Syllabus and Schedule

May 2019
Monthly Current Affairs

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Table of Contents Accelerating Growth .............................................. 36

Polity & Governance ...................................... 4
Competitiveness Index.......................................... 38
Article 324 and the Role of ECI .............................. 4
Cheaper Medicines and e-Pharmacy Norms ..... 39
Election Commission must act tough................... 5
Environment ............................................... 41
The merger of the NSSO with CSO ........................ 6
Coastal Regulation Zone....................................... 41
Judicial Legislation .................................................. 7
Saving Tigers .......................................................... 42
Social Media & Elections ........................................ 8
Improving Air Quality ............................................. 43
Private, Public and Political Morality .................... 9
Emission of Ozone Gas ......................................... 44
Economy ..................................................... 11
Carbon dioxide and Global Warming .................. 45
Financial Sector...................................................... 11
Protecting Forest Fringes ..................................... 46
Boosting exports & Resolving trade issues ....... 12
Proprietary seeds ................................................... 47
Data protection law and Telecom sector stress
Green Projects in India .......................................... 49
.................................................................................. 13
Fighting Air Pollution ............................................. 51
Health Professionals in India ............................... 14
Infra Strategy .......................................................... 51
State Governments borrowing through Masala
Bonds ....................................................................... 15 PepsiCo vs Gujarat farmers ................................. 52
Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Climate Emergency ................................................ 53
Reforms ................................................................... 16 Combating growing vehicular pollution ............. 54
Industrial Policy in India........................................ 17 Global Assessment Report by UN ....................... 55
WTO Appellate Body .............................................. 19 Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and
OECD index for Services trade ............................. 20 Recovery .................................................................. 55
Electricity in rural India ......................................... 20 India Cooling Action Plan ..................................... 56
Shutting down of ATMs ........................................ 21 COP meetings of conventions ............................. 58
Issues in State Government Finances ................ 22 Science & Technology ................................. 59
Slowdown in India Economy ................................ 22 Superconductivity at Room temperature ........... 59
Banking Reforms in India...................................... 23 Project MANAV ...................................................... 60
Farm Distress in India ........................................... 25 Microbots ................................................................ 61
Effect of the NBFC crisis on the economy ......... 27 Launch of Scorpene Class Submarine – VELA . 62
New GDP series faces issues of credibility ....... 28 International Centre for Automotive Technology
WTO mini-ministerial meet in Delhi .................... 29 (ICAT) ....................................................................... 62
High-level Panel on increasing Trade ................. 30 Chandrayaan-2 ....................................................... 63
Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Dengue Vaccine ..................................................... 63

Reforms ................................................................... 31 DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight Test of
Discom debt ............................................................ 32 ABHYAS ................................................................... 64
US accuses India of market barriers................... 33 Artificial Bio Organs .............................................. 65
Food Inflation.......................................................... 33 Artificial Life ........................................................... 65
Under-5 Mortality in India ..................................... 34 Encourage citizen science .................................... 66
The Liquidity Coverage Ratio for NBFCs ............ 34 RISAT-2B ................................................................. 67
Draft Export Policy ................................................. 35 Units of measurement ........................................... 67
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May illness in Kashmir .......................................... 68 Shortage of Airborne Warning and Control

System Aircraft ...................................................... 88
International Relations................................. 69
Challenges in Internal Security ............................ 89
India’s Engagement in the Indian Ocean ............ 69
BIMSTEC ................................................................. 71 Society ....................................................... 91
India – Taiwan Relationship ................................. 73 Life Expectancy with rising age ........................... 91
UN designates Masood Azhar as global terrorist Fight against Anaemia .......................................... 93

.................................................................................. 74 Women’s representation in Science and Tech .. 94
Quest for a Military footprint ................................ 75 Project EQUIP ......................................................... 95
Masood Azhar: The changed stance of China .. 77 Violence Against Women ..................................... 95
Commerce Ministry to Boost Trade with African Women in the workforce ....................................... 96
Countries ................................................................. 78 Voice of the People ............................................... 98
Endless War in Afghanistan ................................. 79 Commission on OBC sub-categorisation ........... 99
China, India and Iran deal ..................................... 80 SC/ST Government Staff Promotions .............. 100
The IBSA task list ................................................... 81 Global Childhood Report ..................................... 101
Rohingya repatriation ............................................ 82 Drug Demand Reduction Programme ............... 101
Defence & Internal Security ......................... 83 Geography .................................................102
National security strategy .................................... 83 Anthropocene Epoch ........................................... 102
Surveillance wars in space ................................... 85 Fani Cyclone ......................................................... 104
Varuna Naval Exercise .......................................... 86
History, Art and Culture ..............................108
Gadchiroli naxal attack ......................................... 87
750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan
Global Military Spending ....................................... 87 ................................................................................ 108
Mass Surveillance in Past and Future ................ 88 Ancient Indian artefacts...................................... 109
Buddhist Sites ...................................................... 109
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Polity & Governance
Article 324 and the Role of ECI
1. Recently the Election Commission of India (ECI) passed an order by ending the campaign in
West Bengal by 19 hours ahead of its scheduled time.
2. It also removed the state’s Home Secretary and a senior police officer.
3. The decision was taken in response to street violence in Kolkata between cadres of the political
parties.
Where the ECI gets its power?
1. Article 324 vests Election Commission of India (ECI) the superintendence, direction, and control
of elections to all the central and state government elections in India.
2. Parliament enacted The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951 (RPA) to define and
enlarge the powers of the Commission.
3. As per the RPA (Amendment) Act, 1988, all the temporary officers deployed for the conduct of
elections will be under the direct control of EC, from notification, until the results of the election.
What were the views of the Constituent Assembly?
1. Dr. B R Ambedkar introduced Article 324 to ensure that the entire election machinery is in the
hands of ECI, including the power to issue directives to all the election officers.
How the Supreme Court interpreted Article 324?
1. In the Mohinder Gill case, the SC held that Article 324 empowers the ECI to operate areas left
unoccupied by the legislation and to take care of any surprise situations.
2. SC also said that while exercising the power, ECI must not use it arbitrary and for mala fide
reasons, and also it must not violate any rules or laws of the government.
3. In N P Ponnuswami (1952), the Supreme Court held that even courts do not have the power to
interfere with the electoral process.
Why has ECI’s credibility suffered during these elections?
1. It had no convincing logic for a seven-phase election in West Bengal or a three-phase vote in a
single constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Gave no reason for not holding simultaneous Assembly elections in J&K and by-elections in
Tamil Nadu.
3. In taking action on complaints of violations of the Model Code of Conduct, it has been selective.
4. The reduction of the campaign time in West Bengal by 19 hours, seems clearly arbitrary.
Source: The Indian Express
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Election Commission must act tough
Trust Deficit
1. The trust deficit between the Election Commission (EC) and the Opposition parties and the
voters started with the EVM/VVPAT saga.
2. A group of retired bureaucrats and diplomats wrote a letter to the President expressing concern
over the EC’s “weak-kneed conduct” and said that the institution is “suffering from a crisis of
credibility”.
Why such a trust deficit?
1. EC had not acted on complaints against Prime Minister and President of the ruling party for
almost a month.
2. The complaint was relating to invoking of the armed forces in an election campaign, which is a
violation of the EC’s guidelines.
3. Later the Supreme Court ordered it to do so before May 6.
4. The EC promptly disposed of several complaints, giving the leaders a clean chit in each case.
5. In the past as well, EC has got away with many mistakes largely because of its credibility and
people’s trust in the institution.
6. But this trust cannot be taken for granted. The moment there is a deficit of credibility, problems
begin.
What is the root cause of the problem?
1. It lies in the flawed system of appointment of Election Commissioners.
2. They are appointed unilaterally by the government of the day.
3. Apart from the manner of appointment, the provision for the removal of Election Commissioners
also needs correction.
4. At present, only the CEC is protected from being removed. He/she can be removed only through
impeachment.
5. Constitution enabled protection to the CEC as it was a one-man Commission initially.
6. This must now be extended to other Commissioners, who were added in 1993, as they
collectively represent the EC.
How it can be solved?
1. The 255th Report of the Law Commission of India recommended a collegium system for
appointing Election Commissioners.
2. But the successive ruling governments have ducked the issue, not wanting to let go of their
power.
3. Public interest litigation was also filed in the Supreme Court in 2018, which was referred to a
Constitution Bench. The case is still pending in the court.
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4. Over 40 electoral reforms remain pending for two decades and it seems futile to have any hope
from the political leadership.
5. Now it is imperative that the EC asserts the ample authority that it already possesses
constitutionally.
6. This is not a mere question of its discretion, but a constitutional duty. Governments come and
go, but the reputation of the EC stays for good.
Source: The Hindu
The merger of the NSSO with CSO
1. Recently, the central government passed an order to merge the National Sample Survey Office
(NSSO) with the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
2. A new overarching body — National Statistical Office (NSO) will be formed.
The issue with the new order
1. The order did not have any mention about the National Statistical Commission (NSC).
2. NSC is an independent body which oversees technical aspects of the NSSO’s statistical work.
3. Such a move will have a negative impact on the autonomy of the NSSO, at a time when data put
out by the Indian statistical system is under suspicious, this would raise further questions over the
independence of the statistical system.
Reasons for suspicion
1. Last year a report was prepared by a committee appointed by the NSC, showed that under the
new GDP series, the economy had grown at a much faster pace under the UPA govt than previously
estimated.
2. A few months ago, the acting chairman of the NSC and a professor of Delhi School of
Economics resigned from the NSC, protesting against the decision to NOT publish the NSSO’s
employment survey.
3. The results of the survey showed that unemployment in India had surged under the NDA.
4. Recently, another report by the NSSO showed that a large number of companies in the MCA21
database — which is integral to estimating GDP under the new series — either couldn’t be traced or
had closed down or were operating in different sectors.
5. This warrants a relook at the manner in which the MCA21 database is used for estimating GDP.
6. Series of events, followed by the government’s latest order, is likely to increase the scepticism of
official data.
7. The more immediate concern is that of the role of the NSC, the larger concern is the decline of
what was once a famed statistical system in the world.
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Judicial Legislation
1. Recently several states in the USA have passed legislation banning abortion.
2. In another case, the U.S. Supreme Court created a new constitutional right — the right to privacy.
3. The Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution talks of freedom of speech and of the press, liberty, and
equality, but it nowhere mentions any right to privacy.
4. Therefore, by a judicial verdict, a right was created which is said to be wrong, since according to
the principle of separation of powers in the Constitution, only the legislature can create a right.
Similar cases in India
1. In the State of Tamilnadu v K. Balu, the Supreme Court banned liquor shops within 500 m of
highways, which was a legislative order.
2. In K. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, it created a right to privacy, which is nowhere mentioned in
the fundamental rights laid down in the Constitution.
3. In Subhash Kashinath Mahajan it amended the SC/ST Act.
4. In the Delhi, Sabarimala and LGBT cases it laid down the ‘constitutional morality’ test.
5. In other decisions, the court fixed timings for bursting crackers on Deepavali, directed
interlinking rivers and laid down regulations for the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
6. In the Judges cases, it created the collegium system for judicial appointments.
Need for Judicial Restraint
1. Both the U.S. and Indian Supreme Courts have not been observing the judicial restraint expected
of judges of superior courts.
2. They have been encroaching on to the domain of the other two organs of the state, the
legislature, and the executive.
3. Presently judicial activism requires reconsideration because it creates unpredictability in the law
apart from violating the principle of separation of powers.
4. It entitles each judge to lay down the law according to his/her own subjective notions.
Way forward
1. Courts should be restrained and follow positivist jurisprudence, which advocates judicial
restraint.
2. In judicial restraint, the center of gravity of the legal system is statutory law, rather than
sociological jurisprudence.
3. Sociological jurisprudence advocates judicial activism and shifts the center of gravity in the legal
system to judge-made law.
Source: The Hindu
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Social Media & Elections
1. Social media platforms allow political parties to reach millions of prospective voters and are
therefore an integral part of elections.
2. However, some authoritarian regimes across the world have used social media to manufacture
positive public opinion.
3. Some established democracies have had to deal with propaganda, fake news and foreign
interference in domestic elections.
4. These developments point to the capacity of social media platforms to seriously undermine
democratic practices worldwide.
AIML Tool by Facebook
1. After the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook has been creating various checks and
balances in cyberspace to create an environment for free and fair elections.
2. It has created specialized global centers with the sole aim of promoting election integrity.
3. Facebook has identified Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML)-powered pattern
recognition tools as an effective line of defence against “unnatural interference”.
5. Whenever accounts are found that are similar to ones flagged in the past, and that is inaccurate,
abusive, or violating the platforms’ terms of service, they are systematically removed.
6. At present, AIML tools assisted the platform to block or remove over a million accounts a day.
7. According to a recent survey, one in two Indian voters has received some kind of fake news in
the month leading to the elections. AIML tools also work to minimize the spread of such
disinformation.
Issues with AIML tools
1. Many complain that these platforms should not be deciding what is proper and improper in the
Indian online space.
2. For instance, Twitter’s top officials, including global CEO, were summoned to appear before the
Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology for alleged bias against right-wing voices on the
platform.
3. Almost all the popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
WhatsApp, being foreign-owned.
4. India neither has insights into their internal algorithms and functioning nor any viable
homegrown equivalents. Therefore its population will always be susceptible to interference beyond
its control.
Way Forward
1. India must create its own mass collaborative technology and independent institutions with
technical expertise that can monitor and counter actions of the government.
2. It is paramount in ensuring that social media evolves into an enabler of transparency and
democracy, rather than a cause of the democratic recession.
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About Cambridge Analytica scandal

The company illegally harvested the personal data of millions of Facebook users without their
consent and used that to influence their voting preferences, in the USA.
Source: The Hindu
Private, Public and Political Morality
1. Public and private morality though related but are not identical.
2. They may come from the same source but are distinct.
Asoka’s Dhamma (Ethics) policy
1. It speaks for three distinct domains.
Interpersonal morality
1. Each of us has special obligations to our children, spouse, parents, teachers, and relatives.
2. We have a duty towards those under our special care, including the aged, servants, animals and,
occasionally, strangers.
3. Asoka also distinguished this private ethic from inter-group morality in public life.
Inter-group morality in public life.
1. It is crucial to maintain harmony between different religious-philosophical groups which can be
maintained by the exercise of sayamam (self-restraint).
2. He particularly emphasized the importance of vacagut (controlling one’s tongue) in maintaining
harmony.
3. It says that one has to be critical of other groups and praise one’s own group only if there is a
good reason to, only on appropriate occasions and always moderately.
4. Neither hate speech nor speech glorifying oneself was acceptable as part of public morality, a
point very relevant in our times.
Private and public morality
1. Political morality specifies what rulers and the ruled owe one another.
2. Subjects owe obedience to their king. The ruler too owed something to his subjects. They
include ensuring janahita, the good of all (including all living species), and janasukham, happiness
in the public life.
3. To achieve this, rulers and their officials must display damdasamata and viyohalasamata
(impartiality in meting out punishment and in politico-legal acts more generally).
4. This sums up the core of Asoka’s political morality: a commitment to justice, to impartiality.
German philosopher Friedrich Hegel
1. Hegel made similar points, although in a different way and in an entirely different context.
2. He distinguished three spheres of human life: family, civil society and the state.
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The Family
1. Hegel claimed, that family is the smallest community in which its members do not even
distinguish themselves from one another.
2. Their identities are fused. A family is bound by emotional ties, by mutual love and affection.
3. Members take pride in each other’s achievements and feel a strong sense of shame at the
other’s wrongdoing.
4. Morality here is guided by unarticulated feelings.
Civil Society
1. Each person acts as an individual with a sharply defined sense of her own interests which are
distinct and may even clash with the interests of others.
2. No one is tied to the other by bonds of love or affection. Since there is no community but only an
aggregate of individual interests, there is no commonly held ethic either.
3. Competitive life is governed by coercive legal rules to regulate the pursuit of self-interest. At
best, each individual devises her own personal, subjective moral maxims.
The State
1. People once again see themselves as members of a large political community, as citizens of a
state.
2. Citizens in a political community must be bound together by a commitment to common values
discovered by public reason and values such as political freedom, solidarity, shared tradition, and
cultural heritage.
3. Morality in this domain requires that we overcome our loyalty to blood relations, not pursue only
our private interests and commitments instead one must exercise power for shared principles.
Democratic Version
1. Here morality is guided by values of openness, equal respect, and justice. We deliberate and help
each other arrive at impartial laws and public policies, acceptable in principle to everyone in the
polity.
2. Furthermore, those who wield political power must realize that what they do has enduring
consequences affecting the lives of an incalculably large number of people.
3. This also brings enormous public responsibility which also derives the fact that they have at
least temporary legitimacy to use force against ordinary citizens
4. They have, at their disposal, an apparatus of violence simply unavailable to heads of families or
members of civil society.
5. Powerful politicians, therefore, must show great care and sensitivity to the appropriate use of
force and violence.
Source: The Hindu
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Economy
Financial Sector
What are the issues?

1. The growth rate for the fourth quarter of 2018-19 is below 7%.
2. Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFCs) crises have worsened the liquidity scenario in the
sector, which has meant many of these companies virtually stopping disbursal of fresh loans.
3. After the IL&FS group started defaulting on its aggregate debt of over Rs 90,000 crore since
September 2018, financial sector entities including NBFCs, mutual funds, corporate-focused
lenders have faced liquidity challenges.
4. The situation further worsened as rating agencies started downgrading debt papers issued by
NBFCs, thereby weakening their ability to raise funds to do business.
5. These issues will need the attention of both the government and the RBI.
Which are immediate challenges of the Finance Ministry?
1. Finding resources for investments in infrastructure.
2. Injection of fresh capital in banks and providing support to liquidity starved NBFCs in the
upcoming budget.
3. On the revenue front, there has been a substantial shortfall from targets of direct tax in the last
financial year, which would result in a reduction of targets in the current year.
4. The Goods and Service Tax (GST) collection target is being seen as challenging to meet in the
current financial year.
Where Finance ministry has been focusing?
1. The key theme of the upcoming budget is creating fiscal space for capital investment of around
Rs 25 lakh crore annually in the infrastructure sector.
2. The government is also working on a new industrial policy with a specific focus on technology
and the MSMEs sector.
3. The government has formed a task force to draft new direct tax law and review the Income-tax
Act, however, the task force has taken a further extension, therefore major direct tax reforms are
unlikely this year.
Why Finance ministry is looking for RBI support?
1. Due to the tight fiscal situation, the government may need the support of the Reserve Bank of
India, in addressing liquidity issues of NBFCs.
2. The central bank is also expected to address the liquidity issue when it meets for its second bi-
monthly monetary policy review on June 6.
3. The RBI has not shown keenness for a special liquidity window for NBFCs, but there is a
possibility of more liquidity-boosting measures and a possible easing of the stance.
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4. It is the last such space to act ahead of an unexpected and inexplicable monsoon and its
consequent impact on inflation.
Bimal Jalan Committee
1. A committee headed by former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan, on the issue of determining
appropriate capital reserves for the RBI, it is expected to submit its report soon.
2. Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimated the Jalan committee is expected to identify an excess
buffer of up to Rs 3 lakh crore, this includes the excess capital in contingency reserves and also
revaluation reserves
3. According to the estimates, the RBI’s excess capital is pegged at Rs 1-3 lakh crore. If the panel
suggests transferring of past excess reserves, this could provide a booster dose of funds that can
be used to capitalize banks.
Boosting exports & Resolving trade issues

1. Subdued outlook by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on global trade.
2. A widened trade deficit for merchandise goods at $176.42 billion and an overall trade deficit of
$95.85 billion for 2018-19.
3. A downward slide in Foreign Direct Investment inflows which fell for the first time in six years,
dropping around 1 per cent to $44.4 billion in the 2018-19 financial year.
4. The downward slide in FDI was because of the telecom sector, due to its stressed financial
condition, and pharmaceuticals sector, due to uncertainty in regulations, which took the highest hit.
5. India has been facing enormous pressure from the US government, which had raised tariffs on
steel and aluminium imports from the country last year.
6. The US also announced its intention to withdraw India’s benefits under a preferential trade
scheme, the Generalised System of Preferences, which would impact around 1,900 products
exported from the country.
7. India’s retaliatory tariffs on 29 goods, including almonds, has been deferred several times over
the last year.
8. India’s trade deficit with China, another major trading partner, still remains high at over $50
billion.
Which were the strategies of the government to boost exports and attract FDIs?
1. Over the last five years, the government focused on increasing exports, including through
identifying newer markets it could tap.
2. By the end of the 2018-19 financial year, the commerce ministry announced that the country had
achieved a record high of around $331.02 billion in merchandise exports.
3. Yet, it reportedly missed its own internal goal of crossing $350 billion.
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4. India had also taken measures to improve its ease of doing business ranking, managing to
secure a 77th position towards the end of last year, up from over 140 in 2015.
5. It further tried to encourage foreign investment through schemes like ‘Make in India’ and by
relaxing rules for FDI in several sectors.
How the government is working to resolve the current issues?
1. The government has begun work on boosting exports by considering measures such as a new
major export promotion scheme and pushing exports through e-commerce.
2. India exported products valued at $1.2 billion through e-commerce in the last financial year and
there is a tremendous scope of increasing and diversifying exports through this mode.
3. The government has been focusing on the agricultural sector which includes the negotiations on
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ongoing WTO disputes over its
support to sugar cane producers.
Where lies the solution?
1. The need for the government is to actively engage with the industry, and actually on the sectors
which have export potential.
2. Government is still thinking short-term, whereas the need of the hour is to think long term.
3. There has urging recommendations in a commerce ministry strategy paper to push exports, cut
import dependence from China and also attract foreign firms looking to shift base from China.
Data protection law and Telecom sector stress
1. Digital India was one of the flagship schemes of the National Democratic Alliance-government.
2. The administration met its target of laying down optic fibre cables in 1 lakh villages across India,
bringing internet connectivity to these villages remains a target for the new government.
3. The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) was split from the Ministry of
Communications in 2016.
Data Protection Law
1. The most important focus area of the MEITY is the passage of the data protection law, which
has been in the works for over a year now.
2. The government wanted to hold the widest consultations possible before instating the data
protection law, which will be a first of its kind in the country.
3. The government is expected to continue its push towards data localisation even under the new
regime.
Stress in Telecom Sector
1. The industry expects the government to provide relief in taxation to uplift the financially stressed
sector, which saw foreign direct investment during 2018-19 falling to $2.67 bn from $6.21 bn from
previous year.
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2. The stressed financial condition of the sector has been a drag on revenues of the exchequer as
well.
3. It is evident from the lukewarm participation in the last spectrum sale back in 2016 and falling
inflows from licence fee and spectrum usage charges, which are functions of operators’ revenues.
Health Professionals in India
What is the issue?

1. Recently a new study found that around 54% of health professionals including doctors, nurses,
midwives and other paramedics in India do not have the required qualifications.
2. On the other hand, 20% of adequately qualified doctors are not in the current workforce.
3. It highlights the concerns about a severe dearth of quality care across the country, particularly in
the hinterland.
Who conducted the study?
1. This new study was conducted by the British Medical Journal.
2. As per the study qualified health workforce is around 3.8 million under the National Sample
Survey (NSS). But the qualified health professionals registered with different councils and
associations stands at 5 million.
3. The density of doctors and nurses and midwives per 10,000 population is 20.6 according to the
NSS and 26.7 based on the registry data, reflecting a widening gap between demand and supply of
health resources which is already in shortage.
Which are the prescribed qualifications for health professions?
1. For doctors (allopathic, dental and AYUSH) it is graduate or postgraduate in medicine.
2. For nurse and midwife, it is higher secondary with technical education in medicine or related
field.
3. For others, it is higher secondary with technical education in paramedical related fields.
How Indian Medical workforce is composed?
1. More than 58% of all health workers are male.
2. The proportion of males is higher in allopathic, AYUSH and dental categories, and lower in the
nurse and midwife category.
3. Around 80% of all health workers are in the 25–60 years age group.
4. Around 30% of all health workers, 15% among allopathic doctors, reported their educational level
below the higher secondary level.
5. Most of the health workers reported being employed as regular wage earners (57%). However, as
high as 63% of allopathic and 88% of AYUSH doctors reported themselves as self-employed.
6. More than 80% of doctors and 70% of nurses and midwives are employed in the private sector.
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1. Distribution and qualification of health professionals are serious problems in India when
compared with the overall size of the health workers.
2. The policy should focus on enhancing the quality of health workers and mainstreaming
professionally qualified persons into the health workforce.
Source: The Times of India
State Governments borrowing through Masala Bonds
Who has borrowed?

1. Recently the state government-backed Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board raised Rs
2,150 crore from the international markets through a Masala Bond offering.
2. Last year Amaravati Bonds listed on the BSE by the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development
Authority raised Rs.2000 crores, backed by the state government.
Which are the advantages of such borrowings?
1. Borrowings by these Special Purpose Vehicles provide an off-budget mechanism or escape
clause to states from the restrictions imposed on borrowings both in India and abroad, especially
after the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM) came into force.
2. For many investors, these are attractive options, as these borrowings are guaranteed by the
state governments and with the comfort of escrow mechanisms.
Why States are borrowing?
1. After the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations, of higher resource transfers, much of
the burden of building and developing infrastructure entailing huge capital expenditure and with a
longer payback period has fallen on states.
2. That has been amplified by the slowdown in the economy and the consequent decline in
revenues.
How it shall impact?
1. These are commendable efforts by states to diversify their sources of funding.
2. However, the spate of borrowings by sub-sovereign entities also serves to highlight the potential
risk of rising contingent liabilities of many states.
3. The main concern is not just the growing recourse to off-budget borrowings both at the federal
and state levels in India, but the lack of transparency and classification of risk related to these
explicit liabilities and the lack of adequate provisions for future repayment.
What are the challenges?
1. The BoP crisis of 1991 forced policymakers to change tack and adopt a prudent course on
external sector management, marked by a record of no sovereign default.
2. Now, for policymakers, the challenges are posed by the banking sector and NBFCs or shadow
banks is on top of the economic agenda.
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3. Equally, the issue of rising internal debt and contingent liabilities should gain increased attention.
Both are critical to the country’s financial stability.
About Masala Bonds
1. Masala Bonds are rupee-denominated bonds i.e. the funds would be raised from the overseas
market in Indian rupees.
2. It can only be issued in a country that is a member of the financial action task force and whose
securities market regulator is a member of the International Organisation of Securities
Commission.
3. According to RBI, the minimum maturity period for Masala Bonds raised up to Rupee equivalent
of USD 50 million in a financial year should be 3 years and for bonds raised above USD 50 million
should be 5 years.
Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Reforms
1. The key focus areas of the new government are the revival of economic growth, repair of the
financial sector, pursuit of direct tax and labour market reforms.
2. The next phase of reforms roadmap is expected in the backdrop of a cyclical downturn.
Current Economic Trends
1. New Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures are expected to depict a loss of momentum
in India’s growth.
2. Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has been on a downward slide.
3. Consumption is slowing and poor export growth which shall further lower the growth rate.
4. Other sectors such as automobiles and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are also slowing
down, while the infrastructure sector is picking up.
Measure for the revival of Economic growth
1. Policy measures from the Reserve Bank of India and speeding up bad loan resolution process
under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), are a key element in the growth revival process,
the later one would free up resources for banks to lend further.
2. Addressing liquidity issues of the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) sector is another
priority, as a crisis in the NBFC sector threatens to engulf the entire financial sector.
3. Private sector investment needs to revive as it may provide the necessary leg up to the economy.
Taxation
1. For an increase in government expenditure, growth in revenue collections is required, an area
where the government struggled in the previous financial year.
2. Both direct tax revenue and Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue have fallen short of the
revised budget estimates for 2018-19 by at least Rs 1 lakh crore. Meeting the declared direct tax
targets for this financial year is going to be a difficult task.
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3. On the GST front, the focus for this financial year is expected to be more on boosting
compliance, simplifying procedures and a move towards inclusion of some of the items that are
currently out of GST’s ambit such as natural gas and aviation turbine fuel.
Labour Reforms
1. The government has set a target of codification of labour laws into four code from the current 44
central labour laws in 2015.
2. The labour and employment ministry had drafted four labour codes: industrial relations, wages,
social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions by
amalgamating, simplifying and rationalising the relevant provisions of current labour laws.
3. However, not even a single code has been enacted through the legislative process.
4. Employment generation, especially of good quality and with decent wages, would be crucial,
especially in the absence of strong economic growth.
Industrial Policy in India
1. The contribution of the manufacturing sector to GDP in 2017 was only about 16%, a stagnation
since the economic reforms began in 1991.
2. The contrast with the other major Asian economies is significant.
3. In India manufacturing has never been the leading sector in the economy except during the
Second and Third Plan periods.
4. India still has no manufacturing policy.
5. Though focusing (as “Make in India” does) on increasing foreign direct investment and ease of
doing business, is important, it does not constitute an industrial policy.
Why India needs an Industrial Policy?
1. No major country managed to reduce poverty or sustain growth without manufacturing driving
economic growth.
2. This is because productivity levels in the industry (manufacturing) are much higher than in either
agriculture or services.
3. Manufacturing is an engine of economic growth as it offers economies of scale, embodies
technological progress and generates forward and backward linkages that create positive spillover
effects in the economy.
Which are the factors to be considered for Industrial Policy?
1. The policy must coordinate complementary investments when there are significant economies
of scale and capital market imperfections.
2. Industrial policies need to address external factors such as subsidies for industrial training to
address the lack of human capital.
3. The state can play the role of organizer of domestic firms into cartels in their negotiations with
foreign firms or governments.
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4. The role of industrial policy is not only to prevent coordination failures (i.e. ensure
complementary investments) but also avoid competing investments in a capital-scarce
environment.
5. Excess capacity leads to price wars, adversely affecting profits of firms which will either lead to
the bankruptcy of firms or slowing down investment, both happening often in India.
6. Industrial policy needs to ensure that the industrial capacity installed is as close to the minimum
efficient scale as possible.
7. When structural change is needed, industrial policy needs to facilitate that process. In a fast-
changing market, losing firms will block structural changes that are socially beneficial but make
their own assets worthless.
What lessons can India learn from other countries?
1. The East Asian economy was founded upon export-oriented manufacturing, employ surplus
labor released by agriculture, thus raising wages and reducing poverty rapidly.
2. This outcome came from a conscious, deliberately planned strategy.
3. The growing participation of East Asian countries in global value chains (GVCs), graduating
beyond simple, manufactured consumer goods to more technology- and skill-intensive
manufactures for export was a natural corollary to the industrial policy.
4. India has been practically left out of GVCs. From 2014 to 2018 there has been an absolute fall in
dollar terms in merchandise exports.
5. The European Union has identified sector-specific initiatives to promote motor vehicles,
transport equipment industries, energy supply industries, chemical, and agro-food industries.
How did the IT sector succeed in India?
1. Similar to the role in the IT sector, the state’s role is critical for the manufacturing sector as well.
2. The government invested in creating high-speed Internet connectivity for IT software parks
enabling the integration of the Indian IT industry into the U.S. market.
3. The government allowed the IT industry to import duty-free both hardware and software. On the
other hand, it undermined the growth of electronics hardware manufacturing in India.
4. The IT industry was able to function under the Shops and Establishment Act; hence not subject
to the 45 laws relating to labor and the regulatory burden it imposed.
5. The IT sector has the benefit of low-cost, high-value human capital created by public
investments earlier in technical education.
6. These measures offer insights into the potential for industrial policy for the government.
Source: The Hindu
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WTO Appellate Body
What is WTO Appellate Body?

1. It is a standing body of seven persons that hears appeals from reports issued by Dispute
Settlement body for the disputes brought by WTO Members.
2. Currently, the Appellate body has just three members and it will be reduced to one by December
2019.
3. No new member has been appointed from the past two years because the new appointments
have been blocked by the USA.
4. It has resulted in a backlog of dispute settlement issues that are under appeal.
Why is WTO Appellate Body important?
1. This ongoing impasse has weakened the dispute settlement system and threatens to completely
paralyze the WTO itself.
2. Amid growing trade tensions and protectionist tendencies, WTO Appellate body is the only way
to resolve the issues, especially for LDCs against developed countries.
How Developing Countries and LDCs have responded to it?
1. India, along with 16 other developing and least developed countries (LDCs), signed a declaration
urging members of WTO to “engage constructively” to prevent any delay in filling out vacancies of
its appellate body for trade dispute settlement.
2. The declaration also states that these countries have agreed to work “collectively” to develop
proposals to ensure their common interests are reflected in the WTO reform process.
Where was the declaration signed?
1. Recently India hosted the 2nd WTO two-day ministerial meet of over 20 developing countries and
LDCs in New Delhi.
2. The declaration was signed in this meeting.
3. The declaration comes ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference to be held in Kazakhstan in
2020.
Which other issues were discussed?
1. The meeting also highlighted the need to “preserve” the Special and Differential Treatment (S&D)
mechanism.
2. Richer nations have been calling for guidelines to further categorize developing countries and
LDCs.
3. The developing countries and LDCs want the categorizing should be eligible for the benefits of
the S&D mechanism.
4. It also demands for longer time periods for countries like India to implement agreements and the
implementation of measures to provide more trading opportunities.
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OECD index for Services trade
What is the OECD index for Service trade?

1. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks countries based on their
services trade policies.
2. Launched in 2014, the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) is computed by the OECD.
3. Now it is available for 2018 for a total of 45 economies (36 OECD and non-OECD) and 22
sectors.
Why is STRI a faulty index?
1. The index has a large number of problems associated with it, including some significant design
issues that render it impractical for use.
2. The data have been generated by arbitrary procedures and reflects a developed country bias.
3. For example, the index seems to show the Indian services sector as one of the most restrictive,
particularly in policy areas like foreign entry. In reality, since 1991, the one area that has seen
maximum liberalization in India is FDI.
Who found the fault in the index?
1. A study commissioned by the Commerce Ministry of India, has found problems with the current
method of the index.
2. In order to rectify this the Indian team of econometricians designed a new way of measuring
restrictiveness in the services trade that would be more robust and would not have a bias either for
developed or developing countries.
3. India has also approached several developing countries to build consensus around the new
method of measuring trade restrictiveness in the services sector.
Source: The Hindu
Electricity in rural India
1. As per the government data, India’s villages and households are now almost completely
electrified.
2. Surveys have found that many households still do not have an electricity connection and, even
those that do, receive electricity only sporadically.
What are the reasons?
1. Poor financial health of state electricity distribution companies (discoms).
2. Discoms are also hindered by non-payment of electricity bills.
How it can be resolved?
Poor Financial Health
1. To improve the financial health of discoms, the central government has launched the UDAY
scheme.
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2. Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) is the financial turnaround and revival package for
discoms which intend to find a permanent solution to the financial mess that the power distribution
is in.
3. As per the scheme, discoms were to initiate structural reforms by reducing AT&C losses and
also implement regular tariff hikes of 5-6% per annum.
4. In lieu, State governments took over three-fourths of discom debt, thus reducing the interest cost
burden.
Non- Payment of electricity bills
1. The ACCESS survey which is a large-scale survey on energy access in rural India, shows that
rural Indian households are willing to pay significantly more for a better quality of electricity.
2. Since much of India’s rural electricity problems stem from discom’s poor financial health, a
better quality of supply can trigger a ‘virtuous cycle’ for improved electricity access.
3. Better power supply would increase demand for electricity, inducing more households to
connect to the grid at higher prices, which in turn would allow discoms to recover costs and help
pay for the improved power supply.
Source: Live Mint
Shutting down of ATMs
1. The number of Automated Teller Machines(ATM) in the country shrank in the past two years
despite an increase in transactions.
2. India already has the fewest ATMs per 100,000 people among BRICS nations, according to the
International Monetary Fund.
What are the reasons?
1. Banks and ATM operators struggle to absorb the cost of software and equipment upgrades
mandated by the RBI in 2018 to bolster security.
2. ATM operators are being squeezed because the fees they rely on for revenue remain low and
can’t rise without the approval of an industry committee.
3. ATM operators, which include banks as well as third parties, charge interchange fee of ₹15 to the
lender whose debit or credit card is used for cash withdrawals.
4. Banks are finding it cheaper to pay interchange fees to other banks rather than operating their
own ATMs.
5. Branch rationalization by some public-sector lenders is another factor behind the drop in ATMs.
6. For instance, State Bank of India has cut 1,000 outlets in the first half of fiscal 2018 after
acquiring five associate banks and a local lender.
How will it impact?
1. Access to basic financial services including ATMs has become more crucial after 355 million
people were added to the banking system since 2014.
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2. It undermines the government’s campaign of increasing financial inclusion in a nation where

cash dominates despite demonetization.
3. Declining numbers of ATMs will impact a large segment of the population, especially those who
are socio-economically at the bottom of the pyramid.
4. On the other hand, the declining number of ATMs is likely to further boost mobile banking.
Source: Live Mint
Issues in State Government Finances
Recently the 15th Finance Commission and the Reserve Bank of India held a meeting, in which RBI
raised key issues in state government finances.
What are the key issues?
1. The importance of states in the economy has increased with the shift in the composition of
government finances.
2. Fiscal deficit of states is shown as low in budget estimates, but revised estimates and actuals
deviate significantly reflecting poor fiscal management.
3. Specific factors driving fiscal slippages are UDAY in the past and farm loan waivers and income
support schemes in the present.
4. Outstanding debt as a percentage of GDP rising despite the reduction in interest payment as a
percentage of revenue receipts.
1. State Finance Commissions has to be set up by the respective State Governments.
2. Public Sector Borrowing requirements have to be better managed.
3. Continuity of the Finance Commission for the fiscal management requirements of the States,
especially given the absence of mid-term reviews of Awards granted by the Finance Commission,
as it used to happen earlier with the Awards granted by the Planning Commission.
4. Need for Expenditure Codes, because the expenditure norms vary from state to state.
5. Recognizing the role of States in Growth and Inflation, for instance, the role of states in Ease of
Doing Business.
Source: PIB
Slowdown in India Economy
What the estimates show?

1. According to Finance Ministry estimates, the growth rate for Financial Year would be 7%, less
than FY18.
2. During the March quarter, the Indian economy likely grew at 6.5%.
3. Companies across several sectors have reported a significant reduction in business.
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Which are the possible reasons?

1. One reason is the dearth of jobs, along with job insecurity and meagre wage hikes.
2. Note ban is also a big factor. That exercise saw a lot of money being invested in real estate and
gold.
3. The ongoing NBFC crisis.
How will it impact the economy?
1. Consumption patterns change. People reduce consumption of goods other than essentials.
2. It would result in job losses or very slow job growth, resulting in a high unemployment rate.
3. A lot depends on the monsoon and the new government’s policies as well.
4. The Met department has predicted near-normal rains, while private forecaster Skymet expects a
below normal monsoon.
5. If Skymet is correct, farm incomes would be further stressed, adding to the agrarian crisis.
6. Inflation could rise and so could government borrowing, further crowding out private investment.
7. Reduction in net tax collection, further impacting the fiscal deficit negatively.
Source: Live Mint
Banking Reforms in India

1. The banking system is overburdened with non-performing loans.
2. Largely it lies in public sector banks, but private sector banks like ICICI and Axis Bank have not
been immune.
What are the reforms required in the banking system?
1. Banks need to be cleaned up by reviving projects that can be revived after restructuring debt.
2. Improved governance and management at public sector banks.
3. De-risk banking by encouraging risk transfers to non-banks and the market.
4. Reduce the number and weight of government mandates for public sector banks, and for banks
more generally.
Where the need for Privatization of Public sector banks (PSBs) arises?
In favor of Privatization:
1. PSBs face constraints such as the difference in pay compared to the private sector, government
diktats on strategy or mandates, or operating under the threat of CVC/CBI scrutiny.
2. If PSBs are freed from some of the constraints they operate under, they might perform far better.
3. Such freedom typically requires distance from the government.
4. Since they are majority-owned by the government, they may not get that distance.
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Against Privatisation:
1. There is no guarantee that privatization will be a solution.
2. Some private banks also have been poorly governed.
3. It is to be recognized that ownership is just one contributor to governance.
4. It requires improvement in governance across the board.
Why is De-risking of banks required?
1. Too much project risk stays with banks because other financial instruments such as equity and
subordinated debt cannot be issued cheaply.
2. For example, banks do not make loans to housing developers because of their intrinsic risks.
3. But they do make loans to non-bank financial companies, which make loans to developers.
4. To prevent risk on bank balance sheets, NBFCs must be able to raise money directly from
markets.
5. Banks must focus more on risks they can manage better while sharing or laying off what they
cannot.
6. The use of financial technology will be helpful in this endeavour.
How the Government mandates affect the PSBs?
1. Uncompensated government mandates have been imposed on PSBs for a long time.
2. It does not involve the private sector.
3. Government mandates such as banks mandatory investment in government bonds, lending
targets and compulsory loan waivers also affect the functioning of PSBs.
4. Government-imposed credit targets are often achieved by abandoning appropriate due diligence,
creating the environment for future NPAs.
5. Loan waivers, vitiate the credit culture. They are poorly targeted, which reduce the flow of credit.
When will the banking system become more effective?
1. Mandatory investment in government bonds should be reduced and it has to be substituted with
the liquidity coverage ratios and net stable funding ratios set by Basel.
2. Agriculture needs serious attention, but not through loan waivers. An all-party agreement to this
effect would be in the nation’s interest.
3. The government should keep its banks well capitalized, but on the condition of improvements in
governance and management efficiency.
4. The PJ Nayak Committee’s recommendation should be implemented which recommends for
greater independence for PSBs. Banks should be independent and accountable.
5. PSBs needs to build up more in-house talent for specialized tasks and pay more to attract world-
class talent.
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6. The government can experiment by privatizing one or two mid-sized public sector banks while
working on governance reforms for the rest.
7. Banks should not be forced to implement the government’s policy priority.
8. To improve governance merger of poorly managed banks with good banks can be done. State
Bank and merger of its affiliates, and Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank have been
merged.
9. If these mergers are successful, then the government can think of further mergers.
Source: The Hindu
Farm Distress in India
What are the causes of Farm Distress in India?

Low agricultural prices and low farm incomes.
1. The farm sector growth rate is much lower than in earlier periods. As a result, farm prices are
low despite production rising.
2. The demand is also low. Therefore, the increase in farm production is enough for incomes is not
clear.
3. For small and marginal farmers, the additional problem is that the size of land holdings is
declining.
4. Earlier, the average size was two hectares, now it has come down to nearly one hectare.
5. Marginal farmers have less than half a hectare. With these sizes, income is difficult to sustain.
6. The recent stress is also because prices are much lower than the MSP [minimum support price]
in the market.
7. Long-term problems such as low capital formation in agriculture persist.
8. Public investment in the sector as a percentage of GDP is also stagnant.
9. There have been two years of drought, in recent past.
10. Creation of jobs by the non-farm sector has also been declining. As per NABARD data, 23% of
rural income is from agriculture, and the rest is from non-farm activity.
11. The rural economy, both agricultural and non-farm sector, is facing a demand problem and low
incomes, which has caused farm distress.
How did the government respond to farm distress?
1. The Centre has announced the PM-KISAN scheme, under which Rs.6000 per year will be given to
12 crores small and marginal farmers.
2. Certain state governments have announced farm loan waivers.
3. The governments have also set the target of doubling farm income by 2022.
4. Government is also planning about pensions to the farmers.
5. Insurance scheme has been implemented. (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana)
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Why the Government’s responses are ineffective?

PM-KISAN scheme
1. Farmers and agricultural laborers face several risks, so some social protection measures are
important for an economy which has 90% of the workforce in the unorganized sector.
2. Its implementation is relatively easier as it’s a direct cash transfer.
3. But to remove distress, these are not the solutions.
Farm Loan Waiver
1. It has limited impact on farm income.
2. Institutional credit to farmers is just 64%, and the rest is from non-institutional sources.
3. The large farmers corner the institutional credit, and small and marginal farmers get non-
institutional credit at interest rates of 25-30%.
4. It creates a bad credit culture among farmers, and in future banks hesitate to lend to farmers.
5. It will also have fiscal implications.
Doubling farm income by 2022
1. The government largely focuses on short term remedies such as an increase in procurement
price, and details for the long term are never worked out.
2. Increasing procurement prices will be useful only for those crops that the government procures.
Many States don’t procure most items.
3. MSP mainly focuses on cereals like rice and wheat, and it distorts the cropping pattern, paddy
and sugarcane are water-intensive crops, but still, farmers prefer them as there is some
stabilization in prices.
4. Very few reforms have taken place in market infrastructure, value chains, logistics, processing,
and warehousing to boost farmer incomes.
Pension to the farmers
1. Giving a minimum basic income deserves to be looked at but fiscal implications also need to be
worked upon.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana
1. Compared to earlier schemes, PMFBY is better but still many farmers have not benefited
because of implementation problems.
2. State governments are not working on it properly when disasters take place.
Other issues
1. Information asymmetry is also a big problem.
2. As there is no system for price discoverability real-time information on prices the farmer do a
distress sale as many crops are perishables.
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1. The money spent on farm loan waivers and other subsidies could be spent on infrastructure,
developing markets and processing and transportation networks.
2. Agricultural markets are in very bad shape and marketing reforms are very important as is the
removal of middlemen.
3. Many interventions are needed on both the demand and supply side.
4. We also need a consistent import and export policy, which is lacking, so that farmers can sell
their excess produce.
5. For perishables, a different model is needed.
6. Returns are much higher if the same amount of money spent on loan waivers and income
support schemes are deployed on things like water and technology, research and extension
services.
7. Government needs to work on legally facilitating the consolidation of holdings.
8. Farm insurance needs to be expanded much more so that farmers are protected from the
vagaries of nature.
9. Overall a comprehensive approach and holistic measures are need of the hour.
Source: The Hindu
Effect of the NBFC crisis on the economy
What is an NBFC crisis?

1. Most banks have cleaned up their books and shored up balance sheets.
2. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), which borrow from banks and mutual funds, are in
trouble.
3. Banks want NBFCs to promise higher returns on the loans they buy from them.
4. The higher interest rates have squeezed the NBFCs, particularly those of smaller ones, and they
don’t have money to lend.
Why the crisis started?
1. NBFCs had borrowed short term from banks and mutual funds while lending to developers of
long-term projects, which got held up because of various factors.
2. They also lent to unscrupulous developers and willful corporate defaulters.
3. As cash flows dried up, NBFCs couldn’t repay their lenders.
How it is going to impact the economy?
1. Higher interest rates could hurt the construction sector, auto and jewelry firms, and consumption
in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG).
2. Trillions of rupees are locked in real estate, construction, and infrastructure projects.
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3. The promoters, who had pledged shares of their firms to borrow money, are neither able to
borrow more to complete projects nor sell them to others.
1. The RBI has pumped a huge amount of liquidity into the system over the last eight months.
2. It has also eased some norms to give NBFCs more room in fundraising.
3. RBI is planning to further infuse the liquidity into economy through currency swap, which would
further ease the NBFCs to raise funds.
About NBFC:
1. A Non-bank financial company (NBFC) is a financial institution that does not have a full banking
license and less supervised by RBI.
2. NBFC facilitate bank-related financial services, such as investment, risk pooling, contractual
savings, and market brokering.
3. They are incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956.
Source: Live Mint
New GDP series faces issues of credibility
1. A key database introduced in India’s new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) series has now been
found to have issues.
2. A study conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) found that as much as 36% of
companies that are part of MCA-21 database of companies and are used in India’s GDP
calculations could not be traced or were wrongly classified.
3. These companies were deemed as “active companies" by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
(MCA), which includes any company that has filed returns at least once in the past three years on
its list of active firms.
Changes in GDP calculation methodology
1. The key change in the new GDP series launched in 2015 was the use of MCA-21, which CSO
sourced from MCA.
2. Critics argued that the database includes many fictitious or shell firms that exist only on paper.
3. The methodology in which the MCA-21 numbers were included in the national accounts tends to
lend an overestimation bias in the GDP numbers.
4. Many scholars demanded the MCA-21 data be released to researchers and the public so that the
unit-level data could be examined. But it wasn’t released.
Loss of Credibility
1. Use of the untested database in India’s national accounts also raises credibility questions about
the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
2. CSO was once a globally renowned institution and most reliable institution for official statistics
of India.
Source: Live Mint
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WTO mini-ministerial meet in Delhi
The purpose of the mini-ministerial meet:

1. To discuss the interests of developing and least developed countries in global trade.
2. This informal meeting will also focus on the accusation by the U.S. that these economies benefit
from exemptions meant for the poorer nations.
3. The expectation is that the meeting may lead to policy guidance on issues such as global norms
to protect traditional knowledge from patenting by corporates, protection through subsidies, e-
commerce, food security and continuation of special and differential treatment to poor economies.
4. Overall, it could be a preparatory meeting to set a common agenda at the 12th Ministerial
Conference, scheduled for June 2020 at Astana, Kazakhstan.
Background:
1. The economies of the developing and less developed countries were unable to gain market
access in most of the developed economies, especially when it came to agricultural commodities.
2. The deadlock on the issue of agricultural trade negotiations occurred first in the late 1980s and
then in 2017.
3. The 11th Ministerial Conference in 2017 collapsed despite efforts by 164 WTO members to
evolve a consensus on several issues.
4. It was mainly because the U.S. has refused to reduce subsidies and also it has pulled back on its
commitment to finding a permanent solution to public stockholding.
5. Public stockholding is an issue central to developing and less developed countries.
The bone of contention:
1. Developed countries directly challenged models of food security designed for the poor in
developing and less developed countries.
2. On the other hand, developed nations provide sizeable support to their farmers in a situation of
market failure and other uncertainties.
3. The support through subsidies tends to bring distortions in commodity prices.
4. The OECD estimates the quantum of subsidies by developed nations to varying from $300 to
$325 billion annually, which is much higher than that estimated for developing countries.
5. Another point of concern is that developed countries design and implement stringent non-tariff
measures (NTMs).
6. It exacerbates the problems faced by poor countries that are willing to export.
7. NTMs significantly add to the cost of trading.
8. These countries are, therefore, unable to compete in international markets and hardly gain from
sectors with comparative advantages such as agriculture, textiles, and apparel.
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Breaking the deadlock:

