Aug 29, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 6]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). It is established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is administrative ministry for the implementation of FSSAI Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) It is established under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is chairman of CCPC Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development Sukanya Samriddhi Account is a part of this campaign Wrestler Sakshi Malik is the brand ambassador of the campaign Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 2 1 and 2 2 and 3 All of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to Scramjet engine. It works on Air-breathing Propulsion System India is the first Asian nation to flight test a scramjet-engine Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Q.5) Which among the following statement(s) is/are true about recently launched initiatives against child abuse in India? India got its first children's court in Hyderabad, to ensure higher conviction rates for crimes under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Ministry of Women and Child Development also launched an online complaint box, called POCSO e-Box, for reporting child sexual abuse. Select the appropriate code: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 None Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Aug 29, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 29th August, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 29th August, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 1 Social empowerment   Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 (continued..) (This is part two of the article on surrogacy regulation bill) Part one included background on surrogacy, features of bill, critical overview of bill) Flaws identified in bill Altruistic surrogacy The doctors who counsel the patient for surrogate child ask them to bring a relative who is willing to bear the child for them. But, in reality, rarely couples go for relatives or any relative agrees for such arrangement. Kidney and organ donation has proved that altruism is not in the psyche. Similarly, love and affection within the family is not necessarily going to lead to support altruistic surrogacy. Also, organ donation involves wider scope of options (males + females) whereas surrogacy narrows down to females only (preferably young) By taking ‘compensation’ out of surrogacy and making it an altruistic procedure, the female might get coerced into it. The clause of a close relative raises questions like- what if the family does not have close relatives and if they have but there is no willing to be a surrogate. Even complicated is the case when the biological mother close in the family develops emotional bonding and expresses not to part with baby. Prejudicial provisions The bill privileges only one kind of family—the conventional heterosexual marriage. Unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners are barred from commissioning the services of surrogate mothers. Overseas Indians and foreigners cannot go for surrogacy. Section 377 criminalizes certain forms of sexual intercourse in the LGBT population. And surrogacy is a practice that is devoid of sexual act. But still surrogacy is prohibited for them. Surrogacy permitted if first child is disabled The disabled child needs special care and attention from parents. A second child can complicate matters, and in worse case, the first child can be neglected.   Good practices ignored Many successful guidelines were operating in the field which made surrogacy a complication-free affair. So, the need was to institutionalise these guidelines by going one step further. The present bill did not consider them wholly during formulation. Government’s rationale behind the bill Trigger of debate A Japanese couple separated amidst their commissioning of a surrogate baby in India. This led to baby being parentless and stateless (surrogacy not legal in Japan) Australian couple had twins through surrogacy. They refused to take another child. A single mother from Chennai became surrogate mother to financially empower her. However, due to middlemen, she received only 50% of the payment. These incidents highlight disregard for the rights of the surrogate mother and child. Thus the objective is to protect the vulnerable women who are exploited. If compensation is provided, a window for commercialisation will open. Hence, only altruistic surrogacy is permitted. It believes that society needs to evolve and embrace the underutilised option of adoption which gives an orphan a home and future and the childless couple a complete family. The government makes its stand clear on not recognising homosexuals or live-in relationships. (Although SC has recognised it.) It also shows that government will not allow exploitation of Indian women by foreigners. (Foreigners account for 80% of surrogacy births in India due to most countries barring commercial surrogacy.) It has underlined that India has certain culture and ethos and it will permit surrogacy to happen only if done through altruistic method and nothing beyond that. Support for the bill The IVF experts and medical fraternity is divided on the surrogacy issue. Some have welcomed it by stating that the unregulated surrogacy industry had become exploitative of poor, hapless women. There was a dire need to streamline and clear the ambiguity around surrogacy and IVF rules and laws of which this bill is considered as first step. Surrogacy hub- Anand, Gujarat Anand is considered ground zero with its countless IVF clinics and ready availability of surrogates. The women there believe that it is a good step by government to protect their rights. But, the scope is very strict. For many surrogate mothers, surrogacy is a kind of ‘employment’ where women with her consent as well as family’s support, provide a service of giving priceless joy of child and in return get compensated for it. They object to word ‘commercial surrogacy’. According to them, surrogacy is not only about ‘womb on rent’. It is also the bond shared by couple and surrogate mother. With altruistic surrogacy only legal surrogacy option, many women feel it will not be much successful as surrogacy is undertaken to support their families with the remuneration they are paid for their service.   How world sees surrogacy Russia, Ukraine, few states in US permit commercial surrogacy. France and Germany ban surrogacy. UK recognises non-commercial surrogacy, few states US recognises compensatory surrogacy, now Israel is also opening to it. Comparing proposed surrogacy law of India and existing law in UK   India UK On commercial surrogacy ·         Will be banned within 10 months of notification of Act ·         Banned in UK ·         ‘Reasonable expenses’ can be paid, unless otherwise authorised by court   On commissioning parent ·         Only childless couples who have been married for five years are eligible. ·         Also, couples who have a biological child who is mentally or physically challenged also qualify. ·         Must be over 18 ·         Married, civil partners or living together in an enduring family relationship ·         Special rules for unmarried/same sex couple ·         One of the commissioning parents must be biologically linked to the child. On single parents ·         Singles or those in a homosexual relationship cannot apply ·         Not allowed On status of surrogate ·         Legal parents will be the couple commissioning the surrogacy, and not the surrogate mother. ·         A child born through surrogacy will have the same rights as a biological child. ·         Surrogate mother of a child born through surrogacy is the legal mother. ·         Her name appears in the birth certificate ·         Commissioning parents have to later obtain a parental order- which is similar to an adoption order- for child’s custody On blood relatives ·         “Close relatives” can become surrogate mothers; will be better defined