The IAS Gazette

A House Journal of APTI PLUS

MAY 2020
APTI PLUS
Academy For Civil Services Pvt. Ltd.
Eastern India’s Best IAS Academy since 2006

24
An ISO 9001:2008 Certified Institute
Creating Civil Servants for the Nation TH EDITION

INDIA
CHINA
RELATIONS

NEW BIO-MEDICAL WASTE FDI POLICY PLASMA

MANAGEMENT RULES AMENDMENT THERAPY
 Academy for Civil Services

G
ME ARA
W E B I N
ROADMAP TO UPSC 2021
WITH APTI PLUS ACADEMY TOPPERS'
Every Sunday 6pm-7pm
17.05.2020
JOIN FREE LIVE WEBINAR SERIES &
Ask your Question to the Toppers’
Clear all your doubts before you
start your preparation
Know the Do's and Don'ts straight
from the UPSC Toppers’
Get a subject-wise analysis for a
MR. JUBIN MOHAPATRA holistic preparation
IPS 2018, AIR 235
Get a blue print for success with
detailed strategy
Know the importance of getting
24.05.2020
coached by India's best Faculty
Members

Total seats 300 out of which 50% reserved for students

of APTI PLUS Admission is first come first serve basis

MR. NABAL JAIN For Registration please call or Whatsapp

CSE 2018, AIR 350 88203 41777, 82606 77707
 MAY 2020 The IAS Gazette
A House Journal of APTI PLUS

Sources
The Hindu | The Indian Express CONTENTS
Live mint | The Economic Times
PIB | PRS | ET
Government & World Reports GS-I 1-10
(NITI Aayog, Budget, WEF
Economic Survey etc.) DEKHO APNA DESH 1
Hindu Business Line | NCERTs NATIONAL LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE 2
All standard reference books
KHUDAI KHIDMATGAR MOVEMENT 3
HEAD OFFICE & KOLKATA CAMPUS
Office no. 803, “AMP Mall Vaisaakkhi” AMBEDKAR JAYANTI 3
8th floor, Salt Lake Sector – II, BASAVA JAYANTI 4
Salt Lake City - AG 112, Kolkata-700091
Ph: +91-8820341777 NIHANGS 5
TABLIGHI JAMAAT 6
BHUBANESHWAR CAMPUS
Plot No. 2280, Biju Pattanaik JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE 6
College Road,Jaydev Vihar, TRIBALS AT COVID 19 RISKS 7
Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751013
Phone: 099383 86166 IONOSPHERIC BASED MONITORING OF EARTHQUAKES 9

ELGIN ROAD GS-II 11-45

Elgin Chambers, 3rd Floor, Room No. 302,
1A, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Kolkata-20 ARTICLE 142 11
mail: apti.plus@gmail.com, FLOOR TEST 12
Ph: (033)-40645777, +91-8100765577
MINORITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 12
E-mail QUOTA AND TRIBAL TEACHERS 13
apti.plus@gmail.com NATIONAL SECURITY ACT 13
theiasgazette@gmail.com
Website: http://www.aptiplus.in HUMAN RIGHTS AND COVID 19 14
PANCHAYATI RAJ AND DECENTRALIZATION 15
BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION 18
SURGE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19 20
GLOBAL REPORT ON FOOD CRISES (GRFC) 2020 21
GLOBAL REPORT ON INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT (GRID2020) 24
EPIDEMICS DISEASE ACT 24
CYTOKINE STORM SYNDROME 25
STATE OF THE WORLD’S NURSING 26
COVID-19 CONTAINMENT PLAN 26
COVID-19: ROLE OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION 27
MIGRANTS ISSUE DURING COVID-19 28

Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.

- Swami Vivekananda
 MAY 2020 The IAS Gazette
A House Journal of APTI PLUS

CONTENTS

GS-II 11-45 GS-III 46-92

YEMEN CRISIS 30 GEO FENCING 67
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR- MADHUBAN GAJAR 68
TEST-BAN TREATY 31 ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY BASED GLOBAL IONOSPHERIC MODEL 70
FUND (IMF) 33 HUBBLE TELESCOPE 71
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AND PLASMA THERAPY 71
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (IMFC) 34
SUNRISE MISSION 72
REPORT ON REMITTANCES 35
SEISMIC NOISE 74
INDIANS IN GCC COUNTRIES 37
OZONE HOLE 74
INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS 38
NEW LIST OF NAMES OF TROPICAL
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 41 CYCLONES 76
BRICS 43 URANIUM CONTAMINATION
ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC IN GROUNDWATER 77
COOPERATION 44 FLY ASH 77
GS-III 46-92 NEW BIO-MEDICAL WASTE
MANAGEMENT RULES 78
GREAT DEPRESSION 46 HOW INDIA WILL TACKLE ITS
MP LOCAL AREA DEVELOPMENT WATER WOES AMID ‘WASH YOUR
(MPLAD) SCHEME 48 HANDS’ DIRECTIVE? 79

WAYS AND MEANS ADVANCES 49 HEALTH OF GANGA RIVER IMPROVES 80

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT(FDI) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 81

POLICY AMENDMENT 50 AIR POLLUTION 83
DRAFT ELECTRICITY ACT HUMANS TO BLAME FOR PANDEMIC 84
(AMENDMENT) BILL 2020 51 ROLE OF ARMED FORCES IN
SMALL SAVING SCHEMES 53 CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK BATTLE 86
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST) 54 ROUND-TRIPPING 87
SCHEMES FOR ELECTRONIC INDIA AMONG TOP MILITARY SPENDERS 87
MANUFACTURING 57 NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY 88
WING FOR BANKING FRAUD CYBER SECURITY 89
OVERSIGHT 58
GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX 91
MONETARY POLICY REPORT (MPR) 59
UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES
NON-BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY 61 (PREVENTION) ACT (UAPA) 92
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL
SERVICES CENTRES AUTHORITY 61 GS-IV 93-94
SPECIAL 301 REPORT 62
HUMAN CHALLENGE TRIALS 93
MUTUAL FUNDS 63
BLAZARS 65
NATIONAL INNOVATION
FOUNDATION 66
COLLABCAD 66
 MAY 2020 The IAS Gazette
A House Journal of APTI PLUS

CONTENTS

SHORT NEWS ARTICLES 95-125 SHORT NEWS ARTICLES 95-125

COUNTERCYCLICAL CAPITAL WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2020 107
BUFFER (CCCB) IN BANKING 95 JAL SHAKTI ABHIYAN 108
CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE INDEX 95 ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW 108
KISAN RATH 95 EXERCISE NCC YOGDAN 109
LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES 97 MK 54 LIGHTWEIGHT TORPEDO 109
EARTH DAY 97 ALZHEIMER INHIBITOR 110
COP26 POSTPONED 97 MGNREGA 110
NATIONAL BOARD FOR WILDLIFE 97 SWASTHKESIPAHI 110
ANTHURIUM 98 PRADHAN MANTRI UJJAWALA
NEW SPECIES OF VIPER 98 YOJANA (PMUY) 110
DEVANAHALLIPOMELO 98 PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB
SUJALAM SUFALAM JALSANCHAYA KALYAN YOJANA 111
BHIYAN 98 BCG VACCINE 111
ANTI-SMOG GUNS 98 MEASLES 111
PETERSBERG CLIMATE DIALOGUE 99 WORLD CHAGAS DAY 112
HYDROGEN FUEL BASED BUSES COLOUR CODING TO HELP MANAGE
AND CARS 99 COVID-19 PANDEMIC 112
INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL POST-INTENSIVE CARE SYNDROME 112
RELATIONS (ICCR) 99 COVID-19 RURAL POOR STIMULUS
AMBUBACHI MELA 99 FACILITY 113
DARBAR MOVE 100 AAROGYASETU 113
YANOMAMI TRIBE 100 ADB’S CARES PROGRAM 113
MAHAVIR JAYANTI 100 RUHDAAR 113
DAPORIJO BRIDGE 100 HCARD 113
KASOWAL BRIDGE 100 CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER 114
PITCH BLACK 2020 101 WORLD MALARIA DAY 114
OPERATION SANJEEVANI 101 UN WOMEN 114
CORONA BONDS 101 GISAID 114
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY 101 VIDYADAAN 2.0 114
ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PCPNDT ACT 114
INVESTMENT BANK (AIIB) 103 SOCIAL RECESSION 115
U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL ICDS 115
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM (USCIRF) 104
DISTRICT MINERAL FOUNDATION 116
ASEAN SUMMIT 104
PRADHAN MANTRI KHANIJ 116
CHIEF VIGILANCE COMMISSION 105 KSHETRA KALYAN YOJANA (PMKKY)
AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT COUNCILS 105 WEBINAR ORGANISED BY TRIFED & UNICEF 117
ARTICLE 164(4) 106 VAN DHAN SCHEME 117
SWAYAM AND SWAYAM PRABHA 106 EMPLOYEES' STATE INSURANCE
ACT, 1948 117
 MAY 2020 The IAS Gazette
A House Journal of APTI PLUS

CONTENTS

SHORT NEWS ARTICLES 95-125

PARLIAMENTARY PANEL ON
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CODE 118
ANTIVIRAL NANO-COATINGS 119
NOOR: IRAN’S FIRST MILITARY
SATELLITE 119
SEPSIVAC & COVID-19 119
LITHIUM ABUNDANCE IN
INTERSTELLAR SPACE 120
BEPICOLOMBO 120
NIRBHAY MISSILE 120
FELUDA 120
COVSACK 121
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY PARKS
OF INDIA (STPI) 121
REVERSE VACCINOLOGY 121
ARTEMIS PROGRAM 121
GRACE FO MISSION 121
PRACRITI Dashboard 122
PORTABLE SENSOR FOR HEAVY METAL
DETECTION 122
e- PLATFORM & SAHYOG APP 122
ACRYLOSORB SECRETION
SOLIDIFICATION SYSTEM 122
COVID-19 & SATYAM PROGRAMME 123
HACK THE CRISIS – INDIA 123
SAMADHAN CHALLENGE 123
YUKTI PORTAL 123
CURIOSITY MISSION 123
RAPID TESTING 124
POOL TESTING OF COVID 19 SAMPLES 125
PCR 125

MCQs 126-137
 P a g e | 1

DEKHO APNA DESH

GS-I INDIAN HERITAGE & CULTURE

Context
 Recently, Dekho Apna Desh--a webinar series
was launched by Ministry of Tourism.

What is it?
 A webinar series for in-depth information on
tourist destinations to shed light on rich
culture and heritage of India.

The First Webinar

 It touches upon the long history of Delhi.

The Second Webinar

 It has been termed as “Calcutta-A
Confluences of Culture” and discussed how
the melting pot of diversity is to be kept
alive.

Overview of India‟s Tourism sector

 Currently, Tourism sector accounts for10% of
global GDP.
 In 2017, India ranked 7th among 184
countries in terms of travel & tourism’s total
contribution to GDP.
 The sector accounted for 8% of the total
employment generated in India in 2017.
 Clearly, the sector has emerged as one of the
key drivers of growth of Indian economy.

Steps that led to such focused growth

Tax Refund for
Branding and In the hotel and Theme-based Tourists (TRT) for
marketing tourism sector, tourist circuits of countries such as
initiatives like 100 per cent FDI Swadesh Darshan Singapore to
‘Incredible India!’ is allowed Scheme to encourage tourists
and ‘Athiti Devo through the promote tourism to spend more in
Bhava’. automatic route. India and boost
tourism - Budget
2020.

Target  It might also cause job cuts for 4-5 crores

 1% shares in world's international tourist people in India.
arrivals by 2020 and 2% share by 2025.
Measures
 The government is considering helping the
Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism Sector sector with
 The sector is estimated to have an overall loss  soft loans,
of Rs 5 lakh crores.  working capital and
 Deferment on loan repayments.
 P a g e | 2

NATIONAL LIST OF INTANGIBLE

CULTURAL HERITAGE
GS-I ART & CULTURE

Context festive events, knowledge and practices

 Recently, the Ministry of Culture has launched concerning nature and the universe or the
the National List of Intangible Cultural knowledge and skills to produce traditional
Heritage crafts".

Definition of Intangible cultural heritage by Aim behind launching the list

UNESCO  To raise awareness about the various cultural
 Intangible cultural heritage refers to heritage elements of India at national and
"traditions or living expressions inherited international level and to ensure their
from our ancestors and passed on to our protection.
descendants, such as oral traditions,  It is a part of Vision 2024 of Ministry of
performing arts, social practices, rituals, Culture.

Highlights  The list has been classified into five domains

 The list has 100 elements includes those, based on UNESCO‟s 2003 Convention for the
which are recognized by UNESCO as Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Heritage. These are:

i. Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage
ii. Performing arts
iii. Social practices, rituals and festive events
iv. Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
v. Traditional craftsmanship
 This national list is a work in progress and
can be considered as a draft version.

13 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognized by UNESCO (Table 1)
Sl. No. ICH Element

1 Tradition of Vedic chanting

2 Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana

3 Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
4 Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India
5 Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
6 Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
7 Chhau dance
Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh
8
region, Jammu and Kashmir, India
9 Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru,
10
Punjab, India
11 Yoga
12 Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz,
13 Kumbh Mela
 P a g e | 3

UNESCO‟s 2003 Convention for the  to raise awareness at the local, national and
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural international levels of the importance of the
Heritage intangible cultural heritage,
Purposes of the Convention  ensuring mutual appreciation thereof
 to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage; international cooperation and assistance.
 to ensure respect for the intangible cultural
heritage of the communities, groups and
individuals concerned;

KHUDAI KHIDMATGAR MOVEMENT

GS-I MODERN HISTORY

Context
 90 years has passed since Peshawar’s Qissa
Khwani Bazaar massacre.
 It was a confrontation between troops of
British Indian government and Abdul Ghaffar
Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar organisation.

Khudai Khdmatgars
 Khudai Khidmatgar was a Pashtun non-
violent resistance movement against the
British Raj in the North-West Frontier
Province (now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,  He founded the Khudai Khidmatgar
Pakistan). movement in 1929.
 The movement was led by Abdul Ghaffar  He strongly opposed the proposal for the
Khan, known locally as Badshah Khan. partition of India, siding with the Indian
 Also called Surkh Posh or "Red Shirts", National Congress and All India Azad
Khudai Khidmatgar was originally a social Muslim Conference.
reform organization.  In June 1947, Khudai Khidmatgars declared
 Its primary focus was on education and the the Bannu Resolution-Pashtuns should be
elimination of blood feuds. Gradually, it given an independent state of Pashtunistan.
became political as its members were being However, the British rejected this demand.
targeted by the British Raj.  In response, he boycotted the 1947 North-
West Frontier Province referendum on
Khan Abdur Gaffar Khan joining Pakistan or India.
 A political and spiritual leader known for his
non-violent opposition; he was a close friend
of Gandhiji.
 Hence, he was nicknamed as "Frontier
Gandhi" in British India by his associate Amir
Chand Bombwal.

AMBEDKAR JAYANTI
GS-I MODERN HISTORY

Context
 Recently, the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar was celebrated.

Dr. BR Ambedkar & his contributions
 He was independent India's first Minister of
Law and Justice.
 He was also the chief architect of the
Constitution of India.
 He campaigned against social discrimination
towards the untouchables (Dalits).
 He established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini
Sabha to promote education and socio-
economic improvement of the untouchables.
 He led the Mahad Satyagrah or Chavdar Tale
Satyagraha to fight for the right of the
untouchable community to draw water from
the main water tank of the town.
 He was invited to testify before the
Southborough Committee, which was
preparing the Government of India Act 1919.
At the hearing, Ambedkar argued for creating
separate electorates and reservations for
untouchables.
Kalaram Temple entry movement formed a pivotal role in the Dalit movement in India. B. K
(Dadasaheb) Gaikwad and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar led a protest outside the temple on 2 March 1930, in order
to allowing Dalits into the temple. The movement was to have a right to enter temple, it was more
towards having equal rights.
BASAVA JAYANTI
GS-I MEDIEVAL HISTORY
Context
 Recently, Global Basava Jayanthi – 2020 was
observed.
About Basava Jayanti
 It marks the birthday of Lord Basaveshwara.
Basavanna and his contributions
 Basavanna was a 12th-century poet-
philosopher, and the founder of Lingayat
sect.
Lingayatism is a Shaivite Hindu religious
tradition in India. Initially they were known as
Veerashaivas. Since the 18th century, adherents
of this faith are known as Lingayats. Lingayatism
emphasizes on qualified monism. It rejects any
form of social discrimination including the
caste system. Lingayat scholars thrived in
northern Karnataka during the Vijayanagara
Empire (14th-18th century). In the 21st century,
some Lingayats have sought legal recognition as a
religion distinct from Hinduism and
Veerashaivas.
P a g e | 4
 In 1930, Ambedkar launched Kalaram
Temple movement.
 In 1932 he signed Poona pact.
Poona Pact was signed by Ambedkar on behalf
of the depressed classes and Madan Mohan
Malviya on behalf of the Upper Caste Hindus
as a means to end the fast of Gandhi. Gandhi
was undertaking the fast in jail as a protest
against British Prime Minister Ramsay
MacDonald‟s decision to give Separate
electorates to depressed classes for the
election.
 He was appointed as the Chairman of the
Constitution Drafting Committee.
 He resigned from cabinet in 1951, when
parliament stalled his draft of the Hindu
Code Bill.
 The bill sought to enshrine gender equality in
the laws of inheritance and marriage.
 Basavanna was a social reformer during the
reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri
dynasty.
 He-
 Rejected temple worship, superstitions and
rituals led by Brahmins.
 Advocated equality of all human beings
irrespective of caste.
 launched a devotional movement called
Virashaivas. It means "ardent, heroic
worshippers of Shiva". Roots of this
movement could be traced to Tamil Bhakti
movement, particularly the Shaiva Nayanars
traditions of 7th- to 11th-century.
 promoted personalized devotional worship of
Shiva through symbols like ishtalinga.
Anyone could worship God irrespective of
gender, class or caste discrimination.
 used his poetry –Vachanaas to spread social
awareness.
 Established Anubhava Mantapa- a hall for
gathering and discussion of spiritual ideas by
any member of the society from both
genders.
 P a g e | 5

 The Basavarajadevara Ragale by the Kannada  The Basava Purana, written by Palkuriki
poet Harihara (c.1180) is the earliest available Somanatha in 13th-century is a sacred text in
account on the life of Basavanna. Lingayatism.

NIHANGS
GS-I MEDIEVAL HISTORY

Context  Another source says Guru Gobind Singh’s

 Recently, Nihangs attacked Punjab police and
chopped off hand of an assistant sub-
inspector when stopped for a curfew pass.
Who are Nihangs?
 The Nihang is an armed Sikh warrior order
originating in the Indian subcontinent.
 Nihang warriors are characterised by blue
robes, antiquated arms such as swords and
spears, and decorated turbans surmounted
by steel quoits.
younger son, Fateh Singh (1699-1705), once
appeared in a blue chola and turban.
 On seeing this, the Guru Gobind Singh
remarked that it shall be the dress of Nihangs
- the reckless soldiers of the Khalsa.
Role in Sikh history
 Nihangs played a major role in protecting
Sikhism after the downfall of first Sikh rule
(1710-15). During this period, Mughal
governors were killing Sikhs.
 The Nihang formed the irregular guerrilla
squads of the armed forces of the Sikh
Empire.
 Nihangs also took control of the religious
affairs of the Sikhs at as Akal Takht in
Amritsar.
 A Nihang does not attack an unarmed person.

Fall of Nihang
 Their influence came to an end after the fall
of Sikh Empire in 1849.
 The British authorities of Punjab appointed a
manager for the administration of the Golden
Temple in 1859.

Etymology
 The word nihang in Persian means an
alligator, sword and pen.
 It also stems from the Sanskrit word
nihshank, which means fearless, pure and
indifferent to worldly gains.
Origin
 Origin of Nihangs can be traced back to the
creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh
in 1699.
Present status
 Nihangs today constitute a small community.
About a dozen bands are still carrying on
with the traditional order. In the absence of a
centralised command, the Nihangs are loosely
organised.
Who can become a Nihang?
 Any person irrespective of his caste, creed
or religion can become a Nihang. He just has
to follow some Sikh traditions to enter the
sect.

A brief look back

The Sikhs first raised their weapons against the Mughal Empire under Guru Hargobind. The tenth and the last
Guru, Guru Gobind Singh organized Sikhs into a military sect called Khalsa (means "pure"), in 1699, against the
. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Thereafter, Sikhs became leaderless and were divided into Misls. After several decades,
Misls combined to form the Sikh Confederacy in 1716. They jointly fought against Mughal power. In 1735, the
jathas were combined into a single army, the Dal Khalsa. Though successes varied, the Sikhs contributed to the
decline of the Mughal Empire during the first half of the 18th century. Maharaja Ranjit Singh started uniting misls.
His coronation in 1801 marked the beginning of the Sikh Empire, which went on to conquer the whole Punjab,
Kangra, parts of Kashmir and briefly, the city of Peshawar.
 P a g e | 6

TABLIGHI JAMAAT
GS-I MODERN HISTORY

Context  The Tablighi Jamaat has a significant

 Recently, several COVID-19 cases in the
country have been traced to a religious
gathering in Delhi’s Markaz Nizamuddin -
headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat.
About Tablighi Jamaat
 Tablighi Jamaat, which literally means a
society for spreading the faith, is a Sunni
Islamic missionary movement.
 It was set up in 1926 by Maulana Muhammad
Ilyas in Mewat (in present-day Haryana).
 It began as an offshoot of the Deobandi
movement, and as a response to
deterioration of moral values and a neglect of
the aspects of Islam.
Aim of the movement
 The proselytising movement aims to reach
out to Muslims and revive their faith,
particularly in matters of ritual, dress, and
personal behaviour.
Spread of the movement
 It is currently operating in over 150 countries,
including countries in Western Europe.
presence in United State, Britain, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Singapore.
Teachings of Tablighi Jamaat
 The teachings of Tabligh Jamaat are
expressed in "Six Principles"
 Kalimah ---- there is no God but Allah and that
Prophet Muhammad is his messenger.
 Salah ---prayer five times daily.
 Ilm-o-zikr---- the knowledge and remembrance
of Allah. Conducted in sessions in which
congregation listens to preaching by the
imam, performs prayers, recites the Quran,
reads the Hadith; dines together, thus
fostering a sense of community and identity
 Ikraam-e-Muslim----treatment of fellow
Muslims with honour.
 Ikhlas-e-Niyyat ---- Sincerity of intention,
 Dawat-o-Tableegh---- Proselytization
Followers
 With 70-80 million followers across the
world, it the biggest Muslim movement in
the world.

Deobandi is a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam. The school teaches Islamic sciences according to
the Hanafi School of Islamic jurisprudence.The Hanafi School is one of the four major schools of Sunni
Islamic legal reasoning and repositories of positive law. Deobandi developed as a reaction to the
British colonialism. Founders include scholars like —Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Muhammad Yaqub
Nanautawi, and Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi.In 1919, a large group of Deobandi scholars formed the
political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and opposed the partition of India.

JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE

GS-I MODERN HISTORY

Context Legislative Council in Delhi on 21 March

 The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known
as the Amritsar massacre, took place on 13
April 1919, in Punjab.
Background
 The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes
Act of 1919, popularly known as the Rowlatt
Act or Black Act, was passed by the Imperial
1919.
 Itextended emergency measures of preventive
indefinite detention, incarceration without
trial etc.
 It gave enormous powers to the police to
arrest any person without any reason
whatsoever.

 The purpose of the Act was to curb the
growing nationalist upsurge in the country.
Impact
 People started protesting across the country.
A nationwide hartal was called by Gandhiji on
6th April. This was called the Rowlatt
Satyagraha.
Situation in Punjab
 In Punjab the protest movement was very
strong. It resulted in riots everywhere.
 On 10th April two congress leaders, Dr.
Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were
arrested. Punjab was put under martial law.
 The Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab at that
time was Michael O‟Dwyer. Lord Chelmsford
was India’s Viceroy.
About the massacre
 On 13th April 1919, Dyer had banned all
meetings. But this notice was not widely
disseminated.
 People had gathered to celebrate festival of
Baisakhi and to protest against the arrest and
deportation of Dr. Satyapal and Saifuddin
Kitchlewin a public garden called Jalianwala
Bagh.
 Dyer and his troops entered the garden.
Blocking the main entrance behind them, and
with no warning they opened fire on the
crowd for about ten minutes, until the
ammunition supply was exhausted.
Munro is credited with having introduced
the Ryotwari System in South India. He had
alsodrafted an education policy for the
Madras Presidency. He also supported a
larger share for natives in the
administration of India.
TRIBALS AT COVID 19 RISKS
GS-I INDIAN CULTURE, GEOGRAPHY
Context
 Recently, a petition was filed in the Supreme
Court requesting to direct the government to
conduct COVID-19 tests among the tribal
population living along the Godavari river
valley area.
P a g e | 7
Post massacre events
 The British Government of India announced
the formation of Disorders Inquiry
Committee or the Hunter Commission, which
did not impose any penal or disciplinary
action against Dyer.
 Enraged Indians termed the commission as
„Whitewash Commission‟.
Indian Reaction
 Rabindranath Tagore renounced his British
Knighthood as a mark of protest and
condemnation
 Mahatma Gandhi, renounced Kaiser-i-Hind
medal.
 The British repealed the Rowlatt Act only in
1922.
 To take revenge, the then Lieutenant-
Governor of Punjab, Michael O‟Dwyer was
assassinated by Udham Singh in London in
1940.It was O’Dwyer who had ordered
Brigadier-General Dyer to open fire.
A turning point in the Freedom Struggle
 The massacre exposed the truth that the
golden age of the raj, when enlightened men
like Sir Thomas Munroe and Sir Arthur Cotton
were in charge, was long past.
 They had been replaced by arrogant racists
such as General Dyer and Sir Michael
O’Dwyer, who looked upon India as a slave
nation and Indians as a slave race to be ruled
with an iron hand.
 The massacre added momentum to Gandhiji’s
movement for swaraj.
 It was after the incident that Gandhiji started
the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
Issue
 The COVID-19 lockdown was blatantly
violated in the Godavari river valley area for
the construction of the Polavaram irrigation
project.
 A large number of migrant workers were still
on the project site. They did not have
sanitizers and masks.

 These workers lived in close proximity to the
tribal population of the valley.
Vulnerability of tribals
 According to a 2018, expert committee report
tribal population bears a disproportionate
burden of communicable diseases.
 It includes malaria, tuberculosis, skin
infection, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV,
typhoid, viral fever and cholera.
Impact of COVID 19
 Until low, around 25 tribal people have been
diagnosed with COVID-19.If negligence as in
Godavari Valley continues the situation might
worsen in tribal areas.
 The lockdown has also led to financial
distress in tribal areas as their livelihoods
have been affected.
Way Ahead
 The government should coordinate with civil
society organisations in order to reach out to
the tribal population in remote areas and help
them stay safe.
 There is a need to work closely with the
local community to ensure that the
entitlements reach them.
 States with high tribal population should
make more proactive efforts.
 It must be ensured that migrant workers
strictly practice social distancing.
 Projects must be stalled amid this critical
pandemic situation.
Godavari River
 The Godavari river valley area straddles
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and
Chhattisgarh.
 It is India's second longest river after the
Ganga.
P a g e | 8
•Dharna, Wardha, Penganga,
Left Bank Wainganga, Purna, Indravati, Kadva,
Shivana, Sabari, Pranhita, Kada,
Tributaries Taliperu, Pench, Kanhan
Right Bank •Nasardi, Mul, Manjira, Sindphana,
Pravara, Kinnerasani, Peddavagu,
Tributaries Maner
 It is the largest river system of Peninsular
India.
 It is known as the Dakshin Ganga.
 It originates in the Western Ghats of central
India near Nashik in Triambakeshwar,
Maharashtra.
 The Godavari river flows through the states
of-
 Maharashtra,
 Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,
 Chhattisgarh,
 Madhya Pradesh,
 Odisha, Karnataka and
 Puducherry.
 Godavari riverbasin is bounded by
 Satmala hills, the Ajanta range and the
Mahadeo hills - north,
 Eastern Ghats - south and the east and
 Western Ghats - west.
Major projects across the river
 Gangapur Dam- in Maharashtra.
 Jayakwadi Dam- in Maharashtra to address
the dual problems of flooding and drought in
Marathwada region.
 Sriram Sagar Project-In Telangana.
 Dowleswaram Barrage- Built by Sir Arthur
Cotton in 1852. In Rajahmundry, Andhra
Pradesh.
 Asia‟s largest rail-cum-road bridge, which
links Kovvur and Rajahmundry is located on
the river Godavari.
Polavaram Project
 Polavaram Project, is an under construction
multi-purpose project on the Godavari River
in Andhra Pradesh.
Purpose
 To stabilise water supply for two crops in a
year.
 Supply irrigation water, generate hydropower
and lift water to the Prakasam Barrage on
Krishna River.
 To supply drinking water.
 P a g e | 9

Other major projects in Andhra Pradesh

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Krishna River
Srisailam Dam Krishna River
Somasila Dam Pennar River
Pulichinthala Project Krishna River
Nallamalasagar Reservoir Krishna River
Brahmamsagar Reservoir Penna River
Vykuntapuram Barrage Krishna River
Mylavaram Dam Penna River
Dowleswaram Barrage Godavari River
Veligallu Dam Reservoir Papagni River
Rajolibanda Dam Tungabhadra River
Prakasham Barrage Krishna River

IONOSPHERIC BASED MONITORING OF

EARTHQUAKES
GS-I GEOGRAPHY

Context The recent Study

 Recently, Indian scientists have extensively  It is a part of interdisciplinary program called
studied the footprints of large earthquakes „Coupled Lithosphere-Atmosphere-
into the ionosphere. Ionosphere-Magnetosphere System
(CLAIMs)‟. (Funded by Dept. of Science &
What is the ionosphere? Tech)
 The ionosphere is a very active part of the
atmosphere, and it grows and shrinks Focus of the program
depending on the energy it absorbs from the  Research of energy transfer to the
Sun. Gases in these layers are excited by solar atmosphere during Earth processes such as
radiation to form ions, which have an earthquakes as well as tsunamis
electrical charge.  To derive characteristics of seismic sources
from the ionosphere

How energy from Earthquake gets

transferred to Ionosphere?
 Earth crust uplift during any earthquake
produces compressional (i.e. pressure) waves
in the overlying atmosphere.
 These waves propagate upward and its
amplitudes increase with atmospheric
heights.
 On arrival at ionospheric heights, the waves
redistribute ionospheric electron density.
 It then produces electron density
perturbations i.e. physical disruption of some
kind. This disruption is referred to as co-
seismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP).
 Thus, the basic physical mechanism
responsible for the generation of CIP is the
redistribution of ionospheric plasma by
tectonically induced neutral atmospheric
wave perturbations

Detection of CIP
 Total Electron density detected using Global
Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) gives
details of complete spatial and temporal areas
from where seismic wave had originated.
Mechanism
 Evolution of seismic/tectonically induced
ionospheric perturbation is highly controlled
by the non-tectonic forcing mechanisms like
 satellite geometry - orientation between the
satellite line of sight (LOS) geometry and co-
seismic atmospheric wave perturbations
 geomagnetic field- orientation between the
geomagnetic field and tectonically induced
atmospheric wave perturbations
 Ambient ionization density of ionosphere.
P a g e | 10
Significance
 The ionosphere is a highly dynamic region.
Perturbations in ionospheric electron density
can be traced to various origins
 either from above (e.g. solar, geomagnetic etc)
or
 below (e.g. lower atmospheric, seismic etc) the
ionosphere.
 Scientists have already successfully
associated observed ionospheric disturbances
with
 Indian Ocean doublet earthquake on 11 April
2012.
 Nepal earthquake of 2015
 Kaikoura earthquake 2016 etc
 It has also been used to detect and confirm
mine collapses, mine blasts, volcanic
eruptions, and meteorite strikes as well as
underground nuclear tests.
 GNSS real-time monitoring of ionospheric
irregularities, (e.g. Variometric Approach for
Real-Time Ionosphere Observation/ VARION)
is capable of estimating TEC variations in real
time.
 This has high relevance for natural hazard
early warning systems and real-time
monitoring of ionospheric irregularities.
 By leveraging the worldwide network of GNSS
receivers, robust confirmation of more such
impulsive events will be possible.

ARTICLE 142
GS-II POLITY
Context
 Invoking special powers under Article 142,
the Supreme Court has deemed all
restrictions imposed on people from entering,
attending or taking part in court hearings as
lawful in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is Article 142?
 Article 142(1) provides a unique power to the
Supreme Court, to do “complete justice”
between the parties, i.e., where at times law or
statute may not provide a remedy, the Court
can extend itself to put a quietus to a dispute
in a manner which would befit the facts of the
case.
 “The Supreme Court in the exercise of its
jurisdiction may pass such decree or make
such order as is necessary for doing complete
justice in any cause or matter pending before
it, and any decree so passed or order so made
shall be enforceable throughout the territory
of India in such manner as may be
prescribed by or under any law made by
Parliament and, until provision in that behalf
is so made, in such manner as the President
may by order prescribe”.
Important observations made by the Court
1. These restrictions were in tune with the social
distancing norms and best public health
practices advocated to contain the contagion.
2. Every individual and institution is expected to
cooperate in the implementation of measures
designed to reduce the transmission of the
virus. The scaling down of conventional
operations within the precincts of courts is a
measure in that direction.
3. This is not a matter of discretion but of duty.
It is necessary that courts at all levels respond
to the call of social distancing and ensure that
P a g e | 11
court premises do not contribute to the
spread of virus.
Rationale
 Access to justice is fundamental to preserve
the rule of law in the democracy envisaged by
the Constitution of India.
 The challenges occasioned by the outbreak of
COVID-19 have to be addressed, while
preserving the constitutional commitment to
ensuring the delivery of and access to justice
to those who seek it. However, public health
takes precedence over conventions.
Guidelines given by the Supreme Court
1. Judiciary would have to improvise and
continue to bank heavily on “video-
conferencing technologies ”in the wake of this
“unprecedented and extraordinary outbreak
of a pandemic”.
2. High Courts should decide the modalities for
the temporary transition to the use of video-
conferencing technologies in their respective
States.
3. District courts in each State would adopt the
mode of video-conferencing prescribed by the
respective High Courts.
4. Help lines would be set up to receive and
rectify technical complaints.
5. The courts should make available video-
conferencing facility for litigants, who do not
have it or appoint an amicus curiae.
6. In no case shall evidence be recorded without
the mutual consent of both the parties by
video-conferencing. If it is necessary to record
evidence in a courtroom, the presiding officer
shall ensure that appropriate distance is
maintained between any two individuals in
the court.

FLOOR TEST
GS-II POLITY
Context
 Recently, Supreme Court upheld Madhya
Pradesh Governor’s decision asking the then-
Congress government to prove majority by
holding a floor test in the Legislative
Assembly after the resignation of 22 Congress
MLAs.
Some observations made by the Court on
Governor’s discretionary powers
1. In a situation where the governor has reasons
to believe that the council of ministers headed
by the chief minister has lost the confidence
of the House, constitutional propriety
requires that the issue be resolved by calling
for a floor test.
2. When calling for a floor test or directing a trust
vote, the Governor should not favour a
particular political party.
3. A Governor’s power to call for a floor test is
not restricted only before the inception of a
MINORITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
GS-II POLITY
Context
 Supreme Court has ruled that the National
Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for
admission to graduate and postgraduate
medical and dental courses, does not violate
the rights of minorities under the
Constitution.
Background
 The ruling came on a bunch of petitions
originally filed in 2012 by the Christian
Medical College, Vellore and others,
challenging the notifications for NEET issued
by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the
Dental Council of India (DCI).
Petitioners’ arguments
 NEET snatches the right of the religious and
linguistic minority institutions to administer
their business, including the right to admit
students from the minority community in
terms of their own standards.
P a g e | 12
State government immediately after elections,
but continues throughout its term.
4. The Governor‟s requirement to have a trust
vote does not “short-circuit” any
disqualification proceedings pending before
the Speaker. A Governor need not wait for
the Speaker’s decision on the resignation of
rebel MLAs before calling for a trust vote.
Floor Test
 It is the determination on the floor of the
House whether the Chief Minister commands
the support of the majority of the MLAs.
 This can be done by means of a voice vote, or
by recording the vote of each MLA in the
House.
 This determination of majority is done in a
sitting of the legislature, for which the
legislature has to be convened.
What the Court observed?
1. Rights of the minority institutions under
Articles 19(1) (g) and Article 30 read with
Articles 25, 26 and 29(1) do not come in the
way of securing transparency and recognition
of merits in matter of admissions.
2. State has the right to frame regulatory
regime for aided/ unaided minority/private
institutions, as mandated by the Constitution.
There cannot be any other examination for
admitting students.
3. NEET is a regulatory measure that is in the
larger national interest. It is in no way
interfering with the rights to administer the
institution by the religious or linguistic
minorities.
5. Besides, regulating academics and imposing
reasonable restrictions to ensure educational
standards are in national and public interest.

Constitutional Provisions
 Article 30(1) recognizes linguistic and
religious minorities but not those based on
race, ethnicity.
 It recognizes the right of religious and
linguistic minorities to establish and
administer educational institutions, in effect
recognizing the role educational institutions
play in preserving distinct culture.
 A majority community can also establish and
administer educational institution but they
will not enjoy special rights under Article
30(1) (a).
QUOTA AND TRIBAL TEACHERS
GS-II POLITY
Context
 The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme
Court has held it unconstitutional to provide
100% reservation for tribal teachers in
schools located in Scheduled Areas across
the country.
The issue
 The case stemmed from a legal challenge to a
January 10, 2000 order issued by the
erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh Bench
providing 100% reservation to the Scheduled
Tribe candidates, out of whom 33.1% shall be
women, for the post of teachers in schools
located in the Scheduled Areas of the State.
Supreme Court Ruling
1. 100% reservation is not permissible under
the Constitution as the outer limit is 50% as
specified in Indra Sawhney case, 1992.
2. The citizens have equal rights and the total
exclusion of others by creating an
NATIONAL SECURITY ACT
GS-II POLITY
Context
 Uttar Pradesh government has said that six
persons associated with the Tablighi Jamaat
who has been accused of misbehaving with
women staff at the district hospital in
Ghaziabad will be charged under the National
Security Act (NSA).
P a g e | 13
Special rights enjoyed by religious minority
education institutions (MEI)
1. MEI enjoy right to education as a
Fundamental Right under Art 30(1) (a).
Compensation has to be paid if their property
is taken over by the state.
2. MEIs are not considered for reservation
under Article 15
3. Under Right to Education Act, MEI are not
required to provide 25% reservation to
economically weaker sections (EWS).
4. SC has ruled in St Stephens‟s case that MEIs
can have 50% seats reserved for minorities.
opportunity for one class is not contemplated
by the Constitution.
3. It also deprives Scheduled Castes and Other
Backward Castes of their due representation.
4. The opportunity of public employment
cannot be denied unjustly to the incumbents
and it is not the prerogative of few.
Which rights were affected by this
reservation?
1. Equality of opportunity and pursuit of choice
under Article 51A cannot be deprived of
unjustly and arbitrarily.
2. It is arbitrary and violative of provisions of
Articles 14 (equality before law), 15(1)
(discrimination against citizens) and 16
(equal opportunity) of the Constitution.
3. It impinges upon the rights of general
category because only Scheduled Tribes will
fill all the vacant posts leaving SCs and OBCs
far behind.
What the Constitution says?
 Article 22 (3) (b) allows for preventive
detention and restriction on personal liberty
for reasons of state security and public
order.
 Article 22(4) states that no law providing for
preventive detention shall authorise the
detention of a person for a longer period than

three months unless: An Advisory Board
reports sufficient cause for extended
detention.
 The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 has
reduced the period of detention without
obtaining the opinion of an advisory board
from three to two months. However, this
provision has not yet been brought into force,
hence, the original period of three months
still continues.
National Security Act, 1980
 It allows preventive detention for months, if
authorities are satisfied that a person is a
threat to national security or law and order.
 The person does not need to be charged
during this period of detention. The goal is to
prevent the individual from committing a
crime.
Grounds for preventive detention
 Acting in any manner prejudicial to the
defence of India, the relations of India with
foreign powers, or the security of India.
 Regulating the continued presence of any
foreigner in India or with a view to making
arrangements for his expulsion from India.
 Preventing them from acting in any manner
prejudicial to the security of the State or from
acting in any manner prejudicial to the
maintenance of public order or from acting
in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance
of supplies and services essential to the
community it is necessary so to do.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND COVID 19
GS-II POLITY
Context
 The National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) has asked the Centre to issue an
advisory to all States and Union Territories to
implement the ongoing lockdown without
violating the human rights of the public.
The issue
 NHRC has also asked the Ministry of Home
Affairs to address the concerns of the
mentally ill people on the streets during the
lockdown to check the spread of the novel
corona virus.
P a g e | 14
Duration
 Individual can be detained without a charge
for up to 12 months. A person detained
under the National Security Act can be held
for 10 days without being told the charges
against them.
Appeal
 The detained person can appeal before a high
court advisory board but they are not
allowed a lawyer during the trial.
Criticisms
 The NSA has repeatedly come under criticism
for the way it is used by the police. More than
14 lakh people were apprehended under this
law according to Law Commission‟s Report.
Why it is draconian?
 Typically, if a person is arrested, then he/she
enjoy certain rights bestowed by the Indian
Constitution. The person has to be informed
of the reason for the arrest. Under Section 50
of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the
person arrested has to be informed.
 However, in the case of the NSA, the person
can be held up to ten days without being
informed of the reason.
 Sections 56 and 76 of the same penal code
guarantee the detained person to be produced
before a court within 24 hours. Apart from
this, Article 22(1) of the Constitution allows
the detainee to seek legal advice from a legal
practitioner.
 However, under the NSA, none of these
above mentioned basic rights is permitted
to the suspect.
 In order to effectively implement the lock
down guidelines, the public servants,
sometimes under tremendous pressure, tend
to deal with the people, especially the ill-
informed poor labourers, in a very harsh
manner undermining their rights.
 The NHRC had written to the Union Home
ministry to issue a suitable advisory or
standard operating procedure for all public
officials, including police personnel, to
“behave in a sensible manner with the people,
particularly those belonging to vulnerable

sections, respecting human rights relating to
their life, liberty and dignity”.
 It has said that In the meantime necessary
directions may be issued by the Ministry to all
the States and Union Territories, to ensure
that persons suffering from any kind of
mental ailments under their jurisdiction are
provided with proper counselling towards
necessary precautions for their personal care
and protection from the virus and not
deprived of basic amenities like food, shelter
and medical care etc.
National Human Rights Commission
 It is a Statutory Body. NHRC was established
on 12th October, the Protection of Human
Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the
Protection of Human Rights (Amendment)
Act, 2006.
 It is the watchdog of human rights in the
country, i.e. the rights related to life, liberty,
equality and dignity of the individual
guaranteed by Indian Constitution or
embodied in the international covenants and
enforceable by courts in India.
 It was established in conformity with the
Paris Principles, adopted for the promotion
and protection of human rights in Paris
(October, 1991) and endorsed by the General
Assembly of the United Nations on 20
December, 1993.
Composition
 The commission is a multi-member body
consisting of a chairman and four members.
 The chairman is a retired Chief Justice of
India.
 The chairman and members are appointed by
the President on the recommendations of a
six-member committee consisting of the
Prime Minister as its head, the Speaker of the
Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya
Sabha, leaders of the Opposition in both the
Houses of Parliament and the Union Home
Minister.
PANCHAYATI RAJ AND DECENTRALIZATION
GS-II POLITY
Context
 The National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated
every year on April 24. The Panchayati Raj
Institutions play a major role in the socio and
P a g e | 15
 The chairman and members hold office for a
term of five years or until they attain the age
of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
 After their tenure, the chairman and members
are NOT eligible for further employment
under the Central or a state government.
 The President can remove the chairman or
any member from the office under some
circumstances.
Functions
 It investigates grievances regarding the
violation of human rights either suo moto or
after receiving a petition.
 It has the power to interfere in any judicial
proceedings involving any allegation of
violation of human rights.
 It can visit any jail or any other institution
under the control of the State Government to
see the living conditions of the inmates and to
make recommendations thereon.
 It can review the safeguards provided under
the constitution or any law for the protection
of the human rights and can recommend
appropriate remedial measures.
 It undertakes and promotes research in the
field of human rights.
 It works to spread human rights literacy
among various sections of society and
promotes awareness of the safeguards
available for the protection of these rights
through publications, media, seminars and
other means.
 The Commission takes an independent stand
while providing opinions for the protection of
human rights within the parlance of the
Constitution or in law for the time being
enforced.
 It can recommend to both the central and
state governments to take suitable steps to
prevent the violation of Human Rights.
 It submits its annual report to the President
of India who causes it to be laid before each
House of Parliament.
economic development of people at the
grassroots level.

About Panchayati Raj Institutions
 The term Panchayati Raj in India signifies the
system of rural local self government. It has
been established in all the states of India by
the Acts of the state legislatures to build
democracy at the grass root level1. It is
entrusted with rural development. It was
constitutionalied through the 73rd
Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992.
How it came into being
 The Congress Government under the prime
ministership of P.V. Narasimha Rao
introduced a constitutional amendment bill in
the Lok Sabha in September, 1991. This bill
finally emerged as the 73rd Constitutional
Amendment Act, 1992 and came into force on
24 April, 1993.
Salient Features of 73rd Amendment Act
1992
 It added a new part-IX and XI schedule to the
Constitution.
 XI schedule contains a list of 29 functional
items for Panchyats.
Organization of Gram Sabhas
 It creates a three-tier Panchayati Raj Structure
at the District (Zila), Block and Village levels;
 Almost all posts, at all levels to be filled by
direct elections;
 Minimum age for contesting elections to the
PRIs is 21.
 The post of Chairman at the District and
Block levels should be filled by indirect
election;
 Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes/
Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats, in proportion
to their population, and for women in
Panchayats up to one-third seats;
 State Election Commission to be set up in
each State to conduct elections to Panchayati
Raj institutions.
 The tenure of Panchayati Raj institutions is
five years, if dissolved earlier, fresh elections
to be held within six months;
 State Finance Commission in every state.
Three-tier Structure of Panchayati Raj
 Grama Panchayat
 Panchayat Samiti
 ZilaParishad
Compulsory Provisions
1. Organisation of Gram Sabha in a village or
group of villages.
P a g e | 16
2. Establishment of panchayats at the village,
intermediate and district levels.
3. Direct elections to all seats in panchayats at
the village, intermediate and district levels.
4. Indirect elections to the post of chairperson
of panchayats at the intermediate and district
levels.
5. Voting rights of the chairperson and other
members of a panchayat elected directly or
indirectly.
6. 21 years to be the minimum age for
contesting elections to panchayats.
7. Reservation of seats (both members and
chairpersons) for SCs and STs in panchayats
at all the three levels.
8. Reservation of one-third seats (both members
and chairpersons)for women in panchayats at
all the three levels.
9. Fixing tenure of five years for panchayats at
all levels and holding fresh elections within
six months in the event of supersession of
any panchayat.
10. Establishment of a State Election Commission
for conducting elections to the panchayats.
11. Constitution of a State Finance Commission
after every fiveyears to review the financial
position of the panchayats.
Voluntary Provisions
1. Endowing the Gram Sabha with powers and
functions at the village level.
2. Determining the manner of election of the
chairperson of the village panchayat.
3. Giving representation to the chairpersons of
the village panchayats in the intermediate
panchayats or in the case of a state not
having intermediate panchayats, in the
district panchayats.
4. Giving representation to the chairpersons of
the intermediate panchayats in the district
panchayats.
5. Giving representation to members of the
Parliament (both the Houses) and the state
legislature (both the Houses) in the
panchayats at different levels falling within
their constituencies.
6. Providing reservation of seats (both members
and chairpersons) for backward classes in
panchayats at any level.
7. Granting powers and authority to the
panchayats to enable them to function as
institutions of self-government (in brief,
making them autonomous bodies).
8. Devolution of powers and responsibilities
upon panchayats to prepare plans for
economic development and social justice; and
to perform some or all of the 29 functions

listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the
Constitution.
9. Granting financial powers to the panchayats,
that is, authorizing them to levy, collect and
appropriate taxes, duties, tolls and fees.
10. Assigning to a panchayat the taxes, duties,
tolls and fees levied and collected by the state
government.
11. Making the grants-in-aid to the panchayats
from the consolidated fund of the state.
12. Providing for constitution of funds for
crediting all moneys of the panchayats.
Achievements
 All states have implemented the mandatory
provisions provided in the 73rd amendment.
 To empower local governments, states have
also provided statutory safeguards for many
devolution provisions.
 Successive Finance Commissions have
substantially increased fund allocations for
PRIs
 SC/ST representation in elected bodies with 1
lakh SC/ST sarpanches is another big push
towards their empowerment.
 14 lakh women elected representatives and
heads have now got political representation
due to 33 percent reservation.
 Grassroots level political awareness has
increased.
Issues which have hampered growth of
PRIs
 Lack of adequate devolution
 Excessive control by bureaucracy
 Tied nature of funds: This has two
implications. The activities stated under a
certain scheme are not always appropriate for
all parts of the district. This results in
unsuitable activities being promoted or an
under-spend of the funds
 Overwhelming dependency on government
funding
 Reluctance to use fiscal powers
 Status of the Gram Sabha: Empowering the
Gram Sabhas could have been a powerful
weapon for transparency, accountability and
for involvement of the marginalized sections.
However, a number of the State Acts have not
spelt the powers of Gram Sabhas nor have any
procedures been laid down for the
functioning of these bodies or penalties for
the officials.
 Creation of Parallel Bodies: Often, Parallel
Bodies (PBs) are created for supposedly
P a g e | 17
speedy implementation and greater
accountability. However, there is little
evidence to show that such PBs have avoided
the evils including that of partisan politics,
sharing of spoils, corruption and elite
capture. Missions (in particular) often
bypassing mainstream programmes, create
disconnect, duality, and alienation between
the existing and the new structures and
functions. PBs usurp the legitimate space of
PRIs and demoralize the PRIs by virtue of
their superior resource endowments.
 Poor Infrastructure: A large number of Gram
Panchayats in the country do not have even
full time Secretary. Around 25 percent of the
Gram Panchayats do not have basic office
buildings. The database for planning,
monitoring etc., are lacking in most of the
cases
Some suggestions to improve functioning
 Progress across states has been highly uneven
with some states such as Kerala and
Karnataka leapfrogging, while others like UP
crawling.
 District planning should increasingly be made
bottom-up, based on grassroots inputs
received from Gram Sabha's.
 Like Karnataka, all the states should create a
separate bureaucratic cadre for Panchayats
that will work in a subordinate capacity to the
elected authorities. In fact, this is because it
has been observed that officials who work on
deputation to Panchayats often lord over the
elected representatives.
 The activity maps need to be incorporated in
all centrally sponsored schemes for the
poverty alleviation in order to the direct
transfer funds to the local governments.
 The Union Govt. needs to financially
incentivize states to encourage effective
devolution to the panchayats in power, funds
and capable bureaucracy.
Way Forward
1. Discussions of recommendations Proposed by
Ashok Mehta Committee and Implement the
Idea that curbs the Shortcomings.
2. Timely release of Funds and More Autonomy
to Panchayats to collect taxes to carry out
Operations and Development in the region.
3. Programmes to impart training and
Knowledge about Functioning of Democracy
to Panchayat Members.

BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION
GS-II POLITY
Context
 47 years ago, the Supreme Court passed its
landmark judgment in Kesavananda Bharati
where, by a 7-6 verdict, a 13-judge
Constitution Bench ruled that the „basic
structure‟ of the Constitution is inviolable,
and could not be amended by Parliament. The
basic structure doctrine has since been
regarded as a tenet of Indian constitutional
law.
Amending the Constitution
 The Constitution of a country is the
fundamental law of the land. It is based on
this document that all other laws are made
and enforced. Under some Constitutions,
certain parts are immune from amendments,
and are given a special status compared to
other provisions.
 Since the Indian Constitution was first
adopted, debates have raged as to the extent
of power that Parliament should have to
amend key provisions.
 In the early years of Independence, the
Supreme Court conceded absolute power to
Parliament in amending the Constitution, as
was seen in the verdicts in Shankari Prasad
(1951) and Sajjan Singh (1965).
 The reason for this is believed to be that in
those initial years, the apex court had reposed
faith in the wisdom of the then political
leadership, when leading freedom fighters
were serving as Members of Parliament.
 In subsequent years, as the Constitution kept
being amended at will to suit the interests of
the ruling dispensation, the Supreme Court in
Golaknath (1967) held that Parliament’s
amending power could not touch
Fundamental Rights, and this power would
be only with a Constituent Assembly.
The judgment in Kesavananda Bharati
 The Constitutional Bench, whose members
shared serious ideological differences, ruled
by a 7-6 verdict that Parliament should be
restrained from altering the „basic structure‟
of the Constitution. The court held that under
Article 368, which provides Parliament
amending powers, something must remain of
the original Constitution that the new
amendment would change. The court did not
P a g e | 18
define the „basic structure‟, and only listed a
few principles — federalism, secularism,
democracy — as being its part. Since then, the
court has been adding new features to this
concept. The majority opinion was delivered
by Chief Justice of India S M Sikri, and
Justices K S Hegde, A K Mukherjea, J M Shelat,
A N Grover, P Jaganmohan Reddy, and H R
Khanna. Justices A N Ray, D G Palekar, K K
Mathew, M H Beg, S N Dwivedi, and Y V
Chandrachud dissented.
Elements of the basic structure
 The present position is that the Parliament
under Article 368 can amend any part of the
Constitution including the Fundamental
Rights but without affecting the „basic
structure‟ of the Constitution. However, the
Supreme Court is yet to define or clarify as to
what constitutes the „basic structure‟ of the
Constitution. From the various judgements,
the following have emerged as „basic features‟
of the Constitution or elements of the „basic
structure‟ of the constitution:
1. Supremacy of the Constitution
2. Sovereign, democratic and republican
nature of the Indian polity
3. Secular character of the Constitution
4. Separation of powers between the
legislature, the executive and the judiciary
5. Federal character of the Constitution
6. Unity and integrity of the nation
7. Welfare state (socio-economic justice)
8. Judicial review
9. Freedom and dignity of the individual
 P a g e | 19

10. Parliamentary system 20. Powers of the High Courts under Articles
11. Rule of law 226 and 227
12. Harmony and balance between  An example of its application is SR Bommai
Fundamental Rights and Directive (1994), when the Supreme Court upheld the
Principles dismissal of BJP governments by the President
13. Principle of equality following the demolition of the Babri Masjid,
14. Free and fair elections invoking a threat to secularism by these
15. Independence of Judiciary governments.
16. Limited power of Parliament to amend the  Critics of the doctrine have called it
Constitution undemocratic, since unelected judges can
17. Effective access to justice strike down a constitutional amendment. At
18. Principles (or essence) underlying the same time, its proponents have hailed the
fundamental rights concept as a safety valve against
19. Powers of the Supreme Court under majoritarianism and authoritarianism.
Articles 32, 136, 141 and 142

SURGE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 UN Secretary-General AntónioGuterres
appealed governments to pay attention to and
prevent a “horrifying global surge in
domestic violence” amid lockdown measures
imposed by several countries to tackle the
coronavirus pandemic.
 Council of Europe, also expressed concern
about the increase in domestic violence
during lockdowns due to the coronavirus, and
said women and children were at greater risk
of abuse within their own homes during this
period.
Rise in domestic violence cases worldwide
 As per the French government, the number of
domestic violence had gone up by 36 per cent
in Paris, and 32 per cent in the rest of the
country.
 According to CNN double-digit increases in
domestic violence in 20 large metropolitan
police departments in the US in March this
year.
 In Lebanon, Malaysia it is doubled as per the
UN while in China it is tripled.
How countries are dealing?
 France, Italy, Scott land announced EUR 1
million, EUR 4million and GBP 1.5 million
respectively to cater to increased cases of
domestic violence and for women's aid.
Domestic violence in India
 According to the Crime in India Report
2018, published by the National Crime
Research Bureau (NCRB), a crime is recorded
against women in India every 1.7 minutes
and a woman is subjected to domestic
violence every 4.4 minutes.
 It suggests that among married women
experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional
abuse, an alarming 83 percent list their
husbands as the main perpetrators, followed
by abuse from their husbands‘ mothers (56
percent), fathers (33 percent), and siblings (27
percent).
 The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4),
2015-16 highlighted that 30 percent of
women in India between the ages of 15-49
have experienced physical violence.
P a g e | 20
Domestic violence in the context of COVID-
19
 Women tend to face greater risks during
emergencies, including health disasters such
as pandemics.
 During times of economic hardship, there is
an increase in violent, abusive, impulsive,
compulsive, and controlling behaviour and
aggression directed towards cohabiting
partners and romantic partners.
 Women whose livelihoods have been affected
by the crisis, might also now be in financial
distress—which is one of the barriers to
removing themselves from a violent
household.
 Women who might have been saving up
money to leave, might now have to utilise
these savings elsewhere.
 National Commission of Women (NCW) noted
a rise in the number of domestic violence
complaints received via email. The NCW
chairperson believes that the real figure is
likely to be higher, since the bulk of
complaints come from women who send their
complaints by post, and might not be able to
use the internet.
 Between the beginning of March and April
5th, the NCW received 310 grievances of
domestic violence and 885 complaints for
other forms of violence against women, many
of which are domestic in nature—such as
bigamy, polygamy, dowry deaths, and
harassment for dowry.
Reasons, for the prevalence of domestic
violence in Indian society, are enumerated
as follows
 Patriarchy,
 alcohol abuse,
 illiteracy and financial dependence among
women,
 the social stigma attached with divorcee
women,
 unawareness about legal remedy among
rural women,
 Poor justice delivery system,
 Unsupportive healthcare staff.
Measures taken by government
 Women helpline number 1091 (24*7)
 Women special cell in police stations

 UJJAWALA Scheme: is comprehensive Scheme
for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue,
Rehabilitation and Re-Integration of Victims
of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual
Exploitation. It aims to prevent trafficking of
women and children for commercial sexual
exploitation through social mobilization and
involvement of local communities, awareness
generation programmes, etc.
 Swadhar: caters to primary needs of women
in difficult circumstances. The package of
services include provision for food, clothing,
shelter, health care, counselling and legal
support, social and economic rehabilitation
through education, awareness generation ,
skill upgradation.
 Swadhar Greh Scheme: Women victims of
difficult circumstances who are in need of
institutional support for rehabilitation are
being given help so that they could lead their
life with dignity.
 SHe-box Portal is an online platform to enable
women employees to file complaints related
to sexual harassment at the workplace.
 Sakhi is a one-stop centre for providing
medical, legal and rehabilitation facilities for
women subjected to any kind of violence.
 Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra:to
empower rural women through community
participation.
Legal protection of women against
domestic violence in India
 Protection of Women from Domestic
Violence Act 2005is an act to provide for
more effective protection of the rights of
Women guaranteed under the Constitution
who are victims of violence of any kind
occurring within the family and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
GLOBAL REPORT ON FOOD CRISES (GRFC) 2020
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 It is a consensus-based assessment of acute
food insecurity situations around the world
by 16 partner organizations.
Highlights
 With 135 million people in crisis, 2019 was
the highest in the four years of the GRFC‘s
existence.
P a g e | 21
 It aims to protect women from physical,
sexual, verbal, emotional and economic abuse
at home.
 Besides, in 1983, domestic Violence was
recognised as a specific criminal offence by
the introduction of section 498A into the
Indian penal code. This section deals with
cruelty by husband or his family towards a
married woman.
Way forward
 In India, the government seems to have
overlooked the need to formally integrate
domestic violence and mental health
repercussions into the public health
preparedness and emergency response
plans against the pandemic.
 There is a need for an aggressive nationwide
campaign to promote awareness about
domestic violence, and to highlight the
various modes through which complaints can
be filed.
 Citizens must be sensitised towards the
increased risks of domestic violence, and
bystanders and neighbours should be urged
to intervene if they suspect abuse, using
tactics such as the banging on the door or
ringing the bell.
 They should also be provided the benefit of
anonymity if they choose to report a case.
 Civil society organisations are critical to
providing assistance. Therefore, in its efforts
to combat COVID-19, the government must
allow civil society organisations, counsellors,
mental health organisations, and other service
providers to come to the aid of people facing
domestic violence.
 Reaching out to people facing domestic
violence and in distress needs to be classified
as an ‗essential service‟ by the government.
 When comparing the 50 countries that were in
both the2019 and the 2020 reports, the
population in Crisis or worse rose from 112
to 123 million.
 This reflected worsening acute food insecurity
in key conflict-driven crises, notably the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and South
Sudan and the growing severity of drought
and economic shocks as drivers in countries
such as Haiti, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

 Around 183 million people in 47 countries
were classified in Stressed conditions.
 An estimated 75 million stunted children
were living in the 55food-crisis countries
analysed.
Drivers of acute food insecurity
 Armed Conflicts/insecurity, inter-communal
violence other localized tensions were still the
main driver of food crises in 2019.
 Weather extremes and economic shocks
 Regional crises particularly in the Lake Chad
Basin and Central Sahel.
 The drivers of food crises, as well as lack of
access to dietary energy and diversity, safe
water, sanitation and healthcare will
continue to create high levels of child
malnutrition, whileCOVID-19 is likely to
overburden health systems.
P a g e | 22
Effect of COVID-19
 55 countries and territories that are home to
135 million acutely food-insecure people in
need of urgent humanitarian food and
nutrition assistance are the most vulnerable
to the consequences of this pandemic.
 Countries dependent on food imports, and oil
exports, tourism and remittances for income,
such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
are bound to suffer more.
 Impact on health and nutrition status –
particularly that of vulnerable groups.
 Increase in food prices through agricultural
labour shortages
 Adverse effect of protectionism policies.
 Negative effects on social and political
stability, creating the conditions for unrest
especially in the most vulnerable food crisis
countries.
Urgent need for action
 All actors need to mobilize and coordinate
along a set of operational and strategic
priorities.
 It is crucial to mobilize rapidly to safeguard
the livelihoods and related agri-food systems
in food-crisis countries and protect the
critical food supply chain.
 Given the unprecedented nature of the crisis,
creating a better understanding of the
potential impacts ofCOVID-19 on food
security and related vulnerabilities is of
paramount importance and urgency.
About the Global Network against Food
Crises
It was launched by the European Union, Food and
Agriculture Organisation and UN‘s World Food
Programme during the 2016 World Humanitarian
Summit (WHS) to respond to the call for new
approaches to tackle protracted crises and
recurrent disasters, reduce vulnerability, and
manage risk, by bridging the divide between
development and humanitarian partners.
World Food Programme (WFP)
 It is the food-assistance branch of the United
Nations and the world's largest
humanitarian organization
addressing hunger and promoting food
security.
 It is headquartered in Rome and works to
help people who cannot produce or obtain
enough food for themselves and their
families.

 It is a member of the United Nations
Development Group and part of its
executive committee
 WFP was established in 1961after the
1960 Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) Conference.
 The WFP strives to
eradicate hunger and malnutrition, with the
ultimate goal in mind of eliminating the need
for food aid itself.
India Specific
 India has enjoyed steady economic growth
and has achieved self-sufficiency in grain
production in recent years. Despite this, high
levels of poverty, food insecurity and
malnutrition persist.
 Around 21.25 percent of the population lives
on less than US$1.90 a day, and levels of
inequality and social exclusion are very high.
 India is home to a quarter of all
undernourished people worldwide, making
the country a key focus for tackling
hunger on a global scale.
 In the last two decades, per capita income
more than tripled, yet the minimum dietary
intake fell. The gap between rich and poor
increased during this period of high economic
growth.
Government Initiatives
 National Food Security Mission
 It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
 Targets - Production of rice, wheat and
pulses would be increased by 10, 8, 4
million tonnes respectively and Coarse
cereals by 3 million tonnes.
 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
 RKVY has been approved to continue as
RKVY- Remunerative Approaches for
Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation
(RKVY-RAFTAAR) for three years i.e. 2017-
18 to 2019-20.
 The scheme will incentivize States in
enhancing more allocation to Agriculture
to achieve 4% growth rate.
 It will provide considerable flexibility and
autonomy to states in planning and
executing programmes for investment in
agriculture and allied sectors.
P a g e | 23
 Integrated Schemes on Oilseeds, Pulses,
Palm oil and Maize
 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
 It is to provide comprehensive insurance
coverage against crop loss.
 Premium rate - There is no capping in
premium and one premium rate on pan-
India basis. It is 1.5%, 2% and 5% for all
Rabi, Kharif and annual
horticultural/commercial crops,
respectively.
 There is no upper limit on the government
subsidy i.e the difference between
premium and insurance charges paid by
the farmer.
 Food fortification
 The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
 It aims to provide subsidized food grains
to approximately 2/3rdof India's
population i.e 75% in rural areas and 50%
in urban areas will be covered under
TPDS, with uniform entitlement of 5
kg/person/month.
 It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, ICDS
scheme, the PDS and also recognizes
maternity entitlements.
 Under NFSA, each beneficiaries is entitled
to 5 kilograms of food grains per month
at Rs. 3, Rs. 2 , Rs. 1 per kg for rice, wheat
and coarse grains respectively.
 NFSA also guarantees age appropriate
meal, free of charge through local
anganwadi for children up to 6 months
and one free meal for children in age
group 6-14 years in schools.
 Every pregnant and lactating mother is
entitled to a free meal at the local
anganwadi as well as maternity benefits of
Rs.6,000 in instalments.
 Poshan Abhiyan/National Nutrition Mission
 PM‗s Overarching Scheme for Holistic
Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyan is a
flagship programme to improve
nutritional outcomes for children,
pregnant women and lactating mothers.
 It targets to reduce stunting, under
nutrition, anaemia and reduce low birth
weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum
respectively.

GLOBAL REPORT ON INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT (GRID2020)
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 Nearly five million people were displaced in
India in 2019 — the highest in the world so
far — according to the Internal Displacement
Monitoring Centre (IDMC) report titled ‗The
Global Report on Internal Displacement
(GRID2020)‘.
 IDMC is a part of the Norwegian Refugee
Council.
Highlights
 Globally, around 33.4 million people faced
new internal displacements because of
conflicts and disasters in about 145
countries in 2019.
 The displacements in India increased due to
hazard intensity, high population and social
and economic vulnerability.
EPIDEMICS DISEASE ACT
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 Following the COVID-19 pandemic the Cabinet
Secretary of India announced that all states
and Union territories should invoke
provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic
Diseases Act, 1897.
1. An outbreak is a sudden rise in the cases of
a disease in a particular place.
2. An epidemic is a large outbreak among a
particular population or region.
3. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a
new disease. There is no specific number of
countries that a disease must touch for WHO
to classify it as a pandemic.
History of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act
 The colonial government introduced it to
tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that
had spread in the erstwhile Bombay
Presidency in the 1890s.
 Using powers conferred by the Act, colonies
authorities would search suspected plague
cases in homes and among passengers, with
P a g e | 24
 More than 2.6 million people suffered
displacement due to the southwest
monsoon.
 In addition to displacement due to natural
disasters, political and electoral violence,
unrests and communal violence also
contribute.
Finding solutions
 Greater level of political commitment is
required to improve countries‘ policy
frameworks on internal displacement.
 Strengthened capacity across humanitarian
and development sectors manifested in
better coordination and increased investment.
 Improvements in the quantity and quality of
data available to enable better reporting and
analysis, which in turn improves effective
responses and risk mitigation measures.
forcible segregations, evacuations, and
demolitions of infected places.
 Historians have criticised the act for its
potential for abuse.
 The act has been routinely used to contain
various diseases in India such as swine flu,
cholera, malaria and dengue.
 In 2018, the act was enforced as cholera
began to spread in a region of Gujarat.
 In 2015, it was used to deal with dengue and
malaria in Chandigarh and in 2009 it was
invoked in Pune to combat swine flu.
Provisions of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases
Act
 It aims to provide “for the better prevention
of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic
Diseases”.
 It‘s Section 2 empowers state
governments/UTs to take special measures
and formulate regulations for containing the
outbreak.
 Power to take special measures and prescribe
regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease:
When at any time the State Government is

satisfied that the State is threatened with, an
outbreak of any epidemic disease it may take
such measures as it shall deem necessary to
prevent the outbreak of such disease or the
spread thereof.
 Powers of Central Government: When the
Central Government is satisfied that India is
threatened with outbreak of epidemic it may
take measures and prescribe regulations for
the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or
arriving at any port.
 Penalty: Any person disobeying any regulation
or order made under this Act shall be deemed
to have committed an offence punishable
under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code
1860.
 Protection to persons acting under Act: No
suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against
any person for anything done or in good faith
intended to be done under this Act.
2020 Ordinance
 During the current COVID-19 pandemic, there
have been instances of the most critical
service providers being targeted and attacked
by miscreants, thereby obstructing them from
doing their duties.
CYTOKINE STORM SYNDROME
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 Evidence is emerging that a subset of the
infected patients develop severe COVID-19
because of an overreaction of their immune
systems, which triggers what is known as a
―cytokine storm syndrome‖ (CSS).
 While various studies have shown that the
disease has more severe consequences for
those above the age of 60 years, and
especially those with existing co morbidities.
What is the cytokine storm and how is it
triggered?
 The immune systems in our bodies protect us
from bacteria, viruses, and parasites by
removing them from systems.
 It gets activated by things that the body does
not recognise as its own. These things are
called antigens, and include bacteria, fungi
and viruses.
 An effective immune system response
involves inflammation, an important and
indispensable part of the process.
P a g e | 25
 Several States have enacted special laws to
offer protection to doctors and other medical
personnel in the past.
 The Union Cabinet approved promulgation of
an Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases
Act, 1897.
 Which aims to protect healthcare service
personnel and property including their
living/working premises against violence
during epidemics.
 It provides for making such acts of violence
cognizable and non-bailable offences and
for compensation.
 Violence as defined in the Ordinance will
include harassment and physical injury and
damage to property.
 Commission or abetment of such acts of
violence shall be punished with imprisonment
for a term of three months to five years, and
with fine of Rs.50,000/- to Rs.2,00,000/-.
 Offences shall be investigated by an officer of
the rank of Inspector within a period of 30
days, and trial has to be completed in one
year, unless extended by the court for reasons
to be recorded in writing.
 The release of inflammatory mediators
increases the blood flow to the area, which
allows larger numbers of immune system
cells to be carried to the injured tissue,
thereby aiding the repairing process.
 However, if this inflammatory response is
not regulated, very dangerous consequences
can follow.
 This is when a „cytokine storm‟ can be
triggered.
 The damage to the surrounding cells can be
catastrophic, leading to sepsis and
potentially, death.
What is the role of cytokines in the immune
system?
 Cytokines are signalling proteins that are
released by cells in high concentrations.
 A severe immune reaction, leading to the
secretion of too many cytokines in the
bloodstream, can be harmful since an excess
of immune cells can attack healthy issue as
well.

 A cytokine storm can occur due to an
infection, auto-immune condition, or other
diseases. It is not exclusive to corona virus
patients.
How CSS does impacts a COVID-19 patient?
 It is associated with a surge of activated
immune cells into the lungs, which, instead
of fighting off the antigen, leads to lung
STATE OF THE WORLD’S NURSING
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 As healthcare workers lead the fight against
the coronavirus pandemic gripping the world,
their working conditions have been under
greater scrutiny.
 Nurses play a critical role in healthcare sector
comprising the largest component of health
professionals, at over 59 per cent.
 WHO, along with the International Council
of Nurses (ICN) and the Nursing Now
campaign, released a report titled, ―State of
the World‘s Nursing‖.
 This highlights that work nurses do is critical
in fulfilling national and global targets related
to universal health care, mental health, non-
communicable diseases, emergency
preparedness and response, among others
such goals.
Areas of concern
 Globally, by 2030, there will be a shortage of
over 5.7 million nurses worldwide.
 The report also notes that the largest shortfall
in absolute numbers is in the South-East
Asian region, while in the Americas and
Europe, the problem is different since they
are facing an ageing nursing workforce.
 Moreover, a number of high-income countries
are ―exclusively‖ dependent on migrant
nurses.
COVID-19 CONTAINMENT PLAN
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 It is essentially an updated version of an
earlier Health Ministry blueprint that was
P a g e | 26
inflammation and fluid build-up, and
respiratory distress.
 It can result in acute lung injury and acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
 If the clinical features of CSS are not
recognised and adequate treatment is not
promptly instituted, multiple organ failure
can result.
Suggestion
 Governments are to invest in nursing
education, jobs and leadership.
 Some of these measures include remunerating
nurses according to the prevalent local,
national and international labour market
conditions.
How do nurses contribute to patient
safety?
 Overall, nurses are important in ensuring the
quality of care delivered to a patient,
preventing and controlling infections and
combating antimicrobial resistance.
State of Nursing in India
 As of 2018, there were over 1.56 million
nurses in India.
 Within the health workforce, nurses comprise
47 per cent of the medical staff, followed by
doctors (23.3 per cent), dentists (5.5 per cent)
and pharmacists (24.1per cent).
 Further, an overwhelming majority of the
nurses are women — 88 per cent in India.
 The report also highlights India‘s current
expenditure on healthcare, which is 3.5per
cent of its GDP of over $1960 per capita, as
of 2017.
drawn up when the only COVID-19 cases were
those coming from abroad.

What are the components of the
containment plan?
 The plan outlines a strategic approach based
on the stage of transmission.
 Five stages have been identified —
 Travel-related case reported in India;
 Local transmission;
 Large outbreaks amenable to
containment;
 Widespread community transmission;
 India becoming endemic for COVID-19.
What is the approach recommended for the
various stages?
 Containment of local transmission hinges on
extensive contact tracing and search for cases
in the containment zone, testing all suspect
cases and high-risk contacts, and isolating all
suspect or confirmed cases; quarantining
contacts; and social distancing.
 For larger outbreaks, there is higher focus on
a particular geographic zone and hospitals
around the area are prepared for a rise in
cases.
 In addition, all a symptomatic healthcare
workers are to be given hydroxychloroquine
as a preventive.
How are confirmed and suspected cases to
be dealt with?
 All suspect/confirmed COVID-19 cases will be
hospitalized and kept in isolation in
COVID-19: ROLE OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 After accusing World Health Organization
(WHO) over its handling of the COVID-19 and
its bias towards China, President Trump
halted the WHO funding.
WHO funding
 It is funded by a large number of countries,
philanthropic organisations, United Nations
organisations etc.
 Voluntary donations from member
states contribute 35.41%,
 Assessed contributions are 15.66%,
 Philanthropic organisations account for
9.33%,
 Un organisations contribute about 8.1%;
 The rest comes from myriad sources.
P a g e | 27
dedicated COVID-19 hospitals/hospital
blocks.
 Persons testing positive for COVID-19 will
remain hospitalized till such time as two of
their samples are tested negative as per
discharge policy.
 To reduce the burden on hospitals, there is a
plan to temporarily convert hotels/hostels/
guesthouses/ stadiums near a COVID-19
hospital as care centres where mild cases may
be kept.
 For more severe cases requiring respiratory or
other support, tertiary care centres both
private and government will be included as
part of the micro plan.
Is the protocol varies based on severity?
 The Health Ministry has issued directions for
categorisation of designated facilities into
three groups — COVID care centres, COVID
health centres and dedicated COVID
hospitals.
 The care centres will be for cases clinically
assigned as mild or very mild, or suspected
cases.
 The health centres are hospitals that will offer
care for all cases that have been clinically
assigned as moderate.
 The dedicated hospitals will offer
comprehensive care, primarily for those
clinically assigned as severe.
 The US contributes almost 15% of the WHO‘s
total funding and almost 31% of the member
states‘ donations, the largest chunk in both
cases.
 India contributes 1% of member states‟
donations.
 Countries decide how much they pay and may
also choose not to.
Importance of WHO funds
 The WHO is involved in various
programmes. For example, polio eradication,
increasing access to essential health and
nutrition services, vaccine preventable
diseases and prevention and control of
outbreaks.

 The annual programme of work is passed by
WHO‘s decision-making body, the World
Health Assembly.
 The decision on which country gets how
much depends on the situation in the
countries.
 The WHO‘s 13th General Programme of Work
(2019-23) lays down: “Unequal development in
different countries in the promotion of health
and control of diseases, especially
communicable diseases, is a common danger.”
How involved is WHO in India?
 India became a party to the WHO Constitution
on January 12, 1948.
 The WHO India Country Cooperation Strategy
(CCS) 2019-2023 has been developed jointly
by the Health Ministry and the WHO India
country office.
 WHO has been a key partner in the
immunisation programme, tackling TB and
neglected diseases such as leprosy and
kalaazar and nutrition programmes across
states.
MIGRANTS ISSUE DURING COVID-19
GS-II SOCIAL ISSUES
Context
 Covid-19 has led to an induced migrant crisis.
Features of internal migrants
 They predominantly migrate from villages to
cities;
 They are low-income populations who work in
the informal sector; and
 Have not permanently relocated their families
to the city. Instead, they circulate between
villages and cities several times a year.
Challenges
 An inability to recognise the size and
importance of these communities.
 National Sample Survey found the all-India
rate of short-term migration to be 1.7% in
rural areas, and less than 1% in urban
areas.
 However, circular migrants dominate
employment sectors such as construction
labour. At present, 35 million workers are
registered under various construction
welfare boards, a number which by itself
is nearly 3% of the population.

P a g e | 28
How have WHO and India worked together
in the COVID-19 pandemic?
 WHO has been working closely with Ministry
of Health and various state governments on
preparedness and response measures for
COVID-19, including:
 Surveillance and contact tracing;
 Laboratory and research protocols;
 Risk communications;
 Hospital preparedness;
 Training on infection prevention and
control and cluster containment plan.
Criticism of WHO
 While most countries closed down air travel at
the first stage, the WHO for a long time took a
stand against travel and trade restrictions on
China.
 According to senior officials in the National
Centre for Disease Control, in January when
cases were piling up in China, there was a
meeting in Delhi in which WHO officials
brushed aside government concerns saying
there is no human to human transmission.
 Informal conditions in which they live and
work, and their shuttling between their
villages and cities.
 These traits reduce the chances of
accessing migrant respondents through
standard residence-based surveys.
 This inability has real costs, rendering
governments ill-prepared to anticipate the
responses of migrant communities at
crucial moments.
 Policymakers were unprepared for the
speed and desperation with which these
migrants attempted to return home
following the lockdown order.
Reasons for migration during COVID-19
 The majority had no family members living
with them. In the city, they lived in cramped
and usually illegally rented rooms or slept on
footpaths.
 Very few held ration cards registered in the
city.

 They earn low wages, and remit most of their
savings, leaving little to cushion them if work
stops.
 This precariousness is furthered by the
hostile treatment they receive from urban
authorities, especially the police since they
sleep in public streets, squares, and
footpaths.
Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act (ISMW),
1979
 It was drawn up after repealing the Orissa
Dadan Labour Act, 1975. It defines inter-State
migrant workman as any person who is
recruited by or through a contractor.
 This definition keeps away any migrant
workman out of the ambit if he is not brought
in through a licensed contractor.
 Furthermore, the Act is only applicable to any
establishment in which five or more inter-
State migrant workmen are employed.
 Unorganised Workers‟ Social Security
(UWSS) Act, 2008: was enacted to provide for
social security and welfare of unorganised
workers. The Act defines unorganised
workers as home-based worker, self-employed
worker or wage worker in the unorganised
sector.
Government Initiatives
 PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana aims at
providing health cover.
 Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan: It is a
pension scheme for the unorganised sector
workers with monthly income of up to Rs
15,000. It promises to provide assured
pension of Rs 3,000 per month from the age
of 60 years, in return for making a monthly
contribution of a nominal sum during the
working age. The scheme will cover 10 crore
workers in the unorganised sector in the first
5 years, making it one of the largest pension
schemes in the world.
 Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate
Karyakram: The scheme is launched to
provide conducive environment for industrial
development. Various initiatives under the
scheme includes – ShramSuvidha Portal,
Unique labour identification number (LIN),
Universal Account Number (UAN).
 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana: aimed
at providing accidental insurance cover at a
very affordable premium of Rs.12/year. The
coverage available will be Rs.2 lakh for
P a g e | 29
accidental death or permanent total disability
and Rs.1 lakh for permanent partial disability.
The Scheme will be available to people in the
age group 18 to 70 years with a savings bank
account who give their consent to join and
enable auto-debit on an annual renewal basis.
 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana: It
offers coverage for death due to any reason
and is available to people in the age group of
18 to 50 years. A life cover of Rs. 2 lakhs is
available for a one year period at a premium
of Rs.330/- per annum per member and is
renewable every year.
Way Forward
 Recognition of circular migrants as part of
India‘s urban population.
 A policy centred on getting migrants home
should prioritise dedicated transport options
to prevent overcrowding, especially along
high-intensity migration corridors.
 It will also require a set of protocols within
villages for isolating migrants in a manner
that is neither unsafe nor stigmatising.
 Reconfiguring the domicile-centric public
distribution system can help migrants. But
most important, states must soften their view
of migrants as a law and order problem, an
attitude that has been all too clear during this
crisis.
 There is a need to rework a strategy for them
and to ensure a better legal framework, which
doesn‘t leave them high and dry yet again
during tough situations.
 Repealing of the ISMW Act, 1979 forthwith
and replacing it with a new Act.
 Universalisation of registration and issuance
of Aadhaar-based UWIN (Unique Worker‘s
Identification No.) ought to be done.
 Schemes like MNREGA, PDS and Ujjwala need
to be made portable.
 A comprehensive database of the migrant
workers‘ source and destination, demography,
employment patterns and skill sets would not
only help in skill development and providing
for social security benefits, but would also be
useful in planning for mass transit of migrant
labour, and preparing for any contingency
plan in abnormal situations.
 The Inter-State Council, set up under Article
263 of the Constitution, may be a more
appropriate forum to effectively and
comprehensively deal with larger issues
related to migrant workmen.
 P a g e | 30

YEMEN CRISIS
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context  These weaknesses of government helped the
 Yemen‘s Southern Transitional Council (STC) Houthi rebels to take control of Saada
announced that it would establish self-rule in province and neighboring areas. Rebels
areas under its control. gradually took over the capital Sanaa by 2015.
 Houthi rebels belong to the Shia community.
About Yemen Saudi lead Sunni countries claim that revels
 The Republic of Yemen is a country at the are backed by Iran.
southern end of the Arabian  Southern Transitional Council (STC) was
Peninsula in Western Asia. formed in 2017 with the help and support of
 Bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the UAE to begin the process of overthrowing
the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Internationally recognized Hadi‘s rule over
Aden and Guardafui Channel to the south, the Southern parts.
and Oman to the east.  Riyadh agreement was signed between STC
 Yemen is a member of the Arab and Hadi‘s government to cooperate with
League, United Nations, Non-Aligned each other. However, agreements didn‘t yield
Movement, and the Organisation of Islamic the results.
Cooperation.  Now STC announced that it would establish
 Religion in Yemen consists of two self-rule in areas under its control.
principal Islamic religious groups: Sunni  Currently,3 players are fighting for the region
(55%) and Shia (45%). I. Hadi’s Government: that is internationally
recognized, Saudi backed.
II. Southern Transitional Council (STC): Backed
by UAE.
III. Houthi rebels: Indirectly supported by Iran.

