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1. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) notified along with other provisions of Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 came into effect from 17 December 2016. It will remain open until March 31, 2016. PMGKY is Union Government’s second income disclosure scheme (IDS) to allow tax evaders to come clean with unaccounted wealth. It provides for 50 per cent tax and surcharge on declarations of unaccounted cash deposited in banks. Salient features of Scheme Declaration under it can be made by any person in respect of undisclosed income in the form of cash or deposits in an account with bank or post office or specified entity. Declarant of undisclosed income needs to pay 30% tax, 10% penalty and 33% Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Cess on the tax, all of which add up to around 50%. Besides, declarant must make mandatory deposit of 25% of undisclosed income in the zero-interest Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme, 2016 with lock-in period of 4 years. The income declared under it will not be included in the total income of the declarant under the Income-tax (IT) Act for any assessment year. Besides, declarations made under it will be kept confidential and shall not be admissible as evidence under any Act (ex. Wealth-tax Act, Central Excise Act, Companies Act etc.). However, declarant will have no immunity under Criminal Acts mentioned in section 199-O of the Scheme. Non declaration of undisclosed cash or deposit in accounts under this Scheme will render tax, surcharge and cess totalling to 77.25% of such income, if declared in the return of income. In case the same is not shown in the return of income a further penalty @10% of tax shall also be levied followed by prosecution. Comment The money or revenue generated from disclosure of unaccounted cash will be used for welfare schemes for the poor. It will be mainly used for projects in irrigation, infrastructure, primary education, primary health, housing, toilets and livelihood so that there is justice and equality.

2. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued the draft notification for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2016 to regulate pet shops The objective of these proposed new rules is to make pet shops accountable and to prevent cruelty inflicted on animals kept in such pet shops. New Rules Mandatory for all pet shop owners to register themselves with the State Animal Welfare Board (AWB). Pet shops will be registered only after inspection by the representatives of AWB, a veterinary practitioner and a representative of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Pet shops must ensure that animals are kept in comfortable surroundings and as per define space requirement for birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pig, hamster, rats and mice in the pet shops. Pet shops must have basic amenities, general care, veterinary care, power back-up and other operational requirement for animals in it. Mandatory for pet shops to maintain proper records of sale, purchase, death of animals and sick animals etc. in the shop. Pet shop owner must submit yearly report to State AWB regarding animals, sold, traded, given away, boarded or exhibited during previous year or any other information asked for by the State AWB. Non-compliance of the proposed rules will lead to cancellation of registration of pet shop and pet animals in the shop will be confiscated shall be handed over to a rescue centre recognised by the Board or Animal Welfare Organisation. Background MoEFCC has the mandate to implement the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, to prevent infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals. The provisions of the PCA Act are general in nature, and rules dealing with specific situations have to be notified by MoEFCC from time to time.

3. Indian Navy’s eight landing craft utility (LCU) L-58 was launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal. It is the last vessel in a series of eight ships of LCU MK-IV project designed and built by GRSE for the Indian Navy. It was launched by Neelam Pratap Singh Rudy, wife of Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

4. Rajasthan Government has launched Annapurna Rasoi Scheme to provide quality meal at cheap price to poor and needy on lines with Tamil Nadu Government’s Amma canteens. It was launched by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at Jaipur Municipal Corporation campus. The tagline for the scheme is: “Sabke liye bhojan, sabke liye sammaan (Food for all, respect for all)”. Key Facts The food under this scheme will be provided at subsidized rates, breakfast at Rs 5 per plate and lunch/dinner at Rs 8 per plate. Local Self Government department of Rajasthan is the nodal agency for the scheme. The meals will be cooked and served by staff trained in hospitality. It will be distributed by 80 mobile vans at locations decided by local self-help agencies in districts. The main beneficiary of the scheme will be rickshaw pullers, labourers, auto drivers, students, working women, elders and other weaker section. In the first phase the scheme will be started in 12 districts. They are Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Pratapgarh, Kota, Banswara, Dungarpur, Baran and Jhalawar. The remaining 21 districts of state will be covered in second phase.

5. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar , UK-based scholar John Ralston Marr and Hari Katha exponent Kamala Murthy have been selected for SIES-Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award. They will be presented awards in different categories. Key Facts ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar will be presented award for Science & Technology category. Mahrashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be presented award for Public Leadership. Hari Katha exponent Kamala Murthy presented in with this award in Social Thinkers, Philosophers and Pravachana Karthas category. John Marr will be felicitated for his work in the International category. He is a scholar in Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu. He has been teaching Carnatic music theory for 30 years in England.

