Why Do We Say "Merry Christmas" Instead of "Happy Christmas"?
#KARPATHUIAS

As December 25th approaches, we've found ourselves saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone. But have you ever stopped to wonder where the phrase "Merry Christmas" comes from? In a world where it's normal to say "Happy Easter" and "Happy Birthday," the "merry" in "Merry Christmas" is unique. The answer goes back to the connotation of the two words. "Happy" is an emotional condition, while "merry" is a behavior.
Furthermore, happy, which came from the word "hap," meaning luck or chance implies good-fortune. Meanwhile, "merry" implies a more active showing of happiness—which you might think of as merry-making.

COMPANIES ACT, 2013

1. The Rajya Sabha has passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on December 19, 2017 and shall come into force on getting the President’s Assent.

The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017 provides for more than 40 amendments to the Companies Act, 2013. A bill to amend the companies law to strengthen corporate governance standards, initiate strict action against defaulting companies and improve ease of doing business in the country.

Among many amendments, members severally liable if falls below the prescribed limit, reservation of name for a new Company shall now be for a period of twenty days from the date of approval and 60 days in case of change of name, simplification of the private placement process, rationalization of provisions related to loan to directors, omission of provisions relating to forward dealing and insider trading, doing away with the requirement of approval of the Central Government for managerial remuneration above prescribed limits, aligning disclosure requirements in the prospectus with the regulations to be made by SEBI, providing for maintenance of register of significant beneficial owners and filing of returns in this regard to the ROC and removal of requirement for annual ratification of appointment or continuance of auditors are few welcome moves.

2. Companies (cost records and audit) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 MCA vide Notification dated 20.12.2017 has amended the companies (cost records and audit) Rules, 2014 and notified the ‘Companies (Cost Records/ Audit) Second Amendment Rules, 2017’. MCA has substituted the words ‘Central Excise Tariff Act (CETA) Heading’ to ‘Customs Tariff Act (CTA) Heading’ in principal rules as well as Form CRA-2, CRA-3 and CRA-4.

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA–IBC, 2016

3.
RBI HAS ISSUED INSTRUCTION FOR SUBMISSION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO INFORMATION UTILITIES (IUs)

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has registered National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) as the first Information Utilities (IUs) under the IBBI (IUs) Regulations, 2017 on September 25, 2017.

The RBI vide notification dated 19.12.2017 advised all financial creditors regulated by RBI to submit financial information and information relating to assets in relation to which any security interest has been created, to an information utilitis (IUs) in such form and manner as may be specified by regulations.

Israel-Palestine conflict and its effect on India

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@UPSC_18

Government sticks to its position

Government on Thursday stuck to New Delhi’s principled position on Palestine followed over the last seven decades

It voted in favour of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly which opposed and rejected US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

The 193-member body voted to support the long-standing international consensus that the status of Jerusalem – which is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as a capital — can only be settled as an agreed final issue in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process

The resolution

The resolution, co-sponsored by Turkey and Yemen, called Trump’s recognition “null and void” and reaffirmed 10 Security Council resolutions on Jerusalem dating back to 1967

These include requirements that the city’s final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians

It also demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the holy city of Jerusalem and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions

Difference despite growing relationship

New Delhi’s “yes” vote comes even as the government’s proximity to Israel and the US has grown

Israel’s Prime Minister is expected to visit India next month and PM Narendra Modi had skipped Palestine during his visit to Israel in July this year

India in dilemma over Isreal-Palestine conflict

New Delhi has, as a norm, always voted in favor of Palestine at the UN

But in July 2015 it abstained from a vote against Israel at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

This was seen as a subtle shift in India’s policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian issue

About the 15th FC
🇮🇳The Commission is to finalise its tax-devolution formula after factoring in the impact on the Union’s fiscal
situation, keeping in mind “the continuing imperative of the national development programme including
New India – 2022” and government’s commitment to compensate states’ loss due to GST.
🇮🇳The commission has also been asked to propose measurable performance-based incentives in areas such
aso
Efforts made by the states in expansion and deepening of the tax net under GST,
o Efforts and progress made in moving towards replacement rate of population growth, which refers to
the total fertility rate that will result in a stable population without increasing or decreasing it.
o Improvement in ease of doing business
o Sanitation
o Reign in populist measures
o Implementation of flagship central schemes and disaster resilient infrastructure
o Progress made in increasing tax/non-tax revenues
o Promoting savings through adoption of direct benefit transfers
o Promoting a digital economy; etc.

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About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

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@UPSC_18

Created in 2000, Gavi is an international organisation - a global Vaccine Alliance, bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.

Advance Market Commitment for vaccines (AMC) is an innovative funding mechanism 

The pilot Advance Market Commitment (AMC) offers a legally binding commitment to support the market of targeted pneumococcal vaccines with US$ 1.5 billion

Not United Nations👍 NOT WHO👍

World Health Organisation declares Sri Lanka malaria-free

Sri Lanka is the second country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to eliminate malaria after Maldives.

Addressing Diphtheria
#KARPATHUIAS
@UPSC_18

What is the issue?

1) Diphtheria is rapidly spreading in south Indian states affecting many children due to lowering vaccination coverage.
2) India needs a better vaccination and awareness program to address lowering vaccination coverage.

What is Diphtheria?

1) Diphtheria is a highly infectious disease, which usually shows up as a sore throat and difficulty in breathing.
2) It spreads through contact or cough and sneeze droplets, and is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
3) In severe cases, the toxin secreted by this bacterium kills cells in the throat.
4) If the patient isn’t treated the toxin can spread through the bloodstream hurting the heart and kidneys.

What is the status of the disease in India?

1) India has had a diphtheria vaccination programme since the 1980s.
2) Yet India continues to be a world leader in diphtheria today, with 3,380 cases and 177 deaths reported in 2016.
3) This year has seen worrying outbreaks in Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana, among other States.
4) Diphtheria is increasingly infecting adolescents and adults in India, though it was historically an illness of children under five.

What are the reasons behind the growing disease in India?

1) Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), all children below one year of age are supposed to get three doses of the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) vaccine.
2) It is followed by two booster doses between 1-2 years and 5-6 years.
3) But coverage of the three primary doses is inadequate at 80% across the country and there is no vaccination for grown-ups.
4) Data on coverage with the two booster doses is patchy, with one study showing poor rates of around 60% and 36% for each dose, respectively, in 2006.

What are the reasons behind lower vaccination coverage?

1) Usually lower vaccination coverage is triggered by an ill-advised change in vaccination schedules and socio-economic instability among the population.
2) A review from Chennai’s National Institute of Epidemiology found low rates of vaccination among Muslim communities, one of the reasons driving outbreaks in States like Andhra Pradesh.
3) Kerala despite its high vaccination rates, has susceptible pockets for the same reason.
4) This because there are anti-vaccination sentiments seeded by few Islamic clerics in this regions.

Source : The Hindu

India-Turkey Relationship
Facts:
#KARPATHUIAS

(1). Current bilateral Trade is about $6.4 Billion

(2). Target is $10 Billion for 2020

(3). Turkish President visited India in May 2017

Current Status of Turkey:

(1). A recent referendum gave Turkish President sweeping executive powers giving rise to fears about a lack of adequate safeguards for democratic rights in Turkey.

(2). President is using Islam to shore up his credibility

Turkish stance on Indian issues:

(1). Turkey supports “multilateral dialogue” on Kashmir and offers to mediate between India and Pakistan. Thus, it is against India's stance of Kashmir being a bilateral issue.

(2). Turkey supports Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s position on Kashmir which is again anti-India

(3). On India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Turkish stance has been to push for Pakistan’s case along with India’s.

(4). Turkey supports India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. But, Turkey is a member of the group called Uniting for Consensus which opposes expansion of permanent membership in the Security Council. And this group includes Pakistan 

Scope in Future:

(1). Focus should be Trade and Economic ties.

(2). Turkey needs new market as Europe is not welcoming Turkey.

(3). The two nations are also exploring cooperation in areas such as construction, infrastructure development, renewable energy, and tourism.

Seaweed Farming
What is seaweed cultivation?
#KARPATHUIAS

Seaweed farming is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed. In its simplest form, it consists of the management of naturally found batches. In its most advanced form, it consists of fully controlling the life cycle of the algae.

Some Facts:

(1). It gained prominence during 13th century, after the discovery of agar-agar in Japan and Alginic Acid in European continent.

(2). It is considered as the medicinal food of the 21st century.

(3). Many seaweeds are rich in vitamins and minerals and are eaten in various parts of the world.

(4). China produces over half of the world’s seaweed harvest and Indonesia 27% of world production.

(5). Most of that seaweed ends up in our food, though there is a growing market in seaweed-based cosmetics and drugs.

Seaweed cultivation in India:

In India, agar-agar gained importance as seaweed chemicals during the Second World War. After the advent of Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI), commercial technologies for agar-agar, alginic acid, Carrageenan and LSF, the importance of seaweed wealth on Indian coast especially South Indian coast has been greatly realised. Consequently, a systematic study on seaweed resources assessment in South Indian coast has been carried out jointly by Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute and Central Marine Fisheries Institute and the Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The surveys conducted in this connection revealed the vast hidden wealth of seaweeds from this region which has a great bearing on the future of seaweed based industries in India.

Heat Waves
#KARPATHUIAS

(1). Heat wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures (more than the normal maximum temperature) during summer months.

(2). It is predominantly prevalent in North-western parts of India during March-June. In some parts, it extends up to July.

(3). The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has underlined the following criteria for heat waves:

      * Heat wave is not to be considered till the temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C (for plains) and 30°C (for hilly regions).

      * When normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40°C , then a departure of 5 to 6 degrees from the normal is to be considered heat wave while a departure of 7 degrees is to be considered severe heat wave.

      * When normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C then a departure of 4 to 5 degrees from the normal is to be considered heat wave while a departure of 6 degrees is to be considered severe heat wave.

      * In case the normal temperature of station is more than 45°C then heat wave is to be declared irrespective.

(4). Heat waves often lead to dehydration, stress, heat exhaustion and sometimes a fatal heat stroke as well.

Five-point Programme to address Agrarian Distress

What is the issue?

1) Indian farmers are in the state of distress due various uncertainties in agri sector.
2) Such distress can be resolved by a Five-point programme concentrating only on key areas.

What are five major reasons which lead to agrarian distress?

1) Income uncertainty - Agricultural transformation has been very slow in India, therefore, the process of generating higher income from agriculture has also been slow.
2) Poor employment opportunities -In the absence of regular employment in rural areas, the rural population, especially the youth, is migrating to urban areas to explore better avenues.
3) Increased Risks -Risk in agriculture has been increasing over the years, both production and price risks are leading to agrarian distress.
4) Lack of infrastructure -Agri-infrastructure has not developed commensurate with increasing agricultural production. 
5) Poor quality of life -Rural India still lacks basic amenities such as sanitation, hygiene, drinking water, drainage, schooling and health care.

What measures had been taken by the government?

1) Union Budgets of FY 2016-17 and 2017-18 were pro-agriculture and implemented many innovative solutions to address agrarian issues.
2) More resources were allocated to agriculture and a number of programmes were initiated to increase irrigated area, improve soil health, promote agro-processing and cover production risk, among other things.
3) All these programmes and schemes function independently of each other, though they cannot completely address the distress faced by the farmers.

How five point programme will address key areas of distress?

1) Increasing incomes- The government has adopted the target of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2020.
2) It will require an aggressive push to improve technologies by strengthening the seed sector and the knowledge dissemination system for crop diversification and proper value chain.
3) Employment generation - Combining raw and processed products like pappads, pickles etc.by promoting agro-advisor and rural transport will be a game changer.
4) Creating non-farm employment in micro, small and medium enterprises and linking them with the large manufacturing sector is required to achieve success.
5) Reducing risk -The Prime Minister’s Agriculture Insurance Scheme is already in place to cover some production losses.
6) Though the scheme is good, the compensation is not enough and does not cover the risk of falling prices.
7) Therefore, the government must consider launching a Prime Minister’s Climate Resilience Scheme that covers both production and price risks and it should also ensure minimum support prices.
8) Developing agri-infrastructure -There is immense scope for high economic and social gains through public-private partnerships (PPPs) in developing agri-infrastructure.
9) The government should constitute a commission to develop the modalities of PPP in rural agri-markets, cold storage, agro-processing, surface irrigation and agricultural extension.
10) Improving quality of rural life -Former President APJ Abdul Kalam had coined the acronym PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas).
11) The aim is to provideurban infrastructure and services in rural hubs in a bid to create economic opportunities in rural areas.
12) The scheme can be revived to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

Source: Business Standard

Multiple frontiers of Agrarian Distress

Why in news?
@UPSC_18

1) Recently, 184 farmer groups from across states congregated at Delhi to stage a protest walk to highlight their distress.
2) The issue is multi-dimensional and needs a studied and structural approach.

How is the trend in the farm sector?

1) The agriculture sector is characterised by instability in incomes because of various types of risks involved in production, market and prices.
2) “National Commission of Farmers – 2006”, chaired by noted scientist M.S.Swaminathan, had also pointed out some serious stress points in the sector through its reports.
3) The agriculture growth rates have been unsteady in the recent past, at 1.5% in 2012-13, to 5.6% in 2013-14 and (-) 0.2% in 2014-15.  
4) These trends reflect the extent of distress and 2017 was also marked by several farmer protests nationwide, with a few turning violent.

What has precipitated this crisis?

1) Small Land Holding - Rising population pressure on land, is central to this crisis, with small and marginal farmers (less than 2 hectares) accounting for 72% of land holdings.
2) The average farm size in India is small, at 1.15 hectare, and since 1970-71, there has been a steady declining trend in land holdings.
3) This predominance of small operational holdings is a major limitation to reaping the benefits of economies of scale.
4) Since small and marginal farmers have little marketable surplus, they are left with low bargaining power and no say over prices.
5) Nature’s challenge - Crop production is always at risk because of pests, diseases and shortage of inputs like seeds, which could result in low yield.
6) Low irrigation coverage, drought, flooding and unseasonal rains and incompetent government relief operations are some other irritant factors.
7) Market Dynamics - The lower than remunerative price in the absence of marketing infrastructure and profiteering by middlemen only adds to the financial distress of farmers.
8) Inconsistent and uncertain policy regulations such as “Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC Act)” have only exacerbated the problems.  
9) Fluctuations in demand and supply owing to ‘bumper or poor harvest’ and ‘speculation and hoarding’ by traders significantly damage farmer prospects.
10) This is because of their low resilience due to the perishable nature of goods, inability to hold or hedge in surplus-shortage scenarios.
11) Credit Access - Vicious informal credit through moneylenders, and lack of short term and long term formal loans have resulted in chronic indebtedness.
12) Crop insurance against losses has also not yet comprehensively taken root.

What is the way ahead?

1) Currently, farmers have been highlighting the demands for “remunerative price and freedom from debt” through several platforms.
2) These are seen as a safety cushion in their fight against risks of weather and disaster, price, credit, erratic market dynamics and policy uncertainty.
3) While growth in agriculture has slowed down, the costs of farm inputs have increased faster than farm produce prices.
4) As the cost of capital too has increased manifold over the years, agriculture has become largely an unprofitable venture.
5) To increase and ensure stable flow of income to farmers it is vital to manage and reduce the economic risks by analysing, categorising and addressing them.

Source: The Hindu

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http://karpathuias.blogspot.com/2017/12/current-affairs-2017jan-to-july.html

Why Doctor Rub Someone's Arm before Injecting a Syringe?
@UPSC_18

It's isopropyl alcohol applied with some sort of cotton swab. They do this to kill any germs that might be on your skin and could infect the injection site.
When injecting into a vein, rubbing or patting stimulates blood flow to that area and makes the vessels consequently larger and easier to spot as they expand and bulge against the skin.

Recent FDI reforms

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#1. Townships, shopping complexes & business centres – all allow up to 100% FDI under the auto route

Conditions on minimum capitalisation & floor area restrictions have now been removed for the construction development sector

#2. India’s defence sector now allows consolidated FDI up to 49% under the automatic route

FDI beyond 49% will now be considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board

Govt approval route will be required only when FDI results in a change of ownership pattern

#3. Private sector banks now allow consolidated FDI up to 74%

#4. Up to 100% FDI is now allowed in coffee/rubber/cardamom/palm oil & olive oil plantations via the automatic route

#5. 100% FDI is now allowed via the auto route in duty free shops located and operated in the customs bonded areas

#6. Manufacturers can now sell their products through wholesale and/or retail, including through e-commerce without Government Approval

#7. Foreign Equity caps have now been increased for establishment & operation of satellites, credit information companies, non-scheduled air transport & ground handling services from 74% to 100%

#8. 100% FDI allowed in medical devices

#9. FDI cap increased in insurance & sub-activities from 26% to 49%

#10. FDI up to 49% has been permitted in the Pension Sector

#11. Construction, operation and maintenance of specified activities of Railway sector opened to 100% foreign direct investment under automatic route

#12. FDI policy on Construction Development sector has been liberalised by relaxing the norms pertaining to minimum area, minimum capitalisation and repatriation of funds or exit from the project

To encourage investment in affordable housing, projects committing 30 percent of the total project cost for low cost affordable housing have been exempted from minimum area and capitalisation norms

#13. Investment by NRIs under Schedule 4 of FEMA (Transfer or Issue of Security by Persons Resident Outside India) Regulations will be deemed to be domestic investment at par with the investment made by residents

#14. Composite caps on foreign investments introduced to bring uniformity and simplicity is brought across the sectors in FDI policy

#15. 100% FDI allowed in White Label ATM Operations

Tax buoyancy

It is an indicator to measure efficiency and responsiveness of revenue mobilization in response to growth in the Gross domestic product or National income. A tax is said to be buoyant if the tax revenues increase more than proportionately in response to a rise in national income or output.

Daily Current Affairs One Liner ,
29 December 2017


Environment Ministry Launches Regional Project to Tackle Stubble Burning

Rs 33,700 crore allocated under Swachh Bharat Mission since 2014

India successfully test-fires supersonic interceptor missile

National Children’s Science Congress held in Gujarat
25th N

President inaugurates 100th Indian Economic Association conference

World sweet festival' in Telangana next month

Puducherry to host international sailing event in Jan

78th session of Indian History Congress begins

India's first bitcoin trading app launched

IBBI grants recognition to two registered valuers organistaions .

FDI routes:
@UPSC_18
#1. Automatic
A foreign company wishing to invest in India doesn’t have to seek prior approval of any body/ agency in India.
It can straight away bring in investments in India & has only to inform the RBI within 1 month of bringing its investment in a certain sector
This route is relatively hassle free due to which more than 55% of total FDI has come through this route

#2. Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)
It was established in 1992 (just after L-P-G reforms)
Investments upto Rs. 5000 crore from notified sectors have to go through its approval

#3. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
This approves investments above Rs. 5000 crores from notified sectors.