Essential Facts (Prelims): 6 March, 2019


Generalized System of Preferences

Category: International

  • S. has announced that he intends to end preferential trade terms for India under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme.
  • The GSP programme sets zero tariffs for certain goods from a set of 121 developing countries to foster their trade and economic development.
  • GSP accounts for some $5.6 billion of India’s exports to the U.S.making India the largest GSP beneficiary.
  • Chemicals, gems and jewellery, engineering and textiles are among the Indian industrial sectors that benefit from the GSP.

Polluted cities

Category: Environment

  • Fifteen of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are located in India.
  • Gurugram in Haryana topped the list.
  • Delhi — a frequent fixture on global pollution hotspots — was at the 11th place.
  • When ranked by country, Bangladesh emerged as the most polluted followed by Pakistan and India respectively.
  • Of the cities analysed, 64% exceeded the WHO’s annual exposure guideline (10 micrograms/cubic metre) for fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5.
  • India’s annual guidelines range from 40-60 micrograms/cubic metre, depending on whether they are residential or industrial areas.
  • Every single one of measured cities with data in the Middle East and Africa exceeded the WHO guideline.

Assam

Category: Defence & Security

  • A digital ‘barrier’ has finally filled a 61 km gap on the 4,096.7 km India-Bangladesh border fence.
  • Assam shares a 263 km border with Bangladesh.
  • Much of the border was fenced, but a 61 km stretch in Dhubri district remained open owing to the terrain dictated by the Brahmaputra.
  • The central govt inaugurated an electronic surveillance system that is expected to diminish challenges faced by the Border Security Force in manning this stretch against cross-border crimes.
  • Comprising microwave communication, optical fibre cables, cameras, and an intrusion detection device, this system is called BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) and was established under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System.

PM-SYM

Category: Social sector

  • Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana.
  • It provides for a monthly pension of ₹3,000 to employees in the unorganised sector after 60 years of age.

SWIFT

Category: Economy

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slapped penalties on seven more commercial banks for not adhering to regulatory directions relating to global messaging platform SWIFT.
  • Over the last few days, RBI has fined 11 banks-both public and private- for delayed implementation of SWIFT-related operational controls.
  • SWIFT is the global messaging software used for transactions by the financial entities.

Nari Shakti Puraskar , 2018

Category: Miscellaneous

  • Nari Shakti Puraskar is the highest civilian honour for women in India.
  • To acknowledge women’s achievements, the Ministry of Women and Child Development confers Nari Shakti Puraskaron women and institutions in recognition of their relentless service towards  the cause of women empowerment and social welfare.
  • This year, 44 awardees have been selected for these Puraskar.
  • This year, the Nari Shakti Puraskar has also been awarded to a One Stop Centre (OSC) and to a state which has shown exceptional progress in improving child sex ratio at birth under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.

 

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