Prelims 2017

in 100
Everything for Prelims
Days

Day 30

NOTE: To get All India Ranking (AIR)

of Free Test, Login at:

www.iasscore.in
 Geography www.iasscore.in

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

AUSTRALIA

The 7,686,850 km Australian landmass is on the Indo-Australian Plate and is surrounded by the Indian,
Southern and Pacific oceans, and separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas, with total of 25,760 km
of coastline.

Facts about Australia:

The land area of Australia is about 3 million square miles (7,773,000 km2). It is similar in size to the
United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

E
More than one-third of the country lies within the Tropics and overall it extends from 10 S latitude to

nearly 45S latitude.

OR
The Foveaux Strait flows between Stewart Island and South Island.

A portion of the south Pacific known as the Tasman Sea separates Australia and New Zealand.

Mawson is Australias oldest Antarctic station, established in 1954 and named after Antarctic explorer and
SC
geologist Sir Douglas Mawson.

Australia is currently moving north east at a rate of 73 millimetres per year. Geoscience Australia
monitors regional earthquake risk by measuring the movement of tectonic plates. The Australian continent
is part of the Indian-Australian tectonic plate, which is slowly moving, carrying the continent with it.

Tasmania is separated from mainland Australia by Bass Strait and is the smallest state in Australia.
GS

Western Australia is the largest state in area. The east of the state is mostly desert while on the west, the
state is bound by 12, 889 kilometres of the worlds most pristine coastline.

Located just off the coast of southern Queensland, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world.

South Australia is known as the Festival State, with more than 500festivals taking place there every year.

Mt. Kosciusko (7,328 feet, or 2,234 m), in the southeastern corner of the continent, is the highest point
in Australia.

New South Wales is Australias oldest and most populous state. Its capital, Sydney, is the nations largest
city.

Hot summers and mild winters characterize the temperature patterns of Australia. The location straddling
the Tropic of Capricorn assures much intense sunshine for the entire continent, especially during the high
sun period.
Notes

1
 www.iasscore.in

E
OR
SC

Physiographic regions of Australia

The three major physiographic regions of Australia are:
GS

A. The Great Dividing Range

The Eastern Highlands region of Australia is the highest part of Australia, being a series of hills,
mountains and plateaux. This area is also known as the Great Dividing Range.
These ranges include the New England Plateau, the Australian Alps, the Snowy Mountains (which
are considered to be a part of the Australian Alps), the Blue Mountains and the Grampian Mountains.
These landforms were made due to uplifting, folding and volcanic processes in the Earths crust.
Australias tallest mountain is Mount Kosciuszko, which is found in New South Wales in the Australian
Alps.
Mount Kosciuszko stands at 2228 metres (m), which is less than half the height of the tallest
mountain found in Europe.
B. The Central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands are very dry because rainfall is blocked by the Eastern Highlands.
The Central Lowlands region consists of a series of basins, low-lying land, lakes, and old lakebeds.
Most of the land lies below 500 feet (153 m) elevation.
Notes

2
 www.iasscore.in

The surface of Lake Eyre is the lowest point in the region, at about 40 feet (12 m) below sea level.
The region contains two large basins: the largest is the Great Artesian Basin, the other is the Murray
Basin.
The Simpson Desert, which extends for 170 000 square kilometres (km2), is in the Central Lowlands.
This desert is famous for its large red sand dunes andsalt pans, which are intermittent (occasionally
appearing) lakes that only have water in them when it rains. When there is no rain, however, the salt
pans dry up, leaving behind white salts.
The Central Lowlands have few tall mountains, but Flinders Range is located about 1100 km north
of Adelaide and extends for 800 km. Its tallest peak, St. Mary Peak, is 1171 m tall.
C. The Western plateau
The Western Plateau is also home to many deserts. Due to cold water currents off the coast of
Western Australia, this region is very dry.

E
Some of the deserts in this region include the Gibson, Tanami, Canning, Great Sandy and Great
Victoria Deserts.
Desert
Great Victoria Desert
Great Sandy Desert
State/Territory
OR
Western Australia, South Australia
Western Australia
SC
Tanami Desert Western Australia, Northern Territory
Simpson Desert Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia
Gibson Desert Western Australia
Little Sandy Desert Western Australia
GS

Strzelecki Desert South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales

Sturt Stony Desert South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales
Tirari Desert South Australia
Pedirka Desert South Australia
The Great Barrier Reef
The worlds largest coral reef system is the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a large number of species
The Great Barrier Reef is a system of 2900 smaller reefs, 618 continental islands and 300 cays
The reef is built on a foundation of coral
Scientists believe the Great Barrier Reef has existed for over 18 million years
There are many organisms living in the coral reefs
Damage to one part of the coral reef ecosystem can cause damage to other parts of the reef
Notes

3
 www.iasscore.in

Climate
Australia is considered to be one of the driest continents on earth. However, because of its insular position
and lack of natural features such as high mountain ranges, there are generally no extremes of climate. Climate
varies because of the size of the continent.

The temperature ranges from 23-26C above the Tropic of Capricorn to 38C in the arid plateaus and deserts
of the interior. The southern areas are more temperate, although subject to wide variations such as high rainfall,
great heat and irregular flooding and drought.
El Nino usually occurs in summer. Cold currents flow up the Peruvian coast from Antartica and are warmed
by equatorial currents circulating across the Pacific from Australia. Warmed winds blowing across the currents
surface pick up moisture and deposit it on the Peruvian coast. The warm winds proceed across the central
Pacific and in turn deposit rain on eastern Australia.

Every three to eight years the equatorial current is exceedingly strong and noticably warmer off the coast of
Peru, resulting in strong winds bringing heavy rains and floods. At this time, waters off Australia become
noticably cooler and winds weaken and are turned towards the Pacific, reducing the rain-bearing clouds across

E
eastern Australia, resulting in drought.
La Nina is the opposite phenomenon, which results in abnormally strong winds over the western Pacificblowing
OR
across unusually warm currents off the east coast of Australia, resulting in flooding rains.
Rivers
Australias major rivers flow through the Central Lowlands region.
SC

River Originate Drains Region covered

Murray River Australian Alps Southern Ocean New South Wales,
Victoria,South Australia
After the Nile and Amazon
rivers, Murray ranks third
GS

among the world's longest

navigable rivers.
Darling River Confluence of Barwon Confluence with Murray New South Wales
and Culgoa Rivers near River near Wentworth
Brewarrina
Murrumbidgee River Peppercorn Hill Confluence with Murray New South Wales,
River near Boundary Australian Capital Territory
Bend
Lachlan River Great Dividing Range Murrumbidgee River New South Wales
Warrego River Mount Ka Ka Mundi, Darling River Queensland, New South
Carnarvon Range Wales
Paroo River Mariala National Park Confluence with the Queensland,New South
Darling River in wetter Wales
seasons
Notes

4
 www.iasscore.in

NEW ZEALAND
In New Zealand, about four-fifths of south Island and one-fifth of North Island contain mountain landforms.
Most of the remainder of North Island consists of steep hills and dissected plateaus. Plains are not prominent
features of either island.
The mountains of the Southern Alps of south Island are the highest of Australasia. The tallest peak, Mount
Cook, and numerous other mountains in the range exceed 10,000 feet.
The highest point of North Island is Mount Ruapehu, which reaches 9,175 feet (2,797m).
Most of New Zealand receives between 40 and 80 inches (100-200 cm) of precipitation annually, with little
seasonal variation. The west coast of South Island is the wettest part of the country. The prevailing westerly
winds push moist Pacific air onto the southern Alps, and the resulting uplift caused by the mountains produces
precipitation that totals more than 120 inches (300 cm) a year.
The temperature patterns of New Zealand are cooler than those for Australia and, as with precipitation, there
are fewer extremes. New Zealand has no hot regions like Australias deserts, but the higher island mountains

E
get much colder than anywhere in Australia.

OR
SC
GS

Summers in New Zealand are relatively short and cool, but the winters in the inhabited areas are mild.
The natural vegetation on New Zealand is about half temperate rainforest and half grassland. The forest
includes such trees as conifers, beech, and tree ferns, as well as lianas (vines) and epiphytes. Areas of scrub
vegetation are found between the forests and the grasslands.
Notes

5
 www.iasscore.in

The 10 longest rivers and most important rivers of New Zealand

Waikato River - 425 km, it is the longest river of New Zealand.
Clutha River or Matau River - 322 km
Whanganui River - 290 km
Taieri River - 288 km
Rangitikei River - 241 km
Mataura River - 240 km
Waiau River, Southland - 217 km
Clarence River - 209 km
Waitaki River - 209 km
Oreti River - 203 km

E
Lakes of the New Zealand
OR
Name Region Important Features
Lake Taupo Waikato Largest lake in New Zealand and the North Island, largest
freshwater lake in Oceania
Lake Te Anau Southland Largest lake in the South Island
SC

Lake Wakatipu Otago

Lake Wanaka Otago
Lake Ellesmere Canterbury
Te Whanga Lagoon Chatham Island Largest lake in the Chatham Islands
GS

Lake Manapouri Southland

Lake Hawea Otago
Lake Tekapo Canterbury
Lake Pukaki Canterbury
Notes

6
 Geography www.iasscore.in

OCEANIA
Oceaniais aregioncentered on theislands of the tropical Pacific Ocean.
The following list contains the countries and territories that are classified as part of Oceania byUNESCO;
other countries are sometimes considered part of Oceania (seeOther Interpretationsbelow).
Australia
Australia Commonwealth Realm
Norfolk Island External territory of Australia

E
Melanesia
East Timor Republic



Fiji Republic
New Caledonia Collectivity ofFrance
Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Realm
OR
SC
Solomon Islands Commonwealth Realm
Vanuatu Republic
Micronesia
Guam Organized, unincorporated territory of theUnited States
GS

Kiribati Republic
Marshall Islands Republic in free association with the United States
Federated States of Micronesia Republic in free association with the United States
Nauru Republic
Northern Mariana Islands Organized, unincorporated commonwealth in political union with the United
States
Palau Republic in free association with the United States
Wake Island Unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States
Polynesia
American Samoa Unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States
Cook Islands Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand
French Polynesia Overseas country ofFrance
Niue Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand
Notes

7
 www.iasscore.in

New Zealand Commonwealth Realm

Pitcairn Overseas territory of theUnited Kingdom
Samoa Constitutional monarchy under Malietoa Tanumafili II
Tokelau Semi-autonomous territory ofNew Zealand
Tonga Absolute monarchy under King Taufaahau Tupou V
Tuvalu Commonwealth Realm
Wallis and Futuna Islands Overseas collectivity of France

E
OR
SC
GS

These territories, also located in Oceania, are not sovereign nations but former colonies ofEuropean,North
Americanand Oceanian countries and still under control ofFrance, theUnited Kingdom, theUnited
States,AustraliaandNew Zealand.
Notes

8
 www.iasscore.in

It covers following territories.

Territory Notes
New Caledonia (France) A special collectivity of France.
French Polynesia (France) An overseas territory of France.
Guam (United States) An insular area of the United States.
Northern Mariana Islands (United States) An insular area of the United States.
Wallis and Futuna (France) An overseas territory of France.
Niue (New Zealand) Associated state of New Zealand.
Cook Islands (New Zealand) Associated state of New Zealand.
American Samoa (United States) An insular area of the United States.

E
Christmas Island (Australia) An external territory of Australia.
Norfolk Island (Australia) An external territory of Australia.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)
Tokelau (New Zealand)
OR
An external territory of Australia.
A dependent territory of New Zealand.
Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom) An overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
SC
The climate of Oceanias islands is tropical or subtropical, and ranges from humid to seasonally dry. Wetter
parts of the islands are covered by tropical and subtropical moist broadleafforests, while the drier parts of the
islands, including the leeward sides of the islands and many of the low coral islands, are covered by tropical
and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands.Hawaiis
high volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, are home to some rare tropical montane grasslands and shrublands.
GS

The overwhelming majority of people in the Pacific (not including Australia and New Zealand) work in the
primary sector. Many nations are still quintessentiallyagricultural; for example, 80 percent of the population
ofVanuatuand 70 percent of the population ofFijiwork in agriculture. The main produce from the Pacific is
copra or coconut, but timber, beef, palm oil, cocoa, sugar, and ginger are also commonly grown across the tropics
of the Pacific. Old growth logging is exploited on larger islands, includingthe SolomonsandPapua New Guinea.
Fishing provides a major industry for many of the smaller nations in the Pacific, and the sale of fishing licenses
can bring considerable income. However, many fishing areas are exploited by other larger countries, namelyJapan.
Natural resources, such aslead,zinc,nickel, andgold, are mined across the west of the region, in the Solomon
Islands and Australia. The manufacturing of clothing is a major industry in some parts of the Pacific,
especiallyFiji, although this is decreasing. Very little of the economy is in the area of investing and banking,
save in the larger countries of Australia and New Zealand.
Recently, tourism has become a large source of income for many in the Pacific; tourists come from Australia,
New Zealand, Japan, theUnited Kingdom, and the United States. Fiji currently draws almost half a million
tourists each year; more than a quarter from Australia. This contributes US$300 million to Fijis economy.
Aside from tourism, many places in the Pacific still rely on foreign aid for development. In theSolomon
Islands, 50 percent of government spending is paid for by international donors; namely Australia, New Zealand,
the European Union, Japan, and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Notes

9
 www.iasscore.in

Land Area: 8,923,000 square kilometres (3,445,190 square miles)

Highest Peak: Indonesia's Carstensz Pyramid (or Puncak Jaya) peaks at 4884 metres (16,024 feet)
above sea level
Largest Lake: Lake Murray, in Papua New Guinea.
Longest River: The Murray River is 2,508 kilometres (1,558 miles) long.
Countries: Fifteen independent nations plus many different islands governed by other countries, like
the Pitcairn Islands where the UK's Prime Minster is in charge, and France's tropical paradise of Tahiti.
Smallest Country (by land area and population): Nauru is an island nation located north east of
Australia - it's the world's smallest republic or self-governing place.
Biggest Country (by land area and population): Australia of course!
Languages: 28 official languages but English is the most widely spoken and understood.

E
OR
SC
GS
Notes

10
 Indian Polity www.iasscore.in

REGULATORY BODIES
1) Reserve Bank of India
When established? On April 1, 1935 under RBI Act, 1934 (recommended by Hilton Young Commission)
Headquarter - The Headquarter of the RBI is in Mumbai and it has offices at 31 locations throughout
India.
Composition General superintendence & direction by 21-member Central Board of Directors: the
Governor, 4 Deputy Governors, 2 Finance Ministry representatives, 10 government-nominated directors
to represent important elements of Indias economy, and 4 directors to represent local boards headquartered

E
at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi
Role of the RBI

B)
OR
A) Bank of Issue - Issuing bank notes of all denominations. As an agent of the government it has right to
distribute one rupee notes & the small coins throughout the country.
Banker to Government Act as an agent of Central Government and of all State Governments except
that of J & K. Right to receive and make payments, and other banking operations, helps both the Union
SC
and the States to float new loans and to manage public debt.
C) Bankers Bank & Lender of the Last Resort - The scheduled banks can borrow from the RBI on the basis
of eligible securities & expect the RBI to come to their help in times of banking crisis.
D) Controller of Credit - Power to influence the volume of credit through changing the Bank rate or open
market operations, to ask not to lend to particular groups or persons, to inspect the accounts of any
GS

commercial bank.
E) Custodian of Foreign Reserves - Responsibility to maintain the official rate of exchange & to act as the
custodian of Indias reserve of international currencies.
F) Supervisory Functions Powers under the Reserve Bank Act, 1934, and the Banking Regulation Act,
1949 to supervise and control commercial and co-operative banks, relating to licensing and establishments,
branch expansion, management, and liquidation.
G) Adviser to Government To advice the government on the banking and financial matters, planning,
resource mobilization, international finance etc.
H) Monetary Data & Publications To maintain & publish the monetary data and the data relating to
banking for framing the economic and banking policies.
I) Banking Ombudsman Scheme - To provide an expeditious and inexpensive forum to bank customers for
resolution of their grievances regarding banking services.
J) Promotional Functions Building up and strengthening financial infrastructure, ensuring the allocation of
credit in the socially desired directions like cooperative banking, agriculture & rural credit, industrial
finance etc.
Notes

1
 www.iasscore.in

2) Security & Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

When established? In 1988 through an executive resolution. Subsequently it was upgraded as a fully
autonomous body (a statutory Board) in 1992 with the passing of the Securities and Exchange Board of
India Act on 30th January 1992.
Headquarter - in Mumbai & has Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Regional Offices in New Delhi,
Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad respectively. It also has local offices at Jaipur and Bangalore.
Composition - Following members:
a) a Chairman
b) two members from the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with Finance and administration
of Companies Act, 1956
c) one member from the Reserve Bank of India
d) five other members - at least three shall be whole time members to be appointed by the Central
Government

E
Functions of SEBI It has three important functions as follows:
OR
a) Protective Functions - To protect the interest of investor, provide safety of investment, check price
rigging, prohibit insider trading, fraudulent and unfair trade practices etc.
b) Developmental Functions - Increase the business in stock exchange, training of intermediaries of the
securities market, adopting flexible and adoptable approach by permitting internet trading, making
underwriting optional to reduce the cost of issue etc.
SC

c) Regulatory Functions - To frame rules, regulations and a code of conduct for the intermediaries such
as merchant bankers, underwriters, etc. To register and regulates the working of stock brokers, merchant
bankers. Regulate the working of mutual funds, takeover of the companies, conducts inquiries and
audit of stock exchanges.
Powers of SEBI The SEBI has following powers:
GS

a) To call periodical returns from recognized stock exchanges.

b) To compel listing of securities by public companies.
c) To levy fees or other charges for carrying out the purposes of regulation.
d) To call information or explanation from recognized stock exchanges or their members.
e) To grant approval to by laws of recognized stock exchanges.
f) To control and regulate stock exchanges.
g) To direct enquiries to be made in relation to affairs of stock exchanges or their members.
In any country, the financial system plays as a mediator between lenders and borrowers. The investors always
need adequate protection to encourage more savings and investments. The SEBI is one of such institutions.
In general, the financial market is divided into two parts, one is money market and another one is capital
market. Money market is a market which provides short term finance while capital market provides
medium and long term finance. Securities market is an organized capital market. Securities market is
divided into as primary market and secondary market.
Notes

2
 www.iasscore.in

Forward Markets Commission - FMC was a regulatory authority for commodity futures market in India.
FMC was under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution because futures traded in
India are traditionally in food commodities.Recently FMC has been merged with SEBI. The merger is aimed
at streamlining the regulations and curb wild speculations in the commodities market, while facilitating
further growth there. The merger will increase economies of scope and economies of scale for the government,
exchanges, financial firms and stakeholders.
3) Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA)
When established? Constituted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
Headquarter - Hyderabad, Telangana.
Composition - A Chairman & nine members of whom five are whole-time members and four are part-
time members. All the members including the Chairman are appointed by the government of India.
Objective - An autonomous, statutory agency to regulate and promote the insurance and re-insurance
industry. The key objectives of the IRDA include promotion of competition so as to enhance customer

E
satisfaction through increased consumer choice and lower premiums, while ensuring the financial security
of the insurance market.
Role of IRDA -
a)
b)
OR
Safeguard the interest of and secure fair treatment to insurance policy holders.
Bring quick and systematic growth of the insurance industry, to provide long term funds for accelerating
growth of the economy.
SC
c) To set, promote, monitor and apply high standards of integrity, fair dealing, financial viability and capability.
d) To make sure that insurance policy holder receives precise, accurate, clear & correct information
about the products & services; make customers aware about their duties & responsibilities.
e) To ensure quick settlement of genuine claims, prevent insurance frauds, scams & and put in place a
grievance redressal machinery.
GS

f) To boost transparency, fairness, and orderly conduct in market & build a trustworthy management
information system in order to enforce high standards of financial soundness amongst market players.
Functions of IRDA -
a) Issue a certificate of registration, & renew, modify, withdraw, suspend or cancel such registration
b) Specifying requisite qualifications, code of conduct and practical training for insurance intermediaries
and agents
c) Specifying the code of conduct for surveyors and loss assessors
d) Promoting and regulating professional organisations connected with the insurance and re-insurance
business
e) Calling for information from, undertaking inspection of, conducting enquiries and investigations
including audit of the insurers, insurance intermediaries etc.
f) Specifying the form and manner in which books of account shall be maintained
g) Regulating investment of funds by insurance companies
h) Adjudication of disputes between insurers and intermediaries or insurance intermediaries
Notes

3
 www.iasscore.in

4) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

When established? On 20 February 1997 to regulate telecom services and tariffs. Earlier it was done by
the Central Government.
Headquarter - New Delhi
Composition - TRAI shall have a Chairman, at least two and at the most six members, all appointed by
the Central Government
Mission - To create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in a manner and at a pace
to enable India play a leading role in emerging global information society. It also has jurisdiction over the
broadcasting sector.
According to the TRAI act, amended in 2000, the functions of the TRAI have now been divided between
two separate bodies namely:
a) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
b) The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal

E
The recommendatory and regulatory functions are vested with the TRAI while dispute settlement &
adjudicatory functions are handled by the Appellate Tribunal.
OR
Recommendatory Functions of TRAI It can make recommendations either on its own initiative or on
a request from a licensor on the following:
a) The need, timing for introduction & terms and conditions of license to a service provider
b) Revocation of license for Non-compliance with its terms and conditions
SC

c) Measures to facilitate competition and promote efficiency in the operation of telecommunication services
d) Technological improvements in the services provided & type of equipment to be used by the service
providers
e) Efficient management of available spectrum
GS

Regulatory Functions of TRAI -

a) To ensure compliance of terms and conditions of license by either issuing directions or
recommending termination of license for non-compliance. Limited powers in this regard because any
action under the license can only be taken by the licensor which is the Central government. But TRAI
has the freedom to issue any kind of directions to the service providers.
b) Ensure technical compatibility and effective inter-connection between different service providers
c) Lay down the standards of quality of service to be provided to protect the interest of the consumers
d) Ensure effective compliance of universal service obligation
Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal Performs the adjudicatory functions as follows:
a) Adjudicate disputes between a licensor and a licensee, two or more service provider and a group of
consumers.
b) Dispose of appeal against any direction, decision or order of the TRAI
This function of tribunal is alternative to filing an appeal in the High Court. An appeal from order of the
tribunal lies with the Supreme Court.
Notes

4
 www.iasscore.in

5) Competition Commission of India (CCI)

When established? On 14th October 2003 under the Competition Act, 2002
Headquarter New Delhi
Composition - A Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
Functions of CCI
a) To eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect
the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade.
b) Give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from any statutory authority, competition
advocacy, create public awareness and impart training.
Powers of CCI
a) Inquire into certain agreements and abuse of dominant position of enterprises likely to have adverse

E
effect on competition.
b) Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath

c)
OR
Requiring the discovery and production of documents, receiving evidence on affidavit
In discharge of its functions, the Commission shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and shall
have the powers to regulate its own procedure.
SC
6) Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA)
When established? On August 23, 2003. The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority Act
was passed on 19th September, 2013.
Headquarter New Delhi
Composition - The Authority consists of a Chairperson and not more than five members, of whom at
GS

least three shall be whole-time members, to be appointed by the Central Government.

Functions of PFRDA It performs promotional, developmental and regulatory functions relating to
pension funds as follows:
a) Regulating the NPS
b) Approving the schemes, the terms and conditions, management of the corpus of the pension funds
c) Issue investment guidelines
d) Educating the subscribers and the general public on issues relating to pension, and training of
intermediaries
e) Adjudicating disputes between intermediaries as well as between intermediaries and subscribers
f) Establishing mechanisms for grievance redressal of the subscribers
7) Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
Recognizing that electricity is one of the key drivers for rapid economic growth and poverty alleviation
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission(CERC), a key regulator of power sector in India, has been
set up in 1998 as astatutory bodyfunctioning withquasi-judicialstatus.
Notes

5
 www.iasscore.in

The Commission intends to promote competition, efficiency and economy in bulk power markets, improve
the quality of supply, promote investments and advise government on the removal of institutional barriers
to bridge the demand supply gap and thus foster the interests of consumers.
In pursuit of these objectives the Commission aims to Improve the operations and management of the
regional transmission systems through Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC), Availability Based Tariff
(ABT), etc; Formulate an efficient tariff setting mechanism, which ensures speedy and time bound disposal
of tariff petitions, promotes competition, economy and efficiency in the pricing of bulk power and
transmission services and ensures least cost investments; to facilitate open access in inter-state transmission;
to facilitate technological and institutional changes required for the development of competitive markets
in bulk power and transmission services.
The National Electricity Policy has been evolved in consultation with and taking into account views of
the State Governments, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
(CERC) and other stakeholders.
Recently CERC announces Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) system for fulfillment of its mandate to
promote renewable sources of energy and development of market in electricity. REC mechanism is aimed

E
at addressing the mismatch between availability of Renewable Energy resources in state and the requirement
of the obligated entities to meet the renewable purchase obligation (RPO).
OR
SC
GS
Notes

6
 Trending Topics www.iasscore.in

SURROGACY REGULATION BILL

Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a baby for the couple who want to have a child.
What are the types of surrogacy?
Straight (or traditional) surrogacy
The surrogate mother uses an insemination kit to become pregnant using the intended fathers semen. The baby
will therefore be conceived using the surrogates egg.
Host (or gestational) surrogacy

E
Host surrogacy is when IVF is used, either with the eggs of the intended mother, or with donor eggs. The
surrogate mother therefore does not use her own eggs, and is genetically unrelated to the baby. It is physically

OR
more complicated and considerably more expensive than straight surrogacy.
What is the objective of the new draft bill?
The Bill aims to prevent exploitation of women, especially those in rural and tribal areas.
The Bill promises to ensure parentage of children born out of surrogacy is legal and transparent.
SC
What are the salient features of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill?
The new Bill proposes complete ban on commercial surrogacy but allows ethical surrogacy to needy
infertile couples.
It also prohibits Single parents, homosexual couples, live-in relationships couples to opt for altruistic
surrogacy.
GS

The bill effectively bans foreigners to seek an Indian surrogate mother. This includes non-resident Indians
(NRIs). TheAssociated Press reportedthat the Indian surrogacy industry is at around $1 billion a year
and growing.
For the surrogacy the couple should be married for at least five yearsbefore approaching a surrogate
mother, according to the proposed legislation. Further, the womanhas to be between23-50 years of age
and the man should be 26-55 years old.
A surrogate child would have equal inheritance rights as a biological or adopted child.
The surrogate mother has to be a close relative.
10 years of imprisonment, up to Rs 10 lakh fine for abandoning surrogate child, mistreatment of surrogate
mother.
Notes

1
 Trending Topics www.iasscore.in

SOCIAL AUDIT
Social Audit is a tool through which government departments can plan, manage and measure non-financial
activities and monitor both internal and external consequences of the departments social and commercial
operations. Social Audit gives an understanding of the administrative system from the perspective of the vast
majority of people in the society for whom the very institutional/administrative system is being promoted and
legitimised. Social Audit of administration means understanding the administrative system and its internal
dynamics from the angle of what they mean for the vast majority of the people, who are not essentially a part
of the State or its machinery or the ruling class of the day, for whom they are meant to work.
Social Audit is an independent evaluation of the performance of an organisation as it relates to the attainment
of its social goals. It is an instrument of social accountability of an organisation.

E
Objectives of Social Audit:
1. Accurate identification of requirements
OR
2. Prioritization of developmental activities as per requirements
3. Proper utilization of funds
4. Conformity of the developmental activity with the stated goals
SC

5. Quality of service
A social audit will generally examine the organisations policies and practices in the following key areas:
Ethics what the organisations policies are, whether or not they are being upheld or undermined by the
enterprises day-to-day activities.
Staffing how the enterprise rewards, trains and develops its staff, as well as the way in which the
GS

enterprise ensures that it is non-discriminatory, fair and equitable to everyone working there.
Environment the enterprises policies relating to caring for the environment, waste management and
disposal, and damage reduction, and whether or not the enterprise is adhering to these policies.
Human rights how it ensures that it does not violate human rights, or deal, trade with or support any
organisation that violates human rights.
Community the organisations policies relating to the local community, and community involvement;
these policies might, for example, cover community partnerships or community projects, and checks will
be made during the social audit to ensure that agreements are being upheld.
Society the organisations policies relating to society as a whole, and the way in which the enterprise
seeks to improve or benefit society.
Compliance how the organisation complies with statutory and legal requirements, such as health and
safety, employment law, environmental law, criminal law and, of course, financial and tax laws.
Notes

2
 Trending Topics www.iasscore.in

SUTLEJ-YAMUNA LINK ISSUE

Sutlej-Yamuna is a proposed 214-kilometer (133mi) long canal inIndiato connect theSutlejandYamunarivers
of which 122 km was to be in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana.
SYL canal was envisaged in 1976. Centre allocated 3.5 MAF of water to Haryana, 3.5 MAF to Punjab
and 0.2 MAF to Delhi. Haryana constructed portion of SYL in its territory, and moved SC seeking direction
to Punjab to construct SYL; then Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal challenged validity of Section 78 of
Reorganization Act.
Recently the issue came up as the Supreme Court has scrapped Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act,
2004 which unilaterally allows Punjab to stop sharing Ravi, Beas waters with other States. Ruling in this regard

E
was given by a five-judge SC Constitution Bench led by Justice Anil R. Dave.
The SC bench gave its opinion on a Presidential Reference made by then President APJ Kalam in 2004 to the

OR
apex court under Article 143 (1) of the Constitution questioning the constitutional validity of the Act.
SC
GS
Notes

3
 www.iasscore.in

Direction of Supreme Court:

The law unilaterally enacted by Punjab was illegally designed to terminate a 1981 agreement entered into
among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to re-allocate waters of Ravi and Beas. By introducing the 2004 Act,
Punjab defied two back-to-back apex court verdicts, pronounced in 2002 and 2004. Punjab exceeded its
legislative power in proceeding to nullify the decree of this court and therefore. State Legislative Assembly
cannot through legislation do an act in conflict with the judgment of the highest court which has attained
finality.
Timeline of dispute
1966: The creation of Haryana from Punjab in 1966 threw up the problem of giving Haryana its share of river
waters.
Since then, Punjab has opposed sharing waters of the Ravi and Beas Rivers with Haryana, citing riparian
principles, and arguing that it had no water to spare.
1976: After dividing Punjab, Union Government allotted Haryana 3 million acre-feet (MAF) of water of the
Ravi and Beas in 1976.

E
1981: CMs of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan signed an agreement for allocation of surplus Ravi-Beas waters
in presence of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. According to this agreement, available supplies of the Beas and
OR
Ravi Rivers were recalculated to be 17.17 MAF. Rajasthan. Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi got 0.65 MAF and
0.20 MAF.
1982: Gandhi inaugurates digging of SYL canal at Kapuri in Patiala, leading to SAD launching its Dharma
Yudh Morchas. To enable Haryana to use its share of waters of Sutlej and its tributary Beas, Union Government
started Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal Project in 1982 to link Sutlej with the Yamuna.
SC

July 24, 1985: Rajiv-Longowal Accord signed, includes agreement to construct canal by August 15, 1986
April 2, 1986: Eradi Tribunal for settling water disputes constituted. Submits interim report, Punjab files
review; matter pending.
1996: However, the work of canal was completely stopped after local political issues and militant attack on
GS

workers in Punjab. In 1996, Haryana approached Supreme Court for the early completion of the canal.
Jan 15, 2002: SC tells Punjab to make canal functional in a year.
June 4, 2004: SC asks Centre to take control of SYL canal works within a month and get it constructed from
a central agency
July 12, 2004: Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004, passed, terminating the 1981 agreement and other
agreements with non-riparian states for allocation of Ravi-Beas waters.
2016: Ever Since, SYL has been a bone of content between Haryana and Punjab. But on 15th March, 2016,
Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land ((Transfer of Property Rights) Bill 2016
unanimously. This bill aims at transferring 3,928 acres of land free of cost to the original landowners.
Punjab Assembly unanimously passes Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Property Rights) Bill, 2016
to return 3,928 acres of acquired land. However, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has
directed Punjab to maintain status quo.
Supreme Court started hearings into a presidential reference to decide on the legality of the Punjab Termination
of Agreements Act, 2004. The presidential reference was made by the Centre days after the Punjab Assembly
passed the Act.
Notes

4
 www.iasscore.in

As the hearings resumed, the Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of the Centre, took a pro-Haryana stance,
saying the Centre stood by the SCs orders asking Punjab to complete the work on SYL in its territory. The
development has triggered a political storm in Punjab.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh who was Chief Minister when
the 2004 Act was passed had launched a blistering attack on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, the alliance
partner of the BJP, which leads the government at the Centre, and had announced a march to protect Punjabs
waters.
Punjab demanded a fresh tribunal to ascertain the present flow of waters and decide the entitlement of each
state on the basis of the rights of riparian and non-riparian states under national and international law.
The Congress moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly on the issue, but the Akali Dal pre-empted the
move, with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal moving a resolution against sharing any water, and the
attempts to force Punjab to build the SYL canal.

E
OR
SC
GS
Notes