Civilsdaily March

Curated with care,

Civilsdaily Team

CIVILDAILY ANDROID APP

THE STORY SO FAR…About a month ago, we had launched civilsdaily with one simple aim - To aggregate & curate the best of the news updates from the most trusted online & offline sources.

Now that you have been reading with us, we are delighted to provide this compilation of the Newscards of the month gone by.

The uncluttered design of the app finds its way in this beautifully crafted pdf. Crisp points with ample of white spaces for you, so that you make exhaustive notes and reinforce these Newscards. So scribble, highlight, skim or doodle!

But do feel free to pass it on to your friends who might benefit from it. There are no copyright or copyleft issues. Open the gates of this aggregated wisdom to the masses or as some might say, “Photocopy waley ko dedo”.

And if you like what we have done, do leave some nice words on the Playstore along with the exact number of stars that adorn a well known Indian chocolate brand.

Kidding!

Playstore link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cdt.civilsdaily

CIVILDAILY ANDROID APP

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cdt.civilsdaily

4/2/2015 Civils Daily Android App | | Concise Daily Updates for UPSC 2015

http://www.civilsdaily.com/?page_id=1750 6/151

Enviro & Biodiversity

Kochi arachnologists discover rare spiders in

Western Ghats1. The huntsman spider – known for their speed and mode of

hunting. Sometimes they hide in the ambush and surprise the

prey.

2. The jumping spider – they prey like a grasshopper, as it

jumps from one place to another.

3. What is Arachnology? Arachnology is the scientific study of

spiders and related animals such as scorpions,

pseudoscorpions, and harvestmen, collectively called

arachnids.

Economics

Fin Min to cut its expenditure share from the CSS1. Now that the states are slated to get 42% tax devolution, Fin

Min has proposed to reduce its share from a bunch

of centrally sponsored schemes.

2. About 13 schemes may take that hit, some of which include

big-ticket programmes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart

Cities, National Health Mission (NHM), Housing for All and

Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS).

3. Programmes under higher education and secondary

education heads also figure in the list.

Discuss: With states spending more on schemes, there would

inevitably be a higher proprietary stake in the schemes & center's

control would be under threat.



Science & Tech

China plans to build huge space solar power station1. The power station would be a super spacecraft on a

geosynchronous orbit equipped with huge solar panels.

2. This is an attempt to battle smog, cut greenhouse gases

& solve energy crisis.

3. Electricity generated from the ground-based solar plants

fluctuates with time of the day, but a space generator collects

energy 99% of the time.

Economics

Workers may soon get to choose between social

security plans1. Fresh amendments proposed to the EPF and Miscellaneous

Provisions Act, 1952, to facilitate the switch from the EPF to

the NPS.

2. EPFO’s apex body — the Central Board of Trustees will be

consulted.

3. The labour ministry is also working to set up a voluntary

Unorganised Sector Social Security Scheme that would

provide retirement benefits to private citizens.

Discuss: EPF = Employees' Provident Fund | NPS = National

Pension System. NPS is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory

and Development Authority.



Science & Tech

India, France to jointly develop naval missile1. Navy has made it clear that the Akash missile is not suitable

for installation on warships.

2. The Army and the Air Force, however are okay with the

Akash missile.

3. Project Maitri – for the co-development of a Short Range

Surface-to-Air Missile (SR-SAM) by DRDO & France.

History

Haryana to start excavation in search of river

Saraswati1. The mythical Saraswati river is said to have originated from

Adi Badri.

2. Forest Department has begun work to bring the river to the

surface by creating a stream at Saraswati Udgam Sthal, where

it is said to have originated.

3. Did you know? Sindhu, Ashikni, Parushni, Saraswati, Yamuna,

Ganga and Sarayu are called as the Saptha Sindhu rivers.



Science & Tech

IMA says – Patients with TB should be tested for

HIV1. If a person has HIV and TB co-infection it means that they

have both HIV infection and either latent TB or active TB

disease.

2. HIV infection and infection with TB bacteria are though

completely different infections.

3. But people living with HIV are at greater risk of developing

TB owing to the weakened immunity.

4. Progression to TB disease is often rapid among people

infected with HIV and can be deadly.

Science & Tech

The issues with Naphtha-based fertilizer units1. Center gives subsidy on Urea production but last year, they

asked the units to switch over to natural gas as the cost of

naphtha (as feedstock) was very high.

2. But, in recent times, naphtha prices have fallen.

3. Still 3 plants – MFL, SPIC and Mangalore Chemicals and

Fertilizers Ltd. are not able to make use of the price fall

because their fate hangs in limbo.

4. Out of 33 plants in India, all but these 3 have switched to

natural gas as feedstock. These plants still do not have a

regular connectivity to gas.



World

Yemen evacuation: What’s the issue about?1. Violence has been spreading across Yemen since 2014, when

Houthi fighters seized the capital (Sana’a) & removed the

President Hadi.

2. As Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes pounded Iranian-allied Houthi

rebels, evacuation procedures have started.

3. General (Retd.) V.K. Singh has been sent over to oversee

operations from the nearest port of Djibouti city.

4. PM Modi speaks to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz,

requests assistance.


NGT can’t settle issues on climate change, says

MoEF1. The NGT has the jurisdiction over all civil cases where a

substantial question relating to environment is involved.

2. These cases can arise out of – The Water Act, The Water

Cess Act, The Forest (Conservation) Act, The Air Act, The

Environment Protection Act, The Public Liability Insurance

Act & The Biological Diversity Act.

3. When an environmentalist asked for the records of steps

taken by the Govt. on NAPCC, the center replied with this -

4. “India is a signatory to the UNFCC & is not under obligations

to NGT on that.”

Discuss: UNFCC = United Nations framework Convention on

Climate Change



Trivia

Will the GIFT city have a bar?1. Considering Gujarat is an alcohol free state and GIFT city

aspires to be an international finance centre, Business

Standard’s editorial raises this not so trivial question!

2. Will GIFT have bars? Will it have genuine connections to the

broader economy, socially and financially? Without that, it will

just be a location for regulatory and tax arbitrage.


Feed grade barley vs. Malt grade barley1. Beer makers require barley with high carbohydrate & low

protien content. Why?

2. Because the ultimate purpose is to get more fermentable

sugars extract.

3. Interestingly, Beer makers are paying these farmers higher

prices than the Sarkari Minimum Support Price.

4. Barley has become more of a cash crop for the farmers in

Rajasthan & some other northern states.




From fodder to beer – The story of barley in

Rajasthan1. Jau (barley) was something you fed to cows, buffaloes or

camels. Not anymore! Its grains are now malted and used for

making beer.

2. Last year, the Indian subsidiaries of Foster’s, Haywards

5000 and Royal Challenge procured ~41K tonnes of barley –

majorly from Rajasthan.

3. What is Malting? Soaking barley in water for 25-26 hours to

allow germination. Activates certain “amylase” enzymes that

convert the raw starch in the grain into fermentable sugars.

4. Post germination, the resultant malt – 80 tonnes out of every

100 tonnes of barley – is what the breweries ferment into

alcohol by adding yeast.

Polity

Rajasthan becomes 1st state to pass bill on eligibility

for Panchayat polls1. Passed a historic amendment to the Rajasthan Panchayat Raj

Act, 1994.

2. Contestant for Zila Parishad or Panchayat Samiti elections

should have the minimum qualification of secondary

education i.e. Class 10.

3. Contestant for the Sarpanch elections must have passed

Class 8 from any school in case of general category.

4. The provision of mandatory functional toilet in the house of

a contestant also added.

Discuss: Previously in December 2014, state government had

promulgated Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment)

Ordinance, 2014 specifying educational qualification for

contestants of Panchayati Raj elections.




2015 Census – Indian one-horned Rhinoceros’

population rises in Kaziranga1. The census was conducted by Assam’s forest department in

association with several wildlife NGOs.

2. Entire Park was divided into 81 blocks for the purpose of

census and the whole exercise involved about 200 people.

3. The census has counted 2,401 rhinos in the park in indicating

that their population has increased by 71 rhinos the past

2 years.

4. It should be noted that Rhino census is conducted every

3 years. The last census was carried out in 2012. It had

confirmed 2,290 rhinos in the park.

Trivia

Madan Mohan Malviya conferred with Bharat Ratna

(posthumously)1. He was founder of Asia’s largest residential university –

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) founded in 1916.

2. Malviya was 4 time President of Indian National Congress.

3. He was one of the initial leaders of the right-wing Hindu

Mahasabha.

4. He was Chairman of Hindustan Times from 1924 to 1946

and his efforts resulted in the launch of its Hindi edition

named Hindustan Dainik in 1936.

5. He is also credited for popularizing the slogan of Satyameva

Jayate which was later adopted as the national motto.



World

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Papua New Guinea1. A powerful earthquake rattled the South Pacific nation of

Papua New Guinea.

2. The magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck at a depth of 65

kilometers (40 miles).

3. Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea. The country

lies on the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of earthquake and volcanic

activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.

Economics

PM Narendra Modi asks CBDT not to harass

taxpayers1. PM Modi has directed taxmen to address all public grievances

on a priority.

2. Redressal of all public grievances is one of the priority areas

in the interim Central Action Plan.

3. The move comes at a time when the government is trying to

create a tax friendly regime for investors while easing the

compliance burden for individual taxpayers.



Polity

ESIC medical complex on PPP model1. In Dec 2014, The Union Labour Ministry had written to the

State government to take over the ESIC medical complex.

2. The ministry had decided to close down 11 Employees’ State

Insurance Corporation (ESIC) medical colleges across the

country.

3. Because there was a clamour for funds by the states, Center

decided to develop the ESIC medical education complex

based on PPP model.

4. Some say that this would defeat the purpose of establishing

the complex to help poor patients.

Discuss: For now, this idea was proposed for the ESIC medical

college at KALABURAGI, Karnataka.

Science & Tech

Upgraded interceptor missile to be test-fired on

April 61. Why? As a part of the 2-tier Ballistic Missile Defence system

to protect important cities and installations. Already

conducted 9 such tests.

2. Till date, the tests have been conducted in the endo-

atmosphere (below 40 km altitude) & exo-atmosphere

(above 80 km).

3. New features to be tested – capability to carry a bigger

warhead, minimise the mis-distance & reduce the reaction

time.



World

The ASEAN Master Plan for Connectivity1. AMPC calls for a system of roads and railways to link

contiguous SE Asian countries with one another.

2. A system of ports for RoRo (roll-on roll-off) vessels and short

sea shipping to link insular SE Asian countries.

3. In comparison, AMPC is apparently more mature than the

Maritime Silk Route by China. AMPC started in 2009, MSR in

2013.

4. Make a light note on the fact that China has since 2009 been

ASEAN’s biggest trading partner.

Discuss: What is India doing in its neighbourhood? Where do our

grand plans stand in these scheme of things?

World

What is China’s “One belt One Road” initiative?1. It envisages connecting the Pacific coast with Europe by an

extensive transport, cyber and energy network along the

Eurasian corridor.

2. Inter-linked with the land route, China wants to establish the

21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR).

3. Russia, Australia and the Netherlands, announced its decision

to join the China-led AIIB.

4. The AIIB initiative by China has cause much pain to US plans

of a grand Atlantic Alliance.

Discuss: Do you know? The ASEAN Master Plan for Connectivity

(AMPC) & "One Belt, One Road” initiative share striking

similarities and parallels.



World

Deal reached on a number of Iran centrifuges1. Iran and 6 world powers have reached provisional agreement

on key parts of a deal sharply curtailing Tehran’s nuclear

program.

2. Iran agreed to slash the number of its centrifuge machines by

2/3 and to ship abroad most of its stockpile of nuclear

material.

3. Iranian diplomats however denied that any tentative

agreement!

4. The world powers, known as the P5+1 group – the

5 permanent members of the UN SC + Germany.

Discuss: Gas centrifuges are used for easy enrichment of the

Uranium fuel.

Economics

Rice sent via Bangladesh to reach Tripura1. The 8 NE states, including Sikkim, are largely dependent on

Punjab, Haryana for food grains and essential commodities.

2. The rice is being ferried via Bangladesh to avoid the long and

mountainous surface road up to Tripura via Assam and

Meghalaya.

3. Following diplomatic parleys, the Bangladesh government in

the first phase agreed to transport 10K tonnes of foodgrains

for Tripura across its territory without charging any duty

under a special transit facility.

Discuss: This is another fodder point for the Indo-Bangladesh

relations.




World conference for disaster risk reduction to be

held in Japan1. About 7000 delegates from all parts of the world will

participate to evolve a strategy for disaster risk reduction.

2. Currently, we follow the Hyogo Framework of

Action - This was an outcome of the 2005 conference held in

Kobe, Japan.

3. HFA suggested 5 specific priorities for action -

4. Making disaster risk reduction a priority | Improving risk

information | Building a culture of safety and resilience |

Reducing the risks in key sectors | Strengthening

preparedness.

World

UN SC resolution-1325 on women and peace and

security1. UNSCR 1325 is a landmark international legal framework

that addresses the inordinate impact of war on women + the

pivotal role women play in conflict management + sustainable

peace.

2. The experiences of men & women in war are different.

Women offer a vital perspective in the analysis of conflict.

3. Resolution 1325 has 4 pillars – Participation, Protection,

Prevention, and Relief and Recovery.

4. How is it implemented? Through the development of National

Action Plans (NAP) or other national level strategies.

Discuss: What are the issues related to this resolution's practical

adoptability?



Science & Tech

Kolkata becomes India’s first Wi-Fi-enabled metro

city1. Kolkata has become India’s first Wi-Fi-enabled metro city as

the service was launched from Park Street in city.

2. Free Wi-fi service will be will be rolled out in phased manner

in all the wards under Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)

as well as adjacent areas of Kolkata.

3. The whole city is expected to come under Wi-Fi coverage by

mid-April in 2015.

4. Private telecom operator, Reliance Jio is providing the 4G

enabled service Wi-fi s in the city.

Polity

What policy challenges exist in bringing labour

reforms in India? (2/2)1. Reforms must be linked to worker benefits, while

simultaneously easing the compliance burden on small and

medium enterprises.

2. Women workers require legislation too – Scheme based

workers (Indira Kranti Patham/ Anganwari) should have

social security as well.

3. For urbanisation and development to take place, labour must

be formalised in India.

Discuss: Read more answers at Insights to get a better handling of

such issues.



Polity

What policy challenges exist in bringing labour

reforms in India? (1/2)1. With an average age of 29, India’s population is in the middle

of a demographic boom.

2. In 2014, 93% of India’s workforce was in the unorganised

sector.

3. Primary challenges – Increase the employability + shift

labour from agricultural to non-agricultural jobs + social

security measures.

4. Low wages, limited security - Rurban jobs don’t offer much

better + Women have difficulty participating in the industries.

5. Reforms at slow pace – India’s labour law regime & the ease

of doing business have always been at loggerheads.

Science & Tech

NASA launches SMAP satellite to observe soil

moisture1. SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) satellite is 3-year

mission which will measure the amount of moisture in soil.

2. The satellite is built to measure moisture in the top 2 inches

(5 centimeters) of soil.

3. It will help scientists to monitor droughts, improve flood

forecasts, assist crop productivity, weather forecasting

& linking water, Energy and Carbon Cycles.



Science & Tech

Gurpreet Singh wins the National Science

Foundation CAREER award1. An Indian-origin scientist Gurpreet Singh has won prestigious

$500K National Science Foundation CAREER award.

2. His research on Scalable liquid exfoliation processing of

ultrathin two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides nanosheets

for energy storage devices.

3. Some of TMDs’ physical and chemical properties can address

energy-related concerns.

Science & Tech

First Assamese dictionary for Science and

Technology terms released1. This dictionary is prepared by Asomiya Jatiya Abhidhan (AJA)

and consists of over 40,000 words compiled in total 160-

pages.

2. First of kind Science and Technology dictionary in Assamese

language is considered as a milestone in development of this

language.

3. It also seeks to make scientific terminology simple and easily

understandable by the people and particularly by students.



Science & Tech

Rashtriya Vigyan Diwas celebrated on 28th

February1. For 2015, the theme of the day is “Science for Nation

Building”.

2. Rashtriya Vigyan Diwas – This day marks the epoch-making

discovery of Raman Effect by Indian physicist.

3. Raman effect, change in the wavelength of light that occurs

when a light beam is deflected by molecules.

4. In 1930, for this discovery he was awarded with the Nobel

Prize in Physics.

Discuss: In 1986, National Council for Science and Technology

Communication (NCSTC) demanded the Union Government to

assign February 28 every year as the ‘National Science Day’ for

India.

World

Earth Hour 2015 observed across the World1. 9th edition of Earth Hour was observed on 28 March 2015

across the World.

2. Over 170 countries participated in the event and more than

1,200 landmarks along with 40 UNESCO world heritage sites

observed the Earth Hour.

3. Earth Hour is an annual global event organized by the WWF.

4. The initiative began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and later

became global event.

5. This day encourages citizens, communities, businesses and

organisations to switch the lights off from 8:30 pm local time

for an hour to highlight the plight of the planet.



Economics

FM suggests use of cheques & plastic currency1. The FM said that eventual target of the government would be

to disincentivise the use of currency and incentivise the use of

plastic currency.

2. Note that Cabinet has just cleared an important bill –

Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of

New Tax) Bill, 2015.

3. The Budget 2015-16, took several steps to reduce the cash

transactions in real estate.

4. Having small denominations helps in discouraging hoarding

and use of unaccounted wealth, he said adding that.

Discuss: Due to financial inclusion, more households are now

connected to banks and RuPay cards have been issued to even

below-poverty line people to boost plastic currency.

Trivia

Get a sunshine fix1. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium. It also

facilitates the absorption of iron, magnesium, zinc and

phosphates.

2. It is formed in the skin by exposure to the sun’s UV-B rays.

3. With Vitamin D, 70% of calcium in the diet may be absorbed.

Without it, it is only 20-30%.

4. More Vitamin D is made when sunlight hits the skin at 90°,

say, around noon. When we start to feel the burn in the skin

is when the vitamin has been made.

5. Obesity is another cause because an individual with

increased muscle mass requires more Vitamin D.




GoI merges Green India Mission merged with

MGNREGA to reclaim forest cover1. By merging GIM with MGNREGA Scheme government seeks

to increase 10MM hectares of forest cover.

2. It also aims at improving ecosystems services, forest based

livelihood income of about 3MM households and to enhance

annual CO2 sequestration.

3. At present under MGNREGA Scheme green works such as

water harvesting.

4. Afforestation and farm forestry are undertaken which are

implemented by Union Ministry of Rural Development.

5. This step has been taken after consulting both MoEF and

Rural Development Ministries.

Polity

The issue regarding the appointment of the CIC1. The CIC is appointed by president on the recommendation of

a committee consisting of – PM, LoP, Union cabinet ministers

nominated by PM.

2. The recent controversy regarding the selection process of

CIC by NDA govt. and non-revelation of information about

the selection process has piled up RTI appeals.

3. In 2014, giving up convention of appointing the senior-

most Information Commissioner as the CIC, the Centre

had advertised the position inviting applications from the

general public.

Discuss: The position has been lying vacant after Rajiv Mathur,

former Chief of Intelligence Bureau, retired on August 22, 2014.



Science & Tech

DRDO to develop indigenous AWACS1. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence

Minister Manohar Parrikar approved the development of an

indigenous Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS)

by DRDO.

2. AWACS are radars mounted on an aircraft to provide

seamless 360-degree coverage of the airspace.

3. The Air Force is currently operating three Israeli Phalcons

based on Russian Il-76 aircraft.

Science & Tech

Murty Kambhampati chosen for US Presidential

award1. An Indian-American scientist and biology professor Murty

Kambhampati is chosen for prestigious US Presidential

award.

2. PAESMEM = Presidential award for excellence in the field of

science, mathematics and engineering mentoring.

3. He is an active research mentor for high school and

undergraduate students in research and has successfully

boosted graduation rates.

4. Research interests include shape analysis of brain structures

in schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, depression etc.



Science & Tech

ISRO named for Gandhi Peace Prize 20141. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been

selected for the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2014.

2. ISRO has become one of the six largest space agencies of the

world.

3. Gandhi Prize – Instituted in 1995 as a part of the 125th birth

anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi.

4. Awarded annually to individuals and institutions for their

contributions towards social, economic and political

transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian

methods.

Discuss: Previous winners of award- Julius Nyerere (the first

President of Tanzania) was the first recipient of the prize (1995).

Science & Tech

ISRO navigation satellite in orbit1. ISRO’s PSLV C-27 successfully launched Indian Regional

Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-D satellite into the

intended orbit.

2. IRNSS is a navigation system that will cover India, and also

extend 1,500 kms from its boundaries.

3. Will provide 2 kinds of services, Standard Positioning

Services, which is available to all users, and an encrypted

service that is provided only to authorized users.

Discuss: IRNSS is similar to other satellite navigation service

providers like USA’s GPS (Global Positioning System), Russia’s

Glonass, Europe’s Galileo, Japan’s Quasi Zenith and China’s

Beidou.



Polity

Concerns about the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and

Atal Pension Yojana1. Under PMSBY, the accident cover is only for accident

death. It does not cover commonplace accidents.

2. Also Atal Pension Yojana is voluntary is no where different

from Swavalambam and NPS.

3. Although, both the schemes have auto debit facility which is

good step with respect to people having unpredictable

incomes but bank literacy is still very low in India.

4. The returns from the Pension Schemes in India are still very

low, when adjusted to Inflation.

Discuss: One advantage of these schemes is the simplicity the

have in making people understand what is at all about and this

simplicity and said guarantee

Polity

The importance of Sagar Mala project for Indian

ports (2/2)1. Each CER (under the Sagar Mala project)will hold an

integrated and comprehensive plan of the area.

2. The CER will also develop transport systems for land- and

water-borne evacuation of cargo.

3. CER will be developed through a special purpose vehicle

(SPV) having participation from the state gov. and a national

company.

4. The states are likely to gain because of the funding &

institutional support from the centre.

Discuss: Good time to revise - What are SPVs?



Polity

The importance of Sagar Mala project for Indian

ports (1/2)1. 2 major issues with port dev. – Presence of a dual institutional

structure – major ports (by union gov) & non-major ports (by

state gov).

2. Involvement of multiple agencies for the dev. of

infrastructure to promote industrialization, trade, tourism.

3. Sagar Mala project allows the center to have a say in the non-

major ports.

4. A key element of the project is the setting up of some 10

coastal economic regions (CERs).

Discuss: CERs will be the focal point for economic development

along India’s vast coastline of over 7,000km.

Science & Tech

GoI launches BIRAC AcE Fund to accelerate growth

in Biotechnology1. BIRAC = Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance

Council (BIRAC) AcE Fund to accelerate growth of

entrepreneurs in Biotechnology.

2. This equity fund will be operated by BIRAC, a PSU under the

aegis Department of Biotechnology.

3. The theme for this year’s foundation day of BIRAC was

“Accelerating Innovations: India the Next Biotech Global

Hub”.



World

Japan and China hold first security talks after 4

years1. The ties had worsened over a row over islands in the East

China Sea.

2. The islets comprises group of 8 uninhabited islands and rocks.

They have a total area of about 7 sq km in China Sea and are

controlled by Japan.

3. These islets are close to strategically important shipping lanes

in this region and also offer rich fishing grounds & oil deposits.

4. China claims that these islets have been part of its territory

since ancient times. While, Taiwan separately is also claiming

its right the islands.

Science & Tech

Astra successfully test-fired from Sukhoi-30 MKI

fighter aircraft1. Astra - India’s indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range

(BVR) air-to-air missile & all-weather missile.

2. Developed by DRDO – it is a single stage solid fuelled –

15kg conventional explosives.

3. The missile can reach up to 110 km.

4. The missile can be integrated with fighter aircraft including

Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar and the Tejas

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

Discuss: Tejas is also an indigenously designed LCA.



Science & Tech

NASA’s Hubble telescope spots ocean on Jupiter’s

moon1. Spotted massive saltwater ocean under the icy crust of

Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede.

2. Scientists believe that this finding could potentially support

life.

3. Researchers analysed Ganymede’s magnetic field and the

aurorae created and controlled by it and its interaction with

Jupiter’s magnetic field.

Discuss: Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system. It is

also the only moon with its own magnetic field.

Science & Tech

ISRO to collaborate with other space agencies1. This was announced by Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime

Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha.

2. ISRO is having talks with space agencies of the USA, Russia

and France to collaborate for inter-planetary explorations.

3. India will acquire the knowledge to minimize the cost of

launching complex missions and enhance the technological

capabilities in spacecraft design.



World

Katherine Viner, Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian

newspaper1. She will be 12th editor-in-chief and the first woman to run the

newspaper in its 194-year history.

2. The Guardian is a British national daily founded in 1821. Its

sister newspaper are The Observer and The Guardian

Weekly.

3. The newspaper has won Pulitzer Prize 2014 and is respected

for its independent voice and investigative strengths.


Create awareness to stop Ganga pollution: Modi1. Chairing the 5th meeting of the National Ganga River Basin

Authority here, Mr. Modi said that the task was “challenging”

and requires an “uncompromising mission-mode approach“.

2. National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is a financing,

planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating

authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the water

resource ministry of India.

3. Chairperson = PM Modi & Vice Chairperson = Uma Bharati.

Discuss: Other major steps for cleaning Ganga which central

government has envisaged includes a scheme for making all 1649

Gram Panchayats on Ganga banks open defection free.



Economics

SC lifts stay, Govt. can finalise the spectrum auction

result1. Although with a caveat that their right to allotment is subject

to the final order from the Supreme Court on a clutch of

petitions.

2. Auction of spectrum of bands was allowed for – 800 MHz,

900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MZ.

3. One criticism – Competitive bidding was not really

competitive but compulsive bidding for survival. The amount

to be collected from the auction was incorrect and “the entire

design of NIT is gloriously faulty”.

Discuss: The criticism came from P Chidambaram, who was

defending Reliance telecom.

History

Archaeologists discover Mayan ‘melting pot’1. The findings challenge two common assumptions.

2. That mobile and sedentary groups maintained separate

communities.

3. That public buildings were constructed only after a society

had fully put down roots.

4. The study presents the first relatively concrete evidence that

mobile and sedentary people came together to build a

ceremonial centre.

Discuss: The research basically unearthed new information about

the Maya civilisation’s transition from a mobile, hunter-gatherer

lifestyle to a sedentary way of life.



World

Philippines standing upto China on the South China

Sea conflict1. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve both island

and maritime claims among several sovereign states.

2. Countries conflicted – Brunei, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the

Philippines, and Vietnam.

3. Bone of contention – Chinese land reclamation projects that

have turned a number of previously submerged reefs in the

Spratlys archipelago into artificial islands with buildings,

runways and wharves.

4. Philippine has challenged China at the the ICJ.

Discuss: The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial

branch of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The

Hague, Netherlands.

World

ADB lends India $300 million to improve road

connectivity1. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lend $300MM to

India for improving regional road connectivity.

2. Special emphasis along the North Bengal – North eastern

region (NER). This will also help in increasing the domestic

and regional trade along the northeast.

3. This initiative is taken under ADB’s South Asia Subregional

Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme.

4. SASEC is an initiative to promote economic cooperation

between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

Discuss: ADB = Asian Development Bank - Est. 1996 - HQ in

Manila, Philippines.



World

Maritime Silk Road to reset Beijing-Colombo ties1. In his visit last year, Xi won support from Sri Lanka and

neighbouring Maldives for a new maritime Silk Road.

2. China enjoyed close ties with Mahinda Rajapaksa

but Sirisena’s administration has ordered all China-funded

projects to be reviewed.

3. But as the news develops now, the two leaders discussed a

$1.5bn China-funded port city project Colombo and

affirmed longstanding ties.

Science & Tech

Mithivirdi nuclear plant gets coastal regulatory zone

nod1. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) had

been facing severe opposition from local farmers and social

activists for this project.

2. Proximity to coastal waters was needed for constructing an

intake channel of sea water for cooling purpose at the

nuclear plant.

3. NPCIL asked to examine possibilities of deploying ultrasonic

devices to divert the aquatic life from entering into the sea

water intake.

4. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) will help in

that.




World Water Day observed on March 221. Every year World Water Day is marked on 22 March. It is

observed to preserve and ration consumption of water.

2. Proposed in Agenda 21 of United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil (1992).

3. Later, the UN General Assembly accepted the

recommendation of UNCED and celebrated first World

Water Day on 22 March 1993.

Polity

Commerce Min. Nirmala Sitharaman invokes

Jawaharlal Nehru1. Defending the Land Acquisition Bill, she said that Nehru had

called Bhakra Nangal Dam a temple of modern India. And for

that he got lands from the poor.

2. The Land Acquisition Bill, which was intended to replace

Ordinance, was passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this month

but it got stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to a united Opposition

against it.

Discuss: This comes a day after PM Modi had reached out to the

farmers through radio in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme.



World

Why everyone’s joining the Asian Infrastructure

Investment Bank?1. This month has seen a number of European countries apply to

be founding members, including the UK, France and

Germany.

2. China and 20 other Asian countries agreed to establish the

AIIB in October 2014.

3. While China is taking the lead in funding the bank – it is going

a long way to open up for others to join.

4. To this extent, China has reduced its proposed share from

50% to 20% and given up its veto power (which the US

retains in the World Bank).

5. China has the world’s 2nd largest economy, the largest

population and foreign exchange reserves and huge

consumer purchasing power.

Discuss: The AIIB will help China’s new development strategy of

“One belt, one road”, which aims to bring China to world power

status.

Polity

National policy for Upper Houses?1. The desirability of a bicameral legislature at the State level

has been debated for long.

2. Pros – Legislative Council helps in widening the space for

representative democracy.

3. Cons – Council is nothing but a body to accommodate various

political interests within a party.

4. Recently, a parliamentary committee suggested that there

should be a national policy on having a permanent second

chamber.

5. This will prevent state governments from abolish it at its

whim (eg – Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh).



