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Smart NewsNovember 2019

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1 | © Smart Leaders IAS SMART NEWS – November 2019

Index

S.NO. INDEX PG.NO.

INDIA

1. Sarkaria Commission recommendations & discretionary powers of Governor

3

2. Abrogation of Article 370 & formation of UT of Ladakh & J.K 4

3. Ayodhya Verdict 7

4. SPG, NSG, Z, Y, X and Black Cat categories of security cover for VIPs 8

5. FAME-2 9

6. RTI Act & CJI 11

7. Sabarimala verdict 13

8. Wastelands Atlas of INDIA 2019 15

9. Excavations @ Keeladi & Gottiprolu 16

10. National Register of Citizens (NRC) 17

11. BIS, WQR (Water Qualilty Report), Jal Jeevan Mission 20

12. Tribal Legislations, constitutional Provisions, Tribal Welfare Schemes, PVTG (particulary vulunerable tribal group)

23

13. 11th & 12th schedule and quota system in Local administrative bodies. 26

14. Equal representation to all States in Rajya Sabha sought/Legislative council 28

15. Mahadei river, (Goa-Karnataka) – Inter State water disputes. 31

16. Minimum Wages Act 36

17. Patent Prosecution Highway programme 38

18. Rule 12 of Union Government’s transaction of business 41

INDIA & WORLD

1. Withdrawal of India from RCEP 42

2. Quad grouping & G4 47

3. Inventions that won Noble Prizes 49

4. World customs Organisation / HS code 50

5. UNESCO 52

6. Feni river & its significance 56

ECONOMY

1. International economic rating agencies & Moody’s India rating 57

2. Core Investment companies 58

3. Elephant Bonds 60

4. Disinvestment 61

5. Co-operative bank & PMC crisis 64

6. Egmont group, ‘No money for Terror’ conference & KYC AML (Anti Money Laundering) in India

69

2 | © Smart Leaders IAS SMART NEWS – November 2019

Index

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1. Fastag 70

2. CARTOSAT 71

3. Anti microbial resistance 72

4. Ultima Thule 73

SCHEMES

5. One Stop Centre Scheme 75

6. Intensified Mission Indradhanush 77

7. Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh 79

8. NISHTHA 79

9. Pradan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana 80

10. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY) 82

3| © Smart Leaders IAS SMART NEWS – November 2019

SMART NEWS

INDIA

1. SARKARIA COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCRETIONARY

POWERS OF GOVERNOR

Here bcos…..The existing Legislative Assembly will cease to exist post November

9, legal experts noted that there is no binding that the government should be in

place by that day.

What is the Governor’s role in such circumstances?

The Governor would be expected to go as per an order of preference set out in

the Sarkaria Commission recommendations, which have also been ratified by the

Supreme Court.

By the order of preference, the Governor can invite:

1. A pre-poll alliance of parties.

2. Invite the single largest party which stakes a claim to form government.

3. Invite a post-poll alliance of parties, with all the partners in the coalition

joining the government.

4. Invite a post-poll alliances of parties, with some becoming part of the

government and some supporting from outside.

The Governor can only summon the new House for the first sitting only after a

new government is sworn in and the Cabinet has suggested a suitable date. The

process of swearing-in of the newly elected members and appointment of the new

Speaker can be held thereafter.

What after swearing in?

Once any formation is sworn in, it will need to pass the floor test, which will

reveal whether the executive enjoys the confidence of the legislature as

mandated by the Constitution.In the floor test, the person sworn in as the CM

has to prove that he/she enjoys the confidence of the House. If the confidence

motion fails, the Chief Minister has to resign.If more than one person stake

claim to form the government and the majority is not clear, the Governor has the

powers to call a special session to assess who has the majority.The date for the

floor test is decided by the Governor in consultation with the new government.

If no government can be formed, is President’s rule likely?

Article 356 of the Constitution provides for the ‗imposition of President‘s Rule in

a state in case of failure of the constitutional machinery in the state‘.As per the

constitutional stipulation, it can be imposed in cases where the President, on


SMART NEWS

receipt of the report from the Governor of the state or otherwise, is satisfied that

a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on

in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

2. ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370 AND FORMATION OF UT OF LADAKH AND

J.K.

Here bcos…..In an announcement with massive repercussions for Jammu and

Kashmir, Home Minister Amit Shah announced in Rajya Sabha that the

government has repealed Article 370 of the Constitution which grants special

status to JandK. The government also decided to bifurcate the state into two

Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and

Ladakh, which will be without a legislature.

What is article 370 Guaranteed By the Constitution of India?

The Article 370 is defined under Part XXI of the Indian Constitution which deals

with Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.Though in this part (Part

XXI) special provision are given to the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland,

Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa, the special

power and provision of J and K are nowhere when compared.

Article 370 restricts Indian parliament to make any laws for the state and it can

only preside over the subjects like Defence, External Affairs, and

communication.Laws related to union and concurrent list in J and K can be

passed only after consultation with the state government.

Brief Background of Article 370:

Article 370 of the Indian constitution is an article that gives autonomous status

to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.The article is drafted in Part XXI of the

Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.The Constituent

Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, after its establishment, was empowered to

recommend the articles of the Indian constitution that should be applied to the

state or to abrogate Article 370 altogether.After the JandK Constituent Assembly

later created the state‘s constitution and dissolved itself without recommending

the abrogation of Article 370, the article was deemed to have become a

permanent feature of the Indian Constitution.While the article was created to

give temporary, transitional, special provisions, it has become a Permanent

feature.


SMART NEWS

What is Article 35A?

Article 35A is a provision incorporated in the

Constitution giving the Jammu and Kashmir

Legislature a carte blanche to decide who all are

‗permanent residents‘ of the State and confer on them

special rights and privileges in public sector jobs,

acquisition of property in the State, scholarships and

other public aid and welfare.The provision mandates

that no act of the legislature coming under it can be challenged for violating the

Constitution or any other law of the land.

How did it come about?

Article 35A was incorporated into the

Constitution in 1954 by an order of the

then President Rajendra Prasad on the

advice of the Jawaharlal Nehru

Cabinet.The controversial Constitution

(Application to Jammu and Kashmir)

Order of 1954 followed the 1952 Delhi

Agreement entered into between Nehru and the then Prime Minister of Jammu

and Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah, which extended Indian citizenship to the ‗State

subjects‘ of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Presidential Order was issued under Article 370 (1) (d) of the Constitution.

This provision allows the President to make certain ―exceptions and

modifications‖ to the Constitution for the benefit of ‗State subjects‘ of Jammu

and Kashmir.So, Article 35A was added to the Constitution as a testimony of the

special consideration the Indian government accorded to the ‗permanent

residents‘ of Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard, Union Minister for Home

Affairs, Shri Amit Shah, introduced two bills and two resolutions regarding

Jammu and Kashmir (JandK).

These are as follows:

a. Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 {Ref. Article

370(1) of the Constitution of India} – issued by President of India to supersede

the 1954 order related to Article 370.

b. Resolution for repel of Article 370 of the Constitution of India {Ref. Article 370

(3)}.

Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019 {Ref. Article 3 of the

Constitution of India}. Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (2nd Amendment) Bill,

2019.


SMART NEWS

Key changes:

The President had used his powers under Article 370 to fundamentally alter the

provision, extending all Central laws, instruments and treaties to Kashmir.

However, the drastically altered Article 370 will remain on the statute

books.While the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature,

the one in Ladakh will not.The notification by the president has effectively

allowed the entire provisions of the Constitution, with all its amendments,

exceptions and modifications, to apply to the area of Jammu and Kashmir.The

Bill proposes wide powers to the Lieutenant Governor of the proposed Union

Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and makes it the ―duty‖ of the Chief Minister of

the Union Territory to ―communicate‖ all administrative decisions and proposals

of legislation with the LG. All Central laws and State laws of JandK would apply

to the new Union Territories of JandK and Ladakh.Assets and liabilities of JandK

and Ladakh would be apportioned on the recommendation of a Central

Committee within a year.Employees of State public sector undertakings and

autonomous bodies would continue in their posts for another year until their

allocations are determined.The police and public order is to be with the

Centre.The notification amends the expression ―Constituent Assembly‖,

contained in the proviso to clause (3) of Article 370, to mean ―Legislative

Assembly‖.

Legislative powers of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir:

The Legislative Assembly may make laws for the whole or any part of the Union

Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with respect to any of the matters enumerated

in the state list except on subjects ―public order‖ and ―police‖ which will remain

in the domain of the Centre vis-a-vis the LG.In case of inconsistencies between

laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislative Assembly, earlier law

shall prevail and law made by the Legislative Assembly shall be void. The role of

the Chief Minister will be to communicate to the L-G all decisions of the Council

of Ministers relating to the administration of affairs of the Union Territory and

proposals for legislation and to furnish such information relating to the

administration of affairs as the L-G may call for.

Role and powers of the Lieutenant Governor:

The President shall appoint the L-G under article 239.

The L-G will be assisted by advisors appointed by the Centre since the Union

Territory will not have a Legislative Assembly.

In the case of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the L-G shall ―act in

his discretion‖ on issues which fall outside the purview of powers conferred on


SMART NEWS

the Legislative Assembly, in which he is required to exercise any judicial

functions, and/or matters related to All India services and the Anti-Corruption

Bureau

The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the L-G who will also appoint other

ministers with the aid of the CM.

The L-G shall also administer the oath of office and secrecy to ministers and

the CM.

The L-G will have the power to promulgate ordinances which shall have the

same force and effect as an act of the Legislative Assembly assented by the L-

G.

3. AYODYA VERDICT

Here bcos……The Supreme Court in its recent Ayodhya verdict made mention of

the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which prohibits the

conversion of religious places of worship as it existed at the time of

Independence.

Significance of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991

The Act was passed in September 1991, over a year before the demolition of the

Babri Masjid (1992).

Section 3 of the Act bans the conversion of a place of worship or even a section

of it into a place of worship of a different religious denomination or of a different

segment of the same religious denomination.The Act also imposes a positive

obligation on the State to maintain the religious character of every place of

worship as it existed at the time of Independence.

This legislative obligation on the State to preserve and protect the equality of all

faiths is an essential secular feature and one of the basic features of the Indian

Constitution.

Exemption:

The disputed site at Ayodhya is exempted from the Act. Due to this exemption,

the trial in the Ayodhya case proceeded even after the enforcement of this law.

The Act also does not apply to any place of worship which is an ancient and

historical monument or an archaeological site covered by the Ancient

Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Penalty: Section 6 of the Act prescribes a punishment of maximum three-years

imprisonment along with a fine for contravening the provisions of the Act

Context: Term of current government in Maharashtra ends tomorrow.

It has been two weeks since the results of the Assembly election were

announced, but no party has staked claim to form a government.


SMART NEWS

4. SPG, NSG, Z, Y, X AND BLACK CAT CATEGORIES OF SECURITY COVER

FOR VIPs

Here bcos….The Centre withdraws the Gandhi family's Special Protection Group

(SPG) security cover. The Gandhi family -- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -- will continue to have Z-plus security cover.

SPG Act

After Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own security guards in 1984, the

Rajiv Gandhi government decided to create a special cadre of security personnel

for the Prime Minister.

In March 1985, following the recommendations of a committee set up by the

Home Ministry, a special unit was created for this purpose under the Cabinet

Secretariat. This unit, initially called the Special Protection Unit, was renamed

as Special Protection Group in April 1985.

Subsequently, the Parliament passed The Special Protection Group (SPG) Act,

which was notified in June 1988 "to provide for the constitution and regulation

of an armed force of the Union for providing proximate security to the Prime

Minister of India and for matters connected therewith".The SPG Act defined

"proximate security" as "protection provided from close quarters, during journey

by road, rail, aircraft, watercraft or on foot or any other means of transport" and

to "include the places of functions, engagements, residence or halt".SPG

protection was extended, apart from the Prime Minister, to "former Prime

Ministers of India and members of their immediate families" through an

amendment in the Act in the aftermath of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in

May 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi had lost SPG cover after being defeated in the Lok Sabha elections

of 1989. The Act was subsequently amended again in 1994 and 1999. In a case

connected with the appearance of PV Narasimha Rao, who had then recently

demitted office as Prime Minister, before a Delhi court, a Supreme Court bench

of Justices M M Punchhi and KT Thomas ruled that the SPG Act was "very

special in nature" and defined the scope of ‗proximate security‘.

The court said: "…The will of the Parliament reflected in the Act is bold,

unequivocal, comprehensive and wide in nature, no-where permitting

withdrawal, limiting or proscribing of their proximate security statutorily

conferred on the protectee… The expression ‗proximate security‘ has to be given

a purposive meaning, for, it could never have been intended by the Parliament

that security would be restricted to places of functions, engagements, residence

or halt on resorting to a literal meaning…The SPG protective cover…goes with


SMART NEWS

the person of the protectee as the shadow would a man. It is for the SPG to

devise how to render meaningful protection to the protectee…" (Commissioner of

Police, Delhi and Anr Vs. Registrar, Delhi High Court 1996) SPG personnel can

be seen around the Prime Minister of India at all times. They wear safari suits in

the summer and dark formal jackets in the winter along with reflective

sunglasses and have a communication earpiece plugged in. Their weapons are

often concealed.

Categories of security

Besides the SPG, VIPs in India are protected by other security forces as well. The

levels of security cover are determined by the threat perception around the

individual.The highest level of security cover is the Z-plus category, followed by

Z, Y, and X categories. The higher the level of cover, the larger the number of

personnel protecting the individual. Roughly 24-36 personnel with automatic

weapons are deployed for Z-plus category protectees and 16-20 personnel guard

Z-category protectees.The elite ‗Black Cat‘ commandos of the NSG are deployed

to protect VIPs for whom the threat perception is the highest.

5. FAME-2

Here bcos…NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) release Technical

Analysis of FAME-II Scheme. Report looks at potential saving in areas of energy,

oil and carbon emissions.

Key highlights from the report:

Effects of FAME II will go beyond the

vehicles that are eligible under the

FAME II.

There is considerable energy and CO2

savings associated with the two, three,

and four-wheeled vehicles and buses

covered by FAME II over their lifetime,

as well as the potential savings

associated with greater adoption levels

by 2030.

The electric buses covered under FAME

II will account for 3.8 billion vehicle

kilometers travelled (e-vkt) over their lifetime.

In order to capture the potential opportunity in 2030, batteries must remain

a key focal point as they will continue to be the key cost driver of EVs.


SMART NEWS

Vehicles eligible under FAME II scheme can cumulatively save 5.4 million

tonnes of oil equivalent over their lifetime worth Rs 17.2 thousand crores.

EVs sold through 2030 could cumulatively save 474 million tonnes of oil

equivalent (Mtoe) worth INR 15 lakh crore and generate net CO2 savings of

846 million tonnes over their operational lifetime.

What are the salient features of FAME 2 scheme?

Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, or FAME 2

scheme aims to boost electric mobility and increase the number of electric

vehicles in commercial fleets.

Target: The outlay of ₹10,000 crore

has been made for three years till

2022 for FAME 2 scheme.

The government will offer the

incentives for electric buses, three-

wheelers and four-wheelers to be

used for commercial purposes.Plug-in hybrid vehicles and those with a sizeable

lithium-ion battery and electric motor will also be included in the scheme and

fiscal support offered depending on the size of the battery.

How will FAME 2 scheme help improve charging infrastructure?

The centre will invest in setting up charging stations, with the active

participation of public sector units and private players.It has also been proposed

to provide one slow-charging unit for every electric bus and one fast-charging

station for 10 electric buses.Projects for charging infrastructure will include

those needed to extend electrification for running vehicles such as pantograph

charging and flash charging.

FAME 2 will also encourage interlinking of renewable energy sources with

charging infrastructure.

Background:

FAME India is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Main thrust

of FAME is to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies. FAME focuses

on 4 areas i.e. Technology development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and

Charging Infrastructure.


