IFC—a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group—is

the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in
developing countries. The Bank Group has set two goals for the world to achieve by
2030: end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity in every country.

The IFC is owned and governed by its member countries, but has its own executive
leadership and staff that conduct its normal business operations.
It is a corporation whose shareholders are member governments that provide paid-in
capital and which have the right to vote on its matters.
Functions:

It offers an array of debt and equity financing services and helps companies face their
risk exposures, while refraining from participating in a management capacity.
The corporation also offers advice to companies on making decisions, evaluating their
impact on the environment and society, and being responsible.
It advises governments on building infrastructure and partnerships to further support
private sector development.

Since 2009, the IFC has focused on a set of development goals that its projects are
expected to target. Its goals are to increase sustainable agriculture opportunities,
improve healthcare and education, increase access to financing for microfinance and
business clients, advance infrastructure, help small businesses grow revenues, and
invest in climate health.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and rules framed under it (the “FCRA” or
“Act”) regulate the receipt and usage of foreign contribution by non-governmental
organisations (“NGOs”) in India.

The intent of the Act is to prevent use of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for
any activity

detrimental to the national interest. It has a very wide scope and is applicable to a natural
person, body corporate, all other types of Indian entities (whether incorporated or not) as
well as NRIs and overseas branches/subsidiaries of Indian companies and other entities
formed or registered in India. It is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India.

The Act permits only NGOs having a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or
social programme to accept foreign contribution, that too after such NGOs either obtain a
certificate of registration or prior permission under the Act.

To supplement the efforts of Jal Shakti Ministry, NITI Aayog has prepared the second
Round of Composite Water Management Index (CWMI 2.0).

NITI Aayog first launched and conceptualized the Composite Water Management Index in
2018 as a tool to instil the sense of cooperative and competitive federalism among the
states.

The CWMI is an important tool to assess and improve the performance of States/ Union
Territories in efficient management of water resources. This has been done through a
first of its kind water data collection exercise in partnership with Ministry of Jal Shakti,
Ministry of Rural Development and all the States/ Union Territories. The index would
provide useful information for the States and also for the concerned Central
Ministries/Departments enabling them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for
better management of water resources.

The Government launched the Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY) in the year
2001-2002.
The scheme was launched with a view to mobilize the artisans into Self Help Groups and
training the groups on various aspects of forming and running the community business
enterprises for self sustainability of artisans.

The objective of this scheme is to:

Mobilise and generate awareness of typical handicraft arts for their overall development
and progress.
Provide training to artisans and expose them to greater market to sell their handicraft
products.
Provide proper education and market knowledge to artisans so that they learn the market
techniques to get better results.

The MHA has amended the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964.

It has empowered district magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set up
tribunals to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.

The amended Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 2019 also empowers individuals to approach
the Tribunals.

Web- Wonder Women” Campaign

Celebrating women who have impacted society through social media
The Campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development,
Government of India in association with the NGO Breakthrough and Twitter India.

India is the 2nd largest producer of silk in the world after China.
It is largest consumer of silk in the world.
It is the only country in the world that produces all 5 varieties of silk on a commercial
scale– Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.
Holds the global monopoly for production of the famed golden ‘Muga’ silk.
The main aim of “Silk Samagra” Scheme is to empower downtrodden, poor & backward
tribal families through various activities of sericulture

India, with the world’s largest wild tiger population, topped in the trafficking of tigers and
tiger body parts over 19 years since 2000, a new TRAFFIC analysis from Geneva has
revealed.

The report titled ‘Skin and Bones Unresolved: An Analysis of Tiger Seizures from
2000-2018’ was the fourth in a series on tiger trade by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade
monitoring network headquartered in the United Kingdom.
According to an analysis of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
data released by environmental NGO Greenpeace, India has more than 15% of all
anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) hotspots in the world detected by the OMI (Ozone
Monitoring Instrument) satellite.

The major SO2 emission hotspots in India are Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Neyveli and
Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Talcher and Jharsuguda in Odisha, Korba in Chhattisgarh, Kutch
in Gujarat, Ramagundam in Telangana and Chandrapur and Koradi in Maharashtra.

The vast majority of plants in India lack flue-gas desulfurization technology to reduce
their air pollution, according to the analysis.

As per country-wise world rankings, India was found at the top position in emitting SO2
as it has the maximum hotspots.

The report said SO2 emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution. The largest
source of SO2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels in power plants and other
industrial facilities.

Karnataka has emerged as the best state for setting up a roof top solar project according
to the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL released by the Ministry of New
and Renewable Energy. Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh come next in the rankings
but all four have been graded A++.

This rating has been designed collaboratively by MNRE, Shakti Sustainable Energy
Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
(ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY).

Government has set a target for installation of Rooftop Solar projects (RTS) of 40,000
MegaWatt (MW) by 2022 in the country including installation of RTS on rooftop of houses.
India’s first Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari formally inaugurated the Indian
Territorial Army on October 9 in 1949.
It is an organization where volunteers apply for a short period of training every year, so
as to be ready to tackle any emergent situation or to serve for the defence of India.
The Territorial Army, also known as the ‘Terriers’, is considered the second line of
national defence after the regular Army.
The Territorial Army is part of a Regular Army and its present role is to relieve the
Regular Army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural
calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the
communities is affected or the security of the country is threatened and to provide units
for Regulars Army as and when required.
Territorial Army comes under the Defence Ministry.

Some of the salient features of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management&
Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019 are as follows:

Solid plastic waste has been prohibited from import into the country including in Special
Economic Zones (SEZ) and by Export Oriented Units (EOU).
Exporters of silk waste have now been given exemption from requiring permission from
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from
India, if found defective can now be imported back into the country, within a year of
export, without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change.
Industries which do not require consent under Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, are now
exempted from requiring authorization also under the Hazardous and Other Wastes
(Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, provided that hazardous and
other wastes generated by such industries are handed over to the authorized actual
users, waste collectors or disposal facilities.

Tirurbetel vine from Kerala having many medicinal, industrial and cultural usages has
been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has been taking
initiatives to promote and market GI products.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance

knowledge, and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy.

It is the first international organisation to focus exclusively on renewable energy,

addressing needs in both industrialized and developing countries.
It was founded in 2009 & its statute entered into force on 8 July 2010 and is
headquartered in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.
IRENA is an official United Nations observer.

Oxytocin has also been dubbed the hug hormone, cuddle chemical, moral molecule, and
the bliss hormone due to its effects on behaviour, including its role in love and in female
reproductive biological functions in reproduction.
Oxytocin is a hormone that is made in the brain, in the hypothalamus. It is transported to,
and secreted by, the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain.
It acts both as a hormone and as a brain neurotransmitter.
The release of oxytocin by the pituitary gland acts to regulate two female reproductive
functions: Childbirth and Breast-feeding.
Carbetocin: The World Health Organization (WHO) has come up with a safe and effective
alternative to the controversial drug oxytocin.

It is a messaging network that financial institutions use to securely transmit information

and instructions through a standardized system of codes. Under SWIFT, each financial
organization has a unique code which is used to send and receive payments.

SWIFT does not facilitate funds transfer: rather, it sends payment orders, which must be
settled by correspondent accounts that the institutions have with each other.
The SWIFT is a secure financial message carrier — in other words, it transports
messages from one bank to its intended bank recipient.

SWIFT India is a joint venture of top Indian public and private sector banks and SWIFT
(Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). The company was
created to deliver high quality domestic financial messaging services to the Indian
financial community.

Textiles Ministry partners with 16 states for skilling 4 lakh under ‘Samarth’ scheme

With the exception of spinning and weaving, beneficiaries will be provided training in the
entire value chain such as apparel and garments, knitwear, metal handicraft, handloom,
textiles, handicraft and carpet.
All south Indian states have signed (MoU) with Union Ministry of Textiles for skilling
workers as part of Samarth scheme.

With a vision to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators’, Atal
Innovation Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across
India.

Objective: The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination
in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking,
adaptive learning, physical computing etc.
Financial Support: AIM will provide grant-in-aid that includes a one-time establishment
cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5
years to each ATL.
Eligibility: Schools (minimum Grade VI – X) managed by Government, local body or
private trusts/society can set up ATL.

The procedure of renaming of the state can be initiated by either the Parliament or the
State Legislator and the procedure is as follows:

The renaming of a state requires Parliamentary approval under Article 3 and 4 of the
Constitution.
A bill for renaming a state may be introduced in the Parliament on the recommendation
of the President.
Before the introduction of the bill, the President shall send the bill to the respective state
assembly for expressing their views within a stipulated time. The views of the state
assembly are not binding, neither on the President nor on the Parliament.
On the expiry of the period, the bill will be sent to the Parliament for deliberation. The bill
in order to take the force of a law must be passed by a simple majority.
The bill is sent for approval to the President. After the approval of the said bill, the bill
becomes a law and the name of the state stands modified.

Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to South
India. The disease is caused by a virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae, which also
includes yellow fever and dengue fever.

Viruses related to KFDV have been identified in China and Saudi Arabia.

Transmission to humans may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal,
most importantly a sick or recently dead monkey. No person-to-person transmission has
been described.

A vaccine does exist for KFD and is used in endemic areas of India. Additional
preventative measures include insect repellents and wearing protective clothing in areas
where ticks are endemic.

The Chhattisgarh government is processing habitat rights for Abujh Marias, a Particularly

Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Since AbujhMarias is a PVTG community, they are
entitled to the habitat rights under FRA.

PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups.

75 tribal groups have been categorized by the Ministry of Home Affairs as Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)s. PVTGs reside in 18 States and UT of A&N Islands. The
Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the Scheme of “Development of Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)” exclusively for them.

Under the scheme, Conservation-cum-Development (CCD)/Annual Plans are to be

prepared by each State/UT for their PVTGs based on their need assessment, which are
then appraised and approved by the Project Appraisal Committee of the Ministry.
Priority is also assigned to PVTGs under the schemes of Special Central Assistance
(SCA) to Tribal Sub- Scheme (TSS), Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution,
Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organisations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and
Strengthening of Education amongST Girls in Low Literacy Districts.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), is an international, independent medical humanitarian

organisation. It provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics,
disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. The teams are made up of tens of thousands of
health professionals, logistic and administrative staff – most of them hired locally. The
actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and
neutrality.

