W.B.C.S Current Affairs 22 January 2019 to 25 January 2019.

1) Indian Navy undertook a first of its kind multi-agency drill, covering the entire 7,516 km-long Indian coastline and exclusive economic zone and involving 13 coastal states and Union Territories to check the efficacy of maritime security and surveillance- Sea Vigil. Why Sea Vigil exercise is an Unprecedented One? The two-day exercise, Sea Vigil has a deployment of 150 ships, 40 aircraft and a number of other strategic assets of the Navy and Coast Guard. Navy had undertaken biannual coastal security exercises at the level of states previously but it is for the first time an exercise involving all coastal states, island territories and all central and state agencies has been undertaken. This large geographical extent, a number of stakeholders involved, number of units participating and the objectives to be met make the exercise an unprecedented one. Objectives of the Sea Vigil exercise- The objectives of the Sea Vigil exercise: Simultaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all states and Union Territories. Evaluate critical areas and processes, including inter-agency coordination, information sharing and technical surveillance. Comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since ’26/11′ Mumbai attacks. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks brought out serious gaps in India. Post 26/11, Navy has taken many steps in filling these critical security gaps. The Sea Vigil exercise was facilitated by the ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Fisheries, Customs and state governments.Continue Reading W.B.C.S Current Affairs 22 January 2019 to 25 January 2019.

2) The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF) has launched Amul Camel Milk in selected markets of Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Kutch in Gujarat. Benefits of Camel Milk- The camel milk offers a wide range of benefits such as: Camel milk assists healthy bacteria growth in the gut making it easy to digest and it also improves gastrointestinal health and systemic immunity. Rich in Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Camel Milk can provide 70% of the recommended daily value per serving. Camel Milk is rich in calcium which helps to build stronger bones. Being a good source of potassium and phosphorus calcium milk helps in maintaining a healthy blood pressure level, in combination with a low-sodium diet, which reduces the risk of a stroke. Camel Milk has low levels of saturated fat. This initiative of Amul will give camel farmers better prices and will benefit consumers by giving them hygienically-processed, superior quality camel milk.

3) India is celebrating 9th National Voters Day on 25th January 2019 for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process. The main purpose of celebrating National Voters Day is to encourage, facilitate and maximize the enrollment, especially for the new voters. Genesis of the National Voters Day: As per the proposal mooted by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Union Cabinet headed by then Prime Minister approved the proposal to celebrate National Voters Day on 25th January. The National Voters Day was first celebrated on 25th January 2011. January 25th is celebrated as the National Voter’s Day vowing to the fact that it was on this day the Election Commission of India was constituted on 25th January 1950. National Voters Day 2019: India would be witnessing the parliamentary elections in 2019, in order to ensure an inclusive election process the theme of the National Voters Day is No Voter to be Left Behind. President Ram Nath Kovind would be the Chief Guest at the main function being organized by Election Commission in New Delhi. The event is also graced by Chief Election Commissioners and senior officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Russia and Sri Lanka.

4) The ICC awards recognise and honour the best international cricket players of the previous 12 months. The ICC awards 2018 list: Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year: Virat Kohli. ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year: Virat Kohli. ICC ODI Player of the Year: Virat Kohli. ICC Emerging Player of the Year: Rishabh Pant. ICC Associate Player of the Year: Calum MacLeod. T20I Performance of the Year: Aaron Finch. ICC Spirit of Cricket award: Williamson. Umpire of the Year: Kumar Dharmasena. Fans’ Moment of the Year: India’s victory in the Under-19 World Cup. Selection Process: The awardees are selected by a process wherein ICC Selection committee comprises eminent former players selects the finalists for the various awards. Then the awardees are selected through votes by an electoral college comprising of current national team captains of Test playing nations, members of the Elite Panel of ICC umpires and referees, prominent former players and cricket correspondents. The awards are shared in case of a tie.

5) The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 discusses various challenges before the global economy. The important of them are: Trade Tensions- The global trade growth moderated at 3.8 per cent in 2018 against the growth rate of 5.3 per cent in 2017. The stimulus measures and direct subsidies have offset much of the direct economic impacts on China and the United States. But if these trade tensions continue for a prolonged period of time it may severely disrupt the global economy. The spillover effects of this trade tensions would spread through global value chains, particularly in East Asia. Tightening fiscal conditions: Tightening fiscal conditions would result in a rapid rise in interest rates. On the other hand, the strengthening of the US dollar could exacerbate emerging market fragilities, leading to a heightened risk of debt distress. These risks can be further aggravated by global trade tensions, monetary policy adjustment in developed economies, commodity price shocks, or domestic political or economic disruptions. The countries with a substantial amount of dollar-denominated debt, high current account or fiscal deficits, large external financing needs and limited policy buffers are more vulnerable to stress due to tightening fiscal conditions. Climate risks: The climate change risks necessitate a fundamental shift in the way the world powers economic strategies. Integrating the economic decision making with negative climate risks associated with emissions would be imperative. The tools for achieving the integration would be carbon pricing measures, energy efficiency regulations such as minimum performance standards and building codes, and reduction of socially inefficient fossil fuel subsidy regimes.

6) The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 report make the following projections for India: India’s GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 7.6 per cent in 2019-20 from an estimated 7.4 per cent in the current fiscal ending March 2019 and growth rate may come down to 7.4 per cent a year later. India will march ahead as world’s fastest-growing large economy in 2019 as well as in 2020, much ahead of China. India’s growth is driven by robust private consumption, a more expansionary fiscal stance and benefits from previous reforms and robust and sustained recovery of private investment remain crucial for lifting the medium-term growth. While the report suggests a growth rate of around 3 per cent in 2019 and 2020 amid signs that growth has peaked and cautions that a worrisome combination of development challenges could further undermine growth.

7) The United Nations report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 discusses various challenges in attaining the sustainable development goals. The challenges listed are: Economic growth is uneven and is failing to reach where it is most needed. Per capita incomes would stagnate or grow only marginally in 2019 in several parts of Africa, Western Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Even where the per capita growth is strong, economic activity is driven by core industrial and urban regions, leaving peripheral and rural areas behind. The report notes that eradicating poverty by 2030 will require both double-digit growth in Africa and steep reductions in income inequality. This seems a distant possibility in the current scenario. The confluence of risks is clouding and it may severely disrupt economic activity and inflict significant damage on longer-term development prospects. The various risks include escalation of trade policy disputes; financial instabilities linked to elevated levels of debt; and rising climate risks, as the world experiences an increasing number of extreme weather events. The report notes that the simultaneous appearance of several important risks endangers efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development containing 17 specific goals to promote prosperity and social well-being while protecting the environment.

