CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER PART - III · 2017. 2. 8. · 1 current affairs 1116_003 byju‟s classes:...

1 CURRENT AFFAIRS 1116_003 Byju‟s Classes: 9873643487

CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER PART - III

NOVEMBER 23- DECEMBER 6, 2016


POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Crop Insurance Scheme for Small Tea

Growers In News: The Centre is planning to roll out a crop insurance scheme for small tea growers.

Crop Insurance in India

The first crop insurance program was introduced

in 1972-73 by the 'General Insurance' Department of Life Insurance Corporation of India on H-4 cotton in Gujarat. Than a Pilot Crop Insurance Scheme (PCIS) from 1979.

Learning from these schemes, in 1985

Comprehensive Crop Insurance scheme (CCIS) was launched.

The Scheme was optional for the State

Governments.

It was linked to short-term crop credit, that is, all crop loans given for notified crops in notified areas were compulsorily covered under the CCIS.

In 1997, an Experimental Crop Scheme was

launched which lasted only for a year.

In 1999, National Agriculture Insurance Scheme

was launched. However, it was available for select ―notified‖ crops only.

This scheme was open to all farmers but was made

compulsory for loanee farmers.

The ―Area Approach‖ and Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) were the major flaws with

NAIS.

NAIS was modified and was called Modified NAIS or M-NAIS. In this scheme,

The area approach was done away with and unit

area was reduced to be the Gram Panchayat

Premium would be calculated on actuarial basis it

means higher risk crops would have higher

premium.

The number of crops under the scheme was

increased and Private insurers were allowed first

time.

Partial risk coverage, high premium rates and capped coverage area was the key problems.

In 2007, Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme

(WBCIS) was launched.

While M-NAIS indemnified the cultivators against

shortfall in crop yield; later protected against adverse weather conditions.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

PMFBY is the new crop damage insurance scheme

that has been approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2016.

It is open to all farmers but not mandatory to

anyone.

The farmers‘ premium has been kept at a maximum of 2 per cent for food grains and up to 5 per cent for annual commercial horticulture crops.

This scheme provides full coverage of insurance.

It also covers the localized risks such as hailstorm,

landslide, inundation etc. Earlier schemes did not cover inundation.

It provides post-harvest coverage. The NAIS did not

cover while the modified NAIS covered only coastal regions.

Proposed Tea Insurance Scheme

The three regions where the scheme is proposed to

be run as a pilot are Golaghat (Assam), Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) and Coonoor (Tamil Nadu) for the crop cycle of March to November for two consecutive years.

The Tea Board would be the nodal agency for the scheme.

The cost sharing ratio between the Centre, state and farm growers will be 75:15:10.

However, If the state government‘s declines to contribute than grower has to share the burden.

Large growers can also join the scheme, but will

have to pay the entire premium.

Issues of Small tea growers

As an emerging force in the Indian tea industry they contribute 35% of the production.

These tea growers are dependenton bought leaf

factories (BLF) as they have no processing facilities.

The BLF in turn buy the green leaf and sell it to the big companies in the organized industry after processing the teas.Most of these growers have no access to institutional finance.

Tea Plantation in India

Well-drained fertile acidic soil with 4.5-5.5 pH in a moderately hot and humid climate on high lands is conducive for growth of tea.

India is world‘s second largest tea producer after China.India‘s major Tea Producing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerla and Karnatka.

Key Definition Small Tea Growers: Tea growers having land holding of their plantation up to 10.12 hectare (25 acres).

Tea Board defined factories with capacity up to 200 kgs made tea production per day as ‗‘micro factory‘‘ and those below 500 kgs made tea production per day as ‗‘mini factory.‘‘

Area Approach” means on the basis of past

yield data states would notify the unit areas of

insurance such as blocks, mandals, Tehsil etc.

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan

Yojana (PMKKKY)

It is integration of various development and welfare projects and schemes of State and Central Government in mining affected areas.

To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas.

To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, on people in mining districts.

District Mineral Foundation (DMF) will be established in each mining districts funded by

statutory contributions from holders of mining lease.

60% of the DMFs fund will go to social welfare, skill development, and environment conservation.

http://iasparliament.com/dailynews/crop-insurance-scheme-for-small-tea-growers/




40% of the DMFs funds will go to infrastructure, irrigation, energy, watershed and other measures for enhancing environmental quality in mining district.

District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

It is a trust set up as a non-profit body, in those districts affected by the mining works.

It is established through the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act,

(MMDRA) 2015.

Itworks for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations.

Miners will have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of the royalty payable by them to the DMFs.DMF funds are treated as extra-budgetary

resources for the State Plan.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana

In News: The tabling of the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, offers another amnesty scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, on the heels of the Income Declaration Scheme that ended on September 30.

Income Tax law Amended

Under the ‗Taxation and Investment Regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016‘(PMGKY)

The declarant will be required to pay 30% of the undisclosed income as tax,10% as penalty and 33% of tax amount will be levied as surcharge as ‗Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Cess‘

In addition this (total 50%), the declarant have to

deposit 25% of undisclosed income under the ‗Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme, 2016‘.

In case if unaccounted money is caught by Government body they end up paying a punishing 82.5 per cent levy.

The proceeds of this scheme will be used to finance social welfare schemes.

Limitations of schemes

In the case of the PMGKY, an admission to unaccounted money can lead not just to a 50 per cent income tax levy, but also open up excise claims, thereby deterring an entrepreneur from coming clean.

In fact, the total levy may exceed 82.5 per cent,

which he might have to pay when the taxman seeks him out.

It will give huge discretionary power to tax authorities to peg the level of levy and interrogate the assesse.

Schemes for the empowerment of Tribals

National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, extends concessional financial assistance to individuals or group of STs for undertaking income generation/ business activities for their economic empowerment.

Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY): Under the scheme, Scheduled Tribes women can undertake any income generation activity.

Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana: Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to ST students for pursuing professional/ technical education including Ph.D. in India. Ministry of Human Resources Development provides interest subsidy for this scheme.

Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme: Under the scheme, NSTFDC provides financial assistance to Scheduled Tribes given land rights under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Islamic window in Banks

In News: RBI has proposed the opening of an ‗Islamic window‘ in banks to ‗gradually‘ introduce Islamic Banking

Islamic window/Islamic Principles

Islamic window refers to services provided by conventional banks but based on Islamic principles.

Islamic bank is a complete banking system is

based on and run with Islamic principles.

There are two basic principles behind Islamic

banking are the 1. Sharing of profit and loss and 2. Collecting and payment of interest or "riga" is not

permitted.

Also this money cannot be used for speculative

trading, gambling, or trading in prohibited commodities such as alcohol or pork.

How Do Islamic Banks Earn Money Without Using Interest?

Islamic banks use equity-participation systems.

This means that if bank loans money to a

business, the business pays back the loan without interest, but it gives the bank a share in its profits.

If the business defaults on the loan or does not

earn any profits, the bank does not receive any profit either.

For example, in 1963, Egyptians formed an Islamic

bank in Mit Ghmar. When the bank loaned money to businesses, it did so on a profit-sharing model.

To reduce risk, the bank only approved about 40%

of its business loan applications, but the default ratio was zero.

What are the hurdles?

There is some political opposition against its introduction.

It will call for a complete overhaul of the banking regulatory system.


India lacks adequate manpower trained in Sharia banking.

Steps taken

A committee headed by Raghuram Rajan had suggested the need to have interest-free banking in India.

The Kerala government had subsequently tried to co-promote an Islamic finance institution, but the move was challenged in the High Court.

A few simple products which are similar to conventional banking products may be considered for introduction through Islamic window of the conventional banks.

Introduction of full-fledged Islamic banking with profit-loss sharing may be considered at a later

stage on the basis of experience.

Purchase Preference Policy

In News: The Commerce Department contests that the proposed Petroleum ministry‘s purchase preference policy violated the WTO rules.

Purchase Preference Policy

The Petroleum Ministry plans to infuse 50 per cent domestically manufactured content in all public sector oil and gas contract.

While keeping the contract open for bidding by all, public sector undertakings (PSUs) has to specify a certain percentage of required domestic content in supplies of goods and services — those providing local content product as well as those supplying pure imports.

Contentions of Commerce Department

The Commerce Department contests that the

proposed purchase preference policy violated the WTO rules.

―Under the WTO National Treatment on Internal Taxation and Regulation, any discrimination to imports in comparison to domestically manufactured goods is inconsistent with the obligations undertaken by the member countries, including India,‖

Though WTO rules provided an exception for PSUs, but it is limited for products purchased for ―immediate and ultimate consumption in

governmental purposes and not otherwise for resale or use in the production of goods for resale‖.

RBI to Absorb Excess Liquidity

In News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said banks have to maintain 100 per cent cash reserve ratio (CRR) for the deposits they have received between September 16, 2016 and November 11, 2016 to absorb excess liquidity in the banking system following demonetization.

What is Liquidity?

Liquidity is basically how ―easy‖ one can convert

any asset into cash.

It is also an ability to buy or sell a security without

affecting the asset‘s price.

Cash reserve ratio (CRR)

CRR is the proportion of deposits that banks have

to keep as cash with the central bank (RBI).

Banks do not earn any interest on CRR balances

kept with the RBI.

It is intended to absorb a part of the surplus liquidity, while leaving adequate liquidity with

banks to meet the credit needs of the productive sectors of the economy.

New Norms

The RBI has asked banks to set aside 100 per cent of the deposits accrued between September 16 and November 11 as incremental CRR.

Incremental CRR is a temporary measure to drain

excess liquidity following demonetization

What is incremental CRR?

The incremental CRR prescribes the reserve ratio based on the extent of growth in deposits.

It immobilizes the fast-growing liquidity from where it is lodged.

In the late 90s, a 10 per cent incremental CRR was in vogue on the non-resident deposits to regulate (reduce) the flow of funds from overseas Indians.

Reason Behind this Move

First, the surplus in the banking system, at about ₹5 lakh crore, was moving closer to the maximum absorption capacity of the central bank.

The RBI has only₹5 lakh Crore of government securities (G-Secs) to absorb banking system surplus through the reverse repo windowprior to the demonetization drive.

For absorb further liquidity this option cannot be

viable.

Other liquidity-absorption measures like Market Stabilization Scheme (MSS) bonds are too small given the liquidity-absorption requirement.

As the funds parked by banks with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the reverse repo facility surging the government security rate had fallen below the repo rate of 6.25 per cent.

Thus sharply fall in rates indirectly impacting the spot dollar-rupee rate.

This liquidity-absorption measure could reverse some of these distortions.

Market Stabilization Bonds

In 2003-04 government issued a new category of bonds specifically to offset the impact of excess liquidity.

In case of normal borrowings by the

government money goes to the Consolidated Fund of India.

Funds collected under MSS cannot be used by

the government for its own expenditure, and would be maintained in the public account.

RBI has revised the ceiling on MSS to Rs6

trillion, from the previous limit of Rs30, 000.

Committee to promote digital payment system

The government under NITI Aayog set up a 13-

member committee to formulate a roadmap to implement measures that promote digital payment systems and move towards a healthy financial ecosystem.


Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra

Pradesh, will be the convener of the committee which includes five other Chief Ministers.

Other members include NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman

Arvind Panagariya and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant who will also serve as the Secretary of the Committee.

It shall evolve an action plan to reach out to the public at large with the objective to create awareness and help them understand the benefits of such a switch over to digital economy.

The committee has also been commissioned to

identify and address bottlenecks pertaining to adoption of steps required to move towards a digital payment economy.

Vittiya Saksharata Abhiyan

It is launched by Union HRD Ministry.

‗Vittiya Saksharata Abhiyan‘ to encourage, creates awareness and motivates all people around them to use a digitally enabled cashless economic system for transfer of fund.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Heart of Asia Conference What is heart of Asia Conference?

India hosts the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference in Amritsar.

It is aimed at speeding up reconstruction in war-torn Afghanistan and bringing peace and normalcy to the nation.

The participation from 14 states are Afghanistan,

Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.

What is the objective of Heart of Asia conference?

The Heart of Asia process originated under the aegis of the Istanbul Conference in November 2011.

It underscored the need for regional cooperation and confidence-building to resolve underlying problems facing Afghanistan and anchoring the state‘s development in a regional environment that is stable, economically integrated and conducive to shared prosperity.

Why Pakistan is thorn factor between India and Afghanistan?

India is looking to isolate Pakistan regionally and globally.

Afghanistan made it clear that terrorism is the

―creation of the region and the solution lies in the region.‖

Afghanistan is willing to bring the Taliban to negotiations and take military action against them.

Despite Pakistan‘s repeated assertions Taliban leaders refused to engage in the peace process.

Negotiations have stalled and deadly attacks in Afghanistan have increased.

Afghanistan‟s Policy towards Pakistan

Afghanistan has been reviewing its policy towards Pakistan.

Ghani‘s government is struggling to hold key districts and has failed to hold overdue parliamentary elections amid a worsening security situation.

US‟s Policy in Afghanistan

US decided to draw down troops to 8,400 by the end of Obama‘s term.

It is not clear about Trump presidency role in Afghanistan.

But it assumed that Washington now wants to

reduce its stake in the country and would like the regional states to do some heavy-lifting.

India‟s policy to increase the bilateral relation

New Delhi too has repeatedly underscored the

need for improving connectivity in the region to help Afghanistan harness its trade and transit potential.

It has been demanding dismantling of safe havens and terror sanctuaries in the region.

Pressing for deeper engagement of various stakeholders for Afghanistan‘s stability and security.

How India-Afghnaistan relation has evolved from strategic partnership?

Modi‘s visit to Afghanistan to inaugurate the new parliament building in 2015 and the decision by New Delhi to gift Mi-24 attack helicopters to Afghan forces are meant to underline India‘s resolve to preserve its equities in a troubled neighbour.

India also signed the TAPI pipeline agreement to showcase its continuing commitment to

Afghanistan‘s economic viability.

New Delhi has so far shown an unusual tenacity in its dealings with Afghanistan,

It willing to evolve a comprehensive policy which involves all dimensions of power.

Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process

The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was established to provide a platform to discuss

regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbors.

This region-led dialogue was launched in November 2011 to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbors.

Amritsar declaration International communities will continue financial

support to the Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) until 2020.

The declaration welcomes the MOU on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road between China and Afghanistan.

Connectivity

India-Iran Chabahar port development project would help landlocked Afghanistan‘s regional connectivity plans.


Zero duty for Afghan exports to India.

Afghan trucks could carry Indian products to Central Asia and beyond and vice-versa.

India-Afghanistan trade is hampered as Pakistan doesn‟t allow its land routes for India and Afghanistan.

India and Afghanistan agreed to operationalise the

additional $1 billion Indian aid for a possible air corridor between India and Afghanistan to overcome obstacles to promotion of bilateral trade.

Terrorism It demands immediate end to all forms of terrorism

and all support to it.

For the first time, a Heart of Asia conference expressed concern over violence caused in

Afghanistan and the region by terrorists groups like Al Qaeda, Daesh, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The declaration also mentions the Haqqani Network.

Nexus between drug menace and its financial support for terrorist entities in Afghanistan need urgent address.

Ashgabat Agreement and Lapis lazuli corridor

Pakistan will join Ashgabat agreement and Lapis Lazuli corridor.

The Ashgabat agreement seeks to create an international transport and transit corridor between Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The objective of this agreement is to facilitate the

transport of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Lapis Lazuli Corridor The Lapis Lazuli Corridor is an agreement between

Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey

Seeking to foster transit and trade cooperation by

reducing barriers facing transit trade.

Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report

2016 In News: The United Nations Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) recently released Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2016.

What is ESCAP?

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.

It was established in 1947 with its headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.

Made up of 53 Member States and 9 Associate Members, with a geographical scope.

What is the condition of Asia Pacific?

Asia-Pacific trade flows were uncertain during sluggish global economic.

World commodity prices moving downward and policy environment is uncertain.

Report forecasts more modest growth in exports

and imports in volume terms.

However region had improved its market share in the commercial services trade.

These aggregates, however, conceal the fall in the region‘s export and import of services.

This fall was mainly due to persisting economic uncertainty and a depressed demand for the services sector including transport.

What is the status of India?

Trade costs of India remained higher compared

with the trade costs of best-performing economies in Asia and the Pacific.

Make in India initiative and easing of FDI regulations may contribute to the FDI attractiveness of India.

Overseas investment from India contracted which may reflect FDI diversion as Indian investors start to invest more at home than overseas.

FDI inflows to India expanded by 10% on average during 2010-2015,

In 2015 inflows recorded an even stronger expansion at 27.8 per cent, which was significantly higher than the Asia-Pacific region‘s average 5.6 per cent.

Indian goods exports shrank by twice as much as the Asia-Pacific region decline.

India was the largest partner with several economies in South Asia, such as Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Since India is the fastest-growing emerging economy, it is expected to fill the void in demand for intraregional exports that will emerge with the rebalancing of China‘s trade patterns.

U.S for Closer Defense Ties with India In News: The National Defence Authorisation Act

2017 is scheduled to be passed by the U.S Congress next week.

What is NDAA?

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a United States federal law

It specifies the budget and expenditures of the United States Department of Defense.

Each year‘s act also includes other provisions.

The authorization bill determines the agencies responsible for defense, establishes funding levels,


and sets the policies under which money will be spent.

How it is important to India?

It seeks executive action to ―recognize India‘s status as a major defense partner of the United States.‖

It mandates to ―designate an individual within the executive branch to ensure the success of bilateral defense ties and ―to help resolve remaining issues impeding‖ them.

