Jan 8, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 7th January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 7th January 2017 Archives SOCIAL ISSUES TOPIC: General Studies 2 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. Transgender and Related Issues Introduction Indian policy makers have been progressing fast on the issue of transgenders. Recently, the cabinet also approved the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016. Government is also evolving mechanisms for their social, economic and educational empowerment. Efforts need to be put to mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalized section and bring them into the mainstream of society. It will lead to greater inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society. Problems Faced by Transgender Transgender community is among one of the most marginalized communities in the country because they don't fit into the stereotypical categories of men or women. Consequently they face a lot of problems such as: Social exclusion and discrimination. Lack of adequate education and employment facilities. Dropping out of school for multiple reasons such as repeated violence. They are also required to hide their identity due to the fear of harassment and the stigma attached. Inability to take up the work of their choice. Various legislations such as Section 377 (which criminalizes non penile-vaginal intercourse) and Section 36(A) of the Karnataka Police Act (which allows the police commissioner to maintain a register of transgenders) allow room for discrimination of transgender. Forced marriages, caste oppression, sexual and physical assault are a few more challenges faced by the third gender. The NALSA Judgement In 2014, the Supreme Court passed a judgement which was a result of the petition filed by the National Legal Services Authority. The judgement also known as the NALSA Judgement allowed the transgender to avail benefits provided by the state in equality to the other citizens. It also gave them an option of identifying themselves as the third gender          . The judgement also required the Centre and States to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally backward classes and extend reservation for admission in educational institutions and for public appointments. Also, all important identity documents such as birth certificate, passport, ration card and driving licence would recognise the third gender. Gender identification was very essential for further provision of many rights such as the right to vote, own property and marry. Transgender Welfare Board As a result of the NALSA judgement, a few Indian states such as Manipur, Odisha, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Kerala have formed Transgender Welfare Board for the purpose of extending existing welfare schemes to transgender communities. However, the creation of such boards and welfare measures has had its own set of limitations and obstacles: Owing to the federal structure of India, welfare in India is a matter of responsibility for both the Centre and State. As a result, the there is no uniform agenda in place for the transgenders. The existing welfare schemes for transgender are not completely suitable for them. In the process of policy formulation, the dialogue with the community has been inadequate to understand their needs and requirements. Tamil Nadu also formed a Transgender Welfare Board, before the NALSA judgement was passed, for the welfare of a small community of transgenders known as Aravanis. This board also had flaws similar to those mentioned above. Challenge of Certification The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 also has a provision for a district screening committee to certify a person’s third-gender identity in the form of a transgender card. The need for certification by a committee, could be for administrative purposes such as deciding the benefits under welfare schemes, allowing for a change of name etc but it is still against the promise made by the NALSA judgement, which allowed self-identification to be the basis of such certification. Limitations of the Bill Apart from the social challenges that the transgenders face, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 has the following shortcomings: Absence of provisions to recognize the violence committed by the natal family. The inadequate budget assigned by the Centre for this matter. Absence of awareness programmes to sensitize the general population. Lack of a clear mechanism through which transgender communities can access existing welfare schemes. Conclusion The need of the hour is to make all the stakeholders responsive and accountable for upholding the social principles necessary to safeguard the interests of the marginalised sections of the society. Through the Transgender Bill, we can bring greater accountability on the part of the Central Government and Slate Governments/Union Territories Administrations for issues concerning Transgender persons. Other than policy measures, sensitisation and awareness have to be raised significantly. If various stakeholders can come together, we can definitely make this world a better place for the third gender. Connecting the dots What are the problems faced by the Transgenders in India socially and in terms of policy implementation? What are the corresponding measures that are needed to be taken to address problems in both the areas? 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 Universal Basic Income: is it coming to India? In news: the NDA government is seemingly considering the idea of ‘Universal Basic Income’ or a regular state payment to all citizens regardless of their employment status. This scheme is likely to be included in the Economic Survey. However, it is unlikely that the scheme will be implemented- just yet. What is Universal Basic Income? The idea of UBI is that everybody should be given a basic minimum income as an entitlement and not as compensation for work. Even libertarians, generally wary of free riders and government handout programmes, agree that in the 21st century people cannot be left to die of hunger and malnutrition simply because they could not find a job. Even in most advanced countries, though social security systems are in place, but there are caveats which lead to exclusion of many. For example, as per a US think tank CATO, the present American welfare system is a disaster as despite federal and state governments spending around $1 billion annually, yet 16% of the population remains below the US poverty line. The core idea The core idea of UBI is simple- Instead of having many different forms of welfare programmes targeted at the poor, and administered through government bureaucracy, there should be a simple unconditional regular cash transfer to every adult. Here, the individuals will retain any additional income earned over the basic income, subject to paying a fraction in taxes. So only those with zero income will receive the full basic income in net terms. For others, the net benefits will taper off and so even though the basic income is universal, the benefits of the non-poor are taken back through taxation and only the poor are net recipients of support. Cash vs. Kind In a turnaround from anti-poverty policies pursued by all previous governments, the new approach seeks to topple the in-kind income transfers and bring in cash transfers. There have been two major in-kind poverty alleviation policies in operation — PDS (by FCI) and MGNREGA — which involve large scale government involvement. However, both are amongst the most corrupt schemes in the world. As Rajiv Gandhi had said in 1985 that no more than 15% of PDS food distribution reaches the poor, the same holds true even now with only 50% of food procured and stored by the government reaches anybody, rich or poor. Similar is the case with MGNREGA. However, DBT has now captured people’s imagination with implementation of technology and Aadhar card. Hence, a logical expansion of the DBT is the policy of Universal Basic Income (UBI) whereby there will be a guaranteed income to all (population, adult, worker or variant thereof). It provides a new method towards efficient redistribution of income. Financially possible http://images.indianexpress.com/2017/01/ideagraph.jpg If there is no change in consumption since 2011-12, there can be calculations made about the magnitude and efficacy of income transfer policy. (It is made on reasonable assumption as the real distribution did not change between 1983 and 2011-12). The data of 2011-12 from NSS survey and assumptions of 2016-17 based on approx. consumption data from wage data for ploughman and carpenters. There has been 58% and 69% growth in the wages of the poor and semi-skilled respectively in last five years. But the consumer prices just rose by 40% between 2011-12 and 2016-17. This background information for India, 2016-17, yields important policy conclusions. The national poverty rate stands at around 20% where the average poverty gap with the higher poverty line is about Rs 300 per poor person per month. (Poverty Gap= difference between the average consumption level of the poor and the relevant poverty line) To reduce this new absolute poverty level from 20% to 0%, the government needs to transfer Rs. 1lakh crore (lc) on an annual basis. This is only 0.7% of the GDP At present, the government spends Rs 1.75 lc — PDS 1.35 lc and MGNREGA 0.4 lc. Hence, there is an efficient way for the government to eliminate poverty on an ongoing basis, and to help the lower middle class as well. The defining line for the absolute poor should not be absolute — it should increase with the level of per capita income and should include the lower middle class. The demonetisation will allow increased personal income tax collections around Rs 1 lc to Rs 1.5 lc annually. Thus the government has total 3 lakh crores to redistribute (if PDS and MGNREGA are discontinued). If the government uses income tax data and data on consumption of automobiles and two wheelers, the government can easily identify the bottom 50% of the Indian population which includes the poor and the lower middle class. Without any strain on the budget, the government can transfer Rs 3 lakh crore to 265 million people, or approximately Rs 1,000 per person per month. This will result in a 50% increase in consumption for the (median) 50th percentile consumer and a 65% increase for the 25th percentile consumer. Indian example Professor Guy Standing of Europe-based advocacy group Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) has been closely involved with three major pilot schemes in India—two in Madhya Pradesh and another in West Delhi. In Madhya Pradesh, UBI was launched in 2010 where every man, woman, and child across eight villages were provided with a modest basic income for a period of 18 months. This scheme improved nutrition among the children, healthcare, sanitation, and school attendance and performance. The most striking thing observed was that emancipatory effect was greater than the monetary effect. It enabled people to have a