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Current News Analysis
26-09-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1.India to ratify Paris pact on Oct 2
www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-ratify-paris-agreement-on-
climate-change-on-oct-2/article9146779.ece
Category: International
Topic: Paris pact
Key Points:
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi announced that India would ratify the Paris climate pact on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Talking about the
need to ratify the UNFCCC’s CoP-21 decision, PM said there is a looming threat due to
global warming to many coastal countries and cities.
The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for
55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. India accounts for around 4.5 per cent
of the global greenhouse gas emissions.
The pact asks both rich and poor countries to take action to curb global warming i.e.
the rise in global temperatures that is melting glaciers, raising sea levels and shifting
rainfall patterns. It requires governments to present national plans i.e. INDC’s (Intended
Nationally determined contributions) to reduce emissions to limit global temperature rise
to well below 2 degrees Celsius by the end of 21st Century.
U.S. on India’s ratification of Paris pact -
U.S. welcomed India’s announcement that the country would ratify the Paris Climate
Change agreement on October 2. However, U.S. denied that India’s ratification to the COP 21 protocol (Paris pact) implied movement on India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Bargaining chip - The ratification of Paris pact was also seen as a possible bargaining
chip in exchange for India’s membership to the Nuclear Supplier Group. At NSG’s Seoul session in 2016, the Union ministry of external affairs had said that an early positive
decision by the NSG would have allowed us to move forward on the Paris Agreement.
India’s announcement comes just after the government had said it could not commit to the ratification by year end due to domestic procedures, and is believed to be the result
of several rounds of Indo-U.S. negotiations including between Prime Minister Modi and
U.S. President Obama in Laos and earlier in June in Washington.
2.PM of India to review Indus Waters Treaty
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-to-review-indus-waters-treaty-
today/article9147113.ece
Category: Indo-Pak bilateral
Topic: Indus water treaty
Key Points:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to chair a meeting on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) amidst an indication that the government was weighing extreme diplomatic
actions against Pakistan in the wake of the terror attack on an Army camp in Uri, Kashmir recently.
The meeting that the Prime Minister will chair would have representatives from the
Water Resources and External Affairs Ministries.
Overview:
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was sealed between India and Pakistan in 1960.
Brokered by the World Bank, the IWT was signed between the then Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru and his Pakistani counterpart General Ayub Khan.
3. Growing disparity between States
http://www.thehindu.com/data/disparity-between-states-growing-
study/article9147087.ece
Category: National issues
Topic: Governance
Key Points:
According to the research, conducted by Sudipto Mundle, Samik Chaudhury and Satadru
Sikdar - Regional disparity has been growing over the years. The new study evaluates
the governance performance of 19 major States.
This research concludes that development clusters - combinations of quality service delivery and high per capita income are emerging among the more developed States in
the south and west of the country, leaving behind the less-developed States, especially in
the eastern region. The researchers have used output/performance i.e. the quality of
service delivery as a measure of governance quality.
Research - 5 indicators were used to rank the States: infrastructure, social services,
fiscal performance, justice, law and order, and quality of the legislature.
19 States which account for 96 per cent of the population were covered, for which
requisite data was available from 2001-02 to 2011-12.
Findings - Some of the less developed States moved up significantly in the modified
ranking. Governments in these States are attempting to offset their negative legacy of
relative backwardness, delivering a much better quality of services than would be
expected at the relatively low level of development of these States.
4.China sees Kashmir dispute as an obstacle to Silk Road
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/china-sees-kashmir-
dispute-as-an-obstacle-to-silk-road/article9147874.ece
Category: International affairs
Topic: Indo-china-Pak Trilateral
Key Points:
Growing tensions between India and Pakistan is persuading the Chinese establishment
to look at the Kashmir issue as an impediment to Beijing’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at its core.
The Uri incident and Islamabad’s re-energised drive to internationalise Kashmir has
fuelled considerable anxiety in Beijing. China has on two occasions since the Uri
incident, called upon India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and resume their stalled
dialogue.
The CPEC links the Pakistani port of Gwadar with Kashgar in Xinjiang. It is part of
China’s high-stake OBOR connectivity initiative in Eurasia, which would allow China to
gate-crash as an indispensable rule-maker of international trade and commerce. Coupled
with its aspiration to develop a string of ports and coastal economic hubs along its
maritime trading routes, China’s Maritime Silk Road (MSR) would also be central to
Beijing’s rise as a mature global power.
China-Pak talks at UN:
China hopes to replicate its dramatic success in developing coastal hubs such as Shanghai and Shenzhen along the Indian Ocean coastline. Unsurprisingly, CPEC,
which passes through a section of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was the primary
focus of talks between Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and his Pakistani counterpart
Nawaz Sharif at their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
A large part of the CPEC passes through Balochistan. India has raised Pakistan’s
alleged human rights violations in the Province at the international level, a policy shift
that was underscored by New Delhi’s assertions on the Baloch issue recently at the UN
Human Rights Council in Geneva. These assertions have not gone unnoticed in China.
C. GS3 Related
1.World s largest radio telescope - FAST
www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/worlds-largest-radio-
telescope-begins-operations/article9147867.ece?ref=sliderNews
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Telescope
Key Points:
Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), the world’s largest radio
telescope began searching for signals from stars and galaxies and, perhaps,
extraterrestrial life in a project demonstrating China’s raising ambitions in space and its
pursuit of international scientific prestige.
The radio telescope measures 500-meters in diameter and is nestled in a natural basin
within a stunning landscape of lush green karst formations in southern Guizhou Province.
Objectives of FAST – It would search for gravitational waves, detect radio emissions
from stars and galaxies and listen for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life – based on the reception of radio signals (In theory, if there is civilization in outer space, the radio
signal it sends will be similar to the signal we can receive when a pulsar (spinning
neutron star) is approaching us). The ultimate goal of FAST is to discover the laws of
the development of the universe.
Note - It took five years and $180 million to complete and surpasses that of the 300-meter Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, a dish used in research on stars that led to a
Nobel Prize.
2.At Tourism meet pacts worth Rs.15,000 cr were signed
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/tourism-meet-sees-pacts-worth-
rs15000-cr/article9147007.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Tourism
Key Points:
At the Incredible India Investors Summit, five states - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka,
Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh signed 86 MoUs worth close to Rs.15,000 crore. Gujarat
leads the tally followed by Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh.
The tourism summit - 2016 was organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership
with industry body CII and the Tourism Finance Corporation of India. It fulfilled the
desired objectives and highlighted tourism investment potential in the country
The Union ministry of Tourism announced setting up a task force, with representations
from the states and other stakeholders, to take forward certain policy measures and attract
more investment. The ministry will also be setting up an investor facilitation desk to
handhold investors and facilitate projects.
Foreign tourist arrivals to India in June 2016 grew 7.3 per cent to 5.50 lakh as compared
with 5.12 lakh during June, 2015. The U.S. accounted for 22.2 per cent of arrivals
followed by Bangladesh (20.69%), the U.K. (6.84%) and Malaysia (3.90%) in June.
3.Mars orbiter remains a data trove
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/mars-orbiter-turns-2-and-game-for-gleaming-more/article9146662.ece
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Space - ISRO
Key Points:
The Mars Orbiter that catapulted India to space history has quietly had its second
birthday - in its orbit around Mars. On September 24, 2014 India became the only nation
to date to put a spacecraft around the red planet in its very first attempt.
The debut achievement of making the spacecraft go round the planet was the most
challenging manouevre of the mission. It eluded old planetary warhorses Russia, the U.S. and Europe, who started out into space 50 years back with superior rockets.
Originally designed to last just six months on its onboard fuel, the orbiter continues to
scan the red planet elliptically from a distance of around 400 km x 70,000 km. Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it still sends interesting photos and information
to Indian data keepers across millions of kilometres.
It has sent colourful images of the Martian terrain, valleys and hills from different
distances.
MOM’s major Findings –
Presence of aqueous activity in the planet's ancient climate.
Dust layers and patterns of around 1.5 km were estimated at the hills and valleys on
Mars.
Identification of sulphates and iron compounds on the surface of Mars
New details from imaging of Mars's two natural satellites - Phobos and Deimos.
ISRO has also published an atlas of the images from MOM.
It survived eclipses of Sun and loss of contact with Earth for several days last year. It
underwent a whiteout in May on the sunny side. It even ducked and clicked when Comet Siding Spring visited Mars early on. The rare comet's dust was feared to damage the
sensitive instruments on the spacecraft.
Note - An ISRO-MOM team won the U.S. National Space Society’s Space Pioneer Award for 2015. ISRO also won the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for promoting international cooperation in peaceful use of outer space.
4. New findings of Pluto
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/pluto-has-massive-ocean-under-icy-
shell/article9147085.ece
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Space - NASA
Key Points:
Pluto may contain an ocean spanning over 100 km in thickness beneath its icy surface,
with a salt content similar to that of the Dead Sea on Earth, a new study suggests. Ever
since NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto in 2015 and 2016, evidence has
been mounting that the dwarf planet may have a liquid ocean beneath its icy shell.
The story of how the basin relates to Pluto’s putative ocean starts with its position on the planet relative to Pluto’s largest moon, Charon. As Charon’s gravity pulls on Pluto, it would pull proportionally more on areas of higher mass, which would tilt the planet until
Sputnik Planum became aligned with the tidal axis.
5. Stephen Hawking warns against contacting aliens
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/stephen-hawking-warns-against-
contacting-aliens/article9147073.ece
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Space
Key Points:
British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against announcing our presence to any
alien civilisations, especially to those more technologically advanced than humans.
The film, Stephen Hawking’s Favourite Places, takes viewers to five significant
locations across the cosmos, on his spacecraft - the SS Hawking. In the film, Hawking
performs a hypothetical flyby of Gliese 832c, a potentially habitable exoplanet located 16
light years away.
It is not the first time Hawking has warned about the prospect of hostile aliens.
Launching the Breakthrough Listen project, which will scan the nearest million stars for
signs of life (Extra-Terrestrial life) in 2015, Hawking had suggested that any civilisation
reading our messages could be billions of years ahead of humans.
5. Indian ROV monitors the health of coral reefs
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indian-rov-monitors-the-health-of-
coral-reefs/article9149517.ece?ref=sliderNews
Category: Environment
Topic: Corals
Key Points:
An indigenously developed remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is taking up their role with
more efficiency and accuracy and it’s expected to contribute significantly to the conservation and management of corals. This provides a break to the Scuba divers who
dived into ocean floors to study coral reefs. While it would take weeks together for a
scuba diver to diagnose the health of corals, the ROV could map a larger area in a day.
Chennai based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) had recently deployed
the ROV for studying the coral reefs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are
facing survival threats due to global warming.
Findings of the research - The images of corals recorded by the ROV are useful for
studying the biodiversity of coral reefs and their evolution. The underwater visuals had
shown the coral debris and boulders caused by the 2004 tsunami and the rejuvenation of
the colonies of branching corals, stony coral and brain corals at some locations.
The coral reef biodiversity at Andaman region, which spreads across an area of 11,000
sq km, was seriously affected during the 2004 tsunami. The increasing sea surface
temperature added to the stress. Currently, there is no mechanism other than scuba diving
to examine the corals and assess the extent of damage or rejuvenation.
