PM Modi to visit Xiamen, China, to address the BRICS summit
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A week after the end of Doklam standoff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen, China, to address the BRICS summit, where he is likely to take up regional and global issues.The External Affairs Ministry has said India will sign four BRICS-level agreements during the summit which will be followed by Mr. Modi’s three-day visit to Myanmar.Discussions during the restricted session of BRICS will focus on global economic issues, national security, and development-related issues which will be followed by a plenary session when leaders will discuss practical cooperation and cultural exchanges.Govt refused to confirm if a bilateral meeting would take place between Mr. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit and indicated that details are still sketchy.
https://t.me/UPSC_18
A week after the end of Doklam standoff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen, China, to address the BRICS summit, where he is likely to take up regional and global issues.The External Affairs Ministry has said India will sign four BRICS-level agreements during the summit which will be followed by Mr. Modi’s three-day visit to Myanmar.Discussions during the restricted session of BRICS will focus on global economic issues, national security, and development-related issues which will be followed by a plenary session when leaders will discuss practical cooperation and cultural exchanges.Govt refused to confirm if a bilateral meeting would take place between Mr. Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit and indicated that details are still sketchy.
After two decades Assam government issued orders for AFSPA
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For the first time since 1990, the Assam government issued orders declaring the State a “disturbed area”, imposing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for six months.Such orders were earlier issued by the Union Home Ministry, which recently gave up its power and asked the State government to decide on continuing the enforcement of the AFSPA in the State.Under Section 3 of the Act, it can be invoked in places “where the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.Except in the case of Tripura and Manipur, the Centre had been issuing such notifications for Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The decision comes a year after the BJP came to power in Assam in 2016.The AFSPA gives powers to the Army and Central forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of the law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant.On August 4, the Home Ministry extended the AFSPA in Assam for 27 days, which expired on August 31.
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For the first time since 1990, the Assam government issued orders declaring the State a “disturbed area”, imposing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for six months.Such orders were earlier issued by the Union Home Ministry, which recently gave up its power and asked the State government to decide on continuing the enforcement of the AFSPA in the State.Under Section 3 of the Act, it can be invoked in places “where the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.Except in the case of Tripura and Manipur, the Centre had been issuing such notifications for Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The decision comes a year after the BJP came to power in Assam in 2016.The AFSPA gives powers to the Army and Central forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of the law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant.On August 4, the Home Ministry extended the AFSPA in Assam for 27 days, which expired on August 31.
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WB govt to distribute UNHCR refugee cards to Rohigya children
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The West Bengal government will distribute identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Rohigya children lodged in the juvenile justice homes of the State.The UNHCR says some 16,500 Rohingya from Myanmar are registered with it in India.The government issues long-term visas to refugees which ease their access to public services and employment in the private sector.Because of some recent changes to the documentation processes, some refugees have reportedly been facing challenges in accessing public services and opening bank accounts.The UNHCR advocates that the long-term visas and refugee cards continue to be recognised to facilitate their access to these services.While there are no fixed settlement of Rohingyas in West Bengal, most of them are in prisons.The data available for the period till August 2015 show that 83 Rohingyas, including women and children, are lodged in prisons and 27 had completed their term.
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The West Bengal government will distribute identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Rohigya children lodged in the juvenile justice homes of the State.The UNHCR says some 16,500 Rohingya from Myanmar are registered with it in India.The government issues long-term visas to refugees which ease their access to public services and employment in the private sector.Because of some recent changes to the documentation processes, some refugees have reportedly been facing challenges in accessing public services and opening bank accounts.The UNHCR advocates that the long-term visas and refugee cards continue to be recognised to facilitate their access to these services.While there are no fixed settlement of Rohingyas in West Bengal, most of them are in prisons.The data available for the period till August 2015 show that 83 Rohingyas, including women and children, are lodged in prisons and 27 had completed their term.
Model Answer:
Write a note on the principles of stem cell therapy and latest advancements in this field?
Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition.
Bone marrow transplant is the most widely used stem-cell therapy, but some therapies derived from umbilical cord blood are also in use. Research is underway to develop various sources for stem cells, and to apply stem-cell treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.
Stem-cell therapy has become controversial following developments such as the ability of scientists to isolate and culture embryonic stem cells, to create stem cells using somatic cell nuclear transfer and their use of techniques to create induced pluripotent stem cells. This controversy is often related to abortion politics and to human cloning. Additionally, efforts to market treatments based on transplant of stored umbilical cord blood have been controversial.
Some of its applications are :
a. regeneration of lost limbs or other bodily organs
b, to suppress the expression of some genes, particularly for preventing cancerous genes to develop
c. For treatment in diabetes, health loss, teeth replacement etc.
d. Now in UK, researches have explored possibility of treating foetuses by stem cell therapy to remove genital defects.
But use of stem cell therapy has been surrounded by ethical issues also:
a. use of embryonic blood for stem cells, results in their manipulation causing ethical concerns
b. Stem cell therapy is also considered ideal for human cloning .
Thus, given the immense potential of stem cells, world medical community should evolve ethical guidelines for the development and regulation of stem cell therapy.
Write a note on the principles of stem cell therapy and latest advancements in this field?
Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition.
Bone marrow transplant is the most widely used stem-cell therapy, but some therapies derived from umbilical cord blood are also in use. Research is underway to develop various sources for stem cells, and to apply stem-cell treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.
Stem-cell therapy has become controversial following developments such as the ability of scientists to isolate and culture embryonic stem cells, to create stem cells using somatic cell nuclear transfer and their use of techniques to create induced pluripotent stem cells. This controversy is often related to abortion politics and to human cloning. Additionally, efforts to market treatments based on transplant of stored umbilical cord blood have been controversial.
Some of its applications are :
a. regeneration of lost limbs or other bodily organs
b, to suppress the expression of some genes, particularly for preventing cancerous genes to develop
c. For treatment in diabetes, health loss, teeth replacement etc.
d. Now in UK, researches have explored possibility of treating foetuses by stem cell therapy to remove genital defects.
But use of stem cell therapy has been surrounded by ethical issues also:
a. use of embryonic blood for stem cells, results in their manipulation causing ethical concerns
b. Stem cell therapy is also considered ideal for human cloning .
Thus, given the immense potential of stem cells, world medical community should evolve ethical guidelines for the development and regulation of stem cell therapy.
How does an optical fiber work?
Imagine what they'd make of modern fiber-optic cables "pipes" that can carry telephone calls and emails right around the world in a seventh of a second! Photo: Light pipe: fiber optics means sending light beams down thin strands of plastic or glass by making them bounce repeatedly off the walls.
Fiber optics is faster than most other transmission mediums. The signal has a constrained loss rate, which means that very little of a signal is lost over rather long distances.
Imagine what they'd make of modern fiber-optic cables "pipes" that can carry telephone calls and emails right around the world in a seventh of a second! Photo: Light pipe: fiber optics means sending light beams down thin strands of plastic or glass by making them bounce repeatedly off the walls.
Fiber optics is faster than most other transmission mediums. The signal has a constrained loss rate, which means that very little of a signal is lost over rather long distances.
`RythuVariBhu Survey’ from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15
The special drive to be taken up for cleansing the land records in the State, 'RythuVariBhu Survey', from September 15 to December 15 would have the main objective of ensuring the proper reach of investment support to farmers, proposed to be implemented from kharif next.
Official sources involved in the exercise from the beginning stated that the special drive had been necessitated since the data collection about lands being cultivated by the Agriculture Department had no sanctity and it had to have the stamp of Revenue Department.
The special drive would help deletion of lands from the record of cultivable lands following their alienation for projects, industries, roads, canals, railway lines, power lines, real estate and other non-agricultural purposes.
A sizeable chunk of such lands are in duplication as they are also shown in the agricultural land extent, the sources noted.
There’s every chance for irregularities to claim the investment support assistance to be given by the government by ineligible persons or for the land which is not in use for agriculture in the absence of clarity in land records, the sources pointed out.
As decided already, any dispute over assigned lands, ceiling lands, forest lands, urban lands and other government and private lands would be kept aside as Category-B lands for re-survey later.
Apart from reconciling the 1B land data of the Revenue Department with the data collected by the Agriculture Department in RythuSamagra Survey with Agriculture Extension Officers during May-July, the special drive will help smooth transition of records related to succession and regularisation of sada 'binamas' without people making rounds of revenue offices”, Agriculture Secretary C. Parthasarathi told The Hindu .
The special drive to be taken up for cleansing the land records in the State, 'RythuVariBhu Survey', from September 15 to December 15 would have the main objective of ensuring the proper reach of investment support to farmers, proposed to be implemented from kharif next.
Official sources involved in the exercise from the beginning stated that the special drive had been necessitated since the data collection about lands being cultivated by the Agriculture Department had no sanctity and it had to have the stamp of Revenue Department.
The special drive would help deletion of lands from the record of cultivable lands following their alienation for projects, industries, roads, canals, railway lines, power lines, real estate and other non-agricultural purposes.
A sizeable chunk of such lands are in duplication as they are also shown in the agricultural land extent, the sources noted.
There’s every chance for irregularities to claim the investment support assistance to be given by the government by ineligible persons or for the land which is not in use for agriculture in the absence of clarity in land records, the sources pointed out.
As decided already, any dispute over assigned lands, ceiling lands, forest lands, urban lands and other government and private lands would be kept aside as Category-B lands for re-survey later.
Apart from reconciling the 1B land data of the Revenue Department with the data collected by the Agriculture Department in RythuSamagra Survey with Agriculture Extension Officers during May-July, the special drive will help smooth transition of records related to succession and regularisation of sada 'binamas' without people making rounds of revenue offices”, Agriculture Secretary C. Parthasarathi told The Hindu .
Law Ministry opposed transgenders recognition as ‘third gender’
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The NDA government has dropped plans to recognise transgender persons as the ‘third gender’ in the country’s labour law framework.
In 2014, the Supreme Court had for the first time recognised transgender persons as the ‘third gender’ and asked the Centre and the States to give them equal opportunities in education and employment.
But now this reform, part of the Labour Ministry’s draft law to codify wages and aimed at protecting transgender workers from discrimination, has been shelved following reservations expressed by the Law Ministry.
“We had proposed inserting clauses for recognising the rights of transgender workers in all the four labour codes. However, the Law Ministry objected, citing the General Clauses Act of 1897, according to which ‘transgenders’ fall within the definition of ‘person’. It was then decided that there was no need to add a separate clause for them,” a senior Labour and Employment Ministry officer.
The Wages Code Bill was drafted under an exercise to rationalise the country’s 44 labour laws into four codes covering all the regulations pertaining to wages, industrial relations, social security and safety, and health and working conditions.
The draft Labour Code on Wages Bill prepared by the Labour Ministry in 2015 had provisions prohibiting discrimination against transgender persons in the payment of wages.
https://t.me/UPSC_2018
The NDA government has dropped plans to recognise transgender persons as the ‘third gender’ in the country’s labour law framework.
In 2014, the Supreme Court had for the first time recognised transgender persons as the ‘third gender’ and asked the Centre and the States to give them equal opportunities in education and employment.
But now this reform, part of the Labour Ministry’s draft law to codify wages and aimed at protecting transgender workers from discrimination, has been shelved following reservations expressed by the Law Ministry.
“We had proposed inserting clauses for recognising the rights of transgender workers in all the four labour codes. However, the Law Ministry objected, citing the General Clauses Act of 1897, according to which ‘transgenders’ fall within the definition of ‘person’. It was then decided that there was no need to add a separate clause for them,” a senior Labour and Employment Ministry officer.
The Wages Code Bill was drafted under an exercise to rationalise the country’s 44 labour laws into four codes covering all the regulations pertaining to wages, industrial relations, social security and safety, and health and working conditions.
The draft Labour Code on Wages Bill prepared by the Labour Ministry in 2015 had provisions prohibiting discrimination against transgender persons in the payment of wages.
Telegram
Dr. Ashok Sharma
Economic Times 6 sept 2017
Business Standard
Ø 2.09 lakh companies deregistered; directors face action:Govt
Ø PMO asks I-T dept to crack down on black money in banks
Ø Better to under-promise and over-achieve: Rajan
Ø Phone makers get 7 days to answer data security call
Ø HDFC Mutual Fund buys 4.6% stake in Just Dial
Ø McDonald's to close down 169 stores in India; more than 7,000 to lose jobs
Ø Sebi panel suggests splitting of CMD roles at listed cos
Ø IDFs fail to grow despite regulatory reform: ICRA
Ø Sebi panel mulls splitting CMD roles at India Inc
Ø UP to clock record sugar output of 9.7 mn tonnes in upcoming season: Icra
Ø Debt MFs cut exposure to debentures issued by PSUs
Ø ICICI Lombard gets Sebi's approval for Rs 6,000 crore IPO
Ø NCLT issues showcause notice to McDonald's
Business Line
Ø Maruti will not hold back in electric vehicle segment: Bhargava
Ø Restore NCLT action against Jaypee: IDBI to Supreme Court
Ø Rail Vikas Nigam to flag off stake sale in five PSUs
Ø HCL to acquire data automation platform Dataware
Ø Govt to dig ponds in drought prone areas, use soil for NHs
Ø Reliance General Insurance gets IRDAI nod for IPO
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Ø India to offer investment sops to RCEP nations
Ø GDR manipulation: Sebi bars 19 companies from securities markets
Ø NSE sends suspension notice to OPG Securities on unfair access issue
Ø ‘Undersea Iran-India gas pipeline can bring cheaper LNG to India’
Financial Express
Financial Chronicle
Ø Self-seal export cargoes without Customs monitoring from October 1
Ø Higher tax mop-up has 12 states in Rs 4000 crore fiscal surplus in Q1
Ø FPIs lap up investment limits in govt securities
Ø US factory orders post biggest drop in nearly three years
Ø Rajan puts Modi govt in dock; says he disfavoured DeMo
Ø North Korean crisis pushes gold prices to 12-month high
Ø Industry wants another extension for filing returns as GST portal found wanting
Ø Patanjali’s Divya Jal to take on Bisleri, Aquafina
Business Standard
Ø 2.09 lakh companies deregistered; directors face action:Govt
Ø PMO asks I-T dept to crack down on black money in banks
Ø Better to under-promise and over-achieve: Rajan
Ø Phone makers get 7 days to answer data security call
Ø HDFC Mutual Fund buys 4.6% stake in Just Dial
Ø McDonald's to close down 169 stores in India; more than 7,000 to lose jobs
Ø Sebi panel suggests splitting of CMD roles at listed cos
Ø IDFs fail to grow despite regulatory reform: ICRA
Ø Sebi panel mulls splitting CMD roles at India Inc
Ø UP to clock record sugar output of 9.7 mn tonnes in upcoming season: Icra
Ø Debt MFs cut exposure to debentures issued by PSUs
Ø ICICI Lombard gets Sebi's approval for Rs 6,000 crore IPO
Ø NCLT issues showcause notice to McDonald's
Business Line
Ø Maruti will not hold back in electric vehicle segment: Bhargava
Ø Restore NCLT action against Jaypee: IDBI to Supreme Court
Ø Rail Vikas Nigam to flag off stake sale in five PSUs
Ø HCL to acquire data automation platform Dataware
Ø Govt to dig ponds in drought prone areas, use soil for NHs
Ø Reliance General Insurance gets IRDAI nod for IPO
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Ø India to offer investment sops to RCEP nations
Ø GDR manipulation: Sebi bars 19 companies from securities markets
Ø NSE sends suspension notice to OPG Securities on unfair access issue
Ø ‘Undersea Iran-India gas pipeline can bring cheaper LNG to India’
Financial Express
Financial Chronicle
Ø Self-seal export cargoes without Customs monitoring from October 1
Ø Higher tax mop-up has 12 states in Rs 4000 crore fiscal surplus in Q1
Ø FPIs lap up investment limits in govt securities
Ø US factory orders post biggest drop in nearly three years
Ø Rajan puts Modi govt in dock; says he disfavoured DeMo
Ø North Korean crisis pushes gold prices to 12-month high
Ø Industry wants another extension for filing returns as GST portal found wanting
Ø Patanjali’s Divya Jal to take on Bisleri, Aquafina
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BRICS GDP. ($ trillion)
Brazil: 1.8
Russia: 1.2
India: 2.2
China: 11.2
South Africa: 0.3
BRICS GDP growth, 2017.
Brazil: 0.5%
Russia: 1.5%
India: 7.1%
China: 6.7%
South Africa: 0.6%
BRICS unemployment.
Brazil: 13%
Russia: 5.1%
India: 5%
China: 4%
South Africa: 27.7%
Linguistic diversity index
1. Papua New Guinea
9. India
26. Indonesia
93. China
116. US
128. France
127. Russia
139. UK
209. N Korea
(UN)
World's happiest nations, 2017.
1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
14. US
19. UK
34. Saudi
49. Russia
69. Turkey
79. China
122. India
(WHR)
Nuclear tests since 1945.
US: 1032
Russia: 715
France: 210
China: 45
UK: 45
N Korea: 6
India: 3
Pakistan: 2
(SIPRI)
BRICS GDP. ($ trillion)
Brazil: 1.8
Russia: 1.2
India: 2.2
China: 11.2
South Africa: 0.3
BRICS GDP growth, 2017.
Brazil: 0.5%
Russia: 1.5%
India: 7.1%
China: 6.7%
South Africa: 0.6%
BRICS unemployment.
Brazil: 13%
Russia: 5.1%
India: 5%
China: 4%
South Africa: 27.7%
Linguistic diversity index
1. Papua New Guinea
9. India
26. Indonesia
93. China
116. US
128. France
127. Russia
139. UK
209. N Korea
(UN)
World's happiest nations, 2017.
1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
14. US
19. UK
34. Saudi
49. Russia
69. Turkey
79. China
122. India
(WHR)
Nuclear tests since 1945.
US: 1032
Russia: 715
France: 210
China: 45
UK: 45
N Korea: 6
India: 3
Pakistan: 2
(SIPRI)
What is agronomics?
Agronomy is the application of science and technology from the fields of biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, soil science, water science, pest management and genetics to the improvement and management of the major food crops of the world.
Agronomy is the application of science and technology from the fields of biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, soil science, water science, pest management and genetics to the improvement and management of the major food crops of the world.
How do capacitive touch works?
They work with anything that holds an electrical charge – including human skin. (Yes, we are comprised of atoms with positive and negative charges!) Capacitive touch screens are constructed from materials like copper or indium tin oxide that store electrical charges in an electrostatic grid of tiny wires, each smaller than a human hair.
There are two main types of capacitive touch screens – surface and projective. Surface capacitive uses sensors at the corners and a thin evenly distributed film across the surface (as pictured above) whereas projective capacitive uses a grid of rows and columns with a separate chip for sensing, explained . In both instances, when a finger hits the screen a tiny electrical charge is transferred to the finger to complete the circuit, creating a voltage drop on that point of the screen. (This is why capacitive screens don’t work when you wear gloves; cloth does not conduct electricity, unless it is fittedwith conductive thread.) The software processes the location of this voltage drop and orders the ensuing action.
They work with anything that holds an electrical charge – including human skin. (Yes, we are comprised of atoms with positive and negative charges!) Capacitive touch screens are constructed from materials like copper or indium tin oxide that store electrical charges in an electrostatic grid of tiny wires, each smaller than a human hair.
There are two main types of capacitive touch screens – surface and projective. Surface capacitive uses sensors at the corners and a thin evenly distributed film across the surface (as pictured above) whereas projective capacitive uses a grid of rows and columns with a separate chip for sensing, explained . In both instances, when a finger hits the screen a tiny electrical charge is transferred to the finger to complete the circuit, creating a voltage drop on that point of the screen. (This is why capacitive screens don’t work when you wear gloves; cloth does not conduct electricity, unless it is fittedwith conductive thread.) The software processes the location of this voltage drop and orders the ensuing action.
**Discuss why Article 370 of Indian Constitution was in news recently ? (20 Marks/300 Words)**
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**Model Answer :**
Article 370 provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, whereas Article 35A gives special powers to the state legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define permanent residents of the state and their related privileges.
In response to a writ petition filed by NGO 'We the Citizens' seeking that Article 35A be struck down, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to file a reply. The PIL said the Jammu and Kashmir state government, under the guise of Article 35A and Article 370, has been discriminating against non-residents who are debarred from buying properties and getting a government job.
Article 35A has been also challenged by a Supreme Court lawyer on the grounds that it was discriminatory towards women. “Article 14 of the Constitution gives a fundamental right to equality before law. But 35A is heavily loaded in favour of males because even after marriage to women from outside, they will not lose the right of being permanent residents, Whereas opposite case is with women of J&K if she marries outside the state.”
The decision to entertain the appeal was in news recently as the Supreme court, earlier this year, had ruled that Article 370 could not be scrapped unless an event specified in Article 370 (3) took place.
Article 370 (3) says, "Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify: Provided that the recommendation of the constituent assembly of the state referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification."
The separatist camps, including the hardliners allege that this challenge is an attempt to change the demographic of the state.
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**Model Answer :**
Article 370 provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, whereas Article 35A gives special powers to the state legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define permanent residents of the state and their related privileges.
In response to a writ petition filed by NGO 'We the Citizens' seeking that Article 35A be struck down, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to file a reply. The PIL said the Jammu and Kashmir state government, under the guise of Article 35A and Article 370, has been discriminating against non-residents who are debarred from buying properties and getting a government job.
Article 35A has been also challenged by a Supreme Court lawyer on the grounds that it was discriminatory towards women. “Article 14 of the Constitution gives a fundamental right to equality before law. But 35A is heavily loaded in favour of males because even after marriage to women from outside, they will not lose the right of being permanent residents, Whereas opposite case is with women of J&K if she marries outside the state.”
The decision to entertain the appeal was in news recently as the Supreme court, earlier this year, had ruled that Article 370 could not be scrapped unless an event specified in Article 370 (3) took place.
Article 370 (3) says, "Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this article, the President may, by public notification, declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall be operative only with such exceptions and modifications and from such date as he may specify: Provided that the recommendation of the constituent assembly of the state referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the President issues such a notification."
The separatist camps, including the hardliners allege that this challenge is an attempt to change the demographic of the state.
Examine the reason for India to increase the production of Pulses? Comment
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Model Answer:
Examine the reason for India to increase the production of Pulses?
Reason to increase production:
Help in overcoming the issue of malnutrition: Rich in proteins, fibre, amino acids etc. They have capability to address the issue of malnutrition.
Being a Sustainable crop :Requires relatively less water, cost and attention for their growth and at same time contribute to soil quality by fixing nitrogen Fill the gap between Demand-Supply : help in tackling inflation
Work as both food and fodder - It can also be used as a fodder for animals.
Security to Farmers:from the vagaries of monsoon.
The procedure to increase:
Increase in the MSP prices to encourage farmers.
Infrastructural related issue will be taken care.
Investment on the procurement side should be the way
Introduction of improved varieties through investing in R&D and better management techniques
Reform in the APMC laws : These restrict the free trade of pulses by farmers, restructuring of these laws on lines of NAM and integration with food processing industry which is eligible for 100% FDI
Awareness - Spreading of knowledge about benefits of opting for Pulse production among farmers
The importance of pulses is bound to grow in the future and it would be the effective mechanism for states to fight the problem of food security.
https://t.me/UPSC_2018
@UPSC_18
Model Answer:
Examine the reason for India to increase the production of Pulses?
Reason to increase production:
Help in overcoming the issue of malnutrition: Rich in proteins, fibre, amino acids etc. They have capability to address the issue of malnutrition.
Being a Sustainable crop :Requires relatively less water, cost and attention for their growth and at same time contribute to soil quality by fixing nitrogen Fill the gap between Demand-Supply : help in tackling inflation
Work as both food and fodder - It can also be used as a fodder for animals.
Security to Farmers:from the vagaries of monsoon.
The procedure to increase:
Increase in the MSP prices to encourage farmers.
Infrastructural related issue will be taken care.
Investment on the procurement side should be the way
Introduction of improved varieties through investing in R&D and better management techniques
Reform in the APMC laws : These restrict the free trade of pulses by farmers, restructuring of these laws on lines of NAM and integration with food processing industry which is eligible for 100% FDI
Awareness - Spreading of knowledge about benefits of opting for Pulse production among farmers
The importance of pulses is bound to grow in the future and it would be the effective mechanism for states to fight the problem of food security.
Telegram
Dr. Ashok Sharma
What is the most gold medals won by a country in a single Olympics?
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The USA won a record 239 medals at the third Olympic Games, held in St Louis, Missouri, USA, in 1904. The record haul consisted of 78 gold, 82 silver and 79 bronze medals. USSR lies in second place with a total! of 195 medals (80 gold, 69 silver, 46 bronze) won at the 1980 Games held in Moscow, USSR.
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The USA won a record 239 medals at the third Olympic Games, held in St Louis, Missouri, USA, in 1904. The record haul consisted of 78 gold, 82 silver and 79 bronze medals. USSR lies in second place with a total! of 195 medals (80 gold, 69 silver, 46 bronze) won at the 1980 Games held in Moscow, USSR.
How sheep can recognize each other through picture?
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The human brain has evolved specialized neural mechanisms for visual recognition of faces, which afford us a remarkable ability to discriminate between, remember and think about many hundreds of different individuals. Sheep also recognize and are attracted to individual sheep and humans by their faces, as they possess similar specialized neural systems in temporal and frontal lobes for assisting in this important social task.
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The human brain has evolved specialized neural mechanisms for visual recognition of faces, which afford us a remarkable ability to discriminate between, remember and think about many hundreds of different individuals. Sheep also recognize and are attracted to individual sheep and humans by their faces, as they possess similar specialized neural systems in temporal and frontal lobes for assisting in this important social task.
The new name of West Bengal will be Bangla
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A year after the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to change the name of the State, the Mamata Banerjee government was compelled to have one name for the State after the Centre rejected the earlier proposal of having three names in three different languages.
On August 29, 2016, the Assembly had passed a resolution changing the name of West Bengal to Bengal in English, Bangla in Bengali and Bangal in Hindi.
The issue of change of name was lying with the Centre, which had raised objections about having different names in different languages.
At the Cabinet meeting held, it was decided that that the name will be Bangla in all the languages.
While the resolution was being debated in the State Assembly in August 2016, certain members of the Opposition, including Leader of the Left Front Legislature Party Sujan Chakraborty, had said that a State cannot have different names for different languages.
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A year after the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to change the name of the State, the Mamata Banerjee government was compelled to have one name for the State after the Centre rejected the earlier proposal of having three names in three different languages.
On August 29, 2016, the Assembly had passed a resolution changing the name of West Bengal to Bengal in English, Bangla in Bengali and Bangal in Hindi.
The issue of change of name was lying with the Centre, which had raised objections about having different names in different languages.
At the Cabinet meeting held, it was decided that that the name will be Bangla in all the languages.
While the resolution was being debated in the State Assembly in August 2016, certain members of the Opposition, including Leader of the Left Front Legislature Party Sujan Chakraborty, had said that a State cannot have different names for different languages.
Indian Army to induct 800 women into military police for 1st time
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In yet another significant step towards inducting women into the military, the Army said it would admit nearly 800 women into the Corps of Military Police in non-officer ranks over the next few years.
While the decision had been in the pipeline for some months now, the announcement came a day after India’s first full-time woman Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assumed office.
Adjutant-General Lt.Gen. Ashwani Kumar told a conclave of retired Army chiefs that the decision has been taken to introduce women in the ranks, starting with the Corps of Military Police. The Army, at present, has women only in the officer ranks, and that too just a few thousand of them.
In the light of increasing requirement for investigations into gender-specific crimes and allegations, it was felt necessary to introduce women in the Corps of Military Police
The Army had established two artificial reproductive technique centres for the benefit of childless couples in the force. The centres in Bhopal and Guwahati are in addition to the existing ones in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai.
The three-day conclave, hosted by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and attended by eight former chiefs, was informed of a proposal to upgrade the rank structure, which would benefit approximately 1.45 lakhs junior commissioned officers and other ranks over a span of five years.
The Army will set up two residential Army Public Schools, with a capacity of 2,000 children each.
The Army had opened a fund to cater specifically to battle casualties and to which citizens from any walk of life could contribute. The first tranche of Rs. 3.24 crore was disbursed in July.
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In yet another significant step towards inducting women into the military, the Army said it would admit nearly 800 women into the Corps of Military Police in non-officer ranks over the next few years.
While the decision had been in the pipeline for some months now, the announcement came a day after India’s first full-time woman Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assumed office.
Adjutant-General Lt.Gen. Ashwani Kumar told a conclave of retired Army chiefs that the decision has been taken to introduce women in the ranks, starting with the Corps of Military Police. The Army, at present, has women only in the officer ranks, and that too just a few thousand of them.
In the light of increasing requirement for investigations into gender-specific crimes and allegations, it was felt necessary to introduce women in the Corps of Military Police
The Army had established two artificial reproductive technique centres for the benefit of childless couples in the force. The centres in Bhopal and Guwahati are in addition to the existing ones in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai.
The three-day conclave, hosted by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and attended by eight former chiefs, was informed of a proposal to upgrade the rank structure, which would benefit approximately 1.45 lakhs junior commissioned officers and other ranks over a span of five years.
The Army will set up two residential Army Public Schools, with a capacity of 2,000 children each.
The Army had opened a fund to cater specifically to battle casualties and to which citizens from any walk of life could contribute. The first tranche of Rs. 3.24 crore was disbursed in July.