ISSUE NO. 27 (Feb Last Week) PDF

2|Page
CONTENTS
EXPLAINED………………………………………………………………………………………….3-12
• Geneva Conventions
• Article 370
• Indus Water Treaty
• MGNREGA
NEWS IN BRIEF…………………………………………………………………………………….13-19
• Prompt Corrective Action
• Chagos Islands
• A UN global terrorist : What it means
• Protests in Arunachal and PRC
• Assam Rifles’ power extended
• Banning Unregulated deposit schemes
• Banks may set repo rate as benchmark
PRELIMS BOOSTER……………………………………………………………………………….20-26
• OIC
• Gandhi Peace Prize
• Tejas
• Mega Food Park
• FATF
• NIA
• Bandipur National Park
• Attukal Pongala
• NOFN & BharatNet
• Sea Squirt
• Dongria Kondh
MCQs……………………………………………………………………………………………………..27-30
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EXPLAINED
1. Geneva Conventions
Context
• Recently Pakistan was forced to release the captured Indian Pilot as mandated under the Geneva
Conventions.
Background
• A major part of International Humanitarian Law (IHL is also known as the law of war and the law of armed
conflict) is contained in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 that have been adopted by all nations in the
world.
• The Conventions have been expanded and supplemented by two further agreements: the Additional
Protocols of 1977, relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, and the 2005 Additional Protocol
III, relating to the adoption of an additional distinctive emblem.
Geneva Conventions
• The first Geneva Convention protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
→ It provides protection not only for the wounded and sick, but also for medical and religious
personnel, medical units and medical transports.
• The second Geneva Convention protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during
war.
→ This Convention replaced Hague Convention of 1907 for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the
Principles of the Geneva Convention.
• The third Geneva Convention applies to prisoners of war.
→ This Convention replaced the Prisoners of War Convention of 1929.
→ It contains 143 articles whereas the 1929 Convention had only 97.
→ The categories of persons entitled to prisoner of war status were broadened in accordance with
Conventions I and II.
→ The Convention establishes the principle that prisoners of war shall be released and repatriated
without delay after the cessation of active hostilities.
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• The Fourth Geneva Convention protects civilians, including those in occupied territory.
Protocols to the Geneva Conventions
• In the two decades that followed the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, the world witnessed an increase
in the number of non-international armed conflicts and wars of national liberation.
• In response, two Protocols Additional to the four 1949 Geneva Conventions were adopted in 1977.
• They strengthen the protection of victims of international (Protocol I) and non-international (Protocol II)
armed conflicts and place limits on the way wars are fought.
• Protocol II was the first-ever international treaty devoted exclusively to situations of non-international
armed conflicts.
• In 2005, a third Additional Protocol was adopted creating an additional emblem, the Red Crystal, which has
the same international status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.
Protecting powers under the Geneva Conventions
• The term protecting power has a specific meaning under these Conventions. A protecting power is a state
that is not taking part in the armed conflict, but that has agreed to look after the interests of a state that is a
party to the conflict.
• The protecting power is a mediator enabling the flow of communication between the parties to the conflict.
• The protecting power also monitors implementation of these Conventions, such as by visiting the zone of
conflict and prisoners of war. The protecting power must act as an advocate for prisoners, the wounded, and
civilians.
Is IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman a prisoner of war?
• Neither the India nor Pakistan has identified the Wing Commander as a Prisoner of War (PoW).
• However, as per the third Geneva Convention, the convention applies to all cases of declared war or of any
other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the signatories, even if the state of war is not
recognized by one of them.
Rights of a Prisoner of war
• According to Article 13 in the third Geneva Convention, PoWs must be humanely treated at all times.
• Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a
prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present
Convention.
• The convention states that all PoWs have to be protected against insults and public curiosity as well as acts
of violence or intimidation.
• In this context, Pakistan may have crossed the line when the military spokesperson tweeted an image of the
captured IAF pilot. The Geneva Conventions also strictly bar airing pictures of captured prisoners on
television.
• In fact, Indian Pilot appeared to be in complete knowhow of the Geneva Conventions when he disclosed only
his service number and religion after he was interrogated by the army personnel.
• Every prisoner of war, when questioned on the subject, is bound to give only his surname, first name and
rank, date of birth, and army, regimental, personal or serial number, or failing this, equivalent information,
states Article 17 of Convention III.
• No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure
from them information of any kind whatever.

Role of the conventions in the release of the IAF pilot
• A clause in the convention states that as soon as the hostilities end, the PoW must be surrendered to their
country of origin. As per Article 118 of Convention III, PoWs shall be released and repatriated without delay
after the cessation of active hostilities.
• In June 1999, Flight Lieutenant Kambampati Nachiketa, the only PoW during the Kargil War was sent back
home. This was after the Indian authorities rejected Pakistan's idea of a public handover at their foreign
office by citing the Geneva Conventions.
Conclusion
• The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are international treaties that contain the most
important rules limiting the barbarity of war.
• They protect people who do not take part in the fighting (civilians, medics, aid workers) and those who can
no longer fight (wounded, sick and shipwrecked troops, prisoners of war).

2. Article 370
Context
• A section of the people in India are demanding/asking the central government to scrap the special status
granted to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), after the recent Pulwama terrorist attack, in which a local resident was
radicalized by the Pakistan based terrorist group.
Background
• Article 1 of the Indian constitution includes J&K in the territory of India.

