Insights Daily Current Events, 28 November

2015
Archives
Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial
bodies

Govt panel to evaluate candidates for

RBI Deputy Governor post
The union government has appointed a panel to interview
candidates for the post of Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank
of India.

The term of Urjit Patel, the central banks incumbent in

charge of monetary policy, expires in January. He was
appointed for a three-year term by the previous United
Progressive Alliance government and took charge in January
2013.

About Deputy Governors of RBI:

The RBI has four deputy governors and typically two are
from the outside, of which traditionally one is a commercial
banker and the other an economist. The two others are
promoted from within the central banks ranks.

A central bank Deputy Governor can be appointed for a

term with a maximum of five years or till the age of 62,
whichever is earlier.

sources: the hindu.

Paper 3 Topic: indigenization of technology and developing new

technology.

LRSAM Successfully Flight-Tested

Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM), jointly designed and

developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and DRDO, has been
successfully flight tested from an Israeli Naval Platform.
The missile successfully engaged and destroyed the

incoming air target.

All the subsystems of the missile performed as predicted and

achieved the desired goal of hitting the incoming target.

Further Operational Flight Trials (O.F.T) will be conducted

shortly from Indian Naval Platform before induction into the

service.
About the missile:
LRSAM is also called Barak 8 missile in Israel which in

Hebrew language means Lightning.

The missile configuration is same for both LRSAM/MRSAM.

For the LRSAM, DRDO has designed and developed Dual

Pulse Propulsion System and other safe arm mechanisms for
Solid Propulsion system.
The missile is designed to defend against any type of

airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship

missiles, and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat jets.

Both maritime and land-based versions of the system exist.

The LRSAM programme consists of Missiles, MFSTAR (Radar),

Weapon Control System, Vertical Launcher unit and Two- way data
link.
sources: the hindu, wiki.

Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

NHAI approves pilot project for

developing greenbelts along highways
NHAI has approved a pilot project submitted by National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur for

undertaking scientific studies on designing greenbelts along

national highways.
Details:

The project will be implemented on a 5 km stretch on NH-7

between Jam and Hinganghat in Nagpur region at an
estimated cost of Rs 11.80 crore.

Around 20,000 trees of scientifically chosen species have

been proposed to be planted on both sides of the stretch in
multiple rows.

The work activities have been delineated considering two

major factors highway requirement and objectives as well
as plant characteristics to fit in the site requirement.

The project will run for five years and during this period
various experiments will be conducted in NEERI laboratory to
record the impact of greenbelt development.

Besides developing greenbelt, the project will also assist in

developing relevant research infrastructure that may be used
for similar studies in future.

sources: et.

Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial

bodies.

CBDT signs 11 new unilateral APAs;

total 31 so far
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into 11
more unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs). With this,
CBDT has so far signed 31 APAs (30 unilateral and one bilateral)
with Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies operating in various
segments.

Out of the 11 new APAs, while seven have rollback provisions

contained in them, the other four are for future five years.

The CBDT aims to finalize another 30 to 40 APAs before the

end of this fiscal to provide stability and confidence to foreign
enterprises operating in India.

The Advance Pricing Agreements (APA) programme was

introduced in the Income-tax Act, 1961 in 2012.
What is an advance pricing agreement?
An APA, usually for multiple years, is signed between a taxpayer
and the tax authority (CBDT) on an appropriate transfer pricing
methodology for determining the price and ensuing taxes on
intra-group overseas transactions.
About CBDT:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority
functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.

It is a part of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of

Finance, Government of India.

It provides essential inputs for policy and planning of direct

taxes in India and is also responsible for administration of the
direct tax laws through Income Tax Department.

It is also Indias official Financial Action Task Force unit.

The CBDT Chairman and Members of CBDT are selected from

Indian Revenue Service (IRS) whose members constitute the
top management of Income Tax Department.

Insights Daily Current Events, 30 November

2015
Archives
Paper 2 Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and
fora, their structure, mandate.

India re-elected as Member of

International Maritime Council
India has been re-elected to the Council of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO).

India was elected to the IMO council under Category B at

the 29th session of the Assembly of the IMO held recently in
London.

India ranks amongst the top twenty ship owning countries of

the world in terms of Gross Tonnage as well as Deadweight.

About IMO:

The IMO is the United Nations specialised agency with

responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the
prevention of marine pollution by ships.

It has 171 Member States and three Associate Members.

The IMOs primary purpose is to develop and maintain a

comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its
remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal
matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the
efficiency of shipping.

IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is

financially administered by a council of members elected from
the assembly.

The IMOs structure comprises the Assembly, the Council,

the Maritime Safety Committee, the Marine Environment
Protection Committee, the Legal Committee,
the Technical Cooperation Committee, and
the secretariat, headed by a Secretary-General.

IMO council:

The IMO Council acts as the IMOs Governing Body. It has a

crucial role to play in deciding various matters in relation to
the global shipping industry, including its work programme
strategy and budget.

Members of the Council consist of 40 member states,

elected by its Assembly including 10 members in category A
with the largest interest in providing international shipping
services; 10 members in category B with the largest interest in

international seaborne trade and 20 members in category C

with special interests in maritime transport or navigation.

India has been one of the earliest members of the IMO,

having ratified its Convention and joined it as a member-state
in the year 1959.

sources: pib, imo.

Paper 3 Topic: indigenization of technology and developing new

technology.

Interceptor boat commissioned

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned an interceptor
boat into its fleet to enhance its vigil along the coast in Bay of
Bengal. The boat is named ICGS C-422.
About the vessel:

ICGS C-422 is among the 36 interceptor boats being built for

the Coast Guard. It has been designed and built indigenously
by M/s. Larsen and Toubro Ltd.

The 27.80-m-long boat can achieve a maximum speed of 45

knots. It is equipped with two diesel engines and will have an
endurance of 500 nautical miles. It is also fitted with state-ofthe-art communication and navigational equipment.