in the Rules. ·         Only blood relatives can become surrogate mothers for altruistic purposes Conclusion Government has to be more practical with allowing altruistic surrogacy along with commercial surrogacy but with more stringent regulation Instead of going from one extreme of non-regulation of surrogacy to complete ban on commercial surrogacy. What kind of people are registering in this field, what linkages exist with the would-be surrogate mothers, who finds the surrogate mother etc. should be questions asked. Government needs to put regulations to crack down on touts across the country. Government should mandate that surrogacy and other such assisted reproductive procedures be done only through registered clinics and doctors and all this information be put out online. Easily accessible redressal forums and helplines would have further assisted in bringing in transparency to protect the couple and the surrogate mother. Blacklisting errant clinics indulging in illegal practices (including sex selection) and uploading their status on the website would also ensure that doctors and clinics immunise their premises from touts. Determine course of action if baby is born with disabilities or is still born. Does the surrogate mother still get her payment? What if there are twins and parents are not willing to take the second child? Whose responsibility shall it be to raise the child? What should be the legal course of action followed? These questions should be given equal attention. Government should talk with more practitioners in the field, discuss with single parents and live-in couples to get an overview. There should be an appropriate mechanism to judge the suitability of surrogate parents- citizens or foreigners should not matter. An agency along the lines of the Central Adoption Resource Agency- that administers adoption of Indian children by foreigners- could be created to regulate surrogacy. The bill shall be going to Standing Committee and then tabled in Parliament. It is expected that view from all over the country shall be represented in the Parliament and appropriate actions will be taken by government to amend the provisions of bill. Connecting the dots: What in your opinion should be the major provisions of a surrogacy regulation bill?   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to mobilization of resources, growth, development; Government Budgeting.   GST- Can India become Check-post Free? Inspections that make no sense— The philosophy of layers of inspections at every stage has led to a laid-back system while also, at the same time, becoming micro-level irritants which simply adds up to a sorry business environment in India. Example: During immigration at an Indian airport—a security official is deployed to check whether the passport has actually been stamped by the immigration officer — as viewed analytically, to check whether his colleague, the immigration officer, is not inept and is doing his job of stamping the passport in the first place   Key Facts: The current complex tax structure has led to the logistics costs in India, at around 14% of the value of goods—among the most expensive in the world. Trucks are idle for about 40 % of the time — queuing up, filling forms and paying CST and octroi at numerous check-posts. A check-post free movement can bring down the transportation time and cost by 30% and 20% respectively.   Small details matter— Government should take these small details into consideration as it not only reduces costs and boosts investor’s confidence but also pave way for better & seamless positioning of services leading to ‘Ease of Business’. With the passage of Goods & Services Tax (GST), the focus has shifted to the implementation aspect of it which would certainly entail the re-engineering of various processes at each stage at the State level. The domains of the taxation structure, exemptions and special treatment to different groups need to be segregated and prioritization needs to be shifted towards a ‘Checkpost-mukt’ environment by peeling off layers of checks and procedures (nakas where trucks wait in long queues).   Coming together of Transparent Procedures— Commitment from States: Do away with check-posts and restrict to conducting random checks to deter illegality (if in doubts). Agree and work on coming up with a standardised electronic invoice— the only document required by a transporter to meet the legal obligations contained in Sections 12 and 23 (cease of harassment of drivers on their way with reduction in both time and corruption). Officers to compulsorily record a central database if a vehicle is stopped with a valid reason for their action— should be subject to Right to Information (RTI) Act— should be undertaken in a transparent manner with minimum harassment and rent-seeking attitude (To part ways with deep-rooted corruption fostered by a multi-tax system). Mandatory usage of CCTV if physical examination of goods takes place— ensure greater transparency in the conduct of officers on the road. Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN): Developing an e-invoice that can be filled and submitted online (agreed to by the States)—Facilitate online registration, GST credits, tax payment and return filing seamlessly amongst multiple stake-holders. “Block-chain” technology: Offers a historic opportunity to develop a GSTN based on “distributed ledgers”. Usage of mobile-based internet and apps will be imperative in facilitating information flow between the states. Usage of Smart tags and scanners. Integration of declaration for export and import shipments with the customs IT system or ICEGATE and restriction of information to be provided to the ‘proof of customs declaration ‘and ‘payment of duty’.   In a nutshell— India needs to revolutionize its ‘transportation’ and ‘Business’ environment and for these to succeed it needs to take care of 1% of the transportation activity—‘vested interests’ which leads to decline in security, revenue leakage and smuggling and results in over-burdening the other 99% with redundant procedures and transaction costs Initiatives that have been taken by the Government to rope in best practices with SWIFT (Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade) Creation of a single window for export and import procedures Integrates processes related to several agencies into one ensuring that several ‘check-posts’ are eliminated at one go (if implemented properly). Results: Reduction in costs and elimination of micro-level irritants that hampers trading across India’s borders, thereby boosting investors interested in participating in ‘Making in India’. More initiatives need to be conceptualized and worked upon in order to enter an ‘Indian century’ marked by efficiency and excellence. Connecting the Dots: Examine the cost of existing trade barriers in India and how has it impacted the economy? Can ‘GST’ prove to be a game-changer in alleviating the logistical pain of India? Discuss.   Related articles: The Big Picture – GST Constitutional Amendment Cleared: What’s the Road Ahead? The Big Picture – GST- Future and Implications Goods and Service Tax (GST) Logjam: GST by another name FAQ on GST GST: A high standard rate would impact prices and hamper acceptance GST may face hurdles before rollout   MUST READ Health in India: Where the money comes from and where it goes? Hindu   MHA oversight for all NGOs? Hindu   ‘Own arbitration tool must for BRICS’ Hindu   A pan-India market remains elusive for farmers Livemint   Slowing growth: Lessons from China Livemint

