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Ottam Thullal

Ottam Thullal is a dance-drama performing art form of Kerala, created by Kunchan Nambiar, as an alternative to the Chakyar koothu. Kunchan Nambiar...

07 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Three Language Formula

The draft National Education Policy, 2019, prepared by a committee headed by scientist Dr Kasturirangan has recommended the three-language...

07 Jun 2019 News Analysis
India BIMSTEC

Why in News? PM of India has invited BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) partners for his...

07 Jun 2019 Paper 2
Needed: A Solar Manufacturing Strategy

(This editorial is based on the article "Needed: a solar manufacturing strategy” which appeared in ‘’The Hindu’’ on...

06 Jun 2019 News Editorials
World Environment Day

World Environment Day is observed on the 5th of June every year for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Since...

06 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

A recent paper published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India has argued the importance of screening of every pregnant woman for...

06 Jun 2019 News Analysis
5G Technology

Global telecom industry body GSMA expects India to have 920 million unique mobile subscribers by 2025 which will include 88 million 5G connections....

06 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Fiscal Performance Index

Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) has come out with a Fiscal Performance Index to assess the quality of budgets presented by the Centre and state...

06 Jun 2019 News Analysis
A rocky road for strategic partners

(This editorial is based on the article ''A rocky road for strategic partners'' which appeared in ''The Hindu'' on 4th June 2019. The article talks...

04 Jun 2019 News Editorials
2019 Prelims Analysis

Prelims 2019 Question Paper Prelims 2019 Answer Key CSAT 2019 Answer Key 1. With reference to Mughal India, what...

04 Jun 2019 Prelims Analysis
Gene Editing to Halt Human Flu Pandemic

Recently scientists in Britain have used gene-editing techniques to stop bird flu spreading in chicken cells. The technique was successful for the...

04 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Cross Border Insolvency Resolution

A panel led by Ministry of Corporate Affairs had suggested adopting the United Nations Commission on International Trade Laws on cross-border...

04 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Oussudu Lake

Vulnerability assessment study conducted in Oussudu lake, Puducherry had shown concern over rising plastic pollution in water bodies. The report had...

04 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

Central Vigilance Commission is the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring all vigilance activity under...

04 Jun 2019 National Institutions
In Depth – BIMSTEC: Guests of Honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn-in for the second straight term on 30th May, 2019. The grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan saw nearly...

04 Jun 2019 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Need For A Sound Energy Policy For India!

This article: Over The Barrel: How to boost the energy drive appeared in Indian express on 3rd of June. It talks about the measures that India need...

03 Jun 2019 News Editorials
China’s Gene Editing Rules

China has decided to introduce new Gene-editing rules. Rules require researchers to obtain prior approval from the government before undertaking...

03 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Nilgiri Tribals Tensed Over Destruction of Rock Art

40% of the rock paintings in Karikiyoor at Kil Kotagiri in the Nilgiri forests have been destroyed by trekkers, tourists, and vandals. Irula...

03 Jun 2019 News Analysis
Important Facts For Prelims (3rd June 2019)

Indian Navy Steps Up Anti-piracy Patrol The Navy deployed its P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for anti-piracy sorties from Salalah...

03 Jun 2019 News Analysis
The Elixir for MSMEs: Access to Credit

This editorial is based on the article "Expensive access to credit a universal issue for SMEs” which appeared in The Hindu on 1st June, 2019....

01 Jun 2019 News Editorials

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			'title' => 'Ottam Thullal',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><span>Ottam Thullal</span> is a dance-drama performing art form of <strong>Kerala</strong>, created by <strong>Kunchan Nambiar</strong>, as an <strong>alternative to</strong> the <strong>Chakyar koothu.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/840image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/840image1.jpg" width="214" height="197" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>Kunchan Nambiar used it as a <strong>medium to protest against the prevalent socio-political structure and prejudices</strong> of the society in his time. It went on to become the most popular folk art presented in Kerala temples.</li>
<li>The distinguishing factor of Ottanthullal is the <strong>performer himself singing and playing the story</strong>, which is a tedious task. Another person will recite the same verses. The accompanying instruments for Ottanthullal are Mridangam and Idakka.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chakyar koothu</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a performance art from Kerala.</li>
<li>It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics and stories from the Puranas.</li>
<li>It is also a traditional equivalent of the modern stand-up comedy act, incorporating commentary on current socio-political events.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Three Language Formula ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The draft National Education Policy, 2019, prepared by a committee headed by scientist Dr Kasturirangan has recommended the three-language formula.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The draft education policy recommends the use of three language formula from the primary level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Three-language formula</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>First language:</strong> It will be the mother tongue or regional language.</li>
<li><strong>Second language:</strong> In Hindi speaking states, it will be other modern Indian languages or English. In non-Hindi speaking states, it will be Hindi or English.</li>
<li><strong>Third Language:</strong> In Hindi speaking states, it will be English or a modern Indian language. In the non-Hindi speaking state, it will be English or a modern Indian language.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for three-language formula</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee&rsquo;s report observes that learning languages are an important part of a child&rsquo;s cognitive development.</li>
<li>The primary aim is to promote multilingualism and national harmony.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issue in implementation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The states like Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Tripura were not ready to teach Hindi and Hindi-speaking states did not include any south Indian language in their school curriculum.</li>
<li>State governments often do not have adequate resources to implement the three &ndash;language formula.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The inadequacy of resources is perhaps the most important aspect of the challenge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 29</strong> of the Constitution of India protects the interests of minorities. The Article states that any section of the citizens who have a &ldquo;&hellip;distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Article 343</strong> is about the official language of the Union of India. According to this Article, it is to be Hindi in Devnagri script, and numerals should follow the international form of Indian numerals. This Article also states that English will continue to be used as an official language for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution.</li>
<li><strong>Article 346</strong> is about the official language for communication between the states and between a state and the Union. The Article states that the &ldquo;authorised&rdquo; language will be used. However, if two or more states agree that their communications shall be in Hindi, then Hindi may be used.</li>
<li><strong>Article 347</strong> gives the President the power to recognise a language as an official language of a given state, provided that the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of that state desires that the language be recognised. Such recognition can be for a part of the state or the whole state.</li>
<li><strong>Article 350A</strong> facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage.</li>
<li><strong>Article 350B</strong> provides for the establishment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities. The Officer shall be appointed by the President and shall investigate all matters relating to the safeguards for linguistic minorities, reporting directly to the President. The President may then place the reports before each house of the Parliament or send them to the governments of the states concerned.</li>
<li><strong>Article 351</strong> gives power to the union government to issue a directive for development of the Hindi language.</li>
<li><strong>Eighth Schedule</strong> of the Constitution of India contains a list of 22 languages recognised schedule languages.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'India BIMSTEC',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM of India has invited <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BIMSTEC</a></strong> (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) partners for his second swearing in ceremony, reversing the previous stand of inviting the <strong>SAARC</strong> (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders including Pakistan for a similar event in 2014.</li>
<li>This shows a major shift in India&rsquo;s foreign policy <strong>towards East</strong>, specifically BIMSTEC and also focus on the relevance of India&rsquo;s <strong>Neighbourhood First Policy</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Strategic Shift From SAARC to BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM of India had invited <strong>SAARC countries</strong> for his swearing in ceremony in 2014, including Pakistan on the lines of his Neighbourhood first policy.</li>
<li>Prime Minister had also participated in the <strong>18<sup>th</sup> SAARC summit at Kathmandu</strong> in November 2014.</li>
<li>But post <strong>Uri attack,</strong> (on Indian military base) in October 2016, India gave a renewed push for the BIMSTEC that had existed for almost two decades but been largely ignored.</li>
<li>Alongside the <strong>BRICS summit in Goa</strong>, PM hosted an <strong>outreach summit</strong> with BIMSTEC leaders.</li>
<li>BIMSTEC countries had supported New Delhi&rsquo;s call for a <strong>boycott of the SAARC</strong> summit scheduled in Islamabad in November 2016.</li>
<li>As a result, SAARC summit was postponed for an <strong>indefinite period</strong>, India had claimed victory in <strong>isolating Pakistan</strong>, having accused that country of carrying out the Uri attack.</li>
<li>Since 2016 there has been <strong>no movement forward on resuming the SAARC</strong> summit.</li>
<li>BIMSTEC had emerged as an <strong>alternative regional platform</strong> where five SAARC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) countries could gather and discuss sub-regional cooperation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The search for an alternative, in fact, had been evident at the 2014 SAARC summit in Kathmandu, where Prime Minister of India had made an statement that <strong>"opportunities must be realised through SAARC or outside it"</strong> and <strong>"among us all or some of us"</strong>. That was an important signal to Pakistan, as well as to fellow SAARC members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong> (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven Member States: five deriving from South Asia, including <strong>Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka</strong>&nbsp;and two from Southeast Asia, including <strong>Myanmar</strong> and <strong>Thailand</strong>.</li>
<li>This <strong>sub-regional organization</strong> came into being on 6 June 1997 through the <strong>Bangkok Declaration</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why not SAARC?</h3>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had long felt that the vast potential of SAARC was being under utilised and opportunities were being lost due to either lack of response or because of <strong>obstructionist approach</strong> from <strong>Pakistan</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Trade agreement like <strong>SAFTA</strong> (SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement) that came into force in 2006 and is currently not fully operational.</li>
<li><strong>SAARC Motor vehicle agreement</strong> also failed to reach its final conclusion, as Pakistan opted out of it and India had to look for <strong>BBIN</strong> (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal) agreement in 2015.</li>
<li>Withdrawal of Pakistan from <strong>SAARC satellite</strong> compelled India to rename it as <strong>South Asia Satellite</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asymmetrical power balance:</strong> Intraregional trade is just 5%.</li>
<li><strong>Mistrust and suspicion</strong> among the members not only hinders bilateral growth and development but also made SAARC as dysfunctional grouping.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About SAARC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation</strong> (SAARC) was established with the signing of the <strong>SAARC Charter in Dhaka</strong> on 8 December 1985.</li>
<li>SAARC comprises of eight Member States: <strong>Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan</strong> and <strong>Sri Lanka</strong>.</li>
<li>The Secretariat of the Association is in Kathmandu.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Strategic Importance of BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Geographical relevance:</strong> The Bay of Bengal is the <strong>largest bay</strong> in the <strong>world</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over one-fifth <strong>(22%)</strong> of the <strong>world&rsquo;s population</strong> live in the seven countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> Despite economic challenges, all these seven countries have been able to sustain average annual rates of economic growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They have a combined <strong>GDP</strong> close to <strong>$2.7 trillion</strong>.</li>
<li>The Bay of Bengal is the route for about <strong>25% of global trade</strong>.</li>
<li>India's robust relation with BIMSTEC will ensure its access to huge untapped resources especially in the energy sector in the form of massive reserve of <strong>natural gas</strong> in the Bay of Bengal region over China and other major powers.</li>
<li><strong>One-fourth</strong> of the world&rsquo;s traded goods cross the Bay every year.</li>
<li>In the era of growing <strong>protectionism</strong> there is a need for India to <strong>diversify</strong> its <strong>export market</strong>.
<div class="border-bg"><br />The FICCI report points out that intra-regional trade among BIMSTEC countries was about $40.5 billion in 2016 (about 6 per cent) with India having 50 per cent share ($21 billion).<br />FICCI reports endorse BIMSTEC as the <strong>most active trade-driven regional blocs</strong> of the world in terms of huge export and import statistics.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Integration:</strong> In an effort to integrate the region, the grouping was formed in 1997, originally with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and later included Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BIMSTEC, now includes five countries from South Asia and two from <strong>ASEAN,</strong> is a bridge between <strong>South Asia</strong> and <strong>Southeast Asia</strong>.</li>
<li>It includes all the major countries of South Asia, except Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Security:</strong> India&rsquo;s Multilateral regional engagement with BIMSTEC members will not only suffice India&rsquo;s effort of boosting <strong>Blue Economy</strong> but will also:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Provide <strong>comprehensive solution</strong> for its maritime security, as diplomatic engagement with littoral nations will help nations in curbing the problems of :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Piracy and Trafficking of Drugs and Weapons:</strong> The transnational maritime crimes like trafficking of drugs and weapons are quite rampant in the area.</li>
<li><strong>Illegal fishing and poaching off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:</strong> major issue in the Bay of Bengal is how to sustain the fast depleting fish stocks.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Accidents and Irregular Migration:&nbsp;</strong>under customary international law, all States bear an international commitment to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea, be they victims of accidents at sea or irregular migrants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>BIMSTEC engagement is completely in consonance with the <strong>SAGAR Initiatives</strong> objective of increasing connectivity and development in North eastern states of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About SAGAR initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region),</strong> articulated by India&lsquo;s Prime Minister in 2015.</li>
<li>SAGAR meaning that ― <strong>All boats (regional countries) rise with the rising tide (together)</strong> &mdash; was stated in the broader context of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), but is very relevant to the Bay of Bengal countries in context of PM&rsquo;s―Neighbourhood First Policy.</li>
<li>With regard to the Bay of Bengal, India&lsquo;s specific imperatives are to: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Capitalise upon the cost-effectiveness of maritime routes, in both national and sub-regional contexts.</li>
<li>Amalgamate India&lsquo;s North-Eastern States into the nation&lsquo;s socioeconomic development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Connectivity:</strong> Connectivity has been described broadly by India as <strong>trade</strong> connectivity, <strong>economic</strong> connectivity, <strong>transport</strong> connectivity, <strong>digital</strong> connectivity, and <strong>people to people</strong> connectivity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Almost <strong>300 million people,</strong> or roughly one-quarter of India&rsquo;s population, live in the four coastal states adjacent to the Bay of Bengal (Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal).</li>
<li>About <strong>45 million people,</strong> who live in <strong>landlocked Northeastern states,</strong> will have the opportunity to connect via the Bay of Bengal to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.</li>
<li>India's northeast will be playing a critical role in increasing connectivity with BIMSTEC member countries.</li>
<li>PM of India has referred BIMSTEC as a <strong>natural platform</strong> for fulfilling our key foreign policy priorities of <strong>'Neighborhood First'</strong> and '<strong>Act East</strong>, as it connects not only South and Southeast Asia, but also the <strong>ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic:</strong> As China mounts assertive activities in the Bay of Bengal region, with increased submarine movement and ship visits in the Indian Ocean, it is in India&rsquo;s interest to consolidate its internal engagement among the BIMSTEC countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the strategic perspective, the <strong>Bay of Bengal,</strong> a funnel to the <strong>Malacca straits,</strong> has emerged as a key theatre for an increasingly assertive China in maintaining its access route to the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s engagement with BIMSTEC countries will help in countering China&rsquo;s Belt and Road initiative.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Beijing has undertaken massive drive to finance and develop infrastructure in South and Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative in almost all BIMSTEC countries, except Bhutan and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Invitation for BIMSTEC leaders is part of New Delhi's strategy to expand its <strong>"sphere of influence"</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>BIMSTEC&rsquo;s</strong> relevance as an <strong>alternative regional engagement platform</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of human and financial resource:</strong> BIMSTEC suffers from a lack of human and financial resources. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India needs to allocate <strong>more resources</strong> to its BIMSTEC budget and should take an informal leadership role to provide BIMSTEC with momentum.</li>
<li>India is currently the largest contributor to the BIMSTEC secretariat budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supremacy:&nbsp;</strong>India would have to counter the impression that BIMSTEC is an India dominated bloc, in that context India can follow the <strong>Gujral doctrine</strong> that intends to chalk out the effect transactionary motive in bilateral relations.</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity:</strong> is a major issue among BIMSTEC nations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>North Eastern states are of utmost importance in deepening connectivity among BIMSTEC nations, but <strong>Siliguri corridor</strong> that <strong>(chicken neck)</strong> provides a very narrow passage for movement, obstructs the connectivity.</li>
<li>Underdevelopment of North Eastern states in terms of <strong>infrastructure and connectivity</strong> will also be a major hurdle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Underlying aspirations of China</strong> to be part of BIMSTEC, on the same lines as it harnesses a desire to be a permanent part of SAARC groupings, further aggravates the problem.</li>
<li><strong>Regional Instability:</strong> in the form of Rohingya crisis and other intra and interstate issues can hamper the efficient and effective functioning of the grouping.</li>
<li><strong>The lack of critical support -</strong> strong and clear political commitment, adequate financial resources, full engagement of business and industry, and optimal involvement of civil society has been the principal constraint in BIMSTEC.</li>
<li><strong>BCIM:</strong> The formation of another sub-regional initiative, the <strong>Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM)</strong> Forum, with the proactive membership of China, has created more doubts about the exclusive potential of BIMSTEC.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Policy Initiatives:&nbsp;</strong>BIMSTEC needs lots of policy initiatives from its members both at national and international level, especially from its leading partners India and Thailand for the cooperation to make tangible benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Political commitments:</strong> India cannot blame Pakistan alone for SAARC&rsquo;s underperformance, hence strong political commitments from its informal leader are desirable.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s own intransigence on issues, deep suspicion that its neighbors were &ldquo;ganging up&rdquo; against it, and its tendency to be a bit of a bullying brother to them eroded South Asian countries&rsquo; confidence in India.</li>
<li>India should not repeat these mistakes in engaging BIMSTEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Interdependence:</strong> In order to harness potential of BIMSTEC steps like <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Signing Free Trade Agreements in goods and services.</li>
<li>Improving physical and digital connectivity by building ports, economic corridors etc need to be taken.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Innovative solutions:</strong> Like construction of Buddhist circuit by connecting the buddhist nations especially Myanmar, Thailand, Bhutan Nepal and Sri Lanka will contribute in deepening the cultural ties among the BIMSTEC nations.</li>
<li><strong>Institutional Mechanism:</strong> Like BIMSTEC Summit, Ministerial Meeting, Senior Officials Meeting, BIMSTEC Working Group, Business Forum &amp; Economic Forum within BIMSTEC must be utilised as an active forum for bringing more cooperation and coordination among the BIMSTEC members.</li>
<li><strong>BIMSTEC Principles:</strong> Like Sovereignty, Equality, Territorial Integrity,Political Independence, No-interference in Internal Affairs, Peaceful Coexistence, Mutual Benefit must not be violated at any cost in order to avoid SAARC like situation.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Needed: A Solar Manufacturing Strategy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>(This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-needs-a-solar-manufacturing-strategy/article27526839.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Needed: a solar manufacturing strategy&rdquo;</a> which appeared in &lsquo;&rsquo;The Hindu&rsquo;&rsquo; on 6th June 2019. The article talks about the growing Indian potential in the field of solar energy and the institutional challenges it faces in realizing it.)</strong></p>
</div>
<p>India in recent years has made significant progress in creating capacity for solar energy generation. The unit costs of solar power have fallen, and solar energy has become increasingly competitive with alternative sources of energy. India has expanded its solar generation capacity from 2,650 MW of solar power generation in 2014 to over 28.18 GW by March 2019.</p>
<p>All these efforts coincide with India&rsquo;s attempt at making a transitional change from traditional modes of energy to renewable sources of energy.</p>
<p>However, this is only one part of the story, capacity additions have slowed in the recent past, which means the 175 GW renewable generation &ndash; including 100 GW solar &ndash; target set for 2022 could become difficult to achieve.</p>
<h3>Benefits of switching to solar energy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environment-friendly</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy is environment-friendly. When in use, it does not release CO2 and other gases which pollute the air. Hence it is very suitable for India, India being one of the most polluted countries in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Varied use</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy can be used for a variety of purposes like heating, drying, cooking or electricity, which is suitable for the rural areas in India. It can also be used in cars, planes, large power boats, satellites, calculators and much more such items, just apt for the urban population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abundant &amp; Secure</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar power is inexhaustible. In energy deficient country like India, where power generation is costly, solar energy is the best alternative means of power generation.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grid-independent</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>You don&rsquo;t need a power or gas grid to get solar energy. A solar energy system can be installed anywhere. Solar panels can be easily placed in houses. Hence, it is quite inexpensive compared to other sources of energy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Potential for the solar manufacturing industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s peak power demand is expected to rise from current demand 153 GW to about 690 GW by 2035-36. The solar sector can effectively show a way out of this dilemma.</strong></li>
<li>The potential for solar energy capacity in India is enormous. The majority of the country&rsquo;s tropical landmass is located optimally for peak solar radiation. <strong>According to the World Bank, India has the best conditions in the world to capture and use solar energy.</strong></li>
<li>According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the country&rsquo;s total solar power potential is pegged at nearly 750GW, with 142GW of solar resource available in the state of Rajasthan alone.</li>
<li>India is one of the most attractive markets in the world because of its sheer size: 10-12GW annually. This is even more relevant when one considers that the largest market, China, is virtually closed to foreign investors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What impedes the growth of the Solar Industry?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has not been able to use the surplus solar energy to its full potential despite it being blessed with plenty of sunlight for most of the year. Despite the new policy focus on solar plant installation, it lags behind in manufacturing the solar panels and providing the input material required in the solar industry.</li>
<li>Indian industries suffer from a lower level of technical competency and human capabilities required in the production of silicon ingots and panels.</li>
<li>Very few Indian companies are involved in silicon production due to the higher capital requirements. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (2018), India has an annual solar cell manufacturing capacity of about 3 GW while the average annual demand is 20 GW. The shortfall is met by imports of solar panels.</li>
<li>Low-cost Chinese imports have undercut its ambitions to develop its own solar technology suppliers. Imports, mostly from China, accounted for 90% of 2017 sales, up from 86% in 2014.</li>
<li>The industry also suffers from the lack of human capabilities, technological capabilities and capital in the form of finance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Boosting the domestic sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The domestic sector can become more effective by going down the supply chain and making the input components locally instead of importing them and putting the modules together here in India.</li>
<li>The government should call out bids for solar power plants with the requirement that these be made fully in India, which also does not go against any World Trade Organization commitment.</li>
<li>State governments need to start supporting semiconductor production as part of a determined industrial policy to boost the technical know-how required in the solar sector for the future.</li>
<li>The Indian government should provide subsidized land acquisition, raw material, labor, and export, among others which would serve as a cost advantage to domestic manufacture when competing with foreign companies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Considering the renewable energy potential in India, constructive steps should be taken at a rapid pace. The technology is evolving fast and therefore research needs a big push.</li>
<li>Efforts should be directed at building a solar base that enhances India's standing as a global energy hub, and at the same time, consolidates its imprint in the renewable energy sector through increased indigenous manufacturing of solar components for the domestic market as well as for exports.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #bcd9f7; border-color: #034891; border-style: dotted;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 1256px; height: 51px;"><em><strong><span>Drishti Input:</span><br /><br /></strong></em>What are the benefits of switching to solar as a source of energy? What are the challenges the Solar Energy Sector in India is facing?</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/needed-a-solar-manufacturing-strategy'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'World Environment Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>World Environment Day</strong> is observed on the<strong> 5<sup>th</sup> of June every year</strong> for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since it <strong>began in 1974</strong>, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.</li>
<li><strong>World Environment Day 2019</strong> is being <strong>hosted by China</strong> with a <strong>theme of &ldquo;Air Pollution&rdquo;</strong>. <strong>India</strong> hosted <strong>World Environment Day 2018</strong> emphasizing on <strong>prevention of &lsquo;Plastic Pollution&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The Government launched<strong> #SelfiewithSapling</strong> campaign as part of the World Environment Day celebrations, urging people to plant a sapling and post a selfie with it on social media.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Air Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981</strong> defines <strong>"air pollutant"</strong> as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment.</li>
<li>Air pollution is responsible for about <strong>one-third of deaths from stroke</strong>, <strong>chronic respiratory disease</strong>, and <strong>lung cancer,</strong> as well as <strong>one-quarter of deaths from heart attack.</strong> Air pollution is also fundamentally altering our climate, with profound impacts on the health of the planet.</li>
<li>About 92 percent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air. Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs.</li>
<li>Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 percent by 2030.</li>
<li>Recently India has formulated and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-launches-mission-to-fight-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)</strong> </a>whose objective is prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Air (Prevention &amp; Control of Pollution) Act</strong> was enacted by the Parliament in 1981 with an objective to prevent, control &amp; abatement of air pollution.</li>
<li>The act provides for the establishment of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the apex level and State Pollution Control Boards at the state level to advise the government on any matter concerning the improvement of the quality of the air and prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.</li>
<li>The CPCB also lays down standards for the quality of air and provides technical assistance to and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-1'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Gestational Diabetes Mellitus',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A recent paper published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India has argued the importance of screening of every pregnant woman for high blood glucose even if no symptoms are exhibited.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM</strong>) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition<strong> during pregnancy.</strong></li>
<li>GDM not only <strong>influences immediate maternal (preeclampsia, stillbirths, macrosomia, and need for cesarean section)</strong> and <strong>neonatal outcomes (hypoglycemia, respiratory distress),</strong> but also increases the risk of future <strong>Type 2 diabetes</strong> in mother as well as the baby.</li>
<li>Prevention at the earliest stage of development of the foetus is essential to prevent children from becoming predisposed to diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCD) in future.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Higher glucose transfer to the foetus, when the mother has high blood sugar, stimulates the foetal pancreatic cells to start secreting insulin earlier and in higher quantities. Once initiated, it becomes self perpetuating.</li>
<li>In addition, when the maternal glucose reading is high (over 110 mg/dl), the amniotic fluid becomes glucose enriched, and after 20 weeks, when the foetus begins to swallow the amniotic fluid, which further stimulates production of insulin.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gestational Diabetes in India</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/828Image%201.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/828Image 1.jpg" width="524" height="444" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has an estimated 62 million people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); this number is expected to go up to 79.4 million by 2025.</li>
<li>In parallel with the increase in diabetes prevalence, there seems to be an increasing prevalence of gestational DM (GDM), that is, diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy.</li>
<li>India has a <strong>very high prevalence of GDM by global standards</strong>. Conversion rates to Type 2 diabetes are also very high.</li>
<li>Healthcare resources are insufficient. There is inadequate awareness among public. This results in a large population being hesitant to access healthcare system for diseases with not so &ldquo;obvious&rdquo; implications like GDM.</li>
<li>Interventions during and immediately after pregnancy provide important opportunities to improve the lives of mothers and children today and reducing diabetes in future generations.</li>
<li>Screening and appropriate management of diabetes during pregnancy provides a unique opportunity to prevent Type 2 diabetes in two generations.</li>
<li>Lack of awareness in society is one of the reasons that GDM is given low priority in public health delivery system in India.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Ministry of Health has developed national guidelines for testing, diagnosis and management of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy, and they recommend early testing at the time of contact (during the first trimester) and if the test is negative, yet another test should be done between 24-28 weeks.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gestational-diabetes-mellitus'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => '5G Technology',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Global telecom industry body GSMA expects India to have 920 million unique mobile subscribers by 2025 which will include 88 million 5G connections. This will leave India trailing regional peers such as China, which is set to see almost 30% of its total connection base on 5G by 2025.&nbsp;</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term 5G is used to describe the next-generation of mobile networks beyond<strong> Long Term Evolution(LTE)</strong> mobile networks.</li>
<li><strong>Applications:</strong> It is a mix of telecom technology delivering much higher data speeds on <strong>more extensive connectivity, using much lower power, with extended battery life, and emitting less radiation.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is also designed to be the network for the <strong>Internet of Things (IoT).</strong></li>
<li>Not only will people be connected to each other but so will utility machines, industrial equipment, automobiles, city infrastructure, public safety and more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
<li><strong>The technology used:</strong> In order to support a huge number of devices, many of which require longer battery life, the 5G network will be building off of the <strong>LTE Advanced Pro platform</strong>.</li>
<li>It will use the two narrowband technologies platforms:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhanced <strong>machine-type communication (e-MTC)</strong> and <strong>narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)</strong>, to scale down the device and network complexity to reach these support goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantage</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>5G network speeds should have a <strong>peak data rate</strong> of 20 Gb/s for the downlink and 10 Gb/s for the uplink.</li>
<li><strong>Latency</strong> in a 5G network could get as low as 4 milliseconds in a mobile scenario and can be as low as 1 millisecond in ultra-reliable low latency communication scenarios.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>LTE </strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an abbreviation for Long Term Evolution. LTE is a 4G wireless communications standard developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) that are designed to provide up to 10x the speeds of 3G networks for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and wireless hotspots.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>VoLTE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It stands for voice over Long Term Evolution. Utilising IMS technology, it is a digital packet voice service that is delivered over IP via an LTE access network. Voice calls over LTE are recognised as the industry-agreed progression of voice services across mobile networks, deploying LTE radio access technology.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Latency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a networking term to describe the total time it takes a data packet to travel from one node to another. In other contexts, when a data packet is transmitted and returned back to its source, the total time for the round trip is known as latency. Latency refers to time interval or delays when a system component is waiting for another system component to do something. This duration of time is called latency.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Internet of Things (IoT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an ecosystem of connected physical objects that are accessible through the internet. The &lsquo;thing&rsquo; in IoT could be a person with a heart monitor or an automobile with built-in-sensors, i.e. objects that have been assigned an IP address and have the ability to collect and transfer data over a network without manual assistance or intervention. The embedded technology in the objects helps them to interact with internal states or the external environment, which in turn affects the decisions taken.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5g-technology'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Fiscal Performance Index',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>Confederation of Indian Industry(CII)</strong> has come out with a<strong> Fiscal Performance Index</strong> to assess the quality of budgets presented by the <strong>Centre and state governments.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The composite <strong>Fiscal Performance Index (FPI)</strong> developed by CII is an innovative tool using multiple indicators to examine the quality of Budgets at the Central and State levels.</li>
<li>The index has been constructed using the <strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)&nbsp;</strong>Human Development Index methodology, it comprises <strong>six components</strong> for holistic assessment of the quality of government budgets.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Quality of revenue expenditure:</strong> measured by the share of revenue expenditure other than interest payments, subsidies, pensions and defence in GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Quality of capital expenditure:</strong> measured by the share of capital expenditure (other than defence) in GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Quality of revenue:</strong> the ratio of net tax revenue to GDP (own tax revenue in case of States).</li>
<li><strong>Degree of fiscal prudence I:</strong> fiscal deficit to GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Degree of fiscal prudence II:</strong> revenue deficit to GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Debt index:</strong> Change in debt and guarantees to GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings of Index</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The high-income States have performed poorly mainly on the expenditure quality and own tax receipts index as compared to their low-income counterparts. Though their performance on the deficit prudence index has been above average.</li>
<li>The low-income States such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh which have <strong>high fiscal deficit ratio</strong> have fared well on the FPI front.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of fiscal deficit to GDP ratio in analysing the fiscal performance of States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Expenditure on infrastructure, education, healthcare and other social sectors can be considered beneficial for economic growth.<br />Tax revenues are sustainable sources of revenue for the government as compared to one-time income sources.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommendations of CII</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM)</strong> Act which sets targets for the governments to reduce fiscal deficits should not solely focus on one component.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Instead, a holistic performance of all entities viewed from all angles of expenditure quality, revenue receipts quality, and fiscal prudence should be taken into consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CII is a non-government,<strong> not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization</strong>, playing a proactive role in India's development process.</li>
<li><strong>Founded in 1895</strong>, India's premier business association has around 9000 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from around 276 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.</li>
<li>It works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, Government, and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fiscal-performance-index'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'A rocky road for strategic partners',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article ''<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-rocky-road-for-strategic-partners/article27429419.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A rocky road for strategic partners</a>'' which appeared in ''The Hindu'' on 4th June 2019. The article talks about changing dynamics in India-Us relations.)</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<p>The U.S. administration&rsquo;s insensitive approach towards its allies in Western Europe by attacking the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU), threatening to impose tariffs on EU goods in connection with trade disputes and Europe&rsquo;s relations with Russia, and Washington&rsquo;s unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal seems to be part of a pattern progressively visible in American foreign policy in which bullying friends has become the name of the game.</p>
<p>The similar actions by U.S. administration towards India have threatened the foundation of trust and flexibility on which India-U.S. relations are premised.</p>
<h3><strong>India-US Relations</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-US relations</a> began taking shape after India got independence from Britain in 1947. The immediate relations were overshadowed by Cold War politics.</li>
<li>The Indo-Soviet friendship and the US-Pak alliance were the two major irritants in the relations of both the countries. Though &lsquo;aid relations&rsquo; prevailed during the 1950s and 1960s, New Delhi and Washington saw each other on opposite sides of the fence during this period.</li>
<li>Dramatic turn occurred in the 1990s when the Cold War terminated with the disintegration of the Soviet Union and US-Pak relations nosedived, because of the latter&rsquo;s clandestine nuclear programme.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>What prompted the thaw in relations</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The end of the Cold War provided an opportunity to both countries to review their relationship in the light of changing global and regional realities.</li>
<li>Second, with the opening of the Indian economy, the American private sector began to look at India with greater interest. Trade grew and today stands at more than $120 billion a year with an ambitious target of touching $500 billion in five years.</li>
<li>The third factor is the political coming of age of the three-million-strong Indian diaspora. Its influence can be seen in the bipartisan composition of the India Caucus in the U.S. Congress and the Senate Friends of India group.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Relations Post-1998</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's nuclear tests in May 1998 brought this cooperation to a complete halt as the US imposed severe trade sanctions on India and it also withheld spares for the Indian Naval ships&rsquo; equipment undergoing repairs and overhaul in the UK.</li>
<li>However, this changed significantly after Bill Clinton&rsquo;s visit of India in 2000, after he recognised India of its new-found status after its nuclear tests, that is, India was a now a major power because of its nuclear capability.</li>
<li>India-U.S. bilateral relations since then have developed into a "global strategic partnership", based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.</li>
<li>The emphasis placed by the Government in India on development and good governance has created opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and enhance cooperation with the US.</li>
<li>The Indo-US defence relationship gained momentum after the signing of the New Framework for Defence Cooperation in 2005 and more particularly after the US Congress passed the Hyde Act in December 2006 also known as India Us civil nuclear deal to enable bilateral cooperation on nuclear issues.</li>
<li>In recent times India had come to be seen as a pillar of American policy in Asia. The term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific region&rsquo; has come to replace the term &lsquo;Asia-Pacific region&rsquo; in American foreign policy jargon.</li>
<li>The Pentagon has too changed the name of the U.S. Pacific Command to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, emphasising not only the strategic linkage between the Indian and Pacific Oceans but also the geopolitical prominence of India in the U.S.&rsquo;s Asian strategy.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Areas of cooperation</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Counter-terrorism and internal security</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Cooperation in counter-terrorism has seen considerable progress with intelligence sharing, information exchange, operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology and equipment. India-U.S. Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Initiative was signed in 2010 to expand collaboration on counter-terrorism, information sharing and capacity building.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade and Economic</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>India-US bilateral trade in goods and services has increased from $104 billion in 2014 to $114 billion in 2016. Two-way merchandise trade stood at $66.7 billion. Of this, India&rsquo;s exports of goods to the US were valued at $46 billion and India&rsquo;s imports of goods from the US were valued at $21.7 billion. Both countries have also made a commitment to facilitate actions necessary for increasing the bilateral trade to $500 billion.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Science &amp; Technology (S&amp;T)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The India-U.S. S&amp;T cooperation has been steadily growing under the framework of U.S.-India Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in October 2005. There is an Indo-U.S. Science &amp; Technology Joint Commission, co-chaired by the Science Advisor to U.S. President and Indian Minister of Science and Technology.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>People to people ties</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The 3.5-million-plus strong Indian American community is an important ethnic group in the U.S., accounting for about 1% of the total population in the country. Indian American community includes a large number of professionals, business entrepreneurs and educationalists with increasing influence in the society.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foundational agreements signed between India and US</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). It allows militaries to share the intelligence gathered by them. It was signed by India in 2002.</li>
<li>Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). It allows both countries to have access to each other&rsquo;s designated military facilities for refuelling and replenishment. It was signed by India in 2016.</li>
<li>COMCASA(Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) is the India specific version of CISMOA (Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement). COMCASA aims to provide a legal framework for the transfer of highly sensitive communication security equipment from the US to India that will streamline and facilitate interoperability between their armed forces. The agreement is valid for 10 years and was signed by India in 2018.</li>
<li>Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is the fourth foundational agreement which is yet to be signed by India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3><strong>Roadblocks</strong></h3>
<p>However, Indo-US relations have seen a reversed course in recent months. U.S. unilateral actions on three fronts have simultaneously demonstrated what amounts to downgrading India in American strategy.</p>
<p><strong>Jeopardizing India's time tested relations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The U.S. government has opposed India's import of S-400 missile defence system from Russia for which a deal has already been signed by India and Russia.</li>
<li>U.S. has argued that India&rsquo;s purchase of the S-400 systems will violate the Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a U.S. federal law that requires the country to impose sanctions on states entering into major military deals with Russia.</li>
<li>If India buckles under American pressure and cancels the S-400 deal, it will have major negative implications for India&rsquo;s relations with Russia, its largest arms supplier and a time-tested friend.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India's Energy Woes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>US government's decision not to renew the exemption that it had granted India and seven other countries regarding import of Iranian oil will severely impact India's energy requirement which stands at 10% of India's total oil import.</li>
<li>Iran is not only important for India's energy requirements but is also has strategic importance in Indian foreign policy.</li>
<li>Iran&rsquo;s strategic location and the common concerns of both countries regarding the future of Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan make Tehran an ideal geopolitical ally of New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Trade hurdles</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Another important development has been U.S. government's decision to remove India from the preferential trade programme, known as the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which gives developing countries easier access to the U.S. market and lowers U.S. duties on their exports.</li>
<li>India is the largest beneficiary nation under the GSP scheme, and exported goods worth $6.35 billion to the U.S. under the preferential regime last year. This is close to 10% of the goods exported by India to the U.S.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is on its way to become a global power and it is important for it, therefore, maintain its strategic autonomy and hence should look to balance between American demands, long-term friendship with Russia and its own strategic necessities in the neighbourhood and beyond.</li>
<li>It should seize maximum opportunities from its relations with global powers while not putting its trust on entirely one nation which might create overdependence on one partner and ultimately underserve Indian interests.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-rocky-road-for-strategic-partners'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => '2019 Prelims Analysis',
			'catname' => 'Prelims Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><em><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #52a300;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">&nbsp;<a href="/images/pdf/GS%20Paper-I%20(2019).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ffffff;">Prelims 2019 Question Paper</span></a>&nbsp;</span></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: #00a69d;"><a href="/images/pdf/GS%20Paper-I%20English%202019%20Answer%20key.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-color: #e31e1e;">&nbsp;Prelims 2019 Answer Key</span></span></a><span style="background-color: #e31e1e;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></em></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #00a69d;"><em><span style="font-size: 14px; background-color: #00a69d;">&nbsp;<a href="/images/pdf/GS-Paper-II-English-CSAT-2019-Answer-key.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="background-color: #00a69d;"><span style="color: #ffffff;">CSAT 2019 Answer Key</span></a>&nbsp;</span></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li align="JUSTIFY">Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.</li>
<li align="JUSTIFY">Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">(a) 1 only</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">(b) 2 only</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><strong>Exp:</strong> In Mughal India, Jagirdars under Mansabdari system were assigned land in lieu of assigned duties towards the empire such as police,judicial,military; Zamindars too apart from revenue collecting duties had to render military duties and perform Khidmat such as rendering soldiers to fill the ranks of royal army at times of need and offer gifts at the royal court.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Jagirdars were frequently transferred as promotion and demotion was a regular part of empire as loyalties towards Emperor were largely dependent on the rank of jagir/mansab held by a Noble; on the other hand, Zamindars had hereditary rights over revenue as their sway over rural society was overarching in all aspects which rested on paternal and patronage application of rituals.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Source: <span>refer to Class 7 ncert (CH-4) FOR MANSABDAR/JAGIRDAR (pg 51-52) &amp; Class 12 NCERT-P-2 (pg 211-213)</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>2. With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">(b) The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.</span></strong></p>
<p>(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.</p>
<p>(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong><span>The Land reform constitutes the most important measures to improve the economic con&shy;dition of agricultural tenants.The Land reforms program in post-Independence India has evolved through different phases and these includes Abolition of Intermediaries, Tenancy reforms, consolidation of holdings and determination of holdings per family, imposition of ceilings with fewer exemptions, and to distribute surplus land among landless peoples. Hence Option (B) is correct.</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>DLP Book for UPPCS Mains/ Indian Economy-I/Chapter: Land Reforms</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>3.&nbsp;The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) International Monetary Fund</p>
<p>(b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development</p>
<p><strong>(c) World Economic Forum</strong></p>
<p>(d) World Bank</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) is a yearly report published by the World Economic Forum.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-competitveness-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-competitveness-report-2018</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol I Pg 119</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>4.&nbsp;Consider the following statements about &lsquo;the Charter Act of 1813&rsquo;:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.</li>
<li>It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.</li>
<li>The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Charter Act of 1813 ended trade monopoly of East India company in India except for trade in tea and trade in China. Further it also asserted sovereignty of British Crown over the Indian territories held by company. However the Company was to retain the possession of territories and revenues for 20 years more without prejudice to British Crown.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Spectrum modern India page 566-567, BL Grover page 370</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>5. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries.</li>
<li>The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Swadeshi Movement had its genesis in opposition to the partition of Bengal in 1905. It emphasised on self-reliance thus contributing to revival of indigenous artisans craft and industries. In August 1906 the National Council of Education was established to provide an impetus to program of national education as a part of Swadeshi movement.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Bipan Chandra page 130-131</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>6.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 323px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Movement/Organization</strong></td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Leader</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 36px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 287px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">All India Anti-Untouchability&nbsp;League</td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Mahatma&nbsp;Gandhi</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 36px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 287px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">All India Kisan Sabha</td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Swami&nbsp;Sahajanand&nbsp;Saraswati</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 36px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 287px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Self-Respect&nbsp;Movement&nbsp;Naicker</td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">E.V.&nbsp;Ramaswami&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Mahatma Gandhi set up All India Anti-Untouchability league in 1932 which later transformed into Harijan Sevak Sangh. All India Kisan Sabha was founded by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in 1936 to spearhead peasant movements in colonial India. E V Ramaswamy Naicker started Self respect movement against untouchability in 1925.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Spectrum modern India pg 438, Bipan Chandra pg 344, Ncert 8 page 119</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>7. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Chanhudaro</p>
<p>(b) Kot Diji</p>
<p><strong>(c) Sohgaura</strong></p>
<p>(d) Desalpur</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Kot Diji (now in Pakistan) was an early Harappan site. Chanhudaro (Pakistan) and Desalpur (Gujarat) are mature Harappan sites.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Upinder Singh page146</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>8.&nbsp;In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is &lsquo;Ranyo Ashoka&rsquo; (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Kanganahalli</strong></p>
<p>(b) Sanchi</p>
<p>(c) Shahbazagrhi</p>
<p>(d) Sohgaura</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Kanaganahalli in Karnataka is the site with an inscription in Brahmi script reading Ranyo Ashoka and a sculpture of King Ashoka.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Upinder Singh page 333</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>9.&nbsp;Consider the following:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Deification of the Buddha</li>
<li>Treading the path of Bodhisattvas</li>
<li>Image worship and rituals</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Mahayana Buddhism promoted devotional support, Deification of Buddha, icon worship and rituals and treading path of Bodhisattvas.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Ncert 12th pg 103, Ncert 6th pg 103</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>10.&nbsp;With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.</strong></p>
<p>(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.</p>
<p>(c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.</p>
<p>(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Vishti was considered as a source of income for the state, a sort of tax by the people.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Upinder Singh page 508</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>11.&nbsp;Building &lsquo;Kalyaana Mandapas&rsquo; was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Chalukya</p>
<p>(b) Chandela</p>
<p>(c) Rashtrakuta</p>
<p><strong>(d) Vijayanagara</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In the Vittala Temple of Hampi, pavilions or mandapas that were meant to celebrate the marriages of dieties were known as Kalyan Mandapa.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.asihampiminicircle.in/vitthala-temple/%20ASI%20website" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.asihampiminicircle.in/vitthala-temple/%20ASI%20website</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>12.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as &lsquo;Amil&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The lqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.</li>
<li>The office of &lsquo;Mir Bakshi&rsquo; came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In the Delhi Sultanate, the task of collecting revenue directly from peasant and measurement of land rested on Amils.</p>
<p>Iqta system evolved in West Asia significantly in Persia</p>
<p>Mir Bhakshi was the head of militiary department in Mughal India whereas in Delhi Sultanate, Ariz under Diwan-i-arz (set up by Balban) was improved by Alauddin Khalji as he introduced Dagh system which was aimed to improve Horse quality as well as eliminate fake numbering.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Satish Chandra History of Medieval India (800-1700) pg 74, Medieval India old Ncert pg 96, 201, 83</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>13.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.</li>
<li>Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Nimbarka was a 13th century philosphical Saint whereas Akbar's time period was 1556-1605;Saint Kabir was 15th century poet whereas Sirhindi was in 17th century.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Ncert 12th pg 167<a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nimbarka-Indian-philosopher"></a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nimbarka-Indian-philosopher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nimbarka-Indian-philosopher</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>14.&nbsp;With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of &lsquo;indentured labour</li>
<li>In Lord Chelmsford&rsquo;s &lsquo;War Conference&rsquo;, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.</li>
<li>Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In South Africa, Gandhi in opposition to compulsory registration of Indian population under Asiatic Law Amendment Act of the Transvaal government organised non-violent protest which led to passing of Indian Relief Act 1914- which eliminated extra tax on Indian citizens who had not renewed their indentures and recognised validity of Indian marriages.</p>
<p>In the Young India article dated 27 Nov ,1920 - &ldquo;To Every Englishmen In India&rdquo;, Gandhi quoted his recruiting campaign which was carried out in Kaira District (Gujarat) in support of British Cause in World War I according to the promise made in War Conference of Delhi.</p>
<p>As the Salt March ended in month of April 1930, between June and August several Congress Working Committees and leaders were arrested and Congress as an political was declared illegal by the British Administration.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>(Source: Bipan Chandra-pg 279) <a href="http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190325-the-birthplace-of-gandhis-peaceful-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.bb`c.com/travel/story/20190325-the-birthplace-of-gandhis-peaceful-protest</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/eduresources/article6.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/eduresources/article6.htm</a></span></p>
<p><span>Bipin Chandra&nbsp;pg-279</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>15.&nbsp;With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 222px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Person</strong></td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Position held</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 26px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 196px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru</td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">President, All India&nbsp;&nbsp;Liberal Federation</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 26px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 196px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">K.C. Neogy</td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Member, The Constituent Assembly</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 26px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 196px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">P.C. Joshi</td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">General Secretary, Communist Party of India</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Tej Bahadur Sapru was a prominent member of Liberal Party of India and the President of All India Liberal Federation. KC Neogy was a memeber of Constituent Assembly and also the Chairman of First Finance Commision. P.C Joshi was the General Secretary of Communist Party of India.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>16. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.</strong></p>
<p>(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses.</p>
<p>(c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons.</p>
<p>(d) Tansen invented many Ragas.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Tansen was the title given by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. Tansen was a court musician in the darbar of Raja Ramachandra of Bandavagarh (Rewa).</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-legend-of-mian-tansen/article22893454.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-legend-of-mian-tansen/article22893454.ece</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>17.&nbsp;Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Humayun</p>
<p>(b) Akbar</p>
<p><strong>(c) Jahangir</strong></p>
<p>(d) Shah Jahan</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>During Akbar's reign many manuscripts were illustrated, the prominent being Razmnamah, the Persian translation of Mahabharata. It was during Jahangir's reign that manuscripts became less important and individual portraits became more prominent.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Pearson Indian history Manual, NCERT 12th Kings and Chronicles</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>18.&nbsp;Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Manas National Park</p>
<p>(b) Namdapha National Park</p>
<p>(c) Neora Valley National Park</p>
<p><strong>(d) Valley of Flowers National Park</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Valley of Flowers national park located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora.Situated approximately 3255m above sea level, this splendid park is spread across 87.5 sq km of land.</p>
<p>The valley has three sub-alpine between 3,200m and 3,500m which is the limit for trees, lower alpine between 3,500m and 3,700m, and higher alpine above 3,700m.</p>
<p>The rich diversity of species reflects the valley's location within a transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalayas ranges to the north and south, respectively, and between the Eastern Himalaya and Western Himalaya flora.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://forest.uk.gov.in/pages/view/159-valley-of-flowers-national-park-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://forest.uk.gov.in/pages/view/159-valley-of-flowers-national-park-</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>19.&nbsp;Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Department of Science and Technology</p>
