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DATE : 01.10.2016
G.S.-01
Two-thirds of elderly financially dependent on others, says study
* research said that 65 percent are dependent on other for their basic need
and only 38 percent has access to the formal pension system
* so elderly are becoming burden for the capitalistic and productivity based
society
* india will face major threat by time because now india is worlds youngest
countries and failed to secure elder age then there will be crises
*central government has started atal pension scheme and other investment
option and govt. can also try to do it by the way of financial inclusion
G.S.-02
Pak. still in denial on Indias LoC action
* india has adopted surgical strike as a option in reply of the uri attack this
attempt has been critics by country
* this attack has direct affect on the Indian economy and share market
G.S.-03
Commodities trading may open to foreigners
*there are two kind of system in india market that is security market and
commodity market
*In that commodity market managed by MCX and security market managed
by the sensex
*now only Indian can take part in commodity trading but SEBI and RBI now
preparing to open this trade worldwide
G.S.-04
G.S.-01
G.S.-02
Pakistan still in anaesthesia after surgery, says Parrikar
*A surgical strike is a military attack which results in, was intended to result
in, or is claimed to have resulted in only damage to the intended legitimate
military target, and no or minimal collateral damage to surrounding
structures, vehicles, buildings, or the general public infrastructure and
utilities.
Mahatma was read out ofcontext, says granddaughter
Relevance of Nonviolence And Satyagraha Of Gandhi Today
The acid test of relevance of works and views of a great man is definitely the
application of them in prevailing conditions of time and space. Mahatma
Gandhi is fortunately among those few great men in the entire human history
whose individual life, works and views, also known as Gandhism, not only
proved to be great and exemplary during his own lifetime but their relevance
and
significance
remained
intact
after
his
passing
away.
He became the ideal hero for thousands around the world in general and
renowned figures like Martin Luther King Junior of America, Nelson Mandela
heart
to
kill
this
great
and
brave
soul.
Again it was in March 1930 when the Mahatma along with his selected
colleagues was on his way to Dandi from his Sabarmati Ashram to break the
Salt Law and through it to launch the historical Civil Disobedience Movement.
A man of a place near Bharoach, who was opposed to the Gandhian way of
Ahimsa, threatened to kill him in a lonely place. The news reached to the
Mahatma. He was, as we know, a worshipper of non-violence and, therefore,
fearless and brave also. He knew that anyone having ill-will cannot withstand
the power of non-violence. Two-three days passed. In the meantime the
Mahatma ascertained the name and address of that ill-willing person and one
day, in the early hours, he reached his home and told him:
Brother! I am Gandhi; you want my life. Take it soon, none will know.
But the man of ill-will who could not see eye-to-eye with the votary of nonviolence became a follower of the Mahatma. This is the reality of fearlessness
and pure love the basis of which is Ahimsa.
Way of Satyagraha in current perspectives
Gandhian approach would need both, courage and freedom from ill-will.
Before launching Satyagraha and during the course of Satyagraha he was ever
ready to negotiate and discuss. In the late twenties he was opposed to the
exploitation of the textile workers of Ahmedabad by the mill-owners, but he
was not for a strike to end it. In it, and in all other matters of dispute, whether
they were small or big in nature or local or national in level, he advocated
discussions, negotiations or dialogues, conciliations, arbitrations and
adjudication as a last resort. He applied the same method in actions taken for
the independence of the country. He inspired confidence and faith with his
words; he was always dependable. Even today in changed circumstances it is
necessary that when we talk of Ahimsa, non-violence and Satyagraha, we
should
bear
this
background
in
our
minds.
Today most the counties of the world are facing various kinds of internal and
external crisis. Due to unprecedented changes in social, political, economic
and cultural spheres, awakening amongst the various groups of people has
reached a high level. That is why; many a times one particular group or groups
of people create a problem which becomes so serious thatauthorities become
G.S.-03
Rs. 65,250 cr. mopped up vianew black money window
The F. M. has announced a scheme for Voluntary Disclosure (TIDS, 2016) of
Undisclosed Income and Assets by Domestic Taxpayers. On the basis of the
updates available, we are noting below the Frequently Asked Questions on the
aforesaid Scheme:-
Tax @ 30%
Surcharge @ 7.50%
Penalty @ 7.50%
TOTAL 45%
of
Individual
H.U.F.
a) By Karta of HUF;
b) If the Karta is absent from India or Mentally Incapacitated By any adult
member of the HUF
Firm
Company
Association
Other Person
a) By that Person; or
b) Other person competent to act on his behalf.
FAQ 8: What is the Last date of filling declaration under this Scheme and / or
Payment of Tax, Surcharge and Penalty?
Reply: The last date shall be notified by the Government in the Official Gazatte.
FAQ 9: What are the Benefits to the Declarant by giving disclosure under this
scheme?
Reply: The declarant will be eligible for following benefits in respect of the
income Disclosed under the Scheme:1. Amount of income declared under this scheme will not be included in the
Total Income of the declarant for any assessment year under the Income Tax
Act;
2. Undisclosed income declared not to affect finality of completed assessments;
3. Undisclosed income declared not to be treated as benami transaction in
certain cases;
4. Immunity from prosecution;
5. Exemption from wealth-tax in respect of assets specified in declaration;
where a notice under section 142 or sub-section (2) of section 143 or section
148 or section 153A or section 153C of the Income-tax Act has been issued
in respect of such assessment year and the proceeding is pending before the
Assessing Officer; or
where a search has been conducted under section 132 or requisition has been
made under section 132A or a survey has been carried out under section
133A of the Income-tax Act in a previous year and a notice under subsection (2) of section 143 for the assessment year relevant to such previous
year or a notice under section 153A or under section 153C of the said Act
for an assessment year relevant to any previous year prior to such previous
year has not been issued and the time for issuance of such notice has not
expired; or
where any information has been received by the competent authority under
an agreement entered into by the Central Government under section 90 or
section 90A of the Income-tax Act in respect of such undisclosed asset.
Adverse reactions
There is, however, some known adverse reactions include itching, burning,
prickling sensations on skin, headaches, convulsions, tremors, facial flushing
and swelling, asthma, sneezing, nasal congestion and nausea.
The fog is created by blasting the mixture of insecticide and water into
very fine droplets through the fogging machine. The amount of insecticide in
the fog is very small, and is dispersed at quantities that can only kill
something as small as a mosquito, so at the concentrations used there will be
no adverse health effects on people who are occasionally exposed to the
fog, said Dr. Anil Bansal, Delhi Medical Association.
People arent breathing in the fog three times a day. It is an occasional and
limited exposure and doesnt generally harm
G.S.-03
India ratifies Paris climate agreement
* The Paris Agreement (French: L'accord de Paris) is an agreement within the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing
with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the
year 2020.
* 1. Along with India, 62 countries responsible for almost 52 per cent of
greenhouse gas pollution have signed the accord.
2. India, in its climate pledge also known as Intended Nationally Determined
Contribution (INDC) submitted to the United Nations last October estimated a
cost of $2.5 trillion for its climate-action plan.
3. India will ask developed countries to provide $100 billion per year in climate
finance for developing countries at the climate talks in November at Marrakech.
Only $2bn has so far been received.
4. Paris deal will only come into force 30 days after it is ratified by at least 55
countries that between them produce 55 per cent of global carbon emissions. After
India, the European Union and Canada will likely ratify within a month.
5. Paris Agreement was adopted by 185 nations last year on December 12 and
India signed it in New York on April 22 this year. A total of 191 countries have
signed the Paris Agreement so far.
executive (Michael Patra, RBI Executive Director). The other three members
are nominated by the government. Currently, the three external members are
well esteemed academicians -- Chetan Ghate, professor, India Statistical
Institute; Pami Dua, director, Delhi School of Economics; and Ravindra H
Dholakia, professor, Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad). These
external members will hold office for four years.
3. What is the mandate?
To keep inflation within the central point of 4 per cent for the next five years,
while keeping growth considerations in mind. The tolerance band for inflation
is 2 per cent on both sides of the central point. This means inflation reading
could go up to 6 per cent or drop to 2 per cent. If the targets are not met for
three consecutive readings, then the MPC will have to give in writing to the
government why it failed to meet the objective.
4.So, what is left with RBI?
Everything else. It is a standard practice for countries where the central banks
have inflation targeting mandate to have a monetary policy committee and India
is no different. RBI still gets to decide on the other tools, for example on issues
like liquidity, cash reserve ratio, statutory liquidity ratio, everything related to
government bonds, foreign exchange market intervention and, of course, the
whole of banking regulations.
5.How does the MPC make a difference?
The MPC improves transparency and brings a collective approach to the
inflation problem. Even though the RBI governor has always been guided by
his team as well as outside advisors, the final decision on rates was always of
the governor alone. But in a world where people are asking more
transparency from the central bank, an MPC was inevitable. As per the
mandate, the MPC will have to release the minutes of the meetings after 14
days of the meet, which are expected to reveal how a member voted and why.
Besides, the MPC is now accountable to the government and the people of India
to keep inflation within a fixed target (to be fixed every five years). This will
eventually bring about stability in the countrys financial system and attract
more investors. Since half of the members are academicians, the deliberations
in the meetings are expected to be of very high quality and the policy rate can
be surmised to be a just prescription for the economy. Also, the data dependent
methodical approach improves predictability of the policy and the markets are
unlikely to get surprised on policy outcomes. This stabilises the market and is
good for the country.
G.S.-02
Court cant order setting up ofCMB, says Centre
The separation of powers,
powers often imprecisely and metonymically used
interchangeably with the trias politica principle,[1] is a model for
the governance of a state (or who controls the state). The model was first
developed in ancient Greece.
Greece Under this model, thestate is divided into
branches,
es, each with separate and independent powers and areas of
responsibility so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with the
powers associated with the other branches. The typical division of branches is
into a legislature, anexecutive
executive, and a judiciary. It can be contrasted with
the fusion of powers in a parliamentary system where the executive and
legislature (and sometimes parts of the judiciary) are unified.
G.S.-03
Reliance inks defence deal with Dassault
Loss of nutrients.
Pollution from smoke.
Damage to electrical and electronic equipment from floating threads of
conducting waste.
Risk of fires spreading out of control[2]
Nai manjil
The scheme aims to benefit the minority youths in the age group of 17
to 35 years who are school-dropouts
school dropouts or educated in the community
education institutions like Madarsas, by providing them an integrated
input of formal education (up till Class VIII orX) and skill training
along with certification, with a view of enabling them to seek better
employment in the organized sector and equipping them with better
lives. Minimum 30% seats are earmarked for minority girls. It
includes a Non-residential
Non
programme of 9-12
12 months duration
involving a Basic Bridge Programme (For Class VIII or Class X) for
their education, along with training in trade based skills for sustained
livelihood/gainful employment. The scheme covers the entire country.
G.S.-03
Hide Special Forces signature
to
the
scale
of
nanometre
(10-9
metres).
More
More
group Jaish-e-Mohammed,,
active
mainly
in
the Pakistan-administered
administered portion of the state of Kashmir
Kashmir.[2] Pakistani
authorities took him into 'protective custody' after the Pathankot attack in
India, [3] which was widely reported as an "arrest".[4] However he was seen
to be free in April 2016.[5] India had listed Masood Azhar as one of its most
wanted terrorists due to his history of militant activities
*
The Al-Qaida
Qaida
Sanctions
Council
Committeepursuant
pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011)
1|Page
Causes
Delhis
particularly
bad
air
pollution?
Contrary to popular belief, most of the air pollution in Delhi is not due to
vehicular traffic. Main contributors to particulate matter in the PM10 range, as
a recent study shows, are road dust (50%) and industry (23%)--vehicles
accounted for only 7%.
3|Page
Perspective:
-->More supply would ensure reduce in overall cost.Thus will make it more
affordable for consumers and will also help them in meeting their nutritional
requirement.
4|Page
-->On the flip side in absence of Labelling of such Transgenic crop consumers
right to make an informed decision will be affected.
-->Apprehension exists in general as for the first time a GM crop is being
considered for Human consumption
Government's perspective:
-->See this an opportunity to solve problems of sustainable agriculture,food
security,malnutrition.
-->Absence of clear policy(as evident in this case) is leading to disiilusionment
among young scientists,researchers from entering this field,
-->Failing to reveal all data related to bio safety in Public is hinting towards
possibility of some negative unintended consequences.
Crop
developer's perspective:
-->Bt. cotton industry shore up from 450 crore in 2002 to 4000 crore in
2015.Companies see huge opportunity as chances of commercial gains
high.Hence voicing in favor of it.
The need is to make an informed decision in this regard as it is related to Health
and environment.It is equally important that groups that are spreading
misinformation by fanning of emotions on both sides be tackled.As far as
scientific side is considered GEAC should be given autonomy and
empowerment to do justice.
5|Page
Wealthy
individuals
(for
example Ramkrishna
Dalmia, Gajanan
the Western
Ghat mountain
ranges
ofPathanamthitta
that
their
directions
have
been
"misinterpreted".
The email states: "It is unfortunate that the directions/contents of the e-mail
have been misinterpreted, as is evident from the press reports to state that the
present
India-New
Zealand
series
is
at
stake."
The e-mail clearly mentioned once again that banks have not been instructed to
freeze
BCCI
accounts.
"The Supreme Court Committee has not frozen the bank accounts of BCCI. Nor
has it objected to the banking operations/payments relating to routine
administration
and
conduct
of
cricket
matches/tournaments/activities.
"This has been clarified in express terms to the banks concerned, so that cricket
and the public are not made to pay for the actions of the BCCI governors."
The
clarified
the
exact
objection
of
the
panel.
"What was objected to was the decisions said to have been taken at the
Emergent Working Committee meeting of BCCI on 30.9.2016, to disburse large
funds to the various Member Associations under the guise of increasing the
annual infrastructure subsidy and to divide the proceeds of the Champions
League compensation. We understand that these may run into figures of more
than Rs 500 crore. Such decisions were neither routine nor emergent."
The e-mail mentioned some of the press statements made by BCCI President
Anurag Thakur regarding a forced choice between conducting IPL or playing
Champions
Trophy
in
England
due
to
less
than
15-day
gap.
misleading.
"While dealing with IPL, the report had merely suggested that while drawing up
the cricket calendar for a year, a gap of 15 days may be provided after a
strenuous IPL season before the commencement of events in the National
Calendar, to ensure that a cramped cricketing year does not take a toll on the
cricketers' body and longevity of their career. This does not in any way prevent
some flexibility where the calendar has already been declared for 2017 when
the Champions Trophy has already been scheduled."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize
for 2016 to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his resolute efforts to
bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end, a war that has cost
the lives of at least 220 000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people.
The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite
great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the
parties who have contributed to the peace process. This tribute is paid, not least, to
the representatives of the countless victims of the civil war.
President Santos initiated the negotiations that culminated in the peace accord
between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas, and he has
consistently sought to move the peace process forward. Well knowing that the
By awarding this year's Peace Prize to President Juan Manuel Santos, the
Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to encourage all those who are striving to
achieve peace, reconciliation and justice in Colombia. The president himself has
made it clear that he will continue to work for peace right up until his very last day
in office. The Committee hopes that the Peace Prize will give him strength to
succeed in this demanding task. Furthermore, it is the Committee's hope that in the
years to come the Colombian people will reap the fruits of the ongoing peace and
reconciliation process. Only then will the country be able to address effectively
major challenges such as poverty, social injustice and drug-related crime.
The civil war in Colombia is one of the longest civil wars in modern times and the
sole remaining armed conflict in the Americas. It is the Norwegian Nobel
Committee's firm belief that President Santos, despite the "No" majority vote in the
referendum, has brought the bloody conflict significantly closer to a peaceful
solution, and that much of the groundwork has been laid for both the verifiable
disarmament of the FARC guerrillas and a historic process of national fraternity
and reconciliation. His endeavors to promote peace thus fulfil the criteria and spirit
of Alfred Nobel's will.
G.S.-03
GM Mustard Issue
Recently GEAC i.e the government has deferred a decision on allowing
commercial cultivation of Mustard DMH-11, a transgenic crop developed by
Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi University. This moves
comes after Bt Brinjal,s commercial approval have been hold since 2009.
What is GM Mustard?
DMH-11 is a Genetically Modified (GM) mustard hybrid. Hybrids are normally
obtained by crossing 2 genetically diverse plants from the same species. The 1stgeneration offspring resulting from it has higher yields than what either of the
parents is individually capable of giving. But there is no natural hybridization
system in mustard, unlike in, say, cotton, maize or tomato. This is because its
flowers contain both the female (pistil) and male (stamen) reproductive organs,
making the plant naturally self-pollinating.
What scientist has done is to create a viable hybridization system in mustard using
GM technology. The resulting GM mustard hybrid, it is claimed, gives 25-30%
more yield than the best varieties such as 'Varuna' currently grown in the country.
Scientists at the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) in
Delhi University, however, showed that this problem could be addressed by
crossing Indian mustard cultivars with juncea lines of East European origin like
'Early Heera' and 'Donskaja'. The combination of the 2 divergent gene pools
enhanced the crossing options; the resultant F1 progeny were found to exhibit
significant heterosis.
G.S.-04
with delivery and post-delivery care. The success of the scheme is be determined
by the increase in institutional delivery among the poor families. The Asha as well
as AWW like activists become the effective link between Government and poor
women in this programme. Role of ASHA or other link health worker associated
with JSY would be to: Identify pregnant woman as a beneficiary of the scheme and
report or facilitate registration for ANC, Assist the pregnant woman to obtain
necessary certifications wherever necessary, Provide and / or help the women in
receiving at least three ANC checkups including TT injections, IFA tablets,
Identify a functional Government health centre or an accredited private health
institution for referral and delivery, Counsel for institutional delivery, Escort the
beneficiary women to the pre-determined health center and stay with her till the
woman is discharged, Arrange to immunize the newborn till the age of 14 weeks,
Inform about the birth or death of the child or mother to the ANM/MO, Post natal
visit within 7 days of delivery to track mothers health after delivery and facilitate
in obtaining care, wherever necessary, Counsel for initiation of breastfeeding to the
newborn within one-hour of delivery and its continuance till 3-6 months and
promote family planning. Cash Assistance in LPS and HPS states: The scheme
focuses on the poor pregnant woman with special dispensation for states having
low institutional delivery rates namely the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Rajasthan, Orissa and
Jammu and Kashmir. While these states have been named as Low Performing
States (LPS), the remaining states have been named as High performing States
(HPS). The women who deliver in Government hospitals, health centres or even in
accredited private hospitals are eligible for the cash assistance, if she is above 19
years. Further, this assistance is as follows: In LPS states: Cash assistance for all
women In HPS states: Cash assistance for ONLY BPL women LPS & HPS states:
All SC and ST women Cash assistance and incentive to Asha / other activists is
given as follows: Regarding the Ashas package, the scheme documents say that It
must be ensured that the cash incentive to the ASHA should not be less than
Rs.200/- per delivery case facilitated by her. This is essential to keep her sustained
in the system. The Assistance package to the ASHA or an equivalent worker is
available only if she works and assists the pregnant women. If any pregnant
women does not take assistance of any accredited worker, may be because no
ASHA is in position, she should be paid the sum total of both the packages
few
waterways
in Goa, West
G.S.-03
Foreign graduate doctor failing in MCI screening test
* Medical Council of India Screening Test, also known as Foreign Medical
Graduates Examination (FMGE), is a licensure examination conducted by
the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in India. The test is one of the
mandatory requirements for an Indian citizen who has a medical degree from
a college outside India to practice medicine in the country
Ban on halogen lights
* The halogen light bulb or lamp is a type of incandescent lamp which uses
a halogen gas in order to increase both light output and rated life. They are
known for moderately high efficiency, quality of light, and high rated life
compared to regular incandescentlamps.
Langur becoming problem for farmer
* Gray langurs or Hanuman langurs, the most widespread langurs of South
Asia, are a group of Old World monkeys constituting the entirety of the
genus Semnopithecus. All taxa have traditionally been placed in the single
species Semnopithecus entellus
*
Aakash missile
* Akash (Sanskrit:
KG basin
* Krishna-Godavari
Godavari Basin is a peri-cratonic
peri cratonic passive margin basin in India. It
is spread across more than 50,000 square kilometres in the Krishna River
and Godavari River basins in Andhra Pradesh
* this basin is home of the olive ridley turtle
1) What is KG D6 basin?
Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin is spread across 50,000 sq km in the Krishna River
and Godavari river basins near the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The site Dhirubhai
Dhirubhai-6
(D6) is where Reliance Industries discovered the biggest gas reserves in India. In
3) Did government have a role after the block was handed over?
Since all mining resources belong to the people of India, government monitors the
exploration and production of these. In the case of oil and gas sector, government
enters into contractual relationship with the private player through a Production
Sharing Contract (PSC). The PSC lays out roles and responsibilities of all parties,
specifies the detailed procedures to be followed at different stages of exploration,
development and production. It also specifies the cost recovery and profit sharing
in the contract. Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH) monitors the PSC. A
PSC was signed between the government of India (GOI) and undivided Reliance
Industries and its minority partner Niko Resources (10 per cent stake) for
exploration and production of oil and gas.
Even before production could start from the KG D6 wells, Reliance group was
split vertically between the two brothers, with the gas business of Reliance
Industries remaining with Mukesh Ambani, the elder brother. The brothers fought
over this huge reserve of gas even though it was not theirs in the first place. The
very first line of a production sharing contract clearly says that By virtue of article
297 of the Constitution of India, Petroleum is a natural state in the territorial waters
and the continental shelf of India is vested with the Union of India.
The brothers while splitting their fathers empire split the gas reserves too. A
family pact between the two brothers, which was never made public till the issue
blew out of proportion, was at the core of the dispute. Anil Ambani owned RNRL
(Reliance Natural Resources Ltd) citing the agreement by the brothers in 2005,
claimed it had rights to gas from Reliance KG basin for 17 years at $2.34 per
mmBtu (million British thermal unit).The Supreme Court finally settled the matter
by saying that the government owns the gas till it reaches its ultimate consumer
and parties must restrict their negotiation within the conditions of the government
policy.
Here the role of the government needs to be highlighted. None of the ministries
involved in the process, including the oil ministry which Moily now represents,
raised the point that the gas reserves belonged to the country and was not a
property of the Ambani family. Even the Prime Minister, ManMohan Singh
meekly requested the brothers to settle their differences in the interests of the
country.
But how did the Ambani brothers arrive at this magic figure of $2.34 per mmBtu
when there was no benchmark. In fact ONGC was supplying gas to the
government at half the rate.
5) How did Anil Ambani arrive at the price of $2.34 per mmBtu for KG basin gas?
In June 2004, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) invited bids for supply
of gas for its 2600 MW power plant in Kawas and Gandhar. Reliance Industries,
hopeful of starting production of gas by the time NTPCs power plant is ready bid
for the project and was awarded it as the lowest techno-commercial bidder. A
Letter of Intent (LOI) was issued to Reliance Industries to supply 132 trillion units
of gas per annum to NTPC for 17 years at a price of $2.34 per mmBtu. Anil
Ambani used this as a basis for asking gas for his power plant.
Reliance Industries refused to sign the contract for supply of gas. Jairam Ramesh,
the Minister of Power in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha in 2009 said
that After issuance of LOI, RIL did not come forward to sign the Gas Sale and
Purchase Agreement and sought major changes in the draft GSPA.In spite of all
the efforts (by NTPC) RIL did not sign the GSPA agreed during the bidding
process.
NTPC dragged Reliance to Bombay High Court on December 20, 2005 but
unfortunately the case that has dragged on. The case after nine years is still sub
judice. Here again the government's disinterest in protecting the interests of its own
PSU has been a matter of much debate.
While NTPC was fighting the case with Reliance in the Bombay High Court, the
government referred the matter to an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) in
2007 headed by none other than the current President Pranab Mukherjee, who was
then the finance minister. EGoM approved a rate hike of $4.2 per mmBtu of gas.
This decision was taken without a single unit of gas coming out of the KG basin.
Reliance grabbed at this opportunity and said that it could not supply gas at a price
lower than the mandated price set by the government.
7) How did Pranab Mukherjee arrive at the price of $4.2 mmBtu for gas?
The price was arrived by Reliance through its price discovery mechanism. As per
a Reliance crafter formula, user companies were asked to quote a price which gave
them a choice of arriving at a value between $4.54 and $4.75 per mmBtu. Reliance
initially forwarded a figure of $4.59 which was later brought down to $4.3, but
Pranab Mukherjee claimed victory by announcing a figure of $4.2 per mmBtu.
The brazenness of the entire exercise by the government can be seen from the fact
that the objections raised by the Principal Advisor, Power and Energy to the
government of India, Surya P Sethi along with the then cabinet secretary were
ignored by the government. Surya questions the recommendation saying that
nowhere is the cost of production more than $1.43.
8) Is it exploration or exploitation?
A CAG report released in 2011 (initiated in 2007 but delayed due to non-cooperation) on Performance Audit of Hydrocarbon PSCs castigated the oil ministry
along with Reliance to retain its entire KG-D6 block in contravention of the PSC.
As per the PSC, Reliance should have relinquished 25 per cent of the total area
outside the discoveries in 2004 and 2005, but the entire area was declared as a
discovery area (after initial objections) and the company was allowed to retain it.
Without drilling adequate wells, Reliance kept on claiming that there was potential
for petroleum. In CAGs words this was done to confuse potential/prospectivity
with actual discovery of hydrocarbons. The move allowed Reliance to keep the
entire area to itself without following the norms laid under the PSC.
In a recent report CAG has said that Reliance moved directly from discovery to
commercial production, skipping the intermediate appraisal programme step
required as under PSC. CAG asks, without an appraisal programme how did the
government and DGH ascertain the amount of gas in the well? And if they did not
know how much gas was there in the well, what is the logic and basis of blaming
Reliance of hoarding gas. Further, as pointed out by CAG, how did DGH assure
itself of reliability of the development plan, production rate and production costs
without the appraisal report?
CAG pointed out that as per the PSC, more investments, especially in initial stages
would mean more profit for the operator and less for the government. This
structure gives inadequate incentive for operators to reduce capital expenditure and
provides them with substantial incentives to front-end capital expenditure. Share
of government profit varies from 85 per cent in a low investment scenario to 5 per
10)
How
was
the
new
pricing
formula
arrived
at?
Former RBI governor C Rangarajan came out with a formula which has been
followed nowhere in the world, which has resulted in Reliance (and other players
too) getting a price on import parity basis. Surya Sethi, former Principal Adviser,
Power and Energy, Government of India does not mince words when he asks the
Prime Minister in an open letter [Read here] not to burden the nation with
Rangarajan Committees madness that only benefit a select few.
Conclusion
Sethis open letter to the Prime Minister sums up the entire issue when he points
out that the CAGs findings reveal how crony capitalism benefited RIL. The prequalification norms were diluted to ensure RIL qualified, the claimed size of gas
discoveries, the field development plans and the investment outlays proposed
escaped rigorous due diligence says Sethi. Above all, the companys commitments
under the PSC on gas output were not enforced.
G.S.-01
Santhara [ fast unto death]
* Sallekhan (also Santhara, Samadhi-marana, Sanyasana-marana) is the last vow
prescribed by the Jain ethical code of conduct. [note 1]The vow of sallekhan is
observed by the Jain ascetics and lay votaries at the end of their life by gradually
reducing the intake of food and liquids.
1) Contrary to popular notion, Santhara is not only observed by Jain monks who
have renounced worldly affairs . "In fact, ordinary Jains practice santhara more
than monks," says Jitendra Shah, director of the LD Institute of Indology told TOI.
2) According to Jains, The purpose of Santhara is to purge old karmas and prevent
the creation of new ones. Jain Yuva Mahasabha president Sachin Jain told India
TV that Santhara is not about death it's a path to achieve Moksha, it's a way to
appreciate both life and death. It happens with family's consent
3) According to the Press Trust of India, an average 240 Jains practice Sallekhana
each year in India. Also in the first half of 2015, around 118 Jains performed
Santhara across India, says a TOI report.
4) Jains also claim that the tradition could not be compared to Sati pratha as it is
entirely a personal decision, both men and women do it.and can also be withdrawn
if the person feels that he cannot undergo the process.
5) In Jain texts, Santhara is differentiated from suicide by the quality of intent; the
Indian Penal Code recognises only form for intent so it would be difficult to
convince the court that Salekhana is different from suicide.
6) Under this tradition, more than one person of the same family rarely undergo
through the ritual of Sallekhana. However, a Bangalore Mirror report says that
researches have found evidence of six people of the same family, who lived in the
12th-13th century AD, that underwent the sacrificial rite.