Arab spring
 The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government
protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that
spread across much of the Arab world in the early
2010s.
 It began in response to oppressive regimes and a
low standard of living.
 It started in Tunisia and later spread across
Arabic-speaking countries in North Africa and the
Middle East.

Houthi rebels
 The Houthis are formally known as "Partisans of
God".
 They follow Shiite (Shia) Islam and claim to fight
Background of the crisis against the Sunni lead government to acquire
 The conflict started in 2010 during the Arab power in Yemen.
Spring uprising, which forced Yemen‘s  Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and its allies, including
longtime authoritarian president, Ali the U.S., claim that Houthi rebels are financially
and militarily supported by Shiite-ruled Iran.
Abdullah Saleh to hand over power to his
However, Iran denies this claim.
deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
 Mr. Hadi lead government struggled to deal
with problems such as terrorism, the Impact of this crisis on Yemen
separatist movement in southern Yemen,  Deaths/ fatalities : The UN had verified the
corruption, unemployment and food deaths of at least 7,500 civilians by
insecurity, etc. September 2019.

 Health issues: Thousands of civilians have
died from other preventable diseases and
poor health.
 Food shortages and Famine: Some 20 million
people need help securing food, according to
the UN.
 Malnutrition: The World Food Programme
says half of Yemen's children under five are
stuned (too short for their age).
On Gulf countries
 Increase in terrorism: Uncertainty in the
region has lead to the entry of ISIS and al-
Qaeda in the region.
 Power struggle: The conflict is also seen as
part of a regional power struggle between
Shia-ruled Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia.
 The conflict between the friends: The United
Arab Emirates has backed the STC. This move
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 The US claimed that China and Russia might
have conducted the nuclear test, which is
against Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty.
What does the new report say?
 The “Adherence to and Compliance with
Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and
Disarmament Agreements and
P a g e | 31
has the potential to create tensions between
two close Gulf allies against one another.
 Impact on oil production and tourism:
Recent Missile attacks on Saudi oil companies
affected the revenues of Gulf countries.
On India and the rest of the world
 Hindrance to trade route: Yemen has located
strategically important strait the Red Sea with
the Gulf of Aden, through which much of the
world's shipments pass.
 Oil crisis: Crisis in the region greatly affects
oil availability and prices.
India and Yemen
 India had actively supported Yemen‘s
independence from the British.
 India was the third-largest importer of
Yemeni goods and fifth largest exporter to
Yemen (Statistics 2012).
 There is a strong 200,000 (approx.)Indian
origin Diaspora in Yemen.
Way forward
 The current situation in the region looks like
tripartite fighting of Saudi, UAE, and Iran with
their virtuals.
 The need of the hour is to call all the
stakeholders to the negotiation table under
UN and neutral parties like India to initiate a
peace process.
Additional Gyan
 Operation Raahat was launched by Indian
Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and
foreign nationals from Yemen during the
2015 military intervention by Saudi Arabia
and its allies in Yemen during the Yemeni
Crisis.
Commitments‖, report raised concerns that
China might be conducting nuclear tests with
low yields at its Lop Nur test site.
 It also claimed that Russia has conducted
nuclear weapons experiments that produced a
nuclear yield.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
(CTBT)
 It is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear
explosions, for both civilian and military
purposes in all environments.
 The CTBT is a "zero-yield" treaty, meaning
that it prohibits all nuclear explosions that
produce a self-sustaining, supercritical
chain reaction.
 Under the CTBT, supercritical "hydro
nuclear" tests (which produce a self-
sustaining fission chain reaction) are banned,
but subcritical "hydrodynamic" experiments,
which do not produce a self-sustaining fission
chain reaction, are permitted.
 It was negotiated at the Conference on
Disarmament in Geneva and adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly in 1996 but
has not entered into force. 184 countries have
signed it and 168 countries have ratified it.
 India proposed CTBT as a disarmament
framework. However, the idea did not find
acceptance. In June 1996, India decided to
withdraw from the negotiations.
Reasons for failure
Lack of long-term vision
 It prevents new countries to enter the nuclear
race. However, it will not prevent the
countries that already have nuclear arms to
not use a nuclear weapon.
 Hence, CTBT without disarmament
commitment has little significance.
Non-ratification
 CTBT did not come into force yet because
Five States China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, and the
United States yet to ratify the treaty.
P a g e | 32
 India, North Korea, and Pakistan have not
yet signed it.
Mutual suspicion
 China claims that it will ratify the treaty only
after the US ratification. Same way, Pakistan
claimed to sign the treaty only after the
signature of India.
Post treaty tests
 Three countries have carried out nuclear
explosions after 1996. India and Pakistan in
1998, and North Korea multiple times.
 Now US claimed that Russia and China also
carried the tests.
Difference between signature and ratification
 The signature to a treaty indicates that the
country accepts the treaty. It commits not to
take any actions that would undermine the
treaty‘s purposes.
 Whereas, ratification symbolizes the official
sanction of a treaty to make it legally binding,
which involves adoption by the legislature of a
country such as the parliament.
India and CTBT
 India fora long time argued for the complete
elimination of nuclear weapons.
 India finds CTBT as discriminatory.
 Recently, CTBTO has been requesting India to
join the organization as an observer without
any obligations. However, India has not taken
any firm decision on the same.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Organization (CTBTO)
 CTBTOPreparatory Commission was
established for bringing this treaty into force.
 It is tasked with
 verifying the ban on nuclear tests and
 runs the ‗international monitoring system’,
which detects and dissects nuclear tests.
Conclusion
 New claims increase the tension between the
US and China. It may again initiate the nuclear
race in the world.
 CTBTO as a chief monitoring organization
should investigate the issue and check the
realities of the claims.
 India as a responsible country should involve
in CTBTO as an observer and make sure that
our long term vision i.e. completes phasing of
nuclear weapons will be realized.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 India opposed the IMF's plans to offer foreign
exchange support to countries due to the
corona virus pandemic.
About Special Drawing Rights (SDR)
 The Special Drawing Right (SDR) is an
international reserve asset (basket of
currency) created by the IMF to supplement
other reserve assets of member countries.
 SDR will be allocated to member countries
according to their quotas in the IMF. SDRs
cannot be held or used by private parties.
 Once allocated, members can hold their SDRs
as part of their international reserves or use
them for different purposes.
Value of SDR
 SDR is not a currency. It‘s value is based on
a basket of five international currencies
comprising the U.S. dollar, Japanese yen,
euro, pound sterling, and Chinese Renminbi.
 Different weights assigned to each currency
in the basket is reviewed every 5 years.
 The value of the SDR is not directly
determined by supply and demand in the
market. It is set daily by the IMF based on
market exchange rates between the currencies
included in the SDR basket.
Background
 The IMF opinion that SDR may be allocated to
meet the long-term global need to
supplement existing reserve assets.
 It has the authority under its Articles of
Agreement to create unconditional liquidity
through "general allocations" of SDRs.
P a g e | 33
However, India opposed the idea of the
unconditional allocation of SDR to member
countries.
Arguments in favor of India’s stand
 Possibility of misuse: India concerned that
such a major liquidity injection could produce
potentially costly side effects if countries
used the funds for other purposes.
 Utilization of local resources: During present
tough times, countries must rely on the
national reserves as a first line of defense.
 Uncertainty of results: It is not clear if the
allocation of SDR will give the desired results.
 Experience: For instance, Venezuela used SDR
last year to make payments to a neighboring
official creditor. India fears that the allocation
of money may be misused by hostile
countries like Pakistan.
Arguments against India’s stand
 Extraordinary situation: In current
extraordinary situation, SDR allocation is the
need of the hour
 Experience: Cumulative allocations to about
SDR 204 billion were released during the
2008-09 financial crises.
What is Foreign exchange reserves?
 Foreign exchange reserves are cash and other
reserve assets held by a central bank of the
country.
 Foreign exchange reserves include foreign
banknotes, foreign bank deposits, foreign
treasury bills, and short and long-term
foreign government securities, as well as gold
reserves, SDRs and IMF reserve positions.
 These reserves are majorly used to maintain
the exchange rates, address balance of
payment crisis.
Conclusion
 Members of IMF countries should discuss the
possibilities to overcome the challenge.
 To address the concerns of India, each
country should be made accountable for the
utilization of SDR. Such data should be
available to each other member countries.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY AND
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (IMFC)
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs
attended the Plenary Meeting of the
International Monetary and Financial
Committee through videoconference.
Highlights of the discussions
 The discussions at the meeting were based on
the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Managing Director's Global Policy Agenda
titled, 'Exceptional Times - Exceptional
Action'.
 The members of the IMFC updated the
committee on the actions and measures taken
by member countries to combat COVID-19
and the IMF's crisis-response package to
address global liquidity problems.
About IMFC
 The IMFC is the ministerial-level committee
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
 Composition: IMFC consists of 24 members
among the members of the IMF. India is one
of the current members.
 Meetings: The IMFC meets twice a year.
 Responsibility
o The committee discusses matters of
common concern affecting the global
economy
o It advises the IMF on the direction of its
work.
About the IMF
 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an
international organization established in
1944.
Objectives
 Foster global monetary cooperation
 Secure financial stability
 Facilitate international trade
 Promote high employment and sustainable
economic growth
 Reduce poverty around the world
Formation
 The IMF was formed at a UN conference in
Bretton Woods, United States, in July 1944.
Membership
 IMF Members: Any other state, whether or
not a member of the UN, may become a
member of the IMF in accordance with IMF
Articles of Agreement.
P a g e | 34
 Currently, there are 189 member countries to
the IMF.
Quota subscription of IMF
 After joining the IMF, each member country
contributes a certain sum of money, called a
quota subscription, which is based on the
country‗s wealth and economic performance.
 Members voting power is directly related to
their quotas.
 Quota Formula - It is a weighted average of
o GDP (weight of 50 percent)
o Openness (30 percent),
o Economic variability (15 percent),
o International reserves (5 percent).
Criticism on IMF
 The dominance of Developed Countries:
Western countries put more pressure to get
the trade controls removed so that their trade
may flourish.
 Limited Scope: IMF only deals with the
imbalance of payments that arises out of
current trade transactions. However, it fails to
make adjustments in repayments of war loans
or with exports and imports of capital.
 Indifferent treatment: IMF is only a ―Rich
countries Club‖ as it ignores the interests of
underdeveloped countries.
 Unscientific Fixation of Quotas: Less
developed countries have very little say.
 Failure to Tackle the Problem of Dollar
System: Despite the great dollar shortage felt
by other countries, the IMF failed to declare
the dollar a scarce currency.

 No Provision for Automatic Revaluation of
Currency: IMF provides no appreciation or
revaluation of the country‗s currency when
the country enjoys a chronic favorable
balance of payment.
 Dominance of developed countries over the
executive body. India has expressed
disappointment over "the lack of adequate
support for a quota increase under the15th
General Review of Quotas".
REPORT ON REMITTANCES
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 World bank predicts sharpest decline of
remittances in recent history
About the report
 Released by: World Bank Group
 Estimations of the report:
 Globally: Remittances are projected to decline
by a record 20% this year from a high of over
$714.2 billion in 2019.
 India: Remittances to India are projected to
fall by 23% to $64 billion.
Reasons for the decline in remittances
 COVID 19: lead to migrants jobs losses and
drop in wages.
 Oil price crash: Decline in crude prices will
hurt remittances from oil-producing countries
P a g e | 35
IMF and India
 India benefitted a lot from the expansion of
international trade led by the IMF.
 IMF rescued India from the balance of
payments deficits by granting loans to
overcome the financial difficulties in times of
Indo–Pak conflict of 1965 and 1971; 1981,
foreign exchange crisis; 1991 Indian
economic crisis etc.
 India had played a creditable role in
determining the policies of the Fund. This
has increased India’s prestige in the
international circles.
such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates.
Remittances and India
 Remittance is a transfer of money, by
a foreign worker to an individual in their
home country.
 Workers' remittances are a significant part of
international capital flows, especially with
regard to labor-exporting countries.
 Due to its large diaspora and overseas NRI
population, India consecutively remains the
top receiver of remittance.
 India received US$80 billion in 2018 (World‘s
top remittance recipient), US$65.3 billion
(2.7% of India's GDP) in 2017, US$62.7 billion
in 2016 , and US$70 billion in 2014.
 P a g e | 36

 The International Development Association

(IDA)
o Offers concessional loans and grants to

the world's poorest developing

Significance of remittances to India countries.
 Balances current account deficits: o IBRD and IDA are collectively known as
Remittances help India‘s foreign the World Bank
exchange reserves and help fund its current  The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
account deficit. o Offers investment, advisory, and asset
 Social improvement management services to
o It helps to finance household and family encourage private-sector development
expenses of the country. in less developed countries.
o It helps to improve nutritional outcomes  The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
and investments in higher education. (MIGA)
 Creates investment: Hence, boosts the o Protect foreign direct
economy. investments against political and non-
 Less uncertainty: Unlike Foreign Direct commercial risks in developing coun-
Investments, remittances are not suddenly tries through political risk insurance and
withdrawn. credit enhancement guarantees.
 The International Centre for Settlement of
World Bank group Investment Disputes (ICSID).
 Structure & Functions: The World Bank o It helps in legal dispute resolution
Group (WBG) is a family of five international and conciliation between international
organizations. investors.
 The International Bank for Reconstruction  Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,
and Development (IBRD)  Mission: To achieve the twin goals of ending
o Established by delegates at the Bretton extreme poverty and building shared
Woods Conference in 1944 prosperity.
o As the lending arm of World Bank Group,  India is one of the founder members of IBRD,
it offers loans to middle-income IDA, and IFC. India is a member of four
developing countries. organizations of the group except for ICSID.

INDIANS IN GCC COUNTRIES
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 The Gulf region is at the epicenter of crisis
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and oil price
meltdown.
The current situation in GCC countries
 COVID-19: The tourism sector, which
accounts for a substantial proportion of GDP,
is affected by travel restrictions.
 Oil prices crashed due to over-production
and lack of demand.
Impact of the crisis on India
 Improves current account: India being the
world‘s third-largest importer of crude, a
sharp and prolonged decline in oil prices
helps to balance the current account deficit.
 Reductions in investments: Current situation
will negatively affect the investments from
GCC countries.
 Loss of remittances: Non-oil companies in
the UAE are cutting jobs and this will creates
a reduction of remittances to India.
 Strained international relationships: The UAE
will review labor ties with countries that do
not evacuate stranded workers and
evacuating workers from the Gulf will be a
massive challenge as in UAE alone 3.5 million
Indian nationals are stranded.
 Chances of corona spread: Reports suggest
that the thousands who returned before the
lockdown have been vectors of transmission
in states like Kerala and Maharashtra.
 Loss of income &Unemployment: Change in
employment prospects in Gulf countries will
create pressure to find other sources of
income.
Significance of Gulf countries to India
 Energy security: The GCC accounts for 34
percent of India‘s oil imports; Qatar is a
dominant supplier of liquefied natural gas
imports.
 Remittances: GCC is a key source of
remittances for India. Expats in the Gulf
remitted about US$49 billion in 2019 that is
two percent of India‘s GDP and two-thirds of
total remittances to the country that year.
 Employment opportunity: GCC countries
host a large Indian expatriate community.
P a g e | 37
About 9.3 million Indians live and work in the
Gulf countries. About 70 percent of these are
unskilled workers.
 Trade and economics:
o The GCC is India‘s largest trading partner,
accounting for over US$120 billion in
trade flows in 2018-19. Two of India’s top
five trading partners, the UAE and Saudi
Arabia, are in the Gulf region.
o Indian companies have an active presence
in the GCC in a range of sectors, including
technology, construction, hospitality and
finance.
 Foreign Direct Investment: The GCC
countries invest heavily in Indian
infrastructure as well as in the private sector.
Saudi Aramco and ADNOC have signed a
US$44 billion deal to build a mega refinery in
Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
 Mutual co-operation:
o India and the GCC also cooperate on security
issues like defense manufacturing,
counterterrorism, cyber-security, and drug
trafficking.
o India has also cooperated with the Gulf
countries to manage global oil prices.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Purpose It is a regional inter governmental
political and economic union
consisting of all Arabstates of the
Persian Gulf except Iraq.
Established 1981
Headquarters Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, and the United Arab
Emirates
Important The presidency shifts among the six
points members based on the Arabic
alphabet.
Among the members
 Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain have
constitutional monarchies
 Saudi Arabia and Oman have
absolute monarchies
 United Arab Emirates has a
federal monarchy.

Issues and concerns with GCC
 Migrant issues:
o Exploitation of workers is a major issue.
However, steps have been taken to rectify
the situation, including implementing the
Wages Protection System in 2019 and
issuing various anti-discrimination
regulations.
o Oil price falls mean reduced hiring in
these countries, as well as large-scale
layoffs.
INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 April 1, 2020 is the 70th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between
India and China.
India-China relations
Historic relations
 Buddhism was transmitted from India to
China in the 1st century CE.
 Trade relations via the Silk Road acted as
economic contact between the two regions.
 From the 1st century onwards, many Indian
scholars and monks travelled to China
o Bodhidharma—founder
of Chan/Zen Buddhism.
 Same way, Chinese scholars and monks also
traveled to India,
o Xuanzang wrote the Great Tang Records
on the Western Regions, an account of
his journey to India.
P a g e | 38
 Pakistan factor: These countries belong to
the majority Sunni Muslims. Pakistan always
tries to manipulate the countries against
India.
 Terror funding: Some reports suggest that a
significant amount is donated by private
individuals to terror funding. Unfortunately,
many of these terror groups conduct anti-
Indian activities.
Conclusion
 Given the current constraints on repatriating
workers, India will have to act to protect the
interests of its citizens in the Gulf.
 Given the threats to future employment, India
will also need to assure the GCC countries of
its full cooperation to halt the spread of the
virus.
 The IMF‘s World Economic Outlook projects
oil prices at US$35 per barrel until 2021 and
US$45 in 2022. This is far below the break-
even price of most GCC nations. It may lead
to a prolonged contraction in trade and
investment from the region.
 Maintaining strong business and diplomatic
links throughout this phase is a need of the
hour to ensuring that India will be one of the
first to benefit when the fiscal situation
begins to normalize.
 The Cholas maintained a good relationship
with the Chinese.
Panchsheel Treaty
 Panchsheel are a set of principles to govern
relations between India and China.
 The Five Principles are listed as:
1. Mutual respect for each other's territorial
integrity and sovereignty,
2. Mutual non-aggression,
3. Mutual non-interference in each other's
internal affairs,
4. Equality and mutual benefit, and
5. Peaceful co-existence.
Political
 India-China relations established in 1950 and
evolved through the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence known as ―Panchsheel‖.
 "Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai" (Indians and Chinese
are brothers) resounded throughout our two
countries.

 Cold period: Relations between the countries
was reduced to the minimum in 1960s and
1970s due to the China attack on India in
1962. However, the late 1980s, both countries
successfully rebuilt diplomatic and economic
ties.
 After 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping and
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated
the "hometown diplomacy". Heads held two
informal summits in Wuhan and Chennai
respectively. These summits helped to carry
out strategic communication on overarching,
long-term and strategic issues of global and
regional importance, and strengthen the
partnership.
International Relations
 Both countries part of economic institutions
like G 20, World Trade Organization, World
Bank, IMF, Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank, Asian Development Bank etc.
 Both countries part of BRICS a group of
emerging economies.
Economic Relations
 Trade between the countries increased
exponentially from US$ 3 billion in 2000 to an
all-time high of US$ 95.54 billion in 2018.
 Exports: India‘s major export items included
cotton, copper and diamonds/ natural gems.
 Imports: Major Chinese exports include
machinery, telecom and power-related
equipment, organic chemicals, and fertilizers.
 Investments: China has been investing
significantly in Indian startups. The
companies, which have major Chinese
investments, are Big Basket, Delhivery, Dream
11, Flipkart, Hike, MakeMyTrip, Ola, Oyo etc.
P a g e | 39
Cultural
 India-China cultural exchanges date back to
many centuries and there is some evidence
that conceptual and linguistic exchanges
existed in 1500- 1000 B.C. between the Shang-
Zhou civilization and the ancient Vedic
civilization
 As a mark of the historical civilizational
contact between India and China, India
constructed a Buddhist temple in Luoyang,
Henan Province.
 Indian Bollywood movies are popular in
China.
 Yoga is becoming increasingly popular in
China. China was one of the co-sponsors to
the UN resolution designating June 21 as the
International Day of Yoga.
Areas of interests between India and China
 Regional peace and prosperity: Both
countries are regional superpowers.
Cooperation between the two can ensure
regional peace.
 Trade: China is India‘s largest trade partner.
Trade is the key driving mechanism of Indo-
China relations
 International forums: India and China are
two largest developing countries and
emerging economies, cooperation between the
two is essential to propose the cases of
developing countries in a developed world
dominated international forums like World
bank, IMF, Climate summits, etc.
 Reforming international organisations: Both
India and China stand on similar lines in the
World Trade Organization, WHO reformation.
 Counter-Terrorism: Terror in South Asia is a
threat to both India and China. Cooperation
of the countries very important to solve the
issue.
Areas of concerns between India and
China’
Border disputes
 India and China share about a 3,488-km long
border that is divided into 14 divisions.
 Aksai Chin of Ladakh: region has been
captured by China during the 1962 war. Both
countries argue for the region. Pakistan ceded
some region of Jammu and Kashmir to China.
India is claiming this region.
 Arunachal Pradesh: China lays claim over
90,000 sq km of Arunachal Pradesh calling it
South Tibet. This claim seems to be more a
bargaining point for China.

 The middle sector in Uttarakhand, China
stakes claim over an area of about 10,000 sq
km.
 Stapled Visas: In 2009, China began the
practice of issuing stapled visas to residents
of Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal
Pradesh, provoking a strong protest from
India.
 Doklam standoff in 2017 is the most recent
military border standoff between the Indian
Armed Forces and the People's Liberation
Army of China over the Chinese construction
of a road in Doklam near a tri junction border
area India, Bhutan, and China.
Tibetan conflict
 Tibet was an independent state until China
invaded Tibet in 1949-50.
 In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet and
established a government in
exile at Dharamsala in northern India.
 India considers Dalai Lama a spiritual leader
and an honored guest, China, on the other
hand, consider It as anti-China activism.
Pakistan Backing
 China-backed Pakistan continuously despite
the terror activities of Pakistan in India.
 China is building China-Pakistan-Economic-
Corridor (CPEC), which passes through the
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is against
India's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
P a g e | 40
Water dispute
 China plans to build several dams on the
upper reaches of the Brahmaputra. Despite
many negotiation calls from India, China
maintains secrecy over water usage of
Brahmaputra River.
 The Brahmaputra, which originates as
Tsangpo in Tibet, is one of the major water
resources in India‘s northeast, especially as a
source for irrigation and industry.
Trade deficit
 China is India‘s largest trade partner.
However, there is a huge trade imbalance
between the two countries, with the
imbalance skewed in China‘s favor.
 Chinese regulatory systems have made export
from India difficult. India has been requesting
to ease the regulatory mechanisms.
String of pearls
 China is expanding the sphere of geopolitical
influence in the Indian Ocean. India calls it as
―string of pearls".
 China developed many commercial ports in
various Indian ocean adjoining countries as
part of its new ―Silk Route" encircling India.
 These include Hambantota (Sri Lanka),
Gwadar (Pakistan), Chittagong (Bangladesh)
and Marao Atoll (Maldives).
Way forward
 India China relations are complex yet
essential for both countries.
 Peaceful co-existence is the need of the hour
as enshrined by the Panchasheel. Both
countries need to understand and enact the
same.
 Owing to the uncertainties involved with the
relationship with China, India should ensure
3-pronged strategies: track China’s
activities carefully; pursue its own projects
and commitments; and educate and advise
neighbors on the consequences of engaging
with China.
 P a g e | 41

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 India takes US to WTO's safeguard committee
for hiking duties on steel, aluminum
derivatives.
Most favored nation (MFN)
 MFN requires that a country act fairly
with all WTO member countries,
extending the same privileges and
immunities granted to one country to all
members.
 It advocates for non-discriminatory trade
policy, ensuring equal trading among all
WTO member nations.
Background
 In January 2020, the US issued a presidential
proclamation stating that steel and aluminum
derivatives would be subject to tariff increase.
 India considers this measure of the US to be a
safeguard measure within a provision of
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
1994, and the Agreement on Safeguards.
 The WTO said that India reserves the right to
raise additional issues and make further
factual arguments, without prejudice to any
other remedies provided under the
understanding on rules governing the
settlement of disputes.
WTO Committee on Safeguards
 A country can initiate safeguard measures
against the goods if serious injury or threat
caused by increased imports.
 Members should provide details of findings of
serious injury or threat caused by increased
imports; decisions to apply or extend
safeguard measures.
 The safeguard committee generally reviews
the members‘ notifications and makes
findings concerning the procedural provisions
of the Agreement for the application of
safeguard measures, in orderto assist with
consultations or proposed retaliation.
 Consultations and disputes arising under the
Agreement are to be conducted in accordance
with GATT 1994 as elaborated by the Dispute
Settlement Understanding.

World Trade Organization

Purpose Regulation of international trade between nations.
Established  1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement.
 The successor of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was in
place since 1948.
Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
Members  The process of becoming a WTO member is unique to each applicant country, and
the terms of accession are dependent upon the country's stage of economic
development and the current trade regime.
 The WTO has 164 members and 24 observer governments.
Voting The organization works on consensus. Each country carries equal single vote.
pattern
Functions  It oversees the implementation, administration, and operation of the covered
agreements
 It provides a forum for negotiations and for settling disputes (Read IAS Gazette
January 2020 page 25 for detailed mechanism).
Major  The Agreement on Agriculture came into effect with the establishment of the
agreements WTO at the beginning of 1995. The AoA has three central concepts, or "pillars":
domestic support, market access and export subsidies.
 The General Agreement on Trade in Services was created to extend the
multilateral trading system to service sector, in the same way as the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
 The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights sets
 P a g e | 42
down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property (IP) regulation.
 The Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade is an international treaty of the
World Trade Organization. It ensures that technical negotiations and standards, as
well as testing and certification procedures, do not create unnecessary obstacles to
trade"
 Bali Package aimed at lowering global trade barriers.
Criticism  Free Trade benefits developed countries more than developing countries.
 Local firm is not allowed to favor local contractorsunder Most favored nation
principle.It gives an unfair advantage to multinational companies and costs for
local firms.
 Environment. Free trade has often ignored environmental considerations.
 Failure to reduce tariffs on agriculture. Free trade is not equally sought across
different industries. Both the US and EU retain high tariffs on agriculture.
 The WTO is criticised for being undemocratic. It is argued that its structure
enables the richer countries to win what they desire.
 Slow progress. Trade rounds have been notoriously slow and difficult to reach an
agreement.
 Lack of judicial members in dispute settlement mechanism of WTO made it
toothless tiger.

The Agreement on Agriculture

 Three pillars: The Agreement on Agriculture constitutes of three pillars domestic support, market
access, and export subsidies.
Market Access
 This includes tariffication, tariff reduction and access opportunities.
 Tariffication means all non-tariff barriers such as quotas, variable levies, minimum import prices,
discretionary licensing, state trading measures, voluntary restraint agreements etc. need to be
abolished and converted into an equivalent tariff.
 Developing countries are required to reduce tariffs by 24% in 10 years. Developing countries as
having balance of payment problems were allowed to offer ceiling bindings instead of tariffication.
 Special safeguard provision allows the imposition of additional duties when there are either import
surges above a particular level or particularly low import prices.
Domestic support
 Total Aggregate Measure of Support (total AMS), should be reduced by 20% in developed countries
(13.3% in developing countries).
 It calls for reduction in domestic subsidies that distorts free trade and fair price
 Agricultural subsidies were grouped under three boxes-
o "Amber Box"-
 All domestic support measures considered to distort production and trade.
 These include measures to support prices, or subsidies directly related to production
quantities.
 These supports are subject to limits: ―de minimis‖ minimal supports are allowed (generally
5% of agricultural production for developed countries, 10% for developing countries
o "Blue Box"-
 This is the ―amber box with conditions‖
 Any support that would normally be in the amber box, is placed in the blue box if the
support also requires farmers to limit production.
 At present there are no limits on spending on blue box subsidies.
o "Green Box"
 In order to qualify, green box subsidies must not distort trade, or at most cause minimal
distortion. They have to be government-funded and must not involve price support.
 ―Green box‖ subsidies are allowed without limits, provided they comply with the policy-
specific criteria
Export Subsidies: The Agreement contains provisions regarding members commitment to reduce
Export Subsidies.

BRICS
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
attended a video conference of the foreign
ministers of BRICS.
BRICS
Purpose Association of five
major emerging national
economies.
Established 2009
Headquarters Shanghai, China.
Members  5 members
 Originally, the first four
were grouped as "BRIC" at
Yekaterinburg, Russia in
the first summit. Brazil,
Russia, India, China.
 South Africa joined in
2010.
Institutions under BRICS
New Development Bank
 It is a multilateral development bank
operated by the BRICS states.
 Bank was agreed to by BRICS leaders at the
5th BRICS summit held in Durban, South
Africa in 2013.
 It was established in 2014, at the 6th BRICS
Summit at Fortaleza, Brazil.
 The bank is set up to foster greater financial
and development cooperation among the five
emerging markets.
 It is headquartered in Shanghai, China.
 Each participant country will be assigned one
vote and none of the countries will have veto
power.
Contingency Reserve Arrangement:
 CRA was signed by BRICS nations in 2014 as
part of the Fortaleza Declaration at Sixth
BRICS summit.
 Contingency Reserve Arrangement, aimed at
ensuring liquidity for member-states when
they are confronted by short-term balance
of payment crises.
Issue of BRICS
 The dominance of the Chinese economy and
its role in trade relations makes the BRICS
much more a China-with-partners group than
a union of equal members.
P a g e | 43
 BRICS countries lack mutual economic
interests. BRICS nations trade with the US and
EU is 6.5 times higher compared to internal
trade. China‘s trade with the rest of the world
is 12.5 times higher.
 Members are too similar in some key areas.
All members (apart from Russia) hold huge
foreign reserves (15-35% of GDP) and have low
external debt (15% to 37% of GDP.) Apart from
Russia, they are heavily integrated into
consumer goods produced with the ‗West‘.
 BRICS nations compete in third markets. In
many areas, from clothing (China, India, and
Brazil), through economic influence in Africa
(China, South Africa and India) to
international aircraft and military equipment
markets (China, Russia and Brazil) BRICS
countries compete with one another.
 Diversity of cultures. Phases of economic
development, ideologies, definitions of
poverty and other cultural differences acts as
the hindrance for the unity of the grouping.
BRICS plus initiative
 BRICS Plus is a dialogue between BRICS
countries and other emerging markets
and developing countries.
 It aims at widening the BRICS "circle of
friends "and turning the partnership into
the most important platform for South-
South cooperation.
Significance of BRICS
 Represents five countries and four
continents: It consists of 43% of world
population, 22% of the total world GDP and
17%world trade share.
 Platform for addressing Global issues such
as IMF reforms, climate change, terrorism, etc.
from the perspective of emerging economies.
 Platform for addressing bilateral issues
among its members -In the past, India has
tried to use the Summit level meets for
resolving mistrust and complications with
China.
 BRICS outreach to Africa and BRICS Plus
formats: It presents an opportunity for
networking among different leaders.
 Variety of agendas under BRICS: It is also
working on issues like global governance

reforms, human rights issues and women
empowerment issues, etc.
 Multi-layered pragmatic cooperation has
been established in the fields, such as
economy and trade, finance, industry and
commerce, healthcare and twinned cities,
which have imposed great influence on the
international community.
Way Forward
 BRICS should address the asymmetry of
power within the group and promote the
comprehensive development of all states by
enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation
among them based on shared interests.
 It should try to contribute towards
maintaining international stability and
ensuring global economic growth and
ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
GS-II INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context
 The organisation of Islamic Cooperation
criticized India saying Islamophobia is rising
in India.
About OIC
 The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an
international organization founded in 1969.
Members
 Total members: 57.
 53 of them are Muslim-majority countries.
Headquarters
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Responsibilities
 Acts as the collective voice of the Muslim
world.
 Work to safeguard and protect the interests
of the Muslim world in the spirit of
promoting international peace and harmony.
Other important information
P a g e | 44
becoming a united center of the multipolar
world.
 It must lead the climate change mitigation
efforts to meet their commitments under the
Paris Agreement on climate change and the
Sustainable Development Goals by setting up
relevant alliances and institutions.
 BRICS members should focus on encouraging
direct interactions between their constituents.
Seamless conversations amongst people,
business and academia to foster
relationships, which are more likely to lead to
productive results in various areas than any
government efforts.
 The OIC has permanent delegations to
the United Nations and the European Union.
 The official languages of the OIC are Arabic,
English, and French
India and OIC
 Islam is the second-largest religion in
India. India is the country with largest Muslim
population outside Muslim-majority
countries. Still, India is not a member of OIC.
 However, India's relationship with OIC was
tense most of the time due to the presence of
Pakistan in the grouping.
 India has pushed for the OIC to accept India
as a member, arguing that about 11% of all
Muslims worldwide live in India. Pakistan
opposes India's entry into the OIC.
 For the first time in five decades, the United
Arab Emirates invited foreign minister of
India to attend the inaugural plenary 46th
meeting of OIC foreign ministers held in Abu
Dhabi in 2019. Pakistan boycotted the meet
objecting to the invitation to India.
 India‘s inclusion as a member-state would
require consensus by the OIC‘s members.
With Pakistan likely to block this at every
stage, an Indian role in the grouping is
unlikely in the short term.
Why India should join OIC?
 Energy security: The majority of the
countries of OIC are Oil and natural gas
 P a g e | 45

producers. Indian energy security will Way Forward

improve by joining the grouping.  India‘s criticism by OIC countries is due to the
 Safeguard sovereignty and territorial ill information that persists in the group
integrity: OIC has been making one-sided because of the presence of Pakistan.
resolutions on India due to the influence of  India has achieved closer relations with many
Pakistan. It can be countered by joining the of the OIC countries in individual levels. For
forum. instances: Bangladesh and Turkey have
 Counterterrorism & terror funding argued to bring the reforms in the
o India can build international pressure on organization and include India as an observer
Pakistan to counter-terrorism. state.
o An aid by OIC countries has been mis-utilized  India should pursue the agenda of keeping
by Pakistan for terror-funding activities. This closer ties with the countries on the
issue can be addressed by joining the individual level for the short term. In long
grouping. term, India should try to enter the grouping
 Improvement in trade and economic to change the negative image portrayed on
activities can be achieved through India.
engagement.

GREAT DEPRESSION
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 Economists comparing the current economic
crisis due to COVID-19 with the Great
Depression.
The Great Depression
 The Great Depression was a major economic
crisis.
 It began in the United States. Later spread to
Europe and the rest of the world.
 Opportunistic takeover is a situation where
the bidding company utilizes the
opportunity raised by the prevailing
situation of the company.
 Due to nationwide lockdowns and corona
crisis share prices of companies has been
reduced. Current situation will help the
bidders to go for opportunistic takeover.
Reasons
 Stock market crash
o Shares pricedecline in U.S. stock market (1929)
created panic among shareholders, which
resulted in a stock market crash.
 Banking panics and monetary contraction
o Large numbers of bank customers feared about
Banks failure and attempted to withdraw their
deposits.
 The gold standard used in the monetary system
found to be problematic.
 Decreased international lending and tariffs by
the US in the 1920s created the downturn for
many countries.
Impact of Great depression
 Fall in economic indicators: Like prices and
real output, Industrial production, the
P a g e | 46
wholesale price index and real GDP fell
dramatically.
 Unemployment:
o Unemployment in the US increased from 3.2
percent to 24.9 percent between 1929 and
1933.
o In almost every country of the world, there
were massive job losses, deflation and a drastic
contraction in output.
 Political Changes: Depression is believed to be
the principal reason behind the rise of fascism,
and consequently the Second World War.
 Social impact: The Depression caused extreme
human suffering.
Impact on India
 Fall in agricultural prices: Due to the global
crisis, there was a drastic fall in agricultural
prices.
 Credit contraction: Severe credit contraction
occurred as British policymakers refused to
devalue the rupee.
 Freedom struggle:
o The effects of the Depression became visible in
1930, soon after Mahatma Gandhi launched the
Civil Disobedience Movement.
o No Rent campaigns carried in many parts of
the country.
o Kisan Sabhas were started in Bihar and eastern
UP to protest against agrarian distress.
 Prominence of Congress
o Agrarian unrest provided grounds for congress
in rural India.
o Congress was endorsed by farming class.
o It helped congress to achieve its victory in the
1936-37 provincial elections held under the
Government of India Act, 1935
 P a g e | 47

Business cycle
 Definition: Business cycles refer to the cyclical increases followed by decreases in production
output of goods and services in an economy.
Stages of the Business Cycle
 The business cycle is
characterized by several
different stages that occur in
order, as described below:
1. Expansion:
 When expansion occurs, there is
an increase in employment,
incomes, production, and sales.
 The economy has a steady flow
in the money supply and
investment is booming.
2. Peak:
 The peak is when
the economy hits a high, having
reached a maximum level of growth.
 Prices hit their highest level, and economic indicators stop growing.
 The economy's growth starts to reverse.
3. Recession:
 Recessions are periods of economic and business contraction.
 During a recession, unemployment rises, production slows down, sales start to drop because
of a decline in demand, and incomes become stagnant or decline.
4. Depression:
 Depression does not always follow a recession.
 In case of depression economic growth continues to drop while unemployment rises and
production plummets.
 Consumers and businesses find it hard to secure credit, trade is reduced, and bankruptcies
start to increase. Consumer confidence and investment levels also drop.
5. Trough:
 The trough period marks the end of the depression, leading an economy into the next step:
recovery.
6. Recovery:
 Inthis stage, the economy starts to turn around.
 Low prices spur an increase in demand, employment, and production start to rise, and lenders
start to open up their credit coffers.
 The recovery stage thus marks the end of one business cycle and leads to expansion once
again.

Recession Versus Depression versus  A depression is an extended recession that

Slowdown
 In a recession, gross domestic product
contracts for at least two quarters. There are
many more economic indicators that signal a
recession. That is because GDP growth will
usually slow for several quarters before it turns
negative. That is in response to sluggish
consumer demand.
has years, not quarters, of economic
contraction. It is more severe than a recession
in terms of high Unemployment, high housing
prices etc. The devastation of a depression is so
great that the effects of the Great Depression
lasted for decades after it ended.
 A slowdown, on the other hand, means that the
economy is still growing, but at a reduced rate.

MPLAD SCHEME
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 The Union Cabinet approved the two-year
suspension of the MP Local Area Development
(MPLAD) scheme to use the money to fight
COVID-19.
Criticism of this decision
 Dilution of the role: Suspending the MPLAD
scheme would undermine the role of MPs.
 Stops projects: Many development works are
halfway done. Due to the suspension of the
scheme, projects will come to standstill.
 Undemocratic: The decision was taken without
taking the opinions of other political parties. It
is against the democratic principles.
 Centralization of funds: It was found that roe
of local bodies, state governments, institutions
in the grass-root level is more significant than
the central government. Centralization of funds
may not be a good decision in this condition.
Key features of MPLAD scheme
 Started in:1993
 Purpose: To enable the members of
parliaments (MP) to recommend developmental
work in their constituencies with an emphasis
on creating durable community assets based on
locally felt needs.
 Funding
o Fully funded by the Government of India.
o Rs. 5 crores annually for each constituency.
o Funds are not lapsable in nature.
 Fund utilization criteria
o 15% per year should be utilized in areas
inhabited by the Scheduled Caste
population.
o 7.5% per year should be utilized in areas
inhabited by the Scheduled Tribe
population.
o All works to meet locally felt infrastructure
and development needs, with an emphasis
on the creation of durable assets.
 Areas of utilization of funds
o Lok Sabha Members can recommend works
within their Constituencies
P a g e | 48
o Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can
recommend works within the State of
Election.
o Nominated members of both the Rajya
Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend
works anywhere in the country.
 Implementation mechanism
o Funds will be released directly to the
District Authority of the Nodal District of
the Member of Parliament concerned.
o Each MP to recommend eligible work to the
district authority.
o The District Authority shall identify the
Implementing Agency capable of executing
the work.
Criticism against MPLADS
 Violation of the constitution:
o The constitution is based on the cardinal
principle of separation of powers. It
violates this principle as it gives an
executive function to legislators.
 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report
indicated probable misuse of funds
o Expenditure incurred by the executing
agencies being less than the amount
booked.
o Though the scheme envisages to asset
creation, the majority of works
recommended are for asset improvement.
o Substandard work: Use of lesser quantities
of material than specified by contractors
resulting in excess payments and sub-
standard works.
o Lack of accountability: No accountability
for the expenditure in terms of the quality
and quantities executed against
specifications.
o Extensions of time granted to contractors
without following the correct procedure.
o Delays in issuing work orders ranging
from 5 to 387 days in 57% of the works.
 Non-utilization of money
o As per reports, a minor amount of money is
utilized by MPs in a timely manner. For
example, from May 2014 to May 2015 only
16 % of the money released was utilized.

o Since inception of the scheme,
approximately 5,000 crores were lying
unspent with various district authorities.
 Misuse of money: MPLADS being used to
appease opinion-makers or opinion-influencers,
and favorite contractors.
Constitutionality of the scheme
 The constitutional validity of MPLADS was
challenged in the Supreme Court of India
multiple times.
WAYS AND MEANS ADVANCES
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a
60% increase in the Ways and Means
Advances (WMA) limit of state governments.
Ways and Means Advances (WMA)
 What is WMA? : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
gives temporary loan facilities to both the
central and state governments. This loan
facility is called Ways and Means Advances
(WMA).
 Purpose: These loans are meant to help
Governments to overcome temporary
mismatches in cash flows of their receipts
and expenditures.
 As per the RBI Act, 1934 this money has to be
repaid to RBI within 3 months from the date
making of the advance.
 It was introduced in 1997.
 Interest rate:
o Interest rates applies to Ways and Means
Advances (WMA). Which is equal to the
RBI’s repo rate.
 Repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends
money to commercial banks.
o If the WMA exceeds 90 days, it would be
treated as an overdraft.
o The governments are allowed to draw
amounts over their WMA limits. The
interest on such an overdraft is 2
percentage points above the repo rate.
Modified WMA limits
 Decision: The limits for Ways and Means
Advances are decided by the government and
RBI mutually and revised periodically.
P a g e | 49
 The Supreme Court held this scheme as
constitutional.
Way forward
 MPLADS is one of those schemes that give the
flexibility to allocate the money as per the
needs of the constituency.
 Accountability mechanisms should be
developed to avoid possible misuse of money.
 Ranking system to be developed to rank the
MP's performance under the scheme.
 Center WMA limit: Fixed at Rs 120,000 crores
during the first half of 2020-21 (April-
September). This is 60% higher than the same
period of last year.
 States WMA limit: Fixed at Rs 51,560 crores.
The higher limit will be valid until September
30.
 Overdraft period: RBI also extended the period
for which a state can be in overdraft from 14 to
21 consecutive working days, and from 36 to
50 working days during a quarter.
Reasons for extension of Ways and Means
Advances
 Loss of revenue: Revenue of the government
dried up due to lockdown. States are hard hit as
there is hardly any money coming in from GST,
petroleum products, liquor, motor vehicles,
stamp duty or registration fee.
 Increasing expenditure: Governments are in
need of resources for on-the-ground
expenditures to combat the novel corona virus.
Types of WMA
 There are two types of Ways and Means
Advances — normal and special.
 Special WMA or Special Drawing Facility
(SDF)is provided against the collateral of the
government securities(G-Sec) held by the state.
The interest rate for SDF is one percentage
point less than the repo rate.
o A Government Security (G-Sec) is a trade-
able instrument issued by the Central
Government or the State Governments.
 Normal WMA will be provided after the state
has exhausted the limit of SDF.

FDI POLICY AMENDMENT
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 The Government of India has reviewed the
extant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This
move has upset China.
About amendment
 A neighbor country of India (that shares land
border) can now invest in firms of India only
under the Government route i.e. FDI would
require approval from the Government of
India and government can take decisions on a
case-to-case basis.
 This provision is applicable even if the
investing company is not located in a
neighboring country, but its owner is a citizen
or resident of India’s neighboring country.
 Is it targeting China?:
o India shares a land border with Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan,
China, and Afghanistan.
o Inflows from Pakistan were already under
scrutiny. The other five do not have a
record of buying Indian assets. Hence, it is
clear that the decision targets China.
Reasons for amendment
 COVID-19:The market values of Indian firms
have dipped because of COVID-19 related
uncertainties.
 Opportunistic takeovers: Recently, the People's
Bank of China (PBoC) raised its stake of 1.01
percent in India's largest non-banking mortgage
provider HDFC.
 Learning from foreign countries
o European Commission issued guidelines to
ensure ―a strong EU-wide approach‖ to
foreign investment screening at such a time.
o Australia temporarily tightened rules on
foreign takeovers to avoid selling of
strategic assets.
o Spain, Italy and the US too have
implemented investment-related
restrictions
 Increasing Chinese investments
o China’s FDI has grown five-fold from 2014
to 2019; its cumulative investment in India
exceeded $8 billion i.e. more than the total
P a g e | 50
investments of India's other border-sharing
countries.
o Amendment may force Chinese companies
to sweeten the deal by not just offering
better terms, but also adding technology
licensing in the package
Criticism against this move
 Against liberalism: Creating new hurdles to
foreign capital go against our post-1991
liberalisation policy approach.
 Impact Indian companies:
o The move will hit a wide range of
companies that have some component of
Chinese investments as at least 18 of the
top 30 unicorns have a component of
Chinese investments.
 A unicorn is a privately held startup company
valued at over $1 billion.
 Duel Standards: India has been showing
desperation for foreign investments.
Simultaneously fearing foreign acquisition.
 Lack of Distinction
o It neither distinguishes between Greenfield
and Brownfield investments. Chinese
investors bring fresh capital to establish
new factories and generate employment in
India.
 Greenfield and brown field investments are two
types of foreign direct investment.
 With green field investing, a company will
build its own, brand new facilities from the
ground up.
 Brownfield investment happens when a
company purchases or leases an existing
facility.
o It is not distinguishing between the
different types of investors, such as
industry players, financial institutions, or
venture capital funds. Such a blanket
application could create unintended
problems.
 Reduction in investment: It will reduce the
number of potential investors available for the
seller and reduces the valuation of the asset.

China’s reaction
 China exhibited the dissatisfaction over the
move by India and claimed that the decision of
India violates WTO's principle of non-
discrimination.
 China highlighted the consensus of G20 leaders
and trade ministers to realize a free, fair, non-
discriminatory, transparent, predictable, and
stable trade and investment environment, and
to keep our markets open.
About WTO
 The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an
intergovernmental organization that is
concerned with the regulation of international
trade between nations.
 The WTO officially commenced on 1st January
1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement,
replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT). It is the largest international
economic organization in the world.
About Principle of non-discrimination
 It has two major components: the Most
Favoured Nation (MFN) rule, and the National
Treatment Policy (NTP).
 The MFN rule requires that a WTO member
must apply the same conditions on all trade
with other WTO members, i.e. a WTO member
has to grant the most favourable conditions
under which it allows trade in a certain product
type to all other WTO members.
 National treatment means that imported goods
should be treated no less favorably than
domestically produced goods (at least after
the foreign goods have entered the market) and
was introduced to tackle non-tariff barriers to
trade (e.g. technical standards, security
standards et al. discriminating against
imported goods).
DRAFT ELECTRICITY ACT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2020
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 Ministry of Power has issued a draft proposal
for amendment of Electricity Act, 2003 in the
P a g e | 51
FDI vs. FPI
 A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an
investment in the form of a controlling
ownership in a business in one country by an
entity based in another country. It is likely
suitable only for large corporations,
institutions, and private equity investors.
 FDI is building or purchasing businesses and
their associated infrastructure in a foreign
country. Whereas, Foreign portfolio
investment (FPI) is purchasing securities of
foreign countries, such as stock and bonds, on
an exchange.
 Direct investment is seen as a long-term
investment in the country's economy, while
portfolio investment can be viewed as a short-
term move to make money.
FDI Routes
1. Automatic route
 The automatic route is more liberalized
regulation.
 Under the Automatic Route, the foreign
investor or the Indian company does not
require any approval from RBI for the
investment.
 Automatic route FDI is allowable in those
sectors and activities specified under the FDI
policy.
2. Government Approval Route
 Under the government approval route, the
foreign investor or the Indian company should
obtain prior approval of the Government of
India agencies or bodies specified.
 The process of approval route will be
mentioned in the FDI policy.
Conclusion
 The current decision of the government may
look like the action against the market
principles. However, it is the need of the hour
to safeguard Indian companies from
Opportunistic takeovers.
form of the draft Electricity Act (Amendment)
Bill, 2020

Major Amendments
Viability of Electricity Distribution Companies
(Discoms)
 Cost reflective Tariff: Commissions
determine electricity tariffs based on the cost.
It helps Discoms to recover their costs.
 Direct Benefit Transfer: Tariff to be
determined by Commissions without
considering the subsidy. Subsidies will be
directly given to the consumers using Direct
Benefit transfer.
Sanctity of Contracts
 Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority to
be setup
o It will be headed by a retired Judge of the
High Court with powers of the Civil Court.
o It will enforce the performance of contracts
related to purchasing or sale
transmission companies.
 Payment Security Mechanism for scheduling
of electricity – Load Dispatch Centers will be
empowered to oversee the adequate payment
security mechanism before dispatch of
electricity, as per contracts.
Strengthening the regulatory regime
 Strengthening of the Appellate Tribunal
(APTEL):
o Increase the strength of APTEL to seven
apart from the chairperson.
o Multiple benches can be set-up to facilitate
quick disposal of cases.
 Doing away with multiple Selection
Committees:
o One Selection Committee for selection of
Chairpersons and Members of the Central
and State Commissions.
o Uniform qualifications for Chairperson and
Members of Central and State Electricity
Regulatory Commissions.
 Penalties: To ensure compliance higher
penalties will be enforced.
Renewable and Hydro Energy
 National Renewable Energy Policyfor the
development and promotion of electricity from
renewable sources of energy.
 The minimum percentage of the purchase of
electricity from hydro sources of energy is to
be specified by the Commissions.
P a g e | 52
 Penalties for non-fulfillment of obligation to
buy electricity from renewable and/or hydro
sources of energy.
to Miscellaneous
 Cross border trade in Electricity: Provisions
have been added to facilitate and develop trade
in electricity with other countries.
 Franchisees and Distribution sub licensees:
Distribution Companies, if they so desire, may
engage as Franchisees or Sub-Distribution
Licensees to distribute electricity on its behalf
in a particular area.
Issues with the Bill
 Issue not addressed: Issues related to markets,
competition, financial viability, sector
restructuring, supply security, and consumer
or protection are largely unattended in this draft.
 Needs more clarity: There is a need for clarity
with regard to the roles of the CERC and APTEL.
This provides for an assurance to IPPs on the
protection they get from long-term contracts.
 Slow progress: The current version of this (Bill)
has been in the making for two years now.
Positives
 Reduces the power freebies: States, which
extend free power to the farm sector, may have
to rethink the model.
 Revives power distribution companies by
competitive fixation tariffs.
 On-time payment: Will helps Independent
Power Producers (IPPs), who have been hit by
delayed payments.
 Renewable energy booster: A big emphasis is
on clean energy including hydro. An attempt
has also been made to streamline distribution
franchising and a new concept of sub-licensing
has been introduced but needs to be detailed.
 Effective contract enforcement through an
independent agency.
Conclusion
 If the Bill is passed in Parliament even with
some minor changes, it will be a landmark
reform, as it will improve the viability of the
entire electricity sector.

SMALL SAVING SCHEMES
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 The government reduced interest rates on small
savings schemes, including National Savings
Certificate and Public Provident Fund, by up
to 1.4%.
Different Small Saving Schemes
National Savings Certificates (NSC)
 It is an Indian Government’s Savings Bond. It is
part of the postal savings system and can be
purchased from any Post Offices.
 These are issued for five and a ten-year
maturity.
 It can be pledged to banks as collateral for
availing loans.
 The holder gets the tax benefit under Section
80C of Income Tax Act, 1961.
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
 It is a long-term investment option backed by
the Government of India.
 It’s returns that are fully exempted from
Income Tax.
 The original duration is 15 years. Thereafter, on
application by the subscriber, it can be
extended for 1 or more blocks of 5 years each.
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)
 It is a government-backed savings instrument
offered to Indian residents aged over 60 years.
 The deposit matures after 5 years from the date
of account opening but can be extended only
once by an additional 3 years.
 This gives the highest interest rate among the
various small savings schemes in India.
 SCSS is available through Public / Private
sector banks and India Post Offices.
 The investment done under this scheme is tax-
deductible under Section 80C.
Employee Provident Fund (EPF)
 It is a long-term investment tool. The interest
rate on EPF contributions is revised every year.
 Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
assists the Central Board in administering a
Provident Fund Scheme.
 The scheme covers Indian workers as well as
International workers.
P a g e | 53
 Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit
number allotted to the employee, who is
contributing to EPF. It remains the same
throughout the lifetime of an employee. It does
not change with the change in jobs.
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)
 It is a savings scheme available at selected
public sector banks and India Post Offices in
the form of certificates.
 It is designed to encourage long-term
investment and savings amongst the masses.
It is suitable for investors who are reluctant to
risk-taking, have surplus money, and are
looking for assured returns.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
 It is a small deposit scheme for the girl child
launched as a part of the 'Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao' campaign.
 It is currently 8.1 per cent and provides
income-tax benefit under section 80 C of the
Income Tax Act,1961. Even the returns are tax
free in the scheme.
 A Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened
any time after the birth of a girl till she turns
10, with a minimum deposit of Rs 250 (Earlier it
was Rs 1,000). In subsequent years, a minimum
of Rs 250 and a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be
deposited during the ongoing financial year.
 The account can be opened in any post office
or authorised branches of commercial banks.
 The account will remain operative for 21 years
from the date of its opening or till the marriage
of the girl after.
National Small Savings Fund
 All deposits under small savings schemes are
credited to the 'National Small Savings Fund'.
 All withdrawals by the depositors are made out
of the accumulations in this Fund.
 The balance in the Fund is invested in special
Government securities as per norms decided by
the Central Government.
Benefits of Small saving schemes
 Social security: Small saving schemes help to
support the vulnerable population. Several
 P a g e | 54

small saving schemes like Senior Citizens
Savings Fund, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, and
PPF provide social security for different
sections.
 Fund mobilization for the government: It is
helping as a tool of resource mobilization for
the government.
 Higher interests: Government also gives a
slightly high-interest rate for these schemes
compared to the average interest in other
financial instruments.
 Helps small and middle-income groups by
providing small installments.
 Low risk: Unlike mutual funds or other
investment, Small saving schemes carry very
low risk.

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST)

GS-III ECONOMY

Context o There is a special rate of 0.25% on rough

 Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for precious and semi-precious stones and 3%
March 2020 stood at Rs.97, 597crores,
dropping below the Rs.1 lakh-crores mark after Input Tax Credit
four months.
 Input Tax Credit means reducing the taxes paid
Goods and Services Tax on inputs from taxes to be paid on output.
 Introduced: 1st July 2017 by 101st Consti-  Earlier, it was not possible to claim input tax
tutional Amendment Act. credit for Central Sales Tax, Entry Tax, Luxury
Tax and other taxes.
Direct Tax
 under GST, since these taxes will be subsumed
 It is a tax levied directly on a taxpayer who
pays it to the Government. into one tax, there will not be the restriction of
 Income tax, Wealth tax, property tax etc are setting off this input tax credit.
some examples.
Indirect Tax
 It is a tax levied by the Government on
goods and services and not on the income.
 Goods and service tax, Custom duty are
some of the examples.

Features
 It is an indirect tax (or consumption tax) used
in India on the supply of goods and services.
 Comprehensive: As it has subsumed almost all
the indirect taxes except a few state taxes.
 Multistage: It is imposed at every step in the
production process
 Destination-based: It is collected from point of
consumption and not point of origin like
on gold.
previous taxes. i.e. consumer will pay the tax. o Petroleum products, alcoholic drinks,
 Tax Slabs: and electricity are not taxed (exempted)under
o Goods and services are divided into five GST and instead are taxed separately by the
different tax slabs for collection of tax - 0%, 5%, individual state governments.
12%, 18% and 28%. Taxable goods and services
are placed under these slabs. Components of GST
 There are 3 taxes applicable under the GST
system:
 P a g e | 55

 Central GST: Collected by the Central

Government on transaction happening
within the state (E.g.: transaction happening
within West Bengal).
 State GST: Collected by the State
Government on transaction happening
within the state (E.g.: transaction happening
within West Bengal)
 Integrated GST: Collected by the Central
Government on transaction happening
between two states (E.g.: Maharashtra to
Tamil Nadu). Collected tax will be shared
between the center and state.

Compensation to states
 GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017
mandates the center to provide compensation
to states due to the implementation of GST in
case of tax loss.
 Compensation payable to a State will be
calculated and released every two months.
 This provision is applicable for 5 years.
 The financial year 2015-16 has been taken as
the base year for calculating the compensation
amount.
 The total compensation payable in any financial
year shall be the difference between the
projected revenue for any financial year and the
actual revenue collected by a State.
 Compensation cess: Imposed on certain
notified goods and revenue collected from it is
used to provide compensation to states.

Institutions under GST

GST council
Purpose  It is a constitutional body.
 Article 279A: The GST Council has to be constituted by the President of India within
60 days of the commencement of Article.
Office New Delhi
Structure  It is a joint committee for the States and the Centre.
 Voting Members
o Chairman: Union Finance Minister
o Union member: Union Minister of States in charge of revenue or finance
o State/UT member: the ministers of states in charge of finance or taxation or other
ministers as nominated by each state government.
 Non-voting members
o Permanent invitee: The Chairperson and Central Board of Excise and Customs
(CBEC) will be the
o Ex-officio Secretary: Secretary (Revenue)
Functions GST Council is the governing body of GST. The council shall make recommendations to
the Union and the States on
 the taxes, cesses, and surcharges levied by the Union and states.
 P a g e | 56

 the goods and services that may be subjected to, or exempted from the goods and
services tax;
 model Goods and Services Tax Laws, principles of levy, etc.
 the threshold limit of turnover below which goods and services may be exempted
from goods and services tax;
 the rates including floor rates with bands of goods and services tax;
 any special rate or rates for a specified period, to raise additional resources during
any natural calamity or disaster;
 any other matter relating to the goods and services tax, as the Council may decide
Quorum&  One-half of the total number of Members of the Goods and Services Tax Council
decision shall constitute the quorum at its meetings.
making  Every decision of the Council shall be taken at a meeting, by a majority of not less
than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting.
 Central vote share: The vote of the Central Government shall have a weight age of
one-third of the total votes cast.
 State vote share: the votes of all the State Governments taken together shall have a
weightage of two-thirds of the total votes cast.

GST Network
About  It is a non-government, private limited company.
 It is a non-profit organization.
Purpose Provide IT infrastructure and services to the Central and State Governments, taxpayers and
other stakeholders for implementation of GST
Shareholding Central government: 24.5 %
States and UTs: 24.5%
Non-Government financial institutions: 51%
Functions  It handle invoices, various returns, registrations, payments & refunds.

Goods and  It is the unique number for each taxpayer.

Service  Code will be obtained after
Tax registration.
Identificat  It is a 15 digit number each digit
ion indicates different details as given
Number in the picture.
(GSTIN)

Anti-profiteering authority o Recommend punitive actions including

 Purpose: To ensure that any reduction in cost cancellation of Registration.
due to Input Tax Credit has to be passed on to
the consumer. Benefits of GST
 Established: Under Section 171 of the Central Business people
Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.  Lower tax burden: The average tax burden on
 Functions: industry and trade is expected to lower because
o Launching a helpline to resolve the queries of of GST.
citizens.  One tax one nation: Uniform procedures for
o Creation of awareness. registration, filing of returns, payment of taxes,
o Receiving and investigating the complaints. and tax refunds.
 P a g e | 57

 Online Procedure under GST – Easy online  Reduced tax revenues: The government was
procedure has reduced the burden of work. expecting 14% revenue growth every year.
 Streamlined logistics through single platform. However, actual growth is only 5 to 6%.
 Removal of Cascading Effect- Cascading effect  Multiple tax baskets
is tax on tax. Input tax credit can be availed  Online filing challenges: Online filing is a
smoothly under this GST regime. constraint for many small-scale businesses as it
 Composition Scheme: Small businesses that increase their operational cost.
earn turnovers range specified by the  Increases time of compliance: It is said that
government will be subject to lower taxes. tax filing time is more compared to previous
 Ease of Doing business: systems.
Benefits to consumer  Lack of public grievance mechanism
 Lesser Tax: A good number of products and/or
services are either exempt from tax or charged
at 5% or less.
 Simplified tax structure with fewer
exemptions.
 Products and services will be allowed to move
freely across the country.
 Increased competition between manufacturers
and businesses will benefit consumers.
Benefits to the Economy
 Creation of a unified common market.
 Increase in manufacturing processes.
 Enhancement of exports and investments.
 Generation of more jobs through enhanced
economic activity.
 Increases FDI.
 Regulation of unorganized sector
Conclusion
Concerns/ Challenges  As per the experiences of other countries, the
 Profiteering: Despite of Anti-profiteering GST system takes a couple of years to stabilize.
agency, effective profiteering needs to be Governments should understand the needs in
ensured. timely manner and act accordingly to smooth
 Delay in compensation: Compensation to the the execution of the system.
states being delayed by the center.

SCHEMES FOR ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING

GS-III ECONOMY

Context Production linked incentive scheme (PLI) for

 The government introduced three schemes to
boost local electronics manufacturing namely
 Production linked incentive scheme (PLI) for
Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
 Scheme for promotion of manufacturing of
electronic components and semiconductors
(SPECS)
 Modified electronics manufacturing clusters
(EMC 2.0) scheme(Please read the IAS gazette
April 2020 page 72 for details of the scheme)
Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
Features
 The scheme proposes a production linked
incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and
attract large investments.
 It shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on
incremental sales (over the base year) of goods
manufactured in India and covered under
target segments, to eligible companies, for a
 P a g e | 58

period of five years after the base year as o It helps offset the disability for domestic
defined. manufacturing of electronic components
 Financial Implications: The total cost of the and semiconductors
proposed scheme is approximately INR 40,995  Investment: New investments in the Electronics
crores Sector to the tune of at least Rs. 20,000 crores.
Significance of the scheme  Employment
 Incentivise Investment o Direct employment of approximately 1,
 Boost to manufacturing: 50,000 is expected in the manufacturing
o The proposed scheme is likely to benefit 5-6 units supported under the scheme.
major global players and few domestic o Indirect employment of about 6, 00,000
champions of electronics manufacturing. will be created.
o By integrating ―Assemble in India for the  Import substitution by domestic
world‖ into ―Make in India‖, India can manufacturing.
significantly increase manufacturing  Digital security: Domestic manufacturing that
output. will enhance the digital security of the nation.
 Employment:
o Direct: The scheme has a direct Electronics manufacturing in India
employment generation potential of over 2,  Mobile production in India:
00,000 jobs over 5 years. o The production of mobile phones in the
o Indirect employment will be about 3 times country has gone up significantly.
of direct employment as per industry o It was around INR 18,900 crores (USD 3
estimates. Billion) in 2014-15 to INR 1, 70,000crores
 Electronics hub: It is intended to bring mobile (USD 24 Billion) in 2018-19.
manufacturing, Specified Electronics o India’s domestic demand is almost
Components, and large-scale electronics completely being met out of domestic
manufacturing in India. production.
 Electronic component manufacturing
Scheme for Promotion of manufacturing of o Electronic components are the basic
Electronic Components and Semiconductors building blocks for electronics
Features manufacturing.
 The financial incentive of 25% of capital o The electronic components market in India
expenditure for the manufacturing of goods has increased from INR 68,342 crores (USD
that is part of the electronic product supply 11 Billion) in 2015-16 to INR 1,
chain. 31,832crores (USD 20.8 Billion) in 2018-19.
 Financial Implications: Rs.3,285 crores o Domestic production of electronic
Benefits components is valued at approximately INR
 Electronics manufacturing 63, 380 crores (USD 10 Billion), of which
o Builds an electronic components around INR 48,803 crores (USD 7.7 Billion)
manufacturing ecosystem in the country. is domestically consumed.
o Deepening of the Electronics value chain.

WING FOR BANKING FRAUD OVERSIGHT

GS-III ECONOMY
Context Key highlights
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in the process of  Creation of Teams: Under the wing, teams for
putting together an exclusive wing for banking meta-data processing and analysis, artificial
fraud oversight. intelligence analysis units and
proactive risk assessment cells will be created.
 Training: RBI is planning to bring in experts
from the private sector working in all these
 P a g e | 59

domains to train the new members in the fraud
oversight wing.
 The idea for the fraud oversight wing is to train
the teams in the latest technologies, as most
banking officials have never done credit risk
assessment or are not accustomed to new
technology.
Reasons for this move
 Digitization: A sudden spike in digitalization
created cyber security issues, as this gives rise
to the number of companies falling prey to a
security hack.
 Recent crisis: Yes Bank crisis, loan fiasco at
Punjab National Bank made it clear that RBI
should have a special team to stop such crisis
proactively.
 Reduce bank frauds: Bank frauds are
increasing day by day. According to data from
RBI, within 3 months
o Debit/ATM card category have been 11,058
cases involving Rs 94.5 crores,
o Credit card frauds of Rs 19.7 crores,
o Net-banking frauds of Rs 13.6 crores.

Reserve bank of India

Established in  1 April 1935 as per the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
 RBI was nationalized on 1 January 1949.
Headquarters Mumbai
Structure  The Reserve Bank's affairs are governed by a central board of directors.
 The board is appointed by the Government of India.
 Tenure of the director is 4 years
 Official Directors: Governor and not more than four Deputy Governors
 Non-Official Directors: Nominated by Government: Ten Directors from various fields
and two government Official
 Others: Four Directors - one each from four local boards
Function  Monetary Authority: Formulates, implements, and monitors the monetary policy to
maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
 Regulator and supervisor of the financial system: It intends to maintain public
confidence in the system, protect depositors' interest, and provide cost-effective banking
services to the public.
 Manager of Foreign Exchange to facilitate external trade and payment.
 The issuer of currency: Issues and exchanges or destroys currency and coins not fit for
circulation.
 Developmental role: Performs a wide range of promotional functions to support
national objectives.
 Regulator and Supervisor of Payment and Settlement Systems:
 Banker to the Government: performs merchant banking function for the central and the
state governments; also acts as their banker.
 Banker to banks: maintains banking accounts of all scheduled banks.

MONETARY POLICY REPORT (MPR)

GS-III ECONOMY
Inflation
Inflation is defined as the sustained rise in the
Context prices. Rate of Inflation is measured in terms of
 Monetary policy report (MPR) released by RBI. price indices. These are two types.
 Wholesale price Index (Inflation at wholesale
level)
 Consumer price index (Inflation at
consumer/retail level)

Highlights of report
Outlook for Inflation
 The consumer price index (CPI)-based
inflation, which had stayed elevated in the last
few months, is expected to soften during the
financial year.
 Reasons for low inflation
o Food prices may soften under the beneficial
effects of the record food grains and
horticulture production.
o Declining crude prices should work towards
easing inflationary pressures.
o Declining demand leading to a reduction in
prices.
 Supply bottlenecks and fluctuations may
increase the volatility of prices.
Outlook for Growth
 Outlook for growth for 2020-21 was looking up
before the outbreak of COVID-19. Reasons were
o Bumper rabi harvest and higher food
prices during 2019-20 provided conducive
conditions for the strengthening of rural
demand.
o The transmission of past reductions in the
policy rate to bank lending rates has been
improving, with favorable implications for
both consumption and investment demand.
o Reductions in the goods and services tax
(GST) rates, corporate tax rate cuts in
September 2019 and measures to boost
rural and infrastructure spending
 Except agriculture, other sectors are adversely
impacted due to COVID-19.
Exchange rates
 Global financial market volatility caused by the
uncertainty of the macroeconomic impact of
the COVID-19 could exert pressure on the
Indian rupee.
 If INR depreciates by 5 % from the baseline,
inflation could edge up by around 20 bps, GDP
growth could be higher by around 15 bps
through increased net exports.
 If COVID-19 normalizes quickly, strong capital
flows could revive. An appreciation of the INR
Monitory Policy Committee (MPC)
Establishment  By Amendment to The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
 Established in 2016
Structure The committee comprises six members.
 Chairman: The Governor of RBI
 Two more officials of the Reserve Bank of India
 Three external members nominated by the Government of India.
P a g e | 60
by 5% could moderate inflation by around 20
bps and GDP growth by around 15 bps.
Monitory Policy
 Definition: Monetary policy is the
macroeconomic policy laid down by the
Reserve Bank of India. It involves the
management of money supply and interest
rates.
 Tools: The RBI implements the monetary policy
through open market operations, bank rate
policy, reserve system, credit control policy,
moral persuasion, and many other
instruments.
 Using any of these instruments will lead to
changes in the interest rate or the money
supply in the economy.
 Nature of Monetary policy: Monetary policy
can be expansionary and contractionary.
o Increasing money supply and reducing
interest rates indicate an expansionary
policy.
o The reverse of this is a contractionary
monetary policy.
 Objectives of monitory policy: Maintain price
stability (inflation targeting) while keeping in
mind the objective of growth.
 Statutorily provisions for inflation targeting
o Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934 was
amended to provide a statutory basis for
the flexible inflation-targeting framework.
o As per the act, the inflation target to be set
by the Government of India, in consultation
with the Reserve Bank, once in every five
years.
 Inflation targets
o Central Government has set 4 percent
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation as the
target for the period from 2016 to, 2021.
o Upper tolerance limit of 6 percent and the
lower tolerance limit of 2 percent.
o Monetary Policy Committee tasked to
determine the policy interest rate required
to achieve the inflation target.
 P a g e | 61

Meetings  The meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee are held at least 4 times a year
 MPC publishes its decisions after each such meeting.
 The quorum for the meeting of the MPC is four members.
 Each member of the MPC has one vote, and in the event of an equality of votes, the
Governor has a second or casting vote.
Functions Framing monetary policy using tools like the repo rate, reverse repo rate, bank rate, cash
reserve ratio (CRR).

NON-BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY

GS-III ECONOMY

Context Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)

 Banks are sticking to their position of not
offering any moratorium on term loans taken
by non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
Background
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked
banks, co-operative banks and NBFCs to offer a
three-month moratorium on loan repayments
by their customers in the wake of the COVID-
19 pandemic.
 However, banks have refused to give the same
facility to NBFCs, which have taken huge loans
from the banking sector.
Impact
 NBFCs hit hard by the IL&FS and DHFL crises
have taken up the moratorium issue with
banks, the RBI and the Finance Ministry, they
have not received any favorable decision so far.
 Liquidity pressure will increase for nearly a
quarter of NBFCs if collections do not pick up
by June.
 These are financial institutes that provide all
types of financial services just like banks
(Except a few differences).
 It can engaged in the business of loans and
advances, acquisition of
shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities
issued by Government or local authority or
other marketable securities of a like nature,
leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit
business but does not include any institution
whose principal business is that of agriculture
activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale
of any goods (other than securities) or
providing any services and sale / purchase /
construction of immovable property.
 Difference between Bank and NBFC
o NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;
o NBFCs do not form part of the payment
and settlement system and cannot issue
cheques drawn on itself;
o The deposit insurance facility of Deposit
Insurance and Credit Guarantee
Corporation is not available to depositors
of NBFCs, unlike in the case of banks.
 NBFC is a company registered under the
Companies Act, 1956.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CENTRES AUTHORITY

GS-III ECONOMY

Context
 The central government has notified the
establishment of the International Financial
Services Centers Authority.
 P a g e | 62

International Financial Services Centers Authority

Headquarters Gandhinagar in Gujarat
Members Nine members, appointed by the central government.
 Chairperson
 One member each to be nominated from
o The Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
o The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI),
o The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI),
o The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA),
 Two members from the Ministry of Finance
 Two members to be appointed on the recommendation of a Search Committee.
 Members will have a term of three years, subject to reappointment.
Functions  The Authority will regulate financial products, financial services, and financial
institutions, which have been previously approved by any appropriate regulators such as
RBI or SEBI, in an IFSC.
 Regulating any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an
IFSC, which may be notified by the central government,
 Recommending any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions
to the central government.
International Fund consists:
Financial  All grants, fees received by the Authority.
Services  All sums received by the Authority from various sources, as decided by the central
Centers government.
Authority The Fund will be used for:
Fund  Salaries, allowances etc. of members and employees of the Authority.
 Expenses incurred by the Authority.
Performance  The Authority will constitute a Performance Review Committee to review its functioning.
Review  The Review Committee will consist of at least two members of the Authority.
Committee It will review whether:
o Authority has adhered to the provisions of the applicable laws while exercising powers
or performing functions,
o Regulations made by the Authority promote transparency and best practices of
governance, and
o Authority is managing risks to its functioning in a reasonable manner.
 The Committee must submit a report of its findings to the Authority at least once every
year.

SPECIAL 301 REPORT

GS-III ECONOMY

Context  Publisher: Office of the United States Trade

 India continues to be on the ‘Priority Watch Representative (USTR)
List’ of the United States Trade  Frequency: Annual
Representative (USTR).  Aim: Identify trade barriers to United States
companies and products due to the intellectual
About the report property laws, such as copyright, patents
 Why the name: Prepared as per Section 301 of and trademarks in other countries.
the Trade Act of 1974.  Characterization:

o Priority Foreign Countries that are judged
to have inadequate intellectual property
laws. These countries may be subject to
sanctions.
o Priority Watch List countries and Watch
List countries: countries whose intellectual
property regimes are deemed of concern.
Report on India
 Status of India: Priority Watch List
Key highlights
 India remained one of the most challenging
economies for IP enforcement and protection.
 India made ―meaningful progress‖ to enhance
IP protection and enforcement in some areas
over the past year, it did not resolve recent
and long-standing challenges and created new
ones
 Online IP enforcement in India has improved
but progress is not effective due to weak
enforcement by courts and the police.
 Pharma sector:
o India restricted the transparency of
information provided on state-issued
pharmaceutical manufacturing licenses.
MUTUAL FUNDS
GS-III ECONOMY
Context
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a Rs.
50,000-croresspecial liquidity facility for
mutual funds.
 This move by RBI is aimed at instilling
confidence after Franklin Templeton Mutual
Fund (MF’s) decides to wind-up their funds
citing lack of liquidity in the market.
Details
 Money is made available to banks, which can
borrow the 90-day funds from RBI at the
current repo rate of 4.4%.
 Banks need to use it to exclusively on-lend to
mutual funds or purchase investment grade
corporate papers held by MFs.
 Banks can borrow funds from the
statutory liquidity facility for them from the
RBI and lend to MFs against their collateral debt
P a g e | 63
o High customs duties on medical devices
and Information and Communications
Technology.
 Trademark: Excessive delays in obtaining
trademarks due to a lack of examination
quality.
 Long-standing concerns
o Poor maintenance and enforcement of
patents particularly in the pharmaceutical
sector;
o Concerns over copyright laws not
incentivizing the creation and
commercialization of content;
o Outdated trade secrets framework
Office of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR)
 It is the United States government agency.
 Responsibility
o Developing and recommending United
States trade policy to the president of the
United States,
o Conducting trade negotiations at bilateral
and multilateral levels,
o Coordinating trade policy within the
government.
securities, or buy commercial papers or
corporate debentures from the MFs.
o The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) refers
to the proportion of deposits the
commercial bank is required to maintain
with them in the form of liquid assets in
addition to the cash reserve ratio.
o Commercial paper is a money-market
security issued (sold) by large corporations
to obtain funds to meet short-term debt
obligations (for example, payroll) and is
backed only by an issuing bank or company
promise to pay the face amount on the
maturity date specified on the note.
 RBI lifeline is available only against securities
with an investment-grade rating.
Past experiences
 The RBI had made such moves twice in the
past, in 2008 and 2013.
 P a g e | 64

o Post global economic slowdown the RBI
opened a 14-day repo window of Rs 20,000
crores during which banks could borrow
from the central bank to lend to fund
houses.
o A similar three-day repo window of Rs
25,000 crores was opened by the RBI in
2013. During this time, the RBI did lend to
the bank at the interest rate of 10.25
percent.
Positives
 RBI’s move on pumping liquidity will boost
investor confidence in the sector.
 Incentive for banks: Mutual funds looking to
borrow in honour redemptions will now have
bankers willing to lend money. That’s because
banks will borrow at 4.4 percent from RBI and
lend to mutual funds at a higher rate.
 Bank buying the mutual funds will eases the
pressure and prevents a distress sale, which
could have had negative consequences.
o Based on the allocation between equity and
debt (asset allocation), hybrid funds are
further classified into various sub-
categories.
Types of MF’s based on structure
 Open-ended mutual funds: Open-ended funds
are mutual funds where an investor can invest
on any business day.
 Close-ended mutual funds:
o Close-ended funds come with a pre-defined
maturity period.
 Investors can invest in the fund only when it is
launched and can withdraw their money from
the fund only at the time of maturity.

Mutual funds
 A mutual fund is an investment vehicle where
many investors pool their money to earn
returns on their capital over a period.
 This corpus of funds is managed by an
investment professional known as a fund
manager or portfolio manager. It is his/her job
to invest the corpus in different securities such
as bonds, stocks, gold, and other assets and
seek to provide potential returns
 The gains (or losses) on the investment are
shared collectively by the investors in
proportion to their contribution to the fund.

Types of funds based on asset class

 Debt funds
o Debt funds (also known as fixed-income
funds) invest in assets like government
securities and corporate bonds.
o These funds aim to offer reasonable returns
to the investor and are considered relatively
less risky.
 Equity funds
o Equity funds invest money in stocks.
o Since the returns on equity funds are linked
to market movements of stocks, these
funds have a higher degree of risk.
 Hybrid funds
o Hybrid funds invest in a mix of both equity
and fixed-income securities.

SEISMIC NOISE
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 Scientists at the British Geological Survey
(BGS) have reported a 30-50 per cent fall in
levels of Earth’s seismic noise and vibrations
amid the coronavirus lockdown.
What is seismic noise?
 It refers to the relatively persistent vibration
of the ground due to a multitude of causes
such as transport and manufacturing etc. that
makes it difficult for scientists to study
seismic data.
 It is the unwanted component of signals
recorded by a seismometer (the scientific
instrument that records ground motions,
such as those caused by earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and explosions).
OZONE HOLE
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere
Monitoring Service(CAMS) announced that a
hole in the Arctic ozone layer, believed to
be the biggest reported, has closed.
 The ozone hole closing was because of a
phenomenon called the polar vortex, and not
because of reduced pollution levels due to
Covid-19 lockdowns around the world.
 The hole in the North Pole’s ozone layer,
which was first detected in February 2020,
had since reached a maximum extension of
around 1 million sq km.
The importance of the ozone layer
 Ozone (chemically, a molecule of three
oxygen atoms) is found mainly in the
stratosphere, between 10 and 50 km from
earth’s surface.
 Even in Stratosphere, ozone molecules are
present in low concentrations. By absorbing
the harmful ultraviolet radiations from the
sun, the ozone molecules eliminate a big
threat to life forms on earth.
 As, exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer
and other diseases in plant sand animals.
P a g e | 65
How do the reduced noise levels help
scientists?
 Usually, to measure seismic activity
accurately and to reduce the effect of seismic
noise, geologists place their detectors 100
metres below the Earth’s surface.
 However, since the lockdown, researchers are
able to study natural vibrations even from
surface readings, owing to lesser seismic
noise.
 Due to lower noise levels, scientists are now
hoping that they would be able to detect
smaller earthquakes and tremors that had
slipped past their instruments so far.
Ozone holes
 The ‘ozone hole’ refers to a region in the
stratosphere, where the concentration of
ozone becomes extremely low.
 Ozone layer depletion is more prominent over
the Antarctica region, due to a set of special
meteorological and chemical conditions that
arise at the South Pole and can reach sizes of
around 20 to 25 million sq km.
 Such holes are also spotted over the North
Pole, but owing to warmer temperatures than
the South Pole, the depletions here are much
smaller in size.
Why this year’s Arctic ozone hole was
massive?
 Scientists believe that unusual atmospheric
conditions, including freezing temperatures
in the stratosphere, were responsible.
 As per a European Space Agency report, cold
temperatures (below -80°C), sunlight, wind
fields and substances such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were responsible
for the degradation of the Arctic ozone layer.
 Although Arctic temperatures do not usually
fall as low as in Antarctica, this year, powerful
winds flowing around the North Pole trapped

cold air within the polar vortex— a circling
whirlpool of stratospheric winds.
 By the end of the polar winter, the first
sunlight over the North Pole initiated this
unusually strong ozone depletion—causing
the hole to form.
 However, its size is still small compared to
what can usually be observed in the southern
hemisphere.
Ozone recovery
 As per the Scientific Assessment of Ozone
Depletion data of 2018, the ozone layer in
parts of the stratosphere has recovered at a
rate of 1-3 per cent per decade since 2000.
 At these projected rates, the Northern
Hemisphere and mid-latitude ozone is
predicted to recover by around 2030,
followed by the Southern Hemisphere
around 2050 and Polar Regions by 2060.
Ozone depleting substances
 They are man-made gases that destroy
ozone once they reach the ozone layer.
 Ozone depleting substances include:
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
 Hydrobromoflurocarbons (HBFCs)
 Halons
 Methyl bromide
 Carbon tetrachloride
 Methyl chloroform
 They have been used as:
 Refrigerants in commercial, home and
vehicle air conditioners and refrigerators
 Foam blowing agents
 Components in electrical equipment
 Industrial solvents
 Solvents for cleaning (including dry
cleaning)
 Aerosol spray propellants
P a g e | 66
 Fumigants
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the
Ozone Layer
 Vienna Convention on the Protection of the
Ozone layer is a multilateral environmental
agreement.
 It does not include legally binding reduction
goals.
 These are laid out in the accompanying
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete
the Ozone Layer.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer
 Under the Montreal Protocol, 95% of the
production and consumption of all ozone-
depleting substances have been phased-out.
 Global observation have verified that
atmospheric levels of key ozone-depleting
substances are going down and it is believed
that with implementation of the Montreal
Protocol's provisions, the ozone layer should
return to its pre-1980 levels by 2050 to 2075.
Kigali Agreement
 In the 28th meeting of the Parties to the
Montreal Protocol, negotiators from 197
nations have signed a historic agreement to
amend the Montreal Protocol in Kigali in
2016.
 As per the agreement, these countries are
expected to reduce the manufacture and use
of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by roughly 80-
85% from their respective baselines, till 2045.
 This phase down is expected to arrest the
global average temperature rise up to 0.5 o C
by 2100. As the HFCs is a potent global
warming agent.
 Kigali agreement is an amendment to
Montreal Protocol.
Antarctic Ozone hole
 Antarctica is surrounded by oceans on all
sides. Its unique geographic location causes
the clouds in the stratosphere to be really
cold.
 The coldness causes the formation of polar
stratospheric clouds which provide an ideal
surface for production of ozone depleting
chlorine compounds.
 As mid-may brings on the onset of winter, the
Antarctic stratosphere cools and descends
closer to the surface.
 The Coriolis effect sets up a strong westerly
circulation around the south pole, forming an

oblong vortex, which varies in size from year
to year.
 As temperatures in the lower stratosphere
cools below- 80°C, polar stratospheric clouds
(PSCs) begin to form.
 On the surface of the PSC crystals, nitrogen
compounds are readily absorbed and chlorine
reservoir compounds are converted to far
more reactive compounds such as Cl2 and
HOCl.
 The small amounts of visible light during the
Antarctic winter are sufficient to convert
NEW LIST OF NAMES OF TROPICAL CYCLONES
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 The India Meteorological Department (IMD)
has released a new list of names of tropical
cyclones over north Indian Ocean including
Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
 Worldwide there are six regional specialised
meteorological centres (RSMCs) and five
regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres
(TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and
naming of tropical cyclones.
 India Meteorological Department is one of the
six RSMCs to provide tropical cyclone and
storm surge advisories to 13 member
countries.
Importance of naming
Naming of Tropical Cyclones helps the scientific
community, disaster managers, media and
general masses to
 Identify each individual cyclone.
 Remove confusion in case of simultaneous
occurrence of cyclones over a region.
 Rapidly and effectively, disseminate
warnings to much wider audience.
Following criteria are adopted for selection
of names by the member countries
 The proposed name should be neutral to (a)
politics and political figures (b) religious
believes, (c) cultures and (d) gender
 Name should be chosen in such a way that it
does not hurt the sentiments of any group of
population over the globe
 The Panel reserves the right to reject any
name, if any of the criteria above is not
satisfied.
P a g e | 67
much of the atmospheric Cl2 to ClO
:Cl2+light→2Cl Cl+O3→ClO+O2
 Spring brings an increase of ultraviolet light
to the lower Antarctic stratosphere, providing
the energy needed for the rapid catalytic
breakdown of ozone by ClO and its dimer
ClOOCl.
 Over 50% of the stratospheric ozone is
destroyed by these two mechanisms, most of
the damage occurring in the lower
stratosphere.
 The names of tropical cyclones over the north
Indian Ocean will not be repeated.
 Panel Members’ names will be listed
alphabetically country-wise.
Tropical Cyclones
 Tropical cyclones are regarded as one of the
most devastating natural calamities in the
world.
 They originate and intensify over warm
tropical oceans.
 These are ferocious storms that originate over
oceans in tropical areas and move over to the
coastal areas causing violent winds, very
heavy rainfall, and storm outpourings.
 They are known as: Cyclones in the Indian
Ocean, Hurricanes in the Atlantic, Typhoons
in the Western Pacific and the South China
Sea and Willy-willies in Western Australia.
 A mature tropical cyclone is characterised by
the strong spirally circulating wind around
the centre which is called the eye.
 Around the eye is the eyewall, where there is
a strong spiralling rise of air to a greater
height reaching the tropopause.
 The conditions which favour the formation
and intensification of tropical cyclone storms
are:
 Large sea surface with a temperature
higher than 27° C
 Presence of the Coriolis force
 Small differences in the vertical wind
speed
 A pre-existing weak- low-pressure area or
low-level-cyclonic circulation
 Upper divergence above the sea level
system

URANIUM CONTAMINATION IN GROUNDWATER
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 A new study conducted by the University of
Manchester, UK and Mahavir Cancer Institute
and Research Centre in Patna has found
uranium contaminating the groundwater in
10 districts of Bihar.
 Uranium is weakly radioactive and remains
so because of its long physical half-life.
 It is a naturally occurring element found in
low levels within all rock, soil and water.
FLY ASH
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 Singrauli district has been hit by a tragedy
caused by the Reliance Power plant's fly ash
dyke collapse.
About fly ash
 Fly ash or flue ash, also known as pulverised
fuel ash, is a coal combustion product that is
composed of the particulates that are driven
out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue
gases.
 In modern coal-fired power plants, fly ash is
generally captured by electrostatic
P a g e | 68
What is the acceptable limit?
 As per Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS),
maximum permissible limit of Uranium is
0.03 mg/l in all drinking water standards
after following due process.
 A report brought out by Duke University, USA
in association with Central Ground Water
Board and State Ground Water departments
states that Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha,
Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jammu &
Kashmir have localised occurrence of
Uranium concentration.
Main factors responsible for uranium
contamination
 Amount of uranium contained in an aquifer’s
rocks.
 Water-rock interactions that cause the
uranium to be extracted from those rocks.
 Oxidation conditions that enhance the
extracted uranium’s solubility in water.
 The interaction of the extracted uranium with
other chemicals in the groundwater, such as
bicarbonate, which can further enhance its
solubility.
 Human factors such as groundwater-table
decline and nitrate pollution may be
exacerbating the problem.
precipitators or other particle filtration
equipment before the flue gases reach the
chimneys.
 Fly ash includes substantial amounts of
Silicondioxide (SiO2) (both amorphous and
crystalline), Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and
Calcium oxide (CaO),the main mineral
compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.
 In the past, fly ash was generally released into
the atmosphere, but air pollution control
standards now require that it be captured
prior to release by fitting pollution control
equipment.

 Two classes of fly ash are: Class F fly ash and
Class C fly ash.
Uses
 Concrete production, as a substitute material
for Portland cement, sand.
 Fly-ash pellets which can replace normal
aggregate in concrete mixture.
 Embankments and other structural fills
(usually for road construction)
 Grout and flowable fill production
 Waste stabilization and solidification
 Mine reclamation
 Stabilization of soft soils
 Road sub-base construction
 Mineral filler in asphaltic concrete
 Agricultural uses: soil amendment, fertilizer,
cattle feeders, soil stabilization in stock feed
yards, and agricultural stakes
 Loose application on rivers to melt ice and
loose application on roads and parking lots
for ice control
 Other applications include cosmetics,
toothpaste, kitchen counter tops etc.
Environmental problems
 Fly ash obtained after combustion of coal
contains enhanced concentrations of trace
elements and the potential of the ash to cause
groundwater pollution is significant.
 Fly ash dust can be deposited on topsoil
increasing the pH and affecting the plants
and animals in the surrounding ecosystem.
 Fly ash can leach toxic constituents that can
be anywhere from one hundred to one
thousand times greater than the federal
standard for drinking water.
NEW BIO-MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has urged
the State Pollution Control Board and
Pollution Control Committee to put in serious
efforts to mitigate possible risk of
unscientific disposal of the Bio-Medical
Waste (BMW) arising out of the handling of
the COVID-19 disease.
Salient features of BMW Management Rules,
2016
(a) The ambit of the rules has been expanded to
include vaccination camps, blood donation
P a g e | 69
 Fly ash can contaminate surface water
through erosion, surface runoff, airborne
particles landing on the water surface,
contaminated ground water moving into
surface waters, flooding drainage, or
discharge from a coal ash pond.
 Soils contaminated by fly ash showed an
increase in bulk density and water capacity,
but a decrease in hydraulic conductivity
and cohesiveness.
 Where fly ash is stored in bulk, it is usually
stored wet rather than dry to minimize
fugitive dust but any breach of their bundling
is rapid and on a massive scale.
 Fly ash contains trace concentrations of
heavy metals and other substances that are
known to be detrimental to health in
sufficient quantities.
India
 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change of India published a gazette
notification in 2015, which has set
December 31, 2017 as the deadline to
achieve 100% fly ash utilisation.
 Out of the approximately 55.7% fly ash
utilised, bulk of it (42.3%) goes into cement
production.
Way Forward
 Researchers in India are actively addressing
this challenge by working on fly ash as an
admixture for concrete and activated
pozzolanic cement such as geopolymer.
 Ultra High Volume Fly ash Concrete (UHVFA)
concrete is developed for widespread use in
India using local fly ash.
camps, surgical camps or any other
healthcare activity;
(b) Phase-out the use of chlorinated plastic bags,
gloves and blood bags within two years;
(c) Pre-treatment of the laboratory waste,
microbiological waste, blood samples and
blood bags through disinfection or
sterilisation on-site in the manner as
prescribed by WHO or NACO;
(d) Provide training to all its health care workers
and immunise all health workers regularly;

(e) Establish a Bar-Code System for bags or
containers containing bio-medical waste for
disposal;
(f) Report major accidents;
(g) Existing incinerators to achieve the standards
for retention time in secondary chamber and
Dioxin and Furans within two years;
(h) Bio-medical waste has been classified in to 4
categories instead of 10 to improve the
segregation of waste at source;
(i) Inclusion of emissions limits for Dioxin and
furans;
(j) State Government to provide land for setting
up common bio-medical waste treatment and
disposal facility;
(k) No occupier shall establish on-site treatment
and disposal facility, if a service of common
bio-medical waste treatment facility is
available at a distance of seventy-five
kilometre.
(l) Operator of a common bio-medical waste
treatment and disposal facility to ensure the
timely collection of bio-medical waste from
the HCFs and assist the HCFs in conduct of
training.
Bio-medical waste
 Biomedical waste comprises human & animal
anatomical waste, treatment apparatus like
needles, syringes and other materials used in
health care facilities in the process of
treatment and research.
 This waste is generated during diagnosis,
treatment or immunisation in hospitals,
INDIA WATER WOES AMID ‘WASH
YOUR HANDS’ DIRECTIVE?
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued
an advisory to state governments asking them
to ensure safe drinking water supply and
management during the nationwide
lockdown.
 The Ministry has asked public health
engineering departments, boards and
corporations of state governments to give top
priority for taking measures to increase
supply in areas where it may be deficient,
while taking special care of vulnerable
sections of the society such as those in relief
camps, places of quarantine, hospitals, old
age homes, slums, etc.
P a g e | 70
nursing homes, pathological laboratories,
blood bank, etc.
Problems of unscientific Bio-medical waste
disposal
 The quantum of waste generated in India is
estimated to be 1-2 kg per bed per day in a
hospital and 600 gm per day per bed in a
clinic.
 There are concerns regarding poor
segregation and unscientific disposal of bio-
medical waste by unauthorised healthcare
facilities.
 Only 1.1 lakh out of 2.7 lakh healthcare
facilities are authorised under the Bio-
medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 so
far.
What has the tribunal said?
 There are gaps in compliance of the Bio
Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 which
are applicable to the disposal of the bio-
medical waste generated out of handling a
viral disease.
 The State PCBS/PCCS have to make serious
efforts to bridge the gap to mitigate possible
risk in terms of unscientific disposal of bio-
medical waste and enforce rule of law.
 There is need for revision of the guidelines
for 'Handling, Treatment and Disposal of
Waste Generated during Treatment,
Diagnosis, Quarantine of COVID-19 Patients'
issued by the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) recently.
 States have also been asked to send field test
kits to villages to conduct periodic testing of
water resources, and ensure round the clock
vigils to ensure supply.
 To ensure that social distancing is followed,
the guidelines recommend states to increase
water supply hours in case demand during
this period goes up and people come to fetch
water from the public stand post.
India’s water woes
 Although hand hygiene is considered an
effective means for warding off novel corona
virus infections, the lack of access to clean
water itself is an ongoing challenge that the
country has been facing for several years.

 In 2017, Ministry of Water Resources found
that average annual per capita water
availability fell from 1820 cubic meters
assessed in 2001 to 1545cubic meters in
2011, and could reduce further to 1341 and
1140 in the years 2025and 2050
respectively.
 Annual per-capita water availability of less
than 1700 cubic meters is considered as
water stressed condition, whereas annual
per- capita water availability below1000 cubic
meters is considered as a water scarcity
condition.
HEALTH OF GANGA RIVER IMPROVES
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 Health of Ganga River has seen significant
improvement since enforcement of the
nationwide lockdown that has led to
reduction in dumping of industrial waste into
it.
Highlights
 The Ganga river water was found to be
suitable for bathing and propagation of
wildlife and fisheries at most monitoring
centres, the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) data showed.
 The parameters that the monitoring stations
monitor online are dissolved oxygen (more
than 6 mg/litre), biochemical oxygen
demand (less than 2mg/litre), total coliform
levels (5000 per 100 ml) and pH (range
between 6.5 and 8.5) to assess the health of
the river.
P a g e | 71
 In a 2018 report, the water and sanitation
advocacy group Water Aid ranked India at the
top of 10 countries with lowest access to
clean water close to home, with 16.3crores
people not having such access.
Water-a State Subject
 As per the Indian Constitution, water is
included in Entry 17 of List-II i.e. State List.
This entry is subject to the provision of
Entry 56 of List-I i.e. Union List.
 While the domestic sewerage has not
reduced, industrial effluent has nearly
finished and that is why the water quality
has improved.
Namami Gange Programme:
 It is an Integrated Conservation Mission,
approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the
Union Government in June 2014 with budget
outlay of Rs.20,000crores to accomplish the
twin objectives of effective abatement of
pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of
National River Ganga.
 Main pillars of the Namami Gange Programme
are:
 Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
 River-Front Development
 River-Surface Cleaning
 Bio-Diversity
 Afforestation
 Public Awareness

 Industrial Effluent Monitoring
 Ganga Gram
 Its implementation has been divided into
Entry-Level Activities (for immediate visible
impact), Medium-Term Activities (to be
implemented within 5 years of timeframe)
and Long-Term Activities (to be implemented
within 10 years).
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
 It was registered as a society on 12th August
2011 under the Societies Registration
Act1860.
 It acted as implementation arm of National
Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA), which
was constituted under the provisions
ofEnvironment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986.
 NGRBA has since been dissolved in 2016,
consequent toconstitution of National
Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and
Management of River Ganga.
 The Act envisages five-tier structure at
national, state and district level to take
measures for prevention, control and
abatement of environmental pollutionin river
Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate
flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river
Ganga as below;
1. National Ganga Council under
chairmanship of Prime Minister of India.
2. Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga
under chairmanship of Minister of Jal
Shakti
3. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
4. State Ganga Committees and
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 To address the unprecedented situation
arising from COVID-19, and to ramp up
availability or production of various drugs,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, has made an amendment to EIA
Notification 2006.
Highlights
 All projects or activities in respect of bulk
drugs and intermediates, manufactured for
addressing various ailments, have been re-
categorized from the existing Category ‘A’
to ‘B2’ category.
P a g e | 72
5. District Ganga Committees in every
specified district abutting river Ganga and
its tributaries in the states.
 NMCG has a two-tier management structure
and comprises of Governing Council and
Executive Committee.
Components of Water Analysis
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
 BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen used
by microorganisms in the biological process
of metabolizing organic matter in water.
 The more organic matter there is (e.g., in
sewage and polluted bodies of water), the
greater the BOD; and the greater the BOD, the
lower the amount of dissolved oxygen
available for higher animals such as fishes.
 The BOD is therefore a reliable gauge of the
organic pollution of a body of water.
Chemical Oxygen Demand
 COD is a method of estimating how much
oxygen would be depleted from a body of
receiving water as a result of bacterial action.
Coliforms
 Water pollution caused by faecal
contamination is a serious problem due to the
potential for contracting diseases from
pathogens (disease causing organisms).
 The presence of pathogens in the water is
determined with indirect evidence by testing
for an "indicator" organism such as coliform
bacteria.
 Coliforms are bacteria that are always present
in the digestive tracts of animals, including
humans, and are found in their wastes. They
are also found in plant and soil material.
 Projects falling under Category B2 are
exempted from requirement of collection of
Base line data, EIA Studies and public
consultation.
 The re-categorization of such proposals has
been done to facilitated ecentralization of
appraisal to State Level so as to fast track
the process. This amendment is applicable to
all proposals received up to 30th September
2020.
What is EIA?
 Environment Impact Assessment or EIA can
be defined as the study to predict the effect
 P a g e | 73

of a proposed activity/project on the environmental and social impact of the

environment. proposed project and evaluates the
 A decision making tool, EIA compares various significance.
alternatives for a project and seeks to identify 4. Mitigation: This step in EIA recommends
the one which represents the best the actions to reduce and avoid the
combination of economic and environmental potential adverse environmental
costs and benefits. consequences of development activities.
 EIA systematically examines both beneficial 5. Reporting: This stage presents the result
and adverse consequences of the project and of EIA in a form of a report to the
ensures that these effects are taken into decision-making body and other
account during project design. interested parties.
 It helps to identify possible environmental
effects of the proposed project, proposes
measures to mitigate adverse effects and
predicts whether there will be significant
adverse environmental effects, even after the
mitigation is implemented.
 Benefits of integrating EIA have been
observed in all stages of a project from
exploration and planning, through
construction, operations, decommissioning,
and beyond site closure.
 In 1989, the World Bank adopted EIA for
major development projects, in which a
borrower country had to undertake an
EIA under the Bank's supervision.

History of EIA in India

 On 27 January 1994, Ministry of Environment
and Forests, under the Environmental
(Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA
notification making Environmental Clearance
mandatory for expansion or modernisation of
any activity or for setting up new projects
listed in Schedule 1 of the notification.
The EIA process
 The environment impact assessment consists
of eight steps with each step equally
important in determining the overall
performance of the project.
1. Screening: First stage of EIA, which
determines whether the proposed project,
requires an EIA and if it does, then the
level of assessment required.
2. Scoping: This stage identifies the key
issues and impacts that should be further
investigated. This stage also defines the
boundary and time limit of the study.
3. Impact analysis: This stage of EIA
identifies and predicts the likely
Features of EIA in India
 It has been enacted by making an amendment
in the Environment Protection Act 1986.
 Limited involvement of public and
government agencies in the initial phases.
 No provision in place to cover landscape and
visual impacts in the Indian EIA regulations.
 The consideration of alternatives in
developing countries is more or less absent.
 Screening done on the basis of a defined list.
 Earlier scoping was done by consultant or
proponent with an inclination towards
meeting pollution control requirements,
however, the new notification has put the
onus of scoping on the expert committee
based on the information provided by the
proponent.
 Consultation with public is optional and
depends on the discretion of the expert
committee.

AIR POLLUTION
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
During the nationwide corona virus lockdown, air
pollution in the region has dropped to a 20-year
low, according to data published by NASA.
Highlights
 In a series of maps, NASA plotted the aerosol
levels in northern India during the same six-
day period of March 31 to April 5 from 2016
to 2020.
 The report tracks the aerosol optical depth
(AOD), which is the measure of how light is
absorbed or reflected by airborne particles as
it travels through the atmosphere.
 According to the report: AOD levels in
northern India at the beginning of April were
significantly below the norm for this time of
year and the lowest in 20 years of MODIS
observations. MODIS is an instrument used to
monitor large-scale changes, such as what
proportion of the earth's surface is covered
by clouds each day.
Background
 Air pollution in India is a serious health issue.
 Of the most polluted cities in the world, 21
out of30 were in India in 2019.
 As per a study based on 2016 data, at least
140 million people in India breathe air that
is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit
and 13 of the world's 20 cities with the
P a g e | 74
highest annual levels of air pollution are in
India.
 Air pollution contributes to the premature
deaths of 2 million Indians every year.
 Emissions come from vehicles and industry,
whereas in rural areas, much of the pollution
stems from biomass burning for cooking and
keeping warm.
 India has a low per capita emission of green
house gases but the country as a whole is the
third largest greenhouse gas producer after
China and the United States.
Causes
 Fuel wood and biomass burning is the
primary reason for near-permanent haze and
smoke observed above rural and urban India,
and in satellite pictures of the country.
 Fuel adulteration: Some Indian taxis and
auto-rickshaws run on adulterated fuel
blends. Some adulterants increase emissions
of harmful pollutants from vehicles,
worsening urban air pollution.
 Traffic congestion: Traffic congestion
reduces the average traffic speed. At low
speeds, scientific studies reveal that vehicles
burn fuel inefficiently and pollute more per
trip.
 Greenhouse gas emissions: India was the
third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in
2017 at 6.82%share of CO2 emissions, after
China (27.21%) and the United States (14.58%).
Effects
 The most important reason for concern over
the worsening air pollution in the country is
its effect on the health of individuals.
 Exposure to particulate matter for a long time
can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular
diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, lung
cancer and heart attack.
 The Global Burden of Disease Study of 2017
analysed in a report by The Lancet indicated
that 76.8% of Indians are exposed to higher
ambient particulate matter over 40 μg/m³,
which is significantly above the national
limit recommenced by national guidelines
on ambient air pollution.
 The study estimated that of 480.7 million
Disability-Adjusted Life Years in India 4.4%
of could be ascribed to ambient particulate

matter pollution and 15.8 million of them
were the result of polluted air in
households.
State-Wide Trends
 According to the WHO, India has14 out of the
15 most polluted cities in the world in terms
of PM 2.5 concentrations.
 The key findings of India's central pollution
control board are:
 Most Indian cities continue to violate
India's and world air quality PM10 targets.
 Respirable particulate matter pollution
remains a key challenge for India.
 Most Indian cities greatly exceed
acceptable levels of suspended particulate
matter.
 India's air quality worsens in winter
months, and improves with the onset of
monsoon season.
 Of the four major Indian cities, air
pollution was consistently worse in Delhi,
every year over 5-year period (2004–2018).
Steps taken
 The Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act was passed in 1981 to
regulate air pollution but has failed to reduce
pollution because of poor enforcement of the
rules.
 In 2015, Government of India, together with
IIT Kanpur launched the National Air Quality
Index.
 In 2019, India launched 'The National Clean
Air Programme' with tentative national target
of 20%-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10
concentrations by 2024, considering 2017 as
the base year for comparison. It will be rolled
out in 102 cities that are considered to have
HUMANS TO BLAME FOR PANDEMIC
GS-III ENVIRONMENT
Context
 It is human activity that enabled the virus
to jump to people, and specialists are
warning that if nothing changes, many other
pandemics of this nature will follow.
 Whether it came from a bat or a pangolin is
not certain, but one thing is: the corona virus
outbreak comes from the animal world.
P a g e | 75
air quality worse than the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards.
 There are other initiatives such as a 1,600-
kilometre-long and 5-kilometre-wide The
Great Green Wall of Aravalli green
ecological corridor.
 The government in Delhi launched an Odd-
Even Rule in November, 2017 which is based
on the Odd-Even rationing method.
 Local governments of various states also
implemented measures such as tighter
vehicle emissions’ norms, higher penalties
for burning rubbish and better control of
road dust.
 The Indian government has committed to a
50% reduction in households using solid
fuel for cooking.
Goals for future
 Clean up the transportation sector by
introducing 1,000 electric public transport
buses.
 Meet a goal of 25% of private vehicles to be
electricity powered by 2023.
 Provide farmers with a machine called a
Happy Seeder which converts agricultural
residue to fertilizer.
 Analyze health data and study the efficiency
of different room filtration systems in areas
where indoor air pollution is highest.
 Identify effective ways to inform the public
about air pollution data.
 Launch new citizen science programs to
better document exposures.
 Reduce Carbon Emissions: "According to
Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change,
to limit warming below 1.5 degree Celsius,
CO2 emissions should decline by 50 per cent
by 2030 and reach net zero by around 2050.
Zoonoses
 The name given to diseases transmitted from
animals to humans is zoonoses. Tuberculosis,
rabies, toxoplasmosis, malaria, to name just a
few, are all zoonoses.
 According to the UN Environment Programme
(UNEP), 60% of human infectious diseases
originate from animals.
 The emergence of zoonotic diseases is
associated with environmental changes or
ecological disturbances, agricultural

intensification and human settlement or
encroachments into forests and other
habitats.
Why humans to blame?
 Changes in the environment are usually the
result of human activities.
 Human activity is responsible for the
crossover between species.
 A key area of concern is deforestation to
make way for agriculture and intensive
livestock farming.
 Domesticated animals are often a bridge
between pathogens from the wild and
humans.
 The widespread use of antibiotics in the
livestock industry has also led to bacterial
pathogens building up immunity to front-line
drugs.
 Urbanisation and habitat fragmentation are
also highly disruptive of the balance between
species, while global warming can push
disease-carrying animals into new territory.
FACT-FINDER
P a g e | 76
COVID-19
 Scientists think it originated in bats and could
have been passed on via another mammal like
a pangolin, an endangered species whose
meat and scales are highly prized in parts of
Asia.
 The only sure thing is that human activity
facilitated the jump.
 Increased trends in land use change,
combined with increased trends in trade, and
global travels, are expected to increase the
frequency of pandemics in future.
Way Forward
 Beyond the essential response to each
epidemic, a rethink on relationship with
natural ecosystems and the services they
provide is required.
 The 2016 UNEP report, which noted that
ecosystem integrity underlines human health
and development, said effective strategies
already exist to control most neglected
zoonoses. The main constraint, however,
appeared to be lack of investment.

BLAZARS
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Context
 Recently, Indian researchers have conducted
the first systematic study on the gamma-ray
flux variability nature on different types of
blazars.
What is a Blazar?
 It is a feeding super-massive black-hole
(SMBH) in the heart of a distant galaxy.
 They are the most luminous and energetic
objects in the known universe.
Super-Massive Black Hole &Active Galactic
Nuclei (AGN)
 At the center of most galaxies, there is a
massive black hole, where concentration of
matter is so dense that even light can‟t
escape from it.
 They have mass of millions or even billions of
Suns.
 The black hole accretes gas, dust, and stellar
debris around it.
P a g e | 77
 As these material falls towards the black hole,
their gravitational energy gets converted to
light forming active galactic nuclei (AGN).
 15 % of AGN emit charged particles called jets
travelling at speeds close to the speed of
light.
Aim of the research
 To provide clues about the processes
happening close to the black hole, not visible
through direct imaging.
Significance
 Blazars were found to be emitters of gamma-
rays in the 1990s. But one of the open
problems in high energy astrophysics is to
localize the site for the production of gamma-
rays.
 Variability studies in the high energy
gamma-ray band can help one to locate the
high energy emission site and the high energy
emission process in the blazars.
 It will enhance the knowledge on blazars.
Therefore, the variability analysis in the
gamma-ray band carried out in this work is
significant.
Note -Only the Fermi Gamma-ray space
telescope (launched in 2008) is capable of
scaning the entire sky once in three hours
&probe the flux variability characteristics of
blazars on a range of time scales.

NATIONAL INNOVATION FOUNDATION
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Context
 National Innovation Foundation has invited
innovative citizens to participate in its
Challenge Covid-19 Competition (C3).
Aim
 Participation of people with their creative
ideas that can supplement the efforts of the
government in combating Corona virus.
National Innovation Foundation
 It is an autonomous body of the Department
of Science and Technology.
 It was set up in the year 2000 to provide
institutional support for sustaining and
CollabCAD
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Context
 Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and
National Informatics Centre (NIC) jointly
launched CollabCAD.
Aim
 To provide a platform to students of Atal
Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across country.
What is CollabCAD?
 It is a collaborative network, computer
enabled software system, providing a total
engineering solution from 2D to 3D product
design.
Benefits
 It will provide a platform for students to
utilize indigenous, state-of-the-art made-in-
India software for 3D modeling/slicing to
use 3D Printing.
 It would enable students to create data across
the network and concurrently access the
same design data for storage and
visualization.
About AIM
 Atal Innovation Mission housed at NITI
Aayog is the Government of India’s flagship
P a g e | 78
scaling up the grassroots innovations across
the country.
NIF Activities
 IGNITE an annual competition for student’s
ideas and innovations conducted by NIF in
partnership with the Central Board of
Secondary Education (CBSE).
 NIF has set up a Technology Business
Incubator (NIF) - NIF Incubation and
Entrepreneurship Council (NIFientreC) to
nurture grassroots innovators and technology
with the help of youth.
initiative to promote a culture of innovation
and entrepreneurship.
About ATLS
 Atal Innovation Mission is establishing Atal
Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools
across India.
Vision
 To „Cultivate one Million children in India as
Neoteric Innovators‟,
Objectives
 To foster curiosity, creativity and imagination
in young minds
 To inculcate skills such as design mind set,
computational thinking, adaptive learning,
physical computing, rapid calculations,
measurements etc.
 Young children will get a chance to work with
tools and equipment to understand what, how
and why aspects of STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math).
Financial Support
 AIM will provide grant-in-aid that includes a
one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh
and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a
maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
 P a g e | 79

 The applicant school would have to provide at

Eligibility least 1,500 Sq. Ft. of built up space.
 Schools (minimum Grade VI - X) managed by  Applicant schools from hilly / Himalayan and
Government, local body or private island states, UTs would have to provide at
trusts/society to set up ATL. least 1,000 Sq. Ft. of built up space.

GEO FENCING
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context around a geographical location, known as a

 The government has recently tested an
application that triggers e-mails and SMS
alerts if a person jumps quarantine or
escapes from isolation.
Details
 It is based on the person’s mobile phone’s cell
tower location.
 This “geo-fencing” is accurate by up to 300
m.
What is geofencing?
 Geofencing is a location-based service in
which an app or other software uses - GPS,
RFID, Wi-Fi or cellular data to trigger a pre-
programmed action when a mobile device
enters or exits a virtual boundary set up
geofence.
Geofencing applications
1. Social networking: Example Snapchat.
Location-based filters and shareable content
are all made possible with geofencing.
2. Marketing: It is a popular way for businesses
to deliver in-store promotions, as soon as one
steps in the range of the store. Geofencing
helps businesses target ads to a specific
audience.
3. Audience engagement: Used to engage
crowds of people at organized events, like
concerts, festivals, fairs and more.
4. Smart appliances: e.g.- To program your
fridge to remind you that you are out of milk
the next time you pass by the grocery store.
5. Monitoring Human resources: Some
companies rely on geofencing for monitoring
employees, especially workers who spend
time off-site doing field work.
6. Telematics: It allows companies to draw
virtual zones around sites, work areas and
secure areas. They can be triggered by a
vehicle or a person and send alerts or
warnings to the operator.
7. Security: Geofencing can also be used to
bring more security to mobile device.
Issue with geofencing
 There are some cautions with geofencing,
especially the breach of privacy.

What is GPS?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning,
navigation, and timing (PNT) services. Originally NAVSTAR GPS, it is a satellite-based radionavigation
system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force.
 P a g e | 80

What is RFID?
RFID is an acronym for “radio-frequency identification” and refers to a technology whereby digital data
encoded in RFID tags or smart labels are captured by a reader via radio waves. RFID is similar to
barcoding as data from a tag or label are captured by a device that stores the data in a database. But
unlike a barcode, the tag doesn't need to be within the line of sight of the reader, so RFID may be
embedded in the tracked object. RFID tags are used in many industries. For example, an RFID tag
attached to an automobile during production can be used to track its progress through the assembly
line; RFID-tagged pharmaceuticals can be tracked through warehouses; and implanting RFID microchips
in livestock and pets enables positive identification of animals.

Wi-Fi
It is a family of wireless networking technologies, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of computer
networking standards which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet
access.

MADHUBAN GAJAR
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context  Zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans,

 Madhuban Gajar - a biofortified carrot
variety with high β-carotene and iron
content developed by Shri Vallabhhai
Vasrambhai Marvaniya, a farmer scientist
from Gujarat.
 The variety is being cultivated in Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and
Uttar Pradesh since last three years.
What is Biofortification?
 It is the process by which the nutritional
quality of food crops is improved through
agronomic practices, conventional plant
breeding, or modern biotechnology.
Examples of biofortification projects
include:
 Iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet
potato, cassava and legumes;
sweet potato and maize;
 Pro-vitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of
sweet potato, maize and cassava; and
 Amino acid and protein-biofortification of
sourghum and cassava.
Micronutrients & Hidden hunger
 Hidden hunger describes a condition of
under nutrition, where the body lacks
essential vitamins and minerals that keep
people healthy. Over two billion people
worldwide are affected by hidden hunger.
 Over 80 per cent adolescents in India suffer
from "hidden hunger" - UNICEF
 Deficiencies in micronutrients such as zinc,
iron and vitamin A can cause profound and
irreparable damage to the body—blindness,
growth stunting, mental retardation, learning
disabilities, low work capacity, and even
premature death.
 P a g e | 81

Importance of Biofortification
 Biofortified staple foods can
contribute to body stores of
micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and
vitamin throughout the life cycle,
including those of children,
adolescents, adult women, men, and
the elderly.
 Thus, it capitalizes on the consistent
daily intake of food staples, indirectly
targeting low-income households who
cannot afford a more diverse diet.
 After the initial investment of
developing fortified crops, no extra
costs are met, making this strategy
very sustainable.
 Biofortified seeds with higher trace
mineral content confer better
protection against pests, diseases, and
environmental stresses, thereby
increasing yield.

Challenges for the Adoption of

Biofortified Crops
 Cost of research
 Regulatory compliance, due to the
extreme precautionary regulation of
biotech crops.
 P a g e | 82

Conclusion  However, biofortified crops can complement

 Biofortified crops, either by conventional existing micronutrients interventions and can
breeding methods or by modern have a significant impact on the lives and
biotechnological tools, are not a panacea. health of millions of people.
 The ultimate aim in global nutrition remains a
sufficient and diverse diet for the world’s
population.

ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS BASED GLOBAL

IONOSPHERIC MODEL
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context How is it developed?

 Recently, researchers have developed a global
model to predict the ionospheric electron
density with larger data coverage.
 The model is - Artificial Neural Networks
based global Ionospheric Model (ANNIM).
 It is developed using long-term ionospheric
observations to predict the ionospheric
electron density.
Need
 Tracking the variability of electron density in
Ionosphere is important for communication
and navigation.

Earlier Challenges
 The ionospheric variability is greatly
influenced by both solar originated
processes and the atmosphere. Therefore, it
is difficult to model.
 Earlier, scientists tried to model the
ionosphere using theoretical and empirical
techniques; however, the accurate prediction
of electron density was a challenging task.

Working of ANNIM
 ANNs replicate the processes in the human
brain (or biological neurons) to solve
problems such as pattern recognition,
classification, clustering, generalization,
linear and nonlinear data fitting, and time
series prediction.
 P a g e | 83

 The researchers developed the model using

an extensive database consisting of nearly
two decades of global Digisonde.
 Digisonde is an instrument that measures
real-time on-site electron density of the
ionosphere by sending the radiofrequency
pulses.

Significance
 The model has potential applications in
calculating the Global Navigation Satellite
System (GNSS) positioning errors.

HUBBLE TELESCOPE
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Hubble Space Telescope

 It was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990
has completed 30 years in space.
 It was built by NASA with contributions from
the European Space Agency.
 It was not the first space telescope but it is
one of the largest, most versatile and a vital
research tool.
 Hubble features a 2.4-meter mirror, and its
four main instruments observe in the
ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 It orbit outside the distortion of Earth's
atmosphere allows it to capture extremely
high-resolution images with substantially
lower background light than ground-based
telescopes.
 Many Hubble observations have led to
breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as
determining the rate of expansion of the
universe.

PLASMA THERAPY
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Context What is plasma?
 Recently, Kerala was approved by Indian  Blood plasma is a yellowish liquid
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for trial of component of blood.
a new treatment for Covid-19. It is called
convalescent plasma therapy.
 P a g e | 84

 It carries cells and proteins throughout the Efficacy of the Plasma treatment
body. It makes up about 55% of the body's  While plasma transfers immunity from one
total blood volume. person to another, it is not known if it can
 It is mostly water (up to 95% by volume), and save lives in COVID-19 infection.
contains important dissolved proteins (e.g.
serum albumins, globulins, and fibrinogen) Precaution
along with glucose, clotting factors,  The procedure is simple. But it is important
electrolytes, hormones, carbon dioxide to control the risk of infection during
(plasma being the main medium for excretory transfusion and patient’s acceptance is
product transportation), and oxygen. required.
 It plays a vital role in keeping electrolyte
concentration balanced and protects the body
from infection and other blood disorders.
 Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and
other body fluids that carry an electric
charge.

WHO guidelines in this regard

The therapy
 In Convalescent Plasma Therapy, plasma from
a COVID-19 recovered patient is transfused
into an infected patient.
 The antibodies present in the plasma of the
recovered patient help in neutralizing the
virus in the infected patient.
 A donor’s permission is must before
extracting plasma.
 Plasma from only recovered patients must be
taken.
 Donation must be done from people not
infected with HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, or any
infectious disease.
 If plasma needs to be collected again from the
same person, it must be done after 12 weeks
of the first donation for males and 16 weeks
for females.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination
and promotion of biomedical research. The ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the
Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

SunRISE MISSION
GS-III SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context
 NASA has selected a new mission to study
how the Sun generates and releases giant
space weather storms. It has been named as
Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment
(SunRISE).
 P a g e | 85

Aim Details
 To study what drives solar particle storms as  SunRISE will provide key information on
depicted in this illustration. coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and the
magnetic field topology moving from active
Mechanism regions of sun into interplanetary space.
 Six small spacecraft will fly in a  A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a
supersynchronous geosynchronous Earth significant release of plasma and
orbit (GEO) within about 10 km of each other. accompanying magnetic field from the
 Operating as one very large radio telescope, solar corona.
they will image the Sun in a portion that is  SunRISE will also help us understand the
blocked by the ionosphere and cannot be particle acceleration that occurs throughout
observed from Earth. the cosmos and leads to
 solar flares,
 solar energetic particles (SEPs),
 anomalous cosmic rays, and
 Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs).

Significance
 SEPs and GCRs can damage satellites and lead
to radiation sickness
 Understanding how solar storms affect
interplanetary space can help protect
spacecraft and astronauts from being
harmed.
Coronal Mass Ejections

ROLE OF ARMED FORCES IN CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK BATTLE
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 Army has moved in to take over the COVID-19
quarantine facility at Narela in Delhi. This has
brought into focus the role of army in such
situations, procedure to be followed and
provisions in this regard.
Response of Armed Forces
 Special IAF flights have evacuated people and
carried medical supplies.
 60 tonnes of essentials stuffs airlifted by IAF
transport fleet has airlifted approximately to
various parts of the country. Twenty-eight
fixed wing and 21 helicopters are on standby.
 6 Naval ships kept ready for assistance to
neighbouring countries. Five medical teams
also on standby for deployment in Maldives,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and
Afghanistan.
 6 quarantine facilities in Mumbai, Jaisalmer,
Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai. 15
other facilities on standby, capacity of
approximately 7,000.
 51 armed forces hospitals are preparing
dedicated COVID-19 facilities including High
Dependency Units (scaled-down version of an
Intensive Care Unit), and ICU beds.
 5 testing labs at armed forces hospitals made
part of national grid.
What is the procedure for calling the armed
forces to help the civil administration?
 The procedure for requisitioning armed
forces is governed under ‘Aid to Civil
Authorities’ under the guidelines laid in
Instructions on Aid to the Civil Authorities
by the Armed Forces, 1970, Regulations for
the Army and Manual of Indian Military
Law.
 Civil administration requests the Local
Military Authority for assistance, for the
maintenance of law and order, maintenance
P a g e | 86
of essential services, disaster relief and other
types of assistance.
 Armed forces can be asked to provide
troops and equipment for a flag march,
rescue and relief, evacuation and immediate
aid.
Some facts
 Providing aid to civil authorities, as and when
called upon to do so, is a secondary task for
the armed forces. It cannot replace the
primary role of ensuring external security and
operational preparedness.
 The National Crisis Management Committee
(NCMC), headed by the cabinet secretary, is
the final authority to decide on the number of
armed forces personnel that can be deployed
to aid civil authority.
Tasks expected to be performed in
checking the spread of COVID-19
 Maintenance of law and order.
 Crowd control and curfew in sensitive areas.
 Evacuation of civilians from affected areas.
 Provision of essential supply of electricity and
water.
 Restoration of essential services.
 Emergency feeding and shelter.
 Prevention of panic, prevention of theft and
loot.
 Guarding quarantine locations and detention
centres.
 Surveillance through drones aerial platforms.
Who pays for the costs incurred by the
armed forces in these roles?
 The cost of assistance provided by the Armed
Forces is paid by the civil administration and
recovered in accordance with the instructions
contained in Appendix „H‟ to the Pamphlet
‘Instructions on Aid to Civil Authorities by
the Armed Forces 1970’.

