Sep 20, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 22]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) It is under the Ministry of Law and Justice It replaced the Company Law Board (CLB) It is set up at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai only Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 Only 2 1 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) It is a chronic lung disease It belongs to the group of Interstitial lung disease (ILD) IPF is characterized by scarring of the lungs which makes the lungs thick and stiff Select the correct code: 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is responsible for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) relating to Geographical Indication of goods Copyrights Semiconductor integrated circuits’ layout design Select the correct code: 1 and 2 Only 2 2 and 3 All of the above  Q.4) The term Levant is in news. It is concerned with which of the following countries? Jordan North Sudan Egypt Lebanon Syria Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 1, 3, 4 and 5 4 and 5 1, 4 and 5 Q.5) Which among the following are tributaries of River Yamuna, the longest and the second largest tributary river of the Ganges (Ganga) in northern India? Chambal Son Betwa Ken Choose the appropriate code: 1 and 2 only 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only All of the above Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Sep 19, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 19th September, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 19th September, 2016   ECONOMY   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country   CEA panel report:- “Incentivising Pulses Production through MSP and other policies” In news: The government constituted a committee under CEA to address the policy issues that would help address this volatility in acreage, production and prices in pulses. Background In the wake of two successive years of weak monsoons in 2014 and 2015 and the resulting mismatch between demand and supply, prices of pulses rose sharply. It led to higher inflation and straining the purchasing power of consumers all over India. However, the situation has been reversed in current kharif season (2016) as there has been sharp increase in domestic production combined with a surge in global production of pulses. This has threatened to affect farmers’ incomes and livelihoods. Importance of pulses in India Dietary choice- Pulses are going to be increasingly important in the dietary habits of Indian consumer as the average Indian under-consumes protein. They are more affordable than other sources of protein like milk, eggs and fish. Increase in demand- For the evolving dietary pattern, there should not be larger demand-supply mismatch for pulses. The import of pulses is not a correct and sustainable policy measure to arrest the demand-supply mismatch of pulses. Farmers need to be encouraged to grow more pulses because demand is projected to rise by roughly 50% between 2016 and 2024.   Environmentally safe- Pulses help in soil rejuvenation and naturally fixing atmospheric nitrogen, without consuming much water. Thus, in the existing scenario, the committee under CEA reviewed Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) and related policies to incentivize the cultivation of pulses. Recommendations of the CEA panel MSP and procurement The government should procure pulses on a "war footing" as there is likely to be a bumper production and prices might fall below MSP. A High Level Committee should be set up to monitor the procurement at highest level because pulses procurement has generally been ineffective in the past. Communication is important to engender credibility that government is backing up its policies with effective follow-up action. Thus, Reporting must include real time online data on procurement with geo-coding of all procurement centres and also physical verification of pulses procurement (via videoconference). Building a buffer stock in pulses of 2 million tons with targets for individual pulses, especially tur (3.5 lakh tonne) and urad (2 lakh tonnes). These stocks should be built up gradually but opportunistically, buying when prices are low as in the current year (2016). Instruct Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices to comprehensively review its MSP-setting framework to incorporate risk and social externalities. Risk- inherent risk in agriculture because of weather, pest, and price shocks Externalities- over-use of inputs in north-west India and the resulting drop in the water table, the increased incidence of disease and erosion of soil quality, and deterioration of the environment (especially from burning of rice straws) Other price management policies Lifting export bans and stock limits to prevent further declines in prices; at the very least limits on wholesalers should be eliminated. Greater the limits on procurement by the governmentà greater the urgency to take these actions to ensure that market prices stabilize above the MSP. The worst case scenario for farmers is weak procurement and stock limits which force farmers to sell most of their output at market prices that are well below MSP. Though it will benefit consumers in short run, it will negatively affect next year’s production. Encourage states to delist pulses from their APMCs. Review Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and futures trading of agricultural commodities with a view to preserving objectives but finding more effective and less costly instruments for achieving them.   Institutions for procurement-stocking-disposal More PPP institutions with a variety of governance structures for pulses. The more successful is procurement, the greater will be the need for policies to ensure effective stocking, warehousing, processing and disposal. Hence, with the immediate priority of procurement, there will also be a need to dispose of procured stocks. There have been earlier precedents of such institutional arrangements in agriculture such as the NCML, which was a subsidiary of NCDEX. Minimizing adverse impact Pulses research attracts less public attention than research on cereals. A prerequisite for increasing yields in pulses is to clearly signal the openness and encouragement to GM technologies. In pulses, breeding is limited both by the narrow genetic base of varieties and their high susceptibility to pest and disease attacks. Promoting GM would be a way of promoting Create in India. Progress made: GM pod borer insect pest-resistant chana and arhar have been developed by Assam Agricultural University and ICRISAT respectively, both public institutions. These should be quickly cleared once they are ready for use. Conclusion Enhancing domestic productivity and production rapidly and sustainably is the only reliable way of minimizing volatility in prices of pulses, and safeguarding the interests of farmers and also consumers. The current crisis offers a rare opportunity to show that government intervention, especially procurement, can be effective beyond rice and wheat. It is also a rare opportunity for pulses to get the policy attention it deserves. To this end, especially as prices decline, government procurement must be on war footing. Connecting the dots: How can pulses production and productivity be increased and sustained? Enumerate Is MSP the only important policy measure to regulate production and prices of pulses. Critically analyse.   Related articles: TLP 2015 Need to Revive Agriculture Steps to control price rise of pulses ECONOMY   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Monetary Policy reforms.   Institutionalizing Monetary Policy Committee Monetary policy decisions by central banks can have far-reaching implications for the economy, investors, savers and borrowers. Hence, the decisions taken should be carefully crafted. Therefore, globally many governments have appointed a separate committee for this job. However in India the job of monetary policy-making was in the hand of RBI. Recently on 27th June, 2016, the Government amended the RBI Act to hand over the job of monetary policy-making in India to a newly constituted Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Composition of MPC MPC is to be a six-member panel that is expected to bring “value and transparency” to rate-setting decisions. 3 members from the RBI — the Governor, a Deputy Governor and another official. 3 independent members to be selected by the Government. A search committee (yes, another committee!) will recommend three external members, experts in the field of economics, banking or finance, for the Government appointees. The MPC will meet four times a year to decide on monetary policy by a majority vote. And if there’s a tie between the ‘Ayes’ and the ‘Nays’, the RBI governor gets the deciding vote.   Why is it important? Until recently, India’s central bank used to take its monetary policy decisions based on the multiple indicator approach. Its rate decisions were expected to take into account inflation, growth, employment, banking stability and the need for a stable exchange rate. As we can see, this is a tall order. Thus, RBI (with the Governor as the focal point) would be subject to hectic lobbying ahead of each policy review and trenchant criticism after it. The Government would clamour for lower rates while consumers sorrow over high inflation. Bank chiefs would want rate cuts, but pensioners would want high rates. RBI ended up juggling all these objectives and focussing on different indicators at different points in time. Urjit Patel Committee to revise the monetary policy framework: To resolve above problems, RBI set up an Expert Committee under Urijit Patel to revise the monetary policy framework, and it came up with its report in January 2014. It suggested that RBI abandon the ‘multiple indicator’ approach and make inflation targeting the primary objective of its monetary policy. It also mooted having an MPC so that these decisions could be made through majority vote. Having both Government and RBI members on the MPC was suggested for accountability. The Government would have to keep its deficit under check and RBI would owe an explanation for runaway inflation.   B N Srikrishna headed Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) also suggested framing a MPC to meet the challenge of the growing complex economy. The MPC will ensure that decisions on interest rates are made through debate by a panel of experts. The many-heads-are-better-than-one approach may also help ensure that the decision isn’t easily influenced by bias or lobbying. The MPC may put a stop to the public skirmishes between the Government and the RBI. Connecting the dots: Government of India recently amended the RBI Act to hand over the job of monetary policy-making in India to a newly constituted Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Discuss the composition and importance of this newly institutionalized MPC.   Related articles: Tightrope walk—for the new RBI Governor MUST READ A blow for the right to knowledge Hindu   An overlapping roadmap Hindu   Coherence in the neighbourhood Hindu   ‘Judicial innovation’ helps SC avoid awarding death penalty Hindu   Aiming for a ‘no spoilage-no spill’ balance Hindu   Illusion of legality Indian Express   Equal opportunity for women will boost growth Livemint   Globalization’s failures: the age of discontent Livemint   Know about FCNR (B) outflows Business Line   Game for agri-commodities? Business Line

Sep 19, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Yaad Karo Kurbaani

ARCHIVES   Yaad Karo Kurbaani   Search 9th August 2016 here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx In a war cemetery in Kohima, there is a grave which has the epitaph “Go back and tell them- For your today, we gave up our tomorrow”. India celebrates its 74th Quit India Movement anniversary which was launched on 9th August 1942. The Quit India ended in the culmination of the British leaving India but in between, it martyred countless people. Some were famous, some were just memories in their families and some not even that. Significance of 9th August During India’s struggle for independence, lot of people, known and unknown, gave their life for our today. It is the time not only to remember them but to take some lesson from them. How important for them was the freedom of the country, not in the sense that British had to be shunted out but freedom in wider sense of social, economic, political independence and equality for all. Thus, it is important to remember such freedom souls and take cues from their martyrdom. On 9th August 1942, the final event for independence of India was launched- the Quit India Movement, under the leadership of Gandhiji. Its resolution was adopted on 8th August at All India Congress Committee session at Bombay. In this movement, Gandhiji declared that from that day onwards, the people of India should consider themselves as free and not dependent on anybody else. For that purpose, he gave them three slogans- Forget that they are Hindu or Muslim. They have to consider themselves as Indian. Don’t have any hate against anybody. Their struggle is not against any Britisher or Englishmen but against imperialism and colonialism. The British people made us part of WW-II against Fascism and Nazism. If Fascism and Nazism is bad, then imperialism is equally bad. And hence, British colonial power has to leave India. Thus, Gandhiji said that it was inherent duty of Britishers to quit India at that point of time honourably or Indians will throw them out. For that, he said it was time for ‘Do or Die’, where either they will achieve independence or die in its struggle. Thus, 9th August was the beginning of that period of national movement which ultimately led to India’s freedom. Remembering the freedom fighters Gandhiji’s genius lay in taking along masses with him including people who did not agree with him. Some disagreed actively and stayed out of movement while some who joined him reluctantly but did not agree with everything he was doing. Within national movement, there were many streams. Within congress there were liberals who were following the path of petitions and peaceful protests and there were extremists who believed in bold means like non-cooperation, boycott of government institutions etc. Also, there were revolutionaries who believed in armed struggle. The revolutionaries particularly became active from 1924 onwards when freedom fighters like Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Jogesh Chatterjee, Batukeshwar Dutt, Bajaj Kumar Singh were emerging. It was time after 1917 Russian revolution, the Bolshevik revolution when the Indian revolutionaries were influenced by Marxist and Communist ideologies. At the same time, the revolutionaries had disagreements with methods of Gandhiji like peaceful agitations which they believed were not adequate to gain independence. But, they all respected Gandhiji. Neither were they against Congress.  They all were looking towards one aim, though the means were different. Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad are given little more importance in history. Before 1924, the revolutionary activities had started from Bengal. But then epicentre became in Kanpur. Soon, the revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil, Azad, Yogendra Shukla formed Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) in 1924. On 9th August 1925, the members of HRA attacked train carrying British treasure which they considered Indians’, at Kakori. Four of the members- Shafat Ali Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri- were caught and hung in a quick decision. They all belonged to different religions but fought for a same cause. Later in Delhi, a new group was formed which was called the Hindustan Socialist Rrepublican Association. Azad was Commander in Chief of HRA and Bhagat Singh was given task of ideological leadership. Thus, they became more known. There were three revolutionary groups- in Bengal, Punjab and Kanpur. Subhash Chandra Bose was earlier a part of Congress, but he too fell apart. He organised Indian National Army in 1942. World during Quit India movement WW-II is a very crucial period in world history. The world stage was very different at that time and there were several traumatic developments taking place very fast. One of them was WW-II which had already started and which was having crippling effect on global industries, especially British industries and therefore many argued that seeds were already sown for the destruction of British Empire. Britain as a country was more concerned about winning the war against Hitler. At that time Indians had to decide which side they were taking. WW-II was on one hand a very serious war, but at the same time there was an ideological war. Nazism and Fascism were popular, Bolsheviks had become successful through Russian revolution. At the same time, USA had emerged as a power. It was not an imperial power. They wanted to have their hegemony on the world and hence they supported colonisation. They were giving the idea of ‘right to self-determination’. This situation was very useful for Indian national movement as they were getting force from idea of self-determination from USA leadership and from Bolshevik people. Though India being under imperial rule, the national leaders like Gandhiji, Nehru had sympathy for British as they were attacked by Fascists’ and Nazis’ forces. India wanted to support British ideologically but the question before them was if they were supporting the cause against fascism and Nazism, then why they were under imperialism? Therefore, the Indian leadership was very clear that ideologically, they were against fascism and Nazism but India’s first goal will be its independence. Even for that, there were difference of approaches. One section was prepared to cooperate with Congress on promise that India will get freedom. Leaders like Bose had no trust on Britishers and hence did not support congress. Revolutionaries thought that Britishers are complete progenies of capitalism so, they were not in favour of supporting them. What if? There always exist what ifs in history. One among them is what if Mahatma Gandhi had not been there? Would India still had been a part of British Empire? After WW-II, many countries which were part of imperial power started liberating themselves from colonialism. So, there was beginning of a period of decolonisation after 1945 and by 1956, almost all countries were free. So, India would nevertheless have been independent. This was a part and parcel of national movement in every country and at the same time international political organisation. But, Gandhiji’s importance remains very much in international fora for his contribution to world for embracing peace and non-violence. Not many political leaders of other national movements are widely known and remembered all over world as Gandhiji. Thus, there is no doubt about the vast role of Gandhiji in India’s national freedom struggle. India’s vision Gandhiji not only gave freedom but also provided a sense of unity to Indians. Considering the diversity of India, it is very important to be united. He made masses the part of national movement. The result of these efforts were consolidation of India after independence. India is one of the successful countries where it still continues to be democratic, though there was emergency during 1975-1977 but it was a part of constitutional system. Thus, one has to understand for what the freedom has been given to us by our freedom fighters. India has been against imperialism and colonialism because of not only the political impact but also the social and economic consequences. Poverty, illiteracy, social backwardness still persist in India. India wanted freedom- first from Britishers, then freedom from wants. Therefore, the idea was to build an egalitarian society. This remains an important goal for which India has to work together. Connecting the dots: India has entered 70th year of its independence. Are the goals of freedom fighters of India’s national movement still relevant? Examine.

Sep 19, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 21]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) On June 27, 2016, the Government amended the RBI Act to hand over the job of monetary policy-making in India to a newly constituted Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Consider the following statements MPC composes of seven member committee led by RBI Governor. 3 members from the RBI — the Governor, a Deputy Governor and another official and 4 independent members to be appointed by the Central Government Urjit Patel Committee mooted having an MPC so that these decisions could be made through majority vote Having both Government and RBI members on the MPC was suggested for accountability Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 3 only All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) HFCs are ozone depleting chemical substances Montreal protocol deals with phasing out of HFCs Select the correct statement(s) Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Q.3) Recently Maria Sharapova was banned for consumption of a drug & the same drug was banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Which is that drug? Acetylsalicylic Acid Paracetamol Creatine Meldonium Q.4) Which of the following statement(s) about GST Council is/are correct? It will be chaired by Union Finance Minister It will promote cooperative federalism The Council will give the Centre one-third voting power and the states two-thirds Select the correct code: Only 1 1 and 2 2 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Buckingham Canal It runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast It is a part of National Waterway 4 It is a freshwater navigation canal Select the correct statement(s) 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Sep 17, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 17th September, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 17th September, 2016   INTERNATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.   BRICS 2016- Challenge to sustain the significance In news: The annual BRICS summit will be hosted by India in October 2016 with the theme “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”. The BRICS dynamics and the emerging situation of ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ is being highlighted. Background BRICS has been pushing for greater economic growth among the member countries and reform of global financial institutions. Focus will be on “greater people-to-people participation” during the BRICS events like BRICS Film Festival, BRICS Wellness Forum, BRICS Youth Forum and BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave held throughout the year across the country. This is expected to give people a greater opportunity to enrich the BRICS process and BRICS leaders a stronger platform for dialogue. Picture Credit: http://www.brics-info.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016011304.jpg Let us look at the BRICS dynamics expected to be visible during the 8th BRICS summit. China-Russia growing friendship   Russian President and Chinese President share an image of being tough leaders, of having defied the U.S. and the West. They are now edging closer to a closer security partnership. The largest ever Sino-Russian joint naval exercises are being held in the South China Sea (SCS) off the coast of Guangdong province. Moreover, Russia is the only country to have explicitly supported China’s stand on the SCS dispute. It has rejected the international tribunal award and proposed bilateral dialogue with claimant countries, though it has not endorsed China’s territorial claims. China would like to include in the BRICS summit declaration what had been agreed upon in the India-Russia-China trilateral Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Moscow in April 2016. The crux was: India, Russia and China were committed to maintain the legal order for seas and oceans on principles of international law reflected in UNCLOS. The disputes will be addressed through negotiations and agreements between the parties concerned. The ministers called for respect to UNCLOS, Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the Guidelines for implementation of the DOC. However, this was before the Hague ruling. Now, India would probably look to resist combined China-Russia pressure to include such declaration in summit by highlighting the Chinese opposition to India’s membership of NSG and its blocking at the UN of naming the Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist.   Brazil and South Africa- lagging economies Any notable initiative is unlikely to come up from Brazil and South Africa as both countries are suffering from political and economic turmoil. Brazil President has taken over after a politically polarising impeachment of the former Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff while S.A. President is facing serious charges of corruption and there has been unprecedented infighting in his political party. Hence, the BRICS summit is likely to have more focus on India-Russia-China. However, India has the challenge to bring Brazil and South Africa into productive talks with the remaining leaders to maintain and sustain a major bloc of developing economies. Too many meetings eroding substance BRICS has now started showing characteristic of several other multi-country groupingsà exponential expansion in its committees, working groups and forums. This has resulted in growing crowded calendar of meetings held across globe. Over hundred subjects including trade, investment and finance, health, education and security are being undertaken at multi-body platforms. India is also hosting around ten such events every year. This brings out the question if such hyperactivity is leading to substantive outcomes. Such multilateral meetings that declare crucial goals and end on promising note often fail to expand human or financial resources to follow through. The event become the focus and not the process. Thus leading to sparse outcomes of such events.   