Weekly Current Affairs February Fourth Week · 2019-02-26 · Weekly Current Affairs ... upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.

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Weekly Current Affairs – February Fourth Week

1. Monkey Declared Vermin in HP

2. Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands

3. Golden Rice

4. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

5. Shahpur Kandi Dam Project

6. Green crackers

7. Forest Fires

8. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

9. Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

10. Permanent Residence Certificate

11. Super-Efficient Air Conditioning Programme

12. Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED)

Monkey Declared Vermin in Himachal Pradesh

Context

Monkeys have again been declared vermin for the next one year in 11 districts’ 91 tehsils

and sub-tehsils of Himachal Pradesh.

The state government had urged the centre to declare Monkeys as vermin because the

animals have been adversely affecting crops and causing harm to humans.

Concerns

Not many are happy with these decisions. These decisions raise questions about whether

it is right to kill wildlife that damage crops. More pertinent is whether the problem has

been framed and assessed correctly, and culling the appropriate solution in the first place.

Why culling is not a good idea?

Removal through capture or killing may not prevent recurrence of conflicts and may even

exacerbate them. Himachal Pradesh, for instance, killed hundreds of rhesus macaques in

2007 with conflicts recurring within two years, sterilised over 96,000 macaques since

2007 while conflicts continued to increase.

When animals are hunted, some will be shot several times causing tremendous pain, but

many others escape with one gunshot or flesh wound, and die later slowly and in

unimaginable agony from blood loss, gangrene, starvation or dehydration. When mother

animals are killed, orphaned babies are left behind to starve.

Provisions to allow wild animals to be killed can also be easily misused and contribute to

the illegal wildlife trade. There is already a huge black market for nilgai body parts such

as skin, teeth, nails and meat in Uttar Pradesh and wild boar are often used for meat.

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In parts of India, wildlife species such as wild pig, elephants, macaques, and nilgai

occasionally damage crops or property. However, no reliable estimates of economic loss

nationwide are available.

Following list of reasons that scientists’ show us why the animal isn’t the problem:

Habitat loss: Deforestation and lowered green cover in cities has been driving animals

into crop fields and human dwellings in search of food.

Fall in predator population: Fall in population of predators such as tigers and leopards

leads to a consequential rise in population of herbivores such as nilgai and deer.

Drought: If natural calamities such as drought affect human beings, so is the case with

animals in the forest. Drought dries up availability of food for foraging driving wild

animals into nearby crop fields and human dwellings in search of food.

Humans feeding animals: this is one of the major problems these days. Tourists often

offer foods to animals roadside. This habit makes them chase tourists expecting the same

from all tourists.

Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands

Context

Four islands in the Andamans and three in Lakshadweep have been identified for

seaplane operations, while private sector participation has been invited for tourism-based

projects.

The 5th meeting of the Island Development Agency, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath

Singh, also reviewed the progress made towards the programme ‘Holistic development of

islands’.

Details of the initiative

Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Hutbay and Long Island in Andaman and Nicobar

Islands and Kavaratti, Agatti and Minicoy in Lakshadweep have been identified for

seaplane operations.

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Key infrastructure projects such as operationalisation of the Diglipur airport for civilian

aircraft and the construction of a new airport on Minicoy Island have been accorded high

priority by the government, while Coastal Regulation Zone clearance (CRZ) has been

accorded for ‘Middle Strait Bridge’ on Andaman Trunk Road.

Bids for private sector participation in three tourism-based projects have already been

invited by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration. They include eco-tourism projects on

Smith Island and Long Island and a tent city project on Aves Island. Bids will be invited

shortly for one more project on Neil Island.

The Ministry of Commerce has issued a notification extending tax incentives for

investments made in the manufacturing and service sector in the islands of Andaman and

Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

Why these islands are important?

Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a group of picturesque islands at the junction of the Bay of

Bengal and the Andaman Sea, are blessed with pristine sea beaches, attractive marine life

and a large extent of forest cover with rich biodiversity.

About 82.16 per cent of the total geographical area has been reported under forest and

tree cover in Andaman & Nicobar (India State of Forest Report 2017).

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The Islands possess a mix of natural ecosystems including mangrove forests, tropical

rainforests, sandy beaches, rocky shores and coral reefs.

In the limited geographical area, a high level of biodiversity with several species of

mammals, birds and fish have been reported to occur in the Islands. Other strengths

possessed by the Islands are rich cultural traditions, historical heritage sites and peaceful

environment.

Presently, tourism has the potential to be an efficient driver of high economic growth in

the Islands. Development potential also exists in other sectors such as maritime trade,

shipping, fisheries, under-sea mining, oil and gas.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a long coastal length of about 1,912 km. The

Exclusive Economic Zone around these Islands is about 6 lakh sq km constituting 28 per

cent of the total EEZ in our country.

The Great Nicobar Island is only about 90 km away from the western tip of the Malacca

Strait, an important shipping route between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

Being at close aerial/shipping distance to a number of countries (Indonesia, Myanmar and

Thailand) and the Malacca Strait, the Islands have the potential of enhanced maritime

trade, particularly for export of the products made in the Islands.

Realizing the potential in Andaman and Nicobar and more or less similar potential in

Lakshadweep, holistic development of identified Islands has been accorded high priority

by the Government.

Conclusion

Existing situation calls for formulation of suitable strategies for holistic development of

identified Islands.

Effective implementation of well-planned strategies in tourism and other key economic

sectors would lead to creation of more jobs and generation of additional income for the

Islanders.

However, while planning development interventions, both the ecological concerns and

the tribal-related issues need to be fully addressed so as to ensure a sustainable

development process.

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Golden Rice

Context

Bangladesh farmers and environment groups are angry over the government’s decision to

allow commercial cultivation of the controversial genetically modified (GM) rice,

popularly called as the golden rice.

What’s the issue?

Bangladesh completed the confined field testing of golden rice at the Bangladesh Rice

Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, in early 2017. It has already allowed commercial

production of BT Brinjal in the country.

Locals fear that the introduction of golden rice will impact their traditional agriculture

system.

It is alleged that field trials were marred with controversy over the lack of transparency

and credible independent safety studies. Even claims made after field trial concerns

remain as on the lack of credible and independent safety studies, transparency and public

participation.

Activists fear that commercial cultivation would lead to the loss of Bangladesh’s rich bio-

diversity. This could further push for public acceptance of genetically-modified crops and

erode our food diversity and our local and traditional seeds, as well as increase corporate

control on our agriculture system.

What is Golden rice?

In 1999, a group of European scientists led by Dr Ingo Potrykus tried to change

traditional rice by developing genetically-engineered rice that contains beta-carotene —

by inserting bacteria and daffodil and maize genes into it. This is the golden rice, called

so because of the golden colour of its grains.

The golden rice was introduced in 2000 and argued to be the panacea for world’s

malnutrition problem. It was claimed that the rice is bio-fortified, and is supposedly high

in Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc.

It was considered as a significant breakthrough in biotechnology, with its first field trials

conducted by the agriculture centre of Louisiana State University in 2004. Later, it has

been claimed that field trials were conducted in the Philippines, Taiwan and Bangladesh.

What is a GM crop?

A GM or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material

obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.

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For example, a GM crop can contain a gene(s) that has been artificially inserted instead

of the plant acquiring it through pollination. The resulting plant is said to be “genetically

modified” although in reality all crops have been “genetically modified” from their

original wild state by domestication, selection, and controlled breeding over long periods

of time.

GM is a solution to hunger problem:

Data from a large number of peer-reviewed publications have shown that, on average,

GM technology adoption has reduced pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yield by 22%,

and increased farmer profits by 68%.

Data from a billion animals fed on GM corn have not indicated any health hazards. Those

in the Americas and elsewhere consuming Bt corn or soybean for over 15 years have not

reported any health issues.

Genetically modified (GM) crops can withstand pests and droughts. Genetic modification

in crops involves altering a seed’s DNA in order to increase its resistance to pests and

insects. These changes can mean a huge boost to productivity and overall food supply.

Adopting technology that will lead to higher crop productivity is essential to feeding the

growing Indian population.

Higher crop yields, reduced farm costs, increased farm profit and improvement in health

and the environment are some of the benefits of introducing GM crops.

There are some concerns as well

GM food involves taking genes (DNA) from different organisms and inserting them in

food crops.

There are concerns that this ‘foreign’ DNA through Genetically Modified products may

lead to risks such as toxicity, allergic reactions, and nutritional and unintended impact.

It costs people’s health and our national food and health sovereignty.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India [FSSAI], the apex food regulator, has

failed to curb the illegal sales of GM food.

Its draft regulations on GM food labelling are weak and impractical to implement.

Lack of clarity: It is clear that the technology of genetic engineering is an evolving one

and there is much, especially on its impact on human health and environment that is yet

to be understood properly. The scientific community itself seems uncertain about this.

There is also a potential for pests to evolve resistance to the toxins produced by GM

crops and the risk of these toxins affecting nontarget organisms. There is also the danger

of unintentionally introducing allergens and other anti-nutrition factors in foods.

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Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

Context

To provide an assured income support to the small and marginal farmers, the Government

has unveiled the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).

About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land

upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.

This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary

farmers, in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each.

The complete expenditure of Rs 75000 crore for the scheme will borne by the Union

Government in 2019-20.

Significance

Around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit from this. It

would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer

families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season.

It would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living.

Benefits of direct cash transfers

It has immediate impact on reducing hunger and rural poverty.

They can help households to overcome credit constraints and manage risk. This can

increase productive investment, increase access to markets and stimulate local

economies.

Income support can be used to make a repayment or at least activate a bank account

which can then receive a loan.

It can increase investment in agricultural inputs, including farm implements and

livestock.

It can serve as an important complement to a broader rural development agenda,

including a pro-poor growth strategy focusing on agriculture.

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Shahpur Kandi Dam Project

Context

India will use its share of water from the Indus network of rivers that flows through its

territory, Road Transport and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

The Minister’s statement coincided with the announcement of implementation of the

Shahpur-Kandi dam project in Punjab on the river Ravi.

The project would be implemented by Govt. of Punjab with Central Assistance and is

expected to be completed by 2022. It would help minimising some of the water of the

River Ravi which at present is going waste through the Madhopur Headworks

downstream to Pakistan.

The project will enable the upstream Ranjit Sagar Dam project electricity station to act as

a peaking station, besides having its own generation capacity of 206 MW.

Shahpur Kandi Dam Project

The 55.5 high Shahpur Kandi dam, located in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, will help in

providing irrigation facility to 5000 hectares of land in Punjab and 32173 hectares in J&K

besides generation of 206 MW power.

The construction of Shahpur Kandi Dam project was taken up in May 1999 but later

halted in 2014 due to dispute between Punjab and J&K. The Ministry of WR, RD & GR

had been making all out efforts to resolve the issues and resume construction which

resulted.

The project was being built with an estimated cost of Rs. 2285.81 crore (April, 2008 price

level) and is included in the Scheme of National Projects by Government of India. Under

the scheme, MoWR, RD & GR provides central assistance @ 90% of the balance cost of

works component of irrigation and water supply.

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The project will continue to be implemented by the Government of Punjab. However,

there will be a tripartite team headed by Member, CWC and consisting of Chief

Engineers of two States to monitor the project as and when required but atleast once in

three months to ensure that the construction is as per the agreement.

The design of the project shall be as already agreed by both the states while concurrently

model studies will be done to ensure that the mandated share of 1150 cusecs of water is

available to the State of J&K, which will be binding on both the States.

The Government of Punjab would be making available to the Govt. of J&K 20% share in

the total power generated at the Thein Dam at the mutually agreed rate of Rs. 3.50 per

unit immediately, subject to the confirmation of the rates by the Central Electricity

Regulatory Commission.

Both the States agreed that other issues will be referred to Arbitration mechanism

provided in the agreement signed between two states of 1979 without affecting the

progress of work. It was unanimously agreed that the work on the Shahpur Kandi Dam

Project would resume as soon both the State Governments formally approve the agreed

decisions.

Indus Water Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and

Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan on September 19, 1960.

The World Bank brokered the Indus valley treaty.

The treaty describes how river Indus and its tributaries that flow through both the

countries can be effectively utilized without disputes.

According to the treaty, the administration of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej are invested on

Indian Government, while, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum are to be taken care by Pakistan.

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As the river Indus flows from India, the country is allowed to use 20 per cent of its water

for irrigation, power generation and transport purposes.

Though, the Indus originates from Tibet, China has been kept out of the Treaty. The

provisions of The Indus Valley Treaty created a peaceful sharing of water among India

and Pakistan for 56 years on sharing the water of Indus and its tributaries.

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Green crackers

Context

Four months after it banned polluting firecrackers, the Supreme Court realised that the

concept of non-polluting ‘green crackers’ remains a non-starter, while its ban has affected

the livelihood of four lakh workers and resulted in the closure of 974 firecracker units in

Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, alone.

“Where are the green crackers,” a Bench, led by Justice A.K. Sikri, asked the Petroleum

and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the National Environmental Engineering

Research Institute (NEERI).

Justice Sikri said the October 23 ban and the insistence on green crackers were meant to

stop pollution and, at the same time, ensure that livelihoods were not affected. He

observed that the court had ordered the ban under the belief that a formula for non-

polluting crackers was in place.

Background

On October 31 last year, the Supreme Court had, on an application from Tamil Nadu,

clarified that only green crackers could be made henceforth across the country.

This meant that no polluting crackers could be made after the factories sent out the

existing stock.

The mandatory manufacture and sale of green crackers was implemented in the National

Capital Region with immediate effect from last year itself.

Green Crackers

Fireworks is a device which contains gunpowder and other combustible chemicals which

causes striking effects and when ignited they explodes. Basically, used in celebrations,

festivals etc.

Green crackers are those crackers which do not contain harmful chemicals that would

cause air pollution. They are environmentally friendly. So, we can say that green crackers

are less harmful as compared to conventional firecrackers and less pollution emission will

result in reduced air pollution. That is why it is decided to develop eco-friendly

firecrackers and fireworks.

In green crackers the commonly used polluting chemicals like aluminium, barium,

potassium nitrate and carbon have either been removed or sharply reduced to slow down

the emissions by 15 to 30%.

The idea of generating green firecrackers is of CSIR labs and is proposed by the Union

Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan

In the first phase of producing green crackers focus will be on reducing pollutants and

then further strategies will cover to remove pollutants from the compositions.

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The network of CSIR labs - Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), Indian

Institute of Chemical Technology, National Botanical Research Institute, National

Chemical Laboratory has developed flower pots by using “eco-friendly materials” that

can potentially reduce particulate matter by 40%.

Forest Fires

Context

There was a major fire outbreak in the forestlands of Bandipur. According to an alert

from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (NASA-FIRMS) 21

fires or hotspots were detected during the satellite overpass.

FIRMS was developed to provide near real-time active fire locations to natural resource

managers that faced challenges obtaining timely satellite-derived fire information.

Giving real-time information on the outbreak of forest fire across the globe, the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States had also alerted

about the raging fire hot spots across Bandipur.

About forest fires

Forest fire is a common hazard in forests.

They pose a threat to the forest wealth and also to the flora and fauna, thus disturbing the

bio-diversity and the ecology and environment of a region.

Forest fires are caused by Natural causes as well as anthropogenic causes

Natural causes- Many forest fires start from natural causes such as lightning which set

trees on fire. However, rain extinguishes such fires without causing much damage. High

atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) offer favorable circumstance for a

fire to start.

Anthropogenic causes- Fire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or

bidi, electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable

material.

Fires are a major cause of forest degradation and have wide ranging adverse ecological,

economic and social impacts, including:

loss of valuable timber resources

degradation of catchment areas

loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and animals

loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife

loss of natural regeneration and reduction in forest cover

global warming

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loss of carbon sink resource and increase in percentage of CO2 in atmosphere

change in the microclimate of the area with unhealthy living conditions

soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and production

Loss of livelihood for tribal people and the rural poor, as approximately 300 million

people are directly dependent upon collection of non-timber forest products from forest

areas for their livelihood.

Forest fires also benefit plants and trees

Forest fires can also rejuvenate the soil and eliminate invasive species, which promote

healthier and stronger plant species.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Context

A team of Japanese researchers will carry out an unprecedented trial using human-

induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) to treat spinal cord injuries.

The team at Tokyo’s Keio University has received government approval for the trial —

which have the potential to develop into any cell in the body — to treat patients with

serious spinal cord injuries.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Induced pluripotent stem cells are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated

directly from adult cells.

The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab in Kyoto, Japan, who

showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific genes encoding transcription factors

could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells.

He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John Gurdon "for the discovery that

mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.”

Pluripotent stem cells hold promise in the field of regenerative medicine. Because they

can propagate indefinitely, as well as give rise to every other cell type in the body (such

as neurons, heart, pancreatic, and liver cells), they represent a single source of cells that

could be used to replace those lost to damage or disease.

The most well-known type of pluripotent stem cell is the embryonic stem cell. However,

since the generation of embryonic stem cells involves destruction (or at least

manipulation) of the pre-implantation stage embryo, there has been much controversy

surrounding their use.

Further, because embryonic stem cells can only be derived from embryos, it has so far

not been feasible to create patient-matched embryonic stem cell lines.

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Since iPSCs can be derived directly from adult tissues, they not only bypass the need for

embryos, but can be made in a patient-matched manner, which means that each

individual could have their own pluripotent stem cell line.

These unlimited supplies of autologous cells could be used to generate transplants

without the risk of immune rejection.

Yamanaka named iPSCs with a lower case "i" due to the popularity of the iPod and other

products.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Context

Condemning the Pulwama February 14 attack, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),

issued a stern statement to Pakistan to comply with an action plan on terror financing or

face further action, according to a decision taken at its plenary session in Paris.

Details of the issue

The week-long deliberations of the 37-member group decided not to remove Pakistan

from the ‘grey list’, as Islamabad had lobbied for, but also did not accept an Indian

demand to move Pakistan to the ‘black list’ yet.

Pakistan was put on the ‘grey list’ or watch list of the FATF in June 2018 after a proposal

moved by the U.S., the U.K., Germany and France was passed.

‘Grey list’ comprises nations that are not doing enough to combat terrorism financing.

Blacklist of the FATF that currently features Iran and North Korea - non-cooperative in

the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, calling them "Non-

Cooperative Countries or Territories" (NCCTs).

The ‘grey-listing’ continued despite a last-minute decision by the Pakistan government to

put the Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) and the Falah-e Insaniat Foundation (FIF), two offshoots

of the Hafiz Saeed-led Lashkar-e-Taiba on its ‘schedule-1’ list of banned organisations.

The FATF criticised Pakistan for not demonstrating “a proper understanding” of the

terror financing risks posed by “Da’esh (Islamic State), al Qaeda, Jamaat-ud Dawa,

Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Haqqani Network,

and persons affiliated with the Taliban.”

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Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in

1989 on the initiative of the G7.

It is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring

about national legislative and regulatory reforms in various areas.

The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris.

The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of

legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist

financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures,

reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures, and

promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally.

In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify

national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system

from misuse.

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Permanent Residence Certificate

Context

Violence erupted in Arunachal Pradesh over the issue of Permanent Residence Certificate

to six non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes (APSTs) living in the Namsai and

Changlang districts and to the Gorkhas living in Vijaynagar.

The protests spread despite a state government assurance that they had deferred the plan

to give them PRC.

Background

Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Morans, Adivasis and Mishings were demanding Permanent

Residence Certificate. Most of these communities are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in

neighbouring Assam. According to reports, the demand by these communities for PRC,

recognising them as residents of the state, is long-standing, but is opposed by powerful

groups.

What is Permanent Residence Certificate?

The State Government of Arunachal Pradesh issues the domicile certificate otherwise

called as Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) to the residents of the state who stayed

therein over a period. Those citizens who are not currently residing in the state but are

sure of permanently staying therein can also apply for it.

Besides the permanent residence certificate, the State also offers Temporary Residence

Certificate (TRC) for those who reside in the State on a temporary basis.

Purpose of the Certificate:

Permanent Residence Certificate is a legal document that serves as an evidence of

residence and thus must be submitted wherever a residence proof is required.

Permanent Residence Certificate should be produced in many situations such as

admission in educational organisations, job reservation under specific quotas especially

for government jobs, etc. to get local preferences.

To apply for ration card permanent residence certificate is a vital and mandate document.

To avail the provisions of various schemes of the state or to claim scholarships of the

State, permanent residence certificate is essential.

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Super-Efficient Air Conditioning Programme

Context

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has launched its Super-Efficient Air

Conditioning Programme for residential and institutional consumers in the BSES area.

Super-Efficient Air Conditioning Programme- key facts

Under the programme, Super-Efficient Air Conditioners are distributed. They are 40%

more efficient than, but priced comparably with, the 3-star ACs currently available in the

market (ISEER 3.8).

EESL is working towards making this programme and its benefits available to all

consumers across the nation with the other DISCOMs likely to partner with EESL in

future.

Significance and benefits of the programme

Besides promoting energy efficiency, the Super-Efficient AC programme will also help

to reduce the peak power demand in South and West Delhi by 22MW, enabling the two

organisations to harness synergies to promote energy security and sustainability.

The programme directly addresses the prospect of the nearly four-fold increase in energy

consumption from buildings and cooling appliances in India by 2032, while also

addressing goals of India’s Cooling Action Plan and Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase Out

Management Plan, enabling achievement of India’s targets under the Kigali and Paris

Agreements.

Funding

EESL’s investment in the programme is partially supported by a grant from the Global

Environment Facility (GEF).

Further, Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing necessary grant support and loan

while United Nations Environment (UNEP) is providing technical assistance support to

the Super-Efficient AC programme.

About GEF

GEF is an independent financing mechanism that was established on the eve of the 1992

Rio Earth Summit to address global environmental issues. The GEF is an international

partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the

private sector.

The World Bank serves as the GEF Trustee, administering the GEF Trust Fund.

It is a FINANCIAL MECHANISM for five major international environmental

conventions: the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on

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Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the United Nations Convention on Biological

Diversity (UNCBD), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

(UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC).

Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED)

Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report on global health

expenditure. The Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) provides internationally

comparable data on health spending for close to 194 countries, since 2000.

Health spending consists of government expenditure, out-of-pocket payments (people

paying for their own care), and sources such as voluntary health insurance, employer-

provided health programmes, as well as activities by non-profits.

Highlights of the report

According to the report, global spending on health has increased in low- and middle-

income countries by 6% and in high income countries by 4%. However, worryingly,

people are still paying too much out of their own pockets.

In low- and middle-income countries, health spending is undergoing a transformation.

The reliance of people on public funding has increased. In most regions, reliance on out-

of-pocket spending is gradually going down and has also been associated with a

reduction in the share of domestic government revenues allocated to health.

While the total amount of aid that middle-income countries receive has increased, aid per

capita, has fallen. In 2016, lower- and upper middle-income countries still received close

to 57% of global aid, and certain middle-income countries still received large amounts of

aid in absolute terms. Therefore, there is an inverse relationship between a country’s

income levels and the share of external aid as a health funding source.

According to the report, the roles of external and domestic funding are evolving;

however, external funding is declining in middle-income countries. Governments account

for less than 40 per cent of primary health care spending.

There are huge variations across countries in public spending on primary health care,

which is intended to give people access to quality care, including access to medicines, as

needed. Governments would be expected to pay for these medicines from domestic

sources.

The data indicates that nearly half of donor funds for health and about 20% of public

spending on health went to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. About one-third

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of domestic public spending went towards injuries and non-communicable diseases,

which received comparatively little external funds.

Significance of public spending on health

Public spending on health is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal

(SDG) targets for health through sustainably funding common goods and subsidising

services to the poorest segments of society.

A health system that relies mainly on high levels of government funding, as well as a

high share of public sources in overall health spending, generally provides better and

more equitable access to services and better financial protection.

Way ahead

Health is a human right and all countries need to prioritise efficient, cost-effective

primary health care as the path to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable

Development Goals.

Increased domestic spending is essential for achieving universal health coverage and the

health-related Sustainable Development Goals. But health spending is not a cost, it’s an

investment in poverty reduction, jobs, productivity, inclusive economic growth, and

healthier, safer, fairer societies.

Multiple Choice Questions

1) Maitreyi Yatra is a student exchange program between

(a) Ministry of Human Resource Development and Jammu & Kashmir Government

(b) Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Development of North-Eastern region

(c) Tamil Nadu government and Government of Sri Lanka

(d) Ministry of Culture and Government of Maldives

2. Consider the following statements with reference to Leprosy in India:

1. National Leprosy Eradication Program looks after the case detection and management of leprosy

cases

2. India has achieved elimination of leprosy as a public health problem.

Which of the above statement(s) is/ are correct?

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the above

3. Swachh Survekshan under Swachh Bharat Mission-urban is undertaken by which of the

following ministry?

(a) Ministry of Drinking water and Sanitation

(b) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

(c) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

(d) Ministry of Rural Development

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4. Which of the following is the correct objective of the ‘COMMIT Program’ launched by the

Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension?

(a) To set a minimum pension to all Government officers working in State Government.

(b) To improve public service delivery through capacity building of officials who interact with

citizens on day to day basis.

(c) To make Government offices more accessible for People with Disabilities.

(d) All of the above

5. Which one of the following is an objective of Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana?

(a) to provide the compensation to farmers for agriculture products whenever its price fall below

the announced Minimum support price

(b) to insure the crop insurance from natural calamities in Madhya Pradesh

(c) to facilitate production of organic farming

(d) to provide cheap credit facilities to farmers in the form of subsidised loans

6. Which among the following programmes have been exclusively launched for women

scientists?

1. KIRAN 2. VAJRA

3. ROSHNI

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 1 and 2

(c) Only 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

7. Consider the following statements regarding fortification of food:

1. Fortification of milk has been prohibited by the Ministry of Health and family Welfare due to its

reactive nature

2. Fortification does not alter the characteristics of the food—the taste, the feel, the look




8. Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-

JAY): 1. It seeks to achieve Sustainable Development Goal - 3 (SDG3)

2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) will provide financial protection to poors as per

the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data

3. PM-JAY will cover medical and hospitalization expenses for primary care procedures


(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 and 3

(c) Only 1 and 3 (d) All of the above

9. “e-CHARAK” is:

(a) An e-governance platform for rural areas facilitating tele-medicine services

(b) A Community Service Centre for Indian farmers

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(c) An information portal on disaster management

(d) A virtual market place for buyers and sellers of medicinal plants sector to interact with each

other

10. With reference to the report titled “Time To Deliver”, Consider the following statement:

1. It is released by World Health Organisation (WHO).

2. It is a report on Non communicable diseases (NCDs)

Choose the correct options:



11. Consider the following with respect to “Happy Schools Project”-

1. It was launched by UNICEF with the involvement of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for

Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEPS) in India.

2. The framework of the Project aims to bring happiness and the quality of education together.

Choose the correct option:



12. Which of the following measures will result in enhancement of food availability in the

country?

1. Employment intensive pattern of growth wherein remunerative work is provided to the poor.

2. Increasing incomes and subsidizing food through social protection measures.

Choose the correct option –



Weekly Current Affairs February Fourth Week · 2019-02-26 · Weekly Current Affairs ... upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.

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