India drops 43 places on the World Giving Index 2018 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India drops 43 places on the World Giving Index 2018.

When it comes to donating money, volunteering time and helping a stranger among 146 countries, India ranks at 124 in 2018 as opposed to its position of 81 in 2017.

The CAF World Giving Index 2018 finds that when it comes to donating money, volunteering time and helping a stranger among 146 countries, India ranks at 124 in 2018 as opposed to its position of 81 in 2017. However, if we look at the absolute numbers rather than giving as a percentage of the population, the report indicates that India ranks number 1 donating and volunteering and number 2 in helping a stranger. “There has been a dip in the number of Indians giving money from 265 million in the 2017 index to 191 million in 2018 Index; as far as volunteering goes 256 millions volunteered according to the 2017 Index while 138 million is the figure noted according to 2018 Index; and even when it comes to helping strangers, from 340 million reporting this in the 2017 Index, the number is at 290 million in 2018,” says Meenakshi Batra, chief executive officer, CAF India.
The ninth edition of Giving Index includes data from 146 countries collected throughout 2017 and indicates that global giving in terms of donating money has increased marginally amongst those from developed nations (from 40% to 42%), but has declined in developing countries (from 25% to 24%). The report also indicates that people in the older age groups who have historically been inclined to donate are not on the forefront any more.
As far as the global list goes, Indonesia debuts as number one, one up from last year. even though Indonesia’s three individual giving scores remain largely unchanged. Myanmar which held the top slot for four years in a row till 2017, is now down to the ninth place. Two countries which have made a debut in the top 20 ranking list include Haiti and Singapore. The report attributes Singapore’s success to a number of schemes that have been introduced in the country to increase volunteering recently. This year, significantly more people across the globe reported helping a stranger and volunteering their time and fewer people reported donating money to a charity, the second year this particular measure has declined.
“Over the last few years, the trend in giving has been upward in India hence this drop in ranking is surprising. In absolute numbers, more Indians are giving, and volunteering time than anywhere else in the world but perhaps other nations are just improving faster than us on the three parameters of the report when it comes to percentage of people giving or helping in the entire country. Also, we have to remember that a large part of giving in India still remains unstructured like feeding people, giving alms or donating at religious institutions,” says Batra, CEO of CAF India.
Batra also feels that “withdrawal of 35AC (100% exception on tax) from giving activities from FY17-18 onwards by the Government of India, could be another reason that has contributed to the drop in ranking.” Batra believes the way ahead is to focus more energy on awareness campaigns, make the giving environment more enabling for donors and incentivise giving. “It is heartening to see Prime Minister Modi taking active interest in volunteering and just last week asking for more people to take such activities seriously. This will surely help like it did in Singapore.”
Deval Sanghavi, co-founder, Dasra, a not-for-profit working with philanthropists, is surprised at the drop in ranking for India. “In the groups that Dasra works with including Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNI) and HNIs, giving has seen improvement in India. Even in the face of reducing foreign funds, India is seeing an unprecedented investment in sustainable development solutions that are community-designed and implemented; aimed at scalable solutions that engage government bodies from the start,” he says.
More importantly, givers are increasingly eager to engage in philanthropy with their time and experience as well, approaching it as another venture rather than traditional charity. “Given, these trends, we think the future is promising, with more giving going towards, structured and long term philanthropy,” he adds.
The CEO of Give India, Atul Satija, describes his non profit as India’s most trustworthy giving platform, says the past year has been a good one. “The overall participation in civic engagement has gone up as have the number of donors on our platform. We are also finding that young people in the country are keen to volunteer. In fact, Indian in their early 20s and those above 40 are willing to donate more for emotional causes like sponsoring a child etc, but those in their 30s, the millennials, are looking to solve bigger problems like climate change.”
Satija believes that to improve giving across age groups in India, what is needed is more investment in technology that will push to make hyper local activities like volunteering easier and also building narratives around the work of non profits and donors around the year. (Source: Livemint)


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India drops 43 places on the World Giving Index 2018.

Air pollution causing one death in ten among children: WHO - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Air pollution causing one death in ten among children: WHO.

As many as 6 lakhs children died from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) caused by polluted air in 2016, accounting for almost 10% of all child deaths that year, according to WHO.

One in ten deaths in children across the world is being caused by air pollution, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report.

Air pollution and child health: Prescribing clean air, released on Monday, stated as many as 6 lakhs children died from acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) caused by polluted air in 2016, accounting for almost 10% of all child deaths that year. Of these, at least 5.4 lakh were children under the age of 5 years.

“Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives,” says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

The report highlights that after premature birth, ALRI is the leading killer of children under 5 years worldwide. And over half of all deaths from ALRI in low and middle-income countries are caused by breathing polluted air.

Globally, 93% of all children live in environments with air pollution levels above the WHO guidelines. India, with 14 out of 20 of the worlds’s most polluted cities in the world, stands as one of the most vulnerable countries.

According to WHO, pollution related mortality and disease burden is one of the highest in India, which accounts for 25% of the global deaths due to air pollution. In 2016, as many as 1 lakh children deaths under the age of 5 years in India were caused due to polluted air.

“Air pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected,” says Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, WHO.

Health experts highlight that one reason why children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution is that they breathe more rapidly than adults and so absorb more pollutants.

Pregnant women living in polluted cities are more prone to pregnancy issues, including premature births. A recent study presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress held in Paris also found evidence of tiny carbon particles in placenta for the first time, highlighting the alarming impact that air pollution could have on unborn babies.

Pollution not only triggers asthma but childhood cancer and can impact neuro-development and cognitive abilities. Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life.

“Children have a longer life expectancy than adults, so latent disease mechanisms have more time to emerge and affect their health. A child who is exposed to unsafe levels of pollution early in life can thus suffer a ‘life sentence’ of illness,” stated the report. (Source: Livemint)

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Air pollution causing one death in ten among children: WHO.

Supreme Court Orders Govt to Impound 15-year-old Petrol, 10-year-old Diesel Vehicles in NCR - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Supreme Court Orders Govt to Impound 15-year-old Petrol, 10-year-old Diesel Vehicles in NCR.

The CPCB will immediately make social media account on which citizens can complain about pollution, the top court ordered.

The Supreme Court on Monday prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital region (NCR) and directed the transport department to announce that such vehicles would be impounded if found plying.
Terming as "very critical" the prevailing situation of pollution in Delhi-NCR region, the apex court directed that a list of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles be published on the web site of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and transport department.
A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta said that advertisement on this should also be published in the newspapers. Taking note of news reports of severe air pollution, the bench said, "If you take a walk in the evening to the Old Delhi railway station, you will see poor people on cycle rickshaws. They have no option but to work outside to earn a living. Hundreds of people are earning their livelihood outside... how do you tell them? Will you tell them to kill themselves by working in all this pollution?"
The bench directed the CPCB to immediately create a social media account on which citizens could lodge their complaints directly about pollution on which appropriate action could be taken by the authorities concerned.
It permitted the court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to take pre-emptive steps under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) without strict adherence to pollution stages delineated in the plan.
GRAP is aimed at tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas and it is designed to take urgent remedial action when air quality deteriorates.
The apex court passed these directions on a note placed before it by advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, seeking urgent directions to correct the prevailing situation of pollution.
Earlier, the National Green Tribunal had also banned the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the Delhi-NCR. The apex court had rejected a plea against the NGT's order banning plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles on Delhi roads.
The top court is seized of matters in which several issues related to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR have been raised.


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Supreme Court Orders Govt to Impound 15-year-old Petrol, 10-year-old Diesel Vehicles in NCR.

States of poverty: an exploration of the Multidimensional Poverty Index - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

States of poverty: an exploration of the Multidimensional Poverty Index.

While overall poverty in India has come down in 2016 compared to 2006, the progress has been uneven among States and communities.

A look at the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), calculated by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and UNDP reveal the variations.
What is Multidimensional Poverty Index?
MPI is a measure that takes into account the incidence of poverty and the extent of deprivation. Going beyond just monetary measures, the MPI takes into account several factorsHere's a look at the various indicators involved and their weightage:

Narendra Modi along with Shinzo Abe reviewed developments in bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation, focusing on shared vision for peace & prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. They also agreed to oppose protectionism in trade.
Both nations also signed currency swap agreement worth $75 billion. Swap agreement should aid in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital market, both leaders stated.
Welcoming Narendra Modi to Japan, Shinzo Abe said the relationship between two countries will enter a new phase. He also hailed Narendra Modi's leadership, stating that his leadership not only helped India but also the entire Asian region.
Narendra Modi in his speech reiterated that the bilateral ties between India and Japan dates back to a time in history when both countries shared strong civilizational values.
He also underlined that 21st century belongs to Asia, which will be heralded by stronger ties between India-Japan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held delegation- level talks Monday during which the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Narendra Modi arrived in Japan Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. (Source: The Economic Times)


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States of poverty: an exploration of the Multidimensional Poverty Index.

India, Japan agree to hold 2+2 dialogue to enhance security in Indo-Pacific region - Pragnya IAS Academy - News analysis.

India, Japan agree to hold 2+2 dialogue to enhance security in Indo-Pacific region.

Giving a new dimension to India's Act East Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe signed key agreements in areas ranging from high-speed railways to cyber security. Both leaders also agreed to hold 2+2 dialogue in order to strengthen regional security in Asia-Pacific.

Narendra Modi along with Shinzo Abe reviewed developments in bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation, focusing on shared vision for peace & prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. They also agreed to oppose protectionism in trade.
Both nations also signed currency swap agreement worth $75 billion. Swap agreement should aid in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital market, both leaders stated.
Welcoming Narendra Modi to Japan, Shinzo Abe said the relationship between two countries will enter a new phase. He also hailed Narendra Modi's leadership, stating that his leadership not only helped India but also the entire Asian region.
Narendra Modi in his speech reiterated that the bilateral ties between India and Japan dates back to a time in history when both countries shared strong civilizational values.
He also underlined that 21st century belongs to Asia, which will be heralded by stronger ties between India-Japan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held delegation- level talks Monday during which the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Narendra Modi arrived in Japan Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. (Source: The Economic Times)


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India, Japan agree to hold 2+2 dialogue to enhance security in Indo-Pacific region.

India donates 3 lakh Dollars for peacekeeping initiative at UN - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India donates 3 lakh Dollars for peacekeeping initiative at UN.

India has donated USD 300,000 for a peacekeeping initiative at the UN that will focus on issues of conduct along with sexual exploitation and abuse and help develop the capacity of future commanders and managers to lead by example.

The UN Department of Field Support announced that the Indian government had donated about USD 300,000 for the 'Pipeline to Peacekeeping Command Programme' with a specific focus on issues of conduct and discipline.

The programme will, over a period of three years, help develop the capacity of future commanders and managers to lead by example and raise awareness of UN standards of conduct among their personnel, said Stphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general.
The programme will equip future commanders and managers to respond to allegations of misconduct including through collaborating with the various stakeholders in mission settings during the investigation and disciplinary process.
India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said India is a strong supporter of the UN's Zero Tolerance Policy on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and remains committed to contribute through all means possible for this cause.
Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Atul Khare said the programme will be the first of its kind with a focus on issues of conduct and sexual exploitation and abuse, and said the UN is grateful for India's leadership on such a significant new initiative.
India, one of the largest troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions, has been a key partner in preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse, and there have been no allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against uniformed personnel from India since 2013.
India is also noted as the first contributor to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
The country is also a signatory to the Voluntary Compact on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and a member of the Circle of Leadership of the Secretary-General on the prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse.(Source: The Business Standard)


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India donates 3 lakh Dollars for peacekeeping initiative at UN.

China’s 1st private rocket fails after launch - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

China’s 1st private rocket fails after launch.

The first attempt by a private Chinese company to send a rocket into space has failed.

Beijing-based Landscape said late Saturday that the first and second stage of its ZQ-1 rocket worked normally but something went wrong with the final of the three-stage rocket.
It was the first three-stage rocket built by a private company in China.
Video posted by a Chinese news site shows the 19-metre (62-foot-) tall red-and-white rocket lifting off Saturday against clear blue skies.
Landscape said that “cowling separation was normal but something abnormal happened after the second stage.” The statement posted on its social media account did not elaborate.
Chinese media reports say the rocket was carrying a satellite for state broadcaster CCTV. (Source: The Hindu)


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China’s 1st private rocket fails after launch.

WTO sets up dispute panel on India-US case on export subsidies - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

WTO sets up dispute panel on India-US case on export subsidies.

The World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement body has set up a panel to examine the US complaint against certain export-subsidy measures by India as both the sides failed to resolve the issue at consultation level, an official said.

In March, the US dragged India to the global trade body's dispute settlement mechanism over export subsidies, saying that these incentives were harming the American companies.
"The process of composition of dispute panel is over. The working procedure and the time table for the panel proceedings has been circulated," the official added.
The US has requested for the establishment of a dispute panel to examine the allegations on India's export incentive measures.
Seeking consultation under the aegis of the WTO is the first step of dispute settlement process. If the two nations are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultation, the complainant can request for a WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter.
The US has challenged India's export subsidy programmes such as Merchandise Exports from India Scheme in the WTO, asserting that these initiatives harm its companies by creating an uneven playing field.
They have stated that all WTO members, including India, are required to provide subsidies consistent with provisions of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, including refraining from providing subsidies contingent upon export performance.
During the consultation process, the US had alleged that India was continuing to grant these export-contingent subsidies and even expanded the scope and scale of the subsidies.
India had stated that it was disappointed that the US chose to move forward with a request for a panel, as it believed bilateral consultations held on April 11 were constructive.
During the consultations, India provided a detailed understanding of the schemes implemented under its Foreign Trade Policy by answering all the questions raised by the US.
India has also said that the schemes identified by the US do not violate India's WTO obligations and are in conformity with all the elements of the agreement.
India's exports to the US stood at USD 47.9 billion in 2017-18, while imports aggregated at USD 26.7 billion during the same fiscal.


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WTO sets up dispute panel on India-US case on export subsidies.

UN to launch project on creating India's intangible heritage inventory - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

UN to launch project on creating India's intangible heritage inventory.

A total of 13 intangible cultural heritage elements from India have been inscribed till date on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Concerned over the “disappearance” of many intangible legacies of India over time, the UN will soon launch a project on creating an “inventory” of art forms, craftsmanship and other intangible cultural heritage of the country.
UN resident coordinator in India Yuri Afanasiev said the “Wiki-styled project” involving multiple stakeholders is planned to be executed, among other means, through “crowd-sourcing”.
“India is endowed with not just with wealth of iconic monuments and landmarks and built heritage, but also home to countless intangible cultural heritage, like folk music, art forms, textile design, craftsmanship,” he said.
But, a number of these intangible cultural heritage are “disappearing” on a daily basis and it “pains me”, the UN official said.
“We at UN India, are working on a project that will seek to create an inventory of intangible cultural heritage. We will take help of crowd-sourcing as well,” Afanasiev told PTI.
On October 24, the United Nations had dedicated its iconic campus here to India’s cultural heritage as its office in New Delhi marked the UN Day with a dazzling display of the country’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
A total of 13 intangible cultural heritage elements from India have been inscribed till date on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
These include the Kumbh Mela, Novruz, Tradition of Vedic chanting, Ramlila, Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre; Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas; Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan; and Chhau dance.
“A simple tradition of producing handcrafted sarees in a small town, a folk song in a village in a corner of the country, a recipe crafted by someone’s mother or grandmother, which may be disappearing because the next generation has migrated to other, big cities,” he said.
“And, this project, tentatively dubbed – A snapshot inventory of intangible cultural heritage – seeks to capture them in a capsule of sorts, for the posterity. So, it could be documenting the sounds, sights, techniques, styles, though photographs or other audio-visual medium,” Afanasiev said.
He said the project duration will span about a year.
He also said the UN, besides engaging with its own agencies like the UNESCO and the UNDP, will also collaborate with several ministries, such as the ministry of culture and ministry of textiles.
On UN Day, Afanasiev had hailed India’s cultural diversity, saying, “I personally have a love affair with India, its rich taste, colours, sounds, smells and food.”
The UN House has been revived as the site for the safeguarding of the history of the seven-decade-long India-UN partnership and of India’s great contributions to the UN, he said.
“We are equally proud to dedicate this compound to India’s cultural heritage, and the vibrant plural developmental traditions of the country that will provide the right environment for thinking about the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals),” Afanasiev said.
UN House is an iconic landmark, one of the buildings designed by noted American architect Joseph Allen Stein in Lodhi Estate area, the others being India International Centre and India Habitat Centre.
Srishti Kaur, 20, a winner of a national beauty pageant in teen category in 2017, was among the invitees at the UN Day.
She said she runs a clothing line in Noida that promotes khadi and cotton. “We as youth must take pride in our cultural heritage and promote it,” Kaur said.


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UN to launch project on creating India's intangible heritage inventory.

Criminal Cases If You Contaminate The Environment: The Central Government Warns - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Criminal Cases If You Contaminate The Environment: The Central Government Warns.

The Central Government has warned that criminal cases will be filed against environmental polluters.

The capital Delhi is experiencing a number of difficulties due to poor environmental pollution. Pollution in the air is getting worse day by day.

Farmers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, surrounding Delhi, fire the crops after harvest. The reason is that there is an air pollution in Delhi. Construction and construction work in Delhi and the suburbs are the main reason for environmental pollution.
In this case, the Central Government has also warned that environmental pollution can not be altered or that they will be prosecuted under the Environment Protection Act. The government and private organizations have been advised of this.
If the case is filed, those involved will be sentenced to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh rupees.
In a move to step up pressure on polluters as Delhi faces its annual winter bad air days, the Centre said on Saturday that criminal prosecution will be launched against violators failing to take action despite warnings and offenders will also be named and shamed on official websites.
Noting poor compliance of its directives to check air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Centre said the names of violators — both private and government entities — will also be put in the public domain.

“It doesn’t matter how big an agency or how influential its official is, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will not hesitate to initiate criminal prosecution against them. We’ll have to do it strictly and religiously,” environment minister Harsh Vardhan said. The move acknowledges the need for action within the Delhi-NCR region apart from efforts to curb outside sources of pollution, like stubble burning.
In Delhi and its neighbouring areas, the agencies involved in infrastructure building are largely government outfits like PWD, Delhi Metro, NHAI, civic bodies and public construction companies. It is large projects that are seen to be big contributors to dust, a major component of the capital’s pollution.
Explaining the norms, Vardhan said an agency will be given two days to act on a complaint. “A warning will be issued or flagged on the third day on the ministry’s Sameer app. If it fails to act in 48 hours after the warning, the CPCB will initiate criminal prosecution,” he said.
All details, including compliance and prosecution, will be uploaded on the “media corner” of the CPCB website and the “Sameer” app (government’s app on the air quality index) so that anyone can access the details. “Show a mirror to the (non-compliant) agencies,” said Vardhan.
Though the existing law empowers CPCB and state pollution control boards to initiate such action, this has rarely been used and subsequently there have been hardly any consequences on the ground.
“We’ll come down heavily on any violator,” environment secretary C K Mishra said, reflecting urgency of the matter when Delhi has been in the grip of “very poor” air quality despite showing improvement in the average level of hazardous particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) as compared to last year.
Asked about the modalities of launching criminal proceedings against government agencies, CPCB chairman S P Singh Parihar said the exact details would be ready by Monday and it would be shared with all the agencies.
Speaking about existing provisions, he said CPCB is empowered under the Environment (Protection) Act and “there is provision under the EP Act which enables the CPCB to file criminal prosecution in cases where the compliance is not as per the direction”. This has happened in district courts and the NGT in the past. Intervening on the issue, the minister said, “Now it will be done more passionately.”
The decisions were taken in a meeting on feedback received from 41 CPCB teams deputed to check air pollution in Delhi and four neighbouring cities in NCR. The minister said it was quite disappointing to know that all five cities — Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad — scored quite poorly on the compliance index (ratio of action taken and reported complaints).
The five cities have together reported nearly 2,600 complaints of different violations in the past month, but compliance was reported in not even 10% of cases. “We cannot just blame stubble burning for Delhi’s woes. We’ll have to look within and focus on compliance. We’ll have to keep the fight on,” said the minister.
The ministry also called a meeting of environment ministers and senior officials of Delhi and NCR states — Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan — on November 1 to sensitise them about the decisions.


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Criminal Cases If You Contaminate The Environment: The Central Government Warns.

China is Testing a Ramjet-Powered 'Carrier Killer' Missile – Competitor to India’s Brahmos missile - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

China is Testing a Ramjet-Powered 'Carrier Killer' Missile – Competitor to India’s Brahmos missile.

A Chinese company has tested a supersonic anti-ship missile dubbed an “aircraft carrier killer.” The HD-1 ramjet-powered missile, intended for export, could help countries fend off American and other aircraft carriers, creating no-go zones off their coastlines.

The HD-1 missile test was a success and “verified the launch, power and flight control systems,” according to China’s Global Times. The developer, the Guangdong Hongda Blasting Company, which really is its name, released a statement saying that “all parameters for the supersonic cruising flight of the HD-1 missile achieved their estimated values.”
Although it sounds a little weird for a blasting/mining company to be building supersonic anti-ship missiles, it’s just another example of civilian companies branching into defense work. The FMC Corporation, formerly known as the Food Machinery Corporation, originally made pumps to spray pesticides and eventually branched into armored personnel carriers in the United States, as one does. FMC later spun off its defense division into United Defense.
The missile is a solid-fueled ramjet-powered design; once the missile accelerates fast enough the ramjet engine begins sucking in air via an air intake into a combustion chamber. The oxygen from the air, coupled with burning fuel, is pushed out the rear of the engine generating thrust. A similar-sounding missile, the Indian-Russian BrahMos anti-ship ramjet missile, travels at speeds of up to Mach 3.
A UPI report on the missile describes it as a “carrier killer”. If the HD-1 is as fast as the BrahMos, it could pose a serious problem for aircraft carriers and their escorts. A missile travels at 2,301 miles an hour, or .63 miles per second, at Mach 3. Assuming the missile is also a sea-skimmer, flying 10 to 13 feet above the wavetops, a radar on a ship would detect BrahMos at just 13.8 miles—leaving a cruiser or destroyer escort with just 21 seconds to track, identify, lock onto, and intercept the missile.
Could the missile kill an aircraft carrier? That depends on how big the missile warhead is. Dimensions for the HD-1 are unavailable, but the missile is suitable for launch from shore-based missile batteries, ships, and aircraft. As fast as BrahMos is, it only has a 440 pound high explosive warhead.
A whole 440 pounds of high explosives sounds like a lot, and it almost certainly is enough to blow your car to smithereens. But consider that a U.S. supercarrier is more than 1,000 feet long and displaces 100,000 tons. While an HD-1 could inflict damage on an American carrier it would take many, many missiles to put one out of action.
HD-1 is going on the export market, however, and there it might actually live up to the nickname. One of China’s closest allies and weapons customers, Pakistan, may be interested in the missile to hold arch-rival India’s carriers at risk. India and Pakistan have fought at least four wars since 1948, including pitched battles at sea. India currently has one carrier, the 44,000 ton Vikramaditya. India is also building two more indigenous carriers, the 40,000 ton Vikrant and the 60,000 ton Vishal. These smaller carriers would suffer greater proportional damage.
And if an adversary launched, say, 30 of them at an aircraft carrier, that should be more than enough to put one out of action for a while, or even sink one if they were all precisely targeted at specific points.
Which isn’t to say that China, or whomever else, plans to use these things immediately. But it was just three years ago that China released a video, seemingly from a fever dream, of it completely wiping out an American carrier battle group using ballistic, non-ramjet powered weapons.


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China is Testing a Ramjet-Powered 'Carrier Killer' Missile – Competitor to India’s Brahmos missile.

Indian Railways is building world's highest railway line - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Indian Railways is building world's highest railway line.

Once complete, the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line will reduce travel time between New Delhi and Ladakh from 40 hours to 20 hours.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Indian Railways is building rail line to Leh along India-China border
• The rail line will have 30 stations on the 465 km-route
• About 52 per cent of journey would be covered through tunnels
Indian Railways is moving fast to connect Ladakh with New Delhi through rail lines by expediting work on the strategically significant Bilaspur-Manali-Leh broad-gauge rail line. The location survey of the first phase is complete. The final location survey is expected to be completed in 30 months after which a detailed project report will be finalised.
Railways has proposed it to be declared a national project. It is the most difficult project undertaken by the railways till date given the terrain over which the tracks have to be laid. Railways has suggested that construction on a 51 kilometre stretch between Upshi in Himachal Pradesh and Phe in Leh should begin immediately.
10 things to know about Ladakh railway project
1) The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line is estimated to cost Rs 83,360 crore. It is a 465-km railway line. It would be the highest railway tracks in the world when complete. At its highest point, the tracks would be at 5,360 metres above sea level. It is comparable only to the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Line in China, which is at a height of around 2,000 metres above sea level.
2) There would be 30 stations on the new line taking Railways closer to India-China border in Ladakh. The important locations to be connected en route between Bilaspur and Leh are Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Koksar, Darcha, Upshi and Karu in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
3) This line is expected to help the armed forces, boost tourism and give a major push to development in Ladakh region. If the Railways' proposal of it declaring a national project is accepted by the government, the Centre would be providing most of the funds making the job easier.
4) Of total 465 km length, 52 per cent would go through tunnels, the longest of which would be 27 km long. Total length of the tunnels would be 244 km. According to the first phase of the survey, the railway line will have 74 tunnels, 124 major bridges and 396 minor bridges.
5) The railway line connecting Bilaspur with Leh would emerge from Bhanu Palli railway station on the Anandpur Sahib route. It is a rugged terrain in an area that is prone to landslides. Oxygen level reduces at this altitude and temperature drops to sub-zero levels.
6) According to Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) of Northern Railway Alok Kumar, the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line project is more difficult than the one undertaken by the department in Jammu and Kashmir previously.
7) The final location survey is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 457.72 crore, he said. It would be completed in three phases - digital evaluation of elevation model, selection of path for better alignment and geographical survey for bridges and tunnels.
8) When complete, trains on Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line would run at a speed of 75 kmph. It will reduce the distance between Delhi to Leh from the present 40 hours to 20 hours.
9) BJP MP from Leh Thupstan Chhewang had written a letter to the Minister of Railways seeking the Ladhak railway project to be accorded the status of a national project.
10) The 51-km stretch between Upshi and Leh has a gentle gradient compared to the rest of the project. It is likely to take two years for completion with an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore.


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Indian Railways is building world's highest railway line.

ISRO Completes "Scaled-Down" Test For Safe Landing Of Chandrayaan-2 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO Completes "Scaled-Down" Test For Safe Landing Of Chandrayaan-2.

Indian Space Research Organisation said on Friday, that it has successfully conducted a scaled-down test for the soft and safe landing of its Chandrayaan-2 lander for India's second Moon mission.

The moon lander, Vikram, named after the father of Indian space programme Vikram Sarabhai, will carry out various tests on the moon surface. "Scaled-down version of Chandrayaan-2 Lander Vikram completed, critical Lander Actuator Performance Test (LAPT) to demonstrate capabilities of navigation, guidance and control system of Vikram for a safe, soft and precise landing on the Moon," ISRO said in a release.
The LAPT test was meant for compensating the effect of earth's gravity as compared to the moon's and to match the thrust generation of sea level liquid engines as compared to flight engines, which will operate in vacuum environment, it said.
The module was tied to a crane hook for conducting the test at a special test facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
It was the third and final test to demonstrate retargeting in a parabolic tragectory.
The LAPT demonstrated the capability of the NGC system of 'Vikram' to meet the mission requirement of safe, soft and precise landing on the lunar surface by steering the module horizontally as well as vertically down to a pre-defined target, the release said.
"With this, all the tests have been completed successfully. This is a major milestone accomplished in Chandrayaan-2 Lander," it said.
ISRO intends to launch Chandrayaan-2 sometime in January next year. The Mission will have an orbiter, lander and a rover.
India's first lunar mission Chandrayaan 1 was successfully launched in October 2008.


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ISRO Completes "Scaled-Down" Test For Safe Landing Of Chandrayaan-2.

India, Myanmar draw up counter-insurgency cooperation plan - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Myanmar draw up counter-insurgency cooperation plan.

The home ministry also added that both sides had agreed to cooperate to prevent smuggling of wildlife and narcotic drugs.

India and Myanmar held a national level meeting here today to chalk out strategies to crack down on insurgent groups operating in the region.
While Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba, represented India, the Myanmar delegation was led by Major General Aung Thu, who is the deputy minister in the ministry of home affairs.
“During the meeting, both sides agreed to take action against insurgent groups operating within their territories. The two countries agreed on providing security cooperation along and facilitating movement of people and trade across the international border,” the home ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The ministry also added that both sides had agreed to cooperate to prevent smuggling of wildlife and narcotic drugs. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in international border management, including construction of subsidiary pillars to better demarcate the border. (Source: Livemint)


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India, Myanmar draw up counter-insurgency cooperation plan.

Russia Launches First Soyuz Rocket Since Failed Space Launch - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Russia Launches First Soyuz Rocket Since Failed Space Launch.

The satellite reached its orbit at the set time, according to the ministry.

Russia on Thursday successfully launched a Soyuz rocket for the first time since the failure of a similar rocket aborted a manned take-off to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 11.
"On Thursday at 03:15 (0015 GMT) a Soyuz-2.1B rocket was successfully launched carrying a satellite for the Russian military," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

The satellite reached its orbit at the set time, according to the ministry.
"This is the first launch of a rocket from the Soyuz family since the October 11 accident," Russia's space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter.
It was the third launch of a Soyuz rocket from Russia's northern Plesetsk launch pad this year, the military said.
The satellite launch had originally been planned for October 19 but was postponed after the accident that saw two astronauts make an emergency landing minutes after blast-off from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome.
The failed launch involved an older Soyuz-FG rocket, which is "in principle the same rocket" as used in Thursday's launch but has less engine power in the third stage, space expert Konstantin Kreidenko told AFP.
Russia will switch to the Soyuz-2.1 series for launches to the ISS by 2020, replacing the Soyuz-FG, which has been in use for 20 years, Kreidenko said.
Russia's Roscosmos space agency has set up a commission to investigate the failed launch to the ISS and is set to announce its findings on October 30.
Russia has in the meanwhile suspended all Soyuz launches but this does not apply to launches by the military such as Thursday's satellite launch.


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Russia Launches First Soyuz Rocket Since Failed Space Launch.

India and Bangladesh Sign Agreements for Enhancing Inland and Coastal Waterways Connectivity - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India and Bangladesh Sign Agreements for Enhancing Inland and Coastal Waterways Connectivity.

India and Bangladesh signed several milestone agreements today, for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements.

Briefing media persons in New Delhi this evening, Shipping Secretary Shri Gopal Krishna, and his Bangladesh counterpart Shri Md. AbdusSamadinformed that the two countries have signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been signed for movement of passenger and cruise services. In addition to this, an addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh has been signed for inclusion of Dhubriin India and Pangaonin Bangladesh as new Ports of Call. These agreements will facilitate easier movement of goods and passengers between the two countries, giving an impetus to trade and tourism.

The two sides agreed to consider inclusion of Rupnarayanriver (National Waterway-86) from Geonkhali to Kolaghat in the protocol route and to declare Kolaghatin West Bengal as new Port of Call. Chilmari was agreed to as a port of call in Bangladesh. The new arrangement will facilitate movement of flyash, cement, construction materials etc from India to Bangladesh through IWT on Rupnarayanriver. Further, both sides agreed to declare Badarpur on river Barak (NW 16) as an Extended Port of Call of Karimganj in Assam and Ghorasal of Ashuganj in Bangladesh on reciprocal basis. The Indian side proposed for extension of the protocol routes from Kolkata uptoSilchar in Assam. Currently 3.5 MMT cargo is transported on protocol routes through inland waterways which is expected to increase substantially after the declaration of additional Ports of Call and extension of protocol routes. The North Eastern states would get connected to directly to the ports of Kolkata and Haldia in India and Mongla in Bangladesh through waterways which would facilitate movement EXIM cargo and would also reduce the logistic costs.
In another important understanding reached at between the two countries, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for movement of passengers and cruise vessels on Inland Protocol route and coastal shipping routes have been finalised. These river cruise services are likely to commence between Kolkata – Dhaka - Guwahati – Jorhat and back.
It was also agreed that a Joint Technical Committee will explore the technical feasibility of operationalisation of Dhulian-Rajshahi protocol route uptoAricha. and the reconstruction and opening up of Jangipur navigational lock on river Bhagirathi subject to the provisions of the Treaty between India and Bangladesh on Sharing of Ganga Waters at Farakka,1996. This move has the potential to reduce the distance to Assam by more than 450 kms on the protocol routes.
It was also decided that a Project Management Consultant for supervision and monitoring of dredging of Ashuganj-Zakiganj and Sirajganj-Daikhowa stretches of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route in Bangladesh will be engaged with 80 % financial contribution from India and rest by Bangladesh. A Joint Monitoring Committee has also been constituted for overall monitoring of the dredging works.
To bring about significant reduction in logistics cost and faster delivery of Bangladesh export cargo, Indian side raised the point regarding permitting ‘Third country’ EXIM Trade under Coastal Shipping Agreementand PIWTT by allowing transhipment through ports on the East Cost of India. Bangladesh agreed to hold stakeholder consultations and revert on the matter.
Both sides have also agreed for development of Jogighopa as a hub/trans-shipment terminal for movement of cargo to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Bhutan and notifying Munsiganj River terminal by Bangladesh Customs for routing third party Exim cargo through Kolkata Port.
Discussions were also held to make Nakugaon Land Port in Bangladesh and Dalu ICP (India) operational and to connect Gelephu (Bhutan) as tripartite cross-border route.
Permission for the transportation of third country cargo on protocol routes and coastal shipping routes were also discussed. Inclusion of Dhamra Port, V.O. Chidambaranar Port (formerly Tuticorin Port) and Kamarajar Port under Coastal Shipping Agreement was also deliberated upon. These will be further discussed in Joint Shipping Committee meeting scheduled in December, 2018.
Prior to the Secretary Shipping level talks held today, the 19th edition of the Standing Committee meeting under ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) between high level delegations of the two countries were held yesterday. The daylong meeting was attended by representatives of Ministries of Shipping, External Affairs, Home, Finance, DONER and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and officials from Bangladesh belonging to Ministry of Shipping, Board of Revenue, DG (Shipping) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). (Source: pib)


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India and Bangladesh Sign Agreements for Enhancing Inland and Coastal Waterways Connectivity.

India wins Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award, 2018 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India wins Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award, 2018.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is an institutional member of Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) which is a non-profit association representing an international network of over 1100 senior public servants, Heads of Government, leading academics and researchers located in over 50 different countries across the Commonwealth.

The association is guided by international leaders who believe in the value of networking, knowledge exchange and the promotion of good governance for the betterment of citizens in the Commonwealth countries. CAPAM has been announcing its International Innovations Awards (IIA) Programme bi-annually, since 1998.
Shri K. V. Eapen, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances(DARPG) has been elected to the Board of Commonwealth Association of Public Administration & Management(CAPAM) at the Annual General Members Meet held on 23rd October, 2018 at Georgetown, Guyana. During the Conference, CAPAM Innovation Awards were announced. Government of India had sent entries for CAPAM International Innovations Awards, 2018 under various categories.
The CAPAM Awards celebrate the spirit of innovation in the public service by recognizing organizations that have made significant contributions to improve governance and services in the public sector.
The initiative entitled “Unnayan Banka- Reinventing Education Using Technology of Banka District, State of Bihar has been awarded under the Category “Innovation Incubation”.
“Unnayan Banka” is an initiative which envisages “Quality education for all’ especially for those at the bottom of the Pyramid, using latest technologies. It’s a holistic model of overall development of youths from Education to Employability. One of the most important Millennium Development Goals, “Education” is the great social Mobiliser & must be everyone’s Birthright and it is Government of India’s endeavour to provide this to all its children.
Another initiative entitled “Unified Agriculture Markets” of Co-operation Department of Government of Karnataka has also been selected under the Category ‘Innovation in Public Service Management’. This initiative has also been awarded the overall Gold Award for CAPAM Awards, 2018. (Source: pib)


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India wins Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Award, 2018.

From Russia’s S-400 To Israel’s Barak-8 Missiles: How India Is Fortifying Its Defence - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

From Russia’s S-400 To Israel’s Barak-8 Missiles: How India Is Fortifying Its Defence.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on Wednesday announced that it has been awarded an additional $777-million mega contract for supply of Barak-8 missile defence system – known in India as LRSAM – for seven ships of the Indian Navy. The contract was entered with state-owned company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which serves as the main contractor in the project.

Barak-8 is a long-range surface to air missile jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (which subcontracted the work to Israel’s Elta Systems and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems; the latter has a JV with Indian private firm Kalyani). It is a safe carry and launch missile for ships and can be launched vertically.
Barak-8 could be crucial to the Indian Navy as China has been increasing its presence in and around the Indian Ocean. But Indian forces are no stranger to Barak-8. In 2017, India and Israel had signed a $2 billion deal for the land version of the missile system, called MRSAM, for the Indian Army and LRSAM for the Navy.
IAI then said it was the largest single contract between India and Israel. The LRSAM was to be installed on INS Vikrant and Kolkata-class destroyers of the Navy.
Israel is emerging as one of the India’s biggest suppliers of weapons, alongside the United nations and long-term partner Russia.
The Barak-8 deal follows the pact with Russia for five S-400 missile shields, which can protect India from hostile jets, bombers, drones and missiles. India is expected to deploy them along the borders with Pakistan, China, giving the army a boost in its defense against Chinese missiles.
The S-400 System can engage up to 36 targets at a time and simultaneously launch 72 missiles.


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From Russia’s S-400 To Israel’s Barak-8 Missiles: How India Is Fortifying Its Defence.

Government to create special fund to boost fish production by 2020 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Government to create special fund to boost fish production by 2020.

The fund would help achieve 15 million tonnes of fish production by 2020, a target set under the Blue Revolution scheme, and help generate over 940,000 employment opportunities, a government release said.

he Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a Rs 7,522-crore Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) from which enterpreneurs, fishermen, cooperatives will get loans at subsidised interest rate and two years moratorium on repayment of principal amount. The credit facilities will help attract investment in fisheries development, boost fish production by 67% in next four years, the government said.
he Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a Rs 7,522-crore Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) from which enterpreneurs, fishermen, cooperatives will get loans at subsidised interest rate and two years moratorium on repayment of principal amount. The credit facilities will help attract investment in fisheries development, boost fish production by 67% in next four years, the government said.
“The approval entails an estimated fund size of Rs 7,522 crore, comprising Rs 5,266.40 crore to be raised by the nodal loaning entities (NLEs), Rs 1,316.6 crore from beneficiaries’ contribution and Rs 939.48 crore by budgetary support,” an official statement said. The credit from the FIDF outlay will have to be disbursed by 2022-23.
The aim is to raise India’s, the world’s second largest producer, fish production to 20 million tonne per year by 2022-23 from current level of about 12 million tonne, an agriculture ministry official said. There was an urgent need to create the necessary infrastructure in fisheries sector to achieve the target, an agriculture ministry official said.
The credit from the fund will help generate over 9.40 lakh direct and indirect employment of fishermen and others in fishing and allied activities, he said. There are about 1.5 crore people engaged in the fisheries sector. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and all scheduled banks are the designated NLEs in disbursal of the fund. The department of animal husbandry will frame guidelines, likely in next three months, to operationalise the fund during which the interest rate will be decided, the official said.
However, sources said the lending might be kept at 6% rate of interest as done in the Nabard-operated dairy sector fund.
While Nabard may be allowed to disburse to state governments and scheduled banks, the cooperatives will be allowed to avail the funding through the NCDC, the sources said. Individuals and private entrepreneurs will have to approach banks and state governments to avail the loan under the FIDF, the sources said.
The government has fixed the repayment period at maximum 12 years including moratorium of two years on principal amount.
Listing out the benefits, the government said this fund would help in creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sectors. The government aims to achieve a sustainable growth of 8-9% between 2020 and 2023. Under the Blue Revolution programme, the government had targetted 15 million tonne fish production by 2020.


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Government to create special fund to boost fish production by 2020.

India’s first engine-less train set to hit tracks on Oct 29 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India’s first engine-less train set to hit tracks on Oct 29.

Train 18, the country’s first engine-less train which is being regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express, is set to hit the tracks for trials on October 29.

Driven by a self-propulsion module sans a separate locomotive, the train, capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kmph, comes with technical features for enhanced quick acceleration.
The swanky 16-coach prototype without a locomotive (engine) will cut travel time by 15 per cent compared to the Shatabdi. Developed by the city-based Integral Coach Factory in 18 months, the full AC train is designed in such a way that passengers can have a look at the driver’s cabin.
ICF General Manager Sudhanshu Mani told PTI that it cost nearly Rs 100 crore to build the prototype and subsequent production would bring down the cost.
“It will be unveiled on October 29, then it will do three to four days of trial outside the factory and then will be handed over to Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for further trials,” he said. The self-propelled train, fitted with CCTV cameras, would have two executive compartments in the middle with 52 seats each, whereas trailer coaches would have 78 seats each.
It has a potential to travel up to the speed at 160 kmph as against 130 kmph of Shatabdi and would result in the travel time being reduced by around 15 per cent once the tracks are fit to suit Train 18’s speed. Train 18 has diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps besides GPS-based Passenger Information System.
The footstep in a coach’s doorway slides outward when the train stops at a station enabling passengers to alight safely with comfort in view of the variation in height between a train’s floor and the platform. Shatabdi was introduced in 1988 and is presently running on over 20 routes connecting metros with other important cities. (Source:rstv.nic.in)


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India’s first engine-less train set to hit tracks on Oct 29.

Cabinet approves appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Cabinet approves appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act(PBPT), 1988.

Salient Features:
i. Appointment of an Adjudicating Authority, along with the three additional Benches and to establish the Appellate Tribunal under the PBPT Act;
ii. To provide the officers and employees to Adjudicating Authority, Benches of the Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal by diverting the existing posts at the same level/rank from the Income Tax Deptt./Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT);
iii. The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal shall sit in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD). Benches of Adjudicating Authority may sit in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, and the necessary notification in this regard shall be issued after making consultation with the Chairperson of the proposed Adjudicating Authority.
Benefits:
The approval will result in effective and better administration of cases referred to the Adjudicating Authority and speedy disposal of appeals filed against the order of the Adjudicating Authority before the Appellate Tribunal.
Appointment of the Adjudicating Authority would provide first stage review of administrative action under the PBPT Act. Establishment of the proposed Appellate Tribunal would provide an appellate mechanism for the order passed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PBPT Act. (Source: pib)


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Cabinet approves appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988.

How Chandrayaan-2 will perform its jobs once it lands on the moon - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

How Chandrayaan-2 will perform its jobs once it lands on the moon.

India launched its first lunar probe in October 2008, and it is setting up the stage for its second coming with Chandrayaan-2 liftoff. The mission will be ISRO's attempt to get a more delicate and close up look at the lunar surface, the launch of which is eagerly awaited.

Unlike the first mission which carried only Chandrayaan orbiter and the Moon Impact probe, this mission will have a lander and a rover apart from the orbiter, which has been developed by Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).

Equipment attached to orbiter: Solar X-ray monitor ::
"There are three payloads developed by the PRL for Chandrayaan-2. The orbiter will have a solar X-ray monitor developed by PRL. It will monitor x-rays coming from the Sun and X-rays being generated on the surface of the moon," said PRL Director Dr Anil Bhardwaj, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 15th International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy, organised at the main PRL campus.
PRL, a unit of Department of Space, was founded in 1947.
Equipment attached to lander: ChaSTE ::
"On the lander, there will be Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE). This is a probe which will measure the temperature beneath the surface by getting inside the surface of the moon. It will do so after the lander lands on the moon," the director said, adding that this equipment will also be developed by PRL.
(ChaSTE) is one of the science experiments proposed to conduct in lunar surface in the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
Equipment attached to rover: Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer ::
For the rover, which will come out from the lander and meant to roam on the lunar surface, PRL has developed an instrument called 'Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer', said Bhardwaj.
"This instrument is designed to identify various elements and chemical compounds on the surface of the moon," he added.
Things you must know about Chandrayaan-2 ::
According to reports, Chandrayaan-2 is likely to be launched in January-March window in 2019. However, exact dates are not yet released.
- It will take one or two months for the orbiter to reach its designated place around the moon.
- After the orbiter reaches its designated place in the lunar orbit, the lander will depart from it along with the rover.
- Following a controlled fall, the lander will soft land on the lunar surface at the prescribed site and place the rover on the surface.
- The rover will spend 14 days on the lunar surface covering a distance of 150-200 km on the moon.
- The instruments on the rover will observe the lunar surface when it will walk on the moon.
- These instruments will also perform an on-site chemical investigation.
- The data will be sent back to earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter (rover will send the data to the orbiter and the orbiter will send it back to earth) to analyse the lunar soil
Aiming for the sun with ISRO's Aditya-L1 mission ::
PRL is also developing instruments for 'Aditya-L1 mission', which is aimed at studying the Sun through a satellite placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, said Bharadwaj.
An instrument for the measurement of charged particles has also been developed, he said, adding, "With this instrument, we will be able to study solar winds, charged particles and its energy range."
As per ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) website, the satellite will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1, which is 1.5 million km from the earth.
The project is approved and the satellite will be launched during 2019 2020 time frame by PSLV-XL from Sriharikota. (Source:defencenews.in)


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How Chandrayaan-2 will perform its jobs once it lands on the moon.

India, Iran, Afghanistan conduct first trilateral meeting on Chabahar port - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Iran, Afghanistan conduct first trilateral meeting on Chabahar port.

Senior officials of Afghanistan, India and Iran on Tuesday met in Tehran to discuss the development of the Chabahar port, a sign that India is committed to the project despite the threat of looming US sanctions on the West Asian country.

The Indian delegation to the first meeting of the Coordination Council on Chabahar was led by T.S. Tirumurti, secretary, economic relations, India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Detailed discussions were held between the three sides on full operationalisation of the trilateral agreement for international transit and transport through Chabahar Port. All sides shared the view that full operationalisation of trilateral Chabahar initiative will promote connectivity and economic development of Afghanistan and the region,” according to the statement.
“It was decided to constitute a follow-up committee that would hold its first meeting within two months in Chabahar Port, Iran. It would discuss and aim to finalise a protocol to harmonise transit, roads, customs, consular matters that was shared by the Indian side at the meeting for making the route attractive, decrease logistic costs and pave the way for smooth implementation of the Trilateral Chabahar Agreement,” the statement added.
A person familiar with the development said India is committed to the project despite the threat of US sanctions on nations doing business with Iran including buying oil or investing in the country.
The sanctions were announced after the US withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that lifted most of the embargoes on the West Asian country imposed for its suspected nuclear weapons programme. India’s investment in Chabahar interlocutor on Iran Brian Hook visited New Delhi earlier this month.It was discussed when US
It was in 2003 that India first proposed developing the Chabahar port seen as a gateway for the country to access the landlocked markets of Afghanistan and Central Asia given New Delhi’s tense ties with Pakistan have blocked overland trade through Pakistan.
Chabahar is located less than 100 nautical miles from the Chinese built port of Gwadar in Pakistan. In February, India and Iran signed a pact to lease to New Delhi the contract for operation of the Shahid Beheshti port or phase 1 of Chabahar. Under the terms of the pact, India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL), an Indian company, is to take over the interim operations of the port at Chabahar and operate the terminal for 18 months.
New Delhi is awaiting from Iran the handing over of the Shahid Beheshti port for operation by India. (Source: livemint)


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India, Iran, Afghanistan conduct first trilateral meeting on Chabahar port.

Invest India wins top UN award for promoting renewable energy investment - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Invest India wins top UN award for promoting renewable energy investment.

The other winners of the award were Bahrain Economic Development Board and the Lesotho National Development Corp

Invest India has received the top UN Investment Promotion Award in recognition of its efforts to boost investments in the renewable energy sector in India.
The award was presented by Armenian President Armen Sarkissian to Deepak Bagla, the CEO of Invest India, on Monday in Geneva at the inaugurations of the World Investment Forum organised by the UN Convention on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
A non-profit venture of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Invest India promotes sustainable investment.
UNCTAD said that award recognizes "the excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will have social and economic benefits and help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)".
It added that judges gave Invest India the award for its "excellence in servicing and supporting a major global wind turbines company in the establishment of a blade manufacturing plant in India while committing to train local staff and produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy. Implementation of the project is expected to reduce India's wind energy cost significantly".
The other winners of the award were Bahrain Economic Development Board and the Lesotho National Development Corp.
More than 5,000 delegates from 160 countries are participating the UNCTAD-organised Forum to discuss strategies for major new "investment-for-development" initiatives, UNCTAD said.
Speaking at the Forum's inauguration, UN General Assembly President MarAa Fernanda Espinosa said the private sector had a moral responsibility to "contribute to sustainable development with responsible investments that respect human rights, environmental regulations and fiscal regulations".
The CEO of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), Nandini Sukumar, said that there was a growing consensus among companies on sustainable economic growth.
She said that for the private sector there was the added incentive of good returns to invest in sectors like health, cities and infrastructure.
The WFE is an industry group of more than 200 stock exchange world-wide with listings of over 45,000 companies.
UNCTAD said that private sector investments of $3.9 trillion are required each year to help them meet the UN's SDGs, but there is a shortfall of about $2.5 trillion.(Source: The Business Standard)


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Invest India wins top UN award for promoting renewable energy investment.

Constitution Bench to decide an ‘independent mechanism’ to appoint Election Commissioners - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Constitution Bench to decide an ‘independent mechanism’ to appoint Election Commissioners.

The order passed by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S.K. Kaul came on a PIL filed by Anoop Baranwal seeking an “independent mechanism for appointment of ECs” outside the exclusive power of the government.

The reference to a Constitution Bench is in tune with the court's observations in the case during a May 2017 hearing.
In a major step months before the General Elections, the Supreme Court on Tuesday found ambiguity in the appointment process of Election Commissioners and referred the question to a Constitution Bench for a “close look.”
The order passed by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S.K. Kaul came on a PIL filed by Anoop Baranwal seeking an “independent mechanism for appointment of ECs” outside the exclusive power of the government.
The Bench was not satisfied by the argument made by Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal for the Centre that the appointment of ECs to the top poll body is “consciously and deliberately” a part of the executive function of the State.
Mr. Venugopal said the current appointment process under the aegis of the government has in the past given eminent persons, including T.N. Seshan, who was a byword for independence.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, for Mr. Baranwal, argued that appointments of ECs should be made under a “collegium system.” The appointment process of ECs should be in tandem with that of other top constitutional functionaries. There is a “gap in the law” as far as appointment of ECs are concerned. It is necessary to “plug the gap to ensure the independence and dignity of the institution.”
Mr. Venugopal contended that at least 15 other top constitutional functionaries, including the Compteoller and Auditor General of India, are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Union Cabinet.
“If you are going to test one post, you will have to test all these posts,” Mr. Venugopal submitted. To this, Justice Kaul responded that the removal process for these constitutional functionaries differ from that of ECs.
The reference to a Constitution Bench is in tune with the court's observations in the case during a May 2017 hearing.
The Supreme Court had told the government that though so far the election commissioners appointed have been “outstanding people, very fair and politically neutral,” there is still a legitimate expectation that they should be selected through the “most transparent and just process” formalised in a law enacted by the Parliament.
The apex chad even prima facie agreed to a “gap” caused by the lack of a parliamentary law which transparently spells out the process of appointment of an election commissioner.
“Who should be shortlisted? Who shortlists these names? What is the eligibility? There is nothing to show the procedure followed in selecting them,” former Chief Justice Khehar had observed in 2017.
The court had observed that even the selection procedure of the CBI Director is formalised by a written law, but not that of Election Commissioners.
“The Election Commissioners supervise and hold elections in our democracy... such is the significance of their office. Their selection has to be made in the most transparent manner,” the Supreme Court had observed in the 2017 hearing.
The court had indicated to the government that it may intervene in the issue to achieve the constitutional objective under Article 324 (2) of the Constitution.
Mr. Baranwal has contended that successive governments failed in the constitutional obligation to set up a “fair, just and transparent process” for selection of election commissioners since the adoption of the Constitution.
He has argued that the appointments were made by the President solely on the basis of the advice given by the political-executive at the Centre. This situation allegedly gives “ample room for the ruling party to choose someone whose loyalty is ensured and renders the selection process vulnerable to manipulations and partisanship which is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.”(Source:The Hindu)


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Constitution Bench to decide an ‘independent mechanism’ to appoint Election Commissioners.

Supreme Court allows sale of only 'green' firecrackers: Key highlights - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Supreme Court allows sale of only 'green' firecrackers: Key highlights.

The Supreme Court has allowed use of fire crackers that are within permitted decibel limits and emission norms.

HIGHLIGHTS:
-SHO's will be held liable if banned crackers are sold in their area.
-Low polluting crackers with permitted decibel limits and emission norms allowed.
-Court bans sale of firecrackers on e-commerce websites.
The Supreme Court has refused to impose a nationwide blanket ban on sale of firecrackers. In its verdict today, the court said only 'green firecrackers' (which are less polluting) will be allowed to be sold.
In its order, the court banned the online sale of firecrackers and put a stay on e-commerce portals from selling them.
The court said only "low polluting" green crackers which are within permitted decibel limits and emission norms will be allowed.
The court also imposed timing restrictions on burning firecrackers on Diwali. The court said people will be allowed to burn crackers between 8pm and 10 pm on Diwali. On New Year and Christmas, the timing is from 11:45 pm to 12:15 am.
The court has also directed all states to explore feasibility of community cracker bursting during festivals.
The Supreme Court's verdict came in response to a plea seeking a ban on manufacturing and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution.
This comes 15 days ahead of Diwali (November 7).
The matter was heard by a bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan. On August 28, the bench had reserved its verdict.
Here are 10 thing that you should know:
1) On October 9 last year, the Supreme Court temporarily banned the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali.
2) The court refused to relax its order and dismissed a plea moved by traders. In wake of the temporary ban, the traders were seeking permission to sell crackers for at least a day or two before Diwali last year.
3) The court had said that the limited ban on firecrackers during Diwali was an experiment to examine its effect on the pollution levels.
4) In the past, the Supreme Court had said that while deciding on a ban on firecrackers, it is important to take into account all aspects, including the fundamental right of livelihood of firecracker manufacturers and the right to health of over 1.3 billion people of the country.
5) The court had said that Article 21 (right to life) of the Constitution applies to both segments of people (firecracker manufacturers and general public) and it needs to maintain a balance while considering a countrywide ban on firecrackers. For this, the court also asked the central government to suggest ways through which pollution can be curbed and what will be the effect of firecrackers on the public at large.
6) On August 8 this year, the court observed that a spike in PM 2.5 levels in the air is a severe problem as the particulate matter remains in people's lungs, leading to serious health implications.
7) In their contention, firecrackers manufacturers had argued that the use of firecrackers should not be completely banned. They said their use should rather be strictly regulated.
8) On whether firecrackers are the main contributors to air pollution in the national capital and adjoining areas during winter, the manufacturers contended that crackers are not the reason for increase in air pollution. They said there are other factors, like wind and temperature, which contribute to it.
9) They have said the firecracker manufacturers can be deprived of their right to do business based on statements which were not supported by facts.
10) Every year during winter, the air quality in Delhi worsens to alarming levels, turning the city into a gas chamber. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, along with firecrackers during Diwali, vehicular pollution and construction activities are the primary reasons for this.(Source: The India Today)


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Supreme Court allows sale of only 'green' firecrackers: Key highlights.

US to pull out of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis

US to pull out of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia

Trump accuses Moscow of violating Cold War-era INF treaty by deploying Novator missile

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. would pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, a crucial Cold War-era treaty banning the development, testing and possession of short and medium range ground-launched nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5,000 km. The treaty, signed in 1987, was central to ending the arms race between the two superpowers, and protected America’s NATO allies in Europe from Soviet missile attacks.
John Bolton, Mr Trump’s National Security Advisor, is in Moscow on a visit and is expected to convey the decision to the Russians. At issue is Russia’s alleged development and deployment of the Novator 9M729 missile, also known as the SSC-8, that could strike Europe at short notice, an allegation that Russia has repeatedly denied. “Russia has violated the agreement. They’ve been violating it for many years... so we’re going to terminate the agreement. We’re going to pull out,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
Accusations of Russia violating the treaty pre-date the Trump presidency, and go back to 2008. “I don’t know why President Obama didn’t negotiate or pull out. And we’re not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons and we’re not allowed to,” said Mr. Trump.
The U.S. administration, under former President Barack Obama, raised the issue of Russia testing a ground-launched cruise missile with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014. The Russians denied the allegations and raised counter-allegations of the U.S. installing missile defence systems in Europe.
While the two countries failed to find a resolution using the dispute resolution mechanism in the treaty, the U.S. continued to remain party to the treaty under pressure from its European allies. Mr. Bolton, known to be a hawk, has been the driving force behind the U.S.’s decision to withdraw from the INF, The New York Times had reported on Friday, prior to Mr. Trump announcing the withdrawal. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis had told NATO Ministers earlier in October that the U.S. would withdraw from the INF if Russia did not roll-back its Novator missiles
A withdrawal will allow the U.S. new weapon options in the Pacific in its efforts to counter China’s growing influence. There are also concerns that the treaty’s end could mark the beginning of a new arms race between the U.S. and Russia.
Russia’s warning:
The Russian government on Sunday warned the U.S. against such a withdrawal. “If the Americans continue to act as crudely and bluntly... and unilaterally withdraw from all sorts of agreement and mechanisms from the Iran deal to the International Postal treaty, then we’ll be reduced to taking action in response, including of a military nature. But we don’t want to go that far,” said Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Reactions across Europe were varied. The German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, called Mr Trump’s decision “regrettable” and the U.K. Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, said Britain would remain “absolutely resolute” in standing by the U.S. in its position against Russia.(Source: The Hindu)

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US to pull out of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia