National Current Affairs – UPSC/KAS Exams – 28th February 2019

Mrinal

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is celebrated 50th anniversary of its first composite solid propellant ‘Mrinal’. On February 21, 1969 this propellant was used to fly Rohini series RH-75 sounding rocket, which was designated Dynamic Test Vehicle (DTV), from Thumba.

More on the Topic:

• It was first totally indigenous composite propellant manufactured using locally available raw materials.
• It basically contained raw materials such as polyester resin, ammonium perchlorate and aluminium powder along with nitro-glycerine (worked in static firing and improved its energy and processability).
• It was developed by team at Propellant Engineering Division (PED) of Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC), a precursor to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• Dr VR Gowarikar was brain behind this composite solid propellant. It was named after Mrinalini Sarabhai, noted dancer and wife of Vikram Sarabhai, father of India’s space programme.
• It was used to propel flights up to DTV-4 version and was not extensively used by ISRO in its later launches. In later developments, it did not find extensive use with ISRO due to scaling-up issues.
• Its success has heralded development of indigenous solid propellant technology in the country. Now, ISRO has mastered indigenous solid propellants and propulsion technology.

Source: The Hindu

Sub-Replacement Fertility

Topic: Economic Geography

More on the Topic

• This refers to any fertility rate below the replacement rate that would cause the population of a certain group of people to decrease over time. A population’s fertility rate falls below the replacement rate when adults fail to produce enough offspring to even replace themselves. The sub-replacement fertility rate is generally considered to be anything below the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman in developed countries. The replacement rate, however, differs across the globe. For instance, it is much higher in developing countries where the infant mortality rate is much higher than in the developed world due to various reasons.

Source: The Hindu

Non-scheduled cancer drugs under price control

Topic: Economy

In News: The government has brought 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control, capping trade margin at 30 per cent, which would reduce their retail prices by up to 85 per cent.

More on the Topic:

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has invoked extraordinary powers in public interest, under Para 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to bring 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control through trade margin rationalization.
• As per data available with NPPA, the MRP for 105 brands will be reduced up to 85 per cent entailing minimum saving of ₹105 crore to consumers.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is a government regulatory agency that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India.It was formed on 29 August 1997.
• The NPPA currently fixes prices of drugs placed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) under Schedule-I of the DPCO. So far, around 1000 drugs have been brought under price control under the initiative.
• Non-scheduled drugs are allowed an increase of up to 10 per cent in prices every year, which is monitored by the NPPA.

Source: The Hindu

Electoral Bonds

Topic: Indian Polity

 In News: Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 vide Gazette Notification No. 20 dated 02nd January 2018.

About the Topic:

• An electoral bond is designed to be a bearer instrument like a Promissory Note — in effect, it will be similar to a bank note that is payable to the bearer on demand and free of interest. It can be purchased by any citizen of India or a body incorporated in India.

How do you use it?

• The bonds will be issued in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹1 lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore and will be available at specified branches of State Bank of India. They can be bought by the donor with a KYC-compliant account. Donors can donate the bonds to their party of choice which can then be cashed in via the party’s verified account within 15 days.

What are the other conditions?

• Every party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and has secured at least one per cent of the votes polled in the most recent Lok Sabha or State election will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India. Electoral bond transactions can be made only via this account.
• The bonds will be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in the beginning of every quarter, i.e. in January, April, July and October as specified by the Central Government. An additional period of 30 days shall be specified by the Central Government in the year of Lok Sabha elections.
• The maximum amount of cash donation that a political party can receive be capped at ₹2,000 and that parties be entitled to receive donations by cheque or digital mode, in addition to electoral bonds.

Source:The Hindu

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM)

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: India has successfully test-fired two indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM) from a test range off the Odisha coast.

More on the topic:

• It has been developed to replace the ‘Akash’ missile defence system, and has 360-degree coverage.
• It uses solid fuel propellant and has a strike range of 25-30 km with capability of hitting multiple targets.
• It is capable of hitting the low flying objects.

Source: The Hindu

UN Women

Topic International Organisations

In News The government of Odisha has been applauded by The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for proposing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and the State Assemblies.

More on the Topic

• The Odisha Assembly, in November 2018, passed a resolution by unanimous voice vote for providing 33% reservation for women in Legislative Assemblies and Parliament. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had initiated discussion on the motion.

About UN Women

• The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women.
• UN Women became operational in January 2011.
• The main roles of UN Women include support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms,help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society and hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress.

Source: The Hindu