<p>(b) Ministry of Labour and Employment</p>
<p><strong>(c) NITI Aayog</strong></p>
<p>(d) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>AlM's objectives are to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels. The Mission has been set up under NITI Aayog, in accordance with the Hon'ble Finance Minister's declaration in the 2015 Budget Speech.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189295" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189295</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong></span><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;">Tarkash Vol I Pg 56, 75, 223</span></span></p>
<p><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)</a></span></span></p>
<p><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/niti-aayog-annual-report-2017-18" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/summary-of-important-reports/niti-aayog-annual-report-2017-18</a></span></span></p>
<p><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)</a></span><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/niti-aayog-annual-report-2017-18"></a><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>20.&nbsp;On 21<sup>st</sup> June, the Sun</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle</strong></p>
<p>(b) does not set below the horizon at Antarctic Circle</p>
<p>(c) shines vertically overhead at noon on the Equator</p>
<p>(d) shines vertically overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>21st June is the longest day of the year as countries lying to the north of the equator, including India, witness &lsquo;Summer Solstice&rsquo;.The &lsquo;summer solstice&rsquo; occurs exactly when the earth&rsquo;s axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23 degrees 26&rsquo;.During &lsquo;summer solstice&rsquo;, the Northern Hemisphere witnesses its longest day of the year while the Southern Hemisphere sees its shortest day.</p>
<p>On the June solstice, the Earth&rsquo;s North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the sun. At this time, the sun appears directly overhead at 23.5 degrees north latitude, along the Tropic of Cancer.</p>
<p>Around the Arctic Circle, the location of sunrise and sunset start to converge in the northern sky, until eventually the sun never sinks below the horizon. Hence, the appearance of the midnight sun.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>21.&nbsp;Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the &lsquo;New World&rsquo; and introduced into the 'Old World'?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber</strong></p>
<p>(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber</p>
<p>(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane</p>
<p>(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>"New World" means the Americas which were discovered by European Powers such as Spain, Portuguese and French; Tobacco, Cocoa and Rubber were native crops of Americas and were introduced in the Old World (Asia).&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>22.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.</li>
<li>Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.</li>
<li>One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Asiatic lions that once ranged from Persia (Iran) to Palamau in Eastern India were almost driven to extinction by indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss. A single population of less than 50 lions persisted in the Gir forests of Gujarat by late 1890's. With timely and stringent protection offered by the State Government and the Center Government, Asiatic lions have increased to the current population of over 500 numbers. Hence, statement 1 is correct. The double-hump camel is a native of Gobi desert, and is found on a vast expanse of cold-desert areas across Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and parts of Afghanistan. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct. The populations of one horned rhinoceros have increased to around 3,500 rhinos in northeastern India and the Terai grasslands of Nepal. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186688</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/india-interior/two-humps-one-job-in-nubra-valley/article7900544.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/india-interior/two-humps-one-job-in-nubra-valley/article7900544.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/greater-one-horned-rhino" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/greater-one-horned-rhino</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-march-2019" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-march-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>23.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="height: 68px; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 157px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Famous place </strong></td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>River</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 25px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 132px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Pandharpur</td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Chandrabhaga</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 25px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 132px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Tiruchirappalli</td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Cauvery</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 25px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 132px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Hampi</td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Malaprabha</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Pandharpur is a holy place of Shri.Vitthal and Shri.Rukmini. It is also known as the Southern Kashi of India and Kuldaivat of Maharashtra State. The Chandrabhaga (Bhima) river flows through the City.Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas.</p>
<p>Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India located near Hospet town in the Karnataka state, on south bank of Tungabhadra river.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://solapur.gov.in/en/tourist-place/pandharpur/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://solapur.gov.in/en/tourist-place/pandharpur/</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>24.&nbsp;In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) poverty rates vary from State to State</p>
<p><strong>(b) price levels vary from State to State</strong></p>
<p>(c) Gross State Product varies from State to State</p>
<p>(d) quality of public distribution varies from State to State</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>These poverty lines would vary from State to State because of inter-state price differentials</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://planningcommission.nic.in/news/pre_pov2307.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://planningcommission.nic.in/news/pre_pov2307.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>25.&nbsp;In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Creating the artificial rains in some regions</p>
<p>(b) Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones</p>
<p>(c) Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth</p>
<p><strong>(d) Reducing the global warming</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Geo-engineering approach to reversing global warming &ndash; &lsquo;The intentional reduction of the coverage and optical thickness of high-level cirrus cloud could potentially reduce global warming by modifying the longwave radiative effect of cirrus clouds.&rsquo;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/a-cocktail-geo-engineering-approach-to-reversing-global-warming-4805937/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/a-cocktail-geo-engineering-approach-to-reversing-global-warming-4805937/</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6364967/Could-thinning-clouds-combat-climate-change-Scientists-propose-radical-plan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6364967/Could-thinning-clouds-combat-climate-change-Scientists-propose-radical-plan.html</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol I Pg 268; Tarkash Vol II Pg 125</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmospheric-geoengineering-experiment-to-curb-global-warming" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmospheric-geoengineering-experiment-to-curb-global-warming</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>26.&nbsp;In the context of which one of the following arc the terms &lsquo;pyrolysis and plasma gasification&rsquo; mentioned?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Extraction of rare earth elements</p>
<p>(b) Natural gas extraction technologies</p>
<p>(c) Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles</p>
<p><strong>(d) Waste-to-energy technologies</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In developing Three-Year Action Agenda (2017-18 to 2019-20), the Niti Aayog has drawn a broader framework for addressing the issue of municipal solid waste (MSW). The solution being suggested by the Action Agenda is twin-fold: waste-to-energy incinerators for bigger municipalities and composting method of waste disposal for small towns and semi-urban areas. While proposing incineration as a solution, the Niti Aayog has also assessed the benefit-cost ratio of thermal pyrolysis and plasma gasification technologies.</p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>27.&nbsp;Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Neyyar, ldl Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve</strong></p>
<p>(b) Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park</p>
<p>(c) Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park</p>
<p>(d) Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The agasthyamalai biosphere is located in the Western Ghats in the south of the country. Consisting mostly of tropical forest, the site is home to 2,254 species of higher plants including about 400 that are endemic. It is also a unique genetic reservoir of cultivated plants, in particular cardamom, jamune, nutmeg, pepper and plantain. Three wildlife sanctuaries, Shendurney, Peppara and Neyyar, are located in the site, as well as the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/india/agasthyamala/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/india/agasthyamala/</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-january-2019" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-january-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>28.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Some species of turtles are herbivores.</li>
<li>Some species of fish are herbivores.</li>
<li>Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.</li>
<li>Some species of snakes viviparous.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above arc correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Green sea turtles eat seagrasses and algae, though juveniles snack on crabs, sponges, and jellyfish. Parrotfish are algae eaters. They obtain the algae by ripping small chunks of coral from a reef. The fish's grinding teeth, located in its throat, pulverize the coral. The teeth allow the fish to extract the algae from the center of the polyp inside.Manatees, sometimes called sea cows, are large mammals that live in warm sea waters. They live in shallow coastal areas and feed on sea vegetation. Snakes that are viviparous nourish their developing young through a placenta and yolk sac, something that is highly unusual among reptiles.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://sciencing.com/list-herbivores-ocean-8599405.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://sciencing.com/list-herbivores-ocean-8599405.html</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>29.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 207px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Wildlife</strong></td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Naturally found in</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 28px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 179px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Blue-finned Mahseer</td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Cauvery River</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 28px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 179px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Irrawaddy Dolphin</td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Chambal River</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 28px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 179px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Rusty-spotted Cat</td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Eastern Ghats</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Western Ghats region is famous for freshwater biodiversity. Mahseer, belonging to the genus Tor, is considered a prized sports fish of great cultural value.In the Cauvery the Mahseer community comprises two varieties&mdash;a &ldquo;blue-finned&rdquo; fish and an &ldquo;orange-finned, hump-backed&rdquo; one. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched. Irrawaddy dolphins are distributed in shallow, near-shore tropical and subtropical marine waters. They are primarily found in estuaries and semi-enclosed water bodies such as bays and sounds, usually close to mangrove forests. Hence, pair 2 is NOT correctly matched. Forests of the Eastern Ghats are home to some endangered and lesser-known mammal species like the Fishing Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Indian Pangolin etc. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/iconic-indian-fish-on-the-verge-of-extinction-says-study-49802" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/iconic-indian-fish-on-the-verge-of-extinction-says-study-49802</a></p>
<p><span><a href="http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/irrawaddy_dolphin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/irrawaddy_dolphin/</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/road-ecology-the-road-less-travelled/article24585647.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/road-ecology-the-road-less-travelled/article24585647.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol II Pg 153, 155</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>30.&nbsp;Why is there a great concern about the &lsquo;microbeads' that are released into environment?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.</strong></p>
<p>(b) They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.</p>
<p>(c) They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.</p>
<p>(d) They are often found to be used as food adulterants.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm and don&rsquo;t degrade or dissolve in water. They may be added to a range of products, including rinse-off cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. They are considered harmful to marine and aquatic ecosystem.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/plastics-and-packaging/plastic-microbeads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/plastics-and-packaging/plastic-microbeads</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol I Pg 267</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-biodiversity-warning-bells" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-biodiversity-warning-bells</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-world-environment-day-identify-the-dangers-of-the-plastic-era" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-world-environment-day-identify-the-dangers-of-the-plastic-era</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>31.&nbsp;Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) anti-malarial drug</p>
<p>(b) biodiesel</p>
<p>(c) pulp for paper industry</p>
<p><strong>(d) textile fibre</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Himalayan nettle(Girardinia diversifolia) is found to be a sustainable source of textile fiber. The fabric and the things made from it. For the Himalayan Indian Nettle, Government of india has granted approval for a project titled Development of products from Himalayan Indian nettle to Department of Jute and Fibre Technology, Institute of Jute Technology, University of Kolkata.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=159342" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=159342</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>32.&nbsp;For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location</li>
<li>Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location</li>
<li>Land surface temperatures of a specific location</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 Only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1: The Sentinel satellite of the European Space Agency has certain specific spectral characteristics that can be used to measure even the chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location. Correct.</p>
<p>Statement 2: Estimation of Methane Emissions from Rice Paddies in the Mekong Delta Based on Land Surface Dynamics Characterization with Remote Sensing. Correct.</p>
<p>Statement 3: The land surface temperature of a specific location can be measured with the help of satellite images/ remote sensing data. Correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/science-and-technology/-remote-sensing-is-being-used-to-predict-crop-growing-seasons--56372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/science-and-technology/-remote-sensing-is-being-used-to-predict-crop-growing-seasons--56372</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong></span><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-to-launch-state-of-the-art-satellites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="background-color: #ffff99;">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-to-launch-state-of-the-art-satellites</span></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>33.&nbsp;Consider the following States:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Chhattisgarh</li>
<li>Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Maharashtra</li>
<li>Odisha</li>
</ol>
<p>With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?</p>
<p>(a) 2-3-1-4</p>
<p>(b) 2-3-4-1</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3-2-4-1</strong></p>
<p>(d) 3-2-1-4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>India state of forest report 2017</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;"><strong>State</strong></td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;"><strong>Percentage of forest cover to the total area <em>(Approximate data)</em></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">1. Chattisgarh</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">2. MP</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">3. Maharashtra</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">16</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">4. Orissa</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">32</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Hence, correct ascending order- (3-2-4-1)</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://fsi.nic.in/isfr2017/isfr-forest-cover-2017.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://fsi.nic.in/isfr2017/isfr-forest-cover-2017.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>34.&nbsp;Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of &lsquo;methane hydrate&rsquo;?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.</li>
<li>Large deposits of &lsquo;methane hydrate&rsquo; are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor.</li>
<li>Methane in atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 is correct - Methane escaping from disturbed undersea hydrates may be an ecological threat. Even if a small portion of these methane hydrate deposits decompose through natural processes, large quantities of methane will be released to exacerbate global warming.</p>
<p>Statement 2 is correct - Methane hydrates tend to form along the lower margins of continental slopes, where the seabed drops from the relatively shallow shelf, usually to about 150 metres below the sea surface. The susceptibility of gas hydrates to warming climate depends on the duration of the warming event, their depth beneath the seafloor or tundra surface, and the amount of warming required to heat sediments to the point of dissociating gas hydrates.</p>
<p>Statement 3 is correct - The problem with methane is that it does not vanish without a trace, even though it remains in the atmosphere relatively briefly - 10 years on an average. In the presence of free oxygen, a methane molecules single atom of carbon disengages from its four hydrogen atoms to become carbon dioxide.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/burning-ice-17856" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/burning-ice-17856</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-at-risk-of-becoming-hothouse" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-at-risk-of-becoming-hothouse</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>35.&nbsp;Consider the following:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Carbon monoxide</li>
<li>Methane</li>
<li>Ozone</li>
<li>Sulphur dioxide</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Explanation-Burning of crop residues emits traces of carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulates which affect human health.</p>
<p>Punjab and Haryana are both responsible for causing air pollution due to burning. These two states contribute to 48 per cent of the total emission due to paddy burning across India.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The majority of tropospheric ozone formation occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as xylene, react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.isca.in/EARTH_SCI/Archive/v1/i1/4.ISCA-IRJES-2013-005.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.isca.in/EARTH_SCI/Archive/v1/i1/4.ISCA-IRJES-2013-005.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/paddy-burning-ngt-orders-fine-imposition-on-erring-farmers-51698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/paddy-burning-ngt-orders-fine-imposition-on-erring-farmers-51698</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>36.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 205px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Sea</strong></td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Bordering Country</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Adriatic Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Albania</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Black Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Croatia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Caspian Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Kazakhstan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Mediterranean Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Morocco</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">5.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Red Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Syria</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 1, 3 and 4 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 2 and 5 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Adriatic Sea is a part of the Mediterranean Sea positioned between the eastern coastline of Italy, and countries of the Balkan Peninsula, from Slovenia, South through Croatia, Montenegro, and to Albania. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.</p>
<p>The Black Sea is an inland sea located between far-southeastern Europe and the far-western edges of the continent of Asia and the country of Turkey. It's bordered by Turkey, and by Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. this rules out options a, c and d, leaving the correct answer to be option B through elimination method.</p>
<p>Caspian Sea is an enclosed body of water between Asia and Europe. It is bordered by Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia,</p>
<p>Morocco&rsquo;s Mediterranean coast represents the westernmost edge of the Northern African coast. The coastline features the Strait of Gibraltar that marks the link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.</p>
<p>There are six countries (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti) bordering the Red Sea.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldatlas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.worldatlas.com/</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-central-asia-relations" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/india-central-asia-relations</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>37.&nbsp;Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) China</p>
<p><strong>(b) India</strong></p>
<p>(c) Myanmar</p>
<p>(d) Vietnam</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>India has been the world&rsquo;s top rice exporter since the beginning of this decade. India emerged the world&rsquo;s largest rice exporter in 2011-12, displacing Thailand from its leadership position.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>India Today, The Hindu, Economic Times, Worldatlas.com </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>38.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 187px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Glacier</strong></td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>River</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Bandarpunch</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Yamuna</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Bara Shigri</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Chenab</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Milam</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Mandakini</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Siachen</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Nubra</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">5.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Zemu</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Manas</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p>Which of the pairs correctly matched?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1, 2 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 5</p>
<p>(d) 3 and 5</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>An important glacier of Yamuna river basin is Bandarpunch Glacier in the Garhwal division of the Himalayas. It is 12 km long situated on the Northern slopes of Bandarpunch West, Khatling peak and Bandarpunch peak the glacier is formed by three cirque glaciers and then join the river of Yamuna. Hence, 1 is correctly matched</p>
<p>Bara Shigri is the largest glacier located in Lahaul Spiti region in Chandra Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It is a 30-km long glacier, the second longest glacier in the Himalayas after Gangotri. It flows northwards and feeds the Chenab river. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.</p>
<p>Milam Glacier in Munsiyari, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand is the source of Gori Ganga River and not of Mandakini River. Gori Ganga is also an important tributary of Kali River. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.</p>
<p>At an altitude of roughly 5,400 meters (17,700 feet), the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir is a forbidding place. At much lower altitudes, the glacier&rsquo;s impact is benign: it is the source of the Nubra River, a tributary of the Indus River flowing into Pakistan and the Arabian Sea. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.</p>
<p>The Zemu glacier is the largest in the Eastern Himalayas in Sikkim. It is at the base of the Kanchendzonga and is one of the sources for the Teesta not Manas river. Teesta is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.Hence, Statement 5 is not correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.visituttrakhand.com/bandarpunch-glacier-trek.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.visituttrakhand.com/bandarpunch-glacier-trek.php</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>39.&nbsp;In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) pesticides in agriculture</strong></p>
<p>(b) preservatives in processed foods</p>
<p>(c) fruit-ripening agents</p>
<p>(d) moisturising agents in cosmetics</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Carbofuran, Phorate and Triazophos are pesticides used in agriculture.</p>
<p>To promote organic farming in Kerala, the state agriculture department had ordered a ban on the use of pesticides on May 7. Kerala Agriculture University was asked to provide alternatives to the banned pesticides, which include carbofuran, phorate, methyl parathion, monocrotophos, methyl demethon, prophenophos and triazophos. The university suggested less hazardous pesticides, like acephate, carbaryl, dimethoate and flubendiamide. Hence option A is correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pesticide-ban-lands-kerala-in-court-33657" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pesticide-ban-lands-kerala-in-court-33657</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>40.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.</li>
<li>The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.</li>
<li>The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 is Not correct- Under Ramsar Convention it is mandatory on the part of government of India to protect only Ramsar Sites and not all the wetlands in India.</p>
<p>Statement 3 is Correct- Under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management Rules), 2010, Wetland" means an area or of marsh, fen, peatland or water; natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres and includes all inland waters such as lakes, reservoir, tanks, backwaters, lagoon, creeks, estuaries and man made wetland and the zone of direct influence on wetlands that is to say the drainage area or catchment region of the wetlands as determined by the authority but does not include main river channels, paddy fields and the coastal wetland.</p>
<p>Due to confusion on veracity of statement 2, we are yet to arrive at definite a conclusion.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/towards-wetland-conservation-33192" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/towards-wetland-conservation-33192</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/106740276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiankanoon.org/doc/106740276/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>41.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.</li>
<li>Cattle release ammonia into environment.</li>
<li>Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds environment.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/arc correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 is correct: Agricultural soils contributed to over 70% of N2O emissions from India in 2010, followed by waste water (12%) and residential and commercial activities (6%).</p>
<p>Statement 2 is correct: Cattle account for 80% of the ammonia production and India is globally the biggest source of ammonia emission, nearly double that of NOx emissions.</p>
<p>Statement 3 is correct: The poultry industry, with an annual growth rate of 6%, recorded an excretion of reactive nitrogen compounds of 0.415 tonnes in 2016.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/nitrogen-emissions-going-up-study/article24090131.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/nitrogen-emissions-going-up-study/article24090131.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>42.&nbsp;What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Recently discovered uranium deposits</p>
<p>(b) Tropical rain forests</p>
<p>(c) Underground cave systems</p>
<p><strong>(d) Water reservoirs</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Aliyar (Tamil Nadu) Isapur (Maharashtra) and Kangsabati (West Bengal) are water reservoirs, where water level reached much below the normal capacity.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/water-level-in-91-reservoirs-at-36-per-cent-of-total-capacity-southern-states-most-affected-59826">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/water-level-in-91-reservoirs-at-36-per-cent-of-total-capacity-southern-states-most-affected-59826</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>43.&nbsp;In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The main advantage of the use of H-CNG is the elimination of carbon monoxide emissions.</li>
<li>H-CNG as fuel reduces carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions.</li>
<li>Hydrogen up to one-fifth by volume can be blended with CNG as fuel for buses.</li>
<li>H-CNG makes the fuel less expensive than CNG.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 4 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Hydrogen-Enriched CNG (H-CNG) is a blend of hydrogen and CNG, the ideal hydrogen concentration being 18%. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.</p>
<p>Compared to conventional CNG, use of H-CNG can reduce emission of carbon monoxide up to 70%,not complete emission. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. It also reduces carbondioxide and hydrocarbon emissions. Hence, statement 2 is correct.</p>
<p>H-CNG also enables up to 5% savings in fuel efficiency. H- CNG also reduces the engines unburned hydrocarbon emissions and speed up the process of combustion.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cng-to-hydrogen-cng-why-switch-and-how-5278356/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cng-to-hydrogen-cng-why-switch-and-how-5278356/</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>44.&nbsp;Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Clouds absorb the radiation released from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</p>
<p><strong>(b) Clouds reflect back the Earth&rsquo;s radiation.</strong></p>
<p>(c) The Earth&rsquo;s surface would have low temperature on cloudy nights.</p>
<p>(d) Clouds deflect the blowing wind to ground level.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Dew is a type of precipitation where water droplets form on the ground, or on objects near the ground in a process called condensation of moisture. The favorable weather elements for dew include clear skies, light wind, decent soil moisture, and low night-time dew point depressions.</p>
<p>Dew forms when the temperature becomes equal to the dew point. This often happens first at ground level for two reasons. First, longwave emission causes the earth's surface to cool at night.Cloud cover prevent this from happening as it reflect's earth's radiation.</p>
<p>Condensation requires the temperature to decrease to the dew point. Second, the soil is often the moisture source for the dew. Warm and moist soils will help with the formation of dew as the soil cools overnight.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/fog_stuff/Dew_Frost/Dew_Frost.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/fog_stuff/Dew_Frost/Dew_Frost.htm</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>45.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of judiciary.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In 1975, Parliament passed the Thirty-ninth amendment to the Constitution which removed the authority of the Supreme Court to adjudicate petitions regarding elections of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Instead, a body constituted by Parliament would be vested with the power to resolve such election disputes.</p>
<p>So, option 1 is incorrect.</p>
<p>Supreme court struck down 99th amendment as it impinges upon the principles of &ldquo;independence of the judiciary&rdquo;, as well as, &ldquo;separation of powers&rdquo;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sci.gov.in/pdf/aorexam/List%20of%20leading%20cases%20and%20short%20notes%20given%20by%20the%20Mr.%20F.S.%20Nariman,%20Sr%20Adv%20&amp;%20Chairman,%20Bd.%20of%20Examiner%20of%20the%20AOR%20Exam%202016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.sci.gov.in/pdf/aorexam/List%20of%20leading%20cases%20and%20short%20notes%20given%20by%20the%20Mr.%20F.S.%20Nariman,%20Sr%20Adv%20&amp;%20Chairman,%20Bd.%20of%20Examiner%20of%20the%20AOR%20Exam%202016.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>46.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968.</li>
<li>The Constitution of India defines and gives details or what constitutes &lsquo;incapacity and proved misbehaviour&rsquo; of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.</li>
<li>The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in 4 the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.</li>
<li>If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2</p>
<p>(b) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 and 4 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Judges Enquiry Act (1968) regulates the procedure relating to the removal of a judge of the Supreme Court by the process of impeachment. Hence, statement 3 is correct.</p>
<ol>
<li>A removal motion signed by 100 members (in the case of Lok Sabha) or 50 members (in the case of Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/Chairman.</li>
<li>The Speaker/Chairman may admit the motion or refuse to admit it. Hence statement 1 is not correct.</li>
<li>If it is admitted, then the Speaker/Chairman is to constitute a three-member committee to investigate into the charges.</li>
<li>The committee should consist of (a) the chief justice or a judge of the Supreme Court, (b) a chief justice of a high court, and (c) a distinguished jurist.</li>
<li>If the committee finds the judge to be guilty of misbehaviour or suffering from an incapacity, the House can take up the consideration of the motion.</li>
<li>After the motion is passed by each House of Parliament by special majority, an address is presented to the president for removal of the judge. Hence, Statement 4 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect and 4 is correct by elimination we can see that only option C is correct.</li>
<li>Finally, the president passes an order removing the judge.</li>
</ol>
<p>Statement 2 is not correct: The constitution nowhere defines the term "incapacity and proved misbehaviour".</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/explainer-removal-judges-office" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/explainer-removal-judges-office</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>47.&nbsp;The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Jawaharlal Nehru</strong></p>
<p>(b) Lal Bahadur Shastri</p>
<p>(c) Indira Gandhi</p>
<p>(d) Morarji Desai</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In the aftermath of Kameshwar Singh V State of Bihar judgment, the Government got apprehensive that the whole agrarian reform programmes would be endangered. To ensure that agrarian reform legislation did not run into heavy weather, the legislature amended the Constitution in the year 1951 under the Prime ministership of Jawahar Lal Nehru which inserted Ninth Schedule.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Judges%20(Inquiry)%20/bill88_2007100588_The_Judges__Inquiry__Act_1968.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Judges%20(Inquiry)%20/bill88_2007100588_The_Judges__Inquiry__Act_1968.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>48.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi.</li>
<li>Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis.</li>
<li>Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self-sufficient in coal production.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>i. Coal sector was nationalised in two phases under Indira Gandhi Government in 1972.</p>
<p>ii. The coal Blocks are allocated through Auctions not on lottery basis.</p>
<p>iii. The coal sector is the monopolistic sector in India. India holds 5th biggest coal reserves in the world but due to incapacity of coal production by monopolistic firms, it imports coals to meet the shortages of domestic supply. But, still the country is not self-sufficient of coal production.</p>
<p>Hence option (A) is correct</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://coal.nic.in/content/historybackground" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://coal.nic.in/content/historybackground</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://blog.ipleaders.in/coal-blocks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://blog.ipleaders.in/coal-blocks/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>49. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification on the grounds of &lsquo;Office of Profit&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The above-mentioned Act was amended five times.</li>
<li>The term &lsquo;Office of Profit&rsquo; is well-defined in the Constitution of India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 - The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification. Like&ndash;</p>
<p>(i) Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers,</p>
<p>(ii) Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Under Secretaries,</p>
<p>(iii) Deputy Chief Whips in Parliament,</p>
<p>(iv) Vice-Chancellors of Universities,</p>
<p>(v) Officers in the National Cadet Corps, and the Territorial Army, and</p>
<p>(vi) the Chairman and members of Advisory Committees set up by the Government when they are not entitled to any fee or remuneration other than compensatory Etc. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.</p>
<p>Statement 2 It has been amended 5 times since its formulation 1960, 19992,1993,2006 and 2013. Hence, statement 2 is correct.</p>
<p>Statement 3 The law or the constitution of India does not clearly define what constitutes an office of profit but the definition has evolved over the years with interpretations made in various court judgments. Hence Statement 3 is incorrect. By this information we can eliminate option b, c and d.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>50.&nbsp;Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Third Schedule</p>
<p><strong>(b) Fifth Schedule</strong></p>
<p>(c) Ninth Schedule</p>
<p>(d) Twelfth Schedule</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Grant of mineral concessions in Scheduled Areas is guided by the provisions contained in article 244 along with Fifth and Sixth Schedules to the Constitution relating to administration of the Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas and the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or any other relevant statutory acts protecting the interests of tribals.</p>
<p>Under the fifth Schedule, the Governor may by public notification direct that any particular Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State or shall apply to a Scheduled Area.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://mines.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/NMP12032019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://mines.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/NMP12032019.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>51.&nbsp;Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.</li>
<li>A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.</li>
<li>There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.</li>
<li>Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>(c) 1, 2 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>There are 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), not 95, notified as on date in the country. The criteria followed for determination of PVTGs are as under:</p>
<p>i. A pre-agriculture level of technology;</p>
<p>ii. A stagnant or declining population;</p>
<p>iii. Extremely low literacy; and</p>
<p>iv. A subsistence level of the economy. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect, which gives us option C as the correct answer by elimination method.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178257" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178257</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://tribal.nic.in/DivisionsFiles/SwLPVTGs.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://tribal.nic.in/DivisionsFiles/SwLPVTGs.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/xaxa-committee-on-tribal-communities-of-india" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/summary-of-important-reports/xaxa-committee-on-tribal-communities-of-india</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>52.&nbsp;With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The decisions taken by the. Election Commission of India while discharging its duties cannot be challenged in any court of law.</p>
<p><strong>(b) The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by the laws made by Parliament.</strong></p>
<p>(c) In the event of grave financial crisis in the country, the President of India can declare Financial Emergency without the counsel from the Cabinet.</p>
<p>(d) State Legislatures cannot make laws on certain matters without the concurrence of Union Legislature.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Article142- Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and unless as to discovery, etc (1) The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or orders so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of<span style="color: #000000;"> India in</span> such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/500307/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiankanoon.org/doc/500307/</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/witness-protection-scheme-2018-to-the-point" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/witness-protection-scheme-2018-to-the-point</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>53.&nbsp;With referenc<span style="color: #333399;">e to</span> the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The Governor makes a customary address to Members of the House at the commencement of the first session of the year.</li>
<li>When a State Legislature does not have a rule on a particular matter, it follows the Lok Sabha rule on that matter.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;Statement 1 is correct:</strong> Article 176(1) of the Constitution of India enjoins that the Governor shall Address both the Houses assembled together at the commencement of the first Session after each general election to the Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year and inform the Legislature of the causes of its Summons.</p>
<p><strong>Statement 2 is incorrect:</strong> In case of absence of rules in particular matter, the <strong>speaker of state legislative assembly</strong>/council decides rules.</p>
<p>208. Rules of procedure</p>
<p>(1) A House of the Legislature of a State may make rules for regulating subject to the provisions of this Constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business</p>
<p>(2) Until rules are made under clause (1), the rules of procedure and standing orders in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution with respect to the Legislature for the corresponding Province shall have effect in relation to the Legislature of the State subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, or the Chairman of the Legislative Council, as the case may be</p>
<p>(3) In a State having a Legislative Council the Governor, after consultation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, may make rules as to the procedure with respect to communications between the two Houses.<br /><strong></strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/695063/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiankanoon.org/doc/695063/</a><a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/500307/"></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>54. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a &lsquo;Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.</li>
<li>A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.</li>
<li>The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 2 and 4 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>(i) The protocol against the smuggling of Migrants by land, sea and air, it comes under the the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The main objective of this conventon is to fight against Transnational organized crime. <strong>Hence statement 1 is incorrect.</strong></p>
<p>(ii) The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. The Convention covers many different forms of corruption, such as bribery, trading in influence, abuse of functions, and various acts of corruption in the private sector. <strong>Hence statement 2 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>(iii) "Returning Assets to their rightful owners from whom they they have been taken illicitly", is included under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). <strong>Hence statement 3 is incorrect. Eliminating options containing statement 3 also gives us the answer, that is option C.</strong></p>
<p>(iv) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its Member States to assist in the implementation of both Conventions,such as UNCAC and UNTOC, along with the UN Drug Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 underpin all the operational work of UNODC. <strong>Hence statement 4 is correct.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Therefore option (c) is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>United Nations Website</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>55. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.</li>
<li>As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.</li>
<li>The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill 2018 permits felling and transit of bamboo grown in non-forest areas. However, bamboo grown on forest lands would continue to be classified as a tree and would be guided by the existing legal restrictions. Hence, staement 1 is not correct. The Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 recognises bamboo as an Minor Forest Produce and vests the &ldquo;right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest pr oduce&rdquo; with Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers. Hence statement 2 is correct. In 2006, the Forest Rights Act (FRA) for the first time defined minor forest produce as including bamboo and tendu and many other things. It also gave tribals and other traditional forest dwellers the &ldquo;right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce, which has been traditionally collected within or outside village boundaries.&rdquo; Hence statement 3 is correct</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bamboo-not-a-tree-parliament-passes-bill-amending-forest-act/article22287886.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bamboo-not-a-tree-parliament-passes-bill-amending-forest-act/article22287886.ece</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>56. Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one&rsquo;s right to marry the person of one&rsquo;s choice?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Article 19</p>
<p><strong>(b) Article 21</strong></p>
<p>(c) Article 25</p>
<p>(d) Article 29</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The right to marry is a component of right to life under art 21 of constitution of India which says, &ldquo;No person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty except according to procedure established by law&rdquo;. in the context of right to marry, mention may be made of a few Indian cases. Person who suffering from venereal disease, even prior to the marriage cannot be said to have any right to marry so long as he is not fully cured of the disease.</p>
<p>In <strong>Lata singh vs state of Uttar Pradesh 2006,</strong> the Supreme Court viewed the right to marry as a component of <strong>right to life under Art 21</strong> of Indian Constitution the court observed that:</p>
<p>&ldquo;This is a free and democratic country, and once a person becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he/she likes. If the parents of the boy or girl do not approve of such inter-caste marriage the maximum they can do is that they can cut off social relations with the son or daughter, but they cannot give threats or commit or instigate acts of violence and cannot harass the person who undergoes such intercaste marriage&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/1001/Right-to-marry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/1001/Right-to-marry.html</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>57. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India.</li>
<li>In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board.</li>
<li>Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Article 3(J) of Indian Patent Act, excludes from patentability &ldquo;plants and animals in whole or in any part thereof other than microorganisms, including seeds, varieties, and species, and essentially biological processes for production or propagation of plants and animals&rdquo;. <strong>Hence statement 1 is not correct.</strong></p>
<p>The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) was constituted on 2003 by the Government of India to hear and resolve the appeals against the decisions of the registrar under the Indian Trademarks Act, 1999 and the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. <strong>Hence statement 2 is incorrect</strong></p>
<p>Plant variety protection provides legal protection of a plant variety to a breeder in the form of Plant Breeder&rsquo;s Rights (PBRs). In India, the Plant Variety Protection And Farmers Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001 is a sui generis system that aims to provide for the establishment of an effective system for the protection of plant varieties and the rights of plant breeders and farmers. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Hence option C is correct.</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>58. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<p>The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to</p>
<ol>
<li>state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought</li>
<li>lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 2 is correct- The Environment Protection Act 1986, empowers the government of India to lay down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources whatsoever, provided that different standards for emission or discharge may be laid down under this clause from different sources having regard to the quality or composition of the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from such sources.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4316/1/ep_act_1986.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4316/1/ep_act_1986.pdf</a></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #333399;"> 59. As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?</span></strong></p>
<p>(a) Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.</p>
<p>(b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only.</p>
<p><strong>(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.</strong></p>
<p>(d) It is mandatory on the part of waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Under the Solid Waste Management, Rules 2016, <strong>waste processing facilities</strong> will have to be set up by all local bodies having 1 million or more population within two years. In case of census towns below 1 million population, setting up common, or stand-alone sanitary landfills by, or for all local bodies having 0.5 million or more population and for setting up common, or regional sanitary landfills by all local bodies and census towns under 0.5 million population will have to be completed in three years. Hence, rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for identification of landfill sites and waste processing facilities. <strong>Hence option C is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Waste generators would now have to now segregate waste into three streams- Biodegradables, Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, Wood, etc.) and Domestic Hazardous waste (diapers, napkins, mosquito repellants, cleaning agents etc.) before handing it over to the collector. <strong>Hence, option a is incorrect.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591</a><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>60. Consider the following statements: </strong></span></p>
<p>As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018</p>
<ol>
<li>if rules for fixed-term employment are implemented, it becomes easier for the firms/companies to lay off workers</li>
<li>no notice of termination of employment shall be necessary in the case of temporary workman</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The government has notified fixed term employment for all sectors through an amendment to the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946. Fixed-term employment for all sectors will make it easier for companies to hire-and-fire workers along with reducing the role of middlemen. Hence, statement 1 is correct. No notice of termination of employment shall be necessary in the case of temporary workman whether monthly rated, weekly rated or piece rated and probationers or badli workmen. <strong>Hence, statement 2 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/FTE%20Final%20Notification.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/FTE%20Final%20Notification.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99; color: #000000;"></span><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>61. The Service Area Approach was implemented under the purview of</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Integrated Rural Development Programme</p>
<p><strong>(b) Lead Bank Scheme</strong></p>
<p>(c) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme</p>
<p>(d) National Skill Development Mission</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong><span>Under the Lead bank Scheme, the service area approach was introduced in 1989 for planned and orderly development of rural and semi-urban areas. Each bank branch in rural and semi-urban area was designated to serve an area if 15 to 25 villages and the branch was responsible for meeting the needs of bank credit of its service area.</span></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>RBI Website&nbsp;<a href="https://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasCirculardetails.aspx?id=9853" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasCirculardetails.aspx?id=9853</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><span>DLP Book for UPPCS Mains/Indian Economy-I/Chapter: Bankng &amp; Monetary Policy</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>62. With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Sand is a &lsquo;minor mineral&rsquo; according to the prevailing law in the country.</li>
<li>State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.</li>
<li>Stale Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Sand is a minor mineral, as defined under section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.</strong> Section 15 of the MMDR Act empowers state governments to make rules for regulating the grant of mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith. The regulation of grant of mineral concessions for minor minerals is, therefore, within the legislative and administrative domain of the state governments. Under the power granted to them by section 15 of the MMDR Act, State Governments have framed their own minor minerals concession rules. <strong>Hence statement 2 in incorrect.</strong> section 23C of theMMDR Act, 1957 empowers state governments to frame rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of mineralsand for purposes connected therewith. Control of illegal mining is, therefore, under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of state governments. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=155423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=155423</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>63. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Most of India&rsquo;s external debt is owed by governmental entities.</li>
<li>All of India&rsquo;s external debt is denominated in US dollars.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong><br /><br /></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>US dollar denominated debt is the largest component of India's External Debt, followed by Indian rupee,SDR,Yen and Euro. <strong>Hence statement 2 is not correct.</strong> Commercial Borrowings continue to be the largest componenet of India's external Debt followed by NRI deposit and short term credit. <strong>Hence statement 1 is not correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/india-s-external-debt-eases-to-us-521-2-billion-end-december-2018-119040100925_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/india-s-external-debt-eases-to-us-521-2-billion-end-december-2018-119040100925_1.html</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>64. Which of the following is not included in the assets of a commercial bank in India?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Advances</p>
<p><strong>(b) Deposits</strong></p>
<p>(c) Investments</p>
<p>(d) Money at call and short notice</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The deposit itself is a liability owed by the bank to the depositor. Bank deposits refer to this liability rather than to the actual funds that have been deposit. <strong>Hence option B is the correct answer.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bank-deposits.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bank-deposits.asp</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>65. In the context of India, which of the following factors is/are contributor/contributors to reducing the risk of a currency crisis?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The foreign currency earnings of India&rsquo;s IT sector</li>
<li>Increasing the government expenditure</li>
<li>Remittances from Indians abroad</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 2 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>A currency crisis is brought on by a decline in the value of a country's currency. This decline in value negatively affects an economy by creating instabilities in exchange rates, meaning that one unit of a certain currency no longer buys as much as it used to in another currency.</p>
<p>Foreign currency earnings and Remittances contribute to the strengthening of the rupee. <strong>Hence statement 1 and 3 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Increasing government Expenditure will have no effect on the the value of currency. <strong>Hence statement 2 is not correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-move-on-remittance-to-help-strengthen-rupee/article3528924.ece#!" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-move-on-remittance-to-help-strengthen-rupee/article3528924.ece#!</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>66. Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)</p>
<p>(b) Rajamannar Committee (1969)</p>
<p><strong>(c) Sarkaria Commission (1983)</strong></p>
<p>(d) National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Sarkaria commission gave its recommendations for the selection of Governors.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAPTERIV.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAPTERIV.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/governor</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>67. Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Certificate of Deposit</p>
<p>(b) Commercial Paper</p>
<p>(c) Promissory Note</p>
<p><strong>(d) Participatory Note</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>P-Notes or Participatory Notes are Overseas Derivative Instruments that have Indian stocks as their underlying assets. They allow foreign investors to buy stocks listed on Indian exchanges without being registered.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/participatorynotes.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/participatorynotes.asp</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investments-through-p-notes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investments-through-p-notes</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>68. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State levels.</li>
<li>People&rsquo;s participation is mandatory in the compensatory afforestation programmes carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016, establishes the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.these funds are to be managed by the National and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authorities, also set up under the Act. However, there is no mention in the Act of mandatory people's participation in carrying out programmes under the Act. <strong>Hence, option a) is correct.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>69. In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament</li>
<li>Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees</li>
<li>Finance Commission</li>
<li>Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission</li>
<li>NITI Aayog</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p>(c) 3, 4 and 5</p>
<p>(d) 2 and 5</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In India, there are 24 Department Related Standing Committees that comprise members from both Houses of Parliament. These committees are ministry specific, and may review the working of regulators within their respective departments. For example, in August 2012, the Standing Committee on Energy presented a report on the functioning of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission&rsquo;. In 2011, the Standing Committee on Information Technology had listed the functioning of TRAI for examination. Parliament may also establish ad-hoc committees which may examine the working of regulators. For instance, the terms of reference of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the allocation of 2G spectrum include the review of the policy on spectrum pricing and grant of telecom licences. Another example of parliamentary oversight through ad-hoc committees is the scrutiny of the working of SEBI and RBI by the JPC on the stock market scam. <strong>Hence, option a) is correct.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prsindia.org/sites/default/files/parliament_or_policy_pdfs/1370586800_Parliamentary%20Oversight%20of%20Regulators.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/sites/default/files/parliament_or_policy_pdfs/1370586800_Parliamentary%20Oversight%20of%20Regulators.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>70. With reference to India&rsquo;s Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrust towards substitution of basic and capital good industries.</li>
<li>The Fourth Five-Year Plan adopted the objective of correcting the earlier trend of increased concentration of wealth and economic power.</li>
<li>In the Fifth Five-Year Plan, for the first time, the financial sector was included as an integral part of the Plan.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The stated objective of the Second five year plan was rapid industrialisation with particular emphasis on the development of basic and heavy industries - aimed at establishing the Socialistic Pattern of Society.</p>
<p>Fourth five year plan emphasised on reduction of concentration of incomes, wealth and economic power to achieve social equality and justice.</p>
<p>Fifth five year plan aims at removal of poverty and achievement of self-reliance. The Eighth Plan focussed on Financial sector reforms.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/4th/4ppre.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/4th/4ppre.htm</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>71. With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>AIIB has more than 80 member nations.</li>
<li>India is the largest shareholder in AIIB.</li>
<li>AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The AIIB is a multilateral development bank have now grown to 97 approved members worldwide. Australia, NZ, Qatar, Canada, Cyprus etc are non regional members. Hence statement 3 is not correct. Source AIIB. India is the second largest shareholder of the AIIB. (business standard) India is the largest borrower from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189031" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189031</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/members-of-bank/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/members-of-bank/index.html</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aiib-approves-455-million-dollar-loan-for-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aiib-approves-455-million-dollar-loan-for-andhra-pradesh</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>72. What was the purpose of Inter-Creditor Agreement signed by Indian banks and financial institutions recently?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) To lessen the Government of India&rsquo;s perennial burden of fiscal deficit and current account deficit</p>
<p>(b) To support the infrastructure projects of Central and State Governments</p>
<p>(c) To act as independent regulator in case of applications for loans of RS 50 crore or more</p>
<p><strong>(d) To aim at faster resolution of stressed assets of Rs 50 crore or more which are under consortium lending</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The inter-creditor agreement is aimed at the resolution of loan accounts with a size of ₹50 crore and above that are under the control of a group of lenders. It is part of the &ldquo;Sashakt&rdquo; plan approved by the government to address the problem of resolving bad loans.The Intercreditor Agreement, a recommendation of the Sunil Mehta committee, aims to deal with bad loansas an attempt to speed up the Resolution of stressed Assets.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/announcements/others/indian-bank-inter-creditor-agreement-for-resolution-of-stressed-assets/article24809734.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/announcements/others/indian-bank-inter-creditor-agreement-for-resolution-of-stressed-assets/article24809734.ece</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cosmetic-repair/article24506004.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cosmetic-repair/article24506004.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>73. The Chairmen of public sector banks are selected by the</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Banks Board Bureau</strong></p>
<p>(b) Reserve Bank of India</p>
<p>(c) Union Ministry of Finance</p>
<p>(d) Management of concerned bank</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Bank Board Bureau is responsible for selection and appointment of Board of Directors in Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/Functions%20of%20bank%20board%20bureau.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/Functions%20of%20bank%20board%20bureau.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.livemint.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.livemint.com/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>74. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India.</li>
<li>One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas.</li>
<li>Appeals against the decisions of PNGRB go before the Appellate Tribunals for Electricity.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was constituted under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006. The independent regulator TRAI is the first independent regulator in India.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pngrb.gov.in/about-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.pngrb.gov.in/about-us.html</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-petroleum-and-natural-gas-regulatory-board-bill-2005-430" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-petroleum-and-natural-gas-regulatory-board-bill-2005-430</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/44925979.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/44925979.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>75. With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.</li>
<li>LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>LTE improved on the radio technology of 3G&rsquo;s WCDMA and introduced OFDM or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. ITU (The International Telecommunication Union) recognises the lack of clarity in the term 4G and has determined LTE-Advanced and WirelessMAN-Advanced or WiMax 2 as &ldquo;True&rdquo; 4G.</p>
<p>VoLTE is a technology update to the LTE protocol used by mobile phone networks. Under LTE, the infrastructure of telecom players only allows transmission of data while voice calls are routed to their older 2G or 3G networks.</p>
<p>Basically VoLTE systems covert voice into data stream, which is then transmitted using the data connection.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-volte/article9864031.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-volte/article9864031.ece</a></p>
<p><span><a href="http://tec.gov.in/pdf/Studypaper/Study%20Paper%20on%20VoLTE%20-%20Final%20(1).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://tec.gov.in/pdf/Studypaper/Study%20Paper%20on%20VoLTE%20-%20Final%20(1).pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>76. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave.</li>
<li>Enterprises with creches must allow the mother minimum six creche visits daily.</li>
<li>Women with two children get reduced entitlements.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>This new bill amends the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961. Under the new provision, women are entitled to visit creches four times a day. Maternity benefit of 26 weeks are provided. Out of 26 weeks, Up to eight weeks can be claimed before delivery. However, one can instead take the entire 26 weeks of leave after the delivery. If the woman has more than two surviving children, the maternity benefit is for 12 weeks only.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/the-benefits-women-are-entitled-to-and-the-rights-they-can-claim-under-maternity-1557655754106.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/the-benefits-women-are-entitled-to-and-the-rights-they-can-claim-under-maternity-1557655754106.html</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>77. Which one of the following is not a sub-index of the World Bank&rsquo;s 'Ease of Doing Business Index'?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Maintenance of law and order</strong></p>
<p>(b) Paying taxes</p>
<p>(c) Registering property</p>
<p>(d) Dealing with construction permits</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Sub Index of Ease of Doing Buisness Index comprises starting a buisness, Getting a location(labour market regulation,constuction permits, getting electrictiy, registering property), Accessing finance (Getting credit, Protecting Minority investor), Dealing with day to day operation (Paying taxes, enforcing contracts).</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/media/Annual-Reports/English/DB2019-report_web-version.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/media/Annual-Reports/English/DB2019-report_web-version.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>78. In India, &lsquo;extend producer responsibility&rsquo; was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998</p>
<p>(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999</p>
<p><strong>(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011</strong></p>
<p>(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The E-waste Rules place main responsibility of e-waste management on the producers of the electrical and electronic equipment by introducing the concept of &ldquo;extended producer responsibility&rdquo; (EPR). The producers are given a significant responsibility&mdash;financial or physical&mdash;for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.The e-waste (Management &amp; Handling) Rules, 2011 have been notified in May 2011 and are effective from 01-05-2012.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=aHdtZC9JbXBsaW1lbnRhdGlvbkUtV2FzdGUucGRm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=aHdtZC9JbXBsaW1lbnRhdGlvbkUtV2FzdGUucGRm</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-afterlife-of-e-goods" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-afterlife-of-e-goods</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>79. The economic cost of food grains to the Food Corporation of India is Minimum Support Price and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) transportation cost only</p>
<p>(b) interest cost only</p>
<p><strong>(c) procurement incidentals and distribution cost</strong></p>
<p>(d) procurement incidentals and charges for godowns</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The economic cost of foodgrains consists of three components, namely the MSP including central bonus, if applicable, as the price paid to farmers, procurement incidentals, and the cost of distribution.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1706/17060980.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1706/17060980.htm</a><span><a href="https://www.domain-b.com/economy/ecosurvey2005/prices_and_food_management/economic_cost_of_foodgrains_to_fci.p" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>80. In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The proportion of literates in the population</p>
<p>(b) The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure and machines</p>
<p>(c) The size of population in the working age group</p>
<p><strong>(d) The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Social capital refers to connections among individuals &ndash; social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/Social_Capital9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/Social_Capital9.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/social-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/social-capital</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>81. With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid.</li>
<li>An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 curtailed the judicial review power of high court. It debarred the high courts from considering the constitutional validity of any central law. However, the 43rd Amendment Act of 1977 restored the original position.High Court has the power to invalidate any central law which goes against the ethos of the constitution. Similar is the case with Supreme Court. If any constitutional amendment goes against the basic structure of the constitution, Supreme court has the power to call it into question.In 2015, the Supreme Court declared both the 99th Constitutional Amendment, 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 as unconstitutional and null and void.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>82. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates are calculated by comparing the prices of the same basket of goods and services in different countries.</li>
<li>In terms of PPP dollars, India is the sixth largest economy in the world.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>PPPs measure the total amount of goods and services that a single unit of a country&rsquo;s currency can buy in another country. The PPP between countries A and B measures the amount of country A&rsquo;s currency required to purchase a basket of goods and services in country A as compared to the amount of country B&rsquo;s currency to purchase a similar basket of goods and services in country B.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/Cwwg%20data%20as%20on%2012.10.2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/Cwwg%20data%20as%20on%2012.10.2018.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-july-12-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-july-12-2018</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>83. With reference to the cultivation of Khalif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Area under rice cultivation is the highest.</li>
<li>Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.</li>
<li>Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.</li>
<li>Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 4 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1569588195_Q 83 Explanation-37.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1569588195_Q 83 Explanation-37.jpg" width="400" height="478" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>84. Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Spices</p>
<p>(b) Fresh fruits</p>
<p>(c) Pulses</p>
<p><strong>(d) Vegetable oils</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The import of vegetable oils in India is highest in last five years due to a cut in duty as mandatory under the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA). Signed in October 2010 with South East Asian countries,</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/edible-oil-imports-jump-11-in-dec-may-rise-further-on-duty-cut-119011500879_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/edible-oil-imports-jump-11-in-dec-may-rise-further-on-duty-cut-119011500879_1.html</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/overviewTrade7082015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/overviewTrade7082015.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>85. In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers</p>
<p><strong>(b) Absence of restraint</strong></p>
<p>(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes</p>
<p><strong>(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Option d) seems the most appropriate answer because the Preamble of the Indian Constitution provides for Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. This can be interpreted as liberty in the context of polity.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Preamble</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>86. Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of Indian rupee?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Curbing imports of non-essential goods and promoting exports</p>
<p>(b) Encouraging Indian borrowers to issue rupee denominated Masala Bonds</p>
<p>(c) Easing conditions relating to external commercial borrowing</p>
<p><strong>(d) Following an expansionary monetary policy</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>i. Curbing imports of non essential goods will lessen the demand for dollars and promoting export will help in increasing the flow of dollars into the country - helping control rupee depriciation.</p>
<p>ii. The Masala bond is directly pegged to the Indian Currency. If Indian borrowers issues more rupee denominated Masala bonds, this would increase liquidity in the market or increase in the rupee stock against few currencies in the market and this would help in supporting the rupee.</p>
<p>iii.ECB- it is a type of loan in foreign currencies, made by non-resident lenders. Thus easing conditions of ECB's helps in receiving more loans in foreign currencies that would in increase of forex inflow - leading to rupee appreciation.</p>
<p>iv. Expansionary Monetary Policy- A set of policy measures such as increase in money supply by the RBI to stimulate economy. It cannot influece the variations of rupee value. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/curb-on-imports-to-bring-rupee-to-68-70-level-department-of-economic-affairs/article25019942.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/curb-on-imports-to-bring-rupee-to-68-70-level-department-of-economic-affairs/article25019942.ece&nbsp;</a></p>
<p><span>The Hindu, Economic Times, Business today Explanation: Self</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/depreciating-rupee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/depreciating-rupee</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>87. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<p>The Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s recent directives relating to &lsquo;Storage of Payment System Data, popularly known as data diktat, command the payment system providers that</p>
<ol>
<li>they shall ensure that entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India</li>
<li>they shall ensure that the systems are owned and operated by public sector enterprises</li>
<li>they shall submit the consolidated system audit report to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India by the end of the calendar year</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Storage of Payment System Data directive issued by RBI requires all System Providers to ensure that the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system in India only. Also, System Providers shall provide a System Audit Report (SAR) and the audit should be conducted by CERT-IN empaneled auditors.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>RBI Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11244" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11244</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>88. Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as General Data Protection Regulation&rsquo; in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Australia</p>
<p>(b) Canada</p>
<p><strong>(c) The European Union</strong></p>
<p>(d) The United States of America</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standardizes data protection law across all 28 EU countries and imposes strict new rules on controlling and processing personally identifiable information (PII). It also extends the protection of personal data and data protection rights by giving control back to EU residents. GDPR replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, and went into force on May 25, 2018.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>EUGDPR <a href="https://eugdpr.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://eugdpr.org/</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/14/what-is-general-data-protection-regulation/#2403931b62dd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/14/what-is-general-data-protection-regulation/#2403931b62dd</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>89. Recently, India signed a deal known as &lsquo;Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field&rsquo; with which of the following countries?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Japan</p>
<p><strong>(b) Russia</strong></p>
<p>(c) The United Kingdom</p>
<p>(d) The United States of America</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>During the visit of H. E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation to India, Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Co-operation Areas in the Nuclear Field Identified Jointly by India and Russia was signed on 5th October, 2018 in New Delhi.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://dae.nic.in/?q=node/1136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://dae.nic.in/?q=node/1136</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>90. The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Increase in the cash reserve ratio</p>
<p><strong>(b) Increase in the banking habit of the population</strong></p>
<p>(c) Increase in the statutory liquidity ratio</p>
<p>(d) Increase in the population of the country</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The money-multiplier is the maximum amount of broad money (M3 Money) that could be created by the commercial banks for a given fixed amount of base money or reserve ratios. Or, simply it can be stated that the maximum amount of money that the banking system generates with each rupees of reserves.</p>
<p>So, more the people will be linked with the banking system or have the habit of banking more will be the money in use in the form of loans, credits etc. that results an increase in economic activity. This will dirctly help in increase money multiplier in an economy. The money multiplier goes up because of the reduction in the cash reserve ratio (CRR).&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imf.org/external/region/tlm/rr/pdf/laomonetarystatistics.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.imf.org/external/region/tlm/rr/pdf/laomonetarystatistics.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/115659/8/08_chapter%203.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/115659/8/08_chapter%203.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span>Reference: RBI Website Explanation: Self</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>91. In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.</li>
<li>In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected onto real-life objects or surroundings.</li>
<li>AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phone or PC.</li>
<li>VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(c) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p>(d) 4 only</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Virtual reality (VR) immerses users in a fully artificial digital environment.</p>
<p>Augmented reality (AR) overlays virtual objects on the real-world environment.</p>
<p>Mixed reality (MR) not just overlays but anchors virtual objects to the real world.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/02/the-difference-between-virtual-reality-augmented-reality-and-mixed-reality/#5527da952d07" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/02/the-difference-between-virtual-reality-augmented-reality-and-mixed-reality/#5527da952d07</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.fi.edu/difference-between-ar-vr-and-mr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.fi.edu/difference-between-ar-vr-and-mr</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-reality-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-reality-centre-of-indian-navy</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>92. The word &lsquo;Denisovan&rsquo; is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) fossils of a kind of dinosaurs</p>
<p><strong>(b) an early human species</strong></p>
<p>(c) a cave system found in North-East India</p>
<p>(d) a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>For the first time, scientists have found fossils from an extinct ancient human lineage known as the Denisovans outside of Siberia.</p>
<p>Denisovans were an extinct group of hominins that were close relatives of Neanderthals. They are known primarily from a handful of fossil fragments found at Denisova Cave in Siberia, and from genetic clues that linger in the DNA of people across Asia.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Nature. com&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00672-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00672-2</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-may-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>93. With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Functional chromosomes can be created by joining segments of DNA taken from cells of different species.</strong></p>
<p>(b) Pieces of artificial functional DNA can be created in laboratories.</p>
<p>(c) A piece of DNA taken out from an animal cell can be made to replicate outside a living cell in a laboratory.</p>
<p>(d) Cells taken out from plasma and animals can be made to undergo cell division in laboratory petri dishes.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In a major step toward creating artificial life, US researchers have developed a living organism that incorporates both natural and artificial DNA and is capable of creating entirely new, synthetic proteins. Hence, option (b) is correct. A wide variety of double-stranded DNA templates are replicated extensively in an in vitro DNA replication system containing the purified proteins specified by seven T4 bacteriophage DNA replication genes (32, 41, 43, 44, 62, 45, and 61). Hence, option (c ) is correct. Through micropropagation plant can be developed in laboratory and chlamydomnas cells can be replicated in culture through light variations. Hence, option (d) is correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lebo109.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lebo109.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong> 94. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<p>A digital signature is</p>
<ol>
<li>an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it</li>
<li>used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet</li>
<li>an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>If we consider Digital Signature same as Digital Signature Certificate then option should be d). The certificate contains information about the user&rsquo;s identity (name, pin code, country, email address, the date the certificate was issued and the name of the certifying authority). However, if they are considered as different, then the answer should be c).</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html</a></p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.jbc.org/content/255/9/4290.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.jbc.org/content/255/9/4290.full.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>95. In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Location identification of a person</li>
<li>Sleep monitoring of a person</li>
<li>Assisting the hearing impaired person</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In recent times, there has been a new surge in wearable technology worn on the ear, referred to as hearables. Wearable technology is a category of electronic devices that can be worn as accessories, embedded in clothing, implanted in the user's body, or even tattooed on the skin.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wearable-technology.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wearable-technology.asp</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>96. 'RNA interference (RNAi)' technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>It is used in developing gene silencing therapies.</li>
<li>It can be used in developing therapies for the treatment of cancer.</li>
<li>It can be used to develop hormone replacement therapies.</li>
<li>It can be used to produce crop plants that are resistant to viral pathogens.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1, 2 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3</p>
<p>(d) 1 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>RNA interference (RNAi), regulatory system occurring within eukaryotic cells (cells with a clearly defined nucleus) that controls the activity of genes. RNAi functions specifically to silence, or deactivate, genes. RNAi is being explored as a form of treatment for a variety of diseases, including macular degeneration, hepatitis, AIDS, Huntington disease, and cancer. RNAi is used as a natural defense mechanism against molecular parasites such as jumping genes and viral genetic elements.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/RNA-interference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.britannica.com/science/RNA-interference</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>97. Recently, Scientists observed the merger of giant blackholes&rsquo; billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) 'Higgs boson particles' were detected.</p>
<p><strong>(b) 'Gravitational waves' were detected.</strong></p>
<p>(c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through 'wormhole' was confirmed.</p>
<p>(d) It enabled the scientists to understand 'singularity'.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>When the two supermassive black holes in each of these systems finally come together in millions of years, their encounters will produce strong gravitational waves. Gravitational waves produced by the collision of two stellar-mass black holes have already been detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). Observatories such as the planned NASA/ESA space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be able to detect the lower-frequency gravitational waves from supermassive black-hole mergers, which are a million times more massive than those detected by LIGO</p>
<p><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/infographics/info-paper3/gravitational-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/infographics/info-paper3/gravitational-waves</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>98. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Genetic predisposition of some people</li>
<li>Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases</li>
<li>Using antibiotics in livestock farming</li>
<li>Multiple chronic diseases in some people</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>(d) 2, 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally over time, usually through genetic changes. However, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials is accelerating this process. In many places, antibiotics are overused and misused in people and animals, and often given without professional oversight. Examples of misuse include when they are taken by people with viral infections like colds and flu, and when they are given as growth promoters in animals or used to prevent diseases in healthy animals.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>WHO, Niaid.nih.gov</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>99. What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing</strong></p>
<p>(b) A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients</p>
<p>(c) A gene that makes plants pest-resistant</p>
<p>(d) A herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>CRISPR Cas9 is an acronym for &ldquo;Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.&rdquo; CRISPR genome engineering technology enables scientists to easily and precisely edit the DNA of any genome.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.synthego.com/learn/crispr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.synthego.com/learn/crispr</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><span>Tarkash Vol II Pg 146</span></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><span><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>100. Which one of the following statements is not correct?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.</p>
<p><strong>(b) Hepatitis B. unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.</strong></p>
<p>(c) Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses arc several times more than those infected with HIV.</p>
<p>(d) Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that is recommended for all infants at birth and for children up to 18 years. The hepatitis B vaccine is also known as the first &ldquo;anti-cancer&rdquo; vaccine because it prevents hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/</a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prelims-analysis/2019-prelims-analysis'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Gene Editing to Halt Human Flu Pandemic',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently scientists in Britain have used gene-editing techniques to stop bird flu spreading in chicken cells.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The technique was successful for the cells grown in a lab. The next step will be to produce chickens with the same genetic change.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, this is a key step towards making genetically-altered chickens that could halt a human flu pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, the scientists will use the gene editing technology, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">known as CRISPR,</a> to remove a section of the birds&rsquo; DNA responsible for producing a protein called ANP32.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ANP32 is protein on which all flu viruses depend to infect a host.</li>
<li>The lab tests of cells engineered to lack ANP32 showed they resist the flu virus by blocking its entry and halting its replication and spread.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bird Flu</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bird Flu (H5N1) is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza.</li>
<li>Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person.</li>
<li>When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.</li>
<li>There is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly prepared and thoroughly cooked food.</li>
<li>Candidate vaccines to prevent H5N1 infection have been developed, but they are not ready for widespread use. Seasonal influenza vaccination does not protect against H5N1 infection.</li>
<li>WHO collaborates with global health partners and agencies, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), to control and prevent the spread of animal diseases.</li>
<li>WHO&rsquo;s global laboratory system, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)</a>, identifies and monitors strains of circulating influenza viruses, and provides advice to countries on their risk to human health and available treatment or control measures.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) &ndash; Cas9 is a new technique for genome editing.</li>
<li>It is faster, cheaper and more accurate than earlier techniques, and can precisely target a sequence of DNA in germ cells, extract, edit or replace it even in the embryo stage.</li>
<li>The technique can prevent hereditary diseases such as sickle cell, thalassaemia, HIV, cancer, and Huntington&rsquo;s disease from passing on to children.</li>
<li>Another popular method is Somatic Cell Gene Therapy (SCGT), which affects only an individual and not his or her future generations.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gene-editing-to-halt-human-flu-pandemic'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Cross Border Insolvency Resolution',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>A panel led by Ministry of Corporate Affairs had suggested adopting the <strong>United Nations Commission on International Trade Laws on cross-border insolvency</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UNCITRAL</strong> Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, 1997 (Model Law) provides legal framework to deal with cross-border insolvency issues while ensuring the least intrusion into the country&rsquo;s domestic insolvency law.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code,</a> at present, does not effectively deal with cases involving cross-border insolvency.</li>
<li>The government is expected to amend <strong>Section 234 and Section 235</strong> of the IBC and introduce provisions for:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Individual insolvency:</strong> new framework divides individuals into three categories: <strong>personal guarantors, proprietors</strong> and <strong>common individuals</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Cross border insolvency:</strong> provisions will apply to <strong>corporate debtors</strong> and not in personal cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNCITRAL Model Law- The model law deals with four major principles of cross-border insolvency:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct access to foreign insolvency</strong> professionals and foreign creditors to participate in or commence domestic insolvency proceedings against a defaulting debtor.</li>
<li>Recognition of <strong>foreign proceedings</strong> &amp; provision of remedies.</li>
<li>Cooperation between domestic and foreign courts &amp; domestic and foreign insolvency practitioners.</li>
<li>Coordination between two or more concurrent insolvency proceedings in different countries. The main proceeding is determined by the concept of <strong>centre of main interest (COMI)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The changes will enable initiation of resolution process in case of personal guarantors to corporate debtors, proprietorship and partnerships.</li>
<li><strong>Provisions for cross border insolvency</strong> would enable Indian firms to claim their dues from foreign companies, while allowing foreign creditors to recover loans from Indian companies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Will also help foreign branches of Indian banks to recover their dues in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Cross border insolvency provision will bring overseas asset of a domestic corporate debtor into consideration of insolvency resolution in India and will avoid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delay-in-resolutions-under-ibc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delays in <strong>resolution of stressed assets</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNCITRAl</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law is the core <strong>legal body of the United Nations system</strong> in the field of international trade law.</li>
<li>UNCITRAL was established in 1966 with a recognition that international trade cooperation among States is an important factor in the promotion of friendly relations and, consequently, in the maintenance of peace and security.</li>
<li>Through its several model laws, conventions, legislative guides and robust debates in working groups, UNCITRAL has provided a valuable platform for countries to compare, examine, debate and adopt principles of international commercial and trade law appropriate to their circumstances.</li>
<li>Since its inception, India is only one of eight countries that has been a member of UNCITRAL.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cross-border-insolvency-resolution'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Oussudu Lake',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Vulnerability assessment study conducted in Oussudu lake, Puducherry had shown concern over rising plastic pollution in water bodies.</p>
<p>The report had highlighted that the canals have become <strong>dumping grounds</strong> for used plastic bags, thermocols, cups, plates, pipes and bottles.</p>
<h3>Threats from Plastic Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The dumping of plastic items had <strong>interrupted free flow of monsoon run-off</strong>.</li>
<li>Around two-thirds of all forms of plastic getting accumulated, degrades slowly and <strong>leaches into the land</strong> and <strong>water</strong>.</li>
<li>Plastic causes <strong>serious environmental pollution,</strong> affecting the basic life support systems such as soil, water and air.</li>
<li>Plastic pollution also results in <strong>health ailments</strong> such as eye irritation, vision failure, difficulty in breathing, liver dysfunction and cancer,</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Prior to <strong>Plastic Ban</strong>, it is necessary to adopt <strong>daily usage of alternative packing items</strong>.</li>
<li>Encourage people to <strong>identify and manufacture</strong> alternative packing items.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hoteliers should be encouraged to <strong>shift to banana leaf</strong>, teak leaf, vanathula leaf and mantharai leaf for serving and packing food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Skill development</strong> in producing alternate packing materials should be encouraged.</li>
<li>Enforcement of <strong>rules and regulations</strong> for the production and use of plastic</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About Oussudu Lake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ousteri Lake also referred to as Oussudu Lake is a man-made lake situated about 10 km from Puducherry.</li>
<li>It is recognized as one of the <strong>important wetlands of Asia</strong> by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources <strong>(IUCN)</strong>.</li>
<li>The structure of the lake is complex consisting of <strong>water, wetland</strong> and <strong>mudflats</strong>.</li>
<li>Lake acts as the <strong>single largest catchment</strong> of <strong>fresh water</strong> in Puducherry.</li>
<li>The vegetation of the lake (ranges from small herbs to trees) supports <strong>migratory avifauna</strong> as well as <strong>native birds</strong> during summer and winter.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conservation Efforts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the government's renovation plan the region near the lake will be make <strong>litter free</strong> so that it becomes favourable of the migratory birds.</li>
<li>The lake region will be declared as <strong>no horn and plastic free zone</strong>.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oussudu-lake'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)',
			'catname' => 'National Institutions',
			'desc' => '<p>Central Vigilance Commission is the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring <strong>all vigilance activity under the Central Government</strong> and advising various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.</p>
<p><strong>Vigilance</strong> means to ensure clean and prompt administrative action towards achieving efficiency and effectiveness of the employees in particular and the organization in general, as lack of Vigilance leans to waste, losses and economic decline.</p>
<p>The CVC was set up by the Government in February, 1964 on the recommendations of the <strong>Committee on Prevention of Corruption,</strong> headed by <strong>Shri K. Santhanam</strong>. In 2003, the Parliament enacted <strong>CVC Act</strong> conferring <strong>statutory status on the CVC</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>The CVC is not controlled by any Ministry/Department.</strong> It is an independent body which is only <strong>responsible to the Parliament</strong>.</p>
<h3>Functions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CVC receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office and to <strong>recommend appropriate action</strong>. Following institutions, bodies, or a person can approach to CVC:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Central government</li>
<li>Lokpal</li>
<li>Whistle blowers <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A whistleblower is a person, who could be an employee of a company, or a government agency, or an outsider (like media, higher government officials, or police) disclosing information to the public or some higher authority about any wrongdoing, which could be in the form of fraud, corruption, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>It is not an investigating agency</strong>. The CVC either gets the investigation done through the CBI or through chief vigilance officers (CVO) in government offices.</li>
<li>It is empowered to inquire into <strong>offences</strong> alleged to have been committed under the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong> by certain categories of public servants.</li>
<li>Its <strong>annual report</strong> gives the details of the work done by the commission and points to systemic failures which lead to corruption in government departments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Improvements and preventive measures</strong> are also suggested in report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Special Police Establishment (SPE)</strong> which was set up in <strong>1941</strong> by the Government of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The functions of the SPE then were to investigate cases of <strong>bribery and corruption</strong> in transactions with the <strong>War &amp; Supply Department of India during World War II</strong>.</li>
<li>Even after the end of the War, the need for a Central Government agency to investigate cases of bribery and corruption by Central Government employees was felt.</li>
<li><strong>The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act</strong> was therefore brought into force in 1946.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After promulgation of the Act, <strong>superintendence of SPE</strong> was <strong>transferred to the Home Department</strong> and its functions were enlarged to cover all departments of the Government of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The jurisdiction of SPE was <strong>extended to all the Union territories</strong> and the Act provided for its extension <strong>to States with the consent</strong> of the State Government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By 1963,</strong> the SPE was authorised to <strong>investigate offences under 91 different sections</strong> of Indian Penal Code <strong>(IPC)</strong> and <strong>16 other Central Acts besides</strong> offences under the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act 1947</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>A growing need</strong> was felt for a <strong>Central Police Agency</strong> at disposal of the Central Government which could investigate <strong>not only cases of bribery and corruption</strong>, but also: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>violation of Central fiscal laws,</li>
<li>major frauds relating to Government of India departments,</li>
<li>public joint stock companies,</li>
<li>passport frauds,</li>
<li>crimes on the high seas,</li>
<li>crimes on the Airlines,</li>
<li>and serious crimes committed by organised gangs and professional criminals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption, <strong>Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</strong> was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 1, 1963. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Later, it was <strong>transferred to the Ministry of Personnel</strong> and now it enjoys the status of an attached office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In 1964, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)</strong> was set up by the Government on the recommendations of Santhanam Committee, <strong>to advise and guide Central Government</strong> agencies <strong>in the field of vigilance</strong>.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in the judgement of <strong>Vineet Narain &amp; Others vs. Union of India (1997),</strong> gave directions regarding the <strong>superior role of CVC</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case the role of the Central Bureau of Investigation was criticised and the court directed that <strong>CVC should be given a supervisory role over CBI</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government promulgated <strong>an Ordinance in 1998</strong>, conferring statutory status to the CVC and the powers <strong>to exercise superintendence over functioning</strong> of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI), and also to <strong>review the progress of the investigations</strong> pertaining to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>alleged <strong>offences</strong> under the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong> conducted by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Commission was given <strong>statutory status</strong> by the enactment of <strong>&ldquo;The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003&rdquo;</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After enactment of CVC Act, 2003, the Commission became a multi-member body consisting of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members), to be appointed by the President.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in a <strong>Writ Petition</strong> filed after the murder of <strong>Shri Satyendra Dubey</strong> in 2003, a whistle-blower, directed that a machinery be put in place for acting on complaints from whistle-blowers till a law is enacted. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In pursuance of that direction, the Government of India notified the <strong>Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution (PIDPI), 2004</strong>: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This Resolution is popularly known as <strong>&ldquo;Whistle Blowers&rdquo; Resolution</strong> and it designated the Central Vigilance Commission as the agency to receive and act on complaints or disclosure on any allegation of corruption or misuse of office from whistle blowers.</li>
<li>The Commission has been entrusted with the <strong>responsibility of keeping the identity</strong> of the complainant <strong>secret</strong> while lodging a complaint under PIDPI Resolution, in order to provide <strong>protection to whistle blowers from victimisation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Person Making the Disclosures <strong>(PIDPPMD) Bill 2010</strong> renamed as &ldquo;The Whistle Blowers&rsquo; Protection Bill, 2011&rdquo; was enacted by the Central Government in Parliament as <strong>&ldquo;The Whistle Blowers&rsquo; Protection Act, 2014&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Through subsequent ordinances and legislations</strong> the Government has <strong>added to the functions and powers</strong> of the Commission.</li>
<li>In 2013, the Parliament enacted <strong>the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This act has amended <strong>CVC Act, 2003</strong> whereby the Commission has been empowered to conduct preliminary inquiry and further investigation into complaints referred by the Lokpal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On the issue of <strong>overlap of jurisdiction</strong> between the <strong>CVC Act and The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act,</strong> the Commission has communicated <strong>its suggestions</strong> to the Department-Related <strong>Parliamentary Standing Committee</strong> on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice during its examination of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Governance</h3>
<p>The Central Vigilance Commission has its own Secretariat, Chief Technical Examiners' Wing (CTE) and a wing of Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDI). For investigation work, CVC has to depend on two external sources CBI and Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO).</p>
<p><strong>The Central Vigilance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Multi-member Commission</strong> consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than <strong>two Vigilance Commissioners </strong>(Member).</li>
<li>The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Member).</li>
<li><strong>The term of office</strong> of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners is <strong>four years</strong> from the date on which they enter their office or <strong>till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Secretariat</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Secretariat consists of a Secretary, four Additional Secretaries, thirty Directors/Deputy Secretaries (including two Officers on Special Duty), four Under Secretaries and office staff.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chief Technical Examiners' Organisation (CTEO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chief Technical Examiner's Organisation constitutes <strong>the technical wing</strong> of the Central Vigilance Commission and is <strong>manned by two Engineers</strong> of the rank of Chief Engineers (designated as Chief Technical Examiners) <strong>with supporting engineering staff</strong>. The main functions assigned to this organisation are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Technical audit of construction works</strong> of Governmental organisations <strong>from a vigilance angle</strong>; Investigation of specific cases of complaints relating to construction works;</li>
<li>Extension of <strong>assistance to CBI</strong> in their investigations <strong>involving technical matters</strong> and for evaluation of properties in Delhi;</li>
<li>and <strong>Tendering of advice</strong>/assistance to the Commission and <strong>Chief Vigilance Officers</strong> in <strong>vigilance cases involving technical matters</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the year 2017, <strong>CTEO undertook intensive examinations of 66 procurement cases,</strong> covering 52 organizations. Some of the organizations where intensive examinations were undertaken are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways (MoRT&amp;H),</li>
<li>Central Public Works Department (CPWD),</li>
<li>All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS),</li>
<li>Employees&rsquo; State Insurance Corporation (ESIC),</li>
<li>Central University of Punjab, Airports Authority of India (AAI),</li>
<li>North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC),</li>
<li>Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC),</li>
<li>Bank of Baroda (BoB)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDIs)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>fourteen posts of Commissioners</strong> for Departmental Inquiries (CDI) in the Commission, 11 in the rank of Director and 03 in the rank of Deputy Secretary.</li>
<li>The CDIs function as Inquiry Officers <strong>to conduct Oral inquiries in departmental proceeding initiated against public servants</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Integrity Index Development (IID)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IID reflects the transparent, accountable and efficient governance of public organisations.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">CVC has appointed the <strong>Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad</strong> to undertake a research-based approach to create an integrity index that various organizations can use to measure themselves and which will evolve with changing needs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>CVC Investigation by External Agencies</h3>
<p><strong>CVC has no investigation wing of its own</strong> as it depends on the CBI and the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO) of central organizations, while <strong>CBI</strong> has its <strong>own investigation wing</strong> drawing its powers from <strong>Delhi Special Police Establishment Act</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vigilance administration in Departments/Organisations is headed by the Chief Vigilance Officers</strong> (CVO) and the <strong>Commission&rsquo;s activities concerning inquiry</strong> or causing inquiry are supported by/<strong>carried out through the CVOs</strong>.</li>
<li>Complaints received in the Commission are scrutinised thoroughly and wherever specific and verifiable allegations of vigilance nature are noticed, <strong>the complaints are forwarded to the CVO</strong>/CBI to conduct inquiry/investigation into the matter and report to the Commission expeditiously.</li>
<li><strong>CVOs in all Departments/organisations are appointed after prior consultation with the Commission.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CBI works under the <strong>overall supervision of CVC</strong> in matters related to the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The important role of CBI is prevention of corruption and maintaining integrity in administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CVC act provides for a security of two year tenure in office for CBI Director.</li>
<li>The CVC heads the Committee for the <strong>selection of the Director of CBI</strong> and other <strong>officers of the rank of SP and above in the CBI</strong> (DSPE-An investigation wing of CBI).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/935drishti_ias_cvc_image1.webp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/935drishti_ias_cvc_image1.webp" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>CVC&rsquo;s Jurisdiction</h3>
<p><strong>CVC Act 2003</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Members of All India Service</strong> serving in connection with the affairs of the Union and Group A officers of the Central Government</li>
<li>Officers of the rank of Scale V and above in the Public Sector Banks</li>
<li><strong>Officers in Grade D and above</strong> in Reserve Bank of India, NABARD and SIDBI</li>
<li>Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-8 and above in Schedule &lsquo;A&rsquo; and &lsquo;B&rsquo; Public Sector Undertakings</li>
<li>Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-7 and above in Schedule &lsquo;C&rsquo; and &lsquo;D&rsquo; Public Sector Undertakings</li>
<li>Managers and above in General Insurance Companies</li>
<li>Senior Divisional Managers and above in Life Insurance Corporations</li>
<li>Officers drawing salary of Rs.8700/- p.m. and above on Central Government D.A. <strong>(Dearness Allowance)</strong> pattern, as on the date of the notification and as <strong>may be revised</strong> from <strong>time to time in Societies and other Local Authorities</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act has <strong>amended some provisions of CVC Act, 2003</strong> whereby the <strong>Commission</strong> has been <strong>empowered to conduct preliminary inquiry</strong> into complaints <strong>referred by Lokpal</strong> in respect of officers and officials of Group 'B', 'C' &amp; 'D', besides: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Group 'A' officers, for which a <strong>Directorate of Inquiry</strong> for making preliminary inquiry is to be set up in the Commission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The preliminary inquiry reports</strong> in such matters referred by Lokpal in respect of Group A and B officers are required to <strong>be sent to the Lokpal by the Commission</strong>.</li>
<li>The Commission is also mandated to cause <strong>further investigation</strong> (after preliminary enquiry) into such Lokpal references in respect of Group &lsquo;C&rsquo; &amp; &lsquo;D&rsquo; officials and decide on further course of action against them.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014</strong> empowers the Commission as the competent authority:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>to receive complaints</strong> relating to <strong>disclosure on any allegation of corruption</strong> or wilful misuse of power or wilful misuse of discretion against any public servant and to inquire or cause an inquiry into such disclosure,</li>
<li>and to <strong>provide adequate safeguards against victimisation</strong> of the person making such complaint and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Limitations of CVC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CVC is often considered a powerless agency as it is <strong>treated as an advisory body</strong> only with no power to register criminal case against government officials or direct CBI to initiate inquiries against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above.</li>
<li>Although CVC is &ldquo;relatively independent&rdquo; in its functioning, it <strong>neither has the resources</strong> nor <strong>the power to take action on complaints of corruption</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the recent past, India has emerged as a progressive and vibrant economy. With the rapid growth in all sectors of the economy, huge investments were made in country&rsquo;s infrastructure; construction, retail and many other sectors in the government. Rapid growth in economy throws up CVCs&rsquo; challenges in the fight against the menace of corruption.</p>
<p>There is greater need in such times to address the shortcomings in the system of CVC.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-vigilance-commission-cvc'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'In Depth – BIMSTEC: Guests of Honour',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ti_tsHQ5Nzc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn-in for the second straight term on 30<sup>th</sup> May, 2019. The grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan saw nearly 8,000 guests in attendance, prominent among them, being the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries.</strong> Apart from India, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprises of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.</p>
<p>The invitation to BIMSTEC countries to be part of Prime Minister&rsquo;s swearing-in ceremony reflects the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Besides, experts believe that the move also demonstrates the seriousness with which India wants to engage with maritime nations for security in the Bay of Bengal region. In addition, connectivity is also an important aspect of engaging with BIMSTEC countries.</p>
<h3>BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established on <strong>6<sup>th</sup> June, 1997</strong> through the <strong>Bangkok Declaration</strong>. It has its <strong>permanent secretariat at Dhaka</strong>.</li>
<li>It constitutes <strong>seven member states,</strong> 5, deriving from South Asia, including <strong>Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka</strong> and 2 from Southeast Asia, including <strong>Myanmar</strong> and <strong>Thailand</strong>.</li>
<li>Initially, the economic bloc was formed with four member states with the acronym &lsquo;BIST-EC&rsquo; (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Following the inclusion of Myanmar on 22<sup>nd</sup> December 1997 during a special Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, the Group was renamed &lsquo;BIMST-EC&rsquo; (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).</li>
<li>With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan at the 6<sup>th</sup> Ministerial Meeting (February 2004, Thailand), the name of the grouping was changed to &lsquo;Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation&rsquo; (BIMSTEC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>objective</strong> of building such an alliance was <strong>to harness shared and accelerated growth through mutual cooperation in different areas of common interests</strong> by mitigating the onslaught of globalization and by utilizing regional resources and geographical advantages.</li>
<li>Starting with six sectors&mdash;including <strong>trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism and fisheries</strong>&mdash;for sectoral cooperation in the late 1997, it expanded to embrace nine more sectors&mdash;including <strong>agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people to people contact and climate change</strong>&mdash;in the year 2008.</li>
<li>It brings together 1.5 bn people, 21% of the world population and a combined GDP of over 2.5 trillion dollars.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the seven countries have sustained average annual rates of growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Unlike many other regional groupings, <strong>BIMSTEC is a sector-driven cooperative organization</strong>. The primary objective of it is to facilitate technological and economic co-operation among its members.</li>
<li>It is <strong>based on two founding principles, to respect the principle of sovereign equality,</strong> territorial integrity, political independence, non interference in internal affairs, peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit and not be a substitute for bilateral, regional or multilateral cooperation involving member states.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIMSTEC establishes India&rsquo;s willingness to give importance and cooperate with neighbours who want peace in the region and condemn terrorism.</li>
<li>It also demonstrates the seriousness with which India believes it should engage with maritime nations for security in the Bay of Bengal region.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s northeast will be playing a crucial role in increasing connectivity with BIMSTEC member countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Connectivity has been described broadly by India as trade connectivity, economic connectivity, transport connectivity, digital connectivity and people to people connectivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Since 2014, the government is trying to shift the focus of India&rsquo;s neighbourhood policy from the west to the east.</strong> The Indian foreign policy gets so consumed by Pakistan that at lot of times, India&rsquo;s attention does not get focussed on its eastern neighbours.</li>
<li><strong>BIMSTEC countries represent the eastern part of the Look East policy of India</strong> to strengthen relations especially with the countries towards the east.</li>
<li>For India, BIMSTEC allows it to leverage its maritime geography in part of the world that is becoming increasingly contested and also <strong>it allows India to focus on the wider Indo-Pacific which is increasingly becoming center of global politics</strong>.</li>
<li>BIMSTEC is now increasingly seen as <strong>India&rsquo;s attempt at regional multilateralism minus Pakistan</strong>. The government&rsquo;s stand on Pakistan has been very clear that is, talks and terror cannot go hand in hand.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foreign Experts say that BIMSTEC provides India an alternative regional engagement platform. It has all the members of SAARC (Pakistan being not included) minus Afghanistan and Maldives, with whom India can engage separately.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India is the region&rsquo;s largest economy.</strong> On 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary of BIMSTEC in 2016, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia but also ecologies of the great himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He further said that BIMSTEC members have shared values, history, way of life and destinies that are interlinked. He said that BIMSTEC represents a common space for peace and development. He categorically defined the importance of BIMSTEC as a platform that fulfills India&rsquo;s Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>In the last swearing-in ceremony, India had invited SAARC nations which included Pakistan but this time, Pakistan was a big miss in the neighbour</strong> who was not invited to the oath taking ceremony due to its consistent support to terrorism against India and the recent Pulwama attack and <strong>this is also a reason why SAARC nations of which Islamabad is a part were not called</strong>. Earlier, India had refused to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad in 2016 post the Uri terror attack. Most other SAARC nations had backed India&rsquo;s stand. <strong>Since 2016, there has been no movement forward on resuming the SAARC summit. Interestingly after deciding to boycott the Islamabad SAARC summit in 2016, India invited the same grouping of BIMSTEC countries to Goa as part of the BRICS Outreach Initiative.</strong></p>
<p>Day after taking the oath, the Prime Minister of India held separate meetings with all BIMSTEC leaders exploring ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.</p>
<p><strong>Meeting with Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan</strong></p>
<p><strong>India - Mauritius</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Leaders of both the countries have agreed to work together to achieve the shared vision of security and growth of the two countries as well as the Indian Ocean Region.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister of India reiterated his commitment to further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries in all spheres.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India-Kyrgyzstan</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President of Kyrgyzstan reiterated the invitation for the Prime Minister of India to visit Kyrgyzstan for the SCO summit and a bilateral visit during 13th - 15th of June.</li>
<li>The two leaders also held deliberations on diversifying cooperation for the mutual benefit of citizens of both the countries.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister of India also expressed satisfaction at the strengthening of bilateral cooperation over the years.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SAARC comprises of eight member states: <strong>Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan</strong> and <strong>Sri Lanka</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>main objectives</strong> of SAARC include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to promote the welfare of the people</li>
<li>to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development</li>
<li>to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia</li>
<li>to contribute to mutual trust and understanding among member countries</li>
<li>to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;</li>
<li>to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>As of 2015, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% or 2.9 trillion US dollars of the world&rsquo;s GDP was in the SAARC region.</strong></li>
<li>Despite been around for over three decades, SAARC&rsquo;s performance has been less than satisfactory with its role in strengthening regional cooperation coming under scrutiny.</li>
</ul>
<h3>BIMSTEC vis-a-vis SAARC</h3>
<p><strong>SAARC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While the SAARC has established itself as a regional forum, it has failed to attain its objectives. In the many failures of SAARC, <strong>lack of trust among the member countries</strong> has been the most significant factor between India and Pakistan.</li>
<li>In recent times, <strong>Pakistan&rsquo;s non-cooperation has stalled some major initiatives including the SAARC motor vehicle agreement,</strong> which was crucial for harnessing regional connectivity across South Asia, could not be signed in 2014 due to Pakistan&rsquo;s dithering.</li>
<li>SAARC has also been the <strong>failure in the area of security cooperation</strong>. For instance, while cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan is a major concern for India, Pakistan has failed to address this concern.</li>
<li>The grouping faced another setback after <strong>the 19<sup>th</sup> summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2016 was suspended for an indefinite period</strong> as member countries declined to participate, a signal that <strong>there is an absence of a conducive regional environment</strong>.</li>
<li>In the past, <strong>India has spent more political capital and efforts to make SAARC work than on BIMSTEC</strong>. However, the latter lends itself more naturally to regional integration including physical connectivity and economic co-operation than SAARC which is dominated by India and Pakistan and naturally crippled by tensions between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIMSTEC provides the Bay of Bengal nations, an opportunity to work together to create a common space for peace and development.</li>
<li><strong>It helps smaller countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan to develop connectivity with ASEAN nations, the hub of major economic activities globally.</strong></li>
<li>BIMSTEC&rsquo;s major strength comes from the fact that it includes <strong>two influential regional powers: Thailand and India. This adds to the comfort of smaller neighbours by reducing the fear of dominance by one big power.</strong></li>
<li>Trade among the BIMSTEC countries reached 6% in just a decade, while in SAARC, it has remained around 5% since its inception.</li>
<li>One of the reasons for BIMSTEC&rsquo;s popularity is that the <strong>member countries have generally cordial relationships,</strong> however there are shortcomings as well.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The grouping was formed in 1997 but its record in terms of tangible achievements is not impressive.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Rising BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since most of the members of BIMSTEC are either members of SAARC or ASEAN, it did not get much momentum earlier but now <strong>after SAARC becoming almost defunct</strong> because of Pakistan&rsquo;s allegiance to terrorism against India, <strong>it is believed to emerge as a major and robust organization of South and Southeast Asia</strong> that will include Myanmar and Thailand of ASEAN countries, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Bhutan of SAARC conglomeration, which will in a way <strong>isolate Pakistan over its support to terrorism</strong>.</li>
<li>In over two decades of existence, BIMSTEC has achieved very little. India aims to reverse the trend by bringing in an significant improvement in its economic engagement within the region without any delay.</li>
<li><strong>With differences between India and Pakistan coming in the way of smooth functioning of the SAARC, groupings like BIMSTEC can take forward the concept of regional cooperation in a different manner.</strong></li>
<li>BIMSTEC is a platform by which lot of the issues in the region can be tackled and integrated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The regional group forms a bridge between the South and the Southeast Asia and represents a reinforcement of relations between the countries belonging to these areas. It, basically, establishes a platform for inter-regional cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><em>BIMSTEC has emerged as an alternative platform for engagement that India has with its neighbour, leaving the future of already stagnant SAARC bleak. Given the fairly amicable relationship among member states of BIMSTEC, increasing its performance and effectiveness is an achievable goal as long as the countries exhibit enough political will and mutual respect.</em></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bimstec-guests-of-honour'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Need For A Sound Energy Policy For India!',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article: <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-energy-crisis-renewable-energy-environment-ministry-electric-vehicles-diesel-price-5761564/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Over The Barrel: How to boost the energy drive</a> appeared in Indian express on 3<sup>rd</sup> of June. It talks about the measures that India need for a sound energy policy.</p>
</div>
<p>Indian government&rsquo;s on-going energy sector policies aim "to provide access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy", in that pursuit several domestic goals and the global development agenda is lined up. For example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Make available 24x7 power to all by 2019.</li>
<li>Achieve 175 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2022</li>
<li>Reduce imports of oil and gas by 10 per cent by 2022-23.</li>
<li>Continue to reduce the emission intensity of GDP in a manner that will help India achieve the intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) target of 2030.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What are the challenges in India's energy sector?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is still heavily dependent on petroleum imports to meet its requirements &ndash; we imported approximately 85 percent of crude oil and 45 percent of natural gas requirements</li>
<li>A variety of subsidies and taxes distort the energy market and promote the use of inefficient over efficient fuels.</li>
<li>Old inefficient plants continue to operate whereas more efficient plants are underutilized</li>
<li>Lack of market-driven gas prices for old fields disincentivize further production.</li>
<li>Land for coal mining is becoming a major issue. Also, there is no competitive coal market.</li>
<li>There are supply chain issues in biomass power generation.</li>
<li>The non-availability of sufficient credit facilities and difficulties in obtaining required finances for energy saving projects are strong deterrents to investments in energy efficiency in India.</li>
<li>Limited technical capabilities, high initial capital expenditure, limited market and policy issues have adversely affected efforts to achieve energy efficiency.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What should be the salient features of the energy policy of India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integrate energy and environment policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For holistic energy policy, various ministries currently engaged with energy and the environment should be merged into one Ministry of Energy and Environment.</li>
<li>Also, the &ldquo;Energy and Environment Security Act&rdquo; should be passed at the earliest as possible.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The objective of such an act should be to balance economic development and energy demands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An integrated energy data centre must be established to bridge the gap between policy and investment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on Decarbonisation,</strong> as a key component of energy policy. This can be done by:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Focusing on solar and wind energy</li>
<li>Incentivising electric vehicles</li>
<li>Curtailing diesel consumption in agriculture,</li>
<li>Enforcing standards and emission norms,</li>
<li>Redesigning buildings and factories to make them carbon neutral</li>
<li>Influencing behavioural change towards energy conservation.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For instance, the government has launched various projects/schemes to implement these like National Solar Mission, FAME India, KUSUM yojana, Bharat emission norms VI, GRIHA building code.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>"clean energy fund"</strong> which is currently funded through a cess on coal production only should be augmented also through the issuance of &ldquo;green bonds&rdquo; and a clean energy tax</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy diplomacy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The oil supply of India comes from a highly volatile region i.e. West Asia</li>
<li>Any turmoil in the region will significantly impact India's strategic concerns.</li>
<li>In this scenario, India must engage diplomatically with nations to secure long-term supply contracts.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For this government can look to develop a specialized cadre of &ldquo;energy diplomats, who can be induced through lateral entry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India must implement changes in <strong>exploration and enhance recovery policy:</strong></li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The current revenue-sharing model must be replaced with a production-sharing model for new exploration.</li>
<li>The government should increase access to the domestic retail market by removing the condition that only companies that have invested Rs 2,000 crore will be eligible for a marketing licence.</li>
<li>The government must allow international players with proven enhanced oil recovery technologies. in field oil fields like Mumbai high and other ageing oil fields in Gujarat
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The current recovery rates of production from these fields are well below the global average.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms in the Coal sector:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increase competition in coal mining so as to infuse efficiency in Coal India Limited (CIL)</li>
<li>Though commercial coal mining by private sector companies is allowed it must be backed by positive policy intervention to expedite the coal mining.</li>
<li>Set up coal commission of India, to deal with disruptions caused by the renewable energy sector in the coal sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms in the natural gas sector:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The price of gas should be determined on the basis of market and competitive principles.</li>
<li>A gas trading hub should be expeditiously established</li>
<li>Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)'s monopoly as a monopoly gas pipeline company must end</li>
<li>GAIL should be divested of its upstream (production/ re-gasification of LNG) and downstream (petrochemicals) operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Finally, special energy courts should be established to expedite the adjudication of disputes and ensure the sanctity of contracts related to the energy sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the world&rsquo;s third largest energy consumer and according to International Energy Agency, India&rsquo;s energy demand growth outpaced global demand growth in 2018. In this light, it is high time for the government to formulate a comprehensive energy policy with a view to balancing socio-economic growth with environmental protection.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e2d0f5; border-color: #5300ab; border-style: dashed;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1256px;"><em><strong>Drishti Input:<br /><br /></strong></em>India&rsquo;s energy sector is currently reeling under various challenges and loopholes in keeping pace with growing energy demand of a developing economy. In this context, analyse these challenges and suggest steps to ensure energy security of India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/need-for-a-sound-energy-policy-for-india'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'China’s Gene Editing Rules',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>China has decided to introduce new Gene-editing rules.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rules require researchers to obtain <strong>prior approval from the government</strong> before undertaking clinical trials.</li>
<li>Those found violating the rules will be punished and this includes a <strong>lifetime ban on research</strong>.</li>
<li>The rules would also require <strong>all future trials to be approved</strong> by administrative authorities as well as ethical committees.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Last year, a chinese researcher, He Jiankui, has claimed that he used CRISPR <strong>(Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)</strong> to produce the world&rsquo;s first <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gene-edited babies</a> to make babies immune to infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).</li>
<li>After the news of gene-edited babies came Chinese national health commission investigated and found that Dr. He had violated the national regulations against using gene-editing for reproductive purposes.</li>
<li>China has now decided to come up with stricter norms regarding gene editing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gene Editing<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/611Image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/611Image1.jpg" width="274" height="577" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gene editing is also called as <strong>genetic modification, genetic manipulation or genetic engineering</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Genome editing is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism's DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).</strong> These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.</li>
<li>Gene Editing is widely practised in agriculture, to increase productivity or resistance to diseases, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is CRISPR?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)</strong> is a gene editing technology, <strong>which replicates natural defence mechanism in bacteria to fight virus attacks,</strong> using a special protein called Cas9.</li>
<li>CRISPR-Cas9 technology behaves like a <strong>cut-and-paste mechanism on DNA</strong> strands that contain genetic information. The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed, or edited, is identified on the DNA strand, and then, using the <strong>Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors,</strong> that location is cut off from the strand.</li>
<li>A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself. Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.</li>
<li>CRISPR-Cas9 is a simple, effective, and incredibly precise technology with potential to revolutionise human existence in future.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Dr. He used the CRISPR&ndash;Cas9 gene editing technique to disable a gene called CCR5 (C-C chemokine receptor type 5), which <strong>encodes a protein that allows HIV to enter and infect cells</strong>.</li>
<li>Though no guidelines have been drawn up so far regarding gene editing.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>general consensus</strong> in the scientific and ethics communities that the CRISPR&ndash;Cas9 gene-editing technique should not be used clinically in embryos..</li>
<li>Importantly, <strong>human clinical trials have not been carried out</strong> anywhere in the world to test whether disabling the gene completely prevents HIV infection.</li>
<li>In the absence of any clinical trial data as well as consensus to use this tool to prevent HIV infection, performing it on babies as a form of medical <strong>intervention is unethical</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>CCR5</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>C-C chemokine receptor type 5, also known as CCR5 or CD195, is a protein on the surface of white blood cells that is involved in the immune system as it acts as a receptor for chemokines.</li>
<li>CCR5, which encodes a protein that allows HIV to enter and infect cells. The CCR5 gene protective role against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Nile virus</a> is well established.</li>
<li>The CCR5 gene also helps to protect the lungs, the liver and the brain during certain serious infections and chronic diseases.</li>
<li>The gene is known to prompt the immune system to fight the influenza virus in the lungs.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Nilgiri Tribals Tensed Over Destruction of Rock Art',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p><strong>40%</strong> of the rock paintings in Karikiyoor at Kil Kotagiri in the Nilgiri forests have been <strong>destroyed by trekkers, tourists, and vandals</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Irula tribal community,</strong> who have an ancestral link to the Nilgiri forest&rsquo;s rock art site, are extremely angered at the damage by illegal trekkers.</li>
<li><strong>Scripts</strong> on the rock paintings in Karikiyoor resemble the script found in <strong>Indus civilization</strong> sites of northern India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About Irula Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Irula people reside in northern districts of <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> and in some parts of <strong>Kerala</strong>.</li>
<li>Tribes have their origin from ethnic groups of <strong>Southeast Asia and Australia</strong>.</li>
<li>They speak Irula language that is closely related to <strong>Dravidian language</strong> like Kannada and Tamil.</li>
<li>Irulas are among the <strong>Particularly vulnerable tribal group</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PVTGs are the <strong>marginalized section</strong> of the Scheduled tribes of India and are relatively isolated, educationally and socio-economically backward, living in a habitat far away from amenities.</li>
<li>PVTG is <strong>not a constitutional category,</strong> nor are these constitutionally recognized communities.</li>
<li>It is a Government of India&rsquo;s classification created with the purpose of enabling improvement in the conditions of certain communities with particularly low development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Rock Art:</strong> Rock art is human-made markings placed on natural stone.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rock art is often divided into three forms: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-petroglyphs-of-ratnagiri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">petroglyphs</a>, which are carved into the rock surface, <strong>pictographs</strong>, which are painted onto the surface, and <strong>earth figures</strong>, formed on the ground.</li>
<li>Rock art in India is extensively found in the caves of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bhimbetka caves:</strong> located between Hoshangabad and <strong>Bhopal</strong>, in the foothills of the Vindhya Mountains.</li>
<li><strong>Bagh caves:</strong> located on the bank of Baghani river in the Dhar district of <strong>Madhya Pradesh</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Jogimara caves:</strong> paintings were created before the Ajanta and Bagh Caves and belong to <strong>Pre-Buddha caves</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Situated at Amarnath near the origin of Narmada, in Surguja in Chhattisgarh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Armamalai caves:&nbsp;</strong>Armamalai cave paintings located in <strong>Vellore district of Tamil Nadu,&nbsp;</strong>are known for a Jain temple with ancient paintings, petroglyphs and rock art.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rock paintings serve, as a <strong>&ldquo;historical record&rdquo;</strong>, detailing the hunting habits and <strong>ways of life</strong> of the local communities.</li>
<li>Rock arts are used for <strong>ritualistic purpose</strong> by local residents.</li>
<li>Tribal communities rely on the rock arts for deriving their <strong>cultural connections</strong> by following the customs engraved in the rock art.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nilgiri-tribals-tensed-over-destruction-of-rock-art'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (3rd June 2019)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Indian Navy Steps Up Anti-piracy Patrol</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Navy deployed its <strong>P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft</strong> for <strong>anti-piracy</strong> sorties from Salalah in Oman to patrol the <strong>Gulf of Aden</strong> under its <strong>Mission Based Deployments (MBD)</strong> in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),</li>
<li>Under the MBD concept, the Navy maintains a ship at every choke point in the IOR at any point of time.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>P-8I Aircraft</strong></p>
<p>The P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.operationworld.org/files/ow/maps/lgmap/yeme-MMAP-md.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download map</a></p>
<h3>IIT Madras Develops New Material</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed a material with properties suitable for <strong>quantum optoelectronics</strong>.</li>
<li>The materials like tungsten diselenide and molybdenum diselenide were being studied for their <strong>opto-electronic properties &ndash; a combination of optics and electronics</strong>.</li>
<li>Researchers from IIT Madras have found a way of enhancing this property of these materials about 30 times in tungsten diselenide, by drop-casting gold nanoparticles on to a two-dimensional film.</li>
<li>A key property of these materials is <strong>photoluminescence</strong> which can be used in various devices such as quantum LEDs which can be used in communication and computation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Photoluminescence:&nbsp;</strong>Photoluminescence is a process in which a molecule absorbs a photon in the visible region, exciting one of its electrons to a higher electronic excited state, and then radiates a photon as the electron returns to a lower energy state.</p>
<p><strong>Optoelectronics:&nbsp;</strong>Optoelectronics concerns the study and application of electronic devices that source, detect and control light.</p>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-june-2019'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'The Elixir for MSMEs: Access to Credit',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/expensive-access-to-credit-a-universal-issue-for-smes/article27394530.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Expensive access to credit a universal issue for SMEs&rdquo;</a> which appeared in The Hindu on 1st June, 2019. The article talks about the difficulties in access to credit for SMEs.</p>
</div>
<p>Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have gained increased attention in India in recent times, considering their strategic importance to the economy and the country.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What are Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises?</strong></p>
<p>In accordance with the provision of Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are classified in two Classes:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Manufacturing Enterprises:</strong> enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production of goods pertaining to any industry specified in the first schedule to the industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951) or employing plant and machinery in the process of value addition to the final product having a distinct name or character or use. The Manufacturing Enterprise are defined in terms of investment in Plant &amp; Machinery.</li>
<li><strong>Service Enterprises:</strong> The enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services and are <strong>defined in terms of investment in equipment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Importance of MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MSMEs play an important role in generating employment&mdash;48.8 million MSMEs in the country provide employment to 111.4 million people.</li>
<li>MSMEs in the manufacturing sector alone produces more than 6,000 products and contribute 7.7% of the GDP of the country. Similarly, MSMEs in the services sector contributed 27.4% of the country&rsquo;s GDP.</li>
</ul>
<p>In spite of their contribution, MSMEs in India face several challenges, particularly related to access to credit.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/913image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/913image2.png" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Some of the Key challenges faced by SMEs are listed below</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scarcity of Resources</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One of the most important challenges faced by SMEs in India is the scarcity of Resources such as Raw material and labour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Technology</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One of the crucial factor the decides the success or failure of an Enterprise is the use of Technology for the production. The best technology helps the enterprise to reduce its cost of production, improves productivity and brings efficiency, but SMEs fails to cope up with the latest technology due to lack of finance in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Steps by government to promote</strong> MSME (12 point programme)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Loan in 59 minutes</li>
<li>Interest benefitcs for the GST registered MSMEs.</li>
<li>CPSEs and Corporates more than Rs. 500 crore to join Trade Receivables e-Discounting System or the TReDS platforms</li>
<li>Tech support to MSMEs via 20 hubs and 100 spokes</li>
<li>Mandatory 25% procurement from MSMEs by CPSEs</li>
<li>Now, returns due to 8 labour Laws and 10 rules to be filed only once instead of the earlier twice.</li>
<li>Pharma Clusters where 70% cost borne by Centre</li>
<li>All CPSEs to join Government e-marketplace(GeM)</li>
<li>Of the 25% mandatory procurement, 3% to be done only from women led MSMEs</li>
<li>Ending inspector Raj and ensuring transparency</li>
<li>Ordinance for simplifying levy of penalties for minor offences</li>
<li>Easier process for Environmental Clearances and &lsquo;Consent to Establish&rsquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Programme to Promote MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ASPIRE scheme</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) was launched in 2015. The aim is to set up a network of technology centres and to set up incubation centres to accelerate entrepreneurship and also to promote startups for innovation and entrepreneurship in agro-industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Zero Defect Zero Effect</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED)launched in 2016, with two objective of promotion of production mechanism wherein the products have no defects and the impact on environment is zero.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SFURTI scheme</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SFURTI scheme was revamped in 2014. The scheme has been introduced all over India to generate employment in rural areas. Under this scheme 29 khadi, 47 village industries and 21 coir clusters have been made functional by providing them with improved equipment, common facilities centres, business development services, training, capacity building and design and marketing support, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revival and Rehabilitation Framework under MSMEs</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ministry of MSME, in 2015, notified a &lsquo;Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation of MSMEs&rsquo; so as to provide for a simpler and faster mechanism to address the stress in the MSME accounts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grievance Monitoring</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry attends to the grievances on Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) by doing this the Ministry of MSME has become the first Ministry to have its own MSME Internet Grievance Monitoring System.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Cooperation</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government of India enters into long-term Agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various countries for promoting cooperation in the field of MSMEs in the broad areas of capacity building, industrial surveys and feasibility studies, enterprise to enterprise collaboration, participation in exhibitions and trade fairs, exchanging business missions, technology transfer etc. During 2014-2018, the Ministry has signed two MoUs at Government to Government level with Sweden (2015) and United Arab Emirates (2017).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National SC/ST Hub</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An initiative targeted towards developing a supporting ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs. The schemes has resulted in registration of 13211 SC and 2704 ST enterprises on the MSME databank.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Centre system Programme</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To expand and upgrade the network of Technology Centres (Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres) in the country, Ministry of MSME is implementing Technology Centre Systems Programme (TCSP) at an estimated Cost of Rs. 2200 Cr., including World Bank Loan assistance of USD 200 million, to establish 15 new Technology Centres (TCs) and upgrade existing TCs across the country.</li>
<li>Efforts have been made during the last four years to make <strong>NIMSME (National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)</strong> as one of the premier National Institutes of India. The Institute conducts Training Programmes in various states across the country resulting in training of 1,72,213 youth/executives and 26,630 grounded units. ni-msme also organized several &lsquo;job melas&rsquo; in various states, in which 44,449 persons were selected for wage employment. Ni-msme also brought out 40 publications on various topics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accessibility to credit</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prime Minister&rsquo;s employment Generation Programme</li>
<li>Credit linked capital subsidy scheme</li>
<li>Credit guarantee trust fund for Micro and small enterprises</li>
<li>Priority sector lending of RBI</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>However, what should be noted is accessibility to credit remains an Achilles heel for MSME sector.</p>
<h3>A Cursory Look at the State of Finance for MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the International Finance Corporation (2012), the supply of finance to the MSME sector is estimated to be 32.5 trillion Indian rupees. <strong>This total comprises contributions from informal finance, formal finance, and self-finance.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Informal sources and self-finance contribute Rs. 25.5 trillion to the sector, of which informal finance accounts for Rs24.4 trillion. In other words, <strong>78% of the finance used by MSMEs is met by informal sources and self-finance.</strong></li>
<li>The remaining 22% (Rs6.9 trillion) is provided by banks and NBFCs, of which banks provide the bulk (91.8%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the Economic Survey 2017, the MSME sector faces a major problem in terms of getting adequate credit for expansion of business activities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Latest data on credit disbursed by banks shows that out of a total outstanding credit of 26041 billion as in November 2017, 82.6 percent of the amount was lent to large enterprises.</li>
<li>The MSME received only 17.4 per cent of the total credit outstanding. Growth of credit to Micro and Small enterprises increased by 4.6 per cent, while credit to Medium enterprises decreased by 8.3 per cent</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/989image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/989image1.png" /></a></p>
<h3>Reasons for Poor State of Finance of MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Major challenges in accessing finance reported by enterprises in this stage included the <strong>difficulty in providing collateral</strong> or a guarantee, <strong>processing time</strong> for loan applications,<strong> lack of knowledge</strong> about available schemes, and procedural complications.</li>
<li>Moreover, financial institution are averse to provide loan on fear of increasing NPA.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Poor Finance on MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the absence of proper credit, MSMEs in India cannot technologically upgrade themselves.</li>
<li>They generally face challenges in expansion.</li>
<li>In the absence of resources, MSMEs cannot compete with larger sectoral competitors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To address lender uncertainty around SMEs, the government can guarantee to repay a substantial portion of SME debt. This will ease lender concerns and attract more finance to the sector.</li>
<li>Credit-information infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be established, with a mandate to provide credit guarantees to ease their access to finance.</li>
<li>SME credit risk databases, credit bureaus and credit ratings that can help lenders should be developed to address the problem of collateral.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #d90000; background-color: #f0afaf;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em></p>
<p>In the absence of an institutional framework for access to credit to MSMEs, the benefits of demographic dividend cannot be reaped. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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		'title' => 'Ottam Thullal',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><span>Ottam Thullal</span> is a dance-drama performing art form of <strong>Kerala</strong>, created by <strong>Kunchan Nambiar</strong>, as an <strong>alternative to</strong> the <strong>Chakyar koothu.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/840image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/840image1.jpg" width="214" height="197" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>Kunchan Nambiar used it as a <strong>medium to protest against the prevalent socio-political structure and prejudices</strong> of the society in his time. It went on to become the most popular folk art presented in Kerala temples.</li>
<li>The distinguishing factor of Ottanthullal is the <strong>performer himself singing and playing the story</strong>, which is a tedious task. Another person will recite the same verses. The accompanying instruments for Ottanthullal are Mridangam and Idakka.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chakyar koothu</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a performance art from Kerala.</li>
<li>It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics and stories from the Puranas.</li>
<li>It is also a traditional equivalent of the modern stand-up comedy act, incorporating commentary on current socio-political events.</li>
</ul>
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		'title' => 'Three Language Formula ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The draft National Education Policy, 2019, prepared by a committee headed by scientist Dr Kasturirangan has recommended the three-language formula.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The draft education policy recommends the use of three language formula from the primary level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Three-language formula</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>First language:</strong> It will be the mother tongue or regional language.</li>
<li><strong>Second language:</strong> In Hindi speaking states, it will be other modern Indian languages or English. In non-Hindi speaking states, it will be Hindi or English.</li>
<li><strong>Third Language:</strong> In Hindi speaking states, it will be English or a modern Indian language. In the non-Hindi speaking state, it will be English or a modern Indian language.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for three-language formula</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee&rsquo;s report observes that learning languages are an important part of a child&rsquo;s cognitive development.</li>
<li>The primary aim is to promote multilingualism and national harmony.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issue in implementation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The states like Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Tripura were not ready to teach Hindi and Hindi-speaking states did not include any south Indian language in their school curriculum.</li>
<li>State governments often do not have adequate resources to implement the three &ndash;language formula.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The inadequacy of resources is perhaps the most important aspect of the challenge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 29</strong> of the Constitution of India protects the interests of minorities. The Article states that any section of the citizens who have a &ldquo;&hellip;distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Article 343</strong> is about the official language of the Union of India. According to this Article, it is to be Hindi in Devnagri script, and numerals should follow the international form of Indian numerals. This Article also states that English will continue to be used as an official language for 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution.</li>
<li><strong>Article 346</strong> is about the official language for communication between the states and between a state and the Union. The Article states that the &ldquo;authorised&rdquo; language will be used. However, if two or more states agree that their communications shall be in Hindi, then Hindi may be used.</li>
<li><strong>Article 347</strong> gives the President the power to recognise a language as an official language of a given state, provided that the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of that state desires that the language be recognised. Such recognition can be for a part of the state or the whole state.</li>
<li><strong>Article 350A</strong> facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage.</li>
<li><strong>Article 350B</strong> provides for the establishment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities. The Officer shall be appointed by the President and shall investigate all matters relating to the safeguards for linguistic minorities, reporting directly to the President. The President may then place the reports before each house of the Parliament or send them to the governments of the states concerned.</li>
<li><strong>Article 351</strong> gives power to the union government to issue a directive for development of the Hindi language.</li>
<li><strong>Eighth Schedule</strong> of the Constitution of India contains a list of 22 languages recognised schedule languages.</li>
</ul>
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	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'India BIMSTEC',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM of India has invited <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BIMSTEC</a></strong> (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) partners for his second swearing in ceremony, reversing the previous stand of inviting the <strong>SAARC</strong> (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders including Pakistan for a similar event in 2014.</li>
<li>This shows a major shift in India&rsquo;s foreign policy <strong>towards East</strong>, specifically BIMSTEC and also focus on the relevance of India&rsquo;s <strong>Neighbourhood First Policy</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Strategic Shift From SAARC to BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM of India had invited <strong>SAARC countries</strong> for his swearing in ceremony in 2014, including Pakistan on the lines of his Neighbourhood first policy.</li>
<li>Prime Minister had also participated in the <strong>18<sup>th</sup> SAARC summit at Kathmandu</strong> in November 2014.</li>
<li>But post <strong>Uri attack,</strong> (on Indian military base) in October 2016, India gave a renewed push for the BIMSTEC that had existed for almost two decades but been largely ignored.</li>
<li>Alongside the <strong>BRICS summit in Goa</strong>, PM hosted an <strong>outreach summit</strong> with BIMSTEC leaders.</li>
<li>BIMSTEC countries had supported New Delhi&rsquo;s call for a <strong>boycott of the SAARC</strong> summit scheduled in Islamabad in November 2016.</li>
<li>As a result, SAARC summit was postponed for an <strong>indefinite period</strong>, India had claimed victory in <strong>isolating Pakistan</strong>, having accused that country of carrying out the Uri attack.</li>
<li>Since 2016 there has been <strong>no movement forward on resuming the SAARC</strong> summit.</li>
<li>BIMSTEC had emerged as an <strong>alternative regional platform</strong> where five SAARC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) countries could gather and discuss sub-regional cooperation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The search for an alternative, in fact, had been evident at the 2014 SAARC summit in Kathmandu, where Prime Minister of India had made an statement that <strong>"opportunities must be realised through SAARC or outside it"</strong> and <strong>"among us all or some of us"</strong>. That was an important signal to Pakistan, as well as to fellow SAARC members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong> (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising seven Member States: five deriving from South Asia, including <strong>Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka</strong>&nbsp;and two from Southeast Asia, including <strong>Myanmar</strong> and <strong>Thailand</strong>.</li>
<li>This <strong>sub-regional organization</strong> came into being on 6 June 1997 through the <strong>Bangkok Declaration</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why not SAARC?</h3>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had long felt that the vast potential of SAARC was being under utilised and opportunities were being lost due to either lack of response or because of <strong>obstructionist approach</strong> from <strong>Pakistan</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Trade agreement like <strong>SAFTA</strong> (SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement) that came into force in 2006 and is currently not fully operational.</li>
<li><strong>SAARC Motor vehicle agreement</strong> also failed to reach its final conclusion, as Pakistan opted out of it and India had to look for <strong>BBIN</strong> (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal) agreement in 2015.</li>
<li>Withdrawal of Pakistan from <strong>SAARC satellite</strong> compelled India to rename it as <strong>South Asia Satellite</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asymmetrical power balance:</strong> Intraregional trade is just 5%.</li>
<li><strong>Mistrust and suspicion</strong> among the members not only hinders bilateral growth and development but also made SAARC as dysfunctional grouping.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About SAARC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation</strong> (SAARC) was established with the signing of the <strong>SAARC Charter in Dhaka</strong> on 8 December 1985.</li>
<li>SAARC comprises of eight Member States: <strong>Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan</strong> and <strong>Sri Lanka</strong>.</li>
<li>The Secretariat of the Association is in Kathmandu.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Strategic Importance of BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Geographical relevance:</strong> The Bay of Bengal is the <strong>largest bay</strong> in the <strong>world</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over one-fifth <strong>(22%)</strong> of the <strong>world&rsquo;s population</strong> live in the seven countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> Despite economic challenges, all these seven countries have been able to sustain average annual rates of economic growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They have a combined <strong>GDP</strong> close to <strong>$2.7 trillion</strong>.</li>
<li>The Bay of Bengal is the route for about <strong>25% of global trade</strong>.</li>
<li>India's robust relation with BIMSTEC will ensure its access to huge untapped resources especially in the energy sector in the form of massive reserve of <strong>natural gas</strong> in the Bay of Bengal region over China and other major powers.</li>
<li><strong>One-fourth</strong> of the world&rsquo;s traded goods cross the Bay every year.</li>
<li>In the era of growing <strong>protectionism</strong> there is a need for India to <strong>diversify</strong> its <strong>export market</strong>.
<div class="border-bg"><br />The FICCI report points out that intra-regional trade among BIMSTEC countries was about $40.5 billion in 2016 (about 6 per cent) with India having 50 per cent share ($21 billion).<br />FICCI reports endorse BIMSTEC as the <strong>most active trade-driven regional blocs</strong> of the world in terms of huge export and import statistics.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Integration:</strong> In an effort to integrate the region, the grouping was formed in 1997, originally with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and later included Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BIMSTEC, now includes five countries from South Asia and two from <strong>ASEAN,</strong> is a bridge between <strong>South Asia</strong> and <strong>Southeast Asia</strong>.</li>
<li>It includes all the major countries of South Asia, except Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Security:</strong> India&rsquo;s Multilateral regional engagement with BIMSTEC members will not only suffice India&rsquo;s effort of boosting <strong>Blue Economy</strong> but will also:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Provide <strong>comprehensive solution</strong> for its maritime security, as diplomatic engagement with littoral nations will help nations in curbing the problems of :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Piracy and Trafficking of Drugs and Weapons:</strong> The transnational maritime crimes like trafficking of drugs and weapons are quite rampant in the area.</li>
<li><strong>Illegal fishing and poaching off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:</strong> major issue in the Bay of Bengal is how to sustain the fast depleting fish stocks.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Accidents and Irregular Migration:&nbsp;</strong>under customary international law, all States bear an international commitment to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea, be they victims of accidents at sea or irregular migrants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>BIMSTEC engagement is completely in consonance with the <strong>SAGAR Initiatives</strong> objective of increasing connectivity and development in North eastern states of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About SAGAR initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region),</strong> articulated by India&lsquo;s Prime Minister in 2015.</li>
<li>SAGAR meaning that ― <strong>All boats (regional countries) rise with the rising tide (together)</strong> &mdash; was stated in the broader context of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), but is very relevant to the Bay of Bengal countries in context of PM&rsquo;s―Neighbourhood First Policy.</li>
<li>With regard to the Bay of Bengal, India&lsquo;s specific imperatives are to: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Capitalise upon the cost-effectiveness of maritime routes, in both national and sub-regional contexts.</li>
<li>Amalgamate India&lsquo;s North-Eastern States into the nation&lsquo;s socioeconomic development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Connectivity:</strong> Connectivity has been described broadly by India as <strong>trade</strong> connectivity, <strong>economic</strong> connectivity, <strong>transport</strong> connectivity, <strong>digital</strong> connectivity, and <strong>people to people</strong> connectivity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Almost <strong>300 million people,</strong> or roughly one-quarter of India&rsquo;s population, live in the four coastal states adjacent to the Bay of Bengal (Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal).</li>
<li>About <strong>45 million people,</strong> who live in <strong>landlocked Northeastern states,</strong> will have the opportunity to connect via the Bay of Bengal to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.</li>
<li>India's northeast will be playing a critical role in increasing connectivity with BIMSTEC member countries.</li>
<li>PM of India has referred BIMSTEC as a <strong>natural platform</strong> for fulfilling our key foreign policy priorities of <strong>'Neighborhood First'</strong> and '<strong>Act East</strong>, as it connects not only South and Southeast Asia, but also the <strong>ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic:</strong> As China mounts assertive activities in the Bay of Bengal region, with increased submarine movement and ship visits in the Indian Ocean, it is in India&rsquo;s interest to consolidate its internal engagement among the BIMSTEC countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the strategic perspective, the <strong>Bay of Bengal,</strong> a funnel to the <strong>Malacca straits,</strong> has emerged as a key theatre for an increasingly assertive China in maintaining its access route to the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s engagement with BIMSTEC countries will help in countering China&rsquo;s Belt and Road initiative.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Beijing has undertaken massive drive to finance and develop infrastructure in South and Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative in almost all BIMSTEC countries, except Bhutan and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Invitation for BIMSTEC leaders is part of New Delhi's strategy to expand its <strong>"sphere of influence"</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>BIMSTEC&rsquo;s</strong> relevance as an <strong>alternative regional engagement platform</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of human and financial resource:</strong> BIMSTEC suffers from a lack of human and financial resources. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India needs to allocate <strong>more resources</strong> to its BIMSTEC budget and should take an informal leadership role to provide BIMSTEC with momentum.</li>
<li>India is currently the largest contributor to the BIMSTEC secretariat budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supremacy:&nbsp;</strong>India would have to counter the impression that BIMSTEC is an India dominated bloc, in that context India can follow the <strong>Gujral doctrine</strong> that intends to chalk out the effect transactionary motive in bilateral relations.</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity:</strong> is a major issue among BIMSTEC nations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>North Eastern states are of utmost importance in deepening connectivity among BIMSTEC nations, but <strong>Siliguri corridor</strong> that <strong>(chicken neck)</strong> provides a very narrow passage for movement, obstructs the connectivity.</li>
<li>Underdevelopment of North Eastern states in terms of <strong>infrastructure and connectivity</strong> will also be a major hurdle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Underlying aspirations of China</strong> to be part of BIMSTEC, on the same lines as it harnesses a desire to be a permanent part of SAARC groupings, further aggravates the problem.</li>
<li><strong>Regional Instability:</strong> in the form of Rohingya crisis and other intra and interstate issues can hamper the efficient and effective functioning of the grouping.</li>
<li><strong>The lack of critical support -</strong> strong and clear political commitment, adequate financial resources, full engagement of business and industry, and optimal involvement of civil society has been the principal constraint in BIMSTEC.</li>
<li><strong>BCIM:</strong> The formation of another sub-regional initiative, the <strong>Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM)</strong> Forum, with the proactive membership of China, has created more doubts about the exclusive potential of BIMSTEC.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Policy Initiatives:&nbsp;</strong>BIMSTEC needs lots of policy initiatives from its members both at national and international level, especially from its leading partners India and Thailand for the cooperation to make tangible benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Political commitments:</strong> India cannot blame Pakistan alone for SAARC&rsquo;s underperformance, hence strong political commitments from its informal leader are desirable.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s own intransigence on issues, deep suspicion that its neighbors were &ldquo;ganging up&rdquo; against it, and its tendency to be a bit of a bullying brother to them eroded South Asian countries&rsquo; confidence in India.</li>
<li>India should not repeat these mistakes in engaging BIMSTEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Interdependence:</strong> In order to harness potential of BIMSTEC steps like <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Signing Free Trade Agreements in goods and services.</li>
<li>Improving physical and digital connectivity by building ports, economic corridors etc need to be taken.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Innovative solutions:</strong> Like construction of Buddhist circuit by connecting the buddhist nations especially Myanmar, Thailand, Bhutan Nepal and Sri Lanka will contribute in deepening the cultural ties among the BIMSTEC nations.</li>
<li><strong>Institutional Mechanism:</strong> Like BIMSTEC Summit, Ministerial Meeting, Senior Officials Meeting, BIMSTEC Working Group, Business Forum &amp; Economic Forum within BIMSTEC must be utilised as an active forum for bringing more cooperation and coordination among the BIMSTEC members.</li>
<li><strong>BIMSTEC Principles:</strong> Like Sovereignty, Equality, Territorial Integrity,Political Independence, No-interference in Internal Affairs, Peaceful Coexistence, Mutual Benefit must not be violated at any cost in order to avoid SAARC like situation.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/india-bimstec'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Needed: A Solar Manufacturing Strategy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p><strong>(This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-needs-a-solar-manufacturing-strategy/article27526839.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Needed: a solar manufacturing strategy&rdquo;</a> which appeared in &lsquo;&rsquo;The Hindu&rsquo;&rsquo; on 6th June 2019. The article talks about the growing Indian potential in the field of solar energy and the institutional challenges it faces in realizing it.)</strong></p>
</div>
<p>India in recent years has made significant progress in creating capacity for solar energy generation. The unit costs of solar power have fallen, and solar energy has become increasingly competitive with alternative sources of energy. India has expanded its solar generation capacity from 2,650 MW of solar power generation in 2014 to over 28.18 GW by March 2019.</p>
<p>All these efforts coincide with India&rsquo;s attempt at making a transitional change from traditional modes of energy to renewable sources of energy.</p>
<p>However, this is only one part of the story, capacity additions have slowed in the recent past, which means the 175 GW renewable generation &ndash; including 100 GW solar &ndash; target set for 2022 could become difficult to achieve.</p>
<h3>Benefits of switching to solar energy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Environment-friendly</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy is environment-friendly. When in use, it does not release CO2 and other gases which pollute the air. Hence it is very suitable for India, India being one of the most polluted countries in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Varied use</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy can be used for a variety of purposes like heating, drying, cooking or electricity, which is suitable for the rural areas in India. It can also be used in cars, planes, large power boats, satellites, calculators and much more such items, just apt for the urban population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abundant &amp; Secure</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar power is inexhaustible. In energy deficient country like India, where power generation is costly, solar energy is the best alternative means of power generation.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grid-independent</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>You don&rsquo;t need a power or gas grid to get solar energy. A solar energy system can be installed anywhere. Solar panels can be easily placed in houses. Hence, it is quite inexpensive compared to other sources of energy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Potential for the solar manufacturing industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s peak power demand is expected to rise from current demand 153 GW to about 690 GW by 2035-36. The solar sector can effectively show a way out of this dilemma.</strong></li>
<li>The potential for solar energy capacity in India is enormous. The majority of the country&rsquo;s tropical landmass is located optimally for peak solar radiation. <strong>According to the World Bank, India has the best conditions in the world to capture and use solar energy.</strong></li>
<li>According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the country&rsquo;s total solar power potential is pegged at nearly 750GW, with 142GW of solar resource available in the state of Rajasthan alone.</li>
<li>India is one of the most attractive markets in the world because of its sheer size: 10-12GW annually. This is even more relevant when one considers that the largest market, China, is virtually closed to foreign investors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What impedes the growth of the Solar Industry?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has not been able to use the surplus solar energy to its full potential despite it being blessed with plenty of sunlight for most of the year. Despite the new policy focus on solar plant installation, it lags behind in manufacturing the solar panels and providing the input material required in the solar industry.</li>
<li>Indian industries suffer from a lower level of technical competency and human capabilities required in the production of silicon ingots and panels.</li>
<li>Very few Indian companies are involved in silicon production due to the higher capital requirements. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (2018), India has an annual solar cell manufacturing capacity of about 3 GW while the average annual demand is 20 GW. The shortfall is met by imports of solar panels.</li>
<li>Low-cost Chinese imports have undercut its ambitions to develop its own solar technology suppliers. Imports, mostly from China, accounted for 90% of 2017 sales, up from 86% in 2014.</li>
<li>The industry also suffers from the lack of human capabilities, technological capabilities and capital in the form of finance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Boosting the domestic sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The domestic sector can become more effective by going down the supply chain and making the input components locally instead of importing them and putting the modules together here in India.</li>
<li>The government should call out bids for solar power plants with the requirement that these be made fully in India, which also does not go against any World Trade Organization commitment.</li>
<li>State governments need to start supporting semiconductor production as part of a determined industrial policy to boost the technical know-how required in the solar sector for the future.</li>
<li>The Indian government should provide subsidized land acquisition, raw material, labor, and export, among others which would serve as a cost advantage to domestic manufacture when competing with foreign companies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Considering the renewable energy potential in India, constructive steps should be taken at a rapid pace. The technology is evolving fast and therefore research needs a big push.</li>
<li>Efforts should be directed at building a solar base that enhances India's standing as a global energy hub, and at the same time, consolidates its imprint in the renewable energy sector through increased indigenous manufacturing of solar components for the domestic market as well as for exports.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #bcd9f7; border-color: #034891; border-style: dotted;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="width: 1256px; height: 51px;"><em><strong><span>Drishti Input:</span><br /><br /></strong></em>What are the benefits of switching to solar as a source of energy? What are the challenges the Solar Energy Sector in India is facing?</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/needed-a-solar-manufacturing-strategy'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'World Environment Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>World Environment Day</strong> is observed on the<strong> 5<sup>th</sup> of June every year</strong> for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since it <strong>began in 1974</strong>, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.</li>
<li><strong>World Environment Day 2019</strong> is being <strong>hosted by China</strong> with a <strong>theme of &ldquo;Air Pollution&rdquo;</strong>. <strong>India</strong> hosted <strong>World Environment Day 2018</strong> emphasizing on <strong>prevention of &lsquo;Plastic Pollution&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The Government launched<strong> #SelfiewithSapling</strong> campaign as part of the World Environment Day celebrations, urging people to plant a sapling and post a selfie with it on social media.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Air Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981</strong> defines <strong>"air pollutant"</strong> as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment.</li>
<li>Air pollution is responsible for about <strong>one-third of deaths from stroke</strong>, <strong>chronic respiratory disease</strong>, and <strong>lung cancer,</strong> as well as <strong>one-quarter of deaths from heart attack.</strong> Air pollution is also fundamentally altering our climate, with profound impacts on the health of the planet.</li>
<li>About 92 percent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air. Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs.</li>
<li>Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 percent by 2030.</li>
<li>Recently India has formulated and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/govt-launches-mission-to-fight-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)</strong> </a>whose objective is prevention, control and abatement of air pollution besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Air (Prevention &amp; Control of Pollution) Act</strong> was enacted by the Parliament in 1981 with an objective to prevent, control &amp; abatement of air pollution.</li>
<li>The act provides for the establishment of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the apex level and State Pollution Control Boards at the state level to advise the government on any matter concerning the improvement of the quality of the air and prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.</li>
<li>The CPCB also lays down standards for the quality of air and provides technical assistance to and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-1'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Gestational Diabetes Mellitus',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A recent paper published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India has argued the importance of screening of every pregnant woman for high blood glucose even if no symptoms are exhibited.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM</strong>) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition<strong> during pregnancy.</strong></li>
<li>GDM not only <strong>influences immediate maternal (preeclampsia, stillbirths, macrosomia, and need for cesarean section)</strong> and <strong>neonatal outcomes (hypoglycemia, respiratory distress),</strong> but also increases the risk of future <strong>Type 2 diabetes</strong> in mother as well as the baby.</li>
<li>Prevention at the earliest stage of development of the foetus is essential to prevent children from becoming predisposed to diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCD) in future.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Higher glucose transfer to the foetus, when the mother has high blood sugar, stimulates the foetal pancreatic cells to start secreting insulin earlier and in higher quantities. Once initiated, it becomes self perpetuating.</li>
<li>In addition, when the maternal glucose reading is high (over 110 mg/dl), the amniotic fluid becomes glucose enriched, and after 20 weeks, when the foetus begins to swallow the amniotic fluid, which further stimulates production of insulin.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gestational Diabetes in India</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/828Image%201.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/828Image 1.jpg" width="524" height="444" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has an estimated 62 million people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); this number is expected to go up to 79.4 million by 2025.</li>
<li>In parallel with the increase in diabetes prevalence, there seems to be an increasing prevalence of gestational DM (GDM), that is, diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy.</li>
<li>India has a <strong>very high prevalence of GDM by global standards</strong>. Conversion rates to Type 2 diabetes are also very high.</li>
<li>Healthcare resources are insufficient. There is inadequate awareness among public. This results in a large population being hesitant to access healthcare system for diseases with not so &ldquo;obvious&rdquo; implications like GDM.</li>
<li>Interventions during and immediately after pregnancy provide important opportunities to improve the lives of mothers and children today and reducing diabetes in future generations.</li>
<li>Screening and appropriate management of diabetes during pregnancy provides a unique opportunity to prevent Type 2 diabetes in two generations.</li>
<li>Lack of awareness in society is one of the reasons that GDM is given low priority in public health delivery system in India.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Ministry of Health has developed national guidelines for testing, diagnosis and management of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy, and they recommend early testing at the time of contact (during the first trimester) and if the test is negative, yet another test should be done between 24-28 weeks.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gestational-diabetes-mellitus'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => '5G Technology',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Global telecom industry body GSMA expects India to have 920 million unique mobile subscribers by 2025 which will include 88 million 5G connections. This will leave India trailing regional peers such as China, which is set to see almost 30% of its total connection base on 5G by 2025.&nbsp;</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term 5G is used to describe the next-generation of mobile networks beyond<strong> Long Term Evolution(LTE)</strong> mobile networks.</li>
<li><strong>Applications:</strong> It is a mix of telecom technology delivering much higher data speeds on <strong>more extensive connectivity, using much lower power, with extended battery life, and emitting less radiation.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is also designed to be the network for the <strong>Internet of Things (IoT).</strong></li>
<li>Not only will people be connected to each other but so will utility machines, industrial equipment, automobiles, city infrastructure, public safety and more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
<li><strong>The technology used:</strong> In order to support a huge number of devices, many of which require longer battery life, the 5G network will be building off of the <strong>LTE Advanced Pro platform</strong>.</li>
<li>It will use the two narrowband technologies platforms:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhanced <strong>machine-type communication (e-MTC)</strong> and <strong>narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)</strong>, to scale down the device and network complexity to reach these support goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantage</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>5G network speeds should have a <strong>peak data rate</strong> of 20 Gb/s for the downlink and 10 Gb/s for the uplink.</li>
<li><strong>Latency</strong> in a 5G network could get as low as 4 milliseconds in a mobile scenario and can be as low as 1 millisecond in ultra-reliable low latency communication scenarios.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>LTE </strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an abbreviation for Long Term Evolution. LTE is a 4G wireless communications standard developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) that are designed to provide up to 10x the speeds of 3G networks for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and wireless hotspots.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>VoLTE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It stands for voice over Long Term Evolution. Utilising IMS technology, it is a digital packet voice service that is delivered over IP via an LTE access network. Voice calls over LTE are recognised as the industry-agreed progression of voice services across mobile networks, deploying LTE radio access technology.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Latency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a networking term to describe the total time it takes a data packet to travel from one node to another. In other contexts, when a data packet is transmitted and returned back to its source, the total time for the round trip is known as latency. Latency refers to time interval or delays when a system component is waiting for another system component to do something. This duration of time is called latency.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Internet of Things (IoT)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an ecosystem of connected physical objects that are accessible through the internet. The &lsquo;thing&rsquo; in IoT could be a person with a heart monitor or an automobile with built-in-sensors, i.e. objects that have been assigned an IP address and have the ability to collect and transfer data over a network without manual assistance or intervention. The embedded technology in the objects helps them to interact with internal states or the external environment, which in turn affects the decisions taken.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5g-technology'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Fiscal Performance Index',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>Confederation of Indian Industry(CII)</strong> has come out with a<strong> Fiscal Performance Index</strong> to assess the quality of budgets presented by the <strong>Centre and state governments.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The composite <strong>Fiscal Performance Index (FPI)</strong> developed by CII is an innovative tool using multiple indicators to examine the quality of Budgets at the Central and State levels.</li>
<li>The index has been constructed using the <strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)&nbsp;</strong>Human Development Index methodology, it comprises <strong>six components</strong> for holistic assessment of the quality of government budgets.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Quality of revenue expenditure:</strong> measured by the share of revenue expenditure other than interest payments, subsidies, pensions and defence in GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Quality of capital expenditure:</strong> measured by the share of capital expenditure (other than defence) in GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Quality of revenue:</strong> the ratio of net tax revenue to GDP (own tax revenue in case of States).</li>
<li><strong>Degree of fiscal prudence I:</strong> fiscal deficit to GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Degree of fiscal prudence II:</strong> revenue deficit to GDP.</li>
<li><strong>Debt index:</strong> Change in debt and guarantees to GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings of Index</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The high-income States have performed poorly mainly on the expenditure quality and own tax receipts index as compared to their low-income counterparts. Though their performance on the deficit prudence index has been above average.</li>
<li>The low-income States such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh which have <strong>high fiscal deficit ratio</strong> have fared well on the FPI front.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of fiscal deficit to GDP ratio in analysing the fiscal performance of States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Expenditure on infrastructure, education, healthcare and other social sectors can be considered beneficial for economic growth.<br />Tax revenues are sustainable sources of revenue for the government as compared to one-time income sources.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommendations of CII</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM)</strong> Act which sets targets for the governments to reduce fiscal deficits should not solely focus on one component.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Instead, a holistic performance of all entities viewed from all angles of expenditure quality, revenue receipts quality, and fiscal prudence should be taken into consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CII is a non-government,<strong> not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization</strong>, playing a proactive role in India's development process.</li>
<li><strong>Founded in 1895</strong>, India's premier business association has around 9000 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from around 276 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.</li>
<li>It works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, Government, and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fiscal-performance-index'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'A rocky road for strategic partners',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(This editorial is based on the article ''<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-rocky-road-for-strategic-partners/article27429419.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A rocky road for strategic partners</a>'' which appeared in ''The Hindu'' on 4th June 2019. The article talks about changing dynamics in India-Us relations.)</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<p>The U.S. administration&rsquo;s insensitive approach towards its allies in Western Europe by attacking the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU), threatening to impose tariffs on EU goods in connection with trade disputes and Europe&rsquo;s relations with Russia, and Washington&rsquo;s unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal seems to be part of a pattern progressively visible in American foreign policy in which bullying friends has become the name of the game.</p>
<p>The similar actions by U.S. administration towards India have threatened the foundation of trust and flexibility on which India-U.S. relations are premised.</p>
<h3><strong>India-US Relations</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-US relations</a> began taking shape after India got independence from Britain in 1947. The immediate relations were overshadowed by Cold War politics.</li>
<li>The Indo-Soviet friendship and the US-Pak alliance were the two major irritants in the relations of both the countries. Though &lsquo;aid relations&rsquo; prevailed during the 1950s and 1960s, New Delhi and Washington saw each other on opposite sides of the fence during this period.</li>
<li>Dramatic turn occurred in the 1990s when the Cold War terminated with the disintegration of the Soviet Union and US-Pak relations nosedived, because of the latter&rsquo;s clandestine nuclear programme.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>What prompted the thaw in relations</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The end of the Cold War provided an opportunity to both countries to review their relationship in the light of changing global and regional realities.</li>
<li>Second, with the opening of the Indian economy, the American private sector began to look at India with greater interest. Trade grew and today stands at more than $120 billion a year with an ambitious target of touching $500 billion in five years.</li>
<li>The third factor is the political coming of age of the three-million-strong Indian diaspora. Its influence can be seen in the bipartisan composition of the India Caucus in the U.S. Congress and the Senate Friends of India group.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Relations Post-1998</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's nuclear tests in May 1998 brought this cooperation to a complete halt as the US imposed severe trade sanctions on India and it also withheld spares for the Indian Naval ships&rsquo; equipment undergoing repairs and overhaul in the UK.</li>
<li>However, this changed significantly after Bill Clinton&rsquo;s visit of India in 2000, after he recognised India of its new-found status after its nuclear tests, that is, India was a now a major power because of its nuclear capability.</li>
<li>India-U.S. bilateral relations since then have developed into a "global strategic partnership", based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.</li>
<li>The emphasis placed by the Government in India on development and good governance has created opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and enhance cooperation with the US.</li>
<li>The Indo-US defence relationship gained momentum after the signing of the New Framework for Defence Cooperation in 2005 and more particularly after the US Congress passed the Hyde Act in December 2006 also known as India Us civil nuclear deal to enable bilateral cooperation on nuclear issues.</li>
<li>In recent times India had come to be seen as a pillar of American policy in Asia. The term &lsquo;Indo-Pacific region&rsquo; has come to replace the term &lsquo;Asia-Pacific region&rsquo; in American foreign policy jargon.</li>
<li>The Pentagon has too changed the name of the U.S. Pacific Command to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, emphasising not only the strategic linkage between the Indian and Pacific Oceans but also the geopolitical prominence of India in the U.S.&rsquo;s Asian strategy.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Areas of cooperation</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Counter-terrorism and internal security</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Cooperation in counter-terrorism has seen considerable progress with intelligence sharing, information exchange, operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology and equipment. India-U.S. Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Initiative was signed in 2010 to expand collaboration on counter-terrorism, information sharing and capacity building.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade and Economic</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>India-US bilateral trade in goods and services has increased from $104 billion in 2014 to $114 billion in 2016. Two-way merchandise trade stood at $66.7 billion. Of this, India&rsquo;s exports of goods to the US were valued at $46 billion and India&rsquo;s imports of goods from the US were valued at $21.7 billion. Both countries have also made a commitment to facilitate actions necessary for increasing the bilateral trade to $500 billion.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Science &amp; Technology (S&amp;T)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The India-U.S. S&amp;T cooperation has been steadily growing under the framework of U.S.-India Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in October 2005. There is an Indo-U.S. Science &amp; Technology Joint Commission, co-chaired by the Science Advisor to U.S. President and Indian Minister of Science and Technology.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>People to people ties</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The 3.5-million-plus strong Indian American community is an important ethnic group in the U.S., accounting for about 1% of the total population in the country. Indian American community includes a large number of professionals, business entrepreneurs and educationalists with increasing influence in the society.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foundational agreements signed between India and US</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). It allows militaries to share the intelligence gathered by them. It was signed by India in 2002.</li>
<li>Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). It allows both countries to have access to each other&rsquo;s designated military facilities for refuelling and replenishment. It was signed by India in 2016.</li>
<li>COMCASA(Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) is the India specific version of CISMOA (Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement). COMCASA aims to provide a legal framework for the transfer of highly sensitive communication security equipment from the US to India that will streamline and facilitate interoperability between their armed forces. The agreement is valid for 10 years and was signed by India in 2018.</li>
<li>Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is the fourth foundational agreement which is yet to be signed by India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3><strong>Roadblocks</strong></h3>
<p>However, Indo-US relations have seen a reversed course in recent months. U.S. unilateral actions on three fronts have simultaneously demonstrated what amounts to downgrading India in American strategy.</p>
<p><strong>Jeopardizing India's time tested relations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The U.S. government has opposed India's import of S-400 missile defence system from Russia for which a deal has already been signed by India and Russia.</li>
<li>U.S. has argued that India&rsquo;s purchase of the S-400 systems will violate the Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a U.S. federal law that requires the country to impose sanctions on states entering into major military deals with Russia.</li>
<li>If India buckles under American pressure and cancels the S-400 deal, it will have major negative implications for India&rsquo;s relations with Russia, its largest arms supplier and a time-tested friend.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India's Energy Woes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>US government's decision not to renew the exemption that it had granted India and seven other countries regarding import of Iranian oil will severely impact India's energy requirement which stands at 10% of India's total oil import.</li>
<li>Iran is not only important for India's energy requirements but is also has strategic importance in Indian foreign policy.</li>
<li>Iran&rsquo;s strategic location and the common concerns of both countries regarding the future of Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan make Tehran an ideal geopolitical ally of New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Trade hurdles</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Another important development has been U.S. government's decision to remove India from the preferential trade programme, known as the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which gives developing countries easier access to the U.S. market and lowers U.S. duties on their exports.</li>
<li>India is the largest beneficiary nation under the GSP scheme, and exported goods worth $6.35 billion to the U.S. under the preferential regime last year. This is close to 10% of the goods exported by India to the U.S.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is on its way to become a global power and it is important for it, therefore, maintain its strategic autonomy and hence should look to balance between American demands, long-term friendship with Russia and its own strategic necessities in the neighbourhood and beyond.</li>
<li>It should seize maximum opportunities from its relations with global powers while not putting its trust on entirely one nation which might create overdependence on one partner and ultimately underserve Indian interests.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>',
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	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => '2019 Prelims Analysis',
		'catname' => 'Prelims Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><em><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #52a300;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">&nbsp;<a href="/images/pdf/GS%20Paper-I%20(2019).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ffffff;">Prelims 2019 Question Paper</span></a>&nbsp;</span></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: #00a69d;"><a href="/images/pdf/GS%20Paper-I%20English%202019%20Answer%20key.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-color: #e31e1e;">&nbsp;Prelims 2019 Answer Key</span></span></a><span style="background-color: #e31e1e;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></em></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #00a69d;"><em><span style="font-size: 14px; background-color: #00a69d;">&nbsp;<a href="/images/pdf/GS-Paper-II-English-CSAT-2019-Answer-key.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="background-color: #00a69d;"><span style="color: #ffffff;">CSAT 2019 Answer Key</span></a>&nbsp;</span></em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li align="JUSTIFY">Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.</li>
<li align="JUSTIFY">Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">(a) 1 only</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">(b) 2 only</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p align="JUSTIFY"><strong>Exp:</strong> In Mughal India, Jagirdars under Mansabdari system were assigned land in lieu of assigned duties towards the empire such as police,judicial,military; Zamindars too apart from revenue collecting duties had to render military duties and perform Khidmat such as rendering soldiers to fill the ranks of royal army at times of need and offer gifts at the royal court.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Jagirdars were frequently transferred as promotion and demotion was a regular part of empire as loyalties towards Emperor were largely dependent on the rank of jagir/mansab held by a Noble; on the other hand, Zamindars had hereditary rights over revenue as their sway over rural society was overarching in all aspects which rested on paternal and patronage application of rituals.</p>
<p align="JUSTIFY">Source: <span>refer to Class 7 ncert (CH-4) FOR MANSABDAR/JAGIRDAR (pg 51-52) &amp; Class 12 NCERT-P-2 (pg 211-213)</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>2. With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #000000;">(b) The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.</span></strong></p>
<p>(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.</p>
<p>(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong><span>The Land reform constitutes the most important measures to improve the economic con&shy;dition of agricultural tenants.The Land reforms program in post-Independence India has evolved through different phases and these includes Abolition of Intermediaries, Tenancy reforms, consolidation of holdings and determination of holdings per family, imposition of ceilings with fewer exemptions, and to distribute surplus land among landless peoples. Hence Option (B) is correct.</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>DLP Book for UPPCS Mains/ Indian Economy-I/Chapter: Land Reforms</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>3.&nbsp;The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) International Monetary Fund</p>
<p>(b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development</p>
<p><strong>(c) World Economic Forum</strong></p>
<p>(d) World Bank</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) is a yearly report published by the World Economic Forum.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-competitveness-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-competitveness-report-2018</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol I Pg 119</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>4.&nbsp;Consider the following statements about &lsquo;the Charter Act of 1813&rsquo;:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.</li>
<li>It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.</li>
<li>The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Charter Act of 1813 ended trade monopoly of East India company in India except for trade in tea and trade in China. Further it also asserted sovereignty of British Crown over the Indian territories held by company. However the Company was to retain the possession of territories and revenues for 20 years more without prejudice to British Crown.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Spectrum modern India page 566-567, BL Grover page 370</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>5. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries.</li>
<li>The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Swadeshi Movement had its genesis in opposition to the partition of Bengal in 1905. It emphasised on self-reliance thus contributing to revival of indigenous artisans craft and industries. In August 1906 the National Council of Education was established to provide an impetus to program of national education as a part of Swadeshi movement.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Bipan Chandra page 130-131</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>6.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 323px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Movement/Organization</strong></td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Leader</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 36px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 287px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">All India Anti-Untouchability&nbsp;League</td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Mahatma&nbsp;Gandhi</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 36px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 287px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">All India Kisan Sabha</td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Swami&nbsp;Sahajanand&nbsp;Saraswati</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 36px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 287px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Self-Respect&nbsp;Movement&nbsp;Naicker</td>
<td style="width: 224px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">E.V.&nbsp;Ramaswami&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Mahatma Gandhi set up All India Anti-Untouchability league in 1932 which later transformed into Harijan Sevak Sangh. All India Kisan Sabha was founded by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in 1936 to spearhead peasant movements in colonial India. E V Ramaswamy Naicker started Self respect movement against untouchability in 1925.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Spectrum modern India pg 438, Bipan Chandra pg 344, Ncert 8 page 119</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>7. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Chanhudaro</p>
<p>(b) Kot Diji</p>
<p><strong>(c) Sohgaura</strong></p>
<p>(d) Desalpur</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Kot Diji (now in Pakistan) was an early Harappan site. Chanhudaro (Pakistan) and Desalpur (Gujarat) are mature Harappan sites.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Upinder Singh page146</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>8.&nbsp;In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is &lsquo;Ranyo Ashoka&rsquo; (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Kanganahalli</strong></p>
<p>(b) Sanchi</p>
<p>(c) Shahbazagrhi</p>
<p>(d) Sohgaura</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Kanaganahalli in Karnataka is the site with an inscription in Brahmi script reading Ranyo Ashoka and a sculpture of King Ashoka.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Upinder Singh page 333</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>9.&nbsp;Consider the following:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Deification of the Buddha</li>
<li>Treading the path of Bodhisattvas</li>
<li>Image worship and rituals</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Mahayana Buddhism promoted devotional support, Deification of Buddha, icon worship and rituals and treading path of Bodhisattvas.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Ncert 12th pg 103, Ncert 6th pg 103</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>10.&nbsp;With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.</strong></p>
<p>(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.</p>
<p>(c) The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.</p>
<p>(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Vishti was considered as a source of income for the state, a sort of tax by the people.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Upinder Singh page 508</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>11.&nbsp;Building &lsquo;Kalyaana Mandapas&rsquo; was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Chalukya</p>
<p>(b) Chandela</p>
<p>(c) Rashtrakuta</p>
<p><strong>(d) Vijayanagara</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In the Vittala Temple of Hampi, pavilions or mandapas that were meant to celebrate the marriages of dieties were known as Kalyan Mandapa.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.asihampiminicircle.in/vitthala-temple/%20ASI%20website" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.asihampiminicircle.in/vitthala-temple/%20ASI%20website</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>12.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as &lsquo;Amil&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The lqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.</li>
<li>The office of &lsquo;Mir Bakshi&rsquo; came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In the Delhi Sultanate, the task of collecting revenue directly from peasant and measurement of land rested on Amils.</p>
<p>Iqta system evolved in West Asia significantly in Persia</p>
<p>Mir Bhakshi was the head of militiary department in Mughal India whereas in Delhi Sultanate, Ariz under Diwan-i-arz (set up by Balban) was improved by Alauddin Khalji as he introduced Dagh system which was aimed to improve Horse quality as well as eliminate fake numbering.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Satish Chandra History of Medieval India (800-1700) pg 74, Medieval India old Ncert pg 96, 201, 83</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>13.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.</li>
<li>Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Nimbarka was a 13th century philosphical Saint whereas Akbar's time period was 1556-1605;Saint Kabir was 15th century poet whereas Sirhindi was in 17th century.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Ncert 12th pg 167<a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nimbarka-Indian-philosopher"></a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nimbarka-Indian-philosopher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nimbarka-Indian-philosopher</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>14.&nbsp;With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of &lsquo;indentured labour</li>
<li>In Lord Chelmsford&rsquo;s &lsquo;War Conference&rsquo;, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.</li>
<li>Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In South Africa, Gandhi in opposition to compulsory registration of Indian population under Asiatic Law Amendment Act of the Transvaal government organised non-violent protest which led to passing of Indian Relief Act 1914- which eliminated extra tax on Indian citizens who had not renewed their indentures and recognised validity of Indian marriages.</p>
<p>In the Young India article dated 27 Nov ,1920 - &ldquo;To Every Englishmen In India&rdquo;, Gandhi quoted his recruiting campaign which was carried out in Kaira District (Gujarat) in support of British Cause in World War I according to the promise made in War Conference of Delhi.</p>
<p>As the Salt March ended in month of April 1930, between June and August several Congress Working Committees and leaders were arrested and Congress as an political was declared illegal by the British Administration.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>(Source: Bipan Chandra-pg 279) <a href="http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190325-the-birthplace-of-gandhis-peaceful-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.bb`c.com/travel/story/20190325-the-birthplace-of-gandhis-peaceful-protest</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/eduresources/article6.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/eduresources/article6.htm</a></span></p>
<p><span>Bipin Chandra&nbsp;pg-279</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>15.&nbsp;With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 222px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Person</strong></td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Position held</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 26px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 196px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru</td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">President, All India&nbsp;&nbsp;Liberal Federation</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 26px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 196px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">K.C. Neogy</td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Member, The Constituent Assembly</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 26px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 196px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">P.C. Joshi</td>
<td style="width: 364px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">General Secretary, Communist Party of India</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Tej Bahadur Sapru was a prominent member of Liberal Party of India and the President of All India Liberal Federation. KC Neogy was a memeber of Constituent Assembly and also the Chairman of First Finance Commision. P.C Joshi was the General Secretary of Communist Party of India.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>16. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.</strong></p>
<p>(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses.</p>
<p>(c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons.</p>
<p>(d) Tansen invented many Ragas.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Tansen was the title given by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. Tansen was a court musician in the darbar of Raja Ramachandra of Bandavagarh (Rewa).</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-legend-of-mian-tansen/article22893454.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-legend-of-mian-tansen/article22893454.ece</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>17.&nbsp;Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Humayun</p>
<p>(b) Akbar</p>
<p><strong>(c) Jahangir</strong></p>
<p>(d) Shah Jahan</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>During Akbar's reign many manuscripts were illustrated, the prominent being Razmnamah, the Persian translation of Mahabharata. It was during Jahangir's reign that manuscripts became less important and individual portraits became more prominent.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Pearson Indian history Manual, NCERT 12th Kings and Chronicles</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>18.&nbsp;Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Manas National Park</p>
<p>(b) Namdapha National Park</p>
<p>(c) Neora Valley National Park</p>
<p><strong>(d) Valley of Flowers National Park</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Valley of Flowers national park located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora.Situated approximately 3255m above sea level, this splendid park is spread across 87.5 sq km of land.</p>
<p>The valley has three sub-alpine between 3,200m and 3,500m which is the limit for trees, lower alpine between 3,500m and 3,700m, and higher alpine above 3,700m.</p>
<p>The rich diversity of species reflects the valley's location within a transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalayas ranges to the north and south, respectively, and between the Eastern Himalaya and Western Himalaya flora.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://forest.uk.gov.in/pages/view/159-valley-of-flowers-national-park-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://forest.uk.gov.in/pages/view/159-valley-of-flowers-national-park-</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>19.&nbsp;Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Department of Science and Technology</p>
<p>(b) Ministry of Labour and Employment</p>
<p><strong>(c) NITI Aayog</strong></p>
<p>(d) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>AlM's objectives are to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels. The Mission has been set up under NITI Aayog, in accordance with the Hon'ble Finance Minister's declaration in the 2015 Budget Speech.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189295" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189295</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong></span><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;">Tarkash Vol I Pg 56, 75, 223</span></span></p>
<p><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)</a></span></span></p>
<p><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/niti-aayog-annual-report-2017-18" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/summary-of-important-reports/niti-aayog-annual-report-2017-18</a></span></span></p>
<p><span><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)</a></span><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/niti-aayog-annual-report-2017-18"></a><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(13th%20October%202018)"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>20.&nbsp;On 21<sup>st</sup> June, the Sun</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle</strong></p>
<p>(b) does not set below the horizon at Antarctic Circle</p>
<p>(c) shines vertically overhead at noon on the Equator</p>
<p>(d) shines vertically overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>21st June is the longest day of the year as countries lying to the north of the equator, including India, witness &lsquo;Summer Solstice&rsquo;.The &lsquo;summer solstice&rsquo; occurs exactly when the earth&rsquo;s axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23 degrees 26&rsquo;.During &lsquo;summer solstice&rsquo;, the Northern Hemisphere witnesses its longest day of the year while the Southern Hemisphere sees its shortest day.</p>
<p>On the June solstice, the Earth&rsquo;s North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the sun. At this time, the sun appears directly overhead at 23.5 degrees north latitude, along the Tropic of Cancer.</p>
<p>Around the Arctic Circle, the location of sunrise and sunset start to converge in the northern sky, until eventually the sun never sinks below the horizon. Hence, the appearance of the midnight sun.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>21.&nbsp;Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the &lsquo;New World&rsquo; and introduced into the 'Old World'?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber</strong></p>
<p>(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber</p>
<p>(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane</p>
<p>(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>"New World" means the Americas which were discovered by European Powers such as Spain, Portuguese and French; Tobacco, Cocoa and Rubber were native crops of Americas and were introduced in the Old World (Asia).&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>22.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.</li>
<li>Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.</li>
<li>One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Asiatic lions that once ranged from Persia (Iran) to Palamau in Eastern India were almost driven to extinction by indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss. A single population of less than 50 lions persisted in the Gir forests of Gujarat by late 1890's. With timely and stringent protection offered by the State Government and the Center Government, Asiatic lions have increased to the current population of over 500 numbers. Hence, statement 1 is correct. The double-hump camel is a native of Gobi desert, and is found on a vast expanse of cold-desert areas across Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and parts of Afghanistan. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct. The populations of one horned rhinoceros have increased to around 3,500 rhinos in northeastern India and the Terai grasslands of Nepal. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186688</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/india-interior/two-humps-one-job-in-nubra-valley/article7900544.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/india-interior/two-humps-one-job-in-nubra-valley/article7900544.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/greater-one-horned-rhino" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/greater-one-horned-rhino</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-march-2019" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-march-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asiatic-lion-conservation-project</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>23.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="height: 68px; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 157px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Famous place </strong></td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>River</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 25px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 132px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Pandharpur</td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Chandrabhaga</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 25px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 132px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Tiruchirappalli</td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Cauvery</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 25px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 132px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Hampi</td>
<td style="width: 134px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Malaprabha</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Pandharpur is a holy place of Shri.Vitthal and Shri.Rukmini. It is also known as the Southern Kashi of India and Kuldaivat of Maharashtra State. The Chandrabhaga (Bhima) river flows through the City.Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas.</p>
<p>Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India located near Hospet town in the Karnataka state, on south bank of Tungabhadra river.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://solapur.gov.in/en/tourist-place/pandharpur/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://solapur.gov.in/en/tourist-place/pandharpur/</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>24.&nbsp;In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) poverty rates vary from State to State</p>
<p><strong>(b) price levels vary from State to State</strong></p>
<p>(c) Gross State Product varies from State to State</p>
<p>(d) quality of public distribution varies from State to State</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>These poverty lines would vary from State to State because of inter-state price differentials</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://planningcommission.nic.in/news/pre_pov2307.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://planningcommission.nic.in/news/pre_pov2307.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>25.&nbsp;In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Creating the artificial rains in some regions</p>
<p>(b) Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones</p>
<p>(c) Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth</p>
<p><strong>(d) Reducing the global warming</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Geo-engineering approach to reversing global warming &ndash; &lsquo;The intentional reduction of the coverage and optical thickness of high-level cirrus cloud could potentially reduce global warming by modifying the longwave radiative effect of cirrus clouds.&rsquo;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/a-cocktail-geo-engineering-approach-to-reversing-global-warming-4805937/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/a-cocktail-geo-engineering-approach-to-reversing-global-warming-4805937/</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6364967/Could-thinning-clouds-combat-climate-change-Scientists-propose-radical-plan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6364967/Could-thinning-clouds-combat-climate-change-Scientists-propose-radical-plan.html</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol I Pg 268; Tarkash Vol II Pg 125</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmospheric-geoengineering-experiment-to-curb-global-warming" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmospheric-geoengineering-experiment-to-curb-global-warming</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>26.&nbsp;In the context of which one of the following arc the terms &lsquo;pyrolysis and plasma gasification&rsquo; mentioned?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Extraction of rare earth elements</p>
<p>(b) Natural gas extraction technologies</p>
<p>(c) Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles</p>
<p><strong>(d) Waste-to-energy technologies</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In developing Three-Year Action Agenda (2017-18 to 2019-20), the Niti Aayog has drawn a broader framework for addressing the issue of municipal solid waste (MSW). The solution being suggested by the Action Agenda is twin-fold: waste-to-energy incinerators for bigger municipalities and composting method of waste disposal for small towns and semi-urban areas. While proposing incineration as a solution, the Niti Aayog has also assessed the benefit-cost ratio of thermal pyrolysis and plasma gasification technologies.</p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>27.&nbsp;Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Neyyar, ldl Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve</strong></p>
<p>(b) Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park</p>
<p>(c) Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park</p>
<p>(d) Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The agasthyamalai biosphere is located in the Western Ghats in the south of the country. Consisting mostly of tropical forest, the site is home to 2,254 species of higher plants including about 400 that are endemic. It is also a unique genetic reservoir of cultivated plants, in particular cardamom, jamune, nutmeg, pepper and plantain. Three wildlife sanctuaries, Shendurney, Peppara and Neyyar, are located in the site, as well as the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/india/agasthyamala/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/india/agasthyamala/</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-january-2019" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-january-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>28.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Some species of turtles are herbivores.</li>
<li>Some species of fish are herbivores.</li>
<li>Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.</li>
<li>Some species of snakes viviparous.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above arc correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Green sea turtles eat seagrasses and algae, though juveniles snack on crabs, sponges, and jellyfish. Parrotfish are algae eaters. They obtain the algae by ripping small chunks of coral from a reef. The fish's grinding teeth, located in its throat, pulverize the coral. The teeth allow the fish to extract the algae from the center of the polyp inside.Manatees, sometimes called sea cows, are large mammals that live in warm sea waters. They live in shallow coastal areas and feed on sea vegetation. Snakes that are viviparous nourish their developing young through a placenta and yolk sac, something that is highly unusual among reptiles.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://sciencing.com/list-herbivores-ocean-8599405.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://sciencing.com/list-herbivores-ocean-8599405.html</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>29.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 207px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Wildlife</strong></td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Naturally found in</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 28px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 179px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Blue-finned Mahseer</td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Cauvery River</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 28px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 179px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Irrawaddy Dolphin</td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Chambal River</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 28px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 179px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Rusty-spotted Cat</td>
<td style="width: 178px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Eastern Ghats</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Western Ghats region is famous for freshwater biodiversity. Mahseer, belonging to the genus Tor, is considered a prized sports fish of great cultural value.In the Cauvery the Mahseer community comprises two varieties&mdash;a &ldquo;blue-finned&rdquo; fish and an &ldquo;orange-finned, hump-backed&rdquo; one. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched. Irrawaddy dolphins are distributed in shallow, near-shore tropical and subtropical marine waters. They are primarily found in estuaries and semi-enclosed water bodies such as bays and sounds, usually close to mangrove forests. Hence, pair 2 is NOT correctly matched. Forests of the Eastern Ghats are home to some endangered and lesser-known mammal species like the Fishing Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Indian Pangolin etc. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/iconic-indian-fish-on-the-verge-of-extinction-says-study-49802" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/iconic-indian-fish-on-the-verge-of-extinction-says-study-49802</a></p>
<p><span><a href="http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/irrawaddy_dolphin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/irrawaddy_dolphin/</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/road-ecology-the-road-less-travelled/article24585647.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/road-ecology-the-road-less-travelled/article24585647.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol II Pg 153, 155</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>30.&nbsp;Why is there a great concern about the &lsquo;microbeads' that are released into environment?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.</strong></p>
<p>(b) They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.</p>
<p>(c) They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.</p>
<p>(d) They are often found to be used as food adulterants.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm and don&rsquo;t degrade or dissolve in water. They may be added to a range of products, including rinse-off cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. They are considered harmful to marine and aquatic ecosystem.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/plastics-and-packaging/plastic-microbeads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/plastics-and-packaging/plastic-microbeads</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong>Tarkash Vol I Pg 267</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-biodiversity-warning-bells" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-biodiversity-warning-bells</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-world-environment-day-identify-the-dangers-of-the-plastic-era" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-world-environment-day-identify-the-dangers-of-the-plastic-era</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>31.&nbsp;Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) anti-malarial drug</p>
<p>(b) biodiesel</p>
<p>(c) pulp for paper industry</p>
<p><strong>(d) textile fibre</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Himalayan nettle(Girardinia diversifolia) is found to be a sustainable source of textile fiber. The fabric and the things made from it. For the Himalayan Indian Nettle, Government of india has granted approval for a project titled Development of products from Himalayan Indian nettle to Department of Jute and Fibre Technology, Institute of Jute Technology, University of Kolkata.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=159342" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=159342</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>32.&nbsp;For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location</li>
<li>Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location</li>
<li>Land surface temperatures of a specific location</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 Only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1: The Sentinel satellite of the European Space Agency has certain specific spectral characteristics that can be used to measure even the chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location. Correct.</p>
<p>Statement 2: Estimation of Methane Emissions from Rice Paddies in the Mekong Delta Based on Land Surface Dynamics Characterization with Remote Sensing. Correct.</p>
<p>Statement 3: The land surface temperature of a specific location can be measured with the help of satellite images/ remote sensing data. Correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/science-and-technology/-remote-sensing-is-being-used-to-predict-crop-growing-seasons--56372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/science-and-technology/-remote-sensing-is-being-used-to-predict-crop-growing-seasons--56372</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong></span><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-to-launch-state-of-the-art-satellites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="background-color: #ffff99;">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-to-launch-state-of-the-art-satellites</span></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>33.&nbsp;Consider the following States:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Chhattisgarh</li>
<li>Madhya Pradesh</li>
<li>Maharashtra</li>
<li>Odisha</li>
</ol>
<p>With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?</p>
<p>(a) 2-3-1-4</p>
<p>(b) 2-3-4-1</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3-2-4-1</strong></p>
<p>(d) 3-2-1-4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>India state of forest report 2017</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;"><strong>State</strong></td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;"><strong>Percentage of forest cover to the total area <em>(Approximate data)</em></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">1. Chattisgarh</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">2. MP</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">3. Maharashtra</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">16</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 181px; height: 19px;">4. Orissa</td>
<td style="width: 343px; height: 19px; text-align: center;">32</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Hence, correct ascending order- (3-2-4-1)</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://fsi.nic.in/isfr2017/isfr-forest-cover-2017.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://fsi.nic.in/isfr2017/isfr-forest-cover-2017.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>34.&nbsp;Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of &lsquo;methane hydrate&rsquo;?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.</li>
<li>Large deposits of &lsquo;methane hydrate&rsquo; are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor.</li>
<li>Methane in atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 is correct - Methane escaping from disturbed undersea hydrates may be an ecological threat. Even if a small portion of these methane hydrate deposits decompose through natural processes, large quantities of methane will be released to exacerbate global warming.</p>
<p>Statement 2 is correct - Methane hydrates tend to form along the lower margins of continental slopes, where the seabed drops from the relatively shallow shelf, usually to about 150 metres below the sea surface. The susceptibility of gas hydrates to warming climate depends on the duration of the warming event, their depth beneath the seafloor or tundra surface, and the amount of warming required to heat sediments to the point of dissociating gas hydrates.</p>
<p>Statement 3 is correct - The problem with methane is that it does not vanish without a trace, even though it remains in the atmosphere relatively briefly - 10 years on an average. In the presence of free oxygen, a methane molecules single atom of carbon disengages from its four hydrogen atoms to become carbon dioxide.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/burning-ice-17856" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/burning-ice-17856</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iit-madras-team-produces-gas-hydrates</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-at-risk-of-becoming-hothouse" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-at-risk-of-becoming-hothouse</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>35.&nbsp;Consider the following:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Carbon monoxide</li>
<li>Methane</li>
<li>Ozone</li>
<li>Sulphur dioxide</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Explanation-Burning of crop residues emits traces of carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulates which affect human health.</p>
<p>Punjab and Haryana are both responsible for causing air pollution due to burning. These two states contribute to 48 per cent of the total emission due to paddy burning across India.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> The majority of tropospheric ozone formation occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as xylene, react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.isca.in/EARTH_SCI/Archive/v1/i1/4.ISCA-IRJES-2013-005.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.isca.in/EARTH_SCI/Archive/v1/i1/4.ISCA-IRJES-2013-005.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/paddy-burning-ngt-orders-fine-imposition-on-erring-farmers-51698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/paddy-burning-ngt-orders-fine-imposition-on-erring-farmers-51698</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>36.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs:</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 205px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Sea</strong></td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>Bordering Country</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Adriatic Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Albania</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Black Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Croatia</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Caspian Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Kazakhstan</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Mediterranean Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Morocco</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 30px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">5.</td>
<td style="width: 175px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Red Sea</td>
<td style="width: 124px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Syria</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 1, 3 and 4 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 2 and 5 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Adriatic Sea is a part of the Mediterranean Sea positioned between the eastern coastline of Italy, and countries of the Balkan Peninsula, from Slovenia, South through Croatia, Montenegro, and to Albania. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.</p>
<p>The Black Sea is an inland sea located between far-southeastern Europe and the far-western edges of the continent of Asia and the country of Turkey. It's bordered by Turkey, and by Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. this rules out options a, c and d, leaving the correct answer to be option B through elimination method.</p>
<p>Caspian Sea is an enclosed body of water between Asia and Europe. It is bordered by Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia,</p>
<p>Morocco&rsquo;s Mediterranean coast represents the westernmost edge of the Northern African coast. The coastline features the Strait of Gibraltar that marks the link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.</p>
<p>There are six countries (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti) bordering the Red Sea.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldatlas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.worldatlas.com/</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-central-asia-relations" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/india-central-asia-relations</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>37.&nbsp;Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) China</p>
<p><strong>(b) India</strong></p>
<p>(c) Myanmar</p>
<p>(d) Vietnam</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>India has been the world&rsquo;s top rice exporter since the beginning of this decade. India emerged the world&rsquo;s largest rice exporter in 2011-12, displacing Thailand from its leadership position.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>India Today, The Hindu, Economic Times, Worldatlas.com </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>38.&nbsp;Consider the following pairs</strong></span></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 187px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;" colspan="2"><strong>Glacier</strong></td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;"><strong>River</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Bandarpunch</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Yamuna</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Bara Shigri</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Chenab</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Milam</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Mandakini</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Siachen</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Nubra</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;">
<td style="width: 49px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">5.</td>
<td style="width: 138px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Zemu</td>
<td style="width: 107px; height: 17px; border-style: solid;">Manas</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p>Which of the pairs correctly matched?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1, 2 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 5</p>
<p>(d) 3 and 5</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>An important glacier of Yamuna river basin is Bandarpunch Glacier in the Garhwal division of the Himalayas. It is 12 km long situated on the Northern slopes of Bandarpunch West, Khatling peak and Bandarpunch peak the glacier is formed by three cirque glaciers and then join the river of Yamuna. Hence, 1 is correctly matched</p>
<p>Bara Shigri is the largest glacier located in Lahaul Spiti region in Chandra Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It is a 30-km long glacier, the second longest glacier in the Himalayas after Gangotri. It flows northwards and feeds the Chenab river. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.</p>
<p>Milam Glacier in Munsiyari, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand is the source of Gori Ganga River and not of Mandakini River. Gori Ganga is also an important tributary of Kali River. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.</p>
<p>At an altitude of roughly 5,400 meters (17,700 feet), the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir is a forbidding place. At much lower altitudes, the glacier&rsquo;s impact is benign: it is the source of the Nubra River, a tributary of the Indus River flowing into Pakistan and the Arabian Sea. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.</p>
<p>The Zemu glacier is the largest in the Eastern Himalayas in Sikkim. It is at the base of the Kanchendzonga and is one of the sources for the Teesta not Manas river. Teesta is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.Hence, Statement 5 is not correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.visituttrakhand.com/bandarpunch-glacier-trek.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.visituttrakhand.com/bandarpunch-glacier-trek.php</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>39.&nbsp;In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) pesticides in agriculture</strong></p>
<p>(b) preservatives in processed foods</p>
<p>(c) fruit-ripening agents</p>
<p>(d) moisturising agents in cosmetics</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Carbofuran, Phorate and Triazophos are pesticides used in agriculture.</p>
<p>To promote organic farming in Kerala, the state agriculture department had ordered a ban on the use of pesticides on May 7. Kerala Agriculture University was asked to provide alternatives to the banned pesticides, which include carbofuran, phorate, methyl parathion, monocrotophos, methyl demethon, prophenophos and triazophos. The university suggested less hazardous pesticides, like acephate, carbaryl, dimethoate and flubendiamide. Hence option A is correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pesticide-ban-lands-kerala-in-court-33657" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pesticide-ban-lands-kerala-in-court-33657</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>40.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.</li>
<li>The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.</li>
<li>The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 is Not correct- Under Ramsar Convention it is mandatory on the part of government of India to protect only Ramsar Sites and not all the wetlands in India.</p>
<p>Statement 3 is Correct- Under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management Rules), 2010, Wetland" means an area or of marsh, fen, peatland or water; natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres and includes all inland waters such as lakes, reservoir, tanks, backwaters, lagoon, creeks, estuaries and man made wetland and the zone of direct influence on wetlands that is to say the drainage area or catchment region of the wetlands as determined by the authority but does not include main river channels, paddy fields and the coastal wetland.</p>
<p>Due to confusion on veracity of statement 2, we are yet to arrive at definite a conclusion.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/towards-wetland-conservation-33192" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/towards-wetland-conservation-33192</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/106740276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiankanoon.org/doc/106740276/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>41.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.</li>
<li>Cattle release ammonia into environment.</li>
<li>Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds environment.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/arc correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 is correct: Agricultural soils contributed to over 70% of N2O emissions from India in 2010, followed by waste water (12%) and residential and commercial activities (6%).</p>
<p>Statement 2 is correct: Cattle account for 80% of the ammonia production and India is globally the biggest source of ammonia emission, nearly double that of NOx emissions.</p>
<p>Statement 3 is correct: The poultry industry, with an annual growth rate of 6%, recorded an excretion of reactive nitrogen compounds of 0.415 tonnes in 2016.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/nitrogen-emissions-going-up-study/article24090131.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/nitrogen-emissions-going-up-study/article24090131.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>42.&nbsp;What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Recently discovered uranium deposits</p>
<p>(b) Tropical rain forests</p>
<p>(c) Underground cave systems</p>
<p><strong>(d) Water reservoirs</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Aliyar (Tamil Nadu) Isapur (Maharashtra) and Kangsabati (West Bengal) are water reservoirs, where water level reached much below the normal capacity.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/water-level-in-91-reservoirs-at-36-per-cent-of-total-capacity-southern-states-most-affected-59826">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/water-level-in-91-reservoirs-at-36-per-cent-of-total-capacity-southern-states-most-affected-59826</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>43.&nbsp;In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The main advantage of the use of H-CNG is the elimination of carbon monoxide emissions.</li>
<li>H-CNG as fuel reduces carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions.</li>
<li>Hydrogen up to one-fifth by volume can be blended with CNG as fuel for buses.</li>
<li>H-CNG makes the fuel less expensive than CNG.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 4 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Hydrogen-Enriched CNG (H-CNG) is a blend of hydrogen and CNG, the ideal hydrogen concentration being 18%. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.</p>
<p>Compared to conventional CNG, use of H-CNG can reduce emission of carbon monoxide up to 70%,not complete emission. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. It also reduces carbondioxide and hydrocarbon emissions. Hence, statement 2 is correct.</p>
<p>H-CNG also enables up to 5% savings in fuel efficiency. H- CNG also reduces the engines unburned hydrocarbon emissions and speed up the process of combustion.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cng-to-hydrogen-cng-why-switch-and-how-5278356/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cng-to-hydrogen-cng-why-switch-and-how-5278356/</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>44.&nbsp;Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Clouds absorb the radiation released from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</p>
<p><strong>(b) Clouds reflect back the Earth&rsquo;s radiation.</strong></p>
<p>(c) The Earth&rsquo;s surface would have low temperature on cloudy nights.</p>
<p>(d) Clouds deflect the blowing wind to ground level.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Dew is a type of precipitation where water droplets form on the ground, or on objects near the ground in a process called condensation of moisture. The favorable weather elements for dew include clear skies, light wind, decent soil moisture, and low night-time dew point depressions.</p>
<p>Dew forms when the temperature becomes equal to the dew point. This often happens first at ground level for two reasons. First, longwave emission causes the earth's surface to cool at night.Cloud cover prevent this from happening as it reflect's earth's radiation.</p>
<p>Condensation requires the temperature to decrease to the dew point. Second, the soil is often the moisture source for the dew. Warm and moist soils will help with the formation of dew as the soil cools overnight.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/fog_stuff/Dew_Frost/Dew_Frost.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/fog_stuff/Dew_Frost/Dew_Frost.htm</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>45.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of judiciary.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In 1975, Parliament passed the Thirty-ninth amendment to the Constitution which removed the authority of the Supreme Court to adjudicate petitions regarding elections of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Instead, a body constituted by Parliament would be vested with the power to resolve such election disputes.</p>
<p>So, option 1 is incorrect.</p>
<p>Supreme court struck down 99th amendment as it impinges upon the principles of &ldquo;independence of the judiciary&rdquo;, as well as, &ldquo;separation of powers&rdquo;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sci.gov.in/pdf/aorexam/List%20of%20leading%20cases%20and%20short%20notes%20given%20by%20the%20Mr.%20F.S.%20Nariman,%20Sr%20Adv%20&amp;%20Chairman,%20Bd.%20of%20Examiner%20of%20the%20AOR%20Exam%202016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.sci.gov.in/pdf/aorexam/List%20of%20leading%20cases%20and%20short%20notes%20given%20by%20the%20Mr.%20F.S.%20Nariman,%20Sr%20Adv%20&amp;%20Chairman,%20Bd.%20of%20Examiner%20of%20the%20AOR%20Exam%202016.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>46.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968.</li>
<li>The Constitution of India defines and gives details or what constitutes &lsquo;incapacity and proved misbehaviour&rsquo; of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.</li>
<li>The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in 4 the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.</li>
<li>If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2</p>
<p>(b) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 and 4 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Judges Enquiry Act (1968) regulates the procedure relating to the removal of a judge of the Supreme Court by the process of impeachment. Hence, statement 3 is correct.</p>
<ol>
<li>A removal motion signed by 100 members (in the case of Lok Sabha) or 50 members (in the case of Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/Chairman.</li>
<li>The Speaker/Chairman may admit the motion or refuse to admit it. Hence statement 1 is not correct.</li>
<li>If it is admitted, then the Speaker/Chairman is to constitute a three-member committee to investigate into the charges.</li>
<li>The committee should consist of (a) the chief justice or a judge of the Supreme Court, (b) a chief justice of a high court, and (c) a distinguished jurist.</li>
<li>If the committee finds the judge to be guilty of misbehaviour or suffering from an incapacity, the House can take up the consideration of the motion.</li>
<li>After the motion is passed by each House of Parliament by special majority, an address is presented to the president for removal of the judge. Hence, Statement 4 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect and 4 is correct by elimination we can see that only option C is correct.</li>
<li>Finally, the president passes an order removing the judge.</li>
</ol>
<p>Statement 2 is not correct: The constitution nowhere defines the term "incapacity and proved misbehaviour".</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/explainer-removal-judges-office" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/explainer-removal-judges-office</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>47.&nbsp;The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Jawaharlal Nehru</strong></p>
<p>(b) Lal Bahadur Shastri</p>
<p>(c) Indira Gandhi</p>
<p>(d) Morarji Desai</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In the aftermath of Kameshwar Singh V State of Bihar judgment, the Government got apprehensive that the whole agrarian reform programmes would be endangered. To ensure that agrarian reform legislation did not run into heavy weather, the legislature amended the Constitution in the year 1951 under the Prime ministership of Jawahar Lal Nehru which inserted Ninth Schedule.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Judges%20(Inquiry)%20/bill88_2007100588_The_Judges__Inquiry__Act_1968.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Judges%20(Inquiry)%20/bill88_2007100588_The_Judges__Inquiry__Act_1968.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>48.&nbsp;Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi.</li>
<li>Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis.</li>
<li>Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self-sufficient in coal production.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>i. Coal sector was nationalised in two phases under Indira Gandhi Government in 1972.</p>
<p>ii. The coal Blocks are allocated through Auctions not on lottery basis.</p>
<p>iii. The coal sector is the monopolistic sector in India. India holds 5th biggest coal reserves in the world but due to incapacity of coal production by monopolistic firms, it imports coals to meet the shortages of domestic supply. But, still the country is not self-sufficient of coal production.</p>
<p>Hence option (A) is correct</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://coal.nic.in/content/historybackground" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://coal.nic.in/content/historybackground</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://blog.ipleaders.in/coal-blocks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://blog.ipleaders.in/coal-blocks/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>49. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification on the grounds of &lsquo;Office of Profit&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The above-mentioned Act was amended five times.</li>
<li>The term &lsquo;Office of Profit&rsquo; is well-defined in the Constitution of India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 1 - The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification. Like&ndash;</p>
<p>(i) Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers,</p>
<p>(ii) Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Under Secretaries,</p>
<p>(iii) Deputy Chief Whips in Parliament,</p>
<p>(iv) Vice-Chancellors of Universities,</p>
<p>(v) Officers in the National Cadet Corps, and the Territorial Army, and</p>
<p>(vi) the Chairman and members of Advisory Committees set up by the Government when they are not entitled to any fee or remuneration other than compensatory Etc. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.</p>
<p>Statement 2 It has been amended 5 times since its formulation 1960, 19992,1993,2006 and 2013. Hence, statement 2 is correct.</p>
<p>Statement 3 The law or the constitution of India does not clearly define what constitutes an office of profit but the definition has evolved over the years with interpretations made in various court judgments. Hence Statement 3 is incorrect. By this information we can eliminate option b, c and d.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>50.&nbsp;Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Third Schedule</p>
<p><strong>(b) Fifth Schedule</strong></p>
<p>(c) Ninth Schedule</p>
<p>(d) Twelfth Schedule</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Grant of mineral concessions in Scheduled Areas is guided by the provisions contained in article 244 along with Fifth and Sixth Schedules to the Constitution relating to administration of the Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas and the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or any other relevant statutory acts protecting the interests of tribals.</p>
<p>Under the fifth Schedule, the Governor may by public notification direct that any particular Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State or shall apply to a Scheduled Area.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://mines.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/NMP12032019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://mines.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/NMP12032019.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>51.&nbsp;Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.</li>
<li>A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.</li>
<li>There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.</li>
<li>Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>(c) 1, 2 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>There are 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), not 95, notified as on date in the country. The criteria followed for determination of PVTGs are as under:</p>
<p>i. A pre-agriculture level of technology;</p>
<p>ii. A stagnant or declining population;</p>
<p>iii. Extremely low literacy; and</p>
<p>iv. A subsistence level of the economy. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect, which gives us option C as the correct answer by elimination method.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178257" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178257</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://tribal.nic.in/DivisionsFiles/SwLPVTGs.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://tribal.nic.in/DivisionsFiles/SwLPVTGs.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/xaxa-committee-on-tribal-communities-of-india" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/summary-of-important-reports/xaxa-committee-on-tribal-communities-of-india</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>52.&nbsp;With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The decisions taken by the. Election Commission of India while discharging its duties cannot be challenged in any court of law.</p>
<p><strong>(b) The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by the laws made by Parliament.</strong></p>
<p>(c) In the event of grave financial crisis in the country, the President of India can declare Financial Emergency without the counsel from the Cabinet.</p>
<p>(d) State Legislatures cannot make laws on certain matters without the concurrence of Union Legislature.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Article142- Enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and unless as to discovery, etc (1) The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or orders so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of<span style="color: #000000;"> India in</span> such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/500307/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiankanoon.org/doc/500307/</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/witness-protection-scheme-2018-to-the-point" style="background-color: #ffff99;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/witness-protection-scheme-2018-to-the-point</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>53.&nbsp;With referenc<span style="color: #333399;">e to</span> the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The Governor makes a customary address to Members of the House at the commencement of the first session of the year.</li>
<li>When a State Legislature does not have a rule on a particular matter, it follows the Lok Sabha rule on that matter.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;Statement 1 is correct:</strong> Article 176(1) of the Constitution of India enjoins that the Governor shall Address both the Houses assembled together at the commencement of the first Session after each general election to the Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year and inform the Legislature of the causes of its Summons.</p>
<p><strong>Statement 2 is incorrect:</strong> In case of absence of rules in particular matter, the <strong>speaker of state legislative assembly</strong>/council decides rules.</p>
<p>208. Rules of procedure</p>
<p>(1) A House of the Legislature of a State may make rules for regulating subject to the provisions of this Constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business</p>
<p>(2) Until rules are made under clause (1), the rules of procedure and standing orders in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution with respect to the Legislature for the corresponding Province shall have effect in relation to the Legislature of the State subject to such modifications and adaptations as may be made therein by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, or the Chairman of the Legislative Council, as the case may be</p>
<p>(3) In a State having a Legislative Council the Governor, after consultation with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, may make rules as to the procedure with respect to communications between the two Houses.<br /><strong></strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/695063/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiankanoon.org/doc/695063/</a><a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/500307/"></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>54. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a &lsquo;Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.</li>
<li>A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.</li>
<li>The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 2 and 4 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>(i) The protocol against the smuggling of Migrants by land, sea and air, it comes under the the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The main objective of this conventon is to fight against Transnational organized crime. <strong>Hence statement 1 is incorrect.</strong></p>
<p>(ii) The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. The Convention covers many different forms of corruption, such as bribery, trading in influence, abuse of functions, and various acts of corruption in the private sector. <strong>Hence statement 2 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>(iii) "Returning Assets to their rightful owners from whom they they have been taken illicitly", is included under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). <strong>Hence statement 3 is incorrect. Eliminating options containing statement 3 also gives us the answer, that is option C.</strong></p>
<p>(iv) The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its Member States to assist in the implementation of both Conventions,such as UNCAC and UNTOC, along with the UN Drug Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 underpin all the operational work of UNODC. <strong>Hence statement 4 is correct.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Therefore option (c) is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>United Nations Website</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>55. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.</li>
<li>As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.</li>
<li>The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill 2018 permits felling and transit of bamboo grown in non-forest areas. However, bamboo grown on forest lands would continue to be classified as a tree and would be guided by the existing legal restrictions. Hence, staement 1 is not correct. The Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 recognises bamboo as an Minor Forest Produce and vests the &ldquo;right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest pr oduce&rdquo; with Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers. Hence statement 2 is correct. In 2006, the Forest Rights Act (FRA) for the first time defined minor forest produce as including bamboo and tendu and many other things. It also gave tribals and other traditional forest dwellers the &ldquo;right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce, which has been traditionally collected within or outside village boundaries.&rdquo; Hence statement 3 is correct</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bamboo-not-a-tree-parliament-passes-bill-amending-forest-act/article22287886.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bamboo-not-a-tree-parliament-passes-bill-amending-forest-act/article22287886.ece</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>56. Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one&rsquo;s right to marry the person of one&rsquo;s choice?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Article 19</p>
<p><strong>(b) Article 21</strong></p>
<p>(c) Article 25</p>
<p>(d) Article 29</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The right to marry is a component of right to life under art 21 of constitution of India which says, &ldquo;No person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty except according to procedure established by law&rdquo;. in the context of right to marry, mention may be made of a few Indian cases. Person who suffering from venereal disease, even prior to the marriage cannot be said to have any right to marry so long as he is not fully cured of the disease.</p>
<p>In <strong>Lata singh vs state of Uttar Pradesh 2006,</strong> the Supreme Court viewed the right to marry as a component of <strong>right to life under Art 21</strong> of Indian Constitution the court observed that:</p>
<p>&ldquo;This is a free and democratic country, and once a person becomes a major he or she can marry whosoever he/she likes. If the parents of the boy or girl do not approve of such inter-caste marriage the maximum they can do is that they can cut off social relations with the son or daughter, but they cannot give threats or commit or instigate acts of violence and cannot harass the person who undergoes such intercaste marriage&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/1001/Right-to-marry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/1001/Right-to-marry.html</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>57. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India.</li>
<li>In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board.</li>
<li>Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Article 3(J) of Indian Patent Act, excludes from patentability &ldquo;plants and animals in whole or in any part thereof other than microorganisms, including seeds, varieties, and species, and essentially biological processes for production or propagation of plants and animals&rdquo;. <strong>Hence statement 1 is not correct.</strong></p>
<p>The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) was constituted on 2003 by the Government of India to hear and resolve the appeals against the decisions of the registrar under the Indian Trademarks Act, 1999 and the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. <strong>Hence statement 2 is incorrect</strong></p>
<p>Plant variety protection provides legal protection of a plant variety to a breeder in the form of Plant Breeder&rsquo;s Rights (PBRs). In India, the Plant Variety Protection And Farmers Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001 is a sui generis system that aims to provide for the establishment of an effective system for the protection of plant varieties and the rights of plant breeders and farmers. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Hence option C is correct.</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>58. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<p>The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to</p>
<ol>
<li>state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought</li>
<li>lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Statement 2 is correct- The Environment Protection Act 1986, empowers the government of India to lay down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources whatsoever, provided that different standards for emission or discharge may be laid down under this clause from different sources having regard to the quality or composition of the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from such sources.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4316/1/ep_act_1986.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4316/1/ep_act_1986.pdf</a></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #333399;"> 59. As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?</span></strong></p>
<p>(a) Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.</p>
<p>(b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only.</p>
<p><strong>(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.</strong></p>
<p>(d) It is mandatory on the part of waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Under the Solid Waste Management, Rules 2016, <strong>waste processing facilities</strong> will have to be set up by all local bodies having 1 million or more population within two years. In case of census towns below 1 million population, setting up common, or stand-alone sanitary landfills by, or for all local bodies having 0.5 million or more population and for setting up common, or regional sanitary landfills by all local bodies and census towns under 0.5 million population will have to be completed in three years. Hence, rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for identification of landfill sites and waste processing facilities. <strong>Hence option C is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Waste generators would now have to now segregate waste into three streams- Biodegradables, Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, Wood, etc.) and Domestic Hazardous waste (diapers, napkins, mosquito repellants, cleaning agents etc.) before handing it over to the collector. <strong>Hence, option a is incorrect.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138591</a><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>60. Consider the following statements: </strong></span></p>
<p>As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018</p>
<ol>
<li>if rules for fixed-term employment are implemented, it becomes easier for the firms/companies to lay off workers</li>
<li>no notice of termination of employment shall be necessary in the case of temporary workman</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The government has notified fixed term employment for all sectors through an amendment to the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946. Fixed-term employment for all sectors will make it easier for companies to hire-and-fire workers along with reducing the role of middlemen. Hence, statement 1 is correct. No notice of termination of employment shall be necessary in the case of temporary workman whether monthly rated, weekly rated or piece rated and probationers or badli workmen. <strong>Hence, statement 2 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/FTE%20Final%20Notification.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/FTE%20Final%20Notification.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99; color: #000000;"></span><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>61. The Service Area Approach was implemented under the purview of</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Integrated Rural Development Programme</p>
<p><strong>(b) Lead Bank Scheme</strong></p>
<p>(c) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme</p>
<p>(d) National Skill Development Mission</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong><span>Under the Lead bank Scheme, the service area approach was introduced in 1989 for planned and orderly development of rural and semi-urban areas. Each bank branch in rural and semi-urban area was designated to serve an area if 15 to 25 villages and the branch was responsible for meeting the needs of bank credit of its service area.</span></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>RBI Website&nbsp;<a href="https://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasCirculardetails.aspx?id=9853" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewMasCirculardetails.aspx?id=9853</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><span>DLP Book for UPPCS Mains/Indian Economy-I/Chapter: Bankng &amp; Monetary Policy</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>62. With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Sand is a &lsquo;minor mineral&rsquo; according to the prevailing law in the country.</li>
<li>State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.</li>
<li>Stale Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Sand is a minor mineral, as defined under section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). <strong>Hence statement 1 is correct.</strong> Section 15 of the MMDR Act empowers state governments to make rules for regulating the grant of mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith. The regulation of grant of mineral concessions for minor minerals is, therefore, within the legislative and administrative domain of the state governments. Under the power granted to them by section 15 of the MMDR Act, State Governments have framed their own minor minerals concession rules. <strong>Hence statement 2 in incorrect.</strong> section 23C of theMMDR Act, 1957 empowers state governments to frame rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of mineralsand for purposes connected therewith. Control of illegal mining is, therefore, under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of state governments. <strong>Hence statement 3 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=155423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=155423</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>63. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Most of India&rsquo;s external debt is owed by governmental entities.</li>
<li>All of India&rsquo;s external debt is denominated in US dollars.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong><br /><br /></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>US dollar denominated debt is the largest component of India's External Debt, followed by Indian rupee,SDR,Yen and Euro. <strong>Hence statement 2 is not correct.</strong> Commercial Borrowings continue to be the largest componenet of India's external Debt followed by NRI deposit and short term credit. <strong>Hence statement 1 is not correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/india-s-external-debt-eases-to-us-521-2-billion-end-december-2018-119040100925_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cm/india-s-external-debt-eases-to-us-521-2-billion-end-december-2018-119040100925_1.html</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>64. Which of the following is not included in the assets of a commercial bank in India?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Advances</p>
<p><strong>(b) Deposits</strong></p>
<p>(c) Investments</p>
<p>(d) Money at call and short notice</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The deposit itself is a liability owed by the bank to the depositor. Bank deposits refer to this liability rather than to the actual funds that have been deposit. <strong>Hence option B is the correct answer.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bank-deposits.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bank-deposits.asp</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>65. In the context of India, which of the following factors is/are contributor/contributors to reducing the risk of a currency crisis?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>The foreign currency earnings of India&rsquo;s IT sector</li>
<li>Increasing the government expenditure</li>
<li>Remittances from Indians abroad</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 2 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>A currency crisis is brought on by a decline in the value of a country's currency. This decline in value negatively affects an economy by creating instabilities in exchange rates, meaning that one unit of a certain currency no longer buys as much as it used to in another currency.</p>
<p>Foreign currency earnings and Remittances contribute to the strengthening of the rupee. <strong>Hence statement 1 and 3 is correct.</strong></p>
<p>Increasing government Expenditure will have no effect on the the value of currency. <strong>Hence statement 2 is not correct.</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-move-on-remittance-to-help-strengthen-rupee/article3528924.ece#!" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rbi-move-on-remittance-to-help-strengthen-rupee/article3528924.ece#!</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>66. Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)</p>
<p>(b) Rajamannar Committee (1969)</p>
<p><strong>(c) Sarkaria Commission (1983)</strong></p>
<p>(d) National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Sarkaria commission gave its recommendations for the selection of Governors.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAPTERIV.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CHAPTERIV.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/governor</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>67. Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Certificate of Deposit</p>
<p>(b) Commercial Paper</p>
<p>(c) Promissory Note</p>
<p><strong>(d) Participatory Note</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>P-Notes or Participatory Notes are Overseas Derivative Instruments that have Indian stocks as their underlying assets. They allow foreign investors to buy stocks listed on Indian exchanges without being registered.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/participatorynotes.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/participatorynotes.asp</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investments-through-p-notes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/investments-through-p-notes</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>68. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State levels.</li>
<li>People&rsquo;s participation is mandatory in the compensatory afforestation programmes carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016, establishes the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.these funds are to be managed by the National and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authorities, also set up under the Act. However, there is no mention in the Act of mandatory people's participation in carrying out programmes under the Act. <strong>Hence, option a) is correct.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>69. In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament</li>
<li>Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees</li>
<li>Finance Commission</li>
<li>Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission</li>
<li>NITI Aayog</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p>(c) 3, 4 and 5</p>
<p>(d) 2 and 5</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In India, there are 24 Department Related Standing Committees that comprise members from both Houses of Parliament. These committees are ministry specific, and may review the working of regulators within their respective departments. For example, in August 2012, the Standing Committee on Energy presented a report on the functioning of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission&rsquo;. In 2011, the Standing Committee on Information Technology had listed the functioning of TRAI for examination. Parliament may also establish ad-hoc committees which may examine the working of regulators. For instance, the terms of reference of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the allocation of 2G spectrum include the review of the policy on spectrum pricing and grant of telecom licences. Another example of parliamentary oversight through ad-hoc committees is the scrutiny of the working of SEBI and RBI by the JPC on the stock market scam. <strong>Hence, option a) is correct.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prsindia.org/sites/default/files/parliament_or_policy_pdfs/1370586800_Parliamentary%20Oversight%20of%20Regulators.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/sites/default/files/parliament_or_policy_pdfs/1370586800_Parliamentary%20Oversight%20of%20Regulators.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>70. With reference to India&rsquo;s Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrust towards substitution of basic and capital good industries.</li>
<li>The Fourth Five-Year Plan adopted the objective of correcting the earlier trend of increased concentration of wealth and economic power.</li>
<li>In the Fifth Five-Year Plan, for the first time, the financial sector was included as an integral part of the Plan.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The stated objective of the Second five year plan was rapid industrialisation with particular emphasis on the development of basic and heavy industries - aimed at establishing the Socialistic Pattern of Society.</p>
<p>Fourth five year plan emphasised on reduction of concentration of incomes, wealth and economic power to achieve social equality and justice.</p>
<p>Fifth five year plan aims at removal of poverty and achievement of self-reliance. The Eighth Plan focussed on Financial sector reforms.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/4th/4ppre.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/4th/4ppre.htm</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>71. With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>AIIB has more than 80 member nations.</li>
<li>India is the largest shareholder in AIIB.</li>
<li>AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The AIIB is a multilateral development bank have now grown to 97 approved members worldwide. Australia, NZ, Qatar, Canada, Cyprus etc are non regional members. Hence statement 3 is not correct. Source AIIB. India is the second largest shareholder of the AIIB. (business standard) India is the largest borrower from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189031" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189031</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/members-of-bank/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/members-of-bank/index.html</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aiib-approves-455-million-dollar-loan-for-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aiib-approves-455-million-dollar-loan-for-andhra-pradesh</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>72. What was the purpose of Inter-Creditor Agreement signed by Indian banks and financial institutions recently?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) To lessen the Government of India&rsquo;s perennial burden of fiscal deficit and current account deficit</p>
<p>(b) To support the infrastructure projects of Central and State Governments</p>
<p>(c) To act as independent regulator in case of applications for loans of RS 50 crore or more</p>
<p><strong>(d) To aim at faster resolution of stressed assets of Rs 50 crore or more which are under consortium lending</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The inter-creditor agreement is aimed at the resolution of loan accounts with a size of ₹50 crore and above that are under the control of a group of lenders. It is part of the &ldquo;Sashakt&rdquo; plan approved by the government to address the problem of resolving bad loans.The Intercreditor Agreement, a recommendation of the Sunil Mehta committee, aims to deal with bad loansas an attempt to speed up the Resolution of stressed Assets.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/announcements/others/indian-bank-inter-creditor-agreement-for-resolution-of-stressed-assets/article24809734.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/announcements/others/indian-bank-inter-creditor-agreement-for-resolution-of-stressed-assets/article24809734.ece</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cosmetic-repair/article24506004.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cosmetic-repair/article24506004.ece</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>73. The Chairmen of public sector banks are selected by the</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Banks Board Bureau</strong></p>
<p>(b) Reserve Bank of India</p>
<p>(c) Union Ministry of Finance</p>
<p>(d) Management of concerned bank</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Bank Board Bureau is responsible for selection and appointment of Board of Directors in Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/Functions%20of%20bank%20board%20bureau.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/Functions%20of%20bank%20board%20bureau.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.livemint.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.livemint.com/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>74. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India.</li>
<li>One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas.</li>
<li>Appeals against the decisions of PNGRB go before the Appellate Tribunals for Electricity.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was constituted under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006. The independent regulator TRAI is the first independent regulator in India.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pngrb.gov.in/about-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.pngrb.gov.in/about-us.html</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-petroleum-and-natural-gas-regulatory-board-bill-2005-430" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-petroleum-and-natural-gas-regulatory-board-bill-2005-430</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/44925979.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/44925979.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>75. With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.</li>
<li>LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>LTE improved on the radio technology of 3G&rsquo;s WCDMA and introduced OFDM or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. ITU (The International Telecommunication Union) recognises the lack of clarity in the term 4G and has determined LTE-Advanced and WirelessMAN-Advanced or WiMax 2 as &ldquo;True&rdquo; 4G.</p>
<p>VoLTE is a technology update to the LTE protocol used by mobile phone networks. Under LTE, the infrastructure of telecom players only allows transmission of data while voice calls are routed to their older 2G or 3G networks.</p>
<p>Basically VoLTE systems covert voice into data stream, which is then transmitted using the data connection.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-volte/article9864031.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-volte/article9864031.ece</a></p>
<p><span><a href="http://tec.gov.in/pdf/Studypaper/Study%20Paper%20on%20VoLTE%20-%20Final%20(1).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://tec.gov.in/pdf/Studypaper/Study%20Paper%20on%20VoLTE%20-%20Final%20(1).pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>76. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave.</li>
<li>Enterprises with creches must allow the mother minimum six creche visits daily.</li>
<li>Women with two children get reduced entitlements.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>This new bill amends the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961. Under the new provision, women are entitled to visit creches four times a day. Maternity benefit of 26 weeks are provided. Out of 26 weeks, Up to eight weeks can be claimed before delivery. However, one can instead take the entire 26 weeks of leave after the delivery. If the woman has more than two surviving children, the maternity benefit is for 12 weeks only.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/the-benefits-women-are-entitled-to-and-the-rights-they-can-claim-under-maternity-1557655754106.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/the-benefits-women-are-entitled-to-and-the-rights-they-can-claim-under-maternity-1557655754106.html</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>77. Which one of the following is not a sub-index of the World Bank&rsquo;s 'Ease of Doing Business Index'?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Maintenance of law and order</strong></p>
<p>(b) Paying taxes</p>
<p>(c) Registering property</p>
<p>(d) Dealing with construction permits</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Sub Index of Ease of Doing Buisness Index comprises starting a buisness, Getting a location(labour market regulation,constuction permits, getting electrictiy, registering property), Accessing finance (Getting credit, Protecting Minority investor), Dealing with day to day operation (Paying taxes, enforcing contracts).</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/media/Annual-Reports/English/DB2019-report_web-version.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/media/Annual-Reports/English/DB2019-report_web-version.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-banks-ease-of-doing-business-report-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>78. In India, &lsquo;extend producer responsibility&rsquo; was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998</p>
<p>(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999</p>
<p><strong>(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011</strong></p>
<p>(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The E-waste Rules place main responsibility of e-waste management on the producers of the electrical and electronic equipment by introducing the concept of &ldquo;extended producer responsibility&rdquo; (EPR). The producers are given a significant responsibility&mdash;financial or physical&mdash;for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.The e-waste (Management &amp; Handling) Rules, 2011 have been notified in May 2011 and are effective from 01-05-2012.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=aHdtZC9JbXBsaW1lbnRhdGlvbkUtV2FzdGUucGRm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=aHdtZC9JbXBsaW1lbnRhdGlvbkUtV2FzdGUucGRm</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-afterlife-of-e-goods" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-afterlife-of-e-goods</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>79. The economic cost of food grains to the Food Corporation of India is Minimum Support Price and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) transportation cost only</p>
<p>(b) interest cost only</p>
<p><strong>(c) procurement incidentals and distribution cost</strong></p>
<p>(d) procurement incidentals and charges for godowns</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The economic cost of foodgrains consists of three components, namely the MSP including central bonus, if applicable, as the price paid to farmers, procurement incidentals, and the cost of distribution.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1706/17060980.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl1706/17060980.htm</a><span><a href="https://www.domain-b.com/economy/ecosurvey2005/prices_and_food_management/economic_cost_of_foodgrains_to_fci.p" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>80. In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) The proportion of literates in the population</p>
<p>(b) The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure and machines</p>
<p>(c) The size of population in the working age group</p>
<p><strong>(d) The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Social capital refers to connections among individuals &ndash; social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/Social_Capital9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/Social_Capital9.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/social-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/social-capital</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>81. With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid.</li>
<li>An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 curtailed the judicial review power of high court. It debarred the high courts from considering the constitutional validity of any central law. However, the 43rd Amendment Act of 1977 restored the original position.High Court has the power to invalidate any central law which goes against the ethos of the constitution. Similar is the case with Supreme Court. If any constitutional amendment goes against the basic structure of the constitution, Supreme court has the power to call it into question.In 2015, the Supreme Court declared both the 99th Constitutional Amendment, 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 as unconstitutional and null and void.</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>82. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates are calculated by comparing the prices of the same basket of goods and services in different countries.</li>
<li>In terms of PPP dollars, India is the sixth largest economy in the world.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>PPPs measure the total amount of goods and services that a single unit of a country&rsquo;s currency can buy in another country. The PPP between countries A and B measures the amount of country A&rsquo;s currency required to purchase a basket of goods and services in country A as compared to the amount of country B&rsquo;s currency to purchase a similar basket of goods and services in country B.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/Cwwg%20data%20as%20on%2012.10.2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/Cwwg%20data%20as%20on%2012.10.2018.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-july-12-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-july-12-2018</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>83. With reference to the cultivation of Khalif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Area under rice cultivation is the highest.</li>
<li>Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.</li>
<li>Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.</li>
<li>Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 and 3 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 4 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1569588195_Q 83 Explanation-37.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1569588195_Q 83 Explanation-37.jpg" width="400" height="478" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>84. Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Spices</p>
<p>(b) Fresh fruits</p>
<p>(c) Pulses</p>
<p><strong>(d) Vegetable oils</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The import of vegetable oils in India is highest in last five years due to a cut in duty as mandatory under the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA). Signed in October 2010 with South East Asian countries,</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/edible-oil-imports-jump-11-in-dec-may-rise-further-on-duty-cut-119011500879_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/edible-oil-imports-jump-11-in-dec-may-rise-further-on-duty-cut-119011500879_1.html</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/overviewTrade7082015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/overviewTrade7082015.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>85. In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers</p>
<p><strong>(b) Absence of restraint</strong></p>
<p>(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes</p>
<p><strong>(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Option d) seems the most appropriate answer because the Preamble of the Indian Constitution provides for Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. This can be interpreted as liberty in the context of polity.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Preamble</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>86. Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of Indian rupee?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Curbing imports of non-essential goods and promoting exports</p>
<p>(b) Encouraging Indian borrowers to issue rupee denominated Masala Bonds</p>
<p>(c) Easing conditions relating to external commercial borrowing</p>
<p><strong>(d) Following an expansionary monetary policy</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>i. Curbing imports of non essential goods will lessen the demand for dollars and promoting export will help in increasing the flow of dollars into the country - helping control rupee depriciation.</p>
<p>ii. The Masala bond is directly pegged to the Indian Currency. If Indian borrowers issues more rupee denominated Masala bonds, this would increase liquidity in the market or increase in the rupee stock against few currencies in the market and this would help in supporting the rupee.</p>
<p>iii.ECB- it is a type of loan in foreign currencies, made by non-resident lenders. Thus easing conditions of ECB's helps in receiving more loans in foreign currencies that would in increase of forex inflow - leading to rupee appreciation.</p>
<p>iv. Expansionary Monetary Policy- A set of policy measures such as increase in money supply by the RBI to stimulate economy. It cannot influece the variations of rupee value. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/curb-on-imports-to-bring-rupee-to-68-70-level-department-of-economic-affairs/article25019942.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/curb-on-imports-to-bring-rupee-to-68-70-level-department-of-economic-affairs/article25019942.ece&nbsp;</a></p>
<p><span>The Hindu, Economic Times, Business today Explanation: Self</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/depreciating-rupee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/depreciating-rupee</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>87. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<p>The Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s recent directives relating to &lsquo;Storage of Payment System Data, popularly known as data diktat, command the payment system providers that</p>
<ol>
<li>they shall ensure that entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India</li>
<li>they shall ensure that the systems are owned and operated by public sector enterprises</li>
<li>they shall submit the consolidated system audit report to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India by the end of the calendar year</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The Storage of Payment System Data directive issued by RBI requires all System Providers to ensure that the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system in India only. Also, System Providers shall provide a System Audit Report (SAR) and the audit should be conducted by CERT-IN empaneled auditors.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>RBI Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11244" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11244</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>88. Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as General Data Protection Regulation&rsquo; in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Australia</p>
<p>(b) Canada</p>
<p><strong>(c) The European Union</strong></p>
<p>(d) The United States of America</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standardizes data protection law across all 28 EU countries and imposes strict new rules on controlling and processing personally identifiable information (PII). It also extends the protection of personal data and data protection rights by giving control back to EU residents. GDPR replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, and went into force on May 25, 2018.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>EUGDPR <a href="https://eugdpr.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://eugdpr.org/</a></span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/14/what-is-general-data-protection-regulation/#2403931b62dd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/14/what-is-general-data-protection-regulation/#2403931b62dd</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/all-things-internet</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>89. Recently, India signed a deal known as &lsquo;Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field&rsquo; with which of the following countries?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Japan</p>
<p><strong>(b) Russia</strong></p>
<p>(c) The United Kingdom</p>
<p>(d) The United States of America</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>During the visit of H. E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation to India, Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Co-operation Areas in the Nuclear Field Identified Jointly by India and Russia was signed on 5th October, 2018 in New Delhi.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://dae.nic.in/?q=node/1136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://dae.nic.in/?q=node/1136</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>90. The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Increase in the cash reserve ratio</p>
<p><strong>(b) Increase in the banking habit of the population</strong></p>
<p>(c) Increase in the statutory liquidity ratio</p>
<p>(d) Increase in the population of the country</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The money-multiplier is the maximum amount of broad money (M3 Money) that could be created by the commercial banks for a given fixed amount of base money or reserve ratios. Or, simply it can be stated that the maximum amount of money that the banking system generates with each rupees of reserves.</p>
<p>So, more the people will be linked with the banking system or have the habit of banking more will be the money in use in the form of loans, credits etc. that results an increase in economic activity. This will dirctly help in increase money multiplier in an economy. The money multiplier goes up because of the reduction in the cash reserve ratio (CRR).&nbsp;</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imf.org/external/region/tlm/rr/pdf/laomonetarystatistics.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.imf.org/external/region/tlm/rr/pdf/laomonetarystatistics.pdf</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/115659/8/08_chapter%203.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/115659/8/08_chapter%203.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span>Reference: RBI Website Explanation: Self</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>91. In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out.</li>
<li>In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a computer are projected onto real-life objects or surroundings.</li>
<li>AR allows individuals to be present in the world and improves the experience using the camera of smart-phone or PC.</li>
<li>VR closes the world, and transposes an individual, providing complete immersion experience.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><strong>(b) 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(c) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p>(d) 4 only</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Virtual reality (VR) immerses users in a fully artificial digital environment.</p>
<p>Augmented reality (AR) overlays virtual objects on the real-world environment.</p>
<p>Mixed reality (MR) not just overlays but anchors virtual objects to the real world.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/02/the-difference-between-virtual-reality-augmented-reality-and-mixed-reality/#5527da952d07" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/02/the-difference-between-virtual-reality-augmented-reality-and-mixed-reality/#5527da952d07</a></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.fi.edu/difference-between-ar-vr-and-mr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.fi.edu/difference-between-ar-vr-and-mr</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-reality-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-reality-centre-of-indian-navy</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>92. The word &lsquo;Denisovan&rsquo; is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) fossils of a kind of dinosaurs</p>
<p><strong>(b) an early human species</strong></p>
<p>(c) a cave system found in North-East India</p>
<p>(d) a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>For the first time, scientists have found fossils from an extinct ancient human lineage known as the Denisovans outside of Siberia.</p>
<p>Denisovans were an extinct group of hominins that were close relatives of Neanderthals. They are known primarily from a handful of fossil fragments found at Denisova Cave in Siberia, and from genetic clues that linger in the DNA of people across Asia.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>Nature. com&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00672-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00672-2</a></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-may-2019</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>93. With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) Functional chromosomes can be created by joining segments of DNA taken from cells of different species.</strong></p>
<p>(b) Pieces of artificial functional DNA can be created in laboratories.</p>
<p>(c) A piece of DNA taken out from an animal cell can be made to replicate outside a living cell in a laboratory.</p>
<p>(d) Cells taken out from plasma and animals can be made to undergo cell division in laboratory petri dishes.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In a major step toward creating artificial life, US researchers have developed a living organism that incorporates both natural and artificial DNA and is capable of creating entirely new, synthetic proteins. Hence, option (b) is correct. A wide variety of double-stranded DNA templates are replicated extensively in an in vitro DNA replication system containing the purified proteins specified by seven T4 bacteriophage DNA replication genes (32, 41, 43, 44, 62, 45, and 61). Hence, option (c ) is correct. Through micropropagation plant can be developed in laboratory and chlamydomnas cells can be replicated in culture through light variations. Hence, option (d) is correct.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="http://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lebo109.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lebo109.pdf</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong> 94. Consider the following statements:</strong></span></p>
<p>A digital signature is</p>
<ol>
<li>an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it</li>
<li>used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet</li>
<li>an electronic method of signing an electronic document and ensuring that the original content is unchanged</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(c) 3 only</strong></p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>If we consider Digital Signature same as Digital Signature Certificate then option should be d). The certificate contains information about the user&rsquo;s identity (name, pin code, country, email address, the date the certificate was issued and the name of the certifying authority). However, if they are considered as different, then the answer should be c).</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/artificial-life-synthetic-dna-scientists-living-organisms-create-scripps-research-institute-floyd-a8083966.html</a></p>
<p><span><a href="http://www.jbc.org/content/255/9/4290.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.jbc.org/content/255/9/4290.full.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>95. In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Location identification of a person</li>
<li>Sleep monitoring of a person</li>
<li>Assisting the hearing impaired person</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>In recent times, there has been a new surge in wearable technology worn on the ear, referred to as hearables. Wearable technology is a category of electronic devices that can be worn as accessories, embedded in clothing, implanted in the user's body, or even tattooed on the skin.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wearable-technology.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wearable-technology.asp</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>96. 'RNA interference (RNAi)' technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>It is used in developing gene silencing therapies.</li>
<li>It can be used in developing therapies for the treatment of cancer.</li>
<li>It can be used to develop hormone replacement therapies.</li>
<li>It can be used to produce crop plants that are resistant to viral pathogens.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p><strong>(a) 1, 2 and 4</strong></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3</p>
<p>(d) 1 and 4 only</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>RNA interference (RNAi), regulatory system occurring within eukaryotic cells (cells with a clearly defined nucleus) that controls the activity of genes. RNAi functions specifically to silence, or deactivate, genes. RNAi is being explored as a form of treatment for a variety of diseases, including macular degeneration, hepatitis, AIDS, Huntington disease, and cancer. RNAi is used as a natural defense mechanism against molecular parasites such as jumping genes and viral genetic elements.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/RNA-interference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.britannica.com/science/RNA-interference</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>97. Recently, Scientists observed the merger of giant blackholes&rsquo; billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) 'Higgs boson particles' were detected.</p>
<p><strong>(b) 'Gravitational waves' were detected.</strong></p>
<p>(c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through 'wormhole' was confirmed.</p>
<p>(d) It enabled the scientists to understand 'singularity'.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>When the two supermassive black holes in each of these systems finally come together in millions of years, their encounters will produce strong gravitational waves. Gravitational waves produced by the collision of two stellar-mass black holes have already been detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). Observatories such as the planned NASA/ESA space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be able to detect the lower-frequency gravitational waves from supermassive black-hole mergers, which are a million times more massive than those detected by LIGO</p>
<p><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/infographics/info-paper3/gravitational-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/infographics/info-paper3/gravitational-waves</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>98. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?</strong></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Genetic predisposition of some people</li>
<li>Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases</li>
<li>Using antibiotics in livestock farming</li>
<li>Multiple chronic diseases in some people</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong>(d) 2, 3 and 4</strong></p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally over time, usually through genetic changes. However, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials is accelerating this process. In many places, antibiotics are overused and misused in people and animals, and often given without professional oversight. Examples of misuse include when they are taken by people with viral infections like colds and flu, and when they are given as growth promoters in animals or used to prevent diseases in healthy animals.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<span>WHO, Niaid.nih.gov</span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr</a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>99. What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>(a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing</strong></p>
<p>(b) A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients</p>
<p>(c) A gene that makes plants pest-resistant</p>
<p>(d) A herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>CRISPR Cas9 is an acronym for &ldquo;Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.&rdquo; CRISPR genome engineering technology enables scientists to easily and precisely edit the DNA of any genome.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.synthego.com/learn/crispr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.synthego.com/learn/crispr</a></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><strong>Covered in Drishti:&nbsp;</strong><span>Tarkash Vol II Pg 146</span></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: #ffff99;"><span><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong>100. Which one of the following statements is not correct?</strong></span></p>
<p>(a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.</p>
<p><strong>(b) Hepatitis B. unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.</strong></p>
<p>(c) Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses arc several times more than those infected with HIV.</p>
<p>(d) Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.</p>
<p><strong>Exp:&nbsp;</strong>The hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that is recommended for all infants at birth and for children up to 18 years. The hepatitis B vaccine is also known as the first &ldquo;anti-cancer&rdquo; vaccine because it prevents hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide.</p>
<p>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.hepb.org/prevention-and-diagnosis/vaccination/</a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prelims-analysis/2019-prelims-analysis'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Gene Editing to Halt Human Flu Pandemic',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently scientists in Britain have used gene-editing techniques to stop bird flu spreading in chicken cells.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The technique was successful for the cells grown in a lab. The next step will be to produce chickens with the same genetic change.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, this is a key step towards making genetically-altered chickens that could halt a human flu pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, the scientists will use the gene editing technology, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">known as CRISPR,</a> to remove a section of the birds&rsquo; DNA responsible for producing a protein called ANP32.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ANP32 is protein on which all flu viruses depend to infect a host.</li>
<li>The lab tests of cells engineered to lack ANP32 showed they resist the flu virus by blocking its entry and halting its replication and spread.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bird Flu</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bird Flu (H5N1) is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza.</li>
<li>Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person.</li>
<li>When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.</li>
<li>There is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly prepared and thoroughly cooked food.</li>
<li>Candidate vaccines to prevent H5N1 infection have been developed, but they are not ready for widespread use. Seasonal influenza vaccination does not protect against H5N1 infection.</li>
<li>WHO collaborates with global health partners and agencies, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), to control and prevent the spread of animal diseases.</li>
<li>WHO&rsquo;s global laboratory system, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)</a>, identifies and monitors strains of circulating influenza viruses, and provides advice to countries on their risk to human health and available treatment or control measures.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) &ndash; Cas9 is a new technique for genome editing.</li>
<li>It is faster, cheaper and more accurate than earlier techniques, and can precisely target a sequence of DNA in germ cells, extract, edit or replace it even in the embryo stage.</li>
<li>The technique can prevent hereditary diseases such as sickle cell, thalassaemia, HIV, cancer, and Huntington&rsquo;s disease from passing on to children.</li>
<li>Another popular method is Somatic Cell Gene Therapy (SCGT), which affects only an individual and not his or her future generations.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gene-editing-to-halt-human-flu-pandemic'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Cross Border Insolvency Resolution',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>A panel led by Ministry of Corporate Affairs had suggested adopting the <strong>United Nations Commission on International Trade Laws on cross-border insolvency</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UNCITRAL</strong> Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, 1997 (Model Law) provides legal framework to deal with cross-border insolvency issues while ensuring the least intrusion into the country&rsquo;s domestic insolvency law.</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code,</a> at present, does not effectively deal with cases involving cross-border insolvency.</li>
<li>The government is expected to amend <strong>Section 234 and Section 235</strong> of the IBC and introduce provisions for:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Individual insolvency:</strong> new framework divides individuals into three categories: <strong>personal guarantors, proprietors</strong> and <strong>common individuals</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Cross border insolvency:</strong> provisions will apply to <strong>corporate debtors</strong> and not in personal cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNCITRAL Model Law- The model law deals with four major principles of cross-border insolvency:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct access to foreign insolvency</strong> professionals and foreign creditors to participate in or commence domestic insolvency proceedings against a defaulting debtor.</li>
<li>Recognition of <strong>foreign proceedings</strong> &amp; provision of remedies.</li>
<li>Cooperation between domestic and foreign courts &amp; domestic and foreign insolvency practitioners.</li>
<li>Coordination between two or more concurrent insolvency proceedings in different countries. The main proceeding is determined by the concept of <strong>centre of main interest (COMI)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The changes will enable initiation of resolution process in case of personal guarantors to corporate debtors, proprietorship and partnerships.</li>
<li><strong>Provisions for cross border insolvency</strong> would enable Indian firms to claim their dues from foreign companies, while allowing foreign creditors to recover loans from Indian companies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Will also help foreign branches of Indian banks to recover their dues in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Cross border insolvency provision will bring overseas asset of a domestic corporate debtor into consideration of insolvency resolution in India and will avoid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delay-in-resolutions-under-ibc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delays in <strong>resolution of stressed assets</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNCITRAl</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law is the core <strong>legal body of the United Nations system</strong> in the field of international trade law.</li>
<li>UNCITRAL was established in 1966 with a recognition that international trade cooperation among States is an important factor in the promotion of friendly relations and, consequently, in the maintenance of peace and security.</li>
<li>Through its several model laws, conventions, legislative guides and robust debates in working groups, UNCITRAL has provided a valuable platform for countries to compare, examine, debate and adopt principles of international commercial and trade law appropriate to their circumstances.</li>
<li>Since its inception, India is only one of eight countries that has been a member of UNCITRAL.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cross-border-insolvency-resolution'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Oussudu Lake',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Vulnerability assessment study conducted in Oussudu lake, Puducherry had shown concern over rising plastic pollution in water bodies.</p>
<p>The report had highlighted that the canals have become <strong>dumping grounds</strong> for used plastic bags, thermocols, cups, plates, pipes and bottles.</p>
<h3>Threats from Plastic Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The dumping of plastic items had <strong>interrupted free flow of monsoon run-off</strong>.</li>
<li>Around two-thirds of all forms of plastic getting accumulated, degrades slowly and <strong>leaches into the land</strong> and <strong>water</strong>.</li>
<li>Plastic causes <strong>serious environmental pollution,</strong> affecting the basic life support systems such as soil, water and air.</li>
<li>Plastic pollution also results in <strong>health ailments</strong> such as eye irritation, vision failure, difficulty in breathing, liver dysfunction and cancer,</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Prior to <strong>Plastic Ban</strong>, it is necessary to adopt <strong>daily usage of alternative packing items</strong>.</li>
<li>Encourage people to <strong>identify and manufacture</strong> alternative packing items.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hoteliers should be encouraged to <strong>shift to banana leaf</strong>, teak leaf, vanathula leaf and mantharai leaf for serving and packing food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Skill development</strong> in producing alternate packing materials should be encouraged.</li>
<li>Enforcement of <strong>rules and regulations</strong> for the production and use of plastic</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About Oussudu Lake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ousteri Lake also referred to as Oussudu Lake is a man-made lake situated about 10 km from Puducherry.</li>
<li>It is recognized as one of the <strong>important wetlands of Asia</strong> by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources <strong>(IUCN)</strong>.</li>
<li>The structure of the lake is complex consisting of <strong>water, wetland</strong> and <strong>mudflats</strong>.</li>
<li>Lake acts as the <strong>single largest catchment</strong> of <strong>fresh water</strong> in Puducherry.</li>
<li>The vegetation of the lake (ranges from small herbs to trees) supports <strong>migratory avifauna</strong> as well as <strong>native birds</strong> during summer and winter.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conservation Efforts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the government's renovation plan the region near the lake will be make <strong>litter free</strong> so that it becomes favourable of the migratory birds.</li>
<li>The lake region will be declared as <strong>no horn and plastic free zone</strong>.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oussudu-lake'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)',
		'catname' => 'National Institutions',
		'desc' => '<p>Central Vigilance Commission is the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring <strong>all vigilance activity under the Central Government</strong> and advising various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.</p>
<p><strong>Vigilance</strong> means to ensure clean and prompt administrative action towards achieving efficiency and effectiveness of the employees in particular and the organization in general, as lack of Vigilance leans to waste, losses and economic decline.</p>
<p>The CVC was set up by the Government in February, 1964 on the recommendations of the <strong>Committee on Prevention of Corruption,</strong> headed by <strong>Shri K. Santhanam</strong>. In 2003, the Parliament enacted <strong>CVC Act</strong> conferring <strong>statutory status on the CVC</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>The CVC is not controlled by any Ministry/Department.</strong> It is an independent body which is only <strong>responsible to the Parliament</strong>.</p>
<h3>Functions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CVC receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office and to <strong>recommend appropriate action</strong>. Following institutions, bodies, or a person can approach to CVC:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Central government</li>
<li>Lokpal</li>
<li>Whistle blowers <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A whistleblower is a person, who could be an employee of a company, or a government agency, or an outsider (like media, higher government officials, or police) disclosing information to the public or some higher authority about any wrongdoing, which could be in the form of fraud, corruption, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>It is not an investigating agency</strong>. The CVC either gets the investigation done through the CBI or through chief vigilance officers (CVO) in government offices.</li>
<li>It is empowered to inquire into <strong>offences</strong> alleged to have been committed under the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong> by certain categories of public servants.</li>
<li>Its <strong>annual report</strong> gives the details of the work done by the commission and points to systemic failures which lead to corruption in government departments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Improvements and preventive measures</strong> are also suggested in report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Special Police Establishment (SPE)</strong> which was set up in <strong>1941</strong> by the Government of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The functions of the SPE then were to investigate cases of <strong>bribery and corruption</strong> in transactions with the <strong>War &amp; Supply Department of India during World War II</strong>.</li>
<li>Even after the end of the War, the need for a Central Government agency to investigate cases of bribery and corruption by Central Government employees was felt.</li>
<li><strong>The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act</strong> was therefore brought into force in 1946.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After promulgation of the Act, <strong>superintendence of SPE</strong> was <strong>transferred to the Home Department</strong> and its functions were enlarged to cover all departments of the Government of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The jurisdiction of SPE was <strong>extended to all the Union territories</strong> and the Act provided for its extension <strong>to States with the consent</strong> of the State Government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>By 1963,</strong> the SPE was authorised to <strong>investigate offences under 91 different sections</strong> of Indian Penal Code <strong>(IPC)</strong> and <strong>16 other Central Acts besides</strong> offences under the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act 1947</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>A growing need</strong> was felt for a <strong>Central Police Agency</strong> at disposal of the Central Government which could investigate <strong>not only cases of bribery and corruption</strong>, but also: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>violation of Central fiscal laws,</li>
<li>major frauds relating to Government of India departments,</li>
<li>public joint stock companies,</li>
<li>passport frauds,</li>
<li>crimes on the high seas,</li>
<li>crimes on the Airlines,</li>
<li>and serious crimes committed by organised gangs and professional criminals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption, <strong>Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</strong> was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 1, 1963. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Later, it was <strong>transferred to the Ministry of Personnel</strong> and now it enjoys the status of an attached office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In 1964, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)</strong> was set up by the Government on the recommendations of Santhanam Committee, <strong>to advise and guide Central Government</strong> agencies <strong>in the field of vigilance</strong>.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in the judgement of <strong>Vineet Narain &amp; Others vs. Union of India (1997),</strong> gave directions regarding the <strong>superior role of CVC</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case the role of the Central Bureau of Investigation was criticised and the court directed that <strong>CVC should be given a supervisory role over CBI</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government promulgated <strong>an Ordinance in 1998</strong>, conferring statutory status to the CVC and the powers <strong>to exercise superintendence over functioning</strong> of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI), and also to <strong>review the progress of the investigations</strong> pertaining to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>alleged <strong>offences</strong> under the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong> conducted by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Commission was given <strong>statutory status</strong> by the enactment of <strong>&ldquo;The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003&rdquo;</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After enactment of CVC Act, 2003, the Commission became a multi-member body consisting of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members), to be appointed by the President.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in a <strong>Writ Petition</strong> filed after the murder of <strong>Shri Satyendra Dubey</strong> in 2003, a whistle-blower, directed that a machinery be put in place for acting on complaints from whistle-blowers till a law is enacted. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In pursuance of that direction, the Government of India notified the <strong>Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution (PIDPI), 2004</strong>: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This Resolution is popularly known as <strong>&ldquo;Whistle Blowers&rdquo; Resolution</strong> and it designated the Central Vigilance Commission as the agency to receive and act on complaints or disclosure on any allegation of corruption or misuse of office from whistle blowers.</li>
<li>The Commission has been entrusted with the <strong>responsibility of keeping the identity</strong> of the complainant <strong>secret</strong> while lodging a complaint under PIDPI Resolution, in order to provide <strong>protection to whistle blowers from victimisation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Person Making the Disclosures <strong>(PIDPPMD) Bill 2010</strong> renamed as &ldquo;The Whistle Blowers&rsquo; Protection Bill, 2011&rdquo; was enacted by the Central Government in Parliament as <strong>&ldquo;The Whistle Blowers&rsquo; Protection Act, 2014&rdquo;</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Through subsequent ordinances and legislations</strong> the Government has <strong>added to the functions and powers</strong> of the Commission.</li>
<li>In 2013, the Parliament enacted <strong>the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This act has amended <strong>CVC Act, 2003</strong> whereby the Commission has been empowered to conduct preliminary inquiry and further investigation into complaints referred by the Lokpal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On the issue of <strong>overlap of jurisdiction</strong> between the <strong>CVC Act and The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act,</strong> the Commission has communicated <strong>its suggestions</strong> to the Department-Related <strong>Parliamentary Standing Committee</strong> on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice during its examination of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Governance</h3>
<p>The Central Vigilance Commission has its own Secretariat, Chief Technical Examiners' Wing (CTE) and a wing of Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDI). For investigation work, CVC has to depend on two external sources CBI and Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO).</p>
<p><strong>The Central Vigilance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Multi-member Commission</strong> consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than <strong>two Vigilance Commissioners </strong>(Member).</li>
<li>The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Member).</li>
<li><strong>The term of office</strong> of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners is <strong>four years</strong> from the date on which they enter their office or <strong>till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Secretariat</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Secretariat consists of a Secretary, four Additional Secretaries, thirty Directors/Deputy Secretaries (including two Officers on Special Duty), four Under Secretaries and office staff.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chief Technical Examiners' Organisation (CTEO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chief Technical Examiner's Organisation constitutes <strong>the technical wing</strong> of the Central Vigilance Commission and is <strong>manned by two Engineers</strong> of the rank of Chief Engineers (designated as Chief Technical Examiners) <strong>with supporting engineering staff</strong>. The main functions assigned to this organisation are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Technical audit of construction works</strong> of Governmental organisations <strong>from a vigilance angle</strong>; Investigation of specific cases of complaints relating to construction works;</li>
<li>Extension of <strong>assistance to CBI</strong> in their investigations <strong>involving technical matters</strong> and for evaluation of properties in Delhi;</li>
<li>and <strong>Tendering of advice</strong>/assistance to the Commission and <strong>Chief Vigilance Officers</strong> in <strong>vigilance cases involving technical matters</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the year 2017, <strong>CTEO undertook intensive examinations of 66 procurement cases,</strong> covering 52 organizations. Some of the organizations where intensive examinations were undertaken are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways (MoRT&amp;H),</li>
<li>Central Public Works Department (CPWD),</li>
<li>All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS),</li>
<li>Employees&rsquo; State Insurance Corporation (ESIC),</li>
<li>Central University of Punjab, Airports Authority of India (AAI),</li>
<li>North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC),</li>
<li>Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC),</li>
<li>Bank of Baroda (BoB)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDIs)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>fourteen posts of Commissioners</strong> for Departmental Inquiries (CDI) in the Commission, 11 in the rank of Director and 03 in the rank of Deputy Secretary.</li>
<li>The CDIs function as Inquiry Officers <strong>to conduct Oral inquiries in departmental proceeding initiated against public servants</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Integrity Index Development (IID)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IID reflects the transparent, accountable and efficient governance of public organisations.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">CVC has appointed the <strong>Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad</strong> to undertake a research-based approach to create an integrity index that various organizations can use to measure themselves and which will evolve with changing needs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>CVC Investigation by External Agencies</h3>
<p><strong>CVC has no investigation wing of its own</strong> as it depends on the CBI and the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO) of central organizations, while <strong>CBI</strong> has its <strong>own investigation wing</strong> drawing its powers from <strong>Delhi Special Police Establishment Act</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vigilance administration in Departments/Organisations is headed by the Chief Vigilance Officers</strong> (CVO) and the <strong>Commission&rsquo;s activities concerning inquiry</strong> or causing inquiry are supported by/<strong>carried out through the CVOs</strong>.</li>
<li>Complaints received in the Commission are scrutinised thoroughly and wherever specific and verifiable allegations of vigilance nature are noticed, <strong>the complaints are forwarded to the CVO</strong>/CBI to conduct inquiry/investigation into the matter and report to the Commission expeditiously.</li>
<li><strong>CVOs in all Departments/organisations are appointed after prior consultation with the Commission.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CBI works under the <strong>overall supervision of CVC</strong> in matters related to the <strong>Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The important role of CBI is prevention of corruption and maintaining integrity in administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CVC act provides for a security of two year tenure in office for CBI Director.</li>
<li>The CVC heads the Committee for the <strong>selection of the Director of CBI</strong> and other <strong>officers of the rank of SP and above in the CBI</strong> (DSPE-An investigation wing of CBI).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/935drishti_ias_cvc_image1.webp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/935drishti_ias_cvc_image1.webp" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>CVC&rsquo;s Jurisdiction</h3>
<p><strong>CVC Act 2003</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Members of All India Service</strong> serving in connection with the affairs of the Union and Group A officers of the Central Government</li>
<li>Officers of the rank of Scale V and above in the Public Sector Banks</li>
<li><strong>Officers in Grade D and above</strong> in Reserve Bank of India, NABARD and SIDBI</li>
<li>Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-8 and above in Schedule &lsquo;A&rsquo; and &lsquo;B&rsquo; Public Sector Undertakings</li>
<li>Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-7 and above in Schedule &lsquo;C&rsquo; and &lsquo;D&rsquo; Public Sector Undertakings</li>
<li>Managers and above in General Insurance Companies</li>
<li>Senior Divisional Managers and above in Life Insurance Corporations</li>
<li>Officers drawing salary of Rs.8700/- p.m. and above on Central Government D.A. <strong>(Dearness Allowance)</strong> pattern, as on the date of the notification and as <strong>may be revised</strong> from <strong>time to time in Societies and other Local Authorities</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act has <strong>amended some provisions of CVC Act, 2003</strong> whereby the <strong>Commission</strong> has been <strong>empowered to conduct preliminary inquiry</strong> into complaints <strong>referred by Lokpal</strong> in respect of officers and officials of Group 'B', 'C' &amp; 'D', besides: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Group 'A' officers, for which a <strong>Directorate of Inquiry</strong> for making preliminary inquiry is to be set up in the Commission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The preliminary inquiry reports</strong> in such matters referred by Lokpal in respect of Group A and B officers are required to <strong>be sent to the Lokpal by the Commission</strong>.</li>
<li>The Commission is also mandated to cause <strong>further investigation</strong> (after preliminary enquiry) into such Lokpal references in respect of Group &lsquo;C&rsquo; &amp; &lsquo;D&rsquo; officials and decide on further course of action against them.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014</strong> empowers the Commission as the competent authority:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>to receive complaints</strong> relating to <strong>disclosure on any allegation of corruption</strong> or wilful misuse of power or wilful misuse of discretion against any public servant and to inquire or cause an inquiry into such disclosure,</li>
<li>and to <strong>provide adequate safeguards against victimisation</strong> of the person making such complaint and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Limitations of CVC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CVC is often considered a powerless agency as it is <strong>treated as an advisory body</strong> only with no power to register criminal case against government officials or direct CBI to initiate inquiries against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above.</li>
<li>Although CVC is &ldquo;relatively independent&rdquo; in its functioning, it <strong>neither has the resources</strong> nor <strong>the power to take action on complaints of corruption</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the recent past, India has emerged as a progressive and vibrant economy. With the rapid growth in all sectors of the economy, huge investments were made in country&rsquo;s infrastructure; construction, retail and many other sectors in the government. Rapid growth in economy throws up CVCs&rsquo; challenges in the fight against the menace of corruption.</p>
<p>There is greater need in such times to address the shortcomings in the system of CVC.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-vigilance-commission-cvc'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'In Depth – BIMSTEC: Guests of Honour',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ti_tsHQ5Nzc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn-in for the second straight term on 30<sup>th</sup> May, 2019. The grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan saw nearly 8,000 guests in attendance, prominent among them, being the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries.</strong> Apart from India, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprises of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.</p>
<p>The invitation to BIMSTEC countries to be part of Prime Minister&rsquo;s swearing-in ceremony reflects the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Besides, experts believe that the move also demonstrates the seriousness with which India wants to engage with maritime nations for security in the Bay of Bengal region. In addition, connectivity is also an important aspect of engaging with BIMSTEC countries.</p>
<h3>BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established on <strong>6<sup>th</sup> June, 1997</strong> through the <strong>Bangkok Declaration</strong>. It has its <strong>permanent secretariat at Dhaka</strong>.</li>
<li>It constitutes <strong>seven member states,</strong> 5, deriving from South Asia, including <strong>Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka</strong> and 2 from Southeast Asia, including <strong>Myanmar</strong> and <strong>Thailand</strong>.</li>
<li>Initially, the economic bloc was formed with four member states with the acronym &lsquo;BIST-EC&rsquo; (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Following the inclusion of Myanmar on 22<sup>nd</sup> December 1997 during a special Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, the Group was renamed &lsquo;BIMST-EC&rsquo; (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).</li>
<li>With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan at the 6<sup>th</sup> Ministerial Meeting (February 2004, Thailand), the name of the grouping was changed to &lsquo;Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation&rsquo; (BIMSTEC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>objective</strong> of building such an alliance was <strong>to harness shared and accelerated growth through mutual cooperation in different areas of common interests</strong> by mitigating the onslaught of globalization and by utilizing regional resources and geographical advantages.</li>
<li>Starting with six sectors&mdash;including <strong>trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism and fisheries</strong>&mdash;for sectoral cooperation in the late 1997, it expanded to embrace nine more sectors&mdash;including <strong>agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people to people contact and climate change</strong>&mdash;in the year 2008.</li>
<li>It brings together 1.5 bn people, 21% of the world population and a combined GDP of over 2.5 trillion dollars.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the seven countries have sustained average annual rates of growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Unlike many other regional groupings, <strong>BIMSTEC is a sector-driven cooperative organization</strong>. The primary objective of it is to facilitate technological and economic co-operation among its members.</li>
<li>It is <strong>based on two founding principles, to respect the principle of sovereign equality,</strong> territorial integrity, political independence, non interference in internal affairs, peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit and not be a substitute for bilateral, regional or multilateral cooperation involving member states.</li>
</ul>
<h3>India and BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIMSTEC establishes India&rsquo;s willingness to give importance and cooperate with neighbours who want peace in the region and condemn terrorism.</li>
<li>It also demonstrates the seriousness with which India believes it should engage with maritime nations for security in the Bay of Bengal region.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s northeast will be playing a crucial role in increasing connectivity with BIMSTEC member countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Connectivity has been described broadly by India as trade connectivity, economic connectivity, transport connectivity, digital connectivity and people to people connectivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Since 2014, the government is trying to shift the focus of India&rsquo;s neighbourhood policy from the west to the east.</strong> The Indian foreign policy gets so consumed by Pakistan that at lot of times, India&rsquo;s attention does not get focussed on its eastern neighbours.</li>
<li><strong>BIMSTEC countries represent the eastern part of the Look East policy of India</strong> to strengthen relations especially with the countries towards the east.</li>
<li>For India, BIMSTEC allows it to leverage its maritime geography in part of the world that is becoming increasingly contested and also <strong>it allows India to focus on the wider Indo-Pacific which is increasingly becoming center of global politics</strong>.</li>
<li>BIMSTEC is now increasingly seen as <strong>India&rsquo;s attempt at regional multilateralism minus Pakistan</strong>. The government&rsquo;s stand on Pakistan has been very clear that is, talks and terror cannot go hand in hand.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foreign Experts say that BIMSTEC provides India an alternative regional engagement platform. It has all the members of SAARC (Pakistan being not included) minus Afghanistan and Maldives, with whom India can engage separately.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India is the region&rsquo;s largest economy.</strong> On 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary of BIMSTEC in 2016, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia but also ecologies of the great himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He further said that BIMSTEC members have shared values, history, way of life and destinies that are interlinked. He said that BIMSTEC represents a common space for peace and development. He categorically defined the importance of BIMSTEC as a platform that fulfills India&rsquo;s Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>In the last swearing-in ceremony, India had invited SAARC nations which included Pakistan but this time, Pakistan was a big miss in the neighbour</strong> who was not invited to the oath taking ceremony due to its consistent support to terrorism against India and the recent Pulwama attack and <strong>this is also a reason why SAARC nations of which Islamabad is a part were not called</strong>. Earlier, India had refused to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad in 2016 post the Uri terror attack. Most other SAARC nations had backed India&rsquo;s stand. <strong>Since 2016, there has been no movement forward on resuming the SAARC summit. Interestingly after deciding to boycott the Islamabad SAARC summit in 2016, India invited the same grouping of BIMSTEC countries to Goa as part of the BRICS Outreach Initiative.</strong></p>
<p>Day after taking the oath, the Prime Minister of India held separate meetings with all BIMSTEC leaders exploring ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.</p>
<p><strong>Meeting with Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan</strong></p>
<p><strong>India - Mauritius</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Leaders of both the countries have agreed to work together to achieve the shared vision of security and growth of the two countries as well as the Indian Ocean Region.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister of India reiterated his commitment to further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries in all spheres.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India-Kyrgyzstan</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President of Kyrgyzstan reiterated the invitation for the Prime Minister of India to visit Kyrgyzstan for the SCO summit and a bilateral visit during 13th - 15th of June.</li>
<li>The two leaders also held deliberations on diversifying cooperation for the mutual benefit of citizens of both the countries.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister of India also expressed satisfaction at the strengthening of bilateral cooperation over the years.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SAARC comprises of eight member states: <strong>Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan</strong> and <strong>Sri Lanka</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>main objectives</strong> of SAARC include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to promote the welfare of the people</li>
<li>to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development</li>
<li>to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia</li>
<li>to contribute to mutual trust and understanding among member countries</li>
<li>to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;</li>
<li>to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>As of 2015, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% or 2.9 trillion US dollars of the world&rsquo;s GDP was in the SAARC region.</strong></li>
<li>Despite been around for over three decades, SAARC&rsquo;s performance has been less than satisfactory with its role in strengthening regional cooperation coming under scrutiny.</li>
</ul>
<h3>BIMSTEC vis-a-vis SAARC</h3>
<p><strong>SAARC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While the SAARC has established itself as a regional forum, it has failed to attain its objectives. In the many failures of SAARC, <strong>lack of trust among the member countries</strong> has been the most significant factor between India and Pakistan.</li>
<li>In recent times, <strong>Pakistan&rsquo;s non-cooperation has stalled some major initiatives including the SAARC motor vehicle agreement,</strong> which was crucial for harnessing regional connectivity across South Asia, could not be signed in 2014 due to Pakistan&rsquo;s dithering.</li>
<li>SAARC has also been the <strong>failure in the area of security cooperation</strong>. For instance, while cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan is a major concern for India, Pakistan has failed to address this concern.</li>
<li>The grouping faced another setback after <strong>the 19<sup>th</sup> summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2016 was suspended for an indefinite period</strong> as member countries declined to participate, a signal that <strong>there is an absence of a conducive regional environment</strong>.</li>
<li>In the past, <strong>India has spent more political capital and efforts to make SAARC work than on BIMSTEC</strong>. However, the latter lends itself more naturally to regional integration including physical connectivity and economic co-operation than SAARC which is dominated by India and Pakistan and naturally crippled by tensions between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIMSTEC provides the Bay of Bengal nations, an opportunity to work together to create a common space for peace and development.</li>
<li><strong>It helps smaller countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan to develop connectivity with ASEAN nations, the hub of major economic activities globally.</strong></li>
<li>BIMSTEC&rsquo;s major strength comes from the fact that it includes <strong>two influential regional powers: Thailand and India. This adds to the comfort of smaller neighbours by reducing the fear of dominance by one big power.</strong></li>
<li>Trade among the BIMSTEC countries reached 6% in just a decade, while in SAARC, it has remained around 5% since its inception.</li>
<li>One of the reasons for BIMSTEC&rsquo;s popularity is that the <strong>member countries have generally cordial relationships,</strong> however there are shortcomings as well.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The grouping was formed in 1997 but its record in terms of tangible achievements is not impressive.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Rising BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since most of the members of BIMSTEC are either members of SAARC or ASEAN, it did not get much momentum earlier but now <strong>after SAARC becoming almost defunct</strong> because of Pakistan&rsquo;s allegiance to terrorism against India, <strong>it is believed to emerge as a major and robust organization of South and Southeast Asia</strong> that will include Myanmar and Thailand of ASEAN countries, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Bhutan of SAARC conglomeration, which will in a way <strong>isolate Pakistan over its support to terrorism</strong>.</li>
<li>In over two decades of existence, BIMSTEC has achieved very little. India aims to reverse the trend by bringing in an significant improvement in its economic engagement within the region without any delay.</li>
<li><strong>With differences between India and Pakistan coming in the way of smooth functioning of the SAARC, groupings like BIMSTEC can take forward the concept of regional cooperation in a different manner.</strong></li>
<li>BIMSTEC is a platform by which lot of the issues in the region can be tackled and integrated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The regional group forms a bridge between the South and the Southeast Asia and represents a reinforcement of relations between the countries belonging to these areas. It, basically, establishes a platform for inter-regional cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><em>BIMSTEC has emerged as an alternative platform for engagement that India has with its neighbour, leaving the future of already stagnant SAARC bleak. Given the fairly amicable relationship among member states of BIMSTEC, increasing its performance and effectiveness is an achievable goal as long as the countries exhibit enough political will and mutual respect.</em></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bimstec-guests-of-honour'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Need For A Sound Energy Policy For India!',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article: <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-energy-crisis-renewable-energy-environment-ministry-electric-vehicles-diesel-price-5761564/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Over The Barrel: How to boost the energy drive</a> appeared in Indian express on 3<sup>rd</sup> of June. It talks about the measures that India need for a sound energy policy.</p>
</div>
<p>Indian government&rsquo;s on-going energy sector policies aim "to provide access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy", in that pursuit several domestic goals and the global development agenda is lined up. For example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Make available 24x7 power to all by 2019.</li>
<li>Achieve 175 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2022</li>
<li>Reduce imports of oil and gas by 10 per cent by 2022-23.</li>
<li>Continue to reduce the emission intensity of GDP in a manner that will help India achieve the intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) target of 2030.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What are the challenges in India's energy sector?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is still heavily dependent on petroleum imports to meet its requirements &ndash; we imported approximately 85 percent of crude oil and 45 percent of natural gas requirements</li>
<li>A variety of subsidies and taxes distort the energy market and promote the use of inefficient over efficient fuels.</li>
<li>Old inefficient plants continue to operate whereas more efficient plants are underutilized</li>
<li>Lack of market-driven gas prices for old fields disincentivize further production.</li>
<li>Land for coal mining is becoming a major issue. Also, there is no competitive coal market.</li>
<li>There are supply chain issues in biomass power generation.</li>
<li>The non-availability of sufficient credit facilities and difficulties in obtaining required finances for energy saving projects are strong deterrents to investments in energy efficiency in India.</li>
<li>Limited technical capabilities, high initial capital expenditure, limited market and policy issues have adversely affected efforts to achieve energy efficiency.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What should be the salient features of the energy policy of India?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integrate energy and environment policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For holistic energy policy, various ministries currently engaged with energy and the environment should be merged into one Ministry of Energy and Environment.</li>
<li>Also, the &ldquo;Energy and Environment Security Act&rdquo; should be passed at the earliest as possible.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The objective of such an act should be to balance economic development and energy demands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An integrated energy data centre must be established to bridge the gap between policy and investment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on Decarbonisation,</strong> as a key component of energy policy. This can be done by:
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Focusing on solar and wind energy</li>
<li>Incentivising electric vehicles</li>
<li>Curtailing diesel consumption in agriculture,</li>
<li>Enforcing standards and emission norms,</li>
<li>Redesigning buildings and factories to make them carbon neutral</li>
<li>Influencing behavioural change towards energy conservation.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For instance, the government has launched various projects/schemes to implement these like National Solar Mission, FAME India, KUSUM yojana, Bharat emission norms VI, GRIHA building code.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>"clean energy fund"</strong> which is currently funded through a cess on coal production only should be augmented also through the issuance of &ldquo;green bonds&rdquo; and a clean energy tax</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy diplomacy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The oil supply of India comes from a highly volatile region i.e. West Asia</li>
<li>Any turmoil in the region will significantly impact India's strategic concerns.</li>
<li>In this scenario, India must engage diplomatically with nations to secure long-term supply contracts.
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For this government can look to develop a specialized cadre of &ldquo;energy diplomats, who can be induced through lateral entry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India must implement changes in <strong>exploration and enhance recovery policy:</strong></li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The current revenue-sharing model must be replaced with a production-sharing model for new exploration.</li>
<li>The government should increase access to the domestic retail market by removing the condition that only companies that have invested Rs 2,000 crore will be eligible for a marketing licence.</li>
<li>The government must allow international players with proven enhanced oil recovery technologies. in field oil fields like Mumbai high and other ageing oil fields in Gujarat
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The current recovery rates of production from these fields are well below the global average.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms in the Coal sector:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increase competition in coal mining so as to infuse efficiency in Coal India Limited (CIL)</li>
<li>Though commercial coal mining by private sector companies is allowed it must be backed by positive policy intervention to expedite the coal mining.</li>
<li>Set up coal commission of India, to deal with disruptions caused by the renewable energy sector in the coal sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms in the natural gas sector:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The price of gas should be determined on the basis of market and competitive principles.</li>
<li>A gas trading hub should be expeditiously established</li>
<li>Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)'s monopoly as a monopoly gas pipeline company must end</li>
<li>GAIL should be divested of its upstream (production/ re-gasification of LNG) and downstream (petrochemicals) operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Finally, special energy courts should be established to expedite the adjudication of disputes and ensure the sanctity of contracts related to the energy sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the world&rsquo;s third largest energy consumer and according to International Energy Agency, India&rsquo;s energy demand growth outpaced global demand growth in 2018. In this light, it is high time for the government to formulate a comprehensive energy policy with a view to balancing socio-economic growth with environmental protection.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e2d0f5; border-color: #5300ab; border-style: dashed;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1256px;"><em><strong>Drishti Input:<br /><br /></strong></em>India&rsquo;s energy sector is currently reeling under various challenges and loopholes in keeping pace with growing energy demand of a developing economy. In this context, analyse these challenges and suggest steps to ensure energy security of India.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/need-for-a-sound-energy-policy-for-india'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'China’s Gene Editing Rules',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>China has decided to introduce new Gene-editing rules.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rules require researchers to obtain <strong>prior approval from the government</strong> before undertaking clinical trials.</li>
<li>Those found violating the rules will be punished and this includes a <strong>lifetime ban on research</strong>.</li>
<li>The rules would also require <strong>all future trials to be approved</strong> by administrative authorities as well as ethical committees.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Last year, a chinese researcher, He Jiankui, has claimed that he used CRISPR <strong>(Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)</strong> to produce the world&rsquo;s first <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gene-edited babies</a> to make babies immune to infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).</li>
<li>After the news of gene-edited babies came Chinese national health commission investigated and found that Dr. He had violated the national regulations against using gene-editing for reproductive purposes.</li>
<li>China has now decided to come up with stricter norms regarding gene editing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gene Editing<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/611Image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/611Image1.jpg" width="274" height="577" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gene editing is also called as <strong>genetic modification, genetic manipulation or genetic engineering</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Genome editing is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism's DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).</strong> These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.</li>
<li>Gene Editing is widely practised in agriculture, to increase productivity or resistance to diseases, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is CRISPR?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)</strong> is a gene editing technology, <strong>which replicates natural defence mechanism in bacteria to fight virus attacks,</strong> using a special protein called Cas9.</li>
<li>CRISPR-Cas9 technology behaves like a <strong>cut-and-paste mechanism on DNA</strong> strands that contain genetic information. The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed, or edited, is identified on the DNA strand, and then, using the <strong>Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors,</strong> that location is cut off from the strand.</li>
<li>A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself. Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.</li>
<li>CRISPR-Cas9 is a simple, effective, and incredibly precise technology with potential to revolutionise human existence in future.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Dr. He used the CRISPR&ndash;Cas9 gene editing technique to disable a gene called CCR5 (C-C chemokine receptor type 5), which <strong>encodes a protein that allows HIV to enter and infect cells</strong>.</li>
<li>Though no guidelines have been drawn up so far regarding gene editing.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>general consensus</strong> in the scientific and ethics communities that the CRISPR&ndash;Cas9 gene-editing technique should not be used clinically in embryos..</li>
<li>Importantly, <strong>human clinical trials have not been carried out</strong> anywhere in the world to test whether disabling the gene completely prevents HIV infection.</li>
<li>In the absence of any clinical trial data as well as consensus to use this tool to prevent HIV infection, performing it on babies as a form of medical <strong>intervention is unethical</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>CCR5</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>C-C chemokine receptor type 5, also known as CCR5 or CD195, is a protein on the surface of white blood cells that is involved in the immune system as it acts as a receptor for chemokines.</li>
<li>CCR5, which encodes a protein that allows HIV to enter and infect cells. The CCR5 gene protective role against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Nile virus</a> is well established.</li>
<li>The CCR5 gene also helps to protect the lungs, the liver and the brain during certain serious infections and chronic diseases.</li>
<li>The gene is known to prompt the immune system to fight the influenza virus in the lungs.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Nilgiri Tribals Tensed Over Destruction of Rock Art',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p><strong>40%</strong> of the rock paintings in Karikiyoor at Kil Kotagiri in the Nilgiri forests have been <strong>destroyed by trekkers, tourists, and vandals</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Irula tribal community,</strong> who have an ancestral link to the Nilgiri forest&rsquo;s rock art site, are extremely angered at the damage by illegal trekkers.</li>
<li><strong>Scripts</strong> on the rock paintings in Karikiyoor resemble the script found in <strong>Indus civilization</strong> sites of northern India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About Irula Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Irula people reside in northern districts of <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> and in some parts of <strong>Kerala</strong>.</li>
<li>Tribes have their origin from ethnic groups of <strong>Southeast Asia and Australia</strong>.</li>
<li>They speak Irula language that is closely related to <strong>Dravidian language</strong> like Kannada and Tamil.</li>
<li>Irulas are among the <strong>Particularly vulnerable tribal group</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PVTGs are the <strong>marginalized section</strong> of the Scheduled tribes of India and are relatively isolated, educationally and socio-economically backward, living in a habitat far away from amenities.</li>
<li>PVTG is <strong>not a constitutional category,</strong> nor are these constitutionally recognized communities.</li>
<li>It is a Government of India&rsquo;s classification created with the purpose of enabling improvement in the conditions of certain communities with particularly low development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Rock Art:</strong> Rock art is human-made markings placed on natural stone.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rock art is often divided into three forms: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-petroglyphs-of-ratnagiri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">petroglyphs</a>, which are carved into the rock surface, <strong>pictographs</strong>, which are painted onto the surface, and <strong>earth figures</strong>, formed on the ground.</li>
<li>Rock art in India is extensively found in the caves of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bhimbetka caves:</strong> located between Hoshangabad and <strong>Bhopal</strong>, in the foothills of the Vindhya Mountains.</li>
<li><strong>Bagh caves:</strong> located on the bank of Baghani river in the Dhar district of <strong>Madhya Pradesh</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Jogimara caves:</strong> paintings were created before the Ajanta and Bagh Caves and belong to <strong>Pre-Buddha caves</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Situated at Amarnath near the origin of Narmada, in Surguja in Chhattisgarh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Armamalai caves:&nbsp;</strong>Armamalai cave paintings located in <strong>Vellore district of Tamil Nadu,&nbsp;</strong>are known for a Jain temple with ancient paintings, petroglyphs and rock art.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rock paintings serve, as a <strong>&ldquo;historical record&rdquo;</strong>, detailing the hunting habits and <strong>ways of life</strong> of the local communities.</li>
<li>Rock arts are used for <strong>ritualistic purpose</strong> by local residents.</li>
<li>Tribal communities rely on the rock arts for deriving their <strong>cultural connections</strong> by following the customs engraved in the rock art.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nilgiri-tribals-tensed-over-destruction-of-rock-art'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts For Prelims (3rd June 2019)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Indian Navy Steps Up Anti-piracy Patrol</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Navy deployed its <strong>P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft</strong> for <strong>anti-piracy</strong> sorties from Salalah in Oman to patrol the <strong>Gulf of Aden</strong> under its <strong>Mission Based Deployments (MBD)</strong> in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),</li>
<li>Under the MBD concept, the Navy maintains a ship at every choke point in the IOR at any point of time.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>P-8I Aircraft</strong></p>
<p>The P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.operationworld.org/files/ow/maps/lgmap/yeme-MMAP-md.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download map</a></p>
<h3>IIT Madras Develops New Material</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed a material with properties suitable for <strong>quantum optoelectronics</strong>.</li>
<li>The materials like tungsten diselenide and molybdenum diselenide were being studied for their <strong>opto-electronic properties &ndash; a combination of optics and electronics</strong>.</li>
<li>Researchers from IIT Madras have found a way of enhancing this property of these materials about 30 times in tungsten diselenide, by drop-casting gold nanoparticles on to a two-dimensional film.</li>
<li>A key property of these materials is <strong>photoluminescence</strong> which can be used in various devices such as quantum LEDs which can be used in communication and computation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Photoluminescence:&nbsp;</strong>Photoluminescence is a process in which a molecule absorbs a photon in the visible region, exciting one of its electrons to a higher electronic excited state, and then radiates a photon as the electron returns to a lower energy state.</p>
<p><strong>Optoelectronics:&nbsp;</strong>Optoelectronics concerns the study and application of electronic devices that source, detect and control light.</p>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-june-2019'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'The Elixir for MSMEs: Access to Credit',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/expensive-access-to-credit-a-universal-issue-for-smes/article27394530.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Expensive access to credit a universal issue for SMEs&rdquo;</a> which appeared in The Hindu on 1st June, 2019. The article talks about the difficulties in access to credit for SMEs.</p>
</div>
<p>Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have gained increased attention in India in recent times, considering their strategic importance to the economy and the country.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What are Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises?</strong></p>
<p>In accordance with the provision of Micro, Small &amp; Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are classified in two Classes:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Manufacturing Enterprises:</strong> enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production of goods pertaining to any industry specified in the first schedule to the industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951) or employing plant and machinery in the process of value addition to the final product having a distinct name or character or use. The Manufacturing Enterprise are defined in terms of investment in Plant &amp; Machinery.</li>
<li><strong>Service Enterprises:</strong> The enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services and are <strong>defined in terms of investment in equipment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Importance of MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MSMEs play an important role in generating employment&mdash;48.8 million MSMEs in the country provide employment to 111.4 million people.</li>
<li>MSMEs in the manufacturing sector alone produces more than 6,000 products and contribute 7.7% of the GDP of the country. Similarly, MSMEs in the services sector contributed 27.4% of the country&rsquo;s GDP.</li>
</ul>
<p>In spite of their contribution, MSMEs in India face several challenges, particularly related to access to credit.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/913image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/913image2.png" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Some of the Key challenges faced by SMEs are listed below</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scarcity of Resources</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One of the most important challenges faced by SMEs in India is the scarcity of Resources such as Raw material and labour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Technology</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One of the crucial factor the decides the success or failure of an Enterprise is the use of Technology for the production. The best technology helps the enterprise to reduce its cost of production, improves productivity and brings efficiency, but SMEs fails to cope up with the latest technology due to lack of finance in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Steps by government to promote</strong> MSME (12 point programme)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Loan in 59 minutes</li>
<li>Interest benefitcs for the GST registered MSMEs.</li>
<li>CPSEs and Corporates more than Rs. 500 crore to join Trade Receivables e-Discounting System or the TReDS platforms</li>
<li>Tech support to MSMEs via 20 hubs and 100 spokes</li>
<li>Mandatory 25% procurement from MSMEs by CPSEs</li>
<li>Now, returns due to 8 labour Laws and 10 rules to be filed only once instead of the earlier twice.</li>
<li>Pharma Clusters where 70% cost borne by Centre</li>
<li>All CPSEs to join Government e-marketplace(GeM)</li>
<li>Of the 25% mandatory procurement, 3% to be done only from women led MSMEs</li>
<li>Ending inspector Raj and ensuring transparency</li>
<li>Ordinance for simplifying levy of penalties for minor offences</li>
<li>Easier process for Environmental Clearances and &lsquo;Consent to Establish&rsquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Programme to Promote MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ASPIRE scheme</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) was launched in 2015. The aim is to set up a network of technology centres and to set up incubation centres to accelerate entrepreneurship and also to promote startups for innovation and entrepreneurship in agro-industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Zero Defect Zero Effect</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED)launched in 2016, with two objective of promotion of production mechanism wherein the products have no defects and the impact on environment is zero.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SFURTI scheme</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SFURTI scheme was revamped in 2014. The scheme has been introduced all over India to generate employment in rural areas. Under this scheme 29 khadi, 47 village industries and 21 coir clusters have been made functional by providing them with improved equipment, common facilities centres, business development services, training, capacity building and design and marketing support, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Revival and Rehabilitation Framework under MSMEs</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ministry of MSME, in 2015, notified a &lsquo;Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation of MSMEs&rsquo; so as to provide for a simpler and faster mechanism to address the stress in the MSME accounts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Grievance Monitoring</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry attends to the grievances on Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) by doing this the Ministry of MSME has become the first Ministry to have its own MSME Internet Grievance Monitoring System.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Cooperation</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government of India enters into long-term Agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various countries for promoting cooperation in the field of MSMEs in the broad areas of capacity building, industrial surveys and feasibility studies, enterprise to enterprise collaboration, participation in exhibitions and trade fairs, exchanging business missions, technology transfer etc. During 2014-2018, the Ministry has signed two MoUs at Government to Government level with Sweden (2015) and United Arab Emirates (2017).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National SC/ST Hub</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An initiative targeted towards developing a supporting ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs. The schemes has resulted in registration of 13211 SC and 2704 ST enterprises on the MSME databank.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Centre system Programme</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To expand and upgrade the network of Technology Centres (Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres) in the country, Ministry of MSME is implementing Technology Centre Systems Programme (TCSP) at an estimated Cost of Rs. 2200 Cr., including World Bank Loan assistance of USD 200 million, to establish 15 new Technology Centres (TCs) and upgrade existing TCs across the country.</li>
<li>Efforts have been made during the last four years to make <strong>NIMSME (National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)</strong> as one of the premier National Institutes of India. The Institute conducts Training Programmes in various states across the country resulting in training of 1,72,213 youth/executives and 26,630 grounded units. ni-msme also organized several &lsquo;job melas&rsquo; in various states, in which 44,449 persons were selected for wage employment. Ni-msme also brought out 40 publications on various topics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accessibility to credit</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prime Minister&rsquo;s employment Generation Programme</li>
<li>Credit linked capital subsidy scheme</li>
<li>Credit guarantee trust fund for Micro and small enterprises</li>
<li>Priority sector lending of RBI</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>However, what should be noted is accessibility to credit remains an Achilles heel for MSME sector.</p>
<h3>A Cursory Look at the State of Finance for MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the International Finance Corporation (2012), the supply of finance to the MSME sector is estimated to be 32.5 trillion Indian rupees. <strong>This total comprises contributions from informal finance, formal finance, and self-finance.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Informal sources and self-finance contribute Rs. 25.5 trillion to the sector, of which informal finance accounts for Rs24.4 trillion. In other words, <strong>78% of the finance used by MSMEs is met by informal sources and self-finance.</strong></li>
<li>The remaining 22% (Rs6.9 trillion) is provided by banks and NBFCs, of which banks provide the bulk (91.8%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the Economic Survey 2017, the MSME sector faces a major problem in terms of getting adequate credit for expansion of business activities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Latest data on credit disbursed by banks shows that out of a total outstanding credit of 26041 billion as in November 2017, 82.6 percent of the amount was lent to large enterprises.</li>
<li>The MSME received only 17.4 per cent of the total credit outstanding. Growth of credit to Micro and Small enterprises increased by 4.6 per cent, while credit to Medium enterprises decreased by 8.3 per cent</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/989image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/989image1.png" /></a></p>
<h3>Reasons for Poor State of Finance of MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Major challenges in accessing finance reported by enterprises in this stage included the <strong>difficulty in providing collateral</strong> or a guarantee, <strong>processing time</strong> for loan applications,<strong> lack of knowledge</strong> about available schemes, and procedural complications.</li>
<li>Moreover, financial institution are averse to provide loan on fear of increasing NPA.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Poor Finance on MSME</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the absence of proper credit, MSMEs in India cannot technologically upgrade themselves.</li>
<li>They generally face challenges in expansion.</li>
<li>In the absence of resources, MSMEs cannot compete with larger sectoral competitors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To address lender uncertainty around SMEs, the government can guarantee to repay a substantial portion of SME debt. This will ease lender concerns and attract more finance to the sector.</li>
<li>Credit-information infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be established, with a mandate to provide credit guarantees to ease their access to finance.</li>
<li>SME credit risk databases, credit bureaus and credit ratings that can help lenders should be developed to address the problem of collateral.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #d90000; background-color: #f0afaf;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Input:</strong></em></p>
<p>In the absence of an institutional framework for access to credit to MSMEs, the benefits of demographic dividend cannot be reaped. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Search/index.ctp, line 85
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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