The interceptor boat is capable of undertaking multifarious

tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and
coordinated operations with sea and air units, sources said.

sources: the hindu.

Paper 2 Topic: Appointment to various Constitutional posts,

powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional
Bodies.

16 CAG reports to be tabled in winter

session
The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has submitted 16
performance and compliance audit reports on various sectors to
the Union Finance Ministry, and they will be tabled in Parliament
this winter session.

The reports include the audit report on paddy procurement

and milling for the Central pool.

About CAG:

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an

authority, established by the Constitution of India under article
148.

CAG audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government

of India and the state governments, including those of bodies
and authorities substantially financed by the government.

The CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned

corporations and conducts supplementary audit of government
companies, i.e., any non-banking/ non-insurance company in
which the state and Union governments have an equity share
of at least 51% or subsidiary companies of existing
government companies.

The reports of the CAG are taken into consideration by the

Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public
Undertakings (COPUs), which are special committees in the
Parliament of India and the state legislatures.

The CAG enjoys the same status as a judge of Supreme

Court of India in Indian order of precedence.

Appointment: CAG is appointed by the President of India

following a recommendation by the Prime Minister. On
appointment, he/she has to make an oath or affirmation before
the President of India.

Removal: The CAG can be removed only on an address from

both house of parliament on the ground of proved
misbehaviour or incapacity. The CAG vacates the office on
attaining the age of 65 years age even without completing the
6 years term.

sources: the hindu, cag.

Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial

bodies.

IRDA pulls up life insurers for not

highlighting projected rate of return
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has
pulled up life insurers for not highlighting the projected rate of
return in their traditional product benefit illustrations.

IRDA had directed insurers to follow the guidelines and

incorporate scenarios taking investment returns of 4% and 8%
into account in benefit illustrations in all advertisements with
equal prominence in font size, at the same place and in the
same page.

But, some of the advertisements containing illustrations

being released in the market are not in tune with the
regulations spirit. And because of this, prospective
policyholders are unable to get a clear picture of the possible
returns they stand to earn.

About IRDAI:

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

(IRDAI) is an autonomous body which regulates and develops
the insurance industry in India.

It was constituted by an act of parliament called Insurance

Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.

The IRDA Act allows private players to enter the insurance

sector in India.

Insights Daily Current Events, 01 December

2015
Archives
Paper 3 Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers,
robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to
intellectual property rights.

Airtel to invest Rs. 60,000 crore in

Project Leap
Airtel has announced an ambitious plan called Project Leap, of
investing Rs 60,000 crore in telecom network. Over the next three
years, with this investment Airtel aims work towards improving its
network service and customer experience.

Large parts of this investment will improve voice and data

services.

Funds will be raised through internal cash accruals and

includes the capital expenditure target of about $2.2 billion for
the current fiscal year.

This investment will be in addition to the Rs.1,60,000 crore

the company has already invested in its active and passive
network, spectrum, fibre, submarine cables and other systems
till date.

About Project Leap:

It is a network transformation programme. Under this, Airtel

will deploy over 70,000 base stations in the current fiscal, its
largest deployment in a single year since inception. Over three
years, more than 160,000 base stations will be set up
nationwide.

The company would expand its mobile broadband coverage

to all towns and over 2,50,000 villages by March, and in three

years, it plans to offer mobile broadband to over 500,000

villages in the country.

It will also deploy a range of solutions including small cells,

carrier aggregation solutions, wi-fi and the use of multiple
technologies across different spectrum bands for its home
broadband network.

Airtel will cumulatively deploy more than 550,000 km of

domestic and international fibre and will swap its legacy
networks and base stations over a three year period and
replace them with efficient technologies.

The company will also upgrade its copper assets through

new age Vectoring Technology. This technology will enable
Airtel to offer 50 Mbps speeds from its current 16 Mbps by
2016.

Under this programme, Airtel will also make substantial

investments in green technologies over the next three years.

Background:
The announcement comes amid rising complaints of frequent call
drops faced by the customers. The government had also pointed
out that lack of investments in networks by operators was the
primary reason for poor quality of services.
sources: the hindu.

Paper 2 Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and

fora, their structure, mandate.

China hosts 1st BRICS media summit

China has taken the initiative for creating an alternative media
platform for the emerging economies by hosting the first
media summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-RussiaIndia-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping.

A total of 25 media organisations are participating in this

summit, which hopes to create a new institutional framework
that would be tailored to benefit the media of five emerging
economies, which have deep linkages with the Global South.

The initiative follows the formation of the New Development

Bank, which is playing its part in evolving a new global
financial architecture sensitised to meet the needs of the
developing world.

The organizers of the summit hope that their deliberations

will also yield an agenda-setting consensus among the BRICS
media on coordinating the coverage of G-20 summits, in tune
with the priorities of the emerging economies.

About BRICS:

BRICS is an association of five major emerging national

economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The grouping was originally known as BRIC before the

inclusion of South Africa in 2010.

The BRICS members are all developing or newly

industrialized countries, but they are distinguished by their
large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on
regional and global affairs.

All five are G-20 members.

Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal

summits. Russia currently holds the chair of the BRICS group,
and hosted the groups seventh summit in July 2015.

sources: the hindu, wiki.

Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure: Energy.

Modi launches International Solar

Alliance

Prime Minister Modi recently launched International Solar Alliance

(ISA) in Paris on the sidelines of the climate change summit. This
initiative highlights Indias leadership in clean energy.

The alliance was launched at the CoP21 Climate Conference.

About the International Solar Alliance (ISA):

This international alliance brings together developing and

developed countries to expand energy access, accelerate solar
power deployment, and stimulate economic development.

The alliance will function from the National Institute of Solar

Energy in India, Gurgaon.

The Centre will provide land and $30 million to form a

secretariat for the Alliance, and also support it for five years.

In its launch resolution, the ISA says it seeks to share

collective ambitions to reduce the cost of finance and
technology that is needed to deploy solar power widely.

Among the tasks that the Alliance would pursue are,

cooperation in training, building institutions, regulatory issues,
common standards, and investment including joint ventures.

The alliance has the potential to propel international solar

markets forward while fighting climate change, improving global
health and boosting economies.
sources: the hindu.

Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development and management

of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human
Resources.

Injectible Polio Vaccine Launched in

India
The union government has launched Indias first injectible
inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) as part of the countrys
commitment to global polio eradication.

The IPV injection will be given to children below one year of

age, along with the third dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
at the routine immunization sessions free of cost.

According to reports, new evidence shows that IPV and OPV

together will further strengthen childrens immune system and
provide double protection against polio.

In the first phase, the vaccine will be introduced in six states

Assam, Gujarat, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar
Pradesh.

The introduction of IPV in routine immunization is as per

recommendation made in the World Health Assembly in May
2015.

It should be noted that India was declared polio free in 2014.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects

young children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person
spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by
a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and
multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous
system and can cause paralysis.

Insights Daily Current Events, 02 December

2015
Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation.

Gujarats controversial Labour Laws

Bill gets Presidential assent
President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the
contentious Labour Laws Bill of Gujarat.

The bill was passed by the Gujarat Assembly in February this

year. The Gujarat government passed the Bill to relax labour
laws to give an impetus to industrialization in the State.

However, opposition parties in the state had termed this bill

as anti-labour and pro-private industries.

About the bill:

Among contentious clauses, the time limit for workers to

raise objections to the decisions of the industries was reduced
to one year from three years.

The Bill has provisions to ban strikes in public utility services

for up to one year.

The most controversial amendment was over settlement of

disputes between workers and the management out of court
by compounding a certain amount of money in the
government agency.

The bill also sought to change certain basic definitions in the

Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and clauses in the Industrial
Disputes Act, 1947, which allow more policing of the state over
industries.

According to the bill, in accidental cases, the government

will become pleader in case the victim has not moved the
Labour Commission within 90 days, and mediate an out-ofcourt settlement with maximum compensation of Rs 21,000, of
which 25% will go to the government.

The bill also allows employers to change the nature of job of

the employees without prior notice.

sources: the hindu.

Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and

agreements involving India and/or affecting Indias interests.

IMF gives Chinas currency prized

reserve asset status
The International Monetary Fund has admitted Chinas yuan into
its benchmark currency basket.

The decision to add the yuan, also known as the renminbi,

to the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basketalongside the
dollar, euro, pound sterling and yen, is an important
milestone in Chinas integration into global finances and a nod
to the progress it has made with reforms.

This is also seen as a victory for Beijings campaign for

recognition as a global economic power.

To meet the IMFs criteria, Beijing has undertaken a flurry of

reforms in recent months, including better access for
foreigners to Chinese currency markets, more frequent debt
issuance and expanded yuan trading hours.

Implications:

The new SDR formula gives more weightage to financial

variables and less to exports, reflecting long-standing criticism
of the methodology but also cutting the euros share to
30.93%, from 37.4%.

The yuan will have a 10.92% share.

The weightage of sterling and yen will drop to 8.09% and

8.33% respectively. The dollar remains broadly unchanged at
41.73%.

The addition is likely to fuel demand for Chinas currency

and for renminbi-denominated assets as central banks and
foreign fund managers adjust their portfolios to reflect the
yuans new status.

About SDR:

IMF created the SDR in 1969 to boost global liquidity as the

Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates unraveled.

SDR is not technically a currency. It gives IMF member

countries the right to obtain any of the currencies in the
basket to meet balance-of-payments needs.

In addition to its role as a supplementary reserve asset, the

SDR serves as the unit of account of the IMF and some other
international organizations.

Review: of the basket:

The basket composition is reviewed every five years by the
Executive Board of the IMF, or earlier if the IMF finds changed
circumstances warrant an earlier review, to ensure that it reflects
the relative importance of currencies in the worlds trading and
financial systems.
sources: the hindu.

Paper 3 Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers,

robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to
intellectual property rights.

India Ranked 131 on Global Index of

Information Technology Access: Report
India has been ranked a low 131 out of 167 nations on a global
index that measures the level of information and
communication technology access. Indias rank has dropped
six notches from the IDI rank in 2010.

This was revealed in the Information Society

Report released by the UN International Telecommunications
Union (ITU).

Highlights of the report:

Globally 3.2 billion people are now online, representing

43.4% of the worlds population.

Mobile-cellular subscriptions have reached almost 7.1 billion

worldwide, with over 95% of the global population now
covered by a mobile-cellular signal.

The Asia-Pacific is the most diverse region in terms of ICT

development, reflecting stark differences in levels of economic
development.

Six economies in the region including the South Korea, Hong

Kong and Japan, have IDI rankings in the top twenty of the
global distribution. However, the region also includes ten of
the Indexs least connected countries, including India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

South Korea is ranked at the top of IDI. South Korea is closely

followed by Denmark and Iceland, in second and third place.

The IDI top 30 ranking includes countries from Europe and

high-income nations from other regions including Australia,
Bahrain, Barbados, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, New
Zealand, Singapore and the United States.

167 economies included in the ITUs information and

communication technology (ICT) Development Index (IDI)
improved their IDI values between 2010 and 2015 meaning
that levels of ICT access, use and skills continue to improve all
around the world.

Indias position:

Indias mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions per 100

inhabitants were 74.48 in 2014 growing from 62.4 in 2010.

The percentage of households with computer in India was

13% in 2014, more than doubling from 6.1% in 2010, while the
percentage of households with Internet access was 15.33,
growing three-fold from 4.2 in 2010.

The percentage of individuals using the Internet has also

grown to 18% in 2014 from 7.5% in 2010 in the country.

sources: et.

Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development and management

of Social Sector/Services relating to education.

India launches initiative to boost

higher education
The union government has launched the Global Initiative of
Academic Networks (GIAN) scheme to boost the quality of the
countrys higher education through international collaboration.
Details:

This programme aims at tapping the talent pool of scientists

and entrepreneurs to engage with the institutes of higher
education in India to augment the countrys existing academic
resources, accelerate the pace of quality reforms, and further
strengthen Indias scientific and technological capabilities.

