Insights July 2018 Current Affairs

141 Pages·2017·5.09 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

JULY 2018
© INSIGHTS ACTIVE LEARNING
www.insightsias.com | www.insightsonindia.com
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com

www.insightsias.com 1
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GS PAPER - I _______________________ 7 Paper 1 Topic: Population and associated issues,
poverty and developmental issues, urbanization,
Paper 1 Topic: Indian culture will cover the
their problems and their remedies. ________ 21
salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times. __ 7 1. National Register of Citizens ____________ 21
2. Gujarat government grants religious minority
1. Ramanuja ____________________________ 7
status to Jews __________________________ 21
2. India gets its 37th WORLD UNESCO World
3. World Population day _________________ 22
HERITAGE SITE __________________________ 7
4. Failure to educate girls could cost world $30
3. Meghalaya Celebrates Behdienkhlam Festival
trillion a year __________________________ 23
______________________________________ 8
5. Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 ______ 23
4. WORLD SANSKRIT CONFERENCE __________ 8
Paper 1 Topic: Important Geophysical
5. Rani-ki-Vav ___________________________ 9
phenomena. __________________________ 24
6. National Culture Fund __________________ 9
1. Newest phase in Earth’s history named after
7. National mission for manuscripts (NMM) _ 10
Meghalaya rock ________________________ 24
Paper 1 Topic: The Freedom Struggle – its
2. Blood Moon _________________________ 25
various stages and important contributors
/contributions from different parts of the GS PAPER - II _____________________ 26
country. _____________________________ 10
Paper 2 Topic: Separation of powers between
1. 100th year of Montford Reform _________ 10 various organs dispute redressal mechanisms
and institutions. _______________________ 26
Paper 1 Topic: Social empowerment,
communalism, regionalism & secularism. __ 11 1. Delhi Vs Centre: SC observations_________ 26
1. Nelson Mandela International Day _______ 11 2. Uttarakhand HC declares animal kingdom a
legal entity ____________________________ 27
2. Israel Adopts Jewish Nation-State Law ___ 12
Paper 3 Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures
Paper 1 Topic: Role of women and women’s
– structure, functioning, conduct of business,
organization. _________________________ 13
powers & privileges and issues arising out of
1. Section 497 of the IPC _________________ 13 these. _______________________________ 28
2. Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection
1. President nominates four members to Rajya
and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018 ______________ 14
Sabha ________________________________ 28
3. Right of temple entry _________________ 15
2. No confidence motion _________________ 28
4. Make child marriages invalid ___________ 16
3. What is a privilege motion? _____________ 29
5. Women Entrepreneurs Platform (WEP) ___ 17
4. West Bengal Assembly passes resolution to
6. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana _____________ 17 rename state as Bangla __________________ 30
7. Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection
and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018 ______________ 18

8. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 ____ 19

www.insightsias.com 2
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
Paper 2 Topic: Functions and responsibilities of 3. Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation
the Union and the States, issues and challenges Convention ____________________________ 43
pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of
4. Assam Bill against witch-hunt ___________ 43
powers and finances up to local levels and
5. Global slavery Index 2018 ______________ 44
challenges therein. ____________________ 31
6. Committee to check mob lynching _______ 45
1. Assam NRC explained _________________ 31
Paper 2 Topic: Government policies and
Paper 2 Topic: Appointment to various
interventions for development in various sectors
Constitutional posts, powers, functions and
and issues arising out of their design and
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
implementation. _______________________ 46
____________________________________ 32
1. DNA Technology (Use and Application)
1. Chief Justice of India as ‘Master of Roster’ 32
Regulation Bill, 2018 ____________________ 46
2. Article 161 of the Constitution __________ 32
2. Special Category Status for states ________ 47
Paper 2 Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various
3. Legalize Gambling ____________________ 48
quasi-judicial bodies. ___________________ 33
4. ICAT releases First BS-VI engine certificate _ 49
1. Payments Council of India ______________ 33
5. Global Housing Construction Technology
2. Khadi and Village Industries Commission Challenge _____________________________ 50
(KVIC) ________________________________ 34
6. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 _____ 50
3. Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) 34
7. Target Olympic Podium Scheme _________ 51
4. National Green Tribunal _______________ 35
8. Telecom Commission approves net neutrality
5. Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) ___ 36 _____________________________________ 52
6. National Commission for Protection of Child 9. Social Media Hub _____________________ 53
Rights (NCPCR) _________________________ 36
10. Direct benefit transfer (DBT) ___________ 54
7. Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
11. Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 ___ 55
_____________________________________ 37
12. Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill,
8. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
2013 _________________________________ 55
(ICAI) ________________________________ 38
13. Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project ________ 56
9. Commission for denotified, semi-nomadic,
nomadic tribes _________________________ 38 14. NCTE amendment Bill passed __________ 57
10. Domestic Council for Gold_____________ 39 15. Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill,
2017 _________________________________ 58
Paper 2 Topic: Salient features of the
Representation of People’s Act. __________ 40 16. Shekatkar committee _________________ 58
1. Census of India ______________________ 40 17. Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill,
2018 _________________________________ 59
2. Simultaneous elections ________________ 41
18. Govt amends definition of hydrocarbon to
Paper 2 Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable
include shale ___________________________ 60
sections of the population by the Centre and
19. Manipur People’s Protection Bill ________ 61
States and the performance of these schemes;
mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies Paper 2 Topic: Issues relating to development
constituted for the protection and betterment of and management of Social Sector/Services
these vulnerable sections. _______________ 41 relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
____________________________________ 62
1. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
(NCST) _______________________________ 41 1. Nipah virus __________________________ 62
2. Brus of Mizoram _____________________ 42 2. ‘Happiness curriculum’ for school students 63
www.insightsias.com 3
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
3. National Health Stack _________________ 63 4. BRICS 2018 Summit ___________________ 78
4. Formalin ____________________________ 63 Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global
groupings and agreements involving India
5. ‘Institutions of Eminence’ ______________ 64
and/or affecting India’s interests. _________ 79
6. Eat Right Movement __________________ 65
1. UNSC Resolution 2427 _________________ 79
7. Committee set up to synergise NCC and NSS
_____________________________________ 66 2. U.N. agrees first-ever global compact for
migration _____________________________ 80
8. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 __ 67 Paper 2 Topic: Effect of policies and politics of
developed and developing countries on India’s
9. Samagra Shiksha Scheme ______________ 67
interests. _____________________________ 81
10. POSHAN Abhiyaan ___________________ 68
1. “Space force” by US ___________________ 81
11. Bombali: New strain of Ebola virus ______ 69
2. Invest India __________________________ 82
12. Government extends Prime Minister’s
Paper 2 Topic: Important International
Research Fellows Scheme all potential
researchers ___________________________ 69 institutions, agencies and fora, their structure,
mandate. ____________________________ 83
13. National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme
_____________________________________ 70 1. Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early
Warning System (RIMES) _________________ 83
Paper 2 Topic: Development processes and the
development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, 2. Asia Pacific Trade Agreement ___________ 83
various groups and associations, donors, 3. United Nations Military Observer Group in
charities, institutional and other stakeholders. India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) ____________ 84
____________________________________ 71
4. Asian Development Bank (ADB) _________ 84
1. Student Police Cadet Programme ________ 71
5. European Bank for Reconstruction &
2. Aspirational Districts __________________ 72 Development __________________________ 85
Paper 2 Topic: Important aspects of governance, 6. World Customs Organisation (WCO) ______ 86
transparency and accountability, e-governance-
7. Google teams up with UN to track
applications, models, successes, limitations, and environmental changes __________________ 87
potential; citizens charters, transparency &
8. BRICS Regional Aviation Partnership _____ 88
accountability and institutional and other
9. International Solar Alliance (ISA) ________ 89
measures. ___________________________ 72
1. Systematic Voters Education and Electoral GS PAPER - III _____________________ 90
Participation (SVEEP) ____________________ 72
Paper 3 Topic: Indian Economy and issues
2. Common Services Centers (CSCs) ________ 73 relating to planning, mobilization of resources,
growth, development and employment. ____ 90
3 IFFCO i-Mandi ________________________ 74
1. Currency Derivatives __________________ 90
4. National Database of Arms Licenses system 74
2. Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA) __________ 90
5. Public Affairs Index 2018 _______________ 75
6. DigiYatra initiative ____________________ 76 Paper 3 Topic: Effects of liberalization on the
economy, changes in industrial policy and their
Paper 2 Topic: India and its neighbourhood-
effects on industrial growth. _____________ 91
relations. ____________________________ 76
1. India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre __ 91
1. Delhi Dialogue _______________________ 76
2. Ease of Doing Business Ranking of States __ 92
2. Border Haats ________________________ 77
3. India pips France to become world’s 6th
3. Girinka Programme ___________________ 78
largest economy ________________________ 93
www.insightsias.com 4
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
4. Cabinet relaxes NELP, pre-NELP pact rules _ 94 5. Global Innovation Index_______________ 109
5. FDI Confidence Index __________________ 94 6. BrahMos missile _____________________ 110
Paper 3 Topic: Inclusive growth and issues 7. IIT-Madras unveils word’s first remotely
arising out of it. _______________________ 95 operable LEAP microscope ______________ 110
1. Recapitalization of RRBs _______________ 95 8. India to expand polar research to Arctic __ 111
2. IAS officers for village outreach _________ 96 9. ‘Rent-a-lab’ policy to bring revenues to
institutions ___________________________ 111
3. State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill,
2017 _________________________________ 96 10. Innovate India Platform ______________ 112
Paper 3 Topic: Issues related to direct and 11. Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) __________ 112
indirect farm subsidies and minimum support Paper 3 Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT,
prices; Public Distribution System objectives, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology,
functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual
buffer stocks and food security; Technology property rights. ______________________ 113
missions; economics of animal-rearing. ____ 97
1. Hubble Space Telescope ______________ 113
1. Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) ________ 97
2. Intellectual Property Appellate Board ___ 114
2. India has 5th largest area under GM crops 98
3. World Intellectual Property Organization
3. Jute sector __________________________ 99 (WIPO) treaties ________________________ 114
Paper 3 Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, 4. Parker Solar Probe ___________________ 115
Roads, Airports, Railways etc. ____________ 99
5. Kepler space telescope _______________ 116
1. Kudankulam power plant ______________ 99
6. RAMA (Reconstituting Asteroids into
2. Purvanchal Expressway _______________ 100 Mechanical Automata) _________________ 116
3. Bansagar canal project _______________ 101 7. GRACE-FO mission ___________________ 117
4. Right of First Refusal (ROFR) ___________ 102 8. Pak Spy Satellites Launched By China ____ 117
5. FASTags ___________________________ 102 9. First-Ever Colour X-Ray On A Human ____ 118
6. Delhi Dialogue ______________________ 103 10. MeerKAT radio telescope ____________ 118
7. National Waterways Projects in the North East 11. NASA’s ‘Remote Sensing Toolkit’ ______ 119
____________________________________ 104
12. World’s fastest man-made spinning object
8. Western Dedicated Corridor (WDFC) ____ 105 ____________________________________ 119
9. ‘Mukhyanmantri Kissan Aaye Badhotri Solar 13. Draft of Data Protection Bill __________ 120
Yojna’ _______________________________ 106
Paper 3 Topic: Conservation, environmental
10. Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) pollution and degradation, environmental
____________________________________ 106 impact assessment. ___________________ 121
Paper 3 Topic: Science and Technology- 1. 4 species added to recovery programme by
developments and their applications and effects Wildlife Board ________________________ 121
in everyday life Achievements of Indians in
2. Nilgiri tahr __________________________ 122
science & technology; indigenization of
3. Petcoke ____________________________ 122
technology and developing new technology. 107
4. Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan __________ 123
1. Agni-V_____________________________ 107
5. SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather
2. ISRO conducts pad abort test __________ 107
Forecasting) __________________________ 124
3. Nasscom unveils centre for data, AI _____ 107
6. Odisha police launch drive to bust Pangolin
4. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity _________ 108 smuggling racket ______________________ 125
www.insightsias.com 5
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
7. 2018 Earth Overshoot Day fall on August 1 125 17. First ever ‘India Tourism Mart’ ________ 135
8. Green Mahanadi Mission _____________ 127 18. World’s Oldest Color Discovered In Rocks
Deep Beneath Sahara Desert _____________ 135
9. Naturalized species __________________ 127
19. In news- Marshall Islands ____________ 135
10. Arsenic contamination ______________ 128
20. First Chairman of Rajya Sabha to sign an MOU
11. International Tiger Day: 29 July _______ 129
____________________________________ 136
Paper 3 Topic: Disaster management. ____ 130
21. World’s largest mobile phone factory ___ 136
1. AMCDRR 2018 ______________________ 130
22. Lonely Planet’s top five “2018 Best in Asia”
2. India to give flash flood warning to Asian list __________________________________ 136
nations ______________________________ 130
23. ‘Anna’ canteens ____________________ 136
Paper 3 Topic: Security related issues. ____ 131
24. Shwet Ashwa Drass Expedition ________ 136
Counter-drone strategy for airports ready __ 131
25. Sangita Kalanidhi award _____________ 136
Facts for Prelims __________________ 133 26. Vikas Engine _______________________ 137
1. Golden Globe Race (GGR) _____________ 133 27. Golden jackal ______________________ 137
2. GST day – 1st JULY ___________________ 133 28. Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) _____ 137
3. Kalidas Award ______________________ 133 29. Ex Pitch Black ______________________ 137
4. In news- Banking Codes and Standards Board 30. All India Council for Technical Education
of India (BCSBI) _______________________ 133 (AICTE) ______________________________ 137
5. Global Mobility Summit ______________ 133 31. India-assisted ambulance service launched in
Sri Lanka _____________________________ 138
6. WAPCOS Limited ____________________ 133
32. Iran becomes India’s No. 2 oil supplier __ 138
7. Cvigil ______________________________ 134
33. Tribal Atlas of Odisha ________________ 138
8. Fighter aircraft Tejas: ________________ 134
34. Places in News _____________________ 138
9. Agartala Airport renamed: ____________ 134
35. Kargil Vijay Diwas ___________________ 138
10. Khan Prahari ______________________ 134
36. 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award ________ 138
11. ‘Sambal’ scheme ___________________ 134
37. Mission Satyanishtha ________________ 139
12. Eta Carinae ________________________ 134
38. Country’s first state-run all-woman hotel in
13. Gaming University In Andhra Pradesh __ 134
Kerala _______________________________ 139
14. Mattala Airport ____________________ 135
39. NASAMS-II ________________________ 139
15. Civil Aviation Research Organization at
40. India’s first Mobile Open Exchange zone to be
Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad ___________ 135
at Noida _____________________________ 139
16. What Is Aphelion? __________________ 135

www.insightsias.com 6
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
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. RAMANUJA
• Context: A 216-foot-tall statue of Ramanuja will be built at Hyderabad. When unveiled, it is set to become the
world’s second tallest statue of a seated figure.
Facts for Prelims:
• Currently, the Great Buddha of Thailand is the tallest statue, at 302-feet.
Once the Ramanujacharya statue is unveiled, it will become the second
tallest, a distinction now held by the Guanyin figure on Mount Xiqiao in
China’s Guangdong region, at 203 feet.
About Ramanujacharya:
• He was a Hindu theologian, philosopher, and one of the most important
exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.
• His philosophical foundations for devotionalism were influential to the
Bhakti movement.
• He is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita subschool of
Vedānta.
• He wrote influential texts, such as bhāsya on the Brahma Sutras and the
Bhagavad Gita, all in Sanskrit.
What’s important?
• For Prelims and Mains: Ramanuja- important works and contributions, Vishishtadvaita.
Sources: the hindu.

2. INDIA GETS ITS 37TH WORLD UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
• Context: In a Remarkable Achievement, India gets its 37th WORLD UNESCO World HERITAGE SITE. The
decision was taken at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at Manama in Bahrain.
• 37th site: Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of
Mumbai.
Facts for Prelims:
• This makes Mumbai city the second city in India after
Ahmedabad to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
• In the past 5 years alone, India has managed to get
inscribed seven of its properties/sites on the World
Heritage List of UNESCO.
• India now has overall 37 World Heritage Inscriptions with
29 Cultural, 07 Natural and 01 Mixed sites.
• While India stands second largest in number after China in terms of number of World Heritage properties in
ASPAC (Asia and Pacific) region, it is overall sixth in the world.
What is a World Heritage site?
• A World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made area or a structure that is of international
importance, and a space which requires special protection.
• These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organisation, also known as UNESCO.
www.insightsias.com 7
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
• UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are important for humanity, and they hold cultural
and physical significance.
Background:
• In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) announced, 18 April as the “World
Heritage Day”, approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983, with the aim of enhancing awareness
of the importance of the cultural heritage of humankind, and redouble efforts to protect and conserve the
human heritage.
What’s important?
• For Prelims: UNESCO WHS- important sites.
• For Mains: Significance and the need for conservation of WHS.
Sources: pib.

3. MEGHALAYA CELEBRATES BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL
• Context: Behdienkhlam, one of the most colourful
festivals of the State, was recently celebrated in the
Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.
About the festival:
• Behdienkhlam is a major festival of the people in the
Jaintia Hills.
• It is celebrated to invoke the gods for a bumper harvest
and drive away plague.
• It is the ritualistic expression of the relentless struggle of
mankind to overcome the destructive forces of nature, including diseases, since the dawn of civilization.
• During the festival, decorated and colourful raths are immersed in ‘Wah Ainar,’ a muddy pool.
• The non-Christian ‘Pnar’ people who believe either in the traditional faith of ‘Niamtre’ or Hinduism observe
this festival.
What’s important?
• For Prelims: Behdienkhlam, Pnar.
Sources: the hindu.

4. WORLD SANSKRIT CONFERENCE
• Context: The 2018 World Sanskrit Conference (WSC) is being hosted by the Department of Asian Studies at
the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. It is 17th such conference.
World Sanskrit Conference:
• The World Sanskrit Conference is the premier international forum for
professional researchers and educators of the Sanskrit language and
its literatures, and of the history, religion, and cultures of premodern
South Asia.
• It is convened every three years under the auspices of the
International Association of Sanskrit Studies.
About IASS:
• At the 29th International Congress of Orientalists, held in Paris in
1973, Sanskritists from various countries endorsed the formation of
the International Association of Sanskrit Studies and drafted its
constitution.
• The main task of the IASS was agreed to be the organizing of a World Sanskrit Conference at different venues
around the world.
www.insightsias.com 8
CURRENT EVENTS www.insightsonindia.com
• The 1972 International Sanskrit Conference in New Delhi was recognised retrospectively as the First World
Sanskrit Conference.
• Indologica Taurinensia is the journal of the IASS.
What’s important?
• For Prelims: WSC and IASS.
• For Mains: Significance of WSC.
Sources: pib.

5. RANI-KI-VAV
• Why in News? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon be releasing a new lavender Rs 100 currency note.
The banknote highlights the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India as it prominently displays a photograph
of ‘Rani-ki-vav’ (The Queen’s Stepwell),
an 11th century architectural wonder.
About ‘Rani- ki- vav’:
• Located in Gujarat’s Patan, the 900-
year-old structure is a major tourist
attraction, a UNESCO World Heritage
site, and was awarded as the cleanest
iconic place in India in 2016. It is located
on the banks of Saraswati River.
• Who built it? It was built by the Solanki
dynasty’s queen Udayamati in the 11th
century as a memorial to her deceased
husband Bhimdev I.
• Architectural significance: Rani-ki-Vav
was built in the complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style. It highlights the sanctity of water as it is designed
as an inverted temple under the earth’s surface. The central theme is the Dasavataras, or ten incarnations of
Vishnu, including Buddha. The avatars are accompanied by sadhus, brahmins, and apsaras (celestial dancers).
What’s important?
• For Prelims: Location of Rani- ki- Vav, Maru Gurjara architecture, who built it?
• For Mains: Architectural significance.
Sources: the hindu.

6. NATIONAL CULTURE FUND
• Context: As per the latest data, about Rs. 904.80 Lakhs has been received as part of the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) under NCF for development Works at Historic Monuments in last 3 yrs.
About National Culture Fund (NCF):
National Culture Fund (NCF) was set up as a Trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 in November 1996
by the Government, with a view to mobilize extra resources through Public Private Partnerships.
• The National Culture Fund is managed and administered by a council headed by Hon’ble Culture Minister to
decide the policies and an Executive Committee headed by Secretary, Culture to actualize those policies.
• The Fund aims at inviting the participation of the corporate sector, non-government organizations,
private/public sector as well as individuals in the task of promoting, protecting and preserving India’s cultural
heritage.
• All the projects undertaken by the NCF are completed within a specified period, in accordance with an MoU
signed by NCF with the concerned donor organization.
• The donations/contributions to NCF are eligible for 100% tax deduction under the Income Tax Act,
1961 subject to the limits and conditions prescribed in the said Section and relevant Rules.
www.insightsias.com 9