Sustaining the BRICS significance The New Development Bank is one of the BRICS’s practical outcome. However, where the NDB has been operationalised and India has already received loans of around USD300 million, it has been overshadowed by China led AIIB. Another important initiative, The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), has yet to come into action. It proposes to provide short-term liquidity support to the members through currency swaps to help mitigating BOP crisis situation, if such a situation arises. It would also contribute to strengthening the global financial safety net and complement existing international arrangements (from IMF) as an additional line of defence. A proposal to set up BRICS Credit Rating Agency to challenge the monopoly of the West, if adopted, will be of much value. The BRICS free trade agreement may come up against fears of Indian and Russian markets being swamped by Chinese imports. However, even such agreement is not expected to give impetus to the member economies. None of the member countries are part of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). However, at the moment, TPP and TTIP are stalled and a hope of mega trade bloc of the key emerging economies would be a major development. It could even bring WTO back into its significant position in global trade. Thus, BRICS has a responsibility of bringing significant outcomes to help the member countries for positive economic advancement. Reviving the BIMSTEC It was expected that India might invite SAARC leaders to BRICS when Brazil invited heads of state/government from Latin America in 2014 and Russia invited leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union and SCO in 2015. Instead, India has chosen to host the leaders of the seven-member BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) which is a potential Bay of Bengal Economic Community. Concurrently, BIMSTEC will hold its 4th summit in India. Picture Credit: http://img.tradeindia.com/cmsmedia/smetimes/media/2012/03/09/BIMSTEC.9.jpg The BIMSTEC summit could be an important occasion for revival of the group having immense potential. The highlight is that China will not be dominating India and also, India will be able to go along with its Act Eat policy. The parallel Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), a platform for India’s exclusive engagement with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, can also become a major component of Act Eat strategy. Not encouragingly enough, neither BIMSTEC nor MGC have failed to live to their potential. India has engaged with these groups on intermittent and ad hoc basis which has not led to a well-thought out and long term strategy of integrating India more closely with its eastern neighbourhood. Connectivity is expected to rule over BIMSTEC summit. However, once again India faces the ‘Chinese scare’. The connectivity will also help China to promote its One Belt, One Road initiative among the members of this grouping.   Conclusion  India has limited resources but the record of delivering on the commitments has been abysmal. There have been occasions where same projects appear as ‘fresh initiatives’. The capacities and institutions continue to lag behind the ambitions. Hence, the forthcoming summits will reflect India’s status as a key player in the region and as a globally significant player. India has to focus on making a well-conceived event with systematic process of expanding our strategic space, leveraging its strengths and remedying the vulnerabilities. Now is time to move from an event-oriented to a process-driven approach. Connecting the dots: How can BRICS help India to establish itself as a key regional and globally significant player? Critically examine Smaller groups like BIMSTEC and MGC have greater potential for India to increase its economic and geopolitical status than larger groups like ASEAN and G20. Do you agree? Give reasons critically.   Related article: India-China synergy to strengthen G20, BRICS NATIONAL 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 Important International institutions, agencies and for a-their structure, mandate   The Solar dispute- India and US In news:  India suffered a setback in its efforts to build a robust domestic solar industry, as the appellate body (AB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) upheld an earlier ruling against its domestic content requirements for manufacturing solar cells and modules. Background The solar dispute arose from a complaint lodged by the United States against India. Early this year, a dispute settlement panel issued a comprehensive ruling in favour of US’ claims against India’s domestic content requirements. The national treatment obligations required India to treat imported solar cells and modules on par with domestically produced products without any discrimination under Article III:4 of the GATT 1994. The highest adjudicating body (AB) for global trade disputes agreed with the panel that India’s domestic content requirements for solar cells and modules under the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission amounted to trade-related investment measures as they favour domestic products over imported products. Significantly, the AB disagreed with India’s appeal against the panel ruling that the domestic content requirement) are not covered by the derogation/exemption under the so-called “government procurement carve-out” of GATT Article III:8(a). This provision enables WTO members to deny national treatment disciplines for the procurement by government agencies for products purchased for government purposes and not with a view to engage in commercial resale.   India-US relations At a time when India is forging an ambitious security alliance with the US, including cooperation on solar energy and climate-change issues, the AB’s ruling is a sober reminder/lesson that in global trade based on mercantile trading framework, dollar-cent interests trump over bilateral and climate change considerations. New Delhi finally launched a major trade dispute against the US at the WTO alleging that domestic content requirements and subsidies of eight American states—Washington, California, Montana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Delaware and Minnesota—for renewable energy violated core provisions of global trade rules. India’s delay in raising the dispute against the US’ renewable energy programs in these eight states has denied New Delhi the strategic leverage as availed by WTO members in tit-for-tat trade disputes. India had argued that it had an “obligation to take steps to achieve energy security, mitigate climate change, and achieve sustainable development, and that this includes steps to ensure the adequate supply of clean electricity, generated from solar power, at reasonable prices.” Way forward: There are two policy goals that India is seeking to achieve: One is to promote the ‘Make in India’ initiative and to become self-sufficient in manufacturing high technology products. The other is to generate green energy at a lower cost to meet its growing demands. In this context it is important to remember that the government has recently launched the ‘International Solar Alliance’ with the objective of creating “a collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies to enhance energy security & sustainable development; improve access to energy and opportunities for better livelihoods in rural and remote areas and to increase the standard of living.” To achieve its full potential in energy India needs to reassess its policies and incentives. India must discontinue the DCR measures that violate international trading rules. Instead, to give fillip to the Make in India initiative, India should look to incentivise production of such products in manners which are WTO compatible like giving direct subsidies to domestic manufacturers, tax breaks, ensuring a strong line of long term credit at low rates, collaborating with global leaders to enhance domestic research and development. To meet the increasing demand for clean energy, India must deeply engage with international partners and get the best available technology at internationally competitive rates. Collaborative research and development projects would help in reducing the cost of energy and increasing efficiency in the long run. At this stage, due to the underdeveloped Indian industry, it would be more efficient, to import the technology, while taking efforts to enhance domestic capabilities. By relying heavily on solar energy, the dependence on oil and coal will be reduced. It is necessary to ensure that there is an adequate reserve of domestic manufacturing capacity for solar cells and modules in case there is a disruption in supply of foreign cells and modules. A combination of these measures will lead to greater self-sufficiency and increased capacity in solar energy production. Connecting the dots: Evaluate India’s approach towards meeting the country’s growing energy demands. How far trade disputes impacts to reach its full potential? Discuss.   Related Articles: WTO: The much talked about Solar panel Dispute India and USA at loggerheads at WTO MUST READ Towards a national health policy Hindu   Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is to be replaced by the Monetary Policy Committee Indian Express   The Afghan push Indian Express   Economic management key to handling refugee crisis, says World Bank Livemint   CEA panel sows the seeds of a ‘pulses revolution’ Business Line   Why ditch the non-aligned movement? Business Line Related articles: No more aligned to ‘Non-Alignment’ The end of non alignment

Sep 16, 2016 Motivational Articles

MOTIVATION: For Those Who Had Hard Luck This Time, Prelims 2016!

