Oct 10, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

ArchivesIASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 10th October, 2016 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 schemesGeneral Studies 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Farm puzzle: Dip in fertiliser sales despite rains and low ratesThere has been a significant drop in fertiliser sales amidst positive attributes such as good rains, low fertiliser prices and the Agriculture Ministry projecting an all-time-high kharif foodgrain and oilseeds production in2016. However, this has puzzled both the policy makers as well as industry.Sale of FertilisersUrea Fertiliser firms sold 143.71 lakh tonnes (lt) of urea during April-September It was 7.2% below the 154.80 lt for the corresponding kharif season period of 2015. Urea is the most widely used fertiliser in IndiaOthers Sale of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) dipped from 50.73 lt in 2015 to 42.06 lt in 2016. Sale of complexes (fertilisers with varying proportions of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulphur) saw downfall from 43.08 lt to 39.97 lt in an year.It is considered an unprecedented situation as there was a normal southwest monsoon in 2016 which resulted in higher kharif-sowing area of 3.7 million hectares over 2015.There was a record output of kharif cereals (126.33 million tonnes), pulses (8.70 mt) and oilseeds (23.36 mt).To further stimulate the demand, there was reduction in prices of urea and DAP. But the unexpected happened as even the low prices did not boost the sale.What is the reason for declined fertiliser sales?  Increase in pulses production The negative sales growth of urea can be partly pertained to 29.1% jump in pulses acreage in 2016. Pulses being leguminous plants, whose root nodules harbour bacteria that naturally ‘fix’ atmospheric nitrogen, require less urea. In addition, it can save roughly one bag per hectare for the succeeding crop. Neem coated urea The government’s policy to make 100 per cent neem-coating mandatory for both domestically manufactured and imported urea is said to be more important reason. Normal urea is prone to nitrogen loss on accounting of ‘leaching’ (underground percolation) and ‘volatilisation’ (escaping into the atmosphere). Neem coating can control these by ensuring slow release of nitrogen. It has further stopped illegal urea diversion for non-industrial uses like plywood and melamine manufacture. The neem coating has also led to improved urea consumption efficiency. Previously, farmers may have been applying urea once in 10days, but with crop retaining greenness for a longer time due to slow nitrogen release, the frequency of application could have reduced to 15 days. Thus, instead of three bags for an acre of paddy, they need to be buying only two. Drought for past two years Pulses may not need nitrogen but it requires phosphorous. Even then, the sale of other fertilisers. The reason for overall sluggish sales may have to do with drought too. Though the rains have been good in 2016, the 2014 and 2015 droughts have left man farmers without any money to buy fertilisers. Inadequate credit availability The droughts have not only dented farmers’ incomes but also their confidence Though official figures on seasonal agricultural operation loans are not available, the industry believes that crop credit flow has suffered. The public sector banks had to make higher provisions against non-performing assets and farmers’ own accounts have turned irregular due to back-to-back droughts.Conclusion The government has to help restore the farmer incomes as well as confidence through proper implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Many reformist ideas are being implemented to increase farmers’ income so that he can invest more in productive technology. Farm mechanisation, new crop technology, e-technology in aid of farmers, GM seeds are long term measures to increase agricultural productivity. But, to sustain current population’s food security, fertilisers play an important role in enhancing farm adequacies. Hence, government has to protect farmers’ interest and provide them with all the necessary agricultural inputs to sustain and grow the foodgrain availability of population, even in distress times.Connecting the dots: It has been observed that despite good rains and low fertiliser prices, the sale of fertilisers has decreased. Is this a worrying concern? Explain? Though fertilisers are important for increasing agricultural production, they are harmful for crops and land too. Critically analyse if organic farming should replace fertilisers.NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountabilityEvolution of the education policyA new education policy being finalised by MHRD is aiming at making education both emancipator and enabler while encouraging innovation over rote learning. This inclusive and participatory approach is hoped to give positive outcomes for the knowledge economy. Gross enrolment was the focus area in earlier schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Right to Education, National Literacy Mission. But, poor quality of education is a pressing issue at present which has been reflected in several national-level surveys, third-party assessments, and at the employment stage. Thus, this challenge has to be addressed which is possible through studying various aspects of the Indian education system at the grass-roots level such as Quality of trainers Curricula upgradation Use of e-learning Assessment pedagogies Institutional accreditation Focus on extracurricular activities Common syllabi Foreign universities Bill Not-for profit modelThe new education policy should include four important facets:Regulatory In a new approach, the Telangana government announced its education policy and brought most of the educational institutions under a single department of education rather than different regulatory divisions. Such reforms are essential at the central level where there exists many regulatory bodies like UGC, AICTE, NCERT and various course-specific councils and boards. On the lines of single regulatory bodies like TRAI or IRDA, an educational regulatory body will be helpful in improving the overall productivity of the institutions. A single regulatory educational body would allow educational institutions to focus more on education delivery to students. Different regulatory body means too much paperwork, rent-seeking and corruption.Accountability Often, parallel education system or coaching institutes are criticised in the Indian education system. But it has to be known that their existence is owed to failure of main education system comprising schools, colleges and universities. This is because there is no accountability system in our educational system. For comparison, in USA, Every Student Succeeds Act was passed in December 2015 which reduced the role of federal government and made schools more accountable and performance-oriented. Similarly in India, schools or colleges should not be allowed to consider themselves merely custodians of licences to grant degrees or certificates. Instead, they ought to be responsible for the final learning outcome and also make teachers accountable.Reservation Reservation is one of the efficient way towards social equilibrium. However, it need not necessarily be just caste-based reservation. When the practice was started just after gaining independence, caste was perhaps the only practical way to differentiate the privileged and underprivileged. But today, there is a huge databases and multiple ways to separate both categories. The social benefits of reservation for a poor family or deprived student from the general category (as defined currently) is far greater than reservation for an affluent reserved category individual (based on the current caste system). The regressive part is that no government would dare to change the reservation system to solve the unequal distribution of benefits. Thus, any update on this issue in new educational policy is unlikely.Financing The Central government spends less than 4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) on education. The allotment in 2016-17 budget with increase of just 4.9% year-on-year increase is actually lower as a percentage of GDP if inflation is factored in. The government has to validate its claim of considering education as a national agenda by giving proportionate allocation. In that context, the hefty fees of premier insitutions like IITs and IIMs should be reduced. No doubt it gives good salary packages to the graduates but it might also deter a student from becoming an entrepreneur due to the burden of educational loans.Conclusion The market forces should be allowed to decide which educational institution is better rather than the regulaorty bbodies deciding. The government should make teachers and institutions accountable by reviewing their eligibility criteria. If education