• Article 370 grants special status to the state. Accordingly, all the provisions of the Constitution of India do
not apply to it. It is also the only state in the Indian Union which has its own separate state Constitution.
• Under the same Part (XXI) of the Constitution, eleven other states of the Indian Union also enjoy special
status but the special status enjoyed by the State of J&K is unparalleled.
• In pursuance of the provisions of Article 370, the President issued an order called the Constitution
(Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1950, to specify the Union’s jurisdiction over the state.
• In 1952, the Government of India and the State of J&K entered into an agreement at Delhi regarding
their future relationship. In 1954, the Constituent Assembly of J&K approved the state’s accession to
India as well as the Delhi Agreement.
Present Relationship between J&K and India
• Jammu and Kashmir is a constituent state of the Indian Union and has its place in Part I and Schedule I of the
Constitution of India (dealing with the Union and its Territory). But its name, area or boundary cannot be
changed by the Union without the consent of its legislature.
• The State of J & K has its own Constitution and is administered according to that Constitution. Hence, Part VI
of the Constitution of India (dealing with state governments) is not applicable to this state. The very
definition of ‘state’ under this part does not include the State of J&K.
• Legislative Relations
→ Parliament can make laws in relation to the state on most of the subjects enumerated in the Union
List and on a good number of subjects enumerated in the Concurrent List.
→ But, the residuary power belongs to the state legislature except in few matters like prevention of
activities involving terrorist acts, questioning or disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
India and causing insult to the National Flag, National Anthem and the Constitution of India.
→ Further, the power to make laws of preventive detention in the state belongs to the state
legislature. This means that the preventive detention laws made by the Parliament are not
applicable to the state.
• Fundamental Rights
→ Part III (dealing with Fundamental Rights) is applicable to the state with some exceptions and
conditions. The Fundamental Right to Property is still guaranteed in the state.
→ Also, certain special rights are granted to the permanent residents of the state with regard to public
employment, acquisition of immovable property, settlement and government scholarships.
• Part IV (dealing with Directive Principles of State Policy) and Part IVA (dealing with Fundamental Duties) are
not applicable to the state.

• A National Emergency declared on the ground of internal disturbance will not have effect in the state except
with the concurrence of the state government. The President has no power to declare a financial emergency
in relation to the state.
• An amendment made to the Constitution of India does not apply to the state unless it is extended by a
presidential order.
Can Article 370 be revoked unilaterally?
• The President may, by public notification, declare that this Article shall cease to be operative but only on the
recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the State.
• In other words, Article 370 can be revoked only if a new Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir is
convened and is willing to recommend its revocation.
• Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution to change this provision. But this could be subject to a
judicial review which may find that this clause is a basic feature of the relationship between the State and
the Centre and cannot, therefore, be amended.
Has Article 370 strengthened separatist tendencies in J&K?
• Article 370 was and is about providing space, in matters of governance, to the people of a State who felt
deeply vulnerable about their identity and insecure about the future. It was about empowering people,
making people feel that they belong, and about increasing the accountability of public institutions and
services. Article 370 is synonymous with decentralisation and devolution of power, phrases that have been
on the charter of virtually every political party in India.
• Separatism grows when people feel disconnected from the structures of power and the process of policy
formulation; in contrast, devolution ensures popular participation in the running of the polity. It can be
reasonably argued that it is the erosion of Article 370 and not its creation which has aggravated separatist
tendencies in the State.
Is Article 370 still intact in its original form?
• One of the biggest myths is the belief that the autonomy as envisaged in the Constituent Assembly is intact.
• A series of Presidential Orders has eroded Article 370 substantially. While the 1950 Presidential Order and
the Delhi Agreement of 1952 defined the scope and substance of the relationship between the Centre and
the State with the support of the Sheikh, the subsequent series of Presidential Orders have made most
Union laws applicable to the State.

• In fact today the autonomy enjoyed by the State is a shadow of its former self, and there is virtually no
institution of the Republic of India that does not include J&K within its scope and jurisdiction.
• The only substantial differences from many other States relate to permanent residents and their rights; the
non-applicability of Emergency provisions on the grounds of “internal disturbance” without the concurrence
of the State; and the name and boundaries of the State, which cannot be altered without the consent of its
legislature. Remember J&K is not unique; there are special provisions for several States which are listed in
Article 371 and Articles 371-A to 371-I.
Conclusion
• Central government should not disturb the special status granted to the state of Jammu and Kashmir under
Article 370. Local political parties and people of the state are against the any tampering with the Article 370
and 35A.

3. Indus Water Treaty
Context
• After Pulwama terrorist attack, India announced that it would use up its share of waters in the rivers flowing
to Pakistan.
About the treaty
• The Indus system comprises of main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
• The basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan with a small share for China and Afghanistan.
• Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of three rivers,
namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (Eastern Rivers) averaging around 33 million acre feet (MAF) were allocated to
India for exclusive use.
• The waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to
Pakistan except for specified domestic , non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided
in the Treaty.
• India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river (RoR) projects on the
Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.
Indus Commission
• Under Article VIII of the Treaty, both sides appoint a Commissioner for Indus Waters who together constitute
the Permanent Indus Commission that is responsible to establish and maintain cooperative arrangements for
the implementation of the Treaty.
India’s Dissatisfaction with the treaty
• It prevents India from building any storage systems on the western rivers.
• Even though the treaty lays out that under certain exceptional circumstances storage systems can be built,
Pakistan deliberately stops any such effort due to the political rivalry.
• The western rivers lie in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Present Status of Development in India
• To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has
constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on Ravi. These
storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar
Project etc. has helped India utilize nearly entire share (95 %) of waters of Eastern rivers.
• However, about 2 MAF of water annually from Ravi is reported to be still flowing unutilized to Pakistan
below Madhopur.
• To stop the flow of these waters that belong to India for its utilization in India, following steps have been
taken-
→ Resumption of Construction of Shahpurkandi project : This project will help in utilizing the waters
coming out from powerhouse of Thein dam to irrigate 37000 hectares of land in J&K and Punjab and
generate 206 MW of power.
→ Construction of Ujh multipurpose project : This project will create a storage of about 781 million cu
m of water on river Ujh, a tributary of Ravi for irrigation and power generation in India itself and
provide a total irrigation benefits of 31,380 ha in Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba district of J&K apart
from providing water for the district Kathua of J&K.

