Mrunal Current Affairs Topiclist - 2015 March Week1 To Week4 (1-31st)

4/4/2015
MrunalCurrentAffairsTopiclist:2015MarchWeek1toWeek4(131st)
Mrunalhttp://mrunal.org
[CurrentTopiclist]MarchWeek1toWeek4(1stto31st)Only
Topiclist
PostedByMrunalOn03/04/2015@12:00pmInCurrentArchive|27Comments
1. Abbreviations
2. IRDiplomacy
1. MarchW1&W2
2. MarW3W4IR/Diplomacy
3. Economy,Banking,Finance
1. MarchW1&W2
2. MarW3W4Economy
4. Policy,Governance,Accountability,Administration
1. MarchW1&W2
2. MarW3W4Polity,Governance
5. Environment&Agriculture
1. MarchW1&W2
2. MarW3W4Environment,Agro
6. ScienceTech,Defense
1. MarchW1&W2
2. MarW3W4SciTech,Defense,IT,Healthcare
7. HistoryandCulture
1. MarchW1&W2
2. MarW3W4History&Culture
8. DownloadLinkforCurrentAffairsExcelFile
9. FAQ/MoralDisclaimers
POnly
ListofAbbreviations
importantforprelimonly
P+M
importantforprelimandmains
M+I
Importantformains,essayandinterviewbuthasnoneornegligibleutilityin
prelims.
OLF
Onelinefodderpointthatcanbequotedinsomedescriptiveanswer,essay,
intervieworGroupdiscussion.Butdoesntwarrantanarticlebyitself.
Because(A)Iseebad:costbenefitinpursuingitOR(B)Idontthinkits
Ignored importantforUPSCexamgiventhetrendinlastfewyears.(C)Ialready
covereditinoldarticle.
IRDiplomacy
M+I
MarchW1&W2
ForeignSecretaryS.JaishankarsSAARCyatracontinues.
M+I
IsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahuopposesUSIrandealbecause
hefearsitllallowIrantodevelopnukeweapons.HowdoesitaffectIndian
http://mrunal.org/2015/04/currentaffairstopiclistmarch2015.html/print/
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4/4/2015
interst?
M+I
ModisthreenationtourtotheSeychelles,MauritiusandSriLankafor
IndianOceanoutreachandbecomeanetsecurityproviderinIndian
ocean,tocounterChinesepresence.SAGARconceptSecurityand
GrowthforAllintheRegion.
M+I
Modi2Mauritiustrip:(1)openinguptheoceaneconomy,orblueeconomy.
(2)Indiawillbuildtransportinfrastructure(seaandairlinks)fortheAgalega
Islands(3)IndiagavecoastalpetrolvesselMCGSBarracuda,formaritime
securityonloan+grant.(4)Indiatohelpinsugarcanecultivationandtourism
promotion.(5)developfinancialcentresandpetroleumhubs(6)Indiracalled
MauritiusChhotaBharatduringhervisitin70sbecause70%juntaisIndia.
MauritiuscelebratesitsNationalDayonMarch12topayhomageto
Gandhisdandimarchonsamedayin1930.(6)Modiwilladdresstheissue
ofDTAA,roundtrippingandtaxavoidancebyIndiancompanieswho
deliberatelyregisterinMauritiusandtheninvestinIndia,toavoidtaxes.
M+I
Modi2SeychellesTrip(1)1%of93,000juntaisIndia,only15/116islandsare
inhabited,buthasverylargeEEZ(2)IndiagavesecondDornieraircraftfor
theircoastalsurveillance,earlierprovidedRadartechnologyaswell.(3)
cooperationforhydrography,infraandotherfancythings.(4)Seychellesisa
leaderamongtheSmallIslandDevelopingStates(SIDS),vocalmember
againstclimatechangeandpartofPanAfricaneNetworkofhospitals
OLF
ExNepalPMandpresentmaoistoppositionleaderBaburamBhattaraivisits
India,saysIndiahasaroletoplayintheconstitutionmakingconflictin
Nepal,&peacefulNepalisinIndiasinterest.EarlierModihadsaid
NepaleseConstitutionshouldbebasedonconsensusrathermajority.Butat
thattime,hewascriticizedforinterferinginNepaliaffairs.
OLF
UnitedStateswilldeploy60%ofitsNavytoAsiaPacificregionby2020,
underthePivottoAsiadoctrine.Tocounterthem,Chinahasraisedits
defensebudgetby10%.Mainfocus:SubmarinesandChineseJ20stealth
aircrafttocounterUSP8APoseidonsurveillanceaircraft.
OLF
Chinaisfundinga$1.3billionportprojectinColombo.Butsuddenly,Sri
Lankangovernmenthassuspendedthisprojectforenvironmentclearance.
ChinesegovernmenthastoldSriLankanottodiscriminateagainstChinese
company(vs.Indiancompanies)
OLF
NigeriasBokoHaramgrouppledgesallegiancetotheIslamicState(IS)
groupleaderAbuBakralBaghdadi
OLF
Thisyear,ChinaandRussiawillcommemoratethe70thanniversaryof
WW2victoryandsimultaneouslyRussiawilljoinascorepartnertoChinas
twininitiativestheSilkRoadEconomicBeltandtheMaritimeSilkRoad.
CollectivelythesetwotransportcorridorsaimtointegrateEuropeanand
AsianeconomieswithChinaastheanchor.
OLF
J&KhasaseparatepreventivedetentionlawcalledPublicSafetyAct
(PSA).Underthisact,DeputyCommissioner(districtcollector)cangetany
personintopreventivecustodyforupto2yearswithnotrial,ifheisathreat
tothesecurityoftheState.SeniorseparatistleaderMasaratAlamwas
imprisonedunderthisactforalongtime.Hewasmastermindofthestone
peltingmobsinKashmir.Version#1:newCMMMSayeedorderedrelease
ofsuchpoliticalprisonersbecausenocriminalchargesframedsofar.
Version#2:HisreleasefilewasalreadyokayedbyUnionHomeministry
2/45
4/4/2015
duringPresidentsrule.Eitherway,nowunioniscontemplatingtoarresthim
againunderNIAact.
Ignored IraqiforceslaunchattacktocaptureTikritfromISIS.
Ignored
UNhumanrightscommissionvs.SriLanka.Basicsalreadycoveredinold
article.
Ignored
KnifeattackerslashesthefaceofU.S.envoytoSouthKoreaMarkLippert.
ThisattackerwantedtheNorthandSouthKoreasunited.
Ignored
AmericanHindudiasporaangrybecauseNewYorkmayordeclaredEidas
schoolholidaybutnoholidayonDiwali.
FormerSecretaryofStateHillaryClintonusedherpersonalemailaccountfor
doingofficialwork.Thisgoesagainstpublicrecord/transparencylawsin
Ignored USA.Althoughshehassubmitted~55,000pagesofemailrecordsfromthat
privateidtotheGovernmentbutoppositionarguesshehasnotgivenall
data.Thiscouldbeadisturbingpointforherpresidentialcandidacy.
BiochemistryprofessoratGermanysLeipzigUniversity,refusedtoacceptan
Indianstudentforinternshipsayingwerehearingalotofaboutrape
probleminIndiaandwehavemanyfemalestudentsintheuniversity,whose
Ignored
safetywillbethreatened!.Later,GermanenvoytoIndiaMichaelSteiner
wroteinhisstronglywordedlettertothesaidprofessorIndiaisnota
countryofRapists.
MaldivesExPresidentMohd.NasheedarrestedUnderantiterrorismlaw,
Ignored becausein2012,HetriedtoarrestaseniorjudgeUsingmilitarywithout
authority.Finalverdicthesgiven13yearsjail.
MarW3W4IR/Diplomacy
OperationRaahattorescueIndiancitizensfromYemen.Reasonsfor
conflict:ShiaHuthisrebelshaveoustedYemenisPresidentAbdRabbu
MansourHadi.SincetheseHuthisarealliesofIran(Shia),soSaudiArab
(Sunnimonarchy)beginsairstrikeonthoserebelsinYemen.Pakistanwill
alsosendtroopstosupportSaudiArabia.Indianworkerscaughtincrossfire,
hencetheneedforOp.Raahattorescuethem.FeaturesofOp.Raahat:
MinisterofStateforOverseasIndianAffairsGeneral(Retd.)V.K.Singhto
overseeoperationsfromDjiboutiport.INSSumitrashiftedfromantipiracy
POnly opstorescueopinDjibouti.INSMumbai,Tarkashwillalsoreachsoon.Two
IAFC17GlobemastersandtwoAirIndiaflightsalsoarranged.Sototal3
shipsx4planes.MEAintouchwithYemenisGovernmentandrebelsfora
safepassageofIndians.ModicallsupthenewSaudikingSalmanBinAbdul
Aziztohelpout.ChallengesSaudibeganairstrikesonMarch26,soIndia
shouldhavebegunopssooner.ButIndianGovernmentsayspeoplewere
warnedinadvance,buttheydidnotmoveoutquickly.4klegalworkers
and5killegalworkersstranded.
POnly
OscarwinningfilmSlumdogMillionaireisbasedonVikasSwarupsQ&A.
NowthisgentlemanhasreplacedSyedAkbaruddinastheMEA
spokesperson.
P+M
IndiaQatarsignagreementonprisonertransfer.Indianprisonersconvicted
inQatarcanbebroughttoIndiatoservetheremainingpartoftheirsentence
inIndianjails,andviceversaforQatariprisonersinIndia.
3/45
4/4/2015
Modi2SriLanka:{Tourism}RamayanaTrailinSrilankaandBuddhist
circuitinIndia.FestivalofIndiainSriLanka.Culturalcentreinauguratedat
Jaffna.VisaonarrivalforSriLankaAirIndiatorundirectflightsbetween
DelhiandColombo.{Finance}Currencyswapagreementbetween
centralbanksofbothcountries{Disaspora}>300Million$loantoSri
P+M
Lankanrailways.20khomesgiventorefugeesinNorthernSriLanka.
IndiawantsunitedsriLankabutasksthemimplement13thAmendmentto
givegreaterpowerdevolutiontoTamilmajorityprovincesinNorthandEast.
{Energy}:TrincooilfarmandpowerplantwithhelpofIndianOil.no
defensepactthough,butSrilankapromisesnottodockforeignsubmarines
onitsports.SriLankahassigneditsfirstnuclearagreementwithIndia,but
thisagreementonlyaimsfornukesafetyoperationsandnotenergy
generationatpresent.Triconmaleetobedevelopedasregionalpetroleum
hub.
M+I
IndiaJapancivilnucleardealnotmovingforwardbecauseJapanwants(1)
IndiatosharenationspecificdataaboutwhichcountriessuppliedIndiawhat
typeofnuclearfuelandtechnology.(2)IfIndiabreaksitsvowandbegins
testingnuclearweaponsthenJapanwillCancelthedealandaskedIndiato
returnalltheequipmentsandtechnologies.Boththeseconditionsarenotin
thebestinterestofIndiasenergysecurity.+Becauseofthem,eveninthe
USnucleardealisstalledbecause(1)JapanscloutoverNuclearsuppliers
group(NSG)(2)AmericancompaniesrelyonJapanesecompanies
MitsubishiandToshibatoproducenuclearreactors.
OLF
ForeignSecretaryS.JaishankarsaysaColdWarpoliticalorderstillpersists
inIndiaU.S.relations.WhileIndiasActeastpolicyoverlapswithUSAs
RecalancetoAsiapolicy.Butnucleardealisstillunderobstacles.
OLF
1996:IndiafavourUNGAresolutionforbanningantipersonnelmines.But
1997:Indiadidnotsigntheminestreaty,eventhough80%ofJoinedthe
treaty.Indiawasamajormanufacturerofundetectablelandmines,andused
themalongLoCparticularlyafterOperationParakram,whichwasinitiated
afterDecember2001AttackonParliament.However,statisticsreveal
thousandsofIndianarmedforcesandciviliansaccidentallyinjuredbecause
ofthesemines.
OLF
WestsflawedapproachtowardsISISIEarlierthedeathofSaddam
HusseinandMuammarQaddafididnotbringpeace,butinsteadledIraqand
Libyaintofurtherchaosbysplintergroups.ArabSpringhappenedonlyin
republicannationsEgypt,Syria,Libya,Yemen.While,8monarchies
SaudiArabia,Kuwait,Qatar,Oman,Bahrain,theEmirates,Jordanand
Moroccowereneverdestabilized.Becausemostofthemareenemiesof
Iran(Shia),Westturnsblindeyestohumanrightsviolationsinthere.
YemenisciviliansgettingkilledinSaudiaerialbombarding,yetWestdoesnt
cryabouthumanrights,liketheydoincaseofSyria.Many1stworld
citizensfromAustralia,US,Englandetal.begantojoinISIS.NowUSA
planningtotalkwithAssadforpeacefulregimechangeandsettledownthe
nukeissueswithIran.
4/45
4/4/2015
OLF
InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency(IAEA)chiefYukiyaAmanobegins
safetyinspectionofIndiannukeplantsandsuggestsfollowingmeasures:
separatelawtoprovideindependencetotheAtomicEnergyRegulatory
Board(AERB)bylaw.UPAGovernmentdesignedabillpostFukushima
disasterbutbilllapsedinLokSabha.AERBshoulddevisestrategyto
increasesafetyofactinidesandothernuclearwaste.setupanational
policyfornuclearsafetyandradioactivewastemanagementimprove
internalemergencyarrangementsduringaccidents.Sidenote:Nuclear
SuppliersGroup(NSG)conferenceinJune.Indiawishestobecomefull
member,althoughobstacleisthatwevenotsignedNPT.
OLF
ChinawantsastableAfghanistantoensurepeaceinitsownXinjiangregion.
ChinagotPakistaniArmyandISItoironoutnegotiationsbetweenthe
AfghanunitygovernmentandtheTalibans.EvensetuptheChina
AfghanistanPakistantrilateraldialogueatheartofAsiaconference.Hosted
TalibandelegationtwiceinBeijing.USAalsoreducedsomesanctionsfrom
TalibanandinreturnofthisSinoAmericanvalvetglovetreatmentthe
AfghaniTalibanshavedistancedfromAlQaedaandshowedwillingnessto
negotiate.ISIbelievedtohaveimprisonedMullahOmartopreventterror
attacks.Indianinterests:PakistanmaytrytoblockChabaharport,sothat
onlyPakistanremainseconomicentrypointtoAfghanistan.Pak.Maytryto
sabotageIndiasproposed4ironsteelplantsinHajigak.Solutionbefriend
IranandAfghaniPresidents.
OLF
PresidentObamarelaxesnormstogetL1Bvisameantforcorporate
executives.Thiswillhelpinbringingmoreforeigninvestmentandthe
specialisedworkersinUS
OLF
U.N.SecretaryGeneralwantedtogivesocialsecuritybenefitstospousesof
gay/LGBTemployeesworkingistheUnitedNationsoffices.ButIndia,
China,Russia,Pak,Saudietal.opposedthisresolution,sayingBankKi
Moondidnotconsultwithmemberstates.However,motionwasdefeated.
andIndiafacedcriticismfromvariousquartersincludingUSA
OLF
HindugonecrazierthanusualaboutSriLankaSriLankanPresident
MaithripalaSirisenagivesthetitleofFieldMarshaltoSarathFonseka.
GeneralFonsekawasinstrumentalinwipingoutLTTEbuthadfalloutwith
previousPresidentRajpaksha,soRajpakshagothimjailed,andbanned
fromcontestingelections.ButnewPresidentSirisenabegantofixit.
DuringLTTEfighting,SriLankanArmyhadtakenoverNorthernTamilland
tocreatehighsecurityzones.NewPresidentSirisenagivesbackthoseland
deedstooriginalowners.SirisenasvisittoChina.Bothleaderpropose
triangulardialogueamongIndia,ChinaandSriLanka.FormerSriLankan
Prez.ChandrikaKumartungawillheadataskforceforareconciliationof
Tamils.
AIIBbasicsalreadycoveredinoldarticleunderdiplomacysection.ButHindu
gonecrazierthanusual.Dailycommentaryonwhichnewcountrywantsto
joinit?bottomlineisAustralia,Britain,France,Germany,Luxembourg,
Singapore,NewZealand,SwitzerlandetalmanyerstwhileproUSparties
nowinterested.MeansUSdominatedIMFWorldbankpowerwaning.
5/45
4/4/2015
OLF
EarlierJapanwashesitanttojoinAIIBbecauseitselfdominatesADB(HQ
Manila),butnowJapaneseMNCslobbiedandgotGovernmenttosilent
agreetojoinAIIBbyJune.ThechiefsofIMFandADBhavevoiced
supportforAIIB.U.S.TreasurySecJacobLewmetChinesePrime
Minister(Premiere)LiKequiangtoironoutdifferences.
OLF
Chinahasprovidesdetailsitsonebeltoneroadinitiative.Itllhavetwo
components(1)OverlandSilkRoad(OSR)(2)MaritimeSilkRoad(MSR).
TogethertheyllcoverEurasiafromthePacificcoasttotheBalticSea.Theyll
shiftgeoeconomicpowerfromUSEUtowardsEurasia,ledbyChina.In
next107ears,4.4billionpeoplewillbecoveredanditllgeneratetrade
above2.5trilliondollarswithhelpofRCEP.CollectivelySilkRoad+RCEP
willcounterUSAsAsianPivot+TPP.SriLankawillget~40million$from
AIIBforthisSilkroadproject.Moredetailsunderoldarticleunderdiplomacy
section.
OLF
LeeKuanYew:thefoundingfatherandfirstPrimeMinisterofSingapore
(From1959to1990).DiedofPneumoniarelatedcomplicationsat91age.
Modiattendedhisfuneral.BrokeoffwithMalaysiatocreateSingapore
(SanskritnameSimhapura).HelpedDengXiaopingrebuildChinainPost
Maoera.ShanghaiturnedtoManhattanofEast.LeepraisedIndiraGandhi
andjustifiedemergency,butinColdwarNAMera,IndiaandSingapores
interestcouldnotalign.SolaterLeebecamecriticthatIndiawasnotareal
countrybut32separatenationsarrayedonBritishraillineTheirethnicmix,
votingpatternsandcoalitiongovernmentensurenodecisionistakenon
time.Indianpoliticiansandbureaucratshavefeudalmindsetwhosee
entrepreneursassinnerformakingprofits.LeewarmedupafterNarsimha
RaosLookEastPolicy,soughtourmilitaryassistance.HecalledCalled
Indiaanationofunfulfilledgreatness.IndiaChinawillreshapeworldorder
beforeendof21stcentury.AlthoughChinawontgowarwithIndiabecause
itcanwinbysimplyplayingbyrulesofinternationaleconomy.Applied
socialengineeringtocreateapluralnationwithfourofficiallanguagesanda
housingpolicytointerminglepeopleofvariousraces.{Antipoints}
curbsonmediaandfreedomofexpression.HejustifieditunderAsianvalues
i.e.goodofsocietycomesbeforerightsofindividuals.nepotism,family
membersmadelotofmoneySingaporeCitystatemodelleadstorich
economybutincomeinequalityrising.
OLF
USDepartmentofJusticeupdateshatecrimestrainingmanual,FBIasked
totrackhatecrimesagainstHinduandSikhssince2013.
UNhumanrightsinvestigatoraskedUNSCandICCtotakeactionagainst
violatorsofhumanrightsinSyria.Butneithertookaction.SonowUN
Ignored
investigatorswillingtosharenamesandevidenceswithanycountrythat
wantstopursuethismatter.
ModitovisitEuropeinApril.wantedanIndiasummitatBrussels,butEU
authoritiesdidnotreplyintime(conspiracyanglebecauseoftheslow
Ignored
progressinItalianmarinescase.)SoangryModicancelsBrusselstrip
altogather.
6/45
4/4/2015
KashmirballbyballUnionMinisterofStateforExternalAffairsGen.V.K.
SinghattendsPakistanNationalDaycelebrationhostedbyPakistani
Ignored embassybutfeelsdisgustedwithpresenceHurriyatleaders,and
subsequentlytweetswithhashtags#duty#disgust.J&KCMSayeedsays
AFSPAwillbegraduallyremovedbytakingarmyinconfidence.
ChineseSpecialRepresentativeYangJiechicomestomeetNSAAjitDoval
Ignored todiscussborderdispute(1)2000kmsArunanchalPradeshborder(2)4000
kmsLadakhborder.
DenmarkplanningtojoinNATOsmissiledefenseprogrambyinstalling
Ignored missileandradarsonitswarships.Russiawarnsifthishappens,wellattack
Danishwarships.
Ignored
LunaticcopilotcrashesGermanysLufthansasaeroplaneinFrenchAlps.
150dead.
DuringG20summit@Brisbane,Australia2014,oneoftheimmigration
Ignored officialmistakenlyforwardedWorldleaderspassportnumber,emailidetc.to
Asianfootballtournamentorganizers,thusendangeringtheirsecurity.
Ignored
VisitofIndiandefenceMinistertoJapan.Ignoredbecausemostlysameold
bolbachchan.
Economy,Banking,Finance
Banking
P+M
Finance
MarchW1&W2
RBIandFinminsignagreementtoimplementrecommendationsof
UrjitPatelCommitteeonmonetarypolicyreforms.(1)inflation
targetingatCPI26%i.e.@4%withbandof2%.Mustget
inflationbelow6%byJan2016.(2)failureifinflationabove6%
during3consecutivequartersof2015ORifinflationbelow2%in
3consecutivequartersof2016.(3)RBIwillhavetoexplain
Governmentinsuchcase.iffactorsbeyondRBIscontrol,thenit
canraisemonetarypolicyratestocombatinflation.(4)Monetary
policytobedecidedbyaMonetaryPolicyCommittee(4)among3
functionsofcontrollinginflation,foreignexchangerateand
interestrate,RBIwillgivefirstprioritytoinflation.
Banking
P+M
Finance
RBIsaysloanstosanitation,healthcareanddrinkingwater
facilities,renewableenergyandincrementalloanstoexporters,
willcomeunderPrioritysectorlending.PlusRBIpanel
recommendsbothforeignbanksaboveandbelow20branches,
shouldhavesamePSLtargetsi.e.40%.
Banking
P+M
Finance
GoldrefinerMMTCPAMPpreparingagoldmetalaccountscheme
withhelpofSwitzerlandsPAMP.Customercandepositminimum
50gmsgold.Hellearngoldinterestinsteadofrupeeinterest
overthetime.Thisgoldwillbeloanedtojewelers.
Banking
Finance OLF
RajanbhaiisdistressedoverthefactthatpostGlobalfinancial
crisis,thecentralbanksaroundtheworldareprintingmoneyand
reducinginterestratestoverylowlevels.ButsinceRBIhasto
combatinflation,wecanfollowthatpathofreducinginterestrates.
ThishasledtoavalancheofcapitalinflowsinIndia,andmay
createforeignexchangerateinstability.
7/45
4/4/2015
Banking
P+M
Finance
AssuchRajanbhaireleasesBiMonthlypolicyreview.Butin
2015,twicehemadesurprisechangesinreporate.January2015:
reporeducedfrom8%to7.75%.AndnowagaininMarch2015he
reduceitfurtherfrom7.75to7.50.(25basispoint.)Lowerrepo
ratemeanscheaperloans,moredemandandbusiness
expansion.ThisisdonebecauseRajanbhaiperceivesJaitley
budgetasnoninflationaryduetoconcisetaxbreaksand
subsidies.Sohehasreducepolicyrate(=reporate)toshowthat
fiscalandmonetarypolicywillworkinacomplementaryway.
Banking
POnly
Finance
Undercoinageact2011,GovernmentofIndiawillrestartprinting1
rupeenote,withbilingualsignatureofthefinanceSecretary.RBI
willputthese1Rs.Noteintocirculation.NotewillbearAshoka
PillarsymbolinthewindowwithoutwordsSatyamevJayate,and
carryahiddennumeralinthecentre.
Banking
OLF
Finance
RBIexpandsLTVdefinition.NowLoantoValueratioforhousing
sector,willalsoincludestampduty,registrationfeesandother
documentcharges.Thiswillhelpgetbiggerhousingloans,but
upto10lakhrupees.
Banking
P+M
Finance
AtpresentmoneymarketsarecontrolledbytheRBI.Butmutual
fundsalsoplayasignificantroleinmoneymarket,andare
regulatedbySEBI.EarlierBimalJalanandFSLRCreports
recommendedthatRBIshouldnotbemanagingGovernmentdebt
(throughGSec,TBills).ItshouldbedonebyAnautonomous
publicdebtmanagementauthority/agency,willsellsucha
governmentsecuritiestofinancialintermediariesonvoluntary
basis.Toimplementthisreform,Budget2015sFinanceBillwill
amendmentsections45Uand45W.Afterthis,RBIwillceaseto
regulategovernmentbondsandothermoneymarketinstruments.
ThenperhapsPublicdebtmanagementagency(PDMA)willbe
madesetupandmaderesponsibleforhandlingGSec,Tbill.And
RBIwillfocusonlyonthecorefunctionsofcentralbanki.e.(1)
controllinginflation(2)bankingsupervision(3)controllingforeign
exchangeratevolatility.
Banking
POnly
Finance
EmployeeProvidentFund(EPF)andPPFschemesenjoythis
status.EEEstatus(exemptexemptexempt)i.e.(1)money
depositedinthescheme(2)interestearnedinthescheme(3)
moneywithdrawnfromtheschemeaftermaturity.Atallthree
stages,itisexemptedfromincometaxcalculation.Inbudget
2015,whilegreatlyincreasetheexemptionlimitinnewpension
scheme(NPS)from1lakhto1.5lakh,butstillitdoesnotenjoy
EEEstatus.Presently,NPShasover80lakhsubscribers,but
giventhisEEEanomaly,itwillbedifficultexpandthebasefurther.
Banking
P+M
Finance
GIFTcity,Gandhinagar,GujaratInternationalFinancialServices
Centre(IFSC).ItllbetreatedasanSEZ,andentitiesinsideit,will
betreatedasnonresidentIndianslocatedoutsideIndia.RBI
FEMAwillpermitsettingupforeignbankshere.Foreignbanksin
Indiacansetup.Indianbankswithoffshorepresence,cansetup.
EachbankcansetuponlyoneIBUthough.Buttheycantaccept
withretailcustomersorinIndiancurrency.Minimumcapital
8/45
4/4/2015
requirement20million.CRRSLRapplicable:Nope.RBIwont
helpviareporateandotherliquiditymeasures.PSLnormswont
apply.Similarly,IRDAwillpermitforeigninsurersandreinsurers.
SEBIwillpermitstockexchanges,merchantbankers,depository
receipts(DR).
Banking
SBIbeginsonlineauctionofseizedpropertiesworth1200crore
Ignored
Finance
rupees.
Banking
P+M
Finance
InsurancebillpassedtoincreaseFDIlimitfrom26%to49%.
CongressabstainsinLokSabhaandvotesinfavorin
Rajyasabha.Cheaperpremiumwillimproveinsurance
penetration,andmakejuntassavingsflowtolongterm
infrastructureprojects.
BoP
POnly
AsperRBInorms,Followingcitizensareforbiddenfromacquiring
propertyinIndia:Pakistan,Bangladesh,SriLanka,Afghanistan,
China,Iran,NepalorBhutan.2moreregionsaddedinthis
blacklist:HongKongandMacaubothadministeredbyChina.
Fiscal
Policy
1997:ChinduhadIntroducedtheconceptofthreeslabsofincome
Ignored taxi.e.10%,20%,30%.Chindusayspostliberalizationthathas
beenriseInnumberofsuperwealthypeopleinIndia.
Fiscal
Policy
POnly
Shellcompaniesarethecompanieslocatedabroadbutcontrolled
fromIndia,toevadetaxes.Governmentaimstocurbthemby
introducingPlaceofeffectivemanagement(POEM)inITAct.
thereby,suchoffshorecompanieswillbetaxableinIndia,ifkey
ManagementdecisionsaretakenfromIndia.
Fiscal
Policy
OLF
CSOnewGDPcalculationmethodsaysIndiagrew@7.4%in
2014.Projects8.18.5%growthratefor2015.ButIMFreport
says,hardly7.5%possiblefor2015.
Fiscal
Policy
IncometaxDepartmentdemands20,500croresfromCairnIndia
forsharetransactiontoparentcompanyandsubsequentcapital
gains.CairnplanningforinternationalarbitrationunderIndiaUK
Ignored bilateralinvestmentprotectiontreaty.EarlierVodafone
(Netherlands)andNokia(finland)alsocalledforarbitrationunder
similartreatieswiththeirnationsthusprovingMNCsdonthave
muchfaithinIndiansystem.
Fiscal
Policy
OLF
EconomistJimONeilhadgiventhetermBRICS.Nowhesays
Indiapoisedtobecomeworlds7thlargesteconomyin2017,and
5rdlargesteconomyin2020.
OLF
1983:Doubletaxationavoidanceagreementsignedbetween
IndiaMauritius.Underthisagreement,ifacompanyregisteredin
MauritiussellsassetsfromIndia,thenIndiacantlevycapital
gainstax.onlyMauritiuscanlevyCGT,buttheyhave0%CGT.
SoIndianbusinessmanmisusethisprovisionforroundtrippingi.e.
investingtheirownmoneyinIndia,butviaMauritiusrouteto
reducetaxliability.DuringhisMauritiustrip,Modisaidhellworkto
stopthisabuse.
Fiscal
Policy
AtalPensionYojanaIsforcitizensinunorganizedsector,who
joinedNPSbutnotanyothersocialsecurityscheme.Atalwillgive
pensionfrom1000to5000permonthat60yearsage,depending
9/45
4/4/2015
HRD
HRD
HRD
HRD
HRD
HRD
P+M
onhowmuchmoneysubscribercontributed.Membershipagelimit
18to40years.Unionwillcontribute50%ofmoneygivenby
subscriberorRs.1000,whicheverislessforfirst5yearsupto
201920.
P+M
PradhanMantriJeevanJyotiBimaYojana.Membershipage:18to
50withabankaccount.PayRs.330peryearpremium.Get2lakh
accidentcoverfromLIC.Variousministriescancocontribute
premiumfortheirrespectivebeneficiaries.CommonPublicity
ExpenditurewillbebornebyGovernment.
P+M
MinorityaffairsMinistryhadsetupProfessorAmitabhKundu
(JNU)Toassesstheimpactofminoritywelfaremeasurestaken
afterSacharcommitteereportandPrimeMinisters15programfor
minorities.Amitabhagavereportinlate2014.observation:(1)
Financialandphysicaltargetsaremeagrecomparedtothe
groundlevelrequirement.(2)Needtoincreasethebudgetary
allocationtominorityaffairsMinistry(3)Minorityscholarships
shouldbemadeDemanddriven(4)Separateleadership
developmentschemeforminoritywomen.
OLF
Over5lakhabandonedchildrenuserailwaystationforliving,
beggingandlaboring.Womenministry,RailwayMinistryand
NGOshavejoinedhandsForrehabilitationofthesekids.Tollfree
helpline1098.Publicawarenesscampaign.UltimatelyAuthorities
willtrytogetthischildrenbacktotheirparentsorprovidethem
educationandvocationalskills.
OLF
RighttoEducation(RTE)Act,2009mandatesthatnochildren
shouldbefailedtillclass5.Butthishasledtodeclinedlevelof
leaning,asseeninASERreport.Therefore,DelhiDy.CMcum
EducationministerManishSisodiarequestedunionHRDministry
toreducethisprovisiontillclass3only.
OLF
Delhi,KeralaandTamilNaduareIndiasbestrankedStatesin
termsofgenderrelatededucationindicators,saysHRDand
UNISEFreport.
Industry
OLF
agro
Dr.B.MeenakumariCommitteegivesreportfordeepseafishing
PolicyandGuidelinestoAgricultureministry.
Industry
P+M
MFG
NSSO2013:morethan5.5croreMSMEinIndia,mostlyowned
bySC,ST,OBCyetonly4%ofthemgetinstitutionalfinance.
Budget2015announcedMicroUnitsDevelopmentRefinance
Agency(MUDRA)Banktogivethemlastmilecreditdelivery.Itll
firstbeginasasubsidiaryofSIDBIandlaterconvertedtoafull
fledgedbankthroughanactofparliament.Ifbanksfailstomeet
prioritysectorlendingnorms,theyvetodepositmoneyin
NABARDsRIDForSIDBIsSEDF.RBIwillpulloutRs.20,000
croresfromsuchprioritylendingshortfallfunds,andgiveitto
Mudra.
infra
OLF
UnderSmartcityinitiative,DelhiMuni.Willputsmartsignageon
historicmonuments.JustscantheirQRcodeinmobileandyou
getallinformationonsmartphone.
infra
Ignored
Spectrumauctionballbyball.Onlyfinaloutcomeandits
10/45
4/4/2015
consequencesimportant
OLF
UnionGovernmentsetupataskforceforthedevelopmentof
Ajmer,AllahabadandVisakhapatnamassmartcities.
infra
OLF
FordevelopmentinNaxalareas,Governmentworkingontwo
prongedstrategy(A)physicalinfra:NITIayogtoannounce
additionalcentralAssistance(ACA),Highwayministrytofocuson
RoadRequirementPlan(RRPI)andcommunicationministryto
useUniversalServiceObligationFund(USOF)forincreasing
mobilepenetration.Strategy(B)Humanresourceinfra:Under
PanditDeenDayalUpadhyayaGrameenKaushalyaYojana,a
subcomponentRoshni.Roshniwillsetup1ITIand2skill
developmentcentresineachofthe34Naxalaffecteddistrictsin9
states.Theyllprovideshortterm&longtermskilltrainingto
youth,sotheycangetlivelihood&dontgetbrainwashedby
naxals.
infra
OLF
LICwillgive1.5lakhcroreinnextfiveyearsforrailwayprojects.
OLF
RailwaywantstosetuptwofactoriesinBihar(1)electric
locomotive@Madhepuraand(2)diesellocomotive@Marhora.
Forthis,jointventureandFDIproposalinvitedfromGE,Siemens
andothergiants.
infra
infra
MarW3W4Economy
April1:Bankswillbeclosedforaccountingpurposeand2ndand
Banking
3rdAprilarepublicholidaysundernegotiableinstrumentsAct,so
Ignored
Finance
total3continuousholidaysandunlessRBIintervenes,itllbegreat
inconveniencetocustomers.
AtpresentRBIgovernoraloneresponsibleformakingmonetary
policybutbothUrjitpatelCommitteeandbudget2015wanteda
Committeesystemwithmajorityvotingfordecidingmonetary
policyofIndia.But(A)Rajanbhaiwants5memberbodywith2
Banking
outsiderexpertsbutnoGovernmentrepresentatives.(B)but
Ignored
Finance
FinminJaitleywants8memberCommitteewithGovernment
nomineeswithoutvotingpower.AlthoughofficiallyJaitleydenies
havinganyriftwithRajanbhai.Ignoredbecausebasicsofurjit
patelalreadycoveredinoldarticleandnoofficialannouncement
madeaboutcompositionofMonetarypolicyCommittee
Banking
POnly
Finance
RailwayslaunchesRuPayprepaiddebitcard.Partners:Union
BankofIndiaandtheNationalPaymentCorporationofIndia.
Utility:Buytickets,doshopping,payforIRCTCservices.1lakh
accidentinsurancecoverage.Cardlimits(1)10kifpartialKYC(2)
50kiffullKYCDocumentsprovided.Forthefirst6months,no
transactioncharges.SubsequentlyRs.10servicechargeper
transaction.
InsuranceCompaniesbeganraisingFDIafterparliamentbillis
passed.SBIgeneralinsurancespartnersSBI:IAGwillbeturn
Banking
Ignored from74:26to51:49.IAGAustraliancompany.Sameway,Max
Finance
11/45
4/4/2015
Bupa.BupaIsBritishcompany.IgnoredbecausesuchbizGKnot
usuallyseeninUPSC
RBIasksNBFCstogetcreditratingdonebeforeMarch2016.only
Banking
Ignored theNBFCswithcreditratingofinvestmentgrade,willbeallowed
Finance
toacceptfreshdepositsfromjunta.
Olataxiappcomesupwithspecialrewardschemefordrivers
suchaseasyloanstobuynewcarsusingSBIsOlaPragati
Banking
offerwithjust10%downpaymentandquickloanprocessing.
Ignored
Finance
skilltraining,fueldiscount,freecarservices2lakhmedical
healthinsurancefordriverandfamilyusingICICIprudential.This
willhelppromotingMicroentrepreneurshipamongthedrivers.
Banking
POnly
Finance
SEBIplanningseparateplatformtohelpstartupcompaniesget
capital.Nameofthisplatform=AlternateCapitalRaisingPlatform.
Whichinvestorscanparticipatehere?Highnetworthindividuals
(HNIs),qualifiedinstitutionalbuyers(QIB),Familytrusts,NBFCs
andotherentitieswith500crorenetworth.Whocantparticipate
here?Retailinvestors,becausetoomuchriskinvolved.Benefit:
IT/ECommercecompanieswonthavetoapproachforeign
countriesforcapital.
GiventherisingNPAproblem,RBImandatesthebankstokeep
Banking
Ignored sideemergencyfundcalledCountercyclicalcapitalbuffer.
Finance
RecentlyRBIrelaxeditsnormstohelpbanks.
Banking
OLF
Finance
~12,000NBFCsareregisteredwithRBI,mostoftheminvolvedin
loaning,andsomeevenacceptdeposits.Nowtopreventmenace
ofshadowbanking,RBIhasupdatedtakeovernormsforNBFCs.
Banking
P+M
Finance
GIFTCity:CommerceSecretarysaysSEBIandRBIworkingto
providegreatercapitalaccountconvertibilityinFinancialSEZsuch
asGIFTcity,Gujarat.PercyMistryCommitteehadrecommended
it(2007),otherwisewecantbecomeaninternationalfinanicial
centrelikeLondon,NYorTokyo.Whatiscapitalaccount
convertibilitywhatbenefitsandharmsitposetoIndianeconomy?
RefertoPowerPointcodeL3/P2
CompaniesAct2013,provides3typeofcompaniesOneperson
company,privatelimitedcompanyandpublicltdcompany(2
subtypeslistedandunlisted).Listedcompanieshavetofollow
strictnormsundercompaniesAct.Thatswhymanyofthem
beganprocesstoturnintoprivateltd.Companiese.g.TVS
automobileReasons:privateltd.Arenotrequiredtoappoint
womendirectorsorindependentdirectorsintheBoD.Cangive
Banking
POnly
Finance
loanstodirectorsNoneedtosetupaseparateaudit
Committeenorestrictiononhowmuchoftheprofitcanbe
dolledouttoexecutive/directorsasremuneration.Soin
conclusion,betterregisteredasprivateltd.Companyorlimited
liabilitycompany(LLP),becausenopointinsettingupapublicltd.
CompanyunlessyouwanttolaunchanIPOtogetequityfinance
fromaamjuntaa.SEBIrequirespubliclistedcompaniesto
disclosetheirboarddecisionswithin30minutes,andother
12/45
4/4/2015
materialinformationwithin24hours.Thisdoesntapplyfor
privateltd.Companies.
Banking
POnly
Finance
CompaniesAct2013requireslistedpublicltd.Companiesatleast
1womandirectorinBoD.Elsepenaltyfrom5kto5lakhand
separatepenaltybySEBIforupto25croresfornoncomplianceof
SEBIscorporategovernanceguidelines2014.Butmany
companiesyettoappointwomen.Someonlygottheirfamily
memberladiesinboardofdirectorsoactimplementedinletter
butnotinspirit.
Banking
OLF
Finance
SEBIannouncesnormsformunicipalbonds,EIPO,AdharBased
EKYC.Arguesinfavourofallowingpensionfundstopourmoney
incapitalmarket,andrelaxationofREITsnorms.Andallowing
bankstoconvertdebttoequityforstressedcompanieswith
recoverypotential.
Banking
OLF
Finance
AttheMintCorporationheldinDelhi,FinanceMinisteradvocates
moreuseofcheques,plasticcurrencyandothernegotiable
instruments.Itwillcutdownthecostofprintingmoney,andhelp
fightingagainstblackmoneyproblem.
Banking
P+M
Finance
GIFTcityGujaratinternationalfinancialtechcity.JVbetweenGJ
urbandevelopmentco.ltdandIL&FS.30kmfromStatecapital
Gandhinagar.GIFTcityisplannedasafinancialSEZ.RBIto
amendFEMArulestoallowfortransactioninforeigncurrencies
sinceGIFTcitywilldeemedtobeaforeignterritory.SEBI
guidelines:(1)AnyIndianorforeignstockexchangecansetupa
subsidiaryinIFSC.(2)investorscaninvestforeigncurrency
directlyintheMutualfunds/hedgefundsoperatinginthisarea.(3)
manyothertechnicalnuancesnotimportantfromexampointof
view.IRDAtoallowforeigninsurerstosetupbranchesinIFSC.
SEBIrelaxesguidelinesforsettingupthisInternationalfinancial
servcieNSEwillsetupinternationalexchangefortradingof
shares,bonds,currenciesandderivatives.Smartcity=automated
wastecollectionsystem,centralisedcooling.Challenges:lackof
fullcapitalaccountconvertibility.TAXrateshouldbereduced
Malaysia3%,Dubai0%.Alternatedisputeresolutionsystem
neededforfasterlegalresolutions
LabourMinistryofplanningtoamendtheEPFact,allowingthe
Banking
workerstochoosebetweenEPFOandNPS.Ifworkerschooses
Ignored
Finance
NPS,thenemployerwillnotberequiredtocontributetoEPFO.
Ignoredbecauseformalbillisyettobedrafted.
BoP
OLF
IMFchiefsays(1)Indiawillhave7.5%growthratefor201516.
(andnotabove8%,asEconomicSurveyandBudget).(2)Indiato
beworldslargesteconomyby2030,butmustfocusoninclusive
growth,morewomenlaborerparticipation.(3)JanDhanfinancial
inclusionisunparallelintheworld.(4)itwasamistaketoignore
Rajanbhaispredictionaboutsubprimecrisis.
PostSubprimecrisistillQuantitativeEasing(QE)years,American
dollarsflewtoemergingeconies.Indiareceivedabove450
13/45
4/4/2015
BoP
OLF
billion$.USFedsplanningtoraiseratesbyendof2015.IMF
fears,thiswillleadtoflightofforeigninvestedcapitalfromIndia
backtoUSA.AlthoughRajanbhaisaysheisfullyprepared,and
JanetYellenshouldthinktwicebeforeplayingwithaag(fire),Paani
(water)andRajanbhai.
OLF
OftenMNCstransferassetsfromonesubsidiarycompanyto
anotheratbelowmarketprices,toreduceprofitandtaxliability.
Thishasledtoriseinnumberoftransferpricingcases.Finallyto
putanend,Budget2014cameupwithprovisionofAdvance
pricingagreementbetweencompaniesandIncometax
department.Govt.permitteditforpreviousfouryears.Thiswill
helpreducingnumberoflitigationsandpromoteeaseofdoingbiz.
P+M
BlackmoneyBillapprovedincabinet.(1)10yearsjail+300%tax
forstashingblackmoneyabroad.(2)mustdeclareforeignassets
inITreturnelse7yearsjailadditionallyseparateBenami
Transactions(Prohibition)Billtostopblackmoneyindomestic
assetsITacttobeamendedtoprohibitofmorethanRs.20kin
cash
Fiscal
Policy
P+M
BlackmoneyBilltabledinLokSabha.Officiallyitscalled
UndisclosedForeignIncomeandAssets(ImpositionofTax)Bill,
2015.Tobeeffectivefrom1/4/2016.Salientfeatures(1)stashing
blackmoneyabroad=310yearsjailtime,andpenaltyof3times
thetaxevadedor90%oftheundisclosedincome.(2)30%Tax
onallforeignincome.Noexemption,ordeduction.(3)Onuson
thesuspecttoprovehesnotguilty.(4)ifvoluntarydisclosureof
blacckmoneyhiddenabroadthenlenientpunishmenti.e.30%tax
+100%penalty.(5)ifforeignincome/assetnotdisclosedinIT
returnthen10lakhpenalty,evenifblackmoneyisnothiddeninit.
(6)Taxofficialsgivenmorepowersofinvestigation.Appeal
structure:ITAT<HC<SC.(7)Uniontosignagreementswith
othernationsforautomatedexchangeoftaxinformation,DTAA
etc.
Fiscal
Policy
Ignored
PMOasksAirIndiatosubmitdetailedreportaboutitslosses,
profitabilityandrevivalplan.
Fiscal
Policy
OLF
FinMinlaunchesbetaversionofnationaledatabaseonIT
ligitation,nicknamedNationalJudicialreferencesystemNJRS.
ItllhelpinquickerdisposalofcasesatITappellateboards,HC
andSCs.RightnowcasesworthRs.3.5lakhcrorestiedupintax
litigation.
Fiscal
Policy
POnly
TopFakecurrenciesinSwitzerland:(1)Euro(2)Dollar(3)Indian
Rupee.
Fiscal
Policy
GSTUnionUrbanDevelopmentMinisterM.VenkaiahNaidu
suggeststhatGSTrevenueshouldbesharedwithmunicipalities
sotheycanImproveinfrastructure.KeralasFinanceMinister
Ignored K.M.ManiwillheadEmpoweredCommitteeofStateFinance
MinistersonGST.GovernmentwilltrytopassGSTbillin
secondpartofBudgetsessionstartingfromApril20th.Ignored
becausebasicsalreadycoveredinpowerpointandvideo.More
Fiscal
Policy
Fiscal
Policy
14/45
4/4/2015
detailsonlyafterBillispassed
Fiscal
Policy
DelhihostsUrjaSangam2015,aglobalenergysummit.Here,
Ignored ModiasksrichpeopletovoluntarilygiveupLPGsubsidy,thereby
reducingGovernmentsubsidybillby100crorerupees.
Fiscal
Policy
OLF
NITIAyogformsaworkinggrouponhowtomakeCentrally
sponsoredschemes(CSS)moreeffectiveandtheir
implementationbytheStatesmorefiexible.NITIAayogchief
executiveofficerSindhushreeKhullarwillbethechiefofthis
group.14thFinancecommission(YVReddy)gave42%verticle
taxdevolutiontostates.So,obviouslyUnionwillcutdownthe
allocationofCSS,hopingthatstateswillbearmoreburdenfrom
theirownshare.Thissubgroupwillgiverecommendationsfor
smoothtransitionintothatnextgameplan.Unionalreadythinking
ofcuttingdowncontributiontocentrallysponsoredschemesfrom
75%to50%.Theyllgive100%contributiontoselectedschemes
only.
Fiscal
Policy
OLF
Governmentaimstoborrow6lakhcrorefrommarketbyissuing
GSecandTbills.60%ofthemwillbeissuedinAprilSeptember
2015period.TheyevenplantoissueGSecwith40years
maturityperiod!RBInothappywiththis,sayingifsomuchmoney
pulledoutofmarketbyGovernment,thencorporate
bonds/debentureswillnotfindmuchinvestors.Samereason,if
theproposedPublicdebtManagementagencyismadetoborrow
arbitrarilyfrommarketdependingonwhimsandfanciesof
Government,itllhurtIndianeconomyinlongrun.AssuchFRBM
ActrequiresGovernmenttocurbfiscaldeficitto3%ofGDP,but
thenifCSOdoctorsreporttoraiseGDPnumber(asRajanbhai
andEconomicsurveyalleges),thenentiresystemwillcollapse,
similartosovereigndebtcrisisinGreece.
HRD
OLF
SCsaysAadharcardisnotmandatorytogetgovt.subsidies.If
anyofficialinsistsforthiscard,hellhavetofaceconsequences.
hrd
NSSOsaysIndianfamiliesfood,Expenditureandworkhabit
differsbythecaste.SC/SCSpendlargerportionoftheirincomein
Ignored foodexpenditurecomparedtoOBC.SCsMostlyengagedinrural
labourorurbanwagejobs,whileOBCsmostlySelfemployedor
salariedjobs.
InBihar,Friends,relativesandNakalMafiasbecomeSpiderman
toclimbschoolbuildingstohelpstudentscheatinboardexams.
(1)educationministersaysstatealonecantcurbit.PatnaHC
unhappy(2)SocialanglepassingMatriculationexamnecessary
forgirlsissue,thereforerelatives/villagersevenriotagainstexam
squads.(3)Ifvigilancetightenedthenonly12%willpassboard
exam,likeitdidin1996(4)betteroptforopenbooksystemexam.
HRD
OLF
HRD
NuclearscientistcumChairmanofIITBombayBoD,Anil
KakodkarcriticisesHRDministryforfasttrackingtheselectionof
Ignored IITdirectors.Itsnotpossibletointerview36candidatesinaday
andappointdirectoramongthem.(wellmaybeheshouldpreach
thesamethingtoUPSCaswell.)
Inbudget2015,governmenthadannouncedhundredcrore
15/45
4/4/2015
HRD
OLF
rupeesforMadressamodernisation.But3000Madressas
affiliatedwithDaroolUlum,havepledgedtheyllnotaccept
Governmentmoney,northeyllstartmodernteachingintheir
institutes.
ExNACmembercumEconomistJeanDrezebeginsfreshround
ofcriticismagainstAadharUIDAI.projectrunningwithoutlegal
HRD
OLF
frameworkoriginallyitwasplannedasavoluntaryfacilitybut
slowlybecomingcompulsorydespitejudicialinterventions.e.g.
FromApril1,UIDcompulsoryforMNREGApaymentin300
districts.Itwilltakeyearsbeforehundredpercentcoverageis
achieved.SothosewithoutAadharcardwillbedeprivedof
Governmentschemebenefits.itcreatesavastinfrastructureof
socialcontrolthatcanbemisused,Fourthingsmustwork
perfectlybiometricdevice,computer,mobileandinternet.
Otherwise,bureaucratscanharasspeopleinpretextofelectricity
/internetconnectivityissues.(e.g.babusayinginternetnot
workingright,giveaddition10rupeessoIwilluseinternetfrom
mypersonalmobiletorunthismachineandgetDBTtransferred
inyouraccountandsoon).Jeansearliercriticismagainstthe
wholeideaofDBTthatmaleheadoftheruralfamilywillblow
awayallthemoneyonbidi,tobacco,desiliquorandgambling.
NewschemeforAgroindustryinnovationEntreprenuership.
Who?MSMEministry.Features:500newincubationcentres.
industry
OLF
agro
DirectlevelacceleratorProgram.helpstartupcompanieswith
helpofSIDBI.FinancestartupcompaniesthroughEquity,Quasi
Equity,Angelfund,Venturecapitalfundetc.remainingfeatures
mostlybolbachchantype.OLFbecauseschemedoesnthavea
fancynameorabbriviation.
industry
OLF
agro
NDDBchiefsaysIndiacantfollowChinesedailymodelbecause
wevetofocusonpovertyalleviation,employmentgenerationand
sustainabledevelopment.Althoughwearelargestproducerof
milkintheworld,ourchallengesareregionalimbalance,
shortageoffodder
industry
P+M
agro
Inbudget2014,theFinanceMinisterhasannouncedthesetting
upofapricestabilisationfund(PSF)Tocombatfoodinflation.
FinallyfundissetupwithRs.500crore.Thismoneywillloanedto
stateandcentralagenciesasworkingcapitalorforbuying
perishableagrihorticulturalcommoditiesfromfarmersandsellat
cheaperpricetocustomers.AtpresentPSFwillonlyfocuson
Onionandpotatoes.)Ifanylossesoccurred,Costwillbeshared
byunionandstate.Additionally,stateswillsetuptheirown
revolvingfund,whereUnion:statescontributionwillbeintheratio
of50:50forgeneralstatesand75:25fornortheasternstates.
industry
OLF
agro
RBIrevisesthenormsforAgriloanreschulementduringnatural
calamities.If50%croplossinadistrict,thentheruleswillbe
triggeredbankcangiverelieftofarmerbyextendtheloan
paymentperiodto35710yearsdependingintypeofloanand
16/45
4/4/2015
damage.
HindunewspapersbossKasturiandSonslimitedbeganoffering
VRStoemployeesforthefirsttimes.Moralofthestory:ifone
Industry
Ignored wantstorunanewspaperthroughsubscriptionfromonlyUPSC
MFG
aspirantsandadrevenuefromonlyDelhiscoachingwallas,then
hellhavetocutdowncostssoonerorlater!
MakeinIndia:FordmotorsopensitsSanandPlant(Ahmedabad),
partofMakeinIndia.Andaimstotripletheexports.SanandKadi
Industry
Ignored Halol135kmsareawillbecomeDetroitofIndia.Governmentbuys
MFG
keychains,cufflinks,goldplatedmugsandothersouvenirsto
promotemakeinIndia,duringNarendraModisEuropevisit.
infra
Ignored RailwayplatformtickettoberaisefromRs.5toRs.10.
infra
Unionhaspermittedtotal14portstohandleimportofhighend
Ignored cars/vehicles.Latestadditions(1)Pipavav,Gujarat(2)L&T,
Chennai.
POnly
Railbudget2015announcedKayakulpcounciltotransform
Indianrailways.RatanTatawillheadthisbody,itllhave
representativesfromrailtradeunionsaswell.
OLF
GovernmentdoingafeasibilitystudytoConstructanadvancedfor
militaryandcivilianpurposeinTawang,ArunanchalPradesh.
Becausein62swar,ChinasforcesenteredIndiathroughthis
route,soairconnectivityisverycrucial,Otherwisebyroadittakes
16hourstoreachTawangfromGuwahati
infra
OLF
NaturalGas(CH3)=>Ammonia(NH3)=>Urea.Therefore,price
andsupplyofNaturalgasaffectsureaproduction.Departmentof
fertilizercomesupwithfollowingproposal:GAILwillarrangepool
ofnaturalgasandsupplythemtoallfertilizercompaniesatprice=
Averageof(desi+importedgas).Benefit:companiesgetgasat
reasonableprice,canproducemoreureadomesticallyso,
Governmentsubsidybillonimportedureawilldecline.{Another
move}Thegovernmentisplanningtosetupatleasttennew
ureaplantsincoalrichStatesofChhattisgarh,Jharkhand,Bihar,
WestBengal,Maharashtra,UttarPradeshetal.Chinaalsousing
technologytoproduceureafromcoal,wealsoneedtoexplore,to
becomeselfrelianceandreducesubsidybill.Anothersolution:
convertingAPMCmandiwasteintomanure.
infra
2009:Departmentoftelecommunicationhadbannedprepaid
mobileSIMSinJ&KandNorthEastforsecurityreasons.Although
laterthebanwaslifted,butstringentconditionswereplacedon
Ignored
suchcards.ThenMinistrysetupCommitteeunderHome
SecretaryLCGoyal,andextendedprepaidcarsforthisregions
foranother2years.
infra
infra
infra
P+M
ParliamentpassesMinesandMinerals(Developmentand
Regulation)AmendmentBill,2015andtheCoalMines(Special
Provisions)Bill,2015.BenefitsGovernmentmonopolyended
overcoalextraction.Foreigninvestmentpermitted.
17/45
4/4/2015
Railwaysmisc.Tocheckmenaceoftouts,railwayupgradeits
onlineticketbookingsystem.Nowonceyourbuyaticket,youllbe
Ignored loggedoutautomaticallyandwillhavetofillinyourdetailsagain
tobuynextticket.Anexpresstrainstartedtoconnecttwo
importantTakhtsoftheSikhPanthSriAnandpurSahiband
Amritsar
infra
infra
OLF
infra
OLF
CoalministrylaunchesonlineCoalProjectsMonitoringPortal(e
CPMP)foralllargeprojects,bothpublicandprivate.
Complaints/disputescanbefiledonline.Thiswillremove
bottlenecksandfasttracktheprojectsbyimproving
communicationbetweenBusinesstoGovernment(B2G),Union
GovernmenttoStateGovernment(G2G)andsoon.
Geotechnicaltextileproductsareusedforworkrelatedsoil,rock
e.g.layingdownroadsandpavementsinhillyareas,slope
stabilization,protectingriverembankmentstunnelsrailtracketc.
MarineEngineeringSoilErosionlandfillsandwastemanagement.
BenefitsofGeotextileproductslessmaintenance,needless
space.roadwillnothavepotholes.groundstabilityduring
disasters.Indiaisaleadingproducer,andnowMinistryofTextile
willpromotethissectorinNorthEast.
PMOasksRailwayministerwhytrainsarelate,Prabhubegins
Ignored analysingemergencyerafilesbecausetrainsranonschedule
duringthattime.
infra
Policy,Governance,Accountability,Administration
POnly
MarchW1&W2
ModisMotionofthankstoPresidentspeech,defeatedinRajyaSahba.The
modifiedversionthanksPresidentbutwithregretthatthereisnomentionof
highlevelcorruptionorblackmoney.Thismotionthanksdefeatisfourthin
thehistoryofIndianparliament.
POnly
MaharashtraGovernmentscraps5%MuslimquotainGovernmentjobsand
admissions.Butthosewhoalreadygotjob/admissiontheyllcontinueto
stay.
P+M
Delhiisaunionterritorytherefore,TheHomeMinistryisthenodalauthority
ofmakingalltopbureaucraticappointments.Therehadbeenalogjam
betweenAAPGovernmentvsMHAaboutappointmentofDelhichief
Secretary.Result:GoaChiefSecretaryKKSharma,willtakeoverasDelhi
ChiefSecretary.
P+M
99thAmendmentAct2014replacescollegiumsystemwithNJAC.ANational
JudicialAppointmentsCommissionwillselectthejudgesforSupremecourt.
ManyPILsfiledinSCagainstthisact.Agitatedattorneygeneralsays
judgesjobistojudgecasesandnotappointbrotherjudges,and
independenceofjudiciarydoesnotincludesittingjudgesmakingjudicial
appointments.
P+M
UnionMinisterofStateforHomeKirenRijijusaysArticle370(J&K)ofthe
Constitutionisatemporaryandtransitionalprovision.Somedayitllhaveto
beremoved,tofullyintegrateJ&KintoIndia.However,healsoconfessed
18/45
4/4/2015
thatModiGovernmentdoesnthavethenumberstopasssuchConstitutional
amendmentbill,sooppositionshouldnotworry.
P+M
LawCommissionJusticeA.P.Shah:255threportaboutelectoralreforms(1)
bannewspaperadvertisementsontheeveofelectionsbebanned.(2)ban
Independentcandidatesfromcontestingelectionsbecausemostlytheyre
dummycandidateswithnochancesofwinning(3)ifanycandidateindulges
inpaidnewsdisqualifyhim(4)banelectionrelatedbroadcastfrombothprint
andelectronicmediafor48hoursbeforeelection(5)needtoregulateexit
pollsandbringmoretransparencyintheirmethodology.(6)makeit
compulsoryforpartiestodeclarealldonations,eveniflessthanRs.20,000
(7)needcollegium/selectionCommitteetopickElectioncommissioners(8)
didnotfavorcompulsoryvotingmodelofGujaratandNGOsdemandfor
righttorecallrighttoproportionalrepresentation.
P+M
LawCommissionJusticeA.P.Shah:255threportaboutelectoralreforms(1)
bannewspaperadvertisementsontheeveofelectionsbebanned.(2)ban
Independentcandidatesfromcontestingelectionsbecausemostlytheyre
dummycandidateswithnochancesofwinning,theyonlyconfusethevoters
andsplitvoteshare.(3)ifanycandidateindulgesinpaidnewsdisqualify
him(4)banelectionrelatedbroadcastfrombothprintandelectronicmedia
for48hoursbeforeelection(5)needtoregulateexitpollsandbringmore
transparencyintheirmethodology.(6)makeitcompulsoryforpartiesto
declarealldonations,eveniflessthanRs.20,000,iftotal20croresor20%of
partycontributioncomesfromsuchsmallamounts.Uploadallsuchdataon
ECIwebsite,penaltyfornondisclosure.(7)needcollegium/selection
CommitteetopickElectioncommissioners.ItshouldincludePM,LoPinLok
Sabha/leaderoflargestoppositionpartyandCJI.(8)didnotfavor
compulsoryvotingmodelofGujaratandNGOsdemandforrighttorecall
righttoproportionalrepresentationorevenstatefundingofelection.
However,indirectsubsidiesinkindmaybegiventopoliticalparties.(9)
introducecommonelectoralrollsforparliament,VidhanSabhaandlocal
assemblyelectionsbyamendingtherelevantacts.(10)MustuseEVM
totalizertopreventvoterharassmentafterresults.(11)setupmoreelection
benchesinhighcourtandtheyshouldpassorderwithin90daysafter
argumentconclusion.(12)Amendthe10thscheduleaboutantidefection.
ThedisqualificationdecisionshouldbemadebyPresident/governorwith
helpofECI,insteadofSpeaker/chairman.(12)ECIshouldbegivenseparate
independentSecretariat.(13)ifcandidatefailstogiveproperrecordof
electionExpenditures,debarhimfor5years,insteadofpresent3years.
M+I
BritishfilmmakerLeeslieUdwinmadeadocumentaryIndiasdaughter
aboutDec2012gangrape.SheinterviewedaccusedMukeshSinghinTihar
Jail,whoshowednoremorseandinsteadblamedthevictim.Governmentof
IndiabansitstelecastonBBC/NDTV.Butmoviesurfacedonyoutube.Pro
banarguments(1)Mukeshsvillainousremarkswillenragethepublic,scare
thewomenandmaycreatelawandorderproblems.(2)casestillgoingin
Supremecourtsonotapttoreleasesuchvideo,theymayaffectjudges
viewpointabouttheaccused.(3)allegationsthatLeesliepaidmoneyto
Mukeshtomakesuchcontroversialremarksand/orshefilmedhimwhilehe
wasunawareofthecamera.(4)Leeslieviolatedtermsandconditionslaid
downbyTiharjailadministration.Antibanarguments(1)needtoexposethe
regressivemalemindset.(2)intheageofyoutube,notpossiblebanany
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4/4/2015
videofully.(3)LeesliehadgotallrawfootagesclearedbyTiharjail
administrator,onlyafterthatmoviewasedited.
M+I
SpecialCBIJudgeBharatParasharsummonsMohanforcoalscam.Mohan,
KumarMangalamBirlaandthencoalSecretaryPCParakhaccusedunder
PreventionofCorruptionAct(PCA)1988forgivingTalabiraIIcoalblockto
BirlasHINDALCO.Primeministerisnotimmunefromcriminalcases,
whetherheisintheofficeoroutsidetheoffice.AlthoughMohanmaytryto
dodgeitbysaying,Iwasapublicservantatthattime,soGovernment
permissionnecessarybeforebeginningmyprosecutionunderPCAact.Then
ballwillfallinPresidentPranabscourttograntthesanction.
OLF
QuotesAgainsttheordinanceRaj(1)GVMavalankar:ordinanceare
inherentlyundemocratic,andcannotbejustifiedexceptincaseofextreme
urgencyoremergency.(2)mid80s:BiharGovernmentbeganpracticeof
issuingandrenewingOrdinancesatregularinterval.SCjudgmentsaid:The
powertopromulgateanordinanceisessentiallyapowertobeusedtomeet
anextraordinarysituationanditcannotbeallowedtobepervertedtoserve
politicalends,becauseitiscontrarytoalldemocraticnormsthatthe
Executiveshouldhavethepowertomakealaw..
OLF
egov:DelhiGovernmenttouploaderationcardsonitswebsite.Beneficiary
cantakeprintoutanduseittoavailfoodsecurityactentitlements.
OLF
CICordersDelhiLieutenantGovernorsofficecomesunderRTIact.Delhi
HCordersAttorneyGeneralsofficecomesunderRTIact.Untilnowboth
hadbeendodgingtransparency,citingpendingcourtcasesabout
interpretationofpublicauthorityterminRTIact.
OLF
Overthelast10years,expenditurebypoliticalpartiesfortheLokSabha
electionshasraisedby400percent,saysareport.2004election~230
croresspent,2014election:~1160croresspent.
OLF
WesternUttarPradeshpolicesettingupasocialmediamonitoringlabto
counterhatespeechonFacebookandTwitter.Becauseearliermiscreants
usedsocialmediatoinciteriotsatMuzaffarnagar,Deoband,Meerutand
Aligarh.
OLF
DelhijudgeordersGovernmenttostrictlyimplementArmsactandstop
peoplefromfiringgunsduringmarriageprocessionbecauseitcankill
innocentbystanders.
OLF
SEBIoffers2yearsspecialhardshipleavetoitswomenemployees.Sothey
cantakecareoftheirfamily,kidsandhealth,overandabovethematernity
leave.Ifotherorganizationsfollowedthesamemodel,itllhelpincreasing
womenparticipationinworkforce.
OLF
InternationalParliamentaryUnion(Geneva)sayswomenparticipationin
parliamentshavedoublesinlast20years.Nowtheyhold~22%ofall
parliamentaryseatsworldwide.Bestnation:Rwanada,Boliva,Andorra,
Sweden.Over120nationsprovideQuotatowomeninparliamentseats.
PerhapsIndiashouldconsideraswell.
OLF
AnAssameseMuslimtraderwasarrestedinDimapur(Nagaland)oncharge
ofrapingaNagawoman.Nagalandnewspapersandbloggerswrongly
referredhimasIBI(illegalBangladeshiimmigrant).Theenragedmobtook
lawintotheirownhands,bargedintotheprison,draggedhim&murdered
20/45
4/4/2015
himinfullpublicviewattownsquare.Version1:Showsthedisenchantment
ofpeopletowardsIndianpoliceandjudiciaryinrapecases.Version2:
Personwasfalselyaccused,butmurderedafterherefusedtopayillegaltax
imposedbyNagasecessionists.
OLF
ModigovernmentsettingupOneStopCentresprovideassistance,legal
adviceandpsychologicalcounsellingtowomenwhofacedviolenceor
abuse,plusamobilehelplinenumber.
OLF
RTI:PMOrefusestodiscloseThelettercorrespondencebetweenCMModi
andPMVajpayeeduringGodharariots,sayingthirdpartyinformation
Cannotbedisclosed.ThirdpartybeingModihimself.
OLF
SCupholdslifesentencefor6oilmafiaswhomurderedIOCmanager
ManjunathShanmughamforhiscrusadeagainstOiladulterationin2005.(so
thecaseisgoingoninonecourttoanotherforlast15years).
Ignored Modibecomesthefirstprimeministertohavelaunch@parliamentcanteen.
Ignored
JapanwillingtoallowIndianlawyerstopracticeinJapanifIndiareciprocates
byallowingJapaneselawyershere.
Ignored
Landacquisitionbill,ModivsOppositionvsAnnaballbyball.Basicsalready
coveredinoldarticleonLandordinance.
Ignored Salmankhandrivingandpoachingcases.
Ignored KerjiwalvsP.Bhushanvs.YogendraYadav.Kejriwalsnaturopathy.
Ignored
58RajyaSabhaMPpetitiontoVicePresident,tobeginimpeacehment
processofMadhyaPradeshHCjudgeSKGangeleforsexualharassment.
From2009,ArmyadoptedCommandExitpromotionpolicy,underwhich
theofficersfrominfratryandartillarybranchesweregivenfirstpreferencein
Ignored
promotiontoColonelrank,comparedtotheofficersfromotherbranches.
FinallyArmytribunalhasquashedthispolicyasviolationofArticle14.
Ignored RahulGandhissecurityprofiling/politicalsnooping.
POnly
MarW3W4Polity,Governance
AfterDec2012Delhigangrape,thenUPAgovernmenthadsetupNirbhaya
FundwithRs.1kCroreforfinancingwomensafetyprojects,butRTIreveals
hardly200croresusedsofar.Nirbhyafundispartofpublicaccountthat
factisimportantforprelims.
POnly
ModiyettonominatetwoAngloIndianmembersinLokSabhadespite
completing10monthsinpower.Ifappointmentnotmadeby31stmarch,
theyllloseentireyearsallocationoffundsunderMPLADS.Refertotheory
inLaxmikanth
POnly
132ndInterparliamentaryunionheldatHanoi,Vietnam.Theme:
SustainableDevelopmentGoals:Turningwordsintoaction.LokSabha
SpeakerSumitraMahajanattended.
Statescansetuplegislativecouncils(VidhanParishad)onlyafterParliament
approval.Following6statesalreadyhaveit:Currently,onlysixStatesfollow
thebicameralsystemAndhra,Bihar,J&K,Karnataka,Maharashtraand
UP.Followingproposalsarepending(1)threestateswanttocreateupper
21/45
4/4/2015
P+M
house:Assam,RajasthanandOdishaButparliamentyettoclear(2)Andhra
wantstoraisenumberofmembersfrom50to58initslegislativecouncil.
TheresneedforanationalpolicyforcreationofupperhouseinState
legislatures.Otherwisewantonlystategovernmentdecidedtosetupand
abolishthem.Accordingtoexpert,demandforVidhanParishadincreasing
duetoriseinnumberofpoliticianswhocantgetelectedorfindjobsinstate
ownedPSUs.Antiargument:(1)suchseatsmostlyhoggedbydefeated
membersofrulingpartywhogetnominatedtoupperhouse.(2)suchvidhan
parishadsdonthavemuchpower,exceptdelayinglegislationforfour
months.Theyonlyincreasefinancialburdenonstate.
Jatreservation.1992:IndraSwahnyjudgementSClays11parametersfor
inclusionofbackwardclasses,conceptofcreamylayergiven,50%
maximumtotalreservation,subsequentlynationalcommissionforbackward
classessetup.2014,Feb:NationalBackwardclasscommissionsaysJats
notentitledforOBCstatus.2014,March:UPAgovernmentnotifiedJatsas
P+M
Otherbackwardcommunity.2015,March:SChasstuckdownJatsOBC
reservationsaying(1)10yearsagoNCBCdidasurveyanddidnotfindJats
backward.so,ifGovernmentnowcallsthembackward,itsRetrograde
governance(2)NCBCcommissionwasnotinfavorofgivingreservationto
Jats.ItsdecisionordinarilybindingonGovernmen,unlessthereare
compellingreasonstodosomethingopposite.(3)justbecausestate
governmentshavegivenreservationtothem,thataloneisnotacompelling
reasons.BecauseJatsarepoliticallyorganized(4)Governmentshould
insteadfocusongivingOBCstatustoothersocialclassessuchas
transgenders.Constitutionalangles:15/4and16/1:statecanmakespecial
provisionsandreservation38:Statetoeliminiateinequality46:stateto
promoteeducationamongSC/ST.protectthemfromsocialinjustice355:
claimsofSC/STinGovernmentjobs.340:Presidenttoappoint
commissionforbackwardclasses341/342:Presidenttospecifycastesand
tribesinSC/ST.Epilogue:GroupofJATstudentsfilepetitionclaimingthey
alreadyhadfilledentranceexamformsasOBCcategoryformedical/dental
entranceexams,andgotdecentranksinOBCbutnowtheyllbeconverted
toGeneralcategory.ButSCrefusestogiveanyrelieftothem.
P+M
2013:CICorderedpoliticalpartiesarepublicauthoritiesanswerabletoRTIs.
ButnoneofthepartiesappealedagainsttheordertoCICortoanyhigher
court.SonowCICsaysitcantforceuncooperativeparties,RTIcampaigners
needtoapproachgovernmentorcourts.ExpertsfearthiswilldefeattheRTI
purposeifallbodiesbecomeuncooperativelikethis.
P+M
UnionInformationandTechnologyMinistrylaunchedBharatniti.in,apublic
policyportaltoputwhatsandhowsofpolicymaking,usingTraditionalIndian
wisdom.MainsQuestion:Relevanceofonlinemediainpolicydiscourses.
P+M
DigiLockerisaGovernmentportalthatallowsuserstosaveinsurance,
medicalreports,PANcard,passport,marriagecertificate,schoolcertificate
andotherdocumentsinthedigitalformat.Theycanbeverifiedonlineand
printed.Highestnumberofusers:Gujarat>UP>Maharashtra.Digilockeris
operatedbyDEITYDepartmentofElectronicsandInformationTechnology,
underthecommunicationandITMinistry.Atpresent10MBfreespace.
22/45
4/4/2015
Governmentplanningtoincreaseitto1GB.
P+M
DelhiPolicelaunchesBeatbookapp.SinceBritishRajandCr.PCsystem,
Beatpolicemanhastorecordhisdailyactivities,petrolingrouteetc.Butin
penpapermodeittakeslotoftime.Thiswebbasedappwillhelpmoniter
GPSCoordinatesofthepolicemenandautomaticallyupdatehisbeatbook,
andnotifySuperiorofficersThroughacentralisedserver.ThisfollowsModis
visionforSMARTpolicing.
P+M
GovernmentlaunchesTwitterSamvadincollaborationwithTwitterandits
IndianacquiredZipdialcompany.Feature:selectedGovernmenttweetswill
bedirectlysenttocitizensmobileasSMS.Willhelpinegovernance,
disasterManagement,rescueops,lawandorderManagement.
P+M
ITActSection66Aremoved.Timeline2008:UPAGovernmentamendedIT
act2000toadd66Aprovidesjailupto3years2012:ShreyaSinghalfiles
PIL.2015,March:SCstrikesdownSection66AReasons:Article19(2)
empowersthestatetoputreasonablerestrictionsonfreedomofspeechfor
publicinterest.ButthedefinitionsgiveninITactsection66Aweretoovague,
andopentomisuse.Thoughtcontrolandrestrictionsonfreeideas,isa
copyrightoftotalitarianregimes,ourConstitutionenvisagesarepublicanda
democracy.Sinceoffensespoorlydefined,subjecttoarbitrary
interpretationandarrestevenformerecausingannoyance,inconvenienceto
someVIP.SC2013guidelinesaysarrestcanbemadeonlyafter
authorizationfromaSeniorpoliceofficerbutguidelinenotfollowedalways.
AssemTrivediarrestedforacartoon,AProfessorarrestedinW.Bengalfor
forwardingcartoonaboutMamtaBenarjee,2Punegirlsarrestedfor
facebookpostaboutShivSenasforcefulBandhonMumbaicity,andlatesta
UPteenagerarrestedforapostagainstSPleaderAzamKhan.Anti
argumentsSection69Aand79stillnotremovedfromITact.So
Governmentfreetoblockwebsitesandcontentforprotectingpublicorder,
Indiassovereigntyetc.Policecanstillarrestpersonforonlinecontent,
underIPCsection153(hatespeech),296A(religiousoutrage),505(Public
mischief)etc.
GujaratstateassemblypassesantiterrorBillnamedGujaratControlof
OrganisedCrimeBill(GUJCOC).Earlieritwasrejectedtwice:Kalam(2004)
andPratibha(2008).Salientfeaturesphonetapingpermittedand
admissibleasevidenceincourts,personcanbedetainedforupto180days
basedonphonetappingaloneconfessionmadebeforeSPorhigherpolice
M+I
officerisadmissibleincourt.stateGovernmentanditsofficersareimmune
fromanylegalaction/compensationtosuspects,whiledoingworkinpublic
interestandgoodfaith[{}Antiargumentsnotalignedwiththe
provisionsofNSA,CrPC,EvidenceActorNIAAct.draconianprovisions.
AimstomuzzlejholachhapNGOsandcivilsocietyactivists.POTAhad
similarprovisionsbutwasrepealedduetomisuses.{}ProArguments
Gujaratsvulnerablecoastline,riseinnumberoforganizedcrimegangs.
MaharashtraControlofOrganisedCrimeAct(MCOCA)hassimilar
draconianprovisions.
23/45
4/4/2015
M+I
TheParliamentaryStandingCommitteeonPersonnelandLaw,beginsstudy
onholdingsimultaneousLokSabhaandAssemblyelectionsfrom2019.
CommitteeChairmanRajyaSabhaMP,E.M.SudarsanaNatchiappan
(Congress).willsavelotofmanandmaterialExpenditure.PostIndependent
Indiasfirstfourelectionswereheldinthismanner,butthenpractice
discontinuedduetothedissolutionofsomeStateassemblies.Pro:170th
Lawcommissionreport.LKAdvaniAnti:ExCECSYQureshi,becauseifa
Stategovernmentwasdissolvedwithinsixmonths,thengivenstatewillhave
(A)toleratethatpartyforfouryearsOR(B)workunderpresidentialrulefor4
years.Itllgoagainstthespiritofdemocracy,andonepartywillbeableto
runlikeadictatorforfiveyears.
SriLankanPrimeMinisterRanilWickremesinghetables19thConstitutional
amendmentbill.ProvisionconvertpresidentialformofGovernmentto
M+I
parliamentarysystem.reducepresidentialpowers.Presidentcanhave
only2terms.Thencantgetreelected.Inshort,planstoundothe
ConstitutionalchangesmadebypreviousPresidentRajapaksa.Topic
becomesimportantforGS2MainscomparingConstitutions.
OLF
DelhiGovernmentwillnotgivepermitstotaxisunlesstheyinstallGPS
metersforwomensafety.
OLF
UnionGovernmentprovides33%reservationforwomeninthedirect
recruitmentfornongazettedpostsofconstablestosubinspectorsinthe
policeforcesofallUnionTerritories,Delhiincluded.
OLF
EChasbegandeduplicatingexercisetoremovduplicatevotersbycross
checkingvotersidnumberswithaadharnumber.EChopefulthatafter
removingduplicates,voting%willbe8485%inanyelection.
OLF
1stGlobalDalitconferenceheldinWashington.TheywantUScongressto
passaresolutioncondemningpracticeofuntouchabilityinIndia,Nepaland
otherSouthAsiannations.
OLF
PoliticalpartiesareexemptedfromIncometaxandgetothertaxbenefits.
Only200outof1600partiesactuallycontestinanylocal,stateofnational
election.Itmeansremaining1400aremainlysetupfortaxavoidance
purpose.NowCICsaystheirregistrationwillbecancellediftheyrenot
contestingelection.
OLF
KarnatakaGovernmentwantstobuild2damsacrossCauveryriverat
Mekedatu.TamilnaduGovernmentaskedModitostopitsconstruction,else
Tamilnaduswatersupplywillbeaffected.
OLF
PublicprosecutorUjjwalNikamsaysKasabneveraskedforBiryani.Nikam
cookedupthatstorytoenragepublic,sothatmediastopsportrayingKasab
asascapegoatandmisguidedyouth.NowMaharashtraGovernmenthas
termedNikamsactionasunfortunate.Makesagoodcasestudyforethics.
OLF
LokSabhaSecretariathasputGodseasanunparlimentarianword.Shiv
SenaMPHemantTukaramGodseobjects,whyentirecommunityssurname
bedeemedasanunparliamentarianwordforthedeedsofoneman
NathuramGodse!?
Amnestyinternationalreportondeathsentences:No.1isChina.Iran,Iraq
andSaudiArabiaaccountedfor75%ofworldexecutions.Indiancourts
award~64deathsentenceayearbutnohangingsin201415becauseofSC
24/45
4/4/2015
OLF
judgmentthatmentaldisabilityandPresidentialdelayindisposingmercy
petitionfilesarealsothegroundsforcommutingdeathsentences.Latest
execution:Kasab(2012)andAfzalGuru(2013).Utahbecomesfirst
Americanstatetolegalizeexecutionbyfiringsquad,duetoshortageoflethal
injectiondrugs.Pak.ResumedexecutionofprisonersafterPeshawar
armyschoolmassacre.~8kPakistaniprisonersondeathrow.Nocredible
evidenceorstatisticstoshowthatfearofcapitalpunishmentreducescrime
rateinacountry.
KarnatakaStateassemblypassesbills:Class1to5mustbetaughtin
OLF
childsmothertongueorKannadaKannadatobeoneofthecompulsory
languageforclass1to10,(ExceptCBSE/ICSE).Itllbecomelawonce
Presidentassents.
OLF
Supremo/HighcommandcultureinIndianpoliticalparties.Evennon
dynasticalpartieshaveite.g.AAP,AIUDF,AsomGanaParishad(AGP),
TrinamoolCongresstonameafew.suchcentralizationcomesbecause
ourpartiesdonthaveindependentcivilsocietyorganizationalbasetoputa
checkontheme.g.RSSonBJPorerstwhileAnnamovementonKejriwal.
IndianstatesmaaibaapnaturefromgivingjobsunderMNREGAto
transportingpeopleviarailwaystobuildingindustrialcomplexesthrough
PSUs.SupremoleadertriestobecomebossofbothpartyandGovernment
(PM/CM)tocontrolthisflow,dolloutlargessetovotebank,loyalworkers,
contractorsandcorporateswhohelphiminelections.Endresult:electoral
corruption.Politicalfragmentationwithnewpartiespoppingupeverynow
andthenbydisgruntledleaderse.g.YSRCongress,YogendraYadavs
proposedpartyetc.
OLF
UPpassesabilltofixaccountabilityandfinancialpowersofMayors.
OLF
UnderIPCSection304A,rashandNegligentdrivinggetsmax.2yearseven
ifdeathcaused.Supremecourtsaysthereisneedforstringentpunishment.
DelhiHCtoosaysdrunkdriverislikeasuicidebomberanddeservesastern
punishment.
OLF
In2011,municipalCorporationofDelhi(MCD)wassplitinto3partsNorth,
SouthandEast,bythenCMSheilaDixit,hopingthatitwillimprove
efficiency.ButnowNorthandEastDelhicivicbodiesinfinancialcrisis,
unabletopaysalariestostaffandevencancelledshoepurchaseplanfor
primaryschoolkids.Now,authoritiesplanningforremerger,butpolitical
partiesnoncommittal.Moralofthestorydecentralizationnotalwaysgood,
sometimeseconomiesofscalebetter.
OLF
Plannedmergerof6JantaParivarparties:SamajwadiParty,theRashtriya
JanataDal,theJD(U),theIndianNationalLokDal,theJanataDal(Secular)
andtheSamajwadiJanataParty.TheirmainleaderwillbeMulayamSingh
YadavandElectionsymbol:Bicycle.
Ignored
Budget2015sessionmostproductiveinLokSabhaoveradecadebecause
bothhousesworkedmorethantheirscheduledtime.
Ignored
GoaGovernmentdoesntlistGandhiJayanti(2ndOct)instatepublic
holidays.LaterapologizesforTypingmistake.
FIRagainstExCongressMinisterRenukaChaudharyfortakingbribesfrom
25/45
4/4/2015
Ignored apersontogethimLokSabhaelectionticketsinAndhraPradesh.
Controversiessurrounding(1)MysteriousdeathofKarnatakaIASofficerDK
Ravi.CBIinquiryordered.(2)AquitalsinHashimpuramassacre(1987)(3)
Ignored
FireaccidentinParliamentcomplex(4)M.P.Governorssonaccusedin
Vyapamrecruitmentsscam,founddeadinmysteriouscircumstances
Aftertakingoverthepower,ModiGovernmenthadaskederstwhileCongi
governorstovoluntarilyresign.ButonegovernorAzizQureshihaddragged
Ignored ModiGovernmenttoSupremecourt.Aftermath:hewastransferredto
Mizoramandfinallyremovedfromoffice.NowWestBengalGovernor
KeshariNathTripathiwillholdadditionalchargeofMizoram.
ChiefJusticeofIndiaJusticeH.L.DattuholdingconferenceofHighCourt
chiefjusticesongoodFriday.Christianscriticise,ButDattusaysevenin
Ignored
past,conferencesheldonpublicholidays.Besidesifhelponworkingday
thencourtworkwillsuffer.
Ignored
DelhiHighCourtsaysevenforeignairlinehavingevenoneofficeinIndia,is
boundbytheSexualHarassmentofWomenatWorkplaceAct2013.
Controversiessurrounding(1)MysteriousdeathofKarnatakaIASofficerDK
Ravi.CBIinquiryordered.(2)AcquittalsinHashimpuramassacre(1987)(3)
FireaccidentinParliamentcomplex(4)M.P.Governorssonaccusedin
Vyapamrecruitmentsscam,founddeadinmysteriouscircumstances(5)
Ignored CAGreportsaysHoodaGovernmentfloutednormstohelpRaabertVadra
grablandinHaryana.(6)UPPSCpaperleakedonwhatsapp,exam
cancelled.(7)AAPinfighting,MedhaPatkarquits.(8)SCissuesnoticeto
BJPleaderL.K.AdvanietalforBabriMasjiddemolitioncaseof1992.(9)
Landamendmentbillballbyball.
Ignored
GujaratHighCourtsaysliveinrelationshipandsubsequentbreachof
promisetomarry,isnotrape.
Environment&Agriculture
POnly
MarchW1&W2
ExAnchorofCCTV(ChineseDoordarshan)Ms.ChaiKingsdocumentaryon
Chinaspollutionproblem,hasbecamehitoninternet.EvenChinese
parliamentexpectedtodebateonit.Moviesimpactisevencomparedto
RachaelCarsonsbookSilentSpring(1962)thatstartedenvironment
movementinUSA.
POnly
ThedifferenceinpartialpressureoftheCO2betweenseawaterandair
facilitategaseousexchange.Duetothisphysicochemicalprocess,Ocean
actsasthelargestcarbonsinkonearth.Thedissolvedcarbondioxideis
importantbecause(1)itregulatesPHofseawaterandtherebyhealthof
marineorganisms(2)helpsmarineorganismsformcalcareousmaterial,later
theydie=>sediments=>petroleum(3)helpPhytoplanktonsin
photosynthesis.
POnly
SarusCraneistheofficialbirdofUPstate.NGTordersdeclaringDhanauri
andParasaulaswetlandtoprotectthisspecies.
POnly
2012:googledevelopstrekkercamera,toprovideStreetviewofnotable
touristsites.LatestMaping:(1)Amazonrainforest(2)Sagarmathanational
park,MountEverest.
26/45
4/4/2015
POnly
CorroboreefrogsfoundingAustralianranges.Atonepoint,only4wereleft,
henceconsideredtherarestfrogintheworld.
POnly
GlobalForestWatchisanonlineplatformthatgeneratessatelliteimagesof
forestlossworldwide,usinggooglemaps.GovernmentsandNGOsuseitas
benchmarktoassessforestloss.
POnly
UlvellaleptochaeteisanendophyticAlgaefoundinBritishIslesandIndian
Ocean.Thesearemicroscopicalageliveinsidemacroscopicseaweeds.
Suchendophyticmarineorganismsusuallyproducetaxol/paclitaxelwhich
canbeusedinanticancerdrugs.Althoughthisalgaeisyettobetestedfor
presenceofthisanticancercompound.
POnly
ChamaleonsemegedinAfricapostGondwanaperiod,around90million
yearsback.RamanSpectruscopydecodestheChameleoncolorchanging
mechanism.Theirskinismadeupoflatticeofnanocrystalscalled
iridophores,thatcancometogetherandshiftlightswavelengthtochange
color.
POnly
Buddha/MalabarPeacockbutterflyisendemictoSouthAsia.Remaining
varitiesofpeacockbutterfliesfoundinWestBengal.PlusanewMalayan
GreenBandedPeacockbutterfly(Papiliopalinurus)alsodiscoveredin
W.Bengalrecently.ThisbutterflyisalsofoundinMynmar,Borneoand
Philippines.
POnly
HighestpopulationofRhinosinIndia:(1)KazirangaNationalParkinAssam
(2000)(2)JaldaparaNationalPark,W.Bengal(250).ButinBengal,therhino
malefemaleratiois2:1,hencedifficulttomanagesustainablepopulation.
POnly
SolarImpulse2(Si2),theworldsfirstsolaraircraftthataimstocircumvent
globewithoutadropoffuel.ItbeganjourneyfromAbuDhabiandlandedin
Ahmedabad.PilotscumdevelopersareAndreBorschbergandBertrand
PiccardfromSwitzerland.Aircraftweight:2300,wingslargerthanBoeing
747butweightsjustlikeacar.speedbetween36to140kmph.planstocover
worldin25daysflightspreadacross5monthsduration.
P+M
PresidentapprovesMaharashtraAnimalPreservation(Amendment)Bill,
1995tobanslaughterofcattle.Beefsellingpunishableupto5years.Will
affect1crorepeopleslivelihood.NorthEasternstatesdontprohibitit.
remainingstateseithercompletelyprohibitorselectivelypermitwith
certificatestoslaughtercattleotherthancow.ProslaughterPoints:cheap
sourceofproteinforpoors.Livelihoodtomillions.Nopointinwasting
grassfoddertouselessoragedanimal.Antislaughterpoints:Theweakand
meekneedmoreprotectionandcompassion.
P+M
CriticallyEndangeredGreatIndianBustards(GIB)istheStatebirdof
Rajasthan.Total150GIBliveinIndia,outofthem~100inRajasthanalone,
andremaininginMaharashtra,Gujarat,andAndhraPradesh.Butthenew
censussaysonly50GIBleftinRajasthan.AndzeroGIBleftinUttarPradesh
andBihar.ThardesertofRajasthanisthebreedinggroundforGIB.Officially
itscalledDesertNationalParkbutlegallyitsonlyasanctuarytherefore
humanactivitiespermitted,evenSupremecourtpermittedschool
constructionshere.Otherdangers(1)installationofwindmills(2)shortageof
forestguards.
P+M
WorldconferenceondisasterriskreductionatSendai,Japanfrom1418th
March2015.Indiashomeministerwillparticipate.Theywillevolvestrategy
27/45
4/4/2015
followingthecurrentHyogoFrameworkofAction.
OLF
ISROstudysaysSunderbanslosinggreencoverandlandmass.
OLF
NGTordersONGCandotherbodiestopay~95crorestothetraditional
fishermenfamiliesofRaigaddistrictinMaharashtra.Thisisthehighest
compensationorderpassedsofar.
OLF
Globalwarming/climatechangewillincreasepestpopulationandvariety
because(1)insectdevelopmentstagesgetchanged(2)theydontdie
quicklyinwintersbecausetemperaturenotcoldenough.
OLF
MadhyaPradesh>SingrauliDistrict>MahanCoalmines.Tribalsare
opposingit.GreenpeaceactivistMs.Pillaiwantedtoraisethismatterto
BritishMPs.ButGovernmentofIndiabannedherforeigntravel.New
condition:ifshegiveswrittenundertakingthatshewillnotmakeany
submissionsaboutrightsviolationsinIndiabeforeaBritishParliamentary
Committee,onlythenshellbeallowedtotravel.Becausesuchtestimonies
leadtoreleaseofbiasedannualreportsbyEUandUSparliamentsand
adversetradenegotiations.Finalverdict:DelhiHCliftsthebansaying
developmentactivitesandcounterpointdebatesgoingonsinceages.But
thatcantbeusedforcurtailingcitizensfundamentalrights,mereexpression
ofcounterpointcantbeclaimedantinationalactivity.hencePillaifreeto
go.
Ignored
Australianauthoritieskill~700koalasbecausetheywerestarvingdueto
foodshortage.
Ignored
JapansAoshimaislandisalsoknownasCatislandbecausecattohuman
populationratiois6:1.
POnly
MarW3W4Environment,Agro
TottenGlacieristhelargestinEastAntarctica.Butithasbeenmeltingatfast
rate,Scientistsnowfoundtwopathwayschannelingwarmoceanwater
underitandtherebyincreasingthemelting.
POnly
Chennaihighestpercapitaemitterofgreenhousegases,saysIISc.
POnly
CyclonePamravagedPacificnationVanutu(capitalPortVila).Itspresident
BaldwinLonsdaleseeksworldhelp.
POnly
FirstcountrytousebiofuelinaviationCanada(2012).Recently,Hainan
AirlinesbecomesChinasfirstcompanytoflyBoeing737withbiofuel.This
biofuelhasconventionalATFfuelanddiscardedcookingoilfromrestaurant
in50:50ratio.Chineserestaurantscanselloffusedcookingoil,otherwise
theyusedtoeitherthrowitawayorreuseitmultipletimeinfoodpreparation
whichisbadforhumanhealth.
POnly
IndiasnotedenvironmentalistRajendraSingh(nicknameWaterman)won
StockholmWaterPrize2015(Sweden,KingCarlXVIGustaf).Hewasborn
inUP,workedinRajasthanfordecadestosolvedroughtissueinIndian
villages.EarlierhewantMagsaysayawardtoo(2001)forcommunitybased
waterManagement.HisviewsGovernmenthasreplacedrejuvenationwith
contractordrivensewagetreatmentandriverfrontDevelopment.merely
declaringGangaasnationalriver=insufficient.Pollutermustbepunished.
28/45
4/4/2015
hesrunningJalJanJodocampaigntospreadwaterconservation
message.
POnly
BritishnaturalistCharlesDarwincameacrossfossilsofToxodonand
Macruchenia.TheseSouthAmericanmammalshadtrunklikeelephant,
headlikeahippoandteethlikearodent.Darwinwasunabletoplacethese
SouthAmericanungulatesinthelineofmammalianevolution.(ungulates
=animalswithhooves).Theory1:theyrerelatedwithAfricanmammalslike
elephantsandaardvarks.Theory2:theyrerelatedwithSouthAmerican
SouthAmericanmammalslikearmadillosandsloths.Theory3:theyre
relatedwithCamels.LatestconclusionthroughDNAanalysisToxodonand
Macrucheniabelongtoperissodactylsoddtoedhoofedmammalslike
rhinos,tapirs,andhorses.Andnotrelatedwithcamelinanyway.
POnly
MadhavGadgilwinsUSAsTylerPrizeforEnvironmentalAchievementfor
2015(2lakhdollars).HeplayedkeyroleindraftingNationalbiodiversityact
2002.HewaschairmanoftheWesternGhatsEcologyExpertPanel
(WGEEP),butGovernmentdidnotlikehisreport.Notonebit.Sotheysetup
anotherpanelunderKasturirangan.Nonetheless,American
environmentaliststooknoteofGadgilsreportandgavehimtheaward.
POnly
AfricanElephantSummit,atKasane,Botswana.DelegatessayAfrican
elephantswillbeextinctwithinfewdecadesduetopoachingandivorytrade.
POnly
Usingbiorefining,Itispossibletoturnmacroalgae(seaweeds)intobio
ethanol(fuel),andbyproductslikeagar,pigment,lipidsandfertilziers.
Importantseaweedspecies:GelidiellaacerosaandGracilariadurafrom
WesterncoastofIndia,andGelidiumpusillumcollectedfromsoutheast
coast.Challenge:needtogrowmillionsoftonesofseaweed.Butgoodthing
isseaweedfarmingcanprovidelargescaleemploymenttomanyfishermen,
andreducecoastaleutrophicationandgolbalwarming.
POnly
CamelisthestateanimalofRajasthan.NowStategovernmenthaspassed
thelawslaughter/crueltytocamelPunishableupto5yearsjailandfine.
POnly
Polyhousecultivationintunneldomeshapedgreenhouselikestructures.
KeralaAgriculturalUniversity(KAU)hasdevelopedaseedlesshybrid
cucumberthatisidealforpolyhousecultivation.Tillnowweweredependent
onMNCsfromAsiancountrytoprovideussuchcultivars.
POnly
WWFcelebratesearthhouron28March2015,askingpeopletoswitchoff
lightfor60minutesafter8:30PM.170+countries,~40UNESCOworld
heritagesitesparticipated
POnly
Tostopthenuisanceof>8500MonkeysinDelhi,municipalcorporationwill
installpowerfencingorsimiantapearoundGovernmentbuildings.The
fencewillgiveaverylowvoltageshocktotheanimal,soitdoesntdiebut
justgetsscarredoff.
P+M
Roads,trainsandpowerlinesarecalledLinearinfrastructureprojects.Under
Modiraj,environmentministrydilutedclearancenormsforcuttingtreesfor
suchprojectsundertheForestConservationActof1980.Pro(1)Roadsand
powerlinesvitalforeconomicgrowth,mobilityanddeliveryofservices.Anti
(1)Habitatfragmentation(2)wildlifedeathsinroadaccidentsandpoaching
(3)landslidesanderosion(4)artificialplantationtocompensatethe
forestloss,cannotcompensatefor#1,2,3.Therefore,NationalGreenTribunal
29/45
4/4/2015
hasorderedthatnolinearprojectoranyothernonforestactivitybecarried
outinaforestareaunlessafinalorderhasbeenpassedbytheState
government.
P+M
KarnatakasBandipurTigerreservetousedronetomonitermovementof
animals,poachersandforestfire.Aprivatecompanykeyfalconhasgiven
droneonmonthlyrent,alongwithandroidappHejje(Pugmark)to
coordinatemovementofforestguardsandtigers.Itfliesatalowlevel,local
peoplefeargettingcaughtbyit,thusdronedeterspoachersandjungle
mafia.Simultaneously,sensorbasedcamerainstalledatkeyplacestotrack
movementofmenandanimals.Priceofdrone~2lakhrupees.Factoids:
1973ProjectTigerbegan,Total47tigerreservesin18statescovering~2%
geographicalarea,60%ofworldTigersinIndia.Tigerreserveshave(1)
bufferareawhereforest+nonforestland(2)coreareaexclusivelyfortiger
only.
P+M
Disaster:J&KdevastatedbyanotherfloodinJelum.
InMarchW1,PresidentapprovedMaharashtraAnimalPreservation
(Amendment)Bill,1995tobanslaughterofcattle.Beefsellingpunishable
upto5years.NorthEasternstatesdontprohibitit.remainingstateseither
completelyprohibitorselectivelypermitwithcertificatestoslaughtercattle
otherthancow.ProslaughterPoints:Whatabout1crorepeoples
livelihooddirectlyinbeefindustryandindirectlyinleatherindustry.cheap
P+M
sourceofproteinforpoors.Livelihoodtomillions.Nopointinwasting
grassfoddertouselessoragedanimal.Lions,tigersandothercarnivores
inMumbaizoosnowgetchickenastheirprimaryfeed.Keepersworryabout
theanimalslosingstrengthduetolackofbeef||Antislaughterpoints:The
weakandmeekneedmoreprotectionandcompassion.ExUnion
EnvironmentministerJairamRameshhadsaidmeatandbeefindustry
responsibleforhugeamountofmethaneemissionharmingtheenvironment.
P+M
UndertheNationalGreenTribunalact,NGTcandeliverjusticeonlyin
matterspertainingtofollowingactsWaterAct,TheWaterCessAct,The
ForestConservationAct,TheAirPollutionAct,EnvironmentProtectionAct,
PublicLiabilityInsuranceActandTheBiologicalDiversityAct.Forest
ministrycontendsthatNGTcantdeliveranyVerdictonmattersrelatedto
climatechange.Becauseclimatechangesubjectiscoveredunder
internationalconventionsandprotocols.
P+M
Chinaplanningtoinstallamegasolarpowerplantingeosynchronousorbit.It
willtransfertheelectricityusingmicrowaveorlaserstoacollectoronearth.
Spacebasedsolarpanelscangenerate10timesmoreelectricitythan
groundbasedpanelsperunitarea.EntireideainspiredfromAmerican
sciencefictionwriterIssacAsimovsshortstoryReason.Challenges:
commerciallyviablespacepowerplantwillrequire10,000tonnesofmaterial.
NeedverycheapSatellitelaunchvehicletosenditinspace.solarpanels
needtobeverylightweight
JaitapurNuclearPowerProject(JNPP).Capacity9900MW.PartnersAreva
(France)andNPCIL(India).Itllbethelargestpowergeneratingstationinthe
worlduponcompletion.However,since2005,Governmentbegunissuing
30/45
4/4/2015
OLF
compensationchequestoaffectedfamiliesbut60%ofthemendedupin
litigationbecausemultiplefamilymembersclaimingrightoverthesame
farmsduetooutdatedlandrecords.
OLF
NGTcallsRailwaysthebiggestopentoilet,andordersfineofRs.5000to
anyonefoundlitteringordefecatingontracksorplatforms.
OLF
Giventhehighairpollutionandsmogproblem,ParisMayorcomesupwith
novelsolution.Foraweekonlyvehicleswithoddnumberedplatescan
drive.Remainingwillhavetousepublictransportfreeofcost.Rule
exemptedfortaxis,electriccars,ambulanceandotherpublicvehicles.This
moveisexpectedtoreduceno.ofcarsonstreetby50%,therebyeasing
congestionandairpllution.Parishadimposedsimilarrulein2014too.
Factoid:PlanetsmostpollutedcitywasAhvazinIran.SaysWHO.
OLF
CFLlampscontainmercury,whichifnotrecycled,cancreatevarietyof
diseases.Buteveryyear,Delhialonegenerate~75kilosofMercurydueto
broken/thrownawayCFLs.
OLF
InMarch2015,RBIhadbroughtrenewableenergyunderprioritysector
lendingnorms.Subsequently,publicsectorbankshavesettargettoloan1.7
lakhcrorerupeestothisarea,todevelop~35,000MWrenewableenergy.
SBIbeinghighest75kcrores.Simultaneously,GovernmentpermitsPower
GridCorporationLtd(PageCIL)togetsoftloanfromADBandbegin20k
MWgreencorridor.
Ignored
AssamsKanzirangaNationalParkslatestsurveysaysrhinopopulationhas
increasedto2400.
Ignored
Delhiuniversitytosetupitsownweatherstationformonitoringmicroclimate
ofDelhi.
Ignored
Tigersandleopardsdonotdrinkblood.Thesecarnivoresdonothaveany
mechanismtosuckbloodwhentheykilltheirprey.
Ignored
MithiVirdi,Bhavnagardistrict6000MWnukepowerplantplanned.Villagers
allegeCRZpermissiongivenwithoutinspection.
Britishscientistsfindanewamphibianspeciesintheageofdinosaurs,
namedMetoposarusAlgarvensis,itwasalargesalamander,withlegslike
Ignored crocodile,headlikeatoiletseatandsizelikeacar.Itseemsthereporterin
chargeofHindusweeklydinodiscoveriessection,hasshiftedto
Indianexpress.
ScienceTech,Defense
Defense
POnly
MarchW1&W2
TheDefenceAcquisitionCouncil(DAC)clears(1)buying
PilatusbasictraineraircraftfromSwitzerland(2)building
MineCountermeasureVessels(MCMV)@GoaShipyard(3)
HTT40traineraircraftfromHAL.
Defense
OLF
HomeMinistryhasgiveninprincipleapprovalforrecruitment
ofwomenofficersintheIndoTibetanBorderPolice(ITBP).
SofromnextroundofCAPFexam,UPSCwillnotify
vacanciesaccordingly.ITBPguards~3500kmIndiaChina
borderathighaltitudesalongtheHimalayanranges.
Defense
OLF
OneRankOnepensiontobeimplementedfrom1/4/2015.
31/45
4/4/2015
Defense
MinesweepervesselINSAlleppey(boughtfromRussiain
Ignored 70s)gotdecommissioned.Nowwereleftwithonly5
minesweepervessels.
Defense
POnly
PakistandevelopingindigenousDronenamedBarraq(flying
horse)andlaserguidedmissileforthatdrone,namedBarq
(lightening)
Defense
POnly
Largestdefenceimportersof2014.number1isS.Arabia.
ThenIndia,China,UAE,Taiwanetc.inthepreviousyear,
Indiawas1stlargestimporter.
IT/electronics POnly
Undernationalnumberingplan2003,theDepartmentof
telecomhasreserved111to115numbersasspares.But
Vodafoneusing111.TRAIordersvodafonetostopthis.
IT/electronics OLF
CloudSelfOrganisedLearningEnvironment(SOLE)facilityin
IndiaandUS.InSOLEmethod,childrenareputintoself
organizedgroupsandselfstudywithhelpofcomputers,with
minimalrules.
IT/electronics OLF
Americanengineerswiredminicomputersintocockroachs
nervoussystem,tocontrolitsmovements.Suchliveinsect
botscan(1)gointosmallplaces,detectenvironment2)
escapepredatorsandmovethroughdebrisbetterthan
humandesignmechanicalrobots.Althoughcontrolling
biologicalorganismsthroughartificialmeans,raisesethical
concerns.
IT/electronics OLF
AfterFacebookacquiredOculusVirtualrealityfor$2billion,
GoogledeploysateamtobuildAndroidOperatingsystemfor
Virtualrealityapplications,anditwillbedistributedfreeof
cost.Googlehopesthismovewillhelptocapturethemarket
justlikeitdidinandroidpoweredsmartphones.
Medical
Consumeraffairsministryrequiresevencosmeticproductsto
putred/greendotlabeltonotifywhethertheyrevegetarian
Ignored
ornonveg.OnepharmagiantReckittBenckisergoestocourt
sayingthisgoesagainstdrugandcosmeticactprovisions.
Medical
OLF
EvenchildrenfromwelltodoIndianfamiliesareshorterand
smallerthanSubSaharankidsbecauseIndianmothershave
lessbodymassduringpregnancy.Indianeedstocomeout
withnationalguidelinesforhealthyweightgainduring
pregnancy.
Medical
Ignored
Peshawarpolicearrestsover450parentsfornotallowing
polioworkerstovaccinatetheirchildren.
POnly
GileadScienceblockbusterHepatitisCdrugSovaldisells
for$1,000apill.Henceunaffordablebymanyinthe
developingcountries.FinallyNATCONatcoPharmasigned
dealwithGileadtosellgenericcopiesofthisdrugto91
developingnationsandpay7%royaltytoGilead
OLF
NewdatafromCensus2011:childbirthdecliningeveryyear
andasaresultchildsexratioalsodecliningbecause(1)
peoplestophavingmorebabiesassoonastheygotason
and(2)sexselectiveabortion.
Medical
Medical
32/45
4/4/2015
Medical
SunPharmaceuticalsDilipShanghvibecomesrichestIndian
Ignored ($21.5billion).Forbeswealthiestpeopleinworld:Diliprank
37,MukeshAmbaniranks43rd.AzimPremji48th.
Medical
ResearcherworkingonOralswabtechniquetodetectTB.
Ignored Althoughnofinalproductorfunkyabbreviationyet
launched.Henceignored.
Medical
Ignored
Researchersworkingonachikungunyavaccinethatisbased
onameaslesvaccinevirus.Finalproductyettobelaunched.
OLF
HealthMinistrytocelebrateInternationalWomensDayas
SafeMotherhoodDay:freecheckupsfrom8thto10th
March2015.4060yearswomenwillgetbreastcancertest,
3060yearswomenwillgetcervicalcancertests.Pregnant
womenwillgetMotherandChildProtection(MCP)cards.
Familyplanningservicesandnutritionaladvicefreeofcostto
all.
OLF
Countrywithlargestopendefecation(1)Indiaofcourse(2)
Indonesia(3)Pakistan.UNICEFsaysover40million
Pakistanidonthaveaccesstotoilet,thereforestuntedgrowth
&lowHumandevelopment.
OLF
FrancesParliamentworkingonabill,thatllallowTerminally
illpatientstooptforheavysedativestoundergodeepsleep
untiltheydie.Criticssaythisamountstoeuthanasiain
disguise.
P+M
Modilaunches3doseROTAVACvaccine.ThisisIndias
firstindigenouslydevelopedandmanufacturedrotavirus
vaccineforchildrenunder5,withhelpofUS.Rotaviruskills
~80kkidseveryyearinIndia.WellevensupplythisVaccine
tootherlowincomecountriesfor$1adose,Itwillalso
promotemakeinIndia.
POnly
PeoplewithAbloodgrouparemorevulnerabletomalaria
becauseplasmodiumparasitedamagestheirprotein,makes
theseredbloodcellsclump(Rosettes)tovesselwallsand
therebyobstructingbloodflowandevencausingdeathsays
anewreport.
POnly
Mutationisapermanentchangeofthenucleotidesequence
ofthegenomeofanorganism.MITresearcherssaythe
H1N1SwinefluvirushasundergonemutationinIndia,thusit
hasbecomeeasiertospread,moredeadly,difficulttocure.
OLF
MedicalTerminationofPregnancy(MTP)AmendmentDraft
Billproposestoallowayurvedacharyas,homoeopathsand
nursestoconductabortions.IndianMedicalAssociation(IMA)
isagainstthismove,sayingitllputwomenslivesindanger.
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
P+M
PharmaJanSamadhan:anonlineportalwherepubliccanfile
complaintabout(1)overpricedmedicines(2)shortageof
medicines(3)saleofmedicinewithoutapprovalofNPPA.
NationalPharmaceuticalPricingAuthority(NPPA)willbegin
actionwith48hours.Overall,matterfallsunderchemical
33/45
4/4/2015
fertilizerministry.
SciTech
IITJodhpuranalyzedbigdataaboutIndiancuisine,and
revealedthatWesternrecipesworkonpositivepairingi.e.
Ignored combiningsimilartastingingredientswhileIndianrecipesrely
onnegativefoodpairingswheredissimilarlyflavoured
ingredientsarecombinedinarecipe.
SciTech
POnly
Fulguritesareglassyproductsformedinrocksand
sediments.Theyaremadeupofvolcanicashmeltedby
lightning.
POnly
2.8millionyearoldjawboneofaHomohabilis(HandyMan)
foundinEthiopia.ResearchersBelieveovertheyears,
H.HabilisspeciessplitfurtherintoH.erectusandHomo
sapiens(modernMan)
P+M
BhavaniWomensafetyportabledevicedesignedbyDr.
PavanKohliandlaunchedbyNirbhayasparents.Feature:2
footcollapsiblebatton,nonlethalstungun,10footrange
pepperspray,panicbuttonwithGPSlocatorthatllSMSto5
relativesandpolice.
SciTech
POnly
RelativeHumidityistheratiobetweenamountofwater
vapourpresentinairvs.theamountofwatervapourtheair
canhold.Duringhightemperaturehighrelativehumidity
scenario,humanbodytriestocontroltemperatureby
evaporatingmoistureaspercommandsfromhypothalamus.
Butsinceoutsideairalreadyhashighrelativehumidity,it
cannotholdanymoremoisture,hencesweatdoesnt
evaporatequickly,thereforeitappearsasifwearesweating
moreprofuselyduringhighhumidclimate.
Spacetech
Ignored
ISROpostponeslaunchingofIRNSS1Dnavigationsatellite
duetotechnicalsnag.
Spacetech
~13.8billionyearsago,universeoriginatedafterabigbang.
Ignored ButNewtheorysaystherewasnotherewasnoBigBang
andtheuniverseexistedallalong,withoutbeginningorend.
SciTech
SciTech
Americaisworriedbysatellitejammingcapabilitiesandanti
satellitemissilesbeingdevelopedbyChina.Americanswill
raisethismatterduring1stIndiaUSspacesecuritydialogue
andperhapstryforaglobalcode/treatyonuseofouterspace
inasafemanner.
Spacetech
OLF
Spacetech
ISROtocarryoutatestflightofReusableLaunchVehicle
(RLVTD)bymid2015.Itusessolidboosterstolaunch
spacecraftandlaterdetachesandfallsintoseawhereitcan
Ignored
berecoveredforfutureuse.Thiswillhelpreducingcostof
spacemissions.TopicIgnoredtillsomethingconcrete
happens.
spacetech
POnly
SpaceXfalcon9rocketlaunchesworldsfirst2allelectric
satellitesintoorbitforprivatecompaniesEuteslsatandABS.
Conventionalsatellitesusechemicalpropulsionsystem,while
thesetwowereallelectric,henceneedmuchlessenergy,
therebyreducingcostofoperation.Butdownsideis,theytake
34/45
4/4/2015
muchlongertimetoreachorbid.
Defense
MarW3W4SciTech,Defense,IT,Healthcare
Astra:IndigenouslydevelopedBeyondVisualRangeairtoair
missile.ItcanbelaunchedfromSukhoi30MkIfighteraircraft.
ThisisthesmallestofthemissilesdevelopedbyDRDOjust
3.8metrelong,usessolidpropellant,cancarrya15kg
POnly warhead.Itcanchaseenemyaircraftatsupersonicspeeds.
HashighSingleShotKillProbability(SSKP)andsmokeless
propulsion.Itcanbelaunchedfromdifferentaltitudeswith
differentspeedmodes.ItcanbelaunchedfromTejasLight
CombatAircraft(LCA)aswell.
Defense
POnly
Worldstoparmsexporters(1)China(2)USA(3)Russia.
Defense
POnly
HomeministryaimstosetupIndiasfirstcounterterrorism
schoolinRajasthan.
OLF
Homeministeraimsfor33%participationofwomenin
CRPF,theBSF,theCISF,theITBP,theSSBandtheNSG,
whileDefenseministersays38nationssendtheirdefense
personnelfortraininginIndia,andsoonenoughwelleven
exportourdefenseequipmenttothesecountries.
POnly
HALtofinishdevelopingLightCombatHelicopter(LCH)by
2017.ThisTwinenginearmedheliwillbeusedbyArmyand
Airforce.CheetahsandtheChetaksaresingleengine,
unarmedandoutdated.ButLCHisnotmeantastheir
replacement.
P+M
AssamRiflescompletes180yearson24/03/2015.
ConsideredIndiasoldestparamilitaryforce.Participatedin
WW1,WW2,IndoChinawar,IndoPakwars,Op.Pawan(Sri
Lanka),Op.Rakshak(SriLanka),andcombatinginsurgency
inNorthEastast.nicknamedFriendsoftheNEpeople,
becauseitalsoimplementsBorderareaDevelopment
program,education,vocationalskillsandhealthcare.DG:RK
Rana
OLF
CableTelevisionNetworksRules,1994updatedbyI&B
ministry.TVchannelsarenowforbiddenfromdoinglive
coverageofantiterroroperations.Theycanonlyreportwhat
isbriefedbyauthorizedGovernmentofficial.
POnly
FrenchcompanyDassaultgivesupgradedMirage2000
fighteraircrafttotheIndianAirForce.Thedealwassignedin
2011.Theseupgradedplanesarealmostnew,withshelflife
of1015years,helmetmounteddisplayandelectronic
warfaresuitesandotherfancythingsincluded
Defense
Defense
Defense
Defense
Defense
DefenceAcquisitionCouncil(chairman:Defenseminister)
approvedfollowing:MaitriprojecttocodeveloShortRange
SurfacetoAirMissile(SRSAM)usingDRDO(India)and
MBDA(France).AssuchMoUsignedin2013,butnoprocess
35/45
4/4/2015
Defense
Defense
POnly
POnly
becauseDRDOwasdevelopingAkashmissilesystem.But
nowrealizedAkashonlygoodforArmyandAirforce,butnot
forNavy.Kamov28antisubmarinehelicoptersforNavy.
DRDOtodevelopindigenousAirborneWarningandControl
Systems(AWACS).AircraftwithAWACSradarscangive
seamless360degreecoverageoftheairspace.Atpresent
wehave3suchsystemsboughtfromIsrael.Harpoonanti
shipmissilesforNavysHDWSubmarines.
DRDOtestsanewinterceptormissile.Itllbecompartof
Indias2tierBallisticMissileDefencesystemtoprotect
importantcitiesfromenemymissile.SofartestingSuccessful
forendoatmosphere(below40kmaltitude)andthreeinexo
atmosphere(above80km).
IT/electronics OLF
TheUttarPradeshgovernmenthasaskedteachersnotto
befriendtheirstudentsonsocialmediasuchasFacebook
andWhatsApptopreventincidentssexualharassment.
IT/electronics OLF
(1)AmongallthenationsthataskFacebooktoblockcontent,
Indiaranksthehighest.6000informationpiecesblockedon
facebook,byrequestofIndiangovt.lastyear.
IT/electronics OLF
Bina48:ItsacybercloneofaladynamedBinaAspen.
Createdafterinterviewingthepersonforover20hoursto
understandhermentalmakeup.Robotversionhasonlyface
andtorso,madeupoffrubberskin.Shecancarry
conversation,tweetandexpressideas.Benefit:allowsa
personsconscioustoliveforever,evenafterthedeathofreal
person.
IT/electronics P+M
PeriscopeisthenameofTwitterapplicationtostreamlive
videosviayourmobilephonescamera.Itcaninstantlyturn
anycivilianintoglobalreporter.Thisappismeanttocompete
againstanotherappcalledMeerkat.
IT/electronics P+M
NetneutralityprinciplerequiresISPsnottogiveadvantageto
onetypeoftrafficovertheother.Violationcases(1)Airtels
decisiontochargeextramoneyonitsmobileinternetusersIF
theyuseskypetomakefreecallsoverinternet.Althoughlater
decisiontakenback.(2)Facebooklaunchesinternet.org
initiativeinIndiawithhelpofAnilAmbanisReliance
communication.Weare6thcountryintheworldtobe
coveredunderfacebooksfreeinternetscheme.Basicidea
iseveryreliancephonesubscribewillgetfreeinternet
accesstofacebook,wikipediaetcselectedsites.Criticism:
Neutralityprincipleisviolatedbecauseothersimilarsocial
networkingsites/andknowledgesiteswillnotgetvisitors.
Becausejuntagivenfreeinternetonlyforaselectedgroupof
sitesalliedwithFacebook.Soinaway,facebookmisusingits
dominantpositionviathiszeroratingbusinessstrategy.Net
Neutralitydevelopmentssofar:GovernmentsetsupAK
BhargavaCommitteeforexamineNetNeutralityJanW4.
Reportawaited.TRAIsoughtviewsfromcompanies
36/45
4/4/2015
(MarchW4).18%declineinSMSusageduetoOverthe
top(OTT)servicessuchasWhatsappandViber.Although
mobilecompaniesmakingmoneythroughincreasedincome
inmobileinternetdataplans.AlthoughOTTSsofarnot
affectingvoiceservicebecauseourcallratesarerelatively
cheaper.
IT/electronics P+M
Ahyderabadstartupcompanyworkingonworldsfirst
interactivehapticfootwearcalledLechal.(hinditakeme
along).Justlikethewearablesmartwatchtrackmovement,
thisfootwarewillcontainasmartchiptocollectdataandhelp
youmovetowardsdestination.Thiswillgreatlyhelpblind
people.
Medical
M+I
Groupoffirstworldscientistswantvoluntarymoratoriumthat
noscientistwillindulgeinwantoneditingofhumangenome.
Becauseonlythenwecanguardagainsteugenicsand
designerbabies.Otherwise,itispossibletocreatesuperior
humansforrichpeoplewithblueeyes,Athleticbuildand
otherphysicalabilitiesbyeditingthegenomesofHuman
embryos.AlthoughSameGenomeeditingtechnologycan
correctdiseasegenestocureHIV/AIDS,haemophilia,sickle
cellanaemiaandmanyformsofcancer
POnly
DenguevirusisspreadthroughAedesaegyptiandAedes
albopictusmosquitoes.AustralianresearcherstiedWolbachia
bacteriainthesemosquitoes.Result?Itdecreasesdengue
virussabilitytopassfrommosquitogutsalivatohuman
body.
POnly
AssuchhumanimmunesystemcanstopbreathedTB
bacteriafrommultiplying.SuchpeoplearecalledTB
infectedHowever,theydontfeelsickorshowsymptopsor
spreadTB.ButifpersonsufferingHIV,diabetesmellitus,
malnutritionortakinganticancer,corticosteroidandother
immunosuppressantdrugs,thenitcantfightagainstTB
infection.SuchpeoplearecalledTBdiseasedpatients,each
ofthemcapableofinfecting10more.
POnly
WHOcelebrates7thAprilasWorldHeathDay.Thisyears
themeFoodsafety.Unsafefoodandwaterkills~7lakh
childrenperyearinSouthEastAsiaRegionbecausemost
thesecountriesdontenforcefoodsafetylawsduetorampant
corruption.
OLF
DelhiHCjunksaPILwantingtoscreenallvisitorstoDelhi.
Reasons(1)impractical(2)manmoneyconstrainson
administration.(3)impracticaltoholdthepersonstilltest
resultsarrive.CourtcriticizessuchPILwallasforlivingin
Utopianworld.
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
Medical
OLF
AlexanderFlemingfirstdiscoveredpenicilineantibioticand
wonNobelin1945.Butindiscriminateuseofantibioticmakes
thebacteriaresistanttothem.researchersfoundhighly
corruptcountrieshavemoredrugresistantbacteriaand
37/45
4/4/2015
deathsbecauselaximplementationoffoodanddruglaws.
growingdemandofmeatfromdevelopingcountry=more
antibioticsgiventoanimalstoquicklyfattenthemup.Result
moredrugresistance.
Medical
Medical
Medical
POnly
JeevanDharaisRajasthansfirstStaterunhumanmilkbank.
Willcollectexcessbreastmilkfromlactatingmothersand
provideittoneedyinfants.Suchfacilitiesalreadyopenedin
USA,andevenonlinesaleisdone.Butunregulatedsector
meansHIV,Hep.C,Syphillisetcdiseasecancreepin.State
runbankwillensurequalitychecks.
P+M
IndiraGandhiMatritvaSahyogYojana(IGMSY).Launchedin
2010.ByWomenChildministry.Providespartialwage
compensationtopregnantandlactatingwomen.6,000x3
installments,andentitlementsfoodsecurityactforfirst2
children.ExceptforwomenworkinginGovernment/PSU
jobs.Butasurveysuggestlessthan30%eligiblewomengot
benefit.reasons(1)juntaunawareofmisinformed.(2)
requiresnofrillszerobalanceaccount,whichmanywomen
donthaveintribalareas.Endresult,IMR=40/1kand
MMR=167/1lakhlivebirths.WecantmeettheMDGgoalof
reducingMMRby75%orIMRby66%.
OLF
EarlierGovernmentaimedtoincreasepictographicwarning
oncigarettecoversfrompresent40%to85%.Thiswastobe
implementedfrom1stApril2015,buthealthministrydidnot
notifytheguidelinesyet.ReasongivenParliamentary
Committeeonsubordinatelegislationfortobaccoproducts,
hasaskedthemnottopublishittillallthestakeholders
consultedforamendments.AntiargumentsMPsgiving
bogusargumentslikenoscientificevidencetoprovethat
smokingcausescancer,andbidicontainstoolownicotineto
causecancer!Votebankpoliticsforbiditobaccofarmers
whocantcultivateanyothercropsTobaccocorporate
industryselectionfunding.AntiTobaccodriveMaharashtra
makesgutkhasellinganonbailableoffense.Delhialso
bansgutkhasellingbutnoimplementationonground.
Medical
Medical
OLF
P+M
KeralaHCsaysstateGovernmentsdecisiontolimitthesale
ofliquoronlyto5starhotelsisright.StateGovernmentaims
tograduallyputprohibition,otherwiseKeralaisthemost
drunkstateofIndia.Ignoredbecausebasicsalreadycovered
inoldarticleunderpolitysection.
BRCA1andBRCA2humangenesusedfordiagnosingbreast
andovariancancers.(BRCA=BReastCAncer).Ifawoman
hasmutation(fault)inBRCA1or2=higherriskof
breast/ovariancancer.AngelinaJoliedetectedpositive,so
sheearlierremovedherbreastsviadoublemastectomy
(2013).Nowsheremovedherovariesandfallopiantubes
(2015),sayingshedoesntwanttodieofcancer.Side
anglesinmid90s,MyriadGeneticsgotpantentforthistest.
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LaterUScourtrejectedpatentsayinghumangenescantbe
patents.ThenMyriadgotitpatentedinAustralia.(2014)
Joliesmediacoverage=morewomenoptforthisexpensive
testandgettheirorgansremovedevenifthereisnorealand
presentdanger.
March24:WorldTBday.IndiagothighestTBburden1000
deadperdead,3lakhdeadperyear,23crorenewcases
addedperyear.1lakh+MultidrugresistantTBcases.Yetwe
spend~28$perpatientlowestamongBRICS.Women
Medical
Medical
SciTech
SciTech
Spacetech
Spacetech
OLF
mosthurtbecausecantgetqualitytreatment.
Overcrowding,malnutritioncatalyzethespread.Many
patientsundocumented,untreated{Newdevelopment}
IndianMedicalAssociation(IMA)aimsfollowingprivate
doctorsmustimmediatelynotifyTBpatientstoconcerned
officials.TBpatientsshouldbesimultaneouslytestedfor
HIVfreeofcost.
P+M
HealthministerlaunchesMissionIndradhanush:for
vaccinationagainst7preventablediseaseby2020.This
diseasesarediphtheria,whoopingcough,tetanus,polio,
tuberculosis,measlesandhepatitisB.plusouruniversal
immunizationprogramtoinclude3morevaccinesagainst
rotavirus,rubellaandpolio.Everyyear5%morekidswillbe
covered.Firstphasemainfocusonmostbogusdistrictsin
fourstatesofUP,Bihar,MadhyaPradeshandRajasthan.
Coldstorageandconstantsurveillanceonvaccines.
POnly
Ininsectsgaseousexchangetakesplacebydiffusion.O2and
Co2getcirculatedviamuscularcontractionsandrelaxations.
So,wheninsectlarvaisplantedinsideplant/animal,they
breathethroughtheskin.
OLF
CSIRdevelopsabiodegradabledispersingagentthatcan
helpinchrometanningoflather.Thistechniqueuses50%
lesswaterthantraditionalmethod
POnly
ISROMarsOrbitorMission(MOM)splannedlifespanwas6
month.Itwastoendon24rdMarch2015.InJune2015,
ISROsMarsorbiterwillbein15dayblackoutbecauseSun
willblockthecommunicationbetweenMarsandEarth.During
thisperiod,theorbiterwilltakeautonomousdecision,thuswill
consumemorefuel.Dependingonhowmuchfuelisleft,
MOMwillbeoperationalforsomemoreweeks.Factoids:
MOMsurvivedVanAllenbelt39times.Itsworldfirst
spacecrafttoenterMarsorbitinfirstattempt.MOMwon
Spacepioneerawardfor2015,byUSNationalSpaceagency
whileISROwonIndiraGandhiPrizeforPeace,Disarmament
andDevelopment.
POnly
USscientistswanttosendroboticsubmarinetoSaturns
moontitan.ToexploreoilyseasonTitan,whicharefilled
liquidformofmethaneandethane,insteadofwater.Titan
39/45
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resemblesadeepfrozenversionofEarth,hencesuch
hydrocarbonsexistinliquidform..
Spacetech
TosetupthedesiDesi(IRSNSS),ISROlaunches4thsatellite
IRNSS1DusingPSLVC27(XL)launchvehiclefromthe
Ignored SatishDhawanSpaceCentreatSriharikota.Total7satellite
neededforthisdesiGPStofunctioninfullcapacity.Thiswas
4thone.Ignoredbecausebasicsalreadydoneinoldarticle.
Spacetech
POnly
OscarwinningmovieThetheoryofEverythingwasmadeon
BritishphysicistStephenHawking.HesuffersfromMotor
neurondisease.NowDr.Hawkingaimtogethisname
trademarkedjustlikeJ.K.RowlingandDavidBeckham,soif
anyCompanyuseshisnameoncommercialproducts,he
getsmoneyandevenafterhisdeathhischildren/foundation
keepsgettingthemoney
P+M
1995:GandhiPeacePrizesetupforsocial,economicand
politicaltransformationthroughnonviolencemeans.1crore
rupeesgiven.ISROgiventhisprizefor2014foritsworkon
spacetechnologythathashelpedineducation,healthcare,
communication,agriculture,disastermanagement,
telemedicineandmanyotherthings.
Spacetech
HistoryandCulture
POnly
MarchW1&W2
ParrotladyisascupltureofaNaayika(Heroine)withherParrotPetfriend
(sakha).Suchscuplturesassociatedwithmedievaltemplesincentraland
southIndia.TopicinnewbecauseonesuchstolensculpturefromBelur
temple,founditswaytoCanada.
POnly
BuddhaattainedEnlightenmentunderBodhitreeinBodhGaya.288BC,
AshoksdaughterPrincessSanghamitrabringssouthernbranchofthistree
toAnuradhapura,thefirstcapitalofSriLankatill8thBC.Lateritgrowsinto
Mahabodhitree.ModiofferedprayershereduringSriLankavisit.
POnly
JaitleyunveilsMahatmaGandhibronzestatueinLondonsParliament
Square.Designer:PhilipJackson.Statuscommemorates100thanniversary
ofGandhijisreturntoIndiafromSouthAfricatolaunchtheIndependence
Movement.
POnly
2014:ProjectMausamlaunchedatWorldHeritageCommitteemeetingat
Doha,Quatar.NowGovernmentofIndiawillsetupcrossculturallinkages
with39Indianoceannations.
POnly
ImagesofJagannathpurigodsaremadeupofMargosatreewood.But
wooddecaysafteraperiodoftime.Lasttimeimagesreplacedin1996.So,
2015willbeobservedasNavaKalevarafestivaltheceremonyto
replacementofJagannathimage.AndthisyearsRathyatrahasbeen
namedNabakalebarRathYatraasthiscomesafter19years.Itllbe
promotedasaninternationaltourismevent.
S.Chandnibi,notedHistorianonCholaempiresays(1)Cholasgaveland
grantstoKashmiribrahminBhattasforgivingVediceducationandmidday
mealstochildreninTamilnadu.Theywereevengiventheofficialtitle
Rayan(2)during6to13thCE,southIndiankingsgavelandgrantsto
40/45
4/4/2015
P+M
officialsbutwithspecificinstructionofusingthesaidlandforpublicpurpose.
SoNorthIndiantypefeudalismisnonexistentinSouth.(3)Pandhyaand
Cherakingsmeasuredlandasgraincapacity,butCholakingsmeasured
landwithunitslikelikema,veliandKuzhi.
P+M
SahityaAkademicompletes60yearsonMarch12.Itsorigin,function,
jurisdictionbecomesimportforprelims.
P+M
March1014,IndiawillcommemoratethecentenaryofWW1,where~75k
IndiansoldiersdiedfightinginAsia,AfricaandEurope.
Ignored
HRDministryreplacesthemembersofIndianCouncilofHistoricalResearch
(ICHR)withRSSbackedhistorians.
Ignored
BrazilcapitalRioDeJaneirowasfoundedonMarch1,1565byPortuguese
explorerEstaciodeSa.2015marksits450thanniversary.
Ignored MysoreKingTipuSultansarmsandarmourwillgoforauctioninLondon.
POnly
MarW3W4History&Culture
On2122March1783,SikhforcesconquestLalQilaunderleadershipipof
BabaBaghelSinghagainsttheMughal.So,SikhsofDelhidemandthisday
tobecelebratethisfatehdiwasasanationalevent.
POnly
16thcenturyLodhiprinceLadKhanruledovereasternUttarPradesh.
KalyanaMallawashispoet,whowroteSuleimanCharitraasanskrit
versionofHebraicandArabictales.Topicinnewsbecauseanexdiplomat
A.N.D.HaksarhastranslatedthisSanskritbooktoEnglish.
POnly
DelhisHumayunTombwasbuiltin16thcent.,isaUNESCOworldheritage
site.ButIn2014May,duetothunderstormitsornamentalcrowntopwas
damaged.NowASIhasrestoreditwithareplicacontaining99.5%pure
copper.
POnly
UnderAndhraPradeshReorganisationAct,2014,Hyderabadwasgivento
Telangana.AndhraPradeshtosetupnewcapitalAmaravathi.Nameinspired
fromAmreshwarTemplelocated35kmawayfromGunturatKrishnariver
banks.ThisareawasoncetheSatvahanseatofpower(23BC).Sincethen,
itcontinuedasthecapitalofmanyAndhradynasties.LargestAndhrastupa
wasbuilthere(150200AD).UnionGovernmentwillgiveRs.1500to
Andhratodeveloptonewcapital.MoUsignedwithSingaporefordesigning
thiscapital,citywilltake~10yearstodevelopfully.Criticism:thisGuntur
regionveryfertile,34cropstakenayearandnowGovernmentwillacquire
suchfertileland=foodsecurityhurtandurbanheatislandscreated.
POnly
LionCapitalofRampurvaaMauryansculptureunearthedbyDayaram
Sahniinearly1900.ItwasdamagedinIndianMuseuminKolkatadueto
calloushandlingbyASIstaff.
POnly
TheHindulaunchesbookonGuruvayurSreekrishnaTempleatThrissur,
Kerala.IthassurvivedfiresandplunderingbyDutch,ZamorinandTipu
Sultan.
POnly
HaryanagovernmentwillbeginexcavationtofindmythicalSaraswatiriver.It
isbelievedtobeoriginatedfromShivalikFoothillsinAdiBadriarea.Pro
morewaterthebetterforagroanddrinking.Antiexcavationwithoutany
41/45
4/4/2015
scientificstudy,justforvotebankpurpose.
BiographyofPt.MadanMohanMalviya(18611946).Practicedlawin
AllahabadHC,andajournalistFourtimespresidentoftheINCHelping
foundingBanarasHinduUniversity(1916),andHinduMahasabha
WantedsimultaneousICS(Civilservice)examinIndiaandEngland.
SupportedGokhalesmotiononEducationMemberofprovinciallegislative
councilin1903.wantedrapideducation,industrialandagricultural
P+M
development.OpposedIndianIndustrialCommissionreport.Pleadedthat
imperialcounciltoabolishindenturedLabour,sayingitwasjustanotherform
ofslavery.opposedPressBill,SeditiousmeetingAct,andsomeofthe
disappointingpassagesinMorleyMintoReforms.SaidthatIf
Hindu/muslim/christianstrytoputothercommunitiesundertheirdomination,
thensuchhindu/muslim/christiansarenotPatriots.BecausePatriotism
demandsthatweshoulddesireequallythegoodofallourcountrymen
alike.BharatRatnain2014.RecievedbyfamilymembersinMarch2015.
Ref:BookreviewpublishedinHinduonPt.MadanMohanMalviyaandthe
formativeyearsofIndiannationalismbyVishwanathPandey.
P+M
1914:CanadianAuthoritiespreventKamaghataMarushipfromunloading
PassengersAtVancouverport.TheshipcomesbacktoBajBajportof
Calcuttaon29Sep1914,whereBritishauthoritieskilled19Punjabisand
imprisonedwiththeremainingpeople.NowPunjabStateassemblydemands
anapologyfromCanadaforitsroleinthisUnfortunateevent,becauseearlier
CanadahasapologizedtoChinaandJapan.
OLF
Under1840sagreement,theBritishtookoverNewZealandfromtheMaori
tribes,andassuredthemrightsoverforestandfisheries.Butlatermany
conflictedwithwhitesettlerskilledtribes.SincethenMaoritribeslagging
behindinallsocioeconomiesparametersandevenindulgingincriminal
activitiesforliving.NowtheNZgovernmenthasofficiallyapologizedpast
atrocitiesandgave~$130millionfortribaldevelopment.
OLF
1937:ChamberlainbecamePMofUK.1938:NaziGermanycaptures
Austria.ThenHitlermovedtowardsCzechoslovakia.ToappeaseHitler,
MunichAgreement(1938)signedbyGermany,Italy,UnitedKingdomand
FrancetoallowNaziGermanytoannexcertainportionofCzechoslovakia.
ButstillHitlerannexedentirecountry.WinstonChurchillcriticized
Chamberlainforhislackofforesight.
PresidentPranabgivesBharatRatnaonAtalBihariVajpayeeatVajpayees
Ignored residence.Ignoredbecausehisbiographyandmedaldetailsalreadycovered
inoldPINarticle.SameforMalviya.
DelhihadappliedforheritagecitytagtoUNESCO.Toensureeasy
verification,DelhiDevelopmentauthoritywillrenameWalledCityofDelhi,
Ignored
ShahjahanabadasImperialCityofShahjahanabadandLutyensBungalow
Zone(LBZ)asImperialCityofNewDelhi.
Ignored
UPlawyersfilePILtogetTajMahaldeclaredasShivaTempleandremove
tombsofmughalsfromthepremise.
ParliamentcondemnsthestatementsmadebyFormerSCjudgeturned
bloggerJusticeMarkandeyKatjuagainstGandhiandBose.ButKajtusays
42/45
4/4/2015
principleofnaturaljusticeviolatedbecausehewasnotgivenafairchanceto
justifyhisopinion,soinsteadhedemandsParliamenttoapologisetohim!
KatjumaintainsthatGandhihelpedtheBritishbyinjectingHindureligion
intopolitics,therebyalienatingmuslimstowardsJinnah.whileGandhi
Ignored wasmadethefatherofnation,freedomfighterslikeBhagatSingh,Azad,
Bose,Bismiletal.wereportrayedasmavericksanddeviants.Satyagraha
wasnonsense.IndiaattainedindependencebecauseafterSecondWorld
War,BritishEmpirewasweakenedandAmericapressuredthemtofreeall
colonies.SoGandhisroleisunnecessarilyexaggerated.Subhashchandra
BosewasbravebuthehadbecomeaJapaneseagent.IfJapanhadwonthe
SecondWorldWar,theywouldhaveexploitedIndiajustliketheydidin
ChinaandotherAsiancountries.
Ignored ModiplanningmemorialforNarasimhaRaoinDelhi.
DownloadExcelFile:DecembertoMarchList
DownloadtheEXCELFile
Q.Inaboveexcelfile,youveusedgibberishcodeslike00P,0P+M,OLF,
z_ignored,why?
Ithelpssortingallcellsquicklyinascendingordescendingorderbasedontheirspecific
utility.00Pmeansonlyforprelims,0P+M=Prelimandmains,OLF=Onelinefodder
43/45
4/4/2015
Endresultofthegimmick=aneatlyarrangedtopiclist
FAQ/MoralDisclaimers
Q.Whyareyounotwritinganyarticlesthesedays?
Ans.Likeaseasonalfarmlaborer,Ialsospendfirst34monthsofeachyearteaching
economyinvariousclassestosustaintheincome.Butthatseasonwillbeoverinnext4
5lectures,thenImbacktowritingarticles.Idontridetwohorsesatonce,otherwise
qualitycannotbemaintainedateitherplace.Soonlytopiclistandyoutubevideosfora
while.Noarticlesonfullfledgedtopicsforthetimebeing.Besidesthistopiclistexcelfile
itselfcontainsmostoftheexamworthycoverageinitself.
Q.Idontknowhindi/donthavefastinternet,thereforeyouryoutubelecture
videosareuselesstome.Youshouldbetterwritearticles.
Ans.sameasabove.Illwritearticlesonthebudgeteconomicsurveyandassociated
topics.Lastyear,BudgetreleasedinJulyandPrelimwasinAugust,hencewasrunning
onatightdeadline.Thisyear,longgapavailable.
Q.Whatexactlyisthislist?
Ans.ItcontainsofweeklylistofimportantCurrentAffairstopicsfromtheHindu,
44/45
4/4/2015
IndianExpress,pib.nic.in,frontlineandothersourceswhichareimportantfromUPSC
exampointofview.
Q.HowdoyoudefineweeksinCurrentAffairs
list?
Week
Dates
W1 17
W2
814
W3
1621
W4
22to28/29/30/31dependingonmonth
Q.IhadreadxyzcolumninHindubutIdontseeitherelistedhere.
Ans.Assuchallcolumnsshouldbereadforimprovingreadingcomprehensionskillsfor
CSATPaperII.So,nopointinlistinghere.Keepahabitofreadingthemondailybasis.
Q.Whatisthepurposeoflistingthesetopics?Youhavenotwrittenanycontent
aboutthem!
Ans.ThosearethetopicsfromHindu,Indianexpress,PIB,frontlineetc.whichIconsider
importantforUPSCprelimsandmains.Illbecoveringthematmyownpace.
Q.Willyoufinishallthesetopicsinyourarticlesbeforethemainsexam?
Ans.No.UnlikeSalmanKhan,Imakenocommitmentofdeliveringfulllengtharticles
thosetopics.
Q.Thenwhyhaveyoulistedthesetopics?
Ans.Tohelptheseriousplayerscrosscheckandupdatetheirnotesaccordingly,for
UPSCcivilserviceexam.
ArticleprintedfromMrunal:http://mrunal.org
URLtoarticle:http://mrunal.org/2015/04/currentaffairstopiclistmarch2015.html
Copyright2014Mrunal.Allrightsreserved.
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