Monthly Current Affairs Consolidation (October 2020) - Part II

Current
Affairs
(CONSOLIDaTION)
October 2020
(Part – II)
Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009
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Email: engweb@groupdrishti.com
Contents
Polity and Governance.........................................................................................................1
z Gurkha Rights in Assam........................................................................................................................................... 1
z Bodoland Statehood Movement............................................................................................................................. 2
z Vehicle Scrapping in India........................................................................................................................................ 3
z Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR............................................................................................. 4
z First ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State: Goa.................................................................................................................................. 5
z Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme: Bihar................................................................................................................................. 6
z Guidelines for Digital Media Regulation.................................................................................................................. 7
z Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute............................................................................................................................. 8
z Maharashtra Denies Consent to CBI........................................................................................................................ 9
z Ayushman Sahakar Scheme................................................................................................................................... 10
z Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions.......................................................................................................... 11
z Mobile Application for Geo Tagging: PMKSY......................................................................................................... 12
z Birth Anniversary of APJ Abdul Kalam................................................................................................................... 13
z Draft Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.............................................................................................................. 15
z SOP for Adoption of Integrity Pact Amended: CVC............................................................................................... 16
z India’s First Seaplane Project................................................................................................................................ 17
z In-House Procedure Against Judges of Higher Judiciary........................................................................................ 18
z Live Streaming of Court Proceedings.................................................................................................................... 19
z Amendment Related to Land in Jammu and Kashmir........................................................................................... 20
z Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana............................................................................................................................... 21
z ASER Survey 2020.................................................................................................................................................. 21
z Maritime Vision 2030............................................................................................................................................ 23
z Model Code of Conduct: EC................................................................................................................................... 23
z Kisan Suryodaya Yojana: Gujarat........................................................................................................................... 25
z Deworming in India............................................................................................................................................... 25
z ESI Scheme Extended to Arunachal Pradesh......................................................................................................... 27
z Institution of Eminence Scheme............................................................................................................................ 27
z DRIP Phase II and Phase III.................................................................................................................................... 28
z Merger of Schools in Odisha: SATH Project........................................................................................................... 29
z Sexual Harassment and the Code on Wages......................................................................................................... 30
z Mandatory Jute Bag Packaging............................................................................................................................. 31
z SERB-POWER Scheme............................................................................................................................................ 32
z National Unity Day 2020........................................................................................................................................ 33
z World Polio Day 2020............................................................................................................................................ 34
z World Food Day..................................................................................................................................................... 35
Economic Scenario.............................................................................................................37
z GST Compensation: Centre to Borrow on Behalf of States................................................................................... 37
z RBI’s Annual Report on State Finances.................................................................................................................. 38
z Forex Reserves....................................................................................................................................................... 39
z Heeng Cultivation Project in India......................................................................................................................... 40
z Fertiliser Subsidy................................................................................................................................................... 40
z International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2020......................................................................................... 41
z Expansion of Production-Linked Incentive Scheme............................................................................................... 42
z Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report ..................................................................................................................... 43
z Antitrust Case Against Google: USA...................................................................................................................... 44
z Economic Performance Comparison Between India and China............................................................................ 45
z CPI-IW Base Year Revised to 2016......................................................................................................................... 47
z Multimodal Logistics Park in Assam...................................................................................................................... 48
z Compound Interest Waiver on Moratorium Loans............................................................................................... 49
z World Economic Outlook: IMF.............................................................................................................................. 50
z India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon........................................................................................................ 51
z Depreciation of Rupee........................................................................................................................................... 53
z Quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey................................................................................................................ 53
International Relations.......................................................................................................55
z Geneva Conventions.............................................................................................................................................. 55
z Uranium Supply From Australia to India............................................................................................................... 56
z 65th Anniversary of Bandung Conference: NAM.................................................................................................. 56
z Pro-Democracy Protests in Thailand..................................................................................................................... 57
z Israel and Bahrain Diplomatic Ties........................................................................................................................ 58
z Taiwan Insecurity of China.................................................................................................................................... 59
z G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting..................................................................................................... 60
z Extending New START Treaty................................................................................................................................ 62
z India Invited to Join the Blue Dot Network........................................................................................................... 62
z Australia to Join Malabar Exercise......................................................................................................................... 62
z Second Meeting of India-Central Asia Dialogue.................................................................................................... 63
z India-USA 2+2 Dialogue 2020................................................................................................................................ 64
z Sudan and Israel to Normalise Relations............................................................................................................... 65
z India in Support of France..................................................................................................................................... 66
z Pakistan on FATF Grey List.................................................................................................................................... 67
z Chair of ILO Governing Body: India....................................................................................................................... 68
Science and Technology......................................................................................................70

z Saviour Sibling....................................................................................................................................................... 70
z Atomic Hydrogen Content of Galaxies.................................................................................................................. 71
z OSIRIS-REx Mission: NASA..................................................................................................................................... 72
z COVIRAP: A Quick Covid-19 Test........................................................................................................................... 72
z Monoclonal Antibodies for Covid-19..................................................................................................................... 73
z NAG Missile: Anti Tank Guided Missile.................................................................................................................. 74
z PLACID Trials.......................................................................................................................................................... 75
z Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01: ISRO.............................................................................................................. 75
z Superconductivity at Room Temperature............................................................................................................. 76
z Computation Analysis of Indian Genes.................................................................................................................. 77
z CSIR-CMERI’s Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility...................................................................................... 78
Environment and Ecology...................................................................................................80

z Increased Emissions of N2O.................................................................................................................................. 80
z Right of Passage of Animals................................................................................................................................... 81
z Bioremediation Mechanism for Oil Spills.............................................................................................................. 82
z Skinks of India........................................................................................................................................................ 83
z Dolphins in Pearl River Estuary.............................................................................................................................. 84
z International Snow Leopard Day........................................................................................................................... 85
z State of Global Air 2020: HEI................................................................................................................................. 86
z Dashboard for Monitoring Air Quality................................................................................................................... 87
z Seagrass................................................................................................................................................................. 88
z South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System............................................................................................................ 89
z Two New Ramsar Sites.......................................................................................................................................... 90
z Shivalik Elephant Reserve: Uttarakhand................................................................................................................ 91
z Translocation of Corals in Mumbai........................................................................................................................ 92
z Habitat Loss of Himalayan Brown Bear................................................................................................................. 93
History...............................................................................................................................95
z Sir Syed’s Day........................................................................................................................................................ 95
Art & Culture......................................................................................................................96

z Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana.................................................................................................................................... 96
Geography.........................................................................................................................97
z Wheat Variety MACS 6478.................................................................................................................................... 97
z Tsunami Early Warning System in India................................................................................................................ 97
z Tectonically Active Zone of Himalayas.................................................................................................................. 98
z Typhoon Molave: Vietnam.................................................................................................................................... 99
Social Issues.....................................................................................................................101
z Global Hunger Index 2020................................................................................................................................... 101
z SC on Crimes and Violence Against Women....................................................................................................... 102
z India and Sex Ratio.............................................................................................................................................. 103
z Report on Food Consumption: WWF.................................................................................................................. 104
z New Abortion Laws in Poland.............................................................................................................................. 105
z Child Care Leaves for Single Male Parent............................................................................................................ 106
Security............................................................................................................................107
z Naval Version of BrahMos Tested....................................................................................................................... 107
z INS Kavaratti........................................................................................................................................................ 107
z Integrated Theatre Command............................................................................................................................. 108
z 59th Raising Day of the ITBP................................................................................................................................ 109
z 36th NSG Raising Day.......................................................................................................................................... 109
Miscellaneous..................................................................................................................110
z Frontier Technologies Cloud Innovation Center.................................................................................................. 110
z Electronic Exchange of Customs Data................................................................................................................. 110
z India International Science Festival 2020............................................................................................................ 111
z Nazca Lines: Peru................................................................................................................................................. 111
z Indira Rasoi Yojana: Rajasthan............................................................................................................................ 112
z Kochi-Muziris Biennale........................................................................................................................................ 112
z International Press Institute................................................................................................................................ 113
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2020 1
Polity and Governance
Highlights
z Gurkha Rights in Assam z Amendment Related to Land in Jammu and Kashmir
z Bodoland Statehood Movement z Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana
z Vehicle Scrapping in India z ASER Survey 2020
z Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR z Maritime Vision 2030
z First ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State: Goa z Model Code of Conduct: EC
z Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme: Bihar z Kisan Suryodaya Yojana: Gujarat
z Guidelines for Digital Media Regulation z Deworming in India
z Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute z ESI Scheme Extended to Arunachal Pradesh
z Maharashtra Denies Consent to CBI z Institution of Eminence Scheme
z Ayushman Sahakar Scheme z DRIP Phase II and Phase III
z Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions z Merger of Schools in Odisha: SATH Project
z Mobile Application for Geo Tagging: PMKSY z Sexual Harassment and the Code on Wages
z Birth Anniversary of APJ Abdul Kalam z Mandatory Jute Bag Packaging
z Draft Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 z SERB-POWER Scheme
z SOP for Adoption of Integrity Pact Amended: CVC z National Unity Day 2020
z India’s First Seaplane Project z World Polio Day 2020
z In-House Procedure Against Judges of Higher Judiciary z World Food Day
z Live Streaming of Court Proceedings
Clause 6 of the Accord envisages constitutional,

Gurkha Rights in Assam legislative and administrative safeguards for
protecting, preserving and promoting the culture,
Why in News social, linguistic identity and heritage of the
The Gurkha community in Assam has sought gazette Assamese people.
notification ensuring that the safeguards according to ¾ Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee Recommendation:
Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord are also extended to Definition of Assamese: The report proposes 1st
Gurkha people of Assam. January 1951 as the cut-off date for any Indian
citizen residing in Assam to be defined as an
Key Points Assamese for the purpose of implementing Clause 6.
¾ The demand for the safeguards by Gurkha community Reservation for Assamese: It seeks reservation
further intensified with the recommendations of the for Assamese in Parliament, state assembly, local
high-level committee formed under the Chairmanship bodies. It recommended creating an Upper House
of Biplab Kumar Sharma by the Union Home Ministry (Legislative Council of Assam) whose seats will be
on Clause 6 of Assam Accord. reserved for the ‘Assamese people’.
The committee recommended that all Gurkhas of z The report also seeks quotas in government jobs.
Assam are not indegenous Assamese people as Regulation of Outsiders: The report recommends
per the definition of Assamese people. regulation of entry of people from other states
Note:
2 CURRENT AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2020 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
into Assam, which include the implementation z It was a peace treaty that resulted in the end
of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in the state. of the First Anglo Burmese War. This treaty was
z The ILP is a system in which a special permit is signed on 24th February, 1826 after two years of
required by people from other regions of India the war between British and Burmese.
to visit the state. They were declared as protected class by the
z Currently the ILP is applicable in Manipur, British in the tribal belts and blocks according to
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1886.
Other Rights: The report also talks about issues
related to land and land rights, linguistic, cultural
and social rights and protection of the state’s
Bodoland Statehood Movement
resources and biodiversity.
Concern: The committee report did not mention
Why in News
anything about the constitutional, legislative and A new organisation (All India Bodo People’s National
administrative safeguards of local Gurkhas. League for Bodoland Statehood) has announced the
z This means the exclusion from the rights under revival of the Bodoland statehood movement ahead of
the Clause 6 of the Accord. the elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
¾ Government Assurance:
Key Points
The Gurkhas in Assam are “one of the old
communities”. ¾ About Bodos: These are the single largest community
The government would treat them “at par with

among the notified Scheduled Tribes in Assam. Part
other indigenous communities and protect their of the larger umbrella of Bodo-Kachari, the Bodos
constitutional rights while implementing Clause 6”. constitute about 5-6% of Assam’s population.
¾ Gurkhas in Assam: ¾ About Bodo Statehood Movement:
There are currently 25 lakh Gurkhas in Assam. 1967-68: First organised demand for a Bodo state
The Gurkhas were permanently settled in the

came under the banner of the political party Plains
Scheduled Areas in the last part of the 18th century Tribals Council of Assam.
as grazers and cultivators. 1986: The armed group Bodo Security Force arose,
They fought for Assam against the Burmese invaders

which subsequently renamed itself ‘National
in 1826 resulting in the Treaty of Yandaboo. Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)’, an
organisation that is known to be involved in attacks,
Assam Accord killings, and extortions. It later split into factions.
¾ It was a tripartite accord signed between the 1987: All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed
Government of India, State Government of Assam the demand.
and the leaders of the Assam Movement in 1985. z A fallout of the Assam Movement (1979-
¾ The Accord ended the anti-foreigners Assam Agitation 85), whose culmination - the Assam Accord
from 1979-1985. - addressed the demands of protection and
The signing of the Accord led to the conclusion safeguards for the “Assamese people”, leading
of a six-year agitation that was launched by the Bodos to launch a movement to protect
the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in 1979, their own identity.
demanding the identification and deportation 1990s: Indian security forces launched extensive
of illegal immigrants from Assam. operations against the NDFB, causing the latter to
It sets a cut-off of midnight of 24th March 1971, flee to bordering Bhutan.
for the detection of illegal foreigners in Assam.
z In Bhutan, the group faced stiff counter-
z However, the demand was for detection and
insurgency operations by the Indian Army and
deportation of migrants who had illegally the Royal Bhutan Army in the early 2000s.
entered Assam after 1951.
¾ Government Interventions:
Note:
1993 Bodo Accord: The ABSU-led movement vehicles: Towards effective scrappage policy and infra-
from 1987 culminated in a 1993 Bodo Accord, structure”, which suggests parameters of an effective
which paved the way for a Bodoland Autonomous vehicle scrapping policy for India.
Council (BAC), but ABSU withdrew its agreement ¾ CSE is a non-profit, public interest research and
and renewed its demand for a separate state. advocacy organisation based in New Delhi.
2003 Bodo Accord: In 2003, the second Bodo Accord
was signed by the extremist group Bodo Liberation Key Points
Tiger Force (BLTF), the Centre and the state. This ¾ About the Policy:
led to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has
z BTC is an autonomous body under the Sixth
formulated a note for the Cabinet on the creation
Schedule of the Constitution. of an ecosystem for voluntary and environment-
z The area under the jurisdiction of BTC was called friendly phasing out of unfit and old polluting
the Bodo Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD). vehicles.
2020 Accord: The Central government signed a The proposed policy awaits for Cabinet’s approval
tripartite agreement with the state government and once approved, will be applicable on all vehicles.
and different Bodo groups, including four factions
¾ Concerns on Vehicles:
of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland
India will have over two crore old vehicles nearing
(NDFB), for a “permanent” solution to the Bodo
issue. Some features: the end of their lives by 2025. These, along with
other unfit vehicles, will cause huge pollution and
z It provides for “alter-
environmental damage.
ation of area of BTAD”
and “provisions for ¾ Existing Initiatives:
Bodos outside BTAD” Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) Emissions Standards:
z The BTAD was renamed z It provides an opportunity to renew the fleet

Bodoland Territorial with significantly cleaner vehicles as BS-VI heavy-
Region (BTR). duty vehicles are designed to emit 35 times
z It provides for more legislative, executive, lesser particulates compared to BS-I vehicles.
administrative and financial powers to BTC. Electric Vehicle (EV) Incentives:
z Provision for rehabilitation of surrendered militants z In August 2020, Delhi government notified
of NDFB and bringing a special development the Electric Vehicles Policy 2020, which lays
package of Rs. 1,500 crore for the region. the maximum emphasis on replacement of
¾ Present Revival of the Bodoland Statehood Movement: two-wheelers, public transport and shared
According to the new organisation, the new (2020) vehicles and goods-carriers instead of private
accord has been a betrayal of the Bodo people. four-wheelers, with EVs.
Besides being an inferior accord, it prescribes a National Clean Air Programme:
reduction of the area currently under the BTC. z Under it, polluted cities have included old vehicle
z The accord has a provision for excluding from the phase-out as part of their clean air action.
BTR villages with more than 50% non-Bodos and ¾ Suggestion by the Report:
including villages with more than 50% Bodo people
Safe disposal and material recovery should be
left out of the BTC map after the 2003 accord.
the critical parameters of an effective vehicle
scrapping policy.
Vehicle Scrapping in India The policy must leverage the opportunities to
maximise emissions gains from the replacement of
Why in News end-of-life vehicles and recover material from the
Recently, the Centre for Science and Environment wasted clunkers (dilapidated vehicle or machine)
(CSE) has released a report titled “What to do with old for reuse and recycling.
Note:
¾ Through it, the Centre has also dissolved the Environ-

ment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority
for the NCR.
EPCA is a central government committee constituted
in 1998 for the National Capital Region (NCR) in
compliance with the Supreme Court (SC) order
dated 7th January 1998.
Key Points
¾ Background:
The monitoring and management of air quality in
the Delhi NCR region have been done by multiple
bodies including the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB), the state pollution control boards,
the state governments in the region, including
There is a need to link economic recovery and Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan,
fiscal stimulus with the replacement of older and by the EPCA as well.
heavy-duty vehicles with BS-VI vehicles. They, in turn, are monitored by the Union Ministry
The scrappage scheme should incentivise

of Environment and Forests and Climate Change
replacement with EVs for personal cars and (MoEFCC), and the SC itself, which monitors air
two-wheelers. pollution as per the judgment in M C Mehta versus
Union of India, 1988.
Vehicles should not contain toxic metals like lead,
The Ordinance seeks to create an overarching
mercury, cadmium or hexavalent chromium other
than specified conditions. body to consolidate all monitoring bodies,
and to bring them on one platform so that air
There should be efforts to include Extended
quality management can be carried out in a more
Producer Responsibility (EPR) and making the
comprehensive, efficient, and time-bound manner.
rules legally binding.
¾ Composition of the New Commission:
Environmentally sound vehicle scrappage
It will be headed by a full-time chairperson who
infrastructure should be scaled up country-wide
for safe disposal of waste and for material recovery has been a Secretary to the Government of India,
for recycling like steel, aluminium and plastics. or a Chief Secretary to a State government.
z The chairperson will hold the post for three
India needs a well-designed scrappage policy to
lower emissions, reduce environmental damages years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.
and recover material from clunkers as part of It will have members from several Ministries as
post-Covid-19 efforts towards a green India. well as representatives from the stakeholder States.
It will have experts from the CPCB, Indian Space
Commission for Air Quality Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.
¾ Powers:
Management in the NCR In matters of air pollution and air quality
management, the Commission will supersede all
Why in News existing bodies such as the CPCB, and even the
Recently, the President of India has signed the state governments involved. It will have the powers
“Commission for Air Quality Management in National to issue directions to the states.
Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020”. z CPCB and its State branches’ powers with regard
¾ It sets up a statutory authority, the Commission for to the Environment Protection Act, 1986 continue
Air Quality Management in the National Capital and they will have the powers to implement
Region and Adjoining Areas. provisions for air, water and land pollution.
Note:
z However, in case of dispute or a clash of Appreciation
jurisdictions, the Commission’s writ will prevail
¾ Jurisdiction: This Commission will specifically look
specifically to matters concerning air pollution.
at the Delhi NCR and adjoining areas only.
The Commission will also coordinate efforts of
Whereas, the mandate of the CPCB is to serve the
state governments to curb air pollution and will lay
whole country.
down the parameters of air quality for the region.
¾ Stubble Burning: A regulatory mechanism for stubble
It will have powers to restrict the setting up of
burning is being put into place for the first time.
industries in vulnerable areas, and will be able to
conduct site inspections of industrial units. ¾ Coordination: Earlier, there was no single body/
If its directions are contravened, the Commission
authority/ministry/state which was empowered or
will have the power to impose a fine of up to Rs. dedicated to ensure coordination among stakeholder
1 crore and imprisonment of up to 5 years. states.
¾ NGT’s Role:
Criticism
Only the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and not
¾ Overrepresentation of the Central Government:
civil courts, is authorised to hear cases where the
Commission is involved. The Commission has a large number of members
from the central government, which has not gone
EPCA versus New Commission down well with the states.
¾ Jurisdiction: States, on the other hand, will have just one
The EPCA, which was set up in 1998, looked at member each.
the NCR only. ¾ Concerns of States: States are not happy with the
The purview of the new Commission extends
overarching powers being vested in the Commission.
to adjoining areas as well.
¾ Political differences will also play a part in the
¾ Statutory Status:
functioning of the Commission.
EPCA was not a statutory body but drew
¾ Dissolution of EPCA: By forming a new commission,
legitimacy from the SC. It did have the authority
the government has taken the issue of air pollution
to issue fines or directions and guidelines to the
governments in other states. out of the purview of the judiciary. It has been said
that a new law is needed when the old one fails. The
z However, it had no state representatives,
centre has not even tried implementing old laws fully.
just two permanent members.
¾ Not an Air-shed Based Approach: According to some
The Commission, on the other hand, is a
permanent and statutory body and will have experts, the Commission is a lost opportunity to
representation from the state. explicitly set the ground rules for an air-shed based
¾ Performance: approach, one that could have been deployed in
polluted areas across the country.
Experts say that EPCA has failed miserably in
cleaning the air even after being in force for An air-shed is an area covered by a volume of air
more than 20 years. that has similar characteristics and is separated

z However, the key contributions of the EPCA
from other volumes of air by weather patterns
include the notification of the Graded or topography.
Response Action Plan (GRAP) that lists out
measures to be taken in case of worsening
pollution, the construction of the Regional
First ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State: Goa
Rapid Transport System and early adoption of
BS-VI fuel standards, among other measures. Why in News
The new Commission’s performance will be Recently, Goa has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’
gauged by changes in the status quo when it State in the country as it successfully provided 100%
comes to ground implementation and strict Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in the
action on polluters. rural areas covering 2.30 lakh rural households.
Note:
Key Points ¾ Water Testing Facilities: The State is in process of

getting 14 National Accreditation Board for Testing
¾ Early Achiever: State’s commitment and brisk efforts
and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited water
have ensured advancement and achievement of
targets well before time i.e. 2024 at the national level. quality testing laboratories.
JJM mandates training 5 persons in every village
¾ Annual Action Plan: Goa prepared the State’s Annual
Action Plan (AAP) to provide 100% FHTCs in rural especially women to be trained in using Field Test
areas by 2021. Kits, so that water can be tested in the villages.
Goa utilised the benefits of the Jal Jeevan Mission
(JJM) which aims to improve the quality of life and Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme: Bihar
bring ‘ease-of-living’ to rural communities.
Accordingly, fund allocation from the Union to Why in News
Goa in 2020-21 has been increased to Rs. 12.40
Crore for the plan. Recently, the Prime Minister of India has inaugurated
the ‘Ghar Tak Fibre’ scheme in Bihar.
¾ Convergence of Schemes: The State explored through
the convergence of various programmes like the Key Points
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swachh Bharat Mission ¾ Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme:
(Grameen), 15th Finance Commission for rural local It aims to connect all 45,945 villages of Bihar
bodies, etc. for strengthening of drinking water sources, with high-speed optical fibre internet by 31st
water supply, greywater (any domestic wastewater March 2021.
excluding sewage) treatment and re-use and operation Under the scheme, Bihar has to provide at least
and maintenance. five fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections and
at least one WiFi hotspot per village.
Jal Jeevan Mission
The Scheme will be implemented by the Ministry
¾ It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person
of Electronics and Information Technology.
per day to every rural household through FHTC
by 2024. ¾ Benefit:
¾ JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side The Scheme will lead digital services including
management of water at the local level. e-Education, e-Agriculture, Tele-medicine, Tele-

Creation of local infrastructure for source
law and other social security schemes in Bihar
sustainability measures as mandatory elements, ensuring easy access to all state natives.
like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge It is also likely to boost the local employment
and management of household wastewater for generation with the implementation of Bharat
reuse, would be undertaken in convergence Net initiative which will be done by recruiting
with other government programmes/schemes. local workers.
¾ The Mission is based on a community approach to z BharatNet, a special purpose vehicle (SPV)
water and includes extensive Information, Education envisaged in 2011, was an ambitious plan to
and Communication (IEC) as a key component of connect all the 2,50,000 gram panchayats
the mission. through a high-speed optical network.
¾ JJM looks to create a Jan Andolan for water, thereby Initially, it was launched as National Optical
making it everyone’s priority. Fibre Network (NOFN), it was renamed in
¾ Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between 2015.
the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and ¾ Internet Penetration in Bihar:
North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and
According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority
100% for Union Territories.
of India’s (TRAI) report, only 30.35% of Bihar’s
The total allocation to the scheme is over Rs.
population has internet connectivity, much below
3 lakh crore. India’s population connectivity of 55%.
Note:
Only 22.61% of rural Bihar have an internet All foreign employees working for more than 60
connection. Compared to this Kerala has 98.10% days would need a security clearance.
rural internet connectivity. z If the government denies or withdraw security
Bihar also has the lowest urban internet subscribers clearance, the digital media company will ensure
amounting to 73.26% of the urban population. that the concerned person resigns or his/her
States like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, services are terminated.
Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal all have an urban The government has given a year to digital media
subscriber base above 90%. news entities to align their shareholding with
However, of the 8,745-gram panchayat (GP) in these requirements.
Bihar, almost all are connected to the state’s main ¾ Application: The guidelines will be applicable to the
internet grid under BharatNet Project. following categories of entities registered or located
z Under it, a village or a gram panchayat is in India:
considered ‘lit up’ when it consistently has Digital media entities which streams/uploads
internet connection and users at the end to news and current affairs on websites, apps or
verify the same. other platforms.
¾ Challenges: News agency which gathers, writes and distributes/
Of all the GPs of Bihar connected under phase transmits news, directly or indirectly, to digital
one, 3,591-gram panchayats are non-operational, media entities and/or news aggregators.
while the status of another 200 is unclear. News aggregator, an entity which uses the software
The main problems are lack of power and related of web applications to aggregate news content
equipment failure, equipment theft and faulty fibre. from various sources, such as news websites,
While optical fibre cable has been laid to connect
blogs, podcasts, video blogs, user-submitted links,
nearly all the GPs, lack of users in these areas has etc in one location.
resulted in minimal or zero follow-ups on repair ¾ Benefits: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
and maintenance work. will be considering in the near future to extend the
following benefits, presently available to traditional
media (print and TV), to digital media entities also:
Guidelines for Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation for
Digital Media Regulation its reporters, cameramen, videographers enabling

them with better first-hand information and access
including participation in official press conferences
Why in News
and such other interactions.
Recently, the Centre has announced new guidelines Persons with PIB accreditation can also avail
for digital news platforms. the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
benefits and concessional rail fare.
Key Points
Eligibility for digital advertisements through the
¾ New Guidelines: Bureau of Outreach and Communication.
The government has put emphasis on compliance Similar to self-regulating bodies in print and
with the 26% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap electronic media, entities in digital media can
under the government approval route in digital form self-regulating bodies for furthering their
media. interests and interaction with the Government.
z The provision was brought in 2019 where FDI ¾ Reason:
in print media is capped at 26% and that in The threat of fake news, propaganda vehicles,
TV news is 49%. foreign influence and interference in India’s
The majority of the directors on the company’s domestic affairs is more real than ever, particularly
board and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of from India’s hostile neighbours like China and
the company would have to be Indian citizens. Pakistan.
Note:
The guidelines could help the government in Earlier in Oct 2020, a

tightening the noose on Chinese and other foreign similar clash took place on
companies who are making investments in digital the border of Karimganj
media in the country. (Assam) and Mamit
(Mizoram) districts.
Foreign Direct Investment
Mizoram civil society
¾ FDI is an investment made by a firm or individual groups blame “illegal
in one country into business interests located in Bangladeshis” (alleged
another country. migrants from Bangla-
¾ Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes desh) on the Assam side.
foreign business operations or acquires foreign ¾ Background:
business assets, including establishing ownership The boundary issue between present-day Assam
or controlling interest in a foreign company. and Mizoram dates back to the colonial era when
¾ It is different from Foreign Portfolio Investment inner lines were demarcated according to the
(FPI) where the foreign entity merely buys equity administrative needs of British Raj.
shares of a company. FPI does not provide the The issue could not be settled once and for all when
investor with control over the business. the state was created in independent India. The
¾ Routes through which India gets FDI: result is both states continue to have a differing
Automatic Route: In this, the foreign entity perception of the border.
does not require the prior approval of the z Mizoram was granted statehood in 1987 by the
government or the RBI. State of Mizoram Act, 1986.
Government Route: In this, the foreign entity z Assam became a constituent state of India
has to take the approval of the government. in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new
z The Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal
states that emerged from within its borders
(FIFP) facilitates the single window clearance of between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.
applications which are through approval route. The Assam-Mizoram dispute stems from a
notification of 1875 that differentiated Lushai
z This portal is administered by the Department
Hills from the plains of Cachar, and another of
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai
(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Hills and Manipur.
z During colonial times, Mizoram was known as
Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute Lushai Hills, a district of Assam.
Mizoram believes the boundary should be
Why in News demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification,
Recently, Assam-Mizoram border witnessed firing which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier
over a territory dispute, which spotlights the long-standing Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.
inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast, particularly z Mizo leaders have argued in the past against
between Assam and the states which were carved out the demarcation notified in 1933 because Mizo
of it. society was not consulted.
¾ Mizoram borders Assam’s Barak Valley and the The Assam government follows the 1933
boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram demarcation, and that is the point of conflict.
is 165 km long. Both states border Bangladesh. According to an agreement between the governments
of Assam and Mizoram, the status quo should be
Key Points maintained in no man’s land in the border area.
¾ Ongoing Tussle: In the Northeast’s complex boundary equations,
Residents of Lailapur village in Assam’s Cachar clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents
district clashed with residents of localities near are less frequent than they are between other
Vairengte in Mizoram’s Kolasib district. neighbouring states of Assam, like with Nagaland.
Note:
¾ Other Boundary Issues in Northeast: Key Points
During British rule, Assam included present-day ¾ The move comes a day after the CBI registered an FIR
Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya in the TRP scam after taking over the probe based on
besides Mizoram, which became separate states an FIR filed in Uttar Pradesh.
one by one.
¾ The Maharashtra government had an apprehension
Currently, Assam has boundary problems with
that the CBI would take over the TRP scam case which
each of them. the Mumbai Police is already investigating.
Assam-Nagaland:
¾ The Maharashtra government suspects CBI of acting
z Nagaland shares a 500-km boundary with Assam. at the behest of the Centre.
z It achieved statehood in December 1963 and The Supreme Court in the past has called the CBI
was formed out of the Naga Hills district of a “caged parrot” that sings the Centre’s tune.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (then North-
¾ Maharashtra is the third State after West Bengal
East Frontier Agency).
and Rajasthan to take such an action. The current
z Violent clashes and armed conflicts, marked by
confrontation also strengthens the perception that
killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland states in opposition see the Centre weaponising the
border since 1965. CBI to control on opposition-led governments in states.
z The boundary dispute is in the Supreme Court.
Assam-Arunachal Pradesh: General Consent

z Both states have a boundary of over 800 km. ¾ Unlike the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is
z Arunachal Pradesh was granted statehood by the governed by its own NIA Act, 2008 and has jurisdiction
State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 in 1987. across the country, the CBI is governed by the Delhi
z Clashes were first reported in 1992 and since Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 that
then, there have been several accusations of makes consent of a state government mandatory
illegal encroachment from both sides, and for conducting an investigation in that state.
intermittent clashes. ¾ There are two kinds of consent viz. case-specific
z This boundary issue is also being heard by the and general.
Supreme Court. Given that the CBI has jurisdiction only over central
Assam-Meghalaya: government departments and employees, it can

z The 884-km boundary between the two states investigate a case involving state government
also witnesses flare-ups. employees or a violent crime in a given state only
z Meghalaya came into existence as an autonomous
after that state government gives its consent.
state within the state of Assam in April 1970 Section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946 empowers the
comprising the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and state government to give or deny consent to CBI
the Garo Hills districts. In 1972, it got statehood. officers to investigate the matter within the state.
z As per Meghalaya government statements, ¾ “General consent” is normally given to help the CBI
today there are 12 areas of dispute between seamlessly conduct its investigation into cases of
the two states. corruption against central government employees
in the concerned state. Almost all states have given
such consent.
Maharashtra ¾ Impact of Withdrawal of General Consent:
Denies Consent to CBI It means the CBI will not be able to register any
fresh case involving a central government official
Why in News or a private person stationed in Maharashtra
Recently, the Maharashtra government has withdrawn without getting case-specific consent.
its general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation Withdrawal of consent will only bar the CBI from
(CBI) to probe cases in the State. registering a case within the jurisdiction of concerned
Note:
states. The CBI could still file cases in Delhi and ¾ Special Crimes: For the investigation of serious cases
continue to probe people inside Maharashtra. of conventional nature such as offences relating to
In simple terms withdrawal of consent means that internal security, espionage, sabotage, narcotics
CBI officers will lose all powers of a police officer and psychotropic substances, antiquities, murders,
as soon as they enter the state unless the state dacoities/robberies, and cheating among others.
government has allowed them. ¾ Suo Moto Cases: CBI can suo-moto take up
It will have no impact on the investigation of investigation of offences only in the Union Territories.
cases already registered with CBI as old cases The Central Government can authorise CBI to
were registered when general consent existed. investigate a crime in a State but only with the
However, the CBI has recently started taking consent of the concerned State Government.
recourse in a Calcutta High Court judgment. The Supreme Court and High Courts, however,
z The HC, in its order in the Ramesh Chandra can order CBI to investigate a crime anywhere
Singh and another vs CBI, 2020 observed that in the country without the consent of the State.
CBI’s power to investigate and prosecute its
own officials cannot be in any way impeded or
interfered by the state even if the offences were
Ayushman Sahakar Scheme
committed within the territory of the state.
Why in News
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
¾ It is the premier investigating police agency in India.
has launched Ayushman Sahakar, a scheme to assist
It functions under the Department of Personnel cooperatives in creation of healthcare infrastructure in
of the Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public the country.
Grievances.
¾ Its origin can be traced back to the Special Police Key Points
Establishment (SPE) set up in 1941 in order to ¾ Formulated By: National Cooperative Development
investigate cases of bribery and corruption in the Corporation (NCDC).
War and Supply Department of India during World
NCDC was set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963
War II (1939-45).
for promotion and development of cooperatives.
¾ The need for a Central Government agency to
It functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and
investigate cases of bribery and corruption was
Farmers Welfare.
felt after the end of World War II. So, the DSPE
Recent initiatives include Sahakar Cooptube
Act, 1946 was brought that gave the legal power
NCDC Channel (Youth-focussed), Sahakar Mitra
of investigating cases to CBI.
(Internship Programme), etc.
¾ It is also the nodal police agency in India which
¾ Features:
coordinates investigation on behalf of Interpol
member countries. NCDC would extend term loans to prospective
cooperatives to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore in
Cases Handled by CBI the coming years.
¾ Anti-Corruption Crimes: For the investigation of z Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision
cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related
1988 against public officials and the employees of activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.
Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings
z The scheme covers establishment, modernization,
(PSUs), Corporations or Bodies owned or controlled
expansion, repairs, renovation of hospital and
by the Government of India.
healthcare and education infrastructure.
¾ Economic Crimes: For the investigation of financial
NCDC assistance will flow either through the State
crimes, bank frauds, money laundering, illegal Governments/ UT Administrations or directly to
money market operations, graft in PSUs and banks. the eligible cooperatives.
Note:
Thescheme also provides working capital and z Cooperatives have a strong presence in rural
margin money to meet operational requirements. areas, thus, cooperatives utilizing the scheme
Further, the scheme provides interest subvention would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery
of 1% to women majority cooperatives. takes place in rural areas.
¾ Significance:
It has a comprehensive approach-hospitals, Rationalisation of
healthcare, medical education, nursing education,
paramedical education, health insurance and Autonomous Institutions
holistic health systems such as AYUSH.
z The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into focus Why in News
the requirement of creation of more facilities. Recently, the Ministry of Finance has recommended
z There are about 52 hospitals across the country that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
run by cooperatives. They have cumulative Change (MoEFCC) “disengage” from five autonomous
bed strength of more than 5,000. The scheme institutions working under it and merge two others, thus
would give a boost to provision of healthcare reducing the 16 autonomous organisations under the
services by cooperatives. ministry to 9.
The scheme aligns itself with the focus of the
National Health Policy, 2017, covering the health Key Points
systems in all their dimensions- investments in ¾ Background:
health, organization of healthcare services, access The recommendations are a part of the report
to technologies, development of human resources, that has been prepared in accordance with the
encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable guidelines prescribed under rule 229 of General
health care to farmers etc. Finance rules 2017.
It is in line with the National Digital Health Mission z Rule 229 pertains to ‘General Principles for
and would bring transformation in rural areas. setting up of Autonomous Organisations’.
The purpose of the report is to make specific and
Cooperatives
actionable recommendations for rationalisation
¾ Definition:
of autonomous bodies with a view to furthering
According to the International Labour Organisation
the aim of ‘minimum government, maximum
(ILO), a cooperative is an autonomous association governance,’ ensuring efficient use of public funds.
of persons united voluntarily to meet their
¾ Recommendations for MoEFCC:
common economic, social and cultural needs
Disengagement from the Wildlife Institute of
and aspirations through a jointly owned and
democratically controlled enterprise. India (WII-Dehradun), Indian Institute of Forest
Management (IIFM-Bhopal), Indian Plywood
¾ Related Provisions of Indian Constitution:
Industries Research and Training Institute
The Constitution (97 th Amendment) Act,
(Bengaluru), CPR Environmental Education Centre
2011 added a new Part IXB right after Part IXA (Chennai) and Centre for Environment Education
(Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working (Ahmedabad).
in India.
z ‘Disengagement’ will involve two aspects
The word “cooperatives” was added after “unions
viz. phasing out government support to
and associations” in Article 19(1)(c) under Part III the institution in a time-bound manner,
of the Constitution. This enables all the citizens disassociating from the management of the
to form cooperatives by giving it the status of institutions and allowing the relevant industry/
fundamental right of citizens. stakeholders to run them.
A new Article 43B was added in the Directive
z Disengagement by the government with a three-
Principles of State Policy (Part IV) regarding the year timeline and a gradual budget reduction
“promotion of cooperative societies”. of 25% each year is recommended.
Note:
z Both WII and IIFM can be converted to deemed

Autonomous Bodies
universities, which will give them more freedom
¾ These are set up whenever it is felt that certain
to initiate more courses and have enhanced functions need to be discharged outside the
faculties. governmental set up with some amount of
The Society of Integrated Coastal Management independence and flexibility without day-to-day
(New Delhi) should be merged with the National interference of the governmental machinery.
Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (Tamil ¾ These are set up by the Ministries/Departments
Nadu), as both perform similar roles of promoting concerned with the subject matter and are funded
coastal management. This will avoid duplication through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially,
of activities and attain economies of scale. depending on the extent which such institutes
Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural generate internal resources of their own.
History (Tamil Nadu), which receives Rs. 14 crore These grants are regulated by the Ministry of
annually from MoEFCC, should be merged with Finance through their instructions as well as the
the ministry. instructions relating to powers for the creation
Statutory bodies such as the Central Pollution of posts.
Control Board, Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the ¾ They are mostly registered as societies under the
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and in certain cases
National Biodiversity Authority should continue they have been set up as statutory institutions
to function under and with the financial support under the provisions contained in various Acts.
of MoEFCC. ¾ These are a major stakeholder in the govern-
z These bodies should be encouraged to become ment’s functioning as they are engaged in diverse
‘self-financed’. activities, ranging from formulating frameworks
for policies, conducting research, and preserving
¾ Criticism:
cultural heritage, etc.
The disengagement will make these institutions
Institutes imparting technical, medical and higher
worry for financial issues rather than research,
education fall in this category.
which should be their prime focus.
The move is seen as ‘the first step towards sending
them into private hands’. Mobile Application
z If the government feels that funds are not being for Geo Tagging: PMKSY
utilised properly or the institutions are not
performing well, their officials should be held Why in News
accountable rather than taking the route of
Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a mobile
disengagement as this will have an impact on
application for geo-tagging of the components of projects
those students who dream of studying these
under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
specialised subjects but cannot afford the high
fees charged by private universities. Key Points
¾ Other Related Steps: ¾ Developed By: The mobile application has been
The Ministry of Textiles has already abolished developed with the help of Bhaskaracharya National
the All India Handloom Board and the All India Institute of Space Applications & Geo-informatics
Handicrafts Board. (BISAG-N).
In 2018, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal BISAG-N is an autonomous scientific society
for closure of Autonomous Bodies, namely, registered under the Societies Registration Act,
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and Jansankhya 1860. It comes under the Ministry of Electronics
Sthirata Kosh (JSK) and the functions were proposed and Information Technology.
to be vested in the Department of Health and ¾ Objective: To track the pace of work and actual
Family Welfare. status of the projects.
Note:
The mobile application can be used to capture the z An aquifer is a body of porous rock or sediment
image of the project component along with other saturated with groundwater. Groundwater
details such as location, type of canal/ structure, enters an aquifer as precipitation seeps through
completion status, etc. the soil. It can move through the aquifer and
The captured information can be submitted by the resurface through springs and wells.
user for geo-tagging on the geographic information z Peri-urban agriculture refers to farm units close
system (GIS) portal developed for this purpose. to town which operate intensive semi- or fully
z Geo-tagging is the process of adding geographical commercial farms to grow vegetables and other
identification data to various media such as horticulture, raise chickens and other livestock,
websites, SMS messages, QR Codes.. and produce milk and eggs.
This data usually consists of latitude and z Precision Irrigation is an innovative technique
longitude coordinates. It can also include that uses water wisely and helps farmers achieve
altitude, bearing, distance, accuracy data, higher levels of crop yield in a minimal amount
and place names, and perhaps a time stamp. of water.
z A GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, ¾ Formulation: It was formulated by amalgamating
and analyzing geography related data. following schemes:
¾ Operation: The mobile application can be operated in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
both online & offline mode depending on the network -Ministry of Water Resources, River Development
availability in the region. & Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti).
Integrated Watershed Management Programme
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (IWMP) - Department of Land Resources, Ministry
¾ PMKSY is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in of Rural Development.
2015 with the motto of “Har Khet Ko Paani”. On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) - Department
¾ Objectives: of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).