is listed among the “9 pillars” to transform India, then eventually the issue of reservation will have to be addressed in order to foster excellence in education governance. The duty of government is to provide best education to the deserving candidates. Even if education is made free at these powerhouse institutions, there would be an additional expense of only about Rs1,400 crore which is less than 0.1% of India’s yearly budget or just 0.01% of national GDP. But, it could have a multiplier effect on the development of an economy which has 54% of its total population below 25 years of age. Thus, the new educational policy is expected to bring in some critical reforms to enhance the quality of education, institutions and overall system.Connecting the dots: How does education plays a critical role in creating demographic dividend? Elucidate What according to you should be major reforms as a part of new education policy? DiscussRelated article:HOT 2016The Big Picture – New Education Policy: Highlights and HitchesMUST READAddress the ‘new normal’ in KashmirHindu Why a ‘bad bank’ is trickyHindu Keep up the fair exchangeHindu Now, healing with ‘qualified’ quacksHindu Janani Suraksha Yojana pays dividends: StudyHindu From plate to plough: Rural change challengeIndian Express A tall orderIndian Express An act of self-defenceIndian Express The problem with government as landlordLivemint A competent choice for the UNLivemint Returning to investmentLivemint The future lies in organic farmingBusiness Line Sowing seeds of growthBusiness Line India puts forth surprise proposal to tackle HFCsBusiness Line

Oct 10, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 35]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Contingent Reserve Arrangement and Fortaleza Declaration is concerned with SAARC and BRICS BRICS and BRICS LEMOA and BRICS BRICS and MERCOSUR Q.2) Recently, A new termite species, Glyptotermes Chiraharitae, has been discovered at Kakkayam in the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary. Chiraharitae is a type of Dry Wood termite Damp Wood termite Subterranean termite Both (a) and (c) Q.3) Consider the following statements about Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) It is a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence It is a recombinant DNA method It is used for Chick Sexing Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) Recently an Indian glacier research facility was established in the Himalayas. Consider the following statements It was established by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) It will serve as the base for Terrestrial Laser Scanners and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to digitise glacier movements and snow cover variations Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) It is launched by Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) It compiles the information required for Customs, FSSAI, plant, quarantine, animal quarantine, drug controller, wildlife controller bureau and textiles committee 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

Oct 10, 2016 IASbaba's Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

IASbaba Current Affairs Monthly Magazine- SEPTEMBER 2016

DOWNLOAD ALL THE MAGAZINES- CLICK HERE Hello Friends                                                                                                             This is the 16th edition of IASbaba’s Current Affairs Monthly Magazine for UPSC Civil Services Examination. This edition covers all important issues that were in news in the month of SEPTEMBER 2016. To Download the Magazine -> Click Here

Oct 9, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Shades of Life – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Shades of Life: One platform on which unfolds the mystery of beautiful colors, sounds, feelings and emotions. The journey is exhilarating, painful, magical and mystical. It is not just a gift to be given the opportunity to experience life; it is the rarest of all gifts. Step out of your brick walled dwelling, move a little further away from the sounds of civilization, a little further away from everything you know. Stand alone on the edge of a cliff, on the platform of life offered to you and see for the first time. You have to be made of stone to not be touched by the beauty and serenity of existence all around you. A shade of green trees at the distance, a moving white cloud above your head, the vastness of the blue sky, the twittering reds of morning birds, the orange of the giant eye of the sun, the moisture of the early morning breeze, the fragrance of the damp earth. If all this is not an invitation to take a leap into the lap of life then what is it? Once in a while take a break to actually experience what life is. There are two independent realities shaping your life. One is the natural, serene and undisturbed life unfolding all around you; the other is the human experience of life made up of work, people, relationships, ambition and goals. If all you know is the human condition of life then you have missed life all together. There are problems to be solved, there is progress to be made, there are lives to be changed, and there is work to be done. The energy, solutions and ideas for achieving all this has to eventually come from existence itself; it has to come from that part of the existence that is not yet touched by you and your ideas. This is why it is not just a vacation when you decide to step away from the clutter of human activities; it is a time to reflect, learn, and rejuvenate your inner spirit to come back to the human problems with a new perspective and vision. We are all trapped inside the prison wall of our ideas. The wall of ideas is stronger than any other brick wall. More often than not in the hopes of finding answers to our questions we keep banging our head to this wall; when all we have to do is just step out into the open air for a while. The fresh breath of open space is the birthplace of ideas, solutions and creativity. We cannot hope to find solutions while we are suffocating. Step out once in a while and take a break to experience all the different colors and shades of life. Take a break just to be amidst of life and nature. Don’t seek solutions; don’t solve problems; just soak in the freshness and wonder of life. Then, in that moment of deep silence and communion with existence, you will find your answers. Be ready to accept the profundity of the solutions offered; be courageous enough to make the necessary changes. Then just watch your life unfold like a beautiful song. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.” Read more such articles– Click Here

Oct 9, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 8th October, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Development processes and the development industry Important aspects of governance General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.   ‘Make in India’ should not be by Government of India Make In India on track? High investments are inflowing in India in technology-oriented industries such as telecom and over the top (OTT) services which are dependent on telecom networks such as financial technology and e-commerce. Recently, Rs 47,700 crore were infused by UK based Vodafone Plc. into its Indian arm. This indicates that Indian markets are still much desired. The manufacturing investments are also targeting Indian consumers who want to have technology as a daily part of their lives. Chinese telecom giant Huawei will begin manufacturing smart phones in India in 2016. It is 40th such manufacturing investment in India in past two years. In addition, the ease of doing business rank has improved as well as parliamentary consensus on GST has been achieved. Such encouraging indications may tempt to presume that ‘make in India’ is on track. But it may not be true. Still in a transitional phase Transition from agricultural economy to service economy has posed a challenge for many who see industrialization as the only way to create jobs in India. It is very important to relocate the mass employment from agriculture to manufacturing sector so that economy can create jobs for the growing population. Service sector cannot absorb the agricultural population directly. But manufacturing and industries can undertake the agrarian population for its various unskilled and skilled (post training) jobs. For proper Industrialisation, best-in-class infrastructure, cheap energy and a skilled workforce is required which can be fulfilled in long run only. But the need is now. For that, ‘digital economy’ offers a way out. Productivity gains from automation and digitisation have helped industrial growth in advanced countries over previous decades but its effects have not been fully realised in India Thus, digital economy can potentially mobilise millions of Indians which also constitutes large number of ‘informal workforce’, bringing them within a more productive fold. Hence, India’s biggest challenge has the potential to become its best opportunity- the large, young workforce which is untrained now but can develop and imbibe skills to understand applied technology through early exposure.   