AYUSH have been established under the purview of Central
Government.
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 Quality standards of identity, purity and strength of about 2600 ASU&H drugs are published in the respective pharmacopoeias,
which are mandatory for the industry to manufacture drugs under license.
 Scientific publications in the form of books, monographs, research articles and case reports are brought out by the Research
Councils and National Institutes for enhancing recognition and appreciation of AYUSH. AYUSH Research Portal has also been
created to place scientific inputs and interventions in public domain.
 MoUs have been signed with certain foreign countries for international cooperation and promotion of AYUSH and Ministry of
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AYUSH has collaboration agreement with WHO Headquarters to develop benchmark documents of Ayurveda, Unani Medicine
and Panchakarma. Morbidity codes and standardized terminology of AYUSH in accordance with the WHO publications and
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) have been developed for global positioning of AYUSH.
NUTRIENT BASED SUBSIDY AND CITY COMPOST SCHEME

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 Government has decided to continue NBS and City Compost Scheme till 2019-20.
 As per approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the total expenditure likely to be incurred for continuation of NBS
and City Compost Scheme is Rs. 61,792 crores or subsidy expenditure for the scheme on actual basis since national rollout of DBT
entails 100% payment of subsidy to fertilizer companies on sale of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates.
 Objectives of continuation of NBS Scheme are as under:
(i) To promote balanced use of fertilizers.
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(ii) To reduce subsidy burden on the Government.

(iii) To improve availability of fertilizers to farmers.
(iv) To encourage competition among fertilizer companies
 Objectives of continuation of City Compost Schemes are as under:
(i) To support SWACHH BHARAT MISSION.
(ii) To provide City Compost at subsidized rates to farmers.
 Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy w.e.f. 1.4.2010 for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers. Under the
policy, a fixed amount of subsidy, decided on annual basis, is provided on subsidised P&K fertilizers depending on their nutr ient
content.
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Under this policy, MRP is fixed by fertilizer companies as per market dynamics at reasonable level which is monitored by the
Government.
 The Government of India approved a policy on promotion of City Compost which has been duly notified by the Department of
Fertilizers on 10.2.2016 wherein Market Development Assistance (MDA) of Rs. 1500/MT in the form of subsidy has been provided for
scaling up production and consumption of city compost.
SWACHH SURVEKSHAN GRAMEEN LAUNCHED
 The Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 (SSG 2018) announced by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on July 13th, 2018,
was launched by three States UP, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

 Under the SSG 2018, an independent survey agency will conduct the survey in all districts from 1st to 31st August 2018, and the
results will be announced in the form of a ranking of all districts and States on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation
(Swachhata) parameters.
 The top performing States and Districts are expected to be awarded on 2nd October 2018.
 As part of Swachh Survekshan Grameen 6980 villages in 698 districts across India will be covered. 34,000 public places namely
schools, anganwadis, public health centres, haat/bazaars/religious places in these 6980 villages will be visited for survey.
 Citizens‘ feedback will be collected from over 50 lakh citizens on SBM related issues through direct interaction as well as online
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feedback.
NATIONAL POLICY ON WOMEN‘S SAFETY
 An Action Plan has been furnished by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which covers legal and schematic interventions
to enhance safety of Women having the following components:
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(i) to strengthen implementation of legislations including those on prohibition of child marriage, indecent representation of women,
protect women against domestic violence, POCSO, trafficking, and prevention and prohibition of sexual harassment.
(ii) implement schematic interventions including those for women to prevent violence and improve status of girl child, involving
community for safe neighbourhood, setting up One-Stop Centres in each district for counselling and providing first-aid to women
victims of violence, setting up universal Helpline 181, increase working women hostels, strengthen child care institutions for
rehabilitation of victims of violence, and strengthen grievance redressal.
(iii) Convergence of various projects under implementation for women safety and rehabilitation under Nirbhaya scheme including,
inter-alia, setting up Emergency Response Support system, Mahila Police Volunteers, Cyber-crime portal, strengthening forensic
facilities, and other women safety projects for increasing public safety. Implementation of Action Plan is a continuous process.
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 Ministry of Home Affairs has set up a Division on Women‘s Safety to give a focused attention to the safety of women in the country.
INTEGRATED PROGRAMME FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (IPSRC)
 This Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior
Citizens (IPSrC) under which grants are given for running and maintenance of Senior Citizens Homes/Old Age Homes, Continuous
Care Homes, Mobile Medicare Units etc. to Implementing Agencies such as State Governments/UT Administrations (through
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Registered Societies)/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)/Local bodies; Non-Governmental/Voluntary Organizations; recognized youth
organizations such as Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) etc.
 The performance of the Implementing Agencies under the Scheme is monitored from time to time through inter alia, periodic field visits
by the nodal officers of this Ministry, Inspection of projects by Regional Resources Training Centres and inspection of the p rojects
under the Scheme by the State Government.
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Grant to Implementing Agencies is released only on receipt of satisfactory Inspection Report, Specific recommendation of the State
Government and Utilization Certificate in respect of grants released during the previous years.
 The Government has enacted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 which inter-alia makes
maintenance of parents/senior citizens by children/relatives obligatory and justiciable through Tribunals; revocation of tran sfer of
property made by senior citizens in case of neglect by children/relatives; penal provision for abandonment of senior citizens; medical
provisions for senior citizens; and protection of life and property of senior citizens.
 Further, under the Scheme of Integrated programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), grant is given to Implementing Agencies for running
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and maintenance of Senior Citizens Homes/Old Age Homes for destitute senior citizens.
ICONIC TOURIST SITES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
 Ministry of Tourism has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development under Iconic Tourist Sites Development
Project, pursuant to Budget Announcements of 2018-19.
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 Following are the 17 sites: Uttar Pradesh- TajMahal & FatehpurSikri; Maharashtra- Ajanta & Ellora; Delhi- Humayun‘s Tomb, Red Fort
& QutubMinar; Goa- Colva beach; Rajasthan- Amer Fort; Gujarat- Somnath & Dholavira; Madhya Pradesh- Khajuraho; Karnataka-
Hampi; Tamil Nadu- Mahabalipuram; Assam- Kaziranga; Kerala- Kumarakom; Bihar- Mahabodhi.
 The Ministry shall be developing the above sites in a holistic manner with focus on issues concerning connectivity to the destination,
better facilities/experience for the tourists at the site, skill development, involvement of local community, promotion & branding and by
bringing in private investment.
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 The monuments taken up for development under the above mentioned project fall under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) and State Archaeology Departments. The Ministry will carry out interventions at these monuments in collaboration with the
ASI and State Government, and all development plans will have elements of universal accessibility, cleanliness at the monuments,
use of Green Technology and enhanced security for the tourists.
NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MISSION

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 A Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for India‘s Economic Transformation was constituted on 24th August 2017. The Task Force
gave its report on 19th January 2018.
 It has recommended an Inter-Ministerial National Artificial Intelligence Mission to act as a nodal agency for coordinating AI related
activities in India. The recommendations of the Task Force have been shared with various Ministries and Departments of the
Government of India.
 In the meeting of Committee of Secretaries held on 8th February, 2018, NITI Aayog has been tasked with formulation of a National
Strategy Plan for AI in consultation with Ministries and Departments concerned, academia and private sector.
 NITI Aayog has prepared and placed on its website on 4th June 2018 a discussion paper on National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence
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identifying following five sectors to befocused upon: Healthcare, Agriculture,Education, Smart Cities and Infrastructure, Smart Mobility
and Transportation.
 In order to create a policy framework and to develop the ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence, Ministry of Electronics & Information
Technology, has constituted four committees covering all the aspects of AI. These Committees are:
 Committee on platforms and data for AI,
 Committee on leveraging AI for identifying National Missions in key sectors,
 Committee on mapping technological capabilities, key policy enablers, skilling, re-skilling and R&D
 Committee on cybersecurity, safety, legal and ethical issues.

CENTRAL WAQF COUNCIL
 The Central Waqf Council (CWC) has decided to provide training to women for their empowerment in the trades of i) Tailoring &
Knitting ii) Food Processing iii) Embroidery and iv) Cloth Printing and accordingly, proposals have been invited.
 The CWC has also decided to provide financial support for coaching of muslim students for competitive examinations for jobs through
the coaching centers of Jamia Millia Islamia for 50 students for Civil Services and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh for 100
students i.e. 50 for Civil Services and 50 for SSC-CGL/Bank PO examinations.
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 The Ministry of Minority Affairs is implementing schemes for educational empowerment of notified minorities. Pre-matric Scholarship
Scheme provided to minority students studying in class I to X in recognized Government/Private schools. Minimum 30% scholarships
are earmarked for girls. To be eligible, student should have secured minimum 50% marks in previous class. Post-matric Scholarship
Scheme provided to minority students studying in class XI to Ph.D level in recognized Government/Private schools/Colleges/Institutes.
Minimum 30% scholarships are earmarked for girls. To be eligible, students should have secured minimum 50% marks in previous
class.
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 Under this Maulana Azad National Fellowship scheme, fellowships in the form of financial assistance is provided to students from
minority communities to pursue their higher studies such as M.Phil and Ph.D. 30% fellowships is earmarked for girl/women under the
scheme.
 Under the Free Coaching & Allied Scheme , free coaching is provided to students belonging to the minority communities for qualifying
in entrance examinations for admission in technical/ professional courses such as engineering, law, medical, management,
information technology etc. and various Competitive examinations for recruitment to Group ‗A‘ , ‗B‘ and ‗C‘ services in Central and
State Governments including public sector undertakings, banks, Railways etc. 30% seats is earmarked for girl/women under the
scheme.
 The objective of Padho Pardes scheme is to award interest subsidy to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections
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of notified minority communities so as to provide them better opportunities for higher education abroad and enhance their
employability. There is 35% earmarking for girl/women students.
 Nai Udaan scheme Support to minority candidates clearing Prelims conducted by UPSC/SSC, State Public Service Commission
(PSC). - Scheme is to provide financial support to the minority candidates clearing prelims conducted by Union Public Service
Commission, Staff Selection Commission and State Public Service Commissions for preparation of their mains exams.
 A comprehensive education and skill development scheme Nai Manzil is for youth belonging to notified Minority Communities aged
between 17 to 35 years. The design of the scheme is to support productive employment among Minority youth who do not possess a
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formal education certification for Class VIII or X. The objective of the Nai Manzil scheme is to improve completion of secondary
education and market-driven skills training for targeted youth from Minority communities. Under the Nai Manzil scheme, 30% of the
beneficiary seats are earmarked for girl / women candidates.
 Ministry of Minority Affairs has been implementing a scheme called ―Nai – Roshni. The scheme is for Leadership Development of
Minority Women with an aim to empower and instill confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting
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with Government systems, banks and intermediaries at all levels. The scheme is implemented through the selected Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) all over the country. State-wise number of women trained under the scheme during last three
years is at Annexure-I.
 Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) is implementing Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for girls belonging to
minorities. Under this scheme scholarship is provided to girls students for classes 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th. The eligible girl s may apply
online.
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NATIONAL POLICY ON BIO-FUELS 2018
 The Government has unveiled a new National Biofuel Policy (2018) that incentivises biofuel generation through multiple measures.
Major steps include encouragement of biofuel generation from excess crop production and setting apart Rs 5000 crores viabilit y gap
funding to establish second generation ethanol refineries. For providing specific fiscal incentives, the policy categorises biofuels into
several groups:1G (First Generation), 2G, 3G, and bio-CNG.
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 The Policy widens the range of feedstocks that can be used for producing ethanol and allows the use of damaged grains that is
unusable for food purposes for ethanol production. As per the policy, besides sugar molasses, beet, sorghum, corn, damaged gr ains
etc. can be used for ethanol production. Following are the main features of the National Policy on Biofuels 2018.
Main features of the Policy:
 Categorisation of Biofuels: Biofuels will be categorised into ‗Basic Biofuels‘ viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol &biodies el and
‗Advanced Biofuels‘ – Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels,
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bio-CNG etc. for providing appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
 Expansion of the scope of raw materials for ethanol production: The Policy expands the type of bio-raw materials for ethanol
production by including Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials
like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes etc. which are unusable for human consumption.
 Surplus food grains can be used for ethanol production: During excess production, crop prices fall. Here, the Policy allows use of
surplus food grains for production of ethanol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
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 Viability Gap Funding: For the generation of Advanced Biofuels, the Policy proposes a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio
refineries with Rs.5000 crore in 6 years. In addition to this, additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels
will be given for 2G ethanol generation.
 Supply chain for biodiesel production: The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production f rom
non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops etc.
 For the success of the policy, roles and responsibilities of all the concerned Ministries/Departments regarding biofuels has been
ensured.
 Similarly, the National Policy also specifies the various benefits from the use of biofuels. These include reduction of import
dependency, promoting cleaner environment, ensuring health benefits, waste management benefits, raising of infrastructure in rural
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areas besides providing additional income to the farmers. The Policy was brought by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE).
 The policy categorizes biofuels as ―Basic Biofuels‖,i.e. such as bio ethanol & biodiesel and ―Advanced Biofuels‖ such as Second
Generation (2G) ethanol, bio-CNG, Third Generation Biofuels, etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives
under each category.
 It also includes promotion of advanced biofuels through various incentives, off-take assurance and viability gap funding.
 With an objective of increasing production of ethanol, this Policy allows production of ethanol from damaged food grains like wheat,
broken rice etc. which are unfit for human consumption.

 Additionally, during an agriculture crop year, when there is projected over supply of food grains as anticipated by the Minis try of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the policy allows conversion of surplus quantities of food grains to ethanol, based on the approval of
National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
 Use of damaged food grains and surplus food grains for production of ethanol will increase its availability for Ethanol Blended Petrol
(EBP) Programme, resulting in increasing the blending percentage, increasing farmer‘s income, saving of foreign exchange and
addressing environmental issues.
 During the ethanol supply year 2016-17, 66.5 crore litres of ethanol was blended in Petrol which resulted in foreign exchange impact
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of Rs. 1749 crore and carbon emission reduced to the extent of 13.23 lakh tonnes.
 MNRE previously unveiled a National Biofuel Policy in 2009.
RAILWAY SAFETY FUND
 As announced by Minister of Finance in his Budget Speech 2017-18, a Fund namely ‗Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh‘ has been
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introduced in 2017-18 for works relating to renewal, replacement, upgradation of critical safety assets under Capital segment of
Budget.
 The Fund has a corpus of ` 1 lakh crore over a period of five years, with an annual outlay of ` 20,000 crore. The Fund is uti lized to
finance identified works under plan heads Track Renewals, Bridge Works, Signalling and Telecommunication Works, Road Safety
Works of Level Crossings and Road Over/Under Bridges, Rolling Stock, Traffic Facilities, Electrical Works, Machinery and Plant,
Workshops, Passenger Amenities and Training.
 The Fund has been introduced in 2017-18 and in the first year of its inception, an expenditure of ` 16091 crore has been incurred. An
outlay of ` 20,000 crore has been allocated in Budget Estimates 2018-19 also.
 All safety related measures are taken in full earnestness and all maintenance and other activities are carried out with the help of
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existing manpower, mechanized means and need based outsourcing.
 Guidelines for operating of ‗Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) have been issued by Ministry of Finance. These guidelines
include sources of financing RRSK, definition of safety works, summary of RRSK works identified, process of identifying/preparation of
action plan on safety, approval framework and monitoring framework of RRSK safety plan.
 Planning Directorate of Railway Board has been assigned the task of regularly monitoring physical and financial progress of works
funded through ‗RRSK‘.
 In addition, an independent ‗RRSK Monitoring Committee‘ has been created headed by CEO, NITI Aayog to regularly examine the
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RRSK performance. The RRSK progress/performance shall also be reviewed annually by the ‗Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA).
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDIA‘S NUTRITION CHALLENGES
 Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India has organized 2nd meeting of National Council on India‘s Nutrition
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Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan on 24th July, 2018 in New Dehli under the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog.
 The Government of India has set-up POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) which was launched by the Hon‘ble Prime
Minister on 8thMarch, 2018 from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
 The programme through use of technology, a targeted approach and convergence strives to reduce the level of Stunting, Under-
nutrition, Anemia and Low Birth Weight in Children, as also, focus on Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers, thus
holistically addressing malnutrition.
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 POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to ensure service delivery and interventions by use of technology, behavioural change through convergence
and lays-down specific targets to be achieved across different monitoring parameters over the next few years.
 To ensure a holistic approach, all 36 States/UTs and 718 districts will be covered in a phased manner by the year 2020. Never before
has nutrition been given such prominence at the highest level in the country.
 During the half day meeting, Ministry of WCD has given the action taken report on the recommendations of the last meeting of the
National Council.
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 As part of POSHAN Abhiyaan‘s initiative to mobilize a peoples‘ movement or Jan Andolan on Nutrition, the Ministry of Women and
Child Development has developed a Caller Tune and Ring Tone to popularize and create a connect with the Abhiyaan‘s goal of Sahi
Poshan Desh Roshan. During the meeting, the caller tune and ringtone of the POSHAN Abhiyaan was also released.
 The Ministry of Women and Child Development sought assistance from the Ministry of AYUSH for preparing the Yoga guidelines for (i)
Adolescent Girls (ii) Pregnant Ladies (iii) Lactating Mothers and (iv) Children within 3-6 years of age. Ministry of AYUSH, in
consultation with Ministry of WCD, has prepared these 4 protocol booklets of Yoga with the assistance of Morarji Desai National
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Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) and the same was released during the meeting.
 Ministry of Women and Child Development has desired to get associated with NASSCOM Foundation. It was intimated that an MoU is
likely to be signed with NASSCOM Foundation by Ministry of Women and Child Development for roll-out and implementation of
POSHAN Abhiyaan across all 36 States/UTs by developing partnerships with corporates, social organisations and business houses
for creating a Jan Andolan on Nutrition across the Country.
 During the meeting it was approved to include 32 new districts in the current year 2018-19 under POSHAN Abhiyaan by which it will
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saturate all the districts of the UTs which are left to be included under Phase-I and Phase-II. Also the States where up to 5 districts
have been left will also be included under POSHAN Abhiyaan. This will facilitate saturation of 8 new States/UTs. Now 23 State s/UTs
will be saturated.
 Ministry of Women and Child Development with the assistance of National Institute of Nutrition is in the process of developing on-line
course for nutrition. Three of the modules were presented during the meeting. These courses are planned to be hosted independently
by MoW&CD (POSHAN Abhiyaan) and National Institute of Nutrition portals.
MINISTRIES JOIN HANDS WITH IGNOU
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A pact was signed between three Union Ministries and IGNOU to train 14 lakh candidates in the healthcare sector by 2025 through
introduction of 10 short-term courses.
 The Ministries signed the pact with IGNOU to support the Health Ministry‘s ‗Skill for Life, Save a Life‘ initiative.
 India enjoys a demographic dividend as more than 65% youth are below the age of 35 years and the Government is determined to
seize this opportunity by providing adequate skills and employability to the youth for a strong foundation for continued and sustainable
growth.
 ‗Skills for Life, Save a Life‘ Initiative‘ aims to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in the healthcar e system. Under
this initiative various courses are planned to be initiated targeting specific competencies for healthcare professionals as well as for
general public.

2021 CENSUS DATA TO BE STORED ELECTRONICALLY
 The data collected during the 2021 Census will be stored electronically, the first time since the decennial exercise was cond ucted in
1951 in Independent India.
 According to an amended rule notified by the Registrar-General of India (RGI) on June 19, “The schedules and other connected
papers shall be disposed of totally or in part by the Director of Census Operations, after creating an electronic record of such
documents.”
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 Till now the ―schedules‖ (a tabular form containing details of individuals), carried by enumerators to households, were being stored in a
physical form at the government‘s storehouse in Delhi. It is based on these schedules that the relevant statistical information on
population, language and occupation are sorted and published.
 The records, running into crores of pages, were occupying space in government office and it has now been decided that they will be
stored in an electronic format. Any tampering with the data will invite punishment under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
 The RGI issued the notification as the process for the 2021 Census kicks in. Enumerators would start ―house listing‖ in 2020, and the
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headcount would begin in February 2021.
 An individual‘s household data are not published by the RGI. They are published in the form of tables on the Census website. The
data are preserved for 10 years and then destroyed. From now on, it can be stored forever in an electronic format.
 The decennial Census of India has been conducted 15 times, As of 2011. While it has been conducted every 10 years, beginning in
1872, the first complete census was taken in the year 1881. Post 1949, it has been conducted by the Registrar General and Census
Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. All the census since 1951 are conducted under 1948
Census of India Act. The last census was held in 2011 and next census will be held in 2021.
 The work related to 2021 census, covering the country's entire 1.30 billion population, will begin this year, the union home minis try
said recently.
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GOVT DEPLOYS 800 IAS OFFICERS FOR VILLAGE OUTREACH
 Officers of Central government IAS officers has been deployedin the 117 ―aspirational districts‖ to ensure on the ground
implementation of seven flagship social welfare schemes.
 At least 800 Deputy Secretaries, Under-Secretaries and Director-level officers, drawn from Ministries as diverse as Defence and
Urban Affairs, have been assigned about 75 villages to visit, as part of the Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (EGSA) from June 1 to
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August 15.
 In total, 49,178 villages — most with a majority SC/ST population — are being targeted.
 Ministries of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and the Department of Personnel and Training, are jointly coordinating the drive.
 Over the two-and-a-half month period, these Central officials are being absorbed into EGSA duty for at least 15 working days.
 In each village, the Central team convenes a meeting of villagers and beneficiaries along with a State government or district official, a
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lead bank representative and local officials from the agencies responsible for enrolling people into the schemes.
 The teams can also directly input the day‘s progress into a data system. It can be tracked live on the EGSA dashboard.
 These are central schemes although the implementation is being done by States. Government of India wants to see total saturat ion.
To ensure this happens, union government has deputedthese officers.
 Constitutionally, while the Centre has higher powers of taxation, the bulk of the expenditure on welfare is to be done by the States.
 Mr. Modi had himself vehemently opposed central intervention in matters that were constitutionally the domain of the States when he
was Chief Minister.
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CENTRE UPHOLDS NET NEUTRALITY
 The government has approved the principle of net neutrality. This means that telecom and Internet service providers must treat all
data on the Internet equally, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, site, platform, or application. They cannot
engage in practices such as blocking, slowing down or granting preferential speeds to any content.
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 The Telecom Commission (TC) — which is the highest decision-making body in the Department of Telecom, approved the
recommendation made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the subject eight months ago. The TC approved net
neutrality as recommended by TRAI.
 A separate committee has been set up under the Department of Telecom (DoT) to examine what these critical services will be. These
may include autonomous vehicles, digital healthcare services or disaster management.
 The regulator, in November 2017, batted in favour of net neutrality – which has been one of the most hotly debated topics in India for
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over 4 years now.

 On 28 November 2017 the TRAI released its recommendations on Net Neutrality. With that, India is one step closer to ensuring that
net neutrality is enforced nationwide.
 The debate on network neutrality in India gathered public attention after Airtel, a mobile telephony service provider in India, announced
in December 2014 additional charges for making voice calls (VoIP) from its network using apps like WhatsApp, Skype, etc.
 In March 2015, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a formal consultation paper on Regulatory Framework for Over-
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the-top (OTT) services, seeking comments from the public. The consultation paper was criticised for being one sided and having
confusing statements.
 On 8 February 2016, TRAI took a revolutionary decision, prohibiting telecom service providers from levying discriminatory rat es for
data, thus ruling in favor of Net Neutrality in India. This move was welcomed by millions of Indians and also by people from other
countries who are fighting or fought for net neutrality, and the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners Lee.
 In their latest ruling, TRAI has stipulated that:
 No service provider can offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of content.
 No service provider shall enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract, by whatever name called, with any person, natural
or legal, that the effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services being offered or charged by the service provider for the purpose
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of evading the prohibition in this regulation.

 Reduced tariff for accessing or providing emergency services, or at times of public emergency has been permitted.
 Financial disincentives for contravention of the regulation have also been specified.
 TRAI may review these regulations after a period of two years.
SWACHH SURVEKSHAN GRAMEEN 2018
 The Centre has launched the Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2018, a nationwide survey of rural India to rank the cleanest and dirtiest
States and districts on the basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation.

 A random selection of 6980 villages across 698 districts will surveyed during the month of August, following which the Swachh
Survekshan Grameen awards are expected to be announced in time for Mahatma Gandhi‘s birth anniversary on October 2.
 This is the first comprehensive survey for rural India, which has been launched after three successful editions of a similar survey in
urban India.
 The rankings will be based on three basic parameters: direct observation of public places by independent surveyors, service-level
progress using data from the Swachh Bharat Mission‘s information system and citizens‘ feedback.
 The feedback will be solicited through village meetings, online feedback and direct interviews, as well as discussions with key
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influencers such as local officials, elected representatives and anganwadi workers.
SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION HUBS
 In January this year, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry planned to set up a hub to monitor social media activities, trending
news in districts and gather feedback on the Centres flagship schemes.
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 The finance committee has sanctioned Rs 17 crore for this fiscal year for setting up 707 SMC hubs, hiring personnel, development of
software and other infrastructure related expenses.
 Around 20 social media analytics executives per hub will provide ‗reports on sentiment, reach, details relating to trending t opics and
hashtags and compile six reports per day‘ to begin with.
 As part of the project, new software is being developed for the hubs that will enable two-way communication and help disseminate
information.
 The platform is expected to use predictive analytics in a bid to study how public perception (can) be moulded in a positive manner for
the country, how could nationalistic feelings be inculcated in the masses, how can the perception management of India be improved at
the world.
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 The tendering process for software development for the hubs was initiated by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited, a
public sector enterprise under the Ministry.
 A technology platform is needed to collect digital media chatter from all core social media platforms as well as digital plat forms like
news, blogs and forums. The platform is expected to provide automated reports, tactical insights as well as comprehensive workflows
to initiate engagement across digital channels. The platform maybe used to disseminate content and hence should support publishing
features.
 The platform will eventually power a realtime New Media Command Room and operate in Indian languages like Hindi, Urdu, Telugu,
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Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi and Tamil, along with English.
 The tool should act as the guiding tool for the ministry to understand the impact of various social media campaigns conducted on
various schemes run by the government. It has to give location-based insights, measure the effectiveness of hashtag campaigns,
needs micro-level categorisation for mentions around topics, which, in turn, should help in efficient decision making by identifying the
key problem areas.
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The Supreme Court issued notice to the centre over its decision to establish a social media communication hub under the ministry of
information and broadcasting for monitoring activities on social media.
 A petition in the Supreme Court was filed, that alleged that the proposal for a ―social media communication hub‖ by the Centr e is a
―brazen attempt at mass surveillance.‖
 According to petitioner, Popular social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc, would be tracked to identify the ―buzz
creators‖ and social media influencers.
 The proposed Social Media Communication Hub seeks to create a technology architecture that merges mass surveillance with a
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capacity for disinformation.
 The petition said the aim of the hub is to create a technology platform ―to collect digital media chatter from all core Social Media
Platforms as well as digital platforms.‖
 The hub would operate on a software having the ―ability to trawl social media and World Wide Web for data mining. Trawling should
be comprehensive and should cover all the major websites and social media handles.
 The proposal to create a ‗Social Media Communication Hub‘ has been withdrawn, the Centre told the Supreme Court recently.
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 The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the
freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution.
 Incidentally, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which runs the Aadhaar scheme has recently taken a decision to use a
similar technological base at district level to appoint agents to monitor the social media and gather response/feedback on the Aadhaar
scheme and its effectiveness. The UIDAI intends the new agency to serve as a ―Social Listening Tool‖ to monitor conversations on
social media platforms.
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NATIONAL DATABASE FOR GUN LICENCE HOLDERS
 According to the Union Home Ministry, by April 2019, names of all arms licence holders, new or old, will be included in a national
database and they will be issued a unique identification number.
 The move is aimed at keeping a tab on authorised private gun holders, many of whom are often found involved in crimes and
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celebratory firing leading to loss of lives.

 Every licensing and renewing authority will have to enter the data in the National Database of Arms Licences system, which will
generate a UIN, and with effect from April 1, 2019, any arms licence without UIN shall be considered invalid.
 Additionally, any existing licensee holding multiple licences shall on or before April 1, 2019 make an application for grant of a single
licence in respect of all firearms held by him or her under his or her UIN to the concerned licensing authority.
NRDC OUTREACH CENTRES TO ENGAGE WITH START-UPS
 National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) will establish 10 outreach centres in the next one year to engage with start -up
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eco-system in India.
 These centres will be set up in a phased manner across ten locations. In the first phase, centres will be established in Hyderabad,
Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata and Guwahati.
 Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh and Raipur will be covered in phase two. NRDC will accomplish this through the
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in these cities.
 With these new initiatives, NRDC wants to improve the monetisation of their technologies and looking at entrepreneurs for achieving
this.
 The organisation handles technology transfer for over 1,000 research institutions in the country. It has licensed close to 5000
technologies so far across different sectors such as healthcare, food, energy, water and sanitation. It has earned Rs. 70 crore through
licensing and royalty fees in the last four years.

 NRDC shifted its focus on start-ups after the launch of Start-up India initiative by the government.
 An incubation centre was established in NRDC campus, New Delhi.
 The organisation already has partnership with Guwahati Biotech Park through which it plans to nurture local entrepreneurship.
 NRDC has also partnered with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to promote student start-ups in universities.
 H Purushotham: Chairman and Managing Director of NRDC
 National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) was established in 1953 by the Government of India, with the primary objective
to promote, develop and commercialise the technologies / know-how / inventions / patents / processes emanating from various
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national R&D institutions / Universities and is presently working under the administrative control of the Dept. of Scientific & Industrial
Research, Ministry of Science & Technology.
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT: IMP INITIATIVES
 There is an increase of 12.19% in the Budget of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the year 2018-19 as compared to
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year 2017-18. The Budget in year 2017-18 was Rs. 6908.00 crore which has been increased to Rs. 7750.00 crorein year 2018-19.
This is an Increase of Rs. 842.00 crore i.e. 12.19 % increase in the budget.
 National Survey of Manual Scavengers in 170 identified districts of 18 States has been undertaken keeping in view the slow progress
of identification by States. The Survey is being coordinated and monitored by NSKFDC in association with the representatives of State
Government and Social Organizations. Survey Camps in 125 districts have been completed and so far, 5365 persons have been
identified as manual scavengers.
 Ministry is implementing 25 Schemes in Direct Benefit Transfer mode. During 2016-17 and 2017-18 assistance/benefits to 1.45 and
1.66 crore beneficiaries respectively were released in DBT mode by the implementing agencies. Aadhaar seeding in the benefici ary
database has reached to 66%. Allocation under Allocation for Welfare of Scheduled Castes (AWSC) has increased from Rs. 30850.88
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crore in 2015-16 to Rs. 56618.50 crore, an increase of 83.52%.
 Flagship Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship to SC Students (PMS-SC) covers approximately 60 lakh students per year.
 National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste: During the period April, 2014 to March, 2018, 8000 Scholars were covered under the
scheme at a total cost of Rs.770.80 crore. In 2018-19, 2000 scholars will receive Fellowships for M.Phil /Ph.D.Parental Income limit for
all merit based scholarship schemes have been raised to Rs. 6lakh per annum from 2017-2018.
 About the Incentive for Inter-Caste Marriages: Centrally Sponsored scheme for implementation of PCR and PoA Acts amount of
incentive for inter-caste marriages where one of the spouses is a member of a Scheduled Caste, has been uniformly made as Rs.
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2.50 lakh, with effect from 2017-2018. For the sake of security, the amount of incentive is required to be placed in a fixed deposit,
jointly in the name of the couple (the first name being of the woman), in a Government/Nationalized Bank, for a lock-in period of three
years without facility for its pre-mature encashment.
 Centrally sponsored scheme ‗PradhanMantriAdarsh Gram Yojana‘ (PMAGY) is being implemented for integrated development of
Scheduled Castes (SC) majority villages having SC population concentration exceeding 50%. 2500 Scheduled Castes majority
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villages are covered under the Scheme. Rs. 300 crore has been allocated for PMAGY for the period 2017-2018 to 2019-2020.
 Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes: Scheme of Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes was started in 2014-15 and till
date, Rs. 255 croreshad been sanctioned to 71 SC entrepreneurs.
 Overall allocations for the welfare of OBC in 2018-19 has been increased by 41.03%, from, Rs.1237.30 crore in 2017-18 to Rs
1747.00 crore in 2018-19.
 New scheme Venture Capital Fund for OBCs on similar lines as Venture Capital Fund for SCs to be launched with an initial corpus of
Rs. 200 crore. Rs. 140 crore provided in 2018-19.Enhancement of monetary limit of Non-creamy layer from Rs.6.00 lakh to Rs8.00
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lakh per annum w.e.f 01.09.2017.
 The Commission to examine the Sub-categorization of OBCs headed by Chief Justice (Retd.) of Delhi High Court G. Rohini has been
constituted on 2.10.2017 and started functioning on 11.11.2017.
 The scheme of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse, cost norms increased by 30% for the de-addiction centres
supported by Department w.e.f. 01/04/2018.Cooks and Full time doctors have been provided for the centres and an additional
Chowkidar also provided for each centre.
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 Under the scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens, cost norms had been increased up to 110% w.e.f. 01.4.2015, which
have further been increased, up to 104%, from 01/04/2018. Thus the cost norms prior to 01.4.2015 have been increased, up to 288%
(From Rs. 5.42 lacs to Rs. 21.6 lacs for an Old Age Home). New posts of Physiotherapist Attendant and Yoga teachers have been
provided under the scheme and provision for registration, standardisation and rating of homes have been made. Last revision of cost
norms took place on 01/04/2015.
 Under the RastriyaVayoshri Yojana, a total of 292 Districts have been selected, assessment campswere held in 52 Districts and
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distribution camps held in 39 districts, benefitting 43865 Senior Citizens. Total 99431 devices provided to senior citizens belongings to
BPL categories.
 For the first time, National survey to identify victims of drug abuse is taken up. The survey covers 185 districts, 1.5 lakh households
and 6 lakh individuals. The survey is already underway and expected to be completed shortly.
 The objectives of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(DEPwD) is to empower PwDs and the emphasis is
being laid on: Providing aids and appliances to various types of disabilities; Creating barrier free environment in terms of building,
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transport and websites; early intervention, schooling, vocational training of children through NGOs; Scholarships in schools, colleges,
professional education andskill development.
 Old law of 1995 has been repealed by the Right based law of 2016, namely – The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. It
guarantees right to equality, non-discrimination, right to community life, access to justice, right to education, employment etc. 21 types
of disabilities have now been recognized in place of earlier 7 types of disabilities.
 With regard to ADIP camps, it was informed that from 2014 till date, Rs. 622.45 crores have been spent under the ADIP scheme
covering 9.97 lakhs beneficiaries through 6459 camps across the country.172 hospitals have been empanelled for Cochlear Implant
surgeries and 1142 Cochlear implants surgeries conducted so far. Eligibility of motorized tricycles for PwDs has been reduced from 18
years to 16 years. In last 4 years, persons with more than 80% disabilities have been given 5693 motorized tricycle.
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The Accessible India Campaign is a targeted programme and it provides funds to State Governments to make public buildings,
transport, road and websites accessible. 1662 buildings have been audited, Rs. 160.3 lakhs have been released for 613 buildin gs. All
34 international airports have been made accessible, 48 domestic airports have been made accessible.

ECONOMY
SCHEME OF RECAPITALIZATION OF REGIONAL RURAL BANKS
 The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the scheme of recapitalization of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) for the next three
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years i.e. upto 2019-20. This will enable the RRBs to maintain the minimum prescribed Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio
(CRAR) of 9 per cent.
 A strong capital structure and minimum required level of CRAR will ensure financial stability of RRBs which will enable them to play a
greater role in financial inclusion and meeting the credit requirements of rural areas.
 There are 56 RRBs functioning in the country. As on 31st March, 2017(Prov.), the total credit given by RRBs is Rs.2,28,599 crore, of
which the credit under key categories is as under: -
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Credit Amount (Rs. %age to total
Particulars
crores) credit
Total Priority Sector Lending 2,05,122 89.73%

(PSL)
Agriculture (Under PSL) 1,54,322 67.51%
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Small & marginal farmers (Under
1,02,791 44.97%
Agriculture)
 The scheme of Recapitalization of RRBs started in FY 2010-11 and was extended twice in the year 2012-13 and 2015-16. The last
extension was upto 31.03.2017. A total amount of Rs. 1107.20 crore, as Gol share, out of Rs.1450 crore, has been released to RRBs
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upto 31st March, 2017. The remaining amount of Rs.342.80 crore will be utilized to provide recapitalization support to RRBs whose
CRAR is below 9%, during the years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.
 The identification of RRBs requiring recapitalization and the amount of capital to be provided, will be decided in consultation with
NABARD.
 This is in addition to the announcement made in Finance Minister's Budget Speech for 2018-19 relating to allowing financially strong
RRBs to raise capital from sources other than Gol, State Government and Sponsor Bank.
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 Background: RRBs were set up with the objective to provide credit and other facilities, especially to the small and marginal farmers,
agricultural labourers, artisans and small entrepreneurs in rural areas for development of agriculture, trade, commerce, industry and
other productive activities. RRBs are jointly owned by Government of India, the concerned State Government and Sponsor Banks with
the issued capital shared in the proportion of 50%, 15% and 35% respectively.
MSP OF KHARIF CROPS HIKED

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 Giving a major boost for the farmers‘ income, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister has approved the
increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all kharif crops for 2018-19 Season.
 The decision of the CCEA is a historic one as it redeems the promise of the pre-determined principle of fixing the MSPs at a level of at
least 150 percent of the cost of production announced by the Union Budget for 2018-19.
 The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended MSPs for all kharif crops broadly in line with the
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announced principle.
 The Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all kharif crops of 2018-19 season have been increased as follows: (Rs/quintal)
Commodity Variety MSP for MSP approved for Increase Return*over
2017-18 2018-19 Season Absolute Percentage cost in
Season Absolute percent
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Paddy Common 1550 1750 200 12.90 50.09

Grade A 1590 1770 180 11.32 51.80
Grade A
Jowar Hybrid 1700 2430 730 42.94 50.09
Maldandi 1725 2450 725 42.03 51.33
Maldandi
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Bajra - 1425 1950 525 36.84 96.97

Ragi - 1900 2897 997 52.47 50.01
Maize - 1425 1700 275 19.30 50.31
Arhar(Tur) - 5450 5675 225 4.13 65.36
Moong - 5575 6975 1400 25.11 50.00
Urad - 5400 5600 200 3.70 62.89
Groundnut - 4450 4890 440 9.89 50.00
Sunflower - 4100 5388 1288 31.42 50.01
Seed
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Soyabean - 3050 3399 349 11.44 50.01

Sesamum - 5300 6249 949 17.91 50.01
Nigerseed - 4050 5877 1827 45.11 50.01
Cotton Medium 4020 5150 1130 28.11 50.01
Staple
Long 4320 5450 1130 26.16 58.75
Staple
 Includes all paid out costs such as those incurred on account of hired human labour, bullock labour/machine labour, rent paid for
leased in land, expenses incurred on use of material inputs like seeds, fertilizers, manures, irrigation charges, Depreciation on
implements and farm miscellaneous expenses, and imputed value of family labour.

 Details:The Budget for 2018-19 had indicated that a paradigm shift in the agricultural policies is needed to achieve the objective of
doubling farmers' income by 2022 through greater emphasis on generating higher incomes of farmers. The increase in the MSPs of
Nigerseed at Rs.1827 per quintal, moong by Rs.1400 per quintal, sunflower seed by Rs.1288 per quintal and cotton by Rs.l 130 per
quintal is unprecedented.
 Amongst cereals and nutri cereals, in terms of absolute increase, MSP of paddy (common) has been raised by Rs 200 per quintal,
jowar (hybrid) by Rs 730 per quintal and ragi by Rs 997 per quintal. The highest percentage increase in MSP over the previous year is
for ragi (52.47 %) followed by jowar hybrid (42.94%). For pulses, apart from Moong, MSP of arhar (tur) has been raised by Rs 225 per
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quintal yielding a return over cost by 65.36 per cent and urad by Rs 200 per quintal with a return over cost by 62.89 per cent in order
to maintain inter-crop-price parity. Similarly, the MSP of Bajra has been raised by Rs.525 per quintal yielding a return of 96.97 per cent
over cost.
 Promoting cultivation of pulses can help India overcome nutrition insecurity, improve soil fertility by nitrogen fixation and provide
income support to farmers. Thus, increased MSPs for pulses will give a price signal to farmers to increase acreage. Further enhanced
MSPs would boost production of oilseeds and encourage investment in its productivity and help reduce India's import bill. Increase in
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MSPs of nutri-cereals will improve nutritional security and allow farmers to get higher prices.
 Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other designated State Agencies would continue to provide price support to the farmers in the
case of cereals including nutri-cereals. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), FCI, Small
Farmers Agri -Business Consortium (SFAC) and other designated Central Agencies would continue to undertake procurement of
pulses and oilseeds. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will be the central nodal agency for undertaking price support operations for
Cotton.
 Besides increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of kharif crops, Government has also taken several farmer friendly initiatives.
Theseare as follows:
 The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low - 2 % of sum insured for all kharif crops, 1.5% for all rabi crops and 5 % for
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commercial and horticulture crops under smart technology through phones & remote sensing for quick estimation and early
settlement of claims. The Government has also launched a Mobile App "Crop Insurance" which will help farmers to find out
complete details about insurance cover available in their area and to calculate the insurance premium for notified crops.
 The Government has also launched a scheme to develop a pan India electronic trading platform under 'National Agriculture
Market' (NAM) aiming to integrate 585 regulated markets with the common e-market platform in order to facilitate better price
discovery and ensure remunerative prices to farmers. Each State is being encouraged to undertake three major reforms - allow
electronic trading, have a single license valid throughout the State and a single entry point market fee. It will also enable farmers
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to discover better prices for their produce. As on 23rd March, 2018, 585 markets in 16 States and 2 Union Territories have
already been brought on the e-NAM platform.
 Government has also formulated a new model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017
to provide farmers market options beyond the existing APMC regulated market yards.
 Soil Health Cards are being issued to farmers across the country. These will be renewed every two years. The card provides
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information on fertility status of soil and a soil test based advisory on use of fertilizers. As on 25th June, 2018, 15.14 crore Soil
Health Cards have been distributed.
 Under ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana (PKVY), the Government is promoting organic farming and development of potential
market for organic products.
 The Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchaiYojana is being implemented with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation
'HarKhetkoPani' and improving water use efficiency 'Per Drop More Crop ' in a focused manner with end to end solution on
source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities.
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 Government is focusing on improving production and productivity of crops such as rice, wheat, coarse grains and pulses under
the National Food Security Mission.
 A dedicated online interface e-KrishiSamvad provides direct and effective solutions to problems faced by farmers.
 Government is encouraging formation of Farmer Producer Organisations. The Budget for 2018-19 has extended a favourable
taxation treatment to Farmer Producers Organisations (FPQs) for helping farmers aggregate their needs of inputs, farm services,
processing and sale operations.
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 Government has set up a buffer stock of pulses and domestic procurement of pulses is also being done under Price Stabilization
Fund (PSF) mainly with a view to protect consumers. The Budget for 2018-19 indicated that increasing MSP. is not adequate and
it is more important that farmers should get full benefit of the announced MSP. For this, it is essential that if price of the
agriculture produce market is less than MSP, then Government should purchase either at MSP or work in a manner to provide
MSP for the farmers through some other mechanism. NITI Aayog, in consultation with Central and State Governments, will put in
place a fool-proof mechanism so that farmers will get adequate price for their produce.
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 A handbook for women farmers 'Farm Women Friendly Hand Book' containing special provisions and package of assistance
which women farmers can claim under various ongoing Missions/ Submissions/ Schemes of Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation & Farmers Welfare has been brought out.
 With the above measures taken, the Government has set a target to double the farmers' Income by 2022.
DIGI-GAONS & BANKING CORRESPONDENTS

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 CSC SPV, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, has entered into agreement with HDFC Bank to enable its
three lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) managing the Common Services Centers operate as Banking Correspondents of
HDFC Bank.
 The agreement was signed between Chairman and Managing Director, HDFC Mr. Aditya Puri and CEO, CSC SPV Dr. Dinesh Kumar
Tyagi.
 Under the agreement, VLEs of CSC will work as Banking Correspondent of HDFC Bank and support the Government initiative to
promote financial inclusion and make banking services more accessible in rural areas.
 This agreement is expected to be a game changer as it would significantly contribute to Government‘s objectives of enabling Direct
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Benefit Transfer (DBT) of various schemes. Women, senior citizens and persons with disability will especially get benefitted through
this initiative.
 This will facilitate withdrawal and deposit of government entitlements such as payments under MGNREGA as well as various social
welfare schemes like widow pension, handicapped and old age pension, etc.
 The HDFC BC (CSC) under this arrangement will also function as Business Facilitator (BF). This is a unique facility being ext ended
through CSC by HDFC. This will help and support the citizens, especially merchants, youth, entrepreneurs, farmers and women avail
loan facility from the Bank to support in their economic uplift.
 Apart from this, HDFC Bank will support CSC SPV in converting 1000 identified villages into Digi Gaon (Digital Villages) within this
financial year. CSC SPV is implementing Digi Gaon initiative in rural and remote villages of the country, with the mandate of the

Ministry of Electronics & IT, where citizens can avail various online services of the central and State government. In the pilot project,
CSC SPV has adopted six villages in the country.
 The DigiGaons are positioned to promote rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods through communit y
participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with key focus on the rural citizen.
 Under its‘ commitment to enhancing women‘s health and hygiene, HDFC Bank will also support CSC SPV by funding Stree
Swabhiman Sanitary Napkin Manufacturing Units. CSC SPV, through its initiative ‗Stree Swabhiman‘ is striving to create a sustainable
model for providing affordable and accessible sanitary products close to the homes of adolescent girls and women in rural areas. So
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far 204 sanitary pad manufacturing units have become operational across the country.
 The Common Service Center (CSC) Scheme is an integral part of ―Digital India‖ initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Infor mation
Technology (MeitY), Government of India. Currently, close to three lakh VLEs are operational across the country, of which 2.10 lakh
are at Gram Panchayat level.
HONEY TOPS AMONG KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES PRODUCTS EXPORTS
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 Sale of Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) products has increased during the last two years registering the sale of Rs. 52138.21 crore
in 2016-17 and Rs. 59098.04 crore in 2017-18.
 The KVIC does not export khadi products directly. 17 items worth Rs. 26,938.74 lakh were exported by KVI units in 2016-17 and Rs.
27,500 Lakh in 2017-18.
 These products are exported to European, Asian and North American countries. Honey has been the highest exports grosser with Rs.
13349.03 and 13627.15 lakh in 2016-17 & 2017-18.
 Assistance is provided under the Market Promotion and Development Assistance (MPDA) scheme to the eligible KVI Institutions for
participation in international exhibitions and trade fairs held abroad. They are provided space rent upto Rs 1.25 Lakh and air fare upto
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Rs.1.00 lakh.
 The KVIs are also given monetary incentives for participation in domestic & international exhibitions at State and National levels.
Financial assistance is also provided to exporters participating in International Trade Fairs held in India like India International Trade
Fair (IITF), New Delhi, where stall rentals are subsidized for exporting institutions.
 An MoU has been signed between KVIC and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd., Raymond and Arvind Mills for sale of Khadi fabric in
the country and abroad.
 KVIC has applied for registration of ―Khadi‖ as a Word mark and ―Khadi India‖ as a Trade Mark in the IPR Act at the National Level. It
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has also filed an online application for registering ―Khadi‖ as a trade mark under International bureau in European Union and other
countries.
ELECTORAL BOND SCHEME 2018
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Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 on 02nd January 2018. As per provisions of the Scheme, Electoral
Bonds may be purchased by a person, who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. A person being an indi vidual
can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
 Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured
not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of
the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.
 The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorized Bank.
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 State Bank of India (SBI), in the 4th phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 11 Authorised
Branches (as per list enclosed) w.e.f. 02.07.2018 to 11.07.2018.
 It may be noted that Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to
any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral Bond deposited by an
eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.
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NIIF TO ROLL OUT $2 BILLION FUND
 The National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) is looking to unveil a $2-billion long-term fund to finance mega projects. The
new fund has already been registered.
 The NIIF already has two operational funds— the NIIF Master Fund that invests directly into companies and a Fund Of Fundsthat
invests in funds that are managed by third parties.
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 There is a third fund which is being designed.The size of the fund will be $2 billion.
 NIIF MD and CEO: Sujoy Bose
 The new fund will focus on major infrastructure projects and look for partners who are willing to take long-term risks.
OIL INDIA AGAIN DISCOVERS HYDROCARBONS IN KG BASIN

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 Oil India Limited (OIL), one of India‘s largest public sector oil exploration and production companies, has made its second hydrocarbon
discovery in the onland KG Basin NELP VI Block — KG-ONN-2004/1.
 The well Thanelanka-1 is the first high pressure-high temperature (HP-HT) well drilled by OIL and has encountered multiple sands in
Gollapalli Formation of late Jurassic-early Cretaceous and one zone in Raghavapuram Formation of intra Cretaceous.
 The HP-HT zone in the depth range 4,912-5,159 m in Golapalli Formation produced gas at 300 scmd through 16/64‖ bean choke.
 The size of the discovery can only be ascertained after further testing of the wells.
 OIL is the operator of the the block with 90% participating interest while the balance 10% is held by Geo Global Resources. Earlier,
the company made a gas discovery at Dangeru-l well in the block.
 In 2017-18, OIL produced 3.39 metric million tonnes (MMT) of crude oil and 2.93 billion cubic meters (BCM) of gas.
 Besides having a pan-India presence, OIL has participating interest in blocks in more than nine countries overseas — Libya, Gabon,
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Nigeria, Yemen, Venezuela, USA, Mozambique, Russia and Bangladesh.
UJJWALA REVOLUTION
 Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) completed two years of operation. During this time the number of LPG connections has
crossed 4 crore, and LPG penetration in India has risen from 56% in 2014 to 80%. While distributing new connections is no mean feat,
the greater challenge for the mission lies in refills.
 It is worth considering the usage pattern of PMUY customers who have been in the system for a year or more and have been buying
four or more cylinders a year.

 Data from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), which has given out almost half of the Ujjwala connections, suggest that between
May 2016 and April 2017, IOCL enrolled 85.47 lakh Ujjwala customers. From May 2016 to April 2018, the average cylinder
consumption of these customers was 4.4 per year, including the installation cylinder.
 One in five Ujjwala customers who enrolled in May 2016 is using seven cylinders annually, thus matching the national per capita
consumption of 6.8 cylinders in 2017-18. A total of 60% of those enrolled in May 2016 are on their eighth cylinder at present, implying
an annual usage of four cylinders. A similar trend is also seen for those enrolled in March 2017: 20% using seven or more cylinders
annually, and 56% on to their fourth cylinder.
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 Studying the usage of gas by PMUY customers and visiting multiple villages across the country, the following features of the
programme are evident. One, interactions with PMUY subscribers suggest that they focus on the value that LPG generates for them
and not on its cost.
 The programme has also witnessed the emergence of a peer learning platform: the Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat. By sharing the
vision of early adopters and ironing out service issues, the LPG Panchayats being held at village levels across India are helping more
and more people appreciate the advantages of clean fuel.
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 The adoption of LPG has received a boost with supplies ramping up and service improving. In April 2014, there were 13,896 LPG
distributors across India. This number is now 20,227. Another 3,750 distributorships will be commissioned in 2018-19.
 Similarly, the loan deferment policy, which has allowed the recovery of loan amounts from Ujjwala customers, has been deferred for
their next six refills starting April 1, 2018. This allows customers to avail of the subsidy during this period.
RS. 2,000-CR. CAPITAL INFUSION IN ECGC
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a capital infusion of Rs. 2,000 crore into the Export Credit Guarantee
Corporation (ECGC) to be infused over the three financial years 2017-20.
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 The break-up of the infusion would be Rs. 50 crore in 2017-18, Rs. 1,450 crore in 2018-19, and Rs. 500 crore in 2019-20.
 The ECGC Limited (Formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd) is a company wholly owned by the Government of
India based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It provides export credit insurance support to Indian exporters and is controlled by the Ministry of
Commerce. Government of India had initially set up Export Risks Insurance Corporation (ERIC) in July 1957. It was transformed into
Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation Limited (ECGC) in 1964 and to Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India in 1983.
 The infusion would enhance insurance coverage to MSME exports and strengthen India‘s exports to emerging and challenging
markets like Africa, CIS and Latin American countries.
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 With enhanced capital, ECGC‘s underwriting capacity and risk to capital ratio will improve considerably. With a stronger underwriting
capacity, ECGC will be in a better position to support Indian exporters to tap new and unexplored markets.
 Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs also approved the contribution of grant-in-aid of Rs. 1,040 crore to the National Export
Insurance Account Trust (NEIA). The corpus is to be utilised during three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
 The Corpus would strengthen NEIA to support project exports from the country that are of strategic and national importance.
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GRANT TO NATIONAL EXPORT INSURANCE ACCOUNT TRUST
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM has approved contribution of Grant-in-Aid (Corpus) of Rs.1,040 crore to
National Export Insurance Account Trust (NEIA).
 The Corpus is to be utilised during three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20. An amount of Rs.440 crore has already been received for
the year 2017-18. Rs.300 crore each will be given to NEIA for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20.
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 The Corpus would strengthen NEIA to support project exports from the country that are of strategic and national importance.
FERTILIZER SUBSIDY DISBURSEMENT THROUGH BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
 NITI Aayog and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (GNFC) have signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to work
together towards implementing a Proof-of-Concept (―PoC‖) application using Blockchain Technology for fertiliser subsidy
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management.
 They will jointly develop the use case, under take research, interact with multiple stakeholders, develop Blockchain solutions,
exchange learnings, organise forums, and disseminate learnings across their networks. Learnings, insights and outcomes of the PoC
will enable NITI Aayog to suggest policy recommendations and actions in strengthening the subsidy mechanism, making it more
transparent and immune to leakages.
 Fertilizer units manufacture approximately 31 Million MT of fertilizers across country, where total approximately Rs. 70,000 Cr. of
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subsidy is disbursed to the manufacturing units. The subsidy disbursal takes two to three months‘ time.There are multiple entities
involved in verification process, and the transaction process is very cumbersome which has the potential to be automated to give
significant efficiency gains.
 With implementation of BlockchainTechnology,it is expected that the distribution will become effective and efficient, and subsidy
transfer could be automated and made real time.
 Blockchain platform have inherent characteristics of distributed computing and ledger keeping of transactions i.e. confidentiality,
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authenticity, non-repudiation, data integrity, and data availability.

 Overall implementation ensures that there is no dependence on intermediary agencies to prove the validity of transactions and
resulting subsidy claims.
 The blockchain based process will also use Smart Contracts which will enable quick and accurate reconciliation of transactions
between multiple parties with minimal human intervention. Implementation platform is such that process transparency is evident,
transactions cannot be altered and audit trails of transactions are available.
GST DAY ON 1 JULY
 Government of India celebrated the 1st Anniversary of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) coming into force on 1 st July.
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 GST was launched on the 1st July, 2017 in a majestic ceremony held in the Central Hall of Parliament on the midnight of 30th June,
2017. The first year has been remarkable both for the sheer variety of challenges that its implementation has thrown up and f or the
willingness and ability of policy makers and tax administrators to rise up to these challenges and respond befittingly.
 But more importantly, the first year of GST has been an example to the world of the readiness of the Indian taxpayer to be a partner in
this unprecedented reform of Indian taxation. Accordingly, it has been decided that, the 1st of July, 2018 shall be commemorated as
‗GST Day‘.
 Before implementation of GST, Indian taxation system was a farrago of central, state and local area levies. In the constitutional
scheme, taxation power on goods was with Central Government but it was limited up to the stage of manufacture and production while
States had power to tax sale and purchase of goods. Centre had the exclusive power to tax services. This sort of division of taxing

powers created a grey zone which led to legal disputes since determination of what constitutes a goods or service became
increasingly difficult.
 As provided for in Article 279A of the Constitution, the Goods and Services Tax Council (the Council) was notified with effect from 12th
September, 2016. The Council is comprised of the Union Finance Minister (who is the Chairman of the Council), the Minister of State
(Revenue) and the State Finance/Taxation Ministers as members and is empowered to make recommendations to the Union and the
States on all GST related issues. The Council has met for 27 times and no occasion has arisen so far that required voting to dec ide
any matter. All the decisions have been taken by consensus. This is a fitting tribute to the spirit of cooperative federalism which has
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prevailed throughout all Centre-State interactions in relation to all aspects of GST.
 Four Laws namely CGST Act, UTGST Act, IGST Act and GST (Compensation to States) Act were passed by the Parliament and since
been notified on 12th April, 2017. All the other States (except Jammu & Kashmir) and Union territories with legislature have passed
their respective SGST Acts.
 The economic integration of India was completed on 8th July, 2017 when the State of J&K also passed the SGST Act and the Central
Government also subsequently extended the CGST Act to J&K. On 22nd June, 2017, the first notification was issued for GST and
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notified certain sections under CGST Act.
 Since then, one hundred and three notifications under CGST Act have been issued notifying sections, notifying rules, amendment to
rules and for waiver of penalty, etc. Thirteen, twenty eight and one notifications have also been issued under IGST Act, UTGST Act
and GST (Compensation to States) Act respectively. Further 59, 63, 59 and 8 rate related notifications each have been issued under
the CGST Act, IGST Act, UTGST Act and GST (Compensation to States) Act respectively. Similar notifications have been issued by
all the States under the respective SGST Act. Apart from the notifications, 53 circulars and 14 orders have also been issued by CBIC
on various subjects like proper officers, ease of exports, and extension of last dates for filling up various forms, etc.
 India has adopted dual GST model because of its unique federal nature. Under this model, tax is levied concurrently by the Centre as
well as the States on a common base, i.e. supply of goods or services or both. GST to be levied by the Centre would be called Central
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GST (Central tax / CGST) and that to be levied by the States would be called State GST (State Tax / SGST). State GST (State Tax /
SGST) would be called UTGST (Union territory tax) in Union Territories without legislature. CGST & SGST / UTGST shall be levied on
all taxable intra-State supplies.
 Inter-State supply of goods or services shall be subjected to Integrated GST (Integrated tax / IGST). The IGST model is a unique
contribution of India in the field of VAT. The IGST Model envisages that Centre would levy IGST (Integrated Goods and Service Tax)
which would be CGST plus SGST on all inter-State supply of goods or services or both.
 The introduction of e-way (electronic way) bill is a monumental shift from the earlier ‗Departmental Policing Model‘ to a ‗Self-
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Declaration Model‘. It envisages one e-way bill for movement of the goods throughout the country, thereby ensuring a hassle free
movement of goods throughout the country. The e-way bill system has been introduced nation-wide for all inter-State movement of
goods with effect from 1st April, 2018. As regards intra-State movement of gods, all States have notified e-way bill rules for intra-State
supplies last being NCT of Delhi where it was introduced w.e.f. 16th June, 2018.
 GST will have a multiplier effect on the economy with benefits accruing to various sectors such as exporters, small traders and
entrepreneurs, agriculture and industry, common consumers. GST has already promoted ‗Make in India‘ and has improved the ‗Ease
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of Doing Business‘ in India. By subsuming more than a score of taxes under GST, the road to a harmonized system of indirect tax has
been paved making India an economic union.
 Any new change is accompanied by difficulties and problems at the outset. A change as comprehensive as GST is bound to pose
certain challenges not only for the government but also for business community, tax administration and even common citizens of the
country. Some of these challenges relate to the unfamiliarity with the new regime and IT systems, legal challenges, return filing and
reconciliations, passing on transition credit. Many of the processes in the GST are new for small and medium enterprises in particular,
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who were not used to regular and online filing of returns and other formalities.
 The introduction of GST is truly a game changer for Indian economy as it has replaced multi-layered, complex indirect tax structure
with a simple, transparent and technology–driven tax regime. It will integrate India into a single, common market by breaking barriers
to inter-State trade and commerce. By eliminating cascading of taxes and reducing transaction costs, it will enhance ease of doing
business in the country and provide an impetus to ‗Make in India‘ campaign. GST will result in ‗ONE NATION, ONE TAX, ONE
MARKET‘.
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WAPCOS ACHIEVES HIGHEST EVER GROSS INCOME
 WAPCOS Ltd, a Mini Ratna-I Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation celebrated its 50th Foundation Day in New Delhi.
 WAPCOS Limited earlier known as Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited is a consultancy organisation and public
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sector undertaking under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation of the Government of India.
The company provides consultancy services in the fields of water resources, power and infrastructure. Launched in 1969, it is now an
ISO 9001:2008 certified, Mini Ratna company with several projects across India, Asia and Africa.
 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari commended the organization for the huge success it has achieved in the sectors of water resources,
power and irrigation in India and in 46 other developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
 WAPCOS has achieved the highest ever gross income of Rs 1110 crore during the year 2017-18.
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 The company‘s profitability has grown over 75 percent, from Rs.102.52 Crore in 2013-14 to Rs.180 Crore in 2017-18.
 WAPCOS was incorporated as a Public Sector Enterprise in 1969 by the Government of India. It is a techno-commercial organization
under the aegis of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. WAPCOS has done Survey &
Investigation/Pre-Feasibility/DPRs for more than 550 Projects in Irrigation, Water Resources and Agricultural sectors. The company
has contributed in development of over 15 Million Hactare irrigation potential; more than 200 projects in ports and inland navigation;
over 500 projects in water supply and sanitation, rural and urban development, roads and highway engineering, EIAs for over 250
projects in the fields of irrigation, hydro/thermal power, ports and harbours in India and abroad.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, RUPEE SLIPS PAST 69

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 Fears of a global trade war and rising oil prices continued to hurt the rupee, pushing it briefly to a record low intraday.
 The currency weakened past the 69-a-dollar mark before the RBI intervened, helping the rupee to pare its losses. The rupee ended at
68.61 a dollar. Its previous record low was 68.87 reached on November 24, 2016.
 The Reserve Bank of India is said to have intervened to stop the sharp fall in the rupee against the dollar.
 The rupee extended its losing streak for a fourth straight session, breaching the 69-a-dollar mark for the first time ever in early trade
before the central bank intervened by selling dollars through state-run banks, curbing volatility in the foreign exchange market and
helping the local currency trim its losses.
 The rupee, which hit an an intraday low of 69.09, closed at 68.79. The currency‘s previous record low was 68.87 reached on
November 24, 2016.

 The Reserve Bank of India is said to have intervened to stop the sharp fall in the rupee against the dollar. It is estimated to have sold
dollars about $700-800 million through state-owned banks. Economists expect the RBI to intervene aggressively at 69.0 levels to
support the rupee.
 Climbing crude oil prices, which would fan inflation and widen the current account deficit, fears of a looming global trade w ar and the
rising U.S. interest rates have combined to exacerbate outflows from emerging markets and impacted the rupee. The Indian currency
has depreciated more than 7% this year, making it the worst performing Asian currency in the period.
 Currency traders expect the rupee will remain under pressure in the near term as oil prices continue to stay high and capital outflows
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from the emerging markets continue.
 While the country‘s $413 billion foreign exchange reserves acts as a cushion, the pile has shrunk in eight of the nine weeks to June 15
as the central bank intervenes in the currency market to smooth volatility. The RBI has said that it does not target any specific level for
the currency and only intervenes to curb volatility.
 The weak sentiment spilled onto the bonds and equity markets as the benchmark 10-year yield rose 6 basis point to 7.94% and the
the 30-share BSE Sensex lost 179.47 points to close at 35,037.64 while the broader Nifty ended at 10,589.10, down 82.30 points.
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 Foreign investors have been net sellers at Rs. 40,439 crore in the debt segment till date this year. In the equity market, ov erseas
investors have been net sellers at Rs. 5,753 crore in 2018.
PAYMENTS BANKS IN INDIA
 E-commerce firm Infibeam has received shareholders‘ approval to expand business in IT segment, set up a payments bank and raise
Rs. 2,000 crore.
 Shareholders of the company have also approved change in its name from Infibeam Incorporation Limited to ―Infibeam Avenues
Limited.
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 Infibeam plans to leverage its financial technology and expand business in the domain by seeking RBI permit to issue all kind of
prepaid payment instruments, e-wallets, co-branded wallets, and any other prepaid payment instrument that the banking regulator
may allow from time to time has been approved by the shareholders.
 Payments Banks: Payments banks is a new model of banks conceptualised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These banks can
accept a restricted deposit, which is currently limited to ₹1 lakh per customer and may be increased further. These banks cannot issue
loans and credit cards. Both current account and savings accounts can be operated by such banks. Payments banks can issue
services like ATM cards, debit cards, net-banking and mobile-banking. Bharti Airtel set up India's first live payments bank.
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 On 23 September 2013, Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses and Low Income Households,
headed by Nachiket Mor, was formed by the RBI. On 7 January 2014, the Nachiket Mor committee submitted its final report. Among
its various recommendations, it recommended the formation of a new category of bank called payments bank. On 17 July 2014, the
RBI released the draft guidelines for payment banks, seeking comments for interested entities and the general public. On 27
November, RBI released the final guidelines for payment banks.
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In February 2015, RBI released the list of entities which had applied for a payments bank licence. There were 41 applicants. It was
also announced that an external advisory committee (EAC) headed by Nachiket Mor would evaluate the licence applications.
 On 28 February 2015, during the presentation of the Budget it was announced that India Post will use its large network to run
payments bank. The external advisory committee headed by Nachiket Mor submitted its findings on 6 July 2015. The applicant entities
were examined for their financial track record and governance issues.
 On 19 August 2015, the Reserve Bank of India gave "in-principle" licences to eleven entities to launch payments banks. The "in-
principle" license was valid for 18 months within which the entities must fulfil the requirements and they were not allowed t o engage in
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banking activities within the period. The RBI will grant full licenses under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, after it is
satisfied that the conditions have been fulfilled.
 Regulations: The minimum capital requirement is ₹100 crore. For the first five years, the stake of the promoter should remain at least
40%. Foreign share holding will be allowed in these banks as per the rules for FDI in private banks in India. The voting rights will be
regulated by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The voting right of any shareholder is capped at 10%, which can be raised to 26% by
Reserve Bank of India. Any acquisition of more than 5% will require approval of the RBI. The majority of the bank's board of directors
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should consist of independent directors, appointed according to RBI guidelines.

 The bank should be fully networked from the beginning. The bank can accept utility bills. It cannot form subsidiaries to undertake non-
banking activities. Initially, the deposits will be capped at ₹100,000 per customer, but it may be raised by the RBI based on the
performance of the bank. The bank cannot undertake lending activities. 25% of its branches must be in the unbanked rural area. The
bank must use the term "payments bank" in its name to differentiate it from other types of bank. The banks will be licensed as
payments banks under Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and will be registered as public limited company under t he
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Companies Act, 2013.

 On 19 August 2015, the Reserve Bank of India gave "in-principle" licenses to eleven entities to launch payments banks.
1. Aditya Birla Nuvo
2. Airtel M Commerce Services
3. Cholamandalam Distribution Services
4. India Post
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5. Fino PayTech
6. National Securities Depository
7. Reliance Industries
8. Vodafone M-Pesa
9. Paytm
10. Tech Mahindra
11. Sun Pharmaceuticals
 Bharti Airtel launched India's first live payments bank in March 2017.
 Paytm, India Post and Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank have also launched services.
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Cholamandalam Distribution Services, Sun Pharmaceuticals and Tech Mahindra have surrendered their licenses.
GST REVERSE CHARGE MECHANISM DEFERRED TILL SEPT 30
 The government has kept in abeyance the GST provision relating to reverse charge mechanism (RCM) for another three months till
September-end.
 In a notification, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said RCM will remain suspended till September 30, as
against the earlier date of June 30.
 Under the RCM, registered dealers are required to make tax payments in case they procure goods from unregistered businesses.

 Normally, the supplier of goods or services pays the tax on supply. In the case of Reverse Charge, the receiver becomes liable to pay
the tax, i.e., the chargeability gets reversed.
 Normally, the supplier of goods or services pays the tax on supply. In the case of a reverse charge, the receiver becomes liable to pay
the tax.
 Under the reverse charge mechanism, if entities registered under GST purchase goods from small unregistered dealers they will have
to pay a tax on behalf of the latter. Thus, the registered entity will have to bear an additional tax burden of the unregistered dealer with
whom they trade.
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 The mechanism is aimed at demotivating registered dealers to purchase goods or avail services from unregistered dealers, who do
not pay taxes. This would also increase government's revenue collections.
 When is reverse charge applicable?
 When an unregistered dealer supplies goods to a registered dealer.
 A reverse charge will also be applicable to an e-commerce operator supplying services.
 For instance, as UrbanClap providing services of plumbers, electricians, teachers, beauticians, the home servicing platform is liable to
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pay GST and collect it from the customers instead of the registered service providers.
 Supply of certain goods and services specified by Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) attract a reverse charge.
 The government, however, is unlikely to implement the reverse charge mechanism as the move may adversely impact small
businesses and not yield revenue gains.
 ―Input tax‖: It has been defined under GST Law. Input tax in relation to a taxable person, means the (IGST and CGST) in respect of
CGST Act and (IGST and SGST) in respect of SGST Act, charged on any supply of goods and/or services to him which are used, or
are intended to be used, in the course or furtherance of his business and includes the tax payable under sub-section (3) of section 7.
 Under the IGST Act, input tax is defined as IGST, CGST or SGST charged on any supply of goods and/or services.
 In simple words, Input Tax Credit means reducing the taxes paid on inputs from taxes to be paid on output.
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CRYPTOCURRENCY BAN IN INDIA
 The Supreme Court refused to stay the RBI‘s directive to banks instructing them to stop all business with entities dealing in
cryptocurrencies, which means the ban would come into effect from July 6, as originally planned.
 The RBI in April issued a circular giving a three-month buffer period to entities to end their business relationships. That period will end
on July 5. It means the crypto exchanges will not be able to let traders liquidate crypto assets.
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 In its circular dated April 6, 2018, the RBI had directed that the entities that it regulates shall not deal in virtual currencies or provide
services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling virtual currencies. These services include maintaining accounts,
registering, trading, settling, clearing, giving loans against virtual tokens, accepting them as collateral, opening accounts of exchanges
dealing with them and transfer/receipt of money in accounts relating to purchase / sale of virtual currencies.
 Traditionally, all trade on exchanges happen through online banking channels where users can buy and trade bitcoins. The exch anges
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charge a transaction fee on every trade. The RBI's April circular mandates banks against offering services to exchanges, pushing
them toward a P2P exchange. In P2P trade, the buyer and seller can deal with each other directly while the exchange acts as an
escrow account that holds the cryptos during the transaction to avoid cheating.
 The government and the RBI have issued several warnings against dealing in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoins, the former even
comparing it with a Ponzi scheme. While issuing the circular in April, the apex bank cautioned users, holders and traders of crypto
currencies, including Bitcoins, regarding various risks associated in dealing with such currencies.
 In light of the Supreme Court‘s action, cryptocurrency exchange Zebpay began warning its customers about an eventuality where it
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might not be able to honour rupee withdrawal requests.
 The RBI ban has caused many cryptocurrency exchanges to shift from India to foreign lands for survival.
 International digital asset Platform (IDAP) is a cryptocurrency exchange started by India- based founders but is set up in Estonia for
running a legitimate business.
 Cryptocurrency exchange, BuyuCoin, is shifting its base to Singapore and Binex.trade is moving to Estonia.
 The ban termed as the 'end of virtual currencies' in India is causing a lot of commotion in the blockchain industry. Experts call this
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aftermath, of exchanges shifting abroad, quite natural in the wake of stringent regulations.
 Crypto-currencies are digital in nature, relying on cryptographic encryption to regulate the generation of units of currency and
verification of the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.
 At its core is the blockchain technology, a distributed database that is immutable and does not rely on third party to verify new entries
but on the network of all those who each have the exact public copy of all the records.
 Despite many advantages, due to the digital nature of crypto-currencies, there are ways that allow hackers to exploit systemic
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vulnerabilities of these exchanges, and thus even if a crypto-currency like Bitcoin itself is secure, exchanges, where it is traded, are
prone to cyber-attacks.
 Users‘ funds are stored in crypto-currency wallets and digital wallets that allow sending, receiving and storing of virtual coins such as
Bitcoins.
 If this digital wallet is connected to internet, it is termed as a ‗hot wallet‘ while storing coins in a digital wallet offli ne is referred to as
storing in a ‗cold wallet‘.
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 In the wake of some hacks, exchanges store the majority of funds offline while taking preventive measures to protect hot wall ets.
Many have even taken out insurance against their hot wallets.
 Before the RBI's ban, the cryptocurrency investors were buying and selling the digital currencies through exchanges in rupee.
However, after July 5, all banks and other regulated entities have stopped their services to the cryptocurrency exchanges. Banks have
also started sending notifications to their customers warning against the virtual currency trade.
 The RBI and the Finance Ministry have made it clear that virtual currencies are not legal tender and such currencies have no
protection. The government has not authorised any virtual currency as a medium of exchange. It has also not given license to any
agency for working as exchange.
 Finance Ministry said, Virtual currencies are not backed by government fiat. These are also not legal tender. Hence, VCs are not
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currencies. These are also being described as 'Coins'. There is however no physical attribute to these coins. Therefore, VC are
neither currencies nor coins."
RBI FLAGS STATES‘ FISCAL STRESS
 In a report „State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2017-18 and 2018-19,‟ the RBI noted that States‘ consolidated gross fiscal deficit
(GFD) overshot the budget estimates in 2017-18 due to shortfalls in own tax revenues and higher revenue expenditure.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has pointed to the fiscal stress that States are facing due to several factors including farm loan
waivers, and said higher borrowing by them could crowd out private investment.
 In recent years, signs of pressures on the fiscal position of States have re-emerged.

 While States budgeted a gross fiscal deficit to gross domestic product (GFD-GDP) ratio of 2.7% in 2017-18, revised estimates reveal
GFD-GDP ratio of 3.1%. The deterioration was located in the revenue balance. In contrast, the capital account has helped to contain
the GFD.
 Since the combined GFP to GDP was at 6.4% as compared with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Committee‘s
(FRBM) medium-term target of 5%, there is a risk that private investment gets crowded out of the finite pool of financial resources.
 Risks are also likely to emanate from possible higher pre-election expenditure in more than 10 States and implementation of the
balance pay commission awards, particularly to the extent that they are not fully provided for under the budgeted expenditure. Capital
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expenditure may have to bear the brunt of the fiscal correction like the past two years.
 While States together have projected a revenue surplus and a lower consolidated GFD of 2.6% of GDP in 2018-19, 11 States have
budgeted for fiscal deficits above the threshold of 3% of GDP.
‗ROFR CLAUSE‘ IN NEWS
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 Presently, foreign flag vessels are permitted to carry Indian cargo after obtaining licence from the Directorate General, Shipping.
Under the ROFR clause, an Indian vessel has the right to carry this cargo at the same tariff as offered by the foreign vessel. Thus,
cargo would be carried by an Indian ship without any additional cost to consumers.
 Right of first refusal (ROFR or RFR) is a contractual right that gives its holder the option to enter a business transaction with the owner
of something, according to specified terms, before the owner is entitled to enter into that transaction with a third party. A first refusal
right must have at least three parties: the owner, the third party or buyer and the option holder. In general, the owner must make the
same offer to the option holder before making the offer to the buyer. The right of first refusal is similar in concept to a call option.
 An ROFR differs from a Right of First Offer (ROFO, also known as a Right of First Negotiation) in that the ROFO merely obliges the
owner to undergo exclusive good faith negotiations with the rights holder before negotiating with other parties. A ROFR is an option to
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enter a transaction on exact or approximate transaction terms. A ROFO is merely an agreement to negotiate. A proposed move by the
Centre to abolish the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) clause for transportation of Indian cargo by Indian-flagged vessels — the only
benefit available to Indian shipping companies — is threatening the existence of the domestic shipping industry.
 Anticipating a bleak future, Indian shipping companies — which have a combined fleet of 1,372 ships with a total capacity of 12.35
million Gross Tonnage (GT) — are mulling over de-registering their vessels from India and flag them in tax havens of Panama and
Bahama to survive and compete with foreign lines.
 Having recently relaxed norms benefiting foreign shipping lines, the government is now preparing ground to do away with the ROFR
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clause which ensures Indian-registered ships carry Indian bulk dry/liquid cargo of Indian public and private sector companies at the
lowest rate quoted by a foreign shipping line by matching the price. Thus, while it does not add any extra cost to the importer or
exporter, it provides assured business to the national fleet at a rate quoted by a foreign line.
 Currently, 92% of India‘s export import trade is carried by foreign flag ships. And the 8% that is assured to Indian ships is likely to go if
the ROFR is scrapped. This benefit is provided since foreign flag vessels do not pay any tax in India while Indian companies are
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costlier since they have to pay multiple taxes.
 In 2017 alone, Indian shipping companies have made investments of around ₹4,700 crore in assets in anticipation of business. All this
investment is at stake.
 Recently, the Union Shipping Ministry issued orders that permitted foreign flag vessels to transport export import-laden containers,
agri products, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry commodities and fertilizers between two or more Indian ports without obtaining
a licence from the Directorate General of Shipping. All this means is that an Indian flag vessel, if available, has lost the opportunity of
doing this business.
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 Indian shipping companies said this move is being contemplated without any consultative process.
 Also, the integrity and security of transportation of critical cargo in times of war or economic sanctions seem to have been completely
ignored.
 It is sad that an industry which employs close to 30,000 persons with assets of approximately ₹68,000 crore and whose contribution to
the exchequer is in excess of ₹8,000 crore in a year is being forced to shut down needlessly.
 The right of first refusal is the only incentive to the Indian flag, which suffers from many disadvantages versus foreign flags. It is also
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an incentive that comes at no cost to anyone. Removal of ROFR will strike at the very foundations of Indian shipping..
 The government‘s move to deny Indian shipping companies the ROFR will put the already-battered firms at a disadvantageous
position against foreign liners.
 This untoward move will push Indian ship owners to immediately plan for de-register their ships from Indian Register and flag them out
of India as it would reduce their cost of operations.
 Analysts said de-registering of vessels from the Indian flag will be a strategic blow to Indian security as merchant naval fleet always
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acts as a second line of defence for coastal security.

 However, some experts feel the objective of the government is to shift cargo movement from railways and roadways to the waterways
to reduce logistics costs and ensure faster movement of cargo, which the domestic lines have failed to deliver.
WHOLESALE PRICE INFLATION TOUCHES A FOUR-YEAR HIGH

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 Inflation at the wholesale level quickened to 5.77% in June, the highest since December 2013, driven in large part by rising fuel prices.
Growth in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) accelerated in June from 4.43% in May, and is far higher than the 0.9% seen in June last
year.
 While inflation in the primary articles component of the index quickened to 5.3% in June from 3.16% in May, this was not due to food
price inflation, which accelerated only marginally to 1.8% from 1.6% over the same period.
 The real upward push in wholesale inflation came from the crude petroleum and natural gas segment, which saw inflation surging to
48.7% in June from 26.9% in the previous month.
 Similarly, the fuel and power segment saw inflation quicken to 16.2% from 11.2% over the same period. Wholesale inflation in
manufacturing accelerated in June to 4.17% from 3.73% in May.
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LIC NOD FOR RAISING STAKE IN IDBI BANK
 The board of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has approved the proposal to buy 51% shares in the state-run IDBI Bank,
paving the way for a stake sale in the cash-strapped lender.
 The LIC board has approved the proposal to buy 51% shares in the IDBI Bank.
 The IDBI Bank‘s financial health has deteriorated with the yearly loss widening to Rs. 8,238 crore in FY18 from Rs. 5,158 cro re in
FY17. Its gross non-performing assets at the end of March was 27.95% of advances. The lender is under the prompt corrective action
framework of the Reserve Bank of India.

 While the LIC holds 8% stake in the Bank, the government holds about 86% and has been trying to shed its stake in the beleaguered
bank for about two years now.
RBI TO ISSUE NEW LAVENDER COLOUR SMALLER RS. 100 NOTE
 The Reserve Bank of India will issue new Rs. 100 notes, which would be smaller in size than the present ones. The new denomination
has motif of Rani ki Vav on the reverse, depicting the country‘s cultural heritage.
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 The base colour of the note is Lavender. The note has other designs, geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme, both
at the obverse and reverse. Dimension of the banknote will be 66 mm × 142 mm.
 The existing notes are of the dimension of 73x157.
 The existing ₹ 100 notes will continue to be legal tender.
―GDP DEFLATOR‖ IN NEWS
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 The GDP deflator, also called implicit price deflator, is a measure of inflation. It is the ratio of the value of goods and services an
economy produces in a particular year at current prices to that of prices that prevailed during the base year.
 This ratio helps show the extent to which the increase in gross domestic product has happened on account of higher prices rather than
increase in output.
 Since the deflator covers the entire range of goods and services produced in the economy — as against the limited commodity
baskets for the wholesale or consumer price indices — it is seen as a more comprehensive measure of inflation.
 GDP GDP price deflator measures the difference between real GDP and nominal GDP. Nominal GDP differs from real GDP as the
former doesn‘t include inflation, while the latter does.
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 As a result, nominal GDP will most often be higher than real GDP in an expanding economy.
 The formula to find the GDP price deflator:GDP price deflator = (nominal GDP ÷ real GDP) x 100
 A consumer price index (CPI) measures changes over time in the general level of prices of goods and services that households
acquire for the purpose of consumption.
 However, since CPI is based only a basket of select goods and is calculated on prices included in it, it does not capture inf lation
across the economy as a whole.
 The wholesale price index basket has no representation of the services sector and all the constituents are only goods whose prices
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are captured at the wholesale/producer level.
 Changes in consumption patterns or introduction of goods and services are automatically reflected in the GDP deflator. This allows the
GDP deflator to absorb changes to an economy‘s consumption or investment patterns. Often, the trends of the GDP deflator will be
similar to that of the CPI.
 Specifically, for the GDP deflator, the ‗basket‘ in each year is the set of all goods that were produced domestically, weighted by the
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market value of the total consumption of each good.
 Therefore, new expenditure patterns are allowed to show up in the deflator as people respond to changing prices. The theory b ehind
this approach is that the GDP deflator reflects up-to-date expenditure patterns.
 GDP deflator is available only on a quarterly basis along with GDP estimates, whereas CPI and WPI data are released every month.
 The deflator covers the entire range of goods and services produced in the economy.
‗FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTORS‘ IN NEWS

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 Continuing their selling spree, foreign investors have pulled out over Rs. 2,000 crore from the capital markets this month so far on
higher crude oil prices and a depreciating rupee.
 The sell-off comes after foreign portfolio investors withdrew over Rs. 61,000 crore from the capital markets in the three months from
April to June.
 Prior to that, overseas investors had infused Rs. 2,661 crore in March.
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 In India, the term ―Foreign Portfolio Investor‖ refers to FIIs or their sub-accounts, or qualified foreign investors (QFIs) who are
permitted to hold upto 10% stake in a company.
 The term FPI was defined to align the nomenclature of categorizing investments of foreign investors in line with international practice.
FPI stands for those investors who hold a short term view on the company, in contrast to Foreign Direct Investors (FDI).
 FPIs generally participate through the stock markets and gets in and out of a particular stock at much faster frequencies. Short term
view is associated often with lower stake in companies. Hence, globally FPIs are defined as those who hold less than 10% in a
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company. In India, the hitherto existing closest possible definition to an FPI was Foreign Institutional Investor.
 In the Union Budget 2013-14, announced on 28 February 2013, vide para 95, Finance Minister announced his intention to go by the
internationally accepted definition for foreign investors.
 Prior to this, in December 2012, SEBI had constituted a ―Committee on Rationalization of Investment Routes and Monitoring of
Foreign Portfolio Investments‖ under the chairmanship of Shri K. M. Chandrasekhar with a view to rationalize/harmonize various
foreign portfolio investment routes and to establish a unified, simple regulatory framework. The Committee had submitted its report in
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June, 2013 to the Government of India.

 Based on the committee report, on 7th January, 2014 the FPI Regulations, 2014 were notified in the Gazette of India.
 The new FPI Regime came into effect from 1st June, 2014. Features of FPI:
 Portfolio Investment by any single investor or investor group cannot exceed 10% of the equity of an Indian company, beyond
which it will now be treated as FDI.
 FIIs, Sub-Accounts and QFIs are merged together to form the new investor class, namely Foreign Portfolio Investors, with an
aggregate investment limit of 24% which can be raised by the Company up to the applicable sectoral cap.
 All existing FIIs and Sub Accounts can continue to buy, sell or otherwise deal in securities under the FPI regime.
 All existing Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) may continue to buy, sell or otherwise deal in securities only till the period of one
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year from the date of notification of the FPI Regulation. In the meantime, they have to obtain FPI registration.
 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Foreign Venture Capital Investors (FVCI) are excluded from the purview of this definition.
 Designated Depository Participants (DDPs) authorized by SEBI (as per prescribed norms) would henceforth register FPIs on
behalf of SEBI subject to fulfilment of KYC (Know Your Customer) and due diligence norms. DDPs carry out necessary due
diligence and obtain appropriate declarations and undertakings before registering an entity as FPI. The DDPs are either
Authorized Dealer Category-1 bank authorized by Reserve Bank of India, or Depository Participant or a Custodian of Securities
registered with SEBI. Existing SEBI approved Qualified Depository Participant who were registering the QFIs, but not meeting the
DDP eligibility criteria, can operate as DDP only for a period of one year.
 Categories of FPI:

 As part of Risk based approach towards customer identity verification (KYC), FPIs have been categorized into three major
categories:
 Category I (Low Risk) which would include Government and entities like Foreign Central banks, Sovereign wealth Funds,
Multilateral Organizations, etc
 Category II (Moderate Risk) which would include Regulated entities such as banks, Pension Funds, Insurance Companies,
Mutual Funds, Investment Trusts, Asset Management Companies, University related endowments (already registered with SEBI)
 Category III (High Risk) which would include all other FPIs not eligible to be included in the above two categories
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 FPI Investment restrictions:
 FPIs are not allowed to invest in unlisted shares. However, all existing investments made by the FIIs/Sub-accounts/QFIs are
grandfathered. In respect of those securities, where FPIs are not allowed to invest no fresh purchase shall be allowed as FPI.
They can only sell their existing investments in such securities.
 However, an exception has been made by permitting them to invest in unlisted non-convertible debentures/bonds issued by an
Indian company in the infrastructure sector, where ‗infrastructure‘ is defined in terms of the extant External Commercial
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Borrowings (ECB) guidelines;
 FPIs are permitted to invest in Government Securities with a minimum residual maturity of one year. However, FPIs have been
prohibited from investing in T-Bills.
 FPI can invest in privately placed bonds if it is listed within 15 days.
 The same debt allocation mechanism that is in place for FIIs/QFIs will be followed for FPIs.
‗INTER-CREDITOR AGREEMENT‘ IN NEWS
 Leading lenders of the country signed an agreement among themselves to grant power to the lead lender of the consortium to draw up
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a resolution plan for stressed assets. The plan would be implemented in a time-bound manner before bankruptcy proceedings kick in,
as was the mandate of the Reserve Bank.
 The move comes after the banking regulator, in its February 12 circular, dismantled all the existing resolution mechanisms, such as
the joint lenders‘ forum, and asked lenders to start resolution for the asset even if the default was by one day. It had also mandated
that if the resolution plan was not finalised within 180 days, the account had to be referred for bankruptcy proceedings.
 The agreement, known as Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA) was framed under the aegis of the Indian Banks‘ Association and follows
the recommendations of the Sunil Mehta Committee on stressed asset resolution. Lenders including State Bank of India, Bank of
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India, and Corporation Bank have already signed the pact.
 An intercreditor agreement is an agreement between two creditors agreeing in advance how their competing interests in their common
borrower will be dealt with.
 The ICA has been executed by 24 lenders, primarily those who have obtained their board approvals. Other lenders are expected to
execute the ICA shortly after getting approval from the respective Boards. Non-banking financial companies are also expected to sign
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the agreement.
 A massive step taken to resolve NPAs. 24 public, private and foreign banks have signed inter-creditor agreements under Sashakt to
resolve stressed assets. This resolution over dissolution approach will strengthen banks & businesses, protect jobs & help economy
grow even faster.
 The ICA is applicable to all corporate borrowers who have availed loans for an amount of Rs. 50 crore or more under consortiu m
lending/multiple banking arrangements. The lender with the highest exposure to a stressed borrower will be authorised to formulate
the resolution plan which will be presented to all lenders for their approval.
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 The decision making shall be by way of approval of ‗majority lenders‘ (i.e. the lenders with 66% share in the aggregate exposure).
Once a resolution plan is approved by the majority, it shall be binding on all the lenders that are a party to the ICA.
 Dissenting lenders can either sell their exposure to another lender at a 15% discount or buy the entire exposure of all the banks
involved, at a 25% premium.
 This is primarily focussed on the Rs. 50 crore-Rs. 500 crore and the Rs. 500 crore-Rs. 2,000 crore categories.
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CENTRE RAISES ETHANOL PRICE TO RS. 43.7/ LITRE
 The Union government increased price of ethanol, used for doping in petrol, by almost Rs. 3 per litre to Rs. 43.70 in an attempt to cut
India‘s oil import dependence as well as to give higher price for sugarcane.
 India, which is more than 80% dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, has mandated blending of up to 10% ethanol in petrol, but
inadequate availability has restricted this to below 4%.
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 Higher price for ethanol extracted in the process of making sugar from sugarcane will incentivise higher ethanol production.
‗INDIAN BANK‘ BOARD REVOKES DIVIDEND RESOLUTION
 The board of Indian Bank has decided to withdraw its May 10 resolution recommending a dividend of Rs. 6 per equity share (60%).
 The move came after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had made it clear that Indian Bank could declare dividend ―only after fully
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providing for MTM (mark-to-market) loss, gratuity and any other provisions staggered in terms of dispensation given by RBI to all
banks.‖
 Indian Bank moved the RBI seeking clarification on Section 15 (1) of Banking Regulation Act.
 According to this section, banks are not allowed to pay any dividend on shares until all their capitalised expenses (includin g
preliminary expenses, organisation expenses, share-selling commission, brokerage, amount of losses incurred and any ‗other item of
expenditure not represented by tangible assets) have been completely written off.
 Notwithstanding anything contained in Section (1), as per Section 15 (2) (ii) of the Act, a banking company can, however, pay dividend
on its shares without writing off the depreciation, if any, on the value of its investments in shares, debentures or bonds (other than
approved securities) in any case where adequate provision for such depreciation has been made to the satisfaction of the audi tor of
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the banking company.

 Indian Bank chose to rely on this section to declare a dividend for shareholders.
EXTERNAL DEBT RISES BY $58.4 BILLION
 India‘s external debt stood at $529.7 billion at the end of March 2018, recording an increase of $58.4 billion year-on-year, primarily on
account of a rise in commercial borrowings, short-term debt and non-resident Indian deposits.
 The rise in external debt was partly due to valuation loss resulting from the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against major c urrencies,
the central bank said in a statement.
 The external debt to GDP ratio was 20.5% at end-March 2018, compared with 20% in March 2017.

FPI OUTFLOWS HITS 10-YEAR HIGH AT RS. 48,000 CR.
 Overseas investors have pulled out nearly Rs. 48,000 crore from Indian capital markets in the first six months of 2018, making it the
steepest outflow in a decade, following high crude oil prices and trade war worries.
 The investors withdrew a net sum of Rs. 41,433 crore from the debt markets, besides, a net amount of Rs. 6,430 crore from equities
during the January-June period of the year, taking the total outflow to Rs. 47,836 crore, latest update with depositories showed.
 This was the biggest outflow since January-June 2008, when foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had pulled out Rs. 24,758 crore from
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the capital markets — equity and debt.
ALWAR URBAN CO-OPERATIVE BANK NOW CLOSED
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Alwar Urban Co-operative Bank in Alwar, Rajasthan as it is not in a
position to pay its depositors in full as and when their claims accrue, among other reasons.
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 The present financial position of the bank leaves no scope for its revival, the cancellation of the licence is effective from the close of
business on July 5.
 The Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Rajasthan has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a
liquidator for the bank.
PROCESS OF ADDITIONAL BORROWING BY STATES SIMPLIFIED
 Union Finance Ministry said that keeping in view the Centre‘s policy for cooperative federalism it has decided to simplify the process of
approval of such additional borrowing limits requested by States. It will process each proposal along with complete informati on
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independently as and when it is received in contrast to the earlier process of bunching all proposals into a single proposal.
 Higher borrowing up to 3.5 per cent is subject to conditions of interest payment and debt/GDP ratio. Bunching of different St ates‘
proposals will allow States to borrow at the time of requirement and undertake expenditure as per their plan.
 At present, States can borrow up to 3 per cent of their fiscal deficit limit, but additional limit can be permitted subject to certain
conditions. They can have flexibility of 0.25 per cent over and above this for any given year for which the borrowing limits are to be
fixed if their debt-GSDP ratio is less than or equal to 25 per cent in the preceding year.
 States will be further eligible for an additional borrowing limit of 0.25 per cent of GSDP in a given year for which the borrowing limits
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are to be fixed if the interest payments are less than or equal to 10 per cent of the revenue receipts in the preceding year.
 The flexibility in availing the additional limit under either of the two options or both will be available to a State only if there is no
revenue deficit in the year in which borrowing limits are to be fixed and the immediately preceding year. Approval for additional
borrowing has to be taken from the Centre.
 The decision to simplify the process was taken after the States, during NITI Aayog meeting on June 17, pointed out that the
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permission accorded by the Expenditure Department under Finance Ministry were sometimes delayed. It happened due to bunching of
proposals received from different States at different intervals into one consolidated approval.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT FOR ALL URBAN CO-OP BANKS
 To protect the interests of depositors and also overcome constraints imposed by dual regulation, the RBI has proposed the
constitution of a board of management (BoM) in every urban cooperative bank (UCB) in addition to the board of directors (BoD).
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 In its ‗Draft guidelines on BoM for UCBs‘, the RBI said the BoMs will be constituted by the BoDs. Existing UCBs having deposi t size
exceeding Rs. 100 crore will put in place a BoM within a year. Other banks have two years‘ time.
 Under the present legal framework, the BoD of an UCB performs both the executive and supervisory role, and isresponsible to
oversee the functioning of the UCB as a cooperative society as well as a bank.
 Since UCBs are accepting public deposits, it is imperative that a separate mechanism be put in place to protect the interests of
depositors. According to the draft guidelines, it is proposed to implement a BoM consisting of members with special knowledge and
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practical experience in banking.

 Broadly, BoM will carry out functions such as considering loan proposals as per the board-approved policy and making
recommendations to the loan committee or BoD for sanction; recommending action for recovery of bad loans, one-time settlement or
compromise settlement; management of funds and borrowings; implementing sound internal controls and systems and
preparation/implementation of risk management policy; overseeing internal audit and inspection functions; and compliance functions.
 The BoM will have a minimum of three members in UCBs having deposit size up to Rs. 100 crore, and five members in UCBs having
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deposit size above Rs. 100 crore. The maximum number of members in a BoM is 12.
 UCBs having deposits above Rs. 100 crore will obtain prior approval of the RBI for appointment of CEO.
 To overcome constraints imposed by dual regulation (the State Registrar of Cooperative Societies also has oversight over UCBs), the
RBI said it will have powers to remove any member of BoM and/or the CEO if the person is found to be not meeting the criteria
prescribed by it or acting in a manner detrimental to the interests of the bank or its depositors or both.
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NEW DATA WITH NEW BASE YEAR FROM NEXT FISCAL
 The government will come out with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) data with the new base year
during 2019-20. It also plans to bring out an employment survey by the end of this calendar year.
 At present, the base year for GDP is 2011-12 while it is 2012 for CPI. There is a need to change the base year for GDP to 2017-18
and for CPI to 2018. Steps have been initiated.
 New data, with new base year, will be out during the next fiscal. Base year revision is normally done once in five years to
accommodate and factor in the changes that take place in the economic scenario of the country.
 GDP is a monetary measure of the market value of all final goods and services produced in a period of time. Normally, there are two
types of GDP — nominal and real. Real GDP is adjusted for inflation while nominal is not and therefore it always appears higher than
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the real GDP. For example, real GDP for 2017-18 is 6.7 per cent while nominal GDP is 10 per cent. However, it is real GDP which
becomes the headline. Similarly, CPI gets prominence as it tracks change in inflation of various goods at the retail level and is known
as retail inflation. It is the base for changes in policy interest rate.
 The Ministry of Statistics and Implementation is responsible for monitoring of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects costing Rs. 150
crore or more. As on March 1, a total of 1,304 projects are being monitored through Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS).
During the last four years, the number of projects under monitoring have increased from 710 to 1304. The monitoring has resulted in
reduction of cost overrun with respect to original cost from 19.4 per cent in March, 2014 to 13.4 per cent in February, 2018 and
reduction in the time overrun with respect to original schedule from about 30 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent in 2018.

CCEA APPROVES RS. 1 LAKH CR FOR RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the proposal to expand the scope of the Higher Education Funding
Agency (HEFA) to mobilise Rs. 1 lakh crore for research and academic infrastructure for higher education institutions by 2022.
 Increase of allocation for education from Rs. 65,867 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,10,000 crore in 2018-19 (67 per cent increase) without
any raise in fee is a huge push for research and academic infrastructure with social equity.
 In a first, Kendriya Vidyalayas /Navodaya Vidyalayas will also get funding from HEFA.
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 IITs, NITs, IISERs and other Central universities as well as AIIMS and other medical colleges will also get funds from HEFA.
 The Cabinet also decided to enhance the compensation given to Air India for ‗Special Extra Section Flights (SESF)‘ operations to Rs.
534.38 crore plus applicable taxes for 2016-17 with built-in annual escalation of 10 per cent for the maintenance of B747-400 aircraft.
Air India operates SESF flights for the President, Prime Minister and the Vice-President.
INDORE MOPS UP RS. 214.9 CR THROUGH MUNICIPAL BONDS
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 Following the listing of Indore Municipal Corporation‘s bonds on the NSE, the Madhya Pradesh Government is expecting at least three
more issuances of such bonds in the next three to four months. These are by the municipal corporations of Bhopal, Jabalpur and
Gwalior
 Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) received subscriptions amounting to Rs. 214.9 crore for the 10-year bonds against the original
issue size of Rs. 100 crore plus a green shoe option of Rs. 70 crore. It accepted Rs. 139.9 crore at 9.25 per cent, the NSE said in a
statement. The Swachh Survekshan had declared Indore as the cleanest city in the country in 2018.
 Municipal bonds of the IMC have earned the distinction of being the first-ever municipal bonds to list on the debt market platform of the
exchange.
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 IMC will be the third in the country to issue municipal bonds for implementing Central government scheme — AMRUT (Atal Mission for
Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) and Swacch Bharat Mission.
 Municipal bonds are bonds issued by urban local bodies- municipal bodies and municipal corporates (entities owned by municipal
bodies) to raise money for financing specific projects specifically infrastructure projects. These bonds are attracting attention as the
ULBs urgently need money to finance infrastructural expenditure. Especially, smart cities and other urban development projects
necessitates them to create finance.
 Municipal bonds are there in India from 1997 onwards. Bangalore Municipal Corporation was the first ULB to issue Municipal Bo nd in
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India in 1997. Ahmedabad made a notable issue in the next years. But after the initial momentum, the ULBs were not able to get much
progress on municipal bond based fund mobilization. In 2015, SEBI made fresh guidelines for the issue of municipal bonds for
enabling the ULBs to mobilise money.
 Which ULB can issue muni bonds? As per the SEBI Regulations, 2015, a municipality or a Corporate Municipal Entity (CME) should
meet certain conditions:
 The ULB should not have negative net worth in any of three immediately preceding financial years.
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 Non-default: The municipality should not have defaulted in repayment of debt securities or loans obtained from banks or financial
institutions during the last 365 days.
 Now wilful defaulter: The corporate municipal entity, its promoter, group company or director(s), should not have been named in
the list of the wilful defaulters published by the RBI or should not have defaulted of payment of interest or repayment of principal
amount in respect of debt instruments issued by it to the public, if any.
 SEBI instructs that municipal bonds should have mandatory ratings above investment grade for pubic issue. The bonds should have a
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three-year maturity period and financial institutions including banks should be appointed as monetary agencies.
 Municipal bonds in India has tax-free status if they conform to certain rules and their interest rates will be market-linked. Both pubic
issue and private issue can be adopted for municipal bonds.
 SEBI allowed urban local bodies to raise money through the issue of revenue bonds as well. Municipal bonds where the funds raised
are kept for one project are termed revenue bonds. Servicing of these bonds can be made from revenue accrued from the project.
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NHB INDEX & PROPERTY PRICES
 Residential property prices have largely remained stable in 2017-18, going by NHB Residex, the country‘s official residential property
price index.
 With residential property prices remaining stable this is a great time for home buyers to buy property as the speculative act ivity, which
was artificially pushing up prices earlier is not there now, Sriram Kalyanaraman, Managing Director and CEO, National Housing Board.
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 Currently, NHB Residex captures two housing price indices – HPI@assessment prices for 50 cities – and HPI@market prices for
under-construction properties for 50 cities. These HPIs track the movement in prices of residential properties on quarterly basis, taking
financial year 2012-13 as the base year.
 The composite HPI@assessment prices for 50 cities showed an increase of 7.6 per cent between March 2016 and March 2017; it
remained stable between March 2017 and March 2018. This index has moved up at a CAGR of 4.5 per cent over the years.
 Some of the cities where there has been an increase in HPI@assessment prices at March-end 2018 on a year-on-year basis are:
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Ahmedabad (8.1 per cent); Chakan (8.8 per cent); Patna (7.9 per cent); Ranchi (21.8 per cent) and Surat (11.2 per cent).
 Metros such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi saw a decline in property prices on a year-on-year basis under
HPI@assessment prices.
 In the coming years, NHB is confident that the coverage of Residex will be expanded to 100 cities.
 NHB RESIDEX, India‘s first official housing price index, was an initiative of the National Housing Bank (NHB) undertaken at the behest
of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The index was formulated under the guidance of a Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC) comprising of stakeholders from the housing market. It was launched in July, 2007 and updated periodically till March 2015,
taking 2007 as the base year. During this period, the coverage of NHB RESIDEX was expanded gradually to 26 cities.
 Initially, NHB RESIDEX was computed using market data, which 2010 onwards, was shifted to valuation data received from banks and
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housing finance companies (HFCs). Thereafter, data was sourced from Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and
Security Interest of India (CERSAI) from 2013 to 2015.
 Housing Price Indices (HPI): The HPI represents the price changes in residential housing properties. At present, the geographical
coverage consists of 50 cities in India including 18 State/UT capitals and 37 smart cities, which will progressively be expan ded to over
100 cities including all State/UT capitals and smart cities. Measuring overall change in housing prices in India is complex and
challenging because of various data sources with dissimilar data sets. The information on housing prices varies according to the stage
of transaction in which data is collected. As a result, three different prices including registered price, assessment price, and market
price may apply.
 Under HPI, the three indices viz., HPI@Registered Prices, HPI@Assessment Prices and HPI@Market Prices for Under Construction
Properties use different sources to provide the entire spectrum of prevailing prices at city level. The data sources are registration data

collected from Sub Registrar Offices (SROs) of States/UTs for HPI@Registered Prices, valuation data collected from Primary Lending
Institutions for HPI@Assessment Prices and primary and secondary data collected through market survey for HPI@Market Prices for
Under Construction Properties. NHB realised the importance of All India/National level index to provide comparison of NHB RESIDEX
at international level. Accordingly, Composite Housing Price Indices were computed using population weights on the city wise indices
to give a true representation of housing prices in the country.
 Housing Rental Index (HRI): Like HPI, NHB RESIDEX also track the movement in housing rental prices over a period of time using
market data.
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 Land Price Indices (LPI): Land Price Indices is built using market data and registration data. Land being the raw material for housing
and industrial development, it is important to track its prices for maintaining economic efficiencies.
 Building Materials Price Indices (BMPI): Building Materials Price Indices comprise of prices trends of traditional (like cement, steel,
sand, brick, wood etc.) and energy saving (glass, fibre etc.) building materials.
STATUTORY AUDITOR CERTIFICATE FOR RAISING PUBLIC DEPOSITS
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 The Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA) has now stipulated that companies raising public deposits should attach statutory auditor
certificate in the circular or circulars in the form of advertisement inviting deposits.
 This auditor certificate should certify that the company has not committed default in the repayment of deposit or in the payment of
interest on such deposits accepted either before or after the commencement of the new company law in 2013.
 Also, where a default had occurred, the auditor has to certify that the company had made good the default and a period of five years
had lapsed since the date of making good the default.
 However, this latest statutory auditor certificate requirement would not apply to a non-banking finance company or any banking
company. This is because such companies come under the regulatory oversight of the Reserve Bank of India.
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 The latest MCA move requiring statutory auditor certification for companies inviting public deposits would come into effect from August
15. MCA has also enforced certain provisions of the Companies (amendment) Act 2017 related to deposits from August 15 this year.
 MCA has now extended the time period for filing the particulars of satisfaction of charge from 30 days to 300 days. This is being seen
as a relief to corporates. The new norm on satisfaction of charge has come into effect on July 5.
FUNDS TRANSFER VIA IMPS CROSSES RS 3.23 LAKH CR
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 Transfer of funds through Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) crossed a whopping Rs 3.23 lakh crore in the April-June quarter of
2018-19, which is almost double the amount recorded in the year-ago period. Different banks have different limits for daily and
monthly fund transfer through IMPS.
 IMPS offers an instant, round-the-clock interbank electronic fund transfer service that can be accessed through multiple channels like
mobile, internet, ATM, SMS, Branch and USSD (*99#).
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As per the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data, Rs 3,23,826.79 crore was transferred through IMPS during t he first
quarter of 2018-19 against Rs 1,74,419.45 crore during April-June, 2017-18.
 The data also showed that 34.66 crore IMPS transactions took place in the reported quarter compared with 19.76 crore in the J une
quarter of 2017-18. As per NPCI data, the number of transactions through IMPS crossed 10 crore mark in March 2018 and touched a
high of 12.04 crore in June.
 IMPS was launched in November 2010. Earlier, only NEFT and RTGS were available for fund transfer during banking hours.
Electronic fund transfers and digital payments have gained traction post demonetisation in November 2016.
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 Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) is an instant real-time inter-bank electronic funds transfer system in India. IMPS offers an inter-
bank electronic fund transfer service through mobile phones. Unlike NEFT and RTGS, the service is available 24/7 throughout the
year including bank holidays.
 It is managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and is built upon the existing National Financial Switch network.
 In 2010, the NPCI initially carried out a pilot for the mobile payment system with 4 member banks (State Bank of India, Bank of India,
Union Bank of India and ICICI Bank), and expanded it to include Yes Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank later that year.
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 IMPS was publicly launched on November 22, 2010. Currently, there are 53 commercial banks, 101 Rural/District/Urban and
cooperative banks, and 24 PPIi signed up for the IMPS service.
GST DISCOUNT ON DIGITAL PAYMENTS DEFERRED
 A Group of States‘ Finance Ministers reached a consensus on putting off a GST discount on digital payments for the time being. It also
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decided to suggest empowering the GST Council to finalise goods for applicability of the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM).
 Sushil Kumar Modi: Chairman of the State Finance Ministers‘ Group
 The proposal could be considered after one more year of revenue collection under GST. Modi said one important reason for deferring
the proposal is revenue implication of ₹14,000-15,000 crore.These two recommendations — deferment of the GST discount on digital
payment and RCM — will be placed before the 28th meeting of the GST Council, scheduled for July 21.
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FISHERIES INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND
 The Union Government is planning to set up a fisheries infrastructure development fund soon to give a boost to the sector as a part of
the blue revolution project. It will be of immense help to individuals, entrepreneurs, consortia and other stake-holders.
 NABARD, scheduled banks and other government agencies would be involved in implementing the schemes and roughly Rs. 7,500
crore would be set apart for the fund.
 Entrepreneurs and others in the fisheries sector can get finance at 6 per cent interest for infrastructure projects and the r epayment
period will be 12 years, with a moratorium of two years.
 A scheme to convert fishing trawlers into tuna long-liners to encourage deep-sea finishing was in the offing and ―Andhra Pradesh,
especially Visakhapatnam, could emerge as a major centre for tuna fishing‖.
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 The target was to boost fish production to 15 million metric tonnes by 2021 from the present level of roughly 11.5 to 12 MMT.
 National Fish Farmers‘ Day celebrated on 10th July by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
RBI RULES ON ‗SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR CASH MANAGEMENT‘
 In view of the increasing reliance of the banks on outsourced service providers and their sub-contractors in cash management
logistics, certain minimum standards will be prescribed for the service provider / sub-contractors who are engaged by the banks for
this purpose. Accordingly, it has been decided that the banks shall put in place certain minimum standards in their arrangeme nts with
the service providers for cash management related activities.

 Banks are advised to review their existing outsourcing arrangements and bring them in line with these instructions within 90 days from
the date of this circular.
 As per the RBI norm, service providers have to meet the networth criteria as on March 31, 2019.
 They have suggested that compliance with the networth criteria should be staggered – Rs. 50 crore by March-end 2019 and Rs. 100
crore by March-end 2020. Currently, only three – CMS, SIS and AGS (Secure Value) – out of the 12 agencies with an all-India
presence, meet the Rs. 100-crore networth criteria.
 Referring to the physical /security infrastructure to be maintained (including minimum fleet size of 300 specifically fabricated, GPS-
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enabled cash vans with tubeless tyres; separate passenger and cash compartments in the van with a CCTV covering both
compartments, two armed security guards, and setting up of ‗currency chest‘ type vaults), service providers say they are facing
difficulties in compliance.
 The feedback given by service providers to banks on this count is that the cost will increase 30 per cent to 40 per cent for banks,
which in turn may lead to an increase in per transaction cost by Rs. 6 to Rs. 10.
 A majority of the service providers have requested for more time for implementing the RBI norms, as they would be required to carry
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out necessary changes in the existing vehicles without disrupting day-to-day activities.
 Banks have flagged the possibility of ATM operations getting impacted, transaction costs going up and cash-management business
getting concentrated in the hands of a few players following the Reserve Bank of India tightening norms for engaging service providers
for cash-management activities.
 Banks have requested the regulator to give more time to service providers to meet the networth criteria.
AVERAGE LENDING RATE& MCLR
 Banks have been hiking deposit and lending rates since the beginning of this year. Interestingly, the weighted average lending rate for
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public sector banks (on fresh loans) during the March quarter has fallen by a tidy 30 basis points over the December quarter, despite
hikes in the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR).
 The one-year MCLR for a few leading PSBs went up by 10-20 basis points between December 2017 and March 2018.
 Market players suggest that PSBs turning risk-averse towards lending – focusing more on less-risky credit with lower yields – appears
to have dragged down the overall weighted lending rate.
 Since the beginning of 2018, a few PSBs have been gradually increasing their benchmark lending rates. Canara Bank hiked its one-
year MCLR by 10 basis points to 8.4 per cent in March. Oriental Bank of Commerce and Punjab National Bank increased their MCLR
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by 15 basis points between December 2017 and March 2018. SBI hiked its MCLR by a higher 20 basis points during this period.
 But despite these hikes, the weighted average lending rate (on fresh loans) for public sector banks fell from 9.36 per cent in the
December quarter to 9.04 per cent in the March quarter, according to data from the RBI.
 PSBs preferring to lend to less-risky segments such as housing is likely to have caused the dip. As yields on safer credit are relatively
lower than lending to risky corporates, the overall lending rate on incremental loans for PSBs have fallen despite MCLR hikes.
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Remember, it is mostly corporate loans that are linked to MCLR (retail loans barring housing are mostly fixed). Hence, cautious
lending to the corporate segment can impact the overall yield, and, in turn, the spread (difference between loan rates and cost of
funds).
 For private sector banks, on the other hand, the weighted average lending rate shot up from 9.52 per cent in the December quarter to
9.87 per cent in the March quarter, a tidy increase of 35 basis points.
Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR):
 The marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) refers to the minimum interest rate of a bank below which it cannot lend, except
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in some cases allowed by the RBI. It is an internal benchmark or reference rate for the bank. MCLR actually describes the method by
which the minimum interest rate for loans is determined by a bank - on the basis of marginal cost or the additional or incremental cost
of arranging one more rupee to the prospective borrower.
 The MCLR methodology for fixing interest rates for advances was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India with effect from April 1,
2016. This new methodology replaces the base rate system introduced in July 2010. In other words, all rupee loans sanctioned and
credit limits renewed w.e.f. April 1, 2016 would be priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)
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which will be the internal benchmark (means a reference rate determined internally by the bank) for such purposes.
 Existing loans and credit limits linked to the Base Rate (internal benchmark rate used to determine interest rates uptill 31 March 2016)
or Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR or the internal benchmark rate used to determine the interest rates on advances/loans
sanctioned upto June 30, 2010.) would continue till repayment or renewal, as the case may be. However, existing borrowers will have
the option to move to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) linked loan at mutually acceptable terms.
Reasons for introducing MCLR:
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 RBI decided to shift from base rate to MCLR because the rates based on marginal cost of funds are more sensitive to changes in the
policy rates. This is very essential for the effective implementation of monetary policy. Prior to MCLR system, different banks were
following different methodology for calculation of base rate /minimum rate – that is either on the basis of average cost of funds or
marginal cost of funds or blended cost of funds. Thus, MCLR aims
 To improve the transmission of policy rates into the lending rates of banks.
 To bring transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining interest rates on advances.
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 To ensure availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to borrowers as well as banks.
 To enable banks to become more competitive and enhance their long run value and contribution to economic growth.
IMPORT DUTY ON SOLAR PANELS: WHERE IS THE SAFEGAURD?
 The 25 per cent safeguard duty on solar panels cells imported from China and Malaysia has had both domestic manufacturers of cells
and solar energy companies beating their foreheads on the desk. Neither group is happy with the recommendation of the Directorate
General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), a recommendation, which if accepted and notified by the Ministry of Finance, could cause,
according to the ratings agency, ICRA, a 30-35 paise raise in solar electricity prices.
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Imposition of 25 per cent safeguard duty will provide the required boost to solar cells and module manufacturers.
 25 per cent duty is hardly any protection, given that the prices of cells made in China have crashed over the last six weeks after the
country‘s decision to limit incentivising solar installations. Consequent upon the move, several analysts have downscaled sol ar
installations in China in 2018. One market research firm, GTM Research, pared China solar capacity additions to 28.8 GW from 48
GW, before the Chinese government took the decision on June 1.
 Since June the prices of cells from China have crashed from 22 cents a watt earlier to 12.
 Earlier, on January 9, the Directorate General of Safeguards had recommended a provisional safeguard duty of 70 per cent applicable
for the following 200 days, but it was withdrawn in May. That was before the crash in cell (and therefore) module prices. And now, the
recommended duty is 25 per cent. The general refrain among manufacturers is that the duty is not going to protect the domestic
industry.

 Safeguard duty is duty payable on import of goods which is already being manufactured in India but cost of which is high compared to
import price. It is imposed by Central Government on goods so that the Indian manufacturers do not suffer due to import of cheaper
goods from outside. It helps in creating a level playing field for Indian manufacturers and importers. Once imposed it shall be
applicable for the next 4 years which can again be extended by upto 6 years.
 Provisional Safeguard Duty comes in to act when there is clear evidence that imports have taken place in increased quantities and
under such circumstances as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry and delay in imposition of
provisional safeguard duty would cause irreparable damage to the domestic industry.
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 Dumping is said to occur when the goods are exported by a country to another country at a price lower than its normal value. This is
an unfair trade practice which can have a distortive effect on international trade. Anti dumping is a measure to rectify the situation
arising out of the dumping of goods and its trade distortive effect.
 Thus, the purpose of Anti dumping duty is to rectify the trade distortive effect of dumping and re-establish fair trade. The use of anti
dumping measure as an instrument of fair competition is permitted by the WTO. In fact, anti dumping is an instrument for ensuring fair
trade and is not a measure of protection per se for the domestic industry. It provides relief to the domestic industry against the injury
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caused by dumping.
INDAS109 NORMS IN NEWS
 IND AS 109 Financial Instruments deals with classification, recognition, de-recognition and measurement requirements for all the
financial assets and liabilities.
 This standard provides guidelines for accounting and reporting of the Financial Instruments (FI) which will enable the stakeholders to
assess the timing and uncertainty of a business future cash flow.
 The accounting standard IndAS109 which sets out the accounting treatment for financial instruments will need to be applied for the
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accounts beginning April 1, 2019, which is less than a year away. It is the equivalent of IFRS9 which was adopted internation ally a
year earlier from January 2018. That means that Indian companies have a year more still to get ready and that they can see
something of the impact elsewhere beforehand.
 The 2017 accounts of many IFRS companies have been published recently and these show something of the restatements on
transition and of the new accounting policies that will be needed from now on. This article tries to highlight some of the main effects of
the new standard and give some ideas from the international experience — limited though that is at present.
 It is fair to say that the impact on banks will be greatest and most significant, given the predominance and scale of the financial
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instruments in their balance sheets. However, every company using IndAS will be affected to some extent, because the definition of
financial instruments is very wide and covers trade debtors and creditors, cash, loans and investments for example.
 IndAS109 has a clear categorisation which links the accounting treatment to the reasons why the instrument is being held.
 Firstly, there is an amortised cost category which is to be used when the cash flows consist solely of payment of the principal and
interest (SPPI), and the business model is to hold the item to collect those cash flows. They are not held to realise changes in their
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market value. This will apply to the loans and receivables from customers in banks but also to the trade debtors of other corporates.
 The other main category will be fair value through profit or loss which is for trading or investment items where they are held for
disposal — mostly for banks. But where corporates may hold equity shareholdings, perhaps for strategic business reasons, these will
have to be at fair value.
 If items are held to either collect those cash flows or maybe for sale and they meet the SPPI test then they should be at fair value with
changes through Other Comprehensive Income (OCI). This means the income statement will be at historical amortised cost but the
balance sheet will be at fair value. This would seem the best representation for investments in bonds that banks may hold to provide
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liquidity if needed.
 The first wave of major European banks is showing some restatements from reclassifications — profits at HSBC and Royal Bank of
Scotland, for example. But for others such as Barclays these have not been significant.
 For banks the biggest impact of IndAS109 is likely to be the change in the calculation of provisions against loan loss and the higher
level of them. IndAS109 uses an expected loss model which inevitably includes more forward-looking information.
 All loans have to include both those losses which have already occurred plus the effect of events expected over the next 12 months. If
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there has been significant credit deterioration then the full life-time losses have to be provided for right away. For banks with longer
loans the step-up from 12 months to lifetime can be highly significant in the amounts to be set aside. For other corporates their trade
receivables tend to be fairly short term and so there will be little difference here. This increase in provisions has generally been the
major effect seen among the major European banks getting ready for IFRS9 — for example $2.2 billion at HSBC, over €3 billion each
at Unicredit and BNP-Paribas.
 Making the loan loss provisions more forward-looking and the impact of moving debt portfolios from 12 months to lifetime expected
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losses could make future reported profits from banks more volatile as economic forecasts change. On equity holdings the full fair value
stock market changes will impact profits in each period, unless the option is taken to treat the holding gains and losses through OCI.
 Between now and April 2019 banks will need to finalise policies to deal with the details of IndAS109 and implement systems to provide
the information needed. The different instruments need to be classified by business model and whether they qualify as SPPI.
Expected loan losses involve forecasts of the future economic position.
 The meaning of significant credit deterioration needs to be determined. The provisions have to be done on probability-weighted
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estimates of cash flows on reasonably supportable bases and discounted at the original effective interest rate.
 European banks all stress the significance of the judgements required, of the complexity and extent of the system changes needed
and the time that these have taken to put in place. Indian banks should take note.
 IndAS109 is complex. There is, therefore, the need for an understanding of it by different groups of people within a bank for example
—clearly the finance and accounting team, those developing the systems and software needed. But importantly, it is the directors and
others who will have to take responsibility for the policies and judgements, and speak on the implications.
 Last but by no means least, external parties — credit rating agencies, regulators and investors need to be informed. IndAS and IFRS
require that assessments of impact of new standards need to be explained.
 All the EU banks have done this but some such as Unicredit and Deutsche Bank have chosen to publish detailed statements of the
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impact.
CLASSIFYING ALUMINIUM AS NINTH CORE INDUSTRY
 The Centre must actively consider classifying the aluminium sector as India‘s ninth core industry, according to a report by VK
Saraswat, NITI Aayog member, and Aniruddha Ghosh, a Delhi-based economist.
 The aluminium sector contributes to nearly 2 per cent of manufacturing GDP and is a high direct and an indirect employment multiplier
creating close to 800,000 jobs.
 Currently, India identifies coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity as the eight core
industries.

 The report recommends that aluminium plants are generally based in the hinterlands of the country and aid in generating peripheral
employment and economic development of the region. Therefore, report recommends into looking actively into the possibility of
classifying aluminium as a core industry.
 A separate energy policy also needs to be developed for the energy-intensive sectors. High energy intensive sectors are being
penalised by paying high carbon tax through various cesses and duties.
 A separate energy policy for these industries should ensure they receive power at globally competitive rates so that they can compete
with global players.
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BANKS URGE RBI TO EASE UP ON CASSETTE SWAP NORM IN ATMS
 Staring at a huge expenditure of Rs. 3,200-4,800 crore for introducing cassette swap in ATMs, banks are likely to petition the Reserve
Bank of India to suitably relax this stipulation.
 Bankers feel that onsite ATMs should be exempted from the regulatory directive, requiring banks to use lockable cassettes in their
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ATMs (which will be swapped at the time of cash replenishment). The reason for seeking the exemption is that such ATMs can be
replenished from the branch itself without the fear of cash being pilfered.
 Given that banks are weighed down by bad loans, introducing cassette swap for all ATMs will hit them harder. As of May-end 2018,
there were 2,25,608 ATMs in the country. If two lakh ATMs (assuming that the remaining ATMs are advanced, having lockable
cassettes that hold cash) require cassette-swap facility, then the cost of procuring two to three sets of four cassettes each at the rate
of Rs. 20,000 per cassette would amount to Rs. 3,200-4,800 crore.
 In order to mitigate risks involved in open cash replenishment/ top-up, the RBI has advised banks to use lockable cassettes in their
ATMs, which will be swapped at the time of cash replenishment.
 The central bank directed banks to implement the cassette-swap in a phased manner, covering at least one-third ATMs operated by
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the banks every year so that all ATMs achieve cassette swap by March 31, 2021.
 With cassette swap, every ATM will have four extra cassettes. These cassettes will be in the vault of the cash logistics agencies.
When cash is given by the bank, the agencies will load the cassettes under camera surveillance. The cassettes are sealed with a
number and all that so that they cannot be tampered with.
 Then they will carry these cassettes to the ATM and load them in place of the older sealed cassettes (which are in the ATM and
brought back to the vault). This process is faster as it entails swapping cassettes.Plus, it prevents pilferage and reconcili ation issues
for the bank.
RENMINBI REVALUATION IN NEWS
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If China appreciates its currency, who will gain and who will lose out?
The renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China. The yuan is the basic unit of the renminbi, but is also used to
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refer to the Chinese currency generally, especially in international contexts where "Chinese yuan" is widely used to refer to the
renminbi.
 The distinction between the terms renminbi and yuan is similar to that between sterling and pound, which respectively refer t o the
British currency and its primary unit. One yuan is subdivided into 10 jiao (and a jiao in turn is subdivided into 10 fen. The renminbi is
issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of China.
 The revaluation of Chinese currency renminbi is unlikely to affect the RBI‘s forex policy, according to a report from Indranil Sen Gupta,
Bank of America Merrill Lynch‘s economist.
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 He said there is a limited direct link between the two economies. India‘s exports to China, at 4.4 per cent of total exports, are among
the smaller of Asian countries. China‘s exports to India are barely 3.7 per cent of China‘s total exports and 0.7 per cent of China‘s
GDP.
 China and India are indirectly linked in several complex ways through finanical markets. For example, India is a key beneficiary if
BRIC/EM funds diversify out of what is seen as a slightly risky China. If the perceived China risk rises, Foreign Portfolio Flows (FPI) to
emerging markets, including India, dry up hurting the rupee.
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 Second, a fall in metal prices due to slower Chinese demand, supports the rupee by lowering metal price inflation in India. At the same
time, while a potential China hard landing could result in a crash in metal prices, rising global risk aversion would again d ry up FPI
inflows to emerging markets such as India. Third, FPI inflows will also likely be impacted by Chinese listings in benchmark indices.
 Finally, a Sino-US trade war could impact the rupee by appreciating the dollar on risk aversion.
 Until 2005, the value of the renminbi was pegged to the US dollar. As China pursued its transition from central planning to a market
economy, and increased its participation in foreign trade, the renminbi was devalued to increase the competitiveness of Chinese
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industry. It has previously been claimed that the renminbi's official exchange rate was undervalued by as much as 37.5% against its
purchasing power parity.
 More recently, however, appreciation actions by the Chinese government, as well as quantitative easing measures taken by the
American Federal Reserve and other major central banks, have caused the renminbi to be within as little as 8% of its equilibrium value
by the second half of 2012. Since 2006, the renminbi exchange rate has been allowed to float in a narrow margin around a fixed base
rate determined with reference to a basket of world currencies. The Chinese government has announced that it will gradually increase
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the flexibility of the exchange rate. As a result of the rapid internationalization of the renminbi, it became the world's 8th most traded
currency in 2013, and 5th by 2015.
 On 1 October 2016, the RMB became the first emerging market currency to be included in the IMF's special drawing rights basket, the
basket of currencies used by the IMF (reserve currency).
GOVT HIKES SUGARCANE PRICE BY RS. 20/QUINTAL TO RS. 275
 The government hiked fair and remunerative price for sugarcane by Rs. 20/ quintal to Rs. 275 per quintal for the forthcoming season
beginning October.A decision in this regard was taken during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
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Farmers will receive 77 per cent over and above the average cost of production which is estimated to be Rs. 155 per quintal.

INTERNATIONAL
WTO SPS AGREEMENT IN NEWS
 The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the "SPS Agreement") entered into force with the
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establishment of the World Trade Organization on 1 January 1995. It concerns the application of food safety and animal and pl ant
health regulations.
 This introduction discusses the text of the SPS Agreement as it appears in the Final Act of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade
Negotiations, signed in Marrakesh on 15 April 1994. This agreement and others contained in the Final Act, along with the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade as amended (GATT 1994), are part of the treaty which established the World Trade Organization
(WTO). The WTO superseded the GATT as the umbrella organization for international trade.
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 The WTO Secretariat has prepared this text to assist public understanding of the SPS Agreement. It is not intended to provide legal
interpretation of the agreement.
 For the purposes of the SPS Agreement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures are defined as any measures applied:
 to protect human or animal life from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or disease-causing organisms in their food;
 to protect human life from plant- or animal-carried diseases;
 to protect animal or plant life from pests, diseases, or disease-causing organisms;
 to prevent or limit other damage to a country from the entry, establishment or spread of pests.
 These include sanitary and phytosanitary measures taken to protect the health of fish and wild fauna, as well as of forests a nd wild
flora.
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 Measures for environmental protection (other than as defined above), to protect consumer interests, or for the welfare of animals are
not covered by the SPS Agreement. These concerns, however, are addressed by other WTO agreements (i.e., the TBT Agreement or
Article XX of GATT 1994).
 The Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, commonly referred to as the TBT Agreement, is an international treaty administered
by the World Trade Organization. It was last renegotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,
with its present form entering into force with the establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995, binding on all WTO members.
 The TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) Agreement covers all technical regulations, voluntary standards and the procedures to ensure
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that these are met, except when these are sanitary or phytosanitary measures as defined by the SPS Agreement. It is thus the type of
measure which determines whether it is covered by the TBT Agreement, but the purpose of the measure which is relevant in
determining whether a measure is subject to the SPS Agreement.
 TBT measures could cover any subject, from car safety to energy-saving devices, to the shape of food cartons. To give some
examples pertaining to human health, TBT measures could include pharmaceutical restrictions, or the labelling of cigarettes. Most
measures related to human disease control are under the TBT Agreement, unless they concern diseases which are carried by plants
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or animals (such as rabies). In terms of food, labelling requirements, nutrition claims and concerns, quality and packaging regulations
are generally not considered to be sanitary or phytosanitary measures and hence are normally subject to the TBT Agreement.
 In July 2018, the WTO members showed a high level of engagement in advancing discussions on the Fifth Review of the Agreement
on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) at a meeting of the SPS Committee in July. The SPS Committee also reviewed
specific SPS concerns raised by members that are affecting international trade, and elected MsNoncedoVutula of South Africa as the
new committee chair.
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 SPS measures are adopted by governments to ensure that food is safe for consumers, and to prevent the spread of pests or diseases
among animals and plants. These measures apply to both domestically produced and imported goods.
 The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) aims to ensure these measures protect
human, animal, plant life or health while avoiding unnecessary barriers to trade.
 The SPS IMS is a comprehensive database allowing users to search all notified SPS measures and Specific Trade Concerns (STCs)
raised in the SPS Committee. Users can also browse information on SPS National Notification Authorities and Enquiry Points, as well
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as other SPS-related documents circulated at the WTO.

 The SPS Information Management System (SPS IMS) includes all SPS-related measures notified by WTO members and the trade-
related concerns discussed in SPS Committee meetings.
 The SPS Committee discussed eight proposals submitted by 27 members, including many developing and least-developed countries
(LDCs), for work under the Fifth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement, which is set for completion in
2020.
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 The proposals cover recognition of equivalence of SPS measures, and in particular systems approaches; adaptation of SPS measures
to regional conditions, including pest- or disease-free areas; transparency and notifications under the SPS vs the Technical Barriers to
Trade (TBT) Agreement; national coordination among SPS agencies; and trade issues related to pesticide maximum residue levels
(MRLs).
 In addition, members indicated interest in initiating work on risk assessment, appropriate levels of protection and the role of science;
efforts to address fall armyworm infestation; and control, inspection and approval procedures (Annex C of the SPS Agreement),
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following up on the discussions at a workshop on this issue held on 9 and 10 July with the participation of 130 government officials.
 Members engaged in discussion on the ongoing multilateral efforts to develop standards on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The
debate was prompted by the European Union's new veterinary drug legislation, which was recently agreed but not yet adopted. The
EU said that the objective of the new regulation is to promote the prudent use of antimicrobials, for example by avoiding its routine
prophylactic and metaphylactic use, reserving certain antimicrobials for treatment of infections in humans only and banning the use of
antimicrobials in animals for promoting growth or increasing yield.
 While sharing with the EU the view that AMR poses a serious public health issue that requires urgent attention, some members -
Argentina, the United States, Colombia, Chile, Canada, Brazil and Australia – voiced concerns about Brussels' approach to managing
potential health risks by limiting trade in animal products, as it is likely to have an unnecessary restrictive impact on international
commerce. These members said that by taking this approach the EU may undermine ongoing multilateral efforts to address this
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complex global challenge. In particular, they cautioned that potential EU restrictions applied extraterritorially will undermine multilateral
efforts to combat AMR, such as those currently being undertaken collaboratively by the World Health Organization (WHO), the W orld
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Codex Task Force
on Antimicrobial Resistance.
 Japan raised concerns regarding New Zealand's draft import health standards for vehicles, machinery and equipment which require all
used vehicles (cars and trucks) exported from Japan to be pre-approved by the government due to the spike in the number of brown
marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) intercepted in shipments from the Japanese market. Japan complained about the short deadline
provided by Wellington for comments on the notification and asked New Zealand to provide at least six months for preparation
between the publication of the measure and its entry into force.

"INNOVATION SERVICE NETWORK" IN NEWS
 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the WTO announced that a project proposal submitted by the Asian Association of
Business Incubation (AABI) is the latest proposal to be selected under the Small Business Champions initiative. The project will help
small businesses in Asia‘s technology sector by matching them with partners who will assist them in areas such as cross-border
technology transfer and identifying new trading opportunities.
 The "Innovation Service Network" created by AABI will gather information about companies seeking cross-border cooperation,
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investment, marketing assistance or other business support and will match them with a member of the network who can provide the
relevant know-how. By the end of 2018, AABI expects that at least 20 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) will have
benefited from the Innovation Service Network initiative.
 The 'ICC-WTO Small Business Champions' initiative has been launched by the WTO and the International Chamber of Commerce
(ICC) to facilitate participation by smaller companies in international trade. It will provide a platform for companies and private sector
organizations around the world to propose innovative, practical ideas designed to encourage micro, small and medium -sized
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enterprises (MSMEs) to do business across borders. Those businesses putting forward successful proposals will be recognized as
'ICC-WTO Small Business Champions'.
 The announcement of this latest proposal brings the total number of selected proposals to seven. The first six successful proposals
were submitted by Google, the Union of Chambers of Commerce of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Argentina‘s
Chamber of Commerce and Services and Mercado Libre, the Institute of Export and International Trade (UK), eBay and Brazil's
National Confederation of Industry. Once the projects have been successfully completed, the businesses will be recognized as ICC-
WTO Small Business Champions.Google's project was the first to be successfully completed.
WHO FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL
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 The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of
WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and entered into force on 27 February 2005. It has since
become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.
 The WHO FCTC was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that
reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.
 The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health
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cooperation.
 The WHO FCTC opened for signature from 16 June to 22 June 2003 in Geneva, and thereafter at the United Nations Headquarters in
New York, from 30 June 2003 to 29 June 2004. The treaty, which is now closed for signature, has 168 Signatories, including the
European Union, which makes it one of the most widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.
 The Convention was open to signature by all Members of the World Health Organization (WHO), all States that are not Members of
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WHO but are Members of the United Nations and any regional economic integration organization. All of these may become Parties to
Convention by ratifying it.
 The Convention entered into force on 27 February 2005 - 90 days after it had been acceded to, ratified, accepted, or approved by 40
States.
 Currently there are 181 Parties covering more than 90% of the world population.
 The package of measures agreed by countries which 45 Parties and the European Union have signed up – known as the Protocol to
Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was developed in response to a growing illegal trade in tobacco products, often a cross
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borders.
 If the global illicit trade was eliminated overnight, governments would see an immediate gain of at least $31 billion in reve nue; and
according to studies, beginning in 2030, more than 160,000 lives could be saved per year, that would otherwise be lost to tobacco-
related illness.
 So far, 45 countries have ratified Protocol plus the European Union and many others are expected to do so over the coming months.
The Protocol will enter into force on 25 September 2018.
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 The WHO FCTC entered into force on 27 February 2005 and has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties
in United Nations history. Only WHO FCTC parties can become parties to the Protocol.
 The Protocol covers all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products – any practice or conduct related to producing, shipping, receiving,
being in possession of, distributing, selling or buying tobacco products, that are prohibited by law.
 The Protocol aims to make the supply chain of tobacco products secure through a series of governmental measures. It requires the
establishment of a global tracking and tracing regime within five years of its entry into force.
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 Other provisions to ensure control of the supply chain include licensing, recordkeeping requirements, and regulation of inter net-sales,
duty-free sales and international transit.
 To address the illicit trade that already exists, the Protocol establishes new criminal guidelines, addresses liability and s eizure
payments, as well as the disposal of confiscated products.
 Other obligations aim to boost international cooperation, with measures on information-sharing, technical and law enforcement
cooperation, mutual legal and administrative assistance, and extradition.
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ICELAND TO TAKE VACATED US SEAT ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
 The United Nations General Assembly elected Iceland to serve on the Geneva-based global rights body effective immediately, through
to the end of next year.
 Iceland inherits no particular responsibilities from the US, raising questions about future action on key human rights issues promoted
specifically by Washington, such as Sudan, South Sudan and the right to freedom of expression.
 On 19 June, the US announced its decision to leave the Council. Senior US officials accused the Council of displaying entrenc hed
bias against Israel, and criticized what they said was the body‘s willingness to admit nations which were themselves human rights
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abusers.
SECURITY COUNCIL DOWNSIZES AU-UN MISSION IN DARFUR
 The Security Council extended the mandate of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping operation in Sudan‘s Darfur until
the end of June next year, but reduced the number of troops deployed in the field with an eye towards the mission‘s eventual exit.
 The decision was unanimous as 15 Council members determined that although the security situation has improved in Darfur, the long-
running conflict there remains a threat to international peace and stability.
 By the terms of the resolution, the Council will cut the troop strength of the UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) from the
current 8,735 to 4,050 personnel, while maintain its police strength at the current level of 2,500 personnel.

 In the resolution, the Council took note of the recommendations in the Special UN-AU report issued earlier this year, with a view
towards the mission‘s exit on 30 June 2020, drawing down fully by December 2020, provided there is no significant change in the
security situation in Darfur.
 A civil war which broke out in 2003 led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Darfuris and the displacement of nearly two million. In the
fighting between Sudanese Government troops and militias and other armed rebel groups, widespread atrocities such as murder and
rape of civilians were committed.
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UN AGREES FIRST-EVER GLOBAL COMPACT ON MIGRATION
 For the first time ever, United Nations Member States have agreed an all-encompassing Global Compact to better manage
international migration, address its challenges, strengthen migrant rights and contribute to sustainable development.
 After more than a year of discussions and consultations among Member States, local officials, civil society and migrants themselves,
the text of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was finalized.
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 The agreement will be formally adopted by Member States at an Intergovernmental Conference, which will be held in Marrakesh,
Morocco, on 10 and 11 December.
 Ms. Arbour will serve as the Conference‘s Secretary-General.
 “The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration” is expected to be the first, intergovernmentally negotiated agreement,
prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive
manner. It presents a significant opportunity to improve the governance on migration, to address the challenges associated with
today‘s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.
 The process to develop this Global Compact for Migration started in April 2017. The General Assembly will then hold an
intergovernmental conference on international migration in December 2018 with a view to adopting the Global Compact.
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 The New York Declaration: For the first time on 19 September 2016 Heads of State and Government came together to discuss, at the
global level within the UN General Assembly, issues related to migration and refugees. This sent an important political message that
migration and refugee matters have become major issues in the international agenda. In adopting the New York Declaration for
Refugees and Migrants, the 193 UN Member States recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and
enhanced cooperation at the global level and committed to:
 protect the safety, dignity and human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status, and at
all times;
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 support countries rescuing, receiving and hosting large numbers of refugees and migrants;
 integrate migrants – addressing their needs and capacities as well as those of receiving communities – in humanitarian and
development assistance frameworks and planning;
 combat xenophobia, racism and discrimination towards all migrants;
 develop, through a state-led process, non-binding principles and voluntary guidelines on the treatment of migrants in vulnerable
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situations; and
 strengthen global governance of migration, including by bringing IOM into the UN family and through the development of a Global
Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
 Annex II of the New York Declaration set in motion a process of intergovernmental consultations and negotiations culminating in the
planned adoption of the Global Compact for Migration at an intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018.
 Aims of the Global Compact for Migration:The Global Compact is framed consistent with target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development in which Member States committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, orderly and regular
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migration and its scope is defined in Annex II of the New York Declaration. It is intended to:
 address all aspects of international migration, including the humanitarian, developmental, human rights-related and other aspects;
 make an important contribution to global governance and enhance coordination on international migration;
 present a framework for comprehensive international cooperation on migrants and human mobility;
 set out a range of actionable commitments, means of implementation and a framework for follow-up and review among Member
States regarding international migration in all its dimensions;
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 be guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda; and
 be informed by the Declaration of the 2013 High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.
SECURITY COUNCIL IMPOSES ARMS EMBARGO ON SOUTH SUDAN
 The Security Council passed a measure aimed at stopping the flow of weapons to armed groups in South Sudan, with those Members
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in favour saying it would protect civilians, while abstainers voiced concerns that it would undermine the ongoing peace process in the
world‘s youngest country.
 UNSC obliged all UN Member States to immediately to take necessary measures regarding the arms embargo, that will remain in
effect until 31 May next year.
 Côte d‘Ivoire, France, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and United States were in favour, while
Bolivia, China, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan and Russia abstained.
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 Under the terms of the resolution, all Member States must prevent arms and related equipment of all types - including weapons and
ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and any spare parts - from entering South Sudan.
 The Council also renewed the South Sudan Sanctions regime until 31 May 2019 and the Sanctions Committee‘s Panel of Experts until
1 July 2019.
 The Council also imposed a travel ban and asset freeze against two more individuals accused of fomenting violence, during the long-
running civil conflict, which has driven around four million from their homes and left millions in need of humanitarian assistance.
 The representatives of Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea expressed concerns that further punitive measures could undermine the fragile,
ongoing peace process in South Sudan.
 An agreement was signed by South Sudan‘s President, SalvaKiir, and his political rival, former Vice President RiekMachar, which
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included a ceasefire between government and opposition forces.

 Previous efforts to end fighting between the rival forces since 2013, have all failed to hold, leaving tens of thousands of combatants
and civilians dead.
UN LAUNCHES PLAN FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN  The UN support plan, entitled ―Sahel, Land of
AFRICA‘S SAHEL Opportunities‖ targets 10 countries, namely Mauritania,
Mali, Niger, Chad, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Burkina
 The United Nations has launched a major support plan to Faso, Nigeria and Cameroon, with efforts to accelerate
promote sustainable peace and inclusive growth as well as prosperity.
empower women and youth in Africa's vast Sahel region.

 The plan focuses on six key areas, including cross-border discussion between the two leaders on achieving greater
cooperation; prevention and sustaining peace; inclusive regional cooperation, which covered connectivity.
growth; climate action; renewable energy; and women and  During Mr. Oli‘s visit, it had become evident that China was
youth empowerment. It will also support ongoing efforts and inclined to fulfill its ambitious agenda with Nepal gradually,
initiatives by Governments, international and regional after ensuring that such steps were in sync with India‘s
organizations, and other partners. interests.
 In addition, given that nearly 65 per cent of the region‘s  Analysts say, that the Nepali side has understood the ―big
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population is below 25 years of age, the plan urges specific picture‖, appreciating that China is keen to build bridges
investments in education and vocational training to achieve with India, as Beijing‘s friction with the U.S. under the
higher demographic dividends. Trump administration begins to mount.
 Besides, bringing India on board is essential for enhanced
BREXIT BILL BECOMES LAW regional connectivity, including a trans-Himalayan corridor
through Nepal, if President Xi‘s Belt and Road Initiative is to
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 A Bill enacting Britain‘s decision to leave the European achieve its full potential.
Union (EU) has become law.
 The EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which repeals the 1972 European CHINA CUT IMPORT TARIFFS
Communities Act through which Britain became a member,
had received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II.  China announced it will cut tariffs on soybean imports from
 Since the bill has now been passed, British Prime Minister India and four other Asia-Pacific countries to zero and
Theresa May will also be allowed to invoke Article 50 on the reduce duties on a few more items as Beijing prepares for a
key treaty of the European Union which might lead to two looming trade war with USA.
years of exit negotiations.  The reduction of duties took effect from July 1. The decision
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 The Bill transfers decades of European law onto British reflected Beijing‗s efforts to seek alternative sources of
statute books in a bid to avoid any legal disruption. items it needs at competitive products.
 It also enshrines Brexit day in British law as March 29, 2019  China reduced the tariffs on soybean imported from India,
at 11 p.m. (2300 GMT) — midnight Brussels time, defined South Korea, Bangladesh, Laos and Sri Lanka from the
by the end of the two-year Article 50 withdrawal process. current 3% to zero.
 The Bill has undergone more than 250 hours of acrimonious  Imported products such as chemicals, agricultural products,
debate in the Houses of Parliament since it was introduced medical supplies, clothing, steel and aluminium products
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in July 2017. from these countries will also enjoy certain tariff reductions.
 Earlier in 2016, Britain had voted to leave the European  All imported products from these five countries will adapt a
Union. Negotiations have also taken place between tariff rate of the Second Amendment of The Asia-Pacific
Brussels and London which started in June 2017 and will Trade Agreement.
end by March 2019.  The State Council‘s announcement came amid a tit-for-tat
tariff spat between the world‘s two largest economies,
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CHINA PROPOSED 2+1 FORMAT FOR NEPAL China and the US, following pressure from President
Donald Trump to reduce a $375-billion deficit in bilateral
 The spirit of the Wuhan informal summit echoed strongly trade.
during the visit of Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Oli to Beijing,  Last week, Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on
with China proposing a new dialogue mechanism that would additional Chinese goods worth $200 billion.
also involve India.  Soybean is China‘s biggest agricultural import from the US
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 Chinese side proposed to Mr. Oli a ―two plus one‖ format for by value.
dialogue. This is different from a trilateral mechanism.  In April, India had offered to help China meet its demand for
Under the Chinese proposal, China and India can jointly soybean and sugar in the wake of Beijing proposing hefty
conduct a dialogue with a third regional country.The duties on imports of American commodities because of
Chinese initiative is not Nepal-specific. trade tensions with USA. New Delhi made the offer during a
 During Mr. Oli‘s visit, the Chinese side made its intent clear bilateral economic dialogue, which was led on the Indian
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to engage deeply with Nepal, and develop special ties with side by Niti Aayog vice-chairperson Rajiv Kumar.
its Himalayan neighbour. The hosts broke protocol by  Beijing annually imports agricultural products worth billions
initiating Mr. Oli‘s meeting with President Xi Jinping, ahead of dollars but it had recently proposed duties on the two
of the customary delegation level talks with Prime Minister commodities usually imported from US states such as Iowa.
Li Keqiang.  India grew 11 million tonnes of soybeans in the 2016-17
 The Chinese made it clear that they were not interested in marketing year, but only exported 269,000 tonnes.
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pursuing a zero-sum approach with Nepal. In fact, the hosts However, India exported just over two million tonnes of
spoke about the Wuhan informal summit between President soymeal globally.
Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the
POLIO RETURNS TO PNG AFTER 18 YEARS

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 An outbreak of polio has been confirmed in Papua New Guinea.World Health Organization (WHO) said that the virus detected in a
child 18 years after the nation which was earlier declared free of the disease.
 There was one confirmed case — a six-year-old boy with lower limb weakness from Morobe province — with the disease detected in
late April.
 The same virus was also isolated from stool specimens of two healthy children in the same community ―representing an outbreak‖.
 PNG has not had a case of the disease since 1996, and was certified as polio-free in 2000 along with the rest of the WHO‘s Western
Pacific region. There is low polio vaccine coverage in Morobe province, on PNG‘s northern coast, with only 61 percent of children
receiving the recommended three doses.
 Inadequate sanitation and hygiene were also issues in the area.
 Affecting mostly children under the age of five, polio — which has no cure and can only be prevented by giving a child multiple vaccine
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doses — can lead to irreversible paralysis.

 According to the WHO, the number of polio cases worldwide has fallen by more than 99 percent since 1988, from an estimated
350,000 cases then to 22 reported cases in 2017.
 Only three countries — Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan — were considered polio-endemic by the WHO in March 2018.
FARC REBELS APOLOGISE TO THE NATION
 Former rebel FARC commanders in Colombia have appeared at a historic tribunal where for the first time they were made to answer
for kidnappings and forced disappearances.

 During their long and failed struggle for power, the FARC resorted to abductions for economic and political purposes. Thousan ds of
hostages, including military, police and politicians were kept for years deep in the jungle before being rescued or released, with many
others perishing in captivity. The prosecution has documented 8,163 victims of kidnapping involving the rebels.
 The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (known by its Spanish abbreviation JEP) is examining the period between 1993 and 2012.
 FARC pledged to confess their crimes and make reparations to the victims as part of the 2016 agreement that disarmed 7,000 fi ghters
and led to the group becoming a political party.
 The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was a guerrilla movement involved in the continuing Colombian armed conflict
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from 1964 to 2017.
 It was known to employ a variety of military tactics in addition to more unconventional methods, including terrorism.
 The FARC–EP was formed during the Cold War period as a Marxist–Leninist peasant force promoting a political line of agrarianism
and anti-imperialism. The operations of the FARC–EP were funded by kidnap and ransom; illegal mining; extortion or taxation of
various forms of economic activity and the taxation, production and distribution of illegal drugs.
 The United Nations has estimated that 12% of all killings of civilians in Colombian conflict were committed by FARC and National
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Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas, with 80% committed by right-wing paramilitaries, and the remaining 8% committed by Colombian
security forces.
EU - JAPAN SIGN MAJOR TRADE DEAL
 Japan and the EU signed a sweeping free trade deal saying they were sending a ―clear message‖ against protectionism, as USA puts
up barriers and threatens a trade war.
 The deal signed in Tokyo is the largest ever negotiated by the EU and creates a massive free trade zone, eliminating tariffs for
everything from Japanese cars to French cheese.
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 It also provides a stark counterpoint to U.S. President Donald Trump‘s aggressive ―America First‖ protectionism, which has seen
Washington impose trade tariffs on allies and rivals alike.
 The agreement is expected to enter into force from 2019.
 Japan and the European Union traded roughly €129 billion ($152 billion) of goods last year.
 Average global tariffs are near record lows. EU products currently face an average tariff of 1.6% when they arrive in Japan, while
Japanese products face tariffs of 2.9% in the European Union, according to the World Trade Organization.
 The deal eliminates about 99 percent of the tariffs on Japanese goods to the EU, but remaining at around 94 percent for European
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imports into Japan for now and rising to 99 percent over the years. The difference is due to exceptions such as rice, a product that's
culturally and politically sensitive and has been protected for decades in Japan.
 Besides the latest deal with the EU, Japan is working on other trade agreements, including a far-reaching trans-Pacific deal. The
partnership includes Australia, Mexico, Vietnam and other nations, although the US has withdrawn.
 If the deal does enter into force before Brexit, it could apply automatically to Britain during a post-March 2019 transition period of
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around two years. Otherwise, it might not.
ISRAEL ADOPTS JEWISH NATION LAW
 Israel passed a ―nation-state‖ law declaring that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country.
 The bill also removes Arabic as an official language alongside Hebrew, downgrading it to a ―special status‖ that enables its continued
use in Israeli institutions.
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 Israel‘s Arab citizens number some 1.8 million, about 20 percent of the 9 million population.
 Arab lawmakers and Palestinians called the law ―racist‖ and said it legalised ―apartheid‖ following a tumultuous debate in parliament.
 The legislation, adopted by 62 votes to 55, makes Hebrew the country‘s national language and defines the establishment of Jewish
communities as being in the national interest. Arabic, previously considered an official language, was granted only special status.
 The law speaks of Israel as the Jewish historical homeland and says Jews have the right to self-determination there. However, a
deeply controversial clause that had been seen as more specifically legalising the establishment of Jewish-only communities was
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changed after it drew criticism, including from Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
 The legislation becomes part of the country‘s basic laws, which serve as a de facto constitution.
 Arab citizens account for some 17.5 per cent of Israel‘s more than eight million population. They have long complained of
discrimination.
CHINA-UAE SEAL ECONOMIC DEALS

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 Chinese President Xi Jinping began his first trip abroad since being re-elected. His first stop was the United Arab Emirates, continuing
a theme of Chinese influence in the Middle East begun at last week‘s China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) in Beijing.
 When Xi arrived in the UAE on July 19, it marked the first visit by Chinese head of state in almost 30 years.
 As another sign of the UAE‘s embrace of China, Xi received the Order of Zayed, the UAE‘s highest civil decoration. Previous
recipients include King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Queen Elizabeth II.
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 The focus of the visit, naturally, was on China‘s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The two sides signed two MoUs pledging cooperation
on both the Silk Road Economic Belt (the ―Belt‖ in the BRI) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (the ―Road‖).
 The UAE is a key node for the BRI – the Middle East is a crucial geographic link between China and Europe, but instability in the
region makes it a difficult bet to place.
 It‘s no coincidence that the UAE has been the recipient of the first Silk Road Fund investment in the Middle East, for the $3.4 billion
Hassyan Clean Coal Power Plant. Another Silk Road Fund deal was inked during Xi‘s trip, for ―the world‘s largest solar energy plant.‖
 Indeed, energy, a traditional focus for China‘s Middle East engagement, was another key part of Xi‘s visit. Deals on both oil and solar
power were forged in separate MOUs. There were also agreements on agriculture, e-commerce, and finance as well as people-to-
people exchanges.
 And in a sign of China‘s ever-expanding interests, Xi called for more cooperation between the two countries on culture, education,
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tourism, and media as well as high-tech innovation.

 Sheikh Mohammed even set a goal of doubling both China-UAE trade (around $54 billion in 2017) and Chinese visitors to the UAE,
which topped 1 million last year.
 In addition to the individual deals, China and the UAE upgraded their relationship to a ―comprehensive strategic partnership,‖ the first
Middle Eastern country to elevate ties with China to that level (unless you count Egypt, which established a comprehensive strategic
partnership with China in 2014).
 State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co had awarded two contracts worth $1.6 billion to BGP Inc., a subsidiary of China National
Petroleum Co., for a seismic survey in the Emirate.
 The survey is to search for oil and gas in onshore and offshore sites covering an area of 53,000 sq km.

 The UAE‘s state-owned DP World announced an agreement by the two countries to build a new trade zone in Dubai.
WTO FACING CHALLENGES
 Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu stated that India does not subsidise its exports to the rest of the world. The Minister's
statement comes in the wake of increasing criticism that financial incentives offered by the Indian government to domestic exporters
are distorting international trade. Mr. Prabhu also warned that the very existence of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is currently
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under threat amid the rise in trade tensions between the U.S. and its major trading partners such as China, the European Union,
Canada and others since the beginning of the year.
 U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to narrow his country's trade deficit with the rest of the world, particularly China. The trade
deficit is the amount by which the value of imports into a country exceeds the value of its exports to other countries. The U.S. believes
that sops offered to Indian exporters work against the interests of American companies that are unable to match the price of
subsidised Indian goods. This further worsens America's trade deficit.
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 Is WTO under threat?The WTO was formed in 1995 with the goal of regulating trade between countries through appropriate ground
rules. Among other things, members of the WTO were supposed to adopt non-discriminatory trade practices that offered a level
playing field for all businesses. This has, however, been easier said than done as countries have tried to favour their domes tic
companies. Domestic companies are generally able to lobby their governments to adopt trade practices favourable to them.
 In March this year, the U.S. dragged India to the WTO for failing to curb export subsidies that it argues give an unfair adva ntage to
Indian exporters. The WTO had earlier allowed India and a number of other low-income countries with an income per capita of under
$1,000 to offer export subsidies. India, however, broke past this threshold in 2013. The Indian government encourages exports
through special economic zones and schemes like the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which offer tax breaks to
exporters.
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 What if tensions increase?The increase in trade tensions between countries has raised questions about the WTO‘s purpose and
relevance. The international trade body has been used by politicians as a forum to voice and defend the needs of various special
interest groups. India‘s politicians, for instance, have been keen on protecting the interests of their farmers through the minimum
support price. Countries in the West have also tried to protect their farmers and industries through the heavy use of subsidies.
 Without these subsidies, the production and distribution of goods across the world would be determined purely based on market
forces. Many critics have argued that a bureaucratic organisation like the WTO cannot fulfil the ideal of unfettered free trade between
countries that can vastly improve global living standards. Instead, they argue that such a bureaucracy is likely to be captured by
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special interest groups whose demands will harm the free market.
 What is in store?The future of the WTO hangs in the balance as the world slowly slips into a trade war. The biggest casualty is likely to
be economic growth as tit-for-tat tariffs increase the tax burden on the global economy. The WTO‘s track record in achieving free trade
is also likely to come under scrutiny. Critics argue that the WTO, by discouraging competition between governments, may be
preventing the tearing down of global trade barriers.
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In fact, they view certain export subsidies like tax breaks, which are prohibited under the rules of the WTO but employed by
governments to attract businesses, as lowering the overall tax burden on the global economy. Further, according to the World Bank,
the tariff rates applied between 1996 and 2008 under unilateral and preferential trade agreements have actually been lower than
under the WTO‘s multilateral framework.
CHINA-BHUTAN DISCUSS BOUNDARY DISPUTE  The Dutch Upper House of parliament passed a law
banning the wearing of face-covering veils in public
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 China and Bhutan have discussed their boundary dispute buildings, such as schools, government offices and
and reached many agreements. hospitals.
 China also invited Bhutan to take part in Beijing‘s Belt and  The Lower House approved the bill in 2016, after attempts
Road Initiative (BRI). to impose a more general ban on burqas and other face-
 The two countries do not have diplomatic relations but covering veils failed.
maintain contacts through periodic visits by officials.  The new law bans all face-covering garb, including for
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 During talks that the two sides should continue to push instance motor helmets and ski-masks, in public buildings,
forward the border negotiations; abide by the principled but not on the street.
consensus reached; jointly maintain peace and tranquility in  The law is billed as a way to make schools, hospitals and
the border areas; and create positive conditions for the final public transport safer, but critics say its only aim is to get rid
settlement of the border issue between the two. of Islamic veils, such as the burqa and niqab.
 This is the first time a senior Chinese official has visited
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Thimphu since last year‘s Doklam military stand-off with WAR CRIMES IN CONGO'S KASAI REGION
India.
 According to UNHRC, Congolese security forces and militia
IRAN TO ALLOW PRIVATE COMPANIES TO EXPORT OIL have committed atrocities amounting to war crimes and
crimes against humanity, including killing and raping women
 Iran will allow private companies to export crude oil, part of and children.
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a strategy to counter US sanctions.  In a report denouncing ―a serious problem of impunity‖, the

 Iran is looking at ways to keep exporting oil as well as other independent experts called on authorities to prosecute
measures to counter sanctions after the United States told perpetrators and provide justice to victims in the
allies to cut all imports of Iranian oil from November. insurrection-ravaged Kasai region of central Democratic
 Iranian crude oil will be offered on the bourse and the Republic of Congo.
private sector can export it in a transparent way.  The armed forces (FARDC) and allied Bana Mura militia
 Oil is already being offered on the bourse, about 60,000 opposed the KamuinaNsapu militia in a partially ethnic
barrels per day, but that has been only for exports of oil conflict that largely ended at the end of 2017.
products.  The conflict in the previously peaceful Kasai region was one

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Iran has an oil and petrochemicals bourse as part of its of a series of deadly flare-ups to hit Congo around the time
mercantile exchange. long-serving President Joseph Kabila refused to leave
 Meanwhile Saudi Arabia promised US President Donald power when his mandate expired at the end of 2016.
Trump that it can raise oil production if needed and the  Violence initially flared in the Kasai region of the Democratic
country has 2 million barrels per day of spare capacity. Republic of the Congo in August 2016, sparked by tensions
between customary chiefs in Kasai-Central Province and
DUTCH SENATE PASSES LAW ENABLING PARTIAL the government. The violence spread rapidly in early 2017.
'BURQA BAN'  Existing intercommunity tensions became part of a wider
conflict involving militias, armed groups and security forces
across a region the size of Germany. Beyond Kasai, the

humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the CHINESE WARSHIPS DRILL IN WATERS NEAR TAIWAN
Congo has deteriorated dramatically over the past year.
 A formation of Chinese warships has been holding daily
MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT REFUSES CHANGE COUNTRY'S combat drills in waters near Taiwan, amid heightened
NAME tension between Beijing and the self-ruled island.
 A group of navy warships, including a Type 054A frigate
 Macedonia‘s President Gjorge Ivanov refused to sign an and a Type 052C destroyer, have been conducting
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agreement on changing the country‘s name to resolve a exercises near Taiwan, including in the Bashi Channel and
dispute with Greece, calling it a ―criminal act‖ that violated the Taiwan Strait.
the constitution.  The drills tested the military and training abilities of warship,
 This month the foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia aviation and coastal defence troops, via organising real
agreed to rename the tiny ex-Yugoslav republic the combat training in multiple areas of the ocean.
―Republic of North Macedonia‖, resolving a decades-old  China claims Taiwan as its own and has never renounced
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dispute that had blocked Macedonia‘s entry into the EU and the use of force to bring under its control what it sees as a
NATO. wayward province. Taiwan has shown no interest in being
 Macedonia‘s parliament ratified the agreement earlier. governed by the ruling Communist Party in Beijing.
 Macedonia‘s name has led to a dispute with Greece since  United States overtures towards Taiwan, from unveiling a
Macedonia became independent with the breakup of new de facto embassy to passing the Taiwan Travel Act,
Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. A Greek province is also which encourages U.S. officials to visit, have further
called Macedonia, and many Greeks consider the name to escalated tension between Beijing and Taipei.
be a claim to their territory.  Sino-U.S. ties are under growing pressure over burgeoning
 Greece has blocked Macedonia from joining the EU or trade friction, the North Korean nuclear crisis and escalating
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NATO, and required it to enter the United Nations as ―The activity in the disputed waterway of the South China Sea.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia‖.
SOUTH SUDAN RIVALS SIGN PEACE AGREEMENT IN KHARTOUM
 South Sudan‘s president signed a peace agreement with rebels including a ceasefire to start in 72 hours, Sudan‘s foreign minister
said, but rebels rejected other parts of the deal.
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 The agreement, made in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, aims to end a war in which tens of thousands of people have been killed.
Previous peace deals have broken down.
 The framework agreement comes ahead of a final settlement and would allow access for humanitarian aid, prisoners to be freed and a
transitional unity government to be formed after four months.
 The country‘s civil war began in 2013, less than two years after South Sudan gained independence from Sudan.
 The war has uprooted a quarter of South Sudan‘s population of 12 million, ruined the country‘s agriculture and battered its economy.
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 The secession of South Sudan hit Sudan hard economically because the separation gave the south much of the region‘s oil supplies.
Sudan is going through its worst fiscal crisis for years.
 On the sidelines of the peace talks in Khartoum, the two countries agreed on a plan to double oil production from the south, but gave
no details on how it would be achieved.
POLAND & HOLOCAUST LAW

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 Poland‘s ruling conservatives watered down Holocaust legislation that had angered the United States and Israel, removing the threat
of jail terms for people who suggest the nation was complicit in Nazi crimes against the Jews.
 The law as it went into effect in March imposed jail sentences of up to three years for anyone who used the phrase ―Polish death
camps‖ or suggested ―publicly and against the facts‖ that the Polish nation or state was complicit in Nazi Germany‘s crimes.
 About 3 million Jews who lived in pre-war Poland were murdered by the Nazis, accounting for about half of all Jews killed in the
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Holocaust.
 Thousands of Poles risked their lives to protect Jewish neighbours during World War Two. But research published since the fall of
communism in 1989 showed that thousands also killed Jews or denounced those who hid them to the Nazi occupiers, challenging t he
national narrative that Poland was solely a victim.
 Jews from across the continent were sent to be killed at death camps built and operated by Germans in Nazi-occupied Poland —
home to Europe‘s biggest Jewish community at the time — including Auschwitz, Treblinka, Belzec and Sobibor.
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 The Anti-Defamation League, a U.S.-based advocacy group, said that the Holocaust legislation had contributed to a dramatic increase
in anti-semitic speech in Poland.
ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT DEFEATS NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE
 Romania‘s five-month-old Social Democrat (PSD) government defeated a parliamentary motion of no-confidence.
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 The centrist opposition called the vote, accusing the cabinet of Prime Minister VioricaDancila and the ruling party of trying to weaken
anti-corruption laws and institutions.
 The move to topple the government was doomed to fail. Only 166 lawmakers from the fragmented opposition supported the motion,
well short of the 233 votes - 50 percent of deputies plus one - required under the constitution for no-confidence motions to succeed.
IRELAND TO ALLOW ASYLUM SEEKERS TO WORK FOR FIRST TIME
 Ireland became one of the last countries in the European Union to grant employment rights to asylum seekers, a year after the
country‘s Supreme Court ruled the restrictions unconstitutional.
 Campaigners have long argued that the country‘s ―Direct Provision‖ system for asylum seekers, in which people seeking asylum were
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not allowed to work and were forced to live in accommodation where they could not cook, violated their rights.
 After the Irish Supreme Court ruled the work ban was unconstitutional, the government last year eased the rules slightly.
 But no asylum seekers were granted employment permits due to a number of restrictions - including a 1,000 euro application fee, a
minimum 30,000 euro per year salary and a ban on working in 60 sectors.
SWISS GOVERNMENT REJECTS PROPOSED BURQA BAN
 The Swiss government opposed a grassroots campaign for a nationwide ban on facial coverings in public that will prompt a binding
referendum, the latest twist in a Europe-wide crackdown on burqas championed by anti-Muslim activists.

 The Swiss cabinet said individual cantons should decide on the matter, which nevertheless will go to a nationwide vote under
Switzerland‘s system of direct democracy after activists last year gathered enough public support.
 Measures against the wearing of Islamic veils have already been taken in Belgium, France, Denmark and Spain, among others, with
the Netherlands passing its own ban this week.
 The Swiss government suggested instead adopting laws that would prevent people from covering their faces when dealing with
officials and punish anyone who forced women to conceal their faces with up to three years in jail.
 The group, called ―Yes to a Mask Ban‖, includes some leaders who also spearheaded the 2009 Swiss ban on constructing new
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minarets.
 Two-thirds of Switzerland‘s 8.5 million residents identify as Christians. But its Muslim population has risen to 5 percent, largely
because of immigrants from former Yugoslavia.
 One Swiss canton, Ticino, already has a similar ban, while two others have rejected it.
 The Dutch upper House of parliament passed a law banning the wearing of face-covering veils in public buildings, such as schools,
government offices and hospitals.
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 France‘s ban was upheld in 2014 by the European Court of Human Rights. Germany‘s parliament last year backed a ban on full-face
veils for civil servants, judges and soldiers, while Austria and Bulgaria have also banned facial coverings.
U.N. STARTS REGISTERING ROHINGYA REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH
 The United Nations and the Bangladesh government have started formally registering hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees
who have fled a military crackdown in Myanmar.
 More than 700,000 mostly Muslim Rohingya have escaped Buddhist-majority Myanmar since last August, when attacks by Muslim
insurgents triggered a military offensive that the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing. Myanmar denies the accusations and
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has said it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation.
 The registration programme started jointly by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Bangladesh
government this week is aimed at creating a reliable database of refugees living in camps on Bangladesh‘s southern coast.
 That data, expected to be ready by November, will have family and birth details of refugees, and will be shared with Myanmar.
 Dozens of refugees queued up at a UNHCR office at the Nayapara camp, which overlooks the Myanmar border, providing fingerprints,
iris scans and other information to officials.
 Myanmar and Bangladesh struck a deal in November under which Myanmar would take back Rohingya refugees after verifying their
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family details. But in March, Myanmar said it had been able to verify details of only 374 refugees from a list of more 8,000 names
handed over by Bangladesh, because the information was incomplete.
 Bangladesh officials have expressed doubts about Myanmar‘s willingness to take back the Rohingya, who are denied citizenship in
Myanmar.
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AUSTRALIA PROPOSES LAW TO STOP "MODERN SLAVERY"
 Australia plans to halt modern slavery by forcing more than 3,000 businesses to report what they are doing to avoid using for ced
labour in their supply chains.
 The Modern Slavery Bill seeks to stamp out the sale of any product in Australia that involves non-voluntary labour.
 If it passes, the law would force all businesses with revenue exceeding A$100 million (56 million pounds) a year to report what they
have done to prevent modern slavery being used in their supply chains.
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 More than 3,000 businesses are expected to be involved.
BRITISH-SPANISH GIBRALTAR STATUS SETTLEMENT
 European Union leaders urged Britain to reach a deal with Spain on the status of Gibraltar after Britain leaves the EU.
 The effect of Brexit on Gibraltar concerns the status of Gibraltar after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
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The UK voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum and formally notified the EU of its intention to withdraw in March 2017. Gibraltar
is not part of the UK but, as a British Overseas Territory, participated in the referendum and will, by default, cease to be a part of the
EU upon the UK's withdrawal.
 Gibraltar voted strongly to remain in the European Union during the referendum, and its unique situation could lead t o difficulties in
Brexit negotiations due to the Spanish claim on Gibraltar, the large contribution of on-line gambling, offshore banking and duty-free
shopping, to the Gibraltar economy, and the possibility that Gibraltar will cease to be a part of the single market.
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 With the British government's initiation of the official EU withdrawal process on 29 March 2017, Gibraltar's participation of the United
Kingdom's European Union membership will cease to exist by 30 March 2019 (unless all parties to the negotiations agree otherwise).
 Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory, located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, is the subject of an irredenti st territorial
claim by Spain. It was captured in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). The Spanish Crown formally ceded
the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown in 1713, under Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht. Spain later attempted to recapture the
territory during the thirteenth siege (1727) and the Great siege (1779–1783). British sovereignty over Gibraltar was confirmed in later
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treaties signed in Seville (1729) and the Treaty of Paris (1783).
TURKEY TO LIFT STATE OF EMERGENCY
 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his government alliance partner have agreed not to extend emergency rule when the current
three-month period expires in July.
 The state of emergency has been in place since after an attempted coup in July 2016 and has been extended every three months
since then.
 Erdogan said that it would be lifted if he won the this year elections.
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UN -MYANMAR DEAL ON ROHINGYA
 Rohingya refugees returning to Myanmar will have no explicit guarantees of citizenship or freedom of movement throughout the
country, under a secret agreement between the government and the United Nations.
 The UN struck an outline deal with Myanmar at the end of May aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya
Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice, but did not make the details of the deal public.
 The MoU states ―returnees will enjoy the same freedom of movement as all other Myanmar nationals in Rakhine State, in conformity
with existing laws and regulations‖.

 However, it does not guarantee freedom of movement beyond the borders of Rakhine or address the laws and regulations that
currently prevent Rohingya from travelling freely.
 Refugee leaders and human rights groups say the agreement fails to ensure basic rights for the Rohingya, some 700,000 of whom
have fled a military crackdown some Western countries have called ―ethnic cleansing‖.
 The Rohingya people are a stateless Indo-Aryan-speaking people who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar (also known as Burma).
There were an estimated about 1 million Rohingya living in Myanmar before the 2016–17 crisis.
 On 22 October 2017, the UN reported that an estimated 603,000 refugees from Rakhine, Myanmar, had crossed the border into
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Bangladesh since August 25, 2017.This number increased to 624,000 by November 2, 2017,[5] and over 625,000 by December 6,
2017.
 The majority are Muslim while a minority are Hindu. Described by the United Nations in 2013 as one of the most persecuted minorities
in the world, the Rohingya population is denied citizenship under the 1982 Myanmar nationality law.
 Despite being able to trace Rohingya history to the 8th century, Myanmar law does not recognize the ethnic minority as one of the
eight "national indigenous races". They are also restricted from freedom of movement, state education and civil service jobs.
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G5 FORCE IN NEWS
 G5 Sahel or G5S is an institutional framework for coordination of regional cooperation in development policies and security matters in
west Africa.
 It was formed on 16 February 2014 in Nouakchott, Mauritania, at a summit of five Sahel countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,
Mauritania, and Niger.
 It adopted a convention of establishment on 19 December 2014, and is permanently seated in Mauritania.
 The coordination is organised on different levels. The military aspect is coordinated by the respective countries' Chiefs of Staff.
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 The purpose of G5 Sahel is to strengthen the bond between economic development and security, and together battle the threat of
jihadist organizations operating in the region (AQIM, MUJWA, Al-Mourabitoun, Boko Haram).
 On 1 August 2014, France launched a counterterrorism mission, Operation Barkhane, deploying 3,000 soldiers in the member states
of G5 Sahel.
GREECE AID PACKAGE
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 Germany‘s parliament approved a financial aid package for Greece that is designed to ensure Greece can stand on its own feet after it
exits a third bailout programme in August.
 The parliament voted by a wide majority to approve the package of measures, which include extended maturities and deferred interest
payments on many loans as well as a 15 billion euro cash injection.
 Greece has been living primarily on money borrowed from euro zone governments in three bailouts since 2010, when it lost market
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access because of a ballooning budget deficit, huge public debt and an inefficient economy and welfare system.
‗E-SWATINI‘ IN NEWS
 King Mswati III announced on April 19 that Swaziland would now be known as eSwatini. The name-change was driven by a desire to
fully break from the country‘s colonial past, while ending international confusion between Swaziland and Switzerland.
 The tiny landlocked southern African country, formerly known as Swaziland and with a population of 1.4 million people, is ruled by the
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increasingly powerful King Mswati III, the continent‘s last remaining absolute monarch.
‗EU MIGRATION DEAL‘ IN NEWS
 United Nations welcomed a migration deal reached by European Union leaders but urged the bloc to prioritise the lives and safety of
migrants in its approach.
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 EU leaders agreed to share out refugees arriving in the bloc on a voluntary basis and create ―controlled centres‖ ins ide the European
Union to process asylum requests.
 More than 1,000 people have drowned or gone missing in the Mediterranean already in 2018, a ―grim milestone‖ for the fifth year in a
row.
 The Brussels summit underscored how Europe‘s 2015 spike in immigration continues to haunt the bloc, despite a sharp drop in
arrivals of people fleeing conflict and economic hardship in the Middle East and Africa.
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 The European Council reconfirms that a precondition for a functioning EU policy relies on a comprehensive approach to migration
which combines more effective control of the EU‟s external borders. This is a challenge not only for a single Member State, b ut for
Europe as a whole.
 The European Council is determined to prevent a return to the uncontrolled flows of 2015 and to further stem illegal migration on all
existing and emerging routes.
 As regards the Central Mediterranean Route, efforts to stop smugglers operating out of Libya or elsewhere should be further
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intensified. The EU will continue to stand by Italy and other frontline Member States in this respect.
 As regards the Eastern Mediterranean Route, additional efforts are needed to fully implement the EU-Turkey Statement, prevent new
crossings from Turkey and bring the flows to a halt. More efforts are urgently needed to ensure swift returns and prevent the
development of new sea or land routes. In the light of the recent increase in flows in the Western Mediterranean, the EU will support,
financially and otherwise, all efforts by Member States, especially Spain, and countries of origin and transit, in particular Morocco, to
prevent illegal migration.
 In order to definitively break the business model of the smugglers, thus preventing tragic loss of life, it is necessary to eliminate the
incentive to embark on perilous journeys. This requires a new approach based on shared or complementary actions among the
Member States to the disembarkation of those who are saved in Search And Rescue operations. In that context, the European Council
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calls on the Council and the Commission to swiftly explore the concept of regional disembarkation platforms, in close cooperation with
relevant third countries as well as UNHCR and IOM. Such platforms should operate distinguishing individual situations, in ful l respect
of international law and without creating a pull factor.
 On EU territory, those who are saved, according to international law, should be taken charge of, on the basis of a shared effort,
through the transfer in controlled centres set up in Member States, only on a voluntary basis, where rapid and secure processing
would allow, with full EU support, to distinguish between irregular migrants, who will be returned, and those in need of inte rnational
protection, for whom the principle of solidarity would apply. All the measures in the context of these controlled centres, including
relocation and resettlement, will be on a voluntary basis, without prejudice to the Dublin reform.
 The European Council agrees on launching the second tranche of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey and at the same time on
transferring 500 million euro from the 11th EDF reserve to the EU Trust Fund for Africa.

 Tackling the migration problem at its core requires a partnership with Africa aiming at a substantial socio-economic transformation of
the African continent...
 In the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the European Council underlines the need for flexible instruments ,
allowing for fast disbursement, to combat illegal migration. The internal security, integrated border management, asylum and migration
funds should therefore include dedicated, significant components for external migration management.
 The European Council recalls the need for Member States to ensure the effective control of the EU‟s external borders with EU
financial and material support. It also underlines the necessity to significantly step up the effective return of irregular migrants.
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 Concerning the situation internally in the EU, secondary movements of asylum seekers between Member States risk jeopardising the
integrity of the Common European Asylum System and the Schengen acquis. Member States should take all necessary internal
legislative and administrative measures to counter such movements and to closely cooperate amongst each other to that end.
 As regards the reform for a new Common European Asylum System, much progress has been achieved... A consensus needs to be
found on the Dublin Regulation to reform it based on a balance of responsibility and solidarity, taking into account the persons
disembarked following Search And Rescue operations.
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AUSTRALIA WINS WTO CASE ON TOBACCO elected leader, Mohamed Nasheed, was forced to quit amid
a police mutiny in 2012.
 Australia triumphed in a major trade dispute over its  Nasheed was convicted of terrorism charges in 2015 and
pioneering ―plain‖ tobacco packaging law, with World Trade sentenced to 13 years after a trial criticized as unfair. But he
Organization judges rejecting a complaint brought by Cuba, was allowed to go on medical leave to Britain, where he
Indonesia, Honduras and Dominican Republic. was granted political asylum.
 The WTO panel said Australia‘s law improved public health
by reducing the use of tobacco products, rebuffing claims SPAIN OFFERED 'OBSERVER STATUS' ON FIGHTER
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that alternative measures would be equally effective. It also PROJECT
rejected the argument that Australia had unjustifiably
infringed tobacco trademarks and violated intellectual  Germany and France have offered Spain ―observer status‖
property rights. on a programme to develop a new European fighter jet.
 Australia‘s law, introduced in 2010, bans logos and  The new programme, first announced by the French and
distinctively-coloured cigarette packaging in favour of drab German governments a year ago, has begun to take shape
olive packets that look more like military or prison issue, in recent months, with France set to take the lead on the
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with brand names printed in small standardised fonts. development of the next-generation combat jet.
 The challenge to it was seen as a test case for public health  Spain and other countries would likely be able to participate
legislation globally, and could lead to tighter marketing rules in later stages of the programme, a view embraced by the
for unhealthy foods and alcohol as well as tobacco. companies involved.
 Spain holds a 4 percent stake in European planemaker
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WORLD BANK $480 MILLION AID FOR ROHINGYA Airbus, while France and Germany each hold a stake of 11
REFUGEES IN BANGLADESH percent.
 The new warplane is intended to replace from 2040 the
 The World Bank would provide up to $480 million (367.14 Rafale fighter built by France‘s Dassault Aviation and the
million pounds) in grant-based support to Bangladesh to Eurofighter Typhoon, built by a European consortium
address the needs of Rohingya refugees including health, comprised of Airbus, Britain‘s BAE Systems and Italy‘s
education, water, sanitation and social protection. Leonardo.
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 The World Bank‘s board approved a $50 million grant to  Dassault and Airbus signed an agreement in April to work
add to an existing health-sector support project in together on the new project, but avoided saying which of
Bangladesh, the first in a series that could total $480 the two groups would be in charge.
million.
 The health-sector grant included contributions based on a STRAIT OF HORMUZ: THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT
partnership between Canada and the World Bank‘s OIL ARTERY
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International Development Association arm. It will help

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh receive maternal,  With a third of the world‘s sea-borne oil passing through it
neonatal, infant, child, and adolescent health and nutrition every day, the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic artery linking
services, reproductive healthcare and family planning Middle East crude producers to key markets in Asia Pacific,
support. Europe, North America and beyond.
 The support from IDA, the bank‘s fund for the world‘s  This week, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander
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poorest countries, will include up to $400 million on grant threatened that Tehran will block oil shipments through the
terms to help Bangladesh cope with the crisis. waterway in response to U.S. calls to ban all Iranian oil
 Since last August, more than 700,000 mostly Muslim exports.
Rohingya have taken shelter from violence in Myanmar in  The Strait has been at the heart of regional tensions for
the Cox‘s Bazar District in Bangladesh, making it the decades and this is not first time that Tehran has made
world‘s largest and fastest growing refugee camp. such threats.
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 The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf

MALDIVES APPOINTS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage
from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the
 The Maldives appointed a new chief justice, two weeks after world's most strategically important choke points.
a court convicted his predecessor as well as former  On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the
president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of obstruction of justice United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman.
and jailed them for 19 months. At its narrowest, the strait has a width of 29 nautical miles
 The government denies accusations that the trials were part (54 km).
of a plan by President Abdulla Yameen to tighten his grip  About 20% of the world's petroleum (about 35% of the
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ahead of elections in September where he seeks a second petroleum traded by sea) passes through the strait, making
five-year term against an opposition yet to decide on a it a highly important strategic location for international trade.
single candidate.
 Justice AbdueGhanee Mohamed took oaths of office as a MACEDONIA'S PARLIAMENT ENDORSES NAME DEAL
new Supreme Court justice replacing Ali Hameed, who was WITH GREECE
also removed from his positions last week after the High
Court upheld lower court convictions against Hameed for  Macedonia‘s parliament again endorsed a landmark
obstruction of justice. agreement with neighbouring Greece to change the ex-
 The country of 400,000 people is popular with tourists but Yugoslav republic‘s name, despite the refusal of President
has suffered political unrest since its first democratically Gjorge Ivanov to sign it.

 In June, the two countries settled on the new name
―Republic of North Macedonia‖. Athens had long objected to 'CHLORINATED' CHEMICALS IN SYRIA'S DOUMA
its northern neighbour‘s use of ―Macedonia‖, saying it
implied claims on the Greek province of that name and an  According to preliminary report by the world‘s chemical
appropriation of Greece‘s ancient cultural heritage. weapons watchdog OPCW ―various chlorinated chemicals‖
 The decades-old dispute had blocked Macedonia‘s entry were found at the site of an attack in Douma, Syria, in April
into NATO and its hopes to join European Union. that killed dozens of civilians and prompted air strikes by
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 Macedonia has to amend its constitution to conform with the Britain, France and the United States.
provisions of the deal and a referendum is expected in the  The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
autumn. (OPCW) sent a fact-finding mission to Douma in mid-April,
 Adoption of the agreement would pave the way for the next after the April 7 attack in the enclave near Damascus.
NATO summit to invite Macedonia to join the alliance and  The OPCW has documented systematic use of banned
for the Balkan country to start membership talks with the munitions in Syria‘s civil war, including nerve agent sarin
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EU. and sulphur mustard gas.
BANGLADESH GETS $100-MILLION ADB GRANT 'MARSHALL PLAN' TAX BREAKS FOR AFRICAN PROJECTS
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a grant of  Germany plans to use public money to support companies
$100 million (75.65 million pounds) to Bangladesh, the first which invest in Africa, part of a new ―Marshall Plan‖ with
half of an assistance package to develop basic which it hopes to tackle the roots of the refugee crisis that
infrastructure and services for refugees from neighbouring has convulsed European politics since 2015.
Myanmar.  The ‗Marshall Plan for Africa‘, named after the U.S. aid
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 Bangladesh faces a challenge in managing refugee camps package that kick-started Western Europe‘s recovery after
in its southern district of Cox‘s Bazar, flooded by more than World War Two, is the centrepiece of Chancellor Angela
700,000 people who fled violence in Rakhine State since Merkel‘s scheme to reduce refugee flows by better sharing
late August. the costs of humanitarian issues between Europe, the
 The project will refurbish camp roads to link essential food Middle East and Africa.
storage and distribution centres, hospitals, schools, and  Since 2015, when Merkel, faced with unprecedented
improve emergency access. migrant flows, opened Germany‘s borders to over a million
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 It also aims to beef up disaster risk management in an area refugees from civil war and poverty, the migration question
prone to cyclones and monsoon storms, by building has dominated European politics, fuelling the rise of far-
shelters, landslide protection barriers and a network of right parties.
storm water drains.
UAE EXTENDS COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE TO 16
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FORTY NINE MISSING AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES OFF MONTHS
THAILAND'S PHUKET ISLAND
 The United Arab Emirates has extended compulsory
 Forty nine people are missing after a boat carrying 97 military service for Emirati men from 12 to 16 months, amid
people, capsized in rough seas off Thailand‘s tourist island a three-year involvement in Yemen‘s war.
of Phuket.  The UAE, a federation of seven emirates with a mostly
 Thailand is in the middle of its monsoon season which expatriate population, is a key member of a Saudi-led
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brings with it adverse weather conditions. military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against
 Thailand is already making international headlines after 12 the Iran-aligned Houthi movement to restore the
boys and their junior soccer coach were found alive this internationally recognised Yemeni government in exile.
week after becoming trapped inside a cave in the country‘s  The UAE introduced mandatory military service in 2014 for
north. Emirati men. It kept participation for women, who can serve
 Phuket is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of only for nine months, optional and requiring approval of
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Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's their legal guardians.
largest island, and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. It  Men who hold a high school diploma or its equivalent will
lies off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. serve 16 months instead of 12, while those who do not have
Phuket Island is connected by the Sarasin Bridge to a high school qualification continue to serve for two years.
PhangNga Province to the north. The next nearest province
is Krabi, to the east across PhangNga Bay. ETHIOPIA - ERITREA SIGN PEACE DEAL
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 Phuket Province has an area of 576 square kilometres (222

sq mi), somewhat less than that of Singapore, and is the  The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a ―joint
second-smallest province of Thailand. The island was on declaration of peace and friendship‖, after a historic summit
one of the major trading routes between India and China, marked a start to normalisation of ties between the longtime
and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of foes.
Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English traders. It formerly  Ethiopia and Eritrea will jointly develop ports on Eritrea‘s
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derived its wealth from tin and rubber and now from Red Sea coast.
tourism.  In their meeting, the leaders agreed to restore ties and
resume flights by the carriers of both countries. In addition,
SPAIN IS NEW LINK FOR AFRICA MIGRATION they agreed to participate in the development of ports.
 Ethiopia and Eritrea have declared their "state of war" over
 Spain has become the new main entry point for asylum- after landmark talks between the neighbouring countries'
seekers fleeing Africa, an influx that European Union leaders, as part of a historic agreement that will see the
officials fear could exacerbate political tensions across the opening of embassies, development of ports and
region over migration. resumption of flights.
 
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Around 19,000 asylum-seekers arrived in Spain in the first The Horn of Africa nations remained at loggerheads since
five months of this year, almost as many as arrived there in Ethiopia rejected a United Nations ruling and refused to
all of 2017, eclipsing for the first time the numbers flowing cede to Eritrea land along the countries' border following a
through north Africa to Italy. 1998-2000 war that killed 80,000 people.
 The surge has intensified in recent weeks as Italy‘s new
government shut its ports to most asylum-seekers. CHINA $20 BILLION LOAN TO MIDDLE EAST
 With the EU struggling to contain dissent over migration
policy, some officials in Brussels say they worry that Spain  Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged a package of $20
could become a new flash-point, even as overall numbers billion (15.12 billion pounds) in loans, and about $106
of arrivals into Europe from Africa are in sharp decline. million in financial aid, to Middle East nations, as part of

what he called an ―oil and gas plus‖ model to revive providing a further 600 million yuan ($91 million) to Jordan,
economic growth in the region. Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.A consortium of banks from
 Beijing has ramped up engagement in the Middle East in China and Arab nations, with a dedicated fund of $3 billion,
recent years as Arab nations play an important role in Xi‘s will also be set up.
signature Belt and Road foreign policy plan for strong trade  The loans will fund a plan of ―economic reconstruction‖ and
routes linking China with central and southeast Asia. ―industrial revival‖ that would include cooperation on oil and
 China would offer aid worth 100 million yuan ($15 million) to gas, nuclear and clean energy.
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Palestine to support economic development, besides
NATO INVITES MACEDONIA TO JOIN ALLIANCE
 NATO leaders agreed to invite Macedonia to begin accession talks to join the Western alliance, extending its reach in the Bal kans in
defiance of Russia following a landmark accord with Greece over the ex-Yugoslav republic‘s name.
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 Macedonia will become NATO‘s 30th member state, though its people must first back the deal with Greece in a referendum. Under the
accord, the official name of the country will become ‗Republic of North Macedonia‘.
 With Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia already members of NATO, as well as Bulgaria and Romania, and alliance forces
keeping the peace in Kosovo, the invitation to admit Macedonia will leave only Serbia and the Serb-run part of Bosnia open to Russian
influence in the Balkans.
 Macedonia will bring to NATO an 8,500-strong military which relies on a mixture of Russian, German, Greek and U.S. tanks and
armoured vehicles. Its aviation has no combat jets.
 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29
North American and European countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.
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NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an
attack by any external party. NATO Headquarters are located in Haren, Brussels, Belgium, while the headquarters of Allied Command
Operations is near Mons, Belgium.
 Since its founding, the admission of new member states has increased the alliance from the original 12 countries to 29. The most
recent member state to be added to NATO is Montenegro on 5 June 2017. NATO currently recognizes Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Georgia, Macedonia and Ukraine as aspiring members. An additional 21 countries participate in NATO's Partnership for Peace
program, with 15 other countries involved in institutionalized dialogue programs. The combined military spending of all NATO
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members constitutes over 70% of the global total. Members have committed to reach or maintain defence spending of at least 2% of
GDP by 2024.
EU BACKS BULGARIA'S FIRST STEP TOWARDS JOINING EURO
 Euro zone finance ministers gave their green light to Bulgaria‘s bid to join the bloc‘s banking union, a step towards the Balkan state‘s
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adoption of the euro.
 Bulgaria meets the nominal criteria to adopt the common currency, with low inflation, healthy public finances and its lev currency
already pegged to the euro.
 But it is also the EU‘s poorest country, and widespread graft and troubles at some of its banks have cast a shadow over its prospects
of joining. Euro zone finance ministers agreed on the timeframe for Bulgaria‘s next steps towards the euro membership. Under the
plan, Bulgaria would first join the bloc‘s banking union in a process that should last about one year.
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GREECE, TURKEY & AEGEAN TENSIONS
 Greece and Turkey have agreed to focus efforts on easing tensions in the Aegean, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said aft er
meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit.
 The two countries, which are members of the military alliance, are at odds over a host of issues ranging from ethnically split Cyprus to
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sovereignty over airspace and overflights.

 Turkey says its jets carry out regular patrols along the Aegean as part of its right to protect its borders.
 While tensions have long simmered, the rhetoric between the two neighbours has sharpened in the past two years: Two Greek
soldiers detained by Turkey and eight Turkish soldiers seeking asylum in Greece have been the focal point of verbal jousting in recent
months.
 The meeting with Erdogan, which lasted almost two hours, was not ―the easiest of meetings‖.
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 The two countries also agreed that their foreign ministers maintain contact on ethnically-split Cyprus, divided since a Turkish invasion
in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. The latest bid to unite the island under a federal umbrella collapsed exactly one year ago.
SUDAN EXTENDS CEASEFIRE WITH REBELS
 Sudan has extended until the end of this year a three-year-old unilateral ceasefire with rebels fighting in three parts of the country, as
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Sudan pushes to end years of civil war and improve its economy.
 Thousands of people have been killed in Sudan‘s civil wars, including the conflict in the western Darfur region, where rebels have
been fighting against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir‘s government since 2003.
 President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has issued a presidential decision to extend the ceasefire in all fields of operations until December
31, 2018.
 Ceasefires have been in place in Darfur and the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile since 2015. Bashir last extended them in
March for three months.
 The fighting in Darfur has subsided over the past three years. In South Kordofan and Blue Nile, members of the rebel Sudan People‘s
Liberation Army (SPLA) have kept up a fight against Khartoum‘s rule even as most of the territory where the SPLA fought for decades
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became independent South Sudan in 2011.
SOUTH SUDAN PARLIAMENT EXTENDS PRESIDENT'S TERM UNTIL 2021
 South Sudan‘s parliament voted to extend President SalvaKiir‘s mandate until 2021 in a move likely to undermine peace talks as
opposition groups have said the change would be illegal.
 The vote will bolster the government team at peace talks with rebel groups in Khartoum, Sudan. The extension also applies to vice
presidents, state lawmakers and governors.
 South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but erupted into violence in late 2013 over a political disagreement between Kiir and his
former vice president RiekMachar.

 The civil war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions to flee from their homes.
 It has also cut South Sudan‘s crude oil production, which the government depends on for revenue, with output at less than half its pre-
war level of 245,000 barrels per day.
ARMS EMBARGO ON SOUTH SUDAN
 The United Nations Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan, nearly five years after civil war erupted in the
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country.
 South Sudan, which split from its northern neighbor Sudan in 2011, has been gripped by a civil war since 2013 sparked by a political
rivalry between President SalvaKiir and his former deputy RiekMachar. The war has been marked by U.N. accusations of atrocities by
all sides and fears of possible genocide.
 U.N. peacekeepers have been deployed since South Sudan‘s independence in 2011. The government and opposition signed a deal
on security arrangements which follows on from a truce last month.
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TURKEY - PAKISTAN DEAL ON HELICOPTERS
 Turkey and Pakistan have signed an agreement on the sale of 30 Turkish T129 attack helicopters in what will be the biggest export
deal of the Turkish defence industry.
 It said the deal encompasses the provision of logistics, spare parts, training and ammunition for the helicopters.
EGYPT UNCOVERS MUMMY BURIAL SITE NEAR GREAT PYRAMIDS
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 Egyptian archaeologists revealed the details of an ancient burial shaft and a mummification workshop that were discovered 30 meters
underground, near the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo.
 Archaeologists are hoping the mummification workshop will provide fresh insight into the chemical make-up of the oils used by ancient
Egyptians to mummify their dead.
 The burial shaft, which is over 2,000 years old, is believed to date back to the Saite-Persian period, approximately 664-404 BC. The
shaft was originally discovered in April of this year containing 35 mummies in addition to stone sarcophagi.
 Archaeologists have so far this year excavated a number of relics that include a 4,400-year-old tomb at the Giza plateau and an
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ancient necropolis in Minya, south of Cairo.
CHINA - EU REAFFIRM PARIS CLIMATE COMMITMENT
 China and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris climate change pact and called other signatories to do the
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same, saying action against rising global temperatures had become more important than ever.
 Following President Donald Trump‘s decision last year to withdraw the United States from the agreement, China and the Europea n
Union have emerged as the biggest champions of the 2015 accord, which aims to keep global temperature increases to ―well below‖ 2
degrees Celsius.
 The two sides said they remained committed to creating a mechanism to transfer $100 billion a year from richer to poorer nati ons to
help them adapt to climate change. The fund has been a major bone of contention for the United States.
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TUNISIA APPROVES ILLEGAL ENRICHMENT LAW
 The Tunisian parliament approved a law to combat illicit enrichment, a step designed to strengthen the government‘s fight against
widespread corruption in the country.
 Since the 2011 uprising, Tunisia has been held up by Western partners as a model of democracy for the region. Economic progress
has lagged, however, and corruption remains a major problem in the North African state.
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 The law will force the president, ministers, senior officials in the public sector, independent bodies, banks, judges, security forces,
journalists and unions to declare their property.
SYRIAN REBELS, IRAN REACH DEAL TO EVACUATE VILLAGES
 Syrian rebels and Iranian-backed negotiators have reached a deal to evacuate thousands of people from two rebel-besieged Shi‘ite
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villages in northwestern Syria in return for the release of hundreds of detainees in state prisons.
 In April 2017, thousands of people in the two Shi‘ite towns were evacuated to government-held areas in a swap that in exchange freed
hundreds of Sunnis living in former rebel-held Madaya and Zabadani who were then besieged by Lebanon‘s Iranian-backed Hezbollah
group.
 But the evacuation of the remaining 7,000 people in al-Foua and Kefraya in exchange for the release of 1,500 detainees prisoners
never went through.
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EGYPT TARGETS SOCIAL MEDIA WITH NEW LAW
 Egypt‘s parliament has passed a law giving the state powers to block social media accounts and penalise journalists held to be
publishing fake news.
 Under the law passed social media accounts and blogs with more than 5,000 followers on sites such as Twitter and Facebook wil l be
treated as media outlets, which makes them subject to prosecution for publishing false news or incitement to break the law.
 The Supreme Council for the Administration of the Media, headed by an official appointed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will
supervise the law and take action against violations.

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The bill prohibits the establishment of websites without obtaining a license from the Supreme Council and allows it to suspend or block
existing websites, or impose fines on editors.
 The law also states that journalists can only film in places that are not prohibited, but does not explain further.
SPAIN'S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BLOCKS LATEST CATALAN INDEPENDENCE MOTION
 Spain‘s Constitutional Court had blocked a motion approved by Catalonia‘s parliament to resume steps to declare independence of
the wealthy northeastern region.
 The court‘s formal suspension of the secessionist motion approved on July 5 by the Catalan assembly in Barcelona followed an
appeal against the move filed by Spain‘s central government in Madrid.

 The Catalan parliament may appeal against the Constitutional Court decision within the next 20 days. Both the top court and the
Spanish government have said Catalonia cannot hold a referendum on independence under Spain‘s constitution.
HUNGARY TO QUIT U.N. MIGRATION PACT
 Hungary will quit a U.N. migration pact before its final approval.
 The Global Compact For Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was approved by all 193 U.N. member nations except the United
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States, which pulled out last year.
 But Hungary, led by right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has decided not to sign the final document at a ceremony in
December.
 Hungary, along with Poland and Czech Republic, has taken a tough stand against the admission of migrants, putting it at odds with
the European Union, but striking a chord with voters by arguing that irregular immigration threatens European stability, and fencing off
Hungary‘s southern borders.
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KENYAN SUSPENDS "ROBIN HOOD" TAX ON BANK TRANSFERS
 Kenya‘s High Court has temporarily suspended a ―Robin Hood‖ tax on bank transfers of over 500,000 shillings (£3,818) imposed at
the start of the month.
 There were several areas where it would be impractical to implement the tax of 0.05 percent.
 The tax will adversely affect bank customers and investors in our market at a time when the country would be seeking to consolidate
its regional leadership as a financial services hub.
 Finance Minister Henry Rotich had introduced the tax in his budget speech last month and banks started imposing it on July 1.
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 Banks and the financial community in the region‘s biggest economy are strongly opposed to the new tax, saying it will stifle the flow of
funds across the system and curb investments.
SYRIAN AUTHORITIES SET UP CENTRE FOR REFUGEES
 Russian and Syrian authorities had set up a refugee centre in Syria to help refugees return home from abroad.
 The Centre for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees will ―monitor the return of all temporarily-displaced people
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and Syrian refugees from foreign countries to their places of permanent residence‖.
 Syria‘s war has killed an estimated half a million people, driven some 5.6 million people out of the country and displaced around 6.6
million within it.
BULGARIA SAY NO TO MIGRANT READMISSIONS

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 Bulgaria‘s parliament voted to bar the government from signing bilateral agreements with other European Union countries on
readmitting migrants who arrived in Europe via the Black Sea state.
 The national assembly took the step after Prime Minister BoykoBorissov asked parliamentary groups to adopt a joint decision on
curbing migration.
 Bulgaria supports the immediate closure of the EU‘s external borders to migrants and the setting up of centres for war refugees
outside its territory at an EU weekend mini-summit on migration.
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TURKEY, NETHERLANDS AGREE TO NORMALISE TIES
 Turkey and the Netherlands have agreed to normalise ties, restoring relations that have been strained since a 2017 diplomatic row.
 Both nations described the events of March 2017, which resulted in a deterioration of relations between the two countries, as
'regretful'.
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 Underlining the importance of strategic cooperation between both countries on a range of issues such as migration, combating
terrorism and fostering economic cooperation, both ministers emphasized that Turkey and the Netherlands have been NATO allies for
over 60 years, have had intensive ties for more than 400 years and enjoy substantial trade and investment ties.
AL SHABAAB CAPTURES STRATEGIC TOWN IN SOMALIA'S PUNTLAND

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 Somalia‘s Islamist militant group al Shabaab has captured a small but strategic town 100 km (60 miles) south of Bosaso city in the
semi-autonomous Puntland region.
 The town is now controlled by al Shabaab.
 Al Shabaab wants to topple Somalia‘s Western-backed central government, expel the African Union-mandated peace keeping force
AMISOM and establish a government based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.
 AfUrur‘s position is important because the main road that links the cities of Garowe, Bosaso and Mogadishu passes nearby.
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 Puntland forces and al Shabaab have fought in the town, which has ditch defences, several times in the past.
 Somalia has been gripped by violence and lawlessness since the toppling of dictator Mohamed SiadBarre in the early 1990s.
MYANMAR VIOLATED U.N. CHILD RIGHTS PACT IN ROHINGYA CRACKDOWN
 Myanmar violated its obligations to the United Nations child rights convention in its crackdown on the Rohingya that led to an exodus
of hundreds of thousands of people from the minority community, legal experts have found.
 Children make up around half of the more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to neighbouring
Bangladesh since the start of a military crackdown last August.
 The U.N. has called the Myanmar military operations a ―textbook example of ethnic cleansing‖. Myanmar denies the allegation and
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has said it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation after Muslim militants attacked security posts.
CUBA'S DRAFT CONSTITUTION OPENS PATH TO GAY MARRIAGE
 The draft of Cuba‘s new constitution opens the path to same-sex marriage, which would make the country that once persecuted
homosexuals an unlikely leader in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.
 In the early years of Fidel Castro‘s 1959 revolution, many homosexuals were sent to correctional labour camps, part of an
institutionalized homophobia for which Castro later apologised.

 Yet Communist-run Cuba has made great strides over the past decade on LGBT rights, approving sex-change operations and
banning workplace discrimination, partly thanks to the high-profile advocacy of Castro‘s niece Mariela Castro.
 Proposals to recognise same-sex unions had stalled in view of the slow legislative process and lingering stigma in the macho society.
 The move reflects a trend in Latin America where same-sex couples have been allowed to marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia,
Uruguay and some parts of Mexico in recent years, despite church opposition.
ERITREA APPOINTS FIRST AMBASSADOR TO ETHIOPIA
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 Eritrea has appointed its first ambassador to neighbouring Ethiopia in two decades, as the former foes pushed on with a
rapprochement. Since signing an agreement in Asmara on July 9 to restore ties, Eritrean and Ethiopian leaders have moved swiftly to
sweep away two decades of hostility since conflict erupted between the two neighbours in the Horn of Africa in 1998.
 Ethiopia named RedwanHussien, formerly Ethiopian ambassador to Ireland, to become Addis Ababa‘s representative in Asmara.
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CHINA $295 MILLION GRANT TO SRI LANKA
 Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered Sri Lanka a fresh grant of 2 billion yuan ($295 million), as China looks to expand its influence
in the tiny island country off India‘s southern tip.
 President MaithripalaSirisena of Sri Lanka, a partner in Beijing‘s multi-country Belt and Road infrastructure push, made the
announcement at a ceremony marking the start of construction of a Chinese-funded kidney hospital in his home constituency of
Polonnaruwa, 230 km (142.92 miles) from Colombo.
 China was among the first countries that stepped in to help the reconstruction of Sri Lanka after a 26-year-long civil war ended in
2009. China and Sri Lanka have traditionally been friends and China has provided assistance according to Sri Lanka‘s development
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needs. The 2014 docking of a Chinese navy submarine in Colombo raised an alarm in New Delhi, prompting Indian Prime Minister
NarendraModi to boost ties with Sri Lanka and claw back influence in the Indian Ocean region.
TURKEY APPROVES SECURITY LAW AFTER STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTED
 Turkey‘s parliament approved all articles of a security law to continue fighting against terrorism after a two-year-old state of
emergency, imposed after a failed coup, was lifted.
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 The law will grant broader authority to local governors, extend detention periods and allow public servant dismissals if ther e are links
to or contacts with terrorist organisations or other perceived threats to national security.
CONGO DECLARES EBOLA FLARE-UP OVER
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Democratic Republic of Congo declared an end to an Ebola outbreak believed to have killed 33 people after what experts hailed as a
swift response to the flare-up in one of the world‘s most difficult environments.
 The flare-up, first detected in the rural village of IkokoImpenge in northwest Congo in April, was dealt with rapidly by the World Health
Organization and Congolese authorities, including the deployment of an experimental vaccine given to over 3,300 people.
 That helped contain the impact of the virus even when it reached the city of Mbandaka, a crowded trading hub of 1.5 million people on
the Congo River with direct boat and plane links to the sprawling capital Kinshasa.
 Ebola, believed to be spread over long distances by bats, causes hemorrhagic fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and is spread through
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direct contact with body fluids. It often spreads to humans via infected bush meat.
DOWNED SYRIAN JET VIOLATED 1974 GOLAN DEMILITARISATION
 A Syrian warplane shot down by Israel over the Golan Heights was in ―gross violation‖ of a 1974 U.N.-monitored demilitarisation deal
on the strategic plateau, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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RWANDA SIGNS $300 MILLION IN LOAN DEALS WITH CHINA AND INDIA
 Rwanda signed loan agreements worth more than $300 million (229 million pounds) with China and India to fund roads and irrigation.
 Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Rwanda and granted a loan to build two roads.
 India‘s Prime Minister NarendraModi arrived on the way to a summit in South Africa and agreed $200 million in loans.
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 With India Rwanda signed a loan of $100 million for irrigation in three separate areas in the country and $100 million for developing
special economic zones.
 With China Rwanda signed a loan agreement of $76 million for the road from Huye to Kibeho and for the new Bugesera airport access
road it is $50 million.
EL SALVADOR DECLARES EMERGENCY

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 El Salvador began taking emergency measures in a drought that has plagued the country for a month and cost tens of thousands of
farmers their corn crops.
 The east of the Central American country has gone 33 days without rain and temperatures have hit a record 41 Celsius (107.6
Fahrenheit), leaving many families without water.
 The government declared a ―red alert,‖ meaning it will seek to use public funds to ensure food supplies and help farmers sow their
crops again.
ISRAEL ATTACKS SYRIAN LAUNCHER

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 Israeli jets and artillery attacked a site in Syria from where two rockets were launched which were thought to have landed in the Sea of
Galilee, close to beachgoers.
 After air raid sirens sounded in the south of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the rockets had been fired from Syria towards Israel.
They appeared to be stray fire from the fighting inside Syria.
 There have been many instances of stray fire landing on the Israeli side of the rocky Golan plateau during years of fighting between
Syrian rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, but a rocket flying between 7-10 kilometres (4-6 miles) and landing in the
lake would be the farthest yet.

USA LIFTS RESTRICTIONS ON MILITARY AID FOR EGYPT
 The Trump administration has decided to unfreeze $195 million (147.97 million pounds) in military aid to Egypt which it had previously
withheld because of concerns over Egypt‘s human rights record.
 The decision to allow Egypt to use the previously blocked funds is intended to recognise ―steps Egypt has taken over the last year in
response to specific U.S. concerns‖ and in the spirit of strengthening the partnership with Egypt.
 The $195 million in aid was part of the U.S. government‘s fiscal year 2016 budget. The funds, known as Foreign Military Financing,
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are intended for Egypt to buy U.S.-made military equipment.
SOUTH SUDAN GOVERNMENT, MAIN OPPOSITION GROUP SIGN PEACE DEAL
 South Sudan‘s government and the main rebel group inked a power-sharing deal in the Sudanese capital Khartoum which they hope
will end years of conflict.
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 The agreement, which was reached earlier this month in talks in Uganda, provides for creating a new 35-member government
comprising 20 ministers from the current government of President SalvaKiir. Machar‘s SPLM-IO rebel group will have nine portfolios
and the rest will go to other opposition groups.
 Apart from Machar, Kiir will have four more deputies during an interim period under the agreement that was guided by Sudan and
other east African nations.
 South Sudan descended into a civil war that ravaged the country in 2013 after a political disagreement between Machar and Kiir
pushed them apart.
EUROPE ADOPTS NEW PILOT MENTAL HEALTH RULES
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 Three years after the Germanwings crash in which a pilot deliberately flew a jet into a mountainside, the European Commission has
adopted new rules on pilot mental health requiring airlines for the first time to carry out a psychological assessment of pil ots before
they hire them.
 Investigators have concluded that pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit and deliberately flew the Germanwings
A320 jet into a French mountainside on March 24, 2015 on a flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, killing all 150 people on board.
 Prosecutors have said Lubitz was suffering from a mental disorder with psychotic symptoms that led to suicidal thoughts but he had
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concealed his illness from his employer, part of the Lufthansa group (LHAG.DE).
 The new rules seek to prevent a similar tragedy by providing all pilots with access to a support programme in case of mental health
problems and by making European airlines perform a psychological assessment of pilots before they start work.
 Pilots are already subject to annual medical checks but these have not routinely included a full mental health assessment.
 Random alcohol testing for all European airlines and those foreign carriers which fly into the European Union will become man datory,
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while flight and cabin crew will also face more testing for psychoactive substances.
 Airlines and EU member states now have a two-year transition period in which to implement the new rules.
POLAND ADOPTS LAW TO MAKE CHANGES IN SUPREME COURT
 The upper chamber of Poland‘s parliament has approved an amendment smoothing the way for the ruling party to name the next chief
of the Supreme Court, despite street protests and objections from opposition parties.
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 The European Union, human rights groups and the opposition have all accused the government of infringing judicial independenc e,
but the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party says an overhaul is needed to boost the courts‘ efficiency and eradicate the
residual influence of the communist past.
 In July, 22 Supreme Court judges were forced into early retirement but chief Judge MalgorzataGersdorf has refused to go, saying her
constitutional term expires in 2020. She has become a symbol of resistance to the judicial revamp.
 Since the PiS won power, dozens of judges have been dismissed from the Constitutional Tribunal, the National Judiciary Counci l,
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which decides judicial appointments, and now the Supreme Court.
WTO MEMBERS REVIEW FOUR REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
 WTO members reviewed the Canada-European Union, Canada-Ukraine, Costa Rica-Colombia, and EU-San Marino trade agreements
at a meeting of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) on 19-20 June.
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 The Committee also adopted a new template for members to notify changes to existing RTAs.
IRAN BANS IMPORT OF 1,300 ITEMS
 Iran banned imports of over 1,300 products, preparing its economy to resist threatened U.S. sanctions, amid rare public protests
against the plunge of its currency to record lows.
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 The rial is under heavy pressure from the U.S. sanctions threat. It sank as low as 90,000 against the dollar in the unofficia l market
from 87,000.
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JUDICIARY & RELATED NEWS

L-G BOUND BY ‗AID AND ADVICE‘ OF DELHI GOVT: SC CONSTITUTION BENCH
 A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously held that Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal is bound by the ―aid and
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advice‖ of the Arvind Kejriwal government.
 In case of difference of opinion, the L-G should straightaway refer the dispute to the President for a final decision without sitting over it
or stultifying the governance in the National Capital, the Bench said. It concluded that the governance of Delhi cannot rest upon the
whims of one functionary — the Lieutenant-Governor.
 “The Lieutenant-Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power. He has to either act on the „aid and
advice‟ of the Council of Ministers or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by him,”
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Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra held in his opinion, shared by Justices A.K. Sikri and A.M. Khanwilkar.
 Chief Justice Misra, along with Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan in their separate but concurring opinions, cautioned
the L-G against sending every ―trivial‖ dispute with the government to the President.
 The judgment came on appeals filed by the NCT government against an August 4, 2016, verdict of the Delhi High Court, which had
declared that the L-G has ―complete control of all matters regarding the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and nothing will happen
without the concurrence of the L-G.‖
 Chief Justice Misra said the ―L-G must work harmoniously with his Ministers‖.
 Article 141 of the Constitution says that the law declared by the SC shall be binding on all courts within the territory of I ndia. Article
144 says that all authorities, civil and judicial, in the territory of India shall act in aid of the SC. No one c an argue that Article 141
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speaks only about courts and not the government. The law declared by SC is binding on all authorities in the country. So, the law
declared by the constitution bench on the jurisdiction of the Delhi government is binding on the Union as well as the Delhi government.
Similarly, the direction going from Article 144 is that all authorities shall act in aid of the SC. In other words, the Const itution requires
the authorities to so act as to implement or enforce the apex court‘s judgments and directions and not to create hurdles in its way.
 ABOUT DELHI: The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is the governing authority of the Indian national capital
territory of Delhi and its 11 districts. It consists of an executive, led by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, a judiciary and a legislative.
The present Legislative Assembly of Delhi is unicameral, consisting of 70 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
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 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) handles civic administration for the city as part of the Panchayati Raj Act. New Delhi, an
urban area in Delhi, is the seat of both the State Government of Delhi and the Government of India. The National Capital Terr itory of
Delhi (NCT) has three local municipal corporations namely, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council
(NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board.
 The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is appointed by the President of India, as agent of President and not head of state like governor, on
the advice of the Central government.
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 Put simply, this legal structure envisages two constitutional authorities – the elected Chief Minister of Delhi (at the head of the Council
of Ministers) and the Lieutenant-Governor, the appointee of the central government. When Delhi began life in the colonial era as the
Chief Commissioner‘s Province, it was ruled by an Administrator who, in effect, ruled as an autocrat. The spread of representative
government through British India passed Delhi by, and it was only after Independence that, through incremental amendments to the
Constitution (culminating in Article 239AA), representative institutions came to Delhi. During this time, the position of the Administrator
was transformed into the Lieutenant-Governor, and he became a representative of the central government in Delhi. This, ultimately, is
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what led to the constitutional ambiguity: in Indian states, the equivalent of the LG – the Governor – was little more than a titular head,
bound to act upon the ―aid and advice‖ of the elected government, with only a narrowly circumscribed sphere of discretion.
 However, as Delhi moved from an autocracy to a representative government, its status as the national capital prompted the
Parliament to refrain from granting it full statehood.
 At the heart of the dispute lay two articles: Article 239AA(3)(a), and Article 239AA(4). These articles state:
 239AA(3)(a): Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the [Delhi] Legislative Assembly shall have power to make laws for the
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whole or any part of the National Capital Territory with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State of List or in the
Concurrent List in so far as any such matter is applicable to Union territories except matters with respect to Entries 1,2, and 18 of the
State List and Entries 44, 65 and 66 of that List in so far as they relate to the said Entries 1,2,and 18.
 239AA(4): There shall be a Council of Ministers consisting of not more than ten percent, of the total number of members in the
Legislative Assembly, with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Lieutenant Governor in the exercise to his functions in
relation to matters with respect to which the Legislative Assembly has power to make laws, except in so far as he is, by or under any
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law, required to act in his discretion.

