Current Affairs Summary-October 2016

Current Affairs Summary-October 2016

KRISHNA WATER DISPUTES TRIBUNAL II VERDICT

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar has turned down the demands of AP and Telangana regarding their demand for redistribution of the Krishna river water among the four riparian states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT I) was set up by the Central Government in 1969 under the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to resolve the disputes between the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and then undivided Andhra Pradesh over sharing of Krishna river water. The KWDT I (Bachawat commission) in its final award in 1973, divided the share of water between the three states as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In April 2004, KWDT II, was constituted by the Government of India following requests by all three states mainly over the issue of Alamatti dam height issue.

 

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in their current petition have sought fresh allocation of Krishna River water among all four riparian states. According to them, Section 89 in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 calls for redistribution of Krishna water among all the four riparian States not just between both of them. The tribunal observed that the section 89 of AP reorganisation act 2014 was not applicable to Maharashtra and Karnataka. Allocations made on the basis of water utilisations outside the Krishna basin were valid on historic  rounds. AP and Telangana have to share water that was allocated to the undivided AP, nothing more or nothing less. A claim made by Telangana that AP was bifurcated because of inequitable allocation of the Krishna river water was thrashed by the tribunal. The tribunal said that AP was divided not because of unequal distribution of water, but to fulfill the political aspirations of the people of TG.

 

One solution can be to bring water under concurrent list and according to Mihir shah report central water authority can be constituted to manage rivers.

The Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on the scope of Right to life under Article 21 has largely been about  incorporating socioeconomic rights contained in Part IV. But it has not focused on the individual’s right to determine what the “good life” itself is. There have been stray mentions of the right to choose by Supreme Court without fully articulating what they mean by it. For instance, The Supreme Court  overturned Naz foundation in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation (2014), refusing to even engage with the argument that LGBTQ persons may have rights. This after Delhi High Court’s judgement decriminalised voluntary homosexual acts on the premise (among other things) that it was a violation of the right to privacy of the individual, which is part of the right to life of a person. The right to privacy here is framed specifically in terms of choice of sexual partners. In its role as the ultimate arbiter of the rule of law and fundamental rights, it is time the Supreme Court re-examines its whole approach to Article 21. For instance, it can adopt a more straightforward approach to this issue, by reading a right to choose as something that is essential to leading a meaningful life.

The seven-judge Constitution Bench of Supreme Court is re-considering its 1995 verdict and has questioned whether the practice of using the mass religious appeal by leaders to canvas votes for candidates amounts to a corrupt electoral practice. SC is looking into the various means by which misuse of religion or faith of the masses for electoral gains can be categorised as a corrupt practice.

It was also looking into electoral practices of political parties and candidates to rope in clerics or priests to flex their religious sway over particular religious community to swing votes.

SC in its 1995 verdict held that canvassing votes in name of ‘Hindutva/Hinduism’ wasn’t a corrupt electoral practice under Sec 123 of RoPA, as Hinduism was not a religion but a way of life in India.

1. 123(3) of the RPA regards ‘any appeal by a candidate or his agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language’ as an electoral offence.

Seeking votes in the name of religion could affect the secular concept of elections in our democracy, and hence such a thing could not be allowed.

Fundamentalism of any colour or kind must be curbed with a heavy hand to preserve and promote the secular creed of the nation.

India is a secular country with lot of regional variations even among Hindu religion. ‘Hindutva’ should be understood in spirit rather than misusing it for own political benefits.

We see our neighbours and middle-east torn by religious conflicts. To avoid that the fundamental values of tolerance and peace etc., should be explicitly described as core value components of ‘Hindutva’ by SC to prevent further misuse.

1.3.2. E-POSTAL BALLOT SYSTEM FOR ARMED FORCES

The service personnel especially the armed force members serving in the border and remote areas are not able to cast their votes in the elections in their native places. The present system of Postal ballot and proxy voting is inefficient causing delays.

In light of this, the EC has come up with an e-Postal ballot system. Under this, a blank postal ballot paper would be transmitted to the service personnel electronically. They can cast their vote on it and post it to the Returning officer.

RELEVANCE AND SUITABILITY OF ‘REFERENDUM’

 A mechanism can be developed that calls for referendums on select Bills and Acts based on a large quantum of public signatures seeking to vote on them. This could go a long way in not just sensitising the public towards important laws but also for a means of getting popular approval for them. E.g. a question on whether public welfare legislation like Aadhar should be made mandatory to avail social services could be put in a referendum.

UNITED GROUP IN RAJYA SABHA

 Recently Vice-President of India formally recognised a group of 22 MPs belonging to parties with less than four MPs and certain independents as a consolidated block — the United Group in Rajya sabha.

 

This is only the third time in the history of Indian Parliament that this is happening.

In 1983, the first such consolidated group was called United Associations of Members was recognised by the then Rajya Sabha Chairman.

 In 1990, the then chairman of Rajya Sabha recognised organised group of Parliamentarians and was renamed as the United Group.

The united group will be the third largest group of MPs in the Rajya Sabha, after the Congress and the BJP.

The group will find a place in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that decides time allotment.

Time allotted to parties to speak on debates depends entirely on their strength in the House. Earlier due to their lean status numerically members of this bloc had just three minutes of speech time. Thus, the formation of the United Group would allow for enhanced deliberation and debates in the Rajya sabha.

EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT INITIATIVE

 “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister recently.

 It is an innovative measure that will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between the States through the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different States & UTs, for strengthening the unity and integrity of India.

 All States and UTs will be covered under the programme.  According to the scheme, two states will undertake a unique partnership for one year which would be marked by cultural and student exchanges. 6 MoUs between two States each were also signed on the occasion of launch, under this initiative.

 Students of a particular state would travel to another state to learn each other’s culture.  District level pairings will also be done and it would be independent of the State level pairings.  The activity will be very useful to link various States and Districts in annual programmes that will connect people through exchanges in areas of culture, tourism, language, education trade etc.

 Citizens will also be able to experience the cultural diversity of a much larger number of States/UTs while realising that India is one.

Although it is still unclear about the specific provisions of the scheme, the idea sounds highly inspiring and futuristic. The government has formed a committee to work out the modalities of the scheme in consultation with the states.

1.7. BENAMI TRANSACTIONS (PROHIBITION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2016

 The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act will come into force on November 1, 2016.

 Following this, the existing Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act will be renamed as the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPT Act).

 Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act 1988 had several loopholes such as lack of proper implementation machinery, absence of appellate mechanism, lack of provision with centre for vesting confiscated property etc.

 The current government had introduced Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill in July 2016 in parliament. This bill has been now passed in both the houses of parliament and will come into effect from 1 November 2016.

Features of the bill

Objective: The main aim is to route the unaccounted money into the financial system and seize Benami properties and punish those who are involved in these properties.

 The Act defines benami transactions, prohibits them and further provides that violation of the PBPT Act is punishable with imprisonment up to 7 years and fine.

 It also prohibits recovery of the property held benami from benamidar by the real owner.

 Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government without payment of compensation.

 An appellate mechanism has been provided under the PBPT Act in the form of Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal.

 The Adjudicating Authority and the Appellate Tribunal have been notified on similar lines from Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

Significance

 This law will have long term impacts on real estate industry in the country.

 It will increase the practice of including the correct name in property transactions. This in turn would bring transparency in residential market.

 The stringent law would also bring down the prices of real estate because such transactions are done by cash rich investors to park their unaccounted wealth in real estate.

 It will also boost the confidence of lenders esp banks and also private individuals.

WESTERN ZONAL COUNCIL MEETING

The 22nd meeting of the Western Zonal Council was held in October, 2016 under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister. The Zonal Councils are mandated to discuss and make recommendations on economy and social planning, border disputes, inter-State transport and linguistic minorities related issues.

Zonal councils help to develop the habit of cooperative working among these States. Various aspects and agenda discussed in the meeting will enhance the comity between the states.

The zonal councils also facilitate to create healthy inter-State and Centre-State environment with a view to solving inter-State problems and fostering balanced socio economic development of the respective zones.

About Zonal Council

 The idea of zonal councils emerged during the course of debate on the report of the States Re-organisation Commission 1956.

 In the light of the vision of Pandit Nehru, five Zonal Councils were set up under the States Re-organisation Act, 1956. (Zonal councils are not constitutional bodies, they are statutory bodies)

• The Northern Zonal Council
• The Central Zonal Council
• The Eastern Zonal Council
• The Western Zonal Council
• The Southern Zonal Council

 The North Eastern States i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur (iv) Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya and (vii) Nagaland (viii) Sikkim are not included in the Zonal Councils and their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 14th Asean-India Summit and 11th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. History and Evolution of the India-ASEAN Relations after its Independence in 1947, India followed a policy of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and became a champion of decolonisation, including in Southeast Asia.

East Asia Summit (EAS)

• East Asia Summit includes the 10 ASEAN Member states and India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia.
• India is a founding member of the East Asia Summit.
• During the 1970s, India tilted towards the Soviet Union and distanced Southeast Asia
• India adopted the “Look East Policy” (LEP) soon after economic liberalization in 1991
• Over the years the policy has also concentrated on building closer ties in the region.

Phases of LEP               

• Phase I lasted between 1991 and 2002, when the primary thrust was toward renewed political and economic relations with ASEAN countries.
• During Phase II (2003 to 2012), the scope of the LEP was broadened to include China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
• The new phase of LEP would focus on extensive economic and security issues, including joint efforts to protect the Sea Lanes of Communications and launch coordinated counter-terrorism activities.
• One of the major consequences of India’s engagement with ASEAN has been the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA), which was seen as an essential step towards deeper economic integration.
• Its initial framework was signed on 8 October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia and the final agreement was signed on 13 August 2009, coming into effect from 1 January 2010.
• The FTA reduced tariff barriers to trade between India and the ASEAN countries, and included specific provisions for services trade and investment facilitation.

Significance of India-ASEAN

India sent a strong signal to China by mentioning the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

Maritime Importance: Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is essential for India in order to ensure that its sea-bound trade continues uninterrupted.

Sea lanes are “life lines of global trade.” India supports freedom of navigation based on United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

ASEAN is important for extending cooperation in areas such as maritime security including freedom of navigation, drug trafficking and cybercrime.

ASEAN countries, particularly Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia can potentially contribute to India’s energy security.

NE states can be developed

Trade between India and comprises 10.12% of India’s total trade with the world.

 

BIMSTEC

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization.
• Came into being in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
• Comprises seven Member States including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.
• The next meeting will be held in Nepal for the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in 2017.
• BIMSTEC Buddhist Circuit and BIMSTEC Heritage Sites, decided to expedite the establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Commission and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory in Bhutan.

About BRICS

• It was established in2009
• Originally it was known as BRIC before the inclusion of South Africa in 2011.
• The Eighth BRICS Summit was held at Goa under the theme “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions.”
• The summit concluded with adaptation of Goa Declaration.
• The ninth BRICS Summit will be hosted by China in 2017.
• The BRICS countries have already set up New Development Bank (NDB), which became operational last year, to meet funding requirements of the members.

BRICS RATING AGENCY

BRICS have agreed to set up an independent rating agency based on market-oriented principles in order to further strengthen the global governance architecture. There are concerns that the methodologies of the big three global agencies- S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service- is biased against developing countries, reflected by their poor rating of these economies.

