Jan 31, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st January 2017 Archives GOVERNANCE / WELFARE  TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. The Long Walk to Universal Rural Electrification Introduction Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) has been subsumed into Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana which is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Power aiming to facilitate 24x7 supply of power. The new scheme intends to initiate reforms in the rural areas to provide for universal electrification. The main focus areas of the scheme are: Feeder separation for rural households & agricultural use. Providing round the clock power to rural households and adequate power to agricultural consumers Strengthening of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure including metering at all levels in rural areas. What is Electrification? Before we analyse the performance of the rural electrification targets, it is important to understand the exact definition of electrification of villages. As per the scheme, following are the criteria that have to be fulfilled to be considered as electrified: Basic infrastructure such as distribution transformer and distribution lines are provided in the inhabited locality as well as the dalit basti/hamlet where it exists. Electricity is provided to public places such as schools, panchayat office, health centres, dispensaries, community centres, etc. The number of households electrified is at least 10 per cent of the total number of households in the village. Performance Appraisal The aim of 100% rural electrification received a lot of emphasis in last year’s Budget and it was promised that the goal would be achieved by March 2017. In terms of numbers the government seems to be very close to achieving the goal but still there is a lot of more distance to cover. Whether this is actual electrification? As per statistics 99% of the villages have been electrified because electricity lines have been provided in those villages. Questions regarding the access, affordability and consistency with which the electricity is supplied to the villages are still there. There might be a situation where the infrastructure has been set up but has been lying unrepaired for years following certain damages.  At times villages might be receiving power supply for two to three hours a day but are considered as electrified. This does not show a true and fair picture. Does electrification lead to intensification? Intensification refers to the process when the government tries to ensure that all households within the village also have access to power supply. The percentage of intensification is significantly lower as compared to electrification of villages. According to surveys only 72% of the total households in India receive electricity and more than 40% of the rural households do not get electricity. Regional Variations Large amount of regional variations also exist in terms of rural electrification. States such as Bihar and Assam are lagging behind in a big way. Satellite imagery has also been used and shows that ground reality is quite different and unfortunate. Conclusion As a result of the above analysis it is understood that having access to electricity or an electricity connection is just not enough. Affordability and reliability of the electricity supply are major concerns. It is due to these two aspects that rural areas are facing a significant electrification deficit. Therefore, even though villages are fulfilling the definition of being electrified it is important to take care of the following important aspects. Quality of the connection, Reliability of the power supply, Duration of the supply, and Repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure. Connecting the dots: What are the provisions of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana? Analyse the performance of the scheme vis-a-vis the reality that the villages of India faces. Suggest measures to ensure increased intensification of electricity and access.   INTERNATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests ‘Think West’ is gaining momentum ‘Think West’ is India’s policy outreach towards the Gulf which suggests new push towards more concrete strategic policies for West Asia. The eastern front is building upon longstanding policy of ‘Act East’, whereas the western one is relatively more recent conceptually, even if India has had a historical presence in the Gulf. The Indian diaspora in the west is now a strong community of 7 million which is an impressive source of investment and remittances. However, India’s relations with the west have been more of evolutionary. Earlier, the relations were based mainly on energy and labour but now the new interplay among the Gulf nations offer new avenues of cooperation. The ‘Think West’ approach is also a timely one with changing world geopolitics. The top oil exporting countries are now looking east to develop and increase its oil market as the growth in Western economies slows and the U.S. has become energy self-sufficient due to shale revolution. Thus, the markets with the greatest demand for Middle East’s oil lie in Asia, predominantly led by the likes of China, India, Japan and South Korea. The under-appreciated foreign policy India has had long historical ties with the gulf countries, yet in last few decades, the energy imports and labour exports only defined the links between India and the region. However, the government was committed to match India’s landmark “Act East” policy with ‘Think West’. India and Gulf countries share impressive trade relations. With UAE only, India has reached $50 billion mark. This economic relation is further boosted by remittances sent by Indian labour migrants in the Gulf region. UAE PM’s visit to UAE in August 2015 was a first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years. This was reciprocated by UAE’s crown prince when he visited India in Feb 2016 and once again as Republic Day Chief Guest in 2017. This underlines the quick progress being established between both countries. The efforts are now being made to build “a comprehensive strategic partnership”. In 2015, UAE pledged to invest $75 billion in India which is slowly picking up the momentum after the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund was established. A joint statement by India and UAE notes the desire of the two countries “to transform the buyer-seller relationship in the energy sector to one of deeper partnership focusing on investment and joint ventures in petrochemical complexes, and cooperation in joint exploration in India, the UAE and in third countries”. Saudi Arabia India-Saudi relationship has historically been cordial, based on mutual needs and transactional interests. There are around 2.5 million Indians in Saudi Arabia. India also imports significant share of its oil imports from Saudi Arabia. Two pivotal diplomatic events taken place between both countries in the last decade have been Delhi declaration (2006) Riyadh declaration (2010) King of Saudi Arabia became first head of the House of Saud to visit India in 51 years in 2006. The visit laid the ground for greater security, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism cooperation. The new era of relations paid dividends with the deportation of terrorists wanted in India from Saudi Arabia. The inclusion of security and counterterrorism element is significant for bilateral ties as Saudi Arabia can exert pressure over Pakistan. Indian Air Force also made a staging visit to Saudi Arabia in 2016 while on route to military exercises in the United Kingdom. This stopover is highly symbolic for India-Saudi ties in the security sphere. Iran India and Iran are close economic and strategic partners. Despite tight sanctions due to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, India never ceased its bilateral links with Iran and pursued discussions on transport networks. In 2016, India and Iran signed the historic Chabahar deal where it commits substantial Indian investment to develop the all-weather, deep-sea port for Iran. This agreement shall significantly boost the role of the under-tapped port of Chabahar connecting Iran through India and Afghanistan to central Asia. The Chabahar port would facilitate the trade of goods from Iran into South Asia with the Chabahar Free Trade Zone in place. India-Iran bilateral trade has zoomed past $14 billion. Iran is an important source of oil and gas for India. Several Indian companies are investing in crude oil exploration and continued to procure it from Iran when American and EU sanctions existed and significant restrictions were levied on trade with Iran. With sanctions being lifted, the scope and potential of relations shall be increased. Israel Israel has emerged to be one of India’s important partners with cordial political relations and significant economic cooperation. Trade between two countries is around $5.5 billion and further cooperation and opportunities are being established and explored in field of IT, solar energy, dairy development, water management, horticulture, animal husbandry and agriculture. The key area of cooperation has been defence and security along with critical areas of interaction like counter terrorism and extremism, cyber security, among others. President of India visited Israel in 2016 which will be followed by PM in 2017. This marks the growing India-Israel relationship which goes beyond India’s relations with Arab countries of the region. The shift is evolutionary There are various structural factors at play for increased relations between India and Gulf region US’s cut on its role wrt to global security is timed with India’s aspiration to play a greater role in the Indian Ocean. The rise of religious radicalism globally and India’s ability to largely escape it has underlined the success of India’s multicultural social fabric. In times of financial instabilities, India has stood strong with high growth numbers. Also, there has been change in attitude of gulf countries towards India. In 1969, India was forced to stay out of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Pakistan’s insistence. However, countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar showed solidarity with India after the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Uri. Even the killings of UAE diplomats in Afghanistan has changed the ground situations between India and UAE as during the days of Taliban rule, Indian and UAE were in opposition. Thus, India has been able to carve its place in gulf region as a friend and a partner. However, this transformation is not immediate. It began with PM Narsimha Rao who became close to Israel and shattered the myth that India cannot open up to Israel without harming its relationship with Islamic countries in West Asia. The NDA government invited President of Iran as Republic Day Chief Guest in 2003 and that is when idea of developing Chabahar port was born. The two declarations, King Abudllah of Saudi Arabia’s visit as Republic Day chief guest in 2006 are stepping stones in increased relation of India with west. IASbaba’s views India has to follow a balanced approach with all the critical partner countries in the Gulf region. Due to increased sectarian clashes and terrorist attacks, the region bears the risk of becoming consistently unstable. Also, India should tread cautiously while dealing with various countries individually as many of them have internal rivalries. Given regional differences and inter-power play issues, India should ensure that it is not seen to be taking sides or biased in the interactions. From political perspectives, high level visits should continue to maintain the strategic dialogue with the gulf countries. India along with principal Asian economies like China, Japan, and Republic of Korea should play a catalytic role in making the region secure. Economic and commercial cooperation should be boosted with increased investments mutually. Defence and security related interaction should be more strengthened and agenda for joint cooperation and exchange of information in combating extremism, terrorism, cyber terrorism and piracy should be developed. Cultural interactions between nations and welfare of Indians in the region should be promoted for a better regional stability. Connecting the dots: What is ‘Think West’ policy? How is it expected to benefit India? Examine. Compare India’s ‘Think West’ and ‘Act East’ policies. Give reasons for which is expected to fare better in coming times. MUST READ The hidden agenda of benevolence Hindu   How land use affects climate change Hindu   How Indus Valley Civilisation coped with climate change Hindu   US, me, myself Indian Express   The economics of illegal immigration Livemint   India: in search of prosperity Livemint   Avoiding fiscal feudalism Livemint   Talking trade in the time of Trump Business Line   Tax laws are weighing down Digital India Business Line  

Jan 31, 2017 MindMaps

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Surcharge

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Surcharge 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 1 Link 2

Jan 31, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 110]

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 110] Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Global Leprosy Strategy 2016–2020 is launched by WHO UNDP UNICEF None of the above  Q.2) Consider the following statements about Vanadium dioxide It contradicts the principle of Wiedemann-Franz Law It conducts electricity without conducting heat Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement for Country-by- Country Reporting (CbC MCAA) allows signatories to bilaterally and automatically exchange country-by-country reports with each other, as contemplated by Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan. Recently Mauritius, Gabon, Hungary, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malta and the Russia have signed the (CbC MCAA) India is yet to sign CbC MCAA Select the correct code: 1 and 3 1 and 2 2 and 3 All of the above Q.4) TROPEX is a defence exercise between India and Nepal Nepal and Bhutan India and Sri Lanka None of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Guyots Guyot is an isolated underwater volcanic mountain with a flat top over 200 m below the surface of the sea They are most commonly found in the Arctic Ocean They often have a high level of biological productivity because they provide habitats for many species of plants and animals Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 Only 1 All of the above Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Jan 30, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 30th January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 30th January 2017 Archives GOVERNANCE / WELFARE  TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. Social Challenges in Housing Schemes Introduction Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was launched in 2016 to provide financial assistance for construction of pucca house for all houseless and households living in dilapidated houses. The aim of this scheme is to ensure construction of one crore environmentally safe and secure hoses by 2019. Currently, 32% of the Indian population lives in urban areas and by 2050 more than half the population would be moving to urban areas. However, still a balance needs to be maintained and rural housing has to be kept as an important part of policy making addressing varied needs of the rural residents. The government has to ensure that the housing provided to the rural residents is in sync with the expectation of these residents. Challenges of Urban Slums When, as a result of the growing urbanisation, the poor from the villages are required to shift to the cities they continue to stay in the slums but this transition gives rise to various challenges. The challenges are as follows: Health concerns in urban areas Threats and extortion demands by real estate mafia and the corrupt government officials. Urban slums are usually located at prime spots in the urban areas. Hence, they block revenue which the government could have earned from these locations. Measure for facing Urbanisation To tackle problems such as those mentioned above and gear up for the increasing pressure due to urbanisation various policy measures have been undertaken. United Nations focuses on making cities a better place to live on through Sustainable Development Goal 11 which targets to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The year 2016 also saw Habitat III summit in Quito, Ecuador promoting a “New Urban Agenda” of giving slum dwellers upgraded housing with basic services by 2030. Recently, Government of India also introduced two new interest-subsidy schemes under the PMAY to make housing finance more affordable. Why PMAY is being rejected? Tackling urbanisation, providing low cost housing to all with the ‘Housing For All’ target for the year 2022 have been some of the central focus areas for policy by the Indian government. Irrespective of this emphasis still a significant percentage of beneficiaries are not responding positively to the scheme. This segment of the population does not avail benefits provided under the scheme. This also leads to low indicators with respect to success of government schemes and policies and social development of the country. The reasons for such a situation are: Lack of affordable housing finance is a limitation for which the government also introduced the above mentioned interest subsidy schemes. Stakeholder participation at the time of policy making is very low and as a result they feel unsatisfied with the provisions in the schemes. Inefficient subsidy targeting also leads to vacancies in the housing schemes because the subsidy fails to accurately address the problem of affordability. The housing schemes involve relocation of the people. As a result of the relocation, they tend to get disconnected from their social ties and relations. Social Disconnect Among the reasons mentioned above, it is observed from studies that the feel of disconnect and loss of social connections is a major reason for the beneficiaries to reject the housing provided by the government. Psychological Support The relocation under housing schemes leads to a feeling of isolation. Social relations and community provides them a sense of support and comfort for the troubled days. Those residing in slums seek and provide a lot of psychological and material support from each other which the State cannot provide. Financial Comfort Slum dwellers rely on each other for their borrowing needs in a regular manner. Moving to new areas also impacts their earning capacity and labour force participation. Socio-Economic Development There is a greater need to understand what the individuals moving to a new place will gain or lose and what will be there response to the shift. This is because it is mentioned as a result of studies that benefits give the best results only if the people are made to relocate at an early age. Hence, a targeted approach is very important. Way Forward Steps that can be taken to address the above issues are: The government policies should be designed in a manner which helps the people to preserve their social networks even after relocation. The government could try to move the entire community to new areas. The policy makers should not keep relocation central to the policy. Focus should be given to the rights of slum dwellers and ensuring their rights are addressed. Schemes and policies should try to collect data on the preferences of poor migrants so that need based approach can be followed. More investment is needed in social capital rather than financial capital in the form of interest-rate subsidies. The government can try to provide residences on the periphery of the cities to the poor from rural slums. Connecting the dots Government schemes do not only face implementation or structural challenges but are also subject to social challenges. Discuss. Suggest a strategy for overcoming social challenges in policy making and implementation.   NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Time to sustain renewed focus on Maternal and Child care In an unexpected twist, PM made the pregnant women of India a surprise beneficiary of post demonetisation sops, thereby taking steps towards championing the cause of maternal and child health (MCH) in India. The PM committed his government to implement the long-promised maternity entitlement commitment in NFSA by extending Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, a 53 district pilot to a national scheme. Maternal Benefit Programme Not confident precedence In last three years, the government’s track record on delivery in maternal and child health has been poor despite a dedicated section on maternal and child health in 2016 Economic Survey as well as NFSA’s provision for maternal and child health. Budget for nutrition flagship programme ICDS was decreased from Rs. 16,312 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 14,000 crore in 2016-17. Even IGMSY had few resources, with allocation of Rs. 1294 crores between 2013-14 and 2016-17 and releasing only 63% of the allocated funds. Repeated calls have been given to address the challenges pertaining to implementation deficits, but hardly have they been addressed. However, a renewed focus on MCH is much needed with growing deficits in nutritional outcomes and high maternal and infant mortality rates in India. From targeted to universal scheme Picture Credit: http://www.livemint.com/r/LiveMint/Period2/2017/01/25/Photos/Processed/w_MCH_Data.jpg India’s maternal and infant mortality indicators are very poor. Every third woman is undernourished and every second woman is anaemic. Thus, an undernourished woman would likely give birth to a low-weight baby. Maternal mortality ratio: 174 deaths/100000 live births and Infant mortality ratio: 40 deaths/ 1000 live births As per the UN Millennium Development Goals Report 2014, India recorded the highest number of maternal deaths in 2013 and accounted for 17% of global deaths due to pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications. In India, less than 40% of births in India are institutional deliveries. While women employed in the formal sector are entitled to maternity benefits like paid leave by their employers for 26 weeks (under Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill of 2016), such benefits are absent for women in the unorganised sector, which employs 90% of women. Hence, it was required that the government now universally implement Section 4 (b) of the National Food Security Act which states that every pregnant and lactating mother would be entitled to maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000. Will MBP deliver? MBP is a conditional cash transfer with money being given to beneficiaries in three instalments upon fulfilling conditions- antenatal checkups, institutional delivery and child vaccinations. The cash incentive of Rs.6000 is payable to pregnant and lactating women as compensation for the wage loss so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery. The aim is to improve her health and nutrition during the period of pregnancy and lactation and to breastfeed the child during the first six months of the birth, which is very vital for the development of the child. Resultantly, it is expected that it will reduce mother mortality rate, IMR, under-nutrition and its adverse effects. Looming challenges Count of beneficiaries The anticipated beneficiaries under MBP are to be 5.17 million annually. However, the government data suggests that 7.5 million women received Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) benefits in 2015-16 and the ICDS supplementary nutrition programme beneficiaries is estimated to be 19.33 million. This means that existing + potential beneficiaries are higher than current calculation. In absence of clarity on 5.17 million numbers, the programme may have large exclusion errors. This might once again lead to spending of huge finances without reaping expected outcomes. Conditions IGMSY pilot gave important lessons in this respect. The conditionalities imposed might lead to exclusion of the truly vulnerable. This is because health services which fulfil certain conditions are not easily available in many parts of the country. Most maternity benefits schemes are targeted on the basis of income, age and number of children showing their patriarchal values. The findings related to repeated pregnancies suggest that women from the extremely marginalised groups are the ones who will get excluded from the scheme due to its eligibility condition, thereby deteriorating their health further in absence of counselling or information on family planning. A study by National Alliance for Maternal Health and Human Rights has shown that precondition such as eligibility excludes 60% of women in the 15-49 age group, most of whom are Dalits and tribals. They are the ones who have more than two children, are illiterate and devoid of financial inclusion. Conditions such as immunization, counselling session, ANCs and PNCs have a positive impact, but cash transfer on their strict adherence excludes the beneficiaries who are not able to fulfil them. Rapid Survey on Children, 2014 highlights that less than half of pregnant women receive more than four antenatal care assessments or receive supplementary food during pregnancy, and less than a fourth report consuming iron-folic acid tablets. When these women are not given the cash transfer as expected, they are not encouraged for institutional deliveries. A 2016 study highlighted that fund flows to beneficiary bank accounts were slow because of complicated paperwork associated with fulfilling the conditionalities. Conditionalities related to utilising health and nutrition services are also meaningless in the absence of a service guarantee and the difficulties in accessing these schemes in the first place, as seen in most of the villages. Thus, the beneficiaries are more likely to be denied benefits due to government conditions rather than their own behavioural choices. Financial hurdle The current programme is estimated to cost the government Rs. 16,000 crore a year, compared with the current estimate of Rs. 3,165 crore and entire WCD ministry allocation in budget 2016-17 of Rs. 17,408 crore. Also, change cannot be expected in the absence of significant changes in the incentives of health workers. While institutional deliveries have risen, partly driven by the JSY cash transfer programme, it has not resulted in a significant impact on neo-natal mortality rates. Thus, the burden of finances may water down the intended outcomes. Administrative challenges Along with financial concern, it is imperative for administrative reforms to take place. Most of the conditionalities associated with the MBP are linked to programmes and schemes run by the health ministry. But MBP shall be under Ministry of Women and Child Development. Thus, presence of multiple ministries with different accountability systems will create roadblocks for the successful programme implementation. Administrative rigidities such as insisting on registration at the anganwadi centres (even if the woman was registered with the health department) and not including women in their natal homes add to the barriers in access to the scheme. Implementation The Centre failed to implement universal maternity benefits as mandated by the NFSA for a long time. Only Tamil Nadu is prominently known to implement this scheme as ‘ Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme’ where cash assistance of Rs. 12,000 is given in 3 instalments on conditional release and restricted for first two deliveries only. As per Registrar General of India, Tamil Nadu has the second lowest infant mortality rate (20 per 1,000 live births) among all states in India, only behind Kerala (12). In Odisha, the Mamata scheme is a universal maternity entitlement providing Rs 5,000 to all mothers. A found that although coverage was not universal, it was reasonably high. Hence, proper implementation along with regular monitoring is the key to success in decreasing maternal and child mortality rates as well as improving health status of India. Conclusion Nutrition constitutes the foundation for human development and becomes more important during the period of pregnancy and lactation coupled with wage loss. If the government wants to prove that it is committed to the cause of providing optimal nutritional status, especially to the most vulnerable communities, it has to implement the programme effectively. India’s DPSP recognises the need for maternity benefits in Article 39 (e)- “The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing – that the health and strength of workers, men, women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter a vocation unsuited to their age or strength.” Article 42 - “The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.” The introduction of maternity entitlements in the National Food Security Act (NFSA) has been hailed as a recognition by the State that all women are workers. Apart from wage loss compensation, maternity entitlements are recognised as a medium to promote exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months. The conditional cash transfer scheme is to improve health behaviours, address the rights of all women as workers to have sufficient time for rest, recovery and child care during maternity. MBP is expected to deliver on these expectation. Connecting the dots: What is Maternity Benefit Programme? Critically analyse its implementation model based on a previous model it has been formulated. MUST READ Keeping safety on the rails Hindu   Fielding the finest Hindu   Gandhi for our troubled times Hindu   When Chola king was personification of a perfect judge Hindu   The raging bulls Indian Express   Faithful on board Indian Express   Modi’s ‘Think West’ strategy is taking off Livemint   Union budget’s false dilemma Livemint   India’s education spending needs a course on accountability Livemint   Rural remedy Business Line   Push growth without fiscal imbalance Business Line  