Government should be more of facilitator than operator The digital economy has high potential in India than the advanced country counterparts because real income growth in advanced countries requires sustained and fundamental innovation whereas India can harness incremental innovation towards higher rates of growth (mostly owing to a favourable demographic). However, there is more threat to ‘Make in India’ from the government-run enterprise itself. It has been a noted trend that successive governments have first created favourable conditions for investments and then jeopardised them. For example, the telecom industry is often cited as an example of successful liberalization. But, now it finds itself at crossroads as the industry lacks bandwidth to deliver affordable data. The reason is that it remained overly dependent on voice calls revenues (which are falling) despite enough global evidence to show that data revenues are the future. This situation can be attributed to policy inertia which is partly due to BSNL. For long policymakers have hesitated from undertaking comprehensive reforms around key challenges such as Right of Way regulations, hoping that BSNL’s networks will find some solution. However, BSNL has not been able to deliver quality goods- whether it is internet infrastructure or service ethics. It reminds of the pre-liberalisation era. Thus, BSNL has not been a profit making and sustainable enterprise but still it thrives on public money. The concept of ‘BharatNet’ brought forward harnessing of a well-designed ‘ring network’. Instead, now India has to settle with optic fibre cables on electric poles which has a feeble infrastructural withstanding capacity and more chances of data loss. In broadcasting, most of advanced countries have successful public broadcasters. However, in India, Prasar Bharti has not been that successful. It has not readily given spectrum to private operators. This has led to private broadcasting industry losing money due to high ‘carriage’ cost. Also, the private broadcasters have to restrict their lifeline advertising revenues by applying Mandatory Sharing regulations on high value content such as sports broadcasts. The result is that broadcasting investments have stopped over past decade despite progressive liberalization of FDI caps. Conclusion The government should not be both regulators and competitors. It disrupts the neutrality aspect of governance. Of course it is difficult to not have government enterprises as there are public sentiments attached to it. But, while public enterprises have succeeded, to an extent, in traditional industries, they are not optimized for the new economy which requires constant innovation and high standards of service delivery. Thus, the government should focus more on being a licensor, regulator and adjudicator and let the consumer select their choice in the market where there is no constraints on capital or technology. Connecting the dots: Government’s role as a regulator and operator cannot go hand in hand. Critically analyse. India is increasingly finding itself as an attractive investment destination. In such scenario, government has an important role to play. But it has to maintain a thin line between facilitating and interfering. Do you agree? Substantiate. Name some of the statutory regulatory bodies, their mandates. If they were in news recently, give a brief of account of the issue.   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 1 Social empowerment 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 3 Land reforms in India   Singur verdict: What it means? In August 2016, SC invalidated the expropriation of land in Singur which was carried out by erstwhile Left Front government in Bengal. It ordered that the acquired properties be returned to their original landowners. What the judgement means? The judgement highlighted the core issue that government’s acquisition of land for the purported use by Tata Motors Limited to construct a car factory was in violation of the procedural mandates of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Though today the colonial era law might stand repealed by new Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 (LARR Act), it raises important concerns about the extent of the state’s supposedly sovereign power to acquire property, and the nature of what constitutes a “public purpose” permitting such taking. Expropriation: Expropriation is the act of a government in taking privately owned property, ostensibly to be used for purposes designed to benefit the overall public.   Working around the law The 1984 land act had two forms of recognised expropriation For public purpose for governmental use. Forced transfer of land from private individuals to corporations for the latter’s commercial use. In the case of acquisitions intended to benefit companies, a special procedure was prescribed in Part VII of the Land Acquisition Act which incorporated additional safeguards to ensure that governments don’t abuse their avowed power of eminent domain. If the government wanted to acquire land using this provision, it had to conduct a prior inquiry to establish that the project would be useful for local people. The government had to enter into an agreement with the company for which the land would have been acquired, pointing out how the cost of the acquisition would be met. The government would have had to publish the agreement in the form of a gazette notification before issuing the acquisition notice. But in 2006, the CPI (M) government bypassed the binding requirements of Part VII and acquired a tract of nearly 1,000 acres of land in Singur. Instead, it acquired these lands, which were specifically identified by Tata Motors for constructing a manufacturing plant that would produce the Nano, envisioned as the world’s cheapest car, through a State-owned entity, the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. The government’s argument was that the acquisition was in furtherance of the State’s new industrial policy and it was for public purpose as the plant would create jobs for hundreds of people. Though the Calcutta HC agreed with states in 2008, man small and marginal farmers who had refused to accept the compensation filed appeals in SC. Property Rights and State The scope of an individual’s right to property has been mentioned in the Constitution of India. In original constitution, Art 19 (1)(f) guaranteed all citizens freedom to acquire, hold and dispose of property, subject to reasonable restrictions in public interest Also, Art 31 vested in the state an explicit power to expropriate property for a public purpose by paying compensation to the landowner. However, such acquisition had to be backed by suitable legislation. These provisions enabled the judiciary to review virtually every act of acquisition during the initial years of Constitution. But judicial interventions further strengthened the government’s resolve to dilute property rights, through measures that were meant to enable the state to bring about greater equality in land ownership. Finally in 1978, the 44th constitutional amendment deleted both Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31 which gave the right to property a mere non-fundamental status. The reason for this amendment was to provide the state with wide latitude to enable it to achieve land reforms. But the amendment instead deepened the inequality. The continued use of 1894 Act showed that both the Union and the various State governments have routinely acquired land for the benefit of private industry in name of ‘public purpose’. Thus, these acquisitions have tended to work to the benefit of the rich, often at grave costs incurred by small farmers.   