byju’s classes bank boards bureau...bank boards bureau what is it? • it is an autonomous body...
TRANSCRIPT
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BankBoardsBureau
Whatisit?
• Itisanautonomousbody,envisagedunderthegovernment'sIndradhanushprogrammetorevampthefunctioningofstaterunbank's.
CoreFunction:
• Itwillselectexecutivesinleadershippositionofstaterunbanksandalsohelplendersraisecapitalanddevelopbusinessstrategieslikemergersandacquistions.
• Thebureauwillreplacetheboardforappointmentofwholetimedirectorsaswellasnonexecutivechairmanofpublicsectorbanks(PSBs).ItwillalsoengagewithboardsofdirectorsofallPSBstoformulateappropriatestrategiesfortheirgrowthanddevelopment
FACTS:
Composition:
• Thebureauwillhavethreeex-officiomembersandthreeexpertmembers,inadditiontotheChairman.
FirstChairmanoftheboard:VinodRai(FormerCAGI)
(SomequestionshavebeenraisedonMr.Rai'sappointment.Thereasonis,underarticle148(4)oftheconstitution,aformerCAGcannotholdagovernmentofficepost-retirement.
Thedefenceisthat,theroleisadvisoryinnatureandapart-timeposition.Thegovernmentreleasesaidtheappointmentshavebeenmadeforaperiodoftwoyears.)
Administrativeministry:MinistryofFinance
Objective:
• Ithasbeensetupwithamandatetoseparatethefunctioningofbanksfromthegovernmentbycreatinganotherentitytoactasalinkbetweenthetwo.
Whydoesthisbecomeimportant?
• Staterunbanksarestrugglingwithhighlevelsofbaddebtandhugelosses(GrossNPA'sin39listedbankshasincreasedby50pcindec2015quartervis-a-visthepreviousquarter-anestimatedamountofaroundRs4.37Lakhcrores)
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• ThebanksneedtoraisecapitalofRs.2.4lakhcroreby2018toconformtoBasel-IIIcapitalrequirementnorms
• Duetobalancesheetcleanup,profitabilityofallstaterunbankshasbeenimpactedandtherefore,theyaredependentonthegovernmentforcapitalisation
Advantages:
• Itwillhelpcreateaholdingcompanyforgovernment'sstakesin27staterunbanks,whichwillfacilitateconsolidationofbankingsector
• Itwillhelpidentifyrightfitswhenitcomestomergers.• Itwillbringinacultureofprofessionalismandvibrantleadershipinthefinancialsphere.
Possiblechallenges:
• ForBBBtobeeffective,itshouldenjoymeaningfulautonomyfreefrompoliticalinterference,forwhichtimeisthebestjudge
• Choosingmemberswhoarewellversedwiththesystemandcantaketoughdecisions
(StudentsshouldalsorefertheNewbankruptcycodepassedbytheparliamentandalsokeeptrackoflatestdevelopmentsrelatedtoissuesofbankingandinvestmentlikeMonetarypolicycommittee,InflationTargetting,SubsidyRationingetc
FormoreinfopleasevisitourwebsiteforarticlesoncurrentissuesunderIssuesinNewsSection.)
Prithvi-IImissiletest-fired
• Indiatest-fireditsindigenouslydevelopednuclear-capablePrithvi-IIsurface-to-surfacemissilefromatestrangeinOdisha.
