Current from 29th Sep to 5th Oct 2017 Compiled by bulluias ...Sep 29, 2017 · Current from 29th...

Current from 29th Sep to 5th Oct 2017 Compiled by bulluias.wordpress.com

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1. Defence Ministry has rolled out ARPAN 3.0 (Army Record Office Process Automation 3.0), a new automation software for Defence Security Corps personnel to ease personal documentation and all issues related to their progression.

The software was jointly developed by Army Software Development Centre (ASDC) and Tech Mahindra, using state-of-the-art web-based technology.

2. (NITI) Aayog in partnership with US Government is going to host 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES 2017) in Hyderabad (Telangana) from November 28 to 30, 2017. The theme for this year is “Women First, Prosperity for All” to celebrate entrepreneurship in all its strength, diversity and entirety. This is the first time GES is being held in South Asia.

Key Facts

GES 2017 aims to empower Indian entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, build partnerships, secure funding, and create innovative products and services that will transform societies for better future. It will not only bring global best practices to India, but also create irreplaceable place for India in global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The four primary focus areas of GES 2017 are Digital Economy and Financial Technology, Health Care and Life Sciences, Energy and Infrastructure, and Media and Entertainment. The summit will deliberate on four key sectors, focus on critical aspects of entrepreneurship and host interactive sessions between panelists and audience.

3. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)

EESL was set up under Union Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects. It is a Joint Venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and POWERGRID. It also leads market-related actions of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE). It also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of State DISCOMs.

4. Domestic telecom equipment provider Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to launch Relief 123 service to provide disaster management in India.

5. The third India International Science Festival (IISF-2017) will be held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu from October 13-16, 2017. It will be organised by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).

Key Facts

The objective of IISF 2017 is to instil scientific temper among masses and showcase India’s contribution in field of science and technology over years. Top scientists from government are expected to participate in four-day festival at IIT-Chennai.

The festival aims to build strategy for rural India through advancement of S&T. It also intends to make innovation beneficial for people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses.

6. The International Translation Day was observed by United Nations for first time on 30 September 2017. The observance of day seeks to recognize contribution of unsung heroes behind international diplomacy who work as language professionals to facilitate dialogue and contribute to development and strengthens world peace and security. It also recognises transposition of literary or scientific work from one language into another language as indispensable to preserve clarity, climate and productiveness in international public communication.

The International Translation Day was instituted by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in May 2017 by adopting resolution 71/288 after considering importance of role played by language professionals in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development. The date 30 September was chosen to celebrate feast of Bible translator St Jerome, who is considered as patron saint of translators.

7. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified new Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 to prohibit range of activities in wetlands. The new rules will replace earlier rules notified in 2010.


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Wetland

Wetland is transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where water table is usually at or near surface or it may be land covered by shallow water. It supports rich biodiversity and provides wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge etc.

There are 115 wetlands officially identified by Central Government and of those 26 are identified as wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention (an international intergovernmental treaty for conservation of wetlands to which India is party).

Wetlands are threatened by reclamation and degradation due to activities like drainage and landfill, pollution, hydrological alteration, over-exploitation resulting in loss of biodiversity and disruption in ecosystem services provided by them.

Highlights of new rules

State Wetlands Authority (SWA): It stipulates setting up of SWA in each State/UTs headed by State’s environment minister and include range of government officials. State government will also nominate one expert each in fields of wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socioeconomics.

Functions of SWA: It will develop comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within notified wetlands and their zone of influence. It will also recommend additional prohibited activities for specific wetlands, define strategies wise use of wetlands and its conservation and undertake measures to enhance awareness within stakeholders and local communities on values and functions of wetlands. In this case, wise use has been defined as principle of sustainable uses that is compatible with conservation.

Prohibited Activities: The rules prohibit activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, setting up and expansion of industries, waste dumping and discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements.

Digital inventory of all wetlands: Mandatory for state authorities to prepare list of all wetlands and list of wetlands to be notified within six months. Based on it, a comprehensive digital inventory of all wetlands will be created and will be updated every ten years.

National Wetlands Committee (NWC): The rules stipulates for setting up of NWC, headed by MoEFCC Secretary, to monitor implementation of these rules and oversee work carried out by States. NCW will also advise Central Government on appropriate policies and action programmes for conservation and wise use of wetlands, recommend designation of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention, advise on collaboration with international agencies on issues related to wetlands etc. Ramsar Convention which is an international intergovernmental treaty for conservation of wetlands. India is a party to the treaty.


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8. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age. Sample Registration Bulletin (SRS), India has registered a significant decline of 8% in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in 2016. IMR in India has declined by three points from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 34 per 1000 live births in 2016.

The gender gap in India for child survival is also reducing steadily. The gender difference between female and male IMR has reduced to below 10%, giving major boost to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.

Among Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and Assam, all states except Uttarakhand have reported decline in IMR compared to 2015. The decline is reported as 4 points in Bihar, 3 points in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Assam respectively and two points decline in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

9. TK Viswanathan committee to deal with cybercrimes especially online hate speech has submitted its report to Union Home Ministry. The committee was formed after Supreme Court struck down Section 66 A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 in Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India. Section 66 A of IT Act was added to criminalize sending of offensive messages through a computer or other communication devices.

