Advertisement

Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

Editorials are covered separately. HINDU NOTES are available free date wise| CLICK HERE

Jallianwala Bagh shameful act in British-Indian history: British envoy

News

  • British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith termed the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, a hundred years ago, “a shameful act in British-Indian history.

Beyond News

  • Asquith was in Amritsar to pay tribute at the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial to mark the centenary of the tragedy.
  • On the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre – when a peaceful gathering was fired upon by British Indian Army soldiers in Amritsar in 1919 – Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said here that an “appropriate expression of apology” was needed for closure.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

India, ASEAN vow to step up ties in maritime sector, boost connectivity

News

  • India and ASEAN have resolved to strengthen ties by deepening cooperation in the maritime sector and boosting connectivity.

Beyond News

  • The two sides made the affirmations at the 21st ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) held on April 11-12.
  • The ASEAN-India SOM reviewed the strategic partnership and its future direction.
  • It assessed the progress of cooperation under all three pillars — political-security, economic and socio-cultural, the MEA said.
  • The SOM leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of interest to ASEAN and India.
  • They agreed to deepen maritime cooperation as decided at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2018. In this context, they proposed to undertake a variety of measures, including enhanced cooperation in the sub-sector of Blue Economy.
  • It was decided at the meeting to give an impetus to ASEAN-India connectivity in all its forms.
  • The two sides also discussed the ways and means to further deepen cooperation on financial matters as well as overall strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat.
  • The two sides also vowed to step up cooperation in renewable energy and hold an ASEAN-India Conference on Renewable Energy in 2019. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) would be the co-partners for this project.
  • The ASEAN-India partnership is being implemented through the “Plan of Action (2016-20) to implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for peace, progress and shared prosperity”.

Oil import from Iran may be reduced as U.S. mulls waiver

News

  • Indian officials are working closely with U.S. officials to ensure that two upcoming deadlines in early May, for the extension of the Iran oil sanctions waiver, as well as the final decision on withdrawing India’s preferential Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) status, end positively for the government, multiple sources in Delhi and Washington confirmed.

Beyond News

  • While the decision on the GSP could be deferred until after elections, the discussions on the Iran oil sanctions waiver have indicated an extension is likely, with India allowed a lower quantity of oil imports from Iran.
  • Last week, following discussions with U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelkar, who visited Delhi in early April to discuss U.S. nuclear-related sanctions on Iran and the global coalition to combat Iran’s state support for terrorism and ongoing malign behaviour, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said both sides had been “continuously engaged” on the issue of India’s oil imports from Iran since November.
  • India, Turkey and China remain the only countries with significant imports. After initial defiance where it said it only recognised “UN sanctions, not unilateral sanctions”, the Modi government has softened its stand in negotiations for the sanctions waiver from America.
  • S. is considering an extension of the six-month waiver, but reducing the quantity of oil India can import from the previous allowance of nine million barrels a month.
  • Despite the appeals, U.S. officials say there has been a growing sense of frustration in their administration on trade issues.
  • According to the officials, out of the nine outstanding issues on trade, the two sides were able to narrow differences on all but two or three, which were irreconcilable, and led to the U.S. notice on cancelling GSP.
  • These include the issue of certifying dairy products from “vegetarian” cows, and the price caps on medical devices like stents both of which had originally triggered the GSP review in April 2018.
  • The U.S. also remains concerned about duties and regulations in the Information Technology industry, an issue for which the European Union has filed a case against India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) this week.
  • In addition, officials said the U.S. is watching India’s decision on 5G technology closely, particularly the fate of the bid by Chinese company Huawei, given the U.S.’s cases against it.

Drug advisory board proposes stringent norms for medical devices

News

  • In a move that would give end users more protection while using a medical device, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), India’s top drug advisory body, has recommended that the Health Ministry should notify all medical devices under the drug laws.

Beyond News

  • When enforced, this translates into medical devices being treated as drugs, more stringent tracking systems, mandatory reporting of all adverse reactions and registration of device before it is allowed into the market.
  • A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting earlier this month and the recommendations, when brought in for implementation by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), would be introduced in a phased manner to help the manufactures/importers adhere to the new laws.
  • Currently of the 5,000-6,000 medical devices in the Indian market, there are only 23 notified medical devices under government control.
  • When enforced, medical devices will be recognised as drugs under Section 3 (b) (iv) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  • The decision, however, has not gone down well with the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) which says that all medical devices need to be regulated under a separate medical devices-specific law.
  • AIMED has also asked the government to stick to the earlier assurance given to the industry by the Ministry in 2016, which included a four-step plan of starting with Medical Devices Rules (MDR), initially experimenting with a few electronic devices under MDR, amending MDR as per experience gained after six months of introduction and simultaneously drafting a Medical Device Patient Safety Bill to be reviewed and passed by Parliament.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

513 ceasefire violations by Pakistan post Balakot strike: Army

News

  • As many as 513 ceasefire violations by Pakistan have taken place along the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in the past one-and-a-half month and the Pakistan Army has suffered five to six times more casualties than the Indian Army in the retaliatory action, a senior officer said.

Beyond News

  • The Pakistan Army also used heavy weaponry like mortars and artillery guns in over 100 times during these violations and targeted civilian areas but was given a befitting response by the Indian Army.
  • Almost 513 ceasefire violations happened in the past one-and-a-half month and over 100 times during these violations, the Pakistan Army used heavy weapons like mortars and artillery guns and targeted civilian areas. Only yesterday [Friday], four civilians, including two girls, were injured in Poonch.
  • Ten people, including four security personnel, have been killed and nearly 45 others, mostly civilians, injured in the twin districts since India’s preemptive air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
  • Some incidents of sniping took place earlier and accordingly we have taken some measures to strengthen our As per the data this year, only three incidents of sniping by the Pakistan Army were reported from January to February 26 in which one of the fatalities include a civilian porter.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATE WISE CURRENT AFFAIRS

WHY IASTODAY IS BEST IN ONLINE COACHING?
FEATURESIASTODAY.inOTHERS
DAILY ANSWER REVIEWYES (in 60 minutes for core batch -before 10 PM for all lower courses)NO ( Not even weekly)
EXPERT SUPPORT24 hours x 7 days (In MASTER PLUS and above)NO/ During office hours only
GUARANTEE For Service & fee paid.Guaranteed till you clear (In LIFETIME membership)No guarantee at any cost.
Dedicated exclusive static testsYES(in MASTER PLUS and above)NO
TEST TYPEFull length similar to UPSC (In all dedicated courses)DEPENDS
FULL STATIC SYLLABUS COVERAGEYES (In all dedicated courses)DEPENDS
Full Day to Day current affairs coverageYES with review (All mains courses)NO
TEST REVIEW & MARKSYES throughout the course duration (In MASTER PLUS and above)YES during initial days.
NO after few tests
Effective cost for 30 MAINS static tests with reviewRs.10,000 (Master plus - Writing skill development 1 year)More than Rs.26,000
Flexible scheduleUnlimited. Reschedule based on demands.No flexibility.
Max delay in Mains Test review24 hours for core and In 4 working days for lower courses.Over 15 days
INDIVIDUAL MARKSYES (In all dedicated courses)NO
UPDATED NOTESYES(in all dedicated courses)NOT UPDATED

IASTODY DEDICATED COURSES IN A GLANCE

For 2023 & 24 Aspirants:
  1. Prelims TEST SERIES -PRO 2024- More than just a prelims test series for 2024 aspirants. 2024 PRELIMS in an integrated manner with mains and interview together with daily writing and review. {CLICK HERE for details}
  2. WRITING SKILL DEVELOPMENT(Daily review) (2 months- 6 months) Next is writing skill development- Available for 2 months and 6 months fixed. This can be used for 2024 or even 2025. Your answer will be reviewed as beginner in first day. Next day feedback will be based on first day performance and so on. You will develop a writing skill development better than aspirants outside IASTODAY by the end of this course- CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE 
  3. DAILY REVIEW (Beginner) 2024 - Till mains 2024 We have Daily review (beginner) course available till Mains 2024. This course have 3 phases ie, Novice and then beginner phase till prelims examination and aggressive mode post prelims exam- You will write 1 answer a day as novice, then 2 till prelims and there after 4 daily.- CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE
  4. ESSAY TEST SERIES 2023 & 24-Dedicated Essay test series for scoring high is now available for  2024. Real time exam environment, 24 hours accessibility and more @ a nominal fees-{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}
  5. Affordable Integrated Marathon (AIM 2024)-Dedicated All in one low cost series covering prelims test series, mains test series, daily answer review, interview, essay, optional and more in single version at lowest ever possible affordable version. Real time exam environment, 24 hours accessibility and more @ a nominal fees in comparison to features-{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}
  6. MASTER PLUS 2024-Dedicated mains 2024 @ Rs.50/day effective. Flagship MAINS 2024 program with all features including 29 mains tests, Daily answer review in 3-4 hours & value added notes and much more -{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}.
  7. PREMIUM 2024 - Full coverage @ Rs.55/day effective. Our Flagship prelims to interview with all premium features including daily answer review in 60 minutes, Prelims ,interview and much more -{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}.