Current Affairs Summary-September 2017

Current Affairs Summary-September 2017

 

The office of Whip, in India, is mentioned neither in the Constitution nor in the rules of the house, nor in the Parliamentary statutes. It is based on the conventions of the Parliamentary government.  In India, the concept of the whip was inherited from colonial British rule.

 

Private Member’s Bill  All MPs other than ministers and the presiding officers are referred to as the private members.  The bills introduced by Private members are called Private member’s bills unlike government bills which are introduced by Ministers.  The second half of every Friday, when parliament is in session, is reserved for debating private member bills and other business raised by private members.

 

General issues with private member bills

 Only 14 private member’s bills have been passed in

Parliament’s history and last one of them was in 1970.

 The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill passed by the Rajya

Sabha in 2014 was the first private member’s bill to get the

upper house’s approval in around 47 years. But it was

reintroduced with substantial changes in Lok Sabha and is

currently pending with Parliamentary Standing Committee.

 In 15th Lok Sabha 372 private member bills were introduced but only 11 of them had any discussion whatsoever in the house. It means more than 96% private member bills lapsed without a single debate in the house.

 Thus the problem with private member bills is twofold. First the Non Passage of them and second little or no debate is held on them.

 Even if the debate is held then generally the concerned MP withdraws the bill at the request of a minister without the assurance from government that it will introduce such bill later robbing the Parliament of an opportunity to consider a piece of legislation which was debated in the house

 

 

In Rajya Sabha polls, the MLAs have to show their ballot paper to an authorised party agent before putting it in ballot box.

Implications of NOTA in RS

 If a voter (MLA) defies the party directive and votes for someone else or uses NOTA option, he cannot be disqualified as a legislator. But the party is free to take disciplinary action. The party high command can issue a whip for a Rajya Sabha candidate, but anti-defection law provisions do not apply, and a defiant MLA cannot be disqualified from membership of the House.

 In principle, the presence of the NOTA option for the

legislator allows the possibility of a protest vote against the

party high command for choosing candidates who are not

agreeable to them, without having to choose candidates from

opposing parties.

 

BRICS SUMMIT 2017 Why in news? Recently, 9th BRICS Summit 2017 was held in Xiamen, China. Xiamen declaration Focusing on the theme of ‘Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future’, leaders had issued a joint statement outlining the agendas for this year as well as points the nations agreed to work upon. Highlights of the Xiamen declaration Issue of terrorism  For the first time in the history of BRICS, very strong and explicit language has been used on the issue of terror.  Terror attacks were condemned by the leaders and Pakistan based terror groups (Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e- Mohammad) with global terror groups (Haqqani network, Islamic State and al-Qaida) were mentioned from the Chinese territory. This is the first time anti-India groups have been named in a BRICS declaration.  BRICS leaders called for expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) by the United Nations General Assembly.  The declaration also reaffirmed BRICS support to the people of Afghanistan in their as well as international efforts to achieve peace and national reconciliation

 

Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)  Proposed first by India in 1996.  It includes adoption of universal definition of terrorism, steps for cutting off access of terrorist groups to funds and safe havens and also calls for amending domestic laws to make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence.

 

INDIA-CHINA JOINT PROPOSAL: WTO Why in news?  India and China had jointly submitted a proposal to the WTO, calling for the elimination of total ‘Aggregate Measurement of Support’ (AMS) or ‘Amber Box’ subsidy. About joint proposal  It reveals that developed members are providing subsidies, which, at times, exceed 200 per cent of the production value, despite the 5 per cent de minimis prescribed.  The WTO rules make it possible for rich countries to get away with such high subsidies as their historical bound AMS levels are high. Under Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), developing countries can give agricultural subsidies or aggregate measurement support (AMS) up to 10% of the value of agricultural production and developed countries give up to 5%. AMS has two components  ‘product-specific’ or the excess of price paid to farmers over international price or ERP (external reference price) multiplied by quantum of produce. This is frozen at 1986-88 levels which makes entitlements of developed countries much higher than developing countries  ‘non-product specific’ or money spent on schemes to supply inputs such as fertilisers, seed, irrigation, electricity at subsidised rates.

The WTO: Subsidies The three box subsidies pertain to domestic support clause of Agreement on Agriculture, concluded in 1993. The subsidies are classified as: Green Box Subsidies: The subsidies which cause no, or at most minimal, trade distorting effects or effects on production. These subsidies are permitted under WTO regime, for instance; Government services such as research, disease control, and infrastructure and food security. Amber Box Subsidies or AMS: All domestic support measures considered to distort production and trade (with some exceptions) fall into the amber box. For instance, MSP, Procurement Price, sum total of subsidies on inputs like fertilizer, water, credit, power, etc. Blue Box Subsidies: It contains direct payment subsidies which can be increased without limit, so long as payments are linked to production-limiting programs. This is the “amber box with conditions”, conditions designed to reduce distortion. Any support that would normally be in the amber box, is placed in the blue box if the support also requires farmers to limit production. Special and Differential Treatment Box (S&DT): The S&DT measures generally comprises of 1. Investment subsidies like tractors and pump sets to farmers 2. Agricultural input services like fertilizers to farmers. These subsidies should be provided only to low income and resource poor producers (or poor farmers) in developing countries. 3. Measures for diversification of narcotics crop in order to rehabilitates the farmers.

 

DOMESTIC SYSTEMATICALLY IMPORTANT BANK Recently RBI listed HDFC as Domestic – Systematically Important Bank (DSIB) under the bucket structure identified last year. What are Domestic- Systematically Important Banks (DSIBs)?  DSIBs are also referred to as “Too Big To Fall” (TBTF) because of their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, complexity and lack of substitute and interconnection.  Banks whose assets cross 2% of the GDP are considered DSIBs. If these banks fail, they can have a disruptive effect on the economy.  D-SIBs are categorised under five buckets. According to these buckets the banks have to keep aside the Additional Common Equity Teir 1 as a percentage of Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs).  At present State Bank of India is placed under Bucket 3 , mandating to maintain an additional 0.45% of RWAs from the start of fiscal year 2018 which will rise to 0.6% from April 2019.

HDFC and ICICI are under Bucket 1 according to which they have to maintain 0.15% from April 2018 which will rise to 0.2% by next fiscal year.  D-SIBs are mandated under special provisions and are closely monitored by the central bank to ensure their better functioning and prevent the indulgence of such banks in any grey areas such as money laundering etc.  The Systematically Important Banks domestically are identified by Central Banks of a country and globally by BASEL committee on banking supervision.

 

CONSOLIDATION OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS

Narsihman Committee Report 1991  Merger of public sector banks to make them stronger.  It had envisaged a three-tier banking structure with three large banks with international presence at the top, eight to 10 national banks at tier two, and a large number of regional and local banks at the bottom.  Setting up large number of local bank for banking penetration  Factors like regional balance, geographical reach, financial burden and smooth human resource transition have to be looked into while taking a merger decision.

 

CONTINGENCY FUND OF RESERVE BANK OF INDIA Why in news? RBI surplus sum transferred from earning during 2016-17 was less than half of previous year. One of the reasons for such low surplus was due to the amount transferred to the Contingency Fund of RBI. Contingency Fund  It is maintained by RBI to overcome unforeseen contingencies such as Black Swan events – the collapse of Lehman Bank in USA or any other bank which may endanger economic stability of the bank.  It also acts as cushion against events such as unprecedented forex and gold fluctuations or other valuation losses in bond holdings etc.  However, presently there exists an argument over the amount of funds to be transferred to the Contingency Fund.  Government is of the view that in case of any exigencies Government being the owner of the bank would infuse additional capital.  Also Y. H. Malegam Committee in 2012-13 had recommended that Central Bank should transfer entire surplus to the government. However, RBI bases its argument on the risk management framework according whose calculations, a certain level of reserves needs to be maintained.

SHELL COMPANIES Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has cancelled the registration of 2.1 lakh dormant companies and directors of about 1.07 lakh shell companies among them will also be disqualified.

What are Shell Companies?  These are companies without active business operations with significant assets. They can be set up by for both legitimate and illegitimate purposes. o The legitimate purpose may include promoting a start-up by raising funds and o Illegitimate purpose includes hiding ownership from the law enforcement, laundering unaccounted money and avoiding tax. In India Shell companies are not defined under Companies Act, 2013 or any other legislation. Difference between Dormant Company and Shell Company A company is Dormant company if it has chosen to get a ‘dormant’ status from the Registrar of companies in compliance with the requirements Section 455 of Companies Act 2013. Or the company has not filed annual returns for two financial years consecutively A shell company on the other hand is one which is typically suspected of illegal activities mainly tax evasion and financing the illegal activities.

 

Farmer Zone  It involves the initiative for cloud based platform to collect, collate and curate field and remotely sensed data along with market intelligence to create smart agriculture solutions to smallholder farmers.  Farmer Zone will be a multi-purpose window which will provide solutions to farmer ranging from climate change based information to weather predictions, soil, water and seed requirements to market linkages.  The information can be accessed by the farmers throughout the world. These services could be accessed by the farmer directly or through intermediaries such as local co-operative.  It also includes MarketZone where farmers can directly sell their produce and the produce can also be directly picked from their farms.  It will also help to reduce technological gap in data acquisition & transfer from farm to cloud and vice versa.

 

Dairy sector in India The Indian dairy sector provides livelihood to 15 crore farmers. India is the world’s largest milk producer with 156 MMT of the item produced annually. However, exports of these items from India are negligible

 

DOUBLING THE FARMERS INCOME

Agriculture Ministry has recently released a blueprint having 7-point strategy to achieve the vision of doubling farmer’s income by 2022. A Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income headed by Ashok Dalwai also gave certain suggestion in the 4 out of 12 reports released earlier.

 

About seven-point strategy

1. Increase in production by improving irrigation efficiency through increased irrigation budget
2. Effective use of input cost – Government has taken up different steps for different inputs

• Soil – introduced Soil Health Card Scheme to inform farmers about nutrients status of the soils
• Fertilisers – rationalising the use of fertilisers by giving information about nutrient status of soil, curbing illegal use of urea as well as ensuring adequate supply through Neem Coated Urea scheme
• Seeds – Providing with better quality seeds at affordable prices
• Awareness – giving timely information and advisory services to farmers through online and telecom mediums such as Kisan Call Centre and Kisan Suvidha App
• Better Planning – through adoption of new technologies such as space technology which helping in better planning through forecasting of crop production, agricultural land-use mapping, drought prediction, and utilisation of fallow paddy fields for Rabi crops o Encouraging organic farming which sells costly while cost on inputs is less.

 

3. Reduction of post-harvest losses
4. Value Addition
5. Reforms in Agriculture Marketing

 

6. Risk, Security and Assistance

Insurance – through Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) reduces possible risks through fixing lowest rate for Kharif and Rabi crops, covering standing crops as well as pre-sowing to post-harvesting losses, settling 25% of the claim immediately online, carrying out faster assessments of crop loss using new technologies like Smartphones, satellite imagery and drones facilities, increasing compensation amount to 1.5 times, providing compensation if at least 33% of the crop is damaged.

7. Promoting Allied Activities – includes o Integrated Farming system which focuses on horticulture, livestock, and bee keeping along with agriculture. This scheme will not only increase farmers’ income, it will also mitigate the effect of drought, flood, and other natural disasters. o Blue Revolution: includes promoting activities such as inland fisheries, Aquaculture, Mariculture undertaken by National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) under Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries, initiating Deep Sea Fishing scheme etc. o Sub-Mission on Agroforestry: aims to promote inter-cropping. Under this, “Med Per Ped” campaign has also been included. o Rural Backyard Poultry Development: This scheme involves providing supplementary income and nutritional support to poultry farmers, sensitizing sheep, goat, pig and duck farmers about opportunities to enhance income etc.

 

ELECTRONIC WAREHOUSING RECEIPTS Why in news? Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched negotiable warehousing receipts in electronic format that farmers can use to avail of bank credit easily and without fear of losing or misusing it. More on news  It also unveiled a web portal for registration of warehouses in a faster and more transparent manner. On the new portal the process of registration with the WDRA has been simplified and fastened.  It has also launched two repositories, with National Commodity and Derivative Exchange (NCDEX) and Central Depository Services (CDSL), on which these negotiable warehouse receipts will be traded.