There’s no such thing as failure, It is just a wait for success! So the bitter truth is out, and you haven’t cleared prelims! What next?      You can stare at your beautiful plan for mains preparation and curse your luck, the way you prepared, the books you read that you didn’t make it through, or you can take a day, understand yourself that it was a matter of negligence from your own end and start analyzing your mistakes. Choice is yours to make! This article isn’t for the group of people who fall in the former category.  This article is not for the people who cannot be changed! The latter ones read ahead. Relax! You are not alone. Thousands of others didn’t make it. Some of them did. You need to be calm and composed and congratulate yourself that at least you dared! You dared to dream. You dared and went to write the exam on that Sunday. By doing it, you brought yourself a step closer to a phase wherein you can at least analyse why you didn’t clear the exam! Think of lakhs of those people who fill the form and decide not to appear for it for the fear of lack of preparation. They are still a step behind you. So you don’t need to feel let down by this disappointment of not clearing the prelims. This is the time that is going to make or break your course of preparation. Either you can start from scratch, follow the same rote strategy that you applied earlier that couldn’t let you clear prelims or make a smart move and alter your strategy to the need of the hour. “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end”   Do you doubt your capability or yourself? There are very few other things that can plague and destroy a young aspiring mind and self-doubt is one among them. At the same time it is doubt that pushes one along on the path of learning and exploration. So what is your doubt? How can you recognize it? And how can you overcome, or even use it to your advantage? It is this doubt that act like a silent monstrous snake that crawls up your leg while you are fast asleep to tighten its coils around your chest; slowly squeezing the life out of you. Many of you would have quit jobs put their other careers at "stake".You will fears that what will or might happen to my career ? Specially when you find your friends appear to be enjoying their lives in Facebook. Nothing, absolutely nothing else can drain you out of life neither UPSC. It is that moment when you feel like the whole world has deserted you. It is a moment when you feel like you have lived in vain. It is simply a moment of absolute emptiness of courage and strength. Are you feeling the same? Your present has no connection whatsoever with your past and future.    Let us tell you a story of a girl who went on to take rank 1. (Note the sentence above, we have used the word take ) She had only 2 attempts left and was already 28 (30 was the age limit in her times). Yet she was adamant that IAS is her calling and had quit a very well paying job to prepare for UPSC. She was insulted by her manger in the IT company that she would end up as nothing in life. Now with all in this in mind, the lady Prepared hard. The teachers recognised her talent and hardwork and expected her to get a top rank in the very first attempt. On the day of result she was waiting in the Dholpur house for the list to be pasted. She expected a rank in top 100, no less. The list was pasted and destined her name was not there! Tears of sorrow rolled down her cheeks. She called up her mentor and sorrowfully explained her predicament and decision to quit UPSC preparation. The mentor astonished as he was but at the same time being mature to understand the uncertainties of UPSC asked her not to quit the preparation. Instead he said "you will be ranked 1 next year". Take few days off and start your preparation again. And Yes, she was Ranked 1 in the coming year of CSE examination Friends, it is in the moment of hardship and your response to it that defines you. Only in moments of challenges are you truly tested; this is when you need your personality, intelligence, strength and courage. Doubt is not all that bad, it helps you to question learn and understand. But self-doubt is a different matter altogether. You can doubt your abilities, you can doubt your intelligence, you can doubt your progress, you can doubt your knowledge, you can doubt everything, but you cannot doubt yourself. Give shelter to all other doubts except self-doubt. Self-doubt is the silent death of the your soul. Sure it will take a little time and effort to understand where you went wrong, you will feel lost about where to go and whom to approach, but once you sit with a calm mind, you’ll realize you don’t need to approach 10 friends and 5 relatives to tell you what to do. We are there to guide you at every step. But self-realization is what works the best! You are the best judge of yourself. You know which areas you prepared well and where you cheated a bit due to lack of interest or lack or time. You have to start analysing where you went wrong, which area of preparation you need to focus more and where to avoid silly mistakes to fall in those to make it for the next year. Now is the right time for self-awareness! You need to be well aware of your weak areas and your strengths. For the next attempt, focus more on your weak areas and keep revising on your strengths. Prepare your notes well; IASBABA’s initiatives are always there to back up your preparation. Most of you will find it a little difficult to change your plan of preparation, it will go haywire, but those few who will sail it through are the ones who’ll reach their final destination! Again, choice is yours to make! :)  All the best  IASbaba

Sep 16, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 16th September, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 16th September, 2016   ECONOMY/NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Science and Technology - developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints   Bayer-Monsanto deal- How it affects India In news: German firm Bayer's acquisition of US seeds company Monsanto, if approved, would create the world's largest agribusiness. But the deal has drawn criticism in India and sparked concerns among the nation's farmers. Bayer and Monsanto in India   Bayer Bayer Group in India comprises the Crop Science and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Crop Science is the largest division for Bayer in India. It has two units: Crop Protection / Seeds and Environmental Science. Crop Protection / Seeds markets high-value seeds along with innovative chemical and biological pest management solutions. Environmental Science focuses on non-agricultural applications, with a range of pest control products and services for areas ranging from the home and garden sector to forestry. Bayer is a market leader in the crop protection business in India.   Monsanto Monsanto India Ltd. (MIL) has been operating in India for six decades. This company focuses on maize, agriculture productivity and herbicide. Monsanto Holdings Pvt. Ltd. holds 26% stake in Mahyco which focuses on marketing Paras cotton hybrid seeds, BT cotton technologies and Vegetable Hybrid seeds. Mahyco Monsanto Biotech India Pvt. Ltd. sub-licenses BT technologies to 28 Indian seeds companies. In short, Monsanto focuses on seeds and biology, Bayer on chemicals. Why does the deal matter? The merger will propel the merged entity (Bayer-Monsanto) into a leading player in the seed sector. If the deal is approved by regulators, the new company would become the largest agribusiness in the world selling 29% of the world’s seeds and 24% of its pesticides. This will put it in the commanding position vis-à-vis food supply. Through their subsidiaries and joint ventures in India, the two firms will garner a major share in paddy, maize, vegetables and cotton and agrochemicals. Worries for India Less choices: In the past, first Dow Chemical and DuPont merged, then there was Syngenta’s acquisition by China National Chemical Corporation. With the Bayer Monsanto merger, stakeholders worry that the global consolidation will narrow choices