Dec 13, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 80]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Sambhar Lake, India’s largest saline lake is located in Gujarat Rajasthan Jammu & Kashmir Odisha Q.2) Consider the following statements about Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) The Indian Ocean Rim is a region comprised of the states whose shores are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt and Mozambique are members of IORA The Secretariat is hosted by the Government of Mauritius and based in Cyber City, Ebène, Mauritius. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 3 1 and 2 2 and 3 All of the above  Q.3) Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) It provides for 50% taxes and surcharge on declarations of unaccounted cash deposited in banks. It is a part of ‘The Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016’ Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.4) Consider the following statements Metabolites are the intermediate products of metabolic reactions catalyzed by various enzymes that naturally occur within cells Biomarkers are the measures used to perform a clinical assessment such as blood pressure or cholesterol level Metabolomics is the study of an organism’s metabolome, which is the collection of metabolites found in particular organism Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat’ It is a sub-programme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan The two tracks of the scheme are ‘Early reading and writing with comprehension (ERWC) and Early mathematics (EM)’ Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Dec 13, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - RBI Policy Review and Demonetisation Fallout

Archives   RBI Policy Review and Demonetisation fallout   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   Despite the possibility of growth being impacted due to the crippling cash crunch due to the currency ban, the RBI left the main repo rate interest rate unchanged at 6.25% to keep inflation in check. Most analysts had expected a rate cut of 25bps to 6%. The banks got a major liquidity boost with central bank withdrawing the 100% incremental CRR which was imposed on November 26. The RBI also forecasted the inflation to be about 5% for Q4 stating that some of the price reduction resulting out of demonetisation could be temporary. RBI’s monetary policy review after currency ban The major takeaways are: Reversal of incremental 100 percent Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) No change in policy rates The cash that will not be deposited in bank post the demonetisation decision will not be taken as surplus. Instead, the liability will reside on its book. Reduced GVA forecast from 7.6% to 7.1% The inflation forecast has been predicted at 5% The concern about inflation is much appreciated as there has been oil price increase. Food prices are going up and then the rupee is weakening. So, from those perspectives, there were risks to inflation. The growth estimates have been put forward very optimistically with projections of 7.1% growth. RBI’s view on growth and inflation is consistent with minimal damage to the economy on account of demonetisation. This can mean that perhaps RBI is going to re-monetise very quickly which is not known. Reasons for keeping repo rate unchanged There were expectations from the government for lowering of interest rates but it seems that RBI has chosen to be guided by other macroeconomic indicators for its decisions. RBI has clearly said that the reduction in inflation rate would be temporary 10-15 bps, so demonetisation is not addressing the root causes. Therefore, they are concerned about the inflationary pressures that are good enough not to guide for a repo rate reduction. Also, many felt that US fed rate hike is one of the bearing on their decision. But this reason was previously factored in and there was not much room for it to be mentioned again. So, this time RBI has been guided totally by what it sees on inflation front to keep the repo rate unchanged. Relief for banks In an attempt to absorb some of the surplus liquidity available in the banking system, RBI had asked banks to maintain an incremental cash reserve ratio (CRR) of 100%. The move was estimated to suck out around Rs 3.24 lakh crore excess liquidity from the system and was applicable on deposits between September 16 and November 11 fortnights. It is a tool to check inflation as well as meet the credit needs of the productive sectors of the economy. The incremental CRR has been withdrawn which has been big relief for the bank. RBI has said that it is going to be more accommodative towards growth. The banks are in dire state due to uncertainty caused by demonetisation and then when all this becomes incremental CRR, the cost of banking is increasing over a period of time. In this sense, the major policy decision is removal of incremental CRR and moving towards Market Stabilisation Scheme where banks are not going to lose much out of it. This will give some boost to bank industry per se and help improve the bank balance sheet to some extent. Now the onus is on bank to further the benefits of lower repo rate which they have not done yet with past reductions done by RBI. Therefore there should be greater scope for transmission which should be certainly be helped by the enormous liquidity that has come into the banking system all of sudden. Picture Credit: http://www.moneylife.in/site/userimage/image/1480332641_liquidity_rbi2811.jpg The major contribution of policy in levitating some of the uncertainty is regarding dispelling any kind of expectation that there is going to be a windfall gain for the government on account of reduced liabilities because of currency with the public in the central bank’s balance sheet. RBI made it very clear that their liabilities does not get extinguished because it still owes them and new notes have been printed. The expectation was that the public investment would push the growth but it is not going to be there. The focus now is that what is going to drive growth ahead given that consumption will be temporarily hit. As per RBI’s calculations currently, they are expecting a sharp rebound, a V shape which is bit surprising considering that evidence on consumption of demand is severe. Also focus will be on the tax disclosures and taxation gains to the government from the income disclosure scheme. The government has said that it is expecting somewhere between Rs. 1.3-1.5 lakh crore. It means that if the upper bound gets realised then the government gets Rs. 75000 crore of increased tax revenues. However, what actually materialises has to be seen. That is one side of story. Now the growth is going to be decelerated, RBI said 7.1% but it should be about 6.5% given the situation. There will be a dent on the revenue also. The cost of MSS should be financed by budget. So, if all these things are taken, the net gain is not going to be substantial in the overall exercise. The cost of exercise is touted at Rs. 55000 crore. Change in goals The top objective of demonetisation was bring forth black money and one of the assumptions that even the debate of RBI’s liability getting reduced, were expectations. The current scenario has to be seen in respect of RBI’s policy. Now the finance secretary says that he expects all money to come back. So now the objective of black money is gone. Instead, the focus has been shifted to cashless economy. The second rationale cited was that it will lower interest rate. Therefore it will facilitate growth. The RBI’s stand of fear of inflation was known in latest policy. By taking away incremental CRR, there might be reduction in banking cost, but also the liquidity may push banks to lower the cost as lower the rates, the holding cost comes down. In past one month, there are costs that the banking system has incurred because they have just handled the cash chaos and that has bearings on banks’ productivity, output and output of overall financial system. So, whatever was aimed when demonetisation was announced, nothing of such is happening. In the end, there is lower growth rate forecasts, inconvenience caused among citizens and the rural migrants are going back as there is no work and no money. So it cannot be said if the exercise was worth it at this point of time. Significance of policy The RBI monetary policy is always forward looking. Given the uncertainty in the domestic economy where the severity is not known, outcomes is not known, RBI is staying the same. In addition to this domestic uncertainty, there is external uncertainty coming out from industrialised countries. So RBI is following a wait and watch approach. The credit demand is low from industries- large, small and medium. Whatever lending was taking place was on retail loans like vehicle and housing loans that was driving bank credit, even that has been dented now. But RBI thinks it is temporary and it should rebound. Conclusion The informal sector has been badly hit and the growth has come a halt. There is no clear picture on the Indian economy. In such uncertain situations, the central bank behaves such and holds status quo. The budget will show what the next steps to be taken are. The focus ought to be at the increase at the economic activities. In that light, RBI has taken an optimistic view on growth and they expect the disruption to be temporary. But considering the latest data on state of economy, it has been only consumption demand that is driving growth. Investment has been weak and in last three quarters it was negative. The break up of investment profile on production side tells that private corporate balance sheets are laden with debt, the de-leveraging is slow and that is mirrored in banking sector whose balance sheets are equally weakened with inadequate capital. Huge burden of NPAs and resolution of it is proving difficult. This is a current status of fragile balance sheets of corporates and banks. When a financial shock of this nature hits, then the disruption can be more damaging than when the balance sheets are healthy. Connecting the dots: How does the central bank plays a decisive role in determining the path of economic growth? Critically examine.  

Dec 12, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 12th December, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 12th December, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation   Disruptive amendments to Prevention of Corruption Act In news: Parliament is set to amend Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), 1988 which is not considered to be healthy to stop the corrupt practices in government. Though demonetisation was introduced as a step to wage a forefront war on black money but it is not engaging into corruption which is the fountainhead of black money. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and amendments In 2013, the amendments to the PCA were first introduced in Rajya Sabha following massive anti-corruption protests. The purpose was to tighten existing anti-corruption legislation but it had worrisome provision. Following the UPA government, the NDA government further brought out additional amendments in 2014 which demand introspection. A Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha, comprising members across the political establishment, has already approved these changes. This means that the move enjoys cross-party support, as in most instances where the political establishment protects itself, in name of war against black money. The flaws in the bill The bill dilutes and defeats the entire point of anti-corruption legislation in many ways. The bill proposes to narrow down the existing definition of corruption, increase the burden of proof necessary for punishing the corrupt thereby making things more difficult for whistle-blower and strengthen the shield available to officials accused of corruption. The bill also has clauses that would protect politician-bureaucracy nexus from anti-corruption probe.   Narrowing definition In existing act, Section 13(1)(d) covers various indirect forms of corruption including the obtaining of “any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage” by illegal gratification or by “abusing his position as a public servant”. The present amendment removes this section and replaces it with shortened definition of criminal misconduct by a public servant. It includes fraudulent misappropriation of property under one’s control and intentional, illicit enrichment and possession of disproportionate assets. In this new definition, any benefit that is not economic, that is indirect or that cannot be proven to be intentional fraud will not be punished as corruption. However, the Law Commission which studied this proposed amendment rejected it and proposed a widened definition: any “undue advantage” that results from “improper performance of public function or activity” of a public servant should be punishable. Yet the government and the Parliamentary Committee disregarded this suggestion. Importance of the section: it is a critical section which deals with corruption in high places where typically no under-the-table transactions take place. A corrupt public servant usually receives illegal gratification in an extremely clandestine manner such as off-shore transactions or non-monetary considerations such as a better posting, post retirement benefits, etc. Major scams such as Bofors, 2G, commonwealth games scam, coal scam etc. had become criminal offences because of this section only. This is the reason why a section of bureaucrats have demanded to remove the section on the ground that it hinders fearless decision-making that may involve exercise of discretion and bona fide errors. This cannot be termed true as a retired Cabinet Secretary, TSR Subramanium, known for his integrity, has repeatedly said that the existing laws offer adequate protection to honest officers where no officer is punished on basis of any bona fide difference or even mistake unless it is a clear abuse of power leading to financial or other gains.   Give more proof Under the current bill, the possession of monetary resources or property disproportionate to the public servant’s known sources of income is enough to prove corruption. The “known sources of income” are limited only to those receipts which had been “intimated in accordance with the provisions of any law, rules or orders for the time being applicable to a public servant”. This provision was made in 1988 in order to cover an earlier loophole wherein many accused persons would cite fresh sources of income at the stage of trial, resulting in acquittal in a large number of disproportionate assets cases. But, the amendment bill makes it more difficult to prove someone guilty of disproportionate assets as it asks for more proof. The prosecutor has to now prove that the disproportionate asset was acquired with the intention of the public servant to enrich himself illicitly. More risk for bribe giver Currently, if a person makes a statement during a corruption trial that he gave a bribe, it would not be used to prosecute him for the offence of abetment of corruption. But the amendment bill omits this provision and proposes that bribe-taking and bribe-giving will be equally punishable. This would surely deter bribe giver to appear as witnesses in cases against public officials. Though it is right step in the direction of not giving the bribe-giver complete immunity, but there should have been other way of solving it instead of removing the provision. The 2nd ARC had recommended a distinction between “coercive” and “collusive” bribing. Those who are coerced into bribing but report it thereafter should be given some protection. Also, there can be a seven-day window for declaration by the bribe-giver in order to qualify for exemption. But such alternates were rejected and the final proposal included punishment for all and thereby reduced chances of evidence against the bribe-taker.   Prosecution of corrupt Under the existing act, the government’s or higher officials’ sanction is required before prosecution of any serving public servants. The idea was to protect honest public officials from harassment, persecution and frivolous litigation. The proposed amendment bill extends this protection to retired public servants, if the case pertains to the period when they were in office. This is a reasonable addition to existing provision. But another additional provision says that if a private person approaches the government for sanction to prosecute a public servant for corruption, he would now need a court order to this effect. With this additional layer of protection, the victims of corruption and anti-corruption activists would be discouraged to prosecute the corrupt civil servants. A new provision The government has added a most diabolic provision, Section 17A that would bar investigating agencies from even beginning an inquiry or investigating the offences under this Act without prior approval. The government had proposed that such sanction would have to be obtained from a Lokayukta or Lokpal. But the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha shifted the power to give this sanction to an “authority competent to remove” the person from office. This means that the political masters will decide whether they wish to allow a corruption inquiry against any government employee or not. This is detrimental to fight against corruption. If someone wishes to harass an innocent officer without any credible evidence of corruption, the government can refuse to give sanction for prosecution. But there is no need for sanction before an inquiry. If this happens, there is no inquiry, thus no credible evidence, Conclusion The bureaucracy needs to be made accountable for its decisions and actions. Hence, the amendments to Prevention of Corruption Act needs a relook and open for public opinion. The Whistleblower Protection Act’s provision should also be in alignment with the Prevention of Corruption Act. Reintroduction of grievance redressal bill and operationalisation of Lokpal Act along with these two form the necessary anti-corruption statutory framework. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the provision of prevention of corrupt act. India has extensive laws in place to tackle corruption but its implementation lacks teeth. Do you agree? Examine. Related article: How not to fight corruption? MUST READ Asking the right questions Hindu   Legacy of a social movement Hindu   In rural health care, few good options Hindu   Put House In Order Indian Express   India is going digital swiftly, but is it going digital safely? Indian Express   No questions please, you are the media Indian Express   Abandoned by the law Indian Express   Back to the worst forms of central planning Livemint   Don’t cry over dead trade agreements Livemint   Preparing for Policy Implementation 3.0 Livemint   The fungibility of black money Livemint   Trump’s tariff walls could hurt India Business Line  

Dec 12, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 79]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘Kounotori’ It is space capsule launched by Japan to send supplies to International Space Station It carries a space junk collector for pulling the space debris out of orbit around the Earth Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is released by Institute for Economics & Peace Centre for Land Warfare Studies RAND Corporation Brookings Institution Q.3) Recently, President of India Launched ‘100 Million for 100 Million’ Campaign. Consider the following statements It was organized by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation It aims to mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million underprivileged children across the world, to end child labour, child slavery, and violence against children and promote the right of every child to be safe, free, and educated, over the next 5 years. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Recently, CORSIA was in news. It is concerned with Joint Naval Exercise Civil Aviation OPEC Countries Pacific Rim Countries Q.5) With regard to International Criminal Court (ICC), consider the following statements It is an international non-governmental organization The Roman Statute, 2002 serves as the ICC's foundational and governing document It seeks to replace national courts of a country in crimes related to war and genocide Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Dec 12, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - India in Global Hunger Index

ARCHIVES   India in Global Hunger Index   Search 13th October http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes   In the latest report on global hunger, India is ranked miserably (97th) among 118 countries that were surveyed to see if people in those countries were fed properly or not, to know the status of under nutrition and malnourishment, generally among children and also amongst specific population such as tribes and other marginalised section. Rest of the Asian countries are faring well in comparison to India. China is at 29th position, Nepal is 72nd, Sri Lanka is 84th, Bangladesh is 90th and Myanmar is 75th. Only Pakistan is behind India. The report again brings forward pending issue of poverty and hunger on the centre stage because the centre has launched a number of schemes like Right to Food Act. India has been self-sufficient in food since the Green Revolution. Yet hunger persists in some parts of India and surfaces in the form of starvation deaths. Despite all the measures being taken and schemes being rolled out during last 10 years, the situation doesn’t seem to improve. Though depending too much on statistics is not too fair. There is a saying that 99% of statistics explain only 49% of story. But the global hunger index has been taken seriously by every country and this indeed highlights the issue. There is a dichotomy - India has fastest growing economy in the world and hence the growth is expected to trickle down and help to improve the status of poor, malnourished and hungry citizens. But it will take time. The biggest factor is India’s population. China had similar statistics but their hunger eradication rate was faster because the policy was much better suited as there was different kind of polity and system. This cannot be applied to India as it practices democracy. Slow improvements There are many areas in which India has started performing much better, though there are gaps, due to interventions from MDMS and anganwadis. The challenge is that India still has a long way to go as it has to deal with poverty, unemployment, safe drinking water, sanitation and lack of effective health care. These issues which combined together also create difficulties in realisation of the objectives of various policy interventions of successive governments fail to achieve. India faced monsoon deficiency for two years. 12 states declared droughts in 2016. And this report comes close on the heels of drought years but naturally it is factoring in the weather condition. This shows that India is not well prepared with its policies to face these situations as drought which is not new. It is not the first time India is shown the mirror of its condition. HDI comes every year and it tells where the problem lies. India does extremely well when it comes to economic growth but when the health and education indices are factored in, India is pulled back in chart. Responsibility of state government Health is a state subject and hence primarily the responsibility of state government and in a federal structure, the centre can push upto a certain point. Recently, the 14th FC had also allocated many resources to state. Devolution is a positive indicator that in a federal set up, states have to accept such responsibilities. But there is a strong fear amongst development experts that states may not be able to absorb that kind of funding or spend the fund in a targeted manner. Lot of centrally sponsored schemes have been scrapped and thus the states need much more money to be spent both on education and health sector. Every effort should also be made by the states to increase the efficient delivery of health, sanitation and educational services to the poor through higher investments in these areas. The universal basic income cannot replace the government’s investment in the provision of basic amenities to the population, but it can give cash in the pockets of the poor for food. Models of development At some stage it is also a question of development model because there are various factors affecting the funding as well as policy decisions. In capitalist model, focus will be on generating more money so that citizens get benefited from the growing income. Also, the GDP growth is necessary to generate money for welfare schemes. But it has been seen that there exists lot of inequality between the classes thereby neutralising the effect of higher growth. On the other hand, socialist model has not to be compulsorily adopted. But if there is GDP led growth, it has to be also taken care that the right kind of policy is adopted which will benefit. Also, allow states certain incentives. More important is distribution and equity Thus, policy makers must look at development models. So model of growth is important as India is going to face newer challenges. . There is a new challenge of sustainability coming from climatic change, automation etc. Unemployment It is one of the biggest factor behind poverty and hunger. Over the past 5 years, there has been higher rate of unemployment. Although many skill development initiatives are being rolled out, but this will take time to show result. Globally, the jobs are not seeing the rise they should. The main reason is automation and new technological developments. Even countries which are overpopulated are falling prey to technological model of growth. Under previous government, a lot of socialist schemes were initiated and rolled out successfully. Ex MGNREGA. But they have not generated heartening results from implementation of these programmes. There has been no proof that jobs generating from NREGA is adding to quality of life of poor people. And this is why the current government is revisiting the NREGA model even though they have continued with the programme. Given the fact that majority of rural population lives in villages and agriculture is in big crisis as seen by rural distress, India has to also think that there are certain areas in which India has to slow in terms of ensuring the jobs that are needed. If this is not done then there is another problem. There has to be a model which ensures high growth as well as distribution of wealth, creation of jobs and mixing of technology so that large number of people get benefit of growth. Conclusion Hunger index is based on parameters such as shares of undernourished population, wasted and stunted children aged below five years and infant mortality rate. Amidst so much progress on many fronts and having the highest rate of GDP growth in the world, to have millions of undernourished children is something inexplicable and shows the extent of inequality of incomes and callousness towards the poor. Hunger reported simultaneously with bumper crop production reveals the incapability of administration. Thus, to climb up the hunger index ought to be the top priority for India with adequate policies supplying food to each and every citizen of the country. Connecting the dots: What is the importance of India’s ranking in global hunger index? Critically analyse.  

Dec 11, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Know who you are – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Know who you are: How much do you know about yourself? How often do you contemplate on the purpose of your life and the overall vision of your future? How much time do you really give for yourself? The answer to most of these questions for most people is ‘Very little’. The single most important reason why people fail to achieve their true vision and purpose is because of a lack of understanding of themselves and their role in the overall scheme of things of the society and the community around them. An individual who doesn’t know his place and how he can contribute to the betterment of humanity cannot pursue any grand goals and achieve them. The greatest success stories have always come from those individuals who have let go of their personal ego’s and looked at the larger good of humanity. Their grand vision to help transform lives and help mankind has driven them to achieve great success in spite of all the difficulties. It takes a change in perspective and vision to look beyond oneself to make a difference in the world. And how ever contrary this might sound, the better you know yourself the better you will be able to understand what the world needs and how you can fill the gap. The first step in the ladder of success is a complete and clear understanding of one’s dreams, desires, goals and aspirations. Clarifying your true purpose of life is more important than any other activity in your journey towards success. Every day spend at least one hour for yourself to keep revisiting your goals and aligning yourself to accomplish them. The nature of the mind is such that even if you give a gap of few days and get lost in unwanted thought process, it becomes that much more difficult to come back to your visions. True success is all about understanding the real meaning of success and failure from your personal point of view. Once you understand your thought process and how you act in certain circumstances, you can apply yourself in a more meaningful and impactful way. It all begins by dedicating at least an hour every day to sharpen the axe of your intellect and emotions. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.” Read more such articles– Click Here

Dec 10, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 10th December, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 10th December, 2016   INTERNATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Important International institutions, agencies and fora   Heart of Asia Summit- Stabilising the heart Background: The Heart of Asia- Istanbul process was formed by 14 nations in 2011. The participating countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates. It was formed to facilitate the development and security of Afghanistan. Why: Afghanistan is geographically located at the junction of Central, South and East Asia, and also of the ancient trading routes from China and India to Europe. Today it is also a focal point for the region’s biggest challenge of terrorism; some of the far-reaching battles against al-Qaeda, Islamic State, etc. will be decided on the battlegrounds of Afghanistan. The Amritsar conference In the meeting, delegation from Afghanistan pushed for a regional counter-terror framework with binding commitment by member countries to effectively deal with the terror networks. In today’s testing times, it was necessary for India to put terror centre stage at the Heart of Asia declaration in Amritsar. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi focussed their concerns on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Afghan President made it clear that progress and development in Afghanistan are meaningless and unsustainable without peace, and peace is contingent on Pakistan ending support to terror groups such the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba. In a bold move, he dared Pakistan to use its proposed development grant to Afghanistan to fight terror on its own soil. The issue of cross border terrorism was something even Pakistan’s traditional allies at the conference, including China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey, found difficult to counter. India had already made it clear that it would never accept continuing cross-border terrorism as the ‘new normal’ in bilateral ties with Pakistan. It also reiterated that talks cannot take place in an atmosphere of ‘continued terror’. There was also reference to the importance of the tripartite India-Iran-Afghanistan agreement on developing the Chabahar Port to promote regional connectivity to and through Afghanistan.   India-Afghanistan-Pakistan: Dealing is tough Currently, India and Afghanistan are facing problems due to cross border terrorism emanating from Pakistan which they have constantly highlighted. If it so happens that every engagement with Pakistan is closed for India and Afghanistan, the two countries have to closely consider their next steps. In short term, lack of engagement may yield some pressure on Pakistan’s leadership to act, as it did briefly after the Pathankot attack. But in long run, it may deplete the two countries of their limited leverage as Pakistan’s neighbours. Pakistan may create more obstacles in trade between India and Afghanistan. Also, it has been observed in the past that cornering Pakistan by its neighbours has led to its deepening of ties with China and Russia, pushed Afghanistan closer to Central Asia and India has to move towards multilateral groupings in east and south. This may result into derailing of India and Afghanistan’s plans of avoiding Pakistan through land trade from the Chabahar port and a dedicated air corridor between Delhi and Kabul as this infrastructure will take time to put in place. Way forward for India Afghanistan has been appealing to India for over three years for urgent supply of military hardware. India is yet to firm up arrangements for this. Thus, India should immediately conclude a tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan to facilitate transit of arms supplies. India has to also look forward to fulfil its commitment to develop Chabahar Port in Iran. Also, India has to recognise the emergence of a Russia-China-Pakistan axis, when it comes to developments in Afghanistan. Though it has been clear that talks between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government are meant to be exclusively ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’, there are third parties who want to meddle into it. Earlier, the facilitators were US, China and Pakistan. But the talks broke down because Afghan saw Pakistan’s duplicity. Hence, now there is an emergence of a new grouping of Russia, China and Pakistan, set to promote what is called an internal Afghan Peace Process. Russia has been saying that real threat to regional peace emerging from Afghanistan comes from Daesh (ISIS) and not the Taliban. But it is clear that this is what Pakistan is pushing for as it recognises that Russia's primary concern is the ISIS.   India and Afghanistan The process of reconciliation within Afghanistan has achieved a small success, with the former pro-Pakistani mujahideen leader of Hizb-e-Islami, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, signing a peace agreement with the Afghan government. The prospects for a restoration of peace and a peace agreement with the Taliban are virtually non-existent at present. It should be not forgotten that Taliban, together with their affiliates in the Haqqani network - armed, trained and operating from safe havens in Pakistan - that constitute the main threat to the security of Afghanistan and indeed the region as a whole. US leadership is also transforming and hence no one can predict what ‘deals’ the new President might enter into to address developments in Afghanistan. Conclusion The focus areas of the Heart of Asia conference at Amritsar have been finalising a counter-terror framework, ways to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan and boosting regional connectivity for the war-ravaged country’s economic growth. The Heart of Asia process thus remains critical to forging cooperation to realise Afghanistan’s potential to be a vibrant Asian ‘hub’. Connecting the dots: What is the significance of ‘Heart of Asia’ conference? What are the challenges faced by India in maintaining stability in the region? Critically analyse.   ENVIRONMENT   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation   Delhi Pollution- Is there any hope? Delhi pollution has worsened over past few years. Now, the capital is facing its worst spell of persistent smog in nearly two decades. According to the latest data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the levels of PM10 and PM2.5 particles have reached 876 and 680 micrograms per cubic metre, against the safe limits of 100 and 60 micrograms per cubic metre respectively. This represents the severity of the issue for the citizens of Delhi as well as environmental harm caused. Stop blaming farmers There are many factors that have contributed to deteriorating of the air quality in Delhi and increased pollution levels, raising environmental concerns. It includes Diwali fireworks, urban emissions from vehicles, cooking, lighting, waste-burning, industries, power plants and construction activities. However, the state government has singled out stubble burning by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana as the prime cause for the ongoing crisis. Thus, resource-poor farmers become convenient scapegoats for any crisis that happen in country. Whether it is over-exploitation of groundwater or environmental pollution, condemning farmers’ actions has become the norm. Despite the Central Groundwater Board’s (CGWB) revelations that cities are also culprits, farmers continue to be blamed for groundwater exploitation. If the pollution was caused by stubble burning, it would have affected the air quality in Lucknow, Chandigarh and Amritsar, which fall between Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. Also, if the pollutants from Punjab and Haryana were actually causing the high levels of toxity in Delhi, they should have been reporting the same conditions in their own home States. But there is no such report so far. It is true that there is spike in pollution levels in Delhi’s air annually in winter and also the burning of paddy and wheat stubble after the crop is harvested. But this does not mean that the burning crop residues are contributing to Delhi’s pollution peaks. An expert from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pointed out that Delhi’s pollution level continues to be critical even after the burning stops. This categorically means that the pollution is not the reason of stubble burning and hence farmers should not be blamed.   Problem lies within Union environment minister has clearly stated that satellite images from ISRO prove that the neighbouring States were responsible for only 20% of the pollution. The remaining 80% was strictly from Delhi and mainly due to its garbage problem. This was highlighted by study of Central Pollution Control Board and IIT Kanpur (2015). Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT-Delhi, made a very crucial observation that vehicles were the largest contributor of air pollutant emissions in Delhi followed by industries, power plants and domestic sources. (2014) In a joint report by IIT-Kanpur, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Department of Environment, NCT Delhi (2016), it was clearly suggested that the single largest contributor is road dust, accounting for about 56% of PM10 and about 38% of PM2.5. No doubt crop burning is also a cause of pollution but it is ranked behind major pollutants such as road dust, vehicles and industry. The per capita registration of high emission vehicles in Delhi is reportedly the highest in India; more than half of the city’s middle-class homes have two or more cars. This has led the increase in vehicle population since 2007. The city planning can also be held the culprit for increased pollution as cramped residential quarters around the industrial zones not only lead to traffic congestion but also stop polluted air from escaping. Choice with farmers? In order to remove all unwanted plants and shrubs in a quick, cheap and easy manner, farmers from time immemorial have set fire to their fields after harvesting. Hence, burning of crops is not a new phenomenon in India. However, burning stubble has become inevitable and frequent in recent years as harvesters do not cut the crop close to ground and farmers’ financial condition does not allow them to dispose of the stubble mechanically. Also, the other problem is that the time period to shift from rabi to karif crops is very small. This has to be done between the third week of October and the middle of November. So, each day of delay in sowing costs them dear. In such a scenario, where resource-poor farmers are already burdened with the rising cost of farm inputs, they cannot be expected to invest more funds to dispose of crop stubble.   Way forward The residents should be willing to keep their lifestyle in check. For the sources of pollution, the Centre and the State need to rethink the model of urban development. Then only it is possible to keep air pollution in check. Long term measures include imposing a ceiling on the number of vehicles per household, controlling the registration of diesel vehicles, using CNG engines for public transport and phasing out old commercial vehicles, restricting and regulating construction activities, efficient management of garbage and banning smoke-generating fireworks at all social events. Also, research initiatives should be undertaken to ensure that mechanised harvester does not leave behind crop stubble. Right financial incentives should be put in place to ensure that the collected straw is used in biomass plants for power generation. Also, India can take lessons from France by forging partnerships to develop technologies that help bring innovative solutions. Technological and research partnerships, particularly in the areas of space, clean energy and water, can contribute to this. IASbaba’s views Implementation of sustainable urban development strategy which includes energy efficiency, development of clean energy, adaptation of conventional energy sources to restrict their negative impact and expansion of public transport network is needed. The two drivers of growth- innovation and technology- play a crucial role in this field. Hence, the sources of pollution should be clearly identified and best available solutions should be adopted. Connecting the dots: What are the various causes of air pollution? Critically examine the need for India to mitigate the air pollution level else disaster is on the brink of occurrence.   MUST READ A doctrine of unpredictability Hindu   Beware the cultural revolution Indian Express   Going digital Indian Express   Cut the clutter Business Line   Pushing digital money Business Line  

Dec 9, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 9th December, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 9th December, 2016   ENVIRONMENT   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation   Integrating Biodiversity with development Recently, the PM himself made his environmental concerns clear when he asked people to use idols mad of clay then plaster of Paris which is more harmful to environment when immersed in water. This should stimulate the environmental consciousness of people to encourage the preservation of precious natural resources. It has to be understood and engraved in the attitude that an eco-friendly approach in every socio-economic activity should be followed. Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part of This includes diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity) and of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity). It provides services such as water purification and supply, waste assimilation and the cleaning of air and water, regulation of pests and diseases, and soil nutrient cycling and fertility. It also helps mitigate unpredictable global changes and natural disasters. Therefore, a rich biodiversity is the basis for good health, food security, economic growth, livelihood security and moderation of climatic conditions. Today, the annual contribution of biodiversity to the world is put at $33 trillion. More than 70% of the world’s poor live in rural areas and are directly dependent on the ecosystem/biodiversity goods and services for their survival. Biodiversity forms the foundation of the vast array of ecosystem services that critically contribute to human well-being. They also act as a safety net to indigenous peoples, poor and vulnerable groups, women and children. However, this unique and critical asset has come under pressure due to anthropogenic reasons.   India and biodiversity India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries which is rich in biodiversity and its associated traditional knowledge systems. Due to its size, range of topography, altitude and climate, India exhibits a rich variety of ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs. These provide basic needs such as food, fibre, medicine, fodder, fuel wood and timber. Around 1.2 billion people coexist with 8% of recorded species, which includes over 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals. India’s tribal population is also dependent on forests and natural resources to a significant extent. Bringing Biodiversity in foreground Though India possess 18% of the world’s population but it has only 2.4% of land and 4.2% water resources. For a higher GDP growth rate, rapid development that pertains to industry and infrastructure is required. But the development activities have sought to greatly affect the biodiversity. Natural resources such as water, forests, fisheries and marine resources are being overexploited, which in turn affects their renewability. A recent study has shown that India will become water scarce by 2025. Also, the emissions from industry and the transport sectors are at a high level. There is indiscriminate discharge of solid wastes, industrial effluents and domestic sewage with considerable impact. Therefore, there is a need of proactive efforts in ecosystem management that involve government and community as such work cannot be done in isolation.   Presence of biodiversity Many economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, health, nutrition, water supply, energy, trade, industry, transport and tourism depend on biodiversity. As a result, the use of biodiversity also impacts biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation has traditionally been the responsibility of the environment sector. Its enforcement is done by taking measures through legal decisions, ‘polluters pay’ principles as well as the incorporation of protected areas. But, the development sector generally ignores its responsibility towards biodiversity conservation. With development in mind, the effects and impact on surroundings is generally ignored. Many times this leads to harmful effect on environment. Hence a more responsible approach towards biodiversity management by mainstreaming it is required. Mainstreaming biodiversity It means integrating actions related to conservation and promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity in strategies relating to production sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, and mining. It also refers to including biodiversity considerations in poverty reduction and national sustainable development plans. Mainstreaming helps to reduce the negative impacts on biodiversity. For example, in agriculture, strategies to minimise the use of chemicals and optimise the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides reduce negative impacts on soil, groundwater, surrounding habitats and wildlife can be implemented.   What can be done? Small-scale farming or aquaculture activities undertaken in a sustainable manner might prove to be a relief to wild species. Positive biodiversity impacts might also be optimised through promoting people’s access to benefits derived from the use of biological resources. Community-based joint forest management, promotion of traditional multi-species and multi-variety agricultural practices, securing access to medicinal resources for local use, strengthening traditional and cultural practices, and governing the use of wild resources are few examples Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources and the knowledge associated thereto (one of the objectives of the Convention of Biological diversity, or CBD, and the Biological Diversity Act of India) by users (industries) to the providers (communities) act as incentives to local communities in the conservation and sustainable use of bio-resources. Each sector should understand its relationship with biodiversity and come up with appropriate mechanisms for conservation and sustainable biodiversity use. Here, the involvement of Central/State Ministries and Departments is equally important and needed. The research institutions should be more proactive and come up with appropriate management strategies, with budget options. Conclusion To achieve many national and international biodiversity goals such as the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, Aichi Biodiversity Targets and CBD objectives, biodiversity integration into developmental sectors is a prerequisite. This will promote holistic valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services thereby strengthening cases of investment in development sectors by governments and the private sector. Connecting the dots: Can biodiversity be integrated with development? Examine.   NATIONAL/TECHNOLOGY   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology   The idea of Digital Democracy The present government has shown one of the most digitally savvy administrative functioning that India has had till date. The digital smarts and social media popularity of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are now being actively leveraged to establish a direct connect between the Government and its citizens. If compared to Akbar’s modern day diwan-e-aam, parallels can be drawn where an aggrieved citizen, however lowly he may be, can approach the government directly and report the injustices. This is being made possible through the e-governance initiatives of the present NDA government through digital connectivity. The examples are prompt replies from Union ministers of external affairs and railways to consumer grievances with respect to their portfolios via their Twitter handles. Many ministerial statements and policy decisions of the Centre are conveyed not just on the PIB website, but also through ministerial Twitter handles. Also, if there are any sought of clarifications needed on dense policy subject, the secretaries to government solve the concern. What happens in a democracy? The democracy implies the limitation of state’s powers and evokes more of a bottom-up process. In order to open way for a digital democracy, public action is necessary. The marketplace is not always the best mechanism to ensure basic values. Technological changes are ambivalent and may lead to different kinds of information society. It largely depends on how ICTs are applied and how public authorities are able to frame their usage.   Propagating the idea of digital democracy The central government is actively involved in soliciting the citizen’s participation in policymaking through three distinct digital initiatives. Government updates If a citizen is keen to receive regular updates on what the Government is up to, the government has provided for a My Government portal (https://www.mygov.in) This portal puts the subscriber on the mailing list to receive regular updates on new announcements, participate in government surveys and discussion boards, and even offer your services or suggestions to upcoming government projects or policy announcements. The response to this initiative has been encouraging. The data shows that some 39 lakh citizens were registered with the MyGov portal and had posted 35 lakh comments on various discussions live on the site. The union budget 2017 ideas had received about 2500 suggestions. Revenue ideas for the Indian Railways elicited 3,500 posts — ranging from fixing solar panels on the roofs of trains to ferrying fruits and vegetables in AC coaches! Instant grievance redressal There is a concerted push to transform the Twitter handles of different ministries into e-Sewa or grievance redressal platforms for citizens. So, if a person faces any problem with any of public service and if the person has a twitter handle, the complaint can be tweeted straight to the concerned ministry. Currently, ministries of railways, external affairs and communications are already on this platform. Also, there are police forces of few states who use this platform for prompt services.   Poll participation The government has now begun to regularly update its draft policies and made it public to receive comments. This enhances public participation Along with it, polls and surveys are taken so as to immediately identify people’s first reaction to administrative decisions taken. For example, the controversial demonetisation decision had generated a poll via Narendra Modi app where 90% of the 5 lakh subscribers gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Thus, there are many such future prospects to scale up the scope of this government-citizen interface to more areas of governance. Power of the people The digital outreach empowers citizens in three ways. It enhances the accountability of elected representatives. After casting one’s vote, one need not be a passive spectator to the whims and fancies of the ruling regime until the next election crops up. It bypasses the army of bureaucrats that stands between the Government and citizen, thereby reducing scope of corruption People can express their views directly to the government via internet and need not belong to a powerful lobby group or be a crony capitalist. Challenge- the limited internet The most basic thing that has to be never forgotten is that the internet numbers do not reflect the reactions of a common man. This is because the digital access is yet to be universalised in India where it is currently available with elite few. As of June 2016, India was home to 35 crore internet subscribers (source: TRAI), with nearly 18 crore of those subscribers still on narrowband. This can be very dodgy considering the fact that to post one’s thoughts on the MyGov portal, one needs uninterrupted internet access. Broadband internet connections stood at 16 crore, just 12% of the Indian population. Only a fraction of those users own a Twitter handle (about 3% of the population) or Facebook account (about 15%) The numbers may sound encouraging but it is beaucse of double counting. Businesses and well-to-do households in the metros own multiple internet connections and thus, real numbers need to be arrived by removing duplication. A pew survey showed that internet usage in India varied widely based on age, gender and income levels. About 22% of Indians use the net, but usage is much lower for women (17%), people in the 35-plus age group (12%) and those in lower-income groups (11%). Thus, given the cost of owning smartphone and available data packs, the % of population that is constantly on the internet is very low.   Way forward Expansion of networks to reach underserved population Ensure affordable access Promote good governance by removing digital and policy level obstacles Create local content and capital, encourage local technical skills, support local entrepreneurs and use local institutions to further democratic principles. Conclusion The government should identify the challenges and work upon multiple mega-projects to make internet access more inclusive — from the rollout of pan-India optic fibre networks to the opening of wifi hotspots at gram panchayats. A digital democracy is the future which will encourage literacy, freedom of communication and environment of transparency and accountability. Connecting the dots: What is digital democracy? How is it significant for the development of democracy? Critically analyse.   MUST READ  Making of a mammoth tragedy Hindu   A reform at risk Hindu   Delhi pollution levels rise, Paris has a few lessons Indian Express   Abandoned House Indian Express   Green stakes Indian Express   Rajagopalachari: The icon India needs today Livemint   High prices today, effective drugs tomorrow Livemint   Do Indian start-ups need protection from foreign competition? Livemint   Banking will stay, but what about banks? Business Line  

Dec 9, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 78]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Which of the following is/are correctly matched? SCATSAT-1 :: Navigation GSAT-18 :: Communication RESOURCESAT-2A :: Earth Observation INSAT-3DR :: Meteorological Select the correct code: 2, 3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 2 and 3 1 and 4 Q.2) Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) is released by Amnesty International World Economic Forum United Nations Development Programme None of the above Q.3) ‘Aichi Targets’ are concerned with Ozone depletion Climate Change Biodiversity Conservation None of the above Q.4) ‘Nidhi Aapke Nikat Programme’ is concerned with India Post Reserve Bank of India Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) Q 5) Barasingha commonly known as Swamp deer It is a vulnerable species It is a native species of India and Nepal Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Dec 8, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 8th December, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 8th December, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 1 Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, 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.   India’s burgeoning cities and how to engender them Recently, representatives from 195 countries participated in the Habitat III Conference and adopted the New Urban Agenda (NUA) on sustainable cities and human settlements. This conference had particularly addressed the attention-deficit topic of gender dimension in migration and urbanisation. This had come at a time when forced migration and expansive urbanisation have become issues of growing global concern. Thus, it is an important step to address the need of gender inclusive urban planning as it has been observed that cities were always designed for men. But, urban development is a gender neutral domain. New Urban Agenda It helps strategise the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by “improving the spatial configuration of cities and human settlements in a gender inclusive way and by recognising the crucial dimensions of women’s rights.” It advocates participatory age- and gender-responsive approaches at all stages of the urban-territorial policy and planning processes, including in conceptualization, design, budgeting, implementation, and evaluation. Thus, gender equality has been placed high on the agenda in the urban development context. Urban challenges The global urban population has gone up to 54% today from 42% in 1990s. In India, around 800 million are expected to stay in urban areas by 2050. In urban migration, cities are perceived and experienced differently by men and women and thus, gender plays a decisive role in experiencing vulnerabilities. Today, the Indian cities have experienced haphazard growth. It was expected that there will be blurred lines between caste and religion in cities due to heterogeneous nature of the cities. But such has been not the case so far. Spatial segregation by caste and religion is becoming increasingly visible in Indian cities. Need of engendering the cities Though the proportion of women in cities is increasing, the facilities and infrastructure for them needs to cope up. Male centric design The women does not choose public transport more often due to its poor conditions and uncertain timings. Hence, they generally have to opt for more expensive and more time consuming for safer mobility. The public toilet facilities in cities have been in grave conditions. It has been frequently observed that women have to suffer in order to avail public toilet facilities which are either unavailable or far away. For example, Mumbai has a population of 22 million but only one-third of the approximately 11,000 pay-to-use public toilets are for women. Thus, there is critical need of gender mainstreaming in urban development wherein cities respond equally to men and women. Security Rapid urbanisation and urban migration has creating safety problems for women all over the world. The cities have grown haphazardly and as a result, there fails to be a check on the city activities. As a result, girls in cities have often encountered harassment leading to their reluctance in going around the city, particularly at night. Thus, there should be equal and safe access to public spaces wherein women can without any fear for their safety can become a part of city. Climate change Environmental change is touted as one of the reason for rural to urban migration as people living in rural areas will suffer from decline in agricultural output and income and thus migrate to cities. In this scenario, the women are again more affected than men as they tend to live in slums and shanty spaces which is detrimental to health, children and employment opportunities. Also, they might not be able to avail government welfare schemes which require multiple documentation like proof of address, proof of identify etc. In such informal settlements, women face lot of problems due to inaccessibility to subsidised food, housing, drinking water, sanitation as well as public health facilities, education and banking services. Immense opportunities Though women can be vulnerable to the negative impacts of unplanned urbanisation, they also offer robust opportunities for overcoming existing inequalities. Cities provide greater independence, better opportunities and less rigidity in observing social norms. Therefore, women’s right to cities, an enabling environment, and equal access to opportunities within them must be prioritised by governments. Conclusion Women have been traditionally excluded from city development. In India, where the representation of urban planners per 100,000 people is exceptionally low at just 0.23, the need for women’s voices and representation in urban planning processes as well as in urban local decision-making is even more pronounced. Thus, India needs to invest in gender-sensitive policies, and participatory planning that considers the concerns of all marginalised sections in urban spaces and the gender groups within them. The NUA is a step in the right direction but it is not sufficient. It provides targets but not concrete solutions to achieve them. Hence, ideally, the urban policy approach should be the one that recognises gendered vulnerabilities, incorporates women’s equal right to safe spaces, and makes use of their potential as change-makers. This will lead to sustainable and inclusive development. Connecting the dots: What is gender sensitive planning? How can the Indian cities be made more gender inclusive? Development should be engendered else it will be endangered. Comment (UPSC 2016)   HEALTH   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 3 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life   Tracking the health targets NITI Ayog is preparing a vision document of 15 years for India’s development path beyond the 12th Five Year Plan Also, it has made is clear that the development goals will be in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs comprise of 17 goals and 169 targets which were agreed in principle by 200 countries. They represent a five-fold increase from the 48 indicators of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Now, as India joins the global community in the pursuit of the SDGs, it faces the twin burden of implementation and official data capture. Tracking the goals Since the 1970s, various studies of India’s health sector have shown that one third of field workers’ time is often consumed in task of maintaining registers and records. When this work is traded off, it has a negative impact on the quality of data captured by the health system. There has been lack of information on non-communicable diseases and injuries, dearth of primary data on causes of death, lack of private health sector numbers and insufficient district-level data. National Health Policy of 2002 also recognised the immediate need for systematic and scientific population health statistics. Thus, there is a critical importance of keeping a track of data that reflects the success of policies and their implementation. For this, there is a need of data revolution wherein disaggregated data is made publicly available so that India’s SDG targets can be tracked. There are few recommendations to streamline and build on the existing national statistical infrastructure to facilitate such a revolution. Transform Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems India relies on sample registration and surveys to track mortality-related goals because of the inadequate coverage of its Civil Registration System (CRS). The National Population Policy 2000 had set the goal of achieving universal birth registration by the year 2010. Though India has made considerable improvement, the nationwide coverage is inadequate for informing decision-making. With respect to it, WHO (2015) has observed that the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems permit continuous production of statistics even for local administrative subdivisions which is not possible with censuses and household surveys. The CRVS system allows for more accurate information, and in turn, clearer denominators for assessing progress across sectors. The aim to achieve universal registration of births and deaths have been revised to 2020. Also, an initiative has begun to integrate the National Population Register with CRS which will offer transformative possibilities. Thus, efforts to universalise birth and death registration, as well as integrate existing databases like the Census, NPR and CRS systems at the sub-district levels, can help track at-risk population in small areas. Streamlining National Surveys The latest round of NHFS (2015-16) gave district-level estimates for the first time. Now NHFS will be repeated every 3 years and thus will help in overcoming some of the country’s health and nutrition data bottlenecks. Also, NFHS 4 replaces the Annual Health Survey (AHS) and District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS). These were two major sources of health data at the district level during the MDG era. But this should not stop the tracking of concrete data on health and nutrition monitoring. It is a policy imperative to conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing surveys with the aim of streamlining a set of health and nutrition indicators to continuously track the national targets. There can be combination of consumer expenditure rounds with at least some modules of the social consumption of health rounds so that enhanced data is collected at more regular intervals. Thus, a yearly survey covering all major indicators of health and nutrition coordinated by NSSO. Pratham’s Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) can offer inputs towards such an endeavour. Reform the national Health Management Information System (HMIS) A transparent and evidence-based decision-making can be supported by an efficient national health information system. This can lead to improvements in health outcomes. HMIS offers benefits such as helping decision-makers to detect and control emerging and endemic health problems, monitor progress towards health goals, and promote equity. The HMIS was intended to oversee the working of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). It has around 1.8 lakh health facilities capturing data for HMIS about antenatal coverage, immunisation coverage, delivery services, family planning coverage, among other indicators, across the country. But it faces certain challenges such as lack of coverage of the private medical facilities and shortages and the nature of incentive structures within the system. Multiple initiatives often prevent a holistic health systems approach. There are various schemes and programmes announced by the ministries of health and of women and child development. These schemes should be mapped and rationalised in a way that there is a comprehensive set of indicators helping assess the system and track progress. Conclusion With so much of possibilities of change and transformation in India’s health statistics, it can be said that the majority success of SDGs will lie in India’s performance. Though there are challenges but with robust policy, efficient implementation and continuous tracking, there can be visible improvements in health statistics all across India. Connecting the dots: India faces critical public health challenges faced in India. Examine. How to improve the health status of the Indians? How can the tracking system of health policies be improved? Discuss.   MUST READ The Reserve Bank of India’s big surprise Hindu   The continental shift Hindu   Three years after the Koushal judgment Hindu   Let the numbers speak Indian Express   Not On A Friday Indian Express   Tackling corruption, the wicked problem Livemint   The mystery of agricultural growth Livemint   The intangibles of Jayalalithaa’s welfare-nomics Business Line