• Themissileiscapableofcarryingwarheadsweighing500kgto1,000kg.• Thestrategicforcescommand(SFC)oftheArmyconductedthetestaspartofaregulartraining
exercise.• Withastrikerangeof350km,Prithvi-IIispoweredbytwin-engineswhichuseliquidpropulsion.• Itusesadvancedinertialguidancesystemwithmanoeuvringtrajectorytohititstarget.• PrithviisIndia'sfirstindigenously-builtballisticmissile.Itisoneofthefivemissilesbeing
developedunderthecountry'sIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgramme.• Themissilewasinductedintothearmedforcesin2003
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(StudentNote:StudentareadvisedtogothroughthecomparisonofdifferentmissileslikePrithvi,Agniseries,BrahMos,Dhanush,Akashetc.Thecomparisonshouldbedoneonlyforcorefeaturesliketypeofwarhead,whethernuclearcapable,range,ballisticorcruiseandwhethersurfacetosurface,airtoairetc)
Li-Fi:
• Li-Fireferstovisiblelightcommunications(VLC)technology,whichdelivershigh-speed,bidirectional,networkedmobilecommunicationsinamannersimilartoWi-Fi
• ThetermwascoinedbyHaraldHass• Itisaformofvisiblelightcommunicationandasubsetofopticalwireless
communications(OWC)andcouldbeacomplementtoRFCommunication(Wi-Fiorcellularnetworks)
• Enablespeopleconnectedtoonesetoflightstomovetoanothersetoflightswhilemaintainingnetworkingsession
DifferenceBetweenBallisticandCruiseMissile:
Aballisticmissileisusedtohitapredeterminedtarget.Itstrajectorycanroughlybedividedintotwophases.Itislaunchedinsuchawaythatitburnsmostofitsfueltoattainthedesiredvelocityinthefirstphasecalledtheboostphase.Themissilecanonlybeguidedduringthepoweredphaseofflight.
Unlikeaballisticmissile,acruisemissileisasmallpilotlessaircraftthatcarriesanexplosivewarhead.Ithaswingsandanengineandisdesignedtobeextremelyaccurate.Itissteeredbyaninertialnavigationsystem(INS),whichisalsousedbyaeroplanes.Morerecentcruisemissilesalsohaveaglobalpositioningsystem.Acruisemissilecanbemadesoaccuratethatitcanbeaimedatanyspecificplacelikeadoororwindowofabuilding.
TheindigenouslydevelopedAgniandPrithviareballisticmissilesystems,whileBrahMosisacruisemissilesystem.
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• Howdoesitwork?
ü Alloflightsarehookeduptoaccesspointsandtheseaccesspointscommunicatetothebackbonenetwork.
ü ThetechnologyusesVisibleLightCommunication(VLC),amediumthatusesvisiblelightbetween400and800terahertz(THz).
ü ItworksbasicallylikeanincrediblyadvancedformofMorsecode-justlikeswitchingatorchonandoffaccordingtoacertainpatterncanrelayasecretmessage,flickinganLEDonandoffatextremespeedscanbeusedtowriteandtransmitthingsinbinarycode
ü WhenaconstantcurrentisappliedtoanLED[light-emitting-diode]lightbulb,aconstantstreamofphotonsareemittedfromthebulbwhichisobservedasvisiblelight.Ifthecurrentisvariedslowly,theoutputintensityofthelightdimsupanddown.BecauseLEDbulbsaresemiconductordevices,thecurrent,andhencetheopticaloutput,canbemodulatedatextremelyhighspeedswhichcanbedetectedbyaphotodetectordeviceandconvertedbacktoelectricalcurrent.Theintensitymodulationisimperceptibletothehumaneye,andthuscommunicationisjustasseamlessasRF[radiofrequencytechnology].
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ü Usingthistechnique,high-speedinformationcanbetransmittedfromanLEDlightbulb
ü Allweneedtodoisfitasmallmicrochiptoeverypotentialilluminationdeviceandthiswouldthencombinetwobasicfunctionalities:illuminationandwirelessdatatransmission.
ü Inthefuturewewillnotonlyhave14billionlightbulbs,wemayhave14billionLi-Fisdeployedworldwideforacleaner,greener,andevenbrighterfuture.
Advantages:
ü Lightdoesnotpenetratethroughthewall,therefore,datacanbetransferredmoresecurely
ü Li-Fihasrealworlddownloadspeedsofmultiplegigabytespersecond.Inlaboratorysettings,thespeedwasevenmoreimpressive,hittingawhopping224GBpersecond
ü Ifthistechnologydoespanout,anditcomestoIndia,itwouldmeaneveryonewhohasanLEDlightbulbwouldhaveaccesstotheinternet.
