TABLE OF CONTENTS DIAN PO: Dede GOVERNANCE... Compulsory Voting in Gujarat. Political parties under purview of RTI Act. Legalizing sex trade: Amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill 2013. 69% quota: SC notice to Tamil Nadu. Aadhar-enabled biometric attendance system (AEBAS). Website for Healthcare whistleblowers: Citizen's initiatives. Making Sanskrit compulsory in Schools... Bill to amend law on CBI chief's appointment passed in LS. Bringing Black money back: the long wait. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014 Amendments to the Lokpal and pokoniens 2013 and the Delhi Special Police 1946, Juvenile Justice System: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of children) bill 201: Uniform civil code (UCC)... Parliament passes Apprentices (Amendment) Bil Amendments to labour laws Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojand imum Software Application to Track wildlife crimes across country. “Think in India” Drive Caste Census. IMA to start grievance ce Universal health care SMART policing. Information Management and Analysis Centre (II ‘TERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD India -Australia relations :.. India-US. deal paves the way for gl Nanas Russia’s East Pivot... US and China strik Indian Defence C India brimmigg wit China and t to grapple for PakistapfRusstattign defense pa: 18th SAARC Summit... China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Srilanka’s Presidential Election: Rights groups release anti-surveillance tool: Japan's election: 45 killed in. Boko Haram attack in Nigeri¢ enna Afghan parliament approves US, NATO agreements:. Tunisians hold landmark presidential €1€CtION: suru lbomemnnsmarnsinsseimes CONOMY: nan an evsnetinneremarecenenctnsetnasanenenactnesnasennnnnineteennaenesennrenasaansenceeesteeeresenanenenn BT ‘New GDP data with 2011-12 as base yea! Regulation of €-Tathers:mncvummennrarre ssicaiiaitiaiaeeciii ai aaa anal !Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI):... RBI Tightens norms for NBFCs:. Public Policy Financial inclusion: see Modified Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL): Gold imports:. ~ Kisan Vikas Patri : The OECD Economic Survey of India: - Female Entrepreneurship rising in India: OECD... Gross Domestic Product (GDP) eevee snenen ING Vysya Bank merged with Kotak Mahindra Bank... Universal Health Assurance Mission (UHAM) A $10-Trillion Economy: Bharat Bill Payment System (BEPS) “Jeevan Pramaan” scheme:. Strategy to tackle Ponzi schemes... nn India-China-Bangladesh-Myanmar economic corridor: SOCIAL ISSUES... Beijing Plus 20 review: Global Slavery Index (GSI): Bal Swachhata Missio: Air pollution lowers crop yield: PM's climate change council The inner You (INYU): Kerala’s Ashtamudi lake gets recog} Mangrove patches in Karn NASA installs first zero-gr&v C02 emissions must b,INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE [conParsonv Vorine iw man —| Gujarat has become the first State to make voting compulsory in local bodies through the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009. fh * The Bill also makes a provision for 5O per cent reservation for women in local bodies, raising the quota from 33 per cent. ° + Asper the Bill, any person who fails to vote during local body elections is liable for punishment. KOR COMPULSORY VOTING; uae ‘twill create consciousness among voter about democracy, It will increase the voter turnout. ‘The purpose of this act is to bring the citizens to the centre stage of politics RHE DEBATES Se Seam i This act which was passed in:2009 was rejected by the then@ujarat gove Violated Article 19(1) (A) of the Constitution, which guaranteeSffeedom of the right not to vote. Many political parties have opposed this bill and at turnout : f argued that it that also includes The bill may be invalidated by the Supreme Court or H the citizens. g 'n a democracy like India where the citizens ealWithythe right to vote, it is implied that they also have the right to not vote as. ame g right to express. hence abstaining from expressiog y of the candidates for election. In the same judgment. fo not vote’ is a part of right to express and in a democracy this cannot be taker ee = a [POLITICAL PARTIES UNDER PURVIEW OF RIT ACT noc 2 full Bench of the CIC ruled that since the six national parties — the Congress, the BIP, the } the NCP and the BSP — enjoy substantial public funding and the nature of their duties = Points towards their public character, they should be classified as ‘public authorities,’ and the RTI Act be made applicable to them. * The CIC expressed confidence in its order that bringing political parties in the ambit of the RTI Act was “likely to usher in an-era of transparency in their functioning. “It would result in strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions in the country,” Eighteen months later, the parties have not complied with the ord did they move any competent court. At a full Bench heari November,'no party sent a representative: ler. Neither did they seek a revision not ing on the parties’ non-compliance in ©Vision IAS* Following their no-show, the Bench passed an interim order Biving the parties one more opportunity to sppear defore it, directing the parties’ presidents or general secretaries to appear betore fry person on Janwary 7, 2015, * AS per the transparency law, a non-governmental organization will become 9 public authority if it is substantially government funded, directly or indirectly. The status of public authority mandates that the Organization concerned answers public questions asked under the RTI Act. FRESTANS YAR IBY POUP CAM PARTIES? * Most political parties have refused to consider themsel Information (RTI) Act. An admission that they are public mu respond to queries from citizens under the Act regarding their funding and process pffd * Information about these aspects in the public domain could pose a serious chaffenge to these parties, Particularly if it is proven that their functioning is characterized by lack of proglty and commitment to democratic ideals * During the hearing, interest is not a crit Ives public authorities under the Right to the Nationalist Congress Party representative ar } public 'erion to declare a body public authority. The ADR (Association for Democratic Reforms) and other petitid treated as public authorities because they receive substantial govel time on Doordarshan and All India Radio during income-tax exemptions. * The ADR contended that political parties ha * Incorporation of Articles 102(2) and 191( Constitution had given them constitutional stat * Abody or entity does not become, a Commission under Section 29A o + The chairperso mission for Women (NCW), Lalitha Kumaramangalam, has advocated Jegal d following advantage: forking hours, remuneration and health care of sex workers, education and a EEE Women's rights activists, however, believe the thin line between ‘decriminalisation’ and ‘legalisation* needs to be defined and those factors like women entering the trade by choice or through force need to be taken into account. vig * _ Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research, says legalising sex trade would.lead to violation of labour faws. * Activists campaigning for a ban on the trade disagree. Legalization of prostitution will only embolden the traffickers. Women are abused, coerced and tricked into commercial sex trade. * Supreme Court lawyer and president of NGO Shakti Vahini Ravi Kant not only demanded an end to the profession, but also strict punishment for those who force women into thetrade. c 3ould lead to more traffickin * The-organzation opposes egatzation, arguing that more demand for sex woutd lead ton @ Instead, Apne Aap’s campaign, “Cool Men Don’t Buy Sex’, is inter THE SUPREME COURT STANDS lic interest litigation file * _Kumaramangalam is part of a panel set up by the apex court following a public inter [ d in, 2020 on the rehabilitation of sex workers. wear * The panel, which includes activists and representatives of sex worker unions, is lend reme Court and Possible amendments in immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) to the Sup! peel meet on November 8 in this regard The panel would deliberate (ITPA), loophole: their lives, upon the existing provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Ae, 1956 , Implementation of the law and the impact of such implementatigngp se’ S and poses. would be issued with an Internatio enable them to engage in international governments, who have ratified the Conventio Further, india will be able to ensure that 4 Exclusive Economic Zone are duly certified in entering Indian territorial waters or the the requirement of the AFS Convention 2002. : human health from adverse effects of anti- INES ArOhibiting application/use of listed harmful anti- piccides from hulls to prevent leaching and mandating . handling, treatment and disposal of wastes from the Pathe rentally sound manner. * Anti-fouting pai ship's surface to control the growth of foulant organisms, such as barnacles, mus: Paints, when + leads to “leaching” into sea-water. TI to the precautionar Development our Convention 2006, around 1 [rom its conducive provisions. ip concerned. This will enable them xemption from inspection, will be able to ensure that-all foreign flag vessels entering Indian territorial iction are subject to an ins of their nationality) are protected, ” ete: which affect the speed of ships. Such use of anti-fouling harms the marine Y approach set out in Principle 15 of the Rio to receive for this purpose, at foreign ports. Besides, india itorial waters or maritime areas ection under the Maritime Labour Convention— ll [es% QUOTA. SC NOTICE TO TAMIL NADU ] ‘Two aspiring medicos say it violates their fundamental right to education. Had it not been for the 69 per Cent reservation, they would have secured seats in a medical college in Chennai with their high marks. * In their petition, the students questioned the competence of the Tamil Nadu legislature to venture beyond the 50 per cent reservation prescribed by the Supreme Court in the indiro Sowhney majority judgment of 1992. * Inany event, a meritorious candidate coming within the cut-off mark of 50 per cent reservation cannot be denied her right of admission under Articles 14 and 15, To improve efficiency, work- culture and discipline among central government empl roduced Aadhar-enabled biometric att ‘endance system in its offices across the country. * The system will be installed at all the offices in Delhi by December 31, 8 by the Republic Day, January 26, 2015. * The rules relating to working hours will remain the same, a for each day of late attendance. However, late attendance , on net more than two occasions in a month, for justifiable reasons may be condoned by * In addition to debiting casual leave or earned leaveg@vhen no casual itable, disciplinary action may also be taken against government servant: are habitually Early leaving is also to be treated in the same manner as late coming. [WEBSITE FoR HEALTHCARE WHISTLEBLOWERS: CITIZEN'S INITIATIVES * Medileaks, a website that will fillow stakehg healthcare and generate ipformatie Capital on 18th Novem! * The website, inspir its, point out irregularities in pctices in the medical care sector, was launched in the ks, wi istleblowers to post information anonymously. It will be vetted bya tea re being shared on the portal. + Explaining the ders Sunil Nandraj and Alam Singh said, it would be a platform for patien| insiders (health care providers, hospitals, laboratory services, ment, insurance companies) to share incidents and experiences f malpractices and irrational and unethical practices in India’s health that the aim was to offer useful infotmation to patients, care-givers, journalists, ‘makers to help them make informed choices. However, concerns are already about hbw it would address the issue of medical negligence. be seen how sticcessful will the website be in checking medical corruption negligence and so that the doctors are not unnecessarily blamed inspite of all the sincerity is to be takenMAKING SANSKRIT COMPULSORY IN SCHOOLS = _ TUSSLE ENTS "STRESS ON SANSKRIT IN SCHOOLS 7M SAYSn| f STGERMANAS THIRD LANGUAGETS UNCON ant Sh] SCHEDULE 5 OF CONSTITUTION | 201 KOU WITH GOETHE > Includes 22 schechied| yoth BY sb rea > Provided Kendlya Vidyalaya with 700 > Gesraaa caribe agit asa foreign |b Allows Bvidlstes language HUMAN RESOURCE DE * Continuation of German would have been a * Schedule 8 of the Constitution lists 22 indi Mueller Bhavan and KVS was in violation of th ‘+ The ministry has defended itself MoU between the Goethe Institute-Max rman is a foreign language. is trying to uphold the law of the land. The Three Tamil Nadu agitation against Hindi. According to tion has given some relief to Parents and Students, as it advised not to language in mid-term in government schools will not beforced to take a Sanskrit exam at short notice today offered a solution before the Supreme Court. + Ina rid, opportunities in future mainly dictate the choice of language. + Sanskrit a language of common man, not used anywhere in India or outside, forcing student to learn Sanskrit will put them in disadvantage position. 5 + The move is against the democratic ethos‘of the countiy. ‘* Non coercive methods can be used to promote Sanskrit. _f ; [BILL TO AMEND LAW ON CBI CHIEF'S APPOINTMENT PASSED IN LS ] The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014 seeks to include the leader of the single largest opposition party in the three-member committee that selects the CBI Director since there is no recognised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. \n the past, apart from the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, the third member used to be the recognised LoP, but as the Congress as the largest opposition party did not have the numbers to qualify for LoP status, it would not have been able to be part of the committee without this amendment The opposition opposed the Bill stiffly on the continuance of another clause in it that said that “No appointment of a (CB!) Director shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy or absence of a member in the committee.” {BR NGING BLACK MONEY BACK: THE LONG WAIT ee eae a ON EIN ae © M.B.Shah, heads SIT that also comprises another retired Supreme Court judge Arijit Pasayat as vice-chairman. Supreme Court had last week granted the government one week to set up the SIT. As per the July 2011 order, the SIT would take over investigation of the individuals whose names had been disclosed by Germany as having accounts in banks in Liechtenstein. LCT CMa lens [aS ch eae Sourtin Jilly le2oithad spec-. LARUE ci | IAT Re OTe bal Financial Integrity states that the total black money outflow from during the last decade. This puts India at the fifth position on global iven substantially by the higher education sector, real estate deals and lack economy could now be nearly three-quarters the size of its reported gross ligh-level Special Investigation Team to help money stashed away abroad. SIT would be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice M. 8. Shah and another retired Supreme Court judge Justice Arijit Pasayat would be its vice-chairman. ‘The Supreme court had empowered the SIT with the responsibil lity of preparing a comprehensive action plan, including the creation of institutional structures that would enable and strengthen the country’s battle against generation of unaccounted monies, and their ‘Stashing away in foreign banks or in various forms domestically, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha that India is in the forefront of global efforts to fight the menace of black monéy through automatic exchange of tax information, for which initiatives had been taken at various global fora such as the G-20, the OECD and FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) proposed by the'United States. ©Vision IAS.ISSUE GF BEACK MONEVATIO® SUMMIT ei 10 Warning that black money can destabilise world peace and harmony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that democratic nations have an obligation of collectively fighting this evil as it does not affect any country selectively. Mr. Modi said, “black money also brings with it terrorism, money laundering and narcotics trade.” ENT] F ACRES O.SUBMIT-THE ie ee MON a Oe Mt Ge a fh OF SUPREME. COURT. StaMS ml ER Depo oING HS FEET. CENTRE'S CONTENTION U > Disclosing names-will violate right to privacy of legitimate account holder: > Names can be revealed only after a prima facie case of tax di Weean ’tleave the issue of bringing back black money to the government. Ttwilln never happen during our time — Supreme Court Bench headed by H.L. DATTU The Centre sub sealed cover a list of 627 Indians holding black money in accounts atussce jing the investigation. tre to complete prosecution of black money holders abroad under inclusionof offences committed under various other statutes under the ambit of the pf Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Special Investigation Team on black money has edyPstitution of a statutory mechanism empowering the Enforcement Directorate to initiate | Proceedings Suo motu.. Under PMLA, the ED is presently authorised to probe money laundering, prosecute the accused and attach proceeds of only those crimes that are listed in the statute’s schedule. A total of 156 such _ offences under 28 statutes are right now listed as scheduled offences in the Act. The SIT proposes that statutes like the Mines Act, the Mines and Mineral Development Act as also the offences under the income-Tax Act, the Customs Act and other direct and indirect, tax laws also need to - be included to expand the ambit of money laundering investigations. Apart from recommending appropriate amendments in the Foreign Exchange Management Act, the SiT_ has also concluded that amendments in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) with the other countries are a must to ensure that the information obtained from them under these trea be shared with investigating agencies, particularly with the ED, without any legal hurdle. | www.visionias.in ©Vision 1AS,+ India has comprehensive DTAAs (which cover most types of incomes), Limited DTAAs, Limit Multilateral Agreements and Tax Information Exchange Agreements with over 110 countries. Seas + For a coordinated action against black money, the SIT has also recommended development of integrated software for seamless information exchange between the probing agencies. we THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED CASTES) ORDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2014 . eee ouecuies Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed by Lok Sabha on 26th hove © Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the itution (Sikkim) Scheduled Castes Order, 1978.The Bill adds following communities in the list of scheduled castes in the states of Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Tripura, * Kerala: Pulluvan, Thachar (other than ‘Carpenter’) * Madhya Pradesh: Dahiya + Odisha: Amata, Amath, Bajia, Jageili,Jagli, Buna Pano * Tripura: Chamar-Rohidas, Chamar-Ravidas, Dhobi, Jhalo-Malo notification. jAMENDMENTS TO THE LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTA: ' SPECIAL POLICE ESTABLISHMENT ACT, 1946. + The Union Cabinet gave its apph iding thé’ Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and the Delhi Special Police Establish Sted amendments will address some crucial deficiencies noticed in both the A¢ a. As regards the co! Selectienicémmittee for selection of the Chairperson and Members of Lokpal, by provi ‘when there is no Leader of Opposition In the House of the People, recognized’as s! 1 of Opposition” shall include the "Leader of the Largest Party in Opposigi fe Lok Sabha. for appointment of Dire ‘oposed amendments will also address other deficiencies in the Lokt ctor of Prosecution in the CBI and for his pal ter alia, also ensure functional independence to the Director of Prosecution Police Establishment (DSPE) Act. wnts seek to synchronize the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act with the existing ts, Rules and Regulations in respect of declaration of assets and liabilities by various public servants and establish appropriate mechanisms to obtain and publish such for the benefit of the public. categories information received from public servants,© [QOVENILE JUSTICE system: Se ee Ee ] SPE TOVENTEETOSTTCH CARBAND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN) Act, 2000 12 It is the primary legal framework for juvenile justice in India. The Act provides for a special approach towards the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and provides a framework for the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of children in the purview of the juvenile justice system. This law, brought in compliance of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), repealed the earlier Juvenile Justice Act of 1986 after India signed and ratified the UNCRC in 1992 This Act has been further amended in 2006 and 2010. The Government of India is once again contemplating bringing further amendments and a review committee has been constituted by Ministry ¢ of Women and Child Development which is reviewing the existing legislation The Supreme Court has described a juvenile law that prescribes “admogit punishment for even grave and heinous offences as “far too liberal” % relook at the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 208 current challenges. Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women recét 16 years. The Justice Verma Committee had recommended a Act. Juvenile justice system in the USA and ti Fetributive juvenile justice policy. As per the reports of the National, B) entitled “Crime in India 2011” and “Crime in India 2012,” the percepg s has not significantly increased from 2001-2012. However, the olent crimes by juveniles against women are very troubling. “Crime in India 2 estsythe nuiber of rapes committed by juveniles has more than doubled over the 399 raBes in 2001 to 858 rapes in 2010. “Crime in India 2012” records that the total 1149 in 2011. As the data su; and 2012 alone, there was a massive increase in instances of rape by juveniles by decade. The Bill seeks to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children as ratified by India on December 11, 1992. It specifies procedural safeguards in cases of children in conflict with law. The Bill further seeks to address children in the 1618 age group, in conflict with law, as an increased incidence of crimes committed by them have been-reported-over the past few years. The Bill defines a child as anyone less than 18 years of age. However, a special provision has been inserted for the possibility of trying 16-18 year olds committing heinous offences, as adults. A heinous - offence is defined as one for which the minimum punishment under the Indian Penal Code is seven years. The draft Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014, provides a comprehensive mechanism to deal with children in conflict with law as well as children who are in need of care and protection j _ weww.visionias.in _.@Vision 1ASAnalysis: The bill seeks to rectify lacuna in present Juve responsive to present child's needs. It has taken best proct crimes committed by children in age group of 16 t yre a conducive environment for reformation and rehabilitation of juveniles as envisioned by t! Constitutional Po; state to secure Controver and it bas be Thi Fe i [UNIFORM CIVIL CODE (UCC of personal laws, It seeks to cater to their developmental needs through proper care, protection and treatment by adopting a child-friendly approach in the adjudication and disposal of matters, and for rehabilitation through processes provided and institutions established under the proposed new enactment. The word ‘juvenile’ has been replaced with the word ‘child’ and the expression ‘juvenile in conflict with the law’ has been changed to ‘child in conflict with law.’ While in the JJ Act, 2000, juveniles in conflict with the law are defined as the ‘accused’, the draft Bill identifies a ‘child in conflict with law’ to be one who has been found by the Juvenile Justice Board to have actually committed an offence. It also defines an ‘abandoned child’ as well as ‘aftercare’. Chapter two of the proposed Bill, providing for ‘Fundamental Principles for Care, Protection, Rehabilitation and Justice for Children’. It incorporates internationally accepted principles of Presumption of innocence, dignity and worth, family responsibility, non-stigmatizing semantics, privacy and confidentiality, repatriation and restoration, equality and non-discriminatignf@apd diversion and natural justice, among others. Institutionalization is suggested as a measure of lagfresort — juveniles are to institutionalized only if no other family-based care option is possible or availa A new procedure for handling children in conflict with law has been propo! Welfare Committee has been identified, empowered and given statuto, The proposed Bill also prohibits the media from disclosing the identi such information which would lead to identifying them. All reports relating to children are to be treated as confi cruelty to children, employment of children for begging, ad. jin international law. India is a secular country; it means there should be uniformity in all laws including personal laws. UCC will bring national integration and social harmony. It will provide equal rights for women irrespective of religion and, has potential to reduce vote bank politics and polarization of society especially during election times. Most of the modern nations have uniform civil code. It will help in the peeeeeniies: ‘of Indian society. Those who oppose the UCC present following argument:” ~ : ooo 13 India is a multi-religious society bringing UCC will destroy independent religious identities of various religious communities. In the name of UCC, majority community (The Hindus) values and customs are imposed on minorities, The enactment of a uniform civil code will disrupt communal harmony. tis propaganda of Hindu Nationalist to make India/as Hindu Rashtra. swww.visionias.in ©Vision |ASCurrent status: Goa is the only state optional civil code in the form of the act provide a good legal framework for all matters of m: who may wish to avoid the religion-based laws. where uniform civil code is applicable to all its residents. Also we have an. Special Marriages Act, 1954 and the Indian Succession Act, 1925, both these ‘artlage, divorce, maintenance and succession for those Analysis: UCC is as desirable but not necessary to all positive things in the Indian society as envisaged. All the communities are following different religious customs for solemnizing marriage and other personal purposes, To bring a comprehensive law that reconciles all different customs will be a daunting task. The best course will be to promote reform in the personal laws of all the communities that provide equal rights to women in wt aspects. The government should avoid imposing anything that is not acceptable to all the communities, State should use allits resources to eradicated negative conception about UCC from the minority community PARLIAMENT PASSES APPRENTICES (AMENDMENT. BILL The Bill aims to make apprenticeship responsive to youth and industry, ee in the cor i ‘ PIN APPRENTICESHIP ACH TOS SUMAN Ty invite Grant of certificate: The Act specifies that every trade apprentice should appear for a proficiency test ~Hours of work, overtime, leave and holidays: The Act states that the weekly and daily hours of work and leave entitlements of an apprentice shall be as prescribed by Rules. The Bill states that the hours of work and leave will be as per the discretion or policy of the employer. Offences and penalties: The Act specifies certain offences which are punishable with imprisonment up to six months or with a fine (quantum unspecified) or both. The Bill specifies the amount/maximum amount of the fine and removes the provision for imprisonment for such offences. Power to make Rules: The Act permits the central government (after consulting with the CAC) to make Rules for implementing the Act. The Bill states that these powers shall include the power to make Rules retrospectively with effect from a date on or after the President grants his assent to the Bill. No Rule shall have a retrospective effect if it prejudicially affects the interests of any person to whom such Rule may be applicable. Anolysis: The government intent behind the amendment is to make “ease of doing “in india more convenient and make young population of country adequately skilled. It is one of the vaffous measures taken by the government to reform labour laws in the country and make India as global manufa nvisaged in “Make In indio” campaign . This step is seen as a positive one since it will help the country meet the growing requirement of skilled people whose number could rise to 2.4 million from the current level of 4,29,000, The bill hos been criticized by opposition parties and Trade Unions. [AMENDMENTS TO LABOUR LAWS Rajya Sabha passed a Bill to amend the Labour Laws ( Registers by certain Establishments) Act, 1988. turns and maintain registers at the work spot in issue wage slips, amount of work done slips and file returns related to accidén * The Bill adds thi empl ftain the returns filed and the registers on a computer, computer disk offother electros ia. Printouts of these records shall have to be made available to the Inspector offemand, The inforgytion may also be furnished to the Inspector by electronic mail, * The Bill amends the list of Acts which exempts small establishments from maintaining registers and filing returns By y The Bill seeks to widen the ambit of the Act to mof# establishments and adds more laws from which these establishments are to be exempted. 'd thot the amendments are for simplification of procedures and to reduce the role of tors. SME will be benefitted by these amendments. Opposition and trade union have accused government ‘porate and anti-labour stand. [DEENDAYAL UPADHYAYA GRAM jyor YOJANA The Union Cabinet approveid the launch of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram lyoti Yojana (DDUGIY). The scheme will replace the existing Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY). Its main components include: + To separate agriculture and non agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural areas and 2 * Strengthening and augmentation of sub transmission and distribution ‘infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/cohsumers. 15 www.visionias.JnTHE FINANCING ORT Pg The estimated cost of the scheme for above two components is Rs.43,033 Crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs. 33,453 Crore from Government of India over the entire implementation period, The balance work relating of the ongoing scheme of RG distinct component for rural electrification, TERE W OULD GVY till 2022 will get subsumed in this scheme as a RES + Improvement in hours of power supply in rural areas, * Reduction in peak load Improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and + Providing access to elec ation with the ‘enable users to change of wildlife crime related information crete: * This application provides a secure platform between WCCB and relevant stakeholders. The app allows an individual to report a wi automatically delivered to a designa + The user who reports crime canf4 ig, and WCCE will be the sole custodian of the collected information. individual, * itis also integrated Further, WTI is fld Life (Protection) Act, 1972. ith its partner International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is also lentification of wild animals which is expected to be integrated in @students and researchers to come up with innovations and new ideas. * To stop brain drain. ‘ + To complement “Make In india” project through the ‘Rashtriya Avishkaar Yojana’ * To facilitate interaction with the best academicians, so that those children who cannot go abroad get benefits. : 2 Global initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) has been initiated for participation of celebrated acedemicans | and industry experts from across the world in indian universities. The President (Obama) welcomed Indi's Proposal to establish the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (IAN or knowledge) under which India would invite and host up to 1,000 American academics each year to teach in centrally-recognized Indian universities, their convenience. 2 16 wwwivisionias.in Vision IASpurposes. a Ng Se October 2008 High Court says the ) Censtis will increase percentage of reservation proportionately, benefit weaker sections; achieve social justice May 2010 HC reiterates its decision JUDGMENT * Govt. policy caste-based stipulates enu- Census meration of only 5; : i Judiciary should SURV Risualess) SCS anc STs in| fiitintervention MADRAS HIGH COURT'S -\; Rego only to govt. poli- OWES zag Mees cies that offend SUCH te aE) issued anotifica- | basie tenets of the s GaSe a tiontoconduct —_‘| Constitution To evaluate measures such as caste-based 1 To identify beneficiaries under various weffa To realign reservation policy. reservation fixed by th Many castes may di reduce the number of litigations pertaining to medical negligence, the indian Medical \A) will be setting up a gtievance cell, The first grievance cell will be’set up in New Dethi, and be expanded to the rest of the country later. Although it is not a statutory body, patients that have a problem with their doctors or the method of treatment can approach the grievance cell. y “ a UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE £ 7 Universal coverage (UC), or universal health coverage (UHC), is defined as ensuring that all people can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship. : = z ©Vision ASTHIS.DEFINITION OF UC EMBODIES THREE RELATED OBJECTIVES Universal health coverage (UHC) has now been wi countries both as a developmental imperative and th LACUNA INPRESENT PUBEL WHAT NEEDS(TO BE BONER IN 18 Equity in access to health services - those who need the services should get them, can pay for them; That the quality of he: Financial-risk protecti hardship. not only those who alth services is good enough to improve the health of those receiving services; and ‘on - ensuring that the cost of using care does not put people at risk of financial ely adopted by developed and many other developing '¢ Moral obligation of a civilized society. India's public spending on health — just around 1.2 per cent of GDP — is among! The tragedy of our healthcare system is that the gap between the ‘haves’ and A huge percentage of our 1.2 billion population still does not have a modern healthcare service. There is a massive deficit in healthcare facilities and personnel. Anot nursing, para-medical personnel and doctors, both at the MBB: India already spends about 6 per cent of its GDP on health and drives over 40 million Indians below the poverty line every, Over 95 per cent of patients coming to super-spe incurred hardships when they could have been tre The first step towards this change should be a Increasing public spending on healthiSitife The Government ‘should focus of hospitals at taluk levels and terti Supporting primary and tertiary care could be pi Yehealthcare at all rural centres, secondary care | * Sprnent Bat district hospitals predominantly the Government's responsibility, while © allow for more doctors especially at the postgraduate established by the Planning Commission has submitted a roviging UHC in India. of providing hea}h protection would be to change the economic system which produces liquidate i \ce, poverty and unemployment. of the middle class will generate resources and ensure transparency and accountability. | determinants of health (or extended health care) such as provision of clean drinking ‘ed sanitation and improved education of girls, havé the potential to produce a very big impact on health outcomes. Use of IT,could play in improving diagnostic accuracy. wawwivisionias.in ©Vision IAsSMART POLICING eT ] rina nsnaiecinc ne * The Prime Minister of India had introduced the concept of SMART Police (5-Se Modern with mobility; A- Alert and Accountabl sawy). The Prime Minister urged the officials to focus on b would ensure minimal use of force. He underlined the need for government hiring a PR firm to hold meetings with Bollywood producers to do films to project positive image of the police force. He alleged that the people have develo; films show them in poor light despite a As first step towards SMART policing, Station in each State ive and Strict; M- - Reliable and Responsive; T- Trained and Techno- uilding a quality intelligence network which, he said, ped a negative image of the police as the media as well as the ct that police do many good deeds. Home ministry has decided to establish or Odel SMART Police The SMART Police Station would become the foundation towards SMART péfcing Station should be citizen friendly and clean. It should also mest the operational angle Bus of the police personnel posted there meet. Rest room for constables, including separate room for women const Natural lighting and ventilation, solar lighting, enc CTV, Safe & secure Armoury, Record Room, Communi Automated kiosks for filing of complaints n Room for wireless, computers etc. k-end system for tracking follow up action) [INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSI¢ CENTRE IMAC) ] eA ee cma Les * Indian Navy launched its state-of-the-art Information Management and Analysis Centre, IMAC to Plug the gaps in maritime security that wére uncovered after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. = - tal Surveillance it centre interlinking the newly formed coastal radar chain. the" Navy and function under the National Security Adviser (NSA). The National wunication and Intelligence System (NC31) will eventually become the backbone lomain Awareness (NOMA). II link 20 naval and 31 Coast Guard monitoring stations to generate a seamless real-time nearly 7,500-km long coastline. The system currently comprises 46 radars and 30 additional radars are planned to fill all the gaps in cofstline security. The hubs are linked by high speed optical fiber networks and emergency. Apart from coastal radars and optical sensors, it also draws information from automatic identification systems fitted on merchant ships.and has comprehensive shipping database of world registers of shipping for analysis of traffic. ~ : r : While the IMAC will be the merging point of all maritime intelligence, agencies into one fold. Further upgrading of the system and agreement for data sharing with 24 countries in the region is awaiting clearance from the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (Ci satellite links serve as a back-up in case of the NOMA will integrate several Indian OceanINTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD NEWS INDIA -AUSTRALIA RELATIONS : a | + Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister (Tony) Abbott decided to extend defence cooperation to cover research, development and industry engagement. They agreed to hold regular meetings at the level of the defence minister conduct regular maritime exercises and convene regular Navy to Navy, Air Force and Army to Army staff talks. + This will include exercises between armies, navies and air forces, as well as counter-terrorism, maritime security, non-proliferation and cyber security. The joint maritime exercises will be 2015. In other exertises, an Australian Coast Guard ship is expected in Indian sources, Air Force to Forums like the Indian Ocean Rim - Association for Regional Cooperation provid Australia security caoperation; as does’ the Indian Ocean Naval Symgosium, an Indian initiajve that promotes interaction between regional navies. agra DERENCE DI from 2007-2010 and then again briefly in 2013, strongly backed at China, causing unease in New Delhi and other region! capitals. basis its 2013 Defence White Paper, which India. A "Country Strategy Document" 5a crucial maritime partner. “HUTURE BENER TS FROMENEDE Ree ce sa ED * There is also scope Australia is ready for a substantive engagem emphasised the need to build stropgemd followed that in short order, idengf ives relating to weapons of mass Australia Group (which it chairs) can be an opportunity to g Group and other international non-proliferation regimes. EEMENT-ON SO! EGURMTYcoras 5. * To a the people-to-people contacts * To facilitate and regulate the regulations between the two countries with respect to social security benefits and coverage. F BERT It will provide for Social security and superannuation benefits for. those who have been residents of the other country on basis of equality of benefit, export-of benefits and avoldance of double coverage. * It will lead to greater economies and promote the flow of professionals. + To enhance cooperative efforts in law enforcement and administration of justice and to cooperate in the | enforcement of penal sentences. ee 4 20 Vision IAS+ It will facilitate, regulate and lay down procedures for the transfer of sentenced persons and enable rehabilitation and reintegration of sentenced persons into society. RCE o ARE a IROL + To address concerns regarding illicit trafficking and drug abuse. + It places priority on tackling illicit trade, diversion of precursors, asset forfeiture and drug ‘money laundering. 't will promote capacity building and help develop strategies and procedures for operations to disrupt and dismantle transnational narcotic related threats. {twill enhance cultural relations between the two countries in pursuance of tH 1971, E 't will promote cooperation through exchange of information, pro; exhibitions in the field of culture. + It will deepen understanding between the people, institutions and art fe’sound and sustainable artistic and cultural activities. MOU IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM” Se Re * It will enhance the bilateral cooperation and stren; * It will encourage cooperation in tourism poli stakeholders, training and investments in sector in economic development and emp! UINDIA-U.S. DEAL PAVES THE WAY FOR GLOBAL TRADE PAC gM trade deal after India and the U.S agreed on the way I trade negotiations. Bali last December, all its members, including the U.S and forward to brea + At the WTO's India, hadaer ’ [OBAMA'S IMMIGRATION PLAN: + USS. President Barack Obama has announced his intention to carry out a “lawful” exécutive action to fix the country's “broken” immigration system. ioe + Among the broad areas of policy change that the executive action would bring about are three main themes, namely more resources for policing the U.S,’ borders to stem the flow of undocumented immigrants; the deferred deportation of certain immigrants; and a more streamlined process for high- skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to the U.S. economy: ‘ / = en aa aia foBAMA TO BE CHIEF GUEST AT REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS: | SAMA TO BE CHIET Ss ee OE mee eres RUSSIA’S EAST PIVOT. = Russia’s reemergence as an Asian power has long been examined = Over the last five years however, Russian leadershij Ameasure that would offer, from early next year, three-year deferment of deportation proceedings and the right to work legally in US, to nearly four milion undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, and undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country before the age of 16 Among the four million immigrants who stand to gain from this policy action will be a number cndocumented Indian citizens in the U.S., whose total population the Department of Homeland Security estimates to be 250,000 STR In a major sign of the deepening ties between India and the US, Prime Minister Modi has invited President Obama to be the chief guest at the Republic Day ceremony in 2015, rather than to its traditional markets in Europe. He proy including upgrading the trans-Siberian railway to better link state oil company Rosneft for concluding a major export deal unfolding ‘great energy game’ in Eurasia. irs of its new eastern policy based on a dramatic reassessment of major, rer, security threats, and the roles of key actors in the changing internal ‘Cooperation forum, Moscow's ni “new globalist” approach to Perceptions and political prio domestic stability and ecor d véry much like the U.S. pivot to Asia, and Russia has indeed in the Asia-Pacific like the United States and other regional Pris that Moscow has taken great pains to emphasize that its primary goal is to with Beijing. Russia denies that there is even the slightest element of trying to Russia’s motivations are relatively. transparent. Like the United States and_many others, Russia subscribes to the fashionable notion that a global shift in power to the East is under way. Russia also shares the current understanding that the rise of China comes at the expense of the United States and © the West. But unlike those of other European countries, Russia's pivot is driven as much by its anxiety about the vulnerability of its ‘Sparsely populated eastern flank as by its desire to project influence. Russia simultaneously séeks to protect its landmass, boost its Presence in the Pacific, bridge the yawning gap between its own policies toward Asia and Europe, and eure OU 2 Wr Ao Ae iabenac ai Pu Teel onekviayers: 4(DIA! MEETS RUSSIA‘S*EASTERN Russian deputy PM set to discuss more nuclear, energy cooperation with India. The government's “Make in India” programme and Russia’s “Eastern pivot” will meet as Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin will discuss more cooperation on energy, the co-production of fighter aircraft and nuclear cooperation. Each of these fields, from defence production to nuclear and space programmes, are fields India is looking to Russia for closer cooperation, and so Mr. Rogozin's visit is important. ne Pe ea DEVELOPMENT. panies a On Monday. Russiat - Par eign Mond, Rusia “ON TRACK” 200 Sukhoi-30 planes, materials F Russia‘s i secretiveness on * Dubbed "Raptorsta’ dded multi- design after US. F-22s eats la [US AND CHINA STRIKE DEAL ON CARBON CUTS IN PUSH FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE [CHANGE PACT: Way Tar ResecTep | SURHOW. PREVIOUS PAIGSFA | HALFGFA 4 AIRCRAFT © $6 billiom: India’s Magee F Bcorclieniprice contribution Teper 1 Poor architecture | ® Joint-agreement ar 1 Sub-par outdated — | si OOF engines § Bad engi- | © Aircraft to enter neering I Quality of | TAE by 2015 i ce + The United States and output, with China, by 2025, The pledges wil emissions beyort Peretly negotiated deal to reduce their greenhouse gas the first time and the US committing to deep reductions poost to international efforts to reach a global deal on reducing in Paris next year 23WORLD'S TWO LARGEST EMITTERS Po OTS OF GREENHOUSE GASES AGhu T, COOPE! REDUCE CARBON. POLLUTION - : ; bag esr td a Ro CEE Ce a Re OT I ear pang for ee tye eae 3, US. to cut net carbon:emissions by |= 26-28%, below 2005. levels, by 2025, ne pee eeeNy re ) Toran eos) Sern cries Oyrren Srates i hae INDIA RUSSIA! guerra JAPAN. er in the world, has agreed to ina had only ever pledged to reduce the rapid crease its use of energy from zero-emission sources to 20% by 2030. The US Pledge: The United States has p to 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. The European Union has already inia°40% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2030. ® tes and one-fourth of China, carbon footprint could rise substantially from. | expectations, ia to decide on whether it wants to toe this line or create a new target '@ world to adopt stringent emission cuts. es after months of talks will however, not impact the stand of the BASIC (Brazil hina) group, {INDIAN DEFENCE COOPERATIONS: | i Hand-in-Hand: It is a joint tri and Chinese army. Aim: Getting acquainted with each other's procedures in founter terrorism, WHY STR * Itenhances the confidence and trust between the two armi anti-terrorism operations even under the U.N. mandate. : * upholds the values of peace, prosperity and stability in the region by jointly eradicating the terrorism. 24 www.visionias.in : Vision IAS es, which may be called upon to grapple with _ONDE? yey It is the Indo Russian bilateral Air Force exercise. * [tis part of regular exchanges of joint exercises between the armed forces of Russia and India * It involves exchange of best practices in counter-terrorism training with helicopters, joint flights in fighter aircraft, fire-fighting and air defense INDIA BRIMMING WITH You: ERorid's Population but this demographic * New data released by the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of Report shows that India has the world’s largest population of 10-24 year-old dividend is nearing its end. INPORTANTORSERUATIONS MAD SUI TEREPO population than China. + China follows India with 269 million young people, followe: (65 million) and Pakistan (59 million). * While Africa is younger, northern Europe is substangi is 10 percentage point lower than that of India’s. + India is aging faster than the global average and by youth population than India. + The young people entering the job market I school received vocation. Jation of unprecedented sizé can have 2 profound effect on any country tive depends largely on how well governments respond to young people's \d meaningfully in civic arid economic affairs. The emergence of a large youth popu! Whether that effect is positive or negat needs and enable them to engage fully an OVision IAS 25 weww.visionias.inrenee CHINA AND US. SET TO GRAPPLE FOR REGIONAL SPACE DURING APEC SUMMIT eer - aan nL + Abead of the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping, announced that Beijing will fork $40 billion into a Silk Road Fund. + The reference to the development of the Silk Road encay economically inter-linked South, Central and East Asia, which c trade and commerce with Europe along a land corridor. Psulates China's vision of steering an ‘an co-develop and collectively engage in + China has also positioned itself at the center of a 21st century Maritime Silk Road, whose conceptual lines are still blurred, but point to Beijing's leading role in forming an integral maritime commercial corridor along the Indian Ocean, and sections of the Pacific. + The string of Chinese initiatives for*regional consolidation, follow the U.S.-led Asia Pivot; a doctrine marshalled by the Obama administration to bolter military force levels alo: Ys periphery, in Cooperation with top allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Phili * As the U.S. continues its battle to override the fall-out of the 2008 economic cr: . push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional free trade organisation, wl an and Australia, but excludes China. The TPP has been widely perceived ag ja-Pivot, powered by Washington, and has been tagged by some China-watcher * At the APEC summit, the Chinese hope to log centre-stage a formal end Bfree“Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) — their counter-initiative to the TPP, * The state-run Chinese news agency, amplifying in its report” ial of the FTAPP is far greater, when compared with the TPP and the Regional’ egEconomic Partnership (RCEP)—a grouping led by the Association of South * The write-up quoting a report from the Pacific E FTAAP is estimated to add $ 2.4 trillion to the global TPP's estimated contribution of the $223 ic Cooperation ‘Bphcil (PECC) pointed out that my. The figure-stands out in comparison with s $644 billion ee | PAKISTAN, RUSSIA SIGN DEFENSE PACT: are a j Pakistan and Russia signe; a egreement.to deepen their defence ties and vowed to The visit has cor by the end of t Besides arg ‘ation, including port visits by Russian warships, increased cipation in military exercises as observers, training of military terterrorism cooperation are on the anvil. The two countries could be + The visit by the Russian Defense Minister comes against the’ backdrop of reports that Moscow had given go-ahead for the sale of MI-35 helicopters to Pakistan, which is interested in purchasing up to 20 ~ helicopters. i ts * After a long history of bilateral turbulence, Russia and Pakistan appear to have initiated a new era of cooperation that is likely to be closely watched in New Delhi and Washington, a + Relations between the two countries have historically been frosty, especially during the Cold War decades, Pakistan was part of two U.S.-led military alliances and allowed its air force stations to be used 26 seww.visionias.in Vision IAS7 18TH SAARC SUM. by the US. for aerial surveillance of the Soviet Union. In return, it received substantial quantities of military hardware and other aid from Washington. Soviet-Pakistan relations plunged to new depths during the 1 U.S. to provide funds, weapons and training to the muja Afghanistan. Complicating an already difficult relationship was the robust military and other support that the Soviets were extending to India. Pakistan’s relations with Moscow improved somewhat with the end of the Cold War but differences over the Taliban kept them on opposite sides. While Islamabad backed the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Russia joined hands with Iran and India in the late 1990s to support the Northern Alliance, While the two countries began reaching out to each other a decade ago, itis only over the last four or five years that Significant steps towards a rapprochement began to be taken and several higifiypofile visis were exchanged. 980s when Pakistan joined hands with the hiddeen fighting the Soviet forces in Till 2012 Russia had kept its stand clear that it will not sell arms to Pal willing to cooperate with India to ensure safety of region. The Russia-Pakistan defense pact has caused some unease in | with New Delhi going back to the 1950s. Not only did the economy and the military they also backed India in the Secur fing of the Indian eatedly wielding the veto on the Kashmir question, This would go down as one of the worst strategic, diplomatic failut jia in recent times. Russia has stepped up its rapprochement with India's arch! Pakistan just gerindia is getting closer to the United States. Russians have been miffed with New Dell for several big-ticket Indian defense deals and Reindia's Wp arms exporter ~ a position that the Russians had ia. view of the upcoming thinning of American and NATO troops in an back into the clutches of Taliban is as hair-raising a nightmare ‘asi is for the Indians. Pakistan is a crucial and unique stake-holder for agreement should only be a word of caution and not an alarm Bell for Jing Of a Hefense pact Between Russia and Pakistan does not mean that Russia has the deat Nipfrants of Indo-Russian strategic partnership. India has to boost its diplomatic ties , and Rueeia as a decade’s long friend and natural ally cannot look over India’s friendly ey The organisation of eight South Asian nations, rlamely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the ‘Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with ‘observer hations, Myanmar, China, Iran, the European Union (EU) and the United States, to name a few, Is known as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It was established at the first summit in Dhaka on December 7-8, 1985: These eight nations of South Asia constitute 3 per cent of the world's area, but house 21 per cent of the global population. india, significantly, constitutes 70 per, cent or more of SAARC’s area and population.; ian Association of Regional Cooperation’ (SAARC) was held SL hersaat Parbite Republic of Nepal ‘during 26-27 November 2014. The ite acid es ie pear Integration for Peace and Prosperity, focused on enhancing rere daity Catecen the member seates for easier transit-transport across the region Se eeaaiceeis cece, after an interval of three years as the last summit was held in 2011 . fhedive walihe a summit will now be held in Islamabad in 2016. + Foreign Ministers of the eight member states signed an agreement on energy cooperation namely "SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity)’ in the presence of their heads of state and government during the concluding ceremony of the 18th SAARC Summit 9 November. * Although Pakistan stalled, citing insufficient internal preparations, signing of t Vehicular Traffic and Railways respectively. * IT has removed barriers to education. We are prepared to cone Online course & E-libraries. We should use strength of shared heritage and our present South Asia to the world. India will now give business visa for 3-5 ye: MUTATIONS OBSAARE® * The SAARC Charter mandates t only those issues are for Article X (2) of the ct deliberations. HK SAARC, are only of multilateral issues, and @ SAARC summit meeting on the basis of unanimity. gral and contentious issues” from the ambit of SAARC ‘uation is that although it wants to enjoy success as was enjoyed by SAARC is not an association of nearly equally sized countries. 0 the extra mile to make SAARC work because India is 70 per cent of South Asia, and has Jers. with seven SAARC nations. 3 Transparency in action in bilateral dealings is key to achieving these two preconditions. No ‘i should either act the big brother or be a dog in the manger. - Hons. No country of the regionoo Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by developing the hard infrastructure and freight Movement facilitation. SAARC should strive to enhance investment activity between its member states, and not merely trade. South Asian joint venture promotion schemes should also be promoted on a priority. The energy sector should be linked together through a unified South Asian electric power grid system and countries could pool their technical and financial resources in collaborative projects. 'n only the fields of science and technology, universities in SAARC countries should poal their faculties and teach across borders or engage in online education using the Internet. * Broader popul: ‘ar support at the grass-root level must be vastly improved by encouraging freer legal movement of people for economic and cultural tourism reasons by minimising immigration procedures * Effective steps must be undertaken to jointly deter cross-border, block the narcotics trade and drug trafficking. legal migration, terror attacks and INDIA- BHUTAN TIES: Referring to visits in the Past few months by Prime Minister Nare Mukherjee, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said India-Bhi “unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding.” Mr. Tobgay denied speculation that the high-level visits w: relations. “There is a theory that India’s leaders are visiting A made Bhutan his maiden foreign visit destination security. Our friendship is deep and this is a inextricably linked. The rest are nonsense theories,” + Mr. Tobgay said, “We have now had 22 Principles (1988) and agreement for Mait ‘Tranquillity (1998). Where there have been issues, we have raised them. Right now, t joing very well with the Chinese.” [US LAWMAKER SEEKS EXPEDITION OF VISAS FOR INDIAN, PARISTANT DOCTORS: } physicians in the US, a top American lawmaker has lite visas for doctors from India and Pakistan. ent to speed-up the visa approval process for Indian and Pakistani hospitals in the US. culty that international physicians, especially doctors from india and ‘as from American Embassies in their countries. experienced by doctors who are set to do their residencies in the US, has created ‘as for the physicians and the American hospitals at which they're set to work.In many long delays in the issuance of visas have resulted in hospitals being forced to withdraw ign physicians, effectively preventing these doctors from entering the US at all. The long waits not only impact the plans and commitments that these physicians have made to US hospitals but also affect the millions of Americans who’ depend on these facilities for critical medical treatment, particularly in communities where there isa shortage of doctors... offers to fo30 acting as the interim legislature for a term of two years. Due the CA was dissolved on May 28, 2012 The 2nd Nepalese Constituent. Assembl constitution. Nepal's three major political parties failed to forge consensus on the content} Constitution — federation, governance system, electoral system and judiciary. There are sharp differences among pol electoral system and the judici again because of the stance of ‘The ruling parties — the Nepali Congress and the CPN. Parties, including Madhes-based ones, over the co Constitution, While the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Marxist Leninis Constituent Assembly if consensus proves elusive, the United Comi the Madhesi parties have insisted on “consensus Cty approach. Voti The NC and the UML, along with the coalition partne™ member Constituent Assembly, new Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra nsus,ynot numerical majority. aspirations of Madhesis, Pahades, the Maoists and The Madhesis in Terrai region of Nepal who are also culturally close to India, look forward to India for Protection of their interests in the southern Nepal, not directly, but in the forra of Political and economic support to them.. « ; : While other parties want to keep the Indian influence away, specially the majority parties which can benefit through the voting owing to their majority. ‘Also these parties are closer to China owing to the economic and political eoncessions it receives from China ~ wwwvisionias.in 2 ©Vision 1ASBHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY VICTIMS APPEAL TO HIGHER U.S. COURT The Bhopal gas tragedy, considered as India’s worst industrial disaster, occurred on December 2, 1984, at the UCIL (Union Carbide India Limited) pesticide plant. In its wake many thousands of people were injured from exposure to methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals and several thousands were killed. * Victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy have filed an appeal in a higher court at New York contesting a lower court’s decision that Union Carbide Corp cannot be sued for the ongoing contamination from the chemical plant. in July 2014 , a U 5 District court who had ruled in favour of Carbide in three previous cases relating to the tragedy, had held that the plant was built, owned and operated by an Indian subsidiary , Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL)' therefore parent company could not be used to clean up t Earth Rights International, a US based organisation representing thousands o| disaster victims has filed an appeal on November 20, 2014, {THE ARTE MATH More than one lakh people are still suffering the aftermath of the mish: twisted limbs, brain disorders and many other problems. disorders and blindness among other such ilinesses are also. The water is said to be contaminated affecting the health of the chemicals in drinking water in some colonies of the city mate + Even after 30 years, tonnes of waste remain in t ferground, whe! the tragedy. = The plant, which has tonnes of toxic wrangling over whose responsibility itis a * Right groups have contested that UCC was wastes at the Bhopal plant by inadequate waste management S cleaned up, and various agencies are stil in the creation and disposal of toxic proving, and overseeing the construction of an eee eee Seay . iImpact of Bhopal leak lingers 30 years on C2 Oscember 3. 1984, forty tonnes of methyl isocyanate leaked trom a pesticide plant in Bhopal, tng halt 9 million more, maki led In\Sep 2034, aque So = : Sources: indian govemment, Madhya Pradesh goverment Bime has expressed unhappiness over India’s delay in supply of military hardware as ith intensified Taliban attacks ahead of the U.S.-led NATO troop drawdown from the war s been trying to revamp its military to fight the resurgent Taliban as NATO forces are due to withdraw from the country by December 31 after 13 years of fighting. * Around.12,000 NATO forcas will continue to assist Afghan forces after the troop drawdown, but they” might still need help from other states, militarily and economically, * The relationship between the two countries will be based on “reciprocity” and that New Delhi can play 2 vital role in ensuring peace in the region. A + Naturally they look for cooperation with friends like India+ But any delay that hampers progress and hampers productivity and economic progress in the country is seen in their eyes as a delay that creates a void. That void gives way to violence and deprivation. + Because of change in their leadership, there will be some new evaluation and then after that we will probably have a new inventory of our needs and if India can play continued role, they will welcome it and we will make sure that they take advantage of it. y i * India is not their strategic partner just because Afghanistan needs India. India sees its own strategie interest in Afghanistan and Afghanistan has to reciprocate and see reciprocal advantage in India’s friendship and if india can play that reciprocity. SNBIAESUEEO * India has been providir security personnel in India . * India’s relationship with Pakistan, India’s role in the stability of the regi cooperation with Pakistan can play a huge role in the future of the whole region. = * India has invested $2 billion in aid and reconstruction and trained scoregof Afghan officers bu careful in supply of arms and military hardware for fear of provoking P. Afghanistan. But right now Afghanistan is in real need and any delay by 2 fe developmental aide may prove catastrophic not just for Afghanistan bul aha Caler elaad no borders. Hence all the countries in the region must put concerted effo’ vehi! npr ea come for Afghanistan’s aide. CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR: + The mutti-billion dollar project e sway, railway lines and a gas pipeline linking Pakistan’s Gwadar port with Chit * China and Pakistan have through Pakistan-occupis oh dollar Economic Corridor project that passes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province would cost $297 the Corridor a “flagship” project to strengthen China’s connectivity an initiative set to aid strategic framework for pragmatic cooperation ‘+ India has expressed its reservations to China over the corridor as it will pass through the PoK. Pakistan occupied Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. ‘+ India feels that it is Chinese strategy to encircle India in western front. + The Chinese state-run media has just described the disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan occupied Kashmir as ‘Pakistan’. 2 ‘+ Pakistan-China economic corridor will transform their trade with Central Asia, a region that India has been eyeing for some time. 4 + The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project is essentially aimed at throttling India through a pincer strategy by the two nuclear-armed nelghbors who have fought wars with India in the past when they were not nuclear weapon states. e Vision IASIndia has to not only be cautious about China and Pakistan as nuclear seated counties eae but also the very high degree of probability of the China-Pakistan pincer formation ag: la. [5 STE india, Iran and Afghanistan have been talking about developing Chabahar port as trade and trans. shipment hub to boost trade with Central Asia. China has given itself two the same influence. Years to complete the economic corridor project. India should i 10 achioyg to complete its infrastructure project abroad in the regions where it wants to spread its . Be ra cecmmrenasantannsenasapetirsereentnenecinn [s LANKA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, eee ESE D * Mr. Rajapaksa signs proclamation term, After securing a second term in 2010 Mr. Rajapaksa rewrote the Sri yy {wo-term limit on the presidency, thus enabling him to run for As per the Sri Lankan Constitution, the incumbent can call f full terms is six years — in office. Mr. Rajapaksa, Second term on November 19, and Presidential elections were held in Sri Lanka on B@anuary 2015, incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the 6 ' 2 third term in office. The United National Pay Sirisena, the former Minister of Health in R&B Freedom Party (SLFP) - the main constituent p risena was declared the winner. 47.58%. declared elections two years ‘ahead of schedule. The lliance's candidate, seeking opposition codfition chose to field Maithripala .as its common candidate, N votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's eocetar Detekt can currently find eight different pieces. of spy software, ‘including FinSpy. FinSpy, made by +. German company Fingisher, is'sold to governments for criminal investigations. It has also been found on computers used by human-rights lawyers and activists in countries ‘such as Bahrain and Ethiopia.[JAPAN'S ELECTION: gees eal |_45 KILLED IN BOKO HARAM ATTACK I [TUNISTANS HOLD'‘LANDMARK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: 7 } Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house of Japan's parliament, forcing a snap election in an apparent bid to shore up support for his scandal-plagued government so that he can pursue his policy goals, Mr. Abe returned to power for a rare second term as premier in 2012 pledging to reboot Japan's economy, plagued by deflation and an ageing, shrinking population _ ‘ arty won Japan's parliament re-elected Shinzo Abe on to serve another term as prime minister after his party a snap election earlier this month. 1 house on Mr. Abe won 328 votes out of the 470 cast by lawmakers in a special session of the thee ewiaalee Wednesday. Since the ruling Liberal Democrats hold only two lower house seats, two other Ia also cast votes for Mr. Abe. ff iewed as an ‘The victory by the ruling Liberal Democrats and their coalition partner the KomegParty was vi 5 despit endorsement by the public of Mr. Abe’s strategies for reviving Japan’s stag eee record low turnout. quarter, the second straight quarterly contract slowdown has been largely blamed on a hike in the sales tax in A dragged on business investment and consumer spenging ‘+ Japan's Cabinet approved about 3.5 trillion yen ($: In) in fresh sti creation, to help pull the world’s third-largest econot it of recession. a recession. The it to 8 per cent, which » including subsidies and job N NIGERL militants are fighting to impose Sharia law in fn area spread over 221,000 sq km in northeastern beginning of 2014. - Pproved agreements on Sunday with the U.S. and NATO allowing main in the country past the end of this year (2014) amid a renewed offensive Gnal combat mission in Afghanistan, begun after the 2001 US led invasion that toppled the Taliban government, was to conclude at the end of this year (2014), Arab spring revolution in North Africa and Middle East started from Tunisia. Many Tunisians weighed security against the freedoms brought by thelr'revolution and by its democratic transition, which has remained on track in sharp contrast to elsewhere in the region, including the brutal military coup in Libya. 3 the upheavals brought by the Arab Spring Egypt and the conflicts in Syria, Yemen andIn Tunisia, the main power resides with the prime minister. The presidency is a largely symbolic post with some responsibilities for defence and foreign affairs. Tunisian polling firms have declared Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old official from previous regimes, as the winner of presidential runoff, cementing his dominance over a country where his party already controls Parliament The runoff election marks the culmination of a 4-year-long rocky trarisition to democracy after Tunisians overthrew dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, kicking off pro-democracy uprisings around the region in what became known as the Arab Spring.ECONOMY: a [NEW GDP DATA WITH 2011-19 AS BASE YEAR: cai To present a more realistic picture of the economy, the government will release a new series of national accounts with 2011-12 as base year for computing the e ‘conomic growth rate. At present, the GDP is computed on 2004-05 base year. The Gross Domestic Product (GOP) data based on the new series will be released for three consecutive Years from 2011-12 in January next year. The new series will better reflect the economy as it would include more sectors. ‘The National Statistical Commission has suggested that the base year for compu should be revised every five years, ABynational account R The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for the regulations for e-commerce businesses in India * Retail trade in India is estimated at Rs.30 lakh crore with organize ir ig e-tailing) accounting for a mere 6 per cent. * Brick-and-mortar retailers and traders feel the gover and to curb ‘predatory pricing’ by the e-taile; [INDIA, RUSSIA AGREE ON NEGOTIATIONS FOR FTA: have agreed on negoti \Trade"Agreement (FTA) between India & the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan & i * The Indo-Russian | jin on Trade, Economics, Scientific, Technological and oversees 20 working groups covering trade, economic, scientific, inded greater market access in Russia for Indian pharmaceutical, farm products. DVERTISING STANDARDS COUNCIL OF INDIA (Asc: gulatory organization of advertising content. 4 ind sttengthen self-regulation in advertisihg and step up efforts to prevent ‘misleading advertisements, Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has officially tied up with Department of Consumer Affairs (DOCA), of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ee} fRer TIGHTENS NORMS FOR NBFCS: * To mitigate risks in the sector, the Reserve Bank of India raised the capital adequacy requirement and the het owned fund limit, ;To streamlining the regulations for the sector, the RBI also revoxed temporary suspension on saan 7 Certificate of Registration (CoR) to companies that want to conduct business of non-banking financial institution (NBFI). * At present, the NOF requirement is at Rs.25 lakh. In a phased manner, the NBFCs would be required to raise it to Rs.1 crore by March, 2016, and to further double it to Rs.2 crore by 2017. * For deposit and non-deposit taking NBFCs, Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets Ratio or CRAR, which includes Tier | capital of 7.5 per cent, is 15 per cent at present. * As perthe new norms, NBFCs have to raise the Tier! capital to 8.5 per cent by end of March 2016 and 10 per cent by March, 31, 2017. * Towards provisioning of standard assets, the RB! said that NBFCs would be required to raise it to 0.3 per cent by end of March 2016; 0.35 per cent by March 2017 and to 0.4 per cent by end of March 2018. PUBLIC POLICY : The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15 published by the World EconomicEal in its Global Competitiveness index (GCI). This report assesses the competiti® based on 12 points. These include institutions, infrastructure, health and educi technological readiness, innovation and business sophistication. India’s global competitiveness is inextricably linked to its ability to f Policies, the making of which is one of the most ignored asp, ° First being ‘evaluating policy effectiveness * The second is ‘rigorous legal and constitution vested interests, biases and prejudi@@@mediscrir ation and arbitrariness in policy formulation and implementation have made laws * The third aspect is in ‘building fi + The fourth is in ‘building ft agencies and academic instifutions. esearch centres’. Puducherry and Lakshadweep and three districts of Gujarat -Porbandar, gar, have also covered all households under PMJDY with at least one bank [MopiFreD DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER OF LPG (BTL) } Originally the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government launched thé DBTL scheme on June 1, 2013 at select cities. The DBTL required the consumer to mandatorily have an Aadhaar number for availing LPG subsidy but the scheme was stopped mid-way following opposition from public and political parties. * After reviewing the scheme and examining the difficulties faced by the consumers, the 8JP-led NDA. government substantively modified the scheme prior to launch. ‘ * The modified DBTL scheme is being re-launched in 54 districts including Puducherry in’the first phase and will be extended to the rest of the countty on January 1, 2015.Consumers who affirm that they do not have Aadhaar number, can receive cash directly in their bank | account without producing Aadhaar. As and when they get Aadhaar they may have to shift to Aadhaar based cash transfer As part of the improvements to the scheme, coflsumers will now receive SMS at every stage of enrolment in the scheme. ; freeing Easing the restrictions on gold imports, the government has done away with the ‘20-80" scheme, freeing incoming shipments of the precious metal from exports. Under the 20:80 norms, 20 per cent of the imported gold had to be manda bringing in new lot. Initially under the 20:80 scheme, only state-owned firms and banks were permit © Interest: 8.7 per cent. + Tenure: eight years and four months (100 mon! 1g LRRURE its after the lock-in period. by endorsement and delivery. banks. r, in denominations of Rs.5,000, Rs.10,000 and Rs.50,000. ) THE OECD ECONOMIC SURVEY OF INDIA: The OECD has upped its 2015-16. growth projection for india to’ 6.6 per cent. The Paris-based think tank had Pegged it at 5.7 per cent in May. The growth had remained sub-5 per cent in the last'two financial yeats. The OECD projects it to be 5.4 per cent this financial year. ; Without structural reforms, the growth will remain below the 8 per cent rate achieved during the previous decade.: ‘HERAECOMBIENDAHTONMORRNESURVE Implementation of flexible inflation targeting; shifting public spending away from energy subsidies towards nal value-added tax (GST) investments in physical and social infrastructure, and the implementation of a national value-added tax ( with only limited exemptions, reer | [FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP RISING IN INDIA: OECD aia 4) men account for 40 per Female entrepreneurship & increasing in india, especially in manufacturing, where women count for 40 pa cent of entrepreneurs. This spurt in female entrepreneurship is facilitated by education, ‘ role models, including through quotas in political representation on (ural councils. BE ata aed Reinforcement of the implementation of the many existing laws that women’s rights, and removal of discriminatory legal measures, Expansion of the Aadhaar programme to enlarge women’s ‘more women, raising the social protection, maternity benefits* More women to enter the formal labour force and rejnfot Child Development to Promote training and ac including from home. * The September quarter, y Per cent, show data released by the Central Statistics Office, : es | Of ING Vysya Bank is the country’s first ever amalgamation of a profit gan was merged with country’s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank. Bank ofeo re 4 eet ee ensnennanennrncet NIVERSAL HEALTH ASSURANCE MI BLUEPRINT FOR HEALTH SPENDING UHAM DRAFT OUTLINE TO PMO SEEKS GREATER PUBLIC SECTOR ROLE IN PRIMARY, SECONDARY HEALTH CARE Rs. 50,000; include FREE DRUGS: Plan saint oa to make 348 drugs | AYUS!I 5 on List of Essential | PRIMARY CARE: ines free FREE DIAGNOS- ‘TICS: At primary, Bridge courses for practitioners PREVENTIVE sub-centre, district | CARE: Regular levels screenings for a €05 GHER HEALTH | non-communica- Rs1,20,932 cro an ; je disease: Ge tat cine INSURANCE: : oVer ctirrent healt! budget across 5 year ‘HEALTH ‘ASSUR- ANCE AGENCIES: To determine purchase of care, costing mechanisms Expand Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana for BPL families from 2034, growing at a rate of 9 per cent a year, it will have to focus fake radical improvements in the Human Development Index, report. sp (PwC) in a report defined three possible scenarios for ing Leap” is the most aggressive growth scenario, “Pushing old ways faster” outlines a focus on investment in education, health and other gigi2'ed to human capital. Under this scenario India's GOP, according to the report, could sce ‘compound annual growth rate {(CAGR between now and 2034. ‘he scenario “Turbecharging investment’ outlines the impact of rapid and significant investment in physical infrastructure and envisions.a 7 per cent CAGR for GDP leading up to 2034. : India’s economic growth42 [BHARAT BILL PAYMENT SYSTEM (BBPS): _ oe —— The BGPS is an integrated bill payment system offering inter-operable and accessible bill payment service to customers through a network of agents, enabling multiple payment modes, and providing instant confirmation of payment, + ¢ The RBi-promoted payment retail gateway and the issuer of the Rupay debit Cards, the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has been appointed as the nodal body. * The apex banks has set a Rs.100-crore net worth and domestic registration as qualifying conditions for those seeking to be authorised collection agents The move will help track all the payments being made in economy, including cash payments to utilities, schools, and telcos ampng others, * The “Jeevan Pramaan” scheme, an Aadhar-based Digital Life Certifictte t enabling mechanism for the benefit of the common man after the push toy The proposed digital certification will do away with the re physical Life Certificate in November each year, in order to ent into his account. India’s ranking on the shareholder protectipnt® shot up to 7 in 2014 from 49 in 2012, Ahead 5 Exchange Board of India Chairman U. k. bipha said. At dential assent. empowered district magistrates to take action against any entity protection acts, as directed by the Financial Sector Development Council by the Union Finance er), State level co-ordination for exchange of n set up and the new provisions of the amended SEBI Act were being used to n ponzi schemes. ommittees, headed by the State chief secretaries, had been set up in all States. Officers from SEBI, RBI and other regulatory authorities and investigating agencies were members on them. , + The new provisions of the amended SEBI Act made it mandatory for money pooling schemes collecting in ‘excess of Rs.100 crore to register with SEBI unless already registered with another regulatory agencyfinpia CHINA-BANGLADES MYANMAR ECONOMIC CORRIDO 1 The Bangladesh-China-India~Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation (BCIM) is a sub-regional organisation of Asian nations aimed at greater ‘egration of trade and investment between the four countries: + The Bangladesh China India Myanmar Economic Corridor is an initiative conceptualised for significant gains through sub-regional economic cooperation within the BCIM. z _ through * The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass 8! Myanmar and Bangladesh. ices and energy, These advantages are envisaged to accrue from greater market access for Se ea cdarciceaiaeie elimination of non-tariff barriers, better trade fachitation, investment in pees pais joint exploration and development of mineral, water, and other natural resources ggg Oo" TN Ot and supply chains based on comparative advantages, by translating comp; competitive advantages, and through closer people to people contact. =f )SOCIAL ISSUES BEIJING PLUS 20 REVIEW: zanized four world conferences on women. These took place in Mexico City in says, Copenioeeal eatin 1985 and Beijing in 1995. The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Wonterin baling marked ‘a significant turning point for the global agenda for gender equality. The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 countries, is an agenda for women’s empowerment and considered the key glabal policy document on gender equality. © Itsets strategic objectives and actions for the advancement of women and the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern: Women and poverty, Education and trainiggfhwomen, Women and health, Violence against women, Women and armed conflict, Women and power and decision-making, Institutional mechanism for the advancement of p rights of women, Women and the media, Women and the environment, The girl-child. ‘* In its report on the implementation of the Beijing declaration and Platft historic World Women's coriference iff 1995, India has admitted that * India said the gender based inequalities for instance in edi ability to protect women's health, However, on the issue o! the Indian government maintains that there is no armed conflict, [en | OBAL SLAVERY INDEX (GS1) serpent Global Slavery Index, the flagship report of the Walk number of people in modern slavery in 167, i WHAT ISMODEAN-DAY SUAVER Practices such as debt bonda; }@ sale or exploitation of children, as well as human trafficking and forced labour can br vy slavery. © Almost 36 mill \g as slaves across the globe with an index listing Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Hai ‘ations where modern-day slavery is most prevalent. * The wal lian-based human rights group, estimated in its inaugural slavery eople were born into servitude, trafficked for sex work, trapped in debt Tabour. rated governments on their response to slavery. It found the Netherlands, United States and Australia as some of the countries that had the strongest ite end of the scale, North Korea, Iran, Syria and Eritrea had the worst responses. leSfynumbers of modern slaves, an estimated 14.29 million were found in India, according to the Index 2014. rey BAL SWACHHATA MISSION: A 8al Swachhata mission is part of the Swachh Bharat campaign launched by Prime occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. * All schools have been instructed to conduct the six-day programme, which was formally launched by Union Minister for Women and Child Development in Delhi on Friday on the occasion of Children’s Day. * The centre has suggested six themes for Bal Swachhta Mission. ister Narendra Modi on the+ Clean schools and anganwadis, clean surroundings, clean self (personal hygiene/child health), clean food, clean drinking water, and clean toilets are the six main themes. Moreover, all the states are asked to focus on any one of these themes on each day of week. Beginning of the program is from 14th Navember 2014 and will end on 19th November 2014. 19th November 2014 is a birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi.rs TECHNOLOGY /ENVIRONMENT [INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE apcg's SYNTHESIS REPORT} Bee ony oe (GREENHOUSE GAS.EMISSIONS (GHG) BY:ECONOMIG SE DIRECT GHG EMISSIONS INDIRECT €02 EMISSIONS: ELECTRICITY. AND = h a ae HEAT PRODUCTION | 25% + AFLOU* 24% § ~ tne INDUSTRY 21%. + OTHER ENERGY 9.6% “Gigatonnes of COZ OID * The IPCC’s Synthesis Report points to the human ipflence on climate. * The IPCC says scientists are now 95 per cent certain tRat the build-up ofjpuch gases from the burning of een since the middle of the 20th century. ge (IPCC) R. K. Pachauri suggested that India’s National action plan on climate change needs to Sited in the light of this report. f the rise in t degreeacelsius, fossil fuels would have to be phased out by “The Report tells us that we nggd to tackle¥elimate change with a combination of adaptation and mitigation,” rs conclusive scientific evidence that human activities Earth’s climate.” : ftire migratory route has been plotted ~ gratia, route’of Amur Falcons — from Nagaland to South Africa on to Mongolia and back to é jentifically plotted, with scientists confirming that a satellite-tagged Amur Falcon rived alffiost a year after it began its journey. 5 travel up'to 22,000 km a year — known to be one of the longest distances undertaken by . The bird Naga was released in Doyang in Wokha district in Nagaland on November 7, 2013, and returned on October 29, 2014. ‘AIR POLLUTION "LOWERS CROP YIELD: i the drop in yield came from air pollution caused by fine particles like soot as well as ozone ~ generated by sunlight acting on emission#of precursor molecules. India’s food grain production is facing a double whammy, with heightened air pollution adding to the impact of climate change on crop yields, according to a recent study. * Much of 46 j www.visionias.in @Vision IASSe CLE rarest berieeniaed 2 | [pm MATE CHANGE COUNCIL. oe a _—_ ee nena The Union government recons coordinate the National Action preset the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change on Wednesday to “on Plan for Assessment, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change. Prime Minister URNA auess Be RIC Pachauri, » « Sunita Narain, Chairperson, TE! Director General, CSE & Chandrasekar > Raj Chengappa, Dasgupta, Seniorjoornalist Retired diplomat > R. Ramachandran, b JM. Mauskar, Seniorjournalist > Prodipto Ghosh, Fellow Vormerbureaucrat Nitin Desai, Eminent economist + The new council will co can be taken by India t \d advise the government on proactive measures that climate change. * id guide policy in relevant areas. < response to issues relating to climate change at the national level, n plans in the area of assessment, adaptation and mitigation of g e 5 2 The council will provide oversigl ig medical and emotional terms.: Nu (INYU) is 4 wedrable device that helps the user to track and manage his or her physical as well as emotional health,” Srinivasan Murali, co-founder and CEO of the Switzerland-based Smart Cardia + INYU obtains key physiological signals from the body like ECG, breathing, skin conductance and physical activity by a simple touch that give a complete picture of the body-mirid health. _EFISHING iMANGROVE PaTcnis IN KARNATAKA materials. And in terms of ecological services, th heavy metals, a 48 —@ (aR © Rajasthan’ State tree — Khejri — is dying a slow death, scientists and environmentalists have hhical area of the Si : Shejri (Prosopis cineraria) covers about two-thirds of the total geographical a tate and is of immense significance culturally and economically The tree supports rural economy like no pther wild vegetation does The Desert Tree, as itis also known as, was the lifeline of the people in Western Rajasthan in the Carlier times. It provided firewood and even acted as a cash crop. The trees also fix atmospheric hitrogen,and return it to the soil ‘The root cause of decline in the Khejri cover is its excessive lopping (cutting of branches), whie Owners do annually to procure its fruit, pods, leaves, branches and twigs. hall farm SLAM FISHERY GETS GLOBAL GREEN CERTIFICATION: The short-neck.clam fishery of Ashtamudi Lake was awarded the Certification on Wednesday. The Marine Stewardship Councilis an independent non; for sustainable fishing around the world was for the first time that a fishery in India has been awarded ‘S ASHTAMUDI LAKE GETS RECOGNITION FOR SUSTAINABLE CLAM Ashtamudi lake, a Ramsar wetland Kerala and the clam fishery began 19% Union Minister of state for Envid in Kerala was the first Marjne St the second largest estuarine system in fhe Clam Governing Council of Ashtamudi lake Wardship Council-certified fishery in India. vers — Aghanashini, Gangavali, Sharavati and Venkatapura — and the etch of dense and tall mangrove vege! tation... with a high number of mangrove hood, essentially aquaculture, they supply medicinal plants, and-fuel wood and construction ey stabilise shorelines, are nurseries for fish breeding and filtera NASA INSTALLS FIRST ZERO-GRAVITY 3D PRINTER ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE) sTATION (SS): a + NASA successfully installed the world’s first zero-gravity 3D printer on the International Space Station (15S) to help astronauts experiment with additive manufacturing in microgravity. + This experiment has been an advantageous first stepping stone to the future ability to manufacture @ large portion of materials and equipment in space. fco2 EMISSIONS MUST BE NIL BY 2070 TO PREVENT DISASTER: U-N. + The world must cut CO2 emissions to zero by 2070 at the latest to keep global wi levels and prevent a global catastrophe, the UN. warns. s * By 2100, all greenhouse gas emissions — including methane, nitrous oxide ant pa othe must fall to zero, the United Nationals Environment Programme (UNGB) fepor’ S07" 7 face what Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sciet widespread and irreversible” effects from climate change. * The UNEP report is based on the idea that the planet has a fini in the late 19th century, some 1,900 Gigatonnes (Gt) of have already been emitted, leaving less than 1,000 Gt of COZ ver dangerous temperature rises of more than 2C above, re-industrial + All scenarios in the UNEP report now require som: of the century, through technologies such as car! planetary wide engineering of the climate ki * This important report underscores the re: need to have achieved climate neutrality — or global emissions. @x {ROSETTA MISSION: rineering. int in the second half of the century, we = The European 5 d the Philae probe on’comet 67P/Churyumov—Gerasimenko. The al from the 100-kilogram Philae lander after it touched down on the icy met named 6ZP/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. ‘kilometer journey by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft, 0 study the four-kilometer-wide 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet. billion (1.3 billion—euro) project that was launched a decade ago will help them ions about the origins of the universe and life on Earth.a Nae no kee Pa ot Cited Pont a ee prs pears ferns iletreeel es ree Ses PHILAE LANDER: Orit wo extract farhoone tasion Probe 1a comer 1a provont cratt™ Bouneiag bret int ROC sererrees ‘ARBON: * Nearly 200 countries agreeing t@ hold “infogel disctgsfons” over. greenhouse gas hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) at the UN's Montreal Pro! pleting substances. Gd in 1987. to ban ozone-depleting substances like hloroflurocarbons (HCFCs), which were used in refrigerators and air ind comes in the wake of ‘a joint Indo-US statement on HFCs this year under 's had agreed to discuss the harmful greenhouse gas under the Montreal Protocol intries argued that there were no alternatives to HFCs. [MORE CROP YIELDS ADDING MORE CO2 TO. ATMOSPHERE: * A sharp rise in foodproduction to meet the demands for rising population accounts for as much.as 25 . Per cent of the,seasonal increase in carbon dioxide (C02). rs * - * The carbon dioxide absorbed by plants during spring and summer-es- they convert solar energy is released back to the atmosphere in autumn and winter. * It is not that crops are adding more CO2 to the atmosphere; rather, if crops are like 2 sponge for CO2, the sponge has simply gotten bigger and can hold and release more of the gas. 2 * With global food productivity expected to double over the next 50 years, the findings should be used to improve climate models and better understand the atmospheric CO2 buffering Capacity of ecosystems. . 50 www,visionias.in GVision IAS to foodarent {G1S-BASED SYSTEM F Union Minister of State for Environment la System (61S)-b unched the first version of the Geographical Information ‘ased Decision Support System (DSS) for forest clearance. *o fast-track decision-making with respect to effective forest management, environment protection and biodiversity conservation. * To decentralise the process of granting forest clearances, the Ministry constituted empowered committees at regional levels and delegated decision-making powers to them for linear projects like railway lines, transmission lines, highways, and pipelines. Information on eco-sensitive zones would be made available through the DSS in its second phase. The system would have the Net Present Value of forests, important wildlife habitats outside the Protected Area network, apart from the recorded forest area boundaries. aerate enn {Wwortp's OLDEST COMPUTER : Antikythera Mechanism, the world’s oldest computer, is even 100 year: thought. Discovered from a Roman cargo shipwreck off the Greek ‘onze device was used to track the movements of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter a The device provides a wealth of astronomical inforr close astronomical dating of the mechanism. The complex device, made up of up to 40 bronze co; cycles of the solar system. a = On the back were two further dials display + The calculator would have been driven by a han gears, was uspe in ancient times to track the it lunar cycles and eclipses. [NEW MATE iy IAL FOR COOLING SURFACES: perature of the building. the inventors believe that this can provide a solution to air Though the te¢hnology is still conditioning i the infrared and visible light which strikes it. By this method, the material can cool the interior by almost 5 degrees Celsius. = [orescence ease vineenenenrersin : — |EARTH’S MOST ABUNDANT MINERAL GETS NAM i Bridgmanite was officially coined after an examinable samplé was extracted from a meteorite: + American geologists have narned the earth's most abundant mineral Bridgmanite. + Ithad hitherto remained nameless as a large enough sample of the mineral, found in the earth's lower mantle, had not been recovered. 51 www visionias.in Pe ©Vision 1As* Under the rules of set down by the International Mineralogical Association, a mineral cannot be given formal name until a specimen has been found and examined first hand. - * The new name is in honour of Percy Bridgman, a pioneer in the use of high pressure experiments to better understand how many geological formations come about. + Bridgmanite makes up about 70 percent of the earth's lower mantle and 38 percent of the total volume of the earth. It is made up of high-density magnesium iron silicate. + The lower mantle, which starts at 670 km under the crust, is difficult to access for samples. + The researchers looked at a meteorite that had fallen inside Australia in 1879 as a likely candidate for samples, and found what they were looking for. oo NEW SUBATOMIC PARTICLES DISCOVERED: * Two new subatomic particles that could widen our understanding of the univers * Two new particles belonging'to the baryon family. + Abaryonis a composite subatomic particle made up of three quarks. * The particles were predicted to exist by the quark model but had article was found by the CMS experiment at CERN in 2012. * Like the well-known protons that the LHC accelerates, the. quarks bound together by the strong force. ‘* The types of quarks are different, though: the new particles both and one down (d) quark * Due to the heavyweight b quarks, they are more Particles are more than just the sum of theinparts: ity (b), one strange (s), six times as massive as the proton. But the also depends on how they are configured. ay gees a "y i THE EQUATOR PRINCIPLES: nt framework, adopted by financial institutions, for I and social risk in projects and is primarily intended 0 support responsible risk decision-making. d to four financial products 1) Project Finance Advisory -Related Corporate Loans and 4) Bridge Loans. The relevant bed in detail in the Scope section of the EP. Institutions (EPFls) in 34 countries have officially adopted the international Project Finance debt in emerging markets. signed the Equator principles. *