Aug 28, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Faith Vs Reason – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Faith Vs Reason: What is the most important thing needed for a happy, successful and peaceful life? Is it faith or reason? The argument between faith and reason as to which one is the right way of living has been one of the oldest debates in history. Faith and reason play a very important role in our daily living and in the decisions we make on a daily basis. The debate between faith and religion is firstly not a philosophical debate but a very practical aspect of organizing our life and the way we want to live it. Faith is a process of believing in what has been passed down through the ages as right. It is a process of accepting a set of rules as true and final. It could be about visiting a temple, wearing certain clothes, eating certain foods and our other habits. Reason is an involvement of a questioning mind to logically enquire and understand what is being told or given. Reason is the application of common sense in matters of faith and belief. Reason is a scientific and systematic process of knowing more about ourselves. A young mind that is trying to make sense of the world around should very clearly understand the difference between reason and faith. If not, every single step taken will be taken in conflict. Parents pass on faith as a system given to them by their parents; children want to pursue a life style of their choice based on their reasoning, now there is a conflict. The easiest way to resolve this conflict is by accepting both faith and reasoning as two very different aspects of life. There are matters of faith where reasoning does not help and there are matters of logic and reasoning where faith does not help. Almost all the difficulties we face on a daily basis are about not knowing when to apply faith and when to apply reasoning. We use reasoning to question certain fundamental believes like religion, god, tradition etc without knowing that they are simply a matter of faith. And at the same time we apply blind belief and faith in matters requiring logic and reasoning. While reasoning is a short term analysis of a situation to understand its impact, faith is a very long term perspective on the overall meaning and purpose of life. Logic is walking down the steps with care and awareness to ensure that you don’t fall; faith is believing that there is a firm ground at the end of the steps on which you can rely and walk. A mind that is purely logical can accomplish a lot of things; it can become rich, gain popularity, live a luxurious life etc. but it can never find happiness, meaning and fulfilment. A mind that completely relies on faith finds peace of mind, certainty and happiness but it can never become rich or successful. The most ideal combination to possess is a perfectly logical mind with a perfectly faithful heart. The moment you realize that reasoning is the quality of the mind and faith is the quality of the heart; you would have not only put them in the right place, you would have also learnt to make use of their “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.” Read more such articles– Click Here

Aug 27, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 27th August, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 27th August, 2016   ECONOMY   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Investment models   Looking for possible ‘green shoots’ in our economy ‘Green shoots’ is a popular phrase used to describe signs of economic recovery. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was the first to talk of spotting ‘green shoots’ in the Indian economy. This article analyzes where the economy is headed. Will there be possible ‘green shoots’? If yes, in which sectors? Expenditure method for calculating GDP Since everything that is produced by the economy is purchased, one method of measuring GDP is by measuring total expenditures. The expenditure method is a method for calculating gross domestic product (GDP), which totals consumption, investment, government expenditure and net exports. i.e., GDP = consumption + investment + government expenditure + exports - imports. A closer look at these components will give us a fair idea of the bright spots and those areas which are still struggling to rear their heads. CONSUMPTION In a developing economy, usually the consumption component of GDP is relatively large. This is because: When the income of households is small, a large part of it goes into consumption-related items — be it food, education or medical expenses. The remaining portion that is saved, comes back as ‘investments’ or gets taxed by the government. India, which is a developing economy, has largely been a consumption-driven economy. About 58 per cent of its GDP, as measured by the expenditure method, comprises consumption expenditure. Investments, which are essentially capital investments, account for 27 per cent. These two components together constitute 85 per cent of GDP, making them crucial drivers for the Indian economic growth. ‘King’ Consumer Usually, as the income level of an economy rises, the consumption component increases. According to Keynesian theory, an increase in production increases consumers’ income, and they will then spend more. If we know what their marginal propensity to consume is, then we can calculate how much an increase in production will affect spending. This additional spending will generate additional production, creating a continuous cycle. The higher the MPC, the higher the multiplier—the more the increase in consumption from the increase in investment. While we consider last five years, the share of consumption expenditure in the Indian economy has improved while that of investments fell. So, which areas within consumption have shown a growth over the last few years? When we look at indicators that capture trends in consumption, such as — consumer confidence index, IIP figures to automobile sales and monsoon data, it provides good news. i.e., the consumption trend is up and eight out of 10 consumption-based indicators show an uptick in growth figures. Statistics: Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), which tracks the sentiment among household consumers, was up. Urban consumers have grown: Continuing demand for consumer credit shows that Indian consumers, especially the urban lot, are continuing to buy consumer goods. Auto producers have made the most of the growing demand from urban India by showing strong growth in the recent past. Improving consumer sentiment as well as pick-up in sales of cars, motorcycles and tractors indicates that rural and urban consumer demand is robust. INVESTMENT The Investment component, while a relatively smaller component of the GDP, also has close linkages with the rest of the economy. It is not entirely upbeat in the investment segment. While green shoots are visible in some pockets, some areas are still struggling. Eleven out of 20 investment-based indicators showed uptick in growth figures. Performance of core sectors: Among the core sectors, production growth is higher in coal, steel, cement and electricity generation. The growth in steel production has moved from the negative to the positive territory which, to a large extent, has been helped by protectionist government policies in recent times. Crude petroleum and natural gas, hit by structural bottlenecks, continue to be in negative growth trend. Growth in fertiliser production is also lower. Manufacturing performance: IIP figures for manufacturing are up for the year. Nikkei PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) figures are up. So, some green shoots in manufacturing activity are beginning to show up. However, one RBI’s survey report hints at lower capacity utilisation, facilities going underutilised due to lower demand, companies are unlikely to spend on capacity expansion, thus delivering a setback to overall capital investment. The survey shows, however, that there is a pick-up in new orders. Capital goods performance Many industries are postponing their investments, which has led capital goods sector to slump in the recent past. IIP capital goods index reported a contraction. However, it needs to be noted that only one item – insulated rubber cables - pulled the overall IIP-capital goods growth figures on the negative side this year. Services performance Services is showing a more promising trend than manufacturing. Sharp acceleration in new business has provided growth momentum for the service sector, which is also the largest section of our economy. Railways, port traffic, increase in arrivals of foreign tourists and improved domestic air traffic, are providing the necessary growth momentum for this sector. GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE While private investment is likely to be sluggish, government’s infrastructure spends in roads and railways could be leading to higher production in the core industries of steel, cement and coal. Some green shoots are visible here and investors can start looking at cyclical stocks in these sectors.  However, there are some concerns in this sector such as power and real estate are still laden with high debt and grappling with regulatory issues, which should be solved (through a bottom-up approach). It is expected that government spending will be higher and this higher spending will provide impetus to capital goods manufacturers that make products related to construction, logistics, etc., because of government orders. Service sector will also be benefitted with urban consumption increasing. Public spending in tour operators, aviation companies, media, healthcare, hospitality, etc., will boost service sector. Financial services, especially micro-finance companies and companies catering to retail segment will also get boosted, given the higher demand for credit. Conclusion The OECD composite leading India index, which tracks green shoots in the economy, is up for the year. In spite of external sector looking vulnerable at this juncture, there are signs of green shoots in the domestic economy. The current account balance to GDP is almost at similar levels of 1.1 per cent of GDP — and over the last two years has come down from 1.7 per cent. Raising the growth rate to over 8 per cent in the next two or three years is achievable. However, there are some huge challenges that certainly cannot be overcome as long as the government operates within the present straitjacket of fiscal consolidation and inflation targeting; policies that tend to reduce growth in the medium-term. Increased public expenditure and boosting investment is the need of the hour. NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 1 Social empowerment   Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 What: The draft Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 was cleared by the Union cabinet in August 2016. Bill in brief: The bill proposes a ban on commercial surrogacy, restricting “ethical” and “altruistic surrogacy” to legally-wedded infertile Indian couples, who have been married for at least five years. Aim: To protect the woman from victimization at the hands of those whose need for a child may tempt them to overlook the rampant exploitation in current commercial surrogacy ecosystem. Background Surrogacy is legal since 2002. Surrogate for some years now has become an accepted practice in India, especially due to IVF techniques. UN report (2012): India has $400 million surrogacy industry Accurate figures are not known but around 2,000 infertile couples- foreigners and Indian- hire the wombs of Indian women to carry their embryos through to birth every year. Celebrity couples popularised surrogacy practice. However, not much has been known about surrogate mother’s rights and protecting her bodily integrity is a challenge as fertility industry mostly remains unregulated. Poverty, relatively low medical costs, skilled medical personnel and lax laws have made India a haven for those seeking surrogacy. Activists and social scientists point outà poor women who rent their wombs are the most vulnerable and their socio-economic condition makes them susceptible to exploitation. Time and again incidents of unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes have surfaced. 228th report of the Law Commission of India has also recommended for prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian citizens. Thus, widespread condemnation of commercial surrogacy prevalent in India and unregulated surrogacy industry compelled the government to form a statutory provision for the same.   Proposed Features of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill Included: Heterosexual couple, married for five years. Also included: Heterosexual couples with a mentally or physically challenged child or one with a life-threatening disorder. Out of purview: Single men and women, heterosexual couples who choose not to opt for marriage, gay couples, transgender persons Only Altruistic surrogacy: Only a married relative, who must have herself borne a child, and is not an NRI or a foreigner, can be a surrogate mother, once in a lifetime. There will be no money involved except medical expenses. Prohibits: commercial surrogacy including sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes. Indian couples with biological or adopted children are prohibited from having children through surrogacy. Commercial surrogacy will result in a jail term of at least 10 years and a fine of up to Rs. 10 lakh. The law is not yet in the public domain Why the bill is criticised?- Overview Constitutional violations Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees “equality before the law and equal protection of laws to all persons”. Article 21 guarantees “protection of life and personal liberty of all persons”. Thus, restricting conditional surrogacy to married Indian couples and prohibiting others on the basis of nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or age, is not an example of law promoting equality. The right to life includes the right to reproductive autonomy — that includes the right to procreation and parenthood. It is not the right of state to decide the modes of parenthood. Constitutionally, the state cannot interfere in the prerogative of a person(s) to have children, naturally or through surrogacy. Right to reproductive autonomy and parenthood is a part of right to life of any person- single or foreigner. It cannot be circumvented, especially when the Indian law already permits parenthood through inter-country adoptions from India — by single persons or foreign couples. The purpose of legislation should be to protect women from exploitation in name of surrogacy and not to dictate terms to individuals on their life choices and decisions.   Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) guideline was more inclusive ART= A technology used to achieve pregnancy in procedures such as fertility medication, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and surrogacy. It is also called fertility treatment. 2005: National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) Clinics in India was formulated, after extensive public debate that involved 4000 participants all over India through workshops and seminars, by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). One provision of ART guidelines stipulates that there shall be no bar to the use of ART by single women and no ART clinic will refuse to offer its services to them. ART guidelines did not bar an unmarried woman from opting for artificial insemination with donor semen. A child born to a single woman through such a procedure was deemed to be legitimate Successive draft bills of 2008, 2010 and 2013 had reportedly proposed that ART in India be available to all, including single persons and foreign couples. However, Draft ART bills of 2014 and 2016 restricted surrogacy to Indian married infertile couples. The fate of the ART Bill, 2016, is unknown. Contrary to surrogacy, adoption is easier Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has an entirely opposite policy with respect to inter-country adoptions. It facilitates fast-track adoptions from India by foreigners. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) allows a court to give a child for adoption to foreign parents, irrespective of the marital status of such a person. The JJ Act also authorises state governments to recognise one or more of its institutions or voluntary organisations as agencies for the placement of orphans for adoption, by adhering to Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) guidelines. The latest 2015 guidelines governing adoption of children have streamlined inter-country adoption procedures. They permit single parent adoptions but bar single males from adopting a girl child. The problems pertaining to adoption of Indian children by foreigners were resolved by guidelines, which over the years have acquired statutory status. Understanding surrogacy Meaning: when a couple wants a baby but is unable to have a child because either or both partners are medically unfit to conceive, they take help of another woman. Traditional surrogacy: the surrogate mother is artificially inseminated with the sperm of the father. She carries the child for full term and delivers it for the couple. Surrogate mother is the biological mother. Gestational surrogacy: Mother’s eggs are fertilised with the father’s/donor’s sperm and then the embryo is placed into the uterus of the surrogate, who carries the child to term and delivers it. The biological mother is the woman who gives eggs and surrogate mother is Birth mother. Thus, there is absolutely no dispute that the surrogate mother needs to be protected, physically, financially and emotionally. The procedures done by reputed doctors and in regulated clinics ensure the nutrition and well-being of the surrogate mother. Emotional connect: It can be tricky as bearing a baby for nine months could bring in a connection at some level. But some surrogate mothers have also opined that they feel a sense of service in bearing a baby for a childless couple. However, it has to be done with full consent. Financial empowerment: The money received by surrogate mothers empower them to look after their own children better, and even plan for the future and invest in a home. Middlemen are culprits: They lure unsuspecting women into surrogacy with false promises, taking a cut or commission larger than what the baby-bearing woman receives.  (This is part one of the article on surrogacy regulation bill, 2016) Next part will have detailed insight into why the bill is considered impractical, what has been government’s viewpoint and how is surrogacy undertaken elsewhere the world? Connecting the dots: The recent government bill of surrogacy regulation has been criticised for interfering in individual’s right to attain parenthood. Do you agree? Explain.   MUST READ Indians spend 8 times more on private hospitals than on govt. ones Hindu   Govt. charts road map for Modi’s Baloch policy Hindu   Weighing the burden of proof Hindu   PM forms task force to plan for next three Olympics Hindu   Haji Ali Dargah entry ruling a victory for women, say petitioners Hindu   Peace on the horizon in Colombia Hindu   To keep the tradition going- Kuchipudi dance Hindu   Verse in movement- Odissi dance Hindu   Tribal art on show Hindu   Difference between shallow and deep earthquakes Hindu   Who is fighting who in Syria Hindu   SC agrees to hear plea against Justice Lodha panel overseeing MCI Hindu   Us versus Aedes aegypti Indian Express   On The Road To Mandalay Indian Express   What is Kashmiriyat? 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Aug 26, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 5]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) A test has been developed that could help diagnose bacterial infections, including meningitis in minutes. Consider the following statements regarding Meningitis— It an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation is caused by infection of bacteria only. Select the correct option: Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Q.2) Recently the Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Fiji. Consider the following statements with respect to ASA Both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airline and only those airlines shall have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other country for the promotion and sale of air services The carriers of Fiji can establish direct operation to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Q.3) Udaipur Declaration is concerned with – Disaster Risk Management Food Security Wildlife Protection BRICS Women Parliamentarians  Q.4) Which of the following is the only state to sign an MoU with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India for Regional Connectivity Scheme to develop 10 districts Telangana Maharashtra Odisha Rajasthan Q.5) Consider the below statements and select the correct statement/s from the options provided below: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is an apex body under the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989”. NBA is an Environment Ministry body whose clearance is mandatory for testing GM crops in farmer fields. Choose the appropriate code: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and2 None Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Aug 26, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 26th August, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 26th August, 2016   NATIONAL/POLITY   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Refugee issue; Citizenship Amendment Bill. 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. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.   'Biased' citizenship bill draws flak Government has introduced a Bill to amend certain provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955. About Citizenship Act, 1955 The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides various ways in which citizenship may be acquired.  It provides for Citizenship by birth, By descent, By registration, By naturalisation and By incorporation of territory into India. In addition, it regulates registration of OCIs (Overseas Citizen of India Cardholders), and their rights.  An Overseas Citizen of India is entitled to some benefits such as a multiple-entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India. Amendments proposed The Bill amends the Act to provide that that the following groups of persons will not be treated as illegal migrants: Proposed bill enables - Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians - who have fled to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh without valid travel documents, or those whose valid documents have expired in recent years, to acquire Indian citizenship by the process of naturalisation. Under the Bill, such persons shall not be treated as illegal immigrants for the purpose of the Citizenship Act. Citizenship by naturalization (11 years’ requirement will be reduced to six years): The Act allows a person to apply for citizenship by naturalisation, if the person meets certain qualifications. One of the qualifications is that the person must have resided in India or been in service of the central government for at least 11 years before applying for citizenship. Now, the Bill creates an exception for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, with regard to this qualification. For these groups of persons, the 11 years’ requirement will be reduced to six years. Cancellation of registration of OCIs: The Act provides that the central government may cancel registration of OCIs on certain grounds. These include: If the OCI has registered through fraud, or Within five years of registration has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more, or It becomes necessary in the interest of sovereignty and security of India, etc. The Bill adds one more ground for cancelling registration, that is, if the OCI has violated any law that is in force in the country. Benefits of the amendments Allows the above said refugees to acquire Indian citizenship by the process of naturalisation. A large number of people who would otherwise be illegal immigrants can now heave a sigh of relief if the Bill goes through as they would be eligible to become citizens of the country. The Bill, when passed, would be of immense benefit to the Chakmas and Hajongs of Bangladesh displaced because of the construction of the Kaptai Dam who have been refugees for nearly 65 years. Grant citizenship to