sense of control. They pooled some of the money to pay down their debts, they increased decisions on escaping from debt bondage. Even the women developed their own capacity to make their own decision about their own lives. Three pillars of possible existence Administrative and technical viability Targeted beneficiary programmes have seen lot of corruption, inconsistency and falsehood which ultimately denied the ‘targeted beneficiary’ the ‘intended benefits’. Here, UBI completely does away with targeting and all the challenges that come with it. It would be simpler, easier to administer, prone to less discretion, hence less rent-seeking, and have zero misdirection since everyone would be an eligible beneficiary. Leakages would also be minimized if UBI is administered using the JAM (Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and mobile connectivity) trinity. Fiscal affordability Explained above Political feasibility This is the most challenging aspect of the UBI proposal as financing it involves elimination of existing benefits to some powerful interest groups. However, it is one of the few policies where there is support from both the left and the right end of the political spectrum. From the right viewpoint, it allows the recipient to decide how to spend money, there is less bureaucracy and less prone to corruption and exclusion and inclusion errors. From the left viewpoint, it is a smart redistribution policy where the redistributed income directly reaches the poorer section, avoiding the leaky bucket problem. Challenges The belief that in-kind transfers and subsidies are ridden with corruption, while a cash transfer system using mobile banking to a largely poor and uneducated population will be corruption-free has to be backed by solid digital infrastructure. The complete linkage of Aadhar with the bank accounts is still pending. Hence it will disadvantageous to population which is yet to have Aadhar card or bank account. The income guarantee may adversely affect work incentives. Though it may be fundamentally and worryingly, negative view of humanity, UBI is actually expected to address some issues of insecurity. With a secured income in hand, there is chance for greater work choices for individuals than the current system offers. However, this still has to be contemplated upon. It is afterall income and not welfare programme. So, there ought to be continuance of welfare programmes too. This might increase the financial burden on economy. Conclusion The governments of Canada and Finland are identifying the possibilities and exploring the aspects of UBI through pilot projects. The old system of income redistribution has broken as wages will continue to decline and insecurity will continue to grow. Though UBI is not a panacea but there is a need for a new income distribution system. Hence, there is a requirement to believe in progressive change wherein this debate is enthusiastically taken up to explore various dimensions which can have possible major impacts on socio economic canvass of the country, especially its poor population. Connecting the dots: Do you agree that Universal Basic Income will facilitate a more inclusive society with reduced inequalities? Give reasons for your answer. Related article: Idea of a UBI for India MUST READ Clamping down on ordinance raj Hindu   When banks are awash with cash Hindu   A vision for reconciliation Indian Express   Leaping from a strong foundation Indian Express   Why Portugal can be an attractive investment destination for Indians Livemint   Third gender, first priority Livemint   Remembering Macaulay, the imperialist we love to hate Livemint   Failure of leadership Business Line  

Jan 6, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 6th January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 6th January 2017 Archives HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Health Systems leapfrogging in India: Need and Possibility India’s Progress in Health Sector No doubt India has had its set of challenges in the health sector in terms of efficiency and effectiveness but India has made a lot of progress in the health sector in the last decade. The same can be seen from the following improvements in the key indicators of health in India: Life expectancy has increased by almost four years during the last ten years. The rate of infant mortality has declined from 57 to 37 fatalities per 1,000 live births in ten years. The number of institutional births rose to 79% in 2015, from 41% in 2005. India was also declared polio-free in 2014, and tetanus-free in 2015. Reasons for India’s progress The reasons which have helped India in the above mentioned progress are: Active and increased involvement of the public and private sectors. Government initiatives have mobilized communities on health. There has been increased access to public health services. There is increased utilization of the available infrastructure. Almost 900,000 female community health volunteers (ASHAs, or accredited social health activists) have been deployed in rural areas and coverage of state-sponsored insurance schemes has also expanded. Private-sector innovation has improved cost efficiency and as a result services of international quality standards are available at low-cost. Implementation of well-defined protocols for complex procedures has assisted in reduction of error rate. Pioneering rare and complex surgical procedures have addressed local challenges and increased access to healthcare. Challenges for India’s Health Sector In spite of the above progress and developments, India’s health sector is still facing a lot of problems which act as a hurdle for further progress and as a result India has missed its Millennium Development Goals for healthcare, especially maternal and child mortality rates. India has a high incidence of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs account for 60% of deaths in the country. Government expenditure on healthcare at 1.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) currently is very low compared to peer countries. Acute shortage of Public health infrastructure and staff availability. India faces a 50% shortfall in the supply of doctors. Inadequate utilization of and negligence in the maintenance of scarce public healthcare facilities. This also forces the people to go for expensive private healthcare thus increasing the cost of healthcare. Various public and private sector initiatives using new technologies and operating models have not been designed well for a higher scale. Governance of large public health programmes is weak. Leapfrogging in Health Reforms The need of the hour for India is to create a financially sustainable health infrastructure which is of very high quality and cost efficient as well. India should opt for accelerated sustainable approach rather than a usual lengthy approach which includes high spending but marginal improvements. Therefore, India should scale up healthcare innovations or leapfrogs along with the current initiatives. Leapfrogging means using a new technology, operating model, or pattern of behaviour to help a system skip development stages that were previously considered unavoidable. Technology includes new health-related activities and products. Operating model refers to modification in the organizational setup or in the delivery of health-related activities. Behavioural change refers to the evolving preferences and conduct of various individual and institutional stakeholders such as patients, health workers and payers. Study of leapfrogging strategies across the world have helped in identified six essential results that should be achieved. A well-chosen combination of leapfrogs could also pave the way for an eventual transformation of the healthcare system. Ensure that innovation should appeal to a universal human trait. This makes leapfrog adoption easier. Adapt to survive, diversify to thrive. Operating models have to be designed as per needs of local communities. Customized products and services should be provided. Empower communities to shape and own the model. Encouraging community ownership of the model will result in a much higher impact, due to greater involvement of emotionally connected community participants. Actively build partnerships both within and outside the healthcare industry for innovations. Ensure design-to-scale. Engagement with the government is essential to design solutions that target the gap in public healthcare and can scale up effectively. Objectively evaluate the progress and ensure corrections based on regular review. The Ecosystem Approach Public-private Partnership model has certain limitations such as mistrust, push of commercial solutions, short-term financing, white elephant assets, and unclear outcomes with lower efficiency. As a result, the ecosystem approach is recommended. Ecosystem Approach mobilizes multiple stakeholders around a common, measurable outcome or goal. The concerned stakeholders are incentivized to collectively brainstorm for solutions and innovative business models to finance and deliver sustainable results. Ecosystem Approach v/s PPP Model The ecosystem approach is better than traditional PPPs in three significant ways: Ensures collective design of smart and holistic solutions by providing a forum for stakeholders to work together. Example: GAVI, the global vaccine alliance, is leveraging new technologies and partnering with the private sector for efficient supply chain and data management, workforce training. Higher financial sustainability is achieved through innovative models. Example: Social Impact bonds have gained traction in multiple capital markets as a tool for corporate social responsibility funding. Data-based decision-making helps in reviewing and identifying course corrections. A project management office can help in this. Way Forward The Ecosystem Model needs to be supplemented by appropriate reforms, robust governance and a genuine will for change. For the success of this model, the government has to ensure that it provides the requisite platform for engaging various stakeholders, and support the scaling-up of promising leapfrogs. On the other hand the private sector, including hospitals, pharmaceutical and non-governmental organizations, will have to focus on developing tailored, low-cost products and process innovations. Global partners can provide financing, expertise and access to their networks, to promote the growth of a sustainable Indian healthcare ecosystem. Connecting the dots What is leapfrogging? Discuss the need for a leapfrogging approach and how it can assist in transforming the healthcare sector in India? Discuss the challenges that India’s health sector faces. How can a multi-stakeholder approach help in addressing those challenges?   NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Education in 2017- What should be the focus? Education is more than a way of being, it is an art of becoming. Education is not only about a process of nurturing the human soul, as the ancient Greeks understood it through the notion of paideia which meant the acquisition and transmission of excellence. But education is also what philosopher Bertrand Russell defines as- “a certain outlook on life and the world.” Background: India holds an important place in the global education industry. India has more than 1.4 million schools with over 227 million students enrolled and more than 36,000 higher education institutes. India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world. Higher education system in India has undergone rapid expansion. Currently, India’s higher education system is the largest in the world enrolling over 70 million students. However, there is still a lot of potential for further development in the education system. Education is not only about books as followed by the Indian education system. The learning has to come from surroundings and then tailor made into value added education. The union budget 2016-17 termed education as one of the nine pillars of the budget. But there are mammoth challenges faced by Indian education system- enrolment, excellence and employability. Thus, the focus of education should be to address these major challenges. Public education has no substitute. Hence, its quality and quantity should be reaffirmed explicitly through actions. This involves subsequent increase in budget allocation and striving to reach 6% of GDP in coming years. Thus, there is need for more public investment. Regional and rural-urban disparities must be addressed too while allocating education budgets. Educators have a special responsibility in education —social, political, human and epistemic. Teaching is at the heart of education system but India has one of the weakest teacher education programme (B.Ed) in world which deprives children of a bright future which comes from creative present. India has around 8.8 million teachers but this existing teacher base requires massive investment in effective capacity development. Along with it, the teachers have to be trained with new teaching and learning pedagogies adapted from best practices across the world. The ‘rote learning’ method has to go and instead bring in environment which allows children to learn at their own pace. Already, the concepts of flipped classrooms (pedagogical model where short video lectures are viewed by students before they attend the class. The in-class time is devoted to discussing it or other related activities) and MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) have already started taking off, especially in some of the leading Indian institutions. The improved quality of teachers should be backed by the increased number of teachers in schools. Vocational education has to be made a par of basic education upto standard XII along with academics. Education needs to realign itself with changing times and therefore has to develop fundamental capacities—e.g. independent thinking, problem-solving—so that people can adapt instead of providing narrow skills for jobs. Skill Development has been focus of the present government which should rationalise which skills it aims imparts. On an average, private schools do not perform better than public schools. But still there is a prolific rise in private schooling in the past decade and no significant improvement has been visible. Thus, it has to be understood that privatisation of education is no solution to increase the quality and quantity of educated children. However, it does not mean that private schools should not be encouraged. They can bring in new ideas and perspectives which can be also considered by others. But, commercialisation of education has to stop as education is no commodity. Just by ranking lists or assessments, the quality of education won’t improve. “Testing”-based “accountability” of educators is a disaster, it damages the education system at its core. Examinations must be improved to assess real and deep capacities rather than memorization and procedural skills. Technology is not the panacea to solve the problem of poor learning standards. They help just as the books do. That is why, any investment in technology should be assessed properly before shelling out millions on setting up infrastructure. The learning capability of the children have to be improved with multiple tools. Higher education has a bright future in idea. The government is taking various steps to increase the outreach of higher education after primary education. Several MoUs have been signed between India and Australia in the fields of higher education and research, including technical and professional education, schools, vocational education and training. Also, GIAN brings talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs, internationally to encourage their engagement with the institutes of Higher Education in India so as to augment the country's existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India's scientific and technological capacity to global excellence. Education and learning are deeply determined by the socio-economic conditions of the child. The best teachers cannot compensate for deprivation and poverty at home. Hence, there should be proper arrangements made in school for children belonging to all class and castes of society. Also, the schools should be secular and non-discriminative institutions where the ideals of constitution are respected and followed. There is a need for dramatic improvement in our early childhood-care system and also in education for children with disabilities. The school infrastructure, including specially trained teachers is the basic impediment while imparting education to children with disabilities. The government needs to undertake various actions to make education an ‘inclusive activity’. Mother tongue is the most effective medium of education in early grades. However, given the reality of the social capital of English, all children must have the opportunity to learn the language. On regulatory front, HRD ministry is likely to move towards giving greater autonomy to government backed institutions -- like the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) -- in deciding their future. This is more likely to be in the fashion of allowing them the freedom to experiment with technology and with the new ways of reaching out to people. Economic aims of India should be fulfilled by education by providing individuals become economically independent. It is not without any reason that India is charted out to be global leader in having the youngest population which can become a path breaker in achieving sustainable economic success. However, these economic aims should usher in equality and narrow down disparities. Conclusion Education is not an economic service. It is a social-human and moral endeavour; it’s about people and their aspirations for the good life. Hence, education should lead to development of good human beings and a good society based on principle of Constitution of India, thereby creating a foundational value of India’s democracy. Connecting the dots: Why is education vital for India to grow as a developed society? Give reasons. Education sector is facing multiple challenges in 21st Critically examine the reasons and enumerate ways to bring solution to them. MUST READ Being factual in the post-truth era Hindu   Reading between the lines Hindu   Keeping the streets safe Hindu   Arms and the region Hindu   Purify the parties Indian Express   An opportunity for the chief Indian Express   Allure of instant justice Indian Express   Demonetisation propels ramping up cyber safety Indian Express   Ideas for a convention-breaking Budget Livemint   Staying neutral Business Line   Make income taxes more equitable Business Line

Jan 6, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 93]

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 93] Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Indian Skill Development Services (ISDS) ISDS has been created for Training Directorate of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. ISDS will be a Group ‘A’ service in which the induction will take place through Indian Civil Service Examination conducted by UPSC Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Income Tax Settlement Commission. It is a premier Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body in India Its mandate is to resolve tax disputes in respect of Indian Income Tax & Wealth Tax Laws between the two disputing parties It was set up in on the recommendations of the Direct Taxes Enquiry Committee (1971) set up under the Chairmanship of Justice K.N. Wanchoo Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above  Q.3) Japan has decided to be associated with development of which of the following cities as smart cities India? Aurangabad Ahmedabad Varanasi Noida Select the correct code: 1, 3 and 4 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Council for Trade Development and Promotion It was constituted in order to ensure a continuous dialogue with State Governments and UTs on measures for providing an International trade enabling environment in the States and to create a framework for making the States active partners in boosting India’s exports Union Minister of Commerce and Industry is the chairperson on the council Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following armies is first foreign force to take part in an Republic Day parade which showcases the military might and cultural diversity of the Indian republic? French Army UAE Army Japanese Army German Army Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Jan 5, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 5th January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 5th January 2017 Archives INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. India Bangladesh Relationship Introduction India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971. India had played a very huge role in Bangladesh’s freedom struggle. India's links with Bangladesh are civilisational, cultural, social and economic. There is so  much that unites the two countries such as a shared history, common heritage, linguistic and cultural ties, passion for music, literature and the arts. India and Bangladesh’s geographical locations complement each other and present an opportunity for both to further develop their connectivity links and economies. Complimentary Relationship India and Bangladesh have a lot to gain from each other considering the location of both the nations. India is one of the two neighbours having border with Bangladesh and is a major power in South Asia which can support Bangladesh militarily and economically. India also played a very important role in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh when it had its own set of challenges in terms of economy and refugees. Bangladesh, on the other hand is one of the six neighbours having borders with India. Its location is highly critical because it is almost enveloped within India. The two nations are intricately linked in terms of geography. In spite of these factors, both the nations have failed to seize the opportunity and develop extremely cordial and strong bilateral relations. One major reason for the same is the ‘business as usual’ approach by India. Major Challenges – Transit and Access The resolution of transit related issue has seen very slow progress due to lack of effective strategy and investments. India has been seeking access and comprehensive multi modal transit policy for long but both the nations have only managed piecemeal deals with no global vision. In both the nations, different ministries are involved for different systems of transport. This has led to involvement of too many ministries, thus leading to bureaucratic delays and divergence of approach of different ministries. What was needed in this case was a masterplan, with one vision and clear goals of improving trade, commerce and connectivity in all sub-regional, regional, trans-Asian and trans-continental aspects. Water Sharing Disputes Water sharing has also been a long and unending dispute between both the nations. It has proved to be a major challenge because of the following reasons: In this case too, there has been no change in approach over the years. The problems between the central government and the West Bengal state government. Absence of a comprehensive strategy which will deal with all the rivers together and provide for a common policy rather than individual management of rivers. Other Challenges The Farakka barrage dispute has been a major reason for giving rise to the anti-Indianism prevailing. The barrage is said to have a devastating impact on the ecosystem of northwest Bangladesh, destroying land, increasing salinity in river and underground water. Rampal Power plant being set up near the Sunderbans has raised concerns regarding environment degradation and unfortunately all voices raised against this have not been given due respect. A few undesirable non tariff barriers continue to exist and prove to be a hindrance in the trade between both the nations. Bright Spots in the Relationship There have been positive developments as well which are as follows: The biggest step forward required from Bangladesh was responding to India’s security concern and removing all terrorist camps within its borders. India has allowed duty-free access to Bangladeshi goods. India is also selling to Bangladesh which has had a major impact. This is one area where a lot more needs to be done and the performance is below potential. The signing of the 30-year Ganges Water Treaty in 1996 has led to mitigation of some of the negative impact arising due to Farakka Barrage dispute. Way Forward As mentioned, the relationship has a huge potential if the energies are channelized in the right direction. A few things that need to be given special attention are: Substantial progress in our bilateral relations can be achieved with proper policy and planning. The media, especially in India, needs to bring critical matters into limelight and give them due attention. A lot of issues do not receive the adequate attention because of indifference on the part of the media. Failure to negotiate over the Teesta river dispute has been a major shortcoming on the part of both the nations. Connecting the dots Describe the major challenges that need to be addressed to improve the relationship between India and Bangladesh. Suggest what steps can the two nations can take to address the challenges? SECURITY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Security challenges and their management in border areas Challenges in front of the Indian Army The turbulence caused by selection of General Bipin Rawat as the new Army Chief, superseding two army commanders senior to him, has seemingly calmed down within the first week of the changeover. However, the challenges he inherited as the Army Chief need a refreshed lookout and speedy resolutions. Modernisation of Army The modernisation of army has been lagging for many years The army had identified 24 modernisation projects of which 11 of them were deemed as critical. However, even the ‘critical’ projects also did not see much of progress, thereby revealing the current fragile condition of the Indian Army. Infantry modernisation has been a pothole despite initiation of procurement of artillery guns, air defence assets and helicopters. Today, the infantry solider lacks even a modern basic assault rifle. The procurement of improved bullet proof jackets and ballistic helmets for the soldiers has been talked about since long, but neither has seen light of day. General Rawat is from the infantry and hence the lack of modern equipment for the foot-soldier ought to be his greatest concern. Thus, continuous modernization of the force by gradual induction of latest equipment for giving a futuristic outlook to the forces is the need of the day. Intra-army grapple General Rawat’s supersession of two officers belonging to armoured corps and the mechanised infantry is proof of the fact that in current environment, infantry is perceived to be dominating the army However, a bias towards infantry from the new Army Chief may further open long-existing fissures within the organisation. The implementation of AVS Committee report which provides for faster promotions for Army officers up to the rank of Colonel in order to reduce their age profile at the combat level and ensure that they get promotions commensurate to their jobs which was subsequently supported by Supreme Court decision have already caused a lot of heartburn in the army. Such evolving dynamics is not good for an organisation like army which is considered strong when all its branches are well coordinated and cooperated, even in peace time. In such a scenario, General Rawat has to not only act fairly, but also to be seen to act fairly to restore the cohesiveness of the army. The seniority rigidity The two superseded officers, Lt General Praveen Bakshi and Lt General PM Hariz, have decided to continue as army commanders. This might however create some functional problems as seniority matters a lot in a rigidly hierarchical organisation like the army. However, it is expected to be handled and dealt with deftly as both the officers shall be retiring in November. Seventh pay commission General Rawat will have to take up with the government the need for urgent action to meet the aspirations of the soldiers from the Seventh Pay Commission. The four core issues - questions of status equivalence, hardship and risk allowances, the military service pay and non-functional upgradation – need to be resolved urgently. These issues have a direct impact on the morale and effectiveness of soldiers in operations while having the potential to damage the delicate balance of civil-military relations. Lack of infrastructure Though the army chief has highlighted that the Indian army is tasked to fight a two-front war, that is China and Pakistan, there is lot be done to make India stronger- militarily as well as infrastructure wise. A Mountain Strike Corps for the China border was raised during UPA II government but the state of its equipping and infrastructure has been lagging way behind planned targets. Even the slow pace of construction of roads by the Border Roads Organisation and the delay in commencement of laying of strategic railway lines makes it extremely difficult for the army to deploy troops within the required time-frame should the need arise. Internal security- J&K The situation in J&K has deteriorated dramatically in Jammu and Kashmir, with terrorists targeting army camps at Uri and Nagrota last year. There was a huge spike in cross border infiltration with 112 terrorists coming in 2016 as compared to 30 in 2015. In the same way, the army lost 63 soldiers in the state, more than double the previous year’s figures. Thus, one of the main actions to be undertaken by the Army Chief is to assure the calm environment in the valley. Conclusion Procurement of weapon systems and equipment is an important function for managing the operational health, morale and capability of the armed forces. The procurement process is undoubtedly full of challenges but these are not insurmountable. The Army being the largest service and fielding the largest array of equipment needs to improve its own processes by carrying out an internal analysis and taking effective steps to speed up the procurement process. Accepting the shortcomings in its processes and taking steps to overcome them, particularly where internal measures can improve the processes, is the most important step towards capacity building. The government should also take care of the basic needs of the soldiers who risk their lives for the country at borders and no politics should be played over soldiers’ lives. With regards to the supersession, it has not happened for the first time and with time, the issue shall also be subsided. Overall, the army has to brace itself for many challenges and thus it should be well prepared and well-supplied with all the necessities. Connecting the dots: The Army Chief faces daunting tasks ahead of him in maintaining the health of army. Critically evaluate. MUST READ Running into the Chinese wall Hindu   For a level playing field Hindu   Supreme Court brings Indian cricket into the 21st century Hindu   An unfortunate legacy Indian Express   Model Code treads thin line Indian Express   So many Shivajis Indian Express   The tipping point for climate change is nigh upon us Livemint   Transforming the digital payment infrastructure Livemint   The focus for education in 2017 Livemint   Can’t say demonetisation has failed Business Line   Indian exports haven’t done too badly Business Line  

Jan 5, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 92]

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 92] Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Socio Economic and Caste Census The SECC 2011 ranks households based on their socio-economic status to enable state governments to prepare a list of families living below the poverty line It also makes available information regarding the socio-economic condition and education status of various castes and sections of the population The Ministry of Rural Development will start using SECC 2011 data this year for its National Social Assistance Programme to pay pension to rural poor and National Rural Livelihood Mission Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above  Q.2) 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.3) The theme for 104th Indian Science Congress is Science and Technology for National Development Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India Science and Technology for Human Development Innovations in Science & Technology for Inclusive Development Q.4) Between 2008 and 2015, India purchased defence equipments worth USD 34 billion, which is a distant second after Saudi Arabia’s USD 93.5 billion, said the report ‘Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations 2008-2015’. The report is released by Institute of Economic and Peace NATO Congressional Research Service Peninsula Shield Force Q.5) Consider the following statements about Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) It is an Indian Biotechnology research establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research located in Hyderabad The National Biosafety level - 4 Containment Facility for Human Infectious Diseases, is located in CCMB iHUB, the innovation centre to promote start-ups in the biology space is created by CCMB Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Jan 4, 2017 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Rural Economy in 2016

Rural Economy in 2016 Archives The rural economy is an important segment of the ecosystem as it accounts 70% of employment and 50% of GDP with agricultural being the main driver followed by services and manufacturing. It is largely unorganised and thus those working or consuming in rural India are in different category of economic agents driven by different factors. The rural economy is complex as it is dominated by cash in terms of transactions. While there has been some intrusion of use of ATM, debit and credit cards, the dependence of technology driven payment system is limited. Hence, here is a look out of Indian economy in 2016 and what to expect in final two quarters of current fiscal. Rural economy in 2016 After having increase in rural wages, the aftermath of recession which has occurred worldwide, India has witnessed a decrease in wage level over a long period of time. A report on NREGA outcomes speaks in terms of the fact that the number of work days received by an average NREGA family in India has been 49 which is far lower than what it should be optimally, particularly in the recent period when there is a crisis and number of states have been declared drought hit. So, in case of performance of rural economy in next quarters is to improve, the government has no option but to go ahead with large scale employment expansion through its flagship employment programmes. There should be some method by which there can be employment being created for the rural population in those specific areas in itself from where they hail so that urban migration intensity is also lowered. The same report says that NREGA has contributed towards creation of minor irrigation works, checkdams etc. which has helped in enhancing the irrigated areas under cultivation within India, in that background the whole rural economy has to be looked at. Performance of agriculture Agriculture has not done reasonably well in last three quarters. In first two quarters, there have been spillovers of previous drought years. It had hit the farmers very severely where incidences of indebtedness also increased. In last four years, there was a growth regime of 1.5%-4% but in last two years, agriculture witnessed negative growth at 0.2% in 2014-15 and 2015-16 it was 1.2% for lack of rain. Due to this, several farmers committed suicides. This year was a recovery year as there was good rainfall. In current monsoon season, the kharif season was better as rainfall was well distributed and harvest was also good. And rabi season is expected to be better as there was good moisture in the soil. However, if monsoons helped, government almost brought farmers once again in a critical fix as during this period, the farming community got hit by demonetisation. Farmer’s costs: Labour- Farmers gets benefit on fertilisers and seeds. But labour has to be still paid in new currency. Labour during the farming season is 50% of the cost. So if an average of 4000 rs spent per acre, the maximum cost will be incurred on labour. Seed- He will use last year’s seeds but the productivity is bound to go down this year as its storage may not have been as per desired standards to maintain its nutrients. Hence, Rabi crop, inspite of the statistics about the higher sowing area, is going to be poor. Now due to demonetisation, farmers have been giving away crops at throwaway prices. Whatever they had harvested- fruits and vegetables- they are not getting good price. Some farmers can’t cover even the labour cost. Thus, under this kind of situation, things are not good as expected this year. Nothing new though Condition of farmer is poor, even in a normal year. Average income in agricultural household is Rs. 3000 from crop farming. With such income, hardly a family of 5 can survive. Hence is it is always known that none of the marginal farmers save anything as whatever they earn, they spend on day to day consumption. Unless the approach of farming changes drastically, by way of integrated farming or technological breakthrough which reduces the cost of production of farmers and farmers improve their income, the farmers’ income will not be doubled by 2022 as envisaged by PM. Money drought It is a reality that money is not available in rural area. The banks don’t have sufficient new currency. The farmers had access to seeds and fertilisers from government agencies and could buy diesel from old currency. But for day to day expenses, they have to suffer because of lack of money. A NSSO situation survey assessment of farmers clearly speaks that the proportion of credit which is accrued to marginal farmers from institutional system- banks and cooperatives – is less than 15%. Thus, the dependence of marginal famers on money lenders and other sorts of mechanisms to finance their process of cultivation that is something that the government has to address urgently. Government has to bring solution to provide currency to rural area. The rural banking system has not turned out to be a successful system, especially the cooperative system as it is captured by top political people which sees lot of corruption. New initiatives for providing finances to the rural areas is needed. Mobile banking can also be introduced as telecom sector has penetrated even in rural hinterland. Budget expectations/suggestions Last year’s budget focus was on agriculture. But this year, there is going to be much higher requirement to look at schemes systems that can replace the income that has been lost because of demonetisation. Immediate actions that government can take Give short term, interest free loans upto Rs. 50000 or Rs. 1 lakh to farmers. The banks have lot of deposits, then part of money can be given as debt waiver or loan waiver. For all small and marginal farmers, government should make a policy on a war footing where dairy, poultry, fishery and horticulture sector should be made priority for additional income. Providing long term growth stimulus The aspect for agriculture in budget should be improved, investments should be improved. NABARD should have interest intervention for long term credit as long term credit has seen a declining trend in last few years. Unless it is increased in long term institutional credit, the private investment will not improve. The rise in private investment is possible only when institutions are encouraged to lend money at low reasonable rate of interest and increase the amount of money spent. Also, Long term loan should be there as per need of crop. For example, a farmer doing horticulture needs more time to pay back the loan and interest. The agro-processing sector should also be encouraged on small scale in every area as per the raw material available. Quality of product, quality of packing and marketing should be available with rural people. Some special training programmes at village level not at district or block levels should be given. The trainers should give training in regional languages and they should be qualitative. Irrigation is important to increase the productivity. But the Micro irrigation subsidy is misused by the complete industrial sector. Hence, proper checks should be maintained while disbursing the subsidy. Strengthen insurance sector The old experience is not well especially with crop insurance policy. The farmers have not got their crop damages paid inspite of paying premium to the companies. Hence in the present condition, the proper implementation should be done for every field and for every farmer because they are paying a premium and thus have the right to get proper compensation from insurance policy. The Fasal Bima Yojana is a good scheme but the way it is implemented has serious issues with some state governments. As a result, many farmers are not going to be benefited by it in this Rabi season. Hence, the central government needs to chip in. The governments have not yet found good agencies to implement it. Many private agencies say that such premium rates are not sustainable and thus they want more subsidy. This gives rise to a contradictory position where on one hand they say farm subsidy should be reduced and at same time they say that intermediaries should be subsidised to support the farmers. This is not going to help the farmers and hence there has to be clear cut vision to help farmers. E-marketing expanded E-marketing is good for national market integration which can help farmers to some extent. But the progress has been very slow where only about 35 wholesale markets have been brought into foray that too with limited infrastructure for certain commodities. There are 6700 regulatory markets and target for 2018 is only 585 wholesale markets to be covered. Thus, the government needs to speed up the process. If the things are done in usual way, it will not yield any result or improvement in conditions of farmers in rural areas. Increase farm productivity To say that marginal farmers are less productive or plots have extremely low productivity is to actually dismiss off the issue of how productivity of marginal farms can be increased. The farm inputs have become expensive. So, if mechanisms of cooperative institutions are built up at grassroots level, then some amount of sharing of common facilities like tractors, setting up micro irrigation facilities and some sort of credit intermediation can be made little bit more liberal which ultimately increases the accessibility to credit and accessibility to public inputs. This will generate favourable environment in rural economy. Imports need to be reduced MSMEs are largely dependent on cash. But these industries are shrinking countrywide. The reason is bilateral trade policies that governments have entered into which has allowed the imports of small items from china into India. This has decimated small scale industries across country. For example, apples are imported from china and they are cheaper than Kashmiri apples. Imported oranges are cheaper than Nagpur oranges. Thus, small scale industry cannot be expected to survive against a large scale manufacturing industry. This shows the step-motherly treatment of MSMEs. They are necessary elements of rural economy but when it comes to supporting them at policy framework level, not much is done. Conclusion It is known for years that the marginal farmer is the important constituent in the system whose concerns ought to be addressed in the larger national interest. Thus, there is a need for action to be taken on the desired and critical areas. It is now high time that agricultural sector is not treated as a subsidy driven sector. Instead, it should be seen with a growth prospectus and given appropriate stimulus. Connecting the dots: Evaluate the status of rural economy in 2016. What can be probable measures to stimulate its growth?  

Jan 4, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th January 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act Democracy- for an Individual or Public Sphere? Election is termed as a ‘secular’ exercise and thus there should be no involvement of religion. Secular in the sense that the relationship of man with God is an individual and personal choice and thus, the state has to keep itself within limits. In a landmark judgement, a 4:3 divided seven judge constitution bench of Supreme Court held that an appeal for votes during elections on the basis of religion, caste, race, community or language, even that of the electorate, will amount to a ‘corrupt practice’ and call for disqualification of the candidate. Background: Section 123 (3) of RPA Act: Corrupt Electoral Practice- “The appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language…” The question referred to the Constitution Bench was whether the word ‘his’ used in Section 123 (3) of the Representation of the People Act only meant a bar on appeals made in the name of the candidate or his rival or his agent. For example: “I am a Hindu, vote for me”, or “My opponent is a Hindu, don’t vote for her”. This was corrupt practice. Or if the word ‘his’ also extend to soliciting votes on the basis of the religion, caste, community, race, language of the electorate as a whole (the voter too). For example: “You speak Tamil, vote for me/party”. This will be now a corrupt practice. Making democracy stronger- A majority view The latter means a blanket ban on any appeal, reference, campaign, discussion, dialogue or debate on the basis of religion, race, caste, community or language, even if such a debate was on the deprivations suffered by the voters due to these considerations. The majority view held that an election that was fought and decided on these issues was a distortion of democracy. Two reasons Divisive tactics: For a democracy to survive, there must be agreements on certain basic essentials which unite the citizens together. Religion, language, caste, etc were precisely the kind of divisive markers of identity that threatened this fragile consensus Irrational choice: Democracy depends on voter exercising their franchise based on rational thought and action. If appeals are made on religion, caste, language basis, it might result into different and may be, an irrational choice. Therefore, to restrict Section 123(3)’s prohibition only to electoral candidates would be contrary to public interest. The CJI said that appealing on the basis of religion would amount to “mixing religion with State power” which is against the fundamental value of Constitution of India- Secularism. The electorate has to participate as a rational individual, deliberating about the public interest, not to be affected by the baggage of religion, caste, language or community. Thus, the word “his” in Section 123(3) was to be understood broadly, referring to both the speaker as well as the audience. In effect, it prohibited appeals to the prohibited “grounds” (religion, caste etc) during the electoral process. The dissent judgement This rule was passed by a majority 4:3. The minority favoured limiting the ambit of the sub-section to cover only candidates who sought votes on such grounds, or the rivals they wanted the voters not to back on similar grounds. Here, the arguments put forward were that there were historic discriminations and deprivations suffered by the masses on the ground of religion, caste and language. Religion, caste and language are as much a symbol of social discrimination imposed on large segments of our society. They are central theme of the Constitution to produce a just social order. Thus, they cannot be barred from being discussed in elections. Electoral politics in a democratic polity is about social mobilisation and access to governance is a means of addressing social disparities. Social mobilisation is a powerful instrument of bringing marginalised groups into the mainstream where the candidate can speak about the legitimate concerns of citizens that the injustices faced by them on the basis of traits having an origin in religion, race, caste, community or language can be remedied. There is no such thing as an ‘individual’ as he always is situated in their ‘social context’. These have been characterised in India by religion, language, caste and community. These are, and have been, the sites of inclusion and exclusion, privilege and oppression, domination and resistance, power, pleasure, discrimination, and suffering. Today, there is a visible change in society where people who have been discriminated against for centuries have acquired a certain social salience. It is this democratic upbringing that allowed B.R. Ambedkar to form the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, a political party exclusively devoted to Dalit emancipation. This was because the oppressed class were allowed to organise their issues around their social status and gain political power. For this reason, the dissent held that Section 123(3) had to be construed narrowly. Too much into ‘his’ dispute? This dispute is based on a single pronoun ‘his’ which was introduced in the 1961 amendment. The majority opinion favours a ‘purposive interpretation’, holding that it covered the candidates as well as the voter. The purpose of the amendment was to widen the scope of the particular corrupt practice. But, there is a justifiable worry that a wider interpretation may lead to eliminating from the poll discourse political issues that are based on religion, caste or language. It has to be understood that all such legal issues have an attached social context. IASbaba’s views The overall message is clear- secularism is basic feature of Constitution and has been interpreted in the light of Parliament’s intention to prohibit any religious or sectarian appeal for votes. But Indian secularism has to be understood differently where it does not mandate complete exclusion of religion from the public sphere. Identities based upon religion, caste, and language should not be always treated as an evil faction but rather as centre point as a site of emancipation around which citizens organise themselves and seek liberation through the attainment of political power. It will no doubt be now dependent upon the wisdom of the judges dealing with election cases to draw the line between what is permissible and what is not, and look at the context in which some statements are made before deciding whether they constitute a corrupt practice. Connecting the dots: A blanket ban on appealing people on basis on religion, caste etc. for political power is an appropriate solution to imbibe the constitutional values in electorates. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. A rational individual or a connective community- What is important for the Indian democracy? In light of recent SC judgement on declaring appeals based on certain grounds as ‘corrupt practice’, critically analyse the aforementioned statement. GOVERNANCE 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 General Studies 4 Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Information sharing and transparency in government. Analysis of Government Policies Introduction India’s growth story in the recent past has been marked by a series of transformative initiatives that have enhanced the country’s image internationally and also worked towards improving the living standards of all sections of the people. Inclusive growth and welfare have been two essential pillars in India’s growth story. India’s recent performance in various policy areas represents a bright future for the country. Social Inclusion and Welfare Welfare of the poor, farmers, women, workers, small traders and other vulnerable sections has been on the top of the priority list of government. Ever since the 11th Five Year Plan, India has laid continuous emphasis on inclusive growth. The two major problems of black money and corruption have been the biggest hurdles to India’s growth. Along with improving the living standards of vulnerable sections, the government has worked continuously on tackling black money and corruption. Initiatives tackling the menace of black money include constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to unearth black money stashed abroad, Voluntary Disclosure Scheme and the historic demonetisation of currency. The latest relief measures announced by the government on the eve of new year for PM to the poor, middle classes, farmers, women and senior citizens shows how the government has been making efforts towards transparent administration. International Relations In the past few years, the present government has made efforts to ensure that India’s visibility on the global stage is very high. It is also taking steps to ensure that its voice is heard on international platforms. As soon as Prime Minister Modi came to power, he took a major strategic step by inviting all the neighbouring country leaders for the swearing in ceremony. Although, India has had its share of troubles with respect to the SAARC but India has been constantly emphasising on regional co-operation. An important development of engagement with world leaders and India’s role as a responsible nuclear state has been the inking of agreements with Canada, Australia and Kazakhstan for the supply of uranium to meet India’s nuclear energy needs. The way India negotiated its way through the issue of Peace Clause under the WTO negotiations has also been exemplary. India has had improved relations with the USA, Japan, Germany and many more nations. Economic Progress The Government of India has taken steps in areas related to economics to ensure that India is able to experience sustainable growth and macroeconomic development. India has worked towards widening the social security net by increasing coverage of deprived sections through the creation of Jan Dhan accounts, MUDRA bank and insurance schemes. Opening up more avenues for investment through the FDI reforms will give a huge push to various important sectors of the economy. Controlling inflation, increasing spending on infrastructure and dismantling red tape have been among the measures that have helped the GDP register more than seven per cent growth. Even after demonetisation, in the long run, the GDP is expected to improve as the informal economy vastly reduces and the formal economy expands. The government has also worked hard towards initiating reforms for an improvement in India’s ranking in ease of doing business index. For this purpose, India has improved in terms of transparency and accountability. Example: Transparency relating to the auctioning of spectrum and coal blocks. Infrastructure and Resource Development Make In India, Skill India, Digital India and Clean India are among the innovative campaigns that are shaping India’s growth story through adequate focus on human resource development. Five major industrial corridors are being developed across the country to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector to 25 per cent of GDP from the existing 16 per cent. Currently only 2% of India’s workforce has formal training. The Skill India scheme aims to reap our demographic advantage with youth comprising 65 per cent of the country’s population. To give necessary focus to this area, for the first time since Independence, a separate ministry for skill development has been created. Agriculture and Farm Welfare Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been introduced to improve upon the lacunae in the earlier insurance schemes for the agriculture sector and provide maximum safety net to the farmers. 3 million hectares have been brought under micro-irrigation through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. The e-National Agriculture Market aims to empower the farmer. With digital transactions getting a huge fillip, farmers stand to benefit immensely as more mandis get linked to e-NAM and ensures that farmers get adequate market access for their crops Conclusion There is no doubt that all these areas have had their respective challenges and hurdles as well but the positive intent behind the continuous reforms is what can be really instrumental in shaping India’s growth story. Persistent efforts towards reforms will lead to ensure that in India farmers, traders, women and youth are prosperous, empowered and gainfully employed. These measures will also ensure that maximum population has access to the basic amenities of electricity, water and a toilet. Connecting the dots Critically analyse how India has constantly focussed on social welfare and inclusive growth through various reform initiatives in the recent past. MUST READ Death of a naturalist Hindu   Trials By Terror Indian Express   We live with violent opposites, nuance is dead, so is dissent Indian Express   Push for railways’ special safety fund is a welcome step Indian Express   The need to withdraw Afspa from Manipur Livemint   Reclaiming India’s leverage on Tibet Livemint   Is a long-term capital gains tax on equity a bad idea? Livemint   Is the middle class getting poorer? Business Line  

Jan 4, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 91]

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 91] Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is an annual global convention for the Indian diaspora. The theme for 2017 is Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations Apna Bharat, Apna Gaurav None of the above  Q.2) Which of the following pairs is are correctly matched? Ayush 64 - an ayurvedic formulation for treatment of Malaria Ayush 82 - an ayurvedic formulation for management of Diabetes Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) Q.3) Palk Strait is between Asian Turkey & European Turkey India and Sri Lanka Taiwan & Mainland China Japan & South Korea  Q.4) The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has released its Travel Trends Report 2017. Which of the following Indian states has been ranked 8 on the '12 Destinations to watch in 2017' list? Jammu & Kashmir Meghalaya Kerala Rajasthan  Q.5) Budget 2017 may hike capital gains tax on stocks. 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 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Jan 4, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 3rd January, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 3rd January 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1 Social empowerment, communalism Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India 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 Reservation- Eligibility and non-eligibility  In news: The country has suddenly witnessed spike in agitations coming across the dominant sections, more bluntly- the dominant castes of the society, to get reservations. This is validated from the agitations carried out by Patidars in Gujarat, the Marathas in Maharashtra and the Jats in Haryana and neighbouring states. Constitution is clear The constitution provides reservation for three social classes only: Scheduled Caste They have been the victims of ‘untouchability’ under the caste system This has led to their all-round deprivation, discrimination and disadvantage Scheduled Tribe They are the sufferers of isolation under vulnerable ‘tribal’ conditions which have made them deprived and brought them at disadvantageous position all through their life Socially and Educationally Backward Classe These are the victims of ‘social backwardness’. They belong to a low position in the traditional caste hierarchy and linkages with ‘lowly’ traditional occupations. These sections of society have faced discrimination and have been at a disadvantage due to the traditional social structure of the caste system with ‘untouchability’. Thus, the constitution provides for their reservation as a part of comprehensive social justice measures to secure equality for them. But, the constitution does not provide for or permit reservation for the poor belonging to the Socially Advanced Castes (SACs) — or the forged ‘economically backward classes’. These classes are not recognised by the constitution because their poverty is not the outcome of the traditionally unjust social system. Understanding Reservation The reservation was adopted in the presidencies and princely states of the peninsula well before Independence. Reservation is not a programme for the removal or amelioration of poverty and unemployment but to remove the imbalance in governance and administration where there is monopoly of a few castes and the exclusion of castes that account for the vast majority of the population. With constitution’s affirmation, the reservation became an integral part of the basic structure of measures required for the elimination of inherited inequality, based on caste with ‘untouchability’ and for social equality. As a result, the SACs are now seeing the once looked down upon castes coming up through reservation and progressing in admission to educational institutions and employment as well as occupying top positions such as presidents and chairpersons of panchayats and municipalities, as a threat to their dominance. Thus, the dominant castes are demanding an inclusion in the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEdBCs) and thereby avail provision of reservation on that basis. The SACs The presently agitating castes are dominant castes whose members are major landowners in their states. A widely known fact is that some of these castes have leveraged their advantageous position in agriculture to diversify and enter business, trade and industry in addition to state services. The national and state backward class commissions have found these communities socially and educationally not backward and also adequately represented in services and that is why their past requests for inclusion in SEdBC lists have been rejected by governments. Hence, they are resorting to an exercise of coercive power on governance as they do not meet objective criteria, especially the basic criterion of social backwardness. However, this coercion has hidden motive too- if the government cant give them reservation, reservation should be abolished totally- and thereby push back the further progress of SCs, STs and SedBCs. Another reason mentioned by SACs is that land fragmentation and economic problems are being faced by them and hence they should be included in reservation list. But it has to be clearly etched in mind that such economic exigencies by themselves cannot be the criterion for recognising a caste as socially backward. Raising the ground It is true that there are difficulties in agriculture and cyclical problems in industry and the solution can be found through appropriate policies. The genuinely poor among the SACs deserve sympathy and help through an appropriate dispensation and not inclusion in reservation list. Similarly, there can be measures like scholarships and education loans, so that no youth has to drop out at any stage due to financial incapacity. This will prevent any burden on the youth and family as well as no requirement of being added to ‘reservation list’. It has been observed previously that ruling parties have succumbed to force of such dominant parties and also opposition partied have supported them which makes the battle lines being drawn between ruling and opposition parties and nation and constitution. Such dishonest and short-sighted gimmicks are especially used during elections which bring parties into disrepute and erode confidence in democratic system wjile creating social disharmony also. Conclusion It is well known that jobs have dried up despite the comparative growing Indian economy around the world. However, quota is not a solution to gain employment. There were 19.5 million jobs in the public sector in 1992-1993 when India’s population was 839 million. While the country’s population is now 1.3 billion, the number of jobs in the public sector has shrunk to 17.6 million. Thus, quota is no means to plug job loopholes. The politicians have tried to bypass the court orders by creating quotas for economically backward classes as seen in Rajasthan Economically Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Bill 2015. Gujarat and Maharashtra tried to introduce quotas for economically weaker sections but these governments were overruled by the courts. The constitution has designed positive discrimination in favour of socially backward class and not for the poor dominant castes. That is the reason why courts have systematically struck down the quotas introduced by governments for such castes. The courts have also struck down additional quotas because they push up the proportion of reservation above the 50% limit set by SC. Hence, it is the duty of political class to make it clear that SACs cannot be included in the list of Socially Backward Classes — the genuinely poor among them will be given appropriate relief and help, but not reservation. Connecting the dots: The quota system has been a boon or bane? Elucidate. Quota system has divided society into multiple unintended fragments. Do you agree? Explain why.   GOVERNANCE TOPIC: General Studies 1 Urbanization, their problems and their remedies. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Revival of Focus on Urbanisation in India Introduction and Significance of Urban Areas Urban areas are often referred to as engines of inclusive economic growth.  Currently, almost 30% of the population in India is living in urban areas. Further, it is expected that India will add 300 million new urban residents by 2050 and hence needs to build climate-friendly and resilient cities to address the challenge of accommodating the needs of the growing population. As per the first 'World Cities Report 2016- Urbanisation and Development: Emerging Futures' report by UN Habitat, urban areas in India are already contributing more than 60 per cent of the GDP. Hence, India needs to ensure continued focus on terms of policy on addressing the needs of rising urbanisation. Challenges to Urbanisation Even though there has been universal acceptance and acknowledgment on the importance of urbanisation for economic growth, still India has lagged behind in terms of urbanisation due to the following reasons: Indecisiveness on the matters related to urbanisation in the post independence years. Inadequate relevance given to urbanisation for achieving our socio-economic goals and development. A weak policy approach towards urbanisation has also led to faulty implementation and ignorance. Centralised approach in policies and initiatives related to urbanisation did not give states or cities much autonomy and choice. Delayed approval of projects caused implementation delays. Such an approach led to failure of one of the first dedicated policy towards urbanisation - Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). JNNURM was launched in 2005 but by the end of its existence in 2014, only 710 projects out of the 1630 sanctioned under JNNURM could be completed. Change in Approach The government has now come up with many policies focussed on addressing challenges of rising urbanisation. For the effective functioning of these policies and programmes, the government is bringing in following changes in its style of working: Objectivity and transparency in selection of cities and allocation of central resources under new urban missions. This is being done on the basis of urban population and the number of statutory urban local bodies in each State. Bottom up planning is being promoted to encourage more sense of sense of involvement in and ownership of new schemes by city and State governments. Timely project and investment approvals are being accorded to ensure giving the states and cities sufficient time for their implementation. Citizen participation in urban planning and project prioritisation are now made mandatory. Cities are also being empowered by making them a part of the development. They are being given a higher say in the entire process. Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission, there shall be a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure deficit before drawing up city-level action plans. States will not be allocated funds and projects in an arbitrary manner or on the basis of poor quality reports and project analysis. Online integrated single-window clearance for construction permits is being put in place to improve ease of doing business. Public-private partnerships are being encouraged in cities to address the financing needs. Addressing Financing Problems Earlier, there was a major problem where project approvals were given in the last two quarters of the financial year. This led to a hurried and unorganised manner of implementation. This not only led to delay in implementation of projects but also let to cities and stated receiving inadequate funds. Now the government is making efforts to anticipate fund entitlements of each State and city-wise infrastructure deficits in advance. The Ministry of Urban Development has also started approving investments for the next three financial years under AMRUT during this year. Such steps enable city and State governments to realise mission targets by the stipulated time through advance planning. In a latest shift of methodology, cities are now vying for credit rating to attract investment which proves useful for urbanisation. Pune and Ahmedabad are ready to issue municipal bonds to raise funds. Post approval, release of funds is also linked to progress of mandated governance reforms under the urban development missions. Impact As a result of the above reform measures undertaken by the government in the area of policy related to urbanisation a lot of positive changes have taken place. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), construction of about 15 lakh affordable houses is being financed as against only about 12.50 lakh during 10 years of UPA rule. Under AMRUT, 86 per cent of mission investments stand approved. Over 500 cities and towns have already become open defecation-free and Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Sikkim have declared all cities and towns as open defecation-free. Financial allocations are being made in a timely manner. Government has committed Rs.50,000 crore under AMRUT, Rs.48,000 crore for smart cities. Funds are also being allocated to individual households under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Higher allocation for cities and more empowerment to states to spend more is aldo being experienced. Connecting the dots Discuss why India has been lagging behind in tackling the preparing for urbanisation. Suggest what changes in governance and policy implementation will help India in preparing for Urbanisation? MUST READ All’s not well in the Army Hindu   What is special about special courts? Hindu   Rebuilding foreign policy consensus Indian Express   How EC decides when parties split Indian Express   Thriving in the post-truth era Livemint   Andhra Pradesh and data-based governance Livemint   Reverse-engineering artificial intelligence Livemint   Challenges of the new year Livemint   What they don’t tell you about digital payments Business Line   Slow stimulus Business Line  

Jan 3, 2017 AIR

All India Radio - Role of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel in Uniting the Nation

Role of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel in Uniting the Nation ARCHIVES Search 31st October 2016 http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx 2016 marks the 141st birth anniversary year of Sardar Patel. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister and the minister of home affairs, went on to truly become—in the words of Shashi Tharoor—“the man who saved India”. By integrating more than 560 princely states, Patel and his secretary of the ministry of states V.P. Menon imparted geographic coherence to India and prevented its Balkanization, a fate which many predicted would befall the newborn state. Unifying the nation- A task unmatchable Sardar Patel had the tough task of unifying the 500+ princely states into one homogenous country. The princely states covered almost 48% of the area. Legally, they were not part of British India but subordinate to the British crown. The British gave an option to the princely states to join India or Pakistan. The task of Sardar Patel was very tough from 1947 to 1950. Things were done in a context where lot of fast moving developments were taking place and the task given to him as one of the founders of republic is true. The question of borders was the crucial new question that India had to face because suddenly it had two different borders, one on west which had been drawn up in very haphazard and hasty manner and other in the east, with the creation of east Pakistan, which created a problem with regard to the north east states that were now tenuously linked to rest of India and needed attention. The whole effort of Sardar Patel was to make sure that an already complicated situation on the ground did not get further complicated. It had his commitment to a strong state and a strong union that motivated him to push him where rulers were hesitant, where the population and rulers belonged to different persuasion. There was a certain hesitation as which would be more advantageous option. He made it very clear that those within the borders had only one option and that was India. Thus, if Gandhiji was the father of nation and Nehru was father of Indian state, Sardar Patel could legitimately claim to be father of Indian Union in the sense that it was his tireless efforts over period of 3 years from 1946-1949 that united India through persuasion, through diplomacy, sometimes through coercion and threat of military use. This process was a master stroke in lasting achievement to the building of Indian republic. If no unification? British colonial rule created a haphazard mix of territories and the boundaries that arose from the hazards and the opportunities given by military conquest or treatise with local rulers. However, it made no sense on the ground. One of the planks of INC and national movement was that they would put this in order. They would recognise the socio cultural entities and boundaries and would redraw the map of India. Sardar Patel’s contribution was to create the space for this reorganisation of state because if there were pockets and enclaves and territories which could not be integrated, it would not have made a unified India very difficult, if not impossible. Manipur was an important princely state. So was Tripura. They were active in the national movement but when it came to integration, Sardar Patel was very clear that accession first and then rest would be seen. Thus, his contribution is immense in creating the unified country. However, many of the grievances cropped up later because these initial promises had been betrayed. Contribution in saving J&K for India Those were troubled times when the infiltrators from the other side of the border had begun moving in. One must also remember the delicate international context of the cold war and the various treaties in place. It is against that backdrop and also the enormous journey of the refugee movement and migration from either side of the border. Sardar Patel as the Home Minister was resolutely looking after the protection of the population crossing the borders. His contribution in the Kashmir crisis remains as the taking of bold decision of airlifting of the troops and halting the advance of the infiltrators who had crossed over and occupied a certain portion of Kashmir. Hyderabad crisis Sardar came to know about the local militia, backed by the Nizam of Hyderabad, ransacking villages and holding people to ransom. Thus he ordered the military action against the Nizam of Hyderabad. There was a clear police action taken because of Sardar’s quick decision making power. Had this not been done, Hyderabad would have been become hot bed of instability in the middle of the Deccan and splashing its negative effects in neighbouring areas. Sardar was similarly firm in case of Goa but it was overruled as throwing the Portuguese by the use of armed force somehow did not appeal to the government of that time. But later, as known, there was no option and it had to be done. Offer from Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, offered the several of the bordering Rajas of princely states that they would retain their existence if they came to Pakistan. Sardar Patel countered that, especially the Rajputana princes and Patiala and some parts of Gujarat. Despite Jinnah’s offer which looked lucrative then, Sardar managed to get these princes into India with his skilful combination of diplomatic persuasion of pointing to the larger long term interests of their population and also a certain amount of arm twisting and threats which made it clear that there would be a price to pay if they did not accept the conditions that Indian government was putting to them. In those troubled circumstances where rulers hesitated balancing their own self-interests, their own loyalties, their own identities with the general well-being of their people, this firm intervention helped in making up their minds. Sardar’s persona His strong will and decisiveness makes him stand apart from the crowd. That is why he is called the iron man. That aspect of his personality that he did not shirk at taking unpleasant and tough decisions and at the same time, he was very humane with undivided loyalty to Gandhiji, made him the initial choice as India’s first PM. Sardar Patel asked the princes to join him and gave them a privy purse for one time payout or annual pay out or grant for giving lands and revenues to the union of India. Some sort of compensation was in order because they were going to lose what they lived on and thus their maintenance was to be made. Also, it was needed as the union was being made and hence it was important to get cooperation. The privy purses at that time was seen as a diplomatic move. An administrator by instinct, Patel sought to protect the privileges of the Indian Civil Service officers who were deemed to be compromised on account of their previous services to the British Raj. Sardar Patel was a hard-nosed realist and his clarity of thinking was matched only by Subhas Chandra Bose and B.R. Ambedkar among contemporaries. Sardar’s contribution was recognised at the time and despite the differences that he may have with his colleagues, what is needed to remember that he was a loyal and steadfast soldier of the Indian struggle for independence. He was committed to Gandhiji and so whenever there were differences, he bowed to Gandhiji and his opinion. This has sustained the partnership and helped India find its feet. He died in 1950 and thus in that short period of Indian independence, he made an enormous contribution. In 1991, he was given Bharat Ratna. Related Important events from 1946-1951 (Till Sardar Patel’s death) From 1946 to 1951, there was formation of constitution of India, independence of India and formation of states. Internal consolidation was focused upon. Equally important was the positioning of India on world map. The rise of iron curtain, the beginning of cold war and also the fact that new powers were rising, Afro Asian solidarity was coming into being and India not taking up the offer of UNSC seat and instead of it going to china, this has to be seen in wider context as Nehru was clear at that time that belonged to China. These events marked the final years of Sardar Patel’s life. Patel was among the few to see the dangers from China’s imminent takeover of Tibet. One of the foremost chroniclers of Sino-India relations, John W. Garver records: “Patel advocated a series of practical measures designed to strengthen India’s position: accelerated road building in the frontier areas, strengthening of India’s military capabilities, moves to better integrate the northeastern territories into India.”. Key words Iron Curtain- the Iron Curtain was the name for the boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. The term symbolized efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas. Physically, the Iron Curtain took the form of border defenses between the countries of Europe in the middle of the continent. The most notable border was marked by the Berlin Wall and its Checkpoint Charlie, which served as a symbol of the Curtain as a whole. The events that demolished the Iron Curtain started in discontent in Poland   Picture Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/EasternBloc_PostDissolution2008.svg/693px-EasternBloc_PostDissolution2008.svg.png Connecting the dots: Sardar Patel is known for his indomitable political personality and strong administrative prowess. Yet, it has been felt across the years that his contribution has not justly brought forward, whether India’s independent struggle or post-independence. So you agree? Give reasons for your answers.