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→ 2nd Ravi Beas link below Ujh- This project is being planned to tap excess water flowing down to
Pakistan through river Ravi, even after construction of Thein Dam, by constructing a barrage across
river Ravi for diverting water through a tunnel link to Beas basin.
Can India abrogate IWT treaty
• IWT has been brokered by the World Bank.

• Neither India nor Pakistan can unilaterally abrogate the treaty.
• Article 12 of the treaty says: “The provisions of this Treaty, or, the provisions of this Treaty as modified under
the provisions of Paragraph (3), shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded
for that purpose between the two governments.”
Ongoing IWT Conflict between India and Pakistan
• Kishenganga dam project

→ The Kishenganga hydroelectric plant is a $864 million worth of project that was initiated in 2007 and
was projected to be completed by 2016. Pakistan took the project to the Court of Arbitration in 2010
raising six issues that they say violate the treaty. In 2013, the Court of Arbitration ruled India to go
ahead with the project under the condition that a minimum water flow to Pakistan of 9 cubic metres
per second is maintained. On several other issues however, no agreement between the two
countries could be reached.
• Ratle hydroelectric plant
→ The 850 MW Hydroelectric power station named Ratle was initiated in June 2013 on the Chenab
river. Pakistan had once again raised objection at a meeting of the Indus commission held in
September 2013 to the project on grounds of violation to the IWT.
Conclusion
• Internationally, the Indus Water Treaty is seen as one of the most successful cases of conflict resolution
especially considering the fact that it has stayed in place despite the two countries having been engaged in
four wars. Government of India should utilise its complete share of water under the treaty and adhere it.
• Violation of the treaty can trigger China to affect the flow of water of the rivers of the Indus system
originating in the Tibet. It might also dilute the confidence of India’s neighbors regarding bilateral
agreements and treaties.

4. MGNREGA
Context
• According to the draft NSSO report, unemployment was the highest in 45 years in 2017-2018. Rural distress
has hit unprecedented levels.
About Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
• (MGNREGA) is the largest social security scheme in the world, guaranteeing minimum 100 days of unskilled
manual work in a financial year to all rural households in India.
• The MGNREG Act actually gives rural households the right to work, making it obligatory for the State to give
them work on demand.
Core objectives of the MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme)
• Providing not less than one hundred days of unskilled manual work as a guaranteed employment in a
financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand, resulting in creation of productive assets of
prescribed quality and durability;
• Strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor;
• Proactively ensuring social inclusion and Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Importance of MGNREGS
• One in four persons lives below the poverty line in rural India. Ever since the launch of this scheme in 2006, it
has changed the nature of the rural labour market.
• It gave an opportunity to rural households to earn minimum income by getting job cards under this scheme.
• While the poor have used it to climb out of poverty, the not-so-poor used it as a measure to supplement
their income by working during lean agriculture periods.
Roles of Gram Panchayat in MGNREGS
• Gram Panchayat (GP) is responsible for Receiving applications for registration;

• Issuing Job Cards(JCs);
• Allotting work within fifteen days of submitting the application;
• Conducting periodical surveys to assess demand for work;
• Prepare annually a report containing the facts and figures and achievements relating to the implementation
of the Scheme within its jurisdiction and, copy of the same to be made available to the public on demand
and on payment of such fee as may be specified in the Scheme;
• Monitoring implementation at the village level etc.
Standing Committee on report Rural Development/MGNREGA
• Average number of days of employment provided to households has been lower than the mandated 100
days, and has been decreasing since 2010-11.
• Fabrication of job cards : There are several issues related to existence of fake job cards, inclusion of fictitious
names, missing entries and delays in making entries in job cards.
• Delay in payment of wages : Most states have failed to disburse wages within 15 days as mandated by
MGNREGA. In addition, workers are not compensated for a delay in payment of wages.
• Large number of incomplete works : There has been a delay in the completion of works under MGNREGA and
inspection of projects has been irregular.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
• Under this direct cash transfer scheme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land up to 2
hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of 6,000 per year.
• Central government has written to State governments to prepare a database of all eligible beneficiaries
along with their Aadhaar numbers, and update land records expeditiously. The letter further states that
changes in land records after February 1, 2019 shall not be considered for this scheme.
Comparison between PM-KISAN and MGNREGA
• MGNREGA provides higher income than PM KISAN

