CURRENT AFFAIRS 4 OCTOBER 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS 

4 OCTOBER 2019

BY SUMIT 

1.Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS)(gs-2)

Context: Delhi’s tap water fails to meet BIS test; not safe to drink

• With a new investigation of Delhi tap water showing that it is not safe to drink, the Centre has announced plans to test the quality of piped drinking water in the states and release Swachh Pani rankings early next month. It is also trying to build a consensus to make quality standards for tap water a mandatory requirement.
• A team from the Bureau of Indian Standards has been sent to state capitals to collect samples of tap water to see if they meet quality standards, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters on Thursday..
• 

Bureau of Indian Standards :

Bureau of Indian Standards Act

• BIS Act allows multiple types of simplified conformity assessment schemes including self-declaration of conformity.
• BIS act provides enabling provisions for making hallmarking of precious metal articles mandatory.
• The Act enables the Central Government to appoint any authority/agency, in addition to the BIS, to verify the conformity of products and services with the established standard and  issue certificate of conformity.
• There is a provision for repair or recall, of the products (bearing Standard Mark) that do not conform to the relevant Indian Standard.
• New areas identified in standardization are: 
• Alternate fuels
• E-mobility
• Medical Devices
• Smart Cities
• Digital Technologies (e.g. Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Block Chain etc.)
• New and Renewable energy.

Important initiatives for effective implementation of the BIS Act, 2016 are

• BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 under the BIS act calls for Hallmarking of:
• Gold jewellery and gold artefacts
• Silver jewellery and silver artefacts
• Penal provisions for better and effective compliance have been made stringent under BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018.

Bureau of Indian Standards

• BIS is the National Standard Body of India for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods.
• BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways by:
• Providing safe reliable quality goods.
• Minimizing health hazards to consumers.
• Promoting exports and imports substitute.
• Control over proliferation of varieties etc through standardization, certification and testing.

2.Rafale fighter jet(GS-2,3)

CONTEXT: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to fly Rafale sortie on October 8 in Paris

Defence Minister Rajnath Mr. Singh will fly a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet on October 8 from a French airbase in Paris to gain first-hand experience of the aircraft, official sources said on October 3.

Mr. Singh is scheduled to travel to Paris on October 7 on a three-day visit, primarily to receive the first of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

The ceremony to hand over the first Rafale jet will take place on October 8, the foundation day of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the sources said.

Rafale fighter jet:

• The Dassault Rafale literally meaning "gust of wind", and "burst of fire" in a more military sense)is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Equipped with a wide range of weapons, the Rafale is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions. The Rafale is referred to as an "omnirole" aircraft by Dassault.
• In the late 1970s, the French Air Force and Navy were seeking to replace and consolidate their current fleets of aircraft. In order to reduce development costs and boost prospective sales, France entered into an arrangement with UK, Germany, Italy and Spain to produce an agile multi-purpose fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon. Subsequent disagreements over workshare and differing requirements led to France's pursuit of its own development programme. Dassault built a technology demonstrator which first flew in July 1986 as part of an eight-year flight-test programme, paving the way for the go-ahead of the project. The Rafale is distinct from other European fighters of its era in that it is almost entirely built by one country, involving most of France's major defence contractors, such as Dassault, Thales and Safran.
• Many of the aircraft's avionics and features, such as direct voice input, the RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the optronique secteur frontal infra-red search and track (IRST) sensor, were domestically developed and produced for the Rafale programme. Originally scheduled to enter service in 1996, the Rafale suffered significant delays due to post-Cold War budget cuts and changes in priorities. The aircraft is available in three main variants: Rafale C single-seat land-based version, Rafale B twin-seat land-based version, and Rafale M single-seat carrier-based version.
• Introduced in 2001, the Rafale is being produced for both the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations in the French Navy. The Rafale has been marketed for export to several countries, and was selected for purchase by the Indian Air Force, the Egyptian Air Force, and the Qatar Air Force. The Rafale has been used in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria. Several upgrades to the weapons and avionics of the Rafale are planned to be introduced by 2018

3.Single-use plastic(GS-2,3)

CONTEXT: Odisha to strictly enforce ban on single-use plastic

After it faced strong opposition over implementation of the amended traffic rules a few weeks ago, the administration is taking no chances before strictly enforcing the ban on single-use plastic in Odisha.

The administration has launched an awareness drive in all the urban areas, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Berhampur, in a big way to make people aware of the threats plastic bags, polythene and single-use plastic pose to the environment.

Though raids are being conducted in different areas, a period of one month has been given to traders in Bhubaneswar to make necessary arrangements to cope with the ban on single-use plastic. Cases will be registered against repeat offenders, an official said.

Single-use plastic:

What are single use plastics?

• There is no central and comprehensive definition for single-use plastic, crucial for any ban to be successful. Governments currently use various definitions.  
• Some states like Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh banned plastic bottles and Tetra packs, single-use straws, plastic/styrofoam tea cups/containers, etc. But many like Bihar banned only polythene bags.

India’s efforts to beat plastic pollution:

• More than 20 States and Union Territories have joined the fight to beat the plastic pollution, announcing a ban on single-use plastics such as carry bags, cups, plates, cutlery, straws and thermocol products.
• India has also won global acclaim for its “Beat Plastic Pollution” resolve declared on World Environment Day last year, under which it pledged to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022.
• All such efforts have yielded positive results: Voluntary initiatives are having an impact in many States, as citizens reduce, reuse and sort their waste. A Bengaluru waste collective estimates that the volume of plastic waste that they collect dropped from about two tonnes a day to less than 100 kg.

Gaps existing:

• Waste plastic from packaging of everything from food, cosmetics and groceries to goods delivered by online platforms remains unaddressed.
• Collect-back system: The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 are clear that producers, importers and brand owners must adopt a collect-back system for the plastic they introduce into the environment. However, not much has been done to take the process forward.
• Extended Producer Responsibility clause: Small producers of plastics are facing the ban, while more organised entities covered by the Extended Producer Responsibility clause continue with business as usual

What is needed?

• Governments must start charging the producers for their waste, and collect it diligently, which will lead to recovery and recycling.
• State and local governments should upgrade their waste management systems, which is necessary to even measure the true scale of packaging waste.
• Role of local bodies: Local bodies should consult manufacturers or importers to assess the problem. Cities and towns need competent municipal systems to achieve this.
• A central legislation with a clear definition of what constitutes single-use plastic is also necessary.

4. National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC),WHO(GS-2,3)

CONTEXT: NHSRC to be WHO collaborating centre for medical devices

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has announced the re-designation of the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Priority Medical Devices and Health Technology Policy.
• In the past, NHSRC as a collaborating centre has supported WHO in formulating technical specifications for medical devices such as oxygen concentrators and resuscitation devices and continues to support evaluation of innovations for WHO’s compendium on innovative devices.

National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC):

• Established in 2006, the National Health Systems Resource Centre's mandate is to assist in policy and strategy development in the provision and mobilization of technical assistance to the states and in capacity building for the Ministry of Health.
• National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) has been set up under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) of Government of India to serve as an apex body for technical assistance.
• Established in 2006, the National Health Systems Resource Centre's mandate is to assist in policy and strategy development in the provision and mobilization of technical assistance to the states and in capacity building for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) at the centre and in the states.The goal of this institution is to improve health outcomes by facilitating governance reform, health systems innovations and improved information sharing among all stake holders at the national, state, district and sub-district levels through specific capacity development and convergence models.
• It has a 23 member Governing Body, chaired by the Secretary, MoHFW, Government of India with the Mission Director, NRHM as the Vice Chairperson of the GB and the Chairperson of its Executive Committee. Of the 23 members, 14 are ex-officio senior health administrators, including four from the states. Nine are public health experts, from academics and Management Experts. The Executive Director, NHSRC is the Member Secretary of both the Governing body and the Executive Committee. NHSRC's annual governing board meet sanctions its work agenda and its budget.
• The NHSRC currently consists of seven divisions – Community Processes, Healthcare Financing, Healthcare Technology, Human Resources for Health, Public Health Administration, Public Health Planning, Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• The NHSRC has a branch office in the north-east region of India. The North East Regional Resource Centre (NE RRC) has functional autonomy and implements a similar range of activities.

WHO:

World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.

• Its headquarters are situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
• There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, six regional offices.
• It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
• The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
• It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date now being celebrated every year as World Health Day.

Objectives

• To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.
• To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate.
• To provide assistance to the Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services.
• To promote cooperation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health.

Governance

World Health Assembly

• The Health Assembly is composed of delegates representing Members.
• Each Member is represented by not more than three delegates, one of whom is designated by the Member as chief delegate.
• These delegates are chosen from among persons most qualified by their technical competence in the field of health, preferably representing the national health administration of the Member.
• The Health Assembly meets in regular annual session and sometimes in special sessions as well.

Functions

• The Health Assembly determines the policies of the Organization.
• It supervises the financial policies of the Organization and reviews and approves the budget.
• It reports to the Economic and Social Council in accordance with any agreement between the Organization and the United Nations.

5. Climate change(GS-3)

CONTEXT:New calendar imagines a ‘world without climate change’

A page from Lavazza’s 2020 calendar.

“Earth CelebrAction” is the theme of Lavazza’s 2020 calendar, released here on Thursday, as the world heads into an uncertain future singed by extreme weather cycles, Amazon wildfires and brinkmanship over the climate deal.

Shot by the celebrated American photographer David LaChapelle for the Lavazza Group, the stunning photos set in Maui, Hawaii are as life affirming as they are a contrast to a world under siege by 20th century lifestyles.

In their conception and execution, they are a fitting continuation of Amy Vitale’s shots of art installations in natural settings in the “Good to Earth” series of the 2019 calendar.

Climate change(NOTES)….

‘Climate change’ as a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. The major characteristics of climate change include rise in average global temperature, ice cap melting, changes in precipitation, and increase in ocean temperature leading to sea level rise.

GLOBAL WARNING

• Unprecedented warming over the last few decades.

• -0.8°C since 1880 and still continue.

• Increase in the average global temperature of Earth’s atmosphere, near the surface and in the troposphere.

Green House (Glass House)

• Cold climate areas

• Inside temperature higher than a low outside temperature

• Protects the plants from plant

Green House Effects

• Naturally occurring phenomenon that blankets the lower atmosphere and warms it, maintaining the temperature suitable for living to survive.

• Frozen and lifeless in the absence of Green House Effects, like moon

• Venus- thick atmosphere

• Average temperature – 14°C

• In the absence of green house effect- 18°C

• Green house (Conventional) v/s Green house effect (Radiative)

Gas that absorbs and emits infrared Radiation are known as Green House Gases.

Trap Heat in Atmosphere:

– Water Vapour ( H2O)

– Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

– Methane (CH4)

– Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

– Fluorinated Gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6, etc.)

– Nitrogen Fluoride ( NF3)

Factors that determine the degree to which any GHG will influence global warming:

– Abundance

– Ability to absorb energy (global warming potential)

– Life – how long it stays in atmosphere.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure of the total energy that a gas absorbs over a particular period of time (usually 100 years) compared to CO2.

Larger than GWP, more warming the gas causes:

(CO2-1)-Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

• Fossil fuel Burning

• Energy production – Coal and natural Gas

• Transportation- petrol and diesel industry

• Industry, production of chemicals, cements etc.

(CH4- 21)-Methane (CH4):

• Wetland

• Coal Mining

• Agriculture

– Domestic Livestock

– Rice field

• Industry

• CH4- Component of Natural Gas

(N2O- 300)-Nitrous Oxide (N2O):

• Fossil fuel combustion- In industry and transportation

• Synthetic fertilizers in Agriculture

• Livestock manual and Urine- Nitrogen complexes breakdown

(F- Gases – High GWP Gases)-Fluorinated Gases:

• HFCs to replace CFCs

• PFCs in semiconductor manufacturing

• SF6 in industrial processes

Basics of Climate Change

BASICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

‘Climate change’ as a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. The major characteristics of climate change include rise in average global temperature, ice cap melting, changes in precipitation, and increase in ocean temperature leading to sea level rise.

GLOBAL WARNING

• Unprecedented warming over the last few decades.

• -0.8°C since 1880 and still continue.

• Increase in the average global temperature of Earth’s atmosphere, near the surface and in the troposphere.

Green House (Glass House)

• Cold climate areas

• Inside temperature higher than a low outside temperature

• Protects the plants from plant

Green House Effects

• Naturally occurring phenomenon that blankets the lower atmosphere and warms it, maintaining the temperature suitable for living to survive.

• Frozen and lifeless in the absence of Green House Effects, like moon

• Venus- thick atmosphere

• Average temperature – 14°C

• In the absence of green house effect- 18°C

• Green house (Conventional) v/s Green house effect (Radiative)

Gas that absorbs and emits infrared Radiation are known as Green House Gases.

Trap Heat in Atmosphere:

– Water Vapour ( H2O)

– Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

– Methane (CH4)

– Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

– Fluorinated Gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6, etc.)

– Nitrogen Fluoride ( NF3)

Factors that determine the degree to which any GHG will influence global warming:

– Abundance

– Ability to absorb energy (global warming potential)

– Life – how long it stays in atmosphere.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure of the total energy that a gas absorbs over a particular period of time (usually 100 years) compared to CO2.

Larger than GWP, more warming the gas causes:

(CO2-1)-Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

• Fossil fuel Burning

• Energy production – Coal and natural Gas

• Transportation- petrol and diesel industry

• Industry, production of chemicals, cements etc.

(CH4- 21)-Methane (CH4):

• Wetland

• Coal Mining

• Agriculture

– Domestic Livestock

– Rice field

• Industry

• CH4- Component of Natural Gas

(N2O- 300)-Nitrous Oxide (N2O):

• Fossil fuel combustion- In industry and transportation

• Synthetic fertilizers in Agriculture

• Livestock manual and Urine- Nitrogen complexes breakdown

(F- Gases – High GWP Gases)-Fluorinated Gases:

• HFCs to replace CFCs

• PFCs in semiconductor manufacturing

• SF6 in industrial processes

Impacts of the Climate Change:

Impact on Biodiversity

• Climate change is expected to have a significant influence on terrestrial biodiversity at all system levels – ecosystem, species and genetic diversity.

• The changing climate will stimulate species-level changes in range and abundance, life cycle and behaviour, and, over time, genetic evolutionary responses.

• These changes will in turn be linked with changes in natural disturbance patterns and changes in ecosystem structure and function.

Impact on Agriculture

• According to World Meteorological Organization, climate change can adversely impact global environment, agricultural productivity and the quality of human life.

• More importantly in developing countries, it will be difficult for farmers to carry on farming in the increased temperatures.

• While in temperate latitudes a rise in temperature would help countries increase food productivity, it will have adverse effects in India and countries in the tropics.

• The monsoon accounting for 75% of India’s rainfall significantly impacts country’s agriculture and livelihood of tens of millions of small farmers.

• Climate change is likely to intensify the variability of monsoon dynamics, leading to a rise in extreme seasonal aberrations, such as increased precipitation and devastating floods in some parts of the country as well as reduced rainfall and prolonged droughts in other areas.

Impact on fisheries and Aquaculture

• Climate change, more particularly harsher weather conditions, will have impact on the quality, productivity, output and viability of fish and aquaculture enterprises, thereby affecting fishing community.

• The small-scale fishers may be faced with greater uncertainty as availability, access, stability and use of aquatic food and supplies would diminish and work opportunities would dwindle. Aquaculture development opportunities will increase in particular in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

• The climate change in warmer regions offers new opportunities as production in warmer regions will increase because of better growth rates, a longer growing season and the availability of new fish farming areas where it was once too cold.

Impact on Demography

• Rising sea levels owing to climate change would force communities in low-lying coastal areas and river deltas to move to higher ground level.

• Similarly, increase in frequency of droughts due to climate change would force farmers and pastoralists, who rely on rainfall to raise their crops and livestock, to migrate to areas in search of land and water.

• This migration/displacement of people would result in direct conflict and competition between migrants and established communities for access to land and water.

• It may be difficult for displaced communities to maintain their farming or pastoral traditions.

Impact on Glacier

• Glaciers the world over are thinning and shrinking as the planet warms, and glaciers in the Himalayas are receding faster than anywhere else.

• If the earth keeps warming at the current rate, Himalayan glaciers are likely to disappear altogether in 25 years.

• In the absence of glaciers, rivers in the Indo-Gangetic plain will become much more seasonal, threatening the rabi crop as well as domestic and industrial water supplies in the non-monsoon months.

• In addition, more precipitation will fall as rain rather than snow and the greater water run-offs will increase flooding.

Impact on Weather

• Increasing global temperatures will lead to higher maximum temperatures, more heat waves, and fewer cold days over most land areas.

• More severe drought in some areas, combined with other factors, has contributed to larger and more frequent wildfires.

Impact on Human Health

• Changes in the greenhouse gas concentrations and other drivers alter the global climate and bring about myriad human health consequences.

• Environmental consequences of climate change, such as extreme heat waves, rising sea-levels, changes in precipitation resulting in flooding and droughts, intense hurricanes, and degraded air quality have impact directly and indirectly on the physical, social, and psychological health of humans.

Impact on Water Resources

• Climate change will have an impact on the predictability and variability in the availability of water and also increase in frequencies of droughts and floods.

• Worst sufferers would be farmers of the rainfed agriculture, which covers 60% of all cultivated land in the country.

• The risk of crop failures will increase in semi-arid zones with prolonged dry seasons forcing people to migrate, when stability of food production cannot be assured.

• Irrigated areas in large river basins and deltas can also be at risk because of a combination of factors, such as reduced runoff, salinity, increasing floods, sea level rise, urban and industrial pollution.

Lead to Sea Level Rise

• The Bay of Bengal points to the sea rising 3.14 mm a year in the mangrove swamps of ‘the Sunderbans delta’ against a global average of 2 mm, threatening the low-lying area which is home to about 4 million people.

• A trend of sea level rise of 1 cm. per decade has been recorded along the Indian coast. The major delta area of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus rivers, which have large populations reliant on riverine resources, will be affected by changes in water regimes, salt water intrusions and land loss.

• The rise in sea temperature also causes coral bleaching, which negatively affects fishes, sponges, giant clams, and other sea creatures.

• The El Nino event of 1998 resulted massive mortality of corals in the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Threat to Cities

• The Indian cities will face the impact of climate change in various forms. Indian urban infrastructure is less advanced and over-stressed in most cities.

• The floods and heavy rains caused by climate change will devastate the urban dwellings and make havoc to the lakhs of poor lives.

• Nowadays rural population is migrating towards cities increasing the demands of power, housing and drinking water and transportation.

• The water scarcity due to glacial melting and irregular rainfalls will reduce the availability of clean drinking water.

Steps taken by Government:

• India’s Energy Conservation Act ( Energy Conservation Act), 2001; The 2010 amendment to the S ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT created PAT scheme as a market-based trading scheme enable industries to meet the mandatory energy efficiency standards that had begun to be developed under the original Energy Conservation Act.

• PAT scheme is now India’s main effort-defining policy. It is overseen by the BEE and was introduced by the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).

• Use of Renewable Energy-The Electricity Act 2003 together with the National Electricity Policy 2005 (NEP) and the Tariff Policy (TP) mandate promotion of electricity generation from renewable sources. The Electricity Act and these policies envisage regulatory interventions for promotion of renewable energy sources.

• Climate Friendly Transport Sector-Transport India has taken substantial initiatives to make the transport sector less emission intensive. One of the major initiatives has been upgradation of vehicular emission norms such as Bharat Stage II, Bharat Stage III and Bharat Stage IV. The commercial manufacture of battery-operated vehicles has begun in India with a view to promoting low/ no carbon emitting vehicles.

• Conservation of Agriculture, Forest and Water Resources- National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. There are also programmes for crop improvement and drought proofing. India has launched an ambitious Green India Mission to increase the quality and quantity of forest cover in 10 million ha of land. Also an incentive-based additional special grant of US$ 1.2 billion had been announced by the central government to all states for sustainable forestry management.

• Forestry Sector- The National Forest Policy (1988), Participatory Forest Management/Joint Forest Management Programme, National Afforestation Programme, National Forestry Action Programme and National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas.

• Coastal Area- Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction Systems (COMAPS), Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ), Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (ICMAM), and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM).

• Enhancing Adaptive Capacity- the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is India’s National Implementing Entity (NIE) for the Adaptation Fund created under the UNFCCC. At present, NABARD is the only NIE in the Asia Pacific Region.

India is a part of the international collaboration for mitigating climate change; such as- international forum, regional forum, negotiation group etc.

6.PM Modi inaugurates metro service, ENT hospital in Mauritius (GS-2)

CONTEXT:Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated a metro express service and a hospital in Mauritius with Mauritian premier Pravind Jugnauth via video on Thursday and described the projects as a symbol of New Delhi's strong commitment towards the development of the island nation.

India–Mauritius relations:

• India–Mauritius (or Indo-Mauritian relations) refers to the historical, political, economic, military, social and cultural connections between the Republic of India and the Republic of Mauritius. Connections between India and Mauritius date back to 1730, diplomatic relations were established in 1948, before Mauritius became independent state.The cultural affinities and long historical ties between the two nations have contributed to strong and cordial relations between the two nations. More than 68% of the Mauritian population are of Indian origin, most commonly known as Indo-Mauritians. India and Mauritius co-operate in combating piracy, which has emerged as a major threat in the Indian Ocean region and Mauritius supports India’s stance against terrorism

6.World Economic Forum(GS-2,3)

CONTEXT:No problem with NRC, I had a talk with PM Modi in New York: Sheikh Hasina

While the NRC could figure during discussions between the two Prime Ministers, sources said Modi has already assured Hasina on this matter. “It will depend on the Bangladesh PM. The Indian position will remain the same as articulated by the PM during their meeting in New York,” sources said.

No problem with NRC, I had a talk with PM Modi in New York: Sheikh Hasina

Meanwhile, addressing the WEF’s summit, Hasina said that Bangladesh “can serve as the economic hub for the sub-region”. “Beyond our own 162 million people, Bangladesh can be the connecting landmass to a combined market of nearly 3 billion people,” she said.

World Economic Forum:

• It was established in 1971 by Klaus Schwab as a not-for-profit foundation
• headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland
• Formerly called European Management Forum
• Motto : Committed to improve the state of the world

• It is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
• It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.
• The Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does.

Governance

• Chairperson : Founder and Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab
• Board of Trustees : exceptional individuals who act as guardians of its mission and values, and oversee the Forum’s work in promoting true global citizenship.  Its membership is divided equally between representatives of the business community and leaders from international organizations and civil society.
• Managing Board : acts as the executive body of the WEF& acts as its representative to outside parties.
• The organization also convenes some six to eight regional meetings each year in locations across Africa, East Asia, and Latin America, and holds two further annual meetings in China, India and the United Arab Emirates
• Until 2012, it had observer status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council; it is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Council.

Publications:

• Global risk report, 2018
• Readiness for the future of production
• Global gender gap report
• Inclusive development index
• Global competitiveness report (index)
• Global human capital report (index)
• Travel and tourism competitiveness report (index)
• Global energy architecture performance index reporT

Summer annual meeting:

• In 2007, the foundation established the Annual Meeting of the New Champions (also called Summer Davos), held annually in China, alternating between Dalian and Tianjin, bringing together 1,500 participants from what the foundation calls Global Growth Companies, primarily from rapidly growing emerging countries such as China, India, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil, but also including quickly growing companies from developed countries. The meeting also engages with the next generation of global leaders from fast-growing regions and competitive cities, as well as technology pioneers from around the globe. The Chinese Premier has delivered a plenary address at each annual meeting

7.NILGIRIS,Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve(GS-1,3)

CONTEXT: Drone cameras threaten Nilgiris wildlife

Aerial threats: The Shaheen Falcon is known to be very aggressive around unmanned drones.

With more and more amateur photographers descending on the Nilgiris and the rest of the Western Ghats to capture footage of stunning vistas and exotic wildlife, conservationists are concerned that enthusiasts using drone cameras may be posing a significant threat to the endangered species of birds, especially raptors, many of which are known to attack the equipment and sustain injuries in the process.

The Nilgiri Mountains form part of the Western Ghats in western Tamil Nadu of Southern India. At least 24 of the Nilgiri Mountains' peaks are above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), the highest peak being Doddabetta, at 2,637 metres (8,652 ft).

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve:

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is an International Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills ranges of South India. The Nilgiri Sub-Cluster is a part of the Western Ghats, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012.It includes the Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley national parks, as well as the Wayanad and Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries.

A fascinating ecosystem of the hill ranges of Nilgiris and its surrounding environments covering a tract of over 5000 square kilometers was constituted as Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in September 1986 under Man and Biosphere Programme. Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is India's first and foremost biosphere reserves with a heritage, rich in flora and fauna. Tribal groups like the Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Allar, Malayan, etc., are native to the reserve.

TODAYS SOURCES DISCLAIMER:THE HINDU,TIMES OF INDIA,INDIAN EXPRESS,WIKIPEDIA,DRISHTI IAS,IAS SCORE,INSIGHTS