NEO IAS Premium Learning Aid Series · 2019. 8. 30. · The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French-made multirole, single-engine, fourth-generation jet fighter. The Mirage 2000 evolved

NEO IAS Premium Learning Aid Series

Learning Aid Name : Prelims Current Affairs Learning CardLearning Aid Type : Digital DocumentVolume : February, 2019 Length : 100 Cards | 30 Minute Revision ReadPrepared by : Team CAP, NEO IAS

What is Prelims Current Affairs Learning Cards?

It is a Learning Aid brought out by NEO IAS as part of its’ Premium Learning Aid Series to help

every aspirant to revise current affairs easily.

What is Premium Learning Aid Series?

It is a series of high quality, well-reviewed and innovative documents by NEO IAS. These materials

attempts to redefine civil service exam learning aids through it’s learning friendly presentation

and by it’s compact and relevant content. Premium Monthly Digest is the latest addition to it.

How can I use the learning cards effectively?

Learning cards will help you to cover the most important Prelims Current Affairs quickly. Content

presented in it are crisp and sharp, helping your comprehension. Pictures will help you in

recollection. You could use these cards after reading our current affairs digests for more

effectiveness.

February, [email protected]

Labour force participation rate (LFPR)

is defined as the section of working

population in the age group of 16-

64 in the economy currently

employed or seeking employment.

People who are still undergoing

studies, housewives and persons

above the age of 64 are not reckoned

in the labour force.

It is the measure to evaluate working-

age population in an economy.

LFPR

Economics

February 2019

Powered by

Current Affairs PlusPrelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA

A currency swap between two

countries is an agreement or contract to

exchange currencies with

predetermined terms and conditions.

Currency swap agreement can be

bilateral or multilateral.

The main purpose of currency swaps is

to avoid turbulence and other risks in

the foreign exchange market and

exchange rate.

It ensure adequate foreign currency

during the time of foreign currency

scarcity.

Currency Swap

Economics

February 2019

Powered by


Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a

composite index which measures short-

term changes in Industrial production

during given period with respect to

chosen base period.

It is compiled and published monthly by

Central Statistical Organization (CSO),

Ministry of Statistics and Programme

Implementation (MoSPI).

Base year: 2011-12 which is given a

value of 100 & Indian IIP only covers

three sectors – mining, manufacturing

and electricity.

IIP

Economics

February 2019

Powered by


PETROTECH 2019 is the 13th

International Oil & Gas Conference &

Exhibition, being organised under the

aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum &

Natural Gas, Government of India.

It will see participation of

technologists, scientists, planners,

policy-makers, management experts,

entrepreneurs, service-providers and

vendors from over 70 countries.

Theme: “Shaping the New Energy

World through Innovation and

Collaboration.”

PETROTECH 2019

Economics

February 2019

Powered by


Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

(PMKSN) is a scheme that will benefit

about 12 crore small and marginal

farmers.

Small farmers will get an amount of Rs

6,000 per annum direct cash

transfer for farmers owning land less

than two hectares (5 acres).

The amount will be transferred directly

to bank accounts of farmers in three

equal installments and the programme

will be funded 100 per cent by the

Central government.

PMKSN

Economics

February 2019

Powered by


The Power Grid Corporation of India

Limited (POWERGRID), is a Navratna

Company of Government of India,

under Ministry of Power.

POWERGRID is one of the

World’s Largest Power Transmission

Utility, and has a wide network

transmission lines, Sub-stations and

transformation capacity.

POWERGRID

Economics

February 2019

Powered by


INSTEX stands “Instrument in

Support of Trade Exchanges“.

It is a payment channel set up

by Germany, France and the UK

with Iran to help continue trade

and circumvent US sanctions.

INSTEX

Economics

February 2019

Powered by


The Project 75 Kalvari class is

a class of diesel-electric attack

submarines based on the Scorpène-class

submarine being built for the Indian

Navy.

French Company DCNS will provide

design and technology to public sector

Mazagon Docks to make six Scorpene

diesel submarines by 2022.

INS Kalvari, INS Khandari and INS

Karanj are the 3 of the 6 Scorpene-class

submarines being built by MDL under

the Project 75 programme of Indian navy.

Project 75

Security

February 2019

Powered by


It is the Committee of Experts

(CoE) constituted by the Ministry

of Defence under the

chairmanship of Lt. Gen (Retd) DB

Shekatkar.

It is to recommend measures to

enhance combat capability and

rebalance defence expenditure of

the armed forces.

Shekatkar Committee

Security

February 2019

Powered by


The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French-

made multirole, single-engine, fourth-

generation jet fighter.

The Mirage 2000 evolved into a multirole

aircraft with several variants developed.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) became the first

foreign user of the aircraft type in 1985.

The Mirage 2000 performed remarkably

well during the whole conflict in the high

Himalayas during the Kargil War.

It is armed with laser-guided weapons

such as the ‘Vajra’.

Mirage 2000

Security

February 2019

Powered by


SPICE 2000 is a guidance kit powered by

electro-optics and global positioning system

for converting unguided air-droppable bombs

into precision guided bombs.

