Oct 6, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 33]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about GSAT-18 It is a communication satellite operated by INSAT system It was launched from Sriharikota by PSLV C34 It is India’s heaviest satellite till date Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 3 1 and 2 All of the above  Q.2) Consider the following statements about Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) It is an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology ‘Technology Vision Document 2035’ is produced by TIFAC Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following will implement the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 Reserve Bank of India Ministry of Finance Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ministry of Corporate Affairs Q.4) Consider the following statements about International Court of Justice (ICJ) ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN) All members of the UN are automatic parties to the statute, but this does not automatically give ICJ jurisdiction over disputes involving them. The ICJ gets jurisdiction only on the basis of consent of both parties. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? 2 and 3 only 1 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.5) Which below given statements is/are true in regard to International Court of Justice – ICJ and International Criminal Court – ICC? ICJ is a civil court, where as ICC is a criminal court. Headquarters of ICJ is in Hague and ICJ is in New York ICJ is Official court of U.N, commonly known as “World Court”; whereas ICC is independent, not governed by U.N Choose appropriate code: 2 and 3 only 1 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Oct 5, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 5th October, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 5th October, 2016   ENVIRONMENT/ S & T   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Environment and Ecology, Bio diversity - Conservation, environmental degradation, environmental impact assessment, Environment versus Development 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; e-technology in the aid of farmers Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.   Note: (In previous DNA article, we had posted that we shall discuss the controversy surrounding Monsanto and patent protection. However we found that the article had very less content relevant to UPSC and hence we have skipped the same. So, no Part II edition of it.) The organic farming conundrum   What is organic farming? Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient time. It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment. As per the definition of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study team on organic farming “organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection”. FAO suggested that “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”. Picture credit: http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/INTRODUCTION.jpg Need of organic farming With the increase in population our compulsion would be not only to stabilize agricultural production but to increase it further in sustainable manner. The scientists have realized that the ‘Green Revolution’ with high input use has reached a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return of falling dividends. Thus, a natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for existence of life and property. The obvious choice for that would be more relevant in the present era, when these agrochemicals which are produced from fossil fuel and are not renewable and are diminishing in availability. It may also cost heavily on our foreign exchange in future.   The key characteristics of organic farming include Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels, encouraging soil biological activity, and careful mechanical intervention Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties and limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical intervention The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats     Organic farming promises a lot: It can reduce the detrimental effects of conventional farming while cutting input costs, Fetch a premium price on produce, Improve soil fertility, Promote efficient use of water resources, and Provide safe food for consumers However, some studies show that the realities on the ground present a stark contrast to this Utopian picture.   Case study:        Many poor farmers in India have recently taken the leap from conventional to organic farming -- as inputs for organic farming are cheaper and with the anticipation of premium returns and healthy farms. In this transition, synthetic chemical fertilizers are replaced with natural and bio-materials, such as neem cake and cow dung, and chemical pesticides are replaced with neem oil and bio- pesticides. All this is done to compete in the global organic market, which is worth $64 billion. However, most of the farmers alleged that their yields dropped to half and also net income reduced from what they made before making the switch. Many farmers are yet to claim the premium promised on their products as they do not fall in the “organic” category yet. Disillusioned farmers today ask a pertinent question: “Of what use is organic farming and its claim of long-term sustainability to them, when they are unable to bring home two square meals a day today?”   Concerns: Studies have shown that – Organic farming is not an economically viable option for the smallholder farmers who make up 80 per cent of the total number of farmers today in India. Pushing these methods on such farmers can actually do much more harm than good. Farmers find the organic farming activity far less profitable due to decreased yields, and the lost income that cancels out the savings from cheaper inputs. In addition, after detoxing the soil, which takes up to three years, farmers have to shell out the equivalent of around $450-600 a year to obtain organic certification. This is a sizeable investment for poor farmers in India who aspire to take home something like $100-120 a month. In this transition period, farmers are unable to sell produce at a premium because it is not yet completely “organic” by global standards. Even if farmers were able to regain their initial investments, organic farmers are dependent on niche urban markets and export markets. This comes with additional complications, since accessing such markets typically requires contracts with large companies. This means the small organic farmer is not reaching those who pay more for organic products. Organics industry is still young and not well-regulated in India. Organic fertilizers are difficult to obtain on a large scale in India, and farmers often use farmyard manure, which may contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals, thus does not promises the safe and healthy food.   The way ahead: If small organic farmers has to reach those who pay more for organic products, our country needs collective farming to bring economies of scale, needs financial support for small farmers in the initial years, and a better market for the produce. The government recently started offering support for the organic certification process when farmers group together, which is a good start. However, we also need to ensure farmers organise in a way they can enter into contracts and demand a fair price from global companies. There is a need to educate farmers about “eco-friendly food” that will allow the use of limited and specified agrochemicals within the safe levels specified by public health organisations. In addition, the encouragement that the government gives for organic farming should be supported by financial incentives during the first three years and market connections for small farmers. Instead of pushing poor farmers to risk it all by taking up organic farming, it is imperative that we strike a middle path to ease this transition period for farmers. We all want a world in which our farmers thrive while taking care of our environment and health. But we must also consider the timing and how we introduce new solutions. Only then can we secure a future devoid of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Connecting the dots: What do you mean by Organic Farming? Discuss the key characteristics and future of Organic farming in India. What is Organic Farming? List some of its benefits as compared to the conventional farming method. Discuss the various benefits and limitations of organic farming. Do you think that Organic Farming can totally replace the conventional method of agriculture? Critically analyze.   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 1 Urbanization, their problems and their remedies. General Studies 2 Governance Issues General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation   Disease free cities- Is it possible? In news: With outbreak of Dengue and Chikungunya in National Capital Delhi, it poses a critical question if Indian cities that are plagued by a plethora of communicable diseases of late like dengue, bird flu, typhoid, chikungunya and swine flu will be able to become disease free? Disease free city- Surat shows the way In 1994, parts of Surat (Gujarat) were affected by pneumonic plague. Between September 20 to 25 1994, suspected cases totalled 1,061 and thus created mass panic. This led to hospitals being overcrowded with patients. Surat’s diamond processing localities, a high-risk hotspot, were soon uninhabited. Around 25% of the population was said to have fled the city, carrying the disease with them to Delhi, Mumbai, Nashik, and Kolkata. Due to open sewers, slums and soaking garbage and littered dead animals due to the floods, Surat was described as a “medieval horror show”.   Plague as a blessing But, this plague can be called a blessing for Surat as it is today one of the cleanest cities in India. It has now turned into a public health leader by overhauling its trash collection and street cleaning processes and enforcing proper hygiene in restaurants. It has overhauled its slums, offering their residents paved streets and toilets. It regularly conducts disease surveillance through 489 surveillance workers, testing more than 2.3 million malaria breeding spots in 2014 while offering active diagnosis. The municipal corporation has built up a large network of 41 urban health centres, supplemented by mobile health clinics, over 500 private hospitals, and 1,300 teaching units. Garbage collection has been given a strict timetable, with each sweeper allocated a specific area. Dustbins have been installed and litterers are heavily penalised. Surat now retains pride over its cleanliness as the cases of vector-borne diseases are rapidly declining. Unearthing the causes and managing the waste When plague led to death of 1.3 million people in 1907, the colonial government remained focussed on preventing cholera epidemics, ensuring military sanitation and preventing the outbreak from infecting the bureaucracy. However, instead of funding municipality-based sanitation through sewers, the government chose to intensify manual scavenging. Thus, any collection inefficiency was blamed on poverty-ridden scavengers and the same is continued even today in our municipal institutions. Post Independence, the Indian cities grew haphazardly mostly in unsanitary conditions, with outbreaks mitigated by the widespread use of antibiotics and insecticides. Sadly, mutual collaboration between the urban middle class and the hinterland has been disincentivised by institutional apathy and unequal economic progress. During epidemic outbreaks, the sick and the underprivileged have no recourse to satisfactory health-care systems. Recently in May 2016, there were reports of bird flu in a poultry farm in Bidar district (Karnataka). The State’s animal husbandry department swung into action and asked for culling of nearly 1.5 lakh birds in the farm. Though the outbreaks have now lessened, such incidents are worrying as disease outbreak can create debilitating consequences. Managing the waste Today 90% of the solid waste is directly dumped into landfills. But there remains little monitoring of heavy metal concentration in municipal solid waste. Right from the source (household), waste should be segregated as most of it is biodegradable. Thus, composting should be encouraged which would reduce landfill burden while increasing collection efficiency. Also, biomethanation plants should be encouraged in all Tier 2 and 3 cities to process vegetable and mixed waste.   