Issue # 02

International Tour IMF publishes World Economic Outlook Report - October 2018 release

News

* The International Monetary Fund (IMF) publishes October 2018 release of its ‘World Economic Outlook’ report titled as ‘Challenges to Steady Growth’.

* As per the report: * There is continuation of steady expansion which was happening since

mid-2016. * The global growth in the year 2018-19, which may hover at its 2017 level, is

projected at 3.7% (downward revision from previous release). * India’s Real GDP for the year 2017 was marked at 6.7% and its projections for

the further years are as follows: * 2018 - 7.3% * 2019 - 7.4% * 2023 - 7.7%

* World Economic Outlook survey report is published by the IMF, usually twice a year, covering analyses of advancements in global economy in near & medium term.

Rocking Science

A New Shape ‘Scutoid’ Discovered

- ‘Scutoid’ is a new shape discovered by scientists while studying epithelial tissues of human body.

- The shape is consisted of: - 5 sides on one end, - 6 sides on another end, and - a triangular surface on one of its longer edges.

- Epithelial tissues are among the 4 basic types of animal tissue.

News

* The 2018 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities, a 3 day event (from 9th to 1 1 t h N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 8 ) , h a s b e e n organ ised by the D e p a r t m e n t o f E m p o w e r m e n t o f P e r s o n s w i t h Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social J u s t i c e a n d Empowerment , i n collaboration with: * R e h a b i l i t a t i o n

International Korea

* LG Electronics

* The main objective of the event is: * to empower youth

with disabilities with IT skills,

* t o e n h a n c e t h e quality of l i fe of p e r s o n s w i t h disabilities (primarily i n A s i a - P a c i f i c region), by making them aware about the Information & C o m p u t e r Technology (ICT) applications.

About Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment * This Union Ministry is

assigned with the task of providing welfare, e x e c u t i n g s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e m p o w e r i n g d i s a d v a n t a g e d & marginalised sections of society like: * Scheduled Castes * O the r Backward

Classes * Disabled * Elderly, etc.

***

National Tour

2018 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities

Constitution Talks

Features (of Indian Constitution) Inspired from Different Countries (Part1 - From USA)

- Preamble & Federal System of Government - Separation of Powers (among Legislature, Executive and Judiciary) - Independence of Judiciary & Concept of Judicial Review - Removal of Supreme Court Judges - Fundamental Rights & Equal Protection Under Law - President is Armed Forces’ Commander-in-Chief - Vice-President is Upper House’s ex-officio Chairman

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News

* A team of scientists, l e d b y P r o f e s s o r Rakesh K Sharma ( D e p a r t m e n t o f Chemis t ry, Ind ian I n s t i t u t e o f Technology-Jodhpur), a f te r 8 -year long r e s e a r c h h a v e innovated a better technology to develop ‘Futuristic Fuel’.

* This ‘Futuristic Fuel’ is ‘Hydrogen’ which emit only water on burning, a n d t h u s i s considered as the cleanest burning fuel.

* However, the current method of industrial

p r o d u c t i o n o f ‘ H y d r o g e n ’ i s cumbersome due to the following factors: * e x t e n s i v e

c o n s u m p t i o n o f electrical energy and methane, making t h e p r o c e s s expensive.

* r e l e a s e o f carbondioxide and other green house gases, enhancing t h e p r o b l e m o f global warming.

* The novel method of hydrogen production, a s d e v e l o p e d b y these scientists, does not have the above

mentioned problems and is; * cost-effective * environment-friendly

* I t e m p l o y s t h e process of ‘artificial photosynthesis’ which wo rks i n r eve rse manner of natural photosynthesis.

* Solar energy is used to produce Hydrogen from water, in the p r e s e n c e o f ‘Lanthanide’ based photocatalyst.

*** (NewsSource: HindustanTimes)

Rajasthan Tour

IIT-Jodhpur innovates technology to develop ‘Futuristic Fuel’

Matsya Kingdom

- The Matsya Kingdom was founded by King Matsya (Satyavati’s twin brother; who was mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata).

- It was a part of ’16 Mahajanapadas’ (i.e. oligarchic republics) which existed in ancient India (around 6th Century BC), as mentioned in the Buddhist text ‘Anguttara Nikaya’.

- Its capital city was named as Viratanagari (which is present day ‘Bairat’). - The kingdom corresponds to Jaipur (former-state), Hindaun (Karauli), Alwar,

Bharatpur (some portions) in the present state of Rajasthan. ***

A Look in the Past

News - India was placed at 9th

position in the 2018 Asian Para Games (i.e. 3rd Asian Para Games), which was held at Jakarta city in Indonesia.

- India’s medal tally reached to a total of 72 medals, which consisted of - 15 Gold Medals - 24 Silver Medals - 33 Bronze Medals

- It was pan-asian multi-sport event, that took place between 6-13 October 2018.

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Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI)

Sports Section Let’s Play!

India ranked 9th in 2018 Asian Para Games

- IHAI governs the sport of ice hockey in India.

- It gained the membership of International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on 27th April 1989.

- Presently, the President of IHAI is Sh. K.L. Kumar.

- In April 2015, a nationwide crowdfunding campaign ‘#SupportIceHockey’ was started by the players to get sponsorship for international participation in the sport.

- In response, the players received their 1st corporate sponsorship deal from Mahindra Group.

***

Beneficial for all 3 stages of RAS Exam — Prelims + Mains + Interview