ü Itwillmakedatasecurityarealityandreducethreatstosensitiveinstallationsü India'sDigitialIndiaMissionwouldrecievethedesiredimpetusandbridgethe
digitaldivideü Thepenetrationoftechnologywilldeepenandthiswillcatalysethesocio-
politicalandeconomictransformationofthecountry
Disadvantages:
ü BecauseLi-Fitechnologyusesvisiblelightasitsmeansofcommunication,it
won'tworkthroughwalls.ThismeansthattohaveaLi-Finetworkthroughout
ourhomes,wewillneedtheselightbulbsineveryroom(andmaybeeventhe
fridge)tohaveseamlessconnectivity.
ü AnothermajorissueisthatLi-Fidoesnotworkoutdoors,meaningthatpublicLi-
FiwillnotbeabletoreplacepublicWi-Finetworksanytimesoon.
ü WhileLi-Fi'semploymentindirectsunlightwon'tbepossible,scientistssaythat,
throughtheuseoffiltersthetechnologycanbeusedindoorsevenwhen
sunlightispresent.
LiFivsWiFi
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ü WhileWi-Fi transmitsdatausing radiowaves, LiFi transmitsdata through LED
lightbulbs.
ü Withvisiblelight,LiFiisabletotransmitinformationatseriouslyhighspeeds.
ü Theonlymajorworryaboutthistechisthatsincelightcannotpenetratewalls,it
maynotbeasusualathomes
BIMSTECConventiononMutualLegalAssistanceinCriminalMatters
• TheUnionCabinethasgivenitsapprovalforsigningandratificationoftheBayofBengalInitiativeonMultiSectoralTechnicalandEconomicCooperation(BIMSTEC)ConventiononMutualLegalAssistanceinCriminalMatters.
• TheUnionMinistryofHomeAffairs(MHA)hasbeendesignatedastheCentralAuthorityunderArticle15oftheConvention.
• Keyhighlights:ü TheBIMSTECConventionaimstoextendwidestmeasuresofassistanceamong7
membercountriesthroughmutualcooperation.ü Itseekstoenhancecapabilityandeffectivenessofthememberstatesininvestigation
andprosecutionofcrimes,includingcrimesrelatedtotransnationalorganizedcrime,terrorism,moneylaundering,drugtraffickingandcyber-crimes.
ü Itwillpavewayforestablishmentofregionalarrangementsformutualassistanceincriminalmatters.
ü Itwillgreatlycontributefortheeffectivecooperationinthecontrolofcriminalactivitiesamongthemembercountries.
• BIMSTECü BIMSTEC(BayofBengalInitiativeonMultiSectoralTechnicalandEconomic
Cooperation)isthesub-regionalgroupofsevencountriesinSouthAsiaandSouthEastAsia.TheyareIndia,Nepal,Bangladesh,Bhutan,SriLanka(fromSouthAsia)andMyanmar,Thailand(fromSouthEastAsia).
ü Objectives:TechnologicalandeconomicalcooperationamongsouthAsianandsouthEastAsiancountriesalongthecoastoftheBayofBengal.
ü Established:6June1997.ü Headquarters:Dhaka,Bangladesh.
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ICDSSystemsStrengtheningandNutritionImprovementProject(ISSNIP)
Background
ICDSSystemsStrengtheningandNutritionImprovementProject(ISSNIP)isWorldBank'sInternationalDevelopmentAssociation(IDA)assistedproject,implementedbyMinistryofWomenChildDevelopmentin162highmalnutritionburdendistrictsin8Statesviz.AndhraPradesh,Bihar,Chhattisgarh,Jharkhand,Maharashtra,MadhyaPradesh,RajasthanandUttarPradesh.
Theobjectiveoftheproject:
• SupporttheGovernmentofIndiaandparticipatingStatesto(i)strengthentheICDSpolicyframework,systemsandcapacities,andfacilitatecommunityengagement,toensuregreaterfocusonchildrenbelowthreeyearsofage;and(ii)strengthenconvergentactionsforimprovednutritionoutcomes.