G.S.-02
BIMSTEC
* The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation involving a group of
countries in South Asia and South East Asia. These are: Bangladesh, India,
Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
G.S.-03
China and india will start talk on NSG issue
* Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that
seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials,
equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
* The issue of Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has been
the focus of significant public and media attention over the past few weeks. It
appears to have emerged as the single most critical foreign policy priority for the
Modi government. The government is according so much importance to the issue
that Prime Minster Modi hurriedly decided at the last minute to include visits to
Switzerland and Mexico during his tour to USA and some other countries to raise
this issue and obtain categorical support for Indias membership at the forthcoming
NSG plenary at Seoul on 23-24 June 2016. It is a reflection on Modi that he was
able to get unequivocal support from Mexico and Switzerland although they had
initially opposed the grant of a unique waiver to India by the NSG in 2008. They
had also expressed concerns about India's NSG membership when the issue came
up in informal discussions in recent years.
Under normal circumstances, the issue would probably not have assumed such a
high profile. What appears to have brought it so completely under the floodlights is
the uncharacteristic and open opposition by China to Indias membership in this
body. Over the last few weeks, China has issued several statements, officially as
well as through its mouthpiece media publications, maintaining that no single
country waiver should be granted to India as was done in 2008. It stated that, in
any case, India is not eligible to become a member of the NSG as it is not a
member of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), adherence to which latter is
necessary for membership in the former. China has also averred that for non-NPT
members some definite criteria should be evolved rather than granting country
specific waivers. At other times, it has stated that Pakistan also has similar
credentials to join the NSG; and that if India is admitted, Pakistan should also be
admitted simultaneously. China has also maintained that there are several countries
which have reservations about Indias membership of the NSG. Further, if only
India were to be admitted, it would disturb the nuclear-arms balance in South Asia
as India will engage in a massive nuclear weaponisation programme. Finally,
China has stated that India's membership will ''jeopardise'' China's national
interests and touch a ''raw nerve'' in Pakistan.
None of Chinas contentions appear to hold much water. However, before
considering them more critically, it will be useful to understand what the purpose
and mandate of the NSG is. It is doubtless true that NSG was established in the
wake of the Pokhran I peaceful nuclear explosion conducted by India in 1974. The
intent and purpose of the NSG is, however, different from that of the NPT. NSG is
not an international treaty. It is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to
contribute to nonproliferation of nuclear weapons through implementation of two
sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports. After more
than 25 years of its establishment, some suggested guidelines were evolved in 2001
at Aspen for admitting new members to the organisation. Amongst these,
membership of NPT is only a guideline, a consideration, and not a mandatory
requirement while deciding on a country's application.
India is keen to become a member of the NSG and other export control regimes
such as the Wassenaar Agreement and Australia Group as it seeks to significantly
expand its nuclear power generation and also enter the export market in the coming
years. Although the 2008 NSG waiver does provide significant possibilities for
India to engage in civilian nuclear trade with other countries (and indeed, India has
entered into such agreements with several countries like Russia, France, UK, USA,
Kazakhstan, Australia, and others), membership of the NSG will provide greater
certainty and a legal foundation for India's nuclear regime and thus greater
confidence for those countries investing billions of dollars to set up ambitious
nuclear power projects in India. Moreover, as Indias international political,
economic, military and strategic profile and clout increases, India would like to
move into the category of international rule-creating nations rather than stay in the
ranks of rule-adhering nations. For this, it is essential that India gets due
recognition and a place on the NSG high table.
Indias track-record in observing the provisions of the NPT and NSG, even though
it has not been a member of either body, is impeccable. If the NSG was able to
grant a waiver to India in 2008 on the basis of its past performance, it should have
no objection to admitting the country as a member this time as well because of its
record in adhering to all its commitments over the last eight years. It is, however,
obvious that the decision on 23-24 June in Seoul will be taken by some countries
on political considerations rather than on merit. Usually China has been seen to
stay in the background and put up smaller countries in the forefront to articulate
opposition to any issue that it does not concur with. This time, in addition to
instigating smaller countries to raise objections, China has itself come out openly
in opposition to Indias membership. Since all decisions at NSG are taken by
consensus, any country, small or big, can stand in the way of a consensus. India
has therefore launched a blitzkrieg of hectic diplomatic activity to explain its
position, allay fears and overcome the opposition of a few countries which might
still have concerns.
India has also reached out to China directly to explain that its interest in NSG
membership is not guided by any political or strategic considerations but only to
facilitate the expansion of its clean and green nuclear energy programme. It took
the unusual step of dispatching its foreign secretary to Beijing on 16-17 June to
hold discussions on this and other important issues with his counterpart. If the
issue goes to the wire, Prime Minister Modi is expected to take up the issue with
President Xi Jinping in Tashkent where both leaders are likely to be present for the
SCO Summit on 23-24 June.
India became a Member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on 7
June 2016. All 34 members of MTCR are members of the NSG. India is hence
assured of support of these 34 members in its quest for NSG membership. It may
be noted that China is not a member of MTCR, although it put in its application in
2004, because several members have concerns about Chinas dubious proliferation
record in supplying missile technology to countries like Pakistan, Iran and North
Korea.
Most questions raised by China against Indias membership have little validity. For
instance, membership of NPT is not a condition for becoming a member of NSG. It
is only a guiding principle to which consideration needs to be given. Pakistans
credentials for NSG membership are highly flawed and inadequate. Over the last
eight years India, as per its commitment, has separated its reactors which are under
IAEA safeguards and those which are not. Pakistan has a blemished and flawed
proliferation record as it has engaged in illicit supply of nuclear technology and
materials to Iran, Libya and North Korea. No comparison between the track
records of the two countries is hence justified. India maintains that rather than
evolving criteria, its performance should be the basis on which the decision on its
application should be taken.
Both substantively and commensurate with its expanding international prestige and
profile, India's membership of NSG is of vital significance. A decision at the NSG
plenary session in Seoul will depend on China's stance. All other countries are
expected to fall in line. President Putin has also assured India that Russia will
intercede with China on Indias behalf. India can be reasonably hopeful that China
will see reason and logic in India's arguments and will gracefully withdraw its
strident opposition. Responsibility devolves upon China, more than it does upon
India, to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries. This is a sterling
opportunity that China should welcome and grasp with both hands.
8 Under the Bill, alcoholic liquor for human consumption is exempted from GST.
Also, it will be up to the GST Council to decide when GST would be levied on
various categories of fuel, including crude oil and petrol.
9 The Centre will levy an additional one per cent tax on the supply of goods in the
course of inter-State trade, which will go to the States for two years or till when
the GST Council decides.
10Parliament can decide on compensating States for up to a five-year period if
States incur losses by implementation of GST.
Five Year Plan Approach Paper on Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive
Growth
The life cycle approach is the core principle of the Country Programme 2013-2017.
This is based on the acknowledgement that children and women face multiple
deprivations at different stages of their life and that multi-dimensional problems
need
multi-pronged,
inter-sectoral
solutions.
Take the example of a woman in India. Our vision for India is one where every
woman is empowered to make positive decisions for themselves and their children.
Healthy, well-informed mothers give birth to healthy wellnourished children,
children who have the potential to grow and develop to their fullest potential, learn
in a nurturing and protected environment, and become productive and empowered
citizens
that
can
transform
India.
The empowerment and participation of adolescent girls and boys is one of the key
outcomes of the 2013-2017 programme of cooperation. Through this, adolescents
will know their rights and how to protect themselves from risks and vulnerabilities,
and duty bearers will have capacity and knowledge to create protective
environment
free
from
gender-based
violence.
The geographical scope will cover three typologies of states: states with full
programming, states with selected programming and states with selected
programming where we do not have a physical presence. This is in recognition of
the fact that to be elevant and effective; and taking into consideration the diversity
of state contexts in terms capacities and indicators - our programming content and
strategies needs to differentiated and adaptive to suit these diverse contexts.
This is the essence of the new Country Programme. It has been formulated within
the context of 12th Five Year Plan and the United Nations Development Action
Framework, and aims to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals. Building on over sixty years of collaboration,
UNICEF will continue to be an active partner of the Government in striving to
achieve childrens rights in India.
G.S.-02
Karnatakas ban on e-cigs turns into vapour near schools
An electronic cigarette or e-cigarette is a handheld electronic device that vaporizes
a flavored liquid. The user inhales the vapor. Using e-cigarettes is often
called vaping. The fluid in the e-cigarette, called e-liquid, is usually made
of nicotine,propylene glycol, glycerine, and flavorings
HRIDAY scheme
The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, launched the National
Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme on 21st
January, 2015, with a focus on holistic development of heritage cities. The scheme
aims to preserve and revitalise soul of the heritage city to reflect the citys unique
character by encouraging aesthetically appealing, accessible, informative &
secured environment.
With a duration of 27 months (completing in March 2017) and a total outlay of
INR 500 Crores, the Scheme is being implemented in 12 identified Cities namely,
Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura,
Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal. The scheme is implemented in a
mission mode.
G.S.-03
Unite to vanquish terror: PM
* Terrorism is the use of threats and violence to coerce and intimidate people
especially for political purpose or religious gain. Terrorism is typically successful
because it is appealing for members of an organization.
Many terrorists come from low socioeconomic standards compiled with a low level
of education. Terrorism offers financial gain and comes with the lure of being a
hero or dying as a martyr. When most individuals think of terrorists, the immediate
thought is from Al-Qaeda or other Islamic extremists, however, there are many
terrorist organizations that are fueled by issues of religion or politics.
Terrorism is self-sustaining as it provides an opportunity for those to get even or
right the wrongs. One death of a terrorist equates to one-hundred terrorists taking
the death on as a mission. The problem with terrorism is that it is premeditated and
perpetrated against specific targets, while many innocent victims are also
casualties.
While it seems impossible to take on the battle of terrorism, because many of the
terrorist organizations can operate like a volcano; full of resources, energy, and lie
dormant for years before erupting, the best option is to evaluate what opportunities
there are to turn around the economies in order to support meaningful, selfsustaining environments.
physical illness, injury or defect and the right to seek a second medical
opinion of ones choice.
4. The right to fully equipped medical facilities and appropriately trained
medical staff in hospitals, so that competent physical, clinical examinations
can be performed.
5. The right to choose the kind or type of therapy to be employed, and the
right to discuss this with a general practitioner, healer or minister of ones
choice.
6. The right to have all the side effects of any offered treatment made clear
and understandable to the patient, in written form and in the patients native
language.
7. The right to accept or refuse treatment but in particular, the right to refuse
sterilization, electroshock treatment, insulin shock, lobotomy (or any other
psychosurgical brain operation), aversion therapy, narcotherapy, deep sleep
therapy and any drugs producing unwanted side effects.
8. The right to make official complaints, without reprisal, to an independent
board which is composed of nonpsychiatric personnel, lawyers and lay
people. Complaints may encompass any torturous, cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment received while under psychiatric care.
9. The right to have private counsel with a legal advisor and to take legal
action.
10. The right to discharge oneself at any time and to be discharged without
restriction, having committed no offense.
11. The right to manage ones own property and affairs with a legal advisor,
if necessary, or if deemed incompetent by a court of law, to have a State
appointed executor to manage such until one is adjudicated competent. Such
executor is accountable to the patients next of kin, or legal advisor or
guardian.
12. The right to see and possess ones hospital records and to take legal
action with regard to any false information contained therein which may be
damaging to ones reputation.
13. The right to take criminal action, with the full assistance of law
enforcement agents, against any psychiatrist, psychologist or hospital staff
for any abuse, false imprisonment, assault from treatment, sexual abuse or
rape, or any violation of mental health or other law. And the right to a
mental health law that does not indemnify or modify the penalties for
criminal, abusive or negligent treatment of patients committed by any
psychiatrist, psychologist or hospital staff.
14. The right to sue psychiatrists, their associations and colleges, the
institution, or staff for unlawful detention, false reports or damaging
treatment.
15. The right to work or to refuse to work, and the right to receive just
compensation on a pay scale comparable to union or state/national wages for
similar work, for any work performed while hospitalized.
16. The right to education or training so as to enable one to earn a living
when discharged, and the right of choice over what kind of education or
training is received.
17. The right to receive visitors and a minister of ones own faith.
18. The right to make and receive telephone calls and the right to privacy
with regard to all personal correspondence to and from anyone.
19. The right to freely associate or not with any group or person in a
psychiatric institution, hospital or facility.
20. The right to a safe environment without having in the environment,
persons placed there for criminal reasons.
21. The right to be with others of ones own age group.
22. The right to wear personal clothing, to have personal effects and to have
a secure place in which to keep them.
23. The right to daily physical exercise in the open.
24. The right to a proper diet and nutrition and to three meals a day.
25. The right to hygienic conditions and nonovercrowded facilities, and to
sufficient, undisturbed leisure and rest.
G.S.-02
Tamilnadu chief minister hospitalization and portfolio distribution
If the Governor allocates the functions of the Chief Minister, under
Art.166(3), to some other Minister during the temporary absence (say,
illness) of the Chief Minister, the functions of the Chief Minister under the
Constitution can be discharged by that other Minister, e.g., to preside over
meetings of the Council of Ministers; to communicate to the Governor the
decisions of the Council of Ministers under Art.167(a); to advise dissolution
of the Legislative Assembly under Art.174(2)(b).
G.S.-03
Surgical strike on LoC
1 . It has been a matter of serious concern that there has been continuous
infiltration by terrorists along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Terrorists captured from Pakistan or PoK have confessed to their training in
Pakistan.
3. We have often recovered GPS, and other stores with Pakistan markings, and
some captured terrorists have confessed to their connections.
4. Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on terror launchpads along LoC, there
have been significant casualties in the surgical strike.
5. Heavy damages have been caused to terrorists, many of them have been killed.
The surgical strike was conducted at four launching pads.
6. The motive of this operation was to hit out at the terrorists who were planning to
infiltrate into our territory.
7. No plan to continue with surgical strikes against terrorist launchpad across
LOC as of now.
8. Details of the operation have been shared with the Pakistani DGMO.
The Minimum Support Prices were announced by the Government of India for
the first time in 1966-67 for Wheat in the wake of the Green Revolution and
extended harvest, to save the farmers from depleting profits. Since then, the
MSP regime has been expanded to many crops. Minimum Support Price is the
price at which government purchases crops from the farmers, whatever may be
the price for the crops. The MSP is announced by the Government of India for
25 crops currently at the beginning of each season viz. Rabi and Kharif.