Understanding the ‘public purpose’ Earlier, Supreme Court which was burdened by accusations of excessive intervention, allowed the expansion of the state’s power in this domain. It has generally ruled that even a token contribution by the government towards the cost of acquisition is sufficient to escape the requirements of Part VII. In 2003, the court validated an acquisition of land to establish a “diamond park” which comprised of various units for cutting and polishing diamonds. It reasoned that such park would generate a “good deal of foreign exchange” and would create “employment potential”. The SC in its ultimate analysis said that land acquisition for setting up of an industry in private sector could be called for ‘public purpose’ only if the government sanctioned the payment of a nominal sum towards compensation. Therefore while hearing pleas of farmers, the SC was facing challenge of mountain of precedent that had allowed a precipitous (hasty) expansion of the meaning of public purpose. Though one judge out of two judge bench accepted that the left government’s expropriation was intended for the benefit of the public, the other judge was far more suspicious. Through a scrupulous analysis of Cabinet memoranda and letters exchanged between the State government and Tata Motors, the other judge concluded that the lands in question were acquired solely for the benefit of the company. Hence, the attempt by the government to circumvent the special procedures of Part VII through a claim that the lands were acquired in public purpose was a colourable exercise of power. The judge observed that if such acquisition was allowed to sustain, it would attempt to justify any and every acquisition of land of the most vulnerable sections of the society in the name of ‘public purpose’ to promote socio-economic development. To some extent, the LARR Act 2013 specifically defines public purpose with greater clarity and also mandates that where acquisitions are made for the benefit of private companies, the prior consent of at least 80% of the affected landowners ought to be secured.   Conclusion- The judgement as a guiding light State governments of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat, among others, have already either amended the new law or enacted legislation of their own creating a sui generis processes that permit takings even in the absence of a direct public purpose. States like Telangana are also in process to amend the land law in such a manner as to do away with the requirement of consent when acquiring property for private companies so long as the acquisition is for a public purpose. It is known that many State laws offend the Constitution’s guarantee of equal treatment, but unless the courts make express declarations to such an effect, they are likely to be widely deployed to acquire land under LARR 2013 and also extending the meaning of public purpose to absurd lengths. The LARR is not a panacea to issues like possession of land which is taken on impulse, mostly delayed payment of compensation and treating public hearings prior to any acquisition, if conducted, as inconvenient formalities. But, in comparative terms it is certainly a progressive legislation. It redefines the manner in which the state ought to exercise its immense power to take property. In this light, the Singur judgment is seen as the positive affirmation of the law along with a judgement that could guide the Supreme Court towards interpreting the Constitution in its finest meaning. Connecting the dots: What is the importance of Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 (LARR Act). Discuss in light of recent Singur judgement. The Supreme Court has taken a new stand with regards to interpreting ‘public purpose’ which is often used for benefits of private individual/organisation. Critically examine.   MUST READ Before he became Mahatama Hindu   No proof required: A data dependent MPC Indian Express   Why Polls Matter Indian Express   The fight against leprosy Indian Express   Living with Alzheimer’s Indian Express   Reinvigorating free trade Livemint   Dissolving India’s medical guild Livemint   The social costs of permanent labour Business Line   Economics has lost its way Business Line   Reimagining India Business Line  

Oct 8, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - PM’s Vietnam Visit- Strengthening Ties

ARCHIVES   PM’s Vietnam Visit- Strengthening Ties   Search 2nd September 2016 here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx Background Cordial and friendly relations between India and Vietnam with foundation going back 50 years through PM Nehru and President Ho Chi Minh. In recent times, political contacts have strengthened as reflected in several high-level visits by leaders from both sides. India's thrust under the 'Act East' policy combined with Vietnam's growing engagement within the region and with India has paid rich dividends. India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) besides UN and WTO. Vietnam is also an important pillar amongst India’s CLMV partners. PM’s visit to Vietnam in normal course should be seen as a bilateral visit but it has added significance if seen in light of India’s Act East Policy which has gained new momentum. The significance of the meeting can be gauged from PM’s statement made in Hanoi which described Vietnam as an important pillar in India’s Act East policy. In 2014, PM formally inaugurated India’s Act east policy. From 2015 to 2018, Vietnam is the ASEAN Coordinator for India. Thus, ASEAN’s linking with India makes Vietnam very important destination for India. India has signed a billion dollar agreement to build a physical connectivity with ASEAN, for example travelling by train from New Delhi to Hanoi. Thus, Vietnam is a special partner of India. In Act East, it is a move beyond simple political and economic relation to strategic and defence cooperation relationship. In that sense, Vietnam is emerging as a defence coproduction partner and country where India can export defence equipment. Unlike most of ASEAN countries which have good economic relationship with India, trade with Vietnam has increased at much faster rate, about 26% increase annually. Bilateral relations 12 MoUs have been signed between two countries and it ranges from defence to health. Thus it signifies to which direction the bilateral relation is moving. Historical relation with Vietnam and now expanding from economics to defence cooperation, building of petro boards together are important symbolism as to how India seeks to showcase their strengthening partnership in the backdrop of controversial SCS issue. It is meant to signal India’s growing significant strategic presence south East Asia as continuation of India’s Act east policy. 500 million dollar defence credit line has been opened where India would be assisting Vietnam particularly in upgrading their defence establishment. India is building an expanding all round relationship with Vietnam. The upsurge in the relation is relatively recent where focus has been on defence cooperation and counter terrorism. Trading partners India is not the most important country for Vietnam right now but as a signal to Chinese, Vietnam is growing ties with India on economic front. China-Vietnam trade and investment is 10 times India-Vietnam trade. Major counties like Japan have USD30 billion investment and USD28 billion trade annually whereas South Korea is also a major trading partner. Both India and Vietnam are looking their national interests carefully, assessing the advantages and engaging in mutual benefit areas. Economic trade target of USD15 billion has been set between India and Vietnam to be achieved by 2020. This holds the key for economic cooperation in coming years. The trade is biased in favour of India for about USD2.8 billion. Thus, India has to fundamentally create avenues and encourage Vietnamese exports to India and investments through Make in India. If the bilateral trade balance exists, then there is more chance of increasing the trade by 2020. Culture Both countries share Buddhist faith. PM’s visit to Quan Su pagoda holds a great significance. When the PM invited the Vietnamese to visit Buddhist circuit in India, it comes out as a clever step to mix diplomacy with economy and culture too and underlines PM’s two important elements of foreign policy—Diaspora and Cultural linkages. India has strong link of Buddhism with some of East Asian countries, esp. Vietnam. Hence, it can create cushion at times of difficult situation and create goodwill in societies. Conclusion Look east policy is decade old but last two years have seen greater focus in this area. Thus, aptly called Act east policy. The Act East Policy aims to forge partnerships with India’s eastern neighbours to encompass security, strategic, political, counter-terrorism, and defence collaboration in addition to economic ties. PM’s visit has come at a time when south East Asia is grappling with a situation created by a judgement of international tribunal on South China Sea. India has taken a principled stance on the South China Sea issue and Vietnam has also lauded India’s principled position. The significance of scheduling PM’s visits to the three Asian countries cannot be missed as Vietnam was the first destination before he reached China because of differences of similar kinds that both India and Vietnam have with China. India values Vietnam as an old friend and both are committed to strengthen their bilateral relationship within the India-ASEAN and Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework. The year 2017 would mark a significant milestone as India and Vietnam would celebrate the 45th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership. Connecting the dots India and Vietnam have a potential to upgrade their relationship to more strategic partnership owing to ‘ever-looming neighbour threat’. In that context, examine the importance of India-Vietnam relations.

Oct 8, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 7th October, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 7th October, 2016   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 General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints   Partnership approach to double the farm income In an unprecedented initiative, the government has set an ambitious target of doubling farmers’ income. However, this needs a new redefined approach of fortifying partnerships amongst stakeholders to make this target a reality. To boost the agricultural sector, the government has set goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. To achieve it, it has unveiled various strategies like focus on irrigation for quality inputs, investments in warehousing and cold chains, promotion of food processing and crop insurance schemes, among others. However, the basic need is to transform the agriculture sector from production-driven system to a demand-driven food value chain. Making the transformation possible For such transformational impact, there will have to be new approaches, innovations, and increasing alignment and collaboration with all stakeholders in the food system. Integrated value chains that connect farm to plate, competitive markets that provide better prices to farmers and an enabling environment that supports innovation and action will be required. However, this will require collaboration between all the stakeholders government, private sector or civil society. None of them can work solitarily as newer realities like climate change and increasing pressure on land and water resources will have to be tackled by forging partnerships and consensus. So, there should be combining of competencies of diverse organizations and stakeholders to create better alignment through partnership platforms which can generate much greater impact. It includes leveraging of greater investments, development of new innovative collaboration models that combine knowledge and resources of diverse stakeholders and sharing of best practices, risks and mutual accountability for results.   Role model States Such partnerships are being developed in states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. These state-level platforms bring together government + private sector + farmer organizations + society to create a shared vision and jointly develop solutions for integrated value chain projects that will provide more opportunities for farmers. Currently, more than 20 organizations are engaged in these state partnerships ranging across the value chain from input companies to processors and retailers and from global multinational corporations to local small and medium enterprises and farmer producer organizations.   Maharashtra Maharashtra initiated this partnership model in 2012 under GoI’s public-private partnership for integrated agriculture development (PPPIAD) This programme aimed at developing an integrated value chain for specific crops. It has been observed that within three years, this initiative had reached half-a-million farmers and improved farmer income ranging from 10-30%. Now, the goal of reaching 2.5 million farmers by 2020 has been set.   Andhra Pradesh In Andhra Pradesh, there was a launch of a partnership platform which focused on achieving double-digit inclusive agriculture growth in the state. The state has identified 25 growth sectors covering agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Within few months, more than $175 million in private sector commitments to support several value chain projects has been mobilized. Karnataka Here, the government launched the public-private partnership for integrated horticulture development (PPPIHD) in December 2015. It was to improve horticulture value chains through value addition, technology and marketing solutions. It has been less than a year, yet five projects are already underway led by both global and local private sector companies. Thus, each state level partnerships follows a unique model but they share similar guiding principles which have been developed and validated by countries around the world. These principles are: Alignment with the state’s goals and priorities for the sector. Market-driven with projects led by the private sector and rooted in viable business models Multi-stakeholders with open and inclusive engagement that includes all relevant stakeholders Holistic, integrating full value chains that benefit all actors in the food system Globally supported by an international network providing solidarity, connection and resources. Conclusion These state level partnerships hold great potential for application in other states of India too. Also, many other states have indicated interest in launching similar initiatives. The key to such strong partnership lies in strong leadership and co-creation with the Government setting the vision and enabling policy framework. The private sector helping to deliver on that vision through scalable, inclusive market-based activity. Key stakeholders such as farmer organizations, civil society and international organizations combining their resources and expertise. Such strong leadership from multiple stakeholders can create the conditions needed for unlocking the entrepreneurship capability of small farmers and ultimately boosting their income. Hence, for a bigger picture to transform the agriculture sector, the agriculture sector needs to move from a production-driven system to a demand-driven food value chain that increasingly connects the consumer to the producers. Connecting the dots: Doubling the farmers’ income is a goal whose onus lies on collaborative approach between its stakeholders. Examine Farmers have to increase their scope of income and not only rely on farm produce. Do you think it is possible? Discuss.   Related articles: HOT 2016 Farmers can lean on LIN- A solution for doubling farm income Time to remove anti-farm bias INTERNATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.   Farewell to NAM In news: In a significant move, Indian PM did not attend 17th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit which was held in Venezuela recently. The only other time when an Indian Prime Minister stayed home was in 1979, when the historic Havana summit took place. Prime Minister Charan Singh’s absence, however, had nothing to do with NAM; this time, the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a political message. His absence was deliberate as he did not find NAM to be important enough. Flawed assumptions about NAM Non-alignment has not been in the vocabulary of Prime Minister Modi. He has been on a quest for selective alignments to suit his needs for India’s development and security. His advisers have now begun to rationalise India’s distancing from NAM. One argument is that NAM did not have any binding principles and that it was a marriage of convenience (arranged for practical, financial, or political reasons) among disparate countries. Right from the beginning, the word ‘non-alignment’ conveyed the wrong notion that it was not aligning with the power blocs and that the be-all and end-all of non-alignment was to remain unaligned. But the essence of non-alignment was freedom of judgment and action and it remained valid, whether there was one bloc or two. Seen in that context, non-military alliances can also be within the ambit of non-alignment, which was subsequently characterised as ‘strategic autonomy’. In other words, India does not have to denounce non-alignment to follow its present foreign policy.   Why NAM is failing? The traditional foreign policy approach of non-alignment was a central component of Indian identity in global politics. However, since independence, India has been in pursuit of strategic autonomy. It has led to semi-alliances shaped under the cover of non-alignment and regional dynamics. NAM countries did not come to our help on any of the critical occasions when India needed solidarity, such as the Chinese aggression in 1962 or the Bangladesh war in 1971. Even in the latest struggle against terror, NAM has not come to assist India in any way. But the whole philosophy of NAM is that it remains united on larger global issues, even if does not side with a member on a specific issue. India itself has followed this approach, whenever the members had problems with others either inside or outside the movement. NAM positions have always been the reflection of the lowest common denominator in any given situation. Does NAM has no ideal/ideology? That NAM has no ideal or ideology as a glue is a wrong assumption. Though the criteria for NAM membership are general, anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism and anti-racism were essential attributes of NAM countries. There was a consensus on nuclear disarmament also till India broke ranks by keeping out of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The diversity reflected in both Singapore and Cuba being NAM members has been its strength. Therefore, Egypt signing the Camp David Accords with Israel in 1978 or India signing the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union in 1971 did not result in any disruption of membership.   