Current Affairs Nugget #Week9 17-23 February

Sushil Chandra becomes the new Election Commissioner

Sushil Chandra on February 15, 2019 assumed charge as the new Election Commissioner (EC) of India. He would be working along with Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa in the Election Commission.
The Election Commissioners are usually retired IAS or IRS officers. Until 1989, the Election Commission was a single member body, but later two additional Election Commissioners were added. Thus, the Election Commission currently consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

The decisions of the commission are taken by a majority vote. The term of an Election Commissioner in 6 years.


PM Modi receives Seoul Peace Prize for 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22, 2019 received the prestigious Seoul Peace Prize 2018 for his contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth. The committee credited him for his efforts in promoting global peace and harmony through inclusive economic growth and improving quality of life.
The award was presented to him by Kwon E-hyock, the Chairman of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation at a grand ceremony in Seoul, South Korea. A short film on the life and achievements of Prime Minister Modi was also screened at the event.


Aero India 2019: Drone Olympics Competition held

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 12th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition ‘Aero India 2019’ at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru.
For the first time, the 2019 edition of Aero India combines the defence and civil aviation segments into a holistic event with the co-involvement of the defence and civil aviation ministries. The 12th edition of Aero India intends to be a “Runway to a billion opportunities” and put India on the Global map.


Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman’s India visit

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, visited India on February 19-20, 2019.
The Prime Minister and His Royal Highness condemned in the recent Pulwama terror attack on Indian security forces on February 14, 2019. Prime Minister expressed his thanks to the Saudi Crown Prince for ordering the release of 850 Indian prisoners from Saudi jails.

India raises customs duty on all goods imported from Pakistan

India on February 16, 2019 increased customs duty on all goods originating from or imported from Pakistan to 200 per cent with immediate effect. It is not very clear whether this will affect the third-country trade which is going on between the two countries through places such as Dubai in the UAE and Singapore.

Pakistan exported just $500 million of goods in 2017-18 to India, representing 1.5 per cent of its exports. However, it is believed to have exported goods worth about 3-4 times as much through third countries.

Chris Gayle announces retirement from One-day Internationals

Veteran West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has announced that he will retire from One-day Internationals after this year’s World Cup in England and Wales. The announcement was made by West Indies Cricket on February 17, 2019. 

The 39-year old left-hander has scored 9,727 ODI runs, second only to the legendary Brian Lara among West Indians in 284 matches. He needs 677 more runs to surpass Lara as the West Indies' all-time record ODI run scorer, a feat he will be hoping to achieve during his fifth World Cup.

Government clears proposal to encourage investments in Start-Ups; hikes tax exemption cap

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu on February 19, 2019 cleared proposals to encourage investments in Start-Ups, aiming at simplifying the process of exemptions for Start-ups from the ‘Angel Tax’ under Section 56 (2) (viib) of Income Tax Act, 1961. 

As per the new norms, registered startups will be exempted from tax on funding of up to Rs 25 crore compared with the existing limit of Rs 10 crore. Till date, the startups were availing of the tax concession only on the condition that their total investment, including funding from angel investors, does not exceed Rs 10 crore. 

India's fighter jet ‘LCA Tejas’ now fully combat-ready

Landmark day for India's defence sector, India's first self-made fighter jet, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas MK I (LCA Tejas) on February 20, 2019 received the Final Operational Clearance for induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a fully-weaponised fighter jet.

The formal declaration of Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of the aircraft was made by Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Secretary of Defence (R&D). Prior to this, the LCA Tejas was an Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) aircraft.

Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony to Rajkumar Singhajit Singh, Bangladesh cultural organisation Chhayanaut and Ram Sutar Vanji for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively on February 18, 2019 at a function held in Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, New Delhi.

The award was instituted by the Union Government in 2012 to recognise the contributions made by Rabindranath Tagore to humanity at large with his works and ideas, as part of the commemoration of his 150th Birth Anniversary, for promoting values of cultural harmony. 

Current Affairs Nugget #Week8 11-17 February 2019

First batch of 4 Boeing heavy-lift helicopters arrive in India from US

The first batch of four Boeing heavy-lift Chinook Helicopters, CH-47F (I), arrived at the Mundra airport in Gujarat on February 10, 2019.
Procured from the United States, the Chinook Helicopters are expected to provide impetus to the heavy-lift capabilities of Indian Air Force (IAF) and strengthen the defence ties with the United States.
Manufactured by Boeing, the CH-47F (I) will be stationed at Chandigarh air base of the Indian Air Force. The Chandigarh air base takes care of providing necessary items to Siachen and Eastern Ladakh sectors.


Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi elected as new chair of African Union

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on February 10, 2019 took over as the chair of the African Union (AU) following a meeting by heads of state from the continent in Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa.
The post of AU’s chair rotates annually between the five regions of the continent. The Incoming AU chairman President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to focus on the fight against armed groups on the continent and rebuilding efforts of countries recovering from conflict.
It is the first time since the AU was founded in 2002 that Egypt assumes the top seat of the body.


India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on February 11, 2019 signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to launch the ‘India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative’.
The Joint Initiative was signed by Nils Ragnar Kamsvag, Norwegian Ambassador to India and Anil Kumar Jain, Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. A Joint Task Force on Blue Economy was also established under the aegis of the MoU to promote multi-sectoral cooperation in various aspects of Blue Economy.


Abu Dhabi adds Hindi as third official court language

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has added Hindi as the third official language to be used in the city's courts, alongside Arabic and English.
The move is aimed at helping foreigners to learn about litigation procedures, their rights and duties without a language barrier, in addition to facilitating registration procedures through unified forms available through the judicial department’s website.


Introduction of Registration of Marriage of NRI Bill, 2019

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2019 approved the introduction of Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Bill, 2019 to create more accountability to Indian citizens living abroad.
The bill mainly seeks to offer more protection against the exploitation of Indian citizens, mostly Indian women by their NRI partners. It provides for amendment of the legal framework to act as a deterrent to the erring NRI spouses and creating more accountability and offer protection against exploitation of Indian Citizens, specially women married to NRIs.


Parliament passes Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019

The Parliament on February 13, 2019 passed the Personal Laws (Amendment Bill), 2018 that seeks to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce. The bill was passed after upper house of the Parliament Rajya Sabha approved it without discussion.
The lower house of the Parliament, Lok Sabha had passed the bill on January 7, 2019. Leprosy is being removed as a ground for divorce as it is now a curable disease as against the earlier notion of it being incurable.
The bill seeks to amend five personal laws- the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939, Divorce Act (for Christians) 1869, Special Marriage Act 1954 and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956- to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce.


Vande Bharat Express: PM Modi launches India’s first semi-high speed train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2019 flagged off India's first Semi High Speed Train, ‘Vande Bharat Express’ on New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route from the New Delhi Railway Station.
With maximum speed of 160 kmph, Vande Bharat Express or Train-18 offers travel classes like Shatabdi Train but with better facilities with a totally new travel experience to passengers. Vande Bharat Express is regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express. Shatabdi was introduced in 1988 and is presently running on over 20 routes connecting metros with other important cities.


India withdraws Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan

India on February 15, 2019 withdrew the ‘Most-Favoured Nation’ status accorded to Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that led to the killing of 37 CRPF personnel and injuring of many others.
On February 14, 2019, at least 37 CRPF personnel were killed and dozens injured after a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kilograms (kg) of explosives into their bus at Awantipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.


Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana

The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment on February 15, 2019 launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM), a mega pension scheme for unorganised sector. The scheme was announced in the Interim Budget 2019.

Implemented from February 15 itself, the PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme that will engage as many as 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector. The unorganised sector workers, with income of less than Rs 15,000 per month and who belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years, will be eligible for the scheme.

Current Affairs Nugget #Week7 4-10 February 2019

International Intellectual Property Index

India climbed eight places in the 2019 International Intellectual Property (IP) Index, ranking at 36th position among 50 countries. India’s overall score has increased from 30.07 percent in 2018 to 36.04 percent in 2019.
In 2018 International Intellectual Property Index, India was ranked 44th out of 50 countries. The seventh edition of the International Intellectual Property Index, “Inspiring Tomorrow” was released by the Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of U.S. Chamber of Commerce on February 7, 2019.

Cabinet approves setting up of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog for cows

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 6, 2019 approved the proposal for establishment of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog for conservation, protection and development of cows and their progeny.
The Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog will work in collaboration with Veterinary, Animal Sciences or Agriculture University, departments or organisations of the Central and State Governments engaged in the task of research in breeding and rearing of cow, organic manure, biogas, etc.

India's communication satellite GSAT-31 launched from French Guiana

Indian Space Research Organisation’s latest communication satellite, GSAT-31 was successfully launched by Arianespace aboard its launch vehicle Ariane 5 from the spaceport in French Guiana on February 5, 2019.
GSAT-31 is a telecommunications satellite designed and manufactured by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is India's 40th communication satellite and derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.
It will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. It will also help bridge the digital divide in the Indian subcontinent as part of an ambitious Indian space program, whose objectives are to develop India while pursuing scientific research and planetary exploration.

UK government approves Vijay Mallya's extradition order

UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid on February 3, 2019 signed the order to extradite Indian business tycoon and liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom to India. Mallya now has a 14-day window to appeal against the order to a higher court.
The Secretary of State signed the order after having carefully considered all relevant matters. The move comes less than two months after a UK court ordered the extradition of the fugitive businessman to face charges of fraud and money laundering filed against him in India. It follows a nine-month-long trial on an extradition warrant, which began with Mallya’s arrest in April 2017 and ended in September.

World Cancer Day

The World Cancer Day 2019 was observed across the world on February 4, 2019 with an aim to unite the world’s population in the fight against cancer.
The day is observed every year with an aim to save millions of preventable deaths by raising awareness and education about the disease, pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action. Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases in 2012.
World Cancer Day was proclaimed by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a leading international non-governmental organisation.

US pulls out of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia

US President Donald Trump announced on February 1, 2019 that the United States will pull out of the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, which it had signed with Russia during the Cold War.
Trump announced that the US will suspend its obligations under the pact and begin the process of withdrawing from it on February 2, 2019. He stated that the US will exit the treaty in six months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment.
In response to US suspension of the treaty, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 2, 2019 that Russia would also abandon its obligations under the cold-war era nuclear arms control treaty.

PM Kisan Portal

Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on February 7, 2019 launched a platform named PM Kisan, http://pmkisan.nic.in, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) for uploading the details of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF).
All Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) with 2 hectares of cultivable land will be provided income support of Rs 6000 per year. The amount will be transferred directly into their account in 3 equal installments.

2nd Trump-Kim Summit

President Donald Trump announced on February 5, 2019 that he will hold the second summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un in Vietnam on February 27-28, 2019 as part of his administration's endeavours to denuclearise North Korea.
Vietnam has diplomatic ties with both Washington and Pyongyang.The Summit comes less than a year after the two leaders held a historic meeting in Singapore in June 2018. Since their meeting, Trump has claimed that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat; however, the observers have witnessed some movement at their nuclear site.

Cabinet approves amendments to Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018

The Union Cabinet on February 6, 2019 approved the proposal to move official amendments to the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018. The amendments were recommended by the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF).

The official amendments will strengthen the Bill to effectively tackle the menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country, and prevent schemes such as Saradha Chit Fund Scheme from duping poor people of their hard earned savings.

Current Affairs Nugget #Week6 28 January-3 February 2019

Union Budget 2019-20

Finance Minister Piyush Goyal presented the Interim Budget 2019-20 on February 1, 2019. It was the last Budget of the Modi Government before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Interim Budget 2019 furthers the agenda of the Modi Government for the all-inclusive growth of the nation. Though it announces the launch of a few schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, it also takes us through the various schemes already introduced by the Narendra Modi-led government in the past years.

For the ease of readers and aspirants, jagranjosh.com has developed and accumulated all the budget related information at one place. This page provides readers with various articles related to Budget so that they get all the information in one go and can analyse the pros and cons without any buffer.

Train 18 named as Vande Bharat

The Union Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal on January 27, 2019 named India's first engineless train, ‘Train 18’ as the 'Vande Bharat Express', acknowledging its made-in-India status. The train was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in the period of 18 months under the 'Make in India' initiative of PM Narendra Modi.

Vande Bharat Express is the next major leap for Indian Railways in terms of speed and convenience. It is India's first semi-high speed train equipped with world class passenger amenities.

Bharat Ratna 2019

The President, Ram Nath Kovind on January 25, 2019 conferred the 2019 Bharat Ratna Award, country's highest civilian honour, on former president and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee. The award was also conferred on RSS ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika, both posthumously.


Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, who was the 13th President of India and served from 2012 until 2017, had served under Indira Gandhi. He was also the Finance Minister under the premiership of Manmohan Singh.

Padma Awards 2019

The Padma Awards 2019, one of the highest civilian awards of India, were announced on January 25, 2019 on the occasion of Republic Day eve.


This year, President Ram Nath Kovind approved conferment of 112 Padma Awards including one duo case (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).  The list comprises 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri Awards, of which, 21 of the awardees are women.

ICC suspends Ambati Rayudu from bowling in international cricket

The International Cricket Council announced on January 28, 2019 that Indian bowler Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in international cricket.

The ICC stated in its press release that the player elected not to submit to a test of his bowling action within the stipulated period of 14 days of being reported for a suspect action and therefore he was suspended with immediate effect in accordance with clause 4.2 of the ICC regulations.

India replaces Japan to be world’s second largest steel producer

India has replaced Japan as the world's second-largest steel producing country, only behind China, which is the largest producer of crude steel accounting for more than 51 per cent of production, as per the latest report by World Steel Association.
The report noted that India's crude steel production in 2018 was at 106.5 MT, which is up by 4.9 per cent from 101.5 MT in 2017. The rise in India’s crude steel production in 2018 means that India has replaced Japan as the world's second-largest steel producing country, as Japan produced 104.3 MT in 2018, which is down by 0.3 per cent as compared to 2017.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal awarded 4th annual Carnot Prize

Union Minister of Railways & Coal Piyush Goyal was on January 30, 2019 formally conferred with the fourth annual Carnot Prize by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design in New Delhi.
The Minister had previously been unable to accept the award in the United States of America, due to the unfortunate train tragedy that took place in Amritsar. Upon receiving the award, the Minister stated that “it is both a personal honour as well as a tribute to the efforts of all involved in this great work throughout India to be recognised with the Carnot Prize by the University of Pennsylvania”.

India's ranking on Corruption Perceptions Index 2018

India improved its ranking on the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by three points and moved to 78th position with a score of 41. India ranked at 81st place on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2017. In the list of 180 countries, China and Pakistan lagged far behind India at 87th and 117th position, respectively.
According to the Index, Denmark is the least corrupt country followed by New Zealand; while Somalia, Syria and South Sudan are the most corrupt countries in the world.

Current Affairs Nugget #Week5 21-27 January 2019

Renowned Hindi author, poet Krishna Sobti passes away

Eminent Hindi author and poet Krishna Sobti passed away on January 25, 2019 at a hospital in Delhi. She was 93.
The author had been admitted to a Delhi hospital for the last two months. She was about to complete her 94 years in February. Since the last one week, she was in the ICU. She is a recipient of prestigious awards such as Sahitya Akademi award, Jnanpith and was also offered Padma Bhushan, which she had declined.

National Voters' Day 2019 observed in India

The 9th National Voters' day was observed across India on January 25, 2019 with an aim to increase enrolment of voters, especially of the newly eligible ones. This was the ninth edition of the Day.
The day also aims to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process. Considering the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019, the Election Commission chose ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’ as the theme for the 9th National Voters’ Day.

ISRO launches Kalamsat, Microsat-R satellites on PSLV-C44 rocket

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a students' satellite Kalamsat and an imaging satellite Microsat-R from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on January 24, 2019, marking its first launch of the ISRO in 2019.
The national space agency's rocket, PSLV C44 carried the satellites into the orbit. After about 14 minutes into the flight, the rocket ejected 700-kg Microsat R satellite at an altitude of about 277 km.
The Kalamsat is a 10 cm cube nanosatellite weighing about 1.2 kg and has a life span of about two months.

Indian Navy’s largest-ever coastal defence exercise ‘Sea Vigil’ concludes

Indian Navy’s largest-ever coastal defence exercise - ‘Sea Vigil’- which was conducted by the Navy and Coast Guard, in close coordination with State Governments and Union Territories concluded on January 23, 2019.
The exercise, a first of its kind, was undertaken along the entire 7516.6 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India and involved all the 13 coastal States and Union Territories along with all maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities.

The key aim of the exercise was to comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since the '26/11' attack in Mumbai.


Article 35-A: Supreme Court to take 'in-chamber' decision on plea challenging the legislation

The Supreme Court on January 22, 2019 ruled that it would take an ‘in-chamber’ decision on listing of a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A. The ruling was made by a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna.

The Article 35-A was added to the Indian Constitution (Appendix II) through a Presidential Order - The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954. It provides special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

Child born out of marriage between Muslim man & Hindu woman entitled to father's property: SC

The Supreme Court on January 22, 2019 held that a child born out of a marriage between a Muslim man and his Hindu wife is entitled to claim a share in his father's property.

The bench comprising Justice NV Ramana and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar observed that the marriage of a Muslim man with Hindu woman or fire-worshipper is neither a valid (sahih) nor a void (batil) marriage, but is merely an irregular (fasid) marriage.

15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas: India, Mauritius agree upon partnership in various sectors

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas on January 22, 2019 in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. In the history of Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas, the event is being held for the first time in Varanasi, the cultural and spiritual capital of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth held talks on January 22, 2019 on the sidelines of the event. They discussed ways to boost bilateral trade and investment, including finalisation of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

Virat Kohli named ICC Test, ODI Player and Cricketer of the year 2018

Indian skipper Virat Kohli on January 22, 2019 became the first cricketer to win all the top three ICC individual awards including the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men's Test Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of the Year for his performances in 2018,

The Indian captain, who recently led India to its historic series win down under, was also named the captain of the ICC Test Team and the ODI Team of the year 2018, the line-ups of which were dominated by Indian players. Besides, Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant claimed the ICC's Emerging Cricketer of the Year award.

World Economic Forum 2019 begins in Davos

The annual meet of World Economic Forum (WEF) began on January 22, 2019 in Davos, Switzerland.  The World leaders from across the globe will attend the Forum at the Swiss Alps for five days to discuss the looming global economic crisis, global cooperation challenges, rapid climate change, increasing pollution levels, habitat loss, fourth wave of globalisation, among others.

The theme of the World Economic Forum 2019 would be 'Globalisation 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution'. The theme will be explored over 350 sessions.

Indians over 65 and under 15 years can use Aadhaar Card to visit Nepal, Bhutan

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on January 20, 2019 announced that Aadhaar Cards are now valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and over 65 years travelling to Nepal and Bhutan. However, Indians belonging to the age bracket of 15 to 65 years will not be able to use Aadhaar to travel to the two neighbouring countries.

Indian citizens going to Nepal and Bhutan don’t need a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo identity card issued by the Government of India or the Voter’s ID card issued by the Election Commission.

Current Affairs Nugget #Week4 January 14-20 January 2019

Vinesh Phogat becomes first Indian athlete to be nominated in Laureus World Comeback of Year Award

Indian star wrestler Vinesh Phogat on January 17, 2019 became the first Indian athlete to be nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Vinesh has been nominated in “Laureus World Sporting Comeback” category for the year 2019 and will be competing for the award with some of the world’s greatest sportsmen including golfer Tiger Woods, Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, American alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn, Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Manyu and Dutch para-snowboarding star Bibian Mentel-Spee.

The Awards will be presented on February 18, 2019 in Monaco, a tiny independent city-state on France’s Mediterranean coastline.


PM Modi inaugurates Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ninth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019 on January 18, 2019. The summit is being held at the Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The theme of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019 was “Youth Connect 2019: Shaping A New India – The Story of Billion Dreams”. The heads of five countries  including Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis and Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat are expected to attend the summit.


ISRO launches UNNATI Programme; will launch Kalamsat, Microsat-R satellites on January 24

National space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 17, 2019 launched the UNNATI (UNispace Nano-satellite Assembly and Training by ISRO) programme at the U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.

UNNATI is a capacity building programme on nanosatellite development. The programme was launched following an announcement made by ISRO Chairman K Sivan during a symposium in Vienna on June 18, 2018.


Gandhi Peace Prize announced for years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 was announced on January 16, 2019 by the Union Ministry of Culture.

The 2018 Gandhi Peace Prize was conferred on Yohei Sasakawa, who is at the forefront of many philanthropic initiatives. His compassionate nature can be seen in the manner in which he has worked to eliminate leprosy in India.


Brexit: UK Parliament rejects Brexit Deal, May wins no-confidence vote

British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a crushing defeat in the Parliament on January 15, 2019 when over 100 lawmakers of May's Conservative party - both Brexiteers and Remainers, voted against the Brexit deal.

The lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected Britain’s withdrawal deal by a vote of 432 to 202, a majority of 230 votes, with just 73 days to go until Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union. The withdrawal agreement had been negotiated between Prime Minister Theresa May and the European Union. Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019.


7-Member GoM constituted for boosting Real Estate Sector under GST regime

The Ministry of Finance on January 15, 2019 constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) for boosting the Real Estate Sector under the GST regime. The GoM was constituted in pursuance of the decision of GST Council taken in the 32nd meeting held on January 10, 2019 at New Delhi.

The group has been tasked to provide a Composition Scheme for Residential Construction Units. The Secretary of the GoM will be Manish Sinha, Joint Secretary (TRU-II), Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs (CBIC).


Kumbh Mela 2019: World's largest religious and cultural human congregation begins in UP

The world's largest religious and cultural human congregation, ‘Kumbh 2019’ began at Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh on January 15, 2019 and will go on till March 4, 2019.

This 7-week event began with the holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of three rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati. The first bathing was taken by saints and seers of different Akharas. According to the UP Government, over 12 crores devotees and tourists are expected to visit Prayagraj during the Kumbh.


10% reservation for economically weak in general category comes into force

The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019, the Act providing 10 percent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of General Category, came into effect on January 14, 2019.

The move came after the Union Government exercised its powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019 and appointed January 14, 2019 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.


Gujarat becomes the first state to implement EWS quota

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced on January 13, 2019 that his government will implement the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category with immediate effect.

The announcement comes less than a week after the Indian Parliament passed a constitutional amendment bill to facilitate 10 per cent reservation for upper castes in higher education and employment.

Current Affairs Nugget #Week3 7-13 January 2019

PM conferred with Philip Kotler Presidential Award
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on January 14, 2019 conferred with the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. The Award focuses on the triple bottom-line of ‘People, Profit and Planet’. The award will be offered annually to the leader of a Nation.

Gov announces reservation for EWS

The Indian Parliament passed the Constitution 124th (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that seeks to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to economically backward section in the general category with the Rajya Sabha approving it on January 9, 2019. Gujarat becomes the first state to implement it.,

Commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, 2019 released a commemorative silver coin of Rs 350 and stamp on Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji to mark his 352nd birth anniversary. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and several Sikh leaders were also present at the event.

76th Golden Globe Awards

The 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards were announced on January 7, 2019 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the United States of America. These annual awards honour the best in Motion Pictures and Television for the year 2018.

The Globes this year pulled a twist at the end of the ceremony, with Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody staging upset wins. While Green Book finished with three awards-the maximum for the evening, Bohemian Rhapsody- the Queen biopic and Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma won two each.

Though "A Star Is Born" was the odds-on favourite for the Best Motion Picture (Drama), ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ won the award.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

The Lok Sabha on January 8, 2019 passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship. The bill has now been tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

Under the 1955 Act, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation is that the applicant must have resided in India during the last 12 months and for 11 of the previous 14 years. The bill relaxes this 11-year requirement to six years for persons belonging to the all the six religions from the three countries.

Mary Kom becomes No. 1

The celebrated MC Mary Kom became the World No 1 Boxer in 45-48 kg category in the latest International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) World Rankings released on January 10, 2019.  Mary Kom was placed by AIBA at top of the charts in the 45-48 kg category weight division with 1700 points.

‘Magnificent Mary’ became the most successful boxer in world championships history when she claimed the 48kg category top honours in November 2018, her unprecedented sixth world title triumph.

CBI conundrum

The sacked CBI Chief, Alok Verma on January 11, 2019 announced his resignation from service, refusing to take charge of the new role as DG, Fire Services. The move comes a day after a high-powered selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed him from the post of CBI Director in a 2:1 vote, less than 48 hours after he was reinstated to the position by the Supreme Court after he was sent on forced leave by the government.

National Clean Air Program

The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan on January 10, 2019 launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), a time-bound national level strategy for pan India implementation to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner.

First manned mission of ISRO by 2021

ISRO announced on January 11, 2019 that it is well prepared to meet the targets of launching Gaganyaan manned mission to outer space by December 2021.

Addressing a press conference, ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan said that a human space centre has been set up for the mission. Under the Gaganyaan project, India is planning to send three astronauts to outer space for seven days and bring them back. they will be called GAGANAUTS.

Word Of The Day #10

Hello folks! Apologies for the delay. It's been a rather hectic few days. Rest assured that the following posts will be updated regularly.
So today, the word we will be looking at is Clemency.

Clemency
Noun

Pronunciation
/ˈklɛmənsi/ (Clem.en.cy)

Definition

1.  A disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due.        Ex: The judge ignored the criminal's plea for clemency.
2. An act or instance of leniency.                                                                                                          Ex: The clemency of the governor saved the life of the death row inmate
3. A pleasant mildness of weather.                                                                                                      Ex: The show was a great success, owing to the clemency of the weather   

Synonyms:
Lenience, Mercy, Pardon

Antonyms:
Cruelty

Origin
The word Clemency was found to be used in Late Middle English, Originating from Latin. The origin flowchart of the word is as follows:

Latin: Clemens (Merciful)
Latin: Clementia
Late Middle English: Clemency
The word clemency came into use in the 1800s.

Usage cues of similar words
The word Clemency has a neutral connotation and the only thing you would need to pay attention to, while replacing it with other words, would be the underlying semantic qualities of the word.

Lenience
This word is used to refer to the quality of being merciful.
Ex: It was Beth's view that showing lenience to your children's errors was the cause for their shortcomings as adults.
Mercy
It refers to the act of showing kindness.
Ex: The boy was begging for mercy
Pardon
Pardon and clemency have the same meaning and application, so they can be used in place of each other.
Ex: The man received pardon for his sins

So that's it for today's word guys! Stay tuned for the next word!




   
                           

Word of the Day #9

Heylo! The word we're going to look at today is incessant.

Incessant
Adjective

Pronunciation
/ɪnˈsɛs(ə)nt/ (in-SES-nt)

Definition
1. (of something unpleasant, usually) continuing without stopping.
Eg. Your incessant chatter drives her crazy.

Synonyms
ceaseless, constant, sustained

Antonyms
intermittent, occasional

Origin
The word originates from late Latin, to late Middle English via Old French.
The origin flowchart is as follows:
Latin: incessant, from in- (not) + cessare (ceasing); literally "not ceasing"
Old French: incessant
Middle English: incessant

Usage cues for similar words
Use of the word incessant implies that the subject is being referred to in a slightly negative context.
Ceaseless
This word carries connotations similar to that of incessant.
Eg. The ceaseless rain made it difficult to go back to sleep.
Constant
This word does not carry significant positive or negative connotations, although in some situations it may carry slight negative connotations similar to incessant.
Eg. Constant use of the device may result in overheating.
Sustained
This word is neutral.
Eg. The tree was felled after a few hours of sustained effort.

And that's it. Good luck with your prep, everyone, and stay tuned!

Word of the Day #8

Hey, folks! Today, let's look at the word flak.

Flak (also flack)

Noun

Pronunciation
/flæk/ (FLACK)

Definition
1. Anti-aircraft guns.
2. Strong criticism.
Eg. The press has come in for a lot of flak for their insensitive portrayal of the story.

Synonyms
censure, criticism, hostility

Origin
The word is an abbreviation of the German word Fliegerabwehrkanone, literally "aviator-defense gun".

Usage cues for similar words
Flak can be used in a wide variety of contexts, both formal and informal.
Censure
This word is usually used in a formal context and refers to mainly written or verbal criticism.
Eg. He was censured for his lack of commitment towards the company.
Criticism
Versatile. Use it anywhere.
Eg. How well do you handle criticism?
Hostility
Usually refers to opposition which is not expressed verbally, but through actions.
Eg. They did not conceal their hostility towards the newcomers.

That's it for today then. All the best, and stay tuned!

Word of the Day #7

Hey everyone! Slightly late by an hour, today (yesterday?) we'll look at the word engender.

Engender
Verb

Pronunciation
/ɪnˈdʒɛndə, ɛnˈdʒɛndə/ (IN-gen-duh, EN-gen-duh)

Definition
1. To cause or bring about (a situation, condition or feeling).
Eg. They hoped their actions did not engender any ill will from their audience.

Synonyms
induce, instigate, foment

Origin
The word originates from Latin via Old French and Middle English.
Its origin flowchart is as follows:
Latin: ingenerare, from in (in) + generare (beget)
Old French: engendrer
Middle English: ingender
English: engender

Usage cues for similar words
The word engender is usually used in a formal context. It does not have positive or negative connotations on its own.
Induce
This word has neither positive nor negative connotations either, but is not as formal as engender.
Eg. Nothing can induce me to abandon my friends.
Instigate
This word is typically used to imply a negative or controversial event.
Eg. He was arrested for instigating the recent riots.
Foment
This word has connotations similar to instigate and both are pretty much interchangeable.
Eg. The group has been fomenting unrest in the neighbourhood for quite some time now.

We sincerely hope our posts have engendered your interest in prepping for the HSEE. :P Good luck, and stay tuned!

Word of the Day #6

Hey peeps! The word we're gonna be looking at today is capricious.

Capricious
Adjective

Pronunciation
/kəˈprɪʃəs/ (cup-REE-shus)

Definition(s)
1. (about a person or group) susceptible to sudden changes in mood or behaviour.
Eg. The politician's capricious behaviour did not make him very popular.
2. Unpredictable.
Eg. The weather there can be very capricious.

Synonyms
Volatile, fickle, mercurial

Antonyms
Stable, consistent

Origin
The word originated from the Italian capriccio, from where it traveled to English via French.
The origin flowchart is as follows:
Italian: capriccio, from capo (head) + riccio (hedgehog), literally "hedgehog head" -- referring to a sudden shudder of fear, which made a person's hair stand on end like the spines of a hedgehog
French: capricieux
English: capricious (early 17th c.)

Usage cues for similar words
Capricious, as well as most of its synonyms, carries mainly negative connotations.
Volatile
Volatile refers to instability of one's mood more often than behaviour.
 Eg. Her volatile moods made it difficult to get to know her.
Fickle
Fickle usually refers to inconsistent behaviour, although it can also refer to mood.
Eg. Linda attributed the failure of her marriage to her wife's fickle nature.
Mercurial
Mercurial denotes not just unpredictability, but also liveliness. As a word often used to describe politicians and other persons in position of authority or power, it's a pretty powerful word itself. It carries more positive connotations than capricious and most of its synonyms.
Eg. Her mercurial temperament made her an interesting person to be around.

That's all for today then. Keep watching this space for more!

Current Affairs Nugget #Week1 23-30 December 2018

No 'No-Detention' 

The Parliament passed the Right of children to Free and compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that seeks to do away with no-detention policy in schools.
https://www.thewire.in/education/parliament-approves-bill-to-reverse-no-detention-policy-till-class-8

Mrinal Sen passes away

Legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away on 30th December, 2018 in Kolkata. The Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee was 95 and he was known for paving the way for the reign of Parallel Cinema with films such as Ek Din Achanak, Akash Kusum etc.

https://www.thewire.in/film/mrinal-sen-tribute

First CJ of Telangana HC 

Justice T B N Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. The oath was administered by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor, ESL Narasimhan at the Raj Bhavan. With this, Telangana has its first independent high court.

First three-way merger in Indian Banking 

The Cabinet approved the 'Scheme of Amalgamation' for merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya bank and Dena Bank. This will be the first three-way amalgamation in the country. The amalgamated entity will be India's third largest Public Sector Bank and India's third largest bank with a total business of more than Rs 14.82 lakh crore. 

https://www.ndtv.com/business/cabinet-clears-merger-of-vijaya-bank-dena-bank-bank-of-baroda-1971569 

New non-Permanent members of UNSC

Belgium, Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa assumed the charge as Non.Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). They will hold a two-year term in UNSC with effect from 1st January, filling the seats vacated by Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Sweden. Dominican Republic will be serving the term for the first time, while the other four have done so in the past.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-election/un-security-council-elects-five-members-for-2-year-term-idUSKCN1J4258

Bangladesh Elections 2018

Sheikh Hasina secured her third consecutive and fourth overall term in the general elections. Her party, Awami League, and its allies won 288 of 299 parliamentary seats. The results were announced by the country's Election Commission on 31st, December 2018.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sheikh-hasinas-party-wins-bangladesh-election-reports-news-agency-afp-quoting-local-reports-1970219

Kader Khan passes away

Veteran Bollywood actor-director and scholar, Kader Khan passed away on January 1, 2019 following a prolonged illness in Toronto, Canada. He was 81. He is survived by his wife Hajra, son Sarfaraz, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. He was known for his comic roles in films like Dulhe Raja, Aakhein, Coolie No. 1, Haseena Maan Jayegi, and several others. Despite being an actor, he was also a prolific writer. He wrote the story or dialogues for more than 250 films in Hindi and Urdu, beginning with Randhir Kapoor - Jaya Bhaduri starrer ‘Jawani Diwani’ (1972).
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/veteran-bollywood-actor-kader-khan-passes-away-at-81/articleshow/67320059.cms

Smriti Mandhana named as ICC Women Cricketer of the year

India’s left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana has won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. Mandhana was also adjudged as the ICC Women’s ODI Player of the Year. The announcement was made by the International Cricket Council on December 31, 2018.

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/smriti-mandhana-named-icc-womens-player-of-the-year-5516964/

Qatar withdraws from OPEC

Qatar decided to withdraw its membership from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The 57-year old member's OPEC delegation, said the decision was not political but related to the country's long-term strategy and plans to develop its gas industry and increase LNG output to 110 million tonnes by 2024.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/qatar-to-withdraw-from-opec-as-of-january-2019/article25653058.ece

Jair Bolsonaro becomes the President of Brazil

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office on January 1, 2019 and used his inaugural speech to promise to build a "society without discrimination or division". The 63-year-old Bolsonaro is seen as a deeply divisive figure whose racist, homophobic and misogynistic remarks have angered many.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-presidential-candidate-181007020716337.html

    

Word Of The Day #5

Hello people! The word we're going to be looking at today is Verbose.

Verbose

Adjective

Pronunciation:
/vəːˈbəʊs/ (Ver-BOHSS)

Definition(s):

1. Containing more words than necessary.
Ex: His essay was verbose and vague.
2. Prone to wordiness.
Ex. He is a verbose individual.

Synonyms:
Wordy, Loquacious, Garrulous
Antonyms:
Succinct, Brief, Concise

Origin:

The word Verbose emerged in the late 17th century and was derived from the Latin word Verbosus, which was derived from the Latin word Verbum, which means Word.
The flowchart of the origin of the word is as follows:
Latin: Verbum (Word)
Latin: Verbosus
Late 17th Century: Verbose

Usage cues of similar words:
Wordy:
His sentences were rather wordy.
Loquacious:
Sarah was a rather loquacious person
Garrulous:
He was a garrulous old man who kept chattering like a magpie.

And that's it for today's word! Stay tuned for more. :)

Word Of The Day #4

Hola Amigos! Today, the word we're going to be looking at is Circumvent.

Circumvent
Verb
Pronunciation
/səːkəmˈvɛnt/ (sir-come-vent)
Definition
1. Find a way around (an obstacle).
Eg. a. The driver skilfully circumvented the numerous potholes in the road.
      b. There are many loopholes which make it possible to circumvent the law.
2. (archaic) deceive.
Eg. You have circumvented me for the last time. I shall have you punished severely.
Synonyms
Avoid, bypass, evade
Origin
The word Circumvent is derived from the Latin words circum and venire, which mean "around" and "come" respectively.
The flowchart for the origin of the word is as follows:
Latin: circumvenire
Latin: circumvent
Old English: circumvent
Usage cues of similar words
Avoid:
She has been avoiding me all week.
Bypass:
He bypassed the pointed remark, choosing instead to smile and walk away.
Evade:
The note-passing did not evade the sharp eyes of the teacher.

So that's it for today, keep watching this space for more words.

All the best!

Word Of The Day #3

Hey there folks! On day three of Word Of The Day, we're going to be looking at the word Fastidious.

Fastidious

Adjective

Pronunciation:

/faˈstɪdɪəs/ (fast-id-e-us)

Definition(s):

1. Very attentive to and concerned about details and accuracy

Ex: "For cars she couldn't care less, fastidious and precise" (If you got that reference ;) )

Ex: She dressed with fastidious care.

2. Very concerned about matters of cleanliness

Ex: The child seemed very fastidious about getting her fingers dirty.

Synonyms:

Finicky, Fussy, Choosy

Antonyms:

Uncritical, Undemanding

Origin:

The word 'fastidious' originated from the Latin word Fastidium, which means loathing. The word fastidious originally meant disagreeable and was later defined as disgusted.

The flowchart of the origin of the word is as follows:

Latin: Fastidium (Loathing)

Latin: Fastidiosus

Late Middle English: Fastidious

Usage cues of similar words

Finicky:

She was a finicky eater.

Fussy:

He patted down his hair with quick fussy movements.

Choosy:

The little child was choosy about which toys she would play with

That's it for today's word. Stay tuned for more.

All the best!

Important Features of the Five Year Plans

                                                 Important Features of the Five Year Plans

Plan	Year	Objective	Extra Information
1st	1951-56	A.    Revive economy from WWII and partition of the country B.    All round balanced development C.    Full utilization of resources D.    Reduction of economic inequalities E.    High priority to agricultural development F.     Improvement in the living standards	Based on Harris Domar model
2nd	1956-61	A.    Increase in national income B.    Rapid industrialization C.    Expansion of employment opportunities D.    Reduction of economic inequalities	Mahalonobis model Based on socialist pattern of society
3rd	1961-66	A.    Increase in national income B.    Self sufficiency in food grains and increase in agricultural production C.    Expansion of basic industries D.    Expansion in employment opportunities E.     Greater equality of opportunity F.     Reduction in disparities of income and wealth	A failure plan
Plan Holiday	1966-69		No regular planning
4th	1969-74	A.    Acceleration of development B.    Price stability C.    Raising standard of living D.    Promotion of equality and social justice E.     Improving the conditions of the less privileged and weaker sections F.     Increase in employment
5th	1974-78	A.    Self-reliance B.    Poverty alleviation C.    Raising standard of living and consumption level of people living BPL D.    Increase in employment opportunities E.     Control over inflation	·        Closed one year prior to its schedule ·        Export promotion and import substitution
Rolling Plans	1978-83		·        Introduced by Janata government ·        Short term plans
6th	1980-85	A.    Removal of poverty B.    Strengthening of infrastructure for both agriculture and industry C.    Increase in employment D.    Reduction in inequalities
7th	1985-90	A.    Increase in employment opportunities B.     Rapid growth in food grain production
8th	1992-97	A.    Achieve near full employment by the turn of the century B.    Contain population growth through people's active cooperation C.    Universalization of elementary education D.    Provision of safe drinking water and primary healthcare to all villages E.     Growth and diversification of agriculture F.     Strengthening of infrastructure
9th	1997-2002	A.    Priority to agriculture and rural development B.    Accelerating the growth rate of economy with stable prices C.    Ensuring food and nutritional security to all D.    Providing the basic minimum services E.     Contain the growth rate of population F.     Ensure environmental stability of the developmental process G.    Empowerment of women and socially disadvantaged groups H.    Promote and develop people's participatory institutions I.      Strengthen efforts to build reliance	·        50th year of India's independence ·        Focus- "growth with social justice and equality"
10th	2002-07	A.    Target of 8% average GDP growth B.    Enhancement of human well being C.    Reduction of poverty ratio by 5% points (2007) and 15% (2012) D.    Providing gainful and high quality employment E.     All children in school by 2003; all children to complete 5 years schooling F.     Reduction in gender gaps in literacy and wage rates by 50% G.    Reduction in the decadal growth rate of population to 16.2% H.    Increase in literacy rate to 75% I.      Reduction of infant mortality rates to 45 per 1000 live births (2007) and 28 (2012) J.      Reduction of maternal mortality rate ratio to 2 per 1000 live births (2002) and to 1 (2012) K.    Increase in forest and tree cover to 25% (2007) and 33% (2012) L.     All villages to have sustained access to potable drinking water M.   Cleaning of all major polluted rivers
11th	2007-12	A.    A target of 9% GDP growth and 7.5% per Capita GDP B.    Access to essential Servcies in health and education C.    Equality of opportunity, as well as economic and social mobility for all sections of society D.    Environmental sustainability E.     Recognition of women as agents of sustained socio-economic growth and change F.     Improvement in governance
12th	2012-17	A.    Create 50 million new work opportunities in the non-farm sector B.    Remove gender and social gap in school enrollment C.    Enhance access to higher education D.    Reduce malnutrition among children aged 0-3 years E.     Provide electricity to all villages F.     Ensure that 50% of the rural population have access to proper drinking water G.    Increase green cover by I million hectare every year H.    Provide access to banking services to 90% of households I.      Achieve a growth rate of 8%	·       Titled “Faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth” ·       Last Five-year plan of India as the Planning Commission was substituted by the NITI Aayog in 2014 which scrapped the 5 Year Plans