Following are the 25 crops covered by MSP: Kharif Crops Rabi Crops 1 Paddy
15 Wheat 2 Jowar 16 Barley 3 Bajra 17 Gram 4 Maize 18 Masur (Lentil) 5 Ragi
19 Rapeseed/Mustard 6 Arhar(Tur) 20 Safflower 7 Moong 21 Toria 8 Urad
Other Crops 9 Cotton 22 Copra 10 Groundnut 23 De-Husked Coconut 11
Sunflower Seed 24 Jute 12 Soyabeen Black 25 Sugarcane 13 Sesamum 14
Nigerseed Contents [hide] Rationale behind MSP How MSP is decided? Price
Support Scheme (PSS) for Oil seeds and Pulses Rationale behind MSP If there
is a fall in the prices of the crops, after a bumper harvest, the government
purchases at the MSP and this is the reason that the priced cannot go below
MSP. So this directly helps the farmers. How MSP is decided? The government
decided the support prices for various agricultural commodities after taking into
account the following: Recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs
and Prices Views of State Governments Views of Ministries Other relevant
factors. Price Support Scheme (PSS) for Oil seeds and Pulses The Department
of Agriculture and Cooperation implements the Price Support Scheme for Oil
Seeds and Pulses through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED). NAFED is the nodal procurement agency
for Oilseeds and pulses, apart from the Cotton Corporation of India. So, when
the prices of oilseeds, pulses and cotton fall below MSP, NAFED purchases
them from the farmers.
Now solar cell cathode can be made from human hair
Photovoltaic modules, commonly called solar modules, are the key
components used to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar modules are made
of semiconductors that are very similar to those used to create integrated
circuits for electronic equipment. The most common type of semiconductor
currently in use is made of silicon crystal. Silicon crystals are laminated into
n-type and p-type layers, stacked on top of each other. Light striking the
Singh on Monday, October 13, 2015 has aksed the Solicitor General of
India, Ranjit Kumar to seek the view of the Government on whether it is
willing to pass UCC (Uniform Civil Code) and has posted the matter further
after three weeks. The judges questioned the Government as to why it has
not framed and implemented UCC which is necessary in order to treat all
religions
on
the
same
yardstick
in
matters
of
law.
The bench was hearing a petition challenging the legal provision of Section
!0A of Divorce Act which compels Christian couples to wait for atleast two
years for divorce, whereas the period of separation is one year for other
religions. With an astonishing fervour, the Union Law Minister, Sadananda
Gowda said that UCC is the need of the hour and in the national interest.
G.S.-02
India-bangladesh relation issues
India and Bangladesh share a unique bond and a special relationship rooted
in a common cultural heritage, shared principles and values and forged by
common aspirations and sacrifices of its peoples. India is committed to carry
forward the mission of strengthening the historic bonds and impart a vision
for the future that is durable and sustainable and conducive for the collective
prosperity of the region.
a) Water dispute
b) Boundary Dispute
c) Illegal Migration
d) Security concerns
The following steps should be taken to improve relation between India and
Bangladesh.
a) Agreement on water sharing should be given priority. Early resolution of the
Teesta issue is necessary.
b) India should give prominence to the ratification of land boundary agreement.
c) Security cooperation between the two countries has been good. But there is need
for institutionalizing this cooperation so that it does not remain restricted to the
tenure of a particular government in either country. In this regard, a beginning
could be made by signing the bilateral extradition treaty.
d) Connectivity should be given top most priority. Both the countries should work
together to operationalise it.
e) There is need for addressing the issue of illegal migration. In this regard
innovative measures should be taken to resolve the problem, being extra careful to
ensure that illegal migrants do not acquire voting rights and Indian nationality.
f) People-to-people contact needs to be encouraged; hence liberal visa system
should be put in place.
g) Trade relationship has improved significantly between the two countries. India
has provided zero duty access of Bangladeshi products thereby addressing the tariff
related issue to a great extent. The two countries should now consider an
agreement on non-tariff barriers.
h) Indian investment should be encouraged in Bangladesh through visits of trade
delegations, trade fairs, and bilateral assurances on protection of the interests of
potential investors.
i) Progress can be made by cooperating on common challenges like disaster
management, food and energy security.
j) Greater involvement of people and wider public debate on foreign policy issues
will discourage conspiracy theories and distrust.
k) A greater level of people-to-people contact should be encouraged.
l) Implement the no-firing policy fully. Ensure accountability to ensure that the
image of India as an enemy ceases to exist.
systems are now required to carry out pH-adjustments in water that will serve
drinking purposes.
For as far as we know, lead fulfils no essential function in the human body, it can
merely do harm after uptake from food, air or water.
Lead can cause several unwanted effects, such as:
- Disruption of the biosynthesis of haemoglobin and anaemia
- A rise in blood pressure
- Kidney damage
- Miscarriages and subtle abortions
- Disruption of nervous systems
- Brain damage
- Declined fertility of men through sperm damage
- Diminished learning abilities of children
- Behavioural disruptions of children, such as aggression, impulsive behavior and
hyperactivity
Lead can enter a foetus through the placenta of the mother. Because of this it can
cause serious damage to the nervous system and the brains of unborn children.
Not only leaded gasoline causes lead concentrations in the environment to rise.
Other human activities, such as fuel combustion, industrial processes and solid
waste
combustion,
also
contribute.
Lead can end up in water and soils through corrosion of leaded pipelines in a water
transporting system and through corrosion of leaded paints. It cannot be broken
down;
it
can
only
converted
to
other
forms.
Lead accumulates in the bodies of water organisms and soil organisms. These will
experience health effects from lead poisoning. Health effects on shellfish can take
place even when only very small concentrations of lead are present. Body
functions of phytoplankton can be disturbed when lead interferes. Phytoplankton is
an important source of oxygen production in seas and many larger sea-animals eat
it. That is why we now begin to wonder whether lead pollution can influence
global
balances.
Soil functions are disturbed by lead intervention, especially near highways and
farmlands, where extreme concentrations may be present. Soil organisms than
suffer
from
lead
poisoning,
too.
Lead is a particularly dangerous chemical, as it can accumulate in individual
organisms, but also in entire food chains.
G.S.-04
In its affidavit AIMPLB has defended the triple talaq system. It claims
that the custom is a way out to avoid long-running court proceedings.
AIMPLB claims that personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of
social reforms.
According to AIMPLB, in the absence of triple talaq, a husband may
resort to murdering or burning alive his wife because of the timeconsuming legal proceedings that might otherwise be involved.
It further claims that Indian society is patriarchal, and that personal laws
of all communities are aligned with the patriarchal notion.
It defends the right to grant divorce to the husband alone, because men
have greater power of decision making and it uses gender ration argument
to justify the practice of polygamy.
Analysis
ConclusionIndia is developing country and adopted all social reforms according to demand
of time. Practice of triple talaq still exists in our society, it is egregious practice
which snatches the rights of women makes her subservient to her husband.
Many women have undergone severe trauma after being thrown out of their
homes by divorcing through triple talaq system. Hence it is high time to ban
such heinous practice from our society.
G.S.-02
BRICS summit
* BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national
economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Originally the first four
were grouped as "BRIC" (or "the BRICs"), before the induction of South Africa in
2010.[4] The BRICS members are all leading developing or newly industrialized
countries, but they are distinguished by their large, sometimes fast-growing
economies and significant influence on regional affairs; all five are G-20
members.[5] However, BRICS countries have significantly slowed down with
South Africa only growing 1% in 2015 similar to the 1.6% a year from 1994 to
2009,[6] Brazil in its worst recession since the 1930s by some measures,[7] Russia in
a recession as oil prices tailspin and sanctions weigh,[8]and China's slowdown is set
Funding
The third phase mentioned above would provide the isolated northeast a second
point of entry in addition to the Siliguri Corridor.
How Cargo will move?
The cargo will start from Kolkata port and reach Sittwe port in Myanmar by ship.
The Sittwe Port would be linked to Lashio (also in Maynmar) via the Kaladan river
transport route. Lashio would be connected to Mizoram via road transport
(National Highway 54).
When completed, the KMTT will shorten the current time taken to transport goods
from Kolkata to Mizoram by three-four days, and the distance by around 950 km.
This is the reason that KMMT for Mizoram and India, is called as Future
gateway to South East Asia.
Advantages
Once completed, the KMMT would allow goods from eastern Indian ports such as
Kolkata to reach Indias north-eastern states more cheaply. The KMMT would also
enhance economic ties between coastal Indian urban hubs and the Myanmar
economy, an attractive prospect for India as Myanmars 60 million people begin to
consume more foreign goods. It will also serve as cornerstone of Indias Look
East Policy aiming to expand Indias economic and political influence in
Southeast Asia.
Issues
Challenged by nature, people and bureaucracy, the KMTT project is running at
least two years behind schedule. One issue is of cost overruns and delays. Further,
Myanmar is planning to construct hydro-electric projects on the tributaries of the
Kaladan River, which might affect the project. Further, the project also faces a
challenge from the so called Kaladan Movement, which is an alliance of civil
society groups in Myanmar. This movement is demanding for wider transparency
and accountability in the project. Though the project will also help Myanmar by
providing much needed transport access to the Chin and Arakan states of
Myanmar, the local issues such as forcible land acquisition, environmental
concerns, cultural heritage and other such issues have tried to derail the project
many times.
G.S.-03
Kuddankullam plant
*Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin
dedicated the first unit of the ambitious Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project
(KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu to the nation. KKNPP was dedicated by the leaders
through video conferencing from Delhi and Moscow. It has Indias single
largest nuclear generation unit with capacity of 1000 megawatt (MW)
height
ensures
safety
from
potential
tsunamis.
Bengal in the north, the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar in the centre and the
Indian Ocean in the south. In the Palk Bay region, distances between the coasts of
the two countries varies between 16 and 45 kms. This means territorial waters of
each country in some areas strays into the others if 12 nautical mile criteria is
strictly applied.
C) LTTE issue has raised vigilance: The issue of fishermen came to existence with
the emergence of violent ethnic conflict between the Tamil militants and the Sri
Lankan government in the mid 1980s. Increased vigilance by the Sri Lankan Navy
to check intermittent flow of Tamil refugees into India and flow of arms and
supplies to Tamil militant groups made fishing difficult and risky. Due to these
fishermen from both nations suffered.
D) Security concerns: The monitoring is still on which aimed at preventing
possible return of LTTE cadres, who fled from the island during the height of the
conflict in 2009, to revive the insurgency all over again.
Thus the Indian fishermen, who thus far enjoyed monopoly of resource-rich
waters, have now got competitors in massive numbers. At times, this leads to
confrontations between the two fishing communities and in turn drawing
intervention of either of naval forces. The main complaint of Sri Lankan fishermen
has been against Indian mechanised trawlers that indulge in pair, mid-water,
pelagic, and bottom trawling severely damaging marine resources and the sea bed.
Ironically, most of the trawlers from Tamil Nadu are owned by merchant
capitalists from non-fishing and other social backgrounds. The entry of outsiders
has not only threatened the local customary laws of fishing communities, but also
turned several traditional fishermen from owners to labourers. Trawler sector in
Tamil Nadu is also politically influential and financially sound making it more
obdurate to solutions that could cut down its profit margins.
(E) Historical perspective: Both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen have been
fishing into Palk Bay area for centuries. Problem emerged only after a maritime
agreement was signed by India and Sri Lanka in 1974. In fact, initially the 1974
border agreement did not affect fishing on either sides of the border. In 1976,
through an exchange of letter, both India and Sri Lanka agreed to stop fishing in
each others waters. However, the agreement could not stop the fishermen from
fishing in these waters, as fishermen know no boundary. They go wherever they
can get maximum number of catch. They, knowingly or unknowingly, often violate
the International Maritime Boundary Lines in search of a good catch, at times at
great personal risk.
Both India and Sri Lankan fishermen have been known for entering into each
others waters. However, cases of arrest of Sri Lankan fishermen by Indian
authorities are comparatively less since they mostly fish in the high seas by using
multi-day crafts. On the other hand, due to the dearth of multi-day fishing
capability, Indian fishermen cannot shift their fishing effort from the Palk Bay area
to the offshore areas of the Indian waters or way beyond the continental shelf.
Therefore, Indian fishermen have no other option but to fish into the Sri Lankan
waters. While for the Sri Lankan authorities protecting their maritime boundary is
important, for the Indian fishermen the priority is of securing their livelihood.
It is noteworthy that despite the signing of maritime boundary agreements,
fishermen communities of both the countries continued their fishing in the Palk
Bay area peacefully until the Eelam war broke out in 1983. Nonetheless, after the
end of War in 2009, the Sri Lankan fishermen have been raising their objection to
Indian fishermen fishing in their waters.
Thus, the main problem with Indian fishermen is that a large number of them are
dependent on fishing in Sri Lankan waters, which is prohibited by the 1976
Maritime Boundary Agreement. Also, a large number of Indian fishermen are
dependent on trawling which is banned in Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan:
The practice of apprehending each other's fishermen, along with their boats, has
been followed by Pakistani and Indian forces since the time of the partition. The
Maritime Security Agency (MSA) of Pakistan is responsible for the arrest of
Indian fishermen when they reportedly enter Pakistani waters while for India, the
Coast Guard, Border Security Force(BSF), Customs or the Indian navy does the
same to Pakistani fishermen.
Most trespassing is common to Pakistani and Indian fishermen operating along the
coastline of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Pakistani province of Sindh. Most
violations occur due to the absence of a physical boundary between the nations.
The problem is aggravated by the dispute over the Sir Creek in Kutch and the
failure to officially determine the maritime boundary between the two nations.
Most local fishermen possess no navigational tools and are unable or incapable of
determine their location by longitudes or latitudes.
Further the punishment for crossing into the other country's water by fishing boats
may be imprisonment for a few months but due to the hostility between the
establishments/ruling classes of these countries, the fishermen languish for years in
detention centers even after completing their imprisonment.
Steps taken:
The Indian government has undertaken a census of fishermen, preparing a database
of information on fishermen and their boats to be used for more effective
monitoring of fishing activities. The Indian Coast Guard has also begun installing
tracking devices in fishing boats operating in the waters, developed by the ISRO,
the tracking device has the ability to send out alerts for fires on board, a sinking
vessel, a medical emergency and when the boat is apprehended by another country.
Possible solutions:
Germany was the first country to introduce Social security scheme (1883)
each member of a particular trade (blacksmiths, painters, weavers etc) was
required to contribute at regular intervals;
Money from this fund was used for food,lodging, hospital and feneral expenses
of aged and disabled members.
In USA, Social Security Act came into existence in 1935. (years not important,
this is only fodder material for Essay.)
India has always had a Joint Family system that took care of the social security
needs.
However with rise of migration, urbanization, nuclear families and
demographic changes, Joint family system has declined. Hence we need a
formal system of social security.
Concurrent List
Social Security and labour welfare falls under Concurrent list, it means both union
and state Government can make laws regarding these topics.
Article 41
Article 42
Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and
for maternity relief.
includes primarily those establishments which are covered by the Factories Act,
1948, the Shops and Commercial Establishments Acts of State Governments,
the Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act, 1946 etc.
This sector already has social security benefits under above laws.
Examples: employees of union and state Government, army, navy, airforce,
Multinational companies, Infosys, TCS and so on.
Unorganized sector
Examples of Unorganized sector
Rural Areas
Urban Areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
street vendors
hawkers
head load workers
cobblers
tin smiths
garment makers
c. horticulture
d. bee-keeping
e. toddy tapping
5. forest workers
6. rural artisans
7. Construction workers
Unorganized sector doesnt have labour law coverage. These are seasonal and
temporary nature of occupations.
Casual nature of work, labour mobility is high hence bargaining power is low.
provides for 12 weeks wages during maternity as well as paid leave in certain
other related contingencies.
provides 15 days wages for each year of service to employees who have
worked for five years or more in establishments having a minimum of 10
workers.
Provident Fund
G.S.-03
BRICS on terror
* "We underscored the need for close coordination on tracking sources of terrorist
financing," he said.
On key agenda of the grouping, Modi said putting the global economy back on
track was another focus point of the deliberations, adding the discussions at the
summit were "detailed, substantive and productive".
The Prime Minister said there was deliberations on possibility of setting up an
independent BRICSrating agency based on market-oriented principles, in order to
further strengthen the global governance architecture.
Modi said the Goa declaration lays a comprehensive vision for cooperation
within BRICS and international issues.
The Prime Minister said there was also a clear need to build norms, create
structures and pool capacities to stop tax evasion, and fight against black money
and corruption.
Special investigation team
* What is the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and why is that appointed by
the Supreme Court of India? Main intent is to ask, are there special premises for
the Supreme court to classify cases which it directly handles and the one which
goes to SIT. Also, what is the validity of the SIT
Enforcement directorate
The main functions of the Directorate are as under
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
We all are aware that the population of India is more than a billion and it is
still growing. It may overtake the population of China within the next couple
of decades, eventually making India the most populous nation of the world.
Many of us believe that the population of India is a great problem thus
population is quite often seen as a liability, a major hindrance to
development and quality of life of the people.
But India is considered as a leading nation in the world in terms of human
power. One of the major contributory factors for this global standing has
been the young, educated and productive people of our country. They are
contributing to the development of not only our country, but many of the
foreign countries also. In this context, population is an asset for the
economy, the greatest resource of the country rather than a liability.
But number of person is not the real and ultimate resource of a country until
quality is not added to them.
For converting the Population into capital, the country has to invest a lot in
the form of improving the health and nutritional status of the people, their
education and specialized training and their overall quality of life.
If a population is not healthy it will not contribute to its full potential in the
development of the country. For example an unhealthy person even if highly
educated and skilled would have to take frequent leave during job and
during work time also it he or she will not be able to give its 100 per cent.
If women population is not healthy the children from them would also
remain weak.
This population will become liability for the country rather than asset
because they will not able to contribute fully in the development of the
country; rather state has to take care of them.
It might result in increase in taxes as most of the countries are welfare state
thus resource has to be arranged to look after the health needs of the
unhealthy population.
Thus every country specially the developing and underdeveloped country
needs to invest more in health sector; otherwise its population will became a
liability rather than asset.
The Indian health story has trended upwards going by the standard indicators
of health. Besides significantly increasing the longevity of its citizens and
keeping a check on its population, since independence, India has managed to
rid itself of some major illnessessmall pox in 1975, polio in 2014, and
maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015.
However, with respect to meeting its potential health outcomes and relative
performance, the country has faltered.
Among South-East Asian Region (SEAR) nations, India ranks the worst in
the relative inequality score for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child
health intervention.
(Relative inequality score- It is the ratio of mean coverage among the
poorest populations to national average)
Child stunting, non-communicable diseases and mortality due to air
pollution are other areas where the country fares poorly.
The worlds highest number of women dying in childbirth; the worlds
highest deaths of children under the age of five; a health system that ranks
112 among 190 countries; one doctor for 1,700 people; 21% of the worlds
burden of disease.
While India has the fastest growing population, and an ambitious growth
aspiration, it has always had a disproportionately small health budget. In
2015, this shrank further to 1.2% of the GDP, one of the stingiest in the
world.
Systematic
But it isnt simply a matter of the centre throwing more money at the
problem. A look at the systemic issues will show that the current situation
could be improved even with the available resource allocations.
First, Indias health services and health personnel, besides being grossly
inadequate, are inequitably distributed across and within states. Rural-urban
inequalities inevitably translate into differences in health outputs. For
example, there is a 63% difference in infant mortality rates and 44%
difference in total fertility rates of rural and urban areas in India.
Second, despite the considerable shift in the disease burden of India from
communicable to non-communicable diseases, policy plans and funding
have not altered in tandem.
For example a growing urban population of overweight and obese citizens
co-existing with those suffering nutrient deficiency; diseases like diabetes
which have a cascading effect on cardiovascular diseases; climate changetriggered bronchial disorders and mental disorders, have now become areas
of increasing concern.
Moreover according to the recently released Lancet report on adolescent
health; suicide is the leading cause of death among youngsters aged 10-24
in the country. This is alarming since around 30% of Indias population falls
within this group and India accounts for 15% of the global mental,
neurological and substance use disorders in the world. The stigma associated
with these issues coupled with a severe shortage of medical professionals in
the field leads to sub-optimal health outcomes.
Way Forward
The nature, scope and incidence of these problems naturally vary widely
across the country depending on economic conditions and development
indicators of various states.
Eighty per cent of the 1% of GDP health allocation is raised and spent by
states. In keeping with the shift towards greater fiscal devolution, there must
be a dialogue about how health-spending programmes can give state
governments the greatest possible control in fine-tuning their approach,
based on local needs.
Telemedicine in india
Telemedicine important for country like India. Why?
Telemedicine is an upcoming advancement in health science arising out of the
effective fusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with
Medical science having enormous potential in meeting the challenges of healthcare
delivery to rural and remote areas besides several other applications in education,
training and management in health sector. Exact meaning of Tele-medicine is
providing medicine from remote place.
Other advantages of tele-medicine are as follows:
In India this will prove a boon because it will provide services of experts even in
remote areas without travelling there. Patients will not require to travel to Metro
cities for treatment but will be able to get treatment from AIIMS, Delhi even sitting
at a far village of Sikkim.
It will also impart training and education via tele-conferences. Less number of
doctors, hospitals and facilities of equipments will not become a reason for
improper treatment of a patient.
The Centre has banned direct foreign funding to NGOs operating in India
unless they fulfil stringent regulatory norms and show compliance reports.
This is seen as the beginning of a process to block flow of foreign aid to
NGOs, which, it perceives, are engaged in stalling developmental activities
in the country. As per this exercise, the Centre has cracked down on NGO
Greenpeace and placed on its radars thousands of other voluntary
organisations
receiving
foreign
aid.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the Reserve Bank of India to take
prior permission of the Home Ministrys Foreign Contribution Regulation
Act (FCRA) Department before clearing any foreign aid to Greenpeace from
Greenpeace International and Climate Works. This directive will put on hold
direct funding of this controversial NGO from abroad since each transaction
has
to
be
cleared
on
case-to-case
basis
by
the
RBI.
Org.
Betting
and
match fixing
cant do it.
State associations
Transparency
Lot more dissension can be done but BCCI maintains report not binding in nature
and sports not a direct topic under UPSC so cost benefit declines. This much
content sufficient for 200 words.
G.S.-03
Hydro-electric cell
*A hydroelectric fuel cell system is designed for stand-alone household
generator to meet the need of home electricity behind national electrical
network in Vietnam. The energy system utilizes water to generate H2 by the
reduction agent contained in a replaceable cartridge. The subsystems are
composed of PEM performance monitoring and control system to optimize the
fuel/air supply and reactant condition parameters; for example, a heat and water
vapor collector from the cathode reaction is equipped to enhance the PEM
performance, electrochemically generated water can be used to control internal
humidity required for proton transport. In addition, a DC/DC converter is
complemented and a Litium-polimer battery charger was used to make the
output useful for the system. For the low cost approach, the hydroelectric fuel
cell system utilizes new proton transport material which comprised of liquid
nano coal (LC) embedded in a polymer forming nano composite. The process of
making PEM powder using liquid nano coal comprises of salt milling step
which can increase the purity of the membrane by lowering the ionic species
concentration. This kind of PEM powder is useful to form roll stock of the PEM
INS Arihant
India has completed its nuclear triad by inducting the first indigenously built
strategic nuclear submarine INS Arihant into service. With this, India becomes
fourth country to have a nuclear triad i.e. capable of delivering nuclear weapons by
aircraft, ballistic missiles and submarine launched missiles. Other countries having
nuclear triad are Russia, United States and China. INS Arihant was formally
commissioned by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba in August 2016. However, it
was kept secret owing to strategic significance. What are features of INS Arihant?
INS Arihant is nuclear submarine capable of carrying nuclear tipped ballistic
missiles. Thus it belongs to class referred to as Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear
(SSBN). Its design is based on the Russian Akula-1 class submarine. It was built
with Russias help under Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project started in
the 1980s. It weighs 6000 tonnes and is 112 metre long. It is powered by 83 MW
pressurised light water nuclear reactor with enriched uranium fuel. It will be armed
with the K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km. Later it will be armed
with much longer range K-4 missiles (3,500 km range) being developed by DRDO.
The vessel was launched in 2009 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Since
then, it had undergone extensive sea trials and reactor on board went critical in
2013. What is Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN)? SSBNs are designed to
prowl the deep ocean waters and carry nuclear weapons. They provide a nation
with an assured second strike capability i.e. capability to strike back after being hit
by nuclear weapons first. In case of India, second strike capability is particularly
important as it had committed to a No-First-Use policy as part of its nuclear
doctrine.
Mom
gives egg but her DNA material has defective genes for
Mitochondria. So that part related to Mitochondria is removed.
Dad
sperm
donor
(female)
Thus, with help of genetic material from ^three people, an IVF baby is created.
Embryo transferd to mother and baby is born without any disease related to
mitochondria.
Why news/controversy/Anti-arguments:
1. UK government is planning to allow doctors to use ^this technique. But some
MPs are against this method citing this is also stem-cell research, You are
playing God and interfering with his creation and hence against the
(Christianity) religion.
2. This research will lead to Designer babies for example, pick DNA of Sachin
for Stamina, DNA of Bacchan for Height, Hrithik Roshan for white skin and
thus assemble an embryo like assembling a mobile phone or computer.
3. Designer babies are bad because then society will be divided into two parts:
those with superior looks-body thanks to genetically engineering vs. those
normally born. Hitler was also trying similar thing: remove all the Jews,
handicapped and gypsies and create the strong Aryan race with pure genes.
G.S.-02
LEMOA and india US relation
India- US relationship- a Strategic Imperative
Background:
Three agreements:
Communications
(CISMOA):
and
Information
Security Memorandum
of
Agreement
BECA would provide India with topographical and aeronautical data and
products, which will aid navigation and targeting.
The LEMOA would be beneficial at the time of disaster relief operations like
the one India undertook in the wake of the Asian Tsunami and exercise done in
wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
Maritime security, maritime domain Awareness
Military-to-military relations will deepen
Rules-based order and regional security architecture conducive to peace and
prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean will be established.
Defence Trade and Technology Initiative and initiate two new pathfinder
projects on digital helmet mounted displays and the Joint Biological Tactical
Detection System.
US want a stronger Indian military to deter, not provoke, conflict with China.
Indeed, this was not the case about 20 years ago. The most significant
difference between now and then is the growing capability and assertiveness of
the Chinese military.
The trajectory of Chinas growing military capabilities threatens to widen the
gap between Chinas military capabilities and those of India. This is the kind of
gap that increases the chance of conflict. And the US and India have an
undeniable common interest in trying to prevent it from growing further.
The new approach has been branded the Third Offset Strategy. Like the two
earlier offsets tactical nuclear weapons and precision-guided conventional
munitions the US hopes that AI and associated technologies will help
America counter the quantitative superiority its rivals Russia and China enjoy
in Eurasia and the Western Pacific.
The US has other interests as well, such as maintaining its military edge and
ensuring that its crown jewel defence technology doesnt find its way into the
hands of adversaries like Russia.
What is Indias point of view regarding deepening military ties with US?
rather slow in waking up to the impact of the cyber revolution; it cant afford to
make the same error in relation to the AI transformation.
Why there is anxiety amongst Indian strategic community that India is about to
embrace the US strategically and get locked in an anti-China alliance?
This anxiety is fuelled by three mistaken factors:
Firstly, lack of reading of Chinas Defence White Paper of 2015, wherein the
debate between the continentalists and the maritime people has been settled in
favor of the maritime lobby. China is going to become a maritime power in the
Indian Ocean.
Second, One belt one road is the larger plan to change the geopolitics of the
Indian Ocean to support the permanent presence of a Chinese fleet. Its
admittedly a long-term plan.
Third, the Chinese are going full speed to get Gwadar and Djibouti ready for
the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean.
Way ahead:
Though in surface combatants, the Indian navy will outnumber the Chinese
taskforce 2:1, outnumber the maritime patrol aircraft 2:1 and be superior in
strategic anti-submarine warfare and satellite communication infrastructure.
India could put the squeeze in the Indian Ocean but Indian navy is required to
play a supporting role in ensuring freedom of navigation and ensure a peaceful
Chinese rise than the ability to squeeze the Malacca jugular as a strategic threat.
As India work with the United States to realize the full potential of Indias Act
East policy, India also seeks a closer partnership with the United States to
promote shared interests in Indias west, especially in the context of the
emerging situation in West Asia
India-US relationship will be one of the key global partnerships of this
century. Defence cooperation is a central pillar of Indias multi-faceted
relationship with the US. A stronger India-US partnership will promote peace,
stability and progress in Indian Ocean region and the world.
Introduction
The peninsular rivers as one must have studied in geography , are depended on
the annual monsoon. So their flow is dependent on the success/failure of
monsoon.
This year the monsoons were not even close the expectations.
