Insights CA DEC 2015

Contents
GS I ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Paper 1 Topic: art and culture. ............................................................................................. 7
Exclusive right to enter sanctum sanctorum is not untouchability:
court ................................................................................................. 7
12th Century monument resurrected from ruins .............................. 8
Paper 1 Topic: communalism & secularism. ....................................................................... 9
MHA sends back anti-conversion Bills ...............................................9
Topic: Social issues (Prelims) ............................................................................................. 10
Alathur to become first organic block panchayat ............................. 10
Paper 1 and 2 Topics: Social empowerment and Welfare schemes for vulnerable
sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these
schemes. .................................................................................................................................. 11
Devadasi system: Home Ministry asks States to take strong action ....................................... 11
GS II ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Paper 2 Topic: appointment to various constitutional posts. ............................................ 12
New CJI takes over .......................................................................... 12
RK Mathur set to be new Chief Information Commissioner ............. 12
Paper 2 Topic: river water disputes. ................................................................................... 13
Mullaperiyar safety: Kerala to move Supreme Court against Tamil
Nadu ............................................................................................... 13
No change in State share of Krishna water, SC told.......................... 14
Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies........................... 15
Centenary year of Zoological Survey of India ................................... 15
Southern Zonal Council ................................................................... 16
CBDT ups monetary limit for court appeal by I-T ............................. 19
Give atomic regulator legal teeth: IAEA ...........................................20
Notice issued to govt. on NHRC vacancies........................................ 21
FSSAI sets up 9 panels to strengthen food regulatory mechanism:
Govt ................................................................................................ 22
Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
and issues arising out of their design and implementation. .............................................. 24
Gujarats controversial Labour Laws Bill gets Presidential assent ... 24
Lok Sabha passes bill to replace Bureau of Indian Standards .......... 25
Atomic Energy Bill 2015 introduced in Lok Sabha ........................... 25
Real Estate Regulatory Authority on anvil ....................................... 26
DECEMBER-2015
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Current Events
Cabinet Gives Nod To Bill On National Waterways Conversion ........ 27
Supreme Court upholds Haryana panchayat law ............................. 28
One-man commission on OROP appointed ......................................30
Lok Sabha passes Atomic Energy Bill 2015 .....................................30
Angry SC takes extraordinary step of appointing Uttar Pradesh
Lokayukta ....................................................................................... 31
Lok Sabha Passes Arbitration and Reconciliation Amendment Bill,
2015 ................................................................................................ 32
Permission no longer needed to buy farm land ................................ 33
Textiles Minister launches ERP system of NHDC ............................. 33
LS passes Bill to hike bonus limit..................................................... 35
CBDT tells field officers to finish MAT assessments for FIIs ............ 35
Goa invokes ESMA as lifeguards go on strike ................................... 37
18 States agree to revoke no detention policy in RTE ...................... 38
Cabinet clears amended textile scheme ........................................... 39
Paper 2 Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre
and States. ............................................................................................................................ 40
Centre launches Accessible India Campaign for differently-abled . 40
$1.5-bn WB loan for Swachh Bharat ................................................ 41
Paper 2 Topic: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection
and betterment of vulnerable sections. ............................................................................... 42
Farmers urge Centre to implement Forest Rights Act ...................... 42
Atal Pension Yojana likely to miss December target ........................ 44
RS to take up Juvenile Bill ............................................................... 45
Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. ............................................................ 47
Injectible Polio Vaccine Launched in India ...................................... 47
India launches initiative to boost higher education .........................48
Anti-dengue vaccine brings hope ..................................................... 49
Karnataka has highest stillbirth rate ............................................... 50
Apex court upholds curbs on serving liquor in Kerala ..................... 51
Paper 2 Topic: Poverty and developmental issues. ............................................................ 52
India ranks 130th out of 188 on Human Development Index in 201452
Paper 2 Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability. ...... 54
SC nod to laws of Bihar, Odisha to seize assets of bureaucrats ......... 54
Adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2015.................................... 55
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Paper 2 Topic: challenges of corruption. ........................................................................... 56
Anti-corruption bill sent to select committee ................................... 56
Paper 2 Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy. ........................................................ 57
Govt Changes Rules to Protect Civil Servants ................................... 57
Paper 2 Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations....................................................... 58
Revised cost estimates of Salma Dam Project in Afghanistan ........... 58
Government pitches for global north-south corridor ....................... 59
Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting Indias interests. ....................................................................................... 60
IMF gives Chinas currency prized reserve asset status ................... 60
Protocol between Government of India and the Government of Japan
........................................................................................................ 62
India may ratify WTO trade facilitation pact .................................... 62
India to host Heart of Asia conference in 2016 ................................. 64
India signs taxation MoU with South Korea ..................................... 65
TAPI project .................................................................................... 66
Historic Paris climate pact puts world on green path ....................... 66
India Business Card for SAARC trade .............................................. 67
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Spain on
cooperation in Port matters ............................................................68
Memorandum of Understanding in energy saving and energy
efficiency among BRICS countries ...................................................68
Model Text for the Indian Bilateral Investment Treaty .................... 69
UNSC adopts resolution to cut off funding to ISIS, Al-Qaeda ........... 71
UN Security Council agrees on Syria plan ........................................ 72
US Senate passes IMF reform in favour of emerging markets .......... 73
Seychelles committed to Indian naval base .................................... 74
Paper 2 Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
Indias interests. .................................................................................................................. 75
Government slaps anti-dumping duty on stainless steel .................. 75
China adopts tough anti-terror law .................................................. 76
Paper 2 Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure,
mandate................................................................................................................................ 77
China hosts 1st BRICS media summit .............................................. 77
Afghanistans WTO membership approved after 11 years of talks .... 78
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Current Events
GS III ..................................................................................................................................... 80
Paper 3 Topic: Indian diaspora. ......................................................................................... 80
Government To Expand Visa-Free Diplomatic Travel To More
Countries ....................................................................................... 80
Paper 3 Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of
resources, growth, development and employment. ............................................................. 81
CEA panel for removing tax on inter-state trade .............................. 81
Singapore pips Mauritius as Indias top FDI source ......................... 81
RBI links lending rates to loan tenor ............................................... 82
Centre tables bankruptcy Bill in Lok Sabha .....................................84
Paper 3 Topic: financial inclusion. .................................................................................... 85
World Bank might support India Posts payments bank .................. 85
Paper 3 Topic: e-technology in the aid of farmers............................................................. 86
Agriculture Ministry launches two mobile apps for farmers ............86
Paper 3 Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies.................................. 87
LPG subsidy linked to income .......................................................... 87
RBI panel for direct transfer of cash, abolishing farm subsidy ....... 88
Paper 3 Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and
their effects on industrial growth........................................................................................ 89
India ranks 97th on Forbes best countries for business list .............89
Karnataka to allow start-ups to pitch for govt contracts................... 91
Paper 3 Topic: infrastructure, Resource Mobilization ...................................................... 91
Lok Sabha passes National Waterways Bill ...................................... 91
Vajpayees road scheme soon in Naxal-hit areas .............................. 92
Kelkar chalks out rules for PPP revival ............................................ 93
Foreign funds plan share in Indias infrastructure corpus ............... 95
Paper 3 Topic: infrastructure: Railways ............................................................................ 96
Nod for biggest FDI in Indian Railways ........................................... 96
Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure: Energy............................................................................... 97
Modi launches International Solar Alliance ..................................... 97
Govt approves pact with Germany for solar energy ..........................98
Rajasthan Joins UDAY Scheme........................................................ 99
TS signs up with Centre for Power for All ..................................... 100
Underground Coal Gasification in coal and lignite bearing areas in
India ............................................................................................. 100
Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure Housing......................................................................... 101
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New legislation to rein in realtors.................................................. 101
Paper 3 Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects
in everyday life. .................................................................................................................. 102
Tech Mahindra Launches NFC-Based Digital Wallet MoboMoney .. 102
Paper 3 Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of
technology and developing new technology. .................................................................... 104
Cabinet okays Bill on Regional Centre for Biotechnology ............... 104
Countrys flagship HAL turns 75 .................................................... 105
India joins select club to build LNG ships ...................................... 105
Indian American professor wins top honour for research on tumours
...................................................................................................... 106
Astra missile proves anti-jamming capability ................................ 107
Paper 3 Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-
technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights............... 108
Airtel to invest Rs. 60,000 crore in Project Leap .......................... 108
India Ranked 131 on Global Index of Information Technology Access:
Report ........................................................................................... 109
PSLV bags two more US launch orders .......................................... 110
Countrys first anti-piracy police unit ............................................. 111
NASA plans to exit space station ..................................................... 112
Japan asteroid probe enters target orbit ........................................ 114
Pichai pitches Project Loon for connectivity ................................... 114
ISRO launches 6 Singapore satellites .............................................. 116
Gadget buffs may have to forego their fix ........................................ 116
Centre counts on Big Data to grow biotechnology ...........................118
Paper 3 Topic: biodiversity................................................................................................ 119
Rare discovery of eel on West Bengal coast ..................................... 119
Paper 3 Topic: conservation. ............................................................................................ 120
MoU between India and Israel ....................................................... 120
Agra to host first ever international bird fete .................................. 121
A third of Indias soil degraded: experts ......................................... 121
Paris pact on water and climate change adaptation announced with
India on board ............................................................................... 122
Indias forest cover goes up, shows report ..................................... 123
India adds 112 sq. km. to mangrove cover ...................................... 124
Countrys biggest wildlife rescue centre commissioned ................. 125
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PMO sets ambitious paperless target ............................................. 126
Emission norms for thermal power plants made stricter ............... 127
Olive Ridleys find new haven in East Godavari .............................. 128
Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory
Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia ................................................ 129
Paper 3 Topic: pollution.................................................................................................... 130
An odd formula ............................................................................. 130
China issues first red alert on pollution .......................................... 131
NGT bans registration of new diesel vehicles in the capital ............ 132
RCE-Tirupati to focus on Eastern Ghats ........................................ 133
Luxury diesel vehicles banned in Delhi, NCR ................................. 134
Women, bikers out of Delhis odd-even formula ............................ 135
Paper 3 Topic: disaster and disaster management........................................................... 136
NDRF teams arrives in Puducherry ............................................... 136
Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) ........................... 138
Paper 3 Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of
media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber
security; money-laundering and its prevention................................................................ 139
India fourth-largest source of black money: Report ....................... 139
Centre pushing to revive NATGRID, looking for CEO ..................... 140
Paper 3 Topic: Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of
organized crime with terrorism. ........................................................................................ 141
Missing Malwani youth booked under UAPA .................................. 141
General awareness. ...................................................................................................... 142
Cabinet approves six new IITs.............................................................................................. 142
INDRA NAVY- 15 ............................................................................................................... 143
Merkel named Time Person of the year 2015 ................................................................ 144
Dilip Kumar gets Padma Vibhushan award.......................................................................... 144
Garwood Award................................................................................................................... 145
INS Godavari decommissioned ........................................................................................... 145
C.K. Nayudu award for Kirmani ......................................................................................... 146
Good Governance Day to mark Vajpayees birthday........................................................... 147
First cable-stayed bridge in north India opens in Jammu and Kashmir.............................. 147
Ramakrishna Mission-UNESCO establish official ties..................................................... 148
Microsoft signs MoU with AP govt ..................................................................................... 149
Nagi Day Celebrated by the Army ....................................................................................... 149
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Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhari given Jnanpith Award for 2015 .............................. 150
Maiden Attempt Barak 8 Missile ...................................................................................... 151
Trivia: ................................................................................................................................. 152
GS I
Paper 1 Topic: art and culture.
Exclusive right to enter sanctum sanctorum is not
untouchability: court
The Supreme Court has ruled that appointment of archakas in Tamil
Nadu temples as per the Agamas was not a violation of the right to
equality. It further said that the exclusive right given to a particular group
or denomination to enter the sanctum sanctorum of a temple and perform
rituals cannot be construed as a practice of untouchability.
To justify this reasoning, the court referred to a century-old ruling of
the Madras High Court in the Gopala Moopanar case which
explained that the exclusion prescribed in the Agamas was not
on the basis of caste, birth or pedigree. The Moopanar
case revealed how some Agamas even excluded Brahmins
from the sanctum sanctorum and duties of performance of
pujas.
The judgment explained how in the first stage of mankind, worship was
merely service to fellow creatures. Then notions of inferiority and
superiority crept in among men and finally to settle the squabbles of
men, sages introduced image worship in temples regulated by treatises
known as Agamas and Thantras.
In the context of the Constitution Bench judgment of 1972 in
the Seshammal case, the Supreme Court explained that Agamas
were the fundamental religious belief of a particular sect.
The court also made it clear that appointment of priests should conform to
the Agama practices prevalent in a particular temple, even if it meant that
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archakas (priests) were appointed from a given denomination, sect or a
group in the State.
Background:
The Tamil Nadu government had, in 2002, announced that temple priests
would be appointed from people belonging to all castes, and had even
launched Agama training schools in several temples, to impart the required
training and qualifications to become archakas in Hindu temples.
What are Agamas?
Agamas in Sanskrit mean that which has come to us.
There are two kinds of Agama texts, Agama and Tantra, the
former practised in Saivite and Vaishnavite temples, and the latter in
Sakthi temples.
Agamas expound a variety of subjects and they are really the stylebook,
on which Hindu rituals are based.
While some Saivite temples practise Tamil Agamas too, rituals in
Vaishnavite temples are based on Vaikhanasa Agamas and the
Pancharathra Agamas, or the Five Nights.
Pancharathra Agamas, considered an esoteric subject, is believed to
have been taught by Lord Vishnu himself to the sages over five nights.
Agamas incorporate a fundamental religious belief of the necessity of
performance of the poojas by Archakas belonging to a particular and
distinct sect/group/denomination, failing which, there will be
defilement of deity requiring purification ceremonies.
sources: the hindu.
12th Century monument resurrected from ruins

With the investment of Rs. 4.5 crore from the Infosys foundation,
restoration works at the 12th century Someshwara temple complex have
begun.
Notable points:
The temple is situated in Lakshmeshwar, Gadag district, Karnataka.
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It is one of the marvels of the Kalyan Chalukya architecture and
has four doorways with beautiful sculptural details.
The Vesara style main structure has a unique Vimana (tower) having
intricate designs.
It is surrounded by smaller shrines, which had been corroded due to
natures vagaries.
A statue of a Jain Teerthankara on a parapet wall of the
temple underlines its Jain heritage.
It has emerged as a model for conserving rich cultural heritage through
public private partnership.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 1 Topic: communalism & secularism.

MHA sends back anti-conversion Bills
The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent the pending anti-conversion Bills of
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh back to these States. The Home Ministry has
asked the two States for further clarifications.
Background:
The Rajasthan Bill was passed by the Assembly in 2008. According to
the bill, anyone who is abetting religious conversion can be put in jail
for five years and can be fined up to Rs. 50000.
The Chattisgarh Bill, known as the Dharma Swatantraya
Sanshodhan Vidheyak, 2006, says the return of a person to his
ancestors religion shall not be construed as conversion. It accords
with the ghar vapsi campaign of the right wing groups. The Bill says any
person who wants to convert will have to inform the district magistrate
who will be the final authority. It was passed in 2006.
The Bills were forwarded to the Centre in 2013. The MHA had sent it for
consultations among the Ministries of Culture, Tribal Affairs, Minority
Affairs and Women and Child Development. After getting a response from
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all the Ministries concerned, the Bills have been sent back to Rajasthan and
Chhattisgarh.
sources: the hindu.
Topic: Social issues (Prelims)

Alathur to become first organic block panchayat
Alathur is all set to become the first block panchayat in Kerala to
achieve self-sufficiency in production and consumption of
organically grown vegetables.
Details:
The block panchayat has begun a novel initiative in this regard with the
cooperation of eight grama panchayats under it.
By the end of the next economic year, the block will produce all fruits
and vegetables for its residents based on the requirement.
A farmers market without the involvement of middlemen will also be
set up at Vadakkanchery in the block.
After achieving self-sufficiency, retail outlets will be started in other
parts of the State to sell the excess quantity of fruits and vegetables.
Implementation:
The project is being implemented with the help of Hill Area
Development Authority, Integrated Watershed Development
Programme and Swachh Bharat Mission.
The Agriculture Department will coordinate the farming activities with
the help of local bodies. Efforts are already on to ensure the active
involvement of the masses in the project.
Under this scheme, loans with subsidies will be made available to
interested farmers, besides supply of seeds and organic fertilizers.
sources: the hindu.
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Current Events
Paper 1 and 2 Topics: Social empowerment and Welfare schemes for vulnerable
sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these
schemes.
Devadasi system: Home Ministry asks States to take strong action
The Union Home Ministry has asked all States to take strong action against
those involved in the practice of ancient Devadasi system which is against
dignity of women.
It was recently found that the ancient Devadasi system continues to
exist in some parts of the country.
The Ministry has said the Devadasi system is inhuman and one of the
most heinous practices against women degrading them to the lowest
level.
It has directed that the laws against it be implemented in letter and
spirit and steps taken to ensure that the victims are rehabilitated.
Listing all existing legal provisions under the Indian Penal Code and
state laws, the ministry has directed initiation of special drives for
identification of all victims and their rehabilitate.
The ministrys decision comes a month after the Supreme Court fined it for
failure to file an affidavit on time during the hearing of a public interest
litigation which sought total prohibition on the Devadasi practice.
What is Devadasi system?
Devadasi system is a religious practice whereby parents marry a daughter
to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches
puberty.
The practice of Devadasi system in any form is in total contravention of
the provisions of Section 370 and 370A as amended through Criminal
Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 as well as Section 372 of Indian Penal
Code.
It is also against Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the letter said. These
provisions have been strengthened with enhanced punishment.
In recent decades, the practice has been used to push young girls into
prostitution.
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While various state governments have enacted laws to stop such
practices, the tradition remains entrenched in some parts of the
country, especially some southern states.
sources: the hindu, wiki.
GS II
Paper 2 Topic: appointment to various constitutional posts.
New CJI takes over
Justice Tirath Singh Thakur was sworn in as 43rd Chief Justice of
India by President Pranab Mukherjee recently.
The senior-most judge of the apex court, 63-year old Justice Thakur
took over from incumbent Justice H L Dattu who retired December 2nd.
Appointment of CJI:
According to the convention, the present Chief Justice recommends the
name of his successor to the government.
After the Law Ministry clears his name, the file will go to the Prime
Ministers Office and finally reaches the President, after whose approval
the Warrant of Appointment will be issued.
sources: the hindu.
RK Mathur set to be new Chief Information

Commissioner
Former defence secretary Radha Krishna Mathur has been cleared for the
post of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).
He will be serving for nearly three years, making him the second-
longest serving CIC.
Mathurs selection as the eighth CIC is a departure from the
convention of appointing the most senior Information Commissioner
(IC) as the CIC.
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CIC appointment:
The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are
appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee
consisting of
1. The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha; and
3. A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
The Chief Information Commissioner heads the Central Information
Commission, the body that hears appeals from information-seekers who
have not been satisfied by the public authority, and also addresses major
issues concerning the RTI Act. The Central Information Commission (CIC)
is set up under the Right to Information Act and is the authorised body,
established in 2005, under the Government of India.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: river water disputes.

Mullaperiyar safety: Kerala to move Supreme Court
against Tamil Nadu
As heavy rain brought the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam closer to the
permissible limit of 142 feet, the Kerala government has told the Assembly
that it was preparing to move the Supreme Court against Tamil Nadu for
the failure to comply with dam safety regulations.
The government is all set to file a petition in the Supreme Court
pointing out that the dam supervisory committee had opened the
spillway shutters to release excess water into the Periyar river without
observing the operational schedule mandating 12-hour prior notice to
Kerala.
A torrential downpour like the one experienced by Chennai recently
could pose a danger to the 120-year-old dam.
Mullaperiyar Dam- Quick facts:
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It is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in Kerala.
It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above mean sea level, on the Cardamom
Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki District of Kerala.
It was constructed between 1887 and 1895 by John Pennycuick to divert
water eastwards to the Madras Presidency area (present-day Tamil
Nadu).
The Periyar National Park in Thekkady is located around the dams
reservoir.
The dam is located in Kerala on the river Periyar, but is operated and
maintained by Tamil Nadu state.
Sources: The Hindu, Wiki.
No change in State share of Krishna water, SC told

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that the assigned Krishna Water
Tribunal will decide Telanganas share of the river water, and this will be
done without disturbing the allocation made to neighbouring States of
Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The Centre has already referred to the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-
II the issue of allocation of Krishna water to Telangana post bifurcation
in a notification dated May 15, 2014 and subsequently in a letter dated
July 23, 2014.
The tribunal will decide the respective shares of the successor State of
Telangana and the residual State of Andhra Pradesh.
What is the issue now?
Telangana had filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court, contending
that its interests were not represented before the Krishna Water
Disputes Tribunal II.
It has sought total re-consideration of the Tribunals final award in
December 2010 as it concerned only Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and
Maharashtra.
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Telangana says it has no other forum to address its grievance for a fresh
allocation of the water on the basis of its identity as a separate State.
Telangana is restricted by the terms of reference of Section 89 of the
Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act of 2014, which considers only the
prospect of carving out its share of the water from Andhra Pradeshs
share.
It is said that Telangana, which came into existence only on June 2 this
year, did not get an opportunity to raise its independent grievances.
In August this year, the Supreme Court had prima facie recognised
Telanganas status as an affected State with a voice of its own.
What are the demands of Telangana now?
It wants the court to set aside previous dispute proceedings and orders of
past tribunals in the light of the bifurcation of the State of Andhra Pradesh.
What other states say?
Opposing Telanganas demands, the States of Maharashtra and Karnataka
say that the interests of Telangana were represented by the undivided
Andhra Pradesh, and there cannot be any new proceedings for fresh
allocation of the water.
Present allocation:
As per the final award passed on December 2010, Andhra Pradesh is
entitled to get 1,001 tmcft of water, Karnataka will get 907 tmcft and
Maharashtras share is 666 tmcft. This award is binding till 2050.
Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Centenary year of Zoological Survey of India
The union government has released a commemorative stamp to mark the
Centenary year of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
About ZSI:
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Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July 1916 to
promote the survey, exploration, research and documentation leading to
the advancement in knowledge on various aspects of animal taxonomy of
the Indian subcontinent.
ZSI is a premier institution on animal taxonomy in India under the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Of the nearly 100, 000 species of animals known to occur in India, it is
the ZSI that brought the knowledge to the scientific community about
many of them as the new and endemic species of animals found in this
country.
ZSI has been declared as the designated repository for the National
Zoological Collection as per Section 39 of the National Biodiversity Act,
2002.
To meet the challenges of biodiversity conservation, sustainable
utilization and dissemination of knowledge on faunal diversity to all
stakeholders, the Survey is equipped with modern tools and techniques
such as scanning electron microscopes, digital stereo zoom
microscopes, GIS tools, data basing tools and the DNA bar coding
technology.
Red Data Book: Similar to the Red Data Book produced by IUCN, ZSI
also releases a Red Data Book on Indian Animals. It was first published
in 1983.
sources: pib, bs.
Southern Zonal Council

Andhra Pradesh government is all set to host the 26th meeting of the
Southern Zonal Council which will be chaired by the union Home Minister.
The meeting will discuss security related issues with the Union Home
Ministry officials.
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The Southern Zonal Council is composed of Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and the Union Territory of
Puducherry.
The purpose of the annual meeting is to promote the habit of
cooperative working in several key areas. The last meeting was held at
Hyderabad.
The Council has set up a standing committee consisting of Chief
Secretaries of the member States of their zonal council.
Zonal councils:
Zonal councils have been established by the Parliament to promote
interstate cooperation and coordination.
They are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation

Act 1956 and not constitutional bodies.
They are only deliberative and advisory bodies.
There are 5 five Zonal councils namely:
1. The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National
Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh;
2. The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh;
3. The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand,
Orissa, and West Bengal;
4. The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat,
Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra &
Nagar Haveli; and
5. The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The North Eastern States i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur
(iv) Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya (vii) Sikkim and (viii) Nagaland
are not included in the Zonal Councils and their special problems are
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looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North
Eastern Council Act, 1972.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF ZONAL COUNCILS:
Chairman The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these
Councils.
Vice Chairman The Chief Ministers of the States included in each
zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by
rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
Members- Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the
Governor from each of the States and two members from Union
Territories included in the zone.
Advisers- One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each
of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another
officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States
included in the Zone.
Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal
Councils depending upon necessity.
The main objectives of setting up of Zonal Councils are:
Bringing out national integration;
Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism,
linguism and particularistic tendencies;
Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas
and experiences; and
Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful
and speedy execution of development projects.
A Zonal Council may discuss, and make recommendations with regard to:
any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social
planning;
any matter concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-
State transport; and
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
any matter connected with, or arising out of, the re-organisation of the
States under the States Reorganisation Act.
sources: the hindu, pib, laxmikant.
CBDT ups monetary limit for court appeal by I-T

In order to cut down on frivolous litigation and taxpayers grievances, the
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued fresh directions revising
the monetary threshold for the taxman to appeal at two important legal
forums Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and high courts.
The CBDT, which formulates policies for the income tax (I-T)
department, has issued a fresh directive asking the department to go
into appeal at the ITAT, only when the tax effect in question is Rs
10 lakh (from earlier Rs 4 lakh) and Rs 20 lakh (from earlier
Rs 10 lakh) if the appeal is to be filed in a high court.
However, the monetary limit for filing appeals or Special Leave
Petitions in the Supreme Court have been kept unchanged at Rs 25
lakh.
There are four essential forums under law which a taxpayer can approach
against an I-T assessment order beginning from the Commissioner of I-T
(Appeals), ITAT, high court and finally, the apex court.
About CBDT:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning
under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.
The Board is a part of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of
Finance, Government of India. It provides essential inputs for policy
and planning of direct taxes in India and is also responsible for
administration of the direct tax laws through Income Tax Department.
It is Indias official Financial Action Task Force unit.
The CBDT Chairman and Members of CBDT are selected from Indian
Revenue Service (IRS), a premier civil service of India, whose members
constitute the top management of Income Tax Department.
sources: bs.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Give atomic regulator legal teeth: IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has suggested the
government embed in law the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) as
an independent regulatory body.
In a report after an IAEA team recently visited India to review the
countrys regulatory framework for nuclear safety, the agency
recommended that the AERB review the implementation of its policies
and existing arrangements to ensure its independence as a regulator.
IAEA has said that in order to ensure the independence of the
regulatory body is clear and transparent the government should
strengthen the legislative framework by creating in law the AERB as a
regulatory body separated from entities having responsibilities or
interests that could unduly influence its decision making.
According to the IAEA, the regulatory body should ensure that in its
liaison with interested parties it has a clear separation from
organisations or bodies that have been assigned responsibilities for
facilities or activities or for their promotion.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
The IAEA is the worlds centre of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set
up as the worlds Atoms for Peace organization in 1957 within the United
Nations family.
It seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its
use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.
It is not under direct control of the UN. Though established
independently of the United Nations through its own international
treaty, the IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both the United Nations
General Assembly and Security Council.
The IAEA Secretariat is headquartered at the Vienna International
Centre in Vienna, Austria.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and
technical cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology and
nuclear power worldwide.
Currently, it has 164 member states.
sources: bs, iaea.
Notice issued to govt. on NHRC vacancies

The Supreme Court has sought the governments response on pending
appointments to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),
including the posts of Chairperson, Director General of Investigation and a
member.
The apex court has issued notice to the Union Home Ministry on a
petition contending that the top human rights body has been
functioning without a chairperson for over six months.
The petition contends that the Commission cannot function without its
Chairperson, member and Director General of Investigation. It has
become handicapped due to the inaction of the government.
According to the petition, the vacancies have affected the pendency in
the Commission. From a total 40,941 pending cases on June 30, 2015,
the numbers have increased to 48,448 in September.
NHRC:
It is a statutory body established in 1993.
Composition:
It consists of a Chairman and 4 members. Chairman should be a retired
Chief Justice of India. Members should be either sitting or retired
judges of the Supreme Court or a serving or retired Chief Justice of a
High Court and 2 persons having practical knowledge in this field.
Ex officio members are the chairmen of National Commission for
Scheduled Caste, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National
Commission for Minorities and National Commission for Women.
Appointment:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The chairman and members are appointed on the recommendation of a
6 member committee consisting of Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok
Sabha, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, leaders of opposition in
both the houses of parliament and Union Home Minister.
Term: Term of the chairman and members is 5 years or 70 years whichever
is earlier. After retirement they are not eligible for further reappointment.
Removal: President has to refer the matter to Supreme Court and if after
enquiry Supreme Court holds it right then they can be removed by the
President.
Other facts:
Its recommendations are just advisory and not binding in nature.
It submits Annual report to the Central government and to the
concerned state governments.
FSSAI sets up 9 panels to strengthen food regulatory

mechanism: Govt
FSSAI has set up nine new panels for expediting work relating to
strengthen the food regulatory mechanism in the country.
The FSSAI has also notified 12 referral laboratories and 82 National
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-
accredited private laboratories.
About FSSAI:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been
established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates
various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in
various Ministries and Departments.
It was created for laying down science based standards for articles of
food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and
import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human
consumption.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the
Administrative Ministry for the implementation of FSSAI.
The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are appointed by Government of
India.
The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.
Important functions performed by the authority:
Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in
relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate system of
enforcing various standards thus notified.
Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of
certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management
system for food businesses.
Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories
and notification of the accredited laboratories.
To provide scientific advice and technical support to Central
Government and State Governments in the matters of framing the
policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food
safety and nutrition .
Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and
prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various,
contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and
introduction of rapid alert system.
Creating an information network across the country so that the public,
consumers, Panchayats etc receive rapid, reliable and objective
information about food safety and issues of concern.
Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to
get involved in food businesses.
sources: bs, fssai.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in
various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Gujarats controversial Labour Laws Bill gets Presidential
assent
President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the
contentious Labour Laws Bill of Gujarat.
The bill was passed by the Gujarat Assembly in February this year. The
Gujarat government passed the Bill to relax labour laws to give an
impetus to industrialization in the State.
However, opposition parties in the state had termed this bill as anti-
labour and pro-private industries.
About the bill:
Among contentious clauses, the time limit for workers to raise
objections to the decisions of the industries was reduced to one year
from three years.
The Bill has provisions to ban strikes in public utility services for up to
one year.
The most controversial amendment was over settlement of disputes
between workers and the management out of court by compounding a
certain amount of money in the government agency.
The bill also sought to change certain basic definitions in the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948 and clauses in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which
allow more policing of the state over industries.
According to the bill, in accidental cases, the government will become
pleader in case the victim has not moved the Labour Commission
within 90 days, and mediate an out-of-court settlement with maximum
compensation of Rs 21,000, of which 25% will go to the government.
The bill also allows employers to change the nature of job of the
employees without prior notice.
sources: the hindu.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Lok Sabha passes bill to replace Bureau of Indian
Standards
The Lok Sabha has passed a bill that provides for establishing Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS) as the National Standards Body of India.
The bill was passed by voice vote.
The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015:
The bill seeks to replace the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986.
It proposes to make BIS a national standards body, introduce
mandatory hallmarking of precious metal, prevent misuse of Standard
marks and provide for recall of ISI marked products not conforming to
relevant standards.
Once the Bill is approved, the BIS would get the legislative backing to
formally represent India abroad. At present, the BIS is not formally
recognised as a national standards body of the country, though it has
been representing India in various international bodies.
The bill will also help in promoting Make in India and Made in India.
After becoming law, the Bill will allow multiple types of conformity
assessment schemes in tune with global best practices.
The Bill will also empower the Centre to authorise any other agency
having necessary accreditation for the purpose of conformity
assessment against Indian standards.
sources: bs, pib.
Atomic Energy Bill 2015 introduced in Lok Sabha

The Union government has introduced Atomic Energy (Amendment)
Bill, 2015 in Lok Sabha.
The Bill seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, in order to
overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear
projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation.
Highlights of the bill:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
As per the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, a government company is one in
which at least 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by the central
government. Paid-up share capital is the capital received by a
company from the issue of shares. But, the Bill expands this definition
to include companies where the whole of the paid up share capital is
held by one or more government company and whose articles of
association empower the central government to constitute its Board of
Directors.
As per the Act, a license is required for acquisition, production, use,
export and import of any plant designed for the production and
development of atomic energy or research. But, the Bill makes
consequential amendments to state that such license will only be
granted to entities such as a government company or a department of
central government.
The Bill states that any license granted for matters such as: (i)
producing atomic energy, and (ii) acquiring and using substances or
minerals from which atomic energy can be obtained etc., will be
cancelled if a licensee ceases to be a government company.
sources: pib.
Real Estate Regulatory Authority on anvil

The Union Cabinet recently gave its approval to the Real Estate
(Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015. The Bill will now be taken
up for consideration and passing by Parliament.
The Bill aims to protect the interest of consumers, promote fair play in
real estate transactions and ensure timely execution of projects.
Features of the bill:
It regulates both commercial and residential real estate projects;
It seeks to set up Real Estate Regulatory Authority in states and union
territories to oversee real estate transactions;
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
It makes registration of real estate projects and real estate agents with
the authority mandatory;
It makes mandatory disclosure of details of all registered projects,
including those about the promoter, project, layout plan, land status,
approvals, agreements along with details of real estate agents,
contractors, architect, structural engineer etc;
Developers have to deposit specified amount in a separate bank account
to cover the construction cost of the project for timely completion of the
project;
It seeks to establish fast track dispute resolution mechanisms for
settlement of disputes through adjudicating officers and Appellate
Tribunal;
The bill bars civil courts from taking up matters defined in it. However,
consumer courts are allowed to hear real estate matters. There are 644
consumer courts in the country. The more avenues for grievance
redressal would mean lower litigation costs for the buyers.
Promoters are barred from changing plans and design without consent
of consumers.
Benefits:
The Bill is expected ensure greater accountability towards consumers,
and to significantly reduce frauds and delays.
It is expected to promote regulated and orderly growth of the real estate
sector through efficiency, professionalism and standardization.
These measures are also expected to boost domestic and foreign
investment in the sector and help achieve the objective of the
Government of India to provide Housing for All by 2022, through
enhanced private participation.
sources: the hindu, pib.
Cabinet Gives Nod To Bill On National Waterways

Conversion
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its
approval to carry out official amendments in the National Waterways Bill,
2015.
The bill seeks to declare 106 additional inland waterways as national
waterways. After the inclusion of 106 additional inlands waterways to
the existing five national waterways, the total number of national
waterways goes upto 111.
The amendments are based on the recommendations of the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture
and comments of states.
About the Bill:
The Bill repeals the five Acts that declare the existing national
waterways. These five national waterways are now covered under the
Bill.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that while
inland waterways are recognised as a fuel efficient, cost effective and
environment friendly mode of transport, it has received lesser
investment as compared to roads and railways.
Inland waterways, comprising rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and backwaters,
extend about 14,500 km across the country. However, potential of this
mode of transport has not been fully exploited so far. Thus, the central
government has come up with this policy.
It should be noted here that under the Union List of the Seventh Schedule
of the Constitution, the central government can make laws on shipping and
navigation on inland waterways which are classified as national waterways
by Parliament by law.
sources: pib.
Supreme Court upholds Haryana panchayat law

The Supreme Court has upheld the Haryana Panchayati Raj
(Amendment) Act, 2015 which mandates that only those having
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
minimum educational qualifications will be eligible to contest panchayat
elections in the State.
The court is of the opinion that basic education would enable the
candidates to effectively discharge duties of the panchayat.
The court also says that education gives a human being the power to
discriminate between right and wrong, good and bad. Therefore,
according to the court, prescription of an educational qualification is
not irrelevant for better administration.
This judgment may become a rallying point for other States also to
amend their laws in the same fashion.
Background:
The Haryana State government had notified the Haryana Panchayati
Raj (amendment) Act 2015 recently.
According to the amendments, general category candidates require a
minimum qualification of Class X pass, men contesting in the
Scheduled Caste category and women in the general category need to be
Class VIII pass, while women in the Scheduled Caste category need to
be Class V pass to be eligible.
The amendments also required that candidates should not have any
dues in co-operative banks, electricity bills should be paid up and there
should be a functional toilet at home.
The State government had gone ahead with the changes despite the
Punjab and Haryana High Court staying the relevant ordinance on
August 21.
A petition was filed against the law alleging that the act had some
discriminatory provisions that restrain persons from contesting
elections on the ground of educational qualifications.
The petition also says that 83% of Dalit women and 71% women in
general and 56 percent males would be excluded from contesting the
panchayat polls by this law, affecting fundamental rights of the
candidates.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Besides Haryana, Rajasthan has also recently fixed the minimum
educational qualification for elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions.
sources: the hindu.
One-man commission on OROP appointed

The Union government has appointed Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, former
Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as the one-man judicial
commission to look into the implementation of the one rank one pension
scheme.
The appointment of the committee is in keeping with the points of the
notification issued by the government in November for implementing
the scheme.
The committee will make recommendations on removal of anomalies
that may arise in the implementation of the OROP, which the
government notified on November 7. It will also address inter-service
anomalies, and any other matter referred by the Central Government.
Veterans have rejected this commission. They have been demanding for a
five-member judicial commission with representatives from the military.
One-rank one-pension scheme:
This is a scheme which will ensure that soldiers of the same rank and the
same length of service receive the same pension, irrespective of their
retirement date. In simple words, it demands equal pensions for those who
have retired in one particular year, as those who retire in another year at
the same position, and for the same duration of services rendered. The
difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank
occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence
personnel in that rank.
sources: the hindu.
Lok Sabha passes Atomic Energy Bill 2015
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Lok Sabha recently passed the landmark Atomic Energy
(Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill was passed with a voice vote. It will now
be referred to Rajya Sabha for ratification.
The Bill empowers the central government to produce, develop, control,
and use atomic energy.
The Bill seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, thus paving the
way for Atomic Energy Units, including Nuclear Power Corporation of
India Limited (NPCIL) to enter into joint-ventures with other Public
Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and government sector companies.
Highlights of the bill:
As per the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, a government company is one in
which at least 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by the central
government. Paid-up share capital is the capital received by a company
from the issue of shares. But, the Bill expands this definition to include
companies where the whole of the paid up share capital is held by one
or more government company and whose articles of association
empower the central government to constitute its Board of Directors.
As per the Act, a license is required for acquisition, production, use,
export and import of any plant designed for the production and
development of atomic energy or research. But, the Bill makes
consequential amendments to state that such license will only be
granted to entities such as a government company or a department of
central government.
The Bill states that any license granted for matters such as: (i)
producing atomic energy, and (ii) acquiring and using substances or
minerals from which atomic energy can be obtained etc., will be
cancelled if a licensee ceases to be a government company.
sources: pib.
Angry SC takes extraordinary step of appointing Uttar

Pradesh Lokayukta
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Using its extraordinary powers granted under Article 142 of the
Constitution to enforce its own orders in order to do complete
justice, the Supreme Court for the first time in its history appointed a
Lokayukta after slamming the failure of the constitutional authorities of the
State to comply with its orders. The Supreme Court has invoked its
extraordinary powers to assume authority to appoint Lokayukta of Uttar
Pradesh.
The Court has appointed former high court judge Justice Virendra
Singh as Uttar Pradeshs Lokayukta after expressing its annoyance at
how the U.P. government failed to meet its deadline.
Background:
No consensus had been reached among the three-member committee
of the Chief Minister, the Opposition Leader and the Chief
Justice of the State High Court despite two rounds of talks. The
committee was supposed to submit the name with the Supreme Court.
sources: the hindu.
Lok Sabha Passes Arbitration and Reconciliation

Amendment Bill, 2015
The Lok Sabha has passed the Arbitration and Reconciliation
(Amendment Bill), 2015 by voice vote.
The Bill seeks to make the arbitration process more investor-friendly,
cost effective and suitable for expeditious disposal of cases. It will also
facilitate in making India a hub of international commercial arbitration.
It may be noted that the President had promogulated an ordinance for
amending the earlier prevalent act, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act
1996 related and for matters connected there with or incidental thereto.
The union cabinet had approved promulgation of this ordinance in
October 2015 and had recommended the same to the President.
Important provisions in the bill:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Bill seeks to impose a time limit of 12 months for arbitrators to
decide on disputes. Parties can also choose to fast track their arbitration
within 6 months. Courts will also be asked to decide disputed arbitral
awards within a year.
The Bill also includes provisions specifying and restricting the term
Public Policy of India on whose ground an arbitral award could be
challenged.
According to the Bill, an award would be construed as against the Public
Policy of India if it is induced or affected by fraud or corruption, or is in
contravention of the fundamental policy of Indian law or is in conflict
with the most basic notions of morality or justice.
sources: pib.
Permission no longer needed to buy farm land

In a major move to boost industrial growth, the Maharashtra government
has approved an amendment to the Rent Act, allowing non-farmers to buy
agricultural land for industrial activities without government permission.
As per the amendment, permission to buy agricultural land that is
shown as not under farming in plans can be removed.
But the buyer will have to use the land for the pre-stated purpose in five
years (which can be increased to 10 years by paying an annual fee);
failing to do so will result in the land being deposited back with the
government with the intent of returning it to the original farmer.
Buyers wanting to resell the land for other purposes will have to pay a
25% transfer fee.
Now, it is not necessary to seek permission from the Industry
Commissioner to buy agriculture land more than 10 hectares for industrial
use. This decision will ensure industrial growth.
sources: the hindu.
Textiles Minister launches ERP system of NHDC

DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Union Textiles Minister Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar recently
launched the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in
Varanasi. This is in line with the Digital India initiative of Government of
India. With this, National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd
(NHDC) has become the first PSU under the Ministry of Textiles to
have an ERP system.
The ERP system will improve productivity, increase efficiencies,
decrease costs and streamline supply of raw material processes in
NHDC.
The ERP system will significantly benefit the weavers, who are the
primary beneficiaries of the yarn supply scheme of Government of
India.
Weavers will gain from quicker delivery of NHDC material. It will also
result in higher transparency and accountability, making the
corporations activities visible for all stakeholders.
Key Benefits for weavers:
By making the procurement process transparent, yarn will be available
at the best price to the weavers across the country.
The weavers will be able to access information anytime through the
mobile app.
They can view the stock of the material in yarn depots.
They can place their indents.
They can check the status of their indents.
They can get the details of the dispatched material via SMS.
The weavers would not have to visit NHDC office or send indent by
post, saving time and money.
The principles of Digital India such as scope enhancement, process
reengineering, use of integrated and interoperable systems and deployment
of emerging technologies like cloud and mobile have been considered in
developing the ERP system.
sources: pib.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
LS passes Bill to hike bonus limit
The Lok Sabha has passed the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill,
2015which allows doubling of wage ceiling for calculating bonus of factory
workers and establishments with 20 or more workers.
Highlights of the Bill:
The Bill seeks to amend the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.
The Bill provides for enhancing monthly bonus calculation ceiling to Rs
7,000 per month from the existing Rs 3,500.
It seeks to enhance the eligibility limit for payment of bonus from Rs
10,000 per month to Rs 21,000 per month.
It seeks to mandate prior publication of rules made by the central
government to allow for more public consultation.
The bill also provides for a new proviso in Section 12 which empowers
the central government to vary the basis of computing bonus. At
present, under Section 12, where the salary or wage of an employee
exceeds Rs. 3,500 per month, the minimum or maximum bonus
payable to employees are calculated as if his salary or wage were Rs.
3,500 per month.
The amendment bill will be made effective from April 1, 2015. The Bill
would benefit crores of organised sector worker.
The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, is applicable to every factory and other
establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed on any day
during an accounting year. The last amendment to the eligibility limit and
the calculation ceiling was carried out in 2007 and made effective from
April 1, 2006.
sources: bs, pib.
CBDT tells field officers to finish MAT assessments for

FIIs
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
To end uncertainty over applicability of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on
foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and foreign companies, the Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has asked its field officers to complete the
pending assessments in light of the directions issued regarding
inapplicability of the tax liability on such entities.
Background:
The government had earlier decided that Section 115JB of Income Tax
with regard to levy of MAT will not apply to foreign companies, FIIs and
foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and a requisite amendment would be
made in the Finance Bill 2016.
It was decided that MAT will not apply to companies prior to April 1,
2015. The government had already in last Budget clarified that MAT
would not be levied on foreign companies, FIIs and FPIs from April 1,
2015.
The tax department, earlier this year, faced a huge controversy over
applicability of MAT on capital gains made by foreign portfolio
investors/foreign institutional investors in period prior to April 1. The
issues spooked markets with FIIs threatening to pull out. The
government managed to salvage the situation through a committee
under Law Commission chairman A P Shah which recommended non
applicability of MAT for previous years.
The government had earlier said that the I-T Act will be amended with
retrospective effect to exempt overseas companies, which do not have a
permanent establishment in India, from paying MAT.
What is MAT?
The concept of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) was introduced in the direct
tax system to make sure that companies having large profits and declaring
substantial dividends to shareholders but who were not contributing to the
government by way of corporate tax, by taking advantage of the various
incentives and exemptions provided in the Income-tax Act, pay a fixed
percentage of book profit as minimum alternate tax.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The objective of introduction of MAT is to bring into the tax net zero
tax companies which in spite of having earned substantial book profits
and having paid handsome dividends, do not pay any tax due to various
tax concessions and incentives provided under the Income-tax Law.
sources: bs, wiki.
Goa invokes ESMA as lifeguards go on strike

The Goa State government has invoked provisions of the Essential Services
Maintenance Act (ESMA), 1988 which prohibits strike in lifeguard, water
safety and inland water body services coming under the State Department
of Tourism. This is in response to an indefinite strike announced by the
lifeguards and contractors.
Over 600 lifeguards of the Drishti Lifesaving Pvt. Ltd. and contractors
engaged by the State government for ensuring safety at beaches in Goa
are demanding the regularisation of their services and immediate re-
instatement of 17 sacked staff members. The strike now has been
rendered illegal following the invoking of ESMA.
The strike comes at a time when Goa is gearing up for the New Year
celebrations with a large number of foreign and domestic tourists
making a beeline for this famous tourist destination.
About ESMA:
The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) is an act of Parliament of
India. It is a central law.
It was established to ensure the delivery of certain services, which if
obstructed would affect the normal life of the people. These include
services like public transport (bus services), health services (doctors
and hospitals).
Although it is a very powerful law, its execution rests entirely on the
discretion of the State government. Each state in the union of India,
hence has a separate state Essential Services Maintenance Act with
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
slight variations from the central law in its provisions. This freedom is
accorded by the central law itself.
18 States agree to revoke no detention policy in RTE

A committee headed by Rajasthan Education Minister Vasudev Devnani
has sent recommendations to the Central government, stating that the no
detention policy under the Right to Education (RTE) Act should be
revoked.
The committee had received the consent of 18 States for required
amendments in the no detention policy under the Right to Education
(RTE) Act.
Under the no detention policy, no student can be failed or expelled till
Class VIII. However, States, including Rajasthan, have already done
away with the policy.
What has the committee recommended?
The committee, formed by the Central government, stated that a
learning level must be fixed for each class to check whether a student is
eligible for the class that he or she is in.
The committee also notes, Students must not be detained in Classes VI
and VII. However, they must meet the required learning levels. A
months time would be given to students to retake tests and attain the
required learning levels, failing which the students would have to be
detained.
What next?
Now, for this to happen, the Centre will have to amend the Right To
Education law which prescribes the no-detention policy for students
till Class 8.
A key component of the RTE Act, the no-detention policy was enforced on
April 1, 2010, with the intention of ensuring that every child between the
age of six and 14 gets a school education.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
sources: the hindu.
Cabinet clears amended textile scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi has approved the introduction of Amended
Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) in place of the existing
Revised Restructured Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (RR-
TUFS),for technology upgradation of the textiles industry.
The new scheme specifically targets:
Employment generation and export by encouraging apparel and
garment industry, which will provide employment to women in
particular and increase Indias share inglobal exports.
Promotion of Technical Textiles, a sunrise sector, for export and
employment.
Promoting conversion of existing looms to better technology looms for
improvement in quality and productivity.
Encouraging better quality in processing industry and checking need
for import of fabrics by the garment sector.
Under the new scheme, there will be two broad categories:
Apparel, Garment and Technical Textiles, where 15% subsidy would be
provided on capital investment, subject to a ceiling of 30 crore rupees
for entrepreneurs over a period of five years.
Remaining sub-sectors would be eligible for subsidy at a rate of 10%,
subject to a ceiling of Rs.20 crore on similar lines.
Significance of the new scheme:
The amended scheme would give a boost to Make in India in the
textiles sector.
It is also expected to attract investment to the tune of one lakh crore
rupees, and create over 30 lakh jobs.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The amendments in the scheme are expected to plug the loopholes in
the earlier scheme and improve Ease of Doing Business.
About TUFS:
The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme was introduced by the
Government in 1999 to facilitate new and appropriate technology for
making the textile industry globally competitive and to reduce the
capital cost for the textile industry.
A sum of Rs. 21,347 crore has been provided as assistance to the
industry during 1999 2015. It has led to investments worth Rs.
2,71,480 crore, and created job opportunities for nearly 48 lakh people.
The scheme was earlier amended for continuation during the 12th Plan.
A sum of Rs.11,952 crore was provided for attracting investment of Rs.
1,51,000 crore during the period 2012-2017. Out of this, Rs. 9,290 crore
was meant for committed liabilities and Rs. 2,662 crore for new
investment.
sources: pib.
Paper 2 Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population

by the Centre and States.
Centre launches Accessible India Campaign for
differently-abled
The union government has launched the Accessible India Campaign
(Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
Aim: The campaign aims to enable persons with disabilities to gain
universal access, equal opportunity for development, independent living
and participation in all aspects of life in an inclusive society,
Details:
The Accessible India Campaign envisages making all the international
airports in the country and railway stations of A1, A & B categories fully
accessible to the disabled by July 2016.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
As per campaign drafted by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
at least 10% of government owned public transport carriers in the
country will be converted into fully accessible carriers for disabled
persons by March 2018.
By July 2018, at least 50% of all the government buildings of National
Capital and all the State capitals will be made fully accessible for
persons with disabilities.
It will also be targeted that at least 50% of all public documents issued
by the Central Government and the State Governments meet
accessibility standards for persons with disabilities by March 2018.
A web portal and mobile application for creating a crowd sourcing
platform to get information about inaccessibility has also been launched
by the government.
$1.5-bn WB loan for Swachh Bharat

To help India ensure that all its citizens in rural areas have access to
improved sanitation to end open defecation by 2019, the World Bank has
approved a $1.5-billion loan for a support operation project of
Swachh Bharat, a sanitation campaign launched by the Union
government.
This will support Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, the rural component
of the campaign, over five years with a programme which links funds to
the results.
Stats:
World Bank data show that of the 2.4 billion people who lack access to
improved sanitation worldwide, over 750 million live in India, 80% of
them in rural areas.
More than 500 million of Indias rural population continue to defecate
in the open, suffering from preventable deaths, illness, stunting,
harassment and economic losses.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
One in every 10 deaths in India is linked to poor sanitation. And studies
show low-income households bear the brunt of poor sanitation.
Hence, this project, aimed at strengthening the implementation of Swachh
Bharat, will result in significant health benefits for the poor and vulnerable,
especially those in rural areas.
About SBM-Gramin:
The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched in October 2014, consists of two
sub-missions the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) (SBM-G), which
will be implemented in rural areas, and the Swachh Bharat Mission
(Urban), which will be implemented in urban areas.
SBM-G seeks to eliminate open defecation in rural areas by 2019
through improving access to sanitation. It also seeks to generate
awareness to motivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitation
practices, and encourage the use of appropriate technologies for
sanitation.
SBM-Gramin mainly focuses on ensuring the use of toilets, besides their
construction. The States and their implementing agencies will be given
incentives for meeting performance standards: reducing open
defecation, sustaining their open defecation-free status and improving
solid and liquid waste management in rural areas.
The World Bank will also provide a $25-million technical assistance for
building the capacity of select State governments.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for

the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections.
Farmers urge Centre to implement Forest Rights
Act
Hundreds of landless farmers, agricultural workers and labourers from
across 20 States who had recently assembled at Jantar Mantar in Delhi
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
under a joint platform Bhumi Adhikar Andolan (Land Rights
Movement) have urged the centre to implement Forest Rights Act.
The farmers also observed December 15 (Forest Rights Day) as
Chetavni Divas day of challenge and warning.
Several farmers pointed out that Schedule Tribe and other Forest
Dwellers, Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation
and Resettlement Act, 2013 which were meant to transfer the rights of
resources back to people have not been implemented.
It is important to note here that the comprehensive report of high
level committee (HLC) on the status of Adivasis submitted in
2014 says that the implementation of these Acts have been
weak despite the promising provisions.
The members of the movement have submitted a memorandum to the
Centre asking implementation of Forest Rights Act to ensure collective
rights of communities.
Forest Rights Act:
The legislation was passed on 18 December 2006. It is also called as the
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Tribal Rights Act, the Tribal Bill, and the
Tribal Land Act.
The law concerns the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and
other resources, denied to them over decades as a result of the
continuance of colonial forest laws in India.
Rights under the Act:
Title rights i.e. ownership to land that is being farmed by tribals or
forest dwellers subject to a maximum of 4 hectares; ownership is only
for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned family,
meaning that no new lands are granted.
Use rights to minor forest produce (also including ownership), to
grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.
DECEMBER-2015
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Relief and development rights to rehabilitation in case of illegal
eviction or forced displacement; and to basic amenities, subject to
restrictions for forest protection.
Forest management rights to protect forests and wildlife
The Act grants legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest
dwelling communities, partially correcting the injustice caused by the
forest laws.
Eligibility to get rights under the Act is confined to those who primarily
reside in forests and who depend on forests and forest land for a
livelihood. Further, either the claimant must be a member of the Scheduled
Tribes scheduled in that area or must have been residing in the forest for 75
years.
Process of recognition of rights:
The Act provides that the gram sabha, or village assembly, will initially pass
a resolution recommending whose rights to which resources should be
recognised. This resolution is then screened and approved at the level of the
sub-division (or taluka) and subsequently at the district level. The
screening committees consist of three government officials (Forest,
Revenue and Tribal Welfare departments) and three elected members of
the local body at that level. These committees also hear appeals.
Atal Pension Yojana likely to miss December target

The Narendra Modi governments flagship scheme Atal Pension Yojana
(APY), which aims to provide old age income security, is likely to miss the
target with just about one million subscribers on board so far
against 200 million aimed by December-end.
The scheme, targeting the unorganised sector, is struggling to pick pace
six months after the launch.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
With the number roped in so far being just 5% of the target, the Pension
Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is working out
plans to improve reach and information dissemination.
PFRDA, the nodal agency for APY, has pitched for an extension of co-
contribution incentive by the government beyond December 31 to
attract subscribers.
Atal Pension Yojna (APY):
Under the APY, subscribers would receive a fixed minimum pension of
Rs. 1000 per month, Rs. 2000 per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs.
4000 per month, Rs. 5000 per month, at the age of 60 years, depending
on their contributions, which itself would vary on the age of joining the
APY.
The Central Government would also co-contribute 50% of the total
contribution or Rs. 1000 per annum, whichever is lower, to each eligible
subscriber account, for a period of 5 years, that is, from 2015-16 to
2019-20, to those who join the NPS before 31st December, 2015 and
who are not members of any statutory social security scheme and who
are not Income Tax payers.
The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40
years. The benefit of fixed minimum pension would be guaranteed by
the Government.
sources: bs.
RS to take up Juvenile Bill

Public anger at the release of the juvenile convict in the Delhi gang-rape
case has compelled MPs, transcending party lines, to agree to bring for
consideration in the Rajya Sabha the proposed amendments to the Juvenile
Justice Act. The Bill will be taken up for consideration in Rajya Sabha in the
ongoing session.
The amendments have already received the Lok Sabhas approval. The
Lok Sabha, in May this year, passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Protection of Children) Bill which paves the way for children in the age
group of 16-18 years to be tried as adults if they commit a heinous
crime.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2014:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development had introduced the
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2014 in the Lok
Sabha in August 2014. But it was referred to the standing committee which
recommended keeping the legally defined age of juvenile at 18 years.
Aim of the Bill: This Bill sought to make more robust, effective and
responsive the legislative framework for children in need of care and
protection as well as children in conflict with law.
Important provisions in the Bill:
The bill clearly defines and classifies offences as petty, serious and
heinous, and defines differentiated processes for each category. Keeping
in view the increasing number of serious offences being committed by
persons in the age group of 16-18 years and recognizing the rights of the
victims as being equally important as the rights of juveniles, special
provisions are proposed to tackle heinous offences committed by
individuals in this age group.
It establishes a statutory status for the Child Adoption Resources
Authority (CARA).
It also proposes several rehabilitation and social integration measures
for institutional and non-institutional children. It provides for
sponsorship and foster care as completely new measures.
Mandatory registration of all institutions engaged in providing child
care is required according to the Bill.
New offences including illegal adoption, corporal punishment in child
care institutions, the use of children by militant groups, and offences
against disabled children are also incorporated in the proposed
legislation.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The proposed new law gives the Juvenile Justice Board the power to
assess whether the perpetrator of a heinous crime aged between 16 and
18, had acted as a child or as an adult. The board will be assisted in
this process by psychologists and social experts.
The Bill strikes a fine balance between the demands of the stakeholders
asking for continued protection of rights of juveniles and the popular
demand of citizens in the light of increasing incidence of heinous crimes
by young boys.
Need for a new bill?
Under the existing act, the government is facing implementation hurdles
and procedural delays. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data
also underscores a surge in juvenile crime, especially in the 16-18 age
bracket.
After the December 16 gang-rape case, there was a massive outcry for a
stricter debate amid calls for lowering the age of juvenile criminals to
16, especially in the case of heinous crimes such as murder or rape.
The Supreme Court too, in April 2015, had asked the government to re-
visit the Juveniles law so that a juvenile accused of rape and murder
cannot get away by claiming he is too young to understand the
consequences of his crime.
Sources: the hindu, prsindia.
Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social

Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Injectible Polio Vaccine Launched in India
The union government has launched Indias first injectible inactivated polio
vaccine (IPV) as part of the countrys commitment to global polio
eradication.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The IPV injection will be given to children below one year of age, along
with the third dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) at the routine
immunization sessions free of cost.
According to reports, new evidence shows that IPV and OPV together
will further strengthen childrens immune system and provide double
protection against polio.
In the first phase, the vaccine will be introduced in six states Assam,
Gujarat, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
The introduction of IPV in routine immunization is as per
recommendation made in the World Health Assembly in May 2015.
It should be noted that India was declared polio free in 2014.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young
children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly
through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g.
contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it
can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
sources: the hindu.
India launches initiative to boost higher education

The union government has launched the Global Initiative of Academic
Networks (GIAN) scheme to boost the quality of the countrys higher
education through international collaboration.
Details:
This programme aims at tapping the talent pool of scientists and
entrepreneurs to engage with the institutes of higher education in India
to augment the countrys existing academic resources, accelerate the
pace of quality reforms, and further strengthen Indias scientific and
technological capabilities.
This scheme will bring world class educators from across the globe to
teach in India.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Union Ministry of Human Resources has allocated Rs 35 crore for
GIAN for the current financial year.
Under the scheme, 500 international faculties will be engaged this year
and 1000 in subsequent years to offer short-term courses and programs
throughout India. These academicians will cover 13 disciplines and 352
courses to be taught in 68 national institutions.
The courses vary in duration from one to three weeks, depending on the
subject and are free for students of the host institution and available for
nominal fees for others and will be webcast live as well for students
across the country.
These lectures would be made available later to students across the
country. A web portal gian.iitkgp.ac.in has been designed by IIT
Kharagpur to allow electronic registration and online assessment.
sources: pib.
Anti-dengue vaccine brings hope

The Mexican government has approved the worlds first anti-dengue
vaccine which is designed to protect people in the age group 9-45 from all
four subtypes of the virus.
Called Dengvaxia, the vaccine has been developed by France-based
Sanofi Pasteur and is the result of an extensive clinical development
programme running for almost two decades.
Factsheet:
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is a mosquito-
borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a
characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.
In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-
threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels
of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock
syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus
Aedes, principally A. aegypti.
Usually, prevention is sought by reducing the habitat and the number of
mosquitoes and limiting exposure to bites.
Karnataka has highest stillbirth rate

According to the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2013 Karnataka has the
highest stillbirth rate in India. That is, 12 deaths per 1,000 births.
Key facts from the survey:
The survey also notes that Karnatakas perinatal mortality rate stands at
30 per 1,000 live births. This is higher than the countrys average of 26
per 1,000 births.
Stillbirths and perinatal mortality are the only two health indicators
where Karnataka fares badly. And most stillbirths occur in families
belonging to low-income groups.
Higher number of stillbirths also grossly indicates the low pre-natal and
natal care for pregnant women in primary health centres.
Stillbirth: The birth of an infant that has died in the womb (strictly, after
having survived through at least the first 28 weeks of pregnancy).
Factors responsible for this:
While State health officials attribute this to socio-cultural factors and
misconceptions and taboos in society, especially in rural areas, experts
say it is mainly because women face many difficulties relating to
accessibility, availability, affordability and quality issues when utilising
healthcare facilities during pregnancy in rural areas.
According to the survey, Karnataka has a high stillbirth rate because
doctors prefer to declare the baby stillborn rather than admit that it
died after birth. They fear the wrath of bereaved parents and their
families. Relatives of patients hold doctors responsible for any
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
untoward incident. Most of them assault doctors, who feel threatened
when they are handling complicated cases.
Prevention:
Early neonatal deaths and stillbirths usually have obstetric causes and
are largely preventable if good quality obstetric care is made available at
the right time. But lack of specialists is a major problem. Hence, the
state is planning to recruit specialists, including offering them attractive
salaries, have not been successful.
Its also worth noting here that, according to the survey, some States have
zero stillbirths, which could indicate an absence of a proper reporting
system.
sources: the hindu.
Apex court upholds curbs on serving liquor in Kerala

Upholding the controversial Liquor-Free Kerala policy restricting the
serving of liquor to five-star hotels in the State, the Supreme Court has
ruled that the State governments be given a free hand to curtail or ban
public consumption of alcohol to protect public health and nutrition.
Important observations made by the court:
The consumption of tobacco as well as liquor is now undeniably
deleterious to the health of humankind. Vulnerable persons,
either because of age or proclivity towards intoxication or as a feature of
peer pressure, more often than not succumb to this temptation.
Banning public consumption of alcohol, therefore, in Courts considered
opinion, cannot but be seen as apositive step towards bringing
down the consumption of alcohol, or as preparatory to
prohibition.
Why, according to the apex court, exemption of five-star hotels did not
violate Article 14?
According to the court, there was a reasonable nexus between the policy
exempting five-star hotels and the States objective to rescue public health.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Five-star hotels account for just .08% of alcohol consumption in the
State and the prices/tariff of alcohol in five-star hotels is usually
prohibitively high, which acts as a deterrent to individuals going in for
binge or even casual drinking.
Also, the patrons of five-star hotels are of a mature age and do not visit
these hotels with the sole purpose of consuming alcohol.
The court notes that the classification of hotels was not the State
governments doing but that of the Union Ministry of Tourism as per
the criteria established for hospitality trade.
The judgment sets a nationwide judicial precedent for States such as Bihar,
where liquor sales were recently banned by the Nitish Kumar government,
and for the Union government to ban or restrict liquor sale, citing public
health.
Keralas liquor policy:
The new liquor policy was envisaged to shut down bars attached to hotels
below the five-star category as part of the new governments plans to reduce
availability of liquor. And according to the policy 10% of the retail liquor
stores in the state would be closed every year till there is none left by 2023.
This policy had led to the closure of over 400 bars and restricted liquor
availability to nearly 20 five-star hotels.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: Poverty and developmental issues.

India ranks 130th out of 188 on Human Development
Index in 2014
Global Human Development report, released by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), has placed India at 130 among 188
countries.
Highlights:
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Current Events
With a score of 0.609 on HDI, India stands well below the average score
of 0.630 for countries in the medium human development group. But it
is marginally above the South Asian countries average score of 0.607.
India stands higher than neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan but
lower than countries like Namibia, Guatemala and Tajikistan, even
Iraq.
Norway tops the HDI ranking, followed by Australia, Switzerland and
Denmark.
Data show that life expectancy at birth in India has over the past decade
risen from 64.5 years (in 2005) to 68 years in 2014. Similarly, mean
years of schooling have increased from 4.8 to 5.4 over the same period.
Per-capita incomes in India have also risen significantly, from $3239 to
$5497 (at 2011 purchasing-power parity).
On the gender development index (GDI), with a value of 0.795, India
ranks behind Bangladesh (0.917), Namibia, Guatemala, even
Tajikistan. GDI measures gender inequalities on three dimensions
health (measured by female and male life expectancy at birth),
education (measured by expected years of schooling for female and
male children, and mean years for adults aged 25 years and older);
and command over economic resources (measured by estimated
female and male GNI per capita).
On the gender inequality index (GII), India stands at 130 among 155
countries, well behind Bangladesh and Pakistan, which are ranked 111
and 121 respectively. GII is based on reproductive health (measured by
maternal mortality and adolescent birth rates), empowerment
(measured by the share of parliamentary seats held by women and
attainment in secondary and higher education by each gender), and
economic activity (measured by the labour market participation rate
for women and men).
About HDI:
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Current Events
The Human Development Index is based on assessing progress on three
dimensions of human development. First, a long and healthy life measured
through life expectancy of the population. Second, access to knowledge
measured by mean years of education among the adult population, and
access to learning and knowledge measured by expected years of schooling
for children of school-entry age. And last, standard of living measured by
the countrys per-capita gross national income (GNI).
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and

accountability.
SC nod to laws of Bihar, Odisha to seize assets of
bureaucrats
The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of two laws of
Bihar and Odisha which allow confiscation of properties of the accused in
corruption cases, including those occupying high public or political office.
The court has upheld the validity of Odisha Special Courts Act, 2006
and Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009, passed by the two state assemblies,
which allow setting up of special courts and confiscation of properties,
saying the laws do not violate constitutional provisions.
According to the court, establishment of Special Courts under these
Acts were not violative of Article 247 of the
Constitution. Article 247 deals with Power of Parliament to provide
for the establishment of certain additional courts.
The court has also rejected the submission of petitioners that
confiscation of properties before conviction was a pre-trial punishment.
The court says that a confiscation, which is interim in nature, is not a
punishment as envisaged in law and hence, it is difficult to accept the
submission that it is a pre-trial punishment.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The court has also rejected the contention that a special class was being
created to try them which is violative of Article 14 of the
constitution.
The court also described corruption as a national economic terror.
sources: bs.
Adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2015

The two day Regional Conference on The Use of Money in Politics
and Its Effects on Peoples Representation was recently concluded
at New Delhi. The conference culminated in the New Delhi Declaration
2015 on Political Finance Regulation in South Asia.
The Conference was jointly organized by the Election Commission of
India, International IDEA and India International Institute of
Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
The New Delhi Declaration:
The New Delhi Declaration on Political Finance Regulation in South
Asia, 2015, is in response to the needs for strengthening the regulation
of political finance across the South Asian region and elsewhere in the
world which adequately ensures level playing among all political parties
and ultimately serves the welfare of public rather than special interests.
It contains nine overarching principles including adoption of a holistic
approach to regulation, comprehensive coverage, closing of monitoring
gaps, coordinates efforts with stakeholders and agencies along with
facilitating participation of women in electoral democracy.
The overarching principles look at a holistic and integrated approach to
regulation of political finance by closing gaps and loopholes in the
implementation of the existing procedures and regulations. It also
underscores the need to create uniformity for all political parties and
candidates by creating an improved architecture for monitoring of
expenditures and contributions.
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Current Events
The declaration also has nine regulations and implementing guidelines
on maintaining reasonable levels of spending, regulation of private
contributions, and provision of public funding for political parties,
prevention of abuse of state resources public disclosure of political
finance, the regulatory authority, compliance, and enforcement among
others.
The guidelines aim at limiting campaign spending of candidates,
political parties and third parties. They also contain provisions relating
to regulating contributions including public and private along with
corporate funding and anonymous donations.
These overarching principles and guidelines which are recommendation
of the Declarations will be disseminated to Election Management
Bodies (EMBs) in South Asian region and elsewhere for appropriate use
as per local contexts in their jurisdictions.
sources: pib.
Paper 2 Topic: challenges of corruption.

Anti-corruption bill sent to select committee
The Rajya Sabha has referred the Prevention of Corruption
(Amendment) Bill, 2013, to a Select Committee after members raised
objections over certain clauses. They pointed to an overlap with the
provisions of the Lokpal Act and sought greater clarity.
Highlights of the Bill
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 amends the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The Bill covers the offence of giving a bribe to a public servant under
abetment. The Bill makes specific provisions related to giving a bribe to
a public servant, and giving a bribe by a commercial organisation.
The Bill redefines criminal misconduct to only cover misappropriation
of property and possession of disproportionate assets.
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Current Events
It also modifies the definitions and penalties for offences related to
taking a bribe, being a habitual offender and abetting an offence.
Powers and procedures for the attachment and forfeiture of property of
public servants accused of corruption have been introduced in the Bill.
It also requires prior sanction to prosecute serving public officials. The
Bill extends this protection to former officials.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy.

Govt Changes Rules to Protect Civil Servants
According to the new rules notified by the DoPT, IAS officers working with
the Centre can now be suspended only on the recommendation of the
Central Review Committee and with the approval of the minister in charge
of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Until now, the Centre could suspend an IAS officer and a Central
Review Committee of bureaucrats would step into the picture only if the
suspension was to be continued beyond a year.
The new rules have kicked in after almost year-long deliberations with
the states in the backdrop of suspensions of IAS officers including
Ashok Khemka and Durga Shakti Nagpal.
New rules:
States will now have to inform the Centre within 48 hours of
suspending any all-India services officer (IAS, PS and IFS) working for
them. Copy of the suspension order and reasons for the suspension
have to be communicated. Earlier, there was no time limit. Also, now
the state cannot keep an officer suspended beyond 30 days if the Centre
does not confirm the suspension or if disciplinary proceedings are not
initiated. The earlier period was 45 days.
The Central Review Committee will now have the secretary of the DoPT
as chairperson and its members will be the DoPTs establishment officer
and the secretary of the ministry where the IAS officer is posted.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Previously, the committee was headed by the secretary of the ministry
concerned and it was optional to co-opt a DoPT officer.
The new rules also stipulate that any appeals or memorials against
disciplinary action taken by the state government or a central ministry
against an all-India service officer must be forwarded to the Centre with
the ministry or states comments within 30 days of receipt or the
Central government will take a decision on the advance copy of the
appeal received by them.
These rules are aimed at checking any arbitrary suspension by the
governments. These All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Amendment
Rules, 2015, replace the rules of 1969.
sources: toi.
Paper 2 Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.

Revised cost estimates of Salma Dam Project in
Afghanistan
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has
approved the reconstruction and completion of Salma Dam Project in
Afghanistan at the Revised Cost Estimates (RCE) of Rs.1775.69 crore.
What necessitated this revision?
The foreign exchange rate variation between Indian rupee and US dollar,
increase in consultancy charges due to extended period of project
completion, escalation, training of Afghan personnel etc. have necessitated
revision in the project cost.
Salma Dam:
Salma Dam is situated on the upper reaches of Hari Rud River in Herat
province.
The project involves construction of a 107.5 meter high earth and rock
fill dam and a 42 MW power House with three units of 14 MW each.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
It also has a provision for releasing water for irrigation of 75,000
hectares of land.
The availability of power and water through the project, upon its
successful completion, is expected to contribute to the overall economic
development of the western region of Afghanistan and generate
goodwill for India in Afghanistan.
The completion of this project will also address the energy
requirements and irrigation needs of western Afghanistan.
The project is scheduled to be completed by June, 2016. M/s. WAPCOS,
a central Public Sector Unit under the Ministry of Water Resources, is
executing the project.
sources: pib.
Government pitches for global north-south corridor

In a bid to boost trade with former Soviet Union countries, Iran and Russia,
the commerce ministry has pitched for popularisation of International
North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as an alternative route through
Tehran that significantly reduces costs and travel time.
The move comes at a time when the government has adopted a market
diversification strategy to help Indian exporters reduce their
dependence on traditional markets in the West where there is currently
not much demand and instead gain more access in growing markets in
Asia, Africa and Latin America not tapped as much previously.
Even 15 years after the formalisation of the INSTC concept by India,
Iran and Russia (in 2000), this alternative trade route has not taken off
in a big way due to outstanding issues concerning logistics, banking
connections, insurance cover as well as harmonisation of
documentation and procedures for cargo.
About International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC):
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Current Events
The International NorthSouth Transport Corridor is the ship, rail, and
road route for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and
Central Asia.
The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran,
Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.
The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between
major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas,
Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali and etc.
Russia, Iran and India signed the agreement for the INSTC project in
2002.
Dry runs of the two routes in INSTC were conducted in 2014, the first
was Mumbai to Baku (Azerbaijan) via Bandar Abbas (Iranian Port) and
the second was Mumbai to Astrakhan (Russia) via Bandar Abbas,
Tehran and Bandar Anzali (Iran).
Besides Iran, India and Russia, countries that are members of INSTC
include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyztan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine,
Turkey, Tajikistan, Oman, Syria and Bulgaria (observer status).
Once the North-South Corridor becomes operational, India will have
better connectivity with Russia, bringing down the freight rates.
Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements

involving India and/or affecting Indias interests.
IMF gives Chinas currency prized reserve asset status
The International Monetary Fund has admitted Chinas yuan into its
benchmark currency basket.
The decision to add the yuan, also known as the renminbi, to the
Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basketalongside the dollar, euro,
pound sterling and yen, is an important milestone in Chinas
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
integration into global finances and a nod to the progress it has made
with reforms.
This is also seen as a victory for Beijings campaign for recognition as a
global economic power.
To meet the IMFs criteria, Beijing has undertaken a flurry of reforms in
recent months, including better access for foreigners to Chinese
currency markets, more frequent debt issuance and expanded yuan
trading hours.
Implications:
The new SDR formula gives more weightage to financial variables and
less to exports, reflecting long-standing criticism of the methodology
but also cutting the euros share to 30.93%, from 37.4%.
The yuan will have a 10.92% share.
The weightage of sterling and yen will drop to 8.09% and 8.33%
respectively. The dollar remains broadly unchanged at 41.73%.
The addition is likely to fuel demand for Chinas currency and for
renminbi-denominated assets as central banks and foreign fund
managers adjust their portfolios to reflect the yuans new status.
About SDR:
IMF created the SDR in 1969 to boost global liquidity as the Bretton
Woods system of fixed exchange rates unraveled.
SDR is not technically a currency. It gives IMF member countries the
right to obtain any of the currencies in the basket to meet balance-of-
payments needs.
In addition to its role as a supplementary reserve asset, the SDR serves
as the unit of account of the IMF and some other international
organizations.
Review: of the basket:
The basket composition is reviewed every five years by the Executive Board
of the IMF, or earlier if the IMF finds changed circumstances warrant an
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Current Events
earlier review, to ensure that it reflects the relative importance of currencies
in the worlds trading and financial systems.
sources: the hindu.
Protocol between Government of India and the

Government of Japan
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing and ratification of
Protocol between India and Japan for amending the Double Taxation
Avoidance Convention (DTAC) signed between the two countries in 1989
for avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion,
through a protocol.
The Protocol will facilitate exchange of information, as per accepted
international standards, on tax matters including bank information and
information without domestic tax interest.
There is a further provision in the Protocol for sharing any information
received from Japan, with authorization of the competent authority in
Japan and vice versa, in respect of a resident of India, with other law
enforcement agencies.
The Protocol also has a provision for India and Japan to lend assistance
to each other in collection of revenue claims, as well as for exemption of
interest income from taxation in the source country, with respect to
debt-claims insured by the Government or Government-owned
financial institutions.
sources: pib.
India may ratify WTO trade facilitation pact

India is likely to ratify the World Trade Organisations (WTO) Trade
Facilitation Agreement (TFA), aimed at easing customs rules to expedite
trade flows, during the Nairobi meeting of the global trade body from
December 15 to 18.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
However, a matter of concern is that India might not take advantage of
the entire range of flexibilities in the TFA available for similar
developing countries to determine which commitment they will
implement at what time.
Not using all the available safeguards could lead to greater chances of
India finding it difficult to implement all its TFA-related commitments
on time, thereby giving opportunities to other countries to drag it India
to the WTOs dispute settlement panel.
The flexibilities available in the TFA for developing countries include
the one allowing them to take sufficient time in implementing certain
commitments and the provision to seek assistance or support from
donor countries for capacity building.
In November last year, WTO member countries had adopted a protocol
of amendment to make the TFA a part of the overall WTO Agreement.
However, the TFA will become operational only after two-thirds of the
members ratify it. So far, only 53 of the 162 member countries have
done so.
India is planning to ratify the TFA as part of the governments initiatives to
attract more investment by improving Indias ranking in the World Banks
ease of doing business report.
Trade facilitation:
The Trade Facilitation Agreement forms part of the Bali Package agreed
by members at the Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali.
The agreement contains provisions for faster and more efficient
customs procedures through effective cooperation between customs
and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs
compliance issues. It also contains provisions for technical assistance
and capacity building in this area.
It is being believed, especially by the proponents of the agreement that
deal could add $1 trillion to global GDP and also can generate 21 million
jobs by slashing red tape and streamlining customs.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
sources: the hindu.
India to host Heart of Asia conference in 2016

India is all set to host the next Heart of Asia conference in 2016. As one of
the 14 member countries of Istanbul Process, India has volunteered to host
the sixth meeting next year.
This was one of the main outcomes of the recently concluded 5th edition
Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The stated aim of the conference is to foster ongoing efforts towards
regional cooperation and connectivity with a view to promoting long-
term peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and the wider
region.
The conference ended with a commitment from member states to
address the menace of terrorism and to foster close economic
cooperation to stabilise the war-torn country.
About the conference:
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process presents a new vision of cooperation
and confidence building for the region with Afghanistan at its centre.
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process articulates a set of principles, such
as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and promoting
cooperation in the areas of common challenges and shared interests in
the region.
It provides a platform for discussing key regional issues among
participating states.
Since its inception in 2011, the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process has been
lead by two co-chairs: Afghanistan as a permanent co-chair, and one of
the Heart of Asia countries hosting the annual ministerial meeting as
the co-chair.
As permanent co-chair of this regional process, Afghanistan has been
recognized as the main focal point/ coordinator of the Heart of Asia-
Istanbul Process.
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The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process has three main elements:
1. Political Consultation involving Afghanistan and its near and extended
neighbours.
2. A sustained incremental approach to implementation of the Confidence
Building Measures (CBMs) identified in the Istanbul Process document.
3. Seeking to contribute and bring greater coherence to the work of
various regional processes and organisations, particularly as they relate
to Afghanistan.
India signs taxation MoU with South Korea

India and South Korea have signed a new memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on suspension of collection of taxes during pendency of Mutual
Agreement Procedure (MAP).
This is a step towards ease of doing business in India for Korean
companies, as it will relieve economic double taxation and promote
cross-border trade and investment.
This MoU will help to ease the burden of double taxation for taxpayers
in both the countries during the pendency of MAP proceedings.
Both the countries have also agreed that the transfer pricing cases will be
taken up for MAP under the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
(DTAA) between India and Korea.
Under MAP, which is a preferred way to settle cross-border tax cases
globally, the two sides can negotiate settlement on a case that can
subsequently be taken off from the formal legal process. The resolution
process draws up parameters for taxation in one country for which
credit would be available in another.
What is Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP)?
MAP is an alternate dispute resolution mechanism that allows competent
authorities of India and its treaty partner to negotiate a mutually acceptable
settlement.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Its main advantage is elimination of double taxation arising out of
transfer pricing tax disputes, existence of Permanent Establishment,
and characterisation of income and attribution of profits to such
establishments.
sources: et.
TAPI project
Ground breaking ceremony of TAPI pipeline project was recently held in
Turkmenistan. The function was attended by Vice-President Hamid Ansari,
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the leaders of Turkmenistan and
Afghanistan.
TAPI pipeline project:
The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Natural Gas Pipeline
(TAPI) Project is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian
Development Bank.
It aims to export up to 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per
year through a proposed approximately 1,800-kilometer (km) pipeline
from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
This project makes way for enhanced energy trading between
Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India
The pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan
through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India.
sources: toi.
Historic Paris climate pact puts world on green path

Negotiators from 196 countries gathered in Paris have reached the worlds
most significant agreement to address climate change since the issue first
emerged as a major political priority decades ago.
The deal, known as the Paris Agreement, represents remarkable
compromise after years of negotiations in which developing countries
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
wrangled with their developed counterparts and failed to come to
agreement on several key occasions.
Highlights of the agreement:
The agreement requires any country that ratifies it to act to stem its
greenhouse gas emissions in the coming century, with the goal of
peaking greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and continuing
the reductions as the century progresses.
Countries will have to aim to keep global temperatures from rising more
than 2C by 2100 with an ideal target of keeping temperature rise below
1.5C.
The agreement also includes a provision requiring developed countries
to send $100 billion annually to their developing counterparts
beginning in 2020. This figure is expected to increase with time.
The agreement gives countries considerable leeway in determining how
to cut their emissions but mandates that they report transparently on
those efforts. Every five years nations will be required to assess their
progress towards meeting their climate commitments and submit new
plans to strengthen them. Some elements in the agreement are binding-
like reporting requirements.
The agreement kicks off from 2020.
sources: the hindu.
India Business Card for SAARC trade

India is all set to launch an India Business Card for the business
community in SAARC countries. The stumbling block so far for
issuance of this card had been Pakistan, but the decks have now been
cleared with renewed ties with Pakistan.
The India Business Card will have a special logo and will be only given
to businessmen of high repute. It is being done with an aim of ease
of business and gels with the Make in India policy of the government.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
However, it is not clear yet whether Pakistan businessmen would be
allowed in the manufacturing sector and given a green signal to open
factories in India. The government is still working on the modalities.
sources: the hindu.
Memorandum of Understanding between India and

Spain on cooperation in Port matters
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given
its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between India and Spain on cooperation in Port matters.
The MoU will strengthen the cooperation and render sustained mutual
assistance and advice on port matters and other related maritime
matters between the two countries.
Signing of the MoU will help both countries in encouraging and
facilitating the development of Ports and provide a cooperation
platform for enhancing and stimulating steady growth of maritime
traffic.
It will also help in exchange and training of staff and students from
various maritime establishments, exchange of information necessary
for accelerating and facilitating the flow of commercial goods at sea and
at ports.
This MoU facilitates for establishment of joint ventures in the fields of
port led development, port efficiency, modernization of existing ports,
dredging, particularly maintenance dredging in riverine ports,
environment and green port intiative, port engineering, maritime
training, information technology including development of simulators,
port facilities and related maritime activities, etc.
sources: pib.
Memorandum of Understanding in energy saving and

energy efficiency among BRICS countries
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to an MoU signed
between India and its BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)
counterparts for strengthening and further developing of energy saving and
energy efficiency cooperation based on the principles of equality and
mutual benefit.
The MoU provides the following areas of cooperation in the field of Energy
Savings and Energy Efficiency:
Joint scientific and technological research,
Conferencing and holding of lectures and seminars;
Capacity building and technology transfer;
Technology development, sharing policies and best practices;
Encouragement of use of energy efficient and energy saving approaches
and instruments in the work of the business entities of the BRICS
countries, carried out within the BRICS countries in Consultation with
the host country.
sources: pib.
Model Text for the Indian Bilateral Investment

Treaty
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the revised Model Text for
the Indian Bilateral Investment Treaty. The revised Indian model
text for Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will replace the existing Indian
Model BIT.
Revised Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) text:
It will be used for re-negotiation of existing BITs and negotiation of
future BITs and investment chapters in Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreements (CECAs)/ Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) / Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
It will provide appropriate protection to foreign investors in India and
Indian investors in the foreign country, in the light of relevant
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
international precedents and practices, while maintaining a balance
between the investors rights and the Government obligations.
Significance of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT):
A BIT increases the comfort level and boosts the confidence of investors
by assuring a level playing field and non-discrimination in all matters
while providing for an independent forum for dispute settlement by
arbitration.
BITs help project India as a preferred foreign direct investment (FDI)
destination as well as protect outbound Indian FDI.
Features of BIT:
The essential features of the model BIT include an enterprise based
definition of investment, non-discriminatory treatment through due
process, national treatment, protections against expropriation, a refined
Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provision requiring investors to
exhaust local remedies before commencing international arbitration, and
limiting the power of the tribunal to awarding monetary compensation
alone. The model excludes matters such as government procurement,
taxation, subsidies, compulsory licenses and national security to preserve
the regulatory authority for the Government.
Background:
The first BIT was signed by India on March 14, 1994. Since then, till
date, the Government of India has signed BITs with 83 countries. These
BITs were largely negotiated on the basis of the Indian Model BIT of
1993.
Considerable socio-economic changes have taken place since 1993 when
the Model text of BIT was first approved. The nature of government
regulation concerning foreign investment has evolved. A wide variety of
laws now regulate investments both at the central and the state levels.
During the last few years, significant changes have occurred globally
regarding BITs, in general, and investor-state dispute resolution
mechanism in particular.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
sources: pib.
UNSC adopts resolution to cut off funding to ISIS,

Al-Qaeda
UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to cut off all
sources of funding to ISIS and Al-Qaeda with finance ministers from the
member nations vowing to increase sanctions against the terror groups.
The resolution was adopted at the recently held first-ever meeting of
finance ministers.
Details:
The meeting called for enhanced actions, from closing financial system
loopholes to stopping the abuse of charitable causes, as well as updating
the existing ISIS and Al-Qaeda Sanctions List.
The Council stressed that already existing resolutions mandating
nations to ensure that financial assets are not transferred to terrorists
by persons within their territory shall also apply to the payment of
ransoms to individuals, groups, undertakings or entities on the ISIS and
Al-Qaeda Sanctions List regardless of how or by whom the ransom is
paid.
The resolution called for increased international cooperation in sharing
information and closer collaboration with the private sector to identify
suspect transactions.
The Council also called on Member States to promote enhanced
vigilance by persons within their jurisdiction to detect any diversion of
explosives and raw materials and components that can be used to
manufacture improvised explosive devices or unconventional weapons,
including chemical components, detonators, detonating cord, or
poisons.
ISIS funding:
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Unlike other terror groups, ISIS derives a relatively small share of its
funding from donors abroad. Instead, ISIS generates wealth from
economic activity and resources within territory under its control.
ISIS financing has evolved from seizing territory and looting bank
vaults to leveraging more renewable revenue streams: so far, ISIS has
reaped an estimated USD 500 million from black market oil and
millions more from people it brutalises and extorts.
sources: the hindu.
UN Security Council agrees on Syria plan

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has agreed to embrace a plan
for a ceasefire and a peace process that holds the distant prospect of ending
the conflict in Syria. A resolution in this regard was recently adopted by the
Security Council.
The resolution reflects a months-long effort by American and Russian
officials, who have long been at odds over the future of Syria, to find
common national interests to stop the killing, even if they cannot yet
agree on Syrias ultimate future.
However, there remain sharp disagreements to be reconciled between
the American and Russian positions, and huge uncertainty about what
the plan will mean on the ground.
A dizzying array of armed forces have left Syria in ruins, killed 250,000
and driven four million refugees out of the country, threatening to
destabilise the nations where they are seeking new homes.
Details:
The resolution envisions the formation of a unity government and calls
for an immediate halt to any attacks on civilian targets.
The resolution demands that all parties to the Syrian conflict
immediately cease any attacks against civilians. A mechanism to
monitor, verify, and report on the truce is to be worked out within a
month.
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Current Events
The only groups excluded from the ceasefire are Islamic State (IS,
formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaedas branch in Syria.
The resolution also asks the UN to convene formal talks on a
transitional government. The talks between the regime and opposition
are targeted for early January.
The resolution has also expressed support for a Syrian-led political
process that would set up inclusive and non-sectarian governance
within six months and schedule a process for drafting a new
constitution, with the aim of holding fair elections in 18 months.
sources: the hindu.
US Senate passes IMF reform in favour of emerging

markets
The US Senate recently ratified reforms to boost the representation of
emerging economies at the International Monetary Fund as part of a
budget bill. This will clear the way for new industrial powerhouses like
China and India to have more clout at the international lender. The
legislation will now go to President Barack Obama.
Details:
These reforms put Brazil, China, India and Russia among the IMFs top
10 shareholders and give emerging markets more influence at the global
lender.
Under the new regime, Chinas vote at the IMF would increase to 6%
from 3.8%. This makes China the third-largest shareholder.
Under the reform, all 188 members quotas will increase as the Funds
quota resources rise to about 477 billion special drawing rights, the IMF
currency, ($659.67 billion) from about 238.5 billion.
Under the new proposals, the International Monetary Fund board will
be entirely elected.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
As Chinas voting rights rise, the US will see its share drop from 16.7%
to 16.5%. Indias voting rights will also rise to 2.6% from the current
2.3%.
These reforms will improve the representation and voice of emerging
markets and developing countries in the International Monetary Fund and
is conducive to protecting the IMFs credibility, legitimacy and
effectiveness. The reforms are the biggest change in the governance of the
Fund since it was established after World War Two.
IMF:
The IMF, along with the World Bank, was conceived in 1944 at a conference
in Bretton Woods, in the US state of New Hampshire. The IMF aims to
preserve economic stability and to tackle or ideally prevent financial
crises. Over time, its focus has switched to the developing world.
The IMF is funded by a charge known as a quota paid by member
nations based on a countrys wealth. It determines voting power
within the organisation; those making higher contributions have
greater voting rights.
The IMF also acts as a lender of last resort, disbursing its foreign
exchange reserves for short periods to any member in difficulties.
sources: the hindu.
Seychelles committed to Indian naval base

Seychelles government has provided India a plot of land in its Assumption
Island to build its first naval base in the Indian Ocean region. This is a joint
project between India and Seychelles.
Indias evaluation team will shortly visit the spot.
The project has acquired significance following China acquiring its first
African naval base in Djibouti in November.
Significance of this Naval Base:
Once ready, the naval base to be built by the defence forces of India,
and Seychelles will help India exercise greater control over the Indian
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Current Events
Oceans western region all the way to the piracy-prone eastern African
coastline.
The base will be one of the major staging posts for a large maritime
security network that India is setting up with the help of the various
Indian Ocean region partner countries.
Other developments:
Apart from the naval base, India is set to acquire a fully operational
coastal radar system (CRS) based in Seychelles from March 2016. The
CRS will provide India with the ability to gather intelligence and assist
in surveillance operations of the vital energy lanes near Seychelles.
Security operation in the Indian Ocean region will also be helped by the
leadership role that Seychelles has secured for itself in the Contact
Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), which will hold its
first meeting in Mumbai in January, 2016.
India has been steadily increasing its maritime and security cooperation
with Seychelles and a new patrol vessel from India will be handed over to
Seychelles in mid-January 2016.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing

countries on Indias interests.
Government slaps anti-dumping duty on stainless steel
The Centre has imposed an anti-dumping duty ranging from 5 to 57% on
import of cold-rolled flat products of stainless steel for five years. The duty
has been imposed on China, South Korea, the US, South Africa, Thailand
and Taiwan, besides the European Union.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The highest duty has been levied on steel imports from China at
57.39%, followed by the European Union at 52.56%. Imports from
Thailand will have the least duty imposition of 4.58 %.
The governments decision comes in the wake of rising incidence of
dumping hampering the performance of domestic industry and with
steel prices on a decline.
China, the worlds largest consumer and producer of the commodity,
has been dumping various grades and varieties of steel across the globe
on the back of surplus supply.
What is anti dumping duty?
Anti dumping is a measure to rectify the situation arising out of the
dumping of goods and its trade distortive effect. The purpose of anti
dumping duty is to rectify the trade distortive effect of dumping and re-
establish fair trade. The use of anti dumping measure as an instrument of
fair competition is permitted by the WTO. It provides relief to the domestic
industry against the injury caused by dumping. It is levied on distrustfully
low-priced imports, so as to protect the domestic manufacturers.
sources: bs.
China adopts tough anti-terror law