Development of ROV - NIOT had earlier developed a deep water work class Remotely
Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROSUB 6000 which was suitable for exploration in deep
waters. It was successfully operated at a maximum depth at 5,289 metres in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. It also contributed to the exploration of deep ocean minerals such
as gas hydrates, polymetallic nodules and hydrothermal sulphides, which occur at water
depths ranging between 1,000 and 6,000 metres.
A new miniaturised version of ROV, which could be effectively used for exploration and
inspection up to 500-metre water depths, caters to the need of the research community
and industry. It was also deployed for scientific research in Antarctica as a part of the
34th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica during Jan-Apr 2015. It was deployed in
the Lake Priyadarshini near the Indian permanent station Maitri and in the New Indian
barrier ice shelf regions.
6. African jumbos suffer worst decline in 25 years: IUCN
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/african-jumbos-suffer-worst-
decline-in-25-years/article9147827.ece
Category: Environment
Topic: Conservation of Bio-diversity
Key Points:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said Africa’s elephant population has suffered its worst drop in 25 years, blaming the plummeting numbers on
poaching for Ivory. IUCN further said Habitat loss is also increasingly threatening the
species.
The IUCN report was released at the world’s biggest conference on the international wildlife trade, Johannesburg. Thousands of conservationists and government officials
are seeking to thrash out international trade regulations aimed at protecting different
species.
Note - A booming illegal wildlife trade has put huge pressure on an existing treaty signed
by over 180 countries - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES).
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1.Falling behind schedule
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/falling-behind-
schedule/article9147858.ece
Current educational attainments remain far from adequate for the enhancement of
personal well-being and social progress, according to a report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Immigrant populations are especially
disadvantaged, an area that deserves particular attention given the recent scramble for
shelter and succour among millions of refugees. The findings in the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2016 report make for sober reading all round, viewed against data on the
many rewards individuals and societies are able to reap when endowed with higher
qualifications. For instance, people with a master’s degree stand a close to 90 per cent wage advantage in the 35 countries of the OECD. Correspondingly, their governments
receive over a lifetime about €100,000 in taxes and social contributions more than they invest on a graduate. There has been a 4 percentage point increase in the rate of
enrolment in tertiary education in the decade ended 2014. These are encouraging facts;
the logical case therefore should be for greater public investment in this sector. But
across the spectrum the trend is clearly in the opposite direction. While the report shows
an 8 per cent rise in real-term spending per child in the five years up to 2013, it also notes
a 14 per cent increase in private expenditure in the region in the same period. Private
spending by students and households is estimated at some 30 per cent in the tertiary
education sector alone. This has to be viewed against the backdrop of the relentless
regime of economic austerity in the years following the financial crisis, with serious
implications for equity and the knowledge economies of the future.
A broader issue mentioned in the report, which covers besides OECD members, partner-
countries including India, is the likelihood that states may not be able to realise the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal pertaining to the provision of quality education. This
concern is echoed in the Unesco 2016 report. The need to achieve the targets relating to
SDG 4, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, cannot be overstated, given
that it is the pivot on which the realisation of several other fundamentally important
developmental objectives remains. Indeed, almost the entire success of the 2030 agenda
rests squarely on the education target. The objectives of reduction of poverty, alleviation
of hunger, expansion of employment, empowerment of women and gender equality are
all influenced by the qualifications and skills that men and women possess. And of
course at another level, without an educated and empowered populace, the dream of an enlightened, more tolerant and peaceful world would forever remain elusive.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
UNFCCC – Paris pact
Indus water treaty
One belt – One road initiative
China Pak Economic corridor and Maritime silk road route
IUCN
CITES
Coral reefs and bleaching of corals
NASA’s new horizons spacecraft
ISRO’s MOM
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
International Union for
Conservation of Nature
(IUCN)
CITES
National institute of ocean
technology (NIOT)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CITES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Ocean_Technology
3. Tags
Breakthrough Listen project
NIOT’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV)
Phobos and Deimos
Incredible India Investors Summit
UN General Assembly
NSG
Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope - FAST
Practice Questions
Date: 26
th September, 2016
Category: International
Topic: Multilateral export control regimes
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
1. At the international level, there are 4 multilateral export control regimes. India is a full-
time member of -
a) Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
b) Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
c) Australia group
d) Wassenar Arrangement
Ans (b)
Date: 26
th September, 2016
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Developments
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
2. Recently, China started a project called FAST. It is
a. World’s largest radio telescope
b. World’s largest amphibious aircraft c. World’s fastest Light Combat aircraft d. None of these
Ans (a)
Date: 26th September, 2016
Category: International organizations
Topic: IUCN
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Easy
Type: Factual
3. Which of the following statements are correct regarding International Union for the
Convention of Nature (IUCN)
i) It is an observer and a consultative partner at UN
ii) It is the first governmental and non-governmental organisation
iii) Birdlife International is the official Red List authority of birds for IUCN
a) i) and ii) only
b) ii) and iii) only
c) i) and iii) only
d) All 3 are correct
Ans (d)
Date: 26th September, 2016
Category: Environment
Topic: Corals
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
4. Which of the following have coral reefs?
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Gulf of Kachchh
3. Gulf of Mannar
4. Sunderbans
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans (a)
Date: 26th September, 2016
Category: Science & Technology
Source: Developments
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
5. The Breakthrough Listen project appears in news. It is
(a) The Biggest search for Extra-terrestrial life in space
(b) A program to promote conservation of energy
(c) A Gravitational wave observatory
(d) None of these
Ans (a)
Current News Analysis
27-09-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1.Isolate Pakistan, India tells the world at U.N.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sushma-speaks-on-paksponsored-
terrorism-at-unga/article9150668.ece
Category: International summits
Topic: 71st
UN General Assembly meeting
Key Points:
India took its campaign to diplomatically isolate Pakistan at the United Nations, with External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj asking the world community to hold countries that nurture, peddle and export terrorism to account. She said, “A unified global strategy can defeat terrorism, and if any nation refuses to join this global strategy, then we must isolate it”.
Countering Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who accused India of human rights violations while speaking at the UN, Ms. Swaraj said “The brutality against the Baloch
people represents the worst form of State oppression,” referring to the ethnic minority in Pakistan.
She elaborated on how India’s positions converged with the global concerns on three issues - terrorism, climate change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Her narrative also explains at least partly India’s decision to ratify the Paris climate pact, in an abrupt turnaround from its recent position that the national process for ratification was still in progress. The External affairs ministry has earlier linked India’s ability to ratify the Paris accord to the Nuclear Suppliers Group admitting India as a member, a position India appears to have abandoned.
2.India suspends talks on Indus water pact
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-likely-to-suspend-indus-water-
commission-talks/article9150223.ece
Category: Indo-Pak bilateral
Topic: Indus water treaty
Key Points:
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi held a meeting with senior officials of the Water Resources and External Affairs Ministries and the PMO to discuss the government’s options on the India-Pakistan Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the Uri
attack.
The meeting decided to suspend further water talks and increase the utilisation of rivers flowing through Jammu and Kashmir to maximise India’s share. However, no decision
was made on either reviewing or abrogating the 1960 treaty.
India decided to suspend talks on the Permanent Indus Commission, the dispute redressal mechanism that has met 112 times, until terror comes to an end. According to the Indus Waters Treaty, the Commission must meet once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The last meeting was held in July 2016.
River Sutra –
The centre decided to set up can inter-ministerial committee to study India’s further options on the Indus Waters Treaty during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-level meeting to review the treaty following the attack on Uri.
The committee’s tasks would be to look at storage possibilities that would help irrigate fields in Jammu and Kashmir, where the State Assembly has often complained about the treaty being unfair.
Hydel projects – The Government also decided to build more run-of-the-river hydropower projects on western rivers, to exploit the full potential of 18,600 MW (current projects come to 11,406 MW) and to expedite construction of the Pakal Dul,
Sawalkot, Bursar dams in J&K
A decision was taken to review restarting the Tulbul navigation project that India had suspended after Pakistan’s objections in 1987.
Overview:
Indus Water Treaty – It was signed in 1960 by the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan's President Ayub Khan.
Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty administers how river Indus and its tributaries that flow in both the countries will be utilized.
According to the treaty, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej are to be governed by India, while, Indus,
Chenab and Jhelum are to be taken care by Pakistan. However, since Indus flows from India, the country is allowed to use 20 per cent of its water for irrigation, power generation and transport purposes.
A Permanent Indus Commission was set up as a bilateral commission to implement and manage the treaty; it solves disputes arising over water sharing. The Treaty also provides arbitration mechanism to solve disputes amicably.
Note - Though Indus originates from Tibet, China has been kept out of the Treaty. If China decides to stop or change the flow of the river, it will affect both India and Pakistan. Climate
change is causing melting of ice in Tibetan plateau, which scientists believe will affect the river in future.
It may be noted that both India and Pakistan are still at loggerheads over various issues since Partition, but there has been no fight over water after the Treaty was ratified.
At a time when States within India are unable to find an amicable solution to sharing water from rivers that flow between them, India and Pakistan are living examples of how water resources can be shared through legal frame work.
C. GS3 Related
1.PSLV C-35 puts 8 satellites in 2 orbits
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/pslv-places-eight-satellites-in-two
orbits/article9151560.ece
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Space - ISRO
Key Points:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a total of eight satellites in two different orbits in an attempt to push forward the scope of its workhorse rocket PSLV. This is the longest PSLV mission.
Earlier, ISRO was using separate rockets to launch satellites in different orbits. This is the first time ISRO launched satellites in two different orbits in a single mission. The 8 satellites are:
Weather satellite SCATSAT-1, it provides weather forecasting services, cyclone detection and tracking.
Two satellites PRATAM and PISAT from Indian academic institutions. PISAT is a remote sensing Nanosatellite developed by students of PES University, Bangalore. The main mission of the satellite was to develop the capability of designing satellites on campus with collaboration from students and professors. PRATAM is a micro-satellite developed by IIT-Bombay students. It will measure the electron count in the ionosphere. This can be used to detect tsunamis, reduce communication errors, and improve the accuracy of the Indian alternative to the GPS system.
3 from Algeria (ALSAT1N, 1B and 2B) - ALSAT-1N: nanosatellite for distance education students. ALSAT-1B: It is an earth observation satellite to monitor agricultural activities, the state of the environment and natural disasters. AlSat-2B: Its images will be used for multiple purposes including cartography, agriculture, forestry, water management, land planning and management of natural disasters. The satellite will be used to monitor natural resources, including mineral and oil.
1 each from Canada (NLS-19) and the United States (Pathfinder-1) The BlackSky Pathfinder-1 is a commercial earth observation micro-satellite from
the United States.
The NLS-9/Can X-7 is an experimental technology demonstration satellite. The unique feature about the satellite is a drag sail, which will allow the satellite to de-
orbit. If successfully used, the drag sail would demonstrate a low cost, modular method to de-orbit microsatellites and nanosatellites to reduce the amount of junk in Earth orbit.
2. An estimate on Pulses production
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pulses-production-may-go-up-to-21-
million-tonnes/article9150798.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Agriculture
Key Points:
Union Agriculture Minister said India’s pulses production is likely to be 21 million tonnes in 2016-17, thanks to good rain and more acreage. The area under major kharif crops, including rice, pulses and maize, increased to 1,060 lakh hectares in 2016-17 from 1,023 lakh ha in 2015-16. Given the increase in area and good monsoon rain, pulses production is likely to be 21 million tonnes, against 17 million tonnes last year.