PMKSY is being implemented to expand cultivated ¾ Implementation: Decentralised implementation through
areas with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of State Irrigation Plan and District Irrigation Plan.
water and improve water use efficiency i.e. Per
drop-More crop. Birth Anniversary
It also focuses on creating protective irrigation
by harnessing rainwater at micro level through of APJ Abdul Kalam
“Jal Sanchay” and “Jal Sinchan”.
z Protective irrigation includes: Why in News
Protection of the crops from adverse effects Recently, the Union Education Minister has launched
of soil moisture deficiency. the Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy
Irrigation, which acts as a supplementary and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) on the occasion of
source of water over and above rainfall. the 89th birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Providing soil moisture to maximum possible ¾ He was born on 15th October, 1931.
area.
Key Points
Convergence of investments in irrigation at the
field level. ¾ KAPILA:
To enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce Under this campaign, students pursuing education in
sustainable water conservation practices by higher educational institutions will get information
exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal about the correct system of application process
based water for peri-urban agriculture and attract for patenting their invention.
greater private investment in a precision irrigation z Students in higher education institutions of
system. the country are innovating constantly under
Note:
the guidance of their teachers but they are not them to work with new innovative ideas through
aware of the system of filing its patent. periodic activities related to innovation and
Through this campaign, students will be able to get entrepreneurship.
benefits from their inventions by patenting them. z So far, IICs have been established in about
z For India to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 1700 higher educational institutions and will
2024-25, students and scientists have to be more be established in 5000 higher educational
aware of protecting intellectual property (IP). institutions under IIC 3.0.
The program will facilitate the colleges and It was decided to celebrate the week of 15th-23rd
institutions to encourage more and more students October as ‘Intellectual Property Literacy Week’.
to file patents and everyone engaged in research z During the week, a number of activities were
and development must apply to preserve and organised to create online awareness about
safeguard their inventions. the system and the importance of the process
¾ Patents in India: of applying for a patent.
Patent: It is the granting of a property right by a
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam
sovereign authority to an inventor.
¾ Born: 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
z This grant provides the inventor exclusive rights
His birth anniversary is celebrated as the National
to the patented process, design, or invention
for a designated period in exchange for a Innovation Day.
comprehensive disclosure of the invention. ¾ He was an Indian scientist and politician who played
Legislation: Patent filing in India is governed by
a leading role in the development of India’s missile
Patents Act, 1970. and nuclear weapons programmes like Integrated
Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Latest Updates: In June 2020, the Office of the
He planned programmes to produce a number
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government
of India and the Department of Science and of successful missiles, which helped earned him
Technology (DST) jointly initiated the formulation of the nickname “Missile Man”.
a new national Science Technology and Innovation In Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), he
Policy (STIP 2020). was the project director of the SLV-III, India’s first
Patent Data: Between 2005-06 and 2017-18, a
indigenously designed and produced satellite
total of 5,10,000 patent applications were filed launch vehicle.
in India out of which nearly three-quarters were ¾ In 1998, he put forward a countrywide plan called
filed by foreign entities or individuals. Technology Vision 2020, which he described as a road
z In other words, in these 13 years, just 24% of
map for transforming India from a less-developed
patent claims came from Indians. to a developed society in 20 years.
The plan called for, among other measures,
Global Ranking: According to the World Intellectual
Property Organisation (WIPO), India stands at the increasing agricultural productivity, emphasising
7th position on number of patents filed. technology as a vehicle for economic growth, and
widening access to health care and education.
z China tops the list, followed by the USA and
Japan. ¾ He was sworn in as India’s 11th President in 2002
and completed the full term in 2007.
¾ Other Announcements:
¾ Literary Works: Wings of Fire (autobiography), India
The Institution Innovation Council annual report
2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium, Ignited
(IIC 2.0) was also presented and the launch of IIC
3.0 was announced. Minds - Unleashing the power within India, etc.
¾ Awards: Among his numerous awards were two of
z IIC was established by the Ministry of Education
in 2018. the country’s highest honours, the Padma Vibhushan
(1990) and the Bharat Ratna (1997).
z IIC envisions to promote innovation in young
¾ Death: 27th July 2015 at Shillong, Meghalaya.
students by encouraging, inspiring and nurturing
Note:
It needs to be stored only in India and can
Draft Personal be processed abroad only under certain
conditions including approval of the Data
Data Protection Bill, 2019 Protection Agency (DPA).
z Critical Personal Data: Anything that the
Why in News
government at any time can deem critical, such
Recently, Facebook India’s policy head has appeared as military or national security data.
before the 30-member Joint Committee of Parliament
It must be stored and processed in India only.
which is examining the draft Personal Data Protection
It removes the requirement of data mirroring (in
Bill, 2019.
case of personal data). Only individual consent
¾ However, Amazon has declined to appear on the
for data transfer abroad is required.
ground of risky travel amidst the pandemic.
z Data mirroring is the act of copying data from
Key Points one location to a storage device in real-time.
¾ Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, Google and Paytm are z In the earlier version, the Bill enabled the
among the companies from whom the committee transfer of personal data outside India, with
has sought views on data security and protection a subcategory of SPD having to be mirrored
amid concerns that the privacy of users is being in the country (i.e. a copy will have to be kept
“compromised” for commercial interest. in the country).
Facebook was interrogated on how it targets It mandates data fiduciaries to provide the govern-
audiences, their data storage model and transfer ment with any non-personal data when demanded.
of data, etc. z Non-personal data refers to anonymised data,
Amazon’s refusal amounts to a breach of such as traffic patterns or demographic data.

parliamentary privilege and the panel is unanimous z The previous draft did not apply to this type of
about taking coercive action if no one from the data, which many companies use to fund their
company appears on the next date. business model.
¾ Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019: z Data Fiduciary: It may be a service provider who
It is commonly referred to as the “Privacy Bill” and collects, stores and uses data in the course of
intends to protect individual rights by regulating providing such goods and services.
the collection, movement, and processing of data The Bill requires companies and social media
that is personal, or which can identify the individual. intermediaries, which are “significant data
z The Bill derives its inspiration from a previous fiduciaries”, to enable users in India to voluntarily
draft version prepared by a committee headed verify their accounts.
by retired Justice B N Srikrishna. z It would be visible in a “demonstrable and
In December 2019, Parliament approved sending visible mark of verification, which shall be
it to the joint committee. visible to all users of the service”.
The Bill gives the government powers to authorise the z This intends to decrease the anonymity of users
transfer of certain types of personal data overseas and prevent trolling.

and has given exceptions allowing government ¾ Advantages:
agencies to collect personal data of citizens. Data localisation can help law-enforcement agencies
The Bill divides the data into three categories and access data for investigations and enforcement
mandates their storage depending upon the type. and also increase the ability of the government
z Personal Data: Data from which an individual to tax internet giants.
can be identified like name, address, etc. Instances of cyber-attacks (for example, Spyware
z Sensitive Personal Data: Some types of personal Pegasus) and surveillance can be checked.
data like financial, health-related, sexual Social media, which is sometimes used to spread
orientation, biometric, genetic, transgender fake news, can be monitored and checked,
status, caste, religious belief, and more. preventing emerging national threats in time.
Note:
Astrong data protection legislation will also help Key Points

to enforce data sovereignty.
¾ Choice of IEM:
¾ Disadvantages:
Amended Provision: It states that the choice of IEM
Many contend that the physical location of the data
should be restricted to officials from the government
is not relevant in the cyber world as the encryption and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) who have
keys may still be out of reach of national agencies. retired from positions of the level of Secretary to the
National security or reasonable purposes are open- Central Government or of the equivalent pay scale.
ended and subjective terms, which may lead to
z The officials who retired as Chairman and
intrusion of the state into the private lives of citizens.
Managing Directors (CMDs) of PSUs, Schedule
Technology giants like Facebook and Google are
‘A’ companies and CMD/Managing Director
against it and have criticised the protectionist and Chief Executive Officer levels in the Public
policy of data localisation as they are afraid it would
Sector Banks (PSBs), insurance companies and
have a domino effect in other countries as well.
financial institutions, should be at least of the
Also, it may backfire on India’s own young startups
level of Additional Secretary or its equivalent.
that are attempting global growth, or on larger
z Officers of the Armed Forces who have retired
firms that process foreign data in India.
from the rank equivalent of General may also
be considered for appointment.
SOP for Adoption of z Preference would be given to persons who have
Integrity Pact Amended: CVC worked in any other sector, other than their
own, or have worked as CVO in any organisation.
Why in News Earlier Provision: Under the 2017 order, the officials
Recently, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) who had retired from positions of the level of
has amended the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Additional Secretary to the Central government
on the adoption of “Integrity Pact” in government and above, or equivalent pay scale, were eligible
organisations for procurement activities. for the PSUs, board-level officers in Schedule
¾ The latest order revises the SOP issued in January 2017.
‘A’ companies, PSBs, insurance companies and
financial institutions.
¾ The CVC also restricted the maximum tenure of
z Officers of the Armed Forces who had retired
Integrity External Monitors (IEMs) to three years in
an organisation. from the rank equivalent to Lieutenant-General
and above were considered for appointment.
Integrity Pact ¾ Appointment as IEM:
¾ It is a vigilance tool that envisages an agreement Amended Provision: It states that for the
between the prospective vendors/bidders and the appointment as IEM, the Ministry, department or
buyer, committing both the parties not to exercise organisation concerned has to forward a panel of
any corrupt influence on any aspect of the contract. suitable persons to the CVC, of those persons who
¾ It also ensures transparency, equity and compet- are in the panel maintained by the CVC.
itiveness in public procurement.
Earlier Provision: Under the 2017 order, the panel
Integrity External Monitors could include those already in the panel maintained
¾ The IEMs independently and objectively review the by the CVC, or they could propose names of other
documents to determine if the parties have complied suitable persons.
with their obligations under the integrity pact. ¾ Tenure:
¾ They may submit a report to the chief executive of Amended Provision: It states that the IEM will
the organisation concerned or directly to the Chief be appointed for a period of three years in an
Vigilance Officer (CVO) and the CVC, if they find organisation.
serious irregularities attracting the Prevention of Earlier Provision: The 2017 order stated that
Corruption Act, 1988 provisions. the initial tenure of IEM would be three years
Note:
which could be extended for another term of two has no type of landing gear to allow operation
years on a request received by the CVC from the on land. It differs from a floatplane as it uses
organisation concerned. a purpose-designed fuselage which can float,
granting the aircraft buoyancy.
Central Vigilance Commission
The bottom of a flying boat’s fuselage
¾ CVC is the apex vigilance institution, free of
is its main landing gear. This is usually
control from any executive authority, monitoring all supplemented with smaller floats near the
vigilance activity under the Central Government and wingtips, called wing or tip floats.
advising various authorities in Central Government
The hull of a flying boat holds the crew,
organisations in planning, executing, reviewing and
passengers and cargo and has many features
reforming their vigilance work.
in common with the hull of a ship or a boat.
It is an independent body and is only responsible
z Floatplane is supported on the water by
to the Parliament.
pontoons, called floats.
¾ It was set up by the Government in February, 1964
¾ Countries that Operate Seaplanes:
on the recommendations of the Committee on
Seaplanes are operational in countries like the
Prevention of Corruption, headed by K. Santhanam.
Philippines, Canada, Australia, USA, Finland, UK,
¾ The Parliament enacted the Central Vigilance
Sri Lanka, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
Commission (CVC) Act, 2003 conferring statutory
the UAE, Italy, Maldives and Hongkong.
status on the CVC.
In India, Jal Hans, a commercial seaplane service
based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was
India’s First Seaplane Project launched as a pilot project in December 2010 with
a capacity of 10 passengers.
Why in News ¾ India’s Seaplane Project:
As per the direction of the Centre, the Airports
India’s first seaplane service in Gujarat, is set to start
from 31st October 2020, with the aim of providing air Authority of India (AAI) requested state governments
connectivity between the Sabarmati Riverfront in of Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Ahmedabad and the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. and the administration of Andaman and Nicobar to
propose potential locations for setting up water
¾ 31 st October is the birth anniversary of Sardar
airports to boost the tourism sector.
Vallabhbhai Patel.
In 2019, the Centre approved flights from six water
¾ The seaplane will be operated by SpiceJet. It is a
airports that include Shatrunjay Dam (Gujarat),
19-seater seaplane, which will be able to accommodate Guwahati riverfront and Umrangso reservoir
14 passengers. (Assam), Nagarjuna Sagar (Andhra Pradesh), etc.
¾ In the next phase, Dharoi dam (Mehsana district) under the third round of Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik
will connect Ambaji and Shatrunjay dam (Bhavnagar (UDAN) scheme.
district) and Tapi district. The routes awarded for seaplane operations
include Sabarmati riverfront to Statue of Unity and
Key Points Shatrunjay Dam; Guwahati riverfront to Umrango
¾ Seaplane: reservoir, Jorhat and Shillong (Meghalaya) and
It is a fixed-wing Nagarjuna Sagar to Vijayawada and Hyderabad
aeroplane designed (Telangana).
for taking off and Agatti, Kavaratti and Minicoy islands of Lakshadweep
landing on water. have also been proposed to be connected through
There are two main types of seaplanes: flying the project under the fourth round of UDAN.
boats (often called hull seaplanes) and floatplanes. ¾ Benefit:
z Flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a Increase in tourism and hotel business at local
hull, allowing it to land on water, that usually level and employment to local people.
Note:
Establishment of water airports will contribute to an However, the AP CM has not made the allegations
increase in the level of current social infrastructural against the judges in the legislative assembly,
facilities at the proposed sites. and therefore, the bar under Article 211 is not
¾ Impact on Environment: attracted.
Positive: Turbulence created in the water while The chief minister of a state can make such allegations
takeoff and landing will lead to mixing of oxygen by circumventing the bar under Article 211, as the
in the water, which will have a positive impact on constitution does not envisage such a possibility.
the aquatic ecosystem near seaplane operations. However, generally such allegations against judges
Negative: Activities proposed under the water are not made publicly, since it may cast aspersion
airport project may have a similar type of impact on the credibility of the judiciary.
as that of an airport. Since, AP CM has made the allegations publicly,
z However, the water airport is not a listed project/ such an act may invite action for contempt of court.
activity in the Schedule to the Environmental ¾ Action in Cases of Misconduct of Judges:
Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 A judge can be removed from office on grounds
nor in EIA draft 2020. of ‘proved misbehaviour or incapacity’.
However, not all forms of misbehaviour will
In-House Procedure Against warrant removal. There could be other kinds of

impropriety too.
Judges of Higher Judiciary There are times when serious complaints of
misconduct are made and CJI is called upon to
Why in News examine them. Since 1997, judges have adopted
Recently, in a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), an ‘in-house procedure’ for inquiring into such
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has accused the Supreme charges.
Court judge, Justice N.V. Ramana and some judges of ¾ In-House Procedure:
Andhra Pradesh (AP) High Court of misconduct, corruption Under the in-house procedure, when a complaint
and political bias. is received against a High Court judge, the CJI
¾ The allegation against the judges is unprecedented should decide if the issue is frivolous or serious.
since it has been made publicly. If a deeper probe is considered necessary, both
the complaint and the judge’s response, along
Key Points with the High Court’s Chief Justice’s comments,
¾ Issues Involved: are recorded for further action.
The Constitution of India protects the independence If deemed necessary, CJI can also form a three-
of judges of the High Courts and the Supreme member committee to hold an inquiry into the
Court by making them removable only through matter.
a process of impeachment. Article 121 and 211 z The committee should have two Chief Justices
expressly bars the Parliament and State Legislatures from other High Courts and one High Court judge.
from discussing the misconduct of judges. z The inquiry it holds is of the nature of a fact-
z Article 121 states that no discussions shall take finding mission and is not a formal judicial
place in Parliament with respect to the conduct inquiry involving examination of witnesses. The
of any judge of the Supreme Court or of a High judge concerned is entitled to appear before it.
Court in the discharge of his duties except upon ¾ Outcome of In-House Procedure:
a motion for the removal of the judge. If the committee finds substance in the charges,
z Article 211 says that no discussion shall take it can give two kinds of recommendations. One,
place in the legislature of a state with respect to that the misconduct is serious enough to require
the conduct of any judge of the Supreme Court removal from office, or that it is not serious enough
or of a High Court in the discharge of his duties. to warrant removal.
Note:
If the misconduct involves removal of a judge, the ¾ Background:
judge concerned will be urged to resign or seek All the Courts have been functioning through video
voluntary retirement. conferencing throughout the Covid-19 lockdown
z If the judge is unwilling to quit, the Chief Justice and even after that.
of the High Court concerned would be asked z Advocates, parties, victims, etc. all are
to withdraw judicial work from him. participating in the court proceedings during
z The President and the Prime Minister will be the course of the hearing through video
informed of the situation, clearing the way for conferencing.
Parliament to begin the process of removal. Also, in the model video conferencing rules as
If the misconduct does not warrant removal, the prescribed by the e-Committee of the Supreme
judge would be advised accordingly. Court (SC), it has been provided that the public
¾ Procedure in Case of Chief Justice of High Court/ will be allowed to view the hearing conducted
Judge of Supreme Court: through video conferencing.
The SC in Swapnil Tripathi versus the Supreme
If the case is against a High Court’s Chief Justice,
the same procedure is followed as that of a judge of Court of India 2018 has ruled in favour of opening
the High Court, but the probe committee comprises up the apex court through live-streaming.
a Supreme Court judge and two Chief Justices. z It held that the live streaming proceedings are
If a Supreme Court judge faces such a charge,

part of the right to access justice under Article
the in-house panel will comprise three Supreme 21 of the Constitution.
Court judges. z However, the judgment has remained
unimplemented.
Also, the in-house procedure does not give any
separate provision to deal with complaints against The e-Court Mission Mode Project was concep-
the Chief Justice of India. tualized with a vision to transform the Indian
Judiciary by ICT enablement of Courts.
¾ Benefits:
Live Streaming A live stream would help litigants follow the
of Court Proceedings proceedings in their case and also assess their
lawyers’ performance. People from far-flung
Why in News states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala do not have
to travel all the way to the national capital for a
Recently, the Gujarat High Court has become the
day’s hearing.
first Court to live stream judicial proceedings on YouTube
It would keep a check on lawyers’ conduct inside
channel.
the courtrooms. With the entire country watching
Key Points them, there would be fewer interruptions, raised
¾ The High Court allowed the open court proceedings
voices and adjournments from the lawyers.
through the video conferencing, except the proceedings It will bring transparency and access to justice.
to be conducted in-camera. ¾ Issues Involved:

In-camera means in private chambers of a judge, The live streaming of the Courts is susceptible
with the press and public excluded. to abuses.
¾ It observed that the initiative of the live telecast is on z It can involve national security concerns and
an experimental basis and the aspect of continuing can amount to a violation of the fundamental
with or adapting the modality of live court proceedings right to privacy in matrimonial disputes and
will be decided based on the outcome of this trial. rape cases.
¾ The move has been welcomed by lawyers, law students z The unauthorised reproduction of live stream-
and the public at large besides litigants, being seen ing videos is another cause for concern as its
as a major measure towards transparency in judicial regulation will be very difficult at the govern-
proceedings. ment’s end.
Note:
z Concerns have also been raised about the were unable to purchase land prior to 5 th
commercial aspect of the whole issue. The August 2019.
agreements with broadcasters should be on Amended the Jammu & Kashmir Land Revenue
a non-commercial basis. No one should profit Act, 1996, under which only agriculturists of J&K
from the arrangement. can purchase agricultural land.
Infrastructure, especially internet connectivity, z However, it doesn’t bar the agricultural land
which is also the biggest challenge in implementing to be used for non-agricultural purposes. A
the live proceedings of courts. District Collector can allow the agricultural
land to be used for non-agricultural purposes.
Amendment Related to The Centre also notified the Real Estate (Regulation
and Development) Act, 2016, which paves the
Land in Jammu and Kashmir way for the acquisition of land in J&K by all Indian
citizens.
Why in News z Previously, Article 35-A of J&K Constitution
Recently, the Centre notified ‘Union Territory of placed prohibitions on the sale of land to those
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of who were not state subjects.
Central Laws) Third Order, 2020, which states that any Abolished the Big Land Estate Abolition Act, 1950
Indian citizen can now buy land in Jammu and Kashmir - this provided for redistribution of land which
(J&K) without being a domicile. paved the way for rural prosperity and ended
landlordism in J&K.
Key Points Empowers the Centre to declare any area in J&K as
¾ The introduction of the UT of J&K Reorganisation ‘strategic’ and intended for the direct operational
(Adaptation of Central Laws) Third Order, 2020 has and training requirement of the armed forces.
resulted in the repeal of at least 11 land laws in J&K, z However, this can be only done by an army officer
including the J&K Big Landed Estates Abolition Act of or above the rank of a corps commander.
that had resulted in famous ‘Land to tiller’ rights.
Land Reforms in Kashmir
¾ Features of Latest Order:
¾ The Kashmir Valley had a history of cruel exploitation
No domicile or permanent resident certificate is
of tillers through the periods of Afghan, Sikh and
required to purchase non-agricultural land in the UT. Dogra rule.
z People as well as investors outside J&K can now
¾ The Sheikh Abdullah’s government brought the Big
purchase land in the UT, ending the exclusive Landed Estates Abolition Act, in 1950, through a
rights of locals over the land granted under slogan land to the tiller.
Article 370 (now abrogated).
The Act placed a ceiling on land ownership at
z The Centre has been arguing that Article 370
186 kanals (about 22 acres).
hampered development in the UT as investors
The rest of the land of a landlord was redistributed
among share-croppers and landless labourers,
without any compensation to the landlord.
¾ This led to most radical land reform anywhere in
the world outside the Communist bloc. It brought
a social transformation that has few parallels. It
ended landlordism in J&K and paved the way for
rural prosperity.
¾ This land reform was so popular in Kashmir that it
continued to be pushed for the next quarter-century.
The ceiling was gradually decreased until the last
of the reform Acts in 1975.
Note:
Spouses of a J&K domicile shall also be deemed This include:
as a domicile. Encouraging successful traditional potters to set
z Earlier, spouses of domiciles were not considered up units under the Prime Minister’s Employment
domiciles. Generation Programme (PMEGP) scheme.
z Children of central government officials posted z PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy scheme which
for over ten years in J&K will also continue to promotes self-employment through setting up
be considered domiciles. of micro-enterprises.
¾ Issues Involved: Setting up of clusters in Terracotta, Red clay pottery,
For more than two years now, J&K has been without with new innovative value added products to build
an elected government. All the changes being pottery to crockery/tile making capabilities under
introduced in the UT have been steamrolled by the SFURTI scheme.
the Centre rather than being legislated by elected z The Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of
representatives of the people. Traditional Industries (SFURTI) aims to make
This has created suspicions in the J&K that the Centre traditional industries more productive and
is gradually disempowering the local population competitive by organizing the traditional
and consolidating control through executive power. industries and artisans into clusters.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission

Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana ¾ KVIC is a statutory body established under the
Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956.
Why in News ¾ The KVIC is charged with the planning, promotion,
organisation and implementation of programmes for
Recently, electric pottery wheels to 100 potter families
the development of Khadi and other village industries
in Maharashtra were distributed under the Kumhar
in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies
Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) of Khadi and Village Industries
engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
Commission (KVIC).
¾ It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and
Key Points Medium Enterprises.
¾ Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) was launched
in 2018. ASER Survey 2020
¾ Aim: To strengthen and improve the living of potters in
the country by making them self reliant (Atmanirbhar). Why in News
¾ Features: Providing potters with modern equipment
Recently, the Annual State of Education Report
and training to reconnect them with the society and (ASER) survey has been released which provides a glimpse
revive their art. into the levels of learning loss that students in rural
¾ Implementation: KVIC has created proper marketing India are suffering, with varying levels of access to
channels including tie-up with the Indian Railway for technology, school and family resources resulting in a
selling the products of potters. digital divide in education.
¾ Benefits: Proper training and distribution of advanced ¾ This year, in the wake of the pandemic, the survey
equipment under the scheme has eliminated drudgery was conducted via phone calls, reaching 52,227 rural
from the process of pottery making and also resulted households with school-age children in 30 States and
in increasing the production by 3-4 times. Union Territories (UTs).
This has led to an increase in income of potters
manifolds. Key Points
¾ Other Initiatives for Potters: The Ministry of Micro, ¾ Enrollments:
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has announced 5.5% of rural children are not currently enrolled
expansion of and doubling of support to potters. for the 2020 school year, up from 4% in 2018.
Note:
Annual Status of Education Report 2020, while for girls, that number has gone up
from 70% to 73% in the corresponding period.
¾ It is a nationwide survey of rural education and
Patterns show a slight shift toward government
learning outcomes in terms of reading and arithmetic
skills that has been conducted by the NGO Pratham schools, with private schools seeing a drop in
for the last 15 years. enrolment in all age groups.
The Centre has now permitted States to start
¾ It uses Census 2011 as the sampling frame and
continues to be an important national source of reopening schools if they can follow Covid-19
information about children’s foundational skills safety protocols but the majority of the country’s
across the country. 25 crore students are still at home.
¾ ASER 2018 surveyed children in the age group of ¾ Availability of Smartphones:
3 to 16 years and included almost all rural districts Among enrolled children, 61.8% live in families
in India and generated estimates of foundational that own at least one smartphone which was
reading and arithmetic abilities of children in the merely 36.5% in 2018.
age group 5 to 16 years. z About 11% of families bought a new phone after
¾ ASER 2019 reported on the pre-schooling or schooling the lockdown, of which 80% were smartphones.
status of children in the age group 4 to 8 years in WhatsApp is by far the most popular mode of
26 rural districts, focused on the “early years” and transmitting learning materials to students, with
laid emphasis on “developing problem-solving 75% of students receiving input via this app.
faculties and building a memory of children, and ¾ Availability of Learning Material:
not content knowledge”. Overall more than 80% of children said they had
¾ ASER 2020 is the first ever phone-based ASER survey textbooks for their current grade.
and it was conducted in September 2020, the sixth z This proportion was higher among students
month of national school closures. enrolled in government schools (84.1%) than
in private ones (72.2%).
In Bihar, less than 8% got such materials from their
schools, along with 20% in West Bengal, Rajasthan
and Uttar Pradesh.
More than 80% of rural children in Himachal Pradesh,
Punjab, Kerala and Gujarat received such input.
¾ Learning Activities:
Most children (70.2%) did some form of a learning
activity through material shared by tutors or family
members themselves, with or without regular input.
11% had access to live online classes, and 21%
z This difference is the sharpest among the had videos or recorded classes, with much higher
youngest children (6 to 10) where 5.3% of rural levels in private schools.
children had not yet enrolled in school in 2020, About 60% studied from their textbooks and 20%
in comparison to just 1.8% in 2018. watched classes broadcast on TV.
z Due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic,
families are waiting for the physical opening Suggestions
of schools to enrol their youngest children, ¾ Fluid Situation: When schools reopen, it will be
with about 10% of six-year-olds not in school. important to continue to monitor who goes back
Among 15-16 year-olds, however, enrollment to school as well as to understand whether there is
levels are slightly higher than in 2018. learning loss as compared to previous years.
The proportion of boys enrolled in government ¾ Building on and Strengthening Family Support: Parents’
schools has risen from 62.8% in 2018 to 66.4% in increasing levels of education can be integrated into
Note:
planning for learning improvement, as advocated by and reduce dwell time, lower tariff cost and
National Education Policy, 2020. Reaching parents improve the competitiveness of shippers in
at the right level is essential to understand how they international trade.
can help their children and older siblings also play
an important role. Maritime India Vision 2030
¾ Hybrid Learning: As children do a variety of different ¾ It is a ten-year blueprint for the maritime sector
activities at home, effective ways of hybrid learning which will be released by the Prime Minister of India
need to be developed which combine traditional at the Maritime India Summit in November 2020.
teaching-learning with newer ways of “reaching- ¾ It will supersede the Sagarmala initiative and aims
learning”. to boost waterways, give a fillip to the shipbuilding
¾ Assessment of Digital Modes and Content: In order industry and encourage cruise tourism in India.
to improve digital content and delivery for the future, ¾ Policy Initiatives and Development Projects:
an in-depth assessment of what works, how well it Maritime Development Fund: A Rs. 25,000-crore
works, who it reaches, and who it excludes is needed. fund, which will provide low cost, long-tenure
¾ Mediating the Digital Divide: Children from families financing to the sector with the Centre contributing
who had low education and also did not have Rs. 2,500 crore over seven years.
resources like smartphones had less access to Port Regulatory Authority: A pan-India port
learning opportunities. However, even among such authority will be set up under the new Indian Ports
households, there is evidence of effort with family Act (to replace the old Indian Ports Act 1908) for
members trying to help and schools trying to reach enabling oversight across major and non-major
them. These children will need even more help than ports, enhance institutional coverage for ports
others when schools reopen. and provide for structured growth of the ports
sector to boost investor confidence.
Maritime Vision 2030 Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid
project: It will aim to develop regional connectivity
with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
Why in News
Riverine Development Fund: Calls for extending
Recently, the Union Minister of State for Shipping low cost, long-term financing for inland vessels with
has inaugurated the Direct Port Entry (DPE) facility of V the support of a Riverine Development Fund (RDF)
O Chidambaranar Port Trust (VOCPT). and for extending the coverage of the tonnage
tax scheme (applicable to ocean-going ships and
Key Points dredgers) to inland vessels also to enhance the
¾ The state-of-the-art DPE facility is created inside the availability of such vessels.
Truck Parking Terminal which was developed under Rationalisation of Port Charges: It will make them
the ‘Sagarmala’ for issuing customs clearance of more competitive, besides doing away with all
export cargo. hidden charges levied by ship liners to bring in
¾ The IT-enabled infrastructure at the ports will make more transparency.
Indian ports, world-class ports aligning with the Promotion of Water Transport: For decongestion
‘Maritime Vision 2030’ of the Ministry of Shipping. of urban areas, and developing waterways as an
¾ Significance: alternative means of urban transport.
It will reduce logistics cost and increase the
velocity of the cargo. Model Code of Conduct: EC
It would enable direct movement of containers
from factories, without intermediate handling at any Why in News
container freight stations (CFSs), on a 24x7 basis. Recently, the Election Commission (EC) has found
It will help in increasing Ease of Doing Business for former Madhya Pradesh CM’s remark on a woman
the exporters, as the facility will bring efficiency politician violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Note:
Key Points Observers: The EC will appoint observers to whom
¾ The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the EC to

any candidates may report problems regarding the
regulate political parties and candidates prior to conduct of the election.
elections. Party in power: The MCC incorporated certain
¾ It helps EC in keeping with the mandate it has been restrictions in 1979, regulating the conduct of
given under Article 324 of the Constitution, which the party in power.
gives it the power to supervise and conduct free and z Ministers must not combine official visits
fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures. with election work or use official machinery
¾ The MCC is operational from the date on which the for the same.
election schedule is announced until the date of z The party must avoid advertising at the cost
result announcement. of the public exchequer or using official mass
¾ Evolution: media for publicity on achievements to improve
The origins of the MCC lie in the Assembly elections chances of victory in the elections.
of Kerala in 1960, when the State administration z Ministers and other authorities must not
prepared a ‘Code of Conduct’ for political actors. announce any financial grants, or promise any
Subsequently, in the Lok Sabha elections in 1962, construction of roads, provision of drinking
the ECI circulated the code to all recognised water, etc.
political parties and State governments and it was z Other parties must be allowed to use public
wholeheartedly followed. spaces and rest houses and these must not be
It was in 1991 after repeated flouting of the election monopolised by the party in power.
norms and continued corruption, the EC decided Election manifestos: Added in 2013, these guidelines
to enforce the MCC more strictly. prohibit parties from making promises that exert
¾ MCC contains eight provisions dealing with: an undue influence on voters, and suggest that
General Conduct: Criticism of political parties must manifestos also indicate the means to achieve
be limited to their policies and programmes, past promises.
record and work. Activities such as using caste ¾ Legal Enforcement:
and communal feelings to secure votes, criticising Though MCC does not have any statutory
candidates on the basis of unverified reports,
backing, it has come to acquire strength in the
bribing or intimidation of voters, etc. are prohibited.
past decade because of its strict enforcement
Meetings: Parties must inform the local police
by the EC.
authorities of the venue and time of any meeting
Certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
in time to enable the police to make adequate
through invoking corresponding provisions in other
security arrangements.
statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860, Code
Processions: If two or more candidates plan
of Criminal Procedure 1973, and Representation
processions along the same route, organisers must
of the People Act 1951.
establish a contact in advance to ensure that the
In 2013, the Standing Committee on Personnel,
processions do not clash. Carrying and burning
effigies representing members of other political Public Grievances, Law and Justice, recommended
parties is not allowed. making the MCC legally binding and recommended
Polling Day: All authorised party workers at
that the MCC be made a part of the RPA 1951.
polling booths should be given suitable badges However, the EC argues against making it legally
or identity cards. Identity slips supplied by them binding.

to voters shall be on plain (white) paper and shall z According to it, elections must be completed
not contain any symbol, name of the candidate or within a relatively short time or close to 45
the name of the party. days and judicial proceedings typically take
Polling Booths: Only voters, and those with a valid longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it
pass from the EC are allowed to enter polling booths. enforceable by law.
Note:
Note
Kisan Suryodaya ¾ On the Kisan Suryodaya scheme, the PM emphasised
Yojana: Gujarat that farmers should save water and adopt the mantra
‘per drop, more crop’.
Why in News ¾ With the objective of “per drop, more crop”, Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was also
Recently, the Prime Minister has launched the ‘Kisan
launched in 2015.
Suryodaya Yojana’ aimed at providing day-time electricity
to farmers in Gujarat for irrigation and farming purposes. ¾ It is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented
to expand cultivated areas with assured irrigation,
¾ The Prime Minister also launched a 2.3 km-long
reduce wastage of water and improve water use
ropeway project on Mount Girnar in Junagadh city,
efficiency and ensure “Har Khet Ko Paani”.
a major pilgrimage site.
¾ It was conceived by amalgamating ongoing schemes
Key Points viz.
Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme
¾ Kisan Suryodaya Yojana:
(AIBP) of the Ministry of Water Resources,
Rs.3,500 crore will be spent over the next three
River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (now
years for providing solar power to farmers for
Ministry of Jal Shakti),
irrigation during daytime ( 5 AM to 9 PM).
Integrated Watershed Management Programme
About 3,500 circuit kilometers (CKM) of new
(IWMP) of Ministry of Rural Development and
transmission lines will be laid.
On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of
10 districts including Dahod, Gir-Somnath and
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).
Tapi have been selected under the Scheme for
2020-21. The remaining districts will be covered ¾ The scheme is implemented by the Ministries of
in a phase-wise manner by 2022-23. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti and
Significance:
Rural Development.
z It would help in the expansion of micro irrigation It is the fourth ropeway in Gujarat along with
in the state. Micro irrigation is defined as the Banaskantha, Pavagadh and Satpura.
frequent application of small quantities of It will give a boost to adventure activities as well
water directly above and below the soil surface; as tourism in the state.
usually as discrete drops, continuous drops or z Sites like Shivarajpur beach which has got blue
tiny streams through emitters placed along a flag certification and Statue of Unity, provides
water delivery line. a lot of employment opportunities to the locals.
z It would complement irrigation projects of the
State- Sujalam Sufalam and SAUNI (Saurashtra-
Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) yojana. Deworming in India
z It would complement central government
initiatives like neem coating urea, Soil Health Why in News
Cards, KUSUM Yojana, etc. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
z India has now reached 5th position in the world states in India have witnessed reduction in worm
in the last few years in solar power and is prevalence.
advancing fast. Further, it has given the world ¾ Regular deworming as advised by the World Health
the plan of ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’. Organization (WHO) eliminates worm infestation
¾ Ropeway Project on Mount Girnar: among children and adolescents living in areas with high
The 2.3 km- long ropeway project is being touted Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases (STH) burden, thereby
as the longest temple ropeway in Asia. contributing to achieve better nutrition and health.
z Mount Girnar has Gorakhnath peak, Guru ¾ Helminthiases is infestation with or disease caused
Dattatreya peak and a Jain temple. by parasitic worms.
Note:
Key Points Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry

of Education and technical assistance from WHO and
¾ Background:
the technical partners. It was launched in 2015.
As per WHO Report on STH published in 2012, in
¾ It is implemented as a biannual single day programme
India there were an estimated 64% children in the
(10th February and 10th August) through the platforms
age group (1-14 years) at risk of STH.
of schools and anganwadis.
z The risk was estimated based on the hygiene and
¾ In the last round of deworming earlier this year in the
sanitation practices and limited STH prevalence
data at that point of time. country (which was halted due to the Covid pandemic),
11 crore children and adolescents were administered
To assess the exact burden of STH in India, the
Albendazole tablets across 25 States/UTs.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare appointed
z Albendazole tablet, approved by the WHO,
the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
as the nodal agency to coordinate and conduct is used for treatment of intestinal worms in
nationwide baseline STH mapping. children and adolescents as part of Mass Drug
Administration (MDA) programmes globally.
z The baseline STH mapping across the country
was completed by the end of 2016. The data Soil-Transmitted Helminths
showed varied prevalence ranging from 12.5%
in Madhya Pradesh to 85% in Tamil Nadu. ¾ Soil-Transmitted Helminths refer to the intestinal
worms infecting humans that are transmitted through
To evaluate the impact of the consistently
contaminated soil.
implemented high coverage National Deworming
Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the
Day (NDD) programme, the Ministry recently
initiated follow-up prevalence surveys led by human intestines and consume nutrients and
NCDC and partners. vitamins needed for a child.
¾ Result of the Follow-up Surveys: The follow-up surveys ¾ There are three main types of helminths that
are completed in 14 States. infect people, roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides),
whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms
All 14 States have shown reduction in the follow
(Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).
up survey compared to the baseline prevalence
These worms depend on the human body for their
survey.
food and survival and while being there, they lay
The States of Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh,
thousands of eggs each day.
Meghalaya, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have shown substantial ¾ Transmission:
reduction in worm prevalence in the STH follow Soil-transmitted helminths are transmitted by eggs
up prevalence survey. that are passed in the faeces of infected people.

z Chhattisgarh has successfully conducted 10 In areas that lack adequate sanitation, these eggs
rounds of NDD as on date, and the drop in contaminate the soil.
prevalence has been significant from 74.6% in ¾ Impact:
2016 to 13.9% in 2018. Since worms feed on host (human body) tissues,
z Sikkim, with 9 rounds, has seen reduction from including blood, it leads to loss of iron, and protein,
80.4% in 2015 to 50.9% in 2019. resulting in anaemia – reduced oxygen carrying
z Rajasthan, the State that implemented an capacity due to less Haemoglobin (Hb) available
annual round only due to low baseline of 21.1 in the body.
in 2013 has seen significant reduction to the Worm infection can also lead to diarrhoea;
level of less than 1% in 2019 as per the survey. dysentery; loss of appetite; reduced nutritional
intake and physical fitness; increased malabsorption
National Deworming Day Programme – a condition that prevents absorption of nutrients
¾ Implementation of NDD is led by the Ministry of through the small intestine.
Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the ¾ Treatment:
Note:
The WHO recommended medicines – albendazole z Employees, earning less than Rs. 137 a day as
(400 mg) and mebendazole (500 mg) – are effective, daily wages, are exempted from payment of
inexpensive and easy to administer by non-medical their share of contribution.
personnel (e.g. teachers). ¾ Statutory Provisions:
The ESI Act, 1948 is applicable to factories and
notified establishments in an implemented area
employing 10 or more employees for wages.
The “appropriate Government”, State or Central,
is empowered to extend the provisions of the ESI
Act to various classes of establishments, industrial,
commercial or agricultural or otherwise.
z Most of the State Governments have
extended the ESI Act to a certain specific
class of establishments, such as, shops,
hotels, restaurants, cinemas, preview theatres,
motors transport undertakings and newspaper
establishments, etc. employing 10 or more
persons.
z However, the threshold for coverage of
establishments is still 20 employees in
Maharashtra.
ESI Scheme Extended ¾ Eligibility for Employees: The existing wage limit for
coverage under the Act is Rs. 21,000 per month (Rs.
to Arunachal Pradesh 25,000 per month in the case of persons with disability).
¾ Benefits: Cashless medical care services, sickness
Why in News benefit, maternity benefit, employment injury
Recently, the Central Government has extended the benefit and dependent benefit in case of death due
Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme to Arunachal to employment injury, unemployment benefit etc.
Pradesh, with effect from 1st November 2020. The employees are also entitled to an unemployment
¾ The ESI Scheme stands implemented in 568 districts allowance. There are two unemployment allowance
in all the States and Union Territories, except for schemes namely Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana
Lakshadweep. (ABVKY) and Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana
(RGSKY).
Key Points ¾ Administration: It is administered by an apex
¾ About: corporate body called the Employees’ State Insurance
ESI Scheme provides social protection to workers Corporation (ESIC), which is headed by the Union
and their dependents in the organised sector for Minister of Labour, as its Chairman.
emergencies like sickness, maternity and death
or disablement due to an employment injury or
occupational hazard.
Institution of Eminence Scheme
It is financed by contributions from employers
and employees (self-financing). Why in News
z In June 2020, the government had reduced the Recently, the OP Jindal Global University officially
rate of contribution under the ESI Act from 6.5% got an ‘Institution of Eminence (IoE) tag.
to 4% (employers’ contribution reduced from ¾ The university was selected by the University Grants
4.75% to 3.25% and employees’ contribution Commission (UGC), along with 13 other higher
reduced from 1.75% to 0.75%). education institutions, for IoE status in 2019.
Note:
Key Points Any institution that did not appear in any

rankings is excluded completely from the
¾ Background:
list of IoE tag.
Earlier in 2018, the Empowered Expert Committee
Greenfield Proposals: Only after exhausting
(EEC) chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner,
N. Gopalasamy recommended a list of institutions the above criterion, if any slot remains vacant,
for the consideration of the IoE status. consideration shall be given to yet to be established
(Greenfield) proposals.
Under this, the government aims to establish 20
The term greenfield project generally refers
world class institutes in the country to provide
support and prepare them to become world-class to the initiation of a project without the need
institutions and the ultimate aim is to make them to consider any prior work.
secure top global rankings. The Greenfield Institutions get a 3 year
¾ Objectives: period to establish and operationalise the

institution.
Excellence and Innovation: To provide for higher
Satya Bharti Foundation (telecom major
education leading to excellence and innovations
in such branches of knowledge as may be deemed Airtel’s philanthropic arm) became the
fit at post-graduate, graduate and research degree second greenfield institution to be given IoE
levels. status, after Reliance’s Jio Institute.
Specialization: To engage in areas of specialization ¾ Benefits:
to make distinctive contributions to the objectives Autonomy: Institutes with IoE tag will be given
of the university education system. greater autonomy and freedom to decide fees,
Global Rating: To aim to be rated internationally course durations and governance structures.
for its teaching and research as a top hundred Grant: The public institutions under IoE tag will
Institution in the world over time. receive a government grant of Rs. 1,000 crore,
Quality teaching and Research: To provide for while the private institutions will not get any
high quality teaching and research and for the funding under the scheme.
advancement of knowledge and its dissemination
¾ Criteria: DRIP Phase II and Phase III
Global/National Ranking:
z To get the status, the institutions should be Why in News

among:
Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,
Top 50 in the National Institution Ranking
chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the Dam
Framework (NIRF). Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II
Top 500 in internationally recognised rankings. and Phase III.
z Public Institutes that are eligible to apply under ¾ It envisages comprehensive rehabilitation of 736
Institutes of Eminence are as follows: existing dams located across the country and
Central Universities complements the Dam Safety Bill, 2019.
Government-owned and controlled Deemed
to be Universities. Key Points
Institutions of National importance such as ¾ Objectives:
IITs, NITs, etc. To improve the safety and performance of selected
State Universities are set up under a law existing dams and associated appurtenances in a
made by the Legislative Assembly of a State. sustainable manner.
z Private institutions are assessed on the basis of To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup
their ranking in the QS India or NIRF, the NIRF in participating states as well as at the central
ranking being used as a tie-breaker. level.
Note:
To explore the alternative incidental means at few SATH-E aspires to be a ‘saathi’, to the educational
of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue system with the student and the teacher at its
for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams. centre”.
¾ Project Cost and Funding: Rs. 10,211 crore. z In 2017, Odisha was among three states, along
Financial assistance of Rs. 7,000 from the World with Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, to be
Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment selected by NITI Aayog for the project.
Bank (AIIB). The initiative aims to transform elementary and
Rs. 3,211 crore is to be borne by the concerned

secondary school education through goal driven
implementing agencies in the states. exercise and create role model states for education.
The initiative culminates at the end of the 2020
¾ Implementation Period: Over a period of 10 years
academic year.
from April 2021 to March 2031, in two phases of six
Critical interventions including school mergers,
years duration with two years overlapping.
remediation program, training, monitoring
Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project teacher recruitment/ rationalization, institutional
¾ It was started in 2012 and was scheduled to be reorganization at district and state level and proper
completed in 2018. utilization of Management Information System
In September 2018, the Government approved its
(MIS) are in execution mode since January, 2018.
revised cost estimates along with a two-year time z Merger of schools is advocated to help
extension from 2018 to 2020, for the completion. consolidate resources such as teachers, libraries,
laboratories and play equipment.
¾ Apart from its general objectives, it also aims at
z MIS can assist the school manager in determining
ensuring the safety of downstream population
and property that are affected in the case of a dam the aims of the school, formulating strategic
failure or operational failure. plans, distributing resources, and evaluating staff
performance as well as organizational success.
¾ It was initially taken up for the repair and rehabilitation
Progress of the project is being monitored through
of dam projects across the seven states of India,
namely Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya a National Steering Group (NSG) and Central Project
Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. Monitoring Unit (CPMU) at national level and State
Project Monitoring Unit (SPMU) at State level.
¾ Concerns with Merger of Schools:
Merger of Schools Activists have argued that closure or merger of
in Odisha: SATH Project schools is in violation of section 3 and 8 of the

Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
z Section 3 provides to every child of the age
Why in News
of six to fourteen years the right to free and
The Odisha government has identified around 8,000 compulsory education in a neighbourhood school
schools in 15 districts which will be merged with other till the completion of elementary education.
schools due to low enrollment (less than 20 students). z Section 8 assigns duties to the appropriate
¾ The merger is being carried out under the NITI Aayog’s Government to ensure that it provides free
Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital and compulsory elementary education to every
in Education (SATH-E) project, and has been termed child, in a neighbourhood school.
Consolidation and Rationalisation of schools. Majority of these schools are from tribal belts
on hilly terrains. Closure of schools in a village
Key Points will only increase the dropout rate as it won’t be
¾ SATH-E Project: feasible for students to travel far to attend school.
Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital Parents are also concerned that if their children
(SATH) focusses on two main sectors - Education fail to attend school, they will also be deprived of
and Health and to build three ‘Role Model’ States. the midday meals.
Note:
¾ State Government’s Response: ¾ Other disqualification triggers are explicitly restricted

Students who will have to travel to a distant school to actions on an employer’s premises, the trigger
will be provided with a daily allowance of Rs. 20 referring to conviction under sexual harassment does
and students from schools facing closure will also not include such a condition about the location of
be provided a one-time facilitation allowance of the incident.
Rs 3,000. z As of now, it is not clear if sexual harassment
z If the distance to school is more than 1 km, incidents or related crimes against women
students will be provided travel allowance as outside the workplace could lead to dismissal
per Right To Education (RTE) norms. of employees with loss of bonus payments but
Further, the district collectors have been authorised it should come under the purview irrespective
to cancel the merger if genuine concerns arise. of where it is done.
¾ Significance of the Move:
This is a huge step to get people to be on their
Sexual Harassment best behaviour in the workplace as the prospect
and the Code on Wages of losing one’s benefits may make employees more
careful of their conduct.
Why in News This is also a step forward towards creating
seriousness about instances of sexual harassment
According to a provision in the Code on Wages 2019,
at the workplace and in general.
‘conviction for sexual harassment’ can be a ground for
This move will serve as an additional deterrent
denying bonus payouts to employees.
apart from the Prevention Of Sexual Harassment
¾ The Central government published the Draft Code
(POSH) law of 2013.
on Wages (Central) Rules, 2020 in July 2020 and
placed it in the public domain inviting objections Code on Wages Act, 2019
and suggestions. ¾ The new wage code removes the multiplicity of
wage definitions, which can significantly reduce
Key Points
litigation as well as compliance cost for employers.
¾ The Code lays down norms for annual bonus dues
¾ It links minimum wage across the country to the
that accrue to employees, replacing the Payment skills of the employee and the place of employment.
of Bonus Act, 1965, which bars bonus dues only in
¾ It seeks to universalise the provisions of minimum
case of fraud, violent conduct and theft or sabotage.
wages and their timely payment to all employees
Payment of Bonus Act, 1965:
irrespective of the sector and wage ceiling.
z The minimum bonus payable is 8.33% of the
¾ It seeks to ensure Right to Sustenance for every
salary or wage earned by the employee during
worker and intends to increase the legislative
the accounting year subject to a maximum of
protection of minimum wage.
20% of such salary or wage and is applicable
¾ A National Floor Level Minimum Wage will be set
to all employees earning a salary of up to Rs.
21,000 a month. by the Centre and will be revised every five years,
while states will fix minimum wages for their regions,
Section 29 of the Code states that “Notwithstanding
which cannot be lower than the floor wage.
anything contained in this Code, an employee shall
be disqualified from receiving bonus under this ¾ It subsumes the following four labour laws:
Code, if he is dismissed from service for fraud or Payment of Wages Act, 1936
riotous or violent behaviour while on the premises Minimum Wages Act, 1948
of the establishment or theft, misappropriation or Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
sabotage of any property of the establishment or Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
conviction for sexual harassment.”
z The salary and bonus payment limits are yet
Prevention Of Sexual Harassment Law 2013
to be notified under the Code on Wages. ¾ Under it, sexual harassment includes any one or
Note:
¾ Statutory Provision:
more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour
(whether directly or by implication): Government has expanded the scope of mandatory
Physical contact and advances.

packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Materials
(Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act,
Demand or request for sexual favours.
1987, also known as the JPM Act.
Making sexually coloured remarks.
z Under it, the Government is required to
Showing pornography. consider and provide for the compulsory use
Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non- of jute packaging material in the supply and
verbal conduct of sexual nature. distribution of certain commodities.
¾ As per the POSH law guidelines, firms are required ¾ Government Dependent Sector:
to form an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) The jute industry is predominantly dependent
to inquire into complaints of sexual harassment on the Government sector which purchases jute
at the workplace. bags of value of more than Rs. 7,500 crore every
¾ ICC is required to make recommendations to year for packing foodgrains.
employers on the action required pursuant to its z This is done in order to sustain the core demand
inquiry in such complaints. for the jute sector and to support the livelihood
¾ If the ICC upholds a complaint, it could be interpreted of the workers and farmers dependent on the
as a conviction and ICC has the powers to decide sector.
if someone is guilty and report it further to the Nearly 3.7 lakh workers and several lakh farm
police, though not all sexual harassment cases families are dependent for their livelihood on the
translate into a police case. jute sectors so the government has been making
concerted efforts for the development of the
jute sector by:
Mandatory Jute Bag Packaging
z Increasing the quality and productivity of raw jute.
z Diversifying the jute sector.

Why in News
z Boosting and sustaining demand for jute products.
Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic
¾ Benefits:
Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved that
The move will benefit farmers and workers located
100% of the foodgrains and 20% of the sugar shall be
in the Eastern and North-Eastern regions of the
mandatorily packed in jute bags.
country particularly in the states of West Bengal,
¾ The decision will give an impetus to the diversification Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya
of the jute industry. and Tripura.
The reservation norms in the present proposal
Key Points
would further the interest of domestic production
¾ Extended Norms: of raw jute and jute packaging material in India,
The decision mandates that initially 10% of the thereby, making India self-reliant in consonance
orders of jute bags for packing food grains would with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
be placed through a reverse auction on the GeM
portal, which will gradually help in a regime of Government Initiatives
price discovery. for Promoting Jute Industry
z In a reverse auction, the sellers compete to ¾ Jute-Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting
obtain business from the buyer and prices Exercise:
will typically decrease as the sellers underbid Jute ICARE aims to improve the productivity and
each other. quality of raw jute.
z Price discovery is the process of determining Under it, the Government is disseminating improved
the price of an asset in the marketplace through agronomic practices such as line sowing using seed
the interactions of buyers and sellers. drills, distribution of quality certified seeds, etc.
Note:
¾ Jute SMART:
is an e-govt initiative which was launched in
It
December 2016 to promote transparency in the
jute sector.
It provides an integrated platform for procurement
of sacking by Government agencies.
¾ Definitive Anti-Dumping Duty:
It has been imposed on import of jute goods from
Bangladesh and Nepal with effect from 5th January
2017 to protect the domestic sector.
¾ Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plants and
Machinery:
Launched in 2013, it aims to facilitate modernisation
in existing and new jute mills and up- gradation
of technology in existing jute mills.
¾ Collaboration between the National Jute Board and
the National Institute of Design:
It aims to support the diversification of the jute
sector through a Jute Design Cell.
National Jute Board under the Ministry of Textiles,
SERB-POWER Scheme
acts as the apex body for the promotion of the
products in India and abroad.
Why in News
¾ Jute is included in the Minimum Support Price (MSP)
regime of the country. Recently, the Union Minister for Science and
Technology has launched SERB-POWER (Promoting
Jute Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)
¾ Temperature: Between 25-35°C. Scheme, which has two components of fellowship and
¾ Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm. research grants.
¾ Soil Type: Well-drained alluvial soil. ¾ The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB),
¾ Top Jute Producing States: West Bengal > Bihar > is a statutory body of the Department of Science and
Assam > Andhra Pradesh > Odisha. Technology (DST), Government of India.
It is mainly concentrated in eastern India because
of the rich alluvial soil of Ganga-Brahmaputra Key Points
delta. ¾ It is a scheme designed exclusively for women
¾ The world’s largest jute producing countries are scientists to mitigate gender disparity in science and
India, Bangladesh, China and Thailand. engineering research in various science and technology
India is the world’s largest producer of raw jute (S&T) programmes in Indian academic institutions
and jute goods, contributing to over 50% and and research and development (R&D) laboratories.
40% respectively of global production. ¾ It will serve as a benchmark of recognition in the
¾ It is known as the golden fibre because it is one of national scenario and will empower women scientists
the longest and most used natural fibre for various and cultivate a women-friendly culture and ensure
textile applications. more women in leadership positions in decision-
¾ It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, making bodies.
carpets and other artefacts. ¾ SERB-POWER Fellowship:
¾ Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic Target:
fibres and packing materials, particularly nylon. z Women researchers in 35-55 years of age.
Note:
z Up-to25 Fellowships per year and not more Human Resource Development to ensure survival,
than 75 at any point in time. protection, and empowerment of the girl child.
Components of Support: ¾ National Science Day 2020:
z Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition It was celebrated on 28th February 2020 with the
to regular income. theme ‘Women In Science’.
z Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum. Dr Niti Kumar, a senior scientist from the Council
z Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum. of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central

Duration:
Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow
received SERB Women Excellence Award-2020
z Three years, without the possibility of extension.
on this occasion.
Once in a career.
¾ SERB-POWER Research Grants:
Funding under Two Categories for up to 50 Power
National Unity Day 2020
Grants:
z Level I: Up to 60 lakhs for three years for Why in News
applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Every year, the National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta
Universities, and National Labs of Central Diwas) is celebrated on 31st October to commemorate
Government Institutions. the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
z Level II: Up to 30 lakhs for three years for ¾ The Prime Minister launched the seaplane service
applicants from State Universities/Colleges and from Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity, Kevadia.
Private Academic Institutions.
Regulations:
Key Points
z Grants will be regulated through terms of ¾ The day was celebrated for the first time in 2014, when
reference conforming to SERB-Core Research the Government of India decided to celebrate Patel’s
Grant (CRG) guidelines. birthday as the National Unity Day to recognise his
monumental contribution and service to the nation.
Related Government Initiatives ¾ On this day, several events like Run For Unity, a
¾ Vigyan Jyoti Scheme: nationwide marathon to increase awareness about
Launched by the DST, it aims to create a level- Patel’s contributions, National Unity pledge, Ekta
playing field for the meritorious girls in high school Parade, etc. are organised.
to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and ¾ In 2018, the Government unveiled the Statue of Unity
Mathematics (STEM) in their higher education. in Gujarat in Patel’s honour.
¾ Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions It is the tallest statue (182-meter) in the world.
Scheme: In January 2020, it was added in the ‘Eight Wonders’
GATI Scheme will develop a comprehensive charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
and a framework for assessing gender equality
in STEM. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
¾ Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement ¾ Born: 31st October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
through Nurturing Scheme: ¾ Achievements:
Started by the DST, KIRAN scheme aims to bring First Home Minister and Deputy
gender parity in the S&T sector by inducting more Prime Minister of India.
women talent in the R&D domain. Headed various Committees
¾ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: of the Constituent Assembly
BBBP Scheme is the joint initiative of the Ministry of India, namely:
of Women and Child Development, Ministry z Advisory Committee on
of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Fundamental Rights.
Note:
z Committee on Minorities and Tribal and transmission of all three kinds of Polioviruses
Excluded Areas. has to be stopped.
z Provincial Constitution Committee. For eradication, cases of both wild and vaccine-
Integrated the farmer’s cause in Kheda Satyagraha derived polio infection have to be reduced to zero.
(1918) and Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) with the z Eradication of a disease refers to the complete
national freedom movement. and permanent worldwide reduction to zero

z Women of Bardoli bestowed the title ‘Sardar’ new cases through deliberate efforts. If a
on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means ‘a Chief or disease has been eradicated, no further control
a Leader’. measures are required.
z However, elimination of a disease refers to
Known as the “Iron Man of India” for playing an
important role in unification and integration of reduction to zero or a very low defined target
Indian princely states into the Indian federation rate of new cases in a defined geographical area.
and for convincing princely states to align with It requires continued measures to prevent re-
the Indian Union. establishment of disease transmission.
¾ Recent Outbreaks:
Requested the people of India to live together by
uniting (Ek Bharat) in order to create a foremost In 2019, polio outbreaks were recorded in the
India (Shresth Bharat). Philippines, Malaysia, Ghana, Myanmar, China,

z This ideology still reflects in the Atmanirbhar
Cameroon, Indonesia and Iran, which were
mostly vaccine-derived in which a rare strain of
Bharat initiative which seeks to make India
the virus genetically mutated from the strain in
self-reliant.
the vaccine.
Remembered as the ‘Patron Saint of India’s Civil
z According to the WHO, if the oral vaccine-
Servants’ as he established the modern all-India
virus is excreted and allowed to circulate in an
services system.
unimmunised or under-immunised population
¾ Death: 15th December 1950 in Bombay.
for at least 12 months, it can mutate to cause
infections.
World Polio Day 2020 Afghanistan and Pakistan are the two countries
that are the last stronghold of the wild poliovirus.
Why in News ¾ Polio in India:
India received polio-free certification by the WHO
Every year, 24th October is observed as World Polio
in 2014, after three years of zero cases.
Day in order to call on countries to stay vigilant in their
z This achievement has been spurred by the
fight against the disease.
successful pulse polio campaign in which all
¾ It was established to commemorate the birth of
children were administered polio drops.
Jonas Salk, who developed an Inactivated (killed)
z The last case due to wild poliovirus in the country
Polio Vaccine (IPV).
was detected on 13th January 2011.
Key Points
Polio
¾ In the last three decades, the Global Polio Eradication
¾ About:
Initiative (GPEI), led by national governments and
the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly viral
monitoring the disease situation globally. infectious disease that affects the nervous system.
¾ As per the WHO, since 1980, the cases of wild There are three individual and immunologically
poliovirus have decreased by over 99.9% as a result distinct wild poliovirus strains:
of vaccination efforts made around the world. z Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)
¾ Polio Eradication: z Wild Poliovirus type 2 (WPV2)
For a country to be declared polio-free, the wild z Wild Poliovirus type 3 (WPV3)
Note:
Symptomatically, all three strains are identical, in
that they cause irreversible paralysis or even death. World Food Day
However, there are genetic and virological
differences, which make these three strains Why in News
separate viruses which must each be eradicated World Food Day is celebrated to commemorate the
individually. establishment of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture
z WPV2 and WPV3 have been eradicated globally Organisation (FAO) on 16th October 1945.
but WPV1 remains in circulation in Afghanistan ¾ The Prime Minister of India released a commemorative
and Pakistan. coin of Rs. 75 denomination to mark the 75 th
WPV2 was eradicated in 1999. Anniversary of the FAO.
z World Polio Day 2019 marked a milestone in ¾ FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations
polio eradication as the independent Global that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis
Eradication (GCC) declared WPV3 to be globally Key Points
eradicated. ¾ About World Food Day:
¾ Spread:
It is observed annually on 16th October to address
The virus is transmitted by person-to-person the problem of global hunger.
mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less It emphasises on the Sustainable Development
frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, Goal 2 (SDG 2) i.e. Zero Hunger.
through contaminated water or food).
Theme for 2020: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.”
It largely affects children under 5 years of age.
z There has been a renewed focus on food,
The virus multiplies in the intestine, from where
nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability
it can invade the nervous system and can cause due to the unprecedented challenges posed by
paralysis. the Covid-19 pandemic.
¾ Symptoms:
¾ 75 Anniversary of FAO:
th
Most people with polio do not feel sick. Some

Over the years, FAO has helped to increase
people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, agricultural production and eradicate hunger all
tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, over the world, including India and has played an
sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, important role in increasing nutrition.
and pain in the arms and legs.
2020’s Nobel Peace Prize to the World Food
In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent
Programme is also a major achievement for the
loss of muscle function (paralysis). FAO as the programme was started by FAO.
Polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing
¾ Indian Context:
are paralysed or if there is an infection of the brain.
FAO has closely watched India’s fight against
¾ Prevention and Cure:
malnutrition in the past decades but its scope
There is no cure, but it can be prevented through had many constraints.
immunisation. z Due to reasons such as pregnancy at a young age,
¾ Vaccines: lack of education and information, inadequate
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): It is given orally as a access to drinking water, lack of cleanliness,
birth dose for institutional deliveries, then primary etc. India is lagging behind in achieving the
three doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks and one booster expected results of “malnutrition free India” by
dose at 16-24 months of age. 2022, envisaged under the National Nutrition
Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV): It is introduced Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan).
as an additional dose along with the 3rd dose of India is thankful to FAO for fully supporting India’s
DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) under proposal to declare 2023 as the International
the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). Year of Millets.
Note:
z The move will encourage intake of nutritious with the government procurement, is an important
food, increase their availability further and part of ensuring the country’s food security.
benefit small and medium farmers who mostly ¾ Development of a large network of Farmer Producer
grow coarse grains on their land where there is Organisations (FPOs).
a problem of water and the land is not so fertile. ¾ Amendments in the Essential Commodities Act,
1955 to deal with the issue of grain wastage in India.
Highlighted Indian Initiatives
¾ Government is making efforts to make India Trans
¾ Eat Right India and Fit India Movement along with
Fat free by 2022, a year ahead of the World Health
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and Organisation (WHO) target, in synergy with the vision
other efforts will improve the health of Indians and of New India @ 75 (75 years of India’s independence).
heal the environment.
Trans Fat is a food toxin present in Partially
¾ Introduction of 17 new biofortified varieties of crops
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVOs) (e.g.
to overcome the shortcomings of the common variety
vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked
of crops which lacks important micronutrients.
and fried foods.
Example: MACS 4028 Wheat, Madhuban Gajar, etc.
It is a major contributor to the rise in non-
¾ Increased ambit and effective implementation of communicable diseases in India and also a
the Food Security Act, 2013. modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases
¾ Amendments to the APMC (agricultural produce market (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially
committee) Acts to make them more competitive. relevant during Covid-19 as people with CVD are
¾ Steps to ensure that farmers get one and a half times predisposed to have serious conditions having
the cost as Minimum Support Price (MSP), which along an impact on mortality.
nnn
Note:
Economic Scenario
Highlights
z GST Compensation: Centre to Borrow on Behalf of States z Economic Performance Comparison Between India and China
z RBI’s Annual Report on State Finances z CPI-IW Base Year Revised to 2016
z Forex Reserves z Multimodal Logistics Park in Assam
z Heeng Cultivation Project in India z Compound Interest Waiver on Moratorium Loans
z Fertiliser Subsidy z World Economic Outlook: IMF
z International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2020 z India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon
z Expansion of Production-Linked Incentive Scheme z Depreciation of Rupee
z Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report z Quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey
z Antitrust Case Against Google: USA
The Centre distinguished the GST shortfall into

GST Compensation: Centre two types:
to Borrow on Behalf of States z Due to GST implementation itself.
z Caused by the impact of Covid-19.
Why in News The Finance Minister termed the fall of GST revenue
due to Covid-19 as an act of God. However, the
Recently, the Centre has decided to borrow an
GST Compensation Act, 2017 did not foresee an
estimated revenue shortfall of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore as loans
to States to meet the Goods and Services Tax (GST) act of God.
shortfall. z The GST Compensation Act, 2017 guaranteed
states that they would be compensated for
Key Points any loss of revenue in the first five years of
¾ Borrowing: GST implementation, until 2022, using a cess
levied on sin and luxury goods.
Theborrowing will not have any impact on the
fiscal deficit of the Government of India as the The Centre has been at loggerheads with many
Centre is acting as mediator only. The Centre is states over the compensation issue due to GST
borrowing the loan and passing that on to the states. shortfall. In August 2020 at GST Council meet,
The amounts will be reflected as the capital
the Centre had proposed two options to states
receipts of the state governments and as part of to meet the shortfall:
financing of its respective fiscal deficits. z A special window could be provided, in
¾ Background: consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),

The economic slowdown had reduced both GST
so that the states can get Rs. 97,000 crore at a
and cess collections in FY 2019-20, resulting in a reasonable rate of interest, the amount can be
40% gap (shortfall) between the compensation repaid after five years (of GST implementation)
paid and cess collected. ending 2022 from cess collection.
The state’s GST revenue gap in 2020-21 is expected z Another option is that this entire gap of Rs. 2.35
to be about Rs. 3 lakh crore, while cess collections lakh crore can be met by the borrowing by the
are only projected to reach Rs. 65,000 crore, leaving states in consultation with RBI.
a shortfall of Rs. 2.35 lakh crore. However, many states were against these two
Note:
options and were planning to move the Supreme

Court over the issue. RBI’s Annual
¾ Benefits: Report on State Finances
The borrowing by the Centre would avoid differential
rates of interest that individual states may be Why in News
charged for their respective State Development
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released
Loans (SDLs) and would be an administratively
its annual report on state finances.
easier arrangement.
The country’s general government debt, which Key Points
includes both the Centre’s and States’ borrowings ¾ Covid-19 Impact: The double whammy (also termed
will not increase due to this step. as scissor effect) of the Covid-19 pandemic, a collapse
The States that get the benefit from the Special in revenue and rise in health-related and other
Window are likely to borrow a considerably lesser costs, is likely to have a significant impact on state
amount from the additional borrowing facility government finances.
of 2% of Gross State Domestic Product under ¾ Fiscal Deficit: As most states presented their budgets
Atmanirbhar Package. before the onset of the pandemic, their budget
z The borrowing limits of state governments was estimates of deficits are unlikely to capture the true
increased from 3% to 5% of GSDP for the year picture of the ongoing fiscal year (2020-21).
2020-21 under Atmanirbhar Package. The average value of gross fiscal deficit to Gross
State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the states which
Goods And Services Tax presented their budget before the outbreak of
¾ GST was introduced through the 101st Constitution the pandemic is 2.4%, while the average for the
Amendment Act, 2016. remaining states that made post-outbreak budget
¾ It is an indirect tax levied on the supply of final presentations is 4.6%.
goods and services. The GST has subsumed indirect This indicates that the gross fiscal deficit of states
taxes like excise duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), service is going to double for the 2020-21 period.
tax, luxury tax etc. z Fiscal Deficit is the difference between the
¾ It is essentially a consumption tax and is levied at total income of the government and its total
the final consumption point. expenditure.
¾ It is levied only on the value addition and is collected ¾ Capital Spending: Capital spending by the states is going
on goods and services at each point of sale in the to be lower than budgeted levels this year. Also, States
supply line. may treat capital expenditure as a residual element.
¾ The GST that a merchant pays to procure goods or Lower spending is a result of states not being able
services (i.e. on inputs) can be set off later against to start a lot of projects due to the lockdown in the
the tax applicable on supply of final goods and first quarter and monsoon in the second quarter.
services. The set off tax is called input tax credit. Capital expenditure undertaken by states is generally
¾ The GST avoids the cascading effect or tax on tax treated as a residual and is prone to adjustment,
which increases the tax burden on the end consumer. conditional upon revenue generation.
¾ Tax Structure under GST: z Capital expenditure is the money spent on
Central GST to cover Excise duty, Service tax etc, the acquisition of assets like land, buildings,
State GST to cover VAT, luxury tax etc. machinery, equipment, as well as investment
Integrated GST to cover inter-state trade.
in shares.
z It accounts for more than 60% of general
z IGST per se is not a tax but a system to
government (centre + states) capital expenditure.
coordinate state and union taxes.
¾ Tax Buoyancy: The implied tax buoyancy for 2020-
It has a 4-tier tax structure for all goods and
21 is higher than budgeted on the basis of 2019-20
services under the slabs- 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.
revised estimates.
Note:
Tax buoyancy is the ratio of change in taxes and z It needs to be noted that most foreign exchange
GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product). Higher tax reserves are held in USDs.
buoyancy implies that tax collection would rise These assets serve many purposes but are most
at a faster pace for the same rise in incomes. significantly held to ensure that the central bank
¾ GST Revenue: States Goods and Service Tax (SGST), has backup funds if the national currency rapidly
the component of the GST, which accrues directly to devalues or becomes altogether insolvent.
the states, would suffer the biggest hit.
India’s Forex Reserves Include
SGST collections fell by 47.2% during the April-
¾ Foreign Currency Assets:
June 2020-21 quarter.
FCA are assets that are valued based on a currency
State receipts will also suffer because of a fall in
other than the country’s own currency.
the divisible pool of the Centre’s tax revenue.
It is the largest component of the forex reserve.
¾ Overall Impact:
It is expressed in dollar terms.
States’ indebtedness is set to rise, and if it is
It includes the effect of appreciation or depreciation
not accompanied by an acceleration in growth,
of non-US units like the Euro, Pound and Yen held
fiscal sustainability will become the casualty, in the forex reserves.
overwhelming the modest gains of the prudence
z Currency appreciation refers to the increase
in recent years.
in value of one currency relative to another in
Due to a surge in contingent liabilities (guarantees),
the forex markets.
state governments may have to put investment
z Currency depreciation is a fall in the value of
projects on hold. a currency in a floating exchange rate system.
To give a boost to aggregate demand, state
z In a floating exchange rate system, market forces
governments are reducing various kinds of (based on demand and supply of a currency)
expenditure. These include deferment and determine the value of a currency.
deduction of salaries and allowances and
¾ Gold
rationalisation of travel and establishment expenses.
¾ Special Drawing Rights:
These are an international reserve asset, created by
Forex Reserves the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1969 to
supplement its member countries’ official reserves.
Why in News It is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF.
Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data,
currencies of IMF members. SDRs can be exchanged
the country’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves touched
for these currencies.
a lifetime high of USD 555.12 billion after it surged by
The value of the SDR is calculated from a weighted
USD 3.615 billion in the week ending on 16th October 2020.
basket of major currencies, including the USD, Euro,
Key Points Japanese Yen, Chinese Yuan, and British Pound.
The interest rate on SDRs or SDRi is the interest
¾ Reason Behind the Increase:
paid to members on their SDR holdings.
The rise in total reserves was due to a sharp
¾ Reserve position with the IMF:
rise in Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), a major
A reserve tranche position implies a portion of the
component of the overall reserves.
required quota of currency each member country
FCA jumped by USD 3.539 billion to USD 512.322
must provide to the IMF that can be utilized for
billion. its own purposes.
¾ Foreign Exchange Reserves: The reserve tranche is basically an emergency
These are assets held on reserve by a central bank account that IMF members can access at any
in foreign currencies, which can include bonds, time without agreeing to conditions or paying a
treasury bills and other government securities. service fee.
Note:
InJune 2020, the IHBT inked a Memorandum of

Heeng Understanding with the agriculture ministry of
Cultivation Project in India Himachal Pradesh to jointly cultivate the heeng.
z The agriculture ministry has identified four
locations in the Lahul-Spiti valley and has
Why in News
distributed heeng seeds to seven farmers in
Scientists at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource the region.
Technology (IHBT), Palampur are on a mission to grow However, the challenge for the scientists is that
heeng (asafoetida) in the Indian Himalayas. heeng seeds remain under a prolonged dormant
¾ IHBT is the only laboratory of the Council of Scientific phase and the rate of seed germination is just 1%.
and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Himachal Pradesh.
Key Points Fertiliser Subsidy

¾ Heeng:
It is a herbaceous plant of the umbelliferae family.
Why in News
It is a perennial plant whose oleo gum resin is The Centre is working on a plan to restrict the number
extracted from its thick roots and rhizome. The of fertiliser bags that individual farmers can buy during
plant stores most of its nutrients inside its deep any cropping season.
fleshy roots.
It is endemic to Iran and Afghanistan, which are
Key Points
also the main global suppliers of it. It is very ¾ Fertiliser Subsidy:
popular in India and is used in cooking. Farmers buy fertilisers at Maximum Retail Prices
Climatic Condition: It thrives in dry and cold desert (MRP) below their normal supply-and-demand-
conditions. The plant can withstand a maximum based market rates or what it costs to produce/
temperature between 35 and 40 degree, whereas import them.
during winters, it can survive in temperatures up z For example, the MRP of neem-coated urea is
to minus 4 degree. fixed by the government at Rs. 5,922.22 per
z Regions with sandy soil, very little moisture tonne, whereas its average cost-plus price
and annual rainfall of not more than 200mm payable to domestic manufacturers and importers
are considered conducive for heeng cultivation. comes to around Rs. 17,000 and Rs. 23,000 per
z During extreme weather, the plant can get tonne, respectively.
dormant. The difference, which varies according to plant-wise
Properties: It has medicinal properties, including production cost and import price, is footed by the
relief for digestive, spasmodic and stomach Centre as subsidy, which goes to the companies.
disorders, asthma and bronchitis. The MRPs of non-urea fertilisers are decontrolled
z The herb is used to help with painful or excessive or fixed by the companies. However, the Centre
bleeding during menstruation and premature pays a flat per-tonne subsidy on these nutrients
labour. to ensure reasonable prices.
¾ India’s Heeng Cultivation Project: z The per-tonne subsidy ranges from Rs. 10,231
Heeng is not cultivated in India. India imports to Rs. 24,000 for different types of fertilisers.
about 1,200 tonnes of raw heeng worth Rs. 600 Decontrolled fertilisers retail way above urea, as
crore from Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. they attract lower subsidy.
In 2017, IHBT approached the National Bureau z In April 2020, the Cabinet Committee on
of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) with an Economic Affairs (CCEA) cut the subsidy for
experimental project idea to cultivate heeng in non-urea fertilisers, which was about 3% lower
the Indian Himalayas. than the previous year.
Note:
¾ Subsidy Mechanism: 20-acre farmer. Those wanting more can well afford
From March 2018, a new direct benefit transfer to pay the unsubsidised rates for the extra bags.
(DBT) system was introduced, wherein subsidy ¾ Other Associated Costs to the Farmers:
payment to the companies would happen only Apart from fertilisers, there are other things for
after actual sales to farmers by retailers. which farmers need to pay like Goods and Service
Each retailer has a point-of-sale (PoS) machine Tax (GST) and other taxes on inputs.
linked to the Department of Fertilisers’ e-Urvarak z It ranges from 12% on tractors, agricultural
DBT portal. Anybody buying subsidised fertilisers implements, pumps and drip/sprinkler irrigation
is required to furnish their Aadhaar or Kisan Credit systems to 18% on crop protection chemicals.
Card (KCC) number. z Fertiliser itself is taxed at 5%.
Only upon the sale getting registered on the
z Excise and value-added tax on diesel.
e-Urvarak platform can a company claim subsidy,
And since there’s no GST on farm produce, farmers
with these being processed on a weekly basis and
cannot claim any input tax credit on their sales,
payments remitted electronically to its bank account.
unlike other businessmen.
¾ Loophole:
Currently, the Centre follows a “no denial” policy
where anybody, non-farmers included, can International Day for the
purchase any quantity of fertilisers through the Eradication of Poverty 2020
PoS machines.
It allows for bulk buying by unintended beneficiaries,
Why in News
who are not genuine or deserving farmers.
Every year 17th October is observed as International
There is a limit of 100 bags that an individual can
Day for the eradication of Poverty.
purchase at one time but it does not stop anyone
¾ Its observance started in 1992 with the adoption of
from buying any number of times.
UN resolution.
¾ Reason Behind the Restriction Plan:
¾ The theme for the year 2020 is “Acting Together to
The main motive is to curb diversion, which is
Achieve Social and Environmental Justice for All”
natural with any under-priced product.
z For example, urea whose basic MRP (excluding Key Points
taxes and neem-coating cost) has been raised
¾ Poverty Trends: More than 90 % countries have
by hardly 11% since April 2010.
reported a dip in per capita income because of
Being super-subsidised, urea is always prone to
Covid-19 and the ensuing economic disruptions.
diversion for non-agricultural use.
More than 115 million new poor have been added
z For example, it is used as a binder by plywood/
to the world, and their spread is universal, from
particle board makers, cheap protein source the rich Europe to the already poor Asia and from
by animal feed manufacturers or adulterant rural to urban areas.
by milk vendors, apart from being smuggled
According to the latest “Poverty and Shared
to Nepal and Bangladesh.
Prosperity Report” by the world bank, the Covid-19
¾ Proposed Measures: pandemic is estimated to push an additional 88
Discussions are going on to cap the total number of million to 115 million people into extreme poverty
subsidised fertiliser bags that any person can buy this year, with the total rising to as many as 150
during an entire Kharif or Rabi cropping season. million by 2021.
z It is expected that it would end even retail- ¾ Beyond Income Poverty: India and Nigeria are two
level diversion and purchases by large buyers countries that host the world’s largest number of poor.
masquerading as farmers. Here, the poor live in very ecologically fragile areas.
A reasonable cap for a total of 100 bags only once This makes poverty not alone an income related
would easily cover the seasonal requirement of a aspect as economists and politicians consider.
Note:
¾ The Ecology of Poverty: contributes at least $ 539 billion directly to the world
In India, the poorest regions are invariably Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
the forested areas of the country in states like Development has come with a heavy cost
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. to the ecology. For instance, the latest the
z Some 275 million people in India depend on Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
forest for subsistence. In the country’s poorest Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
regions, forests provide up to 30 % of their total global assessment reported a decline in nature’s
income. This is more than agriculture and other contributions to people since 1970.
sources of income. z It clearly said that “extraction of provisioning
At the global level, just five countries—India, services has increased, while provision of
Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia and the Democratic regulating and maintenance services has declined”.
Republic of Congo—account for half of the extreme According to a study by the United Nations
poor in the world. Paradoxically, the above five Environment Programme (UNEP) (covering 140
countries, barring Congo, are also witnessing rapid countries), the globally produced capital per head
economic growth. doubled and human capital per head increased
Various estimates say the natural capital accounts by about 13%, but the value of the stock of
for 9 % of wealth globally, but it accounts for 47 % natural capital per head declined by nearly 40%
of the wealth in low income countries. This shows in 1992-2014.
the dependence of people on natural resources It means those who depend on the environment
in developing and poor countries. witnessed a decline in their assets thus triggering
z Poverty and Forest Dependence: poverty.
A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
study shows that more than a billion people
are forest-dependent, and most of them are
Expansion of Production-
below the poverty line. Most of them are in Linked Incentive Scheme
Africa and Asia.
The Geography of Poverty: The more the reliance on Why in News
ecology/nature for survival, higher is the probability
The government will extend the production-linked
to be poor due to modern urban development.
incentive (PLI) scheme to eight more sectors to boost
z Regional Shift: In 1990, half of the world’s poor
domestic manufacturing.
lived in East Asia and the Pacific. At present,
sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia host over Key Points
85 % of the poor in the world. Further, 26 of
¾ PLI Scheme is an outcome- and output-oriented
the world’s 27 poorest countries are in sub-
scheme where incentives will be paid only if the
Saharan Africa.
manufacturers make the goods.
In these regions, three-fourths of the total
¾ This scheme will give cash incentives for five to seven
poor live in rural areas.
years and all the sunrise and important sectors are
1. These places have a highly degraded
proposed to be covered in this.
ecology(due to increasing exploitation
The sectors may be automobile, networking
of natural resources for development).
Most of the poor depend on natural products, food processing, advanced chemistry
resources like land, forests and livestock and solar PV manufacturing.
for survival. So, for them, the economy ¾ Need:
is all about ecology. Degradation of the Sunrise sectors are promising sectors but they
ecology, thus, leads to poverty. may need support in the initial stage.
¾ Ecology and Entitlement: According to the International Export base can be developed in sectors under
Union of Forest Research Organizations, forestry PLI scheme.
Note:
There is a growing demand in the world for In 2019, total global wealth rose by USD 36.3 trillion
diversification in supply chains and India can and wealth per adult reached USD 77,309, which
become a major player. is 8.5% more when compared to 2018.
¾ With the view to make India a manufacturing hub, z As a consequence, the world has been better
the government launched the PLI scheme for mobile placed to absorb any losses from Covid-19
phones (electronic manufacturing) and it was extended during 2020.
to pharma products and medical equipment sectors. However, total household wealth dropped by
USD 17.5 trillion between January and March
PLI Scheme for Large 2020, a 4.4% decrease compared to the value at
Scale Electronics Manufacturing the end of 2019.
¾ The scheme proposes a financial incentive to boost z Asia Pacific is the highest contributor of
domestic manufacturing and attract large investments household wealth.
in the electronics value chain including electronic Female workers have suffered disproportionately,
components and semiconductor packaging. partly because of their high representation in
¾ Under the scheme, electronics manufacturing compa- businesses and industries such as restaurants,
nies will get an incentive of 4 to 6% on incremental hotels, personal service and retail that have been
sales (over base year) of goods manufactured in badly affected by the pandemic.
India for a period of next 5 years. ¾ Indian Scenario:
¾ The scheme shall only be applicable for target Household wealth in India is dominated by property
segments namely mobile phones and specified and other real assets, although financial assets
electronic components. have grown over time, now forming 22% of gross
¾ The government estimates that with the PLI scheme, assets.
domestic value addition for mobile phones is expected z Stocks, bonds, bank deposits are some examples
to rise to 35-40% by 2025 from the current level of of financial assets.
20-25% and generate additional 8 lakh jobs, both The average wealth of Indian adults rose marginally
direct and indirect. to USD 17,420 at end-June 2020, as against USD
¾ The production of mobile phones in the country has 17,300 as of December 2019, showing some growth
surged eight-times in the last four years from around despite the Covid pandemic and lockdowns.
Rs. 18,900 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 1.7 lakh crore in Wealth inequality remains quite high in India.
2018-19.
z There is considerable poverty reflected in the
fact that 73% of the adult population had
Credit Suisse wealth below USD 10,000 at the end of 2019.
Global Wealth Report z At the other extreme, a small fraction of the
population (2.3% of adults) had a net worth
over USD 1,00,000.
Why in News
With 4,593 ultra-high-net-worth individuals
Recently, Credit Suisse has released the Global in the country as of end-2019, India came in
Wealth Report 2020. fourth after the USA, China and Germany.
¾ Credit Suisse is a financial services company based Between January and April 2020, unemployment
in Switzerland. rates approximately tripled in India to 24%.
¾ The Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report provides the
most comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of Challenges Related to Wealth Inequality in India
information on household wealth worldwide. ¾ Distinguishing Poor and Non-poor: In developing
countries such as India, despite having hundreds of
Key Points pro-poor schemes, the biggest question is whether
¾ Global Scenario: such benefit is reaching the poor.
Note:
The real challenge is in distinguishing the poor Challenges contracts that Google has with
from non-poor, particularly when such data are smartphone makers that use Google’s Android
questionable. operating system, requiring them to install its
¾ Low Government Spending: The government spending search engine as the default.
on health, education and social protection in the All this stifles competition and innovation from
country is low and more often than not, subsidises smaller upstart rivals to Google and harms
the private sector. consumers by reducing the quality of search and
¾ Impact on Women: The burden of inequality continues limiting privacy protections and alternative search
to be borne by India’s women, they continue to be options.
tasked with bearing the burden of care work, thus z Many countries have broad laws that protect
withholding their entry into the labour force. consumers and regulate how companies operate
¾ Impact on Vulnerables: While traditionally vulnerable their businesses. The goal of these laws is
communities, such as the Scheduled Castes and to provide an equal playing field for similar
Scheduled Tribes, are catching up with the rest of businesses that operate in a specific industry
society in primary education, they are falling further while preventing them from gaining too much
behind when it comes to advanced (12 years or more) power over their competition. These are called
education. antitrust laws.
Most now have access to mobiles but few have Investigated Google’s behavior and acquisitions
computers. And too many people are still just one in the overall market for digital advertising, which
illness away from poverty, as per the UNDP’s 2019 includes search, web display and video ads.
Human Development Report (HDR). z Online advertising was the source of virtually
¾ Climate change will only exacerbate the inequality. all of Alphabet’s USD 34 billion in profit last
year. Alphabet Inc. is Google’s parent company.
Most of Google’s services are offered for free in
Antitrust Case exchange for personal information that helps it
Against Google: USA sell its ads.
z Goods that are free to consumers are not
Why in News exempt from antitrust oversight.
Recently, the US Justice Department has sued Google, z In the landmark Microsoft case of the late
accusing the company of illegally abusing its dominance 1990s, the software giant bundled its web
in internet search in ways that harm competitors and browser for free into its dominant Windows
consumers. operating system.
z Microsoft lost because, using restrictive
¾ The lawsuit (or antitrust action against the company)
comes after a report by the US House of Representatives contracts, it bullied personal computer makers
panel that found Google and three other tech giants and others to try to prevent them from offering
-- Facebook Inc, Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc — competing web browser software — competition
all abused their power as gatekeepers in the digital that could have undermined the Windows
economy to thwart competitive threats. monopoly.
¾ Google’s Defense:
Key Points The deals that the Justice Department is citing are
¾ US Government’s Stand: entirely legal. Such company-to-company deals
Google is illegally protecting its dominant position violate antitrust law only if they can be shown to
in the market for search and search advertising with exclude competition.
the deals it has struck with companies like Apple. z Users can freely switch to other search engines,
z Google pays Apple billions of dollars a year to like Microsoft’s Bing or Yahoo Search, anytime
have its search engine set as the default option they want. Google’s search service is the runaway
on iPhones and other devices. market leader because people prefer it.
Note:
Further,its services have helped hold down the ¾ In the last two years, the CCI has raised issues with
prices of smartphones. Google’s commercial flight search option, its dominant
¾ Report by the US House of Representatives panel: position in the search marketplace, the abuse of its
Big Tech Companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon
dominant position in the Android phone and smart
and Apple act as a “gatekeeper”, i.e. can control television market, and others.
access to information. In 2019, for example, CCI had held Google
guilty of misuse of its dominant position in the
z Gatekeepers can also decide whether a message
mobile Android market and said the company
will be spread to a wider audience.
had imposed “unfair conditions” on device
These companies not only wield tremendous
manufacturers to prevent them from using other
power, but also abuse it by charging exorbitant operating systems.
fees, imposing oppressive contract terms, and
¾ Recently, Google has also been accused of following
extracting valuable data from the people and
a high and unfair commission mechanism for apps
businesses that rely on them.
listed on its Play Store.
Companies ran the marketplace for their respective
domains, while also competing in it and to ensure Antitrust Laws
they retain the number one position, the companies ¾ Antitrust laws are regulations that monitor the
have restored to “self-preferencing, predatory distribution of economic power in business, making
pricing, or exclusionary conduct”. sure that healthy competition is allowed to flourish
z Self-preferencing involves actions by an and economies can grow.
undertaking which are designed to favour ¾ Antitrust laws apply to nearly all industries and
its own products or services over those of its sectors, touching every level of business, including
competitors. manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and
z Predatory pricing is an act of setting prices low marketing.
in an attempt to eliminate the competition. ¾ These prohibit a number of business practices
z Exclusionary conduct is a conduct that creates
that restrain trade. Examples of illegal practices
or maintains monopoly power by disadvantaging are price-fixing conspiracies, corporate mergers
and harming competitors. that are likely to cut back the competitive fervor
of certain markets, and predatory acts designed to
¾ Significance:
gain or hold on to monopoly power.
The step is a response to the policy question of
¾ In India, competition policy has been implemented
what measures, if any, should be taken to curb
via the Competition Act, 2002 which alongwith its
today’s tech giants, which hold the power to shape
amendment, establishes a Competition Commission
markets, communication and even public opinion.
of India to prevent anti-competitive practices,
The US Justice Department has come up with the promote and sustain competition, protect the
possibility of structurally breaking up Google, interests of the consumers and ensure freedom of
and not just imposing conditions on its behavior trade in the markets in India.
as has happened in Europe.
z Critics contend that multibillion-dollar fines and
mandated changes in Google’s practices imposed
Economic Performance
by European regulators in recent years weren’t Comparison Between
severe enough and that structural changes are
needed for Google to change its conduct. India and China
Scenario in India Why in News
¾ Various antitrust probes are going on against Google Recently, the September 2020 Centre for Monitoring
in India. Google has had run-ins with regulators, Indian Economy (CMIE) data has been released which
especially the Competition Commission of India (CCI). highlighted paradoxes in the economic recovery after
Note:
the lockdowns in India. As per the data, China has Another unexpected development is evident in
recorded growth for the consecutive third quarter (July- the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s latest consumer
September 2020). confidence survey.
¾ CMIE is a leading business information company. It z The central bank’s ‘current situation index’
was established in 1976, primarily as an independent fell to an all-time low in September 2020 even
think tank. as its ‘forward-looking surveys’ show that
consumer confidence for the year 2020-21
Key Points has improved.
¾ Employment: Current situation index is a sub-index that
The CMIE data shows that there is a revival in measures overall consumer sentiment
employment amid a fall in labour force participation. regarding the present economic situation.
z The labour force participation rate (LFPR) is z So even as the current situation of households
defined as the percentage of persons in the has been progressively worsening, the survey
labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available points to households reporting better prospects
for work) in the population. for the future.
However, when more people find jobs a greater
¾ Growth:
number should have come in looking for jobs According to the recent International Monetary
normally. Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO)

The unusual trend can be explained by a rural-urban
report, Indian economy is going to be the worst
disaggregation of the data. Rural India is seeing affected among the comparative countries like
an increase in jobs due to post-harvest activity China, USA, Pakistan and Brazil.
whereas employment in urban India is decreasing. India is not only going to be worst-affected in the
Also, better quality and higher-paying jobs in urban

short term but also in the medium term.
areas are being lost and substituted by lower-paid The IMF has also doubled the rate of Gross Domestic
rural jobs. Production (GDP) contraction for India. However,

globally the growth has become better.
This phenomenon points to the fact that a reversal
of migration back to the cities is not happening ¾ China’s Economic Performance:
to the extent that it should have. China’s economic growth continued to gain
¾ Inflation: momentum in the third quarter, with the GDP

expanding 4.9% from a year earlier in the July-
The supply-side shock due to lockdown has led to
September 2020 period.
an increase in headline inflation mainly driven by
China is witnessing an increase in tourism, growth
an increase in food prices.
in industrial production and exports that has
z Headline inflation is a measure of the total infla-
generated revenue and jobs for millions of Chinese
tion within an economy, including commodities
people. However, consumption is yet to regain its
such as food and energy prices.
normal pace in China.
However, the unexpected trend is the rise in core
The IMF has forecasted that China’s economy
inflation i.e. non-food, non-fuel inflation, that too
will expand by 1.9% in 2020, making it the only
during a period when growth is set to register a
major economy to register growth in the pandemic-
record contraction. hit year.
z Core inflation is the change in the costs of goods
The economic rebound follows China’s broad
and services but does not include those from return to normalcy in early months of 2020,
the food and energy sectors. following sweeping Covid-19 curbs including
Ideally, the collapse in demand due to lockdown stringent lockdowns, extensive contact tracing,
should have triggered a drop in core inflation. and restrictions on international travel through
¾ Consumer Confidence: the first half of the year.
Note:
¾ The Labour Bureau is also working towards revising
CPI-IW Base the index every five years.
Year Revised to 2016 ¾ Effect:
The new series would not have an immediate
impact on the dearness allowance (DA) as the
Why in News
government has frozen their biannual hike since
Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment January 2020 to offset the financial implications
has released the new series of the Consumer Price Index on the exchequer during the pandemic.
for Industrial Worker (CPI-IW) with the base year 2016. z The DA, a component of salary, is revised every
¾ The new series has replaced the existing series with six months to keep pace with the inflation rate.
the base year 2001. z For private-sector workers, the central
¾ Earlier, the series was revised from 1944 to 1949; government and most states increase the
1949 to 1960; 1960 to 1982 and 1982 to 2001. variable DA component of minimum wages twice
a year based on the CPI-IW inflation numbers.
Key Points However, the change in base year will certainly
¾ The new series covers the latest consumption pattern have an effect on DA calculation by June 2021,
of the target population. when the freezing on DA will come to end.
¾ It gives more weightage to spending on health,
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Worker
education, recreation and other miscellaneous
¾ CPI-IW is mainly used for determining dearness
expenses while reducing the weight of food and
allowance (DA) paid to central/state government
beverages. employees and workers in the industrial sectors
The weight of spending on housing and clothing besides measuring inflation in retail prices, fixation
increased from 15.2% to 17%. and revision of minimum wages in scheduled
The weight of miscellaneous items, like education employments.
and health, rose to 30.31% from 23.26%. ¾ CPI-IW is compiled and maintained by the Labour
The weight of food and beverage was reduced Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry of Labour
from 46.2% to 39% and indicates an increase in and Employment.
disposable income. Consumer Price Index
¾ The number of markets and the sample size for ¾ It measures price changes from the perspective
working-class family income and expenditure surveys of a retail buyer. It is released by the National
has increased. Statistical Office (NSO).
The sample size was increased from 41,040 families ¾ CPI calculates the difference in the price of
to 48,384, also the number of selected markets commodities and services such as food, medical
for collecting retail price data was increased from care, education, electronics, etc, which Indian
289 to 317. consumers buy for use.
¾ The number of items in the index basket has increased ¾ It has several sub-groups including food and
to 463 items as against 392 items in the 2001 series. beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing,
bedding and footwear.
¾ At present, India has five consumer price indexes,
three of which are working-class specific. These are:
CPI for Industrial Workers (IW).
CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).
CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).
z These three indexes are compiled by the

Labour Bureau.
Note:
z CPIs AL and RL are used to fix minimum wages

z India will be able to establish trade with
of agricultural labourers and rural unskilled Bangladesh through the Jogighopa waterway
employees. terminal
It will have all the facilities like warehouses, railway
z The Labour Bureau is also expected to bring
out the new series of the CPI-AL/RL, which siding, cold storage, custom clearance house, yard
currently has the base year of 1986-87 by facility, workshops, petrol pumps, truck parking,
August 2021. administrative building, boarding lodging, eating
joints, water treatment plant, etc.
The other two are CPI-Urban and CPI Rural.
The park will reduce trade cost by 10% and have
z These two indexes are compiled by the NSO
cargo capacity of 13 million metric tons (MMT)
in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
per year.
Implementation.
It will serve as a growth engine for the economic
z The combined rise in retail prices is captured
development of the state and the north-east and
by CPI Combined.
provide direct/indirect employment to nearly 20
¾ A committee set up by the National Statistical lakh people.
Commission (NSC) in 2005, under the recommendation ¾ Background:
of Dr C Rangarajan Commission, has suggested that
Logistics Sector: According to the Asian Development
CPI-Rural and CPI-Urban could be a substitute for
Bank (ADB), logistics in India is expected to be a
CPI-AL/RL and CPI-IW, respectively.
USD 215 billion industry in 2020.
z It is projected to expand through 2032 at a
Multimodal rate that is roughly 1.2 times the growth rate
of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) and
Logistics Park in Assam generate USD 360 billion in value added.
Infrastructure Status: Logistics has been accorded
Why in News “infrastructure” status in 2017, facilitating the
Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and availability of debt on easier terms and access to
Highways has laid the foundation stone for the country’s external commercial borrowings, longer tenor
first Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jogighopa in funds from insurance companies, and pension
Assam. funds, as well as investment support.
Challenges:
Key Points
z At 13%-14% of India’s GDP, logistics costs are
¾ About the Park: far higher than the benchmark of 7%–8%.
These are being developed under the Bharatmala z India ranked 44th in the World Bank Logistics
Pariyojana of the Government of India. Performance Index 2018, which measures
z Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella programme performance based on six metrics viz. customs,
for the highways sector envisaged by the Ministry infrastructure, international shipments, logistics
of Road Transport and Highways. competence, tracking and tracing, and timeliness.
z In order to reduce congestion on proposed In India, each segment of logistics encounters
economic corridors, enhance logistic efficiency significant challenges leading to high cost
and reduce logistics costs of freight movements, and low efficiency.
35 locations have been identified for development For example, road freight cost at Rs.1.9 per
of Multimodal Logistics Parks. ton–kilometer is almost double than that in

It will have direct connectivity with National
the USA, while the average speed of freight
Highway 17, the proposed Jogighopa waterway vehicles is about 50%–60% lower.
terminal on Brahmaputra, the newly constructed ¾ Related Government Initiatives:
Rupsi and Guwahati airports as well as the main The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is considering
railway route. replacing the Multi-Modal Transportation of Goods
Note:
Act (MMTG), 1993 with a full-fledged national
logistics law with a view to promote growth in
the sector.
The Logistics Wing within the Department of
Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
placed a draft of the National Logistics Policy in
public domain in February 2019.
z Objective: To bring down logistics cost as a
percentage of GDP to about 10%, optimise the
modal mix (25%-30% share of road, 50%-55%
railways, and 20%-25% waterways), improving last
mile connectivity, and enhance the logistics value
chain through digitisation, standardisation, and
modernisation of warehousing among others.
The development of MMLPs at strategic locations is
envisaged as a key policy measure to rationalise cost z Ex-gratia payment is the money which is paid
of logistics in India and improve its competitiveness. due to moral obligation and not due to legal
z MMLPs serve five key functions: freight
obligation.
aggregation and distribution, multimodal freight z Simple interest is levied only on the principal
transport, integrated storage and warehousing, amount of a loan or deposit. In contrast,

information technology (IT) support, and value- compound interest is levied on the principal
added services. amount and the interest that accumulates on
it in every period.
¾ Eligibility:
Compound Interest The scheme shall be applicable for loans availed
Waiver on Moratorium Loans by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

as well as loans to retail customers for education,
housing, consumer durables, automobiles, provided
Why in News
a borrower has an aggregate outstanding loan of
Recently, the Government of India has announced Rs. 2 crore or less, from all such loans.
the scheme for the waiver of compound interest that z Credit card dues have also been included in
was payable by the borrower who had opted for loan the scheme’s ambit.
moratorium between 1st March 2020 and 31st August 2020.
The loan interest waiver payment shall be
¾ In March 2020, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) admissible, irrespective of whether the borrower
offered a three-month moratorium on loans, enabling had availed the moratorium partly, fully, or not
borrowers to defer repayments on EMIs and other at all.
loans. This was later extended by another three However, this would only be permitted for loan
months, till 31st August 2020. accounts that had not been reported as Non-
¾ These moves were aimed at providing borrowers relief Performing Assets (NPAs) as on 29th February 2020.
amid the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. z A loan is recorded as an NPA 90 days after
repayments become overdue.
Key Points
¾ Effect:
¾ Compound Interest Waiver Scheme: The amount saved through loan interest waiver
Under this, the government will grant eligible will be very small because only the interest that
borrowers ex-gratia payment of the difference would have been charged on the interest of the
between the compound interest and simple interest original loan during the six months moratorium
for the six-month moratorium period. period is waived off.
Note:
In other words, the loan repayment will continue is expected to overtake India in 2020. India is likely
and one will still need to pay the simple interest to grow faster in 2021 and in all likelihood again
that would have paid if not opted for the loan surge ahead.
moratorium. ¾ Per Capita Income Comparison: However, over the
z It is only the compounding interest that goes off. five-year period ending in 2025, Bangladesh’s per
¾ Implementation: capita GDP is expected to grow at a slightly higher
Lenders have been asked to set up a grievance pace, implying that in 2025, its per capita income
redressal mechanism for eligible borrowers under would be USD 2,756, marginally higher than that
the scheme by 30th October 2020. of India’s at USD 2,729.
A mechanism has also been put in place for lenders Given Bangladesh’s lower population growth and
to claim the amount back from the government. faster economic growth, India and Bangladesh
Lenders have to submit claims for reimbursement are likely to be neck and neck for the foreseeable
by 15th December 2020 through a special cell set future in terms of per capita income.
up in the State Bank of India (SBI). ¾ Comparison Method:
Typically, countries are compared on the basis of
World Economic Outlook: IMF GDP growth rate, or on absolute GDP.

However, per capita income also involves another
Why in News variable like the overall population and is arrived at

by dividing the total GDP by the total population.
According to the October update of the World
¾ Major Trends:
Economic Outlook 2020, India’s gross domestic product
(GDP) will witness a contraction of over 10%. For the most part since Bangladesh’s independence,
¾ This is more than the double of 4.5% contraction

on both these counts, India’s economy has been
projected in the April edition. better than Bangladesh’s.
z India’s economy has mostly been over 10
¾ World Economic Outlook is a survey by the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) which is usually published twice times the size of Bangladesh and grown faster
a year in the months of April and October. every year.
In 1991, when India was undergoing a severe
Key Points financial crisis and grew by just above 1%,
¾ Global growth would contract by 4.4% in 2020 and Bangladesh’s per capita GDP surged ahead of
bounce back to 5.2% in 2021. India’s. Since then, India again took the lead.
¾ Indian economy, severely hit by the pandemic, is ¾ There are three reasons why India’s per capita
projected to contract by 10.3% in 2020. income has fallen below Bangladesh in 2020. These
The spread of the Covid-19 and containment
are as below:
measures have severely disrupted supply and Growth Rates: Since 2017 onwards, India’s growth
demand conditions in India. rate has decelerated sharply while Bangladesh’s

¾ However, India is likely to bounce back with an 8.8% has become even faster.
growth rate in 2021, thus regaining the position of z Bangladesh’s economy has been clocking rapid
the fastest-growing emerging economy, surpassing GDP growth rates since 2004. However, this pace
China’s projected growth rate of 8.2%.
Among the major economies, China
is the only country to show a positive
growth rate of 1.9% in 2020.
India-Bangladesh Difference
¾ GDP Comparison: According to the IMF’s
forecasts, Bangladesh’s per capita GDP
Note:
did not alter the relative positions of the two and sanitation in Bangladesh is much lower
economies between 2004 and 2016 because than in India.
India grew even faster than Bangladesh. z On financial inclusion, according to the World
Populations: Over the same period, India’s Bank Global Findex database, the proportion
population grew faster (around 21%) than of dormant bank accounts is quite small when
Bangladesh’s population (just under 18%). compared to India.
z The combined effect of these two factors can z Bangladesh is also far ahead of India in the latest
be seen in how the per capita GDP gap had gender parity rankings. Out of 154 countries
closed considerably even before Covid-19. mapped, Bangladesh is in the top 50 while
z Bangladesh’s per capita GDP was merely half India is at 112.
of India’s in 2007 but this was just before the z Bangladesh with the 75th rank, is ahead of India,
global financial crisis. It was roughly 70% of with 94th rank, in the Global Hunger Index 2020.
India’s in 2014 and this gap closed rapidly in ¾ India’s Better Performance:
the last few years. India’s level of poverty is much lower than that
Impact of Covid-19: The most immediate factor of Bangladesh’s.
was the relative impact of Covid-19 on the two z According to the World Bank, poverty in
economies in 2020. Bangladesh is expected to increase substantially
z While India’s GDP is set to reduce by 10%, in the short term, with the highest impact on
Bangladesh’s is expected to grow by almost 4%. daily and self-employed workers in the non-
¾ Reasons Behind Bangladesh’s Fast Growth: agricultural sector and salaried workers in the
Independence from Pakistan: It gave Bangladesh manufacturing sector.
a chance to start afresh on its economic and India is far ahead of
political identity. Bangladesh in basic
Less Stringent Labour Laws: Labour laws were education parameters
not as stringent and its economy increasingly and that is what explains
involved women in its labour force, seen by the its higher rank in the
higher female participation. Human Development
Role of Garment Industry in Exports: A key driver
Index.
of growth was the garment industry where women India stands at the 63rd
workers gave Bangladesh the edge to corner the rank while Bangladesh
global export markets from which China retreated. is at the 168th rank, out
Industry and Services Led GDP: Structure of of total 190 countries in
Bangladesh’s economy is such that its GDP is led the Ease of Doing Business 2020.
by the industrial sector, followed by the services India is at the 48th position while Bangladesh
sector and both these sectors create a lot of jobs ranked 116th among 131 economies in the Global
and are more remunerative than agriculture. Innovation Index 2020.
z India, on the other hand, has struggled to boost
its industrial sector and has far too many people India-Australia
still dependent on agriculture.
Improved Social and Political Metrics: Over the
Circular Economy Hackathon
past two decades, Bangladesh has improved on
several social and political metrics such as health, Why in News
sanitation, financial inclusion, and women’s political Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in association with
representation. Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
z For example, despite a lower proportion of the Research Organisation (CSIRO), will organise India-
population having access to basic sanitation, Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE), a two-day
the mortality rate attributed to unsafe water hackathon on the circular economy, in December 2020.
Note:
¾ Its idea was conceived during a virtual summit, held ¾ Example: If someone is planning to discard their
between the Prime Ministers of both countries on mobile, it can be given to someone else for Reuse
4th June 2020. instead of throwing it just like that.
Once the mobile reaches its end of life, it can
Key Points be ensured that everything embedded in it like
¾ Focus: Identification and development of innovative aluminium, copper, plastic, etc. should be brought
technological solutions by students, startups and back to production cycle so that the circle of the
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of economy gets completed.
both nations. ¾ Response to the Linear Process: It has come against
¾ Key Themes: and as a response to the linear economy, in which
Innovation in packaging, reducing packaging raw materials are taken from the environment, turned
waste. into new products and then disposed of after use.
Innovation in food supply chains, avoiding waste. ¾ Benefits:
Creating opportunities for plastic waste reduction. For Industry:
Recycling critical energy metals and e-waste.

Circular Economy and India
¾ Selection of Winners: Shortlisted students and startups/
¾ India is already on its path to the circular economy.
MSMEs will be called for the hackathon, where two
Initiatives of the National Productivity Council (NPC)
winners (one student and one startup/MSME) per
and government show that.
theme from each country will be announced at an
NPC is an autonomous organisation under the
award ceremony.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
¾ Prize: Winning teams from both countries will get
Key Initiatives:
cash prizes. The winning Indian student and startup/
MSME will be awarded a prize of Rs. 2 lakh and Rs z Productivity Week 2019’s theme was ‘Circular
5 lakh, respectively, coupled with post-hackathon Economy for Productivity and Sustainability’.
product development opportunities. z Digital India contains a significant component
of the recycling of electronic wastes.
Circular Economy z Swachh Bharat Mission is also about making
¾ Meaning: It is an economy where products are designed wealth out of wastes.
for durability, reuse and recyclability and thus almost ¾ India has a huge potential for reuse and recycling
everything gets reused, remanufactured, and recycled as only around 20% of the total waste generated
into a raw material or used as a source of energy. goes into the recycling process.
¾ Efficient Use of Resources: It includes 3 Rs (Reduce, ¾ The manufacturing sector, especially MSMEs can
Reuse and Recycle), Refurbishment, Recover, and help a lot in the transformation towards a circular
Repairing of materials. economy. The sector should ‘DECIDE’ i.e.
Designing processes for refurbishment and easy
cycling.
Educating masses on Circular Economy and its
benefits.
Collaborative models for smooth implementation
of Circular Economy.
Innovating products for circularity.
Digitisation for transparency, virtualisation, de-

materialisation, and feedback-driven intelligence
for saving resources.
Energy-efficient for environmental sustainability.
Note:
z Fulfils the need for raw materials: The output Appreciation and Depreciation of Currency
produced by industries in a circular economy
¾ In a floating exchange rate system, market forces
comes back to the industries in the form of input.
(based on demand and supply of a currency) determine
z Efficient utilisation of resources: This helps
the value of a currency.
industries in earning cash profits equivalent
¾ Currency Appreciation: It is an increase in the value
to 3-5% of their turnover. Ultimately, Quality,
of one currency in relation to another currency.
Cost, Delivery, and Flexibility (QCDF) and
Currencies appreciate against each other for a
sustainability level of industries get improved.
variety of reasons, including government policy,
For Environment:
interest rates, trade balances and business cycles.
z Problem of disposal of waste gets solved as
Currency appreciation discourages a country’s
waste is converted into raw materials.
export activity as its products and services become
z Solves the problem of air, water and land
costlier to buy.
pollution.
¾ Currency Depreciation: It is a fall in the value of a
For Consumers:
currency in a floating exchange rate system.
z Cost-Effective: Products are more cost-effective
Economic fundamentals, political instability, or risk
for consumers as they tend to be more efficient,
aversion can cause currency depreciation.
besides having a longer shelf life.
Currency depreciation encourages a country’s
¾ Global Response: Germany and Japan have used it
as a binding principle for reorganising its economy, export activity as its products and services become
whereas China even has a law on it (Circular Economy cheaper to buy.
Promotion Law).
Further, the Sustainable Development Goals Quarterly Periodic
(SDGs) adopted by the United Nations Member
States in 2015, include many related ambitions. Labour Force Survey
Depreciation of Rupee Why in News

Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) has
Why in News released the quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS) for October-December 2019.
Recently, the Indian rupee depreciated below the
74 levels against the US dollar. ¾ This dataset differs from the Annual Report of Periodic
Labour Force Survey, which covers both rural and
Key Points urban areas. However, unemployment data for urban
¾ The rupee depreciated by 16 paise to settle against
areas is released quarterly.
the previous low of August 73.87 against the US dollar.
Key Points
¾ The rupee depreciation is on account of global risk
aversion. The investors are preferring a stable US ¾ Unemployment Rate (UR):
dollar over rupee. It eased in urban areas to 7.9% in October-December
Under risk aversion, an investor prefers lower 2019 compared to 9.9% in October-December 2018.
returns with known risks rather than higher returns z However, state-wise data showed that urban
with unknown risks. UR was higher than the national average in
¾ The US dollar is advancing not only against the rupee Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Kerala,
but also against major currencies due to the surging Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi
Covid-19 cases. and Andhra Pradesh.
¾ The escalating Covid-19 cases in Europe has stoked The female UR decreased to 9.8% in October-
fears across markets that fresh lockdowns would December 2019 compared to 12.3% in October-
further hit the already fragile economic recovery. December 2018.
Note:
National Statistical Office days preceding the date of survey, is known as

¾ It is the central statistical agency of the Government, the usual activity status of the person.
mandated under the Statistical Services Act 1980 Current Weekly Status: The activity status
under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme determined on the basis of a reference period of
Implementation. the last 7 days preceding the date of the survey,
¾ It is responsible for the development of arrangements is known as the CWS of the person.
for providing statistical information services to
The male UR moderated to 7.3% in October-
meet the needs of the Government and other users
for information on which to base policy, planning, December 2019 from 9.2% in October-December
monitoring and management decisions. 2018.
The services include collecting, compiling and ¾ Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):
disseminating official statistical information. It rose to 37.2% in October-December 2019 from
All business operations in NSO are done in com- 36.3% in October-December 2018.
pliance with international standards, procedures ¾ Periodic Labour Force Survey:
and best practices.
It is India’s first computer-based survey launched
Unemployment Rate by the NSO in 2017.

¾ It is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed It has been constituted based on the recommendation
among the persons in the labour force. of a committee headed by Amitabh Kundu.
Labour Force Participation Rate PLFS has a two-fold objective:
¾ LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the z To estimate the key employment and unem-
labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for ployment indicators (Worker Population Ratio
work) in the population. (WPR), LFPR, UR) in the short time interval of
three months for the urban areas only in the
Worker Population Ratio
Current Weekly Status (CWS).
¾ It is defined as the percentage of employed persons
in the population. z To estimate employment and unemployment
indicators in both usual status and CWS in both
Activity Status rural and urban areas annually.
¾ The activity status of a person is determined on the
Before PLFS, the NSSO (previous name of NSO)
basis of the activities pursued by the person during
used to bring the data related to employment
the specified reference period.
and unemployment based on its quinquennial
Usual Status: The activity status determined on
(every 5 years) household socio-economic survey
the basis of the reference period of the last 365
programme.
nnn
Note:
International Relations
Highlights
z Geneva Conventions z India Invited to Join the Blue Dot Network
z Uranium Supply From Australia to India z Australia to Join Malabar Exercise
z 65th Anniversary of Bandung Conference: NAM z Second Meeting of India-Central Asia Dialogue
z Pro-Democracy Protests in Thailand z India-USA 2+2 Dialogue 2020
z Israel and Bahrain Diplomatic Ties z Sudan and Israel to Normalise Relations
z Taiwan Insecurity of China z India in Support of France
z G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting z Pakistan on FATF Grey List
z Extending New START Treaty z Chair of ILO Governing Body: India
¾ Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions,

Geneva Conventions covers situations of non-international armed conflicts.
They include traditional civil wars, internal armed
Why in News conflicts that spill over into other States or internal
After the Galwan (India-China) clash in Ladakh in conflicts in which a third State or a multinational force
June 2020, the International Committee for the Red Cross intervenes alongside the government.
(ICRC) urged both the Indian and Chinese governments ¾ Two Protocols of 1977: Additional to the four 1949
that they observe the Geneva Conventions to which both Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1977. They
countries are signatories. strengthen the protection of victims of international
(Protocol I) and non-international (Protocol II) armed
Key Points conflicts and place limits on the way wars are fought.
¾ The Geneva Conventions (1949) and their Additional ¾ In 2005, a third Additional Protocol was adopted
Protocols are international treaties that contain creating an additional emblem, the Red Crystal, which
the most important rules limiting the barbarity of has the same international status as the Red Cross
war. and Red Crescent emblems.
¾ They protect people who do not take part in the ¾ The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),
fighting (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those who an international humanitarian organisation, has the
can no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked mandate to monitor that signatories follow the rules
troops, prisoners of war). in situations of conflict.
The first Geneva Convention protects wounded Established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide,
and sick soldiers on land during war. helping people affected by conflict and armed
The second Geneva Convention protects wounded, violence and promoting the laws that protect
sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea victims of war.
during war. An independent and neutral organization, based
The third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners in Geneva, Switzerland.

of war. The ICRC is funded mainly by voluntary donations
The fourth Geneva Convention affords protection from governments and from National Red Cross
to civilians, including in occupied territory. and Red Crescent Societies.
Note:
Non-Proliferation Treaty
Uranium Supply ¾ The NPT is an international treaty whose objective is to
From Australia to India prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons
technology, to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear
Why in News energy, and to further the goal of disarmament.
¾ The treaty was signed in 1968 and entered into
Recently, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
force in 1970. Presently, it has 190 member states.
has turned down the offers submitted by the two
¾ It requires countries to give up any present or
Australian companies for commencing supply of uranium
future plans to build nuclear weapons in return
ore to India citing lack of viability of the proposals.
for access to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Key Points ¾ It represents the only binding commitment in a
multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by
¾ India-Australia ties have been on an upswing since
the nuclear-weapon States.
2012, when the Australian government decided to sell
Nuclear-weapon states parties under the NPT
uranium to India despite India not being a signatory
are defined as those that manufactured and
to the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear
¾ The above decision was formalised by way of a explosive devices before 1st January 1967.
bilateral agreement in 2014 known as Cooperation
in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. India’s Stand on NPT
¾ India is one of the five countries that have not
¾ The uranium imports from Australia were to be used
signed the NPT, the others include Pakistan, Israel,
to meet fuel requirements of Indian nuclear reactors
North Korea, and South Sudan.
that are under International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) safeguards. ¾ India always considered the NPT as discriminatory
and had refused to sign it.
¾ However, the progress on uranium supply has been
¾ India has opposed the international treaties aimed
very low, despite efforts from both sides. In 2017,
at non-proliferation since they were selectively
Australia had sent its first uranium shipment to India
applicable to the non-nuclear powers and legitimised
but that was cited as “a small sample of uranium”
the monopoly of the five nuclear weapons powers.
transferred “purely for testing purposes”.
¾ India believes that nuclear disarmament can
India’s Civil Nuclear Capacity be achieved through a step-by-step process
underwritten by a universal commitment and an
¾ India has 22 reactors with an installed capacity of
agreed multilateral framework after meaningful
6,780 megawatt. Of these, eight reactors are fuelled
dialogues among all States possessing nuclear
by indigenous uranium while the remaining 14 are weapons, for building trust and confidence.
under IAEA safeguards and qualify to use imported
uranium.
¾ India was required to bring 14 reactors under IAEA 65th Anniversary of
safeguards in a phased manner under the separation Bandung Conference: NAM
plan announced by India in 2006, which was negotiated
after the 2005 nuclear deal with the USA. Why in News
¾ Currently, India imports uranium fuel from Russia,
The year 2020 marks the 65th anniversary of the
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, France and Canada. landmark Bandung Conference that resulted in the
Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of adoption of the founding principles of the Non-Aligned
uranium. Movement (NAM).
¾ A steady supply of uranium is expected to boost the ¾ The basic concept for NAM originated in 1955 during
performance of Indian nuclear power plants, as well discussions that took place at the Asia-Africa Bandung
as of several fuel cycle facilities. Conference held in Indonesia.
Note:
Key Points Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Kwame Nkrumah of
Ghana, and Sukarno of Indonesia.
¾ The milestone of the 65 anniversary is a good time
th
to reflect upon the philosophy behind the movement. ¾ Purpose:

The purpose of the organisation was enumerated
¾ India reiterated that NAM never was and can never be
a platform for pursuits that undermine the territorial in the Havana Declaration of 1979 to ensure “the
integrity of a State by another State. national independence, sovereignty, territorial
integrity and security of non-aligned countries”
India will deploy her rich developmental experience
in their struggle against imperialism, colonialism,
for the peace and welfare of humanity, treating
neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign
the world as one family.
subjugation.
¾ India also emphasized that in order to make NAM a
¾ Members and Observers:
relevant entity in the global decision making process,
It has 120 members as of April 2018 comprising 53
its members must avoid raising issues that divide
the forum. countries from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin
America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe.
¾ Covid-19 is a reminder of the interconnectedness
There are 17 countries and 10 international
and dependence of NAM members on each other.
organisations that are Observers at NAM.
Members must work to reduce the socio-economic
¾ Headquarters:
impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable
NAM does not have a formal constitution or
sections of society. NAM’s unique tradition of
promoting South-South cooperation can provide a permanent secretariat, and its administration is
way out as societies look to rebuild and regenerate non-hierarchical and rotational.
in the wake of this crisis. Decisions are made by consensus, which requires
¾ Apart from the global pandemic, terrorism, climate substantial agreement, but not unanimity.
change, cybersecurity threats and the uneven impact
of frontier technologies (Artificial Intelligence, robotics, Pro-Democracy
Internet of Things, etc.) and development concerns
are few other challenges which can only be tackled Protests in Thailand
if all the members work together.
¾ The strength of the NAM lies in its diversity, its Why in News
shared developmental experience, and its youthful Recently, Thailand’s government has banned
populations. gatherings of more than five people in the face of three
months of escalating demonstrations that have targeted
Non-Aligned Movement the King as well as the Prime Minister.
¾ Background:
It was formed during the Cold War as an organisation
Key Points
of States that did not seek to formally align ¾ Initially, the government allowed peaceful and lawful
themselves with either the USA (Capitalism) or protests but now stringent control has been ensured,
the Soviet Union (Socialism) but sought to remain due to anarchy in protests.
independent or neutral. ¾ Background:
¾ Foundation: 2014: The roots of the current discontentment
Six years after the Bandung Conference, the go back to the
Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was 2014 coup which
founded on a wider geographical basis at the First brought the junta
Summit Conference of Belgrade, which was held (military dictator-
in September 1961. ship) in power
It was held under the leadership of Josip Broz which tightened
Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, its grip on power
Note:
and introduced more and more restrictions on expressing his political views, and safeguards
the public. to prevent him from endorsing future coups.
2017: In 2017, the military introduced a new z Some protesters want to reverse a 2017 increase
Constitution, which allowed the military to appoint in the king’s constitutional powers, made the
a 250-member Senate that would play a role in year after he succeeded his widely revered late
selecting the Prime Minister. father King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
2019: The country held the delayed Parliamentary Lese Majeste Laws:
election in 2019, which was seen as a mere exercise z Protesters also seek the scrapping of lese
to transfer power from the junta to an elected majeste laws.
government. z The monarchy is protected by Section 112 of
¾ Role of Monarchy: Thailand’s royal family has the Penal Code, which says whoever defames,
considerable influence over the country’s political insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-
system and is revered by citizens. apparent or regent shall be jailed for three to
Many, particularly young Thais, have increasingly 15 years.
started questioning the monarchy’s role, privileges, z This law has remained virtually unchanged since
and the power it has exerted in the country for the creation of the country’s first criminal code
years. in 1908, although the penalty was toughened
¾ Latest Cause: Anti-government protests emerged in in 1976.
2019 after courts banned the most vocal opposition Upholding Democracy:
party. z Pro-democracy activists say that Thailand is
This political party was relatively new and had backtracking on the constitutional monarchy
been formed in 2018, with the goals to restrain the established when absolute royal rule ended
military’s powers and interference in the political in 1932.
spectrum and to tackle social and economic z Also, the monarchy is too close to the army and
inequality in the country. argue that this has undermined democracy.
¾ About the Protest: Other Demands:
Most of the protestors are students and young
z The students have also called for the Prime
people in their 20s without an overall leader. Minister’s resignation; a new Constitution;
Key Groups: fresh, free and fair elections; and an end to
z The Free Youth Movement, which was behind attacks on dissidents and opposition parties
the first major protest in July. such as the Future Forward Party.
z The United Front of Thammasat and
Demonstration, a student group from Bangkok’s Israel and
Thammasat University, which has championed
calls for monarchy reform. Bahrain Diplomatic Ties
z The Bad Student Movement of high-schoolers,
which seeks education reform. Why in News
¾ Demands Raised: Bahrain and Israel are signing a joint communique
Reforms to the Monarchy: on the establishment of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly
z Students submitted 10 demands to the relations, as well as a number of memorandums of
government, asking for a separation of the understanding in areas of mutual benefit.
King’s assets and the Crown Property Bureau
(quasi-government institution to manage the Key Points
monarch’s property in Thailand). ¾ Bahrain has a history of open politics and civil society
z They also wanted to cut the Palace’s share in movements, although rights have been curtailed in
the national budget, a ban on the King from the past decade.
Note:
z For Palestinians, who long have relied on Arab
backing in their struggle for independence, the
announcement marked both a win and setback
for the Israel-Palestine relations.
While the deal halts Israeli annexation plans
of the west Bank, the Palestinians have
repeatedly urged Arab governments not to
normalize relations with Israel until a peace
agreement establishing an independent
Palestinian state is reached.
Shia-Sunni rifts in the region may get wide and
violent.
z Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (representing Shia)
have a long history of enmity. For decades, one
¾ The decision to normalise ties comes from the belief
of the main sources of instability in West Asia has
in the values of tolerance in a region whose people been the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
have suffered from wars and conflicts.
z The Sunni-Shiite schism may also provoke
¾ The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain became only
violence between Muslims in such places as
the third and fourth Arab states to agree to normalise Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia.
ties with Israel, following Israel’s 1979 peace deal with
¾ Indian Interest in West Asia: A peaceful and prosperous
Egypt and a 1994 pact with Jordan.
West Asia is necessary for India. Such deals between
¾ Under the deal, Israel would suspend its plans to
Arab Countries and Israel are having a positive impact
annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. for Indian interests in the region. Also, difficulty in
The West Bank is sandwiched between Israel and balancing Arab countries and Israel will become easy.
Jordan. One of its major cities is Ramallah, the de Indian interests include:
facto administrative capital of Palestine. Geopolitical: West Asia occupies an important
Israel took control of it in the Six-day Arab-Israeli position in international relations due to its
war, 1967 and has over the years established geographical location and proximity to continents
settlements there. and countries South Asia, China, Central Asia,
¾ Impact on the USA: Europe, and Africa.
This is the second deal in 2020 after the Israel-UAE Energy: The region is strategically significant due
Peace Deal brokered by the USA. The recognition to its enormous energy resources, trade route
grants a diplomatic win to the USA President links to different parts of the world.
Donald Trump ahead of the Presidential election. It is the world’s largest oil-producing region
The deal buys UAE a lot of goodwill in the US, where accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of
its image has been tarnished by its involvement crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.
in the Yemen war. Diaspora: Indian expatriates have constituted a
¾ Saudi Arabia made clear that it will not normalise ties substantial share of the regional labour market.
without a resolution to the Palestinian issue despite z Remittances from the region constitute a major
signs of rapprochement. chunk of total remittances to India.
¾ Concerns:
For Palestine:
Taiwan Insecurity of China
z The Palestinians have not embraced the
USA’s vision. 86% of Palestinians believed the
normalization agreements with the UAE and Why in News
Bahrain served only Israel’s interests and not Recently, China has objected to any official exchanges
their own. between India and Taiwan.
Note:
Key Points Taiwan. At present, about 16 countries worldwide

continue to recognise Taiwan as an independent
¾ Chinese Concern: The statement from China came
state. India is not among the sixteen countries.
in response to reports that India and Taiwan were
considering going forward with talks on a trade deal. Trade & Investment: The economic exchange is
still relatively insignificant. Taiwan’s share of trade
China believes the ‘One-China principle’ is a
with India is around 1% of its global trade.
universal consensus of the international community,
including India. Taiwan
China also objected to the recent campaign (posters ¾ Taiwan - the Republic of China (ROC), home to
and social media) in India wishing Taiwan “Happy twenty-three million people, is an island off the
National Day” (October 10) and referring to it as southern coast of China that has been governed
a “country” or a “nation”. independently from mainland China since 1949.
China is also opposing inclusion of Australia in
the upcoming Malabar naval exercise with India,
Japan and the United States.
¾ India-Taiwan Relations:
India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic
relations. The areas of cooperation between India
and Taiwan have been limited due to negligible
political relations.
From 1995 to 2014, the bilateral trade turnover
has grown manifold from just USD 934 million to
USD 5.91 billion. ¾ Its neighbours include China (officially the People’s
Technology: In the field of science and technology, Republic of China, PRC) to the west, Japan to the
there are more than thirty ongoing government- northeast, and the Philippines to the south.
funded joint research projects. ¾ Taiwan is the most populous state that is not a
z In August 2015, the Taiwan-based Foxconn, member of the United Nations and the largest
one of the largest hardware manufacturers in economy outside the UN.
the world, announced an investment of USD 5 ¾ Taiwan is Asia’s 5th largest economy.
billion in India. ¾ It is a global leader in chip manufacture and the
z India and Taiwan in 2018 signed a bilateral second-largest manufacturer of IT hardware, etc.
investment agreement. India-Taiwan trade ties ¾ China’s Claim: The People’s Republic of China (PRC)
have been expanded and Taiwanese firms are views the island as a province, while in Taiwan—a
prominent investors in India. territory with its own democratically elected
z Taiwan has for long been a world leader in government—leading political voices have differing
high-tech hardware manufacturing, and can views on the island’s status and relations with the
contribute much to the “Make in India”, “Digital mainland.
India” and “Smart Cities” campaigns. China and Taiwan maintain a fragile relationship,
z Taiwan’s agro-technology and food processing which has improved during the past seven years
technology can also be very beneficial for India’s but is periodically tested.
agriculture sector.
Both sides have also expanded educational
G-20 Anti-Corruption
exchanges after a mutual degree recognition
agreement in higher education was signed in 2010. Working Group Meeting
¾ Challenges:
One China policy: India finds it difficult to realise
Why in News
the full potential of its bilateral relationship with Recently, Saudi Arabia hosted the first-ever Ministerial
Note:
Meeting of the G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Though created in 1964, it became an independent
(ACWG) virtually. statutory body in 2003.
¾ Currently, Saudi Arabia holds the presidency of G-20 Its mandate is to oversee the vigilance administration
and is the first Arab nation to do so. and to advise and assist the executive in matters
relating to corruption.
Key Points
¾ Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988:
¾ G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group:
It aims at checking corruption in big places and
Itwas set up in June 2010 at the Toronto striking hard against corporate bribery.
Summit of G-20. The year 2020 marks its 10th
It was amended in 2018 to introduce a number of
anniversary.
new provisions including criminalizing the act of
Objective: To prepare “comprehensive recom-
giving bribes also in addition to taking the bribe
mendations for consideration by leaders on how
and at the same time putting in place an effective
the G20 could continue to make practical and
deterrence for such actions by individuals as well
valuable contributions to international efforts to
combat corruption”. as corporate entities.
ACWG has led the G-20 anti-corruption efforts
¾ Lokpal and Lokayuktas:
coordinating the collective and national actions The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provided
taken by its members. for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and
It actively works with the World Bank Group, Lokayukta for States.
the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and These institutions are operational in the country to
Development (OECD), the United Nations Office bring in more transparency, more citizen-centricity
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International and accountability in governance.
Monetary Fund (IMF), the Financial Action Task ¾ Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018:
Force (FATF), etc.
It empowers authorities for non-conviction based
z The World Bank and the UNODC are also involved
attachments and confiscation of proceeds of
in the ACWG through the active participation and
crime and properties as well as assets of a fugitive
contribution of Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative
economic offender.
(StAR) to its work, which plays an advisory
role on asset recovery, anti-money laundering/ ¾ Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002:
counter-terrorism financing, transparency and Money laundering is the process of making large
beneficial ownership, etc. amounts of money generated by criminal activity,

¾ G-20 on Corruption: such as drug trafficking or terrorist funding, appear
It recognises the negative impact of corruption to have come from a legitimate source.
which, ‘threatens the integrity of markets, The law was enacted to prevent and control money
undermines fair competition, distorts resource laundering, provide for confiscation and seizure of
allocation, destroys public trust, and undermines property obtained from laundered money and to
the rule of law’. deal with any other issue connected with money-
It agreed on the Anti-Corruption Action Plan, 2019- laundering in India.
2021 in Buenos Aires in 2018. In the framework ¾ Other Related Legislation and Moves:
of this action plan, G-20 members look forward to Right to Information Act, 2005.
developing targeted actions where the G-20 can
Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014.
best add value in promoting international efforts
Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 2016.
in the fight against corruption.
Ratification of United Nations Convention Against
Initiatives in India Corruption in 2011.
¾ Central Vigilance Commission: Introduction of e-governance.
Note:
“strategic” weapons covered under New START but

Extending New START Treaty also Russia’s sizable stockpile of smaller, “tactical”
nuclear weapons that fall outside the treaty.
Why in News z Russia rejected the demands, and China has
refused to take part in negotiations.
The Russian President has proposed extending by one
year the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) The USA has agreed to negotiate the extension.
between the USA and Russia expiring in February 2021.

India Invited to
Key Points
¾ The New START Treaty: It is a treaty between the
Join the Blue Dot Network
United States of America and the Russian Federation
Why in News
on measures for the further reduction and limitation
of strategic offensive arms. Recently, a group of the US Senators, in a letter, has
It entered into force on 5th February, 2011.
asked India to join the Blue Dot Network (BDN).
¾ The letter also backed India’s decision to invite
New START has replaced the 1991 START I treaty,
which expired December 2009, and superseded Australia to the annual Malabar naval exercise.
the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty Key Points
(SORT), which terminated when New START
¾ Blue Dot Network:
entered into force.
It was formally announced on 4th November 2019
It is a successor to the START framework of 1991
at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok,
(at the end of the Cold War) that limited both
Thailand. It is led by the USA along with Japan
sides to 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles and
and Australia.
6,000 warheads.
It is a multi-stakeholder initiative to bring together
It continues the bipartisan process of verifiably
governments, the private sector and civil society
reducing the USA and Russian strategic nuclear
to promote high-quality, trusted standards for
arsenals by limiting both sides to 700 strategic
global infrastructure development.
launchers and 1,550 operational warheads.
It is expected to serve as a globally recognised
It will lapse in February 2021 unless extended for
evaluation and certification system for roads, ports
a five-year period. and bridges with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
¾ Recent Proposal: Russia has extended the proposal
It is planned as a direct counter to China’s Belt
along with concerns of lack of interest from the and Road Initiative (BRI).
United States.
z However, unlike the BRI, the BDN would not
In 2019, the United States has also suspended the
offer public funds or loans for the project.
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty (INF
¾ Blue Dot Certification: BDN will serve as a globally
Treaty) with Russia. recognized seal of approval for major infrastructure
z It was a nuclear arms-control accord reached by projects, letting people know that projects are
the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 sustainable and not exploitative.
in which the two nations agreed to eliminate
their stocks of intermediate-range and shorter-
range (or “medium-range”) land-based missiles
Australia to
(which could carry nuclear warheads). Join Malabar Exercise
z The United States withdrew from the Treaty
on 2nd August 2019. Why in News
USA’s Stand: The USA wanted any replacement Recently, Australia has agreed to join the Malabar
treaty should include China and to encompass Exercise on India’s request. The exercise is scheduled to
all of Russia’s nuclear weapons — not just the be held in November 2020.
Note:
Key Points with Australia and Japan and a similar agreement
is under discussion with the USA.
¾ 2020 Malabar Exercise:
z MDA is defined by the International Maritime
The 2020 Exercise is expected to be held in the
Organization as an effective understanding of
Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. In 2019, the
anything associated with the maritime domain
exercise was conducted off the coast of Japan.
that could impact the security, safety, economy,
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the exercise had been
or environment of a country.
planned in a ‘non-contact-at sea’ format.
India and the USA are stepping up efforts to
Objective: To enhance safety and security in the
conclude the Basic Exchange and Cooperation
maritime domain.
Agreement (BECA) ahead of the Indo-US 2+2
¾ Australia’s Inclusion: ministerial meeting in October 2020.
The issue of Australia’s inclusion in Malabar had z BECA, a key military pact, will allow India to use
again come up for discussion at the Quad foreign the USA’s geospatial intelligence and enhance
ministers meet in Tokyo held in October 2020. the accuracy of automated systems and weapons
Thereafter, India invited Australia to join the Exercise. like missiles and armed drones.
z Quad is the informal strategic dialogue between z BECA is one of the four foundational military
India, the USA, Japan and Australia with a shared communication agreements between the two
objective to ensure and support a free, open countries. The other three are:
and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
General Security Of Military Information
The move will bolster the ability of the member
Agreement (GSOMIA).
countries to work together to uphold peace and
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of
stability across the Indo-Pacific region.
Agreement (LEMOA).
It is also expected to further lay the foundations for
Communications and Information Security
the eventual formalisation of the Quad grouping.
Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA).
¾ Background:
Despite regular requests from Australia, India
resisted issuing the invitation due to its concerns
Second Meeting of
that the move would give the appearance of a India-Central Asia Dialogue
‘quadrilateral military alliance’ against China.
z In 2017, Australia had requested for observer Why in News
status in the Malabar Exercise. Recently, India virtually hosted the second meeting
z China has repeatedly expressed strong of the India-Central Asia Dialogue.
opposition to any expansion of the Malabar ¾ The first meeting of the dialogue was held in
Exercise, which it sees as a multilateral naval Samarkand, the Republic of Uzbekistan in January 2019.
construct designed to “counter and contain”
China. Key Points
However, the recent India-China tensions over the ¾ Combat Terrorism: All the nations strongly condemned
situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) may terrorism and reaffirmed their determination to
have brought more flexibility to India’s decision- combat it by destroying terrorist safe-havens, networks,
making process. infrastructure and funding channels.
Japan and the USA have also been pressing India
They also underlined the need for every country
on the matter. to ensure that their territory is not used to launch
¾ Cooperation Between Quad Members: terrorist attacks against other countries.
India and Japan signed a military logistics agreement ¾ Afghan Peace Process: All countries called for the
in September 2020. settlement of the Afghan conflict on the basis of
India has signed maritime information-sharing Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled
agreements for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) peace process.
Note:
¾ Infrastructure: They appreciated India’s efforts to forward development partnership between India
modernise the infrastructure of the Chabahar port and Central Asian countries.
in Iran, which could become an important link in
The group will enable India to expand its
trade and transport communications between the
footprints in the resource-rich region amid an
markets of Central and South Asia.
ongoing standoff with China and to fight terror
¾ Initiatives Announced by India: effectively, including in Afghanistan.
An additional USD 1 billion Line of Credit for the
Central Asian countries.
z It is expected that the money will be spent on
India-USA
major infrastructural and connectivity projects. 2+2 Dialogue 2020
Grant financing for high impact community
development projects in the countries. Why in News
Establishment of working groups by India Central
Recently, India and the USA have concluded the 3rd
Asia Business Council comprising the key chambers
India-USA 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi.
of all participating countries.
¾ The USA reiterated its support to India in defending
z The council was launched by the Government
its territorial sovereignty in the background of the
of India along with the Federation of Indian
ongoing standoff between India-China.
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
¾ It also referred to the greater threats posed by
in February 2020.
China in the Indo-Pacific region and by the Covid-19
z It aims to promote business in the region and
pandemic in general.
to collaborate and provide an industry view to
¾ The first two rounds of these dialogues between both
the governments of the six countries.
the countries were held in 2018 and 2019.
India-Central Asia Dialogue
¾ It is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and Key Points
the Central Asian countries namely Kazakhstan, ¾ India has signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Agreement (BECA) with the USA.
All five nations became independent states after BECA will enable the exchange of geospatial data
the collapse of the USSR in 1991, post-Cold war. and information between the two countries and
¾ All the countries participating in the dialogue, will improve the accuracy of India’s missiles in
except for Turkmenistan, are also members of the precision strikes.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The geospatial maps and charts to be shared, will
be acquired from multiple sources like satellites,
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reconnaissance
aircraft, aerostats among others.
As part of measures to enhance military to military
cooperation, Liaison Officers at each other’s
establishments could be leveraged to enhance
information sharing.
BECA is one of the four foundational military
communication agreements between the two
countries. The other three are:
¾ The dialogue focuses on a number of issues including z General Security Of Military Information
ways to improve connectivity and stabilise war- Agreement.
ravaged Afghanistan.
z Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement.
¾ In the first dialogue, India proposed setting up of
z Communications and Information Security
‘India-Central Asia Development Group’ to take
Memorandum of Agreement.
Note:
¾ Both countries released a Joint Statement on
shared Indo-USA goals in the Asia-Pacific region
and emphasised that the Code of Conduct in the
South China Sea should not prejudice the legitimate
rights and interests of any nation in accordance with
international law.
They also decided to expand joint capacity
building activities with partner countries in the
Indo-Pacific region.
¾ Other Steps Taken:
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
Technical Cooperation in Earth Observations and z Sudan was added to the list in 1993 after it was
Earth Sciences. accused of harbouring groups such as Hezbollah
Agreement to extend the duration of the MoU on and Palestinian militant outfits which the USA
the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership. deems as terrorists.
Agreement on the electronic exchange of customs z As a result, Sudan was cut off from the global
data. economy and was starved of foreign investment

Letter of intent regarding cooperation in traditional
which faced another blow in 2011 when South
Sudan was formed taking away its major oil
Indian medicines.
resources.
Discussions on the status of Afghanistan and
z With its name removed from the list, Sudan will
support for its peace process.
no longer stay deprived of foreign investments.
z Under the deal, Sudan has agreed to pay USD
Sudan and Israel 335 million in compensation to victims of the
Al-Qaeda bombings of USA embassies in Kenya
to Normalise Relations and Tanzania in 1998.
It delivers a foreign policy achievement for Trump
Why in News just days before the USA election.
Recently, in a deal brokered by the USA, Sudan and It boosts Israel’s motive which has made it a priority
Israel have agreed to normalise relations to end decades to forge ties with formerly hostile countries in
of hostility. Africa and the Arab world in the absence of any
progress with the Palestinians.
Key Points z In the initial phase, there will be no exchange
¾ Sudan, which was technically at war with Israel of ambassadors or a mutual establishment
since its foundation in 1948, has now become the of embassies.
third country to forge diplomatic relations with it, z After the six-day war of 1967 war, Arab powers
in recent times. met in Khartoum (Sudan’s capital) to pledge

Earlier, the USA brokered diplomatic pacts between
three “noes” viz. no peace with Israel, no
Israel and the UAE and Bahrain as well, to normalise recognition of Israel, and no negotiations with
Israel. Therefore, the deal holds a symbolic
their relations.
significance for Israel.
¾ Implications:
z Unlike the UAE and Bahrain, which have never
The deal would deepen Sudan’s engagement
fought with Israel, Sudan sent forces to fight
with the West. in the war around Israel’s creation in 1948
The deal follows USA’s conditional agreement and during the war of 1967. In the 1970s,
to remove Sudan from its blacklist of countries Israel backed Sudanese insurgents fighting the
accused of sponsoring terrorism. Khartoum government.
Note:
z With this agreement, Israel will complete the In response, Turkey and Pakistan accused French
creation of a safety cordon in the Red Sea, President of running an anti-Islamic agenda and
which currently includes Egypt, Jordan, South provoking Muslims.
Sudan and Saudi Arabia. z Iran and Saudi Arabia too condemned it and
The deal is also aimed at unifying Arab countries the entire Muslim called for the boycott of
against their common adversary, Iran. French products.
z Though Sudan has been largely marginal to ¾ India’s Support to France:
Middle Eastern politics in recent decades, the India condemned the criticism by Turkey and
normalisation has significant symbolic value. Pakistan and called it violative of the most basic
¾ Global Reaction: standards of international discourse.
Allies of the USA, including Germany, Egypt, the India also condemned the murder of schoolteacher
UAE, Bahrain, have welcomed the deal as a boost as a brutal terrorist attack.
to stability in West Asia. While France has seen repeated violent incidents
Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders have strongly around caricatures and cartoons that are deemed
condemned the deal, echoing their rejection of offensive, it is unusual for India to dive into a
all of the Israel’s normalisation accords. controversy over religion in another country.
India’s support could have been influenced by
India in Support of France the fact that the charge was led by Turkey and
Pakistan, which have repeatedly attacked India
over Jammu and Kashmir and alleged human
Why in News rights violations.
Recently, India has come out in support of France’s
President who has been criticised by Pakistan and Turkey India-France Ties
for strongly defending the French people’s right to ¾ Strategic: India has close strategic ties with France,
freedom of expression. especially on issues of mutual interest from counter-
terrorism to defence, and nuclear to space.
Terror: France backed the India’s proposal for a
global conference on terrorism. Both countries
also support organising a new “No Money for
Terror”, an international conference on fighting
terrorist financing.
z Two countries agreed to enhance their
operational cooperation and launch fresh
efforts to fight radicalisation, especially Online
Radicalisation.
Defence:
z Both countries have a defence dialogue at the

Key Points
Ministerial level.
¾ Background:
z The three defence services have regular exercises:
Condemning the murder of a schoolteacher for
Exercise Shakti (Army).
showing caricatures of the Prophet, the French
President defended the freedom of expression Exercise Varuna (Navy).
and secular values. Exercise Garuda (Air Force).
z A caricature is a picture or description of z In July 2020, the Indian Air Force (IAF) received
somebody that makes his/her appearance or its first batch (5 out of 36) of French Rafale
behaviour funnier and more extreme than it aviation combat aircraft at Ambala Airbase
really is. (Haryana).
Note:
Space: plan items and has largely addressed 21 of 27
z Both countries have decided to deepen space action items.
cooperation to meet new challenges together, Keeping Pakistan on the ‘Grey List’, the FATF strongly
whether it concerns planetary exploration or urged Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action
human spaceflight. plan by February 2021.
z France has agreed to be part of India’s Venus The points on which Pakistan failed to deliver
mission, scheduled for 2025. included its lack of action against the non-profit
z Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) organisations linked to the terror groups banned
Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gases Linker by the UN Security Council (UNSC); and delays in
(VIRAL), a Venus instrument, has been co- the prosecution of banned individuals and entities
developed by Russian and French agencies. like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed and
¾ Multilateral Platform: France has been extremely LeT operations chief, Zaki Ur Rahman Lakhvi, as
supportive of India at the UN Security Council on well as Jaish-e- Mohammad chief Masood Azhar.
Kashmir and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, among z While Saeed was sentenced in February 2020
other issues. to 11 years in prison for terror financing, the
The Prime Minister of India was a special invitee Pakistan government claims that others are
at the 45th G-7 Summit in Biarritz, France where “untraceable”.
India was one of the Goodwill partners. Further, Pakistan was found non-compliant in
¾ Climate: The two countries have close cooperation on cracking down on terror financing through narcotics
climate change, and have formed the International and smuggling of mining products including
Solar Alliance (ISA). precious stones.
The FATF process also showed concern about the
Pakistan on FATF Grey List 4,000 names that were on Pakistan’s Schedule-IV
list under the Anti-Terrorism Act up to January, but
Why in News went missing in September 2020.
¾ Consequences for Pakistan:
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided
z The FATF listing makes it extremely difficult
to keep Pakistan on the “greylist” till the next review of
its compliance to the recommendations in February 2021. for Pakistan to get financial aid from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World
¾ The decision was taken after a three-day virtual
Bank and the European Union.
plenary session.
¾ Response of Different Countries:
Key Points Turkey proposed that the members should
¾ Pakistan Remains on Grey List: consider Pakistan’s good work and instead of
The FATF had issued the 27-point action plan waiting for completion of the remaining six of the
after placing Pakistan on the ‘Grey List’ in June 27 parameters, an FATF on-site team should visit
2018. The action plan pertains to curbing money Pakistan to finalise its assessment.
laundering and terror financing. z On-site teams are permitted only after
Recently, the task force’s International Cooperation

jurisdictions complete their action plans.
Review Group (ICRG) noted that Pakistan had Normally such a visit is a signal for exit from
complied with 21 points. the grey or black list.
When the proposal was placed before the Plenary,
z Since 2007, the ICRG has analysed high-risk
jurisdictions and recommended specific action to no other member seconded the move. It was not
address the money laundering/terror financing supported by even China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
risks emanating from them. ¾ India’s Stand:
At the recent plenary session, the FATF observed Pakistan continues to provide safe havens to
that Pakistan has made progress across all action terrorist entities and individuals and has also not yet
Note:
taken any action against several terrorist entities Key Points

and individuals including those proscribed by the
¾ Labour & Employment Secretary Apurva Chandra has
UNSC, such as Masood Azhar, Dawood Ibrahim,
been elected as the Chairperson of the Governing Body
Zakir-ur-Rahman Lakhvi.
of the ILO for the period October 2020-June 2021.
Financial Action Task Force ¾ The Chairperson of the Governing Body of ILO is a
¾ Formation: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) position of international repute. The Governing Body
is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 (GB) is the apex executive body of the ILO.
during the G7 Summit in Paris. GB meets thrice a year, in March, June and
¾ Objectives: To set standards and promote effective November. It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides
implementation of legal, regulatory and operational the agenda of the International Labour Conference,
measures for combating money laundering, terrorist adopts the draft programme and budget of the
financing and other related threats to the integrity organisation for submission to the conference,
of the international financial system. and elects the Director-General.
¾ Secretariat: Its Secretariat is located at the The broad policies of the ILO are set by the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and International Labour Conference, which meets
Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris. once a year in June, in Geneva, Switzerland.
¾ Member Countries: The FATF currently has 39 ¾ Chandra will be presiding over the upcoming Governing
members including two regional organisations — Body’s meeting, to be held in November 2020.
the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation It will provide a platform to apprise participants
Council. India is a member of the FATF. of the transformational initiative taken by the
¾ Decision Making Body: The FATF Plenary is the government in removing the rigidities of the labour
decision making body of the FATF. It meets three market, besides making intention clear about the
times per year. universalisation of social security to all workers in
¾ Lists under FATF: the organised or unorganised sector.
Grey List: Countries that are considered safe The four codes on wages, industrial relations,
haven for supporting terror funding and money social security and occupational safety, health
laundering are put in the FATF grey list (or and working conditions are expected to improve
‘Jurisdictions under increased monitoring’). This ease of doing business and safeguard the interest
inclusion serves as a warning to the country that of workers.
it may enter the blacklist.
Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative
International Labour Organization
Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the ¾ The only tripartite United Nations (UN) agency, since
blacklist. These countries support terror funding 1919, the ILO brings together governments, employers
and money laundering activities. The FATF revises and workers of 187 member States, to set labour
the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries. standards, develop policies and devise programmes
As of this year, there are only two countries on promoting decent work for all women and men.
the FATF’s black list -- North Korea and Iran. ¾ The ILO became the first specialized agency of the
UN in 1946.
Chair of ILO ¾ The principal means of action in the ILO is the setting
up the International Labour Standards in the form of
Governing Body: India Conventions and Recommendations.
Conventions are international treaties and are
Why in News instruments, which create legally binding obligations
After 35 years, India has assumed the Chairman- on the countries that ratify them.
ship of the Governing Body of International Labour Recommendations are non-binding and set out
Organization (ILO). guidelines orienting national policies and actions.
Note:
¾ It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969. z Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
¾ It releases the annual World Employment and Social z Discrimination (Employment Occupation)
Outlook (WESO) Trends report. Convention (No.111)
¾ India and ILO: z Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
India, a Founding Member of the ILO, has been a z Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)
permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since India has not ratified the two core/fundamental
1922. The first ILO Office in India started in 1928. conventions, namely Freedom of Association and
India has ratified 41 Conventions of the ILO, which Protection of the Right to Organise Convention,
is much better than the position existing in many 1948 (No. 87) and Right to Organise and Collective
other countries. Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).
India has ratified six out of the eight-core/funda- The ILO expressed deep concern at the changes
mental ILO conventions. These conventions are: that many Indian states made to labour laws to
z Forced Labour Convention (No. 29) boost economic activities, which slowed down
z Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105) due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
nnn
Note:
Science and Technology

Highlights
z Saviour Sibling z PLACID Trials
z Atomic Hydrogen Content of Galaxies z Earth Observation Satellite EOS-01: ISRO
z OSIRIS-REx Mission: NASA z Superconductivity at Room Temperature
z COVIRAP: A Quick Covid-19 Test z Computation Analysis of Indian Genes
z Monoclonal Antibodies for Covid-19 z CSIR-CMERI’s Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility
z NAG Missile: Anti Tank Guided Missile
part in the body’s immune response to foreign