Despite having deep capital buffers, the ratings of multilateral banks like the BRICS-promoted NDB are affected due to the parent countries’ sovereign ratings.

Further, under the present pricing model of rating agencies, the company or institution issuing bonds pays the rating agency to be rated, known as issuer-pays model. This is an ethical issue of moral hazard in this model of rating.

Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. It came into being in 1970. In 1995 it was extended indefinitely.

• The treaty recognises five permanent UNSC members: the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.
• There are 16,400 nuclear weapons on Earth today.
• Five states are declared as nuclear weapon zones under the Non-Proliferation Treaty: US, UK, France, Russia and China.

DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY COMMITTEE

UN general assembly’s disarmament and security committee voted for negotiations to begin next year on a new international treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons.

Four of the five UN Security Council nuclear powers – Britain, France, Russia and the United States voted against the draft resolution while China abstained besides India and Pakistan.

The new multilateral treaty will for the first time provide a comprehensive approach to prohibiting activities such as the use, deployment, production, transporting, stockpiling and financing of nuclear weapons.

It will also extend the NPT’s nuclear disarmament obligation by creating a clear, unequivocal legal obligation to eliminate existing arsenals that will apply to non-NPT as well as all NPT states.

International Criminal Court ICC

It is the world’s first legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The 124-member ICC is based in The Hague.

Burundi, South Africa and Gambia have quit ICC. Kenya and Uganda now, intend to follow the suit. The withdrawal makes South Africa the first state to quit the 1998 Rome Statute that established the court.

South Africa’s proposed withdrawal from the International Criminal Court shows startling disregard for justice from a country long seen as a global leader on accountability for victims of the gravest crimes.

Lack of Jurisdiction- ICC does not have jurisdiction over some of the most powerful nations in the world such as US, Russia, China and Israel.

Narrow Mandate- It does not investigate rights violations of five permanent members of the UN Security Council: the US, Great Britain, France, Russia and China.

No free authority- its authority is dependent on the cooperation of the international community.

Politicized Prosecution and Unaccountable Prosecutors despite having safeguards in place against politically motivated prosecutions.

Ambiguity between State Sovereignty vs Universal Jurisdiction: Ambiguities arise in the relationship between the legal and political underpinnings of the ICC because the Court is weakened by policies that remain dominated by a sovereign model, despite operating principally within a Universalist legal framework.

AARDO

African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) formed in 1962(Headquartered in New Delhi), is an autonomous inter-governmental organization comprising 15 African members and 15 Asian members. AARDO is devoted to develop understanding among members for better appreciation of each other’s problems and to explore, collectively, opportunities for coordination of efforts for promoting welfare and eradication of thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease and poverty amongst hundreds of millions of rural people. India, one of the founding members of the AARDO, is the largest contributor in terms of membership contribution. The Cabinet approved MoU for the triennium 2015 – 2017, between India and the African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO).

Commonwealth

It an international association established in 1949 consisting of the UK together with states that were previously part of the British Empire, and dependencies. Its current membership is of 52 counties. Membership is based on free and equal voluntary co-operation. The last two countries to join the Commonwealth are Rwanda and Mozambique.

MALDIVES QUITS COMMONWEALTH

• The Maldives quit Commonwealth over allegation of corruption and deteriorating human rights. The country becomes the latest to leave the Commonwealth after Gambia which quit in October 2013.
• Maldives government was put on notice thrice and given six months to address concerns including the detention and prosecution of opposition leaders.
• Evidences were found of curbing fundamental rights, targeted persecution of opposition leaders and misuse of state institutions (including the judiciary, legislature and the police) to restrict, crush and punish dissent.
• Imprisonment of previous Maldives President was found illegal and the current president was ordered to pay him compensation.

UN Human Rights Council

• The council is 47-member body in based in Geneva.
• It was created in 2006 to promote human rights globally.
• Members of the council work to engage countries on improving human rights.
• They make decisions ranging from exposing violations to recommending that the Security Council make a referral to the International Criminal Court.
• The council doesn’t have the authority to take action but can exert significant pressure on the violating country and set up special rapporteurs with the mandate to investigate and report human-rights abuses.
• Russia lost its bid to retain a seat on the UN Human Rights Council due to allegations of war crimes in relation to its policies in Syria.
• It was the first time since the UNHRC’s creation a decade ago that one of the Security Council’s five permanent members failed to be elected to the council.
• It is unlikely to create any significant change in Russian foreign policy toward Syria.
• It may further fuel already tense relations between Russia and the West, particularly the United States, and worsen the human rights situation in Russia itself.
• However, despite harsh criticism regarding Saudi Arabia’s actions in the Yemeni civil war, the country kept its place on the Human Rights Council. It underscores the use of human rights as a tool of Western intervention.

Bad Bank

Bad Bank would be set up as a separate entity that would buy the NPAs from other banks to free up their books for fresh lending. In the meanwhile, it would work towards suitably disposing off the toxic assets. The concept was pioneered at the Pittsburgh-headquartered Mellon Bank in 1988 and has been successfully implemented in many western European countries post the 2007 financial crisis like Ireland, Sweden, France etc.

Raghuram Rajan was of the view that this concept may not be relevant for India since much of the assets backing the banks’ loans are viable or can be made viable. E.g. a large chunk of projects stalled due to extraneous factors like problems in land acquisition or environmental clearance. They just need restructuring and additional funding.

It must also create, through an act of Parliament, an apex Loan Resolution Authority for tackling bad loans at PSBs. The authority would vet restructuring of the bigger loans at PSBs. This would mitigate the paralysis that has set in at the PSBs because of the fear factor and get funds flowing into stalled projects.

DEBT MANAGEMENT CELL (PDMC)

The Finance Ministry has set up a Public Debt Management Cell (PDMC). It is an interim arrangement and will be upgraded to a statutory Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) in about two years. Its main purpose is to allow separation of debt management functions from RBI to PDMA in a gradual and seamless manner, without causing market disruptions. PDMC will have 15 experienced debt managers from Ministry and RBI for the required expertise. It will only have advisory functions to avoid conflict with statutory functions of the RBI. It will plan government borrowings as well as manage its liabilities. It will further monitor cash balances, foster a liquid and efficient market for government securities and advise government on matters related to investment, capital market operations, fixing interest rates on small savings etc.

PDMC to PDMA.

Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) is a proposed specialized independent agency that manages the internal and external liabilities of the Central Government in a holistic manner. The government has now made clear that PDMA will be formed in 2 years.

Presently the market borrowing by the Government is managed by RBI but external debt by central government directly. Establishing a debt management office would consolidate all debt management functions in a single agency and bring in holistic management of the internal and external liabilities.

There is a severe conflict of interest in the RBI responsibility of setting the short term interest rate (i.e. the task of monetary policy) and selling bonds for the government. If the Central Bank tries to be an effective debt manager, it would lean towards selling bonds at high prices, i.e. keeping interest rates low. This leads to an inflationary bias in monetary policy.

PROJECT INSIGHT

Project Insight is an initiative of the finance ministry to widen the tax base by detecting tax evaders using technology. Various pilot projects have come up in recent years. The full program will be implemented next year. The Project will essentially use the data gathered by various pilot projects in terms of non-filers monitoring, non-PAN monitoring for Banks, Sub-registrars etc. for different kinds of taxes. It will also ensure that third party reporting by entities like banks and other financial institutions is timely and accurate.

The project adds to the list of efforts made by government towards curbing black money like GST implementation, amendment to India-Mauritius DTAA and the recently concluded Income Disclosure Scheme. This integrated platform would play a key role in widening of tax base and data mining to track tax evaders. This will help in catching tax evaders in a non-intrusive manner like search and seizure. It will also enable taxpayers to resolve simple compliance related issues in an online manner without visiting the Income tax office.

IDDM

All Defence acquisition proposals were required to be classified under one of five categories under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 until a sixth category of Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) was added this year. The category is expected to bring significant investments in R&D and will ensure the scientific talent in India is engaged in cutting-edge technologies in defence.

INDIGENOUS DEFENCE PRODUCTION: DASSAULT RELIANCE AEROSPACE JV

Reliance’ Group has formed a Joint Venture with French Aerospace giant Dassault Aviation. The JV would be a key player in execution of the offset obligations which was a part of the Rafale fighter jet deal. The deal has a 50% offset clause. It will set up a facility at Nagpur to complete the supply chain for the Rafale fighter jet in India. The facility will be planned, designed and structured with French  assistance. 

INDIAN BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The Indian Bridge Management System was launched recently. IBMS is being developed to create an inventory of all bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure. This will help in improving the transport efficiency as well as reducing accidents. Every bridge in the country is assigned a unique National Identity Number based on the state and RTO zone. It is also given a Bridge Location number based on its exact location which is ascertained by GPS. The Bridges are also classified according to their engineering characteristics and structural components and assigned a Bridge Classification and Structural Rating Number respectively. The bridges are also being assigned Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number which will decide the importance of the structure in relation to its contribution to daily socio-economic activity of the area in its vicinity. Based on this inventory IBMS will analyze data and identify bridges that need attention.

REGULATION OF PENSION PRODUCTS

The Finance Ministry has set up a high-level committee to consolidate the regulation of pension products that is currently being done by three different watchdogs including the insurance and stock market regulators. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) was set up with the intent of regulating all pension products. However, insurers and mutual funds continue to sell pension products outside its watch. Pension products floated by insurance companies come under the purview of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) while those sold by mutual funds are overseen by the SEBI. However, since their prime focus is on insurance and mutual funds/capital markets respectively, pension regulation done by them is only a piecemeal work.

About PFRDA

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a pension regulatory authority which was established in 2003. It is authorized by Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services. It promotes old age income security by establishing, developing and regulating pension funds and protects the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds and related matters.

ETHANOL PRICING REVISION

The government has moved towards a new pricing mechanism for sugar-extracted ethanol which is used for blending in petrol. The government had initiated the ethanol blending programme way back in 2003 with an aim to cut import dependence on crude oil. Initially the quantity was fixed at 5% which was slowly supposed to be raised to 10%. However, this could not be done on account of the various constraints faced by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) like state specific issues, supplier related issues including pricing issues of ethanol etc. Moving towards a free-market structure, the price of ethanol will now be determined by the govt on the basis of prevalent price of sugar in the open market as also demand-supply situation.

AGRO IRRADIATION CENTERS

India and Russia have agreed to collaborate in setting up integrated irradiation centres in India.  In the first phase, seven centres will be set up in Maharashtra, which will begin with the upgradation of the current centre at Rahuri in Ahmednagar district. An agro irradiation center is one where food products are subjected to a low dosage of radiation to treat them for germs and insects, thereby increasing their longevity and shelf life. In India post-harvest losses infood grains, fruits and vegetables are extremely high amounting to around 40-50%. This is primarily due to insect infestation, microbiological contamination, physiological changes due to sprouting and ripening, and poor shelf life. This could be controlled by irradiation. Irradiation doses are recommended by the IAEA and the final product is absolutely safe. It does not reduce the nutritional value of food products and does not change their organoleptic properties or appearance.

NATIONAL SC/ST HUB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National SC/ST hub and the Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).The objective of the SC/ST Hub is to provide professional support to entrepreneurs from the SC/ST and also promote enterprise culture and entrepreneurship among them. It will work towards strengthening market access/linkage, capacity building, monitoring, sharing industry-best practices and leveraging financial support schemes. It would also enable Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to fulfill the procurement target set by the government. The Public Procurement Policy 2012 stipulates that 4 per cent of procurement done by Ministries, Departments and CPSEs would have to be from enterprises owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.