It was developed by Israel & combines the

advantages of satellite guidance and those

of electro-optical guidance into one bomb.

Satellite guidance allows to engage

camouflaged and hidden targets; to provide a

“drop-and-forget” option; to operate in all

weather and lighting conditions.

Electro-optical guidance allows “man-in-the-

loop” guidance; to engage relocatable targets;

independence from external information

sources like satellites.

SPICE 2000

Security

February 2019

Powered by


Phalcon AEW&C is an Israeli

developed airborne early warning

and control (AEW&C) radar system.

Its primary objective is to

provide intelligence to maintain air

superiority and

conduct surveillance.

The system is currently in-service

with the Indian Air Force.

It is described as the most advanced

AEW&C system in the world.

Phalcon (AEW&C)

Security

February 2019

Powered by


AK-103 Assault Rifle is a Russian origin

assault rifle, a derivative of the AK-74M,

a modern upgrade on earlier AKM rifle or

the famed 1940’s rifle AK-47.

The AK-103 can be fitted with a variety of

sights, including night vision and

telescopic sights, plus a knife-bayonet or a

grenade launcher.

The AK-103 will be bulk produced by the

Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) with

technology transfer.

These will replace the INSAS rifles in use

by the Indian Army.

AK-103 Assault Rifle

Security

February 2019

Powered by


Polar Vortex is a low pressure

system of a wide expanse of

swirling cold air surrounding both

Polar Regions.

The counter-clockwise flow of air

helps keep the colder air near the

poles.

In normal conditions, vortex is

strong and healthy, and helps keep

the jet stream traveling around the

globe in a pretty circular path.

Polar vortex

Geography

February 2019

Powered by


Atlantic Meridional Overturning

Circulation (AMOC) is a large system of

ocean currents that carry warm water

from the tropics northwards into the

North Atlantic.

It is a giant ocean conveyor belt that

moves water from Greenland south to

beyond the tip of Africa and into the

Indian Ocean.

It is characterized by a northward flow of

warm, salty water in the upper layers of

the Atlantic, and a southward flow of

colder, deep waters that are part of

the thermohaline circulation

AMOC

Geography

February 2019

Powered by


Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, alternatively

called Indian Rhinoceros, has a single horn

and is nearly as large as the African white

rhino and is native to Indian subcontinent.

Its thick, silver-brown skin folds into the

shoulder, back, and rump, giving it an

armored appearance.

Indian rhinos once inhabited many areas

ranging from Pakistan to Myanmar and even

parts of China, Now exist in only several

protected areas of India and Nepal.

They evaluated as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red

List of Threatened Species and also included in

the Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act,

1972.

One-Horned Rhinoceros

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Javan Rhinoceros is a very rare member

of the Rhinoceros family and one of five

extant rhinoceroses.

It is also known as Sunda

rhinoceros or lesser one-horned

rhinoceros, Once ranged from the islands

of Java and Sumatra, throughout

Southeast Asia, and into India and China.

Only one known population in the wild

in Indonesia, and no individuals in

captivity.

It is critically endangered under the IUCN

Red List.

Javan Rhinoceros

Envivronment

February 2019

Powered by


The Scheduled Tribes and Other

Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition

of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is called

as Forest Rights Act.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal

ministry in implementing the act & Gram

Sabha is the authority in deciding the

forest rights.

Forest Rights granted under the Act are

1. Title rights

2. Use rights

3. Relief and development rights

4. Forest management rights

Forest Rights Act 2006

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Sumatran Rhinoceros is

the smallest extant rhinoceros species and

also the hairiest (A coat of reddish-brown

hair covers most of the Sumatran rhino’s

body) and known as the hairy

rhinoceros or Asian two-horned

rhinoceros.

It once inhabited rainforests, swamps,

and cloud forests in India, Bhutan,

Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand,

Malaysia, Indonesia, and China but now

it is found in Borneo and Sumatra at very

high altitudes.

They are classified critically

endangered in the IUCN Red List.

Sumatran rhinoveros

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


The Indus River dolphin (Platanista

minor) is second most

endangered freshwater dolphin species

in the world.

It is an obligate freshwater cetacean

species locally known as bhulan, found

only in India and Pakistan in the Beas

River.

A flagship species, this dolphin is an

indicator of the biological health of the

aquatic and terrestrial environment

adjoining the Indus River.

Indus River dolphin

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Marine Clouds are the stratocumulus

clouds that cover about 20 percent of the

subtropical oceans.

They protect the Earth from extreme

temperature conditions

by reflecting sunlight back into space.

When these clouds disappear, Earth

warms dramatically, by about eight

degrees Celsius in addition to the global

warming.

A temperature increase of that magnitude

would melt polar ice and lift sea

levels tens of meters.

Marine Clouds

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Stratocumulus clouds are clouds

characterised by large dark, rounded

masses, usually in groups, lines, or

waves.

They are found at lower heights,

usually below 2000 metres.

They are shallow cloud layers created

by weak convective currents.

The continued vertical development

of such clouds is prevented by drier,

stable air above.