1. Developing countries are willing to break the deadlock on these issues and are preparing a
common ground to jolt the mandate of the global trade body.
2. India, in particular, seeks amendment of laws on unilateral action by members on trade issues
and a resolution of the WTO’s dispute settlement system.
Way forward:
1. The Delhi meeting can be a breakthrough if members negotiate these issues in a convergent
manner.
2. The time is opportune for developing countries to voice their concerns and push for a stable and
transparent environment for multilateral trade.
3. India must focus on the unresolved issues and address the newer ones which are of interest to
developed nations, mainly investment facilitation.
Source: The Hindu.
High-level Panel on increasing Trade
1. Recently, the Commerce and Industry Ministry has appointed an advisory group for increasing
exports and trade.
Key Recommendations of the panel
Elephant Bonds
1. The panel has suggested issuance of 'Elephant Bonds' wherein people declaring undisclosed
income will have to mandatorily invest half of that amount in these securities.
2. The bond would be of the 25-year sovereign bond, and the fund will be utilized only for
infrastructure projects.
Increasing Exports
1. As per the report, India's competitors have less than 20 percent effective tax rates.
2. It recommended for lowering effective corporate tax rate and bringing down the cost of capital,
simplifying regulatory and tax framework for foreign investment funds.
3. Increasing capital base of EXIM Bank by another Rs 20,000 crore by 2022.
4. It also made recommendations on comprehensive export strategy and rationalization of tariff
structure.
5. These are aimed at increasing India's exports of goods and services from USD 500 billion in
2018 to over USD 1000 billion in 2025.
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
1. It recommended the setting up of empowered investment promotion agency and seeking input
from industry and MSMEs before signing FTAs and sensitizing them of its benefits.
2. There is a need for an in-depth assessment of the existing FTAs and their impact on the
competitiveness of the Indian industry.
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3. Remedial measures to be considered for future FTA negotiations and maintaining a database
based on such assessment.
Development of Industries
1. State governments need to be closely involved in improving the competitiveness of exports by
providing support measures in a WTO (World Trade Organisation) consistent manner.
2. Separate regulation for medical devices and a single ministry for the sector.
3. For the textiles and garments sector, it suggested modification in labour laws (such as the
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947) to remove the limitation on firm size and allow manufacturing firms
to grow.
4. To promote tourism and medical value tourism, it recommended simplification in medical visa
regime, setting up of a pan-India tourism board.
5. To promote agriculture exports, it has asked for abolishing Essential Commodities Act and the
APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee).
Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Reforms
1. The key focus areas of the new government are the revival of economic growth, repair of the
financial sector, pursuit of direct tax and labour market reforms.
2. The next phase of reforms roadmap is expected in the backdrop of a cyclical downturn.
Current Economic Trends
1. New Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures are expected to depict a loss of momentum
in India’s growth.
2. Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has been on a downward slide.
3. Consumption is slowing and poor export growth which shall further lower the growth rate.
4. Other sectors such as automobiles and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are also slowing
down, while the infrastructure sector is picking up.
Measure for the revival of Economic growth
1. Policy measures from the Reserve Bank of India and speeding up bad loan resolution process
under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), are a key element in the growth revival process,
the later one would free up resources for banks to lend further.
2. Addressing liquidity issues of the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) sector is another
priority, as a crisis in the NBFC sector threatens to engulf the entire financial sector.
3. Private sector investment needs to revive as it may provide the necessary leg up to the economy.
Taxation
1. For an increase in government expenditure, growth in revenue collections is required, an area
where the government struggled in the previous financial year.
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2. Both direct tax revenue and Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue have fallen short of the
revised budget estimates for 2018-19 by at least Rs 1 lakh crore. Meeting the declared direct tax
targets for this financial year is going to be a difficult task.
3. On the GST front, the focus for this financial year is expected to be more on boosting
compliance, simplifying procedures and a move towards inclusion of some of the items that are
currently out of GST’s ambit such as natural gas and aviation turbine fuel.
Labour Reforms
1. The government has set a target of codification of labour laws into four code from the current 44
central labour laws in 2015.
2. The labour and employment ministry had drafted four labour codes: industrial relations, wages,
social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions by
amalgamating, simplifying and rationalising the relevant provisions of current labour laws.
3. However, not even a single code has been enacted through the legislative process.
4. Employment generation, especially of good quality and with decent wages, would be crucial,
especially in the absence of strong economic growth.
Discom debt
1. According to Crisil’s analysis of discoms, aggregate external debt of State-owned electricity

distribution companies (discoms) is set to increase to pre-Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY)
levels.
About UDAY:
1. Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) is the financial turnaround and revival package for
electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs) initiated by the Government of India with the
intent to find a permanent solution to the financial stress that the power distribution is in.
2. As per the scheme, discoms were to initiate structural reforms by reducing AT&C losses and
also implement regular tariff hikes of 5-6% per annum.
3. In lieu, State governments took over three-fourths of discom debt, thus reducing the interest cost
burden.
The current status:
1. Discoms enjoyed the benefit of debt reduction but the structural reforms have been slow.
2. Further improvement in operations may face challenges because the focus on new rural
connections without adequate tariff hikes can increase losses.
3. Since most States having the limited fiscal capacity, continuous financial support to their
discoms seems difficult.
4. Therefore Discoms are rising external debt, thus returning to pre-UDAY levels.
5. To become commercially viable, Discoms needs to perform by prudent tariff hikes and a material
reduction in aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.
Source: The Hindu
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US accuses India of market barriers
1. US Secretary of Commerce and other delegation in India met with Prime Minister to discuss
issues that have impacted trade between the two countries.
2. US Commerce Secretary reiterated the US government’s criticism of India’s regulatory and trade
policies.
US criticisms of India
1. American businesses currently face significant market access barriers in India, including tariff
and non-tariff barriers, multiple practices, and regulations that disadvantage foreign companies.
2. This has resulted in trade imbalance between India and USA.
4. India’s average applied tariff rate on US goods is 13.8%, its tariff on automobiles at 60%,
motorcycles at 50% alcoholic beverages at 150% and as high as 300% in some cases.
5. The US has set a goal to eliminate barriers for its companies operating in India which, includes
data-localization and obstacles such as price controls on medical devices and pharmaceuticals,
and restrictive tariffs on electronics and telecommunications products.
India -USA trade
1. Currently, US exports to India is around $33 billion and Indian export to the US is around $54
billion, representing $21 billion trade deficit for the US in goods.
2. The US also has a trade deficit of $3 billion with India in the services sector, largely due to India’s
strong capability in IT services.
Food Inflation
1. As per the recent Consumer Price Index (CPI), released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO),
there has been a rise in food inflation.
2. The food inflation has been increased after almost 32 months.
3. In the past, consumers have benefited due to low food inflation, but farmers have been suffering
due to flat or falling prices of food and other Agri produce, resulting in farm distress.
4. Now there are also signs of a trend reversal of food inflation.
5. It is expected to be continued despite the normal monsoon as forecast by the Met Department,
because of the reduction in crop acreage and other structural issues.
Way forward
1. To control food inflation the government must avoid mistakes as it did in the past, such as
restrictions on exports, internal trade, and stocking, even while allowing unlimited imports at zero
duty.
2. The Essential Commodities Act and laws allowing agricultural produce trade only in government-
controlled wholesale mandis has to be scrapped.
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3. The current food inflation is a necessary price correction that will help restore farmer
confidence.
4. Improved price realizations would also create an environment to phase out wasteful government
spending, market-distorting minimum support price procurement and under-pricing of fertilizers,
water, and electricity.
Under-5 Mortality in India
1. A new study in The Lancet Global Health has flagged the deaths among children under five in
India, which was higher than in any other country in 2015.
2. It also found large disparities in the child mortality rate between richer and poorer states.
3. While India reduced annual mortality among children under five in 2000 from 90.5 per 1,000 live
births to 47.8 per 1,000 in 2015, yet it was still the highest in the world.
4. Among the states, the highest mortality rate, in Assam at 73.1 per 1,000, was more than seven
times that in Goa’s 9.7.
5. Among the regions, the mortality rate ranged from a low of 29.7 per 1,000 (South) to 63.8
(Northeast).
Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
1. The UN – MDG set in 2000 was to reduce the under-five mortality rate in 2015 to one-third of the
1990 figure.
2. For India, that would have meant reducing the under-five mortality rate to 39 deaths per 1,000
live births.
Reasons and solution
1. The analysis found that although most under-five deaths were due to preterm complications,
preventable infectious diseases featured prominently as causes of death in higher-mortality states.
2. India can accelerate its reduction of under-five mortality rates by scaling up vaccine coverage
and improving childbirth and neonatal care, especially in states where mortality rates remain high.
The Liquidity Coverage Ratio for NBFCs
1. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
2. NBFCs, over a period of the next four years, will be required to hold an amount of high-quality
liquid assets (HQLA) that’s enough to fund cash outflows for 30 days.
3. The LCR requirement will be binding on NBFCs from April 1, 2020, with the minimum HQLAs to
be held is 60 per cent of the LCR, progressively increasing in equal steps reaching up to the level of
100 per cent by April 1, 2024.
4. During a period of financial stress, NBFCs will have to use their stock of HQLA.
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NBFC Crises
1. The ongoing NBFC crises have forced RBI to bring such new regulations.
2. NBFCs, till recently had borrowed short-term funds from banks and mutual funds for lending to
long-term projects, creating a liquidity mismatch.
3. It resulted in a credit squeeze, overleveraging, excessive concentration, the massive mismatch
between assets and liabilities.
Impact of New regulation
1. It will strengthen the framework of NBFC regulations, further ensuring a sound and robust risk
management system to manage structural and dynamic liquidity in an efficient manner.
2. It will help NBFCs to prudently manage their liabilities and the stepwise approach will allow them
to gradually catch up to these requirements.
Other steps taken by RBI with regard to NBFC crises
1. The Central Board of the RBI had decided to create a specialised cadre to supervise and regulate
the financial sector, including banks and NBFCs.
2. The RBI recently asked NBFCs with asset size of more than Rs 5,000 crore to appoint chief risk
officer with the clearly specified role and responsibilities.
About High-Quality Liquid assets
1. The high-quality liquid assets include only those with a high potential to be converted easily and
quickly into cash.
2. For example – Government securities, gold and others.
Draft Export Policy
1. The Commerce Ministry has come out with a comprehensive draft of the export policy.
2. It includes product-specific rules with a view to providing a ready reckoner for exporters.
3. Based on inputs received from various partner government agencies, it is proposed to bring out a
comprehensive exports policy for all ITC (HS) tariff codes.
4. New Tariff codes include items which are ‘free’ for export which does not exist in the current
policy, it also covers conditions/restrictions imposed by partner government agencies on exports.
5. The draft policy aims at consolidating the export norms for each product as applicable at
different government agencies.
About ITC-HS Codes
1. ITC-HS Codes are Indian Trade Classification based on Harmonised System of Coding. It was
adopted by India for import-export operations.
2. Every product has been accorded eight-digit HS codes.
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3. The coding system helps an exporter know about all the applicable norms pertaining to a
particular product, helping them understand policy conditions for that item.
Consolidating of Norms
1. New export policy consolidates the existing norms and does not make any changes in the
existing export policy of the country. Besides, it also includes non-tariff regulations imposed by
different government agencies.
2. The updated draft had been prepared by including all existing policy conditions, all notifications
and public notices issued after January 2018.
Source: The Hindu
Accelerating Growth
1. The national income numbers are in controversial. No serious policy decision can be taken with
ambiguous numbers.
2. The new official numbers show that growth is slowing down.
3. Accelerating economic growth must be on top of the agenda of the new government.
4. It is only a fast-growing economy that will generate the surpluses which are necessary to
address many of our socio-economic problems and to provide social safety nets.
Decline in the investment rate
1. For faster growth, the higher investment rate is critical.
2. In current prices, the ratio of Gross Fixed Capital Formation to Gross Domestic Product has
stayed low at 28.5% between 2015-16 and 2017-18. In 2018-19 it is estimated at 28.9%. In 2007-08,
it was as high as 35.8%.
3. At present growth can come out of better utilisation of existing capacity. But for sustained
growth, the ratio has to go up substantially.
Reasons for the decline
1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s forecast of corporate investment, indicate a fall in corporate
investment.
2. It shows that there has been a steady decline from ₹2,050 billion in 2014-15 to 1,487 billion in
2017-18.
3. The industry-wise distribution of projects in 2017-18 shows that the power sector accounted for
38.2% of the total investments.
4. Pure manufacturing had only a small share, which points the urgent need to accelerate
investment.
Reviving Investments
1. Much of public investment happens outside the Budget. In 2019-20, capital expenditures of the
Central government to GDP are expected to be 1.6%.
2. This ratio has not shown much change. The bulk of public investment comes from public sector
enterprises, including the Railways.
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3. The government need to interact with all public sector units and prepare a programme of public
investment for 2019-20, which can also crowd in private investment.
4. In the process, sector- or industry-wise discussions between the government and industrialists
can be organised to understand the bottlenecks that each industry faces in making investment and
take actions to remove them.
5. Banks are under stress and the ratio of non-performing assets (NPAs) has risen.
6. It needs to be resolved as early as possible so that banks can get back to lending at a significant
pace. In the absence of term lending financial institutions in India, banks provide both working
capital and long-term loans.
7. Resolving the issue of NPAs is critically important for a larger flow of long-term funds. The
government must infuse adequate capital into banks at one go.
8. Mechanisms such as resolution councils or committees can help to resolve the NPA problem
without the bank management coming under the scrutiny of investigative agencies.
9. In the medium-term government should consider reviving the setting up of separate long-term
financial institutions, partly funded by the government.
Jobs and Growth
1. There has been great concern about the inability of the economy to generate adequate
employment.
2. Employment numbers have been the cause of worry due to the presence of heavy
underemployment in the country.
3. There has also been some shift of employment from the unorganised to the organised segment.
But this does not alter the overall situation, the problem of jobs can be resolved only by growth.
4. Faster growth and faster investment which will generate employment; however, the pattern of
growth also counts.
5. Some sectors such as construction are more labour intensive. Sectors such as IT and the
financial system, which provided attractive employment to young educated entrants to the labour
market in the past, have their own problems.
6. Growth generally happens when there is an adequate increase in demand, but there are many
sectors including infrastructure where new investment will spur growth.
Rural Demand
1. The main reason for the dip in demand is the slowdown in rural demand, which can affect the
off-take of consumer goods.
2. Agrarian distress needs to be tackled on a priority. The distress is due to a fall in prices, the best
course of action is to resort to limited procurement so that the excess over normal is procured by
the government.
3. Monsoon plays a bigger role in increasing/decreasing agricultural output, nothing can be done
about it except changing the cropping pattern depending on rainfall. But making available inputs
such as seeds and fertilizers at an affordable cost must be the major task particularly of State
governments.
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4. Over the medium term, more attention must be paid to increasing agricultural productivity
through consolidation of land holdings and spreading better techniques of cultivation.
5. Improving marketing arrangements has also been a neglected area.
Macroeconomic Reforms
1. The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax is a major step, but glitches still remain in its
implementation.
2. The government should get tax authorities, industrialists, traders and, particularly, exporters to
sort out the issues together.
3. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code was another significant step but there are also some
bottlenecks and the government must address them.
4. Some steps have been taken in the past with regard to land reforms which enable entrepreneurs
to buy land speedily but further needs to be improved.
5. Compulsory acquisition of land is in contrast with the competition and should be resorted to only
in limited cases where the public interest is involved.
6. Labour reforms should wait until the economy has picked up steam and moved to a higher
growth path. Only in these circumstances, there will be less resistance.
7. Easing of liquidity, the monetary policy of RBI should keep a watch on prices because it is not
easy to forecast the behaviour of crude oil prices or the monsoon.
Minimum Support Income
1. During elections, there were discussions on social safety nets, specifically on providing a
minimum income to the poor and a caring society should do this. But it also depends on the ability
of the government to sustain it.
2. The government can achieve this by removing some of the subsidies and schemes which are
similar in nature to minimum income, consolidate them, add to them what is fiscally feasible and
provide the funds directly to the poor.
3. The bigger problem is to define the ‘poor’ and, more particularly, identify them. But a move in this
direction must be part of the agenda.
Source: The Hindu
Competitiveness Index
1. India has moved up one place to rank 43rd most competitive economy in the world on the back
of its robust economic growth, a large labour force and its huge market size.
2. India was ranked 45th in 2017 and 41st in 2016.
3. Singapore has moved up to the top, from the third position last year, while the US has slipped to
the third place from the top in the 2019 edition
4. Economists regard competitiveness as vital for the long-term health of a country's economy as it
empowers businesses to achieve sustainable growth, generates jobs and, ultimately, enhance the
welfare of citizens.
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Challenges for India

1. India remains maintaining high growth with employment generation, digital literacy and internet
bandwidth in rural areas, managing fiscal discipline.
2. Issues related to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax and resource mobilisation for
infrastructure development still persists.
3. In the 2019 rankings, India has scored well on several economic parameters and tax policies but
has lagged in terms of public finance, societal framework, education infrastructure, health and
environment.
About Competitiveness Index
1. The World Competitiveness Ranking Index is an annual report published by the Swiss-based
International Institute for Management Development on the competitiveness of nations and has
been published since 1989.
2. It incorporates 235 indicators from each of the 63 ranked economies to evaluate their ability to
foster an environment where enterprises can achieve sustainable growth, generate jobs and
increase welfare for its citizens.
3. It takes into account a wide range of statistics such as unemployment, GDP and government
spending on health and education, and data from an executive opinion survey covering topics such
as social cohesion, globalisation and corruption.
Cheaper Medicines and e-Pharmacy Norms
1. Pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector have a backlog of policies and regulations to pass and
implement.
Cheaper Medicines
1. In February 2019, the country’s drug pricing watchdog, the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing
Authority (NPPA), capped trade margins of 42 cancer medicines at 30 per cent.
2. It is expected that this move would drop maximum retail prices (MRPs) of over 100 brands by up
to 85 per cent and provide over Rs 100 crore in savings for cancer patients.
3. This move is a “proof-of-concept” for the regulator to implement a system of trade margin
rationalisation across medicine segments.
4. Results of the pilot would be released to the public soon and based on the results the
government shall further expand such price control.
E-Pharmacy
1. Implementation of the health ministry’s regulations for online pharmacy players had been in the
works since 2016 but was stalled close to the Lok Sabha elections.
2. As per industry estimates, online pharmacies account for around 1 per cent of India’s over 1 lakh
crore medicines retail industry but has the potential to account for 5-15 per cent of total sales in
the future.
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3. The move to recognise and regulate e-pharmacies in India had been strongly opposed by the
country’s brick-and-mortar chemists, which have conducted strikes and gone to court, claiming
safety and legal issues with the online model.
Reasons for delay
2. Inter-ministerial consultations had been initiated on the latest draft, leading to the delay.
2. The government was still looking into the public feedback received on the draft, which would
allow regulation of India’s nascent e-pharmacy industry.
Compensation for Faulty Devices
1. A proposal to allow patients to seek compensation for faulty medical devices is yet to
implement.
2. It is highly scrutinised after the government and media investigations into the adverse impacts
of certain hip implants by US giant Johnson & Johnson.
3. The proposal to amend the 2017 Medical Devices Rules to include a provision for compensation
in the event of adverse reactions or death due to medical devices was brought up by the Drugs
Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).
4. Currently, there is “no provision” for compensations in such a scenario, which has led to a legal
battle over a formula that a Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) committee has
used to decide how much J&J has to compensate patients affected by its ASR implants.
Way Forward
1. The government is expected to increase focus on reducing prices of more medical devices after
the success from price caps on stents and knee implants.
2. Progress on reducing India’s dependence on China for its supply of key ingredients for
medicines is an ongoing concern for the industry to mitigate any medicine shortages, therefore
industries feel price rises is also required.
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Environment
Coastal Regulation Zone
The Supreme Court recently ordered the demolition of five apartment complexes in Maradu
municipality in Ernakulam, Kerala, for violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
What are the CRZ rules?
1. CRZ Rules govern human and industrial activity close to the coastline, in order to protect the
fragile ecosystems near the sea.
2. In all CRZ Rules, the regulation zone has been defined as the area up to 500 m from the high-tide
line.
3. Zones are classified as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3, CRZ-4 and several kinds of restrictions apply,
depending on criteria such as the population of the area, the ecological sensitivity, the distance
from the shore, and whether the area had been designated as a natural park or wildlife zone.
4. CRZ is regulated by the respective states through state CRZ authority.
Why do we need CRZ rules?
1. Areas immediately next to the sea are extremely delicate as they are home to many marines and
aquatic life forms, both animals and plants.
2. They are also threatened by climate change, where development has to be regulated.
2. CRZ rules sought to restrict certain kinds of activities, like large constructions, setting up of new
industries, storage or disposal of hazardous material, mining, or reclamation and bunding, within a
certain distance from the coastline.
How CRZ rules evolved in India?
1. The Rules, mandated under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, were first framed in 1991.
2. It was amended several times but still, states found the 1991 Rules to be extremely restrictive.
3. States complained that if applied strictly, the Rules would not allow simple things like building
decent homes for people living close to the coast and carrying out basic developmental works.
4. The 1991 Rules also created hurdles for showpiece industrial and infrastructure projects such as
the POSCO steel plant in Odisha and the proposed Navi Mumbai airport in the early 2000s.
5. The Centre notified fresh CRZ Rules in 2011, which addressed some concerns by providing
exemptions to few projects.
6. Even these rules were found inadequate. The Environment Ministry in 2014 set up a six-member
committee under then Earth Sciences Secretary Shailesh Nayak to give suggestions for a new set
of CRZ Rules
7. The committee submitted its report in 2015. Simultaneously, the Chennai-based National Centre
for Sustainable Coastal Management defined a new high-tide line along India’s entire coastline to
remove ambiguities. Separately, the Survey of India defined a hazard line along the coasts — to be
used mainly for disaster management planning.
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8. Based on these and other inputs, the Environment Ministry issued fresh CRZ Rules 2018, which
removed certain restrictions on building, streamlined the clearance process, and aimed to
encourage tourism in coastal areas.
Which were the changes made?
1. In 2019, the government notified new CRZ Rules with the stated objectives of promoting
sustainable development and conserving coastal environments. Following this new changes were
brought in the rules.
2. CRZ-III (Rural) areas have been divided into two categories.
3. CRZ-IIIA: In the densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2,161 per sq km as per
the 2011 Census, the no-development zone is now 50 m from the high-tide level, as against the 200
m earlier.
4. CRZ-IIIB category (rural areas with population density below 2,161 per sq km) continue to have a
no-development zone extending up to 200 m from the high-tide line.
5. The new Rules have a no-development zone of 20 m for all islands close to the mainland coast,
and for all backwater islands in the mainland.
Saving Tigers
What is the issue?

1. Tigers in the country are increasingly being killed by snares (trapping of tigers), even in the core
areas of sanctuaries.
2. In the last nine years, 24 tigers and 114 leopards have suffered slow deaths due to these traps.
3. Apart from poachers, local communities are also using these wire noose snares to kill the big
cats preying on their livestock.
4. This indicates growing man-animal conflict which threatens to reverse the gains made by tiger
conservation in the country.
5. There has been a steady increase in the tiger population in the last few years and India had 2,226
tigers as per the 2014 All India Tiger Estimation. This accounts for a 60% jump in tiger population
compared to 2006.
Why Protecting Tigers are a challenge?
1. Protecting these gains is proving to be a challenge due to growing encroachment of forests and
erosion of tiger corridors.
2. Tigers need large habitats as they have high juvenile dispersal rates.
3. But growing human populations and rapid development are curtailing their habitats thus
confining tiger populations to certain pockets.
4. Tigers have lost more than 93% of their historical range.
5. Tigers are entering into human habitat areas for hunting livestock resulting in man-animal
conflict, providing the impetus for cruel snare traps to kill or injure tigers.
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1. India’s Project Tiger may have been successful in preventing the decimation of the species. But
sustaining and growing tiger populations is the next big challenge.
2. It can only be addressed through a holistic approach to preserving and expanding tiger habitats.
3. Given the pressure on land from human development, it is a challenging task.
4. Project Tiger 2.0 needs to focus on things like proper zoning to keep development away from the
sanctuaries.
5. At present, efforts must be directed towards protecting tigers from snares. Anti-snare exercises
using metal detectors must be operationalised in all tiger reserves without delay.
Improving Air Quality
1. More than half a billion citizens breathe air that exceeds India’s air quality standards, all of whom
are therefore living shorter lives.
2. Based on new scientific evidence, the Air Quality Life Index estimates that if every part of India
were to meet national standards, life expectancy would rise by almost two years.
3. Across the highly polluted Gangetic plain, this number ranges from four to six years, which
shows that air pollution is one of India’s greatest public health challenges.
How it can be resolved while also focussing on economic growth?
1. It can start from better enforcement of the laws that are already on paper.
2. Making all regulatory data on industrial air pollution transparent and publicly available is an
important part of the solution.
3. This would allow industries to see how they are performing compared to others, making it hard
to justify doing worse than their peers.
4. When the public learns who the worst polluters are in their neighbourhoods, they have the power
to call for change.
Where such initiatives are implemented?
1. The award-winning Blue Map app in China, and the Program for Pollution Control, Evaluation, and
Rating (PROPER) scheme in Indonesia, have both proved effective in reducing pollution.
What are the steps taken in India in this direction?
1. India has begun to take the first steps along this path. The Star Rating Program is an innovative
new idea being developed by state pollution control boards (SPCBs) across the country, along with
researchers from other institutions.
2. The program rates industries on a scale of one to five stars based on their fine particulate
pollution emissions. Industrial units with five stars are the most compliant, and those with one star
are the least compliant.
3. This information is accessible to the public through the official website of the SPCBs and
information disclosure is mandatory.
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4. Once this is achieved it becomes possible for the public to become an important agent in
monitoring the pollution reduction efforts of the industries where they live.
5. The ratings also provide a platform on which to build other ideas such as introducing
performance incentives.
Which states have already implemented it?
1. The idea of using star ratings for the industry was initially launched in Maharashtra in June 2017.
2. Currently, around 300 industrial units across 12 sectors are covered in Maharashtra.
It's Impact
1. It saw greater public participation along with industries, because of support from local NGOs,
industry professionals, engineering students and journalists who have sensitised it through
focussed workshops.
6. Local government has also begun to use these ratings. The yearly air action plans of five
municipal corporations cited this as a tool for combating air pollution in their respective
geographies.
Other States
1. In September 2018, Odisha launched a similar scheme, covering more than 90 industries across
the state. And recently, Jharkhand announced plans to start their own ratings scheme.
2. These new entrants are taking the program further by using real-time pollution data obtained
from continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) to rate their industries, which also
monitors water pollution.
Why it matters?
1. Democratising and releasing data on the sources of pollution provides an opportunity to move
beyond the regime of top-down regulation.
2. It can help to raise public engagement on the issue. At the same time, it can lead polluters to
look over their peers who are complying with the standard, while being acknowledged and
rewarded for their efforts.
3. These forces complement and reinforce the work of regulators.
Emission of Ozone Gas
1. An international team of researchers found that emissions of CFC-11, a gas that harms the
ozone layer are emitted from eastern China, primarily from two heavily industrialised provinces.
2. In the beginning of 2013, scientists noticed that the rate of decline of emissions was slowing
down which indicated that newly produced CFC-11 was entering the atmosphere, due to which
further research was conducted.
3. The new research will add to international pressure on the Chinese government to curtail the
illegal use of CFC-11.
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About CFC-11
1. CFC-11 is one of a class of compounds called chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) that destroy
atmospheric ozone. They are also potent greenhouse gases that contribute to atmospheric
warming.
2. Chlorofluorocarbons were outlawed for almost all uses by the Montreal Protocol, an international
pact negotiated decades ago to preserve the layer of ozone that blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation
from the sun.
3. Excessive amounts of some types of UV radiation can cause skin cancer and eye damage in
people and are harmful to crops and other vegetation.
4. The declines in chlorofluorocarbon emissions under the Montreal Protocol were expected to
lead to a full recovery of the ozone layer by the middle of the century. The new emissions could
delay that recovery by a decade or more.
5. Although the Montreal Protocol called for phasing out CFC-11 production and use by 2010, some
emissions continued as products that use it were destroyed and the chemical was released.
9. CFC-11 has a lifetime of about half a century, therefore the emissions, combined with the
breakdown of the chemical, have caused its concentration in the atmosphere.
Source: The Hindu
Carbon dioxide and Global Warming
What is the issue?

1. Recently, global concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was measured to have
crossed the 415 parts per million (ppm) mark for the first time.
2. The higher the concentration of carbon dioxide, the greater the greenhouse gas effect that
causes the Earth’s atmosphere to heat up.
When did it start to increase?
1. For several thousand years, the carbon dioxide concentration remained constant around 270-280
ppm, before the industrial revolution began to slowly push it up.
2. In 1958, concentrations were around 315 ppm. It took nearly 50 years for it to reach 380 ppm, a
mark first breached in 2004, but thereafter the growth has been rapid.
3. Currently, the carbon dioxide concentration is growing at more than 2 ppm per year and is likely
to reach 3 ppm a year from this year.
4. However, in recent years, the growth in global carbon dioxide emissions has slowed down
considerably.
Why such rapid growth?
1. The increase in atmospheric concentrations is caused by the carbon dioxide being constantly
emitted in different, mostly man-made, processes
2. The rapid rise in the atmospheric concentrations is mainly due to the fact that carbon dioxide
has a very long lifespan in the atmosphere, between 100 and 300 years.
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3. Even if the emissions were to be reduced to zero all of a sudden, it would have no impact on the
atmospheric concentrations in the near term.
Where does the emitted carbon dioxide go?
1. About half of emitted carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and oceans, leaving the other half to
go into the atmosphere.
2. An addition of about 7.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere leads to a 1 ppm rise
in its atmospheric concentration.
3. The absorption of carbon dioxide by plants follows a predictable seasonal variability.
4. Plants absorb more carbon dioxide during the summer and a lower amount of carbon dioxide is
added to the atmosphere in the summer months.
How the Global community has planned to fight climate change?
1. The global goal has been defined in terms of temperature targets, not carbon dioxide
concentrations.
2. The stated effort of the Paris Agreement is to keep the rise in average surface temperatures
below 2ºC higher than during pre-industrial times, and if possible, below 1.5°C.
3. The carbon dioxide concentration level corresponding to a 2ºC rise in global temperatures is
generally understood to be 450 ppm.
4. At current rates of growth, that level would be reached in less than 12 years, that is by 2030.
5. The corresponding carbon dioxide level for a 1.5ºC rise is not very clearly defined.
6. The net-zero needs to be achieved by 2075 to attain the 2ºC target.
7. Net zero is achieved when the total emissions are neutralized by absorption of carbon dioxide
through natural sinks like forests, or removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through
technological interventions.
8. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report emphasized the need to achieve
net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide, by 2050 to keep temperature
rise to within 1.5ºC.
Protecting Forest Fringes
What is the Issue?

1. India is among the fastest urbanizing major countries and forest-rich nations of the world.
2. The current trend of spatial urban expansion is increasing the proximity between forests and the
cities.
3. In major cities such as Gurugram, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Bengaluru, forests have
already faced the brunt of encroachments, roads and highways, local extinction of wildlife,
contamination of water bodies, and disturbances originating from the urban neighborhoods.
4. Across India, many more critical wildlife habitats and biodiversity areas are going to face a direct
impact from cities in the near term.
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5. Despite this, neither the ongoing urban programmes such as ‘Smart Cities’ nor the draft of the
new Forest Policy, 2018, look ready to tackle this challenge.
Why it matters?
1. Forests are natural shock-absorbers that provide green relief to our grey cities.
2. They also shield cities from the effects of climate change, and aid in urban issues such as air
pollution, scarcity of drinking water, flood control and heat islands.
3. Prioritizing forest-city proximity is crucial for sustainable development and cities needs to
incorporate nature in their design.
How city-forest cooperation can be achieved?
1. Recently notified eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) around protected areas hold the key to the place and
the process in this regard.
2. Eco-sensitive zones are strips of land outside national parks and wildlife sanctuaries earmarked
by the Ministry of Environment for sustainable management.
3. The ESZ committee and its plans fulfil basic conditions to facilitate the inter-departmental
collaboration of the forest departments, urban bodies, and civil society.
4. Urban masterplans must recognize land use at forest fringes, according to ESZ guidelines.
5. In addition, cities should secure wildlife corridors and ‘green belts’ that connect urban forests
with a wider natural landscape.
Citizen Participation
1. The urban citizens today aspire for a green, pollution-free and serene living environment.
2. Urban residents need to create social fences by strongly advocating for forests in their cities.
2. Integrating forests with urban planning and governance provides an opportunity to shape cities
that not only cater to citizens but also have the citizens actively involved in shaping the city’s
future.
Source: The Hindu
Proprietary seeds
1. Recently PepsiCo was suing small farmers in India for growing a potato variety that is used in its
Lay’s chips, but due to national and international pressure, it withdrew the case.
2. However, the fact that many small farmers are, like the ones targeted by PepsiCo, is targeted
directly or indirectly, on proprietary seeds.
What are proprietary seeds?
1. These are high yield variety of seeds, generally developed in a lab by corporate companies or
universities.
2. The private companies hold patents for such seeds and bars farmers from saving and resowing
these seeds.
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3. In India, the Plant Variety Protection law permits farmers not only to save and resow (multiple
times) seeds but also to sell them to other farmers, no matter what the original source of the seeds
is.
4. Efforts have been ongoing, to pass a new seed law in India permitting the sale of certified seeds
only, but unsuccessfully due to pressures from farmers and NGOs.
Which way does it affect the farmers?
1. Typically these seeds are grown in high input (fertilizer-pesticide-irrigation) environments, which
also erode local biodiversity over time.
2. These seeds are also expensive and also result in the loss of the skills and social relationships
(through the saving and exchange of seeds of indigenous varieties).
3. Overall it pushes the small-scale farmers in a downward spiral of lower income, status, and
dignity.
How to shift agriculture from a high-yield ideal to a high-value one?
The ‘values’ include minimizing environmental harm while maximizing nutritional gains and farmer
welfare.
Educating and Encouraging Farmers
1. Small farmers must be educated and encouraged with proper incentive structures to engage
with agriculture that conserves and improves traditional (heterogeneous) seeds in situ, rather than
with improved, proprietary varieties.
2. Currently, India is preventing effective use, management and monetization of diverse traditional
seeds to protect it against biopiracy so that it could benefit farmers.
Permanent record-keeping system
1. A record-keeping system using technology such as blockchain technology is needed.
2. It helps the communities to keep track of where and how their seeds and genetic resources are
being transferred and traded.
3. It would also ensure that monetary returns come in from users and buyers of these seeds, from
around the globe.
4. These monetary returns would incentivize for continuous cultivation and improvement of
indigenous seeds and also ensure sustainable growth of agriculture and rural community.
Reviving of Traditional Knowledge
1. India’s invaluable traditional ecological knowledge systems need to be revived and made a part
of mainstream agricultural research, education and extension services.
2. It is also within the scope of what international conventions such as the Convention on
Biological Diversity refer to as indigenous and traditional technologies.
3. The revival of these technologies is central to promoting sustainable ‘high value’ agriculture, and
for the growing global demand for organic and Ayurvedic products.
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Why it is a Wake-up call?

1. The PepsiCo issue is a wake-up call to the government and policymakers.
2. The issue shows that there is much more to do, to secure sustainable rural societies, protect soil
health and promote seed sovereignty for the economic development of Indian farmers and of the
entire nation.
Source: The Hindu
Green Projects in India
1. In 2014, the government set up an ambitious target of 175 GW for renewable energy — 100 GW
for solar, 60 GW for wind and the rest for biomass and small hydro — to be met by 2022.
2. Five years down the line, the Indian renewable industry is in a state of disarray.
Where the government has achieved?
1. Since 2014, India added 28,000 MW of solar power and 14,500 MW of wind power. (Today, India
has 30,600 MW of solar power capacity and 35,600 MW of wind power.)
2. Bringing down tariffs of wind and solar power that is sold to the electricity distribution
companies.
3. The financial year 2016-17 was an outlier for wind energy, in that year new capacity additions
reached a record 5,500 MW.
How did it achieve?
1. Respectable solar capacity addition was due to steep fall in the prices of the principal
component of a solar plant — the module, the prices plunged around 2/3rd of its previous prices.
2. The peak installation of wind energy in 2016-17 was because of expiry of many government
incentives in that year, due to which energy companies rushed in to avail those incentives.
Why the government’s achievements were short-lived?
1. The low tariffs have benefited only the discoms and not the consumers, it has also resulted in
slow capacity addition.
2. Industries feel that such a low tariff is unviable and, the low tariff was quoted by bidders only in a
rush to grab projects.
3. After the lowest quoted bid of Rs.2.44 a kWhr, the government brought ceilings on tariffs for
solar and wind on future bids, to keep tariffs further low.
4. It has resulted in the cancellation of bids, only because the government lowers tariffs than
quoted.
1. Wind and solar power capacity additions have been far less than satisfactory and hardly on the
path to meeting the targets.
2. Both sectors are affected by a range of issues, some caused by the government with no help
from it.
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3. Solar power had been facing uncertainties in terms of safeguard duties, GST rates and a falling
rupee.
4. Wind installations have been crippled by land problems in Gujarat, where most of the developers
crowded in.
5. Industries have to contend with rampant corruption or extortionate prices to sell the power in all
the states.
6. On the other hand, the State government-owned discoms have been delaying paying their dues
to the energy companies.
7. Solar heating, the most efficient method with high return, have poor policy support.
8. No progress in offshore wind projects despite overwhelming interest from international players.
9. The government does not have a long-term vision in other emerging areas where India could
leapfrog and lead the world, such as ocean and geothermal energy.
10. Biomass and small hydro are in the declining stage.
Who suggested the solution?
1. Industries have suggested the government to bring in State-wise or even sub-station-wise
tenders, to avoid crowding to a particular windiest state (Such as Gujarat) so that the setting up
projects could be more spread out.
2. Industries have also suggested the closed tender method, where the bidder who offers the best
price bags the project, as opposed to the current method of holding auctions, in which bidders try
to outbid each other.
3. No other sector in India, such as railways or defence where auctions held for awarding contracts
— it is always a closed tender.
4. The industry pleaded for a fixed tariff which would come down annually so that the energy
companies earn more in the initial years to pay off their debts.
5. No pleas have been taken by the government.
Which are the upcoming projects?
1. In April 2018, Government has made a call for expression of interest to set up 1 GW of offshore
wind of Gujarat coast which drew overwhelming interest from global players, the tender is yet to
come.
2. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced ambitious targets of 5GW
for 2022 and 30 GW for 2030 in offshore wind projects.
Way Forward
1. Beyond conventional wind and solar plants, MNRE has little achievement. For instance, the
adoption of solar-powered agricultural pumps is way below the potential.
2. The government must also show its interest in other areas, for instance - Ocean energy (from
waves, tides and currents), it shows great promise, can provide steady, 24x7 power.
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3. In December 2014, CRISIL and IIT-Madras have come out with a study on Ocean energy, which
recommended kick-start support by the government, but no progress has been made yet.
Source: The Hindu.
Fighting Air Pollution
1. Government has finalised a proposal to increase tax on older vehicle of pre-2000 make,
particularly commercial one.
2. Such vehicles will have to undergo frequent fitness tests and there will also be an about 15-20-
fold increase in the fees for both first time registration of diesel/ petrol vehicles and for renewal of
their registration.
3. These are some of the disincentives that the government has finalised in its blueprint to push the
phasing out of older polluting vehicles.
4. According to different studies, older vehicles are 25 times more polluting as compared to new
ones.
The scrapping of old vehicles
1. Government has proposed a carrot and stick policy to give the incentive to scrap their old
vehicles and buy a new one while making it difficult for owners of older vehicles.
2. There is a proposal to waive off the registration fee for new vehicle if the buyer shows a
certificate of scrapping his/her old vehicle.
3. The government will also convince the vehicle manufacturers to offer discounts for new vehicles
bought against scrapping certificate.
Source: Times of India
Infra Strategy
1. The government has set a target of attracting Rs 1 lakh crore investment in infrastructure, mainly
in three key sectors of roads, railways and aviation.
2. These sectors assumed significance to the previous government but now the government has
several focus areas with in these sectors.
3. These include disinvestment of Air India and Pawan Hans, development of airports, land
acquisition for national highway projects, electrification of railway tracks, and the bullet train
project.
Road Sector
1. The government has planned to launch a massive ‘Rural Road Upgradation Programme’ to
connect centres of education, healthcare centres, and markets with hinterlands to promote rural
growth.
2. The government aims to construct 60,000 km of national highways while doubling the length of
these roads by 2022.
3. The government is also expected to focus on expediting some of its flagship road projects such
as Bharatmala and Sagarmala.
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4. The biggest challenge to these projects is the land acquisition problem due to which a number of
national highway projects have been delayed.
Aviation Sector
1. The government came the closest to offloading its stake in debt-laden Air India, but it failed to do
so due to various factors such as the reluctance to let go of 100 per cent stake in the airline.
2. However, the government had expressed its firm intention to conduct disinvestment of Air India,
which is under a debt of more than Rs 50,000 crore.
3. One of the key bottlenecks seen in the growth story of India’s aviation sector which clocked
double-digit traffic growth for two years is the lack of enough infrastructure growth.
4. During 2014 there were 65 functional airports and at present, there is a total of 101 functional
airports, and in the next five years, the government aims to double the number of functional
airports in the country.
5. Similar to the roads sector, airports have also faced impediments in land acquisition issues.
6. Due to these hurdles, four greenfield airports worth around Rs 56,000 crore have been delayed
even though contracts for the development of these projects have been awarded.
7. Financial problems in the airline's segment, which is the cash conduit for the entire aviation
sector, need to be resolved.
8. Primarily, the problems pertaining to Air India and the now suspended Jet Airways, which had
almost 20,000 employees on its rolls.
PepsiCo vs Gujarat farmers
1. PepsiCo sued farmers in north Gujarat for illegally growing and selling a potato variety registered
in the company’s name.
2. The patent is for the potato plant variety FL-2027 (commercial name FC-5).
3. PepsiCo India has patented FC-5 until January 2031 under the Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001.
4. PepsiCo has a buyback agreement with Gujarat farmers
5. It accused the farmers of illegally growing, producing and selling the variety without permission.
Rights of farmers
1. According to the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001 :
a) A farmer shall be deemed to be entitled to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his
farm produce including seed of a variety protected under this Act. But the farmer shall not be
entitled to sell branded seed of a variety protected under this Act.
b) The Act was tailored to give farmers free access to seeds.
2. The rights on a patented seed differ from country to country.
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3. In the US, if someone has patented a seed, no other farmer can grow it. PepsiCo cannot claim
similar rights in India.
Support by the Government
1. The Gujarat government announced it would become a party to all the suits and back the
farmers.
2. The government held out-of-court settlement talks with the company.
3. PepsiCo announced the withdrawal of cases.
Climate Emergency
1. A recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. shows that
global warming during the past half-century has contributed to a differential change in income
across countries.
2. More recently, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services has reported that, worldwide, the abundance of species has reduced by at least one-fifth,
about a million species are under threat of extinction in the next few decades and 85% of wetlands
have been lost.
3. The International Monetary Fund estimates in a recent working paper also stated that fossil fuel
subsidies were $4.7 trillion in 2015 and estimated to be $5.2 trillion in 2017.
4. It further states that efficient fossil fuel pricing would have reduced global carbon emissions by
28%.
Reaction of stakeholders
1. Recently, the U.K. Parliament became the first to declare a climate emergency.
2. The manifestos of the political parties contesting the Indian general election didn’t give
significance to climate and environment.
3. Ignoring climate change, some elite networks involving governments actively or quiescently
colluding with fossil fuel companies, agro-industrial elites, financial elites, and other big businesses
are taking advantage of the situation.
4. Few instances of the elite networks taking advantage of the situation to consolidate their control
are-
a) Superpowers are angling to access wealth from the oil, gas, uranium and precious metals in the
Arctic region, despite rapid melting of glaciers by opening up shipping in the area.
b) Similarly, big oil and energy companies tried to access liquid natural gas of Mozambique, which
resulted in the country facing financial issues.
c) In India, the draft Indian Forest Act of 2019, enhanced the political and police power of the forest
department and curtails the rights of millions of forest dwellers.
d) Fossil fuel industries have influenced scientists, politicians and local elites to secure their
interests by directly funding spread of misinformation regarding the impact of industries on
climate.
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People’s Reaction
1. Policies and commitments make it clear that most governments and businesses are not
interested in dealing with the climate and ecological crises.
2. Large-scale movement for “planet emergency”, climate and ecology and Extinction Rebellion has
been organized in many parts of Europe and in Asia.
3. Non-violent civil disobedience of people, made up of students or adults, cannot be ignored by the
government for long.
Way Forward
1. The only solution that governments and business are looking for are those that enable them to
carry on as before.
2. But the planet is well past that point where small fixes can help take us on a long path to zero
carbon earth.
3. At this stage, a major overhaul of our lifestyles and patterns of consumption is needed.
Source: The Hindu
Combating growing vehicular pollution
1. Indian cities have been witnessing an undesirable shift from the use of public transport to
private vehicles.
2. The average two-wheeler and car ownership levels in metropolitan cities which were 112 and 14
per 1000 population in 1994 are expected to grow to 393 and 48 respectively by 2021.
3. Urban transportation solutions like the metro rails have the capacity to act as driving forces to
take India’s quest for sustainable urban spaces to fruition.
4. Urban transport is leading to growing air and noise pollution, accounting for about 25 percent of
the greenhouses gases worldwide and spending more time in the polluted atmosphere, affects the
health of the people adversely.
5. India need to swiftly move from fossil fuel-based automobiles to electricity or battery based
vehicular system.
6. Relevant infrastructure, especially in regard to charging of batteries had to be developed on an
urgent basis to meet the emerging demand for electric vehicles.
7. There is an urgent need to put in place an adequately developed reliable, affordable and
accessible urban public transport system.
8. City planners must plan to provide hassle-free travel facilities while ensuring the last mile
connectivity to commuters, especially for those travelling by metro and local rail networks.
9. Government needs to focus more on introducing multi-modal transit systems, where the Public
transport should take precedence over personalized motor transport and every stakeholder should
work in that direction.
10. City planners should also give priority to make urban spaces safe for women, children and the
elderly and make them completely barrier-free and accessible to the differently abled.
Source: PIB
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Global Assessment Report by UN
The report found that up to one million of Earth’s estimated eight million plants, insect and animal
species are at risk of extinction, many within decades.
Key findings of the report
Extinction
1. 1 million species face the risk of extinction- many within decades.
2. 5 lack plants and animals currently have insufficient habitat for long-time survival.
3. 40% of amphibian species, 33% of reef-forming corals and 33% of marine mammals are
threatened with extinction.
4. Loss of pollinators such as bees caused by intensive farming is putting $235 to $577 billion
worth of annual crop output at risk.
Consumption
1. 1/3rd land is used to produce food.
2. Food cultivation uses 75% of all fresh water on Earth.
3. 25% of manmade emissions come from agriculture, vast majority from meat production.
4. 50% of all new agricultural land is taken from forests.
5. 93% of marines fish stocks are overfished.
Pollution
1. Humans dump 400 million tonnes of waste into the ocean and rivers each year.
2. 75% of the land, 40% of oceans and 50% of rivers have severe impacts of degradation from
human activity.
3. Pollution from fertilizers has led to the formation of low-oxygen dead zones of 2.45 lacks sq.km
in coastal waters.
Mains reasons
1. Industrial farming and fishing are major drivers for species extinction.
2. Climate change caused by burning the coal, oil, and gas produced by the fossil fuel industry is
exacerbating the losses.
Source: The Hindu
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery
India is unanimously chosen as co-chair of the Consultative Group (CG) of Global Facility for
Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year 2020.
GFDRR
1. It is a global partnership that helps developing countries better understand and reduce their
vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change.
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2. GFDRR is a grant-funding mechanism, managed by the World Bank, that supports disaster risk
management projects worldwide.
3. It is presently working on the ground with over 400 local, national, regional, and international
partners and provides knowledge, funding, and technical assistance.
India and GFDRR
1. India became a member of CG of GFDRR in 2015 and expressed its interest to co-chair in the last
meeting of CG.
2. India’s candidature was backed by its consistent progress in disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the
country and its initiative to form a coalition on disaster resilient infrastructure.
3. This will give India an opportunity to work with the member countries and organizations of
GFDRR with a focused contribution towards advancing the disaster risk reduction agenda during
the course of the year.
4. Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) will be a central theme of engagement with the GFDRR
partners and stakeholders.
Source: PIB
India Cooling Action Plan
1. The rising global need for cooling amenities and the associated environmental and economic
concerns have been matters of extensive study and debate recently.
2. India as the fastest growing and rapidly urbanizing economy is projected to have the strongest
growth in cooling demand worldwide.
3. India’s soaring demand in this sector is in line with the country’s developmental needs, but it
does portend significant environmental, social and economic concerns.
India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)
1. The government launched the ICAP to address India’s future cooling needs while neutralizing its
impacts.
2. The most visible part of ICAP is about enhancing access to cooling amenities, optimizing
demand and efficient cooling practices and technologies.
3. ICAP is also about improving the quality of life and productivity and achieving many of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which also accelerate the country’s growth trajectory.
Energy consumption and refrigerant use
1. India has one of the lowest access to cooling amenities and technologies across the world, far
below the global average.
2. The ICAP addresses the dilemma of meeting the country’s growing social need in this respect
without posing major economic and environmental consequences.
3. ICAP has set goals to achieve a 25-40 percent reduction in cooling energy requirements and 25-
30 percent reduction in refrigerant demand, as compared to business as usual, over the next 20
years.
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4. It also in line with Paris Climate Change Agreement and Kigali Amendment.
5. ICAP aims to enable thermal comfort and well-being for all citizens by providing affordable and
reliable cooling options, maintaining reliable electricity grids, and enhancing climate resilience of
buildings and homes.
6. It aims to ensure that the vulnerable populations, particularly children and the elderly, are not
exposed to undue heat stresses.
Beyond Energy and refrigerant
1. The plan lays special emphasis on enabling thermal comfort for the economically weaker
sections through climate-appropriate designs of affordable housing, and low-cost interventions to
achieve better thermal insulation (such as cool roofs).
2. The benefits of the proposed actions extend to enhancing nationwide productivity, reducing
heat-islands in urban areas, mitigating peak-load impacts and reducing the stress on the power
systems.
Cold Chain Sector
1. Within the cold chain sector, ICAP proposes the development of an integrated cold chain
infrastructure with the appropriate market linkages, supported by adequate training and up-skilling
of farmers and professionals.
2. The co-benefits include economic well-being of farmers and reducing food losses thus
strengthening food security and alleviating hunger-related issues.
Skill Building
1. Driving skill-building of the services sector through training and certification is an important
target identified by the plan.
2. It also presents an opportunity for providing increased employment, better livelihoods, and safer
working practices in the sector.
Research and Development
1. The plan positions India’s cooling challenge as an opportunity for the nation to demonstrate
leadership in areas related to innovation.
2. It also supports the Make in India campaign through indigenous production of cooling
equipment and refrigerants.
ICAP impacts on SDGs
1. ICAP would contribute to Good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth,
sustainable cities and communities, reduced inequalities, affordable and clean energy, responsible
consumption and production, and climate action.
2. The onus is now on the various stakeholders to work collaboratively, with the right policy and
market levers, to lead the country towards a cooling transformation.
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COP meetings of conventions
1. The joint meetings of three conventions were held in Geneva. They are
a) Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal (COP 14).
b) Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (COP 9).
c) Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (COP 9).
2. The theme of the meetings of 2019 was “Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management of
Chemicals and Waste”.
Key Takeaways of the Basel Convention meeting
E – Waste
1. The draft technical guidelines stipulated the conditions when used electrical and electronic
equipment destined for direct reuse, repair, refurbishment or failure analysis should be considered
as non-waste.
3. India had major reservations regarding these provisions as in the name of re-use, repair,
refurbishment and failure analysis there was a possibility of dumping from the developed world to
the developing countries including India in view of the growing consumption of electronic
equipment and waste across the world.
4. The Indian delegation strongly objected the proposed decision on these guidelines during
plenary and did not allow it to be passed by the conference of the parties (COP).
5. India’s concerns were supported by a large number of other developing countries.
6. Finally, a modified decision was adopted in which all the concerns raised by India were
incorporated.
7. The country’s interest was defended against the potential dumping of e-waste by developed
countries and opened a window for further negotiations and corrections in the interim technical
guidelines on e-waste.
Plastic Waste
1. COP decided to amend the convention to include unsorted, mixed and contaminated plastic
waste under PIC (Prior Informed Consent) procedure and improve the regulation of its
transboundary movement.
2. This is a significant step taken towards addressing plastic pollution which has become a major
environmental concern across the globe.
3. Further, the Basel Convention has also adopted a partnership on plastic.
4. These steps will help prevent the illegal dumping of plastic wastes in developing countries.
5. India has already imposed a complete prohibition of import of solid plastic waste into the
country. India has also made an international commitment to phase out single-use plastic.
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Other outcomes
1. Under the Stockholm Convention, the COP decided to list “Dicofol” in Annex A without any
exemption.
2. Under the Rotterdam Convention, two new chemicals (Phorate and HBCD) were added in the list
for mandatory PIC procedure in international trade.
About Stockholm Convention
1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty,
signed in 2001. It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic
pollutants (POPs).
2. The chemicals targeted by the Stockholm Convention are listed in the annexes of the convention
text:
Annex A (Elimination)
Annex B (Restriction)
Annex C (Unintentional production)
About Rotterdam Convention
1. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is a multilateral treaty to promote shared
responsibilities in relation to imports of hazardous chemicals.
2. The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous
chemicals to use proper labeling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any
known restrictions or bans.
Source: PIB
Science & Technology
Superconductivity at Room temperature
1. A team led by Prof. Anshu Pandey from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have
discovered a material that exhibits major properties of superconductivity at ambient temperature
and pressure.
What is Superconductivity?
1. A material is said to be a superconductor if it conducts electricity with nil resistance to the flow
of electrons.
2. Superconductors helps in building very high efficient devices leading to huge energy savings.
Why it matters?
1. Till now, scientists have been able to make materials superconductor only at temperatures much
below zero degree C and hence making practical utility very difficult.
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2. Research on Superconductivity at ambient temperature has been carried out in physics for about
a century.
3. The manuscript of this research has been sent to a journal for publication and the first level of
reviewing by editors has been completed. It is currently undergoing technical review by peer-
reviewers.
4. If this turns out to be successful, it would be the greatest work done in India since the discovery
of the Raman effect.
About the material
1. The material that exhibited superconductivity is in the form of nanosized films and pellets made
of silver nanoparticles embedded in a gold matrix.
2. However, silver and gold independently do not exhibit superconductivity.
3. Two of the most important properties of superconductivity are diamagnetism and zero
resistance. These two were seen in the studied material.
4. It shows that the material becomes superconducting below a certain temperature (286 K or
13°C). And it can stay in superconductivity mode up to 70°C.
Source: The Hindu
Project MANAV
What is Project MANAV?