→ A month of MGNREGA earnings for a household is more than a year’s income support through PM-
KISAN anywhere in the country.
→ For example, if two members of a household in Jharkhand work under MGNREGA (picture) for 30
days, they would earn 10,080 and a household of two in Haryana would earn 16,860 in 30 days.
Jharkhand has the lowest daily MGNREGA wage rate, and Haryana the highest.
• MGNREGA covers more beneficiaries than PM KISAN
→ PM-KISAN is a targeted cash transfer programme and MGNREGA is a universal programme.
→ Any rural household willing to do manual work is eligible under the Act.
→ According to the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census, around 40% of rural households are
landless and depend on manual labour.
→ The landless can earn through the MGNREGA but are not eligible for the PM-KISAN scheme.
Notwithstanding the meagre amount, the PM-KISAN might be pitting the landless against a small
farmer.
• Further, it is unclear how tenant farmers, those without titles, and women farmers would be within the
ambit of the scheme.
• There is also substantial evidence to demonstrate that universal schemes are less prone to corruption than
targeted schemes.
• In targeted programmes, it is very common to have errors of exclusion, i.e., genuine beneficiaries get left
out. Such errors go unrecorded and people continue to be left out.
Suggestion
• Monitoring : National Level Monitors (NLMs) are deployed by the Ministry of Rural Development for regular
and special monitoring of MGNREGA and to enquire into complaints regarding mis-utilisation of funds, etc.
• Frequency of monitoring by NLMs should increase and appropriate measures should be taken by states
based on their recommendations. Additionally, social audits must mandatorily be held every six months.
• Context specific projects : Since states are at various stages of socio-economic development, they have
varied requirements for development. State governments should be allowed to undertake works that are
pertinent to their context. There should be more emphasis on skilled and semi-skilled work.
• Participation of people with disabilities : Special works (projects) must be identified for people with
disabilities; and special job cards must be issued to ensure their participation.
• Regulation of job cards : Offences such as not recording employment related information in job cards and
unlawful possession of job cards with elected PRI representatives and MGNREGA functionaries should be
made punishable under the Act.
Conclusion
• Strengthening the MGNREGA would be more prudent than a targeted cash transfer plan like PM-KISAN.
• Training and capacity building of elected representatives and other functionaries of PRIs must be done
regularly as it will facilitate their involvement in the implementation of MGNREGA

NEWS-IN BRIEF
1. Prompt Corrective Action
About PCA
• Prompt Corrective Action or PCA is a framework under which banks with weak financial metrics are put
under watch by the RBI.
• The PCA framework deems banks as risky if they slip below certain norms on three parameters — capital
ratios, asset quality and profitability.
• It has three risk threshold levels (1 being the lowest and 3 the highest) based on where a bank stands on
these ratios.
→ Banks with a capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) of less than 10.25 per cent but more than
7.75 per cent fall under threshold 1. Those with CRAR of more than 6.25 per cent but less than 7.75
per cent fall in the second threshold. In case a bank’s common equity Tier 1 (the bare minimum
capital under CRAR) falls below 3.625 per cent, it gets categorised under the third threshold level.
→ Banks that have a net NPA of 6 per cent or more but less than 9 per cent fall under threshold 1, and
those with 12 per cent or more fall under the third threshold level.
→ On profitability, banks with negative return on assets for two, three and four consecutive years fall
under threshold 1, threshold 2 and threshold 3, respectively.
Why the need for PCA
• The 1980s and early 1990s were a period of great stress and turmoil for banks and financial institutions all
over the globe.
• In USA, more than 1,600 commercial and savings banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) were either closed or given financial assistance during this period.

• The cumulative losses incurred by the failed institutions exceeded US $100 billion.
• These events led to the search for appropriate supervisory strategies to avoid bank failures as they can have
a destabilising effect on the economy.
2. Chagos Islands
Context
• The UK has been ordered to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius “as rapidly as possible” after the
United Nations’ highest court ruled that continued British occupation of the remote Indian Ocean
archipelago is illegal.
ICJ Judgement
• The case was referred to the court, which hears legal submissions over international boundary disputes,
after an overwhelming vote in 2017 in the UN assembly in the face of fierce opposition from a largely
isolated UK.
• Although the majority decision by the international court of justice in The Hague is only advisory, the
unambiguous clarity of the judges’ pronouncement is a humiliating blow to Britain’s prestige on the world
stage.
The dispute
• Sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is disputed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Mauritius
has repeatedly asserted that the Chagos Archipelago is part of its territory and that the United Kingdom (UK)
claim is a violation of United Nations resolutions banning the dismemberment of colonial territories before
independence.
• The UK government has stated that it has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Chagos, and has also said
that the Chagos will be returned to Mauritius once the islands are no longer required for defence purposes.

History of dispute
• In 1810, the British captured the Ile de France and renamed it Mauritius.
• By the Treaty of Paris of 30 May 1814, France ceded the Ile de France and all its dependencies (including the
Chagos Archipelago) to the United Kingdom.
• In 1965, the United Kingdom split the Chagos Archipelago away from Mauritius, and the islands of Aldabra,
Farquhar, and Desroches from the Seychelles (with effect from 23 June 1976 Aldabra, Farquhar, and
Desroches were returned to the Seychelles on their attaining independence) to form the British Indian
Ocean Territory.
• An understanding reached in November 1965 between Mauritius and the UK for the retention of the islands
by Britain for defence purposes and return thereof to Mauritius when no longer needed for defence
purposes.
• Mauritius became independent on 12 March 1968.
• Mauritius has repeatedly asserted that the Chagos archipelago is part of its territory and that the UK should
return the same to it.
• The UK has consistently maintained that it has no doubt about the Mauritian claim to sovereignty in the
islands but will cede the archipelago to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes.
India’s stand
• India has supported Mauritius over its claim on disputed Chagos islands, which is home to Diego Garcia —
the key military base of the UK and the US in the Indian Ocean, saying that the process of its decolonisation
remains incomplete as long as the atolls continue to be under UK’s control.
India and Mauritius
• Mauritius is one of the main routes for foreign direct investment (FDI) into India, since multinational
corporations have been able to take advantage of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty and
the lax tax regime to avoid paying taxes.
• In 2015, both countries signed an agreement that allows India to “develop infrastructure” on the Agaléga
islands.
• The phrase is a euphemism for the building of military bases, which India is doing not only on Agaléga but
also on Assumption Island (Seychelles).
3. A UN global terrorist : What it means
Context
• For the fourth time in the last 10 years, the sanctions committee of the United Nations Security Council will
consider designating Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a global
terrorist.
Sanctions Committee
• The Sanctions Committee of the UN Nations Security Council was established under Resolution 1267 in 1999,
which imposed limited sanctions on the Taliban.
• Over time, the sanctions regime has evolved to include a lot of measures against designated individuals and
entities.