eligible persons from these communities will help to protect their life and liberty and further prohibit discrimination against them. Limitations of the Bill: Not inclusive enough The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, owes its genesis to the assurance given by the Prime Minister that Hindus from these three countries who have sought asylum in India would be conferred Indian citizenship. But since singling out Hindus alone could be discriminatory. The Bill has to extend the right to acquire citizenship to other religious minorities living in the three countries as well. e., the new citizenship legislation should include refugees from persecuted minorities of all denominations who have made India their home. Three principles which underlies India’s treatment of refugees: Though India has not enacted a national refugee law, the three principles underlying India’s treatment of refugees was spelt out in Parliament by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959 with reference to Tibetan refugees. They include: Refugees will be accorded a humane welcome; The refugee issue is a bilateral issue; and The refugees should return to their homeland once normalcy returns Why proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is biased? The proposed Bill recognises and protects the rights of refugees and represents a welcome change in India’s refugee policy. But it would have been appropriate if the Bill had used the term “persecuted minorities” instead of listing out non-Muslim minorities in three countries. Such a gesture would also have been in conformity with the spirit of religious and linguistic rights of minorities guaranteed under our Constitution. Unfortunately the Bill does not take note of the refugees in India from among the Muslim community who have fled due to persecution and singles them out on the basis of religion, thereby being discriminatory. Another disappointing feature of the Bill is that it does not provide citizenship to the people of Indian origin from Sri Lanka who fled to Tamil Nadu as refugees following the communal holocaust in July 1983. They sold all their belongings, came to India as refugees, with the hope of acquiring Indian citizenship and permanently settling down here. Many of these refugees qualify for Indian citizenship by registration under Article 5 of the Citizenship Act of 1955. However their plea for citizenship has been negated citing a Central government circular that Sri Lankan refugees are not entitled for Indian citizenship. It would be wise if there are some efforts to withdraw the above-mentioned circular of the Central government. Conclusion Immigrants, even those who are termed illegal, are entitled to equal protection before the law and the various rights that flow from Article 21. This was stressed by the Supreme Court in National Human Rights Commission v. State of Arunachal Pradesh while addressing the rights of Chakma refugees. If such immigrants are granted citizenship, the natural progression would mean that they enjoy the benefits of rights guaranteed under Article 19 besides others such as access to the public distribution system, right to participate in the political process, right to secure employment and other rights all of which currently are inaccessible to them. The Bill recognises this in its objects and reasons by referring to the denial of opportunities and advantages to such persons. The Bill therefore should not restrict itself to minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh but should include refugees from persecuted minorities of all denominations who have made India their home. Connecting the dots: There is a need to include refugees from persecuted minorities of all denominations who have made India their home in the new citizenship legislation rather than singling out Hindus to acquire Indian citizenship. Do you agree? Critically analyze the pros and cons of the newly proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. 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. General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation. Science and Technology - developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.   Bigger role for International Solar Alliance Background International Solar Alliance (ISA) was jointly announced by PM of India and President of France at UN Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015. ISA Headquarter and interim Secretariat is at Gurugram, India. Vision: Promotion of solar energy for making solar energy a valuable source of affordable and reliable green and clean energy in member countries (countries between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn). Progress so far ISA’s International Steering Committee has met thrice- in Paris, Abu Dhabi and New York. An Interim Administrative Cell also meets regularly. An ISA ministerial-level meeting was held at the UN Headquarters in April 2016. Two multi-country work programmes have been launched. India has committed Rs. 400 crore. Joint declarations have been signed with the UN Development Programme and the World Bank. Despite the activities going around about ISA, the public understanding about ISA’s role, scope, and future direction has been limited. Solar ‘Sunshine’ countries and ISA Many countries are aiming for aggressive solar targets which are expected to be supported by regional and international organisations. Yet, solar power remains concentrated in just a few countries. Till December 2015, Germany, China, Japan, the U.S., and Italy had 70% of the 227 GW of solar PV deployed globally. Developing countries, especially African countries are yet to explore their huge solar potential as they are still stuck with low-tech options. Also, the investors consider the markets there as too disaggregated and high risk. ISA aims to take solar technology from lab (or rich countries) to streets (developing countries). The ISA platform is aiming to bring together countries with rich solar potential + solar innovators, developers, and financiers which will: Aggregate demand for solar across member countries. Create a global buyers’ market for solar energy which will in turn reduce the prices. Facilitate deployment of existing solar technologies at scale. Promote collaborative solar R&D and capacity. Challenges that can be opportunities for rapid expansion of solar energy Finance Financing the solar projects in many developing countries has high cost. Initiatives have to be taken by ISA to increase the attractiveness of solar potential. ISA envisions that collective measures can facilitate the flow of over $1 trillion into solar projects by Aggregating demand within countries. Standardising asset-structuring across countries. Establishing an ecosystem of financial instruments to mitigate some of the investment risks. A multi-country foreign exchange hedging facility can be established that can remove higher cost of finance of countries whose currencies are not pegged to internationally traded currencies. Investors can reduce their risk exposure by investing in bankable but coordinated portfolios of projects across several markets.   