 Provided that in the case of difference of opinion between the Lieutenant Governor and his Ministers on any matter, the Lieut enant
Governor shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to the decision given thereon by the President and pending such
decision it shall be competent for the Lieutenant Governor in any case where the matter, in his opinion, is so urgent that it is necessary
for him to take immediate action, to take such action or to give such direction in the matter as he deems necessary.
 To put matters very simply, there were two broad issues that arose. The first was the meaning of the phrase ―aid and advise.‖ It was
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settled law – and also written into the Constitution through amendment – that in the case of the central government and the state
governments, the words ―aid and advise‖ – which are used in reference to the President and the Governors – mean ―aid and advice
that is binding.‖
 In other words, the President and the Governors must act in accordance with the ―aid and advice‖ tendered to them by the Council of
Ministers.
 However, Delhi‘s status as not-quite-a-state, and the absence of any explicit recognition that the LG had to act upon the aid and
advice, allowed the Union Government to argue – and the Delhi High Court to hold – that in this regard, the LG‘s position was not
equivalent to the President and the Governors, and that he was not bound by the aid and advice of Delhi‘s elected Council of
Ministers. Let us call this Phase One: The Demarcation of Executive Power.
 The second issue was about the meaning of the phrase ―on any matter.‖ If the constitutional position was that the executive power of
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Delhi lay with the elected council of ministers, then the next question arose whether in all cases, the LG was authorised to have a
―difference of opinion‖, and escalate the matter to the President.
Highlights of SC Judgement:
 In a democratic republic, collective is the supreme and the elected representatives reflects the will of the collective.
 Parliamentary form of government is based on principle of collective responsibility of the cabinet. If a well deliberated legitimate
decision of the Council of Ministers is not given effect to due to an attitude to differ on the part of the Lieutenant Governor, then the
concept of collective responsibility would stand negated.
 Our Constitution contemplates a meaningful orchestration of federalism and democracy to put in place an egalitarian social order.

 The Union and the State Governments must embrace a collaborative federal architecture by displaying harmonious co-existence and
interdependence so as to avoid any possible constitutional discord.
 The Constitution has mandated a federal balance wherein independence of a certain required degree is assured to the State
Governments. As opposed to centralism, a balanced federal structure mandates that the Union does not usurp all powers and t he
States enjoy freedom without any unsolicited interference from the Central Government with respect to matters which exclusively fall
within their domain.
 The status of NCT of Delhi is sui generis, a class apart, and the status of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is not that of a Governor of
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a State, rather he remains an Administrator, in a limited sense, working with the designation of Lieutenant Governor.
 With the insertion of Article 239AA by virtue of the Sixty-ninth Amendment, the Parliament envisaged a representative f orm of
Government for the NCT of Delhi. The said provision intends to provide for the Capital a directly elected Legislative
Assembly which shall have legislative powers over matters falling within the State List and the Concurrent Li st, barring
those excepted, and a mandate upon the Lieutenant Governor to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers except when
he decides to refer the matter to the President for final decision.
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 The interpretative dissection of Article 239AA(3) (a) reveals that the Parliament has the power to make laws for the National Capital
Territory of Delhi with respect to any matters enumerated in the State List and the Concurrent List. At the same time, the Legislative
Assembly of Delhi also has the power to make laws over all those subjects which figure in the Concurrent List and all, but three
excluded subjects, in the State List
 A conjoint reading of clauses (3)(a) and (4) of Article 239AA divulges that the executive power of the Government of NCTD is
co-extensive with the legislative power of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and, accordingly, the executive power of the Council of
Ministers of Delhi spans over all subjects in the Concurrent List and all, but three excluded subjects, in the State List.
However, if the Parliament makes law in respect of certain subjects falling in the State List or the Concurrent List, the executive
action of the State must conform to the law made by the Parliament.
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 The Union of India has exclusive executive power with respect to the NCT of Delhi relating to the three matters in the State List in
respect of which the power of the Delhi Legislative Assembly has been excluded. In respect of other matters, the executive power is
to be exercised by the Government of NCT of Delhi.
 The meaning of „aid and advise‟ employed in Article 239AA(4) has to be construed to mean that the Lieutenant Governor of NCT of
Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and this position holds true so long as the Li eutenant
Governor does not exercise his power under the proviso to clause (4) of Article 239AA. The Lieutenant Governor has not been
entrusted with any independent decisionmaking power. He has to either act on the „aid and advice‟ of Council of Ministers
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or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by him
 The words “any matter” employed in the proviso to clause (4) of Article 239AA cannot be inferred to mean “every matter”. The
power of the Lieutenant Governor under the said proviso represents the exception and not the general rule which has to be
exercised in exceptional circumstances by the Lieutenant Governor keeping in mind the standards of constitutional trust and
morality, the principle of collaborative federalism and constitutional balance, the concept of constitutional governance and
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objectivity and the nurtured and cultivated idea of respect for a representative government.
 The Lieutenant Governor should not act in a mechanical manner without due application of mind so as to refer every decision of the
Council of Ministers to the President.
 The difference of opinion between the Lieutenant Governor and the Council of Ministers should have a sound rationale and there
should not be exposition of the phenomenon of an obstructionist but reflection of the philosophy of affirmative constructioni sm and
profound sagacity and judiciousness.
 The Lieutenant Governor, being the Administrative head, shall be kept informed with respect to all the decisions taken by the
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Council of Ministers
 The NCT represents the aspirations of the residents of its territory. But it embodies, in its character as a capital city the political
symbolism underlying national governance.
 An elected government reflects in a democracy, the aspirations of the people who vote to elect their representatives. The elected
representatives carry the responsibility of giving expression to the political will of the electorate. In a democratic form of government,
real power must subsist in the elected arms of the State.
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 The principle of aid and advice is in a constitutional sense intended to strengthen the constitutional value of representativ e
government and of governance which is accountable and responsive to the electorate.
 The provisions of Article 239AA represent a clear mandate of the Constitution to provide institutional governance founded on
participatory, representative and responsive government.
 The executive power of the government of NCT is co-extensive with the legislative power. The principle of aid and advice under clause
4 of Article 239AA extends to areas where the Lieutenant Governor exercises functions in relation to matters where the legisl ative
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assembly has the power to make laws. In consequence, those matters on which the legislative assembly does not have the power to
enact legislation are not governed by the principle of aid and advice. Similarly, the Lieutenant Governor is not subject to aid and
advice on matters where he is required to exercise his own discretion by or under any law.
 The Parliament has power to make laws for NCTD in respect of any of the matters enumerated in State List and Concurrent List. The
Legislative Assembly of NCTD has also legislative power with respect to matters enumerated in the State List (except excepted
entries) and in the Concurrent List.
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 The “aid and advice” given by Council of Ministers as referred to in subclause (4) of Article 239AA is binding o n the LG
unless he decides to exercise his power given in proviso to sub-clause (2) of Article 239AA.
 The Legislative Assembly of NCTD being representing the views of elected representatives, their opinion and decisions have to be
respected in all cases except where LG decides to make a reference to the President
 The power given in proviso to sub-clause (4) to LG is not to be exercised in a routine manner rather it is to be exercised by the LG on
valid reasons after due consideration when it becomes necessary to safeguard the interest of the Union Territory.
 LG has to be kept informed of all proposals, agendas and decisions taken. The purpose of communication of all decisions is to keep
him posted with the administration of Delhi.
 From persons holding high office, it is expected that they shall conduct themselves in faithful discharge of their duties so as to ensure
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smooth running of administration so that rights of all can be protected.
CAUVERY AUTHORITY DIRECTS KARNATAKA TO RELEASE WATER
 The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), at its first meeting directed Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu and other
States but did not discuss Karnataka‘s decision to challenge the constitution of the CWMA in the Supreme Court.
 The Karnataka government decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the setting up of the CWMA and the Cauvery
Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on the grounds that the move should have been discussed in Parliament.
 CWMA had directed Karnataka to release 34 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Biligundulu site. This would be over
and above the water released in June.

 The CWMA, which is yet to appoint full-time members, is scheduled to meet every 10 days during the monsoon months.
 Based on the storage of water in various reservoirs — Hemavathy, Harangi, Krishnarajasagar, Kabini, Mettur, Bhavanisagar,
Amaravathy and Banasurasagar — it will recommend how much water ought to be released in keeping with the Supreme Court‘s
recent verdict in these blocks of 10 days.
 The apex court‘s February verdict had said Karnataka will get 284.75 tmcft, Tamil Nadu 404.25 tmcft and Kerala and Puducherry 30
and 7 tmcft respectively.
 The CWMA includes Tinku Biswal, S.K. Prabhakar, A. Anbarasu and Rakesh Singh, secretaries of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
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and Karnataka looking after the departments of water resources, besides representatives of the Central Water Commission and Union
Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources.
 The CWMA will be headed by the Chairman, a senior and eminent engineer or a Secretary/Additional Secretary-level executive with
experience in handling inter-State water disputes.
 The Authority will have two whole-time members and six part-time members, including one each nominated from the riparian States.
There will be a Secretary from the Central Water Engineering Services cadre, but without voting rights.
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SC UPHOLDS APPOINTMENTS OF CVC
 The Supreme Court upheld the appointments of Central Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chowdary and Vigilance Commissioner T.M.
Bhasin almost three years after they assumed office in 2015.
 Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Mohan M. Shantanagoudar said allegations could be made against even ―very honest persons‖
and such complaints could not be taken at face value.
 The petition alleged that the appointments were illegal, void and a violation of institutional integrity.
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CONSULT UPSC FOR SELECTING POLICE CHIEFS, SC TELLS STATES
 The Supreme Court restrained the State governments from appointing Directors-General of Police without first consulting the Union
Public Service Commission (UPSC).
 The State government concerned has to send to the service commission the names of the probables three months before the
incumbent DGP is to retire.
 The UPSC will prepare a list of three officers fit to be DGP and send it back. It shall, as far as practicable, choose the people who
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have got a clear two years of service and must give due weightage to merit and seniority. The State, in turn, shall ‗immediately‘
appoint one of the persons shortlisted by the commission.
 A Bench, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, passed the directions on an application by the Centre for modification of a September 22,
2006 judgment on a petition filed by former DGPs Prakash Singh and N.K. Singh for reforms in the police forces.
 In 2006, the court passed seven directives, primarily to ―ensure that State governments do not exercise unwarranted influence or
pressure on the police.‖
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SC SEEKS PLAN TO ERADICATE LEPROSY
 The Supreme Court directed the Centre to file a comprehensive action plan to ensure eradication of leprosy, saying the ‗curable‘
disease cannot be allowed to affect people.
 A SC Bench said it would examine the action plan and pass judgement on the issue.
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 The Bench was informed that Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were leprosy-endemic States and efforts were needed to
eradicate the disease from these States.
 The court had earlier rapped the authorities for their ―apathy‖ towards eradicating leprosy from the country, saying despite it being
‗curable‘, the disease still remained a stigma.
 Leprosy affects over 1.25 lakh people annually in the country.Despite an effective cure, namely Multi-Drug Therapy, which has been
available since 1981, that can completely cure 99% of leprosy bacteria, due to apathy of the Government of India and the State
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governments, people are still suffering from the said disease, which is treated as a social stigma.
 It sought a direction to the governments that the drugs be made available at primary health centres.
NGT FINES DELHI GOVT
 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the Delhi government for not filing responses to a plea alleging
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faulty sewage facilities in a south Delhi colony.

 Earlier, the tribunal had directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to inspect the matter and had asked officials from the
Delhi Jal Board to propose a layout plan for the drainage of sewage from the colony.
 However, the SDMC had informed the green panel that the properties in question were ―unauthorised properties‖.
CJI ALONE IS MASTER OF THE ROSTER, RULES SC

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 The term ‗Chief Justice of India‘ denotes an individual judge and not a collective of the first three or five senior -most judges of the
Supreme Court called the ‗Collegium,‘ the Supreme Court declared.
 It is the exclusive authority of this individual judge to allocate cases to fellow judges in his role as the master of the roster, a Bench of
Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan clarified in their separate but concurring opinions.
 The ruling is based on a petition by former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan to have the Collegium collectively allocate cases.
 On January 12, four Supreme Court Justices - Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice
Kurian Joseph - held a press conference to register their differences with the Chief Justice of India in matters related to court
administration. Later, a letter they have written to the Chief Justice was made available to the media. One of the key issues raised in
the letter revolves around the term ‗master of the roster.‘
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 ‗Master of the Roster‘ refers to the privilege of the Chief Justice to constitute Benches to hear cases.
 This privilege was emphasised in November last year, when a Constitution Bench, led by the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra,
declared that ―the Chief Justice is the master of the roster and he alone has the prerogative to constitute the Benches of the Court and
allocate cases to the Benches so constituted.‖
 It further said that ―no Judge can take up the matter on this own, unless allocated by the Chief Justice of India, as he is the master of
the roster.‖
 The immediate trigger for this was a direction by a two-judge Bench (led by Justice Chelameswar) that a petition regarding a medical
college corruption case, involving an alleged conspiracy to bribe Supreme Court judges, be heard by a Bench fo the five senior-most
judges of the Supreme Court.

 In their letter, the four judges have also written that there are ―well-settled and time honoured conventions guiding the Chief Justice‖ in
the determination of the roster, including those about the strength of the Bench to deal with a particular case. Of late, they write, these
rules haven‘t been strictly adhered to.
 The bench said the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, had been notified with the President's approval and they alone would be the guiding
light for the court on allocation of cases and benches.
 The bench said every judge appointed to the top court under Article 124 of the Constitution is invested with the equal duty of
adjudicating cases assigned by the Chief Justice.
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 This topic explained in detail in June 2018 Book.
SC PROCEEDINGS TO GO LIVE
 The Supreme Court said that it is ready to go live on camera while the government mooted a separate TV channel for live-streaming
court proceedings.
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 A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said a livestream is
only an extension of the ‗open court‘ system, where the public can walk in and watch court proceedings. However, with court
proceedings beamed live on air, litigants, law students and the public can watch them as they happen.
 A livestream would help litigants follow the proceedings in their case and also assess their lawyers‘ performance. People from far-
flung States such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala do not have to travel all the way to the national capital for a day‘s hearing.
 Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal proposed a dedicated channel like the Rajya Sabha TV and the Lok Sabha TV for the Supreme
Court.
 Livestream would keep a check on lawyers‘ conduct inside the courtrooms. With the entire country watching them, there would be
fewer interruptions, raised voices and adjournments from the lawyers.
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 In the British courts proceedings are live-streamed.
 There are however reservations about live-streaming cases involving national security concerns, matrimonial disputes and rape cases.
A public viewing of marital dispute and rape case proceedings would seriously affect justice and amount to a violation of the
fundamental right to privacy.
 Senior advocate Indira Jaising cautioned that agreements with broadcasters should be on a non-commercial basis. No one should
profit from the arrangement. She also submitted that there should be no unauthorised reproduction.
 Citizens have the right to information and matters of constitutional and national importance can be live-streamed. If livestream of the
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top court‘s proceedings is not possible, alternatively the video recording should be allowed.
DON‘T EXCEED 50% QUOTA IN GRAM PANCHAYATS: HC
 The Hyderabad High Court passed an interim order directing Telangana state to ensure that reservations in gram panchayats (GPs)
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do not exceed 50% as per an earlier directive issued by the Supreme Court.
 A division bench delivered the order, after hearing two writ petitions related to reservations in gram panchayats and other local bodies.
Petitioners contended that provisions relating to reservations in Telangana Panchayat Raj Act 2018 were contrary to direction given by
the Apex Court earlier.
 They sought the High Court to set aside the recently issued government orderNo. 396 and provide reservations as laid down in the
Supreme Court‘s earlier directive.
 The government order results in more than 50% reservations to the BCs, SCs and the STs.
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 The bench explained that the Apex Court had given exceptions to the ceiling of 50% reservations only to the STs in Scheduled Areas.
BEING AN MP NOT A FULL-TIME JOB: CENTRE
 The Centre told the Supreme Court, that being a Member of Parliament is not a ―full-time‖ job and legislators cannot be stopped from
doubling up as advocates.
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 Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal made this submission before a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on a
petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay to ban sitting MPs from practising in courts.
 The Centre‘s stand is significant as many Opposition MPs are senior advocates like Abhishek Manu Singhvi, P. Chidambaram, who
play vital roles in politically-sensitive cases in the Supreme Court. Mr. Singhvi recently won the case for the Congress in the Karnataka
elections.
 The focus of the petition is Rule 49 of the Bar Council of India Rules, which mandates that ―an advocate shall not be a full-time
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salaried employee of any person, government or concern‖.

 According to Petitioner, MPs are ―employees‖ of the government. They draw salaries and there is nothing ―part-time about being an
MP‖.
NO GROUND TO ERASE DEATH PENALTY: SC

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 The Supreme Court said that the abolition of death penalty by the British Parliament, several Latin American nations and Australian
states was no ground to erase it from the statutes in India.
 The court, which dismissed the review pleas filed by three of the four death row convicts of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, said there
was no illegality in awarding capital punishment in ―appropriate cases‖ as long as death penalty remained in the penal code.
 A bench of Chief Justice observed that after elaborately considering the existence of death penalty in the penal code, consti tutional
provisions and international covenant on civil and criminal rights, a constitution bench of the apex court held that death penalty was
―constitutionally valid.‖
MAKE LYNCHING A SEPARATE OFFENCE, SC TELLS PARLIAMENT

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 The Supreme Court condemned the recent spate of lynchings as ―horrendous acts of mobocracy‖ and told Parliament to make
lynching a separate offence.
 The 45-page judgment, by a three-judge Bench described lynchings and mob violence as ―creeping threats‖. The court warned that
the rising wave of frenzied mobs — fed by fake news, self-professed morality and false stories — would consume the country like a
―typhoon-like monster.‖
 It said the primary obligation of the government is to protect all individuals irrespective of race, caste, class or religion.
 It directed several preventive, remedial and punitive measures to deal with lynching and mob violence. It ordered the Centre and the
States to implement the measures and file compliance reports.

 SC said that mob lynching is a crime no matter what the motive is and added that it is a law and order issue that is the responsibility of
state governments.
LYNCHING & THE LAW
 The Supreme Court order calling for a special law to deal with lynching sends a strong message about the growing phenomenon of
mob violence. From vigilante violence targeting cattle traders in the name of cow protection, it has taken a new turn. While the former
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was organised vigilantism, the recent spate of killings seemingly comprises impulsive and unplanned acts of violence, fuelled by
rumour and panic-inducing social media messaging.
 Last year the apex court reminded the Centre and the States they cannot remain silent while vigilantes take the law into thei r own
hands in the name of cow protection. It asked all States to appoint nodal officers in each district to curb mobs. While the incidence of
lynching and violence committed by self-styled gau rakshaks appear to have reduced since then, the killing and attacks on those
mistaken to be child-kidnappers have had a disquieting rise.
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 The police say the circulation of videos and other messages about child-lifters through messaging apps is the main reason.
 In its 45-page order, the Supreme Court has significantly located lynching and vigilante violence in a socio-political framework linked to
disrespect for an inclusive social order, rising intolerance and growing polarisation. There is an implicit indictment of the preponderant
mood of the times when it says that ―hate crimes as a product of intolerance, ideological dominance and prejudice ought not t o be
tolerated‖.
 Besides directing specific preventive, punitive and remedial measures, a three-judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India has
mooted the idea of making lynching a separate offence. It says a special law would ―instil a sense of fear‖ among those involved.
 Whether a special law is enough to ensure a greater level of deterrence is open to question, especially so when murder and mob
violence are covered by existing provisions. But in sending this message out, the apex court has ensured that the issue cannot be
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brushed under the carpet and, ipso facto , has forced those who govern us to pay special attention towards curbing this madness.
 Any legislation though should be comprehensive, covering not only incidents of lynching, but also the extent to which criminality can
be apportioned among rumour-mongers, instigators, principal offenders and those who are accessories to the crime. Whether it must
penalise (and if so how) those who do nothing to stop such crimes or help bring the offenders to book, is another issue worth
considering. The judgment places the onus on the law and order machinery to prevent and punish lynchings. But we must heed what it
says on the role of bigotry, non-acceptance of plurality and diversity in creating an atmosphere where human beings are
dehumanised: one in which freedom of speech, expression and personal choices are endangered.
TAHILRAMANI TO BE CJ OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
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The Madras High Court will shortly get a new Chief Justice in Justice V.K. Tahilramani with the incumbent, Justice Indira Banerjee,
being recommended by the Supreme Court collegium for appointment to the top court.
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The collegium recommended Patna Chief Justice Rajendra Menon to take over as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. The
acting Chief Justice, Justice Gita Mittal, has been recommended for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High
Court, a post that has been lying vacant since the retirement of its last Chief Justice, B.D. Ahmed, on March 15, 2018. Justice Mittal
has been acting Chief Justice of the Delhi HC since April 2017.
 The collegium mentioned that it had earlier recommended Justice Aniruddha Bose of the Calcutta High Court as Chief Justice of the
Delhi High Court. However, the government had sought a review.
 Now, on the basis of this request, the collegium has recommended Justice Bose for appointment as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand
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High Court, instead of the Delhi High Court.
 It recommended the acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, to be appointed the Chief Justice in Delhi.
SC PULLS UP CENTRE FOR ITS DELAY IN APPOINTING A LOKPAL
 The Supreme Court said the government‘s stand on completing the appointment of the Lokpal, an ombudsman to protect the common
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man from corruption in public service and power centres, is ―wholly unsatisfactory‖.
 The court was reacting to an affidavit filed by the government, aiming to specify the exact timeframe by which it would appoi nt the
Lokpal.
 The eight-page affidavit said the Selection Committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met on July 19 on the choice of a Search
Committee for Lokpal. This Search Committee would prepare a panel of names for Lokpal.
 On July 19, the Selection Committee discussed that the Search Committee would comprise seven persons, including the Chairperson.
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These persons have to be from expertise as diverse as anti-corruption policy, public administration, insurance, banking, law and
management. Besides, 50% of them should be drawn from the SC/ST category, the OBCs, minorities and women. The Selection
panel decided to discuss this further the next time they meet at a convenient time.
 During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, who filed a contempt petition against the government for not appointing a Lokpal
despite an April 2017 judgment by the Supreme Court, said the court should now take over and appoint the Lokpal.
 A Lokpal is an anti-corruption authority or ombudsman who represents the public interest. The concept of an ombudsman is borrowed
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from Sweden. The Lokpal has jurisdiction over all Members of Parliament and central government employees in cases of corruption.
 The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013 with amendments in parliament, following the Jan Lokpal movement led by Anna
Hazare. The Lokpal is responsible for enquiring into corruption charges at the national level while the Lokayukta performs the same
function at the state level.
 As of February 2018, and ever since the related Act of Parliament was passed in India, The Indian Government is yet to appoint a
Lokpal.
 The term "Lokpal" was coined by Dr. L.M.Singhvi in 1963. The concept of a constitutional ombudsman was first proposed in
parliament by Law Minister Ashoke Kumar Sen in the early 1960s.
 The first Jan Lokpal Bill was proposed by M.C. Setalvad in 1968 and passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969, but did not pass through
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the Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, 'lokpal bills' were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, again by Ashoke Kumar Sen, while serving as Law
Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet, and again in 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed.
 Forty five years after its first introduction, the Lokpal Bill is finally enacted in India on 18 December 2013.
 Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013: Main Features:
 Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50% will be judicial members 50% members of
Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women. Selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal through a selection
committee consisting of PM, Speaker of Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme
Court judge nominated by CJI. Eminent jurist to be nominated by President of India on basis of recommendations of the first four
members of the selection committee "through consensus".

 Lokpal's jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. All entities (NGOs) receiving donations from foreign source in the
context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year are under the jurisdiction of Lokpal.
Centre will send Lokpal bill to states as a model bill. States have to set up Lokayuktas through a state law within 365 days.
 Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any central investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to
them by the ombudsman.
 A high-powered committee chaired by the PM will recommend selection of CBI director. The collegium will comprise PM, leader
of opposition in Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India PM has been brought under purview of the Lokpal, so also central ministers
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and senior officials.
 Directorate of prosecution will be under overall control of CBI director. At present, it comes under the law ministry.
 Appointment of director of prosecution to be based on recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission.
 Director of prosecution will also have a fixed tenure of two years like CBI chief.
 Transfer of CBI officers investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of watchdog.
 Bill incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is
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pending.
 Bill lays down clear timelines for preliminary enquiry and investigation and trial. Provides for special courts Public servants will not
present their view before preliminary enquiry if the case requires 'element of surprise' like raids and searches.
 Bill grants powers to Lokpal to sanction prosecution against public servants.
 CBI may appoint a panel of advocates with approval of Lokpal, CBI will not have to depend on govt advocates.
 On may 15th 2018, Mukul Rohtagi (Former Attorney Journal of India) has been appointed as eminent jurist in the selection panel
of Lokpal.
ISSUE OF WOMEN ENTRY IN SABARIMALA
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 Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta
District, Perunad grama panchayat in Kerala. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world with an estimated 45–50 million
devotees visiting every year.
 Ayyappan's temple is situated amidst 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 1260 m (4,133 ft) above mean sea
level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. The dense forest, (Periyar Tiger Reserve), around the temple is known as
Poongavanam.
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 Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at many places in the surrounding
areas like Nilakkal, Kalaketty, and Karimala remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.
 In 1991, Justice K Paripoornan and Justice K Balanarayana Marar of the Kerala High Court in their ruling against the Travancore
Devaswom Board, banned entry of women between ages above the age of 10 and below the age of 50 from offering worship at
Sabarimala Shrine during any period of the year stating that such restriction was in accordance with the usage prevalent from time
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immemorial.
 Ban on entry of women of a certain age group at the Sabarimala temple is based on the ―patriarchal‖ belief that the dominant status of
a man in society makes him capable of austerity, while a woman, who is only a ―chattel of a man,‖ is incapable of remaining pure for
the 41 days of penance before the pilgrimage, the Supreme Court observed.
 The Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the court could not accept a practice mired in patriarchy and chauvinism.
 The Travancore Devaswom Board, which is against the opening up of the Sabarimala temple to women aged between 10 and 51,
responded that every religion then was based on male chauvinism.
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 Preventing women‘s entry to the Sabarimala temple with an irrational and obsolete notion of ―purity‖ clearly offends the equality
clauses in the Constitution. It denotes a patriarchal and partisan approach. The entry prohibition takes away the woman‘s right against
discrimination guaranteed under Article 15(1) of the Constitution. It curtails her religious freedom assured by Article 25(1). Prohibition
of women‘s entry to the shrine solely on the basis of womanhood and the biological features associated with womanhood is
derogatory to women, which Article 51A(e) aims to renounce. The classification based on age is, in essence, an act of discrimination
based on sex.
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 The right to enter a temple is not dependent on a legislation. It is the constitutional right," the SC bench said, adding that this right is
enshrined under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
NEW SYSTEM TO REDUCE PENDENCY WITH TRIBUNALS IN MAHARASHTRA
 The State government is setting up a new system to ensure cases pending with a dozen-odd tribunals are better managed.
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 The latest Case Management System (CMS), to be implemented by the Maharashtra Law and Judiciary Department, is estimated to
save more than Rs. 125 crore in costs, of which Rs. 63 crore is being borne by litigants.
 The CMS will be implemented with the help of NGO Daksh, which conducts research and activities to promote accountability and
better governance in the judiciary. At present, there are over two lakh cases pending with tribunals.
 According to an estimate, the average court-related costs per day for an individual is Rs. 1,049, of which Rs. 728 is a direct cost and
Rs. 321 is due to loss of business while appearing for proceedings. Not only can this cost to litigants be reduced if cases are managed
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systematically, the number of hearings could come down by approximately three per case. This, the government says, will resul t in a
reduction of litigants‘ expenditure by Rs. 63 crore.
 In addition, as there are mostly two parties per case, the overall cost is Rs. 125 crore. This can be curtailed with the new system. The
system will be first implemented by the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, Maharashtra Accident Claims, School, Maharashtra
Revenue, Goods and Services Tax Appellate and University and College tribunals, and the State Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission. If successful, the plan will be extended to cover more tribunals.
 Not only the system but it is always one side of the litigation which benefits from the delay. The appointments to the tribunals too are
never made on time. All these factors ail the tribunal ecosystem.
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ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

PSI TO PROTECT WORLD HERITAGE SITES
 UN Environment‘s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI)—the largest collaborative initiative between the United Nations
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and the insurance industry—in partnership with WWF and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage Centre, have launched the first-ever global insurance industry statement of commitment to protect the outstanding universal
value of World Heritage Sites.
 About the UNEP FI Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI Initiative): Launched at the 2012 UN Conference on
Sustainable Development, the UNEP FI Principles for Sustainable Insurance serve as a global framework for the insurance industry to
address environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities.
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 Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General, the Principles have led to the largest collaborative initiative between the UN and the
insurance industry—the PSI Initiative.
 As of now, 83 organisations have adopted the Principles, including insurers representing approximately 20% of world premium volume
and USD 14 trillion in assets under management. The Principles are part of the insurance industry criteria of the Dow Jones
Sustainability Indices and FTSE4Good.
 The vision of the PSI Initiative is of a risk aware world, where the insurance industry is trusted and plays its full role in enabling a
healthy, safe, resilient and sustainable society.
 The purpose of the PSI Initiative is to better understand, prevent and reduce environmental, social and governance risks, and better
manage opportunities to provide quality and reliable risk protection.
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BELIZE BARRIER REEF RESERVE SYSTEM
 The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Manama decided to remove the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from the List of World
Heritage in Danger.
 The Committee considered that safeguarding measures taken by the country, notably the introduction of a moratorium on oil
exploration in the entire maritime zone of Belize and the strengthening of forestry regulations allowing for better protection of
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mangroves, warranted the removal of the site from the World Heritage List in Danger.
 The site was inscribed on the List in Danger in 2009 due to the destruction of mangroves and marine ecosystems, offshore oil
extraction, and the development of non-sustainable building projects.
 The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1996, is an outstanding natural system consis ting of
the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and
estuaries. The system‘s seven sites illustrate the evolutionary history of reef development and are a significant habitat for threatened
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species, including the marine turtle, the manatee and the American marine crocodile.
 The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions threatening the very
characteristics that warranted the inscription of a property on the World Heritage List and encourage corrective measures.
List of World Heritage in Danger: The following 54 properties which the World Heritage Committee has decided to include on the List of
World Heritage in danger in accordance with Article 11 (4) of the Convention.
Afghanistan 18. Hatra (2015) 35. Palestine: Land of Olives and
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1. Cultural Landscape and 19. Samarra Archaeological City Vines – Cultural Landscape of
Archaeological Remains of the (2007) Southern Jerusalem, Battir (2014)
Bamiyan Valley (2003) Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan) Panama
2. Minaret and Archaeological 20. Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls 36. Fortifications on the Caribbean
Remains of Jam (2002) (1982) Side of Panama: Portobelo-San
Austria Kenya Lorenzo (2012)
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3. Historic Centre of Vienna (2017) 21. Lake Turkana National Parks Peru
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (2018) 37. Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
4. City of Potosí (2014) Libya (1986)
Central African Republic 22. Archaeological Site of Cyrene Senegal
5. Manovo-Gounda St Floris National (2016) 38. Niokolo-Koba National Park (2007)
Park (1997) 23. Archaeological Site of Leptis Serbia
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Chile Magna (2016) 39. Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

6. Humberstone and Santa Laura 24. Archaeological Site of Sabratha (2006)
Saltpeter Works (2005) (2016) Solomon Islands
Côte d'Ivoire 25. Old Town of Ghadamès (2016) 40. East Rennell (2013)
7. Mount Nimba Strict Nature 26. Rock-Art Sites of TadrartAcacus Syrian Arab Republic
Reserve (1992) * (2016) 41. Ancient City of Aleppo (2013)
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Madagascar 42. Ancient City of Bosra (2013)
8. Garamba National Park (1996) 27. Rainforests of the Atsinanana 43. Ancient City of Damascus (2013)
9. Kahuzi-Biega National Park (1997) (2010) 44. Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
10. Okapi Wildlife Reserve (1997) Mali (2013)
11. Salonga National Park (1999) 28. Old Towns of Djenné (2016) 45. Crac des Chevaliers and Qal‘at
12. Virunga National Park (1994) 29. Timbuktu (2012) Salah El-Din (2013)
Egypt 30. Tomb of Askia (2012) 46. Site of Palmyra (2013)
13. Abu Mena (2001) Micronesia (Federated States of) Uganda
Guinea 31. Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of 47. Tombs of Buganda Kings at
14. Mount Nimba Strict Nature Eastern Micronesia (2016) Kasubi (2010)
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Reserve (1992) * Niger United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Honduras 32. Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves Northern Ireland
15. Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (1992) 48. Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile
(2011) Palestine City (2012)
Indonesia 33. Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the United Republic of Tanzania
16. Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, 49. Selous Game Reserve (2014)
Sumatra (2011) Bethlehem (2012) United States of America
Iraq 34. Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (2017) 50. Everglades National Park (2010)
17. Ashur (Qal'atSherqat) (2003) Uzbekistan

51. Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz 52. Coro and its Port (2005) 54. Old City of Sana'a (2015)
(2016) Yemen 55. Old Walled City of Shibam (2015)
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 53. Historic Town of Zabid (2000)
NEW INSCRIBED WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES BY UNESCO IN 2018
 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and
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preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in
an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage , adopted by
UNESCO in 1972.
 The opening ceremony of the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee took place at the Bahrain National Theatre in the
presence of Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa of Bahrain in June 2018.
 This year, the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum was held in Manama, a city that has experienced contemporary changes,
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which have influenced decisions and actions on heritage protection.
 During the session, the Committee inscribed following (list) 19 sites on the World Heritage List (13 cultural sites, three natural and
three mixed sites, i.e. both natural and cultural). It also approved the extension of one natural site. The World Heritage List now
numbers 1092 sites in 167 countries.
Cultural properties:
1. Aasivissuit – Nipisat. Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea (Denmark): Located inside the Arctic Circle in the central part of West
Greenland, the property contains the remains of 4,200 years of human history. It is a cultural landscape which bears witness to its
creators‘ hunting of land and sea animals, seasonal migrations and a rich and well-preserved tangible and intangible cultural heritage
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linked to climate, navigation and medicine. The features of the property include large winter houses and evidence of caribou hunting,
as well as archaeological sites from Paleo-Inuit and Inuit cultures. The cultural landscape includes seven key localities, from Nipisat in
the west to Aasivissuit, near the ice cap in the east. It bears testimony to the resilience of the human cultures of the region and their
traditions of seasonal migration.
2. Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape (Saudi Arabia): In the eastern Arabian Peninsula, the Al-Ahsa Oasis is a serial
property comprising gardens, canals, springs, wells and a drainage lake, as well as historical buildings, urban fabric and
archaeological sites. They represent traces of continued human settlement in the Gulf region from the Neolithic to the present, as can
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be seen from remaining historic fortresses, mosques, wells, canals and other water management systems. With its 2.5 million date
palms, it is the largest oasis in the world. Al-Ahsa is also a unique geocultural landscape and an exceptional example of human
interaction with the environment.
3. Ancient City of Qalhat (Oman): The property, which is located on the east coast of the Sultanate of Oman, includes the ancient city of
Qalhat, surrounded by inner and outer walls, as well as areas beyond the ramparts where necropolises are located. The city
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developed as a major port on the east coast of Arabia between the 11th and 15th centuries CE, during the reign of the Hormuz
princes. The Ancient City bears unique archaeological testimony to the trade links between the east coast of Arabia, East Africa, India,
China and South-East Asia.
4. Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke (Germany): The archaeological site of Hedeby consists of the remains of
an emporium – or trading town – containing traces of roads, buildings, cemeteries and a harbour dating back to the 1st and early 2nd
millennia CE. It is enclosed by part of the Danevirke, a line of fortification crossing the Schleswig isthmus, which separates the Jutland
Peninsula from the rest of the European mainland. Because of its unique situation between the Frankish Empire in the South and the
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Danish Kingdom in the North, Hedeby became a trading hub between continental Europe and Scandinavia and between the North
Sea and the Baltic Sea. Because of its rich and well preserved archaeological material, it has become a key site for the interpretation
of economic, social and historical developments in Europe during the Viking age.
5. Caliphate City of Medina Azahara (Spain): The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archaeological site of a city built in the mid-10th
century CE by the Umayyad dynasty as the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After prospering for several years, it was laid to waste
during the civil war that put an end to the Caliphate in 1009-1010. The remains of the city were forgotten for almost 1,000 years until
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their rediscovery in the early 20th century. This complete urban ensemble features infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water
systems, buildings, decorative elements and everyday objects. It provides in-depth knowledge of the now vanished Western Islamic
civilization of Al-Andalus, at the height of its splendour.
6. GöbekliTepe (Turkey): Located in the Germuş mountains of south-eastern Anatolia, this property presents monumental circular and
rectangular megalithic structures, interpreted as enclosures, which were erected by hunter-gatherers in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic age
between 9,600 and 8,200 BCE. These monuments were probably used in connection with rituals, mostly likely of a funerary nature.
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Distinctive T-shaped pillars are carved with images of wild animals, providing insight into the way of life and beliefs of people living in
Upper Mesopotamia about 11,500 years ago.
7. Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (Japan): Located in the north-western part of Kyushu island, the serial property consist
of ten villages, Hara Castle and a cathedral, built between the 17th and 19th centuries. They reflect the era of prohibition of the
Christian faith, as well as the revitalization of Christian communities after the official lifting of prohibition in 1873. These sites bear
unique testimony to a cultural tradition nurtured by hidden Christians in the Nagasaki region who secretly transmitted their faith during
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the period of prohibition from the 17th to the 19th century.

8. Ivrea, industrial city of the 20th century (Italy): The industrial city of Ivrea is located in the Piedmont region and develo ped as the
testing ground for Olivetti, manufacturer of typewriters, mechanical calculators and office computers. It comprises a large factory and
buildings designed to serve the administration and social services, as well as residential units. Designed by leading Italian urban
planners and architects, mostly between the 1930s and the 1960s, this architectural ensemble reflects the ideas of the Community
Movement (MovimentoComunità). A model social project, Ivrea expresses a modern vision of the relationship between industrial
production and architecture.
9. Naumburg Cathedral (Germany): Located in the eastern part of the Thuringian Basin, the Cathedral of Naumburg, whose construction
began in 1028, is an outstanding testimony to medieval art and architecture. Its Romanesque structure, flanked by two Gothic choirs,
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demonstrates the stylistic transition from late Romanesque to early Gothic. The west choir, dating to the first half of the 13th century,
reflects changes in religious practice and the appearance of science and nature in the figurative arts. The choir and life-size sculptures
of the founders of the Cathedral are masterpieces of the workshop known as the ‗Naumburg Master‘.
10. Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (South Korea): The Sansa are Buddhist mountain monasteries located throughout
the southern provinces of the Korean Peninsula. The spatial arrangement of the seven temples that comprise the property,
established from the 7th to 9th centuries, present common characteristics that are specific to Korea – the ‗madang‘ (open courtyard)
flanked by four buildings (Buddha Hall, pavilion, lecture hall and dormitory). They contain a large number of individually remarkable
structures, objects, documents and shrines. These mountain monasteries are sacred places, which have survived as living centres of
faith and daily religious practice to the present.

11. Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (Iran): The eight archaeological sites situated in three geographical areas in the
southeast of Fars Province: Firuzabad, Bishapur and Sarvestan. The fortified structures, palaces and city plans date back to the
earliest and latest times of the Sassanian Empire, which stretched across the region from 224 to 658 CE. Among these sites is the
capital built by the founder of the dynasty, ArdashirPapakan, as well as a city and architectural structures of his successor, Shapur I.
The archaeological landscape reflects the optimized utilization of natural topography and bears witness to the influence of
Achaemenid and Parthian cultural traditions and of Roman art, which had a significant impact on the architecture of the Islamic era.
12. ThimlichOhinga Archaeological Site (Kenya): Situated north-west of the town of Migori, in the Lake Victoria region, this dry-stone
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walled settlement was probably built in the 16th century CE. The Ohinga (i.e. settlement) seems to have served as a fort for
communities and livestock, but also defined social entities and relationships linked to lineage. ThimlichOhinga is the largest and best
preserved of these traditional enclosures. It is an exceptional example of the tradition of massive dry-stone walled enclosures, typical
of the first pastoral communities in the Lake Victoria Basin, which persisted from the 16th to the mid-20th century.
13. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (India): Having become a global trading centre, the city of Mumbai implemented
an ambitious urban planning project in the second half of the 19th century. It led to the construction of ensembles of public buildings
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bordering the Oval Maidan open space, first in the Victorian Neo-Gothic style and then, in the early 20th century, in the Art Deco
idiom. The Victorian ensemble includes Indian elements suited to the climate, including balconies and verandas. The Art Deco
edifices, with their cinemas and residential buildings, blend Indian design with Art Deco imagery, creating a unique style that has been
described as Indo-Deco. These two ensembles bear testimony to the phases of modernization that Mumbai has undergone in the
course of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Natural properties:
14. Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (South Africa): Situated in north-eastern South Africa, the property comprises 40% of the Barberton
Greenstone Belt, one of the world‘s oldest geological structures. The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains represents the best-preserved
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succession of volcanic and sedimentary rock dating back 3.6 to 3.25 billion years, when the first continents were starting to form on
the primitive Earth. It features meteor-impact fallback breccias resulting from the impact of meteorites formed just after the Great
Bombardment (4.6 to 3.8 billion years ago), which are particularly well preserved.
15. Chaîne des Puys - Limagne fault tectonic arena (France): Situated in the centre of France, the property comprises the long Limagne
fault, the alignments of the Chaîne des Puys volcanoes and the inverted relief of the Montagne de la Serre. It is an emblematic
segment of the West European Rift, created in the aftermath of the formation of the Alps, 35 million years ago. The geological features
of the property demonstrate how the continental crust cracks, then collapses, allowing deep magma to rise and cause uplifting at the
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surface. The property is an exceptional illustration of continental break-up – or rifting – which is one of the five major stages of plate
tectonics.
16. Fanjingshan (China):Located within the Wuling mountain range in Guizhou Province (south-west China), Fanjingshan ranges in
altitude between 500 metres and 2,570 metres above sea level, favouring highly diverse types of vegetation and relief. It is an island
of metamorphic rock in a sea of karst, home to many plant and animal species that originated in the Tertiary period, between 65
million and 2 million years ago. The property‘s isolation has led to a high degree of biodiversity with endemic species, such as the
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Fanjingshan Fir (Abiesfanjingshanensis) and the Guizhou Snub-nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecusbrelichi), and endangered species,
such as the Chinese Giant Salamander (Andriasdavidianus), the Forest Musk Deer (Moschusberezovskii) and Reeve‘s Pheasant
(Syrmaticusreevesii). Fanjingshan has the largest and most contiguous primeval beech forest in the subtropical region.
Mixed property:
17. Chiribiquete National Park – ―The Maloca of the Jaguar‖ (Colombia): Located in the north-west Colombian Amazon, Chiribiquete
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National Park is the largest protected area in the country. One of the defining features of the park is the presence of tepuis (the Native
American word for table-top mountains), sheer-sided sandstone plateaux that dominate the forest. Over 75,000 paintings, spanning
more than 20,000 years to the present, are to be seen on the walls of the 60 rock shelters around the bases of the tepuis. Believed to
be linked to the worship of the jaguar, a symbol of power and fertility, these paintings depict hunting scenes, battles, danc es and
ceremonies. The indigenous communities, which are not directly present on the site, consider the region sacred.
18. Pimachiowin Aki (Canada): Pimachiowin Aki (‗The Land That Gives Life‘) is a forest landscape crossed by rivers and studded wi th
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lakes, wetlands, and boreal forest. It forms part of the ancestral home of the Anishinaabeg, an indigenous people living from fishing,
hunting and gathering. The area encompasses the traditional lands of four Anishinaabeg communities (Bloodvein River, Little Grand
Rapids, Pauingassi and Poplar River). It is an exceptional example of the cultural tradition of Ji-ganawendamangGidakiiminaan
(‗keeping the land‘), which consists of honouring the gifts of the Creator, respecting all forms of life and maintaining harm onious
relations with others. A complex network of livelihood sites, habitation sites, travel routes and ceremonial sites, often linked by
waterways, embodies this tradition.
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19. Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: originary habitat of Mesoamerica (Mexico): Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, part of the Mesoamerican region,
is the arid or semi-arid zone with the richest biodiversity in all of North America. Consisting of three components, Zapotitlán-Cuicatlán,
San Juan Raya and Purrón, it is one of the main centres of diversification for the cacti family, which is critically endangered worldwide.
The valley harbours the densest forests of columnar cacti in the world, shaping a unique landscape that also includes agaves, yuccas
and oaks. Archaeological remains demonstrate technological developments and the early domestication of crops. The valley presents
an exceptional water management system of canals, wells, aqueducts and dams, the oldest in the continent, which has allowed for the
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emergence of agricultural settlements.

Significant modifications to the boundaries: Natural properties:
20. Central Sikhote-Alin (Russia): The Sikhote-Alin mountain range contains one of the richest and most unusual temperate forests of the
world. In this mixed zone between taiga and subtropics, southern species such as the tiger and Himalayan bear cohabit with northern
species such as the brown bear and lynx. After its extension in 2018, the property includes the Bikin River Valley, located about 100
km to the north of the existing site. It encompasses the South-Okhotsk dark coniferous forests and the East-Asian coniferous
broadleaf forests. The fauna includes species of the taiga alongside southern Manchurian species. It includes notable mammals such
as the Amur Tiger, Siberian Musk Deer, Wolverine and Sable.
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The 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 30 June to 10 July 2019.
 The Committee elected Mr. AbulfazGarayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Culture as the new Chair of the Committee, with Brazil, Burkina
Faso, Indonesia, Norway and Tunisia as Vice-Chairs.
 MsMahani Taylor, from Australia, was elected as Rapporteur.
 Azerbaijan currently has two sites inscribed on the World Heritage List: The Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palac e and
Maiden Tower, and Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape.

SMUGGLING OFINDIAN EXOTIC BIRDS
 Acting on specific input that live exotic birds of foreign origin smuggled into India from Bangladesh through Indo-Bangla border, the
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths identified and intercepted the car near Muragacha More on Kalyani Expressway with
three occupants including the driver.
 Three Red and Blue Macaws, three Eclectus parrots, eight Pygmy Falcons, and seven white ducks were found badly crammed up in
plastic bags and kept inside the car and also in the dicky of the vehicle.
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 Illegal import of wildlife which is in violation of the Wild Life Protection Act automatically becomes a violation of the Cus toms Act by
virtue of Section 111(d) of the Customs Act. All the birds have consequently been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act,
1962 read with the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.
 DRI is committed to combating Wild Life Crime including cross border crime such as trafficking in wild life art-crafts. DRI has been
regularly making seizures of Wild Life articles such as Red Sanders wood which is highly valued in the markets of China and East
Asia, Star Tortoises and other species of turtles, Deer antlers, Tiger & leopard skins and also ivory from elephant tusks. In March this
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year, DRI seized 214 numbers of Indian star tortoise at Kolkata. Less than a month back, two Hollock Gibbons (Endangered species
under Schedule 1 of the Wild lifeProtection Act, 1972) and two Palm Civets (Endangered species under Schedule II of the Wild life
Protection Act, 1972) along with a variety of exotic birds which had all been smuggled through Bangladesh were recovered and seized
by DRI.
LARGEST DINOSAUR FOOT EVER DISCOVERED
 The dinosaur foot known as 'Bigfoot' was excavated in 1998 by an expedition from the University of Kansas.
 Now, after detailed preparation and study, Maltese and his international team of researchers from the USA, Switzerland, and Germany
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identified it as belonging to an animal very closely related to Brachiosaurus, famous for its appearance in the 1993 film Jurassic Park.
 It also confirmed that brachiosaurs inhabited a huge area from eastern Utah to northwestern Wyoming, 150 million years ago.
URBAN HEAT ISLAND
 An urban heat island (UHI) is an urban area or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to
human activities. The temperature difference usually is larger at night than during the day, and is most apparent when winds are weak.
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UHI is most noticeable during the summer and winter.
 The main cause of the urban heat island effect is from the modification of land surfaces. Waste heat generated by energy usage is a
secondary contributor. As a population center grows, it tends to expand its area and increase its average temperature. The less-used
term heat island refers to any area, populated or not, which is consistently hotter than the surrounding area.
 Monthly rainfall is greater downwind of cities, partially due to the UHI. Increases in heat within urban centers increases the length of
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growing seasons, and decreases the occurrence of weak tornadoes. The UHI decreases air quality by increasing the production of
pollutants such as ozone, and decreases water quality as warmer waters flow into area streams and put stress on their ecosystems.
 Not all cities have a distinct urban heat island. Mitigation of the urban heat island effect can be accomplished through the use of green
roofs and the use of lighter-colored surfaces in urban areas, which reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat.
 There are concerns raised about possible contribution from urban heat islands to global warming. Research on China indicates that
urban heat island effect contributes to climate warming by about 30%.
 On the other hand, one 1999 comparison between urban and rural areas proposed that the urban heat island effects have little
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influence on global mean temperature trends. Many studies reveal increases in the severity of the effect with the progress of climate
change.
ACIDIC OCEANS CAUSE FISH TO LOSE THEIR SENSE OF SMELL
 Fish are losing their sense of smell because of increasingly acidic oceans caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the
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atmosphere.
 When carbon dioxide is absorbed by seawater carbonic acid is formed, making the water more acidic. Since the Industrial Revol ution,
oceanic CO2 has risen by 43% and is predicted to be two and a half times current levels by the end of this century.
 Fish use their sense of smell (olfaction) to find food, safe habitats, avoid predators, recognize each other and find suitable spawning
grounds. A reduction in their ability to smell therefore can compromise these essential functions for their survival.
 The new study provides evidence that economically important species will be affected by elevated CO2, leaving fish vulnerable
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because it affects their ability to detect odours.
NEWLY DISCOVERED ARMORED DINOSAUR
 Fossils of a new genus and species of an ankylosaurid dinosaur -- Akainacephalusjohnsoni -- have been unearthed in Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, USA, and are revealing new details about the diversity and evolution of this
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group of armored dinosaurs.

 The research indicates that the defining features of Akainacephalus -- the spiky bony armor covering the skull and snout -- align more
closely with Asian ankylosaurids than other North American Late Cretaceous ankylosaurid dinosaurs.
DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL
 Degradation rates of oil were slower in the dark and cold waters of the depths of the Gulf of Mexico than at surface conditions,
according to an international team of geoscientists trying to understand where the oil went during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
There's no real precedent for the Deepwater Horizon since most previous big spills were in shallow, coastal waters.
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No one really knew how long it would take oil to biodegrade in the deep sea where it's cold, dark, and under high pressure -- factors
that slow down microbial metabolism.
 Naturally occurring bacteria and microbes consumed an estimated 12 to 25 percent of the 210 million gallons of oil released during the
Deepwater Horizon disaster. This occurred through biodegradation.
 The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), which was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP to study
the environmental impact of Deepwater Horizon.
 In a study the researchers found that oil biodegradation rates decreased by 4 percent for every 328 feet of increase in water depth.
While the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred at a depth of greater than 5,000 feet, deep oil drilling continues in the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil biodegradation at a depth 5,000 feet or greater is reduced by 60 percent compared to that at surface temperature and pressure.

This current expansion of oil exploration to deeper waters compounds the risk of spills because the effect of pressure on
biodegradation will be more pronounced in the future.
 This research was conducted as part of the ongoing research at the Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems
(C-IMAGE), a research consortium studying the processes and impacts of Gulf of Mexico oil spills.
EXPECTED SEA-LEVEL RISE FOLLOWING ANTARCTIC ICE SHELVES' COLLAPSE
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 An international team of scientists has shown how much sea level would rise if Larsen C and George VI, two Antarctic ice shelves at
risk of collapse, were to break up.
 While Larsen C has received much attention due to the break-away of a trillion-tonne iceberg from it last summer, its collapse would
contribute only a few millimetres to sea-level rise.
 The break-up of the smaller George VI Ice Shelf would have a much larger impact.
 The new study shows that a collapse of Larsen C would result in inland ice discharging about 4 mm to sea level, while the res ponse of
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glaciers to George VI collapse could contribute over five times more to global sea levels, around 22 mm.
‗OCEAN‘s TWILIGHT ZONE‘
 Twilight Ocean (Disphotic) Zone-The middle layer of the world's oceans receives only faint, filtered sunlight during the daytime. This is
because the seawater absorbs the sunlight. This barely-lit ocean layer is called the twilight zone or the disphotic zone (disphotic
means "poorly lit" in Greek) or the mesopelagic zone (mesopelagic means "middle sea"). This zone appears deep blue to black i n
color.
 The depth of this zone depends on the clarity or murkiness of the water. In clear water, the disphotic zone can begin at depths up to
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600 feet; in murky water, it can start at only 50 feet deep. It is usually begins somewhere between these two extremes.
 The disphotic zone extends to about 3,300 feet deep (this is where the aphotic zone begins). On average, this zone extends from 660
to 3,300 feet.
 In the disphotic zone, there is enough light to see during the day, but not enough light for photosynthesis to take place, so no plants
live in this zone. The amout of light decreases with depth. Because of this, food is not abundant.
 The water in the disphotic zone is cold (the temperature ranges from 41 to 39 degrees F) and decreases with depth. The pressure is
high -- it can be up to 1,470 psi (pounds per square inch) and increases with depth. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is
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less than in the sunlit zone. Af
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 Below the epipelagic zone is the mesopelagic zone, extending from 200 meters to 1000 meters. The mesopelagic zone is sometimes
referred to as the twilight zone or the mid-water zone. The light that penetrates to this depth is extremely faint. It is in this zone that we
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begin to see the twinkling lights of bioluminescent creatures. A great diversity of strange and bizarre fish can be found here.
 The mesopelagic zone is located directly beneath the epipelagic zone. Its range is from 200 meters to 1000 meters. Some other
names for the mesopelagic zone are the twilight zone or the midwater zone. Unlike the epipelagic zone, there is barely any light in the
mesopelagic zone. It is in the mesopelagic zone that we begin to see the bioluminescent creatures. A great variety of strange and
bizarre life forms can be found here. Keep in mind that some animals can live in more than one zone.
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 The mesopelagic zone is one of the five major vertical divisions of the oceans. The nominal depth delineation of this zone is between
200 and 1000 meters below the ocean surface. Due to the limited sunlight penetration to the depths of this zone, it is frequently
termed the twilight zone. The ocean zone above the mesopelagic is known as the epipelagic zone and the vertical region immediately
below is the bathypelagic zone. The mesopelagic zone is significant in the diurnal vertical migration of numerous species of small
organisms upward to the epipelagic zone; it is also notable for significant carbon storage and vertical movement of large carbon stores
downward into the deeper oceans.
 Only a small amount of light can penetrate the twilight zone at its depth. As the water becomes deeper, the pressure increases also.
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Plants do not grow in the twilight zone. Only animals that have adapted to little light can survive. Especially the bioluminescent
creatures.
 600-3,300 feet: The twilight zone temperature can be as low as 41˚ degrees F. Because there is less light there than in the sunlit zone.
 Also known as the mesopelagic zone, this life zone is the is the midwater range and is noted for very low levels of sunlight and virtual
darkness for human eyes. This layer ranges form two-hundred meters to about eight-hundred meters down. The plankton, which
which occupies the sunlight layer in profusion and provides a food source for most of the creatures living in that layer, eit her directly or
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indirectly, does not live in the twilight zone. Plankton needs adequate sunlight to thrive. The types of foods available to animals living
at this depth tends to be energy-poor and tends to be characterized by detritus and bacteria, the things that drift down from the
creatures in the sunlit zone teeming and thriving at the surface. Most of the sea creatures living in this layer have low energy tissues
and sluggish life styles to cope with low food energy, since no algae can grow. Life here is notably sparse the deeper you go.
NEWLY DISCOVERED SHARK SPECIES
 Eugenie Clark was a pioneer in shark biology, known around the world for her illuminating research on shark behavior. But she was a
pioneer in another critical way, as one of the first women of prominence in the male-dominated field of marine biology.
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 Fondly labeled the "Shark Lady," Clark, who founded Mote Marine Laboratory and continued studying fishes until she passed away in
2015 at age 92, will now be recognized with another distinction: namesake of a newly discovered species of dogfish shark.
 The species, named Squalusclarkae, also known as Genie's Dogfish, was identified from the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic
Ocean. The confirmation of this new species was reported this month in the journal Zootaxa.
 Eugenie Clark, an ichthyologist, was a world authority on fishes -- particularly sharks and tropical sand fishes.
AUSTRALIA HAS A NEW VENOMOUS SNAKE
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A team of biologists discovered a new species of Bandy-BandySnake at Weipa on the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula in
Australia. Bandy-bandies are burrowing snakes.
The newest member of the Bandy-Bandy snake family, named VermicellaParscauda, has been found at Weipa on Cape York
Peninsula, near Rio Tinto's bauxite mining operations.
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The new snake species is about 30-40cm long and features thin white bands and fatter black bands along its body.
 There are now five recognised species of the Bandy-Bandy genus, all in Australia.
84 HIGHLY ENDANGERED AMUR LEOPARDS REMAINED
 Scientists estimate there are only 84 remaining highly endangered Amur leopards (Pantherapardusorientalis) remaining in the wild
across its current range along the southernmost border of Primorskii Province in Russia and Jilin Province of China.
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 Although numbers are small, previous estimates in Russia were even less, ranging from 25 to 50 individuals. However, those surveys,
based on tracks left in the snow, were extremely difficult to interpret due to the unclear relationship between numbers of tracks and
number of individuals. With camera traps, each individual can be identified by its unique spot pattern, providing a much more precise
estimate.
NEW WORLD RECORD FOR DIRECT SOLAR WATER-SPLITTING EFFICIENCY

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 An international team of researchers has now succeeded in raising the efficiency of producing hydrogen from direct solar water-
splitting to a record 19 per cent. They did so by combining a tandem solar cell of III-V semiconductors with a catalyst of rhodium
nanoparticles and a crystalline titanium dioxide coating.
 Under simulated solar radiation, the scientists achieved an efficiency of 19.3 per cent in dilute aqueous perchloric acid, while still
reaching 18.5 per cent in an electrolyte with neutral pH. These figures approach the 23 per cent theoretical maximum efficiency that
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can be achieved with the inherent electronic properties for this combination of layers.
NEW WASP SPECIES DISCOVERED
 A new wasp species unknown to science differs from other parasitoid wasps due to its massive stinger. The new species named
Clistopygacrassicaudata was discovered in the western Amazonia.
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 The new insect, which is found in the extremely diverse transitional zone between the Andes and the Amazonian lowland rainforest,
uses its stinger both for laying eggs and injecting venom.
AIR POLLUTION SENSORS TO BE CERTIFIED FROM SEPTEMBER
 Beginning September 2018, the government plans on certifying pollution monitoring instruments to improve the measurement and
forecast of air pollution episodes.
 This is part of an initiative to boost local manufacturing while anticipating a massive demand for such instruments as part of the
government‘s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
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The NCAP envisions setting up 1,000 manual air-quality-monitoring stations (a 45% increase from the present number) and 268
automatic stations (triple the current 84). It also plans to set up pollution-monitoring stations in rural areas.
 Currently most of the instruments used by organisations such as the Central Pollution Control Board, System of Air Quality an d
Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) and private organisations are imported samplers.
 The National Physical Laboratory, a CSIR lab that‘s tasked with certifying the fidelity of these instruments, has previously said that
many of them suffered problems of calibration.

11 RARE SPECIES OF CRABS DISCOVERED
 Tejas Thackeray, the younger son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, has discovered 11 rare species and a new genus of
freshwater crabs in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
 The 20-year-old student‘s research has been published by New Zealand-based journal, Zootaxa.
 The task of discovering the species involved numerous field trips and expeditions across Kokan, Satara, Kolhapur and Ahemadnagar
in the past two-three years which resulted in the discovery of all these species.
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 The team has named the new genus 'Sahyadriana' that has been derived from "Sahyadri", the name for the Western Ghats in the
Marathi Language. The genus is endemic to this Mountain range, proving once again the importance to protect and preserve this
biodiversity hotspot.
 Thackeray told that he have dedicated two species to Veteran wildlife conservationist and author Billy Arjan Singh and renowned
naturalist and biologist Alfred Russell Wallace who had inspired him to take up the task of wildlife conservation.
 This discovery of rare species of crabs has once again necessitated the need for conservation of the ecologically and biologically rich
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Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are critically important and more efforts needs to be taken to protect the biological hotspots
because they give us new species consistently all the time.
 Names of the freshwater crabs:
 1- Ghatiana botti
 2- Ghatiana pulchra
 3- Ghatiana rathbunae
 4- Gubernatoriana longipes
 5- Gubernatoriana marleshwarensis
 6- Gubernatoriana wallacei
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 7- Sahyadriana billyarjani
 8- Sahyadriana pachyphallus
 9- Sahyadriana sahyadriensis
 10- Sahyadriana tenuiphallus
 11- Sahyadriana woodmaso
FUNGUS THREAT TO FROGS WIDESPREAD
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The discovery of the dreaded chytrid fungus, which is notorious for causing frog declines and extinctions worldwide, in frog s in the
Western Ghats got Indian scientists worried seven years ago. Now, a team has detected the pathogen in all major biodiversity
hotspots in India.
A study reveals that the chytrid fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd, which causes the infectious and fatal skin
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disease chytridiomycosis) is present in frogs across the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Himalaya, northeastern hill ranges, and the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
 Scientists from multiple institutes including the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species at Hyderabad‘s Centre for
Cellular and Molecular Biology, obtained the results from 1,870 skin swab samples of 111 species of frogs across 147 location s in
India. They handled the frogs carefully with fresh gloves, and swabbed each animal 70 times to capture traces of the pathogen. Of
these, 158 samples tested positive for Bd.
 Genetic analyses of the pathogens showed that they are extremely diverse in India. Of the 57 related types of Bd found, 46 we re
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unique to India alone, while others matched those reported from countries such as the U.S. and Japan. The pathogen is most
prevalent in a family of dancing frogs (Micrixalidae) which is endemic to India, and increased with the onset of the monsoon. However,
Bd is prevalent only at a ―low level‖ in all the country‘s hotspots.
 This is the second study published over the last month on chytrid in India. A study published on June 13 also said that the fungus is
―widespread but [of] low intensity‖ in the northern Western Ghats.Fourteen of the 21 species that scientists studied in Maharashtra
tested positive for the pathogen; these included the critically endangered endemic Amboli toad and four species of caecilians
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(limbless, snake-like amphibians).
SEVEN NEW WASP SPECIES FOUND IN AMAZON FORESTS
 An international team of researchers has discovered seven new wasp species belonging to the genus Clistopyga from Peru,
Venezuela and Colombia.
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 A recent report published in Zootaxa describes their morphology, such as colouration, wing size and other distinct features.
 The most notable among them is Clistopyga crassicaudata , named after its distinctly thickened ovipositor. The ovipositor is a tube-like
organ present in many insects that helps in laying eggs and also in injecting venom.
 What makes it [ Clistopyga crassicaudata ] especially interesting, is the size of the ovipositor. It is the only species of the spec ies-
group with a strongly widened ovipositor (apically).
 The researchers say that these new species could be parasitoid wasps, which lay their eggs near a host, which the larvae then feeds
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on and, eventually, kills.

 The biology of these seven new species is really unknown but other species of this genus, and other genera of Ichneumonidae l ay
their eggs into spiders or egg-sacs.
 The female wasps inject venom into spiders, paralyse them, and then lay their eggs on them. The hatching larvae feed on the
paralysed spiders and their eggs.
 The other new species include C. kalima , C. panchei , C. taironae , C. nigriventri , C. splendida and C. isayae .
NEPAL RETURNS ‗DANCING BEAR‘ TO INDIA
 The sloth bear, which was smuggled into Nepal in December 2017 for use as a ‗dancing bear,‘ is being sent back to India.
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 The Indian and Nepalese governments, Nepal‘s Jane Goodall Institute, and the Indian non-profit, Wildlife SOS, facilitated the
repatriation.
 The seven-month-long process involved obtaining several approvals and documents from both countries (including import permits).
 Wildlife SOS also launched a campaign requesting Nepalese authorities to help the bear. Eventually, a Cabinet decision by the
government of Nepal approved the bear‘s repatriation to India. It has, however, been an arduous journey for Rangila.
 It was in December 2017 that Wildlife SOS received information about two dancing bears on the Indo-Nepal border. But the traffickers
swiftly moved them into Nepal, where Indian authorities do not have jurisdiction.
 Nepal‘s enforcement officials detained two people, and the two bears, Rangila and 17-year-old Sridevi, were temporarily shifted to the
Kathmandu Zoo. Sridevi, unfortunately, did not survive.

 At present, two Wildlife SOS teams are engaged in escorting Rangila in an animal ambulance on its 1,000-km journey from the
Kathmandu Zoo to the Agra Bear Rescue Centre in Uttar Pradesh, where he will join nearly 200 rescued sloth bears.
 Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), found only in the Indian subcontinent, were exploited as ‗dancing bears‘ in India until the practice was
banned in 1972. But it is not illegal in Nepal.
 The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is an insectivorous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is listed as Vulnerable on the
IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. It has also been called labiated bear because of its long lower lip and
palate used for sucking insects. Compared to brown and black bears, the sloth bear is lankier, has a long, shaggy fur and a mane
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around the face, and long, sickle-shaped claws. It evolved from the ancestral brown bear during the Pleistocene and through
convergent evolution shares features found in insect-eating mammals.
 Sloth bears breed during spring and early summer and give birth near the beginning of winter. They feed on termites, honeybee
colonies, and fruits. Sloth bears sometimes attack humans who encroach on their territories. Historically, humans have drastically
reduced their habitat and diminished their population by hunting them for food and products such as their bacula and claws. Sloth
bears have been tamed and used as performing pets.
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 IUCN estimates that less than 20,000 sloth bears survive in the wilds of the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. The sloth bear is listed
in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides for their legal protection. International trade of the sloth bear is
prohibited as it is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
 The government of India has banned use of sloth bears for entertainment, and a 'Sloth Bear Welfare Project' in the country has the
objective of putting an end to their use for entertainment. However, their number in such activity is still large. Many organizations are
helping in the conservation and preservation of sloth bears in safe places. Major sloth bear sanctuaries in India include the Daroji bear
sanctuary, Karnataka.
WESTERN GHATS FOURTH BEST TOURIST SPOT
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 Older than the Himalayas and well known for its rich and unique flora and fauna, the Western Ghats has figured in Lonely Planet‘s top
five ―2018 Best in Asia‖ list, a collection of 10 of the best destinations to visit in the continent for the year.
 One of the Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots and UNESCO World Heritage site, the Western Ghats has came fourth in the list of the
Lonely Planet, considered a Bible by travellers worldwide.
 Neelakurinji ( Strobilanthes kunthiana ), which has started blooming after 12 years in the famed hill station of Munnar has found
mention in report.
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 India‘s steamy southern highlands have never garnered the same column inches as the hill stations and Himalayan heights of North
India, but the Western Ghats offer an atmospheric mirror to Shimla and Darjeeling, with added jungle appeal.
 Traversing Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, these rugged hills are UNESCO listed as one of the top spots for
biodiversity in the world, protecting everything from wild elephants and tigers to the neelakurinji flower, which blooms only once every
12 years and will be painting the hills in purple livery from August to October 2018.
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Western Ghats supports the life of 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508
bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6000 insects species and 290 freshwater fish species.
WORLD‘S OLDEST BIOLOGICAL COLOUR FOUND
 Australian researchers have uncovered the world‘s oldest biological colour in the Sahara desert.
 The pink pigments were produced by simple microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria more than 1.1 billion years ago, some 500
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million years older than previous colour pigment discoveries.
 That makes the samples around ―fifteen times older‖ than the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur species.
 Earth itself is about 4.5 billion years old and researchers said the latest find shed light on why more sophisticated plant and animal life
only came into existence 600 million years ago.
 Scientists came across the samples accidently when an oil company drilling in the Taoudeni basin in West Africa sent them rocks for
analysis.
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 The pigments are fossilised relics of chlorophyll, a chemical that allows plants and some microscopic lifeforms to turn light into energy.
Researchers said the pink pigment would have originally appeared blue-green to the human eye.
COW SANCTUARY IN HIMACHAL
 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the State‘s biggest cow sanctuary in Simarpur district.
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 The sanctuary would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.52 crore on 109 bighas of land in Kotla Barog village of Pachhad tehsil.
 It will be the biggest in this hilly State and will have the capacity to provide shelter to about 500 cows, he said, adding that the
sanctuary would be run and managed by the Animal Husbandry.
 Chief Minister said that a commission would soon be constituted for the protection of cows.
 He said Rs. 1 cess had been imposed on the sale of every bottle of liquor in the State for construction and maintenance of ‗gau
sadans‘ (cow shelter homes).
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CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS NILGIRI TAHR
 The antics of the sure-footed Nilgiri tahr are a treat to watch, but these endangered wild mountain goats – found only in high altitudes
in India‘s Western Ghats — could be losing their footing with increasing climate change. Even under moderate scenarios of future
climate change, tahrs could lose approximately 60% of their habitats from the 2030s on, predict scientists in their study in Ecological
Engineering , an international journal that emphasises the need for ecological restoration.
 Scientists tried to predict how climate change can affect tahr habitat in the Ghats by mapping tahr distribution (using existing
information and field surveys) and then using climatic factors of these locations to see where tahrs would be able to survive, given
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current and future climate change scenarios.

 They found that tahr strongholds such as Chinnar, Eravikulam and Parambikulam in Kerala will still be stable habitats under different
climate change scenarios.
 However, other regions, including parts of Tamil Nadu‘s Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and the wildlife sanctuaries of
Peppara, Neyyar, Schenduruny and Srivilliputhur, could experience severe habitat loss in future; in total, approx. 60% of tahr habitat
could be lost across the Ghats from 2030s onwards. There are only around 2,500 tahrs left in the wild and their population — ―small
and isolated, making them vulnerable to local extinction‖ — shows a ―decreasing‖ trend, as per the International Union for
Conservation of Nature.
 The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) known locally as the Nilgiri ibex or simply ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills
and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil

Nadu. Despite its local name, it is more closely related to the sheep of the genus Ovis than the ibex and wild goats of the genus
Capra.
 As few as 100 Nilgiri tahrs were left in the wild by the early 20th century. Since that time their numbers have inceased somewhat; in a
comprehensive study of the Nilgiri tahr population in Western Ghats, the WWF-India has put the population at 3,122. Their range
extends over 400 kilometres (250 mi) from north to south, and Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population.
 As per the Wildlife census conducted by Kerala forest department in association with volunteers from College of Forestry & Veterinary
Science under Kerala Agricultural University, from April 24–28, 2014, number of animals in Eravikulam National Park has increased to
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894 individuals. This is the highest ever count recorded in the national park, with the first census in 1996 finding only 640 tahrs. The
other significant concentration is in the Nilgiri Hills, with smaller populations in the Anamalai Hills, Periyar National Park, Palni Hills and
other pockets in the Western Ghats south of Eravikulam, almost to India's southern tip. A small populations of tahr numbering around
200 are known to inhabit the Boothapandi, Azhakiyapandipuram, Velimalai, Kulasekaram and Kaliyal Ranges in the Kanyakumari
district of Tamil Nadu and another small herd of less than 30 animals is known to inhibit Ponmudi hills in Trivandrum district of Kerala.
 The Nilgiri tahr is fully protected (Schedule I) by the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, although this protection is rarely enforced
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and illegal hunting is a major threat.
 Nilgiri tahr is Listed as Endangered on IUCN Red List.
INDIA & PARIS CLIMATE TARGETS
 India may well achieve the national targets set to address climate change under the Paris Agreement before 2030, as around 30 per
cent of the country‘s installed electricity generation capacity is now non-fossil-based. India‘s target is 40 per cent non-fossil-based
power capacity by 2030.
 A kilowatt hour of solar electricity now costs lesser than electricity from coal, but only when the sun is shining. The key is how quickly
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the price of storage falls, so that electricity generated during the day can be used at night. If the price of storage falls, given the
present trends, we feel the price of 1 kWh of electricity from solar plus storage will be less than the price of coal electricity by 2025.
 States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan, through various projects, are creating both the experience and the market for
solar batteries.
 The other pledge India took at Paris was to reduce intensity of carbon emission by 3335 per cent in 2030 compared to 2005.
 India will add another 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon capture by increasing tree and forest cover.
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INDIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS IN ITS OFFICE
 The Secretary for Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) CK Mishra has banned the supply of plastic
bottles for drinking water at the Indira Paryawaran Bhawan in New Delhi, which houses the MoEF. He wrote a letter to Secretaries of
all Ministries on June 13 appealing to them to beat plastic pollution.
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Single-use plastic items such as PET water bottles, plastic cups and plates, glasses, jugs, folders and banners are banned.
 Twenty-five States have completely or partially banned use of plastic, Maharashtra being the latest. Use of single-use plastic
continues unabated in public and private sectors. Of the many government offices that the Nirman Bhawan houses, for instance, each
office calls for a bulk of single-use plastic bottles for mineral water, not less than a carton of 100 bottles of 250 ml, at a single time.
 MoEF&CC has launched a pan-India plastic clean-up drive in public areas, national reserves, forests, beaches and rivers, the letter
said, as the theme of the World Environment Day, observed on June 5 is ‗Beat Plastic Pollution‘.
 According to the estimates drawn by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generates as much as 10,000 tonnes per day
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of plastic waste with per capita generation of up to 5.7 kilos of plastic waste per annum, which is annually growing at a rate of 8-10 per
cent.
KENYA RELOCATES ENDANGERED BLACK RHINOS
 The Kenya Wildlife Service has started moving 14 black rhinos to a sanctuary in the south east of the country to offer a more secure
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location for the endangered species.

 Eight rhinos from a national park in the capital Nairobi and six from a wildlife reserve in the Rift Valley will be moved to Tsavo East
National Park rhino sanctuary in the southeast near the coast.
 Poaching has risen in recent years across sub-Saharan Africa where well-armed criminal gangs have killed elephants for tusks and
rhinos for horns. Often the animal parts are shipped to Asia for use in ornaments and medicines.
 Kenya had a rhino population of 1,258 in 2017 of which 745 are black rhinos, 510 southern white rhinos and three were northern white
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rhinos, according to KWS, having grown from less than 400 rhinos in the 1980s.
 The black rhino is a critically endangered species while the white rhino is near threatened. Last month, three black rhinos were killed
in Kenya‘s Meru National Park.
 Authorities have reduced the number of black rhinos at Nairobi National Park from the current 101 as its capacity cannot hold many
rhinos. The government will maintain 70 at Nakuru national park in the Rift Valley.
 Eight black rhinos have died in Kenya while being transported by the state wildlife service between two national parks.
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 The rhinos, who are part of a critically endangered species, died at Tsavo East National Park.
 An initial investigation by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) showed the rhinos died of salt poisoning after drinking water at the ir new
habitat, adding that transports of rhinos are being stopped.
 The rhinos were among 14 KWS began moving last month from the capital Nairobi to Tsavo East.
 Kenya had a rhino population of 1,258 in 2017 of which 745 are black rhinos, 510 are southern white rhinos and three were nor thern
white rhinos, having grown from less than 400 rhinos in the 1980s. The white rhino is a near threatened species.
 In May, three black rhinos were killed in Kenya‘s Meru National Park.
 Poaching has risen in recent years across sub-Saharan Africa where armed criminal gangs have killed elephants for tusks and rhinos
for horns. Often the animal parts are shipped to Asia for use in ornaments and medicines.
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Meru National Park is a Kenyan Game park located east of Meru, 350 km from Nairobi. Covering an area of 870 km², it is one best
known National Parks in Kenya. It has abundant rainfall, 635–762 mm in the west of the park and 305–356 mm in the east. The rainfall
results in tall grass and lush swamps.
NEAR-RECORD TREE COVER LOSSES IN 2017 STRIP AREA AS BIG AS ITALY
 The world lost tree cover the size of Italy in 2017 as forests were cleared using fire to make way for farms from the Amazon to the
Congo Basin.
 Tree cover loss, mostly in the tropics, totalled 294,000 square kilometres (113,000 square miles) last year, just short of a record
297,000 sqkms in 2016, according to Global Forest Watch, run by the U.S.-based World Resources Institute (WRI).

 Tropical forests were lost at a rate equivalent to 40 football (soccer) fields per minute in 2017.
 The pace of forest losses was ―catastrophic‖ and threatened efforts to slow global warming. Trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air
as they grow and release it when they burn or rot.
 Norway has invested about $2.8 billion to safeguard tropical forests in the past decade - more than any other rich nation.
 Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Madagascar and Malaysia suffered the biggest losses in 2017.
 Brazil alone lost 45,000 sq km of tree cover, down 16 percent from a record in 2016. Fires raged in the southern Amazon regio n of
Brazil.
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 The U.N.‘s Food and Agriculture Organization says the loss of forests worldwide slowed to just a net 33,000 sqkms a year from 2010-
15, with annual losses of 76,000 sqkms offset by annual gains of 43,000.
BALI VOLCANO ERUPTION
 Several flights were cancelled when a volcano erupted on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, sending a column of ash and smoke at
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least 2 km into the air.
 The eruption of Mount Agung has impacted several of our flights to and from Bali.
 Mount Aging, an active volcano in northeastern Bali, has been puffing since late last year. In December, minor explosive eruptions
closed the airport.
 Airlines avoid flying through volcanic ash as it can damage aircraft engines, clog fuel and cooling systems and hamper visibility.
POSSIBLE ERUPTION AT ALASKA VOLCANO
 A ―nuisance‖ volcano on a remote Alaska Aleutian island is showing signs of a potentially disruptive explosion in the coming days that
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could disrupt air traffic.
 Cleveland Volcano, a 5,676-foot (1,730-meter) peak about 950 miles (1,500 km) southwest of Anchorage, has been extruding lava
from its crater – a sign of something more serious to come in the next days or possibly weeks, according to the Alaska Volcano
Observatory.
 The observatory, jointly operated by federal, state and University of Alaska scientists, has raised Cleveland‘s alert code to ―orange,‖
one level below the ―red‖ status indicating an ongoing and major eruption that could affect aviation.
 Cleveland is one of Alaska‘s most restless volcanoes and has been trembling and belching bits of ash on and off for about the past 15
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years.
GREEK WILDFIRES
 A series of wildfires in Greece, during the 2018 European heat wave, began in the coastal areas of Attica in July 2018.
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As of 8 August, 92 people were confirmed dead.
 The fires were the second-deadliest wildfire in the 21st century, after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Australia that killed 180.
Over 700 residents have been evacuated or rescued, mainly from the seaside village of Mati.
 The Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras declared a state of emergency in Attica, and announced a three-day period of national
mourning. After the fires, flags atop the Acropolis and the Greek parliament flew at half mast. There is evidence that arson may have
been a cause of the fires in Mati.
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CHINA REPORTS HIGHLY PATHOGENIC H5N1 BIRD FLU
 China reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu at a farm in its northwest Qinghai province, the Paris -based World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said.
 It is the first case of the H5N1 strain of flu to be reported on a Chinese poultry farm since 2014.
 But the virus has been reported in Nepal and Bhutan this year, both countries that share borders with China‘s northwest.
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 The virus killed 1,050 broiler chickens out of a flock of 1,615 at a farm in the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan autonomous prefecture. The
remaining birds were killed and disposed of.
 Some strains of the often lethal H5N1 virus can be transmitted to humans. The case is the sixth case of highly pathogenic bir d flu
reported by China this year, compared with just four cases reported to the OIE in 2017.
 Most of the cases reported in China this year have been a highly pathogenic form of H7N9, the same strain that killed hundreds of
people in China last year, hitting consumer demand and leaving the egg and broiler industries reeling.
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 The virus did not have a big impact on poultry last year but has mutated into a more lethal form. All four H7N9 cases reported this year
were on layer farms - or farms producing eggs - with the most recent case killing more than 9,000 hens in northeastern Liaoning
province.
 That‘s despite a nationwide vaccination programme against the virus that began last autumn.
 China also reported a case of the H5N6 strain on a duck farm in March.
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COMMITTEES IN NEWS
COMMITTEE ON METRO RAIL SYSTEMS
 Today, 490 kms of metro lines are operational in 10 different cities in the country. More than 600 kms of metro rail projects are under
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construction in various cities. In the coming years there will be robust growth in metro rail sector.
 More than 350 kms of new construction will be started in the next few years as more and more cities are planning for expansion or
new constructions of metro rail. In addition to metro rail network, Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) is also being introduced to
decongest Delhi & NCR. The first phase of RRTS consists of 3 corridors, covering a total length of about 380 kms. This transit system
will connect Delhi with Sonepat, Alwar and Meerut.
 The average budget outlay of Govt. of India is likely to increase to about Rs 25,000 cr annually, apart from the investments envisaged
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by the state governments, private partners and ULBs.
 Various other steps have been taken for the systematic and sustainable growth of metro rail projects in the country. The standards for
rolling stock and signaling systems or the metro rail in India have been notified in 2017 after concurrence from Railway Boar d. The
standards for rolling stock also fixes the standards of civil structures.
 The standards for electrical systems have been concurred by the Railway Board recently and the same will be notified soon.Various
new metro systems have already started procurement of the systems as per the notified standards.
 The detailed specifications for the Automatic Fare Collection System and the complete eco-system based on the Rupay standard has
been prepared by NPCI and C-DAC in collaboration with DMRC through a research project sanctioned by MoHUA.
 BEL has been tasked to manufacture the prototype of the gate trough their ownfunds. Substantial expenditure has already been
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incurred and the first indigenous gate based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is likely to be launched in October 2018.
 The specifications of the most advanced signaling system in the world viz. Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system, which
was introduced by Kochi Metro Rail first in the country, is also being formulated jointly by BEL, C-DAC, DMRC, STQC through
MoHUA.
 A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Sh. E. Sreedharan for Standardization and Indigenization in Metro Rail
with the following members:
 Chairman Dr. E. Sreedharan
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 H.S. Anand, (for Rolling Stock) Former Director, Rolling Stock, DMRC
 Sameer Lohani, (for Rolling Stock) Executive Director (Carriage), RDSO, Indian Railways
 D. K. Sinha, (for signalling) Director, Operations, Kochi Metro Rail
 Jitendra Tyagi, (for Civil Engineering) MD, Dehradun Metro, Uttrakhand
 Vipul Kumar, (Track & Civil Structure) Executive Director, Track Modernisation, Railway Board
 Prashanth Rao (Automatic Fare Collection System) Director Systems, Ahmedabad Metro
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 Anoop Gupta (Traction, Power Supply, Ventilation) Director, Electrical, DMRC
 Mukund Kumar Sinha, (Member Secretary) OSD (UT) and Ex Officio Joint Secretary, MoHUA
 The committee is expected to submit its report in 3 months. After 3 months, based on specific task of standardization, Dr. Sreedharan
could co-opt the relevant expert members for the task for a specified period of time.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE SUBMITS REPORT

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 Artificial Intelligence is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs, with
'intelligence‗ being the computational part of the ability to achieve goals in the world. Varying kinds and degrees of 'intelligence' occur
in humans, many animals and some machines. Al is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence
but it does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.
 Al research has, over the years, diversified into a variety of sub-fields, each attempting to understand and computationally engineer
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different aspects of what could be construed as 'intelligent‗ behavior. A non- exhaustive list might include computer vision, speech
recognition, natural language processing, computational logic, neural networks, machine learning, Al planning and robotics. Ideas an d
techniques borrowed from areas more commonly found listed under mathematics and computer science, such as statistics, data
mining, search, or computational learning theory, also find extensive use in Al systems.
 To study the whole gamut of issues surrounding strategic implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in national security perspective, in
global context, a multi-stakeholder Task Force was constituted in February 2018, under the Chairmanship of N Chandrasekharan,
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Chairman, Tata Sons.

 The Task Force has identified ten specific domains of relevance to India, namely, Manufacturing, FinTech, Health, Agriculture,
Technology for the Differently-abled, National Security, Environment, Public Utility Services, Retail and Customer Relationships, and
Education.
 The Task Force, on June 30, 2018 has handed over its Final Report with recommendations.
 Raksha Mantri is the main promoter and patron of the AI Task Force of the Ministry of Defence. The Task Force handed over the Final
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Report to Raksha Mantri.

Full list of Recommendations of Task Force:  Funding National level studies to identify concrete Droiects in
 Fund under the Union Budget an Inter-Ministerial National each domain of focus, specifically, those that address
Artificial Intelligence Mission (NAIM) that will act as a nodal important social issues such as cataract detection by mass
agency for coordinating Al related activities in India. The screening aided by an AI-based diagnostic tool, automation of
Mission shall involve itself in three major activities, namely, hazardous jobs such as manual scavenging and disaster
core activities (listed below), coordination of AI related recovery plans using AI powered robotics; -Fund a National
projects of national importance; and, establishing Centers of level survey on identification of clusters of clean annotated
Excellence. data necessary for building effective AI based systems in each
 Fund establishment of a network of alliances among domain of focus as well as methodologies to record such data.
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Academia, Services Industry: Start ups and Government  Establishing and administering National AI Challenge funds
Ministries including, but not restricted to, Knowledge Clusters and Capture: The Flag competitions specifically targeting
in geographies such as NCR, Bengaluru-Hyderabad, Chennai, design, development and prototyping of AI based systems for
Kolkatta- Kharagpur-Guwahati, Mumbai-Pune, Trivandrum, solving problems of the society at large. This shall also involve
Chandigarh- Mohali, and Kanpur-Varanasi to fuel research, defining the problem, provision of real data sets and criteria for
development and deployment of AI based products and measuring efficiency based on domain specific Key
services in the varied domains of focus. The UK example of Performance Indicators (KPI);
the Knowledge Quarter in London is pertinent in this regard.  Fund AI awareness rising at scale, especially in the rural
hinterland, through AI-Yatras along the lines of the successful

Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Art availability of cross-industrv data and information. with
Culture Among Youth (SPIC MACAY) Lecture- necessary sharing related regulations. The Ministry of
Demonstrations. Information Technology may be the nodal agency for
 Convene Talent Conferences (Hack-a-Mela) where inter- coordinating the setting up of the above mentioned facilities,
disciplinary insights can be generated for applying Al to while the Ministry of Commerce and Industry need to drive the
problems of Urban Planning, Transportation, Public Health, regulations related to data ownership, sharing and privacy
smart power grid and smart water grid; and for promotion of issues. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry need to create
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innovation in Al . and functionalize a data-ombudsman, on lines similar to
 Coordination of Projects of National Importance: Coordinate banking and Insurance, to quickly address data-related issues
with concerned Ministries of Government of India to accelerate and grievances.
development and commercialization of AI based products and  Standard setting: AI based systems being highly inter-
technology through Public Private Partnership models and disciplinary require operation standards that involve
Startups; Special emphasis to be given to_(a) high precision understanding of multiple domains. Some examples include:
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manufacturing sectors; (b) Precision Agriculture; (c) Data storage and privacy standards; Communication
Accessibility aids for the physically challenged; (d) Smart cities standards for Autonomous Systems including Autonomous
- effective delivery and improvement of services such as Clean Cars; and, Standards for interoperability between AI based
Air monitoring, efficient public transportation, electricity and systems. The role of the Bureau of Indian Standards is
water supply, and fuel distribution; (e) smart resource usage crucial. Standards are evolving across the globe for many AI
specifically, environment versus energy tradeoffs - including inspired systems and protocols. India should actively
smart power grid and smart water grid; and, (f) Predictive participate in these Standards working groups to be in the
maintenance of public utility infrastructure including power forefront of international norms on Al based technologies.
plants. Technologies developed thus to be preferentially taken-  Enabling policies: Policies to encourage and enable
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up and scaled up by the concerned Ministries of Government development and deployment of AI based products need to be
of India; evolved by The Government of India. Two important
 Centers of Excellence: Promoting interdisciplinary research recommendations include: Data policy including ownership,
spawning disciplines such as Humanities and Social sharing rights and usage policies; The Ministry of Information
Sciences, Law, Science, Medicine and Engineering to facilitate Technology and Ministry of Commerce and Industry may lead
deeper understanding of the possibilities and implications of this effort as every AI based system is a domain-inspired
adoption of different AI based technologies and products; software-operated one; and, Tax incentives for income
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arriving at mechanisms for identification and assessment of generated due to adoption of AI technologies and applications,
risks while using AI based systems; and, defining frameworks for socially relevant projects. This involves certification of a
for design and development of risk mitigation/contingency technology as AI-based and then fixing the incentive. This
plans. The RIKEN Centre for Advanced Intelligence Project would involve the concerned Ministry under whose domain the
(AIP), Japan is an interesting example in this direction. Six application fits in as well as the Ministry of Information
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such centers, each concentrating on each one of the six Technology and the Finance Ministry.
problems of National importance mentioned above need to be  Human Resource Development: Devising an AI Education
established and funded. strategy to develop human resource with necessary skill sets
 The CoEs will generate basic building blocks to be used by the to meet the demand for AI based professionals. This involves
industry. These would include but not be restricted to arriving at a target number of human resources required on a
technologies for autonomous cars/trucks, medical assist yearly basis for each skill set across each of the domains of
devices, health genomics, agri-genomics, health-diagnostics, focus and methodologies to train/re-train them. This also
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industrial automation, robotics, cyber-security and FinTech. includes recommending AI-related curriculums for school,
The locations for these centers need to be chosen based on diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate education with a
the presence of entities and expertise related to the respective focus on the above identified skill sets needed for AI based
domains. technologies. The Ministry of Human Resource Development
 Establishing a generic Al Test Bed for verification and and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
validation of Key Performance Indicators of different AI based may lead this effort;
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products and Technologies. This could include regulatory  Reskilling: Identification of skill sets required forAI based
sandboxes for certain technology relevant to India, for instance technology development and mapping the same across
Health, Manufacturing and Retail, along the lines of Japan's different levels of professional education - diploma,
sandbox for self-driving trucks; and, - Fund an inter- undergraduate, postgraduate and research as well as creating
disciplinary and dedicated large data integration m in pilot an AI Readiness Index to measure the readiness of different
mode to develop an autonomous AI Machine that can work on states across India to adopt Al. The National Skill
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multiple data streams in real time and provide relevant Development Corporation, India may lead this effort.
information and predictions to public across all domains.  International rule-making: Participating actively in shaping
 The duration of the Mission should be for a period of at least 5 international policy discussions on governance of AI related
years for it to achieve tangible results; the level and sources of technologies. This would require appropriate inter-ministerial
funding can be reviewed after 5 years and can be consultative mechanisms that make regular recommendations
supplemented at any stage as needed by private companies for Government policy and positioning at relevant international
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incorporated in India. The recommended funding for the forums. The role of the Ministry of External Affairs is crucial to
Mission is a total of Rs. 1200 Crores (Rs. 240 crores per year) ensure positioning of India's views in the International forums.
for 5 years, in which Rs. 50 crores per annum be allocated for  Bilateral cooperation: Leveraging key bilateral partnerships
the core activities, Rs. 25 crores per Center of Excellence per such as with Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, Russia,
annum for each of the six Centers, Rs. 20 crores per annum Singapore, UK and the U.S. to develop AI solutions for social
each for the Generic AI test Bed and large data integration and economic problems, and for sharing of best practices in
center. The funding for the projects of National importance regulation. The Ministry of ExternalAffairs and relevant
shall be done separately by the concerned Ministry/group of departments such as the Department of Science and
Ministries. Technology may lead this activity.
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Data banks, exchanges and ombudsman: Enabling setting up

of digital data banks, marketplaces and exchanges to ensure
E-COMMERCE TASK FORCE
 Commerce Secretary, Rita Teaotia, chaired the first meeting of the Task Force on e-commerce in New Delhi. The meeting deliberated
upon the suggestions emerging from the sub-group meetings held during 20th – 22nd June, 2018. The suggestions were on wide
ranging issues such as cross border data flows, taxation, trade facilitation and logistics, consumer confidence, IPR and future tech,
FDI and competition issues.

 The sub-groups saw participation from various ministries and departments, high level representatives from the industry bodies, e-
commerce companies, telecommunication and IT companies and independent experts.
 It was decided to set up a Task Force in the first meeting of the Think Tank, on the framework for national policy on e-commerce, held
on 24th April 2018, under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation.
 The Task Force was further divided into nine sub-groups for preparing recommendations for India‘s national policy on e-commerce.
 In latest meeting senior officers of the Ministries of MSME, Consumer Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology, Corporate
Affairs and Department of Telecommunications, Competition Commission of India and DGFT were present.
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COMMITTEE SET UP TO SYNERGISE NCC AND NSS
 Government has decided to set up a committee under the Chairmanship of Anil Swarup, former Secretary, School Education, to
suggest measures to strengthen National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS).
 The Committee will deal with on issues like expansion, strengthening training infrastructure, rationalizing resources, reducing
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manpower deficiency affecting NCC and NSS.
 The Committee will also submit recommend for building synergies between these two institutions viz. NCC and NSS and further
strengthen them for empowering the youth.
 At present, there are 13.5 lakh cadets in NCC in the age group of 12 to 26 years with pan India presence in about 703 out of 716
districts. There are a large number of educational institutions in the country including as much as 8600 on waitlist in which NCC is yet
to be extended. There is also an existing shortage in the NCC manpower across the categories ranging from 5% to 36%.
 The NCC has an annual budget allocation of about Rs.2200 crore with Central Government share of about Rs.1600 crore. NCC, with
this meagre resources, is not able to expand itself and to cover all the districts of the country and cater to the needs of w aitlisted
educational institutions.
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COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE OFFENCES UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has constituted a 10 Member Committee, headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Corporate
Affairs, for review of the penal provisions in the Companies Act, 2013 may be setup to examine ‗de-criminalisation‘ of certain offences.
 The MCA seeks to review offences under the Companies Act, 2013 as some of the offences may be required to be decriminalised and
handled in an in-house mechanism, where a penalty could be levied in instances of default. This would also allow the trial courts to
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pay more attention on offences of serious nature.
 Consequently, it has been decided that the existing compoundable offences in the Companies Act - 2013 viz. offences punishable with
fine only or punishable with fine or imprisonment or both may be examined and a decision may be taken as to whether any of such
offences may be considered as ‗civil wrongs‘ or ‗defaults‘ where a penalty by an adjudicating officer may be imposed in the f irst place
and only consequent to further non-compliance of the order of such authority will it be categorised as an offence triable by a special
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court.
 It is also required to be seen as to whether any non-compoundable offences viz. offence punishable with imprisonment only, or
punishable with imprisonment and also with fineunder the Companies Act, 2013 may be made compoundable.
 The Committee will submit its report within thirty days to the Central Government for consideration of its recommendations.
 The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:
 To examine the nature of all ‗acts‘ categorised as compoundable offences viz. offences punishable with fine only or punishabl e
with fine or imprisonment or both under the CA-13 and recommend if any of such ‗acts‘ may be re-categorised as ‗acts‘ which
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attract civil liabilities wherein the company and its ‗officers in default‘ are liable for penalty;
 To review the provisions relating to non-compoundable offences and recommend whether any such provisions need to be re-
categorised as compoundable offence;
 To examine the existing mechanism of levy of penalty under the CA-13 and suggest any improvements thereon;
 To lay down the broad contours of an in-house adjudicatory mechanism where penalty may be levied in a MCA21 system driven
manner so that discretion is minimised;
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 To take necessary steps in formulation of draft changes in the law;

 Any other matter which may be relevant in this regard.
 The Committee‘s constitution, under the Chairmanship of Secretary, is the following:
(1) Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs Chairperson
(2) Shri T.K. Vishwanathan, Former Secretary General Lok Sabha and Member
Chairman, BLRC
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(3) Shri Uday Kotak, MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank Member

(4) Shri Shardul S Shroff, Executive Chairman, Shardul Amarchand Member
Mangaldas & Co.
(5) Shri Ajay Bahl, Founder Managing Partner, AZB & Partners Member
(6) Shri Amarjit Chopra, Senior Partner, GSA Associate Member
(7) Shri Arghya Sengupta, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy Member
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(8) Shri Sidharth Birla, Former President, FICCI Member

(9) Ms. Preeti Malhotra, Partner and Executive Director of Smart Group Member
(10) Joint Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Corporate Affairs Member-Secretary
UGC COMMITTEE TO REGULATE FEE FOR MEDICAL COURSES
 Pursuant to the Order dated 26.04.2018 of Hon‘ble Madras High Court in Writ Petition Nos. 14232 and 17778 of 2017, University
Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a Committee consisting of Prof. R.C. Deka, Former Director, AIIMS, New Delhi
(Chairman), Dr. O.P. Kalra, Vice-Chancellor Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak; Prof. (Ms.) Saroj Chooramani
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Gopal, Former VC, King George Medical University, Lucknow; Prof. Mahesh Verma Director, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental
Sciences, New Delhi; Prof. Dr. Ajay S. Chandanwale, Dean, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College & Sassoon General
Hospitals, Pune; Shri S.K. Ray, Former Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, MHRD and nominee of each of Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, Dental Council of India, Medical Council of India and Ministry of Human Resource Development to regulate the fees
chargeable by self-financed Deemed to be Universities in Medical and Dental Courses.
UGC COMMITTEE ON EXAMINATION REFORMS
 The University Grants Commission (UGC) has intimated that it has constituted a committee under the Chairpersonship of Prof. M.M.
Salunkhe, former Vice Chancellor, Central University, Rajasthan to look into the matters related to examination reforms.
 The Committee has been asked to submit its report by October, 2018.
TASK FORCE ON METHANOL ECONOMY
 NITI Aayog has set up an Apex Committee and five Task Forces for carrying out R&D and developing roadmap for implementing
Methanol economy in India.
 Task Force on Production of Methanol using High Ash Coal is one of them and the Government has notified G.S.R 490(E) dated 24th
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May, 2018 regarding Mass Emission Standards for flex-fuel Methanol M15 or M100 and Methanol MD 95 vehicles.
 India imported 212.7 Million Tons of Crude oil in 2016-2017. It is estimated that a 15% methanol blending can result in replacement of
around 31.9 million tons of crude oil. With crude oil price of 54 $ per barrel it can result in significant savings for India.
 Further the CO and HC emission reduction for M 15 as compared to neat gasoline by approximate 40 % is an added benefit. Further
CO2 and evaporative emission benefits are also envisaged.
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RECOMMENDATIONS OF SHEKATKAR COMMITTEE
 The Shekatkar Committee to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure submitted its report in December 2016.
The Report was taken up by the Ministry of Defence to frame key action points and roadmap for implementation.
 Measures as recommended by the Committee and taken up for implementation include:
 Optimization of Signals Establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation
Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.
 Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static / Station Workshops in
the field Army.
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 Redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots apart from
streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
 Better utilization of Supply and Transportation echelons and Animal Transport Units.
 Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.
 Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.
 Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.
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HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE TO CHECK MOB LYNCHING
 As per the Constitutional scheme, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects. State Governments are responsible for controlling
crime, maintaining law and order, and protecting the life and property of the citizens. They are empowered to enact and enforce laws
to curb crime in their jurisdiction.
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Accordingly, Ministry of Home Affairs has, from time to time, issued advisories to States/UTs for maintenance of public order and
prevention of crime in their areas of jurisdiction.
 An advisory on addressing the issue of lynching by mob on suspicion of child lifting was issued on 04.07.2018. Earlier, an advisory
was issued on 09.08.2016 on disturbances by miscreants in the name of protection of cow.
 Government respects the recent directions of the Supreme Court on the issue of mob violence, and has issued an advisory to State
Governments urging them to take effective measures to prevent incidents of mob violence and lynching and to take stringent action as
per law. The State Governments have been advised to implement the directions issued in the matter by the Supreme Court on July
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17, 2018.
 In order to formulate appropriate measures to address the situation, Government has set up a high level committee chaired by the
Union Home Secretary to deliberate in the matter and make recommendations.
 The Secretary, Department of Justice, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Secretary, Legislative Department and Secretary,
Social Justice and Empowerment are the members of the committee. The committee will submit its recommendations to the
Government within four weeks.
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 Government has further decided to constitute a Group of Ministers headed by the Union Home Minister to consider the
recommendations of the high level committee.
 The Minister, External Affairs, Minister, Road Transport and Highways; Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Minister, Law & Justice and Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment are the members of Group of Ministers.
 The Group of Ministers will submit their recommendations to the Prime Minister.
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COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTION OF STRESSED ASSETS
 Banks had set-up a Committee on Resolution of Stressed Assets, which has given its Report suggesting a five-pronged approach for
stressed assets resolution by the banking industry in the areas of SME resolution (for which banks may put in place a Robust
Monitoring Process), Bank-Led Resolution, AMC/AIF-led resolution, resolution through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and an
asset trading platform. Banks have initiated steps for taking forward the suggestions with due approvals.
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 A number of measures have been taken to streamline recovery and introduce innovative methods for recovery of NPAs. The
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) has been enacted to create a unified framework for resolving insolvency and bankruptcy
matters.
 Under this, by adopting a creditor-in-saddle approach, with the interim resolution professional taking over management of affairs of
corporate debtor at the outset, the incentive to resort to abuse of the legal system has been taken away.
 This, coupled with debarment of wilful defaulters and persons associated with NPA accounts from the resolution process, has effected
a fundamental change in the creditor-debtor relationship.
 The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has been amended, to provide for authorisation to RBI to issue directions to banks to initiate the
insolvency resolution process under IBC.
 As per RBI‘s directions, cases have been filed under IBC before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in respect of 39 lar ge
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defaulters, amounting to about Rs. 2.69 lakh crore funded exposure (as of December 2017).
 The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 has been amended for
faster recovery, with provision for three months imprisonment in case the borrower does not provide asset details and for the lender to
get possession of mortgaged property within 30 days. Also, six new Debts Recovery Tribunal have been established to expedite
recovery.
 In addition, under the PSB Reforms Agenda announced by the Government, PSBs have committed to clean and commercially prudent
business through Stressed Asset Management Verticals for focussed recovery, rigorous due diligence and appraisal for sanction by
scrutinising group balance sheets, at least 10% share in consortium lending, ring-fencing of cash flows, initiating use of technology
and analytics for comprehensive due diligence across data sources, building capacity for techno-economic valuation, clean and

effective post-sanction follow-up on large-value accounts by tying up with Agencies for Specialised Monitoring, and strict segregation
of pre and post-sanction roles for enhanced accountability.
MAHA GOVT CONSTITUTES PANEL TO CLEAR TOURISM PROJECTS
 The Maharashtra State government has constituted a committee to enable faster clearance of proposals, under the Principal
Secretary (Tourism), Vijay Kumar Gautam, to plan, implement and monitor schemes under the Tourism Policy 2016 and facilitate
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investments.
 Mr.Gautam will supervise single-window clearance for the hospitality industry.
 A board will be created to facilitate meetings, conferences and events.
 The committee will first meet in July and then plans to meet every month.
GOVT PANEL ON DATA NORMS
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 The government has set up a 13-member committee to upgrade the norms for computation of economic data at states and districts
level in the backdrop of plans to revise the base year for National Accounts or GDP calculation.
 The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) will change the base year to 2017-18 for the calculation of GDP
and IIP numbers from the current 2011-12 with an aim to capture changes in the economy.
 The Committee for Sub-National Accounts will be headed by Ravindra H Dholakia, a retired professor of IIM Ahmedabad.
 The panel has been asked to ―review the concepts, definitions, classifications, data conventions, data sources and data requirements
for preparation of State Domestic Product (SDP) and District Domestic Product (DDP) and to lay down revised guidelines‖.
 It will also suggest measures for improving SDP and DDP in the country taking into consideration availability of data and requirements
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of the Centre and states/union territories. As per the Terms of Reference of the Committee, it will also ―suggest state-level
annual/benchmark surveys keeping in view the needs of the System of National Accounts especially in view of the next base year
revision‖.
 The panel would submit its report within one year and may also submit interim reports, as necessary.
 At a conference of central and state statistical organisations (COCSSO) earlier this year, it was suggested that same principles and
concepts should be used while calculating SDP and DDP across the country to make data comparable.
 The Central Statistics Office (CSO), MOSOPI, revises the base year of the macroeconomic indicators, as a regular exercise, to
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capture structural changes in the economy and improve the quality and representativeness of the indices.
 The CSO had last updated base year for GDP calculation to 2011-12 from January 2015, replacing the old series base year of 2004-
05.
JUSTICE INDIRA BANERJEE TO HEAD INQUIRY PANEL

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 The Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Indira Banerjee, has been selected by the Supreme Court for the second time to head an in-
house inquiry committee to probe allegations of impropriety against sitting High Court judges in other States.
 Justice Banerjee will chair a committee constituted to probe complaints pending against Justices Indrajit Mahanty and Sangam Kumar
Sahoo of the Odisha High Court since 2016.
 Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had recently reconstituted the committee and made Justice Banerjee its chairperson. Chief Justice
of Karnataka High Court Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Ravi Shanker Jha of Madhya Pradesh High Court were the other two
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committee members.
 This is the second time that the CJI had appointed Justice Banerjee as the chairperson of an in-house inquiry committee. She had
earlier headed a committee which found Justice S.N. Shukla of Allahabad High Court guilty of having acted in a manner unbecoming
of a judge while dealing with a case related to medical admissions.
 In the Odisha issue, Justice Mahanty is accused of running a hotel in Cuttack in violation of the code of ethics for judges.
 Justice Sahoo is accused of misusing public funds by spending money for renovating his official residence.
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ARMY PANEL TO EVALUATE ASSAULT RIFLES, CARBINES
 The Army has begun the process of evaluating assault rifles and close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines to be procured from foreign
manufacturers on a fast-track basis to meet urgent requirements.
 As per the Fast Track Procurement (FTP), an empowered committee headed by a Brigadier is going to various countries to evaluate
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the assault rifles and carbines at the site of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM.
 The team will visit the OEMs in Australia, Israel, South Korea, UAE and the U.S. from where bids have been received.
 The broad parameters for the assault rifle are an effective range of 500m and weigh less than 3kg. For the carbine, the effective range
should be 200m and weigh less than 2kg.
 After evaluation, the guns will be brought to India for compatibility testing with local ammunition and check performance in different
weather conditions.
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 After this, bids of the compliant OEMs will be opened.
LEGALISE GAMBLING IN SPORTS: LAW PANEL
 The commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice B.S. Chauhan, recommended ―cashless‖ gambling in sports as a
means to increase revenue and deal a blow to unlawful gambling.
 The Law Commission of India submitted a report to the government, saying that since it is impossible to stop illegal gambling, the only
viable option left is to ―regulate‖ gambling in sports.
 The money generated can be used for public welfare activities. For that the revenue from gambling should be taxable under laws like
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Income Tax Act, the Goods and Services Tax Act.

