Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse

a. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements this Central Sector and not centrally sponsored Scheme for identification, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts through voluntary and other eligible organizations.

b. Under this Scheme, financial assistance is provided to NGOs/Voluntary organizations and other eligible agencies for setting-up/running Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs).

Statement 2 is incorrect : The water quality is assessed for various parameters, including physicochemical, bacteriological, heavy metals, pesticides, etc. Notes: For further details please refer : https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-pollution-due-to-synthetic-fertilizers-and-agricultural-pollutants

Tikdam: This question can be solved using Tikdam technique as well. Statement 2 is an extreme statement as it uses the term ‘specifically’.Thus statement 2 can be eliminated and correct answer can be arrived at.

Ease of Living index 2018

a. Released by: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

b.Three cities in Maharashtra ” Pune, Navi Mumbai and Greater Mumbai ” top the first Ease of Living Index brought out by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Pune tops while Patna ranked lowest of 111 cities

c. The national capital, New Delhi, is ranked 65 among 111 cities, while Chennai is in 14th place. Kolkata did not participate in the survey

1. Data deficiency doesn’t mean poor performance

2. The cities which were unable or unwilling to provide data received low scores

For example, New Delhi has a score of ‘zero on indicators regarding inclusive housing and mixed land use and compactness, and a score of just 0.12 on the economy and employment

3. This does not mean that the capital actually performs so poorly on these indicators

4. Instead, it probably means that the authorities who govern the city simply failed to provide any data on those indicators.

Notes Santhali (Santali), a tribal language primarily spoken in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, received global recognition when it got a Wikipedia edition in its own script, earlier this month.

Spoken by over 6.4 million people in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, efforts to bring Santhali to the mainstream were going on, even before the Wikipedia page went live.

The initiative to get a Santhali edition for Wikipedia, began six years ago, in 2012. Workshops were held to make people aware of the language, but the initiative had to be paused because of a lack of contributors.

The Bangladesh chapter of Wikipedia restarted efforts towards opening a Santhali Wikipedia page, last year, in September.

AARDO

1. AARDO was formed in 1962 as an autonomous inter-governmental organization and has 33 members from Asia and Africa.

2. It is headquartered in New Delhi.

3. The main objectives of AARDO are- Developing understanding among members for better appreciation of each other’s problems To collectively explore opportunities for coordination of efforts in promoting welfare and eradication of thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease, and poverty amongst rural people.

4. AARDO also promotes collaboration with various international organizations for the economic and social welfare of the rural community.

5. It enjoys observer status in FAO, IFAD, UNCTAD, UNESCO, ICA, CIRDAP and UNDP.

6. To hold regional and international conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings to enable the exchange of ideas and experiences among the member countries and to find new areas of collaboration.

7. India is one of the founder members of AARDO and is the largest contributor in terms of membership contribution.

8. India also provided funds for building for AARDO secretariat in Delhi and also significant financial assistance for maintenance of the building.

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

1. It is a professional association that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places around the world.

2. Now headquartered in Paris, ICOMOS was founded in 1965 in Warsaw as a result of the Venice Charter of 1964 and offers advice to UNESCO on World Heritage Sites

Why in news:

1. Kerala is facing its worst floods in nearly a century that has left 223 dead in a fortnight and forced over 10 lakh people out of their homes. The Centre has declared this calamity of ‘severe nature’.

2. The ICOMOS, a global monument conservation body, has launched an initiative to assess the damage to the rich cultural and built heritage in flood-devastated Kerala and set up an emergency response platform.

3. ICOMOS is seeking support from the state government, the NDMA and reaching out to local conservation professionals..

State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) has released the ‘State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index’, which assesses state policies and programmes. The nationwide Index is a joint effort of the NITI Aayog and BEE.

Aim: To create awareness about energy efficiency as a resource and also to develop an action plan for energy conservation initiatives.

Statement 1 is incorrect : The app is brainchild of entrepreneur Pratham Mittal.

Statement 3 is incorrect : There is no such feature.

Notes: National Electoral Transformation (NETA) app:

1.Former President Pranab Mukherjee launched National Electoral Transformation (NETA) mobile application that allows voters to rate and review their political representatives.

2.The app is brainchild of 27-year-old entrepreneur Pratham Mittal.

3.It is first of its kind platform in India that allows voters to rate and review the political representatives in their constituencies

4.The app aims to foster political accountability and transparency among leaders.

5.It is inspired by US’ approval system.

option 1is incorrect :

National Health Agency will be its implementing authority.

Notes: PRADHAN MANTRI JAN AROGYA YOJANA

1.National Health Agency will be its implementing authority.

2.There will be a provision of Rs 5 lakh per annum as health assurance (no premium to be paid by beneficiary) for each family and free of cost treatment for serious diseases.

3.The cashless benefits can be availed from any public or private empaneled hospital across India. However, the payment will be done on Package rate basis (involving secondary and tertiary care) defined by Government.

4.This will be the world’s largest government-sponsored healthcare scheme (10 Crore family or 50 Crore people) covering a population the size of the US, Canada and Mexico.

5.People in SECC will get automatically enrolled in this scheme. 6.States are free to choose the mode of implementation, which could either be insurance-based, trust-route or mixed model.

Statement 1 is incorrect : It is a large-scale Russian military exercise.

Notes: Vostok 2018 Vostok 2018 is a large-scale Russian military exercise, which is being held throughout Siberia and the country’s Far East. The exercise involves units from the Army, Air Force and Navy. China, Mongolia, as well as NATO member Turkey, were invited to the exercise.

Statement 1 is incorrect : It is a multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise.

Statement 2 is incorrect : The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA).

Notes: Exercise KAKADU:

1. Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

2. The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA)

3. Exercise KAKADU derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin

4. KAKADU 2018 is the 14th edition of the exercise

5. During the exercise, professional exchanges in harbour and diverse range of activities at sea, including complex surface, sub-surface and air operations would enable sharing of best practices and honing of operational skills

Why in news:

1. After having been deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean for over four months, which included representing Indian Navy in multinational exercises MALABAR 18 at Guam and RIMPAC 18 at Hawaii, INS Sahyadrintered the Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in Exercise KAKADU 2018

2. Indian Navy’s participation in KAKADU 18 provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and undertake multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment 3. It is aimed at enhancing interoperability and development of common understanding of procedures for maritime operations

Statement 2 is incorrect : FabCI is funded by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) along with technology partners Cadence Design Systems and Mentor Graphic

Notes: Fabless Chip Design Incubator (FabCI)

1.Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) has launched ‘Fabless Chip Design Incubator (FabCI), an exclusive incubator to boost chip design.It is first of its kind in India that will focus on creating an ecosystem for start-ups in chip design.

2.FabCI is funded by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) along with technology partners Cadence Design Systems and Mentor Graphic both are leading providers of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, hardware and IP.

3.FabCI’s purpose is to incubate at least 50 ‘Make-in-India’ chip design companies that can compete globally and generate Intellectual Property Rights

Swadesh Darshan -India’s rich cultural, historical, religious and natural heritage provides a huge potential for development of tourism and job creation in the country

-This can be achieved only through an integrated approach by providing engaging experiences for distinct categories of tourists i.e. Domestic and International

-In due recognition to this the Government of India, Ministry of Tourism (MoT) launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Central Sector Scheme) for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country in 2014-15

-Various themes which are unique and specific to the area can include beaches, culture, heritage, wildlife etc. Such theme based tourist circuits are developed in a manner that supports communities, provides employment and fosters social integration without comprising upon the environmental concerns and provides unique experiences to the tourists.

-‘Development of North East Circuit: Imphal & Khongjom implemented under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism was inaugurated

-It is the first project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme being inaugurated in the country.

National Biofuels Policy, 2018

-The Union Cabinet approved a national policy on biofuels that seeks to not only help farmers dispose of their surplus stock in an economic manner but also reduce India’s oil-import dependence.

-The policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing the use of sugarcane juice, sugar-containing materials like sugar beet, sweet sorghum, starch-containing materials like corn, cassava, damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, rotten potatoes that are unfit for human consumption for ethanol production. Thus statement 1 is incorrect.

-The policy also provides for a viability gap funding scheme of _5,000 crore in six years for second generation (more advanced) ethanol bio-refineries in addition to tax incentives and a higher purchase price as compared to first-generation biofuels.

-Farmers are at a risk of not getting appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production phase. Taking this into account, the policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.

Interstate River Water Disputes Act

1. The Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (IRWD Act) is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted under Article 262 of Constitution of India.

2. It sets basis to resolve the water disputes that would arise in the use, control and distribution of an interstate river or river valley.

3. Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides a role for the Central government in adjudicating conflicts surrounding inter-state rivers that arise among the state/regional governments. River waters use / harnessing is included in states jurisdiction (entry 17 of state list, Schedule 7 of Indian Constitution).

4. However, union government can make laws on regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys when expedient in the public interest (entry 56 of union list, Schedule 7 of Indian Constitution).

5. When public interest is served, President may also establish an interstate council as per Article 263 to inquire and recommend on the dispute that has arisen between the states of India. 5. This act is confined to states of India and not applicable to union territories.

6. Any river water sharing treaty made with other countries has to be ratified by the Parliament as per Article 253 and all the riparian states of India per Article 252 to make the treaty constitutionally valid.

Tribunals under IRWD Act

Whenever the riparian states are not able to reach amicable agreements on their own in sharing of an interstate river waters, Section 4 of IRWD Act provides dispute resolution process in the form of Tribunal.

As per Section 5.2 of the Act, the tribunal shall not only adjudicate but also investigate the matters referred to it by the central government and forward a report setting out the facts with its decisions.

Under Section 6A of this Act, central government may frame a scheme or schemes to give effect to the decision of a tribunal.

Each scheme has provision to establish an authority for implementation of a tribunal verdict.

When a tribunal verdict, after formally gazetted by the union government shall be complied by the union government as the tribunal verdict is equal to Supreme Court verdict.

With inadequate number of students qualifying the engineering entrance exam, the government has recently proposed to set up a committee who will suggest changes to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced.
As per the latest information, the government has planned to set up a five-member committee. It is said that the committee will be headed by the IIT-Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthy.

Statement 1 is incorrect : The AIBD was established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO.

Statement 2 is incorrect : It is hosted by the Government of Malaysia and the secretariat is located in Kuala Lumpur.

Notes: Why in news: 1. The Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) on elected Fayyaz Sheheryar, Director-General of All India Radio, as its new President.

2. This is the first time India has been elected for the position of president of AIBD.

3. The elections were held at the 44th annual meeting of AIBD in Colombo.

Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD)

1. The AIBD was established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO.

2. It is a unique regional inter-governmental organization servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.

3. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are founding organizations of the Institute and they are non-voting members of the General Conference.

4. It is hosted by the Government of Malaysia and the secretariat is located in Kuala Lumpur.

5. The AIBD is mandated to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development.

6. The Institute will undertake to: Encourage regional dialogue and cooperation in electronic media policy of the Asia Pacific region; Provide an Asia-Pacific regional platform for international cooperation in the electronic media development; Assist member countries in human resource development in the electronic media, consistent with their development needs; Assist member countries with electronic media consultancy.

Statement 1 is incorrect : It is an Invasive species and not endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Notes: New frog species

1. A recent migrant to the Andaman island is the Indian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus)

2. The bullfrog is found widely in mainland India and protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 3. It is steadily occupying the islands’ ecosystem and threatening the local economy

Man-Frog conflict

1. The voracious animal gulps down anything that would fit in its jaws: centipedes, leeches, native frogs, lizards, small snakes, and even chicks and ducklings, which are an important source of food for the islanders

2. An unusual man-frog conflict is brewing due to this

Why are bullfrogs a threat on islands?

1. Bullfrogs are found all over mainland India, but it is in the unique ecosystem of the islands that it becomes a major threat

2. Unlike the mainland, resources on the islands are scarce for big animals, while natural calamities are more frequent

3. The wildlife here has evolved in a miniature setting: there are no large herbivores (the largest is the Andaman wild pig) or large carnivores

Vidyalakshmi Portal Vidya Lakshmi Portal provides a single window for students to access information and make application for Educational Loans provided by Banks.

This portal has been developed under the guidance of Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA).

Students can view, apply and track the education loan applications to banks anytime, anywhere by accessing the portal

It was launched by the Government on August 15, 2015 to ensure that students can avail loans easily through single window system of banks for education loans.

Banks follow Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) guidelines in this regard which stipulates that education loan applications have to be disposed off, in the normal course, within a period of 15 to 30 days.

Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) -Nodal Agency: Ministry of Shipping

-It is aimed for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) Varanasi to Haldia.

-It will impact the ongoing process by creating : An alternative mode of transport that will be environment-friendly and cost-effective.

The project will contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in the country Mammoth Infrastructure development like multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, Roll on _ Roll off (Ro-Ro) facilities, ferry services, navigation aids Socio-economic impetus; huge employment generation.