In the last two years, a drought-like situation prevailed in the country, yet grain production stood at over 250 million tonnes during 2015-16. Even milk production hit a record high of 160 million tonnes.
Grain production is expected to be more than 270 million tonnes this year. Fruit and
vegetable production increased over the years, crossing the 280-million tonne mark in 2015-16.
3. Cabi et’s for al od to be sought for Budget o Feb. 1
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/cabinets-formal-nod-to-be-sought-
for-budget-on-february-1/article9150778.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Financial administration - Budgeting
Key Points:
The Union finance ministry has settled on February 1 as the new date for the presentation of the Union Budget, with the decision expected to be placed before the Cabinet for formal approval soon. The Cabinet had recently approved the merger of the
railway budget with the general budget and had given an in-principle nod for presenting the Budget earlier than February 28. The Cabinet had also approved the removal of the Plan and Non-Plan distinction in government accounts that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proposed in his Budget speech this year.
Need - By changing the Budget date to 1st Feb, the Union ministries and state governments can begin disbursing funds from the beginning of the financial year. At the moment, with the Budget being presented at the end of February, several processes, including the vote on account, result in states being able to disburse funds only by late May.
Note - The decision to change the Budget date is a Cabinet decision and does not
require parliamentary approval. The Cabinet advises the President and the President summons Parliament. The Parliament has no say on when it meets, the government decides that. This is very clear in the Constitution.
4. CAG picks holes in security preparedness
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/cag-picks-holes-in-
security-preparedness/article9151687.ece
Category: CAGI
Topic: Audit
Key Points:
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Report tabled in Odisha Assembly picked glaring loopholes in coastal security preparedness in Odisha despite coastal security being a major priority for the government ever since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks when terrorists had used the sea route to access Indian Territory.
The report said marine police are responsible for patrolling in sea up to five nautical
miles. As per norm (specified in 2010), each boat should be tasked with patrolling for a minimum 150 hours in a month and 1,800 hours per annum.
5. BBB recommends 9 for ED posts in PSU banks
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/bbb-recommends-ed-
posts/article9150763.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Public-sector banks
Key Points:
The Bank Board Bureau (BBB) has recommended to the government the names of nine
general managers for appointment as executive directors in different public sector banks. These recommendations were based on the interaction that the BBB had with
eligible candidates for appointments against existing and future vacancies of Executive Directors in the PSBs for the period 2016-17.
BBB started functioning from the beginning of the 2016-17.
Bank Board Bureau (BBB) – Centre started an autonomous Banks Board Bureau to improve the Governance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs). It will recommend for selection of heads - Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions and help Banks in developing strategies and capital raising plans. It is a part of mission Indradhanush to revamp
functioning of public sector banks.
Vinod Rai, former CAGI is the first chairman of the Banks Board Bureau.
Union Finance minister in 2015 launched a seven pronged plan Indradhanush to
revamp functioning of public sector banks. The seven elements include appointments, board of bureau, capitalisation, de-stressing, empowerment, framework of accountability and governance reforms.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Joining the climate high table
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/joining-the-climate-high-
table/article9151535.ece
The Centre’s decision to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change on October 2 is
a welcome affirmation of India’s commitment to join the global community in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As an emerging nation with a large number of people living without access to electricity, India’s predicament of having to generate more energy for poverty eradication while simultaneously curbing GHGs is universally acknowledged. But there is no denying that the country has adopted an approach that is predicated on a much-too-high use of fossil fuel-based technologies. This needs to be addressed as all nations look towards the next phase, when the climate agreement comes into force. There is near certainty that the decision made in Paris will become operational before the deadline for signatures set for April 2017: 61 country-parties responsible for 47.79 per cent of emissions have ratified it so far. What remains is for individual countries in Europe, and the European Union, to review their commitments after Brexit, and sign up to reach the target of 55 per cent of total GHG emissions. India’s decision to
join, overcoming a reticence that was apparently linked to the failure to enter the
Nuclear Suppliers Group, is commendable. It would, in any case, have come under pressure to do so since the Paris process is sure to move ahead with Europe’s entry.
With climate commitments becoming almost inevitable, a national consultative process on low carbon strategies cannot be delayed. In order to comply with the Paris process, every aspect of energy use would need precise measurement in the years ahead, which several sectors of the economy are ill-equipped to do at present. Upgrading the electricity grid to take in higher volumes of renewable power is an urgent necessity if India is to
realise the national goal submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change to install 100 gigawatts of solar power capacity by 2022. A bold new policy on urban design to curb emissions from buildings and transport has to be written into all relevant legislation. Such far-reaching steps can be taken only with the active participation of State governments, many of which remain on the periphery of the discussion. That needs to change, and a blueprint for action has to be drawn up, if a convincing case is to be made for assistance from the $100 billion a year that the rich countries are to put together by 2020. Fundamentally, national policy should mandate
even higher levels of taxes on fossil fuels and transfer the benefits to eco-friendly
options, be it solar panels, efficient light bulbs, bicycles, green buses/trains, and
greening initiatives.
2. Positive signals from the GST Council
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/positive-signals-from-the-
gst-council/article9151536.ece
Within a fortnight of President Pranab Mukherjee signing off on the 122nd
Constitution Amendment Bill to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime,
work on the next steps has begun. The GST Council, led by the Union Finance Minister and with representatives from all States, had its first meeting on September 22-23, flagging off the process of determining the nitty-gritty of the new indirect tax system and resolving differences on crucial first-principle issues. Time is of the essence, as just six months remain for the April 1, 2017 deadline that the Centre has set for ringing in the GST. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has admitted that the deadline is ‘challenging’, but going by the outcomes of the first meeting of the Council, it is clearly doable. Apart from agreeing on the rules and timetable for its meetings, the Council reached a consensus on the threshold turnover for a business to be covered by the GST, Rs.20 lakh, which ensures that the new tax will not be a compliance burden for small retailers and traders. It
has also agreed on the draft compensation formula for States’ revenue losses and accepted industry’s rationale to subsume myriad cess levies in the GST.
An important signal at this juncture is the Centre’s decision to let go of the Central Board of Excise and Customs’s proposal to create dual control over the assessment of businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs.1.5 crore and give States that power. Experts reckon that a large number of assessees fall below this threshold. By conceding ground on this contentious issue, the Finance Minister has sent a welcome message of
give-and-take. This is important given the need to resolve more tangled Centre-State tax issues on the Council’s agenda quickly, if the model laws for Central, State and integrated GST are to be ready for Parliament’s winter session. It is evident that all States participated with an open mind, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, irrespective of their ratification strategies for the Constitution amendments in their respective Assemblies. All decisions were arrived at by consensus. The Centre and the States appear to be informed by the roll-out experience of the Value-Added Tax regime, and the States want to be on the same page through discussions and support one another rather than get divided along regional or party lines. This bodes well for the GST, where every decision has to be taken by the Council based on a majority view: the States have two-thirds voting power and the Centre has one-third. It is to be hoped that this accommodative
spirit of cooperative federalism prevails.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
UN General assembly meeting
Sustainable development goals (SDG)
Paris pact
Indus water treaty
PSLV
Mission Indradhanush
Gokul gram yojana
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS Links to Refer
Sustainable development goals (SDG)
Paris Pact on climate change
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-
development-goals/
http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement
3. Tags
GST council
Bank Boards Bureau
PSLV C-35
CAGI
71st UNGA NSG Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope - FAST
Practice Questions
Date: 27
th September, 2016
Category: Polity
Topic: Financial administration Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
1. Dual budgeting – Railway budget and General budget was introduced in India in 1921 on
the recommendation of
a) Acworth committee
b) Macauley committee
c) Simon commission
d) Fraser committee
Ans (a)
Date: 27
th September, 2016
Category: Science & Technology Topic: Space Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
2. Which of the following statements are correct regarding PSLV rocket used by ISRO?
(1). Till date it has failed only once
(2). Till date it has placed satellites in multiple orbits in a single launch only once.
a. (1) only
b. (2) only
c. Both (1) and (2)
d. Neither (1) nor (2)
Ans (c)
Date: 27th September, 2016
Category: Trans-boundary rivers Topic: River pacts
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Difficult Type: Factual
3. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Indus water treaty? i) It was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan for the sharing of Indus waters. ii) Recently, China became a party to it iii) The treaty was brokered by World Bank. a) i) and ii) only b) ii) and iii) only c) i) and iii) only d) All 3 are correct
Ans (c)
Date: 27th September, 2016
Category: Polity
Topic: Constitutional bodies Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
4. Which of the following bodies/organizations have both constitutional and statutory
status?
1. Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAGI)
2. Attorney General of India
3. Solicitor General of India
4. National Backward class commission
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All 4
Ans (b)
Date: 27th September, 2016
Category: Science & Technology Source: Energy Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
5. The Breakthrough Energy Coalition appears in news. It is
(a) An alliance of tropical countries to produce solar energy. (b) A program to promote conservation of energy by promoting renewables. (c) A program to promote sustainable programs in developing countries (d) None of these
Ans (b)
Current News Analysis
28-09-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1.India to boycott SAARC meet in Islamabad
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/saarc-summit-in-islamabad-india-not-to-attend-saarc-summit/article9154716.ece
Category: International summitsTopic: SAARC
Key Points:
In a move to step up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, India said, in the prevailing circumstances, the government is unable to participate in the November SAARC summit in Islamabad.
The Union ministry of External affairs said India has conveyed to current SAARC chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad in November 2016.
The decision is unprecedented as this is the first time that India has cancelled participation in the SAARC’s summit meeting because of actions that it blames on Pakistan-based elements. The tough step had been under consideration since the Uri attack, the second such cross border strike in nine months after the January 2 Pathankot airbase strike
Former Secretary General of SAARC, Sheel Kant Sharma said India’s cancellation might handicap economic integration in South Asia. It is not possible to run economic
integration in South Asia without the two biggest economies working together. It is sad if SAARC is euthanized.
Bangladesh and Bhutan too pull out of SAARC summit
Bangladesh and Bhutan have also pulled out of the SAARC Summit in Islamabad. It was conveyed to the SAARC Chair Nepal by the 2 countries that the environment is not right for the successful holding of the meet.
Bangladesh and Bhutan said they are committed to the SAARC process and strengthening of regional cooperation, concerned over the recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which has seriously compromised the environment for the successful holding of the SAARC Summit.
2. WEF’s Global Competitiveness Index
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/wef-ranks-india-as-39th-most-competitive-economy/article9155650.ece
Category: International indicesTopic: Global competitive index
Key Points:
According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report for 2016-17 India has risen rapidly among all countries in the global competitive stakes by climbing 16 notches to the 39th position. This marks the biggest scale of improvement in competitiveness among all countries and is the second year in a row India has gone up 16 ranks in the WEF index.
The report suggests that improvements in institutions and infrastructure have increased overall competitiveness along with recent reforms such as opening the economy to foreign investors and increasing transparency in the financial system.
Major findings of the report w.r.t India -
Oil prices - India’s competitiveness has improved, particularly in goods market efficiency, business sophistication and innovation, while lower oil prices and improved monetary and fiscal policies have made the economy not only stable, but also the fastest growing among G20 countries
Labour market - The labour market rigidities and the presence of large, public enterprises especially in the utilities and financial sector make the economy less efficient.Lack of infrastructure and ICT use (India ranked 120th in the world) remain bottlenecks.
Digital India - While India is the only South Asian economy in the top half of the rankings, Sri Lanka surprisingly ranks ahead of it in technological readiness - one of twelve pillars on which countries are rated.
Overview:
Global Competitiveness Report – It published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) annually, since 2004. The report ranks countries based on the Global Competitiveness Index.
The Index is based on 12 pillars of competitiveness –
Institutions, Innovation, appropriate infrastructure, a stable macroeconomic framework, good health and primary education, higher education and training, efficient goods markets, efficient labor markets, developed financial markets, the ability to harness the benefits of existing technologies and its market size, both domestic and international by producing new and different goods using the most sophisticated production processes.
3. India to invest $2 billion in Sri Lanka over 3-4 years
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/india-to-invest-2-billion-in-sri-lanka-over-34-years/article9155682.ece
Category: BilateralTopic: India – Sri Lanka
Key Points:
Union Commerce and Industry Minister said India will invest $2 billion in Sri Lanka in the next three-four years. Bilateral talks related to the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) are going on between the 2 countries at Sri Lanka.
The ETCA initiative follows unfruitful negotiations, spanning nearly a decade, on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the neighbours. India and Sri Lanka already have a Free Trade Agreement since 1998.
Both India and Sri Lanka are keen on signing the ETCA, though there is considerable opposition coming both from a section of medical and IT professionals and from trade unions in Sri Lanka. Few businessmen from Lanka too have raised concerns over the
trade agreement. India further said the negotiations over non-tariff barriers, are being viewed with standards, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
C. GS3 Related
1. Mega launchers for ISRO soon
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mega-launchers-for-isro-soon/article9155342.ece
Category: Science & TechnologyTopic: Space - ISRO
Key Points:
An advanced Indian mega space launcher that can deliver ten-tonne and heavier communication satellites to space and using a semi-cryogenic engine is likely to to power ISRO’s launchers by around 2018 (GSLV Mk-3). That is the space agency’s next big space vehicle, having just achieved the GSLV for lifting 2,000-kg payloads. The agency is gearing up for first test flight of the GSLV Mark-III vehicle in December with a 4,000-kg payload.
Currently, the government has approved the development of the semi-cryogenic stage alone. When fitted suitably into a launch vehicle, it will see India putting satellites of the class of 6,000 to 10,000 kilos or with some variations. The engine is expected to triple or quadruple ISRO's transportation ability.
Around 2020, this will be enhanced to 15,000 kg by putting strap-ons in clusters - the stage where major European and U.S. launch providers already are.
The engine will use space-grade kerosene as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidiser. The development is going on at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre and the ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
2. Proof of water plumes on Jupiter's moon
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/by-jupiter-proof-of-water-plumes-on-moon/article9154768.ece
Category: Science & TechnologyTopic: Space – NASA
Key Points:
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows more evidence of possible water plumes erupting from the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.
Europa, one of more than 50 moons circling the gas giant, is considered by NASA as a top candidate for life elsewhere in the solar system because it is believed to possess a massive, salty, subsurface ocean that is twice the size of Earth’s.
3. Google launches new services for India
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/google-launches-new-services-on-its-birthday/article9153784.ece
Category: MNC’sTopic: Google
Key Points:
Google, the internet search giant is an 18 year old company now. It announced slew of new products and platforms for India that can be accessed offline and with less data consumption. Looking at the slow network and lower bandwidth or poor internet connectivity in India, the search engine Google has been experimenting a lot of things over the last few years and has been successful too.
As part of the Google for India initiative, the company announced five new launchesincluding Google Station, YouTube Go, Google Assistant in Hindi, Google Play in low bandwidth (2G) and new Chrome browser that can used to save web pages of contents to view them later.
The company's goal is to help millions of Indians online without much trouble and without banking on being online or with limited data services. In 2015-16, Google launched - RailTel, the free Wi-Fi service at Mumbai Central station, the company announced that the service is live in 52 stations now and has 3.5 million users every month. It also has 15,000 users coming for the first time everyday.
Note – Google said its service 'Internet Saathi', which is helping women in villages to learn how to use the internet has trained one-million women over this last one year in 25,000 villages of 10 states.
4. Creation of BRICS bond market recommended by SEBI chief
http://www.thehindu.com/business/markets/time-to-create-a-brics-bond-market-sebi-chief/article9154819.ece
Category: EconomyTopic: SEBI
Key Points:
U.K. Sinha, the chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has said that the BRICS countries should come together and form a common bond market for the benefit of all participating nations.
Challenges for the creation of common bond market:
Since long term borrowers typically rely on banks that offer better options such as cash credit and overdraft facilities.
The segment does not offer adequate tax incentives with financial institutions, like insurance companies and pension funds, having low exposure to the bond market. Even foreign portfolio investors have not shown much interest in the corporate bond market thereby hindering the growth of the segment.
5. WTO cuts 2016 world trade growth forecast
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/wto-cuts-2016-world-trade-growth-forecast-to-17/article9153522.ece
Category: EconomyTopic: WTO
Key Points:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) said Global trade volumes are set to grow by just 1.7 per cent in 2016, the first time in 15 years that international commerce has grown more slowly than the world economy.
The forecast, much lower than the WTO's previous estimate of 2.8 per cent in April, 2016reflects a slowdown in China and Brazil and also decelerating imports in the United States.
6. Unemployment rises to 5-year high
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/joblessness-rises-to-5year-high/article9154766.ece
Category: EconomyTopic: Unemployment
Key Points:
According to the annual household survey on employment conducted by Labour Bureau, Jobless economic growth continues to haunt India's youth, with the country’s unemployment rate rising to a 5 year high of five per cent in 2015-16.
Stats - India’s economy grew 7.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2015-16, slowing from 7.9 per cent a year earlier. The country’s unemployment rate, as measured by the Bureau, stood at 4.9 per cent in 2013-14, 4.7 per cent in 2012-13 and 3.8 per cent in 2011-12.
Data from the Fifth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey showed Female job seekers were the worst hit as the pace of unemployment rose sharply to 8.7 per cent in 2015-16 compared to 7.7 per cent in 2013-14.
Rural: Urban comparison - While unemployment rate in rural areas rose to 5.1 per cent in 2015-16 from 4.7 per cent in 2013-14, it declined to 4.9 per cent from 5.5 per cent in urban areas during the same period.
Worker Population ratio (WPR) - The annual survey also showed that 47.8 per cent of the surveyed population was reported to be employed in 2015-16 compared with 49.9 per cent (worker population ratio) two years earlier when the previous survey was conducted by the Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
7. World Health Organisation’s Air quality assessment
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/invisible-foe-in-air-kills-600000-in-a-year/article9155685.ece
Category: EnvironmentTopic: Air pollution
Key Points:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) study highlights the impact of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) resulting in acute and chronic illnesses that cause premature death. These
include lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular diseases. Worldwide, it is estimated to cause about 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths, 11 per cent of COPD deaths, and more than 20 per cent of ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Particulate matter pollution is an environmental health problem that affects people worldwide, but low and middle-income countries disproportionately experience the burden.
WHO said Air pollution is the world’s biggest environmental risk to health and must be addressed on a priority basis as it continues to rise, causing long lasting disease and illness
The study findings are based on data from satellite measurements, air transport models and ground station monitors for more than 3000 locations, both rural and urban, were developed by WHO in collaboration with the University of Bath in UK.
According to a study, Air pollution could have killed at least 600,000 Indians in 2012, about a fifth of the 3 million who died worldwide because they were exposed to fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) that may have aggravated or been directly responsible for cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.
According to the study, India comes just behind China which witnessed an estimated 800,000 deaths. The study relying on publicly available national data on pollutant levels showed – about 2.5 Lakh Indians died of Ischemic heart disease; 1,95,001 of stroke; 1,10,500 of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and 26,334 of lung cancer.
The report says actual impact of air pollution is a conservative figure, as it does not include the separate impacts on health from other air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) or ozone (O3), and excludes health impacts where evidence is still limited (such as pre-term birth or low-birth weight), the authors note. Industries, households, cars and trucks emit complex air pollutants, including invisible PM2.5 particulates.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Troubled waters
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/troubled-waters/article9155673.ece
By holding a meeting on the Indus Waters Treaty and scheduling another later this week on MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled his intent to examine all the non-military options before the government for a strong response to the Uri attack. “Blood and Water cannot flow together,” he is reported to have said. However, after the meeting, officials made it clear that the IWT will hold, at least for the moment. Instead, the Centre drew up a list of measures to optimise use of the Indus waters that India has so far failed to do. The fact is that abrogating the IWT is a non-starter as an option, and the holding of the meeting at this juncture ill-considered. For one, it confused the message in Mr. Modi’s Kozhikode speech, appealing to Pakistani citizens’ better instincts to “wage a war on poverty”. More important, the 1960 treaty for the Indus and five tributaries flowing from India to Pakistan was brokered by the World Bank (then, the IBRD), and has held through wars and conflicts along the Line of Control. Revoking it would threaten regional stability and India’s credibility globally. It remains unclear what India intends to do with the “western” rivers in question beyond the short-term plan to irrigate Jammu and Kashmir’s fields better. Dams required to hold the course of the tributaries of the Indus to alter water levels to Pakistan dramatically would take more than a decade to build. Given the environmental and geopolitical consequences of such actions, they are unlikely to elicit any international funding.
It is clear that the Centre didn’t think through its next steps when it declared with a grand flourish, amplified by frenzied television headlines, that the Prime Minister would reviewthe Treaty. But it did limit the potential damage by bringing down the heated rhetoric with a rational analysis on the Treaty. It would be wise if India proceeds with a sense of pragmatic caution in making further statements on Pakistan for instance, revoking the MFN status will hardly punish Pakistan’s economy given the low levels of bilateral trade. Terrorist attacks such as the one at Uri require a combination of measured but firm responses, rather than weighing every option in full public view. India cannot also ignore the fact that the Uri attack has exposed the need to shore up its defences. As India has realised time and again, its response to provocation must carry the message that the
country is dependable and not given to irrational, irresponsible actions that its neighbour is often prone to.
2. Debating America
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/debating-america/article9155674.ece
The first of three U.S. presidential debates lived up to the hype as the world was treated to the sight of an experienced politician, and first-ever woman nominee for the White House, take on a brash and surprisingly popular property tycoon. While most media analysts seemed to hand victory in the debate to Democrat and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, numerous online polls, most of them based on anonymous voting and non-scientific response targeting, appeared to suggest that it was her Republican rival Donald Trump who won. To an extent, the terms of the debate, set by moderator and NBC News anchor Lester Holt, ended up favouring Ms. Clinton. Mr. Holt tipped the scales towards Ms. Clinton when he brought up Mr. Trump’s refusal to reveal his tax returns, the “birther” controversy over Barack Obama’s place of birth, Mr. Trump’s alleged support for the Iraq War, and his comment on Ms. Clinton’s “look”. Yet, what featured significantly less was Ms. Clinton’s use of a private email server, her responses to the controversy over the 2012 Benghazi attack, and broader criticism of the Clinton charitable foundation and her proximity to Wall Street, issues that would have put her on the back foot. As it turned out, she emerged from the brawl with poise and a lawyer-like command over the tempo of the debate as she held out several baits for Mr. Trump, which he took.
Ms. Clinton forensically focussed on Mr. Trump’s weaknesses, including his preferencefor tax cuts for big businesses over income support for the middle class, his past business and personal dealings that hinted at racist values, and the destabilisation potential of his foreign policy proposals on NATO, Iran, North Korea, China and Mexico. The deeper question that the Clinton-Trump clash continues to pose, however, is: How has a candidate such as Mr. Trump come this far? Why has his habit of offending politically significant minorities, including Mexicans, African-Americans, Muslims, the LGBT community, the differently abled and women, not dented his popularity? In part, it comes down to sheer showmanship, and Ms. Clinton, for all her measured responses and detailed elucidation of policy prescriptions, falls far behind Mr. Trump on that count. However, the more worrisome force behind the rise and rise of Mr. Trump is that his candidature hints at continuing nationwide disenchantment over political dysfunction in Washington. That Americans may be willing to risk it all and throw a metaphoricalgrenade at the federal government to shake things up after years of partisan bickering and policy logjams suggests that their leaders must work to heal a bitterly polarised electorate and temper this distaste for the federal governance architecture.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
SAARC
Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
Jupiter - JUNO
Indus water treaty
GSLV
Air pollution
Labor Bureau
Particulate matter (PM)
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
Links to Refer
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Regional Comprehensive Economic partnership (RCEP)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Comprehensive_Economic_Partnership
3. Tags
ETCA - Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement
19th SAARC meet
GSLV Mk-iii
Semi-cryogenic engine
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey
BRICS
SEBI
Practice Questions
Date: 28th September, 2016Category: SpaceTopic: GSLVSource: The HinduDifficulty level: EayType: Factual
1. The main application of ISRO’s Geo-stationary satellites are -
a) Communication
b) Inter-planetary exploration
c) Remote sensing
d) Weather forecasting
Ans (a)
Date: 28th September, 2016Category: EnvironmentTopic: Air pollutionSource: The Hindu Difficulty level: MediumType: Factual
2. Consider the following:
1. Carbon dioxide2. Oxides of Nitrogen3. Oxides of Sulphur
Which of the above is/are the emission/ emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 and 3 only(c.) 1 and 3 only(d.) 1, 2 and 3
Ans (c)
Date: 28th September, 2016Category: International indices and reportsTopic: Global competitiveness report
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: DifficultType: Factual
3. Which organization releases the Global Competitiveness index and report?
a) World trade organizationb) World economic forumc) World Bankd) International monetary fund
Ans (b)
Date: 28th September, 2016Category: Indian EconomyTopic: National reportsSource: The HinduDifficulty level: MediumType: Factual
4. Which organization in India conducts National Employment-Unemployment Surveyannually?
(a) National labor commission(b) National labor bureau(c) Central statistical office(d) National sample survey office
Ans (b)
Date: 28th September, 2016Category: Science & TechnologySource: SpaceDifficulty level: MediumType: Factual
5. Which is the biggest natural satellite/moon in the Solar system?
(a) Europa (Jupiter)(b) Gannymede (Jupiter)(c) Titan (Saturn)(d) Miranda (Uranus)
Ans (b)
Comprehensive News Analysis
29-09-2016
B. GS2 Related
1. The SAARC gambit
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-on-indias-decision-to-pull-
out-of-of-saarc-summitthe-saarc-
gambit/article9159247.ece?utm_expid=20446343-20.e2rfl295QvqC-
RRmKFLQNA.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.in%2F
Category: International Relations
Topic: Regional Groupings
Key Points:
India has decided to pull out of the SAARC summit in Islamabad this November
Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh have also decided to follow suit With one-fifth of the world’s population, South Asia is home to two-fifths of the world’s poor
It has abysmally low intra-regional trade
The founding principle was that together South Asia had a better chance of fighting its shared ills, an idea that held the group together for decades in the face of intermittent regional tensions.
This is not the first time that a SAARC summit has been postponed. Given the prevailing environment of deep mistrust and tension, it is unlikely that the summit
will be rescheduled to take place in the near future
This is something that will cause serious damage to the multilateral process and raise even more questions about the future and relevance of SAARC 2. To revive an old friendship
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/anuradha-m-chenoy-writes-on-indiarussia-bilateral-ties-to-revive-an-old-friendship/article9159251.ece?utm_expid=20446343-20.e2rfl295QvqC-RRmKFLQNA.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.in%2F
Category: International Relations Topic: India- Russia
Key Points:
The Russian Embassy announced that their first-ever joint military exercises with Pakistan, that were initially to be held in the sensitive Gilgit-Baltistan area this week, would be shifted with due respect to Indian sensitivities India and Russia
Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has shown assertiveness in international affairs
It retook the province of Crimea that it had gifted Ukraine in 1954 due to (Soviet) historical reasons
This invited unilateral sanctions on Russia from the U.S. and the European Union Demonised by the West, Russia has become a strategic partner of China and they have
significant convergence of interests India as an emerging power has developed a strategic partnership with the U.S India has opened up to the U.S., France, Israel, all of whom are gradually edging out the
Russians in some sectors
Russia-India trade has not grown to great heights despite the encouragement of both states
Yet India has been supportive of Russian positions and has a careful and calibrated response to all Russian actions — in Chechnya, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere, India has supported Russia
The Russians, on their part, have dutifully backed the Indian position on Kashmir
Both have a partnership in energy
Yet a Russia dependent on arms and energy exports is constantly looking for new markets and Pakistan is a potential one
Groupings: India and Russia are engaged in several multilateral efforts that are greatly favoured
by Russia such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Russia had proposed a Russia-India-China (RIC) forum. India is hesitant about this because of the unresolved issues with China
Conclusion
India has to fix its domestic issues to further social cohesion and make special efforts to build bridges between communities
India’s domestic politics has to move towards inclusive democracy, non-militarism, rights and the rule of law
This will give it an edge in the international system
India and Russia need to be active strategic and economic allies and both will have to make an effort for this
3. Mission ‘SAARC minus Pakistan’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mission-saarc-minus-pakistan/article9159328.ece?utm_source=InternalRef&utm_medium=relatedN
ews&utm_campaign=RelatedNews&utm_expid=20446343-20.e2rfl295QvqC-RRmKFLQNA.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehindu.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fsaarc-summit-in-islamabad-india-not-to-attend-saarc-summit%2Farticle9154716.ece%3Futm_source%3DInternalRef%26utm_medium%3DrelatedNews%26utm_campaign%3DRelatedNews
Pakistan’s line of action
Pakistan continues to receive support from several other countries outside of the SAARC,
most notably China, and also has a new relationship with Russia that conducted its first-ever
military exercises in Pakistan
Iran too sent four naval warships to the Karachi port to participate in a Passage exercise
(PASSEX) this week
Conclusion
Resuming dialogue with Pakistan now seems as remote as the rescheduling of the 19th
SAARC summit in Islamabad any time soon
C. GS3 Related
1. Union Cabinet approves ratification of climate deal
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/union-cabinet-approves-ratification-of-climate-deal/article9160141.ece
Category: Environment Topic: Climate Change
Key Points:
There are two conditions for the Paris treaty to come into effect from 2020
1. at least 55 countries have to accept and ratify it
2. at least as many countries responsible for at least 55 per cent of the world’s pollution must be covered
As of September 28, 61 countries had ratified it and 47.79 per cent of the pollution target had been met
With India, which is responsible for 5.8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ratifying the deal, the Paris agreement would still be short of the 55 per cent target
2. ‘94.4% households have bank accounts’
Category: Growth and Development Topic: Inclusive Growth
Key Points:
According to the Labour Bureau data, almost every household in the country is a part of the banking system, mainly due to government’s financial inclusion plans
Around 94.4 per cent households had a saving bank accounts in 2015-16, results of the Fifth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey revealed
While 93.4 per cent households in rural areas had a bank account, 96.8 houses had a savings bank account in the urban parts
In Daman and Diu and Lakshwadeep, all the households surveyed had saving bank accounts
Banking penetration was particularly low in north-eastern states
This was followed by a comparatively low coverage in the States of West Bengal, Karnataka and Mizoram Reason
Government of India’s recent initiatives to enhance the financial inclusion and accessibility of financial institutions (PradhanMantri Jan DhanYojana and PradhanMantri Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (Mudra) Yojana) may have translated into entering of more population in the ambit of formal financial activities,” according to the report
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
PIB: Trilateral Meet between India, Afghanistan and Iran to Take Chabahar Agreement Further
Category: International Relations
Topic: Agreements
Key Points:
During the meeting the Ministers reiterated the importance of Chabahar as a hub for regional connectivity and their commitment to work towards this objective
It was decided to organize a connectivity event involving all stakeholders at Chabahar within two months to increase awareness about the new opportunities offered by Chabahar Port
It was decided to evolve protocols related to transport and transit, ports, customs procedures and consular affairs
Development of Ports, Road and Rail connectivity will open up new opportunities leading to new jobs and prosperity in all three countries
Trade is recognized as driving economic growth and development
The implementation of the Agreement would provide the eco-system for the private sector to seize the business opportunities emerging due to substantial reduction of logistic costs for trade among the three countries
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. India – Pakistan
2. India – Russia
3. Paris Climate Summit
4. INDC targets
5. Chabahar Port
6. Financial Inclusion
Tags
Chabahar, INDC, Indus water treaty, Pakistan- India-Russia, Jan dhan, Mudra
G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
Factories amendment bill, 2016
http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-factories-amendment-bill-2016-4368/
Practice Questions
Date: 29th September, 2016 Category: International Relations Topic: Regional Groupings Source: Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Factual
1] Which of the following is not a part of both SAARC and BIMSTEC?
a. Pakistan b. Maldives c. Myanmar d. Vietnam
Ans (d)
Date: 29th September, 2016 Category: Economic Development Topic: Inclusive growth Source: Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Analytical
2] Which of the following is/are true regarding the JAM trinity
i. Pahal scheme directly transfers LPG subsidies into customers’ bank accounts
ii. JAM includes Jan dhan and Aadhar only
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans(a)
Date: 29th September, 2016 Category: Geography Topic: India - Iran Source: PIB Difficulty level: Easy Type: Factual
3] Which of the following statement/s is are true?
i. The port of Chabahar is located in southeastern Iran in the Gulf of Hormuz ii. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean
a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans(b)
Date: 29th September, 2016 Category: Geography Topic: Himalayas Source: World Map Difficulty level: Easy Type: Factual
4] Which of the following countries does the river Indus pass through?
a. Tibet b. Nepal c. Pakistan d. Both a and c
Ans(d)
Date: 29th September, 2016 Category: Environment
Topic: Climate Change Source: Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Factual
5] Which of the following is one of the INDC’s of India?
i. India to reduce the Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 Per Cent by 2030 from 2005 Level
ii. India to create additional Carbon Sink of 2.5 to 3 Billion Tonnes of Co2 Equivalent through Additional Forest and Tree Cover by 2030 a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 2 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2 Ans(c)
Current News Analysis
30-09-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1.India strikes across LoC
www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-carries-out-strikes-on-terror-
launchpads/article9162308.ece
Category: Bilateral
Topic: Indo-Pak
Key Points:
The Indian Army said India has carried out surgical strikes targeting launch pads for
terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC). The strike was carried out night, senior
military and diplomatic sources confirmed.
Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh said “Based on
very specific and credible information which the army received some terrorist teams had
positioned itself along the line of control, the Army carried out surgical strikes in night
at these launch pads. The operations were focused to ensure that these terrorists do not
succeed in endangering lives of citizens in our country. During the counter-terrorist
operations, significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who were
trying to support them. The operations have since ceased”
Pakistan has responded to the government statement saying there has been no such
strike.
India tried to solve the situation from the Uri attack at the diplomatic level but did not
receive an adequate response. Army officials briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi
about the security situation, at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. A
meeting the Prime Minister due to hold on reviewing the Most Favored Nation (MFN)
status to Pakistan was postpone.
2. IWAI clarifies on Gangetic dolphins
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/iwai-clarifies-on-
gangetic-dolphins/article9165092.ece
Category: National programs & policies
Topic: Effect on natural bio-diversity
Key Points:
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) reacted to a report released by Wildlife
Institute of India (WII) - „National waterways project threatens Gangetic dolphins:
Conservationists‟ which says the development of the Ganga for shipping is seen by
wildlife conservationists as the single-largest threat to the survival of the species whose
numbers are declining in most part of the natural habitat.
This suggests that the development works on National Waterway-1 under the Jal Marg
Vikas Project, being implemented with technical and financial assistance from the World
Bank, is primarily responsible for the diminishing numbers of dolphins.
The report quotes ecologist Nachiket Kelker as saying that the “the river dolphins get
highly stressed because of the dredging activity [on NW-1].” But, no dredging activity is
proposed within or in the vicinity of the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary
(VGDS). Navigation under the Jal Marg Vikas Project is yet to start; we need to look
elsewhere for the reasons for the fall in the dolphin population.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) refutes this assumption. The project is
yet to take off and cannot be responsible for the diminishing numbers of dolphins. The
IWAI is awaiting a loan appraisal by the World Bank, for works on the 1,620-km stretch
of the NW-1.
The IWAI is undertaking various mitigation measures to ensure that when NW-1 is
developed, no dolphin is harmed. For instance, vessel speeds shall be restricted to 2.7
knots in the VGDS to cut propeller noise. Restricting speed in the area can maintain noise
levels lower than 140 dB, which are lower than the tolerance levels of dolphins. Vessels
will have propeller guards and dolphin deflectors to minimise accidents.
3. Muzaffarnagar riot victims upset with NHRC
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/muzaffarnagar-riot-victims-upset-with-
nhrc/article9163921.ece
Category: Communal riots
Topic: NHRC report
Key Points:
Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the report, the victims of the 2013
Muzaffarnagar riots have demanded an apology from the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) for its report on the alleged exodus of Hindu families from Kairana
town in Uttar Pradesh. Citing 24 unnamed witnesses, the report stated: “Youths of the
specific majority community [Muslims] in Kairana town pass lewd/taunting remarks
against the females of the minority community...”
The victims said NHRC had never bothered to talk to us once in these three years. Now,
it has produced a report in which it is painting us as criminals.
4. Russia vows to continue Syria strikes
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/russia-vows-to-continue-syria-strikes/article9163886.ece
Category: International issues
Topic: Syrian crisis
Key Points:
Russia said it would continue with a bombing campaign in Syria, ignoring US threats, as
the United Nations pleaded for medical evacuations from the war-ravaged city of Aleppo.
The city now has descended into a merciless abyss of humanitarian catastrophe unlike
any we have witnessed in Syria.
Russia is backing up a ferocious assault by the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-
Assad to seize the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo, which has sparked accusations over
possible war crimes.
The United States has threatened to pull the plug on any more talks with Russia if it
does not halt the attack on Aleppo as acrimony seethes between the two powers after the
collapse of a truce deal. Assad opponents Germany and Turkey said after speaking by
phone that Russia has a special responsibility to calm violence and give a political
process a chance in Syria. The UN envoy for Syria meanwhile said there was little
prospect of an imminent restart of any negotiations to try to end the raging conflict as the
violence continues.
5. Ghani formalises peace deal with Butcher of Kabul
http://www.thehindu.com/news/ghani-formalises-peace-deal-with-butcher-of-kabul/article9163912.ece
Category: International issues
Topic: Afghanistan peace deal
Key Points:
President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani formalized a controversial accord with one of
Afghanistan's most notorious warlords. The government hopes the deal leads to more
peace agreements. The pact opens the door to the militant faction of Hezb-i-Islami, led
by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, playing an active role in politics.
Hekmatyar, a controversial figure from the insurgency against the Soviets in the 1980s
and the civil wars of the 1990s has been designated a global terrorist by the United
States, which has been leading an international military mission in Afghanistan for the
past 15 years. Having served as prime minister in the 1990s, before the rise to power of
the Taliban, he has long been known as close to neighbouring Pakistan. His faction of
Hezb-i-Islami has played a relatively small role in the current conflict, in which the
Taliban have a leading role in battling the Western-backed government in Kabul.
Peace talks with the Taliban, the largest insurgent group, have yet to get off the ground,
but both sides have said they are open to the idea.
6. U.S. Congress passes spending bill
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/us-congress-passes-spending-bill-averts-a-shut-down/article9165080.ece
Category: International issues
Topic: U.S.
The U.S. Congress passed a spending bill and staved off a government shutdown, after
reaching agreement on funding for a tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan that had be-
deviled earlier proposals. Lawmakers had been split on how to fund the crisis in Flint,
Michigan, where the drinking water is contaminated with lead.
The bill provides $1.1 billion for efforts to fight the Zika virus, and $500 million for
disaster recovery in flood-hit Louisiana and other States.
C. GS3 Related
1.Miracle TB drug hit by low enrolment
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/miracle-tb-drug-hit-by-low-
enrolment/article9163922.ece
Category: Science & Technology
Topic: Developments
Key Points:
6 months after the launch of miracle drug bedaquiline the most effective treatment for
multi-drug resistant tuberculosis the Indian government has enrolled a mere 36 patients.
Bedaquiline is used exclusively to treat patients who have failed to respond to second-
line anti-TB medicines. India had received a donation of 300 doses from the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), with another batch of 300 doses
to be donated in 2017.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India shoulders 71,000 multi-drug
resistant tuberculosis patients. WHO‟s report says nearly 10 per cent of all multi-drug
resistant TB patients have extensively drug resistant TB or XDR-TB resistant to any
fluoroquinolone, and at least one of three second-line injectable drugs (capreomycin,
kanamycin and amikacin), in addition to multidrug resistance.
2. Budget merger may need Parliament’s nod
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/budget-merger-may-need-
parliaments-nod/article9163813.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Union budget
Key Points:
The Union ministry of Railways said the Centre may have to pass a resolution in
Parliament in the upcoming session to finally put an end to the practice of presenting a
separate Rail Budget. Although the Constitution does not provide for a separate Rail
Budget, it was separated from general finances after a resolution was passed in the
Legislative Assembly (now Parliament) based on the recommendations made by the
Acworth Committee in 1921.
Presentation of a separate Budget is more of a matter of Convention than any rule.
Government decided to introduce a resolution to do this. After the Union Cabinet
approved merger of railway and general Budget, opposition parties attacked the
government for not consulting the Parliament.
3. Centre to raise EPF’s equity exposure to 10%
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/centre-to-raise-epfs-equity-
exposure-to-10/article9163894.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Provident fund
Key Points:
Union Labour and Employment Ministry said One in every ten rupees parked in
provident fund would now be invested on Dalal Street, with the government deciding to
double employees’ PF savings exposure to equities from the present level of 5 per cent
to 10 per cent of fresh accretions to the corpus.
This is expected to translate into an additional investment of Rs.11,500 crore in stocks
over the next six months of the financial year 2016-17.
The ministry further said EPFO is a social security organisation and a custodian of
workers money, so it is our responsibility to keep the money safe and at the same time,
give them good returns.
While the Finance Ministry had allowed equity investments between 5 per cent and 15
per cent of fresh accretions for non-government provident funds such as EPFO, the PF
office had made a cautious start by allowing 5 per cent investments last August after
years of resistance to a stock market foray. The Finance Ministry had first allowed
equity investments of up to 5 per cent of corpus in 2005.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Crossing the LoC
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-on-india-targets-terror-launch-
pads-across-line-of-control-crossing-the-line-of-control/article9163818.ece
After running through a variety of non-military responses to the September 18 terrorist
strike at an Army camp in Uri, the Centre announced that Indian forces had carried
out surgical strikes across the Line of Control. With this, India‟s next steps, post-Uri,
are in uncharted terrain, with New Delhi abandoning the self-proclaimed policy of
strategic restraint adopted in the face of earlier provocations by terrorists believed to be
backed by Pakistan. The operation, that began and concluded in the early hours of
Thursday, was claimed to be a military success, with no injuries to the Indian para-
commandos who went across the LoC into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to attack several
locations. The decision to strike in this manner was evidently taken after specific
intelligence that terrorist groups were planning attacks in India. This may not be the first
time India has undertaken quick cross-LoC operations, but it has never before chosen to
share information so publicly.
The terms surgical strike and pre-emptive strike used by the Centre were intended to
convey that this was not an attack on Pakistan‟s defence forces, but a targeted action
against terrorists poised to wreak damage in India. Pakistan of course has played down
the Indian operation, characterising it as an act of habitual cross-border shelling. It is
welcome that New Delhi declared the strikes complete shortly after the operation, with
the DGMO calling his Pakistani counterpart to convey that India would not escalate the
conflict beyond this. This, along with the briefings held in New Delhi for envoys of
various countries, indicates that the Centre wants to end hostilities with Pakistan for the
moment. This strengthens the view that the operation was the result of pressure on the
Modi government to manufacture a strong response to Uri. Over the past few days there
has been a cascade of moves to underline that such provocations cannot be followed with
business as usual. The government reviewed the working of the Indus Waters Treaty,
declared it is flirting with the idea of reviewing Pakistan‟s Most Favoured Nation status,
and pulled out of the SAARC heads‟ meet to be held in Islamabad. Having made it
known that India does not want further escalation, even as people living along the
International Border and the LoC are shifted to safer locations, the Centre will need to
articulate what it regards as the new normal and indeed, how it hopes, or plans, to
dissuade Pakistan from escalating the situation in turn.
2. Heed the boundary
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-on-lodha-committee-status-report-
heed-the-boundary/article9163829.ece
The Lodha Committee’s status report, highlighting how the Board of Control for Cricket
in India has failed to adopt the recommended administrative reforms, has left the game‟s
officials in a quandary. In a 79-page report filed in the Supreme Court, Justice R.M.
Lodha has said the BCCI‟s current office-bearers would have to relinquish their posts for
the proposed changes to be effected. Lending greater force to the punch, Chief Justice of
India T.S. Thakur said the BCCI elite would have to “fall in line, or else we will make
them fall in line”. The provocation for these firm strictures was the BCCI‟s Annual
General Meeting in Mumbai on September 21, where a slew of decisions were taken,
ranging from the nomination of Sharad Pawar as „alternate director for International
Cricket Council meetings‟ to the appointment of new selection committees. The actions
were seen as a failure to heed the Supreme Court. When the Lodha Committee green-
lighted the BCCI‟s AGM, it was with the caveat of sticking to appraising the year 2015-
16, but the board discarded the retrospective gaze and instead looked ahead. The
appointment of selection committees, to cite one example, went against norms set by
Justice Lodha, who had recommended a three-member panel. The board stuck to the
status quo of having five.
