Explanation :

Earthquake swarms are low intensity localized earthquake that occur over a period of time (even months) with no clear sequence of foreshock, main shock and aftershock. The magnitude of earthquake swarms on Richter scale is in between 3 to 4.

Purpose of the Question:

Since November, Maharashtra’s Palghar district has experienced dozens of small earthquakes. This pattern of several small earthquakes occurring in a brief time-window cleared that Palghar was hit by an earthquake swarm.

Peninsular plateau of India is stable; then how come it was hit by Earthquake swarms?

The cause of Earthquake swarms is unknown, but some researchers are of the view that Konkan coast of India has cracks/ geological faults and this can be one of the cause of Earthquake swarms in one of the most stable part of India i.e. the Peninsular plateau.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

Explanation:

• Hansen’s disease is also called as Leprosy and is caused by bacteria mycobacterium Leprae. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra remain the ‘hotspots’ from which maximum prevalence was detected last year. High population density, poor sanitation and inadequate access to nutrition are among the reasons for the number remaining high.

Problems Associated with Leprosy Detection & Control:

• The incubation period of the disease is around 5 years before the symptoms appear; therefore it becomes difficult to detect this at early stage.
• It is highly infectious and spreads via nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated person.

Is it curable?

Yes, Leprosy can be completely cured with multi-drug therapy.

Purpose of the Question:

A large number of cases of Leprosy have been observed in India- from 86,147 (in 2013-14) to 90,709 (2017-18). India was declared leprosy-free in 2005 but with so many cases on rise, the spotlight is back on the disease.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• Raigad is a hill fort situated in the Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra, which is present in the Sahyadri Mountain Range (Western Ghats). Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The Raigad Fort was seized by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and he made it his capital in 1674 when he was crowned as the King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire.

Purpose of the Question:

Raigad Development Authority has decided to spend Rs. 600 crore for the overall development of Raigad fort and area nearby. The vision is to develop Raigad as a heritage hill station. Besides the fort, upliftment of 21 villages in its periphery and creation of new avenues for the local people is also being aimed.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• As per Article 331, the President can nominate only up to 2 members to Lok Sabha only, if he feels that this community is not adequately represented. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• As per Article 333, the Governor of the state can nominate not more than 1 member to the State Assembly, if he feels that this community is not adequately represented. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Purpose of the Question:

Anglo-Indian community numbers has decreased exponentially in recent years and this community is losing its culture and language which is a matter of concern. The community is being said to be hit by serious identity crisis, whose number has dipped as low as 200 families in the city.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

GSP is a US trade program that was started in 1976 and promotes economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty free entry.

What is the intention behind GSP?

• GSP aims to help the third world and developing countries to boost their economies by trading with the US.
• It gives an edge to the American companies to boost their production as due to GSP they get the inputs/ raw material at a lower cost.

Purpose of the Question:

The US Government is thinking of withdrawing the GSP for India, as it feels that it is necessary to plug the huge trade deficit.

Source Name : IE

Explanation :

• SEZs are geographical areas having economic laws different from the country’s general economic laws. SEZs are mainly set up to boost the exports.
• As of September 2018, there were 231 SEZs in India with 60% of them concentrated in South India.
• Tamil Nadu has the highest number of SEZs followed by Karnataka. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• IT/ITES accounts for 54.1% of the total SEZs i.e. SEZs are dominated by the service sector and not the manufacturing sector. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• Kathakali is a male dominated dance that symbolizes the element of Sky/Ether. Odissi is a dance form that symbolizes the element of water. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Themes of Kathakali are usually from the Hindu epics & Puranas. In Kathakali dance, movement of eye and eyebrows is of utmost importance. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Nalacharitham is a Kathakali play written by Unnavi Warrier and it portrays the story of King Nalam and his consort Damayanthi.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

The Forest Rights Act was enacted in 2006 by the Parliament to take care of the Rights of Tribals and other traditional forest dwelling communities. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

Some Important Features of FRA 2006:

• It grants ownership to the tribals and other groups for only minor forest produce and not the major forest produce.
• Gram Sabha will act as an authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights.

Purpose of the Question:

Odisha State Food Commission has asked the state government to expedite the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 in the tribal dominated areas to help ensure food and nutritional security to the vulnerable section of society.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

Lawful Permanent Resident Card is unofficially called as a Green Card in US. It allows the person to permanently live and work in US. While HIB Visa is a temporary permit to work in US. It is easier for a person holding Green Card to become a citizen of US.

Purpose of the Question:

Recently, a Bill was introduced in US to remove per country limits on Green Card. Currently no country may be allocated more than 7% (around 9,800) of the total number of Green Cards granted each year.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

Buy Back of Shares is done by the promoter to consolidate his/ her grip and ownership over the company. Buyback is generally done at a price higher than the prevailing market price (if it will be done at price lower than market price, shareholders will not sell that). Hence, statement D is incorrect.

Intention of Buyback:

• When the buyback is done, it reduces the number of shares of that company in the market and in long run leads to increase in price per share of that company.
• It is usually done by a company when it has a surplus of money i.e. it prefers to go for buyback instead of investing in the unattractive business arena.
• As per Companies Act 2003, buyback of shares through subsidiary companies of promoters is not allowed.

Purpose of the Question:

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• Simlipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas- Simlipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of Semul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here. It is the 7th largest national park in India and is a part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009.

Purpose of the Question:

From the Simlipal Tiger Reserve to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, a potential link for the migration of wild animals was identified by the NTCA; but due to mining activities, Satkosia-Simlipal Corridor Plan is getting delayed which is crucial to the survival of many endangered species.

Source Name : Down to Earth

Explanation :

CBD is a legally binding treaty that is the outcome of Rio/ Earth’s Summit 1992. India is a signatory of CBD. The CBD is aimed at conserving biological diversity, sustainably using biological components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits (with local or indigenous communities) that may arise out of the utilization of genetic resources. It is headquartered at Montreal, Canada.

Cartagena Protocol:

• Cartagena Protocol is 1^st legally binding protocol to CBD that was adopted in 2000.
• CBD deals with rapidly expanding field of Biotechnology through its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Nagoya Protocol

It is the second protocol to CBD after Cartagena Protocol; it deals with benefit sharing obligation i.e.- when the benefits are extracted by foreign companies from the traditional know-how of the local people, the monetary or non-monetary benefits has to be shared with local communities.

Explanation :

• Recently, the Gujarat Government has announced a programme to conserve the Asiatic Lions after the recent canine Distemper Virus breakout. One of the programme talks about the establishment of Greater Gir in Gujarat that will comprise of Mitiyala Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary and Girnar Sanctuary.
• Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary is present in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is one of the probable sites for the translocation of Gir Lions, but it is not form a part of Greater Gir.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• Vexatious litigation is meant to bother, embarrass, or cause legal expenses to the defendant i.e. legal proceeding is started with malice and without good case. A plaintiff who starts such litigation either knows or should reasonably know that no legal basis for the lawsuit exists.

Purpose of the Question:

Recently, Supreme Court has fined Rs. 50,000 to the Leader of Opposition of Bihar for wasting the time of Court in Vexatious Litigation.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• A Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its dissolution. The Bill may have originated in the Lok Sabha or may have been transferred to it by the Rajya Sabha.

• A Bill passed by the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

• A Bill originating in the Rajya Sabha which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha and which is still pending in the Rajya Sabha does not lapse.

• A Bill which has been passed by both the houses and has been presented to the President for assent does not lapse.

• A Bill returned by the President for reconsideration does not lapse.

• A Bill in regard to which the President has notified his intention to summon the houses to a joint sitting does not lapse by dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

• All motions, resolutions, amendments etc. pending in the Lok Sabha lapse on its dissolution.

Purpose of the Question:

The Citizenship Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill had lapsed due to dissolution of Lok Sabha.

Source Name : TH, IE

Explanation :

•The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. It is an endorheic basin (a basin without outflows) located between Europe and Asia, to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the broad steppe of Central Asia. It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the west, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.

Explanation :

•A new species of crying snake has been discovered in Lepa-Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a non-venomous crying keelback snake.

•The name for this keelback was suggested because of a dark spot under its eyes looking like black tear. The snake prefers to live near streams along paddy fields.

•The northeast is home to some 110 global snake species.

Explanation :

• Luira Phanit is one of the most important festivals of the Tangkhul Naga. Tangkhuls are a major Naga ethnic group living in the Indo-Burma border area occupying the Ukhrul district in Manipur.

• It is a traditional seed sowing festival which is famous for music, dance and food.

• It is also called as ‘pork eating festival’ as a pig or cattle is killed during the festival.

Explanation :

What is MFN?

• MFN status does not mean any special treatment to any country, but it means “Treating all the member countries of WTO alike.”
• E.g.- say India grants tax exemption to the imports coming from Nepal, then as per provisions of MFN, it shall extend the same tax exemptions to all the members of WTO.
• Article 1 of the GATT (General Agreement on Tariff & Trade) has the provisions related to MFN.
• Since the formation of WTO, India gave the MFN status to all member countries of WTO (including Pakistan), but due to the recent terrorist attack in Pulwama, India has withdrawn MFN Status from Pakistan.
• Pakistan never accorded MFN status to India.

Purpose of the Question:

India has withdrawn MFN Status given to Pakistan due to the terrorist attack in Pulwama.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• The Persian Gulf is a Mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman) through the Strait of Hormuz and lies between Iran to the northeast and the Arabian Peninsula to the southwest.

• Countries with a coastline on the Persian Gulf are (clockwise, from the north): Iran; Oman's Musandam exclave; the United Arab Emirates; Saudi Arabia Qatar, on a peninsula off the Saudi coast; Bahrain, on an island; Kuwait; and Iraq in the northwest.

Explanation :

• The Asiatic lion is endemic to India and at present is found in the state of Gujarat only (Gir National Park). On the IUCN Red List it is listed as Endangered because of its small size and area of occupancy.

• Until the 19th century, it occurred in eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River to Bengal and Narmada River in Central India.

• It enjoys the same amount of protection as the Golden Langur as both are included in the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Explanation :

• Ghumot is a traditional percussion instrument played during Ganesh Chaturthi artis (prayers). It forms an integral part of the Goan folk, religious and temple music, both Hindu and Christian. It is basically a designed clay pot, with both sides open, bigger opening has skin of monitor lizard (locally known as Gaar) stretched taut across pot's mouth, forming the drumhead.

• It is also used in Goan temples during spring season in orchestra called as Suvari Vadan.

• In recent years monitor lizard skin is replaced with skin of she-goat (female goat) to protect the endangered monitor lizard.

Explanation :

• It is a statutory organization constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Its role is advisory in nature; it advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.

• The board primarily functions to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests. The board holds the power to review all the wildlife-related matters and permit projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries. Without prior approval of the NBWL, alternation to boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cannot be done.

• Composition: Chaired by the Prime Minister, NBWL consists of 47 members including the PM. 19 members are ex-officio members among them. Three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 illustrious ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists are the other member of the organization.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

• Labour Force (LF) is the part of the population that is able and willing to work i.e. Labour Force = Number of Employed Individuals + Number of Unemployed Individuals
• Labour Force participation rate is the labour force per thousand of population.
• Unemployment Rate (UR) is the number of unemployed person per thousand of LF, whereas Proportion Unemployed (PU) is the number of unemployed person per thousand of population so it is very evident that UR is a better indicator as compared to PU as it gives the idea about the number of unemployed individuals in the lot of people who are able and willing to work instead of the whole lot of total population.

Purpose of the Question:

According to National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO's) data, overall unemployment was at a 45-year high at 6.1%, with youth between the ages of 15 and 29 facing higher rates of joblessness than others.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

Hukitola is a 148-year-old monument which is situated on Jambu island in the Bay of Bengalof Mahakalapara Block in Kendrapara District, will soon feature on the Odisha tourism map. The building having plinth area more than 7000 sq ft, on the island was constructed by the Britishers in 1866/67 during the Naanka drought. This was used to store rice imported from Burma and other places through sea route which has been renovated by the State Archaeological Department, with the goal of making it into an eco-tourist spot and now features on the Odisha tourism map

Importance of the News:

Carcasses of around 600 Olive Ridley turtles and two dolphins were found washed ashore on the beach from Hukitola to Eakakula in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary areas in January 2019. Also, Hukitpola is one of the horseshoe crabs’ habitats that has been suggested by the Zoological Survey of India to be declared as Eco-Sensitive Zones for conservation and proper management of the endangered marine species.

Explanation :

• The IWC was set up under the International Convention for Regulation of Whaling which was signed in Washington DC on 2nd December 1946. It is headquartered at Cambridge, UK.
• Two sanctuaries are currently designated by the International Whaling Commission, both of which prohibit commercial whaling.The first of these, the Indian Ocean Sanctuary, was established in 1979 and covers the whole of the Indian Ocean South to 55°S.
• The second was adopted in 1994 and covers the waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. India joined the IWC in 1981.

Purpose of the Question:

IWC was in news because Japan had decided to leave the IWC as IWC prohibits the killing of whales for the food/delicacy and whale meat is in great demand in Japan.

Source Name : IE

Explanation :

• The Sawhney judgment caps reservation at 50%, saying, “Reservation being extreme form of protective measure or affirmative action it should be confined to minority of seats and in any manner, not to exceed 50%.”
• The judgment also shuns the idea of reservation on the basis of economic criteria as it stated that economic deprivation can be the cause for the giving reservation but it can’t be the solely cause for giving the reservation as constitution talks about social and educational backwardness as the ground for giving reservation.
• The court in the judgment opined that reservation shall be only at the entry level as the reservation is intended to provide level playing field for the unequal starting position. Thus it rejected the idea of reservation in promotion.