IMPORTANT BODIES -- INDIA

Why do we need to know about them ?

a) Important as content source for GD

b) A major player in Current Affairs

c) Of prime importance in WAT

LIST OF 180 IMPORTANT

INDIAN BODIES :-
 Constitutional Bodies in India :
Constitutional bodies in India are the bodies or institutes that have their name mentioned in
Indian constitution. They derive power directly from the constitution. Any type of change in
mechanism of these bodies needs constitutional amendment.

1) Advocate General of the State Article -

165
2) Attorney General of India Article - 76
3) Comptroller and Auditor General of India Article - 148
4) Election Commission of India Article - 324
5) Finance Commission of India Article - 280
6) National Commission for Schedule Castes Article - 338
7) National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Article - 338 A
8) Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities Article - 350 B
9) State Public Service Commission Article - 315 to 323
10) Union Public Service Commission Article - 315 to 323
 Cabinet Ministerial Bodies in India :
A small executive body called the Union Cabinet is the supreme decision making body in India. Only the prime minister and ministers of the rank of
cabinet minister are members of Union Cabinet. The ministerial bodies they oversee are the Cabinet Ministerial bodies of India.
1) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare 21) Ministry of Mines
2) Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers 22) Ministry of Minority Affairs
3) Ministry of Civil Aviation 23) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
4) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution 24) Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
5) Ministry of Corporate Affairs 25) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
6) Ministry of Defence 26) Ministry of Power
7) Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation 27) Ministry of Railways
8) Ministry of Earth Sciences 28) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
9) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology 29) Ministry of Rural Development
10) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 30) Ministry of Science and Technology
11) Ministry of Finance 31) Ministry of Shipping
12) Ministry of Food Processing Industries 32) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
13) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 33) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
14) Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises 34) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)
15) Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises 35) Ministry of Steel
16) Ministry of Home Affairs 36) Ministry of Textiles
17) Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation 37) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
18) Ministry of Human Resource Development 38) Ministry of Urban Development
19) Ministry of Law and Justice 39) Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
20) Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 40) Ministry of Women and Child Development
 State Ministerial Bodies in India :
A Minister of State reports to the Cabinet Minister, and works in close coordination with a Union Minister to help the latter in
meeting national goals pertaining to that ministry. The ministries having a Minister of State are the State Ministerial Bodies in India.

1) Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region

2) Ministry of Ayurvedic, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH)
3) Ministry of Coal
4) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
5) Ministry of Communications
6) Ministry of Culture
7) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
8) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
9) Ministry of External Affairs
10) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
11) Ministry of Labour and Employment
12) Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Coal
13) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
14) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
15) Ministry of Planning
16) Ministry of Rural Development
17) Ministry of Tourism
18) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
 Some Extra – Constitutional Statutory Bodies in India :
Statutory bodies are those extra-constitutional bodies which are created by the act passed in the parliament of India. The goals
and objectives of a statutory body are set out in the Originating act or in subsequent governmental instruction. Such bodies can
be changed or abolished by a change in the law by majority.

1) Administrative Tribunals
2) Armed Forces Tribunal
3) Central Information Commission
4) Lokayukta
5) Lokpal
6) National Commission for Backward Classes
7) National Commission for Minorities
8) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
9) National Commission for Women
10) National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
11) National Development Council (NDC)
12) National Green Tribunal
13) National Human Rights Commission
14) National Law Commission
15) National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)
16) State Human Rights Commission
• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
 Cabinet Committees in India :
The Cabinet Committee are organizations which are instrumental in reducing the workload of the Cabinet.
These committees are extra-constitutional in nature and are nowhere mentioned in the Constitution.

1) Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)

2) Cabinet Committee on Accommodation (CCA)
3) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
4) Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA)
5) Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA)
6) Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
7) Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
 Armed Forces Service Bodies in India :
1) Indian Air Force
2) Indian Army
3) Indian Coast Guard
4) Indian Navy

Defence Agencies in India :

1) Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO)
2) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
3) Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)
4) Directorate of Air Intelligence (DAI)
5) Directorate of Naval Intelligence (DNI)
6) Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI)
 Judicial Bodies in India :

1) Supreme Court of India

2) High Court of India
3) District Court of India
4) Subordinate Court of India
 Law Enforcement Bodies in India :

1) Assam Rifles (AR) 13) Indian Income Tax Department (IITD)

2) Border Security Force (BSF) 14) Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
3) Bureau of Police Research and Development ( BPRD) 15) Intelligence Bureau (IB)
4) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) 16) Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
5) Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) 17) National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
6) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) 18) National Investigation Agency (NIA)
7) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 19) National Security Guard (NSG)
8) Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) 20) Rapid Action Force (RAF)
9) Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) 21) Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
10) Directorate of Central Excise Intelligence (DCEI) 22) Shasastra Seema Bal (SSB)
11) Directorate of Enforcement (DE) 23) Special Protection Group (SPG)
12) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) 24) State and City Police Forces
 Financial Regulatory Bodies in India :

1) Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI)

2) Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
3) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
4) Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)
5) Forward Markets Commission (FMC)
6) India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)
7) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
8) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
9) National Housing Bank (NHB)
10) Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
11) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
12) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
13) Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
 Education and Service Recruitment Bodies in India
(other than UPSC) :

1) All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

2) All India Management Association (AIMA)
3) IIM Council
4) IIT Council
5) Indian National Science Academy (INSA)
6) Institute of Banking Personel Selection (IBPS)
7) National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
8) Railway Recruitment Board (RRB)
9) Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
10) University Grants Commission (UGC)
 Trade and Industrial Boards in India :

1) Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

2) Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC)
3) Express Industry Council of India (EICI)
4) Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO)
5) National Association of Software and Services Company (NASSCOM)
6) Project Exports Promotion Council of India (PEPCI)
7) Registrar of Companies, India (ROCI)
 Others :
1) Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)
2) Airport Authority of India (AAI)
3) Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC)
4) Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI)
5) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
6) Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
7) Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
8) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
9) Food Corporation of India (FCI)
10) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
11) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
12) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
13) National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)
14) Port Trust Board
15) Prasar Bharati
16) Press Council of India
17) Press Trust of India (PTI)
18) Railway Board
20) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
 (1)

Election Commission of India (ECI)

Formed : 25th January 1950 (National Voters Day)
HQ : Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi
Employees : 300
Present Chief Executive : 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India Mr Sunil Arora (IAS)
 Constitution of the Election Commission of India (ECI)
1) An autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India.

2) Administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President
and Vice President in the country.
2) Operates under the authority of Constitution (Article 324), and subsequently enacted Representation of the People Act.
Hence has the powers to act in an appropriate manner when the enacted laws make insufficient provisions to deal with a
given situation in the conduct of an election.
3) Like the country’s higher judiciary, the Union Public Service Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India,
it is answerable to no one, including the highest office of the President of India.
4) Originally, in 1950, the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. The Election Commissioner Amendment Act,
1989 made the commission a multi-member body. The concept of a 3-member Commission has been in operation since.
5) The Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners - who are usually retired IAS officers, draw salaries
and allowances as per with those of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

https://youtu.be/qg_gnPblcBo https://youtu.be/eZ3tvlLyp3s
6) The Election Commissioners are assisted by Deputy Election Commissioners, who are generally IAS officers. They are
further assisted by Directors General, Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries and Under Secretaries.
7) At the state level, they are assisted by the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, who is an IAS officer of Principal Secretary
rank. At the district and constituency levels, the District Magistrates, Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers
perform election work.

Functions of the Election Commission of India (ECI)

1) One of the most important features of the democratic policy is elections at regular intervals. The Election Commission is
regarded as the guardian of elections in the country.
2) In every election, it issues a Model code of Conduct for political parties and candidates to conduct elections in a free and
fair manner.
3) A law regarding the registration process for political parties was enacted in 1989. The registration helps avoid confusion
and ensures that the political parties are brought under the purview of the commission.
4)The election commission has the right to allow symbols to the political parties.
5)It set limits on poll expenses. The commission prepare electoral rolls and updates the voter's list from time to time.
6)It can issue an order for prohibition of publication and discussion of results of opinion polls or exit polls to prevent
influencing the voting trends in the electorate.
7)The commission has appointed IRS officers of the Income Tax Department as election expenditure observers of all elections
and has fixed the legal limits on the amount of money which a candidate can spend during election campaigns.
8)It takes details of the candidate's assets on affidavit at the time of submitting nomination paper, who are also required to
give details of their expenditure within 30 days of the declaration of results.
9)The campaign period has also been reduced by the commission from 21 to 14 days for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to
cut down election expenditure.
10)In an attempt to decriminalise politics, the Election Commission has approached the Supreme Court to put a lifetime ban on
convicted politicians from contesting elections.

https://youtu.be/gi7LUcVyp64
 (2)
Ministry of Defence
Formed : 15th August 1947
HQ : Cabinet Secretariat, Raisina Hill, New Delhi
Employees : 14,43,921 active, 11,55,000 reserve and 3,98,422 civilians
Budget : 4,04,365 crores INR
Head : Minister of Defence Ms Nirmala Sitharaman (1st woman Defence Minister of India)
Deputy : Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Ramrao Bhamre
Executives : Defence Secretary Mr Sanjay Mitra (IAS)
Defence Production Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar (IAS)
Ex Servicemen Welfare Secretary Ms Sanjeevanee Kutty (IAS)
Defence Research and Development Organisation Secretary Mr Sanjay Mitra (IAS)
Scientific Adviser to Defence Ministry Dr G. Satheesh Reddy
Subsidiary Agencies : Department of Defence, Department of Defence Production,
Ex Servicemen Welfare Department,
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
 Important Points
1) The Ministry of Defence coordinates and supervises all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to
national security and the Indian armed forces.
2) The Ministry has the largest budget among all departments of India and is presently 5 th in military expenditure among all
countries of the world.
3) The President of India is the ceremonial commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the country.
4) The Ministry of Defence provides policy framework and resources to the armed forces to discharge their responsibility for
the defence of the country.
5) The Indian Armed Forces (including Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy) and the Indian Coast Guard, under the
Ministry of Defence are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation.
6) At present, the undergoing new creation of National Defence University, for training of military officials and concerned
civilian officials, will be administered and overseen by Ministry of Defence.
7) The ministry organises and runs Republic Day celebrations and parade every year in January, hosting a chief guest.