ROUND-TRIPPING
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 In a major relief for New Delhi Television
Limited (NDTV), the Supreme Court has
quashed an income tax re-assessment notice
issued by revenue authorities against the
premier news broadcasting company.
What’s the issue?
 Income Tax department had accused NDTV of
“round-tripping” finances in connection with
a July 2007 issuance of step-up coupon bonds
amounting to $100 million through its U.K.
subsidiary.
What is round tripping?
 Round tripping refers to money that leaves
the country though various channels and
makes its way back into the country often
as foreign investment.
 It mostly involves black money and is
allegedly often used for stock price
manipulation.
 It is often done through a series of
transactions that don‟t have any substantial
commercial purposes, which makes it fall
within the trappings of GAAR.
o General Anti-avoidance Rule (GAAR) is a
concept which generally empowers the
Revenue Authority in a country to deny
INDIA AMONG TOP MILITARY SPENDERS
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 Recently, the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual
report „Trends in World Military Expenditure,
2019‟.According to the report, the global
military expenditure rose to $1917 billion in
2019 with India and China emerging among
the top three spenders.
Some Highlights
 Global military spending was 2.2% of the
global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with an
increase of 3.6% from 2018.
 The increase of 3.6% was the largest annual
growth in spending since 2010.Top five
P a g e | 87
tax benefit of transactions or
arrangements, which do not have any
commercial substance and the only
purpose of such a transaction is achieving
the tax benefit.
How does the money return to India?
 It could be invested in offshore funds that in
turn invest in Indian assets. The Global
Depository Receipts (GDR) and Participatory
Notes (P-Notes) are some of the other routes
that have been used in the past.
 Global Depository Receipt (GDR) is an
instrument in which a company located in
domestic country issues one or more of its
shares or convertibles bonds outside the
domestic country.
 Participatory notes also referred to as P-
Notes, or PNs, are financial instruments
required by investors or hedge funds to invest
in Indian securities without having to register
with the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI)
Why round tripping happens?
 Tax concessions allowed in the foreign
country encourages individuals to park
money there and then reroute it to hide ill-
gotten wealth.
largest spenders accounted for 62% of the
global expenditure.
 India was at the 4th position in 2018 with
Saudi Arabia at the 3rd.

India specific highlights
 This is the first time that India and China
have featured among the top three military
spenders.
 New Delhi‟s defence spending grew 6.8% to
reach $71.1 billion in 2019.
 India‟s military expenditure grew 259% over
the 30-year period (1990-2019) and by 37%
over the decade (2010–19).
 However, its (India‟s) military burden fell
from 2.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) in
2010 to 2.4% in 2019.
 India‟s tensions and rivalry with both Pakistan
and China are among the major drivers for its
increased military spending.
 In comparison, Pakistan‟s military
expenditure rose by 70% over the decade
2010–19, to reach $10.3 billion while the
military burden increased from 3.4% of GDP
in 2010 to 4% in 2019In Asia and Oceania,
other than India and China, Japan ($47.6 bn)
and South Korea ($43.9 bn) were the largest
military spenders.
NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 Rearrest of peasant leader Akhil Gogoi in
Assam.
About NIA
 It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law
Enforcement Agency. It is empowered to deal
with terror related crimes across states
without special permission from the states.
 NIA Act gives the NIA powers to take
suomotu cognisance of terror activities in any
part of India and register a case, to enter any
state without permission from the state
government, and to investigate and arrest
people.
 Established under the National Investigation
Agency Act 2008.
 Governing Body: Ministry of Home Affairs.
Jurisdiction
 A State Government may request the Central
Government to hand over the investigation of
a case to the NIA, provided the case has been
registered for the offences as contained in the
schedule to the NIA Act.
P a g e | 88
Why Indian military expenditure has risen
 India‟s military spending has grown
significantly over the past decade due to a
raft of reasons including
 a mounting salary bill for about 1.4
million serving personnel,
 pensions for more than two million
veterans and deals worth billions of
dollars to induct new combat jets,
 air defence missile systems,
 helicopters,
 warships and artillery guns to enhance
capabilities.
 Lack of domestic manufacturing, hence,
60% equipments are imported.
Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute
 This think tank is an independent
international institute dedicated to research
into conflict, armaments, arms control and
disarmament. It was established in 1966 at
Stockholm (Sweden).It provides data, analysis
and recommendations, based on open
sources, to policymakers, researchers, media
and the interested public.
 Union Government can order NIA to take over
investigation of any scheduled offense
anywhere in the India.
Composition
 Officers of the NIA are drawn from the Indian
Police Service and Indian Revenue Service.
2019 NIA Amendment Act
 It expanded the type of offences that the
investigative body could investigate and
prosecute. The agency can now investigate
offences related to human trafficking,
counterfeit currency, manufacture or sale of
prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism, and
offences under the Explosive Substances Act,
1908.
 The amendment also enables the central
government to designate sessions courts as
special courts for NIA trials.
 It also allows an NIA officer to conduct raids,
and seize properties that are suspected to be
linked to terrorist activities without taking
prior permission of the Director General of
Police of a state. The investigating officer only

requires sanction from the Director General
of NIA.
Special NIA Courts
 Various Special Courts have been notified by
the Central Government of India for trial of
the cases registered at various police stations
of NIA under Section 11 and 22 of the NIA Act
2008.
 Any question as to the jurisdiction of these
courts is decided by the Central Government.
 Presided over by a judge appointed by the
Central Government on the recommendation
of the Chief Justice of the High Court with
jurisdiction in that region.
CYBER SECURITY
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 Security threats like Deep nudes, concerns
over safety of Zoom and other cyber frauds
have brought attention back on cyber
security.
What is Cyber security?
 Cyber Security is protecting our cyber space
(critical infrastructure) from attack, damage,
misuse and economic espionage.
Growing Importance
 Cyber security spends in India are rising
rapidly because of the massive digitisation
movement
 The ransomware attacks in the past have
added to the urgency of these spends.
P a g e | 89
 Supreme Court has also been empowered to
transfer the cases from one special court to
any other special court within or outside the
state if the same is in the interest of justice in
light of the prevailing circumstances in any
particular state.
 The NIA Special Courts are empowered with
all powers of the court of sessions under
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for trial of
any offense.
 An appeal from any judgement, sentence or
order, not being an interlocutory order, of a
Special Court lies to the High Court both on
facts and on law. State Governments have also
been empowered to appoint one or more such
special courts in their states.
Types of Cyber Attacks
 Malware- any kind of software that is
designed to cause damage to a single
computer, server, or computer network.
 Ransomware, Spy ware, Worms, viruses, and
Trojans are varieties of malware.
 Phishing- trying to gather personal
information using deceptive e-mails and
websites.
 Denial of Service attacks: A Denial-of-Service
(DoS) attack is an attack meant to shut down
a machine or network, making it inaccessible
to its intended users. DoS attacks accomplish
this by flooding the target with traffic, or
sending it information that triggers a crash.
 Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, also known
as eavesdropping attacks, occur when
attackers insert themselves into a two-party
transaction. Once the attackers interrupt the
traffic, they can filter and steal data.
 SQL Injection:SQL (pronounced “sequel”)
stands for Structured Query Language, a
programming language used to communicate
with databases.Many of the servers that store
critical data for websites and services use SQL
to manage the data in their databases.A SQL
injection attack specifically targets such kind
of servers, using malicious code to get the
server to divulge information it normally
wouldn‟t.
 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):Similar to an SQL
injection attack, this attack also involves
injecting malicious code into a website, but in
this case the website itself is not being
attacked.Instead the malicious code the

attacker has injected, only runs in the user's
browser when they visit the attacked website,
and it goes after the visitor directly, not the
website.
 Social engineering is an attack that relies on
human interaction to trick users into breaking
security procedures in order to gain sensitive
information that is typically protected.
Need For Cyber security
 It is essential in securing critical
infrastructure system from collapsing.
 It ensures overall Business continuity.
 Digital India, Make in India and Smart Cities
etc require a secure cyberspace for optimal
outcomes.
 It protects Individual's rights, liberty and
privacy.
Government has taken several steps to
prevent and mitigate cyber security
incidents. These include:
 Establishment of National Critical
Information Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC) for protection of critical information
infrastructure in the country.
 All organizations providing digital services
have been mandated to report cyber security
incidents to CERT-In expeditiously.
 Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning
and Malware Analysis Centre) has been
launched for providing detection of malicious
programmes and free tools to remove such
programmes.
 Issue of alerts and advisories regarding cyber
threats and counter-measures by CERT-In.
 Issue of guidelines for Chief Information
Security Officers (CISOs) regarding their key
roles and responsibilities for securing
applications / infrastructure and compliance.
 Provision for audit of the government
websites and applications prior to their
hosting, and thereafter at regular intervals.
 Empanelment of security auditing
organisations to support and audit
implementation of Information Security Best
Practices.
 Formulation of Crisis Management Plan for
countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism.
 Conducting cyber security mock drills and
exercises regularly to enable assessment of
cyber security posture and preparedness of
organizations in Government and critical
sectors.
 Conducting regular training programmes for
network / system administrators and Chief
Information Security Officers (CISOs) of
P a g e | 90
Government and critical sector organisations
regarding securing the IT infrastructure and
mitigating cyber attacks.
Laws related to Cyber Security in India
Information Technology Act, 2000
 The act regulates use of computers, computer
systems, computer networks and also data
and information in electronic format. The act
lists down among other things, following as
offences: Tampering with computer source
documents. Hacking with computer system
Act of cyber terrorism i.e. accessing a
protected system with the intention of
threatening the unity, integrity, sovereignty or
security of country. Cheating using computer
resource etc.
Strategies under National Cyber Policy, 2013
 Creating a secure cyber ecosystem.
 Creating mechanisms like national systems
and processes for security threats and
responses.
 National Computer Emergency Response
Team (CERT-in) functions as the nodal agency
for coordination of all cyber security efforts,
emergency responses, and crisis management.
Securing e-governance by implementing
global best practices, and wider use of Public
Key Infrastructure.
 National Critical Information Infrastructure
Protection Centre (NCIIPC) operating as the
nodal agency for Protection and resilience of
critical information infrastructure.
NCIIPC
 It was created under Information Technology
Act, 2000 to
 Secure India‟s critical information
infrastructure.
 Support to cutting edge R&D in cyber
security technology.
 Human Resource Development to build
capacity.
Way Forward
 Coordination among CERTs of different
countries
 Nations must take responsibility to ensure
that the digital space does not become a
playground for the dark forces of terrorism
and radicalization.
 Alertness towards cyber-security concerns
should become a way of life.
 Ensure that vulnerable sections of our society
do not fall prey to the evil designs of cyber
criminals.
 Understanding and implementing the global

best practices of the cyber space.
 Need for India to move on from IT security to
cyber security
 Law enforcement authorities and businesses
must punish individuals using technology to
cause damage
GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 Niti Aayog has questioned the methodology
adopted by Australian Institute for
Economics and Peace (IEP) to rank India as
the seventh worst terrorism affected country
in its Global Terrorism Index of 2019.
 It also questions the opaque funding of the
IEP.
The Issue
 India has moved to the seventh position from
the previous year‟s eighth in the annual
Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2019.
 Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan and
Somalia are ahead of India.
 Following this, in March, the Cabinet
Secretariat asked Niti Aayog to track 32 such
global indices to see how they could help
drive reforms and growth, because the
positioning in the global indices impacted
investments and other opportunities.
Pitfalls in GTI methodology
 IEP‟s economic impact of terrorism model
does not account for costs for countering
violent extremism and long-term economic
impacts on business activity, production and
investment.
 GTI 2019 report states that a great majority
of property damage values from terrorist
incidents are coded in the GTD as „unknown,‟
resulting in 1 out 4 parameters scoring nil for
most countries.
P a g e | 91
 A person won‟t stop causing damage unless
there is deterrence
 Organisations that are hit by cyber attacks
must inform law enforcement immediately
instead of worrying about their reputations.
 Important to have crisis management plans so
that it helps to react in a given situation.
 Definition of mass shootings used in the GTI
is limited to ‘indiscriminate rampages in
public places resulting in four or more
victims killed by the attacker,‟ leaving out
lone wolf attacks which may have lesser
fatalities and more injuries, and attacks foiled
by security and intelligence agencies.
Global Terrorism Index
 It issued by the Institute for Economics and
Peace (IEP).
 It is based on the Global Terrorism Database
(GTD) collated by the National Consortium for
the Study of Terrorism and Responses to
Terrorism (START) at the University of
Maryland, besides other sources.
 It provides a comprehensive summary and
composite score of the key global trends and
impact of terrorism since 2000.
Why GTI rankings matter?
 It is directly used in the Global Peace Index,
the Global Slavery Report published by the
Walk Free Foundation, and indirectly used
in computing country scores in the World
Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism
Competitiveness and Global
Competitiveness Indices and compilation of
Safe Cities Index by the Economist
Intelligence Unit.
 It impact foreign investments and other
opportunities.
 It hurts India‟s global image and weaken its
soft diplomacy.

UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) ACT (UAPA)
GS-III SECURITY
Context
 Delhi Police booked Jamia Students under
UAPA act.
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
Key provisions:
 Aim: prevention of unlawful activities (by
individuals or organisations or associations)
in India.
 The central government may designate an
individual/organisation as a terrorist
organisation if it:
(i) commits or participates in acts of terrorism,
(ii) prepares for terrorism,
(iii) promotes terrorism, or
(iv) is otherwise involved in terrorism.
 Objective: To make powers available for
dealing with activities directed against the
integrity and sovereignty of India.
 Under the act, it is acrime to support any
secessionist movement or to support claims
by a foreign power to what India claims as its
territory.
 The UAPA, framed in 1967, has been already
amended twice since; first in 2008 and then in
2012 and 2019.
2019 Amendment
 Property Seizure by NIA: With the approval
of the Director General of NIA.
 Investigation by NIA: Investigation of cases
may be conducted by officers of the rank of
Deputy Superintendent or Assistant
Commissioner of Police or above. The
amended act additionally empowers the
P a g e | 92
officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or
above, to investigate cases.
 Insertion to schedule of treaties: The Act
defines terrorist acts to include acts
committed within the scope of any of the
treaties listed in a schedule to the Act. The
Schedule lists nine treaties, including the
Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist
Bombings (1997), and the Convention
against Taking of Hostages (1979). The Bill
adds another treaty to the list. This is the
International Convention for Suppression of
Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).
Few draconian provisions
 The Act provides a vague definition of
terrorism to encompass a wide range of non-
violent political activity, including political
protest which are prone to misuse.
 It empowers the government to declare or
brand any person or an organisation as
‘terrorist’ without adequate safeguards.
 Anticipatory bail is out of the question.
 The accused person can file an application
before the Central Government for de-
notification, which will be considered by a
Review Committee constituted by the
Government itself.
 It creates a presumption of guilt for
terrorism offences merely based on the
evidence allegedly seized.
 It mandates creation of special courts, with
closed-door hearings, secret witnesses
without sunset clause and no provisions for
mandatory periodic review.

HUMAN CHALLENGE TRIALS
GS-IV ETHICS
Context
 Numerous people have volunteered to take
part in a controversial testing method called
human challenge trials, which involves
intentionally infecting volunteers with the
novel corona virus, is being promoted in
order to “speed up” the process of preparing
a vaccine.
 How vaccines are usually developed and
tested?
 In most regulatory regimes, vaccines take
several years to develop and their
development typically proceeds through three
phases of clinical trials.
1. In Phase 1, small groups of people receive
the trial vaccine.
2. In Phase 2, the clinical study is expanded
and the vaccine is given to people who
have characteristics similar to those for
whom the new vaccine is intended.
3. In Phase 3, the vaccine is given to several
thousand people and tested for efficacy
and safety. During this phase, participants
either receive the vaccine or a placebo.
What are human challenge trials?
 In this, participants of the vaccine group and
placebo group upon consent are deliberately
exposed to the infection – thus are
“challenged” by the disease organism.
Why is it significant?
• Such trials could save valuable time in
developing a vaccine, as researchers would
not have to wait for participants to contract
the infection under real-world conditions.
• By replacing conventional Phase 3 testing of
vaccine candidates, such trials may subtract
many months from the licensure process,
making efficacious vaccines available more
quickly.
P a g e | 93
The ethical concerns
In favour
1. Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian principle of
greatest happiness of the greatest number
validates this. Few individuals loss of lives
can help to reduce the global burden of
corona virus-related mortality and morbidity.
2. From generations trials are being conducted
on animal or human, and they are well
informed and compensated and cooperate
willingly. Thus, it is neither a violation of
Right to live nor of individual dignity.
3. While human challenge trials are not new,
they are usually carried out in developing
medications for diseases, which are
considered less lethal and have been better
understood by scientists over the years, such
as malaria.
Against
1. Exposing a healthy being to living and fatal
virus (given no drug is there to cure it )is
violation of personal safety and ethicality of
a person. As a life cannot be compensated in
terms of cash or kind.
2. Medical ethics also do not support such
unsafe and unethical experiment on another
human (generally the poor and marginalized
volunteer more) just for the sake of
accelerating vaccine development.
3. WHO has observed that such research can
appear to be in conflict with the guiding
principle in medicine to do no harm.
What is needed right now?
 It is essential that challenge studies be
conducted within an ethical framework in
which truly informed consent is given.
 When conducted, human challenge studies
should be undertaken with abundant
forethought, caution and oversight.
 The value of the information to be gained
should clearly justify the risks to human
subjects. Information to be gained should
clearly justify the risks to human subjects.
 P a g e | 94

WHO’s ethical guidelines for the human challenge trials

 P a g e | 95

SHORT NEWS ARTICLES

ECONOMY
Countercyclical Capital Buffer Currency exchange rate
 The currency exchange rate is the rate at
(CCCB) in Banking which one currency will be exchanged for
Context
another.
 The Bank of England mentioned cut in the
This depends on the demands of the currency. If
counter-cyclical capital buffer (CCCB) to 0
the demand is high currency gets stronger.
percent, from the current 1 percent to improve
 This demand, in turn, depends on the demand
the economy hit due to COVID-19.
of the goods and services of the two countries.
 It is used to measure the performance of the
What is Countercyclical Capital Buffer?
currency with reference to a bunch of
 It is the capital to be kept by a bank to meet
different currencies.
business cycle related risks. It is supposed to
be in the form of equity.
Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER)
 CCCB is a part of BASEL-III norms and is
 Tabulated by Reserve bank of India.
calculated as a fixed percentage of a bank‘s
 It is the measure of Rupee performance in
risk-weighted loan book.
relation to the currencies of 36 trading
o Basel III norms are global, voluntary
partner countries.
regulatory framework on bank capital
 Weighted index: Countries with which India
adequacy, stress testing and market
trades more are given greater weight in the
liquidity risk. It is intended to strengthen
index.
bank capital requirements by increasing
 A decrease in this index denotes depreciation
bank liquidity and decreasing bank
in rupee‘s value; an increase reflects
leverage.
appreciation.
 Banks are required to set aside a higher portion
 Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) will be
of their capital during good times when loans
calculated by considering the domestic
are growing rapidly so that the capital can be
inflation in the various economies.
released and used during bad times.
 RBI had proposed the CCCB for Indian banks in
Recent trends
2015 as part of its Basel-III requirements. CCCB
 The rupee has depreciated to its lowest level
to be maintained, keeping the ratio at zero
since November 2018.
percent ever since.
 The rupee has been steadily losing value
showing the Indian economy‘s reducing
Benefits
competitiveness.
 Acting as a buffer that can be drawn upon
during distress
 Reduces systemic risks, which refer to events Kisan Rath
that can affect individual banks and shake up Context
the financial system.  Kisan Rath Mobile App will facilitate farmers
and traders to identify suitable transport
facilities for the movement of farm produce
Currency Exchange Rate Index from farm gate to mandi and from one to
Context
another mandi during corona virus lockdown.
 The relative impact of COVID on India can be
 It is developed by the National Informatics
determined by the Currency Exchange rate
Centre.
index.
 P a g e | 96

Benefits National Informatics Centre (NIC)

 Ensure seamless supply linkages between
farmers, FPOs, APMC mandis, and intra-state
and inter-state buyers.
 Reduce wastage and contribute to better pricing
of perishable commodities.
 It is developed by the National Informatics
Centre.
 It is an attached office under the Ministry of
Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) in the Indian government.
 It provides the infrastructure to help support
the delivery of government IT services and the
delivery of some of the initiatives of Digital
India.
o Digital India is a flagship program of the
Government of India with a vision to
transform India into a digitally empowered
society and knowledge economy.

1. Snippets
 It is a non-repayable money transfer from the central bank to the government.
Helicopter  Under this a policy, central bank directly increases the money supply to boost
money demand and inflation. It involves printing large sums of money and distributing it to
the public.
Stranded in  ‗Stranded in India‘ portal was launched by the Ministry of Tourism.
India portal  Aim: To provide support to the tourists, who are stuck in the country due to corona
virus lockdown.
 Around 30,000 international visitors stranded in various parts of the country have
returned to their home countries by now through several rescue flights operating
from key airports.
The Index of (Note: Please go through the detailed article on “Index of Industrial Production” in this
Industrial edition)
Production  India‘s industrial output grew by 4.5% in February.
 This is mainly due to higher output in the mining, manufacturing, and electricity
sector.
Doodh Duronto  It is a train service that takes milk from the dairy-rich Chittoor district to the national
special capital.
 It is an effort to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential commoditiesand to
balance supply and demand mismatch during the lockdown.
Reverse repo  RBI has reduced Reverse repo rate by 25 basis points. Now the new repo rate is 3.75
rate percent.
 This move will
o ensure adequate liquidity in the system to ease the financial stress caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic.
o encourage banks to lend to the productive sectors of the economy
 Repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks.
 Reverse repo is the rate at which commercial banks park their money with the central
bank.
India services  Published by IHS Markit India. It indicated that Coronavirus pandemic pulled the
business service sector into contraction.
activity index

ENVIRONMENT
Leatherback sea turtles
 The largest number of nests ofthe rare Leather
back sea turtles was found in Thailand as the
beaches were deserted due toCOVID-19 lock
down.
 Leatherbacks turtle
 Largest living turtle on record.
 Vulnerable under international union for
conservation of nature (iucn) red list of
threatened species.
 Lay their eggs in quiet and dark areas.
 Live all over the world (except for the polar
regions)
 In a single reproductive season, mature
females can lay between three and 10
clutch of 60 to 90 eggs, but a tiny
percentage of these babies — just 1 in
1,000 survives.
Earth Day
 It is an annual event, organized byEarth Day
Network (EDN): not for profit organisation; to
show support for environmental protection
around the world on April 22.
 Earth Day was founded by American senator
Gaylord Nelson for environmental education.
 This day commenced on April 22, 1970. In the
year 2020, the 50th anniversary of the first
Earth Day is being celebrated.
 The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate
action.
COP26 postponed
 The COP26 UN climate change conference set to
take place in Glasgow in November has been
postponed due to COVID-19.
What is UNFCCC?
 The United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international
environmental treaty adopted and implemented
P a g e | 97
by countries all around the world in 1994 to
address the issue of climate change.
 UNFCCC objectives are to ―stabilize greenhouse
gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level
that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system‖ and
prevent human damage and interference with
the climate system.
 Ratified in 1992, the UNFCCC is the first global
treaty addressing climate change that created
this organization.
 It meets yearly to discuss progress and take
bold action.
What is the COP?
 The COP is the supreme decision-making body
of the Convention.
 States that are Parties to the Convention are
represented at the COP.
 They review the implementation of the
Convention and any other legal instruments
that the COP adopts and take decisions
necessary to promote the effective
implementation of the Convention.
 The COP meets every year, unless the Parties
decide otherwise.
 The first COP meeting was held in Berlin,
Germany in March, 1995.
 The COP meets in Bonn, the seat of the
secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the
session.
 COP Presidency rotates among the five
recognized UN regions - that is, Africa, Asia,
Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and
Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others.
National Board for Wildlife
 India's National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
hasn't met in six years.
 Policy decisions and clearances have,
meanwhile, come from a standing committee,
to the dismay of experts.
 Under the provisions of the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA), the NBWL can
constitute a Standing Committee, but the board
has to meet at least twice a year. But the board
hasn‘t met even once since 2014.
 The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister.
 Every new government constitutes a new board,
based on the provisionsof the WLPA, with the
new PM as the chair.
 The Standing Committee‘s function is to
regulate land diversion within Protected

Areas and Eco Sensitive Zones, making it
apurely project clearance body.
 The NBWL, on the other hand, has the power
to deal with policy-level decisions on wildlife.
Anthurium
 A woman innovator from Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, has developed 10 varieties of
Anthurium, a flower with high market value,
by cross-pollination.
 Anthurium is a vast group of beautiful
blooming plants available in a wide range of
colours.
 Anthurium is one of the best domestic
flowering plants in the world.
 It purifies the surrounding air and removes
harmful airborne chemicals like formaldehyde,
ammonia, toluene, xylene, and allergens.
New species of viper
 The Indian Herpetologists discovered new
species of viper family in the Pakke Tiger
Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.
 It has been named after a fictional character,
Salazar Slytherin.
 Vipers are venomous snakes that are found in
almostall parts of the world.
 Pakke Tiger Reserveis bounded by KamengRiver
in the west and north and by PakkeRiver in the
east. It is located in Arunachal Pradesh.
Devanahalli Pomelo
 Devanahallipomelo or chakota, a citrus variety
almost on thebrink of extinction, is now set to
receive a new lease of life.
 Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL),
as part of the 50th anniversary of World Earth
Day,hopes to conserve the endangered fruit by
cultivating it withinthe airport campus.
 BIAL is cultivating the DevanahalliPomelo fruit
under its CSR programme ‗NammaOoru‘.
 The Devanahallipomelo fruit of Devanahalli
region (Karnataka), has got the Geographical
Indication (GI) tag, for its unique, sweet taste,
unlike other varieties.
 Also known by its scientific name Citrus
Maxima, the tree‘s fruit is rich in Vitamin C.
P a g e | 98
 While each pomelo tree grows 24 inches per
season, it can live from 50-150 years and reach
a height of 25 feet.
What is GI status?
 GI status is an indication that identifies goods
as produced from a particular area, which has
special quality or reputation attributable to its
geographical origin.
 GI tag helps the producers to differentiate their
products from competing products in the mark.
 It enables the producers to build a reputation
and good will around their products, which
often fetch a premium price.
 Under Paris Convention for the Protection of
Industrial Property, GIs are covered as an
element of IPRs.
 GI is governed by WTO‘s Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS).
 In India, GI tag is governed by Geographical
Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection Act), 1999.
 This Act is administered by Controller General
of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is
also Registrar of Geographical Indications.
Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay
Abhiyan
 Gujarat government has given green signal for
the third edition ―Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay
Abhiyan‖, a conservation plan to deepen water
bodies in the state before monsoon.
 The scheme was started in 2018 after a weak
monsoon, and till date, the state‘s water
storage capacity has increased by 23,000 lakh
cubic feet due to deepening of lakes, check-
dams, rivers and reservoirs.
 It involves cleaning and desilting of riverfronts,
sprucing up of Irrigation canals. The drive runs
on a Public Private Partnership mode and
contribution from the government shall remain
60% of the expenditure of the work while 40%
share will be from people‘s contribution.
Anti-smog guns
 Anti-smog guns installed at 14 large project
sites in Delhi.
 On January 13, the Supreme Court had said
that anti-smog guns should be mandatory in
projects that require environmental clearance
from the State or Centre, and have a built-up
area of over 20,000 square metres.
 Anti-smog gun is a device that sprays
nebulised water droplets into the atmosphere
to reduce air pollution.

 Connected to a water tank and mounted on a
vehicle, the device could be taken across the
city to spray water to settle dust and other
suspended particles.
 It can spray water up to a height of 50 metres
and the results were positive as the spray acts
like rain and settles dust particles and also PM
2.5.
Petersberg Climate Dialogue
 The eleventh and first virtual Petersberg
Climate Dialogue was held on April 28th 2020.
 India, along with 30 countries, deliberated over
ways and means to tackle the challenge of
reinvigorating economies and societies after
COVID-19, while enhancing collective resilience
and catalysing climate action while also
supporting in particular those most vulnerable.
 This dialogue has been hosted by Germany
since 2010to provide a forum for informal
high-level political discussions, focusing both
on international climate negotiations and the
advancement of climate action.
Hydrogen fuel cell buses and cars
 NTPC Ltd, India's largest power producer and a
central PSU under Ministry of Power, has
invited Global Expression of Interest to provide
10 Hydrogen Fuel Cell based electric buses and
an equal number of Hydrogen Fuel Cell based
electric cars in Leh and Delhi.
GENERAL STUDIES - I
Indian Council for Cultural
Relations (ICCR)
Context
 The ICCR has launched a global painting
competition titled ‗United Against CORONA:
Express Through Art‘.
 The competition is open for all, including
amateurs and professionals from India and
across the world in all the age categories.
Aim
 To express emotions, feelings, ideas and
innovative thoughts on COVID-19, social
distancing, quarantine and the global fight
against the virus through various media.
P a g e | 99
 The move to procure Hydrogen Fuel Cell based
vehicles is first of its kind project in the
country, wherein a complete solution from
green energy to the fuel cell vehicle would be
developed.
 The move to launch hydrogen powered vehicles
aims at decarbonizing mobility segment.
 At the heart of the fuel cell electric vehicles
(FCEV) is a device that uses a source of fuel,
such as hydrogen, and an oxidant to create
electricity by an electrochemical process.
 Like conventional batteries under the bonnets
of automobiles, hydrogen fuel cells convert
chemical energy into electrical energy.
 FCEVs are billed as vehicles of the future, given
that hydrogen is the most abundant resource in
the universe.
 Fuel cells generate electricity through
an electrochemical process, it does not store
energy.
 It relies on a constant supply of fuel and
oxygen.
 Unlike battery-powered electric vehicles, fuel
cell vehicles do not need to be plugged in,
and most models exceed 300 km of range on
a full tank.
 The process of making hydrogen needs energy
often from fossil fuel sources. That has raised
questions over hydrogen‘s green credentials.
 Further, hydrogen is more explosive than
petrol.
ICCR
 The Indian Council for Cultural Relations
(ICCR), is an autonomous organisation of the
Government of India, involved in India's
external cultural relations, through cultural
exchange with other countries.
 It was founded on 9 April 1950 by Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister
of independent India.
Ambubachi Mela
 Ambuchhi Mela is cancelled this year due to the
outbreak of COVID 19.
 It is an annual Hindu mela held at Kamakhya
Temple in Guwahati, Assam. It is the

celebration of the yearly menstruation course
of goddess Kamakhya.
 The temple is situated on the Nilachal Hill near
Brahmaputra River. The festival is also known
as ‗Mahakumbh of the East‘ or Ameti or
Tantric fertility festival.
Darbar Move
 It is the bi-annual shift of the secretariat and
government offices of Jammu and Kashmir
from one capital city to another.
 From May to October, governmental offices are
housed in the state's summer capital, Srinagar,
and the other six months in its winter capital,
Jammu.
 The tradition was started during Dogra rule in
1872 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
 The issue of discontinuing the move has
occasionally been raised, but the economic
benefits the move brings to Jammu has led to
resistance to any plans to reform it.
 The state government decided due to the
ongoing 2019–20 corona virus pandemic to not
perform the shift in 2020.
Yanomami Tribe
 Recently, a Yanomami indigenous boy died
after contracting COVID-19 in Brazil.
 The Yanomami, are a group of indigenous
people, who live in villages of Amazon
rainforest on the border between Venezuela
and Brazil.
Mahavir Jayanti
 Mahavir Jayanti was recently celebrated across
India.
 It marks the birth of Mahavir or Vardhamana,
the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of
Jainism.
 He was the spiritual successor of 23rd
tirthankara Parshvanatha. He practiced intense
meditation and severe austerities for 12 years,
then attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience).
Mahavira, was a contemporary of Gautama
Buddha.
 He taught that observance of the vows of
ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya
(non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and
P a g e | 100
aparigraha (non-attachment) are necessary for
spiritual liberation.
 He taught the principles of Anekantavada
(many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada.
Mahavira's teachings were compiled by
Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the
Jain Agamas.
Daporijo Bridge
 The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has
constructed a bridge named as Daporijo Bridge
over Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh in a
record span of just 27 days.
 The Bridge is a strategic link towards the (Line
of Actual Control) LAC between India and
China. All supplies, rations, constructional
material and medicines pass over this bridge.
 The Subansiri River is the largest tributary of
the Brahmaputra River and flows through
Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China. It originates in
the Himalayas, Tibet.
Kasowal Bridge
 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has
constructed a new permanent bridge on the
river Ravi connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab
to the rest of the country. The bridge was built
under Project Chetak.
 Project Chetak: The project was raised in June
1962 at Dehra Dun for construction of
Joshimath-Malari-Rinkin road. The jurisdiction
of the project is spread across the states of
Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. In 1962,
during the Chinese aggression, the project
helped Army providing communication on the
Rishikesh-Joshimath axis.

 River Ravi:
 The Ravi River is a trans-boundary river
crossing northwestern India and Pakistan. It
is one of the five tributaries of River Indus.
 The waters of Ravi are allocated to India
under the Indus Waters Treaty.
P a g e | 101
 The river originates in the Himalayas in
Himachal Pradesh.
 The major multipurpose project built on
the river is the Ranjit Sagar Dam (also
known as Thein dam).
 River Ujh is a tributary of the river Ravi.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Pitch black 2020
 Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial multilateral
air combat training and warfare exercise
hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF). The exercise is normally held in
Northern Australia, primarily at RAAF Bases
Darwin and Tindal.
 Pitch Black 2020 has been canceled due to the
COVID-19 situation.
 In the last edition of Pitch Black in 2018, the
IAF for the first time deployed fighter aircraft.
Operation Sanjeevani
 Indian Air Force transport aircraft delivered
essential medicines and hospital consumables
to the Maldives. This is named as Operation
Sanjeevani.
 These medicines and consumables were
procured from suppliers of India but couldn‘t
be transported through any other means due to
the 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the
spread of COVID-19.
 At the request of the government of Maldives,
the IAF aircraft activated Operation Sanjeevani
and lifted items to the Maldives.
CORONA Bonds
Context
 Discussions happening among European Union
(EU) members to establish a joint debt
management mechanism to overcome the
COVID crisis.
 Nine EU countries have been calling for such
bonds to be issued EU-wide: Spain, Italy,
France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland,
Portugal, Greece, and Slovenia.
 Germany, Netherlands, Austria, and Finland
are also known as the "Frugal Four" the fiscally
conservative EU states have opposed such a
mechanism.
European Investment Bank
 The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a
publicly owned international financial
institution whose shareholders are the EU
member states.
 It was established in 1958 under the Treaty of
Rome.
 Bank intends to make a difference to the future
of Europe and its partners by supporting sound
investments that further EU policy goals.
International Energy Agency
Context
 IEA forecasts a huge drop in oil demand in
2020
(Note: Please read the article from April 2020 IAS
gazette for detailed analysis of Oil price crisis)

About
 "Corona bonds" are joint debt issued to
member states of the EU.
 The funds would be common and would come
from the European Investment Bank.
 This would be metalized debt, taken
collectively by all member states of the
European Union.
 P a g e | 102

About IEA  Now it focuses on the "3Es" of effectual energy

 The International Energy Agency is an policy: energy security, economic
autonomous intergovernmental organization development, and environmental protection.
established under the framework of  Promoting alternate energy sources (including
the Organization for Economic Co-operation renewable energy), rational energy policies, and
and Development (OECD). multinational energy technology co-operation.
 Head Quarters: Paris
 Members: Organization for Economic Co-operation and
o A candidate country to the IEA must be a Development (OECD)
member country of the OECD. The IEA  It is an intergovernmental economic
member countries are required to maintain organization.
total oil stock levels equivalent to at least  It was established to stimulate economic
90 days of the previous year's net imports. progress and world trade.
o Total Members: 30. Association countries: 8  Currently, the organization has 37 member
o The IEA acts as a policy adviser to its countries. India is not a member of OECD.
member states but also works with non-  It is a forum of countries describing themselves
member countries, especially China, India. as committed to democracy and the market
economies.
Responsibilities  Most OECD members are high-income
 Initially, the IEA dedicated to economies with a very high Human
o Responds to physical disruptions in the Development Index (HDI) and are regarded
supply of oil. as developed countries.
o Information source on statistics about the
international oil market and other energy
sectors.
 P a g e | 103

Asian Infrastructure Investment

Bank (AIIB)
Context
 India is seeking loans from multilateral
institutions including the Asian Development
Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB) to combat COVID-19.

Asian Development Bank Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Purpose  Achieving a prosperous, inclusive,  Established to support the building of
resilient and sustainable Asia & the infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region.
Pacific, while sustaining its efforts  It was established as an alternative bank to
to eradicate extreme poverty. balance the US and developed world in
banking platforms such as world bank, ADB,
etc.
Established 1966 2016
in
Headquarters Manila, Philippines. Beijing
Members  Bank admits the members of  102 approved members, which include 80
the United Nations Economic and members and 22 prospective members.
Social Commission for Asia and the  India is a founding member
Pacific and non-regional developed
countries.
 Total members: 68. Out of 67,
49 developing and developed
members within Asia and the
Pacific region, and 19 members
from outside the region.
 India is a founding member
Voting  Modeled on the World Bank. It has a China has the highest voting power followed by
pattern similar weighted voting system India.
where votes are distributed based
on member‘s capital subscriptions.
Share  Japan holds the largest proportion China has the highest shares followed by India.
of shares at 15.677%, closely
followed by the United States with
15.567% capital share. China holds
6.473%, India holds 6.359%, and
Australia holds 5.812%.

U.S. COMMISSION ON
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM (USCIRF)
Context
 U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom downgrades India in 2020 list.
About the report
 The U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) has downgraded India to the
lowest ranking, ―countries of particular
concern‖ (CPC) in its 2020 report.
o According to USCIRF ―countries of
particular concern,‖ are those countries
that commit systematic, ongoing, and
egregious violations of religious freedom.
 It placed India alongside China, North Korea,
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
 India was categorized as a ―Tier 2 country‖ in
last year‘s listing. This is the first time since
2004 that India has been placed in this
category.
 Concerns about the Citizenship Amendment
Act, the National Register for Citizens, anti-
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Motto ―One Vision, One Identity, One Community‖
Purpose Promoting intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security military,
educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia.
Established 1967 through Bangkok Declaration
Secretariat Jakarta, Indonesia.
P a g e | 104
conversion laws, and the situation in Jammu
and Kashmir are reasons for such low ranking.
 The commission also recommended that the
U.S. government take stringent action against
India under the ―International Religious
Freedom Act‖ (IRFA).
 It called on the administration to ―impose
targeted sanctions on Indian government
agencies and officials responsible for severe
violations of religious freedom.
About U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom
 It is a U.S. federal government commission
created by the International Religious Freedom
Act (IRFA) of 1998.
 USCIRF's principal responsibility is to review
the facts and circumstances of violations
of religious freedom internationally and to
make policy recommendations to the President,
the Secretary of State, and Congress.
ASEAN SUMMIT
Context
 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
summit held online.

Members  Total of10 members
 Founded by 5 members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
 5 more countries joined later: Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia
 ASEAN Plus Three, consisting of ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea, was created in
1997.
 ASEAN Plus Six: includes ASEAN plus three, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
POLITY
Chief Vigilance Commission
Context
 Sanjay Kothari appointed as Central Vigilance
Commissioner by President.
About Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
 It is the apex vigilance institution created via
executive resolution in 1964 but was
conferred with statutory status in 2003.
 It submits its report to the President of India.
 The Commission was set up on the
recommendation of the K. Santhanam
Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
Composition
 Consists of central vigilance commissioner
along with 2 vigilance commissioners.
Appointment
 Appointed by the President of India on the
recommendations of a committee consisting of:
 Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha (if
there is no LoP then the leader of the single
largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha).
Office term
 Their term is 4 years or 65 years, whichever is
earlier.
Removal
 The Central Vigilance Commissioner or any
Vigilance Commissioner can be removed from
his office only by order of the President on the
ground of proved misbehaviour orincapacity
after the Supreme Court, on a reference made
to it by the President, has, on inquiry, reported
that the Central Vigilance Commissioner or
anyVigilance Commissioner, as the case may be,
ought to be removed.
P a g e | 105
Autonomous District Councils
Context
 The COVID-19 pandemic may earn Governor‘s
rule for the Bodoland Territorial Area
Districts (BTAD) in Assam.
 The State‘s Governor is the constitutional
head of the BTAD that falls under the Sixth
Schedule of the Constitution and is
administered by the Bodoland Territorial
Council (BTC).
Background
 Elections were scheduled to be held for the BTC
on April 4 but was deferred indefinitely in view
of the pandemic. The council‘s current term
expires on April 27.
What are Autonomous District Council?
 As per the Sixth Schedule, the four states viz.
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
contain the Tribal Areas, which are technically
different from the Scheduled Areas.
 Though these areas fall within the executive
authority of the state, provision has been made
for the creation of the District Councils and
regional councils for the exercise of the certain
legislative and judicial powers.
 Each district is an autonomous district and
Governor can modify / divide the boundaries
of the said Tribal areas by notification.
Powers of Governor
The Governor may, by public notification:
(a) Include any area.
(b) Exclude any area.
(c) Create a new autonomous district.
(d) Increase the area of any autonomous district.
(e) Diminish the area of any autonomous district.
(f) Alter the name of any autonomous district.
(g) Define the boundaries of any autonomous
district.

Constitution of District Councils and Regional
Councils
(1) There shall be a District Council for each
autonomous district consisting of not more
than thirty members, of whom not more than
four persons shall be nominated by the
Governor and the rest shall be elected on the
basis of adult suffrage.
(2) There shall be a separate Regional Council for
each area constituted an autonomous region.
(3) Each District Council and each Regional Council
shall be a body corporate by the name
respectively of the District Council of (name of
district) and the Regional Council of (name of
region), shall have perpetual succession and a
common seal and shall by the said name sue
and be sued.
125th amendment bill
1. It seeks to increase the financial and executive
powers of the 10 Autonomous Councils in the
Sixth Schedule areas of the north-eastern
region.
2. The amendments provide for elected village
municipal councils, ensuring democracy at the
grassroot level.
3. The village councils will be empowered to
prepare plans for economic development and
social justice including those related to
agriculture, land improvement, implementation
of land reforms, minor irrigation, water
management, animal husbandry, rural
electrification, small scale industries and social
forestry.
4. The Finance Commission will be mandated to
recommend devolution of financial resources to
them.
6. At least one-third of the seats will be reserved
for women in the village and municipal councils
in the Sixth Schedule areas of Assam, Mizoram
and Tripura after the amendment is approved.
Article 164(4)
Context
 Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray may end up
losing his seat if he is not elected to the
Legislative Council of the state before May
24th.
The Issue
 He took oath of office without being a member
of legislative assembly or council and if he does
P a g e | 106
not become a member by May 24 th(Six month
from taking office), then he will be disqualified
as CM.
What does the Constitution say?
 Article 164 of the Constitution allows a non-
legislator to occupy a post in the council of
ministers, including the office of the chief
minister for six months.
The alternative
 Article 171 of the Constitution says the
governor can nominate eminent persons from
the field for literature, science, art,
cooperative movement and social service.
Uddhav Thackeray does not directly fit into any
of the criteria mentioned but social service has
a wider scope. And, if governor nominates
somebody to the legislative council, his/her
decision cannot be challenged in the court, at
least as of the precedent right now. The
Maharashtra legislative council has two
vacancies to be filled by governor's
nominations.
Follow UP
 Election Commission of India announced
election dates for LC in May 2020.
SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA
Context
 Union Minister for Human Resource
Development, held a detailed review of the
National online education platform SWAYAM
and the 32 DTH Television Education
Channels SWAYAM PRABHA
SWAYAM
 It is an online education platform, where1902
courses are available currently in SWAYAM,
which have been offered to 1.56 cr. students
since launch.
 SWAYAM 2.0 also supports launch of Online
degree programmes and mapping of SWAYAM
courses to All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) model curriculum has been
done after identifying the gaps.
 A similar exercise for non-technical courses is
underway by a committee of UGC.
 It was decided that all the 1900 SWAYAM
Courses and 60000 SWAYAM PRABHA videos
would be translated into ten regional languages

and made available to the students so that
more benefit can be derived from the same.
 It was also decided that UGC and AICTE will
follow up with Universities and institutions to
accept SWAYAM credits.
 To encourage faculty to provide more courses
under SWAYAM, appropriate incentives for
their career will be provided.
 Further, UGC has been asked to prepare
guidelines regarding online and Distance
learning guidelines to increase Gross Enrolment
Ratio.
SWAYAM Prabha
 The SWAYAM PRABHA is a group of 32 DTH
channels devoted to telecasting of high-
quality educational programmes on 24X7
basis using the GSAT-15 satellite (India‘s
communication satellite). Every day, there will
be new content for at least 4 hours, which
would be repeated 5 more times in a day,
allowing the students to choose the time of
their convenience.
Decisions taken
 Possibility of redistribution of channels to
match available content, and viewership shall
be explored.
 It was also decided to enrich the content in
SWAYAM PRABHA by collecting content from
who so ever willing to contribute the same
under VidyaDaan Programme.
 Subject expert committees shall be formed to
approve the content received, before getting it
uploaded on SWAYAM Prabha.
 The broadcast over DTH will be popularized
through all available channels, including radio,
social media.
VidyaDaan Programme
 Aim: This national program is a call to the
nation, particularly individuals & organizations
across the country to contribute e-learning
resources in the education domain to ensure
that quality learning continues for learners
across India.
 Who can contribute? Contributions can be
made by individuals, teachers, educationists,
subject experts, schools, government and non-
government organisations etc after registering
& nominating themselves.
 In what way contribute? These contributions
can be of different types of content such as
P a g e | 107
explanation videos, teaching videos, practice
questions, competency-based items, lesson
plans etc. for any grade from 1 to 12 and for
any subject as specified by the states/UTs
under their respective projects.
World Press Freedom Index 2020
Context
 India has dropped two places on a global press
freedom index to be ranked 142nd out of 180
countries in the annual World Press Freedom
Report.
World Press Freedom Index
 The Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking
of countries compiled and published by
Reporters Without Borders since 2002.
 It is based upon the organization‘s own
assessment of the countries‘ press freedom
records.
 It intends to reflect the degree of freedom that
journalists, news organisations, and netizens
have in each country, and the efforts made by
authorities to respect this freedom.
Highlights
 Norway is ranked first in the Index for the
fourth year running.
 South Asia in general features poorly on the
index, with Pakistan dropping three places to
145, and Bangladesh dropping one place to
151.China at 177th position is just three places
above North Korea, which is at 180th.
Threats to press freedom
 Pressure from aggressive authoritarian regimes
 Technological crisis
 Lack of democratic guarantees and a
democratic crisis following polarization and
repressive policies.
 Trust crisis followed by growing suspicion and
hatred of the media
 Economic crisis and impoverishing of quality
journalism
 Coordinated social media hate campaigns
against journalists reporting on issues that
―annoy right-wing followers‖
 Criminal prosecutions to gag journalists critical
of authorities
 Police violence against journalists.

Impact of Coronavirus pandemic
 The coronavirus pandemic may threaten press
freedom and worsen the crises that reporters
around the world are facing.
 The pandemic has already redefined norms. It
has allowed governments to take advantage of
the fact that politics are on hold, the public is
stunned and protests are out of the question, in
order to impose measures that would be
impossible in normal times.
 United States and Brazil were becoming models
of hostility toward the news media.
 China, Iran and Iraq are criticised for censoring
coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan
Context
 Joint Advisory has been issued from the
Department of Rural Development, Dept. of
Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation, Dept. of Land Resources & Dept
of Drinking Water & Sanitation to all the Chief
Secretaries of all States/ UTs, in context with
the impending monsoon this year and the
preparations to be done for water conservation.
About Jal Shakti Abhiyan
 It is a time-bound, mission-mode campaign
that would focus on 1,592 ―water-stressed‖
blocks in 257 districts.
 It is a collaborative effort of various Ministries
of the Government of India and State
Governments, being coordinated by the
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
 Under the campaign, teams of officers from the
central government will visit and work with
district administration in water stressed blocks,
to ensure five important water conservation
interventions.
o water conservation and rainwater
harvesting,
o renovation of traditional and other water
bodies/tanks, reuse,
o bore well recharge structures,
o watershed development and
o intensive afforestation.
 Other measures: These water conservation
efforts will also be supplemented with special
interventions including
o development of Block and District Water
Conservation Plans,
o promotion of efficient water use for
irrigation and
P a g e | 108
o better choice of crops through Krishi
Vigyan Kendras.
 A large-scale communications campaign has
also been planned alongside the JSA involving
mass mobilisation of different groups
including school students, college students,
swachhagrahis, Self Help Groups, Panchayati
Raj Institution members, youth groups
(NSS/NYKS/NCC), defence personnel, ex-
servicemen and pensioners, among various
others.
Anti-corruption law
Context
 In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has
held that bribery and corruption in a deemed
university can be tried under the Prevention
of Corruption Act.
Highlights of the judgment
 Individuals, authorities or officials connected
to a deemed university, irrespective of their
role or designation, come under the definition
of a ‗public servant‘.
 Deemed universities come within the ambit of
the term ‗university‘ in Section 2 of the
Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988.
 A deemed institution, under the University
Grants Commission Act of 1956, has the same
common public duty like a university to confer
academic degrees, which are recognised in the
society.
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
 It is an act of the Parliament of India enacted to
combat corruption in government agencies and
public sector businesses in India.
 Parliament passed Prevention of Corruption
(Amendment) Bill 2018 to enhance
transparency and accountability of the
government
Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) act, 2018
1. Bribery (undue advantage defined as
gratification other than legal remuneration)
 Earlier, there were no specific provisions except
as abetment but under the amendment giving a
bribe is now an offence, punishable by a 7-year
prison term except when one is forced to give a
bribe. However, it should be reported within 7
days.

2. Criminal misconduct
 Earlier, criminal misconduct used to cover
offences including taking bribe habitually,
getting anything free or at a concession,
obtaining pecuniary advantage for oneself or
for another without public interest.
 Under the amendment to the act, criminal
misconduct includes only
o misappropriating of property entrusted to the
banker
o amassing assets disproportionate to known
sources of income
3. Pre-investigation approval
 Now, a police officer will need prior approval
of relevant authority or government to begin
investigation. However, the same does not
apply when the accused is caught red-handed.
4. Sanction for prosecution
 A sanction is needed for prosecuting former
officials for offences done while in office. The
decision on sanction request is to be made
SECURITY
Exercise NCC Yogdan
Context
 National Cadet Corps (NCC) has offered a
helping hand to civilian authorities in the
country‘s fight against COVID-19 by extending
the services of cadets under ‗Exercise NCC
Yogdan‘.
About NCC
• It is a youth development movement. It came
into existence under the National Cadet Corps
Act XXXI of 1948.
• It is a tri-Services Organization, comprising the
Army, Navy and Air Force engaged in grooming
the youth ofthe country into disciplined and
patriotic citizens.
• The NCC provides exposure to the cadets in a
wide range of activities, with a distinct
emphasis on
o Social Services,
o Discipline and
o Adventure Training
• The NCC is open to all regular students of
schoolsand colleges on a voluntary basis. The
students have no liability for active military
service.
P a g e | 109
under three months which may be extended by
a month. Centre may notify about the
guidelines.
5. Forfeiture of property
 This section was introduced for the Special
Court to attach and confiscate property, which
was earlier done under a 1944 ordinance
through civil courts.
Deemed university
 Deemed university, or deemed-to-be-university,
is an accreditation awarded to higher
educational institutions in India, conferring the
status of a university.
 It is granted by the Department of Higher
Education, Ministry of Human Resource
Development.
 Institutions that are ‗deemed-to-be-university‘
enjoy the academic status and privileges of a
university.
MK 54 lightweight torpedo
Context
• US Department of State has approved a Foreign
Military Sale to India of 16 MK 54 all round-
uplightweight torpedoes.
• MK 54 lightweight torpedo also known as the
Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo (LHT).
• It weighs around 608pounds, while its warhead
weighs around 96.8 pounds and is highly
explosive.
• These torpedoes are used by USsurface ships,
fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and are their
primary anti-submarine warfare weapon.
AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air-launched missiles
 The Harpoon missile system will be integrated
into the P-8I aircraft to conduct anti-surface
warfare missions in defense of critical sea-
lanes while enhancing interoperability with the
United States and other allied forces.
 India will use the enhanced capability as a
deterrent to regional threats and to
strengthen its homeland defense.
 Background: Harpoon was initially deployed by
the US Navy in 1977 and is an all-weather,
over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system.

 It uses GPS-aided inertial navigation to hit the
designated target. Its warhead weighs over 500
pounds and is capable of delivering lethal
firepower against targets, including land-based
SOCIAL ISSUES
Alzheimer Inhibitor
 The scientists of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have
invented a natural product for Alzheimer
disease.
Alzheimer's disease
 It is the most prevalent neurodegenerative
disorder and accounts for more than 70% of all
dementia.
 It is caused due to abnormal build-up of
protein around the brain cells.
 The multifactorial nature of the disease
attributed to multifaceted toxicity, which made
it difficult for researchers to develop effective
medication.
Cure
 The Isoquinoline (natural product) and
Berberine (traditional medicines) has been
used.
 To make it less toxic and more soluble
Berberine is converted into Ber-D.
MGNREGA
 Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the
Supreme Court demanding full wages for over
7.6 crores active job cardholders under the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during the
nationwide lockdown.
 The scheme was introduced as a social measure
that guarantees ―the right to work‖of not less
than 100 days for each worker who volunteers
for unskilled labour.
 The local government has to legally provide
employment in rural India to enhance quality
of life.
 The Ministry of Rural Development is
monitors implementation of this scheme in
association with state governments.
 Within 15 days of submitting the application or
from the day work is demanded, wage
employment will be provided to the applicant.
 Right to get unemployment allowance in case
employment is not provided within fifteen days
P a g e | 110
targets, coastal defence sites, surface-to-air
missile sites, exposed aircraft and industrial or
port facilities.
of submitting the application or from the date
when work is sought.
 Social Audit of MGNREGA works is
mandatory.
 The Gram Sabha is the principal forum for wage
seekers to raise their voices and make
demands.
Swasth ke Sipahi
 Pharmacists (SwasthkeSipahi), of Pradhan
Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, are delivering
essential services and quality generic medicines
at doorstep of patients and elderly under
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi
Pariyojana (PMBJP).
 PMBJP is a campaign launched by the
Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide
quality medicines at affordable prices to the
masses through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan
Aushadhi Kendra.
 Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the
implementing agency of this scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana
 Over 1.51 crores free LPG cylinders distributed
so far to the PMUY beneficiaries under the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)
in this month.
 Under the PMGKY, three LPG cylinders are free
delivered to over 8 crores beneficiaries of
PMUY over the period of April to June 2020.
About PMUY
 Aims: To safeguard the health of women &
children by providing LPG (liquefied
petroleum gas) connections to poor
households.
 Target group: Under this scheme, 5 Cr LPG
connections will be provided to BPL families
with a support of Rs.1600 per connection,
the connections will be issued in the name of
women of the households.
 Rs. 8000 Cr. has been allocated towards the
implementation of the scheme.

 Identification of the BPL families will be
done through Socio Economic Caste Census
Data.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Yojana
 In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a relief
package of Rs 1.7 lakh crores under the
PradhanMantriGaribKalyanYojanafor the poor
was announced.
 Key Features:
1. Insurance Scheme for Health Workers
 Safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, ASHA
workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors
and specialists and other health workers
would be covered by a Special insurance
Scheme.
 Any health professional, who while treating
COVID-19 patients, meet with some
accident, then he/she would be
compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh
under the scheme.
2. PM GaribKalyan Ann Yojana
 80 crore individuals would be covered
under this scheme.
 Each one of them would be provided
double of their current entitlement over
next three months.
 The first instalment of Rs 2,000 due in
2020-21 will be front-loaded and paid in
April 2020 itself under the PM KISAN
Yojana. It would cover 8.7 crore farmers
3. Cash Transfers Under PM
GaribKalyanYojana
 A total of 20.40 crores PMJDY women
account-holders would be given an exgratia
of Rs 500 per month for next three months.
 Gas cylinders, free of cost, would be
provided to 8 crore poor families for the
next three months.
 Wage-earners below Rs 15,000 per month in
businesses having less than 100 workers
are at risk of losing their employment,
government proposes to pay 24 percent of
their monthly wages into their PF accounts
for next three months.
 Support for senior citizens (above 60 years),
widows and Divyang: Government will give
them Rs 1,000 to tide over difficulties
during next three months.
 MNREGA wages would be increased by Rs
20 with effect from 1 April, 2020.
 Limit of collateral free lending would be
increased from Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakhs.
P a g e | 111
4. Other Components of PM GaribKalyan
package
 Employees‘ Provident Fund Regulations will
be amended to include Pandemic as the
reason to allow non-refundable advance of
75 % of the amount or three months of the
wages from their accounts.
 Building and Other Construction Workers
Welfare Fund has been created under a
Central Government Act.
 The State Government will be asked to
utilise the funds available under DMF for
supplementing and augmenting facilities of
medical testing, screening as well as
treatment and other requirements in
connection with preventing the spread of
pandemic.
BCG Vaccine
 According to a US-based research, a
combination of reduced morbidity and
mortality could make the Bacillus Calmette-
Guerin (BCG) vaccination a game-changer in
the fight against novel corona virus.
 Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is
primarily used against tuberculosis (TB).
 It contains a live but weakened strain of
tuberculosis bacteria that provokes the body
to develop antibodies to attack TB bacteria.
 This is called an adaptive immune response,
because the body develops a defense against a
specific disease-causing microorganism after
encountering it.
 It may boost the innate immune system, first-
line defenses that keep a variety of pathogens
from entering the body or from establishing an
infection.
 Experts argue that countries that have deployed
the BCG-tuberculosis vaccine in their
immunisation programmes have seen fewer
deaths from COVID-19.
Measles
 Around 117 million children worldwide risk
contracting measles because dozens of
countries are curtailing their vaccination
programmes as they battle COVID-19 according
to WHO and UNICEF.
Measles
 It is a highly contagious viral disease.
 Can transmitted via droplets from the nose,
mouth or throat of infected persons.
 Symptoms include high fever, a runny nose,
bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the
inside of the mouth etc., which generally come
after 10 to 12 days.

 Rubella (German Measles) is a contagious,
generally mild viral infection that occurs most
often in children and young adults.
World Chagas Day
 For the 1st time it was observed on April 14,
2020 to spread awareness about this silent and
silenced disease.
 It is called silent because it progresses slowly,
and silenced because it mainly affects the poor
people who often lack political voice and
proper health care.
 It is classified as a neglected tropical disease
(as it affects the low-income populations in
developing countries across the globe).
National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme
Launched in 2003-04 by merging National anti -malaria control programme and National Filaria Control
Programme and Kala Azar Control programmes .Japanese B Encephalitis and Dengue/DHF have also
been included in this Program Directorate of NAMP is the nodal agency for prevention and control of
major Vector Borne Diseases
List of Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme Legislations:
1) National Anti - Malaria programme
2) Kala - Azar Control Programme
3) National Filaria Control Programme
4) Japenese Encephilitis Control Programme
5) Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic fever
Colour coding to help manage
COVID-19 pandemic
 The government has decided to divide all
districts across the country into hotspots,
non-hotspots and green zones.
 This would help in management of hotspots
and spread of pandemic.
 The health ministry used two criteria to
classify the districts as hotspots — the
absolute number of cases and the speed of
growth in cases.
 The technical definition followed to classify the
districts is any district reporting more than
six cases would be classified as hotspot
district or red zone.
 Any hotspot district with more than 15 cases
would be treated as a district witnessing
outbreak.
 A house with positive cases or a cluster with
positive cases is marked as the epicentre of the
containment zone.
 Also, a buffer zone is marked where people
with severe and acute respiratory illnesses
(SARI) are checked and monitored.
P a g e | 112
 A parasitic protozoan called
Trypanosomacruzi causes this vector-borne
disease.
 Transmission: Disease may spread
through blood transfusion, organ
transplantation, eating food contaminated with
the parasites, and vertical transmission (from a
mother to her baby).
 As of 2019, a vaccine has not been developed.
 Cure: Early infections are treatable with the
medications benznidazole or nifurtimox,
which usually cure the disease if given
shortly after the person is infected, but
become less effective the longer a person has
had Chagas disease.
 Containment zones are created to map the
local transmission of the disease and prevent
the contagion from spreading.
Post-intensive care syndrome
 After leaving the ICU, many patients may suffer
from what is known as post-intensive care
syndrome (PICS).
 PICS is defined as new or worsening
impairment in physical (ICU-acquired
neuromuscular weakness), cognitive, or
mental health status arising after critical
illness and persisting beyond discharge from
the acute care setting.
 It can manifest itself in the form of poor
mobility and recurrent falls and may lead to
depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress
disorder.
 PICS may be induced if a person was on
prolonged mechanical ventilation, experienced
sepsis, multiple organ failure and a prolonged
duration of bed-restore deep sedation.
 It is recommended that to avoid PICS, patients‘
use of deep sedation is limited and early
mobility is encouraged, along with giving them
aggressive physical and occupational therapy.
 P a g e | 113

COVID-19 Rural Poor Stimulus  The Facility will leverage the UN Secretary-
General‘s Response and Recovery Fund and
Facility the work of other multilateral partners to
 Given the magnitude of the challenge presented achieve food security for the millions of poor
by the COVID-19 crisis, International Fund for rural people in the most remote and vulnerable
Agricultural Development (IFAD) has launched communities.
a multi-donor COVID-19 Rural Poor Stimulus  The ultimate goal of the RPSF is to accelerate
Facility (RPSF). the recovery of poor and vulnerable rural
 The RPSF is a short-term strategy that feeds people from the COVID-19 crisis.
into IFAD‘s longer-term development
objectives.

IFAD
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations.
It is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries.
Its headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and it is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
United Nations Economic and Social council is its Parents Organisations.

Aarogya Setu
 It is a mobile app created in Public Private
Partnership mode and aims to bring the people
together in a fight against COVID-19.
 It will enable people to assess themselves the
risk for their catching the Corona Virus
infection.
 The risk is calculated based on people‘s
interaction using Bluetooth technology,
algorithms and artificial intelligence.
 Once installed, the app detects other devices
with AarogyaSetu installed that come in the
proximity of that phone.
 The personal data collected by the App is
encrypted using state-of-the-art technology and
stays secure on the phone till it is needed for
facilitating medical intervention.
ADB‘s CARES Program
 The Government of India and the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) signed a $1.5 billion
loan agreement for the ADB‘s COVID-19 Active
Response and Expenditure Support
Programme (CARES Programme).
 It will be used to implement:
(i) COVID-19 containment plan to rapidly
ramp up test-track-treatment capacity,
and
(ii) Social protection for the poor,
vulnerable, women, and disadvantaged
groups to protect more than 800 million
people over the next three months.
 The program is funded through the COVID-19
pandemic response option (CPRO) under
ADB‘s Countercyclical Support Facility.
 The CARES Program will be provided with a
USD 2 million technical assistance grant to
support the government to strengthen its
operational framework and efficient targeting,
delivery, and monitoring and evaluation.

Ruhdaar
 It is a low-cost mechanical ventilator to fight
against COVID19.
 It has been developed by IIT Bombay team.
 The cost of production of one ventilator is Rs
10,000.

HCARD (Hospital Care Assistive

Robotic Device)
 It is a robot to assist frontline COVID-19
healthcare warriors. It helps in maintaining

physical distance from those infected by
coronavirus.
 It has been developed by Durgapur-based CSIR
lab, Central Mechanical Engineering Research
Institute.
Classical Swine Fever
 Classical swine fever is also known as hog
cholera and pig plague is a contagious viral
disease of domestic and wild swine.
 It is caused by a virus, which is closely related
to the viruses that cause bovine viral diarrhoea
in cattle and border disease in sheep.
 Though India has been able to prevent the
disease to an extent, the classical swine fever is
considered one of the reasons for causing
decline in population of pigs in the country in
2019 compared to 2012 census.
World Malaria Day
 World Malaria Day 2020 is being celebrated by
the World Health Organisation (WHO) on April
25 with the theme ‗Zero malaria starts with
me‘.
 Malaria is caused by a parasite that commonly
infects a certain type of mosquito, which feeds
on humans.
 It is spread by Female Anopheles mosquitoes
deposit parasite sporozoites into the skin of a
human host.
 At the East Asia Summit in 2015, India
pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030.
 Following this public declaration, India
launched the five-year National Strategic Plan
for Malaria Elimination.
 Odisha‘s Durgama Anchalare Malaria
Nirakaran (DAMaN) initiative aims to deliver
services to the most inaccessible and hardest
hit people of the State. It has in-built innovative
strategies to combat asymptomatic malaria.
UN Women
 It has urged member-states to include
prevention of violence against women in their
action plans on COVID-19.
 According to UN Women, the rise in gender
based violence is a shadow pandemic.
 UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender
equality and the empowerment of women.
 It is a merger of the following 4 parts of UN
which played an important role towards women
empowerment:
 Division for the Advancement of Women
(DAW).
 International Research and Training
Institute for the Advancement of Women
(INSTRAW).
P a g e | 114
 Office of the Special Adviser on Gender
Issues and Advancement of Women
(OSAGI).
 United Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM).
GISAID
 India has shared nine whole genome sequences
of the SARS-CoV-2 with the Global Initiative on
Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).
 This public platform was started in 2008 by
WHO for sharing genome sequences.
 It was created as an alternative to the public
domain sharing model.
 In 2010 the Federal Republic of Germany
became the official host of the GISAID
platform.
 GISAID‘s database access agreement ensures
that contributors of genetic sequence data do
not forfeit their intellectual property rights to
the data.
 GISAID‘s sharing mechanism took into account
the concerns of Member States by providing a
publicly accessible database designed by
scientist for scientist, to improve the sharing of
influenza data.
VIDYADAAN 2.0
 Launched by Union Human Resource
Development Ministry, it is a national program
for inviting e-learning content contributions.
 It is a common national program for
individuals, academicians and organizations
across the country to contribute e-learning
resources for both school and higher education
to ensure continuity of quality learning.
 The content will be used on the DIKSHA app.
 Following the launch, States and Union
Territories can initiate their own program as
part of VidyaDaan 2.0.
 The standardised templates will help in
creating a uniform structure ensuring easy
accessibility.
 The contributed content will be available for
use across the education ecosystem and for the
use of all other institutions, organisations and
entities engaged in education.
PCPNDT ACT
 The All India Democratic Women‘s
Association (AIDWA) has asked the
government to withdraw an order that could
weaken the implementation of the law banning
pre-natal sex determination.
 AIDWA referred to the gazette
notification issued by the Health Ministry,

which suspended Rule 8, Rule 9(8) and Rule
18A(6) of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal
Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.
 The suspended clauses deal with: Process for
renewal of registration of genetic and
ultrasound clinics, Responsibilities of labs and
clinics in maintaining and preserving records of
all tests, techniques and procedures and
sending a report to the concerned appropriate
authority, Duties of district authorities in
sharing a quarterly progress report.
P a g e | 115
Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostics
Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, 1994
 It was enacted in response to the decline in Sex
ratio in India, which deteriorated from 972 in
1901 to 927 in 1991.
 Main purpose of enacting the act is to ban the
use of sex selection techniques before or after
conception and prevent the misuse of prenatal
diagnostic technique for sex selective abortion.

Main provisions in the act are:

 It provides for the prohibition of sex selection, before or after conception.
 It regulates the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques, like ultrasound and amniocentesis by allowing them
their use only to detect few cases.
 No laboratory or centre or clinic will conduct any test including ultrasonography for the purpose of
determining the sex of the foetus.
 No person, including the one who is conducting the procedure as per the law, will communicate the sex of
the foetus to the pregnant woman or her relatives by words, signs or any other method.
 The Act mandates compulsory registration of all diagnostic laboratories, all genetic counselling centres,
genetic laboratories, genetic clinics and ultrasound clinics.

Social Recession to dilate, digestive process to change and

glucose levels in the bloodstream to
 As the coronavirus pandemic threatens to
increase to deal with the emergency.
cause an economic recession, it may also cause
 Measures to reduce negative impacts of SR:
a ―social recession‖.
 People have to acknowledge these are
 Social Recession (SR):It is a collapse in social
situations as quite normal to reduce
contacts. There is decline in social
feeling anxious and lonely..
interactions and change in mental and
 Use of technology to establish forgotten
physical health.
connections with friends and family.
 Human beings thrive on social engagements
 Put the focus back on self-care, eat well,
and are wired to stay connected. When these
exercise regularly, find ways to calm.
connections are threatened or unavailable, the
nervous system may out of order and many
negative effects on the body follow: Integrated Child Development
 It can trigger a cascade of stress Services (ICDS)
hormones that produce physiological  Under the Integrated Child Development
changes like increased heart rate, Services (ICDS) programme, anganwadi centres
increased muscle tension and thickening across India serve nutritious meals to children
of blood. up to the age of 6 years and to expectant and
 Together, these physiological changes are nursing mothers.
called the fight-or-flight response.
 But anganwadis now closed due to COVID-19,
 Stress hormones, together with direct
and the delivery of these meals has completely
actions of autonomic nerves, cause the
halted in some pockets.
heart to beat faster, respiration rate to
increase blood vessels in the arms and legs
 P a g e | 116

INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (ICDS) SCHEME

 Implementing agency: Ministry of Women and Child Development.

 Launched on 2nd October, 1975
 The beneficiaries under the Scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and
lactating mothers.
Objectives of the Scheme are:
 to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
 to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
 to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to
promote child development; and
 to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the
child through proper nutrition and health education.

Services under ICDS

The ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services, viz.
 Supplementary Nutrition
 Pre-school non-formal education
 Nutrition & health education
 Immunization
 Health check-up and
 Referral services
The last three services are related to health and are provided by Ministry/Department of Health and Family
Welfare through NRHM & Health system.

District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

 Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and
Environment‘s latest report ‗District Mineral
Foundation (DMF): Implementation Status and
Best Practices’ documents livelihoods that draw
upon the local resources, and through
convergence and collaboration with local
partners, are trying to work at income
enhancement among farmers and women.
have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of
the royalty payable by them to the DMFs.
 Where mining leases are granted after
12.01.2015, the rate of contribution would be
10% of the royalty payable.
 Using the funds generated by this contribution,
the DMFs are expected to implement the
PMKKKY.

For Instances Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra

 Keonjhar has undertaken three livelihood
initiatives — agro-forestry through Wadi
(orchards), tasar rearing through plantations
for mining-affected tribal families and pushing
millet production and consumption in the
district on the lines of the state government‘s
millet mission.
 Dantewada is evolving as an organic farming
model and involving women self-help-groups
(SHGs) in Kadaknath chicken rearing for
livelihood and income generation.
About District Mineral Foundations (DMF)
 The Mines and Minerals (Development &
Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, mandated
the setting up of District Mineral Foundations
(DMFs) in all districts in the country affected by
mining related operations.
 In case of all mining leases executed before
12th January, 2015 (the date of coming into
force of the Amendment Act) miners will
Kalyan Yojana (PMKKY)
 Aim: Welfare of areas and people affected by
mining related operations, using the funds
generated by District Mineral Foundations
(DMFs).
 Objective of PMKKKY scheme will be
(a) to implement various developmental and
welfare projects/programs in mining affected
areas that complement the existing ongoing
schemes/projects of State and Central
Government;
(b) to minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts,
during and after mining, on the environment,
health and socio-economics of people in mining
districts; and
(c) to ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods
for the affected people in mining areas.
o High priority areas like drinking water
supply, health care, sanitation, environment
conservation get at least 60 % share of the
funds.

o Balance funds will be spent for creating a
supportive and conducive living
environment.
o Government is facilitating mainstreaming of
the people from lower strata of society,
tribals and forest-dwellers.
Webinar organised by TRIFED &
UNICEF
 TRIFED organized a Webinar for Virtual training
to its Trainers and Self Help Groups (SHGs) on
basic orientation on COVID-19 response and
key preventive measures to ensure tribal
gatherers carry on their work safely.
 To ensure tribal gatherers carry on their work
safely, TRIFED has collaborated with UNICEF
and WHO for developing a digital
communication strategy for promoting a digital
campaign for Self Help Groups (SHGs) involved
in this work, highlighting the importance of
Social Distancing.
About UNICEF
 The United Nations Children's Fund is a United
Nations agency responsible for providing
humanitarian and developmental aid to
children worldwide.
 Based in U.N. headquarters in New York City, it
is among the most widespread and
recognizable social welfare organizations in the
world, with a presence in 192 countries and
territories.
 UNICEF is the successor of the International
Children‘s Emergency Fund (ICEF).
 The same year, the U.N. General
Assembly established the United Nations
International Children's Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) to further institutionalize post-
war relief work.
 In 1950, UNICEF's mandate was extended to
address the long-term needs of children and
women, particularly in developing countries.
 In 1953, the organization became a permanent
part of the United Nations System, and its name
was subsequently changed to its current form,
though it retains the original acronym.
Van Dhan Scheme
 The Van Dhan Scheme is an initiative of the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED.
 It was in 2018 and seeks to improve tribal
incomes through value addition of tribal
products.
 The scheme will be implemented through
Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Nodal Department
P a g e | 117
at the Central Level and TRIFED as Nodal
Agency at the National Level.
 At State level, the State Nodal Agency for MFPs
and the District collectors are envisaged to play
a pivot role in scheme implementation at
grassroot level.
 Locally the Kendras are proposed to be
managed by a Managing Committee (an SHG)
consisting of representatives of Van Dhan SHGs
in the cluster.
 A cluster of ten such SHGs within the same
village shall form a Van DhanVikas Kendra.
Implementation of the scheme
 Under Van Dhan, 10 Self Help Groups of 30
Tribal gatherers are constituted.
 The establishment of "Van DhanVikas Kendra"
is for providing skill upgradation and capacity
building training and setting up of primary
processing and value addition facility.
 They are then trained and provided with
working capital to add value to the products,
which they collect from the jungle.
 Working under the leadership of Collector
these groups can then market their products
not only within the States but also outside the
States. Training and technical support is
provided by TRIFED.
 It is proposed to develop 3,000 such centres in
the country.
About The Tribal Cooperative Marketing
Development Federation of India (TRIFED)
 It came into existence in 1987.
 It is a national-level apex organization
functioning under the administrative control of
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India.
Employees' State Insurance Act,
1948
 Government ruled out appropriating funds of
the Employees‘ State Insurance Corporation
(ESIC) for payment of wages to workers or to
employers to meet their salary bill amid the
lockdown to counter the pandemic.
ESIC
 An autonomous body, ESI Corporation,
regulates medical services being provided by
the ESI Scheme in the respective states and
Union Territories.
 Funded by contributions made by the
employers and the employees, ESI provides for
direct cash compensation for sickness,
disablement maternity, death, occupational

disease or death due to employment injury etc
to organised sector employees and their
dependents.
 The ESI Act applies to premises where 10 or
more persons are employed. Employees with
wages up to Rs 21,000 a month are entitled to
the health insurance cover and other benefits
under the ESI Act.
 The promulgation of Employees' State
Insurance Act, 1948(ESI Act), by the Parliament
was the first major legislation on social Security
for workers in independent India.
 The legislation on creation and development of
a fool proof multi-dimensional Social Security
system, was obviously a remarkable gesture
towards the socio economic amelioration of a
workface though limited in number and
geographic distribution.
 The ESI Act 1948, encompasses certain health
related eventualities that the workers are
generally exposed to; such as sickness,
maternity, temporary or permanent
disablement, Occupational disease or death due
to employment injury, resulting in loss of
wages or earning capacity-total or partial.
 As part of its second-generation reforms ESIC-
2.0, the ESI Corporation decided to implement
the ESI scheme all over the country.
 Accordingly, the ESI Scheme is now being fully
implemented in 346 districts and 95 district
headquarters areas, and partially in 85 districts.
Parliamentary Panel on Industrial
Relations Code
 Recently, the Parliamentary Committee on
Labour submitted its report on the Industrial
Relations Code, 2019.
 The Committee in its report said that in case of
natural calamities, payment of wages to the
workers until the re-establishment of the
industry may be unjustifiable.
 The idea behind the recommendations is that
the industry should not be forced when the
situation is beyond their control.
 The law has to be reasonable, in such cases it is
for the government to step in and extend a
helping hand for the industries.
 According to the Committee COVID-19 would
be counted as natural calamity.
P a g e | 118
Industrial Relations Code 2019
 The Code provides for the recognition of trade
unions, notice periods for strikes and lock-outs,
standing orders, and resolution of industrial
disputes.
 It subsumes and replaces three labour laws: the
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947; the Trade Unions
Act, 1926; and the Industrial Employment
(Standing Orders) Act, 1946.
 Trade unions that have a membership of at
least 10% of the workers or 100 workers will be
registered.
 The union with 75% of workers in an
establishment will be the sole negotiating
union. Otherwise, a negotiating council of
unions will be formed.
 An employee cannot go on strike unless he
gives notice for a strike within six weeks before
striking, and within 14 days of giving such
notice. Similar provisions exist for lock-out of
workers.
 Industrial establishments with 100 workers
must prepare standing orders on matters listed
in a Schedule and have them certified.
 Factories, mines or plantations in which 100 or
more workers are employed are required to
take prior permission of the central or state
government before laying off or retrenching
their workers.
 The Code provides for the constitution of
Industrial Tribunals for the settlement of
industrial disputes. Each Industrial Tribunal
will consist of a Judicial member and an
Administrative member.
Key Issues
 The Code prohibits strikes or lock-outs in any
establishment unless a prior notice of 14 days
is provided. The Code expands these
provisions to apply to all industrial
establishments. This may impact the ability of
workers to strike and employers to lock-out.
 The Code permits the government to defer,
reject or modify awards passed by Industrial
Tribunals and the National Industrial Tribunal.
A similar provision in the Industrial Disputes
Act, 1947 was struck down by the Madras High
Court in 2011, as it violated the principle of
separation of powers by allowing the
government to change the decision of a
Tribunal through executive action.
 The Code requires the employer of
establishments with at least 100 workers to
obtain permission from the appropriate
 P a g e | 119
government prior to the retrenchment of a by Parliament or whether it should be delegated
worker. The government may increase or to the government.
decrease this threshold through a notification.
The question is whether the power to
determine such a threshold should be specified

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Antiviral Nano-Coatings pesticide removal technology for drinking
water, water filters for arsenic and fluoride
 Recently, Department of Science and
Technology (DST) has approved for
removal and nano silver based antimicrobial
development of an antiviral nano-coating.
textile coating.
 It will be used as amaterial for producing anti-
COVID-19 Triple Layer Medical masks and N-
95 respirator. NOOR: Iran‘s First Military Satellite
 Nano-coatings show up to 99.99% effectiveness  Iran has launched the nation‘s first military
against bacteria, formaldehyde, mold and satellite, called Noor.
viruses. These are 1000 times more efficient  It was sent into orbit using a long-range rocket.
than previous technologies available in the The satellite reached an orbit of 425km after
market. being carried by a three-stage Qased launcher.
 Qased is an Iranian space launcher. It has
N9 blue nanosilver in the coating been described as a three-stage launch
 Silvermetal is known to have strong vehicle using liquid- and solid-fueled stages.
antimicrobial activity against bacteria,
viruses, fungus. Thus, N9 blue nanosilver has
been developed under the NANOMISSION
PROJECT.
 DST initiated significant nanoscience activities
in the country in the last two decades. Today
India stands 3rd globally in the number of
scientific publications in nanosciences.

Nano-Science & Technology Mission (NSTM)

 In 2007 DST started Nano-Science & Technology
Mission (NSTM) to foster, promote and develop
all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology
which have the potential to benefit the country.
Objectives
 Infrastructure Development for Nano Science
and Technology Research l Public Private
Partnerships and Nano Applications and
Technology Development Centres l Human
Resource Development l International
Collaborations l Academia-Industry
partnerships to be nurtured under these
programmes
 The nano-mission has resulted in useful
products like nano hydrogel based eye drops,
SEPSIVAC & COVID-19
 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) has recently approved use of Sepsivac to
tackle COVID-19 —through its flagship New
Millennium Indian Technology Leadership
Initiative (NMITLI) programme.
 Sepsivac, is an immunotherapy treatment. It
contains heat-killed Mycobacterium, an
immunomodulator, which is a non-pathogenic
mycobacterium.
 Sepsivac is expected to protect the close
contacts of COVID-19 patients and healthcare
staff by boosting their innate response and

thereby preventing them from acquiring the
disease.
 It will also provide quicker recovery to the
hospitalised COVID-19 patients, who are not
critically ill.
 It will also prevent the progression of disease
wherein patients will need ICU management.
 It is found to be extremely safe in patients and
no systemic side effects are associated with its
use.
About NMITLI
 As a part of New Millennium initiative, the
Government introduced an R&D Programme
named ‗New Millennium Indian Technology
Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)‘ in Public-
Private Partnership mode in 2000-01.
The NMITLI focus is to
 Develop projects involving best brains of the
country through a rigorous process;
 Build knowledge network of partners from
public funded institutions and private
industries;
 Develop new methods of working together for
collaborative excellence;
 Provide a pipeline of cutting edge Indian
innovation
The Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) was established by
the Government of India in September 1942 as an
autonomous body. Today, it has emerged as the
largest research and development organisation
in India. The research and development activities of
CSIR include aerospace engineering, structural
engineering, ocean sciences, life sciences,
metallurgy, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum,
leather, and environmental science
Lithium Abundance in Interstellar
Space
 Indian researchers have discovered hundreds of
Li-rich giant stars indicating that Li is being
produced in the stars. Thus, it accounts for its
abundance in the interstellar medium.
 Li enhancement with central He-burning stars,
also known as red clump giants, opens up new
vistas in the evolution of the red giant stars.
P a g e | 120
 Lithium (Li), is one of the three primordial
elements, apart from Hydrogen and Helium
(He), produced in the big bang synthesis.
Lithium
 It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal.
 It is the lightest metal and the lightest solid
element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly
reactive and flammable, and must be stored in
mineral oil.
 It never occurs freely in nature, but only in
compound state. It is present in ocean water
and is commonly obtained from brines.
BEPICOLOMBO
 BepiColombo is a joint mission of the European
Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) to the planet
Mercury.
 Recently, it has swung past the Earth.
 The mission comprises two satellites launched
together: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO)
and Mio (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter,
MMO).
 The mission will perform a comprehensive
study of Mercury, including characterization
of its magnetic field, magnetosphere, and both
interior and surface structure.
NIRBHAY MISSILE
 Nirbhay is a long range, all-weather, subsonic
cruise missile designed and developed in India
by Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO).
 The missile can be launched from multiple
platforms and is capable of carrying
conventional and nuclear warheads.
 It is currently under development and
undergoing flight trials.
 Nirbhay is powered by a solid rocket booster
for take-off. It has a range of about 1000 km
and is capable of delivering 24 different types
of warheads between 200–300 kg.
FELUDA
 Indian scientists have developed a low-cost,
paper-strip test called FELUDA.
 It can detect the corona virus within an hour.

 The test uses the gene-editing tool- Crispr-
Cas9 to target and identify the novel corona
virus.
 FELUDA test costs less than Rs500.
Please read previous edition to know about
CRISPR-Cas9 in detail.
P a g e | 121
 An epitope, also known as antigenic
determinant, is the specific piece of the antigen
to which an antibody binds.
 Reverse vaccinology was used for designing
vaccines against some diseases e.g. Malaria,
Anthrax, Endocarditis, Meningitidis etc.

ARTEMIS Program
COVSACK  The Artemis program is an ongoing-crewed
 The COVSACK is a kiosk developed by DRDO spaceflight program carried out predominantly
through which healthcare workers can take by NASA with international partners such as
corona virus samples from suspected infected the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan
patients. Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA),
 The kiosk is automatically disinfected without Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the
the need for human involvement, making the Australian Space Agency (ASA).
process free of infection spread.  Goal - Landing "the first woman and the next
man" on the Moon, specifically at the lunar
south pole region by 2024. NASA sees Artemis
Software Technology Parks of
as the next step towards the long-term goal of -
India (STPI)  Establishing a sustainable presence on the
 Amid COVID-19 crisis situation & lockdown, the Moon,
Government decided to provide relief from  Laying the foundation for private
payment of rental to IT units operating in companies to build a lunar economy, and
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).  Eventually sending humans to Mars.
 Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is a
society established in 1991 by the Ministry of
GRACE FO Mission
Electronics and Information Technology with
 The Gravity Recovery and Climate
the objective of encouraging, promoting and
Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission is
boosting the export of software from India.
a partnership between NASA and the German
Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
Reverse Vaccinology  GRACE-FO is a successor to the original GRACE
 Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University has mission, which orbited Earth from 2002-2017.
developed a potential vaccine candidate against o GRACE satellite mission revolutionized our
SARS-CoV-2, the corona virus causing COVID-19 view of how water moves and is stored on
using Reverse Vaccinology. Earth.
o It measured changes in the local pull of
Vaccinomics gravity as water shifts around Earth due to
 Vaccinomics is a new branch of bioinformatics changing seasons, weather and climate
that deals with designing a candidate vaccine processes.
against a pathogen that can be used for o Other findings:
production of the vaccine in less time as that of  Monitored the loss of ice mass from
conventional vaccinology. Earth's ice sheets,
 Improved understanding of the
Reverse vaccinology processes responsible for sea level rise
 Reverse Vaccinology is a part of vaccinomics, and ocean circulation,
which starts with the genome of pathogen and  Provided insights into where global
is used for the predicting the epitope. groundwater resources may be
shrinking or growing and

 Where dry soils are contributing to
drought, and monitored changes in the
solid Earth.
 GRACE-FO will continue the work of tracking
Earth's water movement to monitor changes in
 underground water storage,
 the amount of water in large lakes and
rivers,
 soil moisture, ice sheets and glaciers,
and
 sea level caused by the addition of water
to the ocean.
 These discoveries provide a unique view of
Earth's climate and have far-reaching benefits
to society and the world's population.
PRACRITI Dashboard
 IIT Delhi has developed a web-based dashboard
for tracking and predicting the spread of
COVID-19 in India.
 The PRACRITI (Prediction and Assessment of
Corona Infections and Transmission in India)
dashboard will provide the R0 values of each
district and state in India based on the data
available from sources such as the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA), and World
Health Organisation (WHO).
 R0 refers to the number of people to
whom the disease spreads from a single
infected person. For instance, if an
active COVID-19 patient infects two
uninfected persons, the R0 is two.
Hence, reduction of R0 is the key in
controlling and mitigating the COVID-19
in India.
Portable Sensor for Heavy Metal
Detection
 Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences
(CeNS) has developed a compact solid-state
sensor to detect the heavy metal ions in water.
 The sensor film was prepared by forming a
composite between manganese doped zinc
sulfide quantumdots and reduced graphene
oxide.
 These particular quantum dots are water-
soluble and have high photoluminescence.
P a g e | 122
 These quantum dots can be excited with
handheld UV light of 254 nm, thus making it a
portable device even to remote areas.
 If a drop of water containing heavy metal ions
such as mercury, lead, cadmium, etc. is added
to the composite film, the emission of the film
quenches within seconds.
Significance
 Heavy metal ions such as lead, mercury and
cadmium pose severe potential threats to living
beings as they can easily be accumulated in the
body and cannot be detoxified by any chemical
or biological processes. Thus, the development
of efficient and portable sensors for rapid
onsite detection of these ions is of huge
significance. The Centre for Nano and Soft
Matter Sciences (CeNS) is an autonomous
research institute under Department of Science
and Technology (DST).
e - Platform & SAHYOG App
 India‘s national mapping agency, Survey of
India (SoI), has developed an e-platform that
will collect geo-tagged information on the
nation‘s critical infrastructure like hospitals,
testing labs, quarantine camps, containment
and buffer zones, biomedical waste disposal
sites etc.
Aim
 To help public health agencies take critical
decisions in response to the current COVID-19
pandemic situation.
SAHYOG
 It is a mobile based application developed to
support thr e-plaftform.
 It will work as a key tool in door-to-door
surveys, contact tracing, deliveries of essentials
items and to create focused public awareness
campaigns.
Acrylosorb Secretion Solidification
System
 Disposal of infected secretions from patients
poses a great challenge to every hospital. This
is particularly so in the case of secretions of
patients with highly contagious diseases such
as COVID-19.

 The collection and disposal of such wastes put
the nursing and cleaning staff at high risk.
 Indian scientists have developed a highly
efficient superabsorbent material for liquid
respiratory and other body fluid
solidification. The material is called
Acrylosorb Secretion Solidification System.
 Aim: Disinfection for the safe management of
infected respiratory secretions.
 AcryloSorb can absorb liquids at least 20 times
more than its dry weight and also contains a
decontaminant for in situ disinfection.
 The superabsorbent material can be effective in
the safe management of infected respiratory
secretions.
COVID-19 & SATYAM Programme
 The Department of Science and Technology
(DST) has invited proposals to study
appropriate intervention of yoga and
meditation in fighting COVID-19 and similar
kinds of viruses.
 The proposals have been invited under the
Science and Technology of Yoga and
Meditation (SATYAM) programme of the DST.
 The project envisages to improve immunity,
improve respiratory system and bring
interventions to overcome respiratory disorders
and other dimensions like stress, anxiety and
depression-related issues due to isolation,
uncertainty and disruption in normal life
during COVID-19 Pandemic.
SATYAM
 SATYAM was launched in 2015 to strengthen
research in the areas of yoga and meditation.
 The programme meant to encourage research
in two major thematic areas:
i. investigations on the effect of Yoga and
meditation on physical and mental health,
and
ii. investigations on the effect of Yoga &
meditation on the body, brain and mind in
terms of basic processes occurring
therein.
Hack the Crisis – India
 Ministry of State Electronics & Information
Technology, Communications and Human
P a g e | 123
Resource Development recently launched Hack
the Crisis – India, an Online Hackathon.
 Aim: To find working solutions for overcoming
COVID 19 pandemic.
 This hackathon is part of a global initiative and
is being organised by ‗Hack A Cause – India‘
and ‗Ficci Ladies Organization Pune‘ and
supported by Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology, Government of India
(MEITY).
 The winning ideas from few top participating
teams, as implementable solutions on corona
crisis are expected to help India and global
citizens.
SAMADHAN Challenge
 Government has urged students, innovators,
researchers, educators and startups to come
forward and help combat Coronavirus infection
by participating in SAMADHAN CHALLENGE.
 Working prototype of technological advanced
solutions given by
participants that can be validated will be
deployed immediately.
YUKTI Portal
 Ministry of Human Resource Development has
recently launched a web-portal called YUKTI
(Young India Combating COVID with
Knowledge, Technology and Innovation)
 The portal will cover various initiatives and
efforts of the institutions in academics, COVID-
19 related research, social initiatives by
institutions and the measures taken for the
betterment of the well-being of the students.
 The portal will cover both qualitative and
quantitative parameters for effective delivery of
services to the academic community at large.
 The portal will also allow various institutions to
share their strategies for various challenges

which are there because of the unprecedented
situation of COVID-19 and other future
initiatives.
CURIOSITY Mission
 Curiosity is a car-sized rover designed to
explore the crater Gale on Mars as part of
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission
(MSL). It was launched in 2011 and landed on
Aeolis Palus inside Gale crater on Mars.
 The rover's goals include an
Rapid Testing
 The COVID-19 Rapid Test is a qualitative
immunoassay for the simultaneous detection of
IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in whole
blood, serum or plasma specimens.
P a g e | 124
 investigation of the Martian climate and
geology;
 assessment of whether the selected field
site inside Gale has ever offered
environmental conditions favorable for
microbial life,
 investigation of the role of water; and
 planetary habitability studies in preparation
for human exploration
 Curiosity's design serves as the basis for the
planned Perseverance rover, which will next
carry different scientific instruments
 Test Attributes
 Whole blood, serum, or plasma may be used
for testing
 Results available in only 10 minutes
 Easy to use
 Results can be read visually
 No need for an analyser
 Cost effective method for assisting in
diagnosing COVID-19 disease.

Antigen & Antibody
 An antibody (Ab), also known as an
immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped
protein produced mainly by plasma cells of the
blood.
 They are used by the immune system to
neutralize pathogens such as bacteria and
viruses.
 Mechanism: The antibody recognizes a unique
molecule of the pathogen, called an antigen.
These two structures then bind together with
precision.
 Using this binding mechanism, the antibody
neutralizes its target directly.
 The production of antibodies is the main
function of the Humoral immune system.
P a g e | 125
amount to study in detail. PCR was invented in
1983 by the American biochemist Kary Mullis.
 Applications of the technique include
 DNA/RNA cloning for sequencing,
 gene cloning and manipulation,
 gene mutagenesis;
 construction of DNA-based phylogenies,
 diagnosis and monitoring of hereditary
diseases;
 amplification of ancient DNA;

Pool Testing of COVID 19 Samples

 Pool Testing works on Polymerase Chain
Reaction (RT-PCR) screening algorithm. In this,
multiple samples (up to 5) are tested in a single
test.
 In case, the result of a pool resulted positive,
then each sample is tested individually.
 The main aim of Pool Testing is to increase the
testing capacities of labs. This technique also
saves time, reduces the cost and the manpower.
 As per the advisory issued by ICMR, pooling of
more than 5 samples is not recommended to
avoid the effect of dilution as it leads to false
negatives.
 Also, pool testing is only prescribed to be used
in areas with a low rate of infection- the rate of
positive cases less than 2%.
 The Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR), is the apex body in India for the
formulation, coordination and promotion of
biomedical research. It is one of the oldest
and largest medical research bodies in the
world.
 analysis of genetic fingerprints for DNA
profiling (for example, in forensic
PCR science and parentage testing); and
 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method  detection of pathogens in nucleic acid
widely used in molecular biology to rapidly tests for the diagnosis of infectious
make millions to billions of copies of a specific diseases.
DNA/RNA sample.
 RT PCR monitors the amplification of a
 It allows scientists to take a very small sample targeted DNA molecule during the PCR (i.e., in
of DNA/RNA and amplify it to a large enough real time), not at its end, as in conventional
PCR.
 P a g e | 126

1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following options is correct?

1. It rises in the Brahmagiri range of the (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Western Ghats and falls in the Bay of Bengal. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Its main tributaries are Amravati, Bhavani,
Hemavati and Kabini. 6. With reference to Sea Turtle Project,
3. It forms the sacred islands of Srirangapatna consider the following statements:
and Shivanasamudra and Shivanasamudra 1. Ministry of Environment & Forests initiated
falls and also a wide delta. the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in
The above statements are correct in the context collaboration of UNDP.
of which of the following rivers: 2. It has helped in preparation of inventory
(a) Periyar (b) Kaveri map of breeding sites of Sea Turtles.
(c) Krishna (d) Godavari Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only
2. Consider the following statements about (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 and 2
orphan disease:
1. It is a rare disease which drug companies 7. Which of the following cities was not a
are not interested in adopting to develop port city in ancient India:
treatments. 1. Kaveripattinam
2. The United States Food and Drug 2. Arikamedu
Administration (FDA) has declared Covid-19 3. Mahabalipuram
an orphan disease. Choose from the following options
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 & 2 Only (b) 1 & 3 Only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) None
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
8. Which of the following correctly defines
3. The recently announced SUNRISE mission the term ‘zoonotic disease’?
announced by NASA relates to which of (a) A disease which affects animals kept in
the following: captivity such as zoos; and not free animals
(a) to study how the Sun creates and releases in the wild.
giant solar particle storms. (b) A disease shared in nature by man and
(b) to study the outer Solar System animals.
(c) to measure the temperature of the radiation (c) A disease which spreads in the zoo when a
left over from the Big Bang new animal is introduced in the zoo from
(d) to observe the heavens through infrared the wild.
light (d) A disease shared in nature by animals as
well as plants.
4. Consider the following statements about
South China Sea: 9. With reference to Pabna agrarian crisis,
1. It is south of China, east & south of consider the following statements:
Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north 1. The main form of struggle was that of
of the island of Borneo. passive resistance.
2. It is connected by Taiwan Strait with the 2. There was wide spread violence against the
East China Sea and by Luzon Strait with the zamindars.
Philippine Sea. Which of the statements given above is/are
Which of the above statements is/are correct? correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

5. Consider the following statements about 10. Consider the following statements with
Financial Stability and Development respect to the trophic level interactions:
Council (FSDC): 1. Energy flow is always unidirectional.
1. It is chaired by the Governor of RBI. 2. Energy level decreases from the first trophic
2. It is tasked with maintaining financial level onwards.
stability, financial sector development, inter- 3. The number of trophic levels can vary and is
regulatory coordination along with seldom beyond six.
monitoring macro-prudential regulation of Which of the above statements is/are correct?
the economy.
 P a g e | 127

(a) All of the above (b) 1 and 3 only 16. The President's Rule can be extended
(c) 1 only (d) 2 and 3 only beyond one year by six months at a time
under which of the following
11. Judge of High Court presents his/her circumstances:
resignation to which of the following 1. A proclamation of National Emergency
(a) President should be in operation in the whole of India
(b) Governor and the Election Commission must certify
(c) Chief Justice of High Court that the General Elections to the Legislative
(d) Chief Minister assembly of the concerned state cannot be
held on account of difficulties.
12. Consider the following statements about 2. A proclamation of National Emergency
Members of Parliament Local Area should be in operation in any part of the
Development Scheme: state concerned and the Election
1. It is under the control of the Ministry of Commission must certify that the General
Rural Development. Elections to the Legislative assembly of the
2. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an concerned state cannot be held on account
entitlement of 1 crore per MP constituency. of difficulties.
Which of the above statements are correct? Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only correct?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
13. Consider the following statements about
Infrared Thermometer: 17. With reference to movement of non-
1. It works on a principle called Black body biodegradable pollutants choose the
radiation. correct option:
2. The number of IR rays emitted by the (a) In bioaccumulation there is an increase in
moving molecules of a heated object, is concentration of a pollutant from one link in
inversely proportionate to the current in the a food chain to another.
detector of the IR thermometer. (b) In biomagnification there is an increase in
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? concentration of a pollutant from the
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only environment to the first organism in a food
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 chain.
(c) In order for biomagnification to occur the
14. Consider the following statements about pollutant must be: long-lived ; mobile;
Agasthyavanam Biological Park (ABP): soluble in fats biologically active.
1. ABP is a wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. (d) all the above are correct
2. It is contiguous to Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. 18. Consider the following statements about
3. It has many endemic medicinal plants and One District One product scheme:
rich biodiversity. 1. It was launched in Union Budget 2020-21 on
Which of the above statements is/are correct? an all-India scale for promoting the
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only horticulture sector.
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 2 and 3 2. It was already in operation in Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
15. United Nations Conference on Trade and (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Development (UNCTAD) releases which of (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
the following reports:
1. Trade and Development Report
2. World Investment Report 19. Which of the following statements are
3. The Least Developed Countries Report correct?
4. Information and Economy Report 1. Call Money refers to the borrowing or
Select the correct code from the options given lending of funds for 1 day.
below: 2. Term money refers to borrowing and
(a) 1 2 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only lending of funds for a period of more than 1
(c) 1 2 and 4 only (d) All of the above month.
Select the correct code from below:
 P a g e | 128

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. The Speaker of the legislative assembly from
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 time to time summons each house of State
Legislature to meet.
20. Which of the following are the new 2. An adjournment suspends the work, in a
features added to e-NAM recently: sitting for a specified time which may be
1. Integration of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt hours, days or weeks.
System (e-NWRs) Module with e-NAM. 3. The Governor of the State declares the
2. Farmer Producer Organisations trading house adjourned sine die, when the business
Module of the session is completed. Within the next
3. Logistic Module few days the Governor issues a notification
Select the correct code from below: for prorogation of the session.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above (a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 2 Only
(c) 2 and 3 Only (d) All of the above
21. Consider the following statements about
NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019: 25. Consider the following statements about
1. It applied the provisions of the NIA Act also Sirocco wind:
to persons who commit a scheduled offence 1. It is a hot, dry, dusty wind which originates
beyond India against Indian citizens or in the Sahara desert.
affecting the interest of India. 2. It is most frequent in spring and normally
2. It inserted certain new offences relating to lasts only for a few days.
human trafficking, counterfeit currency or Which of the above statements is / are correct:
bank notes, manufacture or sale of (a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only
prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism and (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
explosive substances.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 26. Consider the following statements about
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Counter Cyclical Capital Buffer (CCyB) for
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 banks:
1. CCyB is the capital to be kept by a bank to
22. Consider the following statements: meet business cycle related risks.
1. Gupta kings were worshipers of Vishnu 2. The rule was first introduced in Basel III.
2. Gupta kings followed a policy of intolerance Which of the above statements are correct?
towards other religious sects. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Which of the above statements is/are true? (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 27. Consider the following statements:
1. The Factories Act of 1881 and 1891 was
23. According to the Constitution of India, it is supported by most of the nationalist
the duty of the President of India to be laid newspapers.
before the Parliament which of the 2. BG Tilak opposed passing of Factories Act of
following? 1881 and 1891.
1. The Recommendations of the Union Finance Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
Commission (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
2. The Report of the Public Accounts (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Committee
3. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor 28. Consider the following statements:
General 1. Nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) is a
4. The Report of the National Commission for weighted average rate at which one
Scheduled Castes country's currency exchanges for a basket of
Select the correct answer using the codes given multiple foreign currencies.
below 2. NEER is an indicator of a country's
(a) Only 2 (b) Only 1 and 2 international competitiveness in terms of
(c) Only 1 3 and 4 (d) Only 2 and 3 the foreign exchange (forex) market.
Which among the above statements is / are
24. With regard to the sessions of the State correct?
Legislature, consider the following
statements.
 P a g e | 129

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

29. Right to move out of the country and right 34. Consider the following statements about
to come back to the country is covered Ayushman Bharat Scheme:
under which Right? 1. It is a health insurance scheme which
(a) Freedom of movement provides free coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per
(b) Right to life and personal liberty person per year at any government or even
(c) Freedom of assembly empanelled private hospitals all over India
(d) Equality before law and equal protection of for secondary and tertiary medical care
law facilities.
2. The scheme covers under its ambit only a
30. Consider the following statements specific list of diseases and only those
regarding the Indian Depository Receipts? patients who are between a certain age
1. An IDR declares ownership of shares of a categories.
Foreign Company. 3. It pays for the hospitalisation costs of its
2. The Shares in an IDR are held by an Indian beneficiaries through strategic purchasing
Custodian. from public and private hospitals.
3. IDR enables the Indian Residents get a Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
chance to invest in a listed foreign entity. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
Which among the above statements is/are (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) None is incorrect
correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 35. Consider the following Rights:
(c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1 and 3 only 1. Right to privacy
2. Right to convert
31. What do you understand by Tax Elasticity? 3. Right to picketing
(a) It is the change in Tax collection with 4. Right to health and medical aid
respect to change in Per capita Income Which of the above mentioned rights are
(b) It is the proportionate change in the Tax Fundamental Rights?
revenue; relative to GDP (a) 1 2 and 3 Only (b) 2 3 and 4 Only
(c) It is the change is tax collection measured (c) 2 and 3 Only (d) All of the above
with respect to the increase in tax rates
(d) It is the change is tax collection measured 36. Rocks undergo recrystallisation due to
with respect to the decrease in tax rates deformation caused by tectonic shearing.
In this context what is foliation of rocks?
32. Consider the following statements: (a) turning of sediments through compaction
1. The ruin of Indian handicraft industries was into rocks
due to the imposition of free trade in Britain (b) rearrangements of grains or minerals in
and levy of discriminatory tariffs against layers or lines
Indian goods in India. (c) sudden cooling of lava resulting in fine
2. The scholarly and priestly classes actively grains
incited hatred and rebellion against foreign (d) recrystalisation of rock materials in contact
rule due to the loss of caste. with hot magma
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? 37. Which of the following statements is/are
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only true about Nalanda University?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Nalanda University was a great Buddhist
university meant for Buddhist monks only.
33. Consider the following statements about 2. The admission to the university was based
India Meteorological Department (IMD): on an examination.
1. It is an agency of the Ministry of Science and 3. Nalanda was sacked by Turkish Muslim
Technology. invaders under Bakhtiyar Khilji.
2. It is the principal agency responsible for Select the correct code from below:
meteorological observations, weather (a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 2 and 3 Only
forecasting and seismology. (c) 1 and 3 Only (d) All of the above
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
 P a g e | 130

38. Which among the following features is/are 43. Arrange the following from North to
found in the mountain course of a river? South:
1. River capture 1. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
2. Rapids 2. Kanha Tiger Reserve
3. Cataracts 3. Pench Tiger Reserve
Select the correct answer from the codes given 4. Panna Tiger Reserve
below: Select the correct code from below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (a) 1-2-3-4 (b) 2-3-1-4
(c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3 only (c) 4-3-1-2 (d) 4-1-2-3

39. Five lakh rupees per annum for five years 44. With regard to the sessions of State
for improvement of higher education and Legislature, consider the following
universities was sanctioned under which statements:
education reform? 1. The Speaker of legislative assembly from
(a) Woods dispatch time to time summons each house of State
(b) Indian Universities Act Legislature to meet.
(c) Macaulay's Minute 2. An adjournment suspends the work, in a
(d) Hunter Commission sitting for a specified time which may be
hours, days or weeks.
40. Consider the following statements about 3. The Governor of the State declares the
Consolidated Fund of India: house adjourned sine die, when the business
1. Each state has its own Consolidated Fund of of the session is completed. Within the next
the State and the combined corpus of all few days the Governor issues a notification
these funds forms the Consolidated Fund of for prorogation of the session.
India. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. The Comptroller and Auditor General of (a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 2 Only
India audits the fund and reports to the (c) 2 and 3 Only (d) All of the above
relevant legislatures on the management.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 45. Consider the following statements
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only regarding Samatata:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. It was deltaic portion of Bengal formed by
the Brahmaputra.
41. Consider the following about Prevention of 2. Gupta rulers ruled these areas.
Money Laundering Act (PMLA): 3. Varna system was present in these areas.
1. It provides for an upper limit of 5 lakhs for Which of the above statements is/are true?
fines under PMLA. (a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 2 and 3 Only
2. Under the PMLA Act, the Intelligence Bureau (c) 1 and 3 Only (d) 1 Only
is empowered to conduct a Money
Laundering 46. With reference to pollination, consider the
Which of the above statements is/are correct? following statements:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. Autogamy is transfer of pollen grains from
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 the anther to the stigma of the same flower.
2. Xenogamy is transfer of pollen grains from
42. Consider the following statements about the anther to the stigma of another flower of
Index of Industrial Production (IIP): the same plant.
1. It is compiled and published annually by the 3. Geitonogamy is transfer of pollen grains
Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), from anther to the stigma of a different
Ministry of Statistics and Programme plant
Implementation. Which of the statements given above is/are
2. The Base Year of the Index of Eight Core incorrect?
Industries has been revised from the year (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
2004-05 to 2010-11. (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3 only
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 47. Consider the following statements:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Malaria is a disease caused by mosquito bite
of female Aedes mosquitoes.
 P a g e | 131

2. Autoimmune diseases are diseases in which (a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 and 3
the body's own immune system attacks (c) Only 1and 3 (d) All of the above
healthy cells.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 52. With reference to the Gupta Empire,
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only consider the following statements:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Chandragupta Vikramaditya assumed title
of Sakari after defeating and annexing
48. Recently, India has sought consultations territory of Saka satraps.
with the US under the World Trade 2. Chandragupta Vikramaditya married his
Organisation’s (WTO’s) Safeguard daughter to Vakataka Prince Rudrasena II.
Agreement. These consultations are Which of the statements given above is/are
related to which decision of US correct?
Authorities? (a) 1 Only (b) 2 only
(a) Decision to increase import duties on solar (c) Both 1 & 2 (d) Neither 1 & 2
panels.
(b) Decision to increase import duties on 53. Consider the following statements:
derivatives of steel and aluminium products. 1. Glaciations give rise to erosional features in
(c) Decision with respect to Sanitary and lowlands.
Phytosanitary measures related to import of 2. Glaciations give rise to depositional features
mangoes. in highlands.
(d) Decision with respect to ban on export of Which of the above statements is / are correct?
hydroxychloroquine drug. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
49. International Criminal Police Organization
(INTERPOL) is an intergovernmental 54. Which of the following statement(s) is/are
organization that helps coordinate the correct about early nationalists, especially
police force of 194 member countries. the moderates:
Each of the member countries hosts an 1. Were indifferent to the labour's cause.
INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB). 2. Differentiated between the labour in the
In India, which of the following has been Indian-owned factories and those in the
designated as the National Central Bureau British-owned factories.
of India? 3. Did not support the Factory Acts of 1881
(a) Intelligence Bureau and 1891.
(b) Central Bureau of Investigation Select the correct answer using given below code:
(c) Enforcement Directorate (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(d) Ministry of Home Affairs (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) None of the above

50. Consider the following statements about 55. India has a currency swap facility with
Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza other central banks of which of the
Data (GISAID): following countries?
1. It is a public platform started by the World 1. Japan
Bank in 2008 for countries to share genome 2. United States
sequences. 3. United Arab Emirates
2. It actively promotes the development of Select the correct answer from the options
novel research tools for the analysis of below:
influenza data. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 56. Consider the following statement about UN
Peacekeeping Forces:
51. In which of the following states will there 1. UN Peacekeeping helps countries navigate
be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare? the difficult path from conflict to peace.
1. Chhattisgarh 2. At present, India is the largest contributor
2. Jharkhand of troops to the UNPK Force.
3. Bihar Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the codes given
below:
 P a g e | 132

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 2 and 3

57. Consider the following statements about 62. Consider the following statements about
One Stop Centre: the Convalescent Plasma Therapy:
1. It is a sub-scheme of the National Mission 1. It relies on the age-old concept of passive
for Empowerment of Women. immunity.
2. The scheme is funded through Nirbhaya 2. It seeks to make use of the antibodies
Fund. developed in the recovered patient against
3. It includes an element of social audit by civil the coronavirus.
society groups. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3 only
63. The International Debt Statistics Report is
58. Consider the following statements released by which of the following:
regarding Chief Minister: (a) World Bank
1. Chief Minister must always prove his (b) International Monetary Fund
majority in the assembly before his (c) World Economic Forum
appointment. (d) Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
2. Chief Minister can recommend the Development
dissolution of legislative assembly to the
governor. 64. The Speaker of Lok Sabha derives his
Which of the above statements is/are correct? powers and duties from which of the
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 following sources:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 and 2 1. The Constitution of India.
2. The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of
59. What were the causes of Success of Business of Lok Sabha.
Magadhan rule in ancient India? 3. Parliamentary Conventions.
1. Magadha enjoyed an advantageous Select the correct answer from the codes given
geographical position. below:
2. The ready availability of iron ores. (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only
3. The capital was situated at the strategic (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 2 only
points.
4. The orthodox nature of Magadhan society. 65. Consider the following statements about
Which of the above statement is/are correct? tropical storms:
(a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 1 3 and 4 Only 1. The energy to the tropical storm comes
(c) 1 2 and 3 Only (d) All of the above from the latent heat released by the warm
moist air.
60. Consider the following statements: 2. More tropical storms occur in Arabian Sea as
1. When the earth's crust bends faulting compared to Bay of Bengal.
occurs. Which of the above statements is / are correct:
2. Faulting is caused only by forces of (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
compression. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the above statements is/are correct:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 66. With reference to Pandya dynasty,
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 consider the following statements:
1. The Pandyas ruled over the present day
61. Consider the following statements: southern Tamil Nadu with their capital at
1. SC Bose supported the Gandhi-Irwin pact. Madurai.
2. SC Bose wanted to negotiate the death 2. The Pandyan rule during the Sangam Age
sentence of Bhagat Singh and his associates. declined due to the invasion of the
3. SC Bose supported the withdrawal of Civil Kalabhras.
Disobedience Movement. 3. Talaiyalanganattu Cheruvenra
Which of the above statements is/ are correct? Neduncheliyan was responsible for the
execution of Kovalan for which Kannagi
burnt Madurai.
 P a g e | 133

Which of the statements given above is/are 2. Sale, distribution, supply, renting etc. of any
correct? ultrasound machine or any other equipment
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only capable of detecting sex of the foetus.
(c) 2 only (d) 1 2 and 3 Select the correct code from the options below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
67. Consider the following statements about (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Asian Development Bank (ADB):
1. ADB is a regional development bank 72. Which of the following are tools used by
headquartered in Beijing. the Monetary Policy Committee to frame
2. China holds the largest proportion of shares monetary policy?
in ADB followed by the Japan. 1. Repo Rate
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 2. Reverse Repo Rate
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 3. Cash Reserve Ratio
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 4. Bank Rate
Select the correct code from the options given
68. Consider the following statements about below:
SAARC: (a) 1 2 3 and 4 (b) 1 2 and 3
1. SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund consists (c) 2 3 and 4 (d) 1 3 and 4
of contributions made by member nations
based on their proportions of GDP. 73. Consider the following statements about
2. SAARC has 7 members, Afghanistan being Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical
its newest member. Weapons:
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1. It is the implementing body of the Chemical
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Weapons Convention.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. It was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize
"for its extensive efforts to eliminate
69. Which of the following are correctly chemical weapons".
matched: 3. It has its headquarters in Geneva,
1. OPEC countries – Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Switzerland.
Mexico. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. OPEC+ countries – Malaysia, Russia, Oman, (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
Bahrain. (c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3 only
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 74. Key fundamentals to openness include:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Market determined exchange rate for full
convertibility
70. Integrated Child Development Services 2. Regulations on all inflows, their nature and
(ICDS) Programme is a centrally sponsored objective.
scheme and provides a package of six 3. Commercial and financial viability of
services. Which of the following services projects.
is/are included under its ambit: 4. Prudential norms of lending should never be
1. supplementary nutrition compromised
2. immunisation Which of the following options is correct?
3. health check-up (a) 1 2 and 4 (b) 1 3 and 4
4. referral services (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1 2 3 and 4
Select the correct code from the options below:
(a) 1 2 and 3 only (b) 2 3 and 4 only 75. Which of the following are predominant
(c) 1 3 and 4 only (d) 1 2 3 and 4 traits of internal migrants in India:
1. they predominantly migrate from villages to
71. Which of the following are offences under cities;
Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic 2. they are low-income populations who work
Techniques Act: in the informal sector;
1. Conducting or helping in the conduct of 3. they have not permanently relocated their
prenatal diagnostic technique in the families to the city. Instead, they circulate
unregistered units. between villages and cities several times a
year.
 P a g e | 134

Select the correct code from the options given (a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 4 Only
below: (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 3 and 4 Only
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 2 and 3 81. What according to early nationalists, was a
major obstacle to rapid industrial
76. Consider the following statements development?
1. The maximum strength of the Legislative (a) Lack of capital
Council is fixed at one-Third of the total (b) Policy of free trade
strength of the Assembly, by the (c) Tariff policy
Constitution. (d) Assured interest scheme
2. The bonafides of the Governor’s nomination
for Legislative Council can be challenged in 82. Consider the following statements:
the courts in case of misuse of power. 1. The South Asia Economic Focus Report has
Which of the above statements is/are correct? been released by Asian Development Bank.
(a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only 2. The report projects that India is likely to
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 record its worst growth performance in
2020-21 since the 1991 liberalisation as the
77. Which of the following can help in coronavirus outbreak severely disrupts the
arresting the slide of rupee? economy.
1. Repo Rate Hike Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
2. Currency Market intervention (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
3. Open Market Operations (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Select the correct code from the options below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only 83. The SATYAM programme has been
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1 2 and 3 launched by which of the following:
(a) Department of Science and Technology
78. Consider the following statements: (b) Department of Electronics and Information
1. A high primary deficit indicates that the Technology
high fiscal deficit is on account of interest (c) Ministry of AYUSH
payments. (d) NITI Aayog
2. Revenue Deficit is potentially most
dangerous out of the three deficits, fiscal, 84. Section 8(1) of the Right to Information
revenue and primary. Act, 2005 includes some exemptions.
Which of the following options is/are correct? Which of the following has/have been
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only granted exemption from disclosure under
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 the act, unless the competent authority is
satisfied that larger public interest
79. During October and November, northeast warrants the disclosure of the relevant
monsoon while crossing over the Bay of information?
Bengal cause torrential rainfall over , 1. Information in respect of intellectual
which of the following regions : property, the disclosure of which could
1. Tamil Nadu coast harm the competitive position of a third
2. West Bengal party.
3. Southern Andhra Pradesh 2. Information available to a person in his
Which of the above statements is / are fiduciary relationship.
correct: Choose from the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) 1 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

80. Which of the following taxes levied by 85. Consider the following statements with
Alauddin Khilji are correctly matched? reference to National Emergency:
1. Jaziya -Pilgrimage tax on Muslims 1. The Centre can give executive directions to a
2. Chari- land tax state only on certain specific matters.
3. Kharaj- pasture tax 2. The Constitution becomes unitary rather
4. Ghari- house tax than federal in action.
Select the correct code: 3. Parliament can make permanent laws on
subjects in the State list.
 P a g e | 135

Which of the following statements is/are 91. Consider the following statements:
incorrect? 1. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the
(a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 1 and 3 Only oldest and most popular art forms of
(c) 2 and 3 Only (d) All of the above Odisha.
2. Popular themes represented through this art
86. Arrange the following state capitals from form include paintings of Lord Jagannath,
West to East: Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu and Lord
1. Delhi Ganesha.
2. Dehradun Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
3. Jaipur (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
4. Srinagar (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Select the correct answer from the codes given
below: 92. Who among the following has the right to
(a) 4 3 1 2 (b) 4 2 1 3 speak and to take part in the proceedings
(c) 4 1 3 2 (d) 3 4 1 2 but no right to vote in the Houses of the
Legislature of the state?
87. Consider the following statements about (a) Speaker
Dry Deciduous forests: (b) Advocate General
1. They are found in areas with rainfall (c) Chief Minister
between 100-200 cm. (d) Governor
2. On the wetter margins, these forests have a
transition to evergreen forests while on the 93. Consider the following statements
drier margins to moist deciduous forests. regarding eligibility criteria for the
Which of the above statements is / are correct: appointment of the Governor in a
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only particular state:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. He should be a citizen of India.
2. He should have completed 30 years of age.
88. Digha Nikaya is related to which 3. He or she must not hold any other office of
religion? profit.
(a) Jainism 4. He or she must not be a member of the
(b) Buddhism Legislature of the Union or of any other
(c) Hinduism state
(d) None of the above Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 Only (b) 1 3 and 4 Only
89. Consider following statements about (c) 1 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above
World Economic Outlook (WEO) Report:
1. It is published by World Bank. 94. With reference to the North Eastern
2. It is published annually and partly updated Council, consider the following statements:
two times a year. 1. The Council consists of seven member
3. It portrays the world economy in the near states of the North Eastern Region.
and medium context, with projections for 2. The Secretariat (Headquarters) of the
up to four years into the future. Council is located at Shillong, Meghalaya.
Which of the above statements is / are correct? Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only correct?
(c) 3 only (d) 1 and 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
90. Consider the following statements about
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): 95. Which of the following are characteristics
1. One REC is created when 100 megawatt hour of Twin Balance Sheet problem:
of electricity is generated from an eligible 1. The corporates are unable to repay their
renewable energy source. loans to banks.
2. In India, RECs are traded on the Indian 2. Corporate's inability to repay affects the
Energy Exchange (IEX) only. banks’ balance sheets and hence their ability
Which of the above statements is/are correct? to lend more to the corporates.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Select the correct code from the options below:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
 P a g e | 136

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 100. Consider the following taxes.

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Wealth Tax
2. Corporation Tax
96. Consider the following statements about 3. Capital Gains Tax
PM Jan Arogya Yojana: 4. Luxury tax
1. The National Health Authority is responsible 5. Entertainment Tax
for the implementation of PMJAY. 6. Security Transaction Tax
2. The SECC database is used nationally to 7. Minimum Alternate Tax
identify the scheme’s beneficiaries. Which of the above is/are direct Taxes:
3. The identification of the beneficiaries is (a) 1 2 3 and 7 only (b) 1 2 3 6 and 7 only
done by the Central Govt. (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1 5 6 and 7 only
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 101. Consider the following statements about
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust
(CCRT):
97. Consider the following statements with 1. It is a trust fund under the International
respect to SARS-CoV-2: Monetary Fund.
1. Basic Reproductive Ratio or the R-nought 2. Its main purpose is to provide debt relief for
tells the average number of people who will the poorest and most vulnerable countries
catch the disease from one contagious hit by catastrophic natural disasters or
person. public health disasters.
2. The length of time between appearance of Which of the above statements is/are correct?
two successive persons with symptoms of (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
infection is called the Series Interval. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. Herd Immunity happens when so many
people in a community become immune to 102. Consider the following statements in this
an infectious disease that it stops the context of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre:
disease from spreading. 1. It marked a turning point in India’s modern
Which of the above statements is/are correct? history and was the precursor to Mahatma
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only Gandhi’s full commitment to the cause of
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above Indian nationalism and independence from
Britain.
98. Consider the following statements about 2. After the Incident, Nobel laureate
Public distribution system (PDS): Rabindranath Tagore renounced the
1. The PDS operates under the Ministry of knighthood that he had received in 1915.
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Distribution. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
2. PDS is operated under the joint (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
responsibility of the Central and the State
Governments. 103. Consider the following statements:
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1. The members of the civil services of centre
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only or state or persons holding civil posts under
(c ) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 centre or state, hold office during the
pleasure of the President.
99. Consider the following statements about 2. If a post belonging to centre service is
National Safai Karamcharis Finance & abolished before the expiration of the
Development Corporation (NSKFDC): contractual period, the President must
1. It functions under the Ministry of Social provide for the compensation to the public
Justice & Empowerment. servant.
2. It is an apex Corporation for the all-round Which of the statements given above is/are
socio-economic upliftment of the Safai correct?
Karamcharis, Scavengers and their (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
dependents. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 and 2
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
 P a g e | 137

104. With reference to planning in India,

consider the following statements:
1. India followed the system of indicative ANSWERS
planning till the 6th five year plan and
directed planning from then onwards. 1.b 22 . a 43 . d 64 . c 85 . b
2. For the first time universal elementary 2.c 23 . c 44 . b 65 . a 86 . a
education and eradication of illiteracy was 3.a 24 . b 45 . d 66 . a 87 . d
included as the major objective in the 8th 4.c 25 . c 46 . b 67 . d 88 . b
five year plan. 5.b 26 . c 47 . b 68 . d 89 . c
3. The term inclusive growth was coined in the 6.c 27 . b 48 . b 69 . b 90 . d
12th Five year plan. 7.d 28 . c 49 . b 70 . d 91 . d
Which of the above statements is/are correct? 8.b 29 . b 50 . a 71 . c 92 . b
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 2 and 3 9.d 30 . d 51 . a 72 . a 93 . b
(c) 2 only (d) 1 and 2 10 . a 31 . b 52 . c 73 . a 94 . b
11 . a 32 . d 53 . d 74 . b 95 . c
12 . d 33 . b 54 . c 75 . d 96 . a
105. Consider the following about Measles:
13 . b 34 . a 55 . d 76 . a 97 . d
1. Measles is a highly contagious bacterial
14 . b 35 . d 56 . a 77 . d 98 . c
disease.
15 . d 36 . b 57 . c 78 . b 99 . d
2. Recently Sri Lanka became the fifth country
16 . c 37 . b 58 . b 79 . a 100 . b
in the WHO Southeast Asia region to
17 . c 38 . c 59 . c 80 . b 101 . c
eliminate measles after India, Bhutan, 18 . c 39 . b 60 . d 81 . b 102 . c
Maldives, and Timor-Leste. 19 . a 40 . b 61 . b 82 . a 103 . b
Which of the above statements is/are correct: 20 . d 41 . d 62 . c 83 . a 104 . c
(a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only 21 . c 42 . d 63 . a 84 . c 105 . d
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

FACT FINDER
 Powered by:

Academy for Civil Services Pvt. Ltd.

e-Brochure

APTI PLUS
VIRTUAL LEARNING CAMPUS
FOR CIVIL SERVICES
EXAMINATION