Year 2 | Issue 1 | Total Issues 13 | June 2017 | ` 100
Highlights Articles, To The Point Learning Through Maps Debate
PGeography relims 2017
Superfast Revision Series-5
Academic Supplement EPW, Yojana, Kurukshetra Down To Earth, Science Reporter
Extensive Current Affairs Coverage, Prelims Mock Test, Target Mains and much more...
Drishti Publications
Highlights l A structured analysis of the Economic Survey 2016-17. l Value addi ons in form of short notes to apprise readers of the concepts presented in the survey. l Point wise presenta on of the Union Budget 2017-18. l A comprehensive list of important government plans and policies divided sector-wise along with highlights of their characteris c features and main objec ves. l Summary of relevant facts and figures from the survey and budget. l Prac ce MCQs are provided at each chapter’s end to bring your reading of Economic Survey, Budget and plans and policies of the government in sync with your UPSC CSE prepara on.
Editorial Dear Aspirants, As the day of 18th June, 2017 draw near, it is normal for aspirants like you to feel the heat of the approaching UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination (CSP). The feeling that one is not prepared enough or that there is not enough time to make amends for the mistakes that come to attention this late, is something that is common to most aspirants. Even if one should really attempt this upcoming exam honestly, there can be but too many doubts at this time. Most aspirants must therefore be facing those adrenaline-rush moments, which present us with the choice of either fight or flight. Choice is what you have to make during each of these moments of doubt. And, choices such as these and the quality of conviction behind such choices are going to go a long way into making or marring this particular CSP attempt. So, this one-month time before the examination is as important as those twin bouts of three hours on the day of examination would be. One must always be clear of the fact that the CSE by the virtue of being an examination designed to install bearers of the steel frame of the administration is not going to be a one day affair. The quality of perseverance and consistency, in one’s approach to this examination, is something that is going to be tested throughout the long process of preparation and examination. This is one of the reasons why many a times aspirants who have been average students throughout their academic years pass this exam with flying colors while at times, even very academically good students struggle and falter mid-way through the process. Another thing to be taken care of is that candidates must avoid falling for rumors coming up and circulating about things like the potential nature and composition of the question-papers, about new notifications regarding age and optional subjects or about number of attempts etc. The basic idea that has to be kept in mind is that this examination would always be fair and would not have any such change in its pattern that could be of distinct disadvantage to anybody. And also, there are no marks to be given here for trying to guess or predict the questions of the test papers. So, try to maintain your calm amidst all the anxieties and adrenaline rushes. Make optimum use of resources already tried and tested by you, which perhaps includes this magazine too. In this issue, we have given a quick strategy for the last 30 days to help you make optimal use of the remaining time. This strategy focuses as much on what to do as it does on what to avoid doing. It also has two classic case studies of aspirants who recount their own experiences of failing as well as eventually succeeding in the CSP. We hope aspirants will find lessons from their failures as well as their successes and most importantly see the difference between these two experiences. This issue also has the Geography segment covered in the Prelims Superfast Revision Series. Geography has gained importance in the CSP examination since the aspirants for Indian Forest Service also have to attempt the same preliminary exam. We have especially included all the important maps and infographics in the supplement so, that aspirants do not have to refer to an atlas or other such sources in the course of studying or revising from it. We hope that our efforts will continue to assist you meaningfully during this phase of your preparation.
With Best Wishes
(Dr. Vikas Divyakirti)
The last 30 days A simple guide to attempting the Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2017 with confidence Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSP) 2017 is only about a month away now. We at Team Drishti acknowledge the importance of having a strategy for the last 30 days so that you spend these final days wisely and productively. With this goal in mind, we have decided to bring as this month’s Strategy a guide to preparation in the final month along with two personal strategies from CSE aspirants who had successfully cleared the CSP in earlier attempts. 30 days is sufficient time for attempting the CSP with confidence. There are obviously some things here that you may have to do differently. The list of things-to-do in the next section has been prepared after discussions with successful candidates. This list contains things that were common to most aspirants who had been successful in earlier CSP attempts.
The 30 days guide to CSP 2017: the three rules
sort through all of your books and other material that you have already become familiar with, and revise them. The only exception to this rule can be getting that latest current affairs book and going through news updates (if any) quickly. Follow
is one of the most fundamental of all advice regarding the CSP exam. All you need to do is attempt at least a few previous years’ question papers, solving questions and internalising solutions while doing so.
zzThe
reason for this advice is simply two-fold. First, it is going to familiarize you with the CSP pattern and style of questions. Secondly, it will help you clear many doubts regarding some very common concepts of various subjects. Moreover, knowing previous year’s CSP questions is of tremendous value as a source of reference. It will help you in deciphering what the UPSC expects a candidate to know. Also, questions are being asked sometimes that are related to previous year’s questions as well.
zzThe CSP syllabus is exhaustive.
That is why it looks like that virtually anything under the sun can become a CSP question. We, at Team Drishti, would like to reassure you that 90% of the time that is not the case. Questions asked in the CSP are logical and reflect the events occurring around us in India and all over the world. Even traditional questions often have a linkage with Current Affairs.
zzThus,
every time you are in doubt or whenever you veer off topic while studying, look up the CSP syllabus for some course correction. Follow the syllabus smartly - most issues, concepts and facts that you may be learning must have some bearing on the syllabus, and you have to cover only these - leave all the unnecessary information aside. Make the CSP syllabus your friend and guide in these final days, accept and eliminate information as per its mandate.
Do not gather new material at this
stage.
zzThe market for CSP is generally
flooded with study material 1-2 months before the date of exam. Many aspirants in the hopes of gaining a competitive advantage over peers get these newer materials only to later find themselves in a quandary. suggestion to you is that do not buy newer material this close to the CSP date. Instead,
the CSP syllabus smartly.
zzT h i s
zzOur
Go
through CSP previous years question papers.
The 30 days guide to CSP 2017: the three methods Go
for a basic understanding.
zzWhen
time is short at hand revise the NCERT books instead of opening a brand new book. Understand the very basic and fundamental concepts first. Once you are able to do that, any good Current Affairs book (you can get our Drishti Current Affairs Compendium 2017 for
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 7
Strategy a ready made current affairs coverage) will cover the rest of your preparation. zzAt
this point of time be very careful about how much time you spend with the daily newspaper. It would be helpful if you can quickly scan the newspaper avoiding all unnecessary news items and read only what is directly relevant to the exam. Like we said already, use the CSP syllabus as your guide here.
Revise,
Revise and Revise
zzMost
of the times, especially when the date of the exam is nearer, it is better to revise the things you have already studied than to read newer things. Except for covering newer ground in Current Affairs, it is better if the scarce time is not squandered away in reading up new sources.
zzRevision
also solidifies what we have learnt. It means that the chances of being able to recall information in the exam hall increases with increased revision. If you have to choose between covering newer topics or revising topics already covered (excluding Current Affairs), choose revision. Consolidating information that we have already read would be much more beneficial.
Manage
Stress.
Time and take control of
zzSince the CSP is right around the
corner, try to remain as stressfree as possible. You can remain stress-free by regularizing your study time and by maintaining good health. Make it a habit to rise in the morning and sleep at night at a proper time, always eat healthy food and also
exercise regularly. A healthy mind resides only in a healthy body. zzYou can also refer to our strategy
on Time and Stress Management in the April 2017 issue. You can use the various tips and tricks mentioned in that strategy for getting on track.
Personal strategies of two CSE Aspirants: Vikas and Akanksha Vikas Gupta (veteran with multiple CSP successes under his belt) I used to perpetually worry about the Prelims exam. I was good with writing and liked convention (Mains style) papers and drooled about the Main exam. The PT exam appeared a huge hurdle to me. Multiple Choice Questions was somehow not amenable to my tastes. I took well to reading and writing but remained uncomfortable with PT questions. I didn’t have money (or interest) for coaching, and I didn’t study with friends or a group which could help me. So I had a huge challenge that looked insurmountable.
read anything related to the syllabus that I could find. I had a good reading speed; I turned page after page, soaked important information, read book after book underlining important matter related to syllabus. From the NCERT to India yearbook, page after page, I nourished my grey cells. My preparation was strategic; if I am good with Polity, I should hardly miss anything from this section. And I am bad with Sciences, so I am not emphasizing it much. Such adjustments in preparation are part of one’s plan as long as they are amenable to the exam pattern. You must also have some plans and methods which use your strengths. I did not practice a lot of MCQs (mock tests); I believed that if my coverage is wide enough then I will be able to get a good catch. However, I do suggest that you do mock practice with enough study of the syllabus. Your mock test may not be the right reflection of your abilities, so do not judge yourself much on that basis.
I ended up doing a lot of research, a lot of studies, a lot of readings. I moved heaven and earth, so to speak. I also appeared many times in Prelims at a time when there was an optional paper in PT and the rumour (as there was no transparency on marks and scores then) was that you need to correctly attempt at least 100 out of 120 questions to clear the exam plus score at least 50% in the GS.
The first attempt was the toughest; I believed in rumours (mandating very high scores) and thought I would not get through. I suggest that you do not take every public advice that is peddled by experienced people seriously. Do the hard work: keep reading, covering the syllabus; revise, revise, revise. Life will appear boring at times; note that it is normal. No pain, no gain. After first (or first few attempts at Prelims and subsequent success or failure), things get a bit easy. You may not need a huge amount of time for PT preparation in that case. But what is certain is that you need concentration and work; complacence will ensure your elimination.
I believe PT is about reading and soaking information (and Mains is about writing and presentation); the preparation should be ‘miles wide and inch deep’. I read, read and read. I
And in this day and age, it is also important to use (and not abuse) your smartphone, laptop and other devices. Someone else is always doing the hard work needed for the exam; so keep off
8 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Strategy WhatsApp and Facebook. This does not mean that you lead an ascetic life. Just find the right balance.
grasslands, any new tags or lists and reports etc. Note them down in a small diary and keep revising often.
Carefully think and prepare your exam day; carry all stationery (in a pencil box). Do mock practice with OMR sheet if you are not comfortable with its use. Think about time management in the exam hall. Eat well, stay healthy and keep yourself free of stress. The stakes are high, so you need rigour and strictness.
Consolidating most important news
Your life (and success to a great extent) is in your hands. There will always be factors beyond your control; studying well and preparing well is not one of them unless you are looking for excuses. Best of luck to you (good luck is on the side of those who work hard!).
Akanksha (narrowly missed the mark twice, attempted Mains once, getting ready for her third CSP attempt) I have been giving this exam from quite sometime and have missed the coveted cut-off quite often, sometimes because of lack of preparation, lack of confidence, being over-anxious, misperceptions and false ideas that I held in my head etc. However, these failures led me to some basic strategical steps that helped me avoid mistakes in subsequent exams. This worked for me and hence I am sharing with you some of these tips. Strategy during preparation Getting
the basics right of every subject like important constitutional provisions in polity (especially the ones that have been in news), important locations on map their surrounding areas, important events and persons in history completing their anniversaries, biosphere reserves, heritage sites, names of
of the year and their associated facts in short hand written notes, so that you don’t get confused with options during the exam.
Sufficient
practicing of mock question papers from various online sites, especially of last 10 years, to understand the strategy of attempting questions.
It
especially helps in honing skills for elimination method, picking the right option among close ones, avoiding stupid mistakes. Practicing within a time limit will help during the exam. Write down the answers which you were not sure of while giving mock exam and revising them often will ensure you don’t make similar mistakes in the exam. Following
a schedule for a month prior to the exam in which you are studying during the same time as when exam is supposed to take place will ensure that your brain is at maximum efficiency during those hours, thus maximizing your chances of getting the answers right to those questions also you are not very sure of.
Strategy during exam During
the exam, you need to completely focus on the question you are attempting and need not worry if the paper seems tough. Do not lose nerves if you are unfamiliar with series of questions, focus on what you know and attempt the confusing ones in the later half of exam. Avoid making bizarre guesses and take risks with only the ones you are 50% sure about. If you have worked hard you will eventually qualify the cutoff and that’s what matters.
Stupid mistakes are part of this exam
and everyone makes them. Don’t be affected by them and get hold of what you can in the remaining paper.
Do not try counting the number of
questions attempted while giving the exam. This affects your focus and while attempting you can hardly tell that the one you have attempted are going to be 100% correct. Moreover, cut off always fluctuates with the difficulty of the exam so no one can say how many attempted questions is a safe bet. Try maximizing the number of questions attempted with questions you can make logical guesses. No examination hall can give you 100% distraction free environment. There will always be some commotion from invigilators, school staff, aspirants sitting around you. Try ignoring what you can and if something interferes with your concentration a lot, do not hesitate in voicing it out to the staff if it can be amended. This will take just 10 or 15 seconds and might save you a year. In the ultimate analysis, one has to remember that UPSC CSP demands full attention and dedication from aspirants. If one remains half-hearted in preparation, then it becomes an insurmountable obstacle, but if one takes it in the right spirit and puts in smart hard-work then chances of success become higher. One must attempt CSP with full confidence and back oneself to pick the right option out of the given choices. Last but not the least, never ever lose hope as perseverance is the key to succeeding in UPSC CSE. All the very best for CSP 2017!
Drishti Current Affairs Today
Wishing you best of luck Team Drishti D
C
A
T
|| June 2017 || 9
Political/Constitutional Issues.................................................. 12 The Institution of Governor Under the Constitution The recent intervention of Governor in Arunachal and Uttarakhand have again brought the Governer’s office to limelight. How has the office evolved over the decades and what did the various commissions on Centre-State relations say about it? What reforms are needed in this office? The article searches the answers to gubernatorial problems in Indian constitution
–Dr Vikas
Economic Issues...................................................................... 17 Banking Sector Reforms in India A vibrant banking sector is a reflection of any competitive economy. The banking sector reforms in India are aimed at adopting international best practices for making the Indian banking sector globally competitive. This article examines the banking sector reforms in India particularly after the period of 1991, when the country went through a deep economic crisis.
–Sandeep Verma
Science & Technology............................................................... 22 Indian Space Programme: Harnessing Space Technology for National Development Uniqueness of the Indian space programme lie in the fact that it is able to use space based platforms for implementing various programs and applications that touch the everyday life of the common man. This article describes India’s space programme since its inception till present time. Despite of starting 20 years later to developed countries, India has emerged as one of the leading space faring nations today. Without much external help India has achieved self-reliance by mastering the technologies for building powerful rockets, satellites for earth observation, scientific experimentation and communication.
–Team Drishti
Know Your North Eastern India................................................ 28 Meghalaya In this brief article we will look into the most important aspects of the state of Meghalaya. We will look at its history, ecology, society and most importantly its people, keeping in mind the UPSC perspective.
–Debabrat Gogoi
Debate................................................................................... 31 Is intolerance in India growing? We all have heard how intolerance is supposedly increasing in India. But is it really so? How do we define intolerance, how do we define India, and how we get to the truth of what is really going on in the country? We are going to evaluate the strengths of all the arguments that say intolerance is increasing and also look at the various perspectives that say otherwise. This debate is nuanced, emotional and it tries to find out what being an Indian is all about.
–Team Drishti
The Institution of Governor Under the Constitution Dr. Vikas
Governor’s office under the Indian Constitution is arguably the most controversial one. This article looks at the history and evolution of the office of the Governor, the problems associated with it, and recounts what the office's much-needed reforms are. The constitution of India provides for governance of both the Union and the States. Part VI of the constitution provides for a uniform structure of State governments. Governor is the head of the State executive just as the President is the head of the union executive. The executive power of the state is vested in the Governor and a State’s executive actions are taken in the name of the Governor. Each Governor sends a fortnightly report on important developments in State administration to the President. The office is an important one in Indian federalism. Each state has a Governor but it is possible to appoint the same person as the Governor for two or more states (see the table on the next page for constitutional details about the Governor office). The appointment, term of office of Governor, dismissal of Governor and his/her discretionary powers remain one of the most knotty issues in Indian federalism and polity. This article takes a look at the office of the Governor, its evolution through the decades after independence, problems with the office, constitutional dilemmas posed by gubernatorial behaviour and the reforms needed.
Office of Governor: History and Evolution The responsibility of administration of India was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown through the Government of India (GoI) Act, 1858. Governor was an agent of the crown under this setup
and functioned under the supervision of the Governer-General. Governors under the British administration were known as ‘laat sahibs’ which suggests the public estimation of the power and pelf attached to the position. The GoI Act, 1935 ushered in provincial autonomy and Governor was required to act on aid and advice of Council of Ministers responsible to legislature. The Governor also had a wide range of powers: (s)he could summon, prorogue and dissolve legislature at his or her discretion, withhold bills or reserve them for the sanction of the Governor-General or promulgate ordinance even at discretion. Governor had ample powers to play a supreme role in provincial administration and (s)he was the de facto ruler of the provincial administration. The current debate around the powers of Governor have its legacy in the 1935 Act which gave such powers to the Governor. It can be said that before the Constituent Assembly started its work, the existing system had a well-established institution of Governors in the provinces who were directly answerable to the King of UK. After the provincial elections (1937), the Congress agreed to assume office only when it received assurance from the Viceroy that the Governors would not provoke conflict with the elected government. In the Constituent Assembly Debates, the office of Governor and its election and powers was vehemently debated. The State Constitution
12 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Committee headed by Vallabhbhai Patel provided for election and impeachment of Governor by the legislatures. It was finally decided that the Governor would be appointed by the President. Doubts were expressed about an elected Governor: an elected executive head may join hands with the Chief Minister against the Centre or that there would be two conflicting power centres in the state. Nehru observed that an “elected Governor would to some extent encourage … separatist provincial tendency more than otherwise.” There were many objections to the discretionary powers of the Governor but the Constitution framers decided to keep them in Constitution. Ambedkar had said that vesting the Governor with certain discretionary powers was not contrary to responsible government. The country at that time was faced with partition, riots, Telangana uprising, integration of princely states and it was felt that the Centre should be sufficiently strong for national integrity. All Constitutions are the heirs of past and testators of the future, observed Ivor Jennings, the British academic and it applies to the Indian Constitution as well. K.V. Rao, political scientist, says that the whole structure of the Constitution vis-a-vis the Governor was designed in such a way as if the Congress and its then high command would be in power for a long time (in Role of State Governor in India). And indeed, it is true that the friction in federalism with respect to Governor started from 1967 when Congress did
Banking Sector Reforms in India Sandeep Verma
A globally competitive economy requires a robust and sophisticated banking system. The present banking system in India is a result of continuous reforms and policy changes that have taken place over the years. This article examines the banking sector reforms in India since independence till recent times. India’s banking and financial sector is expanding rapidly with the potential to become the fifth largest banking industry in the world by 2020 and the third largest by 2025. The Indian banking industry is currently worth of more than 1 trillion dollar and banks are now expanding fast as the government wants to spread the wings of banking industry far and wide. The present government since coming to power has focused on bringing several banking sector reforms such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Measures to tackle the NPA, Bank Board Bureau etc. but the agenda is unfinished. There are several measures that need to be taken.