for farmers. Monopolisation: This will leave only three players in the global market in agribusiness and will have a cascading impact on Indian agriculture. It will lead to concentration of power and will result in market distraction. It will also result in further consolidation of the monopoly over agricultural inputs. Slow innovation: The reduced competition could shrivel up innovation, leading to slower improvements in crop yields. Global agricultural slump- Commodity prices have fallen sharply, and farmers have less to spend on supplies. This has reduced their profits and eroded the capacity to buy costly biotech seeds. Increased food prices: If firms can corner key markets in seeds and chemicals, they might be able to raise prices of their products on farmers, which in turn could make food more expensive. Strong lobbying power: The new entities will have stronger lobbying power with government which would force shaping up of unfavourable policies at the cost of consumers and farmers’ interests. Present situation in India Bayer's takeover of Monsanto comes at a time when public resistance to genetically engineered crops has been spreading across India. This is a consequence of the growing number of reports about the negative impact of GM crops on human health and the environment. Moreover, GM seeds are increasingly blamed by activists for causing financial hardship to farmers and driving them to commit suicides. Monsanto recently withdrew an application for its next-generation GM cotton seeds in India due to intellectual property concerns. It opposed the Indian government proposal that would force it to share its technology with local seed companies. Another problem between Monsanto and the Indian government involves a cut in the royalty the company gets paid from local seed companies for using its patented technology.   Conclusion There are two ways to deal with situation Engage in the usual MNC-bashing. But it will not be too useful as farmers need and have right to new technologies that help boost crop yields, cut losses from pest and disease or save labour and time. A more constructive response is to actively engage with the current realities of international agri-business and constantly evolve new means to protect farmers’ interests as well as allow new technology to come to India. The new entity is expected to take a fresh look at the issues between Monsanto and the Indian seed industry. Also, the domestic seed industry is hopeful that the merged entity can bring some state-of-the-art technologies to India when Bayer is currently focusing on digital farming, which can benefit Indian farmers. Connecting the dots: Recently, a crucial merger took place between a seed and chemical company dominant in the agri-business. How is this merger expected to affect India? Explain. Should Indian farmers be encouraged and incentivised to undertake organic farming or continue with high value seeds? Determine the pros and cons of the same.   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services relating to Health , Education, Human Resources General Studies 4 Ethics and human interface Probity in governance   Clinical Trials: Ethics Vs Economics The notion that medical research is guided by a beneficent hand – an honourable impulse for the betterment of humanity. In reality, research and development of drugs is driven by markets rather than moral concern. As the demand grows for newer and better drugs for an expanding range of conditions, so too does the need for clinical testing. Health as a commodity, repositions ethics within an economic framework, and human experimentation is no exception. Profits, rather than people, become the prime consideration As the death toll from the African Ebola crisis peaked, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan delivered ascathing attack on the “profit-driven” pharmaceutical industry and its unwillingness to develop a vaccine “for markets that cannot pay”. Just as many global companies have moved their manufacturing and call centres offshore, the cheapest way to conduct clinical trials is to outsource them to the developing world.   Factors leading to Clinical trials to Global South The human experiments have rapidly migrated to the global south because: Regulations have become more stringent in the developed world. A major justification for moving clinical trials to global south has been the greater availability of “naive” participants – drug-free bodies that allow for unadulterated test conditions. The vulnerability of subjects that can make them more attractive. Fewer regulatory safeguards, high levels of poverty and illiteracy, combined with an almost blind faith in Western medicine, provide an almost endless supply of “willing” volunteers in countries such as Africa, China, India and parts of Eurasia. In India The once booming clinical trials in India came under the Supreme Court scrutiny in 2013, after at least 370 deaths were attributed to Serious Adverse Events (SEAs) during such trials. Between 2005 and 2012 the deaths of 2,644 Indian subjects werelinked to unethical clinical trials. A number of Indian school girls were alleged to have died after taking part in trials of the Human Papilloma viruses (HPV) vaccine. In response to campaigns from groups such as Swasthya Adhikar Manch (Health Right Forum) and media exposure of the exploitation of Indian subjects, in 2013 the Indian governmenttightened its regulatory regime. This included the mandatory registration and accreditation of ethics boards, and better compensation schemes for the injured and families of deceased victims. In September 2013, the apex court ruled that no new clinical trials be permitted until the regulatory mechanism was reformed. The Indian government’s tightening of regulations for clinical trials was met by criticism from many in the industry, including the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO), based in the United States, whose vice president of public relations threatened to transfer business “to more hospitable countries to mitigate the economic damage”. With the aim to speed up innovation and research in India, the Health Ministry has amended (March 2016) the Drug and Cosmetics Act, exempting clinical trials conducted at academic institutions from taking the hitherto mandatory permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). The latest amendment to the Drug and Cosmetics Act follows recommendations by the Professor Ranjit Roy Choudhury Committee, which had suggested that academic research should be approved by the Institutional Ethics Committees. Criticisms: Unfortunately regulatory bodies, designed to protect the vulnerable, often fall short of their remit. Public health experts say amendment to the Drug and Cosmetics Act is a setback for those working towards a safer, more transparent clinical trials regime. With the latest amendment chances of misuse are also higher. The only defence for this decision can be that this is academic, not commercial, research. Injury or death as a result of misconduct is hard to prove and even harder to prosecute.   Way Ahead: Trials conducted in various parts of the country had violated patient rights as informed consent was not taken, and the patients subjected to clinical trials included newborns, children, pregnant women and mentally challenged persons are often exploited. Efforts should be made for a safer, transparent and continuous monitoring mechanism. The line should be drawn for this, that the trials on the name of academic should not be misused and diverted for commercial purposes. Local activism and human rights agendas can effectively challenge, to some degree, the harmful outcomes of the market and to protect, against the exploitation of vulnerable people in clinical trials. Connecting the dots: Before a drug is approved, it is required to be supported by clinical trials conducted by medical experts. Critically discuss the various issues involved.   Related articles: India to lead global coalition to fight epidemics (Read ethical practices) Withdrawal of the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013 Diminishing credibility of Indian Pharma   MUST READ The full circle of reason Hindu   When the river weeps Hindu   What upper castes owe Indian Express Related articles: Dalit empowerment through education Reservation: boon or bane? The promise of Dalit capitalism   Universal basic income: an idea whose time has come? Livemint   G20: Assessing common ground for greater cooperation Livemint Related article: 11th G-20 Summit-Towards revival of world economy   Smart cities could result in social inequality Business Line