Recent developments in court now put the BCCI in a piquant situation. The BCCI‟s
elbow room has shrunk, and it is expected that the chastised board will toe the line,
though it has time till October 6 to file a reply in the Supreme Court. This sorry state of
affairs couldn‟t have come at a more inopportune moment. India has a home season
bounty - 13 Tests, including the match that concluded in Kanpur this week, and an
imminent Ranji Trophy schedule. Now there is the risk of disarray. The sport is perhaps
India‟s best-governed, but the administrators refuse accountability. The cricket schedule
(domestic and international) is well- drawn, former cricketers get a generous pension,
young players find financial security in the Indian Premier League, and there is much to
cheer in Indian cricket. But a refusal to embrace transparency and the lack of respect for
the ordinary fan has been emblematic of a feudal mindset that guides cricket‟s
officialdom. BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke has been quoted as saying the board did what it
felt was best for the game; BCCI president Anurag Thakur has often declared he is out to
clear “wrong perceptions”. Their intentions are, however, yet to be matched by their
actions. They need to take care they do not precipitate what could be the most serious
crisis yet for Indian cricket.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
Line of Control (LoC)
National waterways if India
Most Favored Nation (MFN)
Surgical strikes
Tuberculosis
Financial administration - Budgeting in India
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN
NEWS
Links to Refer
World Health Organization
(WHO)
Employment provident fund
organization (EPFO)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employees%27_Provident_Fund_Organisation
3. Tags
IWAI
EPFO
DGMO
Practice Questions
Date: 30
th September, 2016
Category: Environment
Topic: Conservation of bio-diversity
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
1. Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is located in -
a) Bihar
b) Jharkhand
c) West Bengal
d) Uttarakhand
Ans (a)
Date: 30
th September, 2016
Category: Indian polity
Topic: NHRC
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
2. Consider the following statements is a National Human Rights Commission :
1. It is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body
2. NHRC works for the implementation of the UN Human rights declaration - 1948.
Which are correct?
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (b)
Date: 30th September, 2016
Category: National organizations
Topic: EPFO
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Difficult
Type: Conceptual
3. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Employment provident fund
organization (EPFO)?
1. It works under the administrative control of the Union ministry of Labour and
Employment.
2. Recently, the government launched universal account number for Employees covered
by EPFO to enable PF number portability.
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (c)
Date: 30th September, 2016
Category: Science & technology
Topic: Diseases
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
4. Which of the following disease is caused by bacteria?
(a) Ebola fever
(b) Measles
(c) Zika fever
(d) Tuberculosis
Ans (d)
Date: 30th September, 2016
Category: National policies and programs
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
5. Which international organization recently signed an agreement with Government of India
to financially support National waterways project?
(a) Asia development bank
(b) World bank
(c) International financial corporation
(d) International monetary fund
Ans (b)
Current News Analysis
01-10-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1.Pakistan still in denial on India’s LoC action
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pak-still-in-denial-on-indias-loc-
action/article9170040.ece
Category: Bilateral
Topic: Indo-Pak
Key Points:
Immediately after Indian Special Forces struck terror launch pads across the Line of
Control, Pakistan continued to be in denial, maintaining that there had only been an
escalation of firing at the LoC.
Pakistan’s Army Chief Raheel Sharif, referring to the commando mission in which the
Indian Army said at least eight terror launch pads had been attacked, killing many
terrorists on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, as malicious propaganda. The
statement also warned India against any misadventure.
Pakistan briefed ambassadors of the P-5 UNSC member countries, calling the LoC
operation a frivolous Indian claim.
2. Bihar High Court quashes amended prohibition law
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/patna-high-court-
quashes-bihars-prohibition-law/article9167790.ece
Category: Judiciary
Topic: Important judgments
Key Points:
The Patna High Court declared Bihar’s amended prohibition law as illegal. Several
quarters have called the new stringent prohibition law of Bihar government as draconian.
Amended law - Under the law police or excise department officials could send anyone
found with a liquor bottle in his house or residential compound, to jail for 10 years. The
officials could even arrest all adult family members if a bottle of liquor was found in the
house.
Note - The Bihar government had recently given sops to private liquor manufacturing
companies in the State while giving tax benefits to them. There are over a dozen liquor
manufacturing companies in the State which could sell liquor only outside Bihar.
3. Supreme Court gives last chance to Karnataka to release Cauvery water
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cauvery-row-supreme-court-tells-
karnataka-to-release-water-centre-to-form-cauvery-board/article9168361.ece
Category: Inter-state water disputes
Topic: Cauvery – SC judgment
Key Points:
The Supreme Court gave Karnataka a last chance to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery
water to Tamil Nadu between October 1, 2016 and October 6, 2016 before the wrath of
law falls on the State. The hearing comes a day after talks hosted by the Union Water
Ministry between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to find a common ground and resolve the
Cauvery water dispute failed.
The apex court simultaneous asked the Centre to set up the Cauvery Water Management
Board by October 4, 2016 so that the Board can visit the Cauvery sites to check the
ground realities. The court slammed Karnataka for flouting its orders and creating a
situation by which the majesty of law is dented.
Invoking its limitless powers under Article 144 of the Indian Constitution to enforce its
orders, a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit warned Karnataka in its order
that it was bound to obey the orders of the Supreme Court.
Article 144 - All authorities in the territory of India are bound to obey the orders of the
Supreme Court and render assistance and aid for the implementation of the orders of this
court.
Karnataka’s counsel read out a letter to him by Karnataka Chief Minister saying that
Karnataka stands by its September 23 resolution to not share Cauvery water as it was the
will of its people.
4. SAARC summit postponed indefinitely
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-postpones-saarc-
summit/article9169322.ece
Category: International Summits
Topic: SAARC
Key Points:
Pakistan announced that the SAARC summit scheduled for November 9 and 10 in
Islamabad will now be held on an alternate date. Pakistan blamed India for derailing the
SAARC Summit, even as Sri Lanka joined others in opposing the summit under the
prevailing environment.
Sri Lanka joined India, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh in demanding the summit
should not be held.
Nepal subsequently issued an official statement seeking an indefinite postponement of
the summit and said new set of dates for holding of the 19th SAARC Summit at
Islamabad will be announced soon.
C. GS3 Related
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Taking the road less dusty
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/taking-the-road-less-
dusty/article9170238.ece
The likelihood of at least 600,000 deaths being caused annually in India by fine
particulate matter pollution in the air is cause for worry, even if the data released by
the World Health Organisation are only a modelled estimate. The conclusion that so
many deaths could be attributed to particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in size is, of
course, caveated, since comprehensive measurement of PM2.5 is not yet being done and
the linkages between pollution, disease and deaths need further study. What is not in
doubt is that residents in many urban areas are forced to breathe unhealthy levels of
particulates, and the smallest of these - PM10 and less can penetrate and get lodged deep
in the lungs. The WHO Global Burden of Disease study has been working to estimate
pollution-linked health impacts, such as stroke and ischaemic heart disease, acute lower
respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data on fine particulates
in India show that in several locations the pollutants come from burning of biomass, such
as coal, fuel wood, farm litter and cow dung cakes. In highly built-up areas, construction
debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust add to the problem. The Prime Minister
launched an Air Quality Index last year aimed at improving pollution control. The new
data, which the WHO says provide the best evidence available on the terrible toll taken
by particulates, should lead to intensified action.
A neglected aspect of urban air pollution control is the virtual discarding of the
Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, notified to sustainably manage
debris that is dumped in the cities, creating severe particulate pollution. The Environment
Ministry has highlighted the role that debris can play as a resource. Municipal and
government contracts are, under the rules, required to utilise up to 20 per cent materials
made from construction and demolition waste, and local authorities must place containers
to hold debris. This must be implemented without delay. Providing cleaner fuels and
scientifically designed cookstoves to those who have no option but to burn biomass,
would have a big impact on reducing particulate matter in the northern and eastern States,
which are the worst-hit during winter, when biomass is also used for heating. Greening
the cities could be made a mission, involving civil society, with a focus on landscaping
open spaces and paving all public areas to reduce dust. These measures can result in
lower PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Comprehensive measurement of these particulates is
currently absent in many cities, a lacuna that needs to be addressed.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
Line of Control (LoC)
Inter-State river water disputes
Surgical strikes
Alcohol prohibition in India – DPSP (Gandhian principles)
SAARC
Air pollution
National air quality index
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
National air quality index
(NAQI)
South Asian Association
for Regional cooperation
(SAARC)
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=110654
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperation
3. Tags
Art 47
Original jurisdiction of Supreme court
Art 144
Practice Questions
Date: 1
st October, 2016
Category: polity
Topic: Governance
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
1. Apart from Bihar which other states have prohibition on alcohol -
a) Gujarat
b) Nagaland
c) Kerala
d) all of the above
Ans (d)
Date: 1
st October, 2016
Category: Indian polity
Topic: Interstate river water disputes
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
2. Consider the following statements regarding Cauvery Management Board:
1. It is a constitutional body
2.It will have representations from Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Which are correct?
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (b)
Date: 1st October, 2016
Category: International Relations
Topic: SAARC
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Difficult
Type: Conceptual
3. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the 19th
SAARC summit are
correct?
1. Sri Lanka joined India, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh in demanding the summit
should not be held.
2. The Summit was to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (c)
Date: 30th September, 2016
Category: Science & technology
Topic: Pollution
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
4. Which of the following Statements regarding sources of PM (Particulate matter) 10 and
below particles are True?
(a) Pollutants PM 10 or below come from burning of biomass, such as coal, fuel wood,
farm litter and cow dung cakes.
(b) In highly built-up areas, construction debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust are also
a source of pollutant of PM 10 or below.
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (c)
Date: 1st October, 2016
Category: International organizations
Topic: United Nations
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
5. Which of the following country in not a permanent member of the security council P5?
(a) China
(b) Russia
(c) France
(d) Germany
Ans (d)
Current News Analysis
02-10-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1.Rs. 65,250 crore mopped up via new black money window
http://www.thehindu.com/business/black-money-rs-65250-crore-disclosed-
under-income-declaration-scheme-says-arun-jaitley/article9173242.ece
Category: Centre’s programs and policies
Topic: Black money
Key Points:
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that the Central Board of Direct Taxes
(CBDT) had received total disclosures of Rs. 65,250 crore under the Income Disclosure
Scheme (IDS) - 2016 in the form of cash and other assets.
The four-month window under the Income disclosure scheme for declaring undisclosed
income or black money that had escaped assessment closed recently.
Union Finance minister further said unlike the IDS, the earlier scheme, the voluntary
disclosure scheme of 1997 which mopped up Rs. 9,760 crore in taxes at an average of
about Rs. 7 lakh per declarant had not penalised the declarents and allowed them to
value the assets declared at the market prices of 1987 rather than current rates.
Note - In the 175 cases of black money allegedly stashed overseas in HSBC bank
accounts, the CBDT has already filed 164 prosecutions following assessments of sums
that add up to Rs 8,000 crore. The probe is being monitored by the Special Investigation
Team (SIT), set up under the directions of the Supreme Court.
Following the leads from the investigations undertaken by the International Consortium
of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the CBDT has detected Rs.5,000 crore of undisclosed
deposits in foreign accounts made and filed 55 prosecution cases in those cases.
