International Organisations
World Happiness Report: India drops even further, ranks 140 on index of 156 countries
Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ranked higher than India.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the report)

What's the NEWS
• India was ranked at 140 on the United Nation's latest World Happiness Report that gauged 156 countries, a decline of seven spots from the last edition of the survey.

• India was also among the five countries that experienced the highest decline since 2005-2008 in the index.

• Finland topped the list for the second consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Norway. South Sudan was ranked at the bottom of the index.

Know! more about the report
• The World Happiness Report is an annual publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

• It contains articles, and rankings of national happiness based on respondent ratings of their own lives, which the report also correlates with various life factors. Finland was ranked the happiest country in the world twice in row

• The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness that ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be.

• This year's World Happiness Report focuses on happiness and the community: how happiness has evolved over the past dozen years, with a focus on the technologies, social norms, conflicts and government policies that have driven those changes.

• The report said the countries which had suffered such a decline had some combination of economic, political, and social stresses.

• The study based its findings on individuals' assessment of their lives in relation to the Gross Domestic Product per capita income, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

• Meanwhile, India's South Asian neighbours ranked higher with Pakistan pegged at 67, Bhutan at 95, Bangladesh at 125 and Sri Lanka at 130.

• The report said the large gaps in happiness between countries will continue to create pressure to migrate.

Defence
India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (Ind-Indo Corpat) Commences

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Corpat )

What's the NEWS
• 33rd Edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (Ind-Indo Corpat) Commences at Port Blair

• Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin and Maritime Patrol Aircraft CN-235 arrived at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India for the Opening Ceremony of the 33rd edition of the India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) to be held from 19 Mar to 04 Apr 2019.

Know! more about the exercise

• The ship and aircraft from both the countries would undertake patrolling on the respective sides of 236 nautical miles long International Maritime Boundary line. The patrolling would be conducted in three phases from 22-31 March 2019.

• The IND-INDO CORPAT Series of bilateral seek to underscore India's peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly Maritime neighbours countries to ensure good order in the maritime domain, consolidate interoperability and strengthen existing bonds of friendship between India and Indonesia.

• Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in the recent times to address the maritime concerns on the region.

• In addition, as part of the Indian Government's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has also been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with EEZ Surveillance, Search and Rescue, and other capacity-building and capability-enhancement activities.

• The 33rd IND-INDO CORPAT, also coinciding with 70 years of India-Indonesia diplomatic ties, will contribute towards the Indian Navy's efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the seas.

Indo-Sri Lanka joint Exercise Mitra shakti-VI

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Mitra shakti)

What's the NEWS
• Exercise MITRA SHAKTI is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy and interaction between armies of India & Sri Lanka.

• The joint exercise for the year 2018-19 will be conducted from 26 March to 08 April 2019 in Sri Lanka.

• Troops from 1st Battalion the BIHAR Regiment of the Indian Army and Gemunu Watch Battalion of Sri Lankan Army would be jointly undertaking the exercise.

Know! more about the exercise
• The aim of the exercise is to build and promote close relations between armies of both the countries and to enhance ability of joint exercise commander to take military contingents of both nations under command.

• The exercise will involve tactical level operations in an international Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist environment under United Nations mandate.

• Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-VI will go a long way in further cementing relationship between both the nations and will act as a catalyst in bringing synergy and cooperation at grassroots levels between both the armies.

Economic Developments
34th meeting of the GST Council
Relevance IN - Prelims( about the changes in tax slabs) + Mains ( GS II economic developments + GS II centre state relations)

What's the NEWS
• GST Council in the 34th meeting discussed the operational details for implementation of the recommendations made by the council in its 33rd meeting for lower effective GST rate of 1% in case of affordable houses and 5% on construction of houses other than affordable house.

Option in respect of ongoing projects:

• The promoters shall be given a one -time option to continue to pay tax at the old rates (effective rate of 8% or 12% with ITC) on ongoing projects (buildings where construction and actual booking have both started before 01.04.2019) which have not been completed by 31.03.2019.

• The option shall be exercised once within a prescribed time frame and where the option is not exercised within the prescribed time limit, new rates shall apply.
New tax rates:
• The new tax rates which shall be applicable to new projects or ongoing projects which have exercised the above option to pay tax in the new regime are as follows.
New rate of 1% without input tax credit (ITC) on construction of affordable houses shall be available for,
• all houses which meet the definition of affordable houses as decided by GSTC (area 60 sqm in metros / 90 sqm in non- metros and value upto RS. 45 lakhs), and

• affordable houses being constructed in ongoing projects under the existing central and state housing schemes presently eligible for concessional rate of 8% GST (after 1/3rd land abatement).

New rate of 5% without input tax credit shall be applicable on construction of,-
• all houses other than affordable houses in ongoing projects whether booked prior to or after 01.04.2019. In case of houses booked prior to 01.04.2019, new rate shall be available on instalments payable on or after 01.04.2019.

• all houses other than affordable houses in new projects.

• commercial apartments such as shops, offices etc. in a residential real estate project (RREP) in which the carpet area of commercial apartments is not more than 15% of total carpet area of all apartments.

Environment Conservation
Census of otters

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about otters)

What's the NEWS
• For the first time, Uttar Pradesh is taking a census of otters in its protected areas. The exercise that began in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), will be completed by the end of this month.
Know! all about Otters and census
• Otters are an important part of the forest ecosystem. A thriving population of otters means a healthy ecosystem
• A mammal, an otter spends much of its time in or close to water bodies. Otters live on fish.
• Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), is in the foothills of the Himalayas, south of Nepal. Covering an area of approximately 800 square kilometres, the reserve sprawls across parts of Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts.
• With the Sharda and Ghaghara rivers encircling a considerable part of the reserve, it is rich in water bodies.

Know! more about Otters ( as natural indicator )
• A thriving population of otters means a healthy ecosystem. A growing or healthy population of otters means the water bodies are pollution-free.

• Clean water bodies mean a healthy ecosystem of the forest.

• Otters thriving and getting sufficient food to eat means the water bodies in the reserve are in a fine state and the aquatic life in them is healthy.

India is home to 3 of the 13 species of otters found worldwide.
• Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) - IUCN status: Near Threatened.
• Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspicillata) - IUCN status: Vulnerable.
• Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus) - IUCN status: Vulnerable.

Geophysical Phenomena
Bomb cyclone

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about bomb cyclone)

What's the NEWS
• The bomb cyclone swept has through the US Great Plains resulting in blizzard conditions, hurricane-like winds, snow and heavy rain and subsequent flooding.
Know! about Bomb Cyclone
• Bomb Cyclone or Bombogenesis Bomb Cyclone or bombogenesis refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low-pressure winter storm when there is a pressure drop by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.

• The decrease of the pressure intensifies the storm. This pressure drop intensification and subsequent winter storms result in strong winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding, especially with high tide.

• Bombogenesis storm can be tropical or non-tropical and proximity to a large body of water, particularly an ocean, during cold months contributes to the creation of a bomb cyclone.

• Bomb Cyclone is caused by a collision of warm air and cold air which develop into rotating storm-like pattern and lead to an explosive deepening of pressure. Worldwide about 40 to 50 ‘bomb cyclones brew each year.

Defence
Indian Navy - first Responder to Cyclone 'IDAI' in Mozambique

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IDAI cyclone)

What's the NEWS
• The ships of First Training Squadron of Indian Navy (Sujata, Sarathi and Shardul) operating in the Southern Indian Ocean were diverted to Port Beira, Mozambique based on request received from the Government of Mozambique to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the local population post the devastation caused by cyclone 'IDAI' which struck the coast of Mozambique on 15 Mar 19.

• Cyclone 'IDAI' made landfall at Beira, Mozambique in early hours of 15 Mar 19 causing widespread damage and loss of human life in the Central and Northern provinces of the country.

• The disembarkation of HADR stores including food, medicines and clothing to the Mozambique Defence authorities has been completed. Arrangements are in progress to disembark potable water.

Prelims Practise Question
Consider the following statements

1. India was ranked at 140 on the latest World Happiness Report that gauged 156 countries, a rise of seven spots from the last edition of the survey.

2. Finland topped the list for the fifth consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Norway

3. The World Happiness Report is an annual publication of the World Economic Forum

4. Exercise MITRA SHAKTI is an annual military diplomacy and interaction between armies of India & Maldives.

Find the correct statement from the option given below

a. 1 and 3
b. 3 and 4
c. 1 , 2 and 4
d. None

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