6. State-owned power producer National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and aluminium producer National Aluminium Co. Ltd (NALCO) have signed MoU to establish a 2.4 giga watt (GW) Coal based power project at Gajmara, Odisha. The MoU will facilitate setting up of a Joint Venture (JV) Company between NTPC and NALCO. It also seeks to set up one million tonne aluminium production facility in Odisha. Key Facts The proposed 2.4GW power plant at Gajmara will comprise three units of 800 megawatts (MW) each. It will source coal from the mines operated by NALCO. The power from plant will be provided to NAlCO’s factory at Angul which is aluminium smelter project (that converts raw material alumina into aluminium) and also Greenfield project at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district of Odisha. This JV project will act as a catalyst for industrial growth in the region creating direct and indirect employment for engineers, supervisors and skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. It will strive to keep the cost of power generation to a minimum so as to benefit aluminium production for automobile and aerospace industries to improve energy efficiency. About National Thermal Power Corporation Limited NTPC limited is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU), operational under the aegis of Union Ministry of Power. It is engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied activities. It is India’s largest power generator company and accounts for 25% of total electricity generated in the country. Headquarters: New Delhi. Established: 1975. Union Government now holds 70% of its equity shares as of May 2015 (after divestment of its stake in 2004, 2010, 2013, and 2015).

7. Assam government has launched ‘Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development in Majuli’ (SACReD, Majuli) to make river island Majuli country’s first ever Carbon Neutral district by 2020. The project has been initiated by Assam’s department of Environment and Forest to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It presents a vision and roadap for a carbon netural Majuli. Key Facts SACReD, Majuli project is part of the French Development Agency assisted Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC). Under it, mitigation through forestry activities and biodiversity conservation will be the starting points for carbon neutral agenda followed by other interventions over the next three years. The project will be designed and implemented in partnership with other departments of island district for which a district level committee under chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner has been constituted.

8. The Supreme Court ordered that Indian Airforce (IAF) personnel cannot keep beard. It held that Central Government’s decision to ban beards in the IAF does not infringe upon fundamental rights. The court had pronounced the judgment on an appeal by Mohammed Zubair, who was recruited as Airman in the IAF and was sacked for growing beard even after being denied permission. What is the issue? The appellant had claimed that keeping beard is his fundamental right to freedom of religion. However, IAF had countered it saying that keeping a beard was not an essential practice of their faith unlike in the Sikh religion.

9. The UN cultural body UNESCO has accorded world heritage status to Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro (nicknamed as Marvelous City). It has been registered as “Carioca Landscapes between Mountain and Sea” on the UNESCO world heritage list. Rio de Janeiro has been accorded this status in recognition of its extraordinary fusion of man-made and natural beauty, soaring granite cliffs, urban rainforest and beaches. It also had hosted 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Background The UNESCO status to Rio de Janeiro was announced in 2012. It became official after the Brazilian authorities were given four years to report on their plans for protecting Sugarloaf Mountain, Flamengo Park, Corcovado, Copacabana beach, Botanical Garden and Tijuca forest. About UNESCO World Heritage Sites The UNESCO World Heritage Sites are sites having special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The committee comprises of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly. Each World Heritage Site included in the list remains part of the legal territory of the state where it is located. But inclusion of sites in the list by UNESCO is in the interest of the international community to preserve each site. Presently, Italy with 50 sites is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites.

10. Haryana became the first state in the country to launch Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) initiative for safety of women. It was launched by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Mahila Police Volunteer is a joint initiative of Union Ministry of Women & Child Development and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

11. The Supreme Court has ordered a ban on all liquor shops on national as well as state highways to reduce drink driving and road accidents that claim thousands of lives every year across the country. The three-judge SC bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur gave its order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO called ‘Arrive Safe’. The petitioner had mentioned that easy availability of liquor from stores on highways was a major reason for drunk driving. This results into around 1.42 lakh death annually in road accidents, many of which are caused by drunk driving. Supreme Court order All liquor shops on national as well as state highways to be completely banned. Licenses of existing Liquor shops will not be renewed after March 31, 2017. All ads indicating presence of liquor vends must be prohibited on national and state highways. Liquor Shops must be at least 500 metres away from the outer edge of the highways or service lanes. This ban will also extend to stretches of such highways that fall within limits of municipal corporations, city towns and local authorities.

12. The fifth edition of the India-Arab Partnership Conference was held in Muscat, Oman from December 14 to 15, 2016. Theme of the conference was ‘Partnership towards innovation and cooperation in IT’. It was organised by the Oman Foreign Ministry, Arab League Secretariat in association with the Union Ministry of External Affairs of India.

13. The Union Government has extended the facility of e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) Scheme for citizens of 161 countries. It was announced by Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The reply also mentioned that number of foreign tourist arrivals on e-TV during January to November 2016 was 9,17,446. This period registered a growth of 168.5% over same period of previous year. This indicates success of the e-TV Scheme. About E-Tourist Visa Scheme Union Government had launched e-Tourist Visa Scheme (as Tourist Visa on Arrival scheme) on November 27, 2014. The scheme facilitates pre-authorization of Visa i.e. electronic travel authorisation is given to foreigners prior to travel after applicant registers for visa online. After registration applicant receives an email authorising him or her to travel to India after it has been approved. The tourist can travel with a print-out of this authorisation. The scheme aims to tap the vast tourism potential of India which still remains untapped and explored.