Jan 30, 2017 MindMaps

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Farmer Suicides

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Farmer Suicides 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

Jan 30, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 109]

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 109] Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the nodal ministry for handling epidemics, decision making, advisory body and emergency medical relief provider Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal ministry for Biological Warfare and partners with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its management National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) is the nodal agency for investigating outbreaks of biological disasters All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) AMCDRR is a biennial conference jointly organized by different Asian countries and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) This first Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction after the advent of the Sendai Framework will be hosted by India Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3) National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Prime Minister None of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements about United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) It is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies. The office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at the request of the government affected by a disaster dispatches a UNDAC team to the country within 12 to 48 hours anywhere in the world Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will implement the Project in coordination with participating State Governments and the National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM) NCRMP Phase – 1 covers states of Goa,Gujarat,Karnataka,Kerela,Maharashtra and West Bengal Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Jan 29, 2017 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Stress and Recollection – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Stress & Recollection: We all know how difficult it is to recollect important information when we are in stress. Stress has the ability to simply block all recollection capabilities of the mind. The very nature of stress is such that it overpowers the rational and logical mind to put you in a state of emotional imbalance. Emotional imbalance caused by stress is the single most important reason why our thinking capabilities and problem solving abilities are affected. If you observe your mind’s recollection mechanism a little closely you will realize that recollection happens through mental associations. Each idea in our mind is linked to all other ideas. This association of thoughts is what helps us to recollect information relevant to a particular context. Have you ever wondered how your brain remembers your ATM pin only when you stand in front of an ATM machine! It has happened so often that certain information can be recollected only in a certain situation. This is due to the association of information with the particular contextual environment. Stress has the ability to simply shift the context completely. Stress can highjack your mind’s capability to remain in the present moment, associate thoughts and recollect information. This is why it is almost impossible to think logically in a stressful situation. Stress is also the most important cause of violence. There are a few simple methods through which one can take control of the mind and the present moment. By regular practice of self awareness one can remain rooted in the experience of the present moment, which gives enormous clarity and ability to focus. Self awareness is an art and skill once developed can transform the very quality of thinking and recollection. Especially during an examination, where each moment counts and even the slightest amount of stress can make a huge difference, it is absolutely necessary to practice the ability to stay in the moment and keep your mind relaxed for long periods of time. The easiest and simplest way of doing this is to bring self awareness to even the simplest of daily actions. Eat consciously, walk consciously, talk consciously and act consciously. Every single moment of your life is a preparation. Practice of self awareness will help you to handle any stressful situation. It will also help you to focus better. It is not enough if you are simply good in grasping information; recollection and reproduction of information is an art which is equally important and it can be tremendously enhanced by self awareness. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Jan 28, 2017 PIB

IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB)- 21st Nov to 27th Nov, 2016

Iasbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB) – 21st Nov to 27th Nov 2016 ARCHIVES   GS-2 BRICS Trade Fair (Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests) The 1st BRICS Trade Fair was organized in New Delhi Objective To promote trade and investment opportunities amongst the participating BRICS nations i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. BRICS Trade Fair was not a direct consumer fair allowing sales of merchandise, the immediate revenue earned by participating Indian Companies cannot be quantified. (Not required) India organised the 1st BRICS Trade Fair during its Presidency pursuant to the announcement made by Prime Minister of India during the BRICS Summit at Ufa, in 2015. The Presidency of BRICS will move to China in 2017 and they would need to take a decision on the organisation of the next BRICS Trade Fair.   Impact of WTO deliberations on services (Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests) Mini-Ministerial meeting of Trade Ministers was organized by Norway in Oslo. Purpose--- To discuss the way forward in the WTO, including possible issues for the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the WTO to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2017. India’s stand— India highlighted the centrality of the development dimension of the Doha Round of trade negotiations in the WTO, The need to work on issues of special interest to developing countries and to prioritize the implementation of Ministerial Decisions adopted at the previous WTO Ministerial Conferences held in Bali and Nairobi. India stressed the importance of ensuring adequate policy space for developing countries in the negotiations Need for creating a level playing field for developing countries in agricultural trade by addressing inequities and distortions which are threatening the livelihood of millions of poor farmers across the world.   Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women (Topic: Minority Affairs) Scheme “Nai Roshni” for Leadership Development of Minority Women Aim-- to empower and instil confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and intermediaries at all levels. The implementation of the scheme was started in 2012-13. It is implemented through Non -Governmental Organizations (NGOs) all over the country. The scheme provides one week training programmes followed by handholding for a period of one year. The scheme also permits a mix of women from non-minority communities not exceeding 25% of a project proposal to further strengthen the solidarity and unity in the society. The training is provided on various training modules covering issues relating to women viz. Leadership of Women through participation in decision making, Educational Programmes for women, Health and Hygiene, Legal rights of women, Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy, Swachch Bharat, Life Skills and Advocacy for Social and Behavioural change.   GS-3  India becomes Associate Member of CERN, Geneva (Topic: Science and Technology) India and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement today making India an Associate Member State of CERN. About CERN CERN is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory, where scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe by using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems. CERN is based in Geneva on the French-Swiss border. Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and the observer status is given to four states and three International Organizations. India and CERN The participation of Indian scientists dates back to early 1960s, which has become much stronger and closer for the last quarter of a century with the support of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST). In 1991, DAE had signed a formal agreement with CERN, which continues till today. In 2003, India was awarded the Observer status of CERN, and subsequently invited to join CERN as an Associate Member. In 2015, the Indian Cabinet gave its approval following which the CERN Council has accepted India as an Associate member. India has made significant contributions to the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) India is one of the leading partners in the ALICE experiment, which is on a quest to unearth the physics of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and to get a glimpse of how matter behaved within a few microseconds after the birth of our Universe. India’s contribution (can be sub title) The discovery of the Higgs Boson at the LHC is the most talked about scientific discovery in recent memory. Indian scientists have played a significant role in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiments, which is one of the two large experiments that have led to the discovery of the Higgs Boson. India has made major contributions in terms of designing, developing and deploying software for the Worldwide Large Hadron Collider Grid (WLCG). It is worth mentioning that the grid Tier2 centers established at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai have provided the pledged resources and are operating with 96% uptime, thereby facilitating running of computational jobs by various CERN collaborations. As an Associate Member of CERN, India will be a part of the huge scientific and technological endeavor. India has been putting efforts to design, develop and utilize various types of electron and proton accelerators for scientific, industrial and societal use.  Benefits of joining CERN Involvement of physicists, electronics hardware and software engineers will pave the path for overall knowledge development in the best possible way. Becoming Associate Member of CERN will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects and bring back knowledge for deployment in the domestic programmes. It will also open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in the CERN project. Encourages large number of students to pursue their career in science.   India stood first in the world in the export of fisheries products (Topic: Agriculture) About- World Fisheries Day (Nov 21) organized by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Benefits of fish farming Increase in the farmers income There will be progress in the country’s export and GDP and It will ensure nutritional and food security in the country. Facts and figures on Indian fishery For the year 2014-15, production of milk was Rs. 4.92 lakh crore which was more than 37% from paddy and wheat combined. For the year 2015-16, there was about Rs. 1 lakh crore value fisheries production within the country. In fish production, India is constantly at the second position after China. Fisheries are a big sector in the country and around 150 lakh people are engaged in fisheries business. India has first place in the world in the area of shrimp fish and it is the largest exporter of shrimp fish. Blue Revolution “Blue Revolution; Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries”. This scheme includes in land fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries comprising of deep sea fishing, mariculture and all the activities of national fisheries development board (NFDB). Blue Revolution scheme is to increase the fish production and productivity by 8 per cent annual growth rate and to reach 15 million tones mark by 2020. Efforts are being made to bring a “National inland fisheries Policy” along with new “National Marine Fisheries Policy”, which will decide an overall and integrated growth frame work in the area of inland fisheries throughout the country. Other schemes “Rashtriya Gokul Mission” for the breed improvement of indigenous cows and for cattle, goats and sheep higher breed development; National Livestock Mission To double the income of the farmers, government has laid emphasis on the development of the fisheries, fishermen and farmers by 2022 through aquaculture and marine fisheries. National Fisheries Action Plan 2020 (NFAP) for the next five years to increase fish production and productivity and to achieve the target of blue revolution.   New Energy Policy (Topic: Infrastructure—energy) About Key objectives Energy access at affordable prices Improved energy security and independence Greater sustainability and Economic growth. Difference between Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) and New Energy Policy (NEP) Issue related to sharp decline of crude oil prices, change in solar energy technology, heightened concern of climate change issues, ambitious target of Renewable energy and rural electrification agenda adopted by the Government. Targets All the Census villages are planned to be electrified by 2019, Universal electrification is to be achieved, with 24x7 electricity by 2022. Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) target at reduction of emissions intensity by 33%-35% by 2030, Achieving a 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022 Share of non-fossil fuel based installed capacity in the electricity mix is aimed at above 40% by 2030.   Ban on imports of plastic items from China (Topic: Environmental pollution) Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Tranboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 Plastic waste has been included in the Schedule-VI and the item is prohibited for import from all countries since then. The Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020) Provides safeguards against poor quality imports by providing for Domestic Laws applicable to domestically produced goods to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, to imports, unless specifically exempted. Wherever, there are domestic standards for goods, those standards are also applicable to imported goods. BIS standards, applicable to domestic goods, are also applicable to imported goods. For imported food and edible items, Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Rules there under are also applicable.   