Ms. Mirabai Chanu won gold at the World Weightlifting Championship.(1/12/2017)

Doing Business in India (1/12/2017)

‘Ease of doing business’ refers to the regulatory environment in a country to set up and operate a business. Every year, the World Bank compares the business environment in 190 countries in its Ease of Doing Business Report.

What parameters is a country ranked on?

The ease of doing business rankings are based on a country’s performance on 10 parameters such as enforcing contracts and starting a business. In India, these rankings are based on the business environment in Mumbai and Delhi. A lower rank indicates better performance on that parameter, whereas a higher rank indicates worse performance on the indicator.

What has led to an improvement in India’s ease of doing business rankings?

1. Starting a business : Starting a business involves obtaining clearances, and conforming to various regulations under laws such as Companies Act, 2013. The report noted that India merged the application procedure for getting a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the Tax Account Number (TAN) for new businesses. It also improved the online application system for getting a PAN and a TAN.


2. Getting credit and resolving insolvency: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code passed in 2016 provides for a 180-day time-bound process to resolve insolvency. It also provides for the continuation of a debtor’s business during these proceedings. The Code allows secured creditors to opt out of resolution proceedings, and specifies that a debtor will be immune against creditor claims during the 180-day insolvency resolution process. Prior to the passage of the Code, it took 4.3 years in India to liquidate a business (as of 2015).


3. Paying taxes: The report notes that India made paying taxes easier by requiring that payments to the Employees Provident Fund are made electronically. Further, it introduced measures to ease compliance with corporate income tax.


4. Trading across borders: Import border compliance at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai was reduced. Export and Import costs were also reduced through increasing use of electronic and mobile platforms, among others.


5. Enforcing contracts: The introduction of the National Judicial Data Grid has made it possible to generate case management reports on local courts.

What are some of the other recommendations to improve the business environment in India?

1. Starting a business: The Standing Committee observed that regulations and procedures for starting a business are time-consuming. The Committee observed that as a consequence, a large number of start-ups are moving out of India and setting base in countries like Singapore where such procedures are easier. It emphasised on the need to streamline regulations to give businesses in India a boost.


2. The Committee had suggested that the procedures and time period for registration of companies should be reduced. In addition, a unique business ID should be created to integrate all information related to a debtor. This ID should be used as sole reference for the business.


3. Acquiring land, registering property: Under the current legal framework there are delays in acquiring land and getting necessary permissions to use it. These delays are on account of multiple reasons including the availability of suitable land and disputes related to land titles.


4. The Standing Committee observed that the process of updating and digitising land records has been going on for three decades. It recommended that this process should be completed at the earliest. The digitised records would assist in removing ambiguity in land titles and help in its smooth transfer.


5. The Committee also recommended creating a single window for registration of property, to reduce delays.


6. Construction permits: In India, obtaining construction permits involves multiple procedures and is time consuming.


7. Taxation: The Standing Committee had noted that the tax administration in India was complex, and arbitration proceedings were time-consuming. It observed that the controversies on the Minimum Alternate Tax on capital gains and the tax disputes with companies like Vodafone and Shell had harmed India’s image on taxation matters. Such policy uncertainty and tax disputes have made foreign companies hesitant to do business in India.


8. The Committee observed that for ‘Make in India’ to succeed, there is a need for a fair, judicious and stable tax administration in the country. Further, it suggested that to reduce harassment of tax payers, an electronic tax administration system should be created. Such a system would reduce human interface during dispute resolution.


9. Enforcing contracts: Enforcing contracts requires the involvement of the judicial system. The time taken to enforce contracts in India is long. For instance, the Standing Committee noted that it took close to four years in India for enforcing contracts. On the other hand, it took less than six months for contract enforcement in Singapore. This may be due to various reasons including complex litigation procedures, confusion related to jurisdiction of courts and high existing pendency of cases.


10. The Standing Committee recommended that an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and fast track courts should be set up to expedite disposal of contract enforcement cases. It suggested that efforts should be made to limit adjournments to exceptional circumstances only. It also recommended that certified practitioners should be created, to assist dispute resolution

International Maritime Council (3/12/2017)

• The IMO Council consists of 40 member countries. In Categories “A” and “B” there are 10 members each and in Categary “C” 20 members, who are elected by the IMO Assembly.




• IMO Council plays a crucial role to play in deciding various important matters within the mandate of the IMO, in relation to the global shipping industry, including its work programme strategy and budget.




• India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization [IMO] under Category “B”




• India has a large merchant marine fleet of 1359 vessels, both on foreign going and coastal operations, with a combined Gross Tonnage of 12.2 million. Nearly 90% of India’s overseas trade by volume is carried through maritime transport. Nearly 92% of these goods are carried through foreign flag vessels.




• India has been one of the earliest members of the IMO, having ratified its Convention and joined it as a member-state in the year 1959. India has had the privilege of being elected to and serving the Council of the IMO, ever since it started functioning.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ i.e. 3rd December, 2017

• “National Award for Divyangjan Empowerment-2017” to Individuals, Institutions, Organisations, State/District etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities




• According to Census 2011, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in our country who exhibit great diversity in terms of quantum of disability as well as types of disabilities.




• To give focussed attention to the schemes and programmes for empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, a new Department under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment came into existence during the year 2012.

Data Protection Framework for India - (3/12/2017)

1. Principles: The Committee suggested that a framework to protect data in the country should be based on seven principles:




1. law should be flexible to take into account changing technologies,




2. law must apply to both government and private sector entities,




3. consent should be genuine, informed, and meaningful,




4. processing of data should be minimal and only for the purpose for which it is sought,




5. entities controlling the data should be accountable for any data processing,




6. enforcement of the data protection framework should be by a high-powered statutory authority,




7. penalties should be adequate to discourage any wrongful acts.




2. Scope and exemptions under the framework




1. Applicability: The Committee observed that countries can enforce laws within their jurisdiction. However, a single act of data processing could take place across different countries and jurisdictions. Some of the questions asked by the Committee relate to: (i) territorial applicability of the law, (ii) extent to which the law should apply outside India, and (iii) measures that should be included in the law to ensure compliance by foreign entities.




2. Definition of personal data: The Committee noted that it is important to define what constitutes personal information. This is critical to determine the extent to which privacy of information will be guaranteed under a data protection law. It sought comments on some questions which relate to: (i) what kind of information qualifies as personal data, (ii) should the definition focus on whether a person can be identified based on the data, and (iii) treatment of sensitive personal data. Sensitive data is related to intimate matters where there is a higher expectation of privacy (e.g., caste, religion, and sexual orientation).




3. Exemptions: The Committee noted that entities under the data protection framework may be exempt from certain obligations (e.g., certain actions taken by the state). It sought comments on the categories of exemptions that should be included under the law, and the basic safeguards that should be ensured when processing data in these categories.




3. Grounds for data processing, obligation on entities and rights of individuals




1. Consent: The Committee noted that consent is treated as one of the grounds for processing personal data. However, consent is often not informed or meaningful. In this context, it sought comments on the conditions that determine valid consent. Further, it noted that one in three internet users across the world is a child under the age of 18. A data protection law must sufficiently protect their interests, while considering their vulnerability, and exposure to risks online.




2. Purpose of collection: The Committee discussed the principle where personal data must be collected for a specified purpose, and such data should not be processed for any other purpose. Further, a related principle requires that personal data be erased once the purpose for collecting it has been met.




3. Participation rights: The Committee noted that one of the principles of data protection is that a person whose data is being processed should be able to influence the processing. This includes the right to confirm, access, and rectify the data. The Committee observed that regulations of the European Union have recognised other rights such as the right to object to data processing. Incorporation of such rights in the Indian law requires further assessment. It also noted that the right to be forgotten has emerged as a contentious issue in data protection laws.




4. Regulation and enforcement




1. Enforcement models: The Committee noted that once the provisions of the law are formalised, enforcement mechanisms must be structured to ensure compliance. In this context, it sought comments on the enforcement tools to be used for: (i) code of conduct, (ii) breach of personal data, (iii) categorisation of different data controllers, and (iv) creation of a separate data protection authority. The authority may be responsible for: (i) monitoring, enforcement and investigation, (ii) setting standards, and (iii) generating awareness.




2. Penalty and compensation: The Committee discussed penalties for offences under the proposed law, and the authority which should have the power to hear and adjudicate complaints. Further, it noted that awarding compensation to an individual who has incurred a loss or damage due to the data controller’s failure is an important remedy to be specified under the law.

Decoding the Code on Wages (3/12/17)

1. Whats the Code ?




1. The Code consolidates 40 state and central laws laws related to minimum wages, payment of wages and bonus, and a law prohibiting discrimination between men and women during recruitment promotion and wage payment.




2. Who will be entitled to minimum wages ?




1. Currently, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 lists the employments where employers are required to pay minimum wages to workers. The Act applies to the organised sector as well as certain workers in the unorganised sector such as agricultural workers. The centre and states may add more employments to this list and mandate that minimum wages be paid for those jobs as well.




2. The Code proposes to do away with the concept of bringing specific jobs under the Act, and mandates that minimum wages be paid for all types of employment – irrespective of whether they are in the organised or the unorganised sector.




3. The unorganised sector comprises 92% of the total workforce in the country. A large proportion of these workers are currently not covered by the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Experts have noted that over 90% of the workers in the unorganised sector do not have a written contract, which hampers the enforcement of various labour laws.




3. Will minimum wages be uniform across the country ?




1. No, different states will set their respective minimum wages. In addition, the Code introduces a national minimum wage which will be set by the central government. This will act as a floor for state governments to set their respective minimum wages. The central government may set different national minimum wages for different states or regions.




4. On what basis will the minimum wages be calculated and fixed?




1. Currently, the central government sets the minimum wage for certain employments, such as mines, railways or ports among others. The state governments set the minimum wage for all other employments. These minimum wages can be fixed based on the basis of different criteria such as type of industry or skill level of the worker.




2. The Code also specifies that the centre or states will fix minimum wages taking into account factors such as skills required and difficulty of work. In addition, they will also consider price variations while determining the appropriate minimum wage. This process of fixing minimum wages is similar to the current law.




5. Will workers be entitled to an overtime for working beyond regular hours?




1. Currently, the central or state government define the number of hours that constitute a normal working day. In case an employee works beyond these hours, he is entitled to an overtime rate which is fixed by the government. As of today, the central government has fixed the overtime rate at 1.5 times normal wages in agriculture and double the normal wages for other employments.




2. The Code proposes to fix this overtime rate at twice the prevailing wage rate. International organisations have recommended that overtime should be 1.25 times the regular wage.




6. Does the Code prohibit gender discrimination between workers?




1. The Code subsumes the Equal Remuneration Act 1976 Act, and contains specific provisions which prohibit gender discrimination in matters related to wages. However, unlike in the 1976 Act, the Code does not explicitly prohibit gender discrimination at the stage of recruitment.




7. How is the Code going to be enforced?




1. The four Acts being subsumed under the Code specify that inspectors will be appointed to ensure that the laws are being enforced properly. These inspectors may carry out surprise checks, examine persons, and require them to give information.




2. The Code introduces the concept of a ‘facilitator’ who will carry out inspections and also provide employers and workers with information on how to improve their compliance with the law. Inspections will be carried out on the basis of a web-based inspection schedule that will be decided by the central or state government.

The Anti-Defection Law (11/12/17)

• What is the anti-defection law?




1. The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985. It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House. A legislator is deemed to have defected if he either voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or disobeys the directives of the party leadership on a vote. This implies that a legislator defying (abstaining or voting against) the party whip on any issue can lose his membership of the House. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.




• Are there any exceptions under the law?




1. Yes, legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances. The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger. In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.




2. It is recommended that rather than the Presiding Officer, the decision to disqualify a member should be made by the President (in case of MPs) or the Governor (in case of MLAs) on the advice of the Election Commission. This would be similar to the process followed for disqualification in case the person holds an office of profit (i.e. the person holds an office under the central or state government which carries a remuneration, and has not been excluded in a list made by the legislature).




• How has the law been interpreted by the Courts while deciding on related matters?




1. The law provides for a member to be disqualified if he ‘voluntarily gives up his membership’. However, the Supreme Court has interpreted that in the absence of a formal resignation by the member, the giving up of membership can be inferred by his conduct. Example : members who have publicly expressed opposition to their party or support for another party were deemed to have resigned.




• Decision of the Presiding Officer is subject to judicial review




1. Yes. However, it held that there may not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer gives his order.




• Is there a time limit within which the Presiding Officer has to decide?




1. No. Given that courts can intervene only after the Presiding Officer has decided on the matter, the petitioner seeking disqualification has no option but to wait for this decision to be made.




2. This delay in decision making has resulted in members, who have defected from their parties, continuing to be members of the House. There have also been instances where opposition members have been appointed ministers in the government while still retaining the membership of their original parties in the legislature.




3. The Vice President, in his recent order disqualifying two JD(U) members stated that all such petitions should be decided by the Presiding Officers within a period of around three months.




• Does the anti-defection law affect the ability of legislators to make decisions?




1. The anti-defection law seeks to provide a stable government by ensuring the legislators do not switch sides. However, this law also restricts a legislator from voting in line with his conscience, judgement and interests of his electorate. Such a situation impedes the oversight function of the legislature over the government, by ensuring that members vote based on the decisions taken by the party leadership, and not what their constituents would like them to vote for.




2. Political parties issue a direction to MPs on how to vote on most issues, irrespective of the nature of the issue. Several experts have suggested that the law should be valid only for those votes that determine the stability of the government (passage of the annual budget or no-confidence motions)

Universal Health Coverage Day, 2017

• Universal Health Coverage Day, commemorated each 12 December, is the anniversary of the first unanimous United Nations resolution calling for countries to provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere.




• Universal health coverage has been included in the new Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.




• Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means everyone can access the quality health services they need without financial hardship.




• All people, including the poorest and most vulnerable will get benefit. Full range of essential health services, including prevention, treatment, hospital care and pain control will be provided. Costs shared among entire population through pre - payment and risk - pooling, rather than shouldered by the sick.




• Access should be based on need and unrelated to ability to pay. ‎UHC is a means to promote the human right to health.

What is Bitcoin? (24/12/17)

• Bitcoin is a digital currency which is traded on applications based virtual exchanges throughout the world. Bitcoin is often quoted in dollar terms but is widely traded in local currencies of the respective nation




• Inventor of Bitcoin - This remains a mysterious question till now. A person using the name Satoshi Nakamoto invented Bitcoin in 2009. According to Newsweek, he is an American-Japanese living in California with a full name Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto.




• Bitcoin is traded on virtual exchange based applications, it can be bought and sold on these only. In India, there are several Bitcoin applications which facilitate Bitcoin trading, for example, Zebpay, Unocoin and Coinsecure. Bitcoin can be bought and sold very easily after creating an account with the trading partner filling in your necessary details. In India, the mandatory things needed to start Bitcoin trading are an active email account, a bank account, a mobile number, an aadhaar card and a pan card.




• As of now Bitcoin is not regulated or governed by anybody anywhere. Bitcoin prices are calculated based on the demand and supply on respective exchanges.




• Bitcoin neither have an intrinsic value nor it is derived from an underlying asset. With a huge difference in the number of people participating on different exchanges, the price of Bitcoin varies accordingly.




• Several traders enjoy a huge price arbitrage across Bitcoin exchanges. But there is no common or central depository for Bitcoin unlike that in the stock market. Therefore Bitcoin is usually bought and sold on the same exchange only.




• Bitcoin is one such example of cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is nothing but a digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds. Bitcoin mining is a process of creating virtual currencies like Bitcoin. Mining is an iterative process which incorporates machines with supercomputing power as in creating one Bitcoin, it takes about running an algorithm for about a million times




• Bitcoins are also available in physical form. In the United States, there are several places which have Bitcoin ATMs also. Blockchain a technology in which transactions made in digital currencies are recorded chronologically and publicly. Blockchain as a technology supports Bitcoin trading, but it not synonymous with Bitcoin. Blockchain can be used for a wide variety of applications, such as tracking ownership or the provenance of documents, digital assets, physical assets or even voting rights.




• Bitcoin is a legal currency in over 60 major nations including the United States, China, Japan, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland. Interestingly, Bitcoin has not been legalised in India but many Indians are after it, in order of quick millionaire dream. Apart from India, Bitcoin is also stated as illegal tender in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

What is National SC/ST hub? (24/12/17)

• The objective of the SC/ST (Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes) Hub is to provide professional support to entrepreneurs from the SC/ST. It also seeks to promote enterprise culture and entrepreneurship among the SC/ST population and to enable them to participate more effectively in public procurement.




• It will work towards strengthening market access/linkage, capacity building, monitoring, sharing industry-best practices and leveraging financial support schemes. Public Procurement Policy, 2012: It specifies that 4% of procurement done by ministries, departments and CPSEs should be done from enterprises owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs




• What is Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme :




• ZED Scheme aims to rate and handhold all MSMEs to deliver top quality products using clean technology. It will have sector-specific parameters for each industry. MSME sector is crucial for the economic progress of India and this scheme will help to match global quality control standards. The slogan of Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) was first mentioned by PM Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in 2014. It was given for producing high quality manufacturing products with a minimal negative impact on environment.

Meghalaya launches India’s first social audit law (24/12/17)

• Meghalaya became first state in country to operationalize The Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017, a law that makes social audit of government programmes and schemes a part of government practice. It was launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at a national convention in Shillong.




• Prior to enacting this law, social audits of government programmes were done at the initiative of civil society organisations. These social audits had no official legal sanction




• The law mandates appointment of social audit facilitators to conduct social audit directly with people. The facilitator will present findings to Gram Sabha, who will add inputs and result will finally go to autonomous auditors.




• The law makes social audits part of the system as earlier it was civil society initiative rather than government-mandated. The social audit will make easier to correct course of scheme rolling along. It will give people direct say in how money will be spent and fills information gap for officers as they are directly in touch with ground




• The first of its kind social audit law provides legal framework for allowing citizens’ participation in the planning of development, selection of beneficiaries, concurrent monitoring of programmes, redress of grievances, and audit of works, services, and programmes on an annual basis.




• Social audit is considered as grassroots method of auditing and stems from people themselves. It will make auditing more meaningful. It is considered as an extension of larger accountability framework. It will further lead to institutionalisation of participatory democratic governance

Miscellaneous - (24/12/17)

• North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) - It is a central sector scheme which will be funded 100% by the Central Government.It covers,Physical infrastructure relating to water supply, power, connectivity and specially the projects promoting tourismInfrastructure of social sectors of education and health.Thus it will not only strengthen health care and education facilities in the region but will also encourage tourism and employment opportunities for local youth.




• Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) is mandated to submit an annual report on the status registered publications to the government under PRB Act, 1867.RNI reports acts as an important index for print media in the country.It gives comprehensive analysis of growth amongst regional language publications.It submits its report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.This year report highlighted that 4007 new publications were registered.Uttar Pradesh tops the list of largest number of registered publications.




• Exercise Ekuverin - It is the joint military exercise conducted between India and Maldives.It is being conducted every year alternatively in India and Maldives.This year, the 8th annual exercise will be conducted in Belagavi, Karnataka.The objectives are to enhance defence cooperation and interoperability between the army of both countries with emphasis on Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations under UN mandate.




• Initiatives by Ministry of Railways : SRESTHA - New R&D organisation to serve the future technology needs of Railways. SUTRA – A special unit for Transportation Research and Analytics.The team will be involved in World class data analytics, simulation softwares, network optimisation and decision support systems. NIVARAN – A grievance redressal portal and first IT application in Rail Cloud for resolving service related grievances of serving and former railway employees.




• Sakhi scheme (Ministry of Women and Child Development): Popularly known as Sakhi, the scheme is being implemented since 1st April 2015. The scheme aims to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/case management, psychosocial counselling, and temporary support services to women affected by violence. Under the scheme, it has been envisaged that One Stop Centres (OSC) would be set up across the country in a phased manner.




• Project Darpan (Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office for A New India): Project Darpan focuses to achieve financial inclusion of un-banked rural population. The Project will expand the rural reach of the Department of Posts and enable BOs to expand traffic of all financial remittances, Cash Certificates, savings accounts and Rural Postal Life Insurance. It will upgrade mail operations processes by permitting for automated booking and delivery of accountable article. It will grow revenue using retail post business, provide 3rd party applications and make payments for social security schemes such as MGNREGS.

Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future - Theme of BRICS Summit at Xiamen - 2017 (25/12/2017)

• For the first time in the history of BRICS strong and explicit language was used on the issue of terror.




• For the first time anti-India Groups have been named in a BRICS declaration.




• Pakistan based Terror Groups (Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad) with global terror groups (Haqqani network, Islamic State and al-Qaida) were mentioned from the Chinese territory.




• The declaration reaffirmed BRICS support to the people of Afghanistan to achieve Peace and National Reconciliation.




• BRICS leaders called for adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) by the United Nations General Assembly. Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) proposed first by India in 1996 includes a universal definition of terrorism, steps for cutting off access of terrorist groups to funds and safe heavens and also calls for amending domestic laws to make cross-border equality. Highlights terrorism an extraditable offence.




• BRICS leaders called upon all countries to fully implement the Paris Agreement.




• The BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) represents a milestone of financial cooperation and development. CRA is a framework for the provision of support through liquidity and precautionary instruments in response to actual or potential short term balance of payments pressures. It was established in 2015 by the BRICS countries




• Indian PM suggested 10 noble commitments to be made by BRICS to enable global transformation.




1. Creating a skilled world by giving future-ready skills to millions of our BRICS leaders remain committed non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system as embodied in the WTO. - youth.




2. Creating a healthier world by cooperating in research and development to eradicate diseases, and enabling affordable health care for all.




3. Creating an equitable world of opportunity to all, particularly through gender equality.




4. Creating a safer world by organised and coordinated action on issues: counter-terrorism, cyber security and disaster management




5. Creating a greener world by taking concerted action on countering climate change, through initiatives such as the India-initiated International Solar Alliance.




6. Creating an enabled world by sharing and deploying suitable technologies to enhance efficiency , economy, effectiveness.




7. Creating an inclusive world by economic mainstreaming of our people including in banking and financial systems.




8. Creating a digital world by bridging the digital divide within and outside our economies




9. Creating a connected world by enabling free flow of goods, persons, and services.




10. Creating harmonious world by promoting ideology, practices, heritage that are centered on peaceful coexistence and living in harmony with nature

E-cigarettes (26/12/2017)

• What are e-cigarettes ?




1. An electronic cigarette (or e-cig) is a battery-powered vaporizer that mimics tobacco smoking. It works by heating up a nicotine liquid, called “juice.” Nicotine juice (or e-juice) comes in various flavors and nicotine levels. e-liquid is composed of five ingredients: vegetable glycerin (a material used in all types of food and personal care products, like toothpaste) and propylene glycol (a solvent most commonly used in fog machines.) propylene glycol is the ingredient that produces thicker clouds of vapor.




2. Proponents of e-cigs argue that the practice is healthier than traditional cigarettes because users are only inhaling water vapor and nicotine.




• Need for regulation :




1. In India smoking devices are easily available through online shopping portals and with little information out in the public domain about the ill-effects of e-cigarettes there is a misconception that it is less harmful than traditional cigarettes.




2. Smart marketing and inadequate information on the nicotine content in e-cigarettes has created a false impression that these devices are not as harmful as regular cigarettes. In the absence of a regulation the use of e-cigarettes has grown; they are easily accessible to even the non smokers.




3. Along with the traditional cigarette manufacturing, there is a parallel industry of e-cigarette like devices growing in India, which is under-regulated.



 

• Harmful effects of e cigarettes :




1. Although they are generally thought to be less harmful than smoking real cigarettes, because they contain no tobacco, they do still contain the addictive chemical nicotine. Scientists have confirmed that e-cigarette vapours to contain the same potentially dangerous chemicals.




2. Research has also confirmed that e-cigarette vapours contain free radical chemicals previously thought only to be found in tobacco cigarettes and air pollutants. Free radicals are highly reactive agents that can damage DNA or other molecules within cells, resulting in cell death. Cigarette smoke contains 1014 free radicals per puff. Though e-cigarette vapour contains far fewer free radicals than cigarette smoke – one percent as much – their presence in e-cigarettes still suggests potential health risks

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 (28/12/2017)

1. The Right to Education Act, 2009 prohibits detention of children till they complete elementary education i.e., class 8. The Bill amends this provision to state that a regular examination will be held in class 5 and class 8 at the end of every academic year. If a child fails the exam, he will be given additional instruction, and take a re-examination.




2. If he fails in the re-examination, the relevant central or state government may decide to allow schools to detain the child.




• Key Issues and Analysis :




1. There are differing views on whether children should be detained for failing examinations in elementary school. Some argue that automatic promotion reduces incentive for children to learn and for teachers to teach. Others argue that detaining a child leads to drop outs and does not focus on the systemic factors that affect learning such as quality of teachers, schools, and assessment.




2. Provisions of the Bill regarding assessment and detention are at variance with what most states have demanded. In this context, the question is whether these decisions should be taken by Parliament or left to state legislatures.




3. It is unclear as to who will conduct the examination (which may lead to detention): centre, state, or the school.




• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 :




1. The Right to Education Act, 2009 prohibits detention of children till they complete elementary education i.e., class 8. The Bill amends this provision to state that a regular examination will be held in class 5 and class 8 at the end of every academic year. If a child fails the exam, he will be given additional instruction, and take a re-examination.




2. If he fails in the re-examination, the relevant central or state government may decide to allow schools to detain the child.




• Key Issues and Analysis :




1. There are differing views on whether children should be detained for failing examinations in elementary school. Some argue that automatic promotion reduces incentive for children to learn and for teachers to teach. Others argue that detaining a child leads to drop outs and does not focus on the systemic factors that affect learning such as quality of teachers, schools, and assessment.




2. Provisions of the Bill regarding assessment and detention are at variance with what most states have demanded. In this context, the question is whether these decisions should be taken by Parliament or left to state legislatures.




3. It is unclear as to who will conduct the examination (which may lead to detention): centre, state, or the school.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (28/12/2017)

• aims to target creation of Infrastructure and increasing capacities of processing and preservation in entire supply chain of food processing sector right from farm gate to retail outlets.




• The New Scheme will help in integrating food processing units and food trade with the farmers creating huge opportunities for employment of increasing income of the farmers.




• PMKSY is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. and also new schemes like Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.

Udyami Mitra & PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) (28/12/2017)

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has launched the ‘Udyami Mitra’ Portal (www.udyamimitra.in) to improve accessibility of credit and handholding services to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).




• Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) have been advised to ensure a target of 7.5% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) for Micro Enterprises, that collateral security is not required for loans upto Rs. 10 lakh to MSE sector, a simplified working capital requirement for MSEs.




• online portal PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) which was launched on 26.9.2017. The purpose of this portal is to provide a mechanism for both enforcement of the provisions of Child & Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 and effective implementation of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child & adolescent labour.




• The main components of PENCIL portal are complaint corner, child & adolescent labour tracking system, NCLP and State Resource Centre which are connected with the Ministry of Labour & Employment. Further, the data obtained on the portal is to be shared with Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship

GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX (29/12/2017)

• Released by Washington based international food policy research institution in association with German non profit organization




• It ranks countries on 100points scale with 0 representing no hunger




• GHI score is based on four indicators; Undernourishment Child wasting Child stunting Child mortality




• India is at the end of serious hunger problem category




• Reason for poor performance : Inadequate nutrition Non implementation of NFSA Exclusion error Poor access to sanitation Failure of government social welfare programme, ICDS, NRHM.

VULTURES IN INDIA (30/12/2017)

• There are nine species of vulture in India out which 3 have been on critically endangered list of IUCN and also listed under schedule 1 of the wild life protection act 1972 these are White backed vulture Slender billed vulture Indian vulture/ long billed vulture




• They are known as naturally sanitary workers,




• Some conservative steps: Prohibition on use of anti-inflammtory Diclofenac National action plan on conservation of vulture VULTURES safe zone Ramadevarabetta vulture sanctuary. It is indias only vulture sanctuary in Karnatak

CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMAL (31/12/2017)

• It is the only global convention specialising in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and routes.




• It comes under the aegis of United nations environment program




• It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals a nd their habitat