14. The Union Government has launched Lucky Grahak Yojana to encourage consumers and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana to encourage merchants for transition to digital payments. These award based schemes were launched by the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, government’s policy think-tank. Key Facts These schemes aim to give cash awards to consumers and merchants who utilize digital payment instruments for personal consumption expenditures. They will specially focuses on bringing the poor, lower middle class and small businesses into the digital payment fold. National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will be the implementing agency for these schemes. Transactions using USSD, UPI, RuPay and AEPS will only be covered under these schemes. Digital payments made through credit cards and e-wallets won’t be covered. To ensure focus on small transactions incentives will be restricted to transactions within the range of Rs 50 and Rs 3000. The winners shall be identified through a random draw of eligible Transaction IDs by software to be especially developed by NPCI for this purpose. Lucky Grahak Yojana Under it, consumers making payment through digital mode will get chance to win minimum Rs 1000 each every day or Rs 1 lakh per week. 15,000 winners will get cashback prizes of Rs 1000 each every day starting on 25 December 2016 (Christmas) and ending on 14 April 2017 (Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanthi). In addition, there will be weekly awards worth Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 for 7000 people. On last day of scheme mega prize winner award will be announced. He will get Rs. 1 crore award. Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana This scheme is for the merchants across the country. Mandatory for merchants to have POS (Point of Sale) machines for undertaking cashless transactions. Under it, merchants doing business using POS are eligible to win Rs.50000 per week from 25 December 2016 to 14 April 2017. 3 Mega Prizes for merchants will be of Rs 50 lakhs, 25 lakh, 12 lakh for digital transactions between 8 November 2016 to 13 April 2017. It will be announced on 14 April 2017.

15. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was placed at 9th position among 74 of the world’s most powerful people list released by the Forbes Magazine. The list gives the annual ranking of the World’s Most Powerful People on the basis of their financial resources, scope and use of power and the number of people they impact.

16. The Union Cabinet has approved MoU between Ministry of Rural Development and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to improve effectiveness of rural development programmes in country. The Inter-Governmental MoU on Joint Technical and South-South Cooperation will provide for collaboration on activities of common interest to support an integrated approach to rural poverty reduction through activities. These activities will aim to promote economic empowerment of rural women, access of rural poor to natural resources.

17. The Union Cabinet has approved the draft Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016 to replace the existing Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. The bill aims to empower 12 major ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision-making. Salient features of the bill The Bill is more compact in comparison to Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. It has reduced number of sections to 65 from 134 by eliminating obsolete and overlapping Sections of previous Act. Board of Port Authority: It has been delegated full powers to enter into contracts, planning and development, fixing of tariff. However, these powers have exception in case of national interest, security and emergency arising out of inaction and default. Empowers the Board to make its own Master Plan in respect of area within port limits and construct within port limits Pipelines, Communication towers, Telephones, electricity supply or transmission equipment. It is empowered to lease land for Port related use for upto 40 years and for any purpose other than purposes specified in section 22. The approval above 20 years leasing will also require approval of the Central Government. Size of the Board of Port Authority: It has been reduced from 17-19 to 11 members. The compact board with professional independent members will strengthen decision-making and strategic planning. Representatives of the Board: It will include representatives of respective state governments, Defence Ministry, Railways Ministry and Department of Revenue along with a member representing employees of Major Ports Authority. Rates of other port services and assets: The Board of the Port Authority has been allowed to fix the scale of rates for other port services and assets including land. Role of Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP): It has been redefined. It has been given powers to fix tariff which will act as a reference tariff for purposes of bidding for PPP projects. PPP operators will be free to fix tariff based on market conditions. Independent Review Board: It has been proposed to carry out the “residual function of the erstwhile TAMP for major ports. It will look into disputes between ports and PPP concessionaires. It will also review stressed PPP projects and suggest measures” to revive such projects. Significance of the Bill Promotes expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and commerce. Bring transparency in operations of Major Ports. Decentralize decision making and infuse professionalism in governance of major ports. Impart faster and transparent decision making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability. Reorients governance model in central Ports to landlord port model in line with the successful global practice. Note: 12 major ports are Kandla (Gujarat), Mumbai (Maharashtra), JNPT (Maharashtra), Marmugao (Goa), New Managlore (Karnataka), Cochin (Kerala), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ennore (Tamil Nadu), V.O. Chidambarnar (Tamil Nadu), Visakhapatnam (Adhra Pradesh), Paradip (Odisha) and Kolkata (including Haldia, West Bengal).

