Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 items to APTA members

Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)

1. APTA is an initiative under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) for trade expansion through exchange of tariff concessions among developing country members of the Asia Pacific Region
2. It is a preferential trade agreement (PTA), under which the basket of items, as well as extent of tariff concessions, are enlarged during the trade negotiating rounds which are launched from time to time
3. The six member countries are Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Korea and Sri Lanka
4. It is in place since 1975

B2B #2: From news- A 216-foot-tall celebration of Ramanuja

Ramanuja (1017–1137 AD)

1. Rāmānuja’s philosophical foundation was qualified monism and is called Vishishtadvaita in the Hindu tradition.
2. His ideas are one of three subschools in Vedānta, the other two are known as Ādi Shankara’s Advaita (absolute monism) and Madhvāchārya’s Dvaita (dualism)
3. Important writings include:

• Vedārthasangraha (literally, “Summary of the Vedas meaning”),
• Sri Bhāshya (a review and commentary on the Brahma Sutras),
• Bhagavad Gita Bhāshya (a review and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita), and
• the minor works titled Vedāntapida, Vedāntasāra, Gadya Trayam (which is a compilation of three texts called the Saranāgati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and the Srivaikunta Gadyam), and Nitya Grantham.

B2B #3: From news- [pib] ECI to hold a National Consultation on Accessible Elections

Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)

1. SVEEP is a programme of multi interventions through different modes and media designed to educate citizens, electors and voters about the electoral process in order to increase their awareness and participation in the electoral processes
2. SVEEP is designed according to the socio-economic, cultural and demographic profile of the state as well as the history of electoral participation in previous rounds of elections and learning thereof
3. Now it includes enhanced interaction with the citizens through social media, online contests and voters’ festivals; awareness about new initiatives of linking EPIC with AADHAAR and National Voters’ Service Portal and a regularised yearly plan of activities
4. In addition to target groups of women, youth, urban voters and the marginalized sections, the inclusion of groups like service voters, NRIs, persons with disabilities, prospective voters/ students is of primary focus

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

Recently in News because : ICAO had introduced a market based measure for international aviation to measure carbon emission called as CORSIA – Carbon Offsetting and Reporting Scheme for International Aviation

Objective : To set standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency as well as for aviation environmental protection

Members : 192 Member States (36 Member Governing Council)

Headquarters : Montreal, Canada

Year Founded : 1947