DEEP OCEAN MISSION

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 Why in news? 

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Ministry of Earth Sciences is set to launch 10,000 crore “Deep Ocean Mission” to study and harness the mineral resources beneath the ocean floor by January 2017.
 Background 
India boasts of 7500 km of coastline and 2.4 million square km of exclusive economic zone. 
The program on Polymetallic nodules was initiated at CSIR-NIO (National Institute od Oceanography) with the collection of the first nodule sample from Arabian Sea on board the first Research Vessel Gaveshani on 26 January 1981. 
 India was the first country in the world to have been given the Pioneer Area for exploration of deep-sea mineral viz. Polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin in 1987 under the UN Law of the Sea.

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About Deep Ocean Mission  

• It will also involve the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology.
•  Major components of the project are deep ocean energy, desalination plant along the Chennai coast, deep sea science and fisheries, minerals and polymetallic nodules.  
• The exclusive economic zone allotted to India will be covered under the mission.  

Polymetallic Nodules
Also known as manganese nodules, they are largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea. Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.

Jigyasa

Jigyasa, a student- scientist connect programme has been launched by the government in New Delhi. The programme would be implemented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya San

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Salient Facts

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• The main focus of the programme is to connect school students and scientists as well as to extend student’s classroom learning to a very well-planned research laboratory based learning.
• The programme has been inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and “Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR)” of scientific community and institutions.
• The JIGYASA programme is expected to inculcate the culture of inquisitiveness and scientific temper on the minds of children and school teachers.
• The programme will connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 National Laboratories of CSIR and will target 100,000 students and 1000 teachers every year. Under this programme, the CSIR would launch a talent hunt among the visiting students for furthering the cause of scientific development.
• “JIGYASA” programme would be one of the major initiatives of the CSIR at the national level during its Platinum Jubilee Celebration Year.
• The model of engagement under JIGYASA between the CSIR and the KVS will include Student Residential Programmes; Scientists as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists; Lab-specific activities / Onsite Experiments; Visits of Scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes; Science and Maths Clubs; Popular Lecture Series/ demonstration programme at Schools; Student Apprenticeship Programmes; Science Exhibitions; Projects of National Children’s Science Congress; Teacher Workshops; and Tinkering Laboratories.

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Thanks you

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11 point action agenda in G20 summit

PM Narendra Modi presented an 11-point action agenda for counter-terrorism in the G20 Summit.
What are the 11 points?

• Adoptation of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
• Effective implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and other international resolutions.
• Exchange of best practices and process of de-radicalisation of terrorism through G-20 countries.
• Closure of terror funding with the help of Financial Action Task Force.
• Weapons and Explosive Action Task Force must be formed to stop arms trading to a terror organisation.
• Firm and deterrent action must be taken against those countries who support terrorism and these countries must be barred from G20 summit.
• Countries attending G20 summit must exchange lists of designated terrorists and must take action against them and their supporters.
• For those arrested for terror activities, the process of extradition must be simplified.
• Concrete support among G-20 countries for Cyber Security to stop terror activities.
• G-20 countries must form National Security Advisors on Counter Terrorism.

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Quick facts

G 20 The Group of Twenty is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies. Membership: 19 individual countries plus the European Union (EU). Collectively, the G20 economies account for around 85% of the gross world product (GWP), 80% of world trade. Founded in 1999, the G20 aims to discuss policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability. The G20 heads of government have periodically conferred at summits since their initial meeting in 2008. It also hosts separate meetings of finance ministers and foreign ministers due to the expansion of its agenda in recent years.

India Israel strategic partnerships part - II

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For part one clickhere 👈

 Indian PM recently completed his 3 days visit to Israel.

What is the significance of the visit? 

India opened diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992. But for the last 25 years, India has always insisted on keeping its ties low-key.

 This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel. PM also broke the traditional pattern of jointly traveling to Tel Aviv and Ramallah.

 This is a deliberate effort to broadcast that India is de-hyphenating its relations with Israel and Palestine i.e dealing them as separate entities with separate interest.

For India, the benefits of the trip are long term. Chinese are ahead of us in bilateral trade.

 Their companies are investing heavily in Israel’s cutting-edge start-ups.

Excluding defence, bilateral trade between India and Israel is just around $5 billion. Most of it is in the diamond trade.

 Israel has become one of India’s most important weapons suppliers, after Russia and the US. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently signed a $2-billion deal to supply missile systems to the Indian navy and $630-million agreement to sell air defence systems.

But the seven deals signed suggest that India mainly hopes to leverage Israel’s skills in science and technology.

 Indian companies like Sun Pharma and ATG, a specialty tyre-maker, have big interests in Israel.

Why Israel is interested? 
Trade and defence ties have developed between the two in spite of the fluctuations of political events.

India is also Israel’s biggest arms market, with an average of $1 billion of defense sales per year.

Israel wants to consolidate these. Israel also wants to increase its contact with global super powers to break the pattern of years of isolation.

What should be done?

Though India’s defence ties deepen with Israel, India has to tread carefully with the Arab States. It is because India is still dependent on it for a bulk of its energy requirements has millions of emigrants there.

AFSPA

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What is AFSPA?

AFSPA was enacted in 1958 amid the nascent Naga insurgency. It gives powers to the army and state and central police forces to shoot to kill, search houses and destroy any property that is “likely” to be used by insurgents in areas declared as “disturbed” by the home ministry.

Security forces can “arrest without warrant” a person, who has committed or even “about to commit a cognizable offence” even on “reasonable suspicion”. It also protects them from legal processes for actions taken under the act.

Which states are under AFSPA?

It is in force in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur (except the Imphal municipal area). In Arunachal Pradesh, only the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts plus a 20-km belt bordering Assam come under its purview. And in Meghalaya AFSPA is confined to a 20-km area bordering Assam.

How is a region declared ‘disturbed’?

Section (3) of the AFSPA empowers the

governor of the state or Union territory to issue an official notification in The Gazette of India, following which the Centre has the authority to send in armed forces for civilian aid.

Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain status quo for a minimum of three months, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.

What is state government’s role?

The state governments can suggest whether the act is required to be enforced or not. But under Section (3) of the act, their opinion can be overruled by the governor or the Centre.

Is the act uniform in nature?

Initially, it was meant only for Assam and Manipur, where there was an insurgency by Naga militants. After the reorganisation of the northeast in 1971, the creation of new states like Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh paved the way for the AFSPA to be amended, so that it could be applied to each of them. The amendments contain different sections as applicable to the situation in each state.

What are the criticism of AFSPA?

Criticism of AFSPA:

1. Violating fundamental rights as can be seen1. 1. Sec 4(a) in which army canshoot to kill violates article 21 which gives right to life.2. Section 4(b) search without warrants violates right to liberty and article 22.3. Dispersion of civil assembly by armed forces under section 121 violates right to assembly4. No judicial magistrate permission required while arresting –violate article 225. Stop and search any vehicle2. Overrides CrPC.3. Violation of human rights4. Abuses by army, and are rarely punished for crimes.5. It alienates the people from army and then from the rest of the India. A feeling of other worldly is generated in their mind.

Why Army favors AFSPA?

It the powers necessary to conduct counter-insurgency operations efficiently.

If AFSPA is repealed or diluted, it is the army leadership’s considered view that the performance of battalions in counter-insurgency operations will be adversely affected and the terrorists or insurgents will seize the initiative.

Many argue that removal of the act will lead to demoralising the armed forces and see militants motivating locals to file lawsuits against the army.

Also, the forces are aware that they cannot afford to fail when called upon to safeguard the country’s integrity. Hence, they require the minimum legislation that is essential to ensure efficient utilization of combat capability. This includes safeguards from legal harassment and empowerment of its officers to decide on employment of the minimum force that they consider essential.

The absence of such a legal statute would adversely affect organizational flexibility and the utilization of the security capacity of the state. This would render the security forces incapable of fulfilling their assigned role.

AFSPA is necessary to maintain law and order in disturbed areas, otherwise things will go haywire. The law also dissuades advancement of terrorist activities in these areas.

Also, extraordinary situations require special handling. As the army does not have any police powers under the Constitution, it is in the national interest to give it special powers for operational purposes when it is called upon to undertake counter-insurgency operations in disturbed areas.

What are the safeguards provided under AFSPA?

Section 5 of the Act already mandates that arrested civilians must be handed over to the nearest police station ‘with the least possible delay’ along with a report of ‘circumstances occasioning the arrest.’

Army HQ has also laid down that all suspects who are arrested will be handed over to civilian authorities within 24 hours.

Regarding firing on civilians, the army’s instructions are that fire may be opened in towns and villages only in self defence and that too when the source of terrorist or militant fire can be clearly identified.

What should be done?

1. Jeevan Reddy Committee recommended AFSPA be repealed and some of its provisions incorporated in other laws such as CrPC, unlawful activities which give protection to forces.2. Create committees at district level with representatives of army, administrators and public which will report, assess and track complains in that area.3. All investigations should be time bound reasons for the delay must be communicated with the aggrieved.4. All cases of human rights violation should be fast tracked.5. Amendments In Laws :The lacunae in the Act, as a result of definitional voids with respect to terms like “disturbed”, “dangerous” and “land forces” need to be amplified to ensure greater clarity6. The onus of proving the alleged person as terrorists should lie with the forces. Sec 7 should be suitable amended to this effect.

What is the SC ruling in this regard?

Army and paramilitary forces cannot use excessive and retaliatory force during counter-insurgency operations in disturbed areas declared disturbed under the AFSPA

Criminal courts have the jurisdiction over cases of alleged excesses by security forces which earlier were under blanket of immunity provided by AFSPA

Court said it does not matter whether the victim was a common person or a militant or a terrorist, nor does it matter whether the aggressor was a common person or the state. The law is the same for both and is equally applicable to both

The provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the purported immunity it offers to the use of force “even to the extent of causing death” are not invincible.

Such legal protection has to yield to larger principles of human rights, and no allegation of the use of excessive or retaliatory force can be ignored without a thorough inquiry. This is a requirement both of democracy and for the preservation of the rule of law.

Download Indian economy 7th edition by Ramesh singh

Indian economy by Ramesh sing 

This is the latest Edition of Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh . This book By Dr Ramesh Singh is very Popular for Indian Economy Section. This Is the latest Edition . This book will be helpful in IAS /KAS Prelims 2018 and Mains 2017.

Salient Features

1. Agriculture & Food Management chapter fully revamped
2. Industry & Infrastructure fully revamped with new ideas
3. Banking Sector revised with new inputs
4. Government Budgeting and changing fiscal perspective
5. Services Sector rewritten and fully updated
6. Human Development rewritten as per the changing times
7. Multiple Choice Questions updated with new questions
8. Model Answers almost replaced by a set of new questions
9. Immediate issues such as—Smart Cities, Start-up India, Mudra Bank, UDAY Scheme, MCLR,TPP, UHC Index, Nairobi Package of WTO, Ease of Doing Business, Paris Agreement (COP 21), HAM, Swiss Challenge, Exchange rate volatility, Changing approach to the FRBM Act, etc.— analysed in the backdrop of changing domestic and global landscape.
10. Fully updated with the India 2016, Economic Survey 2015-16, Union Budget 2016-17 and Railway Budget 2016-17 and other latest government documents and international reports to suit the requirements of the readers

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Tips for Writing Better Answers in Main Examination​

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Style of Answering Questions

It is vitally important to understand the question first. If you are asked to “elucidate”, “discuss”, “critically appreciate”, explain or “give reasons for and against”, preferred mode of answering should be descriptive. It is through your style of answering questions, one can get a chance to examine your analytical abilities or originality of thought. 

Right strategy is to devote five or ten minutes of your time to run through the question paper which will help you decide which questions have to be answered first. You should also allocate time to frame the answer so that there is no confusion later on. It is advisable to use simple English and stave off using flowery and decorative language which takes attention away from the original facts and opinions about a given topic.

How to Write a Good Answer

It is not just enough to know all the facts and information but to pen down your answers in a clear and concise manner is pertinent. By writing answers having clear and a logical frame with no irrelevant or piling up of information, you can grab one’s attention. A candidate should adopt an answering style which is natural, original and to the point. Likewise, use of archaic and fancy words or language should be avoided at all costs. Grammatical errors in the answers attract dislike of the evaluator so there must be no room for grammatical errors in your answers. Last but not the least, it is essential to have a good and legible handwriting.

How to Answer the Effective Part of the Question:

Time and again, you would have heard aspirants talking about effective part of the question and which is too frequently confused with introduction, body and conclusion of any answer which is its structure. The effective part refers to angle or perspective; you wish the answers to be seen. The facts remain unchangeable but the presentation differs.

Getting attuned to the meaning and application of terms that appear repeatedly in questions in the IAS /KAS mains exam will certainly help you write better answers. A vast majority of students sometimes wrongly interpret the meaning of these terms consequently they err while answering.

• Enumerate:
• Enumeration involves listing the points about the topic without giving detailed explanation.
• Define:
• It refers to writing the simple definition. A bit of memory will definitely help you while reproducing verbatim and at least including all possible keywords and phrases which you know are essential parts of that particular definition.
• Evaluate/ Assess / Examine:
• Detailed explanations are required. Whatever you know should be explained in detail. The ideal approach is to write introduction in one or two lines followed by three to four lines in favor and three to four lines against the given topic. Implications or limitations associated with a concept should be penned down in two or three lines and finally conclusion should be made in another two or three line.
• Opinion / Comment / Views:
• Whenever a question asks for your opinion, you should give constructive opinions. Future-oriented and progressive ideas must reflect on your answers.
• Purpose / Goal / Objective / Target:
• Your answers must answer the fundamental questions like what goals, purposes, objectives or the targets will be achieved? Your answers must provide or suggest viable solutions to the addressed problems.
• Analyse:
• Analysis is same as evaluation, examination or assessment just that you need to buttress your analysis with your opinion here. How you opine will tell how you evaluate a situation.
• Discuss:
• You should write answers in a fashion as if you are talking to the examiner. This is how; it will be like child’s play to convey your point of view in an evident manner to the examiner.
• Describe:
• If you have good theoretical knowledge, describing the concepts will be the easiest thing to do. You have to write basically its parts, constituents, characteristics, what it is made up of and attributes.
• Critically:
• Whenever you are asked to critically comment, critically examine or critically analyse, you need to write both pros and cons and give a fair, unbiased or value loaded judgment. It should always give a feeling of closure.
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• Elucidate / Elaborate / Expand / Exemplify:
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• Most of the candidates fail to find difference between these similar looking words. Elaborate and expand mean detailed explanations. Elucidate means make it clear with examples.
• Implications / Consequences / Outcomes / Results:
• Here you have to shed light on the possible scenario or impact of the event in question.
• Contrast/ Distinguish:
• It means to write differences not similarities. But if you are asked to compare and contrast, you can write similarities as well as differences.
• Significance / Importance:
• What happens because it exists or what happen if it doesn’t exist.
• Justify / Advocate:
• Here you have to argue in favor of a situation or an event and write favorable comments as far as reasonably possible.

Press Information Bureau 12 June to 18 June 2017

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National Mission on Cultural Mapping of India

What: This Mission is part of the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ umbrella. Ministry of Culture launched it in the year of commemoration of the birth centenary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.
Aim
Converting the vast and widespread cultural canvas of India into an objective cultural map
Designing a mechanism to fulfil the aspirations of the whole artist community of the nation
Preserving the rich cultural heritage of this country in the form of a cultural repository of artists and art forms
The Mission also seeks to open a direct channel of communication of artists with the Government and peer to peer communication among artists for talent honing and handholding of each other.
The Cultural Mapping of India portal
will serve as a repository/consolidated database of information about cultural assets and resources i.e. a cultural inventory at one place for essential planning, sustainable economic development and for preserving the scattered and near extinct art forms.

Anuyatra

What: it is an initiative by by the Government of Kerala under its “Anuyatra” – or walking together campaign – for the persons with special needs.
It has been observed that
A majority of the persons with special needs reside in rural areas where accessibility, availability, and utilization of rehabilitation services and its cost-effectiveness are the major issues to be considered.
A UN supported survey had estimated that- 1.67% of the population in the age bracket 0-19 has special needs and that 35.29% of all people living with special needs are children.
India has about 12 million children with special needs but only 1% of such children have access to school.
In 1978 , India had signed on to the Alma Ata declaration on Public health which stated that comprehensive primary health care should include promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care.
It was the first international declaration underlining the importance of primary health care.
Now Alma Ata is called Almaty

Atal Pension Yojana

What: Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has now been included under the Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act. As per it, any individual who is eligible to receive benefits under the APY will have to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo enrollment under Aadhaar authentication.
Why: to bring in transparency, efficiency and to enable beneficiaries to get their entitlement directly in a convenient and seamless manner.
Also, Aadhaar card has been constituted as the primary document in identification of the beneficiary under the Aadhaar Act which came into effect from 12th September 2016.
Atal Pension Yojana
It is a government backed pension scheme in India targeted at the unorganised sector.
The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years.
Under the APY, guaranteed minimum pension of Rs. 1,000/-, 2,000/-, 3,000/-, 4,000 and 5,000/- per month will be given at the age of 60 years depending on the contributions by the subscribers.
APY subscribers’ base is more than 54 Lakhs subscribers.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) can now be subscribed digitally
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has now introduced
“APY@eNPS” which involves a complete digital enrolment process.

ANUGA
(Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)

It stands for Allgemeine Nahrungs Und Genußmittel Ausstellung ( General Food and Non essential Provisions Exhibition)
It is world’s biggest and most important trade fair for Food and beverage trade
It takes place biennially and ANUGA 2017 is 34 edition
ANUGA is the leading export platform with 7,189 exhibitors from 109 countries with over 85% of Exhibitors from abroad.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Food Processing Industry are
jointly sponsoring this Indian branding at ANUGA , 2017.
India is a partner country of ANUGA 2017

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

What: Ministry of Tribal Affairs has actively initiated various efforts during the last three years to make more EMRS.
Eklavya Model Residential School Scheme was started in 1998 and first school was started in the year 2000 in Maharashtra.
EMRSs have been functioning as institutions of excellence for tribal students.
Results of these schools have been generally better than other Government schools in the tribal areas.
In order to further educational opportunities for more ST children, Government seeks to extend the facility of EMRSs in all the 672 Blocks where ST population is more than 50% of the total population in a span of next five years.
As per existing EMRS Guidelines of 2010, at least one EMRS is to be set up in each Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) / Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) having 50% ST population in the area.

International Labour Conference, 2017

What: The 106th Session of International Labour Conference (ILC) was held from 5-16th June 2017. Here, India expressed satisfaction over growing coherence between SDGs and agenda of ILO and other UN reforms, commitment for a safe, healthy and happy future for children and also furthering of the commitment to provide social security for 450 million workforce in the informal sector. India has reaffirmed its commitment for promoting the welfare of the workers in and outside the country including promoting their skill development and protecting their rights.
India’s participation
In a historic step towards eradication of Child Labour from the country, India ratified

1. International Labour Organization’s Convention No 138 (minimum age for employment)
2. International Labour Organization’s Convention No 182 (worst forms of child labour)

This is to symbolise its commitment and initiatives for eradication of child labour and attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 related with curbing of child labour.
With ratification of these two core ILO conventions, India has ratified 6 out of 8 core ILO conventions, with the other 4 core ILO conventions relating to abolition of forced labour, equal remuneration and no discrimination between men and women in employment and occupation.
Ramifications of the India’s ratification of ILO conventions the world are covered by Convention 182 enhanced from approximately 60 percent to almost 80% of the world’s children population
Meeting the objectives of child labour free society
Enactment of the Child labour (Prohibition and Prevention) amendment Act, 2016 in August 2016 that provides for complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years in all occupations and processes and prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes. employment has been linked to the age of compulsory education under Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being framed for all stakeholders particularly, enforcing agencies and this would be supported by IT Platform “PENCIL” which has components ensuring enforcement of the Act, mechanism for redressal of complaints, child tracking system and a monitoring mechanism. (NCLP) which is a rehabilitative scheme for child and adolescent labour has been aligned with changes in the Act.

Science and technology

ATGM Nag

What: The Anti-Tank Guided Missile Nag was successfully flight tested in desert ranges of Rajasthan. generation ATGM Nag is incorporated with many advanced technologies Radar (IIR) Seeker with integrated avionics support both mechanised infantry and airborne forces of the Indian Army. advanced passive homing guidance system and possesses high single-shot kill probability. It is designed to destroy modern main battle tanks and other heavily armoured targets. land and air-based platforms . The land version is currently available for integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA ). configuration, designated as
helicopter-launched NAG (HELINA), can be fired from Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) and HAL Rudra (ALH WSI) attack helicopter.
Integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP) Minsitry of Defence’s IGMDP being developed under it- Agni, Akash, Trishul and Prithvi

Some DRDO key achievements in 2014-17 are
Tejas fighters Control System (AEW&C) System
Akash Weapon System
SONAR systems
Varunastra Torpedo Radar (WLR) (NBC) Recce Vehicle to Air Missile (LRSAM) Missile (MRSAM)
NAG (ATAG) (WhAP) Aerial Vehicle and more…

PUR Track

What: they are an all-weather running track of polyurethane.
Polyurethane (PUR and PU) is a polymer composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. While most polyurethanes are thermosetting polymers that do not melt when heated, thermoplastic polyurethanes are also available.
Areas of usage- Polyurethanes are used in the manufacture of high-resilience foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels, microcellular foam seals and gaskets, durable elastomeric wheels and tires (such as roller coaster, escalator, shopping cart, elevator, and skateboard wheels), automotive suspension bushings, electrical potting compounds, high performance adhesives, surface coatings and surface sealants, synthetic fibers (e.g., Spandex), carpet underlay, hard-plastic parts (e.g., for electronic instruments), condoms and hoses.

In news: PM inaugurated USHA School of Athletics which has PUR track.
Sports is closely linked with the human resource development of a society.
Some ancient sports of India (Similar as Gilly Danda of north)
Kalaripayattu- Kerala Manipur nicobar Race on sand )- Nicobar
Dhopkhel- Assam
Gella – Chutt- Tripura
You can visit for information http://sports.indiapress.org/

There is a need to ensure that traditional games do not lose their popularity. Indigenous games too must be promoted as they have evolved organically from our own way of life. A programme ‘Khelo India’ has been launched where competitions will be held in various disciplines from the School and college level to the National level. Focus will be on identifying talent and then nurture it by providing support.

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Traditional water conservation system

The historic Taj bawadi , built during the Adil Shahi era (1490-1686) in Vijayapura in Karnataka was recently restored.

What are traditional water conservation systems around India?

Desertification in India: Cause and its Effects

Click on image to read more 

The process of fertile land transforming into desert typically as a result of deforestation, drought or improper agriculture is called desertification. 

Desertification in India is essentially a result of soil degradation because of various physical, chemical & biological factors.

Hot arid regions of the country which are prone to desertification in India are.:

Major parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Southern Punjab & Haryana.

A small portion of Deccan Peninsula in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

These regions are characterized by erratic rainfall, frequent droughts, high evaporation, intense heat and high winds which are favorable conditions for the desertification. According to a study by United Nations Convention to Control Desertification (UNCCD) about 25% of India’s land area is affected by desertification.

Causes of Desertification in India

Desertification in India is caused by complex interactions among physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors. Both natural and anthropogenic causes are responsible for the desertification in India.

• Natural causes such as climate change, droughts, and soil erosion are enhancing the pace of desertification.
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• Anthropogenic causes include flawed and unsustainable practices of agriculture such as shifting cultivation, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, poor irrigation practices, deforestation and expansion of agriculture areas are main causes of desertification.

Industrial waste, which is full of toxic chemicals, is a major cause of land pollution. This ultimately results in desertification.

Climate change could be one of the reasons for Desertification in India. Climate change is affecting the Indian monsoon. In that affect, the rainfall pattern in the country is changing and frequency of droughts is increasing.

Effects of Desertification

These are the consequences of desertification:

Accelerated soil erosion by wind and water.

Replacement of forest or woodland by savanna grassland or scrub.

Reduction in species diversity and plant biomass in ecosystems.

The increase in flow variability of rivers and streams.

Increase in the salt content of previously fresh lakes, wetlands, and rivers.

Desertification affects the health of the ecosystem and makes them vulnerable to natural disasters.

How to control Desertification?

Desertification and the associated loss of agricultural land are not an inevitable and unstoppable process. Good management practices can sustain agriculture even in seemingly arid and hostile environments. The national action plan to control the desertification has suggested the following step to control the desertification in the country.

Afforestation: Planting trees in the desertification affected areas can help to stop it from the spreading into new areas.

Windbreaks and shelters: Planting trees and shrubs on the periphery of the agricultural fields can reduce the wind speed and increasing water infiltration into the soil. This practice improves the moisture and fertility of the soil. The other practice to stop the spread of deserts is to separate them by planting trees in a long narrow belt. This helps in capturing the advancement of sand dunes.

Desertification Control

An increase in the agriculture productivity and dry farming so that need for the farmland can be minimized.

Grazing of the livestock in arid areas should be done in a controlled way so that land can regain the vegetation cover.

Activities to improve the quality of life of the local communities so that their dependency on natural resources can be minimized.

Awareness rising among the masses about the repercussions of the deforestation.

Drought management, preparedness and mitigation as it is the starting point of deforestation.

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How ‘Medical Biotechnology’ and ‘Bioengineering’ are useful for technological development of India?

Biotechnology is a science that uses living plants or animals as their products and technically develops useful products from them. It has emerged as a developing science branch which is related to bio-life. Medical Biotechnology and Bioengineering are specialized branches of Bio-technology.
Medical-Biotechnology is use of techniques in medical field. It helps to have still more improved technology. This makes medical facility of the country like developed countries. As medical tourism can contribute to the GDP of the country. The objective of the medical bio technology is to enhance the efficacy, productivity and cost effectiveness of molecular medicines. Diagnostic system, clinical research, drug production, delivery and discovery are important areas.

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Bio-engineering is a branch which applies, engineering principles to living system. Bio-engineering is the application of engineering principles to address challenges in the field of biology and medicine. Various branches of life science like-molecular biology, bio-chemistry, pharmacology, micro-biology, cytology etc. are used in bio-engineering. Bioengineers have the ability to export new opportunities and solve problems within the domain of complex systems.
This ‘Medical Biotechnology’ and ‘Bioengineering’ makes India scientifically developed. Bioengineering helps in the agriculture and industry. Bioengineering can increase productivity. It can increase the efficiency of the product in industry.
Medical biotechnology can help pharmaceutical companies to grow. Improved technology will help to promote health standard. India can become a medical tourism place, by which Indian can earn foreign revenue and thus India’s GDP will grow.
New discoveries in human genome have expanded horizons of bio-engineering and medical bio-technology. Genetic science is also related to it. These can help India to develop medical facilities. The DBT has emphasized genomics and bioinformatics as the area of special focus, wherein the country has natural advantage. Export of services and BPOs have also started to use these knowledge. This gives more employment opportunities to Indian

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