SMART NEWS

Way ahead:

India needs auto industry‘s active participation to ease electric mobility

transition. The auto and battery industries could collaborate to enhance

customer awareness, promote domestic manufacturing, promote new business

models, conduct RandD for EVs and components, consider new business models

to promote EVs.Government should focus on a phased manufacturing plan to

promote EVs, provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for phased manufacturing

of EVs and batteries. Different government departments can consider a bouquet

of potential policies, such as congestion pricing, ZEV credits, low

emission/exclusion zones, parking policies, etc. to drive adoption of EVs.

6. RTI ACT and CJI

Here Bcos…. The Supreme Court has ruled that

the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a

public authority under the Right to Information

(RTI) Act, 2005.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief

Justice Ranjan Gogoi gave the ruling.

Background:

Previously, the Delhi High Court judgment which

ruled that office of the Chief Justice comes under

the purview of RTI.

A plea filed was filed by Supreme Court Secretary-General challenging Delhi

High Court‘s order.

The concept of judicial independence is not judge’s personal privilege but

responsibility cast on the person, the HC had said in its ruling.

Highlights of the Ruling:

The Supreme Court is a ―public authority‖ and the office of the CJI is part

and parcel of the institution. Hence, if the Supreme Court is a public

authority, so is the office of the CJI.

The judiciary cannot function in total insulation as judges enjoy a

constitutional post and discharge public duty.

However, Right to Privacy is an important aspect and has to be balanced

with transparency while deciding to give out information from the office of

the Chief Justice of India.

o RTI cannot be used as a tool of surveillance and that judicial

independence has to be kept in mind while dealing with transparency.


SMART NEWS

On the issue related to the appointment of judges, the Supreme Court held

that only the names of the judges recommended by the Collegium for

appointment can be disclosed, not the reasons.

Outcome of the Ruling

The office of the CJI will now entertain RTI applications.

Under the RTI Act, 2005, every public authority has to provide information to

persons requesting for the information under the Act.

Information includes any material in any form, including records,

documents, memos, e-mails, etc.

o Public Authority includes the body constituted by or under the

Constitution. Article 124 of the Constitution deals with the establishment

of the Supreme Court of India.

Who is Public Authority?

As defined in Section 2 (h) “public authority” means any authority or body

or institution of self Government established or constituted –

By or under the constitution

By any other law made by Parliament

By any other law made by State Legislature

By notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and

includes any

o body owned, controlled or substantially financed

o non-Government organisation substantially financed, directly or

indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government‖

RTI Act:

Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen

requests for government information. It replaces the erstwhile Freedom of

information Act, 2002.

The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India

Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a

―public authority‖ (a body of Government or ―instrumentality of State‖) which

is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days.

Way forward

The Ruling is an example for other bodies such as political parties, number of

schools, trusts and public-private partnerships who resist categorisation as

public authorities under the Act.


SMART NEWS

7. SABARIMALA CASE:

Here bcos…The Supreme Court has referred to a 7 judge- bench a clutch of

review petitions challenging its September 2018 verdict allowing entry of

women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple.

BACKGROUND:

Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples

in India, located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The temple is managed

by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Lord Ayyappan is worshipped as a „Naishtika Bramhachari‟ or a celibate for

life. Therefore, as per a notification by the Devaswom Board that manages the

temple, women belonging to the menstruating age are not permitted to enter

the temple.

The Supreme Court verdict on September 28, 2018, :

It paved the way for the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa

temple at Sabarimala in Kerala.

The five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its

4:1 verdict, said banning the entry of women into the shrine is gender

discrimination and the practice violates the rights of Hindu women. It

said religion is a way of life basically to link life with divinity.

The CJI said devotion cannot be subjected to discrimination and patriarchal

notion cannot be allowed to trump equality in devotion.

Questions before the larger bench:

1. Whether a court can probe if a practice is essential to a

religion or should the question be left to the respective

religious head?

2. Should ―essential religious practices” be afforded

constitutional protection under Article 26 (freedom

to manage religious affairs)?

3. What is the ―permissible extent‖ of judicial recognition a

court should give to PILs filed by people who do not belong to the religion

of which practices are under the scanner?

Restrictions on women in religious places are not limited to Sabarimala alone

and are prevalent in other religions too. The issue of entry of women into

mosques and Agiyari could also be taken by the larger bench

Constitutional vs Cultural dimensions:


SMART NEWS

The case has constitutional as well as cultural dimensions. Displaying great

cultural sensitivity, a division Bench of the Kerala High Court had, back in

1991, pointed out that “age regulation” in Sabarimala is not

unconstitutional.

The supporters of Temple ban say that:

1. Sabarimala was a separate religious cult with its own rules.

2. The restriction finds its source in the legend that the Sabarimala temple

deity – Swami Ayyappa – is a „Naishtika Brahmachari‟ – and should not

be disturbed.

3. This particular deity system is Tantric in nature and not Vedic.

4. In the Tantric system, the temple is not a prayer hall but an energy centre;

the deity is not God who is omnipresent, but a source of energy

(chaithanya) in a particular spiritual space.

5. Uniqueness is the soul of every temple. Lakhs of women congregate in

Sabarimala every year. There is only one limitation: they should not be

between 10 and 50, because of the specific nature of

the Prathishta(idol) and the vow celibacy associated with the idol.

Why does preventing women’s entry to the temple discriminatory in

nature?

Preventing women‘s entry to the Sabarimala temple with an irrational and

obsolete notion of “purity” clearly against the equality clauses in the

Constitution. It denotes a patriarchal and partisan approach.

The entry prohibition takes away the woman‘s right against discrimination

guaranteed under Article 15(1) of the Constitution.

It curtails her religious freedom assured by Article 25(1).

Prohibition of women‟s entry to the shrine solely on the basis of

womanhood and the biological features associated with womanhood is

derogatory to women, which Article 51A (e) aims to renounce.

Court determining validity of religious claims:

Over the years, courts have intervened in religious matters backed by Article

25(2) of the constitution.

The courts have put in place what is known as the ―essential practices”

test, used to decide a variety of cases. The court has used this test to decide

which religious practices are eligible for constitutional protection. And to

judge the extent of independence that can be enjoyed by religious

denominations.


SMART NEWS

Article 25(2) in The Constitution Of India 1949

(2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or

prevent the State from making any law

(a) regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular

activity which may be associated with religious practice;

Way ahead:

This issue raises serious questions about faith and practices of a religious

denomination or sect. Therefore, it is time to evolve a judicial policy to do

substantial and complete justice.From the abolition of Sati to temple entry

proclamation to the abolition of untouchability, reforms have been judicial

or legislative.

In April 2016, the Shani Shingnapur temple, which had barred women from

entering its core area for over 400 years, allowed women to pray inside the

temple following the court‘s orders.

8. WASTELAND ATLAS 2019:

Here Bcos….Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has released the

fifth edition of Wastelands Atlas (2019).

It has been prepared by the Department of Land Resources (Ministry of

Rural Development) in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing

Centre (NRSC), Department of Space.

Significance of Wasteland Atlas

This is significant as it takes into account 8 MHa of unmapped area

of Jammu and Kashmir (JandK) for the first time.

Unprecedented pressure on the land beyond its carrying capacity is

resulting in the degradation of lands in the country.

Therefore, robust geospatial information on wastelands will be helpful in

converting the wastelands for productive use through various land

development programmes.

Key Points

1. Spatial extent of wastelands in India is 55.76 Mha (16.96 per cent of

geographical area of the country i.e. 328.72 Mha) for the year 2015-16 as

compared to 56.60 Mha (17.21 per cent) in the year 2008-09.

2. As per the Atlas, during this period 1.45 Mha of wastelands are converted

into non wastelands categories.

3. A reduction in the wasteland area was observed in the categories of land

with dense scrub, marshy land, sandy areas, and degraded pastures.


SMART NEWS

4. The wastelands have undergone a positive change in the states of

Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Madhya

Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal.

5. The majority of wastelands have been changed into categories

of croplands, plantation and industrial areas.

Wastelands are a barren and uncultivated land lying unproductive or which is

not being utilized to its potential.

o It includes degraded forests, overgrazed pastures, drought-struck pastures,

eroded valleys, hilly slopes, waterlogged marshy lands, barren land, etc.

9. EXCAVATIONS @ KEEZHADI AND GOTTIPROLU :

According to a report published by the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department

(TNAD), the cultural deposits unearthed during the excavations at

site Keeladi located in the Sivaganga district could be dated to a period between

the 6th century BC and the 1st century AD.

Key Findings

The title of the report was ‗Keeladi-An Urban Settlement of Sangam Age on

the Banks of River Vaigai.‘

o The carbon dating test confirmed the date of the Tamil-Brahmi script is

dated to the year 580 BC.

The results suggest that the second urbanization (the first being the Indus

Valley Civilization) of Vaigai plains happened in Tamil Nadu during the

6th century BC.

o The contemporary of which in the Gangetic plains was the Iron Age and the

period of the rise of various Heterodox sects.

Skeletal fragments of Cow/Ox and Buffalo, Sheep and Goat, Nilgai and

Blackbuck, Wild boar, and Peacock suggest that the society in Keeladi had

used animals predominantly for agricultural purposes.

And these animals were predominantly used for agricultural purposes. But

there was no trace of big animals like elephant

Pottery specimens from Keeladi confirmed that the water containers and

cooking vessels were shaped out of locally available raw materials

NO objects of worship was found

GOTTIPROLU:

Excavation by Archaeological Survey of India in Gottiprolu, Andhra

Pradesh indicate it as a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period.


SMART NEWS

Where is it?

Gottiprolu lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi about

eighty kilometers from Tirupati and Nellore.

What has been unearthed?

1. Among many other antiquities unearthed

are one life size Vishnu sculpture and a wide

variety of pottery of the early centuries of

current era.

2. The excavation revealed the presence of

brick-built structures in different sizes and

forms.

3. The available brick sizes are comparable

with the Satavahana / Ikshvaku

period structures in Krishna valley.

4. On the basis of the brick size and associated findings t0hey can be placed

anywhere between 2nd – 1st century BCE or little later (nearly 2000 years

old).

5. Other interesting antiquity retrieved is the molded female terracotta figurine

with two hands lifted upwards.

6. Other major retrieved antiquities unearthed are copper and lead coins, iron

spear head, stone celts, terracotta beads, ear stud in semi precious stone

and hopscotches.

10. NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS (NRC)

Here Bcos…..The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for compulsory registration of

every citizen of India and issuance of National Identity Card to him. The

Citizenship Rules, 2003 framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955 prescribe the

manner of preparation of the National Register of Citizens. There is a special

provision under the Rules to prepare National Register of Citizens (NRC) in

Assam which is application based and distinct from the rest of India where the

process is enumeration based.

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register containing the names of

all genuine Indian citizens. It was first prepared in 1951.The 1951 NRC list has

been updated for Assam, which has had a longstanding foreigner problem, to

remove illegal migrants and save further inflow.


SMART NEWS

On 31st August, the updated National Registry of Citizens was released in

Assam after a Supreme Court deadline. Of the 3.3 crore applicants, 3.11 crore

figured in the final citizens‘ list, while about 19 lakh residents were excluded.

This led to protests about an uncertain future of such a large number of people.

The government, however, has allayed all such fears, saying no person whose

name is not there in the final list will be detained till he / she exhausts all legal

remedies.

The excluded people have about 120 days to appeal against their

exclusion to the foreigner tribunals. To speed up the process 200 new tribunals

have been made functional in addition to the already existing. If they are not

satisfied with the tribunals, people can also move to high court and the Supreme

Court for redressal.

The NRC exercise is the biggest in India, carried out under the supervision of the

Supreme Court to weed out illegal immigrants, as well as their descendants,

settled illegally in India.

Does NRC guarantee citizenship?

No. The detection of foreigners by the Border Police is continuing whether their

suspects are included in the NRC or not.

Why was it updated?

The process of NRC update was taken up in Assam as per a Supreme Court

order in 2013. In order to wean out cases of illegal migration from Bangladesh

and other adjoining areas, NRC updation was carried out under The

Citizenship Act, 1955, and according to rules framed in the Assam Accord.

Why is March 24, 1971 the cut-off date?

There have been several waves of migration to Assam from Bangladesh, but the

biggest was in March 1971 when the Pakistan army crackdown forced many

to flee to India. The Assam Accord of 1985 that ended the six-year anti-

foreigners‘ agitation decided upon the midnight of March 24, 1971 as the cut-off

date.

Who is a citizen in Assam?The Citizenship Act of 1955 was amended after the

Assam Accord for all Indian-origin people who came from Bangladesh before

January 1, 1966 to be deemed as citizens. Those who came between January

1, 1966 and March 25, 1971 were eligible for citizenship after registering and

living in the State for 10 years while those entering after March 25, 1971, were

to be deported.Back in 1951, it had recorded 80 lakh citizens in the State. Since


SMART NEWS

then, the process of identification of illegal immigrants in Assam has been

debated and become a contentious issue in the State‘s politics. A PIL was filed in

the Supreme Court seeking the removal of ―illegal voters‖ from the electoral rolls

of Assam and the preparation of the NRC as required under the Citizenship Act,

1955 and its rules. A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation

of illegal immigrants was launched by the All Assam Students‘‘ Union (AASU) in

1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985.

NRC Verification:

● The process of NRC update was taken up in Assam as per a Supreme

Court order in 2013.

● It was done in order to wean out cases of illegal migration from

Bangladesh and other adjoining areas.

● NRC updation was carried out under The Citizenship Act, 1955, and

according to rules framed in the Assam Accord

● The verification involved house-to-house field verification, determination of

authenticity of documents, family tree investigations in order to rule out

bogus claims of parenthood and separate hearings for married

women.Assam Accord?

The Assam Accord (1985) was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed

between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam

Movement in New Delhi on 15 August 1985.

The accord brought an end to the Assam Agitation and paved the way for the

leaders of the agitation to form a political party and form a government in the

state of Assam soon after.

As per the Accord, those Bangladeshis who came between 1966 and 1971 will

be barred from voting for ten years. The Accord also mentions that the

international borders will be sealed and all persons who crossed over from

Bangladesh after 1971 are to be deported.

Though the accord brought an end to the agitation, some of the key clauses

are yet to be implemented, which has kept some of the issues festering.

Clause 6: Constitutional, legislature and administrative safeguards.

Clause 6: Protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity

and heritage of Assamese people.

Clause 7: Government renews commitment for economic development of

Assam.

Clause 7: Special emphasis on education and Science and Technology.


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Why a separate National Register of Citizens?

This is because of a history of migration.

During British rule, Assam was merged with Bengal Presidency for

administrative purpose.

From 1826 to 1947, the British continuously brought migrant workers to

Assam for cheap labour in tea plantations.

Two major waves of migration came after British rule. First after Partition,

from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

Then in the aftermath of the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

This eventually led to an agitation during 1979-85, led by the All Assam

Students‘ Union.

It culminated in the 1985 Assam Accord, under which illegal migrants were to

be identified and deported.

Community tension: The commission on integration and Cohesion

found that tension usually exist with the presence of high levels of

migration combine with other forms of social exclusion like poverty,

poor housing etc.

The illegal migrants there are also militants, who enter into Assam to carry

out the terrorist activities.

11. JAL JEEVAN MISSION, BIS

Here Bcos….The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public

Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has always exhorted providing quality

products to consumers which includes providing clean and safe drinking

water for all.

This is also in line with Jal Jeevan Mission, announced by Prime Minister Shri

Narendra Modi which aims to provide tap water to all households by 2024. In

order to ensure that clean and safe drinking water is provided to all,

Department of Consumer Affairs decided to undertake a study through the

Bureau of India Standards (BIS) on the quality of piped drinking water being

supplied in the country and also rank the States, Smart Cities and even Districts

based on the quality of tap water.

In the first phase, the samples of drinking water were drawn from various

locations across Delhi and in the second phase samples were drawn from 20

State capitals and sent for testing as per Indian Standard 10500:2012

(Specification for DrinkingWater) as set by the BIS. Tests were conducted on

various parameters such as Organoleptic and Physical Tests,Chemical test, Toxic


SMART NEWS

substances and Bacteriological tests in the first stage. A vast majority of the

samples have failed to comply with the requirements of IS 10500:2012 in one or

more parameters.

