Katchatheevu Island

Syllabus: GS Paper-1-Geography 

 Why in News?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister urges centre to initiate diplomatic efforts to revisit the agreement transferring Katchatheevu islet to Sri Lanka. 

Katchatheevu Island:

· It is an uninhabited off-shore island present in the Palk Strait.

 · It was originally owned by the king of Ramnad. 

 · Ramnad is present day Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu.

 · Later it was jointly administered by India and Sri Lanka during the British rule.

 · It was used by the fisherman to dry their nets. 

 · Sri Lanka claimed the territorial ownership over the islet in the early 20^th century.

 · So, in the year 1974 India ceded the island to the Sri Lanka through a joint agreement.

 · After two years, India gave up its fishing rights in the region.

 · Through an exchange of letters, both India and Sri Lanka agreed to stop fishing in each other’s water in the year 1976. 

 · These two countries signed the treaties to demarcate the International Maritime Boundary Line.

 · But these treaties could not stop the fisherman from fishing. 

 · It is because they don’t know the boundaries.

 · They continued their fishing in the Palk Bay until the Eelam war broke out in the year 1983.

 · After the end of the war in 2009, the Sri Lankan fishermen are raising their objections to the Indian fishermen fishing in their waters. 

 · This islet has fallen on the other side of IMBL. 

 · The Fisherman of India often risk their lives and cross the IMBL for fishing.

 · The Sri Lankan Navy is on high alert and they arrest them or even destroy their fishing nets and vessels.

Archaeological Survey of India 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-1-Art & Culture 

 Why in News?

· The Delhi High Court asked the ASI to clarify its policy on allowing prayers by devotees in religious places located inside the protected areas.

 · According to the ASI, the Mughal Mosque falls within the category of the protected monuments 

 · The Mosque is part of the Qutub complex

Archaeological Survey of India: 

 · It was founded in the year 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.

· He was the first Director-General of ASI. 

 · He was also known as the Father of Indian Archaeology. 

 · ASI works under the Ministry of Culture.

 · It is the premier organization for the archaeological researches in the country. 

 · It is responsible for the protection of the cultural heritage of the country. 

 · Its main aim is to maintain the archaeological sites, ancient monuments and also the remains of the national importance. 

 · Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

 · It is responsible to regulate all the archaeological activities as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains act, 1958. 

 · It even regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972. 

 Important Monuments in Qutub Complex:

 · Alai Darwaza

 · Qutub Minar

 · Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque

 · Alauddin Khilji’s tomb and madarsa

 · Alai Minar

National Health Mission

Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Government Policies 

 Why in News? 

 · A study published in the Public Health for All journal mentioned that the measures taken by the National Health Mission has given a positive impact on the health sector.

 · The researchers have studied the impact of public health policies and the contribution of the Centre in 4 states.

· Those 4 states are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Haryana and Bihar. 

 National Health Mission: 

· It was launched in the year 2005 as a centrally sponsored scheme.

 · It has two sub-schemes. They are:

1. National Rural Health Mission which was launched in 2005. 

2. National Urban Health Mission was launched in the year 2013.

· It was introduced to achieve the universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services.

 · The NHM mainly focusses on: 

 a) Strengthening Health System in rural and urban areas. 

 b) Reproductive-Maternal-Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health

 c) Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases.

 · The NHM provides its support to the States/UTs for setting up of the new facilities and also for the upgradation of the existing facilities.

 · Its support is provided for the free services related to the maternal health, child health, family planning etc.

Some Important Goals of NHM: 

 · Reduce the MMR to 1/1000 live births

· Reduce the IMR to 25/1000 live births

· Reduce the TFR to 2.1

· Prevention and reduction of anaemia in women aged between 15-49 years. 

 · Annual Malaria incidence to be <1/1000 etc. 

 Initiatives under NHM: 

 · Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram 

 · PM National Dialysis Programme

 · Ayushman Bharat

 · PM Jan Arogya Yojana etc.

Sovereign Green Bonds

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Economy 

 Why in News? 

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority will allow funds to invest in sovereign green bonds 

 Sovereign Green Bonds: 

· They can be issued by companies, countries and multilateral organizations.

 · They are same like debt instruments but the issuer of the green bond should use them to finance the projects which have a positive impact on the climate and environment. 

 · The projects include the renewable energy, green buildings, clean transportation like the use of EVs etc. 

 Significance:

 · They have a positive impact on climate change. 

 · They will make the government to focus on climate change and sustainable development. 

 · It promotes the domestic market development 

 Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority: 

 · It is a statutory body which was set up under the PFRDA Act, 2014.

· Its objective is to promote the old age income security by developing and regulating the pension funds.

 · It works under the Ministry of Finance 

 · Its headquarters is located in New Delhi

Composition:

 · Chairperson

 · Not more than Six members

 · They are all appointed by the Central Government. 

 Functions: 

 · It regulates the National Pension System 

 · It protects the interest of pension fund subscribers. 

 · It regulates the pension funds

 · It lay down norms for the management of corpus of pension funds 

 · It settles disputes among the intermediaries.

Index of Industrial Production 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Economy

Why in News? 

The Index of Industrial Production grew by 5.2 percent in the month of May. 

Index of Industrial Production:

· It is a composite indicator which measures the changes in the volume of production of the industrial products in a given period of time.

 · It is compiled and published every month.

 · It is published by National Statistical Office.

 · Ministry-Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

 · The base year for IIP is 2011-12. 

 · It measures the growth rate of Industry groups are classified under:

 · Broad Sector which includes: 

 1. Mining 2. Manufacturing 3. Electricity 

 · Use-based sectors such as: 1. Basic Goods 2. Capital Goods 3. Intermediate Goods

 · Eight core industries include: 1. Refinery Products 2. Electricity 3. Steel 4. Coal 5. Crude Oil 6. Natural Gas 7. Cement 8. Fertilizers 

 Significance:

· It is used to indicate the relative change in the volume of the production in the Industrial Sector. 

 · It measures the trend of the current Industrial Production

 · IIP is mainly used by the government agencies for the policy-making purposes.

Gharials 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology

Why in News?

The Phoenix Herpetological society has requested a permit to import Gharials from India

Gharials: 

· They are also known by the name Gavials. 

 · They are one of the types of Asian Crocodilian.

· They have the special feature of long, thin snouts. 

 · Our country has 3 species of Crocodilians. 

They are:

 · Gharial: · IUCN Red List-Critically Endangered · CITES: Appendix-I · Wild Life Protection Act, 1972-Schedule I

 · Mugger Crocodile: · IUCN Red List-Vulnerable · CITES: Appendix-I · Wild Life Protection Act, 1972-Schedule I

 · Saltwater crocodile: · IUCN Red List-Least Concern · CITES: Appendix-I · Wild Life Protection Act, 1972-Schedule I 

 Habitat:

· They are mainly found in Chambal River in India 

 · They are also found in the rivers of Ghagra, Gandak, Girwar, Ramganga, Sone etc.

· Gharial reserves are found in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

 Threats: · River Pollution · Poaching · Dam Constructions etc.

One District One Product 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Government Policies 

Why in News?

· DPIIT and Government of Gujarat has jointly launched One District One Product wall at Garvi Gujarat Bhavan today

 · Gujarat has 33 districts which exemplifies the vast geographic coverage. 

 · It has a rich collection of 68 unique products.

 One District One Product:

 · It was initially launched in the state of Uttar Pradesh in 2018.

· It was later launched by the Ministry of Food Processing in 2018. 

 · It is a centrally sponsored scheme which is shared by the central government in 60:40 contributions. 

 Components of the scheme:

· A product is identified per district based on the potential of the district and national priorities.

 · A cluster for the product will be developed in the district. 

 · Then it provides market linkages. 

 · Local exporters will be to scale up manufacturing 

 · Potential buyers will be outside India to promote the exports. 

 · Employment will be generated in the district 

 Some examples of ODOP:

 · Banana of Kaushambi in U.P. 

 · Wine from Nashik valley in Maharashtra

 · Blue Pottery of Jaipur from Rajasthan.

 · Pineapples in Shivamogga district of Karnataka

ASEAN 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-International Relations 

Why in News? 

· Conference of India and ASEAN on traditional Medicines held in New Delhi on 21^st July. 

 · The conference was held to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage. 

 Association of Southeast Asian Nations: 

· It was established by signing the Bangkok Declaration in the year 1967.

 · The founding members of ASEAN are: 

1. Malaysia 2. Indonesia 3. Philippines 4. Singapore 5. Thailand 

 · Later the countries Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia had joined.

 · Secretariat-Indonesia, Jakarta · Motto-One Vision, One Identity, One Community.

· ASEAN Day-8^th August. · Chairmanship-It rotates annually based on the Alphabetical order of the English name among the member states.

 · ASEAN Summit-It is the supreme policy making body of the ASEAN.

 · ASEAN Ministerial Councils:

 There are four new Ministerial bodies. They are: 

1. ASEAN Coordinating Council

2. ASEAN Political-Security Community Council 

3. ASEAN Economic-Community Council 

 4. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council. 

 Objectives:

 · To accelerate the economic growth. 

 · To promote the social progress and cultural development.

 · To maintain the regional peace and stability. 

 · To promote mutual assistance on the matters of common interest.

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding Katchatheevu Islands:

1. It is an uninhabited off-shore island present in the Palk Strait

 2.In the year 1974 India ceded the island to the Sri Lanka through a joint agreement 

 3. Through an exchange of letters, both India and Sri Lanka agreed to stop fishing in each other’s water in the year 1976. 

 How many of the above statements are incorrect? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three 

 d) None

2.Consider the following statements regarding Archaeological Survey of India: 

 1. It was founded in the year 1861 by Alexandar Cunningham. 

 2. ASI works under the Ministry of Culture.

 3. It regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972. 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

3.Consider the following statements regarding National Health Mission: 

 Statement-I: It was launched in the year 2005 as a centrally sector scheme 

 Statement-II: Ayushman Bharat is one of the initiatives under NHM.

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

4.Consider the following system regarding PFRDA: 

 1. It is a statutory body which was set up under the PFRDA Act, 2017. 

 2. It works under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 

 3. It regulates the National Pension System 

 How many of the above statements are incorrect?

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

5.Consider the following statements regarding Index of Industrial Production: 

 1. It is compiled and published in every six months 

 2. It is published by National Statistical Office.

 3. The base year for IIP is 2011-12.

 How many of the above statements are correct?

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

6.Consider the following statements regarding Gharials:

 Statement-I: The IUCN status of Gharials is Critically endangered 

 Statement-II: They are mainly found in Chambal River in India 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

7.Consider the following statements regarding ODOP: 

 Statement-I: It was initially launched in the state of Gujarat in 2018. 

 Statement-II: It was later launched by the Ministry of Food Processing

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

Comment the answers below