ZERO DEFECT-ZERO EFFECT SCHEME LAUNCHED

ZED Scheme aims to rate and handhold all MSMEs to deliver top quality products using clean technology. It will have sector-specific parameters for each industry.

OPTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

SEBI recently allowed options trading in selected commodities, including farm produce. There are concerns that if speculators dominate trading, the impact on prices could be significant. Given the experience with futures trading where cartelisation and price-rigging led to speculative excesses (SEBI had to actually ban new contracts in chana and bar select players from castorseed), the impact of the introduction of options in essential commodities needs to be watched closely. It is hard to see how farmers, who are a disaggregated lot and deal in small, insignificant quantities of their produce, will master the nuances of options trading.

Global Competitiveness Index

• India’s position improved to 39th rank in the World Economic Forum’s latest Global Competitiveness Index.
• India improved 16 places to 39, making it the fastest riser up the ranks among 138 countries surveyed.
• India’s competitiveness improved across the board, particularly in goods market efficiency (60), business sophistication (35) and innovation (29).
• India is also the second most competitive country among BRICS nations (China on 28th).
• Recent reform efforts by the government that help improve rank are
• Improving public institutions (up 16 places).
• Opening the economy to foreign investors and international trade (up 4).
• Increasing transparency in the financial system (up 15).

WEF observed that India still needs to tackle problems like

• Labour market deficiencies,
• large public enterprises that reduce economic efficiency, the financial market,
• Lack of infrastructure.

MINING SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (MSS)

Union Minister of State for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, launched the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) in New Delhi. MSS is a satellite based monitoring system developed under Digital India Programme by Ministry of Mines, through Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM in coordination with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG), Gandhinagar and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY). It is one of the first surveillance systems developed in the world using space technology. The current system of monitoring of illegal mining activity is based on local complaints and unconfirmed information with no robust mechanism to monitor the action taken on such complaints. In such a situation, the MSS aims to establish responsive mineral administration through public participation by curbing instances of illegal mining activity using automatic remote sensing detection technology. In the MSS, the maps of the mining leases are geo-referenced and are superimposed on the latest satellite remote sensing scenes obtained from CARTOSAT & USGS (United States Geological Survey). A check for illegality in operation is conducted and reported back using a user-friendly mobile app, which has been designed keeping public participation in mind, wherein the citizens can use it to report any unusual mining activity. An executive dashboard works as a decision support system using which officials can track the current status of mapping of the mining leases, reasons for triggers, the status of inspections related to triggers generated, the penalty levied etc. for all major mineral mining leases across the country.

CENTRAL ASSISTANCE UNDER AIBP

The Union Government launched the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) in 1996-97 for providing financial assistance, to expedite completion of ongoing Major/Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects including Extension, Renovation and Modernization (ERM) of irrigation projects and Surface Minor Irrigation schemes as well as Lift Irrigation Schemes (LIS).  Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation released the first installment of Rs. 1500 crore to the states as central assistance for 99 prioritized irrigation projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP). This amount has been released for 50 projects in the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana. These irrigation projects will cover drought prone districts of the states to increase production and are also aimed at containing incidents of suicide by farmers. A High Level Empowered Committee (HLEC) comprising Finance Minister, Minister (WR, RD & GR), Minister of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare, Minister of Rural Development, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog has been constituted to review the progress of the identified 99 projects. The HLEC will also monitor other components under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and provide policy guidance for mid-term course correction. Of the nearly 142 million hectares of net sown area, only about 64 million hectares, less than half, has assured access to irrigation facilities. The rest still depend on rainwater. Moreover, even within the overall irrigated land, nearly 60 per cent is based on pumped ground-water, banking on free or highly-subsidised power provided to farmers in most states, thereby putting further pressure on a fast-depleting critical resource.

Other Steps taken by the Govt.

A dedicated irrigation fund has been created under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), which has been asked to issue tax free bonds to borrow money.

An initial corpus of Rs 20,000 crore has already been set up through the budget, which NABARD can leverage to mobilize further money from the market.

The government has now asked the Central Water Commission and other agencies to take up 50 out of the 143 completed projects each year and work towards increasing their efficiencies.

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND FARM FRIENDLY REFORMS INDEX

The Central government first introduced reforms in the APMCs or wholesale markets (mandis) through the APMC Act in 2003, urging states to adopt it as agri-marketing is a state subject under the Constitution

The NITI Aayog launched the first ever “Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index” to rank States and Union Territories. The rankings are based on implementation of seven provisions proposed under model APMC Act, joining eNAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis. The other parameters included in the index are relaxation in restrictions related to lease of farm land to tenant farmers, and the freedom farmers have to fell and transport trees on their own land, which allows them to diversify their incomes.

Territories have been ranked in terms of the score on the index. Maharashtra achieved first rank in implementation of various reforms as it implemented most of the marketing reforms and offered best environment for doing agribusiness. Gujarat ranked second closely followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Puducherry got the lowest rank followed by Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir. Almost two third states including U.P., Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and J&K could not reach halfway mark of reforms score. Some states and UTs either did not adopt APMC Act or revoked it. They include Bihar, Kerala, Manipur, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar. They are not included in the ranking.

REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SCHEME ‘UDAN’

UDAN is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market. The objective of the scheme was “Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik”. UDAN will be applicable on flights which cover between 200 km and 800 km with no lower limit set for hilly, remote, island and security sensitive regions. The scheme seeks to reserve a minimum number of UDAN seats i.e. seats at subsidized rates and also cap the fare for short distance flights. This would be achieved through two means:

• A financial stimulus in the form of concessions from Central and State governments and airport operators like tax concessions, exemptions from parking and landing charges etc.
• A Viability Gap Funding to the interested airlines to kick-off operations from such airports so that the passenger fares are kept affordable.

The VGF would be provided by a market based model. The operators would submit their proposals to the implementing agencies would then be offered for competitive bidding through a reverse bidding mechanism and the route would be awarded to the participant quoting the lowest VGF per Seat. Such support would be withdrawn after a three year period, as by that time, the route is expected to become self-sustainable. A Regional Connectivity Fund would be created to meet the VGF requirements under the scheme. The RCF levy per departure will be applied to certain domestic flights along with 20% contribution from states. For balanced regional growth, the allocations under the scheme would be equitably spread across the five geographical regions of the country viz. North, West, South, East and North-east.

The selection of airports where UDAN operations would start would be done in consultation with State Government and after confirmation of their concessions. The scheme would be in operation for a period of 10 years.

EASTERN DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR

It is an under construction freight corridor by Indian railways connecting Indian states from Punjab to west Bengal. It is 1,840 km long and extends from Ludhiana in Punjab to Kolkata in West Bengal as a series of projects with three sections. Recently, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IRBD), part of the World Bank Group, signed an agreement with the Union government to lend $650 million to DFCCIL for the third phase of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. The first two phases of the EDFC are already being implemented by the DFCCIL with the help of financial assistance provided by the World Bank in the form of loans worth $975 million and $1,100 million respectively.

About CSR

S.135 of the Companies Act was amended in 2013 to introduce the CSR provisions. The CSR Rules, 2014 govern the process.  The Regulations mandate companies to spend at least 2 per cent of the average net profit (earned over the last three years) towards various social causes. This year there is a 28% jump over the Rs 6,526 crore spent in the previous year. Education and health continues to be favourite sectors. Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund along with other funds set up by the Central and the state governments has been the biggest gainer with a jump of 418%. While the compliance rate has increased, the unspent amount has increased. This shows that a large number of companies failed to meet their social obligation and did not spend the prescribed amount on CSR. Corporate is really not spending on CSR as much as they should as 28% growth indicates against 41% by PSUs. They are not owning and driving change rather than make a passive contribution to PM’s Relief Fund. A lot of companies find it better to do the CSR in a passive way as it saves their time and human resources.

 

URJA GANGA PROJECT

Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Urja Ganga, the highly ambitious gas pipeline project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It aims to provide piped cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern region of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles. The project envisages laying a 2,050-km pipeline connecting Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal) by 2018. It will include five states including UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. The project is being implemented by state-run gas utility GAIL. The project augments existing GAIL’s network of trunk pipelines covering the length of around 11,000 km by 2540 km.

Seven East India cities Varanasi, Jamshedpur, Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack – will be the major beneficiary of this network development. The project is considered as a major step towards collective growth and development of the Eastern region of India. Under it, overall 20 lakh households will get PNG connections. From Varanasi’s perspective, 50,000 households and 20,000 vehicles will get cleaner and cheaper fuel PNG and CNG gas respectively. Besides, LNG terminal at Dhamra will provide clean fuel to the Industrial Development of the Eastern states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha.

25 industrial clusters in these 5 states will be developed using gas from this pipeline. Besides, 40 districts and 2600 villages will benefit from this project. It will also help in revival of defunct fertilizer plants in Barauni in Bihar, Gorakhpur in UP, Sindri in Jharkhand and Durgapur in West Bengal by supplying gas.

It will also help in bringing natural gas based crematoriums at cremation grounds including Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats in Varanasi. This will be good for environment.

DBT FOR KEROSENE

After the success of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in LPG/Cooking gas, the government is planning to launch DBT in Kerosene as well. It has initiated the process by a pilot programme in 4 districts of Jharkhand. Under the DBTK Scheme, PDS kerosene is being sold at non-subsidised price, and, subsidy, as admissible, is being transferred to consumers directly into their bank accounts. This initiative of the governments is aimed at rationalising subsidy, cut subsidy leakages and reduce administrative costs. It, thus, seeks to benefit all stakeholders.

Challenges in Implementation

Lack of a streamlined and unified digital consumer database: The LPG consumers were all under Public Sector Oil marketing companies which made it easier to compile a consumer data. However, in case of Kerosene the consumer data is with individual states under their PDS system. Thus, coordination among the large number of State-level actors, especially in the case of a non-digitised PDS beneficiary database, can create barriers.

Differences between center and states: While the Centre burns the fiscal impact of subsidy, the States determine the beneficiaries and quantum of subsidy. This is an important political currency for State governments. Thus, states must be aligned to this idea for its successful implementation.

The price difference between diesel and unsubsidized kerosene will still be high enough to give an incentive to the middlemen to divert the fuel as a diesel substitute.

Another challenge is in ensuring that the subsidy is accessible to its major beneficiaries- poor households. Presently, the bank branches are not readily available in remote locations which increase the cost of withdrawing money.

Studies show that kerosene is predominantly used as a lighting fuel in rural India, with less than 1 per cent of households using it as a primary cooking fuel. Thus, there is need to move towards solar-assisted solutions for lightening and LPG for cooking. This would be economically beneficial to government as well as households in the long-run.

EASE OF DOING BUSINESS RANKINGS

The World Bank ranks the economies on their ease of doing business. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. The rankings are determined by sorting the aggregate distance to frontier scores on 10 topics, each consisting of several indicators, giving equal weight to each topic. India has ranked poorly on this ranking for past few years. In the recent rankings for 2017, it has moved one rank up to the 130th position. This marginal improvement came on the back of slight improvement in four indicators- getting electricity, enforcing contracts, trading across borders and registering property. The report praises the various reforms taken by the present Indian government. It recognizes reforms under four of the 10 headers which is highest ever achieved by India.

India has improved by only one position. This is being looked by many as a matter of concern on account of two reasons: India has taken a number of economic reforms in the past year like enactment of bankruptcy code, GST, introduction of single window system for building plan approvals and online ESIC (Employees’ State Insurance Corporation) and EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) registrations etc. Thus, a better ranking was expected.

Further, the present government aims to bring India in the top 50 economies in the Ease of Doing Business by 2018. The target seems extremely challenging now.

However, the report does not truly represent the status of economic reforms taken by India. For instance:

The Report accounts for reforms undertaken by 1st June 2016 only. As a result some of the key reforms like Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code were not included. India hopes to get a better ranking next year.

Second, one particular change in the ranking methodology seems to have done considerable damage to India’s improvement prospects. India ranks fourth from the bottom under the header “paying taxes”. Inclusion of new criterion ‘post-filing index’ has much to contribute to this.

Third, the rankings cover only the two cities of Delhi and Mumbai. However, the reforms are being carried on all across India. In fact, states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana have done remarkable efforts in economic reforms.

o Fourth, there is increasing competition from other countries who are trying to improve their rankings as well. In fact, the report mentions that the number of countries that have implemented at least one reform have increased from 122 to 137. Thus, even though India might have improved its ease of doing business, it is not reflected in the ranking in the same sense.

 Further, even this ranking process has its limitations. The report clubs all the economies together. E.g. the emerging markets with advanced economies, the war-torn with peaceful ones etc. Such an approach gives a grand ranking system but is hardly useful in predicting, for instance, the flow of capital. Thus, while India may lag behind many countries in EoDB, it may still be a better destination for FDI etc.

Oliver Hart from Harvard and MIT professor Bengt Holmstrom won this year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for their study of contracts and human behaviour in business.

What is Contract Theory?

How contracts are designed defines our incentives in various situations in the real world. Contracts can be formal or informal, depending on whether they are enforced by law or social norms complete or incomplete, which is based on whether they take into account all possibilities that lay in the future

Contract theory is, partly at least, an attempt to understand the nuances in our contracts and how those contracts could be better constructed.

The two economists provided a comprehensive framework for analysing many diverse issues in contractual design, like performance-based pay for top executives, deductibles and co-pays in insurance, and the privatisation of public-sector activities.”

INDIA RANKS 87 IN WEF GENDER GAP REPORT

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2016 was released recently. India has substantially improved its rank in the Global Gender Gap index — moving from 108th to 87th position within a year, according to a report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The WEF measures the gender gap index of the countries by taking four factors into account-economy, health, education and political representation. Globally, the leading four nations continue to be Scandinavian: Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden, in that order. India is ranked 87 out of 144, improving from its 108 position in 2015. The major improvement, however, has been in education, where it has managed to close its gap entirely in primary and secondary education. India is also among a group of countries that have made key investments in women’s education but have generally not removed barriers to women’s participation in the workforce.

JANANI SURAKSHA YOJNA

A latest study conducted by researchers from NCAER says that JSY has helped in reducing the socio-economic inequalities as well as it has led to an enhancement in the utilisation of health services among all groups especially among the poorer and underserved sections in the rural areas. The JSY was launched in 2005 as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to improve maternal and neonatal health by promotion of institutional deliveries (childbirth in hospitals). JSY is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme and it integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care.

It is implemented through ASHA, the accredited social health activist, acting as an effective link between the Government and the poor pregnant women under this scheme.

MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW: NEED FOR REFORMS

The Supreme Court is presently hearing a case by Petitioner Shayara Bano who has challenged the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, in so far as it seeks to recognise and validate polygamy, triple talaq and ‘nikah halala’. The central government also got involved in the process as the Court had asked for its response on the matter. The Government, in its affidavit, supports the petition saying that these practices are not “integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices”. Thus, they must be reformed keeping in light the rights of women.

Triple Talaq & Nikal Halala

‘Talaq-e-bidat’ is a Muslim man divorcing his wife by pronouncing more than one talaq in a single ‘tuhr’ (the period between two menstruations), or in a ‘tuhr’ after coitus, or pronouncing an irrevocable instantaneous divorce at one go i.e. unilateral triple-talaq.

Nikah Halala is the temporary marriage a victim of instant talaq is forced to undergo with another man to remarry her first husband. This second marriage also needs to be consummated.

The practice has been described as inhuman and uncivilized by social activists including many Muslim groups.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), however, has lent support to the practice saying that it is a way to save marriages. It says that the mandatory nature of Nikah halala deters the husband from giving hasty divorces. The argument, however, does not go down well with the activists who question the suffering and exploitation of women in the process.

Further, the activists say that the practices are not of Islamic origin and many Islamic countries have abolished them.

The practice of instant triple talaq has already been invalidated by the SC in 2002 in Shamim Ara case. By that decision Nikah Halala is also rendered redundant.

Feasibility of a total ban on Polygamy

Census data and studies show that bigamy continues to prevail among the Hindus despite the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 outlawing it, and Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) declaring it a punishable offence.

This is mainly due to the non-cognizable nature of section 494. It means that the police can take cognizance of the offence of bigamy only on a complaint by the victim i.e. the first wife in this case. This doesn’t always happen due to social norms, pressure and lack of awareness. The same problem would come in way of implementing anti-polygamy provisions in case of Muslims.

Some Muslim groups perceive these reformative measures as an attempt to initiate Uniform Civil Code and impose majoritarianism on them. The government must alleviate these fears.

The AIMPLB is against these reforms. However, it hasn’t been able to put convincing arguments in support of their stand. It must be kept in mind that gender equality is a sacred principle of our constitution and modern society. The present day situations are different from the times when these practices originated. It is, thus, the right time to make necessary changes.

VULNERABLE SECTIONS

ELDERLY IN INDIA

According to a recent survey 65 per cent of the elderly in India are dependent on others for their financial requirements and undergo financial crisis. Pension was the main source of income for 38 per cent of the respondents. More than 80% of the respondent’s major problems were related to healthcare issues, where financial status plays a key role. Senior citizens aged over 70 are marginalized and isolated to a large extent. Older persons in the category of 60-70 years are looked after well by their children, but with further advancement in their age, children find it difficult because of their own growing age and ever-increasing responsibilities towards their own children. Financially insecure old people expect social security, free health care and subsidies so that they can lead a comfortable and respectable life in old age.

There are approximately 21 lakh persons estimated to be living with HIV in India.

Although, the prevalence of HIV is decreasing over the last decade but percentage of HIV patients receiving Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) treatment are merely 28.82% against global percentage of 41%.

Parents cannot be evicted from a house without due process of law if they have been staying there from before. There is three enactments that can be applied.

Under section 125 of the CrPC, a magistrate can order a child to maintain his old parents under the Maintenance of Parents Act.

The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act say an aged parent can demand maintenance from children in the same way that a wife can demand it from her husband.

The Domestic Violence Act too provides parents with the right to seek relief from any kind of abuse.

A National Policy on older persons was announced in January 1999 which identified a number of areas of intervention-financial security, healthcare and nutrition, shelter, education, welfare, protection of life and property for the wellbeing of older persons in the country.

A National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) was constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to operationalize the National Policy on older persons.

VAYOSHRESHTHA SAMMAN

Union Government Presented ‘Vayoshreshtha Samman’ to Older Persons & Institutions on International Day of Older Persons

National Awards are intended to show case the Government’s concern for senior citizens and its commitment towards them with the aim of strengthening their legitimate place in the society.

Vayoshreshtha Samman is a Scheme of National Awards instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (D/o Social Justice & Empowerment) initially in 2005.

It was upgraded to the status of National Awards in 2013  Among other awards KA was awarded best state in implementing the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens act, 2007 and providing services and facilities to senior citizens. The Bill also aims to enhance access to health care services by ensuring informed consent and confidentiality for HIV-related testing, treatment and clinical research. The Bill lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons is prohibited. It also places obligations on establishments to safeguard rights of persons living with HIV aids create mechanisms for redressing complaints. The Bill also prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them. The Bill requires that no person shall be compelled to disclose his HIV status except with his informed consent, and if required by a court order. The Bill also suggests, that the Central and State governments shall take measures to: Prevent the spread of HIV or AIDS.

Provide anti-retroviral therapy. Facilitate their access to welfare schemes especially for women and children. Formulate HIV or AIDS education communication programmes.

The Bill suggests that cases relating to HIV positive persons shall be disposed off by the court on a priority basis and duly ensuring the confidentiality.

The Bill makes provision for appointment of an ombudsman by State Governments to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and penal actions in case of non-compliance.

The bill aims at achieving the target of “Ending the epidemic by 2030” as per the Sustainable Development Goals.

 Recognising that HIV/AIDS often causes children to be orphaned, and extended families are reluctant to shoulder their responsibility, the Bill says that any person aged between 12 and 18 years with sufficient maturity in understanding and managing the affairs of his HIV or AIDS affected family can act as a guardian. This is a welcome step for taking care of abandoned HIV children.

 The bill also provides for an Ombudsman which is a right step in bringing transparency and efficiency to the entire process.

 The Bill brings a rights-based approach to AIDS treatment, making it imperative for both the central and state governments to provide treatment “as far as possible”.

 Although the Bill lays down that treatment is the right of the patient, it stops short of making it a legal right and therefore, a patient who is denied ART treatment cannot ordinarily drag any government to court.

 Thus steps should be taken to make this a legal right.

DENGUE AND CHIKUNGUNYA

There was a sharp increase in the incidence of chikungunya in the country in 2015 over the previous year. Dengue cases have also steadily risen, from 75,808 in 2013 to 99,913 last year, with the death toll rising from 193 to 220 during this period.

The dengue map for 2015 shows that Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal and Gujarat were the worst-affected. On chikungunya, Karnataka needs special help, as it has a disproportionately higher incidence compared to other States.

According to WHO, Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries and affect more than one billion people, costing developing economies billions of dollars every year.

Dengue and chikungunya are such fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease in many parts of the world. They flourish in urban poor areas, suburbs and the countryside in tropical and subtropical countries.

Causes

Climate change and erratic weather:

This year, the unseasonal rain in February prolonged the season for mosquitoes. Climate changes make the environment conducive to mosquito breeding.

Variable and erratic weather coupled with the climate change has become the root cause for the spread of the mosquito borne diseases like dengue and Chikungunya.

Causalities due to comorbidity:

Comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders co-occurring with (that is, concomitant or concurrent with) a primary disease or disorder.

India was officially declared to have eliminated leprosy in 2005 when new cases fell to less than 1 per 10,000, yet India still accounts for the largest number of leprosy affected people in the world (58 per cent). The adversities suffered by leprosy patients are multi-faceted, ranging from medical, social and psychological to economic and legal. Therefore, lack of awareness, myths, socio-cultural beliefs, and the stigma attached to leprosy are perhaps the most pressing problems before public health activists today.

Leprosy Case Detection Campaign

The campaign, spearheaded by the National Leprosy Elimination Programme, covered 149 districts across 19 states and mobilized almost 300 000 health workers. A record 320 million Indians have been screened in a door-to-door leprosy detection campaign, revealing thousands of “hidden” cases. It involved volunteers from the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) project.

Introduction of Made-in-India Leprosy Vaccine

A novel vaccine, developed in India, is to be launched on a pilot basis in five districts in Bihar and Gujarat. If it yields positive results, the leprosy vaccine programme will be extended to other high-prevalence districts.

WHO’s global strategy to end leprosy

The strategy aims to, by 2020, reduce to zero the number of children diagnosed with leprosy and related physical deformities; reduce the rate of newly-diagnosed leprosy patients with visible deformities to less than one per million; and ensure that all legislation that allows for discrimination on the basis of leprosy is overturned.

The new global strategy is guided by the principles of initiating action, ensuring accountability and promoting inclusivity.

Leprosy is one of the most misunderstood diseases of the world; it poses some unique challenges in its control and elimination. A careful examination of the theoretical and practical approaches of the past can provide vital insights for the future.

To reduce the burden, it is important to develop a holistic and multi-pronged approach that includes key policy changes, a public education campaign, sustainable livelihood programmes, skill training workshops and bringing in other medical stakeholders to generate employment, identify interventions to dispel stigma and mainstream the affected people.

After achieving the target of elimination at all levels, the emphasis must shift to more policy level changes and sustaining quality of services.

For instance, there is a need to pass The Repealing and Amending (Fourth) Elimination Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy (EDPAL) Bill, 2015 and implement the key recommendations of the Law Commission on rights and special privileges.

The Global TB Report 2016, recently released, has revised the estimates for the tuberculosis (TB) burden in India upwards. India has 27 per cent of the global burden of incident tuberculosis and 34 per cent of global TB deaths. India diagnosed and notified 1.7 million incident TB patients in 2015. The estimate of the number of TB deaths is 4,78,000 — making TB one of the leading causes of death in India. Further, of the estimated 79,000 cases of multidrug resistant (MDR) TB, about 31,000 were diagnosed. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium causes TB. It is spread through the air when a person with TB (whose lungs are affected) coughs, sneezes, spits, laughs or talks.

Since antibiotics began to be used to fight TB, some strains have become resistant to drugs.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) arises when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria that it targets, with the surviving bacteria developing resistance to that antibiotic and often others at the same time.

4.4.1. NATIONAL ACADEMIC DEPOSITORY

 HRD minister inaugurated the National Academic Depository (NAD) , a digital depository of academic awards

 It aims to replicate digitization and dematerialization of financial security depositories for the educational awards,

 The awards will be verified, authenticated, accessed and retrieved in a digital depository

 It is a move to enhance transparency and authenticity

SDG Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

 NAD will develop an online portfolio of all education certificates across Academic Institutes, which can be submitted easily for employment, higher education, and loans

 NAD will also integrate directly with Boards / Universities which issue Certificates and hence, will ensure authenticity of certificate records

4.4.2. NEW DELHI DECLARATION ON EDUCATION

Why in news

BRICS nations adopted the ‘New Delhi Declaration on Education at 4th meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education. The main aim is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all. Develop an enabling framework to promote research cooperation and knowledge transfer among BRICS countries. Facilitate mobility of students and scholars, and encourage exchange of teaching faculty. Share information on higher education systems, approval and recognition processes, quality assurance and accreditation, and prevalent procedures and practices for evaluation and recognition of qualifications to facilitate academic mobility. Identify a nodal institution within each country and create an institutional network to share ICT policies, Open Educational Resources and other e-resources, including e-Libraries, among BRICS member countries. Use information and communication technologies (ICTs) for improving access to education, enhancing the quality of teaching-learning process, teacher development, and strengthening educational planning and management. Expand technical and vocational education and skills development programmes, for facilitating acquisition of skills and competencies by young people and adults for enhancing their employability and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship

Initiate actions to formulate country-specific targets within the broader scope of the SDG4 and corresponding targets. Share the best practices available in BRICS countries on collaboration in education, research and innovation through the BRICS Network University. 4.5. MISCELLANEOUS

4.5.1. LIQUOR BAN

Supreme Court upheld the Kerala Govt.’s decision to prohibit liquor in December 2015 , however, in Oct., 2016 Kerela Govt (LDF) has sought for reversal in its policy of banning liquor. The Bihar Excise & Prohibition Act, 2016 that had come into force from October 2, 2016 proposing total liquor ban and its stricter provisions. According to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre of Thiruvananthapuram, 44% of Kerala’s road accidents, 19% of stays in government hospitals and 80% divorces are linked to alcohol abuse. According to recent survey by IISC Bangalore, researchers claim that more than 60% of accidents in India is caused due to alcoholic drinks taken by the driver.

About Swachh Bharat Misssion

It was launched on 2 October 2014 to make India clean and open defecation free by 2019, Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. The programme is divided into two categories — Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). The Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation is looking at the rural part of the scheme. The Urban Development Ministry is implementing the programme in urban areas.

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION: 2ND ANNIVERSARY

Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are the first states to have become open defecation free (ODF) in urban areas. The State of Himachal Pradesh has been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), making it the second State in the country after Sikkim to achieve the feat in rural areas.

Nagaland and Gujarat have prohibition in place. Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Manipur are all states that have experimented with partial or complete ban on liquor.

Swachhta Status Report in 2015, reports for more than half of the rural population (52.1 per cent) of the country still defecates in open. Some of the worst-performing states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand.

Challenges to the mission

SUGAR TAX

A tax on sugary drinks to increase the retail price by 20 per cent or more according to a new report from the World Health Organization. A tax on sugary beverages raising their price would result in a proportionate reduction in their consumption that would advance the fight against obesity, which has more than doubled since 1980. About half a billion adults were obese in 2014, roughly 11 percent of men and 15 percent of women.

The best-known success story is in Mexico, which passed a sugary-drink tax in 2013, prompting a substantial drop in consumption.

Hungary has imposed a tax on packaged products with high sugars, salt or caffeine levels. Situation in India

INDIA MOVES UP IN THE WORLD GIVING INDEX

Charities Aid Foundations (CAF) released 7th World Giving Index.It is released by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), which is an international non-profit organization promoting effective giving and philanthropy. This year, 140 countries were surveyed, representing around 96% of the world’s population. Myanmar tops the CAF World Giving Index for the third year running, followed by USA and Australia. India received a 29% overall score in the world giving index.

RAJASTHAN DRIVE TO END CHILD MARRIAGES

Under the banner of “Sajha Abhiyan” of the Rajasthan government, UNFPA and UNICEF, a district-level Abhiyan Yatra was started for complete elimination of child marriages in the State.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 5.1. NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE/PHYSIOLOGY

Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Japanese cell biologist was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for “his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy”. Autophagy is a greek term for “self-eating”. It is a fundamental process for degrading and recycling cellular components. This discovery of the mechanism of autophagy will aid in the fight against diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS

The Nobel Prize 2016 in Physics was awarded to David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz for “theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.”

Topology refers to the study of geometrical properties and spatial relations unaffected by the continuous change of shape or size of figures. It is referred to as the modern version of geometry.

The scientists studied different phases (such as solid, liquid and gas) of different materials. These phases were characterized using topology. The study is being applauded as the meeting point of topology and phase transitions. It will help make the study of phase transitions easier.

NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2016

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 was awarded to Frenchman Jean-Pierre Sauvage, British-born Fraser Stoddart and Dutch scientist Bernard “Ben” Feringa for “developing miniscule machines at the molecular level.”  These molecular machines with controllable movements can perform a task when energy is added.  Machines will eventually prove to be invaluable – doing things no other machines can do.

SOLUTION TO MARINE OIL SPILLS

Indian researchers have developed a membrane with exceptional hydrophobic and high oil-loving (oleophilic) properties. The membrane acts like a filter. When water-oil mixture is passed through the membrane, the oil permeates by rapid absorption while water is retained above the membrane. The oil permeation is 100 percent in the case of oil-water mixture.

 Water-oil emulsification takes place in the seas when water gets mixed with oil under high water current conditions. The membrane is effective in separating oil and water from an emulsion and in solving the problem of oil spills.

HIMANSH

A high-altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH has been established by the National Centre for Antartic and Ocean Research, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences at 13,500 ft (4000m) in a remote region in Sipti in Himachal Pradesh. The centre has been established as a part of Indian government’s initiative to study and quantify the Himalayan glacier responses towards the climate change.Some of the glacier that are already being studied under this project include Bada Shigri, Samudra Tapu, Sutri Dhaka, Batal, Gepang Gath and Kunzam.

HYPERELASTIC BONE

Researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois have developed a 3D printable ink that produces a synthetic bone implant that rapidly induces bone regeneration and growth.

Hyperelastic vs autograft

An autograft is an option where a bone piece is taken from the patient’s body usually from hip or rib, and implanted where it’s needed elsewhere in the same patient’s skeleton.

Hyperelastic bone is a synthetic material that can be implanted under the skin for new bone to grow on, or used to replace lost bone matter altogether.

Hyperealstic bone is made of hydroxyapatite, a naturally occurring mineral in our bones and teeth will provide strength to create bones.

GSAT 18 SATELLITE LAUNCHED

India’s latest communication satellite, GSAT 18 was successfully launched from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana, South America. It is been built by ISRO and ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan, Karnataka is controlling the satellite. GSAT satellites are India’s indigenously developed technologies of communications satellites used for digital, audio, data and video broadcasting.

ICGS SHIPS COMMISSIONED

Two Indian Coast Guard Ships: Aryaman and Atulya have been commissioned into the service. These coast guard ships are eighteenth and nineteenth in the series of twenty fast Patrol Vehicles (FPVs). Aryaman and Atulya have been built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. Atulya will be based at Kochi while Aryaman will be based at Vishakhapatnam. Special features include Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS) and Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS). Integrated bridge system (IBS) is a kind of navigation management system which links other systems to provide all the details pertaining to ship’s navigation at one place.

 INDIA SHOWS SECOND HIGHEST GROWTH IN SCIENCE RESEARCH

According to Nature Index 2016 Rising Stars report, India ranks second position, only behind China, among countries with the highest increase in their contribution to high-quality scientific research. The Indian institutions that made to the top 100 highest performers across the globe include Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institute of Technology (IITs). The report reflects India’s emergence as one of the world’s largest economies.

India currently spends around one per cent of its GDP on research and development. China spends 2.1 per cent of its GDP.

KISAN AND CATTLE GENOMICS

The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched two farmer-centric initiatives known as Biotech-KISAN and Cattle Genomics.

Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) For Farmers: The Biotech-KISAN is a Farmer centric scheme launched by of the Department of biotechnology, where scientists will work in sync with farmers to understand problems and find solutions.The scheme includes the Mahila Biotech- KISAN fellowships, for training and education in farm practices, for women farmers. The Scheme also aims to support the women farmers/ entrepreneur in their small enterprises, making her a grass root innovator. Connects Globally: Biotech-KISAN will connect farmers to best global practices; training workshops will be held in India and other countries.

Cattle Genomics: Through this programme, the government aims to improve the genetic health of the cattle population through genomic selection. Genomic selection will ensure high-yielding, disease-resistant, resilient livestock. Genome sequencing of indigenous cattle breeds from all registered cattle breeds of India by involving various stakeholders is to start soon. The programme also envisages development of high-density DNA chips. This will reduce the cost and time interval for future breeding programmes and productivity of indigenous cattle would be enhanced.

 INDIAN RESEARCHERS PRODUCES STABLE SOLAR CELLS

In a first, a researcher from Pune’s Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) has successfully produced a stable, high-efficiency, all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal solar cells. Silicone-based solar cells available currently are extremely expensive, so research to reduce their cost and increase efficiency is going on. Traditional research on solar cells has been around a hybrid organic-inorganic halide-perovskite material which has a high efficiency of 22%, but is stable under ambient conditions for a very short time. In earlier efforts on such a material the scientific community was developing bigger size crystals which made the product undesirable. Materials with perovskite structure have been the frontrunners in order to make solar cells cost-effective. The researcher was able to remove the organic element and introduce nanocystals of cesium to develop a completely inorganic material which was also thermally stable

COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

CCIT, drafted by India in 1996, is a proposed treaty which provides a comprehensive legal framework against terrorism. It includes following major objectives:

• To have a universal definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA will adopt into their own criminal law
• To ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps
• To prosecute all terrorists under special laws
• To make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide. Hurdles in adoption of CCIT

It is yet to be adopted by the UN General Assembly.

About AEW&C

DRDO developed a multisensor airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system on a carrier jet, providing an airborne surveillance system in collaboration with CAB (Centre for Airborne Systems) for the Indian Air Force. It is the first native AEW system developed by DRDO and CAB. It was completely developed and built using the native technology platformAEW&C system platform details The jet platform selected for system is modified version of the Embraer EMB-145 from Brazil.

SIT COMBING P-NOTES DATE TO CURB BLACK MONEY The special investigation team (SIT) on black money asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to furnish the details including complete transfer trail, beneficiary owners of all those investing through participatory notes (P-Notes). What are P-Notes? P-Notes or Participatory Notes are Overseas Derivative Instruments that have Indian stocks as their underlying assets. They allow foreign investors to buy stocks listed on Indian exchanges without being registered. The instrument gained popularity as FIIs, to avoid the formalities of registering and to remain anonymous, started betting on stocks through this route. The primary reason why P-Notes are worrying is because of the anonymous nature of the instrument as these investors could be beyond the reach of Indian regulators. Further, there is a view that it is being used in money laundering with wealthy Indians, like the promoters of companies, using it to bring back unaccounted funds and to manipulate their stock prices.

SIT suspects some links between the individuals linked to offshore companies floated by Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca.A major chunk of outstanding ODIs (offshore derivative instruments) invested in India – 31.31 per cent – are from Cayman Islands having a negligible population. Currently, the P-Note assets in the country are around Rs 2.1 lakh crore – 8.4 per cent of the total FPI assets, coming down from about 50% in 2007

CYBER SECURITY IN BANKS: DEBIT CARD DATA THEFT ISSUE

 It was recently revealed that around 19 Indian Banks faced a series of data theft in last 6 months. It is the biggest debit card fraud in Indian history. The Banks have recalled and blocked more than 32 lakh debit cards. This has led to banking fraud of around Rs. 1.3 crores. The potential loss could be much more than this. The probe by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which has oversight over all the retail transactions, found a malware-induced security breach in the systems of Hitachi Payment Services, which provides ATMs, point of sale and other services in India.

 In June 2016, RBI issued instructions on a cyber security framework in banks, asking them to put in place a board-approved cyber security policy, prepare a cyber crisis management plan, and make arrangement for continuous surveillance. The circular also asked banks to share unusual cyber security incidents with RBI.

Data Security Council of India (DSCI) part of industry body NASSCOM will collaborate with the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeITY) and the Technology Development Board of the Department of Science and Technology for the platform and funds.

CYBER SECURITY PLATFORM TO FUND STARTUPS

 Indian government and NASSCOM have come together to create a platform for cyber security products and solution companies. It aims to create a special fund for cyber security start-ups.It will be the first platform for homegrown cyber security companies.

RANGE OF BRAHMOS TO BE DOUBLED

India and Russia have approved the proposal to double the range of BrahMos, world’s first supersonic missile. The range of the missile was limited to 290km. Russia and India teamed up in 1998 to develop this missile on the lines of Russia Yakont anti-ship missile. For ranges to be higher than 300km, the country must be a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Following India’s accession to MTCR, the range of the missile will be increased to 600 km. Extending the range of the missile will enhance its stand-off capability and its operational radius. With extended range, speed and accuracy, Brahmos is a force to rely on.

INDIA-CHINA JOINT ARMY EXERCISE: The Indian and Chinese armies held the second joint exercise “Sino-India Cooperation 2016” as part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between India and China.It was sequel to the first exercise held under the provisions of Border Defense Cooperation Agreement, 2013.

NEW URBAN AGENDA – HABITAT – III

The New Urban Agenda was officially adopted at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (referred as “Habitat III”) held recently in Quito, Ecuador. The UN’s Habitat conferences are held in a bi-decennial cycle, with previous editions being held in Vancouver (1976) and Istanbul (1996). It is a set of 175 commitments that countries need to adhere to tackle the staggering challenges of urbanization.It sets the global vision of sustainable urbanization for the next 20 years.It is a roadmap for building cities that can serve as engines of prosperity and centres of cultural and social well-being while protecting the environment.It also provides guidance for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and provides the underpinning for actions to address climate change.

Constituents of the New Urban Agenda

In the New Urban Agenda, leaders have committed to:

• Provide basic services for all citizens: These services include: access to housing, safe drinking water and sanitation, nutritious food, healthcare and family planning, education, culture and access to communication technologies.
• Ensure that all citizens have access to equal opportunities and face no discrimination
• Promote measures that support cleaner cities
• Strengthen resilience in cities to reduce the risk and the impact of disasters
• Take action to address climate change by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions
• Fully respect the rights of refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons regardless of their migration status
• Improve connectivity and support innovative and green initiatives
• Promote safe, accessible and green public spaces

More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities. So it makes sense that the New Urban Agenda will significantly shape the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 Sustainability is at the core of the “New Urban Agenda” with a substantial focus on various “transformative commitments for sustainable urban development”, linking it further with themes like social inclusion, urban prosperity and resilience.

India was also one of the signatories. For India, the New Urban Agenda is significant because of the following reasons-

Though the pace of urbanization was slow until now, with only 31.16% of Indians living in cities, it is expected to accelerate. It took 40 years for 230 million Indians to become urban citizens. For the next 250 million, it is expected to take only 20 years. Presently, cities are anything but liveable, crumbling under congestion, pollution and lack of basic facilities for a huge segment of the population—65 million people—who live in slums.

The Agenda provides a vision wherein government initiatives like Smart Cities, AMRUT and ‘Housing For All’ can be seamlessly integrated.

Since it is a non-binding document without concrete mechanisms for implementation, its ability to effect change is limited.

The agenda is built around a series of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, which aims to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. However, the New Urban Agenda has been criticized for lacking direct links to the targets set out within Goal 11.

KIGALI AGREEMENT

 197 countries have struck a new landmark deal at Kigali in Rwanda to reduce the emissions of category of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which leads to hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs). The Kigali Amendment amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol to now include gases responsible for global warming. The Kigali Agreement or amended Montreal Protocol for HFCs reduction will be binding on countries from 2019.It also has provisions for penalties for non-compliance.

It is considered absolutely vital for reaching the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperature rise to below 2-degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times.

What is the Montreal Protocol on Substances

The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992 is aimed at reducing the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to protect the earth’s fragile ozone layer. This agreement was one of the few success of multilateral negotiations. Under it, developed countries will also provide enhanced funding support estimated at billions of dollars globally. The exact amount of additional funding from developed countries will be agreed at the next Meeting of the Parties in Montreal in 2017.

All signatory countries have been divided into three groups with different timelines to go about reductions of HFCs. This agreement shows a new form of grouping:

First group: It includes richest countries like US and those in European Union (EU). They will freeze production and consumption of HFCs by 2018. They will reduce them to about 15% of 2012 levels by 2036.

Second group: It includes countries like China, Brazil and all of Africa etc. They will freeze HFC use by 2024 and cut it to 20% of 2021 levels by 2045.

Third group: It includes countries India, Pakistan, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia etc. They will be freezing HFC use by 2028 and reducing it to about 15% of 2025 levels by 2047.

Steps taken by India: Eliminating use of HFC-23

Earlier this week, India announced domestic action on HFC-23 (trifluoro-methane), a super greenhouse gas with a GWP of 14,800, which is produced as a byproduct of HCFC-22 (chloro-difluoro- methane). Currently, HCFC-22 is the most commonly used refrigerant in India. India has mandated five manufacturers — who fully control the domestic market — to capture and incinerate HFC-23 so that it is not released into the atmosphere. This action will eliminate release of HFC-23 equivalent to about 100 million tonne of Carbon dioxide emissions over the next 15 years.

ANTARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR EXPEDITION

More than 50 researchers from 30 countries are to carry out the first scientific full circumnavigation of Antarctica in an attempt to measure pollution and climate change. ACE is the first project of the newly-created Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) to “enhance international relations and collaboration between countries, as well as to spark the interest of a new generation of young scientists in polar research. The Antarctic Circumpolar Expedition (ACE) will be the first scientific mission to study all the major islands in the Antarctic ocean, as well as the Antarctic land mass.  Antarctica acts as global thermometer for any ecological change. A better understanding of Antarctica is critical, not just for its preservation, but for the whole planet Global collaboration – More than 50 researchers from 30 countries have collaborated for the expedition. Pollution and biodiversity: ACE will help to make strategies to reduce pollution in Antarctic region which is important for entire world.

NDMA’S GUIDELINES ON CROWD MANAGEMENT

Recently NDMA has released crowd management guidelines to ‘Reduce risks this festive season’. Necessity for guidelines. An undercurrent of uncertainty prevails at huge gatherings. A crowd can become a stampede – a man-made disaster – in a moment and can result in casualties. A crowd can give in to baseless rumours or may just follow a herd-like mentality. Also the risk of fire is high especially during Ram leela celebrations of Dussehra. Once triggered, it is very difficult to contain this fluid mass of people. It is, therefore, important tanisers of these pandals and Dussehra celebrations take simple precautions to ensure safety

WWF’S LIVING PLANET REPORT 2016

Global population of mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, according to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) report. The report is compiled with data from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to measure the abundance of biodiversity. The report points out we have ushered in the era of Anthropocene – a geological period dominated by humans. The report warns that increased human pressure could trigger human-nature conflicts. It can increase the risk of water and food insecurity and competition over natural resources.

The report states that food production to meet the complex demands of an expanding human population is the primary factor responsible for the destruction of habitats and overexploitation of wildlife. At present, agriculture occupies about one-third of the Earth’s total land area and accounts for almost 70 % of water use.

There are positives as well: Population of endangered species like tigers are known to be increasing. The Giant Panda has recently been removed from the list of endangered species.

The Paris Climate Treaty 2015 which has been ratified by most nations also holds hope of bringing positive climate change. Additionally, the UN sustainable development goals for 2030 will help proper implementation of sustainable development policies.

ANTHROPOCENE EPOCH – HUMAN-INFLUENCED AGE

An expert group at the World Geological Congress in Cape Town recommended that the new Anthropocene epoch, start from the mid-20th century, be officially declared. The approval process is likely to take at least two years and requires ratification by three other academic bodies.

What is Anthropocene

The Anthropocene, coined in 2000 by the Nobel prize-winning scientist Paul Crutzen, is a proposed epoch that begins when human activities started to have a significant global impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems.

