June

7,
2018
BABA KALYANI COMMITTEE
In June 2018, Government of India constituted a group of eminent persons to study the
Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Policy of India.
About:

 Chairman of expert group: Baba Kalyani (Chairman, Bharat Forge).

 Terms of reference:
o To make the SEZ policy WTO compatible.
o To make comparative analysis of the SEZ scheme with other similar schemes.
 Background:
o The SEZ Policy was first implemented in 2000.
o In 2005, the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 was enacted.
o The SEZ Act, 2005, supported by SEZ Rules, came into effect in 2006.

GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

In June 2018, the Union Cabinet approved the revision in the wage structure and
allowances of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) of the Department of Posts.
About:

 The Extra Departmental system in the Department of Posts was established more than 150 years
ago to provide basic, economical and efficient postal services in the rural areas where there was no
justification for engaging full time regular employees.
 Around 1.3 Lakh Extra-Departmental Branch post offices are primarily manned by Gramin Dak Sevak
Branch Postmasters.
 In addition, Gramin Dak Sevaks other than Branch Postmasters are also working in Branch, Sub and
Head Post offices.
o They work for part time ranging from 3 to 5 hours per day and supplement their income
from other vocations so as to have adequate means of livelihood for themselves and their
families.
o They remain in service up to the age of 65 years.

ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA (ABHY)

In June 2018, Union Government joined hands with the World Bank to execute a ₹6,000-
crore scheme called the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY). The scheme is yet to be cleared by the
Cabinet.
About:

 Implementation Period: The scheme is to be implemented over a period of five years from 2018-19
to 2022-23.

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 Objective: To improve ground water management in priority areas in the country through
community participation.
 Priority areas:
o The priority areas fall in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
o They represent about 25% of the total number of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical
blocks in terms of groundwater in India.

GLOBAL PEACE INDEX (GPI)

In June 2018, Global Peace Index (GPI) was released in which India was ranked at 136.
About:

 Global Peace Index (GPI) measures the relative position of nations' and regions' peacefulness.
 Released by: Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
 Background: The Index was first launched in 2007, with subsequent reports being released annually.
 Methodology: The GPI gauges global peace using three broad themes:
o the level of societal safety and security,
o the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict and
o the degree of militarization.

Findings of 2018 Index:

 The global level of peace has deteriorated by 0.27% last year, marking the fourth successive year of
deteriorations.
 Iceland continues to remain the most peaceful country in the world. Syria remained the least
peaceful country in the world.
 India’s and Pakistan’s rank has marginally improved. India was ranked 136 out of 163 countries (last
year India was ranked 137).
 South Asia experienced the largest regional improvement in peacefulness.

ROOPPUR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

In June 2018, Infrastructure major, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. (HCC) was
awarded contract by Russia’s State Nuclear Company, JSC Atomstroyexport for Rooppur
Nuclear Power Plant.
About:

 The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, located about 190 km northwest of Dhaka, would be built with
Russian technology and equipped with two VVER Reactors of 1,200 MW each.
 These reactors would be similar to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.
 HCC holds 40% stake in the joint venture, worth about $44 million.

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 Significance:
o By this contract, HCC has become the first Indian company to participate in the international
civil nuclear market.
o Recently, India signed an agreement with Bangladesh for civil nuclear cooperation, under
which India had extended expertise and project support for Dhaka’s first nuclear power
plant.

QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS-2019

In June 2018, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world university rankings-2019 were published.
About QS World University Rankings:

 QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli

Symonds (QS).
 The report was first published in 2004.
 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS):
o It is a British company specializing in education and studying abroad. It offers publications
and events to broaden the scope of study abroad.
o The company was founded in 1990 by Nunzio Quacquarelli and Matt Symonds.
 Methodology of QS World University Rankings:

o
QS World University Rankings-2019:

 Top universities in the world: Globally, Massachusetts Institute of Technology remains the world-
leader for the seventh year in a row. Stanford University, Harvard University, Caltech and Oxford
University follow, in that order.
 Top 10 universities in India:
o IIT-Bombay moved up 17 places (162 rank) this year to displace IIT-Delhi as India’s top
ranked institution.
o Overall, 24 Indian universities (out of 1,000) are featured in the ranking.

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