So the states that have been sharing the river waters have come under extra
pressure to save their farmers, among which, the already heightened battle is
the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
This issue is definitely not new and has been raging for more than 5 decades
now.
Terms
Tmcft
Thousand million cubic feet. Unit of volume which means total water released.
Cusecs
Cubic feet per second. Unit of flow which means the water flow released continuousl
The river Cauvery has been shared by the states under 2 agreements The
Interstate agreements of 1872 and 1924.
All was well, till the late 1960s when Karnataka wanted to build 4 new
reservoirs in the tributaries of Cauvery.
The Planning commission did not approve to give funds and neither did the
Central government.
But Karnataka state went ahead with the building of the reservoirs with its own
funds. These reservoirs were
1.
2.
3.
4.
Harangi
Kabini
Hemavathi
Suvarnavathy
This diverted some of the water of Cauvery due to which Tamil Nadu
protested.
It directed the Centre to create a Tribunal.
But since the Centre did not create one, Tamilnadu moved the SC to order the
centre. The tribunal was finally formed in 1990.
neither the Supreme Court nor any court shall exercise jurisdiction in water disput
But the Supreme Court commented that it can however order the Centre to create a
Tribunal which it is supposed to do so under the Art.262 and the Interstate Water
Disputes Act,1956.
To cut short to the story, the CWDT came up with its final order in 2007,
giving
region
Water (tmcft)
TN
419
Karnataka
270
Kerala
30
Puducherry
Both Karnataka and Tamilnadu contested this CWDT order in the Supreme
Court via Special Leave Petitions (SLPs), which are still pending.
This has prevented the Centre from publishing the CWDT award in the
gazette(which means it will implement the award).
In the meanwhile, because of the long time the CWDT took to give its decision,
it gave an interim order in 1991 itself for the riparian states.
To implement this interim measure, the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) and
the Cauvery Monitoring Committee(CMC) were formed.
Among all this drama, confusion and powerplays there emerged a new
problem.
The CWDT did not come up with a formula for situations when the flow in
Cauvery was low(meaning a drought kind situation).
This is why the issue has flared up so much in 2012 as this year Karnataka has
refused to release water on this basis.
Karnataka side
Amid this the Supreme Court had asked the 2 Chief Ministers to meet up and
try to finalize on the issue but that too failed.
Supreme Court also asked the Central government whether it had any intention
to publish the CWDT tribunal award for which the Centre has replied that it
will publish the award by December end but it has not done it.
G.S.-03
GST rate and slab
Sources said it was suggested that proposed slab rates of 8, 10, 18 and 26 per
cent be tweaked to 10, 12, 16 and 25 per cent so that it did not affect revenue
earnings and kept states on board as the final call has to be taken by the GST
Council comprising state Finance Ministers and headed by Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley.
There is a widespread demand for keeping the GST rate low with the Congress
calling for a cap of 18 per cent. The Arvind Subramanian panel had
recommended a three-rate structure with essential goods at 13 per cent, demerit
goods at 40 per cent and the remainder at a standard rate of 17-18 per cent. It
had estimated the revenue-neutral rate at 15-15.5 per cent.
Benefits for multiple people. Two or more entities must benefit from the
wind energy organization. Ownership is one form of such benefits.
Democracy. The organization must be democratically run: those affected by
the windfarm must be able to vote on the outcome of any major decision, the
weight of which perhaps to be determined by percentage ownership or
shares of the company.
turbines. From the individuals point of view, one has a better say in deciding that
a turbine shouldnt go in a certain place because of a certain reason, or that four
turbines are better than three because of energy needs.
Thirdly, personal investment in a windfarm offers a crucial antidote to NIMBY: a
sense of ownership. If turbines are simply forced upon a person without emotional
compensation, the person grows to resent the invasion and nitpicks for its faults.
However, if one gains benefit from a turbine and grows to think of it as theirs, it
becomes a welcome asset rather than a monstrosity imposed by strangers. To use a
Dutch analogy, your own pigs dont stink.
G.S.-04
Compulsory voting
Right to vote in India
Many democratic governments consider participating in national elections a
right of citizenship. In India, the right to vote is provided by the
Constitution and the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, subject to certain
disqualifications. Article 326 of the Constitution guarantees the right to vote
to every citizen above the age of 18. Further, Section 62 of the
Representation of Peoples Act (RoPA), 1951 states that every person who is
in the electoral roll of that constituency will be entitled to vote. Thus, the
Constitution and the RoPA make it clear that every individual above the age
of 18, whose name is in the electoral rolls, and does not attract any of the
disqualifications under the Act, may cast his vote. This is a non
discriminatory, voluntary system of voting.
In1951, during the discussion on the Peoples Representation Bill in
Parliament, the idea of including compulsory voting was mooted by a
Member. However, it was rejected by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on account of
practical difficulties. Over the decades, of the various committees that have
discussed electoral reforms, the Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990) briefly
examined the issue of compulsory voting. One of the members of the
committee had suggested that the only effective remedy for low voter turn
outs was introducing the system of compulsory voting. This idea was
rejected on the grounds that there were practical difficulties involved in its
implementation.
In July 2004, the Compulsory Voting Bill, 2004 was introduced as a Private
Member Bill by Mr. Bachi Singh Rawat, a Member of Parliament in the Lok
Sabha. The Bill proposed to make it compulsory for every eligible voter to
vote and provided for exemption only in certain cases, like that of illness
etc. Arguments mooted against the Bill included that of remoteness of
polling booths, difficulties faced by certain classes of people like daily wage
labourers, nomadic groups, disabled, pregnant women etc. in casting their
vote. The Bill did not receive the support of the House and was not passed.
Another Private Member Bill related to Compulsory Voting was introduced
by Mr. JP Agarwal, Member of Parliament, in 2009. Besides making voting
mandatory, this Bill also cast the duty upon the state to ensure large number
of polling booths at convenient places, and special arrangements for senior
citizens, persons with physical disability and pregnant women. The then
Law Minister, Mr. Moily argued that if compulsory voting was introduced,
Parliament would reflect, more accurately, the will of the electorate.
However, he also stated that active participation in a democratic set up must
be voluntary, and not coerced.
Compulsory voting in other countries
A number of countries around the world make it mandatory for citizens to vote.
For example, Australia mandates compulsory voting at the national level. The
penalty for violation includes an explanation for not voting and a fine. It may
be noted that the voter turnout in Australia has usually been above 90%, since
1924. Several countries in South America including Brazil, Argentina and
Bolivia also have a provision for compulsory voting. Certain other countries
like The Netherlands in 1970 and Austria more recently, repealed such legal
requirements after they had been in force for decades. Other democracies like
the UK, USA, Germany, Italy and France have a system of voluntary voting.
Typically, over the last few elections, Italy has had a voter turnout of over 80%,
while the USA has a voter turnout of about 50%.
What compulsory voting would mean
Those in favour of compulsory voting assert that a high turnout is important for
a proper democratic mandate and the functioning of democracy. They also
argue that people who know they will have to vote will take politics more
seriously and start to take a more active role. Further, citizens who live in a
democratic state have a duty to vote, which is an essential part of that
democracy.
However, some others have argued that compulsory voting may be in violation
of the fundamental rights of liberty and expression that are guaranteed to
citizens in a democratic state. In this context, it has been stated that every
individual should be able to choose whether or not he or she wants to vote. It is
unclear whether the constitutional right to vote may be interpreted to include
the right to not vote. If challenged, it will up to the superior courts to examine
whether compulsory voting violates the Constitution.
G.S.-03
GST
The Goods and Services Tax (GST), the biggest reform in Indias indirect tax
structure since the economy began to be opened up 25 years ago, at last looks
set to become reality. The Constitution (122nd) Amendment Bill was passed in
Upper
house.
What is GST? How does it work?
GST is one indirect tax for the whole nation, which will make India one
unified common market.
GST is a single tax on the supply of goods and services, right from the
manufacturer to the consumer.
Credits of input taxes paid at each stage will be available in the
subsequent stage of value addition, which makes
GST essentially a tax only on value addition at each stage.
The final consumer will thus bear only the GST charged by the last dealer
in the supply chain, with set-off benefits at all the previous stages.
Taxes to be subsumed
At the Central level, the following taxes are being subsumed:
a. Central Excise Duty,
b. Additional Excise Duty,
c. Service Tax,
d. Additional Customs Duty commonly known as Countervailing Duty, and
e. Special Additional Duty of Customs.
At the State level, the following taxes are being subsumed:
a. Subsuming of State Value Added Tax/Sales Tax,
b. Entertainment Tax (other than the tax levied by the local bodies), Central
Sales Tax (levied by the Centre and collected by the States),
c. Octroi and Entry tax,
d. Purchase Tax,
e. Luxury tax, and
f. Taxes on lottery, betting and gambling.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960 by the then
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan's President Ayub Khan.
The treaty administers how river Indus and its tributaries that flow in
both the countries will be utilised.
However, since Indus flows from India, the country is allowed to use 20
per cent of its water for irrigation, power generation and transport
purposes.
Though Indus originates from Tibet, China has been kept out of the
Treaty. If China decides to stop or change the flow of the river, it will
affect both India and Pakistan.
10
It maybe noted that both India and Pakistan are still at loggerheads over
various issues since Partition, but there has been no fight over water
after the Treaty was ratified.
G.S.-03
WTO
W.T.O (world trade organisation) officially came into existence on 1 january 1995,
by replacing G.A.T.T(general agreement on trade and tariff). 164 countries around
the world are members to this organisation. Afghanistan is the latest country to join
this global body. English ,French, spanish are official languages of WTO. WTO
regime signed in 1994, during ministerial meeting at marrakech hence hence
known as the Marrakech agreement. Highest decision making body of the WTO is
the ministerial conference which meets every 2 years.
Important agreements of WTO
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
preparedness and focus on areas of its interests, coalition with like minded
countries. A glimmer of hope still remains at the WTO if the views of the majority
are taken into consideration.
Under YAP-I and YAP-II, an expenditure of Rs. 1514.70 crore has been
incurred for creation of new sewage treatment capacity of 942.25 million
litres per day (mld) in the States of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
A sum of Rs. 1656 crore has been approved for Delhi under YAP-III for
rehabilitation and upgradation of existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
(950
mld)
and
trunk
sewers.
Two projects have been sanctioned in Sonepat and Panipat towns at a cost of
Rs. 217.87 crore for pollution abatement of river Yamuna.
Galvanization
Galvanization protects the surface against corrosion by providing protection to
the iron or steel in two ways: a) The zinc coating safeguards the base metal
from the atmosphere; and b) the zinc gives cathodic or sacrificial protection
because zinc metal is more electronegative than iron or steel.
The term Galvanization was named after the Italian scientist Luigi Galvani and
it characteristically refers to any of several electrochemical processes.
Previously, it was the administration of electric shocks since it originated from
Galvanis accidental generation of electricity.
Today, the term generally refers to the process of electro-deposition that is used
to add a thin layer of another metal (primarily zinc) to an item made of steel or
iron, in order to prevent rusting.
The effect of galvanization is such that the coating, i.e. zinc is consumed first as
a sacrificial anode, so that cathodically it protects exposed steel. This means
that unlike a painted article that rusts when exposed due to scratch; in a
galvanized article, if scratches expose the inner metal, the exposed steel will be
cathodically protected by the surrounding zinc coating. Also, galvanization has
the preferred due its low cost, the extensive maintenance-free service that it
provides and the ease of application.
Galvanizing, like all other corrosion protection systems, protects steel by acting
as a barrier between steel and the atmosphere. Therefore, galvanized steel is
widely used where corrosion resistance is needed at a cost lesser than that of
stainless steel. It is suitable for high-temperature applications of up to 392 F
(200 C). Electro-galvanized sheet steel is often used in manufacturing of
automobile in order to improve the corrosion performance of peripheral body
pane
The Draft Regional Air Connectivity Scheme (RCS) was presented by the
Ministry of Civil Aviation in the presence of the Minister for Civil Aviation,
Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju and MOS Dr. Mahesh Sharma in the capital today. The
objective of Regional Connectivity Scheme is to make flying affordable for the
masses, to promote tourism, increase employment and promote balanced regional
growth. It also intends to put life into un-served and under -served airports.
B. Governance
Issues
President as a Power Centre: The President of the board has all powers
from overall superintendence of the Board to selection of the team. The
President has veto over team chosen by selectors such as selector Mohinder
Amarnath had disclosed that BCCI president Srinivasan vetoed against
decision of selectors to remove Dhoni as a test captain after lossing test
series in England and Australia.
Zonal considerations: There seems to be no rational basis for the
Presidency to be rotated as per Zones, which has the effect of forsaking
merit.
No representation for women: There is no representation for women in
BCCI and it is clear from the fact that BCCI has never seen a woman in the
Working Committee.
Unlimited terms and tenures: Many individuals occupy various posts in
the BCCI for multiple terms and on multiple occasions, without any ceiling
limit.
No disqualifications: There appears to be no ground on which an office
bearer has to demit office.
Recommendation BCCI governance and management shall be divided along
two councils, one is APEX and other is IPL Governing Council.
APEX Council: Powers of president shall be divided across a governing
body called APEX council. It shall consist of 9 members:
Five Office Bearers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint
Secretary and Treasurer.
Four Independent Members or Councilors: Two to be nominated by
players association which is to be formed, one from BCCI full members and
one to be nominated by CAG.
APEX council is further composed of three bodies or offices that are as
follows:
CEO: This office shall be responsible for all non cricketing tasks such as
finance, operations, media or human resources, etc.
Umpires Committee: The Umpires Committee is another Committee
comprising only Umpires, which selects and classifies umpires for
officiating games under the auspices of the BCCI.
Cricket Committees: The Cricket Committees would be seven in
number dealing with selection, coaching, performance evaluation and talent
resource development of Men, Women, Junior, Zonal and Differently-abled
teams. Each of these Committees would comprise only former players.
Tenure of office bearers is limited for 3 years period and no BCCI officebearer can have more than two consecutive terms.
No BCCI office-bearer can hold office for more than 3 terms with the
condition that there will be a cooling off after each term.
No BCCI office-bearer can hold two posts at the same time.
The Zones would be relevant only for the purpose of the tournaments
conducted amongst themselves, but not for nomination to the governance of
the Board.
Ministers and government servants are barred from being a member of
governing body of BCCI.
C. IPL
IPL Governing Council Composition: The IPL Governing Council needs
to be reconstituted with more autonomy and Lodha Committee proposes a
Governing Council with only nine members:
3 ex-officio members: Secretary, Treasurer and CEO of BCCI.