In Delhi, all the 11samples drawn from various places did not comply with

the requirements of the Indian Standardand failed on several parameters.

All the 10 samples drawn from Mumbai were found to comply with the

requirements. In the cities of Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Ranchi, Raipur,

Amravati and Shimla, one or more samples did not comply with the

requirements of the Standard and none of the samples drawn from 13 of the

State Capitals i.e. Chandigarh,Thiruvananthapuram, Patna, Bhopal, Guwahati,

Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Lucknow, Jammu, Jaipur, Dehradun, Chennai,

Kolkata complied with the requirements of the Indian Standard.

Addressing media after releasing the report, Shri Paswan said that all should get

clean drinking water and that is the objective of this activity. Shri Paswan

further added that in the third phase, samples from Capital cities of North

Eastern States and SmartCities identified by Ministry of Housing and Urban

Affairs have been drawn and are being tested. The result of these are expected by

15th January 2020. While in the fourth phase, it is proposed to test samples

drawn from all the district headquarters of the country and their testing is

planned to be completed by 15th August 2020.Shri Paswan also said that the

Union Government wants to make BIS Standards mandatory for Tap Water so as

to ensure quality drinking water for all households.

Under Jal Jeevan Mission, the government envisages renewed efforts to provide

water supply to every household by 2024.it comes under the MINISTRY OF JAL

SHAKTHI (is a ministry under Government of India which was formed in

May 2019 This was formed by merging of two ministries; Ministry of Water

Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of

Drinking Water and Sanitation.)

The Jal Jeevan Mission is set to be based on various water conservation

efforts like

point recharge,

desilting of minor irrigation tanks,

use of greywater for agriculture and source sustainability.

The Jal Jeevan Mission will converge with other Central and State Government

Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable water supply management

across the country.The Prime Minister appealed to all states to generate


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maximum community participation in the form of ‗Jan Andolan‘ to achieve the

target of functional household tap connection by 2024. A major step in this

direction has been the constitution of the Jal Shakti Mantralaya, integrating

the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga

Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Objective of JAL SHAKTI MANTRALAYA

This new Mantralaya will look at the management of our water resources and

water supply in an integrated and holistic manner, and will work with States to

ensure HarGharJal(piped water supply) to all rural households by 2024 under

the Jal Jeevan Mission.

ABOUT BIS :

BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016

for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking

and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or

incidental thereto.BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to

the national economy in a number of ways – providing safe reliable quality

goods; minimizing health hazards to consumers; promoting exports and imports

substitute; control over proliferation of varieties etc. through standardization,

certification and testing.

Keeping in view, the interest of consumers as well as the industry, BIS is

involved in various activities as given below:

Standards Formulation

Product Certification Scheme

Compulsory Registration Scheme

Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme

HallMarking Scheme

Laboratory Services Laboratory Recognition Scheme

Sale of Indian Standards

Consumer Affairs Activities

Promotional Activities Training Services,

National and International level Information Services


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12. TRIBAL LEGISLATIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, TRIBAL WELFARE

SCHEMES, PVTG (PARTICULARY VULUNERABLE TRIBAL GROUP)

Here Bcos….. The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on

25.6.2002), has laid down the modalities for determining the claims for inclusion

in, exclusion from and other modifications in the Orders specifying list of

Scheduled Tribes. According to these modalities, only those proposals which

have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government/

Union Territory Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of

India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes are to be

considered for amendment of legislation. All actions are taken with respect to

proposals of State/UT Governments for the communities demanding Scheduled

Tribes status as per the modalities.These modalities are being followed for

inclusion/exclusion of communities under ST list.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes:

the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is also a constitutional body

in the sense that it is directly established by Article 338-A of the

Constitution.The National Commission for SCs and STs came into being

consequent upon passing of the 65th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1990.In

1999, a new Ministry of Tribal Affairs was created to provide a sharp focus to the

welfare and development of the STs.89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003.

This Act further amended Article 338 and inserted a new Article 338-A in the

Constitution. The separate National Commission for STs came into existence in

2004. It consists of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and three other members.

They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Their

conditions of service and tenure of office are also determined by the President.

The Commission presents an annual report to the President. It can also submit a

report as and when it thinks necessary.The President also forwards any report of

the Commission pertaining to a state government to the state governor. The

governor places it before the state legislature, along with a memorandum

explaining the action taken on the recommendations of the Commission. The

Commission is vested with the power to regulate its own procedure.

The Central government and the state governments are required to consult the

Commission on all major policy matters affecting the STs.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups:

Tribal communities are often identified by some specific signs such as primitive

traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the


SMART NEWS

community at large and backwardness. Along with these, some tribal groups

have some specific features such as

● dependency on hunting,

● gathering for food,

● having pre-agriculture level of technology,

● zero or negative growth of population and extremely low level of literacy.

These groups are called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

In 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal

groups as a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups, while

in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of

75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and one Union

Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).

How are they identified :

Government of India designed a procedure to identify PVTGs. According to the

procedure, the state governments or UT governments submit proposals to the

Central Ministry of Tribal Welfare for identification of PVTGs. After ensuring the

criteria is fulfilled, the Central Ministry selects those groups as PVTGs.

The characteristics of PVTGs

In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a

separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the

Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

(PVTGs). PVTGs have some basic characteristics -they are mostly homogenous,

with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social institutes cast in a

simple mould, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a

slower rate of change etc.

Schemes for tribal groups

Entire Tribal welfare ministry is dedicated to the development of the Tribal

communities in the country. Ministry has various schemes like Tribal research

institutes which are spread across the country.

Tribal Research Institutes

These institutes are engaged in the work of providing planning inputs to the

State governments, conducting research and evaluation of studies and collection

of data in training and capacity building of the stakeholders.

TRIFED


SMART NEWS

Apart from the Tribal institute there are organizations which are working for the

livelihood of the Tribals such as TRIFED.

● It has been setup in 1987 and since then in various states TRIFED has

taken various activities such as Collection of Minor Forest Produce (Non-

timber forest produce) by ensuring remunerative price for their products.

● This helps farmers who are unaware of the real value and thereby they will

be protected from exploitation of middlemen and unscrupulous traders.

Forests Rights Act and PESA Act

Forests Rights Act, 2006 has given adequate ownership powers for the tribals. It

is a very path breaking Act in a sense that for the very first time it not only

recognised the traditional forest dwellers as the legitimate owners of the forest

land but also for the very first time made conservation accountable.PESA

(Panchatraj extension to scheduled areas) act 1996, provides Gram panchayat

the ownership and the authority to deal with forest produce and tribals issues.

Education of Tribals

Many girls‘ hostels and Ashrams have been setup in tribal dominated blocks for

the education of tribal children.

● Ekalavya model of residential schools are set up: Poorna Malavath who

climbed Everest is also from one of the tribal welfare schools.

Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana:

Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana has been launched by Central Government of India

for holistic development and welfare of tribal population of India.

● The scheme proposes to bring tribal population of the country at par with

other social groups and include them in overall progress of the nation.

● The government aims for holistic development of tribals by plugging in the

infrastructural gaps and lags in human development indices.

Tribal Handicrafts

Employment opportunities for the tribals are shrinking on the account of

shrinking forest cover.TRIFED has setup TribesIndia a chain of showrooms

where several categories of handicrafts are being marketed like tribal textiles,

tribal jewellery.TRIFED is also working on the capacity building of the tribes.


SMART NEWS

Challenges

Issuing of Forest Pattas:

Over 58 lakh people have applied for the forest pattas(for the ownership of forest

produce) but only just about 14 lakh pattas have been issued individually and

some more have been issued at the community levels.

Nitrition and health of the tribal community:

It was identified a while ago that sickle cell anaemia is one of the major diseases

afflicting the tribal community in the country and a lot of effort is being made to

improve the health status of the community.

Research by the Indian council of Medical research has further shown that the

scheduled tribal community is generally at the lower level of nutrition.

Tribal Housing

Most of the tribals live in single room houses and faced challenges in accessing

potable drinking water, Sanitation and electricity access.

13. 11TH AND 12TH SCHEDULE AND QUOTA SYSTEM IN LOCAL

ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES.

Here Bcos… which makes mandatory the presence of a person with disabilities in

all panchayats across the state.This will make it the only State to have such

members in all panchayats.

Compulsory (obligatory or mandatory) and voluntary (discretionary or optional)

provisions (features) of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) or the

Part IX of the Constitution:

A. Compulsory Provisions:

Reservation of seats (both members and chairpersons) for SCs and STs in

panchayats at all the three levels. Reservation of one-third seats (both members

and chairpersons) for women in panchayats at all the three levels.

B. Voluntary Provisions:

Providing reservation of seats (both members and chairpersons) for backward

classes in panchayats at any level.

The Chhattisgarh Cabinet has approved an amendment to the State Panchayati

Raj Act, 1993,

Key facts:

1. Every panchayat will now have differently abled members, either elected or

nominated.

2. If differently abled members are not elected through the electoral process,

then one member, either male or female, would be nominated as a panch.


SMART NEWS

3. And as for janpads and zilla panchayats, the State government would

nominate two such members, one male and one female, to them.

Constitutional rights of the disabled:

Under the Constitution the disabled have been guaranteed the following

fundamental rights:

1. The Constitution secures to the citizens including the disabled, a right of

justice, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equality of

status and of opportunity and for the promotion of fraternity.

2. Article 15(1) enjoins on the Government not to discriminate against any

citizen of India (including disabled) on the ground of religion, race, caste,

sex or place of birth.

3. Article 15 (2) States that no citizen (including the disabled) shall be

subjected to any disability, liability, restriction or condition on any of the

above grounds in the matter of their access to shops, public restaurants,

hotels and places of public entertainment or in the use of wells, tanks,

bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or

partly out of government funds or dedicated to the use of the general

public.

4. There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens (including the

disabled) in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office

under the State.

5. No person including the disabled irrespective of his belonging can be

treated as an untouchable. It would be an offence punishable in

accordance with law as provided by Article 17 of the Constitution.

6. Every person including the disabled has his life and liberty guaranteed

under Article 21 of the Constitution.

RAJASTHAN:

Under Articles 40 and 246(3), the Constitution grants powers to the states to

make laws to enable the functioning of self-government units.

Recently Rajasthan‘s newly elected government decided to get rid of the

minimum education qualification required to contest elections to panchayats

and urban bodies.

This criterion was introduced by the previous government. The criteria was: for

contesting municipal, zila parishad or panchayat samiti polls, the contestant

must have minimum qualification of secondary education (Class X).To contest

the sarpanch elections, the aspirant from general category must have passed

Class VIII and the SC/ST aspirant must have passed Class V.


SMART NEWS

14. EQUAL REPRESENTATION TO ALL STATES IN RAJYA SABHA

SOUGHT/LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

RAJYA SABHA AND REFORMS:

Context: On the occasion of its 250th session, Rajya Sabha MPs have made the

following suggestions:

1. Giving all States, irrespective of their population and size, an equal number

of seats in the Rajya Sabha.

2. All members, irrespective of their parties‘ strength in the House, the same

amount of time to speak in debates.

Need for Rajya Sabha:

1. The Upper House of the Indian Parliament traces its direct history to the

first bicameral legislature introduced in British India in 1919 as a

consequence of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.

2. Unlike the US Senate which ensures equal representation for all federal

units (each state having two representatives), India‟s Rajya Sabha does

have more members from populous states.

3. Even though Indian states are ‗mere administrative units‘ which don‘t

enjoy a constitutionally-assured permanence, their continued existence

over all these years and the constitutional separation of power has given

them the nature of autonomous units in their own spheres. Therefore, the

„state-wise‟ identity cannot be ruled out completely.

4. India‘s Rajya Sabha has equal powers to the Lok Sabha except for money

bills, where it has no jurisdiction.

Is the Rajya Sabha essential?

1. The contemporary argument against it comes from two primary angles:

2. The first one suggests that a Lok Sabha that has representation from

several regional parties more than adequately represents a federal country.

3. The second argument charges that the Rajya Sabha has become a haven

for losers in elections, crony capitalists, compromised journalists and party

fundraisers.

What can be done?

It is virtually impossible to abolish the Rajya Sabha without adopting a new

Indian Constitution. The bicameral nature of the Indian Parliament is likely to be

interpreted as a ―basic structure‖ of the Indian Constitution, rendering it

incapable of being amended. Even if this were to be tested, it would be ensnared


SMART NEWS

in a judicial process for a very long time. It is much more practical to try and

reform the Rajya Sabha than seeking to abolish it.

Do we really need a second chamber?

Arguments in favour and reasons:

Our constitution makers decided to have a second chamber not just for the

sake of ensuring checks and balances in the system, but also as a

mechanism devised to give the constituent States of the Union a say in

running the country‘s affairs.

A permanent Upper House is also a check against any abrupt changes in the

composition of the Lower House.

It is a much smaller body. A smaller body allows better discussions of key

bills.

It has continuity. Rajya Sabha is continuously elected every 2 years in a

staggered way. Unlike Lok Sabha, it cannot be dissolved by anyone. Thus, it

can carry out some administrative functions even when the lower house is

dissolved.

Rajya Sabha represents the states. To prevent the center from excessively

controlling the states, the Rajya Sabha is built to enable the states to voice

their concerns better as RS members are directly elected by state legislatures

and not by the people.

It can check the government. In India, the executive and legislature is

somewhat mixed. By design, the government also controls Lok Sabha. This

can be dangerous. On the other hand, Rajya Sabha is independent of the

government and neither elects it nor is responsible. Thus, it can be more

forthright in questioning the PM and others.

It provides a second opinion in creation of bills, checks the government and

populist leaders.

It provides space for experts. Governments in the past have taken advantage

of the Upper House to hire lateral talent. Individuals of repute who were

either talented or had private sector experience were inducted so they could

bring fresh ideas and knowledge in various ministries that desperately needed

them.

Arguments against and reasons:

Today‘s Lok Sabha looks a lot like the Rajya Sabha that was perceived at the

time of Independence. The fear of states not having enough representation in

Parliament is not true anymore. With our polity becoming increasingly

fragmented, regions and states are well represented in the Lower House by

various parties that have no national interests but narrow regional agendas.


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Many regional parties rule states and are here to stay for the long haul. The

chief ministers of these states are quite powerful and issues raised by them

can be heard around the country. These states actively pursue and protect

their interests at the Centre as well as scuttle laws that are inimical to their

interests.

The Upper House has become a paradise for party fund-raisers, losers in

elections, crony capitalists, journalists, retired CEOs and civil servants.

Far from being deliberative, the Rajya Sabha also appears to have descended

into the same fickleness and passion as the Lok Sabha and has shown a

disconcerting trend away from the decorum expected from it.

It has become a platform for parties to further their political agenda than to

debate and improve legislation. Important legislations that are passed in the

Lok Sabha are scuttled in Rajya Sabha for political reasons.

Given the fragmented political environment of modern Indian politics, it is

more of a hindrance to speedy legislative process that the country desperately

requires for economic growth and progress.

It has increased the financial burden of the exchequer. The expenditure

incurred on the functioning of the Upper House can be reallocated. Savings

from elimination of the Upper House can be more gainfully deployed for either

building infrastructure or enhancing social development or other meaningful

projects.

For governance to improve, India needs to abolish certain institutions, reform

others and create new ones. However, it is virtually impossible to abolish the

Rajya Sabha without adopting a new Indian Constitution. The bicameral nature

of the Indian Parliament is likely to be interpreted as a ―basic structure‖ of the

Indian Constitution, rendering it incapable of being amended. Thus, it is much

more practical to try and reform the Rajya Sabha than seeking to abolish it.

What reforms are needed?

Have members of the Rajya Sabha be directly elected by the citizens of a

state. This will reduce cronyism and patronage appointments. This step

should be combined with equal representation for each state, so that large

states do not dominate the proceedings in the House.

The members of the Rajya Sabha elected from a particular state should put

the interest of the state above that of the party. Rajya Sabha members elected

from a particular state should meet together more often, running across party

lines, to see how they can solve the problems of the state.

The state legislature that elected them should also question them about their

performance.


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Their seating pattern in the Rajya Sabha should be changed and members

elected from a particular state should sit together rather than sitting on the

basis of political party groupings.