18. Pakistan Army has successfully test fired an enhanced version of an indigenously-designed Babur cruise missile. The missile incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy.

19. The Union Cabinet approved India’s approach to Climate Change Negotiations at the 22 Conference of Parties (COP) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2016. The approval aims to safeguard interest of poor and vulnerable groups by laying stress on adaptation, damage and loss while protecting the development space. What is India’s approach? Growth and development of a country are linked with Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The development space for India and developing countries needs to be preserved while combating the ill-effects of climate change. It seeks to address the adaptation needs of the country to combat the ill-effects of climate change and also enables the achievement of developmental goal. The approach incorporates the interest of all strata of society in the country. Background India in the 22 COP to UNFCCC had participated constructively to ensure that actions are based on the principles of equity and climate justice. India in along with other developing countries was able to ensure that climate actions are based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and climate justice.

20. The seventh edition of India, Maldives bilateral EKUVERIN Exercise 2016 began at Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll, Maldives. The aim of 14 day platoon level joint military exercise is to conduct military training between armies of both countries with emphasis on amphibious & counter insurgency, counter terrorism operations. Key Facts In this edition of exercise, Indian contingent is represented by BIHAR Regiment and a similar contingent strength of the Maldivian National Defence Force. It will cover varied military training activities in order to enhance interoperability between the two defence forces. It will conclude with tactical exercises. The sixth edition of the exercise was held in India at Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

21. The Union Cabinet has approved MoU signed between ISRO and United States Geological Survey (USGS) for Cooperation in t exchange and use of US Land Remote Sensing Satellite Data. This MoU signed in July 2016 will enable ISRO to receive USGS’s Landsat-7 and 8 in India. It will also allow USGS to receive ISRO’s Resourcesat-2 (AWiFS and LISS III) data of US region. Background ISRO is actively pursuing civilian space cooperation with many US organisations including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States Geological Survey (USGS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its interest. ISRO had received data from Landsat series of satellites operated by USGS during 1984 to 2001 through its ground station at Shadnagar. The data received from Landsat series of satellites was used by Indian scientists during the inception of Indian remote sensing programme. Recently in February 2013, USGS has launched Landsat -8 satellite. ISRO expressed interest in direct reception of Landsat-8 data in India, while USGS expressed interest in obtaining data from ISRO’s RESOURCESAT-2 satellite.

22. The Union Cabinet has approved memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in field of agriculture and food related industry. The proposed agreement covers various activities in the field of agriculture and allied sector.

23. Rajya Sabha has passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016. The bill repeals Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995. The bill comprehensively covers a whole spectrum of problems from physical disabilities to mental illness and multiple disabilities under it. It complies with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which India became a signatory in 2007. Salient features of the bill Definition of disability: It has defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept to include 21 conditions as disable. Expands the list of disabilities from seven to 21. It also defines Persons with benchmark disabilities as those with at least 40% of any of the above specified disabilities. Speech and Language Disability and Specific Learning Disability have been added for the first time. Acid Attack Victims have been included. Rights of persons with disabilities: Persons with disabilities (PwDs) shall have the right to equality. They shall not be discriminated against on grounds of their disability. Rights include protection from inhuman treatment and equal protection and safety in situations of risk, humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters and armed conflict. All existing public buildings shall be made accessible for disabled persons. Education and skill development: It provides for the access to inclusive education, self-employment and vocational training to disabled persons. At least 5% seats in all government institutions of higher education and those getting aid from the government are required to reserve seats for persons with benchmark disabilities. Earlier it was only 3%. Employment: The Union and State governments will ensure that at least 4% of the vacancies in identified establishments are filled by persons or class of persons with at least 40% of any of the disabilities. The reservation must be computed on the basis of total number of vacancies in the strength of a cadre. Government can exempt any establishment from this provision of reservation. Legal Capacity: Disabled persons have the equal right to own and inherit movable and immovable property, as well as control their financial affairs in par with others. Guardianship: The district court may order guardianship to the disable person if found a mentally ill person and not capable of taking care of himself or of taking legally binding decisions. District level committees: It will be constituted by the State Governments to address local concerns of PwDs. Details of their constitution and the functions of such committees would be prescribed by the State Governments in the rules. Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs. Central and state advisory boards on Disability: They will be constituted Central and State governments respectively. They will advise governments on policies and programmes on disability. The will aslo review the activities of organisations dealing with disabled persons. National and State Fund: It will be created to provide financial support to the persons with disabilities. The existing National Fund for PwDs and the Trust Fund for Empowerment of PwDs will be subsumed with the National Fund. Punishment: It provides for imprisonment ranging from six months to two years, along with a fine ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 5 lakh, for discriminating against differently abled persons.

24. The sixth edition of Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) began in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. The three days conference seeks to address issues ranging from crowded city centres to peripheral expansion, metropolitan based urban population growth, megacities and urban corridors etc. Key Facts In this conference ministers and senior officials from 68 countries in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to deliberate on challenges of urban planning and management. It will adopt Delhi Declaration and implementation plan for aligning urban development strategies of member countries with New Urban Agenda adopted at Quito, Eucador. During the conference, five working groups will deliberate on different sub-themes like Integrated Planning, Management and Governance Structures. They will also be ensuring sustainable and natural disaster resilient urban development including climate change. The conference assumes significance considering that Asia Pacific Region accounts for 60% of the world population and 55% of global urban population. About New Urban Agenda It was adopted at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (also known as “Habitat III” conference) held in Quito, Ecuador. It sets the global vision of sustainable urbanization for the next 20 years. It is a set of 175 commitments that countries need to adhere to tackle challenges of urbanization. It is considered as roadmap for building cities that can serve as engines of prosperity and centres of social and cultural well-being while protecting the environment. It provides guidance for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and provides the underpinning for actions to address climate change. About APMCHUD APMCHUD is an intergovernmental mechanism for collaboration and cooperation in the field of housing and development among Asia Pacific countries. It was established under the aegis and support of UN-Habitat. It is consultative mechanism on the promotion of sustainable development of housing and urban development in Asia-Pacific region.

25. The ninth edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, an annual bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy began in the Bay of Bengal. The primary aim of exercise INDRA NAVY-16 is to increase inter-operability amongst the two navies and develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. Key Facts The scope of the exercise includes wide-ranging professional interactions in harbor phase and a diverse canvas of operational activities across a spectrum of maritime operations at sea. The exercise will be held in two phases viz. Harbour Phase (14 to 18 December 2016) at Visakhapatnam and tSea Phase (19 to 21 December 2016) off Visakhapatnam. The Harbour Phase will encompass table-top exercises, planning conferences, and professional interactions prior progressing to sea. The thrust of exercises at sea will be on Air Defence Drills, ASW, Surface Firings, visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and Tactical procedures. Indian Navy will be represented by INS Ranvir a guided missile destroyer, INS Satpura an indigenous frigate and INS Kamorta an indigenous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvette. In addition, an INS submarine, Dornier Short Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and other integral rotary wing helicopters will also participate. Russian Navy (RuFN) will be represented by Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhalov, Deputi Chief of Flotilla, Pacific Fleet and ships from the Pacific Fleet, based at Vladivostok. RuFN ships Admiral Tributus (cruiser) and Boris Butoma (fleet tanker) are part of the fleet. Background INDRA NAVY is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Russian navies was initiated in 2003. It epitomizes the strategic relationship between the two countries. Over the years, the exercise has matured with increase in scope, complexity of operations and level of participation. Comment Exercise INDRA NAVY 16 will help to further strengthen mutual confidence and inter-operability, and also enable sharing of best practices between both navies. It will be another milestone in strengthening maritime security cooperation between Indian and Russia. It will also serve to reinforce the long standing bond of friendship between the two countries.

26. According to the recently released 2016 IHS Jane’s Defence Budgets report, India has become the world’s fourth largest defence spender. In this edition of report published by US research firm IHS Inc, India has surpassed Russia, France, Japan and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s fourth largest defence spender. Key Highlights from report United States, China, and the UK remain the top three defence spender in the world. In 2016, the total global defence spending increased to $1.57 trillion. US tops with mammoth defence spending of $622 billion. China is second with defence spending of $191.75 billion. India had spent $50.6 billion in 2016 on defence sector, up from $46.6 billion the year 2015. Thus, India spends some 1.8% of its GDP on defence. Of this, up to 36% is spent on capital acquisition. Over the next few years, India will re-emerge as a key growth market for defence suppliers to fulfill its military focused modernisation. India will surpass the UK in defence spending by 2018. India needs to spend some $130 billion to modernise its military over the next seven years. NDA Government since coming to power in May 2014 has laid tremendous stress on ramping up the country’s defence facilities. India also has been looking at increasing share of domestic manufacturing in defence goods. The foreign direct investment (FDI) limit for the defence sector in India also has been raised to 49%. India’s defence and aerospace market is among the most attractive globally. Government is keen to leverage this advantage to promote investments in the sector.

27. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is building a robotic spacecraft dubbed as ‘Restore-L Spacecraft’ to refuel, repair satellites currently in orbit. In this regard, NASA has awarded a $127 million contract to California-based satellite company Space Systems/Loral to build Restore-L Spacecraft. Space Systems/Loral will provide NASA with spacecraft bus, critical hardware and services for the Restore-L mission. This mission will be launched in 2020 to perform in-orbit satellite servicing in low-Earth orbit.