Starting on wrong foot- Inefficient waste collection Most of solid waste collection is done in ad hoc manner as routes are decided mostly by local sweepers and drivers. Also, there is inadequate scheduling of collection of waste from different sectors across urban areas. Later, waste is mostly dumped in an unsanitary and uncontrolled manner which is then covered with soil and buried by machinery. Thus, waste management is not carried out properly because there lacks proper funding, human resource and technology. Consider this— Chandigarh, a well-planned city, generates an average of 370 tonnes of solid waste on a daily basis. But, only 7-8% of its solid waste management budget is allocated for garbage collection. Hence, the collection efficiency varies from 20% in slums and surrounding villages compared to 70% from registered households. Many sweepers and garbage collectors suffer from parasitic diseases like diarrhoea, jaundice and trachoma. These workers are unaware of their occupational health hazards as there are limited mechanical equipment to help minimise their direct contact with solid waste. Conclusion Now, Chandigarh is focussing on developing an integrated municipal solid waste management process. For this, it will conduct segregation and storage of waste at source while promoting recycling, composting, and generation of electricity from municipal waste. Surat has already established itself has public health leader post the plague. Thus, Indian cities have to now build an effective waste management system which is not difficult. Systematic thinking is needed which involves optimally available collection manpower, well designed community bins placed throughout the city, well maintained collection vehicles and increasing waste treatment and disposal facilities will lead to better waste management. Public participation, institutional funding, sturdy policy and legal framework, political will combined with active surveillance and institutional support will make the cities disease free. Smart cities is not only about incorporating technology but also sustainable city management having robust solid waste management as cleanliness of the city will make it attractive and in real sense ‘smart’. You may refer to Revised Solid Waste Management Rules here. Connecting the dots: What is solid waste management? Examine its importance in making cities disease free. Smart cities is not only about wifi, roads and infrastructure but also cleanliness. In the light of the above sentence, analyse how ‘smart city’ status can be truly achieved?   Related articles: Solid Waste Management: Waste not, want not Smart cities in India: An analysis Urbanization: Cities at crossroads- Why cities matter? MUST READ To be truly transparent Hindu   Clinching the N-deal with Japan Hindu   Not simply a vision thing Hindu Related article: The battle over Bt cotton   Not NHRC’s finest hour Indian Express   Nearly 69% of jobs in India threatened by automation: World Bank Indian Express   Paris climate agreement: N-power push to meet green commitment Indian Express   The climate after Paris Livemint   Why do our constitutional debates matter? Livemint   Spectrum sale a vindication of auction process Livemint   India’s disenchantment with multilateralism Livemint   The monetary policy committee begins its job on a good note Livemint   Striking a chord with workers Business Line  

Oct 5, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 32]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Which of the following Ministries deals with the management of Haj Pilgrimage and including administration of the Haj Committee Act, 1959? Ministry of Minority Affairs Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Q.2) Consider the following statements about Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) It is an Autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) is an official document meant for overall Quality Control and Assurance of Pharmaceutical products marketed in India Select the correct statement(s) Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following is the first state to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene Bihar Jharkhand Maharashtra Rajasthan Q.4) Recently the New Delhi Declaration on Education was adopted by Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) SAARC BRICS None of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to the Arctic Council Only states with territory in the Arctic can be members of the Council India is a non-circumpolar country in the Arctic Council and has an observer status All Scandinavian countries are members of Arctic Council Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Oct 4, 2016 PIB

IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB)- 26th Sep to 2nd Oct, 2016

ARCHIVES   GS-2   3rd India and Canada Annual Ministerial Dialogue (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) About- A high level delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister is attending 3rd Annual Ministerial Dialogue scheduled on 29th September, 2016 at Toronto, Canada. Significance- It is recognised that India and Canada have enormous scope for enhanced bilateral trade relations but, the bilateral trade between the two countries has not been up to the potential. Both sides recognized the immense potential and mutual interest in promoting trade. PM of India, during his historic bilateral visit to Canada in April 2015, stressed the importance of bilateral business and commercial linkages as key drivers of India-Canada partnership. Both the nations recognised the need for- Early finalisation of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) and expeditiously conclude a progressive, balanced, and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as a basis for expanding two-way trade and investment. Issues discussed-  Exploring ways of expeditious early conclusion of FIFA and CEPA Exploring options for Indian interest in addressing the Temporary Foreign Workers Programmes (TWEP) of Canada which is affecting the Indian IT Industry; address equivalance by Canadian Food Inspection Agency for Indian organic product exports; and exploring investment opportunities in different sectors of India. Both leaders are expected to discuss regarding recent commercial achievments between both countries, bilateral FDI flows, issues relating to intellectual property, etc in addition to other issues relating to trade and investment.   14th ASEAN-India Summit and 11th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR (September 08, 2016) (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) About- PM will attend the 14th ASEAN-India Summit and the 11th East Asia Summit to be held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 8 September 2016. Participants- Summits will be attended by Heads of State/Government of the 10 ASEAN and 18 East Asia Summit Participating Countries respectively. In the margins, PM will also hold bilateral meetings with several leaders. Highlights- At the 14th ASEAN-India Summit, PM and ASEAN Leaders will review ASEAN-India cooperation and discuss its future direction under each of the three pillars of politico-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. 2017 will mark 25 years of India's dialogue partnership with ASEAN, to celebrate which a number of commemorative activities will also be announced by Prime Minister. India and ASEAN- ASEAN is a strategic partner of India since 2012. India and ASEAN have 30 dialogue mechanisms which meet regularly, including a Summit and 7 Ministerial meetings in Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Tourism, Agriculture, Environment, Renewable Energy and Telecommunications. Trade between India and ASEAN- Trade between India and ASEAN stood at US$ 65.04 billion in 2015-16 and comprises 10.12% of India’s total trade with the world. ASEAN-India economic integration process has got a fillip with the creation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area in July 2015, following the entry into force of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements. Conclusion of a balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will further boost our trade and investment ties with the region. East Asia Summit East Asia Summit is the premier leaders-led forum in the Asia-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in the strategic, geopolitical and economic evolution of East Asia. Apart from the 10 ASEAN Member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia. India, being a founding member of the East Asia Summit, is committed to strengthening the East Asia Summit and making it more effective for dealing with contemporary challenges. Highlights of East Asia Summit-  At the 11th East Asia Summit, Leaders will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation, irregular migration, etc. Three statements/declarations are expected to be adopted at the EAS, viz. the Vientiane Declaration on Promoting Infrastructure Development Cooperation in East Asia; an EAS Declaration on Strengthening Responses to Migrants in Crisis and Trafficking in Persons; and an EAS Statement on Non-Proliferation. A Joint Statement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations is expected to be adopted at a separate ceremony after the EAS.     President to present ‘Vayoshreshtha Samman’ To older persons & institutions on International Day of Older Persons (Topic: Social justice and empowerment) About- President of India will present the National Awards for Senior Citizens “Vayoshreshtha Samman-2016” to eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their service towards the cause of elderly persons especially indigent senior citizens at a function organized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on 1st October, 2016 (Saturday) in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Awards are presented as part of- Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) on 1st October. Objective- National Awards are intended to show case the Government's concern for senior citizens and its commitment towards them with the aim of strengthening their legitimate place in the society. It is also intended to provide an opportunity to the younger generation to understand the contribution of the elderly in building of the society and the nation. Awards given to- The recipients are drawn from diverse fields. Awards are given to institutions/organisations/individuals from any part of the country. Nominations are invited from Governmental and Non-Governmental Agencies Vayoshreshtha Samman It is a Scheme of National Awards instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (D/o Social Justice & Empowerment) initially in 2005 and was upgraded to the status of National Awards in 2013, for institutions involved in rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons especially indigent senior citizens and to eminent citizens in recognition of their service/achievements. “Vayoshrestha Samman” was elevated to the level of national awards in 2013 under 13 categories and this is the second year in which these national awards are being conferred. International Day of Older Persons is observed on- 1st of October every year pursuant to the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly to observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons with the theme, “a society for all ages”. Ministry of Urban Development28-September, 2016 16:30 IST Two day Sanitation Technologies Exhibition in Delhi (Topic: Minister of Urban development) About-A two day exhibition showcasing a wide range of sanitation technologies is being organized in New Delhi from September 29, 2016. Exhibition to be inaugurated by- Minister of Urban Development and Minister of State for Drinking Water & Sanitation, will be open to public on first day. Exhibition is being organized as a part of- Ongoing Swachh Bharat Week for the benefit of the people and large number of delegates attending the INDOSAN (India Sanitation Conference) to be held on September 30,2016. INDOSAN will be inaugurated by PM and will be attended by Chief Ministers, Ministers, elected representatives of people, District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners of 500 cities and towns, representatives of private sector and NGOs etc. About 30 technological equipment applicable to different components of sanitation chain will be on show for the two days. These include- Smart Public Toilet models, waterless urinals with microbiological cleaning systems, low cost portable toilet blocks, public toilets with bio-digester, twin pit toilets with onsite compost making, small size sewage treatment units for use at community level, sanitary napkin vending machines, underground bins, rickshaw for direct unloading of garbage in large bins, CNG sweeping machines, mechanical suction sweepers, organic waste convertors for compost making, food waste composter, house level compost makers, cleaning machines etc.   