Saviour Sibling substances.
z These make up a person’s tissue type, which
Why in News varies from person to person.
Recently, doctors successfully conducted India’s first z HLA typing is important in organ transplantation
‘saviour sibling’ experiment. protocols, as they determine the likelihood of
rejection.
Key Points
¾ The world’s first saviour sibling, Adam Nash, was
¾ ‘Saviour Sibling’ refers to babies that are created born in 2000 in the USA.
to serve an older sibling as a donor of organs, bone
¾ Need: For those families with a child that requires a
marrow or cells.
stem cell transplant, often there is a hurdle of finding
Stem cells from the umbilical cord blood or blood
a donor for the transplant.
of the saviour sibling are used for treatment of
A successful transplant requires an HLA match
serious blood disorders like thalassemia, sickle
between donor and recipient. However, the
cell anaemia.
probability of finding a suitable match among
¾ They are created with In vitro fertilisation (IVF) so that
family members is about 30% overall.
they can undergo pre-implantation genetic diagnosis
¾ Ethical Considerations and Implications: In a 2004
(or testing) to rule out any genetic disorders and also
paper published in the Journal of Medical Ethics,
check bone marrow compatibility.
UK researchers debated whether selecting saviour
Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) refers to
siblings should be banned.
the genetic profiling of embryos. It is used to screen
They studied the arguments to ban it:
embryos for genetic diseases or chromosomal
abnormalities. z That saviour siblings would be wrongfully
From each embryo, PGT takes a biopsy of only a

treated as means rather than ends.
few cells and conducts a genetic analysis. z They would cause or constitute a slide towards
This analysis can search to exclude embryos

designer babies,
carrying a genetic variant that causes a hereditary z They would suffer physically and/or emotionally.
disease, and it can search to find embryos that But the paper found these arguments to be
are an Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) match flawed. It concluded that the selection of saviour
to a sibling. siblings should be permitted, especially given
z HLA is a type of molecule found on the surface of that prohibiting it would result in the preventable
most cells in the body. These play an important deaths of a number of existing children.
Note:
¾ Significance of Discovery:
In vitro Fertilisation
Galaxies in the universe are made up mostly of
¾ IVF is one of the more widely known types of Assisted
Reproductive Technology (ART). gas and stars, with gas being converted into stars
throughout the life of a galaxy.
¾ In vitro comes from the latin word ‘in glass’, i.e.
z Understanding galaxies requires us to determine
studies are done in a test tube rather than in a
human or animal. how the amounts of both gas and stars change
with time.
The opposite to ‘In-vitro’ is ‘In-vivo’, which
The star formation activity in galaxies peaked about
comes from the latin word ‘within the living’.
In vivo refers to experimentation being done in 8-10 billion years ago (galaxy was young) and has
a living organism. been declining steadily till today.
z The cause of this decline was unknown as there
¾ In vitro means outside the body. Fertilization means
the sperm has attached to and entered the egg. had been no information regarding the amount
of atomic hydrogen gas — the primary fuel for
¾ During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved)
star formation — in galaxies in these early times.
from the ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab.
The observed decline in star formation activity
Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos)
are transferred to a uterus. could thus be explained by the exhaustion of the
atomic hydrogen. Given the intense star formation
in these early galaxies, their atomic gas would be
Atomic Hydrogen consumed by star formation in just one or two
billion years.
Content of Galaxies
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
Why in News ¾ GMRT is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic
In a significant discovery, the Pune-based Nationwide radio telescopes of 45 metre diameter. It is operated
Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) and Raman by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of
Analysis Institute (RRI), Bengaluru have used the Giant the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. It is
Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) to measure the an indigenous project.
atomic hydrogen content (of 8 billion years ago) of galaxies ¾ It functions at the metre wavelength part of the radio
when the universe was young. spectrum because man-made radio interference is
¾ This will help in unveiling the reason behind declining considerably lower in this part of the spectrum in
star formation in the Milky Way in the present time. India and there are many outstanding astrophysics
problems which are best studied at metre wavelengths.
Key Points ¾ Detecting the 21 cm signal from the most distant
¾ The Study: For the first time the atomic hydrogen galaxies in the universe was the main science goal
gas content of star forming galaxies for a past date of the GMRT, when it was designed and built by
(about 8 billion years ago) was measured with the a team led by the late pioneering astrophysicist
help of the upgraded GMRT. Govind Swarup in the 1980s and 1990s.
Unlike stars which emit light strongly at optical ¾ The big jump in sensitivity was due to the upgrade
wavelengths, the atomic hydrogen signal lies in of the GMRT with new wide band receivers and
the radio wavelengths, at a wavelength of 21 cm, electronics in 2017.
and can only be detected with radio telescopes. ¾ The location for GMRT, Pune meets several
Stacking: This 21 cm signal is intrinsically very important criteria such as low man-made radio
weak, to overcome this limitation, the team used noise, availability of good communication, vicinity
a technique called “stacking” to combine the 21 of industrial, educational and other infrastructure
cm signals of nearly 8,000 galaxies that had earlier and, a geographical latitude sufficiently north of the
been identified with the help of optical telescopes. geomagnetic equator in order to have a reasonably
z This method measures the average gas content
quiet ionosphere and yet be able to observe a good
of these galaxies. part of the southern sky as well.
Note:
z Significantly, Bennu hasn’t undergone drastic

OSIRIS-REx Mission: NASA changes since its formation over billions of
years ago and therefore it contains chemicals
Why in News and rocks dating back to the birth of the solar
system. It is also relatively close to the Earth.
Recently, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched
So far, it is known that this asteroid is a B-type
down on the surface of asteroid Bennu to collect rock and
asteroid, implying that it contains significant
dust samples.
amounts of carbon and various other minerals.
Key Points z Because of its high carbon content, it reflects
about 4% of the light that hits it, which is very
¾ About OSIRIS-REx Mission:
low when compared with a planet like Venus,
It is the United States’ first asteroid sample return
which reflects about 65% of the light that hits
mission, aiming to collect and carry a pristine, it. Earth reflects about 30%.
unaltered sample from an asteroid back to earth
Around 20-40% of Bennu’s interior is empty space
for scientific study.
and scientists believe that it was formed in the first
The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation,
10 million years of the solar system’s formation,
Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) implying that it is roughly 4.5 billion years old.
spacecraft was launched in 2016 for the journey
As per high-resolution photographs taken by the
to Bennu.
spacecraft, the surface of the asteroid is covered
The mission is essentially a seven-year-long voyage
in massive boulders, making it more difficult to
and will conclude when at least 60 grams of samples collect samples from its surface.
are delivered back to the Earth (in 2023).
There is a slight possibility that Bennu, which is
As per the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
classified as a Near Earth Object (NEO), might
ministration (NASA), the mission promises to bring strike the Earth in the next century, between the
the largest amount of extraterrestrial material years 2175 and 2199.
back to the Earth since the Apollo era.
z NEOs are comets and asteroids nudged by the
z Apollo was the NASA program that resulted gravitational attraction of nearby planets into
in American astronauts’ making a total of orbits which allows them to enter the Earth’s
11 space flights and walking on the moon neighbourhood.
(1968-72). The asteroid was discovered by a team from the
The spacecraft contains five instruments meant to NASA-funded Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research
explore Bennu including cameras, a spectrometer team in 1999.
and a laser altimeter.
Recently, the spacecraft’s robotic arm called the
Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism
COVIRAP: A
(TAGSAM), made an attempt to “TAG” the asteroid Quick Covid-19 Test
at a sample site and collected a sample.
The departure window for the mission will open Why in News
up in 2021, after which it will take over two years Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research
to reach back to Earth. (ICMR) has approved a new low-cost Covid-19 diagnostic
¾ Asteroid Bennu: method named COVIRAP, developed by the Indian
Bennu is an ancient asteroid, currently more than Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.
200 million miles from Earth.
Key Points
Bennu offers scientists a window into the early
solar system as it was first taking shape billions of ¾ Working of COVIRAP:
years ago and tossing ingredients that could have COVIRAP has an automated pre-programmable
helped seed life on Earth. temperature control unit, a special detection unit
Note:
on genomic analysis, and a customised smartphone Efficient: This assay (testing) holds the capability
app for results. of detecting extremely low levels of viral loads
The machine has an isothermal nucleic acid compared to any other method based on similar
amplification method, which did away with the principles of testing.
need for a thermocycler. z This means that very early stages of infection
z Isothermal amplification of nucleic acids is a can be detected, thereby isolating the

process that rapidly and efficiently accumulates patient and arresting the uncontrolled spread
nucleic acid sequences at a constant temperature. of infection in the community via asymptomatic
z The Isothermal Amplification Techniques have
patients.
been developed as alternatives to Polymerase Accuracy: It correctly detected 108 out of the 115
Chain Reaction (PCR). positive samples identified by an RT-PCR machine,

z Thermocyclers are instruments used to amplify
and 83 out of 85 negative samples, meaning that
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic it has a 94% sensitivity and 98% specificity in
acid) samples by the PCR. comparison to RT-PCR.
Other Usage: The COVIRAP testing machine can
Once the sample is processed in the machine after
being mixed with solutions developed by the IIT also perform tests other than Covid-19. It can
team, treated paper strips are dipped into it, and be used in influenza, malaria, dengue, Japanese
encephalitis, TB etc, which are under the category
the emergence of coloured lines will depict the
of isothermal nucleic acid-based tests.
presence of the virus.
¾ Benefits:
Cheaper: It Monoclonal
is a cheaper Antibodies for Covid-19
p ro c e s s a s
the machine
costs less than Why in News
Rs. 5,000 and Recently, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
the test kits (IAVI) and Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune has
would each announced an agreement with Merck, a science and
cost about Rs. technology company, to develop SARS-CoV-2 neutralising
500. monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which will be used to
Quicker: The address the Covid-19 pandemic.
test is com- ¾ IAVI is a non-profit scientific research organisation
pleted within dedicated to addressing urgent global health challenges.
an hour while It is headquartered in New York, USA.
the RT-PCR ¾ SII is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.
test (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain
Reaction) takes 3-4 hours for testing the sample. Key Points
Simpler: The portable test units can be handled by ¾ Monoclonal Antibodies:
unskilled operators outside the lab environment. Antibodies are proteins produced naturally by the
z It is also better than the FELUDA test because immune system that target a specific foreign object
the FELUDA employs a gene-editing technology (antigen). They are called monoclonal antibodies
called CRISPR-cas9, which requires a lab testing (mAbs) when they are produced by clones derived
environment. from a single parent cell.
Reusable: The same unit can be re-used for a These are man-made proteins which act like a
large number of tests by replacement of the paper human antibody in the immune system. These
cartridge after each test. are made by cloning a unique white blood cell.
Note:
mAbs have monovalent affinity, it binds only to As a third-generation ‘fire and forget’ category
the same epitope i.e. the part of an antigen that system, NAG uses an imaging infra-red seeker to
is recognised by the antibody. lock on to the target before launch.
These are designed to perform many roles which In the top attack mode, the missile is required to
include carrying drugs, toxins, or radioactive climb sharply after launch and travel at a certain
substances directly to affected cells. altitude, then plunge on top of the target. In the
mAbs are used to treat many diseases, including direct attack mode, the missile travels at a lower
some types of cancer. altitude, directly striking the target.
¾ mAbs and Covid-19: It has a capability to defeat Main Battle Tanks (MBT)
Neutralising mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 were co- equipped with composite and reactive armour.
invented by IAVI and Scripps Research. The NAG missile carrier (NAMICA) is a Russian-origin
These are widely considered to be the promising BMP-II based system with amphibious capability.
candidates for Covid-19 treatment and prevention. z BMP-II is a mechanized infantry fighting vehicle.
Encouraging results for Covid-19 antibody treatment ¾ Version of NAG ATGM: DRDO is currently in the final
have emerged from preclinical research and from stages of the development of the helicopter-launched
initial clinical trials. version of Nag ATGM, called the Helina, which has
mAbs also have the potential to play an important undergone successful tests in 2018.
complementary role to Covid-19 vaccines. ¾ Significance:
z It can be used both for treatment and potentially With this final user trial, Nag will enter the
for prevention, especially for those individuals production phase.
who, due to age or medical conditions, may not z The missile will be produced by Defence Public
benefit from vaccination. Sector Undertaking (PSU) Bharat Dynamics
Limited (BDL), whereas Ordnance Factory,
NAG Missile: Medak, will produce the NAMICA.
This means that the Indian Army will no longer
Anti Tank Guided Missile have to import this weapon from either Israel or
the USA for the range of four kilometres.
Why in News z It was due to unavailability of a credible anti-
Recently, the final user trial of 3rd generation Anti tank weapon, that India had to buy around 200
Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) NAG was carried out pieces of Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel as
successfully from Pokhran range in Thar desert (Rajasthan). emergency purchases after the aggression by
the People’s Liberation Army (China) in Ladakh.
Key Points Further, the army is currently using second generation
¾ Developed By: Defence Research and Development Milan 2T and Konkur ATGMs and has been looking
Organisation (DRDO) for about third-generation missiles, which are
¾ Features: important for stopping advancing enemy tanks.
The NAG missile has been developed to strike and ¾ Other Missile Systems: Missiles have been developed
neutralise highly-fortified enemy tanks. It also by India under ‘Integrated Guided Missile Development
has night strike capabilities. Program’.
z ATGMs are missile systems that can strike and ¾ Other Recent Tests:
neutralise armoured The NAG ATGM trial was in continuation of a series
vehicles such as of missile tests conducted by the DRDO in the last

tanks. one-and-a-half months.
It has a minimum range z Among these trials were two other ATGMs - the
of 500 metres and max- Laser-Guided ATGM, and the Stand-Off Anti-
imum range of 4 km. Tank Missile (SANT).
Note:
DRDO, successfully tested India’s first indigenous deaths in the 28 days after entering the hospital
anti-radiation missile named Rudram, Supersonic for a specific condition) or progression of Covid-19
Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) from moderate to severe in patients treated with
system, nuclear capable missile Shaurya, Naval CP along with basic standard care compared to
version of the BrahMos and Hypersonic Technology basic standard care alone.
Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). While the use of CP seemed to improve the
resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue
PLACID Trials in patients with moderate Covid-19, this did not
translate into a reduction in 28-day mortality or
Why in News progression to severe disease.
¾ Impact of the Findings:
Recently, the PLACID Trial, a multicentre randomized
controlled trial, has shown that the use of convalescent The ICMR is now considering removing the option
plasma (CP) as a therapeutic for Covid-19 patients showed of CPT from the national guidelines.
no positive effects and did not improve the outcome of z CPT as a treatment for Covid-19 in India has led
the patients. to questionable practices such as calls for donors
¾ The randomised controlled trial (RCT) is a trial in on social media, and the sale of convalescent
which subjects are randomly assigned to one of two plasma on the black market.
groups: one (the experimental group) receiving the z Although CP is a safe form of treatment when
intervention that is being tested, and the other (the transfused in accordance with the regulations,
comparison group or control) receiving an alternative it involves resource-intensive processes such
(conventional) treatment. as plasmapheresis (separating plasma from the
blood cells), plasma storage, and measurement
Key Points of neutralising antibodies and a limited number
¾ Convalescent Plasma Therapy: of institutes have the capacity to undertake
Convalescent Plasma, extracted from the blood of these procedures in a quality-assured manner.
patients recovering from an infection, is a source However, experts have held that guidelines are not
of antibodies against the infection. necessarily binding and it is too early to dismiss
The therapy uses blood from people who have convalescent plasma therapy.
recovered from an illness to help others recover.
Blood donated by people who have recovered from
Covid-19 has antibodies to the virus that causes
Earth Observation
it. The donated blood is processed to remove Satellite EOS-01: ISRO
blood cells, leaving behind liquid (plasma) and
antibodies. These can be given to people with Why in News
Covid-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus.
India would launch its latest earth observation
The plasma donor would have to be a documented
satellite EOS-01 and nine international customer satellites
case of Covid-19 and healthy for 28 days since from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s
the last symptoms. Sriharikota.
¾ PLACID Trial:
¾ The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49) of
It was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will
Research (ICMR) and its aim was to investigate launch these ten satellites on 7th November 2020. It
CPT’s effectiveness for the treatment of Covid-19. will be PSLV’s 51st Mission.
It is the first and largest randomised control trial
to be completed in the world. Key Points
¾ Findings: ¾ EOS-01: It is an earth observation satellite and is
The trial results indicate that there was no intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and
difference in the 28-day mortality (estimates of disaster management support.
Note:
Earth observation satellites are the satellites

equipped with remote sensing technology. Superconductivity
Earth observation is the gathering of information at Room Temperature
about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological
systems.
Why in News
Many earth observation satellites have been
employed on sun-synchronous orbit. Recently, researchers have created a material that
Other earth observation satellites launched by ISRO
is superconducting at room temperature, however, it
include RESOURCESAT- 2, 2A, CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, only works at a pressure of 267 Gigapascals (GPa), which
is equivalent to about three-quarters of pressure at the
2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques,
centre of Earth (360 GPa).
SARAL and SCATSAT-1, INSAT-3DR, 3D, etc.
¾ Nine Customer Satellites: These are being launched Key Points
as part of a commercial agreement with NewSpace
¾ Material Used: A mixture of carbon, hydrogen and
India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space.
sulfur was put in a microscopic niche carved between
NSIL, incorporated in 2019 (under the Companies
the tips of two diamonds (diamond anvil) and laser
Act, 2013), is a wholly owned Government of light was used on them to trigger chemical reactions.
India company, under the administrative control
¾ Process:
of Department of Space (DOS).
As the experimental temperature was lowered,
NSIL is the commercial arm of ISRO with the primary
resistance to a current passed through the material
responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take
dropped to a vanishingly small value below the
up high technology space related activities and is
critical temperature (Tc).
also responsible for promotion and commercial
The transition of the sample to become
exploitation of the products and services emanating
superconductive occurred the best at transition
from the Indian space programme.
temperature of around 15°C at 267 GPa.
The major business areas of the NSIL include:
¾ Verification: To verify that this phase was indeed
z Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
a superconductor, the group ascertained that the
(PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) magnetic susceptibility of the superconductor was
through industry. that of a diamagnet.
z Production and marketing of space-based
A superconducting material kept in a magnetic
services, including launch services and space- field expels the magnetic flux out its body when
based applications like transponder leasing, cooled below the critical temperature and exhibits
remote sensing and mission support services. perfect diamagnetism.
z Building of Satellites (both Communication and It is also called the Meissner effect which simply
Earth Observation) as per user requirements. means that magnetic lines do not pass through
z Transfer of technology developed by ISRO superconductors in a magnetic field.
centres/ units and constituent institutions of ¾ Superconductors:
Dept. of Space. A superconductor is a material that can conduct
z Marketing spin off technologies and products/ electricity or transport electrons from one atom
services emanating out of ISRO activities. to another with no resistance.
z Consultancy services. No heat, sound or any other form of energy would
Recently, the Government of India has created the be released from the material when it has reached
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization critical temperature (Tc), or the temperature at
Center (IN-SPACe), an independent nodal agency which the material becomes superconductive.
under the Department of Space, to provide a boost z The critical temperature for superconductors
to the private sector participating in space-related is the temperature at which the electrical
activities or using India’s space resources. resistivity of metal drops to zero.
Note:
Prominent examples include aluminium, niobium,
magnesium diboride, etc. Computation
¾ Applications: Analysis of Indian Genes
From magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines,
low-loss power lines, ultra powerful superconducting Why in News
magnets to mobile-phone towers.
Recently, the results from the computation analysis
Researchers are also experimenting with them in
of the 1029 sequenced genomes from India has been
high-performance generators for wind turbines. published in the scientific journal, Nucleic Acid Research.
¾ Limitations:
Their usefulness is still limited by the need for Key Points
bulky cryogenics (production of and behavior of ¾ Out of 55,898,122 single-nucleotide variants in India,
materials at very low temperatures) as the common 32.23% are unique and found only in the samples
superconductors work at atmospheric pressures, sequenced from India.
but only if they are kept very cold. This emphasises the need for an India centric
z Even the most sophisticated ones like copper population genomics initiative.
oxide-based ceramic materials work only ¾ The analysis was carried out by the Council of
below −140°C. Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) constituent
¾ Significance of the Research: labs, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology
If researchers can stabilise the material at ambient
(IGIB), Delhi and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular
pressure, applications of superconductivity at Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
room temperatures could be achieved and will ¾ IndiGenomes Resource Database:
be within reach. It encompasses the genomic data from over 1000
Superconductors that work at room temper-

whole-genome sequences sequenced from across
ature could have a big technological impact, for India as part of the IndiGen Programme and
example in electronics that run faster without represents diverse geographies and ethnicities.
overheating. z The IndiGen Programme was launched in April
2019, under which genome sequencing of 1029
Diamagnetism self-declared healthy Indians, drawn from across
¾ It is a very weak form of magnetism that is induced the country, has been completed.
by a change in the orbital motion of electrons due z Objective: To enable genetic epidemiology and
to an applied magnetic field. develop public health technologies applications
¾ This magnetism is non-permanent and persists using population genome data.
only in the presence of an external field. The resource provides access to over 55 million
¾ The magnitude of the induced magnetic moment genetic variants representing the contemporary
is very small, and its direction is opposite to that Indian population with an objective to classify
of the applied field. variants involved in Mendelian disorder and
improve precision medicine outcomes.
Meissner Effect
z The mendelian disorder is a type of genetic
¾ When a material makes the transition from the disorder, resulting due to alterations in a gene
normal to the superconducting state, it actively or due to abnormalities in the genome.
excludes magnetic fields from its interior and this
It enables the identification of markers for carrier
is called the Meissner effect.
screening, variations causing genetic diseases,
¾ This constraint to zero magnetic fields inside a su- prevention of adverse events and provides better
perconductor is distinct from the perfect diamag- diagnosis and optimal therapy through mining data.
netism which would arise from its zero electrical This resource can provide useful insights for
resistance. clinicians and researchers in comprehending
Note:
genetics not only at the population level but at

the individual level. CSIR-CMERI’s Municipal Solid
¾ Background: Waste Processing Facility
Despite having this rich genetic diversity, India has
been under-represented in global genome studies.
Why in News
Further, the population architecture of India has
resulted in a high prevalence of recessive alleles Recently, the Council of Scientific and Industrial
(a variant form of a gene). Research’s Central Mechanical Engineering Research
Institute (CSIR-CMERI) has developed a Municipal Solid
In the absence of large-scale whole-genome studies
Waste (MSW) Processing Facility (Decentralised Solid
from India, the population-specific genetic variants
Waste Management Plant) to solve the problem of waste
are not adequately captured and catalogued in
management in India.
the global medical literature.
In order to fill the gap of whole-genome sequences Key Points
from different populations in India, CSIR initiated
¾ Challenges in Waste Management:
the IndiGen Programme.
With an ever-increasing population and rapid pace
Genome of urbanisation, India faces a huge challenge of
¾ It is all the genetic matter in an organism and waste management.
can be defined as an organism’s complete set of The volume of waste is projected to rise from the
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA), including all of present 62 million tonnes to about 150 million
its genes. tonnes by 2030.
Every organism’s genetic code is contained in its Indiscriminate dumping of garbage at the current
DNA, the building blocks of life. rate without appropriate scientific treatment would
¾ Each genome contains all of the information needed impose a huge requirement of landfill area per year.
to build and maintain that organism. Studies suggest that the MSW generated in India
¾ In humans, a copy of the entire genome contains mostly consists of a large fraction of organic
more than 3 billion DNA base pairs. wastes and their unscientific disposal produces
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air
Genome Sequencing
pollutants like methane (CH4).
¾ It is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides or
The ineffective processing of MSW also is the root
bases (Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine)
cause of many diseases as the dumped landfills
that make up an organism’s DNA.
transform into contamination hubs for pathogens,
¾ Application:
bacteria and viruses.
In new advancements in medical science (like
The most commonly used process “composting”
predictive diagnosis and precision medicine, also does not yield impactful economic returns
genomic information) and in disease management. for the entrepreneurs.
Through it, researchers and clinicians can
z It requires more land space and labour,
easily detect the disease related to a genetic pasteurisation for effective disinfection and
disorder. has restricted utilisation due to presence of
¾ Importance: heavy metals.
The study will help understand how genes work z During the rainy season, managing it becomes
together to direct the growth, development and difficult due to the presence of excessive
maintenance of an entire organism. moisture.
The genes account for less than 25% of the ¾ MSW Processing Facility:
DNA in the genome, and so knowing the entire
It is developed following the Solid Waste Manage-
genome sequence will help scientists study the
ment (SWM) Rules 2016 prescribed by the Ministry
parts of the genome outside the genes.
of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Note:
It has been developed with the potential to be used as fuel for cooking or can also be utilised
scientifically manage the solid waste including in a gas engine for the generation of electricity.
the Covid-19 wastes. The residual slurry from the biogas plant is
z The facility is equipped with special disinfection converted to compost in a natural process known
capabilities to help break the Covid-19 chain as vermicomposting by introducing earthworms.
through UV-C lights and hot-air convection The vermicompost is utilised in organic farming.
methods. ¾ Biomass Waste Disposal:
The plant is self-sufficient in terms of energy Biomass waste such as dry leaves, dead branches,
requirement through the installation of roof- dry grass etc. are disposed of by first shredding it
mounted solar panels, which can also feed the to suitable size followed by mixing with the slurry
surplus energy supply onto a mini-grid. of the biogas digester.
Objectives: This mixture is the feedstock for briquette
z To unburden the common households from the (compressed block of coal dust or other combustible
segregation responsibilities through advanced material), which is utilised as fuel for cooking and in
segregation techniques. gasifier for production of syngas (or synthesis gas),
z To achieve decentralised decimation of solid utilised in a gas engine for electricity generation.
wastes. z Syngas is a fuel gas mixture consisting primarily
z To help create value-added end-products from of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and very often
abundantly available redundant stuff such as some carbon dioxide.
dry leaves, dry grass, etc. ¾ Polymer Waste Disposal:
Mechanism: The polymer waste consisting of plastics is being
z The mechanised segregation system segregates disposed of through pyrolysis, in which the polymer
solid waste into metallic waste (metal body, metal waste is heated to a temperature of 400-600°C
container, etc.), biodegradable waste (foods, in an anaerobic environment in presence of a
vegetables, fruits, grass, etc.), non-biodegradable suitable catalyst.
waste (plastics, packaging material, pouches, The volatile matter from the polymer waste comes
bottles etc.) and inert wastes (glass, stones etc.). out as a result of heating which on condensation
Significance: gives pyrolysis oil.
z It opens up the opportunities to realise the The non-condensed syngas and crude pyrolysis oil
dream of generating 100 GW Solar Power by after purification are reused for heating purposes
2022 and a city with a “Zero-Waste and Zero- and it helps in obtaining self-sustainability.
Landfill Ecology”. The solid residue known as char is mixed with the
z It may become a source of job creation through biogas slurry for production of briquette.
both process-engagement and manufacturing, ¾ Sanitary Waste Disposal:
which can help support the Micro Small The sanitary items including masks, sanitary
Enterprises (MSEs) and various start-ups across napkins, diapers etc. are disposed-off utilising
the nation. high-temperature plasma gasification.
The plasma gasification process uses electricity to
Various Waste Disposal Methods
generate high-temperature plasma arcs (above
¾ Bio-degradable Waste Disposal: 3000°C) inside the plasma reactor which converts
The biodegradable component of the waste the waste into syngas and the residual ash can be
is decomposed in an anaerobic environment mixed with cement for preparation of recycled bricks.
popularly known as bio-gasification. z However, this technology is not economically
In this process, biogas is liberated through the viable as energy requirements for waste
conversion of organic matter and the biogas can treatment using this technology is very high.
nnn
Note:
Environment and Ecology

Highlights
z Increased Emissions of N2O z Dashboard for Monitoring Air Quality
z Right of Passage of Animals z Seagrass
z Bioremediation Mechanism for Oil Spills z South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System
z Skinks of India z Two New Ramsar Sites
z Dolphins in Pearl River Estuary z Shivalik Elephant Reserve: Uttarakhand
z International Snow Leopard Day z Translocation of Corals in Mumbai
z State of Global Air 2020: HEI z Habitat Loss of Himalayan Brown Bear
Thisis the most comprehensive study of global

Increased Emissions of N2O N2O emissions ever published, as it combines both
natural and anthropogenic (man-made) sources.
Why in News The study found that 43% of the total emissions
According to a recent research paper, human came from human sources and most N2O emissions
emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) have increased by 30% came from emerging countries like India, China
between 1980 and 2016. and Brazil.
¾ The research was conducted through an international Increase in its emissions means that the climatic
collaboration between the International Nitrogen burden on the atmosphere is increasing from
Initiative (INI) and the Global Carbon Project of non-carbon sources as well, while the major focus
Future Earth, a partner of the World Climate Research of global climate change negotiations is currently
Programme. centred on carbon, its emissions and mitigation.
It also highlighted the dichotomy of the climate
Key Points crisis and global food security.
¾ Nitrous Oxide (N2O): z A major proportion of the N2O emissions in the
is a greenhouse gas (GHG) 300 times more
It last four decades came from the agricultural
potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). sector, mainly because of the use of nitrogen-
It has the third-highest concentration, after CO2 based fertilisers.
and methane (CH4), in Earth’s atmosphere among z The growing demand for food and feed for
GHGs responsible for global warming. animals will further increase its global emissions,
N2O is also the only remaining threat to the ozone leading to a direct conflict between the way
(O3) layer, for it accumulates in the atmosphere countries are feeding people and stabilising
over a long period of time, just like CO2. the climate.
It can live in the atmosphere for up to 125 years. ¾ Suggestions:
Its global concentration levels have increased from There are well-established practices and technologies
270 parts per billion (ppb) in 1750 to 331 ppb in like crop and manure management, the use of bio-
2018, a jump of 20%. fertilisers, to mitigate N2O emissions which need
z The growth has been the quickest in the past to be utilised to their full extent.
five decades because of human emissions. Revised industrial and agricultural policies at the
¾ Research and the Study: global level will reduce such emissions considerably.
Note:
Reducing GHGs emissions will also have the co- citizen of India to protect and improve the
benefits of reduced air and water pollution. natural environment including forests, lakes,
There is a need to bring the non-carbon sources rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for
under the major global climate change negotiations. living creatures.
It is possible to slow down N2O emissions if Further, it upheld directions to the resort owners
countries implement the United Nations Global and other private landowners to vacate lands
Campaign on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, falling within the notified elephant corridor.
2019 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ¾ Highlights of the SC Judgement:
z The focus of the event was to finalise the It’s the State’s duty to protect a “keystone species”
Colombo Declaration, a follow up on the UNEA 4 like elephants, which are immensely important to
Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management the environment.
which aims to further the dialogue on Nitrogen z Keystone species, in ecology, a species that
management. has a disproportionately large effect on the
communities in which it lives.
Elephant corridors allow elephants to continue
their nomadic mode of survival, despite shrinking
forest cover, by facilitating travel between distinct
forest habitats. These corridors play a crucial role
in sustaining wildlife by reducing the impact of
habitat isolation.
The court also allowed the formation of a committee
led by a retired HC judge and two other persons
to hear the individual objections of resort owners
and private landowners within the corridor space.
However, during the hearings, the SC opined that
the area is a fragile ecosystem, where the will of
Right of Passage of Animals men must give way to elephants.
Why in News
Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the
2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris
elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the
animals and the closure of resorts in the area.
Key Points
¾ Madras HC Judgement:
In 2011, the Madras HC upheld the validity of the
Tamil Nadu government’s notification (of 2010) ¾ Nilgiris Elephant Corridor:
declaring an ‘Elephant Corridor’ in the Sigur The corridor is situated in the ecologically fragile
Plateau of Nilgiris District. Sigur plateau, which connects the Western and the
It said that the government is fully empowered Eastern Ghats and sustains elephant populations
under the ‘Project Elephant’ of the Union and their genetic diversity.
government as well as Article 51 A(g) of the z It is situated near the Mudumalai National Park
Constitution to notify the elephant corridor in in the Nilgiris district.
the state’s Nilgiris district. It has the Nilgiri hills on its southwestern side and
z Article 51 A(g): It shall be the duty of every the Moyar river valley on its northeastern side.
Note:
There are about 100 elephant corridors in India Asian Elephant

of which almost 70% are used regularly.
¾ Subspecies: There are three subspecies viz. the
z 75% of the corridors are in the southern, central
Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan.
and northeastern forests.
The Indian subspecies has the widest range
z There are an estimated 6,500 elephants in
and accounts for the majority of the remaining
just the Brahmagiri-Nilgiris-Eastern Ghats elephants on the continent.
ranges.
¾ Threats: Escalation of poaching, habitat loss, human-
¾ Challenges for Elephant Corridors: ‘Right of Passage’, elephant conflict and mistreatment in captivity are
an 800-page study released in August 2017, authored some common threats to both African and Asian
by experts and published by the Wildlife Trust of elephants.
India (WTI) identifies and records details pertaining
¾ Conservation Status:
to 101 elephant corridors across India.
IUCN Red List: African elephants are “vulnerable”
Narrowing Passage Width: Only 22% corridors
and Asian elephants are “endangered”.
are of a width of one to three kilometres in 2017,
CITES Status:
compared with 41% in 2005, pointing to how
constricted corridors have become in the past z Appendix II for African elephants in Botswana,
12 years. Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Human Encroachment: 21.8% of corridors were z Appendix I for Asian Elephants.
free of human settlements in 2017 compared with ¾ Conservation Efforts:

22.8% in 2005, and 45.5% have 1-3 settlements in Project Elephant launched by the Government of
2017 compared with 42% in 2005. India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored
Intercepted Corridors: Scheme.
z About 36.4% of the elephant corridors in z Elephant census is conducted once in 5 years
northwestern India, 32% in central India, 35.7% under the aegis of Project elephant.
in northern West Bengal and 13% of the elephant Establishment of elephant reserves and adoption
corridors in northeastern India have a railway of the “World Elephant Day” (12th August) to
line passing through them. help conserve and protect elephants in India.
z Almost two-thirds of the corridors have a ‘Gaj Yatra’ a nationwide awareness campaign to
National or State Highway passing through celebrate elephants and highlight the necessity
them, fragmenting habitats and hindering of securing elephant corridors.
elephant movement further. The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants
z 11% of corridors have canals passing through (MIKE) programme, launched in 2003, is
them. an international collaboration that tracks
z 12% are affected by the mining and the extraction trends in information related to the illegal killing
of boulders. of elephants from across Africa and Asia, to
Land-use Along Corridors: In terms of land use, monitor the effectiveness of field conservation
only 12.9% of the corridors are totally under forest efforts.
cover in 2017 compared with 24% in 2005.
z Two in every three elephant corridors in the Bioremediation
country are now affected by agricultural
activities. Mechanism for Oil Spills
z All the corridors in northern West Bengal
(100%) and almost all in central India (96%) Why in News
and northeastern India (52.2% under settled The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT),
cultivation and 43.4% under slash and burn Chnnai has developed an eco-friendly crude oil biore-
cultivation) have agricultural land. mediation mechanism technology using consortia (group
Note:
of two or more species) of marine microbes wheat bran z Themicrobial community serves as energetic
(WB) immobilized (microbes controlled degradation) on primary degraders of a complex mixture of
agro-residue bacterial cells. petroleum hydrocarbons into various aldehydes,
¾ Wheat bran is the hard outer layer of the wheat ketones and acidic metabolites.
kernel. It’s stripped away during the milling process. z These hydrocarbon degrading bacteria don’t
depend on hydrocarbons for survival, but have a
Key Points metabolic mechanism where they use petroleum
¾ Eco-friendly Crude Oil Bioremediation Mechanism products as carbon and energy source and thus,
Technology help cleaning up oil spills.
Bioremediation: It can be defined as any process z The complete breakdown and degradation
that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to of crude oil is achievable using wheat bran
remove and or neutralize contaminants within marine bacterial consortia (which are low-cost
the environment to their original condition. non-toxic agro-residues) in an environmentally
In the marine ecosystem, deep sea hydrocarbono-
sustainable manner.
clastic (ability to degrade hydrocarbon) microbial Advantages of Immobilized State:
consortium plays an important role in breaking z They are more effective in their immobilised
down oil in the event of a spill. state than the free bacteria cells in degrading
the oil spills.
Oil Spill
They could remove 84 % of the oils within
¾ It is an accidental/uncontrolled release of crude
10 days. The free bacterial cells degraded a
oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into maximum of 60 % of the crude oil at optimised
the environment. Oil spills can pollute land, air, or conditions.
water, though it is mostly used for oceanic oil spills.
z They are more versatile and resistant to adverse
The recent MV Wakashio spill off Mauritius —
conditions.
about 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into a sanctuary
z They have efficacy in treating accidental bulk
for rare wildlife after the Japanese ship struck a
discharge of oil in marine environments through
coral reef in 2020.
non-toxic clean-up technology.
¾ Cause: They have become a major environmental
problem, chiefly as a result of intensified petroleum
exploration and production on continental shelves Skinks of India
and the transport of large amounts of oils in vessels.
¾ Measure: Cleaning up of the oil spillage from the Why in News
oceans without damaging the marine ecosystem
Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has
is becoming an increasingly challenging task.
published a study on skinks (a kind of lizard), titled “Skinks
Containment Booms: Floating barriers, called of India”.
booms are used to restrict the spread of oil and
to allow for its recovery, removal, or dispersal. Key Points
Skimmers: They are devices used for physically ¾ Skinks:
separating spilled oil from the water’s surface.
With 1,602 species of skinks across the world,
Sorbents: Various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic it is the largest family of lizards, having long
ash, and shavings of polyester-derived plastic) bodies, relatively
that absorb the oil from the water are used. small or no legs, no
Dispersing agents: These are chemicals that pronounced neck
contain surfactants, or compounds that act to and glossy scales.
break liquid substances such as oil into small It is found around
droplets. They accelerate its natural dispersion homes, garages,
into the sea. and open spaces
Note:
such as sparks and school playgrounds, and Barkudia insularis is believed to be found only
around lakes. in the Barkud Island in Chilka lake in Odisha.
Skinks are non-venomous, highly alert, agile and Barkudia melanosticta is endemic to
fast-moving and actively forage for a variety of Visakhapatnam.
insects and small invertebrates. z Kaestlea: They are also known as blue-tailed
They have a prominent role in maintaining ground skinks and are endemic to the Western
ecosystems, however, not much is known about Ghats.
their breeding habits, and ecology because z Ristella: They are also known as Cat skinks and
identification of the species can be confusing. endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.
In India, skinks are found in all kinds of habitats
ranging from the Himalayas to the coasts and from
dense forests to the deserts. Dolphins in Pearl River Estuary
¾ Study:
It gives a phyloge- Why in News
netic (evolution- According to a recent report, Chinese pink dolphins
ary development) are making a comeback in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE).
and bio-geo-
¾ Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are also known as
graphical analysis
Chinese white dolphins or pink dolphins, reflecting
of the distribution
of these species in the colour of their skin.
all the 11 bio-geo-
Key Points
graphic zones of
India. ¾ Pearl River Estuary:
India is home to It includes Hong
less than 4% of Kong, Macau

the skinks across as well as
the globe. 62 species of skinks are found in the mainland
India and about 57% of them (33 species) are Chinese cities
endemic. of Shenzhen,
India is home to 16 genera of skinks, four of which Guangzhou
are endemic. The four genera of skinks are: and Dongguan.
z Sepsophis: Sepsophis punctatus is endemic to
Around 22
the northern part of Eastern Ghats. million people
live in the area.
z Barkudia: They are limbless skinks found in the
The Pearl River
hills and coastal plains of the eastern coast.
Delta, the low-
Zoological Survey of India lying area surrounding the PRE where the Pearl
¾ Established in 1916, it is a subordinate organisation River flows into the South China Sea, is one of
of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate the world’s most densely urbanised, heavily
Change. industrialised and busiest shipping lanes on Earth.
¾ It is a national centre for faunistic survey and ¾ Current Scenario and Reasons Behind:
exploration of the resources leading to the Dolphins use echolocation to find their way in the
advancement of knowledge on the exceptionally water and the ships often disturb them in finding
rich faunal diversity of the country. their way and even kill them.
¾ It has its headquarters at Kolkata and 16 regional z Echolocation is a technique used by bats, dolphins
stations located in different geographic locations and other animals to determine the location
of the country. of objects using reflected sound.
Note:
z This allows the animals to move around Conservation:
in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, z IUCN Status: Vulnerable.
hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid
obstacles.
However, dolphin numbers in the waters between
International
Hong Kong and Macau have seen a rebound in Snow Leopard Day
2020 because Covid-19 pandemic has stopped
ferries and hence reduced their traffic.
Why in News
The number of pink dolphins in the waters has
Every year, the International Snow Leopard Day is
roughly increased by a third according to scientists.
observed on 23rd October.
¾ Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin:
Scientific Name: Sousa Chinensis. Key Points
Habitat Range: ¾ Aim: To raise awareness on conservation and
z Its total range is protection of snow leopards.
in coastal waters ¾ Background: The day came into being on 23rd October
from central 2013, with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration by
China south- 12 countries on the conservation of snow leopards.
ward through-
The 12 countries included India, Nepal, Bhutan,
out Southeast
China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Asia and westward to the Bay of Bengal, with
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
highest densities in and around estuaries.
The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection
z The distribution is fragmented such that these
Programme (GSLEP) was also launched on the
dolphins are apparently absent from fairly
same day to address high-mountain development
long stretches of coastline. It is not always
issues using conservation of the snow leopard
clear whether the fragmentation is ‘natural’
as a flagship.
or caused by human activities.
The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) says
the population in the PRE is believed to be around
2,500, but falling numbers of young could reduce
numbers in future.
They have seen a decline in their numbers in the
past 15 years by 70-80%.
Threats:
z Agricultural, industrial, and urban pollution.
z Overfishing.
z Marine construction including bridge-building

and land creation for airport expansion and Snow Leopard
residential/office development. ¾ Top Predator: They are also known as Ghost of the
z Transport including fast ferries. mountains and act as an indicator of the health of
z Selling into captivity at marine “entertainment” the mountain ecosystem in which they live, due to
parks and aquariums worldwide. their position as the top predator in the food web.
Effects: ¾ Habitation:
z Loss of suitable habitat, the mortality of dolphins High altitudes in the steep mountains of Central and
from entanglements and vessel strikes, and the Southern Asia, and in an extremely cold climate.
possible effects of chemical, sewage and noise They inhabit the higher Himalayan and trans-
pollution on their health. Himalayan landscape in the states/union territories
Note:
of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,

Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. State of Global Air 2020: HEI
India is a unique country to have a good presence
of 5 big cats, including Snow Leopard. The other 4 Why in News
are Lion, Tiger, Common Leopard, Clouded Leopard. Recently, a global study, State of Global Air 2020
¾ Snow Leopard Capital of World: Hemis, Ladakh. (SoGA 2020) has been released by the Health Effects
Hemis National Park is the biggest national park Institute (HEI).
of India. ¾ It highlights that air pollution is the largest risk
¾ Threat: factor for death among all health risks and it is the
Reduction in prey populations.
first-ever comprehensive analysis of air pollution’s
global impact on newborns.
Illegal poaching.
¾ HEI is an independent, nonprofit research institute
Increased human population infiltration into the
funded jointly by the USA’s Environmental Protection
species habitat.
Agency and others.
Illegal trade of wildlife parts and products, etc.
¾ Protection: Key Points

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable ¾ India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal are among the
CITES: Appendix I top ten countries with the highest PM2.5 (particulate
CMS: Appendix I, which includes species threatened matter) exposures in 2019 and all of these countries
with extinction. experienced increases in outdoor PM2.5 levels between
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I,
2010 and 2019.
which provides absolute protection and offences ¾ India is also among the top ten countries with highest
under this have the highest penalties. ozone (O3) exposure in 2019. Also, among the 20 most
¾ Conservation Efforts Launched by India:
populous countries, India recorded the highest increase
(17%) in O3 concentrations in the past ten years.
Snow Leopard is in the list of 21 critically endangered
¾ Long-term exposure to outdoor and household
species for the recovery programme of the Ministry
of Environment Forest and Climate Change. (indoor) air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million
annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes,
HimalSanrakshak: It is a community volunteer
lung cancer, chronic lung diseases, and neonatal
programme, to protect snow leopards, launched
diseases, in India in 2019.
on 23rd October 2020.
¾ Important Government Initiatives:
In 2019, First National Protocol was launched
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (Household LPG
on Snow Leopard Population Assessment which
has been very useful for monitoring populations. programme).
National Clean Air Programme.
SECURE Himalaya: Global Environment Facility-
United Nations Development Programme (GEF- Introduction of BS-VI emission standards.
UNDP) funded the project on conservation of high Implementation of the Graded Response Action
altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency Plan (GRAP).
of local communities on the natural ecosystem. ¾ Infant Related Data:
z This project is now operational in four snow High PM contributed to the deaths of more than
leopard range states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, 1,16,000 Indian infants who did not survive their
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. first month.
Project Snow Leopard: It was launched in 2009 to z Infants in the first month of life are already
promote an inclusive and participatory approach at a vulnerable stage and a growing body of
to conserve snow leopards and their habitat. scientific evidence-supported studies in India
Snow Leopard Conservation Breeding Programme: indicates that particulate air pollution exposure
It is undertaken at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight
Zoological Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal. and preterm birth.
Note:
More than half of these deaths were associated ¾ The dashboard establishes a three-year rolling average
with outdoor PM2.5 and others were linked to trend for PM2.5 and PM10 levels across the cities
the use of solid fuels such as charcoal, wood, and from 2016 to 2018.
animal dung for cooking. ¾ 122 cities are referred to as non-attainment cities
z Although there has been a slow and steady under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
reduction in household reliance on poor- ¾ The recent State of Global Air 2020 revealed that
quality fuels, the air pollution from these fuels India had faced the highest exposure to toxic air in
continues to be a key factor in the deaths of the world in 2019.
these youngest infants.
¾ Significance of the Study: Particulate Matter
Addressing impacts of air pollution on adverse ¾ Also called particle pollution, it is a term for a mixture
pregnancy outcomes and newborn health is of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.
important for low- and middle-income countries, ¾ It includes:
not only because of the high prevalence of low PM10: Inhalable particles, with diameters that
birth weight, preterm birth, and child growth are generally 10 micrometres and smaller.
deficits but because it allows the design of PM2.5: Fine inhalable particles, with diameters
strategic interventions that can be directed at that are generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller.
these vulnerable groups.
¾ Source:
¾ Air Pollution and Covid-19:
Some are emitted directly from a source, such
Although the link between air pollution and
as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields,
Covid-19 is not completely established, there is smokestacks or fires.
clear evidence linking air pollution and increased
Most particles form in the atmosphere as a
heart and lung disease.
result of complex reactions of chemicals such
Also, there is growing concern that exposure to
as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are
high levels of air pollution during winter months pollutants emitted from power plants, industries
in South Asian countries and East Asia could and automobiles.
exacerbate the effects of Covid-19.
¾ Harmful Effects:
¾ Current Pollution Status:
PM exposure has been linked to a variety
Average pollution levels in India are declining
of problems, including irregular heartbeat,
over the past three years but these have been
aggravated asthma, decreased lung function
marginal, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic plains
and increased respiratory symptoms, such as
which see extremely high PM pollution especially
irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty
during winter.
breathing.
After a decline in pollution due to the nationwide
PM10 pose the greatest problems, because they
lockdowns after March, pollution levels are again
can get deep into the lungs, and some may even
rising and air quality is dipping to the ‘very poor’
get into the bloodstream.
category in several cities.
National Clean Air Programme
Dashboard for ¾ It was launched in 2019 to address air pollution
in 122 cities. These cities are referred to as non-
Monitoring Air Quality attainment cities as they did not meet the national
ambient air quality standards for the period of
Why in News 2011-15 under the National Air Quality Monitoring
Recently, CarbonCopy and Respirer Living Sciences Programme (NAMP).
(environmental organisations) have released a dashboard
which presents a comparative picture of particulate Key Points
matter (PM) for 122 Indian cities since 2016. ¾ About the Dashboard:
Note:
It is a NAMP based dashboard, built on data from ¾ Performance on PM2.5 Level:

the Central Pollution Control Board’s National A total of 59 of 122 cities had PM2.5 data available.
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) Network Noida ranked the worst with 119, followed by
which was started in 1984-85 and covers 344 cities/ Agra, Delhi, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarpur,
towns in 29 states and 6 UTs. Kanpur, Chandigarh, Howrah and Kolkata.
z Under the NAMP, each station records about 104
¾ Performance on PM10 Level:
observations a year covering four pollutants:
Delhi ranked as the most polluted state on an
sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
average of 3 years’ PM10 monitoring data, followed
suspended particulate matter (SPM), and
by Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM).
Maharashtra, which has the maximum number
z State pollution control boards and the National
of non-attainment cities in the NCAP, has seen air
Environmental Engineering Research Institute
quality worsen since 2016.
(NEERI), Nagpur carry out the monitoring, and
z The state capital, Mumbai, for instance, witnessed
the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change oversees the operation a year-on-year increase in PM10 levels from
under the NCAP. 119 in 2016, to 151 in 2017 and 165 in 2018.
Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu has recorded progressive
¾ Other Monitoring Systems:
and substantial improvements in PM10 levels
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting
between 2016 and 2018, by 24% in 2017, in
And Research:
comparison to 2016 levels, and another 23% in
z It was introduced by the Ministry of Earth
2018 in comparison to the previous year.
Science and also known as SAFAR.
z It aims to provide location-specific information
on air quality in near real-time for greater Seagrass
metropolitan cities of India.
Air Quality Index: Why in News
z AQI is a tool for effective communication of Recently, the restoration process of seagrasses has
air quality status to people in terms, which been taken up by Tamil Nadu in
are easy to understand. the Gulf of Mannar.
z There are six AQI categories, namely Good,
Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very
Key Points
Poor, and Severe. AQ sub-index has been evolved ¾ Seagrasses:
for eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, These are flowering plants that grow submerged
CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons.
to 24-hours) National Ambient Air Quality These have tiny flowers and strap-like or oval
Standards are prescribed. leaves.
z Graded Response Action Plan (GARP) for Delhi- ¾ Evolution:
NCR has been prepared for implementation Terrestrial plants
under different AQI categories. evolved about 850
¾ Significance: million years ago
A majority of health models which establish the from a group of
relationship between air pollution and public green algae and
health are based on western models due to a lack seagrasses evolved
of health data available in the Indian context. from terrestrial plants that recolonised the ocean
When this data can be made available, it will give
70-100 million years ago.
a true sense of the burden of respiratory diseases ¾ Food Production:
in the country by geographical distribution. Like terrestrial plants, seagrasses also require
Note:
sunlight for photosynthesis from which these Filter nutrients released from land-based industries
manufacture their own food and release oxygen. before they reach sensitive habitats like coral reefs.
¾ Reproduction: Prevent soil erosion as the extensive vertical and
Sexual Reproduction Method: The pollen from horizontal root systems of seagrasses stabilise the
the flower of the male plant is transferred to the sea bottom.
ovary of the female flower through this method. Provide food as well as habitat for fishes, octopuses,
z This is known as submarine pollination. Most shrimp, blue crabs, oysters, etc.
species undergo this process and complete z Endangered marine organisms like dugong
their life cycle underwater. (Sea Cow), green turtle, etc, graze directly on
Asexual Reproduction Method: Seagrasses can seagrass leaves.
also reproduce asexually by branching off at their z Bottle-nosed dolphins feed on the organisms
rhizomes (modified subterranean plant stem that that live in seagrass areas.
sends out roots and shoots from its nodes). z Detritus (natural waste) of decomposed
z Because of this character, they can recover after dead seagrass supplies food for worms, sea
being cut by grazers or disturbed by storms. cucumbers, crabs, etc.
¾ Order and Species: z After decomposition, it releases nutrients like
There are 60 species belonging to four families in

nitrogen and phosphorus which are absorbed
the order Alismatales. by seagrasses and phytoplankton.
Protect juvenile and small adult fish from large
Some of the important seagrasses are Sea Cow
Grass (Cymodocea serrulata), Thready Seagrass predators and also protect worms, crabs, starfishes,
(Cymodocea rotundata), Needle Seagrass sea cucumbers, sea urchins, etc, from strong
(Syringodium isoetifolium), Flat-tipped Seagrass currents.
(Halodule uninervis), etc. Provide ideal nursery sites for important commercial
¾ Habitat: marine life like squids and cuttlefish.

Though seagrasses inhabit all types of substratas
¾ Threats:
(layers) from mud to rock, the lush green seagrass Seagrass beds are facing decline all over the world
beds are found extensively in muddy and sandy at the rate of 2-5% annually.
substratas. z Around 30,000 square kilometres of seagrass has
These occur all along the coastal areas of India been lost during recent decades at a global level.
and are abundant in the Palk Strait and Gulf of These face natural disturbances like grazing, storms,
Mannar in Tamil Nadu. ice-scouring (abrasion and erosion of seabeds by
¾ Significance: glaciers) and desiccation (extreme dryness).
Seagrasses are considered ‘Ecosystem Engineers’ Human disturbances like eutrophication, mechanical
as they are known for providing many ecosystem destruction of habitat, overfishing, release of
services and are also called ‘the lungs of the sea’ nutrients, coastal engineering construction,
as they release oxygen into the water through pollution, etc are destructive for them.
photosynthesis.
Sequesters up to 11% of the organic carbon buried South Asian Flash
in the ocean even though they occupy only 0.1%
of the ocean floor and absorb 83 million tonnes Flood Guidance System
of carbon from the atmosphere annually.
z Seagrasses can capture carbon from the Why in News
atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD)
rainforests. has launched the South Asian Flash Flood Guidance
Help maintain water quality by trapping fine System (FFGS), which is aimed at helping disaster man-
sediments and suspended particles in the water agement teams and governments make timely evacu-
column and increase water clarity. ation plans ahead of the actual event of flooding.
Note:
¾ A dedicated FFGS centre will be established in New India’s National Disaster Management Authority
Delhi, where weather modelling and analysis of (NDMA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC)
rainfall data observations from member countries partnered in developing the system.
will be done.
Key Points Two New Ramsar Sites

¾ Flash Floods:
Why in News
These are sudden surges in water levels during
or following an intense spell of rain. Recently, Kabartal Wetland (Bihar) and Asan
These are highly localised events of short duration
Conservation Reserve (Uttrakhand) have been designated
with a very high peak and usually have less than as Ramsar sites, making them ‘Wetlands of International
six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall Importance’.
and peak flood. ¾ Earlier in 2020, India designated 10 more wetlands as
The flood situation worsens in the presence of
a Ramsar site, taking the total number from 27 to 37.
choked drainage lines or encroachments obstructing ¾ With 2 more inclusions, the total number of Ramsar
the natural flow of water. sites in India is 39, the highest in South Asia.
¾ Concerns:
Key Points
Forecasting flash floods is very difficult as an event
¾ Kabartal Wetland:
can occur within three to six hours and the water
run-off quantity is very high. Also known as Kanwar Jheel, it covers 2,620
hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains in the Begusarai
Frequency of extreme rainfall events has increased
district of Bihar.
due to climate change and South Asia is highly
prone to flash floods. It acts as a vital flood buffer for the region
besides providing livelihood opportunities to local
Data suggest that across the world, about 5,000
communities.
people die annually due to flash floods.
Significant biodiversity is present here, with 165
Despite such high mortality, there was no robust
plant species and 394 animal species recorded,
forecasting or warning system for flash floods.
including 221 bird species. It is also a valuable
¾ South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System:
site for fish biodiversity with over 50 species
It has been developed by US-based Hydrologic documented.
Research Centre after the World Meteorological It is an important stopover along the Central Asian
Organisation (WMO) and few South Asian countries Flyway, with 58 migratory waterbirds using it for
put forth their views and the urgent need for such rest and refuel.
a warning system.
Five critically endangered species inhabit the site,
¾ Warning Mechanism: including three vultures viz. the red-headed vulture
Based on the rainfall and potential flooding (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps
scenario, flash flood warnings will be issued to bengalensis) and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) and
respective nations. two waterbirds, the sociable lapwing (Vanellus
Flash flood threat warning will be issued six hours in gregarius) and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
advance, whereas flood risk warning will be issued Major threats to the site include water management
24 hours in advance. Warnings about watershed activities such as drainage, water abstraction,
level will be issued 12 hours in advance. damming and canalisation.
¾ India’s Role: ¾ Asan Conservation Reserve:
India is leading the delegation of nations, including ACR is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River
Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, in running down to its confluence with the Yamuna
sharing hydrological and meteorological data River in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is
towards preparing flash flood forecasts. Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar Site.
Note:
z The damming of the river by the Asan Barrage Shivalik Elephant Reserve while exploring land suitable
in 1967 helped to create some of the site’s to use for the expansion of Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport.
bird-friendly habitats.
These habitats support 330 species of birds
Key Points
including the critically endangered red-headed ¾ Background: The area proposed for the expansion,
vulture, white-rumped vulture and Baer’s pochard. is a part of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve and it falls
Other non-avian species present include 49 fish within a 10-km radius of Rajaji National Park.
species, one of these being the endangered ¾ Protests: Children and social activists have tied
Putitora mahseer (Tor putitora). protective strings around the trees marked to be cut,
z Fish use the site for feeding, migration and similar to the Chipko movement of the 1970s, when
spawning (the process of releasing the eggs villagers in Chamoli hugged trees to stop contractors
and sperm). from felling them.
¾ Concerns:
Ramsar Sites
The expansion will threaten hundreds of species
¾ Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovern- of fauna in Thano (near Rajaji National Park) and
mental treaty adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of the elephant corridor nearby.
Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.
The State also falls in seismic Zone-IV and V, as
Those wetlands which are of international
per the Earthquake Zoning Map. Uprooting trees
importance are declared as Ramsar sites. in Thano will lead to soil erosion, a factor that
It came into force for India on 1st February 1982. exacerbated the 2013 Kedarnath floods.
¾ Mission: Conservation and wise use of all wetlands Earlier, social activists criticised Chardham
through local and national actions and international Pariyojana on environmental grounds.
cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving z It is a programme taken up by the Ministry of
sustainable development throughout the world”. Road Transport and Highways for connectivity
¾ Montreux Record is maintained as part of the improvement for Chardham (Kedarnath,
Ramsar List. Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri) in Uttrakhand.
It is a register of wetland sites on the ‘List of Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011
Wetlands of International Importance’ where order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris
changes in ecological character have occurred, elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of
are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area.
technological developments, pollution or other ¾ Shivalik Elephant Reserve:
human interference.
It was notified in 2002 under the Project Elephant.
At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux
z Project Elephant was launched by the Government
Record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and
of India in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Loktak Lake (Manipur).
z Objectives:
Chilika Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record
Protect elephants, their habitat and corridors.
but later removed from it.
Address issues of man-animal conflict.
Welfare of captive elephants.

Shivalik Elephant The Kansora-Barkot Elephant Corridor is located
Reserve: Uttarakhand near to it.

It is considered to have one of the highest densities
Why in News of elephants found in India.

¾ Indian Elephant:
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) has asked the Uttarakhand Scientific Name: Elephas maximus.
government to consider avoiding sensitive areas of the Habitat: Central and southern Western Ghats,
Note:
North-east, eastern and northern India and in Key Points

some parts of southern peninsular India.
¾ Corals:
As per the Elephant Census 2017, Karnataka has
These exhibit characteristics of plants, but are
the highest population of Indian elephants.
marine animals that are related to jellyfish and
Conservation Status:
anemones.
z Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
They are made up of genetically identical organisms
z CITES: Appendix I. called polyps, which are tiny, soft-bodied organisms.
z IUCN Red List: Endangered. z At their base is a hard, protective limestone
¾ Rajaji National Park: skeleton called a calicle, which forms the
Location: Haridwar, along the foothills of the structure of coral reefs.
Shivalik range, spans 820 square kilometres. These polyps have microscopic algae called
Background: Three sanctuaries in the Uttarakhand viz. zooxanthellae living within their tissues. The
Rajaji, Motichur and Chila were amalgamated into a corals and algae have a mutualistic (symbiotic)
large protected area and named Rajaji National Park relationship, under which
in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter z Coral provides the zooxanthellae with the
C. Rajgopalachari, popularly known as “Rajaji”. compounds necessary for photosynthesis.
Features: z In return, the zooxanthellae supply the coral
z This area is the North-Western Limit of the with organic products of photosynthesis,
habitat of Asian elephants. like carbohydrates, which are utilised by the
z Forest types include sal forests, riverine forests, coral polyps for the synthesis of their calcium
broad-leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassy. carbonate skeletons.
z It possesses as many as 23 species of mammals z Zooxanthellae are also responsible for the
and 315 bird species such as elephants, tigers, unique and beautiful colours of corals.
leopards, deers and gorals, etc. There are 2 types of corals:
z It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015. z Stony, shallow-water corals, the kind which
z It is home to the Van Gujjars, one of the few builds reefs.

forest-dwelling nomadic communities in the z Soft and deep water corals, which live in dark
country, in the winters. cold waters.
¾ Other Protected Areas in Uttarakhand: ¾ Coral Reefs:
Jim Corbett National Park (first National Park of India). These begin when a polyp attaches itself to a rock
Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi on the seafloor, then divides or buds into thousands
National Park which together are a UNESCO World of clones. The polyp calicles connect to one another,
Heritage Site. creating a colony that acts as a single organism.
Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary. As colonies grow over hundreds and thousands of
Gangotri National Park. years, they join with other colonies and become
Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary.
reefs.
Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but
they are among the most productive and diverse
Translocation ecosystems on Earth. They are referred to as the
of Corals in Mumbai “Rainforests of the Sea” for their biodiversity.
Benefits:
Why in News z Coral reefs are like underwater cities that
The National Institute of Oceanography will carry support marine life.

out the translocation of 18 coral colonies from the coast z According to the United Nations Environment
of Mumbai under the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. Programme (UNEP), they provide at least half
Note:
a billion people around the world with food have been undertaken to study the survival rate,
security and livelihoods. method and site of translocation, and creation
z Coral reefs also act as ‘wave breaks’ between of high heat-resistant coral colonies, etc.
the sea and the coastline and minimise the Transplanted corals are more susceptible to storm
impact of sea erosion. surges and bleaching from warming ocean waters.
z According to a recent study of the University of Experts are of the view that for a high survival
Queensland (UQ), Australia, more life can be rate, it is important to translocate corals in a place
supported by dead coral remains than live corals. with similar environmental characteristics such as
Protection: depth, current flow, amount of light, and pressure.
z In India, they are under Schedule I of the Wildlife
Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
Threats:
z Climate change remains one of the biggest

threats to corals.
z Around the world, this threat has been visible
in the “bleaching” of corals.
¾ Coral Bleaching:
It is a process in which corals, under stress from
warm weather, expel the algae that give corals
their brilliant colours and live in their tissues and
produce their food.
z The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia
has suffered six mass bleaching events due to
warmer than normal ocean temperatures in Habitat Loss of
1998, 2002, 2006, 2016, 2017 and now in 2020.
z It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home
Himalayan Brown Bear
to one of the largest collections of coral reefs
on the planet. Why in News
¾ Biorock Technology: Recently, a study conducted by scientists of the
It is a method to restore coral reefs using bio rock Zoological Survey of India on the Himalayan brown bear
or mineral accretion. (Ursus arctos isabellinus) has predicted a significant
Under the technology, low voltage electrical reduction in suitable habitat and biological corridors of
currents are applied through seawater, causing the Himalayan brown bear due to climate change.
dissolved minerals to crystallise on structures,
growing into a white limestone (CaCO3) similar Key Points
to that which naturally makes up coral reefs and ¾ The study titled ‘Adaptive spatial planning of protected
tropical white-sand beaches. area (PA) networks for conserving the Himalayan
Biorock, also known as Secret or Seament, refers brown bear’ was carried out in the western Himalayas.
to the substance formed by electro-accumulation It has predicted a decline of about 73% of the bear’s
of minerals dissolved in seawater. habitat by the year 2050.
¾ Coral Translocation: ¾ The total habitat loss can make 8 out of 13 PA completely
The translocation of corals is at a nascent stage uninhabitable by 2050.
along the Indian coastline. It is difficult and has ¾ The western Himalaya where significant brown bear
not been very successful in India. population is distributed is most vulnerable to global
z Pilot projects at various sites including, warming as this elevation belt is getting warmer faster
Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman Islands than other elevation zones of Himalayas.
Note:
¾ To keep a check on this, scientists have recommended ¾ Habitat: High

preemptive spatial planning of PAs in the Himalayan altitude open
region for the long-term viability of the species. valleys and
The spatial planning of PAs is aimed at minimising pastures.
the risks and uncertainty of climate change. ¾ Status: IUCN
Spatial Planning is an activity centered on making
Red List-
decisions relating to the location and distribution of Critically
land use activities. It allows monitoring of changes, endangered.
both in climate and socio-economic situations. CITES - Appendix I
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 - Schedule 1

Himalayan Brown Bear ¾ Food: Omnivorous.
¾ Range: North-western and central Himalaya, including ¾ Threat: Human-animal conflict, rapid habitat loss,
India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Tibetan Autonomous Region poaching for fur, claws and organs and, in some rare
of China and Bhutan. cases, bear baiting.
nnn
Note:
History
Highlights
z Sir Syed’s Day
Tahzebul Akhlaq (Social Reformer in English), a

Sir Syed’s Day magazine founded by him, tried to awaken people’s
consciousness on social and religious issues in a
Why in News very expressive prose.
Sir Syed’s Day is observed on 17th October to mark ¾ Critical of National Movement:
the birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. In his later years, Sir Syed encouraged the Indian
Muslims not to join the National Movement. He
Key Points felt that education and not politics was needed
¾ Early Life: Sir Syed by them.
Ahmad Khan was In a way he encouraged the forces of communalism
born in 1817 in a and separatism at this stage.

family that was close
Aligarh Movement
to the Mughal court,
he was a man of ¾ It was a systemic movement aimed at reforming
many distinctions, a the social, political and educational aspects of the
civil servant, journalist, educationist, social reformer Muslim community.
and historian among others. ¾ The movement undertook to modernise Muslim’s
He served the British administration before the
education by adapting English as a medium of
revolt of 1857. learning and western education rather than just
focusing on traditional teachings.
He had also written a pamphlet titled “The Causes
of the Indian Revolt’’ to explain the reasons for ¾ Sir Syed established the Scientific Society in 1864,
the revolt from a Indian perspective. in Aligarh to translate Western works into Indian
languages to prepare the Muslims to accept Western
¾ Educationist: Sir Syed is, first and foremost, known for
education and to inculcate scientific temperament
his pioneering role in transforming the educational
among the Muslims.
opportunities for Muslims.
The Aligarh Institute Gazette, a magazine
He realised that Muslims could only make progress
published by Sir Syed was an organ of the
if they took to modern education. For this, he
Scientific Society.
started the Aligarh movement.
¾ In 1877, he founded the Muhammadan Anglo
¾ Social Reformer: He also pushed for social reforms
Oriental College on the pattern of Oxford and
and was a champion of democratic ideals and freedom
Cambridge universities. The college later grew into
of speech.
Aligarh Muslim University.
He was against religious intolerance, ignorance and
¾ The Aligarh Movement helped in the Muslim revival.
irrationalism. He denounced purdah, polygamy
It gave them a common language — Urdu.
and easy divorce.
nnn
Note:
Art & Culture

Highlights
z Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana
¾ It is a central sector scheme.

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana ¾ The ministry implements many schemes under KSVY,
where the grants are sanctioned/approved for holding
Why in News programs/activities.
Recently, the Ministry of Culture has issued guidelines Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of
for holding cultural events/activities in virtual/online Art and Culture.
mode under various scheme components of Kala Sanskriti Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of
Vikas Yojana (KSVY). Cultural Infrastructure.
Key Points Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural
Heritage, which aims to promote the 13 intangible
¾ The Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns
cultural heritage of India, recognised by the
have had a substantial impact on the performing arts
and cultural sector with in-person exhibitions, events, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
and performances either cancelled or postponed. Organization (UNESCO).
Example: Behrupiyas.
¾ The guidelines will enable artists to avail
benefits under KSVY even if they are not able
to stage programs in the physical format as
before and will ensure continued financial
assistance.
¾ Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) is an umbrella
scheme under the Ministry of Culture for the
promotion of art and culture in the country.
nnn
Note:
Geography
Highlights
z Wheat Variety MACS 6478 z Tectonically Active Zone of Himalayas
z Tsunami Early Warning System in India z Typhoon Molave: Vietnam
quintal per hectare when they cultivated Lok 1,

Wheat Variety MACS 6478 HD 2189 and other old varieties.
¾ Other ARI Wheat Variety (MACS 4028):
Why in News This bio-fortified durum variety has very high
The wheat variety called MACS 6478 has doubled the protein (14.7%), iron (46.1 ppm) and zinc (40.3
crop yield for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra. ppm) content, compared to the corresponding
levels of 8-10%, 28-32 ppm and 30-32 ppm in
Key Points normally-grown varieties.
¾ Developed By: Scientists from Agharkar Research z Biofortification is the process by which the
Institute (ARI), Pune- an autonomous institute of nutritional quality of food crops is improved
the Department of Science and Technology (DST). through agronomic practices, conventional plant
¾ Features: breeding, or modern biotechnology.
A common wheat or bread wheat (Triticum Maturing in just over 100 days, it is suitable for
aestivum). cultivation in rainfed and low fertility conditions

in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
z Other popular wheat varieties are durum wheat
(T. durum) and club wheat (T. compactum). It was chosen for a UNICEF-funded Farming System
for Nutrition project, operated through the Indian
Hybrid Crop, i.e. produced by the cross-breeding
Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) Krishi
of two genetically different varieties or species.
Vigyan Kendras (KVK), as part of the National
Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly
Nutrition Strategy.
created in nature when open-pollinated plants
naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties ¾ ARI has also bred MACS 2971, a high-yielding variety
(not genetically modified). of the traditionally cultivated dicoccum (also known
Matures in 110 days and is resistant to most races
as ‘khapli’) wheat that is rich in dietary fibre.
of leaf and stem rust. ¾ The Karan Vandana (DBW 187) wheat variety,
z This is against the normal maturing attained

developed by the Indian Institute of Wheat and
after 140 to 150 days, required for wheat Barley Research (IIWBR) under the Indian Council of
varieties cultivated commonly in northern India. Agricultural Research (ICAR), is used for cultivation
in North Eastern Plains Zones.
This amber colored medium sized grain contains
14% protein, 44.1 ppm (parts per million) zinc
and 42.8 ppm iron which is Tsunami Early
higher than other cultivated
varieties.
Warning System in India
Farmers get a yield of 45-60
quintal per hectare with the Why in News
new variety as against earlier According to experts from the Indian National Centre
average yield ranging 25-30 for Ocean Information System (INCOIS), India is much
Note:
safer against tsunami threats than it was in 2004, due to z Objective:

the establishment of the state-of-the-art Indian Tsunami Improve the coastal community’s preparedness
Early Warning System (ITEWS). for tsunami emergencies.
Minimise the loss of life and property.
Key Points
Ensure a structural and systematic approach
¾ Indian Tsunami Early Warning System:
in building community preparedness through
It was established in 2007 and is based at and fulfilling the best-practice indicators.
operated by INCOIS, Hyderabad.
INCOIS is establishing a network of 35 stations
It is an integrated effort of different organisations
to estimate the tectonic plates’ movements in
including the Department of Space (DOS),
real-time and measure the vertical displacements
Department of Science and Technology (DST),
under the sea directly.
the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR), Survey of India (SOI) and National Institute Indian National Centre
of Ocean Technology (NIOT). for Ocean Information System
ITEWS comprises a real-time network of seismic ¾ It was established in 1999 as an autonomous body
stations, tide gauges and a 24x7 operational under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
tsunami warning centre to detect tsunamigenic
¾ INCOIS through ITEWC is the nodal agency for
earthquakes, to monitor tsunamis and to provide
providing tsunami advisories to India.
timely advisories to vulnerable communities.
¾ It coordinates with the Disaster Management
Indian scientists can detect large undersea
earthquakes in the Indian Ocean in real-time and Officials (DMOs) for implementation of Tsunami
provide a tsunami warning in 10-20 minutes after Ready.
the earthquake occurs. ¾ It conducts IOWave Tsunami mock exercises
z In 2004, India did not have any tsunami warning biannually to strengthen the readiness to handle
capability nor any public knowledge of tsunami emergency situations with stakeholders.
in the Indian Ocean. ¾ INCOIS also identifies the Potential Fishing Zones
India is among the first few centres to introduce (PFZ) for the fishermen community.
quantitative tsunami forecasts. ¾ It has also made improvement in overcoming the
z Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission- cloud cover through the usage of geostationary
United Nations Educational, Scientific and satellites and numerical modelling.
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO-IOC) accredited ¾ INCOIS has also partnered with Indian Space
ITEWC as Tsunami Service Provider (TSP) for 28 Research Organisation (ISRO) and Airports Authority
Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries, along with of India (AAI) to develop satellite-based message
Indonesia and Australia in 2011, for issuing
broadcasting services through the indigenous
regional warnings.
navigational satellite communication system ‘NAVIC’.
¾ Recent Focus on Tsunami Warning Capability:
On enhancing community awareness and response
through several capacity-building activities, biennial Tectonically
Indian Ocean wide tsunami drills and piloting of Active Zone of Himalayas
the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready initiative.
z Tsunami Ready is a community performance-
Why in News
based programme to promote tsunami
preparedness through the active collaboration Recently, a group of scientists from the Wadia
of public, community leaders, and national and Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun have
local emergency management agencies. found that the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ) of
Venkatraipur (Ganjam district) and Noliasahi Himalaya is tectonically active.
(Jagatsinghpur district), both in Odisha, are ¾ The suture zone of Himalaya was conventionally
now Tsunami Ready. thought to be locked.
Note:
¾ WIHG is an autonomous institute under the Depart- ¾ The ITSZ was conventionally believed to be a locked
ment of Science and Technology (DST), Government zone till now.
of India. ¾ This will have major implications in terms of earthquake
¾ Tectonics is the scientific study of the deformation study, prediction, understanding the seismic structure
of the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust and the of the mountain chains well as its evolution.
forces that produce such deformation.
Suture Zones
It deals with the folding and faulting associated
¾ A suture zone is a linear belt of intense deformation,
with mountain building, the large-scale, gradual
where distinct terranes, or tectonic units with different
upward and downward movements of the crust
plate tectonic, metamorphic, and paleogeographic
and sudden horizontal displacements along faults.
histories join together.
Key Points ¾ These zones also provide the only record of deep
oceanic crust and of ancient seafloor processes for
¾ Geological Features that Support the Finding:
roughly the first 90% of Earth’s history.
Sedimentary beds are tilted and thrust broken.
¾ Their study provides a means to understand the
Rivers are associated with uplifted terraces. end-product of plate tectonic processes in time
Bedrock shows brittle deformation at much and space. In plate tectonics, sutures are seen as
shallower depths. the remains of subduction zones together with
¾ These deformed geological features were dated using the terranes possibly representing fragments of
the technique of Optically Stimulated Luminescence different tectonic plates.
(OSL) and data of seismicity and denudation rate ¾ The suture zone is often represented on the
was also reviewed. surface by a mountain range comprising intensely
Optically-Stimulated Luminescence: It is a late deformed rocks.
quaternary (geological time period that encompasses ¾ The Iapetus Suture from Great Britain, which is
the most recent 2.6 million years) dating technique now concealed beneath younger rocks, and Indo-
used to date the last time quartz sediment was Tsangpo Suture well exposed in the Himalayas are
exposed to light. As sediment is transported by some of the best examples of suture zones.
wind, water or ice, it is exposed to sunlight and
zeroed of any previous luminescence signal.
Seismicity: It is the worldwide or local distribution
Typhoon Molave: Vietnam
of earthquakes in space, time, and magnitude.
Why in News
More specifically, it refers to the measure of the
frequency of earthquakes in a region. Recently, Vietnam has been hit by Typhoon Molave,
Denudation: It is a long term process in which the
one of its biggest storms in two decades.
wearing and tearing of the surface of the Earth take ¾ Vietnam is prone to natural disasters in the rainy
place. It includes all those processes that lower relief season between June and November, with central
and acts both chemically (chemical weathering) coastal provinces commonly impacted, but the storms
and physically (mechanical weathering). have notably worsened in recent years.
¾ The region of the ITSZ has been neo-tectonically
active since the last 78000-58000 years.
The ITSZ is a suture zone in the Ladakh region
and marks the limit of the Indian plate where it
collides with the Eurasian plate and is subducted
below the latter.
The ITSZ can be traced for more than 200 km and
a wide variety of rock association along the ITSZ
indicates that the collision at the plate boundary
was of very complex nature.
Note:
Key Points system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates

over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed,
¾ Typhoon is a regionally specific name for a strong
low-level circulation.
tropical cyclone.
Tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the
Tropical cyclones are known as:
Northern Hemisphere.
z Typhoons in the northwest pacific ocean.
These are measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
z Hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Wind Scale.
z Willy-willies in the north-western Australia.
¾ Naming of Typhoons: The Regional Specialised
z Tropical Cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region. Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo, Typhoon
¾ A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by Centre assigns a tropical cyclone a name. The name
meteorologists to describe a rotating, organised ‘Molave’ is contributed by the Philippines.
nnn
Note:
Social Issues
Highlights
z Global Hunger Index 2020 z Report on Food Consumption: WWF
z SC on Crimes and Violence Against Women z New Abortion Laws in Poland
z India and Sex Ratio z Child Care Leaves for Single Male Parent
Key Points
Global Hunger Index 2020 ¾ Global Scenario:
Worldwide Hunger: Represented by a GHI score
Why in News of 18.2 (moderate level), down from a 2000 GHI
India has been ranked at 94 among 107 countries in score of 28.2 (serious).
the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020. Factors:
z The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting

Global Hunger Index
economic downturn, as well as a massive
¾ Annual Report: Jointly published by Concern
outbreak of desert locusts in the Horn of Africa
Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
and other crises, are exacerbating food and
It was first produced in 2006. It is published nutrition insecurity for millions of people.
every October. The 2020 edition marks the 15th It needs to be noted that 2020 GHI scores do
edition of the GHI. not reflect the impact of Covid-19 on hunger
¾ Aim: To comprehensively measure and track hunger and undernutrition.
at the global, regional, and country levels. z The above mentioned crises come on top of
¾ Calculation: The GHI scores are calculated each existing hunger caused by conflict, climate
year to assess progress and setbacks in combating extremes, and economic shocks (random,
hunger. It is calculated on the basis of four indicators: unpredictable events).
Undernourishment: Share of the population Region-wise Performance: Africa South of the
with insufficient caloric intake. Sahara and South Asia have the highest hunger and
Child Wasting: Share of children under age five undernutrition levels among world regions, with
who have low weight for their height, reflecting 2020 GHI scores of 27.8 and 26.0, respectively—
acute undernutrition. both considered serious.
Child Stunting: Share of children under age five SDG 2 Progress: The world is not on track to achieve
who have low height for their age, reflecting the second Sustainable Development Goal - known
chronic undernutrition. as Zero Hunger for short - by 2030.
Child Mortality: The mortality rate of children ¾ Indian Scenario:
under the age of five. Overall Performance:
¾ Scoring: z With a score of 27.2, India has a level of hunger
Based on the values of the four indicators, the that is “serious”.
GHI determines hunger on a 100-point scale z It ranks 94 out of 107 countries in the Index. In
where 0 is the best possible score (no hunger) 2019, India’s rank was 102 out of 117 countries.
and 100 is the worst. Comparison with Other Countries:
Each country’s GHI score is classified by severity,
z India features behind Nepal (73), Pakistan (88),
from low to extremely alarming. Bangladesh (75), Indonesia (70) among others.
Note:
z Out of the total 107 countries, only 13 countries

fare worse than India including countries like SC on Crimes and
Rwanda (97), Nigeria (98), Afghanistan (99),
Liberia (102), Mozambique (103), Chad (107)
Violence Against Women
among others.
Performance on the Indicators:
Why in News
z Undernourishment: 14% of India’s population Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has said that crimes
is undernourished (2017-19). It was 16.3% against women continued in a “never-ending cycle” in
during 2011-13. India.
z Child Wasting: 17.3% (2015-19), it was 15.1%
in 2010-14.
Key Points
z Child Stunting: 34.7%, it has improved significantly, ¾ Current Judgement:
from 54% in 2000 to less than 35% now. The judgement dealt with the statutory scheme
z Child Mortality: 3.7%, it was 5.2% in 2012. of the Protection of Women from Domestic
Violence Act,2005.
z It has allowed women fighting domestic
violence cases, the right to reside in the ‘shared
household’ even if her husband had no legal
right to the house and the same was owned by
the father-in-law or mother-in-law.
Making the Act Comprehensive: The court observed
that the relief granting right to residence to a
Suggestions married woman under the domestic violence
law by a criminal court is relevant and could be
¾ Governments, private actors, and NGOs should
considered even in civil proceedings seeking her
carefully coordinate their responses to overlapping
eviction from the matrimonial home (the residence
food and health crises and work with community
in which a husband and wife have lived together).
organizations to make sure interventions are culturally
acceptable, reach the most vulnerable, and preserve z The wife would have the right to claim the
local ecosystems. “shared household” of the joint family under

¾ Food should be priced not only by its weight or volume
the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
but also by its nutrient density, its freedom from Section 2(s) of the domestic violence act
contamination, and its contribution to ecosystem defines “shared property”, as the property
services and social justice. owned by a woman’s husband, or by the joint
¾ Governments should expand access to maternal and family of which the husband is a member.
child health care, as well as education on healthy diets ¾ Reversed Earlier Judgement: The court reversed the
and child feeding practices. law held by a previous decision of the SC in December
¾ Supporting smallholder farmers in becoming sustainable 2006 in SR Batra v Taruna Batra, where on similar
and diversified producers; governments and NGOs facts it refused permission to the wife to continue
must seek to improve those farmers’ access to staying in her husband’s house as it was owned by her
agricultural inputs and extension services, coupling mother-in-law. This part of the ruling was held wrong
local and indigenous agricultural knowledge with in law as it did not give full meaning to the 2005 act.
new technologies. ¾ Least Reported Form of Cruel Behaviour: The court
¾ Existing human rights-based multilateral mechanisms noted that the domestic violence in India is rampant
and international standards—such as the Committee yet underreported. Women in India faced violence
on World Food Security—must be strengthened to and discrimination in one form or the other in their
support inclusive policy making and sustainable food various roles as daughter, sister, wife, mother, partner
systems. or single woman.
Note:
National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4),
The ¾ His arguments are based on the Sample Registration
2015-16 suggests that 30% of women in India in System (SRS) Statistical Report (2018) and the United
the age group of 15-49 have experienced physical Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World
violence. Population 2020.
As per the UN Women, globally in 2019-20, 243
Sample Registration System Report
million women and girls (aged 15-49) across the
¾ SRS is the largest demographic sample survey in the
world have been subjected to sexual or physical
country that among other indicators provide direct
violence by an intimate partner.
estimates of sex ratio, fertility rate etc. through a
z Less than 40% of women who experience
nationally representative sample.
violence saught the help or reported the crime.
¾ It is brought by the Office of Registrar General.
z Less than 10% of those women seeking help,
go to the police. United Nation Population Fund
¾ Reasons: Women continue to be vulnerable to these ¾ The UNFPA is aimed at improving reproductive
crimes because of: and maternal health worldwide.
Non-Retaliation. ¾ It is headquartered in New York.
Absence of laws addressing their rights
Key Points
comprehensively.
Ignorance of the existing statutes.
¾ Sex Ratio at Birth:
Biologically normal sex ratio at birth is 1,050 males
Societal attitude, stigma and conditioning also make
women vulnerable to domestic violence and these to 1,000 females or 950 females to 1,000 males.
are the main factors for under-reporting of cases. z Sex ratio is measured as the number of females
This set of circumstances ensured that a majority

per 1,000 males.
of women preferred to suffer in silence, not out The SRS Report 2018 shows that sex ratio at birth
of choice but of compulsion. in India declined marginally from 906 in 2011 to

899 in 2018.
Acts of Domestic Violence The UNFPA State of World Population 2020
¾ Physical violence, such as slapping, hitting, kicking estimated the sex ratio at birth in India as 910,
and beating. which is on the lower side of the index.
¾ Sexual violence, including forced sexual intercourse This is a cause for concern because this adverse
and other forms of sexual coercion. ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number
¾ Emotional (psychological) abuse, such as insults, of men and women and its inevitable impact on
belittling, constant humiliation, intimidation, threats marriage systems as well as other harms to women.
of harm, threats to take away children. ¾ Total Fertility Rate:
¾ Controlling behaviours, including isolating a According to SRS Report 2018, Total Fertility Rate
person from family and friends, monitoring their (TFR) has been declining in India for some time
movements and restricting access to financial now. It declined from 2.4 to 2.2 during the period
resources, employment, education or medical care. between 2011 and 2018.
z Fertility is likely to continue to decline and it is
estimated that replacement TFR of 2.1 would
India and Sex Ratio soon be reached for India as a whole.
z TFR is the number of children a mother would
Why in News have at the current pattern of fertility during
Recently, C Rangarajan (former Chairman, Prime her lifetime.
Minister’s Economic Advisory Council) has argued that z The replacement rate is the average number of
there is an urgent need to reach young people both for children born per woman, at which a population
reproductive health education and services as well as exactly replaces itself from one generation to
to cultivate gender equity norms. the next, without migration.
Note:
Many people believe that the population would Rollout campaigns on sensitisation towards
stabilise or begin to reduce in a few years once women and children, making women safety cells,
replacement fertility is reached. ensuring the safety of women on public transport
However, this is not so because of the population systems, making cyber-crime cells are some other
momentum effect, a result of more people entering initiatives that need to be taken.
the reproductive age group of 15-49 years due to In view of the complexity of son preference resulting
the past high-level of fertility. in gender-biased sex selection, government actions

z For instance, the replacement fertility level was need to be supplemented by improving women’s
reached in Kerala around 1990, but its annual status in the society.
population growth rate was 0.7% in 2018, nearly Reaching out to young people could reduce the
30 years later. effect of population momentum and accelerate

¾ Challenges Involved: progress towards reaching a more normal sex-
ratio at birth.
Regressive Mindset: There is considerable son
preference in all states, except possibly in Kerala
and Chhattisgarh. This son’s preference is derived Report on
from a regressive mindset.
Food Consumption: WWF
Misuse of Technology: Cheaper technology like
ultrasound helps in sex selection.
Why in News
Failure in Implementation of Law: The Prenatal
Conception and Prenatal Determination Act Recently, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has
(PC-PNDT), 1994 which punishes healthcare published the report “Bending the Curve: The Restorative
professionals for telling expectant parents the sex Power of Planet-Based Diets”.
of a child with imprisonment and hefty fines, has ¾ The report offered a detailed analysis of food
failed to control the sex selection. consumption patterns in 147 countries and six regions
z Reports found major gaps in the training of
and the national dietary guidelines (NDGs) across 75
personnel implementing PC-PNDT. Poor training countries. For each country and region, the impacts
meant that they were unable to prepare strong of diets were assessed on various environmental
cases against violators to secure convictions. and health indicators.
Illiteracy: Illiterate women in the reproductive
Key Points
age group of 15-49 years have higher fertility than
¾ Food consumption patterns vary widely and can best
literate women.
be characterised by massive inequality.
¾ Government Initiatives:
Different consumption patterns are observed in
The sharp decline in sex ratio as pointed by Census
the richest and poorest countries, with European
2011 data called for urgent action. countries consuming approximately 600 grams
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched per day more food (1,800 g/day) than African
in 2015 in Panipat, Haryana to address the issue countries (1,200 g/day).
of decline in child sex ratio and related issues of Although under-nutrition and obesity affect almost
empowerment of girls and women over a life all countries, the rate of underweight people is
cycle continuum. up to 10 times higher in the poorest countries as
It is a tri-ministerial effort of the ministries of compared to other countries.
Women and Child Development, Health and The rate of overweight/obese people is up to five
Family Welfare and Education (earlier the Ministry times higher in the richest countries.
of Human Resource Development). ¾ Major Concerns:
¾ Suggestions: Premature deaths in low- and middle-income coun-
Increasing female education and economic tries due to unhealthy diets, under-consumption
prosperity will help to improve the ratio. as well as over-consumption.
Note:
Indianeeds to be extra careful in figuring out the
changes in the diet because there could be an New Abortion Laws in Poland
increase in biodiversity loss due to a shift to a
healthier and planet-friendly diet and extensively Why in News
increased consumption. Recently, women in Poland have been protesting a
z The country has to first increase consumption court ruling that drastically restricts their right to access
of fruits, vegetables and dairy to meet its safe and legal abortions.
nutritional requirements.
Key Points
¾ Suggestions:
¾ Poland’s Abortion Laws:
There is a need to strike a balance in how countries
The existing 1993 abortion law permits the
consume their food as well as a shift to a plant-
termination of pregnancy on the grounds of
based diet which is the need of the hour.
foetal defects.
z However, this dietary shift will impact different
These are already considered some of the strictest
countries differently. While some countries will
laws in Europe and after the enactment of the
need to reduce their consumption of animal- court’s decision, abortions will only be permitted
source foods, others may need to increase them. in cases of rape, incest, or if there is a threat to
The shift will not only improve human health by the mother’s life.
preventing over-consumption of any food but will ¾ Background:
also reverse the biological loss that has occurred Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal ruled that an
until now and improve environmental health. existing law was unconstitutional because the
z The shift to more plant-based diets will cut down Polish constitution assures a right to life and
carbon emissions by 30%, wildlife loss by 46%, the abortion based on a foetal malfunction was a
agriculture land use by 41% and premature directly forbidden form of discrimination.
deaths by 20%. Tribunal held that permitting abortions in the case
A sustainable environment and human health can of foetal deformities legalised “eugenic practices
be achieved by following a few lifestyle changes with regard to an unborn child, thus denying it the
that include eating foods which are: respect and protection of human dignity.”
z More sustainable. z Eugenics is the practice or advocacy of improving
z More plant-based food and less animal-based.

the human species by selectively mating people
with specific desirable hereditary traits.
z Healthy and locally grown and minimally
z It aims to reduce human suffering by “breeding
processed.
out” disease, disabilities and so-called undesirable
z More diverse instead of just one kind.
characteristics from the human population.
Countries should not solely depend on the domestic
¾ Similar Instances:
production and biodiversity-rich countries,
Earlier in 2016 too, thousands of women went on
including India, should import food from higher- strike in protest against a draft law for a complete
yielding and less biodiverse nations. ban on abortions.
¾ New Launch: The draft law was proposed by an anti-abortion
The WWF has launched a new platform known as citizens’ group and was initially supported by the
Planet-Based Diets Impact and Action Calculator. Catholic Church. It suggested stringent punishments
z One can calculate their consumption and find like jail upto 5 years for the women and also the
out the impact caused by their diet on the doctors performing the abortion.
environment. However, the Church later backed out when bishops
The platform also shows national level impacts.

said they could not support the proposal to jail
This will help people living anywhere in the world women who underwent an abortion.
to make a conscious decision by finding out if their ¾ Implications of the Latest Ruling:
diet is good for them as well as their environment. Fewer than 2,000 legal abortions are carried out in
Note:
Abortion there is a threat to the mother’s life account

for merely 2% of all legal terminations.
¾ It is defined as the termination of pregnancy by
An estimated 80,000 to 1,20,000 Polish women
various methods, including medical surgery before
the fetus is able to sustain independent life. either go abroad or seek illegal abortions every
year due to the country’s strict laws or the stigma
Abortion Laws in India assocoated with it.
¾ Abortions in India are regulated by the Medical z It is feared that the number could surge even
Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. further if terminations due to malformed
¾ Under the law (section 3 of the MTP Act 1971), the foetuses are outlawed.
doctor can perform an abortion in the following ¾ Global Reactions:
conditions: ¾ Regional and global organisations like the Council
If the pregnancy would be harmful to the life of Europe, Amnesty International, the Center for
of the patient or affects her physical or mental Reproductive Rights and Human Rights Watch
health. The doctor will need to consider the criticised the ruling.
circumstances of the patient to figure out if
the pregnancy will harm her mental health, on
a case to case basis. Child Care Leaves
If there is a good chance that the child would suffer for Single Male Parent
from physical or mental abnormalities which
would leave him or her seriously handicapped.
Why in News
If pregnancy occurred as a result of a failure of
contraception (only applicable to married women). Male government employees who are single parents
will now be eligible for child care leave.
If pregnancy is a result of sexual assault or rape.
¾ Single male parents, include unmarried employees,
¾ Termination of Pregnancy:
widowers and divorcees, who may be expected to
If the pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks,
take up the responsibility of caring for a child single-
only one doctor is needed to sign-off. handedly.
If the pregnancy has exceeded 12 weeks and
is below 24 weeks, two doctors are needed. Key Points
The gestation period does not matter if a ¾ Aim: Ease-of-living for government servants.
doctor feels that an immediate abortion must
¾ Features: Child care leave can be granted at 100%
be conducted to save the life of the patient.
of the leave salary for the first 365 days and 80% of
The doctor who determines if it is necessary to leave salary for the next 365 days.
perform an abortion and performs it needs to be
In case of a disabled child, the condition of availing
a ‘registered medical practitioner’ under the law.
child care leave up to the age of 22 years of the
¾ In January 2020, the Union Cabinet approved child has been removed and now it can be availed
amendments to the MTP Act, allowing women to for a disabled child of any age.
seek abortions as part of the reproductive right
¾ Child Care Leave: It is treated as earned leave and is
and gender justice.
generally granted to women employees.
¾ The amendment raised the upper limit of MTP
Women employees having minor children (children
from 20 weeks to 24 weeks for women including
up to 18 years of age) may be granted child care
rape survivors, victims of incest, differently-abled
leave for a maximum period of two years during
women and minors.
their entire service for taking care of up to two
Poland each year, a majority of which are due to minor children.
foetal defects. So the ruling essentially translates The child care leave is granted either for rearing
to a near complete ban on abortions in the country. children or to look after any of the needs of children
z Abortions in cases of rape, incest or where like examination, sickness etc.
nnn
Note:
Security
Highlights
z Naval Version of BrahMos Tested z 59th Raising Day of the ITBP
z INS Kavaratti z 36th NSG Raising Day
z Integrated Theatre Command
¾ The missile features indigenous Booster and Airframe

Naval Version Section, along with many other indigenous sub-systems.
of BrahMos Tested ¾ Advantages:
BrahMos has been deployed in Ladakh as well as
Why in News the Eastern Sector in Arunachal Pradesh to tackle

any threats in the ongoing standoff with China.
Recently, a naval version of the BrahMos supersonic
Enhanced use of indigenous technologies will give
cruise missile has been successfully test-fired from INS
a boost to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Chennai (an indigenously built stealth destroyer) of the
Increasing indigenous content in defence systems
Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea.
has also been a prime focus of Defence Acquisition
Key Points Procedure, 2020 and draft Defence Production
and Export Promotion Policy 2020.
¾ BrahMos is a joint venture between the Defence
¾ Recent Defence Testings:
Research and Development Organisation of India
(DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia. India also carried out a successful test-firing of
Brahmos is named after the rivers Brahmaputra

‘Shaurya’, which is a laser-guided anti-tank guided
(India) and Moskva (Russia). missile and nuclear-capable hypersonic missile
The successful test firing of Rudram-1 was seen as
¾ It is a supersonic missile travelling at a speed of
Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound). a major milestone as it is India’s first indigenously
developed anti-radiation weapon.
It is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.
¾ It is a multiplatform i.e it can be launched from land,

air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint INS Kavaratti
accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective
of the weather conditions. Why in News
It is, therefore, used by all three defence forces,
Recently, INS Kavaratti has been formally inducted
the Army, Navy and the Air Force. into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Eastern
¾ It operates on the “Fire and Forget” principle i.e it Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam.
does not require further guidance after launch.
¾ It is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on Sukhoi-30 Key Points
MKI fighter aircraft, with a weight of 2.5 tonnes. ¾ It is named after the capital of the Lakshadweep
¾ Its range has been recently enhanced from 300 km group of islands.
to 450-600 km. ¾ It is the last of the four indigenously built Anti-
Increasing the missile’s range became possible Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built
after India’s induction into the Missile Technology under Project 28 (Kamorta class), by Garden Reach
Control Regime (MTCR) in June 2016. Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
Note:
¾ The ship is regarded as one of the most potent ASW There is one joint command in Andaman and
stealth corvettes to have been constructed in India Nicobar Islands.
as it joins three other ships of the same class INS z It is the first Tri-Service theatre command of
Kamorta, INS Kadmatt and INS Kiltan, at the ENC. the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair.
Its induction is a game-changer in the eastern z It was created in 2001 to safeguard India’s
seaboard, especially with the Chinese submarines strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the
trying to increase their presence in the Indian Strait of Malacca by increasing rapid deployment
Ocean. of military assets in the islands.
¾ It has enhanced stealth features resulting in The other tri-service command, the Strategic
reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) achieved by the Forces Command (SFC), looks after the delivery and
superstructure along with optimally sloped surfaces. operational control of the country’s nuclear assets.
INS Kavaratti and INS Kiltan are the first two ¾ Recent Developments: The appointment of the CDS
major warships in the country to have the unique and the creation of the Department of Military Affairs
feature of the superstructure made of carbon (DMA) are momentous steps towards the integration
fibre composite material. and advancement of defence forces.
¾ It has high indigenous content with the state-of- Chief of Defence Staff:
the-art equipment and systems to fight in Nuclear, z It is the single-point military adviser to the
Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions. government as suggested by the Kargil Review
Some of the major equipment/ systems developed Committee in 1999.
indigenously include Combat Management System, z CDS oversees and coordinates the working of
Torpedo Tube Launchers and Infra-Red Signature the three Services.

Suppression System, etc. z As the head of DMA, CDS is vested with the
The high level of indigenisation incorporated in authority in prioritising inter-service procurement

the production accentuates the objectives of decisions.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative. Department of Military Affairs:
¾ The ship is the reincarnation of the erstwhile z The DMA is headed by the CDS.
Arnala Class missile corvette of the same name, INS z Work exclusively pertaining to military matters
Kavaratti-P 80, a ship that played an important role will fall within the purview of the DMA. Earlier,
in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. these functions were the mandate of the
Department of Defence (DoD).
Integrated Theatre Command The next logical step in the process of defence
reforms is the formation of Integrated Theatre
Commands to synergise the capabilities and
Why in News combat potential of the three services during
As part of defence reforms, after the appointment war and peace.
of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the government is Teams headed by the Vice Chiefs of the three
working on the formation of the Integrated Theatre services have been constituted to study and
Commands. submit recommendations on the formation of
various integrated commands.
Key Points z The study on the air defence command is in an
¾ Current Situation: advanced stage of completion.
The Indian armed forces currently have 17 ¾ Integrated Theatre Command:
commands. There are 7 commands each of the An integrated theatre command envisages a
Army and the Air Force. The Navy has 3 commands. unified command of the three services, under
z Each command is headed by a 4-star rank a single commander, for geographical theatres
military officer. (areas) that are of strategic and security concern.
Note:
The commander of such a force will be able to bear The Force is also deployed for Anti Naxal operations
all resources at their disposal, from the Army, the and other internal security duties.
Indian Air Force, and the Navy, with seamless efficacy. ¾ ITBP was initially raised under the Central Reserve
It will not be answerable to individual services. Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949. However, in 1992,
Integration and jointness of the three forces will parliament enacted the ITBP Act and the rules were
avoid duplication of resources and the resources framed in 1994.
available under each service will be available to
other services too.
36th NSG Raising Day
The services will get to know one another
better, strengthening cohesion in the defence
establishment. Why in News
The Shekatkar committee has recommended the National Security Guard (NSG) Raising Day is celebrated
creation of 3 integrated theatre commands viz. on 16th October.
northern for the China border, western for the
Pakistan border, and southern for the maritime role. Key Points
¾ Formation: The decision to form an anti-terror federal
59 Raising Day of the ITBP
th contingency force was taken in 1984 when militancy in
Punjab was at its peak. The NSG came into existence
through the National Security Guard Act, 1986.
Why in News
¾ Anti Terrorist Force: They are been given the specific
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrated
role to handle all the facets of terrorism in any part
its 59th Raising Day on 24th October 2020.
of the country as a federal contingency force.
Key Points They are also informally referred to as the ‘Black
¾ Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force is a Central

Cats’ because of their menacing, all-black uniforms.
Armed Police Force functioning under the Ministry ¾ Two Complementary Elements:
of Home Affairs, Government of India. Special Action Group (SAG) comprising Army
Other Central Armed Police Forces are: Assam personnel.

Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Special Rangers Group (SRG) comprising personnel
Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve drawn from State Police and Central Armed Police
Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards Force.
(NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). ¾ Model: It is modelled on the elite anti-terror
¾ The ITBP was raised on 24th October, 1962 during forces GSG-9 of Germany and SAS of the United
the India-China War and is a border guarding police Kingdom.
force specializing in high altitude operations. ¾ Deployment: Since its raising, the NSG has been used
Presently, ITBP is deployed on border guarding in Punjab in 1986 and Jammu & Kashmir. It played a
duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep significant role in thwarting Mumbai terror attacks
La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3488 km of (26/11 attacks).
Indo-China Border. ¾ Not For VIP: In January 2020, the Centre decided to
z ITBP Border Out Posts are of the height upto remove the NSG from providing security to VIPs, a
18,750 feet where the temperature dips down task which it was not supposed to perform when it
minus 40 degree Celsius. was originally formed.
nnn
Note:
Miscellaneous
Highlights
z Frontier Technologies Cloud Innovation Center z Indira Rasoi Yojana: Rajasthan
z Electronic Exchange of Customs Data z Kochi-Muziris Biennale
z India International Science Festival 2020 z International Press Institute
z Nazca Lines: Peru
To address societal challenges through digital

Frontier Technologies innovation.
Cloud Innovation Center To enable budding innovators and start-ups and
help in piloting state-of-the-art, cloud-centric digital
innovations by leveraging emerging technologies
Why in News such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things
Recently, the NITI Aayog and Amazon Web Services (IoT), robotics, etc.
(AWS) have announced the establishment of a Frontier To identify and deploy leading-edge technologies
Technologies Cloud Innovation Center (CIC), the first of to drive continuous innovation in delivering
its kind in India. citizen services.
¾ AWS is a subsidiary of Amazon, multinational tech
and online-shopping giant. Electronic
¾ It provides on-demand cloud computing platforms
and Application Programming Interfaces (API) to Exchange of Customs Data
individuals, companies, and governments, on a
metered pay-as-you-go basis. Why in News
Recently, the India Post and United States Postal
Key Points Service have signed an agreement for the electronic
¾ CIC is part of the AWS CIC Global Program, which exchange of customs data related to postal shipments
provides an opportunity for government agencies, between the two countries.
nonprofits and educational institutions, to come
Key Points
together on pressing challenges, apply design thinking,
test new ideas, and access the technical expertise ¾ Objective: To facilitate ‘ease of exports’ for small
of AWS. and large exporters through postal channels from
different parts of the country.
¾ Frontier Technologies CIC will identify and prioritise
¾ Features:
projects as well as collaborate with local leaders,
The agreement will make it possible to transmit
including subject matter experts at the state and
district levels, to solve critical challenges. and receive electronic data of international
postal items prior to their physical arrival at the
Local enterprises, start-ups, researchers, and
destination and would enable customs clearance
universities in India can experiment and build of postal items in advance in line with the evolving
prototypes on AWS Cloud. global postal framework.
¾ It is aligned to the visions of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Exchange of Electronic Advance Data (EAD) will
Mission and the Atal Innovation Mission. be a key driver towards promoting mutual trade
¾ Aims of Frontier Technologies CIC: with emphasis on the exports.
Note:
z The USA is the top export destination for India students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists
(~17%) which is also reflected in the exchange and technocrats from India and abroad.
of goods through postal channels. It was launched in 2015 to promote Science and
z In 2019, around 20% of international Express Technology and demonstrate how science could
Mail Service (EMS) and 30% of letters and small lead India towards a developed nation within a
packets transmitted by India Post were destined short span of time.
to the USA whereas 60% of the parcels received ¾ Aim: To engage the public with science and show
were originated from the USA. the ways how science, technology, engineering and
¾ Benefit: mathematics (STEM) provide solutions to improve
This will fulfil a major demand of the export people’s lives.
industry to expedite customs clearances of export ¾ Organising Agencies: Ministry of Science & Technology
items and will contribute towards making India an and Ministry of Earth Sciences in association with
Export Hub for the world. Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) organise IISF every year.
The agreement will also improve the performance ¾ IISF 2020: The Council of Scientific and Industrial
of postal services in terms of reliability, visibility Research (CSIR) will spearhead the IISF 2020 with
and security. support of all other concerned ministries and
departments.
India Post
CSIR is funded by the Ministry of Science and
¾ It is the trade name for the Department of Posts, a
Technology.
government-operated postal system in India under
the Ministry of Communications. Vijnana Bharati
¾ Swadeshi Science Movement was started in Indian
¾ With 1,55,531 Post Offices, it has the most widely
Institute of Science- Bengaluru by a few eminent
distributed postal network in the world.
scientists under the guidance of Prof. K I Vasu.
¾ Functions:
¾ In 1991, it was decided to launch the Swadeshi
Delivering mails, accepting deposits under Small
Science Movement at all India Level and named it
Savings Schemes, providing life insurance cover Vijnana Bharati.
under Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal
¾ It’s one of the objectives is to motivate young
Life Insurance (RPLI) and providing retail services
scientists towards greater creativity and originality.
like bill collection, sale of forms, etc.
¾ It is headquartered in New Delhi.
It also acts as an agent for the Government
in discharging other services for citizens
such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Nazca Lines: Peru
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),
wage disbursement and old age pension payments. Why in News
Recently, a giant cat geoglyph was discovered on a
India International hill at the famous Nazca Lines site in Peru.
Science Festival 2020 Key Points
¾ The Nazca Lines:
Why in News
These are a group
The 6th edition of the India International Science of geoglyphs
Festival (IISF) will be held virtually in 2020. known for the
¾ The 5th edition was held in Kolkata in 2019. depictions of
larger-than-life
Key Points animals, plants
¾ IISF: It is a festival to celebrate the achievements of and imaginary
India’s scientific and technological advancements with beings.
Note:
z Geoglyphs are the large designs made on Under the scheme, each plate serves 100 grams of
the ground by creators using elements of the pulses and vegetables each, 250 grams of chapati
landscape such as stones, gravel, dirt or lumber. and pickles.
These are believed to be the greatest known It aligns with the World Food Day’s 2020 theme
archaeological enigma, owing to their size, to grow, nourish and sustain together.
continuity, nature and quality. ¾ Implementation: The local voluntary organisations
The site is around 450 km away from capital Lima. have been roped in for establishing the centres near
Drawn more than 2 millennia ago on the surface the places such as bus stands, railway stations and
of southern Peru’s arid Pampa Colorada, the hospitals and for successful implementation of the
geoglyphs feature different subjects, but mainly scheme.
plants and animals. ¾ Background: The current Rajasthan government
z The figures include pelicans (the largest ones scrapped the previous Annapurna Rasoi Yojana which
sized around 935 feet long), Andean Condors was offering breakfast and lunch on the lines of Tamil
(443 feet), monkeys (360 feet), etc. Nadu’s Amma Unavagam (mother’s canteen).
z Variety of geometric shapes such as triangles, ¾ Monitoring: A committee headed by the District
trapezoids and spirals, and some have been Collector is monitoring the implementation of the
associated with astronomical functions. scheme. A special app has also been created for
Discovery and Heritage Site: The Lines were first
monitoring the food quality.
discovered in 1927, and were declared a World ¾ Target: The scheme targets to serve 1.34 lakh people
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. per day in the state. Till now the scheme has benefitted
¾ The Cat Geoglyph: 50.30 lakh persons across the State.
Cultural Linkage: It
dates from 500 BC Kochi-Muziris Biennale
– 200 AD (Paracas
age).The cat geo- Why in News
glyph is believed to
be older than the ones previously found at Nazca. In the wake of the pandemic, the 5th edition of the
Kochi-Muziris Biennale has been postponed to 1st
z The Paracas culture was an Andean society
November 2021, which was earlier set to be inaugurated
existing between approximately 800 BCE and 100
on 12th December 2020.
BCE, with an extensive knowledge of irrigation
and water management. It was in present day
Key Points
Peru in the Paracas Desert region.
¾ The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is an art exhibition and
z Representations of felines of this type are
festival that is the largest of its kind in South Asia
frequent in the iconography of ceramics and
textiles of the Paracas society. and is organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation
at Kochi, Kerala.
The Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust
Indira Rasoi Yojana: Rajasthan engaged in promoting art and culture and
educational activities in India.
Why in News It works throughout the year to strengthen
Recently, over 50 lakh people have benefited from contemporary art infrastructure and to broaden
Indira Rasoi Yojana (a kitchen scheme), in Rajasthan. The public access to art across India through a diverse
scheme was launched in August 2020. range of programmes.
¾ In mythology, Muziris was a port city, among the
Key Points earliest of its kind in the world and when Kerala
¾ Aim: To provide nutritious food to the poor and established itself as a major center for spice, the
needy twice a day at concessional rates. ancient port of Muziris emerged as its hub.
Note:
Currently,the Muziris Heritage Project is one of It urged the Member States to implement definite
the biggest conservation projects in India, where measures countering the culture of impunity.
the state and the central governments have come The date was chosen in commemoration of the
together to conserve a rich culture that is as old assassination of two French journalists in Mali
as 3000 years or more. on 2nd November 2013.
¾ The biennale exhibits artworks across a variety
of mediums including film, installation, painting, Key Points
sculpture, new media and performance art and also ¾ IPI is a Vienna-based global network of editors,
offers seminars, screenings, music, workshops and media executives and leading journalists who share a
educational activities for school children and students. common dedication to quality, independent journalism.
¾ Formation:
International In 1950, to promote and protect press freedom
and to improve the practices of journalism, 34
Press Institute editors from 15 countries gathered at Columbia
University and formed the global organisation.
Why in News z The year 2020 marks its 70th anniversary.
Recently, the International Press Institute (IPI) has The original Secretariat was set up in 1951 in
highlighted that the impunity with which crimes against Zürich (Switzerland), which was shifted to London
journalists are committed continued to rise as governments in 1976 and then to Vienna in 1992.
had failed to probe the cases. ¾ Objectives:
¾ This move comes ahead of the International Day to To promote conditions that allow journalism to
End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists which fulfil its public function, the most important of
is celebrated on 2nd November every year. which is the media’s ability to operate free from
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed interference and without fear of retaliation.
the day in the General Assembly Resolution of To defend media freedom and the free flow of
December 2013. news wherever they are threatened.
nnn
Note:
Key Points Details
Summary
Key Points Details
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Monthly Current Affairs Consolidation (October 2020) - Part II

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Science and Technology......................................................................................................70

Environment and Ecology...................................................................................................80

Art & Culture......................................................................................................................96

Polity and Governance

 Clause 6 of the Accord envisages constitutional,

 The government would treat them “at par with

 The Gurkhas were permanently settled in the

 They fought for Assam against the Burmese invaders

z The BTAD was renamed z It provides an opportunity to renew the fleet

¾ Through it, the Centre has also dissolved the Environ-

 The scrappage scheme should incentivise

more than 20 years. that has similar characteristics and is separated

Key Points ¾ Water Testing Facilities: The State is in process of

management of water at the local level. e-Education, e-Agriculture, Tele-medicine, Tele-

Digital Media Regulation its reporters, cameramen, videographers enabling

 The guidelines could help the government in  Earlier in Oct 2020, a

 Assam-Arunachal Pradesh: General Consent

 Assam-Meghalaya: government departments and employees, it can

z Both WII and IIFM can be converted to deemed

¾ Objectives: of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).

 Amazon’s refusal amounts to a breach of such as traffic patterns or demographic data.

transfer of certain types of personal data overseas and prevent trolling.

 Astrong data protection legislation will also help Key Points

In-House Procedure Against warrant removal. There could be other kinds of

 If a Supreme Court judge faces such a charge,

to be conducted in-camera. ¾ Issues Involved:

Khadi and Village Industries Commission

Key Points  Observers: The EC will appoint observers to whom

¾ The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the EC to

or identity cards. Identity slips supplied by them binding.

Key Points Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry

up prevalence survey. that are passed in the faeces of infected people.

Key Points  Any institution that did not appear in any

¾ Objectives: period to establish and operationalise the

z To get the status, the institutions should be Why in News

 Rs. 3,211 crore is to be borne by the concerned

in Odisha: SATH Project schools is in violation of section 3 and 8 of the

¾ State Government’s Response: ¾ Other disqualification triggers are explicitly restricted

 Physical contact and advances.

z Diversifying the jute sector.

z Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum. of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central

national freedom movement. and permanent worldwide reduction to zero

India (Shresth Bharat). Philippines, Malaysia, Ghana, Myanmar, China,

¾ Polio Eradication: z Wild Poliovirus type 2 (WPV2)

 Most people with polio do not feel sick. Some

 The Centre distinguished the GST shortfall into

z Caused by the impact of Covid-19.

¾ Background: consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),

options and were planning to move the Supreme

 InJune 2020, the IHBT inked a Memorandum of

Key Points Fertiliser Subsidy

normally. Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO)

 Also, better quality and higher-paying jobs in urban

rural jobs. Production (GDP) contraction for India. However,

¾ Inflation: momentum in the third quarter, with the GDP

 CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).

 CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).

z These three indexes are compiled by the

z CPIs AL and RL are used to fix minimum wages

of Multimodal Logistics Parks. ton–kilometer is almost double than that in

transport, integrated storage and warehousing, amount of a loan or deposit. In contrast,

Waiver on Moratorium Loans by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

Clause 6 of the Accord envisages constitutional,

The government would treat them “at par with

The Gurkhas were permanently settled in the

They fought for Assam against the Burmese invaders

The scrappage scheme should incentivise

The guidelines could help the government in Earlier in Oct 2020, a

Assam-Arunachal Pradesh: General Consent

Assam-Meghalaya: government departments and employees, it can

Amazon’s refusal amounts to a breach of such as traffic patterns or demographic data.

Astrong data protection legislation will also help Key Points

If a Supreme Court judge faces such a charge,

Key Points Observers: The EC will appoint observers to whom

Key Points Any institution that did not appear in any

Rs. 3,211 crore is to be borne by the concerned

Physical contact and advances.

Most people with polio do not feel sick. Some

The Centre distinguished the GST shortfall into

InJune 2020, the IHBT inked a Memorandum of

Also, better quality and higher-paying jobs in urban

CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).

CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).

Recycling critical energy metals and e-waste.

Digitisation for transparency, virtualisation, de-

The third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners in Geneva, Switzerland.

and secular values. Exercise Garuda (Air Force).

Recently, the task force’s International Cooperation

From each embryo, PGT takes a biopsy of only a

This analysis can search to exclude embryos

Earth observation satellites are the satellites

Superconductors that work at room temper-

Thisis the most comprehensive study of global

There are about 100 elephant corridors in India Asian Elephant

It is a NAMP based dashboard, built on data from ¾ Performance on PM2.5 Level:

There are 60 species belonging to four families in

Welfare of captive elephants.

Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 - Schedule 1

Tahzebul Akhlaq (Social Reformer in English), a

This set of circumstances ensured that a majority