https://youtu.be/f6ZY1aNcsfo
 Departments and Functions
1) The Department of Defence, headed by the Defence Secretary, deals with the Integrated Defence Staff, the three services,
the Indian Coast Guard, the Paramilitary forces and various inter-service organisations. It is also responsible for the
Defence Budget, Establishment matters, Defence Policy, matters relating to the Parliament, Defence Cooperation with
foreign countries and coordination of all activities.
2) The Department of Defence Production, headed by the Defence Production Secretary, is responsible for matters pertaining
to defence production, planning and control of departmental production units of the Ordnance Factories Board,
indigenisation of imported stores equipment and spares, and for defence public sector undertakings (HAL, BEL, BEML, BDL,
MDL, GSL, GRSE, Midhani).
3) The Department of Defence Research and Development, headed by the Defence Research and Development Secretary is
responsible for the Defence Research Development Organisation.
4) The Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, headed by the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Secretary, looks after veteran affairs.
The Directorate General of Resettlement, the Kendriya Sainik Welfare Board and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health
Scheme come under the purview of this department.
5) Strategic Information Services and the Tactical Intelligence Division is a highly classified department in the Ministry of
Defence. Very limited information is available for this division.

https://youtu.be/Sevt8H1gTzM https://youtu.be/AoI6a51Szts https://youtu.be/GhLID95SlZU

 Chiefs of the Tri-Services

Chief of the Army Staff --- General Bipin Rawat

Chief of the Naval Staff --- Admiral Sunil Lanba
Chief of the Air Staff --- Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa

Vice Chief of the Army Staff --- Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff --- Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar
Vice Chief of the Air Staff --- Air Marshal Anil Khosla

Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee --- Admiral Sunil Lanba

Chief of Integrated Defence Staff --- Lieutenant General P S Rajeshwar

 Rafale Deal
1) Rafales are twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation, a French firm. Rafale fighter jets are positioned as
‘omnirole’ aircrafts that capable to perform a wide-range of combat roles such as air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-
depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence.
2) Rafale was one of India’s six choices. All aircraft were tested by the IAF and after careful analysis on the bids, two of them — Eurofighter and Rafale — were
shortlisted. Dassault bagged the contract to provide 126 fighter jets, being the lowest bidder and the aircraft were said to be easy to maintain.
3) The deal was initially estimated to be worth Rs.67,000 crore. The plan included acquiring 126 aircraft, 18 of them in fly-away condition and 108 to be made in
India at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility under transfer of technology, each costing average Rs 526 crore.
4) After Rafale won the contract on 31st January 2012, the Indian side and Dassault started negotiations. While little delay is usual, the Rafale negotiations has
been on for almost four years now due to disagreements on warranty for aircraft produced by HAL.
5) In April 2015, following a visit by Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to France, Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar informed that the tender for 126
aircraft had been withdrawn and negotiations for 36 aircrafts in fly away condition had begun. In January 2016, India and France signed a MOU for
acquisition of 36 aircraft.
6) In September 2016, India and France signed an inter-governmental agreement for the acquisition of 36 aircraft plus India specific technologies at a cost of Rs
59,000 crores, each costing average Rs 1,670 crores.
7) The agreement included a 50% "offset clause", which requires the companies involved in the agreement to invest 50% of the contract value back into India.
Of this 50%, 74% or Rs 22,000 crores would have to come from purchase of goods and services from India.
8) In October 2016, Reliance Group under Mr Anil Ambani and Dassault announced the creation of a 51:49 joint venture named Dassault Reliance Aerospace
Pvt. Ltd. to manufacture components for Dassault’s jets to fulfil Dassault's offset obligation.

https://youtu.be/VPrI6gu9AP0
 VVIP Agusta-Westland Chopper Scam
1) In August 1999, the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force felt the need for the replacement of their Mi-8
transportation helicopters needed to transport the President, Prime Minister and other VVIP personnel, as they were completing
their total technical life. Also, they were unable to operate safely at night and in places with elevation beyond 2000 meters.
2) IAF made a strong plea for a high altitude flying helicopter for areas like Siachen and the Tiger Hill. The key requirement for the
helicopter was that it should fly to 6000 metres and above, irrespective of the resultant cabin height of 1.45 metres due to
structural reasons.
3) 6 companies, including the British subsidiary Agusta-Westland of parent company Finmecanicca of Italy, bidded for the original
contract to purchase 8 high altitude flying helicopters.
4) Agusta-Westland’s AW-101 helicopter failed to make the list after flight evaluation -- because it could not fly at 6,000 metres and
above. It could fly much lower to around 3,000 feet only.
5) CBI, in a report on its investigation, said the IAF had been opposing vehemently any suggestion of lowering the altitude
requirement before Mr S P Tyagi became the IAF chief.
6) After Mr Tyagi took over, the Air Force conceded to reduce the height requirement, adding a constraint of minimum 1.80 metres
cabin height, allowing Agusta-Westland to re-enter the bidding process. The contract was also changed to 12 helicopters.

https://youtu.be/Gylg-h35HLw
 VVIP Chopper Scam Events (1)
1) The Indian Ministry of Defence signed a 3600 crore contract to purchase 12 Agusta-Westland AW101 helicopters in February 2010 for the
Communication Squadron of Indian Air Force to carry the President, PM and other VVIPs.
2) Controversy over the contract came to light on 12 February 2013 with the arrest of Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO of Finmeccanica, by Italian
authorities over corruption and bribery charges to middlemen to secure deal with Indian Air Force.
3) The following day Indian Defence Minister Mr A K Antony ordered a probe by the CBI into the contract.
4) On 25 February 2013, CBI registered a Preliminary Enquiry against 11 persons including the former Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal
S.P. Tyagi and his cousins, besides four companies. After carrying out the preliminary enquiry, the CBI found sufficient evidence and
registered an FIR on 13 March. The FIR named 13 persons including Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, his three brothers, Satish Bagrodia, the
brother of former Union minister Santosh Bagrodia, and Pratap Aggarwal - Chairman and Managing Director of IDS Infotech. The FIR also
named four companies – Italy based Finmeccanica, UK based Agusta-Westland and Chandigarh based IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix.
5) In 2013, billionaire Indian arms dealer Abhishek Verma and his Romanian born wife Anca Neacsu were named suspects in this scandal.
Abhishek had played the role of a middleman in the deal and had interfaced with the politicians in securing clearance from the Cabinet
Committee. According to the investigators, part of the bribes from Agusta-Westland was sent to Abhishek's companies and the other part
was diverted to his wife's front company. These funds are suspected to have been sent to Indian politicians who were beneficiaries in this
scandal. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had first identified the role of Abhishek Verma and his wife Anca Neacsu in 2013 in several of his
blogs and press-releases.
6) The contract was frozen in February 2013 by the Ministry of Defence.

https://youtu.be/yK0yZ71_qG8 https://youtu.be/p6x5kny42dc
 VVIP Chopper Scam Events (2)
7) In September 2015, a special CBI court issued an open non-bailable warrant against Christian Michel based on a CBI report that he was needed to
be questioned in the case to know how much amount he had received as commission in the deal as middleman between Agusta-Westland and the
Indian Air Force.
8) India cancelled the Rs 3,600 crore deal with Agusta-Westland in January 2014. The government cancelled the contract on grounds of breach of the
Pre-Contract Integrity Pact agreed to by Agusta-Westland.
9) After the cancellation of the contract, India encashed over Rs 250 crore made by Agusta-Westland as a bank guarantee in the Indian banks in
January 2014. Separately, India requested the Italian government to retrieve the bank guarantee amount made by the firm in Italian banks.
Accordingly, in June 2014, the Indian government encashed Rs 1,818 crore, taking the total amount recovered so far to Rs 2,068 crore. With this,
India was reported to have recovered the entire amount of 45% of the total contract value Rs 3,600 crore it had paid to Agusta-Westland excepting
the cost of three helicopters it had delivered.
10) On the Italian side, the Italian courts sentenced Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO of Finmeccanica to four and a half years in prison and Bruno Spagnolini,
Head of chopper division of Agusta-Westland, a four year jail term. The court also ordered the two executives to pay Rs 60 crores, a sum
corresponding to the amount deemed to have been allegedly paid in bribes. However the Italian Apellate court absolved them of all charges on the
ground of lack of evidence.
11) On the basis of CBI's non-bailable warrant against Christian Michel, the Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice which finally led to his arrest in Dubai
February 2018. India officially made the request to the Gulf nation for his extradition, based on the criminal investigations conducted in the case by
the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 2018.
12) On 4th December 2018, Christian Michel was extradited to India and is under CBI interrogation. Michel has reportedly denied all the charges.
 (3)