Asset freeze
• All member states of the United National are required to freeze without delay the funds and other financial
assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
Travel ban
• All member states are required to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories by designated
individuals.
Arms embargo
• All member states are required to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale sale and transfer from their
territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and
related materiel of all types, spare parts, and technical advice, assistance, or training related to military
activities, to designated individuals and entities.
Azhar’s case
• Azhar's designation as a global terrorist will force Pakistan to act against him and individuals and entities
associated with him.
• This will effectively mean total immobilisation of Azhar and shutdown of his organisation and its institutions
such as terror camps and madrasas.
• The sanctions committee also oversees the implementation of the sanctions measures and reports annually
to the Security Council on the implementation of these measures.
4. Protests in Arunachal and PRC
Issue
• The violence in Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar primarily started as a protest against the probability of
granting Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) to members of six communities – Adivasi, Deori, Gorkha,
Mishing, Moran, and Sonowal Kachari – mainly inhabiting Namsai and Changlang districts of the state.
• Over the last three days, one protester has died of a bullet wound after firing by security forces, houses of
ministers have been attacked.

What is PRC
• The PRC is a document of a persons’s residence in a state, and is useful in availing reservations against
quotas for state residents in educational institutes and quota-based jobs. Each state tends to have its own
eligibility criteria. In Arunachal Pradesh, PRCs have mostly been issued to the state’s Scheduled Tribes
(APSTs).
What has government proposed
• The government in the state is considering issuing the certificate to the six non-APSTs communities living in
Namsai and Changlang districts and to the Gorkhas living in Vijaynagar.
• Amongst those communities are Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Morans, Adivasis and Mishings. Most of these
communities are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in neighbouring Assam.
• A Joint High Power Committee (JHPC), after holding discussions with the stakeholders, recommended
granting PRC to the six communities, who are not natives of Arunachal Pradesh but have been living in
Namsai and Changlang districts for decades.
Why are people protesting

• There is resentment among several community-based groups and organisations in Arunachal Pradesh, who
feel the rights and interests of indigenous people will be compromised if the proposal is implemented.
Government’s response
• The government buckled under pressure from violent protests and dropped the issue of granting permanent
resident certificate (PRC) to six non-tribal communities from discussion in the 60-member Assembly.
5. Assam Rifles’ power extended
Key-points
• The Centre recently granted paramilitary force Assam Rifles the power to arrest anyone and search a place
without warrant in border districts in five northeastern states.
• The Assam Rifles conducts counter-insurgency operations in the North East and guards the India-Myanmar
border.
• The powers granted are akin to the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which is effective in
several parts of the North East.
• The new powers are effective in the border areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and
Mizoram.
• The notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs states that an “officer of the rank corresponding to that of
the lowest rank of members of the Assam Rifles” will have these powers.
• The Assam Rifles earlier was making arrests only in areas where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was
in effect.
• They were finding it difficult to make seizures and arrest in Mizoram, which doesn’t have AFSPA.
• This is to basically correct that anomaly. As per law, they have to hand over the suspects to the local police
within 24 hours.
6. Banning Unregulated deposit schemes
Context
• President Ram Nath Kovind has promulgated the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, which
bars all deposit schemes in the country that are not officially registered with the government from either
seeking or accepting deposits from customers.
The ordinance
• The ordinance will help in the creation of a central repository of all deposit schemes under operation, thus
making it easier for the Centre to regulate their activities and prevent fraud from being committed against
ordinary people.
• The ordinance allows for compensation to be offered to victims through the liquidation of the assets of
those offering illegal deposit schemes. Popular deposit schemes such as chit funds and gold schemes, which
as part of the huge shadow banking system usually do not come under the purview of government
regulators, have served as important instruments of saving for people in the unorganised sector.
Misuse
• These unregulated schemes have also been misused by some miscreants to swindle the money of depositors
with the promise of unbelievably high returns in a short period of time.
• The Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal is just one example of such a heinous financial crime against
depositors.
• The Centre’s latest attempt to curb unregulated deposit schemes through an ordinance reflects a timely
recognition of the need for greater legal protection to be offered for those depositors with inadequate
financial literacy.
Concerns
• While the intent of the ordinance, which is to protect small depositors, is indeed commendable, the benefits
that depositors will eventually derive from the new legislation will depend largely on its proper
implementation.
• For one, policymakers will have to make sure that the bureaucrats responsible for the on-ground
implementation of the ordinance are keen on protecting the savings of low-income households.
• There must also be checks against persons in power misusing the new rules to derecognise genuine deposit
schemes that offer useful financial services to customers in the unorganised sector.
• In fact, in the past there have been several cases of politicians acting in cahoots with the operators of
fraudulent deposit schemes to fleece depositors of their hard-earned money.
• Another potential risk involved when the government, as in this case, takes it upon itself to guarantee the
legitimacy of various deposit schemes is that it dissuades depositors from conducting the necessary due
diligence before choosing to deposit their money.
7. Banks may set repo rate as benchmark
Context
• Most commercial banks in India are likely to select RBI’s repo rate as the external benchmark to decide their
lending rates, from April 1. The repo rate is the key policy rate of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The banking regulator had asked the banks to move to an external benchmark for loan pricing from April 1, a
move expected to improve monetary transmission as lenders had, in the past, been found reluctant to
reduce lending rate.
• Banks had four options from which to choose the external benchmark: the repo rate, the 91-day treasury
bill, the 182-day T-bill or any other benchmark interest rate produced by the Financial Benchmarks India
Private Ltd (FBIL).
Present benchmark
• The marginal cost of fund based lending rate (MCLR) is currently the benchmark for all loan rates.
• Banks typically add a spread to the MCLR while pricing loans for homes and automobiles.

