Current Affairs March 2014 in English

Government constituted an expert committee to study demand for Bodoland state

Territorial Council (BTC) by signing an accord after years of violent agitation that claimed hundreds of lives.

Government of India (Union Home Ministry) constituted one-man expert committee to study and examine the demand of a separate Bodoland state, which will be carved out from Assam.

In 2012 the BTC area has witnessed ethnic clashes between the Bodo tribals and immigrant Muslims.

About Bezbaruah Committee C A committee was constituted under the chairmanship of M.P. Bezbaruah.

C The committee was constituted to look into the various kinds of concerns of the persons hailing from the North Eastern States.

The Committee will look upon the issues as follows:-

Bodo tribals mostly live in a few districts of the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam.

Earlier in 2003, the government constituted an autonomous Bodoland

The committee will interact with the students/professionals, NGOs, students’ organizations and other persons from the North Eastern States living in Delhi to seek their suggestions.

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The demand for a separate Bodoland has identified following the decision of the government to form a new Telangana State. At present major Bodo outfits have intensified their agitation with the demand of a separate state for the Bodo tribals.

C To examine the various kinds of concerns, including the concerns regarding security, of the persons hailing from the North Eastern States.

C To examine the causes behind the attacks/violence and discrimination against the people from the North-Eastern States.

C To suggest measures to be taken by the Government to address these concerns.

C To suggest legal remedies to address all the concerns.

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The one-man committee will be headed by former Union Home Secretary G K Pillai and will submit his report after consulting all sections of the society on the viability of a separate state.

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs Supreme Court referred the issue of legalizing euthanasia to Constitutional bench The Supreme Court referred the petition seeking legalization of euthanasia to a five-judge Constitution Bench.

also considering the important question of law involved which needs to be reflected in the light of social, legal, medical and constitutional perspective, the 3-Judge Bench referred it to the issue to the 5-judge Bench.

India's position on Euthanasia

The Public Interest Litigation filed by NGO Common Cause sought to declare dying with dignity a fundamental right for terminally ill patients.

A 3-Judge Bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh while referring the issue to the Constitution Bench relied on two earlier cases.

The case for Euthanasia or mercy killing in India emerged with the filing of a petition by Pinki Virani for Aruna Shanbaug in Supreme Court in 2011.

Aruna Shanbaug is lying almost in a vegetative state in King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai since 1973.

Pinky Virani, who is a journalist and has written a book on Shanbaug, argued in her petition that Shanbaug is being forced to live her life stripped of basic dignity.

In view of the inconsistent opinions rendered in the two cases and

Supreme Court taking her concerns as genuine, however, in Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug vs. Union of India case (2011) ruled in favour of Passive Euthanasia and not Active Euthanasia.

However, passive euthanasia is contingent upon circumstances, for example, in the case of an irreversible coma.

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In 2011 the Supreme Court rejected the plea for mercy killing of Aruna Shanbaug who has been in a persistent vegetative state for the past 37 years and had laid down elaborate guideline for carrying out passive euthanasia.

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In 1996 Gian Kaur Case the Constitution Bench upheld that the right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution will be inclusive of right to die with dignity. However, the decision did not arrive at a conclusion for validity of euthanasia be it active or passive.

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The views expressed by the Supreme Court in Aruna Shanbaug case and 17th Law Commission was endorsed by the 19th Law Commission of India under Justice P V Reddi in its 241st Report.

Active euthanasia involves taking specific steps such as injecting the patient with a lethal substance e.g.

Sodium Pentothal which causes the person to go in deep sleep in a few seconds and the person dies painlessly in sleep, thus it amounts to killing a person by a positive act in order to end suffering of a person in a state of terminal illness. It is considered illegal all over the world except where permitted by legislation. In India too it is illegal and a crime under Section 302 or Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code.

Passive euthanasia, otherwise known as negative euthanasia, involves withholding of medical treatment or withholding life support

People are free to adopt children irrespective of religious background: SC Supreme Court of India on 19 February 2014 ruled that people are free to adopt children irrespective of their religious background. This ruling of the Apex Court has paved the way for adoption of a child by people hailing from Muslim community even though it is not allowed under their personal law.

The decision was made by the three-Judge bench of Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kriti Singh.

The bench held that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2006 is a small step towards the concept of Uniform Civil Code mentioned in Article 44 of the Constitution of India.

The Court in its direction also said that the law has entitled adoption by people belonging to any religion and any person, who does not submit himself to personal law can adopt a child.

CIIL to document 500 endangered Indian languages The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) will commence on a

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Even the 17th Law Commission of India under Former SC judge, Justice M Jagannadha Rao, in its 196th Report had earlier argued in favour of passive euthanasia and had drafted a bill named The Medical Treatment of Terminally-ill Patients (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners) Bill, 2006.

system for continuance of life e.g., withholding of antibiotic where without doing it, the patient is likely to die or removing the heart–lung machine from a patient in coma.

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Supreme Court also ruled that in each case, the relevant High Court will evaluate the merits of the case, and refer the case to a medical board before deciding on whether passive euthanasia can apply. And till Parliament introduces new laws on euthanasia, it is Ms Shanbaug's case that is to be used as a point of reference by other courts.

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs mega project to document almost 500 endangered languages in India, each spoken by less than 10000 people.

The decision to document endangered languages was taken by the CIIL during a two-day workshop on Endangered tribal languages in south India.

research to contribute to mutual enrichment of languages and thus contribute towards emotional integration of the people of India.

It has been approved in principle by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. The CIIL will collaborate with universities and institutes.

According to the Census of India 2001, there are 122 endangered languages spoken in India.

The Anthropological Survey of India put it at 323, while a UNESCO report puts it at 196.

About CIIL  Central Institute of Indian Languages was established to coordinate the Indian languages through scientific studies, promote inter disciplinary

Vice President released Commemorative Postage Stamp of Maulana Hasrat Mohani  Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India released a commemorative postage stamp in the honour of Maulana Hasrat Mohani in New Delhi.  Mohani was a freedom fighter and an eminent poet.  Hasrat Mohani alongwith Ali brothers (Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali), Maulana Azad and Hakim Ajmal Khan were the part of the Khilafat Committee formed by Indian National Congress in 1919.

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In the first phase, about 70 languages from different parts of the country will be studied and 500 languages would be taken up in a span of 10 years. The study and documentation of each language would cost between 6 lakh Rupees and 8 lakh Rupees.

 Aims of CIIL are to Advices and Assists Central as well as State Governments in the matters of language and contribute to the development of all Indian Languages by creating content and corpus.

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The objective of documenting the endangered languages is to bring out dictionaries and also document and preserve the ethic knowledge system enshrined in the languages, including folklore and also to frame grammar rules.

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 He is called as Mohani as he was born at village Mohan in district Unao of UP in 1878  He launched a literary magazine named Urdu-e-Moalla and in 1908 he was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment by British government for publishing an article against British policies in Egypt  He was also arrested again in 1916 for his involvement in Reshmi Romal Tehrik (Silk Letter Movement organised by the Deobandi leaders between 1913 to 1920)  He died on 13 May 1951 at Lucknow.

Union Government inaugurated the National Centre for Good Governance Union Government inaugurated the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) on 24 February 2014. NCGS is an apex think tank of the country in guiding and implementing good Governance reforms.

National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) has been set up by upgrading the National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR), Mussorrie.

The focus of the NCGG will be action oriented research in good Governance.

The Centre will function as a national repository on information on best practices, initiatives and methodologies that promote good Governance, e-Governance initiatives, change management and capacity building within the Government.

The NCGG would work towards resolution of key issues in Governance, analyse policy and programme

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 Maulana Hasrat Mohani was the first person who raised the issue of complete independence in Indian National Congress Meet in Ahmadabad in 1921  He was also the first Indian leader to propose guerrilla warfare for achieving independence from the British rulers

Apart from in India, a postage stamp on the name of Maulana Hasrat Mohani is also in existence in Pakistan. It launched a postage stamp by his name on 23 January 1989 of 3 rupees.

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About Maulana Hasrat Mohani

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs implementation, develop action plans, support governance reforms and help in developing synergy across various sectors and Ministries or Departments.

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A Governing Body with Cabinet Secretary as the Chairman has been constituted for NCGG. The affairs of the Society shall be managed under the overall superintendence, direction and control of the Governing Body.

NCGG will also have 12 members Management Committee and Secretary of Department of Personal and Training (DOPT) as the Chairperson.

NCGG will have a 3 tier structure. The first tier will consist of the internal Faculty and Staff, the second of outside domestic experts and the third of international consultants.

Whistleblower Protection passed by Union Legislature

Bill

Whistleblower Protection Bill was passed by Union Legislature recently.

The Whistleblower Bill will provide an adequate protection to persons reporting corruption or wilful misuse of discretion which causes demonstrable loss to the government or commission of a criminal offence by a public servant.

The bill seeks the procedure to inquire into the disclosures and provides adequate safeguards against victimisation of the whistleblower. It will also seek to provide punishment for false or frivolous complaints.

The bill was passed by Lok Sabha in 2011 and was taken up by the Rajya Sabha in 2012 for consideration.

Rajya Sabha made two new proposals in the bill.

First, the definition of disclosure was amended to include wilful misuse of power or wilful misuse of discretion which leads to demonstrable loss to the government or demonstrable gain to the public servant or any third party.

Second, the definition of competent authority to which a

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About Governing Structure of NCGS

The bill aims to provide a regular mechanism to encourage persons to disclose information on corruption or willful misuse of power by public servants and ministers.

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The expected outcome of the NCGG will be in the form of research papers, best practices on Governance reforms, policy analysis and options will provide the necessary direction, guidance and capacity building inputs on Governance and management issues to the Central and State Government organisations, Central Training Institutes and State Administrative Training Institutes.

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International Mother Language Day (Bhasha Divas) was observed across the world, with Bangladesh leading on 21 February 2014.

This day is observed with an aim to promote awareness of linguistic, multilingualism and cultural diversity.

International Mother Language Day was announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999 and was formally recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

It celebrates cultural diversity and commemorates the “language martyr” students of 1952 Bangladesh.

In 1952 four students were killed on 21 February 1952 because they campaigned to officially use Bengali as their mother language in Bangladesh instead of Urdu.

These students are honored by the encouragement of multiculturalism

Current International Mother Language Day events include multicultural festivals which promote the hearing of all voices, and display social cohesion, cultural awareness, and tolerance. The unique nuances and subtleties of linguistic communication which connect individuals to culture and personal identity are valued and encouraged.

This day is being celebrated since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. UNESCO highlights the importance of mother tongue as part of the right to education and encourages its member states to promote instruction and education in the mother tongue.

UNESCO promotes mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual approaches in education - an important factor for inclusion and quality in education. Research shows this has a positive impact on learning and learning outcomes. The Organization provides normative frameworks for language policy and education and shares good practices in bilingual and multilingual education and mother tongue instruction.

Union Cabinet approved the setting up Equal Opportunities Commission Union Cabinet approved the setting up of an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on 20 February 2014.

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International Mother Language Day observed across the world on 21 February 2014

and the promotion of protective measures for endangered languages.

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complaint can be made has also been expanded.

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The proposal for EOC was made by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Committee on Social, Economic and Educational Status of Muslim Community in India.

The Equal Opportunities Commission will address the grievances of people from the minority communities when minorities are discriminated against by government agencies. Its role is advisory in nature and will have no jurisdiction over private agencies.

non-state agencies. So Sachar Committee recommended for an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC).

G Sachar Committee recommended EOC for all people.

Cabinet approved Classical Language

Odia

as

Union Cabinet on 20 February 2014 gave its nod for classifying Odia, the official language of Odisha as a classical language to give impetus to scholarships in the language.

EOC is a three-member body and will be headed by a retired judge of the High Court. It will not have any powers to impose penalties.

About Sachar Committee Odia is the first language from the Indo-Aryan linguistic group to be billed in the list of classical language.

The demand of classifying Odia as a classical language was the demand of the state government since 2004, which was accepted by the Sahitya Akademi in July 2013 and then was forwarded to the Union Ministry of Culture.

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The proposal to give Odia a status of classical language was moved by the Culture Ministry. As per the eighth schedule under Articles 344 (1) and 351 Odia (Oriya) of Constitution of India is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.

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G Justice Sachar Committee on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India was formed in March 2005.

G The Committee in its report submitted in 2006 noted that though Muslims constituted 18.5 percent of the population and their representation in bureaucracy was just about 2.5 percent.

G The Sachar Committee held that mechanisms like the National Commission for Minorities and the National Human Rights Commission cannot look into day-to-day complaints against

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Odia is the sixth language to be become the classical language of the country. Other five Indian languages that have been declared as the classical languages of which four are Dravidian languages     

Tamil was classified in 2004 Sanskrit was classified in 2005 Telugu was classified in 2008 Kannada was classified in 2008 Malayalam was classified in 2013

The five international languages of the world that has been classified as the classical language are Chinese, Sanskrit, Arabic, Greek and Latin.

Background Once any language is declared as a classical language then it gets a financial assistance to set-up a centre for excellence for the study of the language and also opens up an avenue for two major awards for scholars of eminence.

Expert Committee of Sahitya Akademi in 2004 mentioned four Criteria on which the language is classified as a classical language High antiquity of its early or ancient texts or literature of recorded history over a period of 1500 to 2000 years Originality of the literary tradition and an assurance that the language has not been borrowed from another speech community Considered as the valuable heritage in form of ancient literature/texts by generations of speaker.

Distinction of the literature and classical language from the modern and may not be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its branch

National Women's Day of India observed on 13 February National Women's Day of India was observed on 13 February 2014. This day is observed on the date of birth of India’s first women governor Sarojini Naidu.

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Odia being one of the oldest languages has been declared as classical language because of the demands and also because it has no resemblance to Hindi, Bengali, Telugu and Sanskrit.

Commission for creation of a certain number of professional chairs for classical languages for scholars of eminence in the language at least in Central Universities.

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The Odisha Government submitted a document with a demand of classical tag on its official language was prepared under the supervision of founder director of the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, Debiprasanna Pattanayak and researcher Subrat Kumar Prusty.

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs Sarojini Naidu was born on 13 February 1879 and died on 2 March 1949. This was the 135th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.

Her birthday has been selected to observe as a National Woman Day in recognition of the works done by her for uplliftment and development of women in India. Her name and birth date was proposed to celebrate as the National Women’s Day in India by members of Bhartiya Mahila Sangh and Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Sammelan.

United Provinces of Agra and Oudh  In 1925, she served as second woman to become President of the Indian National Congress and the first Indian woman to do so  Naidu joined the Indian national movement after the partition of Bengal in 1905  In 1928, the British Government awarded her with the medal Naidu Kaiser-i-Hind for her work during the plague epidemic in India

About Sarojini Naidu  Sarojini Naidu is also known as the Nightingale of India.  She was a child prodigy, a poet and an activist during the independence of India

Literary works of Sarojini Naidu  Golden Threshold published in 1905 was her first collection of poems  The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death and the Spring  Feast of Youth  The Magic Tree  The Wizard Mask  Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity  The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India, Allahabad: Kitabistan  The Indian Weavers  Apart from this, the International Women’s Day is observed and celebrated on 8 March every year.

Sikkim became the first State in India to achieve 100 percent sanitation coverage under the Nirmal Bharat

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 From 1947 to 1949, she served as the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state of

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Sikkim became first state to achieve 100 percent sanitation coverage

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs Abhiyaan Scheme on 9 February 2014.

Sikkim achieved 100 per cent sanitation in rural and urban households, schools, sanitary complexes and Aanganwadi centres.

rewards Nirmal Gram Puruskar for developing sufficient sanitation facilities of adequate quality in their respective areas.

According to a survey conducted in 20 gram panchayats by Planning Commission, 17 village councils of Sikkim were declared as ‘best performance panchayats’, which is highest in the country.

Sikkim also topped the list among all states of the country in net performance indicators.

In 2008, Sikkim become the first ever Nirmal Rajya of the country.

The status was granted for achieving total sanitation coverage. Sikkim was awarded first-ever Nirmal Rajya Award.

Background

Besides, It was made mandatory for all Gram Sabhas to take up sanitation as a top priority on their agenda.

So far, 163 panchayats in the State have been conferred monetary

CRSP adopted a demand driven approach with the name Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) with effect from 1999.

To give a fillip to the TSC, Government of India also launched the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) that sought to recognise the achievements and efforts made in ensuring full sanitation coverage.

Encouraged by the success of NGP, the TSC was renamed as Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA). The objective is to accelerate the sanitation coverage in

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The achievement is the result of the initiative that was launched way back in 1999. In 1999 Chief Minister Pawan Chamling launched the initiative for achieving full sanitation in 7096 sq km area of the state covering both rural and urban areas in all four districts of the State.

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As per the latest progress report card released by the Union Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, all 610577 inhabitants in Sikkim have latrines with high sanitation and hygiene

In 1986, Union Government started the Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP) primarily with the objective of improving the quality of life of the rural people and also to provide privacy and dignity to women.

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs the rural areas so as to comprehensively cover the rural community through renewed strategies and saturation approach.

The main objectives of the NBA are as under:

„ Develop community managed environmental sanitation systems focusing on solid & liquid waste management for overall cleanliness in the rural areas.

„ Bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas. „ Accelerate sanitation coverage in rural areas to achieve the vision of Nirmal Bharat by 2022 with all gram Panchayats in the country attaining Nirmal status.

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communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions promoting sustainable sanitation facilities through awareness creation and health education. „ To cover the remaining schools not covered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Anganwadi Centres in the rural areas with proper sanitation facilities and undertake proactive promotion of hygiene education and sanitary habits among students. „ Encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation.

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„ Motivate

Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs notified New CSR rules

received from other companies in India will be excluded.

Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs notified new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules for companies.

Provisions

The new CSR rules will become effective from 1 April 2014.

The new rules give effect to Section 135 and Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, which relate to CSR related spending by companies.

The new rules mandates that Companies having huge profits would have to spend at least 2 % of profits on the CSR activities which in turn would be used for the benefits of the society.

Companies having minimum of 500 crore rupees net worth or 5 crore rupees as net profit or 1000 crore rupees turnover are mandated to spend 2% on CSR activities. However, while undertaking net profit criteria, profits from overseas branches and dividends

C Companies falling under ambit are required to spend 2 % of their 3 year average annual net profit on CSR activities in each financial year, beginning from the next fiscal year 2014-15.

C Company has to declare its CSR policy. This policy should mention plans/ activities /programmes or projects. These works should not be a part of routine business activities.

C Companies can undertake CSR activities as per the approval of the company’s board and decision of its CSR Committee in accordance with its CSR policy.

C Rules also define the manner in which CSR committee should formulate and monitor CSR policy, role of board of directors.

C A Company is permitted to collaborate with other companies in pursuing their CSR activities but they need to show their CSR reports separately.

C Companies are permitted to spend only 5% of the total CSR expenditure for manpower required for CSR activities in a single financial year. The manpower would include company’s own personnel and those of the implementing agencies.

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included

in

( Protection of national heritage, art and culture which include restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art ( Promotion and development of traditional arts and handicraft ( Setting up public libraries ( Setting up homes and hostels for orphans ( Setting up old age homes ( Setting up day care centres ( Setting up of homes and hostels for women ( Training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, Olympic sports and paralympic sports ( Contributions or funds provided to technology incubators located within academic institutions which are approved by the

( Works to making safe drinking water available ( Maintaining quality of soil, air and water ( Conservation of natural resources ( Ensuring ecological balance ( Protection of flora and fauna, animal welfare, agro-forestry ( Rural development projects ( Livelihood enhancement projects ( Promoting healthcare and sanitation ( Measures for reducing inequalities faced by socially and economically backward groups ( Efforts which benefit war widows, armed forces veterans and their dependents.

RBI issued guidelines to deal with distressed assets The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for revitalising distressed assets. The guidelines suggested the forming of Joint Lenders Forum (JLF) and adoption of Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for operationalising the framework.

Highlights of the Guidelines: ð Before a loan account turns into a NPA, banks are required to identify incipient stress in the account by creating three subcategories under the Special Mention Account (SMA1) category. SMA Sub-categories. ð SMA-0: Account will fall in this category if the Principal or

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CSR activities Schedule VII

Central Government

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C Company can also carry out CSR activities with a Society or a registered trust.

C Surplus from CSR activities cannot become a part of the profit of the company.

C Any type of contributions to any political party will not be treated as CSR activities.

C Spending for the benefit of the company’s own employees also cannot be a part of CSR activity.

C All CSR activities will have to be within India.

C The new rules will be applicable to the foreign companies registered in India.

Economy Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs interest payment not overdue for more than 30 days but account showing signs of incipient stress.

SMA-1: If the Principal or interest payment overdue between 31-60 days SMA-2: If the Principal or interest payment overdue between 61-90 days RBI to set up a Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) to collect, store, and disseminate credit data to lenders.

Banks are advised that as soon as an account is reported by any of the lenders to CRILC as SMA-2, they should mandatorily form a committee to be called Joint Lenders’ Forum (JLF) if the aggregate exposure (AE) of lenders in that account is 1000 million rupees and above.

India Post and IFCI and private sector Anil Ambani group and Aditya Birla group. Bajaj Finance, Muthoot Finance, Religare Enterprises and Shriram Capital have also applied.

Bimal Jalan Committee on New Bank Licences submitted its report to RBI

JLG aimed to provide institutional credit to small farmers like share croppers, oral lessees and agricultural labourers.

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Bimal Jalan Committee on New Bank Licenses submitted its report to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The report contains names of entities eligible for bank licences.

RBI had constituted the committee to examine the criteria, business plans and corporate governance practices of applicants applying for new bank Licenses.

There are around 25 players in the group to get bank license, among them primarily are Public sector units,

Kotak Mahindra Bank and Yes Bank were the last two entities to get banking licenses from the RBI in 2003—04.

NABARD formed Joint Liability Group to finance Small Farmers Rural development agency National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announced to form a new concept called Joint Liability Group (JLG).

JLG scheme will be highly beneficial for states like Punjab and Haryana where average land holdings are shrinking and strength of such farmers is large in these states.

Similar on the pattern of Self Help Groups (SHG), NABARD will provide refinance facility to banks for providing loans and financial assistance to small and marginal farmers who are normally deprived of finance.

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In the past 20 years, the RBI has licensed 12 banks in the private sector in two phases. Ten banks were licensed on the basis of guidelines issued in January 1993.

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Economy Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs NABARD has already 41 lakh SHGs which are credit linked.

About Joint Liability Group (JLG) A Joint Liability Group (JLG) is an informal group comprising preferably of 4 to10 individuals but can be up to 20 members, coming together for the purposes of availing bank loan either singly or through the group mechanism against mutual guarantee.

The JLG members would offer a joint undertaking to the bank that enables them to avail loans. The JLG members are expected to engage in similar type of economic activities like crop production.

The management of the JLG is to be kept simple with little or no financial administration within the group. JLGs can be formed primarily consisting of tenant farmers and small farmers cultivating land without possessing proper title of their land / rural entrepreneurs engaged in non-farm activities.

The policies will provide customised health insurance package for women. This was the first launch of women centric insurance policies.

The policies are:

„ The BMB-Sakhee aimed at rural women and those in the unorganised sector. It will offer a cover up to 50000 rupees a year. „ The Nirbhaya scheme aimed particularly for working women.

It offer cover limit up to 5 lakh rupees. It will include insurance for accidental situations unique to women. „ The BMB-Parivar Suraksha aimed to cover the family of the woman account holder of the bank.

All the three policies cover all women whether in the unorganised sector with no maternity benefits, or working and even their families.

All the three products would be available soon on the portals of the branches of the bank and mobile applications as part of the women empowerment process.

Mahila Bank signed three health insurance Pacts with New India

A draft technical report on making payment system effective was released by Reserve Bank of India on 7 February 2014.

RBI in its report of the Technical Committee on Enabling Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in Payment System

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The pact aims to deliver three unique innovative health insurance policies for women account holders of the bank. The policies named as BMBSakhee, BMB-Nirbhaya and BMB-Parivar Suraksha.

RBI released draft Report on Enabling PKI in Payment System Applications

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Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) signed Pact with New India Assurance Company on 21 February 2014.

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Vetrii’s Current Affairs Applications said that the objective of an effective payment system is to ensure a safe, secure, efficient, robust and sound payment system in the country.

About Reserve Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India was established on 1 April 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

Its central office in the year was established in Calcutta, which was shifted to Mumbai in 1937.

The Governor of India sits in the head office of RBI in Mumbai, where the policies of the bank are also formulated.

RBI has kept the report open for public comment and suggestions till 28 February 2014.

Public Key Infrastructure enabled electronic payment systems that has been introduced by the RBI are

v RTGS v NEFT v CBLO v FOREX Clearing v Government Securities Clearing v Cheque Truncation System (CTS)

Government of India owns RBI since 1949, before it was privately owned institution.

Implement recommendations of Majithia Wage Board: SC The Supreme Court of India on 7 February 2014 ordered to implement the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists in newspapers and news agencies.

The systems of payment are subjected to various financial risks like

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The need to recognise the security and safety to be robust was needed following the increase in the adoption of electronic payment products and delivery channels for transactional needs.

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v Credit risk v Liquidity risk v Systemic risk v Operational risk v Legal risk

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The Court in its decision ruled that all the arrears will be paid in four installments within a year and the recommendations should be implemented from April 2014.

The Apex court ordered this after dismissing the petitions of various newspapers that challenged the recommendations of the wage board and its constitution.

The Supreme Court bench that passed the decision was headed by P Sathasivam, the Chief Justice of India.

In its decision the bench of the apex court said that the wage Board followed proper procedures in giving the recommendations and the allegations leveled against it and its constitution are not right.

About Majithia Wage Board The 6th Majithia Wage Board was constituted in 2007 by the Labour Ministry, which announced an adhoc interim relief of 30 percent of basic pay with effect from January 2008.

On 31 December 2010 the Board submitted its final recommendations, which were notified by the Union Government on 11 November 2011.

The Board in its recommendation mentioned that monthly emoluments for the lowest category of employee in the lowest class of establishment would work out to be 9000 rupees for the basic pay at floor level minimum wage of 5000 rupees.

The revised basic pay would however range from 9000 rupees to 17500 rupees for non-journalists and from 13000 rupees to 25000 rupees for working journalists in the top establishment having gross revenues of more than 1000 crores rupees.

CCEA approved implementation of National Mission Agricultural Extension and Technology The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the implementation of the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) during the 12th Plan period.

The extension of NMAET and its components will be expanded and upscaled appropriately and implemented in a more coordinated and convergent manner.

The Mission will have a total outlay of 13073.08 crore rupees with Government of India’s share of Rs. 11390.68 crore and State share of 1682.40 crore rupees.

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As per the decision, the revised wages have been made payable from 11 November 2011 the day the centre in its notification notified the recommendations.

Justice G. R. Majithia was the Chairman of the National Wage Boards for Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees.

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Supreme Court in its decision upheld the recommendations of Majithia Wage Board on the pay structure and has directed for revised salaried to be granted to the employees.

Economy Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs NMAET consists Missions

of

4

Sub

v Sub Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE) v Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) v Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) v Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP) The NMAET has been envisaged as the next step towards this objective through the amalgamation of these schemes.

The Mission Document has been prepared in keeping with the recommendations of the Working Group of the Planning Commission and suggestions and inputs received from extensive consultation with stakeholders, particularly farmers.

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The aim of the Mission is to restructure and strengthen agricultural extension to enable delivery of appropriate technology and improved agronomic practices to farmers.

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National Science Day observed across India on 28 February

change in the wavelength is caused due to deflection of the molecules.

India on 28 February 2014 observed National Science Day to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman).

The Raman Effect was discovered by CV Raman and for this discovery he was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986 asked the Government of India to designate 28 February as National Day. What is Raman Effect?

Raman Effect is also termed as the Raman scattering and it speaks about the change in the wavelength of light (inelastic scattering of a photon) when it passes through a transparent sample of a chemical compound. This

In 1998 the Raman Effect was designated as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in recognition of its significance as a tool for analyzing the composition of liquids, gases and solids.

Themes of National Science Day from 2010 to 2013  2010 - Gender Equity, Science & Technology for Sustainable Development  2011 - Chemistry in Daily Life  2012 - Clean Energy Options and Nuclear Safety  2013 - Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security

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This day is celebrated every year on this day to spread a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people.

The American Chemical Society in 2013 designated Raman Effect as an International Historic Chemical Landmark.

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In 2014, the theme of the day is Fostering Scientific Temper and Energy conservation.

Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs

About Solar Power Capacity of India n The Union Government launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010. India currently has a grid-connected solar-power capacity of 2208 MW. n The JNNSM aimed for India to reach an installed capacity of 20000 MW (or 20 gigawatts) of solar power by 2022. n The production cost of solar power in India has fallen by more than half in recent years, from 17 rupees per kilowatt-hour (kWh) three years ago to 7.50 rupees per kWh now. But these costs are still high compared to coal (2.50 rupees per kWh), nuclear (3 rupees per kWh) or natural gas (5.5 rupees per kWh). n India is mapping its potential for solar-energy production across the entire country on the basis of satellite imagery, in

IndianAmerican Scientist Sangeeta Bhatia developed a cheap paper test to diagnose cancer ‚ An Indian-American scientist Sangeeta Bhatia developed a cheap, simple, paper test that can detect cancer. ‚ Sangeeta Bhatia is professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. ‚ The research ended the need for expensive tests such as mammograms and colonoscopy. ‚ The diagnostic is based on urine sample. It could reveal within minutes whether a person has cancer or not. ‚ The paper test relies on nanoparticles that interact with tumour proteins called proteases, each of which can trigger release of hundreds of biomarkers that are then easily detectable in a patient's urine. ‚ The concept of a synthetic biomarker technology to amplify signals from tumour proteins would be hard to detect on their own. These proteins, known as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), help cancer cells escape their original locations by cutting through proteins of the extracellular matrix, which normally holds cells in place.

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n The largest 130-MW Solar Power Plant of India Welspun Solar MP Project was launched at Bhagwanpur in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh. It is also the Asia's Largest Solar Power Plant. n The Welspun Solar MP project was constructed at a cost of 1100 crore rupees on 305 hectares of land. It will supply power at 8.05 rupees a kWh. n This Project will raise Indian solar capacity by 7 percent.

collaboration with the United States.

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Largest Solar Power Plant of India launched in Madhya Pradesh

Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs

ð NRI Dr. Hemant Thatte developed a 21-chemical solution named SOMAH Solution. ð The solution could preserve a donated organ for up to a week before a transplant.

ð The biggest advantage of SOMAH is that it can be used at room temperatures. If an organ can be maintained in the same energy status it was used to before being retrieved, the organ is in a better state when transplanted. It can get into rhythm sooner. ð At present, hearts and lungs need to be transplanted within 46 hours of being recovered from a brain-dead donor, the liver within eight hours and kidneys within a little more than 24 hours. Moreover, the available organs cannot be transported

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NRI Dr. Hemant Thatte developed SOMAH Solution to preserve organs

ð SOMAH Solution in Sanskrit means elixir of immortality. ð In studies conducted on pigs, the solution has been found to be effective in preserving tissues for up to a week. ð The study on pigs showed that the hearts stored in SOMAH solution for 24 hours can be resuscitated without medicines as against other solutions that allow for only four hours. That is, with the help of SOMAH, the process of deterioration can be slowed down. So, it can be used for long distance transportation.

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‚ The MIT nanoparticles are coated with peptides (short protein fragments) targeted by different MMPs. These particles congregate at tumour sites, where MMPs cleave hundreds of peptides, which accumulate in the kidneys and are excreted in the urine. ‚ In the original version of the technology, these peptides were detected using an instrument called a mass spectrometer, which analyzes the molecular makeup of a sample. ‚ To create the test strips, the researchers first coated nitrocellulose paper with antibodies that can capture the peptides. Once the peptides are captured, they flow along the strip and are exposed to several invisible test lines made of other antibodies specific to different tags attached to the peptides. ‚ If one of these lines becomes visible, it means the target peptide is present in the sample.

The technology can also easily be modified to detect multiple types of peptides released by different types or stages of disease.

Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs long-distance for transplant and have to be made available locally.

provide branding, source certification and developing standards for products.

Online Shopping Portal for authentic Tribal Products launched

Initially, the portal will be open for Indian shoppers only and it will be made available for the international buyers later. The products that will be available on the portal carry detailed write-ups on the portal.

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched an online shopping portal for sale of authentic tribal products that will seek to create a niche market for indigenous artisans.

K Rehman Khan Minority Cyber Rajasthan

inaugurated Village in

India’s first Minority Cyber Village was inaugurated by the Minister for Minority Affairs K Rehman Khan in Chandoli in Alwar district of Rajasthan.

¸ The Cyber village project will provide computer education to people in the age group of 15 to 59.

With the launch of this portal the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) also aims to www.vetriias.com

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( Shawls, stoles and mufflers in Angora, Sheep wool and Pashmina from states like Orissa and Assam ( Paintings from four states ( Metal artifacts and jewellery from states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland

About the Cyber Village

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The e-Commerce Portal will feature 69 tribal products like textiles, metal artifacts and Jewellery. Products that will be available on the portal will include

Chandoli has been selected as the first village for the pilot project as it holds more than 80 percent of minority population and also because the minorities of the Mewat region is still backward in education. The project will be carried in other areas after the success of the pilot project.

Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs

The Minority Affairs minister in his announcement said that the government is also considering opening special schools on pattern of Kendriya Vidyalayas from minority community.

Government has also planned to come up with 200 new colleges in minority dominated areas and the areas include Laxmangarh, Tijara, Kishengarhbas and Ramgarh.

Email Miles, a system using GPS developed to track the emails A new system Email Miles using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to calculate the number of miles an email has travelled before reaching an inbox.

The system uses GPS technology and internet tracking to determine

It then calculates the total distance between the two and displays it on the screen alongside a map.

The system was developed by Inventor Jonah Brucker-Cohen to show how indirect the route of many emails can be.

Country’s first wild dog breeding centre to be created IGZP in Vizag Central Zoo Authority selected the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) of Vizag for creation of a conservation breeding centre for the endangered wild dog – Dhole.

This will be the first zoo in India to have a breeding centre for Dholes and it will be created in two to three months. 50 lakh rupees will be invested to undertake the project.

IUCN has classified Dholes as an endangered species. The population of wild dogs has gone up from just two to 22 in the country in a series of successful in-breeding of wild dogs in the zoo. 22 is the highest number of wild dogs in captivity in India.

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the project will be instituted in the villages with substantial population of minority. ¸ Under this project experts will provide training of computer skills to the people of chandoli.

where a message was sent and where it was received.

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¸ Further also, institution under

Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs Cause identified by IUCN for dwindling number of wild dogs or Dholes

L Habitat loss L Depletion of prey base L Persecution and possibly disease caused from domestic and feral dogs.

Interspecific competition as the destruction of forest corridors has lead them to fight with other predators Conservation Actions to protect Dholes in India In India, the Dholes is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Act of 1972 (permission is required to kill any individual unless in self-defence or if an individual is a man killer). The creation of Project Tiger Reserves in India has provided some protection for populations of the dukhunensis subspecies as potentially it is thought that the Project Tiger could potentially maintain dhole prey bases in areas where tigers and dholes coexist.

estimated that less than 2500 mature individual Dholes are available anymore.  Ungulates are the main prey of dholes that has also suffered high depletion in their population.  Many species of ungulate has now extinct and others are rare and the habitat loss is the main reason for their extinction apart from hunting.  These dogs attack large and dangerous animals such as wild boar, water buffalo, and even tigers..

New layer of cornea discovered by Indian doctor Harminder Dua A new layer in the human cornea was discovered by the Indian doctor Harminder Dua at The University of Nottingham in 2014.

About Dholes/Wild Dog

The new finding could shed new light on glaucoma. The new layer named as Dua’s Layer is just 15 microns thick but incredibly tough. Comprised of thin plates of collagen, it sits at the back of the cornea between the corneal

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It plays a vital role in the structure of the tissue that controls the flow of fluid from the eye.

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 Dhole is Asiatic wild dog or Indian wild dog. Its scientific name is Cuon Alpinus and it is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia.  It is the only extant member of the Henus Cuon that differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats.  Dholes at one point of time were found throughout the continent but the species is now endangered.

It has been

Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs stroma and Descemet's membrane. It makes an important contribution to the sieve-like meshwork, the trabecular meshwork (TM), in the periphery of the cornea.

The TM is a wedge-shaped band of tissue that extends along the circumference of the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye.

Scientists had previously believed the cornea to be comprised of five layers - from front to back— the corneal epithelium, Bowman's layer, the corneal stroma, Descemet's membrane and the corneal endothelium.

Pressure within the eye is maintained by the balance of aqueous fluid production by eye tissue called the ciliary body and drainage principally through the TM to the canal of Schlemm, a circular channel in the angle of the eye.

It is hoped the discovery will offer new clues on why the drainage system malfunctions in the eyes of some people, leading to high pressure.

About Glaucoma

The Union cabinet approved the establishment of the Satellite Centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education (PGIMER), Chandigarh at Sangrur, Punjab on 12 February 2014.

The Project would be the part of Scheme of Redevelopment of Hospitals and Institutions undertaken in the 12th Five Year Plan. The project would cost around 449 crore rupees including recurring cost of 161 crore for the first four years.

South Central Railway launched HYLITES The South Central Railway (SCR) launched Hyderabad Live Train Enquiry System (HYLITES).

It is the first of its kind in India developed by South Central Railway on out-sourcing basis.

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Glaucoma is a devastating disease caused by defective drainage of fluid from the eye. Glaucoma is the second largest leading cause of blindness of world.

Satellite Centre of PGIMER, Chandigarh to be established at Sangrur

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It is made of beams of collagen wrapped in a basement membrane to which trabecular cells and endothelial cells attach. The beams branch out randomly to form a 'meshwork'.

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Techno Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs About HYLITES  HYLITES is a GPS (Global Positioning System) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) based smart phone application that operates on android platform.

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 HYLITES will display real time information of the live status information like arrival, departure, platform numbers etc from Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kachiguda stations.  It also gives information about all running MMTS (Multi-Modal Transport System) and local trains.

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This mission has been launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the budget for implementation of the mission will be 550 crore rupees during 12th Five Year Plan period.

The Mission has been developed with its primary objective to develop a sustainable national capacity to continuously access the health status of the Himalayan Ecosystem and enable policy bodies in their policyformulation functions.

The mission will also assist states in the Indian Himalayan Region with implementation of actions selected for sustainable development.

The NMSHE will address a variety of important issues like ¤ Himalayan glaciers and associated hydrological consequences ¤ Prediction and management of natural hazards ¤ Biodiversity conservation and protection ¤ Wild life conservation and protection ¤ Traditional knowledge societies and their livelihood

This mission would also assess the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate change scientifically in dimensions like physical, biological and socio-cultural aspects.

Other important Mission

aims

of

the

¤ To build and support capacities at central and state levels to assess climate change and formulation of response measures to challenges in the Himalayan region ¤ Safeguard the communities in the Himalayas from the impacts of climate change through evidence based policy formulation and enhanced research and capacity (major beneficiaries marginalized and vulnerable communities) The 12 Himalayan States of India in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR) has been covered under the Mission of which 10 are hill states and two are partial hill States, namely l Jammu & Kashmir l Himachal Pradesh l Uttarakhand

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Union Cabinet of India approved the Mission document on the National Mission for sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).

¤ Capacity in regulation of science and critical peer evaluation to help governance issues related to sustenance of the Himalayan Ecosystem ¤ Assist in restoration and rehabilitation process of Uttrakhand

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Mission document on National Mission for sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem approved

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs l Sikkim l Arunachal Pradesh l l l l l l l

˘ National Mission for a Green India

˘ National

Mission for Sustainable Agriculture ˘ National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

Nagaland Manipur Mizoram Tripura Meghalaya Assam West Bengal

The Government of India’s, Department of Science and Technology has been given the responsibility to coordinate the implementation of the Mission (NMSHE) and a Mission cell (NMSHE Cell) will be created at the Climate Change Programme Division of the Department of Science and Technology. This cell will be headed by a Mission Director.

Background NAPCC was launched in June 2008 by the Prime Minister`s Council on Climate Change to fulfill India’s vision in context to climate change. In recent times, climate change has evolved as an important area of concern and has laid ahead a challenge for environmental and development planning.

NAPCC comprises of national Missions and these are,

Union Ministry of Environment & Forest approved field trials for GM crops Union Ministry of Environment & Forest approved field trials for Genetically Modified (GM) crops rice, wheat, cotton and maize on 26 February 2014.

eight

Ministry of Environment & Forest cleared Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee’s (GEAC) decision

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Energy Efficiency ˘ National Mission on Sustainable Habitat ˘ National Water Mission ˘ National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system

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˘ National Solar Mission ˘ National Mission for Enhanced

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs to allow gene modification field trials for food crops.

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions:

Field trials are pilot projects that are conducted to test efficacy of the seeds. Earlier, field trial of the crops was stalled by GEAC (country’s apex bio-safety regulatory authority) till a verdict was given by Supreme Court of India on a Public Interest Litigation filed by activist Aruna Rodrigues opposing GM field trails.

˘ To permit the use of GMOs and

Technical Expert committee recommended an indefinite temporary prohibition on trails until certain shortcomings in the process were addressed by the government. Later the court asked the government to submit an affidavit on its position and the government is expected to submit it soon.

In November 2013, the Maharashtra government became the first state to permit field trials of GM food crops.

The companies like Bioscience, Mahyco, and BASF India would go ahead with trails for genetically modified crops.

About Genetically Modified crops

products thereof for commercial applications. ˘ To adopt producers for restriction or prohibition, production, sale, import & use of Genetically Modified Organisms both for research and applications under EPA. ˘ To approve for conduct of large scale field trials, evaluation of large scale field trial data and final approval for release of transgenic crop in to the environment. ˘ To authorize large scale production and release of GMOs and products thereof into the environment. ˘ To authorize agencies or persons to have powers to take punitive actions under the EPA.

Construction activities allowed in eco- sensitive zones of Aravali Union Government announced to notify the revised regional plan for NCR (2021) on 24 February 2014.

The plan allowed tourism activities in ecologically sensitive zones

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The genetic modification could be aimed at altering the nutrient content of food, reducing its allergenic potential or improving the efficiency of food production systems.

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The Genetically modified (GM) crops that are derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally.

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs

The previous plan was prepared in 2005. It had earlier mentioned that only regional recreational activities like parks, wildlife sanctuaries etc were allowed in NCZs with a limit of construction not exceeding 0.5 percent of land.

The revised sub-regional plan of Haryana suggests that besides recreational activities (including tourism) other activities such as agriculture, horticulture, pisiculture, social forestry and plantation including afforestation may be allowed in NCZs. Haryana has already prepared the draft plan for Mangar region, proposing a mega tourism complex in the area that has a sacred forest.

The move was claimed as disastrous for green belts such as the Aravalis by environmentalists.

CCEA approved National Mission for Green India The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a National Mission for a Green India.

The Green India Mission (GIM) aims to improve and increase India’s diminishing forest cover.

The mission has following objectives:  To increase forest cover on 5 million hectares (ha) of forest/non-forest land.  To improve the quality of forest cover on another 5 million hectare.  To enhance annual CO2 sequestration.  To improve the livelihoods of about 3 million households living in and around forest areas.  To respond to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.  To improve entire ecosystem and increase forest-based livelihood income for 30 lakh forest dependent households.

The GIM will be converged with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), and National Afforestation Programme.

Funding for the GIM will come from the Plan outlay. The Union government will provide 90 percent of the funds for implementing the scheme in the north-eastern states, and 75 percent of the funds for other states.

State governments will meet the balance requirement.

The mission will involve grassroots-level organizations including

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Nature conservation zones include most part of the Aravalis, riverbeds and areas surrounding other major water bodies. The NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) has approved the plan.

The GIM scheme envisages a total cost of 46000 crore rupees over the next 10 years. The GIM is one of eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

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and permitted constructions in nature conservation zones (NCZ) beyond the current 0.5 percent cap.

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs gram sabhas (village councils) and joint forest management committees (JFMCs). A governing council chaired by the environment minister and a national executive council chaired by the environment secretary at the national level will facilitate implementation of the mission.

Study found that Fertilization destabilizes Global Grassland Ecosystems A new research study named Nutrient Network (NutNet) published in the third week of February 2014 says that use of fertilizers in farming and industries have destabilizing effects on global grassland ecosystems.

The team assessed the effect of fertilizer on 41 sites across 5 continents.

The experimental network included eco-systems from alpine areas of China to Serengeti in Tanzania.

This study was the first international experiment of this size with the use of naturally occurring sites.

This study was made possible following a grass-roots campaign named NutNet (Nutrient Network) and supported by scientists to carry out an ecology research. This study was published in the international journal Nature.

Ban on burning tyres in Public Places: National Green Tribunal

= National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a ban on the process of burning of tyres at public places like roads and areas surrounded by residential buildings. = The order was passed following the actions of burning tyres during the religious and political possessions by groups as it cause health hazard.

The conclusion on the study was compiled, when the team was exploring the theory that whether spread of fertilizer by farmers when coupled with the atmospheric nitrogen is brought back to the ground through rainfall has an effect on the grassland.

The team found destabilization of the natural eco-system as a result. tyres creates toxic smoke, which is also a serious environmental threat. = This ban was issued by Western Zone Bench of NGT after hearing a petition against the

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= Burning

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The team discovered that the balance output of the ecological safety net on addition of fertilizer was upset across diverse grassland as the various organisms in those disappeared.

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs

=

=

=

Background Burning tyres in possessions might be possible it’s a political or religious or of any other kind is a most famous and first step of showcasing agitation.

About National Green Tribunal (NGT) The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18 October 2010

It was constituted for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.

New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal. The other four places of its sittings are Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.

15 birds of India in the IUCN Critically Endangered Red List of Birds The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of the birds indicates 15 species of birds from India as critically endangered. The information about the critical endangered birds is available on the IUCN Red list version 2013.

Bird species reported to be assigned under the Critically Endangered list of IUCN Red list are,.

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=

under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.

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=

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the State of Maharashtra.

The plea was filed by a group of 14 lawyers with a complaint that the process of burning tyres is a serious threat to environment and overall on humans.

The petition was filed in the tribunal in November 2010. The 14 petitioners in their petition wanted a ban to be issued on tyre burning on/during the occasions of agitations might be possible by religious or political groups.

The NGT, Pune in its order said mentioned the names of three states for compliance on the order it passed namely Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The issued ban will led to penal consequences in Section 26 of the National Green tribunal Act, 2010 to the person/group that neglects the order of ban.

National Green tribunal Acts, Section 26 says that any failure in following the order can result into a penalty of 10 crore rupees that can be extended up to 25 crore rupees or/and imprisonment for a period of three years.

No Common

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Scientific Name

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs Name Baer's

billed

Aythyabaeri

Vulture

Pochard 2

Forest

13 Indian

Heteroglauxblewitti

Great

14 Himalayan

Ardeotisnigriceps

Bustard Bengal

15 PinkHoubaropsisbengalensis

Florican 5

Siberian

Spoon-

Eurynorhynchuspygmeus

headed Duck

E

Loss, modification, fragmentation and degradation of habitat

E E E

Environmental contaminants

E

Changes in cropping pattern due to various reasons including implementation of irrigation schemes

E

Increased pesticide usage and livestock-grazing

E E

High levels of disturbance

billed Sandpiper Sociable

Vanellusgregarius

Lapwing 8

Jerdon's

Rhinoptilusbitorquatus

Courser 9

White

Gyps bengalensis

backed Vulture 10 Red-

Sarcogypscalvus

headed Vulture 11 Whitebellied

Ardeainsignis

Poaching Use changes mainly conversion of large areas to intensive crop cultivation

Developmental activities like mining and hydel projects. This also includes collision of the birds with vehicles, wind turbines and power lines.

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7

Rhodonessacaryophyllacea

It says that the reason for the decline in the number of these birds are

Grusleucogeranus

Crane 6

Ophrysiasuperciliosa

Quail

Indian

4

Gyps indicus

Vulture

Owlet 3

Gyps tenuirostris

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1

12 Slender-

Heron

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India is furious about a threat of trade sanctions made by the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office over its protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), preference for domestic producers and nontrade barriers.

India has since hardened its stance, instructing officials not to allow any request from the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to examine India’s trade practices.

WTO cases and Consequences The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which represents about 50 US business groups, asked the USTR to designate India a Priority Foreign Country in USTR’s 2014 report.

The designation appropriately will rank India among the very worst violators of intellectual property rights and establish a process leading to concrete solutions.

US regarded India as a serial trade offender where US firms unhappy

The USTR listed 12 report markets in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad as being among the worst offenders globally for the sale of pirated software and counterfeit goods.

The US is going to fill its second case at the WTO over domestic content requirements in India's solar programme, which aims to ease energy shortages in Asia's third-largest economy.

India urged the US administration consider the trade issues in the context of the wider economic and strategic relationship between the two countries.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of more than 200 committed professionals with decades of specialized experience in trade issues and regions of the world.

The USTR negotiates directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, to resolve disputes, and to participate in global trade policy organizations.

USTR was established in 1962, headquarters at Washington and other offices in Geneva and Brussels.

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India decided to block the investigations by the United States into its trade policies and patent laws, and prepare for a battle at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

about imports of everything from shrimp to steel pipes and lack of fair access to the Indian market for its goods.

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India decided to block the US investigations over trade policies and patents laws of India

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs Sri Lanka rejected the call of UNHRC for International Inquiry

recommendations as arbitrary, intrusive and of a political nature.

Sri Lanka rejected the call by United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for an international inquiry.

In another development the US is planning to propose a third resolution at the UNHCR over Srilanka’s failure to properly investigate alleged atrocities and wars crimes committed during the civil war.

The call for international inquiry was made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in her report on post-civil war scenario in Sri Lanka.

The US earlier had successfully carried out two resolutions urging Sri Lanka to conduct its own investigation into allegations against Sri Lankan government troops.

Background In 2009 Sri Lanka’s civil war between the government troops and the Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE) ended.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's administration rejected Pillay’s report expressing the

A UN report said almost 40000 Tamil civilians died in government attacks but Srilanka denied such a high toll of deaths and later Sri Lanka’s Government declared that not a single civilian was killed.

In 2011 Sri Lanka acknowledged some civilian deaths and announced a census of the war dead but its results were vague.

Government troops were accused of deliberately shelling civilians, hospitals and blocking food and

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The report also suggested for establishing a truth-seeking process and urged Sri Lankan Government to take more steps to demilitarize the former war zone. Those perpetrators of attacks on minorities, media and human rights defenders be arrested and punished.

The LTTE fought for a separate state for the ethnic minority Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka. The government troops crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels which lead to mass graves which were discovered recently.

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Pillay’s draft report says that Sri Lanka is facing mounting international failing to investigate allegations of war crimes. The report recommended for an independent, credible criminal and forensic investigation to conduct with international assistance into all alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law.

Enviro Watch

Vetrii’s Current Affairs

India called for comprehensive institutional & structural reforms in SAARC India on 20 February 2014 called on for comprehensive institutional and structural reforms in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Salman Khurshid, the Union Foreign Minister at the 35th meet of the Foreign Ministers at Bandos Island Resort in Maldives emphasized that there is a need for clearly defining the relations between SAARC and the observer nations.

There are nine observer countries to the SAARC and includes,. ð ð ð ð ð ð ð ð ð

Australia China The European Union Iran Japan South Korea Mauritius Myanmar US

About South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) SAARC is an economic and geopolitical cooperation and have eight member nations, which primarily are located primarily in South Asian Continent.

It is headquartered Kathmandu in Nepal.

in

The idea of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first coined in 1980 and the first summit was held in Dhaka on 8 December in 1985 that led to its official establishment.

Member nations of SAARC ð ð ð ð ð ð ð ð

Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Afghanistan

On the sidelines of the SAARC meet Salman Khurshid also met Sartaj Aziz, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

As per the proposal of Nepal the 18th SAARC Summit will be held in www.vetriias.com

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The rebels were accused of holding civilians as human shields, killing those who escaped their control and recruiting child soldiers.

Kathmandu in November 2014 if a final decision will be made on the proposal.

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medical aid to hundreds of thousands of people.