Historical Background India has a long history of both public and private banking. The banking business in India dates back to the nineteenth century with the establishment of the Bank of Calcutta by East India Company in 1806 followed by the Bank of Mumbai and Bank of Madras in 1840 and 1843 respectively. The three banks were later merged in 1921 to be known as Imperial Bank of India which not only functioned as Commercial Bank but was also the Bank for the Government till the advent of Reserve Bank of India in 1934. Until 1969, the banks were concentrating mainly on urban areas and cities catering to the credit requirements of only top industrial enterprises. With the objective of making bank credit available to the other productive sectors of the economy like agriculture,
small scale industries etc. for balanced regional development and equitable distribution of economic growth, the government of India took a major initiative to nationalize 14 large banks in July 1969. This action brought over 80% of the bank branches under Government control. Post- nationalization era witnessed massive branch expansion by banks in rural and semi-urban areas, increase in bank credit to agriculture and other productive sectors of the rural and semi-urban economy and massive mobilization of rural savings by way of bank deposits. Subsequently, six more private sector banks were nationalized in 1980. In 1991, the country went through a deep economic crisis when it had to pledge its gold reserve with IMF to avoid an imminent payment default on its external borrowings. Faced with the task of bringing the faltering economy back on track, the government started a series of economic reform, including reforms in the banking sector.
Banking Reforms in India post 1991 Indian banking system has undergone widespread structural reforms since 1991. The banks faced a decline in productivity, efficiency and erosion of the profitability by 1990 despite commendable growth. The Narasimham Committee was set up by the government in 1991 to recommend the initiatives required to strengthen the banking and financial systems on the lines of international best practices. Even as the first set of
recommendations were getting implemented, the government felt the need for commissioning the committee once again in 1998 for a review and recommending further reform measures in the wake of developments in the global arena. Narasimham Committee Recommendations (1991 and 1997): First and second generation reforms in the banking sector in India The Narasimham committee appointed in 1991 recommended a series of measures ensuring a degree of operational flexibility, internal autonomy for public sector banks in their decision-making process, and greater degree of professionalism. These recommendations were a landmark in the evolution of banking system from a highly regulated to more market-oriented system. It also opened the banking sector to private players as part of the liberalization process. Some of the major recommendations were: Reduction of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) from 38.5 percent to 25 percent over a period of five years along with progressive reduction in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). Adoption of uniform accounting practices in regard to income recognition, asset classification and provisioning against bad and doubtful debts. Setting up of Asset Reconstruction Funds (ARFs) to take over from banks a portion of their bad and doubtful advances at a discount. Liberalizing the policy with regard to allowing foreign banks to open offices in India. Rationalisation of foreign operations of Indian banks.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 17
Indian Space Programme: Harnessing Space Technology for National Development Team Drishti
The Indian space programme is one of the most successful and cost-effective endeavours giving wide range of benefits to the nation and society. Mythology, particularly Indian mythology, is full of anecdotes and stories of interplanetary travels and flights. From the very beginning of civilisation, spaceflights have fired the human imagination. The modern space-age can be said to have begun with the first successful satellite launch by the Soviets (USSR) in 1957. In India, the space research activities were initiated during the early 1960’s when applications using satellites were in experimental stages even in the United States. India is amongst the first few countries to realize the potential of space technology and its applications and is the only country which embarked on development of space programme in a civilian domain. Recently, ISRO created a world record by successfully launching 104
satellites in a single flight with the help of its ‘workhorse rocket’, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C37).
Humble beginning Space activities in India were commenced with the setting up of Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 under the chairmanship of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of Indian space programme who quickly recognized the benefits of space technologies for India. Dr. Sarabhai was convinced and envisioned that the resources in space have the potential to address the real problems of common man and Indian society. In the same year, work on Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram
Early Days Of ISRO: Rocket Was Brought On Cycle And A Satellite On Bullock Cart
22 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
was also started. Following the establishment of the INCOSPAR, the first rocket launch from India took place in November 1963. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established in 1969. Space research activities were provided additional fillip with the formation of the Space Commission and the Department of Space by the government of India in 1972. ISRO was brought under the Department of Space in the same year. Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space programme to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country.
Advent of Satellite Communication in India The potential of space technology for mass education, especially in terms of immediacy, potency, visual power and outreach was recognized in the early 70s. Keeping in view the larger aspects of education, especially rural education, India launched the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975-76 to telecast a series of educational TV programmes on health, family planning, agriculture, and adult education which benefited around 200,000 people, covering 2400 villages of six states using the American Technology Satellite (ATS-6). The TV programme on agricultural information to farmers ‘Krishi Darshan’ was also started, which received good response. SITE was hailed as “the largest
Meghalaya Debabrat Gogoi
Meghalaya, one of the smallest states of India is also one of the most beautiful and peaceful states among the seven contiguous north-eastern states. In this article we will take a brief look at the state - its history, geography and culture. Meghalaya, home to the world’s wettest place, is the quintessential hill state of north-eastern India. Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘an abode of clouds’, Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972 following a decade long peaceful movement for a separate hill state in the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The capital Shillong, that lie on top of the Shillong plateau is a region known for its seismic disturbances. In 1897, an earthquake had occurred with such force that it raised the entire plateau by 11 meters and created a fault that was more than a hundred kilometres wide. Ever since, the fear of a similar earthquake happening has permeated the local way of life and periodic announcements of predicted earthquakes are known to keep people awake at night! English, Garo and Khasi are the principal languages spoken here. Khasi, an autochthonous language, belongs to the Mon-Khmer family of the Austroasiatic stock. This family of languages include the Munda and the Shompen (Nicobarese) languages of India. It is a very rare language. It is related to Cambodian, Vietnamese and Mon languages of Southeast Asia. Khasi is also without a script of its own and is written in either the Bengali or the Latin (English) scripts. The Latin script is what is in vogue today.
Jaintia Hills, Pnar which is a variation of the Khasi language is spoken. It also belongs to the Austroasiatic group of languages. The lingua franca in the state is however, English and Hindi. Most of the people of Meghalaya have a working knowledge of both English and Hindi. The Garo and Khasi are both matrilineal societies. This doesn’t however mean that these societies are matriarchal. Among the Khasi, women inherit property, enjoy economic freedoms and lineage is traced through women of the household. Yet, society is still dominated mostly by men, especially in political matters. For example, today the State Legislative Assembly is mostly composed of men. Similarly, in Garo society, while women inherit and own property, it is men who manage this property and run the government affairs.
Garo, belonging to the TibetoBurman family, is spoken in a variety of local dialects and is the second most spoken language of Meghalaya. In the
28 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Meghalaya was not only a part of Assam, its capital Shillong was also the capital of an undivided Assam. The British had chosen Shillong as capital of Assam in 1874 for its climate and for its strategic location between the Brahmaputra and the Surma valleys. The old name for Shillong probably was Yeddo and the British had renamed it probably after Lei Shillong the deity (there is a phrase in the Khasi language, ‘Khot Shillong’ meaning ‘Call Shillong’, whenever someone is in distress). The three kingdoms of the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia had been semiindependent states under the British. The Garo kingdom for example, was annexed by David Scott (the first Commissioner of Assam) using a peculiar form of institution called the Laskar (similar to a Zamindar in many respects). The Laskar was in the form
Living Root Bridges
IS INTOLERANCE IN INDIA GROWING?
“Samgacchadhvam Samvadadhvam. Sam vo manamsi janatam.” “Let us meet together, let us talk together: May our minds comprehend alike.” (Rig Veda: 10,192) On 15th August 2017, India will become a septuagenarian state. Though this is not a big feat for the civilisation that is India, it is a very big achievement for the liberal democratic tradition of the world. There are, broadly speaking, two Indias - the civilisational giant and the younger, more energetic republic. Both of them are one and the same, even though there are differences, some subtle some sheer. The friction between these two Indias has produced that image of our country we see today. Even before independence, this friction was at work, in the works of personalities like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda and also Mahatma Gandhi, who had painstakingly worked towards the development of a national consciousness. It is also safe to say that most if not all social reformers and public political functionaries during the period of British rule had been the torch bearers of at least one of these traditions - rationality, socio-cultural tolerance, the paradigm of rights and justice, secular-liberal pluralism, and most importantly an ideologically well-conditioned political conception (be Socialism, be Marxism). Thus, even though the Constitution of India is declared to the world with these lines - ‘We, the People of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic and to secure to all its citizens…’, these traditions had long existed in the Indian tradition before this declaration (barring Socialist, Secular which did not come with the original
Constitution; a problem of coding amnesia perhaps but certainly not an act of omission and commission as these traditions are for us a matter of undeniable cultural heritage). Apparently, there are those who believe that the civilisational giant is at odds with the young republic. This is untrue and it will be a futile exercise to demarcate these even simply. Both these Indias are inseparable, at the levels of both the individual and society and in our debate we will see India as one entity, as ‘one big thali with many different foods’, the resulting taste of which always is varied, enriching and satisfying. Within this metaphor rests our understanding of the country, its people, its ambition, and its successes and failures. Before we begin our debate let us first understand what we are looking at. Intolerance for us, as defined by the dictionary is ‘lack of tolerance; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect opinions or beliefs contrary to one’s own’, and a second definition explains it as ‘unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect persons of a different social group, especially members of a minority group’. Thus, from the first definition intolerance is an extremist idea and from the second either a conservative or radical majoritarian idea. To be called intolerant is, therefore, an extremely grave accusation. Our democracy was founded on the principles of equality and justice, on the hopes that diverse peoples will one day unite as one, and on the belief that elected representation and constitutionalism will address all the
problems of the citizenry. Our democracy is as such, an example democracy for other countries to follow. In the trickle down theory applied to ideas, whatever happens in India or more cynically whatever happens to India, will trickle down to the various democracies in the seven continents. The Indian experiment in liberal democracy is not only the largest but also the most colourful one due to its extreme diversity and its uncanny history. Every Indian should be aware of this unspoken responsibility to make that experiment work, it is after all one of the few true commonly inherited heritage of all Indians. This democracy of ours is also not without problems. In the last 69 years, it has been tested many times, on grounds ranging from wars to economic exigency to acts of terrorism and communalism. For most times, when the problem had been tangible (like economic crises), of foreign origin (like wars, terrorism) or political (like assassinations, the 1975 emergency) the democracy stood tall, surviving it all in an extraordinary show of astuteness and sagacity. Only when it came to entirely intangible tests (like bigotry, dogmatism) we have but a different story to tell. On this story many of us are innocent, we are simply unaware or unmindful, but some of us who are aware and choose to ignore, or choose to knowingly participate in this story are liable to be held guilty, if not by the courts then by our own conscience. That being said, with the ethics on intolerance settled, let us proceed with our debate for this month.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 31
1
Most Important News Events
38
2
Polity & Governance
51
3
Economic Scenario
60
4
International News Events
72
5
India-World Relations
75
6
Science & Technology
82
7
Environment & Ecology
88
8
Social Issues
93
9
Other National News
99
10
States Scan
106
11
Art & Culture
111
12
Sports News
114
13 Ethics
118
14
121
In News
Most Important News Events
Current Affairs
DRAFT THREE YEAR ACTION AGENDA OF NITI AAYOG The NITI Aayog’s three years Draft Agenda was circulated to Governing Council Members on April 23, 2016. It contains proposals to achieve far-reaching changes in India’s economy. In May 2016, the Prime Minister’s Office advised the NITI Aayog, its premier, independent think tank, to prepare a Fifteen Year Vision, Seven Year Strategy and Three Year Action Agenda. The Fifteen Year Vision and Seven Year Strategy document spanning 2017-18 to 2031-32 is in progress.
shift to high value commodities: horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries.
Industry and Services: Job Creation
Three Year Revenue and Expenditure Framework:
of Coastal Employment Zones to boost exports and generate high-productivity jobs. Enhance labour-market flexibility through reforming key laws. Address the high and rising share of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in India’s banks through supporting the auction of larger assets to private asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), and strengthening the State Bank of India-led ARC.
A
Urban Development
Key 3 Year Action Agenda Items
tentative medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) for the Centre is proposed. Based on forecasts of revenue, it proposes sector-wise expenditure allocation for three years. Proposes reduction of the fiscal deficit to 3% of the GDP by 2018-19, and the revenue deficit to 0.9% of the GDP by 2019-20. The roadmap consisting of shifting additional revenues towards high priority sectors: health, education, agriculture, rural development, defence, railways, roads and other categories of capital expenditure.
Agriculture: Doubling Farmers’ Incomes by 2022 Reform
the Agricultural Produce Marketing process to ensure that farmers receive remunerative prices. Raise productivity through enhanced irrigation, faster seed replacement and precision agriculture and
Creation
Need
to bring down land prices to make housing affordable through increased supply of urban land through zzMore flexible conversion rules from one use to another zzRelease
of land held by sick units
zzRelease
of other urban land potentially available
zzMore
generous Floor Space Index.
Regional strategies A c t i o n s
aimed at improving development
38 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
outcomes in the (i) North Eastern Region, (ii) Coastal Areas & Islands, (iii) North Himalayan states and (iv) Desert and Drought prone states.
Transport and Digital Connectivity Strengthen
infrastructure in roadways, railways, shipping & ports, inland waterways and civil aviation. Ensure last-mile digital connectivity, particularly for e-governance and financial inclusion, through developing infrastructure, simplifying the payments structure and improving literacy. Facilitate Public-Private Partnerships by reorienting the role of the India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL), introducing low cost debt
Current Affairs
44 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Most Important News Events
SUPREME COURT /HIGH COURTS VERDICTS SC for broad anti-torture legislation The Supreme Court recently raised concerns about the lack of comprehensive law to define and punish torture. It said that it was a matter of both Article 21 (fundamental right to life and dignity) and of international reputation that the government must consider promulgating a standalone, comprehensive law to define and punish torture as an instrument of “human degradation” by state authorities. The Supreme Court said that India
may be finding it tough to secure extraditions because there is a fear within the international community that the accused persons would be subject to torture here.
The
court referred to the setback suffered by the CBI in its efforts to get Kim Davy — a Danish citizen and prime accused in the Purulia arms drop case of 1995 — extradited from Denmark. A Danish court had rejected the plea on the ground that he would risk “torture or other inhuman treatment” in India.
Background The court agreed with the petitioner,
that India, which had signed the UN Convention against torture way back in 1997, had still not ratified it. The Convention defines torture as a criminal offence.
No
steps had been taken to implement the Prevention of Torture Bill 2010 even six years after it was passed by the Lok Sabha on May 6,
2010 and recommended by a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha. Support
from States— 90% of the States had no objections for a special law on torture.
The
petition pointed out that the Indian Penal Code did not specifically and comprehensively address the various aspects of custodial torture and was “grossly inadequate in addressing the spiralling situation of custodial violence across the country.”
The
petition contended that the NHRC kept count of incidents of custodial torture only if the inhuman treatment led to death and not otherwise. So a majority of cases simply went unreported.
Unlike custodial deaths, the police
are not required to report cases of torture which do not result in deaths to the NHRC.
States, UTs should ‘scrupulously’ follow law for disabled: SC On the 25th April, 2017 the Supreme Court directed all states and union territories (UTs) to file reports regarding compliance of provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 within 12 weeks. The court was hearing a plea seeking direction to the Centre and all states to file reports on the status of implementation of the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. Recently
Parliament has repealed the 1995 Act and brought in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.The 2016 Act is expected
to give full effect to the United Nations Convention. In its judgment, the court noted that
the 2016 Act provides “more rights to disabled persons”. This includes access to justice, free education, role of local authorities as providers of employment and opportunity, and National and State funds.
Earlier the Supreme Court has also
observed that “employment is a key factor in the empowerment and inclusion of people with disabilities” in its judgment in the Union of India v. National Federation of the Blind case (2013).
The Key Features of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 The
types of disabilities now include mental illness, autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, speech and language disability, thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities including deaf blindness, acid attack victims and Parkinson’s disease which were largely ignored in earlier act.
It
increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.
The
Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities in future in a clear recognition of the need to factor in an ageing population of India.
Additional
benefits such as reservation in allocation of land, poverty alleviation schemes etc. have been provided for persons
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 51
Polity & Governance Once
the bill is approved vehicle dealers will be authorised to issue vehicle numbers and register them through an all-India electronic register.
The
important aspects of the bill are 100 per cent e-governance to be brought in transport sector , adding identity verification using Aadhaar will be used, bad roads contractor to be liable for fine, drivers will be included in third party insurance and claims and settlements would be time bound.
Note Third party insurance is the liability purchased from an insurer (insurance company) by person A (insured party) to protect himself against claims from person B (third party), in the event of death, injury, or damage to property. The 2016 Bill had capped the maximum liability for third party insurance in case of a motor accident at Rs 10 lakh in case of death and at five lakh rupees in case of grievous injury. This cap has been removed by the 2017 Bill.
Current Affairs In
the accidental death cases arising from hit and run accidents, the bill proposes an increase of compensation to Rs 2 lakh, an eight fold increase over current.
Key highlights of the Bill It
proposes to create a National Register for Driving Licence and a National Register for Vehicle registration through “Vahan” and “Sarathi” platforms. This is in order to smoothen the process of registration and licensing.
It
proposes alterations in vehicles, in order to make them suitable for specially-abled people.
It
provides for a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, which would provide compulsory insurance
cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents. It
provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the Central Government through a notification. The Board will provide advice to the Central and State Governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management.
Contractors,
consultants and civic agencies will be accountable for faulty design, construction or poor maintenance of roads leading to accidents. Those found guilty would be penalized up to Rs 1 lakh.
A
time limit of six months has been specified for an application of compensation to the Claims Tribunal with regard to road accidents.
The
bill specifically targets traffic offenders with stringent penal provisions. The bill has identified priority areas for improving road safety. Stricter penalties are proposed for high risk offences such as drunken driving, dangerous driving, overloading, non-adherence to safety norms by drivers (such as use of seat belt, helmets).
It
provides specific timelines for processing of insurance claims. A ten fold increase has been made in the amount of compensation awarded under a simplified process of claims disbursal wherein the family of an accident victim would get compensation of Rs 5 lakh as settlement within four months of the accident. Presently it takes at least four to five years for an award.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 55
INDIAN ECONOMY N.K. Singh committee recommends 2.5% fiscal deficit target by FY23 The N.K. Singh panel to review India’s fiscal discipline rules has recommended a debt-to-GDP ratio of 38.7% for the central government, 20% for the state governments together and a fiscal deficit of 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product), both by financial year 2022-23. The committee has prescribed a so-called glide path to these targets—steady progress towards them—and also suggested that there be some flexibility in the deficit targets on both sides, downwards when growth is good and upwards when it isn’t. The panel has recommended enacting a new Debt and Fiscal Responsibility Act after repealing the existing Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, and creating a fiscal council.
In
2016-17, India’s debt-to-GDP ratio for the central government was 49.4% and fiscal deficit at 3.5% of GDP. The government is hoping to end 2017-18 with a fiscal deficit that is 3.2% of GDP, marginally higher than the 3% mentioned in the FRBM Act. The proposed three-member fiscal council will prepare multi-year fiscal forecasts for the central and state governments (together called the general government) and provide an independent assessment of the central government’s fiscal performance and compliance with targets set under the new law. The committee favours a debt-toGDP ratio of 60% for the general government by 2022-23, 40% (38.74%) for the central government and 20% for state governments. Within the framework, the committee has recommended adopting fiscal deficit as the key operational target consistent with achieving the medium-term debt ceiling, at 3%
of GDP for three years, between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Revenue deficit-to-GDP ratio has been envisaged to decline steadily by 0.25 percentage points each year from 2.3% in 2016-17 to 0.8% in 2022-23. However, to deal with unforeseen events such as war, calamities of national proportion, collapse of agricultural activity, far-reaching structural reforms, and sharp decline in real output growth of at least 3 percentage points, the committee has specified deviation in fiscal deficit target of not more than 0.5 percentage points. It has noted that Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel had favoured 0.3 percentage points. However, the government has to commit to come back to its stated path of fiscal discipline the following year. Similar to the escape clause, this buoyancy clause can be invoked by the government after formal consultations and advice of the fiscal council.
Why didn’t the existing law work? The FRBM Act, 2003 was introduced
to bring down the level of fiscal deficit as a proportion of GDP to 3% by 2009 from the 10% level it had reached in the late 1990s. However, when the global financial crisis of 2008 erupted, the target was lost sight of as the government opted to spend its way out of trouble. Though the law was amended to meet the 3% target by March 2018, the present government is aiming for a 3.2 % deficit by then – perhaps to offset the adverse impacts of demonetisation.
60 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
ASIA Referendum in Turkey Recently, Turkey held a historic referendum, with a record turnout of 85%, in which 51.4% voted in favour of constitutional reform, including the adoption of a presidential system of government. A new draft constitution that significantly increases the powers of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was put to voting through the referendum. On the surface, it might seem a proposal that would enjoy crossparty consensus: modernising Turkey's constitution that was drawn up at the behest of the onceomnipotent military after the coup of 1980. But instead it's arguably the most controversial political change in a generation, giving sweeping powers to the country's powerful but divisive President Erdogan. Among the numerous changes: zzThe President becomes the head of the executive, as well as the head of state, and retains ties to a political party. zzHe or she will be given sweeping new powers to appoint ministers, prepare the budget, choose the majority of senior judges and enact certain laws by decree.
zzThe president alone will be able
to announce a state of emergency and dismiss parliament. zzParliament will lose its right to scrutinise ministers or propose an enquiry. However, it will be able to begin impeachment proceedings or investigate the president with a majority vote by MPs. Putting the president on trial would require a two-thirds majority.
Dissenting voices Supporters of the President say the
constitutional changes are necessary for the progress and unity of an insecure Turkey. The referendum took place at a time Turkey is facing huge security challenges. Mr. Erdogan’s claim is that only a strong leader could lead the country out of these challenges. But the other section of critics fear that the constitutional changes would push Turkey towards dictatorship with so much power being concentrated in one person in a system that lacks the traditional checks and balances. The opposition says it is alarmed not just by Mr. Erdogan gaining more powers but by the overall changes in the system that could make the elected President as powerful as a dictator. The Opposition questions the very legitimacy of the referendum.
How did Mr. Erdogan curtail dissent? After the failed coup attempt in 2016,
for which Ankara blames Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish religious preacher living in the U.S., Mr. Erdogan
72 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
went for a massive cleansing in government and private institutions, accusing tens of thousands of being supporters of the Gulenist network. The leading Kurdish Opposition politician is also in jail, while the country is still reeling under emergency.
Consequences of the referendum The
outcome will also shape Turkey’s strained relations with the European Union. The NATO member state has curbed the flow of migrants - mainly refugees from wars in Syria and Iraq - into the bloc but Erdogan says he may review the deal after the vote. Given the deep polarisation in Turkish society that still has strong liberal currents despite the government’s excesses and the mounting security and economic challenges, Mr. Erdogan may not find it easy to run the country in unity even with his absolute powers.
New Bill to amend Constitution in Nepal On April 11, the Nepal government laid a new Constitution amendment Bill in Parliament to address the demands of the protesting Madhesi parties for more representation and re-demarcation of state boundaries ahead of next month’s local elections. According to the new Bill, the government may establish a federal commission to recommend on the issues pertaining to the number of provinces and their boundaries. The Madhesi parties have been demanding more representation in all state mechanism.
INDIA & NEIGHBORHOOD India and Malaysia to fight IS together Recently, Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was on a six-day visit to India. It was his third official visit as Prime Minister and an important one given the number of agreements that were signed. The two countries also agreed to cooperate to fight Islamic State militants and the growing threat of radicalisation and extremism. He
sealed six agreements on air services, sports, human resources, palm oil production and research, and technological development, while extending support to India for a greater role in the maritime security of the Asia-Pacific region. The visiting delegation’s comments on the maritime issue is significant as both the countries have been demanding freedom of navigation in the South East Asian region, where China has been flexing muscles and has claimed most of the South China Sea. A bilateral joint statement issued by the India-Malaysia CEOs Forum also emphasised the need for visa-free travel for Indians and Malaysians
and the introduction of the ASEAN common visa for travellers from outside the region, including India.
Pitch for early FTA During
the visit, the importance and need to conclude talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – the mega Free
India-Malaysia Relations
Malaysia and India have deep and
historical ties, going back many centuries. Along with Singapore, Malaysia has been one of India’s key partners in ASEAN, with the Indian diaspora being one of the binding factors. During Former India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 2010 visit to Malaysia, both countries upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership. The joint statement of October 27, 2010 also points to the need to join hands in the fight against terror, especially in the context of information sharing and formation of a joint working group on counterterrorism. On the economic front, trade with Malaysia is estimated at $12.8 billion; both countries hope to raise it to $15 billion. Malaysian investments in India are estimated at $7 billion, while Indian investments in Malaysia are estimated at $2.5 billion. Relations between India and Malaysia are not restricted to New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur. State governments like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been especially active in reaching out to Malaysia for investments in infrastructure.
Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Asia Pacific nations was stressed on. The 16 RCEP countries are India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10-member ASEAN bloc, including Malaysia. The RCEP gains importance as the other proposed mega-regional FTA, which is the Trans Pacific Partnership lies buried.
Bhutan backs out of motor vehicle pact On April 27, the Bhutan government announced that it is not ready to go ahead with the plan of a sub-regional motor vehicle agreement of the BBIN grouping that includes India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The decision to step out of the BBIN vehicle agreement comes on the back of strict domestic opposition to the motor vehicles agreement, mainly on fears of vehicular pollution and environmental degradation if trucks from neighbouring countries are given access to Bhutan, a country that prides itself on its “carbon neutrality” and preserving the environment.
Background Signed
on 15th June 2016 at the BBIN Transport Minister’s meeting in Thimpu, Bhutan, the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement provides for the regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic amongst BBIN. The agreement was to promote safe, economical, efficient and environmentally sound road transport in the sub-region and to further help each country in
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 75
SPACE Demand for declaring Pluto as a planet Recently, a group of NASA scientists proposed a new definition of the word planet that would reinstate Pluto’s status – and add tens of other bodies including Earth’s Moon. At the 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Texas a scientist from the Johns Hopkins University also argued that the definition of what constitutes a planet be changed and Pluto be redeclared as a planet.
Background I n
2006, the International Astronomical Union laid down three criteria for a rocky body to be planet: it must orbit the sun, it must be round, the body and its satellites must “orbit in a clear path around the sun”. It was the last bit that buried Pluto, as many other asteroids and planets, some bigger than Pluto, were found in its orbital neighbourhood. The International Astronomical Union arrived at their decision to demote Pluto after two years of debate and a proposal to a ‘Planet Definition’ sub-committee. However, it has been criticized by
various scientists as “technically flawed” on the following grounds: zzFirst, it recognizes as planets only those objects orbiting our Sun, not those orbiting other stars or orbiting freely in the galaxy as “rogue planets.” zzSecond, it requires zone clearing, which no planet in our solar system can satisfy since new small bodies are constantly injected into planet-crossing orbits. zzFinally, and most severely, by requiring zone clearing the mathematics of the definition are distance-dependent, requiring progressively larger objects in each successive zone. For example, even an Earth sized object in the Kuiper Belt would not clear its zone.
The proposed Definition According
to the new definition, a planet is a sub-stellar mass body that has never undergone nuclear fusion and that has sufficient selfgravitation to assume a spheroidal shape adequately described by a triaxial ellipsoid regardless of its orbital parameter.” The proposal states that the new definition would have historical precedence, sound scientific
82 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
classification and match up with peoples’ intuition.
Consequences of accepting the modified definition Along
with Pluto being upgraded from its current “dwarf planet” status, nearly 100 other celestial bodies like Europa, a moon of Jupiter and moon in the solar system could also become planets. It also means that there will be nothing special about the existing eight planets that would offer a distorted picture of the solar system.
Space X Reuses a Rocket to Launch a Satellite SpaceX launched a communications satellite from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida using a rocket stage that had already been to space and back. It marked the first time in the history of spaceflight that the same rocket has been used on two separate missions to orbit. SpaceX is betting that this kind of recycling will lower its costs and revolutionize space flight. After successfully launching a satellite toward geosynchronous orbit -- 35,786 km miles into space -- the rocket then returned to Earth and landed on a remotely piloted platform, known as a droneship, in the Atlantic Ocean. It was the company's sixth successful landing on a seaborne platform. The SpaceX showed the empty droneship, named “Of Course I Still Love You,” awaiting the return of the rocket, set against a deep blue ocean background.
Science & Technology
Current Affairs The
them from swelling by embedding them in epoxy (adhesive). This
altered the rate at which water permeated through the membranes.
What was the problem earlier? While the use of GO as a molecular
sieve to filter common salts from seawater while allowing water to pass through it is already known, but GO membranes have a tendency to slightly swell when immersed in water.
This
results in increased spacing between successive sheets allowing smaller salts to flow through the membrane along with water without being filtered.
How was it solved? Properties of Graphene Thinnest,
200 times stronger than steel. Lowest resistivity substance known at room temperature i.e., 10^(-6)W.cm. High thermal stability. High elasticity High electrical conductivity. Electron mobility is high at room temperature.
researchers added graphene flakes to GO to prevent the membranes from swelling. The water molecules that get strongly bound to common salts increase the diameter of salt ions and are hence unable to pass through the tiny space between the sheets; water molecules with weak hydrogen bonding are easily able to pass through the membrane. The membranes developed by the team can be used for waste water treatment even when no energy is supplied
More aerosol in atmosphere results in heavier rainfall A long-term (2002-2013) satellite observational study and model-based analysis by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur recently found that higher aerosol loading results in delayed but more rainfall over Central and Northern India. The results were published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. According to the study, once cloud starts forming due to convection, the presence of more aerosol particles tend to modify the warm phase microphysics as well as ice phase microphysics. Two forces — gravity and updraft (vertical velocity) — tend to act on droplets. Under high aerosol loading, rather than falling down as raindrops, the smaller droplets tend to rise upwards in convective atmosphere due to updraft. As the droplets are lifted up they tend to cross the freezing level and turn into ice particles. The process of water droplets turning into ice particles releases more latent heat of freezing and further strengthens the cloud as
the released heat further fuels the convection process. As the height of clouds increases, the ice particles generated at top of the cloud come in contact with numerous water and ice particles and become bigger in size. This results in more ice mass in the cloud and eventually more rainfall when the ice particles fall down due to gravity. However, in absence of cloud, aerosol particles tend to absorb solar radiation resulting in warm temperature with height. As a result, there is suppression of convection leading to further suppression of cloud formation. The analysis is in contrary to the general notion that pre-monsoon aerosol loading results in decrease in seasonal rainfall. This aerosol-cloud microphysical feedback suggests that higher aerosol loading can enhance the strength of convective rainfall and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall during Indian summer monsoon.
Note:
Aerosols are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere. The term covers a wide spectrum of small particles, like sea salt particles, mineral dust, pollen, drops of sulphuric acid and many others. While a large fraction of humanmade aerosols come in the form of smoke from burning tropical forests, the major component comes in the form of sulfate aerosols created by the burning of coal and oil. The scattering of sunlight by aerosols can reduce visibility (haze) and redden sunrises and sunsets. Aerosols also can act as sites for chemical reactions to take place (heterogeneous chemistry). The most significant of these reactions are those that lead to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
D
C
A
T
|| June 2017 || 87
NGT quashes India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) Recently, the Chennai Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the environmental clearance for the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) that was to come up in the West Bodi Hills in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. Initially slated to come up near Masinagudi, the project was moved to Theni because of objections that it was close to an elephant corridor. The latest problem has been triggered by the NGT’s assessment that the INO site lies at a distance of 4.9 km from the Madhikettan Shola National Park in Kerala’s Idduki district, at least 100 m inside the 5 km radius beyond which projects do not need National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approval. The INO project had received environment and forest clearance in 2011, but hadn’t applied for wildlife clearance because of its own assessment that it lay outside the 5 km zone.
The INO Project The
neutrino observatory is the most ambitious scientific research facility that India is trying to build. To be located 1.5 km below the Earth’s surface, this observatory would be used to detect and study neutrinos, one of the fundamental particles of the universe.
What are Neutrinos? Neutrinos
are tiny mass less particles, very similar to electrons, but do not have any electric charge. They along with protons make up the nucleus of an atom.
Detected
for the first time in 1959, neutrinos are the second most abundant particles in the world (about a billion of them pass through a cubic centimetre of space every second), after photons, or the light particle. Also produced through natural radioactive decays, the most common source of neutrinos are celestial phenomena — the birth and death of stars, collisions and explosions happening in space. The core of the Sun is an important source of neutrinos. Every fusion reaction in the Sun, in which two hydrogen atoms fuse into one helium atom, releases two neutrinos. They pass seamlessly through most objects that come in their way, including human beings, machines or the Earth’s surface, without being noticed. That is the reason why scientists have to go deep underground to set up special detectors in a bid to catch the faint signals of neutrinos in an environment that is relatively free from ‘noise’ and disturbance. Neutrinos could possibly be used to detect signs of nuclear proliferation from a remote location. Also, it is believed that neutrinos could help in the search with respect to dark matter — a hitherto undetected form which, along with dark energy that constitute 95% of the universe.
INO’s woes The state-of-the-art laboratory might
inspire pride amongst the scientific community, but it has had a very troubled history. There have been fears that the facility was meant to store nuclear waste from the country’s nuclear power
88 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
plants, or that the experiments underground would lead to the release of radioactive substances. Even environmental dilemma it faces now is not new to the INO. The original site selected for the project was located in Singara, near Ooty, in the Nilgiris that had a hard, rocky surface. It was suggested by the Geological Survey of India based on the requirements of having a large underground facility. The INO team was all set to move in at that location. But the nearby Mudhumalai National Park was declared a tiger reserve during the same time, and environmental clearance to the project was denied for this reason. Additional doubts range from questions of safety to the questionable potential for application of neutrino physics.
Perceived Consequences of the order The order has forced the INO to seek
fresh environmental clearance and approval of the NBWL— a process that could take between a year-anda-half and two years, adding to the delay that the project already faces. In the worst case scenario, the INO, which involves construction of an underground laboratory might even be forced to look for an alternative site, something that it has already had to do once earlier because of similar environmental concerns.
Tough targets hinder e-waste rule rollout The demand from the industry associations of electrical and electronic
Environment & Ecology equipment in relaxation of e-waste collection targets for recycling as specified under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 might delay the implementation of the rules 2016 that are to come into force in May 2017. The e-waste rules 2016 state that firms shall collect 30% of the e-waste generated by them in the first two years of implementation of rules. But industry bodies such as Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology (MAIT), Indian Cellular Association (ICA) and others recently met the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) to demand a relaxation in these targets and ask for a few more changes in the enforcement of these rules. The guidelines on implementation of e-waste rules 2016 also specify the average age of various electronic equipment.
Current Affairs For example, for smart phones it is
5 years, for printers and cartridges it is 10 years, for refrigerators 10 years, and so on for others. So all the smart phones that were sold in 2012, in principle become e-waste in 2017 and the companies are mandated to collected 30% of that.
E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 The Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change notified the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 in supersession of the e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011. Making the norms stringent, the new E-waste rules included Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and other mercury containing lamps, as well as other such equipment. For the first time, the rules brought the producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), along
with targets. Producers have been made responsible for collection of E-waste and for its exchange. Various producers can have a separate Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) and ensure collection of E-waste, as well as its disposal in an environmentally sound manner. The role of State Governments has been also introduced to ensure safety, health and skill development of the workers involved in dismantling and recycling operations. A provision of penalty for violation of rules has also been introduced.
Why is India getting hotter? The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted “above normal” temperatures across most of the hill-station States. It stated that the regions are likely to be well above 1 degree C above their normal summer temperatures. Later, it issued a warning that many parts of North, Northwest and central India will face extreme heat wave conditions in summer 2017. Typically, heat waves are associated with the north and northwest of India and over coastal Andhra Pradesh, north Odisha and parts of West Bengal. However, there’s been a slight increase in the number of regions in recent years, with more parts of the Himalayan plains, regions north of Andhra Pradesh and Central India also registering more heat waves. The maximum spikes in temperatures, in May, were recorded in unconventional places such as Shimla, Kullu and tourist spots in Uttarakhand.
What are heat waves? A
Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 89
Racial attacks on Africans in India Since the death of a teenager on 25th March in Greater Noida, due to drug overdose, a series of attacks have targeted Africans. A mob attacked some Nigerian students in a mall in Greater Noida that prompted African students to take to streets in protest. The African Students Association in India said that they do not feel safe in India. The Association issued a press statement stating that it would write to all the African heads of state on the “barbaric racism” that Africans face in India and calling for a reduction in bilateral trade between the African Union and India.
The
attack in Greater Noida is a reminder of the summer 2016 attacks on the Africans which included the murder of a Congolese national in Delhi. The incident prompted African diplomats posted in India to skip official celebrations which cast a shadow on India’s ties with Africa.
What Indians need to acknowledge The hallmarks of racism were again on display in the attack on African students— stereotyping, and the inability to distinguish between an individual and a group. Innocent students were targeted on the suspicion that someone from their part of the world had supplied lethal drugs to a local teenager.
The
Noida administration met representatives of the affected students. It is involving resident welfare associations in areas favoured by the community, and educational institutions have been urged to conduct sensitisation programmes. But in a nation where racist attitudes are pervasive, much more needs to be done. The fact that people of African origin favour certain parts of the city indicates that they do not feel secure. Only the vulnerable retreat into ghettos. Ironically, the Indians who have been attacking students of African origin in Delhi show little awareness of the fact that in the West, they, too, would be seen as coloured people.
India’s outreach efforts may be hurt by string of attacks Racist violence has implications for Indian government which wants to make India a hub for the world’s knowledge and capital. India's Africa outreach could be impaired by repeated instances of violence against African students at a time when India is competing for influence with China in the resource-rich continent. India has worked hard in the recent past to diversify its energy sources and Africa now accounts for more than 25% of India's crude imports. Nigeria alone accounts for almost half of that amount. Institutions of higher education in the US and Europe stand tall and prosper because they attract students from the world over, across divides like politics and colour.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 93
National Institutional Ranking Framework, 2017 The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has been rated as the top higher educational institution of India across disciplines, as per the first-ever overall ranking of institutions released by the Centre. The seven top IITs, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Benaras Hindu University (BHU) figure in the top 10 among the 2,995 institutions that participated in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), 2017. IIT-Madras ranks second, while JNU ranks sixth in the all-India list. Among engineering colleges, the IITs at Chennai, Mumbai, Kharagpur, New Delhi and Kanpur are among the top five. Among universities, the top five are IISc, JNU, BHU, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (Bengaluru) and Jadavpur University, Kolkata. However, the elite Indian Institutes of Management have not performed too well, with IIM-Ahmedabad, the top business school, standing 17th in the list. All other IIMs rank below 20.
Ranking criteria The NIRF ranked the institutions on the basis of five parameters: teaching-learning resources (student strength, faculty-student ratio, faculty qualifications and experience, financial resources and utilisation); research and professional practice (publications, quality of publications, patents, projects); graduation outcomes (placement and higher studies, salary, Ph.D degrees awarded); outreach and inclusivity (diversity in student pool); and perception (among peers, employers and the public).
India’s limited internet access The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s quarterly Performance Indicators Report is the most authoritative source for assessing the march of the Internet in India. The latest report tells us that India had 36.74 crore (367.48 million) Internet subscribers in September 2016. Based on a population count of 127.7 crore, this translates to 28.77 Internet subscribers per 100 people. This is the ‘Internet penetration’ number that often gets cited as Indian population’s internet access percentage. But that’s a wrong interpretation of these statistics. TRAI data captures the number of Internet connections in India and not the number of households with Internet access.
What’s the big difference? If
we assume that in an affluent neighbourhood in a metro, someone who has a four-member family (especially with teenagers), they are
likely to own at least five Internet connections – a broadband linked to their home computer and four 3G plans on their family-owned smartphones. This simple illustration tells us that 36.7 crore Internet subscriptions don’t equal 36.7 crore Indians connected to the Internet. To gauge the true extent of Internet penetration, the question to ask is how many households in India have at least one connection. The previous Census (2011) did this and found that 77 lakh households
BharatNet project
BharatNet is a project, introduced
by the current government to establish, by 2017, a highly scalable network infrastructure accessible on a non-discriminatory basis, to provide on demand, affordable broadband connectivity of 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps for all households and on demand capacity to all institutions, to realise the vision of Digital India, in partnership with States and the private sector. The entire project is being funded by Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was set up for improving telecom services in rural and remote areas of the country. The objective is to facilitate the delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, Internet and other services to the rural India. The project is a Centre-State collaborative project, with the States contributing free Rights of Way for establishing the Optical Fibre Network.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 99
Protests in Panjab University On 11 April, students of Panjab University (PU) fought pitched battles with police on campus, leaving 22 policemen injured, and provoking police to temporarily slap the extraordinary charge of sedition on 66 protesters. The violent protests, directed against a large increase in tuition fees, marked a dramatic escalation of tensions in PU, roiled for 2 years now by an acute shortage of funds that has triggered student and faculty unrest and brought the university to its knees. th
Where does PU get its revenues from? After the reorganisation of Punjab
in 1966, the university was declared an “inter-state body corporate”. Until the 1970s, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh contributed funds, after which Haryana and Himachal withdrew. The ratio of funding between the Centre and Punjab was fixed at 60:40, with the Centre’s share being released by the Home Ministry. The UGC has fixed the Centre’s share at Rs 176 crore; however, the Punjab government, instead of paying its 40%, has put an annual ceiling of Rs 20 crore on its contribution. PU, whose other source of revenue is fees collected from students, has asked the state government for more money.
The history of sedition
Section
124 A of the Indian Penal Code says that “whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government” is punishable by law, a fine and a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. But such legalese has a history of more than 140 years and was deployed by the colonial state to target those who questioned and opposed the British Raj. The colonial administration found the sedition law helpful to mask the illegitimacy of its rule. In 1951, the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described the law as “highly obnoxious”. But in the decades after Independence, it was used against people criticising the government. Successive governments have used this antiquated law to stifle dissent by social activists, intellectuals, journalists, and, now increasingly, students. In February 2016, Delhi Police charged three students of Jawaharlal Nehru University under Section 124 A for shouting allegedly anti-national slogans. People have been hauled up for Facebook likes, or, as in the case of actorpolitician Divya-Spandna in 2016, appreciating “the people of Pakistan”. It is unfortunate, that the country’s law-enforcing authorities take recourse to this colonial era law when the Supreme Court has clarified that words and speech can amount to sedition only when an incitement to imminent violence is involved.
106 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Sedition charge on the students That the country’s sovereignty does
not get threatened by a few sloganshouting students should not need to be reiterated in a 70-year-old democracy. That students protesting a fee hike constitute no threat to the nation should have been obvious too. But such a sense of assurance seemed elusive in Chandigarh’s Panjab University as the Chandigarh Police slapped a sedition charge on 66 students. That the charge was rescinded a day later only underlined the farce of imposing it on students for shouting anti-establishment slogans.
Bihar, Jharkhand children ‘undernourished,’ says NGO In Bihar and Jharkhand, nine out of every 10 children aged 6-23 do not get an adequate diet. The nutrition and health status of children in these two States has been found to be “critically low” in comparison to the national standard. According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4, 2015-16) data, only 7.5% and 7.2% of children in Bihar and Jharkhand respectively in this age group receive an adequate diet, according to a trend analysis of the NFHS-4 data released by the NGO, Child Rights and You (CRY). The comparative figure in the case of Tamil Nadu, for instance, is 31%. CRY’s findings indicate that inadequate provision of quality antenatal care, and the States’ failure to address the special nutritional requirements of expecting and lactating mothers are negatively affecting child health.
Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations On April 10, an exhibition called ‘Bapu Ko Karyanjali’ was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Archives Museum in New Delhi as a part of ‘Satyagrah Se Swachchagrah’ programme to mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi launching the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917. On the same day, the Bihar government also launched a year-long celebration to mark the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran satyagraha. A Gandhi Smriti Yatra from Motihari
was also set off on April 15 to mark Gandhi’s first visit to Champaran.
A
‘Gandhian circuit’ consisting of 12 sites will also be developed by the state’s tourism department.
Earlier,
Bihar government has organised large celebrations to mark the 350th Prakash Parv for Sikh devotees in Patna, Kal Chhakra puja for Buddhist pilgrims at Bodh Gaya and an International Buddhist Conclave at Rajgirh in Nalanda.
The Satyagraha In
Champaran district of Bihar, most European planters obtained thekas or leases for whole villages from the large Bettiah zamindari. As the demand for indigo grew with expanding textile imports, the planters imposed the tinkathia system under which the peasants were forced to raise indigo on 3 kathas out of 20 kathas of land. The rise of synthetic dye in Germany
which was comparatively cheaper added to the misery of the peasants.
Mahatma Gandhi was approached
by several leaders from Bihar including Raj Kumar Shukla at the first meeting of the Congress at Lucknow in 1916 with a request to start a movement against the atrocities on farmers in Champaran. On April 10, 1917, he arrived for the first time in Patna and reached Motihari five days later. Initially, Gandhi announced that he had come only to study conditions and collect information, for which he created a group consisting of Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad and Acharya Kripalani. On April 17, he set off on his Champaran satyagraha to better the lot of Indigo planters. The then government responded by establishing a committee of enquiry to cover all the matters that were relevant to peasants’ grievances. Gandhi ji, who was also the member of the committee convinced the authorities for abolishing the tinkathia system and compensating the peasants for illegal dues extracted from them by the planters.
World Heritage Day Recently, April 18 was observed as the World Heritage Day across countries with the theme ‘Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism’. April 18 was identified as the World Heritage Day in the year 1982 by International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). In 1983, UNESCO’s General Conference also approved the idea and since then, April 18 is marked as the World Heritage Day. The day offers an opportunity to raise the public awareness about
the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it. Each year, there’s a different theme that’s selected to mark the day. This year’s theme has been chosen to align with the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
World Heritage Sites in India Total
number of World Heritage Site in India is 35 consisting of 7 Natural, 27 Cultural and 1 mixed.
Listed
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List as per World Heritage Convention of 1972 to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
Khangchendzonga National Park
(KNP), Sikkim has been inscribed as India’s first “Mixed World Heritage Site” because it fulfills the nomination criteria under both natural and cultural heritage.
Chandigarh's
Capitol Complex, Khangchendzonga National Park and Nalanda University in Bihar were added to the list recently in 2016.
Biennial Thakurani Jatra festival Recently, the famous biennial Thakurani Jatra festival was celebrated with full fervor in Berhampur, Odisha. It is a month-long festival famous for its carnival spirit.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 111
Aizawl FC wins the I-League title On April 30, the Aizwal Football Club won Indian- League Championship becoming the first club from northeast to win the title. They defeated Shillong Lajong to 1-1 draw. They will next represent India in the 2017 Asian Champions League qualifier. The club debuted in the I-League in 2016 when the club was relegated to the second division. This season, however, was a different story – the team was offered an unlikely way back in after Goan football giants Salgaocar and Sporting Club backed out following disputes with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). However, the Aizawl FC might not get a chance to defend their I-League title next season. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and their commercial partners IMG-Reliance hope to launch a new, ‘unified’ first division league in November, which will replace the I-League. The revamped league will have eight existing Indian Super League franchises and at least three I-League teams. One of the key criteria set out to by the AIFF and IMG-R for a team to be a part of the new league is money. Aizawl, believed to be operated on a meager budget of Rs 1.5 crore this season puts the future of the club in jeopardy.
changes to its constitution (governance) and financial (revenue) structure that were agreed in principle at its quarterly meeting of full member directors in February 2017. At the meeting held in Dubai, eight directors, excluding representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket Sri Lanka, voted for the change in governance structure. Nine directors, excluding the BCCI, voted for the revenue model. The associate members from Singapore, Ireland and Namibia also supported the resolutions. The ICC Board will now recommend the changes to its AGM at London in June for getting the final approval.
What the approval means? The decisions of the Dubai meeting
effectively negate the BCCI’s ambitious move initiated by its then president, N. Srinivasan, in 2014. The proposal had envisaged a “Big Three” governance and revenuesharing structure that co-opted Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board. It offered a maximum of 21% of the ICC’s revenue share to the BCCI, contingent on the parent body earning $3.5 billion. The BCCI’s share now will be $293 million (from $289 million). England will receive $143 million. Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will receive $132 million each. Zimbabwe will get $94 million.
ICC approves key structural changes
The message from ICC’s course correction on revenue-sharing
On April 26, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board approved
The last few months have been a chastening spell for the Board of
114 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Control for Cricket in India. The Justice R.M. Lodha reforms punctured the bubble of entitlements that some BCCI officials lived in. Even as the sport’s administrators struggled to come to terms with the diktats of the Supreme Court, a big shock wave has emanated from Dubai with the International Cricket Council voting overwhelmingly in favour of changes to its governance and revenue model. The decision taken by ICC in Dubai is a validation of the fact that cricket cannot be held to ransom by a select few. There is no denying that India, its fans and diaspora power the sport’s commercial heart. Yet that is no excuse for the BCCI to demand an inordinately large share of the pie or to force through its own version of the Future Tours Programme. India needs to strengthen cricket globally, not enfeeble it. For all the talk about the phenomenal popularity of the game in India, cricket is also periodically convulsed with anxiety about the very survival of the Test and one-day international formats. Being cricket’s powerhouse may give India more leverage to call the
Ethics
Current Affairs
ETHICS Inhuman shield in Kashmir The image of a Kashmiri man tied to the bonnet of an army jeep, apparently as a human shield, surfaced in a video recently. This act of army, of using a civilian as a human shield to dissuade stone pelters and let the army convoy pass without any casualty, has kicked up a major debate on the right and wrong of the army action.
Was action justified in given circumstances? An
important legal aspect of the use of force against insurgents is the principle of proportionate violence. The Indian security forces have upheld this by not using heavy weaponry against the insurgents who are often sheltering in densely populated areas. The clear perspective with which countermilitancy is practiced is that, unlike Israel, Indian forces are dealing with Indian nationals who are also entitled to the full protection of its laws and constitution. However, fighting a clean fight against insurgents anywhere and by any army is an ideal, rather than a reality. Insurgents often shelter among the people and use them as a cover and a shield and in the heat of an incident, it is often difficult to discriminate between the bystander, militant and what is termed as his “over-ground worker”. There is no argument that the Army, which is caught in a situation in which terrorists attempt to blend in with the civilian population, is fighting a difficult and unenviable battle. But the difficulties in fighting a hybrid
war do not constitute a justification for the use of human shields, which is categorised as a war crime by the Geneva Conventions. A
st at e cannot ab dicat e it s responsibility to engage in legal conduct under all circumstances. Arguments that this was the “best way” to teach the Valley’s stone pelters a lesson, or that this method “saved lives” as the soldiers did not have to shoot anyone, or that soldiers have a right to protect themselves even if it means tying a man to their jeep, do not hold. Quite simply, the state cannot equate itself with those challenging its writ. If it does so, it runs the risk of losing its moral legitimacy over them.
Ethical, legal, political and human right issues issues: Modern nations operate under the presumption that, in the case of armed conflict, the state must do everything to ensure civilians are not hurt. Human shields, on the other hand, force civilians to face danger, with the aim of reducing the threat to the armed forces. They are almost never voluntary and while they might occasionally work tactically, coercion of civilians into endangering themselves can turn a population against the state. The Code of Conduct of army vis-àvis civilians includes the clause, “Violation of human rights… must be avoided under all circumstances, even at the cost of operational success”.
Ethical
Rights: Tactics like this fail to respect the personhood of
Human
118 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
the so-called human shield and dehumanize them into an instrument of war. To use a person as a human shield is to abduct him, to hold him hostage, and to potentially put him in harm’s way defies the ethic of democracy which is based on a contract that guarantees human dignity. No argument in the name of safeguarding democracy can violate that sense of dignity. The State Human Rights Commission has noted that incident of the youth being used as human shield against the stone pelters is a gross violation of human rights and the person "would have suffered mental, psychological and physical humilitation”. L e g a l : T h e F o u r t h G e n e v a Convention, Additional Protocol 1 and the Rome Statute that set up the International Criminal Court all prohibit human shields in armed conflicts, and consider their use a war crime. According to the International Committe of the Red Cross, any such practice would be prohibited by the requirement that civilians ought to be protected against the dangers arising from military operations. Political: This has also led to greater trust deficit and binary of “us v/s them” in already disturbed Kashmir. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has stated the action and other scenes of alleged excesses by soldiers were “washing away all the progress” achieved in the Valley. Such aberrations tarnish the image of the army as an institution, and also give elements trying to create trouble in Kashmir a ground to criticize Indian state.
APPOINTMENTS / RETIREMENTS Malvika Sinha The Reserve Bank has appointed Malvika Sinha as Executive Director following the appointment of B P Kanungo as Deputy Governor. Sinha took charge on April 3. As Executive Director, she will look after foreign exchange department, department of government and bank accounts and internal debt management wing.
DEMISE Vinod Khanna Veteran actor and Member of Parliament Vinod Khanna — known for his roles in films such as Amar Akbar Anthony , Qurbaani and Insaaf — died of cancer at a hospital on April 27. The 70-year-old actor was admitted to the HN Reliance Foundation and Research Centre in Girgaum due to "severe dehydration" on March 31.
Board and the second State Finance Commission (2001-2006).
Robert M. Pirsig On April 24, Robert M. Pirsig author of the influential 1970s philosophical novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance died at the age of 88 at his home in Maine after a period of prolonged illness. Pirsig worked on the sequel, Lila: An Inquiry into Morals for 17 years before its publication in 1991. The story traced a sailboat journey taken by two fictitious characters along the US’s eastern coast.
Kishori Amonkar Kishori Amonkar, who represented the last of a generation of Hindustani classical vocalists in the country, passed away at the age of 84. Amonkar was a reminder of the gold standard of musical performance, attained through years of rigorous riyaz.
Dilip Kumar Barua
Akhilesh Das Gupta
Noted educatio-nist, economist, litterateur and quizmaster Dilip Kumar Barua died on April 28 after a brief illness. Barua (73) was the principal of Cotton College, northeast’s premier institution in 2000 and was the principal of Haflong Government College in 2001. An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics, he had also served as joint director of Assam Administrative College from 1989 to 1992 and was also a member of the Assam Planning
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta passed away at the age of 56. He had become BAI president after the arrest of former chief V.K. Verma over corruption charges in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and was unanimously re-elected for another four-year term in 2014. In 2016, he was also elected the vice-president of the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) for a four-year term.
S Nandagopal R e n o w n e d sculptor S. Nandagopal died of a massive heart attack at 71. A sculptor and a painter, whose finely crafted works are internationally recognised, Mr. Nandagopal was born in 1946 in Bangalore, Karnataka. Mr. Nandagopal was the recipient of the National Award, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi in 1970 and 1978 and the Jindal Stainless Steel Award for Sculpture, 2002.
Robert Taylor Robert W. Taylor, one of the seminal innovators to shape the modern computing, died at 85. In 1966, he became the director of the Information Processing Techniques Office, part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as ARPA. At the time, ARPA was funding three separate computer research projects and using three separate computer terminals to communicate with them. Taylor decided that the department needed a single computer network to connect each project with the others. His idea led to the Arpanet, the forerunner of the Internet. Taylor was a key figure in funding the design of the Alto computer, which is widely described as the forerunner of the personal computer.
Emma Morano Emma Morano, 117, the world’s oldest person who is also believed to have been the last surviving person born in the 1800s, died on Aril 16
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 121
Current Affairs at her home in northern Italy. A woman in Jamaica, Violet Brown, who was born in that Caribbean island on March 10, 1900, is now considered the oldest known person in the world, according to a list kept by the Gerontology Research Group.
AWARDS K Viswanath The renowned filmmaker K Viswanath became the 48th recipient of the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award for 2016. The award includes a golden lotus, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs, a citation and a shawl. Mr. Viswanath, who has made about 50 films since 1965, is known for his plots that revolve around social themes.
Note
Named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced in 1969 by the government to recognise the contribution of film personalities towards the development of Indian Cinema. The first recipient of this award was Devika Rani.
Ashwani Kumar Recognizing the achievements in bolstering India-Japan ties, the Japanese government has selected former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar for the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest category of decoration, in recognition of distinguished accomplishments of individuals. Mr. Kumar served as Special Envoy of then PM Manmohan Singh to Japan during the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan to India in December 2013. Indians who have in the past received the Decoration include industrialist Ratan N. Tata.
122 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
In News
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY 1. Force-feeding Aadhaar: From Welfare State
to Surveillance State
2. ‘Right to be Forgotten’ in Indian Law 3. BRICS and the New Financial Architecture: use of local currency in intra-BRICS trade 4. N a t i o n a l H e a l t h P o l i c y 2 0 1 7 a n d the Right to Healthcare 5. Elementary Educational Reforms Need Abolition of Classes: No-detention Policy and the CCE 6. The Finance Bill, 2017: Parliament sans Democracy 7. ‘Right to Recall’ Reform Experience 8. Trump and Eurasian Foreign Policies
3. Biotechnology in Horticulture
9. US Seventh Fleet: From Threat to Opportunity for India
4. Horticulture for Nutritional Security
10. Waste Management in Urban India: Debate over Incineration-based Waste-to-Energy technologies
5. Initiatives for Horticulture Promotion in India 6. Doubling Farmers' Income through Horticulture
YOJANA
DOWN TO EARTH
1. Labour Reforms in India
1. Aviation sector and Climate change
2. Informal Labour Market in India 3. Towards a National Policy on Migration 4. Reforms in Child Labour Law 5. Labour Identification Number or Lin 6. Automation: Challenge to Workforce?
KURUKSHETRA
2. Seeking a fair price for drugs 3. Odisha gets GCF-approved climate change project
SCIENCE REPORTER 1. Vertical Farming: Key to Mitigating World’s
Hunger?
1. Horticulture: The Growth Engine of
2. International Interdiscipli-nary Conference on Human- itarian Technology 147
2. Horticulture and Indian Economy
3. Seven Earth-sized planets found near supercool star
Agriculture Sector
Economic&PoliticalWEEKLY SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS AND ARTICLES: 11, 18, 25, MARCH; 1 APRIL 2017
Force-feeding Aadhaar: From Welfare State to Surveillance State EPW
editorial argues that the lines between the welfare state and the surveillance state are fast blurring. The government continues to push Aadhaar as a miracle cure that would curb leakages and bring in transparency while excluding fake beneficiaries and saving “huge sums of public money.” What it does not project is that the Aadhaar scheme involves the collection and control of big data, enabling “dataveillance” (the practice of monitoring digital data relating to personal details or online activities). The Aadhaar idea was first conceptualised by the BJP-led NDA government after the Kargil war as a security and surveillance project. The features of the current-day Aadhaar are no different. Additionally, t h e st a t e has circumvented constitutional procedures and safeguards by launching the scheme without putting in place a privacy law or a law regulating biometric data, by passing the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 as a money bill, and by continuing to flagrantly
defy the Supreme Court’s orders disallowing making Aadhaar mandatory. For the ordinary citizen, the most worrying aspect of Aadhaar is control, about who can access their biometric data. The Aadhaar enrolment form has a field that vaguely asks for “consent”: “I have no objection to the UIDAI [Unique Identification Authority of India] sharing information provided by me to the UIDAI with agencies engaged in delivery of public services including welfare services.” These terms have not been defined by the UIDAI while personnel at enrolment centres advise people to give their consent for the sake of future convenience. These issues are not even touched upon by the Aadhaar Act, which adds to the imbroglio by way of Clause 57: “Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the use of Aadhaar number for establishing the identity of an individual for any purpose, whether by the State or any body corporate or person, pursuant to any law, for the time being in force, or any contract to this effect.” Such a clause clearly allows non-state entities to use Aadhaar authentication and gain access to data, which has already happened. The UIDAI recently stopped 24 firms from using its data in an unauthorised manner following public complaints. Adding to the confusion is the definition of “biometric information” in the act that is being kept open to include “other biological attributes” (read DNA) in the future.
‘Right to be Forgotten’ in Indian Law Advocate
Alok Prasanna Kumar writes that the courts have yet
126 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
not recognised the “right to be forgotten” under Indian law. However, there are good reasons to have one’s name dissociated from public records in the interests of privacy and similar concerns, as has been done in the context of victims of sexual assault. Two laws expressly mandate that names of certain persons will not be made public in any manner whatsoever: Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 and Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The rationale in both these laws rests on the harm that is caused to the victim of a crime of sexual assault by having the same discussed in public. The laws as they are drafted are not perfect by any means, and one glaring flaw is obvious in subsection 3 of Section 228A: the immunity from prosecution for those printing or publishing the high court or Supreme Court judgments. While this was intended to protect the law reports available mostly to a limited number of practising lawyers, it did not foresee the internet age where all the information concerning a case reproduced in a judgment is easily available through search engines. Recently, the underlying premise of the law has been challenged by victims and families themselves. The parents of the deceased victim in the Delhi gang rape of 2013 have insisted that the “Nirbhaya” science museum to be built in her name should be renamed after her actual name. Similarly, the victim of the Park Street gang rape (Kolkata, 2012) waived her anonymity in 2013. The basis for the “right to be forgotten” in the European Union
Academic Vitamins emerged as the preferred policy option for managing the growing problem of waste in India. These technologies require a continuous supply of waste inputs of sufficient quantity and quality—high calorific value and low moisture content— to be viable. The government’s preference for WtE contradicts the empirical evidence, which suggests that the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Indian waste render it technically unsuitable for incineration. Second, to be viable, WtE technologies will require end-to-end control over the entire waste management chain, thus displacing those in the informal recycling sector from their means of subsistence. Indian waste is not suitable for incineration. WtE appears to offer a quick fix, promising modern ways of dealing with unsightly garbage that otherwise mar the image of aspiring world-class cities in India. WtE industry proponents often highlight the successes of incineration technologies in Europe to bolster their claim that India also needs them. There are five reasons that explain WtE’s emerging popularity in contemporary India: (1) WtE technologies promise to reduce
waste volumes significantly; (2) reduced waste volumes also reduce the need for landfill space; (3) the prospect of generating electricity from waste holds promise (in Delhi, all three WtE plants combined could generate 52 MW of electricity); (4) proponents claim that WtE does not rely on waste generators’ or municipalities’ ability to segregate wastes; this proposition is attractive as waste segregation at source is a challenge; (5) waste management technologies need to plan not just for today but for the future; there is hope that the technology may be suitable for tomorrow if not so today. Delhi’s experience has not been so good on operational and on environmental grounds. Residents in the region complain that the plant emits toxic gases (dioxins and furans) that are damaging the health of those who live in its vicinity. Residents of the nearby communities filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court, which was subsequently transferred to the National Green Tribunal. Technical (im)possibility of incineration: Almost everyone is in agreement that Indian waste is suitable for composting and not for incineration. International
institutions have long pointed out the problem of calorific value and the consequent unsuitability of incineration technologies in waste of developing countries in general. Why is the calorific value of Indian waste so low? It is because waste pickers (country has about 5,00,000 ragpickers) are extremely efficient at extracting these recyclable materials thereby reducing the calorific value of waste. One way to assure a reliable supply of waste materials is to control the end-to-end process, from collection at source to final treatment or disposal. The Ministry of Finance had recommended that private partners (waste management firms) be assigned “long-term rights to waste” and “guaranteed waste volumes and characteristics” to mitigate risks of waste supply and quality. Implementing such a system would entail denying many in the informal sector access to their means of livelihood. WtE incineration technologies are unlikely to work unless materials are diverted away from recycling and towards incineration. Most government agency reports concluded that incineration was unsuitable for Indian waste also suggested that composting was the most appropriate solution. Although composting is almost one third as cheap as WtE technologies, it requires more land, segregated wastes that do not contaminate the end product, and support for the marketing of the end product. A significantly lower financial investment potential in composting as compared to WtE is likely the reason for lack of interest among private firms. Also, the influence of private industry interests could be a reason for adoption of WtE technologies. D
Drishti Current Affairs Today
C
A
T
|| June 2017 || 131
YOJANA GIST OF MAJOR ARTICLES FROM THE APRIL 2017 ISSUE Labour Reforms in India Labour
reforms have often been viewed as changes in the labour laws to make it easy for the entrepreneurs and industrialists to run their businesses without the pain of compliance and fear of punitive action by the state. Interestingly, it is the most opportune time for labour reforms in India for two reasons: first, China is fast losing its advantage as manufacturing hub as labour cost has trebled there in last one decade and second the Government of India is truly committed to ‘Make in India’ and attracting the investors and large businesses to set up their manufacturing bases in the country. Success of ‘Make in India’ will depend on how soon and how fast labour reforms are taken further. Eve n t h e globalization an d liberalization process that began in India in 1991 impacted labour market in limited manner. India missed the opportunity of being manufacturing hub of the world due to rigidities in the labour market, archaic labour laws and glaring skill deficit. In last twenty-five years, the government of India has tried to bring in sporadic changes in labour laws aimed at lablour flexibilization. Indian labour market is spoiled by over-arching complexities of archaic labour laws, unmindful bureaucratic control and corrupt inspectorate having unlimited abilities to exploit the susceptible factory owners at the cost of welfare of the workers. Hence, labour market liberalization is urgent need of the day. It is imperative that labour laws are progressive if burueaucratic
control is substituted by transparent governance and self-reporting and voluntary adoption of labour standards take over the flawed system of factory inspections and compliances. There are seen two approaches to reforms in labour laws. The free market experts put excessive emphasis on the amendments in labour laws enabling the employers to hire, fire and regulate the terms and conditions of employment of the working population according to the exigencies of emerging market scenarios. Such extreme position is not only misplaced but also a major roadblock in converting labour reforms as foundation of competitiveness in manufacturing and service sectors. Another school of thought advocates rationalization of archaic labour laws and flexibilization of labour market through empowerment of workers and rigourous skill development, as opposed to ‘free labour market of neoliberals. The government of India is equally concerned with the issue of protecting the interest of workers and that of the management. This view is consolidated by the following observation quoted from the study of Planning Commission (2001): ‘There is no doubt that we need labour legislation to protect legitimate labour interests, but the resulting legal framework must ensure a reasonable balance between the objective of protecting the legitimate rights of employees and the equally important objective of providing a framework which would encourage efficiency and create incentives to expand total employment’.
132 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Roadblocks in Labour Market Reforms Archaic labour laws are the greatest
roadblocks in realization of an industry-friendly labour market in India. Labour laws continue to keep the workers’ entitlements intact whereas protective shield of the industry which guarded the domestic industry players from competition has disappeared after the Globalization and liberalization in 1991.
It is essential to have labour laws in
sync with emerging trends such as casualization of labour, third-party employment, etc. Significant skill shortage across the country has almost a crippling impact on Indian labour market.
There
are also problems with the enforcement machinery i.e. the various inspectors responsible for enforcing the law who use the extensive powers at their disposal to harass employers with a view to extract bribes, a process which imposes heavy costs on small entrepreneurs especially.
Government
should focus on coalescing all the existing labour laws into one unified piece of legislation with specific sections covering labour-management relations, wages, social security, safety at workplace, welfare provisions, terms and condition of employment, recognition of trade unions, provisions regarding collective bargaining, and above all, enforcement of international labour standards, covering all the workers in formal as well as informal sectors.
Kurukshetra
GIST OF MAJOR ARTICLES FROM THE APRIL 2017 ISSUE Horticulture
Ornamentals Arboriculture
Edibles
Turf Management
Floriculture
Horticulture: The Growth Engine of Agriculture Sector Horticulture mainly consists cultivation of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushrooms and many allied activities like bee-keeping, sericulture, etc. Horticulture contributes 30.4 per cent to GDP of agriculture from 13 per cent of the total cropped area and supports nearly 20 per cent of agricultural labour force. India has witnessed voluminous increase in horticulture production over the last few years. Over the last decade, the area under horticulture grew by about 2.7 per cent per annum and annual production increased by 7 per cent. Today, India is food secure due to our self sufficiency in food grains but we have to achieve the goal of nutritional security by making the required quantity of fruits and vegetables available to our population at affordable prices.
Fruit Production The major fruit producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat. These eight states account for 70 per cent of the area under fruit cultivation. If
Olericulture Landscape Horticulture
Pomology
horticulture is to gain further momentum in the country, we need to improve our productivity. Fruit productivity in India is only 12.3 MT/ ha in comparison to 23.3 in USA, 22.3 in Indonesia and 16.5 in Brazil.
Vegetable Production Vegetables constitute about 60 per cent of horticulture production. Though, India is the second largest producer of the vegetables, our productivity of 17.3 MT/ha is far lower than other leading countries. There is also a huge gap in the productivity of important vegetable crops like potato, tomato, brinjal, onion and cabbage.
Floriculture Usually, the small land-holding pattern is considered a handicap for the country’s agricultural production but floriculture is an advantage due to its ‘low volume, high value’ character. Since, the sector has a huge export potential, this sector a can provide a lot of opportunities to the farmers after proper training. States like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim have huge untapped potential in this field. The North Eastern States, especially Mizoram, have also turned towards cultivating flowers of expert varieties in a big way.
138 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Viticulture
Policy Initiatives Due
to success of National Horticulture Mission, Horticulture Mission for NE and Himalayan States and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Central Government was prompted to launch Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) during XII Plan (w.e.f. 2014-15) for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. The Mission subsumes the earlier missions like National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Bamboo Mission (NBM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB), etc. The MIDH envisages productivity improvement of horticulture crops including fruits and vegetable through various interventions like seed production, coverage of area with improved cultivars, rejuvenation of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of water resources, adoption of Integrated Pests Management (IPM),
Down To Earth
G I S T O F M A J O R A R T I C L E S F R O M T H E 16-31 MAR. '17 & 1-15 APR. '17 I S S U E S
Aviation sector and Climate change The relationship between climate change and the aviation sector has been least studied. Though the sector contributes about two per cent to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, it accounts for 12 per cent of CO2 emissions from all transportation sources. Thus it is a stumbling block to achieve the target of keeping global temperatures below 1.50 C, as pledged by countries in the Paris pact on climate change. Climate change is also poised to increase flight disruptions and lead to aviation losses. The impacts would include higher winds impeding the ability of aircraft to take off and increased in-flight turbulence, icing up incidents and engine-threatening dust storms, says the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In October 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed in Montreal on a global market-based measure to control CO2 from international aviation, which includes technical and operational improvements and advances in the production and use of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation.
India takes off In India, aviation contributes around 1.5 per cent to India’s GDP and supports around 9 million jobs. The domestic and international passenger traffic will continue to grow at the rates of 12 and 8 per cent respectively, and the country will become the third largest aviation market in the world by 2020, and the largest by 2030.
To check emissions emanating from this growth, the country’s aviation stakeholders have taken a number of important steps to address climate change. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Government of India has issued guidelines and civil aviation requirement rules to generate environmental awareness. Stakeholders have been advised to set up environment cells in their organisations and track their carbon footprints. Airline companies have been advised to retrofit existing aircraft, adopt aggressive fuel efficiency methods, explore the possibility of using bio-fuels, select appropriate aircraft for particular routes, and improve taxing and parking procedures, among others. Moreover, the AAI is also working on several projects to improve air traffic management. The Indian aviation industry has a fleet of modern aircraft and Indian airports are participating in the prestigious global initiative Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. In fact, aircraft manufactured today are 80 per cent more fuel efficient than those built in the 1960s. The Terminus 3 of the Delhi airport is the first in the world to get registered under the clean development mechanism (CDM), an initiative for developing countries to partner in emission reduction projects to earn carbon credits. Among other things, the airport has installed energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; tempered cooling systems; and, radar sensor-based travelators and escalators. A 7.82 MW solar plant has been set up inside the airport
premises. The airport has also set up a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, runs battery-operated vehicles, installed rainwater harvesting and fuel hydrant systems. It is also the first airport in the world to be certified for Energy Management System (ISO 50001:2011). By adopting this system, the airport is mandated to have all its processes well mapped, regularly reviewed and constantly improved to meet airport policies. These interventions will significantly help reduce CO2 emissions. Not just the Delhi airport, there are other achievements as well. For e.g., the Cochin International Airport is the world’s first entirely solar-powered airport.
Conclusion The efforts to move towards a green
aviation sector are just a snapshot of India’s commitment to reduce GHGs. A p a r t f r o m r a t i f y i n g t h e Kyoto Protocol, it was one of the first countries to submit the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to the UN. It formulated the National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008, and introduced eight national missions including 1) National Solar Mission, 2) National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, 3) National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, 4) National Water Mission, 5) National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system, 6) National Mission for a Green India, 7) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and 8) National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 145
Science Reporter GIST OF MAJOR ARTICLES FROM THE APRIL 2017 ISSUE
Vertical Farming: Key to Mitigating World’s Hunger? Growing food indoors and that too without soil and sunlight is the concept behind Vertical Farming or Urban Vertical Farming. It is gaining slow and steady acceptance worldwide with the United States showing the way. Aerofarms situated in Newark, US, is the world’s largest vertical farm occupying an area of 70,000 square feet and harvesting up to 2 million pounds of micro greens, herbs, etc, per annum. It is practised by growing crops in tubs kept in racks mostly placed vertically in multi-storeyed apartments as high as twenty five to thirty feet. Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor at Columbia University, US, is known as the father of the vertical farming. Today this urban farming technique is growing by leaps and bounds in United States, Europe and in some Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, China, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. In India too, scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are toying with this exciting concept. Vertical Farm crops are raised in tubs kept in vertical racks and they get their nutrition either “hydroponically”, that is, through nutrient-enriched water or “aeroponically”, that is, through nutrient-enriched air. The tubs are kept under specialized LEDs of Blue and Red light, which is the optimal light for photosynthesis in leafy greens, and are also known as grow lights. The vertical farms are bathed in purple due to these blue and red LED lighting spectrums.
These specialized LEDs give the greens the exact spectrum, intensity and frequency they need for photosynthesis in the most energy efficient way possible. This engineered lighting allows the size, shape, texture, colour, flavor and nutrition of the crops to be controlled with razor-sharp precision. The entire farming process is closely monitored and controlled by automated computers that provide the precise amount of light, nutrients, water or mist, temperature and humidity to optimize the crop yield. It is estimated that the crops grown in vertical farms use 95% less water (that too is recyclable) than in conventional field farms. When grown aeroponically they even use 40% less water than hydroponically, which speaks volumes about the potential of this form of agriculture, especially in view of conservation of water, a dire need today for the entire planet. In vertical farms, one is not dependent on the climate for growing crops. There is no fear of droughts or floods or infestations either. The weather is perfect every single day and 365 days is growing season. In a vertical farm the micro and macro nutrient requirements are closely monitored which results in better growth of crops. They are able to take the exact seed from the field and grow it in half the time as a traditional field farm leading to 75% more productivity per square foot than a commercial field farm. Crops are gown with zero pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, which translates into a healthy and fresh produce. Going soilless has its
advantages since most of the disease-producing microbes come from the soil. Vertical farms work on the principle of growing your food in cities where you live, since it’s estimated that 66% of the planet will soon live in cities. Since the produce of vertical farms is supplied locally, helping reduce spoilage from trucking these perishables, cuts carbon footprint of refrigerated trucks or carriers and saves huge amounts of fossil fuel now used to refrigerate and ship produce from all over the world. It also cuts carbon footprint of farm tractors and saves energy costs by eliminating the need for fossil fuels used in traditional farming practices for ploughing, applying fertilizer, seeding, weeding and harvesting. Earlier vertical farming was not considered feasible due to high costs of LEDs, which accounted for the major expenditure. But now failing LED costs has given a new impetus to this novel method of farming. According to a study released by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation in 2016, the effects of climate change on food production could cause 5,00,000 extra deaths by the year 2050 compared to a world without global warming. The World Bank also predicts that climate change could cut existing crop yields by up to 25 per cent. The world population is set to increase to 9 billion from the present 7 billion by the year 2050. We need to produce 50% more food than the current level to feed the burgeoning hungry mouths. Feeding so many hungry mouths is turning out to be one of humanity’s greatest challenges since at present 800 million people in the world are undernourished.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 147
PAPER-I
(250 Marks, UPSC CS Main Examination): “Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.” That is what the UPSC says about the Essay paper in the CSE notification. Through an essay, the commission wants to know if you will make the right civil servant who has balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, logical exposition and other such bureaucratic qualities. Keeping this in mind, we present a forum where you are asked to practice your writing skills by writing essays on the given topics. The topics are decided keeping in view the thematic trends in CS(Mains) examination. If that is not all, the best essays shall be rewarded and published. We’ll judge the essay based upon four parameters viz. Structure of the essay, Content, Flow and language. The prize details are as follows: First Prize: ` 5000/- Second Prize: ` 4000/- Third Prize: ` 3000/-
Essay Writing Competition—13
Topics:
(a) Is social media a double edge sword? (b) Farm loan waivers: good politics or bad economics? (c) India as space superpower.
Terms and Conditions—
1. The essay shall be of length between 1500-1600 words. 2. It should be neatly typed on A4 sheets. 3. Only one entry per participant is allowed. 4. Entries are to be sent by Registered/speed post only on following address: EXECUTIVE EDITOR, DRISHTI CURRENT AFFAIRS TODAY, 641, FIRST FLOOR, DR. MUKHERJEE NAGAR, DELHI-110009. Please mention ‘For Essay Competition’ in capital letters on the envelope. 5. Remember to submit your personal details on the form printed on this page after neatly tearing it off the marked pointers. Submissions without this form shall not be entertained. 6. Your essay must reach the given address before 20th June, 2017. Entries reaching us after the given date will not be accepted. 7. Essays should be original and not plagiarized or copied except for properly quoted references. Prior published or awarded essays will not be accepted. 8. All rights related to the results of the competition are secure with ‘Drishti Current Affairs Today’. The winners shall be announced in the subsequent issue of the magazine and the winners shall be contacted by email and telephone. 9. Copyrights of the rewarded essays will lie with the magazine which may be used in any way by ‘Drishti Publications’.
Form for Essay Competition–13 (Kindly cut and attach this form along with your essay. Use original form and not photocopy.) Name of participant: ………………………………………………….
Mobile no. …………………………………………
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Pin code: …………….……………..
Email ID: …………………………………………………....................................
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 149
Learning Through Maps
LEARNING Map-1 Questions 1. Mark this city where country’s first electric taxi project is soon going to be launched. 2. Name this location at which the PM recently inaugurated ‘UDAN’ scheme for low cost air travel to smaller cities. 3. Identify this location which recently hosted Third Children’s Film Festival. 4. Identify the longest road tunnel of the country which was recently inaugurated. 5. Mark this state where the cabinet recently approved its ambitious ‘Kaushalya Yojana’. 6. Identify this location where ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ was launched on 1 st April, 2017. (Answers : Refer to Page No. 274)
Results of Essay Writing Competition–11 (April Issue) First Prize: Rama Shankar Pandey, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh Second Prize: K. Shanta, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Third Prize: Rakesh Sharma, Delhi
150 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Learning Through Maps
THROUGH MAPS Map-2
3
5
1 2
4
6
1
Questions 1. Identify this port from which the China recently launched its first domestically manufactured aircraft carrier. 2. Identify this port which has been given by Pakistan to China on a 40-year lease. 3. Name this country where a recently held referendum has favored the idea of increasing the executive powers of the President. 4. Name this city in India’s neighborhood which recently hosted 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union assembly. 5. Identify this location where USA recently dropped the ‘Mother of all bombs’ to target IS hideouts. 6. Identify this country where the senate (upper house) recently authorized the use of marijuana as a medicine. (Answers : Refer to Page No. 274) D
Drishti Current Affairs Today
C
A
T
|| June 2017 || 151
Designed to hit the bull’s eye : point wise, short, crisp material in an easy-to-understand format.
Uniform Civil Code Why in News? Recently,
the Law Commission released questionnaire to seek public opinion on the introduction of a Uniform Civil Code which was subsequently boycotted by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. For the past year, the Supreme Court has been hearing multiple petitions demanding a ban on the practices of triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala (practice of not being able to remarry the divorced husband, without an intervening ‘marriage and divorce’ with another man) on the grounds that they are discriminatory towards Muslim women, unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. After the recent appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “justice” to Muslim women facing triple talaaq, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has unequivocally voiced his support for a Uniform Civil Code in the country and said those who are silent on this “burning issue” are as guilty as those who are practising it.
What is uniform civil code? U n i f o r m
Civil Code (UCC) essentially means a set of laws regulating personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and maintenance along the entire length and breadth of the country, irrespective of the religious or cultural affiliations.
It
is also one of the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 44 that states that “The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”.
Muslim personal laws in India The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat)
Application Act was passed in 1937 with the aim to formulate an Islamic law code for Indian Muslims. Since 1937 therefore, the Shariat Application Act mandates aspects of Muslim social life such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and family relations. The Act lays out that in matters of personal dispute the State shall not interfere. The Shariat Application Act in India protects the application of Islamic laws in personal legal relationships, but the Act does not define the laws. It clearly states that in matters of personal disputes, the State shall not interfere and a religious authority would pass a declaration based on his interpretations of the Quran and the Hadith. Incidentally, personal laws have undergone significant changes in most other countries. Even in Muslim countries like Pakistan, both men and women have equal right to divorce and there is no system of instantaneous triple talaaq.
Needs for the uniform civil code There are multiple laws for matters
of marriage, divorce, inheritance,
152 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
adoption and maintenance for each religious community vis. Hindu Marriage Act; the Hindu Succession Act; the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act; and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, a Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937; Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act 1986, a Christian Marriage Act and a Parsee Marriage and Divorce Act. Presence of so many laws creates confusion, complexity and inconsistencies in the adjudication of personal matters, at times leading to delayed justice or no justice. There are also large disparities present in the laws relating to same issues for different communities, for example, if a Christian couple seeks divorce, they have to wait for a period of two years, while the stipulated time for other communities is just one year. UCC will bring in uniform and clear guidelines on such personal laws which will remove confusion, disparity and inequality current prevalent. In absence of any uniform central law, local panchayats often end up giving absurd rulings based on narrow religious interpretations which result in undue harassment and delayed/no justice to the victims. To make progressive laws for all communities, which stand the demands of a modern society, a Uniform Civil Code is indispensible. It will also lead to national integration and true secularism and will draw minorities into the mainstream.
To the Point
The Kigali Agreement Why in news? The
Kigali Agreement was signed by 197 countries, including India, China and the United States on 15th October, in Kigali, Rawanda. The signatories agreed to a timeline to reduce the use of Hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) roughly by 85 per cent of their baselines by 2045. All the countries agreed to phase out the family of potent greenhouse gases by the late 2040s and move to prevent a potential 0.5 degree Celsius rise in global temperature by the end of the century.
Relevance of the meet The
agreement is significant as it amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol, initially conceived only to plug gases that were destroying the ozone layer, to now include gases responsible for global warming.
Salient features of the agreement The agreement has got three separate pathways for various countries Richest countries, including the U.S. and those in the European Union, will freeze the production and consumption of HFCs by 2018, reducing them to about 15 per cent of 2012 levels by 2036. China, Brazil and all of Africa, will freeze HFC use by 2024, cutting it to 20 percent of 2021 levels by 2045. India is part of the group that will be freezing HFC use by 2028 and reducing it to about 15 per cent of 2025 levels by 2047. The amended Montreal Protocol will bind countries to their HFC reduction schedules from 2019. There are also penalties for noncompliance as well as clear directives to developed countries to provide enhanced funding support.
The
deal is expected to result in the reduction of an equivalent 70 bn tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Gains for India from Kigali India’s
primary gain is that it has once again demonstrated willingness to be part of a multilateral climate deal while securing a differentiated outcome for itself. The deal allows India’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sector to grow while giving time to refrigerant manufacturers to shift to alternatives. Extensive research within India combined with several rounds of consultations between government, industry and civil society helped to prepare the ground for a more informed and proactive approach to the negotiations.
Challenges for India The
use of air conditioner and refrigerators in the country is rapidly growing and if manufacturers are forced to move to expensive environment friendly alternatives, the consumer will suffer. Accessing and developing alternative technologies is a major concern— developed countries hold most of the patents for these technologies, while other less harmful options are still a work-in-progress. Also, financial assistance to developing countries was not fully decided at Kigali.
Way forward With
the upcoming phase down of HFCs, the government and industries will have to scale up support for indigenous research to ensure technically sound and
cost-effective options are available for all sectors. From Paris to Kigali, India’s fight against climate change is gathering pace. Its response to these pacts negotiated in recent months on controlling the emission of greenhouse gases offers an overarching perspective of how India’s battle strategies are shaping up within the sustainable development paradigm.
Key Terms
Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) — Chemical compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon. A key component in the development of refrigeration, air conditioning, and foam products. Greenhouse gases — Gases that contribute to the warming of Earth’s atmosphere including carbon dioxide, HCFCs, CFCs, and HFCs. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — Chemical compounds containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. HFCs are a family of green house gases largely used in home refrigerants and car air-conditioners. Currently, they are world’s fastest growing greenhouse gases, with emissions increasing by up to 10 per cent each year. They are one of the most powerful, trapping thousands of times more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2). Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) - Chemical compounds consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms. HCFCs and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were created in the 1980s as substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) for use in refrigeration and a wide variety of manufacturing processes.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
D
C
A
T
|| June 2017 || 163
GS PAPER I
Q
uestion 1: India’s rank of 131 among 188 countries on the UNDP’s latest Human Development Index and its ‘medium’ performance pose the uncomfortable question: would not the score have been significantly better if the higher economic growth trajectory of two and a half decades of liberalisation had been accompanied by a parallel investment in people?
A
nswer: India has achieved a place of pride among economies by registering robust economic growth in the past decade, but its dismal show on human development index takes the sheen away. Apart from the low HDI rank, the percentage of women in the workforce is lowest in India among the BRICS countries, and national record on severe multidimensional poverty is also the worst in the bloc. The irony has manifested itself as economic growth failed the “trickle down” theory in which it was expected that fruits of economic growth will trickle down to the last level. The profits of growth were hijacked by the handful few leading to wider interregional and inter-personal inequalities resulting in faltering social indicators of public health, education, women empowerment, life expectancy etc. However, India has seen some progress in recent years such as life expectancy at birth has increased by more than 10 years in the past two decades to reach 68.3 years, awareness about issues affecting women’s
empowerment, such as public safety, acid attacks, discrimination in inheritance rights and lack of equal employment opportunity, near universal enrolment in primary education post RTE, rising health indicators on IMR, MMR, eradication of polio etc. But to realize the superpower dream more needs to be done by India, especially when it has economic prowess to achieve a decent standard of living for all. The subsidies on products like gold, aviation fuel which are used by rich should be diverted to sectors like education, health, skill development etc. The central government should focus on backward states by creating infrastructure, employment opportunities to bring them on par with other regions. Sustaining and improving the quality of life will depend on policies crafted to handle major emerging challenges such as urbanisation, the housing deficit, access to power, water, education and health care to achieve multidimensional growth for all.
Q
uestion 2: Aadhaar is an ambitious project that seeks to provide unique identification numbers to each individual in a country of over a billion people, collecting demographic and biometric information in the process. A key concern over the collection of personal information on this scale is data protection. Discuss.
A
nswer:Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification
166 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Authority of India (UIDAI) after collecting biometric data of residents. Recently, the Indian government has been widening the net of the use of Aadhaar Card, ranging from making it mandatory for PAN registration to availing food subsidy under National Food Security Act, 2014. Conceived as a programme for better targeting of social welfare schemes and reduce divergence of funds, Aadhaar and its growing usage has brought criticism across fields. One of the basic concerns is security and data protection of enrolled citizens. Some of the reasons are: Risk
of data theft
Danger
of information misuse
Aadhaar being a mass surveillance
technology undermines security of personal information
A b s e n c e
of cyber security infrastructure in the country
The
present law does not provide any judicial remedy to the victim in case of breach of data, as only UIDAI can go to the court
Biometric data like other data cannot
be changed once it is violated
However, the UIDAI has taken several steps to ensure security of Aadhaar data through several measures like Collection of minimal data sufficient
to establish identity- name, age, gender and address
Issuance
of Aadhaar number on random basis which ensures that no profiling can be done using the number
Target Mains There shall be no discrimination on
any basis including gender, sex etc.
A
person with mental illness shall have the right to make an advance directive that states how he/she wants to be treated for the illness and who his/her nominated representative shall be.
It
also specifies the process and procedure to be followed for admission, treatment and discharge of mentally-ill individuals.
Decriminalising Suicide The Act moves from criminalising suicide to providing support to those attempting suicide. It provides that a person who attempts suicide shall be presumed to be suffering from mental illness at that time and will not be punished under the Indian Penal Code. By linking poor mental health with the tendency to commit suicide, it makes an attempt to address the root cause. Besides the poor mental health leading to depression, tendency to end one’s life is borne out of low self esteem due to recurrent failure in career, estranged personal relationship and even loss of social face in the event of any catastrophe. Thus besides providing medical care timely psychological support in terms of counselling by experts and even close ones will truly help a person to get out of this vicious cycle.
GS PAPER III
Q
uestion 1: The recorded GDP growth may understate the overall impact of demonetisation because the most affected parts of the economy — informal and cash-based — are either not captured in the national income accounts or to the extent they are, their measurement is based on formal sector indicators. Discuss.
A
nswer: There is much discussion about the surprising “fact” that the Indian economy grew at 7% this last quarter, despite the demonetisation. The CSO expects only a small dip from 7.9 per cent to 7.1 per cent in GDP growth for the entire fiscal.
be brought in formal accounting through bank accounts, registration of businesses etc. The calculation of GDP will also have to be realigned to ensure direct accounting of informal sector rather than depending on the extensions of formal sector indicators.
However, as pointed out by the Economic Survey, the current figure of optimistic GDP numbers may have missed the accounting of crucial informal sector which makes up for 45% of GDP and 80% of employment. This blip may have occurred because the most affected parts of the economy — informal and cash-based — are either not captured in the national income accounts or to the extent they are, their measurement is based on formal sector indicators.
Q
Impact on informal sector The error will have repercussions in this entire sector which may have borne the maximum impact of demonetization, affecting the jobs and making workers more vulnerable in absence of any job alternatives and social security to fall upon. In fact, all major economic variables (prices and profit incomes; wage and employment rates; infrastructure expenditures; and expenditures on essential items, consumer durables, and health and education) would be affected adversely. Further, strong backward and forward linkages imply that the informal economy would be entrapped in a vicious recessionary cycle. The sector will suffer from slow growth despite GDP posting a rosy picture, thus casting doubts on its credibility.
Way forward Since the problem is, there is no good way to collect data from this sector, which constitutes the production sector of our economy — the farms, kirana stores, vendors, self employed, MSMEs etc., these need to
uestion 2: The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant `priority pathogens' pose the greatest threat to human health. Discuss the challenges faced by India and its response to address the problem of growing global resistance to antimicrobial medicines as most of these 12 superbugs are present in India.
A
nswer: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat today which renders antibiotics ineffective against bacterial infections and ultimately become useless. Every year, AMR is leading to deaths of nearly 60,000 babies in India who are most vulnerable and unable to fight infections. Among the key factors responsible are the widespread use and availability of practically all the antimicrobials across the counter, increasing and wanton use of antibiotics in livestock production, inappropriate doses, and irrational use of antibiotics in hospitals.
Challenges India faces some of the following challenges in tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance:Rampant
use of antibiotics in farm sector, over the counter sale of antibiotics makes it logistically challenging to regulate and track the usage.
Ignorance and illiteracy of patients
which leads to unwarranted usage even in diseases which do not require antibiotics like viral infections.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 173
DO NOT OPEN THIS TEST BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE ASKED TO DO SO T.B.C. : E–XAM–P–LES Serial No.
Test Booklet Series
TEST BOOKLET General Studies Paper–I
0030113
Time Allowed : Two Hours
C
Maximum Marks : 200 INSTRUCTIONS
1. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXAMINATION, YOU SHOULD CHECK THAT THIS
TEST BOOKLET DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNPRINTED OR TORN OR MISSING PAGES OR ITEMS, ETC., IF SO, GET IT REPLACED BY A COMPLETE TEST BOOKLET. 2. ENCODE CLEARLY THE TEST BOOKLET SERIES CODE A, B, C OR D AS THE CASE MAY BE IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE ANSWER SHEET. 3. You have to enter your Roll Number on the Test Booklet in the Box provided alongside this line. DO NOT write anything else on the Test Booklet. 4. This Test Booklet contains 100 items (questions). Each item is printed in English. Each item comprises four responses (answers). You will select the response which you want to mark on the Answer Sheet. In case you feel that there is more than one correct response, mark the response which you consider the best. In any case, choose ONLY ONE response for each item. 5. You have to mark all your responses ONLY on the separate Answer Sheet provided. See directions in the Answer Sheet. 6. All items carry equal marks. 7. Before you proceed to mark in the Answer Sheet the response to various items in the Test Booklet, you have to fill in some particulars in the Answer Sheet as per instructions sent to you with your admission certificate. 8. After you have completed filling in all your responses on the Answer Sheet and examination has concluded, you should hand over to the Invigilator only the Answer Sheet. You are permitted to take away with you the Test Booklet. 9. Sheets for rough work are appended in the Test Booklet at the end. 10. Penalty for wrong answers: THERE WILL BE PENALTY FOR WRONG ANSWERS MARKED BY A CANDIDATE IN THE OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTION PAPERS. (i) There are four alternatives for the answer to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty. (ii) If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be same penalty as above to that question.
(iii) If a question is left blank, i.e., no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
DO NOT OPEN THIS TEST BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE ASKED TO DO SO
OPEN
Prelims GS Mock Test Paper 1. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?
1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
2. With the reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
(c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
(d) Varaha Image at Udayagiri
3. Which of the following has/have been accorded 'Geographical Indication' status?
1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal–Bati–Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
4. Consider the following pairs: Place of Pilgrimage 1. Srisailam 2. Omkareshwar 3. Pushkar
: : : :
Location Nallamala Hills Satmala Hills Mahadeo Hills
Which of the above pair(s) is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
5. Uranium poisoning has been noticed in Punjab. What could be the reason/reasons for uranium poisoning in Punjab?
1. Fly ash from coal burnt at thermal power plants.
2. High use of pesticides and herbicides.
3. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
6. Which one of the following terms describes a transitional zone between two habitats where different plant associations are integrated?
(a) Ecotope
(b) Ecological niche
(c) Sere
(d) Ecotone
7. In which of the following states, the Hangul deer are found in their natural habitat?
1. Uttarakhand
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Arunachal Pradesh
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
8. Which of the following World Heritage Sites are also a tiger reserve?
1. Sundarbans
2. Nanda Devi
3. Manas
4. Kaziranga
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
9. Gandhiji gave a call for a Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act because:
(a) It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for indefinite time.
(b) Any person could be arrested on the basis of suspicion and no appeal could be filed against such arrests.
(c) It aimed to curb the political and economic activities by placing higher taxes.
(d) It aimed at sending Indian troops to other nations.
10. Which statements are correct about peninsular India’s flora and fauna?
1. From tropical wet deciduous to tropical dry deciduous and scrub vegetations are found.
2. Western ghats have evergreen vegetation similar to north-eastern rainforests.
3. Striped hyena and antelopes are found in these forests.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 3 only
178 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Prelims GS Mock Test Paper
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 1. (d)
was born in Lumbini which was a part of Kosala kingdom. Buddha visited Magadha kindom many times. Once Buddha was invited by King Pradyota of Avanti, but he declined to go because of his old age, and deputed Maha Kachchayana, a native of Avanti to impart his teachings there.
Earth Summit, held in Rio-de-Janeiro in 1992, where 178 governments voted to adopt the program.
zz Buddha
12. (d)
zz Llama
2. (b)
zz Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar was constructed
in the 11 th century whereas the Rock cut monuments at Mahabalipuram were made in the 7th century AD by the Pallavas. The Varaha image of Udaygiri belongs to the Gupta age i.e 5th century AD. The oldest among all four is Rock cut elephant at Dhauli which was constructed in the 3rd century BC.
3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (a)
13. (d)
zz Decomposers
14. (d)
carried out by the Observer newspaper revealed the possible cause of contamination of soil and groundwater in Malwa region of Punjab, to be the fly ash from coal burnt at thermal power plants.
6. (d)
zz A transitional zone between two habitats where
different plant associations merge is known as Ecotone.
zz Higher duty on exports means that the exportable
goods will become costlier for the country buying it, this will lead to decline in export and money inflow will be decreased. This will not help in improving the BoP.
16. (b)
zz Financial Stability and Development Council is an
apex-level body constituted by the government of India. The idea to create such a super regulatory body was first mooted by the Raghuram Rajan Committee in 2008. This council is seen as India’s initiative to be better conditioned to prevent the situations like effects of slow down of 2008.
zz Hangul deer lives in groups of 2 to 18 individuals
in dense riverine forests, high valleys and mountains of the Kashmir valley and northern Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.
8. (d) 9. (b)
is a reindeer and chiru is a kind of antelope.
15. (d)
7. (c)
17. (c)
zz In case of buy back of Government Securities by
RBI, there is an increased liquidity in the market. Increased liquidity has the high probability to bring in inflation.
zz Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a nationwide
satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919). It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities, and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
zz All
11. (c)
include micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi. They form the largest population in a food chain and obtain nutrients by breaking down the remains of dead plants and animals.
zz Hangul
zz Investigation
10. (c)
is a native to South America. The Bengal Monitor is a monitor lizard found widely distributed over South Asia. The leopard cat and the fishing cat lives along rivers, streams and mangrove swamps in South and South East Asia including India.
statements are correct.
zz The
'21' in Agenda 21 refers to the 21st century. The full text of Agenda 21 was revealed at the
18. (d)
zz Due
to increasing NPAs, banks become more reluctant to lend. Since banks have to give high interest rates on small saving schemes, lesser money is left for lending. Increasing the CRR and SLR means less money is left for the banks to lend. Hence all the statements are correct.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 189
Geography Prelims SUPERFAST REVISION SERIES - 5
Geography
is a very important part of the Preliminary Examination and it should ideally be meticulously covered. A well prepared Geography supplement should not only cover the major aspects of the subject from the NCERTs but also add more facts wherever possible. We have prepared this supplement in such a way that in a minimum number of pages almost all basic and important concepts of geography is covered. We have added important information, maps and diagrams wherever required. If a quick revision or a new reading of the subject is the goal, then look no further. Our supplement is designed exactly to fulfill such requirements. Combined with last month’s supplement on Environment and Ecology, any aspirant should be able to cover a major portion of the Civil Services Preliminary syllabus on the topics - “Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World” and “General issues on environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate change-that do not require subject specialization”.
CONTENTS l l l l l l l l l l l l
The Solar System......................................................................................................................196 Atmosphere.............................................................................................................................214 Oceanography .........................................................................................................................219 World Geography ....................................................................................................................224 Physiography of India .............................................................................................................236 The Drainage System ...............................................................................................................244 Climate ....................................................................................................................................250 Soils of India............................................................................................................................255 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife of India.................................................................................258 Minerals and Resources ...........................................................................................................261 Industries.................................................................................................................................265 Land Resources and Agriculture..............................................................................................268
The Solar System The
Solar System comprises the Sun (at the centre of the Solar System) with eight planets (i.e. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) and their satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteors and comets that move around the Sun. The Sun due to its mass and weight, exerts a force that control the movement of the planets. Gravity is the name given to such forces. It was believed that there were nine planets in the Solar System till 1996. Pluto was the farthest planet from the Sun. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted a new definition of a planet. Pluto and other celestial bodies like Ceres, did not fit this definition. Pluto is therefore no longer considered as a planet of the Solar System.
The Sun The Sun is the nearest star from us.
It is continuously emitting huge amount of heat and light and is expected to glow in a similar manner for the next 5 billion years or so on. The Sun is the source of almost all energy in the solar system, and this energy is in the form of heat and light. The radius of the Sun is almost 100 times the radius of the Earth and its mass is about a million times the mass of the Earth.The Sun is primarily made up of hot gases. Corona: During a total solar eclipse, the light of the Sun's disc is completely cut off, and only the outermost layer is visible. That layer appears like a crown around the Sun and is called the Corona. Solar flares are charged particles that evade the Sun's gravity and
196 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
move out into outer space. When these solar flares reach the Earth atmosphere,they collide with the gaseous particles and produce a colourful effect,known as Aurora Australis in the South pole and Aurora Borealisin the North pole. Fusion reaction in theSun:The temperature of the Sun on the surface is about 6000 K and at the core is about 15 million K. The pressure is also extremely high. Such conditions are favourable for a nuclear fusion reaction to occur where nuclei of hydrogen atoms combine to form a helium nucleus. Light from the Sun takes about 8.3 light minutes to reach us.
The Planets Planets
are the heavenly bodies revolving around the Sun. They have their own elliptical path around the Sun known as an orbit. Movement of a planet around its own axis is called rotation and around a star like the Sun is calledrevolution. Rotation and revolution speeds are dependent on a variety of reasons. Planets have no light or heat of their own(stars do have their own source of heat and light). They are lit by the light of the stars. Stars twinkle whereas planets do not twinkle. The word planet comes from the Greek word Planetai, which means wanderers. Planets keep changing their positions with respect to the stars.
Geography they evaporate completely. Any meteor that reaches the Earth’s surface is called a meteorite. They give us an idea of the composition of the material from which the Solar System was formed.When the Earth crosses the tail of a comet, swarms of meteors are seen. These swarms are known as meteor showers.
The Earth : Origin and Evolution Early theories on the evolution of Earth Nebular Hypothesis – put forward first by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant and revised in 1796 by the Mathematician Laplace. It postulates that the planets were formed out of a cloud of material associated with the newly formed and slowly rotating sun. This cloud or nebulae had contained mostly hydrogen and helium along with cosmic dust. Slowly over time the dust took shape of a diskshaped cloud and through the process of accretion all the planets of the solar system were formed.
Modern theories on the Origin of the Universe Big
Bang Theory (the expanding universe hypothesis) – in the year 1920, Edwin Hubble proved that the universe is expanding which gave credence to this theory. This theory provides the following stages in the development of the universe : All matter in the universe existed in the beginning within a singular atom that had infinite temperature and density. This singular atom exploded causing the Big Bang and the explosion has been calculated to have occurred around 13.7 billion years ago. In the first 3 minutes after the Big Bang, the first atoms began to form and after 300,000 years the temperatures dropped to 4500K producing atomic matter.
Formation of Stars and Galaxies Large clouds of hydrogen gas called
nebula accrete and coalesce to form galaxies. Within galaxies clumps of localized gases grow into denser gaseous bodies forming stars. Star formation is generally believed to have started from around 5-6 billion years ago.
Formation of planets T h e
formation of a star is accompanied by a huge disc of gas and dust revolving around it due to gravitational pull. This cloud of revolving gas and dust eventually condense into solid or densely gaseous bodies. Gravity causes the revolving bodies to collide and further accumulate matter, ultimately leading to the formation of planets.
The Solar System The
Solar System is believed to be around 5 billion years old and the planets to have formed around 4.6 billion years ago. The Sun contains 99.85% of all the matter in the Solar System. The
planets, which condensed out of the same disk of material that formed the Sun, contain only 0.135% of the mass of the solar system. Jupiter contains more than twice the matter of all the other planets combined. Satellites of the planets, comets, asteroids, meteoroids, and the interplanetary mediumconstitute the remaining 0.015%.
Interplanetary medium/space The
material which fills the Solar System, and through which all the larger Solar System bodies, such as planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets, move; Interplanetary space, or the space between the planets, is not empty but is filled with the solar wind, and the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), as well as cosmic rays, and dust. Interplanetary gas is a tenuous flow of gas and charged particles, mostly protons and electrons -plasma which stream from the Sun, called the solar wind.
Formation of the Moon It
is generally believed that 4.44 billion years ago, a body the size of one to three times that of Mars
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 199
Geography A
lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes, due to the smaller size of the Moon's shadow. Lunar eclipses are more frequent than solar eclipses.
The Earth's Magnetic Field The Earth has a substantial magnetic
field. The axis of Earth's magnet and the geographical axis do not coincide. The axis of the Earth's magnetic field is inclined at an angle of about 11½° with the geographical axis.Thus, true North does not coincide with magnetic North. The South pole of the Earth's magnet is in the geographical North because it attracts the North pole of the suspended magnet and vice-versa. Thus, there is a magnetic S-pole near the geographical North and a magnetic N-pole near the geographical South. The magnetic field is strongest near the magnetic poles and is weakest near the equator. The magnetic equator does not circle the Earth as a smooth line like the geographic equator, but instead it meanders North and South. The magnetic field lines usually dip towards or come out of the Earth's surface at some angle. This angle is called the magnetic inclination or the magnetic dip at that place. At the magnetic poles, the angle of dip is 90°. The line on the Earth's surface passing through the places having an angle of dip 0° is called the magnetic equator, it passes through Thumba in Kerala.
The
idea of lateral movement of continents or continental drift was put forward in 1912 by a German Climatologist Alfred Wegener in a book The Origin of Continents and Oceans. This theory claimed that the changes in the appearances of the Earth were largely due to the shifting of continents. It states that the continents are floating over the oceans. About 250 million years ago, there was only one super-continent called Pangaea and one mega-ocean called Panthalassa.
About
200 million years ago, Pangaea was broken into two parts. One of the parts started floating Northward whereas the other part Southwards. The Northern part was known as Laurasia and the Southern as Gondwana land. The intervening space between these two giant continental blocks was filled up with a narrow and shallow water body known as Tethys sea. A further disruption of the Gondwana land occurred during Jurassic period. This was a Northward movement caused by gravitational forces.
Earth Movements Continental Drift Theory The
Continental Drift Theory hypothesized the distribution of the oceans and continents on Earth surface.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 203
Geography ice mass becomes so thick that the lower layers become plastic, it will start to flow outward or downhill. The ice mass is now an active glacier. Glacial ice forms in regions where there are low temperatures and high amounts of snowfall. This can occur at both high elevations and high latitudes. Glacial Erosion - Rock at the base and sides of a glacier may have been fractured by tectonic forces and may be loosened by weathering processes, such as frost wedging or pressure release fracturing. The moving ice then dislodges the loosened rock in a process called plucking. Ice is viscous enough to pick up and carry particles of all sizes, from silt-sized grains to house-sized boulders. Thus glaciers erode and transport huge quantities of rock and sediment. Ice itself is not abrasive to bedrock because it is too soft. However, rocks embedded in the ice scrape across bedrock like a sheet of rough sandpaper.
Erosional Landforms Created by Alpine Glaciers A
mountain stream commonly erodes downward into its bed, cutting a steep-sided, V-shaped valley. A glacier however, is not confined to a narrow stream bed but instead fills its entire valley. As a result, it scours the sides of the valley as well as the bottom, carving a broad, rounded, U-shaped valley. One of the common features of a glaciated landscape is a steep cliff which drops off into a horseshoe-shaped depression in the mountainside called a cirque. A small glacier at the head of the cirque reminds us of the larger mass of ice that existed in a colder, wetter time. Looking downward from a glaciated peak, we may see a waterfall
pouring from a small, high valley into a larger, deeper one. A small glacial valley lying high above the floor of the main valley is called a hanging valley. Deep, narrow inlets called fjords extend far inland on many highlatitude seacoasts. Most fjords are glacially carved valleys that were later flooded by rising seas as the glaciers melted.
Depositional Landforms Esker: Eskers are composed of sand and gravel; these are long, narrow and sinuous ridges. Drumlins: Found in the lowlands of glacial regions, these are the oval, elongated hummocks composed of boulder clay. Moraines: These are the rock pieces shattered by frost action of the glaciers and brought down the valley by their action.
Volcanic Landforms Intrusive landforms - The lava that
is released during volcanic eruptions on cooling develops into igneous rocks. The cooling may take place either on reaching the surface or also while the lava is still in the crustal portion.
Depending
on the location of the cooling of the lava, igneous rocks are classified as volcanic rocks (cooling at the surface) and plutonic rocks (cooling in the crust). The lava that cools within the crustal portions assumes different forms. These forms are called intrusive forms. Batholiths - A large body of magmatic material that cools in the deeper depth of the crust; develops in the form of large domes. Batholiths are the cooled portion of magma chambers.These are granitic bodies. They appear on the surface only after the denudation processes remove the overlying materials. They cover large areas, and at times, assume depth that may be in several kilometres. Laccoliths - These are large domeshaped intrusive bodies with a level base and connected by a pipe-like conduit from below. It resembles the surface volcanic domes of composite volcano, only these are located at deeper depths. It can be regarded as a localized source of lava that found its way on to the surface.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 209
Geography
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 211
r a e
: d
e s s y . h
d e
t o
n ,
Geography The
magma moves upward from pockets a few km below the Earth’s surface, through fractures in older solid rock. There the magma cools, forming rocks of mineral crystals. Most igneous rock consists of silicate minerals-chemical compounds that contain silicon and oxygen atoms. These rocks also contain mostly metallic elements. The mineral grains in igneous rocks are very tightly interlocked, and so the rock is normally very strong.
Magma
that solidifies below the Earth’s surface and remains surrounded by older, pre-existing rock is called intrusive igneous rock. Because intrusive rocks cool slowly, they develop mineral crystals visible to the eye. If the magma reaches the surface and emerges as lava, it forms extrusive igneous rock. Extrusive igneous rocks cool very rapidly on the land surface or ocean
bottom and thus show crystals of only microscopic size. Examples of intrusive igneous rocks are diorite, gabbro, granite, pegmatite, and peridotite. Examples of extrusive igneous rocks are andesite, basalt, obsidian, pumice, rhyolite, scoria, and tuff.
Sedimentary rocks Sedimentary
rocks are made from layers, or strata, of mineral particles found in other rocks that have been weathered and from newly formed organic matter. Most inorganic minerals in sedimentary rocks are from igneous rocks. When rock minerals are weathered, their chemical composition is changed, weakening the solid rock. The rock breaks up into particles of many sizes. When these particles are transported in a fluid - air, water, or glacial ice - we call them sediment. Streams and rivers carry sediment to lower land levels, where it builds up. Most sediment accumulates on shallow seafloors bordering continents, but they also collect in inland valleys, lakes, and marshes. Wind and glacial ice are two other agents of transportation that can move sediment. Over long spans of time, the sediments become compacted and harden to form sedimentary rock, with distinctive visible characteristics. There are three major classes of sediment: clastic sediment, chemically precipitated sediment, and organic sediment. Clastic Sediment: Made up of inorganic rock and mineral fragments, called clasts. These can come from igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks, and so they can include a very wide range of minerals. Quartz and feldspar usually dominate clastic sediment. Sandstone, a rock made of sand,
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 213
Geography An
extension of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Emperor seamount is a perfect example.
Submarine Canyons Comparable
to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, submarine canyons are deep valleys extending from the mouths of large rivers and often found cutting across the continental shelves and slopes. The Hudson Canyon is an example of submarine canyon in the world.
Guyots Indicating the end of the continents,
the slope boundary exhibits features like canyons and trenches.
Deep Sea Plain Deep
sea plains are the flattest and smoothest regions of the world with gentle slopes and depths varying between 3,000 and 6,000m. Fine-grained sediments like clay and silt cover these plains.
Oceanic Deeps or Trenches With steep sides and narrow basins,
trenches are the deepest parts of the oceans. Occurring at the base of continental slopes and along the island arcs, they are associated with active volcanoes and strong earthquakes. Trenches are 3-5 km deeper than the surrounding ocean floor.
Largest
number of trenches have been explored in the Pacific Ocean, while only 6 trenches have been explored in the Indian Ocean.
Mid-Oceanic Ridges Two
mountain chains separated by a large depression form midoceanic ridge. These mountain ranges can be as high as 2,500 m and may reach above the ocean’s surface. Iceland, a part of the Atlantic Ridge, is an example here.
Seamount Rising from the seafloor, seamount
is a mountain summit submerged under the ocean water as it fails to reach the ocean surface. Seamounts are volcanic in origin.
220 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Guyots are the flat topped seamount showing evidences of gradual subsidence through various stages.
Atoll Atolls
consist of coral reefs surrounding a central depression, found in the tropical oceans as low islands. Atolls may be a part of a sea or lagoon, or are formed by enclosing a body of fresh, brackish, or highly saline water.
Temperature of Ocean Waters Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution The factors affecting temperature distribution of ocean water are: Latitude: As the amount of insolation decreases poleward, the surface water temperature decreases from the equator towards the poles. Unequal distribution of land and water: Because of close proximity to larger extent of land, the oceans in the northern hemisphere receive more heat as compared to the oceans in the southern hemisphere. Prevailing wind: Offshore winds blowing away from the land towards the oceans carry warm surface water away from the coast. This results in the upwelling of cold water from below the surface
Geography When the earth is closest to the sun
during perihelion, tidal range varies significantly, with unusually high and unusually low tides. On the contrary, tidal ranges are much less than average during aphelion when the earth is farthest from the sun. Ebb is the time between the high tide and low tide, when the water level is falling. Flow or flood is the time between the low tide and high tide, when the tide is rising.
Importance of Tides Being easily predictable, tide helps
navigators and fishermen plan their activities as tidal flows play determinant role in navigation. Tidal heights are important for harbours near rivers and within estuaries having shallow ‘bars’ as they help prevent ships and boats from entering into the harbour. Tides desilt the sediments and remove polluted water from river estuaries. Tides are useful in electrical power generation. The Gujarat government is going to develop India’s first tidal energy plant of 50 MW capacity in the Gulf of Kutch.
Ocean Currents Also referred to as drifts, ocean currents represent a regular flow of ocean water in a definite path and direction. Two types of forces influence ocean currents: Primary forces likeheating by solar energy, wind, gravity and coriolis force initiate the movement of water. Secondary forces influence the currents to flow. zzHeating near the equator causes water to expand which causes a very slight gradient between equator and middle latitude that makes water to flow down the slope. zzWind pushes the ocean water to move. zzGravity creates gradient variation by pulling the water down the pile. zzWater tends to move to its right in the northern hemisphere and to its left in the southern hemisphere due to the Coriolis force. zzVertical mobility of ocean currents is affected by water density differences as highly saline and denser water tends to sink, while relatively lighter water tends to rise.
Note
Gyres are large accumulations of water and the flow around them that produce large circular currents in ocean basins.
Types of Ocean Currents Based on Depth Ocean currents may be classified as surface currents and deep water currents. Surface currents are waters in the upper 400 m of the ocean and constitute about 10 per cent of ocean water. Deep-water currents make up the about 90 per cent of the ocean water and move throughout the ocean basins due to variations in density and gravity. At high latitudes, deep waters sink into the deep ocean basins due to lower temperature.
Based on temperature Ocean currents can be classified as cold currents and warm currents. Cold currents are observed on the west coast of the continents in the low and middle latitudes of both hemispheres and eastern coast of high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. These currents bring cold water into warm water areas. Warm currents are found on the east coast of continents in the low and middle latitudes of both hemispheres and western coasts of high latitudes in the northern hemisphere.
Major Ocean Currents Prevailing winds and coriolis force
influences major ocean currents. The pattern of oceanic circulation roughly matches the earth’s atmospheric circulation pattern. For example- the air circulation over the oceans in the middle latitudes is mainly anticyclonic in the southern hemisphere, which is also corresponded by the oceanic circulation pattern.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 223
Geography San Francisco Basin It flows within Brazil and originates North-West of the city of Belo Horizonte.
Climate and Vegetation Being
situated in the tropic zone, the climate is generally hot. Amazon basin lying close to the equator has an equatorial type of climate covered with equatorial rain forests that are locally known as the Selvas. Either side of the Amazon has the Savanna type of climate. They are locally known as the lianas in the Orinoco river basin in north and
in Central Brazil, they are known as campos. Lowlands of northern Argentina and western Paraguay have dry climate during winter and wet climate during summer. This region is covered with thick forests and grasslands, locally known as the Gran Chaco. Regions of southern Peru and northern Chile have a typical hot desert type of climate and is known as the Atacama desert with natural vegetation consisting of scrubs, prickly pear and cactus. The region of southern Chile has oceanic or marine type of climate
with rain occurring all the year around. The grasslands of Central Argentina lying in the temperate zone are known as the pampas. Lying in the rain-shadow area of the western mountains, the desert of Patagonia situated further South on the Eastern side of Andes has dry climate.
North America It
is the third largest continent of the world and includes Greenland (Denmark), West-Indies group of islands and Caribbean Islands. The Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle traverses the continent. The Arctic Ocean surrounds the continent in its north, Atlantic Ocean in East and Pacific Ocean in the West. Bering strait in North-West separates it from Asia and the Isthmus of Panama connects it to South America. In the north, the continent breaks off into a series of cold and barren islands. Northern parts like Greenland, Alaska and Canada belong to the cold Frigid Zone. The warm beaches of the tiny Caribbean islands and the tropical rainforests of Central America lie in the tropical zone.
Physical Divisions The Canadian Shield Formed of ancient hard rocks, it covers nearly half of northern Canada. It is largely covered with swamps and number of lakes like the Great Bear, Winnipeg and the Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario).The famous Niagara Falls is located between the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Mineral resources like gold, silver, nickel, iron, copper, platinum, radium, cobalt and uranium are found here.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 225
Indian Geography Physiography of India India
accounts for 2.4 % of the world’s geographical area with an area of 3.28 million square km and is the seventh largest country of the world. Located between 8°4´ N and 37°6´N latitudes and 68°7´E and 97°25´E, India is divided by the Tropic of Cancer into almost two equal parts. Tropic of Cancer runs through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal Tripura and Mizoram. Due to time lag of two hours between the eastern and western parts of the country, 82 30´E longitude passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh has been taken as the standard time for whole country. The Indian Standard Time is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time. Being centrally located between the East and West Asia, India shares its land boundary with Pakistan and Afghanistan in north-west, Myanmar and Bangladesh in east and china, Nepal and Bhutan in north. In south, Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separates it from Sri Lanka. On the basis of its physical features, India can be divided into three geological divisions: The Peninsular Block The Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain
The Peninsular Block Relict and residual mountains like
the Aravali hills, the Nallamala hills, the Javadi hills, the Veliconda hills, the Palkonda range and the Mahendragiri hills, etc. shape the Peninsular Block. Its northern boundary is marked by an uneven line running from Kutch along the western border of the Aravali Range near Delhi. Its northeastern boundary roughly runs parallel to the Yamuna and the Ganga and extends upto the Rajmahal Hills and the Ganga delta. Infact, the Karbi Anglong and the Meghalaya Plateau in the northeast and Rajasthan in the west are eastwest extensions of the block. The Meghalaya plateau is separated from the Chotanagpur plateau by the Malda fault in West Bengal. Various vertical movements and block faulting resulted in formation of the rift valleys of the Narmada, the Tapi and the Mahanadi with less slope gradients.
The Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains The
Himalayas and Peninsular Mountains unlike Peninsular block are geologically young, weak and flexible. Interplay of exogenic and endogenic forces have resulted in the formation of faults, folds and thrust plains in these mountains.
236 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Various
landforms like gorges, V-shaped valleys, rapids, waterfalls, etc. are the result of continuous denudation of fast-flowing rivers in their youthful stage.
Indo-GangaBrahmaputra Plain O r i g i n a l l y ,
a geo-synclinal depression, the plain is formed by the river Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. Sediments brought by these rivers gradually filled the geo-synclinal depression. Alluvial deposits in these plains ranging from 1,000-2,000 m endorses the concept.
Physiography ‘’Physiography of an area is the outcome of structure, process and the stage of development’’. India can be divided into following physiographic divisions: The Northern and North-eastern Mountains The Northern Plain The Peninsular Plateau The Indian Desert The Coastal Plains The Islands
The North and North-eastern Mountains Himalayas
and the North-eastern hills constitute the North and Northeastern Mountains.
Geography The Narmada
List of Major Waterfalls in India Name
Location
Talakona falls
Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati)
Tirathgarh falls
Chhattisgarh (Mugabahar river)
Bundla falls
Himachal Pradesh (Bundla stream)
Chulia falls
Rajasthan (Chambal river)
Hundru falls
Jharkhand (Subarnarekha river)
Lodh falls
Jharkhand (Budha river)
Dassam falls
Jharkhand (Subarnarekha river)
Dudhsagar falls
Goa (Mandovi river)
Barkana falls
Karnataka (Sita river)
Unchalli falls
Karnataka (Aghanashini river)
Gokak falls
Karnataka (Ghataprabha river)
The River rises from the Amarkantak
plateau in the Maikal Hills of Chhattisgarh. Moving north-westward and passing through a complex course near Jabalpur, it forms some spectacular features, Dhunwadhar Waterfalls being one of them. It flows through a rift valley between the Vindhyan and the Satpura ranges while moving westward from Jabalpur. It widens below Bharuch and makes a wide estuary to enter the Gulf of Khambat (Arabian Sea).
Gersoppa (Jog) falls Highest) Karnataka (Sharavathi river)
The Tapi
Shivasamudram falls
Karnataka (Kaveri river)
Rising from the Satpura Range, the
Palaruvi falls
Kerala
Chachai falls
Madhya Pradesh (Bihad river)
Rajat Prapat falls
Madhya Pradesh (Pachmarhi)
Dhuandhar (Marble) falls
Madhya Pradesh (Narmada river)
Kune falls
Maharashtra
Nohkalikai falls
Meghalaya
Elephant falls
Meghalaya
river Tapi flows westward almost parallel to Satpura. The river, like the Narmada, flows in a rift valley but in a much compressed form between the Satpura Range to the north and the Ajanta Range to the south. It makes an estuary below the city of Surat and finally merges into the Gulf of Khambat.
Vantawng falls
Mizoram (River Lau)
The Luni
Barehipani falls
Odisha (Budhabalanga river-Simplipal National Park)
It
Khandadhar falls
Odisha (Kaprani stream)
Catherine falls
Tamil Nadu
Kutralam falls
Tamil Nadu (River Siruvani)
Thalaiyar falls
Tamil Nadu (Near Kodaikanal)
Birthifalls
Uttarakhand (Panchooli peak)
Vasudhara falls
Uttarakhand (Near Badrinath)
Kapildhara falls
Madhya Pradesh (Narmada river)
Difference between West and East flowing Rivers West Flowing River
East Flowing Rivers
Rivers mainly flow between mountain Catchments are wide and fan shaped. ranges; hence the catchments are elongated and narrow. Rivers don’t form deltas on their They form deltas and have deltaic mouths because of velocity. deposits. Waterfalls are found on these rivers. No waterfall. Carry less sediment.
Carry more sediments.
248 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
originates near Pushkar in two branches, i.e. the Saraswati and the Sabarmati, which join with each other at Govindgarh. Flowing west of Aravali, Luni is the largest river system of Rajasthan. After coming out of Aravali, the river is known as Luni that drains upto the Rann of Kuchchh. The entire river system is ephemeral.
Smaller Rivers Flowing Towards the West Gujarat The
Shetruni ji river rises near Dalkahwa in Amreli district. The Bhadra originates near Aniali village in Rajkot district. The Dhadhar rises near Ghantar village in Panchmahal district. Sabarmati and Mahi are the two famous rivers of Gujarat.
Geography EI-Nino and the Indian Monsoon I-Nino is the phenomenon associated with the appearance of warm currents off the Peru Coast in East Pacific region. It affects weather in many regions including India. It is an extension of the warm equatorial current, which gets temporarily replaced by cold Peruvian current or Humboldt current which in return increases the water temperature on the Peruvian coast by 10°C. This results in: alteration of equatorial atmospheric circulation irregularities in sea water evaporation decrease in number of planktons further reducing the number of fish in the sea. Literally, the word EI-Nino means ‘Child Christ’ as the entire phenomenon occurs around Christmas in December. December is a summer month in Peru (seasons are opposite in Southern Hemisphere).
Break in the Monsoon The south-west monsoon after having rains for a few days are accompanied by dry spells with no rain for one or more weeks. This is known as break in the monsoon. They are quite common during the rainy season.
Reasons Less frequency of the rain-bearing
storms along the monsoon trough or the ITCZ causes breaks in monsoon over the northern plains. Winds blowing parallel to the coast cause dry spells over the western coast.
The Cold Weather Season Temperature In India, the cold weather season sets in by mid-November with December and January as the coldest months in the northern plain. There are three causes for the excessive cold in northern India.
Continental
climate experienced by the states like Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan due to location that is far away from sea. Cold wave situation created by snowfall in the nearby Himalayan ranges. Cold wave coming from the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan bring frost and fog over the northwestern parts of India in February. Cyclonic depressions originate over the east Mediterranean Sea and travels eastwards reaching northwestern parts of India. On their way, they pickup moisture from the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf in
the south and sheds them over the Indian states like Punjab, Haryana.
Rainfall Moving from land to the sea, winter monsoon winds i.e. north-east winds do not cause rainfall. Due to little humidity and anti cyclonic circulation on land, the possibility of rainfall reduces. Therefore, not many parts of the country receive rain in the winter season. Few exceptions are: Rain shed by cyclonic disturbances
from the Mediterranean Sea in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. Although scanty, it is highly beneficial for rabi crops.
Drishti Current Affairs Today
|| June 2017 || 253
Geography particles of the parent material largely influences the soil formation. Also, the parent material may be onsite weathered rock or transported deposits. Topography: The exposure of a parent material to sunlight and surface and sub-surface drainage of the region also play important role in soil formation. For exampleregions with steep slopes have thin soils while gentle slope areas with less erosion. Climate: Two climatic factors, moisture in form of precipitation and temperature are detrimental in the soil formation process as they largely influences chemical
and biological activities of microorganisms in the soil. Also excess heat or rain results in change in the chemical composition of the soil. For example- excess rain in wet regions leaches out minerals like silica, calcium, sodium, etc. while in dry hot regions, water evaporates leaving behind salts in the soil. Biological Activity: Vegetation cover and organisms helps in loosening the soil particles from the parent rock, thus augmenting the process of soil formation. Time: The length of soil forming processes determines soil maturation and its profile development. As
such, no time length can be fixed in absolute terms for soils to develop and mature. These factors work do not work in isolation. Instead, they work in close association with each other resulting in a wide network of complex nature. The parent material for soil formation is obtained from the rocks exposed on the surface. The topography of the region and various agents of weathering determine the conditions for disintegration of the rock materials. The disintegrated rocks or soil particles may then be transported by running water, wind or other erosive agents, or may remain in its original position i.e. in-situ. When it remains in-situ, its characteristics are further altered by the climate, particularly the moisture availability, plant growth and bacterial activity.
Classification of Soils of India The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), on the basis of genesis, colour, composition and location has identified the following types of soil groups.
Alluvial Soils Found in Satluj-Ganga-Brahmaputra
Plains, in the valleys of Narmada, Tapi and along the eastern and western coastal plains. Derived from the alluvial debris brought down by rivers from the Himalayas or from the silt left out by the retreating sea. They are rich in humus, phosphoric acid, lime and organic matter. But they lack potash. Covers about 143.1 million sq km and accounts for about 43.4 per cent of the total reporting area. The colour of the alluvial soils varies from light grey to ash grey and the texture is sandy to silty-loam. The soil is both well drained and poorly drained.
256 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Geography The pulp industry, copper smelting
and pig iron industries are also located near their raw materials source. Similarly, industries based on perishable raw materials are also located close to raw material sources.
Power Regular supply of power, the motive
force for machines has to be ensured before the location of any industry. Many power intensive industries, like aluminium and synthetic nitrogen manufacturing industries requiring huge quantum of electricity tend to be located near sources of power.
Market Markets
are the outlets for manufactured products.
Market
orientated industries like heavy machine, machine tools, heavy chemicals are located near the high demand areas. Since the crude oil is easier to transport, petroleum refineries are also located near the markets as several products derived from them are used as raw material in other industries. Koyali, Mathura and Barauni refineries are typical examples. Another factor playing crucial role in the location of oil refineries is ports.
Transport The
concentration of earlier industries in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata was because they were the nodal point having transport links. It was only after the railway lines were laid that the industries shifted to interior locations.
All
major industrial plants are located on the trunk rail routes.
Labour Industries require skilled labour. No
industry can be imagined without labour. In India, labour is available in large numbers due to huge population size.
Historical Factors The
reasons for Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai emerging as industrial nodes were the influences by colonial past. The European traders gave new impetus to the manufacturing activities in the initial phase of colonisation. Places like Murshidabad, Dhaka, Bhadohi, Surat, Vadodara, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Mysuru etc., emerged as important manufacturing centres. Due to competition from the goods manufactured in Britain and the discriminatory policies of colonial power, these manufacturing centres experienced rapid growth.
Industrial Policy After
independence, India aimed at bringing about economic growth with balanced regional development. To develop backward tribal areas of the country, iron and steel industry in Bhilai and Rourkela were established. At present, government of India gives incentives to industries located in backward areas.
Major Industries The Iron and Steel Industry Rapid
industrial development in India is the outcome of development of the iron and steel industry. The raw materials essential for iron and steel industry besides iron ore and coking coal are limestone, dolomite, manganese and fire clay.
266 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
Geography Major
producers are Maharashtra that accounts for about one-third of the total production followed by Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Rajasthan
Oilseeds
Other Oilseeds
The oilseeds are majorly cultivated for extracting edible oils. Oilseeds growing regions of India include drylands of Malwa plateau, Marathwada, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka plateau. Groundnut, rapeseed and mustard, soyabean and sunflower are the main oilseed crops and occupy about 14 per cent of total cropped area in the country.
Other important oilseeds grown in
Groundnut
Fibre Crops
Largely
grown as a rainfed kharif crop of drylands, India produced about 18.8 per cent of the total groundnut production of the world in 2008-09. It is cultivated during rabi season in southern India. Leading producers are Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Yield of groundnut increases if well irrigated as in Tamil Nadu. However, its yield is low in less irrigated regions like in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Rapeseed and Mustard Comprising
several oilseeds such as rai, sarson, toria and taramira, rapeseed and mustard are subtropical crops cultivated in northwestern and central parts of India during rabi season. These are frost sensitive crops with yield fluctuating yearly. However, the yields can be improved with the expansion of irrigation and improvement in seed technology as has been done in Haryana and Rajasthan. These oilseeds together occupy only 2.5 per cent of total cropped area in the country.
contributing about onethird production is the leading producer followed by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
India are soyabean and sunflower.
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
are major cultivators of soyabean. Sunflower is cultivated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and adjoining areas of Maharashtra. Its yield is high due to irrigation in northern parts of the country where it is a minor crop.
Two main fibre crops grown are Cotton and jute in India.
Cotton Cultivated in semi-arid areas during
kharif season of the country, cotton is a tropical crop that requires clear sky during flowering stage. Grown in regions with temperature range of 21-27° C, cotton requires 210 frost free days and bright sunshine for growth. During partition, India lost a large proportion of cotton growing area to Pakistan. However, its acreage has increased significantly during the last 50 years. India grows both short staple (Indian) cotton as well as long staple (American) cotton (also called ‘narma’ in the northwestern parts of the country). Majorly, there are three cotton growing areas t hat include northwestern states of Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan, western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra and plateaus of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana are the leading producers.
272 || Drishti Current Affairs Today || June 2017
In regions like Maharashtra where it
is grown under rainfed conditions, per hectare output is very low when compared to north-western region of the country that are under irrigated conditions.
Jute Used for making coarse cloth, bags,
sacks and decorative items, jute is a cash crop in West Bengal and eastern parts of the country. After partition, large jute growing areas were lost to East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Despite that, India produces about three-fifth of jute production of the world today. Three-fourth of the production is accounted by West Bengal alone. Bihar and Assam are other jute growing areas.
Other Crops Sugarcane, tea and coffee are other important crops grown in India.
Sugarcane Being a tropical crop, it is cultivated
in sub-humid and humid climates under rainfed conditions. However, in India, it is largely an irrigated crop growing in regions with temperature 21-27° C and rainfall between 75-100cm. It is cultivated in the Indo-Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh, states of Maharashtra and Gujarat in western India and irrigated tracts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. India is the world’s second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil accounting for about 23 per cent of the world sugarcane production. The state of Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer (growing about two-fifth of sugarcane of the country) followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Think IAS...
Think Drishti
We all know that Civil Services Prepara on needs more than just Books and Notes. It is necessary to be in constant touch with Current Affairs, important issues and recent trends in CSE. It is an uphill task to manage all of it in a limited me.
As a solution to all these problems, we invite you to visit our popular portal
www.drishtiias.com Daily update of important and relevant current affairs articles. Special articles and model answers for GS Mains preparation. Special ‘CSAT Zone’ to practice questions for CSAT. Important tips regarding exam preparation. Updated study material for various subjects. Special study material for various State Civil Services examinations. Online prelims and mains test series available 24×7.
Foranyquerypleasecontact:
87501 87501, 011-47532596
RNI : DELENG/2016/68821
Postal Regn. No. : DN/363/2017-19 Posted at New Subji Mandi PO Delhi, 7-8 May 2017
Publishing Date : 6th May, 2017
Drishti Publications m For fy your UPSC CSE 2017
prepara on with most updated current affairs compendium. m Comprehensive coverage of current
events from August ‘16 to April ‘17. m News with analysis for in-depth
understanding. m Infographics and maps for be er
understanding of concepts. m Useful for CSE Preliminary as well as
Mains prepara on. m Chapter wise summary for quick
revision. m Exam-focussed, thoroughly
researched and prepared by CSEexperienced team.
Available at your nearest bookshop