Recommendations

The committee has recommended appointing cybercrime coordinators in all states and establishing cybercrime cells in each district. They will deal with those fomenting trouble or spreading hate against anybody on rounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, place of birth or residence, disability or tribe through any means of communication.

It has suggested replacing some clauses of the IT Act, 2000 and amending some sections of IPC like 153 (want only giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 505A (false and mischievous reports intended to upset public tranquility) to deal with online hate crimes.


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It has recommended punishment under amended clause dealing with prohibiting incitement to hatred of two years imprisonment or fine of Rs 5,000 or both. It has suggested that offences under amended Section 505A be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or fine or Rs 5,000 or both.

The committee suggested that state cybercrime coordinator should be an officer not below the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP). The district cybercrime cell should be headed by an officer not below the rank of sub-inspector of police

10. India has signed Letter of Intent (LoI) with Norway to extend cooperation within health sector through Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) for period of three years starting from 2018.

Through this LoI, cooperation between both countries will continue to be aligned with development goals of India as outlined in its National Health Policy, 2017 for achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

11. The World Maritime Day (WMD) is observed every year on September 28 to highlight importance of shipping safety, maritime security and marine environment and to acknowledge maritime industry.

The 2017 theme of the day is ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People’. It was chosen to provide an opportunity to focus on many diverse actors involved in shipping and logistics industry. It aims to focus on helping International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states to develop and implement maritime strategies to invest in a joined-up, interagency approach that addresses whole range of issues, including facilitation of maritime transport, increasing efficiency, navigational safety, protection of marine environment, and maritime security.

The World Maritime Day marks date of adaptation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention in 1958. The day was first observed in 1978. The IMO’s original name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) but it was changed to IMO in 1982.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. It was established in 1948 in Geneva as ICMO and came into force in 1959. Its headquarters are in London, United Kingdom.

IMO has 171 member states and 3 associate members. India was one of the earliest members of the IMO and had joined it as a member-state in 1959. Its functions are to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit. This framework addresses various areas like safety, legal matters, environmental concerns, technical co-operation, maritime security and efficiency of shipping.

12. The Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) is under Department Of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. This organisation is more than hundred years old and provides Quality Assurance (QA) cover for the entire range of Arms, Ammunitions, Equipments and Stores supplied to Armed Forces.

13. The Election Commission of India will use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) gadgets with Electronic

Voting Machines (EVM) in all 50,128 voting booths in Gujarat, which goes to the Assembly polls at the end of this

year.This is the first time an entire assembly poll will be conducted using EVMs equipped with VVPAT.

VVPAT stands for Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail. VVPAT system maintains a physical trail of all votes cast. Small slips of paper records the details of the vote. The Election Commission (EC) first introduced VVPAT in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

In 2013, conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended to facilitate the introduction of VVPAT units. For the first

time, VVPAT with EVMs was used for the Noksen Assembly seat in Tuensang district of Nagaland.


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In the case of Subramanian Swamy vs Election Commission of India (ECI), the Supreme Court held that

VVPAT is “indispensable for free and fair elections” and directed the ECI to equip EVMs with VVPAT systems.

The apex court had directed the EC to introduce EVMs in a phased manner for the next General Elections in 2014,

saying it would ensure free and fair polls. SC also directed the Centre to provide financial assistance for introducing

VVPAT system.

14. On 23 December 2005, the Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act, which envisaged the creation of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers, to spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to Disaster Management in India. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) recently celebrated its 13th formation day. The theme of this year’s Formation Day is School Safety.

15. What are gravitational waves?

In simple terms, gravitational waves can be explained as ripples in the fabric of space-time which can only be

caused by massive astronomical events such as neutron stars or black holes orbiting each other so that these waves

would finally radiate from them.

These gravitational waves, if detected, will carry signatures of their origin, explaining much about the nature of

gravity and the origin of the universe. They had remained elusive till their detection was first announced last year.

Gravitational waves were predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago as part of his theory of general relativity, but the first hard evidence of their existence came only in 2015, when two U.S. detectors found the first such signal.

About Virgo detector:

The Virgo collaboration includes more than 280 physicists and engineers belonging to 20 different European

research groups.

The Virgo detector — an underground L-shaped instrument that tracks gravitational waves using the

physics of laser light and space — recently underwent an upgrade, and while still less sensitive than its

U.S. counterparts, it was able to confirm the same signal.

Known as interferometers, these high-tech underground stations do not rely on light in the sky like a

telescope does, but instead sense vibrations in space and can pick up the “chirp” created by a gravitational

wave.


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16. Bengaluru got its 51st mayor recently. However, despite this `worshipful’ post of the first citizen of the city having been in existence for more than half a century, the role of the mayor of Bengaluru has largely remained a ceremonial one. The Kasturirangan committee report on Bengaluru’s urban governance released in 2008, had termed the post as “a one-year wonder intended only for ceremonial purpose. “

17. in a world’s first, Chinese researchers performed a precise “chemical surgery” on human embryos to remove the disease beta-thalassemia. Base editing techniques of gene-editing was used for this purpose.

Crispr breaks DNA. When the body tries to repair the break, it deactivates a set of instructions called a gene. This presents an opportunity to insert new genetic information. • Base editing works on the DNA bases themselves to convert one into another. • Base editing technique is more efficient and has fewer unwanted side-effects than Crispr. About two-thirds of known human genetic variants associated with disease are point mutations. So base editing has the potential to directly correct, or reproduce for research purposes, many pathogenic [mutations].

18. The Global Wildlife Programme aims to promote wildlife conservation and sustainable development by Combating illicit trafficking in wildlife. Illegal wildlife trade across 19 countries of Asia and Africa, India is


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hosting the Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) jointly with World Bank and United Nations Development Programme. • The Global Environment Facility (GEF) in June 2015 launched the “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development” program also known as the Global Wildlife Program (GWP). • The GWP is a World-Bank led global partnership that promotes wildlife conservation and sustainable development by combating illicit trafficking in wildlife.

19. There are Eight Empowered Action Group States: Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Rajasthan; often, the mention of “EAG States” is followed by a mention of Assam. These nine States, which account for about 48 percent of the total population in the country, are the high focus States in view of their relatively higher fertility and mortality indicators.

20. The Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India is all set to launch ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ by January 2018.

21. The Union Ministry of Water Resources has approved project to set up Turtle sanctuary in Allahabad along with River Biodiversity Park at Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh under Namami Gange programme.

22. National Waterway 4

NW-4 in Andhra Pradesh has total length of 2890 km. It is proposed to be developed in three phases viz. Phase-I: Muktyala to Vijayawada (Krishna River) (82 Km), Phase-II: Vijayawada to Kakinada (Eluru canal & Kakinada canal) and Rajahmundry to Polavaram stretch of Godavari (233 Km) and Phase-III: Commamur Canal, Buckingham canal and balance stretches of Krishna & Godavari Rivers (573km)

23. According to Ministry of Commerce & Industry, eight core sectors grew by 4.9% in August 2017, the highest growth rate since April 2017. It was higher than 3.1% in August 2016 and 2.6% in July 2017

The growth was recorded on account of robust performance of coal, natural gas and electricity segments. But, growth in Crude oil, cement and fertiliser segments declined.

Eight core sectors

Core industry can be defined as the main industry. In most countries, there is particular industry that seems to be the backbone of all other industries and it qualifies to be the core industry. In India, there are eight core sectors comprising of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.

The electricity has the maximum weight of 10.32% followed by Steel (6.68%), Petroleum Refinery (5.94%), Crude Oil production (5.22 %), Coal production (4.38 %), Cement (2.41%), Natural Gas production (1.71 %) and Fertilizer production (1.25%).

24. The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (58) as one of two deputy directors general. This is first time such second-highest position created within WHO and highest post held by Indian in WHO.

25. Russia launched Sibir (Siberia), the world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker ship built under Project 22220 into the water at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg.


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Sibir is second of three icebreakers of new class of biggest nuclear powered icebreakers ever constructed under Project 22220. The first one was Arktika (Arctic) was put in service in June 2016. Third icebreaker Ural is set to be completed in 2019. Sibir is powered by two next generation RITM-200 nuclear-reactors, Russia is only country in world that produces nuclear-powered icebreakers. The new series of icebreakers under Project 22220 are meant to ensure year-round navigation in western Arctic, and their makes possible to use them in Arctic Ocean as well as in rivers.

26. Karnataka Government has launched Mathru Poorna Scheme to meet nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women in rural areas of state.Under this scheme, pregnant and lactating poor women in rural areas will get one nutritious meal daily for 25 days in a month.

The scheme will be implemented through anganwadis in State. Under it, nutritious food will be provided for 15 months, from start of pregnancy up to six months after delivery. Along with meal, Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets will be administered and gestational weight monitoring will be ensured for pregnant women.

The full meal will consist of rice, dal with vegetables/sambar, one boiled egg and 200ml of milk, will be given to pregnant women. Those who don’t eat eggs would be given two varieties of sprouts. This meal will meet 40-45% of daily calorie, protein and calcium requirement per day of pregnant and lactating mothers.

27. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has selected three American scientists Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne for the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics.

They were selected for their decisive contributions to the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) detector and the observation of gravitational waves.

Gravitational waves

Gravitational waves are ripples curvature of spacetime which propagate as waves, travelling outward from source at the speed of light. Strongest sources of gravitational waves are among produced by catastrophic events such as colliding black holes.

Gravitational waves were first predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein on basis of his Theory of General Relativity. They were detected for by US LIGO laboratory in 2015. Since then three more examples have been detected.

Gravitational waves transport energy as gravitational radiation and pass through matter without interacting with it. Information extracted from gravitational waves may help to address unsolved questions and mysteries of physics and astronomy.

LIGO

LIGO is world’s largest gravitational wave observatory. It comprises two enormous laser interferometers located thousands of kilometers apart. It


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helps to detect and understand the origins of gravitational waves. The Interferometers used in LIGO work by merging two or more sources of light to create interference pattern, which can be measured and analyzed.

28. The Union Government had launched SECURE Himalaya, a six-year project to ensure conservation of locally and globally significant biodiversity, land and forest resources in high Himalayan ecosystem spread over four states viz. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

It was launched by Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

It is meant for specific landscapes including Changthang (Jammu and Kasmir), Lahaul – Pangi and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), Gangotri – Govind and Darma – Byans Valley in Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) and Kanchenjunga – Upper Teesta Valley (Sikkim).

The key focus areas of the project is protection of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats and also securing livelihoods of people in region and enhancing enforcement to reduce wildlife crime. Under it, enhanced enforcement efforts and monitoring will be undertaken to curb illegal trade in some medicinal and aromatic plants which are among most threatened species in these landscapes.

29. The Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) Conference was recently held in New Delhi. It was jointly hosted by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), World Bank and United Nations Development Programme. Theme of the Conference was – “Peoples’ participation in wildlife conservation”.

The GWP is World-Bank led global partnership of 19 countries in Asia and Africa to promote the conservation and sustainable development by combating trafficking in wildlife. It was initiated in 2015 by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

It serves as a platform to exchange knowledge and coordinate in on-ground action for combating illegal poaching of wildlife and improve governance on wildlife conservation. It seeks to reduce both supply and demand that drives illegal wildlife trade, and protect species and habitats through integrated landscape planning.

30. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has unveiled third National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017-2031 to chalk out future road map for wildlife conservation.

The plan was unveiled by Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on inaugural day of Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) conference. It is third action plan after first released in 1983 to 2001 and second from 2002 to 2016, that had protected area-centric approach to wildlife conservation.

3rd National Wildlife Action Plan

The plan was initiated in February 2016 by MoEFCC. It was drafted by a 12-member committee chaired by JC Kala, a former secretary to the ministry. The key focus areas of this plan includes integration of climate change into wildlife planning, conservation of coastal and marine ecosystem, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, focus on wildlife health among others.

Climate Change impact: It is first wildlife action plan to recognise concerns related to climate change impact on wildlife. It has stressed on integrating actions for its mitigation and adaptation into wildlife management planning processes.


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It recommended assisted migration of wildlife and anticipatory planting along ecological gradients, as climate change may result in die-offs of certain tree species that are unable to adapt to newer environmental conditions.

Approach: It adopts landscape approach in conservation of all wildlife – uncultivated flora and fauna that have an ecological value to ecosystem and to mankind irrespective of where they occur. It gives special emphasis to recovery to threatened species of wildlife while conserving their habitats which include inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems.

Human-animal conflict concerns: It addresses rising human-animal conflict owing to shrinkage, fragmentation and deterioration of habitats generating animosity against wild animals and protected areas.

People’s support: It underscores increasing need for people’s support for conservation of wildlife. It recommends eco-development, education, innovation, training, extension, and conservation awareness and outreach programs.

Participation of private sector: It underlines increased role of private sector in wildlife conservation. It lays down that Government will ensure that adequate and sustained funding including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds are made available for implementation of plan.

31. President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed five-member commission to examine sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). It will be headed by retired Chief Justice of Delhi High Court G. Rohini.

Besides, Dr J K Bajaj, Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Registrar General and Census Commissioner and Joint Secretary from Ministry of Social Justice will be ex-officio members of commission.

The commission has been established under Article 340 of Constitution under which Mandal commission had recommended 27% reservation for socially and educationally backward classes, was appointed.

Sub-categorisation of OBCs aims to ensure more equitable distribution of reservations in government jobs and educational institutions so that dominant groups among OBCs do not corner all benefits. The exercise will involve sub-categorisation of 5,000 castes in central OBC list.

Commission’s Terms of reference

The commission will examine extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among castes included in broad category of OBCs, especially with reference to OBCs included in the Central list.

It will also take up exercise of identifying respective castes/sub-castes/communities synonyms in Central List of OBCs and classify them into their respective sub-categories. It will work out mechanism, norms, criteria and parameters, in scientific approach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs.

Background The Supreme Court of India in Indra Sawhney and others vs. Union of India case (1992) had observed that there is no constitutional or legal bar on states for categorizing OBCs as backward or more backward. It had also observed that it is not impermissible in law if state chooses to do sub-categorization. So far, 9 states/UTs viz. Karnataka, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Puducherry, Telangana, Wst Bengal, Bihar,


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Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have carried out sub-categorization of OBCs. So far there was no sub categorisation in central list of OBCs.

32. Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

It is historic Hindu temple located on southern bank of Vaigai River in temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareswar, a form of Shiva. It was built during reign of Pandyas. It houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging from 45–50m in height and tallest is southern tower, 51.9 metres high. It also has two golden sculptured vimanas, shrines over garbhagrihas (sanctums) of main deities, adjudged as the cleanest iconic place in country under Swachhta Hi Seva (cleanliness is service) programme.

33. The World Habitat Day was observed all over the world on 2 October 2017. The purpose of day is to reflect on state of cities and towns and basic human right to adequate shelter. It also aims to remind world of its collective responsibility for habitat of future generations.

The theme for this year was ‘Housing Policies: Affordable Homes’. It focuses on promoting implementation of concrete initiatives to ensure adequate and affordable housing in context of implementation of New Urban Agenda, as well as achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

New Urban Agenda

It was adopted at UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (also known as “Habitat III” conference) held in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016. It sets global vision of sustainable urbanization for next 20 years.

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202 in 1985 and was first celebrated in 1986. Since then it is observed each year with new theme to promote sustainable development policies that ensure adequate shelter for all.

34. The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall (72), Michael Rosbash (73) and Michael W. Young (68). It was announced by Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.

They were awarded for discovering molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythm. Their discoveries explain how plants, animals and humans adapt their biological rhythm so that it is synchronized with Earth’s revolutions.

Circardian Rhythm

Circardian Rhythm is 24 hour cycle in physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and


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cyanobacteria. It influences such biological functions as hormone levels, sleep, body temperature and metabolism.

These three noble laureates dsing the fruit fly as a model organism, had isolated a gene that controls daily biological rhythm. They had showed that this gene encodes a protein that accumulates in cell during night and is then degraded during the day.

Subsequently they identified additional protein components of this machinery, exposing mechanism governing the self-sustaining clockwork inside the cell. They also had raised awareness of importance of proper sleep hygiene.

Nobel Medicine Prize

The Nobel award for medicine is given to persons whose discoveries have significantly enhanced understanding of life or practice of medicine. The winners are chosen by Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute. The prestigious award carries prize money of 8 million Swedish kroner or 1.1 million dollars. Medicine is first of the Nobel Prizes awarded each year. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite in 1895.

35. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched countrywide Free Eye Check-up Campaign and distribution of spectacles for truck drivers, cleaners and helpers.

It was launched by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari at Panjari Toll Plaza, Nagpur Bypass, Nagpur in Maharashtra.

36. India received first ever shipment of US crude oil of 1.6 million barrels, purchased by state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Paradip Port in Odisha. It was imported on board of MT New Prosperity, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) that had left US Gulf Coast on August 19, 2017 and arrived at Paradip port.

Key Facts

IOC will process crude at its refineries located at Paradip, Haldia (in West Bengal), Barauni (in Bihar) and Bongaigaon (in Assam). This was one of first shipments to India since United States stopped oil exports in 1975. With this India, the world’s third-largest oil importer joins other Asian countries like South Korea, Japan, Thailand, China and Taiwan to buy US crude oil as they seek to diversify oil imports from other regions after the OPEC production cuts raised prices of Middle East heavy-sour crude ( grades with a high sulphur content).

Background

The delivery of shipment follows recent commitments to US oil purchases by Indian state refiners. State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) also have placed orders for about 2.95 million barrels and 1 million barrels of US crude respectively for their Kochi and Vizag refineries.

Indian companies, both public and private, have invested about $5 billion in US shale assets. They have also contracted 5.8 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from US and the first shipment is expected to be delivered to India in January 2018.

India-US Energy relations


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The IOC purchase comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June 2017 when President Donald Trump had assured that US looks forward to export more energy products to India. They had committed to expand and elevate bilateral energy cooperation through strategic energy partnership.

Under this partnership, both countries are elevating cooperation in field of energy, including in cleaner fossil fuels, renewables, nuclear, and cutting edge storage and energy efficiency technologies. The first delivery of oil imports is considered as significant milestone in growing partnership between the US and India. US crude oil shipments to India have potential to boost bilateral trade between both countries by up to $2 billion.

37. The Odisha Government is creating 1.2 lakh acre land bank across state for allocation to industrial sector in order to avoid repeat of Posco fiasco.

The purpose of the land bank is to cut red tape and avoid local issues in the land acquisition process. Under it, state government is acquiring government land for industrial use.

38. The International Day of Non-violence is celebrated every year on 2 October throughout world on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of Indian independence movement and also pioneer of philosophy of non-violence (ahimsa).

Observance of this day seeks to promote principles of non-violence through education and public awareness and is observed by all countries of the UN. In India, this day is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti.

International day of Non-Violence

The day was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by adopting resolution A/RES/61/271 in June 2007 to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness. The resolution reaffirmed universal relevance of principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) is known for playing main role in freeing India from clutches of British. He was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, in Bombay Presidency of British India. He was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse.

Gandhiji is fondly known as ‘Bapu’ for his selfless contribution towards India’s Independence struggle. He is unofficially called Father of the Nation. He had studied law at University College London. He later returned to India and worked with Indian Firm in South Africa.

Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and joined Indian National Congress. He led nationwide campaigns for various social causes and for achieving Swaraj or self-rule. He led peaceful protests and started creating awareness about oppress rule of British in India. His non-violent methods including Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience is known worldwide.

Some of the famous protests led by Gandhiji against British rule include Dandi March and non-cooperation movement that gave severe blows to the British government. Eventually, his fame spread all over India and in year 1921 he became leader of Indian National Congress, He lived modestly in self-sufficient residential community and wore traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn hand-spun on charkha. He also undertook long fasts as a means of both self-purification and political protest. At multiple times he was jailed however he continued his efforts.


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39. The International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) is observed every year on October 1 to raise awareness about issues affecting elderly and to appreciate contributions that older people make to society. It also seeks to raise awareness about issues affecting elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse.

The theme for this year is “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society”. It aims to explore effective means of promoting and strengthening the participation of older persons in various aspects of social, cultural, economic and civic and political life.

Background

The International Day of Older Persons was instituted by United Nations General Assembly by adopting resolution 45/106 in December 1990 for raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. The observance of the day is also focus of ageing organizations and the United Nations Programme on Ageing.

40. The latest data from Sample Registration

Survey (SRS) show that India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) declined from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 34

per 1000 live births in 2016. However, there is still a long way to go to meet the 2019 target of IMR 28 per

1000 live births.

What is IMR?

Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.

41. Referendum on independence for Catalonia was recently held,


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The referendum, declared illegal by Spain’s central government, has thrown the country into its worst

constitutional crisis in decades and deepened a centuries-old rift between Madrid and Barcelona.

The ballot will have no legal status as it has been blocked by Spain’s Constitutional Court and

Madrid for being at odds with the 1978 constitution.

42. President appointed Banwarilal Purohit as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.) as

the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Satya Pal Malik as the Governor of Bihar, Jagdish Mukhi as the

Governor of Assam and Ganga Prasad as the Governor of Meghalaya.

Appointment and tenure of governors:

The governors and lieutenant-governors are appointed by the president for a term of 5 years.

Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor.

The term of governor’s office is normally 5 years but it can be terminated earlier by: Dismissal by

the president on the advice of the prime minister of the country, at whose pleasure the governor holds

office or Resignation by the governor.

There is no provision of impeachment, as it happens for the president.

Constitutional provisions of Governor

Article 153: It says that there shall be Governor for each state. But 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 facilitated appointment of same person as a governor for two or more states.

Article 156: Governor is appointed by President for term of 5 years but usually holds office during pleasure of President. There is no provision of impeachment, as it happens for the president.


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43. Departing from past practice, the Chinese army did not send an invitation to its Indian counterpart for a

ceremonial border personnel meeting (BPM) to mark China’s National Day on October 1. This is the first time

since 2005 that there was no BPM held on the India-China border. These ceremonial meetings include a small

cultural show, a sporting contest and a meal. They are attended by officers, soldiers and families from both sides,

and are different from flag-meetings, which are convened to discuss border issues.

Both sides had agreed to two ceremonial meetings every year, starting from 2005, consequent to the

signing of the Protocol on Modalities for the Implementation of Confidence Building Measures in the

Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Areas.

There are five BPM points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Bum La and Kibithu in

Arunachal Pradesh, Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh, and Nathu La in Sikkim.

44. The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day

2017 theme: Housing Policies: Affordable Homes

45. Nepal, India to conduct first joint tiger count

Tiger range countries (TRCs) are those where the big cat roams freely. The 13 tiger range countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Tiger is an endangered animal listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), tigers have lost 93% of their historical range.

46. About PMJDY(Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana):

The primary aim of this scheme is to provide poor people access to bank accounts.

The scheme covers both urban and rural areas of India. All bank accounts will be linked to a debit card

which would be issued under the Ru-Pay scheme. Rupay is India’s own unique domestic card network


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owned by National Payments Corporation of India and has been created as an alternative to Visa and

Mastercard.

Under this scheme, every individual who opens a bank account becomes eligible to receive an accident

insurance cover of up-to Rs 1 Lakh for his entire family.

The scheme also provides incentives to business and banking correspondents who serve as link for the last

mile between savings account holders and the bank by fixing a minimum monthly remuneration of Rs

5000.

47. ADB $500 million funding soon for private sector infrastructure in Asia and Pacific-Asian

Development Bank (ADB) is actively processing USD 500 million (about Rs 3,275 crore) as debt and equity

funding for private infrastructure projects in countries. This includes potential projects in India, Indonesia,

Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The Leading Asia’s Private Sector Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) was established in March 2016. The fund is an

infrastructure co-financing fund, expected to leverage and complement ADB’s existing nonsovereign platform

to fill financing gaps and increase access to finance for infrastructure projects in the region. Japan

International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has made a contribution to the fund.

48. Crisil report on farm loan waiver-loan waivers the Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab did,

then the total cost the exchequer could be upto Rs 2.5 lakh crore or 0.5% of GDP. It has termed farm loan

waivers as a “paradox” in a year of normal monsoon.

What needs to be done?

Proper identification: For providing immediate relief to the needy farmers, a more inclusive alternative approach is

to identify the vulnerable farmers based on certain criteria and give an equal amount as financial relief to the

vulnerable and distressed families.

Enhance non- farm income: The sustainable solution to indebtedness and agrarian distress is to raise income from

agricultural activities and enhance access to non-farm sources of income. The low scale of farms necessitates that

some cultivators move from agriculture to non-farm jobs.


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Improved technology, expansion of irrigation coverage, and crop diversification towards high-value crops are

appropriate measures for raising productivity and farmers’ income. All these require more public funding and

support.

49. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the signing and ratification of the Extradition Treaty

between India and Lithuania.

Lithuania(Lithuania is situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea and borders Latvia on the north, Belarus on the

east and south, and Poland and the Kaliningrad region of Russia on the southwest.)

Benefits of this treaty:

The Treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders

and other criminals from and to Lithuania.

The Treaty would help in extradition of fugitive criminals including terrorists for criminal prosecutions

from Lithuania who may have committed crimes against India.

It will bring the criminals to justice, with a view to ensure peace and tranquility to public at large.

What is extradition?

Extradition is the surrender of a criminal to one country by another. It also helps in maintaining the

territoriality of the penal code which says that a country should not apply its criminal law to a person who

committed an offence outside its territories except when the crime is related the countries national interest. The

process is regulated by treaties between the two countries.

What are the extradition laws of India?

In India the Extradition Act, 1962 regulates the surrender of a person to another country or the request for arrest of a

person in a foreign land. The act specifies that any conduct of a person in India or in a foreign state that is mentioned

in the list of extradition offence and is punishable with minimum one year of imprisonment qualifies for extradition

request. The process has to be initiated by the central government.

In the case of countries with which India does not have such a treaty, the central government can by

notified order treat any convention to which India and the foreign country is a party as the extradition treaty

providing for extradition with respect to the offences specified in that convention.


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If the

extradition

request has

come from two

or more

countries then

the government

has the rights to

decide which of

them is the

fittest for the

request.

50. The 2017 Nobel prize

in Chemistry has been

awarded to Jacques

Dubochet (University of

Lausanne, Switzerland)

Joachim Frank

(Columbia University,

New York) and Richard

Henderson (MRC

Laboratory of Molecular

Biology, Cambridge,

U.K.) “for developing

cryo-electron

microscopy for the

high-resolution

structure determination

of biomolecules in

solution“.


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What is cryo-electron microscopy?

“Cryo”, short for cryogenic refers to very low temperatures. Though the actual temperature is not well defined, it is

below minus 150°C. In the context of electron microscopy, it refers to the fact that the object to be imaged is frozen

to such low temperatures to facilitate being studied under the beam of the electron microscope.

This method is so effective that even in recent times, it has been used to image the elusive Zika virus: When

researchers began to suspect that the Zika virus was causing the epidemic of brain-damaged newborns in Brazil,

they turned to cryo-EM to visualise the virus. Over a few months, three dimensional (3D) images of the virus at

atomic resolution were generated and researchers could start searching for potential targets for pharmaceuticals.

51. The Government has constituted a high-level committee for proper management of water resources in North

Eastern Region (NER) under Chairmanship of Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog.

The Committee is tasked to facilitate optimizing benefits of appropriate water management in form of agriculture, bio-diversity conservation, hydro-electric power, reduced flood damage erosion, inland water transport, forestry, fishery and eco-tourism. Composition of Committee

It will include secretaries from the ministries of DoNER, water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, power, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), departments of border management and space and chief secretaries of all eight north eastern states.

The Brahmaputra (flows through Assam, Arunachal Pradesh) and Barak river (flows through Assam, Manipur

and Mizoram) systems in NER which account for one-third of India’s run off are highly prone to floods.

52. The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ministry of

Railways, and Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Swiss

Confederation on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector.

53. Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)

ICSI is the only statutory professional body in India with objective of promoting, regulating and developing the profession of Company Secretaries in India. Its headquarters are located at New Delhi, four Regional Offices at New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and 69 Chapters across India.


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Originally it was set up as not-for-profit organisation on 4th October, 1968, but later in 1980 the institute was converted into statutory professional body under an Act of Parliament, ‘The Company Secretaries Act 1980’.

54. RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6%

Policy Rates

Repo rate: It is rate at which RBI lends to its clients generally against government securities. It was unchanged at 6%.

Reverse Repo Rate: It is rate at which banks lend funds to RBI. It was unchanged at 5.75%.

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate: It is rate at which scheduled banks can borrow funds overnight from RBI against government securities. It is very short term borrowing scheme for scheduled banks. It was unchanged at 6.25%.

Bank Rate: It is rate charged by central bank for lending funds to commercial banks. It was unchanged 6.25%. It influences lending rates of commercial banks. Higher bank rate will translate to higher lending rates by banks.

Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): It is amount of funds that banks have to keep with RBI. It was unchanged at 4%. The RBI uses CRR to drain out excessive money from system.

Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): It was changed to 19.5% from 20%. It is amount that banks have to maintain a stipulated proportion of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) in form of liquid assets like cash, gold and unencumbered securities, treasury bills, dated securities etc.

55. ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a concept of weekly or fortnightly virtual clinics that use teleconferencing to bridge the gap in healthcare resources by using the best specialists to reach out to underserved areas. But unlike telemedicine, ECHO clinics do not provide care directly to patients. Instead, they equip primary healthcare clinicians — doctors, nurses and other health workers — in remote areas with the knowledge and support to manage complex cases. Essentially, it brings specialist care and knowledge to areas where there is none. • Project ECHO began in 2003 in New Mexico when Dr Sanjeev Arora, a liver disease specialist in Albuquerque, US, realised that there were thousands of people in the state of New Mexico with Hepatitis C but with no access to treatment because there were no specialists where they lived. It’s then that Dr Arora began ECHO, bringing together local clinicians and specialists through weekly virtual clinics. • India’s first ECHO clinic began in 2008 as a collaboration between the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) on managing HIV AIDS patients. Since then, ECHO clinics in the country have tackled addiction and substance use disorders, mental health, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, liver diseases, cancer screening and prevention, among others.

56. Gypsum: 1. It is a naturally-occurring substance 2. It is used as a soil amendment for agricultural purposes 3. Plaster of Paris is made by heating it to high temperatures

Note:- Gypsum is used as a fertiliser; it is a moderately soluble source of the essential plant nutrients, calcium and sulphur, and can improve overall plant growth. Gypsum amendments can also improve the physical and chemical


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properties of soils, thus reducing erosion losses of soils and nutrient concentrations (especially phosphorus) in surface water runoffs . Gypsum is the most commonly used amendment for sodic soil reclamation and can be included as a component in synthetic soils used in nursery, greenhouse, and landscape applications. These multiple uses of gypsum represent potential benefits to agricultural and horticultural users.

PoP is made by heating gypsum at temperatures in the range of 300°F. When it comes in contact with water, the material regains the form of gypsum. Since gypsum is a naturally occurring substance, and is used as a soil-conditioner to reclaim saline-sodic soils, it has been argued by idol-makers’ associations that it is harmless to the environment. This argument, however, is trashed by activists who argue that PoP idols are non-biodegradable.

57. European Union and European Space Agency’s ‘Copernicus’ programme is associated with An Earth Observation programme, it will provide information to improve the management of the environment.

58. Ethiopia country in the Horn of Africa is land-locked; South Sudan too is a land-locked country. But it isn’t a country that constitutes the Horn of Africa (see image).

59. A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly-shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Plates move horizontally over the asthenosphere as rigid units. The lithosphere includes the crust and top mantle with its thickness range varying between 5-100 km in oceanic parts and about 200 km in the continental areas. A plate may be referred to as the continental plate or oceanic plate depending on which of the two occupy a larger portion of the plate. Pacific plate is largely an oceanic plate whereas the Eurasian plate may be called a continental plate.

Alfred Wegener had thought of all the continents to have initially existed as a super continent in the form of Pangaea.

60. China’s first foreign military base has come up at says the support base at Djibouti will be used for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and West Asia. The US, Japan and France also have military bases in Djibouti.

Djibouti, a tiny country at the Horn of Africa, is favoured for its location as it sits near a busy shipping route. It is also seen as a stable country in an otherwise volatile region.

Like in so many areas, China’s strategic advances in the Horn have helped put Djibouti back on India’s political radar. President Kovind will be India’s first president or prime minister to visit Djibouti.


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61. In discovering the molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm in living organisms – the internal biological clock, this year’s Nobel laureates in Physiology/Medicine had studied a particular gene belonging to Fruit flies.

62. According to the concept of the “Keynesian multiplier” any form of government spending increases employment and prosperity.

63. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave (GW) Observatory (LIGO) project operates three gravitational-wave (GW) detectors. Two are at Hanford in the state of Washington, north-western USA, and one is at Livingston in Louisiana, south-eastern USA. The proposed LIGO-India project aims to move one Advanced LIGO detector from Hanford to India.

LIGO-India project is envisaged as an international collaboration between the LIGO project and three lead institutions in the IndIGO (Indian Initiative in GW Observations) consortium: Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) Gandhinagar, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore. Among the three, IUCAA will be leading. Other Indian Universities will also participate in the project.

Funding for the LIGO-India facilities will come from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), with DAE acting as the lead agency.

64. ‘India’s Million Death Study’ is most appropriatelay ssociated with which one of the following issues related to Death of children aged under five.

One million children saved, says a new study published in the Lancet Significant reductions in mortality from pneumonia, diarrhoea, neonatal infections and birth asphyxia.

65. ‘Mobile Termination Charge’ refers to A charge paid by the network from where a call originates to one where it terminates, MTC is also referred to as ‘Interconnect Usage Charge’. This is a charge paid by the network from where a call originates to the one where it terminates. IUCs direct impact the call tariff.

66. The Walk Free Foundation’s activities help achieve a target listed under which one of the following Sustainable Development Goals, Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all (SDG 8).

About the Walk Free Foundation and the Global Slavery Index: In 2012, Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest founded the Walk Free Foundation (WFF) with the aim of eliminating modern slavery. Its first Global Slavery Index in 2013 ranked countries based on the prevalence of modern slavery. Subsequent reports also evaluated government response to the challenge.

The latest survey (released recently; Global Slavery Index 2016) ranked 167 countries based on the proportion of the population estimated to be in slavery. India came in fourth after North Korea, Uzbekistan and Cambodia.

In terms of the absolute numbers of people in slavery, India ranked first — ahead of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.In producing the report, the International Labour Organisation, a UN body, had joined hands with WFF.


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The methodology of the Slavery Survey has been a subject of criticism in the past, and more recently our own IB has raised a red flag for a few reasons.

67.

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