Which are the four other States?
They are Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Telangana, who have completed ULB reforms.

What are the ULB reforms?
The four citizen-centric areas identified for reforms are:
• Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System
• Ease of doing business reform
• Urban Local body/ utility reforms
• Power Sector reforms.

Prabuddha Bharata
• The journal ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ has been an important medium for spreading the message of India’s ancient spiritual wisdom.
• It is India’s longest-running English language journal.
• Its publication was started from Chennai (erstwhile Madras), where it continued to be published for two years, after which it was published from Almora.
• Later, in April 1899, the place of publication of the Journal was shifted to Advaita Ashrama and it has been continuously published from there since then.
• Some of the greatest personalities have left their imprint on the pages of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ through their writings on Indian culture, spirituality, philosophy, history, psychology, art, and other social issues.
• Luminaries like Netaji SC Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sister Nivedita, Sri Aurobindo, Former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, among others, have contributed to the Journal over the years.

Myanmar is bordered by China to the north and northeast, Laos to the east, Thailand to the southeast, the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal to the south and southwest, Bangladesh to the west, and India to the northwest.

Salient features of the POCSO Act
• “Children” according to the Act are individuals aged below 18 years. The Act is gender-neutral.
Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Different forms of sexual abuse including but not limited to sexual harassment, pornography, penetrative & non-penetrative assault are defined in the Act.
• Sexual assault is deemed to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances such as when the child is mentally ill. Also when the abuse is committed by the person in a position of trust such as a doctor, teacher, policeman, family member.
• Adequate provisions are made to avoid re-victimization of the Child at the hands of the judicial system. The Act assigns a policeman in the role of child protector during the investigation process.
• The Act stipulates that such steps must be taken which makes the investigation process as child-friendly as possible and the case is disposed of within one year from the date of reporting of the offence.
• The Act provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such offences and matters related to it.
• Under section 45 of the Act, the power to make rules lies with the central government.
• To monitor the implementation of the Act, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have been made the designated authority. Both being statutory bodies.
• Section 42 A of the Act provides that in case of inconsistency with provisions of any other law, the POCSO Act shall override such provisions.
• The Act calls for mandatory reporting of sexual offences. A false complaint with intent to defame a person is punishable under the Act.
Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

What is positive externality
• A positive externality exists if the production and consumption of a good or service benefits a third party not directly involved in the market transaction.
• For example, education directly benefits the individual and also provides benefits to society as a whole through the provision of more informed and productive citizens.

History & precedent
• In India, the practice of the President addressing Parliament can be traced back to the Government of India Act of 1919.
• This law gave the Governor-General the right of addressing the Legislative Assembly and the Council of State.
• The law did not have a provision for a joint address but the Governor-General did address the Assembly and the Council together on multiple occasions.
• There was no address by him to the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) from 1947 to 1950.
• And after the Constitution came into force, President Rajendra Prasad addressed members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the first time on January 31, 1950.

What is Dark Matter?
• Dark matter is composed of particles that do not absorb, reflect, or emit light, so they cannot be detected by observing electromagnetic radiation.
• Dark matter is a form of matter thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the universe and about a quarter of its total mass-energy density or about 2.241×10−27 kg/m3.

Patharughat uprising
• After the British annexation of Assam in 1826, surveys of the vast lands of the state began.
• On the basis of such surveys, the British began to impose land taxes, much to the resentment of the farmers.
• In 1893, the British government decided to increase agricultural land tax reportedly by 70- 80 per cent.
• Up until then the peasants would pay taxes in kind or provide service in lieu of cash.
• Across Assam, peasants began protesting the move by organising Raij Mels, or peaceful peoples’ conventions.

EDISON Alliance
• Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), which describes itself as an international organization for public-private partnership, will serve as the secretariat and platform for the EDISON Alliance.
• A wider group of ‘Champions Leaders’ will advise and support the Alliance, the WEF said while announcing the launch.
• Alliance aims to work towards ensuring global and equitable access to the digital economy.
• Its prime goal is to ensure an unprecedented level of cross-sectoral collaboration between the technology industry and other critical sectors of the economy, according to the WEF.

• Turtles are the reptiles of the order Testudines, characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs and acting as a shield.
• It can reside inside freshwater or saltwater.
Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Tortoise are distinguished from other turtles by being land-dwelling, while many (though not all) other turtle species are at partly aquatic.
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Turtles are cold-blooded species. Cold blooded species have a higher range of body temperature and move between environments to make themselves warmer or cooler. E.g. Insects, arachnids, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• They have very slow metabolism and can survive without food and water for a long time.
Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

New START Treaty
• The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) pact limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers and is due to expire in 2021 unless renewed.
• The treaty limits the US and Russia to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, well below Cold War caps.
• It was signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
• It is one of the key controls on the superpower deployment of nuclear weapons.

Ram Setu
• Also known as Adam’s bridge, Ram Setu is a 48-km long bridge-like structure between India and Sri Lanka.
• It finds mention in the Ramayana but little about its formation is known or proven, scientifically.

What is the underwater archaeological project at Ram Setu?
• The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) will undertake a three-year scientific project.
• The idea is to see whether Ram Setu is a man-made structure or not.
• The most important aspect of the project is to establish its age, scientifically.
• The explorers will apply a number of scientific techniques while attempting to date the Ram Setu, study its material composition, outline the sub-surface structure along with attempting to excavate remnants or artefacts, if any, from the site.
• Once it is known, the information can be verified and co-related with its mention in the Ramayana and similar scriptures.

Two of the planned tests:
• Side-scan SONAR — Will provide bathymetry which is similar to studying the topography of a structure on land. Soundwaves signals will be sent to the structure which will provide an outline of the physical structure of the Ram Setu.
• Silo seismic survey – Mild earthquake-like tremor shocks will be sent at shallow depths close to the structure. These energized shockwaves are capable of penetrating into the structure. The reflected or refracted signals will be captured by instruments that will provide sub-surface structure.

What is the ‘Top 25’ drive of the Mumbai police?
• The Mumbai police commissioner has asked all police stations in the city to make a list of the “top 25” criminals and ask them to sign a bond of good behavior failing which they would have to pay a fine.
• The aim is to rein in criminal elements and those the police believe could create a law and order problem in the city.
• While this practices that is termed “chapter proceedings” has been followed in the past, the amount a person would usually forfeit was around Rs 10,000 – Rs 15,000.
• Now, the amount has been raised up to Rs 50 lakh.

What are Chapter Proceedings?
• Chapter proceedings are preventive actions taken by the police if they fear that a particular person is likely to cause law and order trouble.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• These proceedings are unlike punitive action taken in case of an FIR with an intention to punish.
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Here, the police can issue notices under sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure that the person is aware that creating a nuisance could result in action against him.
• Recently, the Mumbai police initiated chapter proceedings against an extremely chauvinistic news reporter and media head.