24 September 2016 - 30 September 2016

1) Marrakesh Treaty
Q With Marrakesh there are two important developments are associated. One is
Marrakesh Treaty what is other?
Answer Marrakesh Agreement that laid the foundation of WTO in 1994.
1. It is a treaty on on copyright adopted in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 28 June 2013.
2. The treaty allows for copyright exceptions to facilitate the creation of accessible
versions of books and other copyrighted works for visually impaired persons.
3. WIPO based in Geneva is administering the treaty and accessible books
consortium is created for the purpose.
4. It was required ratification of 20 countries to enforce the Marrakesh treaty.
5. So far 22 countries have ratified the treaty and it enforced on 30/09/2016.
6. India also has launched the Indias largest collection of accessible books called
sugamyapustakalaya with 2lakh volumes.
7. India was the 1st country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty.
Sugamaypustakalaya
1. Sugamaya Pustakalaya is an online platform that makes accessible content
available to print-disabled people.
2. The library houses publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple
accessible formats.
3. It has been created by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with
member organizations of Daisy Forum of India and powered by TCS Access.
4. Books are available in Accessible formats for people with visual impairment and
other print disabilities. Over 2 lakhs books in diverse languages. Integrating libraries
across India and the Globe, including the largest international library, Bookshare.
Daisy Forum of India
1. DAISY Forum of India is a not for profit organisation involved in the production of
books and other reading materials for persons with print disabilities including
blindness.
2. It is a network of more than 80 organisations working in dierent parts of India for
the welfare of visually impaired people.
3. DAISY Forum of India is an Associate Member of DAISY Consortium, which is a
global consortium working for the development and promotion of the DAISY
standard.
DAISY Standard

DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information SYstem

2) Amendments to SC/ST Act 1988

It was in news because recently Maratha rally was held in Pune that demanded repeal of
SC/ST (PoA) Act 1988 among other demands.
The amendments were required because the number of crimes against the SCs and STs
were on a rise as per the data of National Crime Records Bureau or NCRB.
Nature of Amendments:
1. To include new oences.
2. Ensure speedy justice to the victims.
Amendments:
1. A comprehensive list of new oences (by non SC/ST against SC/ST) have been
included e.g.
1. Tonsuring of head, moustache and other derogatory acts.
2. Garlanding with footwear.
3. Denying access to irrigation facilities or forest rights.
4. Imposing social and economic boycott.
5. Dedicating a SC/ST women as Devadasi
6. Sexual acts towards a SC/ST women without her consent etc.
7. Forcing a SC/ST to vote or not to vote.
8. Abusing by caste name in public.
2. The relief amount under various oences to the victims have been increased.
3. A non SC or ST public servant who neglects his duties relating to SCs or STs shall
be punishable with imprisonment for a term of 6 months to 1year. Bill specifies
these duties as including:
1. Registering a complaint or FIR
2. Reading out information given orally, before taking the signature of the
informant and giving a copy of this information to the informant etc.
4. Exclusive Special Courts and Exclusive Special Public Prosecutors to try the
oences under this act.
5. Expeditious justice and any complaint related to the case should be separately
death and disposed o within 2 months.

3) SAARC Fact Sheet for Prelims

1. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

2. 8 members and 9 observers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Maldives and Afghanistan.
3. Founded in 1985 at Dhaka.
4. Secretariat or headquarter at Kathmandu.
5. Initially it was founded in 1985 however, in 2007 Afghanistan entered as its 8th
member
6. Potential future members:
1. Myanmar wishes to become a full-fledged member from its current position
as observer status.
2. Russia and Turkey wishes to be observer members in SAARC.
3. South Africa has attended various meetings of SAARC.

4) INDUS WATER TREATY

Introduction
1. The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan,
brokered by the World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development).
2. The treaty was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960 by Prime Minister of India
Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.
Indus System of Rivers
The Indus system of rivers consist of River Indus and 5 of its major tributaries:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Jhelum
Chenab
Ravi
Beas and
Satluj

Other tributaries of river Indus include: Zaskar, Shyok, Giglgit, (Kurram, Gomal, Tochi,
Viboa, Sangar and Kabul originate in Sulaiman Ranges).
Indus River
1.
2.
3.
4.

It originates from a glacier at Bokhar Chu in Kailash Mountain Range in Tibet.

In Tibet it is known as Sanghi Khambab i.e. Lions Mouth.
Flows between Ladakh and Zaskar ranges in Ladakh and Baltistan region.
It enters Pakistan near Chillar in Dardistan Region

Dardistan is a term coined by Gottlieb William Leitner for northern Pakistan,

Kashmir and parts of north eastern Afghanistan. It is inhibited by Dards speaking
Dardic language and hence the name Dardistan.
5. It receives Panjnad little before Mithankot in Pakistan.
6. The Indus flows through Indian only in Leh district of J&K.
Jhelum River
1. Originates from springs at the foothills of Pir Panjal at Veering in Kashmir.
2. Flows through Srinagar and Wular Lake before entering Pakistan.
3. It meets Chenab at Jhang.
Chenab River
1. Largest tributary of River Indus.
2. Formed by 2 streams Chandra and Bhaga which join at Tandi near Keylong in
HP.
3. It is also known as Chandrabhaga River.
Ravi River
1. Rises west of Rohtang Pass in Kullu district of HP.
2. Joins Chenab at Sarai Sidhu before entering Pakistan.
Beas River
1. Originate from Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass.
2. It meets Satluj Near Harike
Satluj
1. Originates in Rakas lake near Mansarovar Lake.
2. In Tibet it is known as Langchen Khambab i.e. horse mouth.
3. It is an antecedent river.