High developer and investor risk Solar-related plans and policies are often incoherent and thus increase risks for developers and investors. There already exist many commercially viable technology applications which need promotion through innovative business models such as fees-for-service for solar home systems, community ownership of assets like solar pumps, etc. Decentralised energy businesses can be replicated across many geographies. For example, aggregating demand for rooftop solar projects across countries. ISA has already launched a major programme on scaling solar applications in agriculture. It has also proposed programme on financing for off-grid energy access. ISA can help coordinate between group of countries to follow similar procedures like reverse auctions to allocate solar projects or standardised templates for power purchase agreements. This is likely to draw more confidence from investors and developers can find opportunities to measure operations in other countries. Also, as the programmes would be member-driven, there is little risk that the institution would be accused of impugning the sovereignty of members. Insufficient research and development (R&D) investment in solar ISA has to facilitate collaborative, cross-country R&D to avoid getting trapped into existing technologies. The major powers are already investing in R&D. But, an initiative by ISA for collaborative research would pool resources in cash and kind. This will also offer more markets to test technologies ISA can make announcement of R&D prizes and also encourage advanced commitments from market. Such approach can stimulate research in preselected areas like increasing the efficiency of solar panels or reducing the costs of manufacturing in developing countries. In addition, ISA is also planning on addressing related market-limiting factors. This is to be done by launching standardised skill training programmes and reducing information asymmetries through a 24x7 knowledge hub. Conclusion Stay away from bureaucracy ISA has been conceived as an intergovernmental institution. It is not intended to be a typical international bureaucracy. The lean Secretariat has the opportunity to leverage networks and create tangible opportunities for manufacturers, developers, financiers and innovators. Direct links with private sector and tight budget will hold ISA accountable at ground level Facilitate cooperation between member countries ISA is an organisation of 121 potential member countries. It has to oversee that these countries don’t get caught up in conflict over legal form, membership rights and giving precedence to procedure over pragmatism. The ethic of ISA is to be a dynamic international organisation of 21st century where action is rewarded and initiatives judged by the effectiveness of their execution. Promoters please rise Many governments and international market players have interest in expanding the goal of renewable energy usage. The key backers of ISA have to become public and vocal with ISA’s vision, goals, initiatives, activities and interactive opportunities. Connecting the dots: Discuss how International Solar Alliance can bridge a link between member country governments and developers and investors?   Refer: All India Radio- INDIA AND INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE Building the International Solar Alliance Skill up or scale down ambitions in Renewable solar energy: MUST READ What is a Scorpene? Hindu   No role in Lokpal nominations: Centre to SC Hindu   Banks to issue Masala bonds, RBI opens currency markets Hindu   NHRC registering more cases, says there is more awareness Hindu   A fat tax that shouldn't go up in smoke Hindu Related Article: All India Radio – Tax on Junk Food   Pharmacies show restraint in selling anti-TB drugs: Study Hindu   GM mustard moves closer to approval Hindu   ‘Cybercrimes have risen 4-fold in 3 years’ Hindu   GST- The Roll-out Challenge Indian Express   Irom Sharmila’s two struggles Indian Express   Balochistan- Degrees of separation Indian Express   Bodoland groups to relaunch statehood agitation next week Indian Express   Earthquake damages scores of Myanmar’s heritage Bagan temples Indian Express   Climate change taking toll on American rabbit- like animal population (Read from prelims viewpoint) Indian Express   SAUNI: Pipe and water dream in parched Saurashtra (Just have an overview) Indian Express   Obesity may cause eight more types of cancer: Study Indian Express   Where Kashmir unites India and Pakistan Livemint   Nations can be start-ups, too Livemint   Challenges before the new RBI governor Livemint   Raghuram Rajan’s last hurrah: Changing the way companies borrow Livemint   India urges Singapore, S. Korea and Japan to sign MRAs on degrees Livemint   Knowing Augmented Reality Business Line   UPI just turned your phone into a bank Business Line   A silver lining in our Rio performance Business Line   We’re building too many ports Business Line   Make way for C-commerce Business Line

Aug 26, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – A flame of learning – J Krishnamurti

A flame of learning Jiddu Krishnamurti is a brilliant philosopher, meditator and teacher. His acute sense of intellectual understanding of the human mind and its functioning provided the basis for his marvellous lectures on philosophy, science and religion. A flame of learning is a critical and in depth analysis of the human predicament of understanding life and its ultimate purpose. Here Krishnamurti explores various aspects of learning, living and understanding. It is a fabulous read for a curious mind. Although his approach is almost exclusively intellectual, it does not fail to touch the deeper chords of human emotion and suffering. Read this book to be illuminated by the teachings of one of the greatest minds of this century. A flame of learning will provide you great insight into the functioning of the human mind, its journey and destination. Krishnamurti talks from the deeper understanding of experience through meditation. This book is hugely relevant to our modern times. “This Book Review is a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Aug 25, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 25th August, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 25th August, 2016   ENVIRONMENT   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it   Forest Land Diversion in India World Bank: India has managed to increase its forest area by 2.27% in the last 25 years. This has put India ahead of the global average in afforestation efforts.   Source credit: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS?end=2015&start=2015&view=map http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/yBPllAC4NwIwmmE6OxYXIL/What-Indias-forest-statistics-really-show.html However, when the forests in India are looked in detail, the picture is not so encouraging. Forest Survey of India, 2015 Total forest area in India: 7,01,673 sq. km Increase in total forest area by 3,775 sq. km since 2013 But, in same period, 2,511 sq. km of very dense and mid-dense forests were completely wiped out. Cutting down natural forests and replacing them with planted trees in wastelands or non-forest areas is not the same thing. Natural forests have complex system of flora and fauna which cannot be absolutely restored by planned forestation. What is responsible for the destruction of India’s natural forests? According to government, encroachment is the biggest reason for forest land diversion in India. Between October 1980 and July 2016, India has diverted almost 9,00,000 hectares of forest land for non-forest purposes. This is 2% of India’s total forest area as of 2015. However, activists working on ground have questioned the encroachment numbers. They have cautioned not to take end-use classification of diverted forest land at face value. Reason: Many a time, the government might first declare land under cultivation and habitation as forest land and then try to evict the people living there. For instance: in states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the forest department has been carrying out the policy of ‘aggressively afforesting’ forest land. Here, the government takes away lands under shifting cultivation from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and carries out plantations without the consent of these communities. *Others category includes miscellaneous projects not included in the above indicated major categories such as petrol pump, relocation of villages, disputed settlement claims, stone/sand quarrying, construction of residential complex, pipe lines, borehole prospecting etc. Source credit: http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Ecological%20Impact%20of%20Mining.pdf Forest Land Diversion in India There is 897,698.4 hectares of forest land diverted all over India Madhya Pradesh- 27% Chhattisgarh- 9.4% Gujarat- 7.1% Punjab- 7.1% Maharashtra- 6.7% Odisha- 5.4% Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh: huge areas of land have been used up for coal and iron ore mining. Arunachal Pradesh (3.6% of forest land diverted): Land is used for hydel power generation. The case of Punjab States with higher proportion of forest land diversion were Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Punjab is the worst case of land diversion 20% of Punjab’s total forest area has been diverted between 1980-2016 To put in perspective: Haryana is ranked second to Punjab. It has diverted 3.8% of its forest land in same period Reason: Rapid urbanization, building of roads, bridges, defence installations, etc. are responsible for this drastic erosion The government itself uses lot of forest land for building educational institutes, etc. as it is difficult to acquire land, given the complexities of land acquisition Also, as Punjab has less forest area vis-à-vis other states in the country, its diversion of forest area also appears high.   