SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS ->

The National Development Council granted this status based on a number of features of the States
which included:
Hilly and difficult terrain, Low population density or The Presence of sizeable tribal population,
Strategic location along international borders, Economic and Infrastructural backwardness and
Non-viable nature of State finances.
30 % of total assistance used to be transferred to SCS states.

Cooperative Election Authority ->

A Cooperative Election Authority would be set up in the State for supervising the election process in
cooperative bodies for state of Haryana.

INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL ->

ITAT is a quasi judicial institution set up in January, 1941 and specializes in dealing with appeals
under the Direct Taxes Acts. Appeal to the HIGH COURTS. It functions under the Department of Legal
Affairs in the Ministry of Law and Justice.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING AUTHORITY ->

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is a body proposed in Companies Act 2013 for the
establishment and enforcement of accounting and auditing standards and oversight of the work of
auditors. The NFRA will have powers to debar an erring auditor or auditing firm for up to ten years
besides slapping heavy penalties. The jurisdiction of the NFRA will extend to all listed companies as
well as large unlisted public companies . The regulator will have 15 members.

Centre for Biodiversity and Policy and Law (CEBPOL) ->

CEBPOL is a bilateral collaboration between the Indian and Norwegian governments, and focuses on
biodiversity policies and law

NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY AUTHORITY ->

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory autonomous body under the Ministry
of Environment , Forests and climate change, Government of India established in 2003 to
implement the provisions under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, after India signed Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992.

Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP)->

India and Vietnam have signed an MoU on Cooperation between the Global Centre for
Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM).

AWBI
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has been shifted from Chennai to Haryana’s Ballabhgarh for
“better coordination” between the environment ministry and the board.
Established in 1962 under Section 4 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960, the Animal
Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body advising the Government of India on animal
welfare laws, and promotes animal welfare in the country of India.

GM soybean
The GM soybean, otherwise called as the Roundup Ready (RR) soybean, was developed by the
biotech giant Monsanto and made it commercially available to farmers in 1996.The Union
environment ministry has asked the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to stop imports of
genetically modified (GM) soybean for food or feed without the approval of the regulator for
transgenic products . GEAC, which is the regulatory body for Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs) and products thereof, has not authorized or approved GM soybean or any other.

RENEWABLE ENERGY LOAN ->

European Investment Bank (EIB) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) Ltd.
have signed a loan FOR 150 million euros for development of renewable energy efficiency projects.
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna (Category – I)
Government of India Enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE).

NATIONAL CRIME RECORDS BUREU ->

NCRB is the Nodal Agency for authentic source of Data on crime, accidents, suicides, and prisons
for policy matters and research .1986.
It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and
the MHA’s Task force (1985)

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)->

An autonomous body of the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
Homeopathy), Government of India. It is an apex body in India for the formulation, coordination,
development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda and Sowa-Rigpa system of
medicine. AYUSH 82 An Anti Diabetic Ayurvedic Formulation. . AYUSH SG An Anti-Rheumatoid
Arthritis preparation .

National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC)->

NBCC (India) Limited, formerly known as National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd., is a blue-
chip Government of India Navratna Enterprise under the Ministry of Urban Development.
It engages in the Real Estate Development & Construction business and also provides Project
Management Consultancy. It is the sole land authorised agency for central undertakings.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)->

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body established
under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act in December 2005. The commission works
under the aegis of Min. of Women and Child development. Its Mandate is “to ensure that all Laws,
Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights
perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
Definition of a child: As defined by the commission, child includes those up to the age of 18 years.

India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL):

IIFCL is a wholly-owned Government of India company set up in 2006 to provide long-term
financial assistance to viable infrastructure projects through the Scheme for Financing Viable
Infrastructure Projects through a Special Purpose Vehicle called India Infrastructure Finance
Company Ltd (IIFCL), broadly referred to as SIFTI.

National Sports Development Fund :

The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was established in 1998, under Charitable
Endowments Act 1890, vide Government of India Notification dated 12th November 1998.
Functions: The NSDF supports sportspersons to excel in the field by providing opportunities to train
under coaches of international repute with technical, scientific and psychological support and also
in getting exposure to international competitions.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)->

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector
Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and
Technology Government of India, to empower the emerging biotech industry to undertake strategic
research and innovation.
E-TRIBES ->
The government has launched “E- Tribes”, TRIFED’s websites. It includes www.tribesindia.com,
www.trifed.in and Retail Inventory Software and M-commerce app.
ICPB
The India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) has been set up under the patronage of the Ministry
of Tourism.
o It has been set up to promote India as a venue for International Conferences and Exhibitions.
o It is a non-profit organization, with members comprising national airlines, hotels, travel agents,
tour operators, tourist transport operators, conference organizers

SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES IN INDIA:-

TRIBAL DIARIES :-
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has developed an android based mobile application called Tribal
Diaries. It has been developed for internal monitoring and for connecting with officers/officials
concerned with implementation of schemes / programmes for tribal development .

SCHEME FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS :- (MAHA GOVT DID IT).

Atal Aahar Yojna," will provide good quality and hygienic food to construction workers at
a highly subsidised rate. Shramev Jayate Yojana, a pension of Rs 3,000 is given to
construction workers above the age of 60 years. MAHA GOVT is already providing a
subsidy of Rs 4.5 lakh to labourers for house construction.

North-East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 2017

Central Capital Investment Incentive for Access to Credit (CCIIAC/

Central Interest Incentive (Cll)./Central Comprehensive Insurance Incentive (CCII/
Goods and Service Tax (GST) Reimbursement / Income-Tax (IT) Reimbursement.

Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry

The scheme will be implemented through Central Silk Board (CSB) for the next three years from
2017-18 to 2019-20. The scheme aims to achieve self-sufficiency in silk production by 2022.
IMPROVE productivity/quality/use of by products/helpline/brandpromotion.
TRAFFICKING OF THE PERSONS BILL , 2018

The bill proposes the establishment of a national anti-trafficking bureau.

KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME

Know India Programme is a flagship programme of Ministry of External Affairs for engagement
with Indian origin youth (between 18-30 years) to enhance their awareness about India, its
cultural heritage, art and to familiarise them with various aspects of contemporary India.

DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET STRATEGY -> EU 2015(JUNICER COMMISSION)

TELECOM SECTOR PROBLEMS :->

TELECOM SECTOR CASH FLOW PROBLEM -> Restructuring of Deferred Payment Liabilities of
telecom Service providers for spectrum:

ENHANCE PARTICIPATION IN SPECTRUM ALLOCATION ->Revision of limits of cap for spectrum

holding:
The overall spectrum cap is revised from the current limit of 25% to 35%. The current intra-band cap
is removed. Instead, there is a cap of 50% on the combined spectrum holding in the sub-1 GHz bands
(700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands).

80:20 GOLD SCHEME :-

The scheme was introduced in in August 2013 with the aim of curbing gold imports. Under the
scheme, up to 80% of gold imports could be sold in the country and while at least 20% of imports
had to be exported before bringing in new consignments of the yellow metal.
Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Parliament has passed the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Highlights of the Bill:
The 2017 Bill empowers the central government to (i) notify the period of maternity leave eligible
for qualifying as continuous service; and (ii) determine the amount of gratuity available to
employees.
(ii)The Bill removes the reference to 12 weeks in the 1972 Act and empowers the central
government to notify the maximum maternity leave.

Enemy properties
The government has initiated the process of sale of more than 9,400 enemy properties by
issuing guidelines and directing the office of the custodian to submit the list of all such
movable and immovable assets within three months. The sale of enemy properties is
expected to fetch around Rs 1 lakh crore for the government exchequer. The move comes
after the amendment of the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act 2017 and
the Enemy Property (Amendment) Rules, 2018, which ensured that the heirs of those who
migrated to Pakistan and China during partition and afterwards will have no claim over
the properties left behind in India.

Smart India Hackathon 2018

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the aegis of Ministry of Human
Resource Development (MHRD) is organizing Smart India Hackathon 2018. Winners stand to
get cash prizes and a chance to be part of the NASSCOM’s 10,000 Start-ups program .

SAUBHAGYA SCHEME
Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ was launched in September, 2017.
Under Saubhagya free electricity connections to all households (both APL and poor families) in rural areas
and poor families in urban areas will be provided. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has been designated
as nodal agency for the Saubhagya scheme. The beneficiary households for free electricity connections under
the scheme would be identified using SECC 2011 data .

Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship was recently inaugurated by President

Ram Nath Kovind. It is being organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan in association with the Department
of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation-India.

SATHE PROGRAM ->

SATH-E has been envisaged as a programme which aims to transform elementary and secondary
school education across the selected states. SATH-E roadmap refers to a time-bound, goal-driven
exercise that will reach its logical culmination by the end of the academic year 2020. The Boston
Consulting Group (BCG) and Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership (PFEL) were chosen as
knowledge partners for the project facilitating review, data collection and implementation.
Funded by Niti aayog +states (revenue sharing).

Krishi Vigyan Kendra

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) are agricultural extension centres created by ICAR (Indian Council for Agricultural
Research) and its affiliated institutions at district level to provide various types of farm support to the
agricultural sector. The first KVK was established during 1974 (Pondichery) and has grown as a largest network
in the country.
E- Cigarettes
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (also known as e-cigarettes) emits nicotine, the
addictive component of tobacco products. In addition to dependence, nicotine can have adverse
effects on the development of the foetus during pregnancy and may contribute to cardiovascular
disease. The WHO report further says that although nicotine itself is not a carcinogen, it may
function as a “tumour promoter” and seems to be involved in the biology of malignant disease, as
well as of neurodegeneration .
An electronic cigarette (or e-cig) is a battery-powered vaporizer that mimics tobacco smoking.
It works by heating up a nicotine liquid, called “juice.”

First National Conclave on Psychological Trauma, Child Protection, and Mental Illnesses
First ever National conclave was recently organized by the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

PANEL TO DISCUSS FINTECH SPACE

The committee will be headed by Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic
Affairs.

E-Office is one of the Mission Mode Projects under Digital India Programme.
The e-Office solution enables core operations of the Government at all levels to be performed in a virtual
‘paper-less’ environment. This application is, thus, a major step in realizing the objective of an open and
responsive Government .
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG) + NIC

PFMS
The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) is an end-to- end solution for processing payments, tracking,
monitoring, accounting, reconciliation and reporting.
o It is administered by the Department of Expenditure.
o It is implemented by the Controller General of Accounts.