Two representatives of BCCCI: to be elected by general body.
Two nominees of the Franchises
One nominee of CAG in APEX council.
One nominee of Players Association which is to be formed.
BCCI should ensure that at least 15 days gap should be provided between
the IPL season and the national calendar.
Betting and Match Fixing
The Lodha Committee is of view that Betting shall be legalized except
for players, BCCI members, administrators or those covered by the BCCI
and IPL regulations.
Further Lodha committee recommended that match fixing to be made a
criminal offence.
Other Recommendations
To prevent any further spread of bird flu, the agriculture ministry undertook
control measures. Entire poultry population was stamped out, including
destruction of eggs, feed, litter and other infected materials. The movement of
poultry and poultry products from the outbreak area was restricted, followed by
disinfection of infected premises.
Surveillance was carried throughout the country and presence of bird flu was not
found. In a letter to the state chief secretaries, the Centre has emphasised the
need for continued surveillance, especially in the vulnerable areas bordering
infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds.
Post the surveillance, the state has shown no evidence of presence of the disease.
There has been no further outbreak reported in the country thereafter.
A total of over 7.2 million birds were culled and Rs 24.32 crore paid as
compensation to farmers.
Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India
today. The production of eggs and broilers has been rising at a rate of 8 to 10 per
cent per year. India is the world's fifth largest egg producer and the eighteenth
largest producer of broilers, as per the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Bird flu affects mainly the domestic poultry. The disease spreads from infected
birds to other winged creatures through contact with nasal and respiratory
secretions and also due to contamination of feed and water.
Smooth coated otter
The smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is a species of otter, the only
extant representative of the genus Lutrogale. Otter is a carnivorous mammals. The
fur of this species is smoother and shorter than that of other otters. It is distributed
throughout South Asia and South East Asia. The otter lives in rivers, lakes, peat
swamp forests, mangroves and estuaries. It uses swamps as natal den sites and
nursery during the breeding season in early winter. Otters are social and hunt in
groups. The male otter is polygamous and mates with up to the four females. It has
been categorised vulnerable in the red data book of International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Accepted Belief
The lock looks like a bunch of Amyloid beta molecules each in the
shape of a hairpin, but with a twist but what researchers found was an
unexpected twist in the structure, now becoming a beta-hairpin very
different from the typical hairpin structure people imagined. If indeed it
turns out to be the lock for Alzheimers then the discovery will facilitate
new efforts to finding a key an intelligent drug candidate designed to
attack the lock
present value (NPV) of forest: It is the value of diverted forest which is calculated
and recovered from the user agency for diverting forests. It is calculated for 50
years period. Basically an expert committee calculates the NPV for every patch of
the forest. Comment The legislation will allow states to access nearly 42000 crore
rupees that is lying idle and channel it into afforestation projects. It has provisions
for administration of funds and utilization of funds by the user agencies to
undertake plantations, protection of forests and forest-related infrastructure
development.
human and animal health. They also argue that the reason for increased imports of
edible oils is because of reduction in import duties and that in turn discouraged
domestic production by companies. It resulted in reduction of cultivation of the
crop by farmers. There was similar opposition to introduction of Btbrinjal, another
GM crop approved by the GEAC in 2009.
What are arguments in favour of its introduction?
The use of GM technology through Bt cotton has increased the countrys cotton
production by more than 2 times since it was first planted in 2002. There are no
evidences to show the adverse impact on human and animal health. Cotton-seed
yields not just fibre but also oil and oilcake that are fed to animals. That makes it
no less than a food crop. And also India imports soyabean oil and rapeseed oil that
are mainly GM varieties.
G.S.-04
Benegal committee recommendations are bound to draw more attention after the
recent furore over Udta Punjab. Their first step the recommendation that the
Board certify films instead of censoring them indiscriminately is in the right
direction, but instances such as Udta Punjab are pointers to the possible chinks
in this newly proposedarmour
Take, for instance, how the provision of certification comes with one huge
rider: that certification can be denied when a film contains anything that
contravenes the provisions of Section 5B (1) of the Cinematograph Act,
1952
The section states: A film shall not be certified for public exhibition if, in
the opinion of the authority competent to grant the certificate, the film or
any part of it is against the interests of [the sovereignty and integrity of
India] the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public
order, decency or morality, or involves defamation or contempt of court or
is likely to incite the commission of any offence. Section 5B (2) further
states: Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the Central
Government may issue such directions as it may think fit setting out the
principles which shall guide the authority competent to grant certificates under
this Act in sanctioning films for public exhibition.
In the case of Udta Punjab these guidelines have been cited for suggesting a
number of deletions. These include the names of places Jalandhar,
Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Moga, Tarn Taran, Jashanpura, Ambesar. It
also includes the name Punjab itself, and words such as election, MP, MLA, and
Parliament. The CBFC has objected to the fact that a dog is called Jackie Chan,
to the many cuss words in songs and dialogues, the itching and scratching
gestures of a character, and close-ups of people injecting drugs
It has demanded the deletion of a dialogue describing the Punjab as
Zameenbanjarteaulaadkanjar (Of barren lands and progenies who are pimps).
It is a clear indication that the film would have definitely landed in trouble even
if we were in an era of certification rather than censoring
It is a given that artistic expression and creative freedom should not be curbed,
and audiences should have the right to make informed viewing choices. But
that cannot be achieved just by a call for viewership categories alone. Though
there cannot be rigid guidelines for certifying films, there is a need for more
far-reaching changes aimed at a larger institutional revamp and systemic
alteration in the entire functioning of the CBFC, which ensure that a film
isviewed in entirety for its overall impact than in such a piecemeal manner
This is more so for films that show bitter truths of life. Documentaries,
especially those based on contentious political incidents and issues, have an
even more difficult passage, be it Rakesh Sharmas Final Solution on the 2002
Gujarat riots or Kamal Swaroops recent Dance for Democracy/The Battle of
Banaras on the big electoral fight of the 2014 LokSabha elections between
NarendraModi, then the BJPs prime ministerial candidate, and AamAadmi
Party (AAP) chief ArvindKejriwal
The archaic Cinematograph Act itself needs to be updated, and various sections
modified. How can we ensure that concepts like integrity of the country,
decency and morality enumerated in Section 5B dont remain open to partisan
interpretations and misuse? How can a film rise above and not remain
vulnerable to individual (mis)readings and (mis)understandings? These
questions will have to be constantly raised and tackled head-on, even after the
dust settles on Udta Punjab
It is important to look more closely at the functioning of the Film Certification
Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), to which the producers of Udta Punjab have now
appealed. A statutory body, the Tribunal hears appeals from any applicant who
is aggrieved by an order of the CBFC. The FCAT decision, however, can also be
challenged in the courts
Currently it is headed by Justice S.K. Mahajan and its members include
politician ShaziaIlmi, actor PoonamDhillon, lawyer Bina Gupta, and journalist
ShekharIyer
In recent times, while a sex comedy like Great Grand Masti got the FCATs
clearance, Dance for Democracy/The Battle of Banaras did not. Nonetheless,
there is often talk about strengthening the specialised Tribunal to address all
cinema-related issues rather than have people rush to the nearest High Court,
along the lines of legislation in other fields of quasi-regulation/licensing such as
the Securities Appellate Tribunal for capital markets, and the Telecom Disputes
Settlement and Appellate Tribunal as regards telecom
There is yet another crucial hurdle to artistic freedom. Apart from the Union
Act, every State has its own supplementary rules of censorship. Even films
with certificates have been stopped at the State level on a perceived threat to law
and order. These include the Punjabi film SaddaHaq, Kamal
G.S.-03
Pollution
Air Pollution
Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous
substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere in such
concentration that may be directly and/or indirectly injurious to humans or
other living organisms, property or interferes with the normal environmental
processes.
An ever increasing use of fossil fuels in power plants, industries,
transportation, mining, construction of buildings, stone quarries had led to air
pollution.
Fossil fuels contain small amounts of nitrogen and sulphur. Burning of fossil
fuels like coal (thermal power plants) and petroleum (petroleum refineries)
release different oxides of nitrogen and sulphur into the atmosphere.
These gases react with the water vapour present in the atmosphere to form
sulphuric acid and nitric acid. The acids drop down with rain, making the rain
acidic. This is called acid rain.
Acid rain corrodes the marble monuments like Taj Mahal. This phenomenon is
called asMarble cancer.
Other kinds of pollutants are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are used
inrefrigerators, air conditioners and as pressurizing agents in aerosol
sprays. CFCs damage the ozone layer of the atmosphere.
The combustion of fossil fuels also increases the amount of suspended particles
in air. These suspended particles could be unburnt carbon particles or
substances called hydrocarbons.
Presence of high levels of all these pollutants cause visibility to be lowered,
especially in cold weather when water also condenses out of air. This is known
as smog and is a visible indication of air pollution.
Particulate pollutants
Particulate matter suspended in air are dust and soot released from the
industrial chimneys. Their size ranges from 0.001 to 500 micrometers (m) in
diameter.
Particles less than 10 m float and move freely with the air current. Particles
which are more than 10 m in diameter settle down. Particles less than 0.02
m form persistent aerosols.
Major source of SPM (suspended particulate matter) are vehicles, power
plants, construction activities, oil refinery, railway yard, market place,
industries, etc.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particulate size 2.5 m
or less in diameter (PM 2.5) are responsible for causing the greatest harm to
human health.
These fine particulates can be inhaled deep into the lungs and can cause
breathing
and
respiratory
symptoms,
irritation,
inflammations
and pneumoconiosis a disease of the lungs due to inhalation of dust,
characterized by inflammation, coughing, and fibrosis..
Fly ash
Fly ash pollutes air and water and may cause heavy metal pollution in water
bodies.
Fly ash affects vegetation as a result of its direct deposition on leaf surfaces or
indirectly through its deposition on soil.
Fly ash in the air slowly settles on leaves and crops in fields in areas near to
thermal power plants and lowers the plant yield.
Fly ash is now being used for making bricks and as a land fill
Composition
Fly ash particles are oxide rich and consist of silica, alumina, oxides of iron,
calcium, and magnesium and toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic,
cobalt, and copper.
Major oxides are present are Aluminium silicate (in large amounts), silicon
dioxide (SiO2)and calcium oxide (CaO).
Advantages
Cement can be replaced by fly ash up to 35%, thus reducing the cost of
construction, making roads, etc.
Fly ash bricks are light in weight and offer high strength and durability.
Fly ash is a better fill material for road embankments and in concrete roads.
Fly ash can be used in reclamation of wastelands.
Abandoned mines can be filled up with fly ash.
Fly ash can increase the crop yield and it also enhances water holding capacity
of the land .
In congested areas, slums and rural areas burning of firewood and biomass
results in lot of smoke.
Children and ladies exposed to smoke may suffer from acute respiratory
problems.
Use of wood and dung cakes should be replaced by cleaner fuels such as
biogas, kerosene, LPG or electricity. But supply of electricity is limited.
Similarly kerosene is also limited. The use of solar cookers must be
encouraged.
Old stoves must be replaced with improved stoves with high thermal efficiency
and reduced emission of pollutants including smoke.
The house designs should incorporate a well-ventilated kitchen.
Those species of trees such as baval (Acacia nilotica) which are least smoky
should be planted and used. Charcoal is a comparatively cleaner fuel.
Indoor pollution due to decay of exposed kitchen waste can be reduced by
covering the waste properly.
Segregation of waste, pretreatment at source, sterilization of rooms will help in
checking indoor air pollution.
1. use of cleaner fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) in power plants,
fertilizer plants etc. which is cheaper in addition to being environmentally
friendly.
2. employing environment friendly industrial processes so that emission of
pollutants and hazardous waste is minimized.
3. installing devices which reduce release of pollutants.
The emission standards for automobiles have been set which if followed will
reduce the pollution. Standards have been set for the durability of catalytic
converters which reduce vehicular emission.
In cities like Delhi, motor vehicles need to obtain Pollution Under Control
(PUC) certificate at regular intervals. This ensures that levels of pollutants
emitted from vehicle exhaust are not beyond the prescribed legal limits.
The price of diesel is much cheaper than petrol which promotes use of diesel.
To reduce emission of sulphur dioxide, sulphur content in diesel has been
reduced to 0.05%.
Earlier lead in the form of tetraethyl lead was added in the petrol to raise
octane level forsmooth running of engines. Addition of lead in petrol has
been banned to prevent emission of lead particles with the vehicular emission.
Usage of alternate fuels like CNG in public transport vehicles is made
mandatory in cities like Delhi. All the buses of Delhi were converted to run on
CNG by the end of 2002.
CNG burns most efficiently, unlike petrol or diesel, in the automobiles and very little
of it is left unburnt. Moreover, CNG is cheaper than petrol or diesel, cannot be
siphoned off by thieves and adulterated like petrol or diesel.
The main problem with switching over to CNG is the difficulty of laying down
pipelines to deliver CNG through distribution points/pumps and ensuring
uninterrupted supply.
Simultaneously parallel steps taken in Delhi for reducing vehicular pollution
include phasing out of old vehicles, use of unleaded petrol, use of low-sulphur
petrol and diesel, use of catalytic converters in vehicles, application of
stringent pollution- level norms for vehicles, etc.
The Government of India through a new auto fuel policy has laid out a
roadmap to cut down vehicular pollution in Indian cities.
More stringent norms for fuels means steadily reducing the sulphur and
aromatics content in petrol and diesel fuels.
The goal, according to the roadmap, is to reduce sulphur to 50 ppm in petrol
and diesel and bring down the level of aromatic hydrocarbons to 35 per
cent.
The Bharat Stage II (equivalent to Euro-II norms), which is currently in place
in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and other major cities was
made applicable to all automobiles throughout the country.
All automobiles in major cities were expected to meet the Euro III emission
specifications by 2005 and Euro-IV norms by 2010.
The rest of the country was expected to meet Euro-III emission norm by 2010.
According to an estimate, a substantial fall in CO2 and SO2 level has been
found in Delhi between 1997 and 2005. But still their levels are not under
permissible levels.
The recent odd-even formula is expected to improve the worsening air quality
in Delhi.
In India, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act came into force
in 1981, but was amended in 1987 to include noise as an air pollutant. Noise is
undesired high level of sound.
Government Initiative
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme
The NAAQS have been revisited and revised in November 2009 for 12
pollutants, which include
sulphur dioxide (S02),
nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
particulate matter having micron (PM10),
particulate matter having size less than 2.5 micron (PM2.5),
ozone,
lead,
carbon monoxide (CO),
arsenic,
nickel,
benzene,
ammonia, and
AQI
It helps the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity.
