Current Affairs 2020

1. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed by Lok Sabha

The bill seeks to increase the upper limit of legal abortions to 24 weeks for special categories of women such as rape survivors or victims of incest.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 17, 2020. The bill seeks to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and increase the upper limit of legal abortions to 24 weeks for special categories of women. 

The bill was passed in the lower house of the Parliament through a voice vote. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan stated that the proposed bill seeks termination of pregnancy in cases involving victims of incest, rape survivors, minor girls, differently-abled girls or in case of a pregnancy that has substantial foetal abnormalities.

The Union Cabinet had approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill on January 29, 2020 under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi.

Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment bill: Key Features

• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 proposes requirement for an opinion from one provider for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation and introducing the requirement of opinion from two providers for termination of pregnancy up to 20-24 weeks of gestation.

• The amended bill proposes increasing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women such as vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and others such as differently-abled women and minors.

• Under the amendment bill, the upper gestation limit will not apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by the Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of the Medical Board will be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.

• Further, the name and other details of the woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised by the law.

2. Operation Vanilla: All You Need to Know about Indian Navy’s support to Madagascar

INS Airavat arrived at Madagascar's Port Antsiranana on January 30 with the relief material.

Operation Vanilla in News: The Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Vanilla’ on January 28 to provide relief and assistance to the cyclone-hit population of Madagascar. INS Airavat arrived at Madagascar's Port Antsiranana on January 30 with the relief material. 

INS Airavat, deployed in the Southern Indian Ocean, was diverted to Madagascar as a part of Indian Navy's 'Operation Vanilla' to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the people in the cyclone-ravaged areas of  Madagascar.

• About INS Airavat

INS Airavat was commissioned in the Indian Navy on May 19, 2010. It is the Indian Navy’s one of the biggest and heaviest naval ships. It is capable of carrying 10 battle tanks, more than 500 troops, and 11 combat trucks. INS Airavat provides a comfortable platform to Sea King and Dhruv helicopters. It is also equipped with two indigenous rocket launchers to provide support in amphibious operations.

• About Operation Vanilla

Indian Navy Ship Airavat reached Seychelles to provide all necessary help to Madagascar. The INS Airavat carried five pallets each of victualing, naval stores and clothing and three pallets of medicines.

The Indian Navy provided drinking water, emergency food, clothes, temporary shelters, evacuation-related help, medical assistance, emergency transportation and communication assistance to the people of Madagascar. “Operation Vanilla” is a part of the Government of India’s scheme – ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)'.

• Where is Madagascar?

Madagascar is a country located in the Indian Ocean, about 400 kms away from the coast of East Africa. Madagascar is the world’s second-largest island country after Greenland. 

About Madagascar Disaster

Madagascar was severely affected by cyclone Diane recently. Around 92,000 people were affected due to floods in the country. President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, had requested the international community to help the country with all possible measures. Heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides caused the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of a large number of people.

3. Delhi Election 2020: Schedule, voting date and all you need to know!

Delhi Election 2020: The Election Commission appointed Retired IAS officer Vinod Zutshi as a special general observer for Delhi Assembly Elections 2020. Mr Zutshi was previously associated for 7 years with the Election Commission of India.

The appointment of Special General Observer comes in the wake of the poll preparedness meeting held between Delhi chief secretary, Commissioner of Police, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer and Senior Members of Delhi Government.

The EC had earlier appointed former IRS officer B Murli Kumar as special expenditure observer and former IPS officer M K Das as special police observer for Delhi Elections 2020. 

• AAP's "28-point guarantee card" 

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party released its manifesto for the upcoming Delhi Elections on February 4, 2020. The manifesto includes a plan to keep main markets open for 24 hours and 24-hour provision of electricity and clean water.

Aam Aadmi Party Manifesto: Key Details

• The guarantee card promises financial assistance worth Rs 1 crore for the kin of a sanitation worker if he dies during duty.

• The manifesto also includes a plan to establish 24x7 markets on a pilot basis in key commercial areas. The markets will be allowed to remain open round the clock.

• The manifesto also promises to provide free pilgrimage to 10 lakh senior citizens.

• The manifesto also promises to introduce Deshbhakti Curriculum in Delhi government schools after the successful implementation of the Happiness Curriculum.

• The manifesto also includes a promise to introduce English, soft skills and personality development classes for the students who have completed their schooling from any Delhi school in the last five to boost employment opportunities.

• The manifesto includes a plan to develop the riverside of Yamuna River to create new tourism spots.

Delhi Election Dates: All Important Dates

Issuance of Notification	January 14
Last Date for filing of nomination	January 21
Scrutiny of nomination	January 22
Last date for withdrawal of nomination	January 24
Polling Day	February 8
Counting of Votes- Result	February 11

The current Delhi Assembly term will end on February 22, 2020. The new government will have to be formed before the day. The Election Commission has given time till February 12, before which the election should be completed. 

Delhi Election Opinion Poll

As per IANS-CVoter opinion poll, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is set to retain its power with 59 seats, while the BJP is predicted to win 8 seats and the Congress is predicted to open its account with 3 seats. 

Delhi Elections 2015

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP had swept the Delhi Elections 2015 with 67 seats in the 70-member assembly. While the BJP was reduced to three seats, the Congress drew a blank despite being in power in Delhi for 15 years between 1998 and 2013. 

Party	Seats Won
AAP	67
BJP	3
Congress	-

Andhra Pradesh Government Schemes

Navaratnalu

Here are the nine Navaratna welfare schemes:

1. YSR Rythu Bharosa:

The YSRCP promises to offer Rs 50,000 financial assistance to farmers. 

Starting second year, each 

farmer family would be given Rs 12,500 per year, in addition to zero-interest loans and free borewells. 

Cold storages and food processing units in every constituency are among a list of benefits promised to the farmers.

2. Fee Reimbursement:

The party, if elected to power, plans to provide a comprehensive fee reimbursement scheme, in line 

with late Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s vision. 

In addition to complete fee reimbursement, an allowance of Rs 20,000 would be given to every student.

3. Arogyasri:

The Arogyasri scheme would be applicable to all medical treatments of above Rs 1,000.

Regardless of the location of the hospital, all medical expenses would be borne by the government.

4. Jalayagnam:

Under this scheme, lakhs of families would be benefited by the irrigation projects.

Completion of Polavaram project on a war footing is promised.

5. Ban on Alcohol:

The YSRCP promises to put in place a ban on sale of alcohol across the State in three stages.

6. Amma Vodi:

With a view to encourage the families with school-going children, the YSRCP promises to provide Rs 15,000 towards assistance to all the mothers who send their children to school.

7. YSR Asara:

All loans pertaining to the women’s co-operative societies would be waived. 

In addition, zero-interest loans would be issued.

YSR Cheyootha through YSR Cheyootha, the YSRCP intends to support all women from SC, ST, BC and Minority Communities, who are aged above 45.

8. Paydalandariki Illu:

In five years, the YSRCP promises to build 25 lakh homes for the poor.

9. Pensionla Pempu:

The eligibility age criteria of 65 years for the pensions would be reduced to 60 years.

Senior citizens aged above 60 would be given Rs 2,000 while the physically challenged would be given a pension of 

Rs 3,000.

Geography of Andhra Pradesh

160,205 km²

Andhra Pradesh/Area

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

Andhra Pradesh has three main physiographic regions: a coastal plain, the Eastern Ghats, and a plateau west of the Eastern Ghats. The coastal plain extends from the Bay of Bengal to the mountain ranges and runs nearly the entire length of Andhra Pradesh.

RELIEF FEATURES:

Andhra Pradesh has few relief features such as Deccan Plateau, Central Plateau, Eastern Highland, East Coastal Plains. Andhra is located in eastern coastline of India which is near the shore of the ocean. 974-kilometre long line of Bay of Bengal provides this state with the second largest coast.

LANDFORMS:

The state has three main physiographic regions: the coastal plain to the east, extending from the Bay of Bengal to the mountain ranges; the mountain ranges themselves, the Eastern Ghats, which form the western flank of the coastal plain; and, in the southwest, the plateau to the west of the Ghats.

Anantapur district:

Anantapur district in Rayalaseema is the largest district in area and Srikakulam district in Uttarandhra is the smallest. East Godavari district is the most populous while Vizianagaram district is the least populous.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF COASTAL ANDHRA:

Land defines the economics of utilization of natural resources and thus is much more than the mere terra-firma It includes "all the materials and forces, which 

nature gives fieely for man's use in land and water, in air and light and heat."' 

The socio-economic life of the people in any epoch is determined largely by their natural environments such as the mountains, the soils, the river-system, the flora and fauna and the weather phenomena.

 Before proceeding with the land system, its 

management and its cognate problems, therefore it is necessary to have a clear picture of the physical characteristics of the region under study fbm ancient sources bearing in mind at the same time the profound influence these features exercised on 

Coastal Andhra economy and society. 

The Coastal Andhra is the region selected for the present study. 

This region is geographically located between 18" 20'- 19" 10' and 13" 3 1 '-1 5" 5 1 ' of Northern Latitude, 83" 01'-84" 54' and 79"15-80" 15' of Eastern Longitude, This region which stretches from the Srikakulam district to Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, with its south-eastward slope looks like a waxing crescent moon. 

This area covers a wide expanse of low land between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats intersected by rivers and rivulets and indented by creeks and coves.

 In some places it is extremely picturesque with long stretches of rice fields and river mouths. 

Ancient port cities and trade emporiums lie scattered along the long coast-line. 

The social, economic, religious and political history of this part of Andhra is in large measure shaped and influenced its geography. 

The width of this Coastal plain is only 3.7 kms. 

in the Srikakulan district but extended afterwards to 72 kms.

 In delta and thereby paving the way for good 

agricultural activities. Again, the plain's area is gradually reduced fiom 3 to 2.2 krns. 

In the Prakasam and Nellore districts which form the southernmost tip of the Coastal 

Andhra. 

The Coastal Andhra is covered by several mountain ranges and hillocks. 

The Eastern mountain ranges start hm the district of Srikakulam and extend towards 

south-west up to the Godavari district. 

They are nearly 610 to 1206 metres high fiom 

the sea level. 

From the district of Krishna these mountain ranges or the Eastern Ghats travel with breaks and they are known locally be several names, like Palakondalu, Velikondalu, Yerramala, Nallamala, Ratnagiri and Seshachalam.

The migration of Brahmins and the Vedic religion to the Andhradesa from North India is also supported by the Buddhist literary works. 

As already stated above the Suttanipata relates the history of migration of a Brahmin by name Bavari from Kosala to south of Godavari.

Even the king of Kalinga honoured him by giving 

a large amount of money and land for building his ararna. 

The emergence of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, Cholas and the Kakatiyas of Warangal gave a migration boom to the coastal Andhra desa. 

The reasons are not far to seek for this boom. 

The rich alluvial deposits, the flourishing trade and commerce and relatively peaceful conditions that prevailed in the region were mainly responsible for the

 migration. 

The land grants followed by land management and expansion of agriculture gained momentum amply attest it.

 This aspect is discussed in detail elsewhere in this thesis. 

It is evident from the above discussion that the natural geography of coastal Andhra has substantial significance, the long and unending Eastern Ghats with 

occasional breaks, minor mountain ranges and hillocks, the rivers, rivulets, minor water resources, minor valleys, diversified climatic conditions form the very wre of 

the physical geography of the region under our survey. 

It shaped the economy, society, conditioned the agrarian economy, fostered agrarian industries, determined 

the internal and external policies of the rulers and finally promoted both internal and international trade and commerce. 

Thus, the society, economy, religion, polity and the cultural patterns of the coastal Andhradesa were determined and directed by the natural geography of the region.

History of Andhra Pradesh

Formation of Andhra Pradesh-1947 to 1956:

Hyderabad state in Indian Union

Hyderabad state(Outlined in red color) Superimposed on today's India map

There are lots of myths & huge ignorance surrounding the formation of  Andhra Pradesh.

People generally assume that it was historically one through time.

However, Andhra Pradesh witnessed many changes before it merged as the first linguistic state on November 1st 1956.

The years 1947 to 1956 were very crucial in the history of Andhra Pradesh.

When India got independence on Aug 15, 1947, the 3 main regions of Andhra Pradesh Costal Andhra, Rayalseema & Telangana were no part of Andhra Pradesh state.

Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema belonged to Madras Presidency as a province of British India. 

Telangana was part of Hyderabad state, which was an independent native Indian state. 

Though, there were 568 native Indian states, Hyderabad State was the most important native state and was administered directly by the Governor General of India.

The ruler of Hyderabad State was considered the most senior or superior native Indian ruler. 

Hyderabad state included Telangana, 4 Kannada districts in Gulberga division & 4 Marathi districts in Aurangabad division.

Madras Presidency (in green color) - 1909. The area in darker shade of green represents coastal Andhra & Rayalseema.

There was a big difference between these two regions. Unlike Madras Presidency, Hyderabad state was not under direct British rule. 

The law of Madras Presidency rested upon the laws passed by the British Parliament. 

In contrast, Hyderabad state had its own law. English was the official language of Madras Presidency, where as it was Urdu for Hyderabad state. 

Which means all records were kept only in Urdu (for this reason the old land records are in Urdu). 

The maintenance of all records in Urdu is symbolic of the differences between the two vastly different administrative systems. 

Urdu was a compulsory subject in Hyderabad state and almost all educated people knew Urdu like people know English today.

Hyderabad state had its own financial, military, judicial, police, general, public works and revenue departments.

The administration of Rayalseema and Coastal Andhra mostly followed the current system in India that was derived from British administration systems. 

Whereas Hyderabad State followed the Moghul administration systems (with changes made over time).

How did Andhra Pradesh formed in 1956?

On the basis of the gentlemen's agreement of 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act formed combined Andhra Pradesh by merging Andhra State with the Telugu-speaking areas of the already existing Hyderabad State. Hyderabad was made the capital of the new state.

1 November 1956

Andhra Pradesh/Founded

Hyderabad remained a separate state till it was split in 1956 for the purpose of forming a large Andhra Pradesh state on November 1, 1956. At this time, the nine Telugu speaking districts were merged with 11 districts of Andhra state which was created on October 1, 1953 to form a bigger state of Andhra Pradesh.

Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema form Andhra State

As a result of Potti Sri Ramulu's sacrifice, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Andhra state consisting eleven districts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema on October 1, 1953 with Kurnool as its capital city.

Which is the oldest land mass in Andhra Pradesh?

Deccan Plateau

Deccan Plateau is the oldest landmass in Andhra Pradesh. It rises to 100 meters in the North and 1,000 meters in the South. It assumed the shape of a triangle which points at the south. The plateau covers eight Indian states thereby encompassing a wide range of habitats that cover most of central 9and southern India.

Potti Sreeramulu

16 March 1901 – 19 December 1952), was an Indian revolutionary.

Sreeramulu is revered as Amarajeevi ("Immortal Being") in the Andhra region for his self-sacrifice for the Andhra cause. He became famous for undertaking a hunger strike in support of the formation of an Indian state for the Telugu-speaking population of Madras Presidency; he lost his life in the process. His death sparked public rioting and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared the intent by the newly liberated nation to form Andhra State three days following the death of Sreeramulu.

What is famous in Andhra Pradesh?

Andhra Pradesh, India

This state is widely advertised as the Kohinoor of India by the tourism department. The state is most visited for its world famous Tirupati temple. Srisailam Mallikarjuneswar temple is another famous Shiva shrine and is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India.

What is Andhra famous food?

Pulihora, or tamarind rice along with green chilies is the most popular food in Andhra Pradesh. The vegetarian dishes consist of koora, which include cooking different vegetables in a variety of styles - with gravy, frying, with lentils, etc.

What are the major industries in Andhra Pradesh?

Automobiles and Auto components Industry, spices, mines and minerals, Textiles and apparels, IT industry, Bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals, horticulture, poultry farming are the main industries in Andhra Pradesh

Small & Medium Scale units in AP:

The State has strong manufacturing sectors like Cement, Paper, Food Processing and Aquaculture, Steel, Fertilizers, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Textiles, Automobile and Ship Building. The new sectors emerging include electronic hardware, and aerospace.

What is the Speciality of Andhra Pradesh?

Kuchipudi is the best-known classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh. The various dance forms that existed through the state's history are Chenchu Bhagotam, Kuchipudi, Bhamakalapam, Burrakatha, Veeranatyam, Butta bommalu, Dappu, Tappeta Gullu, Dhimsa, and Kolattam.

According to census of India 2011,there were 23 districts before bifurcation They are Rangareddy East Godavari Guntur Krishna Visakhapatnam Chittoor Anantapur Kurnool Mahbubnagar Hyderabad West Godavari Karimnagar Warangal Nalgonda Prakasam Medak Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore YSR kadapa Khammam Adilabad Srikakulam Nizamabad Vizianagaram

After bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh 

Districts

S.No	District	Headquarters	Revenue Divisions	Mandals	Population	Area (in sq.km)	Density (per sq.km)
1	Anantapur	Anantapur	5	63	4,083,315	19,130	213
2	Chittoor	Chittoor	3	66	4,170,468	15,152	275
3	East Godavari	Kakinada	7	64	5,151,549	10,807	477
4	Guntur	Guntur	4	57	4,889,230	11,391	429
5	YSR Kadapa district	Kadapa	3	50	2,884,524	15,359	188
6	Krishna	Machilipatnam	4	50	4,529,009	8,727	519
7	Kurnool	Kurnool	3	54	4,046,601	17,658	229
8	Nellore	Nellore	5	56	2,966,082	13,076	227
9	Prakasam	Ongole	3	56	3,392,764	17,626	193
10	Srikakulam	Srikakulam	3	37	2,699,471	5,837	462
11	Visakhapatnam	Visakhapatnam	4	46	4,288,113	11,161	340
12	Vizianagaram	Vizianagaram	2	34	2,342,868	6,539	384
13	West Godavari	Eluru	4	46