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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