The ruling party must always nominate those who can contribute to making

the debates more knowledgeable and who can reflect the cultural and

intellectual diversity of India

This step should be combined with equal representation for each state (say,

five members) so that large states do not dominate the proceedings in the

House.

This streamlined Rajya Sabha should remain deliberative, but there should

be deadlines set for responding to bills initiated in the Lok Sabha.

15. MAHADEI RIVER, (GOA-KARNATAKA) – INTER STATE WATER DISPUTES.

Here Bcos….. Goa and Karnataka have had long disputes over water sharing

issues of the Mahadei river.

About Mahadei river

Mahadayi or Mhadei, the west-flowing river, originates in Bhimgad Wildlife

Sanctuary (Western Ghats), Belagavi district of Karnataka.

It is essentially a rain-fed river also called Mandovi in Goa.

It is joined by a number of streams to form the Mandovi which is one of two

major rivers (the other one is Zuari river) that flows through Goa.

The river travels 35 km in Karnataka; 82 km in Goa before joining the

Arabian Sea.

The Inter-State River Water Disputes are one of the most contentious issues in

the Indian federalism today.

The recent cases of the Cauvery Water Dispute and the Satluj Yamuna Link

Canal are some examples.

Various Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals have been constituted so far,

but they had their own problems.

Constitutional Provisions

Entry 17 of State List deals with water i.e. water supply, irrigation, canal,

drainage, embankments, water storage and water power.

Entry 56 of Union List empowers the Union Government for the regulation

and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys to the extent declared

by Parliament to be expedient in the public interest.

According to Article 262, in case of disputes relating to waters:


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o Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or

complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of,

or in, any inter-State river or river valley.

o Parliament may, by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any

other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or

complaint as mentioned above.

Parliament has enacted two laws according to Article 262:

1) River Board Act, 1956

The purpose of this Act was to enable the Union Government to create Boards

for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments.

The objective of Boards is to advise on the inter-state basin to prepare

development scheme and to prevent the emergence of conflicts.

Note: Till date, no river board as per above Act has been created.

2) Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956

Provisions of the Act: In case, if a particular state or states approach to Union

Government for the constitution of the tribunal:

1. Central Government should try to resolve the matter by consultation among

the aggrieved states.

2. In case, if it does not work, then it may constitute the tribunal.

Note: Supreme Court shall not question the Award or formula given by tribunal

but it can question the working of the tribunal.

The composition of the River Water Tribunal: Tribunal is constituted by the Chief

Justice of India and it consists of the sitting judge of Supreme Court and the

other two judges who can be from Supreme Court or High Court.


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Major Inter-State River Disputes

River (s) States

Ravi and Beas Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan

Narmada Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan

Krishna Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana

Vamsadhara Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

Cauvery Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

Godavari Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya

Pradesh, Odisha

Mahanadi Chhattisgarh, Odisha

Mahadayi Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka

Periyar Tamil Nadu, Kerala

Mechanism for Inter-State River Water Disputes Resolution

▪ The resolution of water dispute is governed by the Inter-State River Water

Disputes Act, 1956.

o According to its provisions, if a State Government makes a request

regarding any water dispute and the Central Government is of opinion

that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, then a Water

Disputes Tribunal is constituted for the adjudication of the water

dispute.

▪ The act was amended in 2002, to include the major recommendations of the

Sarkaria Commission.

o The amendments mandated a one year time frame to setup the water

disputes tribunal and also a 3 year time frame to give a decision.

Active River Water Dispute Tribunals in India

▪ Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II (2004) – Karnataka, Telangana, Andra

Pradesh, Maharashtra

▪ Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (2018) – Odisha and Chattisgarh

▪ Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (2010) – Goa,Karnataka, Maharashtra

▪ Ravi and Beas Water Tribunal (1986) – Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan

▪ Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (2010) – Andra Pradesh and Odisha.


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Issues with Interstate Water Dispute Tribunals

Protracted proceedings and extreme delays in dispute resolution.

o For example, in the case of Godavari water dispute, the request was

made in 1962, but the tribunal was constituted in 1968 and the award

was given in 1979 which was published in the Gazette in 1980.

o The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, constituted in 1990, gave its final

award in 2007.

Opacity in the institutional framework and guidelines that define these

proceedings; and ensuring compliance.

Though award is final and beyond the jurisdiction of Courts, either States can

approach Supreme Court under Article 136 (Special Leave Petition)

under Article 32 linking issue with the violation of Article 21 (Right to Life).

The composition of the tribunal is not multidisciplinary and it consists of

persons only from the judiciary.

The absence of authoritative water data that is acceptable to all parties

currently makes it difficult to even set up a baseline for adjudication.

The shift in tribunals' approach, from deliberative to adversarial, aids

extended litigation and politicisation of water-sharing disputes.

The growing nexus between water and politics have transformed the disputes

into turfs of vote bank politics.

o This politicisation has also led to increasing defiance by states, extended

litigations and subversion of resolution mechanisms.

o For example, the Punjab government played truant in the case of

the Ravi-Beas tribunal.

Too much discretion at too many stages of the process.

o Partly because of procedural complexities involving multiple

stakeholders across governments and agencies.

o India‘s complicated federal polity and its colonial legacy

Inter-state River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill

Features of the bill:

Disputes Resolution Committee: The Bill requires the central government to set

up a Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC), for resolving any inter-state water

dispute amicably. The DRC will get a period of one year, extendable by six

months, to submit its report to the central government.

Members of DRC: Members of the DRC will be from relevant fields, as deemed fit

by the central government.

Tribunal: The Bill proposes to set up an Inter-State River Water Disputes

Tribunal, for adjudication of water disputes, if a dispute is not resolved through


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the DRC. This tribunal can have multiple benches. All existing tribunals will be

dissolved and the water disputes pending adjudication before such existing

tribunals will be transferred to this newly formed tribunal.

Composition of the Tribunal: The tribunal shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-

Chairperson, and not more than six nominated members (judges of the Supreme

Court or of a High Court), nominated by the Chief Justice of India.

Drawbacks of interstate Water Dispute Act, 1956:

The Inter State Water Dispute Act, 1956 which provides the legal framework to

address such disputes suffers from many drawbacks as it does not fix any time

limit for resolving river water disputes.Delays are on account of no time limit for

adjudication by a Tribunal, no upper age limit for the Chairman or the Members,

work getting stalled due to occurrence of any vacancy and no time limit for

publishing the report of the Tribunal.The River Boards Act 1956, which is

supposed to facilitate inter-state collaboration over water resource development,

remained a ‗dead letter‘ since its enactment.

Surface water is controlled by Central Water Commission (CWC) and ground

water by Central Ground Water Board of India (CGWB). Both bodies work

independently and there is no common forum for common discussion with state

governments on water management.

Conclusion

The Centre‘s proposal to set up a single, permanent tribunal to adjudicate on

inter-state river water disputes could be a major step towards streamlining

the dispute redressal mechanism.

However, this alone will not be able to address the different kinds of

problems—legal, administrative, constitutional and political—that plague the

overall framework.

Centre‘s proposal to set up an agency alongside the tribunal, that will collect

and process data on river waters can be a right step in this direction.

To strengthen the cooperative federalism, parochial mindset making regional

issues superior to national issues should not be allowed.

So disputes must be resolved by dialogue and talks and the political

opportunism must be avoided.

A robust and transparent institutional framework with cooperative approach

is need of the hour.


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16. MINIMUM WAGES ACT

CODE ON WAGES:

Implementing Agency: State Government/ UT Administration.

As per Economic Survey 2018-19, a well designed minimum wage system is

required to reduce wage inequality in the country.According to the International

Labour Organisation‘s India wage report one in every three wage workers in

India is not protected by the minimum wage act.

Inadequacies in Minimum Wage System

Complex system: Presently the minimum wage system, under the Minimum

Wages Act, 1948, has different minimum wages defined for different job

categories across States.1,915 minimum wages are defined for various scheduled

job categories across various states.Lack of a uniform criteria for fixing the

minimum wage rate.Different minimum wages for the same occupation across

different states, along with a wide range between the lowest and highest

minimum wages, trigger migration of industries towards low wage regions.

This can also cause distress migration of labour to better paying states.

Gender Bias: Analysis of minimum wage data also shows a systemic gender

bias. For example – male-dominated job of security guards pays better than

being a domestic worker, most of whom are women.

National Floor Level Minimum Wage: Some states have minimum wages even

below the non-statutory National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) of Rs 176

per day.

Redesigning Minimum Wage System

1. Simplification: Survey states that rationalisation of minimum wages as

proposed under the Code on Wages Bill needs to be supported.Code on

wage bill amalgamates the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Payment of

Wages Act, 1936, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and the Equal

Remuneration Act, 1976 into a single piece of legislation.The definition of

wages in the new legislation should subsume the 12 different definitions

of wages in different Labour Acts.

2. Setting National Floor Level Minimum Wage: Survey suggests that the

Central Government should notify a national floor minimum wage that

can vary across five geographical regions.

Thereafter, states can fix minimum wages, which shall not be less than the 'floor

wage'.


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This would bring uniformity in the minimum wages across the country and

would make all states almost equally attractive from the point of view of labour

cost for investment as well as reduce distress migration.

3. Criteria for Setting Minimum Wage: Survey suggests that the Code on

wages bill should consider fixing minimum wages based on either of two

factors: Skill category i.e. unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled.

Geographical region, or else both.

4. Regular adjustment: The minimum salary needs to be adjusted regularly

to keep pace with inflation. A mechanism should be developed to adjust

minimum wages regularly and more frequently.

5. Role of Technology: Technology will play an important role in both the

processing of information around wages as well as tracking compliance.

As per survey a mix of online, mobile phone and networking technologies could

facilitate the collection and analysis of labour statistics, assist with the

dissemination of information about labour laws and policies, reduce costs and

improve transparency.A national level dashboard can be created at the centre

with access to state governments whereby states can regularly update

notifications regarding minimum wages and the portal must be made available at

Common Service Centres and rural haats.

The Code on Wages

Highlights

It aims to transform the old and obsolete labour laws into more accountable and

transparent ones and seeks to pave the way for the introduction of minimum

wages and labour reforms in the country.

It regulates the wages and bonus payments in all employments where any

industry, trade, business, or manufacturing is being carried out.

It subsumes the following four labour laws:

The Payment of Wages Act, 1936

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965

The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

It universalizes the provisions of minimum wages and timely payment of wages to

all employees irrespective of the sector and wage ceiling and seeks to ensure

"Right to Sustenance" for every worker and intends to increase the legislative

protection of minimum wage.

It has been ensured that employees getting monthly salary shall get the salary by

7th of next month, those working on a weekly basis shall get the salary on the


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last day of the week and daily wagers should get it on the same day.The

provisions will apply to all the employees.

At present, the provisions of both the Minimum Wages Act and Payment of Wages

Act apply on workers below a particular wage ceiling working in Scheduled

Employments only.Many unorganized sector workers like agricultural workers,

painters, persons working in restaurants and dhabas, chowkidars, etc. who were

out of the ambit of minimum wages will get legislative protection of minimum

wages after the bill becomes an Act.The Central Government is empowered to fix

the floor wages by taking into account the living standards of workers. It may set

different floor wages for different geographical areas.The minimum wages decided

by the central or state governments must be higher than the floor wage.

17. Patent Prosecution Highway programme

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a set of initiatives for providing

accelerated patent prosecution procedures by sharing information between

some patent offices. It also permits each participating patent office to benefit

from the work previously done by the other patent office, with the goal of

reducing examination workload and improving patent quality.

Patents in INDIA are granted by Indian Patent Office(IPO) is administered by the

Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM).

This is a subordinate office of the Government of India and administers the

Indian law of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. This comes under the Ministry

of Commerce and Industry.


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COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK, PATENT IN INDIA

CATEGORIES COPYRIGHT TRADEMARK PATENT

Governed Under The Copyright

Act, 1957

Trade Marks Act,

1999

The Patents Act,

1970

Types of

Protection and

Works

Protection of

original creative

expressions like

literary works,

artistic works,

dramatic works

etc.

Protection of

unique name that

makes a brand

distinct from

other. Can include

name, slogans,

logo, shape, colour

etc.

Protection of

inventions that

are novel,

original and has

industrial utility.

Validity and

Reach

Valid for life

time of the

author + 60

years after

his/her death.

Protection

available in

most of the

countries in the

world.

Validity for 10

years can be made

perpetual by

renewing the

trademark every

10 years.

Territorial in

nature to claim

rights should be

applied to each

country

individually.

Validity for 20

years starting

from the day the

application is

first made. It is

also a territorial

right and

therefore it is

effective only

within the

territory of India.

Separate patents

required to be

filed for each

country where

protection is

required.

Secures Copyright

secures Creative

or intellectual

creations.

Trademarks

secure the

branding under

which products

and services are

sold.

Patent secures

inventions that

are useful for the

world and has

some use.

E.g. New

invention in

pharmaceutical

industry.


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Right comes into

Existence

Exclusive rights

over the

copyright are

created the

moment the

authorship

creates the

work.

Once the

trademark gets

registered the

applicant of the

mark can claim

complete right

over the said

mark. Registration

usually takes 12-

18 months.

Patent

registration

takes about 2-3

years in all. But

the owner can

stop anyone else

from claiming

right over a

particular patent

the moment he

applies for

provisional

patent.

Provisional

Application

Requirement

No provisional

application

required.

Trademark

registration does

not include

provisional

application, but it

requires a

trademark search.

A provisional

application gets

you 12 months

of time to file a

complete

specification,

and a priority

date claim.

Symbolic

Representation

No symbolic

representation

to show

registration.

Used when

registration is in

process: ™

Used when

registration is

complete: ®

No symbolic

representation to

show

registration.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has

approved the proposal for adoption of Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)

programme by the Indian Patent Office (IPO) under the Controller General of

Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, India (CGPDTM) with patent offices of

various other interest countries or regions.

The said programme will initially commence between Japan Patent Office

(JPO) and Indian Patent Office on pilot basis for a period of three years

only. Under this Pilot programme, Indian Patent Office may receive patent

applications n certain specified technical fields only, namely, Electrical,

Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Physics, Civil,


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Mechanical, Textiles, Automobiles and Metallurgy while JPO may receive

applications in all fields of technology.

PPH programme would lead to the following benefits for the Indian IP office:

i. Reduction in time to dispose patent applications.

ii. Reduction in pendency of patent applications.

iii. Improvement in quality of search and examination of patent

applications.

iv. An opportunity for Indian inventors including MSMEs and Startups of

India to get accelerated examination of their patent applications in

Japan.

The ambit of the programme may be extended in future, as decided by the

Commerce and Industry Minister. The patent offices will frame their own

guidelines for implementation of the programme.

18. RULE 12 OF UNION GOVERNMENT‟S TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS) RULES

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution

and in supersession of all previous rules and orders on the subject, the

President hereby makes the following rules for the more convenient transaction

of the business of the Government of India.

Rule 12 states ―Departure from Rules.- The Prime Minister may, in any case

or classes of cases permit or condone a departure from these rules, to the

extent he deems necessary.”

The Cabinet can subsequently give post-facto approval for any decision taken

under Rule 12.

Under what circumstances is Rule 12 used?

Rule 12 is usually not used to arrive at major decisions by the government.

However, it has been used in matters such as withdrawal of an office

memorandum or signing of MoUs in the past.

The last big decision taken through the invocation of Rule 12 was re-

organisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territories of

Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on October 31.

The proclamations issued by the President that day, dividing various districts

between the two Union Territories, were issued under Rule 12. The Cabinet gave

post-facto approval to the same on later.

Rule 12 is usually reserved for situations of 'extreme urgency or unforeseen

contingency‘. Indira Gandhi used it in 1975, as the head of the executive branch

to unilaterally assume emergency powers without consulting her cabinet.


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INDIA AND WORLD

1. WITHDRAWAL OF INDIA FROM RCEP

The Association of Southeast Asian

Nations is a regional intergovernmental

organization comprising ten countries

in Southeast Asia, which

promotes intergovernmental cooperation and

facilitates economic, political, security, militar

y, educational, and sociocultural integration

among its members and other countries in

Asia. The ASEAN Secretariat is located

at Jakarta, Indonesia.

India‘s focus on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN

is an outcome of the significant changes in the world‘s political and economic

scenario since the early 1990s and India‘s own march towards economic

liberalisation. India‘s search for economic space resulted in the „Look East

Policy‟. The Look East Policy has today matured into a dynamic and action

oriented „Act East Policy. PM at the 12th ASEAN India Summit and the 9th

East Asia Summit held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in November, 2014, formally

enunciated the Act East Policy.

What is the RCEP?

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a free trade

agreement originally devised to consist of 16 countries across the Asia-

Pacific region. The pact looks to drop tariffs and duties between the members

so that goods and services can flow freely between them.

At the RCEP’s administrative core is ASEAN: an intergovernmental

grouping of 10 Southeast Asian countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,

Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It was proposed that the ASEAN bloc will be joined with six dialogue partners:

China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

In the recently held Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

(RCEP) Summit in Thailand, India decided not to finalize the RCEP trade deal.

India has expressed its concerns over lowering and elimination of tariffs

on products from other countries, as it would negatively affect the domestic

agricultural and industrial sector.


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Why India didn’t sign?

1. Domestic industry and dairy farmers had strong reservations about the

trade pact.

2. India‘s trade deficit with the RCEP nations is $105 billion, of which

China alone accounts for $54 billion.

3. The worry is also over Chinese manufactured goods and dairy products

from New Zealand flooding Indian markets, hurting domestic interests.

4. The trade agreement was also seen as being detrimental to the

government‘s Make in India initiative.

India was looking for specific rules of origin to ensure the trade pact

wasn‘t abused by non-partner countries and an auto-trigger mechanism

to protect it from a surge in imports.

5. Ecommerce and trade remedies were among other key areas of concern

that failed to find satisfactory redressal.

6. India was also worried about keeping 2014 as the base year for tariff

reductions.

Why farmers were opposed to this?

Trade tariffs: Farmers fear that the RCEP will permanently bring

down import duties on most agricultural commodities to zero which will

lead to countries looking to dump their agricultural produce in India which

would lead to a drastic drop in prices.This will aggravate the agrarian

crisis even as the input prices in India are heavily taxed and farmers are not

given profitable prices, resulting in substantial losses and farmer debts.

The dairy sector and plantations sector are going to be hit very hard. It is

because New Zealand and Australia being part of RCEP will invariably lead

to the dumping of their dairy products into India.

The southeast Asian countries have larger and cheaper production of

plantation crops like rubber, coconut, palm oil as compared to India and

opening up of the markets will lead to a large inflow of these products given

their price competitiveness.The IPR clauses are likely to seriously impinge

on farmers’ seed freedoms. Seed companies will get more powers to protect

their Intellectual Property Rights, and farmers would be criminalized when

they save and exchange seeds.India‘s food sovereignty would be at stake.

Opening up of the markets will lead to dependence on foreign imports. Any

differences in the future might impact the food import supply.


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INDIA and ASEAN(background)

Apart from ASEAN, India has taken other policy initiatives in the region that

involve some members of ASEAN like BIMSTEC, MGC etc. India is also an

active participant in several regional forums like the Asia-Europe Meeting

(ASEM), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN

Defence Ministers' Meeting + (ADMM+) and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum

(EAMF).

India's relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of our foreign policy and the

foundation of our Act East Policy. The up-gradation of the relationship into a

Strategic Partnership in 2012 was a natural progression to the ground covered

since India became a Sectoral Partner of the ASEAN in 1992, Dialogue Partner

in 1996 and Summit Level Partner in 2002. There are, in total, 30 Dialogue

Mechanisms between India and ASEAN, cutting across various sectors.

Political Security Cooperation: Faced with growing traditional and non-

traditional challenges, politico-security cooperation is a key and an emerging

pillar of our relationship. Rising export of terror, growing radicalization

through ideology of hatred, and spread of extreme violence define the

landscape of common security threats to our societies. Our partnership with

ASEAN seeks to craft a response that relies on coordination, cooperation and

sharing of experiences at multiple levels.

ASEAN, as a regional grouping based on consensus, has worked tirelessly over

50 years to help secure peace, progress and prosperity in the region. India,

therefore, places ASEAN at the centre of its Indo-Pacific vision of Security and

Growth for All in the Region.

The main forum for ASEAN security dialogue is the ASEAN Regional Forum

(ARF). India has been attending annual meetings of this forum since 1996 and

has actively participated in its various activities. The ASEAN Defence Ministers'

Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative and cooperative

mechanism in ASEAN. The ADMM+ brings together Defence Ministers from the

10 ASEAN nations plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic

of Korea, Russia, and the United States on a biannual basis.

Economic Cooperation: India-ASEAN trade and investment relations have

been growing steadily, with ASEAN being India's fourth largest trading partner.

India's trade with ASEAN stands at US$ 81.33 billion, which is approx. 10.6%

of India's overall trade. India's export to ASEAN stand at 11.28% of our total

exports.

Investment flows are also substantial both ways, with ASEAN accounting for


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approximately 18.28% of investment flows into India since 2000. FDI inflows

into India from ASEAN between April 2000 to March 2018 was about

US$68.91 billion, while FDI outflows from India to ASEAN countries, from

April 2007 to March 2015, as per data maintained by DEA, was about

US$38.672 billion.The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed with

the entering into force of the ASEAN-India Agreements on Trade in Service and

Investments on 1 July 2015.

ASEAN and India have been also working on enhancing private sector

engagement. ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in March 2003

in Kuala Lumpur as a forum to bring key private sector players from India and

the ASEAN countries on a single platform for business networking and sharing

of ideas.

Socio-Cultural Cooperation: We have been organizing a large number of

programmes to boost People-to-People Interaction with ASEAN, such as

inviting ASEAN students to India each year for the Students Exchange

Programme, Special Training Course for ASEAN diplomats, Exchange of

Parliamentarians, Participation of ASEAN students in the National Children‘s

Science Congress, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, ASEAN-India

Eminent Persons Lecture Series, etc.

The 2nd edition of the ASEAN-India Workshop on Blue Economy, jointly

hosted with the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, was held on 18 July 2018 in

New Delhi.

Connectivity: ASEAN-India connectivity is a priority for India as also the

ASEAN countries. In 2013, India became the third dialogue partner of ASEAN

to initiate an ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee-India Meeting.

While India has made considerable progress in implementing the India-

Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project,

issues related to increasing the maritime and air connectivity between ASEAN

and India and transforming the corridors of connectivity into economic

corridors are under discussion. A possible extension to India-Myanmar-

Thailand Trilateral Highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam is also under

consideration. A consensus on finalising the proposed protocol of the India-

Myanmar-Thailand Motor Vehicle Agreement (IMT MVA) has been reached.

This agreement will have a critical role in realizing seamless movement of

passenger, personal and cargo vehicles along roads linking India, Myanmar

and Thailand. PM announced a Line of Credit of US$ 1 billion to promote

projects that support physical and digital connectivity between India and


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ASEAN and a Project Development Fund with a corpus of INR 500 crores to

develop manufacturing hubs in CLMV countries at the 13th ASEAN India

Summit held in Malaysia in November 2015.

Funds: ASEAN Multilateral Division offers project-based financial assistance to

ASEAN countries. Financial assistance has been provided to ASEAN countries

from the following Funds:

ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund: At the 7th ASEAN-India Summit in 2009,

India announced a contribution of US$ 50 million to the ASEAN-India Fund, to

support implementation of the ASEAN-India Plans of Action, which envisage

cooperation in a range of sectors as well as capacity building programmes in

the political, economic and socio-cultural spheres for deepening and

intensifying ASEAN-India cooperation. Projects worth approx. In order to take

the development and capacity building initiatives forward, PM has proposed

enhancing the ASEAN-India Fund with an additional grant of US$ 50 million

at the 14th ASEAN India Summit in Vientiane in September 2016.

ASEAN-India SandT Development Fund (AISTDF): At the 6th ASEAN-India

Summit in November 2007 in Singapore, India announced the setting up of an

ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund with a US$ 1 million

contribution from India to promote joint collaborative RandD research projects

in Science and Technology. This Fund become operational in 2009-10 and

expenditure began to be incurred from FY 2010-11. This fund has been

enhanced to US$5 million from 2016-17.

ASEAN-India Green Fund: At the 6th ASEAN-India Summit on 21 November

2007 in Singapore, India announced the setting up of an ASEAN-India Green

Fund with an initial contribution of US$ 5 million from India, to support

collaboration activities relating to environment and climate change. Some of

the areas identified for collaboration under the Fund are climate change,

energy efficiency, clean technologies, renewable energy, biodiversity

conservation and environmental education.

Apart from the above projects, India has been supporting ASEAN, especially

CLMV countries under the Initiatives for ASEAN Integration, which include

projects on Training of English Language for Law Enforcement Officers in

CLMV countries and Training of professionals dealing with capital markets in

CLMV by National Institute of Securities Management Mumbai, scholarships

for ASEAN students for higher education at Nalanda University, Training of


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ASEAN Civil Servants in drought management, disaster risk management,

sustainable ground water management etc. To boost People-to-people

Interaction with ASEAN, India has been organising various programmes

including Training Programme for ASEAN diplomats, Exchange of

Parliamentarians, Participation of ASEAN students in the National Children‘s

Science Congress, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks, ASEAN-India

Eminent Persons Lecture Series, ASEAN-India Students Exchange programme,

ASEAN-India Media Exchange programme etc.

In Agriculture, we are cooperating with ASEAN by way of projects such as

Exchange of Farmers, ASEAN-India Fellowships for Higher Agricultural

Education in India and ASEAN, Exchange of Agriculture Scientists,

Empowerment of Women through Cooperatives, Training Course on Organic

Certification for Fruits and Vegetables etc. These were further strengthened at

the 4th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture held in January 2018

in New Delhi, with the endorsement of the Medium Term Plan of Action for

ASEAN-India Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry for 2016–2020. In the

SandT field, we have projects such as ASEAN-India SandT Digital Library,

ASEAN-India Virtual Institute for Intellectual Property, ASEAN-India

Collaborative Project on SandT for Combating Malaria, ASEAN-India

Programme on Quality Systems in Manufacturing, ASEAN-India Collaborative

RandD Project on Mariculture, Bio-mining and Bioremediation Technologies

etc.

2. QUAD GROUPING AND G4

The foreign ministers of the Quad countries - India, US, Australia and Japan -

met on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting on 27th September 2019.

▪ The group is seen as a regional counterweight to China and has only met at

the Joint or Assistant Secretary level since 2017. The latest meeting is seen

as an upgrade by at least three levels.

▪ The Ministers met to discuss cooperation on counter-terrorism, mentoring,

assistance in disaster relief, airtime security, cooperation, development,

finance and cybersecurity efforts etc.

▪ The Quad countries were ―resolute‖ in their view of the centrality of

the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in South East Asia.

o The notion of ASEAN centrality broadly refers to the group of countries

being at the centre of security and strategic frameworks for the Asia-

Pacific region.


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Quad

▪ The Quadrilateral security dialogue or Quad was first mooted by the

Japanese Prime Minister in 2007.

▪ However, the idea couldn‘t move ahead with Australia pulling out of it,

apparently due to Chinese pressure.

▪ In November 2017, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the

long-pending "Quad" Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep

the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence (especially

China).

o Australia is worried about China's growing interest in its land,

infrastructure and politics and influence on its universities.

o In the last decade, Japan believes that China has tried to bully it

on several territorial issues.

o China has border disputes with India. China is also blocking

India‘s path into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

o A weakened US sees the coalition as an opportunity to regain its

influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

India has been hesitant about the Quad, in part because it does not want to

isolate China and because it has had a history of staying clear of security

alliances.

Members of the Quad, barring Australia, are currently engaged in the

annual Malabar exercises – military exercises that started between India

and the U.S. in 1994 and became trilateral (with Japan) in 2015.

o India has not permitted Australia to participate in these

exercises, concerned about what message it would send to China,

which is wary of the exercise.

G-4 Meeting

▪ The foreign ministers of G-4 grouping also held a meeting on the sidelines

of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

▪ G-4 is a group of four countries i.e. Brazil, Germany, India and

Japan which support each other‘s bids for permanent seats on the United

Nations Security Council (UNSC)

▪ The G-4 countries have decided to prepare for a fresh push for reforms at

the UNGA in 2020 when the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary.

▪ It was highlighted that there is a clear need for an enhanced role of

developing countries and of major contributors to the United Nations to

make the UNSC more legitimate, effective and representative.

◦ This means that India and Brazil — the two developing countries in

G-4 grouping — should get a place along with China, which is

the only developing country in the UNSC.


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◦ The countries also put a focus on the role of the African

continent in the Council.

▪ G-4 said that the reforms-related decisions should be by a two-third

majority in the UN General Assembly, which was enshrined in the 1998

resolution of the UNGA.

◦ This is contrary to the position taken by China, which has always

said that the decisions should be taken through ―comprehensive

consensus‖.

3. INVENTIONS THAT WON NOBLE PRIZE 2019

The Nobel Foundation has declared the complete list of winners for 2019.

Field Winners Work Recognized

Physics James Peebles Theoretical discoveries in physical

cosmology

Michel Mayor

Didier Queloz

Discovery of an exoplanet ― 51 Pegasi

b‖ orbiting a solar-type star.

Chemistry John B Goodenough,

M Stanley

Whittingham,

Akira Yoshino

Development of lithium-ion batteries.

Physiology

/ Medicine

William G. Kaelin Jr,

Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe,

Gregg L. Semenza

For discoveries on how cells sense

and adapt to oxygen availability

Economic

Sciences

Abhijit Banerjee,

Esther Duflo,

Michael Kremer

For the experimental approach to

alleviating global poverty.

Literature Peter Handke - 2019 For an influential work that with

linguistic ingenuity has explored the

periphery and the specificity of

human experience.

Olga Tokarczuk - 2018 For a narrative imagination that with

encyclopedic passion represents the

crossing of boundaries as a form of

life.

Peace Abiy Ahmed Ali

(Prime Minister of

Ethiopia)

For an initiative to resolve the border

conflict with neighboring Eritrea.


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About Nobel Prizes

The will of the Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel established the five Nobel prizes

in 1895.

The Nobel Prizes are a set of recognition given to fields of Chemistry,

Literature, Peace, Physics, and Physiology or Medicine by The Nobel

Foundation.

The Nobel Foundation is a private institution established in 1900, has

ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the intentions in Alfred Nobel‘s will.

The prizes in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics, and Physiology or

Medicine were first awarded in 1901.

Who selects the Nobel Laureates?

In his last will and testament, Alfred Nobel specifically designated the

institutions responsible for the prizes he wished to be established:

◦ The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the Nobel Prize in Physics

and Chemistry,

◦ Karolinska Institutet for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine,

◦ The Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and

◦ A Committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Parliament

(Storting) for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in

Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.

◦ The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was given the task to select

the Laureates in Economic Sciences starting in 1969.

While the five Nobel Prizes are based on a fund set up from the wealth

bequeathed by Alfred Nobel, the Economic Prize is based on a donation

received by the Nobel Foundation in 1968 from Sveriges Riksbank.

4. WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION / HS CODE

Here Bcos…..

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has allocated a separate Harmonised

System (HS) code for Khadi.Khadi is India‟s signature handspun and

handwoven cloth that was made iconic by Mahatma Gandhi during the

freedom struggle.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental

organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The WCO is noted for its

work in areas covering the development of international conventions,

instruments, and tools on topics such as commodity classification, valuation,


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rules of origin, collection of customs revenue, supply chain security,

international trade facilitation, customs enforcement activities,

combating counterfeiting in support of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), drugs

enforcement, illegal weapons trading, integrity promotion, and delivering

sustainable capacity building to assist with customs reforms and

modernization. The WCO maintains the international Harmonized

System (HS) goods nomenclature, and administers the technical aspects of

the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on Customs

Valuation and Rules of Origin.

Harmonized System (HS) code

The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System generally referred

to as "Harmonized System" or simply "HS" is a multipurpose international

product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO).It

comprises about 5,000 commodity groups; each identified by a six digit code,

arranged in a legal and logical structure and is supported by well-defined rules

to achieve uniform classification. The system is used by more than 200

countries and economies as a basis for their Customs tariffs and for the

collection of international trade statistics. Over 98 % of the merchandise in

international trade is classified in terms of the HS. The HS contributes to the

harmonization of Customs and trade procedures, and the non-documentary

trade data interchange in connection with such procedures, thus reducing the

costs related to international trade.

What does this mean for Khadi?

The move is expected to boost Khadi exports in the coming years. Earlier,

Khadi did not have its exclusive HS code.

What does the HS code mean?

The Harmonised System, or simply „HS‟, is a six-digit identification code. Of the

six digits, the first two denote the HS Chapter, the next two give the HS

heading, and the last two give the HS subheading.

Developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO).Called the “universal

economic language” for goods.It is a multipurpose international product

nomenclature.The system currently comprises of around 5,000 commodity

groups.

HS code are used by Customs authorities, statistical agencies, and other

government regulatory bodies, to monitor and control the import and export of

commodities through:


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1. Customs tariffs

2. Collection of international trade statistics

3. Rules of origin

4. Collection of internal taxes

5. Trade negotiations (e.g., the World Trade Organization schedules

of tariff concessions)

6. Transport tariffs and statistics

7. Monitoring of controlled goods (e.g., wastes, narcotics, chemical

weapons, ozone layer depleting substances, endangered species, wildlife

trade)

8. Areas of Customs controls and procedures, including risk assessment,

information technology and compliance.

Need for and significance:

Over 200 countries use the system as a basis for their customs tariffs,

gathering international trade statistics, making trade policies, and for

monitoring goods.

The system helps in harmonising of customs and trade procedures, thus

reducing costs in international trade.

5. UNESCO

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES:

The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme

administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21

UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.

Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state

wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the

international community to preserve each site.

Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 51 sites,

followed by China (48), Spain (44), France (41), Germany (40), Mexico (33), and

India (32).

Selection of a site:

To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark,

unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place

having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or

historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake,

monument, mountain, or wilderness area). It may signify a remarkable

accomplishment of humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual history

on the planet.


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What are endangered sites?

A site may be added to the List of World Heritage in Danger if there are

conditions that threaten the characteristics for which the landmark or area

was inscribed on the World Heritage List. Such problems may involve armed

conflict and war, natural disasters, pollution, poaching, or uncontrolled

urbanization or human development.

This danger list is intended to increase international awareness of the threats

and to encourage counteractive measures. Threats to a site can be either

proven imminent threats or potential dangers that could have adverse effects

on a site.

The state of conservation for each site on the danger list is reviewed on a

yearly basis, after which the committee may request additional measures,

delete the property from the list if the threats have ceased or consider deletion

from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List.

How is a World Heritage Site selected?

The first step towards the listing is the nomination of a site by the respective

government of a country.

The site should have an Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for World

Heritage nomination.

To determine the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for World Heritage

nomination, there are ten enlisted criteria.

The proposed nomination must satisfy at least one of these ten criteria.

The Nomination File is then evaluated by the International Council on

Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union.

These bodies then make their recommendations to the World Heritage

Committee.

What are the ten criteria for determining Outstanding Universal Value

(OUV)?

1. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

2. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of

time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in

architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or

landscape design;

3. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural

tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

4. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or

technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant

stage(s) in human history;

5. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-

use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or


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human interaction with the environment especially when it has become

vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

6. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions,

with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of

outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this

criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria.

7. to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional

natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

8. to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth‘s

history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological

processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic

or physiographic features;

9. to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological

and biological processes in the evolution and development of

terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and

communities of plants and animals;

10. to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-

situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing

threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of

view of science or conservation.

These bodies then make their recommendations to the World Heritage

Committee.

WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN INDIA:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the nodal agency for forwarding

any request for World Heritage status to any Indian site whether cultural or

natural.

Based on the proposals received from the Central or State Government

agencies as well as management Trusts, etc., and after their due scrutiny, the

Government forwards the nomination dossiers to the World Heritage Center.

Cultural (30)

Agra Fort (1983)

Ajanta Caves (1983)

Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)

Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)

Elephanta Caves (1987)

Ellora Caves (1983)


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Fatehpur Sikri (1986)

Great Living Chola Temples (1987,2004)

Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)

Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)

Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)

Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)

Mountain Railways of India (1999,2005,2008)

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)

Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen‘s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)

Red Fort Complex (2007)

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)

Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)

Taj Mahal (1983)

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the

Modern Movement (2016)

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

Natural (7)

Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)

Kaziranga National Park (1985)

Keoladeo National Park (1985)

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988,2005)

Sundarbans National Park (1987)

Western Ghats (2012)

Mixed (1)

Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)


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6. FENI RIVER

Here bcos……: The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bangladesh on the

withdrawal of 1.82

cusecs (cubic feet per

second) of water from

the Feni river by India

for a drinking water

supply scheme for

Sabroom town in

Tripura.

Feni river:

The Feni river forms

part of the India-

Bangladesh border.

It originates in South Tripura district, passes through Sabroom town on the

Indian side, and meets the Bay of Bengal after it flows into Bangladesh.

Recent developments and significance of the MoU:

In August 2019, India and Bangladesh held a water secretary-level meeting of

the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) in Dhaka, where it was agreed to collect

data and prepare water-sharing agreements for seven rivers —

Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar, and Feni.

The MoU stands to benefit Sabroom town on the southern tip of Tripura. The

present supply of drinking water to Sabroom town is inadequate. The

groundwater in this region has high iron content. Implementation of this

scheme would benefit over 7000 population of Sabroom town.

In Tripura, a 150-metre long, 4-lane bridge across the Feni is being built

between India and Bangladesh, where the river forms the border between the

two countries. It is expected to be completed by March 2020 at an estimated

expenditure of Rs 73 crore.

Once ready, it would con nect Tripura with Chittagong port in Bangladesh,

which is only 70 km away from the Indo-Bangla border, and would play an

important role in the proposed economic corridor through India, Bangladesh,

China and Myanmar.

Sabroom is expected to transform into the largest transit hub in the Northeast

after the bridge is ready


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ECONOMY

1. INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RATING AGENCIES AND MOODY‟S INDIA

RATING

What is Credit Rating?

A credit rating is an assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower in general

terms or with respect to a particular debt or financial obligation.

A credit rating can be assigned to any entity that seeks to borrow money —

an individual,

corporation,

state or provincial authority,

or sovereign government.

What are Credit Rating Agencies?

A credit rating agency (CRA) is a company that

assigns credit ratings, which rate a debtor's

ability to pay back debt by making timely

principal and interest payments and the

likelihood of default.

There are six credit rating agencies registered

under SEBI namely, CRISIL, ICRA, CARE,

SMERA, Fitch India and Brickwork Ratings.

CRAs were set up to provide independent

evidence and research-based opinion on the ability and willingness of the issuer

to meet debt service obligations, quintessentially attaching a probability of

default to a specific instrument.

Evaluating the creditworthiness of an instrument comprises of both qualitative

and quantitative assessments, making credit rating far from a straightforward

mathematical calculation.

Importance

For The Money Lenders

Better Investment Decision:

Safety Assured:

For Borrowers

Easy Loan Approval:


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Issues

No uniformity among rating companies in India:

No standardization in rating and no standardized fee structure for rating

agencies in India is one of the other issues.

Distinction between equity instruments and mutual funds is not provided which

is one of the major drawbacks of credit ratings in India.

Lack of reliability of Credit rating in India:

The credit rating agency in India lacks transparency.

Why Credit rating agency in news ?

International ratings agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded the India's

outlook to negative from stable on concerns that country's economic growth will

remain materially lower than in the past.

The agency affirmed the Baa2 foreign-currency and local-currency long-term

issuer ratings.

The Baa2 rating balances the country's credit strengths including its large and

diverse economy and stable domestic financing base for government debt,

against its principal challenges including high government debt, weak social and

physical infrastructure and a fragile financial sector.

India's long-term foreign-currency bond and bank deposit ceilings remain

unchanged at Baa1 and Baa2, respectively.

2. CORE INVESTMENT COMPANIES (CIC)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has

constituted a working group to review

the regulatory guidelines and

supervisory framework applicable for

Core Investment Companies (CIC).

Background

In August 2010, the Reserve Bank

had introduced a separate

framework for the regulation of

systemically important Core Investment Companies (CICs).

This was done because of the differences in the business model of a holding

company relative to other non-banking financial companies.

Over the years, corporate group structures have become more complex

involving multiple layering and leveraging, which has led to greater inter-

connectedness with the financial system through their access to public funds.

Further, in light of recent developments, there is a need to strengthen the

corporate governance framework of CICs.


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Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference of the Working Group are:

o To examine the current regulatory framework for CICs in terms of

adequacy, efficacy and effectiveness

of every component thereof and

suggest changes therein.

o To assess the appropriateness of and

suggest changes to the current

approach of the Reserve Bank of

India towards registration of CICs

including the practice of multiple

CICs being allowed within a group.

o To suggest measures to

strengthen corporate governance and

disclosure requirements for CICs.

To assess the adequacy of supervisory returns submitted by CICs and

suggest changes therein.

To suggest appropriate measures to enhance RBI‘s off-site surveillance and

on-site supervision over CICs.

o The working group, headed by Tapan Ray, shall submit its report by

October 31, 2019.

Core Investment Company

Core Investment Companies (CICs) are a specialized Non-Banking Financial

Companies (NBFCs).

They have asset size of Rs 100 crore and above.

Their main business is acquisition of shares and securities with certain

conditions.

It holds not less than 90% of its net assets in the form of investment in equity

shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group

companies.

Its investments in the equity shares (including instruments compulsorily

convertible into equity shares within a period not exceeding 10 years from the

date of issue) in group companies constitutes not less than 60% of its net

assets as mentioned in clause (iii) above.

It does not trade in its investments in shares, bonds, debentures, debt or

loans in group companies except through block sale for the purpose of

dilution or disinvestment.


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It does not carry on any other financial activity referred to in RBI Act, 1934

except investment in bank deposits, money market instruments, government

securities, loans to and investments in debt issuances of group companies or

guarantees issued on behalf of group companies.

It accepts public funds.

Group Companies

Group companies are an arrangement involving two or more entities related to

each other through any of the following relationships, viz.,Subsidiary, Joint

venture, Associate, Promoter-promotee for listed companies, a related party,

Common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20% and above.

3. ELEPHANT BONDS

Here bcos.......

A High Level Advisory Group on Trade Policy (HLAG) headed by Surjit S

Bhalla has recently suggested the government to issue ‗Elephant Bonds‘. This

will help India to recover up to $500 billion of black money that is stashed

overseas.

The HLAG was set up under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the

year 2018.

Key Points

An Elephant Bond is a 25-year sovereign bond (a bond issued by a national

government).

This bond is issued to those people who declare their previously undisclosed

income and are then bound to invest 50% of that amount in these securities.

The fund gathered by the issuance of these bonds is utilized to

finance infrastructure projects only.

HLAG recommended these bonds in order to boost India‘s growth by utilizing

the collected money (via this mechanism) to fund infrastructure projects in

the country.

One of the key features of the proposed mechanism is that those disclosing

their black money will receive immunity from all local laws including those

under foreign exchange, black money laws, and taxation laws.

This would enable people to bring their offshore undisclosed wealth into India

without fear of prosecution.

Countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, Argentina, and the Philippines have

already launched their own tax amnesty schemes for persons who disclose

undeclared income without the risk of prosecution.


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Tax amnesty is a limited-time opportunity for a specified group of taxpayers

to pay a defined amount, in exchange for forgiveness of tax liability (including

interests and penalties).

The move is also expected to bring down the real interest rate. It will

also strengthen the rupee.

4. DISINVESTMENT

What is Disinvestment?

Divestment refers to the act of a business or government selling or liquidating an

asset or subsidiary or the process of dilution of a government‘s stake in a PSU

(Public Sector Undertaking).

The concept of disinvestment follows the dictum: The government has no

business to be in business. Thus, the government continues to disinvest in

sectors where private companies are already the dominant players.

The government will reinitiate the process of divesting its stake in national

carrier Air India, even as it increased its disinvestment target in the Union

Budget 2019-20 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday.

The target for disinvestment receipts has increased to Rs 1.05 trillion for FY20,

from Rs 90,000 crore in the interim Budget presented in February. Significantly,

the finance minister said that the government‘s stake in non-financial public

sector units can go below the majority stake of 51 per cent. Instead of holding a

direct stake of 51 per cent in PSUs, ―government-controlled institutions‖ can

chip in the remaining sum which the government will look to divest. This move

will enable the government to retain control over such firms. The Finance

Minister reiterated that the government will make sure that its control is not

diluted after lowering its stake in public sector undertakings (PSUs) to below 51

per cent. The government will also continue with the strategic divestment of

select Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the

Ministry of Finance has been made the nodal department for the strategic stake

sale in the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).Till now, PSUs for strategic sale

were identified by NITI Aayog. From now, DIPAM and NITI

Aayog will jointly identify PSUs for strategic disinvestment.

Also, DIPAM secretary would now co-chair the inter-ministerial group on

disinvestment, along with the secretary of administrative ministries concerned.

This has done with a view to streamlining and speeding up the process, reducing

the role of administrative ministries which often used to place hurdles in the

path of major stake sales.


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Department of Investment and Public Asset Management

The Department of Disinvestment was one of the Departments under the

Ministry of Finance. It was renamed as Department of Investment and Public

Asset Management (DIPAM) from 14th April, 2016.

The mandate of the Department is as follows:

All matters relating to the management of Central Government investments in

equity including disinvestment of equity in Central Public Sector

Undertakings.

All matters relating to the sale of Central Government equity through offer for

sale or private placement or any other mode in the erstwhile Central Public

Sector Undertakings.

Strategic Disinvestment

Disinvestment means the dilution of stake of the Government in a public

enterprise.

Strategic disinvestment is transferring the ownership and control of a public

sector entity to some other entity (mostly to a private sector entity).

Unlike the simple disinvestment, strategic sale implies some sort of privatization.

According to the government, strategic disinvestment would imply the sale of a

substantial portion of the Government shareholding of a central public sector

enterprises (CPSE) of upto 50%, or such higher percentage as the competent

authority may determine, along with transfer of management control.

The Government has given ‗in-principle‘ approval for strategic disinvestment of

28 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) including subsidiaries, Units and

Joint Ventures with sale of majority stake of Government of India and transfer of

management control.

Besides, in certain other CPSEs, policy of minority stake sale without transfer of

management control through various SEBI approved methods, are being followed

in order to unlock the value, promote public ownership and higher degree of

accountability.The Minister further stated that the Cabinet Committee of

Economic Affairs (CCEA) is mandated to approve strategic disinvestment of

CPSEs. There is no approval yet of the CCEA with regard to strategic

disinvestment of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Container

Corporation and Shipping Corporation of India.

Strategic disinvestment in India has been guided by the basic economic principle

that the government should not be in the business to engage itself in

manufacturing/producing goods and services in sectors where competitive

markets have come of age, and economic potential of such entities may be better


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discovered in the hands of the strategic investors due to various factors, e.g.

infusion of capital, technology up-gradation and efficient management practices

etc.

The 1991 New Economic Policy, presented by then finance minister Manmohan

Singh pointed out several objectives for disinvestment.

These objectives were as follows:

Reducing the financial burden on the government,

improving public finances,

introducing competition and market discipline,

funding growth,

encouraging wider share of ownership, and depoliticising non-essential

services.

Disinvestment policy[as per recent budget]:A major source of additional

revenue projected in the Budget is by having an active disinvestment policy.

Disinvestment is expected to generate ₹1,05,000 crore, which is almost ₹15,000

crore higher than what was taken in the interim Budget.

The Budget speech also speaks about an active disinvestment policy beginning

with Air India.

Importance:

Improving the structure of incentives and accountability of PSUs in India.

Financing the increasing fiscal deficit.

Financing large-scale infrastructure development, defense, education,

healthcare etc.

For investing in the economy to encourage spending.

Brings about greater efficiencies for the economy and markets as a whole.

Bring relief to consumers by way of more choices and better quality of

products and services, e.g. Telecom sector.

Concerns:

Process of disinvestment is not favoured socially as it is against the interest

of socially disadvantageous people.

Political pressure from left and opposition.

Loss making units don‘t attract investment so easily.

Over the years, the policy of divestment has increasingly become a tool to

raise resources to cover the fiscal deficit with little focus on market discipline

or strategic objective.


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Sometimes the emergence of private monopolies, consumer welfare will be

reduced.

It is argued that mere change of ownership, from public to private, does not

ensure higher efficiency and productivity.

It may lead to retrenchment of workers who will be deprived of the means of

their livelihood.

Private sector, governed as they are by profit motive, has a tendency to use

capital-intensive techniques which will worsen unemployment problem in

India.

Fiscal 2016-17 is the seventh year in a row where the government is not

meeting the disinvestment target fixed in the Budget.

5. CO-OPERATIVE BANKS AND PMC CRISIS

History of Cooperative Banking in India:

Cooperative movement in India was started primarily for dealing with the

problem of rural credit. The history of Indian cooperative banking started with

the passing of Cooperative Societies Act in 1904. The objective of this Act was to

establish cooperative credit societies ―to encourage thrift, self-help and

cooperation among agriculturists, artisans and persons of limited means.‖

Many cooperative credit societies were set up under this Act. The Cooperative

Societies Act, 1912 recognised the need for establishing new organisations for

supervision, auditing and supply of cooperative credit. These organisations were-

(a) A union, consisting of primary societies; (b) the central banks; and (c)

provincial banks.

Structure of Cooperative Banking:

NOTE:

State level : State Co-op

banks

District Level : Central Co-op

banks

Village Level : Primary

Agricultural credit society

In 19 states, there exists a 3-

tier short-term cooperative

credit structure, comprising

SCBs, CCBs and PACSs. And


SMART NEWS

in 12 states, there exists a 2-tier short-term cooperative structure. In the north-

eastern states, including Sikkim, the structure is 2-tier, comprising only SCBs

and PACSs.

As on March 31, 2013, the number of SCBs was 31, of CCBs was 370 and of

PACSs was 92432.

As on March 31, 2012, the loans advanced by

SCBs were Rs. 75600 crore,

CCBs were Rs. 14400 crore

PACSs were Rs. 91200 crore.

WHO REGULATES CO-OPERATIVE BANKS ?????

State (Urban) co-op : RBI

Central (Rural) co-op : State government

Pros

(a) Co-operative credit societies are best suited to the socio-economic conditions

of the Indian villages.

(b) A vast network of the cooperative credit societies has been built over the

years throughout the length and breadth of the country. This network can

neither be duplicated nor be surpassed easily.

(c) The cooperative institutions have developed intimate knowledge of the local

conditions and problems of rural areas.

(d) Cheap Rural Credit, Alternative Credit Source, Suitable Federal Structure of

Cooperative Banking System

Cons

(a) Indifferent management or mismanagement of primary societies;

(b) Unsound lending policies resulting in over-lending or lending unrelated to

actual needs, diversions of loans for other purposes;

(c) Vested interests and group politics in societies and willful defaulters;

(d) Inadequate supervision over the use of loans and poor recovery efforts;

(e) Lack of adequate control of central cooperative banks over primary societies;

(f) Lack of proper links between credit and marketing institutions;

(g) Failure to take quick action against willful defaulters; and

(h) Uncertain agricultural prices.

PMC (Punjab and Maharashtra Co-op bank) crisis:

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) website on urban co-operative banks (UCBs)

currently shows that 24 such local area lenders from all four corners of the

country have either been placed under fresh central bank directions or have


SMART NEWS

received an extension, requiring them to freeze lending and cap withdrawal of

deposits.

These include Bidar Mahila Cooperative Bank from Karnataka, Sri Anand Co-

operative Bank from Pune, Kolikata Mahila Co-operative Bank from Kolkata

Hindu Cooperative Bank from Punjab.

These banks have been placed under directions at different times during the

year, with a similar Rs 1,000 per account withdrawal limit for depositors.

These curbs didn‘t draw media attention. However, the sudden near-collapse of

Punjab Mumbai Co-operative Bank (PMC) last week has once again put the

spotlight on UCBs — and risks and problems associated with them.

Together, UCBs accounted for 4% of deposits and 3% of outstanding loans in the

banking system in 2018, although they have a major role in bringing the benefits

of formal banking to the unbanked and under-banked.

What is the problem????

PMC is the largest cooperative bank to be put under RBI watch since the

2001 Madhavpura Bank crisis that was linked to a stock market scam. Both tell

similar tales of profligacy and risk exposure. At Madhavpura, the exposure was

to a stock broker. At PMC, about two-thirds of loans are to allegedly a single —

and now bankrupt — client in the property business. The central bank defines

both as ‗sensitive‘ sectors.

PMC‘s results in FY19 show no issues with the bank, with net NPAs of 2.19%

and capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 12.62% — above the RBI‘s 9% threshold. It

was among the top five co-operative lenders in India, with a loan book of Rs

8,383 crore. However, this exposure excludes the bank‘s Rs 6,500-crore

hidden loans to HDIL as of March 2019, which is facing insolvency proceedings

in the NCLT. In other words, PMC‘s official exposure to HDIL constituted more

than 75% of the bank‘s total loans. The bank mangement replaced 44 loan

accounts with 2.19% and capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 12.62% — above the

RBI‘s 9% threshold.

It was among the top five co-operative lenders in India, with a loan book of Rs

8,383 crore. However, this exposure excludes the bank‘s Rs 6,500-crore hidden

loans to HDIL as of March 2019, which is facing insolvency proceedings in the

NCLT. In other words, PMC‘s official exposure to HDIL constituted more than

75% of the bank‘s total loans. The bank mangement replaced 44 loan accounts

with 21,049 dummy accounts.


SMART NEWS

DOTTED-LINE SUPERVISION

Although RBI regulates co-operative banks from the financial aspects, the

management supervision is done by state and central governments. In other

words, RBI can prescribe the best practices to run a bank but cannot make any

changes in the bank management unless in an emergency situation.

UCBs are primarily registered as cooperative societies under the provisions of

either the State Cooperative Societies Act of the state concerned or the Multi

State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

RBI prescribes prudential norms for capital adequacy, income recognition, asset

classification and provisioning, loans and advances, investments and liquidity

requirements. Further, guidelines have also been given to UCBs in respect of

single/group exposure norms and sectoral exposures.

The issues in co-operative banks span governance, technology, capital and skill

sets. This is a 200-year-old sector in India and is, in a way, the genesis for

banking in India, so there are legacy issues. Unfortunately, the RBI is not in full

control; so it is up to these banks whether they want to change their processes

and systems or become extinct.

There is also the question of cross holding of deposits within these banks, with

ultimately the small saver holding the can. PMC, for example, had accounts of

other cooperative banks, 1,754 co-operative credit societies, including ironically,

the RBI employees‘ credit society, and 15,000 other cooperative societies‘

accounts that also include co-operative housing societies, said the suspended

MD Thomas.

In Maharashtra, co-operative banks typically hold deposits for other credit

societies and also housing societies, as local laws mandate that these societies

compulsorily keep their deposits with such banks. Again this is a legislative

mandate and the RBI can do nothing to change it.

Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation

Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) is a wholly

owned subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India. It was established on 15 July 1978

under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961 for the

purpose of providing insurance of deposits and guaranteeing of credit facilities.

DICGC insures all bank deposits, such as saving, fixed, current, recurring

deposit for up to the limit of Rs. 100,000 of each deposits in a bank.

Who are insured by the DICGC ?

The corporation covers all commercial and co-operative banks, except in

Meghalaya, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Only


SMART NEWS

primary cooperative societies are not insured by the DICGC. All bank deposits--

savings, fixed, current and recurring—payable in India are covered. However, the

DICGC does not include the following types of deposits:

Deposits of foreign governments

Deposits of central/state governments

Inter-bank deposits

Deposits of the state land development banks with the state co-operative

bank

Any amount due on account of any deposit received outside India

Any amount specifically exempted by the DICGC with previous approval of

RBI

How much will a depositor get as insurance?

Insurance limit for each depositor in a bank is capped at Rs.1 lakh, including

both principal and interest amounts. In case a bank goes into liquidation,

depositors get the insurance money as per their deposits for a maximum of up

to ₹1 lakh. The same math applies if a failed bank is amalgamated, merged or

reconstructed. If a person keeps the deposits in different branches of a bank,

they are paid a maximum of up to Rs.1 lakh only on the aggregate amount.

What happens to single or multi-account holders?

A single-ownership account or an account owned by a single person will only get

an insurance cover of a maximum of up to ₹1 lakh irrespective of funds kept in

one or more branches of the same bank. The DICGC adds all funds held in

different branches before determining the deposit insurance. In case of different

types of ownership, the corporation would insure them separately. If a depositor

has two separate accounts in two banks and both shut down, then they are

covered separately.

What about deposits held in joint accounts?

If individuals jointly hold more than one deposit account in one or more

branches of a bank and if their names are registered in the same order

everywhere, then all these accounts are considered as one. The DICGC

calculates the deposit insurance for such depositors by adding funds from all the

branches and allowing insurance of up to ₹1 lakh on the aggregate amount.

However, depositors get separate insurance cover of up to Rs.1 lakh for joint

accounts where the names appear in different order or the set of names are

different in each account.


SMART NEWS

How do you know if your bank is DICGC insured?

The deposit insurance scheme is mandatory for all banks and no bank can

voluntarily withdraw from it. However, the DICGC has the power and right to

cancel the registration of an insured bank if it fails to pay the premium for three

consecutive half-year periods. If a bank is no more under the DICGC‘s coverage

following the defaults, then depositors are notified through newspapers.

6. EGMONT GROUP

Here Because….

India will host the next edition of the ‗No Money For Terror‘ conference to be held

in 2020 by the group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) called the EGMONT

group. The Egmont Group is a united body of 164 Financial Intelligence Units

(FIUs). The Egmont Group provides a platform for the secure exchange of

expertise and financial intelligence to

combat money laundering and

terrorist financing (ML/TF).

This is especially relevant as FIUs are

uniquely positioned to cooperate and

support national and international

efforts to counter terrorist financing

and are the trusted gateway for

sharing financial information

domestically and internationally in accordance with global Anti Money

Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards.

Why is this important?

Money laundering and the financing of terrorism are serious crimes that

threaten to destabilise the global economy.The Egmont Group was created to

provide FIUs around the world a forum to exchange information confidentially to

combat money laundering, financing of terrorism and other predicate

offences.The 'No Money For Terror' conference was held less than a month after

the international terror financing watchdog FATF put Pakistan on notice,

warning the country that it will be blacklisted if it does not control terror funding

by February next.

Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has given notice to the global

financial institutions that they need to prepare to red flag the jurisdiction and

ready their systems in February 2020 if Pakistan falters in meeting the

targets."It was again decided by consensus that FATF would retain Pakistan on

the Grey List and warn Pakistan that if it did not complete its full Action Plan

and show significant and sustainable progress action will be taken," an official

had said, adding that the FATF voiced serious concern over that country's failure

to deliver on most of its 27 targets.


SMART NEWS

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. FASTAG

From December 1, FASTags will be mandatory for toll payment on National

Highways.

Implications:

The objective is to

remove bottlenecks and

capture all toll

electronically.

All 560-odd plazas

under the control of the

National Highways

Authority of India

(NHAI) will collect toll

without human

intervention, and

vehicles need not stop

to pay toll.

How does FASTag

work?

The device

employs Radio

Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for payments directly from the

prepaid or savings account linked to it.

It is affixed on the windscreen, so the vehicle can drive through plazas

without stopping.

It is valid for five years, and can be recharged as and when required.

The payment method is a part of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC)

programme. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) collects the

payments.

Why do we need this scheme?

• According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), these devices

will make passing through tolls considerably smoother since drivers will no

longer have to carry cash or stop to make a transaction.

• Cameras at toll booths will take photos of passengers in a vehicle, which will

be useful for the Ministry of Home Affairs as there will be a record of a

vehicle‘s movement.


SMART NEWS

2. CARTOSAT

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched Cartosat-3 and 13

commercial nanosatellites into Sun Synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan

Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.

Cartosat-3 is an earth-observation remote sensing satellite which will replace

Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series. So far, ISRO has orbited 8 Cartosats

since 2005.

○ Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or

areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites.

The 13 commercial nanosatellites are from the USA, which is the first

commercial order for New Space India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO

which was formed in March 2019.

Key Point

Cartosat-3 is a third-generation advanced earth observation satellite carried

by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C47.

○ PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an indigenously-developed

expendable launch system of the ISRO.

Resolution: It has the 'sharpest eye' of civil remote sensing satellites in the

world.

○ One of Cartosat-3‘s cameras offers a ground resolution of 25 cm - it can

pick up an object of a minimum of 25 cm size from a height of around 500

km.

○ Currently, a satellite owned by US private company- WorldView-3, has the

best ground resolution of 31 cm.

Weight: At 1,625 kg, Cartosat-3 is unusually heavy and more than double the

mass of the previous eight in its class.

Orbit: PSLV will place Cartosat 3 in an orbit of 509 km.

Inclination: It has been placed at 97.5 degrees to the equator of the earth.

It has many new technologies such as a highly agile or flexible camera; high-

speed data transmission, advanced computer system, etc.

Applications

Data from most of the Cartosat satellites are exclusively used by the armed

forces.

However, an existing policy allows only government and government

authorised agencies to access ISRO's high-resolution imageries below a

resolution of 1 metre.


SMART NEWS

Cartosat-3‘s optical imaging will also help to detect precise cartographic or

mapping activities.

The imageries are also used for urban and rural infrastructure planning,

coastal land use and regulation, utility management such as monitoring road

networks, water grids or distribution, creation of land use maps, disaster

management, etc.

Cartosat Satellites

The Cartosat satellites are earth observation satellites, used mainly for large-

scale mapping of the Earth through high-resolution cameras.

It also helps to detect changes in natural geographical or man-made features.

As their cameras can `look back and forth' in an angle to generate continuous

spot images.

The Earth-observation satellites also include the Resourcesat and RISAT

series, the Oceansat series.

○ The Resourcesat and RISAT series of satellites, for example, provide images

and data that are needed for land and water resources applications.

○ The Oceansat series and the SARAL satellite, meanwhile, produce data on

the oceans.

○ The satellites like INSAT 3D, INSAT-VRR or Megha Tropiques study the

atmosphere.

○

PSLV-C47 Mission Specifications

Mean altitude 509 km

Mean inclination 97.5°

Overall Mass 1625 kg

Power Generation 2000W

Mission Life 5 years

3. ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

What is Antimicrobial Resistance?

Anti microbial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism

(bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as

antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are

used to treat infections.

As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and

may spread to others.


SMART NEWS

Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred

to as ―superbugs‖.

Antimicrobial resistance is now regarded as a major threat to public health

across the globe.

How it Happens?

Some bacteria due to the presence of resistance genes are intrinsically

resistant and therefore survive on being exposed to antibiotics.

Bacteria can also acquire resistance. This can happen in two ways:

○ by sharing and transferring resistance genes present in the rest of the

population or

○ by genetic mutations that help the bacteria survive antibiotic exposure.

Ultima Thule is located in the Kuiper belt in the outermost regions of the Solar

System, beyond the orbit of Neptune.It measures approximately 30 km in

diameter, and is irregularly shaped.Ultima Thule has a reddish color, probably

caused by exposure of hydrocarbons to sunlight over billions ofyears. It will be

another first for New Horizons, the farthest planetary flyby in human

history.Its new name is Arrokoth.

4. ULTIMA THULE

NASA has found evidence for a unique

mixture of methanol, water, ice and

organic molecules on Ultima

Thule's surface

NASA has published the first profile

of Ultima Thule, an ancient relic

from the era of planet formation

revealing details about the complex

space object.

Researchers are investigating a

range of surface features on Ultima

Thule, such as bright spots and patches, hills and troughs, and craters and

pits on it.

The largest depression is a 8-kilometer-wide, the team has

nicknamed Maryland crater, likely formed from an impact.

Colour and composition: of Ultima Thule resembles many other objects found

in its area of the Kuiper Belt. Its reddish hue is believed to be caused by

modification of the organic materials on its surface.


SMART NEWS

About Ultima Thule

NASA‘s New Horizons spacecraft flew past the icy object nicknamed Ultima

Thule (TOO-lee) in Kuiper belt.

It is a contact binary, with two distinctly differently shaped lobes. It consists

of a large, strangely flat lobe nicknamed "Ultima" connected to a smaller,

somewhat rounder lobe dubbed "Thule" at a juncture.

The lobes likely once orbited each other until some process brought them

together in what scientists have shown to be a "gentle" merger.

The alignment of the axes of Ultima and Thule indicates that before the

merger the two lobes must have become tidally locked, meaning that the

same sides always faced each other as they orbited around the same point.

The discoveries made about Ultima Thule are going to advance theories of solar

system formation.


SMART NEWS

SCHEMES

1. ONE STOP CENTRES

Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), has formulated a Centrally

Sponsored Scheme for setting up One Stop Centre, a sub - scheme of Umbrella

Scheme for National Mission for Empowerment of women including Indira

Gandhi Mattritav Sahyaog Yojana. Popularly known as Sakhi, the scheme is

being implemented since 1st April 2015. These Centres are being established

across the country to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof

to women affected by violence, both in private and public spaces in phased

manner.

Objective

One Stop Centres (OSC) are intended to support women affected by violence, in

private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace.

Women facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse,

irrespective of age, class, caste, education status, marital status, race and

culture will be facilitated with support and redressal. Aggrieved women facing

any kind of violence due to attempted sexual harassment, sexual assault,

domestic violence, trafficking, honour related crimes, acid attacks or witch-

hunting who have reached out or been referred to the OSC will be provided with

specialized services.

The objectives of the Scheme are:

To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence,

both in private and public spaces under one roof.

To facilitate immediate, emergency and non - emergency access to a range of

services including medical, legal, psychological and counselling support under

one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.

Target group

The OSC will support all women including girls below 18 years of age affected by

violence, irrespective of caste, class, religion, region, sexual orientation or

marital status.

Services offered in OSCs

The Centres will be integrated with a Women Helpline to facilitate access to

following services.

Emergency Response and Rescue Services - OSC will provide rescue and referral

services to the women affected by violence . For this, linkages will be developed

with existing mechanisms such as National Health Mission (NHM ), 108 service,

police (PCR Van) so that the woman affected by violence can either be rescued


SMART NEWS

from the location and referred to the nearest medical facility (Public/ Private) or

shelter home.

Medical assistance - Women affected by violence would be referred to the nearest

Hospital for medical aid/examination which would be undertaken as per the

guidelines and protocols developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Assistance to women in lodging FIR /NCR/DIR

Psycho - social support/ counselling - A skilled counsellor providing psycho -

social counselling services would be available on call. This c ounselling process

will give women confidence and support to address violence or to seek justice for

the violence perpetuated. Counsellors shall follow a prescribed code of ethics,

guidelines and protocols in providing counselling services.

Legal aid and counselling - To facilitate access to justice for women affected by

violence, legal aid and counselling would be provided at OSC through

empanelled Lawyers or National/ State/District Legal Service Authority. The

aggrieved woman would be provided with an advocate of her choice in case she

wants to engage the same to assist the State Prosecutors in trying her case. It

would be the responsibility of the Lawyer /Prosecutor to simplify legal

procedures for the aggrieved woman and advocate for her exemption from court

hearings. In case the trial or inquiry relates to an offence of rape as defined

under section 376, 376A - D IPC, it would be the duty of the Prosecutors trying

the case to complete the inquiry or trial as far as possible within a period of two

months from the date of filing of charge sheet.

Shelter - The OSC will provide temporary shelter facility to aggrieved women. For

long term shelter requirements, arrangements will be made with Swadhar

Greh/Short Stay Homes (managed/affiliated with government/NGO). Women

affected by violence along with their children (girls of all ages and boys up till 8

years of age) can avail temporary shelter at the OSC for a maximum period of 5

days. The admissibility of any woman to the temporary shelter would be at the

discretion of Centre Administrator.

Video Conferencing Facility - To facilitate speedy and hassle free police and court

proceedings the OSC will provide video conferencing facility (through Skype,

Google Conferencing etc.). Through this facility if the aggrieved woman wants,

she can record her statement for police/ courts from OSC itself using audio -

video electronic means as prescribed under sections 161(3), 164(1) and 275(1) of

the Code of Criminal Procedure and section 231(1) in line with Order XVIII Rule

4 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This facility will be provided only after

consultation among Superintendent of Police, District and Sessions Judge of the

concerned district (place of incident).


SMART NEWS

Accessing One Stop Centre

A woman affected by violence can access OSC in the following manner:

By herself; or

Through any person including any public spirited citizen, public servant (as

defin ed under section 21 of Indian Penal Code, 1860), relative, friend, NGO,

volunteer etc. , or

Through Women Helpline integrated with police, ambulance and other

emergency response helplines.

As soon as the complaint is registered a text message ( SMS /Internet ) would be

sent to the DPO/PO/ CDPO/ SHO/ DM/ SP/ DYSP /CMO /PO of the

district/area as required. When an aggrieved woman approaches the OSC for

help either in person or if anybody approaches on her behalf, the case details

will be fed in to a system as per the prescribed format and a Unique ID Number

will be generated.

2. INTENSIFIED MISSION INDRADHANUSH

Immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as ‗Expanded

Programme of Immunization‘ (EPI) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

Government of India. In 1985, the programme was modified as ‗Universal

Immunization Programme‘ (UIP) to be implemented in phased manner to cover

all districts in the country by 1989-90 with the one of largest health programme

in the world. Despite being operational for many years, UIP has been able to fully

immunize only 65% children in the first year of their life.

Mission Indradhanush

To strengthen and re-energize the programme and

achieve full immunization coverage for all children

and pregnant women at a rapid pace, the

Government of India launched ―Mission

Indradhanush‖ in December 2014.

Goal of Mission Indradhanush:

The ultimate goal of Mission Indradhanush is to

ensure full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years

of age and pregnant women. The Government has identified 201 high focus

districts across 28 states in the country that have the highest number of

partially immunized and unimmunized children.

Earlier the increase in full immunization coverage was 1% per year which has

increased to 6.7% per year through the first two phases of Mission


SMART NEWS

Indradhanush. Four phases of Mission Indradhanush have been conducted till

August 2017 and more than 2.53 crore children and 68 lakh pregnant women

have been vaccinated.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

To further intensify the immunization programme, Prime Minister Shri Narendra

Modi launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) on October 8, 2017.

Through this programme, Government of India aims to reach each and every

child up to two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left

uncovered under the routine immunisation programme/UIP. The special drive

will focus on improving immunisation coverage in select districts and cities to

ensure full immunisation to more than 90% by December 2018. The

achievement of full immunisation under Mission Indradhanush to at least 90%

coverage was to be achieved by 2020 earlier. With the launch of IMI,

achievement of the target has now been advanced.

Under IMI, four consecutive immunization rounds will be conducted for 7 days

in 173 districts (121 districts and 17 cities in 16 states and 52 districts in 8

northeastern states) every month

between October 2017 and January

2018. Intensified Mission

Indradhanush will cover low

performing areas in the selected

districts (high priority districts) and

urban areas. Special attention will be

given to unserved/low coverage

pockets in sub-centre and urban

slums with migratory population.

The focus is also on the urban

settlements and cities identified

under National Urban Health

Mission (NUHM).

Through UIP, Government of India is

providing vaccination free of cost

against vaccine preventable diseases

include diphtheria, pertussis,

tetanus, polio, measles, severe form

of childhood tuberculosis, hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia (Hemophilus

influenza type B infections), Japanese encephalitis (JE) in JE endemic districts

with introduction of newer vaccines such as rotavirus vaccine, IPV, adult JE

vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and measles-rubella (MR)

vaccine in UIP/national immunization programme.


SMART NEWS

3. BHARATIYA POSHAN KRISHI KOSH

The BPKK will be a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones in

India for better nutritional outcomes.The country has been broadly divided into

fifteen agricultural regions based on agro climatic features, particularly soil type,

climate including temperature and rainfall and its variation and water

resources.During the launch event, the father of the Green Revolution in India,

M S Swaminathan put forward the five-point action programme for making India

nutrition secure.

These are:

Ensure calorie rich diet for women, expectant mothers and children.

Ensure intake of proteins in the form of pulses to eradicate protein hunger in

women and children.Eradicate hidden hunger due to deficiency of

micronutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B, Iron and Zinc.Ensure clean drinking

water supply.Spreading nutrition literacy in every village particularly in mothers

with children less than 100 days‘ old.

The five point action programme also aligns with different Sustainable

Development Goals such as SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well

Being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

The launch of POSHAN Abhiyaan in 2018, the Prime Minister‘s Overarching

Scheme for Holistic Nutrition to reduce malnutrition through a multi-sectoral

results-based framework, offers India an opportunity to reduce malnutrition. The

Mission aims at targeted reduction of stunting, undernutrition, anemia and low

birth weight babies. A novel feature of the POSHAN Abhiyaan is its focus on

social and behavioral change among parents and for improving linkages between

communities and the health systems towards paving the way for a mass

movement to promote a transformative change.

4. NISHTHA

Union HRD Minister launches NISHTHA to build capacities of 42 Lakh

government teachers across the country.

About NISHTHA:

NISHTHA is the world‘s largest teachers‘ training programme of its kind in the

world.

It has been launched to improve Learning Outcomes at the Elementary level.

The basic objective of this massive training programme is to motivate and equip

teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students.

The initiative is first of its kind wherein standardized training modules are

developed at national level for all States and UTs. However, States and UTs can

contextualize the training modules and use their own material and resource


SMART NEWS

persons also, keeping in view the core topics and expected outcomes of

NISHTHA.

The prominent features of this integrated programme are activity based modules

including educational games and quizzes, Social-emotional learning,

motivational interactions, team building, preparation for school based

assessment, in-built continuous feedback mechanism, online monitoring and

support system, training need and impact analysis (Pre and Post training).

Expected outcomes:

Teachers will get awareness and develop their skills on various aspects related to

Learning Outcomes, Competency Based Learning and Testing, Learner-centered

Pedagogy, School Safety and Security etc.This integrated programme aims to

build the capacities of around 42 lakh participants covering all teachers and

Heads of Schools at the elementary level in all Government schools, faculty

members of State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs),

District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) as well as Block Resource

Coordinators and Cluster Resource Coordinators in all States and UTs.

Need and necessity for such programmes:

Teachers today are also expected to be aware of the provisions regarding Gender,

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and the Protection of Children from

Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The integrated programme therefore seeks to train

all heads and teachers as first level counsellors to be alert and responsive to the

needs of the students, in addition to promoting joyful learning and taking special

care of the requirements of special children.

Here bcos....... ?

Context: NISHTHA- National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’

Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) has been launched in the Union Territory

of Jammu and Kashmir.

5. PRADAN MANTRI MATRU VANDANA YOJANA:

Under - nutrition continues to adversely affect majority of women in India. In

India, every third woman is undernourished and every second woman is

anaemic. An undernourished mother almost inevitably gives birth to a low birth

weight baby. When poor nutrition starts in - utero, it extends throughout the life

cycle since the changes are largely irreversible. Owing to economic and social

distress many women continue to work to earn a living for their family right up

to the last days of their pregnancy. Furthermore, they resume working soon after

childbirth, even though their bodies might not permit it, thus preventing their

bodies from fully recovering on one hand, and also impeding their ability to

exclusively breastfeed their young infant in the first six months.Pradhan Mantri


SMART NEWS

Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit Programme that is

implemented in all the districts of the country in accordance with the provision

of the National Food Security Act, 2013.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit

rechristened from erstwhile Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). The

IGMSY was launched in 2010.

Objectives

Providing partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentive s so

that the woman can take adequate res t before and after delivery of the first

living child.

The cash incentive provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour

amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PWand LM).

Target beneficiaries

All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers, excluding PWandLM who are in

regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or

PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time

being in force.All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their

pregnancy on or after 01.01.2017 for first child in family. The date and stage of

pregnancy for a beneficiary would be counted with respect to her LMP date as

mentioned in the MCP card.

Case of Miscarriage/Still Birth :

A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.

In case of miscarriage/still birth, the beneficiary would be eligible to claim the

remaining instalment(s) in event of any future pregnancy.

Thus, after receiving the 1st instalment, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage, she

would only be eligible for receiving 2nd and 3rd instalment in event of future

pregnancy subject to fulfilment of eligibility criterion and conditionalities of the

scheme. Similarly, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage or still birth after

receiving 1 st and 2nd instalments, she would only be eligible for receiving 3rd

instalment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfilment of eligibility

criterion and conditionalities of the scheme.

Case of Infant Mortality: A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the

scheme only once. That is, in case of infant mortality, she will not be eligible for

claiming benefits under the scheme, if she has already received all the

instalments of the maternity benefit under PMMVY earlier.


SMART NEWS

Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/ ASHA may also avail the benefits under

the PMMVY subject to fulfilment of scheme conditionalities.

Benefits under PMMVY

Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three instalments i.e. first instalment of Rs 1000/ -

on early registration of pregnancy at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) / approved

Health facility as may be identified by the respective administering State / UT,

second instalment of Rs 2000/ - after six months of pregnancy on receiving at

least one ante-natal check-up (ANC) and third instalment of Rs 2000/ - after

child birth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV,

DPT and Hepatitis - B, or its equivalent/ substitute.

The eligible beneficiaries would receive the incentive given under the Janani

Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for Institutional delivery and the incentive received under

JSY would be accounted towards maternity benefits so that on an average a

woman gets Rs 6000 / -

6. PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN MAAN-DHAN YOJANA (PM-KMY)

is an old age pension scheme for all land holding Small and Marginal Farmers

(SMFs) in the country. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the

entry age group of 18 to 40 years. The Scheme is effective from the 9thAugust,

2019.

Salient features

It is voluntary and contributory for farmers in the entry age group of 18 to 40

years and a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- will be provided to them on attaining

the age of 60 years.

The farmers will have to make a monthly contribution of Rs.55 to Rs.200,

depending on their age of entry, in the Pension Fund till they reach the

retirement date i.e. the age of 60 years. The farmers will have to make a monthly

contribution of Rs.55 to Rs.200, depending on their age of entry, in the Pension

Fund till they reach the retirement date i.e. the age of 60 years.

The monthly contributions will fall due on the same day every month as

enrolment date. The beneficiaries may also chose an option to pay their

contributions on quarterly, 4-monthly or half-yearly basis. Such

contributionswill fall dueon the same day of such period as the date of

enrollment

The spouse is also eligible to get a separate pension of Rs.3000/- upon making

separate contributions to the Fund.


SMART NEWS

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) shall be the Pension Fund Manager

and responsible for Pension pay out.

In case of death of the farmer before retirement date, the spouse may continue in

the scheme by paying the remaining contributions till the remaining age of the

deceased farmer. If the spouse does not wish to continue, the total contribution

made by the farmer along with interest will be paid to the spouse. If there is no

spouse, then total contribution along with interest will be paid to the nominee.

If the farmer dies after the retirement date, the spouse will receive 50% of the

pension as Family Pension. After the death of both the farmer and the spouse,

the accumulated corpus shall be credited back to the Pension Fund.

The beneficiaries may opt voluntarily to exit the Scheme after a minimum period

of 5 years of regular contributions. On exit, their entire contribution shall be

returned by LIC with an interest equivalent to prevailing saving bank rates.

Eligibility

Small and Marginal Farmer (SMF) - a farmer who owns cultivable land upto 2

hectare as per land records of the concerned State/UT.

Age of 18- 40 years

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