8) National Girl Child Day (NGCD) is celebrated in India on January 24th with an aim to raise awareness about Child Sex Ratio (CSR) levels and promote the empowerment of girls. Objectives- The key objectives of National Girl Child Day are as follows: To spread awareness about the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in the country and carry out campaigns to improve the same. To empower the girl children with new opportunities via schemes and campaigns. To create a positive environment around valuing the girl child. Theme of NGCD-2019: The theme of National Girl Child Day-2019 is “Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow” International Day of Girl Child versus National Girl Child Day: The International Day of the Girl Child is observed every year across world on October 11 to recognize girls’ rights and unique challenges faced by girls around the world. Observance of the day seeks to increase awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender and supports more opportunity for girls.

9) The United Nations report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 has been released. The important findings of the report are: The report estimates that Global growth is expected to remain steady at 3% in 2019 and 2020, after an expansion of 3.1% in 2018. As the impulse from fiscal stimulus in 2018 wanes, Growth in the United States is projected to decelerate to 2.5% in 2019 and 2% in 2020. The European Union would witness a steady growth of 2%, even though risks are tilted to the downside, including a potential fallout from Brexit. China’s growth is expected to moderate from 6.6% in 2018 to 6.3% in 2019 since policy support would partly offset the negative impact of trade tensions. Large commodity-exporting countries, such as Brazil, Nigeria and the Russian Federation, are projected to see a moderate pickup in growth in 2019–2020, albeit from a low base. The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 predicts that a worrisome combination of development challenges could further undermine growth. The report expresses concerns over the sustainability of global economic growth in the face of rising financial, social and environmental challenges.

10) Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a 1210-meter span-bridge over the river Ravi in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. About the Bridge: The bridge over river Ravi at Keerian – Gandial is a lifesaver for the people in the region. The bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 158.84 crore is a step forward in improving inter-state connectivity. The bridge will be of great help to 2,20,000 people living on the two sides Kathua in Jammu, and Pathankot in Punjab. This will save both time and cost by reducing the distance between two places Keerian – Gandial from 45 kms to 8.6 kms. River Ravi: The River Ravi originates near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh and drains the area between the Pir Panjal and the Dhaola Dhar ranges. The river Ravi enters plains of Punjab near Madhopur and enters Pakistan downstream of Amritsar. It merges into the river Chenab a little above Rangpur in Pakistani Punjab.

11) The Rashtriya Bal Puraskar was presented by President Ram Nath Kovind. President conferred awards to 26 awardees including one joint award for National Child Award (now renamed as Bal Shakti Puraskar) under the category of innovation, scholastic, sports, arts & culture, social service and bravery. 2 individuals and 3 institutions will also be awarded under National Child Welfare Awards category (now renamed as BalKalyanPuraskar). The awardees were chosen by the National Selection Committee under the Chairpersonship of Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister of Women and Child Development. Pradhan Mantri National Children Awards: The earlier national awards for children have been revamped as Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. An additional component of bravery has also been added. The categories under the Pradhan Mantri National Children Awards are: Bal Shakti Puraskar (erstwhile known as National Child Award). Bal Kalyan Puraskar (erstwhile known as National Child Welfare Award). Bal Shakti Puraskar carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/-, book vouchers worth Rs. 10,000/-, a certificate and a citation. It is awarded in the categories of Innovation, Social Service, Scholastic, Sports, Art & Culture and Bravery. Bal Kalyan Puraskar is awarded for both individuals and institutions working towards the welfare of children. The award for an individual consists of a cash prize of Rs. 1, 00,000/- (one lakh), a medal, a citation and a certificate to each awardee. The award for institution consists of a prize of Rs. 5,00,000/- each and a medal, a citation and a certificate.

12) India’s premier container port Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has become India’s only port to get listed among the top 30 global container ports in Top 100 Container Ports report. JNPT has notched up five spots, to be 28th on the list, compared to its previous ranking. What made this jump possible? The Union Ministry of Shipping has outlined the various initiatives at JNPT which has made the jump possible: New processes activated under the ‘ease of doing business’ initiative have helped in the overall growth of the port business. The new processes also aided the Export-Import trade to save time and cost which in turn have accentuated the growth story. JNPT has also launched the app services to facilitate better tracking of consignment and ease the trade process for their EXIM partners. The app launched by the JNPT allows traders to access all the relevant information about their consignment and port-related updates regarding traffic and weather on their fingertips. Top 100 Container Ports Report: Top 100 Container Ports report from Lloyd’s List Containers provides an exclusive analysis of with detailed information on each port and sets out the winners and losers each year. The report also provides in-depth profiles, analysis, and insight of all 100 facilities, detailing terminals operators, box volumes, recent developments, and pipeline projects.

13) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana. The features of the Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana are: Under the scheme, a group of Indian diaspora will be taken on a government-sponsored tour of religious places in India twice a year. The first batch of 40 people participated in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 held in Varanasi. Those selected would be taken to religious places of all major religions in India. The government will bear all the expenses including the airfare from their country of residence. People of Indian-origin aged 45 to 65 can apply can avail the benefits under the scheme. The Scheme accords first preference to people from Girmitiya countries such as Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Girmitiya countries: Girmitiya’s are the descendants of indentured Indian labourers brought to Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, East Africa, the Malay Peninsula, Caribbean and South America (Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname) to work on sugarcane plantations for the prosperity of the European settlers. The term Girmitiya was coined by the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi who referred to himself as first Girmitiya. The countries where these indentured Indian labourers settled are known as Girmitiya countries.