China has adopted its first counter-terrorism law that grants
overarching powers to security agencies amid criticism from the U.S. over
privacy and freedom of speech.
Details:
The law allows the military to venture overseas on counter-terror
operations and requires technology firms to give sensitive data like
encryption keys to the government.
The PLA and the countrys armed police forces may carry out such
operations with the approval from the Central Military Commission.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Public security and national security authorities may also send
personnel overseas for counter-terrorism missions, with the approval
from the government and agreements from countries concerned.
The law also restricts the right of media to report on details of terror
attacks, including a provision that media and social media cannot
report on details of terror activities that might lead to imitation, nor
show scenes that are cruel and inhuman.
The draft law has attracted Western concern as it could require technology
firms to hand over sensitive information such as encryption keys to the
government.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 2 Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora,

their structure, mandate.
China hosts 1st BRICS media summit
China has taken the initiative for creating an alternative media
platform for the emerging economies by hosting the first media
summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-
South Africa (BRICS) grouping.
A total of 25 media organisations are participating in this summit,
which hopes to create a new institutional framework that would be
tailored to benefit the media of five emerging economies, which have
deep linkages with the Global South.
The initiative follows the formation of the New Development Bank,
which is playing its part in evolving a new global financial architecture
sensitised to meet the needs of the developing world.
The organizers of the summit hope that their deliberations will also
yield an agenda-setting consensus among the BRICS media on
coordinating the coverage of G-20 summits, in tune with the priorities
of the emerging economies.
About BRICS:
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Current Events
BRICS is an association of five major emerging national economies:
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The grouping was originally known as BRIC before the inclusion of
South Africa in 2010.
The BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialized
countries, but they are distinguished by their large, fast-growing
economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs.
All five are G-20 members.
Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits.
Russia currently holds the chair of the BRICS group, and hosted the
groups seventh summit in July 2015.
Afghanistans WTO membership approved after 11 years

of talks
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has formally approved Afghanistans
membership at its 10th ministerial conference in the Kenyan capital
Nairobi.
Afghanistan has become the 164th WTO member and the 36th
least developed country (LDC) to join the global trade body after 11
years of negotiations.
The landlocked Asian country expects to reap the benefits of the WTO
membership for its post-conflict reconstruction.
WTO:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental
organization which regulates international trade.
It officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh
Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in
1948.
It deals with regulation of trade between participating countries by
providing a framework for negotiating trade agreements and a dispute
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
resolution process aimed at enforcing participants adherence to WTO
agreements, which are signed by representatives of member
governments and ratified by their parliaments.
The highest decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial
Conference, which usually meets every two years. It brings together all
members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions.
How a new member is admitted? -accession process:
1. A country wishing to accede to the WTO submits an application to the
General Council, and has to describe all aspects of its trade and
economic policies that have a bearing on WTO agreements. The
application is submitted to the WTO in a memorandum which is
examined by a working party open to all interested WTO Members.
2. After all necessary background information has been acquired, the
working party focuses on issues of discrepancy between the WTO rules
and the applicants international and domestic trade policies and laws.
The working party determines the terms and conditions of entry into
the WTO for the applicant nation, and may consider transitional
periods to allow countries some leeway in complying with the WTO
rules.
3. The final phase of accession involves bilateral negotiations between the
applicant nation and other working party members regarding the
concessions and commitments on tariff levels and market access for
goods and services. The new members commitments are to apply
equally to all WTO members under normal non-discrimination rules,
even though they are negotiated bilaterally.
4. When the bilateral talks conclude, the working party sends to the
general council or ministerial conference an accession package, which
includes a summary of all the working party meetings, the Protocol of
Accession (a draft membership treaty), and lists of the member-to-bes
commitments.
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5. Once the general council or ministerial conference approves of the
terms of accession, the applicants parliament must ratify the Protocol
of Accession before it can become a member.
The process of becoming a WTO member is unique to each applicant
country, and the terms of accession are dependent upon the countrys stage
of economic development and current trade regime. The process takes
about five years, on average, but it can last longer if the country is less than
fully committed to the process or if political issues interfere.
GS III
Paper 3 Topic: Indian diaspora.
Government To Expand Visa-Free Diplomatic Travel To
More Countries
Seeking to expand the envelope of visa-free travel for holders of
diplomatic and official passports to other countries, the Union
Cabinet has approved a model agreement on exemption from visa
requirements for such people.
This would facilitate visa-free entry, transit and stay up to 90 days (or
less) in any period of 180 days (or more) in the territory of India or
signatory country for holders of diplomatic and official passports of
either country.
This is part of Indias ongoing efforts to expand the envelope of visa-
free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports to other
countries of the world.
India has already signed Visa free agreements with 69 countries. There are
still more than 130 countries with which India is yet to enter into or sign
similar agreements.
sources: pib.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Paper 3 Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning,
mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
CEA panel for removing tax on inter-state trade
A panel headed by Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian has
recommended the 1% tax proposed to be levied on the goods and services
tax (GST) on inter-state trade of goods to help manufacturing states be
done away with. This was one of the major demands of the Congress and
the recommendation could help the government break the GST gridlock in
Parliament.
The committee recently submitted its report to the union finance
minister.
Other important recommendations made:
Standard GST rate be in the range of 17 to 18%. The standard rate will
apply to most goods and services. These rates were calculated by
excluding real estate, electricity, alcohol and petroleum products.
Lower rate for goods be at 12% and the highest rate at 40%. This is the
combined state and central GST rate. The highest rate is for demerit
goods such as alcohol, luxury cars, tobacco, etc. The rate on precious
metals be in the range of 2% to 6%.
The revenue-neutral rate of the GST is estimated to be at 15%. This is
the rate at which the states and the Centre will not lose or gain revenue
after the GST is applied.
Petroleum, alcohol, real estate and electricity should be brought under
GST early on.
Background:
The committee was set up in June 2015 by the Union Government to arrive
at GST rates by factoring in the economic growth rate, taxpayer base and
tax compliance levels.
sources: the hindu.
Singapore pips Mauritius as Indias top FDI source

DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Singapore has replaced Mauritius as the top source of foreign direct
investment (FDI) into India during the first half of the current financial
year.
According to the recently released data from the Department of
Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), during April-September 2015,
India has attracted $6.69 billion (Rs 43,096 crore) FDI from Singapore
while from Mauritius, it received $3.66 billion (Rs 23,490 crore).
Foreign investment from Singapore was $2.41 billion in the year-ago
period.
Singapore accounts for 15% of the total FDI India received between
April 2000 and September 2015. However, Mauritius makes up 34% of
FDI during the same period.
Sectors that attracted the highest foreign investment during April-
September 2015 include computer software and hardware ($3.05
billion), trading ($2.30 billion), services and automobile ($1.46 billion
each) and telecommunications ($659 million).
Foreign investment is crucial for India, which needs about $1 trillion by
March 2017 to overhaul infrastructure such as ports, airports and
highways, and to boost growth.
According to experts, the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)
with Singapore which incorporates Limit-of-Benefit (LoB) clause, has
provided comfort to foreign investors based there to invest in India.
LoB clause:
LoB clauses are typically aimed at preventing treaty shopping or
inappropriate use of tax pacts by third-country investors. The LOB clause
limits treaty benefits to those who meet certain conditions including those
related to business, residency and investment commitments of the entity
seeking benefit of a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
sources: bs.
RBI links lending rates to loan tenor

DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued fresh norms on how banks
ought to calculate their lending rates a move which is aimed at lowering
borrowing costs at a time when lenders are reluctant to do so.
About the new method:
The new method Marginal Cost of funds based Lending Rate
(MCLR) will replace the present base rate system. This new framework
will come into effect from April 1, 2016.
MCLR, as the name suggests, mandates banks to calculate the
lending rate taking into account the marginal cost of funds. In
the base rate system, it was left to the individual banks as to what cost
it used, which typically was the average cost of funds.
RBI has mandated that MCLR will be a tenor-linked
benchmark (tenor- length of time until a loan is due), and banks
should arrive at the MCLR of a particular maturity by adding the
corresponding tenor premium to the sum of marginal cost of funds, cost
of maintaining cash reserve ratio and operating costs.
Like base rate, banks are not allowed to lend below
MCLR, except for few categories likeloans against deposits, loans
to banks own employees. In addition, fixed rate loans, which are
typically personal loans and auto loans, will not be linked to MCLR.
RBI has also clarified that loans that charge fixed interest rate in initial
years and floating rate in the later years should be priced according to
the MCLR norms.
Banks have been mandated to calculate MCLR for different maturities
like 1 day, 1 month, three month, six month, and one year. Banks are
free to include more maturities for MCLR.
Implications:
Apart from helping to improve the transmission of policy rates into the
lending rates of banks, these measures are expected to improve
transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining
interest rates on advances. These guidelines are also expected to ensure
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as
well as the banks.
sources: the hindu.
Centre tables bankruptcy Bill in Lok Sabha

The Centre has tabled the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill, 2015 in the Lok
Sabha. The Bill, if passed, should enhance the ease of doing business in the
country.
About the Bill:
The proposed Bill aims for a complete renovation of the current
insolvency and bankruptcy system in India, which will help streamline
the procedure of revival of companies facing financial distress.
The Bill proposes adherence to strict deadlines to decide whether to
liquidate a sick company or not, wherein the decision to liquidate a
company will have to be reached within 180 days.
The Bill proposes the setting up of an Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Board of India to regulate insolvency professionals and agencies. It
also proposes the setting up of a fund dubbed the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Fund of India.
As of now, there is no single law that deals with insolvency and
bankruptcy in India. A number of provisions spread across various
statutes have rendered the insolvency and bankruptcy-related process a
legal quagmire significantly hindering the ease of doing business in the
country. The new Bill seeks to consolidate all of this into a single Code.
Background:
The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in his Budget Speech 2015-16, had
identified Bankruptcy Law Reform as a key priority for improving the
ease of doing business and had announced that a comprehensive
Bankruptcy Code, meeting global standards and providing necessary
judicial capacity, will be brought in fiscal 2015-16.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Accordingly, the Government had constituted the Bankruptcy Law
Reform Committee to look into various Bankruptcy related issues and
give its report along with a draft Bill on the subject to the Government.
The committee had recently submitted its report to the government.
Significance of this Bill:
A recent survey report by global consultancy Alvarez and Marsal found that
the average duration for insolvency resolution in India is 4.3 years, which is
significantly higher than the prevailing norm of 2.6 years in South Asia and
1.7 years in the OECD high-income countries. The World Banks Ease of
Doing Business Report also confirms the long duration of insolvency
resolution in India. This Bill aims to reduce the duration for insolvency
resolution and also enhance the ease of doing business in the country.
sources: the hindu, prsindia.
Paper 3 Topic: financial inclusion.

World Bank might support India Posts payments bank
The World Bank has shown interest to financially support the proposed
India Post Payment Bank, having approached the department of posts
(DoP). However, there has not been any official announcement yet.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had in October approved the proposals
of 11 applicants, including the DoP, to start a payments bank.
All about Payment Banks:
Payment Bank is a step towards financial inclusion.
Capital requirement: The minimum paid-up equity capital for payments
banks is Rs. 100 crore.
The payments bank should have a leverage ratio of not less than 3%,
i.e., its outside liabilities should not exceed 33.33 times its net worth
(paid-up capital and reserves).
Promoters contribution: The promoters minimum initial contribution
to the paid-up equity capital of such payments bank shall at least be
40% for the first five years from the commencement of its business.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Foreign shareholding: The foreign shareholding in the payments bank
would be as per the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for private
sector banks as amended from time to time.
Apart from amounts maintained as Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) with the
Reserve Bank on its outside demand and time liabilities, it will be
required to invest minimum 75% of its demand deposit balances in
Statutory Liquidity Ratio(SLR) eligible Government securities/treasury
bills with maturity up to one year and hold maximum 25% in current
and time/fixed deposits with other scheduled commercial banks for
operational purposes and liquidity management.
What are the scopes of activities of Payment Banks?
Payments banks will mainly deal in remittance services and accept
deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh.
They will not lend to customers and will have to deploy their funds in
government papers and bank deposits.
The promoters minimum initial contribution to equity capital will have
to be at least 40% for the first five years.
They can accept demand deposits.
Payments bank will initially be restricted to holding a maximum
balance of Rs. 100,000 per individual customer.
Can issue ATM/debit cards but not credit cards.
Can carry out payments and remittance services through various
channels.
sources: bs, rbi.
Paper 3 Topic: e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Agriculture Ministry launches two mobile apps for
farmers
In a bid to let farmers harvest the best of mobile technology, the Agriculture
Ministry has launched two mobile apps.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
1. Crop Insurance: This app would help the farmers not only to find out
complete details about insurance cover available in their area but also
to calculate the insurance premium for notified crops, coverage amount
and loan amount in case of a loaned farmer. It can also be used to get
details of normal sum insured, extended sum insured, premium details
and subsidy information of any notified crop in any notified area.
2. AgriMarket: This app could be used by the farmers to get the prices
of crops in the market (mandi) within 50 km radius of the device and
other mandis in the country. This app automatically captures the
location of the farmers using mobile GPS and fetches the market
prices of crops in markets which fall within the range of 50 km.
Both these apps have been developed in house by IT Division of the
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare and can be
downloaded from Google Store or mKisan portal.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 3 Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies.

LPG subsidy linked to income
In its first decisive move towards curbing the supply of subsidised cooking
gas, the union government has announced that taxpayers with an annual
income of more than Rs 10 lakh will not get subsidised LPG cylinders from
the new year.
At present, all households are entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at
subsidised rate of Rs 419.26, while the market price of each cylinder is
Rs 608.
According to the Central Board of Direct Taxes data, in the assessment
year 2014-15, a total of 20.26 lakh assesses were reported as having a
taxable income above Rs 10 lakh.
Background:
In March this year, the government had asked well-off people to
voluntarily give up using subsidised LPG and instead buy cooking fuel
at market price.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
So far, of the estimated 14.78 crore LPG consumers in the country, over
52 lakh are reported to have given up access to subsidised fuel
voluntarily.
The number of LPG consumers in the country also fell from 16.35 crore
to 14.78 crore after the start of Direct Benefit Transfer on LPG (DBTL)
scheme that eliminated inactive customers and duplication in the rolls.
Total subsidy payout:
During fiscal 2014-15, the subsidy payout on LPG was estimated at Rs
40,551 crore. During April-September this fiscal, the subsidy outgo was Rs
8,814 crore. The total payout this fiscal is expected to be far lower than last
year as oil prices have receded sharply.
Significance of this move:
The subsidy saved from the Give it Up campaign will be used for
providing new connections to the BPL families. This enables the
allocation of LPG to poor households and ensures that they replace the
use of fuels such as kerosene, coal, fuel wood.
As on December 7, a total of 52,58,841 consumers have given up or
surrendered their subsidy. Taking into account the quota of 12 cylinders
per consumer and the average LPG subsidy of Rs 184.93 per cylinder
(in the Delhi market) for the period from April to September, 2015, the
annual saving would be approximately Rs 1,167 crore.
sources: the hindu.
RBI panel for direct transfer of cash, abolishing farm

subsidy
A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee on financial inclusion has
suggested that the government should transfer cash directly to persons
instead of giving subsidies, and should replace interest subvention on
agriculture loans with affordable universal crop insurance scheme.
The committee on medium-term path on financial inclusion was
headed by RBI executive director Deepak Mohanty. It was set up in
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
mid-July after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told RBI in its 80th
anniversary that a road map should be built to include 90% of Indias
unbanked population in the financial fold.
Key recommendations:
Phase out of interest subvention scheme and ploughing the subsidy
amount into a mandatory crop insurance scheme for small and
marginal farmers
Suggests banks to open more accounts for females
Proposes a new welfare scheme for girl child Sukanya Shiksha
Suggests stepping up financial inclusion in north-eastern, eastern and
central states
Recommends Aadhaar to be linked with each individual credit account
Recommends use of low-cost solution based on mobile technology for
last mile delivery
Recommends Gold KCC scheme for good borrowers
Recommends commercial banks to open specialised interest-free
windows with simple products
Recommends RBI to take lead in creating a geographical information
system to map banking access points
Recommends more bank credit to the MFI sector
Suggests more ATMs in rural centres
sources: the hindu, bs.
Paper 3 Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in

industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
India ranks 97th on Forbes best countries for business
list
India has been ranked a low 97th out of 144 nations, behind Kazakhstan
and Ghana, on Forbes annual list of the best countries for doing
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
business in 2015. The ranking is, however, one step up from last years
98th rank.
Details:
Denmark has topped the list. The US has dropped four spots to number
22, continuing a six-year descent since 2009 when it had ranked second
overall. The US has scored poorly on monetary freedom and
bureaucracy or red tape.
The outlook for Indias long-term growth is moderately positive due to a
young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy
savings and investment rates, and increasing integration into the global
economy.
According to the report, India has many challenges that it has yet to
fully address, including poverty, corruption, violence and
discrimination against women and girls, an inefficient power generation
and distribution system.
India performed moderately well on certain factors, ranking eighth on
investor protection, 41st on innovation, 57th on personal freedom and
61st on property rights. It scored low on trade freedom, ranking 125th
and on monetary freedom it ranked 139th. On technology it ranked
120th, 77th on corruption and 123rd on red tape.
The report added that India faces other challenges like high spending
and poorly-targeted subsidies, inadequate availability of quality basic
and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration.
The United Kingdom and Japan both moved up three spots to No 10
and No 23 respectively. Germany improved two places to No 18 and
China rose from No 97 to No 94.
South Africa is ranked 47th on the list followed by Mexico (53),
Kazakhstan (57), Zambia (73), Ghana (79), Russia (81), Sri Lanka (91),
Pakistan (103) and Bangladesh (121).
The very bottom of the list features a number of emerging markets
restrained by high levels of corruption and little freedom.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
sources: bs.
Karnataka to allow start-ups to pitch for govt contracts

Karnataka plans to become the first state in the country to allow start-ups
to pitch for local government contracts.
The move called the startup forum, a collective of new enterprises
across technology, manufacturing and services could pitch directly for
government orders and execute them within the set cost and
timelines. The framework for this is ready.
This move by Karnataka will enable start-ups to get better access to
capital and clients.
Significance of this move:
Typically, government purchases follow protocols that mandate
suppliers to either have a minimum threshold for revenue or have a
three-year track record. Because of the existing government policies, it
is very difficult for the government to tap into innovative solutions.
Often, they are shut out from the innovative ideas to fix their issues.
This move could potentially revolutionise procurement for government
agencies by bringing down costs and access to new technology
solutions.
Karnataka has been one of the most active and competitive ones when it
comes to promoting the startup ecosystem.
sources: bs.
Paper 3 Topic: infrastructure, Resource Mobilization

Lok Sabha passes National Waterways Bill
The National Waterways Bill, 2015, which provides for declaring certain
inland waterways as national waterways, was passed by the Lok Sabha
recently.
Details:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The bill seeks to declare 106 additional inland waterways as national
waterways. After the inclusion of 106 additional inlands waterways to
the existing five national waterways, the total number of national
waterways goes upto 111.
The Bill repeals the five Acts that declare the existing national
waterways. These five national waterways are now covered under the
Bill.
Inland waterways, comprising rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and
backwaters, extend about 14,500 km across the country. However,
potential of this mode of transport has not been fully exploited so far.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that while
inland waterways are recognised as a fuel efficient, cost effective and
environment friendly mode of transport, it has received lesser
investment as compared to roads and railways. Thus, the central
government has come up with this policy.
It should be noted here that under the Union List of the Seventh Schedule
of the Constitution, the central government can make laws on shipping and
navigation on inland waterways which are classified as national waterways
by Parliament by law.
sources: the hindu, prsindia.
Vajpayees road scheme soon in Naxal-hit areas

The centre is planning to build the roads and bridges in Maoist-affected
States. If this decision is implemented, the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways (MoRTH) may lose the responsibility of building roads and
bridges in the Maoist-affected States. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY), the brainchild of former Premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
which was launched in 2004, is implemented by the Rural
Development Ministry.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Maoist-related incidents touched a five-year low in 2015, with 1,006
incidents reported this year as compared to 1,760 in 2011.
The Centre is working on an ambitious plan for seamless connectivity
between the 10 Naxal-affected States and is all set to launch the Road
Requirement Plan-II.
The RRP-II will no longer be handled by the Road Ministry as it didnt
do full justice to the projects under RRP-I, which was launched in 2009
and still 30% of the road network taken up by the Ministry is yet to be
completed. Since Maoist districts are all in rural areas, the government
has decided to put the onus on the Rural Development Ministry.
About PMGSY:
PMGSY was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded
Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all weather road
connectivity in rural areas of the country. The programme envisages
connecting all habitations with a population of 500 persons and above in
the plain areas and 250 persons and above in hill States, the tribal and the
desert areas.
The objective was to give roads to villages:
with a inhabitants of 1000 persons & more by year 2003
having populace of 500 & more by 2007
mount states, ethnic & desert region villages having a population of 500
& more by the year 2003, &
mount states, ethnic & desert region villages having population of 250 &
more by 2007.
Kelkar chalks out rules for PPP revival

An expert panel led by former Finance Secretary, Vijay Kelkar, has called
for swift amendments to the anti-corruption law and an endorsement from
the Parliament for a new policy for public private partnerships or PPPs that
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
balances risk-sharing between private and public partners, in order to spur
infrastructure building.
The report, which was released by the government recently, said
rebooting PPPs is an urgent priority to take advantage of the historical
conjunction of the countrys infrastructure needs and the availability of
long-term funding.
The report also highlighted that it is critical for India to make the leap
from a low-income country to a high-income one in two to three
decades, else it risks falling into a middle income trap.
The panel has also asked the government to actively discourage the
Swiss Challenge for auctioning infrastructure projects, under which
any bidder can offer to improve upon a project proposal submitted by
another player. This model has been adopted by the government since
July to redevelop 400 railway stations.
Highlights of the report:
The report notes that Indias success in deploying PPPs as an important
instrument for creating infrastructure will depend on a change in
attitude of all authorities dealing with PPPs-public agencies,
government departments supervising and auditing and legislative
institutions.
The panel has asked the Government to take early action to amend the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 which does not distinguish between
genuine errors in decision-making and acts. This is necessary to make
only malafide action by public servants punishable and not errors.
The report also underlines the need to further strengthen the three key
pillars of PPP frameworks namely Governance, Institutions and
Capacity, to build on the established foundation for the next wave of
implementation.
The report asks for an independent regulatory with a unified mandate
that encompasses activities in different infrastructure sub sectors to
ensure harmonized performance by the regulators.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The panel has also asked the government to issue model concession
agreements only when 80% of the land for a project has been acquired.
The panel is against adopting PPP structures for very small projects,
since the benefits of delivering small PPP projects may not be
commensurate with the resulting costs and the complexity of managing
such partnerships over a long period.
The panel has recommended the government to notify comprehensive
guidelines on the applicability and scope of access to, under RTI and
Art 12 of the Constitution, and auditing of financial related matters in
order to avoid any delays in public asset provision.
The report asks the government to encourage banks and financial
institution to issue Deep Discount Bonds or Zero Coupon Bonds (ZCB)
to mobilise long term capital at low cost.
The committee has also favoured disallowing statutory audit into the books
of special purpose vehicle formed under the companies act.
Foreign funds plan share in Indias infrastructure

corpus
Aiming to increase investment flows into infrastructure projects, the
government has set the proposed National Investment and Infrastructure
Fund (NIIF) rolling.
In the first meeting of the governing council of NIIF, which was held
recently, the broad road map for future activities of the fund were
discussed.
The fund was registered as a category II alternative investment fund
with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) recently.
The finance ministry has appointed India Infrastructure Finance Co.
Ltd (IIFCL) as investment adviser to NIIF and IDBI Capital Market
Services Ltd as an adviser to NIIF Trustee Ltd initially for six months
and one year respectively.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Several sovereign funds and pension funds across the world have expressed
their willingness to participate and cooperate in various manners with the
NIIF.
About NIIF:
The Union Cabinet, in July 2015, had approved creation of National
Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) as a trust that will have a
corpus of Rs 20,000 crore.
The Fund aims to attract investment from both domestic and
international sources.
The governments contribution would be limited to 49% of the
subscribed capital.
The government will seek participation from strategic investors such as
sovereign fund, quasi sovereign funds and multilateral or bilateral
investors, which can help leverage this fund to many times.
Cash-rich PSUs, pension funds, provident funds, National Small Saving
Fund will be able to pick up stake in the fund.
The decision to set up NIIF was announced by the union Finance
minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech.
The government has budgeted to contribute Rs.20,000 crore to the
fund in the current fiscal year while another Rs.20,000 crore is
expected to be raised through sovereign wealth funds.
The Governing Council of the Fund has decided to complete by January-
end the selection process of the Chief Executive of the investment
management company responsible for taking investment decisions of its
corpus.
Paper 3 Topic: infrastructure: Railways

Nod for biggest FDI in Indian Railways
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Cabinet has given its nod to set up Indias first 500-km-long bullet
train project, with the help of Japanese funds and technology.
Details:
Connecting Mumbai to Ahmedabad, the cost of the project will be Rs
98,000 crore. Japan will invest Rs 78, 000 crore. This is the largest
foreign investment in Indias railway sector.
The Japanese loan of over Rs 78,000 crore will come with a 50-year
tenure, along with a moratorium of 15-years.
The decision comes on the back of the recommendations of a panel
headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya, which chose
the low-cost funding proposed by Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) at less than 1% interest rate apart from a commitment
for technology transfer and local manufacturing for a specified period.
The panel had also said that the Japanese Shinkansen system of bullet
trains had the best safety record, with no fatalities and delays of less
than a minute.
This development comes as a setback for China, which had been
aggressively pitching to partner India in building the planned 10,000-km
network of bullet trains. China had recently bagged its first foreign bullet
train project in Indonesia, beating Japan by offering easy finance and
technical assistance.
sources: bs.
Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure: Energy.

Modi launches International Solar Alliance
Prime Minister Modi recently launched International Solar Alliance (ISA)
in Paris on the sidelines of the climate change summit. This initiative
highlights Indias leadership in clean energy.
The alliance was launched at the CoP21 Climate Conference.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
About the International Solar Alliance (ISA):
This international alliance brings together developing and developed
countries to expand energy access, accelerate solar power deployment,
and stimulate economic development.
The alliance will function from the National Institute of Solar Energy in
India, Gurgaon.
The Centre will provide land and $30 million to form a secretariat for
the Alliance, and also support it for five years.
In its launch resolution, the ISA says it seeks to share collective
ambitions to reduce the cost of finance and technology that is needed to
deploy solar power widely.
Among the tasks that the Alliance would pursue are, cooperation in
training, building institutions, regulatory issues, common standards,
and investment including joint ventures.
The alliance has the potential to propel international solar markets forward
while fighting climate change, improving global health and boosting
economies.
sources: the hindu.
Govt approves pact with Germany for solar energy

The government has approved a post facto agreement with Germany to
expand bilateral cooperation in the field of solar energy.
The government gave its approval to a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU), which was signed in October, 2015.
The MoU was signed between India and Germany, to expand bilateral
development cooperation in the field of Solar Energy by increasing use
of solar energy in India through technical as well as financial
cooperation.
Under the agreement, Germany would provide concessional loans in the
range of one billion Euros over the next five years through Kreditanstalt
fur Wiederaufbau (KfW).
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The funds of KfW will also be utilized for providing soft loans to the
end-users through partner banks.
The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two
countries and also help India achieve its ambitious target of having 100 GW
solar power generation capacity by 2022 under the National Solar Mission.
sources: pib.
Rajasthan Joins UDAY Scheme

Rajasthan Government has conveyed its in-principle approval to Ministry
of Power (MoP) for joining UDAY Scheme (Ujwal Discom Assurance
Yojana) .
ABOUT UDAY SCHEME:
The Scheme UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) has been
launched to improve financial and operational efficiencies of power
distribution companies (DISCOMs).
It envisages to reduce interest burden, cost of power and AT&C losses.
Consequently, DISCOM would become sustainable to supply adequate
and reliable power enabling 247 power supply.
The scheme provides that States would take over 75% debt of Discoms,
as on 30th September, 2015 in two years.
UDAY has inbuilt incentives encouraging State Governments to
voluntarily restructure their debts. These incentives include taking over
of DISCOM debt by the States outside the fiscal deficit limits; reduction
in the cost of power through various measures such as coal linkage
rationalization, liberal coal swaps and priority/additional funding
through schemes of MoP & MNRE.
UDAY is different from earlier restructuring schemes in several ways
including flexibility of keeping debt taken over outside fiscal deficit
limit, reduction in cost of power and a series of time bound
interventions for improving operational efficiency.
UDAY also provides for measures that will reduce the cost of power
generation, which would ultimately benefit consumers.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
sources: pib.
TS signs up with Centre for Power for All

Telangana has become the sixth State in the country to sign up for
Power for All scheme.
Under the scheme, an investment of Rs 18,983 crore and Rs 23,817
crore has been planned for 2018-19 for strengthening and augmenting
transmission and distribution network respectively in the State.
In addition to strengthening the network and massive capacity
expansion programme of the State government, emphasis will also be
laid on sustainability through capacity addition by solar and wind
power and energy efficiency measures.
About the scheme:
`Power for All is a joint initiative of the Centre in collaboration with
State governments for supply of quality and reliable 24 x 7 power to
agricultural, industrial and domestic consumers.
The scheme is aimed at addressing all the key aspects and activities to
be undertaken across generation, transmission and distribution,
including achieving 100% household electrification.
sources: the hindu.
Underground Coal Gasification in coal and lignite

bearing areas in India
The Union Cabinet has approved a policy framework for development of
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in coal and lignite bearing areas in
the country. Development of UCG is envisaged to provide for energy
security.
Policy framework:
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Current Events
A policy on the lines broadly similar to the existing policy for Coal Bed
Methane (CBM) development on revenue sharing basis will be adopted
for offering the blocks through competitive bidding.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee under the Ministry of Coal with
members from concerned Ministries will be responsible for
identification of the areas, deciding about blocks to be put to bidding or
awarding them to PSUs on nomination basis.
Ministry of Coal may engage a consultant for development of the
contract document.
For development of bid documents, work programme, conducting the
bidding process, evaluation of bids, monitoring and process protocols
etc., Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL)
will be the nodal agency.
What is Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)?
UCG is a method of extraction of energy from coal/lignite resources
which are otherwise regarded as uneconomical to work through
conventional mining methods.
It is an in-situ gasification process carried out in non-mined coal
seams using injection of oxidants, and bringing the product gas to
surface through production wells drilled from the surface.
sources: pib, wiki.
Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure Housing.

New legislation to rein in realtors
The Kerala Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act has finally come
into force with the just concluded Assembly session passing the Bill last
week. Hitherto, it remained only as an ordinance.
The absence of stern laws in the real estate sector had compelled the
State government to bring in legislation in this regard.
Details:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Now, all complaints pending before the Consumer Disputes Redressal
Forum and the Consumer Redressal Commission will be transferred to
the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).
Civil courts will not have jurisdiction over the RERA or the Real Estate
Appellate Tribunal (REAT), which will be soon established to settle
disputes.
The new law requires all real estate projects and real estate agents to be
registered with the RERA. However, no registration is needed where the
area of land proposed to be developed in a real estate project does not
exceed 1,000 sq. m.
The same rule will apply when the number of building units proposed to
be developed in a real estate project does not exceed 12. But then, the
total carpet area of the building units should not exceed 1,000 sq.m.
Specific rules have been framed for real estate agents and buyers. The
RERA has the powers to reject the application of the real estate agent.
The allottees will be entitled to obtain information relating to the site
and layouts, specification of the apartments and stage-wise time
schedule of completion of project. But the allottee will be liable to pay
interest for any delay in payment towards any amount or charges.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 3 Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their

applications and effects in everyday life.
Tech Mahindra Launches NFC-Based Digital Wallet
MoboMoney
Tech Mahindra Ltd. has launched Indias first NFC-based digital
payment ecosystem,MoboMoney.
Details:
MoboMoney is a prepaid wallet issued in the form of an NFC (Near-
Field Communication) tag that frees the user from the hassle of
carrying cash.
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The NFC technology allows radio communication between two NFC
enabled devices and the tag is a small sticker type chip that works
on the NFC technology. This tag is linked to the MoboMoney account.
It simplifies and enhances the customers payment experience by
simple Tap n Pay.
With NFC-enabled MoboMoney tag, the customers without an NFC-
enabled phone, can also enjoy the simple tap and pay experience to
purchase goods.
The money loaded into the customers digital wallets can be used to
Tap n Pay for over the counter payments, recharges, make bill
payments, as well as pay online converting what were earlier
payments done in cash, into digital payments.
For the security of the customers, every transaction data is protected by
stringent encryption measures that meet the highest standards of the
industry.
Operation:
All one needs to do is tap ones MoboMoney tag on a network of NFC
enabled merchant point of sale (POS), location where payment is
accepted, to make a payment.
If the user wishes, he/she can link a bank account to the MoboMoney
wallet and can retrieve the unspent amount from the wallet into the
linked bank account.
About NFC:
Near field communication (NFC) is a set of protocols that enable two
electronic devices, one of which is usually a portable device such as a
smartphone, to establish radio data communication with each other by
bringing them closer than, typically, 10 cm (4 in) from each other.
NFC is a short-range high frequency wireless communication
technology.
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Current Events
Paper 3 Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Cabinet okays Bill on Regional Centre for Biotechnology
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of Regional
Center for Biotechnology Bill, 2015.
Objective of the Bill: to provide a legal status to the Regional Centre
for Biotechnology in Faridabad so as to function independently as an
autonomous body and also an institution of national importance for
education, training and research in the areas of biotechnology.
Details:
The Centre is a regional hub for interdisciplinary education, training
and research in biotechnology with emphasis on novel education
programmes relevant to industry.
The centre would offer training in the related areas of biotechnology
including bio-drug discovery science, nano-science and medicine,
imaging techniques, designer crops, bioengineering and biomaterials,
intellectual property, technology transfer and regulation to fulfil and
overcome the acute shortage of skilled human resources in India.
The center would also act as a hub of biotechnology expertise in the
countries in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
region, and more generally in the Asia region. And thus address human
resources needs in the region.
It would also address designing of new and novel programmes for
education and training which could then be assimilated by the existing
universities in India and the Region.
Background:
The Centre has already been established by an executive order of the
Government of India in November, 2008 after the approval by the Union
Cabinet. It is currently operational at the NCR Biotech Science Cluster,
Faridabad and the enactment does not involve any financial implications at
this stage.
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Current Events
sources: pib.
Countrys flagship HAL turns 75

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is all set to celebrate its 75th anniversary
this month.
About HAL:
Started as Hindustan Aircraft Company by visionary industrialist
Walchand Hirachand Doshi, HAL was acquired by the British in 1942
and consolidated in 1964 under the present name. HAL is now part of
the Ministry of Defence.
It is ranked 34 among the worlds aerospace and is among the top four
in Asia by turnover. It is also Indias sole maker of military aircraft.
HALs production portfolio includes Sukhoi-30, Mirage 2000 fighters;
the DRDO-ADAs Light Combat Aircraft that is in the final
configuration; trainer aircraft including the British-make Hawks;
transport aircraft for the Forces; and military helicopters.
Currently, HAL is pursuing high-end research to create the countrys
future aircraft and aeroengine technologies.
sources: the hindu.
India joins select club to build LNG ships

Cochin Shipyard has received certification to build LNG-transporting
ships for any client world-wide. In this regard, Cochin Shipyard has
signed an agreement with French technology company Gaztransport &
Technigaz (GTT) for its maiden foray into liquefied natural gas (LNG)
shipbuilding. This makes Cochin Shipyard the first shipyard in India to
get the nod, joining the league of South Korea, Japan and China.
This opens a new chapter in ship-building technology in India and
marks a big step for Make in India.
GTT is a leader in design engineering and provides membrane-type
containment systems for the transportation and storage of LNG. It
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Current Events
holds patented technology for LNG ships. It gives designs, engineering
and supervision for building of the cryogenic carriers that transport
natural gas frozen in its liquid form (LNG).
This move also enables Cochin Shipyard to qualify to bid for the GAIL
tender. Since Indian shipyards do not have LNG technology, a clause in
the GAIL tender sought performance guarantee from shipbuilders.
The most critical part of an LNG ship is its cryogenic containment and
handling system as the LNG is carried at a temperature of -163 degrees.
This requires fool-proof cryogenic containment and safe handling and
transfer systems.
sources: the hindu.
Indian American professor wins top honour for

research on tumours
Indian American professor Rakesh K Jain has been selected for
the National Medal of Science 2015 of United States (US). He holds a
B.Tech degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of
Technology- Kanpur.
Rakesh Jain is a professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of
the Tumour Biology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He is regarded as a pioneer in the area of tumour micro-environment
and widely recognized for his seminal discoveries in tumour biology,
drug delivery, in vivo imaging and bioengineering.
He will receive the honour along with 16 other winners of the National
Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation at a
White House ceremony in 2016.
About National Medal of Science:
The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is
administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation.
It recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to
science and engineering.
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It is awarded annually. It is considered as the United States highest
honour for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of
science and technology.
sources: the hindu wiki.
Astra missile proves anti-jamming capability

Astra missile was recently test-fired by the scientists of the DRDO. During
the trial, a crucial capability of the missile-its resistance to jamming
was successfully validated.
After carrying out some more trials, including air launch trial with a
warhead, the missile will be inducted into the Air Force next year.
During the recent ground and air trials, the missiles RF seeker and
other electronic components were sought to be jammed to see how it
performs in such a scenario at the time of war when the enemy tries to
jam its operation.
The ECCM (electronic counter-counter measure) features of the missile
to overcome any jamming were also evaluated.
While several developmental trials, including captive flight mode, were
already completed, next months tests would evaluate its performance
in different scenarios and cover the entire air launch envelope required
before its induction.
About Astra:
It is a Beyond-Visual Range, air-to-air indigenously developed
The all-weather, radar homing missile has high
manoeuvrability and capability to engage and destroy aerial
targets at supersonic speeds.
The 60-km plus range missile possesses Shot Kill Probability
(SSKP) making it one of the most reliable in its class of weapon
systems.
The missile could be launched at different altitudes from sea level to 20
km for engaging aerial targets at various ranges.
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Current Events
Apart from integrating the missile with Su-30, it is planned to be
mounted on other fighter aircraft including Tejas Light Combat
Aircraft, Mirage-2000 and MIG-29.
The missile complex at Hyderabad and several DRDO laboratories in
partnership with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air
Force developed Astra.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 3 Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics,

nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property
rights.
Airtel to invest Rs. 60,000 crore in Project Leap
Airtel has announced an ambitious plan called Project Leap, of investing
Rs 60,000 crore in telecom network. Over the next three years, with this
investment Airtel aims work towards improving its network service and
customer experience.
Large parts of this investment will improve voice and data services.
Funds will be raised through internal cash accruals and includes the
capital expenditure target of about $2.2 billion for the current fiscal
year.
This investment will be in addition to the Rs.1,60,000 crore the
company has already invested in its active and passive network,
spectrum, fibre, submarine cables and other systems till date.
About Project Leap:
It is a network transformation programme. Under this, Airtel will
deploy over 70,000 base stations in the current fiscal, its largest
deployment in a single year since inception. Over three years, more
than 160,000 base stations will be set up nationwide.
The company would expand its mobile broadband coverage to all towns
and over 2,50,000 villages by March, and in three years, it plans to offer
mobile broadband to over 500,000 villages in the country.
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Current Events
It will also deploy a range of solutions including small cells, carrier
aggregation solutions, wi-fi and the use of multiple technologies across
different spectrum bands for its home broadband network.
Airtel will cumulatively deploy more than 550,000 km of domestic and
international fibre and will swap its legacy networks and base stations
over a three year period and replace them with efficient technologies.
The company will also upgrade its copper assets through new age
Vectoring Technology. This technology will enable Airtel to offer 50
Mbps speeds from its current 16 Mbps by 2016.
Under this programme, Airtel will also make substantial investments in
green technologies over the next three years.
Background:
The announcement comes amid rising complaints of frequent call drops
faced by the customers. The government had also pointed out that lack of
investments in networks by operators was the primary reason for poor
quality of services.
sources: the hindu.
India Ranked 131 on Global Index of Information

Technology Access: Report
India has been ranked a low 131 out of 167 nations on a global index that
measures the level of information and communication technology
access. Indias rank has dropped six notches from the IDI rank in 2010.
This was revealed in the Information Society Report released by
the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Highlights of the report:
Globally 3.2 billion people are now online, representing 43.4% of the
worlds population.
Mobile-cellular subscriptions have reached almost 7.1 billion
worldwide, with over 95% of the global population now covered by a
mobile-cellular signal.
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The Asia-Pacific is the most diverse region in terms of ICT
development, reflecting stark differences in levels of economic
development.
Six economies in the region including the South Korea, Hong Kong and
Japan, have IDI rankings in the top twenty of the global distribution.
However, the region also includes ten of the Indexs least connected
countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
South Korea is ranked at the top of IDI. South Korea is closely followed
by Denmark and Iceland, in second and third place.
The IDI top 30 ranking includes countries from Europe and high-
income nations from other regions including Australia, Bahrain,
Barbados, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, New Zealand, Singapore
and the United States.
167 economies included in the ITUs information and communication
technology (ICT) Development Index (IDI) improved their IDI values
between 2010 and 2015 meaning that levels of ICT access, use and
skills continue to improve all around the world.
Indias position:
Indias mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
were 74.48 in 2014 growing from 62.4 in 2010.
The percentage of households with computer in India was 13% in 2014,
more than doubling from 6.1% in 2010, while the percentage of
households with Internet access was 15.33, growing three-fold from 4.2
in 2010.
The percentage of individuals using the Internet has also grown to 18%
in 2014 from 7.5% in 2010 in the country.
sources: et.
PSLV bags two more US launch orders

PlanetiQ, one of several companies in the US developing constellations of
small satellites to collect weather data, has announced that it will launch its
first two satellites in late 2016 on PSLV.
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Current Events
The company has said that the first two of a planned constellation of
twelve satellites will fly as secondary payloads on a Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV) scheduled to launch in November 2016. The
satellites will be placed into orbit at an altitude of 800 kilometers.
Until about a year ago, U.S. satellite operators could not conceive of
launching from India because of a longstanding U.S. policy bar. In
recent years, established U.S. launch companies have moved on to
lifting far heavier satellites, leaving a demand for launchers that can put
smaller satellites in space.
In September, US operator Spire Global became the PSLVs first US
customer by getting four 4-kg-each Lemur satellites from Sriharikota.
About PSLV:
It is the first operational launch vehicle of ISRO. PSLV is capable of
launching 1600 kg satellites in 620 km sun-synchronous polar orbit and
1050 kg satellite in geo-synchronous transfer orbit.
PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems
alternately. The first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters
in the world and carries 139 tonnes of propellant.
ISRO has envisaged a number of variants of PSLV to cater to different
mission requirements. There are currently three operational versions of
the PSLV the standard (PSLV), the core-alone (PSLV-CA) without the
six strap-on booster motors, and the (PSLV-XL) version, which carries
more solid fuel in its strap-on motors than the standard version.
So far, PSLV has launched 87 satellites.
Countrys first anti-piracy police unit

Telangana has set up the countrys first anti-piracy unit the Telangana
Intellectual Property Crime Unit (TIPCU).
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Current Events
Its main task will be to monitor online piracy and recommend blocking
of websites. It will also prosecute the pirates and choke their revenue
sources.
The taskforce is expected to start work in the next few months. It will
have representatives from cyber crime police, state IT ministry, internet
service providers, the Telugu film industry, legal experts and financial
experts.
Its significance:
Modelled on Londons Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU),
the initiative is critical for the Telugu film market, which is the second-
largest in South India after the Tamil film industry.
Film piracy is a $1-billion market in India and the formation of TIPCU
will have larger implications. Most of the piracy market has shifted
online thanks to the growing penetration of smartphones.
Every year, 1,500-2,000 films are produced in India, losing up to 30%
of their business to piracy.
The government also loses a sizable chunk of tax revenue to piracy.
While it is not clear how TIPCU will be funded, PIPCU in UK is an
independent unit of London Police. It is dedicated to protecting industries
that produce legitimate, high quality, physical goods and online and digital
content from intellectual property crime.
sources: bs.
NASA plans to exit space station

NASA is planning to move out of the International Space Station (ISS) by
2024. The U.S. space agency, NASA, is planning to move up to
the cislunar space the area of space surrounding the moon
for an ambitious human exploration programme.
ISS is reported to become inoperative in either 2024 or if given
another extension till 2028 at the latest.
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The programmes budget, about $3 billion annually, is projected to rise
to nearly $4 billion by 2020.
According to NASA, it would like to see the private space industry take
over the low-Earth orbit.
The ISS orbits Earth at about eight km per second. When
decommissioned, NASA will likely deorbit the spacecraft and Earths
gravitational pull and atmosphere will break it apart.
About the International Space Station (ISS):
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable
artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit.
The ISS is now the largest artificial body in orbit.
The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses, solar arrays
and other components. ISS components have been launched by Russian
Proton and Soyuz rockets as well as American Space Shuttles.
The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research
laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology,
human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology and other fields.
The station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and
equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars.
The ISS maintains an orbit with an altitude of between 330 and 435 km
by means of reboost manoeuvres using the engines of the Zvezda
module or visiting spacecraft. It completes 15.54 orbits per day.
ISS is the ninth space station to be inhabited by crews, following the
Soviet and later Russian Salyut, Almaz, and Mir stations as well as
Skylab from the US.
The ISS programme is a joint project among five participating space
agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.
The ownership and use of the space station is established by
intergovernmental treaties and agreements. The station is divided into
two sections, the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) and the United States
Orbital Segment (USOS), which is shared by many nations.
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Current Events
sources: the hindu, iss.
Japan asteroid probe enters target orbit

The Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 has successfully entered its target
orbit and is on its way to meet with a distant asteroid.
About Hayabusa 2:
Hayabusa 2 is an unmanned explorer. It was launched a year ago
aboard Japans main H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Centre for
its six-year mission to bring back mineral samples from the asteroid.
It is expected to reach Ryugu, named after a mythical castle in a
Japanese folk tale, in mid-2018 and spend around 18 months in the
area.
It will also drop rover robots and a landing package that includes
equipment for surface observation.
If all goes well, soil samples will be returned to Earth in late 2020.
Analyzing the extra-terrestrial materials could help shed light on the birth
of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago.
sources: the hindu.
Pichai pitches Project Loon for connectivity

During his recent visit to India, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai said that amid
natural disasters like the one in Chennai where people get cut off from
the grid Googles Project Loon that uses helium-filled balloons to provide
data connectivity in remote areas could be of great help.
It should be noted here that Pichai was born in Chennai. He had some
anxious moments during the recent floods in Chennai as he was unable
to reach his family members.
How would this model help?
When a natural disaster hits, people often get no network coverage. Project
Loon, which is focused on providing connectivity in rural areas, can be
useful in this regard. Using software these balloons can be placed in areas
where theres no coverage or network capacity is less.
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Current Events
About Project Loon:
Project Loon is a research and development project being developed by
Google X with the mission of providing Internet access to rural and
remote areas.
The project uses high-altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an
altitude of about 32 km to create an aerial wireless network with up to
3G-like speeds.
How it operates?
The balloons are maneuvered by adjusting their altitude to float to a
wind layer after identifying the wind layer with the desired speed and
direction using wind data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
Users of the service connect to the balloon network using a special
Internet antenna attached to their building.
The signal travels through the balloon network from balloon to balloon,
then to a ground-based station connected to an Internet service
provider (ISP), then onto the global Internet.
Why stratosphere was chosen?
Google asserts that the stratosphere is advantageous because of its
relatively low wind speeds and minimal turbulence. Google also claims that
it can model, with reasonable accuracy, the seasonal, longitudinal, and
latitudinal variations in wind speeds within the 1825 km stratospheric
layer.
Significance of this project:
The technology designed in the project could allow countries to avoid
using expensive fiber cable that would have to be installed underground
to allow users to connect to the Internet.
This will also greatly increase Internet usage in developing countries in
regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia that cant afford to lay
underground fiber cable.
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Current Events
The project also brings Internet access to remote and rural areas poorly
served by existing provisions, and improves communication during
natural disasters to affected regions.
ISRO launches 6 Singapore satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation recently put Singapores first
commercial earth-observation satellite in space through a launch on the
polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).
The TeLEOS-I, a 400-kg satellite, was joined by five other smaller
satellites, all from Singapore, on the PSLV-C29 mission.
The six satellites, which together weight about 624 kg, were deposited
into an orbit of 549 km from the earths surface.
These six satellites took the count of foreign satellites launched by ISRO
to 57.
It was overall PSLVs 32nd space flight. PSLV is the first operational launch
vehicle of ISRO. It is capable of launching 1600 kg satellites in 620 km sun-
synchronous polar orbit and 1050 kg satellite in geo-synchronous transfer
orbit. It has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion systems
alternately. The first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters in
the world and carries 139 tonnes of propellant.
sources: the hindu.
Gadget buffs may have to forego their fix

Vivek Gupta, an All India Trinamool Congress MP, has proposed a law to
prevent children and teenagers from being addicted to
technological gadgets arguing that they are isolating themselves socially
and that the rising addiction is destroying the countrys cultural ethos.
The Private Members Bill that was introduced in Rajya Sabha on
December 4 comes amidst a global debate on the subject with a growing
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Current Events
number of experts expressing concern over the addictive properties of
these devices.
What the Bill says?
The Bill says that the problem of gadget addiction in the country is
getting serious by the day and the excessive use of technological gadgets
is extremely detrimental to the health of population especially young
and growing children.
The Bill also says that the gadgets, such as mobile phones, laptops,
gaming devices and tablets, are turning children into couch potatoes;
hampering their physical, mental and psychological growth as well as
making them isolated from the society.
Digital addicts:
A survey by IT security solutions firm, Kaspersky Lab, has revealed that
73% of the respondents in India were found to be digital addicts.
Due to this disorder, people stay glued into their technological
gadgets at all times of the day.
The Bill argues that this problem is slowly but steadily penetrating into
Indian households and has the capability of destroying the ethos of cultural
traditions of the country.
Important provisions in the Bill:
The Bill calls for setting up of digital detoxification centres to ensure
that the patients suffering from gadgets or Internet overdose are
treated in an effective manner so that they can live a more peaceful and
happy life.
The Bill also mandates the creation of National Research Centre for
Prevention of Technological Gadget Addiction in the country.
International experience:
China became the first country in the world to declare Internet
addiction a clinical disorder in the year 2008. Later, in the year
2013, South Koreas government stated that one in every five students
was addicted to smartphone usage.
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Current Events
A study published by the Japanese government too said that in the
2013, 8.1% of about 100,000 junior-high and high-school students
polled were likely to be pathologically addicted to the Internet.
The Government of South Korea has passed a Shutdown Law also
known as Cinderella Law whereby children under the age of 16 are not
allowed to access gaming websites from midnight till 6 a.m.
Through the Bill, Mr Gupta makes a case to recognise addiction to
gadgets as a mental illness and a form of substance abuse, while
insisting that the government take steps to create appropriate
awareness about the addiction through television, radio and print.
With efforts being made to promote the digital technologies in the
country at every stage by the government, the Bill says, it is also
necessary that appropriate laws are created in order to prevent the ill
effects of the over usage of the same.
sources: the hindu.
Centre counts on Big Data to grow biotechnology

The Department of Biotechnology is all set to make the Biotech Industry in
India a $100-billion industry by 2025, rising from the current $7-$10
billion. The government is hoping to achieve this by harnessing the power
of Big Data and promoting the manufacturing of laboratory equipment.
The government expects this growth to be largely led by industry and it
will play the role of facilitator, in terms of attracting quality manpower
and putting in place competent regulatory processes.
Critical steps to achieve this would be to ensure that projects are
adequately and promptly funded, besides getting biotechnologists and
researchers to be more ambitious with their research proposals.
What is Big Data?
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Current Events
It refers to the technology (which includes tools and processes) that an
organization requires to handle the large amount of data and storage
facilities.
It is an all-encompassing term for any collection of data sets so large
and complex that it becomes difficult to process using traditional data
processing applications. Big data size is a constantly moving target.
It requires exceptional technologies to efficiently process large
quantities of data within tolerable elapsed times.
The use and adoption of Big Data within governmental processes is
beneficial and allows efficiencies in terms of cost, productivity, and
innovation.
Paper 3 Topic: biodiversity.

Rare discovery of eel on West Bengal coast
Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India ( ZSI) have a discovered a new
species of eel along the coast of Digha in West Bengals Purba Medinipur
district.
Details:
The species, new to science, named Gymnothorax mishrai, is 32.4
cm long, brown in colour and the body is without any patterns.
It is a marine species and is also edible.
Distinct from other species described in the group Gymnothorax, this
species of moray eel has 134 vertebral bones. Since the number of
vertebral bones is less than 150, this particular species is categorised
among short, brown, patterned moray eels.
Eels are snake-like fishes with fins and gills, found mostly at bottom of
rivers and seas. There are 800 species of eels found across the world and
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Current Events
India is home to 150-200 of these fish species. Though considered a
delicacy in many countries like Japan, the consumption of eels in India is
limited to the coastal areas.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

MoU between India and Israel
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has
given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between India and Israel in the field of water resources
management and development cooperation.
Details:
This MoU will benefit both the countries in strengthening the
techniques in efficient use of water, micro-irrigation, recycling/re-use
of waste water, desalination, aquifer recharge and in-situ water
conservation techniques.
A Joint Working Group will also be formed to monitor the activities to
be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU.
India has already entered into agreements with Australia, Rwanda,
Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Fiji, China and Bahrain in the field of water
resources management and development cooperation.
Background:
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation has been envisaging bilateral cooperation with other
countries in water resources development and management through
sharing of policy and technical expertise, conducting of training courses,
workshops, scientific and technical symposia, exchange of experts and
study tours.
Keeping in view the success of Israel in water use efficiency, micro-
irrigation, reuse of waste water, desalination, aquifer recharge, etc., the
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
government had decided to have an agreement with Israel to benefit
from their experience and expertise.
sources: pib.
Agra to host first ever international bird fete

In a bid to promote Uttar Pradesh as an international bird-watching
destination, the State Forest department, in collaboration with FICCI, is
planning to hold a three-day international festival on birds at the National
Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) in Agra.
The festival starts on December 4 and will end on December 6.
As many as 25 top international bird experts and over 80 Indian
ornithologists are expected to attend the first-of-its-kind festival.
sources: the hindu.
A third of Indias soil degraded: experts

A team of agriculture and soil experts have revealed that a third of Indias
soil is degraded, and this could cast a shadow on the sustainability of
agriculture in near future. According to estimates of the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (2010), of the total geographical area of 328.73 mha
in the country, about 120.40 mha is affected by various levels of land
degradation.
Land degradation is posing a major threat to Indias food and
environmental security, resulting from the loss in the biological or
productive capacity of soil.
According to experts, as water and wind erosions are widespread across
India, some 5.3 billion tonnes of soil got eroded every year. Of this, 29% is
permanently lost to the sea, 10% is deposited in reservoirs, reducing their
storage capacity, and the rest 61% gets shifted from one place to another.
Other factors responsible for the degradation of soil:
Excessive use of chemical fertilisers, especially in the north-western
parts of the country.
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Imbalanced nutrient application, injudicious use of pesticides, intensive
cropping system, decline in soil biodiversity and depletion of organic
matter in soil.
Land degradation, mainly caused by natural processes like wind or rain, is
also often exacerbated by human activity like deforestation and
urbanisation. It is closely intertwined with climate change and biodiversity
loss too.
sources: the hindu.
Paris pact on water and climate change adaptation

announced with India on board
A broad coalition of nations including India, river basin organizations,
business and civil societies from across the globe have announced
the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation.
The announcement is part of the Water Resilience Focus event
under the Lima to Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) on climate change.
About the pact:
The pact aims to make water systems the very foundation of
sustainable human development more resilient to climate impact.
It involves a wide geographic coalition of national and cross-border
river basin organisations, governments, funding agencies, local
governments, companies and civil society.
It encompasses individual commitments to implement adaptation
plans, strengthening water monitoring and measurement systems in
river basins and promoting financial sustainability and new investment
in water systems management.
The pact also highlights key partnerships and coalitions to make river
basins, lakes, aquifers and deltas more resilient to climate change and
reduce human interference with oceans.
Almost 290 water basin organisations are engaged under the Pact.
About the Lima to Paris Action Agenda (LPAA):
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The LPAA is a joint undertaking of the Peruvian and French COP
(conference of parties) presidencies, the Office of the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
It aims to strengthen climate action through 2015 and well beyond by
mobilizing robust global action towards low carbon, more climate
resilient societies.
It provides enhanced support to existing initiative and mobilizes new
partners providing them a platform for the visibility of their actions,
commitments and results in the run up to COP21.
sources: toi.
Indias forest cover goes up, shows report

Recently released biennial report of Forest Survey of India showcases how
India has added 3,775 sq km to its green cover since 2013. It also reported
an increase of 2,402 sq km in the very dense forest category that had
remained static since 2007.
Details:
The 2015 report shows that while 2,511 sq km of prime forests have
disappeared altogether, 1,135 sq km of non-forest areas have become
either very dense or mid-dense forests during that time.
Even accounting for the non-forest areas now recorded as dense and
mid-dense forests, the net loss of forests in these prime categories
works out to be 1,376 sq km more than twice the area of Mumbai
in two years.
The states of J&K, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Kerala, Arunachal
Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Manipur, and the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands took major hits in the loss.
The overall gain of 2,402 sq km of very dense forests since 2013 is
largely due to positive results from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
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Current Events
Andman and Nicobar islands have gained a remarkable 1,932 sq km of
very dense forests, putting 5,686 sq km or 84% of its entire forest
cover of 6,751 sq km under the top category. Uttar Pradesh added 572
sq km of very dense forest a jump of 35% since 2013. Tamil Nadu
reported a net gain of 100 sq km of very dense forest.
Madhya Pradesh remains the state with largest forest cover, 77,462 sq
km. Followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 67,248 sq km and
Chhattisgarh having 55,586 sq km.
Mizoram has the highest forest cover (88.9%), followed by
Lakshadweep with 84.6%. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur have more than 75% of
area under forest.
While an area of at least 1 hectare (0.01 sq km) with a canopy density of
10% is considered forest, prime forests are classified as very dense
and mid-dense with canopy densities of at least 70% and 40%
respectively.
sources: bs.
India adds 112 sq. km. to mangrove cover

According to the latest report of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), India has
recorded a net increase of 112 sq. km. of mangroves forest.
The earlier FSI report in 2013 had recorded a net decrease of 34 sq. km.
of mangrove forest.
Key facts:
According to the latest report, the overall mangrove cover in the
country stands at 4,740 sq. km., which is 0.14 sq. km. of Indias overall
geographical area.
There are only 12 States and Union Territories along the countrys
coastline that can boast of mangroves.
West Bengal, which has a total mangrove cover of 2,106 sq. km.,
accounts for 44.5%, the highest in the country. It is followed by Gujarat
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
with about 1,107 sq. km. Andaman and Nicobar islands also has a
considerable mangrove forest cover with 617 sq. km. of it.
West Bengal, which can considerably increase its mangrove cover, has
only been able to augment it by 9 sq. km. The highest increase in the
mangrove cover as per the FSI 2015 is from Maharashtra, which has
added 36 sq. km.
As per the report, the very dense mangrove forest in the country
comprises 1,472 sq. km. (31.05%), moderately dense mangrove spans
1,391 sq. km (29.75%) and open mangroves constitute 1,877 sq. km.
(39.60%).
Mangroves are crucial to the survival of the coastal ecosystem, which is very
vulnerable to climate change.
sources: the hindu.
Countrys biggest wildlife rescue centre commissioned

Indias biggest Wildlife Rescue Centre has been commissioned
at Gorewada near Nagpur, Maharashtra. It has been named
as Gorewada Zoo and Wildlife.
The Union Government had the wildlife rescue centre commissioned at
the cost of 26.95 crore rupees.
Details:
This centre, spread in 30 hectares, would be a big asset for entire
Vidarbha region. The region is known for man-animal conflict.
It will house sick, injured and rescued animals. There are four wards
with a burial ground on the same premises.
The idea has been taken from Gir park. The hospital has state-of-art
facilities and equipped with x-ray machine, operation theatre etc
Entire office staff, headed by an ACF, will be stationed here. There are
cages for herbivores and will house deer, sambars and nilgais. Cases of
tiger attacks on humans and cattle are increasing and problem animals
will be brought to the centre.
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Current Events
There will be two enclosures to house 10 tigers at a time. Besides, 10
panthers can be accommodated.
There are also monkey cages and at least 10 monkeys will be
accommodated in 5 cages in 0.20 hectare area.
One enclosure for over 100 birds of mixed species with small water
pond has been set up. Besides, one enclosure has been set up for
housing pythons and two enclosures for cobra, rat snakes and vipers in
0.02 hectare area.
The whole project will be implemented on Public-Private Partnership
with government stake of 51% and private stake of 49% in a joint
venture company to be floated after tender process begins later this
month.
The government side will be represented by Forest Development
Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM). The entire project, hanging fire
for over 10 years due to red tape and controversies, is expected to be
completed in four years.
sources: toi.
PMO sets ambitious paperless target

The Prime Ministers Office has set an ambitious target to shift at least
90% of all government transactions that involve payments or
receipts from citizens and businesses to electronic or paperless
mode by the end of 2016, replacing the use of cash, demand drafts,
cheques and challans in government offices.
Details:
To move towards that goal, all government departments and ministries
have been asked to provide electronic options for all payments and
receipts by March 31, 2016.
Departments have also been asked to identify what measures may work
in their own context to goad payees and payers to switch to paperless
transactions.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
In this regard, the Department of Electronics and Information
Technology or DEITY is working on an end-to-end transactional
experience for citizens and businesses to access various services
through Internet enabled with a payment gateway interface for online
payments, as part of the Digital India mission.
This move will bring to an end misgovernance of the sort seen during
the 2G spectrum scam, for instance, when several telecom players, with
demand drafts in hand, were scrambling to get allocations on a first-
come, first-served basis.
sources: the hindu.
Emission norms for thermal power plants made stricter

Moving towards stricter emission norms to minimise pollution, the Union
environment ministry has notified revised norms of emission
standards for coal-based thermal power plants in the country and
made it mandatory for the existing plants to meet those parameters within
two years.
The new standards are aimed at reducing emission of PM10 (particulate
matter), Sulphur Dioxide, and Oxide of Nitrogen, which will in turn
help in bringing about an improvement in the Ambient Air Quality
(AAQ) in and around thermal power plants.
Details:
Under the revised norms, the new power plants (to be commissioned
from January 1, 2017 onwards) will have to achieve zero waste
water discharge standard through putting up adequate captive
infrastructure.
Limiting the use of water in thermal power plant will lead to water
conservation as thermal power plant is a water-intensive industry. This
will also lead to a reduction in energy requirement for drawl of water.
In case of SO2 and NOx, the new plants will have to restrict the
emission at 100 mg per cubic meter as compared to 600 mg per cubic
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
meter of the older plants, irrespective of the installed capacity of the
power generating unit.
New standards pertaining to Mercury will help in control of mercury
emission (at about 70-90%).
All the upcoming power plants will be given environmental clearance
only after getting such commitments under the new norms.
According to the Ministry, the newer power plants will eventually be
much cleaner as the revised norms will help keep strict tabs on emission
of all pollutants. In case of PM10, the new plants will have to restrict the
emission to 30 mg per cubic meter as compared to 100 mg per cubic
meter in older plants.
These standards are based on the recommendation of the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) after consultations with stakeholders.
sources: pib.
Olive Ridleys find new haven in East Godavari

A recent study has revealed that Olive Ridley Turtles are finding the islands
in East Godavari district safe abodes for nesting. There has been a steady
increase in the number of these seasonable visitors arriving at the Hope
Island, Sacemento Island, Yellaiahpeta and Surasani Yanam.
Every December, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles come all the way
from the Indian Ocean to the shores of the Bay of Bengal in search of
suitable places for nesting.
The turtles enter the Bay of Bengal in the second week of December
every year and find a suitable place to lay their eggs in a week to 10
days. After laying the eggs in the sandy stretches, they begin their
return journey. Hatching takes place naturally and the baby turtles too
swim back to the Indian Ocean by June every year.
The seashores in Odisha are the most sought after sites for these turtle
varieties to lay eggs before swimming back to the Indian Ocean.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Various awareness programmes are being organized by the forest
department among the fishermen to prevent them from catching the turtles
using fishing nets. Similarly, sensitization programmes for various
stakeholders, including officials and representatives of industries are also
being conducted.
About Olive Ridley turtles:
The olive ridley sea turtle, also known as the Pacific ridley sea
turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and
tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Olive ridley turtles are best known for their behavior of
synchronized nesting in mass numbers.
The olive ridley is classified as Vulnerable according to the
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN), and is listed in Appendix I of CITES. These listings were largely
responsible for halting the large scale commercial exploitation and
trade of olive ridley skins.
The Convention on Migratory Species and the Inter-American
Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles have also
provided olive ridleys with protection, leading to increased conservation
and management for this marine turtle
Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of

Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has
given its approval to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on the
Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia, also called
the Raptor MOU with the Convention on Conservation of Migratory
Species (CMS).
With the signing of this MOU, India will become the 54th signatory
to the MOU.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
About Raptor MoU:
The Raptor MOU is an agreement under the Convention on
Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) and is not legally binding.
The MOU seeks willingness of the signatory Range States for working
for conservation of the raptor species and their habitats. Under this, an
action plan has been formulated which primarily envisages the
conservation action for Raptor species.
The Raptors MoU extends its coverage to 76 species of birds of prey out
of which 46 species including vultures, falcons, eagles, owls, hawks,
kites, harriers, etc. also occur in India.
Raptor MOU was concluded on in October 2008 and came into effect
on 1st November 2008.
Indias neighbours Pakistan and Nepal are also signatories to this MOU.
Benefits for India:
Considering that the Raptor MOU is also in conformity with the provisions
of the existing Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, wherein the birds have been
accorded protection, India would gain domain knowledge which would be
helpful in effectively managing the habitats of these Raptors, including
concerted trans-boundary efforts for conservation through interaction with
other range countries by signing of the MOU with the CMS.
The CMS or Bonn Convention, under the auspices of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to conserve migratory
species throughout their range. India had become a party to the CMS since
1st November 1983.
sources: pib.
Paper 3 Topic: pollution.

An odd formula
To tackle an alarmingly high pollution level in the capital, the Aam Aadmi
Party government in Delhi has decided that vehicles with odd and even
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
number plates would be allowed on alternate days only from January 1,
2016.
To ensure that commuters are not put to hardship, Delhi Metro services
will be extended and school buses will be requisitioned. Emergency
vehicles, CNG-driven buses, taxis and autorickshaws will also be
exempt from the decision.
Commercial vehicles will be permitted to enter the Capital only around
after 10 p.m instead of the current deadline of 9 p.m.
The decision was taken after a Delhi High Court observation that living
in Delhi was akin to living in a gas chamber.
Some stats:
6 million: Number of private passenger cars registered in Delhi as of
March 2015
182,115: Number of passenger vehicles sold in 2014-15
245 per km: Vehicle density in Delhi-NCR
10 times: Delhis pollution, at *PM2.5, is 10 times higher than the
WHO- prescribed limit
sources: the hindu, BS.
China issues first red alert on pollution

Chinese government has issued its first red alert for pollution in Beijing due
to hazardous air quality caused by severe air pollution.
The government has warned that severe pollution would cloak the
Chinese capital for several days.
Currently, the air quality index stands at 250 in Beijing, classed as very
unhealthy and 10 times higher than World Health Organization
recommended levels.
The warning is an upgrade from an orange alert issued over the weekend,
part of Chinas four-colour warning system that includes yellow and blue
levels for less polluted conditions.
Details:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The Beijing city government has ordered all outdoor construction work
to stop on red alert days, besides urging schools to close.
The notice, issued after days of heavy smog last week, also puts traffic
restrictions on certain types of vehicles in the city of 22.5 million
people.
Construction waste, excavation transport vehicles, cement trucks,
gravel transport vehicles and other large-scale vehicles are also
prohibited from driving on roads.
Chinese researchers have identified pollution as a major source of
unrest around the country.
Chinas leadership has vowed to crack down on environmental degradation,
including the air pollution that blankets many major cities, following
decades of unbridled economic growth.
sources: bs.
NGT bans registration of new diesel vehicles in the

capital
In a significant measure to curb the alarming pollution level, the National
Green Tribunal has issued an interim order that new diesel-run vehicles
will not be registered in Delhi and there will be no renewal of registration of
such vehicles which are more than 10-year-old.
The tribunal has also said that the central and state government must
stop buying diesel cars in Delhi. These will be interim steps till the next
date of hearing on January 6.
In April, the tribunal had banned diesel vehicles over 10 years old in the
city labelled worlds most polluted.
The move comes at a time the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a
petition seeking a complete ban on diesel cars in Delhi and other cities.
Delhi is the sixth largest market for passenger vehicles and companies sold
182,115 vehicles in the year ended March. The total number of cars
registered in Delhi stood at 2.6 million as of March 2015. It is estimated one
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
of every three passenger vehicle sold in Delhi is diesel driven. Around 23%
of the cars registered in Delhi are diesel. Diesel cars can legally emit 7.5
times more particulate matter than the petrol versions and produce more
toxic nitrogen dioxide. Diesel emissions are also cancer causing, says the
World Health Organisation.
sources: bs.
RCE-Tirupati to focus on Eastern Ghats

In a major boost to the sustainable development of the Eastern Ghats, with
special focus on its fragile environment, the United Nations University has
sanctioned a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) to Tirupati.
The RCE-Tirupati will be part of the Foundation for Environmentally
Sustainable Development with Focus on health, education, awareness
and livelihoods.
The project was cleared by Ubuntu Alliance of twelve agencies,
including the UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), the United Nations University and the World Conservation
Union (WCU).
The region initially selected for operation is the stretch comprising
Chittoor, Kadapa, Nellore and Prakasam districts. While the former two
are strewn with mountains, valleys, forests, plaints with agricultural
land, the coastal districts are known for farmland, wetlands, shrimp
farms and islands, involving a total population of 13.2 million.
The centre aims at capacity building in target groups such as schools
and colleges and creating awareness among the forest, tribal and coastal
communities on the importance of bio-resources, their judicious use
and conservation.
Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE):
RCEs are acknowledged by the United Nations University (UNU) based
on recommendations of the Ubuntu Committee of Peers for the RCEs,
which consists of signatories of the Ubuntu Declaration signed in 2002.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
RCEs aspire to achieve the goals of the United Nations Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) by translating its
global objectives into the context of the local communities in which they
operate.
This is then accomplished by acting as a catalyst for institutions that
promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through
formal, non-formal and informal education, and by providing suitable
platforms to share information and experiences and to promote
dialogue among regional stakeholders through partnerships for
sustainable development.
RCEs also develop regional knowledge bases to support ESD and
promote its goals in a resource effective manner. This can be achieved
through the delivery of training programmes, by facilitating research
into ESD, through public awareness raising, and by increasing the
quality and access to ESD in the region.
Out of the 127 RCEs spread across the globe, there are only five in India
viz., the RCE-Srinagar, working on western Himalayas, the RCE-Guwahati
on Eastern Himalayas, the RCE-Chandigarh on wetland ecosystems, the
RCE-TERI (Goa) on Youth empowerment and energy and the RCE-Kodagu
on traditional knowledge and tribal communities of Wezstern Ghats. The
RCE-Tirupati will work on a mix of features like Eastern Ghats, coastal
communities, marine ecosystem and biodiversity.
sources: the hindu.
Luxury diesel vehicles banned in Delhi, NCR

In a strong step to release the stranglehold of air pollution on the Capital
city, the Supreme Court has imposed a ban on the registration of
diesel-run private cars of the capacity of 2000 CC and above and
SUVs.
Why only these vehicles?
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
According to the Supreme Court, these vehicles are used by the rich and
hence the common man or average citizen would hardly feel the pinch.
The order also reasoned that these high-end diesel vehicles are prone to
cause higher levels of pollution.
Please note the Court has banned registration of these vehicles only for
three months. That is, up to March 31, 2016.
Other decisions taken by the Supreme Court:
Diesel commercial vehicles, registered before 2005, are barred from
entering Delhi.
Commercial vehicles, which are not Delhi bound, have been banned
from entering the city.
Double the green tax imposed on trucks entering the city.
All taxis in the national capital to move to CNG fuel by March 1, 2016.
Delhi govt to vacuum-clean roads, make pavements.
Construction activities must adhere to pollution norms.
Solid waste not to be burnt but disposed appropriately.
The Supreme Courts decision came in response to a clutch of petitions
including one on banning diesel vehicles in some cities in the face of
alarming pollution levels in the country.
sources: The hindu.
Women, bikers out of Delhis odd-even formula

Delhi government has released the blueprint for its odd-even vehicle
formula, which comes into force from January 1 for a 15-day trial.
This is Indias first attempt at controlling air pollution by disallowing
vehicles with odd and even registration plates to ply on roads on
alternate days.
Who are all exempted?
Two-wheelers and cars driven by women.
Vehicles that are run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Vehicles of very important persons (VIPs), and those carrying
differently-abled people.
Ambulances, fire brigade, hospital, prison and hearse vehicles are also
exempted.
Other details:
The scheme would apply from 8 am to 8 pm on all days except Sundays
for cars with registration number plates from the national capital
region, as well as other states.
Any violation would attract a penalty of Rs 2,000.
For a woman driver the exemption would be allowed if she is
accompanied by female co-passengers or children up to the age of 12
years. They will be penalised if any male member is travelling along.
The cases of medical emergencies would be treated on the basis of
trust.
Senior citizens, doctors and lawyers, who had petitioned the
government seeking exemption, will have to abide by the regulations.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has clarified that he and his cavalcade would
not avail of the exemption offered to VIPs.
Stats:
Currently, Delhi has a total of 8.83 million registered vehicles
including 2.64 million passenger cars and 5.68 million two-wheelers.
There are 2.72 million scooters, 2.86 million motorcycles and 105,114
mopeds registered in the city.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 3 Topic: disaster and disaster management.

NDRF teams arrives in Puducherry
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are actively involved
in tackling the situation arising out of incessant rains in Puducherry and
TamilNadu over the past few days.
Sensing the urgency, NDRF teams have doubled the number of their
rescuers in the rain and flood-battered Chennai and adjoining areas.
SO far, the teams have rescued around 5000 people from marooned
areas in Chennai.
NDRF:
The Disaster Management Act has made the statutory provisions for
constitution of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose
of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.
Background:
Two national calamities in quick succession in the form of Orissa Super
Cyclone (1999) and Gujarat Earthquake (2001) brought about the
realization of the need of having a specialist response mechanism at
National Level to effectively respond to disasters. This realization led to the
enactment of the DM Act on 26 Dec 2005.
ROLE AND MANDATE OF NDRF:
Specialized response during disasters
Proactive deployment during impending disaster situations
Acquire and continually upgrade its own training and skills
Liaison, Reconnaissance, Rehearsals and Mock Drills
Impart basic and operational level training to State Response Forces
(Police, Civil Defence and Home Guards)
Community Capacity Building Programme
organize Public Awareness Campaigns
Why it is said to be UNIQUE?
It is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world.
The only agency with comprehensive response capabilities having
multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled, high-tech, stand alone nature.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Experienced paramilitary personnel specially trained and equipped for
disaster response.
Capabilities for undertaking disaster response, prevention, mitigation
and capacity building.
sources: the hindu, ndrf.
Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced an ex-gratia relief
of Rs. 50,000 for those who were seriously injured in the recent Tamil
Nadu floods.
PMNRF:
In pursuance of an appeal by the then Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
in January, 1948, the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was
established with public contributions to assist displaced persons from
Pakistan.
The resources of the PMNRF are now utilized primarily to render
immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like
floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc. and to the victims of the major
accidents and riots.
Assistance from PMNRF is also rendered, to partially defray the
expenses for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney
transplantation, cancer treatment, etc.
Some facts:
The fund consists entirely of public contributions and does not get any
budgetary support.
The corpus of the fund is invested with banks in fixed deposits.
Disbursements are made with the approval of the Prime Minister.
PMNRF has not been constituted by the Parliament.
The fund is recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act and the
same is managed by Prime Minister or multiple delegates for national
causes.
PMNRF is exempt under Income Tax Act.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Prime Minister is the Chairman of PMNRF and is assisted by Officers/
Staff on honorary basis.
These contributions also qualify as CSR (corporate social responsibility)
spend for companies, making it more attractive in terms of tax
exemptions.
Type of contributions accepted in PMNRF:
PMNRF accepts only voluntary donations by individuals and
institutions.
Contributions flowing out of budgetary sources of Government or from
the balance sheets of the public sector undertakings are not accepted.
At the time of natural calamity of devastating scale, Prime Minister, makes
an appeal for donation to the fund.
Paper 3 Topic: Challenges to internal security through communication

networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security
challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
India fourth-largest source of black money: Report
India has been ranked the fourth-biggest source of black money, with $510
billion worth of illicit financial flows during 2004-2013, or $51 billion
annually, on average.
This was stated in a report which was released recently by Global
Financial Integrity (GFI), a research and advisory group based in
Washington.
Notable facts:
According to the report, $1.1 trillion flowed out of developing and
emerging economies illicitly in 2013 alone. The capital outflow mainly
stemmed from tax evasion, crime, corruption and other illegal
activities.
The report says China tops the list for 2004-2013, with $139 billion
average illicit financial flow per annum, followed by Russia ($104
billion per annum) and Mexico ($52.8 billion per annum).
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
sources: bs.
Centre pushing to revive NATGRID, looking for CEO

The Union government is all set to make an aggressive effort to revive the
National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).
The government is planning to appoint a senior serving government
official, in all likelihood one with an intelligence background, to head
NATGRID, with a mandate to operationalise it as a federal counter-
terrorism centre.
What is NATGRID?
Conceived in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the National
Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) is a centralised agency which stores sensitive
personal information on citizens from almost two dozen agencies to be
made available for counter-terror investigations.
The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), an attached office of the
Ministry of Home Affairs, has been conceived to develop a cutting edge
framework to enhance Indias counter-terror capabilities.
It will provide an intelligence database that would have networked 21
sets of data sources to provide quick and secure access of information to
about 10 intelligence and law-enforcement agencies including the
Intelligence Bureau (IB) and R&AW.
These data sources include records related to immigration entry and
exit, banking and financial transactions.
The Union Home Ministry has indicated the grid will be fully functional by
2016.
How is it different from NCTC and NIA?
Unlike the NCTC and the NIA which are central organisations, the
NATGRID is essentially a tool that enables security agencies to locate
and obtain relevant information on terror suspects from pooled data of
various organisations and services in the country. It will help identify,
capture and prosecute terrorists and help preempt terrorist plots.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Criticisms:
NATGRID is facing opposition on charges of possible violations of
privacy and leakage of confidential personal information.
Its efficacy in preventing terror have also been questioned given that no
state agency or police force has access to its database thus reducing
chances of immediate, effective action.
Who will head the agency?
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a circular to fill
the post of CEO of NATGRID. The circular calls for applicants with a
Masters in Electronics, IT or equivalent with an experience of working
in the IT-related field for 25 years. Both serving as well as retired
government officials can apply.
The circular also says that if a private person is hired, his/her salary
would be Rs. 10 lakh a month and if its a government servant, it will be
his last drawn salary or the present salary.
Paper 3 Topic: Security challenges and their management in border

areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Missing Malwani youth booked under UAPA
The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has registered a case against
missing Malwani youth under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention
Act (UAPA) and declared him an absconding accused.
The youth went missing in October this year. His disappearance had
raised concerns after inquiries revealed that he had shown a radical
bent of mind and was heard speaking about joining extremist
organisations on more than one occasion.
Inquiries by the ATS had revealed that the youth had left the country on
November 1 and reached Kabul.
About the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA):
This law is aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities
associations in India.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Its main objective is to make powers available for dealing with activities
directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.
The Act makes it a crime to support any secessionist movement, or to
support claims by a foreign power to what India claims as its territory.
The UAPA, framed in 1967, has been amended twice since: first in 2008
and then in 2012.
General awareness.
Cabinet approves six new IITs
The Union Cabinet has approved proposal of setting up of six new Indian
Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Jammu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Of the six, IITs at Palakkad (Kerala) and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
have already started classes this year. The remaining IITs are proposed
to come up in Goa, J&K, Chattisgarh and Karnataka.
Details:
Each new IIT will have an initial intake of 180 students in its first year
which would increase to 450 in the second year and to 928 (840
Undergraduates, 80 Postgraduates and 8 Ph.D.) in the third year of
their operation.
The new IITs will be operated from their temporary campuses for the
initial period of three years before shifting into their permanent
campuses in the fourth year. Each IIT will have a sanctioned strength of
faculty members, with a faculty-student ratio of 1:10.
The total cost for running these IITs would be 1,411.80 crore and will be
incurred between 2015-16 and 2018-19.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The 16 existing IITs admit a total of 10,000 students at the
undergraduate level. With the six new institutions, the intake will go up
by another 1080 seats.
The Cabinet has also given its approval for operationalisation of these
IITs initially by forming of Societies under the Societies Registration
Act, 1860 in order to give a legal status to them till the amendment for
their incorporation in The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 is enacted.
It should be noted here that the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961, contains
no provision to enable establishment of new IITs. Hence, for the
establishment of every new IIT, an amendment to the Act is necessary.
sources: pib.
INDRA NAVY- 15
The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY has begun in the Bay of Bengal in
Visakapathnam, Andhra Pradesh.
About INDRA NAVY:
INDRA NAVY is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and
Russian navies and epitomises the strategic relationship between the
two countries.
Initiated in 2003, the exercise has matured over the years with
increasing scope, complexity of operations and level of participation.
The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability between
the two navies and develop common understanding of procedures for
maritime security operations.
The scope of INDRA NAVY- 15 includes wide- ranging professional
interactions during the Harbour phase and a diverse canvas of
operational activities at sea across a spectrum of maritime operations.
INDRA NAVY-15 will help to further strengthen mutual confidence and
interoperability, and also enable sharing of best practices between both
navies.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The exercise will be another milestone in strengthening maritime
security cooperation between the two navies and will also serve to
reinforce the long standing bond of friendship between the two
countries.
sources: pib.
Merkel named Time Person of the year 2015

U.S. magazine Time has named German Chancellor Angela Merkel as its
Person of the Year 2015, hailing her leadership during Europes debt,
refugee and migrant crises, as well as Russias intervention in Ukraine.
Merkel is just the fourth woman since 1927 to be chosen and the first
since opposition leader Corazon C. Aquino of the Philippines in 1986.
sources: the hindu.
Dilip Kumar gets Padma Vibhushan award

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar was recently presented the Padma
Vibhushan by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Born as Muhammad Yousuf Khan in Peshawar, Dilip Kumar made his
debut as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944 produced by Bombay
Talkies.
In a career spanned over six decades, he starred in films of a variety of
genres such as the romantic Andaz (1949), the swashbuckling Aan
(1952), the dramatic Devdas (1955), the comical Azaad (1955), the
historical Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and the social Ganga Jamuna
(1961).
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan
award in 1991, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and the Padma
Vibhushan earlier this year, for his exceptional and distinguished
contribution to the Indian cinema.
Padma Vibhushan:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
It is one of the highest civilian Awards of the country. It was instituted in
the year 1954. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and
distinguished service (it is a second degree honour). The Awards are given
in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public
affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature
and education, sports, civil service, etc.
sources: pib.
Garwood Award
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee recently received Garwood
Award for Outstanding Global Leader in Open Innovation from
UC Berkeley-Haas School of Business.
The award was presented to the President, among others, for promoting
open innovation, for taking initiative of hosting and gathering global
innovators at the first-ever Global Roundtable on the Inclusive
Innovations at Rashtrapati Bhavan, organizing first Festival of
Innovation at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to link together global leaders
from technological, financial and educational sectors for the promotion
of increased scalability in national and international grassroots
innovation.
The University of California, Berkeley, one of the most prestigious
educational institutes in the world, has established the Garwood Award to
acknowledge individuals who have embraced, supported and encouraged
open innovation in a significant and impactful way.
sources: pib.
INS Godavari decommissioned

INS Godavari, the countrys first indigenously designed and built warship
was recently decommissioned in Mumbai after thirty-two years of service.
It is now likely to be used as a target to practice missile firing.
About INS Godavari:
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Being the first indigenously designed and constructed ship, INS
Godavari was showcased around the world as a symbol of Indias
growing military might and self-reliance.
Godavari class frigates were armed with surface to surface and surface
to air guided missiles. INS Godavari is also among the first frigates in
the world capable of carrying two Sea King helicopters.
Over the past three decades, Godavari has successfully been deployed in
numerous operations including Operation Jupiter 1988 (Sri Lanka),
Operation Shield and Operation Bolster 1994 (de-induction of Indian
Army from Somalia) and Patrol of Gulf of Aden (PoG) 2009 and 2011
(anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden).
sources: bs.
C.K. Nayudu award for Kirmani

Former India stumper Syed Kirmani has been chosen for the prestigious
Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award for 2015.
Kirmani has served as chairman of the senior national selection
committee and vice-president of the Karnataka State Cricket
Association (KSCA) during his long four-and-a-half decade contribution
to the game.
Kirmani is also a Padma Shri awardee.
Background:
The BCCI celebrates the birth centenary of Col. Cottari Kanakaiya
Nayudu, the country s first Test captain, by instituting an annual
Lifetime Achievement Award, to honour individuals for their
unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket, on and off the field.
The Award comprises a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs. 25 lakhs.
sources: the hindu.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Good Governance Day to mark Vajpayees birthday
The nation is observing today (25th December) its second Good
Governance Day which is the birth anniversary of former prime minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Several functions are being organised across the country to mark the
day.
The first Good Governance Day was observed by the Union government on
25th December, 2015.
sources: the hindu.
First cable-stayed bridge in north India opens in Jammu and

Kashmir
North Indias first cable-stayed bridge the fourth of its kind in the
country that will provide close connectivity among the three states of
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab was thrown open to
traffic recently.
Details:
The bridge named is Atal Setu. It is constructed on river Ravi at
Basholi.
Described as an engineering marvel, the Basohli bridge is the fourth of
its kind in India. The other three cable-stayed bridges are Hooghly
bridge in Kolkata, Naini bridge in Allahabad and Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link
in Mumbai, officials said.
The bridge is strategically important from the defence point of view as
well. With the bridge thrown open, connectivity and tourism among the
three states are expected to improve.
The work on the maiden cable-stay bridge in Jammu and Kashmir
started in September 2011 on the demand of people of Basohli where
over 22 villages were submerged in water and evacuated to other places
after the construction of Ranjit Sagar dam.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
The 592-metre span bridge was constructed by Border Roads
Organization (BRO) at a cost of Rs 145 crore. It is a joint venture of
Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) and SP Singla
Construction group.
sources: toi.
Ramakrishna Mission-UNESCO establish official ties

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) has established an official relationship with the Ramakrishna
Mission in the areas of inter-cultural dialogue, social cohesion and for
promoting peace and non-violence.
The bonding between UNESCO and the over 100-year old Ramakrishna
Mission started in 2002 with the former funding certain projects.
In 2012, the UNESCO set up a chair on Inclusive Adapted Physical
Education and Yoga at the Coimbatore campus of Vivekananda
University.
The UNESCO has found common features with the Ramakrishna
Mission in many respects.
About UNESCO:
It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
Founded in 1945, the UNESCOs mission is to contribute to building of
peace, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and
intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture,
communication and information.
It is the heir of the League of Nations International Committee on
Intellectual Cooperation.
It has 195 member states and nine associate members.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Microsoft signs MoU with AP govt
The Andhra Pradesh state Government has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft India to improve access, deployment
and use of information technology and communication (ICT) to offer better
citizen services and drive digital inclusion.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu and Microsoft India CEO Satya
Nadella.
Highlights of the MoU:
According to the MoU, Microsoft India will provide technical
knowledge to Andhra Pradesh Government.
It will support Andhra Pradesh Government in building three proof-of-
concept (PoC) solutions in the fields of education, agriculture and
eCitizen services with the use of methods such as Microsoft Azure
Machine Learning and Advanced Visualization method.
It will use the lab method for data gathering, analysis, predictive
analysis and policy planning in Andhra Pradesh.
It will also engage and train key IT executives of Andhra Pradesh
Government on Microsoft technologies such as Cloud, Mobility and
Microsoft Technology stack in the support of initiative taken by Andhra
Pradesh Government for Cloud adoption and improve citizen services.
sources: the hindu, bs.
Nagi Day Celebrated by the Army

The 44th Nagi Day was recently celebrated at Sriganganagar Military
Station and Nagi (a small village located in Sri Karanpur close to
International Boundary) in memory of gallant soldiers of the Indian Army
who laid down their lives for the Nation during the famous Battle of Nagi
on 27-28 Dec 1971.
The Battle of Nagi was fought ten days after announcement of the
ceasefire of Indo-Pak war wherein brave action by Indian soldiers at
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Nagi thwarted the nefarious designs of Pakistan Army to capture Indian
territory in Village Nagi of Karanpur Tehsil.
sources: pib.
Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhari given Jnanpith Award for

2015
Noted Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhari has been conferred with
Indias the highest literary honour, the Jnanpith Award for 2015.
Chaudhari, whose most noted works include novels Amruta and
Uparvas, has become the 56th writer and fourth Gujarati literary
artist to receive the prestigious award.
Gujaratis who have won the award before Chaudhari were poet
Umashankar Joshi (1967), novelist Pannalal Patel (1985) and poet
Rajendra Shah (2001).
Chaudhari has received the Sahitya Akademi Award (1977) for his novel
trilogy Uparvas. He received the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1975
and the Munshi Award in 1997. He also received the Sauhard Samman
from Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthaan for contribution to Hindi
literature in 1990, Narmad Award in 2010, and the Uma-Snehrashmi
Prize and Ranjitram Gold Medal for creative writing in 1975.
Jnanpith Award:
The Jnanpith Award is one of the prestigious literary honours in the
country. The award was instituted in 1961.
Eligibility: Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages
of India is eligible for the honour.
Prior to 1982, the awards were given for a single work by a writer; since
then, the award has been given for a lifetime contribution to Indian
literature.
Seven women writers have won the award so far.
sources: the hindu.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Maiden Attempt Barak 8 Missile
India has successfully test-fired a long-range surface-to-air missile, jointly
developed with Israel, from its warship in its maiden attempt. With this,
India joined a select group of countries which has such an anti-air warfare
capability for their navies.
The Barak 8 missile fired by the INS Kolkata on the western seaboard
successfully intercepted an aerial target at extended ranges.
Factsheet:
LRSAM is also called Barak 8 missile in Israel which in Hebrew
language means Lightning.
Barak 8 is being considered to be a major asset for the Indian Navy
because it would add a potent system designed to destroy any anti-ship
missile launched by Pakistani or Chinese Navy.
Key to Barak 8s ability to intercept incoming missiles is Israel-made
MF-STAR radar system, which is capable of simultaneously tracking
hundreds of airborne targets to a range of more than 250 kilometers.
The Barak-8 has been designed to defend against a variety of short-to-
long-range airborne threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters,
drones and projectiles.
The LRSAM programme consists of missiles, weapon control system,
MFSTAR (radar), vertical launcher unit and two-way data link.
The LRSAM system has been jointly developed by the Defence Research
and Development Organization (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace
Industries Ltd.(IAI), Israel.
sources: the hindu, drdo.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events
Trivia:
Merriam-Webster has picked a small but powerful suffix as word of the
year ism. The top isms to earn high traffic spikes and big bumps in
lookups on the dictionary companys website in 2015 over the year before
are socialism, fascism, racism, feminism, communism, capitalism and
terrorism.
DECEMBER-2015
Current Events

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Contents

12th Century monument resurrected from ruins

Paper 1 Topic: communalism & secularism.

Topic: Social issues (Prelims)

RK Mathur set to be new Chief Information

Paper 2 Topic: river water disputes.

No change in State share of Krishna water, SC told

Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Southern Zonal Council

They are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation

CBDT ups monetary limit for court appeal by I-T

Notice issued to govt. on NHRC vacancies

FSSAI sets up 9 panels to strengthen food regulatory

Atomic Energy Bill 2015 introduced in Lok Sabha

Real Estate Regulatory Authority on anvil

Cabinet Gives Nod To Bill On National Waterways

Supreme Court upholds Haryana panchayat law

One-man commission on OROP appointed

Lok Sabha passes Atomic Energy Bill 2015

Angry SC takes extraordinary step of appointing Uttar

Lok Sabha Passes Arbitration and Reconciliation

Permission no longer needed to buy farm land

Textiles Minister launches ERP system of NHDC

CBDT tells field officers to finish MAT assessments for

Goa invokes ESMA as lifeguards go on strike

18 States agree to revoke no detention policy in RTE

Cabinet clears amended textile scheme

Paper 2 Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population

$1.5-bn WB loan for Swachh Bharat

Paper 2 Topic: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for

Atal Pension Yojana likely to miss December target

RS to take up Juvenile Bill

Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social

India launches initiative to boost higher education

Anti-dengue vaccine brings hope

Karnataka has highest stillbirth rate

Apex court upholds curbs on serving liquor in Kerala

Paper 2 Topic: Poverty and developmental issues.

Paper 2 Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and

Adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2015

Paper 2 Topic: challenges of corruption.

Paper 2 Topic: Role of civil services in a democracy.

Paper 2 Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.

Government pitches for global north-south corridor

Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements

Protocol between Government of India and the

India may ratify WTO trade facilitation pact

India to host Heart of Asia conference in 2016

India signs taxation MoU with South Korea

Historic Paris climate pact puts world on green path

India Business Card for SAARC trade

Memorandum of Understanding between India and

Memorandum of Understanding in energy saving and

Model Text for the Indian Bilateral Investment

UNSC adopts resolution to cut off funding to ISIS,

UN Security Council agrees on Syria plan

US Senate passes IMF reform in favour of emerging

Seychelles committed to Indian naval base

Paper 2 Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing

China adopts tough anti-terror law

Paper 2 Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora,

Afghanistans WTO membership approved after 11 years

Singapore pips Mauritius as Indias top FDI source

RBI links lending rates to loan tenor