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IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 17th May, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 17th May 2017 Archives ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. New 'Index for Industrial Production' (IIP) series seen giving factory growth a boost Overview: The Industrial Output data is captured and monitored, primarily, through two statistical activities – Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) on an annual basis and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) on a monthly basis. About Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is the principal source of industrial statistics in India. It provides information about the composition and structure of organised manufacturing sector comprising activities related to manufacturing processes, repair services, gas and water supply and cold storage. The ASI is conducted annually under the Collection of Statistics Act, since 1959, to obtain comprehensive and detailed statistics of industrial sector with the objective of estimating the contribution of registered manufacturing industries as a whole to the national income. About 'Index for Industrial Production' The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which shows the growth rates in different industry groups of the economy in a stipulated period of time. The IIP index is computed and published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on a monthly basis. IIP is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under, Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods and Intermediate Goods. The IIP is compiled on the basis of data sourced from 16 ministries/ administrative departments. Data for IIP are collected by various source agencies under different Acts/statutes. Issue/concern in news: In the past few years, the month-on-month IIP has shown excessively low, and even negative growth, which subsequently turned out to be out of sync with the actual manufacturing output growth measured through the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI). Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a critical economic indicator, the aim of the IIP is to capture the direction and the trend of industrial production in the country, not the absolute value of industrial production. Its chief utility is as an early indicator of turning points in the economy. The IIP has been failing in serving this purpose. Reasons for above concerns/issues: The major reason being that IIP was measuring industrial output using baskets of production items and producing entities that had remained unchanged since 2004-05. Meaning - The standard procedure followed was that a list of items was constructed in the base year and for each item the producing entities were identified. This structure was frozen. In simple words, the IIP index was constructed with the output figures received month over month from the baskets of items and entities fixed in the base year. (It did not consider new entities or changes) I.e., if an entity shut down, its output fell to zero. But since the basket was frozen no new entity could be taken in place of the zero-output one. For instance, say Calculators may fall out of use and more smartphones may be consumed. The IIP was not equipped to capture such changes in the economy. The way ahead: Revised Base Year Therefore, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation revised the base year of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) to 2011-12 base years, replacing the 2004-05 base years. Analysts believe that the new series will be able to capture the current state of affairs of the economy by replacing the old basket of goods with a contemporary one. Currently the IIP and WPI take 2004-05 as base year, while the GDP and Consumer Price Index (CPI) data are calculated using the base year of 2011-12. Using the same base year of 2011-12 for all macroeconomic data indicators will ensure that accuracy is maintained in the mapping of economic activity. The new base year has been selected keeping in view the base year of other macroeconomic indicators namely Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI). Several changes have been made in the new series of the IIP in order that new IIP is able to reflect the changes in the industrial sector in a more representative and robust manner. What is Base Year? Base-year is the year used for comparison for the level of a particular economic index. The arbitrary level of 100 is selected so that percentage changes can easily be depicted. A more dynamic index with expanded coverage and representative IIP IIP is being made more dynamic. First, the Central Statistics Office has updated its base year to 2011-12. The revision is aimed at capturing the changes that have taken place in the industrial sector since 2004-05. New products have been included in the items basket, and those that have lost their relevance deleted. Renewable energy, for example, has been included in the electricity index. The expanded coverage — 809 items against 620 earlier, and a larger number of factories — is expected to make the IIP more representative. Second, instead of the periodic baskets revisions, a permanent standing arrangement is being put in place to make sure that the IIP remains representative. In other words, a technical committee will be constituted to continuously review the item basket, the reporting entities and the method of coverage. What does the updated IIP offer? The updated IIP offers new insights and a healthier picture, the most important being, the average industrial output growth of the last five years (2011-12 to 2016-17) in the old IIP is 1.38%, and in the updated series it is 3.8%. On the manufacturing front, the average five-year growth has improved to 4.04% against 0.94% in the old IIP. However, the output growth of the infrastructure and construction sector has slowed down from 5.7% in 2013-14 to 3.8% in 2016-17 despite the government’s sustained push to the infrastructure sector, including through substantial increases in targeted public spending , in the last three years. The updated IIP also shows a modest recovery in the capital goods sector, a barometer of the investment sentiment. From -3.6% in 2013-14, output growth in the sector improved to 1.9% in 2016-17. Link: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/03163/bl13_IIP_graphics_3163912f.jpg The main driver of growth in the economy remains consumption. Consumer durables grew 6.2% and non-durables 9% in 2016-17. The Seventh Pay Commission award to Central government employees and pensioners last year seems to have spurred consumption. Demonetisation’s debilitating impact on manufacturing is visible in the updated monthly IIP for 2016-17. The average output growth for the seven months from April to October was 6.8%, and for the five months from November to March 2.28%. The IIP’s coverage by design is limited to the organised sector. The disruption in the unorganised sector is expected to get measured in the ASI. Conclusion: It is widely acknowledged that the IIP numbers are an important input while estimating the GDP. Given the fact that now the base years of all the major macroeconomic indicators, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Wholesale Price Index, are aligned to — 2011-12, it is possible that the GDP numbers too could be revised upwards. Instead of the periodic baskets revisions, a permanent standing arrangement will make sure that the IIP remains representative. There is need of monitoring and mapping of the index with the changes taking place in the economy. Fast recap and important points to remember: IIP in the new series will continue to consist of three sectors viz. Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity, as in the existing series. The National Industrial Classification 2008 will be followed in the new series for the purpose of classification of products as per industries. The Use-Based Classification has been revised to reflect the industrial segments and production more accurately as well as to map the products more accurately as per their use in the industries. The new use based classification includes Primary Goods, Intermediate Goods, Infrastruture/Construction Goods, Capital Goods, Consumer Durable Goods and Consumer Non Durable Goods. The coverage of the new series of IIP is limited to the Organized Sector only. For enabling dynamic revision of the methodology of IIP including the item list and the panel of factories during the currency of a base year, a Technical Review Committee, chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Statistics &PI, will be constituted. Due to the increasing significance of the electricity generation from renewable sources, it has been decided to include the same in the electricity generation figures for compilation of IIP in the new series. The new series show higher growth rates in most months in the period April 2012 to March 2017, as compared to the existing series which is attributable to shifting of base to a more recent period; increase in number of factories in panel for reporting data and exclusion of closed ones and inclusion of new items and exclusion of old ones. Connecting the dots: Highlight some of salient features of the new IIP series with revised base year 2011-12. Discuss the differences between Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and examine how the new IIP series gives factory growth a boost.   NATIONAL/AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country; Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e‐technology in the aid of farmers Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System - objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Agriculture Marketing Introduction Indian agriculture is a gamble with monsoon is an old adage. It is a gamble with almost everything is now a reality. Risks are multipronged and this makes it difficult for the farmers to raise their standard of living and hence suffer. Issue: Farmers in some States are regretting their abundant yields this year as the prices of agricultural commodities have crashed. Chilli farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, tomato growers in Karnataka, and toor dal cultivators in Maharashtra are at the centre of a severe crisis that has witnessed prices fall by more than half in a matter of just weeks. Some speculate that high commodity prices last year caused farmers to respond by boosting production, which in turn led to the present price crash. Whether it is the wholesale mandis where farmers sell their agricultural produce, or retail outlets where consumers buy them, price fluctuations are common. But whether such fluctuations can be explained as being due to mindless crop cultivation, as some speculate, is not as certain. For one, in the consumer market, commodity speculators usually dampen price fluctuations by managing supply according to consumer demand. For instance, when the supply of grains is abundant, speculators do not flood the market with all their stock but instead hoard the grains and sell them later when supply turns scarce. Thus, even if farmers engage in mindless grain production, speculators usually save the day for consumers by preventing steep rises and falls in grain prices. Price fluctuations – resultant concerns In the wholesale market, speculators can save farmers from similar price fluctuations by paying a competitive price for their produce even when there is abundant supply. Grain traders, to return to our previous example, who want to hoard supply expecting higher grain prices in the future would be willing to pay a better price to farmers today. This comes not out of compassion for farmers, but purely out of competition with other grain traders. When farmers are free to sell their produce to any trader they want, it is traders paying the best price who get hold of it. Farmers can also expect a more predictable price for their produce each season, reflecting stable consumer prices, thus preventing mindless cultivation. Need for competition: Such competition though is clearly missing from the Indian agricultural scene where the supply chain is broken. Red tape, including limits on stocking agricultural products, has prevented the growth of a robust market for commodity speculation. The result is lack of investment in infrastructure like that of cold storage; about 40% of agricultural produce in India is wasted because of it. This, in turn, has led to price fluctuations that have affected both the farmer and the consumer. Wholesale agricultural prices are determined by trader cartels that block competitive bidding. This significantly reduces the price farmers can get for their products, while boosting the profits of some privileged traders. By some estimates, farmers receive only 20-25% of what the final consumer pays for his product. Thus, a free market in agriculture can be the best solution to the crisis facing Indian farmers. Conclusion: Suggestion of a free market in agriculture looks ideal on paper. But the implementation challenges will be critical for an age old occupation and remote reach it has. The need is for innovative solutions like e-NAM and some legislative reforms. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the need for legislative reforms and policy solution to improve agricultural marketing scenario in India. MUST READ Held at ransom: on the recent ransomware attacks Hindu Turning down China Indian Express The majority complex Indian Express After the no-show Indian Express The belt and road to China’s hegemony in Asia Livemint  Gender discrimination defines India’s economy Livemint  Too many spies spoil the intelligence broth Livemint Downright hypocritical Business Line  GM mustard deserves the green signal Business Line How will GST impact MSMEs? Business Line

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Economics and Current Affairs [Day 46]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 46th Day of 60 Days Plan. It is the third edition of 60 Days program but seems like the first one because of the excitement involved everywhere, including us :) We are equally excited and pumped. Our Team is working hard to make you realize your dream. Do not take it insincerely and let us down. Your faith and participation has to be in sync with the amount of hard work and effort we do. Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self track yourself after updating the score. In the end you can cross check your performance through disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How you can make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions. Do not cheat :P Baba's Gyan for REVISION Many of you, almost all, asks about effective revision strategy! Can there be any? Let us tell you something Baba does :D  You guys study a lot and there is no issue with the hard work that has been put in. But when it comes to input-output comparison, your performance is questionable. What to do? Just do this for a Week: Go to bed before stipulated time of your sleep, at least 1 hour before. Close your eyes and try to relax your mind. You should attain full comfort and calmness. Do this on the First Day: Imagine the full story of a recent movie that you have watched. Try to recollect from starting to end. See, whether you are able to depict the clear picture or not! Now, do the same for everything you learnt from morning specially the ones you struggled with. Since it is fresh, most of the things should flow into your mind smoothly. Check what is your recollecting capacity. For example, if you prepared Polity Day 2: Topics- Try to collect all important concepts and learning of the day. Trust us, this exercise if done with sincerity will give you immense confidence as well as boost your performance. There is no ideal time for revision and there cannot be any specific date put for it, as commonly done. This will always expose your weaknesses the very same day and if you tend to forget something, can always get back to consolidate and cement it. REPEAT IT FOR A WEEK & SEE THE MAGIC :D  Must to Do: Read the detailed article regarding Micro Analysis Matrix and follow the guidelines- Click Here Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement! Are you ready? Let's start [Day 46]: ECONOMICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Which of the following items are not a part of Invisibles in the Balance of Payment of a country? Export of Software Services Export of Financial Services Export of Laptops Export of Management Services Q.2) Which of the following items is not a part of Current Account in a country’s Balance of Payment? Exports of Services Imports of Goods Remittances External commercial Borrowings Q.3) Current Account Deficit of a country can be reduced by Increasing the imports Reducing the exports Reducing the inflow of remittances Decreasing the imports Q.4) Consider the following statements with reference to the Special Drawing Rights of IMF SDRs are a reserve currency of IMF and is allocated to member countries in proportion to their IMF quotas If a country’s SDR holding is above its allocation it earns interest on the excess holdings from IMF Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements with reference to Common Market as a stage of economic integration Member countries abolish trade barriers while trading among themselves In addition to free trade movement of labour and capital is also liberalized Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.6) Which of the following is not a non-tariff barrier? Packaging requirements Custom duty Import Quota Health, Sanitary and Safety regulations Q.7) Consider the following statements with reference to Foreign exchange reserves of India It consists of Indian rupee, Foreign Currencies and Gold The reserves are managed by the Reserve Bank of India Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.8) ‘FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index’ is published by which of the following organizations? UNCTAD IMF WEF OECD Q.9) Consider the following statements with reference to the Convertibility of Indian currency For current account transactions, Indian rupee can be fully converted into any foreign currency India has introduced full convertibility in capital account transactions since 2015 Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.10) ‘World Investment Report’ is published by which of the following organizations? World Bank IMF UNCTAD WEF Q.11) which of the following events will increase India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD)? An Australian visiting Goa for new year A US couple hiring a surrogate mother in Gujrat An NRI sending money to his family in India An Indian student studying Post-graduation in Germany Q.12) Consider the following statements with reference to depreciation of a currency It is a fall in the value of domestic currency with respect to other currencies It is done by deliberate government intervention Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.13) India follows which of the following Exchange Rate Regimes (ERR) Pegged ERR Free floating ERR Managed floating ERR None of the above Q.14) Consider the following statements about National Family Health Survey-4. This is the first time the government has conducted a survey to find out the incidence of diabetes and hypertension NFHS-4, for the first time, will provide estimates of most indicators at the district level Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.15) The government has notified 56,825 square km area in the Western Ghats (WG) region as ecologically sensitive area (ESA). The notified land is spread over which of the following states? Karnataka Maharashtra Goa Gujarat Tamil Nadu Kerala Select the correct code: 1,2,3,4 and 6 1,2,3,5 and 6 1, 2, 3 and 4 All of the above Q.16) Taratarini Temple is located in which of the following states? Andhra Pradesh Odisha Tamil Nadu Madhya Pradesh Q.17) Consider the following statements about ‘Seemaikaruvelam’ trees It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean It is an invasive species It produces less oxygen and more carbon dioxide Select the correct statements Only 2 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 1 and 2 Q.18) Consider the following statements Uttarakhand has the highest tiger population in India Uttarakhand has highest number of tiger reserves after Karnataka Kanha tiger reserve is the only place in the world where swamp deer exists Select the incorrect statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.19) ‘VrindavaniVastra’ was in news recently. It is related which of the following states? Uttar Pradesh Gujarat Assam Madhya Pradesh Q.20) Consider the following statements about ‘Monpa tribe’ They hail from the Changtang Plateau region in Ladakh Losar and Torgya are the two major festivals of Monpas Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.21) Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan was an organisation in Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Q.22) Consider the following statements about Anti-dumping duty The Department of Commerce recommends the anti-dumping duty, while Ministry of Finance levies such duty It is imposed on both exports and imports The use of anti-dumping is not permitted by the WTO Select the correct statements Only 1 1 and 2 1 and 3 All of the above Download The Solution - Click here

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Economics and Current Affairs [Day 45]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 45th Day of 60 Days Plan. It is the third edition of 60 Days program but seems like the first one because of the excitement involved everywhere, including us :) We are equally excited and pumped. Our Team is working hard to make you realize your dream. Do not take it insincerely and let us down. Your faith and participation has to be in sync with the amount of hard work and effort we do. Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self track yourself after updating the score. In the end you can cross check your performance through disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How you can make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions. Do not cheat :P Baba's Gyan for REVISION Many of you, almost all, asks about effective revision strategy! Can there be any? Let us tell you something Baba does :D  You guys study a lot and there is no issue with the hard work that has been put in. But when it comes to input-output comparison, your performance is questionable. What to do? Just do this for a Week: Go to bed before stipulated time of your sleep, at least 1 hour before. Close your eyes and try to relax your mind. You should attain full comfort and calmness. Do this on the First Day: Imagine the full story of a recent movie that you have watched. Try to recollect from starting to end. See, whether you are able to depict the clear picture or not! Now, do the same for everything you learnt from morning specially the ones you struggled with. Since it is fresh, most of the things should flow into your mind smoothly. Check what is your recollecting capacity. For example, if you prepared Polity Day 2: Topics- Try to collect all important concepts and learning of the day. Trust us, this exercise if done with sincerity will give you immense confidence as well as boost your performance. There is no ideal time for revision and there cannot be any specific date put for it, as commonly done. This will always expose your weaknesses the very same day and if you tend to forget something, can always get back to consolidate and cement it. REPEAT IT FOR A WEEK & SEE THE MAGIC :D  Must to Do: Read the detailed article regarding Micro Analysis Matrix and follow the guidelines- Click Here Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement! Are you ready? Let's start [Day 45]: ECONOMICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Consider the following statements with reference to the evolution of Public Sector Undertakings (PSU’s) in India PSU’s were developed as an instrument for self-reliant economic growth Initially the PSU’s were focused on manufacturing of Consumer Goods Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements with reference to the Section 25 companies under the Companies Act, 1956 These companies promote commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other useful purpose Section 25 companies do not have any profit motive No PSU’s can be registered as a section 25 company Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.3) Conferring of the status on PSU’s such as Miniratna and Maharatna is done by Department of Disinvestment Department of Economic Affairs Department of Heavy Industries Department of Public Enterprises Q.4) Consider the following statements with reference to the National Manufacturing Policy 2011 Objective is to increase the contribution manufacturing to at least 25% of the National GDP by 2022 It aims to create 100 million jobs by 2022 Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements with reference to the National Capital Goods Policy One of the objectives is to increase the direct employment in Capital Goods industry to 5 million by 2025 increase the share of domestic production in India's capital goods demand from 60% to 80% by 2025 is another stated objective Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.6) Consider the following statements with reference to the proposed 'Start-up Center for Capital Goods Sector’ It will be set up by Department of Heavy Industries and Private sector capital goods industry The costs will be shared in a 50 : 50 ratio It will provide financing as well as technical assistance to promising startups Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.7) Consider the following statements with reference to Fame India Scheme It will be implemented by the Department of Heavy Industries The scheme is aimed at incentivizing all vehicle segments to adopt hybrid and Electric Technologies Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.8) Consider the following statements about the Maharatna status given to PSUs To be eligible a company must have an annual turn-over of 20,000 crores It empowers the companies to make investment decisions up to Rs 10,000 crore without seeking Government’s approval The Maharatna status empowers mega CPSEs to expand their operations and emerge as global giants Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.9) Consider the following statements with reference to the Corporate Social Responsibility Rules in India It applies only to the Private sector companies having a net worth of 500 crores or more Contributions made to the political parties are considered as a part of CSR activities Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013 lists the activities which are considered as CSR eligible Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 1 and 3 only 3 only All of the above Q.10) Consider the following statements with reference to the National Energy Efficient Agriculture Pumps Programme Under this programme SIM card enabled agricultural pump sets will be made available to the farmers The pumps will be given free of cost to the farmers The programme was launched in Vijaywada Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.11) Consider the following statements with reference to the classification of MSMEs in India The MSMEs are defined in the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 In service sector an enterprise is considered small enterprise if the investment is less than 10 lakhs Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.12) Consider the following statements about DIPAM It is a department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Listing, disinvestment and dividend policy of CPSEs is decided by DIPAM Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.13) The Assembly Elections in Go and Manipur produced an inconclusive verdict. As a result, there were hung assemblies. Consider the following statements The Constitution of India does not mandate any procedure to be followed by the Governor, in case of hung assembly. Punchhi Commission recommends that Governor should invite the leader of ―’a pre-poll alliance commanding the largest number’ or the ―’largest single party’ to form the government in case no party or pre-poll coalition has a clear majority. Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.14) Narikurava belong to which of the following state? Karnataka Tamil Nadu Odisha Maharashtra Q.15) Consider the following statements about ‘Electoral Bond’ It cannot be purchased by paying cash The bond bearer will earn an interest of 2% per annum It can used to saved tax under section 80C of IT Act Select the incorrect statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.16) Consider the following pairs Corbett National Park - Kosi Kaziranga National Park - Brahmaputra Silent Valley National Park – Krishna Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.17) Consider the following statements about Miyar Hydroelectric Project It is located in Jammu and Kashmir MiyarNallah is a right bank tributary of Chenab River Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.18) Global Enabling Trade Report 2016 was released by World Bank World Trade Organisation World Economic Forum United Nations Q.19) Titu Mir led the Wahabi Movement Faraizi Movement Narkelberia uprising Mappila uprising Q.20) Consider the following statements about Biotech-KISAN It is a Farmer centric scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare The scheme includes the Mahila Biotech- KISAN fellowships, for training and education in farm practices, for women farmers Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.21) Recently ‘LEEP’ was in news. It is concerned with BharatmalaPariyojana Start-up India Make in India Digital India Download The Solution - Solution will be Uploaded at night

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 16th May, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 16th May 2017 Archives SECURITY TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges; Basics of cyber security Ransomware Introduction With technology increasingly becoming the global lifeline of government and businesses across it is important to build a safe network. It is further important to build a secure and rule based framework with across the board stakeholder consultation. Ransomware Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system's screen or by locking the users' files unless a ransom is paid. More modern ransomwarefamilies, collectively categorized as crypto-ransomware, encrypt certain file types on infected systems and forces users to pay the ransom through certain online payment methods to get a decrypt key. Ransom prices vary depending on the ransomware variant and the price or exchange rates of digital currencies. Thanks to the perceived anonymity offered by crypto currencies, ransomware operators commonly specify ransom payments in bitcoins. Recent ransomware variants have also listed alternative payment options such as iTunes and Amazon gift cards. It should be noted, however, that paying the ransom does not guarantee that users will get the decryption key or unlock tool required to regain access to the infected system or hostaged files. Issue: The phenomenon that users of computers and researchers in cyber security were witness to from Friday, May 13 has raised many questions of vulnerability. It is comforting to know that by the afternoon of Monday, May 15, the speed of the attack was somewhat curtailed by counter-measures. But we still have to keep our fingers crossed for there is no knowing if the aggressors have more tools in their possession to cause further damage. The good news for us is that there are no reports of any major intrusion into computers or systems in India. What is abominable is that the criminals tampered with the systems of public health services — particularly the NHS of the UK. Understanding: The intrusion was a phishing attack — persuading a user to open a mail sent by a motivated intruder, an act which, on the face of it, appears to be from a genuine and authorised source, and the result of a malware (WannaCrypt 2.0) assembled, not at one place, but in several centres across the globe. A traditional modus operandi is to send a dubious link in a mail, which the recipient accesses. In the latest instance, however, it is said that the ‘explosive’ was in the form of an attachment, which an unwary user opened. In such a case, the immobilisation of a system is invariably caused by the encryption of files, folders and drives, and it takes a while for the victim to realise he/she has been attacked. The fears are subsequently confirmed by messages demanding a specified ransom for releasing the system. Launched by a group styled Shadow Brokers (whose exact identity is yet to be unravelled), the ransom demanded in each instance was $300 to be paid in Bitcoin — a digital currency which renders the beneficiary anonymous and is difficult to locate. One rough estimate is that the ransom-seekers will eventually net $1 billion, and that they have already received about $33,000 until the weekend. These are figures are dubious but we cannot ignore them as there is no means to cross-check. Worrisome aspects There are two aspects to the outrageous attack that are worrisome. The first is that the holes in the older version of Windows were known to Microsoft for quite some time, but it did not do much to patch them up, except for customers who paid to remove the deficiencies. Then there is the other theory that customers who were aware of the risk did not bother to act because of the costs involved and the problems related to adapting to upgrades. Security Concern: Perhaps the graver of the revelations surfacing now is that the malware was possibly stolen from a stockpile of weapons which the National Security Agency (NSA) had built up over the years as a counter-offensive to cyber-attacks on the US and its allies by nations such as Russia, China and North Korea. Justifying this, certain sources allege that, since last summer, Shadow Brokers had started posting online certain tools they had stolen from the NSA ‘armoury’. This is a serious insinuation that, if proved, could trigger international condemnation of the US and its spy agencies. It revives memories of Stuxnet, a worm that both the US and Israel used against Iran’s nuclear programme more than five years ago. While there is no corroboration to the charge levelled against the NSA, it is interesting that a few former intelligence officers have taken the stand that the tools used in the latest episode were indeed from the NSA’s ‘Tailored Access Operations’ Remedies: The question is whether anything can be done to predict or prevent a similar attack. There is marked pessimism here. Repeated exhortation not to open attachments received from unknown sources has fallen on deaf ears. The advice to opt for complex passwords and exhortations not to share it with anyone has also met with the same fate. Conclusion: An eye for an eye will make the world blind was Gandhiji’s wise words. Country’s should tread a careful path especially in a field with such large implications. The only way is to minimize damage through encryption of vital, if not all the data in the hardware or system. There is no case for despair. But there is certainly one for prudence and caution in day-to-day handling of systems and data. Connecting the dots: Cyber Space is a borderless world and so regulation is as difficult as the spread is. Elaborate on the threats and the counter measures in light of recent incidents.   ENVIRONMENT TOPIC:  General Studies 3: Environment and Ecology, Bio diversity - Conservation, environmental degradation, environmental impact assessment, Environment versus Development. Climate Change implications and mitigation strategies. Carbon tax/Cap-and-tax: as a Climate Change mitigation policy Introduction: World stands today on the brink of a long-term anthropogenic and ecological change, caused mainly due to our own exploitation of the planet’s resources. There is compelling evidence that there is a large chance of a global average temperature rise exceeding 2ºC by the end of this century. Implications: Any such warming of the planet will lead to increased natural calamities such as floods and cyclones, declined crop yields and ecological degradation. A large increase in global temperatures correlates with an average 5% loss in global GDP, with poor countries suffering costs in excess of 10% of GDP. Mitigation policy Global warming is the greatest environmental threat facing the planet and the simple truth is that if we do not act boldly and quickly these problems will only get much worse in the years to come. Averting a planetary disaster will require some major radical steps such as adopting a multilaterally coordinated imposition of a carbon tax as a potent mitigation policy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing burning of coal, oil and other fossil fuels. A global and immediate policy response is urgently required in the above mentioned areas. Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behavior. It can be as complex as a plan for a new city, or as a simple as improvements to a cook stove design. Concept of Carbon Tax Pricing carbon emissions through a carbon fee is one of the most powerful incentives that governments have to encourage companies and households to pollute less by investing in cleaner technologies and adopting greener practices. A carbon tax is a way to make users of carbon fuels pay for the climate damage caused by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If set high enough, it becomes a powerful monetary disincentive that motivates switches to clean energy across the economy, simply by making it more economically rewarding to move to non-carbon fuels and energy efficiency. A shift by households, businesses and industry to cleaner technologies increases the demand for energy-efficient products and helps spur innovation and investment in green solutions. Under this system, the price to pollute sets the strength of the economic signal and determines the extent to which green choices are encouraged. For example, a stronger price on emissions will lead to more investment in cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind power. And although a carbon fee makes polluting activities more expensive, it makes green technologies more affordable as the price signal increases over time. Most importantly, a carbon tax gets green solutions into use. Therefore, carbon tax must be a central part of our strategy for dramatically reducing carbon pollution, a view shared by economists and ecologists. Basically, a carbon tax would put a price on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to encourage a faster changeover to clean energy. This isn’t a new idea; carbon pricing programs have been around for decades. For example, Sweden has used a carbon tax to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since 1991. Denmark instituted a carbon tax in 1992 and according a study, emissions per person in Denmark went down between 1990 and 2005 by 15 percent. However, carbon tax regimes will only be effective if harmonised internationally. Different country-wise policies could lead to ‘carbon leakages’ where energy-intensive businesses will most likely move to less strict national regimes. Why Carbon Tax is a good idea? Link: http://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Why-Carbon-Tax-is-a-good-idea-IASbaba.jpg Advantages of harmonized carbon tax: A carbon tax regime avoids the problems related to choosing a baseline. In a price approach, the natural baseline is a zero carbon tax. A carbon tax policy will be better able to adapt to the element of uncertainty which pervades the science of climate change. Quantity limits on emissions are related to the stocks of greenhouse gas emissions, while the price limits are related to the flow of emissions. Quantity limiting policies are often accompanied by administrative arbitrariness and corruption through rent-seeking. This sends off negative signals to investors. In a price-based carbon tax, the investor has an assured long-term regulation to adapt to and can weigh in the costs involved. The most contentious issue in any international negotiation on climate change mitigation either at the level of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) or at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has been the issue of equity between high-income and low-income countries. The price-based approach in the form of carbon taxes makes it easier to implement such equity-based international adjustments than the quantity-based approach. Challenges/issues: The political consensus in favour of a direct carbon tax will be difficult to achieve in low and middle income countries that have developmental priorities and lack the capacity to administer such regimes. A general tax on energy consumption combined with a technology-centric policy that promotes entrepreneurs and investors who develop low-energy intensive products can be a good starting point from where they can gradually move towards a direct carbon tax. Another near-term approach can be a ‘cap-and-tax’ which combines the strengths of both quantity and price approaches. Cap-and-tax might also address the concerns of environmentalists that a price-based approach does not impose hard constraints on emissions. Cap-and-tax system: In a cap-and-trade system, government puts a firm limit, or cap, on the overall level of carbon pollution from industry and reduces that cap year after year to reach a set pollution target. As the cap decreases each year, it cuts industry's total greenhouse gas emissions to the limit set by regulation, and then forces polluters that exceed their emissions quota to buy unused quota from other companies. The way ahead: There is much discussion about whether a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system is the best way to put a price on greenhouse gas pollution. The simple answer is that it depends on how each system is designed. The design will determine the environmental and economic effectiveness. If both approaches are well-designed, the two options are quite similar and could even be used in tandem. What's important is that the price on carbon pollution provides an incentive for everyone, from industry to households, to be part of the solution. Ultimately, the critical factor in reducing heat-trapping emissions is the strength of the economic signal. A stronger carbon price will kick-start more growth in clean, renewable energy and will encourage adoption of greener practices. Carbon taxes are the easiest and clearest way to reduce fossil fuel use and they also conform to the “free market” philosophy of minimal government interference and regulation. They also conform to two other norms: that people pay for the goods or services they want or need, and that The Polluter Pays. Countries must negotiate and share policy experiences and researches in this area. They also must decide upon the appropriate forum to discuss and implement any such mitigation policy. The WTO could be the preferred forum, given the important nexus between international trade and climate change. Connecting the dots: What is a carbon tax? Examine how carbon tax can give a fillip to Climate Change mitigation. Is there a need to incorporate carbon tax or cap-and-tax system in our climate change mitigation strategy? Discuss. What is a carbon tax? What are the problems faced by India in adopting a high carbon tax regime in India? ‘The future of climate change mitigation rests on successfully enacting comprehensive carbon tax or cap-and-tax system’. Do you agree? Examine. MUST READ Off the road: India cannot sit out B&RI Hindu Triple talaq not fundamental to Islam Hindu The ‘public’ in public health  Hindu Raja Mandala: The politics of territory Indian Express Letting Down The Law   Indian Express Feeling blue   Indian Express Is ‘Make in India’ beginning to bear fruit? Livemint   An evolving risk paradigm in the power sector Livemint   Is it time for a new Fiscal Responsibility Act? Business Line   Need for rational, constructive voices Business Line  

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The Big Picture - Justice Karnan Saga- Implications for Judicial System

Justice Karnan Saga- Implications for Judicial System Archives TOPIC:General Studies 2 Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. In news:Supreme Court of India sentenced a HC judge to six month’s imprisonment on charges of contempt of court. It is the first case of a serving judicial officer being sentenced to jail over a face-off with upper judiciary on an alleged corruption matter. This order came after justice Karnan sent CJI and six others to five years in jail under SC/ST Act. Background This started when justice Karnan barged into court room of a division bench of madras HC which was hearing a PIL and he started arguing case in favour of SC/ST candidates. Justice karnan also abused three justices of Madras HC. He always maintained that as he was Dalit, there was a bias against him. At that time, Madras HC Chief Justice had written to CJI that it was an irresponsible conduct and asked CJI to transfer him. This should have been taken note of and conclude that it was not a way in which judge can behave. However, such an action or note was not taken. Not followingset procedures Justice Karnan was punished with six months of jail on charges of contempt of court. It is seen that punishing him amounts to his removal. Does SC have the jurisdiction to pass an order which results in removal of a judge from the office of being the judge? The answer is no. Only the parliament has the power under art 217. Argument 1:Power to remove the judge is with parliament but the power to punish for contempt of court is with court. So it was within the purview of SC to sentence justice Karnan as it is a criminal contempt and not a civil contempt. A judge is not immune from the criminal law. If a judge commits murder or rape and is convicted for the same, the punishment conferred upon him shall amount to removing him from being a judge. If the parliament doesn’t impeach him even after he has committed a crime and presence of evidence, it is preposterous.Letting such judge continue his duties is damaging the institution of judiciary. Argument 2:There is a procedure prescribed by law for prosecuting a judge. No effort was made to follow that procedure even if he was alleged to commit a criminal act. There should have been an application for permission to prosecute him which was not done. If the SC steps in and says it is taking contempt of court and removing him from judicial work will be a way of circumventing the constitution. There are many examples where judges commit acts of misconduct. If a judge takes money for the case pending against it, that would also be contempt of court. There have been judges who have been accused of sexually harassing the women and they are still sitting as judges and dispensing justice. Here, no contempt of court action is taken against them. So not only the power but the manner in which it is exercised needs to be questioned and it is arbitrary without any foundation in the constitution. The problem at the roots This case is part of a larger problem. The systemic failure happened when he was appointed. This points out the shortcomings of the collegium system- the method of appointment of judges, which is completely opaque. Three judges collegium recommended his name, SC collegium approved and he was appointed. This was the first mistake. Second, when the justice committed misconduct in madras HC and there were several instances where he repeated such things, the SC judges and collegium should have taken note of it. A committee should have been set up and the matter had to be inquired into and if it was a misconduct, they should have recommended to the government for impeachment procedure. Here also nothing was done and instead transferred from Madras HC to Calcutta HC. Even there, there were reports of his misconduct. Hence, there were enough opportunities for SC judges, collegium in particular to conclude his misconduct as a judge and fit to be removed. Thus, the manner in which the entire thing has been handled by the SC is not much appreciable as Power of contempt cannot be used to remove a judge Media has been gagged and also the judge in question Collegium system in judiciary This system of appointment has stirred many issues and raised concerns. Having a common entrance exam like bureaucracy is not going to improve the system too. The district court judges are appointed by the HC of that particular state. For this, there should be mixing of judges from other states also in matter of appointment of district court judges. Judiciary in India is not only SC and HC. They are a small part of actual quantity of judges which include magistrates, sub-judice, senior sub-judice, additional session judge etc. Thus, it needs to be assured that this area of selection is perfect for most people, the justice is the district court they see. The SC has come emphatically to the conclusion that prima facie it appears that the judge requires medical assistance. When there was no headway on it, he was sentenced to jail. But sending him to jail for such reason is setting a wrong precedent. If in future, if an SC judge does something of the kind justice Karnan has done, will SC judges decide the same fate then too? The only course available to collegium was that they should have recommended it to parliament. Damage to independence to judiciary The HC is not subordinate to SC in any sense. The signal that is put out by this judgement is that SC can sit in judgement over the conduct of an HC judge which means it is threatening the independence of judiciary. After this, any other judge may live in terror of accusation of contempt of court and thereby terrorising the independence of judiciary. The constitution worked hard to ensure it by ensuring a security of tenure for it and that is why procedure of a removal of a judge is so difficult. It is a different matter that India doesn’t have a system of making a complaint against the judge short of impeachment. There should be a law where it states that SC doesn’t have any right to come to any conclusion prima facie or otherwise about the mental condition of the judge. They can say his behaviour amounts to an act of misconduct but no one can be compelled to undergo a medical examination. If a judge refuses to undergo medical examination, he has done nothing wrong as the SC itself has said that for any procedure to be performed on you, there is a requirement of informed consent of the person who has to undergo such procedure. Way forward The judiciary is not above law. Independence of judiciary is not a license to abuse. If a judge commits a crime, then he cannot be let go for the sake that he has to be removed only by the parliament through impeachment. The record of impeachment of judges is very poor as none of the judges have been impeached so far by parliament. Hence, the judge considers him above law. If such becomes the case, then it will send a message that there are two kinds of laws- for an ordinary man which writes articles or conducts a survey on probity of judges, he is threatened with contempt. Either he has to apologise or go to jail a judge can do anything. However, judiciary ego shouldn’t pep up contempt proceedings. Contempt needs a little bit of benevolence also. Frustration is due to situation and not necessarilydisrespect. This is the time where lot of institutions of society are being eroded. At such point, one turns to SC to uphold the laws of land. If it is found that SC is itself giving go-byes to the laws of the land, it is unfortunate. Thus, utmost care has to be taken in such crucial matters and maintain the dignity of the institution. Connecting the dots: ‘Independence of judiciary does not mean independence of judge’. Critically analyse.

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Ancient History & Culture and Current Affairs [Day 44]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 44th Day of 60 Days Plan. It is the third edition of 60 Days program but seems like the first one because of the excitement involved everywhere, including us :) We are equally excited and pumped. Our Team is working hard to make you realize your dream. Do not take it insincerely and let us down. Your faith and participation has to be in sync with the amount of hard work and effort we do. Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self track yourself after updating the score. In the end you can cross check your performance through disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How you can make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions. Do not cheat :P Baba's Gyan for REVISION Many of you, almost all, asks about effective revision strategy! Can there be any? Let us tell you something Baba does :D  You guys study a lot and there is no issue with the hard work that has been put in. But when it comes to input-output comparison, your performance is questionable. What to do? Just do this for a Week: Go to bed before stipulated time of your sleep, at least 1 hour before. Close your eyes and try to relax your mind. You should attain full comfort and calmness. Do this on the First Day: Imagine the full story of a recent movie that you have watched. Try to recollect from starting to end. See, whether you are able to depict the clear picture or not! Now, do the same for everything you learnt from morning specially the ones you struggled with. Since it is fresh, most of the things should flow into your mind smoothly. Check what is your recollecting capacity. For example, if you prepared Polity Day 2: Topics- Try to collect all important concepts and learning of the day. Trust us, this exercise if done with sincerity will give you immense confidence as well as boost your performance. There is no ideal time for revision and there cannot be any specific date put for it, as commonly done. This will always expose your weaknesses the very same day and if you tend to forget something, can always get back to consolidate and cement it. REPEAT IT FOR A WEEK & SEE THE MAGIC :D  Must to Do: Read the detailed article regarding Micro Analysis Matrix and follow the guidelines- Click Here Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement! Are you ready? Let's start [Day 44]: Ancient History & Culture & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Consider the following statements with reference to the Kuchipudi dance It is a classical dance form which originated in Tamilnadu The dance is accompanied by music which is in classical Hindustani style Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements with reference to Mohiniyattam It is a classical dance form of Kerala It is performed in a group of two or more male dancers Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with reference to Jhumar Dance It is a folk-dance preformed during the harvest season It is performed by the tribal people of Gujrat Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Which of the following art forms is did not originate in Kerala Kudiyattam Mohiniyattam Yakshagana Kathakali Q.5) The string puppet art form of Kathputli is associated with which of the following states Bihar Karnataka Maharashtra Rajasthan Q.6) Consider the following statements with reference to Togalu gombeyaata It is a puppet show unique to the state of Karnataka It is a shadow puppet art form which uses dolls made of leather Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) Consider the following statements with reference to the UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Yoga and Navroz are the recent additions to this list from India Sankirtana, a ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur was added to the list in 2013 Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.8) Consider the following statements with reference to the Vinaya Pitaka Vinaya Pitaka was compiled by Upali It is a collection of sermons of Buddha Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.9) consider the following statements with reference to the Baul music Baul music is a form of folk music practiced in Bihar It has been included in the UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.10) Mando musical art form is associated with which of the following states Maharashtra Goa Karnataka Kerala Q.11) Thang-ta, a martial arts dance form is associated with which of the following states? Assam West Bengal Manipur Uttarakhand Q.12) Consider the following statements with reference to the Silambam martial art form It is a weaponless, hand-to-hand combat system This martial art form is chiefly practiced in Tamilnadu Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.13) Which of the following is not a martial art form Gatka Huyen langlon Mardani khel Khalbelia Q.14) Consider the following statements with reference to the Lalitkala Academy The Lalit Kala Akademi was setup for the development of Visual arts It awards Bhasha Samman in recognition of works produced in regional languages Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.15) Kashida embroidery is associated with which of the following states? Himachal Pradesh Haryana Jammu and Kashmir West Bengal Q.16) World Happiness Report is published by World Economic Forum World Bank International Monetary Fund United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Q.17) Consider the following statements about Animal Welfare Board of India It is a statutory body It is within the jurisdiction of Ministry of Environment and Forests Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.18) Which of the following rivers were declared as living entities? Cauvery Godavari Ganga Yamuna Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 3 and 4 1, 2 and 4 2, 3 and 4 Q.19) Which of the following states conducted a synchronised elephant census Odisha West Bengal Chhattisgarh Jharkhand Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 All of the above Q.20) Consider the following statements about "Divya Nayan" It is a reading machine for visually challenged It is developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.21) Consider the following statements about ‘None of The Above’ (NOTA) option in the Indian electoral system NOTA was introduced in India following the 2013 Supreme Court directive in the People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India judgment India is the first country to institute negative voting It provides for ‘right to reject’ Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 Q.22) Nyokum Yullo festival is celebrated in which of the following states? Arunachal Pradesh Mizoram Meghalaya Assam Q.23) Recently, which of the following lakes was declared as a Biodiversity Heritage Site? Loktak Lake Wular Lake Ameenpur Lake No water body is declared as Biodiversity Heritage Site in India Q.24) Almatti dam was chosen for the World Bank’s Award of Excellence for best utilisation of funds for renovation to enhance the strength of the dam. The dam is located on which of the following rivers? Godavari Krishna Brahmaputra Cauvery Download The Solution - Click here

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 15th May, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 15th May 2017 Archives SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Science and Technology‐ developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology GM Mustard Introduction Continuous improvement in technology is a vital need for today’s field of operations in any sector. But technology should meet ground realities of safety and security norms globally prescribed. GM foods need more transparency and scientifically sound decision making. GM Foods Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism. Currently available GM foods stem mostly from plants, but in the future foods derived from GM microorganisms or GM animals are likely to be introduced on the market. Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased tolerance of herbicides. In the future, genetic modification could be aimed at altering the nutrient content of food, reducing its allergenic potential, or improving the efficiency of food production systems. All GM foods should be assessed before being allowed on the market. FAO/WHO Codex guidelines exist for risk analysis of GM food. Issue: With the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, an Environment Ministry body that evaluates genetically modified crops, approving transgenic mustard for environmental release, a key hurdle remains before farmers can cultivate it. Environment Minister has to approve it, under a procedure set down by the UPA government. In 2009 the GEAC approved Bt brinjal, developed by Mahyco and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, for commercial release. As Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh then overruled the GEAC clearance in 2010 and changed its status from an approval committee to an ‘appraisal’ committee. GM Mustard: The issue before the environment minister now is this: go by the expert findings of the GEAC and decide the issue on scientific merits, or opt for a replay of the Bt brinjal case. Broadly, the then government’s exceptionalism on Bt brinjal was framed along these lines: it was an edible substance unlike Bt cotton; long-term studies may be required to check its safety and environmental impact; it involved technology developed by the multinational Monsanto (which had an indirect stake in Mahyco). On the other hand, GM mustard (DMH-11) was developed by a team of scientists at Delhi University led by former vice-chancellor Deepak Pental under a government-funded project. Conclusion:In essence, it uses three genes from soil bacterium that makes self-pollinating plants such as mustard amenable to hybridisation. This means local crop developers have the equivalent of a platform technology to more easily develop versions of mustard with custom traits such as higher oil content and pest resistance. It has also gone through safety and toxicity tests (on mice) prescribed by the regulator, but this is unlikely to convince opponents of GM technology. Many of them are opposed to the commercial release of any form of transgenic plants; they fear that introducing genes from soil bacterium or other forms of animal life into plants will amount to playing with the natural order of plant life. Proponents of GM crops say plants and animals are constantly swapping bacterial genes with air, soil and water, and also that the only way of determining if a gene can produce proteins toxic to humans is to subject it to a systematic testing process. Years of field tests on transgenic corn, soyabean and brinjal in other countries have shown no health risks that vary with their non-GM versions. The concern that DMH-11 employs a gene that will compel farmers to use specific herbicides and be dependent on one or two companies deserves serious attention. However, these are matters for the government, regulators, labour markets and the courts to decide. Farmers need technology, new knowledge and governmental support to get the best out of their seeds. Without a clear legislation like National Biotechnology Regulatory Bill, 2008 that would enable a biotechnology regulator to take shape, issues to be decided on the basis of science will be at the mercy of political masters. Connecting the dots: Elaborate on the boon and bane of GM food technology for India today.   INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighborhood‐ relations Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Important International institutions, agencies and fora their structure, mandate China – Belt and Road Initiative Introduction Rise of China is phenomenon of the 21st century dubbed as Asia’s century. Belt and Road Initiative is a bold and global initiative with far reaching implications. India has taken careful view in being part of the same and hence has held back. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) The Belt and Road initiative provides a visionary blueprint for global economic development in the new world order. Taking reference from the historic Silk Road, which transformed the nature of international trade links in ancient times, the Belt and Road Initiative offers a modern-day solution that fosters inclusive growth and development in the 21st century. The Belt and Road refers to the land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the seagoing "21st Century Maritime Silk Road". The routes cover more than 60 countries and regions from Asia to Europe via Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and the Middle East, currently accounting for some 30 per cent of global GDP and more than 35 per cent of the world's merchandise trade. By 2050, the Belt and Road region aims to contribute 80 per cent of global GDP growth, and advance three billion more people into the middle class. Issue: The BRI may have been launched as a 21st century Chinese iteration of the ancient Silk Road on which Marco Polo travelled, but under Xi’s mentorship, its ambition has grown to rival that of Han or Tang dynasty emperors. With an exclusive $40 billion budget, allocated after $100 billion was already promised by the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, 50 Chinese state-owned corporations have been involved in building 1,700 projects — ports, roads, railway lines and industrial parks — along the BRI route. One major artery unfurls across the heart of Central Asia and, cutting through Pakistan, will join up with the Maritime Silk Route on the Indian Ocean and into Africa; Another route will traverse the Mediterranean and end up in Europe. Annual trade is expected to cross $2.5 trillion and enrich more than a billion people. The scale of the project is staggering. India is apprehensive about the challenge — the fact that one element of the BRI, called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, has certainly served to refocus Delhi’s mind not only on the sovereignty question but also on the differential in power with the dragon next door. Certainly, the Chinese economy is five times the size of India, which makes the act of cutting a cheque much easier; especially in the poor economies in India’s neighbourhood, the yuan goes a long way. The question is about how India wants to deal with its “bitter neighbour in the north,” as erstwhile National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra described China after India’s 1998 nuclear tests. Confucius and Xi – a comparison: Confucius, the Chinese thinker, philosopher and strategist, lived about 2,500 years ago, but President Xi Jinping, like the rest of his countrymen and women, seems deeply influenced by him. So when representatives of the unrepentant West, like journalists and diplomats, questioned the motives behind Xi’s mega economic project called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s official news agency, Xinhua, quoted Confucius: He who wants success should enable others to succeed. The fact that Xinhua is quoting an ancient thinker is emblematic of how far the Chinese Communist Party has come in its pursuit of influence worldwide. If India wants to learn out of Confucius’ philosophy and attempt a reset, some of the mutual antagonism could be contained. After all, he who wants success should enable others to succeed Conclusion: It is a reality that good neighbours with peaceful borders are critical for core development of a nation especially in a neighborhood India survives in. Hence while sovereignty should be at the core of the strategy India should also be realistic and grounded to geopolitical interests. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the significance of Belt and Road Initiative. Analyse India’s response in regard to the same. MUST READ Clamping down on crime Hindu   Mixed signals from Toronto Hindu   Getting the model right Hindu   Ball in the Supreme Court Indian Express   A Moment Of Reckoning Indian Express   A new beginning Indian Express   The good neighbour Indian Express   Weak public institutions behind India’s low state capacity Livemint   Repairing the house that Mahalanobis built Livemint   Ring-fencing RBI in a new NPA regime Business Line   Rolling out GST Business Line  

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