https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/global-drug-survey-indians-lead-world-in-seeking-help-to-reduce-drugs-intake/article27141571.ece
Recently, Global Drug Survey (GDS) report has been released.
The Global Drug Survey (GDS) is an anonymised online survey that uses a detailed questionnaire to assess trends in drug use and self-reported harms among regular drug users and early adopters of new trends.
The survey is not designed to determine the prevalence of drug behaviour in a population. It throws light on stigmatized behaviours and health outcomes of a hidden population that is otherwise difficult to reach.
It uses its data and expertise to create digital health applications delivering screening and brief interventions for drugs and alcohol.
It also produces a range of drug education materials for health and legal professionals, the entertainment industry and the general public.

Key findings on India:
Indians — more than from other nationalities — are seeking help to reduce their alcohol intake.
Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis were the most common stimulants used by Indians.
Of the nearly 1,00,000 respondents from 30 countries, Indians reported ‘being drunk’ on an average of 41 times in the last 12 months — behind the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Australia and
About 6% of the female Indians surveyed reported seeking ‘emergency medical treatment’ in the last 12 months. The global female average was about 13%.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinese-probe-reveals-secrets-of-the-moon/article27153353.ec

Recently, the Chinese spacecraft Chang’e-4 — named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology — became the first ever craft to touch down on the far side of the lunar surface.

China landed its probe in the Von Karmen Crater in the Aitken Basin at the Moon’s south pole — home to one of the largest impact craters known in the solar system.
They detected materials such as olivine and low-calcium pyroxene that are rare elsewhere on the surface. Researchers suggest that these materials were ejected from the Moon’s upper mantle when it was struck by a meteor.
Chang’e 4 is the fourth mission in the country’s lunar mission series which is being named after the Chinese moon goddess.
The tasks of the Chang’e-4 probe include low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, detecting the mineral composition, and measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment on the far side of the moon.
According to experts, landing on the far side of the moon is undoubtedly one of the most challenging missions ever launched by any of the world’s superpowers.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/crop-insurance-fail-only-8-cr-spent-for-ne/article27154584.ece
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
In April, 2016, the government of India had launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) after rolling back the earlier insurance schemes viz. National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Weather-based Crop Insurance scheme and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).
Premium: It envisages a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for Kharif crops, and 1.5% for Rabi crops. The premium for annual commercial and horticultural crops will be 5%.
The scheme is mandatory for farmers who have taken institutional loans from banks. It’s optional for farmers who have not taken institutional credit.

Objectives:
Providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen events.
Stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
Encouraging farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
Ensuring flow of credit to the agriculture sector which contributes to food security, crop diversification and enhancing growth and competitiveness of agriculture sector besides protecting farmers from production risks.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/united-nations-confers-pm-narendra-modi-s-secretary-pk-mishra-with-prestigious-sasakawa-award/420938
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has honoured Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the ‘Sasakawa Award 2019 for Disaster Risk Reduction’.
The Sasakawa Award is the most prestigious award of the United Nations in the area of Disaster Risk Management.
Instituted 30 years back, the award is jointly organised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Nippon Foundation.
The winners of the award can be either organisations or individuals who are bestowed with a grant of USD 50000 as the award prize.

UPSC 2013 Prelims Question
An amendment of the Constitution can be initiated by introduction of a bill in either house of the Parliament. Therefore 1st statement is wrong.
If the bill seeks to amends the Federal provisions of the Constitution, it must also be ratified by the legislatures of half of the states by a simple majority.Therefore 2nd statement is also wrong.