India bombs Jaish camp in Pakistan’s Balakot                                                                                      

Nagaland Assembly rejects citizenship Bill                                                                                            

‘What action can you take against political parties?’                                                                             

Declaring 5 year I-T returns a must for poll candidates                                                                        

WHO, Ministry conclave on yoga benchmark                                                                                         

Quick Reach Surface-to-Air missiles successfully test fired                                                                

RBI takes 3 banks off prompt corrective action framework                                                                 

Why Mirage of ’80s is IAF’s ‘weapon of choice’                                                                                   

Study: Food-borne diseases cost India $15 billion a year                                                                   

Aviation Conclave 2019                                                                                                                           

India-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise Sampriti - 2019                                                                   

 

India bombs Jaish camp in Pakistan’s Balakot

GS PAPER - 03 INTERNAL SECURITY - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

        ★ Twelve days after the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force bombed the Jaish-e-Mohammad’s “biggest” terror training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot early.

        ★ The operation was carried out by 12 Mirage-2000 fighter jets, which unleashed five one-tonne bombs on the camp, based 70 km inside the Line of Control (LoC), in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

More about the Attack :

        ★ Senior officials citing intelligence inputs said the JeM facility was particularly crowded with 200-325 militants as many had abandoned launch pads and training camps closer to the LoC after the Pulwama attack in the expectation that India would not target Balakot.

        ★ The aerial attack on a target inside Pakistani territory marks a major shift in India’s counter-terror responses, which have thus far been restricted to ground operations across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

        ★ Announcing the strikes, the government said it was a “non-military, pre-emptive” counter-terror operation against imminent threats from the JeM.

      

         

Non military preemptive strike :        ★ A non military preemptive strike means that a military target has not been hit by the Indian Air Force that carried out the strikes. Hitting a military target would be construed as an act of war.         ★ India, therefore, clarified that it was a non military strike. By calling it a preemptive action, it has taken the diplomatic pressure off itself that it acted to take revenge or for retribution. It has instead made it an act of self defence.         ★ The phrasing of “non-military preemptive action” was important for two reasons. Given that use of airpower inside Pakistani mainland territory is bound to be considered an act of war, India by calling it non-military wanted to reassure everyone that it is not such an act.         ★ That India chose not to target the Pakistan military or civilians but a terror camp was an important part of the Indian argument for preventing any escalation by the Pakistani side.         ★ The words “preemptive action” were to suggest that the airstrike was not an act of revenge or retribution but an act of self-defence to prevent a likely terror attack in the future. All these phrases point to an effort to couch the action in terms that have a de-escalatory tone, giving Pakistan the space it may need to de-escalate

What is the legality of the Indian action? Is it tantamount to war?

        ★ International law gives countries the right of self-defence but there is less clarity about pre-emptive self-defence.

        ★ Countries like the United States and Israel have invoked this right. This is the first time India has formally spoken of it.

        ★ However, that action took place “along the LoC”, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is legally Indian territory. The implications of pre-emptive self-defence were not the same as they may be now, as Balakot is inside Pakistan proper.

        ★ India’s statement and the reference to the action as “non-military” makes it clear the Indian side has no intention of escalating matters to war.

                                                                                                    Source :- The Hindu ; Indian Express

Nagaland Assembly rejects citizenship Bill

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

        ★ The Nagaland Assembly has passed a resolution, rejecting outright the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

Reason cited for denounced the bill :

        ★ It cannot be implemented in Nagaland as the proposed legislation will impact the “unique history and status of the Nagas under the Constitution”.

         ★ The resolution also expressed solidarity with the states and communities of the Northeast in opposing the Bill, as it has the potential of “changing the demographic profile, which will be against the interest of indigenous tribes and can divest them of their constitutionally guaranteed political, cultural and economic rights”.

         

Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 :         ★ The Bill amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship.           ★ Under the Act, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation is that the applicant must have resided in India during the last 12 months, and for 11 of the previous 14 years.          ★ The Bill relaxes this 11 year requirement to six years for persons belonging to the same six religions and three countries.         ★ The Bill, however, does not extend to illegal Muslim migrants. It also does not talk about other minority communities in the three neighbouring countries, such as Jews, Bahais etc.          ★ The Bill provides that the registration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders may be cancelled if they violate any law. Key Issues :         ★ The Bill makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion.  This may violate Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees right to equality.         ★ The Bill allows cancellation of OCI registration for violation of any law.  This is a wide ground that may cover a range of violations, including minor offences (eg. parking in a no parking zone).

 

                                                                                                                                    Source :- The Hindu

 

‘What action can you take against political parties?’

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Context :

     ★ The Delhi High Court has sought the stand of the Election Commission of India (EC) on taking action against political parties, which do not comply with its instructions to disclose funding and expenditure details.

More about the news:

     ★ The EC told the Bench that it has been consistently writing to the parties, which have not disclosed their expenditure.

     ★ The High Court directed the EC to file an affidavit indicating what powers or options it has to ensure implementation or enforcement of its guidelines regarding disclosure of expenditure by political parties and what steps it can take when there is violation of its norms.

    ★ The High Court was hearing a petition by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) seeking implementation of the guidelines as well as the Law Commission’s recommendation that a provision be enacted to monitor and regulate the expenditure by political parties during elections.

     ★ The NGO has alleged in its plea that since the present political system was being “funded through various illegal means and also by the people and corporate agencies with vested interests, it [political system] does not seem to be inclined to give effect to the recommendations of the Law Commission”.

     ★ Senior advocate Arvind Nigam and advocate Abhimanue Shrestha, appearing for ADR, said the Supreme Court has held that the EC has the power to give effect to the law panel’s recommendations.

                                                                                                                               Source :- The HIndu

Declaring 5 year I-T returns a must for poll candidates

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Context :

     ★ The candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will have to declare the income tax returns of past five years and details of foreign assets held by them, as per the Conduct of Election(Amendment) Rules 2019 notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice .

Conduct of Election(Amendment) Rules 2019:

     ★ The Rules are notified in exercise of powers under Section 169 read with 33 of the Representation of People Act 1951.

     ★ The amendment notified yesterday has changed the format of Form 26, in which the candidate has to file affidavit furnishing information on assets, liabilities, educational qualification and criminal antecedents, if any.

     ★ Offshore assets, means "details of all deposits or investments in foreign banks and any other body or institution abroad and details of all assets and liabilities in foreign countries".

     ★ The disclosure will not be limited to the candidate, but also cover the spouse, members of the Hindu Undivided Family (if the candidate is a 'karta' or coparcener) and dependents.

Present Scenario :

     ★ A candidate had to only declare the last IT return (for self, spouse and dependents) in Form 26. Details of foreign assets were not asked.

Background :

     ★ Last September, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had issued a slew of directions regarding disclosure of criminal antecedents of a candidate in the affidavit.

     ★ The Court directed that the details of criminal cases, if any, pending against the candidate should be stated in bold letters in the affidavit.

     ★ Also, the candidate as well as the concerned political party shall issue a declaration in the widely circulated newspapers in the locality about the antecedents of the candidate and also give wide publicity in the electronic media

                                                                                                                         Source :- The Hindu

WHO, Ministry conclave on yoga benchmark

GS PAPER - 01 CULTURE - Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context :

     ★ Ministry of AYUSH and WHO are jointly organizing a three days Working Group Meeting for reviewing the WHO document “Benchmarks for Training in Yoga”.

     ★ The WHO has been developing Benchmarks Document for Training in Yoga as part of Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023.

Objective :

     ★ To discuss the challenges in training of Yoga,

     ★ To review & discuss the scope and structure of the working draft document,

     ★ To review and discuss the contents of the working draft document,

     ★ To identify the type, scope and criteria of information/data that are further required, and

     ★ To discuss the working procedure and time frame for further development of the document.

Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 :

     ★ Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 seeks to help health care leaders to develop solution that contribute to a broader vision of improved health and patient autonomy.

The strategy has two key goals:

     ★ To support Member States in harnessing the potential contribution of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) to health, wellness and people centred health care and

     ★ To promote the safe and effective use of T&CM through the regulation of products, practice and practitioners.

Three strategic objectives to achieve this goal are :

     ★ Building the knowledge base and formulating nation’s policies,

     ★ Strengthening safety, quality and effectiveness through regulation and

     ★ Promoting universal health systems.

     ★ WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023, a Project Collaboration Agreement (PCA) was signed between WHO and Ministry of AYUSH on 13 May, 2016 for cooperation on promoting the quality, safety and effectiveness of service provision in traditional and complementary medicine between WHO and Ministry of AYUSH (2016-2020).

Area of collaboration are Development of the WHO publication :

     ★ Benchmarks for training in Yoga, Benchmark for practice in Ayurveda, Unani and Panchakarma,

     ★ Basic ( essential) terms for T&CM,

     ★ Project on the establishment of a WHO database for global T&CM practitioners and

     ★ Support the establishment of a network of international regulatory cooperation for T&CM practice.

                                                                                                                                                Source :- PIB

Quick Reach Surface-to-Air missiles successfully test fired

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Achievement of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Context :

     ★ DRDO successfully test-fired  2 indigenously developed short-range Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) off Odisha coast.

More about the news :

     ★ The two missiles were tested for different altitude and conditions.

     ★ The test flights successfully demonstrated the robust Control, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Structural performance and high manoeuvring capabilities thus proving the design configuration.

     ★ The missile, which is designed for fast reaction also has an all-weather weapon system capable of tracking and firing

     ★ The successful test flights and said the indigenously developed state-of-the-art QRSAM will significantly boost the defence capabilities of the armed forces.

                                                                                                              Source :- Hindu Business Line

RBI takes 3 banks off prompt corrective action framework

GS PAPER -  02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

     ★ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took three more banks out of the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, following an improvement in the public-sector banks’ (PSBs) financial ratios after a fresh round of capital infusion in them by the government.

     ★ There are another six banks that are still under PCA framework.

Prompt Corrective Action Framework :

     ★ RBI has issued a policy action guideline in the form of Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework if a commercial bank’s financial condition worsens below a mark.

     ★ PCA norms allow the regulator to place certain restrictions such as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend payment.

     ★ It can even cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector. Other corrective action that can be imposed on banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plan.

     ★ Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management, too. The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.

     ★ The PCA framework is applicable only to commercial banks and not extended to co-operative banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and FMIs.

When PCA invoked ?

     ★ The PCA is invoked when certain risk thresholds are breached.

     ★ The parameters that invite corrective action from the central bank are:

     ★ Capital to Risk weighted Asset Ratio (CRAR)

     ★ Net Non-Performing Assets (NPA) and

     ★ Return on Assets (RoA)

     ★ Leverage ratio

Type of Restrictions :

     ★ PCA norms allow the regulator to place certain restrictions such as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend payment. It can even cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector.

     ★ Other corrective action that can be imposed on banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plan. Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management, too. The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.

                                                                                                                        Source :- The Hindu

Why Mirage of ’80s is IAF’s ‘weapon of choice’

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

     ★ India with its 12 Mirage-2000 fighter jets decimated multiple terror camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan.

Mirage - 2000 Fighter Jets :

     ★ The Mirage-2000 fighter jet, which was first inducted in the mid-1980s

     ★ Soon after inducting the Mirage, IAF gave it the name – Vajra – meaning lightening thunderbolt in Sanskrit.

     ★ It was developed by Dassault Aviation and took its first flight in 1978 and was inducted in the French Air Force in 1984.

     ★ The Mirage-2000 played a decisive role in the 1999 war of Kargil and turned it in India’s favour.

     ★ After that, the government placed order for more such aircrafts in 2004.

     ★ In July 2011, Centre approved a $2.2 billion upgrade package for its Mirage 2000s.

Why Mirage - 2000 used for Surgical strike 2.0  :

     ★ The Mirage 2000 is a multi-role, single-engine fighter jet which is capable of dropping a range of bombs and missiles including laser-guided bombs.

     ★ The Mirage 2000s are fitted with Thales RDY (radar doppler multi-target) 2 radar which can strike at targets with 100 per cent accuracy

     ★ The aircraft was preferred as it is capable of long-range engagement of targets and the assessment was that it can record 100 per cent success rate.

     ★ In comparison, Indi'as other fighter and more advanced fighter jet - the Russia made Sukhoi Su30MKI has a speed of 2120 kmph (Mach 2), slower than the Mirage-2000 and is heavier too. This gives the Mirage-2000 an advantage in quick operations.

                                                                                                                             Source :- Times of India

Study: Food-borne diseases cost India $15 billion a year

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context :

     ★ According to a WHO report titled “The Safe Food Imperative: Accelerating Progress in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”, food borne diseases (FBDs) costs India $15 billion annually.

Key Findings :

     ★ Foodborne diseases encompass a wide spectrum of illnesses and are a growing public health problem worldwide. They are the result of ingestion of foodstuffs contaminated with microorganisms or chemicals.

     ★ Globally, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have the highest incidence of FBDs, along with the highest rate of deaths due to FBDs and the greatest loss of disability adjusted life years (DALYs).

     ★ low and middle income countries (LMICs) in south Asia, south-east Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to account for 53% of all illnesses due to FBD, 75% of deaths, and 72 % of DALYs related to FBDs.

India’s Stand :

     ★ India along with China accounts for 49% of the total economic burden due to food borne diseases (FBDs) in low and middle income countries and for 71% of the total burden in Asia.

     ★ However, China alone accounts for over $30 billion of the total burden, double as compared to India

     ★ Animal source food is estimated to account for 21% of India’s FBD burden.

Steps taken by India :

     ★ Acknowledging India's efforts in last few years to streamline food safety regulations, the report said India has demonstrated that better health and commercial outcomes are possible with the joint involvement of public agencies, businesses, and consumers in food safety.

     ★ Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken a series of measures including:

     ★ stringent packaging and labelling norms,

     ★ regulation of restaurant and street food

     ★ inspections and sampling of food products to ensure quality of food in India.

                                                                                                                             Source :- Times of India

Aviation Conclave 2019

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

     ★ The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in association with Airports Authority of India, AAICLAS and Confederation of Indian Industry, is organizing the Aviation Conclave 2019 with an overarching theme of “Flying for All”

Aviation Conclave :

     ★ Union Minister for Civil Aviation, stated that realizing Government’s vision of making “Flying for All” a reality underpins the government’s commitment to bring about a veritable revolution in the Indian aviation sector.

     ★ Aviation Conclave would deliberate upon taking the Government’s agenda to bring new aviation business to India, in particular, drones systems, manufacturing of aircraft in India, financing and leasing of aircraft from India by Indian and foreign airlines, transforming Indian airports into next-gen aviation hubs, and unleashing the air cargo potential by integrating every village of India in global value chains.

     ★ Over 30 industry leaders will discuss and deliberate across 5-key sessions covering the Drone-Ecosystem Policy Roadmap, Roadmap for Manufacturing Aircraft and associated equipment, including Regional Transport Aircraft, in India, the Project Rupee Raftaar- Aircraft Financing and Leasing from India, the National Air Cargo Policy, and the Mission to transform Indian Airports into Next-Gen Aviation Hubs.

                                                                                                                                              Source :- PIB

India-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise Sampriti - 2019

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - India and its neighborhood- relations

Context :

     ★ As part of the ongoing India Bangladesh defence cooperation, a joint military exercise Sampriti-2019 will be conducted at Tangail, Bangladesh from 02 March to 15 March 2019.

Sampriti - 2019 :

     ★ Exercise Sampriti-2019 is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and Bangladesh.

    ★ This will be the eighth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.

    ★ The exercise is aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies. 

    ★ The exercise will involve tactical level operations in a counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment under the UN mandate.

    ★ In addition to understanding each other in tactical level operations, emphasis will also be laid for greater cultural understanding to strengthen military trust and cooperation between the two nations.

                                                                                                                        Source :- PIB

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