The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, will conduct 1st National Time Release
Study to enable faster movement of cargo across borders to benefit traders.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) Time Release Study is a strategic and
internationally recognized tool to measure the actual time required for the release and/or
clearance of goods, from the time of arrival until the physical release of cargo.

The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is an ad-hoc scheme under which are included
horticultural commodities and other agricultural commodities which are perishable in
nature and which are not covered under the minimum price support scheme. In order to
protect the growers of these horticultural/agricultural commodities from making distress
sale in the event of bumper crop during the peak arrival period when prices fall to very
low levels, the Government implements M.I.S. for a particular commodity on the request
of a State Government concerned.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), is an international, independent medical humanitarian

organisation. It provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics,
disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. The teams are made up of tens of thousands of
health professionals, logistic and administrative staff – most of them hired locally. The
actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and
neutrality
One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme, which will allow portability of food security
benefits, will be available across the country from July 1, 2020. This means poor migrant
workers will be able to buy subsidised rice and wheat from any ration shop in the
country, so long as their ration cards are linked to Aadhaar.

While Aadhaar linkage is not necessary to access NFSA benefits in a beneficiary’s local
registered ration shop, located closest to her home address, it will be necessary to
access the portability scheme.

Migrants would only be eligible for the subsidies supported by the Centre, which include
rice sold at Rs. 3/kg and wheat at Rs. 2/kg. Even if a beneficiary moved to a State where
grains were given for free, that person would not be able to access those benefits, as
they were funded by the State exchequer.

India Cooling Action Plan.

India is the first country in world to develop such a document (ICAP),

The deadly Nipah Virus has resurfaced in Kerala.

According to WHO, the Nipah virus infection is a newly emerging zoonosis, that is, a
disease transmitted from animals to humans. The virus belongs to a new genus termed
Henipavirus (subfamily Paramyxovirinae)
The natural host of the virus are fruit bats belonging to the family Pteropodidae. In 2004,
humans were affected after eating the date palm contaminated by infected fruit bats. Pigs
can also act as intermediate hosts.

Currently, there are no vaccines available against Nipah virus. Intensive supportive care
is given to humans infected by Nipah virus.

Review meeting of the World Bank loan assisted “Skills Acquisition and Knowledge
Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP)” programme was recently held.

SANKALP is an outcome-oriented centrally sponsored programme of the Ministry of Skill

Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) with a special focus on decentralised planning
and quality improvement. It focuses on the overall skilling ecosystem covering both
Central & State agencies. SANKALP aims to implement the mandate of the National Skill
Development Mission (NSDM).
Under SANKALP four key result areas have been identified viz: (i) Institutional
Strengthening (at National, State & District level); (ii) Quality Assurance of skill
development programs; (iii) Inclusion of marginalised population in skill development;
and (iv) Expanding Skills through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

Fixed dose combinations (FDCs) were declared “irrational” by a Health Ministry expert
committee set up in 2014

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) had caused the death of five Asiatic lions in Gir forest,
Gujarat.
CDV causes a highly contagious and life-threatening disease in dogs. CDV also affects
other wild carnivores, including wolves, foxes, raccoons, red pandas, ferrets, hyenas,
tigers, and lions.

CDV spreads through aerosol droplets and through contact with infected bodily fluids,
including nasal and ocular secretions, feces, and urine.

The virus then enters the bloodstream and infects the respiratory, gastrointestinal,
urogenital, epithelial, and central nervous systems, and optic nerves.

Union Government has approved Rs 4,900 crore Kosi-Mechi Interlinking project for
interlinking of Kosi and Mechi rivers of Bihar. This is the second major river interlinking
project in the country to be approved by the Central Government after the Ken-Betwa
project in Madhya Pradesh.

The river Kosi is an international river originating from Tibet and flowing through Nepal
in Himalayan Mountains and the lower portion through plains of North Bihar.

River Mechi is a tributary of river Mahananda.

National Population Register (NPR).

The exercise was conducted earlier in two phases in 2010 and 2015.

IMPRINT India’, is a pan-IIT and IISc joint collaboration to develop a blueprint for research
of immediate relevance to society requiring innovation, direct scientific research into
identified areas, ensure higher funding support for research into these areas and
measure outcomes of the research efforts with reference to the impact on the standard of
living in rural/urban areas.
UchhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY) was announced on October 6, 2015 with a view to
promoting innovation of a higher order that directly impacts the needs of the Industry
and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing

Common Services Centre (CSC) programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics

& IT (MeitY), Government of India. CSCs are the access points for delivery of various
electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially
inclusive society.

CSCs are more than service delivery points in rural India. They are positioned as change
agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods.
They are enablers of community participation and collective action for engendering
social change through a bottom-up approach with key focus on the rural citizen.

Under the Digital India programme, at least one CSC (preferably more than one) is
envisaged in 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats for delivery of various electronic services to
citizens across rural India.

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young
children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the
faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or
food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and
can cause paralysis.
India became the first country globally to introduce fractional doses of IPV in childhood
immunisation programme

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nationsthat promotes industrial

development for poverty reduction.
UNIDO is also a member of United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).
UNIDO’s programmatic focus is on Safeguarding the environment

National Knowledge Network (NKN).

In India, NKN with its multi-gigabit capability
It aims to connect all universities, research institutions, libraries and agricultural
institutions across the country.
Agencies in the fields of nuclear, space and defence research are also part of NKN.
Its goal is to facilitate distance education in engineering, science and medicine.
Operation Thirst – it is an all- India drive launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF)
to curb the menace of selling unauthorised packaged drinking water in railway stations.

Operation Sankalp – Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in the Persian Gulf and the
Gulf of Oman to reassure Indian flagged vessels transiting through the area following the
recent maritime incidents in the region.

Operation Sunrise – India-Myanmar target insurgent groups camp in North East. The
strategy is aimed at hitting militant groups that are impacting both India and Myanmar.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(CITES).

It is an International agreement between governments, that is administered by the United

Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
CITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, which are obliged to adopt
their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.
CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted at a meeting of members of IUCN.

The National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) has been constituted under Section 171 of
the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

The Authority’s main function is to ensure that traders are not realizing unfair profit by
charging high prices from consumers in the name of GST.

The Authority’s core function is to ensure that the benefits of the reduction is GST rates
on goods and services made by GST Council and proportional change in the Input tax
credit passed on to the ultimate consumers and recipients respectively by way of
reduction in the prices by the suppliers.

The National Anti-Profiteering Authority shall be headed by a senior officer of the level of
a Secretary to the Government of India and shall have four technical members from the
Centre and/or the States.

In the event the National Anti-profiteering Authority confirms the necessity of applying
anti-profiteering measures, it has the power to order the business concerned to reduce
its prices or return the undue benefit availed along with interest to the recipient of the
goods or services.
If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be
deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund.
In extreme cases the National Anti-profiteering Authority can impose a penalty on the
defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) is a U.S. trade program designed to promote

economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up
to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.

The objective of GSP was to give development support to poor countries by promoting
exports from them into the developed countries. GSP promotes sustainable development
in beneficiary countries by helping these countries to increase and diversify their trade
with the United States.

Under the normal trade laws, the WTO members must give equal preferences to trade
partners. There should not be any discrimination between countries. This trade rule
under the WTO is called the Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause.

The MFN instructs non-discrimination that any favorable treatment to a particular

country. At the same time, the WTO allows members to give special and differential
treatment to developing countries (like zero tariff imports). This is an exemption for MFN.

Both MFN and GSP come under the purview of WTO.

Khadi & Village Industries Commission.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body which seeks to –
plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of
khadi and village industries in the rural areas.
Its objective is to provide employment in rural areas and create self-reliance amongst
people and build up a strong rural community spirit.
It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

WHO released REPLACE, a step-by-step guide for the elimination of

industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply
Union HRD Minister launches the Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship
and Skills (SHREYAS) for providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general
graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
(NAPS).

The program aims to enhance the employability of Indian youth by providing ‘on the job
work exposure’ and earning of stipend.

The Santhal rebellion (June 30, 1855 to January 3, 1856): Also known as the Santhal Hool,
it was a native rebellion in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and
zamindari system by the Santhal people.

The Munda Rebellion: Birsa Munda led the movement in the region south of Ranchi in
1899-1900, seeking the establishment of Munda Raj and independence after the system
of khuntkattidar was corroded by the jagirdars and thikadars who came as moneylenders
and as traders.

1917-1919 Kuki Uprising in Manipur against British colonialism under the leadership of
their chieftains called haosa.

The Bodo Movement: The official movement of the Bodos for an independent state of
Bodoland started under the leadership of Upendranath Brahma of All Bodo Students’
Union (ABSU) on March 2, 1987.

Four countries from Asia — China, Iran, Malaysia and Timor-Leste — and one from
Central America — El Salvador — reported no indigenous cases of malaria in 2018,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

E-2020 is the initiative supported by WHO where countries were identified by WHO in
2016 as having the potential to become malaria-free by 2020.

2. The Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030, calls for the elimination of malaria
in at least 10 countries by the year 2020.
The UK Home Secretary had issued a personal apology for the Windrush scandal,
involving migrants being wrongly denied their British citizenship rights.

The Windrush Scheme enables Commonwealth citizens, their children, and some other
long term residents of the UK to obtain documentation confirming their status free of
charge.

UN SECURITY COUNCIl (USC)

● Each year, the General Assembly elects 5 non-permanent members out of a total
of 10, for a 2 year term.
● India has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council 7 times
previously
● India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council for the
2021-22 term has been supported by Pakistan and China.

The 2019 G20 Osaka summit was the fourteenth meeting of the G20, a forum of 19
countries and the EU that together represent most of the world economy. It was the first
G20 summit to be hosted by Japan.

The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.

The recent G20 summits have focused not only on macroeconomy and trade, but also on
a wide range of global issues which have an immense impact on the global economy,
such as development, climate change and energy, health, counter-terrorism, as well as
migration and refugees.

India was the host country in 2002. The 2020 Summit will be in Saudi Arabia and 2022 in
India.

STUBBLE BURNING
There was 41 per cent reduction in crop residue burning in North India in 2018 compared
with that in 2016. As many as 4,500 villages in Haryana and Punjab were declared zero
stubble burning villages in 2018.
Under a central government scheme for promoting agricultural mechanisation for in-situ
management of crop residue in North India between 2018-19 and 2019-20, an amount of
₹1,151.80 crore has been allocated. Within the first year of implementation, the Happy
Seeder/zero tillage technology was adopted in 8 lakh hectares of land in these States.

Stubble burning results in emission of harmful gases such carbon dioxide, sulphur
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide along with particulate matter.

Advantages of stubble burning:

It quickly clears the field and is the cheapest alternative.

Kills weeds, including those resistant to herbicide.
Kills slugs and other pests.
Can reduce nitrogen tie-up.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has constituted an ‘Advisory Board for Banking
Frauds (ABBF)’ to examine bank fraud of over ₹50 crore and recommend action.

The board’s jurisdiction would be confined to those cases involving the level of officers
of General Manager and above in the Public Sector Banks in respect of an allegation of
fraud in a borrowal account.
It would function as the first level of examination of all large fraud cases before
recommendations or references are made to the investigative agencies by the respective
public sector banks (PSBs).
Lenders would refer all large fraud cases above ₹50 crore to the board and on receipt of
its recommendation or advice, the bank concerned would take further action in such
matters.
The Central Bureau of Investigation may also refer any case or matter to the board where
it has any issue or difficulty or in technical matters with the PSB concerned.
It would also periodically carry out fraud analysis in the financial system and give inputs
for policy formulation related to the fraud to the RBI.

C-Sat-Fi (C-DOT Satellite WiFi) is based on the optimal utilization of wireless and satellite
communication to extend connectivity to the unserved areas including the remote
islands and difficult terrains. Besides offering the ease of deployment, the solution is
ideally suited to addressing disasters and emergencies when no other means of
communication are available. This cost-effective solution does not require the expensive
Satellite Phones and can work on any WiFi enabled phone.
India’s first and indigenous microprocessor “Shakti” developed by Indian Institute of
Technology Madras (IITM).

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has released the first-ever global assessment of
forest biodiversity.

Key findings:

There has been a 53% decline in the number of forest wildlife populations since 1970.

While the decline was consistent in these years among mammals, reptiles and
amphibians (particularly from the tropical forests), it was less among birds (especially
from temperate forests).

Under a negative rate policy, financial institutions are required to pay interest for parking
excess reserves with the central bank.

That way, central banks penalise financial institutions for holding on to cash in hope of
prompting them to boost lending.

What are the pros of negative rates?

Lowers borrowing costs.

Help weaken a country’s currency rate by making it a less attractive investment than that
of other currencies.
A weaker currency gives a country’s export a competitive advantage and boosts inflation
by pushing up import costs.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently designated
the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory
(CSIR-NPL) as a national agency that shall be responsible for carrying out certification
for instruments and equipment for monitoring emissions and ambient air.

The ministry issued a notification under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act,
giving CSIR-NPL the authority to certify instruments.

The government launched the National Clean Air Programme, a time-bound national level
strategy to tackle increasing air pollution.
The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year. The main
aim of the programme would be 20-30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by
2024. The programme would take 2017 as the base year for the comparison of
concentration.

The approach for NCAP includes collaborative, multi-scale and cross-sectoral

coordination between the relevant central ministries, state governments and local
bodies.

Other features of NCAP include, increasing number of monitoring stations in the country
including rural monitoring stations, technology support, emphasis on awareness and
capacity building initiatives, setting up of certification agencies for monitoring
equipment, source apportionment studies, emphasis on enforcement, specific sectoral
interventions etc.

Consumer Protection Act, 1986

1. It makes provision for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities
for the settlement of consumers’ disputes.

2. Wherever possible it assures access to goods and services at competitive prices.

3. It protects the consumers against marketing of hazardous goods and services.

Seek redressal on account of unscrupulous exploitation of consumers.

Know India Programme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of External Affairs for
engagement with Indian origin youth (between 18-30 years) to enhance their awareness
about India, its cultural heritage, art and to familiarise them with various aspects of
contemporary India.

Eligibility: Minimum qualification required for participating in KIP is graduation from a

recognized University /Institute or enrolled for graduation and ability to speak in English.
The applicant should not have visited India through any previous Programme of
Government of India. Those who have not visited India before will be given preference.

A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government

authorities.

The process helps the government keep track and formulate a plan for elimination and
control.
The onus of notifying any disease and the implementation lies with the state government.

Any failure to report a notifiable disease is a criminal offence and the state government
can take necessary actions against defaulters.

The Centre has notified several diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, encephalitis,
leprosy, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), plague, tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis,
measles, yellow fever, malaria dengue, etc.

According to the IMF’s “Annual Observance Report of the Special Data Dissemination
Standard for 2018”, India failed to comply with multiple requirements prescribed in the
Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS).

Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) is an International Monetary Fund standard

to guide member countries in the dissemination of national statistics to the public.

It was established in April 1996.

SDDS subscription indicates that a country meets the test of “good statistical
citizenship.”

Countries that subscribe to the SDDS agree to follow good practices in four areas: the
coverage, periodicity, and timeliness of data; public access to those data; data integrity;
and data quality.

India’s proposal to upgrade the protection of star tortoises (Geochelone elegans), the
smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus) in
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on Wild Fauna and
Flora) have been approved.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese
encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.

WNV is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West
Asia. WNV is maintained in nature in a cycle involving transmission between birds and
mosquitoes. Humans, horses and other mammals can be infected.
The virus may also be transmitted through contact with other infected animals, their
blood, or other tissues.

A very small proportion of human infections have occurred through organ transplant,
blood transfusions and breast milk.

Key Facts:

West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Birds are the natural hosts of West Nile virus.
Vaccines are available for use in horses but not yet available for people.
The virus can cause severe disease and death in horses.
Infection with WNV is either asymptomatic (no symptoms) in around 80% of infected
people, or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.
About 20% of people who become infected with WNV will develop West Nile fever.
Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, nausea, vomiting,
occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands.

India has got its first National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) finalised by the Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

NEDL aims to bridge the current regulatory system’s gap that does not cover all the
medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic devices (IVD).

With this, India has become the first country to compile such a list that would provide
guidance to the government for deciding the kind of diagnostic tests that different
healthcare facilities in villages and remote areas require.

NEDL builds upon the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative and other diagnostics initiatives
of the Health Ministry to provide an expanded basket of tests at different levels of the
public health system.

No first use nuclear doctrine refers to a pledge or a policy by a nuclear power not to use
nuclear weapons as a means of warfare unless first attacked by an adversary using
nuclear weapons. Earlier, the concept had also been applied to chemical and biological
warfare.
China became the first nation to propose and pledge NFU policy when it first gained
nuclear capabilities in 1964, stating “not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any
time or under any circumstances”.

India first adopted a “No first use” policy after its second nuclear tests, Pokhran-II, in
1998.

India became the first country in the world to issue a Biometric Seafarer Identity
Document (BSID),capturing the biometric data of seafarers, the world's first facial
biometric-based ID for seafarers.

ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication
technologies – ICTs.

Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks, they

allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that
ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve
access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.

ITU is committed to connecting all the world’s people – wherever they live and whatever
their means.

ITU embodies principles of public-private partnership, with its current membership of 193
countries and over 800 private-sector entities and academic institutions. ​

ITU membership represents a cross-section of the global ICT sector, from the world’s
largest vendors, manufacturers and telecom operators to small, innovative players and
SMEs working with new and emerging technologies, along with leading R&D institutions
and academia.

Founded on the principle of international cooperation between governments (Member

States) and the private sector (Sector Members, Associates and Academia), ITU is the
premier global forum through which parties work towards consensus on a wide range of
issues affecting the future direction of the ICT industry.
India has been elected as a Member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Council for another 4-year term (2019-2022).

By securing 165 votes, India ranked third among the 13 countries elected to the Council
from the Asia-Australasia region, and eighth among the 48 countries elected to the
Council globally.

Under Article 169 of the constitution, Parliament may by law create or abolish the second
chamber in a state if the Legislative Assembly of that state passes a resolution to that
effect by a special majority.

As per article 171 clause (1) of the Indian Constitution, the total number of members in
the legislative council of a state shall not exceed one third of the total number of the
members in the legislative Assembly of that state and the total number of members in the
legislative council of a state shall in no case be less than 40.

How are members of the Council elected?

1/3rd of members are elected by members of the Assembly.

1/3rd by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and other
local authorities in the state.
1/12th by an electorate consisting of teachers.
1/12th by registered graduates.
The remaining members are nominated by the Governor from among those who have
distinguished themselves in literature, science, art, the cooperative movement, and
social service.
Legislative Councils are permanent Houses, and like Rajya Sabha, one-third of their
members retire every two years.

The yield curve is a graph showing the relationship between interest rates earned on
lending money for different durations.

Normally, someone who lent to the government or a corporation for one year (by buying
a one-year government or corporate bond) would expect to get a lower interest rate than
someone who lent for five or ten years, making the yield curve upward-sloping.

In the US in recent days the ten-year bond rate has fallen to the point at which the
ten-year rate is below the two-year rate – so the yield curve is inverted.
The yield curve turns negative when near-term Treasurys yield more than their long-term
counterparts

Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats to
represent changes in population.

In this process, the number of seats allocated to different states in Lok Sabha and the
total number seats in a Legislative Assembly may also change.

The main objective of delimitation is to provide equal representation to equal segments

of a population.

It also aims at a fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t
have an advantage over others in an election.

Delimitation is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission.

The Constitution mandates that its orders are final and cannot be questioned before any
court as it would hold up an election indefinitely.
Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.

The first delimitation exercise in 1950-51 was carried out by the President (with the help
of the Election Commission), as the Constitution at that time was silent on who should
undertake the division of states into Lok Sabha seats.

This delimitation was temporary as the Constitution mandated redrawing of boundaries

after every Census. Hence, another delimitation was due after the 1951 Census.
Subsequently, the Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.

Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002
under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002. There was no delimitation after the 1981 and
1991 Censuses.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under Directorate General of
Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the National
Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.

The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities
to central & state regulators for regulation of drugs & cosmetics.
The regulation of manufacture, sale and distribution of Drugs is primarily the concern of
the State authorities while the Central Authorities are responsible for approval of New
Drugs, Clinical Trials in the country, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over
the quality of imported Drugs, coordination of the activities of State Drug Control
Organisations and providing expert advice with a view of bringing about the uniformity in
the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched an e-course on ‘Vulnerability Atlas
of India’. The objective of the course is to create awareness and understanding about
natural hazards and help in identification of regions with high vulnerability such as
earthquakes, and landslides.

The e-course would be a tool for effective and efficient disaster mitigation and
management in the field of architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning,
housing and infrastructure planning, construction engineering.

The Ministry also launched the “Angikaar Campaign”, which aims to converge with
schemes/services of various urban missions and other central ministries. The campaign
will be rolled out in all PMAY(U) cities.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance

knowledge, and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy.

It is the first international organisation to focus exclusively on renewable energy,

addressing needs in both industrialized and developing countries.
It was founded in 2009 & its statute entered into force on 8 July 2010 and is
headquartered in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.
IRENA is an official United Nations observer.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched RUCO
(Repurpose Used Cooking Oil), an initiative that will enable collection and conversion of
used cooking oil to biodiesel.
Under this initiative, 64 companies at 101 locations have been identified to enable
collection of used cooking oil.

In India all parties can issue a whip to their members. Parties appoint a senior member
from among their House contingents to issue whips — this member is called a Chief
Whip, and he/she is assisted by additional Whips.
However, there are some cases such as Indian Presidential elections where whips cannot
direct a Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) on whom
to vote.

India, the largest importer of Pakistani cement.

Cement is the only good with a significant chunk coming from Pakistan. No other
commodity imported from Pakistan is more than 10% of India’s total imports.

India revoked Pakistan’s most-favoured nation (MFN) status following the Pulwama
terrorist attack.

The TRAI Act of 1997 was amended in the year 2000 and Telecom Disputes Settlement &
Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was set up to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals
with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom
sector.

The decision of TDSAT is appealed to the Supreme Court of India.

The jurisdiction of TDSAT stands extended to matters that lay before the Cyber Appellate
Tribunal and also the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal.

Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ Drive has been launched by the Department of School
Education & Literacy, HRD Ministry to create awareness about water conservation among
all school students in the country

Oussudu lake spreads in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu territories.

Oussudu is a mix of reed beds, wetlands and huge stretches of water.
The Oussudu lake is identified as a wetland of national importance under the National
Wetland Conservation Programme.
has also been declared one of the significant wetlands in Asia by the Asian Wetland
Bureau.

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched this Central Sector Scheme
named “Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region”
(MOVCDNER) for implementation in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The scheme aims at development of certified organic production in a value chain mode
to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain
starting from inputs, seeds, certification and creation of facilities for collection,
aggregation, processing, marketing and brand building initiative.
The assistance is provided for cluster development, on/off farm input production, supply
of seeds/planting materials, setting up of functional infrastructure, establishment of
integrated processing unit, refrigerated transportation, pre-cooling/ cold stores chamber,
branding, labelling and packaging, hiring of space, hand holdings, organic certification
through third party, mobilization of farmers/processors etc.

DRDO Research Ship INS SagardhwaniEmbarks on Sagar Maitri Mission-2.

SAGAR MAITRIis a unique initiative of DRDO which aligns with the broad objective of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy declaration “Safety And Growth for All in the
Region (SAGAR)” to promote closer co-operation in socio-economic aspects as well as
greater scientific interaction especially in ocean research among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR)
countries.
The prime objectives of the SAGAR MAITRI Mission are data collection from the entire
North Indian Ocean, focussing on the Andaman Sea and adjoining seas and establishing
long-term collaboration with eight IOR countries in the field of ocean research and
development.
The programme also aims at establishing long term scientific collaboration with these
countries in the field of ‘Ocean Research & Development’ and data collection with a
focus in the Andaman Sea.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the launch of Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-lll (PMGSY-III).

Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in

the States.
It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting
habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and
Hospitals.
The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all
States except for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10.

PMGSY was launched in December, 2000 with an objective to provide single all-weather
road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitation of designated population size (500+
in plain areas and 250+ in North-East, hill, tribal and desert areas as per Census, 2001)
for overall socio-economic development of the areas.

Electronically transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) is developed by Election

Commission of India with the help of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
(C-DAC).
It is a fully secured system, having two layers of security. Secrecy is maintained through
the use of OTP and PIN and no duplication of casted Electronically Transmitted Postal
Ballot (ETPB) is possible due to the unique QR Code.
This system enables the entitled service voters to cast their vote using an electronically
received postal ballot from anywhere outside their constituency.
Persons working in paramilitary forces and the military and government officials
deployed in diplomatic missions outside India are classified as Service Voters.
Service Voters, other than those who opt for proxy voting (Classified Service Voters).
The wife of a Service Voter who ordinarily resides with him.
Overseas Voters.

Champion Services Sectors refers to the 12 identified sectors where the Government
wants to give focused attention for promoting their development, and realizing their
potential. These include:

Information Technology & Information Technology enabled Services (IT & ITeS),

Tourism and Hospitality Services,

Medical Value Travel,

Transport and Logistics Services,

Accounting and Finance Services,

Audio Visual Services,

Legal Services,

Communication Services,

Construction and Related Engineering Services,

Environmental Services,

Financial Services and

Education Services.

North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) is a

livelihood and rural development project aimed to transform the lives of the poor and
marginalized tribal families in North East (NE) India. NERCORMP is a joint developmental
initiative of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, Govt. of India and
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Promote viable income generation activities (IGAs) for poor households through
production of field crops, horticulture, forestry, livestock, fisheries, and non-farm
activities

The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age.
It is the legal duty upon a person who has knowledge that a child has been sexually
abused to report the offence.
The POCSO Act is only applicable to child survivors and adult offenders
The POCSO Act is only applicable to child survivors and adult offenders. In case two
children have sexual relations with each other, or in case a child perpetrates a sexual
offence on an adult, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, will
apply.

In India, the new HAM is a mix of BOT Annuity and EPC models. As per the design, the
government will contribute to 40% of the project cost in the first five years through
annual payments (annuity).
As the government pays only 40%, during the construction stage, the developer should
find money for the remaining amount.

Here, he has to raise the remaining 60% in the form of equity or loans.

There is no toll right for the developer. Under HAM, Revenue collection would be the
responsibility of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

SCO comprises of two regional bodies – SCO Secretariat and SCO-RATS (Regional
Anti-Terrorism Structure). SCO-RATS is a permanent body of the SCO and is intended to
facilitate coordination and interaction between competent authorities of the SCO Member
States in the fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism. The main functions of
SCO-RATS are coordination and information sharing.

India became a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on 09 June 2017 with
the support of all the SCO Member States. Since becoming a member India has been
participating in the activities of SCO-RATS.

Rise of nationalism
The intersection of cross-national and cross-domain challenges demand multilateral
approaches. They require empowered international institutions of governance.
Underlying these must be a spirit of internationalism and solidarity, a sense of belonging
to a common humanity. But over the past decade and more, the world has been moving
in the reverse direction. There has been an upsurge in narrow nationalism, an assertion
of parochial interests over pursuit of shared interests and a fostering of competition
among states rather than embracing collaboration. COVID-19 has brought these
deepening contradictions into very sharp relief. This is a global challenge which
recognises no political boundaries. It is intimately linked to the whole pattern of
large-scale and high-density food production and distribution. It is a health crisis but is
also spawning an economic crisis through disrupting global value chains and creating a
simultaneous demand shock. It is a classic cross-national and cross-domain challenge.

The direction now

But interventions to deal with the COVID-19 crisis are so far almost entirely at the
national level, relying on quarantine and social distancing. There is virtually no
coordination at the international level. We are also seeing a blame game erupt between
China and the United States which does not augur well for international cooperation and
leadership. While this is the present state of play, the long-term impact could follow
alternative pathways. One, the more hopeful outcome would be for countries to finally
realise that there is no option but to move away from nationalistic urges and embrace the
logic of international cooperation through revived and strengthened multilateral
institutions and processes.

The other more depressing consequence may be that nationalist trends become more
intense, countries begin to build walls around themselves and even existing
multilateralism is further weakened. Institutions such as the United Nations and the
World Health Organization which are already marginalised may become increasingly
irrelevant. There could be a return to autarkic economic and trade policies and an even
deeper and more pervasive anti-globalisation sentiment. Unless there is a conscious
effort to stem this through a reaffirmation of multilateralism, we are looking at a very
depressing decade ahead. This is when the world needs leadership and statesmanship,
both in short supply. This is in contrast to the U.S.-led response to the global financial
and economic crisis of 2008 when the G-20 summit was born and a coordinated response
prevented catastrophic damage to the global economy. Is there a role here for India
which is a key G-20 country, the world’s fifth largest economy and with a long tradition of
international activism and promotion of rule-based multilateralism?

In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the recent The Economic
Times Global Business Summit are to be welcomed. While speaking of the COVID-19
crisis, he said, “Like today, the world is facing a huge challenge in the form of
CoronaVirus. Financial institutions have also considered it a big challenge for the
financial world. Today, we all have to face this challenge together. We have to be
victorious with the power of our resolution of ‘Collaborate to Create’.”

He went on to observe that while the world today is “inter-connected, inter-related and
also interdependent”, it has “not been able to come on a single platform or frame a
Global Agenda, a global goal of how to overcome world poverty, how to end terrorism,
how to handle Climate Change issues.”

Mr. Modi lauded his government’s policy of seeking friendship with all countries as
contrasted from the earlier policy of non-alignment. He seemed to suggest that
non-alignment was a defensive policy which advocated “equal distance from every
country”. Now, he claimed, India was still “neutral” — presumably meaning
non-alignment — “but not on the basis of distance but on the basis of friendship”.

He cited India’s friendship with Iran and Saudi Arabia, and with the U.S. as well as
Russia. Elaborating on this, he added, “There was a time when people were neutral by
creating equal distance, but we are now neutral by creating equal friendship. Today we
are being friends and trying to walk together. This is the very essence of India’s foreign
policy and the economic policy of India today.”

India’s foreign policy

Mr. Modi may wish to distinguish his foreign policy from that of his predecessors, but
what he describes as its “essence” is hardly distinguishable from the basic principles of
Indian foreign policy since Nehru. India’s non-alignment was anything but defensive. The
international peace-keeping contribution that the Prime Minister referred to has its
origins in Nehru’s sense of international responsibility.

India has always professed its desire to have friendly relations with all countries but has
been equally firm in safeguarding its interests when these are threatened. India’s
non-alignment did not prevent it from forging strong and mutually beneficial partnerships
with major countries. The India-Soviet partnership from 1960-1990 is an example just as
the current strategic partnership with the U.S. is. The foreign policy of his predecessors
had been rooted in India’s civilisational sense, its evolving place in the international
system and its own changing capabilities. Their seminal contributions should be
acknowledged and built upon rather than proclaim a significant departure. The Prime
Minister’s plea for global collaboration to deal with a densely interconnected world is in
line with India’s traditional foreign policy. A leadership role in mobilising global
collaboration, more specifically in fighting COVID-19 would be in keeping with India’s
traditional activism on the international stage. The Prime Minister has shown
commendable initiative in convening leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation nations for a regional collaborative effort on COVID-19. This should be
followed by an international initiative, either through the G-20 or through the U.N.

Pandemic as opportunity
The Prime Minister made no reference to the role of the U.N., the premier multilateral
institution, as a global platform for collaborative initiatives. There may have been
irritation over remarks by the UN Secretary General on India’s domestic affairs and the
activism displayed by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights on the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act controversy. This should not influence India’s long-standing
commitment to the U.N. as the only truly inclusive global platform enjoying international
legitimacy despite its failings. If one has to look for a “single platform” where a Global
Voice could be created, as the Prime Minister suggested, surely a reformed and
strengthened U.N. should be on India’s agenda.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents India with an opportunity to revive multilateralism,

become a strong and credible champion of internationalism and assume a leadership
role in a world that is adrift. The inspiration for this should come from reaffirming the well
springs of India’s foreign policy since its Independence rather than seeking to break free.

Motihari-Amlekhgunj Oil pipeline

from Motihari in Bihar to Amelkhgunj in Nepal

Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) programme

The initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable
Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle-users
as well as farmers and entrepreneurs.

Compressed Biogas plants are proposed to be set up mainly through independent

entrepreneurs.

CBG produced at these plants will be transported through cascades of cylinders to the
fuel station networks of OMCs for marketing as a green transport fuel alternative.

The entrepreneurs would be able to separately market the other by-products from these
plants, including bio-manure, carbon-dioxide, etc., to enhance returns on investment.

The Maternity Benefit Act originally provided maternity benefit of 12 weeks. In 2017, the
law was amended to extend the period to 26 weeks.

Women who legally adopt a child below the age of three months or a “commissioning
mother” will be entitled to maternity benefit for 12 weeks from the date on which the child
is handed over to her. A commissioning mother is defined as a biological mother who
uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in another woman.

Maternity benefit in India applies to all shops and establishments with 10 or more women
employees.
It is mandatory for employers to educate women about the maternity benefits available to
them at the time of their appointment.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in

1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions.
The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body”

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund established within the framework of the UNFCCC
as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism to assist developing countries in
adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. The GCF is based in
Incheon, South Korea.

All India Tiger Estimation – 2018.

As per All India Tiger Estimation – 2018, there is 33% rise in tiger numbers from 2014
estimation

India has achieved its commitment to the St.Petersburg Declaration, of doubling Tiger
population

Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka
at 524 with Uttarakhand at number 3 with 442 tigers

Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger’s numbers in
Odisha remained constant. All other States witnessed a positive trend

One of the most recent invaders of the landscape — a knotweed native to the Himalayas
— has begun taking root in the upper slopes of the Nilgiris, potentially threatening
biodiversity along streams and rivers.

Project Sashakt
With an aim to resolve the problem of stressed assets with public-sector banks, the
government has come out with a new plan – Sashakt – that includes the creation of one
or more widely held asset management companies for loans above Rs 500 crore.

A proposal for reservation of seats for Limboo and Tamang communities in Sikkim
Legislative Assembly is under consideration of the Government of India.

Limboo and Tamang communities, notified as the Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim in January
2003.

Kodaikanal Malai Poondu.

Recently Geographical Indication (GI) tag was granted to Kodaikanal Malai Poondu also
called Kodaikanal Hill Garlic.
It is known for its medicinal and preservative properties and preservative properties. It
has antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, which is attributed to the presence of a
higher amount of organosulfur compounds, phenols and flavonoids compared to other
garlic varieties. It is grown in the Kodaikanal Hills, Dindigul district.

The hill altitude, the misty condition and the soil prevailing in the Kodaikanal region are
responsible for its medicinal property and the long storage shelf life of the garlic.

In India, garlic is planted as both kharif (June-July) and rabi (October-November) crops
and it depends on the regions.

CCTNS is a Mission Mode Project (MMP)under the National e-Governance Plan.

CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the
efficiency and effective policing at all level

The Project will interconnect about 15000 Police Stations and additional 5000 offices of
supervisory police officers across the country and digitize data related to FIR
registration, investigation and charge sheets in all Police Stations.
It will not only automate Police functions at Police stations and higher levels but will also
create facilities and mechanisms to provide public services like registration of online
complaints, ascertaining the status of cases registered at the police station, verification
of persons etc.

Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas prepared by the World Wide Fund for Nature.

The WWF’s ‘risk index’ for the globe — indicating threats from loss of above-ground
diversity, pollution and nutrient overloading, overgrazing, intensive agriculture, fire, soil
erosion, desertification and climate change — shows India among countries whose soil
biodiversity faces the highest level of risk.

Soil biodiversity encompasses the presence of microorganisms, micro-fauna (nematodes

and tardigrades for example), and macro-fauna (ants, termites and earthworms).
Tarballs are dark-coloured, sticky balls of oil that form when crude oil floats on the ocean
surface
Tarballs are formed by weathering of crude oil in marine environments.
The presence of several tarballs indicate an oil spill.
There has never been a case of a beach closing down due to tarballs in India.
Tarball pollution is a major concern to the global marine ecosystem. Microbes such as
bacteria and fungi are known to be associated with tarballs.
Tarballs are difficult to break down, and can therefore travel for hundreds of miles in the
sea. Noted cases of tarball occurrences have been witnessed at Goa beaches since 2010,
in South Gujarat, Mangalore and at Los Angeles beaches.

The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the
Constitution, mainly to give its recommendations on distribution of tax revenues
between the Union and the States and amongst the States themselves.

Two distinctive features of the Commission’s work involve redressing the vertical
imbalances between the taxation powers and expenditure responsibilities of the centre
and the States respectively and equalization of all public services across the States.

The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is a proposed treaty which

intends to criminalize all forms of international terrorism and deny terrorists, their
financiers and supporters access to funds, arms, and safe havens. The negotiations for
this treaty are currently (May 2018) under way and have been under negotiation at the
United Nations General Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee.

Currently, the negotiations of the Comprehensive Terrorism Convention are deadlocked

because of differences over the definition of terrorism.

India proposed this convention in 1996 and has since demanded consistently, especially
in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The issue was once again pushed by the Indian
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in his address at the 69th Session of the UN General
Assembly held in September 2014. India further pressed for the adoption of CCIT
following the July 2016 Dhaka attack.

The idea of dividing Jammu and Kashmir into two or more parts has a chequered history,
tracing its origin to the Dixon Plan of 1950.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is a specialized agency

in the United Nations system, headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The mission of UNIDO,
as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO
General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable
industrial development (ISID) in Member States. It is also a member of the United Nations
Development Group.

UNIDO concentrates its efforts on the development of agro-industries, increasing the

participation of women and youth in productive activities, and human security in
post-crisis situations. The Organization’s services for the development of agro-industries
focus on adding value to agricultural production by strengthening linkages between
agriculture, industry and markets.

Countries use bilateral/regional trade agreements to increase market access and expand
trade in foreign markets. These agreements are called reciprocal trade agreements
(RTAs) because members grant special advantages to each other.

RTAs include many types of agreements, such as preferential arrangements, free trade
agreements, customs unions, and common markets, in which members agree to open
their markets to each other’s exports by lowering trade barriers.
They have become an increasingly prominent feature of the multilateral trading system in
recent
years, in part, because of stalled global negotiations taking place under the auspices of
the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES).

It is India’s only facility for conservation of endangered species.

It is a facility of CSIR’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).
It has helped to increase the population of mouse deer in Telangana forests

The Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), a dedicated

facility of CSIR’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad uses
modern biotechnologies for conservation of endangered wildlife. India’s only facility for
conservation of endangered species.

Achievements of Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES):

LaCONES has helped the Mouse Deer Conservation Breeding Centre at Nehru Zoological
Park to increase the population of mouse deer in Telangana forests. Amrabad forest, for
instance, ran out of mouse deer and through the efforts of LaCONES, the animal is now
reintroduced in Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
Earlier, LaCONES has developed universal DNA based markers for identification of wild
animals from parts and remains. It has a DNA banking of more than 250 species of
mammals, birds and reptiles.

The environment ministry notified new wetland rules in 2017.

The revision of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, is to bring the
role of state wetlands authorities to the fore for wetlands conservation. As the Rules
have been framed under the Environment Protection Act, the ultimate responsibility rests
with the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

The new rules stipulate setting up of a State Wetlands Authority in each State and union
territories that will be headed by the State's environment minister and include a range of
government officials. They will also include one expert each in the fields of wetland
ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socioeconomics to be nominated
by the state government.

These authorities will need to develop a comprehensive list of activities to be regulated

and permitted within the notified wetlands and their zone of influence, recommend
additional prohibited activities for specific wetlands, define strategies for conservation
and wise use of wetlands, and undertake measures for enhancing awareness within
stakeholders and local communities on values and functions of wetlands.

Applicability of rules.These rules shall apply to the following wetlands or wetlands

complexes, namely: (a) wetlands categorised as 'wetlands of international importance'
under the Ramsar Convention; (b) wetlands as notified by the Central Government, State
Government and Union Territory Administration: Provided that these rules shall not apply
to the wetlands falling in areas covered under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the State Forest Acts, and the
Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011 as amended from time to time.

India's first case of Avian influenza or Bird flu caused by a rare variety of H9N2 virus has
been reported in a 17-month-old boy of Maharashtra.

"Crowding out" effect refers to how increased government spending, for which it must
borrow more money, tends to reduce private spending. This happens because when the
government takes up the lion's share of funds available in the banking system, less of it
is left for private borrowers. This also impacts interest rates in the economy.

Sometimes, the government adopts an expansionary fiscal policy stance and increases
its spending to boost economic activity. This leads to an increase in interest rates.
Increased interest rates affect private investment decisions. A high magnitude of the
crowding out effect may even lead to lesser income in the economy.

Kerala became the first state to challenge the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) before
the Supreme Court. The Kerala government has moved the apex court under Article 131
of the Constitution, the provision under which the Supreme Court has original
jurisdiction to deal with any dispute between the Centre and a state; the Centre and a
state on the one side and another state on the other side; and two or more states.

The Chhattisgarh government filed a suit in the Supreme Court under Article 131,
challenging the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act on the ground that it encroaches
upon the state's powers to maintain law and order.

For a dispute to qualify as a dispute under Article 131, it has to necessarily be between
states and the Centre, and must involve a question of law or fact on which the existence
of a legal right of the state or the Centre depends. In a 1978 judgment, State of Karnataka
v Union of India, Justice P N Bhagwati had said that for the Supreme Court to accept a
suit under Article 131, the state need not show that its legal right is violated, but only that
the dispute involves a legal question.

Article 131 cannot be used to settle political differences between state and central
governments headed by different parties.

Twenty-three years after ethnic clashes in Mizoram forced 37,000 people of the Bru (or
Reang) community to flee their homes to neighbouring Tripura, an agreement was signed
to allow them to remain permanently in the latter state.

The agreement among the Bru leaders and the governments of India, Tripura, and
Mizoram, gives the Bru the choice of living in either state.
The Bru or Reang are a community indigenous to Northeast India, living mostly in
Tripura, Mizoram, and Assam. In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable
Tribal Group (PVTG).

Apart from their own Kaubru tongue, the Bru speak both Kokborok and Bangla, the two
most widely spoken languages of the tribal and non-tribal communities of Tripura, and
have an easy connection with the state

Recent archaeological excavations at Nagardhan in Ramtek taluka, near Nagpur, have

provided concrete evidence on the life, religious affiliations and trade practices of the
Vakataka dynasty

In 2020, according to the Niti Aayog, 21 Indian cities, including Delhi, Chennai and
Bengaluru, will run out of groundwater. The Aayog's "Composite Water Management
Index" (CWMI), notes that "Seventy percent of our water resources are contaminated"

Following a series of orders by the National Green Tribunal in 2018, the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change has for the first time released guidelines to
monitor and check illegal sand mining in the country.

The Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining 2020 released by the
Ministry include directions to states to carry out river audits, put detailed survey reports
of all mining areas online and in the public domain, conduct replenishment studies of
river beds, constantly monitor mining with drones, aerial surveys, ground surveys and
set up dedicated task forces at district levels.

The guidelines also push for online sales and purchase of sand and other riverbed
materials to make the process transparent. They propose night surveillance of mining
activity through night-vision drones.

While the MoEF has already put in place the Sustainable Sand Management Guidelines
2016, which focus on the management of sand mining in India, officials say that there is
an urgent need to have guidelines for effective enforcement of regulatory provisions and
their monitoring.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 has empowered state
governments to make rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of
minerals. "But in the recent past, it has been observed that there was a large number of
illegal mining cases in the country.

The 2020 guidelines are to be enforced simultaneously with the Sustainable Sand
Management Guidelines, 2016, but in instances where the two sets of guidelines may
seem to be in conflict, the new set will hold legal precedence.
The International Health Regulations (2005), or IHR (2005), represents a binding
international legal agreement involving 196 countries across the globe, including all the
Member States of WHO. Their aim is to help the international community prevent and
respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten
people worldwide.

A PHEIC is defined in the IHR (2005) as, "an extraordinary event which is determined to
constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease
and to potentially require a coordinated international response". This definition implies a
situation that is:

serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected;

carries implications for public health beyond the affected State's national border; and

may require immediate international action.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO's) food price index.
touched 182.5 points in January 2020, the highest since the 185.8 level of December
2014.

India is a temporary home to several migratory animals and birds like Amur Falcons,
Bar-headed Geese, Black-necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs and Humpback Whales

The Botanical Survey of India has come up with the first comprehensive census of
orchids of India putting the total number of orchid species or taxa to 1,256. A State-wise
distribution of orchid species points out that the Himalayas, North-East parts of the
country and Western Ghats are the hot-spots of the beautiful plant species. The highest
number of orchid species is recorded from Arunachal Pradesh with 612 species, followed
by Sikkim 560 species and West Bengal; Darjeeling Himalayas have also high species
concentration, with 479 species. While north-east India rank at the top in species
concentration, the Western Ghats have high endemism of orchids. Among the 10
biogeographic zones of India, the Himalayan zone is the richest in terms of orchid
species followed by Northeast, Western Ghats, Deccan plateau and Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. Entire orchid family is listed under appendix II of CITES (Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and hence any trade
of wild orchid is banned globally.

The Phules also started the Literacy Mission in India between 1854-55. The Phules
started the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society for Truth-Seeking), through which they wanted
to initiate the practice of Satyashodhak marriage, in which no dowry was taken.
Following a series of orders by the National Green Tribunal in 2018, the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change has for the first time released guidelines to
monitor and check illegal sand mining in the country.

The Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining 2020 released by the
Ministry include directions to states to carry out river audits, put detailed survey reports
of all mining areas online and in the public domain, conduct replenishment studies of
river beds, constantly monitor mining with drones, aerial surveys, ground surveys and
set up dedicated task forces at district levels.

The guidelines also push for online sales and purchase of sand and other riverbed
materials to make the process transparent. They propose night surveillance of mining
activity through night-vision drones.

While the MoEF has already put in place the Sustainable Sand Management Guidelines
2016, which focus on the management of sand mining in India, officials say that there is
an urgent need to have guidelines for effective enforcement of regulatory provisions and
their monitoring.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 has empowered state
governments to make rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of
minerals. "But in the recent past, it has been observed that there was a large number of
illegal mining cases in the country.

The 2020 guidelines are to be enforced simultaneously with the Sustainable Sand
Management Guidelines, 2016, but in instances where the two sets of guidelines may
seem to be in conflict, the new set will hold legal precedence

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a farming system that can prevent losses of arable land
while regenerating degraded lands. It promotes maintenance of a permanent soil cover,
minimum soil disturbance, and diversification of plant species. It enhances biodiversity
and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute
to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to improved and sustained crop
production.

CA principles are universally applicable to all agricultural landscapes and land uses with
locally adapted practices. Soil interventions such as mechanical soil disturbance are
reduced to an absolute minimum or avoided, and external inputs such as agrochemicals
and plant nutrients of mineral or organic origin are applied optimally and in ways and
quantities that do not interfere with, or disrupt, the biological processes.

Complemented by other known good practices, including the use of quality seeds, and
integrated pest, nutrient, weed and water management, etc., CA is a base for sustainable
agricultural production intensification. It opens increased options for integration of
production sectors, such as crop-livestock integration and the integration of trees and
pastures into agricultural landscapes.

Most of the world is now divided into regional FTAs, including the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for North America, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR
for its Spanish initials) for South America, the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia
and neighbours), the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) FTA in West Asia, and now the biggest of them all, RCEP

The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialized agency with
responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine
pollution by ships.

The IMO's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory

framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns,
legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.

India was re-elected as Member of International Maritime Council for two years (2018-19)

As part of Operation Vanilla India sent warship, INS Airavat, to Madagascar in IOR to help
in rescue efforts after the island nation was hit by a cyclone, delivered clothing, food and
medicines, and communication assistance

Operation Samudra Maitri is the relief effort launched by India to assist the victims of the
2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia.

Operation Maitri (Operation Amity) was a rescue and relief operation in Nepal by the
government of India in the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

Of the six varieties of dolphins that are found in India's rivers, lakes and around the
coastline, the Irrawaddy Dolphins are among the lowest in number.

The Gangetic river dolphins are freshwater species that are found in the Sundarban river
system and Brahmaputra rivers. On the other hand, the Irrawaddy Dolphins are found
mostly in brackish water zones and that too in Chilika.

Article 180 (1) of the Constitution gives the Governor the power to appoint a pro-tem
Speaker. The Article says that if the chair of the Speaker falls vacant and there is no
Deputy Speaker to fill the position, the duties of the office shall be performed “by such
member of the Assembly as the Governor may appoint for the purpose”.
The powers of a pro-tem Speaker are wide. The Bombay High Court in its 1994 judgement
in the Surendra Vassant Sirsat case holds that a pro-tem is Speaker of the House “for all
purposes with all powers, privileges and immunities” until the Speaker is elected.

The Odisha High Court also agreed in the Godavarish Misra versus Nanda Kishore Das,
Speaker, Orissa Legislative Assembly case when it said the “powers of the Speaker
pro-tem are co-extensive with the powers of elected Speaker”.

The ‘Nagpur Resolution – A holistic approach for empowering citizens’ has been adopted
at the end of the Regional Conference on ‘Improving Public Service Delivery – Role of
Governments’, held recently in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Previously, the Shillong Declaration and the Jammu Resolution have been adopted for
good governance.

The winter solstice occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from
the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For
that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and
longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the
sky. At the pole, there is continuous darkness or twilight around the winter solstice. Its
opposite is the summer solstice.

In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (usually 21 or 22 December)

and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (usually 20 or 21 June).

The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual
lengthening of nights and shortening of days.

Parliament passed the Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, extending reservation for
SC/STs but doing away with the provision for nomination of Anglo Indians to Lok Sabha
and some state Assemblies.

The term Anglo-Indian first appeared in the Government of India Act, 1935. In the present
context, Article 366(2) of the Constitution Of India states: “An Anglo-Indian means a
person whose father or any of whose other male progenitors in the male line is or was of
European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India and is or was born
within such territory of parents habitually resident therein and not established there for
temporary purposes only…”
The most significant feature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is that it links
together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation
of cultural properties. The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with
nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.

The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for
inscription on the World Heritage List.

The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and
their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country
pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to
protect its national heritage.

Right to decent environment including pollution free water and air and protection against
hazardous industries is part of Article 21.

While water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments and storage fall
in the State List, issues like development of inter-state rivers come under the Union List.

Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of

Oman. It serves as Iran’s only oceanic port

Wipro has partnered with NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services
Companies) to launch a skilling platform called ‘Future Skills’ for 10,000 students from
over 20 engineering colleges in India.

This is a part of Wipro’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, TalentNext.

TalentNext aims to enhance the quality of engineering education by preparing faculty and
academic leaders to train students.

The programme has now been extended to students directly through Future Skills.

It is a new age platform built to bridge the industry-academia skill gap and help students
keep pace with the emerging technologies — artificial intelligence, big data, cloud
computing, cybersecurity and internet of things (IoT) – to make them future-ready.
The Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative is a voluntary
collaboration among governments working to promote the manufacture, purchase, and
use of energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and equipment worldwide. SEAD is an
initiative under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and a task of the International
Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC).

European Commission published its European Green Deal on December 11, 2019. The
Deal aims to be a comprehensive strategy document which puts the European Union
(EU) on a trajectory toward “no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where
economic growth is decoupled from resource use.”

Climate neutrality: The EU has promised to bring a law, binding on all member countries,
to ensure it becomes “climate neutral” by 2050.

What is it? Climate neutrality, sometimes also expressed as a state of net-zero

emissions, is achieved when a country’s emissions are balanced by absorptions and
removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Absorption can be increased by
creating more carbon sinks like forests, while removal involves technologies like carbon
capture and storage.

The EU with 28 member countries are together the third-largest emitter of greenhouse
gases in the world after China and the United States.

The EU is now the first major emitter to agree to the 2050 climate neutrality target.

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has launched the

Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) as a nation-wide Campaign for
achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). It has the following
three important components:

Part A: Built Environment Accessibility

These would include not only buildings, but also footpaths, curb cuts, and obstacles that
block the flow of pedestrian traffic.

Part B: Transportation System Accessibility

The term transportation covers a number of areas including air travel, buses, taxis, and
trains.

Part C: Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility

Access to information refers to all information. This can range from actions such as
being able to read price tags, to physically enter a hall, to participate in an event, to read
a pamphlet with healthcare information, to understand a train timetable, or to view
webpages.

Operation Twist is a move in which a central bank decides to simultaneously buy

long-dated securities while selling short-term securities. The objective behind such an
operation is management of the yield curve.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long

duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and
behaviours factors.

The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke),
cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and asthma) and diabetes.

The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular
Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) was launched in 2010 in 100 districts across 21 States, in
order to prevent and control the major NCDs.

The main focus of the programme is on health promotion, early diagnosis, management
and referral of cases, besides strengthening the infrastructure and capacity building.

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation,

coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities
and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of
sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

The Ottawa Declaration lists the following countries as Members of the Arctic Council:
Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation,
Sweden and the United States.

Countries use bilateral/regional trade agreements to increase market access and expand
trade in foreign markets. These agreements are called reciprocal trade agreements
(RTAs) because members grant special advantages to each other.
RTAs include many types of agreements, such as preferential arrangements, free trade
agreements, customs unions, and common markets, in which members agree to open
their markets to each other’s exports by lowering trade barriers.

The Haryana Police has adopted a unique barcoding software — Trakea — to ensure that
thousands of forensic reports that form the backbone of the criminal investigation
system and subsequent trials in the courts of law, are not tampered with.

According to the police, Trakea ensures foolproof security of the samples collected from
the scene of crime, and the forensic analysis reports, and is different from traditional
methods that the state police force has been following for decades.

The Haryana Police claims it is the country’s first police force to have introduced this
unique barcoding for forensic reports.

Trakea is aimed at ensuring security and a tamperproof tracking system for forensic
reports. It streamlines the functioning of Forensic Science Laboratories.

Essentially, it is a forensic evidence management system that helps in automation of the

entire procedure, right from the stage when forensic experts collect vital samples from
the scene of crime to conducting analysis of the samples, followed by tracking casewise
forensic reports electronically through barcodes.

Even the selection of forensic teams is done randomly through this software.

Due to the unique barcoding, only the authorised investigating officers and forensic
science experts shall be able to track the crime exhibits and scientific examination
reports, reducing the chances of tampering/leakage of the report at any stage.

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically delineated ‘enclaves’ in which

regulations and practices related to business and trade differ from the rest of the country
and therefore all the units therein enjoy special privileges.

The basic idea of SEZs emerges from the fact that, while it might be very difficult to
dramatically improve infrastructure and business environment of the overall economy
‘overnight’, SEZs can be built in a much shorter time, and they can work as efficient
enclaves to solve these problems.
The SEZ Act 2005 envisages a key role for the State Governments in Export Promotion
and creation of related infrastructure.

Prior to their introduction, India relied on export processing zones (EPZs) which failed to
make an impact on foreign investors.

SEZs were introduced to India in 2000, following the already successful SEZ model used
in China. Prior to their introduction, India relied on export processing zones (EPZs) which
failed to make an impact on foreign investors. By 2005, all EPZs had been converted to
SEZs...

The incentives and facilities offered to the units in SEZs for attracting investments into
the SEZs, including foreign investment include:-

Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and

maintenance of SEZ units

100% Income Tax exemption on export income for SEZ units under Section 10AA of the
Income Tax Act for first 5 years, 50% for next 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed
back export profit for next 5 years. (Sunset Clause for Units will become effective from
01.04.2020)

Exemption from Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) under section 115JB of the Income Tax
Act. (withdrawn w.e.f. 1.4.2012)

Exemption from Central Sales Tax, Exemption from Service Tax and Exemption from
State sales tax. These have now subsumed into GST and supplies to SEZs are zero rated
under IGST Act, 2017.

Other levies as imposed by the respective State Governments.

Single window clearance for Central and State level approval.

The most significant feature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is that it links
together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation
of cultural properties. The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with
nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and
their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country
pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to
protect its national heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the
protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up
staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research
and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the
community. It explains how the World Heritage Fund is to be used and managed and
under what conditions international financial assistance may be provided.

The Convention stipulates the obligation of States Parties to report regularly to the World
Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties.
These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the
conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent
problems.

A key benefit of ratification, particularly for developing countries, is access to the World
Heritage Fund. Annually, about US$4 million is made available to assist States Parties in
identifying, preserving and promoting World Heritage sites. Emergency assistance may
also be made available for urgent action to repair damage caused by human-made or
natural disasters. In the case of sites included on the List of World Heritage in Danger,
the attention and the funds of both the national and the international community are
focused on the conservation needs of these particularly threatened sites.

The Election Commission of India hosted the 10th annual meeting of the Forum of the
Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) at New Delhi on 24 January 2020
and took over as Chair of FEMBoSA for 2020. FEMBoSA was established at the 3rd
Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of SAARC Countries held
at New Delhi from April 30 to May 2, 2012 through an unanimously adopted resolution on
1st May, 2012 to establish the Forum. The Conference also unanimously adopted the
Charter of the Forum. The annual FEMBoSA meeting is held by rotation among the
members. Besides ECI, the other 7 members are EMBs from Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The FEMBoSA represents a very large
part of the democratic world and is an active regional association of the election
management bodies of South Asia. The objectives of the Forum are to promote contact
among the EMBs of the SAARC countries; share experiences with a view to learning from
each other and cooperate with one another in enhancing the capabilities of the EMBs
towards conducting free and fair elections.
Atal Bhujal Yojana, or Atal Jal is a World Bank-funded, central scheme aimed at
improving groundwater management. It was approved by the World Bank Board in June
2018.

For now, the Atal Bhujal Yojana will be implemented in seven states Gujarat, Haryana,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP over five years from
2020-21 to 2024-25. According to Jal Shakti Ministry sources, if the scheme meets its
objectives in water-stressed areas, it will be extended to other parts of the country.

The focus will be on arresting the rate of decline of groundwater levels as well as water
consumption. The scheme will seek to strengthen the institutional framework and bring
about behavioural changes at community level for sustainable groundwater resource
management. It envisages community-led Water Security Plans.

The country's first Government-owned Waste-to-Energy Plant was recently

commissioned at the Mancheswar Carriage Repair Workshop in Odisha. The plant, a
patented technology called Polycrack, is first-of-its-kind in the Indian Railways and fourth
in the country. It converts multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon
and water.

: What is Polycrack?

It is the world's very first patented heterogeneous catalytic process which converts
multiple feedstocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon as well as water. The
waste generated will become the feeder material for the waste to energy plant. The
energy which will be produced at the plant will be in the form of light diesel oil and this
oil will be used to light furnaces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure (CDRI), at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 held in New York City, USA,
on September 23, 2019. The partnership of national governments, UN agencies and
programmes, multilateral development banks, financing mechanisms, private sector, and
knowledge institutions will promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure
systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
Developed through consultations with more than 35 countries, CDRI envisions enabling
measurable reduction in infrastructure losses from disasters, including extreme climate
events. CDRI thus aims to enable the achievement of objectives of expanding universal
access to basic services and enabling prosperity as enshrined in the Sustainable
Development Goals, while also working at the intersection of the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Climate Agreement. Established as a platform for
generating and exchanging knowledge, CDRI will conduct country-specific and global
activities. CDRI will provide member countries technical support and capacity
development, research and knowledge management, and advocacy and partnerships to
facilitate and encourage investment in disaster resilient infrastructure systems. In its
formative stage, CDRI will focus on developing resilience in ecological infrastructure,
social infrastructure with a concerted emphasis on health and education, and economic
infrastructure with special attention to transportation, telecommunications, energy, and
water.

Savitribai Phule, the social reformer who is considered to be one of India's first modern
feminists, was born on January 3, 1831. Among her accomplishments, she is especially
remembered for being India's first female teacher who worked for the upliftment of
women and untouchables in the field of education and literacy.

Phule was born in Naigaon, Maharashtra in 1831 and married activist and social-reformer
Jyotirao Phule when she was nine years old. After marriage, with her husband's support,
Phule learned to read and write and both of them eventually went on to found India's first
school for girls called Bhide Wada in Pune in 1948. Before this, she started a school with
Jyotirao's cousin Saganbai in Maharwada in 1847.

Essentially, both Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule recognised that education was one of the
central planks through which women and the depressed classes could become
empowered and hope to stand on an equal footing with the rest of the society.

The Phules also started the Literacy Mission in India between 1854-55. The Phules
started the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society for Truth-Seeking), through which they wanted
to initiate the practice of Satyashodhak marriage, in which no dowry was taken.

The Botanical Survey of India has come up with the first comprehensive census of
orchids of India putting the total number of orchid species or taxa to 1,256. A State-wise
distribution of orchid species point out that the Himalayas, North-East parts of the
country and Western Ghats are the hot-spots of the beautiful plant species. The highest
number of orchid species is recorded from Arunachal Pradesh with 612 species, followed
by Sikkim 560 species and West Bengal; Darjeeling Himalayas have also high species
concentration, with 479 species. While north-east India rank at the top in species
concentration, the Western Ghats have high endemism of orchids. Among the 10
biogeographic zones of India, the Himalayan zone is the richest in terms of orchid
species followed by Northeast, Western Ghats, Deccan plateau and Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. Entire orchid family is listed under appendix II of CITES (Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and hence any trade
of wild orchid is banned globally.

IMD brands the monsoon as ‘normal’ or ‘deficient’ based on how it fares against its
benchmark Long Period Average (LPA).
LPA is the average rainfall received by the country as a whole during the south-west
monsoon, for a 50-year period. The current LPA is 89 cm, based on the average rainfall
over years 1951 and 2000. This acts as a benchmark against which the rainfall in any
monsoon season is measured.
The country is said to have received deficient rainfall if the actual rainfall falls below 90
per cent of LPA. Similarly, the country is said to have received excess rainfall if the
rainfall is greater than 110 percent of LPA. It is deemed ‘normal’ when the actual rainfall
received falls between 96 and 104 percent of LPA.
A 50-year average is expected to smooth out the day-to-day, month-to-month variations,
while also accounting for freak weather events like the El Nino and La Nina.
Like the countrywide figure, IMD maintains an independent LPA for every homogeneous
region of the country, which ranges from 71.6 cm to 143.83 cm. The region-wise LPA
figures are: 143.83 cm for East and Northeast India, 97.55 cm for Central India, 71.61 cm
for South Peninsular India, and 61.50 for Northwest India, which put together bring the
all-India figure to 88.75 cm.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR has recently launched Rs 1100 crore
ambitious National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP).

Aim: To attract talent and strengthen higher agricultural education in the country.

Funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on a 50:50 basis.

The objective of the NAHEP for India is to support participating agricultural universities
and ICAR in providing more relevant and higher quality education to Agricultural
University students. In addition, a four-year degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries
and Forestry has been declared a professional degree.

Pattamadai mat
It is a standard item of the bridal trousseau at Tamil weddings, with the names of the
bride and the groom inscribed on it. Indeed, the fine, handmade Pattamadai mat, which is
made of Korai grass, is a symbol of pride for Tamil Nadu. It has even been granted
Geographical Indication (GI) status by the trademarks and GI authorities.

Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976.

The Act is being implemented by the concerned State Governments /UTs and provides
for an institutional mechanism at the district level in the form of Vigilance Committees.
Government of India has introduced a revamped Central Sector Scheme for
Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers under which financial assistance is provided to
released bonded labourers.
The Bonded Labour system has been abolished by law throughout the country.
For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act, the State Governments/UTs
may confer, on an Executive Magistrate, the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first
class or second class for trial of offences under this Act.

Government of India has introduced a revamped Central Sector Scheme for

Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers- 2016, under which financial assistance to the tune
of Rs.1.00 (one) lakh, Rs.2.00 (two) lakhs & Rs. 3.00 (three) lakhs are provided to released
bonded labourers based on their category and level of exploitation along with other
non-cash assistance for their livelihood.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 122 countries initiated
by India, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly
between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, now extended to all members
of the UN.

The Paris Declaration establishes ISA as an alliance dedicated to the promotion of solar
energy among its member countries. The ISA’s major objectives include global
deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity and mobilisation of investment
of over US$ 1000 billion into solar energy by 2030.

prepaid payment instruments

Prepaid payment instruments are those which facilitate purchase of goods and services
against the value stored on such instruments. Value stored on them is paid by the holder
using a medium (cash, debit card, credit card etc).

These are generally issued in the form of smart cards, mobile wallets, paper vouchers,
internet accounts/wallets.
Prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) come with a pre-loaded value and in some cases a
pre-defined purpose of payment. They facilitate the purchase of goods and services as
well as inter-personal remittance transactions such as sending money to a friend or a
family member.
These payment instruments are licensed and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.

Spodoptera frugiperda
FAW (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an invasive and polyphagous (feeding on many foods)
pest. It can attack cereals and forage grasses.
Fall Army Worms (FAWs) primarily feed on maize, but can consume rice, cotton,
sugarcane and some vegetables.

In India, FAW found suitable environmental conditions and appropriate host plants which
accelerated its spread.

The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare launched a dedicated
website (http://www.fallarmyworm.org.in) to help farmers fight against the dreaded Fall
Armyworm (FAW).

Australian Hay Fever

Australian Hay Fever, also known as Allergic rhinitis, is one of the most common allergic
disorders affecting one in every five people in Australia and New Zealand.

It usually occurs after the nose or eyes of a person comes in contact with environmental
allergens, such as pollens, dust mite, moulds and animal hair. Pollens from grasses are
also amongst the most common causes.

Australian Hay Fever is commonly treated through medications that include

antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and Bronchodilators.

The disorder most commonly affects people between 20-40 years of age.

What was the Kihoto Hollohan case?

The law covering the disqualification of legislators and the powers of the Speaker in
deciding such matters became part of the statute book in 1985 when the Tenth Schedule
to the Constitution was adopted.

A constitutional challenge to the Tenth Schedule was settled by the apex court in Kihoto
Hollohan.
Indian Regional Navigation Spacecraft System (IRNSS)
IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely Standard Positioning Services
available to all users and Restricted Services provided to authorised users.

Its applications include:

Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation.

Disaster Management.
Vehicle tracking and fleet management.
Integration with mobile phones.
Precise Timing.
Mapping and Geodetic data capture.
Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers.
Visual and voice navigation for drivers.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and 25 States to respond to a writ
petition for a direction to establish Right to Information (RTI) web portals across all
States to enable citizens, especially those living abroad, to file RTI applications online.

Only Maharashtra and Delhi have set up RTI portals

India’s population growth rate peaked between 1961 and 1971 and has been falling since.
In the last two decades, while Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in rural areas remains higher than
in urban areas, it has been declining at a faster rate than the latter, according to National
Family Health Surveys

NITI Aayog has launched the Fourth Edition of Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards,
in collaboration with the United Nations
Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards since its inception in 2016, has been
recognising and celebrating stories of exemplary women from across India.
to promote and support aspiring as well as established women entrepreneurs in India

Momentum for Change is an initiative spearheaded by the UN Climate Change secretariat

to shine a light on the enormous groundswell of activities underway across the globe
that are moving the world toward a highly resilient, low-carbon future. Momentum for
Change recognizes innovative and transformative solutions that address both climate
change and wider economic, social and environmental challenges.

Over 5,000 children abandon education in mica mining districts of Jharkhand, Bihar:
survey

India is one of the world’s largest producers of mica, with Jharkhand and Bihar being the
main producing states.
Mica is used in various sectors including buildings and electronics.
Mica is also used in the production of cosmetics and paint

22nd National Conference on e-Governance adopts ‘Shillong Declaration’ with focus on

Northeast.

The declaration has outlined the future trajectory that would be taken in terms of e
governance with a focus on improving connectivity in Northeast

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is a fund created by the Government
of India for enhancing infrastructure financing in the country.

This is different from the National Investment Fund.

NIIF is envisaged as a fund of funds with the ability to make direct investments as
required. As a fund of funds it may invest in other SEBI registered funds.

The objective of NIIF would be to maximize economic impact mainly through

infrastructure development in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and
brownfield, including stalled projects. It could also consider other nationally important
projects, for example, in manufacturing, if commercially viable.

As per the operational framework approved on 20 August 2015 NIIF is not a single entity.
There can be more than one fund. The NIIF will be established as one or more Alternate
Investment Funds (AIF) under the SEBI Regulations.