 Transactions between gamblers and operators should be linked to their Aadhaar and PAN cards so that the government could keep
an eye on them.
 The commission recommended a classification of ‗proper gambling‘ and ‗small gambling.‘ Proper gambling would be for the rich who
play for high stakes, while small gambling would be for the low-income groups.
 The panel wanted the government to introduce a cap on the number of gambling transactions for each individual, that is, monthly, half-
yearly and annual. Restrictions on amount should be prescribed while using electronic money facilities like credit cards, debit cards,
and net-banking. Gambling websites should also not solicit pornography.
 Regulations need to protect vulnerable groups, minors and those below poverty line, those who draw their sustenance from social
welfare measures, government subsidies and Jan Dhan account holders from exploitation through gambling.

 Foreign Exchange Management and Foreign Direct Investment laws and policies should be amended to encourage investment in the
casino/online gaming industry. This would propel tourism and employment.
 However, one of the members, Prof. S. Sivakumar, expressed strong dissent in a separate note filed with the government. He said the
Law Commission report was not ―comprehensive.‖ A country as poor as India should not allow ‗legalised gambling‘ on its soil. He said
such a move would leave the poor poorer and only vested interests want legalisation of gambling.
 Mr. Sivakumar criticised the commission for exceeding the brief given to it by the Supreme Court in 2016. The court had merely asked
the commission to look into the narrow question of legalising betting in cricket and not sports as a whole.
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PANEL FOR AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION IN RS
 The rules review committee set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu has, in its interim report, made two key
recommendations: automatic suspension of wilful offenders and changing question-hour timing.
 The two-member committee is headed by former secretary general of Rajya Sabha V.K. Agnihotri. The report has to be approved by
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the Rules Committee of the Upper House, which is headed by Mr. Naidu and has members from across parties.
 The automatic suspension of wilful offenders is a controversial clause which was debated by the Rajya Sabha secretariat when Hamid
Ansari was the Chairman.
 The Lok Sabha has a provision for automatic suspension, but in the Rajya Sabha, the House has to vote on the Chair‘s suggestion to
suspend a member; the chair can‘t take the decision on its own.
 The committee has recommended that a clause similar to one available in the Lok Sabha should be available to the Chair in the Rajya
Sabha too. The other recommendation is to restore the question hour to 11 a.m. from noon.
PANEL TO REVIEW THIRD PARTY MOTOR COVER COSTS
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 Insurance regulator IRDAI has constituted a 16-member committee to examine motor third party insurance pricing aspects and make
recommendations on the premium rates for 2019-20.
 This is for the first time the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has formed such a committee.
 Apart from examining the third party cover pricing aspects, including data related ones, the committee has been tasked to rev isit the
classification of vehicles, in view of the development in the industry. Its term will be till December 31.
 The composition of the committee, with IRDAI Member - Non Life P.J. Joseph as chairman, is diverse from a stakeholder perspective.
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Besides two others from the authority, the panel will have a senior official each from the Centre‘s Department of Financial Services as
well as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as members.
 Five of the members have been drawn from general insurance companies.
WB COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO PROBLEMS OF TEA GARDENS

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 West Bengal Chief Minister said that she was looking for a permanent solution to the issues of tea workers and has set up a p anel to
address their concerns.
 Tea unions had called for a strike in July, seeking minimum wages in tea gardens.
 As per existing wage settlement practice that has been followed since 1977, wages are negotiated for a term of three years. T he
uncertainty began at the end of 2011-14 term.
 Asking for a change in the whole system, almost all trade unions formed a joint forum and demanded wage as per the Minimum Wage
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Act, thereby, replacing the system of negotiation. INTTUC, the trade union front of state‘s ruling party TMC, however, is not a part of
the forum.
 After strongly opposing it through the nine rounds of meetings during the initial one year, the West Bengal government finally formed a
committee constituted by stakeholders, including those represeting the planters, workers and the government. The committee was
tasled with the responsibility of proposing a new wage structure as per the Minimum Wage Act.
 Monsoon contributes 70% to the annual 300 million kg processed tea output in Bengal. Thus, strike will cause production loss of near
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10 million kg per week. It will be too difficult to absorb.

 There are 28 tea gardens in West Bengal.
UGC FORMS PANEL TO PROBE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MANIPUR VARSITY VC
 The University Grants Commission has formed a panel to probe allegations of administrative negligence and misuse of funds against
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Manipur University Vice- Chancellor Aditya Prasad Pandey.

 Students have been on strike for more than a month demanding Mr. Pandey‘s resignation and an independent probe.
GUJARAT PANEL TO LOOK AT STRESSED POWER ASSETS
 Gujarat government announced the formation of a High Powered Committee (HPC) to look into the hardships faced by stressed power
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assets and find a sustainable solution in a time-bound manner.

 The committee, formed by the Gujarat government through a Government Resolution (GR), comprises of three members — former
Supreme Court Justice, R K Agrawal as its Chairman, former Deputy Governor of RBI, SS Mundra, and former Chairman of CERC,
Pramod Deo. SBI Capital Markets, Mumbai, will provide secretarial support to the committee, which is asked to finalise
recommendations within two months. Gujarat government‘s nodal officer is appointed from Energy and Petrochemicals Department.
 The committee is asked to examine and analyse the hardships faced by the developers of power projects, Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd
(CGLP), Adani Power Ltd (APL) and Essar Power Gujarat Ltd (EPGL), on account of change in Indonesian regulations and
subsequent orders in the matter. Also the committee is empowered to seek additional details, clarifications from the relevant parties as
required.
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The HPC is also asked to analyse contribution by each stakeholders such as banks, developers and procurers by way of concessions
for mitigating hardships. The committee, in the interest of consumers, may also suggest measures for overall reduction in the cost of
power generation , the GR states.
 The formation of the HPC comes a year after a Working Group was formed under the guidance of Union Government in June 2017.
During the discussions of the Working Group, it was decided that Gujarat being the lead procurer from the stressed power assets,
should initiate the action to resolve the issue.
 The changes in the Indonesian regulations on coal pricing mechanism resulted into loss for power producers, who approached
regulators for revision in tariff from those agreed under respective Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
 An expert committee was formed and based on its opinion, CERC gave its order in February 2014 supporting increase in tariff. But the
litigation continued and finally in April 2017, the Supreme Court ruled against increase in tariff, putting developers in a tight spot.

 The developers APL, CGPL and EPL had made repeated representations about their suffering and financial loss after the hike in cost
of coal imports, hence expressed their inability to honour PPA obligation with full capacity.
SUNIL MEHTA COMMITTEE REPORT
 Punjab National Bank CEO Sunil Mehta-led panel's 5-point formula to resolve NPAs in the banking system has come up with some
outrageous recommendations. SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar and Bank of Baroda's BS Jayakumar are the other members of the
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panel.
 Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on July 2, 2018 approved the Sunil Mehta Committee‘s suggestions of a 5-pronged strategy to
tackle the Non-Performing Assets (NPA).
 The committee led by Punjab National Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta has submitted its draft report titled 'Sashakt' to the Finance
Ministry with a strategy to tackle stress in the banking sector. However, there is no proposal or recommendation to create a bad bank.
The recommendations now await the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
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Recommendations of the Committee:
1. The 'Sashakt' Report highlights nine guiding principles aimed at the operational turnaround of the banking sector in a manner that will
create jobs and enhance the value of public sector banks.
2. Resolution of bad assets below Rs 50 crore within 90 days: Banks will be required to create a ‗Focused Vertical‘ for bad assets below
Rs 50 crore and set up a Steering Committee for resolution of such bad assets within 90 days.
3. Resolution of consortium loans between Rs 50-500 crore within 180 days: It suggested the Bank Led Resolution Approach (BLRA) for
loans between Rs 50 and Rs 500 crore. It suggested constitution of an Independent Screening Committee to examine resolution of
such loans within 180 days and if there is no resolution in 180 days, then these bad assets will be moved to the National Com pany
Law Tribunal (NCLT).
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4. Resolution of loans above Rs 500 crore: The loans above Rs 500 crore will be dealt via AMC/AIF-led resolution process. The panel
proposed creation of a national Asset Management Company (AMC) to take over such Non-Performing Assets from banks.
5. Recommendations included creating platforms where banks can trade in bunched loan assets.
 The committee suggested setting up of an AMC with an equity contribution from banks, foreign funds and infrastructure funds such as
the National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF).
 The AMC could be set up under an existing Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) like Arcil Ltd which is already promoted by banks.
 The National AMC will determine the price of individual accounts after due diligence and once the asset is sold, turnaround specialists
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would be appointed. The asset would be sold down to strategic buyers over a period of time.
 The plan to set up a national ARC or AMC over and above existing private ARCs come amid the mounting bad loans in the system
leading to bleeding balance sheets of banks.
COMMITTEE TO REVIEW OFFENCES UNDER COMPANIES ACT

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 The Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA) has constituted a 10 Member Committee for review of the penal provisions in the Companies
Act, 2013. This Panel is expected to examine ‗de-criminalisation‘ of certain offences.
 The MCA seeks to review offences under the Companies Act, 2013 as some of the offences may be required to be decriminalised and
handled in an in-house mechanism, where a penalty could be levied in instances of default. This would also allow the trial courts to
pay more attention on offences of serious nature.
 The Committee — headed by MCA Secretary — would have to submit its report within thirty days to the Central Government for
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consideration of its recommendations. It has been decided that the existing compoundable offences in the Companies Act - 2013 viz.
offences punishable with fine only or punishable with fine or imprisonment or both may be examined.
 The Panel has been asked to take a decision as to whether any of such offences may be considered as ‗civil wrongs‘ or ‗defaul ts‘
where a penalty by an adjudicating officer may be imposed in the first place and only consequent to further non-compliance of the
order of such authority will it be categorised as an offence triable by a special court.
 It is also required to be seen as to whether any non-compoundable offences viz. offence punishable with imprisonment only, or
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punishable with imprisonment and also with fine under the Companies Act, 2013 may be made compoundable.
The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:
(1) To examine the nature of all ‗acts‘ categorised as compoundable offences viz. offences punishable with fine only or punishable with
fine or imprisonment or both under the CA-13 and recommend if any of such ‗acts‘ may be re-categorised as ‗acts‘ which attract civil
liabilities wherein the company and its ‗officers in default‘ are liable for penalty
(2) To review the provisions relating to non-compoundable offences and recommend whether any such provisions need to be re-
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categorised as compoundable offence

(3) To examine the existing mechanism of levy of penalty under the Companies Act 2013 and suggest any improvements thereon
(4) To lay down the broad contours of an in-house adjudicatory mechanism where penalty may be levied in a MCA21 system driven
manner so that discretion is minimised
(5) To take necessary steps in formulation of draft changes in the law.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TESTING OF CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM
 ISRO carried out a major technology demonstration, the first in a series of tests to qualify a Crew Escape System, which is a critical
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technology relevant for human spaceflight.
 The Crew Escape System is an emergency escape measure designed to quickly pull the crew module along with the astronauts to a
safe distance from the launch vehicle in the event of a launch abort. The first test (Pad Abort Test) demonstrated the safe recovery of
the crew module in case of any exigency at the launch pad.
 After a smooth countdown of 5 hours, the Crew Escape System along with the simulated crew module with a mass of 12.6 tonnes,
lifted off at 07.00 AM (IST) at the opening of the launch window from its pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
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 The test was over in 259 seconds, during which the Crew Escape System along with crew module soared skyward, then arced out
over the Bay of Bengal and floated back to Earth under its parachutes about 2.9 km from Sriharikota.
 The crew module reached an altitude of nearly 2.7 km under the power of its seven specifically designed quick acting solid motors to
take away the crew module to a safe distance without exceeding the safe g-levels.
 Nearly 300 sensors recorded various mission performance parameters during the test flight. Three recovery boats are being exercised
to retrieve the module as part of the recovery protocol.
ICAT RELEASES FIRST BS-VI ENGINE CERTIFICATE
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 ICAT has completed the first BS-VI certification for a heavy duty engine model for M/s Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicle Limited. The
engine has been developed and manufactured indigenously by Volvo Eicher in India.
 The successful completion of the compliance test of the engine, much ahead of the implementation date of 1 April, 2020, gives
sufficient time for product stabilization in terms of making it more robust and cost competitive for the end consumers.
 The pro-active approach from the Government of India has made the country leapfrog from the conventional BS-IV to directly adopt
BS-VI emission norms as the next level for regulatory framework in India.
 The BS-VI emission standards are much more elaborate in their scope and integrate substantial changes to existing emission
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standards ensuring cleaner products to the consumer. Besides the more stringent limits on the gaseous emission components, the
particulate matter (PM) limits have also been significantly reduced along with the introduction of particle number (PN) limits.
 The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) is a division of NATRiP implementation society (NATIS), under the
administrative control of Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India.
 ICAT is the first of new world class centers established under the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project
(NATRiP) with the main objective of carrying out Research & Development besides extending homologation facilities in the fiel d of
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Automotive Engineering.
 ICAT is one of the prime testing agencies recognized by the Government of India as one of the accredited 'Type Approval and
Homologation' agencies in India under Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) and has also been recognized as Scientific and Industrial
Research Organization (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), since Feb 2010, by BIS for Tyre
Testing, Safety Glasses and by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for emission and noise testing of generator sets.
 ICAT has emerged as a comprehensive technical partner of the automotive industry.
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TEST OF BRAHMOS TO VALIDATE SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION
 BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Balasore, Odisha. The
test-firing conducted from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher was part of service life extension programme for Indian Army under
extreme weather condition.
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 The precision strike missile followed the designated trajectory and the key components functioned perfectly. BrahMos has proved
again all-weather capability flying in sea-state 7 with waves as high as 9 meters.
 DRDO's range capability to operate in the most severe weather condition has also been validated at ITR Balasore. Senior Army
officials and scientists from DRDO and BrahMos witnessed the trial.
 BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia. BrahMos missile has established itself as a major force
multiplier in modern-day complex battlefields with its impeccable land-attack, anti-ship capabilities with multi-role and multi-platform
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abilities.
 The BrahMos (designated PJ-10) is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships,
aircraft, or land. It is the fastest cruise missile in the world.
 It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India's Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. It is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks cruise missile and other
similar sea-skimming Russian cruise missile technology. The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers,
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the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

 It is the world's fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation. The missile travels at speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0, which is being upgraded
to Mach 5.0. The land-launched and ship-launched versions are already in service, with the air and submarine-launched versions
currently in the testing phase. An air-launched variant of BrahMos appeared in 2012. A hypersonic version of the missile, BrahMos-II,
is also presently under development with a speed of Mach 7-8 to boost aerial fast strike capability. It is expected to be ready for testing
by 2020.
 India wanted the BrahMos to be based on a mid range cruise missile like the P-700 Granit. Its propulsion is based on the Russian
missile, and missile guidance has been developed by BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is expected to reach a total order US$13
billion.
 In 2016, as India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India and Russia are now planning to jointly
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develop a new generation of Brahmos missiles with 600 km-plus range and an ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy.
EXPERT GROUP TO DEVELOP PREDICTION TOOLS FOR THUNDERSTORMS
 Ministry of Earth Sciences has formed an expert group consisting of scientists from India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) as members of the
working group.
 The expert group is mandated to development of different monitoring and prediction (based on different techniques) tools for
thunderstorms. The group is expected to come out with a better strategy for monitoring and predicting thunderstorms by March 2019.

 Ministry of Earth Sciences has already advertised the call for proposal on ―Thunderstorm and Meso-scale Processes Prediction
(THUMP) to receive research proposals from universities and academic institutions in the country specifically in this focussed area.
 Through this mechanism, Ministry will provide financial support to universities and academic institutions for working on this important
research area.
 The ongoing augmentation of the IMD‘s observational network would help in improving the mesoscale prediction system. The
proposed augmentation of radar Network of IMD, especially over northwest Himalayas, will also enable wider coverage under
Thunderstorm Nowcasting. The Thunderstorm expert group is mandated to develop high resolution operational prediction system by
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March 2019. Ministry has also invited specific project proposals from universities on thunderstorm studies for research funding.
 Thunderstorms are a regular feature, especially during the pre-monsoon season (March to June) in India. Thunderstorms are small
scale (10-50 km) weather systems with a life span of couple of hours. Thunderstormsare often accompanied by rain, violent winds,
lightning, and hail, thereby posing serious hazardous problems to the general public and various socio-economic sectors like aviation,
agriculture, transport, power supply etc.
 For many years, India Meteorological Department (IMD), and other institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and universities in India
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are involved in basic research on thunderstorms. However, scientists working on this research area in India are much smaller
compared to scientists working on other areas like Monsoons and Climate Change‖.
REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENT ‗LIDAR ‘INSTALLED
 National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), an autonomous institution under the Ministry has installed a remote sensing instrument-
LiDAR for assessment of offshore wind resource at Gulf of Khambat, off the Gujarat Coast.
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a non-banking financial institution under the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy has conducted following studies with foreign assistance during the last three years and current year:
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 Study/Survey & Preparation of Road Map on Tidal Energy Projects in India.
 Study on the business models for decentralized systems such as Solar PV/Hybrid mini grids, PV irrigation pumps and household
lighting systems under access to Clean Energy Programme.
 Study for analysis of battery and Solar PV modules recycling processes in India along with development of market outreach
strategy for Rooftop Solar PV.
 Study on the Investment Potential of Biofuels in India.
 A total of 31.67 GW of renewable energy capacity has been installed through implementation of various renewable energy
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programmes/schemes during last three years and current year (up to June 2018) in the country including the state of Uttarakhand.
ADVANCED SYSTEM OF AIR QUALITY FORECASTING ‗SAFAR‘
 Science& Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan unveiled a state-of-the-art Air Quality and Weather Forecast System– SAFAR (System
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of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting)at Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
 The giant true colour LED display gives out real-time air quality index on 24x7 basis with colour coding alongwith 72-hour advance
forecast.
 The system, first of its kind in the country, was developed indigenously in record time by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
and operationalized by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
 The minister said based on the Air Quality Index on a particular day, Health advisory and related precaution will be notified to prepare
citizens well in advance. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, further added that in addition to monitoring and forecasting of regular air qual ity and
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weather parameters, the ChandniChowk air quality station will also measure sun‘s UV-Index and will provide measurement of online
automatic ultrafine particles PM1 and Mercury, both of which have direct relevance to human health. Based on UVI, skin advisories
will be issued on display.
 ―Our mission model project SAFAR is implemented in four cities of India – Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad as an operational
service. Accordingto a preliminary economic assessment of the benefits of the system, if 5% of people suffering from air -pollution
related diseases take advantage of the advisories and precautionsin Delhi alone, it would result in a saving of nearly Rs. 2,500 crores
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in terms of health-related cost benefit,‖ said Dr Harsh Vardhan, addressing a large gathering at Town Hall in ChandniChowk.
 The system will be an integral part of India‘s first Air Quality Early Warning System operational in Delhi and will strengthen the existing
air quality network of SAFAR, Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
 SAFAR will accelerate public awareness and preparedness of air pollution and weather extremes. It will also lead to better
understanding of linkages among emissions, weather, pollution and climate. It will monitor all weather parameters like temper ature,
rainfall, humidity, wind speed and wind direction.
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 In addition to regular air quality parameters like PM2.5, PM10, Sulfur Dioxide, Ozone, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, the system
will also monitor the existence of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene.
 Besides health, SAFAR system would benefit cost savings to several other sectors like agriculture, aviation, infrastructure, disaster
management skill, tourism and many others, which directly or indirectly get affected by air quality and weather.
NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN INDIA: LATEST INFORMATION

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 At present, there are nine (9) nuclear power reactors at various stages of construction. Twelve (12) more nuclear power reactors have
been accorded administrative approval and financial sanction by the Government in June 2017.
 Currently, pre-project activities are in progress on these projects. In addition, the Government has also accorded ‗in principle‘ approval
of sites for setting up nuclear power reactors in future. The details are as follows:
Nuclear Power Reactors under Construction:
Capacity
State Location Project
(MW)
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Gujarat Kakrapar KAPP 3&4 2 x 700
Rajasthan Rawatbhata RAPP 7&8 2 X 700
Kudankulam KKNPP 3&4 2 X 1000

Tamil Nadu
Kalpakkam PFBR& 500&
Haryana Gorakhpur GHAVP 1&2$ 2 x 700

Nuclear Power Reactors accorded administrative approval and financial sanction:
Capacity
State Location Project
(MW)
Haryana Gorakhpur GHAVP 3&4 2 x 700
Mahi Banswara 1&2 2 X 700
Rajasthan Mahi-Banswara
Mahi Banswara 3&4 2 X 700
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Karnataka Kaiga Kaiga 5&6 2 X 700
Madhya Pradesh Chutka Chutka 1&2 2 X 700
Tamil Nadu Kudankulam KKNPP 5&6 2 X 1000
Sites accorded ‗in principle‘ approval for setting up more reactors in future:
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State Site Capacity (MW) In Cooperation with
Maharashtra Jaitapur 6 X 1650 France
Andhra Pradesh Kovvada 6 X 1208 United States of
Gujarat Chhaya Mithi Virdi 6 X 1000* America
West Bengal Haripur 6 X 1000* Russian Federation
Madhya Pradesh Bhimpur 4 X 700 Indigenous PHWR
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The names of the countries with whom negotiations have been held for the supply of fuel for the Atomic Power Plants are Russia,
Kazakhstan, Canada, Uzbekistan, France and Australia.
 The reactors under construction and accorded administrative approval and financial sanction are expected to be completed
progressively by 2031. In respect of reactors to be set up in future at sites accorded ‗in principle‘ approval, the completion would
depend on their respective start dates.
CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM
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 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has carried out Pad Abort Test successfully to qualify Crew Escape System required
for Human Spaceflight, in July 2018 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
 As part of the activities for development of critical technologies for future Human Spaceflight, Pad Abort Test was carried out to
demonstrate the Crew Escape System during any exigency at launch pad. The Crew Escape System is configured using specially
designed quick acting solid motors that deliver a relatively large thrust to take the crew module to a safe distance.
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 Experimental data from this mission will serve as a useful input to undertake human spaceflight programme. An amount of Rs.173.00
crores is approved for development of critical technologies including Crew Escape System.
 Antrix Corporation Limited (ANTRIX), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation, is marketing the Satellite Capacity
on the Indian Communication Satellites bringing revenue to the Department of Space.
 ANTRIX is marketing products and services from Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) program and also offers TTC services to international
customers.
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Launch Services is also an important business earning valuable Foreign Exchange. We have launched 237 satellites from 29
countries till date.
 ANTRIX takes part in the major International and National Exhibition and portrays the products and services emanating from Indian
Space Programme. It includes building and launching of satellites for customers, establishment of Ground Segment, provisioning of
wide variety of data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellites, capacity building and consultancy application projects.
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NEW 2D MATERIAL
 A new two-dimensional material has become a reality. The research succeeded in the first experimental realisation and structural
investigation of single-layer vanadium disulphide (VS2).
 VS2 is one of a diverse group of compounds known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Many of these can assume a layered
crystal structure from which atomically thin crystalline sheets can be isolated. The electronic properties of the single-atomic-layer
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crystals can differ in important ways from those of the layered bulk crystals.
 The team also discovered a new and unpredicted vanadium sulphide compound. Most 2D materials can, in theory (although not
necessarily in practice), be derived from bulk layered crystals. However, there is no 3D material that has similar stoichiometry and
crystal structure to those of the new compound, which is formed when single-layer VS2 is depleted of sulphur by heating.
BLINDNESS GENE DISCOVERED

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 Researchers have pinpointed pathogenic mutations in a new gene, MARK3, as being the cause of blindness. They subsequently
confirmed their findings by modifying the homologous gene in drosophila flies, which resulted in abnormal eye development and
blindness.
 Our genome is made up of 20,000 genes, all of which may cause disease. At present, 4,141 genes have been identified as being
responsible for genetic abnormalities, leaving around 16,000 genes with unknown implication in disease.
 Researchers have investigated a recessive genetic disorder that destroys the eyes from developing and results in childhood
blindness. After analysing the genomes of each member of a consanguineous family with affected children, the geneticists pinpointed
pathogenic mutations in a new gene, MARK3, as being the cause.
 They subsequently confirmed their findings -- published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics -- by modifying the homologous
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gene in drosophila flies, which resulted in abnormal eye development and blindness. The identification of the MARK3 related disease
will help to understand the mechanism of the disease, provide diagnostic services, and initiate efforts for a personalized treatment.
DISEASE ‗SALMONELLA PARATYPHI C‘ IN NEWS
 Paratyphoid fever, also known simply as paratyphoid, is a bacterial infection caused by one of the three types of Salmonella enterica.
Symptoms usually begin 6–30 days after exposure and are the same as those of typhoid fever.
 Often, a gradual onset of a high fever occurs over several days. Weakness, loss of appetite, and headaches also commonly occur.
Some people develop a skin rash with rose-colored spots.

 Without treatment, symptoms may last weeks or months. Other people may carry the bacteria without being affected; however, they
are still able to spread the disease to others. Both typhoid and paratyphoid are of similar severity. Paratyphoid fever is a type of enteric
fever along with typhoid fever.
 Paratyphoid is caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica of the serotypes Paratyphi A, Paratyphi B, or Paratyphi C growing in the
intestines and blood. They are usually spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person.
 They may occur when a person who prepares food is infected. Risk factors include poor sanitation as is found among poor crowded
populations. Occasionally, they may be transmitted by sex.
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 Humans are the only animals infected. Diagnosis may be based on symptoms and confirmed by either culturing the bacteria or
detecting the bacterial DNA in the blood, stool, or bone marrow. Culturing the bacteria can be difficult. Bone-marrow testing is the
most accurate. Symptoms are similar to that of many other infectious diseases. Typhus is an unrelated disease.
 While no vaccine is available specifically for paratyphoid, the typhoid vaccine may provide some benefit. Prevention includes drinking
clean water, better sanitation, and better handwashing. Treatment of the disease is with antibiotics such as azithromycin. Resistance
to a number of other previously effective antibiotics is common.
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 Paratyphoid affects about six million people a year. It is most common in parts of Asia and rare in the developed world. Most cases
are due to Paratyphi A rather than Paratyphi B or C. In 2015, paratyphoid fever resulted in about 29,200 deaths, down from 63,000
deaths in 1990. The risk of death is between 10 and 15% without treatment, while with treatment, it may be less than 1%.
 Genome research suggests that enteric fever, a potentially lethal disease more commonly found in hot countries, was present in
medieval Europe.
 This is the first time that any Salmonella have been found in old human remains in Europe, which is surprising because other
Salmonella are more common today, including Salmonella causing typhoid fever, called Typhi, and Salmonella causing food
poisoning.
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NEW METHOD FOR DRUG DISCOVERY
 Using an infrared sensor, biophysicists at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) have succeeded in analysing quickly and easily which
active agents affect the structure of proteins and how long that effect lasts.
 Thus, Prof Dr Klaus Gerwert and DrJörnGüldenhaupt performed time-resolved measurements of the changes to the structure of
protein scaffolds, which were triggered by the active agents.
 Their methods might one day help develop drugs with little side effects in a quick and targeted manner.
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 The team published a report on their research, which was conducted under the umbrella of the EU-funded programme Innovative
Medicines Initiative in the project Kinetics For Drug Discovery (K4DD), in the journal AngewandteChemie in May 2018.
WORLD'S MOST EFFICIENT SEMICONDUCTOR FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT
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Working to address "hotspots" in computer chips that degrade their performance, UCLA engineers have developed a new
semiconductor material, defect-free boron arsenide, that is more effective at drawing and dissipating waste heat than any other known
semiconductor or metal materials.
 The defect-free boron arsenide, which was made for the first time by the UCLA team, has a record-high thermal conductivity, more
than three-times faster at conducting heat than currently used materials, such as silicon carbide and copper, so that heat that would
otherwise concentrate in hotspots is quickly flushed away.
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NASA'S NEW MINI SATELLITE
 A new mission called HaloSat will help scientists search for the universe's missing matter by studying X-rays from hot gas surrounding
the Milky Way galaxy.
 A new NASA-sponsored CubeSat mission called HaloSat, deployed from the International Space Station on July 13, will help
scientists search for the universe's missing matter by studying X-rays from hot gas surrounding our Milky Way galaxy.
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 One-third of the matter from early astronomical observations cannot be found. This missing matter may be in very hot halos of gas
surrounding galaxies.
 HaloSat – A CubeSat to Study the Hot Galactic Halo (HaloSat) examines X-rays from oxygen atoms surrounding the Milky Way to
determine how much matter is in the halo of our galaxy.
A DOZEN NEW MOONS OF JUPITER DISCOVERED

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 Twelve new moons orbiting Jupiter have been found -- 11 'normal' outer moons, and one that they're calling an 'oddball.' Astronomers
first spotted the moons in the spring of 2017 while they were looking for very distant solar system objects as part of the hu nt for a
possible massive planet far beyond Pluto.
 Nine of the new moons are part of a distant outer swarm of moons that orbit it in the retrograde, or opposite direction of Jupiter's spin
rotation. These distant retrograde moons are grouped into at least three distinct orbital groupings and are thought to be the remnants
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of three once-larger parent bodies that broke apart during collisions with asteroids, comets, or other moons. The newly discovered
retrograde moons take about two years to orbit Jupiter.
 Two of the new discoveries are part of a closer, inner group of moons that orbit in the prograde, or same direction as the planet's
rotation. These inner prograde moons all have similar orbital distances and angles of inclinations around Jupiter and so are thought to
also be fragments of a larger moon that was broken apart. These two newly discovered moons take a little less than a year to travel
around Jupiter.
 The initial discovery of most of the new moons were made on the Blanco 4-meter telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American in Chile
and operated by the National Optical Astronomical Observatory of the United States.
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WORLD'S LARGEST STUDY ON ALLERGIC RHINITIS
 Scientists have presented the largest study so far on allergic rhinitis. The data of nearly 900,000 participants revealed loci in the
human genome whose changes significantly increase the risk of disease.
 Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is the most common form of allergy. It is triggered by airborne allergens, including pollens,
house dust mite and animal dander. Around 400 million people worldwide are affected by the disease, and the trend is rising,
especially in westernized countries.
 The aim of the study, which was performed within the framework of the EAGLE (EArly Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology)
consortium, was to identify genetic differences between people with and without allergic rhinitis.

HERITABLE GENOME EDITING
 An independent inquiry by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics has concluded that editing the DNA of a human embryo, sperm, or e gg to
influence the characteristics of a future person ('heritable genome editing') could be morally permissible. If that is to happen, a number
of measures would need to be put in place first to ensure that genome editing proceeds in ways that are ethically acceptable.
 The technique of genome editing -- the deliberate alteration of a targeted DNA sequence in a living cell -- could theoretically be used
in assisted reproduction to alter the DNA of a human embryo, before it is transferred to the womb. This is not currently lawful in the
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UK, but could, in time, become available as an option for parents who wish to influence the genetic characteristics of their future child
(for example, to exclude a heritable disease or a predisposition to cancer in later life).
 The Council says that the possibilities raised by this radical new approach to reproductive choices could have significant implications
for individuals and for all of society, and there must be action now to support public debate and to put in place appropriate
governance.
 The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is a (London) UK-based independent charitable body, which examines and reports on bioethical
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issues raised by new advances in biological and medical research. Established in 1991, the Council is funded by the Nuffield
Foundation, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. The Council has been described by the media as a 'leading ethics
watchdog', which 'never shrinks from the unthinkable'.
HEAVIEST KNOWN CALCIUM ATOM DISCOVERED
 Researchers have discovered eight new rare isotopes of the elements phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, argon, potassium, scandium and,
most importantly, calcium. These are the heaviest isotopes of these elements ever found.
 Isotopes are different forms of elements found in nature. Isotopes of each element contain the same number of protons, but a different
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number of neutrons. The more neutrons that are added to an element, the "heavier" it is. The heaviest isotope of an element
represents the limit of how many neutrons the nucleus can hold. Also, isotopes of the same element have different physical properties.
"Stable" isotopes live forever, while some heavy isotopes might only live for a few seconds. Some even heavier ones might barely
exist fractions of a second before disintegrating.
 The most interesting short-lived isotopes synthesized during a recent experiment at RIKEN's Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory
(RIBF) were calcium-59 and calcium-60, which are now the most neutron-laden calcium isotopes known to science. The nucleus of
calcium-60 has 20 protons and twice as many neutrons. That's 12 more neutrons than the heaviest of the stable calcium isotopes,
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calcium-48. This stable isotope disintegrates after living for hundreds of quintillion years, or 40 trillion times the age of the universe. In
contrast, calcium-60 lives for a few thousandths of a second.
 At the heart of an atom, protons and neutrons are held together by the nuclear force, forming the atomic nucleus.
 Some of these models that describe nuclei at the highest resolution scale predict that 20 protons and 40 neutrons will not hold
together to form Ca-60.
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The discovery of calcium-60 will prompt theorists to identify missing ingredients in their models.
 Two of the other new isotopes of sulfur and chlorine, S-49 and Cl-52, were not predicted to exist by a number of models that paint a
lower resolution picture of nuclei. Their ingredients can now be refined as well.
 Creating and identifying rare isotopes is the nuclear-physics version of a formidable needle-in-a-haystack problem. To synthesize
these new isotopes, researchers accelerated an intense beam of heavy zinc particles onto a block of beryllium. In the resulting debris
of the collision, with a minuscule chance, a rare isotope such as calcium-60 is formed. The intense zinc beam that enabled the
discovery of calcium-59 and calcium-60 was provided by the RIBF, which is presently home to the world's most powerful accelerator
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facility in the field. The isotopes calcium-57 and 58 were discovered in 2009 at NSCL.
 In the future, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University will allow scientists might be able to make
calcium-68 or even calcium-70, which may be the heaviest calcium isotopes.
SUGARCANE GENOME SEQUENCED

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 Sugarcane was the last major cultivated plant to have its genome sequenced. This was because of its huge complexity: the genome
comprises between 10 and 12 copies of each chromosome, when the human genome has just two. It will now be possible to
'modernize' the methods used to breed sugarcane varieties. This will be a real boon to the sugar and biomass industry.
 The sugarcane genome is complex for several reasons:
 high polyploidy (large number of copies of each chromosome category)
 aneuploidy (variable number of copies depending on the chromosome category)
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 bispecific origin of the chromosomes

 structural differences and interspecific chromosome recombinants.
‗SPINTRONICS‘ IN NEWS
 Spintronics (a portmanteau meaning spin transport electronics), also known as spin electronics, is the study of the intrinsic spin of the
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electron and its associated magnetic moment, in addition to its fundamental electronic charge, in solid-state devices.
 Spintronics fundamentally differs from traditional electronics in that, in addition to charge state, electron spins are exploited as a
further degree of freedom, with implications in the efficiency of data storage and transfer.
 Spintronic systems are most often realised in dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS) and Heusler alloys and are of particular interest
in the field of quantum computing.
100 TIMES FASTER BROADBAND IS COMING
 Initial testing on the next generation of mobile technology with the capability of delivering 100 times faster broadband has been
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successful.
 Engineering experts are pleased with the successful completion of measurements of the indoor coverage of 5G signals in some of the
first tests of its kind carried out.
 The tests are an important step in establishing the capability and ironing out issues with 5G which is expected to be commercially
available as early as next year in the US and by 2020 in the UK.
 The introduction of 5G had the potential to be far more transformative than the arrival of 4G a decade ago with huge possibilities for
industrial automation and Robotics for manufacturing which could deliver a huge boost to UK productivity.
 Customers can look forward to data-rates at least 20 times faster than 4G, with the new 5G wireless technology tipped to help
radically speed up roll-out of fibre broadband coverage in the UK which is currently being hampered because of the significant costs of
laying cables into millions of homes.

 5G Fixed-Wireless Access technology will have the capability of covering multiple homes from mobile base stations placed in
residential or rural neighbourhoods with the potential for peak data-rates of up to 1 Gbps.
‗PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGY‘ IN NEWS
 Perovskite solar cells aim to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of solar energy. Perovskite PVs indeed hold promise for high
efficiencies, as well as low potential material & reduced processing costs. A big advantage perovskite PVs have over conventi onal
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solar technology is that they can react to various different wavelengths of light, which lets them convert more of the sunlight that
reaches them into electricity.
 Perovskites are a class of materials that share a similar structure, which display a myriad of exciting properties like superconductivity,
magnetoresistance and more. These easily synthesized materials are considered the future of solar cells, as their distinctive structure
makes them perfect for enabling low-cost, efficient photovoltaics. They are also predicted to play a role in next-gen electric vehicle
batteries, sensors, lasers and much more.
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 The University of Surrey has helped to create a technique that has produced the highest performing inverted perovskite solar cell ever
recorded.
 Perovskite based cells are widely viewed as the next generation of solar cells, offering similar power conversion efficiency (PCE)
performance, but at a much lower cost than the market dominant crystalline silicon based solar cells.
 The team created a technique called Solution-Process Secondary growth (SSG) which increased the voltage of inverted perovskite
solar cells by 100 millivolts, reaching a high of 1.21 volts without compromising the quality of the solar cell or the electr ical current
flowing through a device.
 They tested the technique on a device which recorded a PCE of 20.9 per cent, the highest certified PCE for inverted perovskite solar
cells ever recorded.
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 A perovskite solar cell is a type of solar cell which includes a perovskite structured compound, most commonly a hybrid organic-
inorganic lead or tin halide-based material, as the light-harvesting active layer.
 Perovskite materials such as methylammonium lead halides are cheap to produce and simple to manufacture.
 Solar cell efficiencies of devices using these materials have increased from 3.8% in 2009 to 22.7% in late 2017 in single -junction
architectures, and, in silicon-based tandem cells, up to 26.7% and 25.2% in 4-terminal and 2-terminal configuration respectively.
 Perovskite solar cells are therefore the fastest-advancing solar technology to date. With the potential of achieving even higher
efficiencies and the very low production costs, perovskite solar cells have become commercially attractive, with start-up companies
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already promising modules on the market by 2017. In February 2016, a TED talk was dedicated to this technology.
 In general, Photovoltaic (PV) technologies can be viewed as divided into two main categories: wafer-based PV (also called 1st
generation PVs) and thin-film cell PVs. Traditional crystalline silicon (c-Si) cells (both single crystalline silicon and multi-crystalline
silicon) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) cells belong to the wafer-based PVs, with c-Si cells dominating the current PV market (about
90% market share) and GaAs exhibiting the highest efficiency.
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Thin-film cells normally absorb light more efficiently than silicon, allowing the use of extremely thin films. Cadmium telluride (CdTe)
technology has been successfully commercialized, with more than 20% cell efficiency and 17.5% module efficiency record and such
cells currently hold about 5% of the total market.
 Other commercial thin-film technologies include hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and copper indium gallium (di)selenide
(CIGS) cells, taking approximately 2% market share each today. Copper zinc tin sulphide technology has been under R&D for years
and will probably require some time until actual commercialization.
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WORLD‘S SMALLEST HEART PUMP MAKES DEBUT IN INDIA
 Hospital in India has claimed to perform the country‘s first successful protected angioplasty and stenting procedure with the help of the
Impella heart pump.
 The Impella device is the world‘s smallest heart pump which can support a failing heart for seven days, even longer occasionally. It
acts like a catheter and works on the principle of submersible water pump. It is as thick as a pencil and approximately 6-inch long.
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 The procedure was conducted at the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI) by a team led by Cardiovascular Sciences chairman As hok
Seth. The patient suffered from life-threatening blockages and was at extreme risk for the bypass surgery.
 Unlike other devices which are large and need surgery for implantation, the Impella heart pump can be inserted into the heart without
surgery percutaneously through the groin artery in the catheterisation laboratory. The device provides blood flow of 2.5-3.5 litres per
minute. It is used to help maintain stable heart functions and ensure blood flow is maintained to organs like the brain and k idneys in
cases of cardiogenic shock or during risky angioplasties.
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 Once in position, the device withdraws blood from the left ventricle and expels it in the ascending aorta, the same effect that happens
with the pumping motion of the heart.
 The Impella can support a failing heart [cardiogenic shock] due to heart attack or myocarditis for seven days or even longer till heart
recovers. It can be used to support the heart in cases of high-risk angioplasties [protected PCI] in patients with poor heart function and
where surgery is considered risky. It has proven to support the heart to improve safety of the procedure.
 Once the procedure is over or the heart recovers the device can be removed like a catheter. It has been approved and is used in the
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US and Europe for the past few years.
NASA PREPARES TO EXTRACT DATA AS KEPLER RUNS VERY LOW ON FUEL
 The Kepler space telescope's prolific planet-hunting days will end soon. After finding more than 2,300 confirmed planets across its two
missions, Kepler is low on fuel and will run out within several months, according to NASA engineers.
 Estimates are that Kepler's tank will run dry within several months.
 The Kepler team is planning to collect as much science data as possible in its remaining time and beam it back to Earth befor e the
loss of the fuel-powered thrusters.
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The Kepler data will also be plumbed for years as scientists seek to confirm other possible planets in its archive. As of today (March
16), Kepler has confirmed the existence of 2,342 planets across its two missions — about two-thirds of all exoplanets ever discovered.
(Just last month, Kepler scientists released a batch of 95 planets that are included in this total.) On top of that, there are 2,245
possible planets that require more observation — a ripe ground for future follow-up.
 The $600 million Kepler mission launched in 2009 to search for exoplanets in a fixed location in the constellation Cygnus. For four
years, it watched the stars for the telltale dimming that occurs when an exoplanet crosses the face of a star. The mission's ultimate
aim was to find rocky exoplanets that were Earth-size or smaller — a type of planet rarely found when Kepler went into orbit. But
within a few years, Kepler's data showed that rocky planets are extremely common in the universe.

 The mission was originally slated to last two years, but it was extended. In 2013, after four years of operation, three of Kepler's four
gyroscopes — the "wheels" that aimed the craft — failed. Kepler couldn't maintain a steady gaze in space anymore. So NASA devised
a new mission for the spacecraft, called K2.
 Using the pressure of the solar wind to maintain position, the spacecraft would rotate between different areas of the sky every three
months (which, in the parlance of the mission, is called a "campaign"). This would allow Kepler to keep looking for exoplanets, albeit
with a shorter orbital period. Even with K2, Kepler exceeded expectations.
 Initially, the Kepler team estimated that the K2 mission could conduct 10 campaigns with the remaining fuel. It turns out, we were
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overly conservative. The mission has already completed 16 campaigns, and in July 2018 entered its 17th.
 Kepler has an advantage: It's located in deep space. It's not close to a planet hosting icy moons, unlike the Galileo mission near
Jupiter (which orbited there between 1995 and 2003) and the Cassini mission near Saturn (which orbited the planet from 2004 to
2017) .
 When Cassini and Galileo ran low on fuel, NASA engineers deliberately aimed these spacecraft on death dives into their respec tive
planets, just in case the drifting machines accidentally smacked into an icy moon that has the potential to host life. Kepler, by contrast,
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can keep going as long as feasible.
SCIENTISTS DECODE HOW MUSTARD PLANTS TOLERATE SALT
 High salinity is one of the major problems in agricultural fields and many countries, including India, use an organic sulphur compound
thiourea to minimise the negative effect of salt stress.
 Now, using molecular biology tools, scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai have reported how this
treatment altered the plant RNA and hormones to facilitate this survival in mustard plants grown with high salt stress (125-150
milliMolar NaCl).
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 Anthropogenic factors, irregular irrigation and proximity to the sea can cause high salinity in the agricultural fields and t his induces
redox imbalance and damages the plant. Various studies have shown that thiourea is a good redox stabiliser as it scavenges multiple
reactive oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide. The researchers carried out studies to understand how this thiourea acti vates
the tolerance mechanisms.
 Mustard seedlings, just 20-day-old plants, grown in a liquid nutrient medium, were given saline treatment with and without thiourea,
and their growth was studied for seven days. The plants which were supplemented with 75 micromolar of thiourea showed increased
survival and better phenotype with larger leaves compared with the group grown in saline medium.
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 The researchers then studied the microRNA of the plant as it is an important component that regulates plant transcriptomes according
to the environmental conditions.
 Scientists found that downregulated microRNAs were enriched in the thiourea group to facilitate transcriptional activation and
adaptation under salt stress conditions.
 They also studied different genes and plant hormones that are involved in stress management and identified four key genes
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responsible for the adaptation. Plant hormones such as ABA, Auxins, jasmonates which have been shown to play important roles in
salt tolerance were all found to be co-ordinately regulated upon thiourea treatment.
 The team also studied the effect on spraying diluted thiourea directly on the shoot of rice plants grown in arsenic contaminated soil
and found it effective in reducing arsenic accumulation in rice grains.
 Further studies are underway to validate the effects of thiourea in rice and multiple different crops under varied environmental
conditions.
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FDA APPROVES DRUG TO TREAT SMALLPOX
 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first drug with an indication for treatment of smallpox.
 Smallpox, a contagious and sometimes fatal infectious disease, was declared eradicated in 1980 by the World Health Organization.
However, there have been longstanding concerns about smallpox.
 TPOXX (tecovirimat) is a small-molecule antiviral treatment for smallpox, the first therapy specifically approved for this indication.
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 To address the risk of bioterrorism, Congress has taken steps to enable the development and approval of countermeasures to thwart
pathogens that could be employed as weapons. This approval provides an important milestone in these efforts. This new treatment
affords us an additional option should smallpox ever be used as a bioweapon.
 TPOXX‘s effectiveness against smallpox was established by studies conducted in animals infected with viruses that are closely related
to the virus that causes smallpox.
 More animals treated with TPOXX lived compared to the animals treated with placebo. Further, TPOXX‘s safety was also evaluated in
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359 healthy human volunteers without a smallpox infection. The most frequently reported side effects were headache, nausea and
abdominal pain.
 TPOXX also received Orphan Drug designation. This provides incentives to assist and encourage development of drugs for rare
diseases and a Material Threat Medical Countermeasure Priority Review Voucher, which provides additional incentives for certain
medical products intended to treat or prevent harm from specific chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
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NASA S JUNO DATA POINTS TO NEW VOLCANO ON JUPITER MOON IO
 Using data collected by NASA‘s Juno spacecraft, scientists have got clues to a previously undiscovered volcano on the Jupiter moon
Io. With its Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument, the Juno spacecraft found a new heat source close to the south pole
of Io.
NEUTRINO DETECTOR PROTOTYPE OPERATIONAL
 The mini-Iron Calorimeter (mini-ICAL) detector, a prototype of ICAL detector to come up at India-based Neutrino Observatory at
Pottipuram in Theni district, has been successfully set up on the Inter-Institutional Centre for High Energy Physics‘ (IICHEP) transit
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campus at Madurai.
 Though it was a prototype of the ICAL, this detector would only be detecting muons and not neutrinos, mainly owing to presenc e of
cosmic ray background.
 The mini-ICAL, which weighs about 80 tonnes, is roughly 600 times smaller than the 51 kilo tonnes ICAL to be set up at Pottipuram
under the Ambarappar hills.
 The mini-ICAL detector has 10 layers of glass Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC), which act as sensors and are stacked in between 11
iron plates of 4 metre x 4 metre size. The iron plates are magnetised by passing electricity through copper coils wound around.
 In case of ICAL, the neutrino will interact with the magnetised iron to produce electrically-charged muon, which can be detected and
studied.

 The purpose of setting up the mini-ICAL was to identify and solve the challenges the team could face in setting up the actual ICAL
detector. It would also be used to educate students and to dispel unnecessary misconceptions and fears created about the project.
INDIA AND POLAR RESEARCH
 Three decades after its first mission to Antarctica, the government is refocusing priorities to the other pole — the Arctic—because of
opportunities and challenges posed by climate change.
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 This month, it has renamed the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) — since 1998, charged with conducting
expeditions to India‘s base stations to the continent — as the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.
 It‘s also in talks with Canada and Russia, key countries with presence in the Arctic circle, to establish new observation systems,
according to a source. Now, India only has one Arctic observation station near Norway.
 While annual missions to maintain India‘s three bases in Antarctica will continue, the new priorities mean that there will be more
expeditions and research focus on the other poles.
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 Climate change was a decisive factor in India re-thinking priorities. Sea ice at the Arctic has been melting rapidly — the fastest in this
century. That means several spots, rich in hydrocarbon reserves, will be more accessible through the year via alternative shi pping
routes.
 India is already an observer at the Arctic Council — a forum of countries that decides on managing the region‘s resources and popular
livelihood and, in 2015, set up an underground observatory, called IndARC, at the Kongsfjorden fjord, half way between Norway and
the North Pole.
DRONE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR MEDICINES
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 Imagine a situation where urgent vaccines need to be delivered to a remote village in the State. Or, transport blood samples from
villages to labs in the district headquarters. The normal mode of transport by road would take long what with the poor road
connectivity. Imagine if they could simply be flown? It could soon be a reality as the Indian Institute of Public Health – Hyderabad
(IIPH-H) is developing a drone delivery system for medicines with a temperature-controlled payload box, which would surmount terrain
hurdles and cut delivery time.
 The Digital Drone-based Real Time Advanced Medical Modular Logistics system (2DREAM) project seeks to reach remote areas and
deliver temperature-sensitive payload in 30 minutes flat, without a break in the cold chain.
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 Health Informatics Rapid Design Lab Coordinator at IIPH-H, a concern of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the institute
has partnered with the prestigious US-based Johns Hopkins University to develop the temperature-controlled vaccine box.
 While vaccines should be stored at 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius, blood must be stored between 20 degrees Celsius and 24
degrees Celsius. The payload box will ensure that these temperatures are maintained. And, it can carry up to 40 kg.
 The box designs are PHFI‘s. This includes storage capacity, type of insulation, packaging, a small solar panel to provide electricity and
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also access. A QR code could be used to open the box.
 Designs for a modular box have also been prepared. This would allow multiple deliveries at different centres.
 To cover long distances, the project envisages a petrol-powered drone as against battery-operated ones. The IIPH-H has partnered
with Silicon Valley-based drone startup Dronadu Inc. as well as Michigan-based drone manufacturer Vayu, Inc.
 Vayu has made drone deliveries of blood samples in Rwanda and Madagascar. Since the drones are petrol-powered, they can travel
up to 200 km per flight. These would be on autopilot, but monitored continuously from a control centre.
 And typical drone for this kind of mission can achieve a speed of around 70 knots or 129.64 km/hr. The PHFI team zeroed in on four
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probable nodal locations in the State to facilitate drone payload delivery: Adilabad, Siddipet, Mahabubnagar and Khamman.
ISSUE OF EMERGING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN LEPROSY
 A six-year study carried out across 19 countries has now shown that antimicrobial resistance is emerging in leprosy cases. This global
data shows that a total of 8% of the Mycobacterium leprae bacterial strains studied showed gene mutations conferring resistance
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towards drugs such as rifampicin, dapsone and ofloxacin.

 Rifampicin resistance was observed in about 5% of the relapse cases and in 2% of the new ones. India and Brazil topped the list with
more than 10 rifampicin-resistant cases each.
 Assessing antimicrobial resistance has not been possible so far as M. leprae does not grow in vitro . Currently, there are on ly two
techniques for studying M. leprae - the mouse foot-pad technique and genetic analysis. As the former is time-consuming, we used
molecular methods for detecting the resistance genes.
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 Global data showed that among the 1,932 (1,143 relapse and 789 new) cases studied, 3.8% showed gene mutations showing
resistance to rifampicin. The number was 4.5% for dapsone and 1.1% for ofloxacin.
 Certain cases showed resistance to more than one drug. Globally, 20 cases showed rifampicin and dapsone resistance, four showed
ofloxacin and dapsone resistance. Interestingly there were no cases of resistance to rifampicin and ofloxacin together. More studies
are needed to know in depth about this.
 In India, the study was carried out in five laboratories across the country. Among the 382 cases studied from India, 4.7% showed
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resistance to rifampicin, 6.4% dapsone resistant and 4.4% ofloxacin resistant.

 In 1982, the multi-drug strategy was adopted to treat leprosy just when resistance to the then used drug, Dapsone was emerging. But
now after almost four decades, we are noticing rifampicin resistance. Though the numbers are not alarming, it is essential to continue
monitoring. Relapse cases may be under-diagnosed as we rely on self-reporting and there is decreasing leprosy expertise.
 Unlike the routine regime (rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine) administered once a month and given free of cost, the alternative drug
regime (minocycline and ofloxacin) given to drug-resistant patients is a daily dose, prescribed for two years, and is very expensive.
The government has no provision to provide this free of cost. Now, with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, it also stresses the
need for immediate notice, routine investigation and establishment of proper treatment guidelines by the government.
 This is also a call for vigilance on the global use of antimicrobial agents, because ofloxacin resistance probably developed in relation
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to the general intake of antibiotics for other infections as it is not part of the multidrug combination used to treat lepros y. Ofloxacin
resistant cases were found to be the highest in India among the 19 countries studied.
 Antimicrobial resistance monitoring is now one of the core areas in the Global Leprosy Strategy for 2016–2020 and WHO has recently
released an updated guide on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in leprosy.
 National JALMA Institute of Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra.
ICRISAT DEVELOPS BIOFORTIFIED SORGHUM
 As millets gain currency in urban areas, ICRISAT has come out with country‘s first biofortified sorghum (jowar), with higher iron and
zinc content than the regular sorghum.

 Developed by the Patancheru-based International Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the ICSR 14001 variety was
taken up under the sorghum biofortification project HarvestPlus.
 The sorghum variety has been named as ‗Parbhani Shakti‘ by its maiden user, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth
(VNMKV) of Maharashtra. ICRISAT and VNMKV has signed an agreement for seed multiplication to let more farmers benefit from the
improved variety.
 Though it was released as a rainy season (Kharif) variety, it can be grown in post-rainy (Rabi) and summer seasons. It can tolerate
higher temperatures of 41°C at flowering and seed setting but the flowering may be delayed (80 days).
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 The new variety has an average grain Fe (iron) concentration of 45 ppm (parts per million) and Zn (zinc) 32 ppm, which is higher than
traditional varieties with 30 ppm (Fe) and 20 ppm (Zn) respectively.
 Besides it has higher protein (11.9 per cent) and low phytate content (4.14 mg/100g) as against 10 per cent protein and 7.0 mg/100g
phytates content in most sorghum cultivars. Low-phytate means increased bioavailability of nutrients.
 The ICSR 14001 was tested as PVK 1009 in Maharashtra and in All India Co-ordinated Sorghum Improvement Project (AICSIP) trials.
 Seed multiplication of the new jowar variety, ‗Parbhani Shakti‘ is on. It was developed under the Institute‘s HarvestPlus project.
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 Biofortification is the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done either through conventional selective
breeding, or through genetic engineering. Biofortification differs from ordinary fortification because it focuses on making plant foods
more nutritious as the plants are growing, rather than having nutrients added to the foods when they are being processed. Thi s is an
important improvement on ordinary fortification when it comes to providing nutrients for the rural poor, who rarely have access to
commercially fortified foods.
 As such, biofortification is seen as an upcoming strategy for dealing with deficiencies of micronutrients in the developing world. In the
case of iron, WHO estimated that biofortification could help curing the 2 billion people suffering from iron deficiency-induced anemia.
 Examples of biofortification projects include:
 iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava and legumes;
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 zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato and maize;
 provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava; and
 amino acid and protein-biofortification of sourghum and cassava.
 Peter Carberry, Director-General (Acting): International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics.
UNKNOWN VIRUS& DISEASES
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 Emerging infections, particularly viral diseases, have been the single largest challenge to global health security. The recent surfacing
of the Nipah Virus (NiV) in Kerala is a perfect example.
 It was contained with an exemplary public health response, averting a catastrophe, and gives us an opportunity to reflect on the
challenges caused by unknown viral threats, besides our preparedness to deal with such emergencies.
 Most emerging viruses are RNA viruses, jumping from animals to humans. The tendency of diseases to jump species dates back to
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the times of hunters and nomads. Nomads becoming settlers resulted in and even sustained human-to-human transmission of
diseases.
But the pattern of virus jumping from animals to humans continues to evolve, and rapidly, due to increasing deforestation as part of
development, unplanned urbanisation and climate change.
 The rate of emergence of viral diseases has increased exponentially over the past decade, partly due to the availability of newer
scientific tools for detection.
 Many of the recent deadly viruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus (SARS-CoV), Avian Influenza (Bird flu),
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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV), Nipah Virus, Hendra Virus, Hanta Virus and Ebola Virus are from
animals or birds.
 There is an increasing body of evidence that bats are reservoirs of emerging viral infections, such as Nipah and Ebola. Fruit-eating
bats represent the biggest risk for human contact as most of the flesh of fruit is discarded from the mouth of the feeding bat, giving
ample opportunity for virus spread. And the proximity of human habitats to that of the bats and poor hygiene practices result in the
flaring up of transmission.
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 Murine rodents (relating to or affecting mice or related rodents) are one of the most successful animals in evolution and widely
distributed in all continents. They are the natural hosts for a variety of arenaviruses and hantaviruses. Climate and environmental
changes have an impact on their reproductive cycle. And again, they live in close proximity to humans and consume at least a fifth of
the world‘s grain, ensuring conducive conditions for virus transmission to humans.
 Pigs are associated with viral outbreaks, like in Japanese Encephalitis, Nipah and Ebola Ruston viruses. They are also susceptible to
both human, avian and swine influenza viruses and act as a mixing pot for emergence of influenza viruses with pandemic potential. As
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economic ventures like pig farming take centre stage, the focus on public health and hygiene also needs to assume a larger role. The
situation is compounded by the ease of travel, particularly air travel, a major cause for the global spread of viruses as any infectious
disease can reach any part of the globe in just 36 hours. Hence, to expect the unexpected, we need to be prepared. Many of the
viruses, including Zika, were first discovered during the extensive exploratory animal surveillance in African forests and elsewhere
through The Rockefeller Foundation, following World War II.
 So the need of the hour is to conduct nation-wide, well-planned and coordinated animal and vector surveys to identify possible viruses
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they are hosting — using advanced technology such as next generation sequencing and multiplex serosurvey. This will help India
generate the database of potential viruses that may emerge in the coming days, and prepare for their early detection if they emerge.
 Further, we need to promote disease surveillance on a one-health platform with enhanced laboratory capacity built into the existing
revamped Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). Promoting the culture of laboratory confirmation of diseases at lower-
level hospitals can help detect unusual disease clusters.
 Today, an outbreak of an unusual virus or an emerging disease can take a country hostage. It can interrupt the economy of the
country and threaten to derail international relations. Hence, an investment in public health and hygiene to anticipate and be prepared
for a potential viral disease is not just justified. It is an absolute public health necessity.
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BIG DATA ANALYTICS
 Big data analytics is the process of examining large and varied data sets -- i.e., big data -- to uncover hidden patterns, unknown
correlations, market trends, customer preferences and other useful information that can help organizations make more-informed
business decisions.
 Driven by specialized analytics systems and software, big data analytics can point the way to various business benefits, including new
revenue opportunities, more effective marketing, better customer service, improved operational efficiency and competitive advantages
over rivals.
 Big data analytics applications enable data scientists, predictive modelers, statisticians and other analytics professionals to analyze
growing volumes of structured transaction data, plus other forms of data that are often left untapped by conventional business

intelligence (BI) and analytics programs. That encompasses a mix of semi-structured and unstructured data -- for example, internet
clickstream data, web server logs, social media content, text from customer emails and survey responses, mobile-phone call-detail
records and machine data captured by sensors connected to the internet of things.
 On a broad scale, data analytics technologies and techniques provide a means of analyzing data sets and drawing conclusions about
them to help organizations make informed business decisions. BI queries answer basic questions about business operations and
performance. Big data analytics is a form of advanced analytics, which involves complex applications with elements such as predictive
models, statistical algorithms and what-if analyses powered by high-performance analytics systems.
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 Emergence and growth of big data analytics: The term big data was first used to refer to increasing data volumes in the mid-1990s. In
2001, Doug Laney, then an analyst at consultancy Meta Group Inc., expanded the notion of big data to also include increases in the
variety of data being generated by organizations and the velocity at which that data was being created and updated. Those thr ee
factors -- volume, velocity and variety -- became known as the 3Vs of big data, a concept Gartner popularized after acquiring Meta
Group and hiring Laney in 2005.
 Separately, the Hadoop distributed processing framework was launched as an Apache open source project in 2006, planting the
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seeds for a clustered platform built on top of commodity hardware and geared to run big data applications. By 2011, big data analytics
began to take a firm hold in organizations and the public eye, along with Hadoop and various related big data technologies that had
sprung up around it.
 Initially, as the Hadoop ecosystem took shape and started to mature, big data applications were primarily the province of lar ge internet
and e-commerce companies, such as Yahoo, Google and Facebook, as well as analytics and marketing services providers. In ensuing
years, though, big data analytics has increasingly been embraced by retailers, financial services firms, insurers, healthcare
organizations, manufacturers, energy companies and other mainstream enterprises.
 Big data analytics technologies and tools: Unstructured and semi-structured data types typically don't fit well in traditional data
warehouses that are based on relational databases oriented to structured data sets. Furthermore, data warehouses may not be able
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to handle the processing demands posed by sets of big data that need to be updated frequently -- or even continually, as in the case
of real-time data on stock trading, the online activities of website visitors or the performance of mobile applications.
 As a result, many organizations that collect, process and analyze big data turn to NoSQL databases as well as Hadoop and its
companion tools, including:
 YARN: a cluster management technology and one of the key features in second-generation Hadoop.
 MapReduce: a software framework that allows developers to write programs that process massive amounts of unstructured data
in parallel across a distributed cluster of processors or stand-alone computers.
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 Spark: an open-source parallel processing framework that enables users to run large-scale data analytics applications across
clustered systems.
 HBase: a column-oriented key/value data store built to run on top of the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS).
 Hive: an open-source data warehouse system for querying and analyzing large datasets stored in Hadoop files.
 Kafka: a distributed publish-subscribe messaging system designed to replace traditional message brokers.
 Pig: an open-source technology that offers a high-level mechanism for the parallel programming of MapReduce jobs to be
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executed on Hadoop clusters.
 In some cases, Hadoop clusters and NoSQL systems are being used primarily as landing pads and staging areas for data before it
gets loaded into a data warehouse or analytical database for analysis, usually in a summarized form that is more conducive to
relational structures.
 More frequently, however, big data analytics users are adopting the concept of a Hadoop data lake that serves as the primary
repository for incoming streams of raw data. In such architectures, data can be analyzed directly in a Hadoop cluster or run through a
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processing engine like Spark. As in data warehousing, sound data management is a crucial first step in the big data analytics process.
Data being stored in the Hadoop Distributed File System must be organized, configured and partitioned properly to get good
performance on both extract, transform and load (ETL) integration jobs and analytical queries.
 Once the data is ready, it can be analyzed with the software commonly used in advanced analytics processes. That includes tools for
data mining, which sift through data sets in search of patterns and relationships; predictive analytics, which build models f or
forecasting customer behavior and other future developments; machine learning, which tap algorithms to analyze large data sets; and
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deep learning, a more advanced offshoot of machine learning.

 Text mining and statistical analysis software can also play a role in the big data analytics process, as can mainstream BI software and
data visualization tools. For both ETL and analytics applications, queries can be written in batch-mode MapReduce; programming
languages, such as R, Python and Scala; and SQL, the standard language for relational databases that's supported via SQL-on-
Hadoop technologies.
 Big data analytics uses and challenges: Big data analytics applications often include data from both internal systems and external
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sources, such as weather data or demographic data on consumers compiled by third-party information services providers. In addition,
streaming analytics applications are becoming common in big data environments, as users look to do real-time analytics on data fed
into Hadoop systems through Spark's Spark Streaming module or other open source stream processing engines, such as Flink and
Storm.
 Early big data systems were mostly deployed on-premises, particularly in large organizations that were collecting, organizing and
analyzing massive amounts of data. But cloud platform vendors, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft, have made it
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easier to set up and manage Hadoop clusters in the cloud, as have Hadoop suppliers such as Cloudera and Hortonworks, which
support their distributions of the big data framework on the AWS and Microsoft Azure clouds. Users can now spin up clusters in the
cloud, run them for as long as needed and then take them offline, with usage-based pricing that doesn't require ongoing software
licenses.
 Potential pitfalls that can trip up organizations on big data analytics initiatives include a lack of internal analytics skills and the high cost
of hiring experienced data scientists and data engineers to fill the gaps.
 The amount of data that's typically involved, and its variety, can cause data management issues in areas including data quality,
consistency and governance; also, data silos can result from the use of different platforms and data stores in a big data arc hitecture.
In addition, integrating Hadoop, Spark and other big data tools into a cohesive architecture that meets an organization's big data
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analytics needs is a challenging proposition for many IT and analytics teams, which have to identify the right mix of technologies and
then put the pieces together.
 HADOOP: Hadoop is an open source distributed processing framework that manages data processing and storage for big data
applications running in clustered systems. It is at the center of a growing ecosystem of big data technologies that are primarily used to
support advanced analytics initiatives, including predictive analytics, data mining and machine learning applications. Hadoop can
handle various forms of structured and unstructured data, giving users more flexibility for collecting, processing and analyzing data
than relational databases and data warehouses provide.
 Formally known as Apache Hadoop, the technology is developed as part of an open source project within the Apache Software
Foundation (ASF). Commercial distributions of Hadoop are currently offered by four primary vendors of big data platforms: Amazon

Web Services (AWS), Cloudera, Hortonworks and MapR Technologies. In addition, Google, Microsoft and other vendors offer cloud-
based managed services that are built on top of Hadoop and related technologies.
 Hadoop and big data: Hadoop runs on clusters of commodity servers and can scale up to support thousands of hardware nodes and
massive amounts of data. It uses a namesake distributed file system that's designed to provide rapid data access across the nodes in
a cluster, plus fault-tolerant capabilities so applications can continue to run if individual nodes fail. Consequently, Hadoop became a
foundational data management platform for big data analytics uses after it emerged in the mid-2000s.
 Hadoop was created by computer scientists Doug Cutting and Mike Cafarella, initially to support processing in the Nutch open source
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search engine and web crawler. After Google published technical papers detailing its Google File System (GFS) and MapReduce
programming framework in 2003 and 2004, respectively, Cutting and Cafarella modified earlier technology plans and developed a
Java-based MapReduce implementation and a file system modeled on Google's.
 In early 2006, those elements were split off from Nutch and became a separate Apache subproject, which Cutting named H adoop
after his son's stuffed elephant. At the same time, Cutting was hired by internet services company Yahoo, which became the fi rst
production user of Hadoop later in 2006. (Cafarella, then a graduate student, went on to become a university professor.)
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 Use of the framework grew over the next few years, and three independent Hadoop vendors were founded: Cloudera in 2008, MapR a
year later and Hortonworks as a Yahoo spinoff in 2011. In addition, AWS launched a Hadoop cloud service called Elastic MapReduce
in 2009. That was all before Apache released Hadoop 1.0.0, which became available in December 2011 after a succession of 0.x
releases.
 Components of Hadoop: The core components in the first iteration of Hadoop were MapReduce, the Hadoop Distributed File System
(HDFS) and Hadoop Common, a set of shared utilities and libraries. As its name indicates, MapReduce uses map and reduce
functions to split processing jobs into multiple tasks that run at the cluster nodes where data is stored and then to combine what the
tasks produce into a coherent set of results. MapReduce initially functioned as both Hadoop's processing engine and cluster resource
manager, which tied HDFS directly to it and limited users to running MapReduce batch applications.
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 That changed in Hadoop 2.0, which became generally available in October 2013 when version 2.2.0 was released. It introduced
Apache Hadoop YARN, a new cluster resource management and job scheduling technology that took over those functions from
MapReduce. YARN -- short for Yet Another Resource Negotiator but typically referred to by the acronym alone -- ended the strict
reliance on MapReduce and opened up Hadoop to other processing engines and various applications besides batch jobs.
 The Hadoop 2.0 series of releases also added high availability (HA) and federation features for HDFS, support for running Hadoop
clusters on Microsoft Windows servers and other capabilities designed to expand the distributed processing framework's versatility for
big data management and analytics.
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 Hadoop 3.0.0 was the next major version of Hadoop. Released by Apache in December 2017, it didn't expand Hadoop's set of core
components. However, it added a YARN Federation feature designed to enable YARN to support tens of thousands of nodes or more
in a single cluster, up from a previous 10,000-node limit. The new version also included support for GPUs and erasure coding, an
alternative to data replication that requires significantly less storage space.
 Hadoop applications and use cases: Hadoop is primarily geared to analytics uses, and its ability to process and store different types of
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data makes it a particularly good fit for big data analytics applications. Big data environments typically involve not only large amounts
of data, but also various kinds, from structured transaction data to semistructured and unstructured forms of information, such as
internet clickstream records, web server and mobile application logs, social media posts, customer emails and sensor data from the
internet of things (IoT).
 A common use case for Hadoop-based big data systems is customer analytics. Examples include efforts to predict customer churn,
analyze clickstream data to better target online ads to web users and track customer sentiment based on comments about a company
on social networks. Insurers use Hadoop for applications such as analyzing policy pricing and managing safe driver discount
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programs. Healthcare organizations look for ways to improve treatments and patient outcomes with Hadoop's aid.
 YARN greatly expanded the applications that Hadoop clusters can handle to include stream processing and real-time analytics
applications run in tandem with processing engines, like Apache Spark and Apache Flink. For example, some manufacturers are using
real-time data that's streaming into Hadoop in predictive maintenance applications to try to detect equipment failures before they
occur. Fraud detection, website personalization and customer experience scoring are other real-time use cases.
 Because Hadoop can process and store such a wide assortment of data, it enables organizations to set up data lakes as expansive
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reservoirs for incoming streams of information. In a Hadoop data lake, raw data is often stored as is so data scientists and other
analysts can access the full data sets if need be; the data is then filtered and prepared by analytics or IT teams as needed to support
other applications.
 Data lakes generally serve different purposes than traditional data warehouses that hold cleansed sets of transaction data. But, in
some cases, companies view their Hadoop data lakes as modern-day data warehouses. Either way, the growing role of big data
analytics in business decision-making has made effective data governance and data security processes a priority in data lake
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deployments.
 Evolution of the Hadoop market: In addition to AWS, Cloudera, Hortonworks and MapR, several other IT vendors -- most notably, IBM,
Intel and Pivotal (a Dell Technologies subsidiary) -- entered the Hadoop distribution market. However, those three companies all later
dropped out and aligned themselves with one of the remaining vendors after failing to make much headway with Hadoop users. Intel
dropped its distribution and invested in Cloudera in 2014, while Pivotal and IBM agreed to resell the Hortonworks version in 2016 and
2017, respectively.
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 Even the remaining vendors have hedged their bets on Hadoop itself by expanding their big data platforms to also include Spar k and
numerous other technologies. Spark, which runs both batch and real-time workloads, has ousted MapReduce in many batch
applications and can bypass HDFS to access data from Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) in the AWS cloud -- a capability
supported by Cloudera and Hortonworks, as well as AWS itself. In 2017, both Cloudera and Hortonworks dropped the word Hadoop
from the names of their rival conferences for big data users.
 Nonetheless, the overall big data ecosystem -- or the Hadoop ecosystem, as it's also still known -- continues to attract the attention of
users and vendors alike. And, increasingly, the focus is on cloud deployments. To compete with Amazon EMR, as Elastic MapReduce
is now called, Cloudera, Hortonworks and MapR have all taken steps to make it easier to deploy and manage their platforms in the
cloud, including support for transient clusters that can be shut down when no longer needed.
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Organizations looking to use Hadoop in the cloud can also turn to a variety of managed services, including Microsoft's Azure
HDInsight, which is based on the Hortonworks platform, and Google Cloud Dataproc, which is built around the open source versions
of both Hadoop and Spark.
 Big data tools associated with Hadoop: The ecosystem that has been built up around Hadoop includes a range of other open source
technologies that can complement and extend its basic capabilities. The list of related big data tools includes:
 Apache Flume: a tool used to collect, aggregate and move huge amounts of streaming data into HDFS;
 Apache HBase: a distributed database that is often paired with Hadoop;
 Apache Hive: an SQL-on-Hadoop tool that provides data summarization, query and analysis;
 Apache Oozie: a server-based workflow scheduling system to manage Hadoop jobs;
 Apache Phoenix: an SQL-based massively parallel processing (MPP) database engine that uses HBase as its data store;

 Apache Pig: a high-level platform for creating programs that run on Hadoop clusters;
 Apache Sqoop: a tool to help transfer bulk data between Hadoop and structured data stores, such as relational databases; and
 Apache ZooKeeper: a configuration, synchronization and naming registry service for large distributed systems.
JAPAN PROBE ARRIVES AT ASTEROID
 A Japanese space probe named after a falcon arrived at an asteroid 300 million kilometers from Earth after a three-and-a half year
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journey on a mission to seek the origins of life.
 The Hayabusa 2 blasted off in December 2014 for the asteroid Ryugu on a pioneering mission to take samples that scientists hope will
help reveal how life began. Its round-trip mission is set to take six years.
 Hayabusa 2, named for the peregrine falcon, will spend the next few months orbiting about 20 km above the asteroid and mapping its
surface before landing. It will then use small explosives to blast a crater on the surface and collect the resulting debris.
 Asteroids are believed to have formed at the dawn of the solar system and scientists say Ryugu may contain organic matter that may
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have contributed to life on Earth.
 Should all go according to plan, Hayabusa 2 is expected to spend around 18 months near the asteroid and return to Earth with
samples at the end of 2020, the year Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympic Games.
 The first Hayabusa probe was unable to collect as much material as hoped but still made history by being the first probe to bring back
samples from a different asteroid.
 Its seven-year mission ended in 2010 when it blazed a trail over Australia before slamming into the desert.
 Success with Hayabusa 2 would help Japan‘s space program move beyond a checkered past that included a 2016 accident in which
the first of three planned military communication satellites was crushed during a flight from Japan to Europe‘s space port in French
Guiana. The first such satellite eventually blasted successfully into space in January 2017.
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ROBOT ‗CIMON‘ IN NEWS
 A science fiction-inspired robot hardwired to assist astronauts launched from Florida to become the first personal, artificial intelligence-
powered companion in space.
 The Crew Interactive Mobile Companion, or CIMON, is an English-speaking droid roughly the size of a basketball that will help
German astronaut Alexander Gerst conduct experiments on the International Space Station.
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 CIMON will verbally communicate step-by-step instructions to Gerst during three planned science experiments on the space station‘s
European module. Currently, astronauts read these instructions from a laptop, which Biniok says is an arduous process that a
responsive, hands-free companion like CIMON can replace.
 The German Aerospace Center plans for CIMON to undergo three one-hour sessions to demonstrate how well the robot can help with
experiments, like a crystal growth study, a test for its eight on-board cameras and an exercise to help Gerst solve a Rubik‘s cube.
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CIMON is among 5,900 pounds of cargo that launched to the International Space Station atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
GENOME MAPPING TO HELP CHLAMYDIA-STRICKEN KOALAS
 Scientists who have mapped the genome of Australia‘s symbolic animal, the koala, say it could help them develop better vaccines to
treat the animals, who are battling an epidemic of the bacterial disease chlamydia.
 The development will also help scientists sidestep invasive procedures in investigating the biology of the marsupials, whose exact
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numbers are not known, but which wildlife groups estimate to range between 80,000 and 180,000.
 Researchers at the Koala Genome Consortium, a team of 54 Australian and international scientists, said they sequenced more than
3.4 billion base pairs and more than 26,000 genes in the koala genome, which is slightly larger than the human one.
 Left untreated, chlamydia infections can lead to blindness, severe bladder inflammation, infertility and death in koalas.
 Treatment with antibiotics often makes it tough for koalas to digest the eucalyptus leaves that are a staple of their diet.
 Australia classed koalas as a ―vulnerable‖ species in a conservation measure in 2012.
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JAPAN PICKS LOCKHEED MARTIN RADAR
 Japan has selected Lockheed Martin Corp‘s advanced radar for its multibillion-dollar missile defence system.
 Japan plans to buy two Aegis Ashore batteries to be deployed in 2023 in an upgrade of its missile defences against the arsenals of
North Korea and China. The purchase could also help ease trade friction with Washington.
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‗NOVICHOK POISONINGS‘ IN NEWS
 Two British citizens are critically ill after they were exposed to Novichok, the same nerve agent that struck down a former R ussian
agent and his daughter in March, Britain‘s top counter-terrorism officer said.
 The Novichok group of poisons was first developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 80s.
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 There are several variants of Novichok, a binary weapon containing two less toxic chemicals that when mixed react to produce a
poison several times more lethal than sarin or VX.
 Russia‘s ambassador to Britain, Alexander Yakovenko, has identified the alleged poison as Novichok A-234, derived from an earlier
version known as A-232.
 Nerve agents like Novichok disrupt and halt many of the human body‘s essential processes, including breathing.
 Novichok does this by blocking an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which regulates messages down nerves and at junctions
between nerves and muscles. It can cause paralysis, convulsions, vomiting and the partial or total collapse of bodily functions. In fatal
cases, death can be due to asphyxiation or cardiac arrest.
 First developed in the former Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, Novichok, or ―newcomer,‖ is a series of highly toxic nerve agents
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with a slightly different chemical composition than the more commonly known VX and sarin poison gases.
 Novichok agents are believed to be five to 10 times more lethal, although there are no known previous uses. Moscow is not believed
to have ever declared Novichok or its ingredients to the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW),
which oversees a treaty banning their use.
 Novichok, the fourth generation of poison gas, was made with agrochemicals so that offensive weapons production could more readily
be hidden within a legitimate commercial industry.
 Russia, along with the United States, once ran one of the largest chemical weapons programmes in the world. It completed the
destruction of a stockpile declared to the OPCW last year. The United States is in the final stages of destroying its own stockpile.
Russia was once believed to possess thousands of tonnes of weaponisedNovichok varieties and their precursors, according to a 2014
report by the U.S.-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-partisan group working to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction.

 The chemical ―causes a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation‖.
 One of the main reasons these agents are developed is because their component parts are not on the banned list.
 The weaponisation of any chemical is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, of which Russia is a signatory.
ISRAEL TO LAND SPACECRAFT ON MOON
 An Israeli non-profit group plans to land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon in February in the first landing of its kind since 2013.
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The craft, which is shaped like a round table with four carbon fiber legs, is set to blast off in December 2018 from Florida‘ s Cape
Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
 It aims to transmit pictures and videos back to earth over two days after it lands on Feb. 13 as well as measuring magnetic fields.
 Since 1966, the United States and the former Soviet Union have put around 12 unmanned spacecraft on the moon using braking
power to perform ―soft‖ landings and China did so in 2013.
 SpaceIL was founded in 2011 by a group of engineers with a budget of about $90 million and they had to sacrifice size and
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operational capabilities for more efficient travel.
 The craft stands about 1.5 meters high and weighs 585 kg (1,290 lb). The spacecraft has four carbon fiber legs and fuel takes up two-
thirds of its weight.
 At 60,000 km (37,000 miles) above Earth the spacecraft will deploy. It will orbit Earth in expanding ellipses and, about two months
later, cross into the moon‘s orbit. It will then slow and carry out a soft landing causing no damage to the craft.
UNDERGROUND LAKE FOUND ON MARS
 Using a radar instrument on an orbiting spacecraft, scientists have spotted what appears to be a sizable salt-laden lake under ice on
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the southern polar plain of Mars, a body of water they called a possible habitat for microbial life.
 The reservoir they detected — roughly 12 miles (20 km) in diameter, shaped like a rounded triangle and located about a mile (1.5 km)
beneath the ice surface — represents the first stable body of liquid water ever found on Mars.
 Whether anywhere other than Earth has harbored life is one of the supreme questions in science, and the new findings offer
tantalizing evidence, though no proof. Water is considered a fundamental ingredient for life.
 The detection was made using data collected between May 2012 and December 2015 by an instrument aboard the European Space
Agency‘s Mars Express spacecraft that transmits radar pulses, which penetrate the Martian surface and ice caps.
EUROPE LAUNCHES GALILEO NAVIGATION SATELLITES
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Europe launched four more Galileo satellites, taking the number in orbit to 26 and moving a step closer to having its own nav igation
system, just as the programme has become the latest flashpoint in Brexit negotiations.
The satellites, which will be part of the European Union‘s alternative to the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, blasted off from
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Europe‘s spaceport in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.
 The Galileo system will eventually have a total of 30 satellites, weighing about 700 kg (1,543 pounds) each. They are equipped with
antennae and sensors and powered by two five-square-metre (53.8 square foot) solar wings.
 The EU aims to use Galileo to tap into the global market for satellite navigation services, which it estimates will be worth 250 billion
euros (£222.1 billion) by 2022.
 Galileo is the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that is being created by the European Union (EU) through the European
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GNSS Agency (GSA), headquartered in Prague in the Czech Republic, with two ground operations centres, Oberpfaffenhofen near
Munich in Germany and Fucino in Italy.
 The €10 billion project is named after the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. One of the aims of Galileo is to provide an independent
high-precision positioning system so European nations do not have to rely on the Russian GLONASS, Chinese BeiDou or US GPS
systems, which could be disabled or degraded by their operators at any time.
 The use of basic (lower-precision) Galileo services will be free and open to everyone. The higher-precision capabilities will be
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available for paying commercial users. Galileo is intended to provide horizontal and vertical position measurements within 1-metre
precision, and better positioning services at higher latitudes than other positioning systems. Galileo is also to provide a new global
search and rescue (SAR) function as part of the MEOSAR system.
 The first Galileo test satellite, the GIOVE-A, was launched 28 December 2005, while the first satellite to be part of the operational
system was launched on 21 October 2011. As of December 2017, 22 of the planned 30 active satellites are in orbit. The next la unch,
which will bring the system to operational completion, is planned in mid 2018.
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 Galileo started offering Early Operational Capability (EOC) on 15 December 2016, providing initial services with a weak signal, and is
expected to reach Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2019. The complete 30-satellite Galileo system (24 operational and 6 active
spares) is expected by 2020.
BUSINESS AND CORPORATE

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NEW PLATFORM TO LIST STARTUPS for a minimum of two years at the time of filing of draft
prospectus with BSE and such aggregate investment should
 To make stock market listing attractive for start-ups, stock be at least Rs 1 crore and the company should have a positive
exchange BSE will unveil a platform to list new-age firms. networth.
 This platform will facilitate the listing of firms in sectors such as  The company should not have been referred to National
IT, ITES, biotechnology and life sciences, 3D printing, space Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Insolvency and
technology and e-commerce. Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and no winding up petition against it
 Besides, the platform will aid in listing of companies from hi- must have been accepted by the National Company Law
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tech defence, drones, nano technologies, artificial intelligence, Tribunal (NCLT).

big data, virtual reality and robotics sectors, among others.
 To be eligible for listing on the BSE Startup Platform, the pre- SEBI SET TO OPEN COMMODITIES TO MFS
issue paidup equity share capital of the company should be
minimum of Rs 1 crore. In addition to this, the company should  The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is gearing
be in existence for a minimum of three years on the date of up to usher the next set of reforms in the commodity market by
filing of the draft prospectus with BSE. allowing mutual funds to participate in the segment while also
 They should preferably have investments by QIB investors (as actively considering allowing derivatives on commodity
defined under SEBI ICDR Regulations, 2009) /angel investors indices.

 A SEBI committee is separately looking into the issue of  Post the deal, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone will jointly control the
physical settlement for commodity derivative contracts. This combined firm and the transaction is expected to close before
comes two months after the regulator made it mandatory for the end of 2018-19, subject to approvals.
stock derivatives to move to the physical settlement
mechanism in a phased manner. DOT OKAYS MERGER OF IDEA, VODAFONE
 The proposal for allowing mutual funds and portfolio
management services (PMS) in the commodity derivatives  The telecom ministry approved the merger of Vodafone India
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segment is awaiting final approval by SEBI, which is also and Idea Cellular that will create the country‘s largest mobile
actively considering allowing derivatives on commodity services operator.
indices.  The department has asked Idea Cellular to pay Rs. 3,926
 The Commodity Derivatives Advisory Committee, which met crore in cash for Vodafone‘s spectrum and furnish a bank
recently, deliberated upon the issue of physical settlement in guarantee of Rs. 3,342 crore.
commodity derivatives and formed a subgroup to look into this  The combined operations of Idea and Vodafone will create the
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specific matter. Based on the suggestions of the advisory country‘s largest telecom operator worth more than $23 billion
committee, the regulator is soon expected to issue a (or over Rs. 1.5 lakh crore), with a 35% market share and a
consultation paper before framing the final guidelines. subscriber base of about 430 million.
 There seems to be a perception that there is a lot of  The merger is expected to give a breather to both debt-ridden
speculative trading in the commodity segment and hence the firms from competition in the market where margins have hit
points about physical settlement were raised. rock bottom. The combined debt of both firms is estimated to
 Initial discussions have happened and the committee has be about Rs. 1.15 lakh crore.
formed a subgroup to deliberate further. Data will be analysed
along with the other dynamics of the commodity market and WHATSAPP TO CAP NUMBER OF FORWARDS TO FIVE
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then suggestions would be framed. CHATS PER USER
 Physical settlement refers to the system where the contract on
the day of expiry is settled through the delivery of the  To address the profusion of fake news being spread through
underlying commodity instead of the current practice of cash. forwards, and the government‘s growing discontent with
This assumes significance as currently only about 1-2% of the WhatsApp in tackling the issue, the messaging platform
total turnover of certain commodities is settled by way of WhatsApp said it is experimenting with a limit on the number
physical delivery. of chats a message can be forwarded to.
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 The regulator, however, will have to first frame the  In India, WhatsApp is trying a limit of five chats, as against 20
warehousing guidelines for non-agriculture commodities for the rest of the world. The current limit is 250 chats.
before going ahead with physical settlement.  The company said it would also experiment with removing the
 In September 2016, SEBI introduced warehousing norms for quick forward button next to media messages in India.
agri-commodities to ensure that exchanges do not face any  The limit on the number of chats a message can be forwarded
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default risk while the settlement and delivery of the commodity to is yet another step taken by WhatsApp to curb the menace
is assured. of fake news and rumours being spread using its chatting
 Equity exchanges BSE and NSE, which plan to start platform.
commodity trading from October, have asked SEBI to allow  Earlier this month, the company also launched a test of a
co-location in the commodity derivatives segment as well. feature that would label forwarded messages as such, thereby
distinguishing them from private messages.
NSE, NASDAQ ENTER INTO TECHNOLOGY PACT  The issue gains prominence in the light of the string of
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lynchings taking place in India sparked off by fake news items
 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Nasdaq have signed regarding child kidnappings being spread on WhatsApp.
an agreement wherein the global bourse will deliver a
customised real-time clearing, risk management and GOOGLE EXPORTS INDIA PUBLIC WI-FI MODEL
settlement technology to the NSE.
 The agreement will be executed over the next 24 to 36  Google has taken its public Wi-fi model from India to other
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months. countries such as Indonesia and Mexico.

 The new post-trade technology will replace the NSE‘s current  Google India Director, Partnership, Next Billion Users, K. Suri
clearing and settlement system operated by the National said that after providing public Wi-Fi at 100 stations initially,
Securities Clearing Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company now sees it as a product — the Google Station.
the NSE.  Google had collaborated with Railtel in 2015 to deploy free
 The exchanges also signed MoU to explore business public Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations in India.
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opportunities across listings, corporate and market services  In India, the technology giant is in discussions with multiple
and data and innovations in products, processes and entities, including telecom operators, for deployment of public
technology. Wi-Fi across the country.
 The technology would provide a state-of-the-art architecture  A study showed deployment of public Wi-Fi is expected to
utilising the Nasdaq Financial Framework, which would enable connect 40 million new users to the Internet by 2019, and
all asset classes to be cleared and settled in one system. translate into tangible benefits to GDP by about $20 billion.
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 In addition to this, Nasdaq has also signed an agreement with  Public Wi-Fi will connect 40 million new users to the Internet
NSEIT, a subsidiary of NSE, to utilise its capability for by 2019 around 100 million people would be willing to spend
implementing project augmentation globally. an additional $2-3 billion per year on handsets and a similar
 NSE CEO: Vikram Limaye. amount on cellular mobile broadband services.
 Adena Friedman: President and CEO, Nasdaq.  As per estimates, India currently has about 36,000 commercial
hotspots, compared to emerging markets like China, which
CCI OKAYS BHARTI INFRA, INDUS MERGER has more than 6.1 million, and Indonesia and Mexico (having
more than 1.65 lakh each).
 Mobile infrastructure company Bharti Infratel has got the  Despite strong growth in the Internet user base (316 million at
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approval of watchdog Competition Commission of India (CCI) the end of 2017), mobile broadband penetration in India still
for merging its operations with Indus Towers. remained low at 31%. On average, users consumed more than
 The proposed merger values Indus Towers at Rs. 71,500 300MB on the Railtel Wi-Fi, to watch videos, access social
crore and will create a mobile tower entity with 1.63 lakh media, search, buying tickets and online banking among other
towers in all 22 telecom circles. things.
 Bharti Infratel and Vodafone jointly own 42% each in Indus
Towers, while 11.15% is held by Idea Cellular and the rest by INITIAL RBI NOD FOR BANK OF CHINA
Providence.
 Bank of China — one of the four biggest state-run Chinese
lenders — has received in-principle approval from the Reserve

Bank of India (RBI) to open branches in India, banking  As per the terms of the MoU, YES Bank will provide and
industry. render the platforms/services to start-ups, subject to relevant
 The approval marks only the first step for a foreign bank contractual arrangements.
seeking to start business in India. The lender would now need  It will offer ‗special current account proposition‘ to all
to identify preferred branch locations and seek regulatory associated start-ups, including a ‗no minimum balance
approval separately for the branches. commitment‘ for one year after starting a current account with
 The RBI, typically, grants permission to open one branch to the bank.
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start with, though there have been exceptions.  YES Bank offers a credit facility of up to Rs. 1 crore through
the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Stand Up India (CGSSI),
NASSCOM UNVEILS CENTRE FOR DATA, AI under a guarantee given by the Centre.
 YES Bank will also offer a host of services through strategic
 The National Association of Software and Services Companies third-party partnerships. These include investor interface,
(Nasscom), India‘s premier software lobby, opened a Center of acceleration and mentoring, financial advisory, and pro-
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Excellence (CoE) for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at working space.
Bangalore.  Besides business credit card facility, it also gives start-ups
 Nasscom also signed a MoU with NITI Aayog to collaboratively logo acknowledgement on its website and collaterals under the
foster applied research, accelerating adoption and ethics, ‗Partners‘ section of the YES Head Startup (YHS) Programme.
privacy and security.  Saji Gopinath: CEO of the Kerala Start-up Mission.
 With the aim to strengthen the country‘s AI ecosystem, the
CoE and MoU, both aim to serve as a platform for intelligence- SOFTBANK INVESTS IN POLICYBAZAAR
sharing and technology collaboration between stakeholders to
build collective capabilities for the industry and country in the  ETechAces Marketing & Consulting, which operates
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cutting-edge areas artificial intelligence. PolicyBazaar.com, had raised more than $200 million, led by
 Nasscom would support the government‘s National Strategy SoftBank Vision Fund.
for AI and will facilitate collaboration between NITI Aayog and  PolicyBazaar‘s investors include Temasek, Tiger Global
CoEs. It will also include NITI Aayog as a knowledge partner. Management, True North, InfoEdge and Premji Invest.
 The CoE initiative is a nationwide programme on innovation,
focusing on solutions in smart manufacturing, automotive, RAJASTHAN SIGNS MOU WITH MICROSOFT
healthcare, agriculture, energy, IoT, banking and financial
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services, retail, telecom, and host of emerging technologies.  Rajasthan has emerged as the first State to sign a MOU with
Microsoft to provide digital training to 9,500 students of
GOOGLE TO MENTOR LOCAL AI START-UPS government colleges. It will also train 500 faculty members.
 Google announced ‗Launchpad Accelerator India,‘ a PHONEPE BUYS ZOPPER RETAIL

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mentorship program that would aim to support Indian start-ups
that deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning to build  Flipkart-owned digital payments start-up PhonePe has
solutions for local needs. acquired Zopper Retail, a hyper local point-of-sale platform for
 The three-month accelerator will provide a cohort of 8-10 small and medium businesses. As a part of the acquisition,
Indian start-ups with mentorship and access to the best of Neeraj Jain, founder-CEO, Zopper will join PhonePe team as
Google — its people, network and technologies. head of product, offline merchant solutions.
 They will also get up to $1,00,000 of Google Cloud credits.
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The applications for the first class will be open until July 31 PNB SELLS 3.3% STAKE IN ICRA
and the first class will start in September 2018.
 Punjab National Bank has sold a 3.3 per cent stake in rating
WALMART INVESTS $2 MILLION IN ICRISAT PROJECT agency ICRA for Rs. 109 crore. The stake-sale was done
through a block deal. The average price at which the shares
 Over 6,000 small farmers in Andhra Pradesh will benefit with were offloaded was Rs. 3,291 per share.
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Walmart Foundation investing $2 million in an Icrisat project to  All the 3.3 per cent stake (3.3 lakh shares) was bought by IIFL
realise better value and enhance their income. Management Services.
 The two-year project will cover 6,100 smallholders and women
farmers, in the drylands of Andhra Pradesh. It will set up KYC MADE MANDATORY FOR DIRECTORS BY AUG 31
community-based millet and legume processing facilities,
provide training and more productive plant varieties, and  The Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA) has decided to conduct
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educate buyers in the market about the nutritional value of KYC for all directors of companies annually through a new
grain legumes to help boost demand. form -- DIR-3 KYC -- to be notified shortly. Accordingly, it
 Walmart and the International Crops Research Institute for the would become mandatory for every director who has been
Semi-Arid Tropic (Icrisat) launched the project in New Delhi. allotted DIN on or before March 31, 2018 and whose 'DIN' is in
The project will have twin objectives of doubling farmers‘ 'approved' status, to file form DIR-3 KYC on or before August
income and addressing malnutrition in rural areas. 31, 2018.
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 The latest allocation takes the Walmart Foundation‘s total  This form should be duly certified by a practising professional
investments in projects in Andhra Pradesh to $4 million the (CA/CS/CMA). Filing of DIR-3 KYC would be mandatory for
past six months. disqualified directors also.
 A key component of the project is the establishment of  After expiry of the due date by which the KYC form is to be
networks of small enterprise centres where the produce filed, the MCA-21 system will mark all approved DINs (allotted
procured from farmers can be collected and jointly processed. on or before March 31, 2018) against which DIR-3 KYC forms
These will be run by farmer organisations and youth, and have not been filed as 'deactivated' with reason as 'non-filing
women entrepreneurs. of DIR-3 KYC'.
 After the due date, filing of DIR-3 KYC in respect of such
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YES BANK TIES UP WITH KERALA START-UP MISSION deactivated DINs would be allowed upon payment of a
specified fee.
 The Kerala Start-up Mission and YES Bank are joining hands
to provide a host of corporate and commercial banking FACEBOOK REVEALS DATA-SHARING PARTNERSHIPS
services focussed on start-ups in the State.
 The Start-up Mission, the nodal agency of the Kerala  Facebook has revealed details of 52 companies with which it
government, aims at development of entrepreneurship and had data-sharing partnerships and deals.
incubation activities in the State.  Facebook had these data-sharing partnerships with
companies in order to help them build integrations or
Facebook-like products for their devices.

