Declaration of Historic City of Ahmadabad as a UNESCO’s World Heritage Property
(Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times)
Impact: Expected to give a tremendous fillip to domestic and international tourism leading to increased employment generation, creation of world-class infrastructure and augmentation of sale of local handicrafts, handlooms and heritage memorabilia
India –
Has overall 36 World Heritage Inscriptions with 28 Cultural, 07 Natural and 01 Mixed site
Stands second largest in number after China in terms of number of world heritage properties in ASPAC (Asia and Pacific) region
Overall seventh in the world
India to host 8th Edition of Theatre Olympics ‘The Biggest Theatre Celebration of the World’
(Topic: Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times)
8th edition of the greatest carnival of Theatre in the World will take place in India for the first time ever from February 17 – April 08, 2018 simultaneously in various cities across the country.
there will be 500 plays & 700 ambience performances from across the world and Allied activities like exhibitions, seminars, symposia, interactive discussions and workshops with well-known academicians, authors, actors, designers and directors will be held.
Theatre Olympics:
Established in 1993 in Delphi, Greece
With the tagline ‘Crossing Millennia’, this is an initiative to connect the cultural past with the present and future, bringing the richness and diversity of theatre heritage to the experiments and research of contemporary theatre.
GS-2
Launch of JIGYASA – Student-Scientist connect programme
(Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)
Implementation by: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)
Focus: Connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning
Launch of a new tax payer service module ‘Aaykar Setu’
(Topic: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures)
To help in reducing physical interface between assesses and tax assessing authorities and thereby minimizing the chances of any tax harassment.
To directly communicate with the taxpayers, on a range of multiple informative and useful tax services aimed at providing tax information at their fingertips.
The module compiles various tax tools, live chat facility, dynamic updates, and important links to various processes within the Income Tax Department in a single module.
The tax payers will also be able to receive regular updates regarding important tax dates, forms and notifications on mobile numbers registered with the ITD.
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)
(Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)
Importance:
Research undertaken by NCSCM will be used directly for arriving at policy decisions and for capacity building of coastal communities and other stakeholders
Will combine geospatial sciences with cutting-edge research on conservation, pollution, climate change and community interface – both in mainland and islands of the country
Objectives:
Promoting integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in the country for the benefit and well-being of the traditional coastal and island communities
Strengthening capacity of coastal management at all levels, including stakeholders
Advising Union and State governments and other associated stakeholders on policy and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Striving to become a world class institution through cutting-edge research pertaining to understanding coastal zones, coastal processes, integrated planning and management of coastal and marine areas
Scientifically map the cumulative vulnerability of coastal environment to climate change and consequent threats to ecology, lives and livelihoods
Develop vulnerability-based environment and adaptive management plans for key sectors by-
mainstreaming climate sensitivity and readiness into all coastal developmental projects
Promoting development taking into account the threats due to natural hazards in the coastal areas and sea-level rise
Build resilience of coastal communities (fishermen, agriculturists etc.) and develop infrastructure and settlements in urban and rural areas; conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area by enhancing mitigation (blue carbon ecosystems which include mangroves, seagrass meadows and salt marsh ecosystems) and build institutional capacity – both sector-wise and for community.
10th Session of the India- Jordan Trade and Economic Joint Committee (TEJC)
(Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)
Emphasized the need for diversification of bilateral trade and deepening their engagements for greater cooperation in investment sector
Reaffirmed their mutual interest and discussed the roadmap for cooperation in various fields such as Fertilizer Sector, Customs, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, Visa and Consular issues, Health and Pharmaceuticals, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Maritime Transport, Rail Transport, and Air Transport, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Smart Grid development, Information Technology, Higher Education and Vocational Training, Agriculture sector etc.
Inked the revised Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement aimed at boosting and diversifying bilateral trade relations, in addition to promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation based on the principle of equity, non-discrimination
Business federations from both sides discussed the roadmap for promotion of trade and investment through B2B mechanism
European Union & India establish an Investment Facilitation Mechanism
(Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)
Aim: To promote and facilitate EU investment in India
The EU is the largest foreign investor in India and this initiative helps ensuring a more robust, effective and predictable business environment for the EU investors
Will pave the way for identifying and solving problems faced by EU companies and investors with regard to their operations in India
IFM will cover new investors as well as those already established in India and will serve as a platform for discussing general suggestions from the point of view of EU companies and investors with regard to ease of doing business in India
GS-3
DIPP to set up India’s first TISC in Punjab
(Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management)
TISC: India’s first Technology and Innovation Support Center at Patent Information Centre, Punjab, under the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) TISC program
Objective of the TISC: To stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and innovation, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural development by establishing a network of TISCs in India.
Services offered by TISCs include:
Access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical) resources and IP-related publications;
Assistance in searching and retrieving technology information;
Training in database search;
On-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement);
Monitoring technology and competitors;
Basic information on industrial property laws, management and strategy, and technology commercialization and marketing
Foundation stone laid for First Maize Based Mega Food Park
(Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management)
Where: Kapurthala, Punjab
Importance of Maize –
An alternate to Jhona (paddy) and Kanak (wheat)
Rich in protein, provides nutritional requirements that India needs
Consumes much lesser water and could contain the problem of further water depletion
Maize Based Mega Food Park:
First major and serious step in the history of India for containing the desertification problem of Punjab
Would make farmers turn to maize cultivation which need less water for more production
Maize is being used by different industries for seed, starch, brewery, food additives, sweeteners, etc and it is also a basic raw material to thousands of industrial products like oil, proteins, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, beverages, film, textile, gum, value added foods, paper industries, bio-ethanol etc.
MERIT app and e-Bidding portal for utilization of domestic coal in IPP Power Stations
MERIT app: Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency
e-bidding portal: For providing e-Bidding solution to States to select Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in a transparent and fair manner, for procurement of power by transferring their domestic coal under the scheme of flexibility in utilization of domestic coal.
Aim: Optimum utilization of Coal which would save the consumer close to Rs. 20,000 crores five years down the line
Advantages of MERIT app-
Empowerment of the consumer leading to participative governance
Transparent information dissemination pertaining to marginal variable cost and source wise purchase of electricity
Promotes economy and efficiency in operation
Helps understand the utility portfolio and its complexity
Optimization of the power procurement costs
Facilitates renewable integration and handling of the variability and uncertainty of renewables
The flexibility in utilization of domestic coal scheme envisages transferring coal to more efficient IPPs generating stations, leading to lower generation costs and ultimately lesser cost of electricity for the consumers.
Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India
(Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights)
Launched by: Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
The Scheme aims at-
Raising IPR awareness amongst students, youth, authors, artists, budding inventors and professionals to inspire them to create, innovate and protect their creations and inventions
To conduct over 4000 IPR awareness workshops/seminars in academic institutions (schools and colleges) and the industry, including MSMEs and Start-ups, as also IP training and sensitization programmes for enforcement agencies and the judiciary
Workshops will cover all vital IP topics including international filing procedures, promotion of Geographical Indications and highlighting the ill effects of piracy and counterfeiting.
Successful Flight Test of QRSAM
(Topic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights)
QRSAM: Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile; an important milestone in the indigenous Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) development.
Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Person in News: Babu Jagjivan Ram
Babu Jagjivan Ram was a freedom fighter and national leader who fought tirelessly for the upliftment of the downtrodden
Longest serving minister handling several key portfolios (35 years)
Brought about path-breaking reforms:
‘Green Revolution’
Led India to the historic 1971 war which saw the birth of Bangladesh
Did you know?
Chandigarh became the first city to ensure water taps to all households
SWAYAM: Enables one to take courses offered by the best teachers, remaining where they are
Exercise Malabar: Naval co-operation between India, US and Japan to increase interoperability amongst the three navies as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations
NHB RESIDEX: Captures movements in the prices of residential real estate prices
Science Express exhibition train – Innovative mobile science exhibition
2017 phase: Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS) highlighting the global challenge of climate change
A flagship programme of the Dept. of Science & Technology (DST)
Has become the largest, the longest running and the most visited mobile science exhibition and has twelve entries in the Limca Book of Records
PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation
CERT-In: The national nodal agency under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with the objective of securing Indian cyber space
Launch of Mission Parivar Vikas – New family planning initiative
Specific targeted initiatives shall be taken for population stabilisation through better services delivery with a strategic focus on improving access through provision of services, promotional schemes, commodity security, capacity building, enabling environment and intensive monitoring
Ganga Avahan:
A pioneering and historic exploratory open-water swim expedition on the Ganga River
The first ever human effort to swim down the entire stretch of the river and also the longest ever social campaign undertaken through an adventure sporting activity for the Swachh Bharat National Mission, Clean Ganga project and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative
