The Indian States committee appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Harcourt Butler which was popularly known as the Butler Committee to investigate and clarify the relationship between the paramount power and Princes of Princely States in 1927 AD. Committee visited 16 states and submitted its report in 1929.

The policy of Domestic Content Requirement is with intent to promote the local manufacturing of the components of solar generation equipment which includes the cells and modules.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Launched its National Solar Policy in 2010 named as Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). Phase 1 of the National policy was composed of 2 parts.

Batch 1 of policy implementation: India required developers of solar photovoltaic projects employing crystalline silicon technology to use solar modules manufacture in India

Batch 2 India expanded this domestic sourcing requirement to crystalline silicon solar cells as well.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/solar-panel-dispute-india-and-wto/

The idea of Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) was mooted by the US President Barack Obama in 2009 and the first summit was held in 2010 in Washington. It is a signature event of global diplomacy in Obama’s presidency that aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe. India has been contributing its bit to strengthen nuclear security by taking an active part in the summit ever since its inception in 2010.

The fourth edition of Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) was held in 2016 Washington, United States to discuss a gamut of issues pertaining to nuclear security

http://www.civilsdaily.com/blog/nuclear-security-summit-2010-2016-what-next/

The Central Government had introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from January 1, 2004 (except for armed forces).

Subsequently, various State Governments adopted this architecture and implemented NPS with effect from different dates.

Eligibility – Any citizen of India, whether resident or non-resident, subject to the following conditions:

Individuals who are aged between 18 – 60 years, including NRIs.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/learn-about-national-pension-system/

The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri glacier above 7,068 metres and flows southward through gorges and rapids in the Sikkim Himalaya. Pauhunri is a mountain in the Eastern Himalayas located on the border of Sikkim, India and Tibet, China, and is situated about 75 km northeast of Kangchenjunga.

Teesta River is a tributary of the Jamuna River (Brahmaputra), flowing through India and Bangladesh. Brahmaputra finally merges into Bay of Bengal.

The Rangeet is a tributary of the Teesta river, which is the largest river in the Indian state of Sikkim. The Rangeet river originates in the Himalayan mountains in West Sikkim district. The river also forms the boundary between Sikkim and Darjeeling district.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/blog/drainage-system-part-4/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/foreign-policy-watch-india-bangladesh/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/topic/10-jan-2017-gs-2-india-not-only-shares-its-boundary-with-bangladesh-but-rather-covers-it-from-three-sides-however-recently-some-socio-economic-issues-have-come-up-list-these-problems-and-comme/

Dengue and Zika are both mosquito borne viruses spread especially by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito species.

Evidence has emerged that the Zika virus can actually be transmitted through sex and blood transfusion. This is an element that has also created some difference between the two even though the sexual transmissions are still on the low.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/zika-detected-in-india/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/lets-know-about-the-zika-virus/

The Product Certification Scheme of BIS aims at providing Third Party Guarantee of quality, safety and reliability of products to the customer.
Presence of ISI certification mark, known as Standard Mark, on a product is an assurance of conformity to the specifications.

Under Product Certification , Mandatory certification is there for Automobile Accessories such as Automotive vehicles –Tubes and pneumatic tyres

AGMARK (Agricultural Mark) is a certification issued by Directorate of Marketing and Inspection for agricultural produce.

National Agriculture Market (NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing APMC (Agricultural produce market Committee) mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.

NAM created a unified market through online trading platform, both, at State and National level and promotes uniformity, streamlining of procedures across the integrated markets and access to a nationwide market for the farmer, with prices commensurate with quality of his produce.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/what-is-e-nam/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/agricultural-marketing-reforms/

The National IPR Policy recognizes that India has a well-established TRIPS-compliant legislative, administrative and judicial framework to safeguard IPRs, which meets its international obligations while utilizing the flexibilities provided in the international regime to address its developmental concerns. It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS agreement.

It is monitored by DIPP (the nodal department to coordinate, guide and oversee implementation and future development of IPRs in India)

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/intellectual-property-rights-regime/

The Government of India has accorded the highest level of protection to Gharial by bringing it under Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

The Indian wild ass is a subspecies of the onager native to Southern Asia. As of 2016, it is listed as Near Threatened by IUCN.

Wild Buffalo is also listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/culling-vermins-schedules-wildlife-protection-act-1972/

Fundamental duties are neither enforceable, nor have legal recognition.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Madras Mahajana Sabha was established by M. Veeraraghavachariar, G. SubramaniaIyer and P. Anandacharluin May 1884.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/collection/modern-indian-history/

Line 3 of the Preamble mentions, LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Formed in 1997, the Quality Council of India was set-up by the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

QCI is governed by a Council comprising of 38 members including the Chairman and Secretary General. The Council has an equal representation of Government, Industry and other Stakeholders.
The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on recommendation of the industry to the government.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/learn-about-swachh-survekshan-survey/

Local focus and ability to serve smaller customers will be a key criterion in licensing such banks.

The bank shall primarily undertake basic banking activities of accepting deposits and lending to small farmers, small businesses, micro and small industries, and unorganized sector entities.

The area of operations would normally be restricted to few districts (near-by) of a state.

Of the loans issued by Small Banks, 75% should be to the so-called priority sector which includes agriculture and small businesses.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/small-finance-banks-background/

The first conference was held in New Delhi in 2006, but its theme was, A vision for sustainable urbanisation in the Asia-Pacific by 2020.

A democracy is superior, because it allows a right to every adult citizen, without any educational and wealth criterion.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

All these terms come from theoretical physics branch, which investigates into state of matter and composition, origin, and extent of universe.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/belle-ii-rolls-in-to-collision-point/

Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism’s DNA.

Justification: Statement 1: Currently available newborn screening (genome) for childhood diseases allows detection of rare disorders that can be prevented or better treated by early detection and intervention.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whole-genome-sequencing-predict-disease/

Statement 2: Naturally if the gene potential can be identified by screening and sequencing, it will help in better genetic engineering.

Statement 3: This can be reasoned logically based on the above.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_genome_sequencing

Executive branch is directly responsible to the legislature.

A parliamentary system is a system of democratic governance of a state where the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the confidence of the legislative branch.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Rights and duties are two phases of the same thing. Rights are considered to be essential for the expansion of human personality. They offer to the individual a sufficient scope for free action and thus prepare ground for self-development. Although rights arc of great significance in a democratic stale yet they become meaningless in the absence of duties.

Rights can be enjoyed only in the world of duties. For every right there is corresponding duty. When the people fail to discharge their duties properly, the rights all become meaningless.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Preamble is the key to open the mind of the makers.

The Preamble to a Constitution embodies the fundamental values and the philosophy, on which the Constitution is based, and the aims and objectives, which the founding fathers of the Constitution enjoined the polity to strive to achieve. The importance and utility of the Preamble has been pointed out in several decisions of the Supreme Court of India.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Nagaland (Kohima) – Assam – WestBengal – Orissa – Andhra Pradesh – Tamilnadu – Kerala(Kottayam)

The Parliament keeps a day-to-day watch over the activities of the Executive. As ours is a parliamentary system of Government, the Executive is responsible to the Parliament for all acts.

Members of the Parliament have a right to ask questions and supplementary question to the Ministers. Any lapses or mishandling on the part of the Government can be exposed in the Parliament.

Adjournment motions may be moved to discuss serious administrative lapses. Through adjournment motions, matters of public importance can be brought to the notice of the Government by the members of the Parliament.

Members of parliament other than ministers are called private members and bills presented by them are known as private member’s bills.

Any MP can introduce a bill in parliament. Private member bills are bills introduced in parliament by MPs who are not ministers.

Only 14 private members’ bills passed since Independence. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, passed by the Rajya Sabha on Friday is the first private member’s bill to get the upper house’s approval in the past 45 years.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/topic/transgender-bill-key-issues-and-analysis/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/op-ed-snap-a-rights-bill-gone-wrong/

Indus people were basically peace loving. Their arms (swords, daggers, arrow-heads, and spears) were primitive in nature. No evidence of armour, helmet, body armour or shield is available. The Aryans, on the contrary, were warlike people and were conversant with all kinds of traditional arms and armour and had devised a full-fledged ‘science of war’.

The horse, which played a decisive role in the Aryan system of warfare, was not known to the Indus people. A few bones of horse and terracotta figure of a ‘horse-like animal’ have been unearthed from Surkotada (Gujarat) and still it has not been convincingly proved that the horse was employed by the Harappans.

The Indus valley people knew the use of copper, bronze, silver, gold but not iron.

Option A: The ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ scheme — underway across construction sites in five states — to certify skills acquired by workers through traditional learning channels.

The project may be of particular relevance to a country where just 2 per cent of the workforce is certified as skilled.
Most deemed to be outside the skilled category in India are those who have typically picked up a skill while on the job, without any formal degree to back this up.
Option D is incorrect since it talks about trainees who are not fully skilled to get recognition of any prior learning.

Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), but this isn’t applicable to trainees. So, D is incorrect.

http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/pmkvy.html

Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve is a protected area and tiger reserve along the Western Ghats in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Sathyamangalam forest range is a significant wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve between the Western Ghats and the rest of the Eastern Ghats.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/topic/15-nov-2016-prelims-daily-with-previous-year-questions-tikdams/

Equality in society is The Absence of Special Privileges. Thus no person, family or class or group or persons in a society can be granted special privileges if we have to achieve Equality and liberty in a society.

TRAFFIC has an enviable reputation as a reliable and impartial organisation, a leader in the field of conservation as it relates to wildlife trade. TRAFFIC was established in 1976 and has developed into a global network, research-driven and action-oriented, committed to delivering innovative and practical conservation solutions based on the latest information.
TRAFFIC also works in close co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

42nd amendment act added participation of workers in the management of industries.
New directives was added by new articles 39A, 43A, 48A which, respectively, provide for equal justice and free legal aid to economically backward classes, participation of workers in the management of industries, and protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Rights are claims of citizen of India against the states. They prevent the establishment of an authoritarian and despotic rule in the country, and protect the liberties and freedoms of the people against the invasion by the State. They operate as limitations on the tyranny of the executive and arbitrary laws of the legislature. In short, they aim at establishing ‘a government of laws and not of men’.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

The Global Gender Gap Report was first published in 2006 by the World Economic Forum.

The Global Gender Gap Index is an index designed to measure gender equality.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/blog/important-world-reports-their-organisations-important-for-ias-prelims/

The Monetary Policy Committee would be entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy rate (repo rate) required to contain inflation within the specified target level.
It consists of 6 members. The Members of the Monetary Policy Committee appointed by the Central Government shall hold office for a period of four years.
The Governor of the Bank—Chairperson, ex officio

http://www.civilsdaily.com/centre-notifies-amended-rbi-act-mpc/

Manipuri Sankirtana is a form of performing art involving ritual singing, drumming and dancing performed in the temples and domestic spaces in Manipur State in India. Through the performances which exhibit unparalleled religious devotion and energy, the performers narrate the many stories of Krishna often moving the spectators to tears. Dances are very much based upon the cymbals (kartal or manjira) and the cylindrical drum known as Manipuri mridang or pung.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/the-3-dance-forms-of-manipuri-in-detail/

Lord Cornwallis is associated with zamindari system.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/the-first-firangis-indian-history-via-lords-gov-generals-and-viceroys/

Bioremediation provides a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation processes that occur in nature. Depending on the site and its contaminants, bioremediation may be safer and less expensive than alternative solutions such as incineration or landfilling of the contaminated materials. It also has the advantage of treating the contamination in place so that large quantities of soil, sediment or water do not have to be dug up or pumped out of the ground for treatment.
However, not all contaminants are easily treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. For example, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are not readily absorbed or captured by microorganisms, but occurs in phytoremediation which is part of bioremediation.
The use of genetic engineering to create organisms specifically designed for bioremediation has great potential.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/environmental-conservation-and-mitigation-strategy/#post-95575

Prior to the year 1947 (India’s Independence), The Trade Disputes Act, 1929 used to settle industrial disputes.

Tribunals: The main object of the 1929 Act was to make provisions for establishment of Courts of Inquiry and Boards of Conciliation with a view to investigate and settle trade disputes.

Strikes: The Act prohibited strikes or lock-outs without notice in public utility services; it also made any strike or lock-out illegal which had any object other than the furtherance of a trade dispute within the trade or industry.

http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/8113/12/12_chapter%203.pdf

Democratic decentralization means decentralization of power.

The main purpose of democratic decentralization is to bring fundamental changes in the traditional outlook about the power structure of the government.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

DPSP does not place any limitation on legislative and executive function, it is simply a guideline.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

The Digital Single Market strategy aims to open up digital opportunities for people and business and enhance Europe’s position as a world leader in the digital economy.

The beach is unique in that the water recedes up to 5 kilometers during the ebb tide. When the tide is in, locals trawl for small fish along the coast.

Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 is an Act of the Parliament of India that prohibits certain types of financial transactions. The act defines a ‘benami’ transaction as any transaction in which property is transferred to one person for a consideration paid by another person. Such transactions were a feature of the Indian economy, usually relating to the purchase of property (real estate), and were thought to contribute to the Indian black money problem. The act bans all benami transactions and gives the government the right to recover property held benami without paying any compensation.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/new-benami-law-to-come-into-effect-from-november-1/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/lok-sabha-passes-benami-transactions-bill/

Algae can be grown using land and water not suitable for plant and food production. The algal biofuel technology includes selection of specific species for production and extraction of valuable co-products. The algaes are bioengineered for achieving advanced photosynthetic efficiencies through continued development of production system.
To make the industry commercially viable, researchers have pursued biotech varieties, which could be particularly dangerous if released into nature. Some algae biodiesel proposals involve aquaculture-style operations in open ocean waters, which could have harmful ecological effects, especially if biotech algae is used.
Water and nutrient use would also be extreme, making any serious scaling up of algae biofuels quite unsustainable.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/biofuel-policy/

The key objectives of these programmes are :

To create awareness relating to malnutrition amongst pregnant women, lactating mothers, promote healthy lactating practices and importance of balanced nutrition;

To improve maternal and child under-nutrition in 200 high burdened districts and to prevent and reduce the under-nutrition prevalent among children below 3 years;

To reduce incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/op-ed-snap-need-nutrition-mission/

Narayan Meghaji Lokhande (1848-1897) was a pioneer of the labour movement in India.
During Lord Ripon’s time, the first Factories Act was adopted in 1881. Following this act , a Factory Commission was appointed in 1885. There was another Factories Act in 1891, and a Royal Commission on Labor was appointed in 1892. The result of these enactments was the limitation on the factory working hours. This was an answer of the Government to the pathetic conditions of the workers in the factory, wherein, only when a laborer exhausted, new laborer was to take his / her place.

Capturing CO2 from the major stationary sources and its storage into deep geological formations is considered as a potential mitigation option. Geological storage of CO2 can be undertaken in a variety of geological settings in sedimentary basins.
The options for CO2 are as follows:

Depleted oil and gas reservoirs

Use of CO2 in Deep unmineable coal seams/enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) recovery

Oceans

Deep unused saline water-saturated formations

Other geological media are basalts, shales, and cavities

Subterranean deep saline formations

http://www.civilsdaily.com/lets-know-about-co-sequestration/

India follows First Past the Post system, there is no provision for 50% votes. There is no provision related to it in the Constitution.

Share of agriculture in GDP is decreasing as it is.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/forex-reserves-hit-all-time-high-of-372-7-bln/#post-93862

http://www.civilsdaily.com/india-will-remain-among-top-3-investment-destinations-till-19/

Somatic cell cloning is a technique in which thenucleus (DNA) of a somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated metaphase-II oocyte for the generation of a new individual, genetically identical to the somatic celldonor

RuPay is an Indian domestic card scheme conceived and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It was created to fulfil the Reserve Bank of India’s desire to have a domestic, open loop, and multilateral system of payments in India. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) helps in promoting the financial inclusion in the country.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/npci-schemes-will-reward-digital-payments/

The full form of M-STrIPES is Monitoring System for Tigers’-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status. It’s a software monitoring system launched by the Indian Government in 2010 in some tiger reserves. The aim is to reduce vulnerability of Tigers. The system would enable field managers to assist intensity and spatial coverage of patrols in a geographic information system (GIS) domain.

Statements 2 and 3 are probable but not deterministic.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/goods-and-services-tax/

The EU and India have negotiated an ambitious Broad-based Trade and Investment
Agreement since 2007.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/foreign-policy-watch-india-germany/#post-95562

WTO members concluded negotiations at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference on the landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which entered into force on 22 February 2017 following its ratification by two-thirds of the WTO membership. The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area. It came into being in Feb, 2017.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/wto-and-india/

c

The CERT Rules impose an obligation on service providers, intermediaries, data centres and body corporates to report cyber incidents within a reasonable time so that CERT-In may have scope for timely action.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/cyber-security-issues-and-developments/#post-95063

In India, the right to vote is provided by the Constitution and the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, subject to certain disqualifications. Article 326 of the Constitution guarantees the right to vote to every citizen above the age of 18. Further “ to be elected” is also a constitutional right.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

eLISA’s primary objective is the detection and examination of gravitational waves emitted by the super-massive black holes that reside in the centres of many galaxies. In addition, eLISA will measure the signals of thousands of compact binary star systems in the Milky Way.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/gravitational-waves-detected-by-ligo-complete-coverage/

Vidyanjali is an initiative to enhance community and private sector involvement in Government run elementary schools across the country under the overall aegis of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Through this initiative people from the Indian Diaspora, retired teachers, retired government officials including retired defence personnel, retired professionals and women who are home makers can volunteer at a school that requests for one.
Vidyanjali will also cover initiatives under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Private Partnership (PPP), with Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Companies, private corporate and others.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/app-aid-volunteer-workers-govt-schools/

Originally in 1950, the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. The Election Commissioner Amendment Act, 1989 made the Commission a multi-member body. The concept of a 3-member Commission has been in operation since then. Home Ministry is consulted for that, schedule is not decided by them. Splits, mergers and alliances have frequently disrupted the compositions of political parties. This has led to a number of disputes over which section of a divided party gets to keep the party symbol, and how to classify the resulting parties in terms of national and state parties. The Election Commission has to resolve these disputes, although its decisions can be challenged in the courts.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/electoral-reforms-in-india/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/how-will-ec-decide-on-the-party-symbol-row/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/culling-vermins-schedules-wildlife-protection-act-1972/

Judicial Review refers to the power of the judiciary to interpret the constitution and to declare any such law or order of the legislature and executive void, if it finds them in conflict the Constitution of India.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/type/sc-judgements/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/sc-widens-boundaries-of-judicial-review-of-ordinance/

Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy: 18 February 1946, Quit India Movement: 8 August 1942, Second Round Conference: 1931.

Statement 1: It asks about India’s Tax buoyancy, which the responsiveness of tax revenue mobilisation to GDP growth.

It is calculated as a ratio of percentage growth in tax revenues to growth in nominal GDP for a given year.

Tax is said to be buoyant (more than 1) if the gross tax revenues increase more than proportionately in response to a rise in GDP figures. If it is less than 1, it means tax revenues have not increased proportionately with GDP growth.

The figure below shows variation in tax buoyancy from 2004-05 to 2015-16, which have been up and below 1 like a wave. So, statement 1 is wrong.

The graph above shows tax revenues as a percentage of GDP from 2002 to 2014.

https://thewire.in/32648/new-data-indicates-that-direct-tax-share-in-economy-is-at-decade-low/

Statement 2: Fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP had increased rapidly in recession years (post 2008) due the fiscal stimulus given by the government and then declined due to the fiscal consolidation measures adopted. So, 2 is also wrong.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/tax-buoyancy-improves-thanks-to-indirect-levy/article9466851.ece

An environment ministry’s expert committee has approved Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh as the second home for Asiatic lions found only in Gir national park.

During President’s rule, the Council of Ministers stands dissolved. According to Article 365, if a state government fails to exercise its executive powers in compliance with the directions given by the Union government, the responsibility shifts to the governor of the state to assess the situation and recommend the dissolution of state Assembly to the Union cabinet. This proclamation is made by the President only when the governor is convinced that the state cannot function in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Although the power of dissolution of state Assembly is vested with the Governor, yet such a power can be exercised only after both Houses of Parliament approve the decision. If the proclamation made by the President under Article 356 to dissolve the Assembly is approved by both the Houses within two months, the government does not revive on the expiry of period of dissolution. It is not related to the dissolution of the local bodies.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/presidents-rule/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/lets-know-about-presidents-rule/

Article 23 prohibits the traffic in human beings and forced labor such as begar.
Article 24 is against the child labour.
Article 17 is related to untouchability.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/category/polity/constitution/

Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Lok Sabha is elected by people themselves.

The phrase ‘Union of States’ has been preferred to ‘Federation of States’ for two reasons: one, the Indian Federation is not the result of an agreement among the states like the American Federation; and two, the states have no right to secede from the federation.

The federation is an Union because it is indestructible. The country is an integral whole and divided into different states only for the convenience of administration.

Motupalli, now in the Krishna district, was an important sea-port in the kingdom of Ganpati (an important Kakatiya ruler), frequented by foreign merchants.

http://tinyurl.com/yby78f8d

The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) is an initiative of the European Union. Its overall objective is to build a new alliance on climate change between the European Union and the poor developing countries that are most affected and that have the least capacity to deal with climate change. The GCCA does not intend to set up a new fund or governance structure, but is working through the European Commission’s established channels for political dialogue and cooperation at national and international level. The GCCA+ aim is to boost the efficiency of its response to the needs of vulnerable countries and groups. Using ambitious and innovative approaches, it will achieve its goals by building on its two mutually reinforcing pillars:

• Under the first pillar, the GCCA+ serves as a platform for dialogue and exchange of experience between the EU and developing countries, focusing on climate policy and bringing renewed attention to the issue of international climate finance. The results feed into negotiations for a new climate deal under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

• Under the second pillar, the GCCA+ acts as a source of technical and financial support for the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, whose populations need climate finance the most. Extra efforts will be made to strengthen the strategically important issues of ecosystems-based adaptation, migration and gender equality.

The two major sects include – Digambar and Shwetambar. 95% of the practices followed are same in both the sects.

The countries with coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. In addition, the Gaza Strip and the British Overseas Territories of Gibraltar and Akrotiri and Dhekelia have coastlines on the sea.

NIIF has been structured as a fund of funds and set up as Category II Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Regulations. Total corpus of the fund is Rs. 40000 Crore.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/learn-about-niif/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/what-is-national-investment-and-infrastructure-fund-niif/

• The World Bank (WB) has launched the GIF to specifically cater to the infrastructure needs of the emerging economies and developing countries.
• The GIF will channel money towards bankable infrastructure project in such countries.
• GIF also places importance on sustainable development. Its key focus will be on climate friendly infrastructure investments and projects that will boost trade.

• Key Objectives :
1. Mobilizing the private sector: Concentrating on financing and implementation modalities that draw together the comparative advantages of the public and private sectors to expand investment and improve infrastructure services.
2. Collaborating for best results: Mobilizing partners’ technical and financial resources in an innovative and flexible way to achieve greater leverage and address the complex infrastructure financing challenges that are beyond the resources of any individual partner.

For contesting an election as a candidate a person must be registered as a voter. Sec 4 (d) of Representation People Act, 1951 precludes a person from contesting unless he is an elector in any parliamentary constituency.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/electoral-reforms-in-india/

• Western Ghats – A chain of mountains running parallel to India’s western coast, approximately 30-50 km inland, the Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake or lagoon in India, after Chilka Lake. It straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/indian-geography-module/

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand is an important water quality parameter which provides an index to assess the effect discharged wastewater will have on the receiving environment.
• The higher the BOD value, the greater the amount of organic matter or food available for oxygen consuming bacteria.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/pib-rivers-under-national-river-conservation-programme-whats-that/

• UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.
• UN-Habitat envisions well-planned, well-governed, and efficient cities and other human settlements, with adequate housing, infrastructure, and universal access to employment and basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/india-elected-president-of-un-habitat/

The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) is a competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. These levels, graded from one to ten, are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must possess regardless of whether they are obtained through formal, non-formal or informal learning. Specific outcomes expected from implementation of NSQF are:

i. Mobility between vocational and general education by alignment of degrees with NSQF
ii. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), allowing transition from non-formal to organised job market
iii. Standardised, consistent, nationally acceptable outcomes of training across the country through a national quality assurance framework
iv. Global mobility of skilled workforce from India, through international equivalence of NSQF
v. Mapping of progression pathways within sectors and cross-sectorally
vi. Approval of NOS/QPs as national standards for skill training

http://www.civilsdaily.com/pibyear-end-review-of-ministry-of-skill-development/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/topic/prelims-tit-bits-history-part-2/

This again was a controversial question because of the answer given in UPSC Anwer Key. We are going with the official answer key here.
National Career Service (NCS) project is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (India) Government of India as a Mission Mode Project for establishing quick and efficient career related services. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 July 2015 as part of government’s focus on providing right skills and generating employment.

To state that the National Career Service was launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country would not be accurate. It has wider score and meaning.

The main stakeholders for the NCS would include:

Unemployed candidates seeking jobs or career counselling
Candidates seeking vocational/occupational guidance
Illiterate, under-privileged sections of society, blue-collar workers seeking placements and guidance
Person with different abilities (PWDs), ex-servicemen, veterans / senior citizens, etc.
Employers seeking suitable candidates
The key success factors of NCS initiative revolve around strengthening the existing employment exchange ecosystem with an ICT enabled platform and reaching out to masses through multiple delivery channels and partnerships with existing job market players.

In order to strengthen the lenders’ ability to deal with stressed assets and to put real assets back on track by providing an avenue for reworking the financial structure of entities facing genuine difficulties, the Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines on a ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets’.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/npa-crisis/

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and six countries— Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States—on 16 February 2012. It focuses on O3, CH4, Black Carbon, and HFCs.

The phenomenon is concerned to temperature differentials in Western Indian Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/geographic-phenomenon-key-concepts-and-issues/

National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the dedicated sanctuary for Gharials.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/agra-to-host-first-ever-international-bird-fete/

The inaugural IONS-2008 was held in New Delhi, India on 14 Feb 08. There are 35 members – navies of the IONS which have been geographically grouped into
the following four sub-regions:-

• South Asian Littorals – Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles and Sri Lanka
• West Asian Littorals – Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen
• East African Littorals – Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eriteria, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania
• South East Asian and Australian Littorals – Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste

http://www.civilsdaily.com/pib-know-about-indo-japan-ties/

http://www.civilsdaily.com/blog/ajanta-ellora-caves/

Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival of Gharwali and kumauoni people in Uttarakhand. Wari Warkari or Varkari(Pandharpur Wari) is a Maharashtrian festival celebrated by
Marathas.

This was little controversial question. Reduced tillage is any farming practice which involves fewercultivations than used in conventional fallowing.Reduced tillage systems are important for soil erosioncontrol because they:

reduce the effect of raindrop impact on the soil surface
reduce surface sealing of soils
increase infiltration of water into the soil
So statement 1 is correct.

Why UPSC marked the Gypsum option are wrong is still not clear to us. However, UPSC experts think that Gypsum is not known to enhance the water infiltration and water-holding capacity.
So statement 2 is wrong.

Crop residues also prevent soil compaction, allowing greater water infiltration into the soil. So statement 3 is also correct.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/soil-health-card-aims-objectives/

Statement 1: It is one of the ingredients. http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/regulations/us-laws/lead-in-lipstick/

Statement 2: Brominated vegetable oil is used primarily to help emulsify citrus-flavored soft drinks, preventing them from separating during distribution.

Statement 3: This was found in Maggi.

http://www.civilsdaily.com/story/innovation-in-sciences-and-technology/