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Paper 2:
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
The government will soon start investigating the issue of restaurants serving food and drinks with liquid nitrogen in it.
Background:
Liquid nitrogen also has an expansion ratio of 1:694 at 20 degree Celsius, meaning one litre of liquid nitrogen
at 20 degree Celsius can expand to 694 litres of nitrogen gas.
It is scientifically known as LN2 and is a coloured, odourless, non-inflammable gas. It is a cryogen, which
means it is used to create extremely low temperatures. It has a low boiling point of -196 degree Celsius. The gas is
so cold that it is capable of rapid freezing any living tissue coming in contact with it.
02/08/2017 Insights Daily Current Affairs, 01 Aug 2017 - INSIGHTS
Since past few years, liquid nitrogen is being extensively used by restaurants and food industries to prepare frozen
desserts like ice creams, which can be created a moment before serving on the table. It cools any substance
immediately. The rapidity of cooling is also responsible for smaller ice crystals which gives a smooth texture to the
ice cream.
Recently, it is also being popular in preparing cocktails, as it can immediately chills glasses of ingredients. It also
adds a smoking effect to the drink.
Liquid nitrogen is permitted as an additive in frozen food as per the guidelines of the national regulatory body Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). However, when it comes to the use of liquid nitrogen it is a gray
area. There is no clear-cut guideline for it and generally it is considered to be a novel technique, which can be used
by food business operators.
Sources: pib.
The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, providing for setting up of a National Commission for Backward
Classes, was recently passed by the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was passed after dropping Clause 3.
Clause 3 pertains to the insertion of a new article 338B about the constitution and powers of the National
Commission for Backward Classes.
Background:
The bill is meant to upgrade the Backward Classes Commission from a statutory body to a constitutional
body, which will give it powers equal to a court to summon people and inquire into incidents of violence and
discrimination against backward classes.
Way ahead:
02/08/2017 Insights Daily Current Affairs, 01 Aug 2017 - INSIGHTS
The amended bill will now have to be returned to the Lok Sabha
for its fresh approval. The Lower House had already passed the
bill but in the Upper House it had been referred to a Select
Committee as the Opposition had wanted more scrutiny. The
Constituent amendment bills passage requires two-third
majority of those present and voting.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
Ahead of the festive seasons of Dussehra and Deepavali, the Supreme Court has prohibited the use of five
chemicals, labelled as toxic by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in the manufacture of firecrackers.
The banned chemicals include antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead in any form whatsoever.
The responsibility to ensure compliance particularly in Sivakasi is given to the Petroleum and Explosive
Safety Organisation (PESO).
Background:
The order came after the court heard the submissions from
officials of the CPCB and Petroleum and Explosive Safety
Organisations (PESO) Firework Research and Development
Centre at Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu.
About PESO:
Pakistan is yet to award the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India and it maintains a negative list of 1,209
items which are not permitted to be imported from India. The neighbouring country allows only 137 products to be
exported from India through Wagah/Attari border land route.
Background:
One such exemption is the right to engage in Free Trade Agreements. This means members can participate
in regional trade agreements or free trade agreements where there is discrimination between member
countries and non member countries.
Another exemption is that members can give developing countries special and differential treatment like
greater market access. This special concession are in different forms like reduced tariff rates from developing
country imports, concessions that allows developing countries to give subsidies to their production sectors
etc.
In literal explanation, MFN doesnt mean preferential treatment. Instead it means non-discriminatory trade that
ensures that the country receiving MFN status will not be in a disadvantageous situation compared to the granters
02/08/2017 Insights Daily Current Affairs, 01 Aug 2017 - INSIGHTS
other trade partners. When a country receives MFN status, it is expected to raise trade barriers and decrease tariffs.
It is also expected to open up the market to trade in more commodities and free flow of goods.
MFN essentially guarantees the most favourable trade conditions between two countries. These terms include the
lowest possible trade tariffs, the least possible trade barriers and very crucial to trade relations highest import
quotas. The disclaimer only requires equal treatment to all Most Favoured Nations.
Sources: et.
Paper 3:
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,
development and employment.
Five lakh businesses have opted for the GST composition scheme, which allows them to pay taxes at a
concessional rate and makes compliance easy.
Sources: et.
02/08/2017 Insights Daily Current Affairs, 01 Aug 2017 - INSIGHTS
The government has asked the think-tank NITI Aayog to study the automobile standards developed in China to use
methanol as an alternative fuel. Experts believe that Methanol economy will help India use its vast reserves of coal
while driving import substitution.
The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved seven projects worth Rs 425
crore in the sector of sewage infrastructure, Ghat development and research.
All the six projects will be provided with Operation and Maintenance cost for 15 years by Central government
and 100% central assistance.
02/08/2017 Insights Daily Current Affairs, 01 Aug 2017 - INSIGHTS
It now works under the control of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation. The aim is to clean Ganga and its tributaries in a comprehensive manner.
NMCG has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee.
Both of them are headed by Director General, NMCG. Executive Committee has been authorized to accord
approval for all projects up to Rs.1000 crore. Similar to structure at national level, State Programme
Management Groups (SPMGs) acts as implementing arm of State Ganga Committees.
The Director General(DG) of NMCG is Additional Secretary in Government of India. For effective
implementation of the projects under the overall supervision of NMCG, the State Level Program Management
Groups (SPMGs) are, also headed by senior officers of the concerned States.
Sources: pib.