Stratocumulus Clouds

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Indian Birding fair is an annual fair

conducted at the Man Sagar Lake near

Jaipur in an effort to ensure

conservation of bird species and also

promote eco-tourism.

This was the 22nd edition of the fair

organised by the Tourism & Wildlife

Society of India and supported by Jaipur

Zoo and some philanthropic bodies and

overseas organisations.

Hundreds of nature lovers, bird watchers

and students and teachers of local

schools thronged the lake banks during

the two-day fair

Indian Birding Fair

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Cauvery wild life sanctuary is a

protected area located in the Mandya,

Chamarajanagar and Ramanagar

districts of Karnataka.

The Cauvery River flows through the

middle of this sanctuary.

The sanctuary which adjoins

Dharmapuri forest of Tamil Nadu, is

also called Bheemeshwari Wildlife

Sanctuary and is an IUCN category

IV protected area.

Cauvery wildlife

sanctuary

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Great Indian Hornbill is one of the

larger members of the hornbill family,

distributed along Indian Subcontinent

and Southeast Asia.

The great hornbill is long-lived, living

for nearly 50 years in captivity.

Though predominantly frugivorous, it

also preys on mammals, reptiles and

birds.

It is evaluated as Vulnerable (VU) on

the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Great Indian Hornbill

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


It is found in India, Nepal and Pakistan

and extinct in Bangladesh.

The blackbuck inhabits grassy

plains and slightly forested areas and

prefer areas where water is perennially

available.

Hunting of blackbuck is prohibited

under Schedule I of the Wildlife

Protection Act of 1972.

It is evaluated as Least Concern (LC) on

the IUCN Red List.

Blackbuck

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS) is spread

over thirteen villages, in Fazilka District

of Punjab, home to the Bishnoi community.

The Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary spreads

over private land unlike others,

(A unique initiative has been started by the

Bishnoi community to protect the black

buck considered to be sacred by them.)

The flora in the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary

is classified under the tropical dry mixed

deciduous forest.

Abohar Wildlife

Sanctuary

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Exhibition on Energy and

Environment: Challenges and

Opportunities (ENCO 2019) in

New Delhi was inaugurated by

the President.

The Conference is being

organised by the Council of

Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR).

ENCO 2019

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Flying Bulldog is the World’s largest

bee, known as Megachilepluto,

lives in the Indonesian island

region of North Moluccas.

It makes its nest in termite mounds

by using its large fang-like

mandibles to collect sticky resin

which helps protect its home from

the termites.

The flying bulldog bee was listed as

a ‘vulnerable’ species by the IUCN

Red List of Threatened Species.

Flying Bulldog

Environment

February 2019

Powered by


Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of

Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India

(FAME) is a scheme to incentivize the

production and promotion of eco-

friendly vehicles including electric

vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

It was launched by the Ministry of

Heavy Industries and Public

Enterprises.

FAME-India is part of the National

Electric Mobility Mission Plan

(NEMMP) 2020 launched in 2013.

FAME

Government Interventions

February 2019

Powered by


The National Foundation for Communal

Harmony (NFCH) is an autonomous

organization under the administrative control

of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Objective: to provide assistance to the

children / youth rendered orphan / destitute

in communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist

violence for their rehabilitation besides

promoting communal harmony and national

integration through various activities.

The NFCH sponsors/conducts different

activities for the promotion of communal

harmony and strengthening of national

integration.

NFCH


February 2019

Powered by


The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Athority

(NPPA) is mandated to fix/revise the prices of

controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to

enforce prices and availability of the medicines

in the country.

It also monitors the prices of decontrolled

drugs in order to keep them at reasonable

levels.

The regulator implements and enforces

the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control)

Order.

It is also entrusted with the task of recovering

amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the

controlled drugs from the consumers.

NPPA


September 2018

Powered by


Central Adoption Resource Authority

(CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of

Women & Child Development.

It functions as the nodal body for adoption

of Indian children.

It is mandated to monitor and regulate in-

country and inter-country adoptions.

CARA is designated as the Central

Authority to deal with inter-country

adoptions in accordance with the

provisions of the Hague Convention on

Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by

Government of India in 2003.

CARA

Government interventions

February 2019

Powered by


Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation scheme

(DDRS) is a scheme for providing financial

assistance to NGOs working for education

and rehabilitation of persons with

disabilities.

It is a Central Sector Scheme provided by the

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,

being implemented since 1999.

Under the scheme, every year more than 600

NGOs are provided with financial assistance

for running their projects for the

rehabilitation of persons with disability.

DDRS


February 2019

Powered by


The Tagore Award award is given to

individuals, associations, institutions or

organizations for their outstanding

contribution towards promoting values of

Cultural Harmony.

It was instituted by the Government of

India from 2012 as part of the

Commemoration of Tagore’s 150 Birth

Anniversary in 2012 and is awarded

annually.

The Award is open to all persons regardless

of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or

gender

Tagore Award


February 2019

Powered by


‘Muktir Alo’ is a scheme for

rehabilitation of sex workers announced

by the West Bengal government in 2015.

It involved rehabilitating the sex workers

by training them in trades such as hand

block printing, cutting and tailoring,

spice grinding, recycled tyre product

making and cafeteria management etc.