• For the new benchmark, the central bank has mandated that the spread over the benchmark rate — to be
decided by banks at the inception of the loan — should remain unchanged through the life of the loan,
unless the borrower’s credit assessment undergoes a substantial change and as agreed upon in the loan
contract.
Impact of being repo as benchmark
• If the lending rates are linked to the repo rate, any change in the repo rate will immediately impact the
home and auto loan rates, since RBI has mandated the spread to remain fixed over the life of the loan.
Banks against the move
• Many banks have opposed the move to shift to a new external benchmark for loan pricing on grounds that
their cost of funds are not linked to these benchmarks and that without a fall in the costs, it would not be
possible to change the rates.
About repo rate
• Repo rate refers to the rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
in case of shortage of funds.
• It is one of the main tools of RBI to keep inflation under control.
• In the event of inflation, central banks increase repo rate as this acts as a disincentive for banks to borrow
from the central bank. This ultimately reduces the money supply in the economy and thus helps in arresting
inflation.
• The central bank takes the contrary position in the event of a fall in inflationary pressures. Repo and reverse
repo rates form a part of the liquidity adjustment facility.

PRELIMS BOOSTER
1. OIC
About OIC
• 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 Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat,
Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September, 1969 following the arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Objective
• The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the
interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various
people of the world.
• According to its charter, the OIC aims to preserve Islamic social and economic values; promote solidarity
amongst member states; increase cooperation in social, economic, cultural, scientific, and political areas;
uphold international peace and security; and advance education, particularly in the fields of science and
technology.
Members
• The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has 57 members, 56 of which are also member states of the United
Nations, the exception being Palestine. Some members, especially in West Africa and South America, are –
though with large Muslim populations – not necessarily Muslim majority countries.
• A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and Thailand, sit as Observer States.
• India is neither a member, nor an observer at OIC.
2. Gandhi Peace Prize
Key-Points
• The International Gandhi Peace Prize, named after Mahatma Gandhi, is awarded annually by the
Government of India.
• As a tribute to the ideals espoused by Gandhi, the Government of India launched the International Gandhi
Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi.
• This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic
and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods.
• The award carries ₹ 1 Crore (10 million) in cash, convertible in any currency in the world, a plaque and a
citation. It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, creed or gender.
• A jury consisting of the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chief
Justice of India and two other eminent persons decides the awardee each year.
• Ordinarily, only proposals coming from competent persons invited to nominate are considered.
• However, a proposal is not taken as invalid for consideration by the jury merely on the ground of not having
emanated from competent persons.
• If, however, it is considered that none of the proposals merit recognition, the jury is free to withhold the
award for that year.
• Only achievements within 10 years immediately preceding the nomination are considered for the award; an
older work may, however, be considered if its significance has not become apparent until recently.
• A written work, to be eligible for consideration, should have been published.
• Recipients of award includes Nelson Mandela, ISRO and Baba Amte.
3. Tejas
About Tejas
• The HAL Tejas is an Indian single-engine, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development
Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
• It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing
MiG-21 fighters. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas".
• The Tejas is the second supersonic fighter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after the HAL
HF-24 Marut. As of 2016 the Tejas Mark 1 is in production for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the naval version
is undergoing flight tests for Indian Navy (IN).
• The indigenous content of the Tejas is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by number of line replaceable units.
4. Mega Food Park
About Mega food parks
• Mega Food Park is an inclusive concept and a scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing of the Government
of India, aimed at establishing a "direct linkage from farm to processing and then to consumer markets"
through a network of collection centres and primary processing centres.
• Its purpose was to increase processing of perishables from 6% to 20% and to increase India's share in global
food trade by at least 3% up to year 2015.
• According to an estimate,the Indian food industry was to grow from $200 million USD to $310 million USD in
2015 by this plan.
About Scheme of Mega Food Park
• The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market
by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing
wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector.
• The Mega Food Park Scheme is based on “Cluster” approach and envisages creation of state of art support
infrastructure in a well-defined agri / horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units in the
industrial plots provided in the park with well-established supply chain.
• Mega food park typically consist of supply chain infrastructure including collection centers, primary
processing centers, central processing centers, cold chain and around 25-30 fully developed plots for
entrepreneurs to set up food processing units.
• The Mega Food Park project is implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is a Body Corporate
registered under the Companies Act.
• Government provides grants up to Rs 50 crores for each food park to a consortium of companies.
5. FATF
About FATF
• In response to mounting concern over money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force on Money
Laundering (FATF) was established by the G-7 Summit that was held in Paris in 1989.
• Recognising the threat posed to the banking system and to financial institutions, the G-7 Heads of State or
Government and President of the European Commission convened the Task Force from the G-7 member
States, the European Commission and eight other countries.

