About: Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)


An exchange-traded fund can be seen as a basket of underlying assets, such as shares, bonds, commodities and indices, that are pooled together into a single entity.
It divides ownership of these assets into shares, which are later sold on the open market. Each share of an ETF gives its owner a proportional stake in the total assets of the fund.
Briefly, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are like mutual funds listed and traded on stock exchanges like shares.
Usually, ETFs are passive funds where the fund manager doesn’t select stocks on your behalf. Instead, the ETF simply copies an index and endeavours to accurately reflect its performance.
In an ETF, one can buy and sell units at prevailing market price on a real time basis during market hours.
The ETFs trading value is based on the net asset value of the underlying stocks that it represents.
ETFs are offered on virtually all asset classes ranging from traditional investments to alternative assets like commodities or currencies.
About: Gold backed Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
A gold ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a commodity ETF that consists of only one principal asset i.e. gold.
Gold-backed ETFs and similar funds allow investors to generally track the price of gold, giving them access to the properties and security of owning physical gold without the need to arrange for storage and insurance separately.
Note: If one buys shares in a gold ETFhe/she do not actually own any physical gold. @MrunalsEconomy

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)


NPPA is an organization of the Government of India which was established, inter alia, to fix/ revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order.
It was formed in 1997.
The NPPA regularly publishes lists of medicines and their maximum ceiling prices, as per the Drugs (Prices Control) Order.
Functions of NPPA
To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it
To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps
To  advice/assist the Central Government on drug policy or parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing
It is also entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers.
It also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.

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Insights Prelims 2020 Test 1 With Solution PDF

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About: MGNREGA

The Indian Parliament passed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in 2005.
The mandate of the MGNREGA is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work at an average daily wage of ₹209.
The scheme is key to providing livelihoods to poor villagers and is a backbone of the rural economy in difficult times.
It is a demand driven wage employment programme and resource transfer from Centre to States is based on the demand for employment in each State.
Overall, 6 crore families hold active job cards under the scheme, and almost 5.5 crore families found work under the scheme in 2019.
The core objectives of the MGNREGS are:
Providing not less than one hundred days of unskilled manual work as a guaranteed employment in a financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand, resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability
Strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor
Proactively ensuring social inclusion
Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions
The goals are:
Social protection for the most vulnerable people living in rural India by guaranteeing wage employment opportunities.
Enhance livelihood security of the rural poor through generation of wage employment opportunities in works leading to creation of durable assets.
Rejuvenate natural resource base of rural areas.
Create a durable and productive rural asset base.
Empowerment of the socially disadvantaged, especially, women, Scheduled Castes (SCs)and Scheduled Tribes (STs), through the processes of a rights-based legislation.
Strengthen decentralised, participatory planning through convergence of various anti-poverty and livelihoods initiatives.
Deepen democracy at the grassroots by strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Paradigm shift with the implementation of MGNREGA
MGNREGA is bottom-up, people-centered, demand-driven, self-selecting and rights-based programme.
It provides a legal guarantee for wage employment by providing allowances and compensation both in cases of failure to provide work on demand and delays in payment of wages for work undertaken.
Plans and decisions regarding the nature and choice of works to be undertaken, the order in which each worksite selection etc., are all to be made in open assemblies of the Gram Sabha (GS) and ratified by the GP.
Social audit is a new feature, which creates accountability of performance, especially towards immediate stakeholders.
Thus, MGNREGA also marks a break from the relief programmes of the past towards an integrated natural resource management and livelihoods generation perspective.

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About: Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

An exchange-traded fund can be seen as a basket of underlying assets, such as shares, bonds, commodities and indices, that are pooled together into a single entity.


It divides ownership of these assets into shares, which are later sold on the open market. Each share of an ETF gives its owner a proportional stake in the total assets of the fund.

Briefly, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are like mutual funds listed and traded on stock exchanges like shares.

Usually, ETFs are passive funds where the fund manager doesn’t select stocks on your behalf. Instead, the ETF simply copies an index and endeavours to accurately reflect its performance.

In an ETF, one can buy and sell units at prevailing market price on a real time basis during market hours.

The ETFs trading value is based on the net asset value of the underlying stocks that it represents.

ETFs are offered on virtually all asset classes ranging from traditional investments to alternative assets like commodities or currencies.

#Stockmarket #NSE #Equity #MCX

India has appointed diplomat T S Tirumurti, currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, as its Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The first Indian delegates at the United Nations included statesman Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar, and freedom fighters Hansa Mehta, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, and Lakshmi Menon.

India and the UN:

India was among the select members of the United Nations that signed the United Nations Declaration at Washington on January 1, 1942.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.



What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
How does COVID-19 spread?

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.   

Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?

Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.  See previous answer on “How does COVID-19 spread?”

Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?

The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.  WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.   

Can I catch COVID-19 from the feces of someone with the disease?

The risk of catching COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person appears to be low. While initial investigations suggest the virus may be present in feces in some cases, spread through this route is not a main feature of the outbreak. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share new findings. Because this is a risk, however, it is another reason to clean hands regularly, after using the bathroom and before eating. 

Basmati GI tag


Madhya Pradesh government’s struggle to join the elite ‘basmati’ league has failed once again as the Madras high court has dismissed the state’s plea seeking geographical indication (GI) tag for basmati rice grown in areas falling under the state.

In May 2010, GI status was given to basmati grown only in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and parts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

But, Madhya Pradesh demanded that its 13 districts be recognised as traditional Basmati growing regions.

The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years.

It can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.

At the International level: Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

 product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.

Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana?



It is a voluntary and contribution based central sector scheme.

The government launched the scheme, entailing monthly minimum assured pension of  ₹3,000 for the entry age group of 18-40 years after attaining the age of 60 years, with effect from July 22, 2019.

Under the scheme, the government makes matching contribution in the subscribers’ account.

The scheme is based on self-declaration as no documents are required except bank account and Aadhaar Card.

National Water Development Agency (NWDA)



The National Water Development Agency (NWDA), was setup in 1982 as an Autonomous Society under the societies registration act 1860.
It was established to carry out the water balance and other studies on a scientific and realistic basis for optimum utilization of water resources of the Peninsular river system.
In the year 1990, NWDA was also entrusted with the task of Himalayan Component of National Perspective Plan (NPP), prepared by Central Water Commission and the then Ministry of Irrigation, now Ministry of Jal Shakti.


In 2006, it was decided that NWDA will explore the feasibility of Intra-States links and to take up the work for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of river link proposals under the NPP.
In 2016, NWDA was given the responsibility to undertake implementation of ILR projects and completion of water resources projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). 

Goods and Services Tax


Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax (or consumption tax) imposed in India on the supply of goods and services. It is a comprehensive multistage, destination based tax.
Comprehensive because it has subsumed almost all the indirect taxes except a few.
Multi-staged as it is imposed at every step in the production process, but is meant to be refunded to all parties in the various stages of production other than the final consumer.
A destination based tax, as it is collected from point of consumption and not point of origin like previous taxes.
Tax slabs:Goods and services are divided into five different tax slabs for collection of tax - 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.
Exemptions: However, petroleum products, alcoholic drinks, and electricity are not taxed under GST and instead are taxed separately by the individual state governments, as per the previous tax regime.


GST Council


GST Council is the governing body of GST. It is headed by the Union finance minister, who is assisted by the finance ministers of all the states of India.
It is an apex member committee to modify, reconcile or to procure any law or regulation based on the context of goods and services tax in India.
It is also responsible for revision of rates of the goods and services in India. 

About: International Organisation for Migration (IOM)



Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.
In 2016, IOM became a Related Organization of the UN.
The Agreement outlines a closer relationship between IOM and the UN to strengthen the cooperation and enhance their ability to fulfil their respective mandates in the interest of migrants and Member States.
Through the Agreement, the UN recognizes IOM as an indispensable actor in the field of human mobility.
As of March 2019, it has  173 member states, and a further 8 states holding observer status.
Headquarters‎: ‎Geneva, Switzerland
IOM works to:
Help ensure orderly and humane management of migration
Promote international cooperation on migration issues
Assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems
Provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
IOM activities include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration.

What are Masala Bonds?



They are bonds issued outside India by an Indian entity or corporate. These bonds are issued in Indian currency than local currency. 

Indian corporates usually issue Masala Bonds to raise funds from foreign investors. As it is pegged into Indian currency, if the rupee rates fall, investors bear the risk.

The first Masala bond was issued in 2014 by IFC for the infrastructure projects in India.

India INX is the country’s first international exchange, located at International Financial Services Centre, GIFT City in Gujarat.

 In simpler words, as Masala Bonds are rupee-denominated bonds, the risk goes directly to the investor.

Who is eligible to invest in Masala bonds?
Investors from outside of India who would like to invest in Indian assets can invest in Masala bonds. Indian entities like HDFC, NTPC and Indiabulls Housing have raised funds via Masala Bonds.

Bru Refugee Crisis



Part of :- GS paper l - Salient features of Indian Society

Context :

A four party agreement among the Centre, Mizoram Government, Tripura Government and Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) which seeks to end the 22-year-old Bru refugee crisis may be signed on 16th January 2020

Background :-

Bru or Reang is a community indigenous to Northeast India, living mostly in Tripura, Mizoram and Assam. In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.

In Mizoram, they have been targeted by groups that do not consider them indigenous to the state.

In 1997, following ethnic clashes, nearly 37,000 Brus fled Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei districts of Mizoram and were accommodated in relief camps in Tripura.

Since then, 5,000 have returned to Mizoram in eight phases of repatriation, while 32,000 still live in six relief camps in North Tripura.

In June 2018, community leaders from the Bru camps signed an agreement with the Centre and the two state governments, providing for repatriation in Mizoram. But most camp residents rejected the terms of the agreement.

The camp residents say that the agreement doesn't guarantee their safety in Mizoram.

In October 2019, the supply of ration to relief camps was stopped on instructions of the Home Ministry in a bid to hastily complete the repatriation of refugees to Mizoram. Civil society outfits had alleged that at least six refugees died due to starvation.

Proposed New Agreement

According to the 2018 agreement, the Bru tribals would have settled in Mizoram, but according to the new agreement, they will now settle in Tripura.

The stakeholders in the issue expect a package of Rs 600 crore from the Centre which includes:

Plots of 2,500 sq ft for each Bru family in addition to agricultural land.

A stipend of Rs 5,000 per month and free ration for each family for the next two years.

Bru tribals would be included in Tripura’s voter list.

Source :- The Indian Express

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

• The CDS is a high military office that oversees and coordinates the working of the three Services, and offers seamless tri-service views and single-point advice to the Executive (in India’s case, to the Prime Minister) on long-term defence planning and management, including manpower, equipment and strategy, and above all, “jointsmanship” in operations.


Summary
• A new structure is created in the Defence Ministry and General Bipin Rawat took over as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
• CDS is a ‘dual-hatted role’ which refers to the two hats the CDS wears: one of the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee which has the three service chiefs as members, and the other of the head of the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the ministry.
• The former is a military role while the latter is a role in the government; it is as the head of DMA that his major responsibilities within the ministry will be discharged.

Other Details:
• The ministry already had four departments:
1. Department of Defence
2. Department of Defence Production
3. Department of Defence Research and Development
4. Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare
• Each of them is headed by a Secretary, with the Department of Defence being the nerve centre of the ministry, looking after all issues pertaining to the armed forces, defence policy and procurement.
• The charter of duties of the DMA was so far looked after by the Department of Defence, which is headed by the Defence Secretary who is also the secretary in-charge of the Defence Ministry.
• Work exclusively pertaining to military matters will fall within the purview of the DMA while the Department of Defence will deal with larger issues pertaining to defence of the country. To give an illustrative example, this means that while tri-service military training institutions will fall under the DMA, organisations like IDSA and NDC whose remit is broader than military matters will fall under the Department of Defence.

South India’s earliest Sanskrit Inscription found in A.P.



Context :-

The Epigraphy Branch of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered the earliest Sanskrit inscription to have been discovered in South India as on date.

This significant finding is also the earliest epigraphic evidence for ‘Saptamatrika’ cult so far. The discovery was made in Chebrolu village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The inscription came to light when some local villagers informed ASI authorities about a pillar with some engravings when they were restoring and repairing local Bheemeshwara temple.

ASI called for conservation and preservation of pillar given its historical importance.

Key Findings What is Saptamatrikas?

They are a group of seven female deities worshipped in Hinduism as personifying the energy of their respective consorts.

There are references of Saptamatrika worship in early Kadamba copper plates as well as early Chalukyas and Eastern Chalukya copper plates. But this new discovery predates them by almost 200 years.


The Inscription found:

It is in Sanskrit and in Brahmi characters and was issued by Satavahana king Vijaya in 207 A.D.

The inscription records construction of a prasada (temple), a mandapa (a pavilion for public rituals) and consecration of images on southern side of temple by a person named Kartika for merit of king at temple of Bhagavathi (Goddess) Saktimatruka (Saptamatrika) at Tambrape (which is the ancient name of Chebrolou).

All the available records when verified, proved that Chebrolu inscription of Satavahana king Vijaya issued in his 5th regnal year (207 A.D.) is also the earliest datable Sanskrit inscription from South India so far.

Until now the Nagarjunakonda inscription of Ikshavaku king Ehavala Chantamula issued in his 11th regnal year (4th century A.D.) was considered the earliest Sanskrit inscription in South India.

The place also yielded another inscription which is in Prakrit language and of Brahmi characters and belongs to 1st century A.D.

This is thus the earliest epigraphic reference to Mutts and records gift of a cloister mandapa and chaitya to bhavatho (Lord) of the Gadasa Mutt by by a person hailing from Tabaava.

Source :- The Hindu

Mahadayi Project: Goa gets relief


Context :-

Union Environment Ministry kept in suspension its letter issued to Karnataka which had stated no environmental clearance was required for Kalasa Banduri Project.

About Kalasa Banduri project :
The project involves diverting water from Mahadayi river, the lifeline of Goa, into the Malaprabha river.

The Kalasa Banduri project is aimed at providing drinking water to three important districts of north Karnataka — Belagavi, Gadag and Dharwad — which go parched in summer due to acute water scarcity.

Mahadayi river originates from a cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. Then it enters Goa and finally drains in Arabian sea.

Goa state capital Panaji lies on the banks of Mandovi

Mahadayi Water Tribunal (MWT) Award in 2018:Karnataka has been allocated 13.5tmcft of water, Goa has been 24tmcft while Maharashtra has been allocated 1.3tmcft.

Source :- The Hindu

Best countries for female workers

• Nine of the 10 best OECD countries for working women are in Europe, and two of the top three are in the Nordics.
• And although there is progress being made in other parts of the world to close the gender equality gap, there is still a lot of work to be done.
• This is according to the PwC Women in Work Index 2019, which identified a gradual improvement across the OECD for female economic empowerment.
• The two top spots are unchanged, with Iceland’s position as the top performer strengthened by an increase in female labour force participation and a fall in the female unemployment rate.
• One reason for Sweden’s consistently high performance is its progressive parental leave legislation, which actively encourages men to use their statutory time off.
• Norway was knocked out of the top five by Slovenia, which saw a rising number of women in work.
• New Zealand, the only non-European OECD country in the top 10, sits in third place – its highest ever placing in the index.
• Luxembourg and Poland also made significant improvements, through narrowing the gender pay gap and a large reduction in the female unemployment rate, respectively.


• However, Portugal, the US and Austria all fell significantly; Portugal saw a substantial rise in its gender pay gap while the US and Austria experienced a drop in female labour force participation and full-time employment, respectively.
• PwC also looked at the relative performance of two non-OECD countries – China and India.
• China would have ranked between Slovakia (26) and Japan (27). It has a larger than average (among the OECD) gender pay gap of 25% coupled with a relatively high proportion of working women in full-time employment – at 89%.
• Meanwhile, India would be languishing right at the bottom of the PwC index. It has a substantial gender pay gap of 36% (higher than any other OECD nation) and relatively low levels of female participation in the workforce.
• If India could get female employment up to the same rate as Sweden (69%) it could potentially generate an extra $7 trillion – approximately 79% of India’s GDP.