. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      About the New START Treaty Prelims & Mains 2.      Details of the Waqf Board Prelims & Mains 3.      About Pingali Venkaiyya Prelims Specific Topic 4.      Details of the Financial Inclusion Index Prelims Specific Topic 1 – About the New START Treaty:GS II Topic à International Relations   ·       The Russian Federation and the United States of America signed the New START Treaty, which outlines measures for further reducing and limiting strategic offensive weaponry. ·       The agreement goes into force on February 5, 2011. ·       It is intended to replace the START framework, which in 1991 set a limit on the number of warheads and strategic delivery vehicles that might be deployed by either side (after the conclusion of the Cold War). ·       It continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing the strategic nuclear arsenals of the US and Russia by restricting each side to 700 strategic launchers and 1,550 operational warheads. ·       Unless it is renewed for an additional five years, it ends in February 2021.   Source à The Indian Express   2 – Details of the Waqf Board:GS II Topic à Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies   ·       About: ·       the giving of money or other resources to religious or charitable causes in the name of God. ·       According to the law, the permanent dedication of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious, or benevolent by a person professing Islam ·       How are Waqf Boards formed? ·       A property may become a waqf if it has been continuously utilised for religious or charity purposes for a long time; otherwise, a waqf may be created by the drafting of a deed or other legal document. ·       The funds are commonly used to support mosques, cemeteries, schools, and shelter homes. ·       The waqf would remain an ongoing entity, making it impossible for the individual who founded it to regain the assets. ·       A non-Muslim may also create a waqf, but they must do it with Islamic goals in mind and in a way that declares Islam. ·       What is the Waqf Board’s procedure? ·       It is governed by the 1995 Waqf Act. ·       According to the Act, a survey commissioner is expected to conduct local research, speak with witnesses, and acquire public records in order to compile a list of all properties that have been designated as waqf. ·       A manager who doubles as a mutawali oversees the waqf’s activities. Despite the fact that trusts can be created for motives other than charitable and religious ones, it is equivalent to one created in compliance with the Indian Trusts Act of 1882. In contrast to a waqf, a trust can also be disbanded by the board. ·       It is allowed to buy, hold, and transfer any kind of property. ·       Due to its status as a legal organisation or juristic person, the board is able to bring legal claims and be sued in court. ·       Composition: ·       The Waqf Board, which consists of a chairperson, one or two state government nominations, Muslim lawmakers and parliamentarians, Muslim state bar council members, recognised Islamic scholars, and mutawalis of waqfs with an annual income of Rs. 1 lakh and more, is present in every state. ·       Other information: ·       According to the law, the Waqf Board is responsible for overseeing the waqf’s assets and must get permission before transferring any immovable property owned by a waqf via a sale, gift, mortgage, exchange, or lease. However, unless at least two-thirds of the Waqf Board members vote in favour of the transaction, the sanction will not be granted.   Source à The Hindu     3 – About Pingali Venkaiyya: Prelims Specific Topic ·       Who was he? ·       He was born on August 2, 1876, in Andhra Pradesh. ·       His other name is “Jhanda Venkaiah.” ·       Pingali Venkayya was a nationalist who also designed the Indian National Tricolor. ·       The current national flag was created by him. ·       The evolution of India’s national flag: ·       Between 1918 and 1921, Venkayya brought up the idea of owning a personal flag during each session of Congress. At the time, he was a lecturer at Machilipatnam’s Andhra National College. ·       He ran across the Mahatma again in Vijayawada, and this time he showed him his book with the various flag designs. At the national congress meeting in 1921, Gandhi acknowledged the necessity for a new national flag and asked Venkayya to design it. ·       Saffron and green were the primary colours utilised at initially, but Venkayya later added a white third colour and a spinning wheel to the composition. (LALA HANS RAJ SONDHI Recommended Including a Spinning Wheel to Show Independent Indians Who Are Capable of Spinning Their Own Clothes From Local Fibers.) ·       The flag was formally accepted by the Indian National Congress in 1931.   Source à The Indian Express   4 – Details of the Financial Inclusion Index: Prelims Specific Topic   ·       About: ·       The index was conceptualised as a comprehensive index that incorporated data on the banking, investments, insurance, postal, and pension sectors in collaboration with the government and the pertinent sectoral regulators. ·       It will be unveiled in July of each year. ·       It was created without the use of a “base year,” and as a result, it is an accurate representation of all of the stakeholders’ cumulative efforts to advance financial inclusion across time. ·       Aim: ·       To assess the country’s overall level of financial inclusion. ·       Parameters: ·       It collects information on several aspects of financial inclusion in a single value between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 represents full financial inclusion. ·       Its three main components are Access (35 percent), Usage (45 percent), and Quality (20 percent), each of which is made up of numerous dimensions and is determined by a number of different metrics. ·       According to the index’s criteria for service usability, accessibility, and quality,

02 August 2022 Daily Current Affairs . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Gig Economy Prelims & Mains 2.      African Swine Fever Prelims & Mains 3.      Monetary Policy Committee Prelims Specific Topic 4.      GST Council Prelims Specific Topic 1 – Gig Economy:GS III Topic à Indian Economy   ·       What is the “gig economy”? ·       A gig economy is a type of free market where enterprises frequently use temporary roles and independent workers on a temporary basis. ·       According to a Boston Consulting Group report, there are 15 million gig workers in India working in industries like software, shared services, and professional services. ·       According to study conducted in 2019 by the India Staffing Federation, India is the fifth-largest flex-staffing market in the world, after the US, China, Brazil, and Japan. ·       What Potential Does India’s Gig Economy Have? ·       56 percent of the nation’s new jobs, which include both white-collar and blue-collar workers, were created by businesses in the gig economy. ·       Blue-collar jobs in India frequently require gig workers, but there is also an increasing demand for them in industries that require project-specific consulting, sales, web design, content writing, and software development. ·       The gig economy has the potential to increase India’s GDP by 1.25 percent in the “long term” and support up to 90 million jobs in non-agricultural businesses. ·       In order to close the income and unemployment gaps as India moves closer to its stated objective of having a USD 5 trillion GDP by 2025, the gig economy would be a crucial factor. ·       What Primary Drivers Motivate the Gig Economy? ·       The option to work remotely: In the digital age, employees are no longer compelled to work from a specific area; instead, they can accomplish their jobs from any location. This enables organisations to select the best people regardless of location. ·       The millennial age seems to view careers considerably differently than previous generations. They attempt to pursue the work they want to accomplish rather than careers that might not fulfil their deepest interests. ·       For gig workers, a variety of payment methods are employed, including fixed-fee (decided at contract commencement), time & effort, actual unit of labour accomplished, and quality of output. The time & effort model is a close second to the fixed-fee model as the most popular strategy. ·       The Indian start-up ecosystem has rapidly expanded alongside the rise of a start-up culture. ·       Contractual freelancers are utilised for non-core work because hiring full-time staff has significant fixed costs for start-up organisations. ·       Start-ups are also thinking about hiring qualified technology freelancers (on a project-by-project basis) in disciplines including engineering, product, data science, and machine learning to boost their technical platforms. ·       Increasing need for contract workers: In response to the epidemic, MNCs are employing flexible employment practises, especially for specialised projects, to reduce operating expenses. ·       This propensity has a big impact on the gig culture in India. ·       What Issues Are Affecting the Gig Economy? ·       Employees in the gig economy have low job security and little benefits because the gig economy grows primarily in an uncontrolled environment. ·       Nevertheless, few claim that India’s gig economy is a continuation of the nation’s long-standing, uncontrolled informal labour market, which does not offer workers social security, insurance, etc. ·       needed abilities: A worker needs to have the required skills. The ability to negotiate will always be limited unless a person is particularly gifted. ·       Although it is common for corporations to invest in employee training, a gig economy worker will have to do it on his own and at his own own. ·       Due to the imbalance between demand and supply, which already exists when it comes to available employment for online freelancers, pay will eventually decline as a result. ·       The Pandemic and the Gig Economy: ·       Businesses were impacted by Covid-19, and people had to find reliable sources of income. The need for gig labour increased as a result of the outbreak. ·       For instance, Google announced the August 2020 launch of its Kormo Jobs app in India to connect job seekers with openings in industries including retail, hospitality, and on-demand businesses. ·       As the number of gig workers has expanded over time, notably with consumer internet companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, Ola, Urban Clap, etc., the employees have increasingly complained a drop in their pay. ·       Its two main implications on the environment of contract labour are as follows: ·       In order to first satisfy the growing need for on-demand staffing, it has created new business models. ·       Second, it has once more raised awareness of the employment rules that safeguard gig workers and set a federal minimum wage. ·       What Advantages and Disadvantages Do Gig Jobs Provide to Women? ·       Pros: ·       Support for Balancing Labor and Home: The flexibility of gig work allows women to balance their traditional roles as caregivers and homemakers with employment. ·       Provide a Safe Work Environment for Women: Technology and gig employment, which is supported by Work From Home, have addressed the issue of safety during travel and night shifts (WFH). ·       Women now have greater employment alternatives in tier 2 and tier 3 cities as well. ·       On-Demand Work is Available: Women now have access to on-demand employment, giving them the freedom to enter and exit the workforce when they see fit. ·       Help with Extra Income: Gig employment enables women to earn more income, builds their self-esteem, and empowers them to make choices—all of which are essential components of women’s empowerment. ·       Cons: ·       Since the gig economy exacerbates problems with the gender wage gap, biassed algorithms, gender stereotypes, and the technology divide that already exist in the labour market, it creates significant barriers to entry for women. ·       As a result, it is essential to find and address these underlying structural issues in the digital world. ·       The gender gap in computer literacy severely hinders women’s participation in gig employment. According to the GSMA Mobile

 1 August 2022 Daily Current Affairs. . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Prevention of Insults to National Honours Act Prelims & Mains 2.      Space Debris Prelims & Mains 3.      Aviation Sector in India Prelims Specific Topic 4.      COWIN Portal Prelims Specific Topic   1 – Prevention of Insults to National Honours Act:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       Context: ·       Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited people to use the Tricolor as their social media profile image from August 2–15, this year, to commemorate 75 years of Independence, calling the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav a “popular movement.” ·       About the Act: ·       The degradation of or insult to Indian national symbols, including the National Flag, the Constitution, the National Anthem, and the Indian map, as well as disrespect of the Constitution of India, are both prohibited by the law, which was passed on December 23, 1971. ·       Insults to the Indian Constitution and National Flag are included in Section 2 of the Act. ·       Other clauses: ·       The regulations, customs, and traditions pertaining to the display of the national flag are covered in Section 3.22 of The Flag Code of India, 2002. ·         ·       In accordance with Section 3.58, the flag must be draped over the coffin or bier on State, Military, and Central Paramilitary Forces funeral occasions, with the saffron facing the coffin’s or bier’s head. ·       The Flag may not be placed on a funeral pyre or lowered into a grave.   Source à The Indian Express   2 – Space Debris:GS II Topic à Space Related Issues   ·       About: ·       The term “space debris” refers to the abandoned, defunct spacecraft that have been sitting in Earth orbit for years. ·       What dangers do space debris present? ·       The issue is made worse by the space junk’s collision with other satellites or with other debris in space. ·       Some low-Earth orbits might become unsuitable if there was a belt of space debris. ·       Kessler syndrome has been forewarned by experts. ·       Space debris would be harmful to astronauts in orbit. ·       Batteries from retired spacecraft may explode, and system leaks may occur. ·       Debris in space poses a persistent threat to the International Space Station (ISS). ·       According to the Kessler syndrome, collisions between objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) could set off a chain reaction that raises the possibility of additional collisions. ·       What steps have been taken to manage the space debris thus far? ·       In 1995, NASA established the Orbital Debris Program Office and published the first set of global guidelines for debris reduction. ·       It suggested that by 25 years of mission completion, satellites should be built to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. ·       Plans for Europe Earth’s first space trash clearance mission, ClearSpace-1, will launch in 2025. ·       In an effort to clear space of junk, Purdue University researchers are launching a prototype Spinnaker3 drag sail into low-Earth orbit for testing. ·       A satellite that collects old satellites and other space debris was launched by the Japanese startup Astroscale. ·       The NETRA Project, an early warning system to safeguard satellites from space debris and other risks of Space, was launched by ISRO in August 2020. ·       According to international space law, if a satellite starts to malfunction, it should deorbit and a plan should be made for its re-entry into the atmosphere. ·       What needs to be done? ·       The 1967 Outer Space Treaty was updated to award nations permanent property rights on their spacecraft, complicating efforts to clear trash. ·       NASA funding technology development for debris removal and collaborations with businesses. ·       US-led expansion of the Artemis Accords, a framework for international space cooperation that currently includes 11 other nations.   Source à The Hindu   3 – Aviation Sector in India:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       Background: ·       In India, the third-largest civil aviation market in the world by 2020, civil aviation dates back to 1911, when the first commercial flight transporting mail across the Yamuna river to Naini took off from a polo ground in Allahabad. ·       After merging with Indian in 2011, Air India is now the nation’s flag carrier and is crucial for tying India to the rest of the world. ·       By 2024, India will have the third-largest global civil aviation market. In 2016, it registered 131 million passengers flying across its airspace, of which 100 million were domestic passengers. ·       Airports Authority of India (AAI): ·       AAI began operations in 1995. It is a mini-ratna firm that constructs, modernises, manages, and maintains airport infrastructure. ·       GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation, or GAGAN, is a method that improves the precision and reliability of GPS signals. AAI and ISRO collaborate to put it into action. ·       In scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, the government increased the FDI cap from 49 percent to 100 percent. ·       the establishment of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi (IGRUA) at Fursatganj, Raebareli (UP). ·       Fursatganj, Raebareli is home to the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) (UP). ·       The 2016 National Civil Aviation Policy: ·       The first policy since independence is this one. ·       It intends to establish an ecosystem that will encourage the development of the civil aviation industry, which will stimulate tourism, boost employment, and result in a balanced regional growth. ·       Civil aviation sector reforms: ·       The government has implemented a number of reforms to the nation’s civil aviation industry by putting in place first-rate facilities and infrastructure. It contains: ·       To accommodate the anticipated growth in the aviation industry, AAI has launched a development programme to spend roughly Rs. 25,000 crores over the next 4-5 years on new terminal construction, terminal expansion and modification, runway extension or strengthening, aprons, Airport Navigation Services (ANS), control towers, technical blocks, etc. ·       The establishment of 21 Greenfield Airports around India has received “in-principle” approval from the Government of India (GoI). Six Greenfield airports have so far been operationalized, including

30 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs   . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      National Medical Commission Prelims & Mains 2.      Places of Worship Act Prelims & Mains 3.      Manas Tiger Reserve Prelims Specific Topic 4.      MiG 21 Aircraft Prelims Specific Topic   1 – National Medical Commission:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       The National Medical Commission’s background:   ·       The 33-member NMC, which will be presided over for three years by Suresh Chandra Sharma, has been informed by the Center. ·       The NMC will have the Chairman as well as 22 part-time members chosen by the Central government and 10 ex-officio members.   ·       Features/Objectives of of NMC:   ·       establishing guidelines for controlling medical organisations and practitioners. ·       determining the infrastructure and human resource needs for the healthcare industry. ·       ensuring that the State Medical Councils adhere to the rules established under the Bill. ·       establishing rules for calculating the cost of up to 50% of the seats in private medical facilities.   Source à The Indian Express   2 – Places of Worship Act:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       What does the Places of Worship Act of 1991 state?   ·       A house of worship must retain its religious identity as it existed on August 15, 1947, according to the Act. ·       The law prohibits anyone from converting a place of worship that belongs to one religious denomination into another. ·       All litigation, appeals, or other activities involving changing the status of a place of worship that were pending before any court or authority on August 15, 1947, are to be ended as soon as the law takes effect. No further legal action will be taken.   ·       The following items are exempt from these limitations:   ·       Any dispute that has been settled amicably between the parties, any case that has been definitively concluded or dismissed, and any property conversion that took place before the Act went into effect. ·       Additionally, the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid temple in Ayodhya is not covered by the Act. All other current laws shall be superseded by this law.   ·       The Act has drawn criticism because:   ·       On the grounds that it inhibits the right to judicial review, which is a key component of the Constitution, imposes a “arbitrary unjustified retrospective cutoff date,” and restricts the freedom of religion for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs, it has been challenged.     Source à The Indian Express   3 – Manas Tiger Reserve: Prelims Specific Topic   ·       Manas National Park is a biosphere reserve, an elephant reserve, a Project Tiger reserve, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ·       It is situated in Assam, at the base of the Himalayas. It shares a border with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park. ·       The Manas River is whence the park gets its name. ·       Meaning: The Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, and pygmy hog are just a few examples of the uncommon and endangered endemic animals found in the park. The area is renowned for having a large population of wild water buffalo. ·       River: To the west of the park, the Manas River runs. Major tributary of the Brahmaputra river is Manas.   Source à The Indian Express   4 – MiG 21 Aircraft: Prelims Specific Topic   ·       The Soviet Union’s Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau created the supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft known as the MiG 21. ·       The Soviet Union produced the MiG, which went into service in 1959. ·       Some of its nick names include “balalaika” because of how much it resembles a stringed instrument. ·       The MiG-21 has been used by about 60 nations across four continents, and six decades after its debut flight, it is still in widespread use in many countries. ·       It broke several aviation records, including the most supersonic jet aircraft ever produced, the most combat aircraft produced since the Korean War, and the combat aircraft with the previous longest manufacturing run (now exceeded by both the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon). ·       India received full technical transfer, rights to license-build the aircraft domestically, and the MiG-21 induction in 1963. ·       Russia stopped making the planes in 1985, but India kept using the improved models.   Source à The Indian Express       Kannada Daily current Affairs in Kannada pdf .. DOWNLOAD PDF

29 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs     . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Contempt of Court Prelims & Mains 2.      United Nations Security Council Prelims & Mains 3.      Tiger Conservation in India Prelims & Mains 4.      Environmental Performance Index Prelims Specific Topic 1 – Contempt of Court:GS II Topic à Internal Security   ·       What the term “court’s contempt” means:   ·       A legal word used to describe a violation of the law is “contempt of court.” ·       A court’s capacity to maintain its own grandeur and respect is referred to as “contempt of court.” The 1971 Contempt of Courts Act regulates this power but does not place any restrictions on it. ·       The phrase “contempt of court” is not defined in the US Constitution. ·       On the other hand, Article 129 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the authority to penalise itself for contempt. ·       The High Courts are given the same authority by Article 215 of the Constitution. ·       Both civil and criminal contempt are defined under the 1971 Contempt of Courts Act. ·       Willful disregard of a court’s ruling is referred to as civil contempt. ·       Criminal contempt may be used if an action has the potential to defame or damage the legitimacy of the court. ·       It tends to prevent any court action from being conducted properly.   ·       Laws governing judicial contempt:   ·       Section 5 of the Act provides that “reasonable criticism” or “fair comment” on the merits of a final decision should not be deemed to be contempt. ·       But it is up to the judges to decide what they deem to be “fair.” ·       The freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19 is periodically endangered by this vague interpretation. ·       Judges may appear to be working in their own best interests, infringing on natural justice principles and endangering the public trust that the legal system is meant to preserve.   ·       Way Ahead:   ·       The most fundamental of all fundamental rights is the freedom of speech, so any limitations on it should be kept to a minimum. ·       Only those restrictions are permissible under the law of contempt of court that are necessary to preserve the integrity of judicial institutions. ·       Therefore, it is necessary to develop rules and guidelines that specify the procedure superior courts must use while conducting criminal contempt proceedings while keeping the principles of natural justice and fairness in mind.   ·       Source à The Hindu     Source à The Indian Express   2 – United Nations Security Council:GS II Topic à International Organizations   ·       About:   ·       Six primary United Nations bodies, including the UN Security Council, were formed under the UN Charter (UNSC) ·       Decisions made by the Security Council may thereafter be implemented by member states in accordance with the Charter.   ·       Members:   ·       There are 15 members of the UNSC, 5 of whom are Permanent and 10 of whom are Non-Permanent.   ·       Five non-permanent members are chosen by the General Assembly each year to serve terms of two years.   ·       About the UNSC Presidency:   ·       According to the titles of the Member States in English, each member of the Council takes the presidency for a month in turn. ·       Every month, it alternates among the 15 council member states. ·       The leader of the delegation is referred to as the President of the UN Security Council. ·       The president serves to coordinate council activities, resolve policy disagreements, and occasionally acts as a mediator or diplomat between opposing factions.   ·       UNSC reforms proposals:   ·       Regional representation, the problem of the veto held by the five permanent members, the size of an enlarged Council and its working procedures, and the connection between the Security Council and General Assembly are the five main concerns covered by UNSC reform. ·       India’s case for permanent membership in the UNSC:   ·       India was one of the UN’s original members. ·       Most notably, India has nearly twice as many peacekeepers on the ground as do the P5 nations. ·       India is the second-most populated nation and has the largest democracy. ·       India is a natural candidate for membership as a permanent member because it gained the status of a Nuclear Weapons State (NWS) in May 1998, making it similar to the other permanent members who are also all Nuclear Weapon States. ·       India is without a doubt the most powerful nation in the Third World, as evidenced by its leadership in the G-77 and Non-Aligned Movement.   Source à The Indian Express   3 – Tiger Conservation in India:GS III Topic à Environmental Conservation   ·       Project Tiger Initiative:   ·       In 1973, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change formed Project Tiger in order to provide government support to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves in India. The initiative is supervised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).   ·       NTCA:   ·       The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory organisation, is housed inside the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. ·       The recommendations of the Tiger Task Force resulted in its formation in 2005. ·       It was created in accordance with the powers and responsibilities granted to it by the enabling clauses of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006. To improve tiger conservation, this was done.   ·       Why Tiger Conservation is crucial:   ·       Since tigers are one of the principal predators in the environment, ensuring their preservation also ensures the ecosystem’s balance. ·       Numerous other species, including as ungulates, pollinators, and other tiny animals, are ultimately conserved as a result of tiger protection. ·       On the IUCN Red List, tigers are categorised as an endangered species. ·       The tiger population has severely dropped during the past 100 years, making it essential to prevent further decline.   ·       Challenges in Tiger Conservation:   ·       Despite our progress in

28 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs   . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Prevention of Money Laundering Act Prelims & Mains 2.      Replacement Level in TFR Prelims & Mains 3.      All India Household Consumer Expenditure Survey Prelims & Mains 4.      Universal Service Obligation Fund Prelims Specific Topic   1 – Prevention of Money Laundering Act:GS III Topic à Internal Security   ·       Context:   ·       The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, as amended from time to time, including those dealing with the powers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding arrest, search, attachment, and seizure in money laundering offences, while emphasising that “the principle of innocence of the accused/offender is regarded as a human right” but “that presumption can be interdicted by a law made by the Parliament/Legislature.”   ·       Money Laundering: What Is It?   ·       Money laundering is the unlawful procedure of making money obtained via illicit activity—such as the funding of terrorism or the trafficking of illegal drugs—appear to have originated from a legitimate source. The laundering procedure makes the “dirty” money from the criminal action appear “clean.”   ·       What the Prevention of Money Laundering Act is about:   ·       It was implemented in response to India’s international commitment to combating the money laundering threat, notably the Vienna Convention.   ·       The PMLA was passed in 2002 and came into effect in 2005 with the goals of preventing money laundering (the process of turning black money into white) and allowing for the confiscation of assets obtained through money-laundering.   ·       The PMLA primarily has three goals:   ·       to stop and regulate money laundering. ·       to seize and forfeit any assets acquired by money laundering. ·       to address any additional money laundering-related issues in India.   ·       Dispute resolution:   ·       The federal government appoints the adjudicating authority. It determines if the confiscated or attached property is being used for money laundering. ·       The Adjudicating Authority will be subject to the other provisions of the PMLA and will be governed by natural justice principles rather than being constrained by the method outlined by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.   ·       Appellate Tribunal: A government-appointed appellate tribunal has the authority to consider appeals against decisions made by the adjudicating authority. The appropriate High Court can hear appeals of the tribunal’s decisions.   ·       Special Court: The Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002 has provisions enabling the Union government to establish a special court (PMLA).   ·       2012 PMLA (Amendment) Act:   ·       introduces the idea of a “reporting entity,” which could be a bank, a financial institution, a broker, etc. ·       The PMLA, 2002 set a maximum fine of Rs. 5 lakh, but the amending act eliminated it. ·       Any person engaging in such activities has their property provisionally attached and seized.   Source à The Indian Express     2 – Replacement Level in TFR:GS II Topic àHealth related issues   ·       Context:   ·       The current fertility rate is somewhat below the replacement level of fertility, which is 2.1 children per woman, according to NFHS-5.   ·       What is TFR:   ·       The total fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman would have if she spent her entire reproductive career (15–49 years) having children at the current age-specific fertility rates.         ·       How TFR is calculated:   ·       It is determined by adding together the defined age-specific reproductive rates across intervals of five years. A total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman guarantees a largely stable population under the assumption of no net migration and constant mortality. Fertility is a factor in population increase, reflecting both the causes and effects of societal and economic changes, along with death and migration.   ·       Replacement-level fertility is defined by the United Nations Population Division as a TFR of roughly 2.1 children per woman. Each generation will precisely replace itself if replacement level fertility is maintained for a sufficiently long time.   Source à The Hindu   3 – All India Household Consumer Expenditure Survey: Prelims Specific Topic   ·       Every five years, the National Statistical Office (NSO) typically conducts it. ·       Estimates of the levels of poverty in various regions of the nation were made using it. ·       Since 2011–12, it has been used to evaluate economic statistics such the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). ·       The survey is carried out from July through June. ·       The exercise for this year is anticipated to be finished by June 2023. ·       Only around a year after the fieldwork is finished will estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) and the distribution of households and people among various MPCE classes be available. ·       The outcomes will comprise distinct data sets for rural and urban regions, as well as spending trends for each State and Union Territory and various socioeconomic classes.   Source à The Indian Express   4 – Universal Service Obligation Fund: Prelims Specific Topic   ·       The Department of Telecom made Universal Service one of its primary goals under the New Telecom Policy (NTP) of 1999. ·       The fundamental goal is to strike a balance between places that receive high-level services and all uncovered areas, particularly rural ones. ·       It intends to boost the nation’s economy and promote the construction of telecommunications facilities in the nation’s remote, hilly, and tribal regions. ·       The New Telecom Policy (NTP) of 1999 stated that the Universal Access Levy (UAL), at a prescribed percentage (currently 5 percent) of the revenue earned by the telecom licensees to be determined in consultation with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, was to be used to generate resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) (TRAI). ·       In April 2002, the Universal Service Support Policy went into effect. ·       Both Houses of Parliament approved the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003, which gave the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) legal

27 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs     . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Suspension of Rajya Sabha MP Prelims & Mains 2.      Family Courts Bill Prelims & Mains 3.      China Pakistan Economic Corridor Prelims & Mains 4.      International Space Station Prelims Specific Topic 1 – Suspension of Rajya Sabha MP:GS II Topic àParliament related issues   ·       When may the chairperson call for suspension?   ·       Rule 255 of the Rajya Sabha’s General Rules of Procedure:   ·       The Chairman may order any member whose conduct is, in his opinion, grossly disorderly, to withdraw immediately from the Council and any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day’s meeting, according to Rule 255 (‘Withdrawal of Member’) of the General Rules of Procedure of the Rajya Sabha.   ·       How are suspensions under Rules 255 and 256 different from one another?   ·       Rule 255 offers a milder punishment whereas Rule 256 calls for the “Suspension of Member.”   ·       According to Rule 256, “the Chairman may, in his discretion, suspend a member from the Council’s duty for a period not to exceed the balance of the Session.”   ·       Parliamentary etiquette guidelines:   ·       Parliamentary etiquette has some guidelines that MPs must follow. ·       For instance, the Lok Sabha rules provide that MPs must not speak during other people’s speeches, keep their mouths shut, or impede the discussion by hissing or making running remarks. ·       These laws were revised in 1989 as a result of newer protest movements. ·       Members are no longer permitted to scream slogans, hold signs in protest, or utilise a cassette player or tape recorder in the House. ·       Similar procedures apply in Rajya Sabha. The rulebook also grants the presiding officers of both Houses specific, related powers to facilitate the proceedings.         ·       The Rajya Sabha’s Speaker and Chairman each have different authority:   ·       According to Rule Number 255 of the Rule Book, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha has the authority to “command any Member whose conduct is in his judgement highly disorderly to withdraw immediately” from the House, just like the Speaker of Lok Sabha. ·       The Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the authority to suspend a Member, in contrast to the Speaker.   ·       Steps followed to suspend a Rajya Sabha member:   ·       A member who “disregards the authority of the Chair or violates the rules of the Council by continuously and intentionally impeding” business may be named by the Chairman. ·       In this case, the House may pass a motion suspending the Member from House duty for a time limit not to exceed the remainder of the current session. ·       The suspension may be ended by another motion made by the House, though.   ·       What justifies the suspension of MPs?   ·       Unruly behaviour requires a long-term solution that adheres to democratic principles. ·       There is no doubt that the proper execution of the Presiding Officer’s supreme authority is necessary for the efficient running of proceedings. ·       However, it’s important to strike a balance. It must be kept in mind that the Presiding Officer’s role is to preside over the House, not to rule it.   ·       How frequently have interruptions resulted in MP suspensions?   ·       Instance number one took place in 1963. While President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was delivering the joint address to both Houses, a few Lok Sabha MPs first interrupted him before leaving. ·       The Lok Sabha adjourned with a censure of these MPs. 63 MPs were expelled from the Lok Sabha in 1989 as a result of the debate over the Thakar Commission report. ·       More recently, in 2010, 7 MPs were expelled from the Rajya Sabha for stealing the minister’s bill on women’s reservations. ·       Since then, members of parliament have raised chants, pepper sprayed within the House, and held placards.   Source à The Indian Express                 2 – Family Courts Bill:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       Context:   ·       The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was approved by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. It aims to alter the Family Courts Act, 1984 to establish family courts in Himachal Pradesh starting on February 15, 2019, and in Nagaland starting on September 12, 2008. ·       Additionally, the bill aims to include a new Section 3A that will retroactively legalise all actions made by the state governments of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland as well as their respective family courts under the aforementioned Act before the Family Courts (Amendment) Act of 2022 took effect. ·       Rijiju responded to the discussion of the bill by stating that as of the first of May 2022, there were 11.49 lakh cases outstanding in 715 family courts spread across 26 states and Union Territories.   ·       Historical Context:   ·       In order to foster conciliatory behaviour and enable the swift resolution of disputes involving matrimonial and family matters, the Family Courts Act of 1984 was passed into law. The major objective of family courts is to transfer family and marital issues to a straightforward court where a layperson might comprehend the process, away from overworked and traditional courts of law. Counseling and conciliation are the two pillars on which the entire framework of family courts is founded.   ·       Family courts: what are they?   ·       Family courts are specialist courts designed to protect the welfare of the family by employing a multidisciplinary strategy to resolve family issues within the bounds of the law. ·       These courts work to safeguard people’s legal rights while also acting as a mentor, advisor, and counsellor for families to cope with issues and reestablish family unity.   ·       Provisions:   ·       In order to enable conciliation and ensure the speedy resolution of marital and family problems, the Family Courts Act, which was enacted in 1984, authorised for the establishment of family courts.

26 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs   . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      ASHA Workers Prelims & Mains 2.      Human Animal Confict Prelims & Mains 3.      Model Tenancy Law Prelims & Mains 4.      Asiatic Lion Prelims Specific Topic   1 – ASHA Workers:GS II Topic à Health related issues   ·       About ASHA Workers:   ·       The successful Mitanin programme in Chhattisgarh, in which a Community Worker oversees 50 families, served as the model for the ASHA programme. ·         ·       ASHA staff members are community volunteers who have received training to disseminate knowledge and assist people in taking advantage of the government’s numerous healthcare programmes. ·       They provide as a link between facilities like primary health centres, sub-centers, and district hospitals and marginalised populations. ·       Role – The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) first defined the role of these community health volunteers in 2005.   ·       ASHAs are eligible if:   ·       According to the program’s rules, mostly married, widowed, or divorced women between the ages of 25 and 45 from the community should be literate and possess leadership and communication abilities up to Class 8.   ·       Aim:   ·       With regard to mountainous, tribal, or other sparsely populated areas, the goal is to have one ASHA for every 1,000 people or every habitation.   ·       Presence:   ·       There are roughly 10.4 lakh ASHA employees working throughout the nation, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh having the highest workforces. ·       According to the most recent National Health Mission data available as of September 2019, Goa is the only state without any such employees. ·       Salary:   ·       Governments are not required to pay ASHA employees a salary because they are volunteers, and the majority of states do not either. ·       Their monthly income ranges from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 and is based on incentives from various programmes.   ·       What function do ASHA employees have?   ·       Go door-to-door in their specified areas to inform people about the availability of health services, good hygienic habits, and fundamental nutrition. ·       Ensure that women receive antenatal care, maintain their nutrition during pregnancy, give birth in a medical institution, and receive postpartum instruction on breastfeeding and additional child nutrition. ·       Encourage women to use contraception and to be tested for STIs ·       Encourage kids to get their shots. ·       Daily medication administration to TB patients under the direct supervision of the national programme. ·       Check for illnesses like malaria when the time comes. ·       Give persons under their care access to basic medications and treatments such oral rehydration solution, chloroquine for malaria, iron folic acid tablets to prevent anaemia, and contraceptive pills. ·       Get people tested for non-communicable diseases and get their results. ·       assigned the responsibility of notifying their respective primary health centre of any births or deaths that occur in their specified districts.   ·       How did the ASHA network aid in the fight against the pandemic?   ·       ASHA employees had a variety of tasks to complete during the pandemic, when everyone was terrified of the sickness. ·       Look out for Covid-19 signs in humans. ·       Help people go to the quarantine facilities by informing the authorities and doing so ·       Inform the populace of the quarantine process. ·       Dispense medications and pulse oximeters to the patients. ·       Encourage folks to receive their vaccinations. ·       Count the number of people who have not had their vaccinations.   ·       What problems need to be addressed?   ·       Instead of receiving a fixed wage like government employees, they are paid based on performance. ·       The payoff is typically low and delayed in many states. ·       They receive no benefits, such as pensions or health coverage. ·       There have been protests calling for ASHA employees to be given employee status. ·       There is a compelling case for granting some of these posts permanent status with fair pay as a sustaining incentive. Source à The Indian Express   2 – Human Animal Confict:GS III Topic à Environment Conservation related issues   ·       About:   ·       Conflict between people and wildlife (also known as “human-wildlife conflict” or “HWC”) refers to conflicts that occur when the presence or behaviour of wildlife poses actual or perceived direct, recurring threats to human interests or needs, frequently resulting in conflicts between groups of people and having detrimental effects on people and/or wildlife.   ·       Human-wildlife conflict causes include:   ·       Not enough protected areas: There are only 9.67 percent of worldwide protected areas on land and in the sea. 70 percent of the African and Asian elephant ranges and about 40 percent of the African lion’s range are found outside of protected areas. ·       Currently, 35% of tiger ranges in India are found outside of protected areas. ·       Animal-borne Illnesses: The close contact between humans, their cattle, and wildlife, as well as the unrestricted use of wild animals as food, are the main causes of the Covid-19 epidemic, which was brought on by a zoonotic disease. ·       There is a higher chance that individuals will contract animal microorganisms as a result of closer, more frequent, and more varied animal–human contact.   ·       Other Reasons:   ·       Urbanization: As a result of today’s fast industrialization and urbanisation, more forest area is being used for non-forest purposes, which is reducing the habitat for wildlife. ·       Animals have been killed or hurt in accidents on roads or railroad tracks as a result of the growth of the road and rail network across forest regions. ·       Growing Human Population: Local people are encroaching on forest grounds for farming, gathering food and other resources, etc., which puts further strain on the forest’s finite natural resources. Many human settlements are sprouting up at the edges of protected areas.   ·       Impacts:   ·       Impact on Ecosystems and Wildlife: HWC can have negative, long-lasting effects on ecosystems and biodiversity. Self-defense, preemptive, or retaliatory kills of animals by humans have the potential to wipe out conflict-affected species.

25 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs     . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Monkeypox Prelims & Mains 2.      Marsburg Virus Disease Prelims & Mains 3.      Wind Energy in India  Prelims & Mains 4.      Snow Leopard Prelims Specific Topic 1 – Monkeypox:GS II Topic à Health related issues     ·       A zoonosis, or illness that spreads from sick animals to people, is monkeypox. ·       Squirrels, dormice, rats taken from Gambian forests, and various types of monkeys have been found to be infected with the monkeypox virus.   ·       Causes:   ·       Despite the lack of a confirmed natural reservoir, African rodents and monkeys are thought to transmit and become infected with monkeypox.   ·       Occurrence:   ·       The WHO reports that cases tend to occur close to tropical rainforests where the virus-carrying animals live. ·       Following two outbreaks of a pox-like illness in colonies of monkeys kept for research—hence the moniker “monkeypox”—the infection was first identified in 1958. ·       The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded the first instance of human infection in 1970. (DRC). ·       15 nations on four continents have so far reported verified instances of monkeypox in humans, according to the WHO.   ·       Transmission:   ·       Contact with bodily fluids, sores on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as those in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets, and infected items can all result in transmission.   ·       The longest reported chain of transmission is six generations, and human-to-human transfer is scarce (meaning the last person to be infected in this chain was six links away from the original sick person).     ·       What distinguishes the monkey pox from the small pox?   ·       The variola virus, which causes smallpox, and the vaccinia virus, which was used in the smallpox vaccine, are also members of the genus orthopoxvirus, which also includes the virus that causes monkeypox. ·       The symptoms of monkeypox are less severe than those of smallpox. ·       Furthermore, the two diseases have different symptoms. ·       Although smallpox was completely eradicated by vaccination in 1980, monkeypox still exists in some parts of Central and West Africa and has occasionally been detected abroad.   ·       What are the disease’s signs and treatments?   ·       Fever, headache, backache, muscle aches, and tiredness are the first symptoms of monkey pox. ·       Additionally, it results in lymphadenopathy, which is another condition that is not present in smallpox. ·       Monkeypox typically has an incubation period of 7 to 14 days, but it can also be as long as 21 days.   ·       Stage 1: A rash that starts on the face and extends to other parts of the body appears within a day to three days following the start of a fever.   ·       Skin eruption stage: It can persist for two to four weeks and is characterised by the hardening of lesions, their filling with a clear fluid and later pus, and the development of scabs or crusts.   ·       Mortality: In cases that have been documented, the percentage of patients who pass away has ranged from 0% to 11%, with mortality rates among small children being higher.   ·       There is no effective, safe therapy for monkeypox, although the WHO advises supportive care based on symptoms.   ·       Smallpox vaccine, antivirals, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) can all be utilised to manage a monkeypox outbreak in the US.   ·       Way Forward:   ·       There are several steps that can be taken to guard against monkeypox virus infection. ·       Avoid coming into contact with any animals that might be infected. ·       Avoid touching any items that have come into contact with a sick animal, such as bedding. ·       Separate infected patients from those who might contract the disease. ·       After coming into contact with infected individuals or animals, wash your hands thoroughly. ·       When providing patient care, put personal protective equipment (PPE) to use.   Source à The Indian Express       2 – Marsburg Virus Disease:GS II Topic à Health related issues   ·       About:   ·       Haemorrhagic fever is caused by the very virulent Marburg virus illness, which is carried by bats and has an 88 percent death rate. ·       It belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus family of pathogens. ·       The disease was first identified in 1967 as a result of two significant epidemics that happened concurrently in Marburg, Frankfurt, and Belgrade, Serbia, as well as in Germany and Germany. ·       The outbreak was linked to laboratory experiments with imported from Uganda African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). ·       The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda have all reported outbreaks and isolated cases since then. ·       Since 1967, there have been 12 significant Marburg outbreaks, with the majority occurring in southern and eastern Africa.   ·       Infection in humans:   ·       Long-term contact with mines or caverns where Rousettus bat colonies are present causes human infection with the Marburg virus disease. ·       Megabats from the Old World belonging to the genus Rousettus. They are also known as flying foxes and dog-faced fruit bats.   ·       Transmission:   ·       After becoming infected, a person can contract the Marburg virus from another person by coming into direct contact (through cuts in the skin or ruptured mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces and materials (like bedding and clothing).   ·       Symptoms:   ·       Muscle aches, bloody vomiting, headaches, and bleeding through multiple orifices. ·       Jaundice, pancreatic inflammation, extreme weight loss, liver failure, major bleeding, and multiple organ malfunction are among the symptoms that worsen over time.   ·       Diagnosis:   ·       Making a diagnosis is challenging because the disease’s symptoms resemble many of those of typhoid fever and malaria. ·       Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, however, can be utilised to confirm a case.   ·       Treatment:   ·       Marburg

23 July 2022 Daily Current Affairs   . No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains 1.      Agnipath Scheme Prelims & Mains 2.      Place of Worship Act Prelims & Mains 3.      Private Members Bill Prelims & Mains 4.      DGCA Prelims Specific Topic   1 – Agnipath Scheme:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       Context:   ·       The 10% reservation for recruits under the Agnipath Scheme in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) or the paramilitary will apply horizontally, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, July 20. Alongside the current caste-based quota and physical eligibility conditions in the CAPFs, the new reservation will fit horizontally.   ·       Agnipath Plan:   ·       The majority of the 45,000 to 50,000 troops who are recruited each year under the new Agnipath scheme will exit the military in just four years. ·       Only 25% of the total annual recruits will be permitted to continue under permanent commission for a further 15 years. ·       Candidates must be between the ages of 17.5 and 23 to be eligible. Only employees with ranks below officer may use the plan. ·       The highest-ranking officers in the army are commissioned officers. ·       In the Indian armed services, commissioned officers are the only members of that rank. They frequently serve on a commission under the president’s authority and are mandated by law to defend the nation. ·       They would create a unique rank in the Armed Forces that would be distinct from all other ranks. ·       Agniveers will be given the chance to seek for permanent enlistment in the Armed Forces after serving for four years, based on organisational criteria and policies periodically established by the Armed Forces. ·       In order to qualify for the services, applicants must be from “all India, all classes,” which includes people of any caste, region, class, or religion. ·       The “regiment system” that currently governs recruitment is based on caste and geographic location. ·       Six months of training will be followed by three and a half years of deployment.   ·       Advantages for Agniveers:   ·       A Seva Nidhi scheme will be implemented during this time, where 30% of their pay will be set aside each month along with an equivalent monthly contribution from the government and interest. ·       Each soldier will receive a lump sum payment of Rs. 11.71 lakh at the conclusion of the four-year period that is tax-free. ·       The first four years will not be taken into account for retirement benefits for 25% of soldiers who are reselected. ·       Priority will be given to aspiring entrepreneurs when applying for bnk loans. ·       A certificate from the preferred bridging course will be given for additional study. ·       In certain states, the Agniveers would be given preference in the CAPFs, Assam Rifles, police, and allied forces. ·       Skills that can be put to use, as well as professional experience in a variety of fields like engineering, mechanics, law, and order. ·       Major businesses and industries (IT, Security, Engineering) have declared they will prioritise hiring a qualified and obedient engineer. ·       The Agnipath Scheme’s benefits include:   ·       Younger armed forces: The average age of India’s nearly 13 lakh strong armed forces is 32 years old at the moment. It is anticipated that by putting this plan into place, it will be reduced by around 4-5 years. ·       Pension cost reduction: Since 2020, the government has authorised or paid more than Rs. 3.3 lakh crore for defence pension. ·       According to estimations by the Army, the government would save over 11.5 billion dollars by using this “Tour of Duty model” of recruitment for just one sepoy (the army initially proposed a 3-year service model). ·       Younger armed forces will make it easier for them to be trained for new technology, improving training and workforce skills. ·       Increased employment options: Due to their training and expertise gained throughout the course of their four-year military service, recruits will have more opportunities outside of the army. ·       After serving for four years, the central government will probably offer Agniveers preference for regular employment.   ·       Arguments opposing the Agnipath plan:   ·       The programme eliminates the permanent status and pension benefits that would deter young people from enrolling in the programme. ·       6 months of training has drawn criticism for not being sufficient for the missions now assigned to the military forces. ·       Many veterans have expressed concern about the military becoming a short-term force, which will undermine a soldier’s devotion to the forces.   ·       Conclusion:   ·       Like the US, many other nations use the voluntary tour of duty model, where the deployment is determined by the requirements of the military and the branch of service. ·       While there are several nations that require conscription, including Israel, Norway, North Korea, and Sweden. ·       For the young people to gain experience, the plan would be beneficial. However, the government must make sure to answer all of the public’s questions and concerns on the subject.   Source à The Indian Express   2 – Place of Worship Act:GS II Topic à Government Policies and Interventions   ·       Context:   ·       A BJP MP’s private member’s bill calling for the repeal of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, was scheduled for introduction in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. This comes as a Varanasi court continues to hear the civil suit regarding the dispute between the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvapi mosque.   ·       What is stated in the 1991 Places of Worship Act?   ·       The Act mandates that a house of worship maintain its religious identity as it did on August 15, 1947. ·       No one is allowed to change a house of worship belonging to one religious sect into another, according to the law. ·       It states that as soon as the law goes into effect, all litigation, appeals, or other actions involving changing the status of a place of worship that were pending before