Prelims Tidbits 16 Sep 17

AADHAR to be linked to driving License 

Context:
1. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that after linking Aadhaar to PAN cards, the Union government would now link it with driving licences as well. It will help check the menace of multiple licences.
2. Mr. Prasad said: “I already had a word with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in this regard and the process to link Aadhaar with driving licences will be set in motion soon.”
3. Secure tool:- He added that Aadhaar was a safe and secure tool for good governance and empowerment.

Ministry clarifies on FCRA License 

Context:
1. The HRD Ministry on Friday clarified that the institutions created through an Act
of Parliament do not need an FCRA licence to receive foreign funds.
2. The Home Ministry has cancelled the FCRA licences of several hundred organisations, including the Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and IIT Delhi, for failing to file annual returns for five consecutive years.
3. “Institutions created through an Act of Parliament are exempted from filing returns as they are covered under the annual government audit,” a senior HRD Ministry official said. Citing Section 50 of FCRA 2010, the official said the statutory bodies created though Central or state Acts are exempt.

To know more about FCRA Click Here 

Forex reserves hit $400 Billion 

Context:
1. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have touched $400 billion for the first time.
2. Four years after the rupee hit a historic low, the RBI’s forex kitty has swelled by more than $125 billion.
3. The reserves act as a buffer to be used in challenging times.

4. Data showed foreign exchange reserves rose by $2.6 billion from the previous week to $400.7 billion in the week ended September 8.


5. Foreign currency assets mainly contributed to the increase in the period.

Foreign-exchange reserves:
1. Foreign-exchange reserves (also called forex reserves or FX reserves) is money or other assets held by a central bank or other monetary authority so that it can pay if need be its liabilities, such as the currency issued by the central bank, as well as the various bank reserves deposited with the central bank by the government and other financial institutions

Countries Ranking in Foriegn Exhange Reserves

OPEN SKY AGREEMENT

Context:

1. India-Japan sign open sky agreement, fares may come down
2. India and Japan have agreed to an open sky arrangement under which the airlines of both countries can operate an unlimited number of flights. The agreement was signed after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shino Abe.
3. The agreement will not only encourage connectivity and passenger travel between the two countries, but will also result in reduction in airfares on these routes.
4. The agreement was signed in accordance with the National Civil Aviation Policy
5. (NACP), 2016.
6. The NACP permits the government to enter into an ‘open sky’ air services agreement on a reciprocal basis with SAARC nations as well as countries with territory located entirely beyond a 5,000 kilometre radius from New Delhi.
7. Last year, India signed an open sky agreement with Greece, Jamaica, Guyana,Czech Republic, Finland, Spain and Sri Lanka.
8. India also signed a bilateral open sky agreement with the US in 2005.
9. In 2003, India had signed an open sky agreement with the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

PIB

Swachhta Hi Seva

1. It is the nation-wide sanitation campaign from 15th September to 2nd October 2017 to highlight the third year anniversary of Swachh Bharat mission.
2. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the convening Ministry for the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Trade & Development Report 2017

1. Trade & Development report 2017 was recently released by United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
2. In its recent report titled ‘Beyond austerity — towards a global new deal’, it states that India, China unlikely to be ‘growth poles’ for global economy.
3. The report pegs India's rate at 6.7% in 2017, down from 7% in 2016.
4. It pointed out that effects of demonetisation and rollout of the Goods & Services Tax regime on the informal sector and reduction in pace of credit creation may affect India’s growth prospects.

UNCTAD

1. UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
2. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and part of the UN Secretariat.
3. It is also a part of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG).
4. It was formed specifically to handle the problems of developing countries dealing with trade, investment and development issues.
5. Other reports published by UNCTAD – World Investment Report, The Least Developed Countries Report, Information and Economy Report, Technology and Innovation Report and Commodities and Development Report.

Prelims Tidbits 15 Sep 17

North Korea :Japan draws in India

1. Displaying strategic convergence, India and Japan on Thursday asked North Korea to shut down its nuclear and missile programmes.
2. Both sides also hinted at Pakistan’s past involvement with North Korean nuclear and missile programmes and sought accountability of “all parties”
3. “Japan and India will take firm steps against the challenges that have emanated from North Korea.
4. We will force North Korea to roll back its recent aggressive moves. This is a message that I send out along with Prime Minister
5. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, elaborating on the country’s concerns over the recent test of a hydrogen bomb by Pyongyang, which also fired a long-range missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on August 29.

NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL

Context:
1. A decade-old diesel vehicles will now have to go off the roads with the National Green Tribunal on Thursday declining to lift its ban on them in Delhi-NCR, noting that emissions from diesel vehicles were carcinogenic.

❖ NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL (NGT):

1. National Green Tribunal is a statutory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010.
2. It has replaced National Environment Appellate Authority.
3. It has jurisdiction over all civil cases where a significant question relating to environment is involved and would deal with all environmental laws on air and water pollution.
4. It solved cases within 6 month on appeals & don’t follow code of procedure 1908
It follow Natural justice for environment
2. It has Branches @ Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai
3. It is created for effective & speedy disposal of cases relating to Environmental protection, conservation of forests and for the case seeking compensation for damages caused to people or property due to violation of environmental laws.

❖ Composition:
1. Chairman:Administrative head / serving or retired Chief Justice of India/ serving or retired Chief Justice of high court/ judge of supreme court
2. Members: 40 (20 Administration+ 20 Judiciary)
1. At least 10 and maximum 20 Full time Judicial members and
2. At least 10 and maximum 20 Full time Expert Members.

YAMUNA RIVER

Context:
1. Villagers watch the rescue operation in the Yamuna after a boat capsized near
Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
2. Nineteen persons drowned when the boat, overcrowded with labourers, sank
early in the morning.

❖ Yamuna River:
1. Yamuna is the longest and the second largest tributary river of the Ganges
(Ganga) in northern India.

2. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of 6,387 metres on the south
western slopes of Banderpooch peaks in the uppermost region of the Lower
Himalaya in Uttarakhand.Before merging with the Ganges at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad, the site for the Kumbha Mela every twelve years.

2. It is the longest river in India which does not directly flow to the sea.

3. It crosses several states, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, passing by Uttarakhand and later Delhi, and meets its tributaries on the way, including Tons, its largest tributary in Uttarakhand, Chambal, its longest tributary which has its own large basin, followed by Sindh, the Betwa, and Ken.

COURT SUGGEST AUDIT OF NULM FUNDS 

Context:
1. Supreme Court has questioned whether the money meant to build shelter
homes for the urban homeless and poor across the country is was actually lying
unspent or had been diverted for other purposes.
2. A Bench, led by Justice Madan B. Lokur, suggested an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the funds disbursed under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) scheme.

3. It said such an audit was necessary as the apex court-appointed committee,which is headed by former Delhi High Court judge Justice Kailash Gambhir and was set up to verify the availability of such shelters, would not look into this aspect.
4. ‘States not spending money allotted’
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the amount not spent by the States for the previous year was ₹412 crore, while ₹228 crore had been released by the Centre for 2017-18.
2. “One thing is that you [Centre] give money and the States do not spend it. For 2017-2018, you have given ₹228 crore.

3. Why should you give them more money?” the Bench said.

National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MHUPA), Government of India in 23rd September, 2013 by replacing the existing Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana(SJSRY).

2. The NULM will focus on organizing urban poor in their strong grassroots level
institutions, creating opportunities for skill development leading to market-based employment and helping them to set up self-employment venture by ensuring easy access to credit.

3. The Mission is aimed at providing shelter equipped with essential services to the urban homeless in a phased manner.
4. In addition, the Mission would also address livelihood concerns of the urban street vendors.

U.S. TO EXTEND SANCTIONS RELIEF TO IRAN

Context:
1. The U.S. on Thursday was to extend wide sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal, sources familiar with the matter said, but no decision on whether to preserve the deal itself has yet been made.

2. At the same time, the U.S. Treasury announced new cyber-related sanctions on about a dozen Iranian individuals or entities.

3. Under the law, these sanctions can be waived for a maximum of 120 days, forcing the U.S. government to revisit the issue every four months. Sources familiar with the matter stressed that the wider U.S. policy toward Iran has yet to be decided.

CENTRE SEEKS ADVISERS FOR AI DISINVESTMENT 

Context:
1. The Union government on Thursday floated an expression of interest (EOI) to appoint two financial advisers and one legal adviser for strategic disinvestment of Air India, taking forward the process to shed a stake in the ailing national carrier.
2. “The Government of India has in-principle decided to consider the disinvestment of the AI Group as a whole or its constituents fully or part thereof throughstrategic sale with transfer of management control,” the notice by the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said.

3. The Union Cabinet on June 28 gave an in-principle nod to go for strategic disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries and formed a Group of Minister (GoM) led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to draw the roadmap.
4. The decision to appoint advisers to steer forward the disinvestment process was taken by the GoM.

RBI is not comfortable with Bitcoins,says sen 

Context:
1. The RBI has been repeatedly cautioning everyone about the usage of cryptocurrencies, flagging a slew of concerns.
2. It had stated that Bitcoins posed potential risks.
3. According to some media reports, there has been a growing number of investors in such currencies over the last few years, especially with the huge spurt in the value of a few of them since the Trump administration came in U.S.

❖ What are cryptocurrencies?
1. Crypto-currency that is planned to be brought under the regulatory regime is a digital currency which allows transacting parties to remain anonymous while confirming that the transaction is a valid one.
2. It is not owned or controlled by any institution – governments or private.
3. There are multiple such currencies — bitcoin, ethereum, ripple are some of the popular ones. Currently, they are neither illegal nor legal in India.
Need for regulation::
1. Cryptocurrencies have gained popularity in the last few years.

2. Currently, they are neither illegal nor legal in many countries including India.

3. The market cap for all crypto-currencies has just crossed $100 billion, with most of the increase coming in the past few months.

4. On April 1, 2017, the total market cap was just over $25 billion, representing a 300% rise in just over 60 days.

5. One bitcoin today is worth as much as 60 grams of gold.

Mouse deer released in Amrabad Reserve for the first time

Context:
1. In a novel and unique initiative attempted anywhere in the country, the Telangana State Forest Department has re-introduced the endangered ‘mouse deer’ into the forests of Nallamalla in Amrabad Tiger Reserve.

❖ Facts:
1. The release of these mouse deer into the protected enclosure of 2.4 hectares is aimed at improving the biodiversity.
2. The Amrabad Tiger Reserve was chosen because these animals were earlier wandering in this area.
3. The deer will gradually be weaned-off externally supplied food.
4. Afterwards if they get a clearing by the field biologists, they will be released from their enclosure into the wild.


Also called ‘spotted Chevrotain’, it is one of the endangered species usually found in deciduous and evergreen forests of the country. It has its own family called Tragulidae.
2. These animals are nocturnal in habitat and because of their small size they are called ‘smallest ungulates’ too.
3. Also called “Jarini Pandi” in Telugu, their number has been decreasing at an alarming rate in recent years because of destruction of habitat and poaching.

Context:
1. The home ministry will set up an expert group to look into the problems people living in villages along the Line of Control (LoC) face.

2. The study group will look at ways to improve lives of cross-border ceasefire violation victims.

3. The study group is expected to come up with suggestions to not only increase the safety and security of the border residents but also to look at ways of making funding in Border Are a Development Programmes effective.

Context:
The Global Human Capital Index for the year 2017 has been released by WEF.

❖ Global Human Capital Index:
1. Human capital on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) across four thematic dimensions and five distinct age groups to capture the full human capital potential profile of a country.
2. It aims to be used as a tool to assess progress within countries and point to opportunities for cross-country learning and exchange.
3. The list compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) takes into account “the knowledge and skills people possess that enable them to create value in the global economic system” to measure the ‘human capital’ rank of a country.
4. The report measures 130 countries against four key areas of human capital development; Capacity (determined by past investment in formal education), Deployment (accumulation of skills through work), Development (continued upskilling and reskilling of existing workers) and Know-how (specialised skills-use at work).

Performance of India::
1. India has been placed at a low 103 rank, the lowest among BRICS economies.India also ranks “among the lowest in the world” when it comes to the employment gender gap, but has fared well when it comes to development of skills needed for the future with a rank of 65 out of total 130 countries surveyed.
2. Among the South Asian countries also, India was ranked lower than Sri Lanka and Nepal, although higher than neighbouring Bangladesh and Pakistan.
3. India is held back by a number of factors, including low educational attainment (primary education attainment among 25 -54 year olds is 110th for example) and low deployment of its human capital, meaning the skills available are not getting put to good use.
4. Other countries in the top 10 include, the United States (4th), Denmark (5th),Germany (6th), New Zealand (7th), Sweden (8th), Slovenia (9th) and Austria(10th).

PIB

1. The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presented the Rajbhasha Awards on the occasion of Hindi Diwas at a function held in New Delhi today (September 14, 2017).
2. He also launched the ‘LILA Mobile App’ in the presence of Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Shri Hansraj Gagaram Ahir and Shri Kiran Rijiju, Ministers of State
3. for Home Affairs.

OPERATION INSANIYAT

1. A humanitarian crisis arose in Bangladesh due to heavy influx of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. 
2. The government of India has decided to assist Bangladesh in this crisis by sending relief material.
3. The Indian Air Force was tasked to airlift the relief material from India to Bangladesh.
4. One C-17 Globemaster strategic heavy lift cargo aircraft was positioned at short notice at Delhi on 13 Sep 17 to airlift 55 Tons of relief material to Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Prelims Tidbits 14 Sep 17

Petrol,diesel should come under GST,Oil Minister 

Summary: 

• Minister rules out intervention in daily pricing and non-committal on cutting taxes 
• Oil Minister also ruled out any government intervention to disrupt the daily revision in petrol and diesel prices despite the Rs 7.3 per litre spike since July, saying the reform will continue. 
• Saying that many States had drastically increased value-added tax, he said, “It is high time that the GST Council considered bringing the petroleum products in the ambit of GST.” 
• India relies on imports to meet 80% of its needs and so domestic fuel rates have been aligned to the movement of equivalent product prices in the international market since April 2002. 

Taxes which are not included in GST
Central	State
1.       Custom Duty	1.       Excise on liquor for humans
2.       Cess on Custom duty	2.       Stamp Duty on immovable property
3.       Tobacco product GST yes, but central excise also	3.       Electricity Duty & cess
4.       Petroleum products	4.       Petroleum products
	5.       Tax on items containing alcohol

 

 

 

               

 

India-Japan Annual Summit

1.Highlighting common ‘strategic interests,’ Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,who arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, said India-Japan ties will shape the Asia-Pacific region.
2. Mr. Abe will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during the India-Japan annual summit, when both sides will firm up military and strategic ties.
3. Shinzo Abe promises peace in Indo-Pacific region
4. India & Japan will firm up strategic ties at summit today
5. Universal values:-“Both India and Japan place importance on the universal values and strategic interests that we commonly share.
6. Both countries are major Asian democracies and global powers

1st Indo-Russia All Armed Force Miltiary Excercise 

1. First tri-service military exercise to be held in October. 
2. It will also be India’s first bilateral military exercise with any country involving all three services. 
3. The Indra exercise is scheduled from October 19 to 29.

Payment of Gratuity Amendment Bill 2017

Context:

1. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of the Payment of

Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament.

❖ Key facts:-

1. The move aims at providing social security to workmen after retirement,

whether it is because of rules of superannuation, or physical disablement or

impairment of vital parts of the body.

2. The Amendment will increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees, in

the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous

Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension)

Rules, at par with Central Government employees.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972:-

1. The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or

more persons.

2. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workmen

after retirement, whether retirement is a result of the rules of superannuation,

or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body.

3. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security

legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and

establishments.

Chennai and Vladivostok amid China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Route (MSR)

❖Context:

1. Aiming to put in place a key maritime route connecting India with Northeast

Asia and Western Pacific region Delhi is contemplating to put in place a major

connectivity initiative — direct shipping link between Chennai and Vladivostok

amid China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Route (MSR) connecting Asia with Africa.

❖ Key facts:-

1. This proposed maritime route which could be transformed into a corridor could

juxtapose with Indo-Japan Pacific to Indian Ocean Corridor amid Beijing’s OBOR

of which MSR is a part – virtually connecting entire SE Asia through road,

shipping and rail links.

2. This shipping link would enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and

Vladivostok in 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to

transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe, according to experts

on the subject.

PIB

New NIRF Excercise 

National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the year 2018 has been announced by the centre with a change.

 The NIRF ranking was started in 2016, ranks higher educational institutions in India on the basis of a variety of parameters.

 The 2016 and 2017 NIRF lists reflected the ranks of only those institutions that had taken part in the exercise.

 But for 2018, instead of institutions choosing to take part in the exercise, they are being auto-registered through a large online database.

 The All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) portal of institutions available

with the Ministry of Human Resource Development will be used for auto registration of institutions.

 With this initiative, the number of institutions for NIRF is expected to raise three fold from previous year rankings.

 Last year ranking, among universities, Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore

was ranked first and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi was second.

Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved setting up of Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund.

 It was announced in the union budget 2017-18, under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

 The project will be implemented by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Dairy Development Cooperation(NCDC).

 NABARD will give loans to NDDB and NCDC to help the milk cooperatives.

 The project will focus on building an efficient milk procurement system, expansion of processing infrastructure for value added products for the milk unions and producer companies.

sOURCE:oNLY ias

Prelims Tidbits 13 Sep 17

Cooling off period in Hindu divorce can go :SC

Context:
1. Hindu couples who have mutually agreed to separate need not wait anymore
for the mandatory “cooling off” period of six months before divorce, the
Supreme Court held on Tuesday.
2. Once a couple moves a court of law for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act,
they have to wait for a minimum period of six months.
3. Divorce by mutual consent was introduced as an amendment to the Hindu
Marriage Act in 1976.
4. The waiting period under Section 13B was mandated to prevent couples from
taking any hasty decision to end their marriage. Marriage is a sacrament in
Hinduism.
5. The waiting period was for them to have enough time to think through their
decision to separate.
6.Divorce was granted only after the ‘cooling off’ period and once the court found
there was no further chance for reconciliation. “The waiting period will only
prolong their agony,” a Bench of Justices A.K. Goel and U.U. Lalit observed in
their judgment.
7 . The court held that the waiting period should be done away with in cases where
there is no way to save the marriage and all efforts at mediation and

conciliation have run their course

HINDU MARRIAGE ACT 1955 

This Act, extends to whole of India, except state of Jammu and Kashmir, applies
also to Hindus domiciled in territories to which the Act extends and those who
are out side the said territories.

2. It applies to Hindus (in any of its forms or development) and also to Buddhists,
Sikhs, Jains and also those who are not Muslims, Christians, Parsis or Jews by
religion.

3. However, the Act does not apply to members of any scheduled tribes unless

Central Government by notification in the official Gazette otherwise directs

ROAD SAFETY BILL
Context 
1.Two Lok Sabha MPs from Rajasthan on Tuesday called for early enactment of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2016,which is at present lying with the Select Committee of the
Rajya Sabha.
2.The Bill addresses the issues relating to road safety, citizen facilitation, strengthening public transport, automation and computerisation of procedures and imposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic rules.

Features of bill:
1- Aadhar required for driving licence applications.
2- Digitization of learners licence application and approval.
3- Unified vehicle register for India. 
4- Stricter punitive measures for bad road contracts and also huge increase in fines for drunk driving and over speeding. 
5- And, definition of terms like ‘cab aggregators’ to reduce ambiguity and prevent hasty litigation in future.

Vishwajeet Scheme

• Recently, Vishwajeet scheme was scrapped by Union Finance Minsitry.

• The scheme aimed to help top IITs to get top league in global rankings.

• It had the provision of funding to top seven IITs over a period of five years to upgrade infrastructure, hire foreign faculty and collaborate with foreign institutions.

• However, Union HRD ministry has introduced “Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA)” to provide support to universities for creating the research infrastructure. 

Higher Education Financing Agency

• The Government has signed an agreement with Canara bank to set up non-banking financial company (NBFC) called the Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA).
• It will be a joint venture between the HRD ministry and the bank.
• It is formed to give a major push for creation of high quality infrastructure in premier educational institutions.
• NBFC will rise funds from the market and also mobilize CSR funds from PSUs/Corporates and lend to government-run higher educational institutions for promoting research and innovation.
• The HEFA would finance the civil and lab infrastructure projects through a 10-year loan.
• HEFA will leverage the equity to rise up to Rs. 20,000 crore for the funding of world-class infrastructure at the IITs, IIMs, the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and such other institutions.

PIB

U.N. Security Council steps up sanctions on defiant North Korea

Context:

1. The United Nations Security Council unanimously stepped up sanctions against

North Korea over the country’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3,

imposing a ban on the country’s textile exports and capping imports of crude oil.

2. It was the ninth sanctions resolution unanimously adopted by the 15-member

council since 2006 over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

❖ The new sanctions include:

1. Limits on imports of crude oil and oil products. China, Pyongyang’s main

economic ally, supplies most of North Korea’s crude oil.

2. A ban on exports of textiles, which is Pyongyang’s second-biggest export worth

more than $700m (£530m) a year.

3. Measures to limit North Koreans from working overseas, which the US estimates

would cut off $500m of tax revenue per year.

FoSCoRIS 

Context:

1. FSSAI launches online platform for food inspection, sampling

2. To bring in transparency in food safety inspection and sampling, food regulator

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put in place a

nationwide online platform called ‘FoSCoRIS’ and has asked states to adopt this

system as it would help eliminate discrepancy and make food safety officers

accountable.

3. The web-based ‘FoSCoRIS’ system will help verify compliance of food safety and

hygiene standards by food businesses as per the government norms.

4.The new system will bring together all key stakeholders — food businesses, food

safety officers (FSOs), designated officers, state food safety commissioners — on

a nation-wide IT platform and data related to inspection, sampling and test

result data will be shared seamlessly by all the officials.

5. This system will give a clear picture to the FSSAI on the real-time basis and helps

eliminate any discrepancy, hence inspection is accountable. The system will

ease out the process of sample collection, make it transparent and traceable

and controls the quality of compliances.

Prelims Tidbits 12 sep 17

XAFECOPY Malware 

Ønew malware detected in India which steals money through victims' mobile phones. 
ØIts attacks are targeted in countries where mobile payment method is popular 
ØAround 40% of target of the malware has been detected in India
ØIt uses technology to bypass 'captcha' systems designed to protect users by confirming the action is being performed by a human
ØThis malware can delete incoming text messages to hide alerts from mobile network operators about stolen money.

Giant African Snail

ØThe infestation of giant African snail in the key coffee-growing areas of Karnataka has triggered concerns.
ØThe pest has surfaced over an estimated 1,500 acres this year.Ø It has led to higher cultivation costs, impacting earnings of coffee and pepper.
Ø The tender plants of coffee, pepper vines and papaya, among others, have been damaged by the pests in the regions.
Ø This snail species has been considered a significant cause in pest issues around the world.
ØInternationally, it is the most frequently occurring invasive species of snail.
Ø It is a nuisance pest for urban areas, and spreads human disease.

Prelims Tidbits 09 sep 17

Directorate General of Civil Aviation 

Context:
1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the Indian governmental
regulatory body for civil aviation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This
directorate investigates aviation accidents and incidents.

2. It is headquartered at New Delhi.

3. The Government of India is planning to replace the organisation with a Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA), modelled on the lines of the American Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)

4. Its vision is Endeavour to promote safe and efficient Air Transportation through
regulation and proactive safety oversight system

Aranmua boat Race

Context:
1. The famous annual snake-boat regatta Uthrittathi Vallamkali was held in the
river Pampa at Aranmula with colour and gaiety on Friday afternoon.

❖ Aranmula Boat Race:-
1. The Aranmula Boat Race the oldest river boat fiesta in Kerala, the south western
State of India is held during Onam (August–September).
2. It takes place at Aranmula, near a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and
Arjuna.
3. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and
shouting watched by an exciting crowd.
4. In 1972, snake boat races were also added to the program of the festival.
5. Thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake

boat races.

Union and its terrtory (Part 1  & Scheule Ist )

Article 1 :- Name & Territory of the Union:
2. 1) India/Bharat: Union of States (Federation word not used)
3. 2) Territories of 1stSchedule
4. 3) Territory comprise: a) States b) UT c) May acquired

5. Article 2 :- Establishment of New States, Parliament may by law(can done by
Ordinary Bill) admit into Union

6. Article 3 :- a) Form new state from separating from any state b) Increase area of
state c) Decrease area state d) Alter boundaries of state

e) Alter Name (Article 2 External & Article 3 Internal modification)

FAME-India Scheme

Context:
1. The centre is considering the extension of FAME- India scheme to promote
electric and hybrid vehicles by another six months.

❖ FAME-India scheme:
1. FAME India – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles
in India – is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan.

2. The scheme has four focus areas, technology development, demand creation,
pilot projects and charging infrastructure.

3. The scheme envisages Rs 795 crore support in the first two fiscals starting with
the current year.

4. It is being administered by the Heavy Industries Ministry.

Prelims Tidbits 11th sep 2017

Uttrakhand to Bring Special Heritage Law 

Context :
1.Uttarakhand plans to bring special heritage act to boost preservation
2. Seeking to preserve buildings and sites of historic, aesthetic, cultural or
environmental value, the Uttarakhand government is planning to bring a special
legislation to cover unprotected heritage in the state.
3. The Uttarakhand Heritage Act seeks to conserve landmarks such as the Almora
Jail, where Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned, the colonial era Raj Bhawan in
Nainital, historic precincts and trees, groves and natural fields of environmental
significance, an official said.
4. It aims at preserving and restoring heritage buildings and sites, which are not
protected either by the central law of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or
any other existing government policies.
5. The draft (of the Heritage Act) is ready and it will soon be sent for the cabinet's
approval,"

Archaeological Survey of India

Context:
1. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the
premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the
cultural heritage of the nation.
2. It was established in 1861.
3. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of
national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.
4. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the
provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act, 1958.
5. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972

India-US in talks for C-17 deal

CONTEXT
1.India is in talks with the U.S. for buying another Boeing C-17 Globemaster
transport aircraft to be added to its fleet of 10.
2. Since induction in 2013, the aircraft has become the mainstay of India’s
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
3. The aircraft, along with associated equipment, technical support and warranty,
is estimated to cost $366.2 million.
4. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft.
5. It was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the

early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas.

Army to induct women into Military Police to probe gender crimes

Context:
1. The government has decided to recruit women jawans into the Army’s Corps of
Military Police (CMP) for investigating gender specific crimes. The proposal is
very significant as women will be inducted in the military’s non-officer cadre for
the first time, although they will be in a non-combat role.

❖ Key facts:
1. Women were required in the Corps of Military Police (CMP) to investigate
gender-specific allegations and crime.
2. The women will be inducted as junior commissioned officers and jawans.

❖ Background:-
1. The armed forces account for around 3,500 women officers, all of whom are in
non-combat roles. Women were allowed to join the military as officers outside

the medical stream for the first time in 1992

Corp of Military Police

Context:

Ø Corps of Military Police (CMP) is the military police of the Indian Army.

Ø CMP is trained to handle prisoners of war and to regulate traffic, as well as to

handle basic telecommunication equipment such as telephone exchanges.

Ø They can be identified by their red berets, white lanyards and belts, and they also

wear a black brassard with the letters MP imprinted in red.

Ø The term ‘red berets’ is synonymous with the personnel of the elite corps of

Military Police (CMP), since all ranks of this Corps adorn the exclusive red berets

along with white belts to distinguish themselves from other Corps of Army.

Ø Functions:

 The role of this Corps is primarily to assist Army formations in maintaining a high

standard of discipline of its troops, prevent breaches of various rules and

regulations and to assist in the preservation of high morale of all ranks of the

formation.

 

  Indian Astronomical Union

1.The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919.

2. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its

aspects through international cooperation.

3. Its individual members — structured into Divisions, Commissions, and Working

Groups — are professional astronomers from all over the world, at the Ph.D.

level and beyond, who are active in professional research and education in

astronomy.

4. The IAU has 12625 members.

5. Among other activities, it acts as the internationally recognized authority for

assigning designations to celestial bodies (stars, planets, asteroids, etc.) and any

surface features on them

Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland

1. Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland is a Greater Naga Revolutionist, Naga

nationalist insurgent group operating mainly in Northeast India, with minor

activities in northwest Myanmar (Burma) until 2012.

2. The main goal of the organisation is to establish a sovereign Naga state,

"Nagalim",which would consist of all the areas inhabited by the Naga people in

Northeast India and Northwest Myanmar.

3. The NSCN (K) has been designated a terrorist organisation in India under the

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

North-East calling 

Ø The “North East Calling” event is being organised by the Ministry of

Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of

India under its ‘Destination North East’ series of this year.

Ø The purpose of the event is to promote the art, culture, heritage,

cuisine, handicrafts, business and tourism of North East India.

Ø On the above occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also launched ‘North East

Venture Fund’,which is a joint initiative of Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern

Development Finance Corporation Ltd.

Ø The objective of the fund is to promote entrepreneurship and Start

up in the North Eastern Region.

Ø It is the first dedicated Venture Fund for the region with a corpus

of Rs 100 crores.