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

Formed : 2nd September 1946
HQ : Cabinet Secretariat, South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi
Employees : 9294
Budget in 2018-19 : 15,011 crore INR
Head : Minister for External Affairs Ms Sushma Swaraj, 2nd woman after Ms Indira Gandhi in this post
Deputy : Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (Retd) Dr. Vijay Kr Singh
 Bureaucratic Setup and Function
1) Also known as the Foreign Ministry, it is responsible for the Conduct of foreign relations of India, the country's
representation in the United Nations and for advising other Ministries and State Governments when the latter have
dealings with foreign governments or institutions.
2) The Foreign Secretary is the senior most civil servant who is the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and is supported
by other secretary level officers.
3) Development Partnership Administration (DPA) is an agency under the Ministry of External Affairs formed in 2013 for
effective execution of projects with professionals from diverse backgrounds. India has an elaborate project portfolio in its
neighbourhood, including Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, as well as Africa and Latin
America.
4) Foreign Secretary -- Mr Vijay Keshav Gokhale
Secretary (West) -- Ms Ruchi Ghanashyam
Secretary (East) -- Ms Preeti Saran
Secretary (Economic Relations) -- Mr T. S. Tirumurti
Secretary (Consul, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) -- Mr Dhyaneshwar M. Mulay
Joint Secretary (External Publicity) and Official Spokesperson -- Mr Raveesh Kumar
Development Partnership Administration (DPA) Head -- Ms Sujata Mehta
 To be Noted
1) Raisina Dialogue : It is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi. Since its inception in 2016, the conference has emerged as
India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, an
independent think tank, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The conference is structured as a multi-
stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving a variety of global policymakers including heads of state, cabinet ministers and local
government officials. In addition, The Dialogue also welcomes major private sector executives, as well as members of the media and
academia. The third edition of The Raisina Dialogue was held at the Taj Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi, India from January 16–18, 2018.
The theme for the 2018 Conference was “Managing Disruptive Transitions: Ideas, Institutions and Idioms”. This theme was designed to
explore the shifting dynamics within the global order; where old relationships need new directions, emerging partnerships face
unprecedented constraints and the notions of power and sovereignty are challenged. The Dialogue fostered discussions on the role of
institutions, the possibility of collective action and successful responses to these modern developments.
2) Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) : It is a New Delhi based Indian think-tank. Established in 1943, it is devoted exclusively for the
study of international relations and foreign affairs. By an Act of Parliament, it has been declared an institution of national importance in
2001. The Vice President of India is the President of ICWA, while the Minister of External Affairs is its Vice-President.
3) Diplomatic Missions of India : India has a large diplomatic network, reflecting its links in the world and neighbouring regions of Central
Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the rest of the Indian subcontinent. There are also far-flung missions in the
Caribbean and the Pacific, locations of historical Indian diaspora communities. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Indian
diplomatic missions in the capitals of other Commonwealth members are known as High Commissions. In other cities of Commonwealth
countries, India calls some of its consular missions Assistant High Commissions, although those in the cities of Birmingham and
Edinburgh in the UK and the city of Hambantota in Sri Lanka are known as Consulates-General.

https://youtu.be/xOV-X53sNHg https://youtu.be/YX-tnaHDu2E
 Diplomatic Missions / Foreign Missions
1) A foreign mission is a group of people from one country present in another country to represent the sending state officially in the receiving state.
2) Ambassadors are the head representatives of their countries to other countries or to intergovernmental organizations. Generally they are posted in the
capital cities, and do not have to deal with consular affairs, which include things like passports and visas. Consular staff under them would handle such things.
Consuls rank lower than Ambassadors, and don’t deal so much with national relations, though they may be involved with trade. They are usually posted in
the city other than the capital of the host country.
3) Embassy is one country's permanent main diplomatic office in another country (usually in the capital city of the host country), where the highest diplomatic
officer is the ambassador (or high commissioner). Embassy premises and all its diplomatic staff fall under the sovereignty of the ambassador's home country
and are protected under the concept of diplomatic immunity by the host country.
4) Consulates are the country's smaller diplomatic offices in important and more populated cities in another country (usually not in the capital city of the host).
5) As of December 2017, India has the 12th largest diplomatic contingent in the world with 181 diplomatic posts abroad, among which there are 124
embassies/high commissions, 48 consulates, 5 permanent missions and 4 other representations.
6) New Delhi hosts 151 embassies/high commissions, and in addition there are 254 consulates and 18 other representations in India. Honorary Consulates are
excluded from this listing.
7) India does not have diplomatic relations with the following : 1) Abkhazia - It declared independence from Georgia in 1998. Six countries recognise its
independence. 2) Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) - It declared its independence in 1991. 3) Kosovo - It declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Over 110
countries have recognised Kosovo’s independence. 4) Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) - It declared independence in 1976. India recognised SADR
from 1985 till 2000. 5) Somaliland - It declared independence from Somalia in 1991. 6) South Ossetia - It declared independence in 1991. Five countries
recognise South Ossetia’s independence. 7) Taiwan - India recognised Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1947 to 1950. However India has an India Taipei
Association in Taiwan, which looks after commercial, consular and cultural cooperation.
 Diplomatic Missions in India

Diplomatic Missions of India

 (4)

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

Formed : 1985
Department 1 : Ministry of Youth Affairs
Department 2 : Ministry of Sports
Departments Bifurcated on : 2008
Budget : 1943.21 crores INR
HQ : Shastri Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi
Head : Minister of State (Independent) Col (Retd) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Chief Executive : Youth Affairs -- Secretary Mr Amarendra Kr Dubey (IAS)
Sports -- Secretary Mr Rahul Bhatnagar (IAS)
 Salient Features
1) Definition of Youth : The United Nations defines 'Youth' as 15–24 years, and in the Commonwealth it is 15–29 years.
2) Department of Youth Affairs : Unlike the sports department, many of the functions of this department is related to other
ministries like Education, Employment & Training, Health and Family Welfare. Thus it functions largely as a facilitator for
youth building. It gives two awards, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and Indira Gandhi NSS Award.
3) Department of Sports : The department also gives away the National sports awards, including Special Awards to Medal
Winners in International Sports Events, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, Dhyanchand Award for Lifetime achievement
in Sports and Games, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan
Puraskar. They also helped in bringing the FIFA U-17 World Cup to India.
4) Sports Authority of India (SAI) : SAI is the apex national sports body of India, established in 1984 for the development of
sport in India. SAI has 2 Sports Academic institutions at Patiala and Thiruvananthapuram, 10 SAI Regional Centres, 14
Centre of Excellence, 56 Sports Training Centres and 20 Special Area Games. In addition, SAI also manages Netaji Subhash
High Altitude Training Centre in Himachal Pradesh as well as 5 stadiums in the national capital of Delhi. SAI does
extensive research and development in Sports Sciences and Sports Medicine. It has a Training of Elite Athlete
Management Support (Teams) division. It engages Foreign Coaches and Experts and organises National Coaching Camps.

https://youtu.be/PLg9Vop6oaA
 (5)

Ministry of Statistics and Programme

Implementation (MOSPI)
Formed : 15th October 1999
HQ : Sankhayiki Bhawan, CBD Shahdara, Delhi
Budget in 2018-19 : 4,859 crore INR
Head : Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation Mr D V Sadananda Gowda
Deputy : Minister of State of Statistics and Programme Implementation Mr Vijay Goel
Subsidiary Agencies : Department of Statistics
Department of Programme Implementation
 Composition and Function
1) The Ministry has two wings, one relating to Statistics and the other Programme Implementation.
2) The Statistics Wing called the National Statistical Office (NSO) consists of the 1) Central Statistical Office (CSO), 2) The Computer center and
3) The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
3) The Programme Implementation Wing has three Divisions, namely 1) Twenty Point Programme (TPP), 2) Infrastructure and Project
Monitoring, and 3) Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
4) Besides these two wings, there is National Statistical Commission created through a Resolution of Government of India (MOSPI) and the
autonomous Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) declared as an institute of National importance.
5) The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation attaches considerable importance to coverage and quality aspects of statistics
released in the country.
6) The statistics released are based on administrative sources, surveys and censuses conducted by the Center and State Governments and non-
official sources and studies.
7) The surveys conducted by the Ministry are based on scientific sampling methods. Field data are collected through dedicated field staff.
8) In line with the emphasis on the quality of statistics released by the Ministry, the methodological issues concerning the compilation of
national accounts are overseen by different committees.
9) The Ministry compiles data sets based on current data after applying standard statistical techniques and after extensive scrutiny.

https://youtu.be/3Co9J4pMOq4
 National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) Functions
1) Acts as the nodal agency for planned development of the statistical system in the country, lays down and maintains norms and standards in the
field of statistics involving concepts and definitions, methodology of data collection, processing of data and dissemination of results.
2) Coordinates the statistical work in respect of the Ministries of the Government of India and State Statistical Bureaus (SSBs) and advises the
Ministries of on statistical methodology and on statistical analysis of data.
3) Prepares national accounts as well as publishes annual estimates of national product, government and private consumption expenditure, capital
formation, savings, estimates of capital stock and consumption of fixed capital.
4) Maintains liaison with international statistical organizations, such as the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), the Statistical Institute for Asia
and the Pacific (SIAP), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO),
the International Labour Organizations (ILO), etc.
5) Compiles and releases the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) every month, conducts the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), and provides statistical
information to assess and evaluate the changes in the growth, composition and structure of the organized manufacturing sector.
6) Organizes and conducts periodic all-India Economic Censuses and follow-up enterprise surveys, provides an in-house facility to process the data
collected through various socio economic surveys and follow-up enterprise surveys of Economic Censuses.
7) Conducts large scale all-India sample surveys for creating the database needed for studying the impact of specific problems for the benefit of
different population groups in diverse socio economic areas, such as employment, consumer expenditure, literacy levels, health, nutrition, etc.
8) Examines the survey reports from the technical angle and evaluates the sampling design including survey feasibility studies in respect of surveys conducted
by the National Sample Survey Organizations and other Central Ministries and Departments.

https://youtu.be/w5i4cQtS-uU
 (6)

National Institution for Transforming India

(NITI Aayog)
Formed : 1st January 2015
Previous Name : Planning Commission
HQ : Sansad Marg, New Delhi
Head : Chairman the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi
Deputy : Vice Chairman Mr Rajiv Kumar (Economist), Chief Executive Mr Amitabh Kant (IAS)
 Functions
1) The NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India, established with the aim to achieve Sustainable
Development Goals and to enhance cooperative federalism by fostering the involvement of State Governments of India in
the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach.
2) Its initiatives include :
a) 15 year road map,
b) 7-year vision, strategy and action plan,
c) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT),
d) Digital India,
e) Atal Innovation Mission,
f) Medical Education Reform,
g) Agriculture reforms,
h) Indices Measuring States’ performance in Health, Education and Water Management,
i) Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes,
j) Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,
k) Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Skill Development,
l) Task Forces on Agriculture and Elimination of Poverty, and
m) Transforming India Lecture Series.

https://youtu.be/JAOVnoHK0fE
 Special Points
1) NITI Aayog has started a new initiative on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi called ‘NITI Lectures : Transforming India’.

2) The aim of this initiative is to invite globally reputed policy makers, experts and administrators to India to share their knowledge,
expertise, experience in policy making and good governance with Indian counterparts.
3) The Prime Minister spoke about the idea behind this lecture series and stated that his vision for India is rapid transformation, not gradual
evolution.

4) This initiative of a series of lectures started with the first lecture being delivered by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Mr. Tharman
Shanmugaratnam. He delivered a lecture on the subject called 'India and the Global Economy'.