Similarly, investigation in the Panama cases has led to 250 references being made to
other countries asking for details about tax evaders, bank accounts etc. A quantum jump
in the searches and survey has resulted in the seizure of Rs.1986 crore as well as
undisclosed income of Rs.56,378 crore in the last two and half years.
Overview:
Income Disclosure Scheme (IDS) 2016 –
It provided a one-time opportunity to black money holders who had not paid full taxes
in the past to come clean by declaring their domestic undisclosed income and assets by
paying tax plus penalty at the rate of 45 per cent.
No target for disclosures or collections from the scheme had been set for the CBDT. The
government stands to mop up 45 per cent of this, or about Rs 29,000 crore, in taxes and
penalties. It is one of the steps taken by the centre to increase tax compliance and
reducing tax avoidance in the country.
The CBDT removed the difficulties that had been expressed by those wanting to avail of
the scheme, especially with respect to making the tax payment within a short span by
agreeing to accept it in three instalments, the last being in September 2017. The
declarents have been assured of absolute confidentiality.
The income tax and penalties collected under the scheme will be used for public
welfare.
2. Bihar may implement new prohibition Act
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-govt-may-implement-
new-prohibition-act-today/article9174569.ece
Category: State government’s policy
Topic: Alcohol prohibition
Key Points:
The State government appeared all set to implement the new stringent Bihar Excise and
Prohibition Act, 2016 despite Patna High Court order which set aside the prohibition law
in Bihar made effective from April 5.
The Bihar government may also file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court soon
to challenge the High Court’s order. State government’s counsel said “The Patna High
Court order has come in relation with the previous Act of prohibition made effective from
April 5 in the State but the new Bihar Excise and Prohibition Act, 2016, will be
implemented from October 2”.
3. U.N. panel to examine blacklisting Azhar
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/un-panel-to-examine-
blacklisting-azhar/article9175013.ece
Category: International
Topic: UN panel on terrorism
Key Points:
India’s efforts to isolate Pakistan globally would be tested when a United Nations
Sanctions Committee takes up the proposal to put Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief
Masood Azhar on the list of proscribed terrorists. China had put a technical hold on
this proposal in April, 2015.
Azhar, a resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan, has been accused by India of orchestrating
several terror attacks here, the latest being the attack on an Army camp in Jammu and
Kashmir’s Uri. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing both the
Pathankot and Uri attacks, is learnt to have given crucial points nailing Azhar’s direct
role in the terror attacks.
India said it would apprise the 1999 resolution - 1267 Taliban/Al-Qaeda Sanctions
Committee that Azhar has close links to the Taliban and consequently to Al Qaeda.
China has three options now but they were not very optimistic. China can extend the
technical hold, convert the hold to a block, or allow the designation (as a terrorist) to go
through
4. China blocks tributary of Brahmaputra to build dam
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-blocks-tributary-of-
brahmaputra-in-tibet-to-build-dam/article9171963.ece
Category: Bilateral
Topic: Indo-china
Key Points:
China has blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Zangbo) as part of a major
hydro-electric project, whose construction began in 2014. The blockage is a part of
China's most expensive hydro project. The Brahmaputra in its upper reaches is called
Yarlung Zangbo, after it originates from the Angsi glacier in western Tibet, southeast of
Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake.
China said the current plan falls within the parameters of the larger Lalho project that
began in 2014. The project on the Xiabuqu in Xigaze, also called Shigatse (a railhead of
the Qinghai-Tibet railway, very close to Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim) involves an
investment of $740 million. The multipurpose enterprise, which includes construction of
two power stations with a combined generation capacity of 42 MW, was scheduled for
completion in 2019. Its reservoir is designed to store up to 295 million cubic meters of
water and helps irrigate 30,000 hectares of farmland.
So far, China has maintained that its dams do not restrict the flow of water towards India
as they are based on run-of-the river principle. China’s 13th five year plan has
proposed significant hydropower expansion along rivers that also originate in the
Tibetan plateau. Although the plan does not mention any river specifically, it is
anticipated that the new dams are envisaged along the Yarlung Zangbo, Lancang
(Mekong) and Nu (Salween), all originating in the Tibetan plateau.
Note - China’s move coincides with the debate in India on the re-calibration of Indus
water flows into Pakistan following a cross-border raid in Uri that killed 18 Indian troops.
C.GS3 Related
1. India to push for funds at climate talks
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/india-to-push-for-funds-at-climate-talks/article9174999.ece
Category: Environment
Topic: UNFCCC – Climate funds
Key Points:
A day before India ratifies the Paris climate agreement the union environment
minister emphasised that India would push for finance and technology from
developed countries at the climate talks (COP-22) in Morocco. The minister also
confirmed that there was no link between India ratifying the deal and its membership
to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
At the climate talks in Morocco in November, 2016 India would stress most on
trying to operationalise the $100 billion corpus called the Green Climate Fund
committed by developed countries to aid policy, projects and technology transfer as a
buffer against the impact of climate change. Unfortunately, only a fraction of it ($2
million out of $10 Billion) has been pledged so far.
The minister further said India will also set up a pavilion at the climate talks in
Morocco to showcase Gandhiji’s low carbon lifestyle.
On INDC’s – The funds will help nations work on fulfilling their Intended Nationally
Determined Contributions (INDC) which aim to reduce carbon emissions through a
host of solutions. Union environment minister said that India has already completed
12 per cent of all pre-2020 Intended National Determined Contributions (INDC), or
the road map by which it will make good on its commitments to reduce carbon
emissions. As part of its INDC plans, India had promised to bring down its emissions
intensity, or emissions per unit of the GDP, by at least 33 per cent by the year 2030 as
compared to 2005 levels.
2. India got 3% less rain than normal
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/india-got-3-less-rain-than-normal-
imd/article9175000.ece
Category: Environment
Topic: IMD - Weather forecasting
Key Points:
According to Indian Meteorological department (IMD), India has ended up with 3
per cent less rain than normal during the monsoon months of June to September,
2016. This is the first time since 2011 that the department was not able to forecast
the overall sign of the monsoon - meaning that it expected heavy rain but ended up
with less than normal. In 2014 and 2015, the India Meteorological Department
(IMD) could not anticipate the severity of the droughts but had indicated that
monsoon would be below normal.
In 2011, the IMD said India would get below normal (95% of the average) rain, but
the country ended up with 2 per cent more rain than normal.
The Director General (DG) of IMD said the forecasting agency is not worried that
we couldn’t get the trend right because all monsoon models in the world had expected
a La Nina to form during the end of the monsoon. Moreover there have been no
reports of moisture stress from any region.
He added that through the monsoon months, there were indications that East and
Northwest India would see rain deficits, but the delayed La Nina greatly affected the
rains in South India, which has so far seen an 8 per cent deficit. Deficient rain over
South India led to riots and violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing of
Cauvery waters.
On La-Nina: IMD said, activation phase of La Nina - a weather phenomenon that is
the converse of the El Nino that brings good rains to India was supposed to boost
rains in September. However the near normal rains have so far been well distributed
and had contributed to good kharif sowing.
3. Centre rethinks plan to widen EPF coverage
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/centre-rethinks-plan-to-widen-epf-
coverage/article9174475.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: EPFO
Key Points:
The centre is reconsidering a plan to widen the social security net for workers by
bringing more factories under the provident fund coverage. The Labour Ministry had
proposed to bring down the threshold limit for coverage of firms under the
Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to factories with at least 10 workers. At present,
the EPF Act is applicable to factories with minimum 20 workers. The labour ministry
said the proposal to decrease the threshold limit was found to be contradictory with
another proposal in the Act to give an option to workers to switch to the National
Pension System (NPS), managed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority.
The Cabinet Secretariat has pointed out a few contradictions in the Labour
Ministry’s proposal to amend the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous
Provisions Act of 1952
Note - In the Union Budget 2015-16 speech Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had
proposed allowing EPF subscribers to opt for NPS and to make EPF contributions
optional for workers below a certain income threshold. In June, 2016 Centre proposed
making EPF optional for textile workers earning less than Rs 15,000 a month as a part
of a special package for the garments sector. The government’s proposal to bring
factories with at least 10 workers under the EPF fold can bring 50 lakh additional
workers under the social security coverage.
At present, 8.7 crore workers are subscribed to EPFO out of which around 3.77
crore workers made active contributions to their PF account till 2015-16.The proposal
to cover factories with at least 10 workers under the EPF Act was one of the
recommendations of the 44th Indian Labour Conference Session held in 2012.
4. New species of Pika discovered
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/new-species-of-pika-
discovered/article9175091.ece
Category: Environment
Topic: Biodiversity
Key Points:
Scientists from Bengaluru based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS)
announced discovery of a new species of Pika, a mammal belonging to the rabbit
and hare family (Lagomorpha), in the Himalayas in Sikkim. NCBS said discovering
a new mammal in 2016 from a hotspot like the Himalayas proves that we need to
conduct much more research in the region.
Note - Pikas are members of the rabbit family and live in the mountains or in
temperate regions. They are keystone species and ecosystem engineers, and studying
their evolution can shed more light on the Himalayan ecosystem.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
International and National counter-terrorism initiatives
National centre for biological sciences
UNFCCC – Paris pact
Intended nationally determined contributions
EPFO
IMD
El Nino and La Nina
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS Links to Refer
National centre for biological
sciences
Brahmaputra and its tributaries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Centre_for_Biological_Sciences
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_River
3. Tags
INDC
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)
Art 47 – Gandhian principles
National Pension System (NPS)
Practice Questions
Date: 2nd October, 2016
Category: Climate change
Topic: UNFCCC – INDC’s
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Conceptual
1. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Indian Individual Nationally
Determined Contributions (INDCs) to combat Climate Change?
i) It aims to reduce the National Emissions Intensity by 33% to 35% by 2030.
ii) Generation of forests (Carbon Sinks) which can absorb 3 billion tonnes of carbon
equivalent by 2030
iii) By 2030, 50% of our energy needs should be fulfilled by non-conventional (renewable)
sources.
a) i) and ii) only
b) ii) and iii) only
c) i) and iii) only
d) All 3
Ans (a)
Date: 2nd October, 2016
Category: National organizations
Topic: National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
2. Consider the following statements about National Centre for Biological Sciences
(NCBS):
1. It is part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) under the Department
of Atomic Energy.
2. Its mandate is basic and interdisciplinary research in the frontier areas of biology.
Which are correct?
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (c)
Date: 2nd October, 2016
Category: Environment
Topic: Bio-diversity: hotspots
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Difficult
Type: Conceptual
3. Which of the following is a Bio-diversity Hotspot?
a)Eastern Himalayas b)Western Himalayas
c)Sundarbans d)Nilgiris.
Ans (a)
Date: 2nd October, 2016
Category: Indian constitution
Topic: DPSP
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
4. Which of the following statements are correct about Article 47 of the Indian constitution -
the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for
medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health?
(1). It is a Gandhian principle under the Directive principles of State policy (DPSP)
(2). It is enforceable in a court of law.
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (a)
Date: 2nd October, 2016
Category: National organizations - NPS
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
5. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the National pension scheme
(NPS)?
1. It is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
2. It is applicable for government employees only.
(a.) 1 only
(b.) 2 only
(c.) Both 1 and 2
(d.) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans (a)