SalientFeatures:
• SupportsGovernmentofIndia'sNationalNutritionResponse;• Twophasedapproachwheregraduationtosecondphasetriggeredonmeetingpre-determined
results;• TechnicalAssistancetoCentralandStateProjectManagementUnitsinimplementation;• Supportsinnovations,pilotsandoperationsresearch;• Convergent,multi-sectoralapproachtonutrition(pilot);• Strongfocusoncommunityengagementforimplementationandaccountability;• Emphasisonbehaviourchangecommunication;• RigorousMonitoringandEvaluationtosupportevidence-baseddecisionmaking;and• Evidencebuilding,knowledgecreation,sharingandexchange.
KeyAchievementsoffirstphase:
• Organizationofcommunitybasedeventsandkeymessagestopromoteappropriatematernal
andinfantfeedingandcaringpractices,implementationofIncrementalLearningApproach(ILA),roll-outofrevisedMISandcapacitybuilding.
Whatisthenews?
• TheprojecthasbeenrestructuredandFinancingAgreementontherestructuredprojecthasbeenexecutedbetweenGovernmentofIndiaandIDA
• WhiletheoverallgoaloftheprojectandProjectDevelopmentObjectivesoftherestructuredProjectremainsthesame,theProjectnowadoptsperformancebasedfinancingapproachin
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placeoftraditionalinputbasedfinancingwithdisbursementsbeinglinkedtowell-definedoutcomeindicatorsandfocusonfewerimpactactivities.
• Accordingly,theProjecthasbeenrestructuredwithextensionofitsdurationby2yearsi.e.upto30.12.2017.
NATIONALFRAMEWORKFORELIMINATIONOFMALARIA
• TheMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfarelaunchedtheNationalFrameworkforEliminationofmalaria(NFME)2016-2030.
Whatisit?
• ItoutlinesIndia’sstrategyforeliminationofthediseaseby2030.• NFMEdocumentclearlydefinesgoals,objectives,strategies,targetsandtimelinesandwillserve
asaroadmapforadvocatingandplanningmalariaeliminationinthecountryinaphasedmanner.
Objectives:
• Eliminatemalariafromalllow(Category1)andmoderate(Category2)endemicstates/UTs(26)by2022
• Reduceincidenceofmalariatolessthan1caseper1000populationinallStates/UTsandthedistrictsandmalariaeliminationin31states/UTsby2024
• InterruptindigenoustransmissionofmalariainallStates/UTs(Category3)by2027• Preventre-establishmentoflocaltransmissionofmalariainareaswhereithasbeeneliminated
andtomaintainmalaria-freestatusofthecountryby2030
ImplementationoftheFramework:
• Itwillbedividedintophasesbasedonthevaryingmalariaendemicityinthecountry• classificationofStates/UTsbasedonAPIasprimarycriterion
(Category0:Preventionofre-introductionphaseCategory1:EliminationphaseCategory2:Pre-eliminationphaseCategory3:Intensifiedcontrolphase)
• Districtwillbeunitofplanningandimplementation• FocusonhighendemicareasandspecialstrategyforP.vivaxelimination
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LaserInterferometerGravitationalObservatory:
• Theworld’s third advanced Laser Interferometer GravitationalwaveObservatory (LIGO-India)willbesetupinIndia.
• TheUnionCabinetgranted,in-principleapproval• ThisprojectwillbeamegascienceprojecttobejointlyfundedbytheDepartmentofAtomic
Energy(DAE)andtheDepartmentofScience&Technology(DST).• TheLIGO-IndiaobservatorywillbepartofaglobalnetworkwithtwootheradvancedLIGO
observatorieswherescientificresearchhasalreadystartedfromSeptember2015.• TheLIGO-IndiaobservatorywillbesetupasajointscientificcollaborationbetweenLIGO
laboratoriesoftheCaliforniaInstituteofTechnology(Caltech)andMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology(MIT)oftheUSAandthreeleadIndianinstitutions,namely,theInter-UniversityCentreforAstronomyandAstrophysics(IUCAA),Pune,InstituteforPlasmaResearch(IPR),GandhinagarandRajaRamannaCentreforAdvancedTechnology(RRCAT),Indore.
• ThiswillbeanationallycoordinatedprojectandanumberofotherIndianinstitutionswouldalsobeparticipating.
• LIGO-Indiawillbeanimportantprojectinthefieldoffundamentalsciencesinthecountry.TheobservatorywillbeamongthemostprecisescientificapparatusontheEarth,withtechnicalcapabilityofmeasuringdisplacementswhichareabilliontimessmallerthanthesizeofanatom.
• LIGO-Indiawhichisplannedtobesetupwouldbeoperationalbytheyear2023.
Advantages:
• Thiswillhelpdevelopnationalcapabilitiesintechnologicalareassuchascontrolsystems,lasersandopticsandvacuumtechnologywellbeyondthecurrentlyavailableexpertiseinthecountry.
• Thiswillhelptrainhighlyskilledscientificandtechnologicalmanpower.Theanalysisofthemeasurementsforobtainingthescientificresultswillinvolveverysophisticatedcomputationalanddatahandlinginfrastructure.
• Suchafront-rankingscientificexperimentonIndiansoilwillbeasourceofinspirationforyoungandbuddingscientists.
• Thiswillhelplaunchanentirelynewdisciplineofgravitational-waveastronomy.WhyLocatetheobservatoryinIndia?
• Settingupofground-baseddetectorinIndiawillformatriangulatewiththeUSdetectorswhichwillhelptolocatethesourceofgravitationalwaves.
• ThelocationoftheobservatoryinIndiawillhavescientificadvantagebecauseoflargeseparationwiththetwoobservatoriesinUSAwhichwillpermitmorerefinedtriangulationofdetectedgravitationalwave.
(StudentNote:FormoreinformationonLIGOandGravitationalwaves,pleasereferourwebsite'scurrentaffairs,issuesinnewssection)
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AshgabatAgreement
• Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has recently given its approval for India to accede to the Ashgabat Agreement, an international transport and transit corridor agreement.
• India’s intention to accede to the Ashgabat Agreement would now be conveyed to the Depository State (Turkmenistan). India would become party to the Agreement upon consent of the founding members.
WhatisthisAshgabatAgreement?
• AshgabatAgreement,isaninternationaltransportandtransitcorridorfacilitatingtransportationofgoodsbetweenCentralAsiaandthePersianGulf.[Ashgabat(ItusedtobecalledasPoltoratskbetween1919and1927)isthecapitalandthelargestcityofTurkmenistaninCentralAsia,situatedbetweentheKarakumDesertandtheKopetDagmountainrange].
• TheAshgabatAgreement,aimstodevelopashortesttraderoutebetweenCentralAsiancountriesandIranianandOmaniports.
• ThetransitagreementprovidesforatransitcorridoracrossCentralAsiaandtheMiddleEastthroughthecontinuouslandmassbetweenKazakhstan,Uzbekistan,TurkmenistanandIranbeforereachingthePersianGulfandintoOman.
ImportanceofthisAgreement:
• ItwillenableIndiatoutilisetheexistingtransportandtransitcorridortofacilitatetradeandcommercialinteractionwiththeEurasianregion.
• ItwouldsynchroniseIndia’seffortstoimplementtheInternationalNorthSouthTransportCorridor(INSTC)forenhancedconnectivity.
WhatisINSTC?
• TheINSTC(InternationalNorthSouthTransportCorridor)isamulti-modaltradetransportnetworkthatincludesrail,road,andwatertransportfromMumbaiinIndiaviaBandarAbbasinIrantoMoscowinRussia.
• TheconceptwasinitiatedbyRussia,IndiaandIraninSeptember2000toestablishtransportationnetworksamongthememberstatesandtoenhanceconnectivitywiththelandlockedregionofCentralAsia.
• TheForeignTradePolicyofIndia,2015-20,hashighlightedtheimportanceoftheNorth-SouthTransportCorridorinexpandingIndia’stradeandinvestmentlinkswithCentralAsia.