5) On 31 August 2017, NITI Aayog developed a State Statistics Handbook that consolidates key statistics across sectors for every Indian
State/UT. While the State data on crucial indicators is currently fragmented across different sources, this handbook provides a one-stop
database of important State statistics.
6) NITI Aayog has taken initiative on Blockchain usages in e-governance and has conceptualized the tech stack as 'IndiaChain'.

7) The vision is to link IndiaChain with 'IndiaStack', the digital infrastructure that forms the backbone of the Aadhar project.
8) The NITI Aayog initiative on the blockchain system will enforce contracts quicker, prevent fraudulent transactions, and help farmers
through the efficient disbursement of subsidies. This project is the first step to a larger system of record keeping and public good
disbursement. It is the brainchild of NITI Aayog CEO Mr Amitabh Kant (IAS).

https://youtu.be/Ku8DPt6JrlA
 What is Blockchain
Blockchain is a decentralised distributed
digital ledger collectively maintained by
a network of computers, called nodes.
Think of it as a large record book shared
among many people. What makes the
blockchain secure is that no data can be
modified by one person without
everyone else who maintains the records
agreeing to the change. Also, the record
book is not stored in one place but
instead is distributed among the
bookkeepers ensuring that there is no
single point – as in the case of
centralised database – using which
records can be tampered with. This
makes blockchain virtually unhackable
and secure.

https://youtu.be/L58UBWZzcWQ
 (7)

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

(CCEA)
Formed : 2011
Head : The Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi
Total Members : 11
Major function : The major function of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is to review
economic trends on a continuous basis, as also the problems and prospects,
with a view to evolving a consistent and integrated economic policy framework for the
country. It also directs and coordinates all policies and activities in the economic field
including foreign investment that require policy decisions at the highest level.
 Latest Decision-making of CCEA (1)
1) The CCEA on 2nd January 2019 approved the merger of state-run Vijaya Bank, Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank, effective from
1st April 2019.
2) This marks the first ever three-way merger in the country's banking sector.
3) The merged entity will become the third largest bank in the country, after government owned State Bank of India and
private sector lender ICICI Bank.
4) The government said in a statement that as per the scheme of amalgamation, Bank of Baroda will be the transferee bank
while the other two public sector banks will be transferor banks. That means the businesses of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank
will be transferred to Bank of Baroda.
5) The undertakings owned by Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank that will be transferred to the third state-run lender will include
assets, liabilities, rights, titles, claims, licenses, approvals, privileges and properties.
6) There will be no impact on the service conditions of the employees and there will be no retrenchment of employees
following the merger.
7) The clearance to the amalgamation plan by the government comes after nearly 10 lakh bank officials called a strike on two
days to protest against the proposed merger.

https://youtu.be/yXbq5VgWf2w
 Latest Decision-making of CCEA (2)
1) The CCEA on 8th June 2017 approved the listing of state
run Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
(IREDA), reiterating its emphasis on green energy.
2) India has an ambitious clean energy target of 175
gigawatt (GW) by 2022, and it needs money, about $
200 billion, to achieve this.
3) The share sale will increase IREDA’s equity base and
help it raise more debt resources for funding RE
(renewable energy) projects.
4) Experts said that the decision to sell shares in IREDA
was a sign of the Indian government’s intent to move
forward with its clean energy plans even as climate
change goalposts are changing.

https://youtu.be/klywIBW0rwQ
 (8)

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)

Formation : Ad Hoc, ie as and when deemed necessary
Head : Chairperson Mr Ganesh Singh (MP) in JPC constituted in 2016 to examine the Land Acquisition
Bill, succeeding Mr S. S. Ahluwalia (MP)
Total Members : Lok Sabha members are double than that of Rajya Sabha members
 Salient Points
1) JPC is one type of ad hoc Parliamentary committee constituted by the Indian parliament.
2) JPC is formed when a motion is adopted by one house and it is supported or agreed by the other house. Another way to form a JPC is that
two presiding chiefs of both houses communicate with each other and form the committee.
3) The Lok Sabha members are double compared to Rajya Sabha in a JPC.
4) A JPC can obtain evidence of experts, public bodies, associations, individuals or interested parties on it's own or on requests made by
them. It can take oral and written evidence or call for documents in connection with a matter under its consideration. However ministers
are not generally called by the committees to give evidence.
5) If a witness fails to appear before a JPC in response to summons, his conduct constitutes a contempt of the House.
6) The proceedings of parliamentary committees are confidential.
7) Joint Parliamentary Committees formed so far :
a) Bofors scandal (1987)
b) Harshad Mehta Stock market scam (1992)
c) Ketan Parekh share market scam (2001)
d) Soft drink pesticide issue (2003)
e) 2G spectrum case (2011)
f) VVIP Agusta-Westland Chopper scam (2013)
g) Land Acquisition (2015)

https://youtu.be/9hiKeGSYWb0
 (9)

Defence Research and Development Organisation

(DRDO)
Formed : 1958
HQ : DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi
Employees : 30,000 (5,000 scientists among them)
Budget : 14,818.74 crores INR
Head : Minister of Defence Ms Nirmala Sitharaman
Deputy : Secretary Mr Sanjay Mitra (IAS)
Motto : 'Balasya Mulah Vigyanam' (Strength's origin is in Science)
 Composition and Function

1) DRDO is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military's research and development, and is under the
administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

2) With a network of 52 laboratories, which are engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields like
aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems, DRDO
is India's largest and most diverse research organisation.

3) DRDO has achieved many successes since its establishment in developing other major systems and critical technologies
such as Aircraft Avionics, UAVs, Small Arms, Artillery Systems, EW Systems, Tanks and Armoured Vehicles, Sonar Systems,
Command and Control systems and Missile Systems.
 DRDO Success Stories (1)
1) The DRDO is responsible for the ongoing Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas. The LCA is intended to provide the Indian Air Force with a modern,
fly by wire, multi-role fighter, as well as develop the aviation industry in India.
2) The DRDO provided key avionics for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme. Systems developed by DRDO include radar warning receivers, radar
and display computers.
3) The DRDO is part of the Indian Air Force's upgrade programmes for its MiG-27 and SuperCat Jaguar combat aircraft. DRDO contributed
subsystems like the Tarang radar warning receiver, Tempest jammer, core avionics computers, brake parachutes, cockpit instrumentation
and displays.
4) DRDO has also assisted Hindustan Aeronautics with its programmes. These include the HAL Dhruv helicopter and the HAL HJT-36.
5) The DRDO has also developed two unmanned aerial vehicles – the Nishant tactical UAV and the Lakshya Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA).
6) DRDO cooperates with the state owned Ordnance Factories Board for producing its items. These have led to issues of marginal quality
control for some items, and time consuming rectification for others. A significant point in case is the INSAS rifle which has been adopted
by the Indian Army as its standard battle rifle and is in extensive service. There have been issues with rifle quality in use under extreme
conditions in the heat. DRDO with OFB has rectified these troubles. Prior troubles were also dealt with in a similar manner. Hence the rifle
has found favour throughout the army and has been ordered in number by other paramilitary units and police forces.
7) In 2010, DRDO completed the development of Oleo-resin plastic hand grenades, better tear gas shells and short-range laser dazzlers.
8) A compact, low-cost and handy explosive detection kit has been designed and perfected for field detection of traces of explosives.
 DRDO Success Stories (2)
9) A new high explosive, ICL-20, is in the making at a DRDO lab that could replace other standard explosives of the armed forces such as RDX,
HMX, FOX-7 and Amorphous Boron. ICL-20 is a Nitramine class of explosive 15 times as powerful as HMX. HMX itself is more than four
times as potent as RDX.

10) DRDO is responsible for quite a few artillery systems, ammunition and tank armaments.

11) The Arjun Tank is indigenously manufactured with the technical assistance of DRDO.

12) DRDO is an authority in the world due to to its indigenous multifunctional radar systems.

13) DRDO and the Indian Navy have developed and productionised a range of sonars, torpedoes and related systems for the Indian Navy's
frontline combat ships.

14) The DRDO is responsible for the following missiles and their systems : Akash Surface to Air Missile, Trishul Surface to Air Missile, Nag Anti-
Tank missile, Brahmos Missile, Shaurya Missile, Sagarika Missile, Prahaar Missile, Astra Air to Air Misssile, Prithvi Air Defence Missile, Agni
V Anti Satellite Missile, DRDO Glide Bombs and Sudarshan Laser guided Bomb.
D
R

D
O
https://youtu.be/ZU5j2Dd4ooA
 (10)

The Supreme Court of India

Formed : 26th January 1950
Located : Tilak Marg, New Delhi
No of Positions : 27 + 1 = 28
Motto : ‘Watoh Dharmastato Jayah' (Where there is truth, there is victory)
Head : 46th Chief Justice of India Mr Ranjan Gogoi
Appointed : 3rd October 2018
End of Tenure : 17th November 2019
 Basic constitution and Function (1)
1) The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal under the Constitution of India, the highest
constitutional court, with the power of judicial review. Consisting of the Chief Justice of India and a maximum of 31 other
judges, it has extensive powers in the form of original, appellate and advisory jurisdictions.
2) As the final court of appeal of the country, it takes up appeals primarily against verdicts of the high courts of various states
of the Union and other courts and tribunals.
3) It safeguards fundamental rights of citizens and settles disputes between various governments in the country.
4) As an advisory court, it hears matters which may specifically be referred to it under the constitution by President of India. It
also may take cognisance of matters on its own, without anyone drawing its attention to them.
5) The law declared by the supreme court becomes binding on all courts within India and also by the union and state
governments. As per Article 142, it is the duty of the President of India to enforce the decrees of the supreme court.
6) A citizen of India not exceeding 65 years age who has been a judge of one high court or more (continuously), for at least five
years, or an advocate there for at least ten years, or a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President of India, is eligible
to be recommended for appointment as a judge of the supreme court.
 Basic constitution and Function (2)
7) The constitution seeks to ensure the independence of supreme court judges. Independence of the judiciary, the supremacy
of the constitution and rule of law are the features of the basic structure of the constitution. The Supreme court is
empowered to frame own cases without receiving formal complaints on any suspected injustice including actions indulging
in contempt of court and contempt of the constitution by anybody.
8) The main purpose of supreme court is to decide constitutional issues. It is the duty of the judiciary to frame own cases and
to probe the cases at the earliest when laws are implemented violating the basics of the constitution.
9) A judge is appointed to the supreme court by the President of India on the recommendation of the collegium -- a closed
group of the Chief Justice of India, the four most senior judges of the court and the senior-most judge hailing from the high
court of a prospective appointee. Supreme court judges retire at the age of 65.
10) The President can remove a judge on proved misbehaviour or incapacity when parliament approves with a majority of the
total membership of each house in favour of impeachment. For initiating impeachment proceedings against a judge, at
least 50 members of Rajya Sabha or 100 members of Lok Sabha shall issue the notice. Then a judicial committee would be
formed to frame charges against the judge, to conduct a fair trial and to submit its report to parliament. If the report finds
the judge guilty of misbehaviour or incapacity, further removal proceedings would be taken up by the parliament if the
judge is not resigning himself.