Neither the International Commission on Stratigraphy nor the International Union of Geological Sciences has yet officially approved the term as a recognized subdivision of geological time

An epoch is a subdivision of the geologic timescale that is longer than an age and shorter than a period.

Epochs are most commonly used for the younger Cenozoic Era, where a greater collection of fossils has been found and paleontologists have more detailed knowledge of the events that occurred during those times. We are currently living in the Holocene Epoch of the Quaternary Period

The Holocene epoch began 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. All human civilisations have developed during this climatically and geologically stable period.

Since the 1950s, human beings have begun to alter the earth’s surface and atmosphere in unalterable ways. Human activity has: Pushed extinction rates: The Earth is on course to see 75% of species become extinct in the next few centuries if current trends continue. Doubled the nitrogen and phosphorous in our soils in the past century with fertiliser use. This is likely to be the largest impact on the nitrogen cycle in 2.5bn years.  Left a permanent layer of airborne particulates in sediment and glacial ice such as black carbon from fossil fuel burning.

It sends out the statement that humans have fundamentally changed the planet to the point it will preserve sediments for millions of years to come that record a world that is now fundamentally different to the one that preceded it.

For the first time since the dawn of Darwinian theory — which showed human beings as just another character on the evolutionary stage — the world, literally, is of our own making. The significant geological changes, which usually take thousands of years, have occurred in less than a century and the long-term impact of an inhospitable planet may well be something we deal with sooner than expected.

The Anthropocene marks a new period in which human’s collective activities dominate the planetary machinery. This name change stresses the enormity of humanity’s responsibility as stewards of the Earth.

A UN postal administration stamp to honour singer M.S. Subbulakshmi was also released during the function at UN headquarters.

A carbon price is a cost applied to carbon pollution to encourage polluters to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas they emit into the atmosphere.

There are two main types of carbon pricing:

• Emissions trading systems (ETS)
• Carbon taxes.

An ETS – sometimes referred to as a cap-and-trade system – caps the total level of greenhouse gas emissions and allows those industries with low emissions to sell their extra allowances to larger emitters. A carbon tax directly sets a price on carbon by defining a tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions or – more commonly – on the carbon content of fossil fuels

INDIA RATIFIES PARIS CLIMATE DEAL AT U.N.

India is the 62nd country to ratify the agreement and accounts for 4.1 per cent of the emissions.  Ratified on 147th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, also observed as the International Day of Nonviolence by UN.  The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016, thirty days after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 % of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary.

NEERDHUR

Recently National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (Neeri) and CSIR has developed ‘Neerdhur’, a novel multi-fuel domestic cooking stove. Apart from wood, other fuel like coal, cow dung and agricultural residue can also be used in it.  Saves 50% fuel and has high thermal efficiency.  Wood usage is halved and helps save the pressure on environment  Neerdhur has been approved and certified by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and meets the emission parameters of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).  Will help in improvement of women’s health in rural areas.

INTERNAL CARBON PRICE

Mahindra & Mahindra became first Indian firm to announce an internal Carbon Price of $10 per ton of carbon emitted. What is internal carbon price? It is an internationally recognised business tool that enables companies to create resources which are invested in low carbon technologies, which help reduce future emissions and lower operating costs. Some of the global companies that have announced carbon pricing are Unilever, Microsoft, Google. Mahindra partnered with the World Bank and IFC led Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition along with the World Resources Institute, India to enhance its understanding of the Carbon price mechanism.

INDIA’S FIRST ‘GREEN CORRIDOR’

The 114-km-long Manamadurai– Rameswaram stretch of Southern Railway became India’s first ‘Green corridor’. All the trains in this route will have bio-toilets and there would be zero discharge of human waste on tracks in the section. Rameswaram railway station had already been developed as a ‘Green Station’ to handle the bio-toilets in the coaches.ndian Railway had developed the environment friendly ‘IR-DRDO Bio-toilets’, in association with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Indian railways aims to install human waste discharge free bio-toilets in all its coaches and the same would be completed by September 2019. It will help in proving cleanliness and hygiene besides preventing corrosion of the tracks. It is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

KASHMIR’S RED STAG

Reason for decline Hangul has been hunted over centuries, Fragmentation of forested habitat, Land encroachment for grazing

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) all set to declare Kashmiri Red Stag or Hangul as a ‘critically endangered’ species. Earlier it was considered as a subspecies of red deer. Hence, IUCN categorized it as ‘Least Concern’ by clubbing with European and other ‘red deer’ species of the world.

Benefit after reclassification

At the local scale, this would certainly attract the immediate attention of biologists, park managers and policy makers to invest more efforts, time and funds to safeguard the dwindling population of Hangul in India which has regional and international value.

About Hangul  Kashmiri Red Stag or Hangul is known for its giant antlers bearing 11 to 16 points.  Only one viable population left today in the wild is largely confined to the Greater Dachigam Landscape (1,000 sq.km.), encompassing the Dachigam National Park (NP) and adjoining protected areas.

 It is one of three critically endangered species in Jammu and Kashmir. The other two are markhor, the Tibetan antelope or ‘chiru’. It was designated as State Animal of Jammu & Kashmir in 1980’s.  It is listed under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 and has also been listed among the top 15 species of high conservation priority by the Government of India.

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR): It was established by international convention in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life. It has 25 Members, and a further 11 countries have acceded to the Convention. India is also a member of this commission. It is headquartered in Tasmania, Australia

WORLD’S LARGEST MARINE PARK

EU and 24 countries sign long-awaited landmark deal agreement to protect 1.1m sq km of water in Southern Ocean. It will be world’s largest marine park covering more than 1.5m sq km of the Ross Sea around Antarctica.  It will be set aside as a no-take “general protection zone”, where no fishing will be allowed. The protections are set to expire in 35 years.  The agreement was signed at meeting of Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The agreement was facing opposition from China and Russia, which have fishing industries in the region. It is the first marine park created in international waters.

Significance  It will set a precedent for further moves to help the world achieve the IUCN’s recommendation that 30% of the world’s oceans be protected. This is important not just for the incredible diversity of life that it will protect, but also for the contribution it makes to building the resilience of the world’s ocean in the face of climate change.

About Ross Sea:It is sometimes called the “Last Ocean” because it is largely untouched by humans and hence the least altered marine ecosystem on Earth

Its nutrient-rich waters are the most productive in the Antarctic, leading to huge plankton and krill blooms that support vast numbers of fish, seals, penguins, and whales.

Home to high concentrations of wildlife and an incredible array of animals, many found nowhere else on the planet.

Ross Sea is a living laboratory providing scientists with the last chance to understand how a healthy marine ecosystem functions.

SEAWEED FARMING

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has transferred seaweed cultivation technology to the Andaman administration.

About seaweed

It gained prominence during 13th century, after the discovery of agar-agar in Japan and Alginic Acid in European continent. . Seaweed culture in India •In India the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Calh Bay, Hanshadweep and Bay islands are the important areas for seaweed culture. •Research programmes on seaweed resources and their culture were taken up by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute.

Seaweed is considered as the medicinal food of the 21st century.

Many seaweeds are rich in vitamins and minerals and are eaten in various parts of the world. China produces over half of the world’s seaweed harvest and Indonesia 27% of world production. Most of that seaweed ends up in our food, though there is a growing market in seaweed-based cosmetics and drugs.

It is widely perceived as one of the most environmentally benign types of aquaculture activity, as it does not require additional feed or fertilisers. Seaweed cultivation also filters undesired nutrients and improves the marine environment and reduce eutrophication.  Indirectly, seaweed farming has reduced over-fishing in many regions, providing coastal communities with an alternative livelihood.  It has been actively promoted by government in many developing countries where communities have reduced access to alternative livelihoods or are involved in destructive fishing methods like dynamite fishing. In some places, women have become economically active for the first time.  Seaweed is also used in landscaping or to combat beach erosion.

REPORT ON PALAEO CHANNEL OF NORTH WEST INDIA

Recently Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation released a Report on Palaeo Channel of North West India: Review & Assessment by Expert Committee headed by Prof. K.S. Valdiya, eminent Geologist.The committee studied piles of sediments, their shapes and features which appeared to have been brought by a “big river” and are reminiscent to ones found in present-day Ghaggar, Ganga and Yamuna. The report is an assertion of the assumption that River Saraswati originated from Adibadri in Himalaya to culminate in the Arabian Sea through the Runn of Kutch. It is based on the study of the land texture of states of North-West India And has also taken account of the geological changes that had occurred in the past

The river had two branches: Western branch – present-day Ghaggar-Patialiwali rivulets  Eastern branch – Markanda and Sarsuti (also known as Tons-Yamuna ) The confluence of the branches was near Shatrana, 25 km south of Patiala.

Paleo-channels are deposits of unconsolidated sediments or semi-consolidated sedimentary rocks deposited in ancient, currently inactive river and stream channel systems.

RASHTRIYA SANSKRITI MAHOTSAV

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2016 has been established by the Ministry of Culture in Delhi. The Seven Zonal Culture Centres under the Ministry have been given the task of organizing the Mahostsav in Delhi as well as taking it to different cities. The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav was conceived by the Ministry of Culture in 2015 with the intent to showcase the rich cultural heritage in all its rich and varied dimensions. The Mahotsav will go to different cities under the banner of the slogan- “Ek Bhaarat, Shreshth Bhaarat”. Demonstration of the process of creation of the wares based on the crafts will be done by master craftsmen. Photo exhibitions are to be held to draw public attention to the irreparable damage done to national heritage. Exhibition will be part of “Swacch Bahrat Abhiyan”

NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE 2016

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 has been awarded to Bob Dylan for “”for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. He is the first songwriter to win this award. Born as Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941in Duluth, Minnesota, Dylan taught himself to play the harmoniica, guitar and paino Armed with harmonica and acoustic guitar, Dylan confronted social injustice, war and racism, quickly becoming a prominent civil rights campaigner.

Nobel Peace Prize 2016

The Nobel Peace Prize 2016 has been awarded to Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos. The Nobel academy chose the Columbian president for his efforts to end 52 years of civil war in Columbia.

DEENDAYAL UPADHAYAY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a yearlong celebration of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaay’s birth centenary in Kohzikode on September 24. He was born on 25th September 1916 and died on11th February, 1968. The yearlong celebration includes welfare schemes, research, workshops, seminars and books in all Indian languages and English. Deen Dayal Upadhyay was an Indian philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist and political scientist.  It is only under his leadership that the Jana Sangh first tasted power in half a dozen states in 1967. Deendayal Upadhayay belied in the theory of “integral humanism”. It refers to accepting the seeming differences among various entities and aspects of life, but at the same time seeking to discover the unity underlying them. According to him, the ideal of the Indian state is Dharma Rajya which does not recognise any individual or body as sovereign. The concept of Dharma Rajya is duty oriented and the rights of the people are inviolate. He propagated decentralisation of planning, diversity in social and culture ideas and encouraged village based industries. He has also written many books including Samrat Chadragupt and Jagatguru Shankaracharya

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL

The government has recently launched a series of initiatives to promote inter-state unity and unity in diversity. The contributions of Sardar Patel have been kept at the forefront of these initiatives by the government. A digital exhibition “Uniting India: Sardar Patel” was also launched by the central government. He was a leading member of Congress and was instrumental in shaping the Indian freedom struggle along with Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.  He played a pioneer role in the success of peasant movement in Gujarat. He was an important satyagrahi in the Kheda (1918) and Bardoli (1928) satyagraha.  He was the president of the Congress at the crucial Karanchi session of 1931.

