May 1, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 1st May, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 1st May 2017 Archives INTERNAL SECURITY/NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3 Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Kashmir’s Unending Tragedy Introduction: The dreadful violence and low turnout in a by-election in Kashmir has again raised intense debate in New Delhi. An election that isn’t free is not fair either. The violence in Srinagar left eight people dead and more than 170 injured and the end result was that most voters chose to stay away from polling stations. After the higher voter participation in recent years in the Valley, the way the Srinagar by-election unfolded is indicative of a dramatic slide in the political situation. The killing of Burhan Wani, a ‘commander’ of the Hizbul Mujahideen, by security forces in July last year set off a new cycle of violence in Kashmir that does not seem to have ended to this day as stone-pelting is met with pellet guns. In these circumstances, by-elections may have no political meaning. In any case, without free re-polling in all the booths that witnessed violence, the result in this election counts for little. The below article analyzes what were and are the failures and what can or needs to be done. Real scenario: Somehow we have created a binary in which there are only two opposing groups — those in mainland India who consider Kashmiris to be pro-Pakistan Wahhabis who support terrorism, and those in the Valley who consider Indians to be rabid communalists.  Each has a grain of truth insofar as there are constituencies of extremists on both sides, but only a grain. The majority of Kashmiris want to live in freedom, peace and dignity, just as the majority of Indians do, and we all look to our governments, at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir, to provide us with these. Towards the extremes The growing influence of this ugly mutual binary propaganda, which can be seen not only in social media but also on our television channels, will drive more people to extremism and that, surely, is a cause for concern to citizens as well as the government. There is no denying that the Islamic State-type perversion of Islam has gained ground amongst a few in the Valley, nor that stone-pelting has been organised in many instances. But there should equally be no denying that anger in the Valley is higher than it has been in two decades and has reached alarming proportions. Nor can we deny that at least one major cause of this anger is the lack of a peace and reconciliation process, which the Bharatiya Janata Party-Peoples Democratic Party (BJP-PDP) coalition promised, or that another major cause is the lack of an honest and accountable administration. From above 3 major issues are: Growing influence of mutual binary propaganda where most of the mainland Indians consider Kashmiris to be pro-Pakistan Wahhabis who support terrorism and those in the Valley who consider Indians to be rabid communalists. Islamic State-type perversion of Islam gaining ground amongst a few in the Valley. Escalating anger in the valley and cause of which to be the lack of a peace and reconciliation process; lack of an honest and accountable administration. (In toto failure of administration and government) Security forces bear the brunt of public anger Security forces (Army, Central Reserve Police Force and State police) have been the only visible face of India in the Valley — whereas legislators and civil government are not to be seen. Two recent images from Kashmir have been playing in the mind. The first is of a youth kicking a CRPF soldier. The second is of girls in school uniform, faces covered, pelting stones at security forces. These actions reflect anger, as well as disdain for the security forces. The Valley has rarely seen young women chasing vehicles belonging to the armed forces. The security forces have had to bear the brunt of public anger, and after almost a decade of being stoned, it is not surprising that they commit human rights abuses. But that does not, and must not, mean that we justify abuse or add to it. The real need is to focus on the restoration of trust in administration so that our forces are no longer needed for internal security. Successive governments have done a gross injustice to our troops by keeping them in internal conflict situations for decades on end. The forces can at most contain internal violence and that too only if it is a short-term task; after that it is the responsibility of the administration and political representatives to step in. In the absence of a political and reconciliation process, asking security forces to show restraint in the face of constant stoning is not feasible. Instead of reaching out to stakeholders and finding a solution, the Government seems to see Kashmir purely as a law and order issue. The Doval doctrine — the national security advisor believes the protesters will tire out — doesn’t seem to be working. This might have further alienated Kashmiris from the rest of India. Now the Government has banned 19 social media websites in the State. Peace process and violence Past experience shows that when there has been a peace process, incidents of violence, including stone-pelting, have died down. For instance, in 2010, the government initiated a multitrack process combining humanitarian and political dialogue with security reforms that ranged from tightening the anti-infiltration grid to distinguishing between first-time offenders and ringleaders, and tackling economic woes. It was the combination of these elements that worked then, and they created conditions for political talks that could have significantly improved relations between the Valley and the rest of India. United Progressive Alliance government’s parliamentary delegation had recommended the creation of a group of 3 three interlocutors to submit a report on ground situation. State government failed to follow through on any of the political and constitutional recommendations given by the group, while the BJP rejected it in toto. That failure was a major setback, especially for the several thousand people who spoke to the interlocutors. Failed Agenda of Alliance Another such opportunity was offered by the Agenda for Alliance. The “Agenda for Alliance” released by J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh spoke about many things including political and developmental issues. The PDP and the BJP had entered into a “Governance Alliance” based on an agreement and agenda which was an effort towards seeking a national reconciliation on J&K. The purpose of this alliance was to form a coalition Government that will be empowered to catalyse reconciliation and confidence building within and across the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K thereby ensuring peace in the state. This will, in turn, create an enabling environment for all round economic development of the state and prosperity of the people. The raison d’etre of this alliance is to provide a stable and a representative government in J&K which: Respects the mandate given by the people Strengthens the institutions and widens the ambit of democracy through inclusive politics Provides smart governance Brings about self-sustaining and balanced development across all three regions of the state Creates conditions to facilitate resolution of all issues of J&K As can be observed above, there are political commitments in the Agenda for Alliance that would go a long way to alleviating anger in the Valley, Jammu and Ladakh and they could have been implemented without alienating any of the regions. However, this agenda was diluted and is yet to be implemented effectively. If implemented effectively and if the leaders of the two parties sit down and choose which of the political commitments to honour, it would be an important confidence booster. It is more difficult to make peace today than it was five years ago, and it was more difficult then that in the previous five years. That means it will be even worse in another five years and soon it will be insuperable. Role of Pakistan: History shows us that they have tried to foster an anti-India jihad in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 but without much success until the late 1980s, by which time Article 370 of the Constitution had been rendered a dead letter. By 1988, repeated Indian interference in J&K’s internal political processes led thousands of young Kashmiris to an armed uprising. Since then we have struggled to put those years behind us, and succeeded insofar as free and fair elections are concerned. But our failure to seize windows for political reconciliation has played into Pakistani hands and it is doing so again. As innumerable commentators have pointed out, the best way to prevent Pakistan from making hay is for talks with Kashmiri dissidents. Need of the hour is an effective political dialogue, talks and de-escalation which must go together and it is not wise to make them sequential. Important to engage with all stakeholders: Another concern is that the government is not clear with whom they talk to. A few days ago Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that the government will not talk to people who demand independence or secession. Presumably he meant the Hurriyat, JKLF and allied groups. Such a position makes talks a non-starter — to repeat a platitude, you do not make peace with your friends but with your opponents. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then Home Minister L.K. Advani saw this point clearly, as did their successors, Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram. Address rights abuses Present government should not also forget the Hurriyat and dissident leaders, including of armed groups, who gave their lives in the search for peace with India. Abdul Ghani Lone, the People’s Conference leader who said that the time for armed militancy was over, was assassinated in an Inter-Services Intelligence operation. Pro-Pakistan militants murdered Majid Dar, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander who engaged in talks for a ceasefire with army representatives. More recently, Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi was shot by local militants for talks with Mr. Chidambaram, and almost died. There are many within the Hurriyat who would consider talks again, just as there are many in the Valley who are worried about the lumpenisation of Islam that the stone-pelters represent. None of them, however, will or can cooperate as long as the government fail to offer them a political process and redress human rights abuses. The way ahead: No democracy would easily permit secession of any of its parts, and no democracy can afford to ignore for long the wishes of any of its people. With terrorism engulfing the region and the Islamic State waiting at the gates for an opening, India can ill afford not to pacify its domestic insurgencies. Addressing the true elements of the conflict involves striving for justice, truth, peace, mercy and ultimately reconciliation. If the government wants to restore peace to the Valley, it cannot do it by force — talks with dissidents is the only option.   This can be done by engaging with all stakeholders, including Pakistan. Pakistan, on the other hand, should also realize that by aiding and abetting terror groups, they are only putting the people of the Kashmir Valley in danger. Such attempts would only harden India’s stance. Both countries should keep the interest of Kashmiris in mind, and look to find a solution that is acceptable to all stakeholders. This is not an easy task, but the only permanent solution to put an end to the continuing conflict. Connecting the dots: If the government wants to restore peace to the Valley, it cannot do it by force — talks with dissidents is the only option.  Do you agree? Elucidate. What in your opinion are the factors responsible for the Kashmir unrest? Why solution seems elusive even after 70 years of independence? Is there a way out? Analyse.   INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora BBIN Network Introduction Connectivity is the nerve of any economy. It is seminal for the smooth and effective functioning of an economy. India being part of South Asian network has explored multiple opportunities through its neighbours for multimodal connectivity that can aide trade and transit. BBIN is one such viable initiative. BBIN: The Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to sign the SAARC MVA during the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 2014. Unfortunately, it could not be signed due to reservations of Pakistan. The SAARC declaration at the Kathmandu Summit in November 2014 also encouraged Member States to initiate regional and sub-regional measures to enhance connectivity. The sub-grouping, BBIN as it is referred to, was an alternative mooted by the government after Pakistan rejected the MVA at the SAARC summit in Kathmandu in 2014. It seeks to allow trucks and other commercial vehicles to ply on one another’s highways to facilitate trade. Of the other SAARC members, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are not connected by land, and Afghanistan could only be connected if Pakistan was on board. Accordingly, it was considered appropriate that a sub-regional Motor Vehicle Agreement among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) may be pursued. The BBIN agreement will promote safe, economical efficient and environmentally sound road transport in the sub-region and will further help each country in creating an institutional mechanism for regional integration. BBIN countries will be benefited by mutual cross border movement of passenger and goods for overall economic development of the region. The people of the four countries will benefit through seamless movement of goods and passenger across borders. Each Party will bear its own costs arising from implementation of this agreement. Issue: Bhutan has announced that it would not be able to ratify the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal motor vehicles agreement for the time being and asked the other stakeholders to go ahead with the plan without it. To facilitate the early implementation of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA), the Bhutan government has decided to give its consent for the entry into force of the agreement among the three member states without any obligation to it, the statement said. Analysis: Bhutan’s announcement that it is unable to proceed with the Motor Vehicles Agreement with Bangladesh, India and Nepal is a road block, and not a dead end, for the regional sub-grouping India had planned for ease of access among the four countries. The main concern expressed by Bhutanese citizen groups and politicians is over increased vehicular and air pollution in a country that prides itself on ecological consciousness. Despite the setback, New Delhi must persevere with its efforts. To begin with, Bhutan’s objections are environmental, not political, and its government may well change its mind as time goes by. Advantages of BBIN like framework: Dry runs have been conducted along the routes, and officials estimate the road links could end up circumventing circuitous shipping routes by up to 1,000 km. Second, Bhutan’s concerns may be assuaged if India considers the inclusion of waterways and riverine channels as a less environmentally damaging substitute. Perhaps, Bhutan’s objections may even spur an overhaul of emission standards for trucks currently plying in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Above all, the BBIN pact denotes a “can-do” attitude on India’s part, as it shows a willingness to broaden its connectivity canvas with all countries willing to go ahead at present, leaving the door open for those that may opt to join in the future. A similar initiative for the Asian Highway project under the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) corridor got a boost this week as the countries moved to upgrade the dialogue to the governmental level. Conclusion: Connectivity is the new global currency for growth and prosperity as it secures both trade and energy lines for countries en route, and India must make the most of its geographic advantages Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the necessity for India to evolve new connectivity routes for trade and transit in lines of BCIM in South Asia and East Asia. MUST READ Building holistic India-Sri Lanka ties Hindu   Real Estate Act: Reining in the sharks Hindu   Price caps are a bad idea Hindu   Romancing the Maoists Indian Express   The Necessity Of Dissent Indian Express   Three ten-year plans Indian Express   Winning the long war against the Maoists Livemint   The paradox of progress Livemint   RNA technologies and India’s path forward Livemint   South Asia’s missing intra-regional trade Livemint   Breaking the cycle Business Line   Making local governments accountable Business Line   India’s economy is not growing fast enough Business Line  

May 1, 2017 MindMaps

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - China's Expansion

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - China's Expansion 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

May 1, 2017

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 History and Current Affairs [Day 31]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 31st 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 31]: HISTORY & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Consider the following statements with reference to the Third battle of Panipat It was fought between Nadir Shah and the Marathas Nadir Shah’s troops were defeated by the Marathas Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 or 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements with reference to the Battle of Karnal It was fought between the Mughals and the Marathas in 1739 It was fought between armies of Nadir Shah and the Mughals It was fought between the armies of Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Marathas The Mughal emperor agreed to pay 50 lakhs as war indemnity. which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 4 only 2 and 4 only 3 and 4 only None of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements about the Tagai Loans These were low interest loans granted by Mughal king to the artisans These were the low interest loans given by the Marathas to the farmers The aim of the loans was to protect the cultivators from the money lenders which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only All of the above. Q.4) Consider the following statements regarding Chauth and Sardeshmukhi This system of taxation was started by Shivaji It was levied in the Swarajya land or Mulk-i-Qadim which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 or 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements with reference to the Third Carnatic War It was an extension of Seven Year’s War being fought in Europe French lost Pondicherry in the battle to the British The war ended with signing of the Treaty of Aix- la Chapelle which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only All of the above. Q.6) consider the following statements with reference to the Royal Firman of 1765 It was issued by the Mughal Emperor Akbar II It conferred upon the Company Diwani rights in Bihar, Orissa and Bengal which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 or 2 Q.7) Which of the Following was the reason for the Kol Uprising of 1831? It was an uprising against the British for grabbing of Tribal lands It was an uprising against the Marwari money lenders It was an uprising against the transfer of tribal lands to outsiders None of the above Q.8) Consider the following statements with reference to the Third Anglo-Mysore War It was fought between the Tippu Sultan, Marathas and Nizam on one side and the British on the other The attack on Travancore by Tippu became the immediate cause of the war The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Mangalore Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only None of the above Q.9) Arrange the following events in correct chronological order First Carnatic War Second Anglo-Sikh War Third Anglo-Maratha war Fourth Anglo Mysore War Choose the correct answer using the codes given below 4-1-2-3 4-1-3-2 1-4-2-3 1-4-3-2 Q.10) Which of the Following states was not annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse Policy Satara Udaipur Awadh Nagpur Q.11) Consider the following statements with reference to the Madras labour Union It was one of the first trade union to be organized on modern lines P. Wadia was the first president of MLU which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 or 2 Q.12) The Durand commission to demarcate boundary between India and Afghanistan was setup by Lord Lytton Lord Lansdowne Lord Curzon Lord Dufferin Q.13) Consider the following statements with reference to the annexation of Kingdom of Mysore It was annexed by Wellesley under the policy of Subsidiary Alliance. It was restored to the King of Mysore in 1881 which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 or 2 Q.14) Consider the following statements with reference to the office of Law Member It was created under the provisions of Charter Act of 1813 He was added as the fourth member of the Executive Council of the Governor General Macaulay was appointed as the first Law Member which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only All of the above Q.15) Consider the following statements with reference to the provisions of the Rajagopalachari formula A plebiscite was to be held in North-west and North-East regions to decide on separation Congress and the Muslim League were to have equal representation in the Central Legislature The Muslim League will help Congress in forming the Provisional government for the transitional period which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only All of the above Q.16) INS Khanderi is a Scorpene class submarine Frigate Aircraft carrier Torpedo launch vehicle Q.17) Which of the following are members of the ‘Quartet on the Middle East’ United Nations Israel Russia United States of America European Union Palestine Select the correct code: 1, 3, 4 and 5 1, 2, 4 and 6 1, 2 and 6 2, 3, 4 and 6 Q.18) Consider the following statements about Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) It is attached to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) It is the licensing authority for exporters, importers, and export and import business but cannot prohibit, restrict and regulate exports and imports Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.19) Inclusive Development Index is released by World Bank World Economic Forum United Nations Development Programme None of the above Q.20) Consider the following statements Orphan drugs are developed specifically to treat a rare medical condition Karnataka became the first state to release a Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs Policy Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.21) Which of the following statements about ‘Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan’ It has been launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) It aims to provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month It guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters of pregnancy at designated government health facilities All of the above Q.22) The Supreme Court judgement on Sadiq Ali vs Election Commission of India is concerned with Allotment of a symbol Election speeches Absentee voting NOTA Q.23) Consider the following statements about Capital gain tax? Any profit from the sale of a capital asset is deemed as ‘capital gains’ A capital asset is officially defined as any kind of property held by an assesse, excluding goods held as stock-in-trade, agricultural land and personal effects Shares and equity mutual funds alone enjoy a special dispensation on capital gains tax Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.24) China sent its first freight train to London in what is one of the world's longest train rides. The train will pass through which of the following counties before it gets to London? Belarus Poland Belgium Kyrgyzstan Russia Select the correct code 1, 2, 3 and 4 1, 2, 3 and 5 1, 2 and 5 2, 3 and 5 Q.25) Consider the following statements about ‘Larsen Ice Shelf’ It is a series of three shelves It is a long, fringing ice shelf in the Arctic Ocean Larsen A is the largest which is poised to break off Which of the following statements is/are correct?? 1 and 2 Only 1 1 and 3 2 and 3 Download The Solution - Click here

Apr 30, 2017 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Power of Communication – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Power of Communication: Man is an Island cut off from everyone and everything else. His thoughts are within him, his ideas are within him; all his fears, dreams and desires are within him. Ability to communicate is what connects him to the world and the people in it. In this sense, communication is not just a useful tool; rather it is an indispensable link between you and everything else. Your ability to express yourself well is probably the single most important skill you will ever need to be able to successfully navigate through the maze of life. If you can express things clearly, precisely and effectively, without losing the connection with people, then you will be surprised as to how smoothly you are able to manage your relationships, work and everything else. Communication is at the heart of everything that goes right and everything that goes wrong in our lives. Almost all problems, including wars, are a problem of communication. When communication breaks down, it leads to anger and eventually violence. There is absolutely nothing that a good communication cannot achieve. On the contrary a bad or ineffective communication can ruin anything. Working on your communication skills should be at the top of your priority. Nobody is born with the right set of communication skills necessary for success and happiness. One has to work at it. One has to constantly fine tune his/her communication skills by the trial and error method of feedback and correction. In NLP this trial and error method is called TOTE – Test Operate Test Exit. Always test your communication skills first for their effectiveness and impact. If you feel that the communication is getting the right result, then operate or execute your plan. If the test fails and you don’t get your desired results, then exit. This process once practiced becomes subconscious and automatic. Once your communication skills are perfected using an effective and applicable scientific knowledge, you will face very few problems while dealing with people. This eases your path and helps you to navigate effectively towards your desired results. Communication is really the key to getting what you want. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Apr 30, 2017 AIR

All India Radio - 68th Republic Day- Challenges and Achievements

68th Republic Day- Challenges and Achievements ARCHIVES Search 26th January 2017 http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions India celebrated its 68th republic day in 2017. Since the adoption of constitution on 26th January 1950, India has crossed various milestones but there have been challenges ahead too. President of India said in his speech that a population of 36 million in 1951 grew to 1.3 billion strong nation and yet the per capita income has shown a 10 fold increase, poverty ratio has declined by two thirds, average life expectancy has more than doubled and literacy rate has shown a fourfold increase. Thus, India is today the fastest growing amongst the major economies of world. Concurrently, the President also highlighted the challenges before India and the need to acknowledge that the system is not perfect which is why imperfections need to be recognised and rectified. Journey of India as a nation and as a republic Food management- Though the population has increased many fold, there is no real shortage of food as India has become self-sufficient in food. In recent years, India has exported food which is 360 degree change from times when India had to import foodgrains from USA and Australia. There used to be severe shortage of milk earlier and today because of white revolution, India is one of the largest producers of milk in world. Thus, India has managed to grow itself in terms of self sustenance in food despite booming population. Democracy lives- When India became independent, many scholars were sceptical about democracy in India but India has proved all the sceptics wrong and made democracy a success story in India despite the fact that most of the third world countries did not have successful democracy post their independence after WWII. The democracy and freedom in India has continued because of constitution in the times when almost all countries in neighbourhood of India got their constitutions changed, substituted by new ones or abrogated and dictatorship/military rule. Even though there have been amendments, India’s constitution has survived the changing times. So, democracy has been India’s greatest achievement. Political parties’ dominance- Despite the constituent assembly knowing that entire system will be run by political parties, there is no mention of political parties in original constitution. First time it was mentioned in 1985 through 52nd amendment. The omission of mention of political parties in original constitution was a deliberate move. They expected the polity to largely run on ideals and policies and not on politics of power. Many people like Gandhiji, JP Narayan thought of partyless democracy, so it was possible to have partyless democracy under the constitution. There are laws for companies and registered societies but not political parties. Thus there is a need of reforms in functioning of political parties by means such as monitoring and control of their finances, strict registration and recognition to get exemption from taxes, sources and disbursement of their funds, internal audit and availability of audit accounts for public scrutiny etc. Challenges It is often said that democracy functions through institutions which exercise checks and balances against each other. In India, legislature, executive and judiciary and beyond the constitution, the civil society and media, are the institutions which have kept an eye on each other. Generally it can be said that these institutions have fared well as the powers, jurisdictions, areas of each of these institutions, particularly the three main organs of state, have been clearly defined and delimited by constitution. If each one works within its own sphere, things are supposed to work smoothly. But in actual practice, in recent decades it is observed that they have not performed well as it was expected to perform in their own spheres. Each institution has tried to step into sphere of other. Judicial independence and press freedoms are great achievements but judiciary steps into field of legislature and executive becomes the law maker and legislators try to exercise executive powers. This has created problems, clashes and inefficient performance of each state. Legislative challenges- In recent years, legislatures have faced lot of pandemonium, disturbance and dysfunctionality. It is seen that the legislature meets only for few days and even in those few days, there are more adjournments. This is not a healthy sign of democracy. Sometimes, the standing committees come as saviours as when the house does not function, some work is done in committees. Earlier, the reports used to be normally unanimous and sometimes in the committees, the members of ruling party were more critical of government. But there are challenges now in it too. In earlier decades, the committees worked on strictly non-partisan basis which is no more same as today, party basis has come to play important role. Judicial challenges- During the emergency, the role of judiciary was not very laudable as it was the time when judiciary was most needed to exercise restraint on arbitrary actions of the government. But otherwise as a whole since 1950, it has performed well. It has remained independent and become the last anchor of democracy. But that also leads to the question of judicial overreach where they are entering into field which are not for them. If the executive and legislature doesn’t perform, then it has to step in. Executive challenges- India has largest number of poor, illiterates, there still exists drinking water shortage in many villages in literal numbers even today. After independence, India has continued with the colonial model for administration which is evident from the fact that still some 19th century laws are in force. The same style of functioning of bureaucracy continues and hence it is a task for political class to reorient the bureaucracy. What next? The time is right for electoral reforms as well as simultaneous conduct of general and assembly elections. The highest priority has to be given to electoral reforms and political party reforms because without reforming them, all other reforms are not significant enough. Also, along with it, the constitutional state organs as well as non-constitutional organs should work for the empowerment of people by providing basic facilities necessary for their sustenance and long term path for successful democracy. Lastly, participation of people in the process of governance is now the soul of democracy which needs to be continuously motivated to achieve desired goals and vision. Connecting the dots: Identify the achievements and challenges in the life of Indian history post independence. What are the future steps to be taken to improve the quality of democracy in India?

Apr 29, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 29th April, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 29th April 2017 Archives HEALTH TOPIC:General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 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 Important International institutions, agencies and fora their structure, mandate. Dealing with Malaria Introduction Malaria is one of the most threatening epidemics of the world with high incidence in the developing world. The efforts to develop a medicine for the same have been all out and repeated trials have been conducted. Eradication of Malaria has been part of Millennium development goals too. Malaria Elimination: Malaria elimination is the interruption of local transmission (reduction to zero incidence of indigenous cases) of a specified malaria parasite species in a defined geographic area; continued measures are required to prevent re-establishment of transmission. Malaria eradication is defined as the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of malaria infection caused by all species of human malaria parasites. Once eradication has been achieved, intervention measures are no longer needed. Path to malaria elimination Countries are situated at different points along the road to elimination. The rate of progress will depend on the strength of the national health system, the level of investment in malaria control and a number of other factors, including biological determinants; the environment; and the social, demographic, political and economic realities of a particular country. Issue: Beginning next year, the World Health Organisation will begin pilot tests of the injectable malaria vaccine RTS,S (or Mosquirix) on 750,000 children aged 5-17 months in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. Any decision on wider use will be taken based on the results of the pilot tests in the three countries. If the vaccine does indeed prove to be ready for large-scale use, it will be a milestone in the fight against malaria. Although the number of cases globally and in the African region came down by 21% between 2010 and 2015, in 2015 itself the number of deaths worldwide on account of the disease was as high as 429,000. According to WHO estimates, Africa accounted for 92% of these deaths, and 90% of the 212 million new cases that year. The vaccine, given in four doses, protects against Plasmodium falciparum, which is the most prevalent malaria parasite in Africa. The three countries have been chosen as they have settings with moderate-to-high transmission of malaria and already have in place malaria control programmes such as the use of bed-nets, rapid diagnostic tests and combination therapy. Each country is to decide where precisely to run the pilots. Given the low protection efficacy of the vaccine even in tightly controlled clinical settings, the pilot tests will be useful in evaluating the likelihood of replicating the immunisation schedule in the context of routine health-care settings. Also, the extent to which the vaccine reduces the all-cause mortality has to be evaluated as this was not “adequately addressed” during the trial. There is, specifically, a need to ascertain if excess cases of meningitis and cerebral malaria seen during the trials are causally related to the vaccination. Unlike other vaccines, the less-than-optimum protection offered by this vaccine would mean that existing malaria intervention measures will have to be used in conjunction to reduce the incidence of the disease. Conclusion: A disease like malaria if successfully eliminated can have long term benefits for African countries and also India. It is important that we closely monitor the studies and work in synergy to ensure best possible outcomes can be replicated. Health outcomes have spillover benefits in multiple sectors of the economy and society. Connecting the dots: Analyse the impact of epidemics on the health profile of the country. Elaborate on the need to increase health expenditure keeping global norms in mind. HEALTH TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 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 Prescribing medicines under generic names. Is it practical? Introduction: The Prime Minister’s recent announcement on making it mandatory for doctors to prescribe only the generic name, and not brand name of a drug, has generated a heated conversation in the media and in the pharma industry. If enacted, the move will make it illegal for Indian doctors to write out a prescription for the trademark of the drug, forcing them to mention the chemical name instead. What are Generic Drugs? A generic drug is identical--or bioequivalent--to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price. They are medicines on which patents have expired. They are sold either as branded products or as unbranded products under their generic names. These generic names are internationally agreed short names called International Non-Proprietary Names. For example, paracetamol is the name for a pain relieving and fever reducing medication and Crocin is one brand name of paracetamol. Why Generic Drugs? One of the main reasons for advocating generic drugs by the Government was due to the significant price difference between generic and branded drugs, i.e. products sold as unbranded generic medicines are cheaper than others. Other prime reason to popularise generic drug by the Government is to make drugs and medicines affordable for people, who cannot otherwise afford the expensive branded medicines and the private hospitals. As it is, more than 70% of India’s population lives in the rural areas, out of which around 35% is either below the poverty line or close to it. Another reason for the use of generic drugs is to reduce the unethical practices of doctors who deliberately prescribe branded drugs over generic drugs. It is rumoured that private doctors would prescribe branded drugs because there are incentives or kickbacks from the pharma companies. The use of generic drugs, which are no different from the branded ones, will reduce the rising cost on healthcare and the poor people can benefit. What the doctors say about generic drugs? There is a difference of opinion regarding this. Most of the doctors are not sure about the quality of generic drugs. According to a doctor in AIIMS, “there are certain generic medicines that don’t work like the branded ones”. Whether there is a difference in quality between generic drugs and branded ones is difficult to answer by the entire medical fraternity be it the doctors, chemists, pharmaceutical representatives. Some say that they are as good and same as branded ones while others feel that they are not of good quality. Some others say that they are less effective. Doctors are more sure about the availability of the branded drugs rather than the generic ones as there is no advertising and marketing of generic drugs. Steps to promote generic drugs One way is to reduce illicit medical practices. The Medical Council of India has already given strict instructions to doctors to prescribe generic medicines. But very few private practitioners usually do this. So strict measures should be adopted so that the doctors are compelled to prescribe generic medicines. More steps are needed to be taken to strengthen the Jan Ausadhi scheme. Measures should also be taken to end the doctor-big pharma nexus. The MCI needs to provide more practical guidelines. Also the Government should take measures to increase awareness of generic drugs to the general public. The Jan Ausadhi stores that are available today are either run by the hospital’s administration or some NGOs in the Government hospitals and public healthcare centres. Steps should be taken to encourage more and more private companies or individuals to open generic drug stores. In 2008, the government launched a chain of pharmacies called Jan Aushadhi to supply inexpensive generic medicines. In the last nine years, only a few such stores have been operational and they often have had stockouts and other problems. India has seven lakh retail pharmacy shops and still many rural areas are underserved. There are fewer than 10,000 Jan Aushadhis. The Government should control the MRP of drugs, generic or branded, so that benefits reach the common man. The IMA should also take measures to ensure quality, safe, affordable generic drugs. Whether all generic medicines in India are of equal quality? The U.S. and the European Union have ensured that generic drugs are therapeutically equal to the innovator drug by making bioequivalence (BE) testing compulsory. In other words, generic formulations are tested on healthy volunteers to ensure that they have the same physiological characteristics as their innovator counterparts. Once bioequivalence is established, a generic drug is legally certified to be of the same quality to replace the innovator product and can therefore be interchanged for the innovator product. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) purchase only bioequivalent drugs for their programmes. However, until earlier this month, India mandated bioequivalence (BE) studies for only those formulations seeking approval within four years of the innovator product getting approval. As a result, most generic drug manufacturers sought marketing approval from the fifth year onwards, effectively evading the requirement of conducting BE studies. A welcome move - On April 3, 2017, the Ministry of Health finally amended the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules to make BE testing of all highly soluble drugs compulsory. Doctors and pharmacists are unaware about the quality of generics approved prior to April 3 as there is no proof of bioequivalence and hence doctors should not be forced to make this choice of prescribing only the generic name. Therefore, if the government wants to make the prescription of generics compulsory, it needs to put in place a legal mechanism to guarantee that all generics, especially those introduced prior to April 3, are bioequivalent to the innovator product. At the very least, the government should require companies to self-certify their drugs to indicate whether they are in fact bioequivalent. A simple logo on the drug’s packaging to indicate whether a drug has been tested for proof of bioequivalence, along with the trial ID number listed on the Clinical Trials Registry India, should be made mandatory. Even presuming successful BE studies, a drug can fail for a variety of reasons. It may lack stability and break down due to heat or humidity. These substandard drugs are a dangerous problem, especially in government-run hospitals. Drug quality in India According to the government’s most recent survey of the quality of drugs in India, 10% of all drugs from ‘government sources’ tested NSQ, or not of standard quality. A NSQ drug will compromise patient health. These numbers are shocking. An earlier report of the Comptroller and Auditor General had revealed that the Armed Forces Medical Stores Depot, which serves armed forces personnel, had reported the percentage of locally procured drugs that were substandard at as high as 32% in one year! The challenge for the government is to balance its policy objectives of taking the power of the doctor away to prescribe brand name drugs with the reality that generic drugs in India are of questionable quality. The solution does not lie in more laws, but in providing more information to the consumer. Drug regulators in India have a vast trove of information on substandard drugs which they need to release into a searchable database. Especially the laboratory test report, investigation report by drug inspectors of drugs which have failed testing, and the criminal complaint filed in court against the manufacturer along with the final judgment of the court. If this information is made available over the Internet, the government will truly empower hospital procurement officers, pharmacists and patients with information required to avoid products of manufacturers with a poor quality record. The government must seriously consider using IT tools to network all 36 drug regulators — one for each State/Union Territory and the Central regulator - into one integrated national database. This can then be accessed by every citizen over a smartphone. This will protect them from substandard drugs. To actually have better access to medicines, we need, at the minimum, the following: All formulations, representation and dosages of an enlarged list of essential and life-saving drugs to be put under price control. The market must be rid of all currently licensed irrational fixed dose combinations and useless and/or harmful medicines. The method of fixing price control in Drug Price Control Orders 2013 must be changed to a cost-based ceiling price determination. The current simple average formula legitimises high margins of up to 3000% over the cost of the product. So, methods of price control also need much more fine tuning. Laws for enabling substitution of generic and branded equivalents by pharmacists need to be introduced. A free medicine and diagnostics scheme in all states on the lines of such programmes in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. A fully functioning public health system with free healthcare for all like in the United Kingdom, Canada and Scandinavian countries. No brands for medicines that are out of patent as is the practice in well regulated countries. Briefer officially approved trade names for all rational fixed dose combinations so that doctors do not have to painfully write out the generic names of their multiple constituents. Creative use of government use compulsory licence provisions in the Patents Act to ensure competition in costly patented drugs and thereby make them less costly. Connecting the dots: Critically analyze the Government’s move to make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe only the generic name. Is it practical? What are generic drugs? Why generic drugs are essential for a developing country like India? Link: http://iasbaba.com/2017/03/synopsis-iasbabas-tlp-2017-27th-feb-day-31/ MUST READ No full stops: On Bhutan’s exit from ‘BBIN’ agreement Hindu   India’s choices as America ‘asks’ Hindu   Unseeing the people Indian Express   No Proof Required: RBI, enough of elevator economics Indian Express   Adieu, Lokpal? Indian Express   Quick detection of TB is top priority Business Line   How Bidar beat back the drought  (This is a specific area story but gives insight into possible disaster management/precaution.) Business Line  

Apr 29, 2017

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Environment and Current Affairs [Day 30]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 30th 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 30]: ENVIRONMENT & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project was in news recently. It connects Mahanadi and Godavari Krishna and Mahanadi Krishna and Godavari Periyar and Krishna  Q.2) Consider the following regarding Seaweeds Seaweeds are rich in vitamins and minerals and are consumed as food in various parts of the world They are also used for the production of phytochemicals, viz., agar, carrageenan and alginate. Seaweed can be potentially used as organic fertilizers Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 Only 1 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following about applications of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) in Agriculture SAPs are polluting and non-biodegradable and don’t helps in reducing irrigation frequency and water consumption. They improves soil quality and resists drought stress SAPs can reduce overuse of fertilizers and pesticides in fields. SAPs act as soil matter flocculants. Which of the given statements are correct? 1, 3 and 4 Only 2, 3 and 4 Only 2 and 3 Only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.4) Plant nutrition is a term that takes into account the interrelationships of mineral elements in the soil or soilless solution as well as their role in plant growth. Consider the following Nickel Molybdenum Copper Boron Sulphur Silicon Vanadium Which of the given above has a role of essential and beneficial mineral nutrients that are crucial for plant nutrition and growth? 2, 3, 5 and 6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Q.5) Consider the following Apple Banana Buckwheat Coffee Mango Carrot Soybeans Which of the given above are not self-pollinated? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 2, 3, 6 and 7 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 Q.6) Consider the following regarding Parthenium It is a highly prevalent weed endemic to India It is highly poisonous and severely reduces the crop productivity besides loss to biodiversity and environment. The weed causes dermatitis and asthma to human beings. Which of the given statements is/are incorrect? 1 and 3 2 Only 1 Only None Q.7) Readiness for Investment in Sustainable Energy (RISE) is developed by World Bank Group United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme International Energy Agency Q.8) The decisions on REDD+ enumerate some "eligible activities" that developing countries may implement to reduce emissions and enhance removals of greenhouse gases. Identify the activities Reducing emissions from deforestation Reducing emissions from land degradation Conservation of forest carbon stocks Sustainable management of non-renewable energy Enhancement of forest carbon stocks Select the correct code 1, 2, 3 and 5 1, 3 and 5 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 2, 3, 4 and 5 Q.9) Consider the following statements regarding National Mission on Sustainable Habitats: It is one of the missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change. It works for the development and protection of natural habitats, especially of those species which are at the verge of extinction due to habitat loss. The mission works on development of green corridors to connect protected areas of India. Which of the above statements are incorrect? 1 and 2 2 and 3 3 only None of the above Q.10) Consider the following regarding Methanogens They are found in ruminants of animals and human They play significant role in anaerobic wastewater treatment They produce oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and methane Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1, 2 and 3 1 and 2 2 and 3 None Q.11) Match the following list of bioactive substances and their roles           Bioactive Substance                                                 Role Statin                                                              i)  Removal of oil stains Cyclosporin A                                               ii) Removal of clots from blood vessels Streptokinase                                               iii) Lowering of blood cholesterol Lipase                                                             iv) Immuno-suppressive agent Choose the correct match: 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-ii, 4-i 1-ii, 2-iv, 3-iii, 4-i 1-i, 2-ii, 3-iii, 4-iv 1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-i  Q.12) World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is a flagship initiative by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) UNESCO Q.13) United Nations has declared___________as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2014 2015 2016 2017 Q.14) National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem comes under Ministry of Earth and Science Ministry of Environment and Forest Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Agriculture Q.15) The United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the "universal, integrated and transformative" 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Identify the correct goals Gender Inequality Affordable and clean energy Combat desertification End of nuclear energy Clean water and sanitation Food security Select the correct code 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 2, 3, 5 and 6 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Q.16) Consider the following statements Northern Lights are result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere Northern Lights are also called ‘Aurora australis’ Select the correct statement Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.17) What is the Arab Peace Initiative? Proposal for an end to the Arab–Israeli conflict Proposal to end the Shia-Sunni conflict End of Operation Defensive Shield in West Bank Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait Q.18) Consider the following Operations International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Operation Resolute Support Operation Enduring Freedom It is associated with which of the following countries? Sri Lanka Afghanistan Iraq Somalia Q.19) 'Atal-Amrit Abhiyan' health insurance scheme which will provide coverage against several critical illnesses was lauched by which of the following states? Rajasthan Maharashtra Assam Uttar Pradesh Q.20) FC-31 Gyrfalcon, a stealth fighter is from United States of America France China India Q.21) Kuchipudi' dance originated in Odisha Tamil Nadu Kerala Andhra Pradesh Q.22) Chillai Kalan is Harshest 40 day period of winter in Kashmir Harvest festival in Kashmir A newly built dam on Teesta River None of the above Q.23) Consider the following statements about Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) It is jointly developed by DRDO and BAE Systems It is capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kms Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.24) Consider the following statements about International Borders India and Pakistan is separated by a hard border Schengen area is an example of soft border Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.25) Consider the following statements about ‘Axial Seamount’ It is the youngest volcano and current eruptive centre of the Cobb-Eickelberg Seamount chain It is caused by the movement of two tectonic plates in the region that are gradually spreading apart Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Download The Solution - Click Here

Apr 28, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 28th April, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 28th April 2017 Archives SOCIAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 1 Population and associated issues. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. India’s population growth story Introduction India being home to second largest population of the world has been striving hard to achieve stability. Population can be seen as a resource or a burden depending on the way it is used for the country’s progress. India has population policy that is well oriented. National Population policy: The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 provides a policy framework of achieving goals and prioritizing strategies during the next decade to meet the reproductive and child health needs of the people of India along with the target to achieve the net replacement levels (Total Fertility Rate). It aims at stable population by 2045. Issue: Evidence from India’s last Census in 2011, confirmed by data from the recent National Family Health Survey 2017 (NFHS-4), shows that fertility in India is fast approaching replacement levels. Replacement level means that couples will have children who will essentially replace their number, to stabilise population growth. The NFHS-4 shows that in the past decade, the average number of children per family has come down from 2.7 to 2.2. With replacement fertility being 2.1 children per woman, this is good news for the land and the people. Even after fertility rates drop to replacement levels, the total population will still grow, and is likely to reach 1.7 billion by 2050. The thrust of this growth will come from the youth bulge, with 365 million (10-24 years old) already in, or soon to enter, their reproductive ages. Even if they have children only in numbers that replace themselves, the resultant growth due to such a large base of young people will drive the growth momentum for population. For India as a whole, 75% of population growth in the coming decade will be due to this momentum. In States like Assam, Gujarat and Haryana, which are about to reach replacement levels, it would be more effective to adopt policies for delaying childbearing rather than limiting births. Fertility reduction, where it still needs to take place, must come from increased availability and use of quality family planning services.  Focus on Working population demand: When States are clustered in terms of fertility levels, one foresees a predominantly youthful north and an ageing south. Most of the current and future demographic potential is locked in the northern States and largely located in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. In the south, there will be a dearth of young working people to keep up and expand the level of economic development. Investing in young people in the north to realize the demographic dividend will be a win-win situation for all India, north and south. From the policy perspective, this means that for India as a whole, it is time for the emphasis to be on momentum-focussed policies and programmes. The Prime Minister will soon chair a meeting of the National Population Commission, in order to take stock of the situation and chart out the path ahead, especially keeping population stabilisation in mind. The National Health Policy 2017 emphasises quality of care and commitment to sustainable development, and positions improved access, education and empowerment as the basis for population stabilisation. It is now for States to align their own health and population policies to the national ones Conclusion: Population growth and the dynamics associated have multiple spillover effects on various sectors of economy, polity and society. Hence a policy orientation needs to take into consideration all the possible effects before a policy design. Connecting the dots: Analyse the impact of India achieving replacement levels of fertility on working population and demographic dividend of the country. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Hope for higher India economic growth Belief in economic growth has come to be seen as a solution for all India’s social and political problems, including poverty, social exclusion and environmental degradation. Top government economists believe that for India, in order to transform itself and attain the desired level of economic and social outcomes, requires higher and sustainable growth in coming years. Higher economic growth will not only create employment, but will also generate higher revenue which will help increase government spending without disturbing the budgetary balance. Higher growth is the best way of lifting standards of living. Therefore, towards this front, NITI Aayog, which has been recreated as a think tank for the Government after dissolving the erstwhile Planning Commission, has rolled out a fifteen year vision and a seven-year strategy document of transforming the Indian economy. It has also circulated a three-year action agenda. Vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, Arvind Panagariya, said that the size of the Indian economy is expected to increase from a level of Rs137 trillion in 2015-16 to Rs469 trillion by 2031-32 (2015-16 prices)—a compound annual growth of about 8%. (Niti Aayog estimates provided in table below) Source: Arvind Panagariya, “India 2031-32: Vision, Strategy and Action Agenda”,Niti Aayog, April 2017 Link: http://quintype-01.imgix.net/southlive-english%2F2017-04%2Fd807dcee-94eb-4ad0-b7c6-ffb9e4ad1fb7%2Ftable.png?auto=format&q=60&fm=pjpeg It has also been claimed that by 2031-32, the country will attain universal literacy and access to healthcare, besides ensuring housing with toilets, LPG connections, electricity and digital connectivity for all citizens. Even two-wheelers/cars and air conditioners would be available to “nearly all”. This vision is premised on a projected real GDP growth rate of 8 percent annually over a fifteen year period and maintaining annual government expenditure at around 27 percent of nominal GDP. Attaining and sustaining this level of growth is feasible, but will need policy action on various fronts. As per official estimates, the Indian economy achieved annual GDP growth rates of 7.2 percent, 7.9 percent and 7.1 percent for the financial years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. Four broad areas to focus: In order to push both potential and actual output growth, policymakers should focus on at least four broad areas. Strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals Firstly, policymakers should focus on strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals. A sound macroeconomic environment is a prerequisite for sustained higher growth. India has made significant progress over the last few years on this front, and all efforts should be made to attain the medium-term fiscal and monetary policy targets. The N.K. Singh committee has proposed a new fiscal architecture that will reduce the level of total debt stock with steady reduction in fiscal deficit. On the monetary policy side, the RBI’s rate-setting committee is targeting 4% inflation on a durable basis. Continued progress in both these areas will help strengthen economic stability. One of the reasons for softer growth in recent years is a decline in savings rate. Higher growth in the last decade was backed by higher savings. India’s savings rate is estimated to have declined from the level of about 37% of the gross domestic product in 2007-08 to under 30% in 2016-17. India will need higher savings to sustain higher growth. A stable macro environment should augment savings and investment. Fix the banking sector Secondly, policymakers should focus on high levels of non-performing assets—particularly in public sector banks, which are a drag on investments and growth. The sector needs a fresh road map in the short to medium term that not only addresses the current problem, but also provides the necessary checks and balances so that a similar situation is avoided in the future. NITI Aayog’s action agenda has suggested auctioning assets to private asset reconstruction companies. For a durable solution, the government should reconsider its role in the sector. A significant reduction in government holding in banks will augur well for the economy. Further, India also needs a lively corporate bond market as it will provide an alternative source of financing and reduce the pressure on the banking sector. A vibrant, competitive and stable financial sector will help push investment and growth in the medium to long run. Improve conditions in land and labour markets In order to sustain higher growth, the government will need to make it easier for businesses to acquire land and hire labour. India is a country of small enterprises. The latest economic census shows that on an average, enterprises in India employ only 2.24 workers. The small and informal nature of business enterprises in India affects productivity and is an impediment to growth. One of the reasons for having too many small enterprises is rigid labour laws. The government should work on creating a flexible labour market, which will allow businesses to take advantage of economies of scale. Similarly, the government also needs to make it easier for businesses to acquire land. A number of projects are stuck because of land acquisition problems. Reforms in these markets would require greater coordination between the Centre and states. Reforms in government functioning Finally, the government needs to review its own functioning and change in a way that allows the market to attain its full potential. For instance, it will need to withdraw from commercial activities through privatization and focus on strengthening regulatory capabilities. Further, it should always be careful about the unintended consequences of intervention. The recent decision of the Narendra Modi government to impose price caps on coronary stents is an example of exactly what the government should not be doing. Price caps inevitably result in shortages with adverse consequences. The government should always avoid such decisions. Conclusion: It can be said with near certainty that like the last decade and a half, the next 15 years will also bring tremendous change, especially in the area of technology, and throw up new opportunities and challenges. Therefore, policymakers will need to constantly work on multiple levels in order to create enabling conditions that will allow the Indian economy to develop at a rapid pace and achieve long-term goals. Connecting the dots: Higher economic growth is seen as a solution for all India’s social and political problems and the best way of lifting standards of living. Do you agree? Give arguments in favour of your answer. In your opinion, how can India achieve higher and sustainable economic growth? Critically analyse. NITI Aayog has rolled out a vision to achieve real GDP growth rate of 8 percent annually over a fifteen year period and maintaining annual government expenditure at around 27 percent of nominal GDP. Are these optimistic long-term projections for the Indian economy justified, given the current macroeconomic and financial conditions? Critically analyse. MUST READ In four doses: On malaria vaccines Hindu   Are we a nation of pseudo-secularists?   Hindu We need to question ourselves   Hindu Learning to run twice as fast   Hindu Staring down the barrel in Sukma Indian Express Some personal questions   Indian Express What sort of new FRBM do we need   Livemint   Let’s talk to the Kashmiris    Business Line   Decoding India’s rigged realty market Business Line A strong rupee is not bad news Business Line  

Apr 28, 2017 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Takeaways from Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India Visit

Takeaways from Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India Visit Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests Takeaways Significant developments like: A ‘fraternal relation’ was addressed for two nations and also called as a unique relationship. PM called it shonali adhyaya- the golden period of relationship. In broad framework, the meeting between two leaders gave significant push to bilateral partnership. 5 billion USD credit line for projects and 500 million USD for defence. It is the highest given to any country. Overall it is 8 billion dollars in last 6 years which is significant extension of credit. Defence agreements included training, working together, interoperability etc. Nuclear cooperation- a framework agreement and 2 other agreements between agencies. Space exploration Connectivity- its ramifications for large number of segments- trade, creation of job, illegal migration etc. Bus, rail and rakes of diesel oil being supplied from India Energy- there was agreement on 600MW of supply of power and another provision of 16MW. Business- 13 agreements in addition to 22 agreements for a value of 9 billion USD. Terrorism- area where both the countries have been cooperating and collaborating extensively. When PM of India visited in 2015, most of the projects that were identified have seen forward movement. For the present credit line, the identification of projects has already began in terms of infrastructure, airports upgradation, port development etc. The personal rapport between two leaders was reflected throughout the visit. Misses On Teesta, a breakthrough was already seemed not possible. The project has taken a long time- it has had emotional connect in Bangladesh and has become an issue of politics in India. Today, Bangladesh is one of the best in relationship with India as compared to all other neighbours. Vital national interest cannot suffer because of provincial politics or federal tensions. These two factors are eating up Indo-Bangladesh relations. Teesta issue was almost done under previous government in 2011 but its blockage since then shows lack of political will in the state government. There is politics when federal relations are concerned but they need to be set aside when national interests are in foray. Sharing water of other rivers There are 54 rivers between India and Bangladesh. The proposal to share water of 5 other rivers instead of Teesta had no takers. There is no forward movement on what exactly West Bengal wants from Teesta is not known. This is amounting to stalling any agreement on Teesta without letting know the reason for it. The kalanrudra committee for this issue had given a report but it hasn’t been made public. Teesta water is crucial for Bangladesh, especially in the lean period between December and March when the water flow often comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs. And west Bengal is also saying that there is not enough water while objecting to the water sharing pact. The central government would not enter into any agreement where the welfare of citizens of WB is not taken care of. Thus it is important to work on the nitty gritty of WB’s demand than just putting the issue aside. Trying basin-wise management Basin-wise river management is a classic idea which is implemented for all international rivers, like the Rhine, the Colorado and the Mekong The demand and availability of water varies in the upstream and downstream of a river. Usually, the water flow in the upstream surpasses the demand, while it is the opposite in the downstream. The optimum solution to balance the supply and demand could be creating proper modelling of the rivers based on water quantity and quality. This way, issues like flood, navigation, irrigation, hydro-power and fisheries for the entire basin of a particular river can be resolved. Why WB not agreeing? WB CM says that there is not enough water in Teesta and North Bengal will suffer if water is shared. The unstated reason is consolidation of North Bengal constituencies for ruling party and question of taking more money from centre by WB as a state. These are internal issues and it is for centre and state to come together and have scores settled in other areas rather than an area which is critical for India Bangladesh relationship. India Bangladesh have a Ganges water treaty of 1996 which is working very well. India has always been generous with its lower riparian neighbours so there is a need to put this issue together. Bangladesh India relationship is a multi-sectoral relationship, perhaps the best in the last 40 years. So the focus should not be taken away from so many fields of close relations- people to people contact, S&T. The LBA is a high point of the bilateral relations between both nations. Presence of China China delivered two submarines to Bangladesh in November 2016. There was stir up in Indian defence community to some extent. But India has not extended help to Bangladesh only on this pretext. This is because when Hasina came to power in 2008, there has been significant cooperation between two nations. The joint anti-terror exercises go back to 2009. So credit of 500 million to Bangladesh defence sector just because of China is not true. The intelligence cooperation, sharing, training of officers of military academics is visible. There have been high level defence visit from both countries. There is no threat per se from Chinese but the access they will have in terms of training by using submarine to Bangladeshi official and thereby mapping the floor of the ocean in the Bay of Bengal is much more significant threat in terms of maritime security rather than presence of submarines. Bangladeshis since their military regimes have cooperation with China for last more than 30 years. The Chinese have consolidated huge influence on Bangladesh. Despite that Bangladesh refused China for deep sea port in Chittagong which has had defence implications. Thus, China is a factor but not the only factor. India has defence and security cooperation with all its neighbours- SL, Maldives (maritime), Myanmar (security), Nepal and Afghanistan. India is going beyond Maldives to more island countries. Leaving aside USD 500 million credit line, 4-5 defence agreements have been singed. Thus there is an attempt to bring it under some sort of framework. The fruits of neighbourhood first policy is seen in the relationship with Bangladesh. Thus, defence partnership to be put under some framework is needed. In this sense, China’s presence will help India to regulate what is happening. Conclusion India has to move away from obsession with few smaller issues for larger positive relationships. Chinese activities in and around areas is a matter of concern. But there is no need to compete with China on their own rules. India’s relation with Bangladesh is very different from Chinese relationship. Bangladesh and China have decades old defence relationship but India and Bangladesh share people to people contact, goodwill, historical relationship. It is a broad based relationship and deep-rooted by its cultural context too. The Teesta river issue should be solved at the earliest to give the fillip to the bilateral ties. Connecting the dots: India and Bangladesh share a deep bond but it has become prominent recently. What are the factors contributing for the growth of the relationship between the two?

Apr 28, 2017

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Science & Technology and Current Affairs [Day 29]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 29th 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 29]: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding Nuclear Recycle Board in India: It is an entity under DRDO and works under the purview of Defence Ministry. It is responsible for the design, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants involving reprocessing and waste management. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Bhabha Atomic Research Center is working on the development of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). Which of the following statements are correct about AHWR? It is a Plutonium based reactor with high efficiency. Heavy water is used as a moderator. It will act as a demonstration reactor and will provide impetus for the third stage of India’s Nuclear Program. Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidhyut Nigam Ltd. (BHAVANI), a PSU of Department of Atomic Energy, is constructing a Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam. Which of the following statements are correct about FBRs? It generates more fissile material than it consumes. They use Fast Neutron Spectrum and use Uranium – 238 as fuel. Select the code from following: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements: India is the first country to sign a Civil Nuclear deal with Japan. The ‘termination’ clause in India – Japan Nuclear deal is binding on India. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) ‘Hall of nuclear power – Atoms serving the nation’ is a permanent exhibition which covers various aspects of Nuclear Energy. In which of the following cities has it been established? Kolkata Kudankulam New Delhi Jaitapur Q.6) A multipurpose fast research reactor project, named as MBIR, is coming up in Russia. Which of the following statements are correct about MBIR? The reactor is based on Nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms. The nuclear reaction will be sustained by fast moving neutrons and it will not require a neutron moderator. Select the code from above: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) Moderators are an important component of Nuclear reactors. The function of moderator is to: Absorb the kinetic energy of the neutrons. Absorb the heat generated by the nuclear reaction. Increase the number of neutrons. Increase the speed of neutrons to cause fission. Q.8) Which part of the thermal power plant does the same function as that of the reactor in Nuclear power plant? Turbine Boiler Furnace Cooling tubes Q.9) Which of the following statements are correct about CERN? CERN is an acronym for European Organization for Nuclear Research. India is a founding member of CERN. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in CERN is the World’s largest particle accelerator. Select the code from below: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.10) Consider the following statements about Cobalt – 60: It is a naturally occurring Isotope of Cobalt. It is radioactive and used in cancer treatment. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.11) Which of the following correctly explains the term ‘Nuclear Transmutation’? Use of radioactive materials to cause mutations in humans Conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another Chemical reaction of two compounds to form a new compound None of the above Q.12) A large energy is released in a nuclear reaction because, Bonds are broken between the elements as they are hit by neutrons. Kinetic energy of neutrons is converted into heat energy Mass gets converted into energy All of the above Q.13) Which of the following statements is incorrect about Nuclear Fusion? A lot of heat is required for the reaction to occur. Nuclear fusion is responsible for heat in stars. It releases a large amount of radioactive waste. Very light nuclei are fused to give a heavy nucleus. Q.14) ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is the world’s largest nuclear fusion experiment to harness fusion energy. Which of the following statements are correct about ITER? It is using a magnetic confinement (Toakamak) to confine the reaction. Hydrogen is being used as a fuel in ITER. India is one of the member countries participating in ITER. Select the code from below: 1 only 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.15) Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is a proposed 9900 MW power project of Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). Consider the following statements regarding this: If built, it would be the largest nuclear power generating station in the world by net electrical power rating. It is being built with the help of a Russian firm, Areva. The complete farm will have ten Voda Voda nuclear reactors. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 2 and 3 All of the above Q.16) Consider the following statement about ‘DigiShala’ It is launched by Ministry of Science and Technology It was launched as a part of Digi Dhan Abhiyan It is mandatory for all the service providers and direct-to-home (DTH) to air it Select the correct statements 1 and 2 Only 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 Q.17) The Kuril Islands dispute is concerned with which of the following countries? Papua New Guinea and Philippines Japan and Russia China and Taiwan China and Vietnam Q.18) Consider the following statements about Kyrgyzstan It is a landlocked country It is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and China Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.19) Consider the following statements about National Investigation Agency It is a statutory body It is functioning as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India Central Government can issue directions to Suo-Moto take over the investigation of a case Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.20) Consider the following statements about Inner Line Permit (ILP) It is required for Indian citizens to enter Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram and Manipur It is issued under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.21) Consider the following statements about ‘Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana’ It is launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs It aims at creating enabling environment for need based and outcome oriented holistic development of the tribal people Maximum selling price for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is being implemented in schedule V States Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.22) ‘Oslo Accords’ is concerned with Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization Norway and Finland Sweden and Denmark None of the above Q.23) Consider the following statements about Polavaram Project It implements Godavari-Krishna link under National River Linking Project It has been accorded national project status by the central government The dam is across the Krishna River Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.24) Etorphine (M99) is An experimental Ebola vaccine manufactured by Merck A drug used to immobilize large mammals A natural product found in pregnancy at week 6 that accelerates brain activation None of the above Q.25) ‘X’ country has dragged India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against certain measures taken by India on imports of iron and steel products. Which is that country? United States of America China Japan United Kingdom Download The Solution - Click Here