august ias express final (PDF)

August 2017
IAS EXPRESS
A monthly Current Affairs Booklet

RajasirIAS.com

CONTENT
Doklam Dare – Decoded – Monthly Focus
Study Less ! Write Well ! Score More!
Approach to Sociology
Sociology – Model Question Paper with Answers
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.15
1.16
1.17
1.18
1.19
1.20
1.21
1.22

1. ECONOMY
Bitcoin trade may come under SEBI
India to join new global foreign exchange committee
Aaykar Setu
Programme 17 for 17
RBI considering setting up a Public Credit Registry
SEBI to move against non-compliant firms
Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India
Integration of oil & gas majors is best avoided
BharatNet deadline pushed to March 2019
First meeting of Integrated Monitoring and Advisory Council (IMAC)
Government mulls insurance cover for digital transaction frauds
5th Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS)
MPC members to get Rs. 1.5 lakh per meet, must disclose assets
Govt considering new agency to keep check on chartered accountants
India performs miserably in war on inequality
Finance Minister releases National Trade Facilitation Action Plan
223 anti-dumping probes initiated by India since January 2012
FSSAI bans stapler pins in tea bags from January 2018
The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2017 introduced in Lok Sabha
Transfer unclaimed accruals to fund: IRDA
India‟s Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of ADB
NMCE and ICEX to merge, creating India‟s third largest commodity exchange

2.
NATIONAL
2.1
Ram Nath Kovind elected as the 14th President of India
2.2
Achievements and Initiatives of Ministry of Railways
2.3
IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi
2.4
Government empowers Army to procure weaponry for short intense wars
2.5
Ending India's nuclear dependency
2.6
Rajasthan - 1st State to fix minimum education qualification for cooperative
body poll
2.7
Ministries of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Merged
2.8
2017 Malabar Exercise
2.9
First Edition of WINGS 2017
2.10 Ahmedabad gets World Heritage City tag
2.11 Saint Teresa‟s blue-bordered sari an Intellectual Property now
2.12 First Maize Based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab

Pg.No.

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25
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27
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August 2017
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RajasirIAS.com

A monthly Current Affairs Booklet

2.13
2.14
2.15
2.16
2.17
2.18
2.19

Modi presents 10 point action agenda to counter terrorism at G20 summit
NSG organises first International Aviation Security seminar
Cabinet nod for IWAI bond issue
Indian Army signs MoU with DRDO
Government plans „I stand by my country‟ campaign
Rajnath Singh chairs meeting of Island Development Agency
Mekedatu: Karnataka replies to CWC

31
32
33
33
34
34
35

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9

3.
INDIA AND WORLD
Cabinet approves SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program
Nod for Bangladesh JIN pact
India to host 8th Edition of Theatre Olympics
India to celebrate Falun Gong
Vietnam renews Indian Oil Deal
India becomes Fourth Largest Foreign Investor into UK
India, Japan civil nuclear deal comes into force
India rejects OIC move on vigilantism
How Bhutan is important to India?

37
37
38
38
4.
40
41
41
42

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12

4.
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. may tighten rules for foreign students
Sri Lanka bans bottom-trawling
New sites get UNESCO heritage tag
New drugs needed against hard-to-treat gonorrhoea: UN
122 countries adopt global treaty banning nuclear weapons
G-20 leaders adopt Hamburg Action Plan
22nd World Petroleum Congress
UNESCO puts Hebron on endangered heritage list, outraging Israel
USS Gerald R Ford
Sri Lanka clears revised deal for Hambantota port
Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts three Codex standards for spices
Pope Francis adds fourth path to sainthood

43
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44
45
46
47
48
48
49
49
50
51

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
5.14

5.
POLITICAL ISSUES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE
Revisiting ban on sale of cattle for slaughter
Committee formed to study legalities for separate State flag
Centre eases pre-merger filing norms
Private members‟ Bill on mob violence
Bengaluru Declaration calls for SC/ST quota in judiciary
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017 introduced in Lok Sabha
Supreme Court to rethink on a few Lodha „reforms‟
The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016
GoM approves draft National Medical Commission bill
Amendments to Legal Metrology
Cabinet approves revision of guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme
Cabinet clears minimum wage code bill
Privacy is a fundamental but wholly qualified right: Centre

53
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55
56
57
58
59
61
61
63
63
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65

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August 2017
IAS EXPRESS
RajasirIAS.com

A monthly Current Affairs Booklet

6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8

6.
SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENT
CPWD reminded of challenges ahead as it turns 163
NGT imposes complete ban on nylon and synthetic manja
Govt to push e-education with 4 digital initiatives
Ministry, NITI Aayog moot privatisation of select services in district hospitals
Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana
Draft Guidelines for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana
Evaluation of efficacy of Nai Roshni Scheme

67
67
68
69
70
71
72
72

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
7.10
7.11
7.12
7.13
7.14
7.15

7.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Electrified Droplets Create Mini Saturn Planets
“Moonshot” Technology
ASTROSAT, Chandra and Hubble jointly on Proxima Centauri
Novobiocin compound
Debug Fresno
Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box)
World‟s first wind farm
Aarambh app for Road maintenance
Human antibodies produced in lab for first time
First Two patrol vessels for Navy launched by private shipyard
Glow-in-the-dark shark discovered in the Pacific
policy on the Prevention and Control of haemoglobinopathies in India
QRSAM
Sharpest laser can help test Einstein‟s theory
IROAF wins Golden Peacock Award for Eco Innovation for the year 2017

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78
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78
79
80
80
82
82
83

8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8

8.
ECOLOGY
Sensor network to map and predict pollution, effluents in Godavari
Earth facing sixth mass extinction: study
SC stays Uttarakhand HC order on Ganga, Yamuna living entity status
Moef Approves Projects for Climate Change Adaptation in 3 States
Castor oil can reduce soil pollution
NGT directs Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh to submit guidelines on forest fire
Nine more bird, biodiversity areas in Kerala
Sunderbans steadily losing its famed mangroves

85
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92

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- August 2017
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August 2017
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A monthly Current Affairs Booklet

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Doklam Dare - Decoded
With the Dragon breathing down land
locked Sikkim's neck and unrest in the
Hills of North Bengal, it is double trouble
for India. Both the problems have cast a
long shadow on the Chicken neck - a thin
strip

of land of immense

strategic

importance connecting the North Eastern
states with the rest of India.
On the Sikkim front it all started in
June with China expanding a road in the
territory known as the Dokolam plateau a tri-junction between India, Bhutan and
China bordering Sikkim near the Nathula pass (14400 ft) region. While India calls this 89 sq km pasture
land- Dokola, Bhutan refers to it as Dokolam and China as Donglang. China already has a road near
Dokola and is trying to extend it southward towards Gamochen which is controlled by Indian troops.
Interestingly Gamochen is the area from where the Jampheri ridge starts. Located at an elevation it is a
very important strategic vantage point for the Indian Army.
Boundary talks are ongoing
between Bhutan and China.
The release claims that Bhutan
has written agreements of
1988 and 1998 stating that the
two sides (Bhutan and China)
agree to maintain peace and
tranquility in their border
areas

pending

a

final

settlement on the boundary
question, and to maintain
status quo on the boundary as
before March 1959. The agreements also state that the two sides will refrain from taking unilateral action,
or use of force, to change the status quo of the boundary.
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A monthly Current Affairs Booklet

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India supporting Bhutan's stand asked China to halt

China has used an 1890 treaty between

all construction work. Chinese troops instead told India

Chinese Qing dynasty of British colonial

to remove two bunkers that were set up in 2012 at Lalten

leaders of India to justify its claim over

in the Dokolam region. On June 6 night the Indian

Doklam. The treaty was formalised between

bunkers were destroyed by Chinese Bulldozers. A

Britain and Chinese kingdom. Ironically, it is

standoff ensued with troop buildup by both the Peoples'

being used by China to alter its boundary

Liberation Army and Indian Army. Conditions still

with Bhutan, which was not a signatory to

remain the same with tension mounting. While the two

the 127-year-old treaty. Tibet also did not

armies are on eyeball to eyeball contact, China has

sign the treaty. Britain officially negotiated

resorted to sabre-rattling.

on behalf of both India and the kingdom of

Rejecting Bhutan's claims, China has stated that the

Sikkim.

Dokolam area has always been a traditional pasture for

China has used 1890 treaty to justify its

Chinese cattle grazers over which it has always exercised

claim on Doklam tri-boundary referring to

complete control.

specifically mentioned Gipmochi which is

The Dragon has preferred to play the Sikkim and

same as Gyemochen. China says that

Bhutan card to mount pressure on India. The Chinese

Gyemochen is an established tri-boundary

official media has given a call for Sikkim's independence

under the Sikkim-Tibet Convention.

and separation from India. The state-controlled media

But, Bhutan and India don't agree.

has asked Chinese citizens to spark pro-independence

Bhutan was the first to lodge protest against

movements in Sikkim thereby reversing India's "brutal"

Chinese construction activities in Doklam

annexation of the state.

tri-boundary area. It objected to road

Sikkim was an independent kingdom until it merged
with India in 1975 following a decisive referendum.

construction by China saying that Doklam
belonged to China.

Interestingly China also recognizes Sikkim as an Indian

India, under its security arrangement with

state since 2003. The Chinese media has further

Bhutan stopped Chinese advance in the area

suggested that China should build up a global consensus

and asked last month the People's Liberation

for the abolition of unfair treaties of sovereignty and

Army of China to hold construction of road

defense that India has allegedly forced Bhutan to sign.

there.

The state of Sikkim borders China in the north and
east; Bhutan in the east; Nepal in the west and the state of West Bengal in the South. It shares a 220 km
border with China; 32 km border with Bhutan. The region is also in close proximity to the Chicken neck.

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Nathu La pass
 Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas.
 It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.
 The pass forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road.
 On the Indian side, the pass is
54 km east of Gangtok, the
capital of Sikkim. Only citizens
of India can visit the pass, and
then only after obtaining a
permit in Gangtok.
 Nathu La is one of the three
open

trading

border

posts

between China and India; the
others are Shipkila in Himachal
Pradesh

and

Lipulekh

(or

Lipulech) at the trisection point
of Uttarakhand–India, Nepal
and China.
 Sealed by India after the 1962
Sino-Indian War, Nathu La was
re-opened in 2006 following
numerous

bilateral

trade

of

pass

agreements.
 The

opening

the

shortens the travel distance to
important Hindu and Buddhist
pilgrimage sites in the region
and was expected to bolster the
economy of the region by
playing a key role in the growing
Sino- Indian trade. However, trade is limited to specific types of goods and to specific days of the week.
 It is also one of the four officially agreed BPM (Border Personnel Meeting) points between the Indian
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Army and People’s Liberation Army of China for regular consultations and interactions between the
two armies, which helps in defusing stand-offs.
The four BPM are:
1. Chushul in Ladakh,
2. Nathu La in Sikkim,
3. Bum La Pass in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, and
4. Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand.
China’s hidden objectives
 The area of scuffle is close to Indian chicken neck region i.e.Siliguri corridor and therefore is
strategically very important and China knows India would never compromise with its security.
 As a result, tensions in so far settled zone can be used as a tool to compel India to agree to Chinese
One Belt One Road (OBOR) project.\
 OBOR is aimed at strengthening multiple foreign policy goals, including positioning China as a regional
hegemon in Asia by stamping out any potential balancing efforts by countries like India and Japan.
OBOR summit was recently held in May and India had boycotted it. Without India’s support success of
OBOR can’t be assured.
 Within the larger regional picture, after having made inroads into Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
and Bangladesh, China has now targeted Bhutan which appeared to be the last man standing in the
immediate neighbourhood of India.
 China has been making into countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, that has set off
alarm bells in India. The nature of Chinese investments in these countries has put a big question mark
over the underlying intentions of Chinese designs in the region. The development of the Gwadar port
in Pakistan, Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and Kyaukpyu port in Myanmar are interesting cases in
point.
 Bhutan, on the other hand, remains the only country unaffected by the Chinese designs in the region
and the recent conflict over Doka La was aimed at changing this status quo. By creating trouble on
Bhutan’s borders, China has attempted to undermine India’s support for its immediate neighbours. Had
India backed out of the situation, the move would have underlined the futility of India’s might, put a
question mark over its status as a reliable partner and opened a door for the establishment of bilateral
relations between Bhutan and China, thus completing the containment of India in its neighbourhood.
Bhutan - Angle
The 1949 Friendship Treaty (updated in 2007) guides the contemporary Indo-Bhutan relationship
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and aims to ensure India’s non-interference in Bhutan’s internal affairs. Article 2 of the 1949 version,
however, entrusted India with the power to guide Bhutan’s foreign policy. But Article 2 of the 2007
version freed Bhutan from seeking India’s guidance on foreign policy and obtaining permission over arms
imports, among other things. The article now only says that India and Bhutan “shall cooperate closely with
each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its
territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other.”
Even before the revised treaty, Bhutan’s UN membership in 1971 had fundamentally impaired the
sacredness of the old Article 2. Bhutan is an independent country. It raised its diplomatic representation in
New Delhi to the full ambassadorial level in 1971.
Notwithstanding all the geopolitical pulls and pressures, Bhutan has steadfastly stood behind India
as its most reliable ally. But the impression among the Bhutanese now is that India has been coming in the
way of Bhutan reaffirming its status as an independent state, especially in the foreign policy arena.
People in Bhutan think that India has for too long prevented their country from normalising
diplomatic ties and negotiating a border settlement with China. India, on its part, fears that any boundary
deal will not only impact Indian security but also impinge on its own negotiating position with China on
the boundary issue. From Bhutan’s perspective, India’s position is adversely impacting its ties with China.
This is the main issue that is leading to complexities and confusion, including the standoff at Doklam.
However, it appears that this is not the first time the Chinese have intervened and built roads not
only in disputed territory, but also inside Bhutan.
Bhutan’s shares a 470-km-long border with China and according to some reports, over 25% of this
border remained disputed for decades. China wanted Bhutan to cede a 269-square-km area in west Bhutan,
including Dramana, Shakhatoe and Sinchulung, in exchange for which it had offered to give Bhutan a 495square-km area in Pasamlung and Jakarlung.
In the Doklam plateau in the west, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is known to have
made frequent intrusions since the mid-1960s. Talks with China began in 1972, but since 1984,
negotiations became bilateral without India’s participation. The two countries managed to sign an
Agreement on Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity in the Bhutan-China Border Areas in 1998. Thus
far, 24 rounds of discussion have taken place under the agreement. The last round was held in August
2016 in Beijing between Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin and Bhutanese foreign minister
Lyonpo Damcho Dorji. However, the Chinese have recently claimed that Bhutan and China have a basic
consensus on the functional conditions and demarcation of their border region.

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