Economics

How can the 14th Finance Commission advance

cooperative federalism?1. The overall increase in the amount of financial resources will

make state financially strong. Financial stability lends to a

strong federation.

2. The state will have more autonomy as there will no

conditional transfers, states can decide expenditure on basis

of their own priorities.

3. Implementation of GST will also bring centre and state closer

to each other on economic platform.

4. Although, there is no clear direction on how to evaluate

performance of Panchayats which is going to affect their

financial stability.

Discuss: One criticism is that center will be left with very little

resource to manage its fiscal policy and it will affect the overall

health of economy.

Polity

Pragati: PM Modi interaction with senior

bureaucrats1. Pragati = Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

A new initiative of the Modi government to bring the Centre

and states together.

2. 6 central government projects involving more than a dozen

Union ministries and 13 States were discussed.

3. During the two-hour interaction, the states, in turn, raised

issues on which they needed attention from the Centre.

Discuss: This is a good step towards a proactive governance

model. One of the many points you can list in your mains answers.



Economics

MUDRA Bank to be launched on April 81. The Rs 20,000 crore MUDRA Bank aims to provide

refinancing to small and medium enterprises, particularly

those from SC & ST.

2. MUDRA Bank – Micro Units Development and Refinance

Agency.

3. The idea is to refinance micro-finance institutions through

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.

4. This bank would be responsible for regulating and refinancing

all MFIs which are in the business of lending to MSME.

World

Bangladesh wins Women in Parliaments Award1. Bangladesh is only country in the world where the PM,

Parliament speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Leader

of the house, and a major opposition leader are all women.

2. In the World Economic Forum report it has been placed

among the top 10 countries in the world in reducing gender

gap

3. WIP Award is based on the rankings of the World Economic

Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report.

4. The report assesses 135 countries that represent more than

93 % of the world’s population.



Economics

RBI signs $400 million currency swap pact with Sri

Lanka1. The agreement will allow central banks of both nations to

make withdrawals of US Dollar or Euro in multiple tranches.

Valid for 3 years.

2. In SAARC FINANCE Governor’s meeting held in Nepal in

2012, RBI had announced that it will offer currency swap

facilities aggregating USD 2 billion.

3. This facility will be offered in both foreign currency and

rupee to SAARC member countries.

Discuss: The swap arrangements also help meet any balance of

payments (BoP) and liquidity crises till long-term arrangements

are made.

Science & Tech

Modi Sarkar launches Twitter Samvad1. The service aims to boost the nation’s e-governance plans

and facilitate direct communication between leaders,

government agencies and citizens.

2. It is based on a digital platform provided by an Indian

company ZipDial which was recently acquired by Twitter.

3. A set of curated Tweets from the Twitter handled accounts of

the government will be delivered to mobile-phone users

every day across the country as text messages.

Discuss: The service will also play important role during

emergencies by helping government agencies to share live

updates, even time-sensitive information on law and order or

rescue.



Science & Tech

Three Immediate Support Vessels Commissioned in

Indian Navy1. These ISVs were built under the joint collaboration project

between ONGC, Indian Navy and the Abu Dhabi Ship

Builders (ADSB) and Spain’s Rodman 78.

2. ISV is a lightly armed surface craft. It is capable of operating

at high seas as well as in coastal waters.

3. Armed with Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs).

4. Fitted with state-of-the-art radar and navigation equipment.

5. These vessels are capable of carrying out day and night

surveillance.

6. They also can be used for rapid insertions and extraction of

MARCOS (Marine Commandos) for military intervention.

History

What can we learn from the Indus Valley

architecture?1. The Indus Valley Civilization or the Harappan culture

flourished about 5000 years ago in the 3rd millennium B.C.

2. Major remains of Indian architecture found

at Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Ropar, Kalibangan, Lothal and

Rangpur.

3. Major features : excellent town planning, use of burnt bricks,

wide roads at right angles to one another and construction of

city drains, corbelled arches and baths with great skill.

4. However, the buildings have not survived as they were built

of organic and perishable materials such as mud, bamboo,

timber, leaves, straw and thatch.

Discuss: In 2014, UPSC mains had a question on what can the

modern india learn from the Harappan town planning.



Polity

What qualifies as CSR and what does not?1. The 2013 companies law directs firms to spend at least 2% of

their average 3-year net profit on CSR activities every year.

2. But CSR activities should exclude activities undertaken in

normal course of business.

3. The government is not in favour of tax benefits for CSR

expenditure because that is akin to subsidizing.

4. Yet, contribution to the PM’s relief fund receives 100% tax

rebate, and contribution to registered charities, foundations,

etc., gets 50% rebate.

Economics

Railways launches RuPay pre-paid debit card1. RuPay is India’s own card payment gateway network like Visa

and Master Card, and provides an alternative system for

banks to provide a debit card service.

2. The service was launched by the IRCTC in collaboration with

Union Bank of India and the National Payment Corporation of

India.

3. One does not need to have a bank account in UBI to have the

card and you can avail it online also.

4. Both virtual as well as physical cards are being issued to

customers in two variants.

Discuss: Do note that it is a pre-paid card. One can have the card

with a loading limit of Rs.10K with partial KYC detail or Rs.50K

loading limit with full KYC.



Science & Tech

Australian researchers discover new treatment for

prostrate cancer1. Prostate cancer, also known as carcinoma of the prostate, is

the development of cancer in the prostate, a gland in the male

reproductive system.

2. What’s the breakthrough? Researchers found that prostate

cancer cells increase one of the pumps that bring a nutrient

called glutamine into the cells.

3. Blocking glutamine can starve the cancer cells and stop them

from growing.

World

US to fly surveillance flights over Islamic State-held

city in Iraq1. U.S.-led force begun surveillance flights over the Islamic

State-held city of Tikrit, and offering intelligence to the Iraqi

forces trying to take it.

2. Iraqi security forces, backed by Iranian-supported Shiite

militias, launched a large-scale offensive to recapture Tikrit,

Saddam Hussein’s hometown, earlier this month.

Discuss: In 2014, UPSC asked us to match the place (of conflict)

with the country. Remember Tikrit for Iraq.



Polity

Will it impact the Mehdi case?1. Will the SC striking down Section 66 A of the IT Act weaken

the case against pro-IS tweeter Mehdi Masroor Biswas?

2. Mehdi has been booked under Section 66 F of the IT Act,

2000, for cyber terrorism and Section 66 A of the IT Act,

2000, for posting offensive messages, apart from a host of

other sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful

Activities Prevention Act, 2012.

3. If the investigators fail to prove the criminal intent, the only

section under which he could be convicted is under Section

66 A of the IT Act, which has now been struck down by the

Supreme Court.

Discuss: The investigators in the case are confident of securing a

conviction in the case under Section 66 F for cyber terrorism. A

senior official, who led the probe, said the city police would shortly

be filing the charge sheet.


Comment on the aeroponics technique of growing

plants? (2/2)1. Adding onto the benefits of aeroponics technique -

2. Closed-loop system conserves water. For India: declining

water table and water intensive crops.

3. Higher density crops optimize output, higher quality of crops.

India: productivity is suboptimal in most of the areas, can be

used to contain food inflation.

4. Can be used in inaccessible areas or where agriculture is

limited due to geographical conditions. For India: north-east

and other areas.




Comment on the aeroponics technique of growing

plants? (1/2)1. Aeroponics is the process of growing plants or crops with

water and air, without typical medians like soil etc.

2. The exposed roots quickly absorb oxygen from the air,and

crops also tend to grow faster than those planted in soil,

resulting in quicker harvests.

3. For India: many crops needing longer periods like potato can

be grown better.

4. The water and air mixture helps create the humid

environment. For India: dependence on monsoon can be

reduced.

5. Damage to plants from high fertilizer use and soil/water

pollution can be prevented.

Discuss: We have more advantages. Go to the 2nd installment of

this flashcard.

Economics

India becomes 3rd biggest steel producer, overtakes

US1. India’s production in first two months of 2015 was 14.56

million tonnes (MT).

2. This production growth was the highest during this two

month period at 7.6% as compared to the global average of

just 0.6% at 127.6 MT.

3. While the US, which was the third-largest steel producer

since 2010 has produced 13.52 MT during this two month

period, giving away its position to India.

4. China tops in steel production and accounts for nearly half of

the global steel production.

5. Japan is the 2nd largest steel producer.




23 March observed as World Meteorological Day1. Every year March 23 is observed as World Meteorological

Day (WMD). Theme for this year is Climate Knowledge for

Climate Action.

2. The idea is to take appropriate mitigation and adaptation

actions related to climate change.

3. On this day in 1950, the World Meteorological Organisation

(WMO) Convention came into force that aimed at creating

WMO.

4. Later in 1951, WMO became United Nations specialized

agency for meteorology, geophysical sciences and

operational hydrology.

Science & Tech

Facebook acquires shopping search engine –

TheFind.com1. Facebook has acquired the shopping search engine – signaled

its future plans to move into the e-commerce.

2. The acquisition aims to improve Facebook ads experience and

lift its digital advertising business.

3. Since July 2014, the social networking giant was testing a buy

button to let its users purchase online goods directly.

4. Founded in 2006, TheFind was co-founded by CEO Siva

Kumar and CTO Shashikant Khandelwal both are native

Indians.



Trivia

Prez. Pranab Mukherjee gives away Chakra Awards1. Pranab Mukherjee on 21 March 2015 conferred one Kirti

Chakra awards and 11 Shaurya Chakra awards on armed

forces personnel.

2. Kirti Chakra- It is the second highest peacetime gallantry

award. i.e. awarded for valour, courageous action or self-

sacrifice away from the field of battle.

3. Shaurya Chakra- It is the third highest peacetime gallantry

award. i.e. awarded for valour, courageous action or self-

sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.

Discuss: What's the highest peacetime gallantry award? Ashok

Chakra Award.

Science & Tech

Solar Impulse 2- World’s first solar-powered aircraft1. It is a Swiss long-range solar-powered aircraft project and

claimed to be first aircraft to fly day and night without

consuming conventional fuel.

2. Solely propelled by the solar energy and emits zero CO2.

3. Structure: Single-seater aircraft made of carbon fibre. It has a

72 metre wingspan and weighs 2,300 kg.

4. Solar cells: 17,248 solar cells inbuilt into its wings.

5. These solar cells also recharge 4 lithium polymer batteries

mounted on aircraft which allows it fly at night.

Discuss: It should be noted that the Solar Impulse 2 is flying from

west to east on the selected route as per the direction of tailwinds

which is in same direction of aircraft to keep it afloat.



Science & Tech

GoI releases digital gender atlas for advancing girls’

education1. The web based tool – developed with the support of UNICEF

to identify low performing geographical pockets for girls.

2. These pockets particularly have been identified from

marginalised groups such as SC, ST & muslim communities.

3. The gender atlas has been developed as hands on

management tool that will enable to take critical decisions.

4. The atlas uses current available Government data such as

Unified District Information System for Education (2011-14),

Census 2011 and District Level Health Survey 2007-08.

World

A few words on Lee Kuan Yew – founding father of

Singapore1. Mr. Lee was a master of “Asian values,” a concept in which the

good of society took precedence over the rights of the

individual and citizens ceded some autonomy in return for

paternalistic rule.

2. He was famous for his national self-improvement

campaigns, which urged people to do such things as smile,

speak good English and flush the toilet, but never to spit,

chew gum or throw garbage off balconies.

3. His “Singapore model,” sometimes criticised as soft

authoritarianism, included centralized power, clean

government and economic liberalism along with suppression

of political opposition and strict limits on free speech and

public assembly.

4. He is known to be the only leader known to bring an entire

country from third-world to first-world status in a single

generation.



Economics

What are the pitfalls of easing of capital controls?1. We just read a news today that SEBI & RBI are drafting rules

that would make capital a/c convertibility possible in the Fin.

SEZ (GIFT, Gujrat).

2. One of the main problems – the prospects of outflow of what

is termed as speculative short-term flows.

3. Denomination of a substantial part of local assets in foreign

currencies poses the threat of outward flows and higher

interest rates.

4. The volatility in exchange and interest rates in the wake of

capital inflows can lead to unsound funding.

Discuss: This is a good time to revise the concept of Tobin tax

which we had mentioned sometime earlier. India needs to follow

prudent macro-economic policies now.

Economics

How does easing of capital controls benefit

economies?1. Once a country eases capital controls, there is a surge of

capital flows. For countries where saving rates are low etc. –

they can utilise the foreign capital flow.

2. Capital a/c convertibility norms when relaxed, help the

foreign investor trust the investment scenario in the country.

3. The inflow of capital can help augment domestic resources

and boost growth.

4. Local businesses are better insulated from the domestic

shocks in economy.

Discuss: Are there any pitfalls of this approach? Let's see later.



Economics

India’s Financial SEZs: move for capital a/c

convertibility1. India will allow greater capital account convertibility in

financial SEZs. Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT

City) will be the first one to benefit.

2. But what is this? In a country’s BoP, the capital account

features transactions that lead to changes in the overseas

financial assets and liabilities.

3. Capital account convertibility implies the freedom to

convert domestic financial assets into overseas financial

assets at market determined rates.

4. The proposal is based on the Percy Mistry Committee report

in 2007, which had recommended a slew of reforms to enable

India to set up financial districts on the lines of those in

London and New York.

Discuss: How does easing of capital controls benefit economies?

What are the pitfalls of easing of capital controls?

Trivia

Dadasaheb Phalke award for Shashi Kapoor1. Shashi Kapoor, whose nuanced acts in memorable films

like Deewar , Satyam Shivam Sundaram , Trishul and Kabhi

Kabhie captivated Hindi film buffs, will be conferred the

Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2014.

2. The veteran actor-producer, 77, is the 46th winner of the

honour, conferred by the government for outstanding

contribution to the growth and development of Indian

cinema.



Economics

Employment Elasticity ~0 despite High growth rate.

Why?1. Employment elasticity – a measure of how employment varies

with economic output. PC report says it was close to 0.01

during 2005-2010.

2. This means for 1% point inc. in GDP growth, Employment

inc. by just 0.01%

3. There has been a reduction in the agri. workers which is

good BUT employment elasticity in the manufacturing sector

was -ive. Why?

4. Coz of the substitution of labour by capital-intensive

technology. What else?

5. Most of the new jobs were created by the informal sector

employed in the construction industry.

Discuss: Side effects of low employability? Gov. resorts to Bigger

subsidies. This translates to a high fiscal deficit, inflation, higher

interest rates and lower growth.

Economics

How will SEBI-FMC merger help sustainability of

financial markets? (2/2)1. Once the merger is done, this will allow avenues for various

types of products that were not allowed to be traded under

the outmoded Forward Contracts Regulation Act.

2. These include especially options and index based products.

3. We won’t go into depth for now. For now, note that this will

make it possible to have trading in water futures and

options.

4. It might also create the opportunity for many derivative

products based on “global commons” (like CO2 emission) to

succeed.



Economics

How will SEBI-FMC merger help sustainability of

financial markets? (1/2)1. FM Arun Jaitley announced Forward Markets Commission’s

(FMC) merger with SEBI in his Budget speech of 2015.

2. FMC = Chief regulator of commodity futures markets in

India. Allows commodity trading in 22 exchanges in India, of

which 6 are national.

3. Since futures traded in India are traditionally on food

commodities, the agency was originally overseen by Ministry

of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

4. In Sept 2013, the commission responsibility was moved to the

Ministry of Finance to reflect that futures trading was

becoming more and more a financial activity.

Discuss: The commission appeared in the news in March 2012 for

their ban on guar gum futures trading after it said the price

quadrupled due to its use in fracking causing food inflation.

Economics

SEBI clears municipal bonds, IFSC norms1. SEBI announced a slew of measures including listing of

municipal bonds and setting up of a global financial hub

within India.

2. Also made it easier for banks to acquire control in distressed

listed companies, by converting their debt into equity.

3. SEBI said it would tap social media in a big way to reach out to

the investors and make it easier for them through measures

like e-IPO and Aadhar-based e-KYC initiatives.

4. The SEBI also pitched for allowing pension money into capital

markets and creating an enabling environment for REITs

(Real Estate Investment Trusts).



Science & Tech

Scientists close to recreating woolly mammoth1. They could successfully inserted 14 of the extinct animal’s

genes into the live DNA of an elephant.

2. DNA from mammoths preserved in Arctic permafrost was

analysed for this.

3. Mammoths largely died out in the last Ice Age, possibly

because of human hunting.

Discuss: The genome could one day become a template to

recreate real mammoths — or something like them.

History

Impact of Leftists during the freedom struggle.1. Left linked the economic demands of the workers and

peasants with the fight for independence.

2. Inspired by the success of Russian revolution – M.N. Roy,

Abani Mukherji, Rajni Palme Dutt, Sanjay Seth were some

staunch leftist.

3. The Meerut Conspiracy Case of 1929 gave the communist

Party (CPI) great propaganda opportunity.

4. The Meerut Conspiracy case = issue of arrest warrants

against 31 Communists and other persons on 15th March

1929. Charges? These persons conspired to overthrow the

British Government of India through strikes and other

militant methods.



History

The legacy of Bhagat Singh – Few words.1. Bhagat Singh, born and brought up in Punjab – horrified at

Jallianwala Bagh tragedy, jumped into freedom struggle.

2. He formed Naujavan Sabha to promote unity and oppose

communalism.

3. Was disillusioned with Gandhian idea of Satyagraha and

sudden withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement.

4. To avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, he ploted and

killed Saunders.

5. Along with Batukeshwar Dutt – threw harmless bombs in the

Central Legislative Assembly and with pamphlets shouted

anti-imperial slogans.

Discuss: Ultimately, on 23/03/1931 he was hanged in Lahore,

cremated at Hussainiwala. Today his image decorates our

Parliament.

World

What’s the fuss about the nuclear deal between the

West and Iran?1. Nuclear deal between west and Iran is to regulate and

prevent possible nuke weapon production by Iran.

2. Iran as a signatory of NPT is bound by non-proliferation and

regular IAEA scrutiny.

3. 3 to 5% enriched uranium is sufficient for power generation

by Pressurized water reactor. Enrichment is done by use of

bank of centrifuges.

4. It’s enrichment beyond 10% which can be used as a bomb.

5. UNSC along with Germany, started negotiations with Iran to

limit it’s enrichment to peaceful uses.

Discuss: Iran has huge oil reserves which is important for India



Polity

Section 66A of the IT Act Head-on collision with

Article 19(1)(a)This section 66A has been criticized –

1. Violates the FRs (freedom to speech and expression) given

by Article 19 (1)(A).

2. Vaguely defined terms – Menacing, known to be false, etc.

which leave much space for misinterpretation.

3. It makes offences cognizable and so places too much

authority in hands of police.

4. It outlaws all political satire, cartoons, caricatures and spoof

writing.

5. All social media, private messages, emails, tweets and chats

fall under its ambit. So the government has huge snooping

power.

Discuss: Read the Hindu article from which this news has been

sourced. There is a good study of a few parallels drawn between

India & UK.

Polity

Efforts made by GoI towards skill development & its

critic.1. Central Gov. – ~20 ministries are closely involved in skill

development. State Gov. – Have set up State Skill

Development Missions as nodal bodies.

2. Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) & the Ministry of

Human Resource Development (MHRD) set up separate

councils to identify skill gaps.

3. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has been

setting up Sector Skill Councils since 2011.

4. Interestingly, the government today does not even have a

unified definition of “skill” – This was pointed out by Institute



World

Border talks with China to resume today1. Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China will sit down

on Monday for the 18th round of talks on the border dispute.

2. Modi had said – “Clarification of the LAC would greatly

contribute to our efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity.”

3. XI Jinping’s India’s visit was overshadowed by the intrusion of

Chinese troops at Chumar in Ladakh region – both armies

withdrew after Xi’s visit.

Discuss: China says the border dispute is confined only to

2,000km mostly in Arunachal Pradesh. India says that dispute

covers the ~4,000km, especially the Aksai Chin area annexed by

China in 1962 war.

Polity

Everything about the National Disaster Response

Force (NDRF).1. In 2005, GoI enacted Disaster Management Act. Under this

were created – NDMA & NDRF (National Disaster Response

Force).

2. NDRF has 10 battalions out of which it 3 each from CRPF and

BSF, 2 each from CISF and ITBP.

3. Issues: Management comes under 2 auth. – Home ministry

controls funds and execution and NDMA has administrative

control. Hence, Decision problems!

4. Force doesn’t have own air wing so in case of disaster it has to

call upon the Indian Air Force.

Discuss: See if you can find out what states have or have not done

to cooperate with the NDMA. Any gaps?



Science & Tech

AC supply is far more efficient than a DC supply.

Why?1. AC current can be transmitted over a long distance due to

ease of changing voltage with the help of transformer. Its

difficult to do this for DC.

2. AC transformers are cheap and far more technologically

simple than those in DC – low maintenance.

3. Converting DC power from one voltage to another required a

large spinning rotary converter or motor-generator set.

4. AC the voltage can be changed with simple and efficient

transformers that have no moving parts and require little or

no maintenance.

Discuss: Is it possible to use DC supply to provide round the clock

power using solar source?

Economics

Eco Survey ’14 – Eliminate exemptions in the CVD &

SAD to help domestic manufacturing.1. Countervailing duties (CVDs), are trade import duties

imposed under WTO rules to neutralize the negative effects

of subsidies.

2. CVD is ~equal to the taxes such as excise duty levied on

locally-produced goods. Its levied on all imported goods to

neutralize any disadvantage to domestic industry.

3. CVD exemptions lead to an unfair competition between

foreign and domestic products. Hence, Eco Survey (’14-15)

asks to do away with it.

4. The Inverted duty structure followed in many cases like

solar panels, rubber etc under various FTAs should be looked

into and reviewed to protect the domestic industry.



World

Analyze how culture can be used as tool in foreign

policy of a country.1. Cultural Diplomacy = course of actions, which are based on

the exchange of ideas, values, traditions.

2. With China, we share religious and cultural history which

provides a foundation for strengthening peaceful ties.

3. With US & EU nations, we share values of democracy,

pluralism and tolerance.

4. With Russia, India shares values of a Faithful Friendship.

5. In essence “cultural diplomacy reveals the soul of a nation”,

which in turn creates influence.

Discuss: Do you remember a phrase called 'soft power' which was

used in our reference sometime back. Check if that still holds true.

World

Effects of a strong AIIB on India’s interests1. Help in Maritime Silk policy.

2. Sufficient voting power.

3. Investments in Make in India and Infrastructure will become

easy.

4. African development through this bank will increase India’s

exports.

5. India is 2nd largest shareholder at AIIB (Asian Infrastructure

Investment Bank).

Discuss: IMF chief Christine Lagarde has said the IMF would be

"delighted" to co-operate with AIIB. What should USA do now?

Should be interesting to see.



Polity

Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition

of New Tax) Bill1. The bill, cleared by cabinet – will give a short window to

individuals to disclose their hidden money abroad and be free

from prosecution.

2. Punishment upto 10 years if found guilty. Penalty ~300% of

tax.

3. Offence will be made non-compoundable. Means no

compromise with the offender and no approach to settlement

commission are allowed.

4. Amendments to PMLA and FEMA to make concealment of

income punishable.

Discuss: Critically discuss among yourself if these steps are in the

right direction or not. It will be introduced in the parliament soon.

History

Sahitya Akademi completes 60 years on 12th March1. The Sahitya Akademi (founded 1954), India’s National

Academy of Letters – dedicated to the promotion of

literature in the languages of India.

2. Is registered as a society under the Indian Societies

Registration Act, 1860 & is run by 3 authorities -

3. General Council – 5 year term, appoints the Akademi’s

President & VP, elects members of the Executive Board

| Executive Board & Finance Committee – accounts audited

by the CAG.

4. It publishes 2 literary journals — Indian Literature and

Samkaleen Bharatiya Sahitya.

Discuss: The organisation is independent of any ministry although

is supported by the GoI.



Science & Tech

Conservation goes hi-tech in Bandipur1. Bandipur Tiger Reserve – Use of a drone or unmanned aerial

vehicle to monitor any unauthorised entry into forests and to

detect any forest fire.

2. They also use an android app called Hejje (pugmark), for

coordinating foot patrolling of forest guards and tiger

tracking.

3. Apart from using drone, the authorities have installed sensor-

based cameras in the forest.

Discuss: Bandipur was established in 1974 as a tiger reserve

under Project Tiger, is a national park located in the south

Indian state of Karnataka.

Science & Tech

Chinese airlines uses ‘gutter oil’ mixture for fuel1. The Boeing 737 plane used a 50:50 mix of conventional jet

fuel and bio-fuel made from “waste cooking oil”. It is also

called “Gutter Oil”.

2. Chinese environmental regime had come under strict

criticism with the documentary – Under the dome by one of

their independent journalist.

Discuss: The world’s first flight powered entirely by bio-fuel

took place in 2012 when a plane took off from the Canadian

capital Ottawa.



Trivia

3 other Indians who have won the Stockholm Water

Prize1. Madhav Chitale (1993) – played a major role in getting India’s

decision makers and strategic planners to think of water as a

resource – in the 1980s, he introduced an annual, nationwide

Water Resources Day. He mainly worked in the field of

effective irrigation.

2. Sunita Narain (2005) – CSE’s work on rainwater harvesting

has shown the many ingenious ways in which people learnt to

live with water scarcity. She is the head at Center for Science

& Environment.

3. Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak (2009) – founder of Sulabh Sanitation

Movement in India.

Discuss: Rajendra Singh (Water Man) wins the award in

2015.

Trivia

‘Water Man’ Rajendra Singh wins Stockholm Water

Prize1. He was awarded this prize for his innovative water

restoration efforts.

2. Rajendra Singh worked with the NGO-Tarun Bharat Singh

(TBS) & started a movement to purify traditional rainwater

tanks.

3. He helped in the rejuvenation of Arvari River & was awarded

‘International River Prize’.

4. Was also member of National Ganga River Basin Authority

(NGRBA) from 2009-12.

5. He was awarded with Ramon Magsaysay Award for

Community Leadership in 2001.

Discuss: The Stockholm award was founded (1991) and



History

Project Mausam – Cultural ties deepen for the 39

countries1. Project ‘Mausam’ – launched at the World Heritage

Committee meeting, held at Doha, Qatar in June, 2014 – 39

Indian Ocean countries targeted.

2. Archaeological Survey of India in collaboration organized a

National Conference on Project ‘Mausam’ in Kochi in

November 2014.

3. Plan to win the World Heritage transnational nomination for

‘Indian Ocean Maritime Routes’.

Discuss: Read about the UNESCO Cultural Conventions of

World Heritage and Intangible culture. The maritime routes

are intangibles. What else comes under it?

World

Project Mausam – India’s answer to China’s

Maritime Silk Road1. It is a transnational program aimed to restore India’s ancient

maritime routes and cultural links with republics in the region.

2. Emphasizes on the natural wind phenomenon (monsoon

winds) used by Indian sailors in ancient times for maritime

trade.

3. India also faces the difficult job of matching China’s stress on

building landmark infrastructure in the region, including ports

in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Discuss: Good time to remind yourself that India agreed to

support Iranian Chabahar port project on the shores of the

Arabian Sea. Its close to the Pakistan’s Gwadar port (built

with Chinese help).



Science & Tech

Malaria: People with ‘blood group A’ more

vulnerable1. Malaria is transmitted by an infected female Anopheles

mosquito.

2. Mosquito bite introduces the parasites into a person’s blood,

which reaches the liver, where they mature and reproduce.

3. Recently it was found that – the protein (RIFIN) produced by

some strains of the malarial parasite can cause red blood cells

to form clumps.

4. These clumps increase the severity of the disease + Blood

Group A folks are highly susceptible.

Discuss: On the other hand, Blood Group O folks have it easy

in this case.

Trivia

There might not have been any Big Bang for that

matter, at all!1. Per old theories, Big Bang appears as a singular point

(Hawking-Penrose singularity) in the mathematical equations

that define general theory of relativity.

2. Law of physics break down at this point & nothing can be

known about the pre-big bang.

3. 3 scientists have come up with an alternative theory – the

universe may have existed all along.

4. The trick is in seeing the Raychaudhuri equation (RE), which

is an important step in deriving the Hawking-Penrose

singularity theorems in a fresh light.

Discuss: Admittedly, it is impossible to do justice to this

article in a flash card. Hence, presented here as a trivia. Read

the original article from the source.



Polity

Key provisions of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill,

20151. It brings e-carts and e-rickshaws under ambit of the parent

Act, so they can ply on roads across the country.

2. Defines E-carts and e-rickshaws as special purpose battery

powered vehicles with power up to 4000 watts and having 3

wheels.

3. Exempts drivers of e-rickshaw and e-cart from the

requirement of learner’s licence to drive.

4. Union Gov. will have the power to provide specifications for

manufacturing, maintenance for these e-rickshaws.

Polity

Warehousing Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2015

passed1. Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) has been awarded

a Mini-Ratna Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) status by the

Department of Public Enterprises.

2. The bill put to end the Central Government’s responsibility

of being a financial guarantor to the CWC in order to follow

the criteria to be a Mini-Ratna enterprise status.

3. The Central and state warehousing corp. are established

under the Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962 for the

purpose of warehousing agricultural produce and other

commodities.

Discuss: Good time to revisit the eligibility criteria for Grant

of Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna Status to CPSEs.



Science & Tech

Modi launches first indigenous rotavirus vaccine1. Every year in India, diarrhoea caused by rotavirus results in

~10L hospitalisations & ~80k deaths (<5 yr old).

2. The three-dose ROTAVAC vaccine (Indo US developed) – Bill

& Melinda Gates foundation was involved.

3. We will even supply this Vaccine to other low income

countries for $1 a dose. It will also promote “Make in India”.

Discuss: Rotavirus is a most common virus that contaminates

the bowels. It causes diarrhoea among infants and children

throughout the world. Symptoms- Vomiting, Low grade

Fever, Watery diarrhoea, Nausea.

Science & Tech

Natco to launch Hepatitis C drug in India soon1. Sovaldi – made by Gilead Sciences treats chronic Hepatitis-

C. India’s patent office rejected patent for the drug.

2. Reason – “minor changes in the molecule” did not improve

efficacy of the drug.

3. Indian drug company NATCO claimed that – the

drug, chemically called Sofosbuvir, is not inventive enough

compared with a previous formulation.

4. Hepatitis C, a disease affecting the liver. If untreated, it can

cause liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

5. Now NATCO entered into an agreement to make and sell

generic versions of Sovaldi in 91 developing countries.

Discuss: Remember that India had rejected the patent for

Novartis’s cancer drug Glivec, leading to a legal battle that

attracted global attention.




Why & How do oceans absorb CO2?1. Oceans are the largest carbon sink on earth.

2. The difference in partial pressure of the CO2 between

seawater and air facilitates the gaseous exchange. This is a

physico-chemical process.

3. The diffusion takes place until the partial pressures across the

air-water interface are equilibrated.

4. The dissolved CO2 helps in – regulating the PH of seawater &

maintaining health of marine organisms | help Phytoplanktons

in Photosynthesis | helps marine organisms form calcareous

material.

Discuss: The carbonate system is the unique phenomenon of

marine ecosystem. Study a bit more about the same.

World

India should join the Mine Ban Treaty1. In 1997 when the Mine Ban Treaty came into existence, India

chose to remain outside it, even though it was its vigorous

supporter in 1996.

2. 80% of the world has joined this treaty – UN Secy Gen. calls it

a ‘near universal’ convention.

3. The largest known use of anti-personnel mines by any

government = Operation Parakram @ India’s war with

Pakistan (2001). But it has resulted in heavy civilian casualties

inturn.

4. Now, with the construction of fence around the intl. border &

LOC – mines are superfluous.

Discuss: Do you know the diff. between LOC, LAC &

International Border?



Science & Tech

WHO’s ‘5 keys’ for safe food1. The 5 keys are – Keep clean |Separate raw and cooked

food | Cook thoroughly | Keep food at safe temperature

& Use safe water and raw material.

2. WHO has selected ‘food safety’ as the theme for World

Health Day 2015 on Tuesday April 7.

3. “Farm to Plate, Make Food Safe” campaign emphasises the

full spectrum of food safety issues.

Discuss: In a similar news – Delhi HC has directed the FSSAI

(Food Saftey & Standards Auth of India) to make guidelines

for supplying healthy food in schools. This is to curb the junk

food menace.

Trivia

TRAI asks Vodafone to stop using 111 service1. Vodafone’s help # 111 violates The National Numbering Plan

(2003).

2. TRAI said that the Department of Telecom has not given

anyone the authority to use number 111 to 115 – they have

been kept as ‘spare’.

Discuss: This is the classic case of TRAI rising from a deep

slumber!




Back from the brink of extinction: Corroboree frogs1. At one point, only 4 were left, hence considered the rarest

frog in the world.

2. The frogs are coloured by flashes of bright yellow due to the

toxins developed from the gobbling up of ants.

3. A fungus – Chytrid, has been blamed for causing the decline

or extinction of around 200 frog species since the 1970s.

4. Climate change, as well the chytrid fungus, poses a major

risk to amphibians.


MoEF focuses on Yamuna wetland1. The Yamuna wetland is situated in Greater Noida and is home

to rare birds.

2. One of such rare birds is – Sarus Crane, the state bird of UP.

3. NGT orders declaring Dhanauri and Parasol as wetland to

protect this species.

4. The main threat to the Sarus crane in India is habitat loss and

degradation due to drainage and conversion of land for

agriculture.




100MM people tune in to China’s “inconvenient

truth”1. Investigative journalist Chai Jing’s documentary on China’s

air pollution – Under the Dome.

2. Even Chinese parliament expected to debate on it. Movie’s

impact is even compared to Rachel Carson’s book “Silent

Spring” (1962) that started environment movement in USA.

3. Hopes to impose tough new regulations on China’s coal-

burning polluters.

Discuss: The documentary is self funded by Chai Jing. It

expounds on the issue of smog. Do you know the difference

between the two types of smog?

Polity

CBI Vs CID – what is the difference?1. Since the issue of probe into DK Ravi’s case is on a boiler, let’s

see what’s the difference bet. a CBI vs. CID inquiry.

2. CID = specialised wing in many state police forces in

India. Personnel attached to this wing work in plain clothes

but all officers are chosen by the State.

3. CBI = governed under the central rules and reports to the

union home minister. CBI also has a larger jurisdiction – can

probe in any state w/o spl. orders.

4. Who can order a CBI probe? power lies with the state or the

union government. SC or HC too can order a CBI probe if it is

felt that state is influencing the police.

Discuss: In Saradha chit fund scam the SC had ordered a CBI

probe coz it had doubts on state’s police efficacy. Union gov.

can also single handedly order a CBI probe but it practices

restraint.



Trivia

Norway’s New banknotes are works of Art1. This won’t come up on UPSC but since the world has taken

notice, you should too

2. We know that Norway has not joined the Euro right? It has

re-designed its currency called krone.

3. The new one features a pixelated design – will be put into

circulation in 2017.

Discuss: Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, had asked

eight different designers to submit their proposals for the

redesigned currency. An architecture firm won the best design.

Polity

Make paid news a poll offence: Law panel (2/2)1. Earlier – Ban on broadcast of election matter 48 hours prior

to an election was restricted to the electronic media – now it

should be for PRINT media as well.

2. Regulate opinion polls & make disclosures about the

methodology mandatory.

3. Need collegium / selection Committee to pick Election

commissioners.

4. Amend the 10th schedule about anti-defection. The

disqualification decision should be made by President

/governor with help of ECI, instead of Speaker/chairman.

5. If candidate fails to give proper record of election

Expenditures, debar him for 5 years, instead of present 3

years.



Polity

Make paid news a poll offence: Law panel (1/2)1. Justice Shah in news again – 255th Law Commission report

about electoral reforms.

2. Newspaper advertisements on the eve of elections be

banned.

3. Independent candidates to be barred from contesting

elections – mostly they’re dummy candidates with no chances

of winning.

4. If any candidate indulges in paid news- disqualify him.

5. Make it compulsory for parties to declare all donations, even

if less than Rs.20,000, if total 20 crores or 20% of party

contribution comes from such small amounts.

Discuss: Read this report in detail – 5 more points in the next

card. UPSC can stump on questions on each points!

Polity

Justice A.P. Shah submits report on Electoral

Disqualifications (2/2)1. To check on the validity/ evolution of current disqualification

stages -

2. Disq. @ Conviction – long delays in trials and rare convictions

are prevalent.

3. Disq. @ Report Filing – filing of the police report, there is no

application of judicial mind. So, that cannot be a disq. stage.

4. Disq. @ Framing – this is based on adequate levels of judicial

scrutiny. Hence, put additional safeguards at this stage and go

for it!

Discuss: What can be the safeguards put into the disq. clause

so that no one abuses it? Entertain only major offences,

Charges filed >1 year before nomination should not be taken

up etc.



Polity

Justice A.P. Shah submits report on Electoral

Disqualifications (1/2)1. Report about electoral reforms (following the SC directive

issued in Dec 2013, in the PIL related to decriminalisation of

politics).

2. Examined issues related to – Disqualification of candidates

with criminal background & Consequences of filing false

affidavits.

3. Commission examined the different stages at which

disqualification may be triggered, and decided upon the stage

of framing of charges.

4. Additionally, what should be the safeguards at the stages of

framing of charges?

Discuss: Let’s discuss some of the important point in our next

card. Do read the PRSIndia brief on this issue.

Polity

Battling tribunals – Madras HC has issues with the

IPAB1. Madras HC struck down key provisions relating to the

Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) established

under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, as unconstitutional.

2. Why? Issues with regard to the qualification and selection of

Chairman, Judicial Member and Technical Member of the

IPAB.

3. HC objected that a member working with executive cannot

be made the judicial member as well.

4. Also held that recco. of the CJI for the post of Chairman had

to be given due consideration by the Appointments

Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Discuss: What are the problems related to Tribunals? There



Polity

99th Amendment Act 2014 replaces Collegium

System with NJAC (2/2)1. The Attorney-General (Mukul Rohtagi) & Sr. Advocate (Fali

Nariman) have locked horns on the bill.

2. Interestingly, AG says that the court cannot test

the constitutional validity of the NJAC until the law was

notified. Prez. has given its assent to the bill but Gov. has not

yet notified.

3. Fali Nariman held a view that – “The moment an enactment

comes into operation, it becomes law and can be challenged

on any permissible grounds.”

Discuss: Permissible grounds include the want of legislative

competence, violation of fundamental rights and it not being

warranted by provisions of the Constitution.

Polity

99th Amendment Act 2014 replaces Collegium

System with NJAC (1/2)1. What was? The Collegium system is one where the Chief

Justice of India and a forum of 4 senior-most judges of the

SC recommend appointments and transfers of judges.

2. The system was evolved through Supreme Court judgments

in the Three Judges Cases. However, it has no place in the

Indian Constitution.

3. The 99th amendment to the Constitution introduces NJAC,

replacing the Collegium system.

4. Under Article 124A, the NJAC has 6 members – the

CJI, 2 senior-most judges. The remaining 3 are the Union Law

Minister and two “eminent persons”.

5. They are to be appointed by the PM, the Leader of the

Opposition and the CJI.



Polity

Modi’s Motion of thanks to Prez. speech, defeated in

Rajya Sabha.1. The united opposition in RS forced an amendment — on the

issue of black money — to the Motion of Thanks to the

President’s address to Parliament.

2. This motion-thanks-defeat is fourth in the history of Indian

parliament.

3. The President’s speech to the two Houses on the first day of

the session is approved by the union Cabinet, and is the

government’s own account of itself.

Discuss: The past 3 instances were of – Indira Gandhi (1980),

VP Singh (1989) & AB Vajpayee (2001).

World

What’s Bretton Woods and what is China doing

that’s similar? (2/2)1. Flush with a huge pile of cash, Beijing is on a bank-creation

spree. The AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment

Bank) & BRICS Bank.

2. IMF & WB service all countries with development problems

and the management of temporary BOP (balance of

payments) problems. It impinges on the sovereignty of the

nation states.

3. The voting rights in IMF are skewed. Italy > India & France >

China. This is contrary to the economic realities of today.

4. The Chinese initiatives are straightforward lending banks and

specifically infrastructure lending institutions.

Discuss: AIIB is open to all countries, but 3 key nations in the

Asia-Pacific have not signed up: Japan, South Korea and

Australia.



World

What’s Bretton Woods and what is China doing

that’s similar? (1/2)1. The Bretton Woods Institutions are the World Bank, and the

International Monetary Fund ( IMF ).

2. World Bank was erstwhile called IBRD (International Bank

for Reconstruction and Development).

3. They were set up at a meeting of 43 countries in Bretton

Woods, New Hampshire, USA in July 1944. (end of II WW).

4. The US, which controlled 2/3 of the world’s gold, insisted that

the Bretton Woods system rest on both gold and the US

dollar.

Discuss: How has these institutions become redundant?

What is China doing to start a parallel banking economy?

Trivia

Argentina, Vulture funds & US Supreme Court1. Would you believe us if we tell you that a PE firm in US seized

an Argentine national navy ship! That’s a sovereign country

we are talking about.

2. Why? Because Argentina is in a long legal battle with the

hedge fund Elliott Capital Management.

3. Argentina will be able to get this ship back if it pays an

unspecified amount in bond. What is this? This drama is

because of a new financial instrument called “Vulture Funds”.

4. Vulture Fund = A fund that buys distressed debt of

commercial companies or sovereign nations at a cheap price

and then often sues them for the entire value of the debt.

Discuss: The PE firm bought up Argentina’s sovereign bills &

when the country lapsed into trouble, the PE firm refused to

take any hairline cut and asked for full payment!



Trivia

Carl Djerassi, 91, a creator of the Birth Control Pill,

dies1. 63 years ago, his team synthesized a hormone that changed

the world by creating the key ingredient for the oral

contraceptive known as “the pill”.

2. Birth control pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation.

3. If no egg is released, there is nothing to be fertilized by sperm,

and the woman cannot get pregnant.

4. Most birth control pills contain synthetic forms of two female

hormones: estrogen and progestin.

5. These synthetic hormones stabilize a woman’s natural

hormone levels, and prevent estrogen from peaking mid-

cycle.

Discuss: Since the inventor dies this year, the principle

behind the pill becomes important for prelims!

Science & Tech

A compound in litchi behind mystery brain disease?1. Muzaffarpur in Bihar is a major cultivation centre for

Litchi.

2. MCPG, a substance that exists in litchi seeds, could be

behind the yearly outbreaks of a mysterious brain

disease among young kids.

3. In undernourished children, who had little glucose

reserves in their body, MCPG could be blocking their

cells’ ability to utilise fatty acids.

4. As a result, the brain could then be deprived of the

glucose it needed.

Discuss: The results are not yet conclusive. But when has that

prevented UPSC to ask questions in prelims!




Why are we shifting lions from Gir to Kuno?1. The world’s last population of Asiatic lions in Gir, Gujarat may

see a part of it getting introduced to the Kuno Wildlife

Sanctuary, MP.

2. Why? To avoid over-concentration in a single place + To

avoid a possible outbreak canine distemper and an increased

probability of man-animal conflict.

3. Kuno currently acts as the buffer zone for the Tigers of

Ranthambore. Tigers and lions have co-existed before.

Discuss: Most instances of man-animal conflict involve

outsiders and not the tribals. In the case of Gir, the Maldhari

tribals who are primarily cattle-herders live in harmony

Economics

What’s the fuss about Plan vs. non-Plan? (2/2)1. One concern - The Union Gov. may have to consult the

Comptroller and Auditor General on this matter that this

proposed change not be inconsistent with globally accepted

budgeting and accounting practices.

2. Pros – The planning process will also be liberated from its

close association with the Budget. So what? This will facilitate

greater attention to maintenance expenditure.

3. Pros - This will also get in more visibility to the regulators,

private sector and financial markets. As of now Govt. used to

hog all limelight via the development narrative.



Economics

What’s the fuss about Plan vs. non-Plan? (1/2)1. Plan expenditures are estimated after discussions between

each of the ministries and the Planning Commission (which is

now dismantled and replaced by NITI Ayog).

2. Non-Plan expenditure comes in the form of interest

payments, subsidies (mainly food and fertilisers), and grants

to States, among others.

3. The 14th Finance Commission (FC) has done away with the

distinction between Plan and non-Plan.

4. The Plan mindset should be replaced with a development

mindset, said Dr. Y V Reddy (Chairman).

Discuss: What are the advantages? What are the concerns or

checklists that need to be taken care of?

Economics

More about govt. ID cards – The PRAN1. We know how SC directed that Aadhaar is not compulsory for

social benefits. Let’s study one more card along with Aadhaar.

2. PRAN is Permanent Retirement Account Number. If you are a

subscriber of the NPS (New Pension Scheme), you are given a

unique account number.

3. PRAN can only be given to a citizen of India – unlike Aadhaar

which can be given to a resident of India.

4. PRAN is only for 18-60 years bracket (coz its a pension

enrollment scheme) | Aadhaar is not limited by age.

Discuss: While we have introduced PRAN here, it would be

good to know more about the NPS. It has been in news lately

for its comparison with the EPFO wrt the kind of savings

portfolios.



Polity

Don’t insist on Aadhaar, comments SC1. SC confirmed that the card is not compulsory, and warned

that officials ignoring this would be taken to task.

2. Some other curious facts around Aadhaar – The National

Identification Authority of India (NIAI) Bill, (for legal backing

+ use of biometrics) to create a unique identity for every

resident of India is still pending in the Parliament.

3. The UID (Unique Identification) and NPR (National

Population Register) are both government identity schemes

that aggregate personal data.

Discuss: What’s the difference? The NPR Scheme has been

created pursuant to the 2004 Amendment of the

Citizenship Act. The central gov. has the power to

compulsorily register citizens for an Identity Card. The

UIDAI was set up through an executive notification.

Trivia

Kolar didn’t want to let him go – A tribute1. D.K. Ravi became popular for his people-friendly measures

during his one year tenure as Deputy Commissioner.

2. Thousands had stormed the Deputy Commissioner’s office on

November 5 demanding that Mr. Ravi continue at least for

some time.

3. He became popular for cracking down on the sand mafia and

evicting encroached government lands and tanks much to the

dislike of politicians.



Economics

Union Govt. permits 5% ethanol blending with

petrol1. Ethanol itself burns cleaner and burns more completely than

petrol it is blended into.

2. Government of India mandated blending of 5% ethanol with

petrol on all India basis by 2006. In US, blending is allowed

upto 10%.

3. Genesis – Brazil’s bio-fuel programme, which began in 1976 –

now the cars can handle ethanol blends from 18% upwards.

4. Steps taken by Gov. – Remunerative prices offered to sugar

mills to supply ethanol to oil marketing companies.

Discuss: What are the problems? States levy additional taxes

in pretext of ‘import-export’ and even extra octroi. State

excise inspectors don’t give NOC for Inter-state movement

of ethanol easily.

Trivia

The first National Tribal Festival – Vanaj1. Organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and was

inaugurated by the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual

Oram.

2. The aim was to bridge the gaps of social divide and promote

tribal culture in India.

3. More than 900 folk and tribal artists participated.

Discuss: In 2014, India held the biodiversity express and

some questions in the Prelims were sitters from the brochure

itself. Check out the ministry’s website to see more on this

event.




Govt launches mobile app to check your city’s air

quality1. Citizens of Delhi, the city with the world’s most toxic air, &

Pune take notice. A mobile app launched by the Ministry of

Earth Sciences.

2. SAFAR-Air, will provide current data and a forecast for air

quality.

3. Particulate matter (PM) = (include sulfates, nitrates,

ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and

water) are the most dangerous.

4. Ozone in the air is a major factor in asthma morbidity and

mortality.

Discuss: The avg. air pollution this year was highest in winter

month (since 2010). Why? This year temperatures were low

– boundary layer of atmosphere becomes low – PM mixes

with fog – leads to multiplying of aerosols.


Maharashtra approves field trials for four GM crops1. No-objection certificates (NOC) have been given for trials of

brinjal, rice, chickpea (chana) and cotton.

2. To be able to conduct the GM trials, one needs 2 things –

Approval from the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval

Committee) & NOC from States.

3. Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh besides Maharashtra, are

among the key States to have allowed non-laboratory-based

GM trials.

4. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan & others have banned it.

Discuss: Top countries with largest areas under GM-

cultivation – Argentina, Brazil, US, India.




Junta protesting against Koteshwar dam1. Seepage from the Koteshwar dam across the Bhagirathi in

Tehri district has intensified protests by the local people

against the 400-MW project.

2. The villages in the vicinity are already facing land sinking.

3. The dam, a project of the THDC (Tehri Hydro Development

Corporation) and part of the Tehri Power Complex.

4. Produces electricity and regulates water released from the

Tehri reservoir for irrigation.

Discuss: So enamoured was India’s first PM Jawaharlal

Nehru of this model of development that he is reported to

have described it as a “New Temple of Resurgent India“,

worthy of worship.


Nagaland – Falcon capital of the World1. Why? An international team of ornithologists estimated that

about 1MM Amur Falcons roost in the State during the small

aerial predators’ annual migration on way to South Africa.

2. The bird flies around 22,000 km all the way across Asia, over

the Indian Ocean to wintering grounds in Southern Africa.

3. The Falcons spend about one month in the State every

autumn where they feast on insects to gain fitness for their

long onward journey to Africa.

4. On Nov 6, 2014 – 3 Amur Falcons – named ‘Naga’, ‘Wokha’

and ‘Pangti’ – were satellite tagged and released.

Discuss: With this, Nagaland has entered the international

map of ‘global conservation’. Do you know any other such

interesting trivia?



Economics

ICICI Bank launches ‘Pockets’1. India’s first digital bank called ‘Pockets’ – it is a mobile app

cum e-wallet.

2. Even a non-ICICI Client can clean up this electronic wallet

from money from any other bank.

3. This wallet uses a virtual Visa card to help you transfer money

to any email id, mobile number, Facebook account, online

shopping site, retail mall, Paying utility bills etc.

Discuss: ‘Pockets’ integrates a digital wallet, a physical

prepaid card and a basic savings bank account- all features of

an upcoming payment bank.

Economics

Lo and behold, Rupee 1 note arrives1. After a gap of over 20 years, Re 1 note has been released in

the country and it bears the signature of Finance Secretary

Rajiv Mehrishi.

2. Other currency notes in India bear the signature of RBI

governor.

3. Under The Coinage Act 2011, RBI can issue all notes except

Rs.1 note.

4. Although Bankers feels this is mere publicity stunt, because

as such cost of printing Rs.1 note is more than the ‘face-value’

of Rs.1 note.

Discuss: In Nov 1994, printing of Re 1 note was stopped

mainly due to higher cost and for freeing capacity to print

currency notes of higher denomination.



Trivia

Missiles developed under the DRDO’s programmes1. Prithvi – Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.

2. Agni – Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.

3. Trishul – Short-range LOW-level surface-to-AIR missile.

4. Akash – Medium-range surface-to-air missile.

5. Nag – Third generation anti-tank missile.

Discuss: These are the 5 missile sets developed under the

IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development

Programme).

Science & Tech

Prithvi-II proves its mettle1. Full strike range of 350 km + capable of carrying 500 kg to

1,000 kg of NUCLEAR warheads.

2. The nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II, the

first missile to be developed under the Integrated Guided

Missile Development Programme of the DRDO.

3. The scientist said Prithvi-II could not be intercepted because

of its “manoeuvring trajectory capability”.

Discuss: What is this integrated guided missile dev. prog? –

was conceived by renowned scientist Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

to enable India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile

technology.



Science & Tech

Medication is the answer1. First International Epilepsy Day on Feb 9, 2015.

2. Epilepsy is not contagious and does not spread by touch.

3. Epilepsy is the disorder of brain function. So it should be

treated by a neurologist.

4. Wearing a metal ring, talisman or offering animal sacrifices

will NOT prevent seizures.


Hariana, Sahiwal and Gir – What are we talking

about?1. Centre has approved the ‘Gosamvardhan and Gosanrakshan’

projects for conservation and integrated development of the

above mentioned breeds of indigenous cattle.

2. Project to look into expansion and improvement in the quality

of Artificial Insemination services.

3. The State government will implement the project in a phased

manner over five years.

Discuss: Some of the Indigenous buffalo breeds –

Murrah, Surti, Jaffrabadi & Nili Ravi.



Science & Tech

The sneak thief of sight1. Glaucoma is the third leading cause of irreversible blindness

in India.

2. The disease involves a rise in intraocular pressure leading to

optic nerve damage and subsequent visual loss.

3. Currently there is no treatment to restore vision once lost.

4. The best way to guard against this illness is to undergo

periodic eye evaluation.

Discuss: Cataract & River Blindness top the leading causes

list. River blindness is caused by a parasitic worm,

onchocerca volvulus. The worm larvae are spread by the

black simulium fly, which breed by the oxygen rich water of

fast flowing rivers.


Phasing out HFCs (2/2)1. Kofi Annan has been quoted as saying that “perhaps the

single most successful international agreement to date has

been the Montreal Protocol”.

2. Montreal protocol as of now bans the ozone depleting gases.

HFCs are as of now included in the UNFCC.

3. Developing countries are fine with the Montreal protocol

inclusion but they have some pertinent questions.

4. What is the best technology to move to? Who will pay for the

transition if the costs are high?

Discuss: Politics of gases and patents – US companies are

pushing for hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs); DuPont is promoting

HFOs as the “4th generation” refrigerant.




Phasing out HFCs (1/2)1. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is a halogenated gas, which

replaced the CFCs & HCFCs.

2. CFCs & HCFCs were used widely due to – Low toxicity, low

reactivity, and low flammability. But they were found to be

destroying the Ozone.

3. Still, this HFCs (ozone-savior replacement) has a very high

global warming potential.

4. Hence, there has been a growing demand to put in place an

intl. mechanism to reduce the emissions of HFCs.

5. Many developing countries (incl. India) wants to discuss this

under UNFCC but developing countries wants it under the

Montreal Protocol.

Discuss: What’s the issue with UNFCC vs. Montreal

protocol?


The bane of methane1. Methane is not only warming in itself it also contributes

towards formation of regional ozone (which adds to

warming).

2. Methane is emitted largely from coal mining, oil and gas

production, municipal solid waste and wet rice fields.

3. Uses – Methane from waste is a resource and there is

significant scope of capturing this from municipal waste.

4. Liability – Methane emissions from the wet rice cultivation is

linked with the livelihood of the poor.

Discuss: Methane is the 2nd most important greenhouse gas.

CH4 is more potent than CO2 because the radiative forcing

produced per molecule is greater.



Polity

Mawana Sugars almost gives up1. And we are speaking on the sugarcane crisis in UP where

sugar mills are raring to shut the operations!

2. In UP, Sugar cane and sugar prices are not linked which is

already been done in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

3. Banks are running away from giving loans to mills. Most of the

money that is coming from the sale of sugar is going to

farmers & mills are getting ~nothing.

4. The state fixes their own cane price, which is much higher

than the Centre’s cane price, known as ‘Fair and

Remunerative Price’ (FRP).

Discuss: Mills cannot shut down when they want – they can do so

only when the district magistrate allows them to do so.

History

This temple inspired the Angkor Wat of Cambodia1. The grand Siva temple of Masrur, Kangra district, Himachal

Pradesh – Rock Cut temple.

2. This is one of the grandest temples of North India and is the

only vast rock-cut temple of the region.

3. According to the art historian Michael Meister, the temple

was the conceptual model for the vast “temple mountains” of

Cambodia.



History

Kashmiri Pandits wanted Haider banned for this1. The song ‘Bismil’ had portrayed the ancient Martand Temple

(Sun Temple) of Kashmir as the den of devil.

2. The Sun Temple, build in 370 AD, is one of the only two Sun

Temples in India, with the other one in Konark in Odisha.

3. It is facing West which attains greater significance in the

Hindu scriptures.

4. The temple appears in the list of centrally protected

monuments as Kartanda.

Discuss: It can be said it was an excellent specimen of Kashmiri

architecture, which had blended the Gandharan, Gupta, Chinese,

Roman, Syrian-Byzantine and Greek forms of architecture.

Science & Tech

“2015 – Year of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients”

launched1. Chemicals & Fertilizers Minister assures Pharmaceutical

Industry of reforms to make India self-sufficient in Bulk

Drugs.

2. The govt. had set up Katoch Committee to look into various

issues concerning the bulk drugs.

3. Bulk Drugs constitute the backbone of the Pharmaceutical

Industry and the sector needs to be incentivized so as to take

on the challenge from cheap imports.



Trivia

Black rats exonerated from the Black plague

scourge1. In 1347, Black plague killed 1/3rd of European population.

2. Till now scientists believed Black rats carried plague

bacterium, Yersinia pestis.

3. But new research says due climate change even other

mammals such as great gerbils and marmots also harbored

this bacteria.

Discuss: If you guys watch “Last Week Tonight with John

Oliver” which airs @ HBO, it has a nice take on this new

finding.

Science & Tech

Mission Indradhanush for 7 vaccine-preventable

diseases1. Mission Indradhanush: for vaccination against 7 preventable

disease by 2020.

2. The diseases are Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus, Polio,

Tuberculosis, Measles and Hepatitis B.

3. The aim is to cover all the children who have been left out or

missed out for immunization.

Discuss: You would be knowing that our universal immunization

program is to include 3 more vaccines against rotavirus, rubella

and polio.



History

At 85, she wins the Padma Shri for a Manipuri ballad1. Khongjom Parba depicts the heroic battle the Manipuris

fought against the British in a place called Khongjom on the

India-Burma Road in 1891.

2. A war memorial in Khongjom and a remembrance day

observed every April 23 in the State.

3. Ibemni Devi- first woman khongjom balladeer, won Padma

Shri (2012).

Discuss: UPSC is going regional with its choice of questions

at least in the CSAT. 2014 saw questions on “Manganiyars” &

“Panchayatan”. Keep on a lookout for such newsbites.

History

Modi prays at the Tree temple in Anuradhapura1. Legend says that the right branch of the Bodhi tree under

which the Buddha attained Enlightenment was brought to Sri

Lanka.

2. It was planted in Anuradhapura & this Bodhi tree became a

symbol of political power for the Sinhalese Kings for a long

time to come.

3. Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka – is

considered very sacred by the Buddhists and is home to the

largest dagobas in Sri Lanka.




A peacock butterfly1. Malayan Green Banded Peacock, a beautiful specimen usually

found in South East Asia, spotted for the first time in India.

2. Spotted it at Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary in West Bengal’s

South 24 Parganas.

3. Referred to as the “flagship species,” butterflies are not only

pollinators of flowering plants, but also useful in monitoring

environmental changes.

Discuss: What are flagship species? The concept has its genesis in

the field of conservation biology. By raising the profile of a

particular species, it can successfully leverage more support for

biodiversity conservation at large in a particular context.


IIT roadmap for Ganga revival1. Earlier this January, the SC bench had asked the Solicitor

General (representing the GoI) to provide concrete steps in a

report, which would in “layman’s words” explain how the

national river would be cleaned.

2. The report has now been submitted. It says that the

wholesomeness of the river can be grasped in terms of

4 defining concepts.

3. “Aviral Dhara” (Continuous Flow”), “Nirmal

Dhara”(“Unpolluted Flow”), Geologic Entity, and Ecological

Entity.



Science & Tech

The Luddites might have been right1. The Luddite fallacy is a reference to angry English textile

workers in the early 19th century who protested against

imminent job losses coz of the Industrial Revolution.

2. Interestingly, a research seems to be siding with the Luddites’

prophecy. Technology research firm Gartner predicts

software, robots and smart machines will take over one out of

three jobs in another 10 years.

3. Automated Insights is disrupting Journalism. Narrative

Science is automating storytelling.

Discuss: This op-ed (Hindu Link) is an interesting one to read

on the possible concerns of tech-revolution for some good

juicy points! Also, remember the Internet of Things initiative

taken up by modi sarkar. Read again on that.

Science & Tech

Indian Medical Association on TB & Swine Flu1. Swine flu is a droplet infection, while TB is droplet nuclei

infection. What’s that?

2. Droplet infection = Infected particles of size > 5 microns

& Droplet nuclei infection = < 5 microns.

3. This essentially makes TB more easily transmittable –

hospital can be a place where TB is transmitted to other

patients and healthcare staff.

4. While prevention of flu requires simple three layered mask,

the one for TB prevention requires N95 mask.

Discuss: An estimate – In India, 2.1 MM new TB cases occur

annually and 2,40,000 TB deaths occur every year. The

article speaks about an ethical liability with the patient to

disclose his/ her illness



History

The personal worship center of Narsimha Varman II1. This Pallava ruler had built many temples including this one

solely dedicated to the Gangadhar Shiva (Ganga bearing

Shiva).

2. The name is Kailasanatha temple – was built

at Kancheepuram – The pallava capital city.

3. The temple has a circumambulatory passage. It is believed

that making the circumambulation round the various deities

would usher the same blessings as visiting paradise.

History

The grandeur of Pallavas – Shore temple1. Shore Temple comprises three shrines, mainly dedicated to

Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu resting on the

Sheshnaga.

2. Shore Temple is also acknowledged for being the first stone

structure made by Pallavas.

3. The Shore Temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal

(Mamallapuram was the port city of Kanchipuram, the Pallava

capital).



History

The Monolothic temples of Mahabalipuram1. The name is Pancha Ratha (but that’s more like a misnomer).

2. The naming of these ratha, after Pandavas and their wife, the

heroes of epic Mahabharata, is simply a local tradition.

3. They are the unique contribution of the Pallavas to Indian Art.

4. Most of the temples found in Mahabalipuram were built by

Rajasimha (Pallava king).

Discuss: On the basis of their architecture, temples can be

classified into three broad types– cave temples, monolithic

temples carved out of a single rock, and structural stone temples.

History

Kashmir chalo! To the Shiva temple1. There is a famous Shiva temple at Pandrethan (ancient

Srinagari, a place established by King Asoka) while he was still

a HINDU.

2. The temple architecture is an amalgamation of – Gandhara

(triangular arches) & Byzantine & Syrian buildings (triangular

gables).

3. There is a statue of Lakulisa with a Lakuda (Shaft) in hand.

This tells that its a Shiva temple.




Mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles begins in Odisha1. Starting point – at mouth of river Rushikulya in Ganjam

district of Odisha.

2. They are also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle.

3. Generally found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the

Pacific and Indian Oceans.

4. They are listed as vulnerable species in IUCN Red Data Book.

5. The mouth of Devi River in Odisha is also famous for mass

nesting.

Discuss: What is the difference between a turtle and a

tortoise?


The helpless “Indian Ocean Tuna Commission”1. Indian Ocean faces an unregulated overexploitation of its

fishery resources.

2. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization

had launched the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.

3. 24 nations including countries outside the region – China,

Japan, and the UK.

4. Findings – 75% fisheries exhausted to the limit + 25%

harvested beyond ecological sustainment.

5. Over fishing by countries outside the region is disastrous

for littoral states. They depend heavily on maritime

resources (for food & exports).

Discuss: India needs to step up in some way given that both

China and India are in a tussle for power and engaging

initiatives in this area.



World

The future of Indian Ocean for India1. In 2008, India promoted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.

Today, it brings together 35 navies of the region.

2. India has maritime security cooperation with the Maldives

and Sri Lanka. Hope that Mauritius, Seychelles & Madagascar

join in as listening posts.

3. More than 80 % of the world’s seaborne trade in oil transits

through Indian Ocean choke points (Strait of Hormuz, Strait

of Malacca & Bab el-Mandab Strait).

Discuss: A pressing issue for this region is the largely

unregulated overexploitation of its fishery resources. Read

about Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and its failures.

History

What is Adarsh Smarak Yojana?1. The Ministry of Culture has chosen Hampi and 24 other

monuments in the country to be granted ‘Adarsha Smaraks’

tag.

2. This tag is awarded to the monuments which have highest

number of tourists visiting. ASI will provide amenities of

international standards.

3. Virupaksha Temple @ Pattadkal in Karnataka is a temple of

Lord Shiva which will be covered in the scheme.

4. Krishnadevaraya, one of the famous kings of the Vijayanagara

Empire was a major patron of this temple.



History

Sanchi – the oldest extant Buddhist sanctuary1. The Great Stupa that is located at Sanchi Town in MP – It is

the oldest STONE structure in India – commissioned by

Ashoka.

2. After Ashoka came the Sunga, Satavahanas & Kushanas to

contribute to the growing heritage.

3. The Gupta kings built along some temples – Sanchi has both

Hindu and Buddhist faith.

4. Interestingly, Sanchi had lain abandoned for ~600 years

before it was discovered.

Discuss: The ASI which stepped up for the excavation was set

up under Lord Canning with Alexander Cunningham as

its first Director-General.

History

Why is Kushinagar a famous Buddhist place?1. Kushinagar has a gilded statue of Buddha. That signifies

his Parinirvana.

2. It is the completion of nirvana, usually understood to be

within reach only upon the death of the body of someone who

has attained complete awakening (bodhi).

3. Kushinagar also finds a mention in epic Ramayan as the city of

Kusha the son of Ram, the famous king of Ayodhya.

4. The parinirvana of the Buddha is described in the

Mahaparinibbana Sutta.



History

The site where Buddha gained enlightenment1. Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya Bihar is the oldest standing

GRAND structure in India.

2. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-hien recorded that the site contained

several statues and monuments.

3. In 2002, UNESCO declared the Mahabodhi Temple a World

Heritage Site.

4. This is one of the four holiest places for Buddhists in India.

Discuss: The other 3 are – Lumbini : Nepal | Sarnath : Uttar

Pradesh & Kushinagar : Uttar Pradesh

Trivia

What’s in a name? Ask Dettol1. The then-Reckitt & Sons (now RB, and earlier known as

Reckitt Benckiser) had almost decided to call the best-known

antiseptic liquid – PCMX

2. PCMX is parachlorometaxylenol, the aromatic compound

that gives Dettol its germ-fighting ability.

3. The management was initially hell bent on using PCMX to



Trivia

6 fun facts about Seychelles1. Pirates used to seek the islands of Seychelles as a

hideout. This beautiful country island was home to none until

the latter part of the 18th century.

2. Victoria, the capital city of Seychelles, is the smallest capital in

the whole world.

3. Almost half of the limited landmass in the country is occupied

by national parks and reserves.

4. Seychelles is the right place to visit if you want to see unique

endemic species.

5. The country is home to the heaviest land tortoise that is living

in the wild.

6. Round Island used to be a leper colony. A stone prison still

remains up to this day.

Discuss: We will tell you some more sombre facts as well. Ah!

also, quite recently Kunal Kapoor took nuptial vows with

Naina Bachchan at Seychelles.

World

Kind words from IMF on India1. India will grow 7.5 per cent in 2015-16, up from 7.2 per cent

in the current year.

2. The Indian economy is the bright spot in the global landscape.

3. The report stressed the urgency of certain key reforms,

including the bottlenecks in the energy, mining and power

sectors; infrastructure gaps, land acquisition processes and

environmental clearances.

4. The IMF report also said that India’s economic profile

recently got a lift as the country improved the way it

measures economic output.

Discuss: Most of this is bol-bachhan, but the 4th point is



Economics

Former RBI Governor YV Reddy goes candid on the

14th FC (2/2)1. The discretion available to the Centre to distribute funds to

states at its will and pleasure has been questioned by

states. The existing system of transfer of funds from the

Centre to states under “other transfers” will have to be

reviewed.

2. The Union is providing money to states to finance activities

which are under Constitution in the domain of the states. FC

has no prerogative to judge how states are utilising the funds

transferred to it.

3. The Finance Commission cannot discriminate based on its

view of the capacity of states. The financial markets may do,

but not a constitutional body like the Commission.

Discuss: Are we advocating competitive federalism? We

would urge you to go through the article on your own. Share

over WhatsApp and form opinions.

Economics

Former RBI Governor YV Reddy goes candid on the

14th FC (1/2)1. There is no big shift in aggregate transfers to States. The total

transfers from the Union to the state put together works out

roughly to 63 per cent of the divisible pool.

2. The real difference has been in terms of the freedom available

to states. So it is not a quantitative shift but a qualitative shift.

3. There has been no reduction in the fiscal space available to

the Central government. It has to reduce the “other

transfers” to states wherein it used to award transfers

outside FC recommendations.

Discuss: What does he has to say on the evolution of Center



World

Time to replace 13th Amendment & devolve power1. (13A) to the Constitution of Sri Lanka is the amendment

which created Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka.

2. This also made Sinhala and Tamil as the official language of

the country and English as link language.

3. On 29 July 1987, Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was signed between

Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President

J.R. Jayewardene which stated the devolution powers to the

provinces.

Discuss: It was the quantum of devolution prevalent under

the Indian Constitution that made possible Mr. Modi’s

“excellent leadership” and “people-centred approach that

transformed Gujarat.

Trivia

Dalda was earlier just Dada1. Dalda was earlier Dada and Lever Brothers just inserted an L

in the middle to leave its mark.

2. Dada was actually the name of the Dutch company that

imported vanaspati ghee into India in the 1930s as a cheap

substitute for desi ghee or clarified butter.

3. There was a huge demand for desi ghee but people could not

afford it.

4. The Indian public was far from convinced there could be any

substitute for ghee.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru, called for a nationwide opinion poll to

check if people felt it was harmful or not but it proved

inconclusive.

Discuss: Of course, much later, Dalda had competition from

“clear oils” or refined vegetable oils such as groundnut

(Postman), mustard, safflower (Saffola), sunflower (Sundrop)



Trivia

Quotable Quotes1. “One can get a great many things done, or one can strive to

look like the smartest person in the room — and the two goals

are pretty much mutually exclusive.”

Discuss: This is by Dr. M Vidyasagar, ex-DRDO/TCS and

presently teaching in US. This fits the status of India’s political

and particularly economic policymakers really well. We have

clearly moved from times when people took a backseat and

let teams/institutions/companies develop.

Polity

Zero tolerance policy on flouting KYC norms1. RBI is likely to adopt a zero tolerance policy on Know Your

Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) norms.

2. In 2013, the Banking Regulation Act was amended and gave

powers to RBI to impose a penalty of Rs 1 crore for a single

violation.

3. Proposal to put operational curbs on banks; restrictions on

branch expansion likely to be imposed.

4. This will help in incorporating the FATF (Financial Action Task

Force).

Discuss: What is FATF? It is an intergovernmental

organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 – to

combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The FATF

Secretariat is housed at the headquarters of the OECD in

Paris.




Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee for Auto fuel vision

policy 2025 (2/2)1. Saumitra’s report touched on – Bharat norms (next stage

implementation), Taxation issues & Alternative fuels. Let’s

study a few of the fuels.

2. Methanol – is readily biodegradable, can be used directly or

by blending with petrol, is already used in racing cars of

China.

3. Ethanol – burns cleaner and burns more completely than

petrol, is an organic solvent, can be derived from Sugar cane

juice and molasses.

4. Hydrogen Fuel – Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

(MNRE)’s Green Initiatives for Future Transport (GIFT). It

has vision-2020 for Hydrogen.

Discuss: Ethanol as a fuel is an interesting case study in

Brazil. Also, while we are at it – do revise the 4 categories of

bio-fuels and their differences.


Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee for Auto fuel vision

policy 2025 (1/2)1. In the last two flashcards, we talked about carbon tax. Let’s

take a step forward to the recommendations given by a

former Planning Commission member.

2. In India, we follow Euro norms under the label “Bharat stage”

norms. This defines the maximum limit of pollutant that a

vehicle can emit.

3. Recommended nationwide fuel standards to be BS-

4. Upgrading refineries to produce Euro-V equivalent petrol

and diesel will need ~Rs.80,000 crore.

4. Cost can be met by a Special Fuel Upgradation Cess of 75




India tries to change the game on climate change

(2/2)1. Pro – Carbon tax will enable india to come out with a

blueprint of “intended nationally determined contributions”

(INDCs) towards fighting global warming.

2. Pro – Push forward the need for adhering to the concept of

CBDR (Common but Differentiated Responsibility) in

mitigating climate change.

3. Cons – Prices of these fuels are lower today & unless the

public infrastructure is robust, behavioural change won’t

happen.

Discuss: Revise what is CBDR. Additionally, the govt said

nothing about how the excise duty collected on dirty fuel will

be used to upgrade refinery technology.


India tries to change the game on climate change

(1/2)1. India plans to move from a carbon-subsidisation regime to the

one where carbon spewing is taxed. What does it mean?

2. Carbon tax has been implemented via – decontrol of diesel

prices, imposition of higher excise duty, and cess on petrol

and diesel.

3. A steep increase in the clean energy cess on coal could be

another step in this direction.

4. The shift to carbon taxation combined with India’s ambitious

solar power program is a good step forward.

Discuss: What are the pros and cons of it? Read that in the

2nd instalment of this card.



Economics

Post Offices to double up as Payment Banks1. Dept. of Post to launch an independent (of it) entity for the

proposed payment bank venture. Existing post office infra.

will be used.

2. What’s the post office stats? 650 main branches + 25,000

spoke branches + 130,000 banking correspondents!

3. DoP is in the process of revamping itself – task force set up

under former cabinet secy. T S R Subramanian.

4. Plans to create a holding company which will have 5

independent entities – banking, insurance & e-commerce.

Discuss: What are payment banks? How are they different

from normal banks?

Economics

The New Pension Scheme goes for higher equity

exposure1. The PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development

Authority) which regulates the NPS has decided to go for an

uplift – including a choice to deploy 50% of the user’s

contribution into equities.

2. As of now, the fund is managed by SBI, UTI and LIC in a

predetermined fashion. The money is deployed in a set

pattern – 55% (Govt. Securities), 40% (debt securities), ~15%

(equities) & 5% (money market instruments).

3. NPS allows investors to pick from 1 of the 3 options —

predominantly equities (E), fixed income instruments other

than government securities (C) and into government

securities (G).

Discuss: Good time to revisit the pension schemes in India

and their FAQs.



Trivia

The Indian Yogi at UNESCO1. A statue of the great Indian philosopher, savant, spiritual guru

Sri Aurobindo was installed at the prestigious Japanese

garden of UNESCO House Paris, in July 2014.

2. He was jailed for his involvement in the freedom struggle.

Post his jail stay, he moved to Pondicherry, leaving politics for

spiritual work.

3. Aurobindo developed a method of spiritual practice he called

Integral Yoga.

4. With the help of his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa (“The

Mother”), he founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

5. His main literary works are The Life Divine, which deals with

theoretical aspects of Integral Yoga

Discuss: UPSC is known to take a quick scoop at the people in

news and present a related question. Aurobindo appeared in

2014 and automatically becomes a contender for 2015 exam.

Science & Tech

World’s oldest primitive animal fossil found in China1. The fossilised animal displays many characteristics of modern

adult sponges. Sponges are the most primitive living animals.

2. They have only differentiated cells, but no real organs or

tissues.

3. The previous oldest known primitive sponge fossil was dated

to 530 million years ago, in the early Cambrian period.

Discuss: The Cambrian Period is the first geological time

period of the Paleozoic Era (the “time of ancient life”). This

period lasted about 53 million years and marked a dramatic

burst of evolutionary changes in life on Earth.



World

Of orthodox tea and pesticide levels1. Orthodox teas are made in the same way as crush tear and

curl CTC teas, but with most of the leaf remaining intact.

2. India and Iran will together review the issue of maximum

residue levels (MRL) of pesticides in teas.

3. Iran is an estimated 100 million kg market which is mostly

serviced by Sri Lanka. India’s presence was muted in view of

the earlier U.S. sanctions on Iran.

4. India ranks 2nd in world production of tea and fourth in the

world market as tea exporting country.

Discuss: The U.S. sanctions on Iran led to payment

problems. It was circumvented by setting off Indian

exporters’ payments through the city-based UCO Bank

against oil imports.

History

What Mahabharata says about pollution…1. Jayadratha was the principal culprit who prevented help from

reaching Abhimanyu while he was battling in the Chakravyuh.

2. Arjuna took two vows to avenge his son and in case he fails,

he willed to condemn himself not only in this life (by self

immolation) but also after life itself.

3. Note his words when he says, “There are worlds attained by

those who touch brahmanas, cattle and fire with their feet

and those who release phlegm, excreta and urine in water. If I

do not kill Jayadratha, let those terrible ends be mine.”

Discuss: The worst kind of hell and after-life that Arjuna

could imagine was meant for people who polluted rivers and

water bodies by releasing “phlegm, excreta and urine” in

them.



Economics

Modi sarkar approves the 2014-BRICS’ papers1. In 2014, BRICS nations had their 6th summit @ Fortaleza,

Brazil.

2. In 2001, investment bank Goldman Sachs coined the term

BRIC to describe 4 of the world’s fastest growing economies.

South Africa joined in soon.

3. Together they represent 40% of the world population, 25% of

its land mass, and combined GDP of 24 Trillion dollars.

4. The 2014 summit chalked out chalked out the plans for

setting up BRICS Bank/ New Development Bank (NDB) and

its 100 BN Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), to help

member countries for Development loans and balance of

payment crisis.

Discuss: The 7th summit would be held in Russia. What is the

current status of NDB?

World

China to collaborate with India and Lanka1. The Sri Lankan foreign minister said that Lanka’s centrist and

pragmatic foreign policy, liberated from any specific ideology,

was grounded in the principle of non-alignment.

2. China proposed trilateral cooperation involving India and Sri

Lanka for regional stability.

3. India has been invited to talks on multi-billion dollar ancient

Maritime Silk Road – a project involving a maze of roads and

ports connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.

Discuss: Earlier this year, Sushma Swaraj had conveyed that

India would not give a ‘blanket support’ to the MSR. What will

India do here.



World

Kerry quizzed on child abductions to India1. President Barack Obama signed the Sean and David Goldman

International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act.

2. The law authorises America to take action against a country

which does not facilitates the return of an abducted American

child held there.

3. Cases where an Indian parent returns back with his/her child

(leaving the american counterpart) is termed as “abduction”.

4. But India is not party to the 1983 Hague Convention on the

Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Discuss: These are classic cases wherein one country firmly

ratified a convention but the other did not give a single

thought! The former then makes laws etc. while the later is

blissfully chilling.

Economics

5 things the 30 prominent economists said to the PM

on MNREGS1. Social Benefits at a low cost.

2. Corruption has declined, can be curbed.

3. Bring back compensation for delayed payments.

4. Don’t dilute Labour: Material ratio to 51:49.

5. Don’t restrict to 200 districts, keep it All India.

Discuss: Good time to revisit what Govt. has actually done.

Even more, old policies are getting an uplift. Will keep

updating you on those.



History

What can you guess by the word ‘Panchayatana’?1. It is very less likely that one would be able to guess

that Panchayatana is a style of temple construction.

2. Unless, of course you actually know that it is a form of

architecture where the central shrine is surrounded by four

other shrines.

3. Some of the temples at Khajuraho are a cluster of five shrines

– the main temple surrounded by four others at each corner.

Discuss: Most of us who rely on intuitive guessing might have

gone for Panchayatna = an assembly of elders and get it

completely wrong in the exam!

History

What do we know about the Sattriya dance?1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.

2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.

3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs

composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Discuss: CCRT has become a good source of information for

the art and architecture part of the Indian History syllabus.

Question on Sattriya came in UPSC 2014.



Science & Tech

Agni-4 missile keypoints1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.

2. Has two stages of solid fuel propulsion.

3. Can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 4,000 km

away.

4. The payload, with a re-entry heat shield can withstand

temperature of more than 3000 degree Celsius.

Discuss: UPSC 2014 had given twisted statements on Agni-4

& one had to pick and chose the correct ensemble.

World

Tunisia ends state of emergency after 3 years1. After the end of the dictatorship that touched off the Arab

Spring uprisings across the region, Tunisians brought a

moderate Islamist party into power.

2. Despite a lot of issues, its fractious elected assembly finally

wrote and passed a progressive constitution.

Discuss: UPSC had not asked questions on IR for the last 3

years, but in 2014 they asked a question on Arab Spring.



Science & Tech

Diphtheria deaths exposes issues in immunisationThe death of a 10-year-old girl, following the complications of

diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable disease, once again raised

concerns about the fall in routine immunisation rates.

Discuss: Straight question in UPSC 2014 – Which of these

diseases have been eradicated in India? Diphtheria | Chickenpox |

Smallpox. A common sense question but still, had its reference in

the news.


What all comes under ‘Sustainable Sugarcane

Initiative’ ?1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional

method of cultivation.

2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.

3. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the

conventional methods.

4. The opportunities for the sugar sector in ethanol need to be

explored further.

Discuss: UPSC 2014 had a factual question on this initiative.




Major benefits of the Integrated Watershed Dev.

Prog.1. Prevention of soil runoff

2. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table

3. Regeneration of natural vegetation

4. In a bid to condense the Centrally-sponsored schemes, GoI

integrated DPAP (Drought Prone Areas Prog.) + DDP

(Desert Dev. Prog.) + IWDP into one single scheme.

5. The new scheme would be called IWMP (management being

the replaced word).

Discuss: UPSC asked straight factual question on IWDP. One

could have answered by either reading the Year Book or

diligently making notes from The Hindu.


MP to purchase 107 tonnes neem seeds1. Forest Department to purchase neem seeds from tribals

through Village Forest Committees.

2. Neem de-oiled cake will be used as organic manure.

3. Neem cakes are much in demand as insecticide.

4. Demand of neem oil in pharmaceutical and cosmetics is

increasing.

Discuss: UPSC-2014 asked straight question on uses of

neem tree. Needless to say, a daily news reader would have a

higher probability to solve the same.




The Maize utility1. As a cereal, maize is used as ingredient in food preparation; it

is feed for poultry and livestock.

2. It is feedstock for biofuel (ethanol).

3. It is used as raw material in distilleries.

4. It is also used for starch production because of its high starch

content (60%).

Discuss: These 4 points are picked up from a Hindu

Businessline article. And in 2014, UPSC tested on 3 of these

4 statements.


What should I know about Arecanut and why?1. A tropical plant found all over South East Asia – fruit of this

tree is known as betel nut or supari, forms a part of ritual

offerings in Hindu religion.

2. India leads the global production & within India 72% of it is

grown in Karnataka, Kerala.

3. Historical significance – Mentioned in the works of ayurveda

and Marco Polo.

4. Intercropping – Arecanut has a gestation period of 5 years &

so it is intermixed with banana, mango etc.

Discuss: UPSC-2014 had a question on matching regions

& its famous produce. Daily news facts make it a little bit easy

to solve such ques. by elimination method.



Polity

Can one house dictate the other?1. BJP is in a bit of a fix regd. withdrawing the 3 ordinances from

RS and starting a discussion in LS (where it has the majority).

2. Dep. Chairman of the RS, P.J. Kurien says – “This is a complex

issue – it can’t be known that the LS discussion is same as that

of RS.”

3. Opposition says – “Bills that were the “property’’ of the

House can either be accepted or rejected but cannot be

withdrawn.”

Discuss: You might want to give a cursory read to the rule

book of parliament. Not compulsory for CSAT but a good to

know thing.

World

President Xi Jinping’s Chinese dream in danger1. Documentary by Chai Jing, a former anchor of CCTV

enunciated the hazards of smog in China.

2. President’s dream of “environment-friendly China” under

threat – hence, social media app launched on WeChat to

report excess pollution cases.

3. Shares in 18 environmental protection-related companies

surged coz of people frenzy to safeguard against smog.

Discuss: What are the two types of smog? Classical Smog &

Petrochemical Smog. Classical = Smoke + fog + SO2

|| Photochemical = Sunlight + hydrocarbons+ NOX.



Economics

Assam, Bihar & TN set to lose coz of the 14th FC

(1/2)1. The Finance Commission – constitutional body (Art. 280)

convened by the Prez. every 5 years.

2. Makes recco. regd. devolution of taxes between center and

state from the divisible pool.

3. Divisible pool = All central taxes – (surcharge + cess tax + tax

collection charges)

4. The 14th FC was appointed in 2013, headed by Dr. YV

Reddy.

5. It proposed a change in the criteria for horizontal devolution.

Discuss: What is this horizontal devolution and how does it affect

the fate of states? Move to the next card.

Economics

Assam, Bihar & TN set to lose coz of the 14th FC

(2/2)1. Horizontal devolution = dist. of taxes across states on the

basis of variables which are assigned weights according to

their relative significance.

2. 14th FC added two new variables – Population-2011 (10%) &

Forest Cover (7.5%) and got rid of a variable called Fiscal

Discipline (17.5%).

3. As a result, states with forest cover – Arunachal Pradesh,

Jharkhand, MP, Chattisgarh are set to gain.

4. TN, Bihar and Assam are going to lose out coz of that.

Discuss: However, in absolute terms all states are getting

more autonomy in decision making because the 42% tax

devolution suggestion has been accepted.



Economics

Approach the budget commentary like a pro1. Think beyond budget estimates – They tell us about govt.

outlays & priorities but are revised with time. Look back at

2014 (revised estimates) & 2013 (actuals).

2. Compare like with like – To see a policy allocation jump,

compare estimates with estimates and not with revised or

actuals.

3. Think beyond nominal increases in allocations – factor in

inflation.

4. Think beyond outlays – Outputs and outcomes are never

tracked in budgets but they are important.

Discuss: What’s the difference between outlays and output?

Google it up!

Polity

A Nehru-Malvankar debate1. While the first Speaker (GV Malvankar) felt ordinances were

undemocratic, Nehru saw them as the last resort.

2. Malvankar said, “Whether an ordinance is justifiable or not,

the issue of a large number of ordinances has psychologically,

a bad effect”.

Discuss: Remember 1986 Supreme Court judgment in D.C.

Wadhwa versus State of Bihar case, when it said that “Ordinance

Raj” cannot be permitted.



History

What is Mission Kakatiya?1. Telangana govt’s tribute to the Kakatiya dynasty rulers who

had built a large number of irrigation tanks.

2. Deccan plateau is located in the rain shadow region –

conservation of water is a necessity. Hence interconnected

rain tanks – water flow depends on gravity.

3. In Telangana 85% of cultivated area is rainfed – water

dependence is at its best.

4. Revival of tanks will boost agriculture, help control floods,

alleviate farmer’s concerns.

Discuss: Just the other day we read about the famous Kakatiya

ruler Rudramma. And this is strike two. Kakatiya might become

important this year!

Trivia

Swine Flu preventives – in public interest1. Always wear a mask in crowded areas.

2. Frequent hand washing.

3. ‘Hands-off-the-face’ approach to avoid the entrance of virus

through the nose

4. Gargle twice a day with warm water. It has the same effect of

cleaning a healthy person’s throat, as Tamiflu will have against

an infected one.

5. Clean your nostrils everyday at least once, with warm salt

water – cleans the nasal cavity.

6. Consume citrus fruits.

Discuss: Prevention is better than cure. Spread this flash card

among your friends.



Economics

What do we know about informal employment?1. Activities and income that are partially or fully outside

government regulation, taxation, and observation.

2. Neither taxed, nor monitored, it is also called ‘grey’ economy.

3. The financial contribution to economy not included in GDP

and GNP.

4. In India – 75% of employment in rural area and 69% in urban

area are under informal sector.

Discuss: NSSO surveys are used to identify these Informal

Sectors. What more do we know about NSSO’s methodology?

Science & Tech

What is net neutrality?1. Net neutrality is the idea that all websites or videos load at

about the same speed.

2. The goal is to prevent providers from striking deals with

content providers like Google, Netflix or Twitter to move

their data faster.

3. Around 2005, when YouTube and Netflix came online and

started picking up on-demand video traffic, internet providers

started manipulating traffic and bandwidth.

4. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) finally ruled

in favor of net neutrality.

Discuss: What are the other issues troubling the internet space?

Discuss in your study groups.



Polity

Beyond medication – care for elderly1. Current elderly population – 125 MM – slated to grow to 176

MM by 2026 – 30% of these will have chronic medical

conditions.

2. Need to integrate medical therapies as a rehabilitation model

along with modern medicines to ensure both quality and

longevity of life.

3. Good time to recall the Dept. of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga &

Naturopathy, Unani , Siddha, Homoeopathy & alternative

systems).

Discuss: ‘Sowa-Rigpa’, also known as Amchi system was also

added to AYUSH. It is a popular practice in the himalayan region.

History

New telegu movie – Rudramma Devi1. How is it related to UPSC prep? It gives you a pretext to

remember her – She was a ruler of Kakatiya dynasty on the

Deccan Plateau.

2. GoI has instituted an award in her ‘Stree Shakti Puruskar’.

3. Rani Rudramma Devi Award (for both men & women) –

for personal courage and integrity.

Discuss: What are the other awards under Stree Shakti? Revisit

those brave women. Also, Anushka Shetty is acting the part of Rani

in the movie.



Economics

US puts India under Priority Watch List1. America tags India unfavourable as far as its IPR regime is

concerned. In the Special 301 report, India has been put

under the ‘priority watch list’.

2. Office of US Trade Representative produces this report. The

categories are- Priority Foreign Country (only

Ukraine), Priority Watch List (India, China, Russia…), Watch

List, N/A.

Discuss: Ukraine is like the worst country on economic issues. Just

the other day we saw how it has entered into hyper inflation.

World

India and BRICS – comparison within1. India ranks lower in ‘capacity for innovation’, ‘quality of

scientific research’, ‘patents granted per million’ etc. etc.

among the other BRICS nations.

2. We have read such news time and again, over and over – so

what is the counter?

3. One counter on patents granted could be that we are strict in

our IPR regime – Remember the Pharmaceutical patents

controversy? Our IPR regime is seen to be benefitting the

generic industries.

Discuss: India is in the ‘priority watch list’ category of US Special

301 Report. What does it mean?

Civilsdaily March

Documents

Transcript of Civilsdaily March