This scheme will bring world class educators from across the
globe to teach in India.

The Union Ministry of Human Resources has allocated Rs 35

crore for GIAN for the current financial year.

Under the scheme, 500 international faculties will be

engaged this year and 1000 in subsequent years to offer
short-term courses and programs throughout India. These
academicians will cover 13 disciplines and 352 courses to be
taught in 68 national institutions.

The courses vary in duration from one to three weeks,

depending on the subject and are free for students of the host
institution and available for nominal fees for others and will be
webcast live as well for students across the country.

These lectures would be made available later to students

across the country. A web portal gian.iitkgp.ac.in has been
designed by IIT Kharagpur to allow electronic registration and
online assessment.

Insights Daily Current Events, 03

December 2015
Archives
Paper 3 Topic: Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Cabinet okays Bill on Regional Centre

for Biotechnology
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of
Regional Center for Biotechnology Bill, 2015.
Objective of the Bill: to provide a legal status to the Regional
Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad so as to function
independently as an autonomous body and also an institution of
national importance for education, training and research in the
areas of biotechnology.
Details:

The Centre is a regional hub for interdisciplinary education,

training and research in biotechnology with emphasis on novel
education programmes relevant to industry.

The centre would offer training in the related areas of

biotechnology including bio-drug discovery science, nanoscience and medicine, imaging techniques, designer crops,
bioengineering and biomaterials, intellectual property,
technology transfer and regulation to fulfil and overcome the
acute shortage of skilled human resources in India.

The center would also act as a hub of biotechnology

expertise in the countries in South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region, and more generally in
the Asia region. And thus address human resources needs in
the region.

It would also address designing of new and novel

programmes for education and training which could then be

assimilated by the existing universities in India and the

Region.
Background:
The Centre has already been established by an executive order of
the Government of India in November, 2008 after the approval by
the Union Cabinet. It is currently operational at the NCR Biotech
Science Cluster, Faridabad and the enactment does not involve
any financial implications at this stage.
sources: pib.

Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

MoU between India and Israel

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel in the field of
water resources management and development
cooperation.
Details:

This MoU will benefit both the countries in strengthening the

techniques in efficient use of water, micro-irrigation,
recycling/re-use of waste water, desalination, aquifer recharge
and in-situ water conservation techniques.

A Joint Working Group will also be formed to monitor the

activities to be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU.

India has already entered into agreements with Australia,

Rwanda, Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Fiji, China and Bahrain in the
field of water resources management and development
cooperation.

Background:
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation has been envisaging bilateral cooperation with other

countries in water resources development and management

through sharing of policy and technical expertise, conducting of
training courses, workshops, scientific and technical symposia,
exchange of experts and study tours.

Keeping in view the success of Israel in water use efficiency,

micro-irrigation, reuse of waste water, desalination, aquifer
recharge, etc., the government had decided to have an
agreement with Israel to benefit from their experience and
expertise.

sources: pib.
Paper 3 Topic: energy.

Govt approves pact with Germany for

solar energy
The government has approved a post facto agreement with
Germany to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of solar
energy.

The government gave its approval to a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU), which was signed in October, 2015.

The MoU was signed between India and Germany, to expand

bilateral development cooperation in the field of Solar Energy
by increasing use of solar energy in India through technical as
well as financial cooperation.

Under the agreement, Germany would provide concessional

loans in the range of one billion Euros over the next five years
through Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW).

The funds of KfW will also be utilized for providing soft loans
to the end-users through partner banks.

The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between

the two countries and also help India achieve its ambitious target
of having 100 GW solar power generation capacity by 2022 under
the National Solar Mission.

sources: pib.

General awareness.

Cabinet approves six new IITs

The Union Cabinet has approved proposal of setting up of six new
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Andhra Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jammu, Kerala and Karnataka.

Of the six, IITs at Palakkad (Kerala) and Tirupati (Andhra

Pradesh) have already started classes this year. The remaining
IITs are proposed to come up in Goa, J&K, Chattisgarh and
Karnataka.

Details:

Each new IIT will have an initial intake of 180 students in its
first year which would increase to 450 in the second year and
to 928 (840 Undergraduates, 80 Postgraduates and 8 Ph.D.) in
the third year of their operation.

The new IITs will be operated from their temporary campuses

for the initial period of three years before shifting into their
permanent campuses in the fourth year. Each IIT will have a
sanctioned strength of faculty members, with a faculty-student
ratio of 1:10.

The total cost for running these IITs would be 1,411.80 crore
and will be incurred between 2015-16 and 2018-19.

The 16 existing IITs admit a total of 10,000 students at the

undergraduate level. With the six new institutions, the intake
will go up by another 1080 seats.

The Cabinet has also given its approval for

operationalisation of these IITs initially by forming of Societies
under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in order to give a
legal status to them till the amendment for their incorporation
in The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 is enacted.

It should be noted here that the Institutes of Technology Act,

1961, contains no provision to enable establishment of new IITs.
Hence, for the establishment of every new IIT, an amendment to
the Act is necessary.
sources: pib.

Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and

agreements involving India and/or affecting Indias interests.

Protocol between Government of India

and the Government of Japan
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing and
ratification of Protocol between India and Japan for amending the
Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) signed between
the two countries in 1989 for avoidance of double taxation and for
prevention of fiscal evasion, through a protocol.

The Protocol will facilitate exchange of information, as per

accepted international standards, on tax matters including
bank information and information without domestic tax
interest.

There is a further provision in the Protocol for sharing any

information received from Japan, with authorization of the
competent authority in Japan and vice versa, in respect of a
resident of India, with other law enforcement agencies.

The Protocol also has a provision for India and Japan to lend
assistance to each other in collection of revenue claims, as
well as for exemption of interest income from taxation in the
source country, with respect to debt-claims insured by the
Government or Government-owned financial institutions.

sources: pib.

Insights Daily Current Events, 04 December

2015
Archives
Paper 3 Topic: disaster and disaster management.

NDRF teams arrives in Puducherry

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are actively
involved in tackling the situation arising out of incessant rains in
Puducherry and TamilNadu over the past few days.

Sensing the urgency, NDRF teams have doubled the number

of their rescuers in the rain and flood-battered Chennai and
adjoining areas.

SO far, the teams have rescued around 5000 people from

marooned areas in Chennai.

NDRF:
The Disaster Management Act has made the statutory provisions
for constitution of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for
the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made
disasters.
Background:
Two national calamities in quick succession in the form of Orissa
Super Cyclone (1999) and Gujarat Earthquake (2001) brought
about the realization of the need of having a specialist response
mechanism at National Level to effectively respond to disasters.
This realization led to the enactment of the DM Act on 26 Dec
2005.
ROLE AND MANDATE OF NDRF:

Specialized response during disasters

Proactive deployment during impending disaster situations

Acquire and continually upgrade its own training and skills

Liaison, Reconnaissance, Rehearsals and Mock Drills

Impart basic and operational level training to State Response

Forces (Police, Civil Defence and Home Guards)

Community Capacity Building Programme

organize Public Awareness Campaigns

Why it is said to be UNIQUE?

It is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world.

The only agency with comprehensive response capabilities

having multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled, high-tech, stand
alone nature.
Experienced paramilitary personnel specially trained and

equipped for disaster response.

Capabilities for undertaking disaster response, prevention,

mitigation and capacity building.

sources: the hindu, ndrf.

Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

Agra to host first ever international

bird fete
In a bid to promote Uttar Pradesh as an international birdwatching destination, the State Forest department, in
collaboration with FICCI, is planning to hold a three-day
international festival on birds at the National Chambal
Sanctuary (NCS) in Agra.
The festival starts on December 4 and will end on December

6.

As many as 25 top international bird experts and over 80

Indian ornithologists are expected to attend the first-of-itskind festival.

sources: the hindu.

Paper 2 Topic: appointment to various constitutional posts.

New CJI takes over

Justice Tirath Singh Thakur was sworn in as 43rd Chief Justice of
India by President Pranab Mukherjee recently.

The senior-most judge of the apex court, 63-year old Justice

Thakur took over from incumbent Justice H L Dattu who retired
December 2 .
nd

Appointment of CJI:

According to the convention, the present Chief Justice

recommends the name of his successor to the government.

After the Law Ministry clears his name, the file will go to the
Prime Ministers Office and finally reaches the President, after
whose approval the Warrant of Appointment will be issued.

sources: the hindu.

Paper 3 Topic: Government policies and interventions for

development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation.

Lok Sabha passes bill to replace

Bureau of Indian Standards
The Lok Sabha has passed a bill that provides for establishing
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the National Standards
Body of India.

The bill was passed by voice vote.

The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015:

The bill seeks to replace the Bureau of Indian Standards Act,

1986.

It proposes to make BIS a national standards body, introduce

mandatory hallmarking of precious metal, prevent misuse of

Standard marks and provide for recall of ISI marked products

not conforming to relevant standards.

Once the Bill is approved, the BIS would get the legislative
backing to formally represent India abroad. At present, the BIS
is not formally recognised as a national standards body of the
country, though it has been representing India in various
international bodies.

The bill will also help in promoting Make in India and Made
in India.

After becoming law, the Bill will allow multiple types of

conformity assessment schemes in tune with global best
practices.

The Bill will also empower the Centre to authorise any other
agency having necessary accreditation for the purpose of
conformity assessment against Indian standards.

sources: bs, pib.

Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial

bodies.

Centenary year of Zoological Survey of

India
The union government has released a commemorative stamp to
mark the Centenary year of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
About ZSI:
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July 1916
to promote the survey, exploration, research and documentation
leading to the advancement in knowledge on various aspects of
animal taxonomy of the Indian subcontinent.

ZSI is a premier institution on animal taxonomy in India

under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Of the nearly 100, 000 species of animals known to occur in

India, it is the ZSI that brought the knowledge to the scientific
community about many of them as the new and endemic
species of animals found in this country.

ZSI has been declared as the designated repository for the

National Zoological Collection as per Section 39 of the National
Biodiversity Act, 2002.

To meet the challenges of biodiversity conservation,

sustainable utilization and dissemination of knowledge on
faunal diversity to all stakeholders, the Survey is equipped
with modern tools and techniques such as scanning electron
microscopes, digital stereo zoom microscopes, GIS tools, data
basing tools and the DNA bar coding technology.

Red Data Book: Similar to the Red Data Book produced by

IUCN, ZSI also releases a Red Data Book on Indian Animals. It
was first published in 1983.

Insights Daily Current Events, 05 December

2015
Archives
Paper 2 Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the
population by the Centre and States.

Centre launches Accessible India

Campaign for differently-abled
The union government has launched the Accessible India
Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
Aim: The campaign aims to enable persons with disabilities to
gain universal access, equal opportunity for development,
independent living and participation in all aspects of life in an
inclusive society,
Details:

The Accessible India Campaign envisages making all the

international airports in the country and railway stations of A1,
A & B categories fully accessible to the disabled by July 2016.

As per campaign drafted by Ministry of Social Justice &

Empowerment, at least 10% of government owned public
transport carriers in the country will be converted into fully
accessible carriers for disabled persons by March 2018.

By July 2018, at least 50% of all the government buildings of

National Capital and all the State capitals will be made fully
accessible for persons with disabilities.

It will also be targeted that at least 50% of all public

documents issued by the Central Government and the State
Governments meet accessibility standards for persons with
disabilities by March 2018.

A web portal and mobile application for creating a crowd

sourcing platform to get information about inaccessibility has
also been launched by the government.

sources: the hindu, pib.

Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

A third of Indias soil degraded:

experts
A team of agriculture and soil experts have revealed that a third
of Indias soil is degraded, and this could cast a shadow on the
sustainability of agriculture in near future. According to estimates
of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (2010), of the total
geographical area of 328.73 mha in the country, about 120.40
mha is affected by various levels of land degradation.

Land degradation is posing a major threat to Indias food and

environmental security, resulting from the loss in the biological
or productive capacity of soil.

According to experts, as water and wind erosions are widespread

across India, some 5.3 billion tonnes of soil got eroded every year.
Of this, 29% is permanently lost to the sea, 10% is deposited in
reservoirs, reducing their storage capacity, and the rest 61% gets
shifted from one place to another.
Other factors responsible for the degradation of soil:

Excessive use of chemical fertilisers, especially in the northwestern parts of the country.

Imbalanced nutrient application, injudicious use of

pesticides, intensive cropping system, decline in soil
biodiversity and depletion of organic matter in soil.

Land degradation, mainly caused by natural processes like wind

or rain, is also often exacerbated by human activity like
deforestation and urbanisation. It is closely intertwined with
climate change and biodiversity loss too.
sources: the hindu.

Paper 3 Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning,

mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

CEA panel for removing tax on interstate trade

A panel headed by Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian
has recommended the 1% tax proposed to be levied on the goods
and services tax (GST) on inter-state trade of goods to help
manufacturing states be done away with. This was one of the
major demands of the Congress and the recommendation could
help the government break the GST gridlock in Parliament.

The committee recently submitted its report to the union

finance minister.

Other important recommendations made:

Standard GST rate be in the range of 17 to 18%. The

standard rate will apply to most goods and services. These
rates were calculated by excluding real estate, electricity,
alcohol and petroleum products.

Lower rate for goods be at 12% and the highest rate at 40%.
This is the combined state and central GST rate. The highest
rate is for demerit goods such as alcohol, luxury cars, tobacco,
etc. The rate on precious metals be in the range of 2% to 6%.

The revenue-neutral rate of the GST is estimated to be at

15%. This is the rate at which the states and the Centre will
not lose or gain revenue after the GST is applied.

Petroleum, alcohol, real estate and electricity should be

brought under GST early on.

Background:
The committee was set up in June 2015 by the Union Government
to arrive at GST rates by factoring in the economic growth rate,
taxpayer base and tax compliance levels.
sources: the hindu.

Paper 3 Topic: pollution.

An odd formula
To tackle an alarmingly high pollution level in the capital, the Aam
Aadmi Party government in Delhi has decided that vehicles with
odd and even number plates would be allowed on alternate days
only from January 1, 2016.

To ensure that commuters are not put to hardship, Delhi

Metro services will be extended and school buses will be
requisitioned. Emergency vehicles, CNG-driven buses, taxis
and autorickshaws will also be exempt from the decision.

Commercial vehicles will be permitted to enter the Capital

only around after 10 p.m instead of the current deadline of 9
p.m.

The decision was taken after a Delhi High Court observation

that living in Delhi was akin to living in a gas chamber.

Some stats:

6 million: Number of private passenger cars registered in

Delhi as of March 2015

182,115: Number of passenger vehicles sold in 2014-15

245 per km: Vehicle density in Delhi-NCR

10 times: Delhis pollution, at *PM2.5, is 10 times higher

than the WHO- prescribed limit

sources: the hindu, BS.

Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

Paris pact on water and climate

change adaptation announced with
India on board
A broad coalition of nations including India, river basin
organizations, business and civil societies from across the globe
have announced the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change
Adaptation.

The announcement is part of the Water Resilience

Focus event under the Lima to Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) on
climate change.

About the pact:

The pact aims to make water systems the very foundation

of sustainable human development more resilient to climate
impact.

It involves a wide geographic coalition of national and crossborder river basin organisations, governments, funding
agencies, local governments, companies and civil society.

It encompasses individual commitments to implement

adaptation plans, strengthening water monitoring and
measurement systems in river basins and promoting financial
sustainability and new investment in water systems
management.

The pact also highlights key partnerships and coalitions to

make river basins, lakes, aquifers and deltas more resilient to
climate change and reduce human interference with oceans.

Almost 290 water basin organisations are engaged under the

Pact.

About the Lima to Paris Action Agenda (LPAA):

The LPAA is a joint undertaking of the Peruvian and French

COP (conference of parties) presidencies, the Office of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the UNFCCC
Secretariat.

It aims to strengthen climate action through 2015 and well

beyond by mobilizing robust global action towards low carbon,
more climate resilient societies.

It provides enhanced support to existing initiative and

mobilizes new partners providing them a platform for the
visibility of their actions, commitments and results in the run
up to COP21.

sources: toi.

Insights Daily Current Events, 07

December 2015
Archives
Paper 3 Topic: Space.

PSLV bags two more US launch orders

PlanetiQ, one of several companies in the US developing

constellations of small satellites to collect weather data, has
announced that it will launch its first two satellites in late 2016 on
PSLV.

The company has said that the first two of a planned

constellation of twelve satellites will fly as secondary payloads
on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) scheduled to launch
in November 2016. The satellites will be placed into orbit at an
altitude of 800 kilometers.

Until about a year ago, U.S. satellite operators could not

conceive of launching from India because of a longstanding
U.S. policy bar. In recent years, established U.S. launch
companies have moved on to lifting far heavier satellites,
leaving a demand for launchers that can put smaller satellites
in space.

In September, US operator Spire Global became the PSLVs

first US customer by getting four 4-kg-each Lemur satellites
from Sriharikota.

About PSLV:

It is the first operational launch vehicle of ISRO. PSLV is

capable of launching 1600 kg satellites in 620 km sunsynchronous polar orbit and 1050 kg satellite in geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PSLV has four stages using solid and liquid propulsion

systems alternately. The first stage is one of the largest solid
propellant boosters in the world and carries 139 tonnes of
propellant.

ISRO has envisaged a number of variants of PSLV to cater to

different mission requirements. There are currently three
operational versions of the PSLV the standard (PSLV), the
core-alone (PSLV-CA) without the six strap-on booster motors,

and the (PSLV-XL) version, which carries more solid fuel in its
strap-on motors than the standard version.

So far, PSLV has launched 87 satellites.

sources: the hindu, wiki.

Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and

agreements involving India and/or affecting Indias interests.

India may ratify WTO trade facilitation

pact
India is likely to ratify the World Trade Organisations (WTO) Trade
Facilitation Agreement (TFA), aimed at easing customs rules to
expedite trade flows, during the Nairobi meeting of the global
trade body from December 15 to 18.

However, a matter of concern is that India might not take

advantage of the entire range of flexibilities in the TFA
available for similar developing countries to determine which
commitment they will implement at what time.

Not using all the available safeguards could lead to greater

chances of India finding it difficult to implement all its TFArelated commitments on time, thereby giving opportunities to
other countries to drag it India to the WTOs dispute
settlement panel.

The flexibilities available in the TFA for developing countries

include the one allowing them to take sufficient time in
implementing certain commitments and the provision to seek
assistance or support from donor countries for capacity
building.

In November last year, WTO member countries had adopted

a protocol of amendment to make the TFA a part of the
overall WTO Agreement. However, the TFA will become

operational only after two-thirds of the members ratify it. So

far, only 53 of the 162 member countries have done so.
India is planning to ratify the TFA as part of the governments
initiatives to attract more investment by improving Indias ranking
in the World Banks ease of doing business report.
Trade facilitation:

The Trade Facilitation Agreement forms part of the Bali

Package agreed by members at the Ninth Ministerial
Conference in Bali.

The agreement contains provisions for faster and more

efficient customs procedures through effective cooperation
between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade
facilitation and customs compliance issues. It also contains
provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this
area.

It is being believed, especially by the proponents of the

agreement that deal could add $1 trillion to global GDP and
also can generate 21 million jobs by slashing red tape and
streamlining customs.

sources: the hindu.

Paper 3 Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning,

mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Singapore pips Mauritius as Indias

top FDI source
Singapore has replaced Mauritius as the top source of foreign
direct investment (FDI) into India during the first half of the
current financial year.

According to the recently released data from the Department

of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), during AprilSeptember 2015, India has attracted $6.69 billion (Rs 43,096

crore) FDI from Singapore while from Mauritius, it received

$3.66 billion (Rs 23,490 crore). Foreign investment from
Singapore was $2.41 billion in the year-ago period.

Singapore accounts for 15% of the total FDI India received

between April 2000 and September 2015. However, Mauritius
makes up 34% of FDI during the same period.

Sectors that attracted the highest foreign investment during

April-September 2015 include computer software and
hardware ($3.05 billion), trading ($2.30 billion), services and
automobile ($1.46 billion each) and telecommunications ($659
million).

Foreign investment is crucial for India, which needs about $1

trillion by March 2017 to overhaul infrastructure such as ports,
airports and highways, and to boost growth.

According to experts, the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement

(DTAA) with Singapore which incorporates Limit-of-Benefit (LoB)
clause, has provided comfort to foreign investors based there to
invest in India.
LoB clause:
LoB clauses are typically aimed at preventing treaty shopping or
inappropriate use of tax pacts by third-country investors. The LOB
clause limits treaty benefits to those who meet certain conditions
including those related to business, residency and investment
commitments of the entity seeking benefit of a Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
sources: bs.

Paper 3 Topic: conservation.

Indias forest cover goes up, shows

report

Recently released biennial report of Forest Survey of India

showcases how India has added 3,775 sq km to its green cover
since 2013. It also reported an increase of 2,402 sq km in the very
dense forest category that had remained static since 2007.
Details:

The 2015 report shows that while 2,511 sq km of prime

forests have disappeared altogether, 1,135 sq km of non-forest
areas have become either very dense or mid-dense forests
during that time.

Even accounting for the non-forest areas now recorded as

dense and mid-dense forests, the net loss of forests in these
prime categories works out to be 1,376 sq km more than
twice the area of Mumbai in two years.

The states of J&K, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Kerala,

Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and
Manipur, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands took major hits
in the loss.

The overall gain of 2,402 sq km of very dense forests since

2013 is largely due to positive results from the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Andman and Nicobar islands have gained a remarkable

1,932 sq km of very dense forests, putting 5,686 sq km or
84% of its entire forest cover of 6,751 sq km under the top
category. Uttar Pradesh added 572 sq km of very dense forest
a jump of 35% since 2013. Tamil Nadu reported a net gain
of 100 sq km of very dense forest.

Madhya Pradesh remains the state with largest forest cover,

77,462 sq km. Followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 67,248 sq
km and Chhattisgarh having 55,586 sq km.

Mizoram has the highest forest cover (88.9%), followed by

Lakshadweep with 84.6%. Andaman & Nicobar Islands,

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur have

more than 75% of area under forest.
While an area of at least 1 hectare (0.01 sq km) with a canopy
density of 10% is considered forest, prime forests are
classified as very dense and mid-dense with canopy
densities of at least 70% and 40% respectively.
sources: bs.

Paper 3 Topic: disaster management.

Prime Ministers National Relief Fund

(PMNRF)
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced an exgratia relief of Rs. 50,000 for those who were seriously injured in
the recent Tamil Nadu floods.
PMNRF:
In pursuance of an appeal by the then Prime Minister, Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru in January, 1948, the Prime Ministers National
Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established with public contributions to
assist displaced persons from Pakistan.

The resources of the PMNRF are now utilized primarily to

render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural
calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc. and to
the victims of the major accidents and riots.

Assistance from PMNRF is also rendered, to partially defray

the expenses for medical treatment like heart surgeries,
kidney transplantation, cancer treatment, etc.

Some facts:

The fund consists entirely of public contributions and does

not get any budgetary support.

The corpus of the fund is invested with banks in fixed

deposits.

Disbursements are made with the approval of the Prime

Minister.

PMNRF has not been constituted by the Parliament.

The fund is recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act

and the same is managed by Prime Minister or multiple
delegates for national causes.

PMNRF is exempt under Income Tax Act.

Prime Minister is the Chairman of PMNRF and is assisted by

Officers/ Staff on honorary basis.

These contributions also qualify as CSR (corporate social

responsibility) spend for companies, making it more attractive
in terms of tax exemptions.

Type of contributions accepted in PMNRF:

PMNRF accepts only voluntary donations by individuals and

institutions.

Contributions flowing out of budgetary sources of

Government or from the balance sheets of the public sector
undertakings are not accepted.

At the time of natural calamity of devastating scale, Prime

Minister, makes an appeal for donation to the fund.
sources: the hindu, pib.

Insights Daily Current Events, 08

December 2015
Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation.

Atomic Energy Bill 2015 introduced in

Lok Sabha today
The Union government has introduced Atomic Energy
(Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Lok Sabha.

The Bill seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, in

order to overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of
new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power
generation.

Highlights of the bill:

As per the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, a government

company is one in which at least 51% of the paid-up share
capital is held by the central government. Paid-up share
capital is the capital received by a company from the issue of
shares. But, the Bill expands this definition to include
companies where the whole of the paid up share capital is held
by one or more government company and whose articles of
association empower the central government to constitute its
Board of Directors.

As per the Act, a license is required for acquisition,

production, use, export and import of any plant designed for
the production and development of atomic energy or research.
But, the Bill makes consequential amendments to state that
such license will only be granted to entities such as a
government company or a department of central government.

The Bill states that any license granted for matters such as:
(i) producing atomic energy, and (ii) acquiring and using
substances or minerals from which atomic energy can be
obtained etc., will be cancelled if a licensee ceases to be a
government company.

sources: pib.

Topic: general awareness.

INDRA NAVY- 15
The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY has begun in the Bay of Bengal in
Visakapathnam, Andhra Pradesh.

About INDRA NAVY:

INDRA NAVY is a bilateral maritime exercise between the

Indian and Russian navies and epitomises the strategic
relationship between the two countries.

Initiated in 2003, the exercise has matured over the years

with increasing scope, complexity of operations and level of
participation.

The primary aim of this exercise is to increase

interoperability between the two navies and develop common
understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.

The scope of INDRA NAVY- 15 includes wide- ranging

professional interactions during the Harbour phase and a
diverse canvas of operational activities at sea across a
spectrum of maritime operations.

INDRA NAVY-15 will help to further strengthen mutual

confidence and interoperability, and also enable sharing of
best practices between both navies.

The exercise will be another milestone in strengthening

maritime security cooperation between the two navies and will
also serve to reinforce the long standing bond of friendship
between the two countries.

sources: pib.

Paper 3 Topic: energy.

Rajasthan Joins UDAY Scheme

Rajasthan Government has conveyed its in-principle approval to
Ministry of Power (MoP) for joining UDAY Scheme (Ujwal Discom
Assurance Yojana) .
ABOUT UDAY SCHEME:

The Scheme UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) has

been launched to improve financial and operational
efficiencies of power distribution companies (DISCOMs).

It envisages to reduce interest burden, cost of power and

AT&C losses. Consequently, DISCOM would become
sustainable to supply adequate and reliable power enabling
247 power supply.

The scheme provides that States would take over 75% debt
of Discoms, as on 30th September, 2015 in two years.

UDAY has inbuilt incentives encouraging State Governments

to voluntarily restructure their debts. These incentives include
taking over of DISCOM debt by the States outside the fiscal
deficit limits; reduction in the cost of power through various
measures such as coal linkage rationalization, liberal coal
swaps and priority/additional funding through schemes of MoP
& MNRE.

UDAY is different from earlier restructuring schemes in

several ways including flexibility of keeping debt taken over
outside fiscal deficit limit, reduction in cost of power and a
series of time bound interventions for improving operational
efficiency.

UDAY also provides for measures that will reduce the cost of
power generation, which would ultimately benefit consumers.

sources: pib.

Paper 3 Topic: pollution.

China issues first red alert on pollution

Chinese government has issued its first red alert for pollution in
Beijing due to hazardous air quality caused by severe air
pollution.

The government has warned that severe pollution would

cloak the Chinese capital for several days.

Currently, the air quality index stands at 250 in Beijing,

classed as very unhealthy and 10 times higher than World
Health Organization recommended levels.

The warning is an upgrade from an orange alert issued over the

weekend, part of Chinas four-colour warning system that includes
yellow and blue levels for less polluted conditions.
Details:

The Beijing city government has ordered all outdoor

construction work to stop on red alert days, besides urging
schools to close.

The notice, issued after days of heavy smog last week, also
puts traffic restrictions on certain types of vehicles in the city
of 22.5 million people.

Construction waste, excavation transport vehicles, cement

trucks, gravel transport vehicles and other large-scale vehicles
are also prohibited from driving on roads.

Chinese researchers have identified pollution as a major

source of unrest around the country.

Chinas leadership has vowed to crack down on environmental

degradation, including the air pollution that blankets many major
cities, following decades of unbridled economic growth.
sources: bs.

Paper 2 Topic: challenges of corruption.

Anti-corruption bill sent to select

committee
The Rajya Sabha has referred the Prevention of Corruption
(Amendment) Bill, 2013, to a Select Committee after members

raised objections over certain clauses. They pointed to an overlap

with the provisions of the Lokpal Act and sought greater clarity.
Highlights of the Bill

The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013

amends the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The Bill covers the offence of giving a bribe to a public

servant under abetment. The Bill makes specific provisions
related to giving a bribe to a public servant, and giving a bribe
by a commercial organisation.

The Bill redefines criminal misconduct to only cover

misappropriation of property and possession of
disproportionate assets.

It also modifies the definitions and penalties for offences

related to taking a bribe, being a habitual offender and
abetting an offence.

Powers and procedures for the attachment and forfeiture of

property of public servants accused of corruption have been
introduced in the Bill.

It also requires prior sanction to prosecute serving public

officials. The Bill extends this protection to former officials.

sources: the hindu.