Benefits of NAM The golden age in India’s foreign policy was in the first 15 years after Independence, when NAM provided a constituency for India because of our non-violent victory over the British and the leadership it provided to the newly independent countries. India led the NAM effort to resolve the Iran-Iraq dispute. As expected, political issues continued to engage NAM and we benefitted from its activism occasionally. In fact, it was through NAM that we operated to counter the efforts to expand the UN Security Council by including just Germany and Japan as permanent members. NAM submitted its own proposal and ensured that no quick fix was permitted. NAM is particularly important in elections at the UN, including the possible identification of new permanent members of the Security Council. No NAM country may agree to isolate Pakistan, but the NAM forum will be an effective instrument to project our anti-terrorist sentiments. India’s current foreign policy- a shift from past Why such shift? India seeks to balancethe benefits and risks of an increasingly assertive neighbour (China) and a network of alliances with like-minded countries. China’s rise and assertiveness as a regional and global power and the simultaneous rise of middle powers in the region mean that this balancing act is increasing in both complexity and importance, simultaneously. China’s growth presents great opportunities for positive engagement, but territorial disputes and a forward policyin the region raise concerns for India, particularly in the Indian Ocean and with Pakistan. Forward policy= a foreign policy doctrine applicable to territorial disputes where emphasis is placed on securing control of disputed areas by invasion and annexation or creating a buffer state. The region itself is riddled with rivalries; a desire to balance China may push states together, while other issues divide them. The same applies on the global level as noted by the unpredictability in Sino-US relations. Conclusion: The decision to say farewell to NAM is very much in keeping with the new transactional nature of the foreign policy we are developing. NAM was a part of our larger vision for the world, but today it is seen as inconsequential to our present preoccupations. This transformation will not be lost on the world community. Connecting the dots: Is a shift in India’s foreign policy approach with respect to non-alignment significant? Critically analyse India’s non-alignment policy gave it an independent foreign policy. With multi-alignment, India’s strategic and autonomous foreign policy faces threat. Do you agree? Examine.   Related Articles: No more aligned to ‘Non-Alignment’ India and its NAM policy: confusion or solution?   MUST READ A post-American West Asia? Hindu   Copy-wrongs and the invisible subsidy Indian Express Related article: Right to photocopy- easing the struggle for access to education   Amid fewer child deaths worldwide, high of 1.3 million is in India Indian Express   Just junk it Indian Express   The big question: how India should deleverage Livemint   Kashmir: The new context Livemint   A ride on the evolutionary treadmill Livemint   Should students studying wildlife be taught social sciences? Livemint   So far, so good- IMF forecast Business Line   Bright and dark spots in the economy Business Line    

Oct 7, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Uri Attacks: Diplomatic Options & Challenges

Archives     Uri Attacks: Diplomatic options & Challenges TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests,   The attack on the army base in Uri in J&K and the killing of 18 jawans gave rise to public outcry. The government faced with demands against the action of perpetrators have been approaching the issue with deliberate caution. As expected, Pakistan has rejected its role in the attack, and criticised India for blaming Pakistan even prior to conducting a proper investigation. Meanwhile, the Indian government is preparing to take on Pakistan diplomatically at the international level for supporting and exporting terrorism. At the annual UNGA, both India and Pakistan will be putting its efforts diplomatically and convince the world leaders about its respective stand. Dwindling past PM Modi had invited Pakistan PM to his oath taking ceremony to signal an initiative to improve bilateral relationship between two countries. The PM as well as senior leaders and officials have made visits to Pakistan but none of it seems to be effective. Hence, another diplomatic bilateral dialogue option is not possible right now. In the past, it has been observed that Pakistan makes certain commitments, which it is able to adhere for few months but very soon inside consensus in Pakistan gets disturbed and then they are not able to follow up. For example, the January 2004 joint statement when the army and the political leadership was together but then, there were problems within the Pakistan because of the lawyers agitation, the judiciary getting angry with them and all kind of charges which were put for violating human rights and killing many of the political leaders in Pakistan. PM Shariff had good reputation with Indian political leadership from time to time. But, he is also one of the leaders who said he did not know about Kargil operation when he received PM Vajpayee in Lahore. On the other hand, the military leader at that time Musharaff said how it was possible when it was all discussed in front of PM. So, there is question of political leadership in Pakistan and the kind of consensus making process that breaks down very quickly. In this case, it is the army leadership and the intelligence set up which has been promoting all these terrorist elements with funding and training support. Since last year, Pakistan has been ramping up its efforts in Kashmir valley, pumped lot of money to create lot of problems and the Uri attack can be termed as an act of aggression. The myth that army and ISI are separate from PM of Pakistan is very difficult to buy when the PM is the one who appoints the army chief. The ISI chief often becomes the army chief. So all is inter-related. Options for India All options exists including the military option. The PM has already mentioned that the perpetrators of the carnage will not go unpunished. It cannot be said what government will do but with the kind of public opinion coming up, some action will be taken. The options exist in conventional, political, diplomatic and military domain. But the government will take into considerations all possible fallouts from the decision it takes. This time, Indian government is not likely to engage in the bilateral talks as it is futile. Though Pakistan also suffers from terrorist attacks, but those acts of terror are the result of the Pakistan state having actually nurtured and created those organisations. In India, for last so many years, there have been organisations nurtured, built and financed by the Pakistan state who have been mounting attacks in India. As it seems, the military has taken complete charge over Pakistan position on Kashmir and Afghanistan. Pakistan has convinced itself that it can carry on with proxy war, the low cost options and India will do nothing about it unless you cross the threshold. However, collectively all these actions taken against India has already crossed the threshold. The government is not being carried away by the general atmosphere that prevails in the country. The internal meetings that have taken place after the Uri attacks conclude that this is not the right time for coercive actions but diplomacy should be the main option now. The military option is complicated because if you attack across the international border like in provinces of Punjab and Pampore, there is a risk of triggering even bigger conflict which could end in a nuclear war. No disrespect to the highest sacrifices made by our soldiers, but triggering a nuclear war on basis of Uri attack will not serve India’s purpose of teaching Pakistan any lesson. If the military action is taken across the line of control, it might