It said technology transfer to India and defense cooperation must be ―consistent with United States conventional arms transfer policy.‖

Some also demanded to designate India a ‗major non-NATO ally‘ but abandoned earlier.

The U.S has already recognized India as a ―major defense partner‖ but the implications of it remains undefined.

It also calls for ―strengthening the Department of Defence‟s “India Rapid Reaction Cell,” a special unit that reviews ties with India.

What it says about Pakistan?

The new law will tighten the screws on Pakistan to take more credible action against the Haqqani terror network.

The text proposes to tie $400 million of the total $900 million in coalition support funds for

Pakistan for 2017 to a certification by Secretary of Defence.

The law will require the Defence Secretary to certify, among other things, that, ―Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistani territory as a safe haven‖

In 2016, the amount was $300 million, which was not released after Secretary Ash Carter refused to certify in favour of Pakistan.

UNCITRAL The United Nations Commission on

International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) (established in 1966) is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

It is to further the harmonization and unification of the law of international trade.

Participants include the member States of the Commission and other States (referred to as ―observer States‖), as well as interested international inter-governmental organizations (―IGO‘s‖) and non-governmental organizations (―NGO‘s‖).

UNCITRAL is not the subsidiary of World Trade

Organisation (WTO).

The issues dealt with by the WTO and UNCITRAL

are different.

The WTO deals with trade policy issues, such as trade liberalization, abolition of trade barriers, unfair trade practices or other similar issues usually related to public law.

UNCITRAL deals with the laws applicable to private parties in international transactions. As a consequence, UNCITRAL is not involved with

―state-to-state‖ issues such as anti-dumping, countervailing duties, or import quotas.

Forms of Economic Integration

Preferential Trade Area: Preferential trade

arrangements (PTAs) in the WTO are unilateral trade preferences.

They include Generalized System of Preferences schemes (under which developed countries grant

preferential tariffs to imports from developing countries), as well as other non-reciprocal preferential schemes granted a waiver by the General Council.

Free Trade Area: A Treaty between two or more countries to establish a free trade area where

commerce in goods and services can be conducted across their common borders, without tariffs or

hindrances but capital or labor may not move freely.

The North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an example of such a free trade area, and includes the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Customs Union: A customs union involves the

removal of tariff barriers between members, plus the acceptance of a common external tariff against non-members.

This means that members may negotiate as a

single bloc with 3rd parties, such as with other trading blocs, or with the WTO.

Customs unions are arrangements among

countries in which the parties do two things: 1. agree to allow free trade on products

within the customs union, and 2. Agree to a common external tariff (CET)

with respect to imports from the rest of the world.

An example of a customs union is the European

Union. Trade among the member states of the EU flows tariff free, and regardless of which country in the EU imports a product, the same tariff is paid.

The CET is what distinguishes a customs union

froma free trade area.

Common Market: A common market is the first

significant step towards full economic integration and occurs when member countries

trade freely in all economic resources – not just tangible goods.

This means that all barriers to trade in goods,

services, capital, and labour are removed.

In addition, as well as removing tariffs, non-tariff

barriers are also reduced and eliminated.

Economic Union: Economic Union is a term

applied to a trading bloc that has both a common market between members and a common trade policy towards non-members but where members are free to pursue independent macro-economic policies.


ICT Development Index (IDI) International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

released an ICT Development Index (IDI).

The index combines 11 indicators on ICT access, use and skills, capturing key aspects of ICT development, and gives IDI value (out of 10).

The top countries include South Korea, Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, UK.

Key findings of the index

The proportion of the population covered by a mobile-broadband network will reach 84% in 2016 globally, but only 67 per cent in rural areas

Europe continues to lead the way in ICT development.

It had the highest average IDI value among world regions (7.35 points). This reflects the region‘s high levels of economic development and ICT

investment.

TECHNOLOGICAL AFFAIRS

Transit of Extra-solar planet

A transit is a phenomenon in which a planet passes in front of its parent star, blocking a small amount of light from the star, like a shadow of the planet.

Astronomers in Japan have observed the transit of a potentially habitable Earth-like extra-solar planet known as K2-3d.

K2-3d is important because there is a possibility that it might harbor extra-terrestrial life,

K2-3d‘s size is 1.5 times the size of the Earth. The planet orbits its host star, which is half the size of the Sun, with a period of about 45 days. Compared to the Earth, the planet orbits close to its host star (about one-fifth of the Earth-Sun distance).

Converting nuclear waste to clean Electricity

A new technology that uses nuclear waste to generate clean electricity in a nuclear-powered battery using a man-made diamond is invented.

A prototype ‗diamond battery‘ using Nickel-63 as the radiation source, when placed in a radioactive field, is able to generate a small electrical current.

Utilizing carbon-14, a radioactive version of carbon, which is generated in graphite blocks used to moderate the reaction in nuclear power plants will be used significantly improve efficiency.

Cassini Spacecraft The spacecraft was launched by NASA in 1997 to

make a up-close study of the planet Saturn, its

rings and moons.

It made a probe to edge of the planet‘s main rings since arrived in Saturn in 2004.

Cassini has made numerous dramatic discoveries, including a global ocean within Enceladus and liquid methane season Titan.

New Committee to Name Stars The formation of a new IAU committee, the

Working Group on Star Names to name the stars.

The main priorities of the committee are to collect star names from the scientific literature and astronomical cultures around the world.

The IAU has traditionally concerned itself with

policing the names of asteroids, craters and

comets, and famously demoting Pluto from full-planet status 10 years ago.

India International Science Festival (IISF)

The Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences has been organizing India International Science Festival (IISF) in association with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).

It is organized to promote the science & technology developed by the Indian research labs and to inculcate the scientific temper among masses.

The theme of this year festival is “Science for the

Masses”.

The 2nd India International Science Festival -2016 to be held at CSIR –National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Campus in New Delhi.

The 1st India International Science Festival was held in IIT Delhi last year.

India has declared 2010-20 as the “Decade of

Innovation”.

