PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 15-JANUARY-2018
Paper
1:
Topic: Indian culture will cover the
salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.
Rashtriya
Sanskriti Mahotsav-2018
Context: To celebrate the idea of
unity in diversity, the Ministry of Culture is organising the 7th edition of
the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav.
The Mahotsav will cover a
profusion of art forms from classical and folk, music and dance, theatre to
literature and the visual arts and would offer the chance to experience the
best in established and emerging virtuosity. A handloom and handicrafts-utsav is
part of the proposed event. The gastronomic culture of several partnering
states will be showcased through a food festival.
Facts
for Prelims:
§ The Ministry of Culture is
organising the event under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat matrix.
§ The event will be held in
Karnataka. The State paired with Karnataka is Uttarakhand.
Ek
Bharat Shreshtha Bharat:
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 31st October, 2016 to promote
engagement amongst the people of different states/UTs so as to enhance mutual
understanding and bonding between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing
stronger unity and integrity of India.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Geographical features and
their location- changes in critical geographical features.
Havre
What
is it? It is the world’s largest deep ocean volcanic eruption
happened in New Zealand. It was recently confirmed by the researchers.
About
Havre:
Named as Havre, the deep ocean
volcanic eruption was first discovered in 2002. A solidified volcanic rock
known as pumice raft — 400 square kilometres in size — found floating in the
ocean near New Zealand in 2012 showed that underwater eruption had occurred.
The eruption involved 14 aligned vents causing a “massive rupture”.
Sources: et.
Paper
2:
Topic: Functions and
responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining
to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels
and challenges therein.
Mahadayi
row
Context: The row between Goa,
Karnataka and Maharashtra over the sharing of the Mahadayi (Mandovi) river has
escalated. With Karnataka headed for elections and the Mahadayi Water Disputes
Tribunal setting a February date for the final hearing, political parties in
both States have upped the ante.
What
is the Mahadayi row?
Karnataka seeks to divert water
from tributaries of the river through the Kalasa-Bhanduri Nala project towards
the parched Malaprabha river basin (a tributary of River Krishna), which is
being strongly opposed by Goa. This has led to a long-drawn farmers’ agitation
in Karnataka, which has been revitalised as the State goes to the polls later
this year.
Goa’s main contention is that
Karnataka cannot divert water from an already-deficit Mahadayi basin to the
Malaprabha river basin: 115 tmcft was available in the basin, while the
requirement for the three States is 145 tmcft. It has said that any attempt to
divert water from one river basin to the other will cause irreparable
environmental damage. Karnataka claims 199.6 tmcft is available and the river
is water-surplus. Of this, Karnataka wants 24.15 tmcft.
Facts
for Prelims:
Mahadayi: The 80-km-long river
rises from the forests of the Western Ghats at Devgaon in northern Karnataka.
It enters Goa where it is a lifeline, both for the people and the rich flora
and fauna of its forests.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Issues relating to
development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
Seasonal
affective disorder (SAD)
Context: According to a recent
study, in India, more than 10 million people suffer from a self-diagnosable
ailment called Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Its milder version usually
resolves itself within months.
What
is Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
SAD occurs in climates where
there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Sometimes, it is mistaken
to be a “lighter” version of depression, which is untrue. It is a different
version of the same illness and people with SAD are just as ill as people with
major depression, according to psychiatrists.
Symptoms: Symptoms include
fatigue, depression, a feeling of hopelessness and social withdrawal.
Vulnerable group: Women are
overwhelmingly more susceptible to SAD than men. Statistics released by the
Indian Medical Association (IMA) show that SAD occurs four times more often in
women than in men. The age of onset is estimated to be between 18 and 30 years
but can affect anyone irrespective of age. SAD generally starts in late fall
and early winter and goes away during spring and summer. Depressive episodes
linked to summer can occur, but are much rarer than winter episodes.
Prevention: A few ways in which
people can prevent winter depression include ensuring a healthy and balanced
diet. Staying well hydrated is key during the winter months since it gives you
more energy, mental clarity and an enhanced digestive function. Getting enough
sunlight and engaging in regular outdoor physical exercise are also important.
Treatment: Treatment for SAD
involves enough light exposure, artificial light exposure, sun therapy and
drugs, if needed. Artificial light exposure is effective but may take four to
six weeks to see a response, although some patients improve within days.
Therapy is continued until sufficient and daily natural sunlight exposure is
available.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Government policies and
interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
Monuments
Bill
Context: Some historians and
archaeologists have expressed concern over amendments proposed to the Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958). The Lok Sabha passed
the amendments to the Act on January 3. But the Bill is yet to be cleared by
the Rajya Sabha.
What
are the concerns?
The Act, which originally
instituted conservation measures and banned construction activities near
protected monuments, is now sought to be amended so that public works could be
allowed within the 100 m prohibited zone.
The
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017:
Construction in ‘prohibited
areas’: The
Act defines a ‘prohibited area’ as an area of 100 meters around a protected
monument or area. The central government can extend the prohibited area
beyond 100 meters. The Act does not permit construction in such
prohibited areas, except under certain conditions. The Act also prohibits
construction in ‘prohibited areas’ even if it is for public purposes. The Bill
amends this provision to permit construction of public works in ‘prohibited
areas’ for public purposes.
Definition of ‘public works’: The Bill introduces a
definition for ‘public works’, which includes the construction of any
infrastructure that is financed and carried out by the central government for
public purposes. This infrastructure must be necessary for public safety
and security and must be based on a specific instance of danger to public
safety. Also, there should be no reasonable alternative to carrying out
construction in the prohibited area.
Procedure for seeking
permission for public works: As per the Bill, the
relevant central government department, that seeks to carry out construction
for public purposes in a prohibited area, should make an application to the
competent authority. If there is any question related to whether a construction
project qualifies as ‘public works’, it will be referred to the National
Monuments Authority. This Authority, will make its recommendations, with
written reasons, to the central government. The decision of the central
government will be final.
Impact assessment of proposed
public works: The Bill empowers the National Monuments Authority to
consider an impact assessment of the proposed public works in a prohibited
area, including its (i) archaeological impact; (ii) visual impact; and (iii)
heritage impact. The Authority will make a recommendation, for construction of
public works to the central government, only if it is satisfied that there is
no reasonable possibility of moving the construction outside the prohibited
area.
Sources: the hindu.
Paper
3:
Topic: Effects of liberalization on
the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial
growth.
World
Economic Forum manufacturing index
The World Economic Forum (WEF)
has released its Global Manufacturing Index. This is WEF’s first
‘Readiness for the future of production report’. The report has been developed
in collaboration with A T Kearney and calls for new and innovative approaches
to public-private collaboration are needed to accelerate transformation.
The
report has categorised 100 countries in four major groups for its ranking:
§ Leading (strong current base,
high level of readiness for future).
§ High Potential (limited current
base, high potential for future).
§ Legacy (strong current base, at
risk for future).
§ Nascent (limited current base,
low level of readiness for future).
Performance
of various countries:
§ Japan has topped the list.
Japan is followed by South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic,
the US, Sweden, Austria and Ireland in the top 10.
§ Among BRICS nations, Russia is
ranked 35th, Brazil 41st and South Africa at 45th place.
§ China figures among the WEF`s
“leading countries”. “Legacy” group includes Hungary, Mexico, Philippines,
Russia, Thailand and Turkey, among others, and Brazil as well as South Africa
are among the “nascent” ones.
Performance
of India:
§ India is at the 30th position,
five places below China, but higher than the other BRICS members Brazil, Russia
and South Africa. India has been placed in the “Legacy” group.
§ In terms of scale of
production, India has been ranked 9th, while for complexity it is at 48th
place. For market size, India is ranked 3rd, while areas where the country is
ranked poorly (90th or even lower) include female participation in labour
force, trade tariffs, regulatory efficiency and sustainable resources.
§ Overall, India is ranked better
than its neighbours Sri Lanka (66th), Pakistan (74th) and Bangladesh (80th).
Other countries ranked below India include Turkey, Canada, Indonesia, New
Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Mauritius and the UAE.
§ India’s manufacturing sector
has grown by over 7% per annum on average in the past three decades and
accounts for 16-20% of India`s GDP. Home to the second-largest population in
the world and one of the fastest growing economies, the demand for Indian
manufactured products is rising.
Way
ahead for India:
India has room for improvement
across the drivers of production, except for demand environment where it ranks
in the top 5. Human capital and sustainable resources are the two key
challenges for India and the country needs to continue to raise the
capabilities of its relatively young and fast-growing labour force. This
entails upgrading education curricula, revamping vocational training programmes
and improving digital skills. India should also continue to diversify its
energy sources and reduce emissions as its manufacturing sector continues to
expand.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Conservation,
environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Sikkim
allows people to forge fraternal ties with trees
Context: Under Sikkim Forest Tree
(Amity & Reverence) Rules 2017, the Government of Sikkim has come up with a
unique way of preserving trees by encouraging people to forge a relationship of
brotherhood or sisterhood with trees through a practice locally known as
Mith/Mit or Mitini. With this, Sikkim is keen to not just preserve its forest
cover but also forge amity between people and trees.
Highlights
of Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity & Reverence) Rules 2017:
§ Under the rules, State
government shall allow any person to associate with trees standing on his or
her private land or on any public land by entering into a Mith/Mit or Mitini
relationship.
§ A person can also adopt a tree
“as if it was his or her own child in which case the tree shall be called an
adopted tree.” Another way to forge a relationship with a tree is by
“preserving a tree in remembrance of a departed relative in which case the tree
shall be called a smriti tree.”
§ In case an individual wants to
forge a relationship with a tree which does not stand on his or her land but
another’s, the person concerned shall execute an agreement with the owner and
compensate him or her in terms of the market value of the timber or the wood
contained in the tree. If the person desires to enter into a relationship with
a tree located on public land then permission from the said department or
agency needs to be taken.
§ The Rules also prohibit felling
or damage to any tree registered as Mith/Mit or Mitini, adopted or smriti and
points out that any such violation shall be treated as a forest offence.
Background:
As per the Forest Survey of
India, 2015 the forest cover of Sikkim is 47.80 % of the State’s total
geographical area. Over the past few years the State government has also
started an initiative of identifying heritage trees where 21 trees of 25-ft.
girth and above and 32 trees of 20-25 ft. girth have been demarcated as
heritage trees.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Conservation, environmental
pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
The 25
Year Environment Plan
Context: UK has launched its
long-awaited 25 Year Environment Plan. The Plan sets out comprehensive and
long-term approach to protecting and enhancing the environment in England for
the next generation. The Plan is far-reaching, touching on topics ranging from
plastics recycling, biodiversity and habitats to climate change and air
pollution.
Highlights
of the plan:
Independent green watchdog: The
plan promises a consultation on a new independent body to hold government to
account post-Brexit, alongside a new set of green principles to underpin
policy-making. A new set of metrics will also help assess progress against the
25 Year goals.
Green business council: A new
council is to be established to advise government on setting the right
conditions to stimulate environmental entrepreneurism and innovation. The group
would also promote the business case for companies to address and report on
natural capital risks and green opportunities in their supply chains.
2019 Year of Green Action: The
government has promised to launch a year-long youth-focused promotional
campaign to engatge people with environmental issues. Using #iwill hashtag the
campaign will aim to increase action and engagement on the environment among 10
to 20 year olds. Meanwhile, a range of events and activities will be staged to
coincide with the 70th anniversary of National Parks and centenary of the
Forestry Commission.
‘Natural Environment for Health
and Wellbeing’ programme: A cross-government alliance will establish a
three-year programme promoting natural environment as a path for improving
health and wellbeing.
Green infrastructure standards:
Natural England will lead on new cross-government project to review and update
existing standards for green infrastructure by summer 2019, with government
supporting local councils to assess developments against these new standards.
Tree planting: The government
reiterates goals to plant one million trees in England’s towns and cities by
2022, and endorses proposals for a new Northern Forest. It will also appoint a
national Tree Champion and design a new woodland creation grant scheme. A Tree
health Resilience Plan is also scheduled for 2018.
Plastic waste targets and
taxes: The government said it aims to eliminate all “avoidable” waste by 2050,
and all “avoidable plastic waste” by the end of 2042. A call for evidence on
using the tax system to eradicate single-use plastics is also on its way this
year, while government says it will “explore whether we can ban other
problematic materials where suitable alternatives exist”.
Water refill points: To cut
plastic bottle waste, the government wants to help retailers and transport hubs
to offer up free water refill points in every major city and town in England,
while the water industry will be encouraged to create nationwide network of
refill points.
International Natural Capital
Conference: The UK plans to host major event to “discuss new ways of
incorporating natural capital approaches to long-term policy making”.
Global deforestation
initiative: A cross-government global resource initiative is to be set up this
year that will work with businesses, NGOs, producer countries, and intermediary
countries to identify supply chain actions to boost the sustainability of
products and reduce deforestation.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Security challenges and their
management in border areas.
Villagers
along India-Myanmar international border to get passes
India and Myanmar are all set
to streamline free movement of people within 16 km along their borders. The
Centre has asked the four states that share unfenced border with Myanmar to
distribute “border pass” to all the residents living within 16 km from the
boundary line. It has also asked the governments of Arunachal Pradesh,
Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to enrol the border residents under Aadhaar on
war footing.
About
the border pass:
The border pass will be given
only to the domiciles. All residents going across the border for agriculture,
work or to meet relatives should carry the pass at all times. There will be no
restrictions on their movement.
Background:
Both the countries had been
intending to put a system in place after India raised the issue of movement of
extremists and smugglers freely across the border. On January 3, the Union
Cabinet had approved the agreement between India and Myanmar on land border
crossing which the government said would enhance economic interaction between
the people of the two countries.
Facts
for Prelims:
India and Myanmar share an
unfenced border of 1,643 km, touching Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215
km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km).
Sources: the hindu.
Facts
for Prelims:
Zygaenid:
What is it? It is a newly
discovered species of moth. This discovery represents the first record of
Elcysma from Arunachal Pradesh. Researchers have suggested that the new species
be commonly called Apatani Glory, named after a local tribe called Apatani.
From where? The species was
discovered from the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key facts: This species has
only been seen during autumn, notably in the month of September, indicating
that it is a univoltine species, meaning it has one brood of young in a year.
Country’s
First Agri-commodity Options Contracts in Guar Seed:
Context: The Union Finance
Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley recently launched the country’s First
Agri-commodity Options Contracts in Guar Seed.
Significance: NCDEX Agri-Options
in Guar Seed aim to provide farmers better engagement in the commodity
markets.
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