 Facebook gave deep data access to smartphone companies RJIO‘S OPTICAL FIBRE PLAN IN NEWS
like Samsung, Apple, BlackBerry (when it was manufacturing
phones), and Microsoft during the Lumia portfolio days.  Ever since Reliance Jio launched its wireless mobile services
 Facebook later admitted to partnerships with companies like in 2016, telecom sector has witnessed disruptions on many
Oppo, Lenovo, and others as well, but said these were all counts. Data tariffs have hit rock bottom levels, consumption of
tightly controlled and there was no misuse of data. It also said video and Internet-based stories has seen phenomenal
these partnerships were different from those with app growth, the industry has consolidated to 3-4 players forcing
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developers. many small players to shut shop and the surviving operators
 Now the full list of companies is out, which includes Airtel from have stepped up customer service like never before in a bid to
India as well. retain market share.
 According to Facebook, 38 of these 52 partnerships have  However, the biggest disruption in telecom is just about to
already been discontinued, including that with Airtel. happen with RJio announcing plans to roll out optical fibre-
 Facebook added that the company will shut down an based broadband services across 1,100 cities. There are
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additional seven partnerships by the end of July 2018, and many reasons why an optical fibre network will trump the
another one by the end of October 2018. wireless mobile revolution witnessed by the country so far.
 However, the partnership with Apple will continue beyond  First, data consumption is growing at an exponential rate and it
October 2018. Apple has denied that it ever received any data will soon reach a scale where mobile networks will not be able
from Facebook. to support it using just radio frequency spectrum.
 Facebook will also continue partnerships with Mozilla, Alibaba  Optical fibre is the future. Mobile technologies will be relevant
and Opera, which will let users receive notifications from the for carrying small data services like email and basic browsing
social network in their web browsers. It claims these but the big shift we are seeing is the huge uptake of data for
companies will not get access to data of users‘ friends via entertainment and video services. This requires optical fibre
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these integrations. Prominent names on the list are Acer, which has the capability to carry terabytes of data.
Alibaba, Amazon, Alcatel/TCL, Apple, AT&T, BlackBerry, Dell,  The RJio cable network will have next generation services
Garmin, HP/Palm, HTC, Kodak, LG, MediaTek, running on it and will change the market dynamics. According
Motorola/Lenovo, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Sony, T-Mobile, to a Nokia MbIT 2018 report, 4G consumption per user (there
Sprint, Qualcomm, Vodafone, Yahoo, etc. are 420 million of them) reached 11 GB per month in
 Indian music streaming app Saavn finds mention with regard December 2017, of which video content used up to 65 per cent
to the use of third-party apps on the network. Facebook notes of the total mobile data traffic.
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that some apps, including Saavn, were given an extension of  While this massive uptake of data has been driven by
six months beyond the original May 2015 compliance deadline smartphones, optical fibre networks are crucial for securing
when it first tightened the API rules for third-party app India‘s broadband future. As data consumption keeps growing
developers in 2014. exponentially and with new technologies such as 5G on the
 Saavn recently merged with Reliance Jio. Facebook‘s way, wireless platforms will not be enough to meet the
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document mentions Reliance/Saavn in the list of 60 apps, demands of bandwidth-guzzling consumers.
which were given the extension beyond the May 2015  Second, critical services such as healthcare and education are
deadline. slowly moving online for which a reliable broadband network is
 Facebook in 2014 had revamped guidelines for apps and required. Existing mobile networks are patchy and not resilient
made it tougher for them to access data of a user‘s friends enough for mission critical services. By leveraging on the
without explicit permission from the user or their friend. In light digital connectivity, RJio overtime also wants to focus on these
of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, which accessed the large opportunities.
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data in 2013 before the rules changed, Facebook has been  RJio is looking to provide affordable and quality healthcare to
forced to review how apps access user data. Indians. While management acknowledges that it is a long
gestation opportunity, it believes it would create significant
TATA POWER ARM COMMISSIONS 100 MW SOLAR PARK IN value over time.
ANDHRA PRADESH  Through RJio, RIL is looking to connect 58,000
colleges/universities and 1.9 million schools to provide
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 Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary broadband and help provide education to nearly 200 million
of Tata Power, has commissioned a 100 MW (50 MW x 2) students.
solar capacity at Anthapuramu Solar Park in Andhra Pradesh.  RJio is the only player which has rolled out a network that will
 With this, the overall operating renewable capacity of TPREL support the huge growth in data. RJio‘s optical fibre network
now stands at 2,215 MW in India. will be the largest broadband network as other players in the
 The sale of power from this solar plant has been tied up under country have such a network only in about 100 top cities.
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a 25-year power purchase agreement with Solar Energy  State-run BSNL has a wider fixed network but most of it is
Corporation of India (SECI). based on copper and not optical fibre. The Government-
 This is part of the implementation of the MNRE scheme for sponsored BharatNet will be a crucial element as it has rolled
developing grid connected solar power capacity of the out public infrastructure to villages.If RJio can connect its
Centre‘s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission Phase II, network to BharatNet then its disruption will go beyond the
Batch-III through viability gap funding. 1,100 cities.
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 Renewable energy is the future for ‗New India‘ and will play a  An optical fiber or optical fibre is a flexible, transparent fiber
big role in providing ‗24x7 Power for All‘ by 2019. For a tropical made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly
country like India, solar energy has the highest potential. thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most
 Tata Power plans to add around 1,000 MW renewable energy often as a means to transmit light between the two ends of the
capacity to our portfolio every year, scaling it to 45-50 per cent fiber and find wide usage in fiber-optic communications, where
in the next five years, largely through organic growth. they permit transmission over longer distances and at higher
 The commissioning of 100 MW capacity in Anthapuramu has bandwidths (data rates) than electrical cables.
fortified TATA‘s position as a leading renewable energy  Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel
company in the country with a strong presence in solar power along them with less loss; in addition, fibers are immune to
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generation. electromagnetic interference, a problem from which metal

 The company had organically added 159 MW wind and solar wires suffer excessively. Fibers are also used for illumination
capacity in FY17 with the acquisition of Welspun Renewables and imaging, and are often wrapped in bundles so they may
Energy Pvt Ltd. last year. be used to carry light into, or images out of confined spaces,
 The sale of power from this solar plant has been tied up under as in the case of a fiberscope. Specially designed fibers are
a 25-year power purchase agreement with Solar Energy also used for a variety of other applications, some of them
Corporation of India. being fiber optic sensors and fiber lasers.
 Optical fibers typically include a core surrounded by a
transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction.
Light is kept in the core by the phenomenon of total internal

reflection which causes the fiber to act as a waveguide. Fibers searching for the same thing might see different ads based on
that support many propagation paths or transverse modes are context.
called multi-mode fibers, while those that support a single  The move comes on the heels of another change last month,
mode are called single-mode fibers (SMF). Multi-mode fibers when Google decided to synchronise AdWords, DoubleClick,
generally have a wider core diameter and are used for short- and its analytics programme, GA360, into simpler products, to
distance communication links and for applications where high benefit marketers in a big way.
power must be transmitted. Single-mode fibers are used for
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most communication links longer than 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). GOOGLE TRIPLES OFFICE SPACE IN MUMBAI
 Being able to join optical fibers with low loss is important in
fiber optic communication. This is more complex than joining  Google India has taken up a 51,000 sq ft facility on seven-year
electrical wire or cable and involves careful cleaving of the lease in Mumbai‘s most expensive business district Bandra-
fibers, precise alignment of the fiber cores, and the coupling of Kurla Complex (BKC) as it looks to expand operations in the
these aligned cores. For applications that demand a world‘s second-largest market of internet users.
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permanent connection a fusion splice is common. In this  The new facility is almost three times Google‘s existing
technique, an electric arc is used to melt the ends of the fibers Mumbai office, also in BKC, the world‘s 26th most expensive
together. Another common technique is a mechanical splice, business location. The space has been leased on the ground
where the ends of the fibers are held in contact by mechanical and seventh floor of First International Financial Centre (FIFC),
force. Temporary or semi-permanent connections are made by which also houses other global giants such as Apple, Citibank,
means of specialized optical fiber connectors. McKinsey and Oracle.
 The field of applied science and engineering concerned with  Currently, Google has an office of 18,350 sq ft in Maker
the design and application of optical fibers is known as fiber Maxity. It is clear that Google intends to consolidate and
optics. The term was coined by Indian physicist Narinder relocate to FIFC from Maker Maxity when their lease expires in
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Singh Kapany, who is widely acknowledged as the father of January 2019.
fiber optics.  The transaction shows that BKC has emerged as the Central
Business District (CBD) of Mumbai with technology,
RBI LIFTS BAN ON AIRTEL PAYMENTS BANK TO ENROL NEW consulting, BFSI & co-working companies making their primary
CUSTOMERS base in Mumbai.
 Google will pay a rent of Rs. 270 per sq ft, about Rs. 1.4 crore
 Sunil Bharti Mittal-owned Airtel Payments Bank has received a month, for the new premises. There is a 15 per cent rent
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approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for enrolling escalation clause every 36 months. Instead of the leave and
new customers. license agreement, which Google had with Maker Maxity, it
 The development comes nearly seven months after Airtel, has this time gone for a seven-year lease considering that the
along with Airtel Payments Bank, came under fire for allegedly space will remain Google‘s Mumbai HQ as it expands further.
opening payments bank accounts of its mobile subscribers  In licence agreements, the legal ownership and the
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without their consent, with LPG subsidy worth Rs. 190 crore possession of the property remains with the licensor. Under a
deposited into accounts of around 31 lakh customers. lease agreement, which Google has opted for, the tenant
 Aadhaar-issuing authority UIDAI has also allowed the generally has exclusive possession with respect to the
company to use the 12-digit unique identification number- property.
based e-KYC.  Google has offices in four Indian cities — Bengaluru,
Hyderabad, Gurugram and Mumbai. Its Hyderabad facility is
INFOSYS TO CREATE NEW RETURN FORM FOR GST the largest in the country.
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COUNCIL
DHFL AND USAID SIGN $10-M LOAN GUARANTEE PACT
 The GSTN Group of Ministers (GoM) has asked Infosys to
create a new tax return filing form in an effort to simplify I-T  The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and
returns for businesses. Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) have
 Taxpayers who file 37 returns a year will file just 13 returns announced the signing of a $10-million loan portfolio
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when the new format comes into vogue. It will be a single- guarantee to improve access to capital for healthcare
page return form and will be approved by the GST Council in providers in Tier II and Tier III cities.
the next few days.  Through their risk-sharing agreement, DHFL will be able to
 The efforts to simplify the filing of GST returns is seen as a provide up to $10 million to SMSEs operating in the health
practical approach in the face of mounting criticism over the sector in India, prioritising lending to women entrepreneurs.
complexity and time that businesses have to spend on  Through this partnership, USAID and DHFL intend to increase
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compliance. Further, filing of returns would be done in a outreach to de-risk and improve access to finance for the
staggered manner between the 10th and 20th of each Indian healthcare sector, especially breaking barriers for
succeeding month. Many businesses found this complex and women entrepreneurs so they can establish or expand their
tedious, and made representations to the government to healthcare enterprises, buy equipment to improve diagnosis
simplify the tax filing. and treatment, and improve the viability of their enterprises.
 Infosys has been awarded the ₹1,380-crore contract to
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develop and run GST‘s backend system, which initially met SEBI PROPOSES RULES FOR RECLASSIFICATION OF
with several tech-related glitches. PROMOTERS
GOOGLE UNVEILS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-AIDED AD  SEBI proposed a three-phase process for reclassification of
TOOLS promoters as public shareholders and issued a consultation
paper on it.
 Google has announced several ad tools built on Artificial  First, the company promoters will have to apply to the stock
Intelligence, aimed at helping marketers automate and exchanges for reclassification. Next, the request will go to the
develop effective advertising campaigns. The idea is to let AI company board, which will give its recommendation and place
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finetune advertisements. it before the shareholders. In the final stage, shareholders can
 The Google Ads tools unveiled at a Google Marketing Live approve or disapprove it in a general meeting through an
event range from responsive search ads that use machine ordinary resolution. The promoter will not be permitted to vote
learning to mix, match and optimise content, to optimising ad on the resolution.
performance on YouTube for what it terms ‗brand lift‘. The  Also, there has to be a cooling-off period between the date of
automation will be integrated into every form of campaign board meeting and shareholders‘ meeting to consider the
management, from bidding to dynamic headlines, as well as request of the promoter.
creative and targeting.  The recommendations were made by the Kotak Committee
 Google learns which ad creative performs the best for any and the primary market advisory committee on the matter.
search query by testing different combinations, so people

 The move to settle the reclassification issue gained YES BANK GETS NOD FOR MF BIZ
significance as promoters started reclassifying themselves as
public shareholders to comply with SEBI‘s minimum public  YES Bank has received final approval from SEBI to start its
shareholding (MPS) norms wherein they can‘t hold more than mutual fund business. It has already received clearance from
75 per cent equity in a company. the RBI as well as in-principle approval from the markets
 SEBI has now decided to set eligibility criteria for regulator.
reclassification so that outgoing promoters don‘t ―exercise  This will further complement YES Bank‘s retail liabilities and
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control over the listed entity, directly or indirectly and cease to wealth management strategy, and also allow YES Bank Asset
be promoters in spirit‖. Management Company (India) (YAMIL) to build on the Bank‘s
‗DIGICAL‘ distribution network to provide customers a
FEDERAL BANK GETS RBI NOD TO ENTER BAHRAIN, seamless investment and banking experience.
KUWAIT, SINGAPORE  Rana Kapoor: MD & CEO, YES Bank
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 Federal Bank has received the regulatory nod to open offices CIVIL AVIATION RESEARCH CENTRE TO COME UP IN
in Bahrain, Kuwait and Singapore, but is awaiting local HYDERABAD
clearances before it starts operations, a top official has said.
 The Kochi-headquartered bank, which leads diaspora  A Rs. 250-crore Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO)
remittances, already has representative offices in Abu Dhabi will come up within 18 months at Begumpet in Hyderabad.
and Dubai, and its desire to expand comes even as a majority  AAI CARO Division has already entered into agreements with
of its larger peers are downsizing their overseas presence Mitre Inc of USA, Honeywell Technology Solutions, Boeing
following the Rs 13,500-crore Nirav Modi scam and poor asset Industries, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Indian
quality back home due to toxic loans. Statistical Institute, New Delhi to facilitate collaborative
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 It can be noted that following the over Rs 13,500-crore Nirav research.
Modi scam at state-run Punjab National Bank, almost all the  The CARO Phase-I will have a built up area of around 40,000
nationalised banks which account for the bulk of overseas sq meters and include laboratories, simulators, residential and
presence by domestic lenders, have been reducing their hostel facilities and accommodate about 600 R&D personnel
overseas presence as part of a government directive. in phase I.
 However, the private sector ones have been continuing with
their overseas expansion plans, with the likes of Axis Bank GOOGLE‘S LAUNCHPAD ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME
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and Yes Bank having done so in recent months.
 Applications for Google mentorship programme, Launchpad
ICICI BANK BUYS 10% STAKE IN ARTHASHASTRA FINTECH Accelerator India, for Indian technology start-ups are open
now.
 Private sector lender ICICI Bank has acquired a 9.9 per cent  The applications are open till July 31 and first class will start
from September. The application criteria are – the technology
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stake in fintech firm Arthashastra Fintech Private Limited for a
cash consideration of Rs. 8.27 crore. start-up should be based in India, start-ups that have seed
 Arthashastra Fintech was founded in December 2015 and funding, should focus on building a solution that addresses a
provides a deferred payment option for purchasing goods and real challenge of the country and should use advanced
services with third-party merchants. technology like AI/ML to power the solution.
 The shortlisted 8-10 start-ups will go through three-month
ICICI BANK APPOINTS STATUTORY AUDITOR mentorship and can get support from Google in AI/ML, cloud,
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UX, Android, web, product strategy and marketing. They will
 ICICI Bank has appointed Walker Chandiok & Co LLP as its also get up to $100,000 of Google Cloud Credits.
statutory auditors for the current financial year 2018-19.
 It will hold office from the conclusion of the 24th Annual JANA SMALL FINANCE BANK BEGINS OPERATIONS
General Meeting up to the conclusion of the 25th Annual
General Meeting.  Jana Small Finance Bank, erstwhile MFI - Janalakshmi
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 Reserve Bank of India has already approved the appointment. Financial Services, officially launched its commercial banking
operations.
NSE-NASDAQ INK TECH PACT  The bank, which received the small finance bank licence in
March this year, took time to upgrade its systems for a formal
 The NSE has signed a technology pact with Nasdaq Stock commercial launch. The bank, after the roll out, will be utilising
Exchange to source technology for clearing, risk management its 157 branches spread over 19 States, in addition to 402
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and settlements. micro-finance branches.

 The agreement will be executed over the next 24 to 36  Ajay Kanwal: MD and CEO, Jana Small Finance Bank.
months. The two exchanges also signed an MoU to explore
business opportunities across listings, corporate and market APPLE LAUNCHES $300 MILLION GREEN ENERGY FUND
services and data and innovations in products, processes and
technology.  Apple Inc will launch a $300 million (226.92 million pounds)
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 The new post-trade technology will replace the NSE‘s current clean energy fund in China, working with its suppliers to invest
clearing and settlement system operated by the National in renewable energy projects that could power close to 1
Securities Clearing Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of million homes in the country.
the NSE.  China‘s government has made cutting pollution a key priority,
 In addition to this post-trade hours agreement, Nasdaq has putting pressure on local and international firms to help reduce
also signed an agreement with NSEIT, a subsidiary of NSE, to high levels of smog in its major cities and clean up the
utilise its capability for implementing project augmentation country‘s waterways and polluted soil.
globally.
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REPORTS
REPORT ON INDIRA SAGAR POLAVARAM PROJECT SUBMITTED
 Polavaram Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project which has been accorded national project status by the union government of
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India. This dam across the Godavari River is under construction located in West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra
Pradesh state and its reservoir spreads in parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States also.
 Dr. Nand Kumar Sai, Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), along with Ms. Anusuiya Uikey, Vice
Chairperson and Members of the Commission presented a special report of the Commission on ―Indira Sagar Polavaram Project
Affected Tribal People‖ to the President of India Ramnath Kovind.
 The report and recommendations are under Article 338A(5)(e) of the Constitution on the measures to be taken by the Government of
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Andhra Pradesh for the effective implementation of constitutional safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and
socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes who are affected on account of Polavaram Irrigation Project, Andhra Pradesh.
 The Commission visited the Polavaram Irrigation Project in Andhra Pradesh from 26th to 28th March, 2018 for an on the spot
assessment of resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected Scheduled Tribe people. In the field, the Commission interacted with
the projected affected people and discussed the issues with concerned officials at project site.
 After visit to the project site, the Commission also held discussions with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 28th March, 2019.
Thereafter, a Special Report was prepared and submitted to the President of India on 3rd July,2018.
Recommendations made in the Report are as follows:
1. The Commission, while interacting with affected Scheduled Tribe people was informed that in many cases, the alternative land given
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to them in lieu of the acquired land is not cultivable. Either it is rocky terrain or there is no water. The Commission, therefore,
recommends that the state government should provide only land fit for agriculture to PDFs/PFs within the command area of
Polavaram Irrigation Project with proper irrigation facilities.
2. The Commission noted that many ST people without land holdings were also shifted. They were hitherto depending on minor forest
produces for their livelihood. Now that they are shifted, they are deprived of their livelihood. The State Government needs to take
care of them by providing alternative means of livelihood.
3. When the Commission visited Iddikulakotta village, complaints were received stating that in that village, many newly constructed
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houses were destroyed due to flash flood and so far the destroyed houses have not been re-built. The Commission recommended
that the destroyed houses should be re-built immediately to mitigate the sufferings of ST people.
4. The compensation packages in respect of Polavaram Irrigation project need to be revised on suo-moto basis by the Government of
Andhra Pradesh keeping in view the observations and modalities suggested by the Hon‘ble Supreme Court of India in Special Leave
Petition (SLP) NO.6933 of 2007 in the case of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd Versus Mathias Oram and others. The Commission feels t hat
a similar scheme as per the above Supreme Court order will help the Scheduled Tribe people affected by Polavaram Irrigation Project
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as their right to fair compensation. Further, the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation, Transparency in Land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act be kept in mind and used to the advantage of the tribals in the best possible manner.
5. While awarding compensation in respect of tribal people, ―land for land‖ policy should be followed to the maximum extent. I n this
regard, the ceiling of 2.5. acres of land should be waived in case of ST people, and they should be provided equal or at least 2.5 acres
of land within the Command Area of the Polavaram Irrigation Project.
6. In the resettlement colonies, focus/emphasis needs to be given for creation of social infrastructure like setting up of Colleges,
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University, Stadiums, Medical College on the pattern of AIIMs, Art and Music academies/centers, etc. in addition to their entitlement.
The State Government should make adequate provision of land for creation of such infrastructure facilities through outright purchase,
if necessary.
7. The State Government should consider that the entire rehabilitation and resettlement work is undertaken through R&R Commissioner
as single point responsibility as well as accountability for R&R, while the actual implementation can be undertaken by other line
departments/agencies.
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8. The State Government must ensure that R&R work is completed and compensation paid to the project affected as well as project
displaced families at least four months prior to submergence or commissioning of the project or their displacement, whichever is
earlier.
9. The State Government should consider developing an industrial estate/hub adjoining the resettlement area to provide employment
and economic opportunities to the displaced families. Both the State Government as well as the Central Government should consider
declaring this industrial estate as tax free with a tax holiday for 10 years. There should be a condition that only the dis placed people
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from the Polavaram Irrigation Project will be given employment for non-managerial jobs in this industrial estate.
10. The Commission apprehended that once the dam project is physically completed and affected people are shifted to new places, the
concerned R&R officials will be transferred to new responsibilities and it is likely that the people rehabilitated will be left to their destiny
and will have to fend to themselves without any supporting institutional mechanism. Commission, therefore, strongly recommends
that there should be a dedicated team of R&R officials to be stationed in rehabilitation area to oversee the developmental activities
and other welfare measures for a period of at least 5 years from completion of the project.
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TOP STATES IN EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
 Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, released the final rankings of States in
Ease of Doing Business in New Delhi.
 The top rankers are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Haryana.
 Jharkhand and Gujarat stood fourth and fifth respectively.
 DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the World Bank conducted an annual reform exercise for all States and
UTs under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP). The aim of this exercise is to improve delivery of various Central Government
regulatory functions and services in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.
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 The reform plan has expanded from 285 to 372 action points till 2017. States and UTs have conducted reforms to ease their
regulations and systems in areas such as labour, environmental clearances, single window system, construction permits, contract
enforcement, registering property and inspections. States and UTs have also enacted Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act to
enforce the timelines on registrations and approvals.

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 It is for the first time that DIPP has introduced taking feedback to ensure that the reforms have actually reached ground level.
 78 reforms out of 372 were identified for the survey. More than 5,000 private sector users in 23 States and UTs, including 4,300
businesses and 800 architects, lawyers and electrical contractors from across the country shared their experience.
 The State reform exercise under Ease of Doing Business in India is creating a lot of interest in other countries like Brazil, South Africa
and Indonesia which proves that such reforms are imperative for improving the business and regulatory environment.
 DIPP has already shared proposed reforms for the next year with the State and UT Governments.
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FIRST DELTA RANKING OF ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS
 The NITI Aayog launched the first Delta ranking (incremental progress) for the Aspirational Districts, based on self-reported data of
districts between March 31, 2018 to May 31, 2018, across five developmental areas of Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture
and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure.
 The purpose of this ranking is to spur a sense of competition among the dynamic teams in the districts. Since these districts face
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many challenges including legacy, unexploited or weak resource base, deficit of manpower at different levels due to difficult living
conditions etc, the ranking is also a tool to identify sectors and indicator specific challenges so that Team India, which is driving this
programme, can take immediate corrective measures.
 The Districts started entering data from 1st April, 2018 in the Champions of Change Dashboard and 108 districts out of total 112,
participated in this ranking. Data entry by remaining four districts is also in progress, though they are not part of this ranking.
 The delta ranking is computed in a transparent manner for combined improvements made during April and May 2018.
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 Some of the data points have been sourced from Central Ministries viz. Financial Inclusion, Skill Development and 3 indicators of
Basic Infrastructure - Household Electricity Connections, Household Toilets and Rural Drinking Water. Most of the data points,
however, have been self-reported by the various districts themselves.
 Asifabad district of Telangana, which was ranked 100 in Baseline ranking released in March this year, has made significant
improvements in past two months and stood at 15 in Delta ranking.
 Dahod district of Gujarat improved 19.8 points to rank first in the Delta ranking (was Ranked 17 in Baseline ranking).
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 West Sikkim district in Sikkim stood second with 18.9 points, a huge improvement from being in the 30th position in Baseline ranking.
Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh also made significant strides by improving 14.7 points and ranked 6th position in Delta ranking from
45th position in Baseline ranking
 This Delta ranking takes a step further and looks into specific aspects of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and analyses how
districts have performed in last two months across important sectors. This grouping and positioning would aid the District
Magistrates/Collectors to focus more on these sectors and improve their ranking in future.
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 The knowledge partners of NITI Aayog – Tata Trusts, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (ID Insights) - are expected to provide
data on 13 survey indicators and have validated values for 29 data-points. The next ranking will take into account these inputs and will
be released soon thereafter.
STATE NAME DISTRICT NAME DELTA RANK
KARNATAKA Raichur 21.921 1
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CHHATTISGARH Bijapur 19.217 2

UTTAR PRADESH Chitrakoot 17.145 3
SIKKIM West District 15.92 4
JHARKHAND Khunti 15.026 5
CHHATTISGARH Korba 14.105 6
UTTARAKHAND Udham Singh Nagar 14.1 7
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TAMIL NADU Ramanathapuram 12.608 8

GUJARAT Dohad 12.027 9
TELANGANA Asifabad (Adilabad) 11.533 10
ANDHRA PRADESH Vizianagaram 10.803 11
JHARKHAND Ramgarh 10.731 12
ANDHRA PRADESH Visakhapatnam 10.527 13

UTTAR PRADESH Sonbhadra 10.526 14
JHARKHAND Pakur 10.518 15
ODISHA Malkangiri 10.214 16
ANDHRA PRADESH Y.S.R. 9.924 17
MADHYA PRADESH Damoh 9.66 18
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MADHYA PRADESH Guna 9.655 19
KARNATAKA Yadgir 9.372 20
BIHAR Gaya 9.316 21
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JAMMU & KASHMIR Baramula 8.712 22
TAMIL NADU Virudhunagar 8.711 23
ARUNACHAL PRADESH Namsai 8.189 24
JHARKHAND Gumla 8.128 25
ASSAM Baksa 7.86 26
JHARKHAND Chatra 7.636 27
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JHARKHAND Pashchimi Singhbhum 7.52 28
CHHATTISGARH Dakshin Bastar Dantewada 7.21 29
TELANGANA Bhoopalapalli (Warangal) 6.944 30
MAHARASHTRA Osmanabad 6.926 31
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PUNJAB Moga 6.911 32
MAHARASHTRA Washim 6.9 33
JHARKHAND Purbi Singhbhum 6.624 34
ODISHA Gajapati 6.598 35
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CHHATTISGARH Mahasamund 6.588 36
JHARKHAND Latehar 6.38 37
ASSAM Barpeta 6.316 38
JHARKHAND Sahibganj 6.309 39
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CHHATTISGARH Kondagaon 6.183 40
RAJASTHAN Jaisalmer 5.994 41
BIHAR Aurangabad 5.981 42
TELANGANA Khammam 5.718 43
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ODISHA Kandhamal 5.57 44

JHARKHAND Garhwa 5.42 45
UTTAR PRADESH Chandauli 5.418 46
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MAHARASHTRA Nandurbar 5.412 47

ASSAM Darrang 5.241 48
CHHATTISGARH Rajnandgaon 5.134 49
BIHAR Araria 5.105 50
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GUJARAT Narmada 4.974 51

ASSAM Udalguri 4.924 52
JHARKHAND Lohardaga 4.855 53
MADHYA PRADESH Singrauli 4.846 54
BIHAR Purnia 4.83 55
HARYANA Mewat 4.808 56
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HIMACHAL PRADESH Chamba 4.581 57

JHARKHAND Dumka 4.528 58
NAGALAND Kiphire 4.526 59
BIHAR Sheikhpura 4.512 60
RAJASTHAN Dhaulpur 4.511 61
BIHAR Muzaffarpur 4.214 62

MADHYA PRADESH Chhatarpur 3.919 63
BIHAR Nawada 3.63 64
MIZORAM Mamit 3.603 65
UTTAR PRADESH Bahraich 3.434 66
PUNJAB Firozpur 3.325 67
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JHARKHAND Hazaribagh 3.324 68
RAJASTHAN Baran 3.321 69
MAHARASHTRA Gadchiroli 3.313 70
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MADHYA PRADESH Vidisha 3.058 71
CHHATTISGARH Bastar 3.041 72
RAJASTHAN Sirohi 3.011 73
UTTAR PRADESH Fatehpur 3.011 73
UTTARAKHAND Hardwar 3.007 75
BIHAR Sitamarhi 2.991 76
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ODISHA Kalahandi 2.893 77
BIHAR Khagaria 2.749 78
ODISHA Rayagada 2.731 79
MEGHALAYA Ribhoi 2.713 80
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BIHAR Katihar 2.702 81
CHHATTISGARH Uttar Bastar Kanker 2.637 82
TRIPURA Dhalai 2.552 83
UTTAR PRADESH Shrawasti 2.423 84
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JHARKHAND Godda 2.419 85
ASSAM Dhubri 2.401 86
JHARKHAND Palamu 2.392 87
ASSAM Goalpara 2.12 88
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ASSAM Hailakandi 2.118 89
MANIPUR Chandel 2.112 90
MADHYA PRADESH Khandwa (East Nimar) 1.861 91
BIHAR Banka 1.827 92
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CHHATTISGARH Narayanpur 1.664 93

BIHAR Begusarai 1.521 94
JHARKHAND Giridih 1.504 95
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ODISHA Dhenkanal 1.254 96

JHARKHAND Bokaro 1.22 97
JHARKHAND Simdega 0.924 98
RAJASTHAN Karauli 0.922 99
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CHHATTISGARH Sukma 0.907 100

JAMMU & KASHMIR Kupwara 0.813 101
MADHYA PRADESH Barwani 0.14 102
MADHYA PRADESH Rajgarh 0.065 103
UTTAR PRADESH Balrampur 0.052 104
UTTAR PRADESH Siddharthnagar 0.018 105
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BIHAR Jamui 0.016 106

ODISHA Balangir 0 107
ODISHA Nuapada 0 107
ODISHA Koraput 0 107
KERALA Wayand 0 107
JHARKHAND Ranchi -0.001 111

ODISHA Nabarangapur -0.006 112
 About ‗Transformation of Aspirational Districts‘ programme: Launched by the Hon‘ble PM in January this year, the
‗Transformation of Aspirational Districts‘ programme aims to quickly and effectively transform some of the most underdeveloped
districts of the country.
 The broad contours of the programme are Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, State level ‗Prabhari‘
Officers & District Collectors), and Competition among districts driven by a Mass Movement or a Jan Andolan. With States as the main
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drivers, this program will focus on the strength of each district, identify low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement, measure
progress, and rank districts.
 Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure are
this programme‘s core areas of focus.
 After several rounds of consultations with various stakeholders, 49 key performance indicators have been chosen to measure
progress of the districts.
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INDIAN MONEY IN SWISS BANKS SURGES
 The amount of money Indians hold in Swiss bank accounts surged more than 50% in 2017 to 1.01 billion Swiss francs (Rs. 7,000
crore), Swiss National Bank data show.
 The increase reverses a three-year downtrend amid India‘s clampdown on suspected black money stashed there.
 Funds parked by Indians in Swiss banks grew in 2017 as it reversed a three-year downtrend amid India‘s clampdown on suspected
black money stashed overseas.
 Indians‘ money in Swiss banks rose 50 percent year-on-year to 1.01 billion Swiss francs (about Rs 7,000 crore) , according to the
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official annual data released by the Swiss National Bank.
 The central bank of Switzerland added that the total funds held by all foreign clients of Swiss banks rose about 3 percent to 1.46 trillion
Swiss francs or about Rs 100 lakh crore in 2017.
 The surge comes as a surprise as India has been trying various measures to keep a check on the money hoarded abroad, one of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s long-standing campaign promises. Tax agencies in India are even offering incentives for people who
can tip them off with information.
 Money in Swiss banks from India had fallen 45 percent in 2016, marking the biggest ever yearly plunge, to 676 million Swiss francs
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(about Rs 4,500 crore). That was the lowest ever since the European nation began making the data public in 1987.
 According to the SNB data, the total funds held by Indians directly with Swiss banks rose to 999 million Swiss francs (Rs 6,891 crore)
in 2017, while the same held through fiduciaries or wealth managers increased to 16.2 million Swiss francs (Rs 112 crore). These
figures stood at 664.8 million Swiss francs and 11 million Swiss francs, respectively, at the end of 2016.
 As per the latest data, the Indian money in Swiss banks included 464 million Swiss franc (Rs 3,200 crore) in the form of cust omer
deposits, 152 million Swiss franc (Rs 1,050 crore) through other banks and 383 million Swiss franc (Rs 2,640 crore) as ‗other liabilities‘
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such as securities, at the end of 2017.
 The funds under all three heads have risen sharply, as against a huge plunge across all categories in the previous year. The total
funds held by Indians with Swiss banks stood at a record high of 6.5 billion Swiss franc (Rs 23,000 crore) at the end of 2006, but came
down to nearly one-tenth of that level in about a decade.
 Since those record levels, this is only the third time when there has been a rise in Indians‘ money in Swiss banks – in 2011 (12
percent), 2013 (43 percent) and now in 2017 by 50.2 percent, this is the maximum increase since 56 percent way back in 2004.
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 The latest data from Zurich-based SNB comes months after a new framework having been put in place for automatic exchange of
information between Switzerland and India to help check the black money menace.
 While Switzerland has already started sharing foreign client details on evidence of wrongdoing provided by India and some other
countries, it has agreed to further expand its co-operation on India's fight against black money with a new pact for automatic
information exchange.
 There were several rounds of discussions between Indian and Swiss government officials on the new framework and also for
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expediting the pending information requests about suspected illicit accounts of Indians in Swiss banks.
 The funds, described by SNB as ‗liabilities‘ of Swiss banks or ‗amounts due to‘ their clients, are the official figures disclosed by the
Swiss authorities and do not indicate to the quantum of the much-debated alleged black money held by Indians there.
 SNB's official figures also do not include the money that Indians, NRIs or others might have in Swiss banks in the names of entities
from different countries.
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PAKISTAN PLACED ON ‗GREY LIST‘ BY FATF
 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has placed Pakistan on the ‗grey list‘ for failing to curb anti-terror financing despite Islamabad
submitting a 26-point action plan.
 The decision was taken at the FATF‘s plenary session in Paris.
 The Financial Action Task Force (on Money Laundering) (FATF), also known by its French name, Groupe d'action financière (GAFI),
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is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.
 In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing. It monitors progress in implementing the FATF Recommendations
through "peer reviews" ("mutual evaluations") of member countries. The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in
Paris.
 The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures
for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The
FATF is therefore a ―policy-making body‖ which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and
regulatory reforms in these areas.
 The FATF's decision making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year.
 The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist
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financing techniques and counter-measures, and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally. In
collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting
the international financial system from misuse.
 The 37 Members of the FATF: The FATF currently comprises 35 member jurisdictions and 2 regional organisations, representing most
major financial centres in all parts of the globe.
 India ♣ Argentina ♣ Australia ♣ Austria ♣ Belgium ♣ Brazil ♣ Canada ♣ China ♣ Denmark ♣ European Commission ♣ Finland ♣
France ♣ Germany ♣ Greece ♣ Gulf Co-operation Council ♣ Hong Kong ♣ China ♣ Iceland ♣ Ireland ♣ Italy ♣ Japan ♣ Republic of
Korea ♣ Luxembourg ♣ Malaysia ♣ Mexico ♣ Netherlands, Kingdom of ♣ New Zealand ♣ Norway ♣ Portugal ♣ Russian Federation ♣
Singapore ♣ South Africa ♣ Spain ♣ Sweden ♣ Switzerland ♣ Turkey ♣ United Kingdom ♣ United States
 FATF Observers: Indonesia, Israel, Saudi Arabia
DECREASING ‗GREENNESS‘ IN INDIA‘S FORESTS: REPORT
 Most forests are green. But a recent study finds that this ‗greenness‘ is consistently decreasing across more than 46 lakh hectares of
various types of forest in India, particularly in core protected areas. This indicates that our forests are vulnerable.
 India's diverse forests face several threats including forest degradation, as the loss of greenness signifies.
 Scientists at Hyderabad's National Remote Sensing Centre analysed NASA‘s MODIS satellite images of India‘s forests at eight -day
intervals for 15 years (2001 to 2014) and assessed the persistent decreases in greenness.
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 Using an index that determines the amount forest ―vigour,‖ they assessed the seasonal greenness of 14 different forest types: the
negative the trend of greenness over years, the more degraded and vulnerable the forest.
 They found that the highest degradation is in moist deciduous forests (more than 20 lakh hectares), especially in the states of
Chhatisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
 Wet evergreen forests – including those in the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas – are also affected, with the major changes
observed in Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh, followed by Kerala and Meghalaya.
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 More than 15% of India‘s total mangrove forests also showed a decrease in greenness. Nearly 80% of these changes occurred in
‗core‘ forests like protected areas.
 Using statistical analyses, the team determined the ‗spots‘or areas where the decrease in seasonal greenness were high and spatially
contiguous. West Bengal was a major hotspot of mangrove degradation.
 Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Meghalaya were hotspots of decreasing greenness of wet evergreen forests while
Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh showed degraded montane (high-elevation) wet forests.
 According to the authors, the result of this study could provide first hand information to prioritise and plan conservation of these areas
or restore them to their original glory. However, while the study identifies the hotspots where decreasing greenness is a worry, it does
not identify what caused this problem.
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 This decreasing greenness could be due to natural or anthropogenic factors that we have not identified in the study. It could be due to
changing climates, shifts in monsoon patterns, decreasing soil fertility or the impact of human activities.
ANDHRA PRADESH TOPS IN EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
 Andhra Pradesh has topped the third edition of the government‘s Ease of Doing Business index for States with a final score of
98.42%. This is the second time in a row that A.P. achieved the first rank.
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 AP which was given second rank in 2015, outperformed other States and Union territories by maintaining its leadership position
through implementation of 99.73% reforms. The State government adopted the motto of ‗People First, Industry First.‘ The government
reached out to the investors to understand the gaps in existing implementation of reforms and re-engineered the processes.
 Interestingly, Telangana and Jharkhand trailed behind A.P. though they scored 100% in reform evidence score. A.P. got 99.73% score
in reform evidence and 86.50% in feedback score.
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While Telangana stood second in the final score, Haryana bagged the third position. A.P. and Telangana jointly occupied the top slot
in fiscal 2015-16.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s home State Gujarat was ranked Number One in fiscal 2014-15, while A.P. got the second rank. In the
latest rankings, Gujarat is pushed to the fifth position with a score of 97.96%.
IMF CUTS INDIA GROWTH FORECAST FOR 2018 BY A NOTCH TO 7.3%

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 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) update, projected a growth rate of 7.3% in 2018
and 7.5% in 2019 for India as against 6.7% in 2017, making it the fastest growing country among major economies.
 However, the latest growth rate projection for India is slightly less — 0.1 percentage point in 2018 and 0.3 percentage points in 2019
— than its April projections.
 India‘s growth rate is expected to rise from 6.7% in 2017 to 7.3% in 2018 and 7.5% in 2019, as drags from the currency exchan ge
initiative and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax fade. The projection is 0.1 and 0.3 percentage points lower for 2018 and
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2019, respectively, than in the April WEO, reflecting negative effects of higher oil prices on domestic demand and faster than-
anticipated monetary policy tightening due to higher expected inflation.
 Despite this slight downgrade in its projections, India continues to outperform China, IMF‘s WEO update figures reflect. Grow th in
China is projected to moderate from 6.9% in 2017 to 6.6% in 2018 and 6.4% in 2019, as regulatory tightening of the financ ial sector
takes hold and external demand softens, the report said.
 The IMF said global growth is projected to reach 3.9% in 2018 and 2019, in line with the forecast of the April 2018 WEO.
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INDIA LAGS BEHIND IN IMMUNIZATION: WHO-UNICEF REPORT
 Report released by the World Health Organization and UNICEF on immunisation estimates states that an estimated 19.9 million
infants worldwide did not receive routine services such as three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine in 2017. Around
60% of these children live in 10 countries — Afghanistan, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq,
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Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa.

 Report noted that global vaccination coverage — the proportion of the world‘s children who receive recommended vaccines — has
remained the same over the past few years.
 Since 2015, the percentage of children who received the three-dose DTP3 routine immunisation is sustained at 85% or 116.2 million
infants.
 Besides this, an additional 4.6 million infants were vaccinated globally in 2017 compared to 2010 due to global population growth. The
report stated that more efforts are needed to reach universal immunisation coverage.
 The figures released stated that an estimated 20 million additional children need to be vaccinated with DTP3, 45 million additional
children need to be vaccinated with a second dose of measles vaccine and 76 million more children need to be vaccinated with three
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doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).

 Of the 19.9 million infants who are not fully vaccinated with DTP3, almost eight million or 40% live in fragile or humanitarian settings,
including countries affected by conflict. And about 5.6 million of them live in just three countries — Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan,
where access to routine immunisation services is critical to achieving and sustaining polio eradication.
 Meanwhile, newly available vaccines are being added as part of the life-saving vaccination package. These include ones that offer
protection against meningitis, malaria and even Ebola.
 Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and can cause cervical cancer, other types of
cancer, and genital warts in both men and women. The HPV vaccine was introduced in 80 countries in 2017.
 On the other hand, vaccines to prevent against major killers of children such as rotavirus, a disease that causes severe chil dhood
diarrhoea, and pneumonia have been around for over a decade. But the use of rotavirus and PCV is lagging.

 In 2017, global coverage was only 28% for rotavirus and 44% for PCV. Vaccination against both these diseases has the potential to
substantially reduce deaths of children under five years of age, a target of sustainable development goals.
INDIA SLIPS 3 RANKS IN AT KEARNEY‘S FDI CONFIDENCE INDEX
 India in 2018 has fallen out of the top 10 destinations for FDI in terms of its attractiveness, according to an AT Kearney report, which
says this could be due to teething troubles in the implementation of the goods and services tax and the government‘s demonetisation
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decision in 2016.
 India ranks 11 in the 2018 AT Kearney FDI Confidence Index, down from 8 in 2017 and 9 in 2016.
KARNATAKA THE TOP STATE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
 With 27% of its power generation coming from renewable energy, Karnataka has emerged the leading State for renewable energy in
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India this year, pipping Tamil Nadu.
 The State reached 12.3 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity as of March 2018.
 The Institute For Energy Economics and Financial Analysis released a report in which it was revealed that Karnataka is the leading
state for generating renewable energy.
 Karnataka has a total installed capacity of 12.3 gigawatts as of March 2018. And has added 5 GW of renewable energy in 2017-18
alone. With this, it even left Tamil Nadu behind which has long been a top producer of non-conventional source of energy.
 The state is also witnessing the development of 2 GW Pavagada industrial solar park, the second largest solar development currently
under construction in the world.
 The state currently holds 5 GW of solar capacity and 4.7 GW of wind capacity. The remainder includes small hydro, biomass, heat and
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power cogeneration.
‗CONNAUGHT PLACE WORLD‘S 9TH MOST EXPENSIVE OFFICE LOCATION‘
 Mumbai‘s Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point slip to 26th and 37th positions in survey done by property consultant CBRE.
 New Delhi‘s Connaught Place has moved one position higher to become the ninth most expensive office location in the world wit h an
annual rent of $153 per sq ft, a survey by property consultant CBRE states.
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 Mumbai‘s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) slipped to 26th position with an annual prime rent of $96.51 per sq ft from 16th rank.
 The central business district (CBD) of Nariman Point also moved down to 37th position commanding an annual prime rent of $72.80
per sq ft from 30th rank last year.
 Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point were at 16th and 30th positions, respectively, in 2017.
 According to the report, Hong Kong (Central) is at the first position with an annual rent of $306.57 per sq ft, followed by London (West
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End), Beijing (Finance Street) in China, Hong Kong (Kowloon) and Beijing (CBD) in China.
 New York (Midtown-Manhattan) ranked sixth with an annual rent of $183.78 per sq ft, while New York (Midtown-South Manhattan) is
at 7th position commanding rent of $171.56 per sq ft.
 In the top 10 list, Tokyo (Marunouchi/Otemachi), Japan is at the eighth position and London (City), UK, is at the 10th rank.
INDIA WILL SEE A ROBUST GROWTH: REPORT

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 The 10 major economies of Asia, including India, are expected to see robust growth and amount to over $28 trillion in real GDP terms
on aggregate, more than the U.S. by 2030, says a DBS report.
 The Asia-10 include China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
 Real GDP (2010 constant dollars) terms for the U.S. will amount to $22.33 trillion by 2030.
GLOBAL TAX HAVENS

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 India loses $41.17 billion, or 2.34 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), as a result of corporate tax avoidance, according to a
report published by the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research in 2017.
 If all countries have access to info about final beneficiaries, MNCs will not be able to fraudulently assign profits to tax havens.
 Multinationals fix the prices of transactions between their subsidiaries to guarantee that their revenues are taxed in countr ies where
tax rates are lower — and not necessarily where their economic activity and the creation of value really take place.
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 With financial globalisation, the opportunities for tax optimisation for multinationals have multiplied. Nowadays, they are able to
concentrate enormous profits in just a handful of tax havens, thanks to a powerful industry of intermediaries — banks, consultants and
law firms.
 French economist Gabriel Zucman calculates that more than 40 per cent of profits made by multinationals are artificially transferred to
tax havens.
 And all these procedures are so complex that it is almost impossible to keep track of where the money goes.
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 These taxes that are dodged are compensated for with higher contributions from the middle and working classes, making it much
more difficult for these population groups to save or accumulate wealth. For that reason, this issue increases levels of inequality all
over the world.
 Since 1980, the richest 1 per cent of the world have received double the earnings of the poorest 50 per cent of the world, even if the
latter group has experienced a significant increase in income, thanks to high growth rates in Asia.
 Ten per cent of global GDP is hidden in tax havens as deposits, shares, bonds and investment funds.
 And this is a conservative estimate, which also varies a lot among countries: in northern European countries this hidden wealth is no
more than 5 per cent, but this figure goes up to around 15 per cent in continental Europe, and even to 60 per cent in Russia, some
Gulf states and a few countries in Latin America. This diversion of funds has an obvious consequence for global inequality.
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As revealed by a recent study, the wealth kept in tax havens is concentrated in the hands of only a few people: half of the funds stored
there belongs to households with a net worth of over $50 million.
 Besides reducing public income, this concentration of wealth in tax havens erodes respect for the law and discourages the creation of
jobs, as it benefits those who transfer their wealth abroad instead of investing in the countries where this income is generated. It also
makes it more difficult for governments to manage, as these unrecorded funds cannot be taken into account in the traditional
databases used to calculate economic activity and measure real inequality.
 The progress made in the fights against tax havens must be real. We need an international perspective to deal with this issue.
 An important part of the wealth kept in tax havens is concentrated in dummy corporations, which clearly aim to keep their final
beneficiaries unidentifiable.

 A global financial registry of the real and final individual beneficiaries of these companies, bank accounts and properties would be a
crucial measure to deal with this. It would allow limiting tax evasion, money laundering and even the financing of terrorism.
INDIA 35TH RANK IN REALTY TRANSPARENCY INDEX
 India has moved up a place to the 35th spot in JLL‘s Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2018, registering maximum improvement
in transparency over the last two years.
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 Policy reforms, liberalisation of FDI into realty and retail, strengthening of public information and assigning industry status to affordable
housing helped India move up the ranking.
 As a result of this transparency, PE investment in Indian real estate has gone up to $6.3 billion in 2017 from $2.2 billion i n 2014,
almost three times the growth in as many years, reflecting the growing confidence of global funds in the Indian market.
 India‘s performance over the last two cycles of JLL index indicates that it has moved up five places since 2014. India‘s remarkable
improvement in the transparency score across all markets has led to increased volumes of international capital being deployed in the
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country. Policy reforms, liberalisation of FDI, and digitisation of property records also influenced the rating.
 The use of technology will add more transparency to the sector.
 Compared to similar markets, also part of the same ‗semi-transparent‘ group, India‘s improvement is unmatched by its peers. Among
BRICS countries, both China and South Africa remained at the same rank — 33 and 21, respectively — as in 2016, while Brazil
slipped to the 37th spot and Russia remained at 38.
 India's rankings is likely to improve further in GRETI 2020 mainly on the back of the comprehensive implementation of the Real Estate
(Regulation and Development) Act in all the States, introduction of insurance policies for land title, weeding out of benami deals and
the sector adopting well to the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime.
 India‘s task is cut out to enter the transparent markets — defined by a ranking under 30 — by executing reform measures well and fast
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by the time of our next assessment in 2020.
 The index measures transparency by looking at factors, including data availability, their authenticity and accuracy, governance in
public agencies as well as realty sector stakeholders, transaction processes and associated costs along with the regulatory and legal
environment.
FISCAL DEFICIT TOUCHES 55.3%
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 India‘s fiscal deficit has exceeded 55 per cent of the Budget estimate in just first two months (April-May) of the current fiscal. But it is
still lower than what was recorded in the same period last fiscal.
 Fiscal deficit is the difference between earning and expenditure and expressed normally as a percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic
Products). The Government aims to keep the fiscal deficit at 3.3 per cent of GDP for the current fiscal while it managed to achieve 3.5
per cent during the last fiscal (2017-18).
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Rating agencies keep a close watch on the deficit number before deciding on sovereign rating and outlook. At present, most of the
agencies have accorded last investment grade rating with stable or positive outlook.
 According to the monthly account for the Central Government by the Controller General of Accounts, total receipt was little over 7 per
cent of the Budget estimate. It comprised tax revenue of over Rs. 1.02 lakh crore while it earned Rs. 24,049 crore as non-tax revenue
and Rs. 1,004 crore as non-debt capital receipts. Non-debt capital receipts consists of Recovery of Loans ( Rs. 570 crore) and
Disinvestment of Public Sector Undertakings Rs. 434 crore). Over Rs. 1.11 lakh crore has been transferred to State Governments as
devolution of share of taxes by Centre up to this period which is Rs. 15,217 crore higher than the corresponding period of th e last
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fiscal. During April-May, the Government incurred expenditure of over Rs. 4.72 lakh crore which is approximately 19.3 per cent of the
Budget estimate. Since last fiscal, the entire Budget-making exercise is completed by March 31, helping the Government to start
spending from the first day of the new fiscal year.
 Earlier, the Budget exercise used to be completed in May-June, which meant the Government used to start spending only after 3-4
months and sometime after six months, thus affecting the economic activity and in turn growth.
 Experts said that fiscal deficit for April-Mayrecorded a ‗welcome year-on-year (YoY)‘ decline on the back of robust growth in indirect
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tax and non-tax revenues and near stagnant revenue spending, allowing for a healthy rise in capital expenditure in the early part of the
year. Nevertheless, at 55 per cent of the Budget estimate for FY19, the GoI's fiscal deficit for the first two months of the year was
sizable. The stagnation in revenue spending in April-May on a YoY basis is partly reflective of the up fronting that had taken place in
the same months in 2017, following the early presentation of the Union Budget, as well as a sharp decline in the major subsidy outgo.
In contrast to the stagnation in revenue expenditure, capital spending recorded a substantial 21 per cent growth in the first two months
of this fiscal, led by sectors such as defence, roads, railways and transfers to States.
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 The buoyancy in GST collections, whether excise duty on fuels is cut to absorb a part of the impact of higher crude oil prices, and the
extent to which dividends and profits, and disinvestment meet the budgeted targets, would drive the Government‘s revenue growth in
FY19. Moreover, the adequacy of the budgeted outlays for the proposals introduced in the Union Budget for FY19 such as MSPs and
the National Health Protection Scheme, fuel and other subsidies, and bank recapitalisation, would affect the fiscal space for spending
over the course of the year.
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INDIA IS HOME TO MORE THAN 19,500 MOTHER TONGUES
 More than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken in India as mother tongues, according to the latest analysis of a census.
 There are 121 languages which are spoken by 10,000 or more people in India, which has a population of 121 crore.
 The number of such raw returns of mother tongues has totalled 19,569, the report of the 2011.
 However, 96.71 per cent population in the country have one of the 22 scheduled languages as their mother tongue.
 Since mother tongues, as returned in the census, are basically the designations provided by the respondents of the linguistic mediums
in which the respondents think they communicate, they need not be identical with the actual linguistic mediums.
 For assessing the correlation between the mother tongue and designations of the census and for presenting the numerous raw returns
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in terms of their linguistic affiliation to actual languages and dialects, 19,569 raw returns were subjected to thorough linguistic scrutiny,
edit and rationalisation.
 This resulted in 1,369 rationalised mother tongues and 1,474 names which were treated as ―unclassified‖ and relegated to ―other‖
mother tongue category. The total number of languages arrived at is 121.
‗SWAMINATHAN REPORT ON AGRICULTURE‘ IN NEWS
 The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was constituted on November 18, 2004 under the chairmanship of Professor M.S.
Swaminathan. The NCF submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006 respectively. The
fifth and final report was submitted on October 4, 2006.

 The reports contain suggestions to achieve the goal of "faster and more inclusive growth" as envisaged in the Approach to 11t h Five
Year Plan.
 The findings and recommendations encompass issues of access to resources and social security entitlements. This summary is a
quick reference point highlighting the key findings and policy recommendations under land reforms, irrigation, credit and ins urance,
food security, employment, productivity of agriculture and farmer competitiveness.
Findings and Recommendations:
 Agrarian distress has led farmers to commit suicide in recent years. The major causes of the agrarian crisis are: unfinished agenda in
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land reform, quantity and quality of water, technology fatigue, access, adequacy and timeliness of institutional credit, and opportunities
for assured and remunerative marketing. Adverse meteorological factors add to these problems.
 Farmers need to have assured access and control over basic resources, which include land, water, bioresources, credit and
insurance, technology and knowledge management, and markets. The NCF recommends that "Agriculture" be inserted in the
Concurrent List of the Constitution
 Land reforms are necessary to address the basic issue of access to land for both crops and livestock. Land holdings inequality is
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reflected in land ownership. In 1991-92, the share of the bottom half of the rural households in the total land ownership was only 3%
and the top 10% was as high as 54%.
 Some of the main recommendations include:
 Distribute ceiling-surplus and waste lands;
 Prevent diversion of prime agricultural land and forest to corporate sector for non-agricultural purposes.
 Ensure grazing rights and seasonal access to forests to tribals and pastoralists, and access to common property resources.
 Establish a National Land Use Advisory Service, which would have the capacity to link land use decisions with ecological
meteorological and marketing factors on a location and season specific basis.
 Set up a mechanism to regulate the sale of agricultural land, based on quantum of land, nature of proposed use and category of
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buyer.
 Out of the gross sown area of 192 million ha, rainfed agriculture contributes to 60 per cent of the gross cropped area and 45 per cent
of the total agricultural output. The report recommends:
 A comprehensive set of reforms to enable farmers to have sustained and equitable access to water.
 Increase water supply through rainwater harvesting and recharge of the aquifer should become mandatory. "Million Wells
Recharge" programme, specifically targeted at private wells should be launched.
 Substantial increase in investment in irrigation sector under the 11th Five Year Plan apportioned between large surface water
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systems; minor irrigation and new schemes for groundwater recharge.
 Apart from the size of holding, the productivity levels primarily determine the income of the farmers. However, the per unit area
productivity of Indian agriculture is much lower than other major crop producing countries. In order to achieve higher growth in
productivity in agriculture, the NCF recommends:
 Substantial increase in public investment in agriculture related infrastructure particularly in irrigation, drainage, land de velopment,
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water conservation, research development and road connectivity etc.
 A national network of advanced soil testing laboratories with facilities for detection of micronutrient deficiencies.
 Promotion of conservation farming, which will help farm families to conserve and improve soil health, water quantity and quality
and biodiversity.
 Credit and Insurance
 Timely and adequate supply of credit is a basic requirement of small farm families.
The NCF suggests:
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 Expand the outreach of the formal credit system to reach the really poor and needy.
 Reduce rate of interest for crop loans to 4 per cent simple, with government support.
 Moratorium on debt recovery, including loans from non-institutional sources, and waiver of interest on loans in distress hotspots
and during calamities, till capability is restored.
 Establish an Agriculture Risk Fund to provide relief to farmers in the aftermath of successive natural calamities.
 Issue Kisan Credit Cards to women farmers, with joint pattas as collateral.
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 Develop an integrated credit-cum-crop-livestock-human health insurance package.

 Expand crop insurance cover to cover the entire country and all crops, with reduced premiums and create a Rural Insurance
Development Fund to take up development work for spreading rural insurance.
 Promote sustainable livelihoods for the poor by improving (i) Financial services (ii) Infrastructure (iii) Investments in human
development, agriculture and business development services (including productivity enhancement, local value addition, and
alternate market linkages) and (iv) Institutional development services (forming and strengthening producers' organisations such
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as self-help groups and water user associations).

 The Mid-term appraisal of the 10th Plan revealed that India is lagging behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of
halving hunger by 2015. Therefore, the decline in per capita foodgrain availability and its unequal distribution have serious
implications for food security in both rural and urban areas.
 The proportion of households below the poverty line was 28% in 2004-05 (close to 300 million persons). However, in 1999-2000, the
percentage of population consuming diets providing less than 2400 kcal (underlines definition of below poverty line) per capita per day
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was almost 77% of the rural population. Several studies have shown that the poverty is concentrated and food deprivation is acute in
predominantly rural areas with limited resources such as rain-fed agricultural areas.
 The report recommends:
 Implement a universal public distribution system. The NCF pointed out that the total subsidy required for this would be one per
cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
 Reorganise the delivery of nutrition support programmes on a life-cycle basis with the participation of Panchayats and local
bodies.
 Eliminate micronutrient deficiency induced hidden hunger through an integrated food cum fortification approach.
 Promote the establishment of Community Food and Water Banks operated by Women Self-help Groups (SHG), based on the
principle ‗Store Grain and Water everywhere'.
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 Help small and marginal farmers to improve the productivity, quality and profitability of farm enterprises and organize a Rural
Non-Farm Livelihood Initiative.
 Formulate a National Food Guarantee Act continuing the useful features of the Food for Work and Employment Guarantee
programmes. By increasing demand for foodgrains as a result of increased consumption by the poor, the economic conditions
essential for further agricultural progress can be created.
 In the last few years, a large number of farmers have committed suicide. Cases of suicides have been reported from states such as
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. The NCF has underlined the
need to address the farmer suicide problem on a priority basis. Some of measures suggested include:

 Provide affordable health insurance and revitalize primary healthcare centres. The National Rural Health Mission should be
extended to suicide hotspot locations on priority basis.
 Set up State level Farmers' Commission with representation of farmers for ensuring dynamic government response to farmers'
problems.
 Restructure microfinance policies to serve as Livelihood Finance, i.e. credit coupled with support services in the areas of
technology, management and markets.
 Cover all crops by crop insurance with the village and not block as the unit for assessment.
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 Provide for a Social Security net with provision for old age support and health insurance.
 Promote aquifer recharge and rain water conservation. Decentralise water use planning and every village should aim at Jal
Swaraj with Gram Sabhas serving as Pani Panchayats.
 Ensure availability of quality seed and other inputs at affordable costs and at the right time and place.
 Recommend low risk and low cost technologies which can help to provide maximum income to farmers because they cannot
cope with the shock of crop failure, particularly those associated with high cost technologies like Bt cotton.
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 Need for focused Market Intervention Schemes (MIS) in the case of life-saving crops such as cumin in arid areas. Have a Price
Stabilisation Fund in place to protect the farmers from price fluctuations.
 Need swift action on import duties to protect farmers from international price.
 Set up Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) or Gyan Chaupals in the farmers' distress hotspots. These can provide dynamic and
demand driven information on all aspects of agricultural and non-farm livelihoods and also serve as guidance centres.
 Public awareness campaigns to make people identify early signs of suicidal behavior.
 It is imperative to raise the agricultural competitiveness of farmers with small land holdings. Productivity improvement to increase the
marketable surplus must be linked to assured and remunerative marketing opportunities. The measures suggested by NCF include:
 Promotion of commodity-based farmers' organisations such as Small Cotton Farmers' Estates to combine decentralised
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production with centralised services such as post-harvest management, value addition and marketing, for leveraging institutional
support and facilitating direct farmer-consumer linkage.
 Improvement in implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Arrangements for MSP need to be put in place for crops other
than paddy and wheat. Also, millets and other nutritious cereals should be permanently included in the PDS.
 MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.
 Availability of data about spot and future prices of commodities through the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCD) and the NCDEX
and the APMC electronic networks covering 93 commodities through 6000 terminals and 430 towns and cities.
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 State Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Acts [APMC Acts] relating to marketing, storage and processing of agriculture
produce need to shift to one that promotes grading, branding, packaging and development of domestic and international markets
for local produce, and move towards a Single Indian Market.
 Structural change in the workforce is taking place in India albeit slowly. In 1961, the percentage of the workforce in agriculture was
75.9%. while the number decreased to 59.9% in 1999-2000. But agriculture still provides the bulk of employment in the rural areas.
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The overall employment strategy in India must seek to achieve two things. First, create productive employment opportunities and
second to improve the ‗quality' of employment in several sectors such that real wages rise through improved productivity. The
measures to do so include:
 Accelerating the rate of growth of the economy;
 Emphasizing on relatively more labour intensive sectors and inducing a faster growth of these sectors; and
 Improving the functioning of the labour markets through such modification as may be necessary without eroding the core labour
standards.
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 Encourage non-farm employment opportunities by developing particular sectors and sub-sectors where demand for the product
or services is growing namely: (i) trade, (ii) restaurants and hotels, (iii) transport, (iv) construction, (v) repairs and (vi) certain
services.
 The "net take home income" of farmers should be comparable to those of civil servants.
 Rural people in India depend on a wide range of bioresources for their nutrition and livelihood security. The report recommends:
 Preserving traditional rights of access to biodiversity, which include access to non-timber forest products including medicinal
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plants, gums and resins, oil yielding plants and beneficial micro-organisms;
 Conserving, enhancing and improving crops and farm animals as well as fish stocks through breeding;
 Encouraging community-based breed conservation (i.e. conservation through use);
 Allowing export of indigenous breeds and import of suitable breeds to increase productivity of nondescript animals.
INDIA BEATS CHINA IN INDUSTRIAL SOLAR HEAT INSTALLATIONS

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 In terms of installation of equipment for solar heat for industrial process, India ranked a step above China, to claim the second
position, after Oman.
 Solar heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) are systems like rooftop solar — only these are ‗collectors‘ that pick up sun‘s heat typically
to heat water (in tubes placed on a reflecting surface) or air (trapped between flat plates). The fluids are then supplied to industries for
their processes.
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 A recent report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that India was the second highest (after an outlier Oman), but in terms of
average collector size, India‘s 425 sq mts was higher than only Mexico‘s 178 sq mts. In other countries, the individual plant sizes are
large, implying lower costs of installation and therefore lower costs of energy.
 With the 2017 installations, India has 307 systems with a total collector area of 94,600 sq mts.
 India accounted for 8 per cent of global installations in terms of square metres in 2017, a year that saw record SHIP install ations
globally. However, if you look at all other installations of solar heat, such as residential water heating and district heating, the numbers
change, but the IEA report said that India grew the fastest – 26 per cent – in terms of overall solar heat.
 The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation estimates that India‘s potential for solar heat for industries is 6.52 GWth,
compared with the existing capacity of around 52 MWth.
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OECD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE PEGS INDIA‘S GDP GROWTH AT 7.4% THIS FISCAL
 The Indian economy is expected to record 7.4 per cent growth in 2018-19, a new report by the OECD Development Centre has projected. In its
update to the Economic Outlook for South-East Asia, China and India, the OECD Development Centre sees Indian economy recording 7.5 per
cent GDP growth in 2019-20.
 This growth projection for 2018-19 falls within the 7-7.5 per cent range forecast by the Economic Survey released by the Indian Government in
January.
 Average real gross domestic product (GDP) in the region is expected to grow 6.6 per cent in 2018 and 6.5 per cent in 2019, because of robust
consumption and investment.

 The update has been produced by OECD Development Centre in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
 The 10 ASEAN economies are expected to see average growth of 5.3 per cent in both 2018 and 2019, with the highest rates in Cambodia, Lao
PDR and Myanmar (the CLM countries), Vietnam and the Philippines.
US BECOMES THIRD-LARGEST MARKET FOR INDIA‘S CARS
 The USA is now the third-largest export destination.In FY 2018, passenger car exports to the US ballooned to $654 million from a paltry $3.52
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million a year before.
 With this, the US market contributed to 9.2 per cent of the overall car exports from India, the third largest.
 Exports to the UK, which was the second-largest market after Mexico in FY17, fell by almost half to $220 million in FY18. Meanwhile, exports
to Spain went down 30 per cent to $137 million and to Italy by 25 per cent to $263 million.
 Export to Mexico, the largest market for Indian automakers, grew 7.7 per cent to $1.69 billion in FY2018.In 2017, two US companies, Ford and
GM started exporting to the US in a big way.
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 While Ford started exporting its EcoSport from India to the US, GM completely shut down India sales, using the entire production capacity for
exports, primarily to the US.
 Ford EcoSport and Chevrolet Beat remained the most exported cars from India. The US continues to be the largest car market in the world
and Indian exports are only scratching the surface.
POVERTY IN THE 6TH RICHEST ECONOMY
 The rise of India to become the sixth largest economy in 2017, surpassing France is no mean achievement. Measured in current US dollars,
India‘s economy was an estimated 0.6 per cent larger than of France. There is now great anticipation that India will soon become the fifth
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largest, surpassing the UK whose economy is struggling since the Brexit vote.
 The British economy has been shrinking since 2015. That has already narrowed the difference in size of the economies of the UK and India.
And, so UK‘s economy, which was about 50 per cent larger than India‘s in 2014, in current US dollars, was only one per cent bigger in 2017.
 India ranked 144, with per capita GDP of the $1,940, and that is just five per cent of the per capita GDP of France. Comparisons with China
too show how poor an average Indian is — India‘s per capita GDP is just one-fifth of China‘s.
INDIA‘S IP POLICY AND A SOUTH AFRICAN TWEAK
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 South Africa recently adopted a new Intellectual Property Policy, which seeks to align IP with the country‘s national development plan. The IP
Policy must be informed inter alia by the Constitution, National Development Plan (NDP), the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF) and
the various iterations of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). It should also be aligned to the country‘s objectives of promoting local
manufacturing, competitiveness, and transformation of industry in South Africa.
 India‘s IP Policy adopted in 2016 overlooks the legislative intent and policy objective behind the patent regime — something that other nations
are taking note of.
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 Unlike SA‘s policy, India‘s IP Policy does not make a reference to other existing policies like Health or Science and Technology, thereby
disconnecting it from the country‘s developmental needs. The approach of the Indian IP Policy offers only lip service to the use of flexibilities
and does not offer any measures to optimise the use of flexibilities. Ironically, it seems to move away from its orientation of optimum utilisation
of the TRIPS flexibilities incorporated in the Patents Act. The results are visible. A recent report reveals that the Patents office granted nearly
72 per cent secondary patents in contravention of the Patents Act.
 The SA Policy mentions that it must engender the ethos of the South African Constitution and also reflect the country‘s broader social
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economic development objectives. The policy is aligned to constitutional objectives and socio-economic goals.
 India‘s IP policy fails to take notice of obligations under Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of the right to health engendered in its
Constitution while promoting IP rights. Instead it focusses on enhancing the protection and enforcement of IPRs, which goes beyond its
international obligations (referred as ‗TRIPS-plus‘) without taking into consideration its negative implications. India, which is at the forefront of
international fora in defending the TRIPS flexibilities, ignores their use for itself at the domestic level.
 Taking a cue from the South African IP policy, the Government of India should revamp the National IP Policy with a clearer vision of realisation
of its constitutional promise of right to health for all, which includes better access to medicines.
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ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER INSTALLATIONS CROSS 1 GW
 Rooftop solar installations in India have crossed 1 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.SPIN is an online application
for expediting project approval, reporting submission and monitoring the progress of implementation of rooftop solar projects.
 According to the SPIN portal, the total installed capacity, stood at 1,095.41 MW. Maharashtra led with 145.09 MW followed by Gujarat with
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136.21 MW installed capacity. Tamil Nadu took the third spot with 123.91 MW .
 Tripura, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep made up the bottom of the list with no reported rooftop solar installations.
 The Centre has set a target of installing 40GW of grid connected rooftop solar capacity in the country by 2022.
 According to official estimates, ₹842 crore has been released to various implementing agencies during in the last two financial years (2016-17
and 2017-18) as financial support for installing grid connected rooftop solar power plants.
NON-ENGLISH NET USERS IN INDIA INCREASING

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 At 234 million, the number of Indian language internet users in the country has far surpassed English users, at 175 million, triggering a new
phase in net penetration.
 The number of people accessing the internet in Indian languages is growing at a CAGR of 18 per cent. It is expected to touch the 536-million
mark in 2021, while the English user base will be at 199 million.
INDIA LAGGING BEHIND IN PATENTING

 India is conducting quality research in many fields, but country is lagging behind in patenting.
 India is rich in research as it is ranked fifth in the globe in terms of research publications but poor in patenting.
 The initiative taken by NRDC, WIPO, CIPAM and APIS would facilitate creating awareness about patenting in the country.
 NRDC-TISC entered into agreements for commercialising IPs and technologies with DSNLU-Visakhapatnam, AKNU-Rajamahendravaram and
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Sagi Ramakrishnam Raju Engineering College-Bhimavaram.

 Under the agreements, NRDC will broaden and strengthen the technology resource base by fostering long-term relationships with R&D
organisations, MSMEs, PSUs, individual inventors and others.
 National Research Development Corporation Chairman and Managing Director: H Purushotham.
INDIA‘S DIGITAL ECONOMY TO TOUCH $1 TRILLION BY 2022

 India‘s economy is rapidly changing into a digital one, with the latter expected to touch the $1-trillion mark by 2022. By 2030, India will be a
$10-trillion economy, with half of it accounting for digital form.
 A large part of India‘s digital journey is now being driven by new trends such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and Machine
Learning.

INDIA AND WORLD

INDIA - SEYCHELLES RELATIONS: LATEST ISSUES
 Seychelles President Danny Faure paid official visit to Indian recently. PM Modi after meeting with Danny Faure said that India and
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Seychelles will ensure mutually beneficial steps regarding stalled plans for a military base at the island of Assumption.
 Even as India geared up to welcome Seychelles President to India, Seychelles has cancelled the agreement with India to build a
military facility on Assumption Island. Seychelles government blamed the opposition leader, Indian-origin Ramkalawan. The deal
cannot go through without the opposition being on board.
 The island nation of Seychelles, strategically located in the context of sea lanes of communication (SLOC), has long been an Indian
ally. Both India and Seychelles, since the latter‘s independence in 1976, have shared a multi-faceted partnership, and excellent
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friendship, one which is based on mutual respect and on trust.
 Assumption Island is a small island in the Outer Islands of Seychelles north of Madagascar, with a distance of 1,135 km (705 mi)
southwest of the capital, Victoria, on Mahé Island.
 In 2018, Seychelles and India signed an agreement to build and operate a joint military facility on a portion of the island.
 The deal for an Indian military base in Seychelles was declared ‗dead‘ by the Island‘s opposition party. The plans for an Indian military
base in Seychelles stirred up public protests by activists who believe that the islands must stay away from the brewing India -China
regional conflict.
 Modi announced several initiatives for the strategically located country, including the grant of $100 million Line of Credit for the
purchase of defence hardware.
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 On the project of Assumption island, we have agreed to work for the welfare of each other,‖ said Mr. Modi. The statement is the first
from the Prime Minister since the National Assembly of Seychelles earlier refused to ratify the naval base that India has been planning
to build on Assumption to provide a foothold in the western Indian Ocean.
 It is not clear how both sides would take the project forward in the absence of a parliamentary ratification.
 Modi declared that both sides would intensify cooperation to carry out hydrographical studies of the maritime region and have declared
exchange of necessary oceanic maps between two sides.
 India also gifted a Dornier aircraft to Seychelles. India is ready to finance three civilian infrastructure projects in Seychelles under
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Special Grant. Government House, New Police Headquarters and the Office of the Attorney General is included in this.
 Assumption Island was discovered by Captain Nicolas Morphey on 14 August 1756, and was named after the religious feast of the
next day. In 1908, the island was leased to Mr H. Savy of Mahé, who built a coconut plantation on the island. The first settl ement was
in the northern part of the island.
 During a visit 2 years later, he realized the guano potential of the island. The villagers transferred their labor force to guano mining
camp, that operated from 1907 until 1983. The camp was the location of the current village. After that, the villagers were employed as
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fishermen, usually of bêche-de-mer, until it was declared protected. In the mid 1960s the island was proposed as an American military
base, including a deep sea port. After strong protests from environmental organizations, this plan was rejected. In 1990 The airfield
was built.
 India plans to invest $550 million dollars (446 million euros) in building the base to help it ensure the safety of its vessels in the
southern Indian Ocean. It also says the base will be a resource for other shipping nations.
 Assumption is very close to the Mozambique Channel where much of the international trade is transiting, and not just for Indi a but for
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other countries as well, and our interest is that our trading vessels are safe.
 India has had a military cooperation agreement with the Seychelles since 2003 and the deal would give it use of the Assumption base
for up to 30 years. Indian soldiers would be deployed on the island and help train Seychelles‘ troops.
 The pact with Seychelles was first announced during Narendra Modi‘s visit to the strategic Indian Ocean archipelago nation in 2015.
 But ratification of the 2015 agreement has been slow with a new, amended pact only signed between the two countries on 27 January.
It was clarified that the island is still under the sovereignty of Seychelles and that India will not use the facility in times of war or allow
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vessels with nuclear capabilities to use the facilities. Certain clauses related to the capacity of the military structure required
modification and some technical issues such as positioning of jetty also needed amendment.
 India gifted a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft to Seychelles, which will increase the island nation‘s surveillance capabilit ies. The Do-
228 aircraft, built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was formally handed over by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
to Seychelles President Danny Faure, who is on an official visit to India. The aircraft is expected to be flown at the 42nd Independence
Day celebrations of Seychelles on June 29. It will be operated by men of the Seychelles Air Force, who have been trained in its
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operation and maintenance.

 This is the second Dornier aircraft to be gifted by India to Seychelles; the first one was given in January 2013. The second aircraft was
announced by Mr. Modi when he visited the island nation in March 2015, and the contract was signed in March 2017. The Dornier is
equipped with a 360-degree surveillance radar, a forward-looking Infra-red system, satellite communication, a traffic collision and
avoidance system and an enhanced ground proximity warning system, among others. The Do-228 can be used for EEZ monitoring,
maritime surveillance, pollution monitoring and control, search and rescue and commuter services.
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 Seychelles politics had been on a boil since a highly classified document about the arrangement with India was leaked online in
March. Opposition leaders had then demanded that the project be dropped citing sovereignty concerns, and that a base might affect
the ecology of the region.
 The project remains controversial with small weekly demonstrations in the Seychelles capital. Indian presence in Seychelles is a
sensitive matter. Some fear an influx of Indian workers who, they say, might come to dominate the economy, while others consider a
foreign power building a military base an affront to sovereignty and national pride.
 Opponents of the plan also cite Assumption‘s relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the
world‘s largest population of giant tortoises.
 Environmentalists worry about the possible impact of a large military presence so close to an ecosystem that has survived precisely
because of the absence of people.
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 Seychelles has maintained cordial relations with both India and China and would not like to be in a position of choosing sides if
conflicts arise.
 Whether the agreement will ―move forward‖ will ultimately depend on India‘s diplomatic handling of the situation . India‘s cr edentials as
an established democracy, and non-interference in Seychelles‘s domestic affairs is well-appreciated by Seychelles.
INDIA BECOMES VICE CHAIR OF WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION
 India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for a period of
two years, from July, 2018 to June, 2020.

 The WCO has divided its Membership into six Regions. Each of the six Regions is represented by a regionally elected Vice-
Chairperson to the WCO Council.
 Being the Vice Chair of AP Region of WCO will enable India to take on leadership role. India is a wealth of experience inpromoting
security and facilitation of cross border trade.
 The Secretary General of WCO: Mr Kuniyo Mikuriya
 WCO represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the
global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can
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rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.
 The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
 The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an independent
intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
 Today, the WCO represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world
trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters
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and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.
 The WCO is dedicating 2018 to the security of the business environment, with the slogan ―A secure business environment for
economic development.‖
15TH INDIA-AUSTRALIA JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMISSION
 The 15th India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) was held on 25thJune 2018, in Canberra, Australia. The meeting was
jointly chaired by Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu and Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and
Investment Steven Ciobo.
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 The JMC took place after a gap of 4 years in a very warm and cordial atmosphere. The Ministers discussed at length on ways to
increase two-way investment flows between the two countries. In this regard, both sides agreed to have greater collaboration between
Austrade,the Australian Trade and Investment Commissionand Invest-India,which is the National Investment Promotion and
Facilitation Agency of India.The talks culminated in the signing of an MoU between Austrade and Invest-India in order to facilitate
bilateral investment flows.
 Indian Commerce Minister addressed representatives of about 25 Australian Superfunds, who have huge investible assets and the
Minister informed them about the work being done in transforming and reforming India and about the many investment opportunities
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that are being generated for investors.
 Investment opportunities in various infrastructure projects such as industrial corridors, ports, smart cities, airports and railway projects
were highlighted by him. This was followed by further presentations by Invest-India and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development
Corporation (DMICDC) on details of specific investment projects that Australian Superfunds may invest in.
 The Minister delivered the ―Leaders on Asia‖ address at the Asia Society, Australia, on the topic ―India‘s growth story: Opportunities for
Australia‖, to a hallpacked withmembers of academia, government and business.
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AUSTRALIAN SUPERFUNDS IN NEWS
 PM Modi and and his Australian counterpart Mr Turnbull canvassed the idea of encouraging Australian superannuation funds to invest
in Indian infrastructure to add to a $2 billion fund set up by Macquarie with the State Bank of India in 2009.
 Superannuation in Australia is the arrangements put in place by the Government of Australia to assist people in Australia to
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accumulate money for an income in retirement. Superannuation in Australia is partly compulsory, and is further encouraged by tax
benefits.
 The government has set minimum standards for contributions by employees as well as for the management of superannuation funds.
It is compulsory for employers to make superannuation contributions for their employees on top of the employees' wages and salaries.
 The employer contribution rate has been 9.5% since 1 July 2014, and as of 2015, was planned to increase gradually from 2021 t o
12% in 2025.
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 People are also encouraged to supplement compulsory superannuation contributions with voluntary contributions, including diverting
their wages or salary income into superannuation contributions under so-called salary sacrifice arrangements.
 An individual can withdraw funds out of a superannuation fund when the person meets one of the conditions of release, such as
retirement, terminal medical condition, or permanent incapacity, contained in Schedule 1 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision)
Regulations 1994.
 As of 30 September 2017, Australians have $2.53 trillion in superannuation assets, making Australia the 4th largest holder of pension
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fund assets in the world.
INDIA - SINGAPORE MOU IN THE FIELD OF PLANNING
 The Union Cabinet has given its ex post-facto approval to the MoU between India and Singapore on cooperation in the field of urban
planning and development. The MoU was signed on 31st May 2018.
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 The objective of the MOU is to facilitate government agencies in the Centre and States, including Municipal Bodies, to readily tap into
the expertise of Singapore agencies in the areas of urban development and management and other areas, and thus help in urban
rejuvenation, mission.
 This will also facilitate to build capacities in NITI and equip the officials with skills related to evidence based policy wr iting, evaluation
etc. and help NITI to play the newly assigned role of a Think Tank in a more effective manner.
 Under this MOU, capacity building programme in the field of planning, focusing on areas of urban planning, water and waste water
management, solid waste management, Intelligent Transport System and public financing (Public Private Partnerships) would be
undertaken.
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INDIA-DENMARK MOU IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
 The Union Cabinet has been apprised of the Agreement between India and Denmark on Cooperation in the field of Science,
Technology and Innovation.
 A historic milestone in the Indo-Danish Science and Technology relationship was reached on 22nd May 2018 through signing of an
Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation between India and Denmark.
 The objective of the Agreement is to encourage, develop and facilitate co-operation between India and Denmark in fields of common
interest within Science, Technology and Innovation.

INDIA-GERMANY MOU IN CIVIL AVIATION
 The Union Cabinet has approved signing of MoU titled Joint Declaration of Intent between India and Germany on Cooperation in the
field of Civil Aviation.
 The Joint Declaration will lead to promotion of safe, effective and efficient development of air transport between India and Germany.
 The main objective of this Joint Declaration of Intent is to promote and facilitate mutual cooperation in the Aviation Safety and Air
Traffic Management.
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INDIA-FRANCE COOPERATION IN MARITIME AWARENESS MISSION
 The Union Cabinet has been appraised of the Implementing Arrangement (IA) for Pre-formulation Studies of a Maritime Domain
Awareness Mission signed between India and France on 10th March 2018.
 The proposed joint mission will be devoted to maritime domain awareness, with the objective to provide relevant data and services to
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both nations.
 The objective is to monitor the maritime traffic and to identify the non-compliant ships at the maximum possible revisit frequency.
 The monitoring system would provide an end to end solution for detection, identification, monitoring of vessels in the regions of
interest for India and France.
 As per the IA, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Centre Nationale Dètudes Spatiales (CNES), France will joint ly
undertake various activities during these pre-formulation studies and present the pre-formulation concept study results to the
respective senior management for review within one year of its signing.
INDIA-DENMARK COOPERATION IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
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 The Union Cabinet has been apprised of MoU signed between India and Denmark for cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry
and Dairying. The MoU was signed on 16.4.2018. The MoU aims to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of Animal Husbandly and
Dairying for the purpose of broadening the existing knowledge base on dairy development and institutional strengthening.
INDIA-INDONESIA COOPERATION IN RAILWAYS
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 The Union Cabinet has been apprised of MoU between India and Indonesia on Technical Cooperation in the field of railways
sector.The MoU was signed on 29th May, 2018. The MoU will provide a framework of cooperation for focused approach in following
key areas:-
a) Exchange of knowledge, technology, institutional cooperation includingcapacity building;
b) Modernization of rolling stock, as well as of signaling and communication systems in railways;
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c) Modernization of railway operation, management and regulations;
d) Development of inter-modal transport, logistics parks and freight terminals;
e) Exchanges of construction and maintenance technologies for fixedinfrastructure, including tracks, bridges, tunnel, overhead
electrification andpower supply systems;
f) Other areas of cooperation that may be jointly decided upon by both the Sides.
INDIA-BAHRAIN COOPERATION IN HEALTHCARE

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 The Union Cabinet has approvedthe signing of a MoU between India and Bahrain on cooperation in the field of Healthcare.
 The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:-
(i) Exchange of information including publications and research outcomes;
(ii) Exchanging visits by governmental officials, academic staff, scholars, teachers, experts and students;
(iii) Participating in workshops and training courses;
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(iv) Encouraging health and medical research activities at both the private-sector and the academic level; and
(v) Any other forms of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.
 A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU.
ASIA PACIFIC TRADE AGREEMENT

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 The results of 4th Round of negotiations under the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) (formerly Bangkok Agreement) among six
countries, namely, Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka, have been implemented with effect from 1st
July, 2018.
 APTA is an initiative under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) for trade
expansion through exchange of tariff concessions among developing country members of the Asia Pacific Region, in place since
1975. APTA is a Preferential Trade Agreement, under which the basket of items as well as extent of tariff concessions are enlarged
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during the trade negotiating rounds which are launched from time to time.
 The 4th Round of trade negotiations were formally concluded and signed by the Ministers of the member countries during the meeting
of the APTA Ministerial Council on 13th January, 2017. The decision of the Ministerial Council has now been implemented by all
members with effect from 1 July 2018.
 With the implementation of the Fourth Round, the coverage of preferences of total tariff lines for each member would come of 10,677
tariff lines (up from 4,270 items at the conclusion of the Third Round) and deepen the average Margin of Preference (MoP) bei ng
provided under the agreement to 31.52%. The Least Develop Country (LDC) members are entitled to greater concessions on 1,249
items with an average MoP of 81% on these items under the special and differential treatment provisions of the APTA.
 India has, on its part, exchanged tariff concessions on 3142 tariff lines with all member countries and special concessions on 48 tariff
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lines for LDCs, with Bangladesh and Lao PDR.

 As a founding member of APTA, India is committed to strengthening the APTA process through these concessions.
ACCESSION TO WIPO TREATIES BY INDIA
 The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry regarding accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performers and Phonograms Treaty which extends coverage of
copyright to the internet and digital environment.

 The approval is a step towards the objective laid in the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted by the Go vernment
on 12thMay 2016 which aims to get value for IPRs through commercialization by providing guidance and support to EPR owners about
commercial opportunities of e-commerce through Internet and mobile platforms.
 Benefits:
 Meeting the demand of the copyright industries, these treaties will help India:
 To enable creative right-holders enjoy the fruit of their labour, through international copyright system that can be used to secure a
return on the investment made in producing and distributing creative works;
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 To facilitate international protection of domestic rights holder by providing them level-playing field in other countries as India
already extends protection to foreign works through the International Copyright order and these treaties will enable Indian r ight
holders to get reciprocal protection abroad;
 To instil confidence and distribute creative works in digital environment with return on investment; and
 To spur business growth and contribute to the development of a vibrant creative economy and cultural landscape.
 Copyright Act, 1957:After the administration of Copyright Act 1957 was transferred to DIPP in March 2016, a study was initiated to
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examine compatibility of Copyright Act 1957 with WCT and WPPT. Also a joint study was undertaken with WIPO.
 The Copyright Act, 1957 was amended in 2012 to bring it in conformity, with WCT and WPPT, includes amendment in definition of
"Communication to the public" to make it applicable to digital environment (Section 2(ff)) as also introduced provisions related to
Technological • Protection Measures (Section 65A) & Rights Management Information (Section 65B); Moral rights of performers
(Section 38B); Exclusive rights of the performers (Section 38A); safe harbour provisions over electronic medium (Section 52 (1) (b)
and (c)),
 WIPO Copyright Treaty came in force on March 6, 2002 and has been adopted by 96 contracting parties till date and is A Special
agreement under Berne Convention (for protection of literary and artistic works). It has provisions to extend the protection of
copyrights contained therein to the digital environment. Further it recognises the rights specific to digital environment, of making work
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available, to address "on-demand" and other interactive modes of access,
 WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty came in force on May 20, 2002 and has 96 contracting parties as its members.
WPPT deals with rights of two kinds of beneficiaries, particularly in digital environment - (i) Performers (actors, singers, musicians etc.)
(ii) Producers of Phonograms (Sound recordings). The treaty empowers right owners in theit negotiations with new digital platforms
and distributors. It recognizes moral rights of the performers for the first time & provides exclusive economic rights to them.
 Both the treaties provide framework for creators and right owners to use technical tools to protect their works and safeguard
information about their use i.e. Protection of Technological Protection Measures (TPMs) and Rights Management Information (RMI).
MOU BETWEEN ICAI & SAUDI ACCOUNTS ORGANISATION
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The Union Cabinet has given its approval for MoU signed in 2014 and approval for renewal of MoU between the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI) & Saudi Organisation for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA) in Saudi Arabia to promote mutual c o-
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operation framework in the areas of Corporate Governance, Technical Research & Advice, Quality Assurance, Forensic Accounting,
issues for Small and Medium Sized Practices (SMPs), Islamic Finance, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and other
subjects of mutual interest related to Accountancy profession.
 The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship inthe best interest of ICAI members, students and their
organizations. ICAI has strong presence of 3 Chapters at Eastern Province covering Jeddah, Riyadh and Saudi Arabia, having more
than 200 members who have been engaged at different professional level.
 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, The Chartered
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Accountants Act, 1949', to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India.
 Saudi Certified Public Accountants' Regulations issued under Royal Decree entrusted the "Saudi Organisation for Certified Public
Accountants (SOCPA)" for promotion of the Accountancy and Auditing profession in that country.
INDIA AND UNITED KINGDOM MOU IN LAW & JUSTICE

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 The Union Cabinet has approved MoU between India and United Kingdom regarding cooperation between both countries in the
sphere of Law & Justice and to set up a Joint Consultative Committee.
 The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government
functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution of disputes before various Courts, Tribunals, etc. and
proposes establishment of Joint Consultative Committees.
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INDIAN ADVANCE PRICING AGREEMENT REGIME
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into three Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (UAPA) during the past
couple of months. With the signing of these Agreements, the total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT has gone up to 223,
which inter alia include 20 Bilateral APAs.
 The UAPAs entered into during the past couple of months pertain to consumer industry, automobile and precious stones & metals
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sectors of the economy. The international transactions covered in the agreements pertain to provision of corporate guarantee,
purchase of brand, availing of grading services, availing of management services and payment of royalty.
 The progress of the APA scheme strengthens the Government‘s resolve of fostering a non-adversarial tax regime. The Indian APA
programme has been appreciated nationally and internationally for being able to address complex transfer pricing issues in a fair and
transparent manner.
INDIA, SOUTH KOREA SIGN FIVE MOUS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
 Recently, South Korean President Moon Jae-in paid official visit to India. During visit, India and South Korea signed five MoUs in the
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field of Science & Technology. These are:

 (i) Programme of Cooperation 2018-21;
 (ii) Establishment of Future Strategy Group;
 (iii) Cooperation in Biotechnology & Bioeconomy.
 Two other MoUs were signed between Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and South Korean National Research
Council for Science & Technology and IIT Mumbai and Korea Institute of Science & Technology to further accelerate future-oriented
cooperation in their respective sectors.
 The MoUs were signed at the conclusion of the 4th India-Korea Science & Technology Ministers Steering Committee Meeting.

 Both nations also agreed to establish Indo-Korean Center for Research and Innovation (IKCRI) in India, which will act as the hub for
systematic operation and management of all cooperative programmes in research and innovation between the two countries including
innovation & entrepreneurship and technology transfer.
 Both nations also agreed to establish a Future Strategic Group, which will build a collaborative platform that can utilize the potential of
both the countries towards fostering innovation and create impact which is of social and economic good. To begin with, both s ides will
be co-funding collaborative enterprise-led joint R&D projects covering (i) Digital Transformation (ii) Future Manufacturing (iii) Future
Utilities and (iv) Health Care.
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 It was also agreed to jointly establish two additional India-Korea Joint Network Centres in areas among ‗Cyber Physical System-
Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things focused on agriculture, energy, water and transportation and ‗Semiconductor Electronics‘.
These centres will leverage existing infrastructure and funding available from the partners on both sides in focused applied research
areas, which have potential towards technology development.
 In the area of biotechnology, New Delhi and Seoul have agreed to extend cooperation in health and medicine, agro-fishery products
developed with the adoption of biotechnology; environment-related challenges and developing environmental and energy sectors
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through bio-technology, big data biotechnology; bio-research resources; synthetic biology, genome editing and microbiomes, etc.
 Both countries renewed the Programme of Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology for 2018-21 to augment the
cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation.
Other List Of MOUs Signed Between India and South Korea
Name of Document Objectives
Joint Statement on Early Harvest Package of the To facilitate ongoing negotiations on upgrading the India-RoK CEPA by identifying key
Upgraded Comprehensive Economic Partnership areas for trade liberalization (including Shrimp, Molluscs and Processed Fish).
Agreement (CEPA)
MoU on Trade Remedies For cooperation in the area of trade remedies viz. anti-dumping, subsidy, countervailing
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and safeguard measures through consultations and exchange of information through
establishment of a Cooperation Committee comprising government officials and domain
experts.
MoU on Future Strategy Group For cooperation in development of cutting edge technologies for commercialization to
reap benefits of the 4th Industrial revolution. Thrust areas include Internet of Things
(IOT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Smart Factory, 3D Printing, Electric Vehicle,
Advance Materials and affordable healthcare for the elderly and disabled.
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Cultural Exchange Programme for the period To deepen cultural and people-to-people relations by providing for institutionalized
2018 – 2022. cooperation in fields of Music and Dance, Theatre, Art Exhibitions, Archives,
Anthropology, Mass Media Programmes and Museum Exhibits.
MoU on cooperation in the field of scientific and For cooperation in scientific & technological research, including in areas of affordable
technological research between Council for water purification technologies, intelligent transport systems, new/ alternative materials,
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Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and traditional and oriental medicines and technology packaging and commercialization.
National Research Council of Science and
Technology (NST)
MoU on cooperation between Research Design For cooperation in railway research, exchange of railway related experience and
and Standards Organization (RDSO) and Korea development of railway industries. Both sides will explore planning and execution of
Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) joint research projects, including setting-up an advanced Railways R&D facility in India.
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MoU on cooperation in the field of biotechnology For cooperation in adoption of biotechnology and Bio Big-Data in health, medicine, Agro
and bio-economics. fishery products, digital healthcare, precision medicine, brain research, and next
generation-medical equipment.
MoU on cooperation in the field of ICT and For cooperation in development, modernization and expansion of state-of-the-art
Telecommunications Telecommunication/ICT services and next generation Wireless Communication
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Networks such as 5G, Cloud Computing, Big Data, IOT, AI and their applications in
services, disaster management, emergency response, and cyber security.
MoU on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small For cooperation in the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in both
and Medium Enterprises between India and RoK countries and in improving their competitiveness in global markets. The two sides will
(Nodal Agencies: NSIC - National Small also explore the possibility of establishing an India-RoK technology exchange centre.
Industries Corporation of India) and (SBC - Small
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and Medium Business Corporation of RoK)

MoU between Government of Gujarat and Korea To enhance industrial and investment relations between South Korean companies and
Trade Promotion Agency (KOTRA) the State of Gujarat through cooperation in areas of urban infrastructure, food
processing, agriculture related industries, startup ecosystem, skill training and
development and new & renewable energy. KOTRA shall open an office in Ahmedabad
and will become one of the partner organizations for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit
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2019.
MoU regarding Queen Suriratna Memorial Project To facilitate upgradation and expansion of the existing monument commemorating
Princess Suriratna (Queen Hur Hwang-ok), a legendary Princess of Ayodhya, who went
to Korea in AD 48 and married King Kim-Suro. A large number of Koreans trace their
ancestry to this legendary princess. The new monument will be a tribute to the shared
cultural heritage and long-lasting friendship between India and RoK.
INDIA & REPUBLIC OF MARSHALL ISLANDS TIES
 The Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha paid an Official Visit to the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) from 10-11 July 2018. This is
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the first ever Ministerial visit from India to Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI). India was one of the first countries to establish
diplomatic relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) in April 1995.
 During the visit, minister held wide ranging discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, John M. Silk and several Cabinet members
of the RMI.
 Both sides reviewed bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further advance ties in a host of areas such as blue
economy, adaptation-mitigation practices for climate change, disaster preparedness, health, education, renewable energy among
others.
 During the visit, based on a request from the RMI side, India committed to extend a grant of USD 300,000 for a Water and Sanitation
Project Proposal of Aur Atoll Local Government. Since 2005, India has extended grant assistance to the tune of USD 1.35 milli on for
various projects relating to purchase of equipment, disaster relief, national export strategy, community and local government projects
harnessing solar energy among others. India also offers five slots to nationals of RMI at the Indian Technical and Economic
Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
 Both sides also discussed ways to cooperate under the framework of Forum for India Pacific Islands Co-operation (FIPIC). India
engages with the Pacific Island Countries on a wide range of issues including climate change. FIPIC was formed in November 20 14,
to strengthen India‘s relationship with the Pacific Island Countries. The first FIPIC summit was held at the level of Heads of
Government in November 2014 in Suva, Fiji, followed by the FIPIC-II summit held in August 2015, in Jaipur, India. Government of
India also hosted a ‗India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference‘ in Suva, Fiji from 25 to 26 May, 2017.
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INDIA-KOREA TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE CENTRE INAUGURATED
 TheIndia-Korea Technology Exchange Centre was inaugurated in New Delhi. The India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre has been
established at the National Small Industries Corporation premises in New Delhi.
 The purpose of the Technology Exchange Centre is to create a platform for micro, small and medium enterprises of India and Korea
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where they can be assisted to identify and exchange latest technologies, share management expertise, product development and
technology applications for product development.
 Technology Centre will also work towards building reliable alliances in Space, Solar Energy, Nano technologies and some other
upcoming technologies.
 The India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre will work towards identifying Indian technologies which can be exported to Korea and
find suitable Korean partners for the same, initiating various cooperative MSME projects complimenting each other‘s strengths in
MSME sector,creating Technology Data Bank from each side to encourage technology transfers, production of high quality products
in India and encouraging Joint Ventures and business matching between Indian and Korean SMEs, besides others.
 On this occasion, an MoU was signed between the Small Business Corporation (SBC) of Korea and the NSIC for cooperation in the
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field of MSME Sector. The SBC will mobilise the South Korean MSMEs for technical and business alliances with their counterpa rts in
India and organise partner matching events in Korea for Indian delegations.
8TH INDIA-OMAN JOINT COMMISSION MEET
 The Union Minister Suresh Prabhu co-chaired 8th session of India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) along with Minister of
Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy of Oman, Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy.
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 Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf and the two countries enjoy warm and cordial relations. The strong cultural
and economic ties have further cemented these bonds.
 India Oman bilateral trade has registered a growth from US$4131.69 million in 2014-15 to US$ 6703.76 million in 2017-18. India‘s
export to Oman has grown from US$ 2379.44 million to US$ 2439.46 million in 2017-18.
 The large, diverse and highly regarded expatriate Indian community in Oman is spread over the entire spectrum of professions and
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Indian nationals in Oman are well known for their hard work and dedication. Outstanding contributions of Indians and People of Indian
Origin in Oman to the strengthening of bilateral relations have been recognized by the Government of India through
PravasiBharatiyaSamman Awards.
 Indian financial institutions such as State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Ltd and ICICI Securities and Public Sector
Undertakings such as Air India, Life Insurance Corporation(LIC), New India Assurance Co., Telecommunications Consultants India
Ltd.(TCIL), Engineers India Ltd.(EIL), Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL) and National Building Construction Company (NBCC)
have presence in Oman.
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 Indian companies have invested in Oman in sectors like iron and steel, cement, fertilizers, textile, cables, chemicals and automotive,
especially in Sohar and Salalah.
 India-Oman Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), a joint venture between State Bank of India and State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) of
Oman, a special purpose vehicle to invest in India, has been operational and the initial corpus of US$ 100 million has been fully
utilized.
 OIJIF has raised another $ 220 million for the second tranche which is being invested.
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MOU ON THE BRICS REGIONAL AVIATION PARTNERSHIP
 The Union Cabinet approved the MoU amongst BRICS Nations on the Regional Aviation Partnership Cooperation viz. Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa.
 The objective is that BRICS countries would benefit from the establishing of an institutional framework to cooperate in the field of civil
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aviation. Among the areas of cooperation, following areas have been identified:
 Public Policies and best practices in regional services;
 Regional Airports;
 Airport infrastructure management and air navigation services;
 Technical cooperation between regulatory agencies;
 Innovation;
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 Environment Sustainability; including deliberation of global initiatives;

 Qualification and Training;
 Other fields as mutually determined
 The MoU signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and other BRICS Member States and has the
potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges amongst the BRICS Nations.
INDIA-CUBA MOU IN TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE
 The Union Cabinet given approval for the MoU between India and Cuba on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine
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and Homeopathy. The MoU was signed on 22.6.2018.

 The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine and
Homeopathy . This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage.
INDIA-INDONESIA MOU IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
 The Union Cabinet given its approval for MoU between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India and National
Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia on cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical
substances, biological product and cosmetics regulatory functions. The MoU was on signed on 29th May, 2018 in Jakarta.

 It will also establish a framework for fruitful cooperation and exchange of information between the two countries in matters relat ing to
Pharmaceutical products regulation on the basis for equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
 The CDSCO is a Subordinate Office of the Directorate General of Health Services, which is an attached office of the Department of
Health and Family Welfare and is the National Regulatory Authority for drugs, medical devices and cosmetics in India.
 The BPOM regulates these products in Indonesia. Approval of the Hon'ble Prime Minister had been obtained under Rule 12 of the
Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 for signing the MoU by CDSCO (India) and BPOM (Indonesia).
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MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENT WITH IRELAND
 The Union Cabinet given approval of the "Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)" signed in 2010 and Approval for fresh MRA between
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Ireland for promotion of
mutual co-operation framework for the advancement of accounting knowledge, professional and intellectual development, advancing
the interests of their respective members and positively contributing to the development of the accounting profession in Ir eland and
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India.
 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, The Chartered
Accountants Act, 1949', to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in
Ireland (CPA Ireland) is one of the main Irish accountancy bodies with 5,000 members and students.
INDIA-BAHRAIN MOU
 The Union Cabinet approved MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Bahrain Institute of Banking and
Finance (BIBF), Bahrain to work together to strengthen the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within Bahrain.
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(i) ICAI will provide technical assistance to BIBF by reviewing the current curriculum of BIBF related to accounting and finance;
(ii) ICAI will recommend introduction of its CA Course curriculum that will facilitate BIBF students to write ICAI's Examination with an
aim to acquire membership of ICAI;
(iii) ICAI will provide technical assistance in holding ICAI's professional examination for qualified BIBF students;
 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, ‗The Chartered
Accountants Act, 1949', to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance
(BIBF) was founded in 1981 to provide the training and development of human capital in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
INDIA-TANZANIA MOU
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The Union Cabinet approved MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and National Board of Accountants
and Auditors (NBAA), Tanzania to establish mutual co-operation framework in the areas of Member Management, Professional
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Ethics, Technical Research, Continuing Professional Development, Professional Accountancy Training, Audit Quality Monitoring,
Advancement of Accounting Knowledge, Professional and Intellectual Development.
INDIA-BANGLADESH JOINT COMMITTEE ON BORDER HAATS
 The first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Committee on Border Haats was held on 22-23 July 2018 inAgartala, Tripura.
 In the meeting both sides noted the positive impact of Border Haats on the livelihoods of the people living in areas adjoining the Haats.
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Extensive discussionswere held on issues related to review of operations of the four functional Border Haats and suggestions for
improvement, timeline for setting up the six additional Border Haats that had earlier been agreed to by both sides and the roadmap for
further expansion of Border Haats.
 It was agreed that the next meeting would be held in Bangladesh on mutually agreed dates.
 The Joint Committee visited the Border Haat at Kamlasagar (Sipahijala District, Tripura) – Tarapur (Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh) on 22
July 2018, appreciated its vibrant functioning and noted the need for improvement of infrastructure.
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 The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Border Haats between India and Bangladesh signed on 8th April 2017 provides for
establishment of a Joint Committee to review the border haats operations, suggest modifications in the operational modalities and
propose new locations of Border Haats.
PRIME MINISTER‘s VISIT TO UGANDA

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1. Prime Minister Modi undertook a State Visit to Uganda from 24-25 July 2018. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 21
years.
2. During the visit, he held bilateral discussions with President Museveni at State House, Entebbe.
3. Prime Minister Modi‘s program included an address to the Ugandan Parliament, which was telecast live in India and many African
countries. This was the first time that an Indian Prime Minister had addressed the Ugandan Parliament.
4. A business event jointly organised by the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
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was addressed by both the Principals. Prime Minister Modi also addressed a large gathering of Indian Community in Uganda at a
special event organized for this purpose.
5. President Museveni praised the contribution of the 30,000-strong Indian Diaspora towards Uganda‘s national development and
economic growth.
6. Following the talks, the Indian and Ugandan side:
 Noted with appreciation utilization of the training and scholarship slots by Ugandans under India Technical and Economic Cooperation
(ITEC), India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), etc.,
 Expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation between India and Uganda in defence matters, in particular the training of Uganda
People's Defence Force (UPDF) in various Indian Army training institutions under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation as
well as the deployment of Indian Military Training Team in Uganda‘s Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) in Kimaka,
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 Agreed to support collaboration between India and Uganda in the area of Information and Communication Technology. Uganda
expressed its desire to replicate some of India‘s schemes for Digital Inclusion while implementing its Public Key Infrastruct ure (PKI)
project.
7. The following MoUs / Documents were signed during the visit:
 MoU on Defence Cooperation.
 MoU on Visa exemption for Diplomatic and official passport holders.
 MoU on Cultural Exchange Programme.
 MoU on Material Testing Laboratory.
8. During the Visit, Prime Minister Modi made the following announcements:

 Two Lines of Credits for: 1. Construction of electricity lines and Substations worth US$141 million and 2. Agriculture and Dairy
production US $ 64 million.
 Contribution to establishment of Mahatma Gandhi Convention /Heritage centre at Jinja.
 Financial support of US $929,705 for capacity building and creating supportive infrastructure for East African Community (EAC) which
is currently chaired by Uganda.
 25 slots for training under the ITEC scheme in the field of dairy cooperation in order to strengthen cooperation in the Dairy sector.
 Gifting of 88 vehicles, 44 each for the Ugandan Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and for the civil use by the Ugandan Government.
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 Gifting of Bhabhatron Cancer Therapy machine to assist Uganda‘s efforts towards eradicating the malaise of cancer.
 Gifting of 100,000 NCERT books for school going children of Uganda.
 Gifting 100 solar power irrigation pumps to Uganda for helping Uganda‘s efforts in the development of agriculture.
GIRINKA PROGRAMME OF RWANDA
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 Indian PM Modi recently gifted 200 cows to villagers who do not yet own a cow, under the Rwandan Government's Girinka
Programme. The function to mark the handing over of cows was held at Rweru Model Village, in the presence of Rwandan President
Paul Kagame.
 The word Girinka can be translated as ‗may you have a cow‘ and describes a centuries-old cultural practice in Rwanda whereby a cow
was given by one person to another, as a sign of respect and gratitude.
 Girinka was initiated by President Paul Kagame in response to the alarmingly high rate of childhood malnutrition and as a way to
accelerate poverty reduction and integrate livestock and crop farming. The program is based on the premise that providing a dairy cow
to poor Girinka Programme transforms livelihoods, reconciles communities improving agricultural productivity through the use of
manure as fertilizers which would lead to improving soil quality and reducing erosion through the planting of grasses and trees.
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 Since its introduction in 2006 hundreds of thousands have received cows through the Girinka program. By June 2016, a total of
248,566 cows had been distributed to poor households.
 The program has contributed to an increase in agricultural production in Rwanda - especially milk production and products, reduced
malnutrition and increased incomes.
 The program also aimed at promoting unity and reconciliation among Rwandans based on the cultural principle that if a cow is given
from one person to another, it establishes trust and respect between the giver and beneficiary.
 While this was not an original goal of Girinka, it has evolved to become a significant aspect of the program. The program also follows a
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certain criteria in choosing who the beneficiaries should be.
 As per a Govt. of Rwanda official, they mainly look at those very poor vulnerable families that don‘t own a cow but do have land that
can be used to grow grass for feeding the cows. The beneficiary should be in position to construct an animal shed or willing to join
others in community to construct a communal cow shed to be jointly used with the rest.
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INVEST INDIA AND BUSINESS FRANCE SIGN MOU TO PROMOTE INVESTMENT
 Invest India and Business France have signed an MoU to promote investment facilitation and cooperation between startups of India
and France. The goal will be to facilitate direct foreign investment by providing practical investment information to enterpr ises and
support the companies pursuing those opportunities which contribute positively to economic growth of the two countries.
 Invest India is the official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of the Government of India, mandated to facilitate investments
in the country. It is the first stop for potential global investors in the country. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world
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which has not only sustained global downturn of 2008-09 but is also slated to grow at consistently higher rates during next few
decades.
 Business France is an executive agency of the French government under the supervision of the Minister for Economic Affairs and
Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development. It promotes International Business Development for French
companies and professionals through a worldwide network of 80 Trade Commissions, which have worked with over 7,500 SMEs &
mid-caps during 2017 itself. Business France mobilizes the expertise of 1,400 persons in France and in 70 other countries.
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MALDIVES LEADER SEEKS INDIA‘S HELP
 Ahmed Naseem, a leader of the Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who was Foreign Minister when Mohammad Nasheed
was President, appealed for India‘s help in ensuring fair elections in the island nation, given that all Opposition leaders were either ―in
jail or in exile‖.
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 Of the two most prominent Opposition leaders, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is in prison serving a 19-month sentence
pending appeals, while Mr. Nasheed, who was earlier in prison, is now in exile.
 MDP leaders have complained that they are unable to hold their party conventions and campaign rallies because of the restrict ions
imposed by the government.
 Mr. Naseem is one of the most senior MDP leaders to visit India after Mr. Nasheed travelled in February.
 New Delhi and Maldives have been at loggerheads since then over a number of issues, including the Maldives‘ squeeze on work
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permits for Indians and the Yameen government‘s insistence on Delhi taking back two helicopters by the month-end.
 Mr. Naseem has said that if President Abdulla Yameen returns to power, he will allow a full ―takeover‖ of the islands by China.
INDIA REQUESTS US TO MAINTAIN GSP BENEFICIARY STATUS
 India urged the Trump Administration to retain the GSP beneficiary status to it as a withdrawal would be discriminatory and detrimental
to the development, finance and trade needs of the country.
 A withdrawal of the GSP benefits to India "would be discriminatory and detrimental to the development, finance and trade needs of
India - a vast and diverse developing country with unique challenges," Kundal said in a written submission.
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America's Generalized System of Preferences program (GSP) provides for the preferential treatment of designated articles when
imported from beneficiary developing countries.
 A self-initiated review by the USTR focuses on whether India is meeting the US criteria for a GSP beneficiary country and particularly
if India provides equitable and reasonable market access to products from the US.
 Noting that a predominant share of GSP beneficiary items exported from India are intermediaries and semi-manufactured goods, he
said provision of GSP benefits to these intermediary products enables availability of cost effective and price competitive in puts to the
US downstream industry.
 This helps the US industries to maintain their domestic and export competitiveness. In addition, GSP benefits are integral and geared
to enhancing India's development and the pace of economic reforms.

 The products on which India receives GSP benefits belong to sectors which employ several thousands of men and women, especially
in rural areas through micro, small and medium enterprises.
 The GSP benefits help the related sectors to overcome, at least partially, some of the inherent cost and logistical disadvantages
prevailing in a developing economy like India.
 Furthermore, Indian GSP exports represent a miniscule portion of the total imports of the United States and do not pose any threat or
disruption to US industry, he argued.
 It is pertinent that India stands at a gross national income per capita of USD 6,490.61 per annum in PPP terms in 2016, as reported in
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the World Bank database, which is well below the threshold of USD 12,476 per annum per capita, according to the official statistics of
the World Bank for 2016.
 USTR has also accepted two petitions related to the same criterion. The petitions filed by the US dairy industry and the US m edical
device industry requested a review of India's GSP benefits, given India's alleged trade barriers affecting US exports in these sectors.
 In respect of export of dairy products from the US to India, India has explained that its position on dairy products sourced from animals
which have consumed feeds containing internal organs, blood meat etc., is based on religious, cultural and moral grounds.
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 In respect of medical devices, India submits that its position is based on providing its citizens with equitable and affordable access to
essential medicines and medical devices. Price-control measures are provided only on a limited category of medicines enlisted in the
National List of Essential Medicines prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 America is likely to maintain the Generalised System Preferences (GSP) for India, which allows many exporters to enjoy lower tariffs
on specific exports to the U.S. India is likely to change the price restrictions imposed on medical devices imported from Ame rica to
trade margin rationalisation, a more acceptable global practice being demanded by American manufactures.
 The USTR has launched a process to terminate the GSP status for India, partly in response to complaints from U.S. manufacturers of
medical devices.
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RS. 809 CRORE FRENCH LOAN FOR 15 SMART CITIES PROJECTS
 Agence française de développement (AFD), the French development bank, signed a €100 million loan agreement for Smart Cities
Mission.
 The loan, which amounts to Rs. 809 crore, will be given for projects in one of the four sectors: sustainable mobility, public open
spaces, urban governance and ICT and organisational innovation in low-income settlements.
 Cities would not get automatic funding, but would rather be expected to compete for it. The challenge process would be conduc ted by
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the National Institute for Urban Affairs. The duration of the programme will be three years, till 2020-21.
 AFD will extend grants ranging from Rs. 20 crore to Rs. 80 crore for each of the selected projects. The grant is likely to cover 50-80%
of the cost, with each city expected to raise at least 20% of the money on its own. The repayment of the principal and the interest will
be shared equally by the Central and State governments.
 Several other Smart Cities initiatives were launched, including an internship and fellowship programme, and a digital payment initiative
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that is being implemented in the form of a 100-day challenge.
BRICS NEWS PORTAL
 A decision to establish a BRICS Media Academy and a BRICS news portal were among those taken at the 2018 BRICS Media Forum
at Cape Town in South Africa.
 The Forum, a high-level dialogue among media organisations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was held over two
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days under the theme — ‗Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order‘.
 Initiated by Xinhua News Agency, the BRICS Media Forum is supported by Brazil‘s CMA Group, The Hindu Group, Sputnik News
Agency and Radio and South Africa‘s Independent Media.
 The Forum was attended by 38 mainstream media organisations from BRICS nations, including five from India.
 The Forum, which opened on former South African President Nelson Mandela‘s 100th birth anniversary on July 18, unanimously
agreed to adopt the Cape Town Declaration 2018.
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 It pledged to strive to create a media landscape that upholds the integrity of news that is created and shared through the BRICS
nations. It also committed itself to limit the spread and effect of fake news and increase people-to-people exchanges between
journalists and others employed in the media.
 The 2018 BRICS Forum was co-hosted by Iqbal Surve, Chairman of the Independent Media Group, and Cai Mingzhao, President of
Xinhua News agency.
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INDIA AND SOUTH KOREA PLEDGE TO DOUBLE TRADE
 India and South Korea vowed to more than double trade in the next decade, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the
visiting President Moon Jae-in.
 The two sides signed 11 MoUs and agreements, including a statement on expanding the 2010 Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement, and a joint vision statement that committed to more military exchanges and enhancing defence projects together.
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 India and South Korea also have agreed to cooperate on a ―tripartite‖ basis in development assistance in third countries, beginning
with a project in Afghanistan.
 Praising each other for their roles in keeping their respective regions ―peaceful,‖ Mr. Modi and Mr. Moon committed to strengthening
the ―special strategic partnership‖ in the region and aligning India‘s Act East Policy with South Korea‘s New Southern Policy.
INDIA, KOREA AGREE ON FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE TRADE
 India and South Korea signed a joint statement agreeing to discuss an ‗Early Harvest Package‘for the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at identifying key areas for enhanced trade between the two countries.
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The two countries also agreed to try to increase their bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, up from current levels of $20 billion.
 The signing of the early harvest package was in keeping with the ongoing discussions with South Korea, and was one of many
objectives the two countries wanted to achieve.
 In the last meeting held in 2017, three deliverables were identified: early harvest package of CEPA, forming futures strategy group to
jointly harness fourth generation technology and innovative products and a trade remedies MOU.
 The original CEPA that came into existence in 2010 contained the space for this expansion.

INDIA, INDONESIA DISCUSS INDO-PACIFIC COOPERATION
 Taking forward the India-Indonesia shared vision on maritime cooperation in Indo-Pacific, an Indian team visited Sabang in Indonesia
to ―discuss steps for mutual collaboration.‖ At the same time, in a first, Indian ship INS Sumitra berthed at Sabang Port close to the
Malacca Strait for operational turnaround.
 The hosting of the India-Indonesia Investment Forumin Aceh and the visit of the Indian delegation and INS Sumitra port call at
Sabang, were important follow-up outcomes flowing from the understanding reached during the recently concluded visit of Prime
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Minister Narendra Modi to Indonesia.
 Mr. Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the shared vision on maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
 Indonesia has recently agreed to give India access to its port for operational turnaround which will increase the Navy‘s footprint in the
region.
 INS Sumitra sailed from Port Blair to Sabang, where it will take provisions and fuel before going for further deployment in the Indian
Ocean.
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INDIA‘S EBRD MEMBERSHIP
 India has become the 69th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This has a lot of potential
for Indian companies as it will open up opportunities for them in places such as Central Asia, Turkey and Georgia.
 EBRD cannot finance projects in India as it is not a country of operation.
 The membership also gives businesses, and the government, access to information such as market analysis, country strategies an d
reports on the political economy of different countries. This is of great value to businesses for planning long-term investments.
 Further, investing with EBRD in these countries makes the investments safer. It provides protection as the countries where we are
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operating are also our members.
 India will not become a country of operation. It has just become a member. It is up to the Indian government to decide on that and take
it up with the other shareholders.
 But as a member, there is much that Indian companies can do, especially in regions such as Central Asia and Turkey. These are
markets that India has just begun to penetrate.
 There are huge opportunities for Indians to go there.
 Suma Chakrabarti: President EBRD
USTR THREATENS COUNTRIES THAT IMPOSE TARIFFS
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US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has threatened further action against trading partners who have imposed retaliatory tariffs
on US goods, specifically China and the EU, and stressed that the actions on trade in steel and aluminium by the US were legitimate.
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The USTR statement assumes significance as his team of officials concluded a two-day meeting with Indian officials in New Delhi
focussing on bringing down growing trade tensions between the two countries.
 Earlier, India notified retaliatory tariffs on a number of US imports after Washington implemented higher duties of 10 per cent on
aluminium and 20 per cent on steel imported from India citing security concerns. New Delhi, however, deferred implementation of the
tariff hike to August 4 to have some room to sort out the matter with Washington.
 The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is the United States government agency responsible for developing and
recommending United States trade policy to the President of the United States, conducting trade negotiations at bilateral and
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multilateral levels, and coordinating trade policy within the government through the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC)
and Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG).
 Established as the Office of the Special Trade Representative (STR) under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the USTR is part of the
Executive Office of the President. With over 200 employees, the USTR has offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium.
THAILAND EYES INDIA FOR ITS TAPIOCA

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 Thailand, the world‘s largest exporter of tapioca is eyeing newer destinations such as India and New Zealand to expand markets. At
present, China is the biggest buyer of Thailand‘s tapioca products such as starch and chips.
 Tapioca is a starch extracted from cassava root (Manihot esculenta). This species is native to the northeast region of Brazil, but its use
spread throughout South America. The plant was carried by Portuguese and Spanish explorers to most of the West Indies and Africa
and Asia. It is a tropical, perennial shrub that is less commonly cultivated in temperate climate zones. Cassava thrives better in poor
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soils than many other food plants.

 Although tapioca is a staple food for millions of people in tropical countries, it provides only carbohydrate food value, and is low in
protein, vitamins and minerals. In other countries, it is used as a thickening agent in various manufactured foods.
 However, the Thai trade is concerned over the high import duty of about 68 per cent imposed by India on tapioca to protect its
domestic growers.
 Thailand, which has a free trade agreement with India, is hopeful of negotiating the high tax issue on tapioca.
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 Globally, the use of tapioca products was on the rise in industries such as food, textiles, paper, plywood, animal feed, sweeteners,
medicine and alcohol among others.
 Thailand, the second largest producer of tapioca after Nigeria, is seeking to help its growers by developing new markets. China is
seen slowing down it‘s purchases on account of high prices in the recent months as users in that country are switching over t o the
cheaper corn starch.
 The tapioca acreage in Thailand has reduced by around a tenth to about 1.4 million hectares last year. Low tapioca prices, which fell
by over a fourth in the past two-three years, had forced Thai tapioca farmers to switch over to sugarcane and corn.
 Tapioca plays a major role in Thailand‘s agri-economy with production estimated around 30 million tonnes. Total value of annnual
shipments are estimated at around 100 billion Baht. Over 500,000 farmers are engaged in cultivation of tapioca in Thailand, w hich
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accounts for over half of global exports.

 Tapioca pearls are a common ingredient of traditional Indian dishes such as kheer. Tapioca pearls are used to make Sabudana
khichdi, which is commonly eaten during vrat.
NO DAIRY PRODUCT IMPORTS WITHOUT DUE CERTIFICATION FROM USA
 India has refused to wilt under US pressure for grant of market access to its dairy products and has maintained that the mandatory
certification, specifying that imported dairy items were not from animals raised on feed made of bovine extracts, cannot be done away
with as it was a matter of religious belief.

 Indian officials have told USTR officials that while the country was exploring how the problem arising from price caps on medical
equipment could be sorted out, it could not compromise on dairy certification.
 Dairy products and medical equipment top the list of items for which the US is seeking market access. The US Trade Representative‘s
(USTR) office has also linked market access in the two areas to continuation of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefits to
India under which the US allows market access at nil or low duties for about 3,500 Indian products, including chemicals and textiles
 The certification requirement is not a non-tariff barrier that India has put in place for the US. It has cultural and religious significance for
the country and not abiding by the requirement could lead to sentiments getting hurt and unrest.
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 Other countries such EU members and New Zealand, that are exporting dairy products to India, all abide by the mandatory
requirement and give a certification that the items were from animals that were not fed on bovine meat or extracts.
 Although, the US has been making the same demand on behalf of its dairy industry for a long time and is aware of the religious angle
to the restrictions, it has started pushing for it aggressively in the last few months.
 In the recent meeting between Indian and US officials in New Delhi, it was decided to include the concerns on market access for dairy
products and medical equipment in the list of issues that needed to be sorted out.
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INDIA, SOUTH KOREA AGREE ON EARLY REDUCTION OF TARIFFS ON 11 ITEMS
 India and South Korea have agreed to reduce tariffs on 11 items under an early harvest programme signed between the two sides as
part of the on-going negotiations for upgrading the existing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
 The South Koreans had offered to include 17 items in the early harvest programme. India, however, was not keen on some items on
the list as early lowering of tariffs on the items could hurt the domestic industry. The two sides then settled on 11 items.
 Right now, India and Korea are engaged in two negotiations — one on upgrading the CEPA and the other is the RCEP negotiation
(with 14 other members including ASEAN and China). Expansion (of trade pacts) is in the best interest of people.
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 India, however, is more careful about expansion because of growing trade deficit with the country since the implementation of the
CEPA in January 2010 and has stressed that the CEPA expansion should clearly benefit both countries.
 India‘s trade deficit with South Korea in 2017-18 stood at $12 billion. While India‘s exports to South Korea increased insignificantly
from $3.72 billion in 2010-11 to $4.46 billion in 2017-18, its imports from South Korea jumped from $10.47 billion in 2010-11 to $16.36
billion in 2017-18.
INDIAN & BANGLADESH‘S N-PROJECT
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Indian infrastructure and EPC companies are likely to participate in upcoming tenders for non-critical works at the $12.6-billion
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bangladesh, as construction of the second 1,200 MW unit of the plant kicked-off.
The ceremony, the first pour of concrete in Unit-2 of the Rooppur plant, was inaugurated by Bangladesh‘s Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina. The project is being executed by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) and Russia‘s state-owned nuclear
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corporation Rosatom.
 Infrastructure majors Larsen and Toubro (L&T), the Tata Group and the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, and the Anil-Ambani-led Reliance
Infrastructure are among companies exploring opportunities related to the Rooppur project.
 Indian players, however, are likely to face fierce competition from Chinese, Japanese and Korean companies that are partnering
Bangladeshi players.
 Over 70 tenders for various non-critical works at Rooppur plant so far have been floated by ASE Group — formerly Atomstroyexport,
an engineering division of Rosatom and the General Contractor for Rooppur NPP.
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 The potential opportunity, according to sources, could be from $500 million to $1.2 billion spread across multiple contracts.
 Rooppur NPP is probably the first project of such complexity for Bangladesh, and it is natural for any country executing such a critical
project for the first time to attract expertise from outside.
 The trilateral agreement for cooperation on the project signed by India, Russia and Bangladesh in March has opened up an
opportunity for Indian companies to participate in construction and installation works as well as supply of non-critical materials and
equipment.
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 Earlier this year, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC) bagged a $110-million contract for civil works at Rooppur NPP in a joint
venture with Bangladesh-based MAX Group, where the Indian company holds 40 per cent share.
 HCC has become the first Indian company to participate in the international civil nuclear market.
 The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) granted a licence to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission
(BAEC) for construction of the second unit of Rooppur NPP on July 8. The construction of the first unit started in November 2017.
 The selected design for the plant is based on Generation III VVER-1200 reactors of Russian design, having its first prototype at
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Russia‘s Novovoronezh NPP-2.
INDIA LOOKS TO LIFT BAN ON GOLD IMPORTS FROM S. KOREA
 India is looking at removing the ban on gold imports from South Korea at zero customs duty under the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Act (CEPA) as soon as it introduces a compulsory regional value content (RVC) requirement in the pact to prevent third
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country imports from flowing in.

 It has been almost a year since gold imports from South Korea were restricted following a surge in imports. South Korea is now getting
impatient and wants a mutually agreeable solution. Tightening the rules of origin under the CEPA by introducing RVC requirement in
addition to existing ‗change in tariff heading‘ requirement could be a way out‖.
 At present, the CEPA provides for only ‗change in tariff heading‘ which means that if gold is imported from a third country into South
Korea, it can be subsequently exported to India at zero per cent duty if the imports have changed form to the extent that they fall into a
different tariff head categorisation.
 The ‗change in tariff heading‘ norm in the absence of a RVC norm did not result in adequate checks as it meant that gold bars and
rods could be imported into South Korea and then exported to India if they were changed into. This requires negligible value addition.
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Now if a RVC norm of 35 per cent is introduced, it would mean that a value addition of 35 per cent to the gold item imported from a
third country needs to take place in South Korea for it qualify for zero per cent import duty in India.
 While both sides are ready for the introduction of the new requirement, India still needs to take a final call on the RVC per centage.
While the bullion industry wants a value addition of 35 per cent or more, the jewellers want it to be lower..
 In August 2017, the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade effectively banned import of gold from South Korea into India under the
CEPA by placing it in the restricted list of products that can be imported only with government permit.
 This was done as the introduction of the Goods & Services Tax on July 1, 2017, had made gold imports from South Korea at zero per
cent customs duty much cheaper as the 12.5 per cent countervailing duty was replaced by just a 3 per cent GST. Other countries
continued to pay a 10 per cent basic customs duty on gold.

 Between July 1 and August 3, 2017, import of gold from South Korea increased by $339 million against import of $70.5 million in the
financial year 2016-17.
 As South Korea is not a leading producer of gold or a big exporter, the rise in imports led India to conclude that third country
shipments were finding their way in.
INDIA & RCEP PACT
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 India is under diplomatic pressure from countries such as Singapore and Indonesia to agree to a speedy conclusion of the ambitious
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, the 23rd round of which is currently on at Bangkok.
 The RCEP, which includes the 10-member ASEAN, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, is likely to be the
largest free trade bloc covering about 3.5 billion of the world population and 30 per cent of the gross domestic product.
 Interestingly, while India had initially placed the condition that the offers in services under the RCEP have to match the offers in goods,
the argument seems to be losing steam.
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 India, however, is finding it difficult to adequately respond to the steep demand for tariff elimination on 92 per cent of items made by
the ASEAN. It is finding it especially hard to negotiate with China as the Indian industry is already reeling under pressure from cheap
Chinese imports and trade deficit with the country has touched $63 billion.
 It is also difficult for India to make substantial offers to Australia and New Zealand as it does not have any free trade pact with these
countries.
 India‘s reluctance to agree to such a large number is being interpreted as obstructionism.
 Although certain deviations in tariff cut commitments would be allowed to India for dealing with partners including China, Australia and
New Zealand, it cannot be much lower from what is extended to the others.
 Based on the progress in negotiations in the on-going round which ended on July 27, Trade Ministers from all 16 member countries
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will try to move negotiations on various chapters towards a conclusion when they meet in Singapore in end-August.
AIIB TO EXPAND FINANCING TO $40 B BY 2020
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to expand financing by 10 times in the next two
years.
 The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) that has received a boost with AIIB committing $200-million investment is
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another effort to expand investments into infrastructure in the country. After raising $1-billion master fund and a $2.5-billion fund of
funds, NIIF plans to raise a third fund of $2 billion that will focus on investing in long gestation projects in India.
 China-led AIIB was formed in 2016 with the committed capital of $100 billion, out of which the bank has so far disbursed $4.39 billion.
India, the second largest shareholder of AIIB, is also a largest recipient of AIIB‘s funds at the level of $1.4 billion. Addi tional funding for
India of over $1.7 billion spread across several projects, both in public and private sector, is currently pending for approval with the
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bank.
 Jin Liqun: AIIB President.
UAE LIFTS BAN ON FRUITS, VEGGIES FROM KERALA
 The UAE has lifted the ban on fruits and vegetable exports from Kerala, imposed in the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak.
 Exporters in the State have received confirmation from airline companies in the Gulf that the ban on export of perishable export
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products (PEP) has been lifted by the UAE. The export sector had slipped into a crisis during the 40-day ban.
 The companies catering to shipment of fruits and vegetables are waiting for the ‗plant quarantine‘ certification.
 The 40-day ban had caused an estimated loss of around $2-3 lakh daily. Kerala ships around 150 tonnes of fruits and vegetables daily
to the Gulf countries and Cochin International Airport alone handles around 100 tonnes.
 Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research has confirmed that fruit bats were the primary source of the Nipah outbreak . The
samples from fruit bats tested positive for the virus, confirming that they were the source of infection in the region.
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JAPAN-INDIA INSTITUTE FOR MANUFACTURING
 Strengthening its commitment to promote ‗Skill India‘, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) along with Ganpat University organised a ‗Certificate
Ceremony‘ for the first batch of students from the Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) at Mehsana, Gujarat.
 The Maruti Suzuki-supported institute gave away the ‗Certificate of Course Completion‘ to 254 students for skills in Japanese
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manufacturing practices and processes.

 Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing at Ganpat Vidyanagar, Mehsana, is part of Maruti Suzuki‘s corporate social responsibility
initiative for skill development. Maruti Suzuki has invested over Rs. 6 crore in the institute.
 The institute is a result of the collaboration between the governments of Japan and India to create a pool of 30,000 skilled manpower
for manufacturing in India.
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SAARC DEVELOPMENT FUND PLANS CROSS-BORDER E-COMMERCE PLATFORM
 SAARC Development Fund (SDF), the cross-border umbrella financing institution for SAARC member states, is in the process of
developing an e-commerce platform to enable seamless trade of goods and services across SAARC member states.
 It would also fund start-ups, giving a boost to budding entrepreneurs in the region.
 The plastic SAARC money card can have denominations of all the currencies in the region.
 Currently, only 4 per cent of the total trade of SAARC member states takes place within the region. This can be increased significantly
by initiatives such as e-commerce, a booming business across the world.
INDIA –SOUTH KOREA SET SIGHTS ON $50-BILLION TRADE

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 India and South Korea have set a target to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030 from $20 billion in 2017-18 and to speedily
conclude negotiations to upgrade the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
 While India‘s exports to South Korea increased insignificantly from $3.72 billion in 2010-11 (the year the CEPA was implemented) to
$4.46 billion in 2017-18, its imports from South Korea jumped from $10.47 billion in 2010-11 to $16.36 billion in 2017-18.

INDIA-US ‗2+2 DIALOGUE‘ IN NEW DELHI ON SEPT 6
 The first India-US ‗2+2 dialogue‘ will be held in New Delhi on September 6.Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Defence
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will host the US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis, in
New Delhi on September 6 for the inaugural ‗2+2 dialogue‘.
 The new dialogue format is in pursuit of an agreement reached between India and the US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit
to Washington in June last year.
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 The ‗2+2' meeting will cover a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest, with a view to strengthening
strategic and security ties between the two countries.
INDIA RAISES WITH EU CONCERN OVER PROPOSED STEEL SAFEGUARD DUTY
 India is in talks with the European Union to mitigate the impact of a safeguard duty tariff on steel imports that the EU seeks to impose.
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The EU‘s proposed retaliatory duty comes ahead of the US imposing a 25 per cent import duty on steel imports that will be in effect
from August 4.
 India is concerned more about the European Union tariffs as India exports nearly 6 per cent of its domestic steel production to Italy.
India‘s steel exports to the US are less than 1 per cent of its total domestic production. The EU‘s tariffs will also magnify the fears of
steel cross-dumping into India.
VISIT OF PM MODI TO RWANDA
 Prime Minister of India paid a State visit to Rwanda in July 2018. This was the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Rwanda.
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 President of Rwanda Paul Kagame visited India in 2017 on Official visit and to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat and in 2018 for the
Founding Conference of International Solar Alliance respectively. The Vice President of India visited Rwanda in 2017.
 Prime Minister Modi visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial and laid a wreath on the memorial of victims of the 1994 genocide against
the Tutsi .
 Prime Minister participated in an event in Rweru Model village outside Kigali under ‗Girinka programme‘, a social protection scheme of
one cow - one family and gifted cows as a contribution from India to the Scheme. This gesture was greatly appreciated
 Prime Minister Modi highlighted the fact that Rwanda was the first of the new resident Indian Missions to be opened in Africa in 2018,
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underlining the importance attached by India to its relations with Rwanda.
 President Kagame thanked India for the robust Development Cooperation with Rwanda and, indeed, with other African countries.
Rwanda has benefitted from projects implemented under the Indian Lines of Credit through EXIM Bank, of nearly $ 400 million
(Hydropower, Agriculture, Skill Development, Infrastructure), several grant projects (VTC, Solar Electrification) and from training and
scholarship programs (ITEC, ICCR, IAFS).
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PM Modi announced the setting up of a Task Force in the field of digital education including the provision of an e-library. This was
appreciated by President Kagame, in view of the benefits it would bring to the education sector of Rwanda.
 The following MoUs/Agreements were signed during the visit:
 MoU on Defence Co-operation.
 Bilateral Trade Agreement.
 MoU on Dairy Co-operation between ICAR (National Dairy Research Institute), India and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal
Resources Development Board, Kigali.
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 MoU between Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), India and National Industrial Research and Development Agency
(NIRDA), Rwanda.
 MoU on Cultural Exchange
 Amendment to the MoU on Cooperation in Agriculture and Animal Resources
 LoC agreements of US$ 100 million for development of Industrial Parks and expansion of Kigali SEZ.
 LoC agreements of US $ 100 million for financing components of its Agriculture Project Schemes.
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 During the Visit, Prime Minister Modi made the following announcements:
 Gifting of US $200, 000 to Rwanda to support the Girinka Programme of Government of Rwanda.
 Gifting of 100,000 books of the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) and to provide support for
digitalization and online access of education books and related learning material.
 Setting up of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Kigali which would provide training to youth of Rwanda for enhancing
their skills in a variety of sectors.
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 Fully funded 25 slots for short term- training in the field of Dairy production and processing.
 Contribution of US $10,000 each to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial in Kigali and the Imbuto Foundation run by the First Lady of
Rwanda towards the Foundation for the education of the girl child.
SAARC FUND AIMING TO BECOME A DEVELOPMENT BANK

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 SAARC Development Fund (SDF), the umbrella financial institution for projects in SAARC-member countries, is working on a road
map to strengthen its credit portfolio and tap the financial market before converting itself into a full-fledged SAARC Development Bank.
 With an authorised capital of $1.5 billion and a total capital base of $500 million, the SDF is working to enhance its credit portfolio to
$300 million in the next few years by financing a range of projects, including renewable sources, transportation, telecom and
environment in the SAARC region.
 Established in 2010 by heads of eight member states, the Thimpu-headquartered SDF has so far completed a financial closure of
$73.75 million, of which, $47 million has already been disbursed.
 According to a World Bank study, the South Asia Region needs to invest between $1.7 trillion and $2.5 trillion to close its infrastructure
gaps, mainly in energy, power, transportation, telecom and environment.
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Sunil Motiwal: CEO, SAARC Development Fund (SDF)

MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

10TH BRICS SUMMIT: JOHANNESBURG DECLARATION ADOPTED
 The heads of state and government of all five BRICS nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa convened for the
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10th BRICS Summit from July 25-27, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
 Theme: ‗BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution'
 The summit saw the BRICS leaders come together and discuss various international and regional issues of common concern and
adopted the 'Johannesburg Declaration' by consensus. The declaration reaffirms principles of democracy, inclusiveness and agrees to
fight unilateralism and protectionism.
Key Points of the Declaration:
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 The declaration comes as the United States and China remain deadlocked in a trade war over tariffs.
 The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), to provide equitable, inclusive, open, all-round innovation-driven and sustainable development, in its
three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, towards the ultimate goal of
eradicating poverty by 2030.
 The leaders welcomed the progress towards finalising the Work Programme under the Paris Agreement and expressed their
willingness to continue working constructively with other Parties to conclude its related negotiations at the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) towards the 24th Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP24), which is to be held in
Katowice, Poland in December 2018.
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 They also acknowledged that the BRICS Ministers of Energy agreed to establish the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform
and to develop its Terms of Reference.
 The leaders reaffirmed their support for the establishment of the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform (ARP) initiated by India in
2016.
 They committed to step up intra-BRICS collaboration including within the frame of the Agriculture Research Platform and the Basic
Agriculture Information Exchange System (BAIES).
 The leaders expressed commitment to the continued implementation of the Agenda for BRICS cooperation on population matters
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2015-2020, which was agreed to by the Ministers responsible for Population Matters in 2014.
 Recalling the Johannesburg Summit's focus on the 4th Industrial Revolution and the outcomes of the BRICS Meetings of Science and
Technology and Industry Ministers, the leaders commended the establishment of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution
(PartNIR).
 For the full operationalisation of PartNIR, an Advisory Group will be set up, comprising respective representatives of BRICS Ministries
of Industry, to develop the Terms of Reference and a Work Plan, which is to be submitted to the BRICS Chair.
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 The PartNIR aims to deepen BRICS cooperation in digitalisation, industrialisation, innovation, inclusiveness and investment and to
maximise the opportunities and address the challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution.
 The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support international cooperation in combating illicit financial flows, including cooperation
within Financial Actions Task Force (FATF) and World Customs Organisation.
 Condemning corruption as a global challenge, the leaders committed to strengthening international cooperation within the context of
the BRICS Working Group on Anticorruption Cooperation.
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 Addressing the 10th BRICS summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the fourth industrial revolution presents both
opportunities and challenges for the BRICS nations.
 The Prime Minister held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit with the leaders of Russia, China, South Africa, Argentina
and Angola. It was Modi's third meeting with Chinese President Xi Zinping in last 3 months.
 Besides the BRICS Summit 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the BRICS Outreach with leaders from Africa
and Outreach with leaders from Global South summit.
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 In the BRICS Africa Outreach, the invited countries include Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Zambia, Namibia, Senegal, Gabon, Ethiopia,
Angola and the African Union Chair.
 BRICS is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The group was formed initially with just four nations –Brazil,
Russia, India and China (BRIC). The term- BRIC was coined by global economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 as an acronym of four countries
that were all deemed to be at a similar stage of newly advanced economic development.
 According to a thesis proposed by Jim O'Neill, global economist at Goldman Sachs, the economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India and
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China is such that they could be among the four most dominant economies by 2050.
 The countries not only encompass over 25 per cent of the world's land coverage and 40 per cent of the world's population but also
hold a combined GDP (PPP) of $20 trillion.
 The first BRIC Foreign Ministers‘ Meeting was held in 2006 between China, Brazil, Russia and India on the margins of the general
debate of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which drew the prelude for BRIC cooperation.
 In 2009, the first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia and in 2010, it became a formal institution. Since then, the Summit
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has become an annual event. Till date, 8 Summits have been held.
 In December 2010, China, the Chair of the group then, invited South Africa to join BRIC and attend the Summit in Sanya, China.
 Together, the nations account for 26.46 per cent of the world land area, 42.58 per cent of the world‘s population, 13.24 per cent of the
World Bank voting power and 14.91 per cent of IMF quota shares.
 According to IMF‘s estimates, the BRICS countries generated 22.53 per cent of the world GDP in 2015 and they have contributed
more than 50 per cent of world economic growth during the last 10 years.
AMCDRR 2018 IN ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA
 A high level Ministerial delegation from India headed by Minister of State for Home Affairs participated in the Asian Ministerial
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Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2018 (AMCDRR 2018) held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 03-06 July, 2018.
 The theme of the AMCDRR 2018: ‗Preventing Disaster Risk: Protecting Sustainable Development‘ reflects the essence of the Sendai
Framework. Development that does not take risk into account cannot be sustainable. Thus, disaster risk reduction is a key instrument
to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as highlighted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme of the
AMCDRR 2018 is aligned with the theme of the 2018 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development that focuses on
‗Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies‘.
 The conference represented a key milestone for reflection on three years into the implementation of the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

 The AMCDRR 2018 took place 18 months after the UN General Assembly adopted the set of indicators to monitor progress against
the seven targets of the Sendai Framework. Countries will by then be preparing for their first cycle of reporting against the Sendai
Monitor, which will identify initial achievement in preventing and reducing disaster risk as well as gaps that require attention.
 Kiren Rijiju presented the Country Statement on 4th July, 2018. Besides, Shri Rijiju, who has been designated as the Asia Regional
Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction, chaired the Technical Session-III on "Investing DRR on governance‖, while Dr. P K Mishra,
Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister co-chaired the Featured Event on "Strengthening disaster resilient infrastructure
and urban resilience‖.
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 Kiren Rijiju briefed about the steps taken by India after the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). In
November, 2016 India hosted the 7th AMCDRR at New Delhi, where our Prime Minister outlined a 10-point agenda to provide a
practical road map for the implementation of SFDRR in India and the region.
 Within one year after the adoption of SFDRR, we launched our National Disaster Management Plan, fully aligned with the Sendai
Framework.
 India organised a featured event during AMCDRR 2016 and also hosted an International Workshop on Disaster Resilient
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Infrastructure (DRI) in January this year, in which more than 21 nations participated.
 India had organized a Joint Exercise of SAARC Nations in 2015, BIMSTEC Nations in 2017 and for SCO nations will organize another
exercise in 2019.
 He also shared important flagship DRR schemes such as School Safety Programme in areas falling in Seismic Zone IV & V; National
Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project in coastal states to reduce vulnerability of coastal communities to cyclones and drawing on the
experience.
 The Minister highlighted the need to systemise disaster data by setting up a disaster database on a sustainable basis. Towards this
end, India had recently organised a National Workshop to brainstorm various aspects and challenges that we are likely to encounter in
setting up of a National Disaster Database. It will be our endeavour to set up Disaster Database expeditiously well before the target
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date of 2020.
 India led a special session on Cultural Heritage and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) that brought together leading experts from
India, Indonesia, Nepal, Japan, Turkey, Thailand and Myanmar to discuss challenges in protecting cultural heritage from disas ters.
The session also discussed cases of post-disaster recovery in heritage sector after major disaster events including Bam earthquake
(Iran 2003), Yogyakarta earthquake (Indonesia 2006), Gorkha earthquake (Nepal 2015).
UNISPACE+50
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In June 2018 the international community gathered in Vienna for UNISPACE+50. Since 1968, the United Nations has held three
conferences on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space:
 UNISPACE I, Vienna, 1968
 UNISPACE II, Vienna, 1982
 UNISPACE III, Vienna, 1999
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 UNISPACE+50 celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space. It also served an opportunity for the international community to gather and consider the future course of global space
cooperation for the benefit of humankind.
 The United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities (UN-Space) has issued a joint statement on strengthening the role
of space science, technology and applications for sustainable development within the United Nations system. The statement was
delivered in connection with a UN-Space high-level panel on "United Nations: Reinforcing synergies for UNISPACE+50 and beyond",
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held in Vienna on 21 June 2018.
 The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and
exploration of space, and in the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.
 The Office assists any United Nations Member States to establish legal and regulatory frameworks to govern space activities and
strengthens the capacity of developing countries to use space science technology and applications for development by helping to
integrate space capabilities into national development programmes.
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 The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs was initially created as a small expert unit within the United Nations Secretariat to
service the ad hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 1348 (XIII)
of 13 December 1958.
AUSTRALIA-INDIA MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE ON EDUCATION COOPERATION

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 Union Minister of Human Resource Development, visited Australia to participate in the 4th meeting of Australia-India Education
Council (AIEC). This bi-national body was established in 2011 as a commitment by the Education Ministers of India and Australia to
guide the strategic direction of the education, training and research partnership between the two countries.
 The AIEC is a forum for members, including academia, industry and government to collaborate with Ministers in deciding major
bilateral priorities and collaborative efforts.
 Three Institutional Agreements have also been signed. These agreements are Deakin University agreement with India‘s Central
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Jammu University, Curtin University agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Indian National Council of
Education Research and Training and Western Sydney University MoU with India‘s Centurion University.
 Both the ministers had met during the Australia-India Education Council meeting in Adelaide.
 The Ministers commended the contribution of Australia India Education Council, with its government and industry representatives, for
significant progress across the key areas of skills, higher education and research.
 The Ministers welcomed the forthcoming publication of the Australia-India Education Council project of a co-authored book ―The
Future of Higher Education Learning & Teaching‖ on higher education learning and teaching which included a project developing joint
curriculum for India‘s Teaching and Learning Centres.
 On student mobility, the Ministers noted the increasing number of Australian students studying in India under the New Colombo Plan
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and the Endeavour Scholarships program and Indian students studying in Australia.
 The Ministers underlined the importance of basic education. Australia and India will collaborate in schools policy through a partnership
for reviewing school curriculum, teaching and learning. This will be progressed through a collaborative initiative between the Ministry
of Human Resources Development and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority where Indian curriculum
experts will observe the Australian curriculum review. Ministers also noted that officials will continue engagement and collaboration on
teacher professional development and smart classrooms.
 India extended its welcome and assured joint support to the forthcoming India-Australia Conclave on International Education to be
held in India in 2019.
 The two Ministers acknowledged the cooperation on targeted issues demonstrated by the AIEC‘s Quality Assurance and
Qualifications Recognition (QAQR) Working Group.

 During the visit, the Minister also had a Bilateral Meeting with the Australian Education Minister Simon Birmingham.
MEETING OF THE EPF CENTRAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 The 222nd meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister of State for Labour &
Employment at New Delhi.
 The Central Board approved the proposal for insertion of Paragraph 68HH in EPF Scheme, 1952 provisioning Advance from the fund
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to a member who ceases to be in employment for a continuous period not less than one month. Under this proposal a member can
avail 75% of the total fund (including employee as well as employer share) standing to the member‘s credit with interest thereon.
 The Board took note of the Investment of Rs 47,431.24 crore in Exchange Traded Funds (SBI MF, UTI MF, CPSE, Bharat 22) and
notional return on ETF investments which stood at 16.07% for the period from August 2015 to 31st May 2018.
 The Central Board approved the proposal to continue SBI Mutual Fund and UTI Mutual Fund as ETF manufacturer for investment in
ETF by EPFO for tenure of one year i.e. till 30/06/2019.
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 The Central Board has considered and adopted the Consolidated Annual Accounts with Audit Report for the year 2016-17.
POSHAN ABHIYAAN TECH-THON
 The Ministry of Women and Child Development organised TECH-THON for POSHAN Abhiyaan in New Delhi. The seminar brought
together various stakeholders from the Government, multilateral organisations, IT industry, myGov, UIDAI etc. Jan Andolan Guidelines
were released in the Seminar.
 POSHAN Abhiyaan is complemented by a number of other schemes like PMMVY, introduction of rota virus vaccines, Anaemia Mukt
Bharat strategy, Home Based Young Child Care.
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 1 rupee invested in nutrition gives 34 rupees as return.ICDS CAS is DNA of POSHAN Abhiyaan. Data entered by Anganwadi workers
at ground level , is available to CDPO, District, State and Central level officers for monitoring in real time. In ICDS Dash boards, only
anganwadi worker has the authority to edit the data. It is beneficiary centric system.
 Currently ICDS-CAS is operational in 1 lakh plus Anganwadis and is expected to reach 5 lakh Anganwadis by September this year, 10
lakhs by December this year and all 14 lakh Anganwadis by March next year.
RENEWABLE ENERGY DIALOGUE 2018
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Renewable Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi. The Renewable Energy Dialogue was organised by the Council on Energy,
Environment and Water (CEEW) in collaboration with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), International Solar Alliance
(ISA), International Energy Agency (IEA), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), and REN21.
This edition of the Dialogue had a special focus on market creation and market trends.
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India is running one of the largest and most ambitious renewable energy capacity expansion programmes in the world. When
achieved, this will place India at the centre of its ―Sunshine Countries‖ International Solar Alliance Project, which is prom oting the
growth and development of solar power in over 120 countries.
 India has set a target of achieving 40% of its total electricity generation non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. International Solar Alliance is
sending positive market signals therefore all countries want to invest in renewables encouraging new technologies to be made
available thereby promoting financial investments in renewables.
 Government of India‘s target of installing 20 GW of solar power by 2022 was achieved four years of ahead of schedule in January,
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2018 through solar parks and India has set a fresh target of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022.
INDIA‘S FIRST GLOBAL MOBILITY SUMMIT
 NITI Aayog, in collaboration with various ministries and industry partners, is organising ‗MOVE: Global Mobility Summit‘ in N ew Delhi
on 7th and 8th September, 2018. This Summit will help drive Government‘s goals for vehicle electrification, renewable energy
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integration and job growth and also speed up India‘s transition to a clean energy economy.
 The Summit has been organised along key ‗tracks‘ to anchor debate and deliberations on towards preparing a collective mobility
agenda. The six tracks or themes for the Summit will focus on:
(i) Asset Utilization and Services;
(ii) Comprehensive Electrification ;
(iii) Alternative Energy;
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(iv) Reinventing Public Transit;

(v) Logistics and Goods Transport;
(vi) Data Analytics and Mobility.
 To be spread over 50,000 sq. meters of premium space across the beautiful and picturesque India Gate Lawns, New Delhi, the Global
Mobility Summit (GMS) Exhibition will offer a first-hand perspective on automotive solutions, upcoming trends in the logistics sector
and will see participation from major global players as well as the Indian industry.
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17TH WORLD SANSKRIT CONFERENCE IN CANADA
 Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the 5-day 17th World Sanskrit Conference at Vancouver,
Canada in July 2018.
 The purpose of this conference is to promote, preserve and practice the Sanskrit language all over the world by the people.
 The World Sanskrit Conference is the premier international forum for professional researchers and educators of the Sanskrit language
and its literatures, and of the history, religion, and cultures of premodern South Asia. It is convened every three years un der the
auspices of the International Association of Sanskrit Studies.
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The 17th WSC marked the first time that this prestigious triennial event is held in Canada.
 WSC 2018 is proudly hosted by the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, and it will be our pleas ure to
welcome you this summer to our idyllic campus in the beautiful, vibrant city of Vancouver, which is consistently rated as a top tourist
destination in North America and one of the world‘s most liveable cities.
 UBC ranks in the top three research universities in Canada and has taught Sanskrit at all levels since 1969.
 There was a special panel discussion on over a dozen topics like; History & Education of Women in Vedic Literature; Sanskrit
Buddhist Manuscripts; Mimamsa Beyond the Yagasala; The Yuktidipika Forging a Place for Sankhya; Introducing Bhagavata Purana
Commentaries; Research on the Gargiyajyotisa.

WORKSHOP ON GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORIES IN ASIA
 Union Minister of Environment Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the 16th Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Inventories in Asia (WGIA16) in
Delhi.
 The four-day Workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan and is being hosted by Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), from July 10 to 13, 2018 in New Delhi.
 India committed to achieve 175 GW of installed capacity of renewable energy generation by 2022. Other policy initiatives of the
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government include increasing penetration of LEDs, 5-10% Ethanol blending in petrol, increasing efficiency of coal power plants, and
more efficient public transport.
 Indian took decision to leapfrog from Bharat Stage IV (Euro IV) to Bharat Stage VI (Euro VI) standards for vehicular emissions by
2020.
 As per the Paris Agreement, there is a need to enhance transparency in reporting, which is possible only through adequate fin ance
and capacity building.
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 The Indian Environment Minister outlined Green Good Deeds, Green Good Behaviour, Green Good Practices and Green Social
Responsibility being promoted amongst different stakeholders and accepted at various international forums, including BRICS
Environment Ministers meeting recently.
 Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan urged the participants to perform one Green Good Deed every day and become its strong
messenger and votary in transforming individual Green Good Deeds into a mass movement in all the participating countries.
 India is well poised to meet the target of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through
additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030.
 India enjoys a strategic relationship with Japan and both countries share similar views on strengthening capacities for climate action.
India has submitted its two National Communications and first Biennial Update Report (BUR) in time and BUR-2 would also be
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submitted in time.
 India is on track to meet its Copenhagen commitment of reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 20-25% by 2020 with reference to
2005 level.
 According to the UNEP Gap Report 2017, India is also on track to meeting its Paris commitment of 33-35% reduction in emissions
intensity of its GDP by 2030 from 2005 level. He further stated that India stood by its commitments towards climate action and will
continue to do so as a responsible nation.
 India has emerged as a leading voice in the field of environment, especially after the announcement to achieve 175 GW renewable
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energy capacity by 2022, setting up and coordinating International Solar Alliance, hosting of World Environment Day 2018 and a
number of similar initiatives.
 WGIA is an initiative of Government of Japan to improve the quality of Greenhouse Gas Inventories of Asian countries by building
capacities through training and exchange of experience.
 A reliable and robust inventory is the backbone of climate action. Such efforts will contribute towards meeting the requirements
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towards enhanced reporting and transparency as required under the Convention and its Paris Agreement.
 15 countries including Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are WGIA members and around 100 GHG inventory experts from these countries
participated along with representatives from UNFCCC, IPCC, FAO and other specialized agencies.
 India hosted WGIA for the first time.
8TH BRICS HEALTH MINISTERS MEET AT DURBAN

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 J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health attended the ‗8th BRICS Health Ministers‘ Meeting at Durban, South Africa.
 He said that India affirms strong support for TB cooperation plan in every aspect as agreed upon in the 6th BRICS Health Ministers‘
meeting held in Delhi in 2016 and in the first High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Ending Tuberculosis. India is
committed to eliminating TB by 2025.
 India launched an ambitious programme called 'Ayushman Bharat' i.e. Long Live India. ―The programme rests on the twin pillars of
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Health and Wellness Centres for provision of comprehensive primary healthcare services and National Health Protection Mission for
secondary and tertiary care that aims to cover around 100 million families.
 India‘s achievement in reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 77%, from 556 per 100000 live births in 1990 to 130 per 100
000 live births in 2016 was commended by Regional Director, WHO SEARO.
 India has already initiated universal screening for prevention and management of five common NCDs including hypertension, diabetes
and three common cancers of oral cavity, breast and cervix at pan India level.
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 India has started a unique initiative called AMRIT Deendayal pharmacies, an acronym for 'Affordable Medicines & Reliable Implants
for Treatment' - Centres that provide medicines for cancer & cardiovascular diseases and cardiac implants at significantly reduced
prices.
2ND YOUNG SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE CONFERENCE

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 Union Home Minister inaugurated the 2nd Conference of Young Superintendent of Police being organized by Bureau of Police
Research & Development (BPR&D).
 The two-day conference was attended by over 100 Superintendents of Police and senior officers from the States and CAPFs.
 The theme of the Conference was ―Predictive Policing and Contemporary Challenges for Indian Police Forces‖ and aims to create
awareness among young Superintendents of Police and Commandants regarding latest technologies in areas of Artificial Intelligence;
Predictive Policing/ Crime Analytics/ Big data Analytics; Geospatial Technology; Cyber Crime; Surveillance Tracking & UAVs; CCTV
Equipment, for effective delivery of Police Services to citizens.
GLOBAL DISABILITY SUMMIT 2018 LONDON

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 Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment attended the Global Disability Summit held in London on 24th July 2018.
 The motto of the Conference was to firm up the commitments of the country leaders towards the cause of persons with disabilities.
 The Global leaders expressed their commitments towards elimination stigma and discrimination, promoting inclusive education,
economic empowerment, technology and innovation in assistive devices, data desegregation etc. Besides India, global leaders f rom
more than 40 countries attended the summit and have committed themselves to work in the direction of economic empowerment of
persons with disabilities.

UDYAM SANGAM 2018
 The President of India inaugurated the Udyam Sangam-2018, being organised by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
(MSME) on June 27, 2018 to celebrate the 2nd United Nations Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day.
 On this occasion, he also launched the Solar Charkha and MSME Sampark Portal.
 The President of India launched the Solar Charkha Mission which will cover 50 clusters and every cluster will employ 400 to 2000
artisans. The Mission has been approved by the Government of India for which the MSME Ministry will disburse subsidy of Rs. 550
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crores to the artisans. The Solar Charkha Mission will generate employment in rural areas and contribute to the green economy.
 The Udyam Sangam-2018 is an important effort in developing effective eco-systems for MSME sector.
 Sangam provided representatives of finance, training and educational institutions, industry, media, state governments and NGOs an
opportunity to engage in extensive discussions to strengthen the eco-systems in this sector.
 The ‗Sampark Portal‘ will be very useful in developing skill-pool and in enabling trained youth to know about different employment
opportunities.
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 MSME sector is called the backbone of our economy. This sector is the second largest employment provider after the agricultur al
sector. Our demographic dividend shall be most gainfully utilized in this very sector. This sector generates more employment
opportunities at a lower cost of capital.
 And the most important thing about this sector is that it creates jobs in rural and backward areas. This sector could help in achieving
the goal of inclusive growth through empowerment of weaker sections and decentralization of development.
NITI AAYOG‘S WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PLATFORM
 NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform( WEP) and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Office of International
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Programmes (OIP) University of Delhi, jointly organised a Two-Day International conference on "Empowering Women: Fostering
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability", on July 16-17, 2018.
 The Inaugural event was presided by Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India as Chief Guest, Dr Kiran Bedi, Lieutenant Governor of
Puducherry, as Guest of Honor, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, and Ajay S. Shri Ram, Chairman, Governing Body, SRCC.
 Representatives from across the globe, including Canada, United States of America, Australia, Ethopia, Cameroon, Ghana, and
Nigeria, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh and Thailand, took part in the Conference and actively participated in the technical sessions.
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HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concluded recently at United Nations Headquarters in New York,
with a review of the progress made so far by countries on nature preservation, partnerships for development, and the need to ensure
no one is excluded, during the drive towards the 2030 deadline.
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When endorsing the 17 ambitious Sustainable Goals which aim to end hunger and extreme poverty, Member States agreed to one
essential, cross-cutting aspect: as progress would be made towards a more sustainable world, the most vulnerable would not be
excluded.
 This means that the specific needs of vulnerable countries – including lowest-income States, landlocked and small island nations, or
wartorn nations - must to be addressed, and that the Goals and targets agreed upon need to be met for all segments of society.
 People living in poverty, children, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, older persons, indigenous peoples , refugees
and migrants, are often excluded from positive change. HLPF panelists emphasized the need for their voices to be heard, and their
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active participation as agents of change to be promoted.
 Finally, the Forum examined progress made on Goal 17, which focuses on national, regional and global trends to establish glob al
partnerships for sustainable development, as well as challenges and opportunities ahead.
 The HLPF, which meets annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), brings together more than
1,000 Government, business and civil society leaders to share lessons learnt and best practices and discuss progress made towards
the SDGs adopted by 193 Member States in 2015, based on the UN Secretary-General‘s annual progress report.
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 The establishment of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was mandated in 2012 by the
outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), "The Future We Want".
 The Forum meets annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council for eight days, including a three-day ministerial
segment and every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly for two
days.
 The Forum‘s first meeting was held on 24 September 2013. It replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development, which had met
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annually since 1993.

 The HLPF is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development and it has a central role in the follow-up and review of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level. General Assembly
resolution 70/299 provides further guidance on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
 The Forum adopts intergovernmentally negotiated political declarations.
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UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON ENDING TB
 Heads of State will gather in New York on 26 September this year at the United Nations General Assembly first-ever high-level
meeting on tuberculosis (TB) to accelerate efforts in ending TB and reach all affected people with prevention and care.
 The theme of the meeting is ―United to end tuberculosis: an urgent global response to a global epidemic‖.
 The high-level meeting on TB is a tremendous and unprecedented step forward by governments and all partners engaged in the fight
against TB. It follows on from a very successful Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in Moscow on 16-17 November, 2017 which
resulted in high-level commitments from Ministers and other leaders from 120 countries to accelerate progress to end TB.
 The high-level meeting should result in an ambitious Political Declaration on TB endorsed by Heads of State that will strengthen action
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and investments for the end TB response, saving millions of lives.

 Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.
 In 2016, 10.4 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.7 million died from the disease (including 0.4 million among people with HIV). Over
95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
 Seven countries account for 64% of the total, with India leading the count, followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria,
and South Africa.
 In 2016, an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB and 250 000 children died of TB (including children with HIV associated
TB).
 TB is a leading killer of HIV-positive people: in 2016, 40% of HIV deaths were due to TB.

 Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a public health crisis and a health security threat. WHO estimates that there were 600 000
new cases with resistance to rifampicin – the most effective first-line drug, of which 490 000 had MDR-TB. Globally, TB incidence is
falling at about 2% per year. This needs to accelerate to a 4–5% annual decline to reach the 2020 milestones of the End TB Strategy.
 An estimated 53 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2016.
 Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
 Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and
preventable.
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 TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into
the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.
 About one-quarter of the world's population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill
with the disease and cannot transmit the disease.
 People infected with TB bacteria have a 5–15% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. However, persons with compromised immune
systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a much higher risk of fall ing ill.
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When a person develops active TB disease, the symptoms (such as cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss) may be mild for many
months. This can lead to delays in seeking care, and results in transmission of the bacteria to others. People with active TB can infect
10–15 other people through close contact over the course of a year. Without proper treatment, 45% of HIV-negative people with TB on
average and nearly all HIV-positive people with TB will die.
 The WHO End TB Strategy, adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2014, is a blueprint for countries to end the TB epidemic
by driving down TB deaths, incidence and eliminating catastrophic costs. It outlines global impact targets to reduce TB deaths by 90%,
to cut new cases by 80% between 2015 and 2030, and to ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic costs due to TB.
INDIA TO HOLD FIRST EVER INDIA TOURISM MART
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 To increase tourist footfalls, India will organise its first-ever India Tourism Mart (ITM) for three days from September 16. To be held at
Vigyan Bhawan in the capital, it would be similar to major international travel marts organised by many countries.
 It is expected to provide a platform for all stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry to interact and create busi ness
opportunities.
 The event will be organised by the Tourism Ministry, in partnership with the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and
Hospitality (FAITH) with the support of States/UTs.
EURO SUMMIT 2018

Italian demands for more help.
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EU leaders have finally reached an agreement on the EU‘s migration crisis after holding marathon talks in Brussels to overcome
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Donald Tusk, the EU Council President, said the EU 28leaders have agreed on European Council conclusions including migration.
 The Euro Summit agreed on the following:
1. The agreement in the Council on the Banking package should allow the co-legislators to adopt it before the end of the year while
preserving the overall balance. Adhering to all elements of the 2016 roadmap in the appropriate sequence, work should start on a
roadmap for beginning political negotiations on the European Deposit Insurance Scheme.
2. The ESM will provide the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) and be strengthened working on the basis of all
elements of an ESM reform as set out in the letter of the Eurogroup President. The Eurogroup will prepare the terms of reference of
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the common backstop and agree on a term sheet for the further development of the ESM by December 2018.
3. The Eurogroup will further discuss all the items mentioned in the letter by the Eurogroup President.
4. The Euro Summit will come back to these issues in December 2018. The Euro Summit welcomes the Eurogroup Statement of 21 June
2018 on the final disbursement of ESM financing to Greece and on the medium-term debt relief measures, which successfully
complete the financial assistance to Greece.
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GREEN CLIMATE FUND MEETING
 A Green Climate Fund (GCF) meant to channel billions of dollars to poor nations said it had had a ―very difficult and disappointing‖
meeting recently.
 The GCF, whose South Korean headquarters opened in 2013 with backing from almost 200 nations, aims to help poor nations cut
greenhouse gas emissions and adapt their economies to heatwaves, storms and rising seas.
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 But it has been bogged down by disputes between rich and poor nations about how and where to invest.
 The meeting failed to add to its portfolio of 76 projects worth $3.7 billion, which range from promoting rooftop solar energy in India to
helping Colombia safeguard wetlands.
 The fund, which won initial pledges from developing nations totalling $10.3 billion in 2014, including $3 billion from t he United States,
has been plagued by red tape and suffered last year when Trump said it was a waste of U.S. taxpayer dollars.
 Trump halted U.S. contributions as part of his decision to quit the 2015 Paris climate agreement. That cut the GCF to $8 billion, since
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former president Barack Obama had paid $1 billion of the planned $3 billion.
 As part of the Paris agreement, rich nations pledged to raise total climate finance, from both private and public sources, to $100 billion
a year by 2020 and to raise it further in the 2020s.
 Australian climate finance expert Howard Bamsey announced he was stepping down as executive director of the GCF at the end of
the four-day meeting in Songdo, South Korea.
ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK‘s 3RD ANNUAL MEETING
 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) concluded its third Annual Meeting in Mumbai. Prime Minister Modi called upon the need
to deepen India‘s engagement with AIIB. He called upon Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to increase its lending to US$40
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billion by 2020 and US$100 billion by 2025 from US$4 billion now.

AWARDS & HONOURS

NATIONAL AWARDS IN PREVENTION OF ALCOHOLISM
 The President of India Ram Nath Kovind, presented the National Awards for Outstanding Services in the field of Prevention of
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Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26 June).
 Our geographical location between Myanmar-Laos-Thailand‘s ‗Golden Triangle‘ and Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan‘s ‗Golden Crescent‘,
makes the problem of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking even more acute and complicated. Increase in drug trafficking and drug abuse
in the border areas is also associated with issues of terrorism and political unrest. That is why there is a need to be more vigilant in
Border States like Punjab and Manipur.
 Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has set up a National Toll Free Drug De-Addiction Helpline Number-1800110031 to help
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the victims of drug abuse, their family and society at large and it is functional 24x7.
 The Ministry has started an online system for processing of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations (VOs)/Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) from the financial year 2014-15. At present, approximately 400 Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts
(IRCAs) are being run across the country with support from this Ministry.
 The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment celebrates 26th June every year as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking.
 The Government of India has instituted a Scheme of the National Awards for outstanding services in the field of prevention of
Alcoholism & Substance (Drug) Abuse from the year 2013.
 The Awards were earlier conferred annually till 2014. However, the Scheme of the Award has now been revised and the Awards are
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now conferred biennially.
 The Scheme is applicable to Institutions and individuals working in the field of Prevention of Drug and Alcoholism Abuse. So far, three
National Awards presentation functions have been successfully conducted on 26th June, 2013, 26th June 2014 and 26th June, 2016.
PROJECT ‗SAGARMALA‘ RECEIVES GOLD AWARD
NAME OF CATEGORY OF AWARD NAME OF INSTITUTION/INDIVIDUAL
1.
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Best Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts Tapovan Nashamukti Evam Punarwas Sansthan, Jawahar
(IRCA) for providing rehabilitation services to Bhawan, In front of Tehsil Bhawan, Sri Ganganagar,
alcoholics and drug users. Rajasthan -335001.
Best Panchayati Raj or Municipal Body working for Lariapali Gram Panchayat, Bamra Block, District Sambalpur,
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2. prevention of alcoholism and substance (drug) Odisha 768228.
abuse.
Punjab Institute of Medical Science, Garha Road, Jalandhar,

Best Educational Institution doing outstanding work
Punjab – 144006.
3. in awareness generation and prevention of
alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse.
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Nashabandi Mandal, 218, 2nd Floor, Old Custom House,

Best Non Profit Institution, other than S. No.1, 2,
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra -
4. and 3, with outstanding contribution in Prevention of
400001.
Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse.
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Drug De-addiction and Treatment Centre (DDTC), D/o

5. Best Research or Innovation Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and
Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA), Bihar, Vikas

6. Best Awareness Campaign
Bhawan, New Sectt. Baily Road, Patna.
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1. Dr. R.C. Sahni, House No.G-3, Seven Wonders Road,

Vallabh Bari, Kota, Rajasthan.
2. Dr. Rajesh Tukaram Patil, ―Shiv‖, House No.477/4,
7. Outstanding achievement by an Individual. opposite Mangesh Temple, Vollant Cortalim, Goa -
403710.
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3. Shri L.R. Madhujan, Kamalaramomm, P.O.-

Vellanad, Trivandrum, Kerala 695543.
 The Ministry of Shipping‘s flagship programme for port-led-prosperity ‗Sagarmala‘ received the ‗Gold Award‘ in infrastructure sector in
the recently concluded 52nd Skoch Summit 2018in New Delhi, recognizing the programmes‘s contribution to India‘s socio-economic
transformation and it's role in propelling fast-track growth and infrastructure development.
 The Sagarmala Programme also received the ‗Order of Merit‘ at the Summit.
 The Skoch Awards recognize leadership and excellence in accelerating socio-economic changes. These awards have become a
benchmark of best practices in India in the fields of governance, infrastructure, finance, banking, technology, corporate cit izenship,
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economics and inclusive growth.

 Sagarmala is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping for port-led-development of the country through harnessing India‘s
7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location of India on key international ma ritime
trade route.
 The Sagarmala Programme hinges on four pillars, namely; Port Modernization, Port Connectivity, Port-linked Industrialization and
Coastal Community Development.
 The programme aims to double the share of domestic waterways (inland & coastal) in the modal mix, generate logistic cost savings of
Rs. 35,000-40,000 Cr per annum, boost merchandize exports by USD 110 Billion and enable creation of 1 Crore new jobs, including
40 Lac direct jobs, in the next 10 years.

 Under Sagarmala programme, more than 576 projects with an estimated project cost of Rs. 8.7 Lac Crore have been identified for
implementation over 20 years. Development would be done across areas of port modernization and new port development, enhancing
connectivity of ports, industrialization linked to ports and coastal community development. Out of 576 projects identified, 69 projects
worth over Rs. 13,500 Crore have already been completed so far and another 424 projects worth over Rs. 4.1 Lac Crore are under
various stages of implementation and development. Around 97 projects worth over Rs. 38,000 Crore are expected to be completed
this year.
 The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had given its ‗in-principle‘ approval for the concept and
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institutional framework of Sagarmala Project on 25th May 2015.
 The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was released by the Prime Minister during the inaugural Maritime India Summit held in Apr il
2016, in Mumbai.
CDR ABHILASH TOMY READIES FOR ANOTHER CIRCUMNAVIGATION
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 Cdr Abhilash Tomy is ready for his second solo circumnavigation of the globe in a non-motorised sailboat. He sailed into Les Sables
d'Olonne in France a few days ago, in time for the July 1 flag-off of the 30,000-mile Golden Globe Race. There are 18 skippers at the
start line and Cdr Tomy of the Indian Navy is a special invitee at the race.
 The race is being held to commemorate 50 years since it was held for the first and last time, which saw Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's
successfully completing the voyage in 312 days, to become the first human to finish solo, unassisted and non stop circumnavigation of
the world.
 He will be sailing in the 10-metre 'Thuriya', whose design is similar to Sir Johntson's boat 'Suhaili',which was incidentally manufactured
in Colaba, Mumbai. "Thuriya" has been built at Goa at Ratnakar Dandekar's Aquarius Shipyard. Cdr Tomy has supplies consisting of
specially-prepared food items, and fresh water in the limited space on board.
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HOME MINISTER'S SPECIAL OPERATION MEDAL
 The Union Home Minister has approved the institution of "Home Minister's Special Operation Medal". Police Officers of States & Union
Territories, Central Police Organisations (CPOs), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Security Organisation involved in Special
Operations will be eligible.
 The Union Home Minister has also instituted three more Medals, - the Antarik Suraksha Medal, Asadharan Aashuchan Padak, and
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Utkrisht & Ati-Utkrisht Seva Medal. The Medals will be awarded annually; while the HM‘s Special Operation Medal and Asadharan
Aashuchan Padak will be awarded on 15th August coinciding with the Independence Day, the Antarik Suraksha Medal and Utkrisht &
Ati-Utkrisht Seva Medal will be announced on 26th January to mark the Republic Day.
 The Asadharan Aashuchan Padak will be given to officials of Intelligence organization of Central Government and Intelligence
Dept./wings/Special Branches/Units of all State/UT Police, CPOs, CAPFs, Assam Rifles (AR) and National Security Guard (NSG) for
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acts of exceptional courage and skill in intelligence gathering.
 The Antarik Suraksha Medal will be bestowed upon Police personnel of States/UTs/ CPOs/CAPFs/Security Organisation in
recognition of Operation Duty rendered by them for a tenure of every two years in Internal Security in J&K State/LWE region/NE
region.
 The Utkrisht and Ati Utkrisht Seva Medal will be awarded to permanent Police personnel and other permanent support staff working in
CAPFs, State/UTs Police Forces, CPOs, AR, NSG, Home Guard (HG) and Intelligence organization of Central Govt/State
Govt./CAPFs in recognition of Long Service of 15 and 25 year and good service records.
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 There will be no limit/quota for awarding the HM‘s Special Operation Medal, Antarik Suraksha Medal and Asadharan Aashuchan
Padak while there will be a cap of 1% and 0.5% of the sanctioned strength rank wise (Constable/HC/ASI/Sl/lnsp./Dy. SP/SP & above)
subject to the eligibility conditions for the Utkrisht & Ati-Utkrisht Seva Medal respectively.
 The medal may be withdrawn if the holder is found guilty of disloyalty or brings the Force to disrepute such as removal, major penalty,
criminal offence etc.
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'IPLEDGEFOR9' AWARDS
 PMSMA ‗I Pledge For 9‘ Achievers Awards celebrate individual and team achievements under the Pradhan Mantri Matritva Surakshit
Abhiyan (PMSMA) across India.
 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare gave away the ‗IPledgefor9' Achievers Awards to the individuals and doctors from the
private sector and States for their exemplary services.
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 Himachal Pradesh has bagged the top position in the country by enrolling 68.26 per cent women for antenatal checkup by a doctor in
495 special clinics in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritav Abhiyan (PMSMA).
 According to a special bulletin on ―Maternal Mortality Ratio in India 2014-16‖ by Sample Registration System, the maternal mortality
ratio has declined to 130 in 2014-16 from 167 in 2011-13.
 Furthering the gain, the government‘s ambitious programme for improving maternal care, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
(PMSMA) launched in 2016 is a mission in advancing India‘s course of achieving Sustainable Development Goals for MMR below 70
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by 2030.
 India has made impressive progress in reducing maternal deaths and achieving the targets of MDG 5. The government's efforts at
improving access to maternal health services leading to increase in institutional births has significantly contributed to groundbreaking
reduction in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by 22 percent from 2013 levels.
 Reduction in MMR is remarkable. Some states have achieved three-fourth reduction. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand registered a
huge decline. India succeeded in achieving MDG 4 and MDG 5.
INDIA GETS ITS 37TH WORLD UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
 In yet another landmark achievement, India‘s nomination of the "Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai " has been inscribed on
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UNESCO's World Heritage list.

 The decision was taken at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at Manama in Bahrain.
 As recommended by the World Heritage Committee, India accepted the renaming of the ensemble as ―Victorian Gothic and Art Deco
Ensembles of Mumbai‖.
 India has been successful in securing the inscription of the "Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai‖ on UNESCO's
World Heritage List under Criteria (ii) and (iv) as defined in the UNESCO's Operational Guidelines.
 This makes Mumbai city the second city in India after Ahmedabad to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. In the past 5 years
alone, India has managed to get inscribed seven of its properties/sites on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
 India now has overall 37 World Heritage Inscriptions with 29 Cultural, 07 Natural and 01 Mixed sites.

 While India stands second largest in number after China in terms of number of World Heritage properties in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific)
region, it is overall sixth in the world.
 The Ensemble comprises of two architectural styles, the 19th century collection of Victorian structures and the 20th century Art Deco
buildings along the sea, conjoined by means of the historical open space of the Oval Maidan. Together, this architectural ensemble
represents the most remarkable collection of Victorian and Art Deco buildings in the world which forms the unique character o f this
urban setting, unparalleled in the world.
 The Ensemble consists of 94 buildings primarily of 19th century Victorian Gothic revival and early 20th century Art Deco style of
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architecture with the Oval Maidan in the centre. The 19th century Victorian buildings form part of the larger Fort precinct situated to the
east of the Oval Maidan. These public buildings include the Old Secretariat (1857-74), University Library and Convention Hall (1874-
78), the Bombay High Court (1878), the Public Works Department Office (1872), Watson‘s Hotel (1869), David Sasoon Library (1870),
the Elphinstone College(1888), etc. The Art Deco styled buildings to the west of the Oval Maidan were raised in early 20th century on
the newly reclaimed lands at Marine Drive and symbolised the shift in expression to represent contemporary aspirations.
 The inscription has been done under Criteria (ii) and (iv) as defined in the UNESCO's Operational Guidelines. Criterion (ii) refers to the
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important interchange of human values, over a span of time on development of architecture, monumental arts, town planning and
landscape while Criterion (iv) refers to being an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or
landscape which illustrates a significant stage (s) in human history. This achievement is especially remarkable in the view of the
successive inscription of another Indian city after Ahmedabad last year.
 In addition, 42 sites from the country figures in the Tentative List of World Heritage and the Ministry of Culture would be
recommending one property every year for nomination to UNESCO.
MEDAL WINNERS OF 17TH WORLD POLICE & FIRE GAMES 2017
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 The Union Home Minister felicitated the medal winners of the 17th World Police & Fire Games held at Los Angeles, California, USA
from August 7-16, 2017.
 He was the chief guest in the function organized by All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) to felicitate the medal winners.
 The 101-member Indian Police contingent returned with a record breaking haul of 321 medals from the 17th World Police & Fire
Games. The contingent bagged 151 Gold, 99 Silver and 71 Bronze medals in the seven events they participated in the Games. It is a
rarest of the rare occasion where each team member won a medal irrespective of individual or relay events in which they participated.
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KNOWLEDGE EXCELLENCE AWARD
 Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO received Knowledge Excellence Award from Secretary, Mines, Govt. of India for Outstanding
Contribution in Aluminium Knowledge domain.
 Dr. Chand appealed to the Government to explore more mineable reserves of bauxite as the current rate is barely 17% of the deposit.
 A special NALCO booklet on Sustainable Mining titled ‗Mine with Mind‘ was released at the International Conference at Ranchi.
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MAHA GETS AWARD
 The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Maharashtra has come down from 68 deaths per lakh to 61 deaths. The State government
receive an award from Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda in Delhi.
 The the mortality rate at the national level is 130 deaths per one lakh.
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 MMR is the number of registered maternal deaths due to birth or pregnancy-related complications per 100,000 registered live births.
 The target to restrict the MMR to 70 deaths per one lakh by 2030 was achieved by Maharashtra in a short span of time due to various
measures initiated to bring down maternal mortality.
 Maharashtra is now behind Kerala which has the lowest MMR of 46 deaths per one lakh.
MUMBAI‘S VICTORIAN AND ART DECO BUILDINGS GET WORLD HERITAGE TAG
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 The Elephanta Caves and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai now have a companion on the UNSECO
World Heritage Site List. The city‘s Victorian and Art Deco ensembles were given the green light by the International Council for
Monuments and Sites, an advisory body to the UNSECO, thus securing India its 37th World Heritage site, and Maharashtra its fifth.
 The buildings around the Fort, Churchgate and Marine Drive areas of the city, with notable structures such as the Bombay High Court,
Elphinstone College, the National Gallery of Modern Art and CSMT, form a part of the collection of Victorian, Neo-Classical and Indo-
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Saracenic architecture in the city. Residential buildings along Oval Maidan and around the Cricket Club of India, and the fir st row of
buildings along Marine Drive, as well as the Regal and Eros cinema theatres, are part of the Art Deco cluster. Mumbai‘s Victorian
buildings are amongst the finest and most cohesive 19th century Victorian architecture in the world, and the city‘s Art Deco buildings
of the 20th century make up the second largest homogenous collection in the world.
 The Nomination Dossier presented to UNESCO was prepared by conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah, who has been working
on this project for 14 years.
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ARTIST ANJOLIE ELA MENON CONFERRED THE KALIDAS AWARD
 Noted artist Anjolie Ela Menon (78) received the National Kalidas Samman for visual arts from the Madhya Pradesh government.
 The award was conferred in recognition of her insightful and sensitive portrayal of the identity and spirit of women through her
meaningful paintings in a variety of media.
 The Kalidas Samman is a prestigious arts award presented annually by the government of Madhya Pradesh in India. The award is
named after Kālidāsa, a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer of ancient India. The Kalidas Samman was first awarded in 1980. It was
initially conferred in alternate years in the fields of Classical Music, Classical Dance, Theatre and Plastic Arts.
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From 1986-87 onwards, the awards were presented in all four fields every year. The award is presented for outstanding achievement
in one of the four categories.
 Some of the previous recipients are Pandit Ravi Shankar, MF Husain, Pandit Jasraj, Shambhu Mitra, Habib Tanvir, Ebrahim Alkazi
etc.
Year Name (Previous Winners) Field
1980-81 Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer Classical Music
Mallikarjun Mansur Classical Music
1981-82 K. G. Subramanyan Plastic Arts
1982-83 Sombhu Mitra Theatre
1983-84 Rukmini Devi Arundale Classical Dance

1984-85 Kumar Gandharva Classical Music
1985-86 Ram Kumar Plastic Arts
1986-87 Zia Mohiuddin Dagar Classical Music
Birju Maharaj Classical Dance
Ebrahim Alkazi Theatre
Narayan Shridhar Bendre Plastic Arts
1987-88 Ravi Shankar Classical Music
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V. Satyanarayana Sarma Classical Dance
P.L. Deshpande Theatre
M.F. Husain Plastic Arts
1988-89 M.S. Subbulakshmi Classical Music
Kelucharan Mohapatra Classical Dance
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Tripti Mitra Theatre
Tyeb Mehta Plastic Arts
1989-90 Vilayat Khan Classical Music
Guru Bipin Singh Classical Dance
Habib Tanvir Theatre
Vasudeo S. Gaitonde Plastic Arts
1990-91 Padma Subramanyam Classical Dance
Vijay Tendulkar Theatre
1991-92 Ali Akbar Khan Classical Music
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Ram Narayan Classical Music
Vempati Chinna Satyam Classical Dance
Vijaya Mehta Theatre
Jagdish Swaminathan Plastic Arts
1992-93 Ramankutty Nair Classical Dance
Ammannur Madhava Chakyar Classical Dance
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Badal Sarkar Theatre
Syed Haider Raza Plastic Arts
1993-94 Shanta Rao Classical Dance
B.V. Karanth Theatre
1994-95 Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale Classical Music
Kavalam Narayan Panikkar Theatre
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1995-96 Alla Rakha Classical Music
Sitara Devi Classical Dance
1996-97 Kishan Maharaj Classical Music
Mrinalini Sarabhai Classical Dance
Shriram Lagoo Theatre
Sheila Bhatia Theatre
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Bhupen Khakhar Plastic Arts
1997-98 Pandit Jasraj Classical Music
Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma Classical Dance
Tapas Sen Theatre
Akbar Padamsee Plastic Arts
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1998-99 D. K. Pattammal Classical Music

Kalanidhi Narayanan Classical Dance
Girish Karnad Theatre
Arpita Singh Plastic Arts
1999-2000 Hariprasad Chaurasia Classical Music
K. P. Kittappa Pillai Classical Dance
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Satyadev Dubey Theatre

Francis Newton Souza Plastic Arts
2000-01 M. Balamuralikrishna Classical Music
Rohini Bhate Classical Dance
Zohra Sehgal Theatre
Sankho Chaudhuri Plastic Arts
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2001-02 Sumati Mutatkar Classical Music

Yamini Krishnamurthy Classical Dance
K.V. Subbanna Theatre
Jogen Chowdhury Plastic Arts
2002-03 Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar Classical Music
Kumudini Lakhia Classical Dance
Khalid Chaudhary Theatre
Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh Plastic Arts
2003-04 V.G. Jog Classical Music
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Chandralekha Classical Dance

Gursharan Singh (playwright) Theatre
Himmat Shah Plastic Arts
2004-05 Prabha Atre Classical Music
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh Classical Dance
Devendra Raj Ankur Theatre
Nagji Patel Plastic Arts
2005-06 Zakir Hussain Classical Music
Kanak Rele Classical Dance

Ratan Thiyam Theatre
Manjit Bawa Plastic Arts
2006-07 Puttaraj Gavai Classical Music
Sonal Mansingh Classical Dance
Vimal Lath Theatre
Shanti Dave Plastic Arts
2007-08 Pt. Balwantrai Bhatt 'Bhavrang' Classical Music
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C.V. Chandrasekhar Classical Dance
Babasaheb Purandare Theatre
Satish Gujral Plastic Arts
2008-09 Chhannulal Mishra Classical Music
Jairma Patel plastic arts
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Kalamandalam Gopi classical dance
2009-10 Saroja Vaidyanathan classical dance
N. Rajam classical Music
2010-11 Anupam Kher Theatre
2012-2013 Keshav Rao Sadashiv Shastri Musalgaonkar
FIRST SIKH NEWSREADER OF PAKISTAN
 In a first, a Sikh man has been given the post of an anchor by a news channel in Pakistan.Harmeet Singh, who is a resident of Khyber
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Pakhtunkhwa province‘s Chakesar city, has joined the Public News channel.
 Mr. Singh was chosen as newscaster due to his flamboyant looks and voice pitch.
 Mr. Singh completed his masters in journalism from Federal Urdu University Karachi. He started his career as a reporter.
 Recently, Manmeet Kaur had become the first female Sikh reporter in Pakistan.
JAPAN‘S TOP ART PRIZE
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 The Praemium Imperiale is an international art prize awarded since 1989 by the Imperial family of Japan on behalf of the Japan Art
Association in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film. These are areas of achievement not covered by
the Nobel Prize. The prizes are awarded for outstanding contributions to the development, promotion and progress of the arts.
 Winners 2010 to 2018 are given beow:
Year Painting Sculpture Architecture Music Film/Theater
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2018 Pierre Alechinsky Fujiko Nakaya Christian de Portzamparc Riccardo Muti Catherine Deneuve
2017 Shirin Neshat El Anatsui Rafael Moneo Youssou N‘Dour Mikhail Baryshnikov
2016 Cindy Sherman Annette Messager Paulo Mendes da Rocha Gidon Kremer Martin Scorsese
2015 Tadanori Yokoo Wolfgang Laib Dominique Perrault Mitsuko Uchida Sylvie Guillem
2014 Martial Raysse Giuseppe Penone Steven Holl Arvo Pärt Athol Fugard
2013 Michelangelo Pistoletto Antony Gormley David Chipperfield Plácido Domingo Francis Ford Coppola
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2012 Cai Guo-Qiang Cecco Bonanotte Henning Larsen Philip Glass Yoko Morishita
2011 Bill Viola Anish Kapoor Ricardo Legorreta Seiji Ozawa Judi Dench
2010 Enrico Castellani Rebecca Horn Toyo Ito Maurizio Pollini Sophia Loren
PALGHAR FISHERMANWINS NATIONAL AWARD

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 A fisherman from Mumbai who saved 12 people from a sinking boat, has been selected for a prestigious award in recognition of his
search and rescue efforts.
 Milan Shankar Tare, a resident of Satapati village, will receive the National Maritime Search and Rescue Award, instituted by the
National Maritime Search and Rescue Board.
 The award will be presented to Tare in New Delhi.
 The award consists of a commendation certificate and cash prize.
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WEST BENGAL DISCOM GETS AWARD
 West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) has been conferred the SKOCH Order-of-Merit for ‗Intellectual
Billing with Automated Supervisory Check System‘.
 The award is in recognition of the innovation in the spot-billing procedure for domestic and commercial consumers.
 The mechanism involves multiple software facilities in addition to SAP IS-U system, which includes an android based mobile app
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(Vidyut Sahayogi) for metre reading and bill generation to layered supervision and storage of consumer data.
 It has increased the billing efficacy, data security and authenticity. With the help of this facility 100 per cent billing has been achieved.
 The meter-reading image, along with capturing of latitude-longitude of consumer premise and date and time stamp of bill generation
ensure veracity of data. The image verification software and profiling facility also helps in central data supervision as well as quick and
transparent way of dispute resolution.
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DEFENCE
FINANCIAL POWERS OF DRDO INCREASED
 To enhance efficiency and effectiveness of Defence Research establishments, Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman has decided to
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delegate greater financial powers to various authorities.
 This wind of change in Defence Research and Development (R&D) is intended to neutralise the ill-effects of over-centralisation and
facilitate quicker decision making. This is in line with similar financial delegations made to Armed Forces in the last one y ear. The
delegated powers now stands enhanced as under:-
 Powers of Secretary, Defence R&D to sanction projects and for procurements enhanced from Rs. 75 Crore to Rs. 150 Crore and for
the Directors General (DG) enhanced from Rs. 50 Crore to Rs. 75 Crore
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 Enhancement of powers for Proprietary Article Certificate (PAC) cases
 From Rs. 50 Crore. to Rs. 150 Crore for Secretary Defence (R&D);
 From Rs. 25 Crore to Rs. 75 Crore to DGs;
 From Rs. 2 Crore to Rs. 5 Crore for Lab Directors.
 Enhancement of powers for Single Tender cases
 From Rs. 50 Crore to Rs. 75 Crore for Secretary Defence (R&D);
 From Rs. 25 Crore to Rs. 37.5 Crore for DGs;
 From Rs. 1 Crore to Rs. 2.5 Crore for Lab Directors.
 All Competent Financial Authority empowered to reallocate funds, reduce and enhance costs of projects/programmes within their
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delegated powers.
 The powers of Director General (DG) have been enhanced from Rs. 3 Crore to Rs. 5 Crore for sanctioning Research projects to
Universities, Technological Institutions and to Indigenous Defence Industry under the Technology Development Fund Scheme of
DRDO.
 Powers of post-contract management and maintenance support in respect of contracts for which CFA is the Ministry of Defence, have
been delegated to Directors General of DRDO in line with the delegations already made to the Armed Forces.
 Delegations for Hygiene and Maintenance Contracts, training expenses, miscellaneous and contingent activities have been
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rationalized and enhanced to ensure that sanctions are given at the Director and DG levels with minimal flow of files to DRDO HQ.
 Consequently, the powers for sanctioning of projects and for procurements that were hitherto with the Secretary Defence R&D have
now been delegated to the Directors General of DRDO and the delegation to the Secretary, Defence R&D has been doubled, A
number of powers relating to day-to-day functioning that were centralized at DRDO HQ have now been delegated to the DGs and Lab
Directors. The delegations also bring flexibility in Universities and by indigenous defence industry. All the delegations tha t had been
made in respect of the services have also been extended to the DRDO.
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 The Director Generals of DRDO has expressed their satisfaction at this major initiative by the Government and have opined that these
forward-looking measures would ensure that majority of the decisions relating to implementation and functioning would largely be
taken within the technology clusters whereas policy issues would primarily come to the Government.
 Given the geographically dispersed Clusters and Laboratories, this will be greatly reduce file movements to and from the DRDO HQ at
New Delhi and facilitate faster decision-making.
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IAF PARTICIPATION IN EX PITCH BLACK 2018
 The Indian Air Force for the first time is participating with fighter aircraft in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 (PB-18), which is scheduled from
24 Jul 18 to 18 Aug 18 in Australia. Ex Pitch Black is a biennial multi-national large force employment warfare exercise hosted by the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
 The IAF contingent consists of 145 air-warriors including Garud team, 04 X Su-30 MKI, 01 X C-130 and 01 X C-17. The contingent will
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assemble at Air Force Station Kalaikunda and depart for the exercise on 19 Jul 18 from India to Australia via Indonesia. The
contingent is being led by Group Captain CUV Rao VM and would aim to undertake simulated air combat exercises in a controlled
environment and mutual exchange of best practices towards enhancing IAF operational capability.
 During the flight from India to Australia and back, Su-30 MKI will carry out air to air refueling with IL-78 tankers. After completion of the
exercise, on its return leg from Darwin to Subang, Su-30 MKI will be refueled in air for the first time by RAAF KC-30A. In Australia, the
IAF will participate in the mega exercise, which will involve over 100 aircraft from around the globe.
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 During the transit to Australia, IAF contingent will also have constructive engagement with Indonesian and Malaysian Air Forces.
POLICE CADET PROGRAMME
 The Student Police Cadet (SPC) Programme was launched nationally on the 21st July, 2018 by the Union Home Minister.
 The programme seeks to build a bridge between the Police and the larger community through school students by inculcating values
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and ethics in them through classes in school and outside.

 The programme focuses on students of class 8 & 9 and special care has been taken to ensure that it does not lead to increase in the
workload of the students. The programme does not have any prescribed text book nor is any exam envisaged. Only one class in a
month is proposed. The programme seeks to cover broadly two kinds of topics:
 Crime prevention and control; and
 Values and ethics
 Under the first part, the topics covered are – Community Policing, Road Safety, Fight against Social Evils, Safety of Women &
Children, Fight against Corruption and Disaster Management. The topics covered under the second part are – Values & Ethics,
Respect for Elders, Empathy & Sympathy, Tolerance, Patience, Attitude, Team Spirit and Discipline.
 A Handbook has been prepared by BPR&D for imparting instructions with the support of NCERT. There is greater emphasis on field
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demonstrations and hands on learning of the functioning of the Police through visits to Women Police stations, Child Protection
Homes including NGOs, Traffic Police and Fire Brigade Stations. There will also be learning through group discussions, audio-visual
mediums etc.
 The programme shall be steered by a State level committee to be headed by the Principal Secretary, Home Department with the
Principal Secretary, Education and Director General of Police as members. There shall be a similar committee at the district level
headed by the District Magistrate with the District Inspector of Schools and Superintendent of Police as members.
 An amount of Rs.67 crores has been released to the States for implementation of the programme. An amount of Rs.50,000 shall be
earmarked for each school to be spent on educational aids, training and contingency. The Programme shall be at first implemented in
Government schools in both urban and rural areas.

BRAHMOS FLIGHT-TESTED IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
 Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was successfully flight-tested under extreme weather conditions as part of the service life
extension programme for the Army.
 The missile followed the designated trajectory and the key components functioned perfectly. BrahMos has again proved its all-weather
capability, flying in sea state 7, with waves as high as nine metres‖.
 (Sea state is the degree of turbulence at sea, generally measured on a scale of 0 to 9 according to average wave height).
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 The missile was fired from a mobile autonomous launcher from the Integrated Test Range at Balasore, Odisha.
 BrahMos, a joint venture between India and Russia, has been demonstrated in various configurations in land attack, anti-ship and
from the air. The Army and the Navy have inducted the missile, while the air-launched variant is undergoing trials.
 It has a strike range of around 290 km and is described as the world‘s fastest supersonic cruise missile.
UPGRADED VIKAS ENGINE — WITH MORE THRUST — WILL BOOST ISRO‘S ROCKETS
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 All three satellite launch vehicles of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are set to add muscle to their spacecraf t lifting
power in upcoming missions this year. The space agency has improved the thrust of the Vikas engine that powers all of them. The
high-thrust engine qualified after a ground test lasting 195 seconds (over three minutes).
 The main beneficiary of the high-thrust Vikas engine is said to be the heavy-lifting GSLV-Mark III launcher, which ISRO expects will
now put 4,000-kg satellites to space. This would be the third Mk-III and the first working one to be designated MkIII Mission-1 or M1.
 The first MkIII of June 2017 started with a 3,200-kg satellite and the second one is being readied for lifting a 3,500-kg spacecraft.
 The Vikas engine will improve the payload capability of PSLV, GSLV and GSLVMk-III launch vehicles.
 The improvement effort, the second such since December 2001, was conducted at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil
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Nadu.
 S. Somanath, Director, Launch Vehicles Centre, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, said the incremental benefit of the upgraded engine
should be seen in the PSLV and GSLV missions over the coming months. MkIII-D2, the second test flight of the heavy-lifter, is being
assembled. The new engine will be used in the subsequent mission — M1.
 The Vikas engine is used in the second stage of the light lifting PSLV; the second stage and the four add-on stages of the medium-lift
GSLV; and the twin-engine core liquid stage of Mk-III.
 Eventually, ISRO will phase out Vikas by replacing it first in Mk-III with a cleaner and safer semi-cryogenic engine. The semi-cryo
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engine is ready for trial; its stage has just been approved.
IAF SENDS SU-30S FOR EXERCISE PITCH BLACK IN AUSTRALIA
 An Indian Air Force contingent of Su-30MKI fighter jets departed for the multi-national exercise, Pitch Black, in Australia, scheduled
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from July 24 to August 18.
 This is the first time India is sending fighter aircraft for the biennial exercises hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force.
 Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial warfare exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exercise is normally held in
Northern Australia, primarily at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal.
 The aim of the exercise is to practice Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) combat, in a simulated war
environment. It traditionally consists of a 'red team' and a 'blue team' based at separate locations, with one attacking the other.
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INTERNATIONAL ARMY GAMES
 An Indian Army team has reached Moscow to participate in the International Army games scheduled from July 28 to August 11.
 The Army games are organised annually by Russia and this year 28 competitions will be held in seven countries.
 India is participating in two competitions including the Tank Biathlon and Elbrus Ring.
 The International Army Games is a Russian military sports event organized by the Ministry of Defense of Russia (MoD). The annual
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International Army Games, which have taken place since August 2015, involve close to 30 countries battling it out in dozens of
competitions over two weeks to prove which nation has the most military might.
 The games are commonly nicknamed the War Olympics.
 2018 International Army Games competitions were held in Armenia and Iran for the first time. Teams from Algeria, Vietnam, Myanmar,
Pakistan, the Sudan and the Philippines also took part in the games for the first time.
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AGNI-V TO BE INDUCTED SOON
 India is in the process of inducting the first batch of its intercontinental ballistic missile system—Agni V - which will bring targets across
China within its range, and is expected to significantly bolster the country‘s military prowess.
 The missile system, with a strike range of 5,000 km and capable of carrying nuclear warhead, is being inducted into the elite Strategic
Forces Command (SFC). A series of user trials is being conducted before the country‘s most sophisticated weapon is handed over to
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the SFC.
 The missile is capable of bringing targets across China, including its prominent cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong
Kong, under its range.
 Agni V is the most advanced weapon in its series as it has latest technologies for navigation and its capability of carrying nuclear
warhead is much superior.
 The first batch of Agni-V will be handed over to the SFC ―soon‖, while declining to elaborate further on the closely-guarded defence
project. The missile is being inducted at a time when India‘s neighbourhood is witnessing evolving security threats.
 Very few countries, including the US, China, Russia, France and North Korea, have intercontinental ballistic missiles.
 In its armoury, India currently has Agni I with a 700-km range, Agni II with a 2,000-km range, Agni III and Agni IV with a 2,500-km to
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more than 3,500-km range.

 The first test of Agni V was conducted on April 19, 2012, the second on September 15, 2013, the third on January 31, 2015 and the
fourth on December 26, 2016. The fifth test was held on January 18. All the five trials were successful.
 As part of its efforts to enhance the country‘s defence capabilities, the government is also working on several key projects including
integrating the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft.
 The air-launched variant of the Brahmos, the world‘s fastest supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test-fired from a Sukhoi-30
combat jet, marking a major milestone to enhance the precision strike capability of the air force. The defence ministry is now
expediting the process to integrate the Brahmos missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft.
 The fleet of 40 Sukhoi jet is undergoing structural modifications at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for integration of the missile on
them.

RUSSIA DROPS ‗DECADE-OLD‘ STEALTH FIGHTER PROJECT WITH INDIA
 By cancelling the mass production of the Su-57 fighter jet, Russia has effectively pulled the plug on its fifth-generation stealth fighter
aircraft.
 The multi-billion dollar project regarding the fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme, or FGFA Project, was to be a shared effort
between the two nations to produce an improved variant of the Su-57 stealth fighter.
 The partnership between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russia‘s Sukhoi dealt with a production order of more than 100
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FGFAs, with much of the actual manufacturing occurring in India.Engine troubles and the FGFA's questionable stealth had stalled the
programme for several years. Just the cost of of developing four prototype fighter jets is pegged at a prohibitive $6 billion. The Indian
Air Force (IAF) reportedly withdrew from the project, citing ―the FGFA's limited capabilities and several features that were inferior to
the US-made F-35 and F-22 jets".
INDIA TO BUY 48 RUSSIAN COPTERS FOR $1.2 B
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 As the S-400 air-defence deal with Russia gets the green signal, the stage is set for the inking of another $1.2-billion deal between
India and Russia for 48 Mi-17V5 helicopters for the Indian Air Force.
 IAF is seeking to upgrade its long-range air defence capabilities by acquiring the Russian made S400 Triumf. India will also be
inducting the PAD and AAD, collectively referred to as Pradyumna and Ashwin anti-ballistic missile air defence systems.
SHWET ASHWA DRASS EXPEDITION
 Shwet Ashwa, the elite motorcycle display team of the Corps of Military Police, commenced a motor cycle expedition from Bengaluru
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to Drass on 2nd July 2018 as a tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the Kargil war.
 After a gruelling ride through the Western Ghats and encountering heavy rains at Mumbai and Jaipur, the expedition reached New
Delhi on 13th Jul 2018 from where it will be flagged off for Drass on 16th July 2018.
 The expedition is being undertaken by five highly experienced riders of the Army‘s Shwet Ashwa Motor Cycle Display team and will
travel a distance of more than 3250 km across eight states before they reach Drass on 24th July 2018.
 At Drass, they will participate in the Vijay Diwas celebrations to commemorate India‘s Victory in the Kargil war and pay homa ge to the
527 brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives during this operation.
NCC BOYS EXPEDITION TEAM TO MT SAIFEE
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DGNCC flagged-in the NCC Boys Expedition to Mt Saifee on 11 July 2018. The expedition was launched on 01 June 2018.
The expedition team left for Mt Saifee Peak on 04 June 2018 from Delhi lead by Expedition Leader Col Dhirendra Singh, Dy Leader
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Major Neeraj Singh Mann alongwith 15 PI Staff and 20 boy cadets. All the cadets were given mountaineering training in NIM,
Uttarkashi for 10 days.
 Mt Saifee is situated in the beautiful Gangotri National Park and the Garhwal Himalayas. The peak is knows as Mountaineers
Paradise. The successful summit of the peak by 18 NCC Cadets on 30 Jun 2018 gave them an exposure to the mountainous
conditions and hones their spirit of adventure.
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STATES AFFAIRS
BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL
 The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Jitendra Singh attended the famous 4-day Meghalaya
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Annual Cultural Festival, "Behdienkhlam", held every year at the small peripheral town of Jowai, Meghalaya.
 Most popular festival of the Jaintia tribe, Behdienkhlam is celebrated in the month of July for good health, property and bumper
harvest. Although Behdienkhlam is celebrated all over the Jaintia hills, the main spectacle happens in the town of Jowai, about 64 km
away from Shillong. The non-Christian ‗Pnar‘ people who believe either in the traditional faith of ‗Niamtre‘ or Hinduism observe this
festival.
 According to folktales, Jowai town was once covered by thick forest, without any human habitation. It was home of five deities, four
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stones and a river nymph. The four huge stones can still be seen at the four corners of Jowai town.
 The five deities wished that god would send humans to settle in this region, and thus a wandering Mongolian tribe arrived in this forest.
To celebrate the presence of humans, ‗U-Mokhai‘ the eldest of the deities began a ceremonial dance. Upon seeing the thunder and
noise from the dance, the tribes got scared and began to flee.
 U-Mokhai then stopped and addressed them that they are safe and are meant to inhabit this forest. The festival begins with sacrificing
pig to ‗Knia Pyrthat‘ (Thunder) followed by the ‗Wasan‘ (Priest) ringing the brass bell along the main road of the town to th e point
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where the forest begins. Rounded, polished and tall trunks of tree are felled in the sacred forest and are left in the woods for couple of
days.
 The trunks are then brought to the town with great fanfare, dancing and singing. On the fourth day, the youth of the town led by the
priest visit each and every home, climb to the roof and beat it with a bamboo stick to chase away any evil spirits.
 The people also display their artistic skills by erecting ‗rots‘ (tall bamboo structures decorated with colour paper and tins el). The rots
are then carried to the ‗Aitnar site‘, where women and men gather. The rots arrive and the polished, rounded logs are thrown into the
river. The dancing men rush and try to balance themselves on the rolling and slippery logs. At the end, ‗Dad-Lawakor‘, a type of
football is played with a wooden ball.
REPATRIATION OF BRU PERSONS TO MIZORAM

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 In a major breakthrough on repatriation of displaced Bru persons from Mizoram since 1997, an agreement has been signed by
Government of India, Governments of Mizoram and Tripura and Mizoram Bru Displaced People‘s Forum (MBDPF) in presence of
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of Mizoram Lalthanhawla, and Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb.
 5,407 families comprising of 32,876 persons presently in temporary camps in Tripura will repatriate to Mizoram before 30th Sept 2018.
 The agreement was signed by Rina Mitra, Special Secretary (Internal Security), MHA, Sanjeev Ranjan, Chief Secretary, Govt of
Tripura, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Mizoram and A. Sawibunga, President, MBDPF.
 Government of India will provide financial assistance for rehabilitation of Brus in Mizoram and address their issues of secur ity,
education, livelihood etc. in consultation with Governments of Mizoram and Tripura.
 A Committee under Special Secretary (Internal Security) will coordinate the implementation of this agreement.
 Although the Brus have been seeking relief on the lines of that given to Kashmiri Pandits and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, their story is
not as well known.
 The tribe: Bru (or Reang) tribals inhabit parts of some Northeastern states. In Mizoram, they are largely restricted to Mamit and
Kolasib districts.
 In 1995, following a clash between Mizos and Brus, the Young Mizo Association and Mizo Students‘ Association demanded that Brus
be removed from the state‘s electoral rolls, contending that the tribe was not indigenous to Mizoram. This led to an armed movement
led by the militant outfit Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), and a political one by the Bru National Union (BNU).
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 On October 21, 1997, BNLF militants killed a forest official in Mizoram, leading to retaliatory ethnic violence. The BNU, which was
demanding an autonomous tribal district, claimed that 1,391 Bru houses in 41 villages were burnt down and several people were
raped and killed. Mizoram police put the number of homes torched at 325 in 16 villages, and did not confirm rape or murder.
 A large number of Bru families fled to North Tripura. Thousands of families, with some 30,000 members, were given shelter in six relief
camps in Kanchanpur and Panisagar subdivisions.
 Resettlement: The first phase of repatriation started in November 2010, when 1,622 Bru families with 8,573 members were resettled in
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Mizoram. The process was stalled in 2011, 2012 and 2015 amid protests by Mizo NGOs. Brus settled in Tripura also expressed fears
for their security in Mizoram. Since 1997, the Centre has given financial assistance of Rs 348.97 crore to Tripura for relief and
rehabilitation, and Rs 68.90 crore to Mizoram for the resettlement of 8,573 persons.
 The latest peace deal was brokered over three years, starting in 2015. It involved a joint monitoring committee with members of civil
society groups including Young Mizo Association and Mizo Students‘ Association, and representatives of the state governments and
the Home Ministry.
 The package: A financial package of Rs 435 crore was agreed on. It covers 5,407 Bru families (32,876 members). Each family will be
given a one-time assistance of Rs 4 lakh — to be kept in fixed deposit within one month of repatriation — and cash assistance of Rs
5,000 per month through direct benefits transfer, as well as free rations for two years. Rs 1.5 lakh will be provided as hous e building
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assistance, in three instalments.
 For security, the Centre has asked the Mizoram government to create police posts and border outposts. The Home Ministry will
sanction funds for setting up the checkposts. The Tripura government will ensure that Aadhaar cards are issued, bank accounts
opened and ration cards updated for each Bru migrant before September 30, 2018.
 The package includes a special development project, Eklavya residential schools, access to jhum cultivation land, permanent
residential certificates and ST certificates, and free transportation from Tripura to Mizoram.
 The displaced families had demanded land at one location, which Mizoram rejected. An agreement was reached that they will be
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relocated to the villages from where they had been displaced.
 The development comes ahead of elections in Mizoram, the only non-BJP-ruled state in the Northeast. It also means Mizoram‘s
electoral rolls will have to updated. The verification of Bru migrants by the government of Mizoram was done on the basis of electoral
rolls of 1996, last updated in 2014. In the past, 8,573 Bru migrants were identified and repatriated in six batches.
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RENAMING OF AGARTALA AIRPORT
 The Union Cabinet gave its approval to rename the Agartala Airport in Tripura as ‗Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore Airport,
Agartala.
 The decision comes in the wake of the long pending demand of people of Tripura as well as the Tripura Government for paying tribute
to Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore.
 Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore, who ascended the throne of the erstwhile Tripura Princely State in 1923, was an enlightened
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and benevolent ruler. Agartala Airport was constructed in 1942 on the land donated by Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore.
 As a visionary ruler, who had travelled extensively across the globe, he took several steps for the all-round development of Tripura.
LINING PROJECT OF THE SON CANAL IN SHAHABAD – BHOJPUR REGION
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 503-million lining project of the Son canal in Shahabad-Bhojpur region of
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Bihar which would benefit the agriculture sector immensely in the region.
 It was agreed that Finance Ministry will give permission to appoint consultants by 17th July, 2018 and ADB consultants will start their
work by the end of July.
 It may be noted that the estimated cost of this project is USD 503 million (Rs 3272.49 crore) out of which USD 352 million is being
provided by ADB. This project will bring immense benefits to the agriculture sector of Shahabad – Bhojpur region of Bihar.
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BANSAGAR CANAL PROJECT DEDICATED TO NATION
 The Prime Minister dedicated the Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation in Mirzapur. This project will provide a big boost to irrigation in
the region, and will be greatly beneficial for the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh.
 Bansagar project had been first conceptualized about four decades ago, and the Foundation Stone was laid in 1978, but the project
was unduly delayed. After 2014, this project was made a part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and all efforts were made
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to complete it.
 Bansagar Dam project is a joint venture of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. As per Bansagar Agreement 1973, the 4.0 Maf
of storage is to be shared among the three states in the ratio of 2:1:1.
 Accordingly UP has planned to use 0.73 Maf of water under Bansagar Canal project. The project will provide an additional Annual
Irrigation of 1,50,132 ha (60,816 ha in Kharif and 89,316 ha in Rabi) in Allahabad and Mirzapur districts and will also Suppl y 5.67
Mcum water for domestic use in the above districts of Uttar Pradesh. The CCA of the project is 2,32,411 hectare.
The Project comprises the following components:
A. Components executed by Madhya Pradesh in their portion:
 Common Water Carrier: Common Water carrier directly from Bansagar reservoir 22 km long and 185 cumec capacity carrying total
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water requirement of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for irrigation purpose and Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board for hydro
power generation.
 Common feeder (Sihawal Canal): This canal takes off from RD 22 km of Common Water carrier and is 15.24 km long having
discharging capacity of 72.74 cumec and carries water of UP and MP state.
B. Components being executed by Uttar Pradesh
 Lined Bansagar Feeder Channel (U. P. Portion): Bansagar Feeder Channel takes off from RD - 15.24 km, from Sihawal canal
constructed by Madhya Pradesh. This feeder channels passes on the southern side of Keymore Range and then crosses the range
through a tunnel 2.10 km in length and join Adwa Nala through tail race channel. Now length of canal proposed is 68.835 km to carry
46.50 cumec of water
 Lined Adwa - Meja Link Channel: 25.3 km long, to carry 46.46 cumec and to join Adwa River through Adwa Barrage to Meja dam.

 Lined Meja - Jirgo Link Channel: 75 km long to carry 16.43 cumec and to join Meja and Jirgo dams.
 Lined Jirgo - Hussainpur Link Channel: 13.2 km. long to carry 6.20 cumec and to join Jirgo dam and Hussaipur weir.
 Remodelling of Belan Canal: 13.97 Km. long concrete lined canal to carry additional 28.3 cumec discharge. Total capacity of the canal
shall be 67.11 cumec. Rest of the Belan canal shall be remodelled as per requirement of the earthen section.
 Re-modelling of Baraundha weir: Remodelling of weir proposed to pass the additional discharge of the order of 28.3 cumec to Belan
canal system.
 Lining works of Sirsi Baraundha feeder and Baraunha Dy : To minimise the seepage losses and utilising the same in the command of
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Baruanha and upraundh systems.
 Construction of Adwa Barrage: 10 bays of 12 m x 8 m is proposed to be constructed on Adwa River 10 km. upstream of Adwa Dam to
maintain the desired level for Adwa - Meja link channel.
 Remodelling of the following canal systems: Belan Canal, Yamuna Pump Canal, Tons Pump Canal, Adwa Sukhara systems, Khaki
Area, Baraundha Dy, Harrai Command, Lower Khajuri, Jirgo Command, Garai Canal.
 Bansagar or Ban Sagar Dam is a multipurpose river Valley Project on Sone River situated in the Ganges Basin in Madhya Pradesh,
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India with both irrigation and 435 MW of hydroelectric power generation .
 The Bansagar Dam across the Sone River was constructed near the Deolond village in the Shahdol district. It is surrounded by Satna,
Katni, Umaria and Shahdol districts. The project was called "Bansagar" after Bana Bhatt, the renowned Sanskrit scholar of the 7th
century, who is believed to have hailed from this region in India.
 The project was initially called the "Dimba Project" in 1956 by the Central Water Commission, New Delhi to be constructed on the
Sone River at the confluence of the Sone and Banas Rivers near Shikarganj town 30 km down river from the present site. Later it was
shifted to the present site at Deolond. There was an agreement in 1973 between the State Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar for the construction of the dam, in which the states shared the expenditure in the ratio of 2:1:1. The 4 million-acre-
feet of water is also shared by the states in the same ratio. The construction work was started in 1978 at original approved cost of Rs.
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91.31 crores. The final estimated cost in 1998 was Rs. 1054.96 crores.
 PM also laid the Foundation Stone of the Mirzapur Medical College. He inaugurated 100 Jan AushadhiKendras in UP. He also
dedicated a bridge over the River Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi.
THE MAHAGENCO PIPE CONVEYOR SYSTEM
 The Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the MAHAGENCO Pipe Conveyor System for coal transportation from cluster of mines
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of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL).
 The work commencement ceremony was held in Nagpur Municipal Corporation‘s Suresh Bhat Auditorium.
 The first Pipe Conveyor project of 6.3 Km length is a dedicated system for Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station of
MAHAGENCO by taking coal from Bhatadi OC mine, Chandrapur Area and feeding to MGR at Padmapur.
 The second project of approx. 20 Km length will have five feeding Open Cast Mines of Nagpur Area of WCL, namely Gondegaon,
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Kamptee, Inder, Bhanegaon and Singhori dedicated to Khaparkheda and Koradi Power Plants of Maharashtra State Power
Generation Co. Ltd. (MSPGCL).
 This project is being carried out in two phases. On completion of this project, road transportation of coal will be stopped and 100 per
cent coal production from these mines of WCL will be transported through Koradi & Khaperkheda Coal pipe conveyor.
 The pipe conveyor system is a step in the direction of developing a modern, efficient and eco-friendly mode of coal transportation from
mines of WCL to the Pit head Power stations of MAHAGENCO, Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (MSPGCL) has taken
up the installation of Pipe Conveyor System through WCL acquired land. This dedicated coal transportation system will be firs t of its
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kind in Coal India Limited (CIL). It will go a long way in mitigating environmental impact of Road Transport by eliminating dispersed
coal dust & vehicular emissions. It will also help in avoiding coal pilferage and facilitate assured quality & quantity of supply of coal to
power plants at lower transport costs.
ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL COLLEGE AT DEORIA, UTTAR PRADESH

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 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the State Government of Uttar Pradesh for establishment
of new medical college at Deoria at a cost of Rs.250 crore under Phase-II of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
 Under Phase-II of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing District/Referral
hospitals, the criteria for one medical in every three Parliamentary Constituencies and one Government medical college in each State
was adopted. Accordingly, a requirement of 24 additional medical colleges including eight medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh has been
approved.
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 Out of the eight identified Blocks in Uttar Pradesh, the Block-6 consists of (70) Ghosi, (71) Salempur and (72) Ballia Parliamentary
Constituencies. The State Government of Uttar Pradesh has recommended for establishment of Medical Colleges, Salempur at
Deoria by up-gradation of District Hospital, Deoria.
 Salempur is part of District Deoria and Salempur Parliamentary Constituency is partly covered under District Deoria. The District
Hospital, Deoria is also suitable as it has sufficient number of beds and other facilities including availability of land as per MCI norms
for the establishment of medical college of all possible locations in the identified Block.
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PACKAGE FOR IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of Centrally Sponsored-Scheme for completion of 83
Minor Irrigation projects and 8 major/medium irrigation projects of Marathawada, Vidharbha and drought prone areas of the res t of
Maharashtra.
 The special package shall help in creation of additional potential of 3.77 L Hectares. In Marathawada, Vidharbha and drought prone
areas of rest of Maharashtra.
 The projects included under special package are over and above the 26 major/ medium projects of Maharashtra having ultimate
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potential of 8.501 Ha being funded under PMKSY-AIBP, which are planned to be completed by December,2019.
 Progress of the projects would be monitored by State as well as Central Water Commission.
 The overall balance cost of the projects as on 01.04.2018 is estimated to be Rs. 13,651.61 crore.
 This amounts @ 25% of the balance cost of these 91 projects as on 01.04.18 as well as 25% reimbursement for the expenditure
incurred during 2017-18, keeping in view that funding of these projects is under consideration since 2017-18, would be provided. Total
Central Assistance to be provided for implementation of these projects is Rs. 3,831.41 crore. Rest is to be provided by Government
of Maharashtra. It is also envisaged that State Share may be arranged through NABARD.
 Maharashtra has experienced hydrological and agricultural drought during the years 2012 to 2016. The situation has been worst in
Vidharbha and Marathawada region with unfortunate incidence of suicides by farmers been reported there.

 Also Drought Prone Areas (DPA) in rest of Maharashtra have experienced distress in the recent years. These projects are ongoing,
yet, they are languishing due to fund constraints as informed by the State Government.
 The completion of balance works of these projects will help in creation of additional 3.77 lakh hectare of irrigation potential and
assured source of water to the farmers in the command area of these projects. This will increase yield of their crops and thereby
increase the income of the farmers.
NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY OF EVMs
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 The Election Commissioner Sunil Arora visited Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore. BEL has established state-of-the-art secure
manufacturing facilities for manufacture of digital certified EVM/VVPATs as per the advise of Technical Experts Committee of ECI. He
also reviewed the status of Progress of production of EVMs and VVPATs.
 He inaugurated one of the newly set up secured manufacturing facility for EVM production at Military communication Strategic
Business Unit at BEL Bangalore Complex.
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 He also inaugurated a three day workshop cum training Programme for the Chief Electoral Officers. Braille EPICards were distributed
for the first time in Karnataka to four visually impaired voters.
NORTH EASTERN CULTURAL AND INFORMATION CENTRE IN DELHI
 A plot of land measuring 5341.75 sqm. (1.32 acres) has been acquired from DDA for the purpose of building a North Eastern Cultural
and Information Centre in Delhi. The CPWD have been entrusted to take up architectural consultancy and construction of the building.
North Eastern Council (NEC) have allocated fund for starting construction work.
 The proposed activities of the Centre include showcasing of history, culture, rich heritage, festivals and cuisine of the eight States in
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the North East; establishing facilities for promotion of tourism; and to create Common Facility Centre, library, Knowledge and
Resource Centre in the National Capital.
 This Centre would facilitate dissemination of knowledge about the rich cultural heritage of the North East.
PUNJAB TO DEPLOY CISF AT SIX PRISONS
 The Punjab government has decided to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force for checking and frisking at six of the 10 high-
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security prisons in the State.
 Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed the prisons department to coordinate with the central authorities to expedite the process of
CISF deployment at these six prisons.
 Concerned over security violations and sneaking of mobile phones and drugs into the State‘s prisons, the Chief Minister order ed the
department to ensure efficient working of all closed-circuit television cameras installed in the prisons.
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The Chief Minister ordered the Director General of Police to take stern action against any policeman or prison official founding
conniving in the supply of cell phones or drugs to the inmates.
METRO IN AGRA, KANPUR, MEERUT, BHOPAL AND INDORE
 The Finance Ministry has given in-principle approval for new Metro projects in Agra, Kanpur, Meerut, Bhopal and Indore, according to
a senior official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
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 The Phase IV of the Delhi Metro and the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) have also received in-principle
approval. The Public Investment Board will also have to give its consent before these proposals are sent to the Union Cabinet for its
final approval.
 The timeline of Metro proposals for Uttar Pradesh cities is also fraught, as DPRs for Agra and Kanpur had reportedly been rejected by
the Centre in 2017 in the light of the new Metro Rail policy and sent back to the State for re-evaluation.
 In January 2018, however, the Uttar Pradesh government announced its decision to start metro services in Agra, Kanpur and Meerut
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by 2024 at a total estimated cost of Rs. 43,800 crore.

 In February 2018, the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation had invited tenders for the first phase of the Kanpur Metro project at an
approximate proposed cost of Rs. 734 crore, saying the work would be financed through equity participation of the Centre and state
government and other appropriate means.
 Meanwhile, the government is also taking steps to standardise and indigenise metro rail systems across the country. A committee has
been constituted under the chairmanship of ‗Metro Man‘ E. Sreedharan to make suggestions and is expected to submit its report
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within three months, said official sources.

 The average budget outlay of the Central government is likely to increase to about Rs. 25,000 crore annually, apart from investments
envisaged by the State governments, private partners and ULBs.
MAHA GOVT‘S CANCER TREATMENT SCHEME

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 The first phase of the State government‘s scheme to provide free chemotherapy to cancer patients will be rolled out in Gadchiroli,
Amravati, and Jalgaon from July 1.
 The free chemotherapy treatment scheme was announced by the state government in April this year.
 The government had shortlisted Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Pune, Amravati, Jalgaon, Nashik, Wardha, Satara, Bhandara and Akola districts.
 The scheme aims to alleviate the problems of cancer patients who currently have to travel to Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai f or
chemotherapy sessions that typically last for six weeks.
 According to the National Cancer Registry Programme, 11 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer every year across the country.
 The total number of cancer patients stood at around 28 lakh, as per the National Cancer Registry Programme data. Five lakh cancer-
afflicted people die annually
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KABIR MAHOTSAV
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day ‗Kabir Mahotsav‘, organised by the Union Ministry of Culture, at Maghar in
Uttar Pradesh‘s Sant Kabir Nagar district.
 It marked the 500th death anniversary of mystic poet and saint Kabir Das.
 The Prime Minister offered floral tributes and Chadar at mazar of Saint Kabir, visited Sant Kabir Cave and later unveiled a plaque to
mark the laying of Foundation Stone of Saint Kabir Academy, which will highlight the great saint‘s teachings and thoughts.
 Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement and his verses are
found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib.

 His early life was in a Muslim family, but he was strongly influenced by his teacher, the Hindu bhakti leader Ramananda.
 Kabir is known for being critical of both Hinduism and Islam, stating that the former was misguided by the Vedas, and questioning their
meaningless rites of initiation such as the sacred thread and circumcision respectively.
 Kabir suggested that True God is with the person who is on the path of righteousness, considered all creatures on earth as his own
self, and who is passively detached from the affairs of the world.
 Kabir's legacy survives and continues through the Kabir panth ("Path of Kabir"), a religious community that recognises him as its
founder and is one of the Sant Mat sects. Its members are known as Kabir panthis.
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RS 340.4 CRORE FLOOD RELIEF FOR ASSAM
 An amount of Rs. 340.4 crore has been released for flood relief work in Assam. This amount includes Rs.239.40 crore by way of the
first installment of central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs.101 crore as the contribution from the Minis try of
Northeast (DoNER).
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JODHPUR INSTITUTE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
 The Minister of State for Tourism inaugurated the Institute of Hospitality Management in Jodhpur.
 The Institute was first established as Food Craft Institute in the year 1996 was upgraded to the Institute of Hotel Management in the
year 2001. It is setup by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Rajasthan and affiliated with the National Council for Hotel Management
Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, NOIDA, an apex body under the ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
 It is situated in the heart of Suncity having 6.5acre of sprawling campus with separate girls and boys hostel and indoor & ou tdoor
sports facility.
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 India is among the fastest growing Tourism economy in the world and in 2017, the Indian tourism receipts went up by 20.8% against a
global growth rate of 7%.
2 GURUGRAM SECTORS TO GET RID OF POLYTHENE
 Sectors 14 and 15 of the Millennium City will soon be made polythene-free as part of a pilot project by the District Legal Services
Authority, Gurugram, and the district administration, in coordination with several government departments.
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 A special campaign will be launched to make the district polythene-free. Awareness programmes will be conducted and challans
issued to rid the two residential sectors of the menace.
KANNUR AIRPORT BACKS OUT OF UDAN
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The Kannur international airport, gearing up for commercial flight operations in September, has decided to opt out of the bandwagon
of regional flights under the Union government‘s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN).
 Kannur International Airport is an under construction, international airport designed to serve the city of Kannur in the stat e of Kerala,
India. It is being built at Mattannur, 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the city in a public private partnership (PPP) model under Kannur
International Airport Ltd (KIAL). The airport received the IATA code of CNN in July 2017 which is an abbreviation for Cannanore, the
anglicised name for Kannur.
 The decision to back out comes after signing the agreement in January between the Centre, State government and Airports Authority
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of India for inter and intra-State services from the State‘s fourth international airport coming up near Mattannur.
 The KIAL board gave its nod after it came to the conclusion that the three-year exclusive monopoly in the seven sectors under the
UDAN scheme and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of the State will seriously hamper domestic flight operations and that revenue
generation will be hit.
 KIAL, the operator of the airport, will not get any revenue from the domestic flights operated under the UDAN scheme as it cannot
impose landing and parking, and terminal navigation landing charges on the airline in addition to discounts on route navigation facility.
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 The condition that VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) had to be lowered to 1% or less, providing security and fire services free of
cost, and electricity, water and other utilities at substantially concessional rates to the UDAN flights turned the tables.
 Two Indian carriers, IndiGo and Spicejet, had announced 26 flights in 12 routes to Kannur under the UDAN scheme leaving only the
Mumbai sector open for other carriers. By opting out of the scheme, all Indian carriers will be able to operate domestic flights to
Kannur.
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NEW PINK LINE METRO IN NCR
 With the ongoing trial runs on the stretch between the Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus and Lajpat Nagar metro stations, this Pink
Line Metro corridor is expected to begin passenger operations from July.
 The trial runs between the 8.1-km-long section between Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus and Lajpat Nagar are going on and the
section is likely to be opened in July.
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 The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in March this year, had started passenger operations on a 20.6 km stretch between the
South Campus and Majlis Park metro stations.
 DMRC‘s Phase III project: The Pink Line is a part of the DMRC‘s Phase III project and covers approximately 58 km between Shiv
Vihar and Majlis Park.
 Once the entire Phase III project is complete, the Delhi Metro network will cover over 360 km.
ODISHA SIGNS MOU FOR EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
 The Odisha government entered into a collaboration with the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), a
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body of 48 members and collaborating countries, aimed at automating risk management, advisory generation and dissemination.
 The collaborative effort would enhance early warning system for effective management of all kinds of disasters like flood, dr ought,
heat wave, lightning and road accidents.
 The MoU would bring a shift from ‗what weather will be‘ to ‗what weather will do‘. Using weather and climate information, sourced from
the India Meteorological Department (IMD), efforts will be made to create open-source software platforms and public domain data
sets.
 Initially, the agreement will be in force for five years with a cost involvement of about Rs. 8 crore.
 The State government also signed three MoUs for empowering farmers. The MoU on doubling farmers‘ income intends to assist two
lakh small and marginal farmers during the next three years in nine districts.

 Similarly, the State government has also made an attempt to restore common lands and waterbodies through village institutions and
local federation in all districts.
 Another MoU intends to trigger competition among farmers to innovate new technologies to reduce drudgery.
 These programmes will promote ecologically sound agricultural practices and water management, reduce cost of production, enhance
productivity and price realisation and promote grassroots-level innovation.
‗WORLD‘S LARGEST MOBILE FACTORY‘ IN NOIDA
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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, jointly inaugurated Samsung's 35-acre plant in Noida.
 Samsung is expected to manufacture around 12 crore phones a year. The Samsung's new unit is also expected to create employment
for more than 5000 people.
 The new facility, which has been dubbed the 'world's largest mobile factory', is located in Sector 81, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
 One of the first electronics manufacturing facilities set up in the country in the early 1990s, the plant started by manufact uring TVs in
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1997. The current mobile phone manufacturing unit was added in 2005.
 In June last year, the South Korean giant announced a Rs 4,915 crore investment to expand the Noida plant and, after a year, the new
facility is ready to double production.
 Not just mobiles, the expansion of the current facility will double Samsung's production capacity of consumer electronics like
refrigerators and flat panel televisions, further consolidating the company's leadership in these segments.
 Samsung has two manufacturing plants -- in Noida and in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu -- five R&D centres, and one design centre in
Noida, employing over 70,000 people and expanding its network to over 1.5 lakh retail outlets.
 The company is currently making 67 million smartphones in India and with the new plant being functional, it is expected to
manufacture nearly 120 million mobile phones.
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 Established in 1995, Samsung India laid the foundation stone of Noida plant next year. In 1997, production commenced and the first
television was rolled out. In 2003, refrigerator production began.
 By 2005, Samsung had become market leader in panel TVs and in 2007, the existing Noida facility started manufacturing mobile
phones.
 In 2012, Samsung became the leader in mobile phones in the country and the Noida facility rolled out the first-ever "Galaxy S3"
device. Today, Samsung is the market leader across mobile segments.
 The company currently has over 10 per cent of its overall production in India and aims to take it to 50 per cent over the next three
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years.
DELHI CM APPROVES YATRA SCHEME
 The Delhi government would send 77,000 senior citizens along with one adult attendant each on all-expenses paid pilgrimages every
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year.
 Kejriwal approved the Mukhyamantri Tirth yatra Yojana, a scheme the Cabinet had approved on January 8.
 The scheme could not be implemented so far because the Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal had raised some objections.
 But, with the Supreme Court ruling that the L-G‘s concurrence was not required for decisions on all but three subjects — land, police
and public order — the Chief Minister ―rejected‖ the objections and approved the scheme.
 For each of Delhi‘s 70 Assembly constituencies, 1,100 residents who are 60 years or older would be eligible to apply for the fully-
funded pilgrimage once in their life, the statement further read.
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 The government would also pay for one attendant over the age of 18 years to accompany each senior citizen. Applicants cannot be
employees of any Central, State or local government or autonomous bodies.
 The applicants would have to certify that the information given by them is correct and that they have not availed of the scheme before.
 Apart from travel in air-conditioned buses through the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, the government
would pay for the stay, food and insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh each.
 To begin with, there would be five routes — Delhi-Mathura-Vrindavan-Agra-Fatehpur Sikri-Delhi, Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Neelkanth-
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Delhi, Delhi-Ajmer-Pushkar-Delhi, Delhi-Amritsar-Wagah Border-Anandpur Sahib-Delhi and Delhi-Vaishno Devi-Jammu-Delhi.
MISSION BUNIYAAD OF DELHI: FINDINGS
 Sharing the outcome of its ‗Mission Buniyaad‘ scheme, the Delhi government claimed that 63% of children in Classes III-IX are now
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able to read their textbooks.

 Before the campaign, about 48% students in Classes III-IX of Delhi government schools could read their textbook. Now, it is 63%.
Similarly, the ability to solve division has gone up from 54% to 71%.‖
 In April, the government had launched the ‗Mission Buniyaad‘ scheme with an aim to ensure that all children in Classes III-IX are able
to read, write and solve basic mathematics problems by attending extra classes during the summer break.
 About 52% students enrolled in Classes III-IX of Delhi government schools formed the target group of the mission which is about 4.21
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lakh.
 Out of these children, about 1.18 lakh [28% of the target group] learnt to read their textbooks and about 1.4 lakh [38% of the target
group] learnt to solve division problems of Maths.
 The Directorate of Education has decided to extend the mission until the end of July.
GOLDEN CHARIOT TRAIN IN NEWS
 The Golden Chariot, the State‘s luxury train, will be turned into a profit-making venture by launching tourist-centric tour packages and
addressing the inadequacies in its operations.
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The train is operated by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and The Maple Group handles the hospitality services
on the train.
 The operations had suffered a loss of around Rs. 40 crore since its launch in 2008. On an average, Rs. 4 crore loss every year.
 The service remains suspended since the train is getting a makeover with new interiors, at the Ashokapuram Railway Workshop.
 The Golden Chariot is a luxury tourist train that connects the important tourist spots in the Indian states of Karnataka, Goa, Kerala &
Tamil Nadu as well as Pondicherry, depending on the selected itinerary. It is named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at
Hampi.
 The 19 coaches on the train are coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of a mythological animal with the head of an ele phant
and a body of a lion.

 The train, along with the Deccan Odyssey, is designed on the lines of the more popular Palace on Wheels with accommodations, spa
treatments and dining. It has been awarded the title of "Asia's Leading Luxury Train" at World Travel Awards.
NAIDU LAUNCHES E-PRAGATI CORE PLATFORM
 Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched ‗e-Pragati core platform‘ at Undavalli.

 e-Pragati, a forward-looking digital initiative, is aimed at connecting the citizen to 34 departments, 336 autonomous organisations and
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745-plus services.
 Through this project, the State government intends to realise the vision of ‗Sunrise AP 2022‘.
 The e-Pragati authority will achieve the goals of the project by supporting the seven development missions launched in the areas of e-
Governance, Social Empowerment, Skill Development, Urban Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Development and the Services
sector.
 e-Pragati would act as a platform to connect all departments and stand alone to resolve the issues. There should be coordination
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between citizens and the government to solve several issues.
 Andhra Pradesh stood first with regard to Information Technology. Wonders could be done with IT and internet of things (IoT). The IT
and IoT have been helping in a big way to improve performance of the government.
 The internet of things (IoT) is a computing concept that describes the idea of everyday physical objects being connected to the internet
and being able to identify themselves to other devices.
 The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics,
software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity which enables these things to connect and exchange data, creating opportunities for
more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, resulting in efficiency improvements, economic benefits,
and reduced human exertions. (UPSC Prelims 2018)
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 The portal had single access for all 34 departments integration to cover all services. The democratisation of data would help to know
the ground level problems of people. The taxation system at grass root level is also digitalised.
 The project was initially estimated to cost Rs. 1,500 crore, but later trimmed down to Rs. 800 crore. About 180-plus certificates,
licences & permits will be available online; 100 plus mobile apps to be on App Store.
KARNATAKA BANK LAUNCHES DIGILOCKER FACILITY
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 Karnataka Bank launched DigiLocker facility for its customers as part of its digital initiative.
 The facility is being given by integrating bank‘s MoneyClick internet banking channel.
 DigiLocker is a key initiative to store the digital documents, by National E-Governance Division under Union Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology.
 DigiLocker is a "digital locker" service operated by the Government of India that enables Indian citizens to store certain official
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documents on the cloud. The service is aimed towards reducing the need to carry physical documents, and is part of the government's
Digital India initiative.
 1 GB of storage space is offered to users to store identification card issued by government agencies, education certificates, PAN
cards, driving license, vehicle ownership documents and some other documents.
 Users need to possess an Aadhar card to use DigiLocker. For sign-up, the Aadhar card number and the one-time password sent to
the Aadhar-associated mobile number, need to be entered. For later log-ins, the user can set their own password or link the account to
Facebook or Google logins.
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 The beta version of the service was rolled out in February 2015, and launched by the Prime Minister on 1 July 2015. The storage
space provided was 10 MB initially, and was later increased to 1 GB.
 In July 2016, DigiLocker recorded 20.13 lakh users with a repository of 24.13 lakh documents. The number of users saw a large jump
of 7.53 lakh in April when the government had urged all municipal bodies to use DigiLocker to make their administration paperless.
 From 2017, the facility was extended to allow students of ICSE board to store their class X and XII certificates in DigiLocker and share
them with agencies as required.
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 In February 2017, Kotak Mahindra Bank started providing access to documents in DigiLocker from within its net-banking application,
allowing users to e-sign them and forward as needed.
 In May 2017, over 108 hospitals, including the Tata Memorial Hospital were planning to launch the use of DigiLocker for storing cancer
patients' medical documents and test reports.
 According to a UIDAI architect, patients would be provided a number key, which they can share with another hospital to allow them to
access their test reports.
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 There is also an associated facility for e-signing documents. The service is intended to minimise the use of physical documents,
reduce administrative expenses, provide authenticity of the e-documents, provide secure access to government-issued documents
and to make it easy for the residents to receive services.
BYPL SIGNS PACT TO SOURCE WIND POWER

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 A power purchase agreement for 100 MW of wind power was signed between the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and BSES
Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL).
 The wind power will be procured by the distribution company at a tariff of Rs. 2.52 per unit for a period of 25 years.
 The SCEI is the government-appointed nodal agency for procurement of power from grid-connected wind power projects.(UPSC
Prelims 2018)
 The current deal will take the total wind power portfolio of the discom to 400 MW. Of the total 400 MW of wind power, 100 MW is
expected to be in use from November 2018 and the remaining will be made available from November next year.
 Wind power will be procured from developers in Gujarat‘s Kutch. The tariff is expected to be one of the lowest in case of wind power,
said the BYPL. The average cost of long-term power purchase agreement is above Rs. 4.5 per unit.
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RAJASTHAN CLEARS LOAN GUARANTEE TO FARMERS
 Rajasthan Cabinet has decided to provide a guarantee to the State Apex Cooperative Bank to take a loan worth Rs. 5,000 crore from
the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for funding the State government‘s crop loan waiver scheme for farmers.
 The Cabinet has also relaxed the two-child norm for government employees.
 State Cabinet extended the time for organising camps to give loan waiver certificates to farmers till August 15, and approved 13
proposals for investments in different sectors. The waiving of loans to the tune of Rs. 5,077 crore in the cooperative sector is set to
benefit over 16.5 lakh farmers.

 The clause in the government employees‘ service rules for compulsory retirement on the birth of a third child would be deleted,
thereby relaxing the two-child norm introduced in 2002.
DETAILS OF NAGA AGREEMENT
 The Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(Issak-Muivah) NSCN(I-M) is a catalytic moment promising a more flexible template of peace-making.
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 The agreement, signed on August 3, 2015, has established the broad principles that would guide the future deliberations between the
Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-IM. The content of the agreement was not disclosed at that time.
 Now the government has informed a Parliamentary panel that it signed a framework agreement with the National Socialist Council of
Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) after it agreed on a settlement within the Indian federation with a ―special status.‖
 R. N. Ravi, interlocutor for the Naga talks, told the committee that it was a departure from their earlier position of ―with India, not within
India,‖ and that the government called it a framework agreement and signed it. This is the first time that details of the agreement have
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emerged.
UP DIGITAL VOLUNTEERS TO CHECK RUMOURS
 In the wake of mob lynching incidents triggered by rumours spread through social media, the Uttar Pradesh police have decided to
recruit ―digital volunteers‖ at every police station in the State to curb rumours and bust illegal activities.
 Under this initiative, 250 digital volunteers will be recruited at each of the 1,469 police stations. They will operate through popular
social media application WhatsApp.
 Director-General of Police O.P Singh launched the initiative.
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 The WhatsApp group of digital volunteers in each thana will be linked to the district-level WhatsApp groups, which will be linked to the
DGP headquarters.
 The volunteers will be picked from a variety of backgrounds and professions, and must be socially influential, active on social media
and of a clean image.
 Their main task will be to assist police in rebutting rumours with facts and putting them in the public domain personally or through
WhatsApp groups.
 They will also be asked to provide information on illegal businesses.
CM‘S NOD FOR SCHEME FOR QUICK DISPOSAL OF HEINOUS CRIMES
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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given approval for the launch of a scheme to identify and take appropriate measures
in expeditiously disposing heinous crimes.
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Under the Identified Crime Scheme, state and district-level committees will be constituted, which will be headed by the additional chief
secretary and deputy commissioners respectively.
 The Haryana government is making strenuous efforts to rein in heinous and sensational crimes like dacoity, murder, terrorist activities,
rape, gang rape, rape of small girls, kidnapping and so on.
 The district-level committees will meet on the first Tuesday of every month, identify heinous and sensational crimes during the month,
if any, and submit recommendations to the state-level committee, which will decide on its inclusion in 'Identified Crimes'.
 The state-level committee will review the progress made in various cases and take corrective measures in clearing the bottlenecks in
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investigation or trial. It will also review the number of cases reported from different districts.
 If the number of cases reported by any district is insufficient or there is a crime that qualifies to be covered under the scheme, but the
authorities have failed to report, then the committee will take up with that district.
 The committee will also meet on the third Tuesday of every month and bring the latest progress report on the cases for review and
necessary action.
 The heinous and sensational crimes create a deep impact on the psyche of the society and, therefore, require close monitoring to get
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justice delivered. Crime control is an extremely important aspect of good governance and brings a sense of security among the
citizens, he added.
 The members of district-level committees, headed by the deputy commissioner, will include superintendent of police or commissioner
of police, district attorney, superintendent or deputy superintendent of jail of the respective districts.
 Members of the state-level committee, headed by the additional chief secretary, will be the director general of police (CID), director of
forensic sciences laboratory, district attorney and legal remembrancer.
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CENTRE SANCTIONS SPORTS COMPLEX FOR HUBBALLI
 Union government has sanctioned a multi-purpose sports complexin Hubballi. Hubballi is the second largest city in the Indian state of
Karnataka. It forms continuous urban area with the city of Dharwad. Hubballi-Dharwad is the largest conurbation in the state after
capital Bangalore.
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 Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore handed over the sanction letter for the sports complex t o
Pralhad Joshi, MP for Dharwad.
 The project has been sanctioned to Hubballi under the ‗Khelo India‘ programme. The total cost of the project is ₹11.35 crore.
 The money would be released to the State Sports and Youth Affairs Department and the first instalment would be ₹3 crore.
Subsequently, depending on the progress of the project, the remaining amount would be released.
 Another sports complex worth ₹13 crore would be constructed in Dharwad, using the corporate social responsibility funds of oil
marketing companies. The new facilities would be a boon to the sports enthusiasts in the twin cities once completed.
KALESHWARAM LIFT IRRIGATION PROJECT

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 Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme of Telangana is said to be the world‘s biggest irrigation project that is set to end water woes of the
state where many regions are parched.
 In a state that accounts for the second highest number of farmers‘ suicides after Vidarbha in Maharashtra often because of poor
monsoon rains or lack of irrigation facilities, the project holds the potential to change this tragic tale of Telangana.
 Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme is worth Rs 80,000 crore. This is the costliest irrigation project undertaken by any state of the
country so far.
 Kaleshwaram irrigation project envisages irrigating 18 lakh acres of land in 13 districts, stabilising another 17 lakh acres in another
seven districts – virtually covering the entire state.

 It will also provide drinking water to several towns and cities of the state, especially the most important cities of Hyderabad and
Secunderabad. Moreover, the irrigation project will provide water to industries in many states.
 It will harness water at the confluence of three rivers with Godavari. For this, a barrage is being constructed at Medigadda in district
Jayashankar Bhupalpally. From here, the water will be reverse-pumped into main Godavari and diverted into a huge and complex
system of reservoirs, water tunnels, pipelines and canals.
 It is divided into seven links and 28 packages. This will require digging up of 20 reservoirs in 13 districts, which will have the total
capacity of holding 145 TMC water. All these reservoirs will be interconnected through a network of tunnels running through around
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330 kilometre.
 The longest tunnel will be 21-kilometre long and connect Yellampalli reservoir with Medaram reservoir.
 The canal network under the project will cover 1832 kilometre, taking water as far as 500 kilometres from the source.
 The highest point of the project will be the Kondapochamma reservoir in Gajwel at a height of 650 metres from main sea level where
water will be lifted.
 Starting in the first week of August, the Kaleshwaram irrigation project will create a world record when 139 MW mammoth pumps will
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start lifting 2 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water daily. The 2 TMC water will be pumped into two barrages – Annaram and
Sundilla. From here, the water will go to Yellampalli reservoir. The distribution of water will begin from Yellampalli through gravity
canals and pipelines.
 The water required for this will come from Medigadda Barrage through a 14.09 kilometre underground tunnel, which is longest
irrigation tunnel in the world.
 The cavern and surge pool, from where the pump would operate, also holds the world record with a capacity of holding 2 crore litres of
water.
 By Dussehra this year, 120-km long link involving tunnels, canals and pumps between Medigadda and Mid Manair reservoir would be
ready. With this, 50 per cent of the project will be finished.
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 The Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project (KILP) achieved another milestone with the successful dry run of world‘s biggest underground
pumping system of 139 MW capacity at the package-8 of the project at Laxmipur in Ramadugu mandal.
DELHI AIIMS SIGNS MOU WITH IIT KHARAGPUR
 The AIIMS here has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, for collaboration in education, research
outreach and medical services.
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 The broad areas of cooperation include initiating joint degrees such as Ph.D, M.D.-Ph.D, M.Sc-Ph.D and coordinated internship
programmes.
AP GOVERNMENT‘S PROJECT GAANDIVA
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Following an appeal by the Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for State governments to seek assistance from private
enterprises to promote sports, the Andhra Pradesh government launched an ambitious programme — Project Gaandiva — at
Vijaywada.
 The programme has been conceptualized by TENVIC Sports Education, founded by legendary cricketer Anil Kumble in association
with table tennis star Vasanth Bharadwaj, with focus on identifying and grooming young talent.
 Cricket and table tennis are not part of the project.
 The comprehensive sports policy covers various sports disciplines across all districts of Andhra Pradesh with regards to coaching
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programmess from grassroots to Centre of Excellence (CoE).
 SAAP (Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh) has been a pioneer for envisioning such a world-class sports project.
 The project takes off with 15,000 trainees at grassroots level with an aim to pick 75 Elite athletes at the CoE.
 SAAP has planned the ‗Project Gaandiva‘ athletics program which is designed on a ‗Build-Operate-Transfer‘ model with five-year
duration.
 The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will feature ―training and development of international class athletes and coaches.
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 This will follow a ―Hub and Spoke‖ model, with a CoE high performance centre and 100 grassroots centres that will cover all of 13
districts in AP.
 The project essentially caters to boys and girls in the age groups of under-10, 11 and 12.
 The State Government has sanctioned Rs 28 crore for this already.
 The salient features of the CoE involve recruitment of international coaches, provide best facilities and training with top priority on
national/international exposure and certify domestic coaches as part of the ―Train the Trainer‖ scheme.
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 The project has attracted four top class coaches for athletics. Seef Le Roux of South Africa, with an experience of 14 years with elite
athletes, will train aspirants in jumps while Mike Vassell of Jamaica, having trained 67 international athletes, will concentrate on
throws.
 South African Olympian Johan Botha, once ranked World No 1 in 800m, has been roped in for distance running and his compatriot
Adri Schoeman, also an Olympian, will look after sprints.
 The project essentially caters to boys and girls in the age groups of under-10, 11 and 12
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BIHAR GOVT TO GRANT QUOTA IN PROMOTIONS TO SC, ST
 The Bihar government has decided to grant reservation in promotions to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes personnel. The
decision was taken in compliance with the order passed by the Supreme Court on a special writ petition.
 A notification issued by the Bihar government said such promotions would, however, be granted only in accordance with the further
orders of the apex court. The court had said the government was not debarred from making promotions in accordance with law.
 The decision was taken on the recommendation of the seven-member committee of higher officials of the State government.
 The committee was constituted on June 27 following an advice received from the Union Personnel and Training Department. The
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State government has also given detailed guidelines.
DELHI PLANS FOR 2000MW SOLAR POWER

 The Delhi government plans to have a build-up capacity of 2,000 MW solar power in the National Capital Region by 2025.
 Approximately 40% of this target will be achieved from rooftop solar installations.
TATA AEROSPACE &DEFENCE CENTRE IN NAGPUR
 Tata Technologies Ltd. has signed a MoU with Vidarbha Defence Industries Association (VDIA) to set up a aerospace and defence
centre in Nagpur.

 The centre will help establish the State as the preferred investment destination for aerospace an defence manufacturing.
 The centre would promote indigenous and modernised technological capabilities and develop skilled resources to support Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to be globally competitive in the aerospace and defence sector.
 The company will first set up NIRMAN, a not-for-profit Common Facilitation Centre for aerospace and defence, and UDAN, an initiative
to create high-end skilling centres and provide competency-based education for engineering institutes and universities.
UP SUBMITS DRAFT OF TAJ VISION DOCUMENT
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 The Uttar Pradesh government handed over to the Supreme Court its draft of a vision document proposing to declare the Taj Mahal
complex a no-plastic zone, rid of all polluting industries.
 The State said even use of bottled water should be prohibited, with special emphasis on eco-friendly tourism hubs.
 The draft, submitted recommended a comprehensive traffic management plan along the Yamuna river- front aimed at promoting
pedestrian movement in the Taj heritage precinct. Further, there should be no construction on the Yamuna floodplain, and the
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riverbank should only have natural plantations.
 The Supreme Court has been monitoring the development in the area to protect the UNESCO world heritage structure, built by
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1643.
ODISHA GREEN MAHANADI MISSION
 A total of two crore saplings will be planted on the banks of the Mahanadi, Tel and Ib rivers under the Green Mahanadi Mission.
 Odisha CM launched the programme by planting saplings at two locations in Subarnapur and Boudh districts.
 The plantation drive will be carried out in as many as 1,303 villages spread over 15 districts situated on both sides of the Mahanadi.
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CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE EXTENDED IN MAHARASHTRA
 The government has extended application deadline for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) for the kharif season till July 31
to accommodate thousands of farmers who don‘t have loans against their names.
 A large number of such farmers who had applied under the scheme have complained of not receiving the correct insurance claims.
Most affected are farmers who sowed soyabean crop in last year‘s kharif season.
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Main Features of PMFBY:
 There will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual
commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%. The premium rates to be paid by farmers are
very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on
account of natural calamities.
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There is no upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne by the Government.
 Earlier, there was a provision of capping the premium rate which resulted in low claims being paid to farmers. This capping was done
to limit Government outgo on the premium subsidy. This capping has now been removed and farmers will get claim against full s um
insured without any reduction.
 The use of technology will be encouraged to a great extent. Smart phones will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to
reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers. Remote sensing will be used to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments.
PMFBY is a replacement scheme of NAIS / MNAIS, there will be exemption from Service Tax liability of all the services involved in the
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implementation of the scheme. It is estimated that the new scheme will ensure about 75-80 per cent of subsidy for the farmers in
insurance premium.
HYDERABAD MAY HOUSE FIRST GOVERNMENT BLOCKCHAIN CENTRE
 The Centre is considering a proposal to set up a Centre of Excellence for blockchain technology in Hyderabad to drive innovat ion. The
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proposal has been submitted by C-DAC Hyderabad, along with the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology
(IDRBT) and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai.
 The Centre of Excellence, proposed to come up at C-DAC‘s Hyderabad unit, will be the first one by the government for blockchain
technology.
TELANGANA AND NITI AAYOG TIE-UP TO BOOST AI

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 The Telangana government and NITI Aayog have signed a statement of intent (SoI) on strengthening collaboration in the areas of
Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, IoT (Internet of Things) and other emerging technologies.
 The SoI is to collaborate on devising implementation framework for solutions based on the emerging technologies; work to identify
best practices and propagate solutions across the country; identify suitable financial support channels for funding pilots based on
emerging technologies in Telangana; as well as establish centres of excellence.
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 The intent is also to develop a strong support system to further enhance skilling and entrepreneurship programmes in Telangana and
work towards capacity building within the Centre and the State government. Focus groups are also being constituted.
HAPPINESS CURRICULUM LAUCHED FOR DELHI SCHOOLS
 Dalai Lama launched the Delhi government‘s Happiness Curriculum.

 The Happiness Curriculum when introduced in schools after teachers are trained calls for a 45 minute class everyday for students
from nursery to class eight dedicated to teaching ―happiness‖.
 Each class would start and end with five minute of meditation and believed that if 10 lakh students and around 50,000 teachers
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followed implemented the curriculum properly, several modern day problems could be solved and students would be able to ensur e
fullest development in society.
 The Happiness Curriculum was curated by a team of 40 educationalists, experts and volunteers over a period of six months.
UP GOVT BANS PLASTIC BAGS
 The Uttar Pradesh government banned the use of polythene bags and items of common use made of plastic from July 15.
 Plastic had been banned earlier in the State, but the prohibition on its use had not been implemented effectively so far.
 In December 2015, when the Akhilesh Yadav government was in power, the State Cabinet decided on an absolute ban on distribution,
manufacture and sale of plastic and polythene bags with a thickness of more than 40 microns.

 However, by January 2016 many areas, including Noida on Delhi‘s outskirts, had failed to adhere to the guidelines and the ban could
not be implemented seriously.
 The U.P. government‘s latest move comes within days of a similar ban coming into effect in Maharashtra.
 The Maharashtra government announced on March 23 a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials
such as bags, spoons, plates and PET bottles. The ban came into effect on June 23, but the government later eased some of the
restrictions.
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GURUGRAM GETS FIRST STATE UNIVERSITY
 Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma inaugurated the construction work for the district‘s first government-run Gurugram
University in Kakrola village at Sector 85.
 Classes for different courses in the university will be held at Rao Tularam College of Science and Commerce in Sector 51 till the
campus is ready.
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HARYANA INITIATIVE TO MAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS FLUENT IN ENGLISH
 The Haryana Education Department has launched an initiative aimed at capacity-building of teachers to enable them help students to
read, write and speak in English right from Class I.
 The programme is titled ‗I am not afraid of English‘.
 To start with, a booklet containing 1,000 sentences and phrases has been prepared. It contains 200 sentences per grade for all the
five grades at the primary level of schooling.
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REVISED SIGNATURE BRIDGE ESTIMATE: DELHI
 The Delhi Cabinet approved the final revised estimate for the Signature Bridge in north-east Delhi‘s Wazirabad.
 Public Work Department‘s final revised estimate of Rs. 1,518.37 crore was approved for completion of construction work for the bridge
over the Yamuna and the approach road as recommended by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC).
BARAPULLAH ELEVATED ROAD RENAMED AS BANDA BAHADUR FLYOVER
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The Delhi government approved renaming Barapullah elevated road as Banda Bahadur Flyover.
Banda Singh Bahadur was a Sikh military commander who established a Sikh state with capital at Lohgarh (Haryana).
After a meeting with Guru Gobind Singh on 3 September 1708, he became a Sikh. He became a disciple of, Guru Gobind Singh, who
gave him the new name of Banda Singh Bahadur after initiating him into the Khalsa.
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In 1709 he defeated Mughals in the Battle of Samana and captured the Mughal city of Samana.
 On 12 May 1710 in the Battle of Chappar Chiri the Sikhs killed Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind and Dewan Suchanand, who were
responsible for the martyrdom of the two youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh. Two days later the Sikhs captured Sirhind.
 Banda Singh was now in control of territory from the Sutlej to the Yamuna and ordered that ownership of the land be given to the
farmers, to let them live in dignity and self-respect.
 Banda Singh Bahadur never tolerated injustice, he never let the evil zamindari system prevail in his province.
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TANSA BECOMES FOURTH LAKE TO OVERFLOW
 Tansa became the fourth lake supplying water to Mumbai to overflow this monsoon. However, the bigger lake systems are yet to
reach full capacity.
 Mumbai is supplied water by following seven lakes located in neighbouring districts.
 Of these, Vihar, Tulsi and Modak Sagar lakes have already overflowed.
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 Dams and Lakes near Mumbai:

1. Modak Sagar (Lower Vaitarna)
2. Tansa Lake
3. Vihar Lake
4. Tulsi Lake
5. Upper Vaitarana
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6. Bhatsa
7. Middle Vaitarna
CENTRE FOR DATA SCIENCES AND AI IN BENGALURU
 The Karnataka government is set to launch a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in data sciences and artificial intelligence (AI) in Bengaluru.
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 Nasscom is setting up a ₹40-crore Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Hyderabad. The centre
will initially be located at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H) and later be housed at the upcoming Data
Analytics Park in the city.
 Nasscom pegs revenues from data science and AI (IT and non-IT industries) in the country at $16 billion by 2025, providing jobs to
1.50 lakh professionals.
 Nasscom) signed a MOU with the Telangana government in this regard on the sidelines of the Nasscom India Leadership Forum
(NILF-2018).
 The CoE will catalyse the growth of the deep tech ecosystem in the State by providing the stimulus for innovation and in-depth
research in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence.
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It will prepare case studies, research papers and serve as a platform for technology collaboration between stakeholders and t o build
solutions in this space.
 Nasscom President: R Chandrashekhar.
GANGA JAL MARG PROJECT IN NEWS
 The Varanasi river terminal under the World Bank-aided Ganga Jal Marg Vikash Project will be completed this year, ahead of
schedule. In a recent assessment, the Bank expressed satisfaction at the progress of the Rs. 5,369-crore project.

 Implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), it envisages creation of all-weather river transport facility, capable of
carrying 45 million tonnes of cargo along the 1,400-km stretch of the Ganga between Varanasi and Kolkata (National Waterway-1) by
2022.
 Contracts have been awarded for the construction of three terminals, each capable of handling two-three million tonnes of cargo a
year. The contract for a second lock at the Farakka Barrage to pace up vessel movement has also been awarded.
 The World Bank project implementation support mission, which has just concluded its independent survey on the progress, reported
21 per cent completion against a target of 18 per cent.IWAI expects approximately 40 per cent of the Jal Marg Vikash Project to be
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completed in 2018-19.
 To facilitate cargo movement from Kolkata, IWAI has entered into a 30-year contract with Bangladesh‘s Summit Alliance in April this
year to operate and maintain a jetty at Garden Reach near the Kolkata Dock Complex.
 As part of the project, the Adani group has been awarded the contract to dredge the Farakka- Kahalgao section of the Ganga for five
years.
 A project is also under way to identify designs for barges with capacity to carry 1,500-2,000 tonnes of cargo (which is a little less than
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the capacity of an average goods train). The designs will be made available free of cost to prospective investors in barge
manufacturing.
 The agency has appointed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to prepare detailed project reports on ferry movement across
the Ganga in Varanasi. A similar DPR will be launched on the ferry movement in Kolkata soon. The DPRs will identify suitable
locations and viability.
 Mandated to focus on cargo movement, IWAI cannot develop ferry projects. Also, ferries are a State subject.Once the DPRs are
ready, State governments are free to approach the Urban Development Ministry to access funds under the Atal Mission for Urban
Transport to develop ferry terminals.
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TAMILNADU UNVEILS NEW ECOTOURISM POLICY
 The Tamil Nadu government unveiled an Ecotourism to protect the rich natural and cultural heritage of the State.
 The active involvement of the local communities for their empowerment has been emphasised in the policy.
 The objectives of the policy include identification and development of natural areas as ecotourism destinations, promotion of eco-
friendly infrastructure in conformity with the guiding principles, facilitation of partnerships between all stakeholders to develop, promote
and maintain ecotourism sites and creation of livelihood opportunities and share benefits with the local communities for their support to
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conservation, among others.
 Ecotourism is not limited to the biodiversity and landscape values, but also to the customs, cultures and traditions native to respective
eco-sites. Ecotourism sites in Tamil Nadu can be used as important means to conserve the unique cultural traditions associated with
the biodiversity of an area.
 The Forest Department will be the nodal agency for implementing the policy and will create a special purpose vehicle in the form of
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State Ecotourism Board (SEB).
 The ecotourism sites will cater to different target groups and will include hiking, trekking, wildlife sighting, bird watching trails, boating,
photography, visit to medicinal plants conservation area, craft making, local handicraft, promoting local festivals, and adventure sports.
 In the coastal wetland sites, activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, walks and boat rides for viewing and appreciating th e rich and
special flora and fauna can be taken up.
 The SEB will finalise a strategy on the pricing, appropriate packaging and branding of ecotourism destinations. This policy will be
reviewed after five years.
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‗BUDDHA VANAM PROJECT‘ OF TELANGANA
 Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation has initiated a tourism project called Sriparvatarama (Buddhavanam) at
Nagarjuna Sagar, Telangana, Sanctioned by Govt of India viz, Integrated Development of Nagarjunasagar as part of Lower Krishna
valley Buddhist circuit with a view to attract large number of domestic and foreign tourists particularly from the South-East Asian
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countries.
 The areas around the Nagarjuna Sagar a reservoir formed due to the construction of the dam across the river Krishna was known as
Nagarjuna Konda or Sriparvata - Vijayapuri, once served as capital city of the Ikshvaku dynasty, which ruled Andhradesa during the
3rd and 4th centuries A.D. Nagarjuna Konda was named after the famous Buddhist scholar and Madhyamika philosopher Acharaya
Nagarjuna. Nagarjunakonda was a centre of Mahayana Buddhism, where many of the Buddhist sects had their monasteries, shrines
and Stupas built to propagate the Dhamma.
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 President Ram Nath Kovind is likely to inaugurate Buddha Vanam, a Buddhist theme park coming up at Nagarjuna Sagar in
Telangana.
 Buddha Vanam is a Rs. 100-crore project developed on a 100-acre site. It includes eight Buddha Chaithravanam, Jathaka Chakra,
Dhyana Vanam, Stupa Park, Acharya Nagarjuna International Higher Buddhist Learning Centre, Lower Krishna Valley Park and Maha
Sthupa.
 A meditation centre will also come up there and all historical finds collected from Buddhist sites will be kept in the Buddha Vanam.
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 Sri Lanka has sponsored an idol, which will also be placed there. In addition, a Buddhist university will come up near the park.
 Buddha Vanam is included in the Buddhist Circuit so that it would be able to attract tourists from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Tibet and South-
East Asian countries. While about 4-5 lakh Buddhist tourists visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Telangana is keen to attract tourists as a part of
the circuit.
NO. 1 ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICT
 Dahod district in Gujarat has been ranked the first among 108 ‗aspirational districts‘ by the NITI Aayog on the basis of incr emental
development over two months from March 31 this year.

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West Sikkim district stood second.

 The NITI Aayog has ranked 108 districts on the basis of the improvements in five developmental areas that they have made from
March 31 to May 31 this year.
 The Transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme was launched by the Prime Minister with the aim of developing some of the
most underdeveloped districts of the country.
 The ranking is on the basis of self-reported data of districts between the said period, across five developmental areas of health and
nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
 Begusarai in Bihar (ranked 100) and Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir (ranked 101) are the worst performers according to data released
by the NITI Aayog.

 The districts started entering data from April 1, 2018 in the Champions of Change Dashboard and 108 districts out of total 112,
participated in this ranking. Data entry by remaining four districts is also in progress, though they are not part of this ranking.
 The knowledge partners of NITI Aayog – Tata Trusts, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and ID Insights - are expected to provide
data on 13 survey indicators and have validated values for 29 data-points.
 NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.
KOTHAGUDEM THERMAL POWER STATION
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 Power production in the 800 MW seventh unit of the Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) commenced. This project has
created a record as it has been completed in record time, ahead of stipulated timelines.
 Telangana TRANSCO and GENCO Chairman and Managing Director, D Prabhakar Rao, commissioned power production in the plant
located at Paloncha and facilitated synchronisation with the power grid in the presence of BHEL ED Mukhopadhyay.
 The company has prepared an action plan to commence commercial power production in the last week of July, after a trial run.
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 The seventh phase of the 800 MW plant will be remembered as a project on which work commenced after the formation of Telangana.
Construction, taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 5,700 crore, commenced on February 1, 2015.
 The Central Electricity Agency (CEA) has stipulated a condition that new power plants should be completed in all aspects within 48
months of commencement. This plant has been completed within 40 months and has thus created a record.
 KTPS power production has commenced on a trial run, and the total availability of power in Telangana has crossed 16,000 MW. Since
this was completed within the stipulated time, the power that would be purchased from KTPS‘ seventh phase will not attract IDC load.
 Due to this, the power that is supplied from here will cost less and result in a Rs 300-crore financial benefit.
TELANGANA SIGNS ON SINGAPORE CO FOR GENOME VALLEY 2.0
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 The Telangana government has inked an MoU with Singapore-based engineering & consulting firm Surbana Jurong for Genome
Valley 2.0.
 The pharma-biotech cluster has emerged as the largest life sciences destination in Asia, being home to over 200 companies
employing 10,000 people.
 Global majors such as Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Mylan, DuPont, US Pharmacopeia among others are present in the cluster.
 Genome Valley 2.0 is a vision to upgrade the cluster into a world-class knowledge-led integrated corridor in a self-sufficient life
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sciences ecosystem.
 The cluster, which currently is an industrial hub, is being envisioned to transform into an industry-led, knowledge-based ecosystem.
CANNABIS CULTIVATION IS NOW LEGAL IN UTTARAKHAND
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Uttarakhand will be the first State in the country to allow commercial cultivation of hemp crop, a rich source of high-quality fibre and a
host of medicinal and nutritive products.
 The State government granted licence to the Indian Industrial Hemp Association (IIHA), a non-profit organisation that promotes
industrial application of hemp, to grow the fibre over 1,000 hectares, on a pilot basis.The cultivation will be taken up in villages in Pauri
Garhwal region.
 Even though the policy to allow cultivation of non-narcotic cannabis was formulated in 1985 along with opium, hemp cultivation failed
to take off in the country as proper procedures were not laid down for its cultivation, procurement and use, unlike that in the case of
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legal opium.
 IIHA subsequently was able to convince the then Congress government in Uttarakhand to come out with a policy for hemp cultivation.
 Hemp, a high-value crop, is ideal for a State like Uttarakhand where topology and acute water scarcity come in the way of growing
conventional crops. Besides, destruction of crops by wild animals is quite rampant in Uttarakhand.
 Hemp, which can be harvested in three months, requires very little water and in places where water is abundant two crops can be
grown.
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 Currently, the authorities have given permission to cultivate hemp for fibre, which will find its use in textile industry. While its seeds and
flowers are of immense value in medical and food-processing industry, the government is yet to legalise its use in the country.
 IIHA, which has been given permission to cultivate hemp for a period of five years, hopes that it can cover an area of 10,000 hectares,
even though the State government has more ambitious target of growing it over 1,00,000 hectares.
 While the total economic value of hemp cultivation (each crop) could be Rs. 3.75 lakh per hectare, farmers may not be able to realise
the maximum value as the procurement of seeds and flowers is yet to be permitted.
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 Both hemp seed oil and hemp protein powder, made from the leftover cake which is rich in digestible proteins, are popular world over.
 Hemp, or industrial hemp typically found in the northern hemisphere, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown
specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the firs t plants to be
spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items including paper, textiles, clothing,
biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.
 Although cannabis as a drug and industrial hemp both derive from the species Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive
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component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they are distinct strains with unique phytochemical compositions and uses.
 Hemp has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD), which decreases or eliminates its
psychoactive effects. The legality of industrial hemp varies widely between countries. Some governments regulate the concentration of
THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content.
WEST BENGAL TO REVAMP RIVER TRANSPORT TOURISM INFRA
 Taking a cue from the Centre‘s Jal Marg initiative, the West Bengal government has taken a move to optimise river transport and
tourism potential under a $151 million ( Rs. 1,021 crore) World Bank assistance.
 While the Centre‘s Rs. 5,369 crore Ganga Jal Marg project will pave way for cargo movement along the National Waterway-I from
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Varanasi to Haldia; the State initiative is primarily looking at optimising the potential of both cargo and passenger movement across
the river.
 West Bengal shares 560 km of the 1,380 km NW-I. Along this course there are only 12 bridges, including three in Kolkata. The World
Bank aided project aims to fill the gap by adding 10 Ro-Ro ferry services. Ro-Ro service offers seamless solution to ferry vehicles,
laden with passenger or cargo.
 Each of the new Ro-Ro-facilities will cost an estimated Rs. 25 crore including specialised jetty and vessel.A separate scheme, outside
the scope of the World Bank project, is launched to revamp the three existing Ro-Ro facilities around the Sunderbans area.
 Incidentally, the State has also finalised a plan to build two more bridges on Ganga to improve connectivity.

 Apart from Ro-Ro, the State will also build 56 modern jetties at Rs. 4 crore each and renovate 24 existing jetties along the 156-km
stretch from Haldia to Triveni under World Bank assistance.
 To supplement ferry operations nearly 320 new vessels will also be pushed into service. A separate plan is underway to modern ise
jetties from Triveni in Hooghly to Farakka, in the North, using State resources.
 With modernisation the State is also aiming better regulation on ferry operations. Currently the ferry operations are highly disintegrated
and unorganised with different departments or civic bodies owning jetties. Many or most of such jetties are poorly maintained leading
to accidents.
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 The plan is to bring the entire ferry services including jetties under an umbrella organisation under the transport department to ensure
strict regulation.
 A good part of the World Bank assistance will be spent in introducing 50 water taxis and four cruise vessels to promote river based
tourism and entertainment activities.
 West Bengal has roughly one sixth of the country‘s waterway network. It offers an immense opportunity to promote tourism and leisure
activities.
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 A separate scheme, outside the scope of the World Bank project, is launched to revamp the three existing Ro-Ro facilities around the
Sunderbans area.
50 CRORE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF GOVARDHAN PARIKRAMA IN UP
 Union Minister of for Tourism KJ Alphons announced Rs. 50 crore for the development of Govardhan Parikrama, Uttar Pradesh.
 Govardhan Teerth of Mathura needs to be made into a world class destination and the Govardhan Maharaj Utsav shall be organised
in October every year.
 He added, tourism amenities at Kusum Sarovar, Mansi Gate, Chandra Sarovar for development of facilities for pilgrimage in the
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project to be included. Also, provision for installation of CCTV, Wi-Fi system signages would also be made.
 Till now, projects worth Rs. 118.23 crores have been approved by the Ministry of Tourism under PRASHAD Scheme during the last
four years, which are under various stages of implementation in Mathura and Varanasi in the State.
 The ‗National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Augmentation Drive‘ (PRASAD) has been launched by the Ministry of
Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
AP CREDIT PLAN RELEASED
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu released the Annual credit plan for 2018-19, with an outlay of Rs. 1,94,220
crore. The credit plan includes Rs. 1,44,220 crore for the priority sector and Rs. 50,000 crore for the non-priority sector.
RATION CARD SERVICES GO ONLINE

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 The Kerala Civil Supplies Department has launched a comprehensive ration card management system that delivers all related
services online.
 These services range from applying for a new ration card, effecting change of address, adding or deleting a member, and changing
ownership from one taluk to another.
 The new system has initially been operationalised at the City Rationing Office, Thiruvananthapuram North, and the nearby
Chirayinkeezhu taluk.
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CHANDRABABU LAUNCHES E-PRAGATI CORE PORTAL
 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched e-Pragati Core at Amaravati.
 The government of Andhra Pradesh in partnership with EY consultancy launched an ePragati Core platform, through which it will take
many of its services online and provide integrated services to its citizens. This digital initiative will help connect the citizens to 34
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departments, 336 autonomous organisations and 745 plus services.

 Though the government had already launched its online services in the past to make its services more accessible, the new proj ect
aims to integrate all of it, and create a seamless network wherein data from all the government departments are linked to create a
faster and efficient service.
 For the ePragati project, Rs 800 crore has been invested so far. More than 180 certificates, licences and permits will be available as
part of the programme for citizens to avail through more than 100 apps on the interface.
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BSNL INTRODUCES INTERNET PHONE SERVICES IN KERALA
 Public sector telecom behemoth Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has introduced BSNL Wings, the VoIP-based internet telephony
services, in the Kerala circle.
 BSNL is the first operator in the country to offer the service.
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 The service allows users to place and receive calls from Android, Windows and Apple IOS based mobile devices, tablets, PCs and
laptops without a SIM card, but using the internet service of any operator. Customers will get a 10-digit virtual phone number along
with the connection through which they can make and receive calls.
 BSNL Wings offers unlimited calls to any network in the country at a one-time registration charge of Rs. 1,099. Booking has
commenced through BSNL‘s customer service centres and its website bsnl.co.in.
 The service comes with national and international roaming facilities, and customers can make India-bound calls at cheaper call rates
while roaming in other countries, Mathew said. Customers in areas with poor mobile coverage can take advantage of the service to
make and receive calls through their home Wifi internet.
 Unlike other internet calling apps, Wings comes with the unique feature of allowing users to call any phone number, from other mobile
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networks to even landlines.

 Separately, BSNL announced launch of new high-speed promotional fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), Fibro Combo ULD 777 and Fibro
Combo ULD 1277, offering unlimited data and calls to any network.
 The Fibro Combo ULD 777 offer speeds up to 50 Mbps till 500 GB while Fibro Combo ULD 1277 offer speeds up to 100 Mbps till 750
GB.
 Both offer unlimited calls to any network within the country and offer a speed of 2 Mbps beyond the data usage limit. The plans will be
available till August 10.
 The mobile postpaid 399 plan offers unlimited calls to any network within the country along with unlimited data. Data speed will be
restricted to 40 kbps beyond 30GB.

 Unlimited data will be extended to all BSNL postpaid mobile plans and add-ons with speeds restricted to 40 kbps beyond the existing
data limit.
 The mobile prepaid ‗Kerala Plan 446‘ will offer 2GB per day, an extra GB per day.
STEEL MINISTRY TO REVIVE VISL
 The Union Mnister of Steel said that the Karnataka government has offered an 160-acre captive mine in Bellary for reviving and
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modernising Visveswaraya Iron & Steel Ltd (VISL) and to increase its capacity to 1 million tonnes from the current 0.4 million tonnes.
 The integrated plant is expected to cost Rs. 6,000 crore. The Ministry has deputed a team of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and
MECON to assist VISL‘s revival.
 KIOCL, which is a pellet manufacturer, has now been given permission to produce DI (ductile iron) Pipes.
 The Steel Ministry is in talks with the Tamil Nadu government to reduce the electricity and production cost at Salem Steel for its
revival. The plant has been incurring Rs. 200-crore loss annually for the last 10 years.
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 The Ministry of Steel has launched a mobile app — M3 (MSTC Metal Mandi) at the National Steel Consumers‘ Council. The app is
expected to bring the buyer closer to the seller, removing the many constraints for small buyers.
LAWS & RULES

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION OF INDIA BILL 2018
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 In a landmark decision, a Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill 2018 which seeks
to repeal UGC Act and provides for setting up of Higher Education Commission of India has been prepared by the Ministry of HRD
and placed in public domain for comments and suggestions. The focus of Higher Education Commission of India will be on improving
academic standards and the quality of Higher Education.
Highlights of the Bill:
 The focus of the Higher Education Commission of Indiawill be on improving academic standards and quality of higher education,
specifying norms for learning outcomes, lay down standards of teaching/research etc.
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 It will provide a roadmap for mentoring of institutions found failing in maintaining the required academic standards.
 It shall have the power to enforce its decisions through legal provisions in the Act,
 The Commission shall have the power to grant authorization for starting of academic operations on the basis of their compliance with
norms of academic quality.
 It will also have the powers to revoke authorization granting to a higher education institution where there is a case of wilf ul or
continuous default in compliance with the norms / regulations.
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 It will also have the power to recommend closure of institutions which fail to adhere to minimum standards without affecting students‘
interest.
 The Commission will encourage higher education institutions to formulate a Code ofGood Practices covering promotion of resear ch,
teaching and learning.
 The constitution of the Commission is strengthened by the cooption of Chairpersons of regulatory bodies in higher education, namely
the AICTE and the NCTE. Moreover the Chairpersons/Vice-Chairpersons and members will be scholars of eminence and standing in
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the field of academics and research, possessing leadership qualities, proven capacities for institution building and deep understanding
of issues of higher education policy and practice.
 The Bill also provides for the penal provisions, which albeit graded in nature, will cover withdrawal of power to grant degrees/ diplomas
or direction to cease academic operations and in cases of wilful non-compliance, may result in prosecution sanction as per the
Criminal Procedure Code with a punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 3 years.
 There will be an Advisory Council to render advice to the Commission on matters concerning coordination and determination of
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standards in the country. This will be represented by the Chairpersons / Vice-Chairpersons of State Councils for Higher Education
and chaired by the Union Minister for HRD.
 The Commission will also specify norms and processes for fixing of fee chargeable by higher education institutions and advice the
Central Government or the State Governments, as the case may be, regarding steps to be taken for making education affordable to
all.
 The Commission will monitor, through a national data base, all matters covering the development of emerging fields of knowledge and
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balanced growth of higher education institutions in all spheres and specially in promotion of academic quality in higher education.
‗DNA PROFILING BILL‘ IN NEWS
 The Union Cabinet has cleared a Bill that allows law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples, create ―DNA profiles‖ and special
databanks for forensic-criminal investigations.
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 The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018, is the latest version of a Bill that originated as a DNA ―profiling‖ Bill,
framed by the Department of Biotechnology.
 The aim of that draft legislation was to set in place an institutional mechanism to collect and deploy DNA technologies to identify
persons based on samples collected from crime scenes or for identifying missing persons.
 However there was opposition, in that some activists argued that the manner in which DNA information was to be collected and the
way they were to be stored by forensic laboratories constituted a violation of privacy.
 Several clauses of the Bill were tightened to make it stronger and immune to data abuse. This doesn‘t aim to create a database of
DNA profiles. The databanks can only store information related to criminal investigations and the DNA details of suspects will be
deleted.
 The Bill creates a DNA Profiling Board that would be the final authority that would authorise the creation of State-level DNA
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databanks, approve the methods of collection and analysis of DNA-technologies.

 DNA analysis is an extremely useful and accurate technology in ascertaining the identity of a person from his/her DNA sample, or
establishing biological relationships between individuals. A hair sample, or even bloodstains from clothes, from a scene of c rime, for
example, can be matched with that of a suspect, and it can, in most cases, be conclusively established whether the DNA in the
sample belongs to the suspected individual. As a result, DNA technology is being increasingly relied upon in investigations of crime,
identification of unidentified bodies, or in determining parentage.
 But information from DNA samples can reveal not just how a person looks, or what their eye colour or skin colour is, but also more
intrusive information like their allergies, or susceptibility to diseases. As a result, there is a greater risk of information from DNA

analysis getting misused. This is why some groups are opposed to the Bill — they have been advocating greater caution in collecting,
storing and using a person‘s genetic data. The whole debate has been over provisions that can minimise the risks of misuse.
 The Bill seeks to set up two new institutions — a DNA Profiling Board and a DNA Data Bank. The Board, with 11 members, is
supposed to be the regulatory authority that will grant accreditation to DNA laboratories and lay down guidelines, standards and
procedures for their functioning. It will advise central and state governments on ―all issues relating to DNA laboratories‖. It will also be
the authority to make recommendations on ethical and human rights, including privacy, issues related to DNA testing.
 A national databank of DNA profiles is proposed to be set up, along with regional databanks in every state, or one for two or more
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states, as required. In earlier draft, the national databank was proposed to be set up at Hyderabad, possibly because the Centre for
DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, the premier DNA laboratory, is located there.
 Certain DNA Profiling Board-accredited labs would be authorised to carry out DNA testing and analysis. These are the only places to
which DNA samples, picked up from a crime scene, for example, by police, can be referred for analysis. Data from the analyses will
need to be shared with the nearest regional DNA databank which will store it and share it with the national databank.
 The databanks will maintain five sets of databases — for DNA samples picked up from crime scenes, for suspects or undertrials, and
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for offenders, missing persons, and unidentified dead bodies. The previous Bill provided for maintaining a database of people who
volunteered to give their DNA profiles, but that has now been deleted. A provision for creation of other indices ―as may be specified by
the regulations‖, too, has been left out.
 More frequently asserted are the privacy-related objections. Questions such as whose DNA can be collected and under what
circumstances, whether the consent of the individual is required, who can access the database, to what uses the DNA information can
be put apart from identifying an individual, and the circumstances under which a record can be deleted, have been raised repe atedly.
It has been pointed out that information like ancestry or susceptibility to a disease, or other genetic traits, is liable to be misused. It has
also been argued that DNA tests have not led to an improvement in conviction rates in countries where it is already being followed.
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INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY REGULATIONS AMENDMENT
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Res olution
Process for Corporate Persons) (Third Amendment) Regulations,2018.The following are salient amendments to the regulations:
a) The regulations provide that wherever the corporate debtor has classes of creditors having at least ten creditors in the class, the
interim resolution professional shall offer a choice of three insolvency professionals in the public announcement to act as the
authorised representative of creditors in each class. A creditor in a class may indicate its choice of an insolvency professi onal, from
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amongst the three choices provided by the interim resolution professional, to act as its authorised representative. The insolvency
professional, who is the choice of the highest number of creditors in the class, shall be appointed as the authorised representative of
the creditors of the respective class.
b) An application for withdrawal of an application admitted under section 7, 9 or 10 of the Code (for closure of corporate insolvency
resolution process) may be submitted to the interim resolution professional or the resolution professional, as the case may be, before
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issue of invitation for expression of interest, along with a bank guarantee towards estimated cost incurred for certain purposes under
the process. The committee of creditors (CoC) shall consider the application within seven days of its constitution or seven days of
receipt of the application, whichever is later. If the application is approved by the CoC with 90% voting share, the resoluti on
professional shall submit the application to the Adjudicating Authority on behalf of the applicant, within three days of such approval.
c) Where rate of interest has not been agreed to between the parties in case of creditors in a class, the voting share of such a creditor
shall be in proportion to the financial debt that includes an interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum.
d) Where the appointment of resolution professional is delayed, the interim resolution professional shall perform the functions of the
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resolution professional from the fortieth day of the insolvency commencement date till a resolution professional is appointed.
e) A meeting of the CoC shall be called by giving not less than five days‘ notice in writing to every participant. The CoC may, however,
reduce the notice period from five days to such other period of not less than forty-eight hours where there is any authorised
representative and to twenty-four hours in all other cases. The authorised representative shall circulate the agenda to creditors in a
class and announce the voting window at least twenty-four hours before the window opens for voting instructions and keep the voting
window open for at least twelve hours.
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f) The resolution professional shall form an opinion whether the corporate debtor has been subjected to certain transactions (pr eferential
transactions, undervalued transactions, extortionate transactions or fraudulent transactions) by 75th day and make a determination of
the same by 115th day of the insolvency commencement date. Where the resolution profesional makes such a determination, he
shall apply to the Adjudicating Authority for appropriate relief before 135th day of the insolvency commencement date.
g) The resolution professional shall publish an invitation for expression of interest (EoI) by the 75th day from the insolvency
commencement date. The invitation shall specify the criteria, ineligibility, the last date for submission of EoI and other details and shall
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not require payment of non-refundable deposit. Any EoI received after the specified time shall be rejected. The resolution professional
shall conduct due diligence based on material on record and issue a provisional list of prospective resolution applicants within 10 days
of the last date of submission of EoI. On considering objections to the provisional list, the resolution professional shall i ssue the final
list of prospective resolution applicants, within 10 days of the last date for receipt of objections.
h) The resolution professional shall issue the information memorandum, the evaluation matrix and the request for resolution plans
(RFRP), within five days of issue of the provisional list to the prospective resolution applicants and allow at least 30 days for
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submission of resolution plans. The RFRP shall detail each step in the process, and the manner and purposes of interaction between
the resolution professional and the prospective resolution applicant, along with corresponding timelines.
i) The resolution plan needs to demonstrate that (a) it addresses the cause of default; (b) it is feasible and viable; (c) it has provisions for
its effective implementation; (d) it has provisions for approvals required and the timeline for the same; and (e) the resolution applicant
has the capability to implement the resolution plan.
j) The CoC shall evaluate the resolution plan strictly as per the evaluation matrix to identify the best resolution plan and may approve it
with the required majority. If approved by the CoC, the resolution professional shall endeavour to submit the resolution plan approved
by the CoC to the Adjudicating Authority at least fifteen days before the maximum period for completion of corporate insolvency
resolution process, along with a compliance certificate in the specified Form.
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k) The regulations provide for a model timeline of the corporate insolvency resolution process assuming that the interim resolut ion
professional is appointed on the date of commencement of the process and the time available is hundred and eighty days, as under:
Section / Regulation Description of Activity Norm Timeline
Section 16(1) Commencement of CIRP and appointment of IRP …. T
Regulation 6(1) Public announcement inviting claims Within 3 Days of T+3
Appointment of IRP
Section 15(1)(c) / Submission of claims For 14 Days from T+14
Regulations 6(2)(c) Appointment of IRP
and 12 (1)
Regulation 12(2) Submission of claims Up to 90th day of T+90

commencement
Regulation 13(1) Verification of claims received under regulation Within 7 days from the T+21
12(1) receipt of the claim
Regulation 13(2) Verification of claims received under regulation T+97
12(2)
Section 21(6A) (b) / Application for appointment of AR Within 2 days from T+23
Regulation 16A verification of claims
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Regulation 17(1) Report certifying constitution of CoC received under regulation T+23
12(1)
Section 22(1) / 1st meeting of the CoC Within 7 days of the T+30
Regulation 19(1) constitution of the CoC, but
with seven days‘ notice
Section 22(2) Resolution to appoint RP by the CoC In the first meeting of the T+30
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CoC
Section 16(5) Appointment of RP On approval by the AA ……
Regulation 17(3) IRP performs the functions of RP till the RP is If RP is not appointed by T+40
appointed. 40th day of commencement
Regulation 27 Appointment of valuer Within 7 days of T+47
appointment of RP, but not
later than 40th day of
commencement
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Section 12(A) / Submission of application for withdrawal of Before issue of EoI W
RA30 noitaluge application admitted
CoC to dispose of the application Within 7 days of its receipt W+7
or 7 days of constitution of
CoC, whichever is later.
Filing application of withdrawal, if approved by CoC Within 3 days of approval by W+10
with 90% majority voting, by RP to AA CoC
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Regulation 35A RP to form an opinion on preferential and other Within 75 days of the T+75
transactions commencement
RP to make a determination on preferential and Within 115 days of T+115
other transactions commencement
RP to file applications to AA for appropriate relief Within 135 days of 135+T
commencement
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Regulation 36 (1) Submission of IM to CoC Within 2 weeks of T+54
appointment of RP, but not
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later than 54 day of
commencement
Regulation 36A Publish Form G Within 75 days of T+75
Invitation of EoI commencement
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Submission of EoI At least 15 days from issue T+90
of EoI (Assume 15 days)
Provisional List of RAs by RP Within 10 days from the last T+100
day of receipt of EoI
Submission of objections to provisional list For 5 days from the date of T+105
provisional list
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Final List of RAs by RP Within 10 days of the receipt T+115

of objections
Regulation 36B Issue of RFRP, including Evaluation Matrix and IM Within 5 days of the issue of T+105
the provisional list
Receipt of Resolution Plans At least 30 days from issue T+135
of RFRP (Assume 30 days)
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Regulation 39(4) Submission of CoC approved Resolution Plan to As soon as approved by the T+165
AA CoC
Section 31(1) Approval of resolution plan by AA T=180
 AA: Adjudicating Authority; AR: Authorised Representative; CIRP: Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process; CoC: Committee of
Creditors; EoI: Expression of Interest; IM: Information Memorandum; IRP: Interim Resolution Professional; RA: Resolution Applicant;
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RP: Resolution Professional; RFRP: Request for Resolution Plan.
DATA RELATED TO OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (OTFDS)
 The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (in short, Forests Right Act,
2006) seeks to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling STs and OTFDs who have been
residing in forests for generations.
 The forest rights enumerated in Section 3(1) of Chapter- II of this Act do not make distinction between STs and OTFDs. Hence, the
Act itself does not necessitate maintenance of segregated data for STs and OTFDs.
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 As per the information received from States/UTs, upto 28.02.2018, a total of 18,52,490 titles have been recognized and 19,36,083
have been rejected under Forest Right Act.
 Right from the time of promulgation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006
and Rules thereunder, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has been providing support to States and UTs for effective implementation of
the Act besides guiding them and hand holding and monitoring its implementation. Steps taken by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) for
effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (in
short FRA, 2006) as follows.
 Support provided by MoTA to State Governments : To increase awareness and efficiency, States requested to undertake
extensive training programmes for officials and members of institutions, responsible for the implementation of FRA and to use the
Geo- referenced database for processing claims towards vesting of rights and maps;

 Issued FAQ to address the questions raised by State Governments regarding FRA, 2006;
 Translation of Act, Rules and clarification into local languages and publication of training modules on FRA for training and guidance;
 Issuance of guidelines, observations, clarifications and direction under Section 12 of FRA, 2006 on various aspects of FRA, 2006;
 Financial Support for the implementation of the FRA, 2006: Release of funds, from time to time, under TSP (now TSS) and grants
under Article 275 (1) for undertaking FRA related activities such as capacity building, training and support for post recognition of rights.
(TSP: Tribal Sub Plan, TSS: Tribal Sub-Scheme)
 Mechanisms laid down by Government of India for monitoring the progress of implementation of the Act: States/UTs are
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submitting Monthly Progress Reports and Quarterly Progress Reports as per amended Rules to the Ministry;
 Ministry also reviews the progress by convening meetings of State Secretaries / Commissioners of Tribal Welfare / Development
Departments.
 Visits by Ministers and senior officers of the Ministry to States for reviewing the progress of implementation of the Act.
 Organisation of Regional Workshops in order to explain and discuss the amendments in the Forest Right Rules and the guidelines to
the officials of the key State Government Departments.
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 A series of Review-cum-Consultation meetings with States held in which besides reviewing the progress, various issues in its
implementation were also discussed and clarification on a number of points given.
 As per FR Amendment Rules, 2012 Government notified, on 6.9.2012, State Level Monitoring Committee is required to meet at least
once in three months to monitor the process of recognition, verification and vesting of rights, consider and address the field level
problems.
 Thrust areas redefined:
 States have been urged to concentrate on Community Rights claims.
 Directions issued to States to suo moto review the rejected claims
 Conversion of Forest Villages into Revenue Villages stressed upon and States asked to submit periodic reports to the Ministry.
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 States have been requested to provide post-recognition of rights support to the title holders.
 States have been requested to ensure that Gram Sabhas are convened in all villages as per Forest Rights Act definitions and
Forest Rights Committees formed.
 Sensitization on new emerging areas: The States sensitized about issues of Critical Wildlife Habitats, CAMPA funds and land
banks. (CAMPA: Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority)
 States directed to take necessary steps for reflecting the rights recognized/pattas given under FRA in the records of the revenue
department.
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 Letters written on 27.7.2015 to States with high rates of rejection of claims, following which they have started reviewing and re-
examining the rejected claims.
 On 21.9.2017, letter sent to States to use space technology for creation of geo-referenced database on vesting of rights/ correction of
record of rights, for convening Gram Sabhas meeting, suo-motto review of rejected claims and early disposal of all pending claims.
 Overall Impact: Overall rejection rate has declined from 55% to 51% and sustained campaigning has led to increase in number of
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claims filed from 32,36,539 in October 2012 to 42,10,652 in January 2018.
 Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the only authority/institution at village level is the Gram Sabha which is to initiate the process for
determining the nature and extent of individual or community rights or both that may be given to the forest dwelling S Ts and OTFDs
within the local limits of its jurisdiction under this Act. Further, in terms of Section 2(g) of the Act ‗Gram Sabha‘ means a village
assembly which shall consist of all adult members of a village with full and unrestricted participation of women. Since the Act itself
provides that all adult members of a village with full and unrestricted participation of women shall be members of ‗Gram Sabha‘, hence
representation of OTFDs in village level institutions for Forest Rights Act is already ensured.
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AADHAAR LINKAGE WITH NOTIFIED SCHEMES
 The Ministry has notified in May 2017 the following schemes under Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other
Subsidies, Benefits and Servicers) Act, 2016.
 Those are includes Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students, Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students, National Fellowship and
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Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students, National Overseas Scholarships for ST candidates, Scheme of Grant in aid to
Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of STs, Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGS), Vocational
Training in Tribal Areas, Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Product.
 Notification requires the individual beneficiaries to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication
for availing benefits of above schemes.
 However, till the Aadhaar is assigned to the beneficiary, the benefits shall be given to such individuals based on alternate and viable
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means of identification documents as specified in the notification.

 As such, beneficiaries have not been prevented from availing the benefits under the above schemes for lack of Aadhaar enrolment.
INCLUSION OF TRIBES IN ST LIST
 The Government on 15.06.1999 (further amended on 25.06.2002) has laid down the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in,
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exclusion from and other modifications in Orders specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists.
 As per the modalities, only those proposals which have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government/ UT
Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
are to be considered and legislation amended.
 As per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 (Part XVlll) (in respect to State of Arunachal Pradesh), the list of Scheduled
Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh is an open ended list covering all tribes in the State including16 communities listed therein. Therefore,
with regard to the proposal of Government of Arunachal Pradesh regarding inclusion of ‗Yobin‘ community in the list of STs of the
State, an advisory has been issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the State vide letter dated 22.2.2018 to extend benefits / issue
caste certificates to ‗Yobin‘ tribe or to any other indigenous tribe.
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A proposal has also been received from Government of Arunachal Pradesh for making certain amendments in the list of Scheduled
Tribes of the State, including substitution of ‗Any Naga Tribes‘ at Sl.No. 10 of the list of STs by ‗Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, Wancho‘
communities. The proposal is under process as per approved modalities.
MODEL ACT ON CONTRACT FARMING
 The Union Government has formulated and released a progressive and facilitative Model Act ―The State/ UT Agricultural Produce &
Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018‖ in May, 2018 for its adoption by the states/Union
Territories (UTs).

Salient features of Model Contract Farming Act, 2018
 The Act lays special emphasis on protecting the interests of the farmers, considering them as weaker of the two parties entering into a
contract.
 In addition to contract farming, services contracts all along the value chain including pre-production, production and post-production
have been included.
 "Registering and Agreement Recording Committee" or an "Officer" for the purpose at district/block/ taluka level for online registration
of sponsor and recording of agreement provided.
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 Contracted produce is to be covered under crop / livestock insurance in operation.
 Contract framing to be outside the ambit of APMC Act.
 No permanent structure can be developed on farmers‘ land/premises
 No right, title of interest of the land shall vest in the sponsor.
 Promotion of Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) / Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to mobilize small and marginal farmers has
been provided.
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 FPO/FPC can be a contracting party if so authorized by the farmers.
 No rights, title ownership or possession to be transferred or alienated or vested in the contract farming sponsor etc.
 Ensuring buying of entire pre-agreed quantity of one or more of agricultural produce, livestock or its product of contract farming
producer as per contract.
 Contract Farming Facilitation Group (CFFG) for promoting contract farming and services at village / panchayat level provided.
 Accessible and simple dispute settlement mechanism at the lowest level possible provided for quick disposal of disputes.
 It is a promotional and facilitative Act and not regulatory in its structure.
REVOKING AFSPA
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 In view of improved security situation in Meghalaya and in certain areas of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam:
(i) disturbed area under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, (AFSPA) for 10 km belt in Meghalaya bordering Assam, was not
extended beyond 31.3.2018.
(ii) areas under AFSPA in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh have been reduced from 16 police stations/police out post earlier to 8
police stations bordering the State of Assam besides continuing of AFSPA in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of
Arunachal Pradesh.
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 The decision to issue notification for declaring ‗disturbed area‘ under AFSPA, is taken periodically after making an objective
assessment of the ground situation in consultation with security agencies and the concerned state Governments.
PAYROLL REPORTING IN INDIA
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The Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation has released the report on Employment
Outlook of the country covering the period September, 2017 to May, 2018.
 It is based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions.
 This is the fourth in this series of employment statistics.
 The Ministry brought out the first release of employment related statistics in the formal sector in April, 2018 covering the period
September 2017 to February, 2018, using information on the number of subscribers who have availed benefits under three major
schemes, namely, the Employees‘ Provident Fund (EPFO), Employees‘ State Insurance Scheme (ESIC) and the National Pension
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Scheme (NPS).
 The second and third such reports were released in May and June 2018, respectively.
 The Employees Provident Fund Scheme (EPF) is the main scheme under the Employees‘ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous
Provisions Act, 1952 . It is managed under the aegis of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). It covers every
establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed and certain organisations are covered, subject to certain conditions and
exemptions even if they employ less than 20 persons each. It is a mandatory savings scheme. The pay limit is Rs 15,000 per month.
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Persons drawing pay above Rs 15,000 are exempted or can be enrolled with some permission or on voluntary basis. The number of
members subscribing to this scheme gives an idea of the level of employment in formal sector. The data on net subscribers is sourced
from EPFO.
 The Employment State Insurance Act, 1948 is applicable to establishments employing 10 or more workers. For health and medical
institutions, the threshold limit is more than 20 workers. ESI Scheme for India is an integrated social security scheme tailored to
provide Social Production to workers and their dependents, in the organised sector, in contingencies, such as Sickness, Maternity and
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Death or Disablement due to an employment injury or Occupational hazard. The wage ceiling is Rs 21,000 per month. The number of
subscribers of this scheme also gives an idea of the level of employment in the formal sector. Beneficiaries are termed as In sured
Persons and a new IP number can also arise due to change in employment. Employees who have ceased to pay contribution may be
due to wage exceeding the statutory ceiling of Rs.21,000/- per month or due to resignation, death, retirement or dismissal. Data is
sourced from Employment State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the information will have an element of duplication with EPF data
and thus not additive.
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 The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PRFRDA)‘s National Pension scheme (NPS) is an easily accessible,
low cost, tax-efficient, flexible and portable retirement savings account. Under the NPS, the individual contributes to his retirement
account and also his employer can also co-contribute for the social security/welfare of the individual. NPS is designed on defined
contribution basis wherein the subscriber contributes to his account, there is no defined benefit that would be available at the time of
exit from the system and the accumulated wealth depends on the contributions made and the income generated from investment of
such wealth. Any citizen of India, whether resident or non-resident, individuals who are aged between 18 – 60 years as on the date of
submission of his/her application. From 1st January 2004 the central and state governments have adopted this scheme for new
employees except armed forces. This was extended to other establishments from 2009 onwards.
‗CABOTAGE RULE‘ IN NEWS

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 The Government of India has relaxed Cabotage rule for movement of cotton from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu.
 The Ministry of Textiles took up the matter and facilitated interaction between textile industry and the shipping industry for ensuring
hassle free movement of cotton bales at competitive prices.
 It also organised discussions between the textile industry and the shipping industry on the availability of ships and containers for
cotton transportation at competitive rates.
 Ministry of Shipping granted relaxation in May 2018, under Merchant Shipping Act to permit the coastal movement of cotton on foreign
flag vessels chartered by Indian individuals or the companies carrying EXIM containers and empty containers.

 The textile industry through South India Mills Association (SIMA), Coimbatore, had represented for the relaxation of Cabotage rules for
movement of cotton from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu.
 Cabotage is the transport of goods or passengers between two places in the same country by a transport operator from another
country. It originally applied to shipping along coastal routes, port to port, but now applies to aviation, railways, and road transport as
well.
 Cabotage rights are the right of a company from one country to trade in another country. In aviation, it is the right to operate within the
domestic borders of another country. Most countries do not permit aviation cabotage, and there are strict sanctions against it, for
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reasons of economic protectionism, national security, or public safety. One notable exception is the European Union, whose Member
States all grant cabotage rights to each other.
 The government of India has abolished restrictive cabotage rules that have long prevented foreign-flag ship operators from
transporting containers between domestic ports — broadly meaning coastal shipping.
 The new policy, released this week, overrides a March 7, 2016, decree that sought to ease some of the restrictions applied to foreign
vessels regarding intra-India freight transportation.
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 The latest move is part of India‘s long-term strategy to reduce reliance on foreign transhipment ports, which the government believes
together captured about 33 percent of Indian export-import cargo in fiscal 2016-2017.
RELATED CONCEPTS
 Modified sixth freedom:The "modified sixth freedom" refers to the right to carry passengers between two points in country A through
a hub in country B; for instance, a Boston-Toronto-Seattle itinerary. Such services are currently considered to constitute cabotage and
are not permitted. In 2002, the United States fined Asiana Airlines for selling tickets from the mainland US to Guam and Saipan via
Seoul.
 Tag rights:Certain airlines operate services within a foreign country without the right to carry local traffic. For instance, Qantas
operates service between New York and Los Angeles solely for use by international connecting passengers. Such services are not
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generally considered to be cabotage.
WETLAND BILL PASSED IN KERALA
 Kerala Assembly passed the ‗Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland (Amendment) Bill, 2018‘ by majority vote.
 Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the bill an ‗‘unavoidable intervention‘‘ needed for the state‘s progress and expansion of paddy
cultivation.
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 The amended law allows small landholders to build houses or shops on 5-10 cents of unnotified land (land excluded in the draft data
bank and levelled before 2008) and enables easier land acquisition for big government projects.
 The bill will make it easier to reclaim paddy fields, wetlands and ―unnotified land‖ for infrastructure development projects. The bill
makes 12 amendments and adds two new provisions to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, which was enacted
in 2008 to conserve ecologically sensitive paddy fields and wetlands.
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Many environmental scientists and activists noted that the bill waters down crucial provisions of the 2008 law, which will li kely
encourage large-scale land reclamation, causing environmental degradation and groundwater depletion.
 Though the bill states that paddy fields and wetlands will be reclaimed only for ―projects that benefit the public‖, it does not provide a
clear definition of such a project.
TAMILNADU REJECTS CENTRE‘s DAM SAFETY BILL

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 The TN Assembly unanimously adopted a special resolution urging the Centre to keep the Dam Safety Bill, 2018, in abeyance until the
concerns raised over the legislation by Tamil Nadu and other States are addressed.
 The resolution contended that certain clauses of the Bill affected the interests of Tamil Nadu and could potentially affect the State‘s
rights on control and maintenance of dams located in neighbouring States.
 Tamil Nadu had been consistently opposing various clauses of the Bill, and that the inputs of the State government were not sought
while drafting it.
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 In the guise of facilitating dam safety, bill would affect the State‘s prospects in controlling the Mullaperiyar, Parambikulam,
Thoonakkadavu and Peruvaripallam dams.
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION OF INDIA ACT
 The government is set to replace the apex higher education regulator, University Grants Commission, with a higher education
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commission by repealing the UGC Act, 1951.

 The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry had last week announced its decision to replace the UGC with the Higher
Education Commission of India (HECI) by repealing the UGC Act, 1951.
 According to a draft bill, the new commission will solely focus on academic matters and monetary grants would be under the purview
of the ministry.
 According to the HRD Ministry, less government and more governance, separation of grant-related functions, end of the inspection raj,
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focus on academic quality, powers to enforce compliance with the academic quality standards and to order closure of sub-standard
and bogus institutions are some of the highlights of the new Act -- the Higher Education Commission of India Act, 2018 (Repeal of the
University Grants Commission Act).
 Higher Education Commission of India: HECI is tasked with the mandate of improving academic standards with specific focus on
learning outcomes, evaluation of academic performance by institutions, mentoring of institutions, training of teachers, promote use of
educational technology etc. It will develop norms for setting standards for opening and closure of institutions, provide for greater
flexibility and autonomy to institutions, lay standards for appointments to critical leadership positions at the institutional level
irrespective of University started under any Law (including State Law).
 The HECI will not subsume the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Educatio n
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(NCTE) as was originally envisaged as there were concerns red flagged over cadre merger and other technical issues. Both, the
AICTE Act and the NCTE Act will be revised to fall in tune with the new HERC Act and reflect the same basic principle of focus on
effective regulations for academic standards rather than administrative grant giving functions. The provisions of the new HECI Act,
2018 will override the Architects Act as far as academic standards are concerned.
Highlights of the Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill 2018:
 The focus of the Commission will be on improving academic standards and quality of higher education, specifying norms for learning
outcomes, lay down standards of teaching/research etc.
 It will provide a roadmap for mentoring of institutions found failing in maintaining the required academic standards.
 It shall have the power to enforce its decisions through legal provisions in the Act,

 The Commission shall have the power to grant authorization for starting of academic operations on the basis of their compliance with
norms of academic quality.
 It will also have the powers to revoke authorization granting to a higher education institution where there is a case of wilf ul or
continuous default in compliance with the norms / regulations.
 It will also have the power to recommend closure of institutions which fail to adhere to minimum standards without affecting students‘
interest.
 The Commission will encourage higher education institutions to formulate a Code of
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 Good Practices covering promotion of research, teaching and learning.
 The constitution of the Commission is strengthened by the cooption of Chairpersons of regulatory bodies in higher education, namely
the AICTE and the NCTE. Moreover the Chairpersons/Vice-Chairpersons and members will be scholars of eminence and standing in
the field of academics and research, possessing leadership qualities, proven capacities for institution building and deep understanding
of issues of higher education policy and practice.
 The Bill also provides for the penal provisions, which albeit graded in nature, will cover withdrawal of power to grant degrees/ diplomas
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or direction to cease academic operations and in cases of wilful non-compliance, may result in prosecution sanction as per the
Criminal Procedure Code with a punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 3 years.
 There will be an Advisory Council to render advice to the Commission on matters concerning coordination and determination of
standards in the country. This will be represented by the Chairpersons / Vice-Chairpersons of State Councils for Higher Education
and chaired by the Union Minister for HRD.
 The Commission will also specify norms and processes for fixing of fee chargeable by higher education institutions and advice the
Central Government or the State Governments, as the case may be, regarding steps to be taken for making education affordable to
all.
 The Commission will monitor, through a national data base, all matters covering the development of emerging fields of knowledge and
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balanced growth of higher education institutions in all spheres and specially in promotion of academic quality in higher education.
GOVT ISSUES BAN ON OXYTOCIN FROM JULY 1
 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has restricted the manufacture of Oxytocin formulations for domestic use to public sector
only.Coupled with this, it has also banned the import of Oxytocin and its formulations.The order comes into effect from July 1. Only
Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (KAPL), a public sector company, will manufacture this drug for domestic use. It will
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supply the drug to registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector directly.
 Oxytocin is a naturally-occurring hormone that causes uterine contractions during labour and helps new mothers lactate.
 However, the drug is misused in the dairy industry where livestock is injected with Oxytocin to make them release milk at a time
convenient to farmers.
 Oxytocin is also used to increase the size of vegetables such as pumpkins, watermelons, eggplants, gourds, and cucumbers.
 Previously the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Shimla had in its judgment on March 15, 2016, titled ‗Court on its own moti on‘
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versus State of Himachal Pradesh and others, observed that there is large-scale clandestine manufacture and sale of the drug
Oxytocin leading to its misuse.
 The High Courts had also observed that the feasibility of restricting the manufacture of Oxytocin only in public sector companies
should be considered.
 The matter was considered by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,
1940.
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 The Board recommended Oxytocin formulations for human use be regulated and restricted to be supplied only to registered hospitals
and clinics in public and private sector to prevent its misuse.
 The Ministry in its statement noted that Oxytocin formulations meant for domestic consumption will be supplied by the manufac turer,
i.e. KAPL, to registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector directly. Oxytocin in any form or name will not be allowed to
be sold through retail chemist.
 There is large scale clandestine manufacture and sale of the drug Oxytocin leading to its misuse.
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MAHARASHTRA ORDINANCE DELETES SECTION 9A OF CPC

 In an attempt to reduce judicial backlog in courts — referred to as pendency — the Maharashtra government‘s Law and Judiciary
Department has taken a remarkable step: it issued the CPC (Maharashtra Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, signed by Governor C.
Vidyasagar Rao, deleting Section 9A from the Code of Civil Procedure Code (CPC).
 Section 9A, was inserted in 1970, when a suit was filed against the government in the Bombay City Civil Court without a valid notice
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being issued. A court would grant an ad interim (temporary) injunction and an adjournment to plaintiffs regardless of jurisdiction. This
would enable plaintiffs to issue a notice to the government, then after the expiry of the period of the notice, withdraw the suit with the
liberty to file a fresh suit and seek continuation of the earlier injunction.
 The ordinance says that the practice of granting injunctions without going into the question of jurisdiction had been ‗leadin g to grave
abuse‘ and it was against this backdrop that section 9A was introduced.
 It states, ―However, Section 9A has become a cumbersome and tedious provision which has contributed to judicial backlog and given
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rise to several complications. Consequently, Section 9A of the said Code has given rise to at least two judicial bottlenecks which have
stymied the speedy disposal of cases. Firstly, when an issue is raised under the section, a court cannot dispose a motion (application)
until the trial into such an issue is concluded and the issue is finally decided.
 The motion consequently remains pending for several years, and ad interim relief masquerades virtually as final relief. Secondly, when
such an issue is raised, two trials have to be conducted, viz., one on the preliminary issue and the other on the remaining issues, each
subject to its own round of appeals and Special Leave Petitions. All this needlessly burdens the court.‖
Section 9A in The Code Of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2002
9A. Summons given to the plaintiff for service.-
(1) The Court may, in addition to the service of summons under rule 9, on the application of the plaintiff for the issue of a summons for the
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appearance of the defendant, permit such plaintiff to effect ser ice of such summons on such defendant and shall, in s uch a case, deliver
the summons to such plaintiff for service.
(2) The service of such summons shall be effected by or on behalf of such plaintiff by delivering or tendering to the defendant personally a
copy thereof signed by the Judge or such officer of the Court as he may appoint in this behalf and sealed with th seal of the Court or by
such mode of service as is referred to in sub- rule (3) of rule 9.
(3) The provisions of rules 16 and 18 shall apply to a summons personally served under this rule as if the person effecting service were a
serving officer.
(4) If such summons, when tendered, is refused or if the person served refuses to sign an acknowledgment of service or for an y reason
such summons cannot be served personally, the Court shall, on the application of the party, re- issue such summons to be erved by the
Court in the same manner as a summons to a defendant.".

MIZORAM ASSEMBLY OPPOSES BILL
 The Mizoram Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
 The resolution impressed upon the Centre that the Bill, if enacted, would be harmful to States like Mizoram where a large number of
illegal Buddhist migrants from Bangladesh reside.
 The Bill, seeking to make illegal migrants eligible for Indian citizenship on the basis of religion, was against the principles of secularism
and ―amounted to patronage of some religions‖.
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 The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016: The Bill amends the Citizenship Act 1955 to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs,
Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship.
 Under the Act, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation is that the applicant must have resided in India dur ing the last
12 months, and for 11 of the previous 14 years. The Bill relaxes this 11 year requirement to six years for persons belonging to the
same six religions and three countries.
 The Bill provides that the registration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders may be cancelled if they violate any law.
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 Issues and Analysis: The Bill makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion. This may violate Article 14 of the
Constitution which guarantees right to equality.
 The Bill allows cancellation of OCI registration for violation of any law. This is a wide ground that may cover a range of violations,
including minor offences (eg. parking in a no parking zone).
ARUNACHAL MAY LIFT ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
 The Arunachal Pradesh may lift a 40-year-old anti-conversion law to uphold secularism.
 Chief Minister said his government could repeal the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, an anti-conversion law, which the
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frontier State‘s Assembly passed in 1978.
 Arunachal Pradesh was one of the first States to pass such a law primarily to check proselytisation. Uttarakhand enacted a similar law
in May this year.
 The anti-conversion law could undermine secularism and is probably targeted towards Christians. Today, Christians account for more
than half the population in Arunachal Pradesh.
 Census data say there were no Christians in the North East Frontier Province, as the State was called then, in 1951. By 2001,
Christians were the third largest religious group accounting for 18.7% of the State‘s population, behind Hindus (34.6%) and ‗others‘,
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mostly Donyi-Polo (30.7%).
 According to the 2011 census, Christianity has overtaken Hinduism as the State‘s largest religion. Christians — most of them Roman
Catholics — account for 30.26% of the State‘s 1.3 million people while Hindus are now 29.04%.
 Though Arunachal Pradesh had 5.56% fewer Hindus in 2011 than in 2001, traditionalists were more worried by the 4.5% drop in t he
number of followers of Donyi-Polo and other indigenous faiths.
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Arunachal was the third State after Odisha (1967) and Madhya Pradesh (1968) to enact an anti-conversion law.
 Chhattisgarh in 2000, Gujarat in 2003, Himachal Pradesh in 2007 and Rajasthan in 2008 also passed anti-conversion laws, prohibiting
forced or money-induced conversions.
NIKAH HALALA IN NEWS
 According to Law ministry, the Centre will oppose the practice of ‗nikah halala‘, which allows a man to remarry his divorced wife, when
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the Supreme Court examines its legal validity.
 The present union government believes the practice is against the principles of gender justice.
 In Islam, ‗halala‘ is a term that finds its roots in ‗halal‘ that translates to something that is permissible, and therefore ‗lawful‘. In context
of marriage then, it means that a divorced woman can become ‗halal‘ (lawful) for her husband again after nikah halala is complete.
 Indian Muslim jurist Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (1863-1943) explained the concept clearly in Bahishti Zewar (a comprehensive
handbook of Islamic beliefs and practices) that, ―A person pronounces a revocable (raji) talaq. He then reconciles and resumes
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cohabitation. Two or four years later, under provocation he once again pronounces a revocable talaq. On recovering from provocation,
he again resumes cohabitation. Now two talaqs are over. Hereafter, whenever he pronounces a talaq, it will be counted as the third
talaq, which will dissolve the marriage forthwith, and should a remarriage be desired by the parties necessitate halala (inter-mediatory
marriage).‖
 After the pronouncement of talaq, the woman becomes ‗haram‘ (unlawful and therefore, prohibited) for the husband.
 In context of divorce, a bar was laid down in order to ensure that the man did not use it as a tool for torturing his wife (by marrying and
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divorcing her as many times as he desired). It was the rule of irrevocability. This rule was introduced to maintain strict discipline and to
ensure that marriage was not reduced to mere mockery.
 If the husband and wife wanted to re-marry for the third time, it could be done only on one condition: the woman had to marry another
man and sleep with him. ―Now, if the second husband dies or divorces her after sexual intercourse,‖ ―then after completing the Iddat
period, she can re-marry the first husband. But, if the second husband died or divorced her before sexual intercourse, then it will be of
no account and she cannot marry the first husband in such condition.‖
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 This law, followed by a small part of the Muslim community, is called Nikah Halala.
 In India, personal laws pertaining to divorce and marriage are anchored in religion. Triple talaq (where a man can divorce his wife by
saying ―talaq, talaq, talaq‖) is a grave, contentious issue, where the central government feels Muslim women should push back.
 Prime Minister recently said such laws denied Muslim women their fundamental right. The lives of Muslim women cannot be allowed
to be ruined by triple talaq.
 The government is also pushing the Supreme Court to obliterate nikah halala and polygamy in India.
 Defending its hidebound religious laws, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said before that any deviation from
such Quranic injunction (validity of triple talaq) would go against the mandate of the Almighty himself. “Such an act would be going
against the very integral practice of Islam, and would be disregarding the precise directions of Allah and also his Messenger which is
nothing but a sin,” the body has been quoted as saying.
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 Nikah halala is a law that requires a woman to marry and sleep with another man in order to return to her first husband. There have
been instances where the husband regrets divorcing his wife through triple talaq and in the hope of reconciliation, hands over his
divorced wife to another man for marriage, under the condition that the latter would divorce the woman the next day. Muta (conditional
marriage), however, is considered to be a sin in Islam and the Sharia law does not permit it. The husband is therefore considered a
sinner.
 In modern India, nikah halala has been manipulated and misused. In October 2016, an Indian Muslim woman claimed that her
husband‘s friend raped her. The husband had lost his wife to his friend in a gambling game, and therefore had to divorce her. In order
to get her back, the husband asked his friend to sleep with the woman. The accused (husband‘s friend) called it part of the ―nikah
halala‖, so that her divorced husband could take her back.

KARNATAKA DECIDES TO CHALLENGE CAUVERY WATER AUTHORITY IN SC
 The Karnataka government decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the setting up of the Cauvery Water Management
Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on the grounds that the formation should have been
discussed in Parliament.
 Karnataka had initially not nominated its representatives, as it opposed any move to form the Authority.
 According to Karnataka CM, the Supreme Court by passing an order with respect to the issue has played the role of Parliament. As
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per the (Inter-State Water Disputes) Act, any water sharing schemes have to be discussed in Parliament before implementing it.
 The Centre had on June 22 constituted a nine-member Cauvery Water Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation
Committee, comprising representatives from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
 Karnataka initially did not nominate its representatives as the state had been opposing any move to form the Authority and instead
suggested formation of the Cauvery Decision Implementation Committee.
 After the Centre's June 22 decision, the Karnataka government on June 23 nominated two senior officials as representatives to the
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Authority and the Committee under 'protest' so as to 'block' any further 'damage' to the state's interests.
 The sharing of waters of the Kaveri River (Cauvery) has been the source of a serious conflict between the two states of Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka. The genesis of this conflict rests in two agreements in 1892 and 1924 between the Madras Presidency and Kingdom
of Mysore. The 802 kilometres (498 mi) Cauvery river has 44,000 km2 basin area in Tamil Nadu and 32,000 km2 basin area in
Karnataka. The inflow from Karnataka is 425 TMCft whereas that from Tamil Nadu is 252 TMCft.
 Based on the inflow Karnataka is demanding its due share of water from the river. It states that the pre-independence agreements are
invalid and are skewed heavily in the favour of the Madras Presidency, and has demanded a renegotiated settlement based on
"equitable sharing of the waters".
 Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, pleads that it has already developed almost 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km2) of land and as a result has
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come to depend very heavily on the existing pattern of usage. Any change in this pattern, it says, will adversely affect the livelihood of
millions of farmers in the state.
 Decades of negotiations between the parties bore no fruit. The Government of India then constituted a tribunal in 1990 to look into the
matter. After hearing arguments of all the parties involved for the next 16 years, the tribunal delivered its final verdict on 5 February
2007. In its verdict, the tribunal allocated 419 TMC of water annually to Tamil Nadu and 270 TMC to Karnataka; 30 TMC of Cauvery
river water to Kerala and 7 TMC to Puducherry.
 Karnataka and Tamil Nadu being the major shareholders, Karnataka was ordered to release 192 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu in a
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normal year from June to May.
 The dispute however, did not end there, as all four states decided to file review petitions seeking clarifications and possible
renegotiation of the order.
PUNJAB WITHDRAWS CONTENTIOUS LEGISLATION

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 The Punjab government has withdrawn a contentious legislation that proposed life imprisonment for sacrilege of the Guru Granth
Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.
 The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, enabled
introduction of a new amended Section 295 AA in the IPC for desecrating the religious book.
 The Bill was introduced by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in 2016 after over hundred incidents of desecration of the holy book.
The government had suspected ―foreign hand‖ in the incidents.
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 The existing provision, Section 295A of the IPC (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by
insulting its religion or religious beliefs), makes such a crime punishable by imprisonment of three years.
 As per Home Ministry records, the Punjab government withdrew both legislations on May 3.
 The Home Ministry recently reviewed over hundred pieces of legislation awaiting presidential assent.
 The Union Home Ministry examines the Bills passed by the Assemblies that are repugnant to Central laws before they get the
President‘s assent to become a law.
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 The Bill was returned by the Home Ministry to the State government in March 2017 as it violated the principle of secularism as
mentioned in the Constitution.
 The Congress government, under Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, sought legal opinion on the legislation and was told that the Bill
could fail judicial scrutiny as it focussed on a particular religion.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RULES AMENDED

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 The Union Ministry of Finance has amended Intellectual Property rules to revoke the power vested with Customs authorities to seize
imported products based on complaints of patent infringement.
 Ministry made two amendments to the Intellectual Property Rights (Imported Goods) Enforcement Rules, 2007. Firstly, the Intellectual
Property Rights (Imported Goods) Enforcement Amendment Rules, 2018, omits all reference to the Patents Act, 1970.
 Another amendment incorporates further conditions that oblige the right-holder to notify the Commissioner of Customs of any
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amendment, cancellation, suspension or reaction that concern Intellectual Property rights, and require the Customs authorities to
accordingly amend, suspend or cancel the corresponding protection provided by them.
 In the past, mobile phone companies have faced issues because of the earlier rules. For instance, in 2007, Madurai-based
Ramkumar, who held a patent for a dual SIM, sought seizure of products imported by Samsung and Spice Mobile, which affected
several importers.
 Now, the amended law will permit the Customs authorities to cancel his patent from its records based on the order passed by t he
Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB).
 The amended law will permit the Customs authorities to cancel his patent from its records based on the order passed by the
Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
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BAN ON OXYTOCIN DEFERRED
 The scheduled ban on manufacture of oxytocin formulations by the private sector has been deferred by two months.
 It was earlier announced that a ban on the manufacturing and sale of the drug for domestic use by private sector companies would be
effective from July 1.
 In June, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare declared that from July 1, the drug would no longer be freely manufactured and
sold by any private sector companies, with Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL), a public sector company, being
slated as the lone manufacturer of the hormone.

 However, the ministry is now extending the deadline for the ban to September, after considering that KAPL may not be able to meet
the demands for the drug across the country on such a short notice period.
 Oxytocin, the hormone drug, has long been the subject of controversy after it was discovered that dairy farmers were injecting cows
with the drug to artificially increase the production of milk. Furthermore, shocking reports of young girls being forcefully injected with
the drug to induce puberty and then being forced into sex work also called for stricter regulations of the drug‘s availability.
 The drug is extensively used in medical practice during delivery to induce contractions in pregnant women as well as to control
bleeding post delivery. It is also given to women to stimulate uterine contractions after an incomplete miscarriage.
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REMISSION TO PRISONERS ON 150TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GANDHI
 The Union Cabinet has given its approval to grant Special Remission to Prisoners as part of Commemoration of 150th Birth
Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
 As part of commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the following categories of prisoners will be consider ed for
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special remission and released in three phases.
 In Phase-l, the prisoners will be released on 2nd October, 2018 (Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi), in Phase-ll prisoners will be
released on 10th April, 2019 (Anniversary of Champaran Satyagrah) and in Phase-Ill, prisoners will be released on 2nd October 2019
(Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi):-
a) Women convicts of 55 years of age and above, who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
b) Transgender convicts of 55 years of age and above, who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
c) Male convicts of 60 years of age and above, who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
d) Physically challenged/disabled convicts with 70% disability and more who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
e) Terminally ill convicts.
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f) Convicted prisoners who have completed two-third (66%) of their actual sentence period.
 Special remission will not be given to prisoners who have been convicted for an offence for which the sentence is sentence of death or
where death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment; Cases of convicts involved in serious and heinous crimes like Dowry
death, Rape, Human Trafficking and convicted under POTA, UAPA, TADA, FICN, POCSO Act, Money Laundering, FEMA, NDPS,
Prevention of Corruption Act, etc.
 Ministry of Home Affairs will issue advice to all States and UTs asking them to process the cases of eligible prisoners. Stat e
Governments and UT Administrations will be advised to constitute a Committee to examine the cases.
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 State Governments will place the recommendations of the Committee before Governor for consideration and approval under Article
161 of the Constitution. After the approval, the prisoners will be released on 2nd October 2018, 10f/l April, 2019 and 2nd October,
2019.
TAMIL NADU FINALLY SET TO GET LOKAYUKTA

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 A day before the expiry of the Supreme Court-set deadline of July 10 for establishing the Lokayukta in the State, the Tamil Nadu
Assembly adopted a legislation for constituting the anti-corruption panel.
 The proposed Lokayukta, comprising a chairperson and four members, would be empowered to inquire into complaints of corruption
by public servants and recommend departmental action against them.
 According to the Bill, the Lokayukta would have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and would
have jurisdiction over all MLAs, former MLAs, Ministers, former Ministers and all public servants defined in the Prevention of
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Corruption Act, 1988.
 On receipt of a complaint, the Lokayukta would initially decide whether to proceed with the matter and eventually order a preliminary
inquiry.
 The Bill envisages to set up the body with a chairperson, a judge of the high court or a person with 25 years of experience i n anti-
corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance and law. Of the four members, two would be judicial members.
 The jurisdiction of the Lokayukta will cover any person who is or was a minister of the state, any person who is or was a member of
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the legislative assembly and government officials.

 Lokayukta will not inquire into any matter involved in, or arising from, or connected with, any such allegation of corruption against any
MLA in respect of anything said or any committee thereof covered under the provisions contained in clause (2) of Article 194 of the
Constitution (privileges in the assembly).
 If anyone makes any false and frivolous or vexatious complaint under the law, she or she shall, on conviction, be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh.
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 The governor will make the appointment of the chairpersons and members, on the recommendations of the selection committee
comprising chief minister (chairperson), speaker of the legislative assembly (member) and leader of opposition or leader (member).
 The selection committee constitute a search committee comprising three people having special knowledge and expertise in anti-
corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance and law.
 In April, the Supreme Court asked 11 states and the Union territory of Puducherry to specify the reasons on July 10 for not setting up
Lokayuktas as per the provisions of Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
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 The law mandates the states to establish the body by a law enacted in the state legislature.
 Goa, Kerala and Karnataka are seen as having strong Lokayuktas. The Karnataka Lokayukta can prosecute an official, a minister and
even the Chief Minister. Goa, on the other hand, can recommend a prosecution.
 In Kerala and Karnataka, the Lokayukta can initiate contempt proceedings if its order is not obeyed. But the Goa Lokayukta doesn‘t
have provisions to move contempt. The Goa Lokayukta, however, has the power to say that the Chief Minister is unfit to continue in
office.
GOVT LEAVES DECISION ON SECTION 377 TO THE COURT
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The government chose not to take sides on the question of the legality of Section 377 IPC, a provision which criminalises
homosexuality, leaving the decision entirely to the Supreme Court.
 The government‘s decision to not contest writ petitions against Section 377 however came with a rider that the court should specify
that the freedom to choose a partner does not extend to perversions like incest.
 Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code dating back to 1861, introduced during the British rule of India (modelled on the
Buggery Act of 1533) criminalized sexual activities "against the order of nature", including homosexual activities.
Section 377 of the IPC states: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal,
shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with impris-onment of either description for a term which may extend to t en years, and
shall also be liable to fine.” This law dates back to 1861 and criminalises sexual activities against the order of nature and the ambit of this
law extends to any sexual union involving penile insertion.

 The section was read down with respect to sex between consenting adults by the Delhi High Court in July 2009. That judgement was
overturned by the Supreme Court of India (SC) on 11 December 2013 with the Court holding that amending or repealing section 377
should be a matter left to Parliament, not the judiciary.
 On 6 February 2016, the final hearing of the curative petition submitted by the Naz Foundation and others came for hearing in the SC.
The three-member bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India T. S. Thakur said that all the 8 curative petitions submitted will be
reviewed afresh by a five-member constitutional bench.
 On 24 August 2017 in a landmark judgment (also known as the Puttuswamy judgement), the SC had upheld the Right to Privacy as a
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fundamental right under the Constitution. The SC also had called for equality and condemned discrimination, stated that the protection
of sexual orientation lies at the core of the fundamental rights and that the rights of the LGBT population are real and foun ded on
constitutional doctrine.[9] The Puttuswamy judgement is believed to have implications for section 377 as consensual sexual acts in
private can no longer be overseen by law.
 In January 2018, a three-member SC bench heard a petition filed by five people asking the SC to revisit the Naz Foundation judgment.
The case was referred to a larger bench and help was sought from the Union government. On 10 July 2018, a five-member
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constitutional bench of the SC commenced hearing of the pleas challenging the constitutionality of section 377.
 Petitioners say that, Section 377 is arbitrary and unconstitutional. It violates Articles 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. It violates Article
15 because the discrimination revolves around the sex of the partner. Right to intimacy should be declared as part of Right t o life
Sexuality and sexual rights are part of human rights; homosexual conduct between two consenting adults is not against the order of
nature. Section 377 is used to harass LGBT persons who do not speak up due to stigma and societal perceptions. Section 377 has a
chilling effect on freedom of expression.
 IPC falls in the concurrent list. If any of the States wanted to amend it, they would have done so but they have not.
BIHAR AMENDS LIQUOR LAW
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 The Bihar Cabinet approved amendments in certain provisions of the stringent State Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.
 Government has relaxed some of the stringent provisions. For instance, the provision of community fines and of seizure and
confiscation of house or vehicle in the event of discovery of liquor therein is likely to be annulled.
 Under the Act, the minimum provision of punishment is jail term of 10 years up to life imprisonment; if liquor is found in a house, all
members of the family above 18 years of age are deemed as guilty.
 While hearing a PIL a Division Bench of the Patna High Court comprising Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Rajiv Ranjan
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Prasad had rapped the State government for seizing vehicles in drink-driving cases. While putting Section 56 of the Act under scrutiny,
the court said some moveable and immoveable materials are liable for confiscation in case of liquor recovery from them but there is no
provision for seizure and confiscation of vehicles in drink-driving cases.
 Over 6,52,000 raids have been conducted by the police and excise officials between April 1, 2016 and March 6, 2018 in which
1,22,000 persons were arrested.
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Similarly, altogether 16.4 lakh litres of Indian-made foreign liquor and around 12.4 lakh litres of country liquor have been seized so far
in the State since April 2016.
PRESIDENT CLEARS ASSAM WITCH HUNTING BILL
 President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the Assam State Bill against witch-hunting.
 Assam State received the President‘s approval for the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015, on
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June 13. The State has already notified the Act.
 The Act prescribes a prison term of up to seven years and up to Rs. 5 lakh in fine for calling a person witch. It also has pr ovisions to
come with Section 302 of the IPC (punishment for murder) if someone is killed after being branded a witch.
 Important person behind the legislation is Director-General of Police Kuladhar Saikia. As Deputy Inspector-General in Kokrajhar
district, he launched Project Prahari in 2001, which blended normal policing with social campaigns to check the menace. The Act,
aimed at eliminating the superstition from the society, imposes a punishment of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh.
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 President Kovind gave his assent to the Bill making any offence under the Act as non-bailable, cognizable and non-compoundable.
 Between 2001 and 2017, 193 people -- 114 women and 79 men -- have been branded as witche and killed.
 To tackle this menace, the Assam Assembly on August 13, 2015, had unanimously passed a Bill, which imposes imprisonment of up
to seven years, along with a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh, for branding someone as a witch. This Bill has now become an Act.
 The Act would be imposed, along with Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), if someone is killed after being branded as witch.
The punishment for leading a person to commit suicide after intimidating, stigmatising, defaming a person may be extended to life
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imprisonment, along with Rs. 5 lakh fine.

 The Act also talks about various measures that the administration and police should initiate, along with NGOs and civil society, to
educate people about witch-hunting.
 It also entails that the fine realised as punishment for an offence shall be paid to the victim or his/her next of kin as compensation.
 The legislation is crucial in the present context in which communication technology is being used to magnify superstitious beliefs,
black magic and social prejudices with fatal consequences, primarily affecting the life of marginal groups.
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BILL ON DEATH PENALTY FOR CHILD RAPE
 The Bill to award the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 will be introduced in the monsoon session of
Parliament.
 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018, once approved by Parliament, will replace the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance
promulgated on April 21 following an outcry over the rape and murder of a minor girl at Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and the rape of
a woman at Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.
 The Cabinet gave its approval to the draft Bill prepared by the Home Ministry.
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The Bill stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 12.
 A provision for the death penalty has been provided for rapists of girls aged under 12.
 The minimum punishment in the case of rape of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10.
 Under the Bill, in case of the rape of a girl aged under 16 and above 12, the minimum punishment has been increased from 10 y ears
to 20.
 The punishment for gang rape of a girl aged below 16 and above 12 will be imprisonment for the rest of life of the convict.
 While punishments for crimes against girls was enhanced through amendment to the IPC, there was no mention of crimes against
boys. The government will seek to correct that anomaly as well.
 POCSO amendment for enhanced punishment for sexual assaults on young boys has been approved by the Law Ministry.

TWO-CONSTITUENCY NORM: IN NEWS
 Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra is hearing the petition filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking a
declaration that Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951, which allows candidates to contest from two
constituencies at a time, as invalid and unconstitutional.
 Mr. Upadhyay has asked the court to direct the Centre and the Election Commission to ―discourage‖ independent candidates from
contesting parliamentary and Assembly elections.
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 However, the union government objected to a plea to stop candidates from contesting from two different constituencies, saying such a
limitation infringes on a person‘s right to contest the polls and curtails the polity‘s choice of candidates.
 The government told the Supreme Court that one-candidate-one-constituency restriction would require a legislative amendment.
 The government supported Section 33 (7) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951 which restricts candidates to contesting
from two constituencies. Before the amendment, candidates could contest from any number of constituencies.
 The Election Commission body informed the Supreme Court that it had proposed the amendment of Section 33(7) way back in July
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2004. It was one of the 22 ―urgent electoral reforms‖ the Election Commission had suggested to a Rajya Sabha Parliamentary
Standing Committee.
 There have been cases where a person contests election from two constituencies, and wins from both. In such a situation he vacates
the seat in one of the two constituencies. The consequence is that a by-election would be required from one constituency involving
avoidable labour and expenditure on the conduct of that by-election.
 The EC said that the ―law should be amended to provide that a person cannot contest from more than one constituency at a time.‖
 The EC suggested that a candidate should deposit an amount of Rs. 5 lakh for contesting in two constituencies in an Assembly
election or Rs. 10 lakh in a general election. This would be used to conduct a by-election in the eventuality that he or she is victorious
in both constituencies and has to relinquish one.
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LAW PANEL REVIEWING SEDITION LEGISLATION
 The Law Commission is considering the ―scope and ambit‖ of the law on sedition and suggest amendments, if any.
 During 2014-15, as many as 112 cases of sedition were registered across India and 36 persons were chargesheeted. During the
period, the police secured conviction in only two cases.
 Home Ministry had written to the Law and Justice Ministry to request the Law Commission of India to study the usage of the provisions
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of Section 124 A (Sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and suggest amendments, if any.
 Section 124A in The Indian Penal Code:Sedition: — Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible
representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards,
the Government established by law in [India], shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with
imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.
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The Law Commission has undertaken the examination of Section 124 A and is considering the scope and ambit of the law on sedition,
in order to ascertain under what circumstances it can legitimately be invoked.
LS CLEARS DETENTION POLICY
 A Bill to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act to abolish the ‗no detention policy‘ in schools was passed in the Lok Sabha.
 The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (second amendment) Bill 2017, Union Human Resource Development
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Minister said that it would be at the discretion of the States whether to continue with no detention or not.
 The States would decide at what level and who would conduct the examination.
 Under the current provisions of the RTE Act, no student can be detained till class 8 and all students are promoted to the next grade.
FUGITIVE OFFENDERS BILL PASSED

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 The Lok Sabha passed the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, which will now replace the Ordinance by the same name promulgated by
the President in April.
 The Bill empowers special courts to direct the Central government to confiscate all the assets belonging to a fugitive economic
offender, including those assets that are proceeds of the crime and that do not belong to the offender.
 The legislation gains importance against the background of high-profile cases where individuals such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi
escaped the country.
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 The Bill allows for a person to be declared as a fugitive economic offender (FEO) if: (i) an arrest warrant has been issued against him
for any specified offences where the value involved is over Rs 100 crore, and (ii) he has left the country and refuses to return to face
prosecution.
 To declare a person an FEO, an application will be filed in a Special Court (designated under the Prevention of Money-Laundering
Act, 2002) containing details of the properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person‘s whereabouts.
 The Special Court will require the person to appear at a specified place at least six weeks from issue of notice. Proceedings will be
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terminated if the person appears.

 The Bill allows authorities to provisionally attach properties of an accused, while the application is pending before the Special Court.
 Upon declaration as an FEO, properties of a person may be confiscated and vested in the central government, free of encumbrances
(rights and claims in the property). Further, the FEO or any company associated with him may be barred from filing or defending civil
claims.
REGULATING FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA
 Reports this year said the government has renewed its push for foreign universities in India. The development comes after the UPA
government‘s detailed law on foreign varsities, their entry and regulation — the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulations of Entry
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and Operations) Bill of 2010 — lapsed. This Bill was meant to introduce a comprehensive regulatory mechanism to prevent students
from falling for the attractions offered by these establishments.
 Due to a regulatory regime or policy, it has been difficult to make a meaningful assessment of the operations of foreign educational
institutions. The statement of objects and reasons of the 2010 Bill says that this has given chances to adopt various unfair practices
and for commercialisation.
 At present, only the All India Council for Technical Education has notified regulations for the entry and operation of foreign universities
and institutions imparting technical education in India. The objective of the Bill was to maintain high standards of education. The Bill
provided that a foreign educational institution shall not impart education in India unless it is recognised and notified by the Central
government as a foreign education provider under the proposed legislation.

 The quality of education, curriculum, methods of imparting education, and the faculty should be the same as those employed by the
institution in its main campus. The institution should maintain a corpus fund of not less than Rs. 50 crore or such sum as may be
notified by the Central government.
 The Centre can refuse to recognise and notify a foreign educational institution as a foreign education provider if it is not in the interest
of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, etc.
 The Centre can withdraw the recognition and rescind the notification of a foreign education provider on the grounds of violation of the
provisions of the proposed legislation or the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or any other law.
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 Any person who is associated with an unrecognised foreign educational institution and who offers or gives admission to any person as
student, or collects fee or awards any degree, shall be liable to a penalty of Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh in addition to a refund of the fee
and confiscation of any gains made out of it.
 Any disputes under the Bill would be heard under the National Educational Tribunal, also a forum proposed.
TRAI REVAMPS RULES ON PESKY CALLS, SPAM
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 TRAI revamped the regulations on pesky calls and spam as it spelt out new rules mandating subscribers‘ consent for receiving
telemarketing messages.
 The regulator also asked telecom operators to ensure that commercial communication takes place only through registered senders.
 The objective of the regulation notified today is to effectively deal with the nuisance of spam experienced by the subscribers.
 The regulations provide for registration of senders, registration of headers (that segregate different types of messages) and, more
importantly, registration of subscribers‘ consent.
 Unscrupulous telemarketers today override the stated preference of the subscriber by claiming consent that may have been
surreptitiously obtained. New regulations provide the subscriber with complete control over their consent and the ability to revoke the
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consent already granted, at their option.
 The registration of subscriber consent will put an end to major abuse of the current regulations.
 TRAI said that every access provider should establish ‗Customer Preference Registration Facility (CPRF)‘ and make necessary
arrangements to facilitate customers by providing ways and means to record consent (or its revocation) related to commercial
communication.
 Also, TRAI has introduced the concept of registered templates for both SMS and voice communication to prevent deliberate mixing of
promotional messages into the transactional stream.
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 This will give relief to subscribers who feel targeted by unwanted communication today.
 Violations under various categories will attract a penalty ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 50 lakh, based on the type of offence.
RAJYA SABHA ADJOURNED OVER LACK OF QUORUM

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Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were adjourned due to a lack of quorum. The adjournment came immediately after a private
member‘s Bill seeking an amendment to the Constitution was withdrawn.
 Further business could not be transacted as several members, asked if sufficient members were there in the House to continue the
proceedings.
 For quorum, a minimum of 25 MPs must be present. There were only 23 members.
 Over a dozen Rajya Sabha members were in the Lok Sabha gallery to witness the debate on the no-confidence motion.
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KARNATAKA AADHAAR ACT TO COME INTO FORCE FROM AUGUST 1
 The Karnataka Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill 2018, which was passed in
the 2018 budget session, has received Governor‘s assent.
 While schemes funded by the Union government have already been notified for mandatory Aadhaar implementation, the State Act will
now enable departments to make Aadhaar mandatory for delivery of State-funded services, benefits, and subsidies. Initially, DPAR
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officials believe 15 to 20 services/ schemes can be brought under the Aadhaar linkage.
 Several State-funded schemes are set to have mandatory Aadhaar linkages as the Karnataka Aadhaar Act will come into force from
August 1.
 However, the government has cautioned departments to have beneficiaries as the primary focus and not exclude them from any
scheme citing absence of Aadhaar identity. In fact, in a first, the government has asked departments to identify whether there is a
need to introduce Aadhaar in schemes being implemented and if its introduction would ease processes.
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 While new schemes would require permission for Aadhaar implementation, schemes that have been linked for Aadhaar identification
will be reviewed for their efficacy. In some cases, problems by introduction of Aadhaar has become more than the benefits perceived.
 While Aadhaar could be made mandatory, the State government, in a circular, has also asked departments to come up with alternative
documents for identification in case the beneficiary has no assigned Aadhaar number. It has asked departments to identify authorities
responsible for certifying these documents.
 Aadhaar authentication may fail owing to changes in biometrics or due to network failure. This does not mean that beneficiaries are
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excluded. The primary focus should be to bring beneficiaries into the system and not exclusion.
 In a bid to avoid confusion or inconvenience to beneficiaries, departments have been asked first to seek c learance from the
Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms before Aadhaar is made mandatory for respective schemes.
 An expert committee will vet the departments‘ proposal before giving permission to ensure uniformity and avoid confusion.
MOTOR VEHICLE (AMENDMENT) BILL 2017
 In the year that the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill was first introduced, India saw 1.5 lakh deaths from road accidents, acc ording to
the ‗Road Accidents in India, 2016‘ report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In 2017, when it was reintroduced, there
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had been a marginal decline in that number, but the loss of lives from road accidents remains high in the country.
 To make roads safer, the Centre in consultation with State Transport Ministers came up with this Bill to amend the Motor Vehicles Act,
1988.
 The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 10, 2017, and is pending in the Rajya Sabha. The
Upper House is expected to take up this Bill for debate and passing in the ongoing Monsoon Session.
 The new Bill takes into account taxi aggregators, third party insurance, computerisation of licensing authorities, and so on. It also
provides for a National Road Safety Board.
 Anyone visiting their local Road Transport authority will understand how difficult it is to obtain a driving licence without the help of
touts. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill seeks to redress this by taking the process online. Tests for driving licences will be
automated, and learner‘s licences will be issued online.

 However, State governments oversee RTOs right now. The government has not yet created clear guidelines on how States will hav e
to adopt this new Bill.
 While under the 1988 Act, a driving licence is valid for 20 years until a person turns 50, and for five-year periods after the age of 50,
under the new law, more categories have been created.
 A driving licence issued to a person under the age of 30 is valid till the person turns 40. For those who receive licences be tween the
ages of 30 and 50, the licence will remain valid for 10 years. If the licence is issued between 50 and 55 years, it will be valid until the
person turns 60, and above 55 years, licences will carry a five-year validity.
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 The Bill defines aggregators as ―a digital intermediary or market place for a passenger to connect with a driver for the purpose of
transportation.‖
 The 2016 Bill required State governments to issue licences to aggregators such as Uber or Ola as per ―guidelines as may be is sued
by the Central Government,‖ but when the Bill was reintroduced in 2017, it became optional for State governments to follow central
guidelines. One of the issues with the original Bill was that it did not mention what the central guidelines would cover.
 Aggregators, however, now have to be compliant with the Information Technology Act, 2000.Aggregators are as yet unregulated in
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India, and this Bill seeks to change that.
 The 2016 version of the Bill had capped the payments to be made under third-party insurance. The 2017 Bill has removed that cap.
 The new Bill provides for the recall of vehicles if the defective vehicle is a danger to the environment, the driver or other road users.
 The manufacturer will then have to reimburse all buyers with the full cost of the vehicle, replace the defective vehicle, and if necessary
pay a fine as specified by the government.
 So far, manufacturers were at the helm of product recalls. The introduction of this clause means the industry will have to shift from a
voluntary code to something that is legally enforceable.
 The 1988 Act already has a Solatium Fund for victims of hit-and-run accidents, but the new Bill has also provided for another Fund.
Earlier, the Bill said that the Fund would be credited with a cess or a tax, but that provision has now been removed, and instead the
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money will come either from the government, or from a grant or loan.
 The old Act provided ₹12,000 for grievous injury and ₹25,000 for death, while the amendment Bill provides ₹50,000 for grievous injury
and ₹2 lakh or more for death.
OFFENCE 1988 2017 BILL
ACT
Travel without ticket (on public transport) 200 500
Disobedience of orders of authorities 500 2,000
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Unauthorized use of vehicles without 1,000 5,000
licence
Driving without licence 500 5,000
Driving despite disqualification 500 10,000
Oversize vehicles New 5,000
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1,000 for LMV
Drunk driving 2,000 10,000
Speeding 500 5,000
Aggregators (violating licensing New 1,00,000
conditions)
Not wearing seatbelt 100 1,000
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Not wearing helmet 100 1,000
Disqualification of licence
for three months
Not giving way to emergency vehicles New 10,000
Offences by Juveniles New Guardian shall be
deemed guilty. Fine of Rs.
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25,000 with 3 years

imprisonment; juvenile to
be tried under JJ Act.
THE NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2017

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 The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by parliament in July 2018. It seeks to amend the Negotiable
Instruments Act, 1881. The Act defines promissory notes, bills of exchange, and cheques. It also specifies penalties for bouncing of
cheques, and other violations with respect to such negotiable instruments.
 Interim compensation: The Bill inserts a provision allowing a court trying an offence related to cheque bouncing, to direct the drawer
(person who writes the cheque) to pay interim compensation to the complainant. This interim compensation may be paid under
certain circumstances, including where the drawer pleads not guilty of the accusation. The interim compensation will not exc eed 20%
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of the cheque amount, and will have to be paid by the drawer within 60 days of the trial court‘s order to pay such a compensation.
 Deposit in case of appeal: The Bill inserts a provision specifying that if a drawer convicted in a cheque bouncing case files an appeal,
the appellate court may direct him to deposit a minimum of 20% of the fine or compensation awarded by the trial court during
conviction. This amount will be in addition to any interim compensation paid by the drawer during the earlier trial proceedings.
 Returning the interim compensation: In case the drawer is acquitted (during trial or by the appellate court), the court will direct the
complainant to return the interim compensation (or deposit in case of an appeal case), along with an interest. This amount will be
repaid within 60 days of the court‘s order
PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 2018

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 The Parliament passed the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018, that seeks to punish bribe-givers and bribe-takers.
 The Bill provides for a jail term of three to seven years, besides a fine, to those convicted of taking bribes and those giving bribes to
public officials.
 The Bill describes bribe as an ―undue advantage‖, an expression used by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, whi ch
India ratified in 2011. Any ―gratification‖ other than legal remuneration (official salaries and perks) received by a public servant can be
construed as an undue advantage. ―Gratification‖ would include things that can‘t be measured in money, as well as ―gifts‖. While
endorsing the expression ―undue advantage‖, however, the Select Committee cautioned that ―enforcement/probe agencies may
misuse the said expression to harass public servant as well as members of civil society in corruption cases‖, and advised that
adequate precautions be taken.

 As per the changed law, a ―collusive‖ bribe giver can be punished with up to seven years in jail, and fined. The Select Commi ttee
wanted courts to decide the minimum punishment for bribe givers on the merits of the specific case. Someone who is forced to give a
bribe to avail of a service — a ―coercive bribe giver‖ — is treated differently, however.
 Under the changed law, anyone who is forced to give such a bribe can inform the authorities within seven days to escape punis hment.
Minister Jitendra Singh assured Lok Sabha that the government would consider increasing this window, given that its beginning may
change depending on the circumstances of the bribe-giving. Activists have warned that corrupt officials may delay providing services
until seven days after taking the bribe, to escape this provision.
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 Punishment for corruption has been enhanced to a minimum three years in jail, extendable up to seven years with fine, from the
earlier 6 months with an extension up to three years. Repeat offenders will attract 5-10 years in prison, with a fine.
 A corruption case must be ―ordinarily‖ concluded between two and four years from the date of filing the case. The Select Committee
had found cases often went on for 20 years currently. The use of the word ―ordinarily‖ is intended to provide for situations in which the
judiciary may feel an extension is required.
 A new provision says government functionaries at all levels, including those who are retired, can be prosecuted only with the
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permission of the ―competent authority‖. Earlier, this immunity was available only to officials of the level of Joint Secretary and above.
The request for permission (granted or denied) must be processed within three months. The government has argued that this
provision would mitigate corruption and check undue harassment of honest public servants.
 A public servant who is found to be in possession of assets disproportionate to his/her legal sources of income will be deemed to have
committed ―criminal misconduct‖, and will have to explain the sources of those assets.
 Law enforcers have been empowered to immediately attach the illegal property of a public servant, invoking provisions of the
Prevention of Money Laundering Act. ―Possession‖ of ―illicit property‖ is cause for investigation/prosecution.
 A new provision criminalises corporate bribery by bringing in ―superior functionaries‖ of a commercial organisation into the ambit of
direct accountability, if an employee/agent is found to have bribed with their approval, for advancement of the organisation‘s interests.
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 The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 amends the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.The Act covers the offence of
giving a bribe to a public servant under abetment. The Bill makes specific provisions related to giving a bribe to a public servant, and
giving a bribe by a commercial organisation.
 The Bill redefines criminal misconduct to only cover misappropriation of property and possession of disproportionate assets.
DEFINITION FOR SHELL COMPANIES IN INDIA SOON
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 The government will ―very soon‖ come out with a definition for shell companies, Union Minister P P Chaudhary said amid the
crackdown on entities indulging in financial irregularities.
 Obscure ownership, excessive leveraging and disproportionate investment in shares of other companies are among the possible
criteria being looked at for defining shell entities.
 While a multi-pronged action plan is being implemented in the fight against the black money menace, absence of a proper and uniform
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definition for shell companies under the legal framework is hampering investigations.
 Generally, shell companies exist only on paper and are often used by fraudsters for carrying out their illegal activities.
 Against this backdrop, the government is working on putting in place a proper definition for shell companies.
 The Corporate Affairs Ministry is implementing the Companies Act.
 The ministry has already received preliminary suggestions from a task force having representatives from the Enforcement Directorate
(ED), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and
the Income Tax Department, among others.
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 The task force on shell companies was set up by the government in 2017.
 The task force has arrived at a criteria to define shell companies.
 The task force has suggested some possible parameters to define if a company has been set up to launder money or exploit
regulatory arbitrage.
 Obscuring ownership, excessive leveraging, rotation in transactions with no apparent business purpose, majority of shares held by
other companies and disproportionate investment in shares of other companies are among the criteria.
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 After striking off around 2.26 lakh companies for not carrying out business activities for long, another set of about 2.25 lakh firms have
come under the scanner of the Corporate Affairs Ministry.
 Out of the 2.26 lakh companies that were de-registered, cash was deposited in the bank accounts of 1.68 lakh firms post
demonetisation, as per data available with the ministry.
 In November 2016, the government had cancelled old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 as legal tenders in November 2016 as part of efforts to
curb illicit fund flows.
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 Theoretically, shell companies are companies without active business operations or significant assets. They can be set up by business
people for both legitimate and illegitimate purposes.
 Illegitimate purposes for registering a shell company include hiding particulars of ownership from the law enforcement, laundering
unaccounted money and avoiding tax.
 With the shell company as a front, all transactions are shown on paper as legitimate business transactions, thereby turning black
money into white. In this process, the business person also avoids paying tax on the laundered money.
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 India, however, does not have a concrete definition of shell companies. Shell companies are not defined in any law or act. However,
US has defined the shell companies under their Securities Act. They have taken up the basic definition, hence making it the commonly
used one.
 The USA Securities Act defines shell companies as -
"Securities Act Rule 405 and Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 define a Shell Company as a company, other than an asset-backed issuer,
with no or nominal operations; and either:
>no or nominal assets
>assets consisting of cash and cash equivalents; or
>assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets."

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This means that a shell company will have minimum business activities. This could be a plausible definition as even theoretically, the
business persons who own shell companies, will be more interested in the rise and fall of their main company.
 However, not all shell companies are illegal. Some companies could have been started to promote start-ups by raising funds.
 Firstly, for traders who invested in these companies, the tension of their stocks being stuck and the possibility of encountering losses
will prevail. The companies that are probably not shell companies will have to face the brunt of restricting trading activities.
NEW REGULATIONS FOR ‗USED COOKING OIL‘
 According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the new regulations for monitoring ―used cooking oils‖ came
into force from July 1, 2018.

 The implementation of these regulations will require focus on consumer education, enforcement as well as creation of an eco-system
for collection of ―used cooking oil‖ to produce biodiesel.
 The new regulations have set the maximum permissible limit of Total Polar Compound (TPC) in edible oil at 25 per cent. Repeated
frying and usage of edible oil changes its physiochemical and nutrition properties and leads to the formation of TPC, which m akes it
unfit for human consumption.
 It is well known that repeated use of the same oil for frying of foods leads to changes in physiochemical, nutritional and sensory
properties of the edible oil. In view of this, it is important to monitor the quality of oil and to avoid the use of degraded oil for cooking
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purposes. At present, the regulations have only general provisions to avoid re-use of cooking oil i.e. ‗re-heating and reuse of oil should
be avoided as far as possible. Avoid using leftover oil wherever possible‘.
 From July 1, onwards, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) would be required to monitor the quality of oil during frying by complying
with the said regulations. The Food Authority has also established testing protocols for Total Polar Compounds.
 According to Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, effective implementation of used cooking oil standards require ―Triple E strategy‖ and a
co-ordinated effort.
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 ―First ‗E‘ in the ‗Triple E Strategy‘ is ‗Education‘ that is educating both the consumers and food businesses about public health
consequences of spoiled ‗used cooking oil‘. Second ‗E‘ is ‗Enforcement‘, particularly amongst large food processing plants,
restaurants and fast-food joints that are frying food in large quantities; and the third ‗E‘ is developing an ‗Ecosystem‘ for collection of
used cooking oil and producing biodiesel from it ‖.
 FSSAI has also advised State Food Safety Commissioners to focus on awareness and education programmes, surveillance and
enforcement activities for these new set of regulations. Annually, about 23-million tonne cooking oil is consumed in India. There is
potential to recover and use about 3 million tonnes of this for production of bio-diesel.
 As of now, used cooking oil is either not discarded or disposed in an environmentally hazardous manner and sometimes even finds it
way to smaller restaurants, dhaabas and street-vendors.
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GOVT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO TACKLE PONZI, UNREGULATED DEPOSIT SCHEMES
 In an effort the curb the menace of ponzi schemes, the government introduced a Bill which proposes a ban on unregulated depos its,
and a 10-year jail term for perpetrators of such schemes.
 The ‗Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018‘ has three key elements — punishment for promoting or operating an
unregulated deposit scheme, stringent punishment for fraudulent default in repayment to depositors, and designation of a competent
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authority by the State government to ensure repayment of deposits in the event of default by a deposit-taking establishment.
 The Bill contains a clause that bans deposit-takers from promoting, operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any
unregulated deposit scheme.
 The Bill seeks to put in place a mechanism by which the depositors can be repaid without delay, by attaching the assets of the
defaulting establishments.
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Non-banking entities are allowed to raise deposits from the public under various laws enacted by the Central as well as State
governments. However, the regulatory framework for deposit taking activities in the country is not seamless as regulators operate in
well-defined areas within the financial sector by regulating particular kind of entities or activities.
 The principle is to ban unregulated deposit-taking activities altogether, by making them an offence ex-ante, rather than the existing
legislative-cum-regulatory framework, which only comes into effect ex-post with considerable time lags.
 The Bill creates three different types of offences, namely, running of unregulated deposit schemes, fraudulent default in regulated
deposit schemes, and wrongful inducement in relation to unregulated deposit schemes. The Bill prescribes monetary penalty and jail
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term of up to 10 years for duping gullible depositors.
 The monetary penalty could be as high as Rs. 50 crore.
 The government has proposed these stringent provisions in wake of several ponzi schemes where gullible investors, mostly poor
people, were defrauded of amounts running into thousands of crores of rupees.
 The Bill also proposes setting up of competent authorities by State governments to ensure repayment of deposits in the event of
default by a deposit-taking establishment. Companies or institutions running unregulated schemes exploit existing regulatory gaps and
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lack of strict administrative measures.

 Due to increase in instances of people in various parts of the country being defrauded, the Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech of
2016-17, had announced a comprehensive central legislation to deal with the menace of ponzi schemes.
 Subsequently, in Budget Speech 2017-18, he had announced that the draft Bill to curtail the menace of illicit deposit schemes had
been placed in the public domain and would be introduced shortly after its finalisation.
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PARLIAMENT NOD FOR MERGER OF SUBSIDIARY BANKS WITH SBI
 The Rajya Sabha passed the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill. The legislation, which was passed in the Lok Sabha during
last year‘s Monsoon Session, will remove provisions in the State Bank of India Act pertaining to its erstwhile associate bank s: State
Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore and the State Bank of Hyderabad.
 The Bill will repeal the SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959, and the State Bank of Hyderabad Act, 1956.
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 The Bill was passed unanimously. Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla told members that the merger of subsidiary banks
will make SBI profitable, improve its working capital and aid it in offering better services.
SPORTS
ARJUN HANDED A FOUR-YEAR BAN: DOPING ISSUE
 Based on the outcome of the test conducted by a laboratory in Cologne, Germany, discus thrower Arjun has been handed a four-year
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suspension by a National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) disciplinary panel.

 In unusual circumstances, the National Dope Testing Laboratory in Delhi seems to have conducted an isotope ratio mass
spectrometry (IRMS) analysis of Arjun‘s samples, collected during the Indian Grand Prix on April 24 and April 30, 2016, in the first
instance. It is not known what prompted the NDTL to do the IRMS analysis as it is done following finding of abnormal values for
endogenous steroids.
 When it returned a negative result, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) asked NDTL to send the samples to
Cologne, where Arjun‘s samples tested positive.
 On the basis of the finding of the Cologne lab, the disciplinary panel, headed by Nalin Kohli, held the athlete guilty for a doping
violation and handed him a four-year suspension from the date of his provisional suspension on December 10, 2016.

 The panel rejected Arjun‘s argument that the volume of urine mentioned in various documents were different (as approximate volume
is mentioned). It also set aside doubts over the chain of custody.
 Another disciplinary panel, headed by Bina Gupta, exonerated wrestler Sumit Sehrawat of the charge of anti-doping rule violation for
―evading sample collection.‖
 National Anti-Doping Agency also referred to as NADA is the national organisation responsible for promoting, coordinating, and
monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms in India.
 NADA deals with adopting and implementing anti-doping rules and policies which conform with the World Anti-Doping agency,
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cooperates with other anti-doping organisations and promotes anti-doping research and education.
 NADA is formed by the Union Government under the societies Registration Act. NADA includes scientists and representatives from
the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
 The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the document that harmonizes regulations regarding anti-doping in sport across all sports and
all countries of the world. The Code provides a framework for anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations for sport organizations and
public authorities so that there may be a level playing field for all athletes worldwide.
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 Doping is defined by WADA as the occurrence of one or more of the following anti-doping rule violations mentioned in the
WADA/NADA Code.
 Presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete‘s sample.
 Use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.
 Refusing to submit to sample collection after being notified.
 Failure to provide whereabouts information or being unavailable for doping control.
 Tampering with any part of the doping control process.
 Possession of a prohibited substance or method.
 Trafficking a prohibited substance or method.
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 Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an athlete.
 Complicity
 Prohibited Association
 The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is a foundation initiated by the International Olympic Committee based in Canada to promote,
coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sports. The agency's key activities include scientific research, education,
development of anti-doping capacities, and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code, whose provisions are enforced by the
UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport. The aims of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention and the United
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States Anti-Doping Agency are also closely aligned with those of WADA.
 The World Anti-Doping Agency annually updates the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. The list is the International Standard
defining what is prohibited in-competition and out-of-competition. The list also indicates whether particular substances are banned in
particular sports.
 Following Anabolic agents are prohibited:
 1-androstenediol (5α-androst-  Methyldienolone (17β-  Androstanolone (5α-
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1-ene-3β,17β-diol) hydroxy-17α-methylestra-4,9- dihydrotestosterone, 17β-
 1-androstenedione (5α- dien-3-one) hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one)
androst-1-ene-3,17-dione)  Methyl-1-testosterone (17β-  Androstenediol (androst-5-
 1-androsterone (3α-hydroxy- hydroxy-17α-methyl-5α- ene-3β,17β-diol)
5α-androst-1-ene-17-one) androst-1-en-3-one)  Androstenedione (androst-4-
 1-testosterone (17β-hydroxy-  Methylnortestosterone (17β- ene-3,17-dione)
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5α-androst-1-en-3-one) hydroxy-17α-methylestr-4-en-  Boldenone
 4-hydroxytestosterone (4,17β- 3-one)  Boldione (androsta-1,4-diene-
dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one)  Methyltestosterone 3,17-dione)
 Bolandiol (estr-4-ene-3β,17β-  Metribolone (methyltrienolone,  Nandrolone (19-
diol) 17β-hydroxy-17α-methylestra- nortestosterone)
 Bolasterone 4,9,11-trien-3-one)  Prasterone
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 Calusterone  Mibolerone (dehydroepiandrosterone,

 Clostebol  Norboletone DHEA, 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-
 Danazol  Norclostebol en-17-one)
([1,2]oxazolo[4',5':2,3]pregna-  Norethandrolone  Testosterone
4-en-20-yn-17α-ol)  Oxabolone and their metabolites and
 Dehydrochlormethyltestostero  Oxandrolone isomers, including but not
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ne (4-chloro-17β-hydroxy-  Oxymesterone limited to:

17α-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-  Oxymetholone  3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-
3-one)  Prostanozol (17β- one
 Desoxymethyltestosterone [(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)oxy]-  5α-androst-2-ene-17-one
(17α-methyl-5α-androst-2-en- 1'H-pyrazolo[3,4:2,3]-5α-  5α-androstane-3α,17α-diol
17β-ol) androstane)  5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol
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 Drostanolone  Quinbolone  5α-androstane-3β,17α-diol

 Ethylestrenol (19-norpregna-  Stanozolol  5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol
4-en-17α-ol)  Stanozolol  5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol
 Fluoxymesterone  Stenbolone  7α-hydroxy-DHEA
 Formebolone  Stenbolone  7β-hydroxy-DHEA
 Furazabol (17α-methyl  Tetrahydrogestrinone (17-  4-androstenediol (androst-4-
[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3',4':2,3]-5α- hydroxy-18a-homo-19-nor- ene-3β,17β-diol)
androstan-17β-ol) 17α-pregna-4,9,11-trien-3-  5-androstenedione (androst-
 Gestrinone one) 5-ene-3,17-dione)
 Mestanolone  Trenbolone (17β-hydroxyestr-  7-keto-DHEA
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 Mesterolone 4,9,11-trien-3-one)  19-norandrosterone

 Metandienone (17β-hydroxy- and other substances with a  19-noretiocholanolone
17α-methylandrosta-1,4-dien- similar chemical structure or  Androst-4-ene-3α,17α-diol
3-one) similar biological effect(s).  Androst-4-ene-3α,17β-diol
 Metenolone  19-norandrostenediol (estr-4-  Androst-4-ene-3β,17α-diol
 Methandriol ene-3,17-diol)  Androst-5-ene-3α,17α-diol
 Methasterone (17β-hydroxy-  19-norandrostenedione (estr-  Androst-5-ene-3α,17β-diol
2α,17α-dimethyl-5α- 4-ene-3,17-dione)  Androst-5-ene-3β,17α-diol
androstan-3-one)  Androsterone

 Epi-dihydrotestosterone  Selective androgen receptor  Zeranol
 Epitestosterone modulators (SARMs), e.g.  Zilpaterol
 Etiocholanolone andarine, LGD-4033, ostarine
Including, but not limited to: and RAD140;
 Clenbuterol  Tibolone
THE FOLLOWING ARE ALSO PROHIBITED:
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 MANIPULATION OF BLOOD AND BLOOD COMPONENTS:The Administration or reintroduction of any quantity of autologous,
allogenic (homologous) or heterologous blood, or red blood cell products of any origin into the circulatory system.
 Artificially enhancing the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen.
 Including, but not limited to:Perfluorochemicals; efaproxiral (RSR13) and modified haemoglobin products, e.g. haemoglobin-based
blood substitutes and microencapsulated haemoglobin products, excluding supplemental oxygen by inhalation.
 Any form of intravascular manipulation of the blood or blood components by physical or chemical means.
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 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL MANIPULATION: The following are prohibited:
 Tampering, or Attempting to Tamper, to alter the integrity and validity of Samples collected during Doping Control.Including, but not
limited to:Urine substitution and/or adulteration, e.g. proteases.
 Intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than a total of 100 mL per 12 hour period except for those legitimately received in the
course of hospital treatments, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic investigations.
 GENE DOPING:The following, with the potential to enhance sport performance, are prohibited:
 The use of polymers of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues.
 The use of gene editing agents designed to alter genome sequences and/or the transcriptional or epigenetic regulation of gene
expression.
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 The use of normal or genetically modified cells.
ROHIT AND SUGUMARAN ELECTED CFA PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
 Rohit Ramesh and E. Sugumaran were elected president and secretary of the Chennai Football Association (CFA).
DIPA KARMAKAR WON GOLD
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PM Modi has congratulated Dipa Karmakar on winning Gold in vault event at FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey.
HIMA DAS WON GOLD IN 400M
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PM Modi congratulated athlete Hima Das on winning Gold in 400m of World U20 Championships.
NEW VICE CHANCELLOR OF PANJAB UNIVERSITY
 The Vice President of India and the Chancellor of Panjab University, M. Venkaiah Naidu has appointed Prof. Raj Kumar as the next
Vice Chancellor of Panjab University.
 At present Prof. Raj Kumar is posted as the Dean and Head, Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University.
 The appointment was made by the Vice President of India and the Chancellor of Panjab University exercising the powers conferred by
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Section 10 of the Panjab University Act 1947. The term of the appointment will be for three years with effect from July 23, 2018 or from
the date he assumes charge of his office as the Vice Chancellor.
 The term of the present Vice Chancellor of Panjab University, Prof. Arun Kumar Grover is expiring on July 22, 2018.
DEEPIKA BEATS MICHELLE FOR TITLE

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 Top archer Deepika Kumari, a four-time World Cup Final silver medallist, beat Germany's Michelle Kroppen 7-3 to win the gold medal
in women‘s singles recurve event of the World Cup Stage III.
 The gold medal winning performance helped Deepika qualify for the World Cup Final in Samsun, Turkey.
VARUN, GANAPATHY PAIR CLINCHES GOLD

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 The duo of Varun Thakkar and K.C. Ganapathy won the lone gold medal for India in the men‘s 49er class of the Asian sailing
championships. The pair stood first in five of the 10 races and finished second in three.
SHOOTERS‘ TRAINING FUND RATIFIED
 A total of Rs. 50 lakhs was sanctioned and ratified for the training and preparations of nine Indian shooters under the TOPS Scheme
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ahead of the upcoming Asian Games and World Championships even as four of them were dropped on grounds of non-performance.
 The Mission Olympic Cell meeting cleared funding for training, support staff, competition and equipment expenses across six sports
including para games.
 The highest amount (Rs. 8.6 lakhs) has been sanctioned for double trap shooter Shardul Vihan — 6.53 for his 13-day training with
national coach Marcello Dradi in Italy and 2.06 lakhs for purchase of shooting accessories.
 Those dropped include Jitu Rai, Yashaswini Deswal, Amanpreet Singh and Neeraj Kumar.
 Also out of the TOPS scheme are Shot putter Om Prakash Karhana, 400m relay runner Mohan Kumar and middle-distance runner Lili
Das though Das is likely to be re-inducted by virtue of her age and potential.
 Expenses for paddler Manika Batra, para high jumper Sharad Kumar, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and boxers Sonia Lather, Manoj Kumar,
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Gaurav Solanki and Shiva Thapa have also been approved.

 Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports) have formulated ‗NSDF Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme‘ in the
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2020
Olympic Games.
 Focused disciplines will be Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Wrestling and Shooting.
CHHETRI, KAMALA GET AIFF HONOURS
 Sunil Chhetri has been declared the 2017 Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

 Chhetri was the undisputed winner for his domestic and international performances and excellent conduct on and off the field. The
Woman Player of the Year award was given to Kamala Devi.
 The full list of the 2017 Awards:
 Best Grassroots Development Programme: Kerala FA.
 Long-time contribution to Indian Football: Hero Motocorp.
 Best Assistant Referee: Sumanta Datta.
 Best Referee: CR Srikrishna.
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 Emerging Woman Footballer of the Year: E Panthoi.
 Emerging Player of the Year: Anirudh Thapa.
 Woman Footballer of the Year: Kamala Devi.
 Player of the Year: Sunil Chhetri.
LAKSHYA WINS ASIAN JUNIOR CROWN
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 Lakshya Sen became only the third Indian shuttler to secure a gold medal at the Badminton Asia junior championships after def eating
World junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in straight games in the final.
 The sixth-seeded Indian from Uttarakhand, who had won a bronze in the last edition, notched up 21-19, 21-18 upset win over Vitidsarn
in the summit clash that clocked 46 minutes.
 Late Gautam Thakkar (1965) and Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu (2012) had won the prestigious title earlier. Sindhu had won a
bronze as well in 2011, while Sameer Verma won a silver and bronze in 2011 and 2012 and the pair of Pranav Chopra & Prajkta
Sawant bagged a bronze in 2009.
 The Badminton Association of India has announced a cash reward of Rs. 10 lakh for Lakshya.
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MOHIT BREAKS DECATHLON RECORD
 Haryana‘s Mohit Kumar broke the under-18 national decathlon record while UP‘s Rahul Sharma and Karnataka‘s Josna Simov
emerged as the fastest boy and girl in the 15th National youth athletics championships.
VICKY CHANDHOK RE-ELECTED
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Former FMSCI president Vicky Chandhok was unanimously re-elected president of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship Working
Group for a second two-year term at the annual meeting in Johor, Malaysia.
JINSON BREAKS SRIRAM‘S 42-YEAR RECORD

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 Two-time Asian championship medallist Jinson Johnson gave a commanding performance to break Sriram Singh‘s four-decade-old
National record in style and clinch the men‘s 800m title in the National inter-State athletics championships.
 Johnson, who had rewritten the 1500m National record in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, timed 1:45.65 to beat Sriram
Singh‘s record by 0.12 seconds.
 The top-four finishers came inside the Asian Games qualifying mark of 1:47.50.
 The 27-year-old from Kerala ran a well-planned race and took lead after 500m. He stayed ahead at a good pace even as Manjit Singh,
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Mohammed Afsal and Beant Singh gave him a good chase in the final 200m.
RAHUL DRAVID INDUCTED INTO ICC‘S HALL OF FAME
 Former India captain Rahul Dravid and Australian legend Ricky Ponting have been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame for their
stupendous achievements in international cricket.
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 Along with Dravid and Ponting, retired England woman wicketkeeper-batswoman Claire Taylor was also named in the Hall of Fame
during a ceremony in Dublin.
 Dravid became the fifth player from India to be named in the elite list. The others are Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev
and Anil Kumble. Ponting is the 25th Australian to receive the honour.
 Ponting is the 25th Australian to receive the honour.
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DELHI AND DISTRICTS CRICKET ASSOCIATION (DDCA) ELECTIONS
 DDCA New office-bearers: President: Rajat Sharma; vice-president: Rakesh Kumar Bansal; secretary: Vinod Tihara; joint secretary:
Rajan Manchanda; treasurer: Om Prakash Sharma; cricket director: Sanjay Bhardwaj; woman director: Renu Khanna; directors: Apurv
Jain, Alok Mittal, Nitin Gupta, Shiv Nandan Sharma and Nitin Agarwal .
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AJAI STRIKES JAVELIN GOLD
 Ajai Raj Singh won the boys javelin gold with a personal best of 76.13m while Maharashtra‘s Tai Hiraman Bamhane took the girl s‘
1,500m silver on the opening day of the Youth Olympic Games‘ Asian area qualification athletics meet.
 The two also secured berths for the Youth Olympics to be held in Buenos Aires in October.
 India also won two bronze medals through Vikas Yadav (boys javelin) and Aparna Roy (girls 100m hurdles), but both failed to get
Youth Olympics spots.
ANKITA CLAIMS TITLE

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 Ankita Raina beat fourth seed Risa Ozaki of Japan 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the $25,000 ITF women‘s tennis tournament.
 It was the second singles title this season for the 25-year-old Ankita. The 214th ranked Ankita will now focus on her preparation for the
Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.
DHONI BECOMES 4TH INDIAN BATSMAN TO SCORE 10,000 RUNS IN ODIS
 Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the fourth Indian to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in ODIs during the second match of the three-
game series against England at Lord‘s Stadium.

 The 37-year-old former India skipper joined an elite list which features some of India‘s greatest batsmen in Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav
Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.
 Dhoni is currently placed 12th in the list of all-time highest run-getters in ODIs.
 Sri Lanka‘s Kumar Sangakkara is the only wicketkeeper-batsman to feature in the list with 14,234 runs to his name. He is the second
highest run-getter in the ODIs, behind only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
 Dhoni also became the fourth wicket-keeper to complete 300 ODI catches after Adam Gilchrist (417), Mark Boucher (403) and Kumar
Sangakkara (402).
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DIPA KARMAKAR WINS GOLD IN GYMNASTICS WORLD CUP
 India‘s premier gymnast Dipa Karmakar clinched the gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at
Mersin, Turkey.
 The 24-year-old from Tripura, who had finished fourth in vault event in the 2016 Rio Olympics, scored 14.150 to win gold today. She
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had topped the qualification also with a score of 13.400.
 This is Dipa‘s first medal in a World Challenge Cup.
MISCELLANEOUS
CENTURY‘S LONGEST TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE IN JULY
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 A total lunar eclipse took place on 27 July 2018. It was completely visible over Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Southern As ia and
Central Asia, seen rising over South America, Western Africa, and Europe, and setting over Eastern Asia, and Australia.
 The Moon passed through the center of Earth's shadow in what was the first central lunar eclipse since 15 June 2011.
 Since it occurred near apogee, this eclipse was the longest total lunar eclipse in the 21st century. Totality lasted approximately one
hour and 43 minutes, a period "just short of the theoretical limit of a lunar eclipse (one hour and 47 minutes)".
 The Moon remained at least partially in Earth's shadow for a total of four hours.
 This eclipse was the second total lunar eclipse in 2018, after the one on January 31. The July lunar eclipse coincided with the perihelic
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opposition of Mars, a concurrence that happens once every 25,000 years.
 A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes within Earth's umbra (shadow). As the eclipse begins, Earth's shadow first darkens the
Moon slightly. Then, the Earth's shadow begins to "cover" part of the Moon, turning it a dark red-brown color (typically – the color can
vary based on atmospheric conditions). The Moon appears to be reddish because of Rayleigh scattering (the same effect that causes
sunsets to appear reddish) and the refraction of that light by Earth's atmosphere into its umbra.
 The Moon's brightness is exaggerated within the umbral shadow. The southern portion of the Moon was closest to the center of the
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shadow, making it the darkest, and most red in appearance.
 Total lunar eclipses are also sometimes called Blood Moons because of the reddish-orange glow the Moon takes on during the
eclipse.
 On the day of the eclipse, the Full Moon is also at its farthest from the Earth, so it looks a little smaller in the sky, making this a Blood
Micro Moon eclipse.
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BEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON TEMPERATURE SETTING OF AIR CONDITIONERS IN NEWS
 Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry of Power) has issued the guidelines to major commercial establishments with the objective of
conserving energy through optimum temperature settings for the Air Conditioners, within the comfort zone.
 It is estimated that changing the temperature from conventional 20-21 degree Celsius can result in approximately at 24 per cent of
energy savings.
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 Overall potential for energy conservation through such measures is estimated to the tune of 20 billion units(worth Rs10,000 c rores)
annually. If about half (50%)the consumers adopt to such recommendations, this would result in about 10 billion units of electricity,
which is equivalent to reduction of 8.2 Million tonne of CO2 per year.
 Default setting at 24-degree Celsius: It is the setting at which a machine comes from the factory. Therefore, when the machine is
switched on then it will have a preset temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.However, a user can adjust or set the air conditioner at a
lower (or higher) temperature, as per her choice.
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 How is it beneficial topreset the temperatureof AC equipment at 24-degree Celsius?Normal human body temperature is between 36-
37 degree Celsius. It is generally observed that in large commercial establishments e.g.hotels, Airports and offices, the AC operating
staff, try to set the lower temperature (around 18-21 degree Celsius). Setting the temperature in the range of 18-21 degree Celsius
results into a very cool internal ambient conditions, which compels people to wear warm clothing leading to wastage of energy. As per
the comfort chart, the temperatures upto 25 deg. C are quite comfortable for human body, along with desired humidity and air
movement values.
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 Advantages of setting AC default temperature at 24 degree Celsius:It is estimated that by increase in temperature of room by 1 degree
Celsius, we can save about 6 per cent of electricity. Typically, room temperature is set between 20-21 degree Celsius whereas, as per
standard comfort conditions, ideal temperature is 24-25 degree Celsius. Considering change from 20degree Celsius to 24 degree
Celsius, there is potential to increase at least 4 degrees Celsius, which will lead to savings of about 24 per cent of
electricity.Therefore, the users will be able to save significant amount of energy (and money) by running their air-conditioners at 24-
degree Celsius.
 BEE guidelines have been recommended to the major commercial establishments such as Airports, Hotels, Shopping Malls, Offices
and Government Buildings (Ministries & attached offices, State Government and Public-Sector Undertakings).
 The advisory for commercial establishments has been issued for voluntary adoption (Not Mandatory). The aim is to encourage
consumers to adopt the guidelines.
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 Bureau of Energy Efficiency estimates that considering the current market trend, total connected load in India due to air con ditioning
will be about 200 GW by 2030 and this may further increase as today only 6 per cent of households are using one or more air
conditioners. If the measures are followed by all consumers, India can save about 23 billion units of electricity. The total installed
capacity of air conditioner is about 80 million TR, which will increase to about 250 million TR in 2030.
 Countries like Japan and USA have already put in regulations for the functioning of air conditioners. Japan introduced a default setting
for air conditioners at 28 degrees Celsius. While in U.S, states like California have enforced limits on lowering the air condition beyond
26 degrees Celsius.

STATISTICS DAY ON 29TH JUNE
 Vice President of India attended the closing ceremony of year long celebrations of 125th birth anniversary of Professor P. C.
Mahalanobis on Statistics Day.
 In recognition of the notable contributions made by Late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics, statistical
system and economic planning, Government of India in 2007, has designated 29thJune as the ―Statistics Day‖ in the category of
Special Days to be celebrated every year at the National level.
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 The theme selected for the Statistics Day this year is ‗‗Quality Assurance in Official Statistics‘.
 The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) at Kolkata, set up by Prof. Mahalanobis in 1931, and was declared an autonomous ―Institute of
National Importance‖ through an act of Parliament in 1959, celebrates 29th June as the ―Worker Day‖.
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS: IMPORTANT INITIATIVES
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Achievements of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation:
(i) The Government adopted the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics in 2016 for promoting good practices and
professional ethics in production and dissemination of Official Statistics. In furtherance of these Principles, a National Policy on Official
Statistics is being evolved.
(ii) The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Act, 2017 was enacted to extend the jurisdiction of Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 to the
State of Jammu & Kashmir.
(iii) Base year revision for estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and Consumer Price Index
Number (CPI) were carried out. Steps have been initiated for next revision of base years.
(iv) Government has recently constituted a Committee for Sub-National Accounts under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ravindra H. Dholakia,
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ex-IIM, to upgrade existing norms and evolve new ones for computation of economic data at State and District levels for revision of the
base year of GDP. The earlier such Committee was set up in the year 1972.
(v) The Ministry notified General Guidelines on Quality Assurance for Official Statistics in April, 2018 for voluntary compliance by
Government agencies for improving quality of statistical products as per the Generic National Quality Assurance Framework endorsed
by the United Nations Statistical Commission.
(vi) The Ministry has also notified General Guidelines on Socio-Economic Indices in April, 2018 to help the Government agencies in
improving the quality of indices like the CPI, IIP and WPI.
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(vii) To address the demand for more frequent data on employment and unemployment, the Ministry launched Periodic Labour Force
Survey (PLFS) in April, 2017.
(viii) Draft National Indicator Framework has been developed for monitoring progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
(ix) As part of Digital India Initiative of the Government, the Minsitry introduced new digital technologies for data collection, compilation
and dissemination. The Ministry has developed a web based micro data archive to enable users to access the data of socio-economic
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surveys and economic census.
(x) The Ministry has participated in Smart India Hackathon 2018 organised at Hubli for promoting innovation in Official Statistics. The
prototype solutions developed by teams of engineering students are being considered for refinements.
(xi) The National Statistical System Training Academy (NSSTA) of the Ministry has imparted trainings on official statistics to mor e than
2700 personnel in 132 different courses.
(xii) Through its scheme of Support for State Statistical Strengthening Program the Ministry has provided financial assistance of Rs. 276
crore to 14 States/UTs for improving their Statistical Systems and more States/UTs are joining the scheme.
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(xiii) During the last four years, NSSO has conducted all India surveys on diverse topics of relevance such as Land & livestock holdings,
Housing conditions, unorganised Enterprises, Domestic Tourism, education, and health.
(xiv) The results of 6thEconomic Census were released in 2016 to provide a list frame of all enterprises and establishments engaged in
various economic activities, and data on nature of activities and employment size.
(xv) Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is an autonomous body under the Ministry. The R.C. Bose Centre for Cryptology and Security was set
up in the Indian Statistical Institute for conducting research in the field of cryptology and security and organize training courses in the
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subject area. The ISI has also established Sampling and Official Statistical Unit (SOSU) at Kolkata for undertaking research in the
theoretical, applied statistics and economics. Financial support was provided to ISI for development of infrastructure of Tezpur
(Assam) Centre.
(xvi) Government has taken various steps to strengthen statistical systems in North-Eastern Region. Funding of Rs. 46.76 crore was
provided to North-Eastern States of Sikkim, Mizoram and Manipur States for strengthening of their statistical systems and for
improved data flow. Financial Assistance of Rs. 14.80 crore has been provided to the Directorates of Economics & Statistics of NE
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States to carry out various surveys of NSSO and strengthen and extend the reach of surveys in North-Eastern region.The process of
opening of two new Regional Offices of NSSO at Aizwal (Mizoram) and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) and upgrading two Sub
Regional Offices at Agartala (Tripura) and Imphal (Manipur) in North-East has been initiated.
(xvii)Consistent to the federal spirit, the Ministry has been conducting annual conferences of Central and State statistical organizations in
which common statistical issues are discussed and shorted out.
(xviii) India has been actively participating at various international statistical forums. India hosted the 8th Meeting of Heads of N ational
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Statistics Offices of BRICS nations in 2016 at Jaipur, and the 8th Meeting of Heads of SAARC Statistical organizations in 2016 at
Delhi. India has also participated in the International Comparison Programme (ICP) of United Nations Statistical Commission over the
years.
(xix) Government has declared 29th June, the birth anniversary of Late Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis, as Statistics Day. A theme is announced
on each Statistics Day for focusing attention by statistical agencies for a year. The 12th Statistics Day was celebrated on 29th June,
2018, which was the 125th birth anniversary of Late Prof. Mahalanobis. The theme ―Quality Assurance in Official Statistics‖ was
announced on this day. A commemorative coin of Rs 125 and circulation coin of Rs 5 denomination were released by Hon‘ble Vic e
President of India.
(xx) A number of amendments have been made in the Guidelines for Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)
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during the last four years to cater to the welfare requirements of the general public, including convergence with flagship schemes of
the Government. A new Integrated MPLADS portal has been developed for use of all the stakeholders. It provides a single point of
reference for all stakeholders including Hon‘ble MPs, District authorities and general public at large, thus brining transparency and
accountability in execution of works carried out under the Scheme. All MPLAD fund releases are being made only through this
website. An informative dashboard has been developed for the MPLADS which provides information at various levels and time lines.
(xxi) The Ministry is responsible for monitoring of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects costing Rs. 150 crore or more. As on 01.03.2018, a
total of such 1304 projects are being monitored through Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS). During last four years, the
number of projects under monitoring has increased from 710 to 1304. The monitoring has resulted in reduction of cost overrun with
respect to original cost from 19.4% in March, 2014 to 13.4% in February, 2018 and reduction in the time overrun with respect to
original schedule from about 30% in 2014 to 20% in 2018.

FIRST CHAIRMAN OF RAJYA SABHA TO SIGN AN MOU
 The Rajya Sabha on July 10, 2018, for the first time in 76 years since it came into being, entered into a Memorand um of
Understanding (MoU) with the Senate of Rwanda for promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue.
 In this process, Venkaiah Naidu became the first Chairman of Rajya Sabha to sign such MoU with the visiting President of the Senate
of Rwanda Bernard Makuza.
 The MoU with 6 articles of cooperation seeks to promote Inter-Parliamentary dialogue, capacity building of parliamentary staff,
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organisation of conferences, forums, seminars, staff attachment programmes, workshops and exchanges.
 The MoU also seeks to promote collaboration in mutual interest in regional and international multilateral parliamentary bodies to
enhance bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries.
 The three Senator delegation from Rwanda led by Bernard Makuza is the first such a delegation exclusively from the Upper House of
any country to visit India.
 The other members of the delegation included Senators Gertrude Kazarwa, Deputy Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Political
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Affairs and Good Governance and Therese Kagoyire Vishagara, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
 During the meeting, Makuza highlighted the special role of the Senate of Rwanda in monitoring and punishing those responsible for
the genocide policy in the country that resulted in the killing of about one million people and also overseeing implementation of the
social justice programmes.
 Naidu complimented Rwanda for being elected as the Chair of the African Union in January 2018 and for successfully hosting in
capital Kigali of the Assembly of the African Union in March that resulted in the signing of the African Continent Free Trade
Agreement.
 Both the sides discussed issues of bilateral interest and the opportunities for cooperation for mutual benefit.
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STEPS TAKEN FOR REDUCING TAX LITIGATIONS
 In order to reduce the long pending grievances of taxpayers and to minimise litigations pertaining to tax matters and to facilit ate the
Ease of Doing Business, Government of India has decided to increase the threshold monetary limits for filing Departmental Appeals at
various levels, be it Appellate Tribunals, High Courts and the Supreme Court in the following manner :-
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Present limit for filing appeal Enhanced limit
Sl. No. Appeal Fora
(In Rs.) (In Rs.)
1. ITAT / CESTAT 10 lakhs 20 lakhs
2. High Courts 20 lakhs 50 lakhs

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3. Supreme Court 25 lakhs 1 Crore
 This is a major step in the direction of litigation management of both direct and indirect taxes as it will effectively reduce minor
litigations and help the Department to focus on high value litigations.
 In case of CBDT, out of total cases filed by the Department in ITAT, 34% of cases will be withdrawn. In case of High Courts, 48% of
cases will be withdrawn and in case of Supreme Court 54% of cases will be withdrawn. The total percentage of reduction of litigation
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from Department‘s side will get reduced by 41%. However, this will not apply in such cases where substantial point of law is involved.
 Similarly, in case of CBIC, out of total cases filed by the Department in CESTAT, 16% of cases will be withdrawn. In case of High
Courts, 22% of cases will be withdrawn and in case of Supreme Court 21% of cases will be withdrawn. The total percentage of
reduction of litigation from Department‘s side will get reduced by 18%. However, this will not apply in such cases where substantial
point of law is involved.
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WORLD MSME DAY
 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day is celebrated each year on 27 June. MSME Day 2018 will be dedicated to
youth and will cover topics such as youth entrepreneurship and youth employment.
 The campaign slogan is ‗MSME Day 2018: The Youth Dimension‘.
 According to the data provided by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), formal and informal Micro-, Small and Medium-
ur
sized Enterprises (MSMEs) make up over 90% of all firms and account on average for 60-70% of total employment and 50% of GDP.
OECD BOOK
 OCED recently launched a book titled ‗Trade Facilitation and the Global Economy‘, at the WTO.This book uses the OECD‘s Trade
Facilitation Indicators to analyse the state of trade facilitation reforms around the world at the time the World Trade Organization‘s
(WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force, what progress has been made since and the challenges that still
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remain.
WTO ―COTTON DAY‖
 At WTO ―Cotton Day‖ on 19 June, the Cotton 4 producers —Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali — and other WTO members
discussed with donors the lessons learned from recent cotton assistance projects.
 The need for both private and public funding and risk-mitigating guarantees for these projects emerged as some of the ways to make
development assistance more effective. WTO members also discussed the latest state of play in cotton negotiations since the 11th
Ministerial Conference at the end of last year.
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 The Cotton 4's "Cotton Roadmap Project" and the "Pan African Cotton Investment Programme" of the African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries (ACP) Group were discussed.
 The ―Cotton Roadmap Project‖ seeks to develop the cotton sector by improving local processing capacity and expanding cotton-to-
textile value chains at the regional level. The ACP's "Pan-African" project aims at using private sector funding to boost the cotton
sector and reduce poverty in the region. Donor agencies acknowledged the value of the two proposals and vowed to enhance
cooperation in providing project implementation support.
 Participants noted that cooperation between developing countries has yielded some very positive outcomes. Pakistan outlined its new
partnership with the C4 while other members shared their own experiences and committed to provide more financial and technical
support for the Cotton 4.

IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL DAYS
 These are the international days currently observed by the United Nations. The United Nations designates specific days, weeks , years
and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the
Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them
with a resolution. On occasion, these celebrations are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO,
UNICEF, FAO, etc., when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by
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the General Assembly.
 27 January: International Day of Commemoration in  31 May: World No-Tobacco Day [WHO]
Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust  1 June: Global Day of Parents
 4 February: World Cancer Day  3 June: World Bicycle Day
 6 February: International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female  4 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of
Genital Mutilation Aggression
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 11 February: International Day of Women and Girls in  5 June: World Environment Day
Science  5 June: International Day for the Fight against Illegal,
 13 February: World Radio Day (UNESCO) Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
 20 February: World Day of Social Justice  6 June: Russian Language Day
 21 February: International Mother Language Day  8 June: World Oceans Day
 1 March: Zero Discrimination Day [UNAIDS]  12 June: World Day Against Child Labour
 3 March: World Wildlife Day  13 June: International Albinism Awareness Day
 8 March: International Women's Day  14 June: World Blood Donor Day [WHO]
 20 March: International Day of Happiness  15 June: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
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 20 March: French Language Day  16 June: International Day of Family Remittances
 21 March: International Day for the Elimination of Racial  17 June: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
Discrimination  18 June: Sustainable Gastronomy Day
 21 March: World Poetry Day (UNESCO)  19 June: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual
 21 March: International Day of Nowruz Violence in Conflict
 21 March: World Down Syndrome Day  20 June: World Refugee Day
 21 March: International Day of Forests  21 June: International Day of Yoga
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 22 March: World Water Day  23 June: United Nations Public Service Day
 23 March: World Meteorological Day [WMO]  23 June: International Widows' Day
 24 March: World Tuberculosis Day [WHO]  25 June: Day of the Seafarer [IMO]
 24 March: International Day for the Right to the Truth  26 June: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Trafficking

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Dignity of Victims 26 June: United Nations International Day in Support of
 25 March: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims Victims of Torture
of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade  27 June: Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
 25 March: International Day of Solidarity with Detained and  29 June: International Day of the Tropics
Missing Staff Members  30 June: International Asteroid Day
 2 April: World Autism Awareness Day  30 June: International Day of Parliamentarism
 4 April: International Day for Mine Awareness and  7 July (first Saturday in July): International Day of
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Assistance in Mine Action Cooperatives
 6 April: International Day of Sport for Development and  11 July: World Population Day (UNDP) (2018 theme:
Peace “Family Planning is a Human Right”)
 7 April: International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in  15 July: World Youth Skills Day
Rwanda  18 July: Nelson Mandela International Day
 7 April: World Health Day [WHO]  28 July: World Hepatitis Day [WHO]
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 12 April: International Day of Human Space Flight  30 July: International Day of Friendship
 20 April: Chinese Language Day  30 July: World Day against Trafficking in Persons
 21 April: World Creativity and Innovation Day  9 August: International Day of the World's Indigenous
 22 April: International Mother Earth Day Peoples
 23 April: World Book and Copyright Day (UNESCO)  12 August: International Youth Day
 23 April: English Language Day  19 August: World Humanitarian Day
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 23 April: Spanish Language Day  21 August: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute
 25 April: World Malaria Day to the Victims of Terrorism
 26 April: International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance  23 August: International Day for the Remembrance of the
Day Slave Trade and Its Abolition [UNESCO]
 26 April: World Intellectual Property Day [WIPO]  29 August: International Day against Nuclear Tests
 28 April: World Day for Safety and Health at Work  30 August: International Day of the Victims of Enforced
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 30 April: International Jazz Day (UNESCO) Disappearances

 30 April: "Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon  5 September: International Day of Charity
 2 May: World Tuna Day  8 September: International Literacy Day (UNESCO)
 3 May: World Press Freedom Day (UNESCO)  10 September: World Suicide Prevention Day [WHO]
 8-9 May: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for  12 September: United Nations Day for South-South
Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War Cooperation
 12 May (second Saturday of May): World Migratory Bird  15 September: International Day of Democracy
Day [UNEP]  16 September: International Day for the Preservation of the
 15 May: International Day of Families Ozone Layer
 
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16 May: International Day of Living Together in Peace 21 September: International Day of Peace
 16 May: International Day of Light [UNESCO]  23 September: International Day of Sign Languages
 17 May: World Telecommunication and Information Society  26 September: International Day for the Total Elimination of
Day Nuclear Weapons
 20 May: World Bee Day  27 September: World Tourism Day
 21 May: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and  28 September: International Day for Universal Access to
Development Information [UNESCO]
 22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity  28 September: World Rabies Day [WHO]
 23 May: International Day to End Obstetric Fistula  28 September (last Thursday of September): World
 29 May: International Day of UN Peacekeepers Maritime Day (IMCO)

 30 September: International Translation Day  19 November: World Toilet Day
 1 October: International Day of Older Persons  19 November (third Sunday in November): World Day of
 2 October: International Day of Non-Violence Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
 2 October (first Monday in October): World Habitat Day  20 November: Africa Industrialization Day
 5 October: World Teachers‘ Day [UNESCO]  20 November: Universal Children‘s Day
 9 October: World Post Day (UPU)  21 November: World Television Day
 10 October: World Mental Health Day [WHO]  25 November: International Day for the Elimination of
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 11 October: International Day of the Girl Child Violence against Women
 13 October: International Day for Disaster Reduction  29 November: International Day of Solidarity with the
 13 October (second Saturday of October): World Migratory Palestinian People
Bird Day [UNEP]  30 November: Day of Remembrance for all Victims of
 15 October: International Day of Rural Women Chemical Warfare
 16 October: World Food Day [FAO]  1 December: World AIDS Day
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 17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty  2 December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
 20 October (every five years, beginning in 2010): World  3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Statistics Day  5 December: International Volunteer Day for Economic and
 24 October: United Nations Day Social Development
 24 October: World Development Information Day  5 December: World Soil Day
 27 October: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UNESCO)  7 December: International Civil Aviation Day
 31 October: World Cities Day  9 December: International Day of Commemoration and
 2 November: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the
against Journalists Prevention of this Crime
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 5 November: World Tsunami Awareness Day  9 December: International Anti-Corruption Day
 6 November: International Day for Preventing the  10 December: Human Rights Day
Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict  11 December: International Mountain Day
 10 November: World Science Day for Peace and  12 December: International Day of Neutrality
Development (UNESCO)  12 December: International Universal Health Coverage Day
 14 November: World Diabetes Day  18 December: International Migrants Day
 16 November: International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO)  18 December: Arabic Language Day
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 16 November (third Thursday in November): World  20 December: International Human Solidarity Day
Philosophy Day (UNESCO)
International Weeks
 1–7 February (first week of February): World Interfaith Harmony Week
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21–27 March: Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination
 24–30 April: World Immunization Week [WHO]
 8-14 May: UN Global Road Safety Week [WHO]
 25–31 May: Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
 1–7 August: World Breastfeeding Week [WHO]
 4–10 October: World Space Week
 24–30 October: Disarmament Week
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 6–12 November (the week in which 11 November falls): International Week of Science and Peace
 13–19 November: World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November [WHO]
International Years
 2024: International Year of Camelids  2009: International Year of Astronomy
 2022: International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and  2009: Year of the Gorilla [UNEP and UNESCO]
Aquaculture  2008: International Year of Planet Earth
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 2019: International Year of Indigenous Languages  2008: International Year of Languages

 2019: International Year of Moderation  2008: International Year of Sanitation
 2019: International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical  2008: International Year of the Potato
Elements  2007: International Polar Year (WMO)
 2017: International Year of Sustainable Tourism for  2006: International Year of Deserts and Desertification
Development  2005: International Year of Microcredit
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 2016: International Year of Pulses  2005: International Year for Sport and Physical Education
 2015: International Year of Light and Light-based  2005: International Year of Physics
Technologies  2004: International Year to Commemorate the Struggle
 2015: International Year of Soils against Slavery and its Abolition
 2014: International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian  2004: International Year of Rice
People  2003: Year of Kyrgyz Statehood
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 2014: International Year of Small Island Developing States  2003: International Year of Freshwater
 2014: International Year of Crystallography  2002: United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage
 2014: International Year of Family Farming  2002: International Year of Mountains
 2013: International Year of Water Cooperation  2002: International Year of Ecotourism
 2013: International Year of Quinoa  2001: United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations
 2012: International Year of Cooperatives  2001: International Year of Volunteers
 2012: International Year of Sustainable Energy for All  2001: International Year of Mobilization against Racism,
 2011: International Year for People of African Descent Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
 2011: International Year of Chemistry  2000: International Year of Thanksgiving
 
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2011: International Year of Forests 2000: International Year for the Culture of Peace
 2011: International Year of Youth  1999: International Year of Older Persons
 2010: International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 — 11  1998: International Year of the Ocean
August 2011)  1996: International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
 2010: International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures  1995: United Nations Year for Tolerance
 2010: International Year of Biodiversity  1995: World Year of Peoples‘ Commemoration of the
 2010: International Year of the Seafarer Victims of the Second World War
 2009: International Year of Reconciliation  1994: International Year of the Family
 2009: International Year of Natural Fibres  1994: International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
 2009: International Year of Human Rights Learning  1993: International Year for the World's Indigenous People

 1992: International Space Year  1979: International Year of The Child
 1990: International Literacy Year  1978/79: International Anti-Apartheid Year
 1987: International Year of Shelter for The Homeless  1975: International Women's Year
 1986: International Year of Peace  1974: World Population Year
 1985: Year of the United Nations  1971: International Year for Action to Combat Racism and
 1985: International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Racial Prejudice
Peace  1970: International Education Year
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 1983: World Communications Year; Development of  1968: International Year for Human Rights
Communication Infrastructures  1967: International Tourist Year
 1982: International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions  1965: International Co-operation Year
Against South Africa  1961: International Health and Medical Research Year
 1981: International Year for Disabled Persons  1959/1960: World Refugee Year
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International Decades
 2021–2030: International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
 2019–2028: United Nations Decade of Family Farming
 2018–2028: International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development"
 2016–2025: United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition
 2016–2025: Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa
 2015–2024: International Decade for People of African Descent
 2014–2024: United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All
 2011–2020: Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
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 2011–2020: United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
 2011–2020: Decade of Action for Road Safety
 2010–2020: United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification
 2008–2017: Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
 2006–2016: Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions (third decade after the Chernobyl disaster)
 2005–2015: International Decade for Action, ―Water for Life‖
 2005–2014: United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
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 2005–2014: Second International Decade of the World‘s Indigenous People
 2003–2012: United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All
 2001–2010: International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World
 2001–2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa
 2001–2010: Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
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1997–2006: Decade for The Eradication for Poverty
 1995–2004: Decade for Human Rights Education
 1994–2004: Decade of the World's Indigenous People
 1993–2003: Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
 1991–2000: Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa
 1991–2000: Second Transport and Communications Decade in Africa
 1991–2000: United Nations Decade Against Drug Abuse
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 1991–2000: Fourth United Nations Development Decade
 1990–2000: International Decade for the Eradification of Colonialism
 1990–1999: United Nations Decade of International Law
 1990–1999: International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
 1990s: Third Disarmament Decade
 1988–1997: World Decade for Cultural Development
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 1983–1993: Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

 1983–1992: United Nations Decade for Disabled Persons
 1981–1990: International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade
 1981–1990: Third United Nations Development Decade
 1980–1990: Second Disarmament Decade
 1980s: Industrial Development Decade for Africa
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 1978–1988: Transport and Communications Decade for Africa

 1976–1985: United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace
 1973–1983: Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
 1971–1980: Second United Nations Development Decade
 1970s: Disarmament Decade
 1960–1970: United Nations Development Decade
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United Nations Anniversaries: The United Nations observes milestone anniversaries of key events in its history. Following are related to
year 2018:
 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
 70th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping
 70th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
 25th Anniversary of UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination
 25th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
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20th anniversary of the Rome Statue establishing the International Criminal Court
Celebrating Multilingualism: International Days

 21 February - International Mother Language Day
 20 March - French Language Day at the UN
 20 April - Chinese Language Day at the UN
 23 April - English Language Day at the UN
 23 April - Spanish Language Day at the UN
 6 June - Russian Language Day at the UN
 30 September - International Translation Day

 18 December - Arabic Language Day at the UN
 International Years
 2008 - International Year of Languages
 2019 - International Year of Indigenous Languages
 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds the Guinness World Record as the most translated document. It exists in more than
500 languages. Yet, far too many people are still unaware of their basic rights as human beings. Record yourself reading an article of
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the Declaration in your native language, and help us build a multilingual video platform to raise awareness for human rights.
GOVT DECIDES TO DISCONTINUE OVERTIME ALLOWANCE FOR MOST EMPLOYEES
 The Union government has decided to discontinue overtime allowance given to its employees except certain categories like industrial
employees, according to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry.
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 The move follows a recommendation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission in this regard.
 It has been clarified by the Department of Expenditure that the government has decided that given the rise in the pay over the years,
the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission to discontinue the overtime allowance for categories other than
operational staff and industrial employees who are governed by statutory provisions may be accepted.
 Accordingly, it has been decided to implement this decision across all the ministries/departments and attached and subordinate office
of the government of India.
 The operational staff are all non-ministerial non-gazetted central government servants directly involved in smooth operation of the
office including those tasked with operation of some electrical or mechanical equipment.
 The administration wing of the ministries/departments concerned have been asked to prepare a list of operational staff with full
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justification for inclusion of a particular category of staff in the list of operational staff.
 It has also been decided to link grant of overtime allowance with biometric attendance.
 The government has also decided not to revise the rate of overtime allowance or OTA for the operational staff and they would
continue to get the amount as per its order issued in 1991.
 OTA should be paid only when his/her senior officer directs the concerned employee(s) in writing for staying back in office t o attend
urgent nature of work.
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IMA PACT TO BACK HEALTH PROTECTION SCHEME
 Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced the signing of an agreement with the government to support the scheme, also called
Ayushman Bharat or Modi Care, was made after the government accepted many of their demands.
 Ayushman Bharat Yojana or National Health Protection Scheme is a program which aims to provide a service to create a healthy,
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capable and content new India. It has two goals, one, creating a network of health and wellness infrastructure across the nat ion to
deliver comprehensive primary healthcare services, and another is to providing insurance cover to at least 40 per cent of India's
population which is majorly deprived of secondary and tertiary care services.
 The IMA is the country‘s largest group of doctors, with over 2.5 lakh members. Early this month, it had boycotted the scheme and said
it needs to be re-conceived.
 But now, they have agreed to empanel hospitals with a minimum of 10 beds. Certification with the National Accreditation Board for
Hospitals and Health care Providers is not mandatory any more but those who have it will earn 10% to 15% more. Hospitals in
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backward areas will also get 10% more.
 The scheme, which may be unveiled on August 15, offers 1,350 packages for a range of diseases and covers each family for Rs. 5
lakh annually. At present, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have their own health insurance schemes.
Maharashtra, for example, offers a coverage of Rs. 1.5 lakh to the underprivileged. Besides overlapping with the existing scheme, the
new scheme will mostly be dependent on public sector hospitals as the private sector is likely to stay out due to the low package rates.
 Package rates are still an issue. However, they have formed a committee with two IMA members on it to review and rework the
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package rates.
 Indu Bhushan appointed as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
 Ayushman Bharat consists of two major elements.1) National Health Protection Scheme. 2) Wellness centres.
 National Health Protection Scheme will provide cashless treatment to patients. And wellness centres will provide primary care to the
patients. In fact, the government will upgrade existing Public Health Centres to Wellness Centres. According to news reports, the
welfare scheme will be rolled out on August 15. The government has roped in multiple agencies to ensure seamless coordination
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between the centre and states.

 Under Ayushman Bharat Scheme now government is recruiting 1 Lakh Candidates. This will be under name of Ayushman Mitra.
 Madhya Pradesh became the first State to implement this scheme in India.
NCERT TO INTRODUCE QR CODE IN TEXTBOOKS

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 The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has initiated the process of introducing QR code in textbooks, a
move aimed at helping students understand chapters better by watching a film or reading additional content on laptops and digital
boards.
 QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) first
designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan. A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about
the item to which it is attached. A QR code uses four standardized encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and kanji) to
store data efficiently; extensions may also be used.
 The Quick Response (QR code) system became popular outside the automotive industry due to its fast readability and greater storage
capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes. Applications include product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document
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management, and general marketing.

Encoding modes
Indicator Meaning
0001 Numeric encoding (10 bits per 3 digits)
0010 Alphanumeric encoding (11 bits per 2 characters)
0100 Byte encoding (8 bits per character)
1000 Kanji encoding (13 bits per character)
0011 Structured append (used to split a message across multiple QR symbols)
0111 Extended Channel Interpretation (select alternate character set or encoding)
0101 FNC1 in first position (see Code 128 for more information)
1001 FNC1 in second position
0000 End of message (Terminator)
 A QR code consists of black squares arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device such
as a camera, and processed using Reed–Solomon error correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted. The required data
is then extracted from patterns that are present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image.
 Micro QR code: Micro QR code is a smaller version of the QR code standard for applications where symbol size is limited. There are
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four different versions (sizes) of Micro QR codes: the smallest is 11×11 modules; the largest can hold 35 numeric characters.
 IQR code: IQR Code is an alternative to existing QR codes developed by Denso Wave. IQR codes can be created in square or
rectangular formations; this is intended for situations where a rectangular barcode would otherwise be more appropriate, such as
cylindrical objects. IQR codes can fit the same amount of information in 30% less space. There are 61 versions of square IQR codes,
and 15 versions of rectangular codes. For squares, the minimum size is 9x9 modules; rectangles have a minimum of 19x5 modules.
IQR codes add error correction level S, which allows for 50% error correction.[69] IQR Codes have not yet been given an ISO
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specification, and only proprietary Denso Wave products can create or read IQR codes.
 SQRC: SQRC is a type of QR code equipped with reading restricting function. This can be used to store private information and to
manage company's internal information and the like.
 Frame QR: FrameQR is a QR code with a ―canvas area‖ that can be flexibly used. In the center of this code is the canvas area, where
graphics, letters, and more can be flexibly arranged, making it possible to lay out the code without losing the design of ill ustrations,
photos, etc.
 Model 1 QR code is an older version of the specification. It is visually similar to the widely seen model 2 codes, but lacks alignment
patterns. The use of QR code technology is freely licensed as long as users follow the standards for QR Code documented with JIS or
ISO. Non-standardized codes may require special licensing.[73]
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 A SPARQCode is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) encoding standard that is based on the physical QR Code definition
created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave.
 QRpedia is a mobile Web based system which uses QR codes to deliver Wikipedia articles to users, in their preferred language. QR
codes can easily be generated to link directly to any Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), but the QRpedia system adds further
functionality. It is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Wikimedia UK (WMUK). QRpedia was conceived by Roger Bamkin, a
Wikipedia volunteer, coded by Terence Eden, and unveiled in April 2011. It is currently in use at museums and other institutions in
countries including Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Macedonia, Spain, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ukraine
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and the United States. The project's source code is freely reusable under the MIT License.
 SnapTag, invented by SpyderLynk, is a 2D mobile barcode alternative similar to a QR code, but that uses an icon or company logo
and code ring rather than a square pattern of black dots. Similar to a QR code, SnapTags can be used to take consumers to a b rand‘s
website, but can also facilitate mobile purchases, coupon downloads, free sample requests, video views, promotional entries,
Facebook Likes, Pinterest Pins, Twitter Follows, Posts and Tweets. SnapTags offer back-end data mining capabilities.
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 Touchatag (previously TikiTag) was an RFID service for consumers, application developers and operators/enterprises created by
Alcatel-Lucent. Consumers could use RFID tags to trigger what touchatag called Applications, which could include opening a
webpage, sending a text message, shutting down the computer, or running a custom application created through the software's API,
via the application developer network. Touchatag applications were also compatible with NFC enabled phones like the Nokia 621 2.
TikiTag was launched as an open beta on October 1, 2008. And it was rebranded to touchatag on February 15, 2009. Touchatag also
sold RFID hardware, like a starter package with 1 USB RFID reader and 10 RFID tags (stickers), for which the client software was
compatible with Windows XP and Vista, along with Mac OS X 10.4 and up. Touchatag was carried by Amazon.com, ThinkGeek,
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Firebox.com and getDigital.de along with Touchatag's own Online Store.
CENTRE TO TAKE OVER AI ARTWORKS
 The government is open to the idea of having a permanent exhibition of Air India‘s art collection.
 The national carrier‘s artistic treasures comprise works by stalwarts such as K.H. Ara, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza and V.S. Gaitonde.
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 The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) under the Ministry of Culture will take custody of Air India‘s artworks at a time the airline is
looking to cut costs.
 Ashwani Lohani, when he was Air India‘s chairman and managing director, had proposed to set up a museum of all the artefacts and
paintings collected by the airline over a period of six decades at its Nariman Point building in Mumbai.
 However, a tender floated to set up a museum at the cost of Rs. 3.5 crore was junked after the Cabinet approved privatisation of the
national carrier last year in June.
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 The NGMA is mandated to look after works of modern art.

 It is estimated that Air India has nearly 8,000 artistic treasures. These include nearly 4,000 paintings and the rest are sculptures dating
back to the ninth century, woodwork, a collection of exquisite clocks as well as memorabilia in the form of paintings reproduced on
menu cards, greeting cards.
LEPTOSPIROSIS CLAIMS FOURTH LIFE

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 A 17-year-old Worli resident has succumbed to leptospirosis, taking the death toll of the disease to four this monsoon season. The
disease claimed three lives in June.
 Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans through rat and cattle urine and excreta. Most commonly, it is
transmitted through unhealed wounds, abrasions and cuts, especially on the foot, when one wades through contaminated water.
AUCTION PERMISSION FOR UPLINKING AND DOWNLINKING OF TELEVISION CHANNELS
 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said that an auction process for grant of permission for uplinking and
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downlinking TV channels is not feasible and that the existing system for grant of such permissions should be continued.
 Uplinking and downlinking permissions are mandatory for a broadcasting company to run a TV channel in the country.
 This is among the recommendations on uplinking and downlinking norms, released by telecom and broadcast regulator.
 Last year the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had asked TRAI to review these five-year-old norms and had also asked its
opinion on a proposal of auctioning TV channel licences similar to FM radio frequencies to increase revenues of the government.
 In its recommendations, TRAI said that an auction of a public resources like space spectrum which is required for uplinking and
downlinking of signals of TV channels, is feasible only if there is more than one bidder for the same spectrum.
 TRAI also reiterated the need to streamline the existing process of granting permissions for uplinking and downlinking of TV channels
for encouraging ease of doing business. It has recommended enhancing annual licence fee for uplinking and downlinking permissions.

 The annual permission fee for uplinking of TV channel from India should be increased from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh. The annual
permission fee for downlinking of TV channel, uplinked from India should be increased from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 7.5 lakh; and the annual
permission fee for downlinking of a TV channel, uplinked from foreign soil, should be increased from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 22.5 lakh.
 It has recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Space should give the clearances to applicants within 60
days. It said security clearance by MHA should be valid for ten years.
TELECOM OPERATORS URGED NOT TO DE-LICENSE E&V BAND
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 Telecom operators have written a letter to the Prime Minister‘s Office (PMO) requesting that spectrum in the E&V band not be de-
licensed, and instead be assigned for backhaul to access service providers (ASPs) who have access to spectrum.
 Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), also asked the PMO to consider auction of spectrum in the E&V band in case it is to be
used for access services.
 Since microwave technology is connecting more than 80 per cent of physical site for almost all of ASPs network, with present network
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scenarios of 2G, 3G, 4G and fixed broadband backhaul, it is high time that they have some alternative resource available to deliver
high capacity backhaul and meet the market requirement to deliver best quality of experience for their end subscribers.
 The E&V band (80GHz and 60GHz) are increasingly being adopted by operators globally to cost effectively meet mobile broadband
backhaul requirements.
 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had, in its recommendations in 2014 on ‗Allocation and Pricing of Microwave Access
(MWA) and Microwave Backbone (MWB) RF carriers for mobile broadband, also recommended releasing both E and V bands.
 The E-band supports nx250 MHz channel (19 channels) size and can provide capacity up to 1Gbps on a single channel, and more by
aggregating two or more channels. Similarly, the V-band supports various channel sizes. With medium capacity and short reach, the
V-band is particularly suitable for dense deployment of macro cells and small cells, where conventional microwave cannot be used
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due to high interface issues.
 The COAI said the Department of Telecom is learnt to be considering de-licensing of spectrum in the V-band, which, it said, would
result in interference in the said bands leading to non-optimal utilisation of precious spectrum.
 Furthermore, this would lead to a huge loss for the national exchequer as revenue accruing from licence fee, spectrum usage charge
as well as value of spectrum would not accrue in this case.
 This will result in non-level playing field, will adversely impact the current investments, and hence the investor sentiment, thus leading
to (a) slowdown of future investments in this critical infrastructure.
GLOBAL NORMS COMING FOR POLIO VACCINE EVALUATION
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Global regulators and leading vaccine makers may soon finalise international standards to evaluate Sabin Inactivated Polio Va ccine
(sIPV).
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About 15 global vaccine makers and 20 representatives of regulators including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and US Food
and Drug Administration (USFDA) are sharing results and experiences of developing sIPV.
 As of now, Oral Polio Vaccine is being used to fight polio. But it can cause circulating and virulent vaccine derived polio viruses.
 Hence, nearly 18 vaccines makers across the globe including India are now in various stages of developing the sIPV.
 China and Japan have already licensed the sIPV product. In India, Bharat Biotech, Indian Immunological Ltd, among others have been
working on developing the vaccine.
 Others who are working in this area include Beijing Minhai Biotech, Institute of Medical Biology, Kunming, China, and National Institute
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for Biological Standards and Control, England.
 The cost of the sIPV will be a challenge for affordable pricing. While OPV costs 14 cents per dose, sIPV may cost above $1.
T-HUB TO HOST COUNTRY‘S 1ST DEFENCE INCUBATOR
 One of the country‘s first Defence incubators will come up in Hyderabad, which is India‘s missile development centre and fast
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emerging the hub for aerospace industries.

 The incubator will be housed at T-Hub, which has already got recognition as one of the country‘s major centres for nurturing start-ups
and creative ideas.
 The Telangana State government proposes to accommodate the Defence incubator in the upcoming Phase-2 of the T-Hub.
 The incubator will be funded through the Ministry‘s Innovation for Defence Exellence (iDEX) scheme. Under the scheme research in
the fields of Aerospace & Defence by MSMEs, start-ups, research institutions, educational institutions are to be funded.
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 The iDEX will be funded and managed by a Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). Initially, a corpus of ₹100 crore has been cr eated
by two PSUs--HAL and BEL, each contributing ₹50 crore. More defence PSUs will join in with financial contributions when required.
Similarly, the Ministry of Defence also will extend funds when necessary.
 Hyderabad is home to over 10 large establishments of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), defence public
sector units like the Mishra Dhatu Nigam, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Missile Complex, Tata Aerospace Limited, around 100 SMEs and
hundreds of MSMEs providing critical support to large defence projects in the private sector and the fast expanding Aerospace Park in
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Adibhatla.
 T-Hub is the largest Incubation facility in the country. Its second phase has been taken up by the Telangana government in view of the
demands it has been able to generate.
NEW DEFENCE PRODUCTION POLICY SOON
 India is to soon unveil the Defence Production Policy 2018. The policy, which aims to achieve a turnover of Rs. 1,70,000 cror e in
defence goods and services by 2025, and an export target of Rs. 35,000 crore, is expected to be tabled soon.
 As India relies on imports to meet 70 per cent of its defence requirements, and has reportedly spent over $100 billion in the last
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decade to buy arms and weapons, the broad framework of the policy is set to promote domestic production by the public sector,
private sector and MSMEs.
 The new policy also envisages enabling start-ups in strategic areas to monetise newly developed technologies, and will provide ‗right
of first offer‘ to the government to acquire the technology through appropriate market based acquisition process.
 To make it easier to do business with innovators, SMEs and non-traditional defence suppliers, enabling provisions are to be brought in
to allow these entities to participate in defence tenders, without having restrictions on turnover and prior experience — both of which
have been major hindrances. Funding of private sector design and development projects with a special focus on the Medium and
Small Manufacturing Enterprises (MSME) sector was an integral part of DPP 2016.

WORLD'S OLDEST BREAD FOUND AT PREHISTORIC SITE IN JORDAN
 Charred remains of a flatbread baked about 14,500 years ago in a stone fireplace at a site in northeastern Jordan have given
researchers a delectable surprise: people began making bread, a vital staple food, millennia before they developed agriculture.
 The flatbread, likely unleavened and somewhat resembling pita bread, was fashioned from wild cereals such as barley, einkorn or
oats, as well as tubers from an aquatic papyrus relative, that had been ground into flour.
 It was made by a culture called the Natufians, who had begun to embrace a sedentary rather than nomadic lifestyle, and was found at
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a Black Desert archaeological site.
SHIROMANI KABIR PRAKAT DIWAS
 The President Ram Nath Kovind visited Haryana (Fatehabad) to grace the Shiromani Kabir Prakat Diwas (Kabir Jayanti).
 This function was being organised by the Dhanak Sabha Fatehabad and the Sant Kabir Dhanak Samaj Karamchari Welfare
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Association, Haryana.
BOOK ―HUMAN RIGHTS, VALUES AND CULTURAL ETHOS‖
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu released the book titled "Human Rights, Values and Cultural Ethos", authored by Dr. R.P. Dhokalia,
in New Delhi in June 2018.
PERSONS IN NEWS
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NEW CBDT CHAIRMAN  Prior to this, he was General Manager, West Central Railway,
Jabalpur from 01st September 2016 to 30th June, 2018. He is
 S. Ramesh, IRS has taken over as Chairman, Central Board of an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) officer of 1980
Indirect Taxes and Customs [CBIC], on superannuation of Batch. He joined Railways in January, 1982.
Smt. Vanaja N. Sarna. Prior to his elevation, he was Member
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(Administration) in the Board. NEW JUDGE AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
GOLDEN GLOBE RACE 2018  An international law professor from Japan has been elected to
serve with the principal judicial organ of the United Nations,
 Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy is all set to following the resignation of a sitting judge.
head off on a unique voyage. The officer is the only invitee  Yuji Iwasawa, 63, will join the 14 judges at the International
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from Asia to participate in the prestigious Golden Globe Race Court of Justice (ICJ), following separate but simultaneous
(GGR) that commences from Les Sables d‘Olonne harbour in voting processes in the General Assembly and the Security
France. Council.
 The participants are required to sail around the world, single-  He replaced Judge HisashiOwada, 85, also of Japan, who
handed and non-stop. The uniqueness of the race is that boat resigned this month, citing old age and the fact that his
designs and technology newer than 1968 is not permitted, daughter Masako, Crown Princess of Japan is set to become
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hence use of Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite the country‘s Empress next year.
communication, navigational aids, etc is forbidden.  The ICJ settles legal disputes between states in addition to
 The Golden Globe Race is being conducted by Sir Robin Knox providing UN entities with advisory opinions on legal matters.
Johnston of UK to commemorate 50 years since the world‘s  Located in The Hague, in the Netherlands, it is one of the six
first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by him in 1968 principal organs of the UN and the only one not situated in
onboard the Indian built boat, Suhaili. New York.
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 Commander Abhilash Tomy is one of India‘s most prominent  The others are the General Assembly, the Security Council,
sailors. He has covered 53,000 nautical miles under sail, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and
including a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in the Secretariat.
2012-13 onboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei.  ICJ judges are elected by both the General Assembly - where
He is also a recipient of the Kirti Chakra, Mac Gregor and all 193 UN Member States are represented - and the 15-
Tenzing Norgay awards. member Security Council.
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 Commander Abhilash Tomy is representing India, sailing on a  Candidates are required to obtain an absolute majority of
replica of Suhaili. The indigenously built sailing vessel votes in both chambers: that is 97 in the General Assembly
‗Thuriya‘ has been built by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Ltd at Goa. and eight in the Security Council.
The boat showcases India‘s boat building capability on the  The 15 ICJ judges serve for nine-year terms. However, the
world forum and promotes the ‗Make in India‘ initiative. Thuriya election was called as Mr. Owada resigned before the end of
stands for pure consciousness and is the background that his term in 2021, which Mr. Iwasawa will complete.
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transcends the three common states of consciousness,  The 1966 treaty is among the core instruments of international
namely waking consciousness, dreaming and dreamless human rights law, calling on states to ensure that the rights of
sleep. all people in their jurisdictions are respected, regardless of
their race, sex, religion, national or social origin, or other
NEW CHAIRMAN OF CAT distinctions.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED LAWYER BECOMES PAK‘S FIRST BLIND
 Justice L Narsimha Reddy has taken over as the new JUDGE
Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).  Yousaf Saleem, a visually impaired lawyer from Lahore,
 CAT was constituted in 1985 and the motivation behind setting became Pakistan‘s first blind judge as he took oath of office.
it up was that officers and employees working in the  Mr. Saleem was first denied the position despite being a
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Government would have an easier option to register their topper but was reconsidered and recommended for the
issues, including grievances and disputes, and will be able to position of civil judge after intervention by Pakistan‘s Chief
seek redressal without having to run from one court of law to Justice Saqib Nisar.
the other.
TOM JOSE IS NEW KERALA CHIEF SECRETARY
NEW MEMBER TRAFFIC OF RAILWAY BOARD
 The Kerala State Cabinet has decided to appoint senior
 Girish Pillai has taken over as the New Member Traffic, bureaucrat Tom Jose as the next Chief Secretary. He will
Railway Board on 01st July, 2018. succeed Paul Antony, who retires on June 30.

 Mr. Jose, currently Additional Chief Secretary (Labour, Excise independent director of the board for three years with effect
and Water Resources), is a 1984 batch IAS officer and will from July 1.
have tenure as Chief Secretary till May 31, 2020.  Mr. Chaturvedi, a former Indian Administrative Service officer,
retired in 2013 as the petroleum secretary. He has also served
ANUP PANDEY IS U.P. CHIEF SECRETARY on the boards of Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda and IDBI Bank
as a government nominee. ICICI Bank‘s present chairman
 Senior IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey will be the next Chief M.K. Sharma‘s term expires on June 30.
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Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.
 Mr. Pandey had played a key role in the investors' summit VIJAY BHASKAR IS CS
organised in February this year by the State government.
 T.M. Vijay Bhaskar has been appointed as the Chief Secretary
NEW CHIEF JUSTICE FOR HYDERABAD HIGH COURT of Karnataka.
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 Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan, presently JUSTICE SEN DISCHARGED AS DDCA ADMINISTRATOR
Chief Justice of Chattisgarh High Court was made Chief
Justice of Hyderabad High Court for the States of Telangana  The Delhi High Court discharged former Supreme Court judge
and Andhra Pradesh. Vikramajit Sen as the administrator of the Delhi & District
 The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended his name Cricket Association following the election of new office-bearers
for the Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court nearly five to run the cricketing body.
months ago.  Journalist Rajat Sharma was elected as the new president.
 The new Chief Justice was sworn in by Governor E.S.L.
Narasimhan. SAIL GETS NEW CMD
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 With this, the Hyderabad High Court gets a regular Chief
Justice after nearly two years.  The Centre has appointed Saraswati Prasad as CMD of Steel
Authority of India (SAIL).
ALKA TIWARI IS NEW CVC SECRETARY  The appointment follows the superannuation of P.K. Singh.
 IAS officer Alka Tiwari has been appointed Secretary, Central INDIA REFUSES ENTRY TO LORD CARLILE
Vigilance Commission (CVC).
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 Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian  India deported Alexander Carlile, a well-known British peer
governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental and the lawyer representing jailed former Bangladesh Prime
corruption. Minister Khaleda Zia, refusing him entry on arrival from
 Recently, in 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring London.
statutory status on the CVC. It has the status of an  According to an MEA, Lord Carlile had arrived in New Delhi
―without having obtained the appropriate Indian visa.‖
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autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority,
charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central
Government of India, advising various authorities in central NEW HSBC INDIA HEAD - INVESTMENT BANKING
Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing
and reforming their vigilance work.  The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. Has
 It was set up by the Government of India Resolution on 11 appointed Amitabh Malhotra as the head of investment
February 1964, on the recommendations of the Committee on banking for HSBC India.
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Prevention of Corruption, headed by Shri K. Santhanam  Mr. Malhotra will lead the Investment Banking and Equity
Committee, to advise and guide Central Government agencies Capital Markets business.
in the field of vigilance.
 Nittoor Srinivasa Rau, was selected as the first Chief Vigilance SK MOHANTY TAKES CHARGE AS 3RD WTM AT SEBI
Commissioner of India.
 The Commission consists of:  SEBI‘s third Whole Time Member (WTM) Santosh Kumar
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 A Central Vigilance Commissioner - Chairperson; Mohanty took charge recently. Earlier, Mohanty was Executive
 Not more than two Vigilance Commissioners - Members; Director at SEBI.
 The current Central Vigilance Commissioner is Mr. K V  At present, SEBI has two WTMs — G Mahalingam and
Chowdary and Vigilance Commissioners are Dr. Tejendra Madhabi Puri Buch, and four part-time members, including
Mohan Bhasin and Mr. Sharad Kumar. Subhash Chandra Garg, Injeti Srinivas, NS Vishwanathan and
Arun P Sathe.
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JUSTICE GOEL APPOINTED GREEN PANEL CHAIRPERSON

ARIJIT BASU TAKES OVER AS MD AT SBI
 Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, who retired from the Supreme
Court, has been appointed the chairperson of the National  The Centre has appointed Arijit Basu as a Managing Director
Green Tribunal (NGT). of SBI. Basu, who has assumed charge of his new role, was
 He has been appointed to the post for five years. earlier Deputy MD at the bank.
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 The post of NGT chairperson was lying vacant for more than  He will continue in his new post till October 2020, when he
six months since the retirement of Justice Swatanter Kumar on retires. SBI now has four Managing Directors in line with the
December 20 last year. SBI Act.
 After Justice Kumar‘s retirement, Justice Umesh Dattatraya  SBI has also appointed senior executive Anil Kishore as Chief
Salvi was made the Acting Chairperson of the NGT. He retired Risk Officer (CRO) and Deputy Managing Director.
on February 13.
 Following this, Justice Jawad Rahim was appointed the Acting NSAI HEAD QUITS OVER IPR ISSUES
Chairperson.
 The National Seed Association of India (NSAI), which mostly
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NEW CHIEF JUSTICE OF HIGH COURT SWORN IN represents the cottonseed companies, has suffered a setback
with its Director General Kalyan Goswami putting in his
 Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan was sworn in papers.
Chief Justice of the High Court at Hyderabad for the States of  He resigned over differences relating to intellectual property
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. rights issues. He had taken a stand against NSAI‘s views on
IPR in agri biotechnology.
CHATURVEDI NAMED ICICI BANK CHAIRMAN  He feels that the country would need newer technologies on a
continuous basis. In order to have those new technologies,
 ICICI Bank has appointed former bureaucrat Girish Chandra one should take care of IPR.
Chaturvedi as non-executive, part-time chairman and an

BANKS BOARD RECOMMENDS 14 FOR ELEVATION AS MD,  Schwenk replaces Roland Folger, who will assume a new
CEO position for Mercedes-Benz‘s Thailand and Vietnam markets.
 The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has recommended the name HAITI PM QUITS
of Anshula Kant for appointment as State Bank of India‘s
Managing Director.  Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned as he
 The names of as many as 14 persons have been faced a non-confidence vote after a move to lower fuel
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recommended for the posts of Managing Director & CEO in subsidies prompted days of violent protests in the
various public sector banks.Those recommended are: Gopal impoverished Caribbean nation.
Murli Bhagat (Corporation Bank); PV Bharathi (Canara Bank);  Earlier, the Haitian government announced a reduction of fuel
MK Bhattacharya and AS Rajeev (Indian Bank); Atul Kumar subsidies as part of an agreement with the International
Goel and Ashok Kumar Pradhan (Union Bank of India); S Monetary Fund (IMF). The move translated to a 38 per cent
Harishankar (Allahabad Bank); Padmaja Chandru, Mrutunjay rise in gasoline prices and 47 per cent hike for diesel,
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Mohapatra, Pallav Mohapatra, J Packirisamy, Karnam Sekar triggering protests during which demonstrators barricaded
and CV Nageswar (all SBI); SS Mallikarjuna Rao (from roads, looted stores and set cars ablaze in the capital, Port-au-
Syndicate Bank). Prince.
 Based on the recommendations of the BBB, the Centre will  The IMF said that it expects Haiti to create a revised reform
take a final decision on their appointment. The plan that will include a gradual lowering of fuel subsidies.
recommendations of the Bureau are subject to various
clearances. RUBBER BOARD GETS NEW CHAIRMAN
NEW CHIEF AT DHANLAXMI BANK  D Anandan has taken over the charges of Chairman and
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Executive Director of the Rubber Board.
 T Latha has taken charge of the bank as Managing Director  He took charge from MK Shanmuga Sundaram.
and CEOof Dhanlaxmi Bank.
TATA CAPITAL HOUSING APPOINTS ANIL KAUL AS
MERCEDES INDIA APPOINTS NEW HEAD MANAGING DIRECTOR
 Mercedes-Benz India has appointed Martin Schwenk as  Tata Capital, the financial services arm of the Tata Group, has
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Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.Schwenk will appointed Anil Kaul as the Managing Director of Tata Capital
take office effective November 1. Housing Finance, replacing R Vaithianathan.
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IAS Prelims 2019 Course Book by BestCurrentAffairs.

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COCHIN PORT SIGNS WORK ORDER FOR CRUISE TERMINAL

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NATIONAL MISSION FOR MANUSCRIPTS (NMM)

UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN 2.0 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED

‗STUDY IN INDIA‘ PROGRAMME

NATIONAL POLICY FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

JULY 2018 BestCurrentAffairs.com Page No.12

NUTRIENT BASED SUBSIDY AND CITY COMPOST SCHEME

(ii) To reduce subsidy burden on the Government.

SWACHH SURVEKSHAN GRAMEEN LAUNCHED

JULY 2018 BestCurrentAffairs.com Page No.13

NATIONAL POLICY ON WOMEN‘S SAFETY

INTEGRATED PROGRAMME FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (IPSRC)

ICONIC TOURIST SITES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT