Table of Contents:
A. GS1 Related:
B. GS2 Related:
1. Parrikar, Mattis agree to boost defence partnership
C. GS3 Related:
1. Nilambur teak set to enter elite club of products with GI tag
2. Aadhaar number mandatory for subsidies: Centre
3. Centre to send experts to expedite talks at WTO
D. GS4 Related:
E. Important Editorials : A Quick Glance
1. Budget’s welcome boost for real estate
1. India-UK Deal to Allow More Flights to Boost Tourism and Trade for Global India & Britain
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂
I. Archives
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Useful News Articles for UPSC Current Affairs
A. GS1 Related
Nothing here for Today!!!
B. GS2 Related
Category: International Relations
Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Key Points:
- Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his U.S. counterpart, James Mattis, recently agreed to expand cooperation.
- The two discussed cooperation under the Defence Technology Trade Initiative (DTTI) and the Major Defence Partner status, and agreed to take forward the joint development of defence platforms.
- However, there is no meeting on the agenda anytime soon.
C. GS3 Related
Category: Indian Economy
Topic: IPR, GI Tags
Key Points:
- Nilambur teak, which is internationally known for its superior quality and elegant appearance, will soon be added to the list of Kerala produces with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Background:
- It was the Britishers who identified the superior quality of teak from Nilambur plantations and forests.
- Later, the region became the major supplier of quality teak in the world.
Other Produces with GI Tag
- GI registration of Pokkali rice, one of the first Kerala produces to get the GI tag, meanwhile, has been renewed.
- Other Kerala products with GI registration include Vazhakulam Pineapple, Wayanadan rice varieties Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala, Tirur Betel vine, Central Travancore Jaggery and Chengalikodan Nendran, a banana variety.
Category: Indian Economy
Topic: Government Policy, Subsidies
Key Points:
- The Consumer Affairs and Food Ministry issued a notification recently declaring that proof of possession of ‘Aadhaar’ number will be mandatory to avail oneself of the subsidised food grains or cash transfer of food subsidy under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
- The notification under the Aadhaar Act requires individual beneficiaries having ration cards to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication to receive subsidies.
- This condition will also be applicable for all new beneficiaries.
Category: Indian Economy
Topic: International Trade
Key Points:
- The Centre will send an expert team to the World Trade Organisation headquarters in Geneva next month.
- This would be done to ensure that negotiations on food security issues and the proposed global services pact are expedited.
- This condition will also be applicable for all new beneficiaries.
D. GS4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance
Category: Polity and Governance
Topic: Center-State Relations
Key Points:
- It is unfortunate that the Nagaland government, after initial steadfastness to hold the long-delayed urban local body polls on February 1, declared the elections as “null and void” after some tribal bodies, opposed to reservations for women, sought to disrupt the process.
- The fact that a substantial number of towns participated in the elections despite a bandh called by the tribal bodies reflects public support for affirmative action as mandated by the 74th Amendment to the Constitution.
Constitutional Position
- Article 371A of the Constitution secures a special status for Nagaland.
- But, importantly, as civil society groups striving for reservation have argued, it is important to note that urban local bodies are not part of traditional Naga society, and ULBs are constitutional bodies to which customary Naga laws cannot be applied.
- In conclusion, civil society and women’s groups now have their work cut out in realising their just demand for electoral representation.
Economic Times
Category: Indian Economy
Topic: Government Policy
Key Points:
- It is a welcome move that the Budget proposes several measures to rationalise tax and boost transparency in the policy-challenged real estate sector.
- It is important to note that abroad, in the mature markets, real estate accounts for almost half the GDP growth; the like figure for real estate activity here is far smaller.
- Thus, clearly, there is much potential for growth in the sector.
Specific Observations
- The Budget seeks to shift the indexation base year from 1981 to 2001for the levy of capital gains tax on land and real estate. It has been suggested that this was long overdue.
- Additionally, infrastructure status for affordable housing and its broader categorisation are both moves in the right direction of reform.
- Furthermore, removal of the tax on notional rental income for one year, from the date of issue of completion certificate, would allow real estate developers to liquidate inventory and avoid additional tax burden.
Concluding Remarks
- The way ahead is to frame concrete rules under the Real Estate Act, 2016, and also revamp regulatory oversight across jurisdictions.
- We do need to systematically shore up resource allocation for housing and real estate nationally.
PIB
Category: International Relations
Topic: Bilateral Agreements
Key Points:
- India and the UK signed a MoU to ease restrictions on the number of scheduled flights between the two countries, following successful talks in India this week. Limits on flights from key Indian cities including Chennai and Kolkata have been scrapped, allowing for a greater range of flights for passengers while providing a boost to trade and tourism for the UK and India. Building new links with important trading partners is a key part of the government’s plans for a Global Britain, opening up new export markets and creating jobs and economic growth. The agreement also opened all destinations in the UK for Indian carriers for code share flights, and reciprocally the UK carriers can also operate code share flights to any International Airport in India, through domestic code share arrangements.
- Tourism from India makes an important contribution to the UK economy. In 2015, there were 422,000 visits from India to the UK, bringing more than £433 million to the economy.
- India is a rapidly expanding and important market for aviation and the agreement signed today will allow airlines to develop new services and air routes. The final decision on additional flights between the UK and India is a commercial one for airlines.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
- Article 371A
- National Food Security Act (NFSA)
- Defence Technology Trade Initiative (DTTI)
G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
| India Innovation Index: A joint initiative of NITI Aayog, DIPP and CII | Links to Refer |
| India Innovation Index: A joint initiative of NITI Aayog, DIPP and CII | http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=157941 |
H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂
Question 1: Consider the following statements:
- Article 371A of the Constitution secures a special status for Nagaland.
- The 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India, gives constitutional status to the municipalities and has brought them under the purview of judicial review.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Question 2: Consider the following statements
- 1] Vazhakulam Pineapple is a product from Kerala with GI registration.
- 2] Nilambur teak, which is internationally known for its superior quality and elegant appearance, will soon be added to the list of Kerala produces with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Question 3: Consider the following statements:
- 1] The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on the Earth.
- The names of the five Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Question 4: Consider the following statements:
- 1] Chinook is a warm, dry, gusty, westerly wind.
- 2] The Chinook wind is referred to as the “Snow Eater” for its ability to erase a blanket of winter snow in a matter of days.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 2
Question 5: The average income of the country is which among the following?
- Per capita income
- Disposable income
- Inflation rate
- Real national income
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