14) The SBI Ecowrap report recommends the government to opt for the unconditional cash transfer to farmers to alleviate agrarian distress rather than Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme. Why does the SBI report recommend unconditional cash transfer? The report has recommended the unconditional cash transfer based on the following reasons: Currently, it is not feasible to implement Rythu Bandhu Scheme at the national level because the land data is yet to be digitized in several states including Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. Hence the unconditional cash transfer scheme is a best available option as it will be more equitable (on a per farmer basis) with a meaningful impact and once the problems are ironed out in terms of proper tenancy laws, then it can be made conditional. The report mentions that many countries have found that UBI does not address the structural problems and is at best a solution in interregnum. The report estimates various subsidy benefits the farmers are availing and suggests if a farmer is availing one or all the three modes of subsidy/supports (Crop Insurance, Interest Subsidy and Fertilizer Subsidy) then he/she will receive a minimum of Rs 5,335 to maximum Rs 10,162 per annum as cash support. The report predicts that government would be required to provide cash support in the range of Rs 10,000-12,000 per annum to make it completely cash neutral and the annual cost of such a scheme is Rs 1.2 lakh crore per annum. The challenge of providing cash transfer to tenant transfer would be left unaddressed under this scheme. The study notes that there have been reports saying that the government is planning to provide direct cash support to the farmers in lieu of various farm level subsidies/support.

15) A new study has revealed that contrary to popular belief, not only obese and overweight but also non-obese and lean persons may be prone to type 2 diabetes. The study indicates that nearly 20 to 30 per cent suffering from diabetes are non-obese and even some are lean. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way body metabolizes sugar (glucose). With Type 2 diabetes body either resists the effects of insulin, a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. The popular belief was that obesity and sedentary lifestyle are considered to be the main pivotal factors for insulin resistance and consequent diabetes. The new study has busted this myth that increasing obesity alone is the main causative factor. Why the Non-obese and lean Indians are prone to diabetes? The study notes that non-obese (BMI below 25) and even lean (BMI below 19) Indians have high body fat, excess fat in the liver and skeletal muscles and lesser skeletal muscle mass. More importantly, a large number of non-obese and lean Indians has ectopic fat in liver and pancreas which may contribute to insulin resistance leading to diabetes even in young age.

16) The findings from the World Economic Forum’s public opinion survey register regional variations on the various issues. Few of them are listed below: When asked how important it is for countries to work together towards a common goal, a global average of 76 per cent said they believe it is either extremely important or very important. The favourable sentiments were strongly felt in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where 88 per cent share the same view. On the other hand, 61 per cent of Western Europeans and 70 per cent of North Americans said they consider cooperation to be extremely or very important. When asked whether their country has a responsibility to help other countries in the world, South Asia had the highest levels of concurrence with 94 per cent answering positively compared to a global average of 72 per cent. While the North Americans and Western Europeans were the least effusive, with only 61 per cent and 63 per cent respectively answering in the affirmative. At a global level, 57 per cent, said they believe that immigrants are “mostly good” for their new country. But only 40 per cent of those living in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and 46 per cent of respondents in Western Europe subscribe to the same opinion, whereas the South Asians and North Americans exclusively agreed to this. Most people still believe in the power of international cooperation but they share a much less positive view of their own country when it comes to social progress. Only 20 per cent of respondents in Western Europe feel it is either extremely common or somewhat common for someone to be born poor and become rich through hard work. These variations are attributed to the socio-economic and political reasons.

17) The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its findings from the public opinion survey. The survey covered a sample size of over 10,000 people from every region of the world. Findings of the Survey: The outcome of the survey proposes the following findings: At a time the world is facing huge economic risks from growing trade disputes and inward-looking policies, the public opinion is overwhelmingly against populism and favours openness. The survey proposes that global public overwhelmingly favours multilateral cooperation, is open to immigration and rejects the notion that countries’ best interests are achieved at the expense of others. Majority of the people across the globe believe immigrants are mostly good for their adopted country. The respondents believe upward mobility is too elusive and that governments are not doing enough to provide people with opportunity. North Americans have the least trust in climate science. Western Europeans are least likely to regard technology companies as altruistic. The Survey concludes that while the international communities capacity for concerted action appears constrained, the overwhelming desire of the global public is for leaders to find new ways to work together that will allow them to cooperate on these critical shared challenges we all face.

18) A Fitch Group company, India Ratings has released its report on states finances. The important findings of the report are: Loan waiver and other support measures for farmers are expected to raise the aggregate fiscal deficit of states to 3.2 per cent in 2018-19. Further, the fiscal deficit would increase by 40 basis points (100 basis points or bps equal to 1 per cent) in the financial year 2019-20. The competitive populism in the nature of farm loan waivers and other financial support schemes is expected to take centre stage in the run-up to the next general elections and this would have a larger impact on fiscal and revenue deficit to gross state domestic product ratios for Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan, among non-special category states, in the financial year 2019-20. The states revenue account on aggregate is expected to clock a deficit of 0.5 per cent of GDP in the financial year 2019-20 due to higher growth in revenue expenditure than in revenue receipts. The aggregate revenue expenditure is expected to grow by 18.9 per cent in 2018-19 from 11.2 per cent during the financial year 2017-18. It is expected that efforts to provide for the funds to support measures for the farm sector would adversely impact capital expenditure. The capital expenditure as a percentage of GDP would come in marginally lower at 3.0 per cent during the current fiscal, from the Budget estimate of 3.07 per cent in the financial year 2018-19. The agency expects a below 3 per cent capital expenditure ratio for Tamil Nadu, Haryana, West Bengal and Kerala in the financial year 2019-20. The higher expenditure would push the aggregate debt to GDP ratio1 per cent during 2018-19 against a Budget estimate of 24.3 per cent. Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are most susceptible to stage an increase in the debt burden in the financial year 2019-20. The agency estimates the gross market borrowings of states to be Rs 5.7 trillion in FY 2019-2020. The India Ratings does not view the increase of the debt to be detrimental to the states’ debt sustainability position, even though states would channelise some part of the borrowings towards meeting revenue expenditure.

19) The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari announced that the Centre would soon take up a major project to Link Rivers Godavari and Cauvery. The detailed project report for linking rivers Godavari-Krishna-Pennar-Cauvery has been finalised and will be presented before the cabinet soon for approval. Objectives of the Project- The objectives of the project are: The project aims to make good use of about 1100 tmc ft of Godavari water that is currently getting drained into the Bay of Bengal. The project would take the water from river Godavari to the tail end of Tamil Nadu. The government aims to raise finances for the project either from the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank as the project cost is about Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore. The government aims to address the water deficit being faced and the resulting water dispute among the riparian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry over sharing of the water from river Cauvery. The project would use low thickness steel pipes with a special treatment for linking Godavari and Cauvery rather than canals as it results in water loss due to evaporation losses. The use of use low thickness steel pipes would also aid in reducing the project costs.

20) An Indian Research team comprising of T V Ramachandra and S Bharath (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore); S Vinay and A. Shashishankar (Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, India) undertook a study to examine the possible impact of unplanned development on Ecology of Central Western Ghats. The study focussed on River Kali that originates in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka and joins the Arabian Sea. The river has six major dams, 325 species of flora, and 190 species of fauna and the river is as old as the Western Ghats. Findings of the Study- The important findings highlighted in the study are: Unplanned developmental activities and land use patterns are reducing the evergreen forest cover and perennial streams in the central region of the Western Ghats in India. Researchers by studying the remote sensing data found that between the years 1973 and 2016, the forest cover has reduced from 85% to 55%. The land use pattern in the region has changed during 1980–2000 period due to developmental projects such as dams built on the river Kali, Kaiga nuclear plant and Dandeli paper mill which has led to large scale destruction of forests. As a result, the evergreen forests have shrunk by from 62% to 38.5% during 1980–2000 period and large water reservoirs have been constructed at the expense of forest cover. Even though River Kali has sufficient water supply and perennial streams in the Ghats and coastal areas, Regions that lie in plain lands with a higher degree of agriculture and cultivation have an intermittent and seasonal flow that has led to water scarcity for 4 to 9 months in a year. The study citing Perennial streams were found in regions that have greater than 70% of forest cover links ecology and hydrology with land use. Researchers propose that Forests with native species of vegetation play a pivotal role in enhancing the water retention capability of the catchment. The findings of the study show that Villagers in the vicinity of native forests earn Rs 1.54 lakh per acre per year compared to Rs 32,000 in villages with stream catchments experiencing deforestation. This confirms the vital role of native forests in sustaining water and people’s livelihood. The study concludes that management practices adopted by engineers were contributing to the erosion of water retention capability in the river catchment with severe water scarcity. The study recommends government agencies to establish better management and conservation strategies to maintain forest cover for food and water security.

21) The Supreme Court has announced that it would take ‘in-chamber’ decision on listing of plea challenging Article 35-A. ‘In-chamber’ decision refers to a process of decision making where the orders are issued from the Justice’s chambers without a formal court proceeding. Article 35A of the Indian Constitution: Article 35A empowers the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature to decide who all are ‘permanent residents’ of the State and confer on them special rights and privileges in public sector jobs, acquisition of property in the State, scholarships and other public aid and welfare. Genesis of the Article 35A: Article 35A was incorporated into the Constitution in 1954 by an order of the then President Rajendra Prasad on the advice of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cabinet. The Article 35A was incorporated based on the 1952 Delhi Agreement entered between then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah. The agreement extended Indian citizenship to the ‘State subjects’ of Jammu and Kashmir. The Presidential order was issued under Article 370 (1) (d) of the Constitution which allows the President to make certain “exceptions and modifications” to the Constitution for the benefit of ‘State subjects’ of Jammu and Kashmir. What is the matter before the Supreme Court? A petition has been filed by NGO ‘We The Citizens” challenging the constitutional validity of both Article 35A and Article 370. The arguments made are: Four representatives from Kashmir were part of the Constituent Assembly involved in the drafting of the Constitution and the State of Jammu and Kashmir was never accorded any special status in the Constitution. Article 370 was only a ‘temporary provision’ to help bring normality in Jammu and Kashmir and strengthen democracy in that State. Constitution-makers did not intend Article 370 to be a tool to bring permanent amendments, like Article 35A, in the Constitution. Article 35 A is against the very spirit of oneness of India as it creates a class within a class of Indian citizens. Restricting citizens from other States from getting employment or buying property within Jammu and Kashmir is a violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. Petitions have also been filed by NGO, ‘Ikkjut Jammu’ and Jammu and Kashmir native Charu Wali Khanna questioning the constitutional validity of Article 35A. The State government is defending the Article 35A citing two verdicts of the constitution benches of the Supreme Court in 1961 and 1969, which had upheld the powers of the President under Article 370(1)(d) of the Constitution to pass constitutional orders.

22) The Global Talent Competitive Index prepared by the INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group was released on the first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2019. The Global Talent Competitive Index measures how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent, ranking 125 countries and 114 cities across all groups of income and levels of development. Where does India stand? The findings of the 2019 Global Talent Index for India are: Even though India has moved up one position to rank 80th on the global talent competitive index, India remains a laggard among the BRICS nations. India’s performance was better than its lower-income peers when it comes to growing talent (48th) and access to growth opportunities (41st). In spite of the scope for improvement across the board, India’s biggest challenge is to improve its ability to attract (95th) and retain (96th) talent. India needs to address its poor level of Internal Openness (116th) in particular with respect to weak gender equality and low tolerance towards minorities and immigrants and its disappointing showing in lifestyle (112th) indicators. Global Findings: The global findings of the Index are: Switzerland is followed by Singapore, the US, Norway and Denmark in the top five on the list. The talent gap between higher and lower-income countries has widened over the last five years. Countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa are seeing a progressive erosion of their talent base. China’s ranking fell by two places to 45. Even then China is the best performer among BRICS countries. The report cities rather than countries are developing stronger roles as talent hubs and will be crucial in reshaping the global talent scene. The top-ranked city in the index is Washington DC, followed by Copenhagen, Oslo, Vienna and Zurich. The study found that entrepreneurial talent has become a key differentiator in relative talent competitiveness.

23) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated two surveys namely, Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS), and Services and Infrastructure Outlook Survey (SIOS). The two quarterly surveys aim to examine the current situation including the job scenario in India’s manufacturing, services and infrastructure sectors. Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS): The Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS) is based on qualitative responses on a set of indicators pertaining to demand conditions, financial conditions, employment conditions and the price situation. The IOS would provide useful insight into the performance of the manufacturing sector. The IOS would be undertaken by Hansa Research Group Pvt Ltd. Services and Infrastructure Outlook Survey (SIOS): The Services and Infrastructure Outlook Survey (SIOS) seeks an assessment of the business situation for the current quarter (January-March 2019) from selected companies in the services and infrastructure sectors in India, and their outlook for the ensuing quarter (April-June 2019). The SIOS would be undertaken by Spectrum Planning India Ltd.

24) The International Monetary Fund in its World Economic Outlook has suggested various policy measures to arrest the downward growth trend. They are: Resolving cooperatively and quickly the trade disagreements which may derail the global trade and addressing the resulting policy uncertainty, rather than further creating harmful barriers and destabilizing an already slowing global economy. Accomplishing the call of G20 leaders to reform the World Trade Organization. Adjusting the fiscal space where it is low in a growth-friendly manner to ensure public debt is on a sustainable path, while protecting the most vulnerable. The monetary policies of advanced economies should continue to normalize carefully by taking necessary steps to address the slowing growth momentum. The IMF also advocates for measures to boost potential output growth and enhance inclusiveness across all economies to broaden the growth. The World Economic Outlook notes that policy space for countries is more limited than in 2008. As a result, multilateral cooperation will be even more important in the event of a sharper decline in global growth. The IMF notes that it is here the multilateral institutions must be equipped with adequate resources to deal with the rising risks.

25) The International Monetary Fund has released the global wealth forecasts for 2019 in its World Economic Outlook report. The important findings of the IMF forecast are: IMF cut its estimate for global growth in 2019. World Economic Outlook (WEO) projecting global growth at 3.5% in 2019 and 3.6% in 2020 is 0.2 and 0.1 percentage point below last October’s projections. The global forecasts decline in the October report was attributed to the negative effects of tariff increases enacted in the United States and China. The further downward revision in the current report reflects carry over from softer momentum in the second half of 2018. The impact introduction of new automobile fuel emission standards in Germany is expected to adversely impact on the growth. In Italy, the concerns about sovereign and financial risks have weighed on domestic demand but also weakening financial market sentiment as well as a contraction in Turkey now projected to be deeper than anticipated. The report notes that the range of triggers beyond escalating trade tensions could spark a further deterioration in risk sentiment with adverse growth implications, especially given the high levels of public and private debt. These potential triggers include a no-deal withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and a greater-than-envisaged slowdown in The forecasts for advanced economies has been revised downwards mainly due to downward revisions for the euro area and within the euro area, there was a downward revision for Germany and Italy due to the reasons mentioned above. The US expansion may witness a reverse trend with the unwinding of fiscal stimulus. The IMF forecast foresees a growth slowdown from 2.3% in 2018 to 2% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020 for advanced economies. The forecast foresees a growth tick down to 4.5% in 2019, with a rebound to 4.9% in 2020 for emerging and developing economies. The projections for the emerging and developing economies have been lowered (0.2 percentage point) from October mainly because of a largely projected contraction in Turkey, downgrade to growth in Mexico in 2019-20. The rebound in 2020 is attributed to an expected recovery in Argentina and The headwinds due to weaker capital flows following higher US policy rates and exchange rate depreciations are reflected in the outlook for emerging markets and developing economies. The cyclical forces which propelled broad-based global growth since the second half of 2017 are weakening faster than the IMF expected in October. Hence the downward revisions in the projections.

26) The Annual Wealth Check report 2019 of Oxfam has been released. The release of the report marked the start of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The important features of the report are: 26 richest billionaires own as many assets as the 3.8 billion people who make up the poorest half of the world. The rich had grown richer and the poor poorer in 2018. The widening gap is hindering the fight against poverty. The report estimates that a wealth tax of 1% would raise an estimated $418bn (£325bn) a year. This would be enough to educate every child not in school and provide healthcare that would prevent 3 million deaths. The wealth of more than 2,200 billionaires across the globe had increased by $900 billion in 2018 i.e $2.5 billion a day. The 12 per cent increase in the wealth of the very richest contrasted with a fall of 11 per cent in the wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population. The wealth of the world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, saw an increase to $112 billion. Just 1 per cent of his fortune is equivalent to the whole health budget for Ethiopia. The number of billionaires has doubled during the last 10 years. A new billionaire was being created every two days in 2017-2018. Facts about India: The top 1% of India’s richest lot got richer by 39% as against just 3% increase in the wealth for the bottom half of the population. The wealth of the Indian billionaires witnessed an increase by Rs 2,200 crore a day last year. 6 Crore Indians who make up the poorest 10 per cent of the country, continued to remain in debt since 2004. Top 10% of the richest population in India holds 77.4% of the total national wealth. The combined revenue and capital expenditure of the centre and states for medical, public health, sanitation and water supply is 2,08,166 crore, is less than the country’ richest man Mukesh Ambani’s wealth of Rs. 2.8 lakh crore. In many countries including India, a decent education or quality healthcare has become a luxury only the rich can afford. Children from poor families in India are three times more likely to die before their first birthday than children from rich families. The calculations and interpolations in the report were based on the data from the latest comprehensive data sources available publicly, including from the Credit Suisse Wealth Databook and the annual Forbes Billionaires.

27) The World Health Organisation (WHO) list of 10 global health threats lists 10 issues which demand immediate attention from WHO and health partners in 2019 has been released. They are: Air pollution and climate change- Nine out of ten people breathe polluted air every day. In 2019, air pollution is considered by WHO as the greatest environmental risk to health. Burning fossil fuels which are a major contributor to climate change also impacts people’s health in different ways. Noncommunicable diseases- Noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, are collectively responsible for over 70% of all deaths world and are responsible for over 85% of these premature deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. Global influenza pandemic- WHO warns of impending influenza pandemic.WHO states that Global defences are only as effective as the weakest link in any country’s health emergency preparedness and response system. Fragile and vulnerable settings- WHO notes that fragile settings exist in almost all regions of the world, and half of the key targets in the sustainable development goals, including on child and maternal health, remains unmet. Antimicrobial resistance- Time with antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials is running out. Antimicrobial resistance which is the ability of bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi to resist these medicines is threatening to send the world back to a time when the world was unable to easily treat infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis. Ebola and other high-threat pathogens- 2018 witnessed two separate Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both outbreaks spread to cities of more than 1 million people and One of the affected provinces was also in an active conflict zone. Similar outbreaks can be witnessed in 2019. Weak Primary Health Care- Primary health care is the first point of contact people have with their health care system, and Primary Health Care centres should provide comprehensive, affordable, community-based care throughout life. Yet many countries do not have adequate primary health care facilities. Vaccine hesitancy- The reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines threatens to reverse progress made in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases. WHO notes that complacency, inconvenience in accessing vaccines, and lack of confidence are key reasons underlying hesitancy. Dengue- Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that causes flu-like symptoms which can be lethal and kill up to 20% of those with severe dengue. A high number of cases occur in the rainy seasons of countries such as Bangladesh and India, with rainy seasons lengthening significantly and the disease is spreading to less tropical and more temperate countries such as Nepal which have not traditionally seen the disease, Dengue needs to be fought with urgency. HIV- Even though enormous progress has been made in terms of getting people tested, providing them with antiretrovirals and providing access to preventive measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, the epidemic continues to rage with nearly a million people every year dying of HIV/AIDS.