https://youtu.be/wgEuPljQg8A
 Landmark Judgments (1)
1) Land Reform (1967) : Golaknath v. State of Punjab. Ruled that that the parliament did not have the power to abrogate fundamental rights,
including the provisions on private property.
2) Emergency (1975–1977) : Additional District Magistrate of Jabalpur v. Shiv Kant Shukla. Four senior-most judges of supreme court ruled in favour
of state's right for unrestricted powers of detention during the emergency. But The only dissenting opinion was from Justice H. R. Khanna, who
stated 'Detention without trial is an anathema to all those who love personal liberty.‘ Justice Khanna remains a legendary figure among the legal
fraternity in India for this decision.
3) Post-1980 : An assertive court via judgements in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala and Minerva Mills v. Union of India, where the basic
structure doctrine of the Constitution was outlined.
4) Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India : The constitutional validity of Central Educational Institutions (Reservations in Admissions) Act, 2006 was
upheld contrary to the Mandal Commission that 52% of Indians belonged to OBC.
5) 2G spectrum case : The supreme court declared allotment of spectrum as "unconstitutional and arbitrary" and quashed all the 122 licenses issued
in 2008 during tenure of A. Raja (then minister for communications & IT), the main official accused in the 2G case.
6) Black money : The government refused to disclose details of about 18 Indians holding accounts in LGT Bank, Liechtenstein, evoking a sharp
response from a bench comprising justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar. The court ordered Special investigation team (SIT) to probe the
matter.
7) Minority reservations : The supreme court refused to stay the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement quashing 4.5% sub-quota for minorities
under OBC reservation quota of 27%.
 Landmark Judgments (2)

8) Online/postal ballot for Indian citizen living abroad (NRIs) : In a three judge bench presided by The Chief Justice, Justice Altamas Kabir issued
notice to the Centre and the Election Commission of India on the PIL filed by a group of NRIs for online/postal ballot for the Indian citizens living
abroad.
9) T. S. R. Subramanian vs. Union of India : a division bench of the supreme court ruled that a) Officers of the IAS, Officers of other All India Services,
and other civil servants are not required to follow oral instructions, as they 'undermine credibility', b) Civil Services Board headed by the Cabinet
Secretary at national level, and Chief Secretary at state level, be set up to recommend transfer/postings of the officers of the All India Services
(IAS, IFoS and IPS), c) Transfers of Group B officers to be done by Head of Departments, d) No interference of Ministers in state, other than the
Chief Minister, in transfer/postings of civil servants. These rulings were termed as a 'major reform'.
10) Recognition of transgender as 'Third Gender' in law : National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India. In April 2014, Justice K. S. Radhakrishnan
declared transgenders to be the 'third gender' in Indian law.
11) Relief to over 35,000 public servants : B. Prabhakara Rao vs. State of A.P. Involved sudden reduction in age of superannuation from 58 years to 55
years of over 35,000 public servants of State Government. They lost first round of litigation in the supreme court. Realising the mistake, fresh
legislation was brought restoring the original age of superannuation of 58 years.
12) Decriminalise homosexuality : A five member constitutional bench led by Justice Dipak Misra decriminalised homosexuality by partially striking
down the Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code in September 2018. The bench declared that criminalisation of private consensual sex between
adult persons of the same sex under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was clearly unconstitutional.
 Criticism
1) Corruption : The Supreme Court has been embroiled in several controversies, from serious allegations of corruption at the
highest level of the judiciary, expensive private holidays at the tax payers expense, refusal to divulge details of judges'
assets to the public, secrecy in the appointments of judges, to the refusal to make information public under the Right to
Information Act.
2) Pending cases : According to Supreme Court newsletter, there are 58,519 cases pending in the supreme court, out of which
37,385 are pending for more than a year. Excluding connected cases, there are still 33,892 pending cases.
3) Four judges vs Chief Justice : 2018 Supreme Court of India crisis. On 12 January 2018, four senior judges of the supreme
court -- Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurian Joseph addressed a press conference criticizing Chief
Justice Dipak Misra's style of administration and the manner in which he allocated cases among judges of the supreme
court. However, people close to Misra refuted the allegations that allocation of cases was unfair. On 20 April 2018, seven
opposition parties submitted a petition seeking impeachment of Dipak Misra to the Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, with
signatures from seventy-one parliamentarians. On 23 April 2018, the petition was rejected by the Vice President on the
basis that the complaints were about administration and not misbehaviour, and that thus impeachment would seriously
interfere with the constitutionally protected independence of the judiciary.
4) Holidays and working hours : The Supreme court works from 10 am to 4:30 pm, but is closed during winter and summer for
2 weeks each. Some critics feel that this delays pending cases.
 (11)

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Formed : 1963
HQ : Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Employees : 5685
Jurisdiction : The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Present Chief Executive : Interim Director Mr M. Nageshwar Rao (IPS)
Motto : Industry, Impartiality, Integrity
 Salient Points (1)
1) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the premier investigating agency of India.
2) The CBI has the resources to investigate economic crimes, special crimes, cases of corruption, high-profile cases and
other complicated cases, and it is requested to assist the investigation of crimes such as murder, kidnapping and
terrorism. The Supreme Court and a number of high courts in the country also assigns such investigations to the CBI on
the basis of petitions filed by aggrieved parties.
3) The CBI Is divided into the following divisions : the Anti-Corruption Division, the Special Crimes Division, The Economic
Offences Division, the Policy and International Police Cooperation Division, Administration Division, Directorate of
Prosecution Division and Central Forensic Science Laboratory Division.
4) The legal powers of investigation of the CBI are derived from the DSPE Act 1946, which confers powers, duties,
privileges and liabilities of the Delhi Special Police Establishment and officers of the Union Territories.
5) Maintaining law and order is a state responsibility as 'police' is a State subject, hence the jurisdiction to investigate
crime lies with the state police exclusively. The CBI being a Union subject may investigate : 1) Offences against central-
government employees, public-sector undertakings and public-sector banks, 2) Cases involving the financial interests
of the central government, 3) Breaches of central laws enforceable by the Government of India, 4) Major fraud,
embezzlement, multi-state organised crime, and 5) Multi-agency or international cases.
 Salient Points (2)
5) Normally, cases assigned to the CBI are sensitive and of national importance. It is standard practice for state police
departments and the central government to transfer a case to the CBI.
6) The agency has been criticised for its mishandling of several scams. It has also been criticized for dragging its feet
while investigating prominent politicians.
7) The CBI has been criticized due to the excessive political interference irrespective of which party happened to be in
power at the time.
8) It has been exposed by former officials such as Mr Joginder Singh and Mr B R Lall (ex Director and Joint Director,
respectively) as engaging in nepotism, wrongful prosecution and corruption. In Mr Lall's book 'Who Owns CBI', he
details how investigations are manipulated and derailed.

https://youtu.be/OiGXhlBGeY4
 Main Corruption Charges (1)
1) Bofors scandal : In January 2006 it was discovered that the CBI had quietly unfrozen bank accounts belonging to Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi,
one of those accused in the 1986 Bofors scandal which tainted the government of Mr Rajiv Gandhi, and facilitated his travel by asking Interpol to take him
off his wanted list. Associates of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi were linked to alleged Rs 40 million dollar payoffs made by Swedish arms firm AB Bofors.
The 410 howitzers purchased in the 1300 million dollars arms sale were reported to be inferior to those offered by a French competitor.
2) Hawala scandal : A 1991 arrest of militants in Kashmir led to a raid on hawala brokers, revealing evidence of large-scale payments to national politicians.
The Jain Hawala case encompassed former Union ministers Mr Ajit Kumar Panja and Mr P. Shiv Shankar, former Uttar Pradesh governor Mr Motilal Vora,
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mr Yashwant Sinha. The 20 defendants were discharged by Special Judge Mr V. B. Gupta in the Rs 650 million case, due to lack
of evidence, heard in New Delhi.
3) Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case : In this case Santosh Kumar Singh, the alleged murderer of a 25 year old law student, was acquitted for what the judge
called 'deliberate inaction' by the investigating team. The accused was the son of a high-ranking officer in the IPS, the reason for the CBI's involvement. The
1999 judgment noted that 'the influence of the father of the accused has been there'.
4) Sister Abhaya murder case : This case concerns the 27 March 1992 death of a nun who was found in a water well in a convent hostel in Kottayam, Kerala.
Five CBI investigations have failed to yield any suspects.
5) Sohrabuddin case : The CBI has been accused of supporting the ruling Congress Party against its opposition, the BJP. The CBI is investigating the Sohrabuddin
case in Gujarat. Geeta Johri, also investigating the case, claimed that the CBI is pressuring her to falsely implicate former Gujarat minister Amit Shah.