„Science Village Program‟ which is linked with ‗Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana‘ will be a remarkable manoeuvre in taking the science to the rural masses.

New Superheavy Element in the Atomic Table

The Super heavy element 117 has been officially named “tennessine” – about six years after its discovery was first reported.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) – which validates the existence of newly discovered elements and approves their official names – gave its final approval to the name ―tennessine‖.

The name tennessine was chosen in recognition of the contributions of the US state of Tennessee to the discovery.

Tennessine‘s symbol on the Periodic Table will be

Ts.

The specific spelling of tennessine was chosen because the new element is classified as a halogen, a type of element that by convention ends in the suffix ―-ine.‖

Halogens include elements such as chlorine and fluorine.


ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Environmental Audit of all Government

Buildings In News: National Green Tribunal ordered an

environmental audit of all government buildings in Delhi, including offices and hospitals, to control pollution.

Audit will keep to the ―bare minimum‖ and it does not expect green building standards from the premises it will be investigating.

Green Building: The building which optimizes

energy efficiency, conserves natural resources,

generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.

Problems in Green Building Code

The country does have certification programmes for green buildings. But

Do not take local conditions into account,

No mechanisms to ensure that structures that claim to be environmentally friendly adhere to the green building yardsticks.

Deficiencies in the National Building Code

The National Building Code (NBC) does not incorporate green standards,

Which means it is not incumbent upon a builder to make environment friendly structures.

The NBC does not include water or material efficiency

It does have standards for energy efficiency but compliance is voluntary.

What are the Certification programmes available?

There are three green building certification

programmes in the country, the

Indian Council of Green Building (ICGB) rating,

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)

ICGB and GRIHA are independent platforms, endorsed by the ministry of new and renewable energy and

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), are not products of government initiative.

LEED was developed by the non-profit US Green Building Council.

The government has very little oversight over the three programmes.

State governments incentivize buildings that claim

to adhere to LEED and GRIHA criteria.

These incentives include permission to increase the built-up area.

What is the way forward?

Criteria developed in the West, such as the LEED, can be useful starting points for developing green building norms.

Adherence to rule book only never work in the vastly different environmental conditions of India.

Buildings with glass facades, for example, are good for cold climates but in India they are veritable heat traps.

Ensuring that buildings comply with green norms will require much more than a NGT directive.

The country needs stronger and better norms as a first step to green buildings.

Combating Pollution In News: The Supreme Court recently approved a

comprehensive action plan aimed at

institutionalizing measures to tackle air pollution emergencies in the capital.

Supreme Court‟s Direction

Directed the centre to adopt reports submitted by the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).

The EPCA lists steps to be taken whenever air quality deteriorates beyond a certain level.

Highlights of EPCA report

EPCA‘s reports categorize four levels of air

pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) based on atmospheric particulate matter (PM) levels.

Fine Particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less.

Course Particulate matter —those that are 10 micrometers or less.

Air pollution will be classified into four categories of air quality—moderate to poor, very poor, severe, very severe or emergency.

The plan sets in motion a series of steps that every authority—central government, Delhi government, municipal corporations and Delhi‘s neighboring states—need to take as pollution levels spike.

For the first time a system is being created for pollution emergency response.

This is also not just an advice but will have legal

backing as the Union environment ministry will notify it.

What Green Peace says?

Usually, air pollution has an inverse relationship with the country‘s GDP;

As countries become richer they generally develop less polluting industries.

But in the case of India and China, the trend has been quite the opposite.

Etroplus Canarensis The Central Institute of Brackish Water

Aquaculture, a research centre at Chennai have

breed Etroplus Canarensis, a breed of fish.

The fish is endemic to the Western Ghats.

This fish was assessed as Endangered by

International Union of Conservation because of its distribution in only two locations such as

Kumaradhara and Nethravathi Rivers in Karnataka.


It feeds on Mosquito larvae and breeds after

monsoon.

It can tolerate low salinity range and survive in low saline brackish water ecosystem.

Amur Falcons The migratory bird was spotted at Daroji Wildlife

Sanctuary in Ballari District, Karnataka for the first time.

The Amur Falcon is a small raptor of the falcon

family.

It breeds in south eastern Siberia and northern China and migrates over the Arabian Sea to

South Africa during winter.

It passes through Nagaland state and Central India. Nagaland was declared as Falcon Capital

of the World.

Doyang Lake in Nagaland was declared as

ecotourism spot due to presence of Amur falcon during its migration.

MISCELLANEOUS

International Seabed Authority In News: India has signed a contract with International Seabed Authority for Exploration of

Polymetallic Sulphides in Indian Ocean.

The contract provides India‘s exclusive rights of

exploration in the area near the Rodriguez Tripple Junction in the southern part of Central India ridge and a part of South-West Indian ridge.

International Seabed Authority

It is an intergovernmental body based in Kingston, Jamaica and established by the Law of the Sea Convention.

It was established to organize, regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national

jurisdiction, an area underlying most of the world‘s oceans.

Polymetallic Nodules

Polymetallic nodules, also called manganese nodules, are rock concretions on the sea bottom formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core.

The core may be microscopically small and is

sometimes completely transformed into manganese minerals by crystallization.

The sizeable deposits have been found in four areas:

Penrhyn Basin near within the Cook Islands.

North central Pacific Ocean in a region called the

Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) roughly midway between Hawaii and Clipperton Islands.

Peru Basin in the southeast Pacific.

Southern tropical Indian Ocean in a region termed the Indian Ocean Nodule Field (IONF) roughly 500 km SE of Diego Garcia Island.

FAME Scheme In News: Government of India (Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises) has notified FAME India Scheme [Faster Adoption and

Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] for implementation.

It is to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and Manufacturing eco-system.

The scheme has 4 focus areas i.e. Technology development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and Charging Infrastructure.

It is aimed at incentivizing all vehicle segments

i.e. 2 Wheeler, 3 Wheeler Auto, Passenger 4 Wheeler Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses.

The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, and Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles.

Development in National Waterways The Government has planned construction of three

multimodal Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminals on National Waterway-1(Ganga) at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia and one terminal on National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) at Pandu.

Specified stretches of River Barak have been

declared as National Waterway- 16 by the National Waterways Act, 2016.

Development of river Barak for navigation is

proposed in two stages.

Phase-I – The stretch from Silchar to Bhanga (71 km).

Phase-II – Remaining stretch from Silchar to Lakhipur (50 km). Proposed Waterways in the country

Inland Waterways in the state of Goa – Chapora (NW-25), Cumberjua Canal (NW-27), Mandovi (NW-68), Mapusa (NW-71), Sal (NW-88) and Zuari (NW-111).

Other Proposed Waterways in the country

River Barak – NW-16

River Ghagra – NW-40

River Gandak – NW-37

River Kosi – NW-58

Sunderbans waterways – NW 97

Project 75I

The Project 75I-class submarine is follow-on of

the Project 75 Kalvari-class submarine for the Indian navy.

Under this project, the Indian Navy intends to acquire 6 diesel-electric submarines.

It will also feature advanced Air Independent

Propulsion (AIP) systems to enable them to stay submerged for longer duration and substantially increase their operational range.


It will have a vertical launch system (VLS) to enable them to carry multiple Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, making the submarines fully capable of anti-surface and anti-ship warfare

missions.

Project 75I submarines will also be armed with torpedoes and will feature advanced stealth capabilities such as a greater ability to suppress noise and acoustic signatures.

Submarines will also be outfitted with Air-

independent propulsion (AIP) fuel cells which can significantly increase submerged endurance and operational range.

INS Shardul INS Shardul, an amphibious ship of the Indian

Navy, is currently on a month long deployment in the Southern Indian Ocean.

It is deployed in Seychelles in keeping with the

vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in

the Region.

During the deployment, INS Shardul would also assist local authorities in providing logistics and medical support to the outer islands of Seychelles.

There have been already two deployments in Seychelles – P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft in March 2016 and the second by Indian Naval Ship Trikand in July 2016.

Ban on 344 popular drugs

In News: The Delhi High Court set aside the Centre‘s decision to ban 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) medicines saying the government had acted in a ―haphazard manner‖.

What are combination drugs?

Combination drugs or fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs are those with two or more active

pharmaceutical ingredients combined in a fixed dose to form a single drug.

eg A combination of nimesulide and paracetamol that is prescribed as an anti-pyretic (used to prevent or reduce fever).

They involve commonly used medications such as paracetamol, aceclofenac and nimesulide.

Why were they banned?

In a gazette notification issued on March 10, the

Health Ministry banned 344 such combination drugs.

these drugs have dangerous side-effects and that many of these combinations do not have any advantage over the individual drugs.

Eventually, the government acted on the opinion of the Kokate Committee which recommended the ban.

Migration in India In News: According to Census data released on

Thursday, southern states, especially Tamil Nadu and Kerala, have shown the highest increase in migrant population.

Who are migrants?

The present study considers migrants by place of last residence i.e those who have last resided at a place other than their place of enumeration are deemed to be migrants.

The study, however, does not point out whether these are interstate or intrastate migrants.

What is the current scenario?

more migrants over the last decade heading to the southern states, which have grown at a faster clip

during this period.

With 45.36 Crore migrants in India, every third citizen of the country is a migrant.

Of these, 69% are women.

Migrants constitute 37.8% of India‘s 121.03 Crore population.

Tamil Nadu‘s migrant population surged 98% between 2001 to 2011.

Kerala‘s migrant population has grown by 77 nearly 49% of the population called themselves migrants.

Karnataka too has shown a 50% increase in its migrant population.

Only Andhra Pradesh, with a 40% rise in migrant

population, has shown a growth below the national average.

Meghalaya and Manipur, where the number of migrants has grown by 108% and 97% respectively.

What is the reason for migration?

While globally, migration is attempt by people to survive and prosper.

In India, marriage appears to be the biggest reason why people migrate.

Of the total 45.36 Crore migrants, 69% people referred to marriage being the reason for their migration.

Only 17% of the migrants termed work and business as causes.

Why women migrate?

Majority of women have cited marriage or having

migrated with their husbands as the reason for their translocation.

Indian women are also migrating for work and education. It has grown by 129%.

During the same period, the number of male economic migrants grew by 51%.

Why surge in migration to Southern States?

The socio-economic development of the southern states is considerably higher and that attracts people.

Another factor is that because of better education levels and awareness, local residents of these areas get drawn towards better economic opportunities.

This vacuum that gets created gets filled up by people from outside.

These developed areas face a crisis of manpower,

especially for low-skilled jobs, which leads to migration.


Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)

The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was announced in 2003.

The objective of the scheme is correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to

augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.

PMSSY has two components: 1. Setting up of AIIMS like Institutions. 2. Up gradation of Government Medical

College Institutions.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)

National Organ and Tissue Transplant

Organization (NOTTO) is a National level

organization set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

NOTTO has been set up to maintain National

registry of donors and recipients of human organs and tissues based on the information received from the transplant/retrieval hospitals and other related organizations.

NOTTO is working along with a large number of

Non-Governmental Organizations to spread awareness about organ donation, their retrieval and transplantation.

It has following two divisions – 1. National Human Organ and Tissue

Removal and Storage Network‖ and 2. National Biomaterial Centre‖.

National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank)

– to fulfill the demands of tissue transplantation including activities for procurement, storage and fulfill distribution of biomaterials.

UNESCO‟s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in India

Yoga, India‘s one of the ancient practices has now

been inscribed as an element in the UNESCO‘s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity.

It was added during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Yoga has become the 11th intangible cultural heritage that has been listed from India so far with UNESCO.

Previous Intangible cultural Heritage Added in

the years are: 1. Ramlila-the traditional performance of the

Ramayana 2. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre 3. Tradition of Vedic Chanting 4. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of

the Garhwal Himalayas. 5. Chhau dance 6. Kalbelia folk dance and songs of Rajasthan 7. Mudiyettu,ritual theatre and dance drama of

kerala. 8. The Buddhist chanting of Ladakh 9. Sankirtana –the ritual singing, drumming, and

dancing of Manipur

10. The traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala

Guru, Punjab 11. Other heritage lists added during the session

includes,

Cuba – Rumba Dance.

Belgium – Beer.

Portugal – Black Pottery.

Ukraine‘s Dnepropetrovsk region Cossack

IN SHORT

Ambient Air Pollution Report

It is published by ―World Health Organization (WHO)‖.

It is a global assessment of polluted air exposure and burden of disease which presents summary of methods and results of the latest global assessment of ambient air pollution exposure.

Mission Indradhanush

The mission Indradhanush is mainly to revamp functioning of public sector banks.

The seven elements include appointments, board of bureau, capitalization, de-stressing, and empowerment, framework of accountability and governance reforms.

International Tourism Mart

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the North Eastern States and West Bengal is organizing the ―International

Tourism Mart‖ in Imphal, Manipur from 23rd – 25th November, 2016.

It is organized with the objective of highlighting the

tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotasav

―Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotasav‖ (RSM) was conceived by the Ministry of Culture in the year of 2015 with an objective to showcase all the aspects of Indian Culture in different areas including, art & crafts, Cuisines, Music and Dance, etc.

Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea

It is an annual award established by International Maritime Organisation to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their won life, perform acts of bravery.

India‘s first Indian and first female Merchant Navy captain Radhika Menon, has become the first woman to be awarded by the IMO.


This award is for her exceptional bravery in the dramatic rescue of seven fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in tumultuous Bay of Bengal waters last year.

Angel Investors

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has liberalized norms for angel funds to invest in early-stage entities as part of attempts to facilitate fund-raising for start-ups.

It is done based on the recommendation of ―Alternative Investment Policy Advisory Committee‖ headed by Narayana Murthy.

Angel Funds are allowed to invest in Start-ups

incorporated within five years to promote start-ups

in our country.

Operation Muskaan

It is a nationwide programme to rescue and

rehabilitate missing children.

It was launched by the Union home ministry in July 2015 across the country after a similar month-long campaign, called Operation Smile, to rescue and rehabilitate missing children.

South Indian Liberation Foundation

It is also known as Justice Party founded in 1916, turns 100 this year.

It is the fountainhead of the social reform movement and mainly worked to create space for the majority of the population in the political sphere.

Historians described the justice party, the Self-Respect Movement and it was founded by C. Natesa Mudaliar, T.M. Nair, and P. Theagaraya Chetti.

Omega Revolution Mysuru based Central Food Technological

Research Institute (CFTRI) were looking at ways to make unhealthy food products like chocolates healthy terming it as Omega Revolution.

CFTRI developed protein enriched and Omega-3 enriched Chocobars, by adding chia and quinoa seeds to chocobars help reduce fat and sugar.

Defence Communication Network (DCN)

Defence Communication Network (DCN), country‘s first Integrated Defence Network has been implemented.

The network interconnects major strategic and operational establishments of the Defence Forces.

DCN will facilitate situational awareness and faster

decision making amongst Defence Forces.

INS Sumitra

INS Sumitra, a Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel

(NOPV), visited Sydney, Australia.

During this visit, INS Sumitra participated in ―Festival of India‖ and undertook activities towards enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding between the two navies.

PETROTECH-2016

It is the 12th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India.

The PETROTECH-2016 exhibition is held at PragatiMaidan, New Delhi.

The theme for this year‘s Petrotech Conference is ‗Hydrocarbons to fuel the future: Choices & Challenges.‘

49 ministers from Europe, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), MENA (Middle East and North African Nation), Africa, Latin America and

the Caribbean, South East Asia, North America and South Asia have been invited to the

Conference.

Team Indus

It is the start-up that plans to send India‟s first

privately-funded spacecraft to the moon next year.

The start-up is the only Indian Aspirant and among the four from across the world that plan to send spacecraft to soft-land on the moon before DEC. 2017.

The start-up has won a $1 million milestone prize from Google Lunar X prize for completing the moon lander concept.

The company is planning a 600 Kg moon lander and to launch it on a PSLV rocket of ISRO.

„e-pashuhaat‟ Portal Under the scheme National Mission on Bovine

Productivity, ‗e-pashuhaat‘ portal has been developed for connecting breeders and farmers regarding availability of bovine germplasm, for the first time in the world.

It is the E-Trading Market portal for livestock germplasm and additional related services.

Will connect farmers with breeders – Central, State, Co-operative, Milk Federations, and private agencies.

Real time authentic certified information on

availability of germplasm. The portal will lead to propagation of high genetic

merit germplasm.

Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (MOM2)

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan is

India‘s first mission to Mars that was launched on September 24, 2014 from Sriharikota on top of a PSLV C25 rocket.

Mangalyaan is a ‗technology demonstrator‘ spacecraft carried only five instruments on board with capability to survive and perform Earth bound manoeuvres, with a cruise phase of 300 days.

Mangalyaan 2 on the other hand will be featuring a much greater scientific payload, and will be fitted with a lander and a rover in addition to the orbiter.


India- Russia Exercises

Joint Military Exercise – INDRA

Joint Air Force Exercise – EX AVIAINDIA is planned in 2017.

Express Wifi

Social networking giant Facebook is now testing a new model for public Wi-Fi deployments for offering quality internet access in rural parts of the country. It is called as ―Express Wifi‖.

―Express Wifi‖ is working with carriers, internet service providers and local entrepreneurs to help expand connectivity to underserved locations around the world.

Earlier Facebook has launched ―Free Basics‖ in

2014 in partnership with Reliance Communications for providing basic internet

access to people. However Telecom Regulatory authority has slammed the service saying it violated the principle of net neutrality.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide.

The need to fight animal diseases at global level led

to the creation of the Office through the international Agreement signed on January 25th 1924.

In May 2003 the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health and it is recognized as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2016 has a total of 180 Member Countries.

Internet Saathi Programme Google‘s ‗Internet Saathi‘ programme, under which

Google agents go from village to village and train women to use smart phones and the internet.

National Centre for Seismology

The ‗National Centre for Seismology‘, at NOIDA, as a subordinate office, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

It is created by separating and bringing together all

Seismology and earthquake hazard related activities of India Meteorological Department (IMD), under its ambit, for deriving the desired scientific developments in the field of earthquake science.

Asia‟s largest tomato market

Pimpalgaon, Nashik is the largest market for tomatoes in Asia and Kolar (70km from Bengaluru) is the second-largest market for tomatoes in Asia.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM)

A ―Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM)‖ is organised by the Ministry of Culture at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Janpath, New Delhi.

It is organised through Ministry of culture‘s Zonal Cultural Centres and other autonomous

organizations to showcase dance, music, cuisines, art & crafts etc from various parts of the country.

The National Culture Fund (NCF)

It is the funding Mechanism established with a purpose to augment government efforts and to facilitate public-private partnership in the field of heritage conservation and promotion.

It will enable institutions and individuals to support arts and culture directly as partners with its government in the management of the cultural heritage of India.

The NCF is managed and administered by a council to decide the policies and an Executive Committee – to actualize those policies. The

Council is chaired by the Union Minister of Tourism & Culture.

National Culture Fund enables institutions and individuals to perform their rightful role in promoting and preserving India‘s rich cultural heritage.

Digital Library

The Ministry of Human Resource Development under National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) initiated the National Digital Library (NDL)

It covers setting up 24X7 infrastructure, providing single-window search and browse facility for e-Learning resources to users, including e-Contents that are available in various institutions of the country by integrating Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) of respective institutions and registering users from Participating Institutions

Status of Shale gas exploration in the

country

Gujarat (28 blocks) leads in the shale gas exploration followed by Andhra Pradesh (10 blocks)

Tamil Nadu occupied the third place in the shale gas exploration.

National LED Programme

The programme is being implemented by Energy

Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture company of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Power.

Two components under this programme – Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) and Street Light National Programme (SLNP), wherein household lighting and street lights respectively are replaced with LEDs.

National Framework for Malaria

The Government of India has launched National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030 in

Feb 2016 targeting elimination of malaria by 2030.

The malaria elimination strategies would be implemented through the States/UTs under the overarching umbrella of National Health Mission (NHM).


Embraer Deal

It is the deal signed with Brazil based company for the purchase of aircrafts to develop indigenous Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) System.

Cyclone “Nada”

Cyclone ‗Nada‘ in Bay of Bengal is forecasted to hit the Tamil Nadu coast.

It will travel in a westward direction over Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and south interior Karnataka and step out into the Arabian Sea.

National Nutritional Survey

The UNICEF and Indian Government is going to

conduct first ever national survey to measure nutrition levels among the country‘s children.

All states are expected to cover by 2017.

Data will be collected to quantify deficiencies of micro nutrients, vitamins and minerals as well as infestation among children.

Graphene The TFIR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences

(TCIS), Hyderabad and Central Electrochemical

Research Institute, Karaikudi has developed a material which is both water repellent (Hydrophobic) and oil repellent (Oil Phobic).

The material is made from fluorinated graphene.

Graphene which is a stacked array of carbon atoms in a honey comb lattice structure.

Graphene is stronger than steel and good conductor of heat and electricity.

Its main applications include paints and coatings, lubricants, oil and functional fluids, capacitors and batteries, solar cells, inks and 3D printer‘s materials and films.

Mars one

Mars one is a project that aims to establish

human settlements on mars.

It is a British-Dutch project aiming to send an unmanned mission to mars by 2018.

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a disease spread

through mosquito bites.

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a virus from the family Flaviviridae.

JE is a serious disease that may cause death.

The Vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis has been added to universal immunization program in 2014.

Symptoms usually take 5-15 days to develop and include fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, and difficulty moving.

Symptoms that develop later include swelling around the brain and coma.

New excavation in Ladakh

An ancient Camping site used by the pre historic man datable to 8500 BCE has been found at an altitude of about 4200 metres near Saser La pass.

Saser La Pass located in the Karakoram Range in Himalayas.

Auroville Foundation

Dr Karan Singh, an eminent scholar, Rajya Sabha Member and a senior leader of Indian National Congress has been re-nominated as the Chairperson of the Governing Board of Auroville Foundation.

It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of

Human Resource Development.

It is recognized as an international living

experiment in human unity, endorsed by the UNESCO and supported by the Indian government.

Auroville is an experimental township in the state

of Tamil Nadu, with some parts in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

It is also a centre for applied research in environmentally sustainable living practices, experimenting new system of education, social research and cultural activities.

GSAT – 19

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is

working towards putting into orbit an indigenous communication satellite GSAT-19, weighing 3.3 tonne and carrying Ka/ Ku band payloads.

The satellite is planned to carry Ka and Ku band

payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components.

GSAT-19 is planned as the payload for the first developmental flight of the indigenous GSLV-Mk

III-D1 Launcher.

Indologist Award

It has been instituted by ICCR – Indian Council of

Cultural Relations.

It is to recognize eminent Indologists working abroad who have made outstanding contribution to the study/teaching/research of India‘s philosophy, thought, history, art, culture, languages, literature, civilization, society etc.

The Lakhwar Dam The Lakhwar Dam is a gravity dam currently

under construction on the Yamuna River near the town of Lakhwar in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand, India.

Techno Sphere Earth‘s Technosphere, which comprises of all the structures that humans have constructed to keep them alive on the planet, now weighs an enormous 30 trillion tonnes, a new study has found.

New proposed Epoch

The Anthropocene concept – a proposed epoch

highlighting the impact humans have made to the planet.

An epoch is an instant in time chosen as the origin

of a particular era.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER PART - III · 2017. 2. 8. · 1 current affairs 1116_003 byju‟s classes:...

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