IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Electrification of Railways
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IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Science and Technology and Current Affairs [Day 41]
Hello Friends So, here we are with the 41st 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 41]: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY & CURRENT AFFAIRS ARCHIVES Q.1) The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO)-India is a planned advanced gravitational-wave observatory to be located in India as part of the worldwide network. Where is it going to be located? Theni, Tamilnadu Hingoli, Maharashtra Tumkur, Karnataka Sriharikota, Odisha Q.2) Consider the statements regarding Cassini Spacecraft It is an unmanned space mission It is the first space probe for the study of Saturn and first to enter its orbit It is a flagship initiative of NASA Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 Only 1 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Japanese cell biologist was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy. Consider the following Autophagy is a normal physiological process that deals with destruction of cells in the body. It is also called programmed cell death Understanding the mechanism of autophagy will aid in the fight against diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 Only 1 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Millimeter waves are broadcast at frequencies between 10 to 100 gigahertz 20 to 200 gigahertz 30 to 300 gigahertz 40 to 400 gigahertz Q.5) The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is an astronomical interferometer of radio telescopes. It is located in Chile Argentina Brazil Columbia Q.6) Consider the following statements regarding LISA Pathfinder Mission The mission aims to calculate the exact distance between Earth and recently fund galaxies. LISA Pathfinder is paving the way for future missions by testing in flight the very concept of gravitational wave detection. LISA Pathfinder is a joint ESA and NASA mission, which also carries a NASA payload. Which of the given statements is/are incorrect? 1 Only 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.7) Consider the following regarding YAWS disease It is a tropical viral disease It affects skin, bones and cartilage It can lead to deformity and disability if left untreated Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.8) CHARGE Syndrome is said to affect 1 in 20000 people around the world. Consider the following statements regarding this It is as a result of a rare genetic defect It results in growth retardation It results in coloboma, an eye abnormality that occurs before the birth Which of the given statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.9) Consider the following statements regarding Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) vaccines The vaccine helps in fighting cancer The vaccine offers protection against sexually transmitted Human Papilloma Virus. HPV vaccines are exclusively for Women and Children below 14 years of age Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 Only 2 1, 2 and 3 Q.10) CEPI, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, is a "public-private coalition that aims to derail epidemics by speeding development of vaccines. Consider the following India is a member of CEPI CEPI aims to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccines to contain infectious disease epidemics that are usually neglected Focuses on diseases like Rotavirus, Leprosy, Chikungunya, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 Only 2 1, 2 and 3 Q.11) Select the correct match of vaccine with its disease BGR-34:: Zika PfSPZ:: Malaria MIP:: Leprosy GSL-5700:: Chikungunya Select the correct code 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 2 and 3 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.12)Consider the following with respect to fundamental forces on Earth The range of Gravitational and Electromagnetic Force are almost equal in nature. Law of Gravitation at the Moon is One-Sixth that at the Earth Gravitational Force is a strong force as compared to Weak Nuclear force. Select the correct statement/s Only 1 1 and 2 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.13) Consider the following Frictional Force Air resistance Viscous Force The examples of ‘Contact Forces’ are 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.14) Consider the following statements about Graveyard Orbit. It is also called a junk orbit or disposal orbit. It is a super-synchronous orbit that lies significantly below the synchronous orbit. For satellites in geostationary orbit and geosynchronous orbits, the graveyard orbit is a few hundred kilometers above the operational orbit. Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 3 1 and 2 Only 1 1, 2 and 3 Q.15) Consider the following statements about OLED, Organic Light-Emitting Diode In an OLED the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound. OLEDs require a backlight and are thinner and more efficient than LCD displays OLED is cheaper than the LCD and other displays. Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.16) Consider the following statements about Barren Island It is located in Lakshadweep Barren Island volcano is India’s only active volcano Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.17) Consider the following statements about Strait of Hormuz It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden Yemen lies on the north coast and Djibouti lies on the south coast Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.18) Consider the following statements about Sariska Tiger Reserve It is the first tiger reserve in the world to have successfully relocated tigers It is a part of the Aravalli Range Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.19) Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean under the full sovereignty of Sweden Finland Greenland Norway Q.20) Recently the United Nation’s cultural body UNESCO has added 20 new sites to its network of protected biosphere nature reserves under Man and Biosphere list (MAB). Which of the following statements with reference to MAB list is/are correct? India currently has 10 biosphere reserves under Man and Biosphere list. Great Nicobar is the latest inclusion under the Man and Biosphere list. Spain is the country with the largest number of registered reserves in the MAB list. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? 1 and 2 Only 2 and 3 Only 1 and 3 Only All of the above Q.21) Article 51A (a) refers to National Anthem National Song National Flag Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.22) Consider the following statements about Index of Economic Freedom report 2017 It is released by The Heritage Foundation India has been placed in the category of ‘moderately unfree’ economies The index was topped by Hong Kong Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.23) The Investment Dispute Settlement Navigator (IDSN) is compiled by World Trade Organization United Nations Conference on Trade and Development World Fair Trade Organisation None of the above Q.24) Which of the following states has a ‘Ministry of Happiness’? Rajasthan Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Download The Solution - Click here
IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 11th May, 2017
IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 11th May 2017 Archives ECONOMY/INFRASTRUCTURE 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 Infrastructure Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment Inland waterways Introduction Connectivity is crucial for an economy like India. Especially with a congested road network an inland waterway network that can offer cheaper alternative is crucial. The need is to build a well connected network and interlaced multimodal transport system to create synergy. Inland Waterways Authority of India: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) came into existence on 27th October 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. The Authority primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grant received from Ministry of Shipping. India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. About 55 million tonnes of cargo is being moved annually by Inland Water Transport (IWT), a fuel - efficient and environment -friendly mode. Its operations are currently restricted to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari - Krishna rivers. Besides these organized operations by mechanized vessels, country boats of various capacities also operate in various rivers and canals and substantial quantum of cargo and passengers are transported in this unorganized sector as well. Issue: Inland water transport is finally getting policy attention, but its potential is yet to be realized. As per The National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs) including the five existing NWs. Out of the 111 NWs, NW-1, 2, & 3 are already operational. Cargo as well as passenger / cruise vessels are plying on these waterways. DPR for development of NW-4 & 5 were completed in 2010. The DPR of NW 5 was updated in 2014. For the newly declared 106 NWs, techno-economic feasibility studies have been initiated. Focus: The government is making a concerted effort to raise the share of inland waterways in freight traffic from 2-3 per cent levels (coastal shipping accounts for a similar proportion), in view of its energy efficiency and lower carbon footprint vis-à-vis road and even rail transport. In China, 47 per cent of its domestic freight traffic moves by water, while in the US it is 12 per cent. To this end, the Centre has passed the National Waterways Act 2016, which categorises 106 new rivers as national waterways (adding to the existing five riverine and canal systems), allowing the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to develop these for shipping. The advantages of raising the share of waterways in the transport mix are obvious. A World Bank study points out that a litre of fuel can move 105 tonne-km by inland water transport, against 85 tonne-km by rail and 24 tonne-km by road. Likewise, the carbon emission per tonne km is 32-36 gms in the case of container vessels, against 51-91 gms in the case of road transport vehicles. Reduced congestion on roads and fewer accidents are an added advantage. Integrated Union transport ministry: An integrated Union transport ministry could address this failing. The 2014 report of the National Transport Policy Development Committee estimates that to achieve industrial growth of 10 per cent over the next two decades, public and private investment in transport will have to increase at least threefold over this period, from ₹20 trillion in the 12th Plan. However, in moving ahead, two issues need to be considered: First, the rights of States and local communities over water resources and Second, the ecological consequences of movement of heavy vessels in particular. The impact of dredging and barrages on river flows (Farakka being an example) and direction, aquatic life and the livelihoods of citizens dependent on the river is an important aspect. A Standing Committee report has pointed to the need to regenerate rainfed rivers and take into account the rights of States with respect to irrigation and provision of drinking water. It rightly suggests a regulator with both Central and State government representatives to address a gamut of concerns Sagarmala: Concept and implementation towards Blue Revolution The prime objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. Therefore, the Sagarmala Project shall, inter alia, aim to develop access to new development regions with intermodal solutions and promotion of the optimum modal split, enhanced connectivity with main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road services. The Sagarmala initiative will address challenges by focusing on three pillars of development, namely Supporting and enabling Port-led Development through appropriate policy and institutional interventions and providing for an institutional framework for ensuring inter-agency and ministries/departments/states’ collaboration for integrated development Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland. Conclusion: A growing economy needs to take an integrated and long-term view of developing transport infrastructure so that there is seamless connectivity across different modes as well as balanced, planned and coordinated development across regions. This has been a casualty in transport policy, manifested perhaps by the failure of several PPP projects in roads. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the significance of National waterways project and the synergy it can generate with Sagarmala initiative. HEALTH TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017: SALIENT FEATURES and KEY HIGHLIGHTS Union cabinet recently approved the National Health Policy, 2017. It will replace the previous policy which was framed 15 years ago in 2002. The National Health Policy of 1983 and the National Health Policy of 2002 have served well in guiding the approach for the health sector in the Five-Year Plans. Now 14 years after the last health policy, the context has changed in four major ways. First, the health priorities are changing. Although maternal and child mortality have rapidly declined, there is growing burden on account of non-communicable diseases and some infectious diseases. The second important change is the emergence of a robust health care industry estimated to be growing at double digit. The third change is the growing incidences of catastrophic expenditure due to health care costs, which are presently estimated to be one of the major contributors to poverty. Fourth, a rising economic growth enables enhanced fiscal capacity. Therefore, a new health policy responsive to these contextual changes is required. The primary aim of the National Health Policy, 2017, is to inform, clarify, strengthen and prioritize the role of the Government in shaping health systems in all its dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, prevention of diseases and promotion of good health through cross sectoral actions, access to technologies, developing human resources, encouraging medical pluralism, building knowledge base, developing better financial protection strategies, strengthening regulation and health assurance. Goal The policy envisages as its goal the attainment of the highest possible level of health and wellbeing for all at all ages, through a preventive and promotive health care orientation in all developmental policies, and universal access to good quality health care services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence. This would be achieved through increasing access, improving quality and lowering the cost of healthcare delivery. The policy recognizes the pivotal importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Major Highlights of National Health Policy, 2017 Assurance Based Approach- Policy advocates progressively incremental Assurance based Approach with focus on preventive and promotive healthcare Health Card linked to health facilities- Policy recommends linking the health card to primary care facility for a defined package of services anywhere in the country. Patient Centric Approach- Policy recommends the setting up of a separate, empowered medical tribunal for speedy resolution to address disputes /complaints regarding standards of care, prices of services, negligence and unfair practices. Standard Regulatory framework for laboratories and imaging centers, specialized emerging services, etc Micronutrient Deficiency- Focus on reducing micronutrient malnourishment and systematic approach to address heterogeneity in micronutrient adequacy across regions. Quality of Care- Public hospitals and facilities would undergo periodic measurements and certification of level of quality. Focus on Standard Regulatory Framework to eliminate risks of inappropriate care by maintaining adequate standards of diagnosis and treatment. Make in India Initiative- Policy advocates the need to incentivize local manufacturing to provide customized indigenous products for Indian population in the long run. Application of Digital Health- Policy advocates extensive deployment of digital tools for improving the efficiency and outcome of the healthcare system and aims at an integrated health information system which serves the needs of all stake-holders and improves efficiency, transparency, and citizen experience. Private Sector engagement for strategic purchase for critical gap filling and for achievement of health goals. At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to make health as a fundamental right. However, National Health Policy, 2017 advocates progressively incremental Assurance based Approach with focus on preventive and promotive healthcare. The National Health Policy 2017 recognises that improved access, education and empowerment would be the basis of successful population stabilization. The policy imperative is to move away from camp based services with all its attendant problems of quality, safety and dignity of women, to a situation where these services are available on any day of the week or at least on a fixed day. The government has allocated Rs48,878 crore to the health sector in the recent budget, increasing it to 2.2% of the total Union budget . With such a massive investment, the government would do well to ensure that healthcare services reach the intended beneficiaries and that the beneficiaries avail of them fully. Think tanks are now focusing increasingly on building evidence bases for policies and programmes that can improve development outcomes. Researchers are aiding the government and stakeholders in conducting rigorous research and utilizing research findings. The National Health Policy aims at inclusive partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, and the healthcare industry. It also speaks of “research collaboration” in healthcare delivery. Spending some resources on research will help the government deliver benefits in an effective way as well as avoid the often-repeated mistakes of earlier mechanisms. With minimal investment, the government will stand to gain from robust evidence. Research can prove to be a shot in the arm for safeguarding the government’s health goals—and the population. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the aims and features of National Health Policy, 2017. Critically analyse the impact of the new National Health Policy, 2017 on the health fabric of the country especially with increasing cases of depression and non-communicable diseases. National Health Policy 2017 is a step in the right direction. Discuss the policy critically in view of the rural health parameters of India and global SDGs. 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IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 10th May, 2017
IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 10th May 2017 Archives SCIENCE & 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. What ails Indian science? Earlier this year, top administrators in Indian science submitted a detailed project report on ‘the state of Indian science’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The report, titled ‘Vigyan 2030: Science and Technology as the Pivot for Jobs, Opportunities and National Transformation’ jointly submitted by the secretaries of all the Central science departments, lays out a sweeping plan to rejuvenate science in India. The report has noted that stature of Indian science is a shadow of what it used to be, because of decades of misguided interventions. Improve the participation of women The report reflects an urgency to improve the participation of women in the transformation of Indian science. Though there are more girls than boys in the life sciences, there are fewer in physics, maths, earth science and chemistry. Enrolment of women is 28% in engineering, and “very low” in the “classical streams” (mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical), it notes. Previous studies have found that when compared to the U.S., European Union, and several Asian countries, India fared reasonably well when it comes to enrolment of women in science and engineering, which stood at around 35%. But the proportion of women in the science and engineering workforce was an abysmal 12%. ₹2,000-crore initiative to encourage more girls and women The Department of Science and Technology will be leading a ₹2,000-crore initiative to encourage more girls and women to take up careers in the domain of science and engineering, where they are under-represented. A pilot programme covering 100,000 girls and women, from school-going children to those interested in research, will be launched later this year. The current initiative, called Vigyan Jyoti, envisages 500 contractual faculty positions for five years in universities and research organisations, and special scholarships for school girls. Alongside mentoring, there would be a concerted effort to expose them to more areas of science and engineering, present role-models to inspire them, and conduct counselling sessions for parents and teachers. The proposal is a key part of a report, Vigyan 2030. STEAM to catapult India into the path of development and growth None of the political parties nor even the candidates seems to have science, technology, environment, agriculture and medicine (STEAM) in their agenda for the development of the nation or the state. When we look back six decades or 15 parliamentary elections ago, when free India was born, the founding fathers “made friends with science” as a national policy and used the tools of STEAM to catapult India into the path of development and growth. ‘It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy … the future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.’ - Jawaharlal Nehru It was the science of agriculture that ushered in the green revolution, of medicine that rid us of smallpox (and now polio), of technology that made us an atomic and nuclear power. The fruits of indigenous science and technology, the 1.4 million electronic voting machines (EVM) made in India, form the bedrock for the efficient management of the general election. The indelible Indian ink on voters’ fingers, flaunted in selfies everywhere, is another great Indian innovation. Failure of organisations and departments The existing systems of science governance in this country are robust with departments reporting to ministers who in turn report to the Union Cabinet. There is no lack of sound advisory bodies and committees within these departments. Umbrella organisations or overarching bodies (such as Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister or Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India or NITI Aayog, now essentially a policy think tank, and tasked with coordinating States and research agencies) can pool the intellectual and technological resources of organisations and direct them towards specific missions. However, despite having a team of experienced scientists and eminents, they haven’t substantially vaulted science and technology in the country either. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, a pre-Independence institution, is another body that directly reports to the Prime Minister and has an independently-constituted governing council. It faces its own challenges of effectively translating its know-how. Scientific departments in India, from the Department of Atomic Energy to the Department of Science & Technology, have bureaucracies of their own. They battle the dilemma of having to take bold, expensive risks — that science by its very nature requires — and on the other hand, be accountable to the Finance Ministry. Need for an independent science and technology authority One among several key recommendations provided in the report is to have an independent science and technology authority that will have two parallel arms. One, a ‘discovery arm’ that can organise the expertise of various organisations across states and regions to solve a basic research problem. Two, a ‘delivery arm’ that will closely work with industry and evolve public private partnerships. Such an authority, the report envisions, will report directly to the Prime Minister. SPARK (Sustainable Progress through Application of Research and Knowledge), as the body is tentatively named, will be overarching yet have “light touch” governance. SPARK (Sustainable Progress through Application of Research and Knowledge) is a proposed initiative to synergise science activity in India. Reality of Indian science The goals of SPARK seem to be most closely attuned with NITI Aayog, and it might well be effective only within this parent organisation, taking inputs from various quarters such as industries, the ministries themselves and NGOs to make proposals, some of which could move forward to become major initiatives. Structure of a overarching body:Science does not end with the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research and other elite institutions. The report talking about huge support system and global goodwill is less acceptable. India does not need global goodwill to succeed in science. It needs hard work, honest management and a critically large base of experts. Decisions on new initiatives like SPARK should not be taken within government departments in Delhi following a proposal from one closed administrative group to another. A broad-based consultation with stakeholders is a must. Even if SPARK is constituted, it needs financial independence; given the relationship between the Ministry of Finance and its Department of Expenditure on the one hand and the science departments on the other, this remains a moot point. Large systems that work even moderately satisfactorily should not be tinkered with too much, for we may then have to face unintended consequences. Conclusion: Indian science is certainly not in a good state of health today. But what is wrong is not the structure of the system. The wrongs emanate from the many sins of omission and commission over the years by the individuals who have led the system. Hence the need is to address the root cause rather than add to the top heavy system. For a country of size and population of India the need for continuous research and development to create innovative solutions is critical. Hence a science and technology policy that is holistic and caters to all areas is a necessity. Connecting the dots: Science and technology has solutions worthwhile for the country’s long term progress. Critically discuss the shortcoming in India’s STEAM architecture. A new body such as SPARK will just create just another rest house for retired and senior bureaucrats. 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The Big Picture - Jammu and Kashmir: Role of Media
Jammu and Kashmir: Role of Media Archives TOPIC:General Studies 3 role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, Challenges to internal security through communication networks With Kashmir continuing to simmer under student protests, CM of Jammu and Kashmir has blamed the media for unnecessarily exaggerating the security situation in the valley. She has mentioned that electronic media shouldn’t show discussions that promote hatred against Kashmiris. Kashmir situation worsened in past three weeks with onset of protests against use of force on agitating students. The situation escalated after cops raided a degree college in pulwama in which 17 students were injured. Role of media The media has two functions. To inform the facts on the ground. Be responsible to place things in perspective so that people in rest of country get an accurate picture. Largely the people are getting accurate picture however, the media should be responsible enough to report the truth and avoid exaggeration which seems to be case when Kashmir is discussed. There is wide section of opinion outside the valley which is unhappy with continued agitation, calls of separatism and when Pakistani flags are raised. Therefore if there are participants in talk shows who reflect this unhappiness, then it is something that the political leadership in the government of Kashmir will have to accept. At the same time, things have to be handled with certain degree of sobriety. There shouldn’t be an increasing chasm between Kashmir and the rest of country especially the Kashmir students outside the valley should be made to feel welcome. Though Kashmir faced worse in 1990s, the media situation was very different then. There wasn’t proliferation of channels, the print media was different and the social media didn’t exist. So this factor has to be taken into account. The situation is also qualitatively different in the valley in 1990s than it is now. However, Pakistan’s interference in Kashmir continues unabated. It has assumed different forms. The Kashmir issue It is a territorial issue which relates to Indian territory of state of Jammu and Kashmir against Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation. This has to be dealt with internationally (bilaterally) by GoI. There is an internal matter which is within the domain of a centre state relations. As long as Kashmiri leadership and people insist on mixing up these two, the media will continue to mix it up. When media will mix it up, there will be a certain element of nationalism which will come in. There are professional guidance on how media should work. But media is also made of people with sentiments. Pakistani terrorism and interference has gone on for three decades. It has to be made clear to Kashmir leadership that there is a question of Pakistan only when it comes to occupational territory and not internal relations. This has to be dealt with within the realms of Indian constitution. Not the true picture The problem in Kashmir is also because of provocation from the national media, especially TV channels. As far as local media in Kashmir is concerned, it has been more balanced. The local media has been working under tremendous pressure since last 26 years in a conflict situation, with pressure from state as well as non-state actors. The mainstream media of India, especially the TV has become very toxic in recent times. In rest of India, media plays a role in exposing police atrocities, but in Kashmir, the victims are portrayed as unworthy of sympathy and an atmosphere is created because of which Kashmiris get beaten up. The Indian media has been showing isolated incidences of violence which is stroking fire across the valley.There are provoking passions in the rest of country by repeatedly showing incidences of stone pelting on security forces. It is not that as mainstream media doesn’t know how to report in Kashmir. There have been conflicts in north east which have been reported responsibly. However, the media seems to be biased in Kashmir case. It is because media over time has realised that to gain more TRPs, if Kashmir issue is raised through national security prism, it raises more eyeballs. This is reinforced by the guests that come on the talk show who are expert commentators and former government servants. They create such an atmosphere which makes the Kashmir situation more complex. So media instead of being an observer has become a participant in the Kashmir case. For this, the quality of guests should be improved, the diversity of opinion should increase, Kashmirisshould be allowed to write about Kashmir. It is not entirely Indian media’s blame to whatever is happening in Kashmir. The Pakistan media is creating havoc in valley. Small things are flashed all over their media inciting fire against the security forces. Adding to it, the state government and the central government also have to be blamed for their inactivity in solving the problems. Just by disregarding that ‘talks and terror’ cant go hand in hand, they are not taking steps to solve the situation. The Kashmir leadership has to play its part in educating a public opinion in India. At the end of the day, there is a certain objective reality in Kashmir. There has been agitation, stone pelting etc.s which is going on and that is true even after factoring the exaggeration. And these agitations viewed by vast sections of Indians is provoking a reaction. Therefore it is incorrect to say that only a small segment views the developments in Kashmir outside the nationalist perspective. Security forces are shedding their blood in Kashmir and Indians can’t be oblivious to it. Way forward Self restraint is absent in media. If not restraint then some restrictions have to be exercised in reporting. There are certain norms which have to be observed when it comes to reportage, especially in conflict situation. Hence media should observe that in name of security of the armed forces so that no further damage is done to Indian side. On the other hand, a dialogue process needs to be initiated. If the government doesn’t wishes to talk to separatists, it is fine. But they should atleast talk to the youth, the students and find out why they are picking up stones. The results of exam have been good and students are joining civil services, army and other careers. So the media should not homogenise the picture about Kashmir. The reporters should stay in Kashmir and then write about it like they do it while covering in other foreign countries. The dominant view of the state on national security should not be taken over by media. If that happens, the media is threatening national security. Negative feedback by media stabilises the system and hence media should be the facilitator of the platform to provide opinion and not become the representative of it. Connecting the dots: The role of media is extremely important in the recent times, especially when it comes to security of India. Critically analyse the importance of media for the same.
IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Geography and Current Affairs [Day 40]
Hello Friends So, here we are with the 40th 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 40]: GEOGRAPHY & CURRENT AFFAIRS ARCHIVES World Geography (Physical) – Landforms FOCUS ON: A general idea about Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics Theory, Sea Floor Spreading Geomorphic process Exogenic and Endogenic process, geomorphic agents – its impact. Volcanoes – why and how are they formed? Weathering and its significance Mass Movements – creep, avalanche, landslides Erosion and Deposits. Basic ideas on other landforms like deltas, valleys, meanders, alluvial fans, caves, glaciers, cliffs, terraces, dunes Earth’s movements like folding, faulting, warping and its impact on Landforms Earthquakes – their origin, why and how are they formed, Earthquake Waves like P waves, S Waves, L Waves Geographical features – Atlas mountains, Highlands and the regions they are found in; Desert regions across the world PRELIMS MCQ’s: Q.1) Which among the below given pairs is/are correct? Dykes : : horizontal intrusion of magma Sills : : vertical intrusion of magma Phacolith : : lens shaped mass of igneous rocks Choose the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 2 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 None Q.2) Consider the below statements in regard to different seismic waves: Earth quake are the zone of seismicity where surface waves are the most destructive. P and S waves both forms shadow zones and shadow zone of P waves is larger than that of S wave. Shadow zones forms due to varying refractive indexes of different layers of earth. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 3 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Which among the below given pairs is/are incorrect? Boundary Interaction : : Physical Feature Subduction Zone : : Alps Mountains Collision Zone : : Andes Mountains Transform Boundary Interaction : : North Anatolian Fault in Turkey Divergent Plates : : East Pacific Rise Choose appropriate answer from the codes given below: 1 and 2 only 3 and 4 only 3 only None Q.4) Vosges mountain, Great Rift Valley, Sierra Nevada, Rhine valley, are examples of – Volcanic mountains Block mountains Fold mountains None of the above Q.5) Match the following in correct sequence: Land forms Features Rivers A) Stalagmite Desert B) Truncated spurs Glacier C) Stump Karsts D) Wadi E) Spurs Codes: 1-2-3-4 E-D-C-A A-D-B-E E-D-B-A A-C-D-B Q.6) Consider the following statements: Most of the hot deserts are present on the western margin of the continents in the zones of trade winds. Namib desert is a classic example of the zone where trade winds blow offshore. Choose the correct answer from the codes given below: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) Which of the following is not a chemical weathering process? Solution Oxidation Exfoliation Carbonation Q.8) With reference to residual mountain which of the following statements is/are correct? Residual mountains are formed by general lowering of level of surfaces nearby due to faulting. Residual mountains can also be formed by the action of weathering. Vindhyas and Rajmahal hills are example of residual mountains. Select the correct answer using the code below: 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.9) Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List I List II Name Part of Ocean Gulf of Thailand A. South China Sea Gulf of Ob B. Arctic Ocean Gulf of Aqaba C. Red Sea Persian Gulf D. Indian Ocean Code: 1-2-3-4 C-D-A-B C-A-B-D D-B-A-C A-B-C-D Q.10) Which of the following is/are the characteristic features of the convergent plate boundary? Formation of zone of progressively deeper earthquakes. Formation of chain of volcanic islands. Shortening and thickening of the plates within the collision zone. Choose the correct answer using the codes below: 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 2 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.11) Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List I List II Desert Country Kyzyl Kum A. China Dasht-e-Lut B. Kazakhstan Kara Kum C. Iran Ordos D. Central Asian Countries Code: 1-2-3-4 B-C-D-A A-B-C-D C-D-A-B A-C-B-D Q.12) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Ash and cinder cones are built where eruptions are of the explosive type with a predominance of pyroclastic material. The ash and cinder cones seldom attain heights in excess of a few hundred metres. Choose the appropriate answer: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.13) While entering the plains, Himalayan rivers generally make which of the following patterns? Braided channels Flat valleys Ox-bow lakes Select the correct answer using the codes below: 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.14) The rivers originating from the Amarkantak range present a good example of Dendritic Drainage pattern Radial Drainage pattern Trellis Drainage pattern Centripetal Drainage pattern Q.15) A large blister or igneous mound with a dome-shaped upper surface and a level base fed by a pipe-like conduit from below is called Laccolith Batholith Phacolith Lopolith Q.16) Consider the following statements about ‘National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities’ (NMMA) It has the mandate of identifying, documenting, conserving and making accessible the manuscript heritage of India It helps in developing synergy between institutions like Archaeological Survey of India, State Departments, concerned Institutions and NGOs to generate close interaction Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation has been declared as the nodal agency for the NMMA for administrative, logistic, planning and budgeting purposes Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 Only 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 Q.17) Bluesnarfing is A method whereby users download malicious code by simply clicking at some advertisement on any website that is infected Theft of information from a wireless device through a Bluetooth connection Fraudulent practice of sending emails in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers It enters your computer network and encrypts your files using public-key encryption and this encryption key remains on the hacker’s server Q.18) Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line? Malacca Strait Bering Strait Strait of Florida Strait of Gibraltar Q.19) Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp is located in Jordan Kenya Egypt Morocco Q.20) Qumran Caves was in news recently. It is located in West Asia North West Africa Tibet Iberian Peninsula Q.21) Where does exchange of gases (O2 and CO2) take place in our lungs? Alveoli Bronchi Pleura Trachea Q.22) Consider the following statements about Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C;) named Netra It is indigenously developed by DRDO It is based on Embraer aircraft Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.23) Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tamil Nadu Kerala Maharashtra Andaman and Nicobar Islands Q.24) Consider the following statements about Mycorrhiza It is a symbiotic association between bacterial micro-organism and roots of plants It is used as a biofertiliser The shelf life of mycorrhiza biofertiliser is higher than rhizobium Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.25) Consider the following statements about Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) The scheme is for boys and girls between the ages of 10-19 years Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has developed a National Adolescent Health Strategy in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to guide the implementation of this programme Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Download The Solution - Click here
The Big Picture - New Banking Ordinance: What will be the Impact?
New Banking Ordinance: What will be the Impact? Archives TOPIC:General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The President approved an ordinance on NPAsby adding sections 35AA and 35AB to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BRA) which will provide greater powers to the RBI to tackle mounting bad loans.The amendment is expected to help in effectively resolving the bad loans problems as the banks are struggling with the bad loans worth nearly Rs. 7 lakh crores. Former RBI governor RaghuramRajan had initiated the process of Asset Quality Review in 2015 to recognise the bad loans within a deadline to clean up their balance sheets by March 2017. But the problem continues to plague the economy. What the government thinks The government’s diagnosis of the problem is that there are large number of NPAs, probably mainly in the PSBs. Most of the problems lies with regard to recovery is on account of issues in real sector and not wilful defaulters. The banks are not able to take decisions which normally bankers should take in such situation of taking a haircut, settling the account and moving forward or taking over the asset and going for liquidation. The government’s diagnosis seems to be that the top management of the bank seems to be too risk averse and are not taking needed decisions and that is why NPAs continue to remain on the books of banks. So the government thinks that by bringing RBI into picture and enabling it to give directions to these banks to settle their accounts, set up committees to give buffer for decision making can solve the problem. But it raises questions such as- It is a problem of PSB and bringing in central bank to do operational issues is not apt. The NPAs are created by the decisions of banks and not RBI. To bring a regulator in this matter to give directions to the banks is a backseat management by RBI which is not beneficial in the long run. If the regulation is confined to PSBs then government should have done the work itself without brining RBI. If the buffers are provided to management of PSBs, they are going to be even more risk averse in future. So it is not known if it is really going to solve the problem. Understanding the ordinance The ordinance does not clarify the purpose of the amendment. Ideally a new law should have rationale and background so that there is no ambiguity in understanding the issue. But the amendment fails to give such resourceful insight. For instance, BRA already gives RBI expansive powers to issue directions to banks. Yet an amendment was made to give powers to the RBI that it already has. The direction of reforms in the financial sector and the overall interconnectedness between the public and the private balance sheets is to put the regulator and the owners at the arm’s length. While the contours of the agreement are yet to be made public, it also seems that CPSEs will be asked to take over some of the assets. This is some kind of nationalisation which raises questions.RBI is getting into a role of micro- manager which is not its role. It is also said that Joint Lenders Forum will be given direction by the RBI. If 20 banks have financed one large project and they cannot come to consensus because of interference of one part of lenders’ segment with the promoters, it is not a good thing with RBI also interfering it. Some kind of flexibility is expected to be given to existing frameworks like 5/25 scheme, JLF, S4A process etc. This was what the bankers are demanding despite the criticism that more flexibilities give promoters chance to get out with lesser penalties. Not solving the past In past 3-4 years, there was a same kind of anticipation about resolving of the NPA issues through various new schemes, which is visible today. There is an attempt to distribute, diversify, take controversial decisions like price at which these assets have to be offloaded (haircut or discount at which banks should do it) etc. However, not great efforts have been given in resolving the assets as it is mostly about restructuring. Two types of NPAs- wilful defaulters who have diverted the money for other businesses and assets. There is a well thought out system to deal with wilful defaulters. This ordnance doesn’t seek to deal with these defaulters. The other set of NPAs which appear to have a larger proportion today have been caused by problems in the real sector which may be because of global economy, policy impediments, policy risks, some judicial decisions on environmental issues where projects were started and environmental concerns rose up later. These problems of NPAs arising out of policy impediments will be tackled through this ordinance. NPAs got created because of lot of reasons- decision couldn’t be taken to solve it, off take for certain commodities like power is not upto the level, investing money from one source to another to revive the stressed assets. This in turn harms other projects and this has led to more powers to RBI. This looks like a desperate solution to desperate situation. So far omnipotent solutions were being applied to borrowers in general. This attempts to take specific cases and try and reach a solution. As case by case flexibility has to be shown in overall regulatory. But RBI hardly has the expertise to make the commercial decisions or be part of it. They are a regulator and they supervise the banks. Their role and credibility will come to question if they take roles of directing banks to provide x amount of haircut in y case and similar things. The reputational hit taken by RBI due to demonetisation will be worsened with another body blow. There is no need of RBI as an independent regulator to take over the NPA issues when already there have been independent bodies, quasi-judicial bodies, committees have been made to resolve the issue. In conclusion There has been mis-judgement and mis-handling of the NPAs since long. Mis-judgement meaning in 2013-14 because of non-tradeable sector, exposure to the exchange rate and large correction automatically inflated the debt which was incurred in foreign currency. The whole issue has been discussed publicly and when such happens, then there is increase in risk aversion.So any decision subsequently of each individual instance is also bound to be discussed publicly. The focus has been the belief in the public and in general has been fostered that all the bad loans represent malfeasance. But for this, one has to go back to 2009-10 when the lending norms to infrastructural projects were relaxed by RBI. So banks were encouraged then as there was a financial crisis and external demand was out and therefore the reliance was only on domestic demand. This context is buried and is not discussed at all. In 2009-10, every institution, including IMF had forecast a very over-optimistic picture. However, with slow growth of global economy and various other factors affecting it, the growth rate of India was also concurrently corrected. This does not mean that the funding made available for assets creation during those time are now malmalfeasance. It is necessary to look into the background to assess the present situation. Restructuring schemes 5/25 Allows banks to extend long-term loans of 20-25 years to match the cash flow of projects, while refinancing them every five or seven years. Until now, banks were typically not lending beyond 10-12 years. As a result, cash flows of infrastructure firms were stretched as they tried to meet shorter repayment schedules. JLF JLFs were intended to recognize stressed assets early and come up with a corrective action plan (CAP) within 45 days. The system, however, did not work seamlessly as there were disagreements between lenders on how to move forward on individual accounts. S4A Large ticket loans are restructured by separating a sustainable loan from an unsustainable loan. The lenders make the classification. Sustainable level of debt is one which the banks think the stressed borrower can service with its current cash flows. Banks can convert the unsustainable debt into equity or equity related instruments, which are expected to provide upside to the lenders in case the borrower cannot regain the glory and rework the financial structure. How NPAs are created? Giving a loan to a borrower is a commercial decision of the bank. The corporate borrower maybe unable to repay the loan for any number of reasons. Lending decisions taken by an honest banker can also give rise to NPAs. The problem turns into a crisis when the NPAs are allowed to linger on for years and their volume become so large that banks’ balance sheets become severely impaired. This eventually leads to a credit crunch in the economy and starts to affect investment and growth, as has been the case over the last few years in the Indian economy. (Source: Wire) Connecting the dots: Indian banks need to resolve their NPA issues at the earliest to boost the economy for further development. What are the measures taken by concerned stakeholders to address the issue?
All India Radio - Issues Faced by Students Applying for Studying Abroad
Issues Faced by Students Applying for Studying Abroad ARCHIVES Search 12th February 2017 http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC:General Studies 1 Effects of globalization on Indian society It has been a matter of routine that now many young people in India aspire to get a degree from foreign universities. The majority of the young generation feels that a foreign degree really helps them in shaping their career, personal life and other areas. However, there are many issues faced by them while pursuing admissions in foreign universities. The highlighted amongst them recently is the protectionist measures taken by western countries, especially USA. The attraction of foreign universities Indian students prefer countries such as USA, UK, Australia, NZ and France for further studies, especially for post-graduation. It is so because at the graduate level, the cost is very high in all good universities which comes to around Rs. 80 lakhs per annum. This is beyond the means of a normal medium class Indian family. The finance is a huge part of process of studying abroad. In order to achieve their dreams, most students often take course of educational loan. The top US universities, Ivy league colleges have fee structure spanning to 200,000 dollars. And thus to support the parents/guardians to pay back the loans, the students prefer to work part time which is contradictory to the purpose why they study in a foreign university. So when the students go abroad to study, they always search for possibilities to do part time work to pay their educational loans. The rules for whether a student can work while on a student visa or whether they can stay back for one year varies from country to country. For students who really wish to and can afford finances for a foreign universities, it is important to find about institutions abroad as there are chances of they being just of paper or not with necessary recognition of courses offered. The students should take bonafide of the institutions where they are planning to go andwhere they are applying. As lot of money and time is being spent while looking after these universities, registration, visa application, tuition fees, lodging, boarding, travel etc., students should enquire about accreditation, authenticity, reputation and status of the educational institution they wish to study. The internet now has whole lot of information about the universities. Even the consular services can be visited to seek advice for the universities in the country. Till recently, the government of India did not have any data of how many Indian students were studying abroad. Recently, MEA started a mechanism to keep the track of students going abroad. A registration module is launched for Indians studying abroad so that they can be reached in case of emergency. Also, students are one of the means of foreign exchanges and thus RBI should also be taking note of the students going abroad for higher education purpose. The mood of changing world The political situation across the world is changing. The rise of conservative forces is experience and reverse of globalisation is there. And the students have not been left behind in facing its impact. People go there not only for education but also to get professionally absorbed over there. When the local people see Asian students doing part time job, they are deprived of their employment opportunities. Thus, the new administration is very hesitant about the same and is making its immigration laws very strict so that only the brightest and the best people can be part of their country.The rise of protectionism, anti-immigrant feeling may not be directly only against students but those who look visibly different.Issues of attacks on students have also been recorded but it is not known if it is racial attack or law and order problem. The students in foreign countries look forward to change their life for better after spending a bomb on the education. Theylook forward to living peacefully without any racial security threat. Another option for students is to try to gain education in Indian universities, especially graduation. The government is increasing the quantity and quality of top universities such as IITs, IIMs and AIIMs throughout the nation. The students should explore various possibilities in the country to gain education and generate employment. Can the course be reversed? In last 15 years, the economic situation is deteriorating everywhere.If Indian students do not go to American, British, Australian and NZ universities, they will start closing down because most of the high listed universities in these countries have more than 50% students and 30% teachers from India and China. There is a possibility of reverse brain drain as with increasing protectionist measures across countries. Those teachers and students should be attracted to India and create a brand of the institution in education sector. USA now has a good system of education which India had in ancient times with world universities of Nalanda and Takshashila. India should strive to increase its standards of education so that students from other countries come to India more frequently to pursue higher education. Connecting the dots: The Indian students are the future of India’s growth but they are lost to foreign universities for lack of quality and quantity of educational opportunities. Do you agree? Discuss.
The Big Picture - Can Global Trade Survive Protectionist Onslaught in the Western World
Can Global Trade Survive Protectionist Onslaught in the Western World Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests General Studies 3 Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. The IMF chief has cautioned that the rise in protectionism in developed countries could trigger capital outflows and hurt demand resulting in deterioration in corporate balance sheets in countries such as China, India and South Africa. Emerging Market Economies have become more resilient but the rise of an abrupt tightening of financial controlling and increased protectionism now pose new challenges for policy makers. Protectionism The situation is going back to the pre-globalisation period with a view that it will be helpful to all but it will only hurt the world economies and people welfare. When fair and balance economy is expected, the services are supposed to be most competitive- be it labour services or commodities etc. But if the economy is closed and kept it to oneself, then it can be disadvantageous. This is what needs to be understood andbrought into forefront. Why the change of heart by the one who propagated it? The inward movement by USA and EU who were the architects of liberal economic world, is surprising. Just few years ago, it was considered that globalisation that had taken-off was irreversible and suddenly now there is a reverse. The stress in the developed economies which were proponents of free trade had been building up over time. The workers of the manufacturing industry were finding themselves at the receiving end of the change in the global supply chain. Almost every presidential candidate in the last 5 elections in USA has recognised it during their campaigns but once elected, they did not pay much heed to what was promised. The current president of USA is following up in what he believed in and issues which he had raised during the campaign. Thus, he has now started to put things into actions some of the things he had promised. For eg. H1B visa issue. The reactions in USA is due on distribution of consequences of globalisation. For eg. When Indians buy ipad/i-phone, 70% of value accrues to Apple Company in USA which does not manufacture anything in USA and remaining 30% goes to China, Malayasia, Taiwan etc. where manufacturing is done. Also, the 70% going to USA goes to limited class of people who are involved in marketing, financing and intellectual capital. Thus, the people losing out were the workers in the manufacturing industry there. That’s why US GDP is not affected that much by it, but distribution of GDP within USA has led to populist upsurge. Protectionism is on rise whereas multilateralism is what is extremely important as it promotes free, fair, rule based trade that is supposed to be in interest of global economic growth. However, industry believes that the protectionist measures can be short term as though they are politically appealing, the practical aspect will face lot of resistance. The economy has to be competitive enough to sustain and with higher prices from manufacturing onwards, the large scalability of product may not be feasible. Technology promoting reverse globalisation? Two Reebok factories have shifted back to USA, artificial intelligence is now replacing the factory floor workers. This means that the labour factor may not be an important factor for locating industries. This kind of technological development which is progressing fast is reversing the globalisation process which was moving at a fast pace in 1980s and 1990s. The code of globalisation was disaggregation of products- i.e. creating a global value chain. Apple did manufacturing outside USA because it was cheaper. This is getting slowly into reverse in the sense that with automation etc. advantages of outsourcing in terms of cost is coming down. Effect on India? Negative:India is going to be hurt by USA policies on services. For eg. The rules on H1B visas which are being contemplated say that it will be particularly strict for H1B visas of companies where a large proportion of workers are H1B as well as where large proportion of workers work outside the company but not on companies inside USA. So, if google wants to hire an Indian engineer, it will be easy for it than for the Indian companies like Infosys or TCS to take an Indian engineer there. Positive:India might face difficulties in initial run but in long term, it might not as India is not heavily dependent on US market for manufactured exports as China is. It is highly desirable that much of India’s manufacturing growth should be based on domestic demand. India will have to be realistic about overall growth rate. India had growth rate of 8-9% when exports were growing at 19-20%. But today when India’s export growth rate is just 9-10%, India needs to project its growth rate around 7-8% with the increased domestic demand which has huge potential for eg:affordable housing, expansion of FMCGs into rural areas, huge needs in education and health services etc. Thus, in medium and longer run, India will start focusing more on domestic demand growth. Effect of technology:Free trade is about competitive cost advantages which relates to the factors of production. If technology enables traditional economy which is not at an advantageous position wrtFoP earlier but can acquire the advantage because of the technology development, then it could afford to stay out of globalisation and grow. Robotics and automation, artificial intelligence are now being placed in the cloud by IT companies and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. This means that location is not going to be an advantage. So unless India’s IT software industry which was a service provider till now embraces technology of this kind, it might feel the harsh heat of technological upgradation. Thus to minimise the effect of protectionism, India will have to embrace the highest quality technology which is the requirement of digital economy. In short: India has always focused on domestic demand as it is a small player internationally. India has been integrating with global economy in recent years in mostly IT fronts. If looked at service profile, India is still a net importer of services when looked through entire spectrum. Thus, India is neither a factory to the world nor a service center to world. In terms of capital inflow, India is not highly dependent on the global economy. The globalisation was a trend which was at pace and India had to be a part of it to be integrated with world. Now when the globalisation is showing reverse trend, India will not suffer much as it was just half way through to gain the benefits of globalisation. Conclusion India should refrain from replying aggressively to the USA process of starting protectionism. An Indian minister said about starting to reviewing the royalty payment made to American firms. America has a huge merchandise market of worth 15-16 trillion dollar. India will be able to get into this market by using technology through manufacturing sector where technology upgradation is bit slower than in IT. Thus, India should learn to use the technology rather than becoming its victim. Also, it should not underestimate its own bargaining strengths. If India wants its IT professionals in USA then USA also wants easier access to India’s finance and insurance market. Ultimately, there is no better option or substitute for free and fair trade. Protectionism is not an answer. Right now its time for wait and watch. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by protectionism? What will be its impact on Indian economy and business? Critically examine.
IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Lokpal and Leader of Opposition
IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Lokpal and Leader of Opposition Archives P.S- Right Click on the image and open it in new tab. From there you can save it in your system. Reference - Link Link