The scheme lies in limbo as only there

was only 75 beneficiaries till now, the

budgetary allowances largely curtailed

and the training provided is outdated.

‘Muktir Alo’


February 2019

Powered by


Vision Insight and Voices as India goes Digital

(VIVID) is an annual event, with the objective

to empower National Informatics Centre (NIC)

officials in the field of technology started in

2017.

VIVID 2019 would provide a cohesive and

extensive platform for interaction and

knowledge sharing.

It will cover a wide range of relevant topics in

various technical sessions including Emerging

Technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Machine

Learning & Big Data Analytics), Cyber Threats &

Counter Measures (Changing Digitisation

Paradigm & its impact on Security), Enterprise

Level Applications, and many other relevant

topics.

VIVID


February 2019

Powered by


Digidhan Mitra Chatbot is designed and

developed by National Informatics

Centre (NIC).

The AI based Digidhan Mitra Chatbot

enables a text & voice based

conversation with the user, mining the

Digidhan Portal, to give customized

information in graphical, tabular and

textual format.

It provides bank wise transactions

details as well as growth pattern of

various modes of transactions like

BHIM, IMPS, cards etc. in tabular as

well as graphical form.

Digidhan Mitra Chatbot


February 2019

Powered by


Technology Incubation and

Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE

2.0) Scheme has been devised to

promote the momentum into the tech

entrepreneurship landscape.

The Scheme provides financial and

technical support to incubators

engaged in supporting ICT startups

using emerging technologies such as

IoT, AI, Block-chain, Robotics etc. in

seven pre-identified areas of societal

relevance.

TIDE 2.0


February 2019

Powered by


‘IPrism’ is an Intellectual Property (IP)

competition for students of schools,

polytechnic institutes, colleges and

universities.

It aims to foster a culture of innovation

and creativity in the younger generation.

The competition will provide young

creators an opportunity to see their

creations recognized on a national

platform.

Entries are invited on “IP in Daily Life” in

two categories – film making and comic

book making.

IPrism


February 2019

Powered by


The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management

(CIPAM), is a professional body which works

on issues related to IPRs and addresses the 7

identified objectives of the National IPR policy.

The CIPAM, set up under the aegis of the

Department for promotion of industry and

internal trade (DPIIT) to fulfil the policy

objectives, has been actively involved in many

outreach activities including a nation-wide IPR

awareness campaign.

CIPAM assists in simplifying and streamlining

of IP processes, apart from undertaking steps

forfurthering IPR awareness, commercialization

and enforcement.

CIPAM


February 2019

Powered by


The Bharat Net Project is the new

brand name of National Optical

Fibre Network (NOFN) which was

launched in 2011.

It seek to provide broadband

connectivity to all 2.5 Lakh gram

panchayats (GPs) through optical

fibre.

It was renamed BharatNet in 2015

and is being funded

through Universal Service Obligation

Fund (USOF).

Bharat Net


February 2019

Powered by


Gandhi Peace Prize for Social,

Economic and Political transformation

through Non-violence was instituted

in the year 1995.

This annual award is given to

individuals, associations, institutions

or organizations who have worked

selflessly for peace, non-violence and

amelioration of human sufferings.

The Award is open to all

persons regardless of nationality,

race, language, caste, creed or

gender.

Gandhi Peace Prize


February 2019

Powered by


The Startup Ranking framework aims

to rank the States/UTs for establishing a

robust ecosystem for supporting

Startups.

Department for Promotion of Industry

and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

launches second edition of States’

ranking on Startup initiatives.

The ranking exercise aims to evaluate

measures taken by States/UTs during

the assessment period from May 1,

2018 to June 30, 2019 & will also

recognize innovative Startup programs

and initiatives from State/UT

Governments.

Startup Ranking Framework


February 2019

Powered by


Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National

Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is a

flagship program of Ministry of Rural

Development.

The mission aimes at creating

effective institutional platforms of the rural

poor, enablingthem to increase household

income through Sustainable livelihood

enhancements & Improved access to

financial services.

NRLM itself is a rechristened version of

Swarna Jayanti Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY).

It is aided in part through investment

support by the World Bank

DAY-NRLM


February 2019

Powered by


The Digital India Awards are to

promote exemplary initiatives in e-

governance using the medium of World

Wide Web.

It aims at encouraging Government entities,

which have made significant contributions

towards the implementation of e-

Governance and shown an exemplary &

innovative approach to achieve

administrative efficiency and transparency.

It have been instituted under the ambit of

the National Portal of India

(http://india.gov.in) by National Informatics

Centre, Ministry of Electronics and

Information Technology (MeitY).

Digital India Awards


February 2019

Powered by


Rail Drishti dashboard encompasses

all the digitisation efforts in Indian

Railways and promotes transparency

and accountability and it brings

information from various sources on

a single platform.

SUGAM, the Freight App of Indian

Railways is also linked to this

dashboard.

Rail Drishti


February 2019

Powered by


Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is a

joint venture of four National Public Sector

Undertakings (NTPC Limited,

Power Finance Corporation Limited,

Rural Electrification Corporation Limited,

POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited).