6) Sant Singh Chatwal case : Sant Singh Chatwal was a suspect in CBI records for 14 years. The agency had filed two charge sheets, sent letters and sent a team
to the United States to imprison Chatwal and his wife from 2nd February 1997. But failed. Finally the case got closed. This closed a case of bank fraud in
which Chatwal had been embroiled for over a decade. Along with four others, Chatwal was charged with being part of a 'criminal conspiracy' to defraud the
Bank of India’s New York branch of Rs 28.32 crore.
 Main Corruption Charges (2)
7) Malankara Varghese murder case : This case concerns the 5th December 2002 death of T. M. Varghese, a member of the Malankara Orthodox Church
managing committee and a timber merchant. Varghese Thekkekara, a priest and manager of the Angamali diocese of the rival Jacobite Syrian Christian
Church, was charged with murder and conspiracy on 9 May 2010. Thekkekara was not arrested after he was charged, for which the CBI was criticised by the
Kerala High Court and the media.
8) Bhopal gas tragedy : The CBI was publicly seen as ineffective in trying the 1984 Bhopal disaster case. Former CBI Joint Director Mr B. R. Lall has said that he
was asked to remain soft on extradition for Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson and drop the charges (which included culpable homicide). Those accused
received only two-year sentences.
9) 2G spectrum case : The UPA government has been accused of allocating 2G spectrum to corporations at very low prices through corrupt and illegal means.
The Supreme Court accused the CBI many times for its tardiness in the investigations. Only after the court began monitoring its investigations were high-
profile arrests made.
10) Indian coal allocation scam : This is a political scandal concerning the Indian government's allocation of the nation's coal deposits to private companies by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which cost the government Rs 10,673.03 billion. CBI director Mr Ranjit Sinha submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court
that the coal-scam status report prepared by the agency was shared with Congress Party law minister Ashwani Kumar 'as desired by him' and with
secretary-level officers from the prime minister’s office and the coal ministry before presenting it to the court.
11) 2008 Noida double murder case : This is a double murder case of 14 year old girl Aarushi Talwar and 45 year old Hemraj Banjade from Noida, India. On 26
November 2013, parents of girl named Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were sentenced to life imprisonment for the twin murders. In January 2014, the Talwars
challenged the decision in the Allahabad High Court. The High Court's acquitted them of all charges on 12 October 2017 because of the lack of proof. The
Allahabad HC in its verdict said that there were loopholes in the evidence which found the parents not guilty. Court also said that CBI tampered evidences
and tutored witnesses. Questions arose by nation on investigation and judgement given by CBI court.
 CBI vs CBI
1) The CBI is facing the biggest credibility crisis ever since it was formed.
2) At the centre of the controversy are two highranking officials — Special Director Mr Rakesh Asthana and Director Mr Alok Verma.
3) In a first of sorts, the CBI has registered a first information report against Mr Asthana for allegedly accepting a Rs 3 crore bribe to settle a case
against meat exporter Moin Quereshi.
4) On his part, Mr Asthana has levelled bribery allegations in more than a dozen cases against his boss Mr Verma.
5) The ugly fight within the CBI has already become a political potboiler, with Opposition parties pointing fingers at Prime Minister Mr Modi for
institutional decay.
6) As a result on 23rd October 2018 the top heirarchy of the CBI underwent a major overhaul with the government sending both the two top CBI
officers on leave. Mr Nageshwara Rao took over as the interim CBI chief and immediately transferred around a dozen top officers, all at midnight.
7) The other big shake-up inside the CBI was that Mr Nageshwara Rao sealed the 10th floor offices of Mr Rakesh Asthana and Mr Alok Verma, and
would personally monitor sensitive cases such as the Agusta-Westland case and the one involving fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya.
8) The Supreme Court on 8th January 2019 set aside Centre's order divesting CBI chief Alok Verma of his powers, but restrained him from taking any
major policy decision till the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) probe into corruption charges against him is over.
9) Within hours of taking charge, reinstated CBI Director Mr Alok Verma withdrew all transfer orders passed on October 24 by the former interim
CBI chief Mr Nageshwara Rao.
10) Within another 2 days (10th January) a committee of 3 members -- PM Mr N. Modi, Congress Spokesman Mr M. Kharge and Justice A. K. Sikri --
terminated the tenure of Mr Alok Verma as CBI Director. Mr Nageshwara Rao again took over as the interim CBI chief.
 (12)

Intelligence Bureau (IB)

Formed : 1887
HQ : Sardar Patel Marg, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi
Employees : Classified
Prime Function : Internal intelligence
Present Chief Executive : Director Mr Rajiv Jain (IPS)
Minister Responsible : Home Minister
Motto : 'Jagrit Aharnish' (Alert always)
 The Secret World of IB
1) Shrouded in secrecy, the IB is used to garner intelligence from and also execute counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism tasks.
2) The Bureau comprises employees from law enforcement agencies, mostly from the Indian Police Service (IPS) or the Indian Revenue Service
(IRS) and the military.
3) However, the Director of Intelligence Bureau has always been an IPS officer.
4) In addition to domestic intelligence responsibilities, the IB is particularly tasked with intelligence collection in border areas.
5) All spheres of human activity within India and in the neighborhood are allocated to the charter of duties of the Intelligence Bureau.
6) Understanding of the shadowy workings of the IB is largely speculative as many times even members' own family members are unaware of
their whereabouts.
7) One known task of the IB is to clear licences to amateur radio enthusiasts.
8) The IB also passes on intelligence between other Indian intelligence agencies and the police.
9) The Bureau also grants the necessary security clearances to Indian diplomats and judges before they take the oath.
10) On rare occasions, IB officers interact with the media during a crisis situation.
11) The IB is also rumoured to intercept and open around 6,000 letters daily. It also has an email spying system similar to FBI's Carnivore
system.
12) The Bureau is also authorised to conduct wiretapping without a warrant.
https://youtu.be/ZyycBUghqR4
 Operations
1) The Intelligence Bureau reportedly has a lot of successes to its credit, but operations conducted by the IB are rarely declassified. Due to the
extreme secrecy surrounding the agency, there is little concrete information available about it or its activities.
2) The IB was trained by the Soviet KGB from the 1950s onward until the collapse of the Soviet Union.
3) The IB was initially India's internal and external intelligence agency. Due to lapses on the part of the Intelligence Bureau to predict the Sino-
Indian War of 1962, and later on, intelligence failure in the India-Pakistan War in 1965, it was bifurcated in 1968 and entrusted with the task
of internal intelligence only.
4) The external intelligence branch was handed to the newly created Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
5) The IB has had mixed success in counter-terrorism.
6) It was reported in 2008 that the IB had been successful in busting terror modules. It alerted the police before the Hyderabad blasts and gave
repeated warnings of a possible attack on Mumbai through the sea before the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
7) On the whole, however, the IB came in for some sharp criticism by the media after the relentless wave of terror attacks in 2008. The
government came close to sacking top intelligence officials soon after 26/11 attacks because of serious lapses that led to the 2008 Mumbai
attacks.
8) Heavy politics, under-funding and a shortage of field agents are the chief problems facing the agency.
9) The overall strength of the agency is believed to be around 25,000 with 3500-odd field agents operating in the entire country. Of these,
many are engaged in political intelligence.

https://youtu.be/Mw9t8Zs_YTI https://youtu.be/S1Nn6TYUoSg
 (13)

Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)

Formed : 21st September 1958
HQ : CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi
Employees : Classified
Prime Function : Foreign intelligence
Present Chief Executive : Secretary Mr Anil Kumar Dhasmana (IPS)
Minister Responsible : Prime Minister
Motto : ‘Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah’ (The law protects when it is protected)
Subsidiary Agencies : The Aviation Research Centre, Radio Research Centre, Electronics and Technical
Services, National Technical Research Organisation and Special Frontier Force
 The world of RAW
1) It is the foreign intelligence agency of India.
2) During the 9 year tenure of its first Director, Mr Rameshwar Nath Kao, RAW quickly came to prominence in the global intelligence community, playing a role
in major events such as the Independence of Bangladesh and the accession of the State of Sikkim to India.
3) The agency's primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, engaging in counter-terrorism, promoting counter-proliferation, advising Indian policymakers,
and advancing India's foreign strategic interests. It is also involved in the security of India's nuclear programme.
4) RAW ‘s present annual budget is Rs 450 million while its personnel number several thousand.
5) In 1971, the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) was formed. The ARC's job was aerial reconnaissance. It replaced the Indian Air Force's old reconnaissance
aircraft, and by the mid-1970s, RAW, through the ARC, had high quality aerial pictures of the installations along the Chinese and Pakistani borders.
6) Slowly other child agencies such as The Radio Research Center and Electronics & Technical Services were added to RAW in the 1970s and 1990s. In the 1970s,
the Special Frontier Force moved to RAW's control, working to train Bengali rebels.
7) In 2004, yet another signal intelligence agency called the National Technical Facilities Organisation was added, which was later renamed as National Technical
Research Organisation (NTRO). While the exact nature of the operations conducted by NTRO is classified, it is believed that it deals with research on imagery
and communications using various platforms.
8) The National Security Agency (NSA), under the Cabinet Secretariat, is responsible for coordinating and analysing intelligence activities between RAW, the
Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). RAW salso et up two covert groups, Counterintelligence Team-X (CIT-X) and
Counterintelligence Team-J (CIT-J), the first directed
9) RAW's legal status is unusual, in that it is not an agency, but a 'Wing' of the Cabinet Secretariat. Hence, RAW is not answerable to the Parliament of India on
any issue, which keeps it out of reach of the Right to Information Act.