Objectives
• The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions.
• The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory
and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to
the integrity of the international financial system.
• The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring
about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.
• The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money
laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures, and promotes the adoption and
implementation of appropriate measures globally.
Members
• The FATF currently comprises 36 member jurisdictions (including India) and 2 regional organizations (Gulf
Co-operation Council and European Commission), representing most major financial centres in all parts of
the globe.
• The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris.
FATF Black List
• The FATF blacklist or OECD blacklist has been issued by the Financial Action Task Force since 2000 and lists
countries which it judges to be non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist
financing, calling them "Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories" (NCCTs).
• Although non-appearance on the blacklist was perceived to be a mark of approbation for offshore financial
centres (or "tax havens") who are sufficiently well regulated to meet all of the FATF's criteria, in practice the
list included countries that did not operate as offshore financial centres.
• The FATF updates the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
6. NIA
About NIA
• National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a central agency established by the Indian Government to combat
terror in India.
• It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
• The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from
the states.
• The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the
Parliament of India on 31 December 2008.
• NIA was created after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as need for a central agency to combat terrorism was
realised.
• The conviction rate of this anti-terrorism agency is currently 95 per cent as it has managed to convict 167
accused in the 185 cases registered by it since its inception.
Vision
• Agency aims to be a thoroughly professional investigative agency matching the best international standards.
• It aims to set the standards of excellence in counter terrorism and other national security related
investigations at the national level by developing into a highly trained, partnership oriented workforce.

• It also aims at creating deterrence for existing and potential terrorist groups/individuals. It aims to develop
as a storehouse of all terrorist related information.
7. Bandipur National Park
• Bandipur National Park established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in
Karnataka, which is the state with the highest tiger population in India.
• It is one of the premier Tiger Reserves in the country along with the adjoining Nagarhole national park.
• Bandipur is known for its wildlife and has many types of biomes, but dry deciduous forest is dominant.
• The park spans an area of 874 square kilometers, protecting several species of India's endangered wildlife.
• Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park , Mudumalai National Park and Wayanad Wildlife
Sanctuary, it is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve totaling making it the largest protected area in southern
India and largest habitat of wild elephants in south Asia.
• Bandipur supports a good population of endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants, gaurs,
tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals and dholes.
8. Attukal Pongala
• Attukal Pongala is a 10-day festival celebrated at the Attukal Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India,
during which there is a huge gathering of millions of women on the ninth day.
• These women prepare a divine food made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the Goddess of the Temple.
• The pongala preparation starts with the ritual called 'Aduppuvettu'.
• This is the lighting of the pongala hearth (called Pandarayaduppu) placed inside the temple by the chief
priest.
• The festival is marked as the largest annual gathering of women by the Guinness World Records.
• This is the earliest Pongala festival in Kerala. The ceremony was set up in Guinness Book of World Records on
February 23, 1997, when 1.5 million women participated in Pongala.
• This temple is also known by the name Sabarimala of women.
9. NOFN & BharatNet
NOFN
• National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) is an ambitious initiative to trigger a broadband revolution in rural
areas. NOFN was envisaged as an information super-highway through the creation of a robust middle-mile
infrastructure for reaching broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
• The National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) aims to connect all the 2,50,000 Gram panchayats in the country
and provide 100 Mbps connectivity to all gram panchayats (GPs).
• To achieve this, the existing fibres of PSUs (BSNL, Railtel and Power Grid) were utilised and incremental fibre
was laid to connect to Gram Panchayats wherever necessary.
• Dark fibre network thus created was lit by appropriate technology thus creating sufficient bandwidth at the
Gram Panchayats.
BharatNet
• Based on NOFN experiences, newer, updated and upgraded version - BharatNet was conceived as a nation-
wide broadband network.

• BharatNet is a project of national importance to establish, by 2017, a highly scalable network infrastructure
accessible on a non-discriminatory basis, to provide on demand, affordable broadband connectivity of 2
Mbps to 20 Mbps for all households and on demand capacity to all institutions, to realise the vision of Digital
India, in partnership with States and the private sector.
• The entire project is being funded by Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was set up for
improving telecom services in rural and remote areas of the country. The objective is to facilitate the
delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, Internet and other services to the rural India.
• The project is a Centre-State collaborative project, with the States contributing free Rights of Way for
establishing the Optical Fibre Network. The three-phase implementation of the BharatNet project is as
follows :
→ The first phase envisages providing one lakh gram panchayats with broadband connectivity by laying
underground optic fibre cable (OFC) lines by Decmeber 2017.
→ The second phase will provide connectivity to all 2,50,500 gram panchayats in the country using an
optimal mix of underground fiber, fiber over power lines, radio and satellite media. It is to be
completed by March 2019.
→ In the third phase from 2019 to 2023, state-of-the-art, future-proof network, including fiber
between districts and blocks, with ring topology to provide redundancy would be created.
10. Sea Squirt
Why in news
• Israeli researchers have found that ascidians — round, palm-sized animals also known as sea squirts — can
thrive in dirty industrial areas and pristine waters alike, allowing them to detect and analyse waste and its
impact in various regions.
Issue
• A staggering amount of plastic flows into the ocean each year.

• The United Nations says it is as if a garbage truck full of plastic was dumped into the water every minute, a
rate some estimates show could lead to oceans carrying more plastic than fish in 30 years.
• But the long-term impact of the waste, particularly tiny pieces called microplastic, is still not fully
understood.
Importance of sea squirts
• Sea squirts just sit in one place all their life and filter the water, like a pump.
• They can really give us a picture of what the whole reef, the whole ecosystem felt during its life
• Sea squirts are related in evolutionary terms to human beings. So studying them and the plastic inside them
could be more insightful than looking at creatures like fish.
11. Dongria Kondh
About Dongria Kondh
• The Dangaria Kandha or Dongria Kondh people are members of the Kondhs.
• They are located in the Niyamgiri hills in the state of Odisha in India.
• They sustain themselves from the resources of the Niyamgiri forests, practising horticulture and shifting
cultivation.
• They have been at the centre of a dispute over mining rights in the area.
• The Dongria Kondh community numbers approximately 8,000 people, inhabiting about 100 villages.
• The social structure among the community is adapted to the surroundings of Niyamgiri forested hill country,
where they have lived for many generations.
• The people of Niyamgiri use Kui language. Kui language is not written, but it is spoken among the people of
Kondh community.
About Khonds
• Khonds (also spelt Kondha, Kandha, Khondho, etc.) are a Dravidian-speaking tribal people of India.
• Traditionally hunter-gatherers, they are divided into the hill-dwelling Khonds and plain-dwelling Khonds for
census purposes; all the Khonds identify by their clan and usually hold large tracts of fertile land but still
practice hunting, gathering and slash-and-burn agriculture in the forests as a symbol of their connection to
and ownership of the forest. Khonds speak the Kui and Kuvi languages.
• The Kondha are adept land dwellers, exhibiting greater adaptability to the forest environment.
• However, due to development interventions in education, medical facilities, irrigation, plantation and so on,
they are forced into the modern way of life in many ways.
• Their traditional life style, customary traits of economy, political organization, norms, values and world view
have been drastically changed over a long period.
• They are a designated Scheduled Tribe in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q.1 ‘Raktakarabi’ is a drama written by which of the following?
A. Vishakhadatta
B. Banabhatta
C. Rabindranath Tagore
D. R.C.Bose
Q.2 Which of the following statement/s is/are correct regarding the Repurpose Cooking Oil(RUCO) initiative?
1. RUCO has been launched by the NITI aayog.
2. Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) is an ecosystem that will enable the collection and conversion of UCO to
biodiesel..
3. This initiative will reduce the carbon footprint of aviation sector.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. All of the above
Q.3 Which of the following statement/s is/are correct regarding Koodiyattam?
1. `Koodiyattam', is a Sanskrit theatre tradition of Kerala.
2. ‘Koodiyattam’ has been declared as among the ``Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'' by
UNESCO.
Select the correct answer using the code below
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Q.4 The Xaxa committee was formed for which of the following issues?
A. To assess the socio-economic status of tribals in India
B. To assess the extent of digitisation of Indian economy
C. To assess the effect of climate change on Food Security
D. To assess the feasibility building metro in Mumbai

Q.5 The Free Movement Regime has been initiated between India and which of the following countries?
A. USA
B. Myanmar
C. Sri Lanka
D. Pakistan
Q.6 Which of the following countries is not under the FATF Grey List?
A. Pakistan
B. Iraq
C. Yemen
D. Nigeria
Q.7 The Chicxulum crater is located in which of the following countries?
A. Sri Lanka
B. Mexico
C. China
D. Mongolia
Q.8 The HOPE portal is related to which of the following fields?
A. Education
B. Healthcare
C. Electricity
D. Railways
Q.9 The Soyuz rocket belongs to which of the following countries?
A. China
B. Russia
C. USA
D. India
Q.10 Which one of the following factors is not considered while making the National List of Essential Medicines?
A. Safety of Medicines
B. Disease prevalence related to the medicine
C. Comparative cost effectiveness of the medicines
D. Presence of the medicine in different countries

Answers : 1-C,2-A,3-C,4-A, 5-B,6-D,7-B,8-B,9-B,10-D



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To Boost Your Preparation

The Hindu Zone Official

TestSeries4Exam Aall paid test series

eSandesh (An Indian App)

For More download eSandesh

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Protocols to the Geneva Conventions

Protecting powers under the Geneva Conventions

Is IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman a prisoner of war?

Rights of a Prisoner of war

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• Article 1 of the Indian constitution includes J&K in the territory of India.

Present Relationship between J&K and India

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Can Article 370 be revoked unilaterally?

Has Article 370 strengthened separatist tendencies in J&K?

Is Article 370 still intact in its original form?

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3. Indus Water Treaty

About the treaty

India’s Dissatisfaction with the treaty

Present Status of Development in India

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Can India abrogate IWT treaty

• IWT has been brokered by the World Bank.

Ongoing IWT Conflict between India and Pakistan

• Kishenganga dam project

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About Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

Roles of Gram Panchayat in MGNREGS

• Gram Panchayat (GP) is responsible for Receiving applications for registration;

Standing Committee on report Rural Development/MGNREGA

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Comparison between PM-KISAN and MGNREGA

• MGNREGA provides higher income than PM KISAN

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1. Prompt Corrective Action

Why the need for PCA

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India and Mauritius

3. A UN global terrorist : What it means

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4. Protests in Arunachal and PRC

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Why are people protesting

5. Assam Rifles’ power extended

6. Banning Unregulated deposit schemes

7. Banks may set repo rate as benchmark

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Impact of being repo as benchmark

Banks against the move

About repo rate

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2. Gandhi Peace Prize

4. Mega Food Park

About Mega food parks

About Scheme of Mega Food Park

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FATF Black List