Sep 16, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 20]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) The Galápagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Indian Ocean Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Arctic Ocean Q.2) The Great Indian Bustard is the state bird of Odisha Kerala Rajasthan Karnataka  Q.3) ‘Biswa Bidhya Sangraha’ is concerned with which of the following personalities Bal Gangadhar Tilak Rabindranath Tagore Jyotirindranath Tagore Swami Vivekananda  Q.4) Triclosan was in news recently. It is used in Toothpaste Wall paint Talcum powder Handwash Select the correct code: 1 and 3 1,3 and 4 1 and 4 All of the above Q.5) “Giant Sea Wall” is often in news. Which country is planning to develop this? North Korea China Indonesia Japan Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Sep 15, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 15th September, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 15th September, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.   “Special Category” Status In news:  The Central government has announced a special package to the Andhra Pradesh on September 7 which has raised considerable controversy. The package is generous in terms of resources to augment its infrastructure and to create institutions of governance and development, but falls short of declaring it as a “special category State”. “Special category” status is a classification given by Centreto assist in development of those states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages like hilly terrains, strategic international borders, economic & infrastructural backwardness and non-viable state finances. The classification came into existence in 1969as per the suggestion given by the Fifth Finance Commission, set up to devise a formula for sharing the funds of Central govt. among all states. Basis for special category The classification of States into general and special categories was done by the Planning Commission based on five considerations, namely: Hilly and difficult terrain Low population density and /or sizeable share of tribal population; Strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries Economic and infrastructure backwardness Non-viable State finances.   Benefits of Special Category Significant concessionin excise & customs duties, income tax and corporate tax 30% of planned expenditure(central budget) goes to ‘special category’ states Special Category states are benefited because of Normal Central Assistancewhich was skewed in favour of these states. These states get more funds in terms of NCA and most part of these funds was in the form of grants rather than loans. Special Central Assistancegiven to SCS is also an additional amount which can be used by the concerned state for economic development. Centre bears 90% of the state expenditure(given as grant) (under the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula) on all centrally-sponsored schemes and external aid while rest 10% is given as loan to state. For general category, the respective grant to loan ratio is 30:70 whereas external aid is passed on in the same ratio as received at the centre. Unspent money does not lapseand gets carry forward.   Lacunas in the working of Special Category Status: The amount of proceeds that states receive has increased after 14th finance commission.So the structure does not seem to have any specific relevance in present context. With the Fourteenth Finance Commission assessing the total requirements of the States without making a distinction between plan and non-plan, the grants given under the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula for State Plan Schemes got subsumed in the formula for tax devolution and grants. Therefore, the benefit of higher Central assistance due to special category status simply does not exist anymore. Thus, the State gains immensely from the special package in addition to the transfers recommended by the Finance Commission. The way Special Category Status was assigned to a state has been a matter of debate. Various committees used different parameters to classify a state in Special Category status. Some states lobby central government to classify them in special category. This was to be corrected and the consent of majority of state must be taken before granting a special category status to any state. Moreover there should have been a general consensus among states related to principle used for granting the SCS. Data reveals that even after awarding Special category status not much economic progress has been noticed among states.This may mean that for economic development it’s important to follow sound economic policy. Benefit of SCS may act as a stimulus but rest depends on the individual state policy.   The Curious Case of Andhra Pradesh The demand of Andhra Pradesh to enable it a level playing field to compete for investment after the bifurcation is clearly legitimate. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act states that the Central government shall take appropriate fiscal measures including tax incentives for industrialisation, support the programmes for development of backward areas, and provide special financial support for the creation of the new capital and institutions of governance. One important benefit from the special category status is the income tax and excise duty exemptions on investments. This is meant to reduce the cost to the prospective investors who otherwise will have to suffer heavy infrastructure deficit, transportation cost and remoteness of markets. However, it does not state that the Union government should accord the successor States special category status. Admittedly, it is difficult for the Union government to accede to the demand for special category status on objective grounds. It could open a Pandora’s Box as the economically backward States of Bihar and Odisha too have been demanding the status for long. The case of Andhra Pradesh is surely not akin to that of north-eastern or Himalayan States and full income tax and excise duty exemption would result in flight of capital from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, creating distortions in resource allocation and disharmony between the neighbouring States. Nevertheless, the Central government has already legislated the tax incentives in terms of additional investment allowance and accelerated depreciation. The assistance package announced by the Central government is generous by any account and certainly more than what the special category status could have brought in. Way Ahead It is true that SCS would have brought some benefits to Andhra Pradesh. But a patently false impression has been created that it is the panacea for all problems. Some of the political detractors believe that each district in Andhra Pradesh would become as developed as Hyderabad. Nothing is farther from truth. Considering special status may lead to demands from other States too and dilute the benefits further. It is also not economically beneficial for States to seek special status as the benefits under the current dispensation are minimal. States facing special problems will be better off seeking a special package. Connecting the dots: Considering special status to any new State will result in demands from other States and dilute the benefits further. It is also not economically beneficial for States to seek special status as the benefits under the current dispensation are minimal. Critically Analyze.   INTERNATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.   No more aligned to ‘Non-Alignment’   In news: In a significant move, PM will not be attending 17th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit to be held in Venezuela in September 2016. Is India’s core of traditional foreign policy fading away? Background NAM was founded in Belgrade in 1961 by Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Indonesia President Sukarno, Egypt President Nasser, Ghana President Nkrumah and Yugoslavia President Tito. NAM announced that it would push for an alternative economic order and would campaign against the arms race that had put the fear of nuclear annihilation across the globe. Those were peaceful days for NAM, asserting its moral authority against war and poverty. For India, NAM was not merely an idealistic dream of neutrality, but was based on a realistic assessment of India’s geopolitical situation. (Pakistan was the only threat) India wanted to plan according to its own interests rather than allowing it to become confined within the limitations of a Cold War alliance. Non alignment was India’s influential principle of its foreign and security policy since its emergence from colonization. It enabled India to avoid many of the limitations and entanglements of formal alliances but it resulted in shaping of India’s foreign policy in a reactive manner. Is NAM’s importance is eroding? The Third World debt crisis of the 1980s crushed the economic ambitions of NAM states. Collapse of USSR, the U.S. bombed Panama and Iraq, and the century seemed to end with American dominance. Many nations were interested in alliance with USA, settle accounts at the International Monetary Fund and consider options of joining NAM. By the early 1990s, several important powers of NAM began to back away (Argentina left in 1991). Yugoslavia crumbled, India went to the IMF and indirectly showed that non-alignment was no more a priority. NAM was sandwiched between suspicious US motives and attempts to regenerate the economic growth of its members.   India’s current foreign policy- a shift from past This will be only the second time an Indian Prime minister will miss the NAM summit. The traditional foreign policy approach of non-alignment was a central component of Indian identity in global politics. However, since independence, India has been in pursuit of strategic autonomy. It has led to semi-alliances shaped under the cover of non-alignment and regional dynamics. Why such shift? India seeks to balance the benefits and risks of an increasingly assertive neighbour (China) and a network of alliances with like-minded countries. China’s rise and assertiveness as a regional and global power and the simultaneous rise of middle powers in the region mean that this balancing act is increasing in both complexity and importance, simultaneously. China’s growth presents great opportunities for positive engagement, but territorial disputes and a forward policy in the region raise concerns for India, particularly in the Indian Ocean and with Pakistan. Forward policy= a foreign policy doctrine applicable to territorial disputes where emphasis is placed on securing control of disputed areas by invasion and annexation or creating a buffer state. The region itself is riddled with rivalries; a desire to balance China may push states together, while other issues divide them. The same applies on the global level as noted by the unpredictability in Sino-US relations. Challenges ahead Indian policymakers continue to place emphasis on strategic autonomy as a means of mitigating the potential costs of a strategic partnership with the US. This balancing act is evident in relations with China: despite interest in cooperation with the US, India stands to benefit from an economic partnership with China. India wishes to avoid sending any signal to China that it is serving as the lynchpin of the US pivot to Asia, which China perceives as a measure of containment by USA. There is also persistent concern over US reliability. Its relationship with Pakistan continues to be stable and also its vulnerability to China was seen during the financial crisis of 2008–09. India has to balance its still strong defence relationship with Russia against its interests in cooperation with the US. India was with Russia, China and Iran in avoiding interference in Syria’s civil war. Despite voicing concern over the spread of the Islamic State network, India has continued to promote a Syrian-led process of institution-building. Still, there is a general concern in India that its capabilities in the event of a conflict with Pakistan may be limited by over-reliance on the US, which continues to extend defence aid to Pakistan despite a drop after 2011.   Benefits Despite these challenges, India is pursuing a constructive relationship with the US and America’s Asian allies as it faces a major shift in power dynamics with the rise of China. India stands to benefit from being more assertive. Already, cooperation with regional players is boosting its economy and defence capabilities, and as a pillar of the US pivot to Asia, India is finding support for an increased role as a regional power-negotiator. However, these growing partnerships need not prevent positive engagement with China. Assertiveness in regional and global relations may actually help India to pursue the strategic autonomy it values and pursues. Conclusion India’s rising global profile is reshaping its approach to its major partnerships in the changing global order. Though some still want to reinvent non-alignment under new appearances, India is now showing signs of pursuing strategic autonomy separately from non-alignment under new leadership. It seems that this separation was overdue in India’s foreign policy. India should try to benefit from leveraging partnerships rather than barring them. This will help India to develop leverage in its dealings with its adversaries and competitors. Connecting the dots: Is a shift in India’s foreign policy approach with respect to non-alignment significant? Critically analyse India’s non-alignment policy gave it an independent foreign policy. With multi-alignment, India’s strategic and autonomous foreign policy faces threat. Do you agree? Examine.   Related articles: India and its NAM policy: confusion or solution? MUST READ Letting Nepal be Hindu   Manipur’s common cause Indian Express   The ultimate antidote to farmers’ debt woes – dairying Indian Express   A deeper friendship: India and Afghanistan Indian Express   India’s water wars: Cauvery is not the end Livemint   A quiet revolution in farm mechanization Livemint   Why the critics of LEMOA are wrong Livemint   We need a robust cyber security policy Business Line

Sep 15, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 19]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Super typhoon Meranti was in news recently. Which among the following statements are correct with regard to typhoon and hurricanes? Hurricane is a generic term used to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over temperate waters and has closed, high-level circulation. Typhoons are tropical storms that form over the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Once a tropical cyclone reaches maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, it is then classified as typhoon. Choose the appropriate code: 1 only 2 only Both None  Q.2) ‘Yudh Abhyas', a joint military exercise is between which of the following countries India and Bhutan India and Sri Lanka India and United States of America India and Nepal Q.3) H5N1 was in news recently. It is concerned with which of the following diseases? Avian Influenza Swine Flu Tuberculosis Pneumonia Q.4) Mangalajodi, the second largest hotspot for birds is on the banks of Chilika Lake Pangong lake Dal Lake Pulikat Lake  Q.5) Consider the following pairs National Park Rivers flowing through the park 1.      Corbett Ganga 2.      Kaziranga Manas 3.      Silent Valley Cauvery Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? 1 and 2 1 and 3 3 only None of the above Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba