Monthly Current Affairs June 2020

Easy to PICK87 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 # There is rarely an opportunity where policymakers have an ability to change the physical and social world drastically. # Using this moment to implement universal accessibility should be central to the vision of the post-COVID era. # Accessibility is a vital human right, and an accessible post-COVID world is one that will deliver justice to the minority population, without whom the path towards Sustainable Development Goals realisation and universal health coverage will remain a distant goal.

Easy to PICK88 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 GS-II

Easy to PICK89 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram Concentration Blocks and Cluster of Villages as per Census, 2011 data, will (PMJVK) extend the coverage of population of minority communities.  Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) seeks to provide better socio economic infrastructure facilities to the minority communities particularly in the States/Districts covered field of education, health & skill  The PMJVK will be implemented development which would further lead to in Minority Concentration District lessening of the gap between the national Hqrs(MCD Hrs), Minority average and the minority communities Concentration Block(MCBs), Minority with regard to backwardness parameters. Concentration Towns(MCTs) falling in  The erstwhile Multi-sectoral 308 districts of 32 States/UTs. Development Programme (MsDP) has  The unit area for implementation will been restructured and renamed as Pradhan include 109 MCD Hqrs, 870 MCBs and Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram for effective 321 MCTs. implementation. The restructured scheme  Moreover, the scheme will also be is to be implemented during the remaining implemented in Backward Clusters of period of the 14th Finance Commission ie. Minority Concentration Villages March 31, 2020. (CoMCV). These CoMCV will be identified on the proposal of the Beneficiaries of PMJVK States/UTs as per criteria of PMJVK.  As far as PMJVK is concerned, the communities notified as minority  The PMJVK would now cover five more communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities States/UTs namely Himachal Pradesh, Act, 1992 would be taken as Minority Communities. At present 6 (six) Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, Goa and communities namely Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians Pondicherry. (Parsis) and Jains have been notified as Minority Communities under Section  Minority Concentration Areas of 61 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. districts out of 115 Aspirational  The Programme aims to address development deficits in the identified districts have been covered under minority concentration areas. The identification of minority concentration PMJVK. areas has been done on the basis of presence of substantial population of  State-wise Administrative Districts and notified Minority Communities based on Census, 2011. List of Area Units -Districts Hqs, Blocks,  The inclusion of Minority Concentration District Headquarters along with the and Towns of PMJVK for remaining Minority Concentration Towns having population more than 25,000, Minority period of 14th Finance Commission Special focus by earmarking funds  80% of the resources under the PMJVK would be earmarked for projects related to education, health and skill development.  33 to 40% of resources under the PMJVK would be specifically allocated for women centric projects.

Easy to PICK90 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 SPIC MACAY SPIC MACAY  SPICMACAY is a non-profit, voluntary, non-political and participatory student movement registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 .  People from all walks of life are welcome to join and contribute with their ideas, time, finance or any other resources.  The movement has a central executive body in New Delhi and organises its programmes through a worldwide network of schools, colleges and educational institutions.  SPIC MACAY is supported nationally by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the HRD Ministry.  SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth) is a non-political, nationwide, voluntary movement founded in 1977 by Dr Kiran Seth, Professor- Emeritus at IIT-Delhi who was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ for his contribution to the arts in 2009.  SPICMACAY’s intention is to enrich the quality of formal education by increasing awareness about different aspects of Indian heritage and inspiring the young mind to imbibe the values embedded in it.  It seeks to inspire youth through experiencing the mysticism embodied in the rich and heterogeneous cultural tapestry of Indian and World Heritage, with a hope that the beauty, grace, values and wisdom embodied in these arts will influence their way of life and thinking and inspire one to become a better human being.

Easy to PICK91 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Section 153 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951  Election Commission of India announced elections to the Council of States to fill 55 seats of Members from 17 States, retiring in the month of April,2020.  Section 153 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 specifies that the Election Commission for reasons which it considers sufficient, may extend the time for the completion of any election by making necessary amendments in the notification issued by it under section 30 or sub-section (1) of section 39 of the said Act.  Accordingly, considering the prevailing unforeseen situation of public health emergency due to COVID-19 and related advisories in the country, the Election Commission deferred the poll and extended the period of said election under the provisions of section 153 of the said Act and decided that the announcement of fresh date of poll and counting for the said biennial elections will be made by the ECI after reviewing the prevailing situation.

Easy to PICK92 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 India-Georgia Relations Historical Background Institutional Mechanisms  There is enough literary and folklore- based evidence to suggest that links Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations was between India and Georgia and awareness of India in Georgia have existed from concluded on 11th May 2000; it was signed by the very early times of human civilization.  Fables from India’s Panchtantra are Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli Menagarishvili believed to have influenced the Georgian folk legends. Those links were further and EAM Mr. Jaswant Singh and provides for strengthened in medieval ages by “regular consultations at the level of Ministers missionaries, travelers, and traders.  Georgians are said to have served at the of Foreign Affairs and other agreed levels on Mughal Courts and some of them are believed to have risen to the positions of international, regional and bilateral issues of Governors. mutual interest”.  The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s wife Udaipuri Begum was of Georgian India and Georgia are in the process of origin. establishing Inter-Governmental Soviet Era  During the Soviet era, Prime Minister Pt. Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific Nehru visited Tbilisi in 1955 (when he was welcomed in Hindi by the renowned and Technological Cooperation which would Georgian Indologist and Sanskrit scholar Georgi Akhvledani); Prime Minister Mrs. create a framework for cooperation in diverse Indira Gandhi visited Tbilisi in the summer of 1976. Mr.Atal Bihari areas. Vajpayee visited Georgia in June 1978 as Foreign Minister. India’s Development Assistance In December 1994, India had gifted medicines Post-Soviet/ Contemporary Period and relief supplies worth Rs. 0.5 million  Recognition of Georgia and Establishment for refugees and displaced persons from of Diplomatic Relations following the Abkhazia. declaration of independence by India’s assistance to Georgia at present is mainly Georgia in the wake of the disintegration in the field of Human Resource Development. of the USSR, India recognized Georgia India offers: on 26th December 1991. (i) Training slots (25 on average) every year  Formal diplomatic relations were under Indian Technical and Economic established on 28th September 1992. At Cooperation (ITEC); present we do not have a Resident (ii) Indian Council for Cultural Relations Mission in Georgia. Our Ambassador to (ICCR) Scholarships to pursue undergraduate Armenia with residence in Yerevan and postgraduate courses in Indian Universities; (Armenia) is concurrently accredited to and Georgia. (iii) Kendriya Hindi Sansthan scholarships to study Hindi in India. In addition, an ICCR Chair of Contemporary Indian Studies has been established at the Tbilisi State University (TSU). Indian Community  The Indian community is comprised of businessmen, workers, etc.; their number jumped considerably in 2012 and according to rough estimates, around 2000-3000 Indian nationals are now resident in Georgia.  Traditionally, Indian students have been

Easy to PICK93 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 coming to Georgia to study Medicine at the Tbilisi State Medical University.  Indian films and food are popular in Georgia.  Hindi is palpable. The India-Georgia Cultural Association ‘Bharat’ is engaged in promoting Indian culture; it is coordinating Hindi classes in Tbilisi for which the Government of India is extending the required support. Trade and Economic Relations  Balance of trade is in favour of India.  The main commodity of Georgian exports to India is the ferrous waste and scrap, whereas meat and meat products are India’s main items of exports.  According to Geostat, Georgia, the total bilateral trade between India and Georgia in 2012 was at USD 88.81 million.

Easy to PICK94 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 VINBAX VINBAX is the military exercise between armies of India and Vietnam. It is the first ever such exercise boosting defence ties between the two countries. It is going to be held in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. The joint exercise has been especially designed to enable and train officers from Vietnam in United Nations Peace Keeping Operations. India – Vietnam relations  India and Vietnam had signed a protocol on defence cooperation in 1994.  The partnership was thereafter elevated to strategic level in 2007.  A pact on boosting bilateral defence cooperation was signed in 2009.  The strategic partnership was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2016. Prevention of Atrocities acts Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is an act of parliament. It falls within the provisions of Article 17 of the constitution, enacted for preventing atrocities against members of SC/ST It also provide special courts for the trial of such offences as well as relief and rehabilitation of the victims of atrocities. The PoA Act extends to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir, and responsibility for its implementation rests with State Governments.

Easy to PICK95 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 China’s new code aims to curb land grabs It also focuses on giving greater independence wide-ranging legislative package will come into to the country’s judiciary effect on January 1. Local governments have taken Farmers in China have faced forced evictions away land from 1,00,000 to 5,00,000 farmers and illicit land grabs for decades — sources of every year between 2005 to 2015 in violation of social unrest that the government is finally trying national land-use laws, according to a study by to address in a major shake-up of its property Qiao Shitong, a property and urban law professor law. Millions of hectares of rural land were at the University of Hong Kong. taken away from farmers in the past three decades and given to developers as China raced In China, land can only be owned by the state to urbanise, often with little or no compensation in or collective organisations. Private individuals return. or businesses can only buy the right to use land for up to 70 years. The civil code — for the first Important Points time — clarifies what will happen once a home  “Land disputes trigger half of an owner’s 70-year usage rights expire. The law estimated 1,00,000 social protests in China every year, making them the affirms that land-use rights for residential second leading cause for public unrest homes will be automatically renewed after after labour disputes,” Ni Yulan, a lawyer expiration but does not say whether owners need who advocates for property rights of low- to pay for renewals. income families in Beijing, said.  Ms. Ni has been jailed twice for her advocacy and is paralysed from the waist down, a result she says of beatings received during her detention.  China’s first-ever civil code approved by Parliament focuses on giving judges greater independence and curbing the influence of local officials, but the judiciary is still ultimately answerable to the Communist Party.  The guidelines have narrowed the interpretation of “public interest” to prevent abusive land grabs.  It also makes it mandatory for local governments to make public announcements on “all acts taken by the state in relation to private property”, thus making land transactions more transparent. No punishment But it does not stipulate any punishments for those illegally expropriating land or the rights of individual farmers to collective land, making it harder for families to seek compensation. The

Easy to PICK96 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 French forces kill al-Qaeda’s Algeria leader Droukel, an explosives expert, had been jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda, who sentenced to death in 2013 for terror attacks exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel France said its forces have killed the leader of uprising, leading to a French-led military al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, in a blow to intervention. the group behind a string of deadly attacks across  According to the UN, Droukdel was an the troubled Sahel region. explosives expert and manufactured devices that killed hundreds of civilians Who? in attacks on public places. Abdelmalek Droukdel was killed in northern Mali near the Algerian border, where the group He was sentenced to death in Algeria in 2013 for has bases from which it has carried out attacks and his involvement in the bombings of a government abductions of Westerners in the sub-Saharan Sahel building and offices of the UN’s refugee zone. “Many close associates” of the Algerian — committee in Algiers that killed 26 people and who commanded several affiliate jihadist groups wounded 177. across the lawless region — were also Droukdel’s death is a symbolic coup for the “neutralised”, she added. French, a military source said. Born in 1971 in a poor neighbourhood of Important points Algiers, Droukdel — also known as Abou  Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Moussaab Abdelouadoud — took part in the (AQIM) emerged from a group started in founding in Algeria of the Salafist Group for the late 1990s by radical Algerian Preaching and Combat (GSPC). Islamists, who in 2007 pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.  The group has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on troops and civilians across the Sahel, including a 2016 attack on an upmarket hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso, which killed 30 people, mainly Westerners.  The death of Droukdel — once regarded as Algeria’s enemy number one — could leave AQIM in disarray, French military sources suggested.  France has deployed more than 5,000 troops to combat jihadist groups in the region — a largely lawless expanse stretching over Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, where drugs and arms flow through porous borders.  Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups, as well as a haven for jihadist activity.  In 2012, key cities fell under the control of

Easy to PICK97 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 CBSE to release reduced syllabus in a month The aim is to adapt to a shorter academic  Making this change in board examinations session and the loss of classroom time is just a small nudge to urge schools to The Central Board of Secondary change classroom teaching and assessment Education (CBSE) will release a cut-down from Class 1 itself, said the CBSE syllabus within a month to adapt to a shorter chairman. academic session and the loss of classroom time because of the COVID-19 pandemic, CBSE  The curriculum is being gradually chairman Manoj Ahuja. overhauled to ensure that there are measurable learning outcomes attached to “There will definitely have to be some every single lesson, and ways to help rationalisation of the syllabus, because there will teachers map whether each individual definitely be some loss of time, even with blended child is gaining competence in specific schooling and home schooling... That’s what we areas. are planning and we should be able to finalise it in a month’s time,” Mr. Ahuja said, speaking to However, Mr. Ahuja emphasised that it is teachers and principals at a virtual conference important for the wider ecosystem of parents, on schooling in the time of COVID, hosted by coaching centres, higher education institutions and Ashoka University. recruiters to come on board too and be willing to change from a traditional mindset. “If getting into Important Points college or getting a job is still based on the old  “What that would entail broadly is that rote-learning, content-based model, there will be we retain the core elements which are no incentive for change from the demand side,” he very necessary in terms of learning said, “The change needs to be simultaneous.” outcomes. But concepts which are duplicated or seem superfluous will be shaved off,”  Schools will also be asked to start shifting to a competency-based education system from this academic year, with more focus on learning outcomes.  Aimed at moving away from the rote- learning, content-based, examination- focussed structure of Indian education, competency-based education looks to map a child’s understanding and application of concepts rather than knowledge of facts.  While this is being done in an incremental manner, it means that from the coming year, the CBSE’s Class 10 board examinations will include 20% case-based questions, which have real life connections.  There will be 10% such questions in the Class 12 board examinations for all subjects as well.

Easy to PICK98 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Res extra commercium It is Latin phrase meaning ‘outside commerce’. The doctrine dates back to the Roman period. If applied, the doctrine gives authorities more leeway to impose restrictions. e.g The Supreme Court’s application of the doctrine to alcohol in the 1970s paved the way for at least two Indian states to ban it completely and allowed courts to take a stricter stance while regulating liquor. The Indian government is now pushing the Supreme Court to use this doctrine to the tobacco industry’s legal right to trade. With an aim to curb tobacco consumption, the government has recently raised tobacco taxes, started smoking cessation campaigns and introduced laws requiring covering most of the package in health warnings. But a court in Karnataka recently quashed the labelling rules holding them as “unreasonable” and as violative of the right to trade. So the government is pushing the courts to use the doctrine to deter tobacco companies from challenging tough new regulations.

Easy to PICK99 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Global Terrorism Index The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is a report published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). Two third of the countries experienced a terrorist attack in 2016. India is one among the ten most impacted countries by terrorism. Five countries account for three quarters of all deaths from terrorism: Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria and Pakistan. The major reason for terrorism in most impacted countries is internal conflict. World ocean day In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate 8 June as World Oceans Day. Many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The theme of World Oceans Day 2020 is “Innovation for a sustainable ocean” In his message on World Ocean Day, Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar said, land divides you and Ocean unites you. He said, Ocean or 'Sagar' means security and growth for all in the region.

Easy to PICK100 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Mission SAGAR KESARI reaches port Victoria in Seychelles As part of Mission Sagar, Indian Naval Ship Kesari reached Port Victoria in Seychelles today for handing over COVID related essential medicines. Under Mission Sagar, Indian government is providing assistance to friendly foreign countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Mission SAGAR, resonates Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Security and Growth for All in the region. The operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and other agencies of the Government.

Easy to PICK101 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Crossing the line: On Delhi’s decision to limit health services Delhi should not hide failures by limiting and other needs including health care. health-care access to just its residents The decision announced by Chief People contribute to tax revenues in three Minister to restrict COVID-19 treatment in Delhi’s private hospitals and those run by the different jurisdictions. government of NCT only to those with proof of  This makes Mr. Kejriwal’s rhetoric residence in the city was ill-thought-out. unreasonable as much as Karnataka’s  As Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal noted in his order overruling the decision, decision to prevent residents of ‘Right to Health’ is an integral part of ‘Right to Life’ under Article 21 of the Kasargod in Kerala from accessing Constitution. hospitals in Mangaluru earlier.  The AAP government’s approach is  While health care is far from being universal in India, positively denying contentious for more reasons, however, as that to someone on the grounds of residency is insensitive and it is using it also as a diversionary tactic. irresponsible.  While the city is recording an exponential  The Lieutenant-Governor has now directed that treatment should not be growth in infections, the government denied to anyone. is trying to deflect attention from its  Mr. Kejriwal depicted a scenario of “people of the whole country” inadequacies by hiding the numbers. overwhelming hospitals in the city as  It has reduced testing dramatically — on justification for his nativism. June 2 it was 6,070, on June 7, 5,042, and  After the LG’s intervention, the Chief Minister and his deputy, reiterated the on June 8, 3,700. argument and preemptively sought to wash their hands of the worsening situation.  The AAP government accused private  They expect 5.5 lakh COVID-19 cases by labs of flouting ICMR guidelines and July-end for which 80,000 beds could be needed. discouraged testing of asymptomatic people. The high positivity rate — the  The 10-week lockdown was meant to proportion of positives to total tests — ramp up health infrastructure, and if the AAP government has not done that, it indicates that the NCT is not testing has only itself to blame. In fact, it must come clean on what it has done. enough. The ICMR’s May 18 strategy directed testing of What to do?  Restriction of movement is a crucial tool direct and high risk contacts of confirmed in pandemic management, but it has to be justifiable. coronavirus individuals even if  The NCT is functionally contiguous with Gurugram in Haryana and NOIDA in Uttar asymptomatic. The government revised this by Pradesh. removing “asymptomatic” from the clause,  Thousands cross these borders for work which was also overturned by the LG who ordered that guidelines must be adhered to in their entirety. Delhi is testing more than the national average for per million population but that does not say much given that it has a population density 30 times the national figure. Delhi needs to get its act together.

Easy to PICK102 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Pincer provocations? India-China-Pakistan India should not conflate the various threats to project. its security in the Kashmir-Ladakh region  These factors demonstrate the Although the latest news on the Ladakh front suggests that Chinese and Indian forces have overlapping interests that Beijing and begun to disengage in select areas, this does not Islamabad have regarding India in this detract from the reality that in the past few region. weeks Beijing and Islamabad are making  Both would like India to be so coordinated efforts to challenge India’s presence preoccupied with taking defensive in the Kashmir-Ladakh region. There is stepped- measures in Kashmir and Ladakh as to up activity on Pakistan’s part to infiltrate terrorists have little time and energy left to attempt into the Valley. China has undertaken provocative to alter the status quo in POK or in Aksai measures on the Ladakh front to assert control Chin. over disputed areas around the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Divergence in VIEW POINT OF Pak and China Overlapping interests  In Pakistan’s case the intensification in  However, there are major differences in its terrorist activities is related in part to Pakistani and Chinese objectives the dilution of Article 370 that it regarding India that are related to their perceives as undercutting its claims on divergent perceptions of their disputes and Kashmir with finality. their different force equations with India.  China seems to have calculated that the division of Ladakh from Jammu and  For China, Ladakh is primarily a Kashmir, that delinks Ladakh from the territorial dispute with strategic Kashmir problem, allows India a freer ramifications. hand in contesting China’s claims in the region.  China also believes it is superior to the  Increasing road-building activity on Indian militarily and, therefore, can India’s part close to the LAC augments this afford to push India around within limits as perception. it has been attempting to do in the recent  In addition to bordering on China’s most confrontation. restive provinces of Xinjiang and Tibet, Ladakh is contiguous to Pakistan-  For Pakistan, its territorial claim on occupied Kashmir (PoK), Gilgit and Kashmir is based on an immutable Baltistan, where the Chinese have ideological conviction that it is the invested hugely under the China-Pakistan unfinished business of partition and as Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. a Muslim-majority state is destined to  When completed, the CPEC will connect become a part of Pakistan. Xinjiang with Gwadar port in Balochistan.  Islamabad also realises that it is the  External Affairs Minister remark last year weaker power in conventional terms and that India expects to have “physical therefore has to use unconventional means, jurisdiction over (POK) one primarily terrorist infiltration, to achieve day” has alarmed Beijing which sees any its objective of changing the status quo in such Indian move as threatening the CPEC Kashmir.  China is a satiated power in Ladakh having occupied Aksai Chin and wants to keep up the pressure on New Delhi to prevent the latter from trying to change the situation on the ground.

Easy to PICK103 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Changing the status quo It is true that China is agitated about the recent vociferous revival of India’s claims on PoK but its primary concern with regard to Kashmir is to prevent any Indian move from threatening the CPEC project. It does not challenge the status quo in Kashmir. Pakistan, on the other hand, is committed to changing the status quo in Kashmir at all cost. It has been trying to do so since Partition not only through clandestine infiltration but also by engaging in conventional warfare. Therefore, while it is possible to negotiate the territorial dispute with China on a give-and- take basis this is not possible in the case of Pakistan which considers Kashmir a zero-sum game. India should, therefore, distinguish the different objectives on the part of Beijing and Islamabad and tailor its responses accordingly without conflating the two threats to its security. Lumping the two threats together because of a tactical overlap between them makes it difficult to choose policy options rationally.

Easy to PICK104 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 River water dispute Recently, the Union government has decided to barrages proposed across the take the stock of water utilisation from Godavari are all new projects. the Krishna and Godavari rivers following the filing of complaints against each other Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal: by Telangana and Andhra Two tribunals have been constituted to resolve Pradesh governments. the disputes of the Krishna water. Andhra Pradesh has countered the second Water Dispute: Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal (KWDT) Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share stretches of order issued by Justice Brijesh Kumar in 2010. the Krishna and the Godavari and own their The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has allocated 81 tributaries. thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of surplus Both states have proposed several new projects water to Maharashtra, 177 tmcft to Karnataka and without getting clearance from the river boards, only 196 tmcft to Andhra Pradesh. the Central Water Commission and the Apex After the creation of Telangana as a separate state Council, as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Andhra Pradesh is asking to include Reorganisation Act, 2014. Telangana as a separate party at the KWDT and that the allocation of Krishna waters Imp Points be reworked among four states, instead of three.  The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, It has challenged the order of the Brijesh Kumar 2014 mandates for constitution of an Tribunal in the Supreme Court. Apex Council by Central Government for the supervision of the Godavari River functioning of the Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Source: Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar Management Board. near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length  The Apex Council comprises the Union of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Water Resources Minister and the Chief Bengal. Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Drainage Basin: The Godavari basin extends over Pradesh. states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra  The Andhra Pradesh government’s Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to proposal to increase the utilisation of the smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Krishna water from a section of the river Union territory of Puducherry. above the Srisailam Reservoir led to the Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Telangana government filing a complaint Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of against Andhra Pradesh. Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati,  The Srisailam reservoir is constructed Maner and the Sabri across the Krishna River in Andhra Krishna River Pradesh. It is located in the Nallamala hills. Source: It originates near Mahabaleshwar  The Andhra Pradesh government retaliated (Satara) in Maharashtra. It is the second biggest with its own complaints saying river in peninsular India after the Godavari River. that Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi Lift Drainage: It runs from four states Maharashtra Irrigation Schemes on the Krishna (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest river and Kaleshwaram, Tupakulagudem schemes and a few

Easy to PICK105 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Inter-State Water Disputes Pradesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal.  Article 262 of the Constitution provides Tributaries: Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, for the adjudication of inter-state water Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi disputes. and Dudhganga.  Under this, Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal: dispute or complaint with respect to the  The Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal use, distribution and control of waters of headed by Justice Bachawat was any inter-state river and river valley. constituted by the Government in April,  Parliament may also provide that neither 1969. the Supreme Court nor any other court  The tribunal was tasked to look after the is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of dispute over Godavari river between any such dispute or complaint. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,  The Parliament has enacted the two laws, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Karnataka over the River Boards Act (1956) and the sharing of the Godavari river water. the Inter-State Water Disputes Act  The Bachawat Tribunal gave its final (1956). award in 1980.  The River Boards Act provides for the  Accordingly, each State was free to utilise establishment of river boards by the flow in Godavari and its tributaries up the Central government for the to a certain level. regulation and development of inter-state  Thus, Andhra Pradesh decided to divert 80 river and river valleys. tmcft of Godavari water from Polavaram  A River Board is established on the request to Krishna river, upstream of Vijayawada, of state governments concerned to advise so that it could be shared with Karnataka them. and Maharashtra.  The Inter-State Water Disputes Act  Once Telangana came into existence in empowers the Central government to set 2014, the Godavari water and, more up an ad hoc tribunal for the specifically, the Polavaram project adjudication of a dispute between two or became the bone of contention between more states in relation to the waters of an Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. inter-state river or river valley.  While the project will take care of the  The decision of the tribunal is final and irrigation needs of the Godavari districts of binding on the parties to the dispute. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana fears it would  Neither the Supreme Court nor any other submerge many villages in its Khammam court is to have jurisdiction in respect of district. any water dispute which may be referred to  Odisha too has expressed its reservations such a tribunal under this Act. over the Polavaram dam's design. Inter-State River Water Disputes Union Government’s Move: (Amendment) Bill, 2019 It has asked the Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards to procure the details of the  The Inter-State River Water Disputes irrigation projects on these rivers, including (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in from Maharashtra and Karnataka and submit them Lok Sabha on July 25, 2019 by the to the Centre in a month. The main objective of Minister of Jal Shakti, Mr. Gajendra Singh the exercise appears to be to assess whether Shekhawat. It amends the Inter-State River surplus water will be available for the new projects Water Disputes Act, 1956. The Act in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in the light of the disputes.

Easy to PICK106 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 provides for the adjudication of disputes Vice-Chairperson, three judicial members, relating to waters of inter-state rivers and and three expert members. They will be river valleys. appointed by the central government on  Under the Act, a state government may the recommendation of a Selection request the central government to refer an Committee. Each Tribunal Bench will inter-state river dispute to a Tribunal for consist of a Chairperson or Vice- adjudication. If the central government is Chairperson, a judicial member, and an of the opinion that the dispute cannot be expert member. The central government settled through negotiations, it is required may also appoint two experts serving in the to set up a Water Disputes Tribunal for Central Water Engineering Service as adjudication of the dispute, within a year assessors to advise the Bench in its of receiving such a complaint. The Bill proceedings. The assessor should not be seeks to replace this mechanism. from the state which is a party to the  Disputes Resolution Committee: Under dispute. the Bill, when a state puts in a request  Time frames: Under the Act, the Tribunal regarding any water dispute, the central must give its decision within three years, government will set up a Disputes which may be extended by two Resolution Committee (DRC), to resolve years. Under the Bill, the proposed the dispute amicably. The DRC will Tribunal must give its decision on the comprise of a Chairperson, and experts dispute within two years, which may be with at least 15 years of experience in extended by another year. relevant sectors, to be nominated by the  Under the Act, if the matter is again central government. It will also comprise referred to the Tribunal by a state for one member from each state (at Joint further consideration, the Tribunal must Secretary level), who are party to the submit its report to the central government dispute, to be nominated by the concerned within a period of one year. This period state government. can be extended by the central  The DRC will seek to resolve the dispute government. The Bill amends this to through negotiations, within one year specify that such extension may be up to a (extendable by six months), and submit its maximum of six months. report to the central government. If a  Decision of the Tribunal: Under the Act, dispute cannot be settled by the DRC, the the decision of the Tribunal must be central government will refer it to the published by the central government in the Inter-State River Water Disputes official gazette. This decision has the Tribunal. Such referral must be made same force as that of an order of the within three months from the receipt of the Supreme Court. The Bill removes the report from the DRC. requirement of such publication. It adds  Tribunal: The central government will set that the decision of the Bench of the up an Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal will be final and binding on the Tribunal, for the adjudication of water parties involved in the dispute. The Act disputes. This Tribunal can have multiple provided that the central government may benches. All existing Tribunals will be make a scheme to give effect to the dissolved, and the water disputes pending decision of the Tribunal. The Bill is adjudication before such existing making it mandatory for the central Tribunals will be transferred to the new government to make such scheme. Tribunal.  Data bank: Under the Act, the central  Composition of the Tribunal: The government maintains a data bank and Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson, information system at the national level for

Easy to PICK107 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 each river basin. The Bill provides that the central government will appoint or authorise an agency to maintain such data bank. CPGRAMS Context  The procedure includes designating a  Union Minister of State for Personnel, PG senior officer as the Director of and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh Grievances/Grievance officer in every todaylaunched the “Feedback Call Centres office to ensure that the system remains on Public Grievances” and interacted live accessible, simple, quick, fair and with citizens whose grievances have been responsive, and fixing the time limit for successfully redressed on the COVID-19 disposal of work relating to public National Monitor for Public Grievances. grievances and staff grievances. Dr. Jitendra Singh complimented DARPG on reaching the milestone of redressing One Lakh COVID-19 Public Grievances so far.He said that the “Leadership of PM Modi has inspired Government to put in a lot of effort to addressing Grievances of Common Man”. About CPGRAMS  It is an online web-enabled system developed by National Informatics Centre (Ministry of Electronics & IT [MeitY]), in association with Directorate of Public Grievances (DPG) and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).  The underlying idea was to receive, redress and monitor the grievances of the public.  It was launched by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.  The CPGRAMS provides the facility to lodge a grievance online from any geographical location.  It enables the citizen to track online the grievance being followed up with Departments concerned and also enables DARPG to monitor the grievance.

Easy to PICK108 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Assistance to Disabled persons scheme (ADIP) Context income from all sources does not exceed Amidst the prevailing unprecedented situation Rs. 20,000/- per month. faced by the society due to Pandemic COVID-19,  In case of dependents, the income of special measures have been taken by Government parents/guardians should not exceed Rs. of India so that the benefit of welfare scheme for 20,000/- per month. Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) continue  Persons who have not received assistance uninterrupted. from the Government, local bodies and About ADIP scheme Non-Official Organisations during the last The main objective of the Assistance to Disabled 3 years for the same purpose. However, for persons for purchasing / fitting of aids / children below 12 years of age this limit appliances (ADIP) scheme is to assist the needy would be 1 year. disabled persons in procuring durable, Quantum of Assistance sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, Aids/appliances which do not cost more than Rs. modern, standard aids and appliances that 10,000/ - are covered under the Scheme for single can promote their physical, social and disability. However, in the case of SwDs, students psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the beyond IX class, the limit would be raised to effects of disabilities and enhance their economic Rs.12,000/. In the case of multiple disabilities, the potential. limit will apply to individual items separately in case more than one aid/appliance is required.  The aids and appliances supplied under the Send To Bookmark Scheme shall conform to BIS specifications to the extent possible.  The scheme is implemented through implementing agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU). Objectives  The main objective of the Scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. Eligibility of the Beneficiaries  He/she should be an Indian citizen of any age.  Should be certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner that he/she is disabled and fit to use prescribed aid/appliance. Holds a 40% Disablement Certificate.  Person who is employed/self-employed or getting pension and whose monthly

Easy to PICK109 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Operation Cactus In 1988 a group of Maldivians led by Abdullah Luthufi tried to overthrow then Maldivian Government. The attempt was a failure due to the intervention of the Indian Armed Forces. The operation was code named as Operation Cactus. INS Godavari and Betwa were used by the Indian Navy in the operation

Easy to PICK110 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 An inflection point (Killings at the LAC) An inflection point (Killings at the LAC) successes in defusing military crises  The brutal killing of 20 Indian soldiers by the Chinese Army in in Depsang (2013), Chumar (2014) and the deadliest escalation of violence between India and China on the LAC in Doklam (2017). nearly four and half decades puts  But Delhi can’t ignore the profound a heavy question mark on an already fraught process. change in Beijing’s worldview and the  It has the potential to vitiate and undermine the disengagement agreed upon only a new sense in Beijing that it can afford to few days ago between senior military officers on both sides and harden take on all comers. the standoff between the two countries.  China’s growing assertiveness in the  Yet India must keep a clear and determined head. It needs to respond with calm territorial disputes with its neighbours, deliberation and steely resolve.  It must be fully prepared to escalate but its simmering Cold War with the United it must not embark on such a course States, and the PLA’s aggressive without a full assessment of what transpired on the ground, or without postures on the ground. hearing out what the Chinese leadership  In other words, India’s political illusions has to say — and being mindful of what lies ahead. about China are becoming increasingly  When two armies are fully mobilised and standing eyeball to eyeball, unsustainable and Delhi has arrived at an there is always the possibility of an accident that triggers an escalation that inflection point in its policies toward neither side wants.  Monday night’s clashes came after both Beijing. sides had publicly stated that the situation was under control and that disengagement  If Beijing refuses to restore the status quo had begun in the Galwan area.  The Chinese Ministry of Foreign ante on the frontiers, it will push India Affairs has accused the Indian Army of violating the consensus that the two sides irrevocably towards a comprehensive and arrived at, and New Delhi has accused Beijing of doing the same. long-term political, diplomatic and  New Delhi should activate all political lines of communication with Beijing, military strategy of responding including the ones between the special representatives to the border negotiations purposefully. and the foreign ministers, to make this point and take it forward.  Many in Delhi have been lulled into complacency by previous diplomatic

Easy to PICK111 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 What happened in Nathu La in 1967? Context a concertina coil, the Political Commissar  As reports of deaths of Indian soldiers in had an argument with the Commanding a violent faceoff on Ladakh Officer of the local infantry battalion, Lt border emerged, many took solace from Colonel Rai Singh. Thereafter, work the fact that no rounds were fired during stopped. the physical clash with the Chinese  Work was, however, resumed on soldiers. September 7. This provoked about 100  While this certainly makes these deaths Chinese soldiers to rush up, and a scuffle more brutal than being shot and killed, it ensued. also gives hope that an escalation to  Beaten down by the Jats, the Chinese kinetic means – rifles, howitzers, resorted to stone-pelting, and the Indians rockets, missiles and fighter jets – can be responded in kind. avoided between the two nuclear  The Chinese sent across a warning through neighbours. the Indian embassy: “The Chinese Government sternly warns the Indian History of the conflict Government: the Chinese Border  The last military skirmish between India Defence Troops are closely watching the and China took place at Nathu La in development of the situation along the September 1967. Before the skirmish China-Sikkim boundary. Should the escalated to artillery guns and threats of Indian troops continue to make fighter jets, there was a scuffle between provocative intrusions, the Indian the soldiers of the two armies. Government must be held responsible for  The clash eventually left 88 Indian all the grave consequences.” soldiers dead. More than 300 Chinese  The corps commander had ordered the soldiers were killed. fence to be completed on September 11.  In the weeks and months ahead of the That day, as work started, the Chinese clash, the Indian side had decided to came to protest, led by the Political fence the border with three layers of Commissar. Lt Col Rai Singh went out to barbed wire. Work started on August 20, talk to them. 1967.  Suddenly, the Chinese opened fire, and  On August 23, about 75 Chinese in battle Singh fell to the ground, injured. dress, carrying rifles fitted with  Seeing their CO hit, the infantry battalion bayonets, advanced slowly towards Nathu attacked the Chinese post. La in an extended line, and stopped at the  But they suffered heavy casualties, border. including two officers, who were both  The Political Commissar — identifiable given gallantry awards. Soldiers in the by a red patch on his cap, and the only one open were mowed down by Chinese who could speak some English — read out machine gun fire. slogans from a red book, which the rest of  The Indians responded with artillery fire, the party shouted after him. and pummelled every Chinese post in the  The Indian troops were “standing to”, vicinity. watching and waiting. After about an hour,  Many more Chinese perished in these the Chinese withdrew. But they returned heavy fire assaults than the number of later, and continued their protests. Indians who were killed in the initial  On September 5, as the barbed wire engagement. fence was being upgraded to

Easy to PICK112 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020  Taken aback by the strong Indian response, the Chinese threatened to bring in warplanes. When the Indians refused to back off, the Chinese news agency Xinhua denied these plans.  Having sent its message militarily, India, on September 12, delivered a note to the Chinese, offering an unconditional ceasefire across the Sikkim-Tibet border beginning 5.30 am on September 13. This was rejected, but the situation remained largely peaceful until the 14th.  On September 15, the Chinese handed over the bodies of Indian soldiers with arms and ammunition, saying they were acting in the interest of “preserving Sino- Indian friendship”.  On October 1, another skirmish erupted at Cho La, but the Indians again repulsed the Chinese.

Easy to PICK113 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Transformation of aspirational districts program GS-PAPER-2 Governance  The 115 districts were identified from 28 states, at least one from each state. Fourteen districts from Northeast have been identified for \"Aspirational Development\" under  At the Government of India level, the the program. programme is anchored by NITI Aayog. In addition, individual Ministries have  \"Transformation of Aspirational Districts\" assumed responsibility to drive the programme is under the aegis of NITI progress of districts. Aayog, under the guidance of Prime minister of India.  The objective of the program is to monitor the real-time progress of aspirational  The main factors determining whether districts. the given district is backward or not will be based on sectors like health,  ADP is based on 49 indicators from the 5 nutrition, education and agriculture. identified thematic areas, which focuses closely on improving people’s Health &  For each district, a four-tier supervisory Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & mechanism has been put in place with a Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Central Nodal Officer from the Union Skill Development, and Basic Government, a State Nodal Officer from Infrastructure. concerned State Govt,a District Nodal Officer / District Collector and a Union  With States as the main drivers, ADP seeks Minister-in-charge. to focus on the strength of each district, identify low-hanging fruits for immediate Elaboration improvement, measure progress, and rank districts. India is amongst the leading economies of the world and envisages to become $5 trillion by  The broad contours of the programme are: 2024-25. However, presently the quality of life of o Convergence (of Central & State many of its citizens is not consistent with this Schemes) which brings together growth story, this is reflected in UNDP’s 2018 the horizontal and vertical tiers of Human Development Index wherein India is the government. ranked 130. o Collaboration (of Central, State Living standards in India are affected by level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District significant inter-state and inter-district variations. Collectors) which enables In order to remove this heterogeneity, the impactful partnerships between government has launched in January 2018, the government, market and civil ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ society. programme (ADP). o Competition among districts driven by a spirit of the mass Aspirational Districts’ Programme movement, it fosters accountability  Aspirational Districts are those districts in on district governments. India that are affected by poor socio- economic indicators.  The Aspirational Districts Programme  These are aspirational in the context,that (ADP) is one of the largest experiments improvement in these districts can lead to on outcomes-focused governance in the the overall improvement in human world. development in India. Impact of ADP  Decentralization of Development: ADP focuses on outcomes, that enables local

Easy to PICK114 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 experimentation based on a firm  Independent surveys can be used to appreciation of ground realities. validate administrative data, this will help  Inclusive approach: The delta ranking of improve data quality. the Aspirational Districts combines the innovative use of data with pragmatic  Building each district’s internal administration, keeping the district at the capacity to produce reliable and locus of inclusive development. Through actionable data, and promoting a culture of ADP government seeks to uplift those data use, can be made a priority for the districts which have shown relatively ADP. lesser progress in achieving key social outcomes. Initial evidence suggests that the ADP has already  Improved Implementation: Spurred by contributed towards improving the lakhs of lives. competition based on outcomes, local Therefore, it is critical to carefully document and governments target their efforts and learn from the ADP’s experiences. improve programme implementation and design. For Example, Health outcomes in ADP saw an increase in registering pregnant women into the health system, institutional delivery of babies and anti- diarrheal treatment, etc. Challenges  ADP is affected by the issue pertaining to insufficient budgetary resources.  ADP is implemented by multiple ministries which leads to a lack of coordination.  Data High-quality administrative data is critical to improving programme implementation and design at the local level.  The Delta ranking itself is largely focused on assessing quantity (that is, coverage of access) rather than quality. On-time delivery of textbooks in schools are part of the ranking index, However, textbook delivery may or may not be a problem in districts. Also, the quality of education in India is in a dismal condition, as highlighted by the ASER report. Conclusion  A more simplified ranking index is needed with few but carefully chosen output and outcome measures which can more clearly signal national development targets.  Financial autonomy to local governments should be provided.

Easy to PICK115 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Fit INDIA Fit INDIA TO launch special films promoting 10 indigenous sports of India under Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat program Sports Ministry’s flagship programme Fit India is joining hands with the Department of School Education and Literacy, to launch a series of special films promoting 10 indigenous sports of India under the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat initiative. The series is aimed at creating awareness about not just the indigenous games but also the culture and heritage of the states to which they belong. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat aims to create awareness among youngsters about the culture and heritage of states across India. This initiative aims to further that effort. These special films have been customized for school-going children to make them aware of the history and heritage of the state from which a game emanates, the particular sport as well as how it is played. The 10 episodes can be watched from Monday to Friday -- June 8 to June 19 -- at 11am, on the Fit India YouTube page and Ministry of Human Resource Development digital platforms.

Easy to PICK116 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat The LPG Panchayat, which was launched in Gandhinagar last year, is aimed at driving rural households to adopt Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Now, the President is planning to conduct one in Rashtrapati Bhavan. As a part of it, over 100 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), from 20 states will share their experiences of how the clean cooking fuel has changed their lives, in the presence of the President. After the launch of the PMUY, LPG consumption witnessed an increase of 10 per cent to 21.5 million tons during 2016-17, compared to the previous year.

Easy to PICK117 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 National e-Governance Division (NeGD) Context  Providing technical assistance to Central With a view to achieve atmanirbharata in the Coal Ministries/ State Line Departments in their sector, the Ministry of Coal in association with e-Governance projects either directly or in FICCI is launching the process for auction of 41 collaboration with professional coal mines under the provisions of CM (SP) Act consultants and MMDR Act. This auction process marks the beginning of opening of Indian coal sector for  Undertaking technical appraisal of e- commercial mining. It will enable the country Governance projects for examining issues achieve self-sufficiency in meeting its energy like overall technology, architecture, needs and boost industrial development. The framework standards, security policy, commencement of this auction process of coal service delivery mechanism, sharing of mines for sale of coal is part of the series of common infrastructure, etc announcements made by the Government of India under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The  Developing generic / model Expression of event will take place virtually at 11 AM on 18th Interest (EoI), Request for Proposal (RFP), June, 2020. The event will be open to all to join Standard Contracts, PPP Models and other virtually through various networks hosted by NIC, related documents for various stages and NeGD of MEiTY and FICCI. requirements of projects for use by the States About NeGD In 2009, National e-Governance Division (NeGD)  Ensuring effective citizen engagement and was created by the Ministry of Electronics & communication with all stakeholders using Information Technology (MeitY) as offline and Social Media channels an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation.  Impact assessment and e-Readiness Since 2009, NeGD has been playing a pivotal role measurement of e-Governance projects of in supporting the Ministry of Electronics & all States / UTs Information Technology in Programme Management and implementation of e-  Recruitment, deployment and HR Governance Projects and initiatives undertaken by management of specialised resources in Ministries/ Departments, both at Central and State the State e-Governance Mission Teams levels. (SeMTs) in all States and UTs The envisioned roles and responsibilities of NeGD are as follows:  Training and development initiatives, including-  Providing strategic direction in gterms of framing policies and implementation 1. Development of competency frameworks, strategy for the Digital India Programme in training guidelines, case studies, etc different domains of e-Governance 2. Developing Online and Web based  Proactive support to Central and State Training and set up Learning Management Governments for Mission Mode Projects System (MMPs) and other e-Governance projects 3. Knowledge management and sharing  Acting as a facilitator and catalyst for through workshops, development of case implementation of Digital India Program studies, sharing best practises and creation by various Ministries and State of knowledge repositories, etc Governments Major Ongoing Projects- 1. Digital Locker (DigiLocker) 2. Unified Mobile App for New-Age Governance (UMANG) 3. National Centre of Geo-Informatics (NCoG)

Easy to PICK118 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 4. Rapid Assessment System (RAS) 5. OpenForge 6. Programme Management Information System (PMIS) 7. Learning Management System (LMS) 8. Knowledge Management System (KMS)

Easy to PICK119 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Finance Commission on Grant for Provision of Drinking Water & Sanitation Services Context (a) sanitation and maintenance of open-defecation  The Chairman, Shri N. K. free (ODF) status; and Singh and Members of the 15th Finance (b) supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting Commission today had a meeting with and water recycling. Shri Gajendra Singh, Minister of Jal Shakti and his team of officers on the issue of FC  PRIs have to earmark one half of these tied grants to Rural Local Bodies for provisions grants for each of these two components. of drinking water & sanitation services .  However, if any (Gram Panchayat has Recommendations of Finance Commission fully saturated the needs of one category,  The Terms of Reference of the the particular GP can utilize the funds from Commission mandates it to recommend the other category). “the measures needed to augment the Consolidated FUND OF a  The Finance Commission also requested State to supplement the resources of the the States to bring it to the notice of all the Panchayats and Municipalities in the PRIs that while utilizing the 15th Finance State on the basis of recommendations Commission grants for water and made by the Finance Commission of the sanitation, priority may be given to cover State”. all the activities identified under JJM  In this context the Finance and SBM (G) so as to saturate the needs Commission needed to understand of drinking water and whether the current experience of the sanitation facilities in the rural areas of the submission of its report 2020-21 and its country. recommendations on grants for local bodies, was adequate enough to continue this type of grants for 2021-22 to 2025- 26 – or there was requirement for improvement/ modification.  The specific concerns of the Commission were that approximately 2.5 lakh Panchayati Raj Institutions which have common issues on Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation and where coordination was required between the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti alongwith the States for effective implementation.  The 15th Finance Commission in its interim report for the year 2020-21, has identified water supply and sanitation as national priority areas for rural local bodies, and accordingly 50% of Rs. 60,750 crore i.e. Rs. 30,375 crore has been allocated as tied-grants to RLBs for:

Easy to PICK120 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)  ITEC Programme was launched in 1964 by the Ministry of External Affairs.  The ITEC Programme is fully funded by the Government of India.  The Programme is essentially bilateral in nature. However, in recent years, ITEC resources have also been used for cooperation programmes conceived in regional and inter-regional context such as Economic Commission for Africa, Commonwealth Secretariat, UNIDO and Group of 77.  Under ITEC and its sister programme SCAAP (Special Commonwealth African Assistance Programme), 161 countries in Asia, Africa, East Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean as well as Pacific and Small Island countries are invited to share in the Indian developmental experience acquired over six decades of India's existence as a free nation. Components:  Training (civilian and defence) in India of nominees from ITEC partner countries;  Projects and project related activities such as feasibility studies and consultancy services;  Deputation of Indian experts abroad;  Study Tours;  Gifts/Donations of equipment at the request of ITEC partner countries; and  Aid for Disaster Relief. Division of Development Partnership Administration (DPA) in the Ministry of External Affairs is the nodal division for handling all capacity building programmes.

Easy to PICK121 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) National Centre for Good Governance training on various aspects of regulatory (NCGG) and developmental administration, public  The National Centre for Good Governance policy, governance and public (NCGG) is an autonomous management. institute under the aegis of Department  To provide a platform for policy of Administrative Reforms and Public development debates and discussions. Grievances, Government of India.  To promote exchange of innovative ideas  Its head office is at New and best practices in Governance by Delhi and registered office at Mussoorie. organising, sponsoring and  The NCGG has been set up to assist in aiding seminars, workshops, study bringing about governance circles, working groups and conferences. reforms through studies, training,  To interact with national and knowledge sharing and promotion of international organisations, in and good ideas. outside government, engaged in research  It seeks to carry out policy and training in subject areas of mutual relevant research and prepare case interest. studies; curate training courses for civil servants from India and other developing countries; provide a platform for sharing of existing knowledge and pro-actively seek out and develop ideas for their implementation in the government, both at the States and the Central level.  The National Centre for Good Governance traces its origin to the National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR).  NIAR was set up in 1995 by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).  During its 19 years of existence it provided research and training support to the Academy in areas of public administration.  NIAR was subsequently rechristened with an expanded mandate, as National Centre for Good Governance, which was inaugurated on February 24th, 2014. OBJECTIVES  To be a think tank for governance & policy reforms, working across administrative, social, financial and political arenas.  To initiate and participate in research and

Easy to PICK122 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 IAEA IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization in 1957. Though established independently of the United Nations through its own international treaty, the IAEA Statute, the IAEA reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. The IAEA has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA has two \"Regional Safeguards Offices\" which are located in Toronto, Canada, and in Tokyo, Japan. The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide. The IAEA and its former Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2005. Recently Iran has refused to allow IAEA to two sites where nuclear activity may have occurred in the past (Parachin and Frodo).

Easy to PICK123 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Stockholm International Peace Research of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine, Institute (SIPRI) established in 1966 is an whose weapons were repatriated to independent international institute dedicated Russia. to research into conflict, armaments, arms According to Stockholm International Peace control and disarmament. Based in Stockholm Research Institute (SIPRI), the worldwide total the Institute provides data, analysis and inventory of nuclear weapons as of 2019 stood recommendations, based on open sources, to at 13,865, of which 3,750 were deployed with policymakers, researchers, media and the operational forces. In early 2019, more than 90% interested public. of the world's 13,865 nuclear weapons were owned by Russia and the United States. Highly Important SIPRI year book v. Eight sovereign states have publicly  A new yearbook released by the announced successful detonation Stockholm International Peace Research of nuclear weapons. Institute (SIPRI). v. Five are considered to be nuclear-weapon  The yearbook “assesses the current state of states (NWS) under the terms of the Treaty armaments, disarmament and international on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear security” Weapons (NPT). In order of acquisition of nuclear weapons these are the United  The highlights of the yearbook are as States, Russia (the successor state to follows the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, France, and China.  All nations that have nuclear weapons v. Since the NPT entered into force in 1970, continue to modernize their nuclear three states that were not parties to the arsenals, while India and China increased Treaty have conducted overt nuclear tests, their nuclear warheads in the last one year. namely India, Pakistan, and North Korea. North Korea had been a party to  China is in the middle of a significant the NPT but withdrew in 2003. modernization of its nuclear arsenal. v. Israel is also generally understood to China’s nuclear arsenal had gone up from have nuclear weapons, but does not 290 warheads in 2019 to 320 in 2020. acknowledge it, maintaining a policy of deliberate ambiguity, and is not known  China is developing a so-called nuclear definitively to have conducted a nuclear triad for the first time, made up of new land test. Israel is estimated to and sea-based missiles and nuclear- possess somewhere between 75 and 400 capable aircraft. nuclear warheads. One possible motivation for nuclear  India’s nuclear arsenal went up from 130- ambiguity is deterrence with minimum 140 in 2019 to 150 in 2020. political cost. v. States that formerly possessed nuclear  Pakistan, too, is slowly increasing the size weapons are South Africa (developed and diversity of the nuclear forces. It has nuclear weapons but then disassembled reached 160 in 2020. its arsenal before joining the NPT) and the former Soviet republics  Both China and Pakistan continue to have larger nuclear arsenals than India.  Together the nine nuclear-armed states — the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea — possessed an estimated 13,400 nuclear weapons at the start of 2020, which marked a decrease from an

Easy to PICK124 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 estimated 13,865 nuclear weapons at the beginning of 2019.  The decrease in the overall numbers was largely due to the dismantlement of old nuclear weapons by Russia and the U.S., which together possess over 90% of the global nuclear weapons.  The U.S. and Russia have reduced their nuclear arsenals under the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) but it will lapse in February 2021 unless both parties agree to prolong it.

Easy to PICK125 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 PCPNDT Act In April Union Ministry of Health and Family law against pre-natal sex determination Welfare has issued a notification which put on and sex selection till June end, amid the hold the implementation of certain rules of the COVID-19 national lockdown. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex-Selection Rules) of 1996 till June 30, 2020.  One of the suspended provisions, Rule 8, is intrinsically connected with the statute’s provisions dealing with the mandatory registration of genetic counselling centres, laboratories and clinics, Non-compliance leads to penalty.  The rules require ultrasound clinics to maintain detailed records of pregnant women who undergo foetal scans in the clinics and submit them to local health authorities.  Sections of doctors representing ultrasound clinics have in the past complained that such record-keeping is time-consuming.  Ultrasound clinics, like other medical services, would be considered essential and could remain open during the lockdown.  Foetal medicine specialists point out that the suspension of rules would enable clinics to process patients faster and reduce their waiting time at clinics in line with social-distancing measures.  Suspending the rule means clinics need not produce any records till June 30.  This could be misused by unscrupulous sections to conduct sex determination tests freely.  By this Central government has arbitrarily and selectively weakened a legislation aimed at curbing the pernicious activity of sex-selection and sex-determination.  Supreme Court recently asked the government to explain its decision to suspend crucial rules of a parliamentary

Easy to PICK126 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 United Nation Security Council The United Nations Charter established six UNSC which will begin from January main organs of the United Nations, including the United Nations Security Council 2021. (UNSC). Article 23 of the UN Charter concerns  India’s objective will be the achievement the composition of the UNSC. The UNSC has been given primary responsibility for maintaining of N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a international peace and security to the Security Council, which may meet whenever peace is Reformed Multilateral System. threatened. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter. The UNSC is composed of 15 Members:  Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  Ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis:  Five for African and Asian countries.  One for Eastern European countries.  Two for Latin American and Caribbean countries.  Two for Western European and other countries. Election to Non-Permanent members of UNSC  Election for five non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is being held on 17th June, 2020.  India is standing unopposed as the nominee for the Asia-Pacific seat, for the 2021-22 term and needs the vote of two- thirds of UNGA members (129 votes) to be confirmed.  In 2019, the candidature of India was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping, which also included China and Pakistan.  This would be India's eighth term in the

Easy to PICK127 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Pashupatinath Temple and India - Nepal Nepal-Bharat Maitri Nepal-Bharat Maitri is a development partnership initiated by India as a high impact community development scheme.  This initiative is another milestone in strengthening cultural ties and people-to- people contacts between the two countries.  In 2018, Nepal-Bharat Maitri - Pashupati Dharmashala was inaugurated in Kathmandu, Nepal.  Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed under Nepal-Bharat Maitri: Development Partnership, for the construction of a sanitation facility at the Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu.  The facility will be implemented by Kathmandu Metropolitan City and India has pledged to extend financial assistance amounting to Rs. 2.33 crore.  This comes amid a raging border row between the two countries. Pashupatinath Temple  It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva.  It is the largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of the Bagmati River.  Temples dedicated to several other Hindu and Buddhist deities surround the temple of Pashupatinath.  Only Hindus are allowed through the gates of the main temple.  It was conferred the status of a World Heritage Site in 1979 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Easy to PICK128 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Enforcement Directorate Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against the fraudulent transaction of Rs.11, 500 corers in one of the branches of PNB. Enforcement Directorate is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. It enforces Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Its headquarters is situated in New Delhi and headed by the Director of Enforcement. The director is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister.

Easy to PICK129 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Galwan Situation Is the situation serious?  Tensions had been running high in the area  This is the first time after the 1962 for the past few weeks, with a War that soldiers have died in clashes on large number of soldiers and military the India-China border in Ladakh. equipment deployed along the LAC by  Even otherwise, the last deaths on both sides. the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were an ambush of an Assam Rifles patrol in  Even though the LAC in Galwan Valley Arunachal Pradesh by the Chinese in was never disputed by the two sides, 1975. the Chinese had moved into the Indian  But the last real military engagement side of the LAC. between the two armies was at Nathu La in Sikkim in 1967, in which 88 Indian  After the meeting at the level of Corps soldiers lost their lives, and more than 300 Commanders on June 6, negotiations had Chinese soldiers were killed. been conducted between local military  But all these incidents were prior to the commanders of both the armies for two countries signing, starting from a mutually agreed disengagement 1993, various agreements for process. maintaining peace and tranquility on the border.  As part of that process, a buffer zone had been agreed to be created between the But no rounds were fired by either side. Isn’t LAC and the junction of the Shyok and that a good thing? Galwan rivers to avoid any faceoff Not really. between the two armies. The two armies were to move back by a kilometre each in  If such a large number of soldiers could be that area as a first step. killed without firing a round, it means that these deaths were far more brutal than  When Colonel B Santosh Babu, who was they would have been had guns and rifles monitoring this process, noticed that been used. a Chinese camp was still existing in the area, he went to get it removed. This soon  However, that it remained restricted to led to fisticuffs and blows being a physical brawl points to the fact that exchanged, resulting in deaths and there was no escalation to a kinetic level — rifles, howitzers, rockets, missiles, and fighter jets.  China and India are both nuclear powers, and any climbing up the escalation ladder is fraught.  Even at Nathu La, before the military engagement escalated to artillery guns and threats of fighter jets, there was a scuffle between the soldiers of the two armies on the border. So, what exactly happened in the Galwan Valley on Monday?

Easy to PICK130 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 injuries.  The only numbers that have come from are Were the Indian soldiers not carrying from the news agency ANI, which has weapons? quoted unnamed sources claiming that as per radio transmission intercepts, 43  No, this is as per the drill followed by both Chinese soldiers were either killed or sides in the border areas to avoid injured in the clash. inadvertent escalation by opening fire.  Another report in usnews.com has cited  This is in tune with the 1996 “American intelligence” to say that agreement between the two countries 35 Chinese troops, including an officer, are on Confidence Building Measures in the believed to have died. Military Field Along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China Border Has the situation now been defused at the site Areas, which imposed a lot of the clash? of restrictions on military equipment, exercises, blasts, and aircraft in the vicinity  A meeting at the level of Major of the LAC. Generals of both armies took place But if there were no shots fired, how did the  It brought the situation under control, soldiers die? and the Indian side was able to collect all the bodies.  Since the time tensions have erupted on the Ladakh border, there have been  The Chinese were given permission to reports of some scuffles between the bring in helicopters to ferry their injured soldiers of both the armies. back.  At Pangong Tso on the intervening night Tensions must then be high at the Ladakh of May 5/6, there was a major border? scuffle between the soldiers in which more than 70 Indian soldiers were injured.  Yes, tensions have already been running high at various places on the Ladakh  In most of these scuffles, the Chinese have border where Indian and Chinese used bats, clubs, sticks and stones to soldiers have been facing each other on the cause major injuries. LAC since May.  In Monday’s clash, besides the use of these  The latest incident has added to the blunt objects to cause injuries, some tensions, but there have been no reports of soldiers, it has been learnt, could have any other clashes at the border. been pushed into the fast-flowing Galwan river. So what does all this mean? What is the key takeaway?  Most of the deaths were due to injuries aggravated by the intense cold in the  There were hopes of an early high-altitude area. disengagement and de-escalation after conciliatory statements from both And how many Chinese soldiers were killed or countries in the past few days, after the injured in the clash? meeting at the level of Corps Commander on June 6.  The official statements put out by the Army and the Ministry of External Affairs  But after this incident, that process is likely have no details of any deaths or injuries to take a back seat, and an early resolution to Chinese soldiers, although the first now looks unlikely. statement by the Army on Tuesday was amended to say that there were casualties  China has reasserted its claim over “on both sides”. Galwan Valley, and its army has made sharp statements alleging that Indian  The Chinese government or the PLA too, soldiers twice crossed the LAC. have not provided any details of soldiers killed or injured in the clash.  The MEA too, has categorically stated that the Chinese had violated the LAC in the

Easy to PICK131 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Galwan Valley region, which had led to the current situation. Can the situation escalate hereon?  As the two countries are still talking at military and diplomatic levels, any escalation into a major conflict looks some distance away at this moment.  A military conflict, if it occurs, can be localised to one area, can be along the whole border, or can be in any one sector.  But unless there is another provocation and crisis, the two sides should be able to resolve the situation peacefully.  Simultaneously, it will continue to use diplomatic channels to resolve the crisis, while controlling the domestic messaging to avoid inflaming public emotions that can create pressure on it to act strongly against China.

Easy to PICK132 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan  Government of India has decided to launch a massive rural public works scheme ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’to empower and provide livelihood opportunities to the returnee migrant workers and rural citizens.  PM Modi will launch this Abhiyaan on 20th June, 2020 .  The Abhiyaan will be launched from Village – Telihar, Khagaria District of Bihar.  The villages across 116 districts in the six States will join this programme through the Common Service Centres and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, maintaining the norms of social distancing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.  This campaign of 125 days, which will work in mission mode, will involve intensified and focused implementation of 25 different types of works to provide employment to the migrant workers on one hand and create infrastructure in the rural regions of the country on the other hand, with a resource envelope of Rs. 50,000 crore.  A total of 116 Districts with more than 25,000 returnee migrant workers across six States, namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha have been chosen for the campaign which includes 27 Aspirational Districts.  These districts are estimated to cover about 2/3 of such migrant workers.  The Abhiyaan will be a coordinated effort between 12 different Ministries/Departments, namely, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport & Highways, Mines, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, New & Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture.

Easy to PICK133 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Government of India & AIIB sign an Agreement for $750 Million for COVID-19 support for India Infrastructure Investment Government of India & AIIB sign an Bank (AIIB) and Asian Development Agreement for $750 Million for COVID-19 support for India Bank (ADB) in the amount of $2.250  The Government of India and the Asian billion, of which $750 million will be Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) here today signed a $750 provided by AIIB and $1.5 billion will be million “COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support provided by ADB. Programme” to assist India to strengthen its response to the adverse impacts of the  The project will be executed by the COVID-19 pandemic on poor and vulnerable households. This is the first Department of Economic Affairs, ever budgetary support programme from the AIIB to India. Ministry of Finance, through various line  AIIB’s assistance for the government’s ministries. immediate response to the coronavirus pandemic to provide social assistance for About AIIB compensating economic loss to  Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank vulnerable sections including women and (AIIB) is a multilateral development social security measures enhanced for bank with a mission to improve social and affected workers in both organised and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond. informal sectors.  It is headquartered in Beijing.  It commenced operations in January  The Programme will provide the 2016. Government of India with budget support  By investing in sustainable infrastructure to mitigate the severe adverse social and and other productive sectors today, it aims economic impact of COVID-19. to connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of  The current loan will be the second to billions and build a better future. India from AIIB under its COVID-19  Jin Liqun is a Chinese politician, banker, crisis recovery facility apart from the and professor. He is currently the President earlier approved $500 million loan for of the Asian Infrastructure Investment the COVID-19 Emergency Response Bank (AIIB). and Health Systems Preparedness  The President of AIIB has a tenure of 5 Project. years. Beneficiaries Various organs of AIIB:  The Primary Programme beneficiaries 1. Board of Governors: The Board of would be families below the poverty line, Governors consists of one Governor and farmers, healthcare workers, women, one Alternate Governor appointed women’s self-help groups, widows, by each member country. Governors and people with disabilities, senior citizens, Alternate Governors serve at the pleasure low wage earners, construction workers and other vulnerable groups. of the appointing member.  The project is being financed by the Asian 2. Board of Directors: Non-resident Board of Directors is responsible for the direction of the Bank’s general operations, exercising all powers delegated to it by the Board of Governors. This includes approving the Bank’s strategy, annual

Easy to PICK134 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 plan and budget; establishing policies; taking decisions concerning Bank operations; and supervising management and operation of the Bank and establishing an oversight mechanism. 3. International Advisory Panel: The Bank has established an International Advisory Panel (IAP) to support the President and Senior Management on the Bank’s strategies and policies as well as on general operational issues. The Panel meets in tandem with the Bank’s Annual Meeting, or as requested by the President. The President selects and appoints members of the IAP to two-year terms. Panelists receive a small honorarium and do not receive a salary. The Bank pays the costs associated with Panel meetings.

Easy to PICK135 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM and MFI sectors etc., for the period of PM SVANidhi) SVANidhi i.e. upto March 2022.  It is pertinent to mention that PM  A Memorandum of Understanding has SVANidhi was launched by the Ministry been signed between Ministry of of Housing and Urban Affairs had, Housing & Urban Affairs and Small on June 01, 2020 for providing affordable Industries Development Bank of Working Capital loan to street vendors to India (SIDBI), in order to engage SIDBI resume their livelihoodsthat have as the Implementation Agency for PM been adversely affected due to Covid-19 Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi lockdown. (PM SVANidhi) - a Special Micro-  This scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh Credit Facility for Street Vendors. Street Vendors.  Under the Scheme, the vendors can avail  SIDBI will implement the PM a working capital loan of up to Rs. SVANidhi Scheme under the guidance of 10,000, which is repayable in monthly MoHUA. instalments in the tenure of one year.  On timely/ early repayment of the loan,  It will also manage the credit an interest subsidy @ 7% per guarantee to the lending annum will be credited to the bank institutions through Credit Guarantee accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Fund Trust for Micro and Small Benefit Transfer on quarterly basis. Enterprises (CGTMSE).  There will be no penalty on early repayment of loan.  It will develop and maintain a customized  The scheme promotes digital and integrated IT transactions through cash back Platform providing end-to-end solutions, incentives up to an amount of Rs. 100 per including documentation of all the month. processes and workflows for an end-to-end  The integrated IT platform for PM solution, through a Portal and a Mobile SVANidhi is likely to be launched by forth App, to ensure engagement and week of June, 2020. information flow between Urban Local  In the first phase, 108 cities have been Bodies (ULBs), Lending Institutions, selected, in consultation with States/Uts, Digital Payment Aggregators and other for saturation by September 2020. stakeholders.  Disbursement of loan is planned to commence in July, 2020.  It will leverage the network of lending Institutions like Scheduled Commercials Banks (SCBs), Non-Bank Finance Companies (NBFCs), Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), Co-operative Banks, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), etc. for the Scheme implementation.  With a view to ensure effective implementation, SIDBI shall also provide a Project Management Unit (PMU), comprising of domain experts in training/ capacity building, project and platform management, Information Education and Communication (IEC), banking, NBFC

Easy to PICK136 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Eurasian Group (EAG) Eurasian Group (EAG) India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,  The Eurasian Group on Combating Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Money Laundering and financing of Uzbekistan). Observer status has been terrorism is an FATF-style regional granted to 15 countries and 23 body. international organizations.  The EAG was established in 2004 and is  The primary goal of the EAG is to currently an associate member of the ensure effective interaction and FATF. cooperation at the regional level and  The EAG was created for the countries of integration of EAG member-states into the the Eurasian region not included in the international system of anti-money existing FATF-style regional groups and laundering and combating financing of is intended to play an important role in terrorism in accordance with reducing the threat of international the Recommendations of the FATF and terrorism and ensure the transparency, the anti-money laundering and combating reliability and security of the financial financing of terrorism standards of other systems of states and their further international organizations, to which EAG integration into the international member-states are party. infrastructure for combating money laundering and terrorism financing The main tasks of the EAG: (AML/CFT). • assisting member-states in implementing the 40  The creation of the group coincided with the launch of efforts to create conditions FATF anti-money laundering for the formation and development of effective anti-money-laundering systems Recommendations and the 9 Special FATF in the region.  The founding conference was held in Recommendations on combating terrorist Moscow on October 6, 2004 and was attended by six founding financing (FATF 40 9 Recommendations); countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, • developing and conducting joint Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. In 2005 and 2010 the group was expanded to activities aimed at combating money laundering include Uzbekistan (2005), Turkmenista n (2010) and India (2010) which and terrorist financing; previously had observer status. • implementing a program of mutual  Hence presently there are 9 member states. (5Central Asian countries, India, evaluations of member-states based on the Russia, China, Belarus)  The Agreement on the Eurasian Group on FATF 40 9 Recommendations, including Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism was signed in assessment of the effectiveness of legislative and Moscow in June 2011, granting the EAG the status of a regional other measures adopted in the sphere of intergovernmental organization.  Today the EAG brings together nine AML/CFT efforts; international countries in the region (Belarus, China, • coordinating cooperation and technical assistance programs with specialized international organizations, bodies, and interested states; • analyzing money laundering and terrorist financing trends (typologies) and exchanging best practices of combating such crimes taking into account regional specifics.