 

Warehouse (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007  To make provisions for the development and regulation of warehouses, negotiability of warehouse receipts etc.  Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) is implementing body.  The WDRA regulates and registers the warehouses in the country. Only a warehouse registered with WDRA can issue Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs).  The Act makes the warehouseman liable for loss of, or injury to, goods caused by his failure and also provides for compensation to the depositor of the goods.

 

SAUBHAGYA YOJANA Why in news? With an aim to provide electricity to over four crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018, Prime Minister has launched Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana ‘Saubhagya’. In 2015, PM had announced to electrify the remaining 18,452 unelectrified villages by May 1, 2018. Now less than 3,000 villages remain unelectrified and all villages will be electrified by the end of this year, much ahead of the schedule.  The govt had also fixed target to provide 24X7 power to all by March, 2019. India is aiming to achieve the target of power for all by December 2018. At present four crore out of 25 crore families do not have power connection. Despite the government’s aggressive village electrification programme, under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana, it was realised that the problem of electricity ‘access’ wasn’t resolved.  With a large number of household still remaining without access to electricity, the scheme aims at ensuring the coverage of households as opposed to only villages. The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country.  For those household where the national electricity grid can’t reach, households will be provided with solar power packs along with battery banks.

 

OIL DISCOVERY IN ARABIAN SEA Why in news  Recently, State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) has made a significant oil discovery to the west of its prime Mumbai High fields in the Arabian sea.

 

Oil and Gas supply chain:  Upstream Sector: They identify oil and natural gas deposits and engage in the extraction of these resources from underground. Eg: ONGC, Oil India ltd.  Midstream sector: This sector involves transportation of oil and gas from blocks to refineries and from refineries to distribution centers. It also includes storage infrastructure.  Downstream sector: They include refineries and marketing. eg Indian Oil Corporation Ltd – It is largest company in India by sales and second largest refiner ( 31% share). Oil Producing region In India  Brahmaputra valley of north-east India.  Barmer area of Rajasthan.  Cauvery on-shore basin in Tamil Nadu.  Andhra Pradesh has both on-shore and offshore oil reserves.  The Mumbai High in the Arabian sea

 

The new find, which comes almost 50 years after ONGC began production in Mumbai High, will help the company maintain production levels from the basin for a longer time than currently estimated.

 

WEF GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS INDEX

Why in news?

• India has been ranked the 40th most competitive economy, slipping one place from last year’s ranking,

on the recently released World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness index (GCI).

DRDO SUCCESSFULLY TESTS NAG MISSILE  The DRDO has successfully tested Nag, the 3rd generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Nag Missile. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Plan was envisioned by former President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam to help India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology. Five missile systems have been developed under this programme namely Agni, Akash, Trishul and Prithvi and Nag.

 

YUDH ABHYAS 2017  It is 13th edition of joint military exercise was conducted by the Indian and US armies in Washington, USA from 14 to 27 September 17.

 

SURYA KIRAN EXERCISE  It is a 12th edition of Indo-Nepal joint military exercise commenced in Nepal. Surya Kiran series of exercises are held alternately in India and Nepal.

COASTAL EROSION

 

• According to a study, Parali 1 island (part of Bangaram atoll), one of biodiversityrich uninhabited islands part of Lakshadweep has disappeared due to coastal erosion and another four such islands in Lakshadweep sea are shrinking fast.

 

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands face the most erosion, with close to 89% of the shoreline eroded by the Bay of Bengal.

ü At the other end of the spectrum is Tamil Nadu, which has gained the most new shoreline (Accretion: a gradual deposition by water of mud, sand to form dry land ), with 62% of its coast gaining land. ü Goa has the highest percentage (52%) of stable shoreline.

 

Interventions such as saline stone-packaging and breakwaters, structures which are constructed on coasts are traditionally made as part of coastal defence. ü To prevent erosion of the coast, low walls called groynes are built out into the sea. ü Geo-Synthetic Tubes, a soft engineering technique, which has been used along Odisha coast.

 

About Sundarban Biosphere Reserve

• It is located in the vast delta of the Ganges, south of kolkatta. · It is the largest and only mangrove reserve in the world inhabited by tigers · It is a part of the Man and Biosphere

Programme (MAB) and second Biosphere Reserve from India , other than Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, in the global network of Biosphere Reserves. · Sunderban is the largest contiguous mangrove area in the world and one of the World Heritage Sites of India designated by the World Heritage Convention.

 

SNOW LEOPARD

• Recently, International Union of Concerned Scientists (IUCN) downlisted the Snow Leopard from its list of endangered species to vulnerable list.
• IUCN has also categorized the Christmas Island Pipistrelle (a bat species that is found only in

Australia’s Christmas Island) as officially extinct.

 

Project Snow Leopard (2009)

• It was launched to safeguard and conserve India’s unique natural heritage of high-altitude wildlife populations and their habitats by promoting conservation through participatory policies and actions.
• It gave Snow Leopard same status of importance in the high altitude as that of Tiger in the terrestrial landscape
• Project is operational in five Himalayan States viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh

Threat: Snow leopard — at the apex of ecological pyramid — suffered

the most, partly on account of their relatively smaller population and

also because of man-animal conflict. This situation got aggravated by

the hostile landscape forming its habitat.

Status of Snow Leopard:

• Schedule I under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
• Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered

Species (CITES), which makes trading of animal body parts (i.e., fur,

bones and meat) illegal in signatory countries

• Appendix I Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)

The Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program, GSLEP.

• Under this program, snow leopard range countries have committed

to securing 20 landscapes across the cat’s range by 2020.

 

Recently, Central government notified Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.  Updated rules will supersede the 2010 rules following the notification of draft Wetland Rules in 2016 Background

 

Provision under the new rules  Definition of wetlands: They are defined as “an area of marsh, fen, peatland or water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.  Decentralisation of Power: Under the new rules, the central government has empowered the states and union territories to identify and manage their wetlands.  Constitute State Wetlands Authority in each State and union territories that will be headed by the State’s environment minister and include a range of government officials. They will determine, the ‘wide use principle,’ that shall govern the management of wetlands.  Setting Up National Wetlands Committee: it will replace Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA), to monitor implementation of these rules and advise the Central Government on appropriate policies and action programmes for conservation and wise use of wetlands  The rules prohibit solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated waste and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages, and other human settlements into wetlands.  Banned activities: Certain activities are banned in notified wetland like setting up of industries, dumping of solid, electronic, hazardous and construction wastes, poaching of animals, conversion of wetland area into non-wetland purposes, encroachment and even construction of any permanent structure will also be banned at the notified wetlands.  Applicability of rules: These rules shall apply to the following wetlands or wetlands complexes, namely: ü Wetlands categorised as ‘wetlands of international importance’ under the Ramsar Convention ü Wetlands as notified by the Central Government, State Government and Union Territory Administration:

 

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA)  For conservation of lakes and wetlands, Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing two separate Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), namely the National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP) and the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP).  NPCA was proposed to avoid overlap, promote better synergies and to ensure that conservation/ management works. Objective of NPCA are conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) through implementation of sustainable Conservation Plans, and governed with application of uniform policy and guidelines. Ramsar Convention on Wetland  The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an international intergovernmental treaty for conservation of wetlands. India is a party to the treaty.  It provide framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.  Major obligations of countries which are party to the Convention are: ü Designate wetlands for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance. ü Promote, as far as possible, the wise use of wetlands in their territory. ü Promote international cooperation especially with regard to transboundary wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species. ü Create wetland reserves.

 

What are Hospital Acquired Infections?  Also called nosocomial infections, HAI are passed onto the patients after being admitted at the hospital facility.

 

INDIA JOINS QUANTUM COMPUTING RACE

Why in news?

Department of Science and Technology is planning to fund a project a project to develop quantum computers.

What is quantum computing?

• In a classical computer, information is stored using binary units, or bits. A bit is either a 0 or 1. A quantum computer instead takes advantage of quantum mechanical properties to process information using quantum bits, or qubits.
• A qubit can be both 0 or 1 at the same time, or any range of numbers between 0 and 1.
• They function according to two key principles of quantum physics: superposition and entanglement.
• Superposition means that each qubit can represent both a 1 and a 0 at the same time. · Entanglement means that qubits in a superposition can be correlated with each other; that is, the state of

one (whether it is a 1 or a 0) can depend on the state of another.

• Using these two principles, qubits can act as more sophisticated switches, enabling quantum computers to

function in ways that allow them to solve difficult problems that are intractable using today’s compu

 

At present the researchers have also pointed out to the hardware difficulties in developing a system as qubits such as those made from silicon atoms only work at a very low temperature, near zero degree kelvin.

 

1. DEEN DAYAL UPADHAYAY VIGYAN GRAM SANKUL PARIYOJANA Why in news? Recently, Ministry of Science and technology has launched Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana in Uttarakhand. About Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana  Under the scheme Department of Science and Technology will adopt and develop a cluster of villages into self-sustainable in time bound manner.  In this the local resources and manpower will be utilised which will be further imparted value addition in local produce and services.  At present four clusters have been identified namely – Gaindikhata, Bazeera, Bhigun (in Garhwal) and Kausani (in Kumaon) which will further be expanded after validation these clusters.

 

Areas of intervention would include – o Processing and value addition in milk, honey, mushrooms, herbal tea horticulture, forest produce etc. o Traditional handicraft of Uttarakhand o Post-harvest processing of Kiwi, strawberry, cherry, tulsi etc. through solar drying o Extraction of apricot through cold press technology o Stringent intervention in product and process control

 

MONKEY FEVER Why in news? Scientists have traced the source of a re-emerging disease, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or “monkey fever”, to cashew plantations in Goa. What is monkey fever?  It is caused by Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae, which also causes yellow fever and dengue.  It was first detected in 1957 in Shimoga, Karnataka and is endemic to South Asia.  Monkey fever is so named because it primarily affects black-faced langurs and red-faced bonnet monkeys and result in death. Even when the monkey dies still the KFD virus gets transmitted through ticks thriving on monkeys.  The Hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera) are the reservoir of KFDV. These ticks are known to thrive in the Western Ghats and transmit the disease to humans.

 

JEEVAN BINDI Singapore based marketing agency and Maharashtra based NGO developed a Vermillion (Bindi) named Jeevan- Bindi which contains iodine. Issue Involved  Over 71 million people in the country are suffering from goitre and other iodine-deficiency disorders (IDD).  The geomorphic condition such as glaciations, flooding, rivers changing course and deforestation leads to leaching of iodine present in top soil.  This in turn leads to deficiency of iodine in crops grown on iodine deficient soil with consequently low iodine in the diet for livestock and humans.

 

Jeevan Bindi  It is medically enhanced version of regular bindi, embedded with iodine along with the adhesive base.  Bindi deliver the daily requirement of iodine 100-150 adsorption through the skin.  It need to be worn every day for up to eight hour to be effective.  This initiative is supplemented with iodine pills available at community health centre.  The initiative focus pregnant women because the effects of iodine deficiency are most severe in them and reflected in new-born.

 

Iodine  It is a trace mineral and a nutrient found naturally in the body and can be easily fortified with salt.  Humans need iodine for the production of thyroid hormones.  It needed for the cells to convert food into energy.  Deficiency leads to goiter, hyperthyroidism, stunted growth or intellectual disabilities.  Source: seafood, daily products, and other protein food. National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme 1992  It aim at bring the prevalence of IDD( to below 5% in the country  It ensure 100% consumption of adequately iodated salt (15ppm) at the household level.  Iodate the entire edible salt in the country.

 

NATION-WIDE HACKATHON #OPENGOVDATAHACK LAUNCHED Why in news? Recently, Ministry for Electronics & Information Technology launched nation-wide hackathon #OpenGovDataHack with an aim to support and showcase great ideas or talent and enable them to develop apps or infographics by use of Open Government Data. Background  #OpenGovDataHack is an on-site 24Hrs Challenge which will be held at 7 centres. The participating teams will be required to submit the App prototype and info-graphics, out of these selected apps will be taken up for further development and the winner will be awarded.  The theme of the Hackathon was “Drinking Water & Sanitation, Transport, Education, Crime and Health”. Open Government Data (OGD) Platform  OGD has been set up by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in accordance with National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) 2012.  It is a platform which provides o single point access to open data sets, it also provides web based workflows to departments so that they can publish their datasets through a predefined metadata. o better visualization tools, better user experience and efficient discoverability of resources. o Community participation through blogs, info-graphics, visualizations, mobile and web apps etc.

 

National Data Sharing and Access Policy, 2012  The Policy aims to provide an enabling provision and platform for providing proactive and open access to the data generated through public funds available with various departments of Government.  The policy also facilitates the access to Government shareable data readable and machine readable form though an all India network within the framework of various policies, acts and rules.

 

OSIRIS-REX SPACECRAFT Why in news? Recently, spacecraft OSIRIS-REx passed by earth to reach Asteroid Bennu using Earth’s gravity. About OSIRIS-REx  Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) is NASA’s first unmanned asteroid sampling mission which was launched in September 2016.

 

Asteroids, Meteoroid, Meteors and Meteorites Asteroids – Asteroids are small bodies of rocks which revolve around the sun. The Asteroid belt in our Solar System is found between the Mars and Jupiter. Meteoroids – When asteroids smash into each other, small fragments break off. These fragments are called Meteoroids. Meteors – When these meteoroids come closer to Earth and enter its atmosphere they vaporize with a streak of light in the sky. They are then called Meteors or shooting stars. Meteorites – When the meteors do not vaporise completely after entering the Earth’s atmosphere, they are called Meteorites.

 

CASSINI MISSION Why in news? Cassini mission to Saturn is ending its journey. It will dive towards the Saturn and burn up in its atmosphere in October. About Cassini  Cassini is an ambitious space missions launched through collaboration between NASA, ESA and the Italian space agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana.  Cassini began the first up-close study of Saturn and its system of rings and moons in 2004. It also became the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn.  Cassini’s observations of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, have given scientists clues about the origin of life.

 

EUROPE UNVEILS WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL X-RAY LASER Why in news? World’s most powerful LASER namely European X-Ray Free Electron Laser (European XFEL) was recently unveiled in Hamburg, Germany. Details  XFEL is the world’s third major X-ray laser facility after projects in Japan (SACLA) and the US (LCLS) which are already operational.  The 3.4 km facility is housed in a series of underground tunnels which are kept at a temperature of just 2 degrees above absolute zero. How European XEFL works?  As an X-ray free-electron laser, the European XFEL generates X-ray laser beam from accelerated electrons. It does so using undulators (long sections of alternating magnetic fields kept at superconducting temperatures).  This laser beam of electrons in the end is like flashes of radiation with about 27000 pulses per second which is much higher than its predecessors.

 

LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation  It is device that generates an intense beam of coherent monochromatic light (or other electromagnetic radiation).  It means unlike the conventional light, LASER has radiation of only one wavelength (Monochromatic) and they are always in same phase in space and time (Coherent). Free-electron lasers They create coherent light by constantly accelerating a beam of electrons. Free-electron lasers can produce radiation with a very short-wavelength, down to just a few tenths of a nanometre i.e. to the level of an atom.

 

HEALTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES TWO NEW CONTRACEPTIVES

Why in news?

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched two new contraceptives, an injectable contraceptive

named ‘Antara’ and a contraceptive pill ‘Chhaya’, to meet the emerging needs of couples.

Details

• Antara is an injection of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a birth control hormone and it will be

effective for 3 months

• ‘Chhaya’ is a non-steroidal, non-hormonal oral contraceptive pill which will be effective for 1 week.
• The contraceptives will be available for free in Medical Colleges and District Hospitals.
• Recently Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to provide women an injectable

contraceptive.

 

Free distribution of contraceptives will also help in achieving the goal of Total Fertility Level (TFR) of 2.1 by 2025 as enunciated in Mission Parivar Vikas and thus attaining Population Stabilization by 2045 as desired under India’s National Population Policy, 2002.

 

PENCIL PORTAL Why in news?  Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment launched an online portal named PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for Child Labour) in order to combat the menace of child labour, trafficking and menace.

 

The Khelo India Programme was launched in 2016 by subsuming three diferrent scheme into one namely: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).