• TheINSTCenvisagesmovementofgoodsfromMumbai(India)toBandarAbbas(Iran)bysea,fromBandarAbbastoBandar-e-Anzali(anIranianportontheCaspianSea)byroad,andthenfromBandar-e-AnzalitoAstrakhan(aCaspianportintheRussianFederation)byshipacrosstheCaspianSea,andthereafterfromAstrakhantootherregionsoftheRussianFederationandfurtherintoEuropebyRussianrailways.
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• INSTCcouldfacilitateIndia’seconomicintegrationwithEurasianeconomiesandothercountriesinsurroundingregions.
RelevanceofINSTCtoIndia:EconomicandStrategicDimensions
(InthecontextofincreasingaspirationsofChinathroughitsOBORInitiative)
• Atpresent,IndiahastodependonthesearouteviaRotterdamtoSt.PetersburgandincreasinglythroughChinaandtheninlandtotransportgoodstoRussia.
• INSTCwouldsubstantiallyreducethecostoftransportinggoodsfromIndiatoEurasiaandsurroundingregions.
• SomestudiessaythatwithINSTCtransittimeandcostwillcomedownandthiswouldenabletheseamlessmovementofgoodsfromIndiatoRussiaandsurroundingcountries.
• Estimatesaresuchthatthecorridorwouldbe30percentcheaperand40percentshorterthanthecurrentrouteviaSt.PetersburgtoMoscow.
• IfIndianegotiatesacomprehensiveeconomicpartnershipagreementwiththeEurasianEconomicUnion,INSTCwouldhelpIndiaexpanditseconomic,tradeandinvestmentopportunitiesinthisregion.(BecauseitwouldbeeasiertoaccessthesemarketsthroughtheINSTCanditwouldboostthecompetitivenessofIndia’strade)(Note:EurasianEconomicUnionconsistsofBelarus,Kazakhstan,KyrgyzstanandRussia,&Armenialikelytojoin)
• Energy-Indiaisoneofthelargestenergyconsumerintheworld.CentralAsiahasabundantnaturalresources,includingpetroleum,naturalgasanduranium,whichcouldmeetIndia’senergyneeds.
• Theregionalsooffersabundantdepositsoffertilizerinputssuchaspotash.• NotablythereishugescopeforthesecountriestobenefitfromIndia’sexpertiseininformation
technologyandIT-enabledservices(Becausemanyofthesectorsarebecomingincreasinglyservice-oriented)
• ItwilldeepenourengagementinlinewithConnectCentralAsiaPolicy.
(StudentNote:Formoreinformationonashgabat,pleasereferourwebsite'scurrentaffairs,issuesinnewssection)
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Aadhar:
Whatisit?
• Itisabiometricbased12digitnationalidentitycard• TheuniqueidentificationauthorityofIndia,acentralgovernmentagency,isthe
authorityresponsibleforimplementingtheAadharproject.ItisresponsibleforcollectingthebiometricdataofalltheresidentsandissuingtheAadharcar
Whyinthenews?
• LegislativebackingforAadharwasfinallygiven• Itwasbroughtasamoneybill,toavoidthedefeatofthebillbyRajyasabhaasgovernmentisin
minorityinRajyaSabha
KeyHighlightsoftheBill:
• TheAadhaarBillplanstousetheidentificationnumberissuedbytheUniqueIdentificationAuthorityofIndia(UIDAI),todeliverStatesubsidiesdirectlyintothehands(oractually,bankaccounts)ofbeneficiaries.
• AadhaarwasfirstmootedastheIndianequivalenttotheSocialSecurityNumberintheUS.• Aadhaarisn’tcompulsoryyet.• TheBilliscarefulinstatingthateveryresidentis‘entitled’toanAadhaarnumber.Butitalso
specifiesthatthegovernmentmay‘require’anindividualtoenrolforAadhaartoverifyhisidentityforreceivingasubsidyorgovernmentservice.
• Whyisitimportant?ü Thegovernmenthasbeenofferingmanykindsofsubsidiesandmonetarypaymentsto
theeconomicallyweak.ButasthesepaymentstrickledownfromtheCentre,viaalongchainofintermediariestothefinalbeneficiaryalotofitislostincorruption,leakagesandbribes.
ü ThegovernmentisnowkeentoreducetheseleakagesbycreditingsubsidiesdirectlyintothebankaccountsoftherecipientsthroughitsJAMinitiative(JanDhanbankaccount-Aadharnumber-Mobilenumber).
ü JAMisexpectedtosharplyreducetheCentre’ssubsidybill.Forinstance,thereareabout17.8croreLPGconnectionsinIndiaandthegovernmentsubsidises10cylinderseveryyearperfamily.
ü In2015,itrolledoutaninitiativeaskingtheaffluenttovoluntarilygiveuptheirsubsidiesandcommenceddirecttransferofLPGsubsidyintothebankaccountsofhouseholdsseekingit.
Criticismandkeyissues:• TheAadhaarBilldirectlyaffectstheresidentstwoways.• One,withthegovernmentnowhavingarighttoaskcitizensforAadhaar,theIDmaysoon
becomeessentialforthecitizenstoavailofanysubsidyorservicesfromthegovernment.
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• Two,thereareconcernsthatoncecitizenssharesomuchinformationwiththegovernment,includingsensitivestuffsuchasfingerprints,thesemaybevulnerabletodatatheftormisusebytheauthorities.
• Expertsobjectittobeingbroughtinasamoneybill.• ThereisnoclarityastowhocanhaveaccesstoAADHARdata,includingprivatebodies.• TheadvantageofAADHARbasedservicesisthatitbringsintransparencywithhelpof
technologyenabledservicedelivery.However,thetechnologyitselfisnotreliable,for,thebiometricdataissusceptibletoaccesstoprivateagenciesandinternationalintelligenceagencies.InstateslikeU.P,someschemeslikeseedsubsidyarebeingimplementedusingDBT(directbenefittransfer)withoutusingAADHARdatabase.
• Further,thepastexperiencesinsomestateslikeAndhraPradeshshowthatuseoffingerprintsisnotfoolproofandsubjecttodamagelikeidentitymismatch.
• Furthermore,theconcernsraisedbythecommitteeheadedbyformerfinanceministeryashwantsinhahavenotbeenfullyaddressed.Thesamereasonsforwhichtherewasoppositionearliercontinuetobethestickyissues.
• Thecritiquesopinethattherecouldbepracticaldifficultiesinmakingitcashlessandidentityissues.Thelastmileconnectivity,especiallyfortheruralpopulaceissuboptimalduetoidentityissuesandthisleavesitopentodiscretion.Thebiometricsandidentityisbasedonselfproclamationoftheindividualitself.
Safeguardsinthebill:
• TheAadhaarBillhassomesafeguardsinplacetoaddressprivacyconcerns.• TheUIDAIisnotpermittedtoshareinformationrelatingtoanyindividual;beitpersonaldetails
suchasdateofbirthorbiometrics,exceptfortwocircumstancesmentionedinSection33oftheBill.
• First,intheinterestof‘nationalsecurity’,ajointsecretaryintheCentralgovernmentmayissueadirectivetorevealyourdetails.
• Thisdecisionwillbereviewedbyanoversightcommittee,comprisingCabinetSecretary,SecretariesofLegalAffairsandElectronicsandITandwillbevalidforsixmonths.
• Two,Courtsmayorderthatanindividual’sbiometricanddemographicinformationberevealed.
Conclusion:
• Yes,therearedataprivacyandsurveillanceconcerns.• Butthere’sabrightside.JustasingleAadhaarcannowstandinforthemultipledocuments—
rationcard,PAN,bankstatementsetc• AADHARwasintendedtobevoluntaryandisindeedaprogressivestepforbettertargeted
deliveryofservices.• However,sincethereareempiricalevidencesandexpertopinionsaboutsomeconcernslike
privacy,identityissues,theseneedtobeaddressed.• Although,thelegalbackingthroughalegislationisawelcomemove,itneedsmorescrutinyin
termsoftheabovementionedconcerns.TheAADHARplatformneedstobeimplementedwithduecautionandtechnologyissuesneedtoredressed.