28) US-based Indian poet Ranjani Murali received the ‘Woman’s Voice Award’ at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF). The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh apart from a citation. Woman’s Voice Award: Prabha Khaitan Woman’s Voice Award popularly known as Woman’s Voice Award aims to recognize and encourage creative writing by women in India, to help build a network of women writers across India by creating a forum for their work, and to support the publication of new creative writing by women in India. It is a joint initiative between Oxford Bookstore and Prabha Khaitan Foundation. Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF): Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) was the first literary festival of India. It is also the only literary Festival to be driven by a bookstore and it celebrates books, music, art, film. AKLF d explores literature as part of our tangible and intangible heritage.

29) The states of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya celebrated their 47th Statehood Day on 21st January. The states of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became full-fledged states on January 21, 1972. State Reorganisation of North-East: At the time of Independence, India’s North-East region composed of three kinds of entities mentioned below: Assam Province of British India. Princely states of Manipur and Tripura. North East Frontier Province (NEFA). Manipur and Tripura were granted the status Union Territories in 1949. On 1 December 1963 statehood was granted for Nagaland. Meghalaya was made an autonomous state within Assam via the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969 as per the sixth schedule of the constitution. In 1972, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were granted full statehood via the North East Reorganization Act 1972 and the Mizo Hills region of Assam and NEFA were converted into a Union Territory. As a result of the Mizo Accord of 1986, Mizoram emerged as a full-fledged state of India in 1987. Even the NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh) was granted full-fledged statehood in 1987. Meghalaya has organised a week-long programme on the theme, ‘Celebrating Meghalaya-India’, on the occasion of the 47th Statehood Day and the 70th Republic Day.

30) Facebook grants $7.5 million to set up an Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany. About the Proposed Institute- The Institute will work in the following avenues: The Institute will help to advance the growing field of ethical research on new technology and will explore fundamental issues affecting the use and impact of AI. The Institute will explore the ethical issues of AI and develop ethical guidelines for the responsible use of technology in society and the economy. The institute will conduct independent, evidence-based research to provide insight and guidance for society, industry, legislators and decision-makers across the private and public sectors. The institute will look into issues that affect the use and impact of AI, such as safety, privacy, fairness and transparency. Technical University of Munich (TUM): Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of Europe’s top universities committed to excellence in research and teaching, interdisciplinary education and the active promotion of promising young scientists. It has forged strong links with companies and scientific institutions across the world. The university has campuses in Munich, Garching and Freising-Weihenstephan. The alumni of the university include 17 Nobel laureates, 18 Leibniz Prize winners and 22 IEEE Fellow Members.

31) The Delhi High Court has allowed the release of the movie ‘72 Hours – Martyr who never died’. The film was based on the life of the 1962 war hero Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat. Jaswant Singh Rawat was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for gallantry during the 1962 war. The family members of the Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat had sought a stay on the release citing it intrudes their privacy. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat: Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was serving as an Indian Army soldier serving in the Garhwal Rifles. He was serving in the 4th battalion of Garhwal Rifles during the battle of Nuranang of the North-East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh)in the war of 1962. On 17 November 1962 Garhwal Rifles had beaten back two enemy attacks. During the third attack Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat along with Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, volunteered to silence the Chinese medium machine gun (MMG) which had come close to the Indian defences. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat along with Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain with covering fire from with Lance Naik Trilok Singh destroyed the Chinese detachment of five men, seizing the MMG in the process. While returning Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat along with Lance Naik Trilok Singh were killed and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain was seriously injured. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was honoured by building a memorial at the post where he fought the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and it was named as “Jaswant Garh”. He is also bestowed with another honour as per which he continues to serve even after death. He has been awarded promotions as if he is still serving.

32) The Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal has instructed the caterers at Varanasi and Rae Bareli stations to use terracotta-made kulhads, glasses and plates. The Kulhads are all set to make a comeback after they were first introduced during UPA 1, later to be brushed aside by plastic and paper cups. Why there is a proposal to reintroduce Kulhads? The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) had recommended the Railway Minister to re-introduce Kulhads in Varanasi and Rae Bareli to aid in generating employment. Under the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana of KVIC, electric wheels were issued to potters in Varanasi and Rae Bareli. As a result, the productivity of potters was increased from 100 cups to around 600 cups a day. This generated a necessity to find a market for enhanced productivity. This proposal to reintroduce Kulhads lakhs will result in a readymade market of potters. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC): The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956. KVIC works under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with an aim to plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development.

33) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, will inaugurate the 2nd World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019 on the ‘Regulation of Homeopathic Medical Products; Advancing global collaboration’ organised on 23-25 January 2019 at Goa. Themes for the Forum 2019: The forum is organised by Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, under the Ministry of AYUSH. The themes of the forum are: Regulatory collaborations. Converging on minimum regulatory & legal standards. Advancing safety and quality standards. Regulatory trend towards standardization and minimizing complexity. Recognizing homeopathy as a distinct holistic medical system and Veterinary homoeopathy. The World Integrated Medicine Forum 2019 will explore and illustrate the potential benefits and pitfalls of bi-lateral/multilateral collaboration and advance global cooperation on a synergistic basis. Vision of the Forum 2019: The increasing demand for homeopathic products by patients and health care providers worldwide needs to be underpinned by appropriate regulatory frameworks which respect the national context as well as benefit from experiences and collaboration at an international level. World Integrated Medicine Forum: World Integrated Medicine Forum aims to develop an evidence-based Traditional and Integrated Systems of Medicine by promoting public-private co-operation.

34) The Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb unveiled the official logo of Tripura Tea. The Tripura Tea logo features Neermahal, the iconic landmark of Tripura. About Neermahal: Neermahal was built by then Tripura King Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman Manikya in the middle of Rudrasagar Lake, as his summer residence. It is located in Melaghar, around 53 km west of Agartala. This is the largest water palace in India and one of two water palaces in India. The other water palace of India is located at Jal Mahal in Rajasthan. Climatic Conditions favourable for Tea Cultivation: The following factors are favourable for Tea cultivation: A temperature of 21-29 deg c. Annual Rainfall of 150-200 cm. The soil must be rich in humus as tea shrubs require fertile mountain soil mixed with lime and iron. Well drained land to prevent stagnation of water. Tripura and Tea cultivation: The tea cultivation in Tripura began at Hiracherra estate in Unakoti district in 1916. At present, Tripura is the second largest tea producing state in the northeast and produces 10 million kg of tea annually with an area of 6,430 hectares under cultivation.

35) The Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor. During the inauguration, investments worth over Rs 3,038 crore in this defence corridor were announced. Lockheed Martin, a global security giant, also announced its intention to invest in the corridor. About the Corridor: The important features about the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor are: It is also called as Tamil Nadu Defence Production Quad as the nodal cities of Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli form a quadrilateral with one of them at the centre. The five nodal cities already have existing defence ecosystem in the form of ordnance factory boards, vendors working with defence PSUs, and other allied industries. Together with helping in accelerated growth and regional industry agglomeration, the defence corridor will also facilitate a well-planned and efficient industrial base which will lead to increased defence production in the country and the region. The corridor will help the industry to integrate with the global supply chain of Defence manufacturing. Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor would be a specialised facility of aero component manufacturing. Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor is the country’s second defence industrial corridor after the first one was launched in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh August last year. Tamil Nadu currently ranks 4th in exports with 9.8% of India’s total exports. The corridor will further expand the exporting opportunities from the state.

36) National Conference is being held by Forum for Integrated National Security in association with Indigenous Defence Entrepreneurs Association. Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing: Self-Reliance in defence manufacturing in India is a matter of great importance to achieve multidimensional credible deterrence and to safeguard national interests in fast-changing international relations with respect to geopolitical as well as geo-economic influence on our nation’s rightful place in the world order. Under Make in India initiative various initiatives taken towards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing, which include: Preference for procurement from Indian vendors under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). Simplification of Make procedure. Introduction of a simplified procedure for Make II sub-category. Liberalization of the licensing regime. Changes in FDI policy by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector, Simplification of the export procedure. Streamlining of defence offset guidelines etc. Strategic Partnership Model which envisages the establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian entities through a transparent and competitive process, wherein they would tie up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains. This is the second edition of the conference. The first National Conference on Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing was held in 2015 at Hyderabad.

37) National Conference on Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing is organised at Hyderabad. The National Conference is being held by Forum for Integrated National Security in association with Indigenous Defence Entrepreneurs Association. Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing: Self-Reliance in defence manufacturing in India is a matter of great importance to achieve multidimensional credible deterrence and to safeguard national interests in fast-changing international relations with respect to geopolitical as well as geo-economic influence on our nation’s rightful place in the world order. Under Make in India initiative various initiatives taken towards achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing, which include: Preference for procurement from Indian vendors under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). Simplification of Make procedure. Introduction of a simplified procedure for Make II sub-category. Liberalization of the licensing regime. Changes in FDI policy by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector, Simplification of the export procedure. Streamlining of defence offset guidelines etc. Strategic Partnership Model which envisages the establishment of long-term strategic partnerships with Indian entities through a transparent and competitive process, wherein they would tie up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to seek technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains. This is the second edition of the conference. The first National Conference on Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing was held in 2015 at Hyderabad.

38) The Union Home Ministry has tweaked the travel document norms for visiting Nepal and Bhutan. As per new norms, Indian can travel to Nepal and Bhutan by producing Aadhaar as Identity proof but this is only for those Indians aged under 15 and over 65 years. Indians other than in those age brackets will not be able to use Aadhaar to travel for Nepal and Bhutan. Open Door Policy: India has an open door policy with Nepal and Bhutan. Indians don’t require a passport to travel to either of these countries. Indians can enter these countries by showing any of the acceptable photo identity documents like Passport, Voter Id etc. Why the Open Door Policy? India’s open door policy with Nepal and Bhutan is in recognition with the shared history, culture and deep-rooted interpersonal ties of Indians with the citizens of these countries. Article 7 the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship allows free movement of people between the two nations on a reciprocal basis. The 1949 Treaty of Friendship between India and Bhutan allows for free movement of people between the two nations on a reciprocal basis. Hence as a result of these two treaties mentioned above Indians doesn’t need a visa to enter Nepal or Bhutan.

39) Rio de Janeiro has been recognised as ‘World Capital of Architecture’ for 2020 by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Rio de Janeiro will be hosting the World Congress of the International Union of Architects (UIA) in July 2020. The theme of the 2020 World Congress of the International Union of Architects is “All the worlds. Just one world,” UNESCO in the release said that “Through the range and quality of its activities, the World Capital of Architecture in Rio de Janeiro will demonstrate the crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable urban development.” World Capital of Architecture: The World Capital of Architecture initiative underscores the common commitment of UNESCO and the UIA to preserve architectural heritage in the urban context. UNESCO designates the World Capital of Architecture as per the partnership agreement with the UIA. The World Capital of Architecture also hosts the UIA’s World Congress, an event that takes place every three years. The World Capital of Architecture aims to become an international forum for debates about pressing global challenges from the perspectives of culture, cultural heritage, urban planning and architecture.

40) Microsoft India launched a new e-commerce platform ‘re-weave.in’ under project ReWeave to aid handloom weavers. Benefits of e-commerce platform- The e-commerce platform would provide the following benefits: The e-commerce platform would connect artisans to the buyers directly enabling them to expand to newer customers and markets. Provide a platform to showcase signature collections created by the weaver communities, showcase traditional designs and products created from natural dyes to a broad set of customers. The e-commerce platform would aid in weavers in increasing their income and earning a sustainable livelihood while also reviving traditional forgotten Indian art. Project ReWeave: Project ReWeave was initiated by Microsoft India (R&D) Pvt. Limited in 2016 as part of its Philanthropies efforts, with the aim to revive the handloom weaving ecosystem in India. Under the initiative, Microsoft is working closely with NGO partner, Chaitanya Bharathi to provide infrastructure, financing and marketing support to help weaver families keep their weaving traditions alive by sustaining livelihoods.

41) The first Sheikh Saud International Prize for Materials Research has been awarded to C N R Rao. The award will be presented to Rao by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi ruler of Ras Al Khaimah emirate during the International Workshop on Advanced Materials at Ras Al Khaimah on February 25. C N R Rao: Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao popularly known as C N R Rao is an Indian scientist who has made significant contributions in material research. He has authored over 1,600 research papers and 50 books. His areas of research include transition metal oxides and other extended inorganic solids, metal-insulator transitions, nano-materials including nanotubes and graphene, artificial photosynthesis and hydrogen generation by photocatalysis and thermal means. He has been honoured several national and international awards which include honorary fellowship of the ‘Royal Society of Chemistry’, London in 1989 and ‘Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur’ from France in 2005. He has also been conferred with ‘Padma Shri’ (1974), ‘Padma Vibhushan’ (1985) and ‘Karnataka Ratna’ (2001), Bharat Ratna(2014) among others.

42) The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Armoured Systems Complex (ASC), developed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at Hazira near Surat in Gujarat. This Armoured Systems Complex (ASC) is the country’s first private facility where the K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns will be manufactured. K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns: The features of the K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns. The gun weighs 50 tonnes and can fire 47kg bombs at a 43-kilometre distance target. It can turn around at zero radii. K9 Vajra is a variant of K9 specially designed for operation in the desert areas bordering Pakistan. Make in India – Defence: The Armoured Systems Complex (ASC) at Hazaria is a striking example of Make in India Defence. The L&T is executing the production of the K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzer guns and has signed a transfer of technology contract for guns with South Korean company Hanwha Corporation. Around 400 SMEs are involved in developing 13,000 parts and steps are being taken to make a totally indigenous battle tank without having to depend on external help. The Army now doesn’t have to depend on foreign nations for spare parts during its 40-year life cycle. The Army’s life cycle cost will be drastically reduced.

43) The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the Foundation Stone for several development projects at Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The projects include: Foundation Stone of Medical College in Sayli, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Unveiling of IT policy for Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Launching of M-Aarogya mobile app. Launching of the door to door waste collection, segregation and processing of Solid Waste in Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Distribution of Gold cards to beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat. Distribution Van Adhikar Patra to the beneficiaries. M-Aarogya mobile app: M-Aarogya mobile app is introduced by the Directorate of Medical and Health Services, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to cater a better healthcare experience to citizens. The app intends to improve and enhance patient engagement through the new mobile app. The M-Aarogya mobile app is a one-stop centre to vail various services like Booking appointments, Accessing past health records, Program & schemes, Upcoming camp and event, Feedback & Grievance, Government health facilities details, Add your family members, IEC, Get Emergency Help etc. Dadra and Nagar Haveli: Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a union territory wedged between the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The two regions Dadra and Nagar Haveli lie on the West coast, at the mouth of the Daman Ganga River. Both are separated from each other by a few kilometers. After prolonged skirmishes, the Maratha Government had assigned few villages to the Portuguese as compensation to ensure their friendship. Portuguese ruled this region till their liberation in 1954. After the liberation, Dadra and Nagar Haveli by people, between 1954-1961 the territory functioned almost independently as “Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli Administration”. It was merged with Union of India in 1961. Since then it is administered as Union Territory to preserve its distinct rich culture and heritage.

44) Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch a satellite exclusively for the Union Home Ministry to help it in strengthening its frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh among others. Features of the exclusive satellite for Border Management- The important features of the exclusive satellite for Border Management are: The exclusive satellite will be utilised for the purpose of using space resources for security, operational planning and border infrastructure development. It would strengthen island and border security and facilitate the development of infrastructure in border and island areas. A short, medium and long-term plan have been proposed for implementation in five years in close coordination with the ISRO and the Union Defence Ministry for the implementation in a time-bound manner. Under short term plan, immediate needs of border guarding forces will be met by procurement of high-resolution imagery and the hiring of bandwidth for communications. Under the mid-term plan, one satellite is being launched by the ISRO for the exclusive use of the MHA. Under long term plan, the MHA will develop ground segment and network infrastructure to share satellite resources by user agencies, develop a central archival facility for storing various imagery resources and dissemination of the same to user agencies. The plan for an exclusive satellite has been formulated based on the recommendations made by a task force on the use of space technology in improving border management.

45) The Central government has asked the states to step-up the spending under District Mineral Fund as just 24 per cent of the Rs 23,606-crore mopped up under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) was actually spent. The central government has also issued directions to ensure that there is no fund diversion or leakage. Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY): Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) is aimed at the welfare of areas and people affected by mining-related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). The objectives of the PMKKKY are: To implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs in mining-affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government. To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts. To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas. Care has been taken to include all aspects of living, to ensure substantial improvement in the quality of life. Further, the scheme mandates that 60 % share of the funds be spent on high priority areas like drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill development, women and child care, the welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and environmental conservation. Balance funds can be used for creating a supportive and conducive living environment by making roads, bridges, railways, waterways projects, irrigation and alternative energy sources. The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 makes it mandatory for the miners to contribute to the District Mineral Funds a percentage of the royalty payable to the government. The funds accumulated in the District Mineral Funds would be used for implementing PMKKKY.

46) Biofuels are being considered an alternative to reduce the country’s crude oil imports worth Rs7 lakh crore. They can also be a potential weapon to fight increasing pollution. The findings of the research by the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have substantiated the potential reduction in the emissions of the carbon-di-oxide by the adoption of methanol blending. Research by the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI): Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) conducted a study using 15% M-15 methanol blend in vehicles and tested them for 3,000km to evaluate emissions in real-world conditions as well as check the performance of the vehicles. The outcomes of the study showed that methanol blending with petrol in the existing BS-IV standard cars resulted in the reduction of the carbon-di-oxide emissions substantially. The study also found that hydrocarbon emission reduced marginally, with a slight increase in the levels of nitrogen oxides. The findings of the research were submitted to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. The Minister assured full support for ARAI in furthering the methanol blending programme, reiterating the government’s commitment to increase the methanol blending to 20% by the year 2030.

47) The Outbreak Readiness and Business Impact white paper has been released by the World Economic Forum. The white paper was released by the WEF in collaboration with the Harvard Global Health Institute. Highlights of the White Paper- The important findings of the report are: The number and kind of infectious disease outbreaks have increased significantly over the past 30 years. The world has witnessed 200 epidemic events per year since 2011. Pandemics will be the cause of average annual economic losses of 0.7 per cent of global GDP i.e. $ 570 billion. This is a threat similar in scale to that estimated for climate change in the coming decades. The business risk posed by a new era of epidemic risk can no longer be thought of exclusively and the companies operating globally should take action to mitigate threats posed by epidemics. Even the WEF’s Global Risks Report 2019 had also flagged concerns over naturally emerging infectious disease threats and risks posed by revolutionary new biotechnologies.

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