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Issue 20 Pages 12
NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPORTS
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS PERSON IN NEWS
GOVT. JOB NOTIFICATION MCQ CORNER BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS
Coverage - 7 March - 13 March 2017
NATIONAL
Central Railway unveils Indias first air-conditioned rail ambulance
Central Railway zone of Indian Railway has unveiled Indias first air-conditioned rail
ambulance. It is modified version of AC coaches used for passenger services.
The four-coach AC ambulance will be stationed at Kaylan (Maharashtra).
This rail ambulance can carry and treat 50 patients at one time. It also has in house operation
theatre to carry out minor surgeries and provide immediate relief.
It will be mainly be used during train accidents as it can carry accident victims to hospital in a
short time. However, in normal times, it will be used for providing medical facilities in large
congregations.
Another river-linking project on cards
After successful linkage between the Godavari and Krishna rivers through the Pattiseema
project, now the Andhra Pradesh government is embarking on linking the Godavari with the
Pen na.
In this regard, highly advanced LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Survey will be taken up
by Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS) to prepare a Detailed
Project Report (DPR) for supplying Godavari water directly to Rayalaseema.
The project envisages transporting 20 tmcft from Godavari River to two reservoirs the
existing Somasila Reservoir in the Penna river basin and a new reservoir at Bollapalli.
The Godavari is the second longest river in India after the river Ganges having its source at
Tryambakeshwar, Maharashtra. It starts in Maharashtra and flows east for 1,465 kilometres
(910 mi) emptying into Bay of Bengal draining the Indian states Maharashtra (48.6%),
Telangana( 18.8%), Andhra Pradesh (4.5%), Chhattisgarh (10.9%), Madhya Pradesh (10.0%),
Odisha (5.7%), Karnataka (1.4%) and Puducherry through its extensive network of tributaries.
Measuring up to 312,812 km2 (120,777 sq mi), it forms one of the largest river basins in the
Indian subcontinent, with only the Ganges and Indus rivers having a drainage basin larger than
it in India.
Important tributaries include Pravara, Purna, Manjira, Pranhita, Indravati and Sabari.
Centre to Launch Pilot Project on Ornamental Fisheries with total outlay of Rs.
61.89 crore
Recognizing the potential and scope of ornamental fisheries, the Department of Animal
Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has
envisaged a program to unlock the countrys ornamental fisheries sector through a special
drive by launching a pilot scheme for the development of ornamental fisheries with a total
outlay of Rs. 61.89 crore.
The major objectives of the pilot project are:
To promote ornamental fish culture with cluster-based approach.
To augment ornamental fisheries trade and export earnings.
To create employment opportunities for the rural & periurban population.
Use of modern technology and innovation to make ornamental fisheries a thriving
activity.
Implementation of the pilot-scale Ornamental Fisheries Project focuses mainly on creating an
enabling environment for a sustainable and holistic development of Ornamental Fisheries for
the socio-economic development of the people involved in this activity as well as for
expo rts.
The thrust areas have been identified for enhancing ornamental fisheries production through
cluster-based farming and conservation of natural resources, both inland and marine, through
habitat restoration and creating awareness amongst the stakeholders.
Implementat ion of t he project:
The pilot project on ornamental fisheries shall be implemented by the National Fisheries
Development Board (NFDB) through the Fisheries Departments of States/UTs.
For the purpose of implementation of the pilot project, a total of 8 potential States
have been identified, viz., Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
All the activities under the pilot project are classified in to four major groups, viz., (a)
activities related to production of ornamental fish, e.g. setting up of backyard rearing
units, medium scale units, integrated breeding-cum-rearing units, etc., (b) activities related
to aquarium fabrication, trade and marketing; (c) activities for promotion of ornamental
fisheries sector, and (d) activities related to skill development and capacity building.
Centre plumps for rural FMCG e-sales
The Centre has initiated talks with FMCG companies to sell their products online in rural
areas through common service centres (CSCs) as it looks to increase the business for such
centres.
The government is focused on expansion of CSCs because of their inherent strength to
transform rural India. With the sale of FMCG products, the door has been opened for
popularising ecommerce through CSCs.
There are more than 2.5 lakh CSCs across the country which enable people, particularly in
rural areas, to access government services online. These services include ration card, birth
certificate, train tickets and online form submission, among other things.
The move will help Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) who run CSCs to earn commission on
the products sold while also enabling access for customers in rural areas to these products.
According to estimates, a VLE is likely to earn a commission in the range of 12-20% on
FMCG products, which is far higher than less than 10% on other services offered.
Common Services Centers (CSCs) are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme.
They are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India,
thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society.
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CSCs enable the three vision areas of the Digital India programme
Digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen.
Governance and services on demand.
Digital empowerment of citizens.
Electoral bonds to flag elections
The concept of electoral bonds was introduced by Mr. Jaitley during his Budget 2017
speech in order to bring some transparency to the electoral funding process.
About Electoral Bonds:
These bonds have to be authorised under a scheme under the Income Tax Act.
It will open for a limited period of time during the elections, or maybe a little before
the elections.
A bond can be purchased by any donor only by cheque or electronic payment, only
at authorised banks.
These bonds can be donated only to a political party. These are redeemable in only
one account of that party, registered with the Election Commission.
Advantages of Electoral Bonds:
The advantage of the electoral bond system over donations through cheques is that
many donors expressed reluctance to use cheques because it becomes transparent and
leads to political vendetta by rivals.
The other reason that donors did not want their names to be known was that,
following the donation, if they legitimately win a contract, then they open
themselves up to suspicion of benefiting from a quid pro quo arrangement with the
party in power.
NTPC commissions 45 MW of Bhadla solar plant
Indias largest power generator NTPC Ltd has commissioned another 45 Megwatt (MW)
capacity solar power plant at Bhadla in Rajasthan.
With this, the companys total installed capacity has become 48,188 MW. Earlier in
February, the company had commissioned 115 MW of the plant.
State-owned NTPC contributes nearly 24% of the countrys total power generation.
It has plans to set up 10,000 MW renewable projects by 2022. So far it has 19 coal based,
seven gas based, 10 solar PV, one hydro power plants along with nine subsidiaries or joint
venture power stations.
Its first wind power project Rojmal wind energy project 50 MW is being set up in Gujarat.
Four States come together for elephant census
For the first time in India, four states - Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand
- which comprise Indias most human-elephant conflict-prone region, have decided to
count elephants synchronously between May 9 and 12.
This decision was taken by senior Forest Department officials of the four States during a
regional workshop.
These states will conduct the census based on an identical set of rules using the direct and
indirect counting methods.
The direct counting method is based on sighting of elephants while the indirect method
uses the elephant dung decay formula, in which the analysis of dung is used to estimate
the population.
The indirect method has already been used by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Direct method
can be used alone because it is not possible to cover entire area during the census.
The synchronised census will indicate the size, distribution, structure and density of the
elephant population in the region.
According to the 2015 census, Odisha has 1,954 elephants, while Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
and West Bengal have approximately 700, 275 and 130 elephants respectively.
NTPC installs Indias largest Floating Solar PV Plant in Kerala
State-run NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation Limited) has installed Indias
largest floating solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power
Plant (RGCCPP) at Kayamkulam in Kerala.
The 100 kWp (kilowatt peak) floating solar PV plant has been indigenously developed as
a part of Union Government flagship Make In India initiative.
It has been indigenously developed by NETRA (NTPC Energy Technology Research
Alliance), R&D arm of NTPC, in collaboration with Central Institute of Plastic
Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Chennai.
The system was installed by Chennai based Swelect Energy Systems Ltd with support
from NETRA and NTPC Kayamkulam station in a short span of 22 days.
Floating solar PV systems are fast emerging as an alternative to conventional ground
mounted PV systems which are land intensive. It can also be installed on saline water
env ironment.
It has various benefits like conserving water
through reduction of evaporation, increased
power generation due to cooling effect on the
panels, reduced installation time etc.
Installation potential of such type of floating
systems in India is huge because of abundance
of water bodies.Particularly in Kerala this
type of system has a great potential due to
availability of water bodies and lack of
presence of enough land.
About National Thermal Power Corporation
Limited (NTPC): NTPC limited is a Central
Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU),
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 02
operational under the Ministry of Power. It is Indias largest power generator and accounts and top-performing employees.
for 25% of total electricity generated in the country. Its headquarters are located in New It also help in aligning the interests of the employees with those of shareholders.
Delh i.
Cabinet approves Revised Cost Estimate-I of Koteshwar Hydro Electric Project
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Asias largest petrochemicals plant in Dahej in Uttarakhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Petro auditions Limited (OPal) in the industrial The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Revised Cost Estimate-
town of Dahej in Gujarat. I of 400 MW Koteshwar Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Uttarakhand at an estimated
The plant, which is claimed to be the largest petrochemicals plant in Asia with occupation completion cost of Rs. 2,717.35 crore.
over 1700 metres of land. The project is being implemented by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) India
It is the single largest petrochemical plant in India and at full capacity will annually produce Limited.
14 lakh metric tonnes of polymers. In addition to additional generating capacity of 400 MW of peaking power it will regulate
OPaL is a joint venture company promoted by ONGC, GAIL and GSPC. releases from Tehri Reservoir for irrigation and drinking water supply.
It has been already commissioned fully in March, 2012.
India launches Stage II of HCFC Phase Out Management Plan However, only balance works are remaining which are not linked with operation of the
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched plant but are essential for safety and completion of the project.
Stage II of HCFCs Phase Out Management Plan (HPMP) for the 2017-23 period. It will also act as lower reservoir for under construction Tehri PSP (1000 MW).
It aims to phase out use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful ozone-depleting
substances (ODS) by switching over to non-ozone depleting and low global warming
potential technologies. INTERNATIONAL
Under HPMP-II
India has secured $44.1 million from Multilateral Fund for implementation of Donald Trump signs Muslim Ban 2.0 order
Montreal Protocol for phasing out 8,190 MT of HCFC consumption between 2017 The Donald Trump administration has issued a new executive order, temporarily banning
to 2023 to meet targets under the protocol for 2020. travel from six Muslim-majority countries to the U.S., after an earlier order ran foul of the
More than 400 enterprises, including MSMEs in foam manufacturing sector and 6 large countrys judiciary.
air-conditioning manufacturing enterprises will be supported for conversion to non- The new executive order bans travel from six countries Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya,
HCFC technologies from HCFCs. Somalia, and Yemen, leaving out Iraq that was also in the list of barred countries in the
Energy efficiency, development building codes, cold chain development with non- January order.
HCFC alternatives and development of standards for new non-ODS and low GWP In an attempt to pass the next round of inevitable judicial scrutiny, current visa and green
alternatives will be promoted. card holders from these countries will not be affected by this order.
Adequate attention to synergize the Refrigeration and Servicing (RAC) servicing sector The new order will not come into effect until March 16, in contrast with the earlier order
trainings will be given with the Skill India Mission, in order to multiply the impact of that was effective immediately, leading to confusion at airports and leaving many people in
skilling and training. transit stranded.
Nearly, 16, 000 service technicians will be trained under HPMP-II. It will result in net The order notes there will be a 90-day ban on the issuance of new visas for citizens of these
direct CO2-equivalent emission reductions of about 8.5 million metric tonne annually six countries, and nations refugee program will be suspended for 120 days. While the
from 2023. temporary ban is in place for 90 days, the U.S. administration will review the security
measures in place to prevent potential threats from gaining a U.S. visa.
First smart tribal village inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir The order said each of the six countries was a state sponsor of terrorism, has been
The first smart tribal model village Hubbi was inaugurated at Rajouri district of Jammu and significantly compromised by terrorist organisations or contains active conflict zones. The
Kashmir. order gives country-wise details justifying the inclusion of each and also explains the
It was inaugurated by the Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and exclusion of Iraq. Iraq presents a special case. Portions of Iraq remain combat zones, but the
Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali. countrys commitment to combat ISIS justify different treatment for Iraq.
The village was developed by Rural Development Department of the State Government. In justification of the order, the administration said people who entered the U.S on visas or
The smart tribal village has been introduced with smart classes in the schools, better roads, as refugees from these countries have proved to be threats to national security. The
electricity and water facilities. Attorney-General has reported to me that more than 300 persons who entered the U.S. as
refugees are currently subjects of counter-terrorism investigations by the Federal Bureau of
IISc among worlds best 10 varsities Investigations (FBI).
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was ranked 8th in the top 10 of Times Higher
Educations (THE) Best Small Universities-2017 Japan, US conduct Navy drills
global rankings that looks only at universities with The Japanese and United States navies conducted joint exercises in the East China Sea.
fewer than 5,000 students. The exercises involved Japanese destroyers and a US Navy carrier strike group.
IISc was only the Indian university to feature in the The drill was aimed at issuing a warning against nuclear-armed North Korea. Recently, the
list of 20 and is also the second-highest ranked tensions in the Korean peninsula had intensified in the region following North Koreas
Asian University. missile tests.
The list is topped by California Institute of The exercises were also meant to display the joint Japan-US military presence in the East
Technology (Caltech). In the world university China Sea, where Japan and China are locked in a long-running dispute over uninhabited
ranking, however, it sits in the range of 201-250 islets known as the Senkakus, while China claims then as the Diaoyus.
when compared with larger universities also.
IISc has a full-fledged postgraduate and Ph.D. programme and around 3,400 students study Pakistans Hindu marriage bill passed by both houses of Parliament
in it. Pakistan National Assembly has passed the Hindu Marriage Bill, 2016 to regulate marriages
IISc, a public university for scientific research and higher education, was established in 1909 of Hindus in Pakistan. The bill was passed again by the lower house after amendments were
with active support from Jamsetji Tata and Sir Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of made by the Senate (Upper House) while passing the bill.
Myso re. The Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 is the first personal law for the minority community and will
help Hindu women get documentary proof of their marriage, which is needed while applying
Indias longest cable-stayed bridge inaugrated in Gujarat for passports and other official documents.
In a major relief for people travelling on the Vadodara- Surat section of NH-8 (New NH- The bill will be applicable in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces.
48), a new four lane, Extradosed Bridge across river Narmada at Bharuch was recently Southern Sindh province, which is home to a majority of Pakistans Hindus, has already
dedicated to the nation. enacted its own Hindu marriage law.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi The bill aims at easing growing insecurity among Hindus. For the first time in Pakistans
inaugurated Indias longest cable-stayed history, the bill provides a mechanism for registering Hindu marriages, conditions for
bridge in Bharuch, Gujarat. contracting a marriage, and the procedure and grounds for dissolving a marriage.
The 1.4 km Extradose cable stayed According to its provisions, both parties to a marriage must be of sound mind and capable of
bridge is the longest in India and the giving valid consent. The parties also must not be below the age of 18, a measure aimed at
second such bridge in the country after preventing the marriage of minors.
Nivedita Setu over Hooghly. It paves the way for a document called the Shadi Parath similar to the Nikahnama for
The bridge is 20.8 metres wide, with 14.5 Muslims that will contain details of the bride and groom and be signed by a pundit before it
metre carriageway and 3 metre footpath. is registered with the relevant government department.
It is supported on 9 Pylons of 36 meter It also provides the concept of judicial separation, where the marriage remains intact while
height on pile foundation of 1.5 metre the parties are no longer under an obligation to cohabit. The legitimacy of children born out
diameter. The bridge will be lit by more of voidable Hindu marriages has also been protected.
than 400 LED lights.
The bridge was built by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) as a part of 6 laning project of the NHAI Germanys KfW, EESL in energy efficiency pact
(National Highways Authority of India) and was completed well ahead of its schedule. The German Development Bank (KfW) and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has
It will ease the traffic flow on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai National Highway which is signed a loan agreement for 200 million to enhance energy efficiency in India.
considered to be one of the busiest in India. EESL will invest these funds in energy efficiency in buildings, households, street lighting,
This section of NH 8 will have State of the Art Highway Traffic Management System agriculture, water supply and industry.
(HTMS), Variable Message Sign Boards, Median Plantation, Traffic Aid Post, Medical Aid KfW also signed a funding deal of 500,000 with Indian Renewable Energy Development
Post, RFID and Smart Card Swapping enabled Agency (IREDA) to maintain solar projects.
infrastructure at the Toll Plaza and Theme
Lighting on the main bridge.
Mass coral bleaching occurring in Great
Finance Ministry gives in-principle nod Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef in Australias eastern coast is
to ESOPs by PSU banks experiencing an unprecedented second straight year
The Union Finance Ministry has given its in- of mass coral bleaching.
principle approvals to public sector banks(PSBs) This is for the first time Great Barrier Reef has
to offer Employee Stock Option plans (ESOPs) bleached two years in sequence.
to their employees from FY 2017-18. Earlier in March and April 2016, 2,300-km reef
It will help PSBs to motivate employees to work suffered had its most severe bleaching on record due
towards strengthening the financial status of to warming sea temperatures.
their banks so that their share value rises. This Coral Bleaching occurs when abnormal environmental
move aims at retaining experienced hands with conditions, such as warmer sea temperatures, cause
better incentives. corals to expel tiny photosynthetic algae, draining
This decision was based on the suggestion of them of their colour.
Banks Board Bureau (BBB) headed by Former The 2016 bleaching was more severe in the northern
CAG Vinod Rai. areas of the bio-diverse site. But now more bleaching
Apart from ESOPs, BBB also had suggested was being observed in the central part of the reef,
bonuses and other performance-linked packages. which earlier had escaped widespread severe
ESOPs are common in the private sector, where bleaching.
companies offer stocks to reward and retain key The back-to-back occurrence of widespread bleaching
 Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 03
is resulting in decrease in stress tolerance of these corals, which means that they may not
fully recover.
About the Great Barrier Reef : It is the biggest coral reef system in the world composed of
over 2,900 individual reefs. It was recorded as a World Heritage site in 1981. The reef is
located in the Coral Sea, north east of Australia and covers an area of approximately
348,000 sq km. It is credited as the worlds biggest single structure made by living organisms
and is visible from the outer space.

India by the Nile festival held in Egypt

The mega cultural festival India by the Nile was held at foot of the Pyramids in Cairo,
Egyp t.
The this year event marked the special moment as India celebrates 70 years of
independence and also 70 years of its diplomatic relations with Egypt.
The festival is a celebration of Indian music, dance, theatre, visual arts, food and wellbeing.
It was organised by the Embassy of India in partnership with the Ministry of Textiles,
Export Promotion Council dor Handicrafts (India) and Ministry of Social Solidarity (Egypt)
and Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI).

Facebook launches SheLeadsTech to mentor women entrepreneurs

Social networking giant Facebook launched SheLeadsTech programme to nurture and
mentor start-ups founded or co-founded by women.
This programme will give start-ups founded/cofounded by women access to a year-long
program that provides tools, mentorship and resources.
Facebook is also running another programme She Means Business, which was launched on
Womens Day in 2016.
It is running in six states since its launch and now Facebook plans to take it to eight more
states, including Jammu and Kashmir for 2017.
India is among the largest user base for Facebook and its affiliate WhatsApp.
It contributes 168 million users to Facebooks 1.86 billion global users, and 200 million to
WhatsApps 1.2 billion monthly active users.

India tops in bribery rate among 16 Asia-Pacific nations: Transparency

International
The Global Corruption Barometer for the Asia Pacific Region was released recently by
Transparency International (TI), an anti-corruption global civil society organisation.
The survey was conducted among more than 21,000 people in the region.
It revealed that more than one in four people, when accessing basic services like medicine,
education or water.
Key Highlights of the Survey
India had highest bribery rate among the 16 Asia-Pacific countries surveyed between
July 2015 and January 2017.
Countries having highest incidence of bribery: 69% of the study group in India said that
they have paid a bribe, done a favour or given a gift to receive services. Vietnam
follows this suit with 65%, Thailand 41% and Pakistan 40%. China reported a much
lower 26%.
Countries having lowest incidence of bribery: Japan had the lowest incidence of bribery
at 0.2% followed by South Korea and Australia recorded 3% each, Hong Kong 2% and
Taiwan 6%.
India related facts: Nearly seven in 10 people who had accessed public services in the
country have paid bribe. 46% to 60% of Indians said they have paid bribes for various
public services, including in public schools and hospitals, getting IDs, voter cards and
permits and accessing utilities and police and court services as well.
Institution wise facts: Police, a key law and order institution suffer most from
corruption. Nearly two in five people in the region mentioned the police were mostly
or entirely corrupt (39%). They also perceived political decision-makers at both the
national and local level to be highly corrupt. Legislative representatives, officials and
local councillors were also highly corrupt (from 35 to 37%). Religious leaders were seen
as far cleaner, with fewer than one in five were highly corrupt (18%).
About Transparency International (TI): TI is an international non-governmental
organization based in Berlin, Germany. Its purpose is to take action to combat corruption
and prevent criminal activities arising from corruption. It publishes annually Corruption
Perceptions Index and Global Corruption Barometer

Polluted environment kills 1.7 million children a year

According to recently released World Health Organisation (WHO) report titled Inheriting
a sustainable world: Atlas on childrens health and the environment, polluted environment
kills around 1.7 million children a year.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the environments impact especially air
pollution on childrens health, illustrating the scale of the challenge.
Key Highlights from Report
Every year, environmental risks such as outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water,
second-hand smoke, lack of sanitation and inadequate hygiene results in quarter of all
global deaths of children under five.
Large portion of the most common causes of death among children are diarrhoea,
malaria and pneumonia due to pollution.
Harmful exposures also increase the risk of premature birth.
When infants and pre-schoolers are exposed to air pollution they have an increased
lifelong risk of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma.
Exposure to air pollution may also increase their lifelong risk of stroke, heart disease
and cancer.
Childrens developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways,
make them vulnerable pollution.
India and Portugal on Renewable Energy. The MoU was signed in January, 2017 in New Delhi.
Under it, both countries aim to establish cooperative institutional relationship to encourage
and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of
mutual benefit equality and reciprocity.
It also envisages constitution of a Joint Working Group (JWG) which can co-opt other
members from Scientific Institutions, Universities, Research Centres, or any other entity, as
and when considered essential.
Union Cabinet approves accession to global customs convention
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for Indias accession to the Customs Convention
on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) and for
completion of necessary procedures for ratification, for its entry into force.
By joining the convention, Indian traders will get access to fast, easy, reliable and hassle free
international system for movement of goods by road or multi-modal means across the
territories of other contracting parties.
The need for inspection of goods at intermediate borders as well as physical escorts en route
shall be obviated due to reciprocal recognition of Customs controls. Customs clearance can
take place at internal Customs locations thereby avoiding clearances at Border Crossing

MOU / AGREEMENT
Ministry of Railways and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
signed Letters of Intent(LOI) on Environment Initiatives
Ministry of Railways signed a LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) with United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) to formalise the joint cooperation in the area of
environmental conservation.
The focussed areas identified for joint activities would be to:
Collaborate in Formulating Specific Roadmap for achieving 20% reduction in Water
consumption at Railway establishments.
Collaborate in the development of a Draft action plan for establishing waste
management centres at major stations on Indian Railways.
Collaborate in the development of a Draft action plan for Indian Railways on
sustainable public procurement for green technology.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an agency of United Nations and
coordinates its environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing
environmentally sound policies and practices.
It was founded by Maurice Strong, its first director, as a result of the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in June 1972 and has its
headquarters in the Gigiri neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya.
Cabinet approves MoU on Renewable Energy between India and Portugal
Points and ports that may often be congested.
Movement under the TIR is allowed by only checking the seals and the external conditions of
the load compartment or the container.
Thus, it will play important role in reducing border delays, transport and transaction costs
thereby leading to increased competitiveness and growth for the trade and transport sectors.
Compliance with the Convention will ensure enhanced security in the supply chain as only
approved transporters and vehicles are allowed to operate in terms of the Convention.
It also represents a guarantee for Customs duties and taxes and traffic in transit, so there is no
need for payment of such taxes and duties en route.
The TIR Convention can be an instrument for movement of goods along the International
North-South Transport (INSTC) Corridor and would be helpful in boosting trade with the
Central Asian Republics and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), particularly
using ports in Iran like the Chabahar port.
About TIR Convention
TIR Carnets, 1975 (TIR Convention) is an international transit system under the
auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
It facilitates the seamless movement of goods within and amongst the Parties to the
Convention.
At present there are 70 parties to the Convention, including 69 states and the European
Union.
It covers customs transit by road and other modes of transport (e.g., rail, inland
waterway, maritime transport), as long as at least one part of the total transport is made
by road.
It also serves as a Customs declaration, and hence it precludes the need to file multiple

The Union Cabinet approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between declarations satisfying national laws of the different transiting countries.
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 04
Cabinet approves MoU between India and the United Nations Entity of Gender
Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women)
Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
India and the United Nations Entity of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
(UN- Women ).
Under this MoU, Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and UN-Women will work in
collaboration with each other to promote participation of women in Panchayati Raj
Institutions (PRIs).
The proposal seeks to provide technical support to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in
strengthening capacities of governance institutions including Panchayati Raj
Institutions(PRIs) to better leverage opportunities created for gender equality through
legislation, policies and programmes.
MoPR and UN-Women will now work together towards participatory design of governance
processes and effective implementation of laws, policies and programmes to promote
gender responsive governance.
It will focus on building capacities of Elected Women Representatives to empower them and
enhance their effectiveness.
In the long run, it will enable an improvement in the status of rural women in India, as well
as contribute to meeting Indias commitment to the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action and the
Sustainable Development Goals.
It will facilitate the achievement of time-bound results in the implementation of specific
activities identified jointly by MoPR and UN Women within the broader framework for
cooperation under the UNDAF.
Activities under this MoU will be implemented at the district and sub-district level in six
States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Odisha, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
Definitive Agreement on Oil Storage and Management between ISPRL and
ADNOC of UAE
The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Definitive Agreement on Oil Storage and
Management between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL) and UAEs Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
Governments this move aims at boosting Indias energy security by ensuring a strategic
storage flow in for crude oil, from a government firm in Abu Dhabi for meeting unexpected
future exigencies.
According to the Agreement
ADNOC will fill up 0.81 MMT or 5,860,000 million barrels of crude oil at ISPRL
storage facility at Mangalore, Karnataka.
Out of the crude stored, some part will be used for commercial purpose of ADNOC,
while a major part will be purely for strategic purposes. The signing of the Agreement
will augment Indias energy security.
The investment by ADNOC is a major investment from UAE under the High Level
Task Force on Investment (HLTFI).
It is also first investment by UAE in India in the energy sector.
India being fastest growing economies and worlds third-biggest oil consumer, is building
emergency storage in underground caverns to hold 36.87 million barrels of crude.
It is equivalent to about 10 days of its average daily oil demand. This move aims to hedge
against energy security risks as it imports most of its oil needs.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and UAE in field of Energy Efficiency
Services
The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India
and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide various services in the field of energy
management and conservation.
The MoU was signed between the National Productivity Council (NPC), an autonomous
body under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of
Commerce and Al Etihad Energy Services UAE.
Under the MoU,
The NPC will provide the following services: (i) Energy Assessment Services ;
(ii)Training & Certification of Energy Auditors and (iii) Demand Side Management.
Meanwhile, Al Etihad ES will provide (i) Customer Support with UAE Government and
Private owned organizations in the UAE; (ii) Local support for Field Auditing
Professionals; (iii) local support for Training & Certification of Energy Auditors and
(iv) Support related to Demand Side Management of industries.
The MoU will enable NPC avail high value opportunities such as energy building and
develop institutional mechanism in area of energy efficiency in Dubai and other GCC
member countries.
It will provide recognition and exposure to further build NPCs capacities and competencies
in rapidly changing international business scenario.
The MoU will be precedent for NPCs engagements with other International collaboration
partners and will enhance its visibility in arena.
BANKING & ECONOMY
Funds to Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK)
Rural Electric Corporation (REC) Limited has contributed Rs. 25 crores towards SBK as part
of RECs Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
REC has also contributed Rs. 25 Crore towards this noble cause earlier in August 2016, thus
making a total contribution of Rs. 50 Crore to the Kosh.
About Swachh Bharat Kosh SBK
The SBK was set up to attract CSR funds from corporate sector and contribution from
individual philanthropists to achieve the objective of Clean India (Swachh Bharat)
through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by the year 2019, the 150th year of birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The SBK is to be used to achieve the objective of improving cleanliness levels in rural
and urban areas, including in schools.
The allocation from the SBK is being used to supplement departmental resources for
such activities.
All donations towards Swachh Bharat Kosh are eligible for deduction of 100% from the
total Income Tax.
The contributions to SBK can also be included by companies towards CSR under the
Companies Act, 2013.
About Rural Electric Corporation (REC)
Rural Electric Corporation (REC) Limited is an enterprise of the Government of India
under the Ministry of Power, mandated to provide financing for the power sector
development across the value chain in the field of generation, transmission,
distribution and above all, renewable energy development.
REC is the coordinating agency for implementing flagship programs of the
government in power sector that include Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
scheme, the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) programme and several other
initiatives of the government to ensure Power for All.
Downloading apps may cost money with Google tax
The government might impose a six per cent tax levy on all online multinational
companies that earn revenue from India, this could include even the downloading of apps on
smartphones.
India became the first country to impose equalisation levy, popularly being called Google Tax
which had impacted Indian businesses who use online
platforms of foreign digital companies like Google,
Amazon, Facebook, etc to advertise their products.
The Government decided to impose a 6% levy on any
payments made by Indian businesses for advertising in
websites of foreign companies that are not permanent
establishments.
The equalisation levy was a part of the governments
move to tax companies like Google, who were making
significant earnings from India but were not paying the
income tax.
The reason being that these companies do not fulfil the
criteria of a permanent establishment, commonly
defined as a fixed place of business in a tax territory.
Googe Tax: The finance ministry had notified that the equalisation levy (popularly known as
Google tax) introduced in budget. It came into force on June 1, 2016. As of now, it will apply
to payments for online advertisements made by Indian business entities to non-residents (such
as Google, Yahoo, Twitter, Facebook) where the aggregate payment in a financial year to a
non-resident exceeds Rs 1 lakh. Only B2B transactions attract this levy.
FM releases the Revised General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017
The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley recently released the Revised General Financial Rules
(GFRs) 2017.
The Revised GFR -2017 aims to provide a framework within which an organization manages
its business in a financially prudent manner without compromising its flexibility to deal with
varied situations.
The new GFRs 2017 will enable an improved, efficient and effective framework of fiscal
management while providing the necessary flexibility to facilitate timely delivery of services.
The GFRs are rules and orders dealing with matters involving public finances. General
Financial Rules were issued for the first time in 1947 bringing together in one place all
existing orders and instructions pertaining to financial matters. These have subsequently
been modified and issued as GFRs 1963 and GFRs 2005.
RBI to issue new Rs 10 notes soon with high security features
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon issue new Rs 10 currency notes with enhanced
security features.
The new notes will be in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005 with inset letter L in both the
number panels.
It will bear the signature of Dr. Urjit R. Patel and the year of printing 2017.
The numerals in both the number panels of these banknotes will be in the ascending size from
left to right and the first three alpha-numeric characters (prefix) will remain constant in size.
RBI also announced that, all the Banknotes in the denomination of Rs10 issued in the past will
continue to be legal tender.
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 passed in the Parliament
Parliament has passed the Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to raise maternity
leave for working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for two surviving children.
It was passed in the Lok Sabha and already has been passed in the Rajya Sabha during the
Winter Session.
India will be in third position in terms of the number of weeks allowed for maternity leave in
the world after Norway (44 weeks) and Canada (50).
The Bill seeks to amend the M aternity Benefit Act, 1961 to provide for the following
The Bill seeks to amend the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 which protects the
employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a maternity
benefit.
Maternity leave available to the working women to be increased from 12 weeks to 26
weeks for the first two children.
Woman who adopts a child below the age of three months and also commissioning
mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave.
In this case, commissioning mother is defined as biological mother who uses her egg to
create an embryo planted in any other woman.
Crche facilities: Every establishment with more than 50 employees must provide for
crche facilities for working mothers. Such mothers will be permitted to make four visits
during working hours to look after and feed the child in the crche.
Work from home: Employer may permit a woman to work from home, if the nature of
work assigned permits her to do so. This must be mutually agreed upon by the woman and
employer.
Information about benefits: Establishment must inform a working woman of all benefits
available under this law at the time of her appointment. Such information must be given
in electronically or writing.
Applicability: The provisions of this law will apply to every establishment employing ten
or more persons and include mines and factories. No employer can remove any woman
employee on ground of pregnancy.
Centre issues draft rules on e-wallet payments
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has issued draft
Information Technology (Security of Prepaid Payment Instruments) Rules 2017 for Prepaid
Payment Instruments (PPI) company or e wallet firms.
The draft rules seek to ensure integrity, security and confidentiality of electronic payments
made through PPIs. It covers an entire spectrum for protecting consumer information,
especially financial data.
Key Features of the Rules
Definition of e-PPI issuer: Person operating a payment system issuing prepaid payment
instruments to individuals or organisations under the aegis of Reserve Bank of India
(RBI).
Information security policy: Mandatory for e-PPI issuers to develop an information

security policy that ensures that the systems operated by them are secure.
Privacy policy and terms: Mandatory for e-PPIs to publish on their websites and
mobile applications both their privacy policy and terms for use of their payment
systems.
Risk assessment: Mandatory for e-PPI to carry out risk assessment to spot security
risks and also ensure adequate due diligence is done before issuing PPIs.
Chief grievance officer: e-PPIs should appoint a chief grievance officer with his
contact details prominently displayed on website. The officer must act upon any
complaint within 36 hours and close it in a months time.
End-to-end encryption: e-PPIs shall ensure that end-to-end encryption is applied to
safeguard the data exchanged. It shall retain data relating to electronic payments only
till necessary.
CERT-Ins responsibility: CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)
shall notify the categories of incidents and breaches that are required to be reported to
it mandatorily.
Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) : PPIs are methods that facilitate purchase of
goods and services against the value stored on such instruments. The value stored on such
instruments represents the value paid for by the holder, by debit, by cash to a bank account
or by credit card. These prepaid instruments can be issued as online wallets, mobile
accounts, mobile wallets, smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, internet accounts, paper
vouchers and any such instruments used to access the prepaid amount.
India and Belgium sign Protocol amending Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreement and Protocol
India and Belgium have signed a Protocol amending the existing Agreement and Protocol
between the two countries for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal
Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income.
The Protocol was signed by Sushil Chandra, Chairman Central Board of Direct Taxes
(CBDT) and Jan Luykx, Ambassador of Belgium to India.
The amendment of DTAA will broaden the scope of the existing framework of exchange of
tax related information between the two countries.
It will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance between the two countries and will also
enable mutual assistance in collection of taxes.
It also revises the scope of existing treaty
provisions on mutual assistance in collection of
taxes and further help to curb tax evasion and tax
avoidance.
Background : Fighting the menace of Black
Money stashed in offshore accounts has been a
key priority area for the Government. To further
this goal, India has either signed or amended
international agreements, declarations or
conventions for the Avoidance of Double
Taxation & Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and for the
Exchange of Information with Switzerland, Mauritius, Cyprus, Japan, Republic of Ko rea,
Kazakhstan, Singapore and Austria during the financial year 2016-17.
IDFC launches Biometric Based Payment System Aadhaar Pay
IDFC Bank became the first bank in the country to launch the biometric-based payment
system Aadhaar Pay through its network.
Aadhaar Pay will enable merchants to receive payments from customers without any
physical payment instrument.
Customer can use this service by first linking his bank account to the Aadhaar number. To
make a payment, customer just has to select the banks name and enter the Aadhaar
number.
The fingerprint will serve as the password to authenticate the transaction.
SBI launces Work from Home facility
The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new Work from Home facility to enable its
employees to work while at home using mobile devices.
This facility aims to address any urgent requirement employees may have, that prevents
their travelling to work.
For this purpose, SBI will use mobile computing technologies and shall have continuous
control over all the enabled devices.
It will centrally manage and secure the data and applications on the mobile devices.
Admiralty Bill2016
India is a leading maritime nation and maritime transportation caters to about ninety-five
percent of its merchandise trade volume.
The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016 was recently
passed by the Lok Sabha.
Admiralty laws deal with cases of accidents in navigable waters or involve contracts related
to commerce on such waters.
The Bill repeals laws such as the Admiralty Court Act, 1861, the Colonial Courts of
Admiralty Act, 1890.
Object ives of the bill:
The Bill aims to establish a legal framework to consolidate the existing laws relating to
admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty proceedings on maritime claims, arrest of
vessels and related issues.
It also aims to replace archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance.
Admiralty jurisdiction: The jurisdiction with respect to maritime claims under the Bill
will vest with the respective High Courts and will extend up to the territorial waters of their
respective jurisdictions. The central government may extend the jurisdiction of these High
Courts. Currently admiralty jurisdiction applies to the Bombay, Calcutta and Madras High
Courts. The Bill further extend this to the High Courts of Karnataka, Gujarat, Orissa,
Kerala, Hyderabad, and any other High Court notified by the central government.
M aritime claims: The High Courts may exercise jurisdiction on maritime claims arising
out of conditions including: (i) disputes regarding ownership of a vessel, (ii) disputes
between co-owners of a vessel regarding employment or earnings of the vessel, (iii)
mortgage on a vessel, (iv) construction, repair, or conversion of the vessel, (v) disputes
arising out of the sale of a vessel, (vi) environmental damage caused by the vessel, etc. The
Bill defines a vessel as any ship, boat, or sailing vessel which may or may not be
mechanically propelled.
While determining maritime claims under the specified conditions, the courts may settle
any outstanding accounts
between parties with regard to
the vessel. They may also
direct that the vessel or a
share of it be sold. With
regard to a sale, courts may
determine the title to the
proceeds of such sale.
P riorit y of marit ime
claims:Among all claims in
an admiralty proceeding,
highest priority will be given
to maritime claims, followed
by mortgages on the vessel,
and all other claims. Within
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 05
maritime claims, the highest priority will be given to claims for wages due with regard to
employment on the vessel. This would be followed by claims with regard to loss of life or
personal injury in connection with the operation of the vessel. Such claims will continue to
exist even with the change of ownership of the vessel.
Jurisdiction over a person: Courts may exercise admiralty jurisdiction against a person
with regard to maritime claims. However, the courts will not entertain complaints against a
person in certain cases. These include: (i) damage, or loss of life, or personal injury arising
out of collision between vessels that was caused in India, or (ii) non-compliance with the
collision regulations of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 by a person who does not reside or
carry out business in India. Further, Courts will not entertain action against a person until any
case against them with regard to the same incident in any court outside India has ended.
Arrest of vessel: The courts may order for the arrest of any vessel within their jurisdiction
for providing security against a maritime claim which is the subject of a proceeding. They
may do so under various reasons such as: (i) owner of the vessel is liable for the claim, (ii) the
claim is based on mortgage of the vessel, and (iii) the claim relates to ownership of the vessel,
etc.
Appeals:Any judgments made by a single Judge of the High Court can be appealed against to
a Division Bench of the High Court. Further, the Supreme Court may, on application by any
party, transfer an admiralty proceeding at any stage from one High Court to any other High
Court. The latter High Court will proceed with the matter from the stage where it stood at
the time of the transfer.
Assessors:The central government will appoint a list of assessors qualified and experienced
in admiralty and maritime matters. The central government will also determine the duties of
assessors, and their fee. Typically, assessors assist the judges in determining rates and claims
in admiralty proceedings.
Tech Mahindra acquires CJS Solutions Group
Software services firm Tech Mahindra Ltd has signed a definitive agreement to acquire US-
based healthcare information technology consulting company CJS Solutions Group that does
business as The HCI Group.
The deal values CJS Solutions at an enterprise value of $110 million.
The HCI Group works with global tier-I healthcare service providers, primarily in US and UK
and also has a presence in Europe, West Asia and Asia-Pacific.
It provides end-to-end implementation of electronic health record (EHR) and electronic
medical record (EMR) software, training and support services.
China overtakes Eurozone as worlds largest banking system
According to Financial Times, Chinas banking system has overtaken the eurozone to become
the worlds largest by assets.
It indicates both, Chinas increased influence in world finance and its reliance on debt to drive
growth since the 2009 global financial crisis.
Chinese bank assets had hit $33 trillion at the end of 2016, versus $31 trillion of the
eurozone, $16 trillion of the US and $7 trillion of Japan.
The value of Chinas banking system is more than 3.1 times the size of its annual economic
output, compared with 2.8 times for the eurozone and its banks.
Chinas GDP had surpassed EUs economic bloc in 2011 at market exchange rates, but its
banking system did not take over the top spot until the end of 2016. Add image Top Banks
in World
HDFC Bank launches Indias first Artificial Intelligence driven chatbot EVA
HDFC Bank launched electronic virtual assistant (EVA), Indias first artificial intelligence-
driven banking chatbot, for customer services.
It can answer millions of customer queries across multiple channels instantly. It can assimilate
knowledge from thousands of sources and provide answers in simple language in less than 0.4
seconds.
Since its launch Eva has answered over 1 lakh queries from thousands of customers from 17
countries across the world.
The system becomes smarter as it learns through its customer interactions.
Government announces new licensing policy to boost oil output
The Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has announced new Open Acreage Licensing
Policy(OALP) for oil and gas exploration.
The new policy will allow bidders to carve out areas where they want to drill.
It will help energy hungry India and worlds third-largest oil consumer to attract greater
foreign investment to boost output.
The objective of OLAP is to increase Indias indigenous oil and gas production by maximising
the potential of already discovered hydrocarbon resources in the country.
OALP offers single license to explore conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources
to propel investment in and provide operational flexibility to the investors.
It provides operational flexibility to the
investors. It is departure from the current
licensing policy of government identifying the
oil and gas blocks and then putting them on
auction.
Under it, Government will conduct auction of oil
and gas blocks twice a year, with the first round
being held in July 2017.
The selection of oil blocks will be based on
seismic and well data provided by Directorate-
General of Hydrocarbons in National Data
Repository which offers total of 160TB data of
Indias 26 sedimentary basins.
The OALP auction will be held under the overhauled exploration licensing policy, allowing
pricing and marketing freedom to operators and shifts to a revenue sharing model.
High level delegation to USA to promote Indias new Hydrocarbon Exploration and
Licensing Policy (HELP) at CERA Week 2017
A high level delegation led by Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri
Dharmendra Pradhan had organized a promotion event for Indias new Hydrocarbon
Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) at CERA Week 2017 in Houston, Worlds energy
capital on 6thMarch 2017.
The aim was to encourage active global participation in upcoming investment opportunities
in India which has one of the worlds fast growing oil and gas industry.
The promotion event was participated by global energy leaders, government dignitaries,
policy makers, innovators and industry professionals.
2017 marks the 36th anniversary of this influential event, ranked among the top five
corporate leader conferences in the world.
About HELP:
The Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP) opens up Indias entire
sedimentary basin for investment from domestic and foreign players under a simplified,
transparent and investor -friendly fiscal and administrative regime.
The new policy aims to provide Investors a ready access to huge amount of seismic data
available in National Data Repository (NDR), flexibility to carve out exploration
acreages through an open acreage licensing process and increased operational autonomy
through a new revenue sharing model.
The National Data Repository (NDR) manifested through an open acreage licensing
(OAL) process will be a key facilitator by providing seamless access to Indias entire E&P
data process through a digital medium to all investors with the objective of harnessing the
potential of Indias large basinal area.
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 06
The key features of HELP are:
Single, uniform license for extraction and exploration for all types of hydrocarbon
prospects.
Open acreage licensing (OAL) which will permit investors to carve out interested
blocks and submit Expression of Interest (EoI), which will be subsequently given
through bi-annual bid rounds.
Simple and easy to administer Revenue Sharing Model.
Full marketing freedom and free pricing for crude oil and natural gas.
Exploration allowed during entire contract period.
Zero royalty rates for deep water & ultra-deep water blocks for first 7 years.
Equal weightage to work program and fiscal share.
No oil cess.
Custom duty exemption.
Trade Mark Rules 2017
The Trade Mark Rules, 2017 have come into effect, streamlining and simplifying the
processing of Trade Mark applications.
The new rules were released by Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry and will replace
the erstwhile Trade Mark Rules, 2002.
Some salient features of the revamped Rules are as follows:
Number of Trade Mark (TM) Forms have been reduced from 74 to 8.
For the first time, the rules have laid out, modalities for determination of well-known
trademarks.
To promote e-filing of TM applications, the fee for online filing has been kept at
10% lower than that for physical filing.
Based on stakeholders feedback, the fees for Individuals, Start-ups and Small
Enterprises have been reduced from that proposed in the draft Rules i.e. only Rs
4,500 as against Rs 8,000 for e-filing of TM applications proposed at the draft stage.
The provisions related to expedited processing of an application for registration of a
trade mark extended upto registration stage. Earlier, it was only upto examination
stage.
Modalities for service of documents from applicants to the Registry and vice-versa
through electronic means have been introduced to expedite the process.
e-mail has been made an essential part of address for service to be provided by the
applicant or any party to the proceedings so that the office communication may be
sent through email.
Hearing through video conferencing has been introduced.
Number of adjournments in opposition proceedings has been restricted to a maximum
of two by each party to dispose off matters in time.
Procedures relating to registration as Registered User of trademarks have also been
simplified. Over all fees have been rationalized by reducing the number of entries in
Schedule I from 88 to just 23.
Trade mark means a mark capable of being represented graphically and which is capable of
distinguishing the goods or services of one person from those of others and may include
shape of goods, their packaging and combination of colours.
CCEA approves development of 50 un-served and under-served air strips
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved proposal for revival of
50 under-served/un-served airports or airstrips of the State Governments, Airports
Authority of India (AAI) and Civil enclaves.
The announcement for making adequate provisions for revival of under-served/un-served
airports was made by the Union Finance Minister in Union Budget 2016-17.
The total cost of the revival project is estimated to be Rs. 4500 crore and will be
undertaken in three financial years
starting fr om 2017-18.
15 airports/airstrips each would be revived
during 2017-18 and 2018-19 each. During
2019-20, 20 airports/airstrips will be
revived.
The airports will be developed without
insisting on financial viability.
The Revival of airports will be demand
driven, depending upon firm
commitment from airline operators as
well as from the State Governments for
providing various concessions as Airports.
It will help in connecting small cities/towns on commencement of operation of flights to
under-served and un-served airports.
It will further boost the economic development in these areas as well as surrounding areas
in terms of job creation and related infrastructure development.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Sweet spot in eye helps humans read
Scientists have found that a special sweet spot in the eye called fovea plays a crucial role
in humans being able to focus on computer screens and also read, an ability which is unique
to Homo sapiens.
The fovea is a specialised region that dominates our visual perception. It provides more
than half of the input from the eyes to the visual cortex of the brain.
The fovea is responsible for our visual experiences that are rich in colourful spatial detail.
Vision scientists have uncovered some of the reasons behind the unusual perceptual
properties of the eyes fovea. Among mammals, only humans and other primates have this
dimple-like structure in their retinas. Owls, some other predatory birds, and some reptiles
have a similar structure.
Diseases such as macular degeneration are much more debilitating than deficits in peripheral
eyesight because of the importance of the fovea to everyday vision.
The findings decipher the mechanism that lets humans read the text, recognise faces, enjoy
colours.
BrahMos missile successfully test-fired
The land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with an extended range
increased from 290 km to 450 km was successfully test fired.
The missile was test fired from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) from the Integrated
Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha. It met its mission parameters fully by achieving
100% results.
About BrahMos missile
BrahMos supersonic cruise
missile has been designed and
developed by BrahMos
Aerospace, a joint venture of
India and Russia.
It name has been derived from
the names of two rivers, Indias
Brahmaputra River and Russias
Moskva River.
Features: It has top supersonic
speed of Mach 2. It is two-stage
missile, the first one being solid
and the second one ramjet liquid propellant. It is capable of carrying a warhead of 300
kilogram, both conventional and nuclear.
Range: Its earlier strike range was 290 km. But after Indias induction into the
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June 2016, missiles range has been
increased beyond 300km in the same configuration. Another version of the missile
with a strike range of 800 km is under development.
Deployment: It has already been inducted into the Indian Army and Navy, while the
Air Force version is in the final stage of trials. Navys first version was inducted in
2005 on INS Rajput.
The Indian Army is already equipped with three regiments of Block III version of
Brahmos missiles. Now, it is fully operational with two regiments of the Army.
About MTCR
Established in April 1987, the voluntary MTCR aims to limit the spread of ballistic
missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological,
and nuclear attacks.
The MTCR regime urges its members, which include most of the worlds key missile
manufacturers, to restrict their exports of missiles and related technologies capable of
carrying a 500-kilogram payload at least 300 kilometers or delivering any type of
weapon of mass destruction.
NASA to explore Jupiters icy moon
NASAs Europa Clipper set to launch in the 2020s will probe the habitability of Jupiters icy
moonEuropa.
The mission plan includes 40 to 45 flybys, during which the spacecraft would image the
moons icy surface at high resolution and
investigate its composition and the
structure of its interior and icy shell.
Europa has long been a high priority for
exploration because it holds a salty liquid
water ocean beneath its icy crust.
The ultimate aim of Europa Clipper is to
determine if Europa is habitable,
possessing all three of the ingredients
necessary for life: liquid water, chemical
ingredients, and energy sources sufficient
to enable biology.
RV Sindhu Sankalp completes 100 expeditions
Research Vessel (RV) Sindhu Sankalp, the flagship research vessel of CSIR- National Institute
of Oceanography (NIO), has completed 100 expeditions.
The vessel, which was originally built as fishing training vessel ( FV Chisio Maru ) by the
Japanese Government in 1989, was procured by NIO from Japan in 2008.
The vessel sailed across Bay of Bengal, Andaman Seas and Arabian Sea and has provided
invaluable data and samples to understand the ocean processes and mapping of sea floor and
water column variables.
Equipped with CTD system, multi-beam bathymetric system, echo-sounder and sub-bottom
profiler, RV Sindhu Sankalp played a key role in conducting seabed geophysical and
environmental surveys in KG Basin.
Iran successfully tests ballistic missile Hormuz 2
Iran successfully tested a ballistic missile Hormuz 2. During the test, the missile destroyed a
floating target at a distance of approximately 250 kilometers.
Hormuz-2 is a naval strike ballistic missile intended to hit moving targets at sea with high
precision. It has a range of nearly 300 kilometers.
It is similar in appearance to the anti-ship Khalij-e-Fars (Persian Gulf) ballistic missile.
Earlier, Iran successfully tested the S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system purchased
from Russia.
Himachal Pradesh Government launches mobile App Mera Hunar HP for job-
seekers
Himachal Pradesh Government launched mobile App and website Mera Hunar HP for job-
seekers. It is first of its kind app and website in the country.
Mera Hunar is a web based platform where the skilled, semi-skilled persons can apply for
various jobs as per their convenience.
The platform is available both in English and Hindi. It will directly connect the prospective
employers with the job seekers.
This will benefit those looking for daily jobs within their area. It will create self-employment
as well as huge data-base of all the job seekers skilled in different trades.
Scientists found lost Chandrayaan-1 orbiting Moon
Scientists at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have found Indias first lunar probe,
Chandrayaan-1 which was considered lost almost eight years back, has been found orbiting the
Moon some 200 kilometers above the lunar surface.
They also have found NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
The ISRO lost communication with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, 2009, almost a year after it
was launched on October 22, 2008.
How these probes were discovered?
Both space probes were discovered using JPLs new ground-based radar technique by
sending out a powerful beam of microwaves towards the moon.
The beams were produced using 70-metre antenna at NASAs Goldstone Deep Space
Communications Complex in California.
The radar echoes bounced back from lunar orbit were received by the 100-metre Green
Bank Telescope in West Virginia.
The LRO was easily discovered as scientists were working with the missions navigators had
precise orbit data.
But finding of Chandrayaan-1, very small
and cuboid in shape, about 1.5 metres in
length on each side was little bit difficult
as ISRO had last contact with it.
Even finding a derelict spacecraft at lunar
distance that has not been tracked for
years is tricky because the moon is riddled
with Mascons are regions with higher-
than-average gravitational pull.
It is believed that they may had dramatically affected spacecrafts orbit over time, and even
cause it to crashed into the moon.
NIO finds a new canyon system close to Kovvada coast, Andhra Pradesh
Scientists of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Visakhapatnam are an
ecstatic lot. They have found three new canyons forming a major canyon system in the
depths of Bay of Bengal close to Kovvada in Srikakulam district.
This discovery was made by clearly mapping the ocean floor between Visakhapatnam and
Srikakulam by sending over 32 high density beams to the depths of the sea.
Canyon systems are generally formed by the flow of river water into the sea and they could be
as old as the river system, which is close to 23 million years.
The new canyon systems were discovered between Viskhapatnam and a few kilometres north
of Bheenumipatnam and they were named as Andhra after Andhra University, Mahadevan
after Prof. Mahadeven, who is considered to be the father of Geology in India, and Krishna
 Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 07

after the then Vice-Chancellor of AU Prof. V.S. Krishna.
The new canyon system is very huge and probably formed by the river Kandivalasa. The
depth of the canyon varies from about 90 metres from the starting point to about 2,500
metres at the deepest point, and it extends to about 50 to 70 km deep into the sea and the
width varies from 50 metres to 2 km
As per the findings, the depth is more than the Grand Canyon, which is about 1,857
metres.
The last canyon systems off the Visakhapatnam coast were discovered in 1963 by
American geologist E.C. LaFond of the US Navy Electronics Laboratory. The data was
collected on board research ship Anton Bruun.
Most of the canyons in the ocean system across the world act as channels for depositing
sediments from the river in the shelf region. There are more chances of finding hydro-
carbons if the deposits are more.
1986, notification was issued in 1991 for regulation of activities in the coastal area by
Ministry of Environment and Forests.
This notification known as Coastal Regulation Zone Notification defined the Coastal
Regulation Zone or CRZ as coastal land up to 500m from the High Tide Line and a
range of 100m along banks of creeks, estuaries, backwaters and rivers subject to tidal
fluctuations is CRZ.
According to Coastal Regulation Zone notifications, it is divided into 4 zones:
CRZ I It refers to the ecologically sensitive areas, essential in maintaining
ecosystem of the coast. These lie between the HTL and LTL. Only
exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt is permitted.
CRZ II These areas form up to the shoreline of the coast. Authorized
structures are not allowed to be constructed in this zone.
CRZ III This includes rural and urban localities. Only certain activities
relating to agriculture and public utilities allowed here.
CRZ IV This includes the aquatic area up to the territorial limit (12
nautical miles). Fishing and allied activities permitted in this zone. Solid
waste can be let off in this zone.

EU successfully launches 5th satellite of Copernicus observation program

European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched Sentinel-2B satellite, fifth of its
Sentinel Earth observation satellites part of its multi-billion-euro Copernicus observation
program.
The optical imaging satellite was launched on board of a Vega rocket from ESAs spaceport
in French Guiana.
It marks overall ninth successful launch of the Vega launcher since its debut in 2012.
The Sentinel-2B satellite is part of satellites system that monitors Earth. It will join its twin
Sentinel-2A, which has been in orbit since 2015.
The two satellites will orbit 786 km above Earth, on opposite sides of planet.
They will take high-resolution, colour and infrared images for a wide array of environmental
initiatives, including crop forecasting and monitoring natural disasters.
Together, they will cover all of Earths land surfaces, large islands, inland and coastal
waterways every five days, providing more up-to-date images and at higher resolution than
have been available.
It will help track pollution of lakes and coastal waters, monitor land changes and produce
disaster maps by providing information on floods, landslide and volcanic eruptions.
About Copernicus observation program :
Copernicus observation program is the worlds largest single earth observation
programme.
Punjab Agricultural University develops genetically-modified cotton varieties It is directed by the European Commission in partnership with ESA.
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has claimed developing countrys first It consists of constellation of seven Sentinel Earth observation satellites.
genetically-modified (GM) varieties of cotton PAU Bt 1 and F1861. The first satellite of the series was launched in April 2014.
Cotton is the only GM crop allowed to be cultivated in India. It aims at achieving a global, continuous, autonomous, high quality, wide range Earth
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also has identified three Bt cotton observation capacity by providing accurate, timely and easily accessible information.
varieties F1861, PAU Bt 1 and RS2013 for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. It also aims at improving the management of the environment, understand and
The genetic modification of cotton involves introduction of the Bt bacterial gene that mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure civil security.
codes for a protein which kills the bollworm cotton pest. Copernicus observation program is successor of previous European Envisat program
All three varieties carry the Cry1Ac gene obtained from Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) bacteria. which operated from 2002 to 2012.
It imparts resistance against bollworm cotton pest.
Besides, seeds of these three genetically-modified varieties can be reused by farmers with no
commercial restrictions. SPORTS
It will aid in savings on repeat seed purchases every season.
The PAU Bt 1 variety was completely developed at PAU, whereas the F1861 and RS2013
were converted to Bt version by Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur.
SSP Chawrasia defends Indian Open Title
SSP Chawrasia (38) created history after defending his title at the Hero Indian Open with a
remarkable seven-stroke win in New Delhi.
INS Tillanchang commissioned at Karwar He is only the second Indian golfer after Jyoti Randhawa to successfully defend the Hero
India Navy has commissioned INS Tillanchang, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) at Indian Open.
Karwar, Karnataka. It was his sixth win on the Asian Tour and overall sixth international victory. With this
It is the third ship of four follow-on WJFAC built by the Kolkata based Garden Reach victory, he also became the first Indian to win back-to-back Indian Open titles at different
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The first two ships of the class, INS Tarmugli and INS venues (DGC & DLF Golf & Country Club).
Tihayu were commissioned in 2016 and are based at Visakhapatnam. He also became first Indian to successfully defend a European Tour title and the first player
These ships will play a vital role in light of Indias security environment. They are designed to win their first four events in their home country.
to take on both conventional and asymmetric threats.
INS Tillanchang has been indigenously designed and built and is an upgrade from the Chetlat
class of Fast Attack Craft (FCA).
Punjab wins 2017 Santosh Trophy of Football
It is about 50 m long and powered by three waterjet propulsion system, which give it speeds Punjab has won the 71st Santosh Trophy football tournament by defeating Railways by 2-1
of over 35 knots and it is armed with a 30 mm main gun and a number of light, medium and goals.
heavy machine guns to undertake operations at sea. It was Punjabs overall ninth Santosh Trophy after it had earlier won it in 1970, 1974, 1980,
It will be used for missions like Coastal and Off-shore Surveillance, Law Enforcement, EEZ 1984, 1985, 1987, 2006 and 2007.
Control as well as non-military missions such as Search and Rescue, Humanitarian For Punjab, both goals were scored by Rajbir Singh (16th and 61st minutes).
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). For Railways, goal was scored by Rajesh Soosanayakam (59th minute).
INS Tillanchang will be based at Karwar under the operational control of the Flag Officer
Commanding, Karnataka Naval Area. It is manned by 50 personnel. Winners of 2017 All England Championship Title of Badminton
Mens Single: Malaysias Lee Chong Wei won the title by defeating Chinas Shi Yuqi by 21-12,
Web Portal for obtaining CRZ Clearances 21-10 score. It was his overall fourth title in mens singles event and had earlier won in 2010,
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched 2011 and 2014.
the web portal for obtaining Coastal Regulation Mens Double: Indonesias Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo won the title by defeating
Zone (CRZ) clearances. Chinas Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen
The portal is a web-based system for obtaining by 21-19, 21-14 score.
Womens Single: Tai Tzu-ying
clearances required from the Environment
Ministry under the (CRZ) by the Project (China) won the title by
propon ents. defeating Ratchanok Intanon
The objectives of the web portal are (i) Enhance (Thailand) by 21-16, 22-20
efficiency, transparency and accountability in score.
Womens Double: South Koreas
the process of CRZ clearances (ii) Enhance
responsiveness through workflows and Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee
availability of real-time information on the won the title by defeating
status of CRZ clearance proposals (iii) ease of Denmarks Kamilla Rytter Juhl
business and convenience of citizens in accessing and Christinna Pedersen by
information and services; standardised 21-18, 21- 13 score.
Mixed Double: Chinas Lu Kai
procedures and processes across Central and
State levels. and Huang Yaqiong won the title
The user-friendly portal enables submission of by defeating Malaysias Peng
applications for CRZ clearance in a single- Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh by
window interface and facilitates quick flow of 18-21, 21-19, 21-14 score.
information related to CRZ clearances.
The portal allocates a unique identity for each Sachin Tendulkar appointed
proposal for all future references. It is accessible as official ambassador of
from any computer with internet facility.
womens World Cup 2017
The system will enable the project proponents
International Cricket Council
and the concerned State/Union Territory bodies
(ICC) has appointed Indian
like the State Coastal Zone Management
cricketing legend Sachin
Authorities (SCZMAs) and Municipal/Town
Tendulkar as the official
Planning agencies to track status of their
ambassador of Womens Cricket
proposals.
World Cup 2017.
The system is based on web architecture, similar
The womens World Cup is
to the existing systems of the ministry for
scheduled to be held in June 2017
environmental and forest clearances.
at England and Wales with eight
Abo ut Coa stal R egulat ion Zo ne (CR Z):
top cricketing countries
Under the Environmental Protection Act
locking horns to grab the
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 08
coveted trophy.
The tournament will host 28 matches at five different venues with the final at Lords
Stadium.
IMPORTANT DAYS / DATES / EVENTS
9 March: World Kidney Day
The World Kidney Day was observed on 9 March to raise awareness of the importance of
kidneys for good health.
The theme for year 2017 was Kidney Disease and Obesity: Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy
Kidneys.
It aimed to promote education about the harmful consequences of obesity and its association
with kidney diseases.
The World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Federation of Kidney
Foundations (IFKF) and International Society of Nephrology (ISN).
The day was launched as a global health awareness campaign to reduce the frequency and
impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
FOIN 2017
rd
3 Festival of Innovation (FOIN) was recently held in Presidents house.
The Festival of Innovation (FOIN) is a unique initiative of the Office of the President of
India to recognise, respect and reward grassroots innovations and foster a supportive
eco system.
Hosted in the month of March at The Presidents House, the FOIN has become a national
celebration of creativity and innovation at and for grassroots.
In sync with the policies of the government of India, FOIN will provide a window to the
creative and innovative solutions for social development through grassroots innovations,
student ideas and other technologies for agriculture, rural development, sanitation, health,
women and child development, biotechnology and medical innovation for grassroots.
13th Economic Co-operation Organisation summit held in Islamabad
The 13th edition of Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) summit was held in
Islamabad, Pakistan.
The purpose of the summit is to increase cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, energy,
economic growth and productivity.
The ECO is a Eurasian political and economic intergovernmental organization formed in
1985 by Pakistan, Iran and Turkey.
It now also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan,
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Halil Ibrahim Akca from Turkey is its current Secretary
General.
11th North-East Business Summit held in New Delhi
The 11th edition of North-East Business Summit (NEBS) was held New Delhi.
The two-day summit aimed to facilitate investment, highlight strengths of the North-East
Region (NER) and business opportunities which North-East can offer.
The summit also showcased the untapped business potential of North-East to investors
worldwide.
March 8: International Womens Day
The International Womens Day (IWD) is observed every year on March 8 to
commemorate the struggle for womens rights and to highlight the achievements of women
while calling for greater equality.
It is an annual marker that aims to bring attention to womens accomplishments and
obstacles.
The UN celebrates the day on the basis of different themes. In 2016, the theme was Planet
50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality. This year, the theme is Women in the
Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.
Its campaign theme is #BeBoldForChange.
The day has now come to be also known as the United Nations Day for Womens Rights and
Internatio nal Peace.
National Safety Week observed
The National Safety Week (NSW) was observed from March 4 to 10 to raise safety
awareness among people.
It was observed by the National Safety Council (NSC) of India.
It seeks to prevent and lessen the loss of human life and tackle financial losses to the family
by availing them of safety, health and environment-related support services.
The 2017 theme was Keep Each Other Safe.
IORA Leaders Summit held in Jakarta
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders Summit was recently held in Jakarta,
capital of Indonesia from March 5 to 7, 2017.
The theme of the summit was Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable
and Prosperous Indian Ocean.
It was attended by leaders from 21 member states of IORA. From India, Vice President
Hamid Ansari attended the two-day summit.
Key Highlights of IORA 2017
It drew attention on issues of regional interest such as maritime security, disaster relief
and humanitarian assistance, fisheries management, people-to-people exchanges, trade
and investment and tourism.
21 member states issued a strategic vision document known as the Jakarta Concord. It
sets out a vision strengthening the regional architecture to face its challenges.
It also issued Joint Declaration of the IORA business Community to build partnership
for a sustainable and equitable economic growth.
It also adopted IORA Action Plan, a document containing the implementation actions
of the Jakarta Concord to strengthen the implementation of priority areas and cross-
sectorial commitments.
The Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism was
also adopted, stating importance of countering terrorism.
The member nations stressed on the need to work together in order to eliminate the
growth and spread of terrorism and violent extremism.
About Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA):
IORA is an international organisation consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian
Ocean, established in 1997 to promote cooperation in the IORA.
It is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of
Government, Academia and Business for promoting co-operation and closer interaction
among them.
It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic
Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as
Social Development of the region.
IORA comprises 21 member states (including India) and 7 dialogue partners.
Besides, Indian Ocean Research Group and the Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation have
observer status.
Jal Kranti Abhiyan held in New Delhi
The national conference on Jal Kranti Abhiyan was held in New Delhi.
It was organized by the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation.
About 700 participants representing various stakeholder groups such as farmers, Panchayat
members, officials, NGOs and students attended the conference.
Jal Kranti Abhiyan was launched on June 05, 2015 to consolidate water conservation and
management in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all
stakeholders making it a mass movement.
One of the main objectives of the Jal Kranti Abhiyan is
strengthening grass root involvement of all stakeholders
including Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies for
Participatory Irrigation Man agement.
There are four important components of Jal Kranti Abhiyan viz.
Jal Gram Yojana, Development of Model Command Area,
Pollution Abatement and Mass Awareness Programme.
Under Jal Gram Yojana two water stressed villages in each district
of the country are to be selected and a comprehensive water
security plan is formulated to achieve water security for
these villages.
So far 726 such villages have been identified against the total
target of 828. Integrated Water Security Plan for 180 Villages have been prepared and 61 of
them have been approved.
International Yoga fest held in New Delhi
The two-day International Yoga fest was held at Talkatora stadium in New Delhi.
It was inaugurated by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
It was organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga in association with the Indian
Yoga associations.
More than 3,500 participants including eminent yoga gurus, yoga masters, scholars, policy
makers and representatives from 15- 18 countries had participate in this mega event.
Parallel yoga workshop, lectures, Satsang, cultural programmes and yoga demos were
organised in this event.
Besides, exhibition of more than 50 stalls of books, DVDs, yoga appliances and other yoga
related products were displayed.
Indo-Nepal joint Military exercise Surya Kiran-XI held in Uttarakhand
The eleventh edition of joint military exercise Surya Kiran 2017 between India and Nepal
began in Pithoragarh area of Uttarakhand.
In this 14 days exercise, Nepal Army is being represented by the officers and troops of the
elite DURGA BAKSH Battalion while the EKTA SHAKTI Battalion of The Punjab Regiment
is participating on behalf of the Indian Army.
This is eleventh such battalion level exercise between the two countries aimed at training of
troops in counter insurgency operations in mountainous terrain.
It will focus on skills required for natural disaster management, counter-insurgency and jungle
warfare.
It will focus on other important aspects such as
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
(HADR) operations and environmental
conservation.
Both the armies will mutually benefit from the
varied experiences gained during the exercise
and strengthen the friendly relation between Nepal
and India.
Surya Kiran is largest exercise in terms of troops
participation in series of military training exercises
undertaken by India with various countries.
The 10 edition of the exercise was held at Army
Battle School, Saljhandi in Nepal in November 2016.
India-Oman joint military exercise Al-Nagah-II 2017 held in Himachal Pradesh
Second edition of the joint exercise between the Indian and Oman Armies has begun in the
Dhauladhar Ranges in Bakloh belt of Himachal Pradesh to strengthen the military ties
between the two countries.
The first edition of the exercise was held at Muscat, Oman in 2015.
The 14-day joint exercise aims to acquaint both forces with each others operating
procedures in the backdrop of counter insurgency, counter terrorism environment.
The troops have been drawn from one infantry battalion each from the two armies.
Approximately sixty troops from both countries are participating in the exercise.
The aim of this exercise is to acquaint both forces with each other s operating procedures,
improve the interoperability in conducting joint operations in the backdrop of counter
insurgency/ counter terrorism environment as also to enhance the existing military
relationship between the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman.
13th Executive Committee Meeting of the International Smart Grid Action
Network (ISGAN) inaugurated
The 13th Executive Committee (ExCo) Meeting of the International Smart Grid Action
Network (ISGAN) was held at POWERGRID Corporate Centre, Gurugram.
This was the first ever meeting of ISGAN held in India. It was hosted by the Union Ministry
of Power.
Smart Grid implementation in India would get a boost from deliverables obtained through
decisions and actions taken in 13th ISGAN ExCo Meeting as ISGAN aims to improve the
understanding of smart grid technologies, practices and promote adoption of related enabling
government policies.
A total of 36 representatives from 18 countries namely Austria, Belgium, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, US and UAE are participating in this event.
ISGAN is an agreement under International Energy Agency (IEA). It consists of
representatives from 25 countries across the globe including India which is one of its
founding member.
ISGAN provides mechanism for multilateral government-to-government (G2G)
collaboration to advance the development and deployment of smarter electric grid
technologies, practices and systems.
Membership in ISGAN is voluntary, and currently includes Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, China, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
Commonwealth launches programme to stamp out domestic violence
The Commonwealth of Nations has launched Peace in the home programme to help
member states tackle domestic violence which still remains a stubborn stain on
communities, disproportionately impacting women.
The programme was launched on Womens Day (March 8) and will continue through till 2018,
when there is expected to be an accord on ending domestic violence in the Commonwealth.
Key features of the home programme
The Commonwealth initiative will build a coalition of governments, businesses, human
rights institutions, civil society and individual citizens to choral efforts to address
domestic violence.
It will include toolkits to help governments across Commonwealth involve multiple
agencies such as schools, hospitals and doctors as well as government and law

enforcement agencies to work together effectively.
It will help countries highlight and share details of initiatives that had been particularly
successful at dealing with domestic violence.
It will also be a mentoring programme for women and an initiative to address the issue of
violence around elections and politics.
An initiative to map the economic cost of domestic violence in Commonwealth
countries, as well as focus on strengthening laws protecting women and girls across the
group will also be launched.
Abo ut Co mmonw ealt h of Natio ns:
It is an international intergovernmental organisation of countries that were mostly
former territories of the British Empire and dependencies.
It was established by the London Declaration in 1949. Many countries from Africa, Asia,
Americas, Europe and the Pacific have joined the Commonwealth.
Current membership includes 52 counties (including India). Membership is based on free
and equal voluntary co-operation.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth. She is also the monarch of 16
members of the Commonwealth, known as Commonwealth realms.
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
Kamaladevi Chattopadhya National Awards
The Government has announced Kamaladevi Chattopadhya National Awards, a new category
of awards especially for women handloom weavers and women handicraft artisans.
The awards are being instituted from this year, so that women weavers and artisans receive due
recognition and economic benefits associated with the Awards.
About Kamaladevi Chattopadhya
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was an Indian social reformer and freedom fighter. She is
most remembered for her contribution to the Indian independence movement; for being
the driving force behind the renaissance of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and theatre in
independent India; and for upliftment of the socio-economic standard of Indian women
by pioneering the co-operative movement.
Several cultural institutions in India today exist because of her vision, including the
National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Central Cottage Industries
Emporium, and the Crafts Council of India.
National Awards for Innovation in Educational Administration
The National Awards for Innovation in Educational Administration were recently presented to
the participants in New Delhi.
The Awards have been instituted by the National University of Educational Planning and
Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi.
The main objective of the programme is to recognize innovative ideas and practices adopted
by district and block level education officers for effective management of the educational
administrative system at district and block levels, and ensuring institutional development and
performance at school level.
Viola Davis awarded Harvards Artist of the YearAward 2017
Popular actress Viola Davis was awarded the 2017 Artist of the Year Award by Harvard
Foundation.
She was presented the award during foundations 32nd annual Cultural Rhythms Festival.
Besides, this award she also has won Oscar for the best supporting actress, Golden Globe,
Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice, and British Academy of Films and Television Arts
(BAFTA) awards for her role of Rose Maxson in Fences.
Harvards Artist of the Year Award is given annually to honor Americas most acclaimed artists
and scientists.
Viola Davis is the only black woman to be nominated for three Academy Awards and the only
black actress to win the Triple Crown of Acting. In 2012, Time had listed her as one of the
100 most influential people in the world.
IIT-M solar inverter system wins 2017 IEEE Spectrum Technology Award
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras has won the 2017 IEEE Spectrum Technology in
the Service of Society Award for its solar-direct current (DC) inverter system.
The system was developed by Centre for Decentralised Power Systems at IIT-M using micro
grid technology.
The system converts in-home power distribution from 230V Analog Current (AC) to 48V DC
to directly power appliances and devices.
It is equipped to tap rooftop solar power, making it most energy efficient solution for homes
and offices.
It also consists of DC solar generation, DC power-line, DC appliances and battery.
It has been currently deployed in 4,000 off-grid homes in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan
and also deployed in around 7,200 homes in Assam.
It also has been installed in villages in Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and
Telan gana.
IEEE Spectrum Technology in the Service of Society Award: It is presented to the
company/institution voted by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Spectrum editors as having developed the technology that has the potential to benefit
mankind.
Konkani Writer Mahabaleshwar Sail selected for Saraswati Samman 2016
Eminent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail (74) was selected for the prestigious Saraswati
Samman 2016 for his novel Hawthan.
His novel was shortlisted out of 22 books written in as many languages.
He will receive cash prize of Rs 15 lakh and a citation.
About M ahabaleshwar Sail: He is bilingual writer based in Goa. He has written four
Marathi dramas and seven Konkani novels. He has also written five short stories and a novel
in Marathi. He is best known for his work, Paltadcho Munis, which inspired a film by the
same name. Most of his short stories and novels are translated into English and Hindi,
Hawtha, his work of fiction presenting the cultural map of the traditional potter community
of Goa was published in 2009
About Saraswati Samman: Saraswati Samman is an annual award bestowed upon Indian
citizen for his outstanding literary work written in any Indian language mentioned in Schedule
VIII of Constitution and published during last 10 years. The award has been named after an
Indian goddess of learning and is considered to be among the highest literary awards in India.
It was established in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation. It carries cash prize of 15 lakh
rupees, a citation and a plaque of goddess Saraswati. Eminent Hindi author Harivansh Rai
Bachchan was the first recipient of this award for his autobiography in four volumes
MP Veerendra Kumar awarded Moortidevi award 2016
Noted Malayalam author and journalist M P Veerendra Kumar was awarded 30th edition of
Moortidevi award 2016 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization.
He was awarded for his Malayalam travelogue Hymavathabhoovil, which dwells upon
ancient trails of Indian culture, myth, literature and people strewn in the plains, valleys and
mountains of India.
It also highlights environmental concerns over fragile mountain ecosystem and calls for
action over lack of water resources and waste disposal systems.
Mr. Kumar is Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi
and a Rajya Sabha MP.
Moortidevi award is given annually for books written in all Indian languages besides English
pertaining to Indian philosophy. It consists of a Saraswati statue, a citation plaque and cash
award of Rs. 4 lakh.
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 09
PERSONS IN NEWS
British Formula One (F1) legend John Surtees passed away. He was 83. He was the only racer
to have won world championships on motorbikes and in Formula One. He had won the
500cc motorcycle world championship in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960 with the MV Agusta
factory team by scoring 22 wins at the top level.
Europes biggest bank HSBC Holdings Plc has appointed Mark Tucker as its chairman. He
will replace Douglas Flint and would take over as group chairman designate from September
2017 and as non-executive group chairman on October 2017. Tucker is an ICAEW
chartered accountant.
Shri Narendra Kumar, an officer of Central Water Engineering Service (1979 batch) has
assumed the charge of Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC). Central Water
Commission is a premier Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources and
is presently functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.
Noted socialist leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Rabi Ray passed away. He was 91. He
had served as the Union minister of health and family welfare in the Morarji Desai led
Government from January 1979 to January 1980. He was the speaker of ninth Lok Sabha
fr om 1989- 1991
Former Puducherry Minister M Chandrakasu passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was
67. He had represented Nedungad constituency in the outlying enclave of Karaikal for six
terms. He had served as Agriculture Minister in the All India N R Congress (AINRC)
government formed by N Rangasamy in 2011.
Odisha Government has appointed K Srinath Reddy as an adviser to the state government on
health matters with cabinet minister s rank. He will advise the state government in proper
implementation and smooth delivery of various ongoing government health programmes
and improve key health indicators of the state. K Srinath Reddy is an eminent cardiologist,
epidemiologist and a global leader in public health. He is President of the Public Health
Foundation of India (PHFI). He is former head of the Department of Cardiology at the All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Former Utah Republican Governor Jon Huntsman was appointed as US Ambassador to Russia.
His appointment now requires Senate confirmation. Earlier, Huntsman had served as US
Ambassador to China under former President Barack Obama.
Veteran journalist and Executive Editor at IANS Arvind Padmanabhan passed away due to
cardiac arrest in New Delhi. He was 49. He was widely admired in the journalistic community
for the thoroughness he displayed in writing, reporting and editing. He was the first Business
Editor of IANS.
Scottish physicist and gravitational waves pioneer Ronald Drever passed away. He was 85.
He was one of the co-founders of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory
(LIGO) detectors that had detected the gravitational waves emitted by merger of a binary
black hole pair.
The European Council has re-elected Donald Tusk as its president for a second term. He will
have tenure of two and a half years from June 2017 to November 2019. He was also re-
appointed as President of the Euro Summit for the same period. He is the second full-time
President of EC, following the creation of the post on 1 December 2009 under the Treaty of
Lisbon. Earlier, for first time Donald Tusk was elected as President of EC in December 2014.
Prior to that, he was Prime Minister of Poland for 7 years.
Senior diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri was appointed as Indias new ambassador to Nepal. Mr.
Puri, a 1982-batch IFS officer. Currently he is Indias Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and
Luxembourg. He will be succeeding Ranjit Rae who completed his three-and-a-half-year term
as the Indian ambassador to Nepal.
Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry George Olah has passed away. He was 89. He research work
had paved the way for more effective oil refining and ways of producing less polluting forms
of gasoline. He had won Nobel Prize in 1994 for his groundbreaking study of the unstable
carbon molecules known as carbocations.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has appointed BP Kanungo as Deputy
Governor Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for three years. He has been appointed in place of R.
Gandhi. In March 2016, Mr. Kanungo was appointed as Executive Director in the central
bank.
BULLETIN BOARD
The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and
Portugal on cooperation in the field of IT&E. It will help in developing a long term and
sustainable cooperation in the areas of IT&E on the basis of equality and mutual interest in
line with each countrys laws and regulations.
Special Commemorative Postage Stamp marking 100 years of Yogoda Satsang Math was
released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a function in New Delhi. Yogoda Satsang Society
of India was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917. It is a non-profit religious
organization. Outside the India, it is known as the Self-Realization Fellowship. The word
Yogoda was coined by Paramahansa Yogananda. It is fusion of Yoga, union, harmony,
equilibrium and da meaning that which imparts.
China has hiked its military spending by seven per cent to $152 billion (1.04 trillion yuan).
It is three times higher than that of Indias defence budget of $53.5 billion. With this for the
first time, Chinas military spending crossed a trillion yuan. In 2016, Chinas military
spending was 954.35 billion yuan.
According to the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2017, 45% of countrys bird species are
found in Himachal Pradesh. As per data total 564 bird species are found in Himachal Pradesh
of the 1,263 species found in whole country. GBBC 2017 had engaged bird watchers from the
general public in counting birds. It was coordinated by the Bird Count India Partnership, a
coming together of number of Indian groups and organization that are interested in birds,
nature and conservation.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched a mobile application named
Exam Locator to help students appearing for class 10th and 12th examinations to locate
their exam centres. It will help students to quickly know the exam centre on the basis of their
roll number. Student can easily find the address, geolocation and images of the designated
centre on the map.
Manipur High Court has declared four month long economic blockade called by United Naga
Council (UNC) as illegal. The court passed the order on public interest litigation and directed
the authorities to deal with those supporting the blockade according to the law. The UNC
cadres had blocked key national highways (number 2 and 37) connecting Manipur with rest of
the northeast region since November 2016. It had completely stopped normal movement of
vehicles ferrying essential items, severely affecting the normal life in the state. The UNC was
protesting against creation of seven new districts in the state, citing that it will bifurcate
ancestral land of the Naga people.
GMRs Hyderabad International Airport ranked 1st in the world in the prestigious Airports
Council International (ACI)-Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey in the 5-15 million
passengers per annum (MPPA) category in 2016. It has improved its ASQ survey score from
4.4 in 2009 to 4.9 in 2016 (measured on scale of 1 to 5). Hyderabad Airport is designed to
cater to 12MPPA is running in to its 9th year of operation. It has witnessed a growth of more
than 20% in 2016 with a passenger throughput of close to 15MPPA.
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) have constituted a high level
committee to resolve the grievances and complaints of women sports persons. It will be
headed by Joint secretary Sports. It will comprise athletes, advocate, and senior officer of
MYAS and sports journalist (all women). Women athletes can approach the committee for
their grievance redressal.
The National Archives of India (NAI) will celebrate its 127th Foundation Day on March 11,
2017. NAI was established on 11th March 1891 at Calcutta as the Imperial Record
Department. It is a repository of the non-current records of the Union Government and holds
them in trust for the use of administrators and scholars. It functions as an Attached Office of
the Department of Culture under the Ministry of Culture. It is headquarters are at Janpath,
 Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 10
New Delhi and has a Regional Office at Bhopal and three Record Centres at Bhubaneswar, c.OpenAcreage Licensing Programme d.Noneoftheabove
Jaipur and Pondicherry. d.Noneoftheabove
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has given recognition to two 32) C omprehensive web platf orm
insolvency professional entities- IRR Insolvency Professionals Pvt Ltd and AAA Insolvency 17) What is Pea ce in Home? showcasing government performance
Professionals LLP. The Insolvency Professionals (IPs) are registered and regulated by the a.Commonwealth initiative to tackle has been launched in Karnataka called
IBBI. They have a critical role in transactions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, domestic violence a.Parichay
2016 (Code). The Code and regulations made there under provide for strengthening their b.Socialwelfareschemeforthepoor b.Parivartan
capacity on a continuous basis. c.Counter terrorism initiative c.Pratibimba
The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has begun talks with two sovereign d.Noneoftheabove d.Noneoftheabove
wealth funds to become the first investors to come on board, following the recent signing of a
government commitment to infuse 20,000 crore into the fund. The NIIF plans to leverage 18) Which social media site has introduc ed a 33) Which c ountry has the highest bribery
the Centres financing equivalent to $3 billion to invest a far higher amount in #WomensDay emoji? rate in the Asia Pacific region?
infrastructure firms and projects, in partnership with global, long-term investors eyeing a.Facebook a.Japan
infrastructure assets, and fund managers that could create dedicated infra sector funds. b.LinkedIn b.China
Workshop on Arsenic problem in ground water and its remediation in Ganga Basin was c.Twitter c.Pakistan
recently held. It was chaired by Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and d.Pinterest d.Noneoftheabove
Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Uma Bharti. It was organized by Central Ground Water Board
(CGWB). 19) HP is purchasing which flash storage 34) Aishwariya Rai Ba chchan has won the
Commonwealth nations could consider a scheme similar to the Business Travel Card scheme, company for USD 1billion? IFFAA best actress award for _______
used across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, as a means of promoting a.NetApp a.Sarabjit
intra-Commonwealth trade and investment. This was proposed by the chairman of the b.Kaminario b.AeDilHai Mushkil
Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, ahead of the inaugural Meeting of c.Rubrik c.Provoked
Commonwealth Trade Ministers in London on March 9-10, convened by the CWEIC, and the d.Nimble Storage d.Noneoftheabove
Commonwealth Secretariat.
The government is mulling opening more border haats (border markets), encouraged by its 20)First smart tribal model village in J&K 35) The Science a nd Technology minist ry is
success at the India-Myanmar border. Current border haats are functioning well. The border is? set to reproduce Buddhist Circuit
haats are markets that aim at promoting the wellbeing of the people dwelling in remote areas a.Hubbi monuments using ______.
across the borders of two countries, by establishing traditional system of marketing the local b.Pulwama a.3-Dsystems
produce through local markets. India currently has functional border haats with Bangladesh. c.Uri b.Cyber-physical systems
India and other G4 countries have said that they are willing to consider temporarily d.Noneoftheabove c.Virtualreality
suspending their veto rights when and if they are made permanent members of the UN d.Alloftheabove
Security Council. This change of heart is meant to hasten the process of making the G4 21) China s ba nking system has bec ome the
countries India, Brazil, Germany and Japan permanent members of the elite UN body worlds largest by 36) Whic h c ount ry is develo ping st ealth
sooner rather than later. a.Assets military drones to evade anti-aircraft
The task of relocation of the 18th Century Tipu Sultans armoury at Srirangapatna has b.NNP weapons?
successfully been completed, making it the first such exercise in the history of Indian Railways c.GDP a.China
that entailed moving a monument in one piece to a new site. The location approved by the d.FDI b.Japan
ASI for the final shifting of the monument is at a distance of 100 meters from the original c.NorthKorea
site. 22) Which playback singer set a new world d.Noneoftheabove
Scientists have discovered a chemical in the zebra fish brain that helps reveal how it regrows record playing most songs on the
its retina, a finding that can potentially cure blindness in humans. The findings showed that Gayathri veena? 37) Te hran test ed a ballistic missile in the
the levels of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter, best known for its role of a.Vaikom Vijaylakshmi first week of March called _________ .
calming nervous activity, drop when the unique self repair process kicks in. Thus, blocking the b.Kavita Krishnamurthy a.Hormoz1
chemical (GABA) could lead to new treatments for AMD (age-related macular degeneration), c.SunidhiChauhan b.Hormoz3
the most common cause of blindness and retinitis pigmentosa. d.AlkaYagnik c.Hormoz2
d.Noneoftheabove
MCQ CORNER 23) Fin M in has allowed which banks to offer
ESOPS? 38) Who is South Koreas first
a.PSUbanks democratically elected leader forced
1) Tech M ahindra will buy which US based c.CFC b.nationalizedbanks from office?
healthcare IT consulting firm? d.PCC c.RegionalRuralBanks a.KimDaeJung
a.CJSSolutionsGroup
d.Privatebanks b.LeeMyung Bak
b.Practo 10) What is Udan? c.RohMooHyun
c.Health Advances LLC a.Civil aviation/regional connectivity scheme 24) Where is B hag oria festival held? d.ParkGuen-hye
d.Navigant b.Defence procurement scheme a.Jhabua
c.IAFscheme b.Dhar 39) Which US state was the first to sue
2) IT major Symantec released an d.Noneoftheabove c.Chambal President Trump over the revised travel
automated solution to counter which
d.Bothaandb ban?
cloud bug? 11) WHO has released whic h of the a.Hawaii
a.Cloudburst following reports on March 6, 2017? 25) Where is the countrys longe st t unne l? b.California
b.Cloudbleed a.Inheriting aSustainable World:Atlason a.J&K c.Illinois
c.Cloudbust Childrens Health and the Environment b.HP d.Noneoftheabove
d.Noneoftheabove b.Dont pollute my future! The impact of c.UP
the environment on childrens health. d.MP 40) EU leaders have confirmed Donald Tusk
3) Amrita University TBI and CCSN have set c.Bothoftheabove for the second term as council president.
up Indias first startup hub for? d.Neitherof theabove 26) A new 4 lane, extradosed bridge across Where does he hail from?
a.Cybersecurity
Narmada at Bharuch holds the record a.Poland
b.Online operations 12) AP has introduced which first of a kind for? b.Hungary
c.eCommerce project to check malaria? a.Longestextradose cablestayed bridge c.Denmark
d.Mobile banking a.Smart Mosquito Density Programme b.Onlysecondsuchbridgein the country d.Noneoftheabove
b.Smart Mosquito DensitySystem c.Bothoftheabove
4) U S is setting up which missile defe nce c.Smart Mosquito DensityScheme d.Neitherof theabove 41) On 9th M arch 2017, FB has announced
system in South Korea ? d.Smart Mosquito Density Initiative which service that allows posts and
a.THAAD
27) Scientists have developed a new brain videos to profile that disappear in a day?
b.TMAAD 13) Which not ed socia list lea der was computer interface to read peoples a.Messenger Day
c.TCAAD speaker of the 9th LS? thoughts and correct robotic errors b.Messenger Service
d.Noneoftheabove a.RabiRay relying on? c.Messenger Stories
b.MeiraKumar a.Error related potentials d.Noneoftheabove
5) Which dig ita l st re aming service c.SumitraMahajan b.Brain signals that occur automatically
partnered with 4 companies for Indian d.Noneoftheabove c.Bothaandbarethesame 42) Whic h of the following are prepaid
markets?
d.Neitheroftheabove payment instruments?
a.Netflix 14) Who has been appointed as Cairn India a.Mobile wallets
b.HBO advisors? 28) Sc ient ists have developed a n algorithm b.Smartcards
c.Disney a.MelodyMeyer to enable robots to? c.Papervouchers
d.Pixar b.AtulGupta a.Askintelligentquestions whenconfused d.Alloftheabove
c.Bothoftheabove about fetching objects
6) Dr Thomas Starzl was a pioneer in which d.Neitheroftheabove b.Quantify certainty aboutwhat the user 43) ICC has appointed whom as the official
surgery?
wants ambassador of the Womens Cricket
a.Heart transplant 15) EVA is HDFCs first AI driven chatbot, c.Bothoftheabove World Cup 2017?
b.Liver transplant which stands for? d.Neitherof theabove a.SachinTendulkar
c.Kidney transplant a.Electronic virtual assistance b.AnilKumble
d.Bothbandc b.Electronic virtual assistant 29)Whic h C ongre ss leg islat or was a c.SunilGavaskar
e.Alltheabove c.Electronic virtual assisting minister in the Rangswamy government d.RahulDravid
d.Noneoftheabove in 2011?
7) Which count ry is not included in t he list
a.K.Chandrakasu 44) HP government has lunched which app
of barred countries for travel to the US? 14) Who founded the Yogoda Satsang b.H.Chandrakasu and website for job seekers?
a.Sudan Society of India? c.M.Chandrakasu a.MeraHunarHP
b.Syria a.ParamahansaYogananda d.Noneoftheabove b.Hamara Hunar HP
c.Libya b.SwamiVivekananda c.TumharaHunar HP
d.Noneoftheabove c.RamKrishnaParamhansa 30) Ve teran journalist Arvind Padmanabham d.Hunar HP
d.Bothaandcarethesame was associated with which media
8) Researchers have stored what type of
groups? 45) Whic h bank has signe d a loan
data in DNA for the first time? 15) How is arsenic caused in ground water? a.IANS agreement with EESL for energy
a.OS a.Naturalgeological processes b.PTI efficiency in India?
b.Movie b.Human contamination c.ToI a.World Development Bank
c.Bothoftheabove c.Bothoftheabove d.Alloftheabove b.Asian Development Bank
d.Neitherof theabove d.Noneoftheabove c.GermanDevelopment Bank
31) Name the cultural fe stival held in Egypt d.Japan Development Bank
9) India launched a plan to phase out which 16) OALP in the context of oil and gas stands to showcase India.
key refrigerant? for? a.India bytheNile 46) Great Barrier Reef in Australia for the
a.HCFC a.OpenAcreageLicensing Policy b.Ganga andtheNile first time has suffered?
b.HFC b.OpenAssociation Licensing Policy c.NileandIndia a.Coral bleachingtwoyearsina row
 Career Sarthi 06 March 2017 Page 11
b.Coral bleachingthreeyearsina row d.KidneyDisease &Children.Act Earlyto
c.Coral bleachingfourtimesina row
d.Coral bleachingfivetimesina row
Prevent It!
PRACTICE CORNER - English 1
62 ) Which union minist er ha s inaug urat ed
47) 4 states have decided to conduct a Indias largest waste-to-power plant in Direction (1-10): Read the following paragraph and fill the blanks to complete the
synchronised elephant census in May New Delhi?
2017 namely? a. Raj Nath Singh paragraph.
a.West Bengal,Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha b. Narendra Modi The clearance from the Cabinet Committee _(1)__ Economic Affairs for a plan to double the
b.West Bengal, Odisha, MP, Chattisgarh c. Venkaiah Naidu capacity of solar power installed in dedicated solar _(2)__ to 40 gigawatts by 2020, with
c.West Bengal, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand d. Arun Jaitley partial government __(3)_ assistance, is in __(4)_ with the goal of creating a base of 100
d.Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh
63) Which state government has launched a gigawatts by 2022. Expansion of solar power capacity is among the more efficient means to
48 ) Whic h ne w nation building exercise w as 24X7 toll free helpline number 181 for meet the commitment to keep carbon emissions in check under the Paris Agreement on
unveiled on NaMo App? distressed women? climate change, and it can provide the multiplier effect of creating additional employment,
a.#IAmNewIndia a. Assam with overall economic dividends. As the International Renewable Energy Agency notes in
b.#NewIndia b. Odisha
c.#IAmIndia c. West Bengal its report __(5)_ REthinking Energy 2017: Accelerating the global energy transformation,
d.Noneoftheabove d. Haryana globally, jobs in solar energy have witnessed the __(6)_ growth since 2011 among various
renewable energy sectors. Asia has harnessed the potential the most, providing 60% of all
49) RBI has prohibited NBFCs from lending 64) The 12th CII EXIM Bank Conclave on __(7)_ energy employment, while China enjoys the bulk of this with a thriving solar
how much in cash against gold? India Africa Project Partnership was held
a.INR 20,000 in which city? photovoltaic and thermal manufacturing industry, __(8)_ installations. Apart from measures
b.INR 25,000 a. New Delhi to scale up generating capacity, India should take a close look at competitive manufacturing
c.INR 26,000 b. Chennai of the full chain of photovoltaics and __(9)_ training facilities to produce the human
d.INR 21,000 c. Pune resources the industry will need in the years ahead. Renewables and new energy storage
d. Kolkata
50) Which country barred Turkeys Foreign technologies are __(10)_ course to overshadow traditional fossil fuel-based sources of
Minister? 65) The 2020 Olympics will be held in _____. power as the costs decline.
a.The Netherlands a. London
b.Denmark b. Doha 1. a) at b) on c) in
c.Finland c. Tokyo
d.Hungary d. Beijing d) to e) as
2. a) sites b) fields c) parks
51) Which is Indias first lunar probe? d) system e) panel
a.Chandrayaan ANSWER 3. a) fiscal b) moneytarial c) projection
b.Chandrayaan-1
c.Chandrayaan-2 01 .a 02. b 03. a 04. a 05. a d) accumulative e) individual
d.MOM
06. d 07. d 08. c 09. a 10. a 4. a) process b) line c) field
d) goal e) view
52) Who replaced R. Gandhi as Deputy 11. c 12. b 13. a 14. c 15. b 5. a) called b) named c) due
Governor of RBI?
a.BPKanungo 16. b 17. a 18. c 19. d 20. a d) titled e) proposed
b.SSMundra 21. a 22. a 23. a 24. d 25. a 6. a) fastest b) latest c) slowest
c.ViralVAcharya d) most e) hardest
d.Noneoftheabove 26. c 27. c 28. c 29. c 30. a 7. a) non-renewable b) reusable c) recycled
53) Google ha s announc ed the a cquisition of
31. a 32. c 33. d 34. a 35. d d) renewable e) conventional
which data science startup on March 36. a 37. c 38. d 39. a 40. a 8. a) with b) regarding c) besides
2017? d) partially e) fiscal
a.Kaggle 41. a 42. d 43. a 44. a 45. c
9. a) sling b) open c) call
b.Paxata 46. a 47. c 48. a 49. a 50. a d) inaugurating e) creating
c.Qubole
d.Noneoftheabove 51. b 52. a 53. a 54. a 55. c 10. a) at b) in c) as

54) Eminent Konkani writer M ahabaleshwar

56. a 57. c 58. a 59. c 60. a d) to e) on
Sail has been honoured for which work? 61. a 62. c 63. b 64. a 65. c
a.Hawthan Direction (11-20): Read the following paragraph and fill the blanks to complete the
b.Pelthadcho Manis
paragraph.
c.KaliGanga PRACTICE CORNER - GI 1
d.Noneoftheabove The quest to find life outside the solar system got a big _(11)_ with the discovery of seven
ANSWER KEY (ISSUE - 19) Earth-size extra-solar planets, or exoplanets, orbiting a dwarf star about 40 light years away.
55) M inistry of Railways signed a letter of Unlike earlier discoveries of _(12)_, all seven planets could possibly have liquid water - a
intent with the UNEP program for? 1. d 2. a 3. d 4. b 5. b key to life as we know it on Earth - with three planets having the greatest chance. This is by
a.Environmental cooperation
b.Joint cooperation mechanism in the field 6. b 7. d 8. e 9. a 10. c far the largest collection of Earth-like planets in the habitable Goldilocks zone of a star
of environment and sustainability 11. c 12. d 13. a 14. e 15. c neither too _(13)_nor too far from a star, which raises the possibility of liquid water being
c.Bothoftheabove _(14)_ on the surface. Only Earth has liquid water in the solar system. Less than a year after
d.Neitherof theabove 16. c 17. e 18. d 19. d 20. b
scientists announced the discovery of three planets orbiting the dwarf star, the team found
56) Indian re searchers have fo und mole cular
21. a 22. e 23. b 24. a 25. a four more through intense searches using _(15)_ ground-based telescopes, including a 20-
evidence of the presence of which species 26. a 27. e 28. a 29. b 30. e day continuous monitoring using the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space
more than 25,000 years ago? Administrations Spitzer Space Telescope. Since the _(16)_ star is much cooler than the
a.Ostrich
31. e 32. a 33. b 34. d 35. c
b.Eagle
Sun, the dimming of light each time a planet passes or transits before the star could be
c.Kite easily recorded from Earth _(17)_ in cases when planets transit a Sun-like bright star. Since
d.Peacock the initial discovery of three planets was made using the Chile-based Transiting Planets
and Planetesimals Small Telescope, the exoplanet _(18)_ is called TRAPPIST-1. Unlike in the
57) Punjab Agricult ural University has
developed the countrys first GM variety
case of our solar system, the planets have _(19)_ formed far away from the star and
of cotton namely? gradually migrated towards it; they share a similar formation history with the Galilean
a.PAUBt1 moons, which _(20)_ towards Jupiter after formation. Another major difference in
b.F1861 comparison with the solar system is the tight packing of the seven planets around the star.
c.Bothoftheabove
d.Neitherof theabove
The closest planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system takes just 1.5 days to complete an orbit and
the farthest one takes 20 days; the orbital period of the planets is also similar to the Galilean
58) Scientists disc overed how many new moons.
canyons in Srikakulam district of AP?
a.3
b.4
11. a) boot b) root c) boost
c.5 d) support e) power
d.6 12. a) planet b) planets c) exoplanet
d) exoplanets e) extraplanets
59) Reliance Capital saw the end of which
leading executives term in March 2017?
13. a) far b) distant c) close
a.CMD d) open e) away
b.Managing Director 14. a) abent b) resent c) present
c.CEO d) trading e) recent
d.Noneoftheabove
15. a) several b) many c) plenty
60) Who won the Best Male Actor award at d) colossal e) enormous
the Zee Cine Awards 2017? 16. a) giant b) red c) nebula
a.Amitabh Bachchan d) dwarf e) neutron
b.AamirKhan
c.SalmanKhan
17. a) like b) dislike c) unlike
d.Rishi Kapoor d) alike e) type
18. a) system b) cluster c) group
61) World Kidney day 2017 was observed d) constellation e) cast
with the theme _____________
a.Kidney Disease and Obesity: Healthy
19. a) really b) mainly c) typically
Lifestyle for Healthy Kidneys d) probably e) apparently
b.ChronicKidneyDiseaseandAging 20. a) migrated b) traversed c) travelled
c.KidneyHealth forAll d) moved e) revolved
Career Sarthi Issue 20 Page 12

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www.mponline.gov.in
http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/PR-
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http://www.newindia.co.in/downloa
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Karnataka Public https://kpscsi.online-

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Service Commission Bachelors Degree 30-03-2017 ap1.com/EXCISE%20NOTIFICATION-
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(KPSC) %202016-2.pdf
http://www.externalbsnlexam.com/
Junior Telecom Officer Bharat Sanchar Nigam
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Airports Authority of 10+2/Diploma in
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