March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs 1 www.iasjnana.com

249 Pages·2017·2.66 MB·English

March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
„Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (GS3: Conservation of Environment)
Electric Vehicles‟ India (FAME INDIA) Issue: Following previous orders, the Karnataka
(GS3: Conservation of Environment) government on Wednesday submitted an action
Issue: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport plan with regard to a ‗holistic rejuvenation‘ of
Corporation (BMTC) has come a step closer to the three lakes in Bengaluru, including
its ambitious plan of plying electric buses on the Bellandur, in which there had been recurrent
city‘s roads. The first phase will see the cases of fire.
introduction of 40 e-buses with the transport It also directed the government to file a report on
corporation charging fares on par with existing ‗physical removal‘ of macrophytes.
AC buses. What are macrophytes?
About FAME India programme Macrophytes are aquatic plants growing in or
near water. They may be either emergent (i.e.,
The objective of this scheme is to support
with upright portions above the water surface),
hybrid/electric vehicles market development and
submerged or floating. Examples of macrophytes
Manufacturing eco-system. The scheme has 4
include cattails, hydrilla, water hyacinth and
focus areas i.e. Technology development,
duckweed. Macrophytes provide cover for fish
Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and Charging
and substrate for aquatic invertebrates. They also
Infrastructure. The phase-I of the scheme is
produce oxygen and provide food for some fish
being implemented for a period of 2 years i.e. FY
and other wildlife.
2015-16 and FY 2016-17 commencing from 1st
The depth, density, diversity and types of
April 2015.
macrophytes present in a system are indicators of
The FAME India Scheme is aimed at
water body health. Where submerged aquatic
incentivizing all vehicle segments i.e. 2 Wheeler,
macrophytes are abundant, they can have a
3 Wheeler Auto, Passenger 4 Wheeler Vehicle,
heavy influence on habitat structure, fish-ability,
Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses. The
recreational use and nutrient dynamics. The
scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies
absence of macrophytes may indicate water
like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid
quality problem such as excessive turbidity,
& Battery Electric Vehicles.
herbicides or salinization which interfere with
Ministry of heavy industries is the nodal agency
plant growth and development. However, an
for the implementation of this programme
overabundance of macrophytes can result from
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/b
high nutrient levels and may affect ecosystem
mtc-gets-operator-for-electric-buses/article22881774.ece
health, recreational activities and the aesthetic
„National Green Tribunal‟
appeal of the system.
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/ka degradation of wetland habitat for migratory
rnataka-government-submits-action-plan-on-
water birds. It was adopted in the Iranian city of
lakes/article22881999.ece
Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
„Ramsar Site‟
Every three years, representatives of the
(GS3: Conservation of Environment)
Contracting Parties meet as the Conference of
Issue: The renowned islets of Ranganathittu on
the Contracting Parties (COP), the policy-
the banks of the river Cauvery in Srirangapatna
making organ of the Convention which adopts
will be pitched to be recognized as a Ramsar
decisions (Resolutions and Recommendations) to
wetland site of international importance.
administer the work of the Convention and
India is a signatory to the Convention on
improve the way in which the Parties are able to
Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, which
implement its objectives.
was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in
COP13 will take place in Dubai, United Arab
1971. The convention provides a framework for
Emirates, in 2018
conservation of wetlands and their resources.
The Standing Committee of the Ramsar
There are currently 26 sites in India recognised
Convention on Wetlands approved "Wetlands
as Ramsar wetland sites of international
for a Sustainable Urban Future" as the theme
importance, but none of them are in Karnataka.
for World Wetlands Day in 2018.
About Ranganathittu sanctuary

the sanctuary supports more than 1% of the
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on
world population of spot-billed pelicans — as
2 February. This day marks the date of the
against a global population of nearly 17,000,
adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2
Ranganathittu supports about 1,000 of them. The
February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on
total population of painted storks population is
the shores of the Caspian Sea.
between 15,000 and 20,000, but there are more
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/
than 1,000 of these birds at Ranganathittu. The
ranganathittu-to-be-pitched-as-a-potential-ramsar-wetland-
sanctuary supports mugger crocodiles and a host site/article22883887.ece
of other species of birds also. „E-Way Bill for Movement of Goods‟
About Ramsar Convention (GS3: Indian Economy)
Ramsar is the oldest of the modern global Issue: The group of ministers assessing
intergovernmental environmental agreements. technology issues related to the Goods and
The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by Services Tax regime has proposed rolling out on
countries and non - governmental organizations April 1 the e-way bill system to track inter-State
concerned about the increasing loss and
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
movement of goods above the value of Rs. conveyance by road and neither the consignor
50,000. nor the consignee has generated the E-way Bill,
For intra-State goods movement, the government the transporter becomes liable to generate it.
had said all States must launch their own e-way When the consignor or transporter generates the
bill systems by June 1. E-way bill, the recipient for the consignment has
What is E-way bill? to either accept or reject it on the portal. If no
The E-way bill, short form for electronic way action is taken by the recipient in 72 hours, it
bill, is a document to be generated online under shall be taken as accepted.
the GST system, when goods of the value of Importance of E-way bill
more than ₹50,000 are shipped inter-State or One of the key arguments in favor of GST was
intra-State. The E-way bill must be raised before its ability to unify India as a market and do away
the goods are shipped and should include details with bothersome inter-State check-posts. Both
of the goods, their consignor, recipient and the GST levy and the E-way bill were expected
transporter. to root out such transit delays, while at the same
The transporter has to carry the invoice and the time plugging tax evasion. Also, a single
copy of E-way bill as support documents for the electronic way bill for the movement of goods
movement of goods. He can also carry the E-way throughout the country was expected to save tons
bill number, mapped to an RFID (radio of paperwork and sidestep various inter-state
frequency identification device). clearances for buyers, sellers and transporters. In
Though check-posts have been abolished under the previous tax regime, each State framed its
GST, a consignment can be intercepted at any own rules for the movement of goods from and
point for the verification of its E-way bill, for all to it.
inter-State and intra-State movement of goods. If Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-
opinion/e-way-bills-redux/article22885066.ece
a consignment is found without an E-way bill, a
„Core Sector Growth‟
penalty of ₹10,000 or tax sought to be evaded,
(GS3: Indian Economy)
whichever is greater, can be levied.
Issue: Growth in the country‘s core sector
GST laws flexibly allow any of the parties to a
accelerated to 6.7% in January, 2018 from 3.4%
transaction — the consignor or the recipient —
a year ago thanks to a huge jump in the output of
to generate the E-way bill, provided they are
cement and petroleum refinery, and a robust
registered. Whether goods are transported on
performance by the electricity sector.
one‘s own or hired conveyance, by air, rail or
The growth in eight core sectors, which comprise
road, the E-way bill has to be generated. Where
40.27% of the weight of items included in the
the goods are handed over to a transporter for
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
Index of Industrial Production (IIP), was 4.2% in compared to a reference period of time. The base
December and 7.4% in November, 2017. year was at one time fixed at 1993–94 so that
What constitutes Core industries? year was assigned an index level of 100. The
The summary of the Index of Eight Core current base year is 2011-2012
Industries (base: 2011-12) Source:http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/core-
sector-growth-accelerates-to-67-in-
1. Coal production (weight: 10.33 %) january/article22881343.ece
„Manufacturing sector growth‟
2. Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 %)
(GS3: Indian Economy)
3. The Natural Gas production (weight:
Issue: India‘s manufacturing sector activity fell
6.88)
to a four-month low in February, as factory
4. Petroleum Refinery production (weight:
output and new business orders rose at a slower
28.04)
pace, according to a monthly survey.
5. Fertilizer production (weight: 2.63 %)
The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing
6. Steel production (weight: 17.92 %)
Managers Index (PMI) fell to 52.1 in February
7. Cement production (weight: 5.37%)
from 52.4 in January, indicating a modest
8. Electricity generation (weight: 19.85%)
improvement in operating conditions.
Index of Industrial Production
What is PMI?
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an PMI stands for ‗Purchasing Managers‘ index‘
index for India which details out the growth of
and is considered as an indicator of the economic
various sectors in an economy such as mineral health and investor sentiments about the
mining, electricity and manufacturing. The all
manufacturing sector (there is services PMI as
India IIP is a composite indicator that measures well).
the short-term changes in the volume of
In a PMI data, a reading above 50 indicates
production of a basket of industrial products economic expansion, while a reading below 50
during a given period with respect to that in a
points shows contraction of economic activities.
chosen base period. It is compiled and published The PMI is constructed separately for
monthly by the Central Statistical Office (CSO)
manufacturing and services sector. But the
six weeks after the reference month ends. manufacturing sector holds more importance.
The level of the Index of Industrial Production
For India, the PMI Data is published by Japanese
(IIP) is an abstract number, the magnitude of firm Nikkei but compiled and constructed by
which represents the status of production in the
Market Economics (for the US, it is the ISM). A
industrial sector for a given period of time as
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
manufacturing PMI and services PMI are Vodafone‘s network expertise will be used to
prepared and published by the two. setup Moon‘s first 4G networks. Connecting two
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/manuf Audi lunar quattro rovers to a base station in the
acturing-sector-growth-falls-to-4-month-low-in-feb-
Autonomous Landing and Navigation Module
pmi/article22881600.ece
(ALINA)
„Fiscal Deficit‟
Source:https://indiablooms.com/health-
(GS3: Government Budgeting)
details/S/3420/vodafone-nokia-to-create-4g-network-on-
Issue: India‘s fiscal deficit touched Rs6.77 moon.html
trillion at the end of January, 113.7% of the „National Science Day 2018‟
target for the entire financial year, on account of (GS3: Achievements of Indians in Science and
higher expenditure Technology)
What is Fiscal Deficit? National Science Day is celebrated in India on
The difference between total revenue and total 28 February each year to mark the discovery of
expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir
deficit. It is an indication of the total borrowings Chandrashekhara Venkata Raman on 28
needed by the government. While calculating the February 1928.
total revenue, borrowings are not included. For his discovery, Sir C.V. Raman was awarded
Source:http://www.livemint.com/Politics/yaEQuUGRuNtk the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
xqD3an6IdN/AprilJanuary-fiscal-deficit-hit-1137-of-
National science day is celebrated on every year
fullyear-target.html
on 28 February.The celebration also includes
public speeches, radio-TV talk shows, science
Vodafone, Nokia to create 4G network on
movies, science exhibitions based on themes and
moon (Facts that could be asked in prelims)
concepts, watching the night sky, live projects,
Vodafone plans to create the first 4G network on
research demonstration, debates, quiz
the Moon to support a mission by PT Scientists competitions, lectures, science model exhibitions
in 2019 and has appointed Nokia as its
and many more activities.
technology partner. Objective:
Berlin-based company, PT Scientists is working
National Science Day is being celebrated every
with Vodafone Germany and Audi to achieve the year to widely spread a message about the
first privately-funded Moon landing. Mission to
Importance of science used in the daily life of the
the Moon is due to launch in 2019 from Cape people. To display all the activities, efforts and
Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,
achievements in the field of science for human
Vodafone said in a statement. welfare. It is the main science function of India
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
Also, to discuss all the issues and implement 1. Addresses the issue of trafficking from the
new technologies for the development in the point of view of prevention, rescue and
field of science. To give an opportunity to the rehabilitation.
scientific minded citizens in the country. To 2. Aggravated forms of trafficking, which
encourage the people as well as popularize the includes trafficking for the purpose of forced
Science and Technology. labour, begging, trafficking by administering
The theme of the year 2018 is "Science and chemical substance or hormones on a person
Technology for a sustainable future." for the purpose of early sexual maturity,
What is Raman Effect? trafficking of a woman or child for the
Raman effect, change in the wavelength of light purpose of marriage or under the pretext of
that occurs when a light beam is deflected by marriage or after marriage etc.
molecules. When a beam of light traverses a 3. Punishment for promoting or facilitating
dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical trafficking of person which includes
compound, a small fraction of the light emerges producing, printing, issuing or distributing
in directions other than that of the incident unissued, tampered or fake certificates,
(incoming) beam. Most of this scattered light is registration or stickers as proof of
of unchanged wavelength. A small part, compliance with Government requirements;
however, has wavelengths different from that of or commits fraud for procuring or facilitating
the incident light; its presence is a result of the the acquisition of clearances and necessary
Raman Effect documents from Government agencies.
Source:http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID 4. The confidentiality of victims/ witnesses and
=1521983 complainants by not disclosing their identity.
Further the confidentiality of the victims is
Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection
maintained by recording their statement
and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018
through video conferencing (this also helps
(GS2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable
in trans-border and inter-State crimes).
sections of the population by the centre)
5. Time bound trial and repatriation of the
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister
victims - within a period of one year from
Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
taking into cognizance.
Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection
6. Immediate protection of rescued victims and
and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 for introduction in
their rehabilitation. The Victims are entitled
the Parliament.
to interim relief immediately within 30 days
The Bill broadly has the following features:-
to address their physical, mental trauma etc.
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
and further appropriate relief within 60 days coordination with authorities in foreign
from the date of filing of charge sheet. countries and international organizations;
7. Rehabilitation of the victim which is not international assistance in investigation;
contingent upon criminal proceedings being facilitate inter-State and trans-border transfer
initiated against the accused or the outcome of evidence and materials, witnesses and
thereof. others for expediting prosecution; facilitate
8. Rehabilitation Fund created for the first time. inter-state and international video
To be used for the physical, psychological conferencing in judicial proceedings etc.
and social well-being of the victim including Source:http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15
22075
education, skill development, health
Anti Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) NAG
care/psychological support, legal aid, safe
(GS3: Indigenization of Technology)
accommodation, etc.
Issue: Anti Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) NAG
9. Designated courts in each district for the
were successfully flight-tested today in desert
speedy trial of the cases.
conditions against two tank targets at different
10. The Bill creates dedicated institutional
ranges and timings. NAG ATGM has been
mechanisms at District, State and Central
developed by Defence Research and
Level. These will be responsible for
Development Organisation (DRDO) and today‘s
prevention, protection, investigation and
flight tests have once again proved its capability.
rehabilitation work related to trafficking.
With this, the developmental trials of the missile
National Investigation Agency (NIA) will
have been completed and it is now ready for
perform the tasks of Anti-Trafficking Bureau
induction.
at the national level present under the MHA.
Source:http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=152
11. Punishment ranges from rigorous minimum
2155
10 years to life and fine not less than Rs. 1
Agreements signed between India and Jordan
lakh.
during the visit of Jordan President this week
12. In order to break the organized nexus, both at
(GS2: Bilateral Relations)
the national and international level, the Bill
Agreement between India and Jordan in the field
provides for the attachment & forfeiture of
of:
property and also the proceeds for crime.
1. Cooperation in Health Sector
13. The Bill comprehensively addresses the
2. Field of manpower
transnational nature of the crime. The
3. Cooperation and mutual administrative
National Anti-Trafficking Bureau will
assistance in the field of customs matters
perform the functions of international
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
4. Mining of Rock Phoshpate Highlights of the proposed bill
Source: PIB Release 28.2.2018 1. There will be a list of scheduled offences
„Green Good Deeds movement‟ along with the Bill.
(Facts that could be asked in prelims) 2. If the person commits an offence on the list,
The App, named ―Dr Harsh Vardhan‖, focuses and a competent court has issued an arrest
on his social & public activities and involvement warrant, and the person leaves the country to
of citizens in ―Green Good Deeds‖ movement, avoid this, the court can deem him a fugitive
which urges people to perform at least one Green economic offender.
Good Deed every day. Some of the 500 Green 3. The government would be able to seize all
Good Deeds listed in the Mobile App include – their domestic assets, not just those that were
planting trees, saving energy, conserving water, the proceeds of the crime.
use of public transport and promoting carpool. 4. The Bill also has a provision for the seizure
The objective of transforming Green Good of their foreign assets, but this would require
Deeds into a peoples‘ movement can be best the cooperation of the relevant country
achieved by starting mass digital campaigns that 5. The government in a release said that if at
can reach out to youth and children. The digital any point of time in the course of the
connect can change the way people think and proceedings prior to the declaration of the
change the way they act, thereby changing the person as a fugitive economic offender, he
relationship between public representatives and returns to India and submits to the
citizens. appropriate court, proceedings under the
Source:http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=152 proposed Act would cease by law.
2097
6. The government also decided to set up a
„Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018‟
National Financial Reporting Authority
(GS2: Government policies and interventions
(NFRA) to frame rules governing the
for development in various sectors and issues
conduct of chartered accountants and
arising out of their design and implementation
auditors. The NFRA will have jurisdiction
Issue: In a bid to deter loan defaulters from
over listed companies and ―large unlisted‖
fleeing the country, the Union Cabinet on
companies, while the Institute of Chartered
Thursday approved the introduction of the
Accountants of India will continue to oversee
Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, in
the remaining companies. The government
Parliament which would allow the government to
will frame the rules that will define the
seize all domestic assets of a person deemed to
threshold for companies to be supervised by
be a fugitive economic offender.
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March-2018 IASJNANA Monthly Current Affairs
the NFRA, which will have a chairman and a select an anti-corruption ombudsman, or Lokpal,
total of 15 members in protest against being asked to attend as a
7. This bill will apply to cases where the ―special invitee‖.
proceeds is above 100 crore The selection committee is supposed to have the
Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Lok
Source:http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bill-to-seize-
Sabha Speaker, the opposition leader and an
sell-assets-of-fugitive-economic-offenders-is-cleared-
5083457/ eminent jurist. Though Kharge leads the Lok
„Google Earth‟s Voyager project‟ Sabha‘s largest opposition party, he is not the
(GS3: Science and Technology) designated leader of the opposition since his
Issue: Google Earth Voyager‘s pilot project party falls short of the minimum number
rolled out in 15 schools across Karnataka and required to claim that post.
Tamil Nadu About Lokpal
This feature was developed after India Literacy The idea of creating an anti corruption
Project, a non-governmental organisation, ombudsman, in the form of a Lokpal, was first
approached Google Earth to build interactive conceptualized in 1968 in the fourth Lok Sabha.
content for the Social Sciences component of The Bill as passed by Parliament creates a
their Multi-Dimensional Learning Space project Lokpal at the centre which shall consist of a
that aims to make children explore experiment, chairperson and up to eight members. Half of
discover and learn in a variety of ways. these members should have higher judicial
Though this project is in its earlier stages, the experience and the other half should have
experience so far has been encouraging to all the experience in public administration, finance,
participants. Such projects should be encouraged insurance and banking laws, anti corruption and
to be adopted in all schools vigilance. It also provides that half the members
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/history- of Lokpal shall be from amongst scheduled
classes-become-a-voyage-of-discovery-with-3d-
castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes,
views/article22900360.ece
minority communities and women. The chairman
„Lokpal‟
and members of Lokpal shall be appointed by a
(GS2: Government policies and interventions
selection committee consisting of the Prime
and issues arising out of their design and
Minister, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Leader
implementation)
of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of
Issue: Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the
India or a sitting supreme court judge as
Congress party in Lok Sabha on Thursday
nominated by the CJI and an eminent jurist to be
boycotted a meeting of the committee that will
nominated by the President based on the
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