Provisions of the Treaty

1. India has exclusive jurisdiction over the waters of 3 eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and
Satluj.

2. Pakistan has exclusive jurisdiction over the waters of 3 western rivers Jhelum,
Chenab and Indus.
3. India being upper riparian state can make use of water of the 3 western rivers on 3
accounts:
1. Irrigation
2. Transportation and
3. Hydroelectricity generation
4. For cooperation and sharing of data the treaty envisions Permanent Indus
Commission with one commissioner from each side.
5. India can make use of 20% of the western river waters for non-consumptive
purpose like navigation, flood control, hydro-generation and irrigation.
Why is Indus River Treaty called the most lenient water treaty?
India has agreed to waters of 3 eastern rivers which carry 33 Million Acre Feet of Water in
a year as against 135 MAF of the water carried by Western Rivers.
India is currently underutilising Indus Waters
1. India is allowed to use 20% of Indus water and currently using only 4%. The usage
share can be increased.
2. India is currently using power generation below the permitted limit i.e. India can
generate approximately 18600 MW of electricity from western rivers. India is
currently generating only 3000 MW and another 2500 MW is under
construction. 5800 MW electricity generation is under planning. This means another
~8000 MW is available to be exploited.
3. Indias planned projects need to be executed. The planned projects are:
1. Pakal Dul Dam on Marusadar, Chenabs tributary in Kishtwar district.
2. Sawalkot dam on Jhelum in Udhampur
3. Bursar dam in Kishtwar district on Chenab
Recent Past Conflicts on water
Kishenganga Project run-of-the-river project on Kishenganga River (Neelum River in
Pakistan)
Baglihar Project run-of-the-river project on Chenab in Doda district of J&K

5) International Water Sharing

International water sharing is based on Customary International Law of International
Waters which are often referred to as Opinio Juris. These are based on certain rules:
1. Riparian States

Only those nations through which the river flows shall have any legal right to use
river water. Upper riparian states claim absolute territorial sovereignty on the river
water and lower riparian states claim absolute integrity of the river i.e. related to
quality and quantity of the river.
2. Rule of equitable utilisation
The rule of equitable utilization, based on the concept that an international drainage
basin is a coherent legal and managerial unit, embodies a theory of restricted
sovereignty under which each nation recognizes the right of all riparian nations to
use water from a common source and the obligation to manage their uses so as
not to interfere unreasonably with like uses in other riparian nations. Nations often
allocate water under this.
3. No harm rule

The reasonability and equitability are measured in accordance to Helsinki Rules. In 2004 it
was superseded by Berlin Rules on Water Resources
1. The geography of the basin, including in particular the extent of the drainage area
in the territory of each basin State.
2. The hydrology of the basin, including in particular the contribution of water by each
basin State
3. The climate aecting the basin
4. The past utilization of the waters of the basin, including in particular existing
utilization
5. The economic and social needs of each basin State
6. The population dependent on the waters of the basin in each basin State
7. The comparative costs of alternative means of satisfying the economic and social
needs of each basin State
8. The availability of other resources
9. The avoidance of unnecessary waste in the utilization of waters of the basin
10. The practicability of compensation to one or more of the co-basin States as a
means of adjusting conflicts among uses
11. The degree to which the needs of a basin State may be satisfied, without causing
substantial injury to a co-basin State

6) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Birthday on 25/09

Published Work
1.
2.
3.
4.

Weekly Panchjanya
Daily Swadesh
Drama Chandragupta Maurya
Biography of Shankaracharya and translated biography of Hedgewar from Marathi

into Hindi.
Integral Humanism
As an alternative to Communism and Capitalism
Integral Humanism aims to provide a life of dignity to very human being while balancing
the needs of individual with those of the society and countries. It advocates the use of
natural resources at a rate at which they can be replenished.
Integral Humanism extends democracy and freedom from being merely political to social
and economic as well. Integral Humanism supports diversity by doing away with the one
size fits all approach of other models.In my view, its an ideal model for country like India
with its unique history, diversity and cultural ethos.

7) PRAGATI
PMs Interaction on Pragati Platform on 28/09
What is Pragati?
1. Multi-purpose and multi-modal platform aimed at addressing grievances of
common man.
2. Aims at simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important Union government
programmes and projects as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
3. It is an innovative project in e-governance and good governance and accountability
with real-time presence and information exchange among the key stakeholders.
4. Designed using NIC
Key features of PRAGATI
1. Uniquely bundles three latest technologies including
1. Digital data management,
2. geo-spatial technology and
3. video-conferencing.
2. Three-tier system that brings PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief
Secretaries of the States at one stage. Thus, oers a unique combination in the
direction of cooperative federalism.
3. On a monthly basis, Prime Minister will interact with bureaucrats i.e. on fourth
Wednesday of every month at 3.30 PM- called as PRAGATI Day. Issues to be
flagged before the PM will be picked up from the available database regarding
Public Grievances, pending Projects and on-going Programmes.
4. These issues will uploaded seven days prior to the PRAGATI day.

8) Project SAKSHAM
The Project SAKSHAM is a New Indirect Tax Network (Systems Integration) of the Central
Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). It seeks to bolster the information technology
network for the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime that the Union Government
intends to roll out from 1st April 2017.