https://youtu.be/GqbK5I0YK3c
 Present Objectives
1) Monitoring the political, military, economic and scientific developments in countries which have a direct bearing on India's national
security and the formulation of its foreign policy.
2) Moulding international public opinion and influence foreign governments with the help of the strong and vibrant Indian diaspora.
3) Covert Operations to safe guard India's National interests.
4) Anti – Terror Operations and neutralising terror elements posing a threat to India.
5) The primary mission of RAW includes aggressive intelligence collection via espionage, psychological warfare, subversion, sabotage and
assassinations.
6) RAW maintains active collaboration with other secret services in various countries. Its contacts with FSB of Russia, NDS of Afghanistan,
Israel's Mossad, the CIA and MI6 have been well-known, a common interest being Pakistan's nuclear programme.
7) RAW has been active in obtaining information and operating through third countries like Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong,
Myanmar and Singapore.
8) R&AW obtains information critical to Indian strategic interests both by overt and covert means. The data is then classified and filed with
the assistance of the computer networks.
9) International business houses, information technology sector and media centres can easily absorb RAW operatives and provide freedom
of movement.
 Top Operations (1)
1) ELINT operations at China : After China tested its first nuclear weapons on 16 October 1964, the CIA in the late 1960s decided to launch an ELINT operation
along with RAW and ARC to track China's nuclear tests and monitor its missile launches. The operation, in the garb of a mountaineering expedition to Nanda
Devi involved celebrated Indian climber Mr M S Kohli who along with operatives of Special Frontier Force and the CIA was to place a permanent ELINT
device, a transceiver powered by a plutonium battery, that could detect and report data on future nuclear tests carried out by China. The monitoring device
was near successfully implanted on Nanda Devi, when an avalanche forced a hasty withdrawal.
2) Present operation at China : Under a security agreement with Mongolia, RAW along with NTRO have set up cybertapping infrastructure on the main
internet communication cable in Mongolia which links rest of the world to China, giving India unparalleled access to monitor and intercept outgoing and
incoming internet traffic from China.
3) Creation of Bangladesh and aftermath : RAW was instrumental in the formation of the Bangladeshi guerilla organisation Mukti Bahini and responsible for
supplying information, providing training and heavy ammunition to this organisation. It is also alleged that RAW planned and executed the 1971 Indian
Airlines hijacking as a false flag operation to ban overflight by Pakistani aircraft and disrupt Pakistani troop movement in East Pakistan. Special Frontier
Force actively participated in military operations especially in the Chittagong Hill tracts. RAW operatives claimed that they had advance information about
Mujib-ur-Rahman's assassination but Sheikh Mujib tragically ignored inputs. However RAW successfully thwarted plans of assassinating Sheikh Hasina
Wazed, present Prime Minister of Bangladesh and daughter of Mujib-ur-Rahman, by Islamist extremists.
4) Operation Smiling Buddha : It was the name given to India's nuclear programme. The task to keep it under tight wraps for security was given to RAW. This
was the first time that RAW was involved in a project inside India. On 18 May 1974, India detonated a 15-kiloton plutonium device at Pokhran and became a
member of the nuclear club.
5) Amalgamation of Sikkim : In 1947 Sikkim became a protectorate under India. It is alleged that in 1972 RAW was authorised to install a pro-Indian
democratic government there. After widespread rioting and demonstration against the King of Sikkim in 1975 a referendum was held in which 97.5% of the
electorate voted to join the Indian Union. On 16 May 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state of the Indian Union, and the monarchy was abolished.
 Top Operations (2)
6) Kahuta's Blueprint : Kahuta is the site of the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Pakistan's main nuclear weapons laboratory as well as an emerging centre
for long-range missile development. The primary Pakistani missile-material production facility is located at Kahuta, producing highly enriched Uranium.
RAW first confirmed Pakistan's nuclear programs by analysing the hair samples snatched from the floor of barber shops near KRL, which showed that
Pakistan had developed the ability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade quality. RAW agents knew of Kahuta Research Laboratories from early 1978.
7) Operation Lal Dora : In February 1983, Mauritian Prime Minister Mr Anerood Jugnauth requested assistance from Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi in the
event of a coup by Mr Berenger. She chose to task the RAW's then chief, Mr Nowsher F. Suntook, with supervising a largely intelligence-led operation to
reunite the Indian community whose fracturing along ideological and communal lines had allowed Mr. Berenger to mount a political challenge.
8) Operation Meghdoot : RAW received information from the London company which had supplied Arctic-weather gear for Indian troops from Northern
Ladakh region paramilitary forces that Pakistan too had bought similar Arctic-weather gear. This information was shared with Indian Army which soon
launched Operation Meghdoot to take control of Siachen Glacier with around 300 acclimatised troops were airlifted to Siachen before Pakistan could
launch any operation, resulting in Indian head start and eventual Indian domination of all major peaks in Siachen.
9) Kanishka Bombing case : On 23 June 1985 Air India's Flight 182 was blown up near Ireland and 329 people died. On the same day, another explosion took
place at Tokyo's Narita airport's transit baggage building where baggage was being transferred from Cathay Pacific Flight to Air India Flight 301 which was
scheduled for Bangkok. Both aircraft were loaded with explosives from Canadian airports. Flight 301 got saved because of a delay in its departure. This was
considered as a major setback to RAW for failing to gather enough intelligence about the Khalistani terrorists.

10) Special Operations : Rabinder Singh, the RAW double agent who defected to the United States in 2004, helped run CIT-J in its early years. Both these covert
groups used the services of cross-border traffickers to ferry weapons and funds across the border, much as their ISI counterparts were doing. According to
former RAW official and noted security analyst B. Raman, the Indian counter-campaign yielded results by in putting an end to the ISI's interference in
Punjab.
 Top Operations (3)
11) Operation Cactus : In November 1988, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam , composed of about 200 Tamil secessionist rebels, invaded
Maldives. At the request of the president of Maldives, the IAF, with assistance from RAW, launched a military campaign to throw the mercenaries out of
Maldives. On the night of 3 November 1988, the IAF airlifted the 6th parachute battalion of the Parachute Regiment from Agra and flew them over 2,000 km
to Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and restored the Government rule at Malé within hours. The operation, labelled Operation Cactus,
also involved the Indian Navy. Swift operation by the military and precise intelligence by RAW quelled the insurgency.
12) Sri Lanka : RAW started training the LTTE to keep a check on Sri Lanka, which had helped Pakistan in the Indo-Pak War by allowing Pakistani ships to refuel
at Sri Lankan ports. However, the LTTE created a lot of problems and complications and the then Prime Minister of India Mr Rajiv Gandhi was forced to send
the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in 1987 to restore normalcy in the region. The disastrous mission of the IPKF was blamed by many on the lack of
coordination between the IPKF and RAW. A number of soldiers were killed. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is also blamed as a fallout of the failed RAW
operation in Sri Lanka.
13) Anti-Apartheid Movement : RAW trained the intelligence officers of many independent African countries and assisted the anti-apartheid struggles in South
Africa and Namibia. Retired RAW officers were deputed to work in training institutes of intelligence agencies of some African states.
14) Operation against Jamat-e-Islami terror camps in Bangladesh : In early 1992, after gathering accurate leads on Jamaat cells, tactics and networks, the RAW
spies launched a daring operation in the Bangladesh sanctuary and dismantled terror camps using resilient tradecraft and a determined group of assets
handpicked by a RAW handler. Several Jamaat terror training camps located along the border and their facilities were bombed. RAW also targeted an ISI
safe house in Dhaka, bringing down the entire building. The operation helped the Indian security establishment to put a lid on the radical organisation’s
infiltration into India for the time being.
 Top Operations (4)
15) Help to the Northern Alliance : After the rise of Pakistan backed Taliban in Afghanistan, India decided to side with the Northern Alliance. By 1996, RAW had
built a 25-bed military hospital at the Farkhor Air Base. This airport was used by the ARC to repair and operate the Northern Alliance's aerial support. This
relationship was further cemented in the 2001 Afghan war. India supplied the Northern Alliance high altitude warfare equipment. RAW was the first
intelligence agency to determine the extent of the Kunduz airlift.
16) Kargil War : RAW was heavily criticised in 1999, following the Pakistani incursions at Kargil. Critics accused RAW of failing to provide intelligence that could
have prevented the ensuing ten-week conflict that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of a full-scale war. While the Army has been critical of the
information they received RAW has pointed the finger at the politicians, claiming they had provided all the necessary information.
17) Operation Leech : India has sought to promote democracy and install friendly governments in the region of Myanmar. To these ends, RAW cultivated
Burmese rebel groups and pro-democracy coalitions, especially the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and even supplied them weapons. However, when the
KIA became the main source of training and weapons for all north-eastern rebel groups, RAW initiated an operation, code named Operation Leech, to
assassinate the leaders of the Burmese rebels as an example to other groups. in 1998, six top rebel leaders, were shot dead and 34 Arakanese guerrillas
were arrested and charged with gun-running.
18) War on Terror : Although RAW's contribution to the War on Terror is highly classified, the organisation gained some attention in the Western media after
claims that it was assisting the United States by providing intelligence on Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban's whereabouts. Maps and photographs of
terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan along with other evidence implicating Osama bin Laden in terrorist attacks were given to US
intelligence officials. It has further come to light that a timely tip-off by RAW helped foil a third assassination plot against Pakistan's former President,
General Pervez Musharraf.

https://youtu.be/5HdqWl1NcKE
 (14)

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

Formed : 1st September 2018
HQ : CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi
Employees : 3,00,000
MD & CEO : Mr Suresh Sethi
Secretary : Anant Narayan Nanda (Dept of Post)
 Post Office and Bank ??
1) India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is a Government of India owned payments bank operating under the Department of Posts,
Ministry of Communications, which aims to utilize all of India's 155,015 post offices as access points and 300,000 postal
service workers to provide house to house banking services.
2) The first phase of the bank with 650 branches and 3250 post offices as access points was inaugurated on 1 September 2018.
Over ten thousand postmen have been roped into the first phase.
3) IPPB offers savings accounts, money transfer and insurances through third parties, bill and utility payments.
4) The Bank will reach to rural and far-flung areas of the country, delivering banking services to the doorstep of every Indian.
5) IPPB has been allowed to link around 17 crore postal savings bank accounts with its accounts.
6) The bank offers savings and current accounts up to a balance of Rs 1 Lac.
7) Customers can use QR code (a type of matrix code) payments eliminating the need to remember account numbers, PINs
and passwords.
8) The bank has a Unified Payments Interface and hence an Immediate Payment Service.

https://youtu.be/jtTeTnbw1KA
 (15)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Formed : 1st April 1935
HQ : Central Office Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai
Head : Governer Mr Shaktikanta Das
Currency Reserves : 27,51,400 crores INR
Bank Interest Rate : 6.75 %
Interest on Reserves : 4.00 %
Cash Reserve Ratio : 4.00 %
 Details in the
presentation of
'Finance'
 (16)

Securities and Exchange Board of India

(SEBI)
Formed : 1988
Founded with Statutory Powers via SEBI Act : 12th April 1992
HQ : Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai
Employees : 643
Head : Chairman Mr Ajay Tyagi (IAS)
Chief Executive : Executive Director Mr Anand Rajeshwar Balwar (IRS)
 Details in the
presentation of
'Finance'
 (17)

All India Council for Technical Education

(AICTE)
Formed : November 1945
HQ : Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
Head : Chairman Dr Anil Shasrabudhe
Deputy : Dr M. P. Poonia
Minister Responsible : Human Resource and Development Minister
 What is AICTE ?
1) AICTE is the statutory body and a national level council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human
Resource Development.
2) It was first as an advisory body and later on in 1987 given statutory status by an Act of Parliament.
3) AICTE is responsible for proper planning and coordinated development of the technical education and management education system in India.
4) The AICTE accredits (recognises) postgraduate and graduate programs under specific categories at Indian institutions as per its charter.
5) It is assisted by 10 Statutory Boards of Studies : UG Studies in Technology, PG and Research in Technology, Management Studies, Vocational
Education, Technical Education, Pharmaceutical Education, Architecture, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Information Technology,
Town and Country Planning.
6) In January 2016, AICTE got blanket approval for publishing the 'Approval Process Handbook' and approve technical colleges including management
for the session 2016-17 and in all future sessions.
7) AICTE is vested with statutory authority for planning, formulation and maintenance of norms and standards, quality assurance through school
accreditation, funding in priority areas, monitoring and evaluation and ensuring coordinated and integrated development and management of
technical education in the country.
8) In 2017, two important initiatives were taken up by AICTE. First one is that of launching a Smart India Hackathon-2017, challenging the young
bright talented students of technical colleges to solve 598 problems of 29 different Government departments.
9) Second one is that of launching of an AICTE's Student Start up Policy by the President during the visitors conference from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
 (18)

All India Management Association (AIMA)

Formed : 1957
HQ : Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Membership : 30,000
Head : President Mr Harshavardhan Neotia
Affiliated : Government of India
 Salient Points
1) AIMA is a national apex body of the management profession in India.

2) It is based on a federation of 67 Local Management Associations including Qatar Indian Management Association and
Mauritius Management Association.

3) Among its activities, AIMA conducts the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) used by over 600 business schools across
India.

4) Other tests conducted include the Research Management Aptitude Test (RMAT), Under Graduate Aptitude Test (UGAT),
Accredited Management Teacher (AMT) certification and other customised tests.

5) AIMA is represented on various national bodies and organisations including the All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE), National Board of Accreditation (NBA), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the board of governors of various
Indian Institutes of Management.

6) AIMA is managed by a president, a senior vice president, a vice president, a treasurer and a director general.
 (19)

Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI)

Formed : December 1928
HQ : Wankhede Stadium, Churchgate, Mumbai
Operating Income : 10,000 crore INR per annum
Head : President Mr C. K. Khanna
Deputy : Vice President Mr Somnath Dhar
Chief Executive Mr Rahul Johri
Secretary Mr Amitabh Chaudhary
Coaches : Men's Cricket Team -- Mr Ravi Shankar Jayadith Shastri
Women's Cricket Team -- Mr Woorkeri Venkat Raman
Affiliated : Asian Cricket Council, International Cricket Council
 The Body

1) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the national governing body for cricket in India.
2) The board was formed in December 1928 as a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.
3) It is a consortium of state cricket associations.
4) The state associations select their representatives who in turn elect the BCCI chief.
5) With the surge of cricket in India, BCCI has become rather notorious for its monopoly and has suffered from corruption
allegations.
6) The Supreme Court on 30 January 2017 nominated a four-member panel Committee of Administrators (Mr Vinod Rai, Mr
Ramachandra Guha, Mr Vikaram Limaye and Ms Diana Edulji) to look after the administration of the BCCI in order to
implement Lodha committee reforms.
7) Mr Vinod Rai, ex-CAG of India heads the four members panel to look after the administrative duties of the board until the
fresh elections are called.
 The Finances

1) The BCCI is India's richest sporting body and the richest cricket board in the world.
2) BCCI does not depend on the Government of India for its finances.
3) The global media rights for IPL is awarded to STAR India for Rs 16,347.5 crore from 2018 to 2022.
4) Official kit sponsorship rights for 5 years from 2016 to 2020 inclusive has been awarded to Nike for Rs 370 crore.
5) Oppo became the official Indian cricket team sponsor for a period of five years at a cost of Rs 1,079 crore.
6) The media rights for 25 neutral venue one-day matches to be played over the next 5 years were awarded to Zee Telefilms
for Rs 15,451 crore.
7) BCCI had avoided taxes on its income, claiming exemption as a charitable organisation. The Income Tax Department
withdrew this exemption in 2007-08.
 What does the BCCI actually do ?
1) The BCCI does organises the following domestic cricket competitions :
BCCI Corporate Trophy
Ranji Trophy
NKP Salve Challenger Trophy
Duleep Trophy
Vijay Hazare Trophy
Deodhar Trophy
Indian Premier League
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Irani Cup
Senior Women's One Day League
Senior Women's T20 League
2) From the pool of cricket players at their disposal via the above tournaments and through their specialised talent-spotters,
BCCI forms contracts with the better players.
3) From the pool the national team representing India is selected by the BCCI.
4) The national team plays for India via BCCI.

https://youtu.be/zIyh3ftJQRY
 (20)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Formed : 15th August 1969
HQ : Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bengaluru
Main Spaceport : Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
Employees : 14,713 (as on 2012)
Budget : 10,783.42 crore INR
Head : Secretary and Chairman Dr Kailasavadivoo Sivan
Affiliated : Department of Space, Government of India
 Functions
1) ISRO is the space agency of the Government of India. Its vision is to 'harness space technology for national development while pursuing
space science research and planetary exploration'.
2) ISRO was formed by the efforts of independent India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and his close aide and scientist Mr Vikram
Sarabhai.
3) The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalised space activities in India.
4) It is managed by the Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister of India.
5) The prime objective of ISRO is to use space technology and its application to various national tasks. The Indian space programme was
driven by the vision of Vikram Sarabhai, considered the father of the Indian Space Programme.
6) Former President of India, Mr A P J Abdul Kalam said : Many individuals questioned the relevance of space activities in a newly
independent nation, which was finding it difficult to feed its population. The vision was clear -- if Indians were to play meaningful role in
the community of nations, they must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to their real-life problems.
7) India's economic progress has made its space program more visible and active as it aims for greater self-reliance in space technology.
8) In 2008, India launched as many as eleven satellites, including nine from other countries and went on to become the first nation to launch
ten satellites on one rocket.
9) ISRO has put into operation two major satellite systems : Indian National Satellites (INSAT) for communication services and Indian
Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for management of natural resources.
 Accomplishments (1)
1) Launch vehicle fleet of ISRO : Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV), Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III
(GSLV Mk-III).

2) Satellite programmes of ISRO : Aryabhatta, Rohini series of experimental satellites, INSAT (Indian National Satellite
System), Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS), 2 Radar Imaging Satellites -- (RISAT) & (RISAT-1), Geostationary Satellites
-- known as the GSAT series, meteorological satellite Kalpana - 1, SARAL (Satellite with Argos and AltiKa) to observe ocean
and sea levels and topography, Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9), GAGAN satellite
navigation system, and the IRNSS satellite navigation system -- designed to provide accurate position information service
to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary.

3) Human Spaceflight Programme : The Prime Minister of India announced in his Independence Day address of August 15,
2018 that India will send astronauts into space by 2022 through the Gaganyaan mission. After the announcement, ISRO
chairman, Dr Kailasavadivoo Sivan, said ISRO has developed most of the technologies needed such as crew module and
crew escape system, and that the project would cost less than Rs. 10,000 crore and would include sending at least 3
Indians to space, 300–400 km above, in a spacecraft for at least 7 days, using a GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle.
 Accomplishments (2)
4) Technology demonstrations : Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SCRE), Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry
Experiment, and Launch Abort System (LAS).
5) Planetary sciences and astronomy : There is a national balloon launching facility at Hyderabad supported by ISRO. This
facility has been extensively used for carrying out research in high energy rays (X-ray and gamma-ray), astronomy, IR
astronomy, middle atmospheric trace constituents including CFCs & aerosols, ionization, electric conductivity and electric
fields.
6) One of most important achievements of ISRO in this field was the discovery of three species of bacteria in the upper
stratosphere at an altitude of between 20–40 km. The bacteria, highly resistant to ultra-violet radiation, are not found
elsewhere on Earth, leading to speculation on whether they are extraterrestrial in origin. The bacteria were named as
Bacillus isronensis, Bacillus aryabhatta and Janibacter hoylei.
7) Extraterrestrial exploration : Lunar -- Chandrayaan-1 (22nd October 2008), Mars Orbiter Mission -- Mangalayaan (5th
November 2013).
8) Chandrayaan-1 became the first lunar mission to discover existence of water on the Moon. India also is the first country to
enter Mars orbit on its first attempt.

https://youtu.be/WgyhDM5v1Q8 https://youtu.be/OMSYuLYQa4Y
Launch vehicle fleet of ISRO
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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Formed : 20th February 1997
HQ : Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, New Delhi
Head : Chairman Mr Ram Sewak Sharma (IAS)
Deputy : Secretary Mr Sudhir Gupta
Secretary Mr Sunil Kumar Gupta (ITS)
 Functions
1) Telecom Regulatory authority of India (TRAI) was established to regulate telecom services and tariffs in India.
2) TRAI's mission is to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in India to enable the country to have a leading role
in the emerging global information society.
3) One of its main objectives is to provide a fair and transparent environment that promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair
competition in the market.
4) TRAI regularly issues orders and directions on various subjects such as tariffs, interconnections, quality of service, Direct To Home (DTH)
services and mobile number portability.
5) TRAI is administered through a Secretariat headed by a secretary.
6) The secretary is assisted by advisors. These include Mobile Network, Interconnection and Fixed Network, Broadband and Policy Analysis,
Quality of Service, Broadcasting & Cable Services, Economic Regulation, Financial Analysis & IFA, Legal, Consumer Affairs & International
Relation and Administration & Personnel experts selected from the Indian Telecommunications Service and the Indian Administrative
Service.
7) In order to increase broadband penetration in India, TRAI has proposed WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) architecture.
8) If implemented, it may lead to set up of Public Data Offices (PDOs) where Wi-FI Internet would be available on demand.