To make India a Gas based economy (Topic: Economic development) Details- Natural gas is one of the cleanest and most environment friendly fuels having extremely low Carbon Dioxide emissions compared to other fuels like coal and oil. Fertilizer and Power Sectors are the major gas consumers in Indian gas market. They consume about 60% of total gas consumption at country level in FY 2015-16. In order to develop the gas consuming market, Government has implemented Fertilizer Gas Pooling Scheme which has encouraged the utilization of installed Fertilizer Units in the country. The Government has taken the following steps to make India a gas based economy. Development of Gas Sources either through Domestic gas Exploration & Production activities or through building up facilities to import natural gas in the form of LNG, Development of Gas Pipeline Infrastructure. Development of gas consuming markets like Fertilizer, Power, Transport and Industries etc.   Impact of Air Pollution (Topic: Environmental pollution and degradation) WHO report-“Ambient Air Pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease” Major steps taken by the Government to control pollution Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards Formulation of environmental regulations Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.), ethanol blending Promotion of cleaner production processes Launching of National Air Quality index Universalization of BS-IV by 2017 Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards by 1st April, 2020 Comprehensive amendments to various Waste Management Rules and notification of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules Banning of burning of leaves, biomass, municipal solid waste Promotion of public transport and network of metro, e-rickshaws, promotion of car-pooling, Pollution Under Control Certificate, lane discipline, vehicle maintenance Installation of on-line continuous (24x7) monitoring devices by major industries Collection of Environmental Protection Charge on more than 2000 CC diesel vehicles in Delhi Ban on bursting of sound emitting crackers between 10 PM to 6 AM etc   Sewage Sludge Research Project in Gujarat  (Topic: Waste Management) About- Sewage Sludge generated at various sewage treatment plants in towns and cities produce highly infectious sewage sludge which could spread diseases. Uses--it is a good source of carbon and other elemental nutrients useful for growth of plants. Statutory approvals given by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). BARC has provided technical support for implementation of NISARGRUNA biogas plant at Gajarawadi, Vadodara for processing of carcass of dead animals in the premises of Vadodara Municipal Corporation.   Bilateral Agreements by ISRO (Topic: Space technology) About- Bilateral agreements with 39 foreign countries on peaceful uses of outer space viz. Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Norway, Peru, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The Netherlands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Vietnam. Scope Joint development of scientific instruments; Joint realization of satellite missions; Joint calibration and validation experiments; Development of advanced technologies for building and launching of spacecrafts for earth observation Space science exploration. Expected outcomes– Continuity of data and services for natural resources monitoring, all weather imaging, oceanography, disaster management support; Enhancing remote sensing capability with high resolution data; Augmentation of INSAT/GSAT capacity; Enhancing communication capability with high throughput satellites; Building indigenous capability for launching 4 ton class communication satellites; Building operational applications of indigenous navigation system NavIC.   Seismic Microzonation of 30 more Cities in the Country (Topic: Disaster management) Report on Seismic microzonation of National Capital Territory (NCT) Delhi and Kolkata in Februry, 2016. Proposed by National Centre of Seismology. Parameters used Soil liquefaction, Geology, Geomorphology, Engineering bed rock, Depth of basement, Shear wave speed, Depth of ground water table, Peak ground acceleration, etc Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) BIS has published several guidelines and building codes for construction of earthquake resistant structures and for retrofitting of existing buildings. These guidelines are widely used by various administrative regulatory authorities responsible for ensuring the design and construction of earthquake resistant structures in various states.   Measures Taken by the Government to mainstream AYUSH System of medicine (Topic: Health and Family Welfare) About-The National Policy on Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy - 2002, envisages integration of AYUSH with the Health Care Delivery System. Purpose - Mainstreaming of AYUSH is one of the strategies in National Health Mission (NHM) as well which seeks to provide accessible, affordable and quality health care in order to improve the existing health care delivery system. Steps taken for accessibility and affordability of AYUSH system Under National AYUSH Mission (NAM), co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), gives enabling choice to the patients for different systems of medicines under single window. The engagement of AYUSH Doctors / paramedics and their training is supported by the Department of Health & Family Welfare. NAM also provides financial assistance to States / UTs for cultivation of medicinal plants by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) so as to provide sustained supply of quality raw-materials at economical prices which in turn facilitate in making available affordable AYUSH Medicines to the public.   Northeast to be developed as 'organic capital' of India (Topic: Agriculture) About- Generate revenue through agriculture and trade, and also offer job avenues and entrepreneurship opportunities for young "Start-Ups". Initiatives taken Northeast Road Sector Development Scheme had been introduced for the upkeep and maintenance of inter-connecting roads between the States “Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis” at “Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management”, Shillong works in matters of policy research and formulation of the development issues of the region.   AirSewa Portal: One Stop Solution For Hassle Free Air Travel (Topic: Infrastructure development) About- To provide a hassle-free and comfortable air travel experience to people Problems faced by passengers in airport Flight delays, problem in refunds, long queues and lack of proper facilities at airports and complaints of lost baggage Uses of AirSewa Portal It will be operated through an interactive web portal as well as through a mobile app. The portal will include a mechanism for grievance redressal, backoffice operations for grievance handling, flight status/schedule information, airport Information and FAQs The users will have the facility to upload voice or video along with an elaborate description of their issues. They will be given a unique reference number for each of their reported grievances which would also be communicated through an email as well as an SMS. Users will have an option to check the flight status and schedule between any of airports. Flights can be searched on the basis of flight number or for all flights to a particular airport. Airport Information will display basic weather information and connecting flight details from the airport. Airport information will include basic details and contact information regarding airport services like wheel Chair, transport/parking, rest and relax, Wifi services etc.   e-pashuhaat portal (Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors) Purpose- First time in the world under the scheme National Mission on Bovine Productivity ‘e-pashuhaat’ portal has been developed for connecting breeders and farmers regarding availability of bovine germplasm. Current Scenario in India The bovine population in India is owned by 60m marginal, small and medium farmer households with an average herd size of 2-3 milch animals. The figures of high milk production are reflective of the large numbers of bovine population rather than that of high productivity and resource efficiency. Dairying activity is a major supplementary source of income for these farmers. However, the Indian Farm Management System is typically a Low Input, Low Output system with low productivity. Vision for doubling the farmers incomes by 2022, makes the adoption of the strategy to enhance the share of income from animal rearing imperative. Per capita availability of milk increased from 307 gram per day in 2013-14 to 340 grams per day in 2015-16. Shortcomings in Animals Trade Market No authentic organized market Difficult to get quality- disease free high genetic merit germplasm. Misleading valuation due to lack of traceability and tracking. Other malpractices include Horns removed & Teeth filed to mislead for their age. Aims and Objectives: E-Trading Market portal for livestock germplasm and additional related services. Will connect farmers with breeders - Central, State, Co-operative, Milk Federations, and private agencies. Real time authentic certified information on availability of germplasm Indigenous breeds besides being heat tolerant and resistant to diseases our indigenous breeds of cows are known to produce A2 type milk which protects us from various chronic health problems such as Cardio Vascular Diseases, Diabetes and neurological disorders besides providing several other health benefits. There is a need to market A2A2 milk separately in the country. Amount of Rs 2 crore each has been sanctioned to Odisha and Karnataka for marketing of A2A2 Milk of our indigenous breeds. Targeted Outcomes For Farmers One stop portal for bovine breeders, sellers and buyers. Creating and Comparative Farm Network Making Farmers exchange local knowledge and resources Availability of disease free germplasm with known genetic merit. Minimizes the involvement of middlemen. Increase in farmers’ incomes.  

Jan 28, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 28th January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 28th January 2017 Archives NATIONAL  TOPIC: General Studies 2 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Farmers’ deaths: Why and What next? Tamil Nadu has been troubled by a severely deficit monsoon which triggered the worst drought in 140 years and the farmer suicides news are now resurfacing in farming heartlands of the state. Over 100 farmers, mostly in Cauvery delta have reportedly committed suicide during a period of one month and the numbers are rising. Various farmers’ associations have expressed their concerns before the State government and have demanded immediate relief measures to put a break on farmer suicides. The CM of Tamil Nadu declared entire state drought-hit after an official report was submitted which mentioned extent of drought and farm deaths. Measures worth Rs. 160 crore and Rs. 350 crores to alleviate the water crisis in urban and rural local bodies respectively were also announced. Fund allocation to meet the fodder needs of cattle, rescheduling of farm loans, cancellation of land tax and compensation for lost crop to drought-affected farmers has also been initiated. Promises have also been made to provide employment to the rural population at an outlay of Rs. 3,400 crore by engaging them in desilting of canals and tanks and extending employment under the MGNREGS by 50 days. These measures look promising and beneficial to distressed farmers but the underlying rootcause of the farm suicides needs to be addressed. Makeshift solutions are not the panacea to prevent farm suicides in future. Who is the killer? Farmer suicides is not a new phenomenon. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report of 2015 shows that the number of farmers committing suicide rose more than 41% in 2015 over 2014. Such a statistic is puzzling and shocking despite innumerable State and Central interventions. Drought? It has been constantly debated if drought is the only factor driving farmers to commit suicide? If that had been the case, 1972, 1982 and 1987 were worst drought years, yet no suicides were reported. Droughts lead to crop losses which are generally compensated by the government in the concerned year. Hence, drought doesn’t literally propel farm suicides. Debt? The NCRB report underlines that indebtedness is the single largest underlying cause behind farmers’ suicide. Even in 2007, the Radhakrishna Committee on Agricultural Indebtedness appointed by the ministry of finance had underlined that farm indebtedness is the main cause for such an extreme form of distress. Hence, it is a matter of concern that policy makers have not taken this area of concern on a serious note even after 10 years since the committee submitted its recommendations The belief in policy circles that a loan waiver can solve farm suicides is largely misinformed and misses a concrete base. It is because that had one-time relief package been a bailout for debt-ridden farmers, then the massive RS. 71,680 crore Agriculture Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme announced in May 2008 should have produced the desired results by now. However, government data ironically indicates increase in farm suicides after loan waiver! Non availability of credit? It has been reported that non-availability of credit has been causing distress among farmers. For this, a doubling of the agriculture credit scheme was introduced during 2004-05 to increase the flow of credit to farmers. However, the Rangarajan Committee on Financial Inclusion (2008) noted that about 66% of marginal farmers still resorted to informal sources of credit. Even the report of Task Force on Credit-Related Issues of Farmers (2009) categorically stated that the dominance of moneylenders has continued even after the introduction of doubling of farm credit policy. These findings suggest that there is something beyond droughts, debt and credit non-availability which is causing farm suicides. The real culprit The rapid pace of increase in cost of cultivation of various crops has been a major problem for farmers in the last two decades. The Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) data on cost of cultivation of different crops shows that most of the foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops in the major growing regions of the country have incurred losses from early 1990s onwards. The reason is that crop losses that prevailed during the pre-nineties gathered momentum during the post-nineties. CACP tells that in nineties, the gross cost required for crops cultivation was almost similar to value of output (VOP) in almost all the major foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops across major growing states. This resulted in dwindling of profit margins during the period with no or very little profit for the cultivators. The farmers suicides came to fore only in the late 1990s with the effect of cost escalation showing its fangs. Maharashtra has reported maximum number of suicides which is evident from the following Gross cost at current prices escalated massively from Rs. 3,267/ha in 1989-90 to Rs. 61,907/ha in 2011-12. The Profits fluctuated sharply from Rs. 5,585/ha in 1994-95 to (-)Rs. 654/ha in 2011-12. The sugarcane prices have been rising at an alarming rate and ironically, the sugarcane farmers of Maharashtra have not reaped any appreciable profits in relation to its gross cost. Though there has been increase in all major input costs, there has been abnormal increase in wage cost in recent years. The reason lies with implementation of MGNREGS which escalated overall cost of cultivation of the crop. Andhra Pradesh’s paddy crop has not proved to be beneficial to its farmers The profits varied only between Rs. 273/ha to Rs. 170/ha during 1970-71 and 2011-12. Paddy cultivation suffered losses in 19 out of 36 years, compelling AP to declare a ‘crop holiday’ during kharif 2011. IASbaba’s views- Targeting the cause It has been understood that income from crop cultivation is neither adequate nor consistent. Hence it is futile to announce one-time relief measures to heal the wound of farmers and also inflict fiscal burden on government. The policymakers need to focus on the cause (crop losses and increased costs) and not the effect (suicide or indebtedness) for a proper diagnosis. For this, the skyrocketed prices of farm inputs need to be regulated so that farmers also get a decent profit margin. The cost of cultivation have to be brought down without affecting the productivity of crops. The delivery of agricultural credit needs to be improved and efforts should be undertaken to restructure MGNREGS by linking it with the farming work to reduce the cost of cultivation especially during peak seasons. As recommended by National Commission on Farmers (2006) and the Working Group on Agriculture Production (2010), MSP for different crops should be at least 50% more than the actual cost of cultivation. These measures will not arise the need for one-time loan waivers and create a sustainable environment for the farmers’ livelihood. Connecting the dots: Recently, SC declared farmers’ deaths as a human rights violation issue. Why? What are the causes that cause farm suicides? Examine Is there a need for national policy for protecting the farmers, who are the bread winners of the country? What can be its significant provisions in your opinion? ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Government Budgeting. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Budget 2017 Recommendations – Reforms in Indian Economy Introduction The 2017 Finance Budget is expected to be a very crucial one for the economy of the country. With the country still under the impact of the demonetisation drive and the economy experiencing a resultant slowdown, all eyes are set on the budget. A lot of structural and institutional reforms are on the cards which include the implementation of the landmark Goods and Service Tax (GST) and other reforms such as the bankruptcy code. The budget needs to include measures which address all issues which have been plaguing the economy and ensure implementation of above reforms in a smooth manner to send a positive signal across. Direct Tax Following the demonetisation drive and to ensure that the economy gets going as quickly as possible certain direct tax reforms are highly essential. Tax benefits need to be given to promote spending and also mobilise savings especially those belonging to the youth and the households as well. Tax deduction limits under Section 80C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 can also be raised. Due to this a lot of money can be diverted towards securities market. Various deposit schemes have a lock-in provision of five years. The budget can reduce this period which will lead to more bank deposits and thus improved resource availability with the banks. The corporate sector can also be encouraged to expand by way of cut in corporate tax rates. This will boost business confidence and increase demand. Encouraging Financial Savings In India, savings in pension instruments form approximately 1% of the GDP only. To improve this ratio it is important to introduce a uniform tax treatment for all pension instruments and ensure a quantitative post tax return from these instruments. The budget can also re-introduce instruments like the inflation indexed bonds. These bonds will provide higher risk with relatively lower return. By way of changes in tax slabs and reduction of tax rates the government can boost consumption demand. This will increase savings for the people and also address the liquidity squeeze due to demonetisation. Reduction in Cost of Funds For transforming the economy, it is essential to reduce the interest rates in the economy. Implementation of GST will go a long way in lowering economic costs in the medium term. Guidelines regarding financial instruments such as ECBs should be relaxed to reduce their cost of operations as well. Banks should also selectively regulate their lending rates for critical sectors such as housing and renewable energy. Medium and Small Scale Industries The Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (MSME) sector has been facing a tough time in the less cash environment post demonetisation. There is a need for reforms for this sector as well. SIDBI could open a refinance window along with RBI to provide more and easier access to finance. A special centralised database could be created for the MSMEs. This could constitute details of information of bank accounts all MSMEs. Linking this with the Aadhar data will further enhance transparency. Use of technology and automating assessment of financial data will reduce decision making time and also the interest cost for MSMEs. Public Investment Public investment for capital expenditure is an evergreen need of the economy. It will give a push to the creation of productive assets in the economy. The Government will also have to introduce measures to promote crowd sourced private investments. This will give an immense boost to infrastructural growth and development and overall economic growth. The budget should also have provisions to promote a vibrant corporate bond market for infrastructure growth. The government could create a new trading platform for corporate bonds. Contemporary Innovations With the government pushing the country towards digital economy and cashless transactions with its flagship programme of Digital India, a lot of innovations are required in the budget. Budget provisions need to work towards giving the financial technology sector a boost. An enabling regulatory and licensing framework for safeguarding interests of various stakeholders and increasing efficiency is important to encourage more players in this sector. Innovations which promote secure and safe transactions will be essential for assisting India truly leverage digital payments. Budget provisions should boost National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) to create digital infrastructure for a cashless economy. Other Reforms Other miscellaneous but highly crucial reforms include: Banking Sector: There is a need for greater infusion of capital in this budget. Disinvestment: The government needs to make certain smart disinvestment moves in this budget. This will increase capital availability and help in infrastructural development. GST Implementation: It is highly important for the budget to end any further delay in the implementation of GST. This will increase investor confidence and reduce uncertainty. Unorganised Sector: Incentives need to be given to the unorganised sector to shift to the organised and formal sector. Conclusion All the above reforms suggested above are of equal relevance for the economy. It is therefore imperative for the government to give due attention to all these area. However, it is important for the government to ensure that measure for the above reforms do not have a very major impact on the fiscal deficit of the country. For this purpose the budget can even propose a target of fiscal deficit. The ongoing financial year has laid the foundation for a very strong economy. It is now upon the Budget 2017 to build upon this foundation by ensuring implementation of reforms efficiently and effectively. Connecting the dots With the recent demonetisation drive and the way Indian economy is shaping up, it is on the threshold of emerging as one of the strongest economies. Suggest certain measures and explain how those measures could help India achieve the above. MUST READ Getting ties with UAE on track Hindu Related article: India UAE Relations   The politics of demonetisation Hindu   Between Local And National Indian Express   An inconvenient truth Indian Express   Evolving ties Indian Express   Freeing the IIMs Business Line    

Jan 28, 2017 AIR

All India Radio - India Israel Bilateral Relations

India Israel bilateral relations ARCHIVES Search 15th November here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Current visit of Israel President to India With current Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s visit to India, it is a welcome visit as it a long time since the Israeli Head of State has been to India. First Presidential visit took place by Ezer Weizman around 20 years ago in 1997. This visit is the mark of growing India-Israel relationship which will further consolidate ties between two countries. Overall the government policy is to have strong relations with Israel and continue to have deep relations with Arab countries as well in west Asia. The India Israel relations are set to reach a new high with two countries signing agreements on water resources management and agriculture. Growing relation The relation between two countries is growing steadily but there is not any particular period which it can be categorised into. Trade expansion When India and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1992, the trade turnover was 200 million dollars. By 2001, it was close to a billion dollar and today it is 5 billion dollar trade. Thus, there has been a steady upward progression in trade relations. However, the trade has stagnated since 2012. The reason is that the global trade itself is not growing after 2008. In last two years, India’s overall export performance has not been great in the sense that because the world market conditions have declined in some months and stabilised in others. However, the opportunities for trade will continue to exist. One is the upward-downward movement in Indo-Israeli trade in global market for diamonds. Diamonds constitute large part of import market and polished diamonds as part of export market in India. There exists potential for increase in trade growth of Indian market for specialised goods like medical equipment as Israelis have a strong, medical imaging technology. On Indian side, some of the manufactured goods that are made in India will find place in Israeli markets with increased sophistication. There is cooperation in services sector too.  The Israelis are known for strengths in software and hardware and India is known for software. Israel is ready to Make in India and Make with India. Israel has effective small start-up companies that have grown out of incubators which have extremely advanced technology. They may not be able to invest very large sum on the scales of global multinationals, but they can certainly come to India and invest in Indian companies in joint ventures with India, that may propel immense growth. Diplomatic upturn India formally recognised Israel in 1950. Embassies were opened in 1992 when full diplomatic relations were established. In last few years, there has been acceleration of high level visits. President of India had visited Israel in 2016. 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries which will be celebrated by Indian PM visiting Israel, becoming the first Prime Minister of India to visit the country. Over the years, the Indian government has toned down its reactions to Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. India is no longer initiating anti-Israel resolutions at the UN and has made serious attempts to moderate NAM's anti-Israel resolutions. This re-evaluation has been based on a realisation that India's largely pro-Arab stance in West Asia has not been adequately rewarded by the Arab world. There have been no serious attempts by the Arab world to put pressure on Pakistan to reign in cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. Israel has also extended support for India’s permanent UNSC membership by expressing confidence in India’s position and record on how India is perceived globally. Strategic relations Israel has had a consistent policy of supporting India on counter terrorism and in terms of development of capabilities of preventing terrorism as well as countering it. India is the world's largest buyer of Israeli weaponry and was Israel's third largest trading partner in Asia in 2013, just after China and Hong Kong. Cooperation with Israel is not limited to purchase of advanced equipment of weaponry or surveillance equipment, but also in terms of joint training and sharing intelligence in areas like cyber security. The emphasis on working together in field of counter terrorism in India is very important. The joint statement issued by Israel President and Indian PM speak about the main source of terrorism afflicting India which comes from across the western border of India. So, it is a signal to work together against this source of threat. It also states that the international community must act with resolve and determination against terror network and states who harbour them. This is a well-crafted statement which suggests that international community has to deal with state sponsored terrorism as well as states which turn a blind eye or claim not to have control over their own territory. India Israel defence relation have been on an upward trajectory for some time and now is the time to make defence ties more broad based. It means that Israeli technology will be brought into India as part of defence manufacturing in India rather than India being only a purchaser. The quantum leap in India’s defence relationship with Israel started during Kargil conflict. Now, the emphasis is on manufacturing defence equipment in India, creating capabilities and R&D for defence equipment. Israel defence industry and government could play a critical role in it as their R&D is strong, their domestic manufacturing capabilities are diverse as well as sophisticated. They have a role to play in development of manufacturing sector of defence industry in India. Agreement in water resource management and agriculture In the early years of India-Israel cooperation, lot of emphasis was given to agriculture. Many states of India have shown great interest in Israeli technology in agriculture and managing scarce water resources. The R&D in these areas has been one of important elements in the bilateral relations. The agricultural institutes of Israel continue to have Indian research scientists and number of joint ventures in animal husbandry, agriculture and water management equipment have come up in India with Israeli technology. Fifteen centres of excellence in agriculture have already been commissioned and India has benefited from Israeli expertise and technologies in horticulture mechanisation, protected cultivation, orchard and canopy management, nursery management, micro-irrigation and post-harvest management particularly in Haryana and Maharashtra. Israeli drip irrigation technologies and products are now widely used in India. New areas of cooperation for mutual benefit Education, particularly higher education in technology and advanced science. New and pioneering forms of renewable energy Collaboration in sports technology Areas of pharmaceuticals and life sciences Tourism industry Apart from science & technology, defence and trade, there is literature and culture where two countries share profound relations. Conclusion Since the upgradation of relations in 1992, defence and agriculture have been the main pillars of bilateral engagement. The future is bright with areas like high technology, pharmaceuticals, equipment related to water management and agriculture. There is consensus that both countries work together in this partnerships and deliver it for the citizens. This visit is a signal of the direction to be followed by both. Connecting the dots: India and Israel have come a long way in establishing themselves as important partners in world. Critically evaluate the bilateral relation between two countries.