It was set up under Ministry of Power,

Government of India & is a Super Energy Service

Company (ESCO).

EESL leads the market-related activities of the

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

(NMEEE).

It is implementing the world’s largest energy

efficiency portfolio.

EESL


February 2019

Powered by


Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is

a flagship scheme to “fund the

unfunded” by bringing such enterprises

to the formal financial system and

extending affordable credit to them.

It enables a small borrower to borrow

from all Public Sector Banks, Private

Sector Banks, Foreign Banks, Micro

Finance Institutions (MFI) and Non-

Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) for

loans up to Rs 10 lakhs for non-farm

income generating activities.

It is under the aegis of Ministry of

Finance.

PMMY


February 2019

Powered by


National Career Service is a Mission

Mode Project launched by the Prime

Minister on 20th July, 2015.

The project is being implemented

by the Directorate General of

Employment, Ministry of Labour &

Employment.

National Career Service (NCS) is a

one-stop solution that provides a

wide array of employment and

career related services to the citizens

of India.

National Career Service


February 2019

Powered by


Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise

Support and Innovation Scheme is a

scheme aimed at attracting youth to

cooperative business ventures and to

encourage such cooperatives to venture

into new and innovative areas.

The scheme was created by the NCDC and

is linked to the 1000 crore ‘Cooperative

Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’.

The scheme provides cheaper loans for

initiating startups in the cooperative

sectors.

It is under the Ministry of Agriculture and

Farmers Welfare.

Yuva Sankar Scheme

Government Intervention

February 2019

Powered by


The National Cooperative

Development Corporation (NCDC)

was established in 1963 as a

statutory Corporation by an Act of

Parliament for the development of

agriculture and rural sector.

It is under the Ministry of Agriculture

& Farmers Welfare.

It is headquartered in New Delhi.

NCDC


February 2019

Powered by


Scheme for Higher Education Youth in

Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)

program aims to enhance the

employability of Indian youth by providing

‘on the job work exposure’ and earning of

stipend.

The scheme is launched the Minister for

Human Resources Development.

It is a programme conceived for students in

degree courses, primarily non-technical,

with a view to introduce employable skills

into their learning, promote apprenticeship

as integral to education.

SHREYAS


February 2019

Powered by


National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

(NAPS) is a scheme of Government of India to

promote apprenticeship.

It was launched on19th August 2016.

The scheme has the following two components:

•Reimbursement of 25% of prescribed stipend

subject to a maximum of Rs. 1500/- per month

per apprentice.

•Reimbursement of cost of basic training (upto a

limit of Rs. 7500/- for a maximum of500 hours/3

months) by the Government of India to Basic

Training Providers (BTPs) in respect of apprentices

who come directly for apprenticeship training

without any formal training.

NAPS


February 2019

Powered by


The Aviation Conclave 2019

was inaugurated which would

bring together industry

leaders, government and

regulators of the aviation

sector.

The theme of the conclave

was “Flying for All”.

Aviation Conclave 2019


February 2019

Powered by


MUDRA Bank is a statutory refinancing

bank set up as the vehicle to implement

PM Mudra Yojana.

It will regulate and refinance all Micro

Finance Institutions (MFIs) who lend to

MSME engaged in small manufacturing,

trade or services.

It will partner with all state/regional level

coordinators to provide easy finance.

It registers, regulates and frame policy

guidelines for, accredits and rates

micro/small enterprise MFIs.

MUDRA Bank


February 2019

Powered by


National Investigation Agency (NIA)

came into existence with the enactment

of the National Investigation Agency Act

2008 by the Parliament of India in 2008.

At present NIA is functioning as

the Central Counter Terrorism Law

Enforcement Agency in India.

A State Government may request the

Central Government to hand over the

investigation of a case to the NIA,

provided the case has been registered for

the offences as contained in the schedule

to the NIA Act.

NIA

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


Financial centres that cater to customers

outside their own jurisdiction are referred

to as international (IFCs) or offshore

Financial Centers (OFCs).

All these centres are ‘international’ in the

sense that they deal with the flow of

finance and financial

products/services across borders.

An IFSC is a jurisdiction that provides

world class financial services to non-

residents and residents, in a currency

other than the domestic currency (Indian

rupee) of the location where the IFSC is

located subject to regulations.

IFCs

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


Indelible Ink is a semi-permanent ink that is

applied on the finger of voters during

elections as a deterrent against voting twice.

The chemical used in indelible ink is silver

nitrate.

It is a transparent liquid, that doesn’t leave a

trace when applied on the finger

but glows a bright orange when illuminated

with a low-intensity beam of ultraviolet

light.

Once applied on skin it cannot be washed

off with soap, alcohol or bleach. It will

disappear only when old skin cells are

replaced.

Indelible ink

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


Angel Tax is a 30% tax that is levied

on the funding received by startups

from an external investor.

If a company has issued shares to an

angel investor at a price that’s higher

than its fair market value, the extra

amount received by the company

will be taxed and is counted as

income to the company.

Angel tax was introduced in 2012,

with the purpose of keeping money

laundering in check.

Angel Tax

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) means

any fund established or incorporated in

India which is a privately pooled

investment vehicle.

It collects funds from sophisticated

investors, whether Indian or foreign, for

investing it in accordance with a defined

investment policy for the benefit of its

investors.

The amount contributed by the investors

shall not be utilised for purpose of giving

loans.

National Infrastructure Investment Fund

(NIIF) is an example of AIF

AIF

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is

a fund formed by the Central Government

to fund connectivity projects in rural India.

It would be raised through a ‘Universal

Access Levy (UAL)’, which would be a

percentage of the revenue earned by the

operators under various licenses.

The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act,

2003 gave statutory status to the Universal

Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

The Fund is to be utilized exclusively for

meeting the Universal Service

Obligation (i.e. providing universal access

to ICT).

USOF

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


India’s first National War Memorial, to the

east of Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate,

and is dedicated to the Nation by

lighting an ‘Eternal Flame’ and opened for

public.

Names of the 25,942 soldiers who died in

multiple conflicts after Independence have

been engraved in gold on granite tablets,

and placed on 16 ‘honour walls’ in two

concentric circles named ‘Tyag Chakra’.

It is also near to ‘Param YodhaSthal’ where

the 21 winners of the Param Vir Chakra

have been honoured with individual

bronze busts, with details of their bravery

engraved below.

Amar Jawan Jyoti

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


Article 35A was incorporated into the

Constitution in 1954 by an order of the then

President Rajendra Prasad on the advice of the

Jawaharlal Nehru Cabinet in order to safeguard

the rights and guarantee the unique identity of

the people of Jammu-Kashmir.

It is a provision incorporated in the Constitution

giving the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature a

unrestricted authority to decide who all

are ‘permanent residents’ of the State.

The article authorizes state legislature right to

confer on permanent residents with special

rights and privileges in public sector jobs,

acquisition of property in the State, scholarships

and other public aid and welfare.

Article 35A

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


An electoral bond is designed to be a

bearer instrument like a Promissory Note.

It will be similar to a bank note that is

payable to the bearer on demand and free

of interest.

Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a

person, who is a citizen of India or

incorporated or established in India.

It may be noted that Electoral Bonds shall

be valid for fifteen calendar days from the

date of issue and no payment shall be

made to any payee Political Party if the

Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of

the validity period.

Electoral Bond

Polity

February 2019

Powered by


The use of biocompatible and

bioresorbable materials to construct a 3d

structure comparable to the implant tissue

area, in order to promote tissue

regeneration and injury recovery.

They are structures that are made up of

tissues that promote wound repair.

These scaffolds include those comprising

an intact extracellular matrix (ECM) or

individual components of the ECM, and

those comprising hybrids incorporating a

synthetic component with a biologic

component.

Bio- Scaffold

Science & Technology

February 2019

Powered by


In Body Gene Editing is a gene

therapy technique where Gene

editing is intended to disable a

bad gene or supply a good one

that’s missing.

These DNA changes are not

inheritable and do not pass to

future generations.

It can be used for treating

genetic diseases caused by

faulty genes

In Body Gene Editing

Science and Technology

February 2019

Powered by


Gynandromorphs (“gyne” from Greek

meaning female, “andro” for male, and

“morph” meaning variety) are individual

animals that have both genetically male

and female tissues and often have

observable male and female

characteristics.

Gynandromorphs occur in insects, spiders,

crustaceans, and other arthropods as well

as in birds (It occurs naturally, usually

resulting from a random genetic error.)

They are most dramatic in those butterfly

species in which the male and female

wing colors and patterns are dramatically

different.

Gynadromorphs


February 2019

Powered by


The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is

named after the founder Director of the

Council of Scientific & Industrial

Research (CSIR), Dr. Shanti Swarup

Bhatnagar.

The Prize is given each year to recognize

outstanding Indian work in various

disciplines of Science and Technology &

It was first awarded in 1958.

Any citizen of India engaged in research

in any field of science and technology up

to the age of 45 years is eligible for the

prize.

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar

prize


February 2019

Powered by


The Council of Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR) is an autonomous

body which is the largest research and

development organisation in India.

It is established in 1942 (before

independence).

It is mainly funded by Ministry of

Science and Technology.

It is an autonomous body registered

under Societies Registration Act, 1860

& has a network of 38 national

laboratories.

CSIR


February 2019

Powered by


Mitophagy is the selective degradation

of mitochondria by Autophagy (is the

natural, regulated mechanism of the cell

that disassembles unnecessary or

dysfunctional components.)

Mitophagy is regulated by PINK1 and

parkin proteins & allows the orderly

degradation and recycling of cellular

components.

Mitophagy is key in keeping the cell

healthy, It promotes turnover of

mitochondria and prevents

accumulation of dysfunctional

mitochondria which can lead to cellular

degeneration.

Mitophagy


February 2019

Powered by


Mekedatu Multi-Purpose Project is a

project of the Karnataka government to

develop a ‘Balancing Reservoir’

at Mekedatu, across the Cauvery River.

It is for supplying potable water to

Bengaluru and parts of Mysore region.

The project also involves power

generation plan apart from drinking

water plan.

It is planned in a bid to tap about 250

tmcft water that runs off to the sea over

the 192 tmcft supply to Tamil Nadu (as

per the Cauvery Tribunal Award).

Mekedatu Project


February 2019

Powered by


NASA’s New

Horizons spacecraft captures

the sharpest possible pictures

of Ultima Thule.

Ultima Thule is a Kuiper Belt

object and has the unique

distinction of being the farthest

object ever explored.

Ultima Thule


February 2019

Powered by


A virtual private network (VPN) is a private

network that is built over a public

infrastructure (mostly internet).

It is a programming that creates a safe and

encrypted connection over a less secure

network, such as the public internet.

A VPN works by using the shared public

infrastructure while maintaining privacy

through security procedures and tunneling

protocols.

An employee can work outside the office

and still securely connect to this network

using PCs, laptops or even smart phones

and tablets

VPN


February 2019

Powered by


The International Agency for Research on

Cancer (IARC) is the specialized

cancer agency of the World Health

Organization.

The objective of the IARC is to

promote international collaboration in

cancer research.

IARC has its own Governing Council, and

in 1965 the first members were the

Federal Republic of Germany, France,

Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United

States of America.

India is a member.

IARC

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Iran has announced the

“successful test” of Hoveizeh

cruise missile coinciding with

celebrations for the country’s 1979

Islamic revolution.

It is a new cruise missile with a

range of over 1,350 kilometre.

Hoveizeh Cruise Missile

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The Miyako Strait is a waterway

which lies between Miyako Island

and Okinawa Island of Japan.

It is the widest strait in the Ryukyu

Islands.

It is also known as the Kerama

Gap.

Miyako Strait

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Ishigaki Island is a Japanese Island

west of Okinawa Islands and the

second-largest island of

the Yaeyama Island group.

It is culturally influenced by both

Japan and Taiwan due to its

location.

Japan has a forward base on the

Island.

Ishigaki Island

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is

a dynamic inter-governmental

organisation aimed at strengthening regional

cooperation and sustainable development

within the Indian Ocean region.

The vision for IORA originated during a visit

by late President Nelson Mandela of South

Africa to India in 1995 and led to the

creation of the Indian Ocean Rim

Association in March 1997.

It is a dynamic organisation of 22 Member

States and 9 Dialogue Partners, with

mutually beneficial regional cooperation

through a consensus-based, evolutionary

and non-intrusive approach.

IORA

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The International Labour Organisation

(ILO) was created in 1919 by

the Versailles Peace Treaty ending World

War I.

After the demise of the League of

Nations, the ILO became the first

specialized agency associated with the

UN.

The International Labour Organization is

the United Nations agency for the world

of work having 187 member States.

ILO

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The ‘Windrush Generation’ refers

to citizens of former British

colonies who arrived in the UK

before 1973, when the rights of such

Commonwealth citizens to live and

work in Britain were substantially

curtailed.

More than 450 Indians have

confirmed their British citizenship

under the UK government’s

‘Windrush Scheme’, set up in the

wake of an immigration scandal last

year.

Windrush Scheme

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The Seoul Peace Prize

was established in 1990 to

commemorate the success of the

24th Olympic Games held in Seoul.

The award was established to

crystallize Korean people’s

yearning for peace on the Korean

peninsula and in the rest of the

world.

Modi is the 14th recepient &

the first Indian to receive this

award.

Seoul Peace Prize

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Chabahar port is the only only oceanic port of

Iran and consists of two separate ports

named Shahid Kalantari and ShahidBeheshti.

It is located in the southeastern province of

Sistan-Balochistan in Iran & aims to connect

India with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian

countries bypassing Pakistan.

India has built the Zaranj-Delaramroad in

Afghanistan that connects the Iranian border

with all four major Afghan cities.

Chabahar port will be beneficial to India in

countering Chinese presence in the Arabian

Sea.

Chabahar Port

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The Global Digital Health Partnership

(GDHP) is formed to support the effective

implementation of digital health services.

It is a collaboration of governments and

territories, government agencies and the

World Health Organization.

Established in February 2018, the GDHP

provides an opportunity for

transformational engagement between its

participants, who are striving to learn and

share best practice and policy that can

support their digital health systems.

GDHP

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Chagos Archipelago Islands

are group of seven atolls comprising

more than 60 individual tropical

islands in the Indian Ocean about

500 kilometers south of the Maldives

archipelago.

It is the southernmost archipelago of

the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a long

submarine mountain range in the

Indian Ocean.

It was formerly called the Bassas de

Chagas and the Oil Islands.

Chagos Archipelago

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is

the principal judicial organ of the United

Nations & was established in June 1945 by

the Charter of the United Nations.

The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace

in The Hague (Netherlands).(Of the six

principal organs of the United Nations, it is

the only one not located in New York.)

Its official languages are English and

French.

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who

are elected for terms of office of nine years

by the United Nations General Assembly

and the Security Council.

ICJ

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-

distribution treaty between India and Pakistan

which was brokered by the World Bank.

It was signed by then Prime

Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President of

Pakistan Ayub Khan in Karachi on September

19, 1960.

As per treaty, control over three eastern

rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej were given

to India, While control over three western

rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab was given

to Pakistan.

It allows India to use only 20% of the water

of Indus River, which flows through it first,

for irrigation, power generation and transport.

Indus Water Treaty

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is

an inter-governmental body whose

purpose is to combat money

laundering and terrorist financing.

Its main function is to develop necessary

policy to bring about national legislative

and regulatory reforms in these areas, In

that sense it is mainly a “policy-making

body”.

It was established by the G-7

Summit that was held in Paris in 1989 to

examine and develop measures to

combat money laundering.

FATF

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a

coalition of solar resource rich

countries lying fully or partially between

the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of

Capricorn to specifically address energy

needs by harnessing solar energy.

The ISA is an Indian initiative, jointly

launched by India and France in 2015 on

the sidelines of COP-21, the UN Climate

Conference in Paris.

Countries that do not fall within the

Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy

all benefits as other members, with

the exception of voting rights.

ISA

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Iran announces ‘Velayat-

97’ annual navy drill in key Strait

of Hormuz.

The ground to air missile system

‘Endeavor’ was tested successfully

during the drill.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strait

between the Persian Gulf and the

Gulf of Oman.

Velayat - 97

World affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Exercise Sampriti-2019 is an

important bilateral defence

cooperation endeavour between

India and Bangladesh and this

will be the eighth edition of the

exercise which is hosted

alternately by both countries.

The exercise is aimed to

strengthen and broaden the

aspects of interoperability and

cooperation between the Indian

and Bangladesh Armies.

Sampriti - 2019

World affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Project Rupee Raftar is the project

for developing Avenues

for Aircraft Financing and Leasing

in India by Ministry of Civil

Aviation.

This would open the lucrative

aviation finance market to Indian

banks, NBFCs, etc. besides creating

high-end jobs in aviation finance

and associated accountancy, legal

and other services and benefit the

airlines.

Project Rupee Raftar

World affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The ‘Inclusive Internet’ score was

based on the scores of availability,

affordability, relevance and

readiness categories and is

commissioned by Facebook

and conducted by The Economist

Intelligence Unit.

India has been ranked 47th out of

100 countries in the overall

“Inclusive Internet Index 2019”.

Inclusive Internet Index

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

(OIC) is the second largest inter-

governmental organization after the United

Nations with a membership of 57 states

spread over four continents.

The OIC has permanent delegations to t

he United

Nations and the European Union.

The official languages of the OIC are

Arabic, English, and French.

Head Quarter is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia &

the

Islamic Summits are organized by OIC.

OIC

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Mauritius is an Island nation in

the Indian Ocean.

The main Island of Mauritius is

located about 2,000 kilometers

off the southeast coast of the

African continent.

The Republic of Mauritius

includes the islands

of Rodrigues, Agalega and St.

Brandon.

Mauritius

World Affairs

February 2019

Powered by


Dongria Kondh is a tribe that lives

in the dense forests of Niyamgiri

Hills.

It spreads across Rayagada and

Kalahandi districts of

southwestern Odisha.

The Dongrias have earned the

status of PVTG (Particularly

Vulnerable Tribal Group) from the

Government of India.

Dongria Kondh

Culture

February 2019

Powered by


Unani is the system of medicine

practiced traditionally by Perso-Arabs in

Mughal India, Muslim culture in South Asia

and modern day Central Asia.

It is based on the teachings of Greek

physicians Hippocrates and Galen & was

also influenced by Indian and Chinese

medicine.

It was introduced in India by the

establishment of Delhi Sultanate and had

royal patronage including under Alauddin

Khalji.

It developed through Mughal rule, influenced

by teachings of Sushruta and Charaka.

Unani Medicine

Culture

February 2019

Powered by


Block printing was introduced to the

Jaipur region of Rajasthan by the

Chhipa community.

A print starts with the design, drawn on

paper and carved into the Sheesham

wood block.

Designs are meticulously carved by

hand into the blocks.

The physical block is the design for a

single repeat which is then stamped in

rows across the fabric.

Block Printing

Culture

February 2019

Powered by


Chhipa people of India lived first in

Nagaur in the State of Rajasthan.

The word “Chhipa” comes from the

Gujarati word “Chhapa” which

means to print.

Chhipa people now live mainly in

Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Chhipa People

Culture

February 2019

Powered by


Angkor wat is a temple complex in Angkor,

Cambodia considered to be the largest

Hindu Temple in the World.

It was originally constructed as

a Hindu temple dedicated to the

god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, But it

was gradually transformed into

a Buddhist temple towards the end of the

12th century.

It was built by

the Khmer King Suryavarman II (completed

by Jayavarman VII)

The temple is at the top of the high classical

style of Khmer architecture.

Angkor wat Temple

Culture

February 2019

Powered by


Documents

NEO IAS Premium Learning Aid Series · 2019. 8. 30. · The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French-made multirole, single-engine, fourth-generation jet fighter. The Mirage 2000 evolved