Index constituted as a part of Governments mission to improve the culture of
cleanliness.
Old vs new
While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, the current
measurement index had been made quite comprehensive by the addition of
more parameters.
Central Pollution Control Board along with State Pollution Control Boards has
been operating National Air Monitoring Program (NAMP).
Quality of data from some cities remains weak and the standards set for
pollutants fall short of World Health Organization recommendations.
The pollution related analysis using vast number of complex parameters was
complicated for the common man to understand.
There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted,
Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
Pollutants considered
The proposed AQI will consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2,
CO, O3, NH3, and Pb).
What is asphyxia
Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to
the body that arises from abnormal breathing. An example of asphyxia is choking.
Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects primarily the tissues and
organs. There are many circumstances that can induce asphyxia, all of which are
characterized by an inability of an individual to acquire sufficient oxygen through
breathing for an extended period of time. Asphyxia can cause coma or death.
foreign currency for travel, studies abroad, medical treatment and gifts, etc.
On the other hand, Capital Account Convertibility refers to the removal of
restraints on international flows on a countrys capital account, enabling full
currency convertibility and opening of the financial system.
Current Situation in India
Presently, India has current account convertibility. This means one can
import and export goods or receive or make payments for services
rendered. However, investments and borrowings are restricted.
-india want to be a part of that regime but not fulfilling criteria[NPT] for that and
member countries diplomatic interest are not in the favor of india as china
opposing it
-indias goal to be member is to have safe energy and climate technology
Female literacy quality in india
-in patriarchal society of india education scope for female become very narrow
butin the name of gender justice state has manage to have 60 percent enrollment
ratio
- but when we asses the quality of the education being provided to the girl we are
behind Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Making city livable
-reducing urban inequality, improving access to housing and sanitation, mobility,
and securing the rights of women, children, older adults and people with disability.
Moreover, as services come to occupy a dominant place in the urban economy, the
divide between highly paid professionals and low-wage workers
- Indias ambition to harness science and data for orderly urbanisation is articulated
in a set of policy initiatives, chiefly the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission
for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
-Urban Poverty Alleviation identified subsidised redevelopment of slums (which
represented 17 per
cent of urban households in 2011) involving private agencies, and low-cost,
disaster-resistant, prefabricated constructions as key to the Housing for All policy
G.S.-03
Cyclone to likely hit oddisa coast
- deep depression in bay of Bengal will transform into cyclone and will hit oddisa
coast
-in every year on the time of monsoon onset and withdrawal there are chances of
cyclone in Indian ocean because of the ITCZ and other pressure and temperature
related phenomena
-bay of Bengal are more prone to cyclone then Arabian sea[do it yourself ]
-in oddisa there are history of mass destruction by cyclone but by the advent of the
information technology precaution can be taken and live can be saved
-by the rate cut there are many impact on economy are as follows
1. increase credit creation2.increase NPA-have to start strategic restructuring of debt and chrony capitalism
and again new vijay maliya
3.increase money supply
Fossilised algae may soon power electric vehicles
Inexpensive and energy efficient lithium-ion batteries from fossilised remains of
single-celled algae can soon power
electric vehicles,
G.S.-04
G.S.-02
End of postal ballot era
- under election conduct rule returning officer are given power to send ballot to
eligible voter
-election commission has changed this tradition by introducing web portal based
ontime password system in which voter can download ballot paper by using on
time password send by the returning officer
-though postal ballot also continue where internet facility are not available
-postal ballot has proved much vital because person who can not use their franchise
for the cause of geographical factor become capable to vote under this system.
G.S.-03
Avian influenza
Osteoporosis
-Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone,
makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from
a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.
- this is also called silent dieses because of under treatment and mis-understanding
-IMA doctor said thet if you have osteoporosis then there are maximum chances of
the heart dieses
-in this dieses that spread to elder male and female both patient fill pain in muscle
Painted stork
-The painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a large wading bird in
the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of
the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia.
Chandrayan-||
-Chandrayaan 2, Indias second mission to the Moon, is an advanced version of the
previous Chandrayaan-1 mission. It consists of an Orbiter, Lander and Rover
configuration. It is planned to be launched as a composite stack into the Earth
Parking Orbit (EPO) of 170 X 18,500 km by GSLV-Mk II. The Orbiter carries the
combined stack up to moon till the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI). The combined
stack is then inserted into a lunar orbit of 100 km x 100 km. The Lander is
separated from the Orbiter in this orbit.
The Orbiter with scientific payloads will orbit around the moon. The Lander will
soft land on the Moon at a specified site and deploy the Rover. The scientific
payloads onboard the Orbiter, Lander and Rover are expected to perform
mineralogical and elemental studies of the lunar surface.
During 2010, it was agreed that Russian Space Agency ROSCOSMOS would be
responsible for lunar Lander and ISRO will be responsible for Orbiter and Rover as
well as Launch by GSLV. Later, due to a shift in the programmatic alignment of
this mission, it was decided that the Lunar Lander development would be done by
ISRO and Chandrayaan-2 will be totally an Indian mission.
GST and rate decision dilemma
-center govt. has started meeting of the GST council for the decision on the rate
fixation
-council has advised on the 4 rate formula based on the nature of the product like
basic need good and services exempted or low rate has been set.
-in the GST total power to impose tax has been given center so state are in worry
about their revenue. But center want to compensate state by levied extra cess.
- this categorization is good for economy because it maintain price of basic good
and services to affordable rate so control the inflation
- there are two type of the weapon i.e. lethal and non-lethal so always we have to
use later kind of the weapon that are less harmonious to human kind.
G.S.-04
G.S.-01
Gender justice is about uniformity not specific religion
-recently triple talaq and islam personal issue getting political tune so
what we need is quite different
-personal law of all religion are at gender partiality like hindu women
property right are only in letter not in spirit
-what about selective sex abortion and homicide practice in india
G.S.-02
SC power to review tribunal order
- kaveri tribunal has given its order in 2007 to share kaveri water
between Karnataka, tamilnadu, pudduchery,kerala.
-tribunal is judicial tool under 323 of constitution to desolve any
disputable issue and award of the tribunal can not be file against any
court.
- so court has no power to review its award but court arguing that to
resolve federal issue is the original power of the court as the guardian of
the constitutional system
- as being the guardian of the constitution court has power to review not
only executive enactment but also constitutional amendment.
Paradigm shift in indias foreign policy
- Indian economy giving country new form of the diplomatic
identity and india also changing its geopolitical balance
- China slowdown also facilitate india to adopt new position in
global relation
G.S.-04
It will pave the way to access technology for a range of uses from
medicine to building nuclear power plants for India.
Having the ability to offer its own nuclear power plants to the world
means spawning of an entire nuclear industry and related technology
development. This could give the Make in India programme a big boost.
ConclusionInclusion into NSG opens wide-range opportunities for India. Since long time
India has been trying to gain entry into the NSG. With Indias clean record in
nuclear weapons, now India is getting support from more nations and Indias bid
to enter in NSG could be realised soon.
DTAA
2. stubble burning
3. poor public transport and high individual vehicle ownership
4. winter wind that locked marine influence
AQI will monitor these 8 pollutants to help UPSC examiner frame MCQs:
PM2.5
NO2
SO2
CO
For this index, London 16; Delhi 153 (smaller no. means cleaner air)
O3
Ammonia in air + NOX, SOx=>PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 have very small size,
they float in air for weeks=>smog and haze problem.
NH3
Pb
#2: SAFAR
Mains Relevance: GS3: Achievement of Indians, Indigenization of technology.
What is SAFAR?
Benefits of SAFAR?
it provides data on
Rosy pelican
-The great white pelican also known as the eastern white pelican, rosy pelican or
white pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe
through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes
G.S.-04
Role of religion in politics
The role of religion in modern political life
The role of religion in modern political life is a puzzle. God as an idea worth
taking seriously is clearly on life support, at least as far as serious analysis goes. As
Andrew Levine says, for a long time in the world of political analysts the idea that
the Creator of all there is would care about the political affairs of particular Homo
sapiens, that He (always a He!) would favor some members of our paltry species
over others, seemed too preposterous to take seriously and that it is hard to see
how any part of the Sturm und Drang of modern politics could really be about
God, no matter what some political actors do, say, or believe. If their selfrepresentations belie what is plainly the case, they must be deceiving themselves.
But while the idea of a god being involved in political affairs is still seen as absurd,
what has changed is how analysts react to religious claims.
What, then, should we make of the fact that nowadays it has become common for
political analysts to take militant believers at their word adding religious
divisions to the list of pertinent explanatory factors?
He argues that there are pendulum swings at play: transitions from periods of
intense religiosity and periods in which a secular consciousness is predominant,
and periods of religiously inflected militancy and periods in which politics takes a
secular turn and that political analysts have underestimated the role that religion
plays in nation building, and that using religious identity to create feelings of
nationhood is necessarily exclusionary of other groups, leading to conflicts.
He gives examples of the role the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam play in modern political life.
Try as hard as secular Zionists, and their nineteenth century nationalist forebearers
did, there was no way to construct a Jewish identity that leaves the Jewish religion
out or that lets other religions in. It is not just Jewish beliefs and practices that are
incompatible with Protestantism; more importantly, it is Jewish nationality as it
came
to
be
conceived.
Throughout the Christian and Muslim worlds, there are many socially constructed
nationalities that are similarly related integrally to religions or, more usually, to
divisions within larger religious traditions. The nature of the connections varies
from case to case and changes over time. But religion is a factor in almost all
instances.
But now that authentic faith has become untenable, it is not about God at all except
to the extent that historical religions shape existing cultures. It is about identity,
and therefore recognition, dignity and respect.
When sectarian politics flares up on the wrong side of the class struggle or when it
operates to sustain systems of domination, it makes bad situations worse and
solutions to problems more intractable. The theocrat wannabes who gravitate
towards the Tea Party and the (oxymoronic) national religious settler movement
in Israel provide conspicuous examples.
His article does not suggest a solution but leaves open the answer to the question:
If religious politics is about the need for recognition, dignity, and respect and not
about god, will giving them those things lead to a diminution of role of god in
politics or will it lead to an intensification of religious demands? I fear it will be
the latter.
-companies have to prepare above stated both the document before starting their
commercial activity
Delhis air
- pollution level in air in delhi will be highest level because of deepawali
celebration
-forecast has been done by the SAFAR an indigenous index measure pollution in
air and also forecast the same.
- this pollution hike is because of the moisture of air and slow wind speed along
with deepawali celebration with cracker
- pollution level would be around 300 that is above safety level of 60 given by the
WHO
- to fight this hike in pollution level national environmental engineering research
institute[NEERI] has introduced comprehensive three tier air treatment system in
which air will be purified wind purifier, virtual chimney and mist generator
Brahmos
- brahmos is the lan, air, and water launch sub supersonic missile
-this missile developed with the cooperation of the Russia and india
-this missile named as brahmputra + moscova = brahmos river of india and Russia
- india has got membership of the missile technology control regime {MTCR}
G.S.-02
India-singapore joint naval exercise
* india and Singapore has bilateral naval exercise relation
* SIMBEX-16 is this year naval exercise include training and knowledge sharing
G.S.-03
Naxal problem in india
* now nearly indias 1/3 district affected with naxal problem
* this problem has been started with the two side exploitation on the one hand
state resource exploitation and admission of tribal in mainstream
* this problem also attributed to the cross border funding and divide between
haves and have not
* solution of this problem
1. people friendly approach of govt.
2. law and order improvement
3.inclusive govt. and fulfillment of the SDG
4. creation of capability in tribe not only opportunity etc.
Comprehensive economic and trade agreement {CETA}
* This treaty signed between EU and Canada for FTA-free trade agreement
* by this treat almost all import duty will be removed for smoother trade
Carbon sinking
* carbon sinking means accumulation of carbon in one place by anthropogenic or
natural cause
* ocean are the biggest source of the carbon and as more carbon will be sinked in
deep sea then temperature of the earth will reduce and ice age will come
Problem of tuberculosis
* UN has called for the special draft on tuberculosis in that india is highest burden
country
* TB problem in india was on decreasing order but recently it is increasing
abnormally but death due to TB is decreasing
* this will be due to level of pollution above the safety level in idnia due to use of
the conventional technology
* india has to make their executive machinery more effective as most of patient
going to private hospital with help of out of pocket {OOP} expenditure
Global hunger index
* Economic growth alone is not enough to achieve key Sustainable Development
Goals. It must translate into jobs for the poor and marginalized
*Goal 1 and 2 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
envision eradicating poverty and ending hunger by 2030
* Poverty is a multidimensional concept, which involves reduction in choices to
pursue freedom.
* There are some pertinent points in this years global hunger report. First,
developing countries have a major stake in reducing hunger levels. Overall hunger
has come down by 29 per cent since 2000 in these countries. Second, there are
distinct regions, the ones with the highest GHI scores, which can help in fulfilling
the SDGs. On the 2016 index, Africa south of the Sahara and South Asia have the
highest GHI scores
* some population groups in India are substantially worse of than other groups.
These include the Scheduled Tribes (STs), 43 per cent of whom were below the
poverty line
* Third, poverty seems to be present in certain geographical locations. The top
States for poverty in absolute terms in India are Uttar Pradesh
* poverty has a bearing on choices and the well-being of individuals in a society.
The poor also own fewer assets and spend more on food, fuel, and light. This
reduces the percentage they have for spending on critical things like education and
health, and it makes them prone to a vicious poverty trap
G.S.-04
PM on unity of india
PM while spending his deepawali with army personnel said that to bring
unity is responsibility of every citizen
We should fought with separatist but in democracy we should also
motivate diversity of thought not unit of suppression
Unity is important but not on the freedom living citizen because they are
natural person and when you suppress them you are stopping the growth
of whole india as a nation
While unity in diversity is our strength but freedom of though and
expression is our progress also so there shall be striking balance or
golden mean
Indias dilemma as a nationstate
When question come to Pakistan and india relation both are thinking that
they are morally superior than each other
We become cow vigillent but not stopping torture on women with the help
AFSPA and killing of innocent men in the sensitive area
We alternate between two forms of violence which we officially dub
security and development. Caught in the warp of these restricted
imaginations, we have forgotten that peace is a language, an ecology, a way
of life we have almost lost. To put it almost crudely, we need a bit of peace
mongering rather than the beat of the drums of war