1. ‘MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative’ is a project for mapping every tissue of the human body to help
better understand the roles of tissues and cells linked to various diseases.
2. The comprehensive map of the human body, every tissue accounted for, will be created from all
available scientific literature.
3. The programme will seek to provide better biological insights through physiological and
molecular mapping, develop disease models through predictive computing, and allow for a holistic
analysis and finally drug discovery.
4. The aim of the project is to understand and capture human physiology in two stages - Normal
stage and Disease stage.
Who launched the project?
1. Recently the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Union Ministry of Science and
Technology launched the Project MANAV.
2. DBT has invested Rs 13 crore, shared between the two institutions in Pune — National Centre for
Cell Science and Indian Institute of Science, Education, and Research.
How it will be created?
1. A MANAV team would be set up, and it will encourage colleges and universities to register as
teams.
2. Students and research scholars of graduation and above in the fields of biology and related
fields can sign up for the project.
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Why it matters?
1. Collated data can be useful for future researchers and clinicians and drug developers, who
handle human bodies in disease conditions.
2. The platform will also impart key skills to the student community in reading scientific literature
on individual tissues and perform annotation and curation.
3. Such a database will come in handy in tracing causes of disease, understanding specific
pathways and ultimately decoding how the body’s disease stage is linked to tissues and cells.
4. The teams will also study any potent elements or molecules that have never been used in the
form of drugs, to target specific cells or tissues.
Source: The Indian Express.
Microbots
1. Microbots are robots that are the size of a speck of dust.

2. Thousands fit side-by-side on a single silicon wafer similar to those used for computer chips.
Applications of Microbots
1. They could crawl into cell phone batteries and clean and rejuvenate them.
2. They might be a boon to neural scientists, burrowing into the brain to measure nerve signals.
3. Millions of them in a petri dish could be used to test ideas in networking and communications.
Technology used in Microbots
1. The new robots take advantage of the same basic technology as computer chips.
2. Scientists developed a technique to put layers of platinum and titanium on a silicon wafer.
3. When an electrical voltage is applied, the platinum contracts while the titanium remains rigid,
and the flat surface bends.
4. The bending became the motor that moves the limbs of the robots, each about a hundred atoms
thick.
5. The robots are made using conventional silicon technology
6. Sensors are incorporated to measure temperature or electrical pulses.
7. The robots run on a fraction of a volt and consume only 10 billionths of a watt.
Challenges
1. For robots injected into the brain, lasers would not work as the power source. Magnetic fields
might be an alternative.
Source: The Hindu
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Launch of Scorpene Class Submarine – VELA
1. VELA, the fourth Scorpene class submarine constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
(MDL) for the Indian Navy was launched.
2. Presently Eight Warships and five submarines are under construction at MDL.
3. MDL is one of India’s leading shipyards with a capacity to meet the requirements of the Indian
Navy.
4. The Scorpene class of submarines can undertake multifarious tasks typically undertaken by any
modern submarine which include anti-surface as well as anti-submarine warfare.
About Scorpene Class Submarine:
1. The Scorpene-class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines developed by
the M/s Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France.
2. Under a technology transfer agreement, MDL will manufacture the submarines for Indian Navy.
Source: PIB
International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT)
1. The automotive industry is the sunshine industry in India contributing to over 7.5% to country's
GDP.
2. Government of India has huge focus to facilitate and grow this industry.
3. ICAT is an important element of the automotive sector, with its world-class infrastructure and
domain expertise providing services in development, testing, validation and homologation.
4. The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), Manesar is located in the northern
automotive hub of India.
5. It is a leading world class automotive testing, certification and R&D service provider under the
aegis of NATRiP (National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project), Government of
India.
6. Creation of new automotive test centres in the country under NATRIP project, is an important
step forward by the Government to support the needs of the automotive industry in the backdrop of
tightening regulatory framework and technology shift driven by market forces.
7. ICAT aims at knowledge sharing and dissemination on important topics like Power Train,
Emission, HEV and EV technology, NVH, Crash, Lighting, Inspection & Certification and Fatigue.
8. India moves towards adopting complete electric mobility by 2030.
9. ICAT intends to eventually transform it into an automotive product development centre.
10. ICAT has started undertaking advanced industry sponsored R&D projects in the areas of
frontier technologies like use of Artificial Intelligence and robotics.
11. ICAT also aims to emerge as a leading R&D centre in Asia, working together with the
automotive industry in developing state-of-the-art technologies.
Source: PIB
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Chandrayaan-2
1. Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar mission.

2. The Chandrayaan-2 weighs around 3,290 kg, according to ISRO.
Objectives
1. It would orbit around the moon and carry out remote sensing of the moon.
2. The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental
abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice.
Components
1. Chandrayaan-2 is a fully-indigenous mission that comprises three modules — an Orbiter, a
Lander named ‘Vikram’, and a Rover named ‘Pragyan’.
2. The Orbiter and the Lander will be stacked together as an integrated module, while the Rover will
be housed inside the Lander.
3. Once the Orbiter reaches the 100 km lunar orbit, the Lander will separate from it and ISRO will
carry out a controlled descent at a specific site close to lunar South Pole and deploy the Rover.
4. The lunar South Pole is believed to contain ice and other minerals.
5. The six-wheeled Rover will move around the landing site in semi-autonomous mode as decided
by the ground commands.
6. The instruments on the rover will observe the lunar surface and send back data, which will be
useful for analysis of the lunar soil.
GSLV MK-III
1. It will be launched on board a GSLV-MkIII rocket.
2. The GSLV-MkIII is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle that has been designed to carry four-
tonne class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
3. The Chandrayaan-1 mission was launched on board a PSLV.
4. All the modules are getting ready for Chandrayaan-2 launch during July 2019, with an expected
Moon landing in September 2019.
5. NASA is planning to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024, while China reportedly plans to build
a scientific research station on the lunar South Pole within the next decade.
Source: The Hindu, PIB
Dengue Vaccine
1. Recently the Dengvaxia vaccine for dengue disease was approved by the US Food & Drug
Administration (US-FDA).
2. Dengvaxia ran into trouble two years ago when the Philippines had to suspend a school
vaccination programme following several casualties.
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About the Dengvaxia vaccine:

1. Dengvaxia is basically a live, attenuated dengue virus.
2. An attenuated virus is a virus that retains its properties of triggering an immune response in the
body but its ability to lead to disease is compromised.
3. However, Dengvaxia provides persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who
had a prior infection of dengue disease.
4. Therefore US-FDA approved vaccination of Dengvaxia is only for persons who were previously
infected by the disease.
Need for vaccine
1. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 400 million dengue
virus infections occur around the world.
2. Among these, around 5 lack people suffer from dengue hemorrhagic fever, which means an
attack of the same virus multiple times.
3. Dengue hemorrhagic fever causes about 20,000 deaths, primarily among children.
Dengue in India
1. In India, around 90,000 dengue cases were reported till 2018 with 144 deaths.
2. India is among the dengue-endemic countries.
3. Drug Controller General of India haven’t allowed the vaccine to be marketed in India.
4. The vaccine would have to undergo phase III clinical trials (that establish safety and efficacy of a
drug) on Indian subjects, to get approval in India.
DRDO Successfully Conducts Flight Test of ABHYAS
1. Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight test of
ABHYAS from the Interim Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha.
2. It is a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) drone.
3. The flight test was tracked by various RADARS & Electro Optic Systems and proved its
performance in a fully autonomous waypoint navigation mode.
4. The configuration of ABHYAS is designed on an in-line small gas turbine engine and uses
indigenously developed MEMS-based navigation system for its navigation and guidance.
About DRDO
1. It is an agency of the government, it is charged with the military's R&D, headquartered in New
Delhi. It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
2. It is engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics,
armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval
systems, DRDO is India's largest and most diverse research organisation.
Source: PIB
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Artificial Bio Organs

1. In order to strengthen Indo-Australian Cooperation and achieve the development of the 3D
printing industry in both the countries, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) has recently
organized a one-day workshop on Organ Bio Printing.
2. 3D Bio-printing is an innovative technology that covers all medical disciplines and offers new
opportunities in diagnostics and therapy.
3. It has an immense application from diagnostic visualization to surgical planning, patient-specific
models provide an added value for patients and physicians.
About AMTZ
1. AMTZ is one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world with diverse materials and diverse
applications.
2. It has also launched a new initiative - Bio Harmonised Aids for Rehabilitation and Treatment
(BHARAT), to develop at least 10 organs by 3D Bioprinting.
About 3D bio-printing
1. Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing process where biomaterials such as cells and growth
factors are combined to create tissue-like structures that imitate natural tissues.
2. The technology uses a material known as bio-ink to create these structures in a layer-by-layer
manner. The technique is widely applicable to the fields of medicine and bioengineering.
3. Recently, technology has even made advancements in the production of cartilage tissue for use
in reconstruction and regeneration.
Source: PIB
Artificial Life
1. Scientists have created a living organism whose DNA is entirely human-made.

2. It is a new form of life and a milestone in the field of synthetic biology.
3. Researchers have rewritten the DNA of the bacteria Escherichia coli, fashioning a synthetic
genome four times larger and far more complex than any previously created.
4. The bacteria are alive, though unusually shaped and reproducing slowly. But their cells operate
according to a new set of biological rules, producing familiar proteins with a reconstructed genetic
code.
5. Recoding DNA also allow scientists to program engineered cells so that their genes won’t work if
they escape into other species.
Its application include
a) Creation of organisms that produce novel medicines or other valuable molecules, as living
factories.
b) These synthetic bacteria also may offer clues as to how the genetic code arose in the early
history of life.
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c) Many companies today use genetically engineered microbes to make medicines like insulin or
useful chemicals like detergent enzymes. A microbe with synthetic DNA might be made immune to
attacks from viral outbreaks.
Encourage citizen science
1. Science advances by making discoveries and developing new ideas.

2. The only idea of obtaining scientific results by scientists in academic settings and training is not
adequate for the new information age of Big Data, crowd-sourcing, and synthetic biology.
3. The hypothesis testing approach made sense in an era of information scarcity. New models are
now needed to supplement the traditional scientific method.
4. Our scientific institutions need to implement new ways of developing and transmitting
knowledge.
5. Our institutions of science need to adapt to the reality that informally trained individuals are just
as able to contribute to our knowledge of the world as those with formal academic training.
6. These “citizen scientists” face many barriers that institutionally funded individuals take for
granted.
7. Scientific institutions need to engage with the external community recognizing that knowledge
exists both in the institution and the community as well.
8. Creative experimentation and asking unfamiliar questions are as important as funding and
infrastructure.
9. Technology has made it possible to conduct even big science by operating on a small scale.
10. The promise of citizen science is that if you can make a task small and simple enough for
someone to do it in his or her leisure time, you can aggregate a lot of talent.
11. Ordinary citizens can help transform a modest PhD project into a path-breaking global science
initiative.
Citizen Science Initiatives
1. Galaxy Zoo, the pioneering online citizen science project, became successful because the
academic scientists involved in the project overcame their inclination to keep their discoveries
private until they were ready to publish.
2. Earth-watch Institute India is a leader in implementing the citizen science concept. Their
volunteers have taken part in biodiversity enumeration, collection of data on pollinators and studies
related to lake conservation in Bengaluru.
3. The U.S.-based Citizen Science Alliance is nurturing new citizen science projects in disciplines
ranging from data engineering to oceanography. The University of Oxford, Johns Hopkins
University and the University of Minnesota, amongst others, are part of this alliance.
Way Forward
1. It is time that our scientific institutions take the lead in collaborative learning and knowledge
production as part of a larger reform process.
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2. They shouldn't just focus within their own scientific community and discipline but look at the
larger external community.
Source: The Hindu
RISAT-2B
About Radar Imaging Earth Observation Satellite (RISAT)

1. The RISAT series is the first all-weather earth observation satellites from ISRO.
2. Previous ISRO satellites relied primarily on regular remote-sensing or optical imaging satellites,
which work like a light-dependent camera. It cannot perceive hidden or surreptitious objects on the
ground and also gets hampered by cloud cover.
3. RISAT satellites are equipped with an active sensor, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR), can
sense or ‘observe’ Earth in a special way from space- day and night, rain or cloud.
4. The all-weather seeing feature is crucial for security forces and disaster relief agencies.
5. ISRO orbited its first two radar satellites in 2009 – RISAT-1 and in 2012 – RISAT- 2.
6. RISAT-2B is to be followed by RISAT-2BR1, 2BR2, RISAT-1A, 1B, 2A and so on, at least 6 RISAT
series satellites would be launched in 2019 alone.
Reasons for the delay
1. A radar imaging satellite is complex to assemble. Interpreting its images is equally complex.
2. ISRO took almost 10 years to realize RISAT-1. It sends much heavier data than plain remote
sensing satellites.
3. However, India has almost kept pace with the world with radar satellites. Worldwide, quite a few
countries have planned to launch similar satellites.
Applications of the RISAT-1
1. In India, RISAT imaging has been used for crop estimation because the main crop growing
season of Kharif is in May-September when it rains and gets cloudy.
2. The data has been extensively used for forestry, soil, land use, geology and during floods and
cyclone.
Source: The Hindu
Units of measurement
1. The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) at the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures (BIPM) has unanimously adopted the resolution to redefine four of the
seven base units.
2. The units redefined are- kilogram (SI unit of weight), Kelvin (SI unit of temperature), mole (SI unit
of amount of substance), and ampere (SI unit of current).
3. It has enabled scientists and researchers to base the SI units entirely on fundamental properties
of nature, which will ensure their refinement and improvement in the future.
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4. The fundamental constants are invariants of time and space and replace the artifact based
units.
5. It also opened up a new era for the quantum world by linking all seven base units to
fundamental constants/quantum standards.
6. The new SI is being implemented worldwide from 20th May 2019 i.e. the World Metrology Day.
Implementation in India
1. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research - National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) introduced
redefined SI Units to the nation in terms of constant of nature.
2. As a national responsibility and keeping in view of the importance and recognition of new
revision of SI, the CSIR-NPL has also prepared documents on following aspects
a) NPL Policy on Metrological Traceability.
b) Recommendations on the proposed changes to be incorporated in the National Council of
Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
c) Recommendations on the proposed changes to be incorporated in syllabi of metrology courses.
3. CSIR-NPL also published a book entitled, “Redefined SI Units and Glimpses of NPL Metrological
Activities”, to percolate and disseminate the information accommodating details on new changes,
posters, and documents.
Source: PIB
May illness in Kashmir

1. Every year in May, a high number of patients especially children suffer from respiratory diseases.
2. While a common cause is pollen shed by various plants but the spike in illness has often been
attributed to the shedding of fluffy cotton-covered seeds by poplar trees, commonly known as
“Russian poplars”.
About Russian poplars
1. It was introduced in Kashmir in 1982 under a Word Bank-aided social forestry scheme.
2. The tree is a Western American species known as Eastern Cottonwood in the US.
3. People in the valley prefer the “Russian poplar” over the native Kashmiri poplar for its quick
growth in 10-15 years to reach full size compared to 30-40 years for the Kashmiri poplar.
4. Valley today has 16-20 million of the non-Kashmiri species.
5. Used to make wooden boxes for transportation of apples and other fruits from the Valley, poplar
trees are Rs 600-crore industry.
High Court Intervention
1. In 2014, Srinagar residents approached HC and sought the removal of trees.
2. The court banned the sale, purchase, and plantation of the female “Russian poplars” in Srinagar.
3. In 2015, the court directed to chop Russian poplars across Kashmir, saying the health of the
general public is of “paramount importance”.
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4. Following the directive, lakhs of Russian poplars were cut down in various parts of the Valley,
especially Srinagar city.
5. The chopping led to environmentalists calling it a “misinformed decision” based on the wrong
perception.
Expert review
1. Health experts stress that the cotton-like material from the poplars is not an allergen.
2. It is the pollen, not visible to the naked eye, shed by Russian poplars that causes allergy, and in a
relatively small number of people.
3. A study found that the pollen of Russian poplars can cause allergic reactions in less than 20% of
the population.
4. It also found that the biggest causative agent for respiratory diseases is dust that can affect
92.7% of the population.
International Relations
India’s Engagement in the Indian Ocean
1. Indian Navy recently engaged in a series of bilateral exercises with regional navies in the Indian
Ocean to demonstrate resolve to preserve operational leverage in India’s near seas.
2. The exercises include Indian - Australian warships drills in the Bay of Bengal, anti-submarine
exercise with the U.S. Navy near Diego Garcia, Varuna joint navy exercise with French Navy,
participation in a ‘group sail’ with warships from Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. and fleet
review in Qingdao, China.
3. It is India’s response to the rapid expansion of China’s naval footprint in the Indian Ocean.
What is the need for such engagements?
1. Beyond commercial investments in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, China has established a military
outpost in Djibouti, a key link in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
2. To gain regional prominence, Sri Lanka has positioned itself as a facilitator of joint regional
endeavors, expanding engagement with Pacific powers which includes the Australian Navy and the
U.S. Navy.
3. With China’s assistance, Pakistan too is becoming an increasingly potent actor in the northern
Indian Ocean, a key region of Indian interest.
4. China has also been instrumental in strengthening the navies of Bangladesh and Myanmar, both
increasingly active participants in regional security initiatives.
5. In these circumstances, India has had little option but to intensify its own naval engagements in
South Asia.
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How important are partnerships for India?

1. As a capable regional maritime force, the Indian Navy has played a prominent role in the fight
against non-traditional challenges in the Indian Ocean.
2. Its contribution to the counter-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief (including in cyclone-hit Mozambique) have been substantial.
3. However, the paucity of assets and capacity has forced the Navy to seek partners willing to
invest resources in joint security endeavors.
4. China has a strong presence in West Asia and the east coast of Africa, where most of China’s
energy and resource shipments originate.
5. Chinese investments in port infrastructure in Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Mozambique have
grown at a steady pace, and China’s Navy has sought to expand its presence in the western Indian
Ocean.
6. In such a scenario, partnerships are vital to the Indian Navy’s other key undertaking and deterring
Chinese undersea deployments in the India Ocean.
7. India is also deepening its own regional engagement by seeking naval logistical access to
French bases in Reunion and Djibouti, where the second phase of ‘Varuna’ will be held later.
8. Even recent bilateral exercises have focussed on under-sea surveillance and anti-submarine
warfare to restrict China’s strategic ambitions.
Why has China scaled down its naval presence?
In the recent past, China has decreased its naval presence in the Indian ocean. The reasons can be
1. An outcome of Wuhan summit of 2018, which is believed to have put India and China on a
collaborative path.
2. India’s silence on China’s continuing aggression in the South China Sea, and Indian warships
being sent for the Chinese fleet review in Qingdao do suggest a conciliatory stance.
3. It is also anticipated that the Chinese navy is on a quest to master undersea ‘quieting’
technologies and its new submarines are stealthier than ever.
4. China is also cautious of not letting its growing naval power turn detrimental to the cause of
promoting the BRI.
5. India’s refusal to participate in the BRI may have also prompted China to rethink its economic
and military strategies in the Indian Ocean.
Where does India stand?
1. Despite improvements in bilateral and trilateral naval engagements, India hasn’t succeeded in
leveraging partnerships for strategic gains.
2. India’s power-equation with China remains skewed in favor of the latter as the former is reluctant
to militarise the grouping and to expand naval operations in the Western Pacific.
3. India’s engagements in the Indian Ocean reveal a tactically proactive but strategically defensive
mindset.
Source: The Hindu
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BIMSTEC
Who are invited for PM Modi swearing-in?

1. Recently the leaders from the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation) countries, Kyrgyz Republic and Mauritius are invited for the swearing-in
ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
2. Last time, Modi had invited the SAARC leaders, and then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s attendance
had raised hopes of a new beginning in the bilateral ties.
3. This time, SAARC’s exclusion is clearly aimed at keeping Pakistan out of India’s engagement
with its neighbours.
Which are the reasons for the invitation?
1. It is a carefully calibrated diplomatic move that signals a major outreach to India’s
neighbourhood from the Bay of Bengal to Central Asia, as well as the Indian diaspora across the
world.
2. India is displaying an outreach to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), by inviting the
leader from the Kyrgyz Republic, which is also head of SCO.
3. SCO has China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan as members. India
became a member along with Pakistan in 2017 and wants to leverage its membership to advance
its strategic objectives — counter terrorism and connectivity.
4. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who was also the chief guest at the Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas in January 2019, is one of the most well-placed People of Indian Origin in the world.
5. Since Modi has invested diplomatic capital in outreach to the Indian diaspora since 2014, this
invite is seen as a natural choice.
6. The key message is the outreach to BIMSTEC, which includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan, besides India.
How did interest shift from SAARC to BIMSTEC?
1. India’s engagement with BIMSTEC rose from the backdrop of SAARC. BIMSTEC had existed for
almost two decades but has been largely ignored.
2. It was formed in 1997, in an effort to integrate the region, originally with Bangladesh, India, Sri
Lanka and Thailand, and later included Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.
3. In October 2016, after the Uri attack, India gave a renewed push for the grouping alongside the
BRICS summit in Goa, which also hosted an outreach summit with BIMSTEC leaders. In November
2016, the SAARC summit was boycotted by India, which was scheduled in Islamabad.
4. India had long felt that the vast potential of SAARC was being under-utilised and opportunities
were being lost due to either a lack of response and/or an obstructionist approach from Pakistan.
5. Suddenly, BIMSTEC had emerged as a regional platform where five SAARC countries could
gather and discuss sub-regional cooperation.
6. The fourth BIMSTEC summit was held in Kathmandu in September 2018. The outcome was
considered quite comprehensive, spanning from blue economy to counter terrorism.
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7. However, the SAARC summit has only been postponed, not cancelled, the possibility of revival
remains. The success of BIMSTEC does not render SAARC pointless; it only adds a new chapter in
regional cooperation in South Asia.
Why the region matters?
1. The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world. Over one-fifth (22%) of the world’s population
live in the seven countries around it, and they have a combined GDP close to $2.7 trillion.
2. Despite economic challenges, all these seven countries have been able to sustain average
annual rates of economic growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016.
3. The Bay also has vast untapped natural resources. One-fourth of the world’s traded goods cross
the Bay every year.
4. BIMSTEC, which now includes five countries from South Asia and two from ASEAN, is a bridge
between South Asia and Southeast Asia. It includes all the major countries of South Asia, except
Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
What are at stake for India?
1. India has a lot at stake, as the region's largest economy. BIMSTEC connects not only South and
Southeast Asia, but also the ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
2. For India, it is a natural platform to fulfil key foreign policy priorities of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and
‘Act East’.
Regional Connectivity
1. One key reason for engagement is in the vast potential that is unlocked with stronger
connectivity.
2. Almost 300 million people, or roughly one-quarter of India’s population, live in the four coastal
states adjacent to the Bay of Bengal (Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal).
3. About 45 million people, who live in landlocked Northeastern states, will have the opportunity to
connect via the Bay of Bengal to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, opening up possibilities in
terms of development.
Strategic Perspective
1. The Bay of Bengal, a funnel to the Malacca Straits, has emerged a key theatre for an increasingly
assertive China in maintaining its access route to the Indian Ocean.
2. China has undertaken a massive drive to finance and develop infrastructure in South and
Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative in almost all BIMSTEC countries, except Bhutan
and India.
3. As China mounts assertive activities in the Bay of Bengal region, with increased submarine
movement and ship visits in the Indian Ocean, it is in India’s interest to consolidate its internal
engagement among the BIMSTEC countries.
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India – Taiwan Relationship
1. The new government in India should put Taiwan on its diplomatic priority list.
2. However, it seems to be too big and risky idea, it might offend Chinese political sensitivities. But
productive engagement with Taiwan is not about abandoning India’s stand on “One-China” policy.
3. India has been rather careful in respecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
4. India must not deny itself the benefits of engaging Taiwan within the framework of One-China
policy.
5. Most major nations have significant cooperation with Taiwan without extending diplomatic
recognition.
6. India has too many self-imposed constraints on its Taiwan policy. It is now time to lift many of
them. India needs to end the traditional political neglect of the Taiwan relationship.
Indian-Taiwan trade
1. India has established a formal channel of contact in the mid-1990s, since then there has been
steady progress in the relationship.
2. Annual bilateral trade has reached $7 billion in 2018 and could rise to $20 billion in the next few
years.
3. There has been a rise in Taiwan’s investments in India and a steady growth in exchanges
between the two societies.
4. The NDA government has taken steps to enhance the relationship. These include the
upgradation of the bilateral investment agreement, promotion of major Taiwanese investments,
expanding parliamentary exchanges and facilitating track-two dialogues on regional issues.
Need of fresh look at the Taiwan relationship
Geopolitics
1. The three-way political compromise between US, China and Taiwan crafted in the 1970s appears
to be breaking down, due to rising China’s regional assertiveness, the threat of forceful
reunification of Taiwan and China’s pressure tactics against Taipei.
2. The USA has determined to strengthen ties with Taiwan to push-back China.
3. The USA has been reinforcing its security commitment to Taiwan, by sending its naval ships
through the Taiwan Straits more frequently than before.
4. The triangular relations between the US, China and Taiwan over the last four decades have
undermined the strategic significance of Taiwan which is spread across the major sea lines of
communication in the Western Pacific and China.
5. Taiwan sits in the key position of the geopolitics in East Asia, and it will have significant
consequences for India’s Act East Policy and its emerging role in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Geo-Economics
1. The trade war between the US and China is compelling Taiwan to accelerate its plans to move its
large manufacturing bases away from China to Southeast Asia and India.
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2. Before the US-China trade conflict intensified, Taiwan announced the “New Southbound Policy”
in 2016. The objective is to strengthen ties with the 10 countries of the ASEAN, Australia, New
Zealand and India.
3. The structure of industrial production in East Asia is undergoing a profound transformation
because of the trade war between the US and China, which has given a great opportunity for India
to boost its manufacturing sector.
4. For the government’s agenda of promoting industrial production and creating jobs in India, the
Taiwan connection with its impressive small and medium enterprises is more than opportune.
Talent and Technology
1. New issues have emerged for India to promote global access to India’s professional talent, but
Taiwan has embarked on a big mission to attract skilled workers.
2. There has been declining birth rate and growing emigration from Taiwan.
3. The industry, education, and technology development in Taiwan could provide new opportunities
for Indian engineers and scientists. At present, there are barely 2,000 Indians working in Taiwan.
Way Forward
1. India can push for an agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation with Taiwan.
2. The synergy in human resources provides the basis for massive collaborations between the
universities, research institutions and technology enclaves in the two countries.
3. Expanding the engagement with Taiwan should not be seen as tactical game but should be an
important part of India’s effort to connect with all parts of China which is important for India’s
future.
UN designates Masood Azhar as global terrorist
1. Masood Azhar is the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad, a terrorist organisation responsible for terror
attacks including the latest Pulwama attack .
2. He was listed as a designated terrorist by the UN Security Council 1267 Committee.
What is the significance of this move for India?
1. It is a victory for India’s decade-old diplomatic battle at the UNSC.
2. The listing would mean a travel ban, arms embargo and asset freeze on Azhar.
3. This demonstrated the international community’s resolve to fight against terrorism and its
enablers.
4. This is in accordance with India’s position and in line with the information that India has shared
with the members of the Sanctions Committee regarding terrorist activities of Masood Azhar and
the JeM.
5. It will further India’s efforts in international forums to ensure that terrorist organisations and their
leaders are brought to justice.
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Who else has helped in this move?

1. The P-3 or group of three permanent UNSC members, the U.S., the U.K. and France, had co-
sponsored a listing request at the Committee after the Pulwama attack that killed over 40 security
personnel.
2. U.S. circulated a draft resolution to sanction Azhar among the UNSC members, i.e., outside the
1267 Committee
3. This was done to pressure China into either supporting the listing or risk being seen as
supporting terror.
4. The listing was a result of diplomacy by many partners and took concerns from all countries on
board.
5. U.S. was key to pushing it through, aided by the U.K. and France, while Indonesia played an
important role as the Chairperson of the UN Security Council.
Which were the reasons mentioned for listing?
1. The reasons for listing did not mention the Pulwama attack of February 14 for which the JeM
had claimed responsibility.
2. The reasons for designating Azhar as a terrorist included:
a. Support for the JeM since its founding
b. Being associated with the al-Qaeda by recruiting for them and
c. Participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities
or supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material.
d. It also pointed to his role in recruiting fighters in Afghanistan.
3. The JeM itself was sanctioned by the 1267 Committee in 2001.
Why was Pulwama not mentioned?
1. Pulwama happened to be the latest act of terror .
2. The Security Council had condemned the Pulwama attack and asked all states, without naming
any, to cooperate with India and combat threats to international peace.
3. The designation was not based on a specific incident but on the basis of evidence shared with
members of the 1267 Sanctions Committee linking Masood Azhar to terrorism.
Source: The Hindu
Quest for a Military footprint
1. In an annual report, the US Defence Department has pointed out China’s vigorous quest for
foreign military bases, including in Pakistan.
2. India is closely tracking the expansion of China’s military footprint in the Subcontinent and
beyond in the Indian Ocean.
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What are India’s responses?

1. India is countering the potential threats from China’s military bases in its immediate
neighborhood.
2. It is also strengthening military partnerships with its friends and partners to balance China.
3. India is emulating China’s quest for a foreign military presence, even beyond the Indian Ocean
region.
Why China and India are competing for foreign military bases?
1. It is not merely an extension of their rivalry but a moment in their overall political evolution as
modern states.
2. In the past, both India and China demanded the western powers withdraw from their military
bases in Asia and the Indian Ocean.
3. It was a part of the anti-colonial and anti-imperial framework of Chinese and Indian foreign
policies.
4. Later both countries began to adapt to the realities of international setup.
5. They began to see the question of foreign military bases not through the lens of ideology but of
security interests.
6. Today, China is already a great power and India is rising, slowly but certainly.
7. As China’s economic interests begin to span the entire globe, it is trying to secure them
eventually through its own military means.
8. India’s quest for foreign military bases is very similar to that of China.
9. India’s growth and the globalized economy is now close to $3 trillion and Delhi’s political
ambition is to raise it to $5 trillion in the next five years.
10. India’s security imperatives are no longer limited to its borders and it needs to secure its widely
dispersed interests with a forward military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
11. However, India lags behind China in the structuring of a purposeful policy on foreign military
bases and the creation of organizational structures to implement it.
Where will China set up its military bases?
1. China’s advancement of projects such as the ‘One Belt, One Road’ Initiative (OBOR) will probably
drive military overseas basing through a perceived need to provide security for OBOR projects.
2. China will seek to establish additional military bases in countries with which it has a
longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests.
3. Pakistan is undoubtedly China’s closest political and military partner.
4. China’s military bases and strategic facilities in Pakistan would perform a number of functions
ranging from hosting PLA Navy warships to China’s satellite tracking.
How is India dealing with it?
1. Gwadar port in Iran is a part of India’s military planning for the future.
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2. In other places also where it has some political influence such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives,
India is contesting and limiting the nature and scope of Chinese military activities.
4. India has also signed agreements with the US and France for mutual peacetime use of military
bases.
4. This signals that India is making its armed forces interoperable with its friends and partners.
5. Japan and Australia are also seeking to sign a similar agreement with India.
6. India is further seeking access to military facilities in a number of countries.
Masood Azhar: The changed stance of China
1. China has finally changed its position after years of resistance to list Masood Azhar as a global
terrorist.
2. Masood Azhar is the founder of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
3. The listing will lead to a travel ban, an arms embargo on him and freezing of his assets.
Earlier attempts
1. Earlier attempts to add him to the United Nations blacklist under the 1267 Committee had failed.
2. Beijing had put a hold on the process saying the issue should be resolved through consultations.
3. After the February 14 Pulwama attack, which killed at least 40 Indian security personnel, France,
the United Kingdom, and the United States co-sponsored a new listing application.
4. This was also blocked by China.
Reasons for China’s earlier opposition
1. The main reason for China’s opposition to Azhar’s terror designation was the Pakistan factor.
2. Islamabad has robust economic and strategic ties with Beijing.
3. China is also investing billions of dollars in Pakistan to build an ambitious economic corridor,
connecting Kashgar in western China to Pakistan’s Gwadar, a port city on the Arabian Sea.
Reasons for change in China’s position now
1. First, both India and China have manifested their desire to deepen bilateral ties despite the
structural problems they face.
2. India preferred to stay engaged with China through an informal summit in Wuhan in April last
year.
3. This summit was held in the backdrop of the Doklam stand-off between India-China armies and
Beijing’s repeated hold on Azhar as well as its opposition to India’s Nuclear Suppliers Group
membership.
4. China had shown in recent past that it is ready to do business with India even overlooking
Islamabad's sensitivities.
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5. China also dropped its opposition to adding Pakistan to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
greylist.
Other factors like U.S. pressure and internal problems
1. Second, the Azhar issue has cast shadows on China’s commitment to fighting terrorism.
2. Jaish has been an internationally designated terrorist outfit.
3. Its role in multiple terrorist attacks in India has been well established.
4. China’s continued hold on his listing had weakened internationally its position against terror.
5. China has its own terror problem. The deradicalization camps it is running in Xinjiang has
triggered international criticisms, particularly from the U.S.
6. U.S. distributed a draft resolution at the U.N. Security Council outside the 1267 Committee to ban
Azhar.
7. If the resolution is put to vote, China would be left with a difficult choice — either to back it or use
its precious veto power, further isolating itself among global peers.
8. Third, it didn’t have to completely abandon Pakistan, its all-weather friend.
9. The original listing application, which France, the U.K., and the U.S. had moved had a reference to
the Pulwama terror attack.
10. But that reference was removed from the application at China’s insistence.
11. This is in line with Pakistan’s Kashmir narrative that terror activities in the Valley are an
indigenous uprising and not controlled by any foreign player.
12. The official listing talks about Azhar’s ties with Jaish and al-Qaeda but has no reference to his
role in Kashmir violence.
13. This was the compromise that India had to make to get Azhar listed.
Source: The Hindu
Commerce Ministry to Boost Trade with African Countries
The Commerce Ministry and Indian High Commissions and Embassies of eleven African countries
arranged an interaction with the Indian business community in Africa.
Trade with Africa
1. India’s total trade with the African region during 2017-18 was USD 62.69 billion (8.15% of India’s
total trade with the World).
Opportunities in Africa
1. African countries present immense opportunities for India since it is the world’s largest land
mass with 54 countries.
2. Population growing to be almost equivalent to that of India.
3. Huge mineral resources, oil wealth, a youthful population, falling poverty levels and increasing
consumption patterns are favorable factors.
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Indian Diaspora in Africa

1. The Indian community in Africa is playing a vital role in all fields like politics, business, and
education.
2. As per the latest available estimates, the current strength of the Indian Diaspora in the African
countries is 2.8 million.
3. Indian Diaspora in Africa constitutes 9.11% of the total Diaspora of India.
Commerce Ministry sought suggestions from Indian Business Community in Africa in order to
formulate a strategy to boost India-Africa Trade & Investment.
Requirements of the Indian Business Community in African countries are
1. Improving the Line of Credit system and developing a facility for affordable and competitive
funding.
2. Setting up of Indian Banks/financial institutions in Africa.
3. Enhanced Buyers’ Credit facility for the promotion of trade between the two regions.
4. Reviewing and liberalizing visa policies from both sides.
5. Need for direct flights between India and African countries.
6. Exploring the possibility of rupee trade to address the issue of shortage of dollars in the region.
7. Development of a robust trade dispute settlement mechanism
8. More frequent and structured country/sector specific trade exhibitions in Africa.
9. Establishment of country chapters of FICCI or CII in Africa.
10. Frequent visits of policymakers, chamber of commerce and investors for familiarization with
local business and investment regime for informed decisions
Source: PIB
Endless War in Afghanistan
1. Loya Jirga is a grand assembly of senior politicians and tribal and religious leaders in
Afghanistan, which was held recently.
2. It called for a ceasefire between government troops and Taliban militants and wants to resolve
the 17-year-long conflict.
3. Jirga asked the government to set up a negotiating team with members from the assembly for
talks with the insurgents.
4. It also backed women’s rights; a critical issue being debated by the political class.
5. The Afghan government has also assured of the assembly of honouring proposals if the
ceasefire is mutual.
6. The Taliban immediately shot down the proposal, vowing to be continued attacks through the
Ramzan month.
7. Without the Taliban’s reciprocity, no ceasefire will hold.
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About Taliban militants

1. The group controls half of Afghanistan and has the capacity to strike anywhere, including in the
most fortified of locations.
2. It has also been engaged in direct talks with the U.S. for months, but it hasn’t prevented the
group from carrying out an offensive against the government.
US-Taliban Talks
1. It is primarily focussed on withdrawing foreign (NATO) troops from Afghanistan.
2. The U.S. in return seeks an assurance that Afghanistan will not provide a safe haven to
transnational terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
3. But for an eventual settlement of the Afghan crisis, the government and the Taliban need to talk.
War in Afghanistan
1. The war has been fought since 2002.
2. The government is willing to engage the insurgents, a move which has now been endorsed by
the Loya Jirga as well.
3. But the Taliban, like any other successful insurgent group, wants to prolong the conflict, hoping
that it can weaken the government’s moral and reduce its military strength.
4. The Taliban will change its stand only if it is forced to do so through militarily or pressure.
5. The government lacks the resources to accomplish either. It cannot defeat the Taliban militarily,
as the 17 years of the war suggest.
6. It cannot forge peace on the Taliban’s terms as it would mean endangering whatever few
freedoms the Afghans enjoy right now.
Way Forward
1. This resource deficit can be bridged only with the help of the international community.
2. The US must put pressure on the Taliban to cease hostilities and engage with the Afghan
government.
Source: The Hindu
China, India and Iran deal
Iran has decided to backtrack on its commitments on Iran nuclear accord, in response to U.S.
sanctions.
Background
1. The accord was signed in 2015 by Britain, France, Germany, China, USA, and Russia (P5+1), with
Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear bomb.
2. In return, the United Nations would lift sanctions placed on Iran.
3. In 2018, the US withdrew from the accord pointing that accord did not curtail Iran's ballistic
missile programme or address Iranian involvement in Syria's civil war.
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4. The US imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran.

5. Britain, France, and Germany are determined to show they can compensate for U.S. withdrawal
and protect trade & still prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Current Scenario
1. Iran's economy is dependent on crude exports that are traded in U.S. dollars.
2. Iran was once the largest supplier of crude oil to Europe, but its exports gradually cut off from
European buyers due to sanction.
3. The US also removed the last waiver given to China, India and the other 6 countries recently.
4. European Union promised a trade channel known as INSTEX to bypass American sanctions, but
it has proved complicated, and not yet operational, and may never be able to handle oil sales.
5. Fresh sanctions have resulted in the collapse of Iran’s economy.
Europe’s Plan B
1. China opposes unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iran and asserted to defend the rights of its
companies.
2. India, Iran’s biggest oil client after China, has almost halved its Iran oil purchase. It has also
expressed interest in joining INSTEX to buy Iran's oil.
3. Europe is pushing India and China to do what they can’t.
4. European Union, China, and India are working to find out the solution to import oil from Iran and
save the accord.
The IBSA task list
1. Recently the foreign ministry officials of India – Brazil – South Africa (IBSA) met in Kochi.
2. The central goal of the meeting was to develop a blueprint to rejuvenate IBSA, which is widely
viewed as a unique voice for the Global South.
Key Outcomes of Kochi meet
1. Exchange of views and plans on the need for a strategy to secure SDGs and cement South-South
Cooperation
2. Talks on expanding trade cooperation
3. Enhancing academic collaboration on issues relating directly to the needs of democratic
societies.
Achievements of IBSA
1. The three Foreign Ministers have been meeting regularly to provide coordinated leadership to the
grouping.
2. The IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) has succeeded in implementing
31 development projects in diverse countries.
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3. India has been running an innovative IBSA Visiting Fellows Programme through the Delhi-based
think tank, Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Countries.
Way Forward
1. The idea of IBSA remains valid as the grouping has special responsibilities that cannot be
discharged by BRICS.
2. Strengthening IBSA could increase the effectiveness of BRICS and encourage it to follow a more
balanced approach on key issues of interest to India, Brazil and South Africa.
3. The current endeavors to infuse greater dynamism in IBSA are well-timed, and early convening of
the next summit is the pressing priority.
Background
1. The idea of creating a grouping composed of major democracies of three continents, Asia,
Africa and South America, emerged from the disarray at the end of the 20th century, and the
perceived need for developing countries to forge decisive leadership.
2. IBSA was launched through the Brasilia Declaration in 2003.
3. But, 2011 onwards, BRICS, the larger group comprising IBSA countries, China and Russia, started
to overshadow IBSA.
4. IBSA has been unable, until now, to hold its sixth summit. Nevertheless, a series of events
marking its 15th anniversary, held during 2018-19, have imparted a new momentum to the
endeavor to revitalize IBSA.
5. Partnership of IBSA countries is based on their faith in democracy, diversity, plurality, inclusivity,
human rights and the rule of law. This was reiterated through the IBSA Declaration on South-South
Cooperation, issued in Pretoria in 2018.
6. IBSA remains determined to step up advocacy for reforms of global governance institutions in
multilateral fora.
7. In particular, it is strongly committed to the expansion of the UN Security Council.
Source: The Hindu
Rohingya repatriation
1. Recently, the United Nations said Myanmar to safeguard the right to voluntarily return home of
Rohingya refugees.
2. Rohingya are considered Muslims of colonial-Indian origin by Myanmar and have thus long been
denied proper citizenship rights.
Background
1. Widespread violence and human rights violations as a result of Myanmar military’s crackdown
on Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants led to the Rohingya crisis.
2. An independent investigation by the UN determined that Myanmar’s military chief and other
leaders should be investigated and prosecuted for genocide and crimes against humanity.
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3. Despite the evidence, Myanmar’s leaders, including the Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, refuse
to accept the allegation and acted with much less responsibility.
4. Struggling with the ongoing influx of Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh had sought to block services
from international humanitarian groups as improved conditions could serve as a pull factor.
5. But it changed under public pressure when the mass influx began in August 2017, with many
Bangladeshis recalling the protection and assistance they had received from India in 1971.
6. Failure to reach an understanding between Myanmar and Bangladesh has resulted in refugees
facing restrictions on freedom of movement and rights to obtain employment, education, and
social services.
Attempts to resolve the issue
1. Under pressure from China, in January 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement to
repatriate refugees.
2. Another such attempt has also failed in November 2018, and not a single Rohingya has returned
to Myanmar, due to the absence of conducive environment there.
3. But China and Russia have vetoed action at the UN Security Council, such as an International
Criminal Court referral, targeted sanctions or even a ban on the global arms trade.
Way Forward
1. Myanmar will only agree to create an environment for safe and voluntary return if the costs of
continued defiance become too high to bear.
2. Instead of deporting Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, India can join the international community
as a force for a positive change.
Source: The Hindu
Defence & Internal Security
National security strategy
1. Recently Lt. Gen. (retd) D.S. Hooda drafted a strategy document about national security.
2. On the other hand, a senior member of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) stated that
there exists a national security strategy but not disclosed to the general public.
3. However, doubt persists whether such a strategy is in place or not.
What are issues with India’s national security architecture?
1. There is a need to take a relook at some of India’s key national security institutions and revamp
their functioning.
2. The National Security Council (NSC) set up in 1998 almost never meets, primarily because it is
an advisory body, with the Cabinet Committee on Security being the executive body.
3. The government’s allocation of business rules should be amended to give more power to the
NSC and its subordinate organisations, such as the Strategic Policy Group.
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4. Fundamental structural reforms in national security planning are needed.

5. Constitution of the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) to recommend policy measures to
improve India’s defence capability and preparedness, and national security is in this line.
6. But DPC has been tasked with too many responsibilities but just as an advisory body.
Role of National Security Advisor (NSA)
1. The NSA plays a vital role in national security, but he has no legal powers as per the
government’s allocation of business rules.
2. Over the years, the NSA’s powers have increased, even though he is not accountable to
Parliament.
3. The institution of the NSA requires more accountability and legal formality.
Which are the main themes and recommendations of Hooda document?
1. It is the most comprehensive document of national security in the Indian context.
2. The document offers a comprehensive definition of national security ranging from challenges
posed by new technologies to social unrest to inequality.
3. In India, the national security is referred to in strictly military terms, but this document defines
security in an out-of-the-box and inclusive manner.
Main themes of the document
1. Assuming India’s rightful place in global affairs.
2. Achieving a secure neighbourhood.
3. Peaceful resolution of internal conflicts, protecting our people and strengthening our
capabilities.
Key Recommendations of the document
1. The three services should undertake a comprehensive review of their current and future force
structures to transform the army, navy and air force into an integrated warfighting force.
2. A cultural change in the way the DRDO is currently operating to improve the domestic defence.
Where the Hooda document differs from the current strategy?
1. On emerging national security threats, the document differs with the government’s decision to
set up a Defence Cyber Agency instead of a Cyber Command as was originally recommended.
On Kashmir Issue
2. The document differs with the incumbent government’s muscular policy; the document
recommends that killing terrorist must be an integral part of military operations to ensure that the
state does not descend into chaos.
3. Efforts to counter radicalization need to be taken as killing terrorists is not the primary measure
of conflict resolution.
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4. There is a need to initiate structured programmes that bring together civil society members,
family groups, educationists, religious teachers and even surrendered terrorists in an effort to roll
back radicalization.
Why this document matters?
1. This document is the beginning of a tradition in India of thinking about national security and
strategy more systematically, consistently and comprehensively manner.
2. It recognizes the centrality of people.
3. It states that true security cannot be achieved if large sections of our population are faced with
discrimination, inequality, lack of opportunities, and buffeted by the risks of climate change,
technology disruption, and water and energy scarcity.
Source: The Hindu
Surveillance wars in space
How surveillance in space are conducted (counterspace mission)?

1. The space between 600 km and 36,000 km above the earth has been the playground for such
secret activities.
2. As per the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (USA), revealed the details of
counterspace capabilities of different countries.
Key findings of the report:
1. Satellites have been launched to sidle up to other satellites in the same orbit.
2. Satellites with robotic arms or handles have touched or nudged other satellites in the orbit.
3. Mother (or nesting) spacecraft have gone up to ‘deliver’ baby spy satellites in orbit.
4. Satellites have sneaked up to high perches to see, overhear and sense all that happens in space
and on the ground.
5. In times of war, the intent could even be to capture or disable a rival’s space assets in orbit.
6. There are also concerns over Rendezvous and Proximity operations (RPO) in space.
About RPO:
1. In an RPO event, one country sends a satellite that secretly sits next to one of its own (or
another country’s) orbiting satellites.
2. The motive could be to inspect and assess the target’s nature, eavesdrop on it, or even subvert
its functions.
3. In extreme cases, the target may even be ‘abducted’ or taken control of.
Who are the major participants in the surveillance wars in space?
1. Russia, the U.S., and China, also referred to as the Big Three, are the main players.
2. The new measure of space supremacy lies in counterspace and not so much in planetary
missions and astronauts’ outings.
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3. To gain space supremacy the Big Three have been relentlessly pursuing for decades in
counterspace activities that enable them to rule space militarily, for offense or defense purposes.
Where does India stand in counterspace competition?
1. Mission Shakti, [India’s Anti-Satellite Missile (ASAT)] has earned India a place in an exclusive
club of space defenders.
2. Dangerous space activities are practiced covertly by the Big Three. Compared to such practises,
Mission Shakti is only a small step, though it is a giant leap for India.
What is the evidence for such surveillance activities?
1. Satellites of each of the Big Three has been caught loitering in orbit at different times, and issues
have been raised by respective countries.
2. In 2018, Russian satellite Luch-Olymp was caught lurking too close to and spying on a Franco-
Italian military communications satellite.
3. The U.S. reportedly has its share in RPOs and other acts.
4. Countries are using non-kinetic, electronics and cyber-based methods to prevent satellites of
other countries from spying on their regions.
Source: The Hindu
Varuna Naval Exercise
1. Varuna 19.1 is the upcoming edition which includes participation of the French Navy’s aircraft
carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, FNS Forbin and FNS Provence, the frigate FNS
Latouche-Treville, the tanker FNS Marne and a nuclear submarine.
2. From the Indian side, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, destroyer INS Mumbai, the Teg-class
frigate, INS Tarkash, the Shishumar- class submarine, INS Shankul, and the Deepak- class fleet
tanker, INS Deepak, will be participating in this exercise.
3. The exercise will be conducted in two phases- harbour phase at Goa and the sea phase
comprising exercises across the spectrum of maritime operations.
4. The second part, Varuna 19.2, is scheduled to be held at the end of May in Djibouti.
5. The bilateral naval exercise initiated in 1983 and christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001, form a vital part
of the Indo-French strategic partnership.
6. This exercise exemplifies the strong relations between the two nations
7. This is in line with the Joint Strategic Vision of India-French Cooperation in the Indian Ocean
Region signed in 2018.
8. The Varuna exercise aims at developing interoperability between the two navies and fostering
mutual cooperation by learning from each other’s best practices to conduct joint operations.
9. The exercise underscores the shared interests and commitment of both nations in promoting
maritime security.
Source: PIB
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Gadchiroli naxal attack
15 security personnel died in a landmine attack in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

Nature of the attack
1. This attack occurred despite the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force and State
Reserve Police Force as well as the local police in Gadchiroli and neighbouring Chandrapur district.
2. The perpetrators chose the Maharashtra Foundation Day after the polling in the district to send
this violent message.
3. This shows the audacity of the perpetrators and also the unpreparedness of the security forces.
Concerns raised about the attack
1. Standard operating procedures have been possibly ignored by the forces and police.
2. The polling percentages in both Gadchiroli and neighbouring Chandrapur have risen compared to
the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
3. However, the path of the voter to the polling booth in the naxal-dominated districts is still paved
with disincentives.
4. Most of the police personnel who perished in this latest attack seem to have been local citizens.
5. This shows the inability of security forces deployed in the region to instill a greater level of
confidence among people.
6. India cannot afford to take the challenges of internal security lightly. India must meet the Maoist
challenge in a holistic manner.
Source: The Hindu
Global Military Spending
1. New data from the think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), reveals
the Global military spending and its trends.
2. Total world military expenditure rose to $1,822 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 2.6%
from 2017.
3. The five biggest spenders in 2018 were the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, India, and France,
which together accounted for 60% of global military spending.
4. World military spending in 2018 represented 2.1% of global gross domestic product.
5. In 2018 the USA and China accounted for half of the world’s military spending.
Spending by India
1. India increased its military spending by 3.1% to $66.5 billion.
2. It accounts for 2.5 % of GDP and 3.5% of global spending.
3. Pakistan grew by 11% (the same level of growth as in 2017), to reach $11.4 billion in 2018.
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Mass Surveillance in Past and Future
1. China is often pilloried in the West for the deep surveillance of its people.
2. Latest reports indicate that the Chinese state, harnessing artificial intelligence, will soon have
enough information to rate all its citizens for good behavior.
3. It would make everything from buying a train ticket to getting a credit card difficult, if not
impossible, for those not conforming to rules of conduct set by the state.
Mass Surveillance in the past
1. All countries monitor their citizens.
2. The communist states did it through the 20th century.
3. India’s pre-Independence leaders were relentlessly followed by British intelligence.
4. In the past, surveillance was selective and targeted.
Surveillance by Private Entities
1. It is one thing for citizens to be monitored by the state, but it is quite another to be ‘spied’ upon
by the companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon and apps loaded onto cheap Chinese
smartphones.
2. As one of the largest consumers of data, India is a goldmine for data aggregators.
3. It’s the state’s duty not to make it easy for aggregators to collect data with impunity.
4. India too needs something as strong as the General Data Protection Regulation, which was
adopted by the European Union in 2018, and a willingness to enforce it, to protect the privacy of its
citizens.
Surveillance in the Future
1. In the wake of suicide attacks and bombings worldwide, mass surveillance has assumed a new
urgency.
2. Almost all countries are going China’s way.
3. Tracking 24x7 across places and devices will become the norm for providing safety.
Source: The Hindu
Shortage of Airborne Warning and Control System Aircraft
1. The Balakot air strike was discussed in detail at the recent Air Force Commanders’ conference.
2. Drawing lessons from the Balakot air strike, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has identified a shortage
of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft to provide round-the-clock surveillance
as a major deficiency.
3. The IAF is banking on the soon-to-be-inducted Rafale fighters, the tender currently underway for
a new fighter aircraft and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MK-2 that is being developed.
4. Upgrades to the existing platforms make up for the shortages in the interim but IAF need to get
better propaganda weapons.
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5. Aircraft induction is a long-term measure, in the short term, the IAF has identified AWACS,
Software Defined Radios (SDR) and close-in weapons systems as immediate requirements.
6. However, the process for their procurement is already in advanced stages but it has to further
accelerate.
Advantage Pakistan
1. Pakistan currently has an advantage as they have seven AWACS and could keep one on our side
at all times.
2. The IAF operates three Israeli Phalcon AWACS and two indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning
and Control (AEW&C) system developed by the DRDO but these platforms are not available all the
time.
3. The IAF is now taking the third Netra from DRDO. Separately, a proposal for two more Phalcon
AWACS has been in progress for a long time, it is pending for final approval of the Cabinet
Committee on Security.
Source: The Hindu
Challenges in Internal Security
The challenge in J&K

1. One of the first challenges of the government is to conduct peaceful elections in Jammu &
Kashmir, which has seen unprecedented violence.
2. The assembly was dissolved in last November, and the Election Commission is waiting for the
Home Ministry’s signal to schedule elections in the state.
3. Elections to the Assembly could not be held along with those to Lok Sabha because of concerns
over security, and issues of logistics around the availability of forces.
4. Violence in J&K generally peaks between April and October. Since the security forces killed the
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, the state has been caught in an endless
spiral of protests and violence, with increasingly larger numbers of local youths joining militancy.
5. Around 16 young men had joined the ranks of militants in 2013; this number rose to 88 in 2016,
and to 126 and 191 in 2017 and 2018.
6. The government’s muscular policy in Kashmir has so far not resulted in a reduction of violence.
7. Infiltration from Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir have gone up despite all efforts to
plug the borders. The number of terrorist infiltrators rose from 119 in 2016 to 143 in 2018
8. The increased infiltration was reflected in frequent encounters, in which security forces killed
244 terrorists in the Valley in 2018. The corresponding figure for 2016 was only 135.
9. Security forces have also suffered losses. More than 200 security personnel have been killed in
Kashmir since January 2018, including those targeted in the Pulwama terrorist attack. In 2016, 171
security personnel had died fighting terrorists.
10. The Lok Sabha polls saw the lowest voter turnout in the Valley since 2002, ranging from about
2% in Shopian and Pulwama segments of Anantnag to 34% in Baramulla.
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11. The big tasks of the Home Ministry will be to start engagements that can initiate legitimate
political processes in Kashmir, with increased participation.
12. The Ministry has so far not gone beyond the security-related approach to a cohesive and
comprehensive policy in Kashmir and there is no roadmap for robust political engagement on the
table.
Militancy in North-Eastern Region
1. The other priority area is the Northeast. The government claims to have brought violence down
by 85% since the 1990s and the Naga Peace Accord is yet to be concluded four years after the
signing of the framework agreement.
2. There have been standoffs between NSCN-IM cadres and security forces, recently an MLA of the
regional National People’s Party (NPP) was killed by suspected NSCN militants in Arunachal
Pradesh.
3. The anti-talks faction of ULFA has been significantly weakened but it continues its violent
activities, and it remains firm on staying away from negotiations.
4. The controversy around the National Register for Citizens continues in Assam. The task of
ensuring that no Indian citizen is excluded is huge and complicated, and the Home Ministry is yet to
deliver a streamlined solution.
Consolidating LWE Gains
1. In the next five years, the government will be hoping to make a final push to defeat Left Wing
Extremism (LWE).
2. Despite the intermittent attacks on security forces, the overall violence has come down, in the
last year, the government removed 44 districts from the list of those affected by LWE.
3. Maoist influence in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal has been reduced significantly, but
challenges remain in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
4. The Home Ministry will focus on faster delivery of infrastructure projects such as roads and
mobile phone towers.
5. Ministry data show that in the first phase of a project aimed at improving cell phone connectivity,
2,329 towers were erected in Maoist-affected areas.
6. The government plans to erect another 4,072 towers in the second phase of the project.
7. Government sanctioned 5,422 km of roads in the first phase and 4,544 km have already been
built. Work on the second phase of another 5,411 km at an estimated cost of Rs 10,780 crore, will
begin soon.
8. Maoist activities in some new districts of Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh also
present a challenge to the Home Ministry.
Terrorism
1. The Easter bombings in Sri Lanka show that the Islamic State could have reached close to India.
2. Security agencies have arrested more than 100 individuals since 2014 for alleged association
with the IS.
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3. In August 2018, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) busted an alleged IS module in
Hyderabad, which ended the activities of the terrorist group that began at the end of 2017. Around
20 alleged IS operatives have been arrested since then.
Other Progress
1. Over the past few years, the government has created several new divisions in the Home Ministry,
including those dealing with Women’s Safety, Counter-terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation, and
Cyber and Information Security.
2. These divisions are yet to show substantive results and need more teeth. The Cyber and
Information Security Division was among the worst performers in the last financial year, managing
to spend only 47% of its budget.
Society
Life Expectancy with rising age
What does life expectancy mean?

1. Life expectancy at birth refers to the average number of years an individual is expected to live,
given mortality rates.
2. Life expectancy at every age is higher for females than for males, because of a biological
phenomenon, which confers a higher survival advantage to females over males throughout their
lifetime.
3. Life expectancy declines as age increases.
4. This is consistent with the fact that as one ages, the number of years one is expected to survive
thereafter declines.
Which are the factors affecting Life expectancy?
1. It varies across time horizons based on varying conditions such as war, the spread of epidemics
and environmental conditions.
2. It varies across age cohorts (age groups), given mortality rates.
3. It also differs across space for the same time, depending on variations in geographical,
economic, social and gender factors.
How is Life Expectancy in India different from other countries?
1. According to the last census, Indian life expectancy has merely increased from 60 years in 1992
to 67.9 years in 2012.
2. Despite consistent improvements in life expectancy at birth, India’s life expectancy at birth is still
lower than the global average.
3. However, if one observes India’s life tables for age cohort 0-1, life expectancy does not adhere to
the general global trend.
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4. In India, the life expectancy for females and males at birth (0-1 age) is 69.6 and 66.4 respectively,
it increases to 71.9 and 68.3 years once they attain the age of 1.
5. Clearly, instead of declining, life expectancy is increasing with age in India.
Where it impacts?
1. A new-born in India has a lower probability of surviving in the first year as compared to the
probability of survival after the age of one year.
2. This anomaly has significant implications for overall India’s life expectancy at birth, a key
measure of national well-being.
3. The first-year survival rate brings down the overall average life expectancy of Indians.
4. High infant mortality rates (IMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NNMR) is the reason for historically
low life expectancy at birth in India.
5. In India for every 1000 births around 24 deaths occur in the first month and the other 8 between
28 days to 1 year.
Why India has high NNMR and IMR?
1. National Family Health Survey 4 (2015-16) data show a high incidence of stunting, atrophy and
underweight under-five children (38.4%, 21%, and 35.8% respectively).
2. Factors broadly include immunizable diseases, poor sanitation, and breastfeeding practices.
3. A deeper analysis links these factors to maternal education and state intervention.
4. The former relates to awareness and later to state-administered health supplements,
immunization, and sanitation access.
5. The government has accelerated progress through programs such as Mission Indradhanush,
Swachh Bharat Mission, National Rural Health Mission, and Poshan Abhiyan.
6. Despite these measures, however, the progress has been rather slow.
When can this issue be solved?
1. The impact that interventions focused on the first year of birth can have on the survival of
individuals is profound.
2. Any strategy to raise life expectancy at birth should be aimed at tackling causal factors of IMR
and NNMR by designing an appropriate microstructure of interventions.
3. When such effective interventions are put in place, the issue of low life expectancy at birth can
be solved.
Source: Live Mint
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Fight against Anaemia
Why is Anaemia a public health emergency?

1. India has been able to dramatically reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty from
306 million people in 2011 to 48 million.
2. But a similar trend is not recorded against malnutrition.
3. India has the largest number of malnourished children in the world.
4. In the decade between 2005-06 and 2015-16, stunting declined at the rate of 0.9 percent per
annum.
5. Though anemia among children has declined, still it affects every second child in the country.
6. There has been no perceptible decline in anemia among 15 to 49-year old women; it affects
around 60 percent of them.
What are the government interventions to fight against anemia?
1. National Food Security Act (NFSA), which provides highly subsidized food grains to the poorest
67 percent of the population.
2. Free Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDM) that targets around 100 million students in government
schools.
3. Supplementary nutrition program through the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)
network.
Which are the reasons impeding the fight against anemia?
1. Poverty, gender disparity, poor sanitation, low health, and nutrition service coverage and poor
nutritional intake particularly an iron-deficient diet.
2. The daily consumption of iron-rich dark green leafy vegetables has reduced from 64 percent to
48 percent of the population in the last decade.
3. The NFSA’s focus on wheat and rice has forced millets (which are traditional source for iron and
minerals) out of the market.
4. The government’s iron supplementation program to overcome Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) has
led to only 30 percent of pregnant women consuming iron and folic acid tablets.
1. Food fortification is a largely ignored, yet critical, strategy which has proved an effective,
affordable, scalable and sustainable intervention in many countries.
2. As there are numerous programmes to address malnutrition, fortifying meals have the potential
to reach every segment of the population.
3. Recently, comprehensive regulations and standards have been framed by the FSSAI on
fortification of food.
4. The Women and Child Development and Human Resource Development ministries have issued
advisories to the states to mandatorily use fortified wheat flour and edible oil in ICDS and MDM.
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5. However, given that fortification of these staples is still relatively new in India, traction has been
slow.
6. Rice is the staple for 65 percent of the Indian population, most of whom are located in high
malnutrition burden states.
7. Supply of fortified rice through a network of fair price shops is a cost-effective intervention to
address anemia across all sections of the population.
8. The Department of Food and Public Distribution, facilitated by the NITI Aayog, has recently
launched a centrally sponsored scheme on rice fortification in PDS.
9. The programme is designed to cover 15 districts, initially, but on a meager budget.
10. As per the estimate for a pan-India roll out of rice fortification is around Rs. 2,400 crores (about
1.4 percent of the total food subsidy bill in 2018-19).
11. A successful pan-India scale-up of fortification will depend on many factors -
a)The political will of state governments.
b) Flexibility to allow states to adopt the fortification model to their procurement and distribution
systems.
c) Capacity building of different stakeholders.
d) The FSSAI’s role, its enforcement machinery, and the quality control labs need to be
strengthened.
e) Lastly and most crucially, the sustainability of fortification depends on the regular consumption
of fortified food by the consumers and thus a comprehensive state-specific strategy should be
developed to generate awareness among the consumers.
Women’s representation in Science and Tech
1. According to UNESCO, Women remain considerably under-represented across STEM (Science,

Technology, Engineering and Maths) studies and careers.
2. Globally only 29% of those in science research and development are women, with a low of 19% in
south and west Asia and high of 48% in central Asia.
3. The primary reason is that most young women do not identify themselves with STEM and
assume that these subjects would not align with their desire to be creative and make an impact in
the world.
4. Such a trend would further widen the gender gap.
Way Forward
1. Awareness must be raised about the issues that cause girls to drop out or lose interest in STEM
and arouse excitement about how they can change the world if they engage in it.
2. Teachers and technologists have a responsibility to break the misperception among women.
3. It can be achieved by designing computer science curricula around societal challenges and
giving young women more exposure to female role models.
Source: The Hindu
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Project EQUIP
1. The Ministry of Human Resource Development plans to launch an ambitious ₹1.5 lakh crore
action plan called project EQUIP, to improve the quality and accessibility of higher education over
the next five years.
2. EQUIP stands for the Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme, it is crafted by
ten committees led by experts within the government such as NITI Aayog and principal scientific
advisor.
3. It is being described as the implementation plan for the National Education Policy (NEP), which
will be released shortly, after five years of repeated delays and extensions. The last NEP was
released in 1986, with a revision in 1992.
4. The project will need substantial investments, to the tune of ₹1.5 lakh crore over five years.
5. Given that the last budget only allocated ₹37,461 crore to the higher education department, the
EQUIP project will need to rely on extra-budgetary resources.
6. Centre would mobilise money from the marketplace through the Higher Education Financing
Agency (HEFA).
The ten committees have drafted a strategy for following things
a) Improve access to higher education, especially for underserved communities.
b) Improve the gross enrolment ratio.
c) Improve teaching and learning processes.
d) Build an educational infrastructure.
e) Improve the quality of research and innovation; use technology and online learning tools.
f) Work on accreditation systems, governance structures and financing.
About HEFA
1. It is a joint venture between the HRD Ministry and Canara Bank, set up in 2017, has been tasked
with raising ₹1 lakh crore to finance infrastructure improvements in higher education by 2022.
2. As per the HRD ministry, till January 2019, projects worth ₹30,000 crore have been approved.
Source: The Hindu
Violence Against Women
1. Global estimates published by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that about 1 in 3
(35%) women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.
2. Worldwide as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner.
3. In India and the South-East Asian region, intimate partner violence is the highest at 37.7%.
4. Violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence is a major
public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights.
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Impact of violence against Women

1. The violence can negatively affect a woman’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health,
and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.
2. Intimate partner violence causes serious short-and long-term problems for women and adversely
affect their children besides leading to high social and economic costs for women, their families
and societies.
Reasons
1. Men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have low education, a history of child
maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence against their mothers, harmful use of alcohol,
unequal gender norms, including attitudes such as accepting of violence, and a sense of
entitlement over women.
2. Women are more likely to experience intimate partner violence if they have low education,
exposure to mothers being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and attitudes of accepting
violence, male privilege and women’s subordinate status.
Way Forward
1. WHO together with UN Women and other partners have developed a framework for prevention of
violence against women called Respect which can be used by governments to counter this
menace.
2. Evidence shows that advocacy and empowerment counselling interventions, along with home
visitation are promising in preventing or reducing intimate partner violence against women.
Source: The Hindu
Women in the workforce
What are the challenges faced by Women with respect to livelihood?

1. Securing employment is one of the biggest issues faced by women.
2. The challenges include:
a) Creating more livelihood opportunities in rural and urban areas.
b) Creating incentives to businesses for employing more women.
3. Most women in India are engaged in
a) Subsistence-level work in agriculture in rural areas
b) In low-paying jobs such as domestic service and petty home-based manufacturing in urban
areas.
Unpaid Labour
1. A substantial amount of work done by women is not considered as work, but an extension of
their duties, and is largely unpaid.
2. The incidence and drudgery of this unpaid labor are growing.
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3. This includes unpaid care work such as childcare, elderly care, and household work such as
collecting water.
4. The burden of these activities falls disproportionately on women, especially in the absence of
adequately available or accessible public services.
5. It also encompasses significant chunks of women’s contribution to agriculture, animal
husbandry, and collection of non-timber forest produce on which most of the household production
and consumption is based.
Where do women stand in workforce participation?
1. Currently, the participation of women in the workforce in India is one of the lowest globally.
2. The female labour force participation rate (LFPR) in India fell from 31% in 2011 to 23% in 2017.
This decline has been sharper in rural areas.
3. Among people (25 to 59 years) working as farmers, farm labourers and service workers, nearly a
third are women.
4. The proportion of women among professionals, managers and clerical workers is only about
15% (NSSO, 2011-2012).
Why is there a decline in Women workforce?
1. Rising levels of education for women is one of the reasons.
2. There are other complex sets of factors that include:
a) Low social acceptability of women working outside the household.
b) Lack of access to safe and secure workspaces
c) Widespread prevalence of poor and unequal wages
d) Dearth of decent and suitable jobs.
How are education and work related in the case of women?
1. With better education, women are refusing to do casual wage labour or work in family farms and
enterprises. This behavior may not be gender-specific.
2. A recent study observed a strong negative relationship between a woman’s education level and
her participation in agricultural and non-agricultural wage work and in family farms.
3. Women with moderately high levels of education do not want to do manual labour outside the
household.
4. This would be perceived to be below their educational qualifications.
5. The study also showed a preference among women for salaried jobs as their educational
attainment increases.
6. Such jobs remain extremely limited for women.
Which are the steps that can be taken by the Government?
1. A two-pronged approach must entail facilitating women’s access to decent work:
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a) providing public services, eliminating discrimination in hiring, ensuring equal and decent wages,
and
b) Improving women’s security in public spaces.
2. It must also recognize, reduce, redistribute, and remunerate women’s unpaid work.
3. Special concern is to be given to Dalits, tribal people, Muslims, and other marginalized
communities with a focus on the needs of women.
4. Gender-responsive public services such as free and accessible public toilets, safe and secure
public transport, and CCTV cameras to prevent violence against women in public spaces and to
increase their mobility.
6. Fair and decent living wages and appropriate social security including maternity benefit,
sickness benefit, provident fund, and pension.
7. There is a need for policies which ensure safe and dignified working and living conditions for
migrant workers.
8. For example, in cities, governments must set up migration facilitation and crisis centers.
9. They must also allocate social housing spaces for women workers, which include rental housing
and hostels.
10. They must ensure spaces for women shopkeepers and hawkers in all markets and vending
zones.
Recognition as farmers
11. The need to enumerate and remunerate the unpaid and underpaid work they undertake in
sectors such as agriculture and fisheries.
12. Women must be recognized as farmers in accordance with the National Policy for Farmers.
13. Their equal rights and entitlements over land and access to inputs, credit, markets, and
extension services must be ensured.
14. Women also reiterates the need to recognize and redistribute their unpaid work in the
household.
Source: The Hindu
Voice of the People
1. While most contest to win elections, some contest only to make their voices heard.
2. When people are let down by their leaders repeatedly, they rise and revolt and history is replete
with examples of such revolts.
3. In a democracy, people often revolt peacefully, using the ballot.
4. In the current election while national security assumed center stage, on the other hand, some
ordinary voters are contesting elections over critical local issues.
5. But their objective is not to win; it is to simply make their voices heard.
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Farmers Issue
1. The turmeric and sorghum farmers in Telangana had been protesting for long, demanding a
minimum support price and the setting up of a turmeric board, among other things.
2. Leaders promised to address their grievances but failed. So, the farmers decided to contest the
Lok Sabha election.
3. In this case, 178 farmers have been contesting elections. In this seat, 185 candidates contested
altogether.
4. Most of them managed to pay the required ₹25,000 as a security deposit on their own, even if it
was a considerable burden.
Similar protests in the past
1. In 1996 where 480 candidates filed nominations from Nalgonda, which holds the record of the
highest number of nominations filed in a Lok Sabha election from a single constituency.
2. Most of them were contesting the election to bring attention to the fact that they were victims of
fluorosis.
3. Most of them were tribals and Dalits who could not afford to pay the required security deposit of
₹250 (for Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe candidates).
4. They were reportedly financed by activists and sympathizers at a time when the term ‘crowd
funding’ was not in common parlance.
5. In 1996 in Modakurichi in Tamil Nadu, 1,033 candidates contested the seat for assembly
elections as no one had addressed their concerns over farm distress.
Way forward
1. Contesting elections is unfortunately not always the solution.
2. Such contestants mostly lose their security deposit, do not win, and their issues are not
addressed either.
3. It is time our politicians stepped up and listened to the voices of the poor and marginalized.
Source: The Hindu
Commission on OBC sub-categorisation
1. Justice Rohini commission was set up to examine the sub-categorization of Other Backward
Classes (OBC).
2. It has based its recommendations on quota within quota on the population figures from the 1931
Census, and not on the more recent Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011.
3. The commission has decided to fix 8 to 10 quotas within the 27 percent OBC quota for 1900-odd
castes from among the 2,633 central lists of OBCs.
4. As per five-year data collated by the commission, half of these 1900-castes have not availed the
benefits of reservation at all, and the other half have availed less than 3 percent share in the OBC
quota.
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5. As the Commission has decided it will only to base the sub-categorization on relative benefits
and not on social backwardness, these castes should be able to avail of their fair share of the
quota. For this purpose, the commission has used the last available census data on caste from
1931.
6. The Mandal Commission report of 1990, also used the 1931 census for OBC population figures.
About SECC data
1. The current government has released the SECC data on rural and urban caste population but has
not made the detailed caste data public till date.
2. Several political groups have demanded the release of the SECC caste data to bolster their
argument in favor of expanding the OBC quota in proportion to their total population.
About 1931 census
1. The 1931 census by the British government had pegged the OBC population at 52 percent.
2. However, in view of the Supreme Court order on capping the total quota at 50 percent of the
population, the OBC quota was kept at 27 percent.
3. The 1931 Census does not have the population for new additions. It also does not have a
population of princely states that were not ruled by the British.
SC/ST Government Staff Promotions
Recently the Supreme Court verdict upheld the Karnataka law to preserve the consequential
seniority of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates promoted on the basis of reservation.
Background:
1. In 2006, a similar law was struck down by the Supreme Court in Nagaraj Case, on the ground that
there was no data.
2. In Nagraj case judgment the SC has also laid down parameters for the measuring backwardness
of the SC/ST communities.
3. The parameters include the inadequacy of the representation in the services and the overall
impact of reservation on the efficiency of the administration.
4. Karnataka government appointed a committee to collect data on the backwardness of SC/ST
communities.
5. Based on the report, the State enacted a fresh law, which has now been upheld on the ground
that it is compliant with the Nagaraj case formulation.
Significance of the Judgement
1. It is notable for being the first instance of quantifiable data being used to justify reservation.
2. The judgment places a new perspective on the historical and social justification that reservation
affects administrative efficiency.
3. It says merit lies not only in performance but also in achieving goals such as the promotion of
equality.
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4. It accepts the subjective satisfaction of the government in deciding the adequacy of

representation, subject to the norm that there should be relevant data before it.
5. Policymakers should heed the appeal contained in the judgment: there is no antithesis between
the concept of efficiency and the inclusion of diverse sections of society in the administration.
6. It also appeals that data on representation may be a requirement but the idea that reservation
has an adverse effect on administration must be rejected.
Source: The Hindu
Global Childhood Report
1. Recently Global Childhood Report 2019, also known as End of Childhood index, was published by
a voluntary organisation called ‘Save the Children’.
2. It ranks 176 countries based on its score on a scale of 1000 on eight childhood indicators -
health, education, labour, marriage, childbirth and violence.
Key Highlights of the report on India
1. India is ranked at 113 out of 176 countries, the score is up by 137 points, from 632 to 769 from
2000 to 2019, primarily because of improvements in child health and survival.
2. As per the report India alone accounts for nearly three-quarters of the global reduction in
adolescent births between 2000 to 2019.
3. This reduction has meant two million fewer births by teenage girls in India when compared to
2000 (3.5 million versus 1.4 million).
4. The decline in child marriage is due to a large part to economic growth, rising rates of girl’s
education, proactive investments by government and partners in adolescent girls (such as cash
transfers to keep girls in schools), increased public awareness about the illegality of child marriage
and community-based interventions
Cause of Concern
1. In the 2018 index, under 5 mortality rates (deaths per 1000 live births) was 43 and rated as
moderate in terms of prevalence. This is further reduced to 39.4 in the 2019 index.
2. Stunting due to malnutrition is still high but since 2000 a decline of 30% is estimated, resulting in
23 million fewer stunted children.
3. Child stunting (% children aged 0-59 months) an indicator of a severely malnourished child was
38.4 and rated as high prevalence in the 2018 index, this percentage continues to be the same for
2019 index, which is a matter of concern.
Source: Time of India
Drug Demand Reduction Programme
1. The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry is set to roll out targeted Drug Demand
Reduction Programme, in high-risk areas of 127 districts in the country.
2. The 127 areas had been identified with the help of NGOs and from a report prepared by the
National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre.
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3. All 127 districts will have outreach and drop-in centres, among them 68 (It includes all state
capitals and Union Territories) will have community-based peer-led intervention among
adolescents.
4. The programme would focus on initiating peer-led interventions for teenagers and setting up
outreach and drop-in centres for those affected.
5. The programme is a part of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction for 2019-2020,
which was announced by the Ministry’s National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) in February
2019.
How does it work?
1. The peer-led interventions would involve students reaching out to their fellow students.
2. The objective of this would be to assess drug use in the community, provide early prevention and
give referrals to counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services.
3. The outreach centres would reach out to vulnerable youth, provide a safe space for drug users to
drop in for counselling and provide linkage to treatment and rehab facilities.
Source: The Hindu
Geography
Anthropocene Epoch
1. Recently panel members of the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) voted in favour of
designating a new geological epoch — the Anthropocene.
2. This signals the end of the Holocene Epoch, which began 11,700 years ago.
What is the Geological Time Chart?
1. The Geologic Time Chart is a tool to assist in the comprehension of the 4.5 Billion Years of Time
represented in the layers of rocks and fossil remains found on Earth and provides a meaningful
time frame within which the events of the geologic past are arranged.
2. Geologists have divided the whole of geologic history into units of varying magnitude, these
units comprise the Geologic Time Chart of Earth's History.
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Source: NCERT
Why Anthropocene is being inserted into a geological time scale?
1. In the present geological time interval, human activity has profoundly altered many conditions
and processes on Earth, to denote the changes the term Anthropocene was coined.
2. Anthropocene includes an order-of-magnitude increase in erosion and sediment transport
associated with urbanisation and agriculture.
3. Human activity has caused marked and abrupt anthropogenic perturbations of the cycles of
elements such as carbon, environmental changes generated by these perturbations, including
global warming, sea-level rise, and ocean acidification, rapid changes in the biosphere.
4. The proliferation and global dispersion of many new ‘minerals’ and ‘rocks’ including concrete, fly
ash and plastics, and the myriad ‘technofossils’ produced from these and other materials.
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Who is responsible for preparing the Geological Time Scale?

1. The International Commission on Stratigraphy oversees the official geologic time chart.
2. The AWG panel plans to submit a formal proposal for the new epoch by 2021.
When will be the beginning of the Anthropocene Epoch?
1. The focus is now on identifying a definitive geologic marker or golden spike (technically called
Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point) to signal the beginning of the Anthropocene Epoch.
2. The golden spike must be present globally and should be a part of deposits for geological
record.
3. AWG believe that artificial radionuclides spread across the world by atomic bomb tests from the
early 1950s would serve as the golden spike.
4. The radionuclides are present almost everywhere, from marine sediments to ice layers, and also
in stalagmites and stalactites.
Source: The Hindu
Fani Cyclone
What is Fani ?
1. Fani is a powerful cyclonic storm.
2. Fani is headed towards the Odisha coast, with its landfall forecast near Puri.
3. It is expected to generate storms with wind speeds as high as 200 km per hour.
4. It has the potential to cause widespread damage in Odisha and neighboring states.
Who will be affected?
1. Districts of North coastal Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram
Districts).
2. South coastal and interior Odisha, and some isolated places over North Odisha..
3. Gangetic West Bengal and at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.
4. Arunachal Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya.
How did India prepare itself to face cyclones previously and now?
1. The eastern coast of India is no stranger to cyclones. On an average, five to six significant
cyclonic storms emerge in the Bay of Bengal region every year.
2. The last time such a powerful cyclonic storm had emerged in the Bay of Bengal at this time of
the year, in 2008, it had killed more than 1.25 lakh people in Myanmar.
3. That was mainly because of the lack of a sophisticated warning system and enough logistical
preparedness to evacuate people.
4. In the last few years, India has managed disasters caused by cyclones like Cyclone Phailin of
2013, which was even stronger than the approaching Fani.
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Present Situation
5. Fani has been continuously monitored.
6. Ever since it developed southeast of Sri Lanka about a week ago, warnings have been issued
after every few hours to fishermen and people living in coastal regions.
7. A massive emergency preparedness has been mounted.
8. All necessary measures are being taken to complete evacuation of people from areas in cyclone
path and maintain adequate quantities of essential supplies such as food, drinking water and
medicines etc.
9. Cyclone shelters have been made ready by Odisha to house the evacuees.
10. Adequate preparations are being made to ensure maintenance of essential services such as
Power, Telecommunications in the event of damages caused to them.
11. Railways, Civil Aviation and Shipping Ministries were advised to review their preparedness well
in time and ensure quick resumption of their services in the event of any disruption.
12. Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue
operations. Army and Air Force units in the three States have also been put on standby.
13. NDRF has deployed teams in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and in West Bengal.
14. States have issued advisories and are ensuring that fishermen do not venture into the sea.
15. IMD has been issuing three hourly bulletins with latest forecast to all the concerned States.
16. Ships to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR) operation are put to stand by.
17. Naval aircraft are kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega and INS Rajali to undertake aerial
survey of the most affected areas, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material as required by
the State Administration.
Indian Coast Guard Efforts for Cyclone ‘FANI’
a. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) initiated series of pre-emptive measures from first sign of weather
disturbance in Bay of Bengal.
b. They initiated series of pre-emptive measures to prevent loss of fishermen lives.
c. Indian Coast Guard Remote Operating Stations located in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
and West Bengal are issuing Security/ Safety messages on radio in Vernacular languages.
d. Safety of Fishing Boats- ICG coordinated with Fisheries Authorities of the respective states and
confirmed that no fishing boats are presently operating at sea.
e. Special Community Interaction programmes were conducted for fishermen and coastal
populace for undertaking safety measures.
Which are the suitable conditions for Cyclones to develop?
1. Seasons of Cyclone
a. The months of April and May before the start of the monsoon, and then October to December
immediately after the end of the monsoon, are the prime seasons for tropical cyclones.
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b. Cyclones emerging in April-May usually are much weaker than those during October-December.
c. There have been very few instances of a “severe cyclone” forming in the Bay of Bengal region in
April.
d. Most of the cyclones emerging in April-May all swerved northeast to hit Bangladesh, Myanmar or
other countries in the southeast Asian region.
e. A big difference between the strengths of cyclones in April-May and October-December is that
the former originates in situ in the Bay of Bengal itself, barely a few hundred kilometres from the
landmass.
f. April-May is not the season for typhoons in the west Pacific Ocean.
g. Most of the typhoons in west Pacific in northern hemisphere form between June and November.
h. That is why almost all the cyclones in the Bay of Bengal in April-May period are in situ systems.
i. On the other hand, cyclones in October-December are usually remnants of cyclonic systems that
emerge in the Pacific Ocean
j. They manage to come to the Bay of Bengal, considerably weakened after crossing the southeast
Asian landmass near the South China Sea.
k. These systems already have some energy and gather momentum as they traverse over the Bay
of Bengal.
2. Temperature of Oceans
a. Cyclones are formed over slightly warm ocean waters.
b. The temperature of the top layer of the sea, up to a depth of about 60 metres, need to be at least
28°C to support the formation of a cyclone.
c. This is the reason why April-May and October-December periods are conducive for cyclones.
3. Wind direction
a. The low level of air above the waters needs to have an ‘anticlockwise’ rotation in the northern
hemisphere (clockwise in the southern hemisphere).
b. During these periods, there is a zone in the Bay of Bengal region called the inter-tropical
convergence zone that shifts with seasons whose southern boundary experiences winds from west
to east.
c. While in the northern boundary has winds flowing east to west. This induces the anticlockwise
rotation of air. Once formed, cyclones in this area usually move northwest.
4. Moisture/ Time Spent in sea
a. As cyclone travels over the sea, it gathers more moist air from the warm sea which adds to its
heft.
b. The more time cyclones or hurricanes and typhoons (US and Japan ) spend over the seas, the
stronger they become.
c. Hurricanes around the US, which originate in the vast open Pacific Ocean, are usually much
stronger than the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, a relatively narrow and enclosed region.
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d. The cyclones originating in Bay of Bengal, after hitting the landmass, decay rapidly due to friction
and absence of moisture.
Why is Fani considered as different and unusual?
1. Fani is different mainly on account of its strength, and the route it has taken. Fani is an extremely
severe cyclone.
2. Tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are graded according to maximum wind speeds at their
center.
a. Depressions 30 to 60 km per hour
b. Cyclonic storms 61 to 88 kph
c. Severe cyclonic storms 89 to 117 kph
d. Very severe cyclonic storms 118 to 166 kph.
e. Extremely severe cyclonic storms 167 to 221 kph
f. Super cyclones - 222 kph or higher.
3. Fani is thus unusual mainly because of the place it originated which is very close to the Equator
and the long route it has taken to reach the landmass.
4. The in situ cyclonic systems in the Bay of Bengal usually originate around latitude 10°, in line
with Chennai or Thiruvananthapuram.
4. Fani, on the other hand, originated quite close to the Equator, around latitude 2°, well below the
Sri Lankan landmass.
5. The forecast landfall on the Odisha coast is at a latitude of almost 20°.
6. It has traversed a long way on the sea, thus gaining strength that is unusual for cyclones
originating in the Bay of Bengal in this season.
7. It was initially headed north-westwards, towards the Tamil Nadu coast, but changed course
midway, and swerved northeast away from the coastline to reach Odisha. That has given it even
more time on the sea.
8. If it had remained on its original course, and made landfall over the Tamil Nadu coastline, Fani
would only have been a normal cyclone, not the extremely severe cyclone it has now become.
9. The recurve it has taken gave it more time over the sea and has ensured that it has gathered
unusual strength.
Source: Indian Express, PIB
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History, Art and Culture
750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan
1. The Vice President released a postage stamp to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of Sri
Vedanta Desikan.
2. Sri Vedanta Desikan is one of the most prominent preceptors in the Srivaishnava tradition.
3. One of the essential features of Sri Vedant Desikan’s philosophy was the aspect of inclusion.
4. Anyone, irrespective of caste and creed could join the Sri Vaishnava fold.
Honors and Awards
1. He was celebrated as
a. ‘sarva-tantra-svatantra’ or master of all arts and crafts;
b. awarded the title ‘kavi tarkika-kesari’, the lion amongst poets and logicians; and
c. glorified as ‘ramanuja-daya-patram’, the recipient of Ramanuja’s blessings.
2. Vedanta Desikan rejected the offer of joining the court of the King of Vijayanagara and
considered that the greatest treasure he had was the grace of the Lord.
Works of Sri Vedanta Desikan
1. His magnum opus, the Rahasya Traya Sara, is a masterly treatise on Prapatti or surrendering
oneself to the divine.
2. His masterpiece, Paduka Sahasram, reveals his poetic eloquence and his mathematical
ingenuity.
3. Sri Vedanta Desikann gave a solution to a mathematical problem that was solved five centuries
later by another mathematician, Leonard Euler.
4. Silpartha-saram is a treatise on sculpture, and Bhugola-nirnayam – a research text on
geography.
5. Vedanta Desikan authored Aahaara Niyamam that detailed how different food items help in
maintaining a healthy mind and a disease-free life.
6. His ‘Subhashita Neevi’ contains a fund of moral and ethical advice which is relevant and
practical.
Military strategist
1. Desikan’ s talent as a military strategist came to the fore during the repeated invasions of the
holy city of Srirangam by the forces of the Delhi Sultanate.
2. Before the forces of marauding invaders like Mallik Kafur and Ulugh Khan arrived at Srirangam in
1327, Desikan hid the main Deity of the temple behind a newly built wall and escaped with rare
manuscripts that would otherwise have been destroyed by the invaders.
3. The smaller festival Deities were smuggled out by other devotees and carried to Tirupati, where
they were worshipped secretly for many years.
Source: PIB
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Ancient Indian artefacts
1. Idols dating back to the Gupta period (5th-6th Century AD) and a range of Indian antiquities and
artefacts were smuggled.
2. These artefacts were smuggled into the USA and it was caught, an ASI team visited the USA and
identified that those belong to India, and arrangements are made to bring back to India.
3. Antiquities include the stone image of the Buddha of Mathura School and a terracotta image of
the Buddha belonging to the Gupta period.
About Sculptures of Gupta period
1. A new school of sculptures developed during this period, around Sarnath the capital of Guptas.
2. The sculptures are characterized by creamy sandstone along with the use of metals.
3. The sculptures were fully dressed and hardly any form of nakedness was found.
4. The halo around the head of Buddha was intricately decorated.
About Mathura School
1. The sculptures of Mathura school were influenced by all three religions of the time – Buddhism,
Jainism and Hinduism.
2. The images were modelled on the Yaksha images found during the Mauryan period.
3. It also showed the use of symbolism in the images. For instance, the Shiva is shown through
linga.
4. The halo around the head of Buddha is larger compared to Gandhara School and decorated with
geometric patterns.
5. It flourished on the banks of Yamuna river.
Source: The Hindu
Buddhist Sites
1. Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda Sites are situated near Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh); they
were built between the 4th and 9th century AD.
2. These sites are among the most important Buddhist sites in South Asia because they feature
elements from three schools of Buddhism, namely Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
Bojjannakonda
1. Bojjannakonda was excavated in 1906 by Alexander Rea, a British archaeologist.
2. It is a rock-cut cave and has a stupa that is surrounded by 16 pillars.
3. This cave has several statues of the Buddha in different postures, though most of them are
defaced.
4. Atop the hill is a huge platform made of bricks and surrounded by 52 viharas, that were used for
meditation by the monks. These are surrounded by several small stupas.
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Lingalakonda
1. It has over 250 rock-cut stupas.
2. Stupas are arranged in the descending order of size.
About Stupas
1. Stupas were burial ground prevalent in India from the Vedic Period.
2. Although a Vedic tradition, it was popularised by the Buddhists.
3. After the death of Buddha, many stupas were erected.
4. 8 stupas have the relics of Buddha.
Schools of Buddhism
Hinayana Buddhism
1. It means a lesser vehicle.
2. The school includes the followers of the original preaching of Buddha. It is more of an orthodox
school.
3. They believe in individual salvation and try to attend it through self-discipline and meditation.
4. The Hinayana Scholars used Pali language to interact with masses.
5. Ashoka patronized Hinayana sect, as Mahayana school came much later.
Mahayana Buddhism
1. It means greater vehicle.
2. This school is more liberal and believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and Bodhisattvas
embodying Buddha Nature.
3. The Mahayana followers believe in idol or image worship of Buddha.
4. The Mahayana Scholars predominately used Sanskrit as a language.
5. Kanishka of Kushana Dynasty is said to be the founder of Mahayana Buddhism.
Vajrayana Buddhism
1. It is also called as Tantric Buddhism.
2. It involved combining Brahmanical (Vedic based) rituals with Buddhist philosophies.
3. Vajrayana is based on Mahayana Buddhist philosophy.
Source: The Hindu
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May 2019

Monthly Current Affairs

Table of Contents Accelerating Growth .............................................. 36

High-level Panel on increasing Trade ................. 30 Chandrayaan-2 ....................................................... 63

Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Dengue Vaccine ..................................................... 63

US accuses India of market barriers................... 33 Artificial Bio Organs .............................................. 65

Food Inflation.......................................................... 33 Artificial Life ........................................................... 65

Under-5 Mortality in India ..................................... 34 Encourage citizen science .................................... 66

The Liquidity Coverage Ratio for NBFCs ............ 34 RISAT-2B ................................................................. 67

Draft Export Policy ................................................. 35 Units of measurement ........................................... 67

May illness in Kashmir .......................................... 68 Shortage of Airborne Warning and Control

UN designates Masood Azhar as global terrorist Fight against Anaemia .......................................... 93

Polity & Governance

Article 324 and the Role of ECI

Election Commission must act tough

The merger of the NSSO with CSO

Social Media & Elections

About Cambridge Analytica scandal

Private, Public and Political Morality

What are the issues?

Boosting exports & Resolving trade issues

What are the issues?

Data protection law and Telecom sector stress

Health Professionals in India

What is the issue?

Where lies the solution?

State Governments borrowing through Masala Bonds

Who has borrowed?

Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Reforms

Industrial Policy in India

WTO Appellate Body

What is WTO Appellate Body?

OECD index for Services trade

What is the OECD index for Service trade?

Electricity in rural India

Shutting down of ATMs

2. It undermines the government’s campaign of increasing financial inclusion in a nation where

Issues in State Government Finances

Slowdown in India Economy

What the estimates show?

Which are the possible reasons?

Banking Reforms in India

Farm Distress in India

What are the causes of Farm Distress in India?

Why the Government’s responses are ineffective?

Where lies the solution?

Effect of the NBFC crisis on the economy

What is an NBFC crisis?

New GDP series faces issues of credibility

WTO mini-ministerial meet in Delhi

The purpose of the mini-ministerial meet:

Breaking the deadlock:

High-level Panel on increasing Trade

Consumption, Liquidity issue and Labour Reforms

1. According to Crisil’s analysis of discoms, aggregate external debt of State-owned electricity

US accuses India of market barriers

Under-5 Mortality in India

The Liquidity Coverage Ratio for NBFCs

Draft Export Policy