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(StudentNote:FormoreinformationonAADHAR,pleasereferourwebsite'scurrentaffairs,RajyasabhaTv,ThebigpictureSection)
HIMALAYANGRIFFON:
• TheHimalayanvultureorHimalayangriffonvulture(Gypshimalayensis)isanOldWorldvulture
• Range:• Gypshimalayensisisdistributedfrom
westernChina,Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,AfghanistanandPakistan,eastthroughtheHimalayanmountainrangeinIndia,NepalandBhutan,tocentralChinaandMongolia.
• Countriesofoccurrence:Native:Afghanistan;Bangladesh;Bhutan;China;India;Kazakhstan;Kyrgyzstan;Malaysia;Mongolia;Myanmar;Nepal;Pakistan;Tajikistan;Thailand;UzbekistanVagrant:Cambodia;Singapore
• Majorthreat-Themostseriouspotentialthreattothisspeciesisthoughttobemortalitycausedthroughingestionofdiclofenac,anon-steroidalanti-inflammatorydrug(NSAID)widelyusedinlivestock,particularlyinSouthAsia.
• IUCNStatus:NearThreatened• Whyinnews?-ItwasrecentlyspottedinGoa,arareoccurrence
FALCATEDDUCK:
• Thefalcatedduckorfalcatedteal(Anasfalcata)isagadwall-sizeddabblingduck.
Range:
• Marecafalcatahasalargerange.Itbreedsovermuchofsouth-eastSiberia,Russia,southtonorthernMongolia,China,andJapan
CountriesofOccurrence: Native:
• Bangladesh;China;HongKong;India;Japan;Korea,DemocraticPeople'sRepublicof;Korea,Republicof;LaoPeople'sDemocraticRepublic;Mongolia;Myanmar;Nepal;RussianFederation;Taiwan,ProvinceofChina;Thailand;Turkmenistan;VietNam
Vagrant:• Afghanistan;Austria;Bulgaria;Canada;Iran,IslamicRepublicof;Iraq;Jordan;Kazakhstan;Malta;
Netherlands;NorthernMarianaIslands;Pakistan;Poland;Portugal;Turkey;UnitedStates
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MajorThreats:
• Huntingforfood,forsubsistenceandlocalmarkets,isprobablythemajorthreat.Thisisparticularlytrueonthenon-breedinggroundsinChina
IUCNStatus:NearThreatened
Whyinthenews?:araresightinginGoa
AMURFALCON:
• TheAmurfalcon(Falcoamurensis)isasmallraptorofthefalconfamily
Range:
• Thisspecieshasanextremelylargerange,andhencedoesnotapproachthethresholdsforVulnerableundertherangesizecriterion(extentofoccurrence<20,000km2combinedwithadecliningorfluctuatingrangesize,habitatextent/quality,orpopulationsizeandasmallnumberoflocationsorseverefragmentation)
Countriesofoccurrence: Native:
• Angola(Angola);Bangladesh;Bhutan;Botswana;Burundi;China;Ethiopia;India;Kenya;Korea,DemocraticPeople'sRepublicof;Korea,Republicof;LaoPeople'sDemocraticRepublic;Lesotho;Malawi;Maldives;Mongolia;Mozambique;Myanmar;Namibia;Nepal;Oman;Pakistan;Qatar;RussianFederation;Rwanda;Somalia;SouthAfrica;Swaziland;Tanzania,UnitedRepublicof;Thailand;VietNam;Yemen;Zambia;Zimbabwe
Vagrant:• Congo,TheDemocraticRepublicofthe;HongKong;Italy;Japan;NorthernMarianaIslands;Saint
Helena,AscensionandTristandaCunha;SaudiArabia;Seychelles;SriLanka;Uganda;UnitedArabEmirates
MajorThreats:
• ThespeciesisvulnerabletodegradationofgrasslandhabitatsbyagricultureandafforestationinitsAfricanrange
• OpencastmininginSouthAfricathreatensthespecies'sgrasslandhabitatsandpersecutiononmigrationisafurtherthreat.InNagaland,India,thespecieswasheavilypersecutedduringautumnmigration
IUCNStatus:LeastConcern
Whyinthenews?-Satellitetaggingofamurfalcons