28. Software giant Microsoft India has launched its first full-scale Cybersecurity Engagement Centre (CSEC) in New Delhi. It is Microsoft’s seventh Cybersecurity Centre in the world. It will function as a satellite to the its Redmond Digital Crimes Unit (DCU).

29. India and Indonesia have signed three agreements in various areas to enhance strategic partnership. These agreements were signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting President of Indonesia Joko Widodo in New Delhi. Signed Agreements are MoU on Youth and Sports Cooperation. MoU on Standardization Cooperation. Joint Communiqué on Voluntary International Cooperation to Combat Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fishing and to promote Sustainable Fisheries Governance. Besides, both countries decided to strengthen their defence and maritime security relations and resolved to effectively address the issue of terrorism. Outcomes of delegation level talks Terrorism: Condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in the strongest terms. Emphasized zero tolerance for acts of terrorism. Called upon all countries to implement the UNSC Resolution 1267 (banning militant groups and their leaders) and other resolutions designating terrorist entities. Called upon all countries to work towards eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure in disrupting terrorist networks and financing channels, and stopping cross-border terrorism. Economic and Development: Agreed to build a strong economic and development partnership to strengthen the flow of trade, capital and people between them. Defence and security cooperation: Agreed to prioritize defence and security cooperation to ensure safety and security of sea lanes, environmental protection and disaster response. Further boost partnership for combating terrorism, organized crime, drugs and human trafficking. ASEAN and RCEP: Agreed for an early implementation of India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in Services and investment, and finalization of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

30. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres (67) was sworn in as the 9th UN Secretary-General. He was administered the Oath of Office by Peter Thomson, President of UN General Assembly at special plenary meeting. He succeeds Ban Ki-moon and shall have five-year term beginning January 1, 2017. Antonio Guterres was unanimously appointed by the UN General Assembly after the 15-nation UN Security Council had approved him in October 2016. About Antonio Guterres Antonio Guterres is Portuguese politician and diplomat. He was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. He had entered politics in 1976 during Portugal’s first democratic election after the “Carnation Revolution” which had ended five decades of dictatorship. He was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from June 2005 to December 2015. He led the UNHCR through during one of the world’s worst present refugee crises, including those in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. About Secretary-General of United Nations The UN Secretary-General is the head of the United Nations Secretariat. He is de facto spokesperson and leader of the UN. The role Secretary-General has been mentioned in Chapter XV (Articles 97 to 101) of UN Charter. The post lasts for five years and is limited to a maximum of two terms. Summary The post of Secretary-General of United Nations is not as powerful, but he serves as the UN’s top diplomat and chief administrative officer. He has to run an unwieldy bureaucracy and manage the competing demands of the world’s big powers. His role is to step in both publicly and privately to prevent escalation of international disputes.

31. Punjab Government has launched country’s first amphibious bus project at the Harike wetland near Amritsar. The amphibious bus named as “Harike Cruise” travels on land and as well as in water. It was launched by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

32. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (31) from Portugal has won the prestigious 2016 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award. He has earned this title of world’s best football player for fourth time. Earlier he had won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, 2013 and 2014. In this year’s competition, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (Argentina) finished second and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann (France) third in the vote. About FIFA Ballon d’Or Award FIFA Ballon d’Or Award is annual football association award given by FIFA to the male player who has performed the best in previous calendar year. It was instituted in 2010 after France Football’s Ballon d’Or and the men’s FIFA World Player of the Year award were merged. It is awarded to male player, based upon highest votes secured by him from national team coaches and captains, as well as journalists from around world.

33. Scientists for the first time have detected trace amounts of ammonia in the upper troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer of Earth. It was detected by team of researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. They had analysed satellite data collected from various parts of the troposphere between June 2002 to April 2012. Key Findings The ammonia (NH3) was released into the atmosphere as agricultural emission from livestock farming and fertilisation. It was found in highest concentrations above Asian monsoon regions of India and China. Similar levels of ammonia were detected nowhere else on Earth. The ammonia concentration was up to 33 pptv (33 ammonia molecules per trillion air molecules) above Southeast China and North India. The ammonia released due to agricultural processes survives all the way to the troposphere, where it ends up in monsoons. It is not washed out completely when air ascends in monsoon circulation. It enters the upper troposphere from the boundary layer close to the ground, where the gas occurs at relatively high concentrations. The detected ammonia may be playing a role in formation of aerosol (tiny particles made from super-fine solid particles) in the troposphere. The aerosol may have influence cloud formation and altering properties of existing clouds It is thought that accumulation of ammonia in the troposphere could have a cooling effect. It can be compensating in part for the human-caused greenhouse effect. Thus, it can help to mitigate the effects of global warming Earth’s troposphere: It extends from 7 to 20 km above sea level. It contains up to 80% of the planet’s atmosphere, and all weather phenomena.

34. China has successfully launched Fengyun-4 satellite, first of its new generation weather satellites into geostationary orbit. It was launched onboard of Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. The launch marked the 242nd mission of China’s Long March series of rockets.

35. A deep water port built in Myanmar’s Sittwe by India is ready to be commissioned. Thus, open Kolkata-Mizoram trade route via Myanmar. The Sittwe port is starting point for the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar. Once shipments arrive at Sittwe port from Kolkata, they will be transferred to smaller freight carriers which would sail upstream into Mizoram. Significance Provides alternative route to India to ship goods to the landlocked north-eastern States. Significantly lower the cost and distance of movement from Kolkata to Mizoram and beyond. Reduces dependency on only route narrow strip dubbed as the Chicken’s Neck in West Bengal, sandwiched between Bhutan and Bangladesh. India has piped post Chinese endeavour to create a deep-sea berthing infrastructure and SEZ at Kyaukphyu in Rakhine. Background Sittwe is the capital of Rakhine State situtated in south-western Myanmar. It is located at the mouth of the Kaladan river, which flows into Mizoram in north-eastern India. The work on Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was conceived in 2010. Construction of the sea port is the first phase of an integrated $500-million project being funded by a long-term interest-free loan provided by India.

36. The famed Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) has started regular commercial rail service in Switzerland. The first regular train to use GBT ferried passenger from Zurich to Lugano. The twin-bore GBT is world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel with length of 57-kilometer. It had overtaken Japan’s Seikan tunnel (53.9 kilometers) as the longest rail tunnel in world after it was opened in June 2016 for its maiden ride.

37. The central zonal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Rajasthan government to cancel allotments of salt pans in the Sambhar Salt Lake. Ruling in this regard was given by NGT bench headed by Justice Dalip Singh and expert Satyawan Singh Garbyal on a petition filed by Ajay Dubey. What is the issue? The petitioner had alleged that commercial, ground water extracting and other activities in and around the Sambhar Lake are detrimental to the eco-system of the wetland. These activities were carried out illegally contrary to the provisions of the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules framed under the Environment Protection Acts, 1986. NGT order Directed state government to cancel allotments of all salt pans falling within the wetland and run contrary to the mandate of Wetland Rules, 2010 must be cancelled. State government not to make any further allotments or permit new salt pans within the wetland areas. The Sambhar Salt Lake should declare ‘no construction zone’ for the said purpose in accordance with the Wetland Rules, 2010. Background The illegal business of brine extraction in the Sambhar Salt Lake (SSL) was first highlighted in the Vinod Kapoor Committee report in 2010. The report had mentioned that 15-20 borewells were operating in every bigha of land in the vicinity of SSL. It resulted in to exploitation of water resources leading to decline groundwater level by almost 60 metres in the area. About Sambhar Salt Lake Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s largest inland salt lake. It is located in Nagaur and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan. It is surrounded on all sides by the Aravali hills. The lake is actually an extensive saline wetland with circumference of 96 km. It receives water from an endorheic basin with 5700 square km catchment area. Economic Importance: It is source of most of Rajasthan’s salt production. It produces 196,000 tonnes of clean salt every year. Ecological Importance: It has been designated as a Ramsar site (recognized wetland of international importance). It is important wintering area for flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.

38. President Pranab Mukherjee launched a ‘100 Million for 100 Million’ Campaign at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The campaign was conceptualized by Nobel peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and was organized by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation. Key Facts The campaign aims to mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million underprivileged children across the world. Its prime objective is to end child labour, child slavery, violence against children over the next 5 years. It also seeks to promote the right of every child to be safe, free, and educated. It will strive to inspire 100 million children to speak and act for the numerous other unfortunate children living in terrible conditions to build a child-friendly world. Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit The launch of the campaign also brought curtains to the two-day ‘Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit’ held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. This summit had brought together collective leadership of around 25 Nobel laureates and leaders on a single platform for creating a child-friendly world. It even had channelized world leaders, thinkers, representatives of UN, award winning youth/child leaders and eminent persons from academia, business, cinema, sports and civil society.

39. India has offered tsunami early warning-system to South China Sea (SCS) countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Philippines as part of soft-diplomacy. India already provides earthquake and tsunami-warning alerts to several countries in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood, as do Japan and Australia. Features of Tsunami early warning-system Developed by scientists at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS). It warns concerned authorities of any large earthquake in the Ocean and threat it poses. Uses mathematical model to estimate if an earthquake in India’s oceanic neighbourhood can result in a tsunami. It sends out a series of graded warnings to warn officials of danger based on data received form sensors lodged on the ocean floor. These sensors can measure actual earthquake signals and based on it generates warnings. Concerns The South China Sea (SCS) is a controversial region on which China exerting territorial rights over its large part. Some of these territorial claims have been challenged by Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. On this issue, India considers that all countries must abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which governs how countries must respect ocean boundaries and international waters of countries. India and China are signatory to this convention.

40. Madhya Pradesh Government has launched five months long Narmada Seva Yatra to turn the Narmada river pollution free. It was launched by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Amarkantak. The Narmada Sewa Yatra aims to create awareness about the conservation of the river. It is one of the biggest public campaign of the world to conserve river and environment.

41. India and Vietnam have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. With this, Vietnam became 14th country with which India has signed the civil nuclear deal. The MoU in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy was signed by Sekhar Basu, Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy and Pham Cong Tac, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology in New Delhi. The two countries also signed three other agreements in the fields of energy, aviation and government cooperation. These agreements will enhance aviation links, cooperation in the area of energy efficiency and promotion of parliamentary cooperation between both countries. Vietnam also extended invitation to India to explore energy in South China Sea (SCS). It has urged India to intensify economic engagement with Southeast Asia, highlighting India’s importance as a regional power. It also supported India’s multilateral membership plans including UNSC.

42. The Union Government has waived the import duty on wheat to zero from 10 per cent for an indefinite period. This move aims to improve domestic availability in the wake of rising prices and concerns about the wheat crop in 2016-17. The duty was waived because of uncertainty over the wheat output this year. Despite a rise in area sown, questions are raised over condition of the wheat crop, low fertiliser and pesticide use due to and fears of a warm winter. The waiving of import duty will make wheat imports (especially from Australia and Ukrainian) considerably cheaper. This will fuel imports to over 6 million tonnes in 2016-17. This will be the highest wheat imports in the 10 years. Background The wheat production in the country will be around 93.50 million tonnes in 2016-17 as per the government estimates. However, many experts have pegged the figures around 90 million tonnes due to year-on-year droughts in 2014 and 2015. Moreover, Union Government’s own wheat stocks are at an all-time low due to less procurement.

43. Japan’s space agency (JAXA) successfully launched a Kounotori 6 (HTV-6) spacecraft that will deliver a large magnetic tether, a space junk collector technology into orbit. The spacecraft was launched on board of H-IIB rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. It was also carrying essential supplies for International Space Station (ISS). Key Facts The space junk collector (electromagnetic tether) will perform Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiments (KITE) in order to test out new technology. It is an experimental space scavenger that aims to study possibility of getting rid of space junk (debris) left into orbit by earlier space exploration missions. It has been designed by JAXA engineers in collaboration with Nitto Seimo Co., a Japanese fishing net company. The space scavenger is large magnetic tether made from thin wires of stainless steel and aluminium. It is designed to redirect space junk towards Earth’s atmosphere. In theory, the net-like tether will generate enough slowing effect to influence the trajectory of space debris toward Earth’s atmosphere where they will burn up. Why there is need of space junk collector technology? More than 5 decades of human space exploration since the first Soviet-launched Sputnik satellite in 1957 has produced this hazardous belt of orbiting debris in the space. There are estimated to be more than 100 million pieces are circling our planet in the lower orbit, posing a growing threat to future space exploration. These pieces of debris travel at high speeds. A relatively small piece of orbital debris can inflict a great deal of damage on satellites or spacecrafts orbiting in the space. This phenomenon is Kessler Syndrome which describes a self-sustaining cascading collision of space debris in low earth Orbit.

44. The Committee on Digital Payments headed by Ratan P. Watal has submitted its final report to the Union Finance Ministry. It was 11-member committee notified in August 2016 by the Finance Ministry. It was tasked to review existing payment systems in the country and recommend appropriate measures for encouraging Digital Payments. It was having representatives from Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), tax department and various industry bodies in the payments space. Recommendations The Committee has recommended medium term strategy for accelerating growth of Digital Payments in India. The strategy must be backed with regulatory regime which is conducive to bridging the Digital divide by promoting competition, interoperability and open access in payments. It also recommends inclusion of financially and socially excluded groups and assimilation of emerging technologies in the market. It calls for need of safeguarding security of Digital Transactions and providing level playing to all stakeholders and new players who will enter this new transaction space. It has suggested inter-operability of payments system between banks and non-banks, up-gradation of digital payment infrastructure and institutions. It also recommends a framework to reward innovations for leading efforts in enabling digital payments. Greater use of Aadhaar and mobile numbers for making digital payments as easy as cash. Called for inter-operable payments between bank and non-banks as well as within non-banks. Proposed to make regulation of payments independent from the function of central banking to give the entire digital payments boost. Give Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) independent statutory status within overall structure of RBI. Called for amendments to the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 to provide BPSS explicit mandate for competition and innovation, consumer protection, open access and interoperability, regulations on systemic risks and data protection. Operations of payment systems like National Electronic Fund Transafer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) can be outsourced after a cost benefit analysis.