Daily Prelims Notes 18 December 2020
- December 18, 2020
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN
Table Of Contents
- RESERVE PRICE
- NIIF
- CURRENCY MANIPULATION
- CORPORATE TAX
- DENTAL AEROSOLS
- DEFENCE ACQUISITION
- DILLI GHARANA
- NATIONAL PARKS IN ASSAM
- YOGASANA
- ANAEMIA MUKT BHARAT
Subject : Economy
Context : Government has kickstarted the process of auctioning 4G spectrum, approving the sale of 2,251 MHz of spectrum at a reserve price of Rs 3.92 lakh crore.
Concept :
- The auction is expected to be completed by March next year with bidders having the option of either paying the entire amount upfront, or paying a certain amount now, with the balance being paid in annual instalments subsequently.
- However, whether this round of auction will be met with enthusiasm is not clear as high reserve prices have in the past led to poor outcomes.
- For instance, in the previous auctions held in 2016, while the government had offered 2,354.55 MHz of spectrum, it was able to sell just 40 per cent (965 MHz) due to high reserve prices. As a result, it was able to mop up only Rs 65,789 crore.
- This time around, it is possible that telcos looking to renew their licences in bands which are expiring in 2021, and seeking to plug existing gaps, might pick up spectrum in the less expensive bands. But demand for the higher priced bands is uncertain.
- Alternatively, high reserve prices could lead to a situation where bidding is dominated by a single player to the detriment of both competition and consumers.
2. NIIF
Subject : Economy
Context : Public sector utility NTPC is in talks with the government’s strategic investment fund NIIF to set up an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) as a joint venture. The move will help the company to unlock the value of its renewable energy projects.
Concept :
- The sovereign fund is also expected to be a joint venture partner in the utility’s foray in the power distribution business where NTPC is bidding for the privatisation of union territory discoms.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
- The government had set up the ₹40,000 crore NIIF in 2015 as an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled infrastructure projects.
- The Indian government is investing 49% and the rest of the corpus is to be raised from third-party investors such as sovereign wealth funds, insurance and pension funds, endowments, etc.
- NIIF’s mandate includes investing in areas such as energy, transportation, housing, water, waste management and other infrastructure-related sectors in India.
- NIIF currently manages three funds each with its distinctive investment mandate. The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The three funds are:
- Master Fund: It is an infrastructure fund with the objective of primarily investing in operating assets in the core infrastructure sectors such as roads, ports, airports, power etc.
- Fund of Funds: Managed by fund managers who have good track records in infrastructure and associated sectors in India. Some of the sectors of focus include Green Infrastructure, Mid-Income & Affordable Housing, Infrastructure services and allied sectors.
- Strategic Investment Fund: Is registered as an Alternative Investment Fund II under SEBI in India. The objective is to invest largely in equity and equity-linked instruments. It will focus on green field and brown field investments in the core infrastructure sectors.
Subject : International Events
Context : The United States has once again included India in its monitoring list of countries with potentially “questionable foreign exchange policies” and “currency manipulation”.
Concept :
- The term ‘currency manipulator’ is a label given by the US government to countries it feels are engaging in “unfair currency practices” by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar.
- The practice would mean that the country in question is artificially lowering the value of its currency to gain an unfair advantage over others.
- This is because the devaluation would reduce the cost of exports from that country and artificially show a reduction in trade deficits as a result.
What are the parameters used?
- An economy meeting two of the three criteria in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is placed on the Monitoring List. This includes:
- A “significant” bilateral trade surplus with the US — one that is at least $20 billion over a 12-month period.
- A material current account surplus equivalent to at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over a 12-month period.
- “Persistent”, one-sided intervention — when net purchases of foreign currency totalling at least 2 percent of the country’s GDP over a 12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months.
- Once on the Monitoring List, an economy will remain there for at least two consecutive reports “to help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not due to temporary factors.
Subject : Economics
Context : Overall advance corporate tax stood at Rs 2,39,125 crore so far this year, down 4.9 per cent from Rs 2,51,382 crore as the first two quarters bore the brunt of the lockdown.
Concept :
- Corporate tax is the tax imposed by the Government of India on the net income or profit that corporate enterprises make from their businesses. It is a tax imposed on the net income of the company.
- Corporate Income Tax is a Direct Tax.
- The tax is imposed at a specific rate as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- In most nations, the Corporate Tax is levied at a national level and can also be levied at a State or local level.
- Private and public companies registered in India under the Companies Act are liable to pay corporate tax.
- Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) is not applicable to such companies.
- The Minimum Alternate Tax is a measure to include all companies in the income tax loop. The MAT ensures that no company with healthy finances and substantial income can avoid paying income tax, even after claiming exemptions.
Subject : Environment
Context : Dental procedures can pose a high risk of viral transmission because the tools often produce aerosols — which can contain the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. New research has found that careful operation of dental drills can minimize the aerosol spread.
Concept :
- Aerosols are generated when saliva mixes with water and the air streams used in dental procedures.
- Now, researchers have measured and analyzed aerosol generation during dental procedures and suggested changes to prevent contamination to improve safety for both patients and the dental practice workforce.
Dental Aerosols
- A dental aerosol is an aerosol that is produced from dental instrument, dental handpieces, three-way syringes and other high-speed instruments. These aerosols are air suspended in the clinical environment.
- These aerosols can pose risks to the clinician, staff and other patients as well.
- The heavier particles (>50 µm ) of the aerosols suspend in the air for relatively short period and settles down quickly, but the lighter particles tend to remain suspended for longer periods and are capable to enter and get deposited in the lungs when they are inhaled and possess the capacity of transmitting diseases.
- These dental aerosols are also bioaerosols which are contaminated with bacteria, fungi and viruses of the oral cavity, skin and the water used in the dental units.
- Dental aerosols also have micro-particles of the burs, and silica particles which are one of the components of dental filling materials like dental composite.
Subject : Defence
Context : The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting, held under the Chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved proposals to procure equipment worth Rs 28,000 crore.
Concept :
- This is the first meeting of the DAC under the new regime of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and these are the first set of Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) accorded with majority AoNs being accorded in the highest categorization of Buy Indian (IDDM).
- 6 of the 7 proposals, that is, Rs 27,000 Cr out of Rs 28,000 cr for which AoNs were granted will be sourced from the Indian industry to give a boost to the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government.
- Acquisition proposals approved today include the DRDO designed and developed Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Systems for the Indian Air Force, Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Navy and Modular Bridges for the Indian Army.
Subject : Culture
Context : Music maestro Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan passed away at the age of 66.
Concept :
- Iqbal Ahmed Khan was raised in the Dilli Gharana of music.
- He began his stage career at the age of four, under the guidance of his teacher and grandfather Ustad Chand Khan. Keeping up with the family traditions, Khan had actively promoted Amir Khusro’s musical works.
- He also founded Dilli Durbar, “aimed solely towards the renaissance of Indian Classical Music”, which held its first classical event in 2019.
Delhi Gharana
- The Delhi Gharana is the oldest of the tabla gharanas and the first to establish improvisation rules.
- It was founded in North India and is one of the most common gharanas (or Baj) used today. The Purbi Gharana also originates from the eastern areas of Delhi.
- Delhi Gharana was founded in the early 18th century most probably by Mia Siddhar Khan Dhadi, who is sometimes also referred to as the inventor of the tabla.
- Siddhar Khan is the earliest available name associated with tabla that is found in historical records.
- Siddhar Khan and his descendants contributed greatly to the development of the Tabla language and compositional structures of the ‘Peshkars’ and the ‘Kayadas’.
- The Delhi tabla style is famous for its vast and rich repertoire of Kayadas.
- Overall, the sound quality tends to focus on avoiding the overuse of loud, resonant baya (left-hand bass drum) strokes in favor of lighter, more precise strokes.
- Bols such as dha, tita (tite), tirakita and tinnakinna are prominent. The temperament and style of playing is generally soft and esoteric.
Subject : Environment
Context : Data shared by the Assam Forest Department show that the state saw 113 elephant deaths due to electrocution between 2009 and September 25, 2020, in several national parks with several more casualties reported since.
Concept :
Orang National Park
- The Orang National Park also known as Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam and covers an area of 78.81 square kilometers.
- It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 but was declared as National Park in 1999. It is also 49th Tiger Reserve of the country, being notified in 2016.
- It is also known as the mini Kaziranga National Park (IUCN site) since the two parks have a similar landscape made up of marshes, streams, and grasslands.
- It is the only stronghold of rhinoceros on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river.
Manas National Park
- Manas National Park is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam, India
- It is located in the Himalayan foothills,
- It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan
- The Manas river flows thorough the west of the park and is the main river within it. It is a major tributary of Brahmaputra river
- The Manas river also serves as an international border dividing India and Bhutan.
9. YOGASANA
Subject : Culture
Context : The Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formal recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport at a joint press conference.
Concept :
- The origins of Yogasana (part of ashtanga yoga ) competitions can be traced to the Indian Yoga tradition, where such competitions have been held for centuries.
- Yogasana is an integral and important component of Yoga, which is psycho-physical in nature and popular across the globe for its efficacy in fitness and general wellness.
- Competitions that will arise out of the recognition of Yogasana as a sport will enhance interest in Yoga among people around the globe.
- Government of India is planning to include Yogasana as a Sport discipline in National Games, Khelo India and international sports events.
Ashtanga Yoga
- Ashtanga yoga is based on Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali.
Yama (Principles or moral code)
- Ahimsa – A principle of non-violence
- Satya – A principle of Truthfulness
- Asteya – A principle of non stealing
- Brahmacharya – Continence / Celibacy
- Aparigah – A principle of non-hoarding or non possessiveness
Niyama (Personal Disciplines)
- Shoucha – Purity
- Santosh – Contentment
- Tapa – Endurance
- Swadhyaya – Self study
- Eshwar Pranidhan – Dedication
Asana (Yoga Positions or Yogic Postures)
- A stable and comfortable posture which helps attain mental equilibrium.
Pranayama (Yogic Breathing)
- Extension and control of breath.
Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses)
- A mental preparation to increase the power of mind.
Dharana (Concentration on Object)
- Concentration of mind on one object and its field.
Dhyan (Meditation)
- With drawing mind from all external objects and Focusing it on one point and meditating on it.
Samadhi (Salvation)
- State of Super bliss, joy and merging individual consciousness in to universal consciousness. Union between Jivatman and Paramatman. Union of Shiva and Shakti in Sahasrar Chakra (the top of the head). Realizing the Bramhan (pure consciousness) or Realization of God is the ultimate achievement of Human Birth.
Subject : Government schemes
Concept :
- Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy is focused on benefitting six target beneficiary groups, through six interventions and six institutional mechanisms to achieve the envisaged target of anaemia reduction under the POSHAN Abhiyaan.
Key highlights of the strategy
- Provision of supervised biweekly iron-folic acid(IFA) supplementation by the ASHA for all under-five children
- Weekly IFA supplementation for 5-10 years old children
- Annual/biannual deworming (children and adolescents)
- Point of care testing(POCT) and treatment for in-school adolescents and pregnant women using newer technologies
- Establishing institutional mechanisms for advanced research in anaemia
- Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia and
- Setting a comprehensive communication strategy including mass/mid media/social media communication material (radio and TV spots, posters, job-aids, interpersonal communication material