Cabinet approves India - Singapore MoU to give a boost to Innovation, Creativity and Technological Advancement  (Topic: Cabinet Decision) About- Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has given its approval to the MoU in the field of Industrial Property Cooperation between Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Ministry of Law, Government of Singapore. The MoU will be signed at the upcoming visit of Singapore’s Prime Minister to India from 4-7 October, 2016. Benefit- It will enhance bilateral cooperation activities in the arena of Industrial Property Rights of Patents, Trademarks and Industrial Designs. It is intended to give a boost to innovation, creativity and technological advancement in both regions. MoU will enable India to exchange experiences in the innovation and IP ecosystems that will substantially benefit entrepreneurs, investor and businesses on both sides. Exchange of best practices between the two countries will lead to improved protection and awareness about India's range of Intellectual creations which are as diverse as its people. It will be a landmark step forward in India's journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and will further the objectives of the National IPR Policy, 2016. MoU- Exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on Intellectual Property awareness among the public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries Exchange of experts specialized in the field of intellectual property Exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP with the industry, universities, R & D organizations and Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperation in the development of automation and implementation of modernization projects Partnership in IP-related training for local IP and business communities   Cabinet approves an Undertaking between India and Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates for Seafarers, 1978 (Topic: Cabinet Decisions) About- Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of PM has given its approval for signing of an Undertaking between India and Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates. It is in pursuance of the Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, as amended. Undertaking will pave way for- Recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country. It is done in accordance with the provisions of regulation 1/10 of the STCW Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in the training, certification and management of seafarers.   Cabinet approves Administrative and Financial Sanction towards the implementation of the Project SAKSHAM (Topic: Economic Affairs) About- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the PM has approved ‘Project SAKSHAM’, a New Indirect Tax Network (Systems Integration) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). Total project cost involved is Rs.2256 crore which will be incurred over a period of seven years. Help- Implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Extension of the Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) and Other taxpayer-friendly initiatives under Digital India and Ease of Doing Business of Central Board of Excise and Customs. Effectiveness- Implementation strategy for the project will be to ensure readiness of CBEC's IT systems by April, 1, 2017, when GST is to be introduced. The upgrade of the IT systems will be carried out while keeping the existing Tax-payer services running. CBEC- CBEC's IT systems need to integrate with the Goods & Services Tax Network (GSTN) for processing of registration, payment and returns data sent by GSTN systems to CBEC, as well as act as a front-end for other modules like Audit, Appeal, Investigation. There is no overlap in the GST-related systems of CBEC and GSTN. This IT infrastructure is also urgently required for continuation of CBEC's e-Services in Customs, Central Excise & Service Tax, implementation of tax¬payer services such as scanned document upload facility, extension of Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) initiative and integration with Government initiatives such as E-Nivesh, E-Taal, e-Sign. All Taxpayers/lmporters/Exporters/Dealers under various indirect tax laws administered by CBEC- presently about 36 lakhs, likely to go up to over 65 lakhs after introduction of GST. Background: Introduction of GST will result in a several-fold increase in the number of taxpayers and resultant document load on the system. CBEC's current IT system was set up in 2008. It cannot cater to the increased load under GST without an immediate upgrade of its IT Infrastructure. Further, CBEC has implemented the Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) and is integrating other partner agencies involved in Customs clearance in order to make the process simple and fast. The Customs EDI system which is currently operational at about 140 locations in India has to be extended to, many more locations with improved response time and better service delivery. Taxpayers have to be given a facility for Upload of Digitally Signed Scanned Documents in order to reduce the physical interface with tax authorities and to increase the speed of clearance. CBEC also aims to introduce mobile services for taxpayers and departmental users to increase the outreach of its services.   New Coal Distribution Policy amended to increase annual cap of coal through State Nominated Agencies and amend phrase of Small and Medium Sector (Topic: Coal Distribution and policies related to it) About- Union Ministry of Coal has issued an order with respect to the amendment to the New Coal Distribution Policy (NCDP), 2007. It is to- Increase the annual cap of coal from 4200 tonnes per annum for sale through State Nominated Agencies (SNA) to 10,000 tonnes per annum. In addition to raising the annual cap of coal, the Ministry has also amended the phrase, ‘small and medium sector’, as mentioned in the NCDP to ‘small, medium and others’. The Ministry’s issued order to states that the above guidelines will also stand applicable to the distribution of coal from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). NCDP- The NCDP was issued vide Ministry of Coal Office Memorandum No. 23011/4/2007-CPD dated 18th October, 2007, laying down the guidelines for distribution and pricing of coal to various sectors. As per the policy, the scope of coverage through State Nominated Agencies was increased up to 4200 tonnes per annum. Why needed? There have been requests from consumers and state governments for reconsideration of guidelines as mentioned in NCDP, 2007 for upward revision of annual cap on coal through SNAs and also for amending the condition of the small and medium sector to include other sectors where annual coal requirement is very low. Amendment is for-  Only small and medium sector consumers, having requirement less than 4200 tonnes per annum were entitled to take coal through SNA, large units having requirement of less than 4200 tonnes per annum were not recommended for coal by the District Industries Centre (DIC). Moreover, the limit of requirement of less than 4200 tonnes per annum needed to be revised as small units might have expanded over a period of time. As adequate quantity of coal at notified price through SNA would be available for this sector , this amendment is seen as one of the many steps taken by the Government to improve ease of doing business in the country and make more coal available for the small,medium and other sectors. Cabinet approves ratification of the Paris Agreement  (Topic: International Relations) About- Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has given its approval to ratify the Paris Agreement (on Climate Change) on 2nd October 2016, the day of Gandhi Jayanti. Paris Agreement- Paris Agreement was adopted by 185 nations last year on 12th December 2015 and India signed the Paris Agreement in New York early this year on 22nd April 2016. A total of 191 countries have signed to the Paris Agreement so far. As per the provisions of the Paris Agreement, the treaty will come into force as and when 55 countries contributing to 55 % of total global emission ratify the agreement. So far, 61 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval accounting in total for 47.79% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. India’s step – India’s decision to ratify the agreement will take the number of cumulative level of emission of countries that have ratified the agreement so far to 51.89%. With the gathering momentum and willingness expressed by several other countries to ratify the agreement before the end of this year, it is expected that the Agreement will enter into force soon and give a thrust to the global actions to address climate change. With its decision to ratify the Agreement, India will be one of the key countries that will be instrumental in bringing the Paris Agreement into force. Given the critical role that India played in securing international consensus on Paris Agreement, today’s decision will further underline India’s responsive leadership in the community of nations committed to global cause of environmental protection and climate justice. While agreeing to ratify the Paris Agreement, the Cabinet has also decided that India should declare that India will treat its national laws, its development agenda, and availability of means of implementation, its assessment of global commitment to combating climate change, and predictable and affordable access to cleaner source of energy as the context in which the Agreement is being ratified. Paris Agreement pertains to post-2020 climate actions. In the pre-2020 period, developed countries are to act as per Kyoto Protocol and some developing countries have taken voluntary pledges.   GS-3 Tirupati Airport Awarded “Best Tourist Friendly Airport” under the category for “State Annual Excellence Awards “ (Topic: About- Airports Authority of India’s Tirupati Airport has been awarded as “Best Tourist Friendly Airport” under the category for “State Annual Excellence Awards for the year 2015-16” by Andhra Pradesh Tourism. Award was presented on- The eve of World Tourism Day by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at Bhawani Islands, Vijayawada. State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards under various segments of Travel and Tourism Industry are awarded by Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh for maintaining excellent Customer friendly relations with tourists and passengers, coinciding with World Tourism Day Celebrations. IWAI Signs MoUs with Dredging Corporation of India, Paradip Port Trust and Mormugao Port Trust (Topic: Shipping) About- Development of Inland Water Transport is a priority of the Ministry of Shipping. After the declaration of 106 new National Waterways, in addition to the existing 5 National Waterways, under the National Waterways Act, 2016, the responsibilities of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) have increased manifold. Aim- To ensure the development of the National Waterways in a time-bound and effective manner, the IWAI in the presence of Minister of Shipping and Road Transport & Highways has signed three separate MoU with Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on Wednesday, 28th September 2016. MoUs are meant to make use of- Synergies, strengths and expertise of the Ports and Dredging sectors to enable IWAI to accelerate the development of Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector as an alternative, viable and environment friendly mode of transport. While the MoU with DCI will enable IWAI to maintain navigable depth in National Waterways, the MoUs with PPT and MPT will help IWAI to develop National Waterway-5 in Odisha and various National Waterways in Goa ,respectively. MoU between IWAI and DCI To ensure development of the fairways, the dredging responsibilities of the IWAI are expected to increase rapidly in the next few years. Under the MoU, DCI will supplement the asset base of IWAI by purchasing/leasing shallow depth dredgers and operating them in National Waterways. DCI will also prepare cost estimates and determine the duration of the dredging projects. MoU between IWAI and Mormugao Port Trust MoU between MPT and IWAI will assist IWAI in the development of National Waterways like Mandovi river (NW-68), Zuari river (NW-111), Chapora river (NW-25), Cumbharjua canal (NW-27), Mapusa river (NW-71), and Sal river (NW-88) in Goa. IWAI and MPT will jointly work to achieve fairway development of the 182-Km stretch in Goa which includes dredging, river training works, bank protection, navigation aids, Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) etc. MPT will also provide project management supervision services related to the infrastructure works in the NWs. MoU between IWAI and Paradip Port Trust (PPT) MoU between IWAI and PPT will result in a collaboration between IWAI and PPT to develop a viable navigation system on NW-5 in Odisha for Phase-1 (Pankapal-Paradip/Dhamra-212 Km on the Brahmaniand Mahanadi river system) to facilitate the movement of cargo vessels of economical size and viable capacity. Development activities in Phase-I of NW-5 will include fairway development of 212 Km stretch which includes dredging, river training works, bank protection works; terminal construction with cargo handling facilities, off shore structures and related activities; and navigational aids including DGPS, RIS (River Information System)/VTMS. PPT will cooperate and assist IWAI in project management, supervision, services including planning, designing, consultancy in respect of the works related to fairway development, terminals construction and other related infrastructure works on NW-5.   Trilateral Meet between India, Afghanistan and Iran to Take Chabahar Agreement Further (Topic: Road transport and Highways) About- Trilateral meeting was held between Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Afghanistan, and Minister of Road and Urban Development, Iran, in the capital. The three Ministers held discussions on Trilateral Agreement on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor i.e. Chabahar Agreement which was signed by them on 23rd May, 2016 in Tehran in the presence of Prime Minister of India and Presidents of Iran and Afghanistan. Highlights- During the meeting the Ministers reiterated the importance of Chabahar as a hub for regional connectivity and their commitment to work towards this objective. It was decided to organize a connectivity event involving all stakeholders at Chabahar within two months to increase awareness about the new opportunities offered by Chabahar Port. Ministers expressed satisfaction that the three countries are taking prompt measures for completing internal processes for the ratification of the Agreement. They also exchanged views on the next steps to be taken for an early implementation of the Agreement. It was decided to evolve protocols related to transport and transit, ports, customs procedures and consular affairs. It was also decided to convene an Expert level meeting of senior officials of the three countries within one month in Chabahar. Development of Ports, Road and Rail connectivity will open up new opportunities leading to new jobs and prosperity in all three countries. Trade is recognized as driving economic growth and development, the implementation of the Agreement would provide the eco-system for the private sector to seize the business opportunities emerging due to substantial reduction of logistic costs for trade among the three countries,   3rd India and Canada Annual Ministerial Dialogue (Topic: Commerce and Industry)   About- A high level delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister is attending 3rd Annual Ministerial Dialogue scheduled on 29th September, 2016 at Toronto, Canada. India and Canada bilateral trade- It is recognised that India and Canada have enormous scope for enhanced bilateral trade relations but, the bilateral trade between the two countries has not been up to the potential. Both sides recognized the immense potential and mutual interest in promoting trade. PM of India,during his historic bilateral visit to Canada in April 2015, stressed the importance of bilateral business and commercial linkages as key drivers of India-Canada partnership. During his visit both the nations recognised the need for early finalisation of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) and expeditiously conclude a progressive, balanced, and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as a basis for expanding two-way trade and investment. Issues discussed- Exploring ways of expeditious early conclusion of FIFA and CEPA. Exploring options for Indian interest in addressing the Temporary Foreign Workers Programmes (TWEP) of Canada which is affecting the Indian IT Industry; address equivalence by Canadian Food Inspection Agency for Indian organic product exports; and exploring investment opportunities in different sectors of India. In addition, both leaders are expected to discuss regarding recent commercial achievements between both countries, bilateral FDI flows, issues relating to intellectual property, etc in addition to other issues relating to trade and investment.   Monetary Policy Committee constitution under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 notified (Topic:  Monetary Policy) About- Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act) has been amended by the Finance Act, 2016,  to provide for a statutory and institutionalised framework for a Monetary Policy Committee, for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth. Entrusted with Monetary Policy Committee would be entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy rate (repo rate) required to contain inflation within the specified target level. A Committee-based approach for determining the Monetary Policy will add lot of value and transparency to monetary policy decisions. The meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee shall be held at least 4 times a year and it shall publish its decisions after each such meeting. The provisions of the RBI Act relating to Monetary Policy have been brought into force through a Notification in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 27.6.2016. The factors constituting failure to meet inflation target under the Monetary Policy Committee Framework have also been notified in the Gazette on 27.6.2016. The Government, in consultation with RBI, has notified the inflation target in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 5thAugust 2016 for the period  beginning from the date of publication of this notification and ending on the March 31, 2021, as under:- Inflation Target:                      Four per cent. Upper tolerance level:             Six per cent. Lower tolerance level:             Two per cent. Members- As per the provisions of the RBI Act, out of the six Members of Monetary Policy Committee, three Members will be from the RBI and the other three Members of MPC will be appointed by the Central Government. In exercise of the powers conferred by section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Central Government has accordingly constituted, through a Gazette Notification dated 29thSept 2016, the Monetary Policy Committee of RBI, with the following composition, namely:- The Governor of the Bank—Chairperson, ex officio Deputy Governor of the Bank, in charge of Monetary Policy—Member, ex officio One officer of the Bank to be nominated by the Central Board—Member, ex officio Shri Chetan Ghate, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) —Member Professor Pami Dua, Director, Delhi School of Economics (DSE) — Member Ravindra H. Dholakia, Professor, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad—  Member The Members of the Monetary Policy Committee appointed by the Central Government shall hold office for a period of four years, with immediate effect or until further orders, whichever is earlier. M/o Tourism Organizes ‘5th International Buddhist Conclave’ in Varanasi-Sarnath from 2nd to 6th October 2016 (Topic: Tourism) About- With a view to showcasing and projecting the Buddhist heritage and pilgrim sites of India, the Ministry of Tourism is organizing the “5th International Buddhist Conclave (from 2nd to 6th October 2016)” in Varanasi-Sarnath in collaboration with the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Conclave will be inaugurated by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister for Tourism & Culture on 2nd October, 2016 in New Delhi. India, the birthplace of Buddhism, has a very rich Buddhist Heritage, with several important sites associated with the life of Lord Buddha which are essential pilgrimages for followers of Buddhism the world over Buddhist Conclave- The International Buddhist Conclave is also one of the initiatives being taken by India as its commitment as the land of origin of Buddhism and to improve the experience of pilgrims as well as tourists wishing to savor the essence of Buddhist heritage, at the Buddhist sites of the country. Conclave will include presentations, panel discussion, business to business meetings between the international and domestic tour operators, an exhibition highlighting the Buddhist attractions in India, as well as visits to important Buddhist sites in and around Varanasi and Sarnath. This year’s International Buddhist Conclave is very special as ASEAN as a Guest of Honour partner and a large participation is expected from ASEAN Countries which are also major source markets for India in general and the Buddhist Heritage sites in particular. Participants in the Buddhist Conclave will include international Buddhist opinion makers, tour operators and media, as well as State Governments and domestic tour operators promoting pilgrimages to the Buddhist sites in the country. Ministry of Tourism has received over 250 nominations from 38 countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, |Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA and Vietnam for participation in the Conclave. Highlights- Conclave will include Presentations, Panel discussions, Business to Business Meetings between international and domestic tour operators and State Governments, an exhibition highlighting Buddhist attractions in India, as well as visits to important Buddhist sites in and around Varanasi, Sarnath and Bodhgaya. The event will give the participants an opportunity to interact, promote, package and sell pilgrimage itineraries to the Buddhist sites in the country, for overseas visitors. International Buddhist Conclaves have earlier been organized in New Delhi and Bodhgaya (February 2004); Nalanda and Bodhgaya (February 2010), Varanasi and Bodh Gaya (September 2012) and Bodhgaya  - Varanasi (2014). State Governments will set up booths at the conference venue for interacting with the international delegates and for showcasing India’s Buddhist Heritage. Conclave is expected to be a great success with the cooperation of State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.   TEPC- 2nd edition of India Telecom (B2B Meet) to attract more than 70 qualified buyers from 28 countries  (Topic: Communication and information technology) About-Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council, TEPC is organizing 2nd edition of India Telecom 2016, an exclusive International Buyer-Seller Business (B2B) Meet on 3rd and 4th October 2016 in New Delhi and on 5th October 2016 in Bangalore. TEPC has received confirmations from more than 70 qualified buyers from 28 countries across the world. These buyers consist of telecom service providers and system integrators who are keen to source Indian telecom equipment and services. The event will witness enthusiastic participation by senior representatives from telecom service provider companies as well as Governments from Latin America, Africa, Middle East and South-East Asia. Benefit- This event provides opportunities to Indian telecom exporters to meet qualified overseas buyers and develop long term business relationships Highlights- The three-day event to be inaugurated by Minister of Communications will have other senior officers of Government of India including Secretary, DIPP, to share “Ease of doing Business” and Shri J.S. Deepak, Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, Telecom on Digital Connectivity Transforming the Developing Nations. The event will showcase Government of India’s flagship programmes “Make in India” and “Digital India” which has created design-led ecosystem of domestic products and enabled manufacturing with high domestic value-addition. TEPC- TEPC is geared up to grab multi-billion-dollar opportunity in telecom product and services that can become a new growth driver for India’s high-tech exports. TEPC Buyer-Seller meet is one of the most impactful events for the domestic industry, since more than 80% of the visitors from earlier events have been converted into buyers of Indian telecom products and services. Once potential customers visit India, they get a lot of confidence in Indian products after meeting the leaders of local industry and government, visiting R&D labs and manufacturing facilities and getting positive references from satisfied customers. The “India Telecom- International Buyer-Seller meet” is TEPC’s flagship event and is a unique platform where potential buyers from across the globe are invited to meet Indian suppliers of telecom equipment and services as well as key stakeholders in the Indian Government. During this event, in addition to the Buyer-Seller business meetings by more than 90 Indian exporters, TEPC is also organizing exhibition for Indian telecom exporters to showcase their products and capabilities.   India climbs steadily in the Global Competitiveness Index; Improves its ranking by 16 places for the second year in a row (Topic: Economy) About- Union Finance Minister said that in an extremely positive development, data released today by the World Economic Forum (WEF) shows that India’s ranking in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) has improved by 16 places for the second year in a row. Latest Ranking- According to the latest ranking, India is placed 39th among 138 countries, ahead of BRICS countries other than China which is ranked 28th GCI Global Competitiveness Index released by the World Economic Forum is one of the major studies which indicate how a country scores in the scale of global competitiveness. Index is calculated by aggregating indicators across 12 pillars which again are clubbed together in three broad sub-indices, namely basic requirements, efficiency enhancers and innovation and sophistication factors. Report covers both business and social indicators which, directly or indirectly, impacts the competitiveness of the country in the global arena.   12 pillars underlying GCI include- Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation India’s improvement- India’s rank has steadily improved from 71 in 2014-15 to 55 in 2015-16 and to 39 in the latest report. With this improvement in its ranking, India has covered a long distance and is well on its way to emerge as a major player in the global economy. The landmark improvement in the Global Competitiveness rankings India is in consequence of the structural reforms and policy initiatives taken by GOI in the last two years and should be viewed as an encouragement to us to continue with the agenda of reforms which would further streamline economic decision making and help us move up on the index of global competitiveness. India’s competitiveness has improved this year across the board, in particular in goods market efficiency, business sophistication and innovation. The macroeconomic environment also improved due to better monetary and fiscal policies and lower oil prices. Report Analyses- The Report analyses how India’s competitiveness score had stagnated between 2007 and 2014 till the new government took office and undertook a range of reforms including opening the economy to foreign investors and international Improvements in infrastructure which were small and faltering during most of the past decade, actually picked up after 2014 when the government increased public investment and speeded up the approval procedures. Similarly, the institutional environment deteriorated until 2014, as mounting governance scandals and inefficiencies led to a loss of trust in public administration but this trend was reversed in 2014. Macroeconomic conditions also followed a similar path and the country was able to keep a lid on inflation and reduce both the current account and fiscal deficits. India also ranks 8th in the strength of investor protection. There is however no room for complacency and Government will continue to focus on areas which need improvement. In the coming months and years, significant improvement in goods market efficiency may be expected from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax which will reduce fragmentation of the domestic market.   Consultative Committee meeting of Members of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers held (Topic: Chemicals and Fertilizers) About- Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers was held in New Delhi. The subject for the meeting was National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA). The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers chaired the meeting. Highlights – A presentation was made on the behalf of NPPA, showing its activities and steps taken by it to regulate the prices of medicines falling under the National List of Essential Medicines. Customer friendly initiatives and the e-initiatives taken by the Authority were also presented. MPs gave their suggestions and recommendations for improving the system of providing affordable medicines to the poor people. Briefing was done about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Scheme. With the cooperation of all MPs in opening as many Jan Aushadhi Kendras in their constituencies. Government aims to open 3000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country this year. He added that over 500 medicines are being provided in these kendras at cheap rates. Steps taken by Govenrnment- To bring more medicines under the price control. Consumers have been saved over Rs 5000 due to the Government’s interventions. Government also intends to setup the Indian council of Fertilizers and Nutrients Research so that research can be undertaken for providing appropriate fertilizers and manures to the farmers. Neem coated urea is helping in balanced use of fertilizers and reducing the use of pesticides.   Commerce and Industry Minister visits Sri Lanka to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations (Topic: Commerce and Industry) About-Commerce and Industry Minister visited Sri Lanka on September 26-27, 2016 with the objective of enhancing and deepening bilateral trade and investment relations. Highlights- During the visit, a meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Business Forum was held which was attended by the Commerce and Industry Minister, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka. Many issues relating to trade, services and investment were highlighted and it was agreed that their resolution be explored. The Commerce and Industry Minister also suggested that the meeting of the reconstituted India-Sri Lanka CEO Forum be held at the earliest. Commerce and Industry Minister also had a bilateral meeting with a high level Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka. The leaders expressed satisfaction on the progress of the proposed Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) between India and Sri Lanka. It was noted that the Second Round of negotiations for the ETCA is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 29-30, 2016. The leaders also discussed several other issues related to bilateral trade and investment. The deliberations were extremely cordial and marked by a spirit of mutual respect and understating that characterizes the strong and vibrant relations between the two countries. The visit has emphasised the importance of Sri Lanka as an important trading and investment partner for India and would help in further deepening the existing bilateral relations.   Inter-Ministerial committee reviews procurement of Kharif pulses (Topic: Agriculture) About- An Inter-Ministerial meeting held under chairmanship of Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs, reviewed prices and availability of pulses. Aim- To ensure that farmers get minimum support prices for pulses and wide publicity should be given to the procurement operations in pulses procuring pockets Government agencies- NAFED, FCI and SFAC have started aggressive procurement operations to ensure minimum support prices to farmers after the arrival of crop in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Benefit- After the intervention of the Government agencies through direct procurement from the farmers at MSP, farmers are getting better prices for their crop in market also. So far, 200 centres have been set up in pulses producing states and more centres will be added after arrival of Tur crop in October- November.  

Oct 4, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th October, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 4th October, 2016   ENVIRONMENT/ S & T   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Environment and Ecology, Bio diversity - Conservation, environmental degradation, environmental impact assessment, Environment versus Development 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; e-technology in the aid of farmers Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.   The battle over Bt cotton (Part I: Understanding the Basics)   What is Bt? Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a spore forming bacterium that produces crystals protein (cry proteins), which are toxic to many species of insects. Where is Bt found? Bt can be found almost everywhere in the world. Surveys have indicated that Bt is distributed in the soil sparsely but frequently worldwide. Bt has been found in all types of terrain, including beaches, desert, and tundra habitats. How many kinds of Bt are there? There are thousands of different Bt strains, producing over 200 cry proteins that are active against an extensive range of insects and some other invertebrates. Where is Bt used? Bt is largely used in agriculture, especially organic farming. Bt is also used in urban aerial spraying programs, and in transgenic crops. What is Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)? When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, the result is a genetically modified organism (GMO). It is also sometimes called "transgenic" for transfer of genes. Selective breeding technique and Transgenic technique: There are different ways of moving genes to produce desirable traits. For both plants and animals, one of the more traditional ways is through selective breeding. For example, a plant with a desired trait is chosen and bred to produce more plants with the desirable trait. More recently with the advancement of technology is another technique. This technique is applied in the laboratory where genes that express the desired trait is physically moved or added to a new plant to enhance the trait in that plant. Plants produced with this technology are transgenic. Often, this process is performed on crops to produce insect or herbicide resistant plants, they are referred to as Genetically Modified Crops (GM crops). Most GM crops grown today have been developed to resist certain insect pests. There are GM plants being developed today to produce specific vitamins, resist plant viruses and even produce products for medical uses. What is Bt cotton?   Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton variety, which produces an insecticide to bollworm. It is produced by Monsanto. Results of insect infestation on Bt (right) and non-Bt (left) cotton bolls. Pic link: http://www.bt.ucsd.edu/assets/usda_cotton.jpg Bt cotton was the first genetically modified (GM) crop technology to be commercialised in India. Three Bt cotton hybrids, developed by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB) joint venture, were approved by Indian authorities in early 2002. Bt cotton controversy No data on Bt Cotton’s effectiveness under practical farming conditions NGOs have questioned the technology's effectiveness Analysis of several years of Indian field trial data demonstrated that Bt technology can significantly reduce pesticide applications and increase effective yields under experimental conditions. This is in line with research from other countries. However, independent studies under practical farming conditions are not available in India and therefore, it is difficult to interpret the statements made by different interest groups. MMB claims sizeable benefits for Bt adopters Anti-biotechnology activists have declared the technology a complete failure This controversy has become one of the focal points in the global debate on GM crops. Monsanto vs Indian Farmers Seed is the basis of agriculture; the means of production and the basis of farmers’ livelihoods. In less than two decades, cotton seed has been snatched from the hands of Indian farmers by Monsanto, displacing local varieties, introducing GMO Bt cotton seeds and coercing extravagant royalties from farmers. Since Monsanto’s entry into India in 1998, the price of cotton seeds has increased by almost 80,000% (from ₹5 – ₹9/KG to ₹ 1600 for 450 gms). 300,000 Indian farmers have committed suicide, trapped in vicious cycles of debt and crop failures, 84% of these suicides are attributed directly to Monsanto’s Bt cotton. Monsanto, Indian farmers and the Govt of India There are 3 issues related to the state of seed and the current conflicts related to Monsanto, Indian farmers and the Govt of India. First is the farmers rights to reliable and affordable seed and with it the duty of the government to protect farmers right to livelihood and right to life. It is the government’s duty under Art 21 of the constitution to protect the life of all its citizens. Second is the issue of IPRs, patents, royalty, technology fees in the context of false claims and a failing technology, and the duty of Government to act to revoke a patent according to Article 64 and Article 66 of the Indian Patent Act. There is a show cause notice served to Monsanto by the Central Government regarding the patent. The third is the issue of monopoly on seed. The Government has a duty to prevent monopolies being established. The issue of monopoly is before the Competition Commission of India which has stated that Monsanto has violated Competition laws and there is Prima Facie evidence of monopoly. (In tomorrow’s DNA, we shall discuss the controversy surrounding Monsanto and patent protection.) Connecting the dots: Write a brief note on genetically modified crops and how they differ from hybrid crops. What are the possible challenges and benefits of GM crops? What do you understand by the term “Bt”? Discuss the controversy surrounding Bt Cotton in India.   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 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.   MGNREGA MIS- Need to achieve more The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a pioneering livelihood security programme. Along with it, it is also a great example of proactive disclosure of information through its Management Information System (MIS). What is MGNREGA MIS? A web enabled MIS www.nrega.nic.in has been developed for NREGA to make its data transparent and available in the public domain to be equally accessed by all. It monitors: Workers’ entitlement data and documents such as Registration, job cards, muster rolls. Work selection and execution data including, shelf of approved and sanctioned works, work estimates, works under execution, measurement. Employment demanded and provided. Financial indicators such as funds available, funds used, and the disaggregated structure of fund utilizations to assess the amount paid as wages, materials and administrative expenses. Importance of MGNREGA MIS It is the first transaction-based real-time system for any public works programme in the country that is available in the public domain as there is digitisation of all the processes in MGNREGA. This enables any citizen to monitor the implementation of the programme thereby charting a new paradigm of transparency since the enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Shortcomings of MGNREGA MIS The scale of information available is no small achievement. Individual worker details from around 2.5 lakh gram panchayats are available in the MGNREGA MIS. However, there are some shortcomings which need to be addressed.   Limited access MIS is accessible only from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. IST. This is a huge impediment for collaborative work across time zones. No data dictionary A data dictionary is a repository of all the names of variables/columns used in various reports, containing a brief explanation of its meanings. Such dictionary is important as it allows the citizens to understand the online reports they wish to access. Unless somebody has spent a lot of time in rural areas, it is difficult to comprehend the details of many reports. Same meaning, different names Nomenclature of coloumn names are not uniform. For example, Payment Date in the report of weekly works (‘Mustroll Report’) is known as the Second Signatory Date in a report titled ‘FTO Second Signatory’. Also, Payment Date is a misnomer as it does not refer to the date on which a worker gets paid. Payment date is the date on which the wages is scheduled to be paid. Missing linkages Worker-centric links in the data structure are missing. For example, every household that does MGNREGA work has a unique job card number. This number is crucial to get work. Upon completion of a work week, a Funds Transfer Order (FTO) is generated containing the details of each job card holder’s earned wages. On the MIS, there is no clear link between these two crucial pieces. As such it becomes difficult to follow the trail of each job card holder from the time of work demanded to getting the wages. Technology should not lessen accountability Digitisation and computerisation is a welcome move but it has been observed that accountability is being shifted by officials. It should be known that an information system doesn’t end up controlling the legal rights. There are several situations when a written request for work by a worker is not entered in the MIS till funds for work allocation are made available from the Centre. This is illegal as the Act mandates provision of work within a stipulated time of requesting for it. Similarly, the generation of the FTO is withheld till funds for wage payments are released. There are other instances when the FTO is not generated if a worker fails to furnish his or her Aadhaar number. Some are harder to locate as there is no paper trail or stated intention but realised only retrospectively once the workers are affected. Hence, many such examples illustrate how the IT infrastructure becomes a tool prioritising administrative needs as opposed to being a programme enabler. In this regard, the phrase ‘code is law’ should be recalled where code, as in software, and code, as in law, can both be instruments of social control. Technological architecture can also be used to perpetuate falsehoods. For instance, consider the flawed mechanism of the calculation of delay compensation when wages are not paid on time. Ideally, the compensation should be calculated from the 16th day of completion of a work week till the day on which the workers actually receive their wages. However, the compensation is computed based on the payment date, which is not the date on which the wages get credited into the workers’ accounts. The difference of the two calculation methods run into crores of rupees that rightfully belong to the workers. While the automated calculation is a progressive measure, its basis must be correct and transparent. Thus, even with the flawed calculation no compensation has been paid shows that technology can be a strong aid but not a replacement for accountability. Conclusion MIS is a powerful mechanism to have an evidence-based discourse for monitoring basic services. However, a governance framework for the MIS needs to be put in place that lays out the minimum standards and accountability of the Ministry managing the system. Such a framework must be built in consultation with all concerned parties and should follow the provisions of the law (both MGNREGA and RTI). The system design choices should reflect the values of the worker-centric programme and hence principles need to be followed for compassionate design. Connecting the dots: MIS avails transparency but accountability is equally important. With regards to MGNREGA, examine the importance of transparency as well as accountability with suitable examples.   MUST READ River Diplomacy On Test Indian Express   An unclean slate Indian Express   Breaking the Panipat syndrome Indian Express   Singapore’s PM visit to India Indian Express   Explaining the slide in CAD Livemint   The ‘magazine cover’ decision Livemint   India helps Trump-proof the Paris Agreement Livemint   Too casual an approach to cyber security Business Line Related article: Cybercrime and need of robust cyber security policy   No country for a child Business Line   Environmental sustainability could be the next major challenge: Report Business Line

Oct 4, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 31]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) All the founding members were from Asia It is headquartered in Baghdad Select the correct statement(s) Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) All the members of SASEC are members of SAARC Asian Development Bank (ADB) serves as the Secretariat for the SASEC member countries Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3) Consider the following statements about melamine It is high in nitrogen It is adulterated in milk and food products to increase its protein content Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI 2016) It is an International Summit on Medical Value Travel with aim of ‘Promoting Healthcare Services Exports from India’ It is an initiative by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Select the correct statement(s) Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the below statements: When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, the result is a genetically modified organism (GMO). The Cartagena Protocol regulates transboundary movement, transit, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMO) that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Which statement(s) is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Oct 4, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Ordinance Re-Promulgation- Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016

ARCHIVES   The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016   Search 31st August 2016 here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.   Union cabinet passed the ordinance to amend the nearly 5 decade old Enemy Property Act, 1968 and Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by those who migrated to Pakistan and China after war. Concept of enemy property The India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971 saw migration of people from India to Pakistan. Under the Defence of India Rules framed under the Defence of India Act, the Government of India took over the properties and companies of those who took Pakistani nationality. These ‘Enemy Properties’ were vested by the central government in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. There are large number of properties spread over 12000 acre in India which belong to Pakistani or Chinese nationals. These properties are worth more than 1 lakh crores. There was an enemy property act prior to independence in which Japan and Germany were considered enemy as per the British laws but after independence, it was re-modelled and only Pakistan was the enemy country. Later, China was added after 1962 war. Enemy property act, 1968 This act was not supposed to have any permanence in the beginning, because the talks were going on between Pakistan and India to solve their respective property issue. So, there was a hope that Pakistan will enter into some agreement to that effect. But, Pakistan sold off the enemy properties owned by Indian nationals, according to their law in 1971 itself. Thus, there was nothing to negotiate and India had to now appropriate the property. Need to amend the act? Lately, there were judgements by various courts that have adversely affected the powers of the Custodian and the Government of India as provided under the Enemy Property Act, 1968. Flaw in the 1968 law- if the enemy died and if its successor were residents of India, then they will not be considered as enemies. One such court judgment was passed in the case of the estate of the erstwhile Raja of Mahmudabad, who owned several large properties in Hazratganj, Sitapur and Nainital. Following partition, the Raja left but his wife and son stayed as Indian citizens. His property was declared enemy property after enactment of 1968 law. After Raja’s death, his son claimed the property and the courts also ruled in his favour. Thus, the necessity had arisen because of judgements of SC and other courts whereby there was a need to give this property bill a permanent shape and also to give more powers to the Custodian. Hence the need to amend the law. Enemy Property Ordinance, 2016 The ordinance was promulgated in January 2016, the bill was passed in Lok Sabha in March 2016 and referred to select committee of Rajya Sabha. Since then, the ordinance has been amended four times and re-promulgated so that it does not lapse due to time taken by select committee. Provisions of ordinance The fourth amendment has incorporated suggestions made by the select committee the ordinance had a retrospective effect so that previous lacuna in earlier act could be taken care of. Earlier it was a transitory kind of provision now it has become permanent where Custodian will have more powers. Definition of enemy has taken a quantum change. Earlier the successor of enemy were not considered enemy. Now even successor of the enemy property will also be treated as enemy. There is a provision by which the enemy property cannot devolve. So it will not go to anybody by way of succession. Purpose of amendment is to clarify that law of succession will not apply to legal heir or successor of the enemy. The public premises (eviction of unauthorised occupants act) 1971- the powers have been given to Custodian to fix and collect rent, lease the property, collect license fee, user charges and secure the vacancy of possession by way of evicting unauthorised occupants and constructions under the public premises act. All these powers have been given with the view that the property is put to some use. Vesting of properties- 1968 act allowed for vesting of property to the Custodian after the conflict with Pakistan and China. Now the amendment clarifies that Custodian will continue to hold the property even if the enemy has died or the legal heir is or has become Indian citizen or if the enemy has changed his citizenship. Even if the person ceases to be enemy, the Custodian can sell, dispose, give on rent or get it evicted. Place of death of enemy subject will have no meaning or impact on the act and the property will continue to vest with the Custodian. Return of property- 1968 act provided that central government may order for the enemy property to be divested from Custodian and return to owner. The Ordinance replaces this provision and allows return of property to owner only if an aggrieved person applies to the government. Any transfer made of any enemy property after 1968 will stand to be void. It is a retrospective The civil courts will not have any jurisdiction. Only HCs can be approached with petitions. The Custodian will have quasi-judicial powers to manage the properties. Need for such amendments These amendments make economic sense. In 1970s there was a hope that Pakistan would negotiate some kind of bilateral arrangement on the property left by Indian citizens but they sold it off. So, the property has to be used and maintained rather than let it deteriorate or usage by unauthorised people. Legally also it is important as unintended benefits are being taken by some people. Thus, it is a reasonable step taken by government. Dissent against the amendments There had been opposition in Rajya Sabha for the amendments because Violation of rights- Indian citizens are deprived of their rights of inheritance and succession Violating natural justice- courts don’t have the power of adjudication Conclusion This act clarifies the legal status of enemy property in India. However, the process of identifying the enemy property has not been completed as stated by Select Committee. So the act has to be modelled in a way so that it is completed and put an end to the whole process. Connecting the dots: What is enemy property in your understanding? Why was there a need to amend the enemy property act, 1968? Related articles: Rajya Sabha was right to defer the Enemy Property Bill? Enemy Property Ordinance, 2016 Promulgated

Oct 3, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 3rd October, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 3rd October, 2016   SECURITY/NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Awareness in the fields of IT, computers, Challenges to internal security through communication networks, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention. Linkages of organized crime with terrorism. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Important aspects of governance   Cybercrime and need of robust cyber security policy Cyber security and defence against cyber warfare assume greater significance due to rapidly increasing risks, vulnerabilities, threats, cybercrimes and fraud. The incidence of cybercrimes in the country went up significantly in 2015 where number of cases booked under the cybercrime category rose by 20.5%. This reiterates the need of an effective cyber security policy to thwart cyber threats. What is cybercrime? Cybercrime is defined as a crime in which a computer is the object of the crime (hacking, phishing, spamming) or is used as a tool to commit an offense (child pornography, hate crimes). Cybercriminals may use computer technology to access personal information, business trade secrets, military data or use the Internet for exploitive or malicious purposes. Criminals who perform these illegal activities are often referred to as hackers. Today, criminals and rogue nations are increasingly attacking the technology assets of individuals, organizations and governments, stealing and selling valuable information, and in an alarming trend, holding data for ransom. Some examples are: California hospital’s technology systems and encrypted patient-care data was hacked. A ransom of over $5.5 million was demanded. A leading e-commerce company recently discovered that a loophole in its payment gateway gave the hackers opportunity to procure goods at 100% discount coupons. A hacker sent spurious email from CEO’s mailbox to the finance department asking it to transfer funds to a fictitious vendor’s bank account. Thus, new facets of cyber threats are emerging with advancing technology and new business models. Use of internet The government and enterprises have now increased internet usage for critical applications like operating power grids and smart cities, conducting banking transactions etc. However, these increased usage has brought forward cybersecurity concerns.   Cyber terrorism Currently, state sponsored cyber terrorism, non-state terrorist groups, corporate and individual hackvists are engaged in different crimes, espionage, theft of patents, and other information assets. Nations such as Russia, China, Iran, North Korea are reported to use cyber capabilities as an effective geostrategic tool for espionage, propaganda attacks, to target critical infrastructure systems, for intelligence gathering and also to support political and military objectives. Non-state terrorist groups deploy internet “to organise, recruit, spread propaganda, collect intelligence, raise funds, and coordinate operations”. Example: ISIS is found targeting sensitive information about US military personnel to spur ‘lone-wolf’ attacks for theft, extortion, and drug trafficking. It is also spreading its vicious propaganda through social networking sites which attract a larger number of people, mainly youth. India Inc.’s cyber security preparedness Unfortunately, the Indian industries also don’t have robust response to cyber risks. India ranks third globally as a source of malicious activities and its enterprises are the sixth-most targeted by cybercriminals. There have been investments in high-end security products, cyber-breach detection capabilities in most large organizations, yet they remain largely ineffective. Their crisis-response strategies also appears to be inadequate. In early 2016, EY conducted a cyber-attack simulation for 79 CEOs where they were asked how they would react when informed about their customer data being compromised. The responses ranged from contacting the chief information security officer to the chief marketing officer to the corporate communications officer. However, most executives did not have concrete plan with regards to cybercrime related to ransom demands. Thus, the organisations have to protect their intellectual property, customer, vendor and employee data, strategic plans, financial statements, legal positions etc. which are at risk due to cyber threat and enhance their cyber resilience. Way forward Need for awareness and skilled manpower Now, the attacks cannot be limited just by installing anti-virus security. It has become far more complex. Cybercrimes include techniques like botnets (use of network of robots that spread malware), zombie computers (a computer that has been hacked into and is used to launch malicious attacks), app exploitation, and detecting problems in newer programming languages like Python, among others. Hence, now the cyber security is not only about protecting but also detecting and responding. Currently, there is a need for three lakh professionals but the availability is around 30,000. Hence, there has to be a dedicated cadre of cyber security professionals and experts.   Need of stronger national cyber security policy Cyber-attacks are not a matter of “if” but “when” in these times. India’s existing cyber security policy of 2013 must be reviewed in the light of emerging cyber threats. India’s cyber security strategy must be able to protect multiple digital intrusions at all levels: military and corporate espionage, electronic attacks disrupting critical infrastructure, ICT and IoT systems and data privacy, integrity and security of its citizens. A national cyber security agency should be set up to develop appropriate policy, strategy and action plan, linking key ministries. Dissemination of best security practices, intelligence sharing, intrusion reporting and effective coordination and partnership between private, corporate, government and international level organisations like the UN, the European Union and India’s allies. Signing of MoUs on cyber defence with allies and international organisations may become unavoidable as cyber threats defy state borders and organisational boundaries. Thus, cyberspace is increasingly becoming a key domain besides air, sea and land warfare. The nation’s top strategic, business, and technical leadership, both from government and private must work in tandem bolstering partnerships between central, States, and the local governments. Adequate funding for ICT and IoT security is inevitable for strategic research and development along with enhancing India’s technological and investigative capabilities. Connecting the dots: What are the cyber challenges faced by government and organisations? Discuss Dependence on internet is necessity but also a threat. Critically analyse the statement with respect to India’s cyber security and cyber threat preparedness.   Related articles: Upgrading India’s cyber security architecture Digitised records and patient rights ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General Studies 3 Environment and Ecology, Bio diversity - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.   Air pollution levels up by 8%: U.N. report Concerns: The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting at Nairobi noted that air pollution has increased by 8 per cent and progress and policies on air quality fall short of what is needed to save millions of lives each year. At least 600,000 deaths being caused annually in India by fine particulate matter pollution in the air — data released by the World Health Organisation So many deaths could be attributed to particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in size Residents in many urban areas are forced to breathe unhealthy levels of particulates, and the smallest of these — PM10 and less — can penetrate and get lodged deep in the lungs A recent study by Yale and Columbia University ranked India 126th out of 132 countries surveyed on environmental performance and worst air pollution; far below all BRICS nations WHO Global Burden of Disease study has also been working to estimate pollution-linked health impacts, such as stroke and ischaemic heart disease, acute lower respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Causes: Data on fine particulates in India show that in several locations the pollutants come from burning of biomass, such as coal, fuel wood, farm litter and cow dung cakes. In highly built-up areas, construction debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust add to the problem. SO2 and NO2: Coal-powered thermal power plants are the leading sources of SO2 and NO2 in the environment. Growing number of cars: Low standards for vehicle emission Diesel vehicles are responsible for 56% of all PM emissions and 70% of all Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions Content of sulphur in fuel makes it dirtier and lowers the efficiency of catalytic convertors, which control emissions in automobiles. Indoor Air Pollution: As per Census 2011, 87% of rural households and 26% of urban households depend on biomass for cooking. Burning of biomass is a leading cause of indoor air pollution and is responsible for respiratory and pulmonary health issues in approximately 400 million Indians. Usage of Kerosene: The proportion of rural households using kerosene as a primary source of energy for lighting is almost 30%. Kerosene lanterns used in rural areas are a primary source of emission of black carbon soot and cause significant health impact, particularly in the case of women and children.   Impacts Cost of Air pollution- 3% of the GDP: A World Bank report highlighted that the annual cost of air pollution, specifically pollution from particulate matter (burning of fossil fuels): 3% of the GDP of the country: Outdoor air pollution accounting 1.7% and Indoor air pollution for 1.3% The report observed that a 30% reduction in particulate emissions by 2030 would save India $105 billion in health-related costs and a 10% reduction would save $24 billion. Leading cause of Death: The Global Burden of Disease Report has ranked outdoor air pollution as the fifth leading cause of death in India and indoor air pollution as the third leading cause. Agricultural productivity: A recent research study “Recent climate and air pollution impacts on Indian agriculture” suggested that Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) were having an adverse impact of agricultural productivity of India. Initiatives & Policy Measures: Steps to curb vehicular emission Emission norms and fuel regulation standards: BS – IV norms are applicable in 34 cities whereas BS –III norms are applicable in the rest of the country. Adaptation of Euro VI norms to Bharat Stage VI. Saumitra Chaudhari Committee:Government should introduce the Bharat Stage – V norms across the country by 2020. Promotion of cleaner technologies and alternate sources of energy to run vehicles: National Mission for Electricity Mobility (NMEM):To enhance penetration of efficient and environmentally friendly hybrid and electric vehicles; GoI: 1,000 crores for the Plan in 2015 to decrease CO2 emissions by 1.2- 1.5% in 2020 Promotion of usage of Biofuels: To substitute petrol and diesel in automobiles target: 20% blending of bio-fuels such as bio-diesel and bio-ethanol by 2017 is proposed; Ethanol run bus launched in Nagpur under ‘Green Bus’ Project Encouraging greater use of public transport: To prioritize the use of public transport running on cleaner fuel and technology and developing a people-centric sustainable multi-modal urban transport network, taking into consideration the unique characteristics in cities. Reducing the dependence on biomass burning National Biomass Cookstoves Programme: Promote the use of improved cookstoves resulting in: Reduced emissions, Reduced fuel consumption and Cleaner cooking energy solutions Renewable Energy: Achieve 175,000 MW of green energy by 2022 including 1 lakh MW of solar power, 60,000 MW of wind energy, 10,000 MW of biomass and 5000 MW of small hydro projects Solar Power: An enabling policy framework for manufacturing solar components and setting up power plants should be created Off-grid applications should be promoted and steps be taken to bring tariff to grid parity level Currently, Government has revised the target to 100 GW by 2022. Gandhinagar Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop Programme From carbon subsidization to carbon taxation: Cess on coal has been doubled which will boost renewable energy financing Cess is collected as National Clean Energy Fund and is disbursed for renewable energy-based initiatives and power projects. National ‘Air Quality Index’: “One Color, One Number and One Description”. Measurement index consisting of 8 parameters, which would disseminate information in a simple and effective manner (Real time; 8 pollutants) Conclusion: Comprehensive measurement of PM2.5 is not yet being done and the linkages between pollution, disease and deaths need further study. A neglected aspect of urban air pollution control is the virtual discarding of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, notified to sustainably manage debris that is dumped in the cities, creating severe particulate pollution.  The Environment Ministry has highlighted the role that debris can play as a resource. Municipal and government contracts are, under the rules, required to utilise up to 20 per cent materials made from construction and demolition waste, and local authorities must place containers to hold debris.  This must be implemented without delay. Providing cleaner fuels and scientifically designed cook stoves to those who have no option but to burn biomass, would have a big impact on reducing particulate matter in the northern and eastern States, which are the worst-hit during winter, when biomass is also used for heating. Greening the cities could be made a mission, involving civil society, with a focus on landscaping open spaces and paving all public areas to reduce dust.  These measures can result in lower PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Connecting the Dots: Discuss the role of States in promoting Renewable Energy in India. Can India tap solar power and transform it into a crucial component of India’s power portfolio? Discuss various initiatives taken by the government and suggest a way ahead for better enhancement of India’s prospects.   MUST READ OPEC’s roll of the dice Hindu   Taking the road less dusty Hindu   The SAARC gambit Hindu Indian Express   India and Russia Indian Express Livemint Related article: India-Russia: Time to rebuild the ties   ‘Mobile phones, access to Net improve socioeconomic status’ Indian Express   Bill in bad faith Indian Express   Anatomy of The Urban Flood Indian Express   A new approach for a jobs policy for India Livemint   Importance of pulses Livemint Related article: CEA panel report:- “Incentivising Pulses Production through MSP and other policies”   Special governance zones as reform labs Livemint   RBI shouldn’t overlook the savings slide Business Line   Time for the stick- Income Declaration Scheme Business Line- Article 1 Business Line- Article 2  

Oct 3, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 30]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Recently a new species of Pika was discovered in Sikkim. Consider the following statements about Pika They are members of rat family They are a keystone species Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Nether 1 nor 2 Q.2) Which state accounts for the highest number of endemic flowering plants species as revealed by a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI)? Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Kerala Meghalaya  Q.3) Consider the following statements about National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) It is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare This has been mandated as per the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011 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 about Simplified Proforma for Incorporating a Company Electronically (SPICe) e-Form It was launched by Ministry of Finance It will provide speedy incorporation related services within stipulated time frames which are in line with the international best practices Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.5) Select the incorrect statement from the below: Marrakesh Treaty forms part of the body of international copyright treaties administered by WIPO India became the first country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty ‘Accessible India Campaign’ has provided a nationwide flagship campaign for universal access for people with disabilities World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) headquarters is in Hague Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Oct 3, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Is G20 Summit an Exercise in Futility?

Archives     Is G20 Summit an Exercise in Futility? 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.   Background G20 represents 85% of global GDP, 80% of international trade, 65% of world’s population. G20 was formed post the economic crisis of 2008. The leaders of 20 most important nations have come together where they have been able to understand the nature of economic crisis and decide how a collective stimulus can help in increasing spending power. The 11th G20 summit had been conducted on lines of improving global conditions. It is not easy to quantify exactly what happened but G20 has lot of work at the sidelines where heads of state are meeting each other. Is it truly a multilateral summit? In every major multilateral summit, a large component will be about the bilateral meetings and discussion on domestic issues. The core of a successful summit is that once all bilateral meets are over, the leaders have to put together some degree of coherent convergent opinion about what to do. The G20 summit of Pittsburgh (2009) was the best example of that where comprehensive agreements were made on solving global financial crisis. However, as the case has been of past few G20s, even this G20 did not see any real coherent proposal or agreement among the countries. The core divide by China and backed by India said that the developed world, especially the western countries, have lack of structural reforms and emphasis is on quantitative easing which is eventually printing more money in order to get the economy get going, is not proving to be much success. The growth is little, but the enormous amount of money printing has now started to damage the world economy. One third of all the savings of world today is getting negative interest rate because so much money has been printed that no one is ready to give interest on that money any more. India has done more structural reforms than any other nations and thus has forcefully conveyed that it is doing the hard political work to actually change the economy to compensate for the problems of world economy and the western countries are just printing more money. This is a disaster which can lead to another financial crisis. The failure to come to an agreement between these bipolar thinking at the G20 is a clear sign that G20 at least in this summit has failed to accomplish its primary goal. Current economic challenges G20 started in 1999 in wake of crisis when the finance ministers and central bank governors got together on the sidelines of fund bank meetings which sought to look after how the global economic governance and financial structure can be improved. Both in 1999 and 2008, there were international economic crisis and hence there was action. At the moment, there is evidence of Brexit, rise of isolationism, rise of protectionism in different countries, but the crisis is not of the magnitude as seen earlier. However, this has seen pressure on China to open its market, there has been pressure on other countries to do away with financial profligacy and to keep on accumulating debts. Is it only a platform to discuss economic issues? The agenda of G20 has become very heavy where everyone wants to individually raise their concern. Thus, it is no longer related only to trade, investment and finance. Now there are talks on agriculture, education, health, water and all other important issues. Of course, no big bang or visionary decisions to resolve the pressing issues have been visible in last few years, but one of the yardstick would be that when the decisions are taken, how well are they complied with. A study by University of Toronto says that from Antalya summit in November 2015 till Hangzhou summit in September 2016, average compliance level for all commitments made was 78%. The highest was by USA and UK with 88%. India, Italy and Germany with 85%. This presents a positive picture of upkeep of such important institution. India and G20 G20 is important to India as it allows access to international fora. The G20 structure also reflects the change in global architecture. It provides countries like India to deal with different powers, reach out and convince them on important matters. When PM reached out to G20 on terror, the endeavour was to use the network built in reaching out to all the countries that there is a global problem which needs to be sorted out. India also talked about squeezing out black money and coordinated efforts for economic growth. Importance of G20 G20 is the only forum globally which has developed and developing countries together. Though its genesis lies in economic crisis, over the years it had not limited itself to that. There is no secretariat system, there is no treaty structure or no military issues that are discussed multilaterally like done at NATO or UN meetings. However, this has never stopped countries to discuss it bilaterally, for example, there was a meet between Putin and Obama on Syrian crisis. The platform gives way forward to crucial decisions like USA and China pledging to ratify the Paris convention. The strength of G20 lies in the fact that heads of member countries, invited countries and many international organisations inevitably attend it. Thus, there is a network of 20 leaders who have a platform to share and discuss common issues and hence, it is still a relevant platform. Connecting the dots: What is mandate of G20? How does it help India to achieve its bilateral objectives? Discuss.   Related articles: 11th G-20 Summit-Towards revival of world economy