not be sufficient to pressure the Pakistanis. In any case, cross border military strikes are pretty difficult to contemplate because of the escalation factor. On the other hand, covert action option has to be evaluated. However, in such kind of development when it is supposed to be hidden who has done it, it has been observed that the Indian politicians often need to publicly say that they have done it and want to claim over it. This muddies the issue further. India is still being ‘soft’ target India has to manage the relations with Pakistan with a hardened stand. Even after Pathankot, India did not take any strict action. India has to keep up the pressure on Pakistan with regards to Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. India should give them political and moral support and take up their cause in international meetings. Thus, aggressive diplomacy may be one way out. For this, two important countries have to be picked upon- China and USA. They are two lynchpins of the Pakistani support system. The Chinese have high stakes in Pakistan hence they might not rebuke Pakistan, but USA which condemns terrorism refuses to take any strict action against Pakistan and goes very easy on it. Isolating Pakistan at an international level is easier said than done. Most of the countries of the region whether Bangladesh, Afghanistan or even China and Russia have seen that most of the terrorists are emanating from Pakistan and they have links with them. Therefore it becomes little bit more easy for the PM to say that Pakistan can be isolated. But to achieve it, it will be little bit difficult because other interest also come into play when you go into that kind of action. There can be certain support from US, UK and France as recently they have suffered terror attacks which had direct links to Pakistan. USA said that it had information on Pathankot attack and India has also provided evidences of it to Pakistan. Now India needs to use its diplomatic tactics by telling its friends that just a statement is not enough and they have to stand and impose sanctions on Pakistan. The financial sanctions, diplomatic isolation, damaging Pakistan’s reputation in international fora, these all should be part of tool kit of the diplomacy. India has to simultaneously take actions on various fronts and show that it will no longer remain a silent spectator. Connecting the dots: It is the time India realises what are Pakistan’s intention and without being the ‘good’ neighbour, it should show what it is capable of. Do you agree? Analyse.   Related article: Uri terror attack- What are India’s choices?

Oct 7, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 34]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) It is an autonomous inter-Governmental organization headquartered at Shanghai All the African and Asian countries are members of AARDO India is one of the founding members of AARDO Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 3 Only 3 2 and 3 All of the above  Q.2) India’s Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped a bit to 52.1 in September, compared with 52.6 in August. Consider the following statements about Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) It is an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector The PMI is based on new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries and the employment environment A PMI of more than 50 represents contraction of the manufacturing sector when compared to the previous month Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 2 and 3 All of the above  Q.3) Consider the following statements about Autophagy It is a process by which cells degrade some of their own contents and clear them away or recycle Autophagy plays an important role in cancer – both in protecting against cancer as well as potentially contributing to the growth of cancer Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.4) Santhara is related to Buddhism Jainism Vaishnavism Shaivism  Q.5) Consider the following statements: Health is a state subject under schedule VII of the Constitution Education is a concurrent subject under schedule VII of the Constitution Food security is a union subject under schedule VII of the Constitution Which of the above statement(s) is/are not correct? 1 only 2 and 3 only 3 only None Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Oct 6, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 6th October, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 6th October, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 1 Effects of globalization on Indian society General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.   Skilling India’s expanding workforce India’s workforce is young and growing fast where it is estimated that 250 million people will enter the labour market by 2025. India banks hugely on its demography for healthy dividend. The moot question is if the India’s emerging workforce is ready for the challenge? The IMF’s World Economic Outlook has mentioned that India is already among the fastest growing major economies in the world. It has projected GDP growth at 7-8% for the next two years. India has been extremely competitive in terms of labour and production costs along with a successful culture of entrepreneurship. The surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) in last few years has shown that investors share the IMF’s optimism. India’s young workforce only adds to the attraction. However, if the workforce is managed poorly, it leads to straining the economy and lead to higher unemployment. If the workforce is managed well, a larger talent pool can contribute towards growth and development.   Young workforce is not guarantee to success Mere presence of youth in India is not adequate for sustained economic growth. The skills and employability of the 250 million young people joining the workforce over the next decade will be crucial. Today, innovation and digitalization is driving global competition and exorbitant consumer expectations in this era of globalisation. Thus, goods and services will have to constantly evolve to remain relevant. Along with it, the skills required to deliver them will also have to be evolved. It is estimated that 6 out of 10 young people entering the workforce by 2025 will be in professions that do not exist today. Right now, India’s 50% of its population is still employed in farming. India Skills Report 2016 shows the stark reality that still only 5% of young people aged 20-24 have obtained vocational skills through a formal training system. Even at higher-education level, despite rising number of graduates, many lack the soft skills required to succeed in business today, like problem solving and creative thinking. As per Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), a study published annually by INSEAD, Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI) and Adecco Group, India ranked 90th among 109 countries which were ranked on their ability to grow, attract and retain talent. How to improve the skill sets? It has to be ensured that the 250 million young people should have the requisite skill set to start working over next decade. Firstly, India has to invest more in talent development. It has to be started with formal higher education, where courses should align more closely with real world business needs, including more focus on soft skills. Next, there should be greater emphasis on vocational training as it is beneficial as well. Government of India and industry should work together to develop apprenticeship models able to provide the employable skills markets require. There are too few apprenticeship schemes in the world. Although in markets where they are prevalent, like Germany, they have proved hugely successful. More importantly, education must not stop after school or university. Lifelong learning is essential. Digital skills are next important education across the board as digitalization is increasingly present in every sphere of work. Flexibility in work atmosphere is needed in this time period due to precarious nature of the global economy which is continuously changing and risky. There should be balance between permanent and temporary labour to tackle periods of high or low demand. This is necessary for companies to survive. Government has taken some steps to felicitate business practice in India. The result is that India has moved up 12 places in the World Bank’s ease of doing business measure. Flexibility is an important tool for competitiveness. The countries that rank highest in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) have flexible labour markets as well as excellent formal and vocational training. Making India’s economic growth sustainable through sharing economy One specific area in which improved digital skills and flexible working practices can combine to offer significant rewards in India is the sharing economy. In this system, people rent or share goods and services with the aid of online technology. The sharing economy operates across hundreds of services, in sectors like financial services, retail and real estate. It has enormous potential in India and has already created millions of micro-entrepreneurs who benefit from sharing expertise, goods or services. Indian economy is ripe for a sharing economy boom because of its high urban population and population density. It helps local sharing services due to the proximity between suppliers and customers, and the huge numbers of millennials who are comfortable with technology and the concept of sharing. The sharing economy is heavily dependent on people with digital skills and short-term, elastic employment, enabled by flexible working and hiring practices. Hence, providing digital skills and facilitating flexible working norms are a must for economic boon.   Conclusion India has the basics to put its economic growth on fast track. The economy is growing fast, entrepreneurship is booming and government initiatives to boost competitiveness are on the right track. Now the only need is to give the emerging 250 million workforce a platform to develop the industry-linked skills as well as soft skills to enable them for assured employment. Along with skills, the working place has to provide necessary flexibility so that the employees can optimally utilise their skills and time. The sharing economy is a booming phenomenon and India has huge potential to capitalise on it with right conditions to thrive, simplified regulation and business barrier reduction that will encourage investment. The India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in October 2016 will provide a strategic platform for the WEF’s global multi-stakeholder community to discuss and debate the theme “Fostering an Inclusive India through Digital Transformation”. NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   (FRs v/s DPSP): Prohibition of alcohol consumption and cow slaughter The politics of alcohol consumption and cow slaughter have, of late, been the main debate for acting without caring about how it will affect constitutional law and philosophy. The fundamental debate was: Can state dictate what one can eat and what one can drink or do Indian citizens have the right to drink and eat what they want? The Patna high court’s recent judgment on prohibition of alcohol consumption in Bihar and Bombay high court’s earlier beef ban verdict—is a necessary redressal of the balance. These judgements are a nuanced look at how the relationship between the republic and the citizen is being renegotiated within the constitutional framework. Landmark observations: Bihar prohibition judgment – “With expanding interpretation of the right to privacy, as contained in Article 21 of the Constitution, a citizen has a right to choose how he lives, so long as he is not a nuisance to the society. State cannot dictate what he will eat and what he will drink.” This is a landmark observation since never before have the courts viewed prohibition through the lens of personal liberty. Previous judgements on the issue, almost always upholding prohibition, have viewed it through the right to livelihood lens and found that the limitations on the production and sale of alcohol were reasonable restrictions imposed by the state. This time, however, the personal liberty aspect was specifically raised by the petitioners who included not just alcohol traders but also individuals asserting their right to drink reasonable quantities of alcohol in the confines of their home. Bombay high court’s beef ban verdict – A similar line of thinking is seen in the Bombay high court’s beef ban verdict. The Bombay HC judgment struck down section 5 (d) of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act which criminalized the possession of the flesh of cattle slaughtered outside Maharashtra (such slaughter is banned within the state) and the court opined: “As far as the choice of eating food of the citizens is concerned, the citizens are required to be let alone especially when the food of their choice if not injurious to health…. The state cannot make an intrusion into his home and prevent a citizen from possessing and eating food of his choice…. This intrusion...is prohibited by the right to privacy which is part of personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21.” Fundamental Rights v/s Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) These are hugely progressive steps in the evolving discourse on personal liberty but they aren’t without their challenges. The directive principles of state policy (DPSP) – Article 47 – urge the state to prohibit the consumption of intoxicating substances that are injurious to health (though this is not a call for a blanket ban because drinking in moderate sums is, arguably, not injurious to health—a point that is made in the Bihar verdict)—and the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. What happens when the state seeks to realize these goals but also steps on the citizens’ fundamental rights? The ground rule is that while the two need to be viewed harmoniously, in case of conflict, fundamental rights cannot be sacrificed in the pursuit of DPSP. Chief Justice of Patna gives a twist: However, the chief justice of the Patna high court argued that -- the framers of our Constitution did not see alcohol consumption as a fundamental right because then they wouldn’t have listed prohibition as a DPSP. When seen in this perspective, Chief Justice of Patna HC pointed out that – Fundamental Rights could be eroded to secure a DPSP — thereby militating against the principles set out famously in the Minerva Mills case (which held that Directive Principles are subordinate to the Fundamental Rights).   Understanding the Minerva Mills case: In the Minerva Mills case (1980), the Supreme Court also held that – ‘the Indian Constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles. They together constitute the core of commitment to social revolution. They are like two wheels of a chariot, one no less than the other. To give absolute primacy to one over the other is to disturb the harmony of the Constitution. This harmony and balance between the two is an essential feature of the basic structure of the Constitution. The goals set out by the Directive Principles have to be achieved without the abrogation of the means provided by the Fundamental Rights’. Therefore, the present position is that the Fundamental Rights enjoy supremacy over the Directive Principles. Yet, this does not mean that the Directive Principles cannot be implemented. The Parliament can amend the Fundamental Rights for implementing the Directive Principles, so long as the amendment does not damage or destroy the basic structure of the Constitution. Recent Court Judgments offers a progressive push to both law and society: Several Supreme Court judgements had previously upheld complete beef bans. These judgements had rejected arguments based on freedom of religion and freedom of trade because cattle preservation was considered to be in the public interest in an agrarian economy. But evidence points to a ban on cattle slaughter being the wrong way to protect that public interest. It is also worth wondering if the courts’ zealous attitude towards cow slaughter will change as India becomes an industrialized economy. The issue of laws evolving to reflect changing social mores is touched upon in the prohibition verdict where Chief Justice of Patna HC writes, “We have to view this concept (of personal liberty) in changing times, where international barriers are vanishing.” Connecting the dots: Can state dictate what one can eat and what one can drink? Critically comment.   MUST READ Bill to protect HIV community from bias gets approval Hindu   Disquiet over Cauvery’s flows Hindu   Singapore to Rajasthan Indian Express   Allay the fear Indian Express   Agriculture economics: The next big farm solution – cutting production costs Indian Express   Drought proofing Indian Express   A boost to fundamental rights Livemint   The need for reform of defamation laws Livemint   Mining patriotism and other stories Livemint   Mending fences with Myanmar a must Business Line   New horizons Business Line   Strange story of the eastern gas grid Business Line