Insights Feb 2018 Current Affairs

134 Pages·2017·6.63 MB·English

INSIGHTSIAS
SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION
- I A S S E L F S T U D Y G U I D E -

CURRENT AFFAIRS

FEBRUARY 2018
© INSIGHTS ACTIVE LEARNING
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

GS PAPER - I ______________________________ 5 Paper 1 Topic: Distribution of key natural resources
across the world (including South Asia and the Indian
Paper 1 Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient
sub-continent). _____________________________ 19
aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from
ancient to modern times. ______________________ 5 #. Massive reserves of mercury found in Arctic
permafrost ___________________________________ 19
1. Medaram Jatara ______________________________5
GS PAPER - II _____________________________ 21
2. Pelican festival _______________________________5
Paper 2 Topic: Indian Constitution- historical
3. International Kala Mela ________________________6
underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,
4. Demetrios Galanos ____________________________6
significant provisions and basic structure. ________ 21
5. Prachi Valley _________________________________7
1. Jallikattu __________________________________ 21
6. Mahamastakabhisheka ________________________7
2. Citizenship Act ______________________________ 21
7. Kailash Yatra via Nathu La to resume _____________7
3. Parliament adopts motion of thanks to President’s
8. Separate Flag For Karnataka ____________________8 Address _____________________________________ 22
9. Sahitya Akademi ______________________________9 Paper 2 Topic: Separation of powers between various
organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
10. Smart museums to give ‘virtual’ tours and 3D view of
institutions. ________________________________ 23
rare artifacts ___________________________________9
11. Endangered Indian Languages ________________ 10 #. SC stays new Tribunal Rules ___________________ 23
12. President approves Bill allowing Kambala in Paper 2 Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the
Karnataka ___________________________________ 11 Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining
to the federal structure, devolution of powers and
13. Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana _____________ 11
finances up to local levels and challenges therein. __ 24
14. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-2018 ___________ 12
1. Cauvery water dispute verdict _________________ 24
15. Khajuraho dance festival ____________________ 12
2. Tribunal to settle Mahanadi water dispute ______ 25
16. World Cities Culture Forum __________________ 14
3. Electoral bonds _____________________________ 25
Paper 1 Topic: Role of women and women’s
4. Kaleswaram project _________________________ 26
organization, population and associated issues,
poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-
problems and their remedies. _________________ 14 judicial bodies. _____________________________ 27
1. Swadhar Greh Scheme _______________________ 14 1. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
(CACP) ______________________________________ 27
2. National Women Entrepreneurship Council _____ 15
2. Rationalization of Autonomous Bodies under
3. SHe-box ___________________________________ 16
Department of Health & Family Welfare __________ 28
Paper 1 Topic: Social empowerment, communalism,
3. CCI slaps Rs. 136 cr. fine on Google _____________ 29
regionalism & secularism. ____________________ 16
4. Medical Council of India (MCI) _________________ 29
# Democracy Index ____________________________ 16
5. Defence Acquisition Council ___________________ 30
Paper 1 Topic: Urbanization, their problems and their
6. Prasar Bharati ______________________________ 30
remedies. _________________________________ 17
7. Central Geological Programming Board _________ 31
# Bengaluru may face Cape Town fate ____________ 17
8. Botanical Survey of India _____________________ 32
Paper 1 Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena. 19
9. Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Medicinal and
# ‘Super Blue Blood Moon’ _____________________ 19
Aromatic Plants (MAPs) for NER _________________ 32
10. Heavy Water Board _________________________ 33
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Paper 2 Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections Paper 2 Topic: Development processes and the
of the population by the Centre and States and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional
institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and other stakeholders. ______________________ 51
and betterment of these vulnerable sections. _____ 34
1. Dust mitigation plan must for firms ____________ 51
1. Coach Factory in Marathwada, Maharashtra_____ 34
2. Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan or
2. Ayushman Bharat for a new India -2022 ________ 34 KUSUM scheme _______________________________ 52
3. Ujjwala Yojana _____________________________ 35 3. Laghu Udyog Bharati _________________________ 52
4. LPG Panchayat _____________________________ 35 4. Tools for ranking of startups __________________ 53
5. Anti-Narcotics Scheme _______________________ 36 5. Village Resource Centres _____________________ 54
6. SC seeks details on over-crowded prisons _______ 36 6. India Health Fund ___________________________ 55
Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and interventions 7. ‘Watan ko Jano’ _____________________________ 55
for development in various sectors and issues arising 8. Northeast Venture Fund ______________________ 55
out of their design and implementation. _________ 38
9. NITI Forum for Northeast _____________________ 56
1. ‘Khelo India School Games’ ___________________ 38
Paper 2 Topic: Important aspects of governance,
2. Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education transparency and accountability, e-governance-
(RISE) _______________________________________ 38
applications, models, successes, limitations, and
3. E-way bill __________________________________ 39 potential; citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other
4. Atal Bhoojal Yojana _________________________ 39
measures. _________________________________ 57
5. Anti-dumping duty __________________________ 40
1. Government e-Marketplace ___________________ 57
6. Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) _____ 41
2. BharatNet Project ___________________________ 57
7. Coal blocks for commercial mining _____________ 42
3. Kerala to get MGNREGS assets geo- tagged ______ 58
8. DoT’s plan to spur synergy among 7 PSUs _______ 42
4. Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill ______ 58
9. Highway liquor ban _________________________ 43
5. Corruption Perception Index 2017______________ 59
10. Draft pesticide bill _________________________ 44
6. National e-Governance Awards ________________ 59
Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development and
Paper 2 Topic: India and its neighbourhood-
management of Social Sector/Services relating to
relations. __________________________________ 60
Health, Education, Human Resources. ___________ 44
1. Rohingya issue______________________________ 60
1. Technical Education Quality Improvement
Programme (TEQIP) ___________________________ 44 2. Atal doctrine _______________________________ 61
2. More tribal areas to get Ekalavya schools _______ 45 3. Maldives’ ongoing political crisis _______________ 61
3. “Healthy States, Progressive India” Report ______ 46 4. India gets access to strategic Oman port Duqm for
military use __________________________________ 62
4. National Deworming initiative ________________ 47
5. Myanmar dam on border worries Manipur village 63
5. Education impact bond for India _______________ 48
6. Chabahar port ______________________________ 64
6. N Gopalaswami committee ___________________ 48
7. Milan 2018 _________________________________ 65
7. Shram Awards _____________________________ 49
Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings
8. Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education
(RISE) _______________________________________ 50 and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
interests. __________________________________ 66
9. Aviation Multi Skill Development Centre (MSDC) _ 50
1. Ashgabat agreement ________________________ 66

2. New Instrument adopted by International Labour

Organization (ILO) _____________________________ 67

3. Jogighopa to become India’s new gateway to South-
East Asia _____________________________________ 67
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4. TAPI gas pipeline ___________________________ 68 Paper 3 Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from
it. ________________________________________ 85
Paper 2 Topic: Effect of policies and politics of
developed and developing countries on India’s 1. Inverted duty structure ______________________ 85
interests, Indian diaspora. ____________________ 70
2. Ombudsman scheme for NBFCs ________________ 86
#. US tightens H-1B visa rules ___________________ 70
Paper 3 Topic: Major crops cropping patterns in various
Paper 2 Topic: Important International institutions, parts of the country, different types of irrigation and
agencies and fora, their structure, mandate. _____ 71 irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of
agricultural produce and issues and related constraints;
1. UN Development Partnership Fund ____________ 71
e-technology in the aid of farmers. _____________ 87
2. Fifth South Asia Region Public Procurement
Conference __________________________________ 71 1. Government reboots eNAM ___________________ 87
3. UN World Food Programme __________________ 72 2. Operation Greens ___________________________ 87
4. World Government Summit __________________ 72 3. GOBAR-Dhan Yojana _________________________ 88
5. Tanzania withdraws from UN refugee programme 72 Paper 3 Topic: Issues related to direct and indirect farm
subsidies and minimum support prices; Public
6. World Sustainable Development Summit _______ 73
Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations,
7. World Congress on IT 2018 ___________________ 74 revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
8. India offers USD $1 million aid to Tonga ________ 74 Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing. 88
9. ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AIRTF) 75 #. Rajasthan announces Rs8,000 crore farm loan
waiver ______________________________________ 88
10. 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education
Ministers ____________________________________ 75 Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads,
Airports, Railways etc. _______________________ 89
11. International Conference on Sustainable Biofuels 76
1. Jal Marg Vikas Project ________________________ 89
12. Coordinating center on medicinal plants _______ 77
2. “Development of Solar Cities” scheme __________ 91
13. Arctic Seed Vault __________________________ 78
3. India’s first ‘Highway Capacity Manual’ released __ 92
14. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) ____ 79
4. Govt drops the idea of an India EV policy ________ 92
GS PAPER - III ____________________________ 80
5. Hyperloop Between Mumbai and Pune _________ 93
Paper 3 Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to
planning, mobilization of resources, growth, 6. Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) ________ 94
development and employment. ________________ 80 7. National Urban Housing Fund _________________ 94
1. Gift City gets unified regulator ________________ 80 8. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Programme ___ 95
2. LTCG tax on equity __________________________ 80 9. National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and
Coasts at IIT Chennai ___________________________ 96
3. Separate debt office at Centre ________________ 81
Paper 3 Topic: Science and Technology- developments
4. National Productivity Council _________________ 81
and their applications and effects in everyday life
5. Merger of PSU non-life insurers _______________ 82
Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
6. Privatising public sector banks ________________ 83 indigenization of technology and developing new
technology. ________________________________ 97
Paper 3 Topic: Inclusive growth and issues arising from
it. _______________________________________ 83 1. Agni-I missile _______________________________ 97
1. CriSidEx ___________________________________ 83 2. Prithvi-II ___________________________________ 97
2. RBI to link base rate with MCLR from 1 April _____ 84 3. Super critical carbon di oxide Brayton test loop facility
____________________________________________ 98
Paper 3 Topic: Effects of liberalization on the economy,
changes in industrial policy and their effects on 4. Rustom 2 __________________________________ 99
industrial growth. ___________________________ 84 5. National Science Day 2018 ___________________ 100
#. Change in the basis of classifying Micro, Small and
Medium enterprises ___________________________ 84
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Paper 3 Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, 4. Cyber security incidents _____________________ 119
Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
5. Pakistan added to FATF grey-list ______________ 120
and issues relating to intellectual property rights. 100
6. Centre may enact law against fugitives _________ 120
1. LiFi technology ____________________________ 100
Facts for Prelims _________________________ 122
2. THREE-PARENT BABIES PERMITTED IN U.K _____ 102
1. Floating island to come up on Neknampur Lake _ 122
3. SpaceX Falcon Heavy _______________________ 103
2. Bhasha Samman ___________________________ 122
4. Global IP Index ____________________________ 104
3. Geospatial world excellence award ____________ 122
5. WFIRST __________________________________ 104
4. New wildlife sanctuary at Ghodazari___________ 122
6. ESPRESSO Instrument ______________________ 105
5. Sela pass _________________________________ 122
7. Scientists find a potentially powerful new antibiotic in
dirt ________________________________________ 106 6. Task force set up to study AI application in
military _____________________________________ 123
8. Blockchain tech ___________________________ 107
7. Cochin Shipyard signs MoU with Russian firm ___ 123
9. Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial
Telecommunication __________________________ 108 8. ‘Exam Warriors’ ____________________________ 123
Paper 3 Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution 9. “Green Good Deeds” campaign _______________ 123
and degradation, environmental impact 10. Under-19 World Cup _______________________ 123
assessment. ______________________________ 108
11. Sherin’s Law _____________________________ 123
1. World Wetlands Day 2018 ___________________ 108
12. Vinay Sheel Oberoi committee ______________ 123
2. New Project to Control Pollution of River Sal at
13. Tawang gets rhododendron park ____________ 124
Navelin, Goa ________________________________ 109
14. THE World Rankings 2018 __________________ 124
3. Minamata Convention ______________________ 110
15. “Swachh Bharat Sanitation Park” inaugurated in
4. Great Indian Bustard _______________________ 111
Delhi _______________________________________ 124
5. Compensatory afforestation (CA) funds ________ 111
16. 21st Indian Birding Fair _____________________ 124
6. India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017 ________ 112
17. Janadriyah festival ________________________ 124
7. Compensatory Afforestation Act _____________ 113
18. Manipur gets first woman Chief Justice _______ 125
8. Mass nesting of olive ridleys begins in Odisha ___ 114
19. Three new eel species found in Bay of Bengal __ 125
9. Swajal Yojana _____________________________ 114
20. World Radio Day __________________________ 125
Paper 3 Topic: Disaster and disaster management. 115
21. First Hindu Temple Project In Abu Dhabi ______ 125
1. India Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) ___ 115
22. Mumbai 12th richest city in the world ________ 125
2. Integrated Automatic Aviation Meteorological
23. NTPC to supply 300 MW power to Bangladesh _ 125
Systems (IAAMS) ____________________________ 116
24. Soyuz rocket launches cargo freighter to
Paper 3 Topic: Various Security forces and agencies and
International Space Station ____________________ 126
their mandate. ____________________________ 116
25. International Conference for Reconstruction of
#. Enforcement Directorate ____________________ 116 Iraq ________________________________________ 126
Paper 3 Topic: Challenges to internal security through 26. Indira Gandhi Canal _______________________ 126
communication networks, role of media and social
27. Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics
Programme _________________________________ 126
of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
28. India Pharma 2018 and India Medical Device
________________________________________ 116
2018 _______________________________________ 126
1. Bill to amend the Prevention of Money-laundering
29. Paschim Lehar ____________________________ 127
Act, 2002 ___________________________________ 116
30. India’s Umang App, Aadhaar win awards at World
2. ‘Security Check Kiya’ campaign _______________ 117
Government Summit _________________________ 127
3. Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems
31. Delhi hosts India’s first radio festival _________ 127
(CCTNS) ____________________________________ 117
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32. Venezuela, Libya Lose UN Vote for Third Time in 3 44. All-Women Railway Station In Jaipur’s Gandhinagar
Years ______________________________________ 127 A First For Rajasthan __________________________ 129
33. First large scale CO2-injected project in Asia ___ 127 45. RBS hires ‘digital human’ Cora on probation ___ 129
34. National Banana Festival 2018 ______________ 127 46. UP Cabinet approves ‘one district, one product’
scheme _____________________________________ 129
35. Theatre Olympics _________________________ 128
47. National Integration Tours __________________ 130
36. Sci-tech Oscar Award ______________________ 128
48. 5th International Data Science summit ________ 130
37. Saudi Arabia allows women to open their business
without male consent ________________________ 128 49. ‘Dhanush’ ballistic missile __________________ 130
38. Saras ___________________________________ 128 50. Drypetes kalamii __________________________ 130
39. Mizoram to get first regional agricultural centre with 51. SRIJAN __________________________________ 131
Israeli collaboration __________________________ 128
52. UIDAI’s Blue Coloured New Aadhaar Card _____ 131
40. International Mother Language Day: 21
53. September 22 as Rhino Day _________________ 131
February ___________________________________ 128
54. Viral load testing __________________________ 131
41. India to host World Environment Day 2018 ____ 129
55. 4G network on Moon in 2019 _______________ 131
42. Prithvi-II ________________________________ 129
56. Maldives rejects India’s Milan naval exercise
43. YH Malegam committee ___________________ 129
invite ______________________________________ 131

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GS PAPER - I

Paper 1 Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from
ancient to modern times.
1. Medaram Jatara
Context:
 The four-day ‘Sammakka – Saralamma Jatara’ at Medaram in Telangana has begun. Considered the biggest
tribal festival across South Asia, the Jatara witnesses a huge number of devotees thronging the village to
take the blessings of Goddess Sammaka-Saralamma.
About the Medaram’s Sammakka-Sarakka/Saralamma Jatara:
 What is it? Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara held by forest dwelling Koya tribe of Telangana and surrounding
States, is the biggest Tribal festival in Asia which is attended by one crore people on an average.
 Why is it held? The event is held bi-annually to honour the twin goddesses Sammakka and her daughter
Sarakka. Several communities in Telangana society support Jatara as it is also a mythical narrative of two
tribal women leaders who fought against the Kakatiya rulers who tried to annex their land and forests.
According to the myth it was Sammakka’s curse which caused gradual decline and death of Kakatiya rule.
Facts for Prelims:
 Where is Medaram located? Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of
Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan.
Sources: the hindu.

2. Pelican festival
Context:
 ‘Pelican Bird Festival-2018’ was recently organized at Kolleru
lake. It was jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism
Authority (APTA) and Krishna district administration.
Background:
 Thousands of pelicans, painted storks and other birds will visit
the lake during winter season, roost, breed and fly with their off
springs.
 Recently, officials identified that Atapaka is one of the largest pelicanry in the world.
About Kolleru lake:
 Kolleru lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the country. It is located between Krishna and Godavari
delta. It was declared as a wildlife sanctury in 1999. It is a Ramsar site and is also listed as an Important
Bird Area.
 The lake is known to amateur birdwatchers and professional ornithologists as a Pelicanery — a location were
the Grey Pelicans, a large magnificent bird, nest and breed. Grey pelicans had vanished from the lake in
1973 for nearly 35 years and returned to it to nest again in December 2006.
Facts for Prelims:
 The Grey Pelican also called the Spot Billed Pelican is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and
in the Red Data Book. It is also considered a “globally threatened species” under the “vulnerable” category.
Sources: the hindu.

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3. International Kala Mela
Context:
 The First ever International Kala Mela is being in New Delhi. The International Kala Mela has been organised
by the Lalit Kala Akademi in partnership with IGNCA of the Ministry of Culture.
About the festival:
 The central objective of Kala Mela is to focus on direct interaction between the artist and the connoisseur
and also educating and raising awareness about art, which has been the mandate of Lalit Kala Akademi.
 This comprehensive outreach shall include the participation of National, International level Artists/ Art
Critics of repute from all over the Globe.
 More than 800 artists from across the world are taking part in the Festival. The festival serves as a platform
for artists to showcase their art works.
Lalit Kala Akademi:
 The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art is India’s National Academy of Fine Arts.
 It is an autonomous organization, established at New Delhi in 1954 to promote and propagate understanding
of Indian art, both within and outside the country.
 It does so through providing scholarships, a fellow program, and sponsoring and organizing numerous
exhibitions in India and overseas.
Sources: pib.

4. Demetrios Galanos
Context:
 Indira Gandhi National Centre for the
Arts (IGNCA) is organizing an
International Conference on,
‘Demetrios Galanos and His Legacy’.
The convention is being held in Delhi
and Varanasi, in addition to
organizing the exhibition and folk
music of Greece. The conference is
being organized by Indira Gandhi
National Center for the Arts (IGNCA)
under the Bharat Vidya Prayojana, a
long term academic program of the
IGNCA.
 The aim of the conference is to focus on academic and cultural exchanges between India and Greece made
by scholars and artists both Indian and Greek, in modern times since Demetrios Galanos.
About Demetrios Galanos:
 Demetrios Galanos (1760–1833) has a special place among the European Indologists of the nineteenth
century. He was the only one who stayed in India for 47 years, and except for the first seven years when he
lived in Calcutta, for 40 years he lived in the city of Varanasi, mastering Sanskrit, Hindi and Persian, from
local scholars.
 Contributions: He translated the Bhagvad Gita into Greek among many other Sanskrit texts. His major
contribution was the compilation of a Sanskrit-English-Greek lexicon of about 9000 words.
Sources: pib.

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5. Prachi Valley
Context:
 The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered
pottery pieces, and tools made of stones and bones
believed to be of the pre-Christian era from a mound in
Jalalpur village of Cuttack district, Odisha.
 Discoveries of ancient artefacts indicated that a rural
settlement might have thrived in that period.
 These settlements could have had cultural and trade ties
with other settlements in the Prachi Valley that had come
up around the Prachi river, which gradually disappeared.
Facts for Prelims:
 Prachi Valley civilisation is believed to be earlier than that of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro flourished on the
banks of Prachi river. Prachi Valley civilisation has contributed a lot towards amalgamation, assimilation
and proliferation of different religious faiths and cults.
 The Prachi river, a tributary of Mahanadi, originates about 10 km away from Bhubaneswar. The river flows
through Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur districts and it is this region that is called the Prachi Valley.
Sources: the hindu.

6. Mahamastakabhisheka
Context:
 88th Mahamastakabhisheka (head anointing
ceremony) of the monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali
has begun at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka.
About Mahamastakabhisheka:
 The mastakabhisheka is held once in 12 years. One of
the biggest festivals for the Jain community, it honors
Lord Bahubali, a revered Jain icon. According to Jain
texts, Bahubali attained liberation from the cycle of
births and deaths (moksha) at Mount Kailash and is
revered as a liberated soul (Siddha) by the Jains.
 Bahubali is also called Gommateshwara because of the
Gommateshwara statue dedicated to him and as lord “Kammateswara” from an inscription. The
Gommateshwara statue was built by the Ganga dynasty minister and commander Chavundaraya; it is a 57-
foot monolith situated above a hill in Shravanabelagola in the Hassan district, Karnataka state, India. It was
built in around 981 A.D. and is one of the largest free-standing statues in the world.
Sources: pib.

7. Kailash Yatra via Nathu La to resume
Context: China has confirmed restarting of the Kailash
Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La pass.
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra:
 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) is known for
its religious importance, cultural significance
and arduous nature. The annual pilgrimage
holds religious importance for Hindus, Jains
and Buddhists.
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