He played an instrumental role in developing the Indian Civil Service after independence. An administrator by instinct, he reposed his faith in them, while many others were skeptical. He was the most important person in the political integration of India after independence. He helped in integrating more than 560 princely states with India. In his absence the country would be divided into a number of small and big units. The Governor-General of India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, along with Nehru and Patel formed the triumvirate which ruled India from 1948 to 1950. Prime Minister Nehru was intensely popular with the masses, but Patel enjoyed the loyalty and the faith of rank and file Congressmen, state leaders and India’s civil services. He was the chairman of the committees responsible for minorities, tribal and excluded areas, fundamental rights and provincial constitutions.

8.5. HARIKATHA

 Various organisations across India are organising shows in order to revive Harikatha– the traditional art of storytelling in Hinduism. Harikatha is a form of hindu religious discourse. The main aim of Harikatha is to imbibe righteousness and truth in the minds of the people. It has its roots in the kirtan tradition of Maharashtra.It includes music, storytelling, dance, drama and philosophy. Its main feature is narration of ‘upakathas’ (side-stories) in a lighter vein. It is not a secular art and is essentially religious and didactic. Any religious topic can be its theme such as life story of a saint.

ALPANA FOLK ART

INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) has joined hands with the Daricha Foundation to revive the lost fold art of Bengal – Alpana. INTACH is also exploring the ways to make revenue for girls through Alpana. Alpana is a folk art of Bengal was mainly done on the floor and the walls of the house. The painting was done with hands (fingers are the brush) and the paint is mainly a paste comprising of rice flour. The motifs drawn are ritualistic images from mythology and scriptures. Alpana was drawn by women of the house before the sunset.  It is considered to ward off evil spirits and was specifically drawn on special occasions such as festivals or wedding

KABADDI WORLD CUP

India beat Iran in the finals of Kabaddi World Cup 2016 to win the third consecutive title. Kabaddi is a contact sport that originated in ancient India It has been mentioned in Indian mythology as well. It is known by different regional names in different parts of the Indian sub-continent. It is known as sadugudu in Tamil Nadu, Kabaddi in Karnataka, Hadudu in Bengal, Bhavatik in Maldives, Kauddi in Punjab region and chedugudu in Andhra Pradesh. Modern Kabaddi is therefore a synthesis of different forms of Kabaddi under different names. There are mainly four forms of Kabaddi played in India: Sanjeevani Kabaddi, Gaminee style, Amar style and Punjabi Kabaddi. The Kabaddi Federation of India was founded in 1950. The sport received international exposure during 1936 Berlin Olympics.

VERMIN ISSUE

Any animal declared as vermin can be killed or hunted down without inviting any jail term or punishment. The Centre approved the culling of wild animals such as nilgai, wild boar, rhesus monkey within specified territories of Uttarakhand, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh by declaring them “vermin” under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The centre issued these notifications at various instances since December 2015. It will be in effect for a year.  Once declared at vermin, it will be “open season” for hunters who will use the meat of these animals. An RTI revealed that proper scientific study about the population of each of these wild animals in the specified areas have not been carried out.

PEACE VERSUS JUSTICE

A peace agreement was signed by the Afghan President that opens the door to the militant faction of Hezb-i-Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, playing an active role in politics.Ghani as President has tried talks with Taliban with the help of Pakistan, which failed. So, to achieve peace, the rhetoric of unity and co-opting earlier warlords is his only option.

Colombia v/s FARC

President Santos differed from his predecessors in the realisation that there was no military solution to this conflict, leading to negotiations with the rebels four years ago with Cuba’s mediation.  He conducted a referendum on a peace agreement, which got a ‘NO’ vote with very thin majority.

By law, every state is allowed to provide a list of animals to be declared as vermin to the centre. Those animals are declared as vermin who are a threat to crop, property or humans. Animals under Schedule V of the Wildlife Protection Act are vermins. Animals that come under Schedule V are: common crow, fruit bats, mice and rats.

CPGRAMS

Government recently awarded the Certificates of Appreciation to the good performing ministries/Departments based on their performance in the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). This is a great initiative for motivation towards redress of public grievances .as Grievance Redress Mechanism is part and parcel of the machinery of any administration.

Award Scheme is expected to bring a sense of competitiveness in Ministries/ Departments to address public grievances.

What is CPGRAMS?

The CPGRAMS is an online web enabled application to facilitate speedy redress of public grievances as it allows for online lodging and status tracking of grievances by the citizens.

 The system is flexible enough to be extended to multiple levels as per the requirement of concerned Ministry/Department/ Govt. Organization for speedy forwarding and redress of grievance.

EMPLOYEES ONLINE MOBILE APP

Recently, The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has launched Employees Online (EO) mobile App.

 IAS officers working across the country will be able to access details of their Annual Performance Appraisal Reports, Immovable Property Returns, postings, domestic and foreign training, among others, at their finger tip. The EO App will reduce speculations regarding transfers and postings in the Government of India

 It will also check on the number of repeated RTI applications filed by citizens to seek governance-related information as most of the details will be put online for public in a real-time basis.

 Significance: EO App stands correct for the spirit of maximum Governance, minimum Government. It is another step towards transparency and e-governance.It will make the system completely transparent

FIRST NATIONAL DAY OF AYURVEDA CELEBRATED

First ever National Ayurveda Day was celebrated across the country on 28th October this year.

The National Dhanwantary Ayurveda Awards were also given on the occasion.

ECONOMY

OPEC’S DECISION TO TRIM COLLECTIVE OUTPUT

OPEC countries took a collective decision in Algiers to cut down collective output by about 700,000 barrels a day from 33 million barrels a day. This is the first time the OPEC has decided to cut production since the last oil price slump during the financial crisis eight years ago. This was done in the light of continuous fall of global oil prices and imbalance in demand- supply gap, which adversely affected the economies of the countries of the cartel.

Saudi Arabia, the cartel’s largest producer, which was initially against reduction in production, had a fiscal deficit of 16% of its GDP in 2015 and had to make its first overseas borrowing in more than a decade.

However, Iran has been exempted from immediate production caps since international sanctions on Iran have only been lifted recently.

 JUSTICE REDDY COMMITTEE ON OROP SUBMITS REPORT

The one-man judicial committee on One Rank One Pension (OROP) comprising of Justice Reddy submitted its report after evaluating the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the OROP to the Defence Minister. The OROP scheme envisions equal pension to military personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of the date of retirement.

INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY BOARD

The Centre has constituted a four-member Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under the Chairmanship of MS Sahoo.

The main activity of IBBI would be to regulate the functioning of insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, notified by the Center earlier. While the Centre has for now set up the IBBI with four members, going forward this will be expanded to 10 (including the Chairman)

SAGAR PORT

The central government has recently approved Rs.515 crore grant for making the Sagar port. It is a proposed Rs. 12,000 crore deep sea port at Sagar islands in West Bengal. The Kolkata and Haldia ports cannot handle big ships due to the shallow depth of the Hooghly River. Thus, an alternative port in West Bengal is needed.

AUTOMATION THREATENS 69% OF JOBS IN INDIA: WORLD BANK

According to a World Bank research, technology could fundamentally disrupt the traditional economic path in the world especially the developing countries. It says that due to the increasing technological developments like robotics, artificial intelligence, and ubiquitous high speed networks, the need for traditional low-skilled labour would reduce. This becomes particularly concerning for India as it has the largest share of unskilled and low-skilled labour force in the world. As a result about 69% jobs in India (and 77% in China) are threatened by the automation of work.

The WB says that the traditional economic path from increasing productivity of agriculture to light manufacturing and then to full-scale industrialisation may not be possible for all developing countries.

POINT NEMO- THE POINT OF INACCESSIBILITY ON EARTH

The furthest point from land also known as the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility” is nicknamed as Point Nemo, meaning “no-one” in Latin and was first discovered in 1992. This remote oceanic location is 2,688 kilometers from the nearest land—Ducie Island. As Point Nemo lies in the South Pacific Gyre and the region is so isolated from land masses that wind does not carry much organic matter, there is little to feed for survival. Thus, no material falls from above as “marine snow”, turning the seafloor lifeless and making the region, one of the least biologically active regions of the world ocean.

In this extreme environment, some bacteria thrive, gaining their energy from chemicals released by the eruptions as the region marks the boundary of the Pacific and Nazca tectonic plates, which are gradually moving apart.

ENVIRONMENT

INDIAN ROLLER BIRD

The increased poaching of Indian roller, a Schedule IV protected bird is making the species go endangered. This Indian Roller or Neelkanth is a state bird of various states like Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. It is displayed during Dussehera festival in Telangana.

INDIA AND SRI LANKA JOINT EXERCISE TO PREVENT OIL SPILL

Sri Lanka and India held joint oil spill prevention exercise onboard the Indian Coast Guard Ship “Samudra Paheredar”, which is on a two-day official visit to the island country. As both India and Sri Lanka are located close to one of the busiest network of international shipping lanes, the readiness is of paramount importance for both countries to take remedial action against oil spills.  Oil spills from vessels that occur as a result of sudden collisions with oil platforms and various other related reasons, had posed a significant threat on the marine environment to date.

A keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.

NEW SPECIES OF PIKA DISCOVERED

It is a mammal belonging to the rabbit and hare family. Found in the Sikkim Himalayas. This new species has been named Ochotona sikimaria Pikas live in the mountains or in temperate regions. Pikas do not hibernate unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such cold climates. Pikas are a keystone species and ecosystem engineers. Although this new specie looks similar to the Mountain Pika, genetically it is completely different. Hence elevated this sub-species to a different species. Pikas are considered indicators of climate change based on studies in North America.

1. N. TOPS LIST OF ENDEMIC FLOWERING PLANTS

Almost one of every four species of flowering plants found in India is endemic to the country, a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has revealed.  Tamil Nadu accounts for the highest number of flowering plants species with 410, followed by Kerala with 357 and Maharashtra with 278. Of the 18,259 flowering plants reported in the country, 4,303 (over 23 per cent) are endemic to India. Western Ghats tops the list with about 2,116 species, followed by the Eastern Himalayas with 466 species.  Among the most widely exploited endemic plants in country is red sandal wood, which is found only in the southern parts of the Eastern Ghats. This plant is classified as critically endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

SCIENTISTS FIND 500 US SEABED VENTS OF METHANE

US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s) Deepwater Exploration discovered 500 new deep-sea vents of methane all along the US’s western seaboard. This brings the count to 1,000 known vents. Worldwide, scientists are trying to see if rising ocean temperatures cause more leaks. Methane naturally escapes from the sea floor in many places around the world and can stoke global warming if it reaches the atmosphere. About Hydrothermal vents and cold seeps are places where chemical-rich fluids emanate from the seafloor, often providing the energy to sustain lush communities of life in some very harsh environments. Below the photic zone many microbes have evolved chemosynthetic processes that create organic matter by using oxygen in seawater to oxidize hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other chemicals present in vent and seep fluids. Organisms living in such areas are often called extremophiles for the extreme nature of their living conditions.

SMOOTH-COATED OTTER

Smooth-coated otter was sighted for the first time in the mangrove forest adjacent to the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Krishna district.  Presence of the otter is a key indicator for rise of the mangrove cover. It is distributed throughout south Asia and southeast Asia. Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.