Forest Bureaucracy It is a product of colonial rule which has seen forests as state property. This has often brought conflict between local population residing in forests and bureaucracy. Such conflicts have been going on through generations Thus, encroachment accounting for the highest loss in forest area points to an old fight between the forest bureaucracy and forest population of India. International experience shows that local population display greater efficiency and stakes in forest conservation as well as afforestation than the efforts given by forest bureaucracy. This debate has become relevant with Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill undertaken by Parliament. According to environment experts, this bill seeks to reverse the gains which the Forest Right Act, 2006 conferred on communities living in forests, majority of which as Scheduled Tribes.   Effects of forest diversion Monoculture Plantations are not Forests There is growing evidence that natural forests cannot be replaced by plantations. Forests provide for an extremely valuable ecosystem. The different forest types across the country are home to an amazing variety of wildlife which are irreplaceable. Species in danger The diversion of forests along the Alaknanda basin in Uttarakhand for building hydro-electric power projects will impact the Himalayan Brown Bear. A proposed dam on the Nyamjang Chhu River in Arunachal Pradesh will submerge the wintering habitat of the rare and endangered Black Necked Crane. Widening of the NH7 highway running along Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh will destroy the Pench corridor used by a vast population of Due to mining and railways expansion across forest areas, a steady increase has already been witnessed in the incidence of human conflict with elephants. People lose home and identity There are approximately 300 million people staying in around 170000 villages, settlements and habitats in these forests. If the forests are ‘reforested’ (euphemism for diversion), the people will lose home, livelihoods and sustenance, culture, traditional bonding with nature and finally, India will lose the distinct identity of protecting diversity. Historically it has been noted that the forest dwellers have not been adequately compensated for uprooting their lands, livelihoods and culture. For the Schedule Tribes who mainly reside in forests, the enactment of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers’ (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, also called Forests Rights Act, has not much changed their situation. The provision of seeking prior informed consent of local communities in forest areas being diverted has been regularly ignored Conclusion Diversion of forest land for any non-forest purpose should be subject to the most careful examinations by specialists from the standpoint of social and environmental costs and benefits. If it becomes necessary for economic development to use the forests for non-forest purpose, then before grant of permission for diversion of forest land, there should be some scheme where under loss occurring due to such diversion can be made up by adopting both short term measures as well as long term measures one of it being a regeneration programme. Forests are our source of survival which provide us air, food, wood, habitat for living beings, source of watershed protection and mitigate climate change. If the forests will go, the ecosystem will disappears. Hence, saving forests is saving ourselves. Connecting the dots: What is forest land diversion? Critically analyse the significance of it. Refer: Sowing the seeds of a disaster: Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015 (CAF Bill) Conservation of natural resources- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 ECONOMY   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Effects of liberalization on the economy.   Reforming the bilateral investment pacts Context Worldwide, the international investment agreement (IIA) regime is undergoing a change. India has been no exception to it. India has decided terminate about 57 bilateral investment treaties (BITs) whose initial duration has expired, or is soon to expire. For the other BITs that are in force, it will issue joint statements. IIA reforms have been seen in many countries including Australia, South Africa, Indonesia as well as EU. International Investment Agreement A type of treaty between countries that address issues relevant to cross-border investments It is usually for the purpose of protection, promotion and liberalization of such investments. Most IIAs include FDIs and portfolio investments. Though, some don’t have latter. Countries that involve in IIAs commit themselves to adhere to specific standards on the treatment of foreign investments within their territory. The most common types of IIAs are Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) and Preferential Trade and Investment Agreements (PTIAs). International Taxation Agreements and Double Taxation Treaties (DTTs) are also considered as IIAs, as taxation commonly has an important impact on foreign investment. Why bilateral investments not working Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) deal primarily with the admission, treatment and protection of foreign investment. Following the 1991 economic reforms, India signed a number of BITs. However, just like other countries, India also did not understand its consequences   What changed India’s approach to BITs In 2012, India lost an investor-state arbitration dispute to White Industries. White Industries started the proceedings under the India-Australia BIT Later, through the ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) clause, it took advantage of the more favourable investor protections in the India-Kuwait BIT. The tribunal held that court delays in India breached the “effective means” standard in the India-Kuwait BIT. Thus, India was liable to pay damages + costs + interest to White Industries. Learning from this, the new model BIT of 2015 excludes from the purview MFN clause Taxation Compulsory licences Intellectual Property Rights Also, now onwards controversial provision of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), the investor has to first pursue domestic courts for at least five years and then approach international platform. India is not alone At a recent meeting of UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum in Nairobi, developed and developing countries called for the IIA regime to be more balanced between investor protection and host states’ right to regulate and enforce rights and obligations. It included countries like Australia, Canada, China, South Africa and EU. Many European countries are identifying more possibilities of a permanent multilateral investment court. The ISDS system has been called for more transparency, tightened definitions and reforms. Some countries don’t find co-relation between the inflow of foreign direct investment and BITs. For instance, India and USA do not have a BIT, yet US is the largest source of FDI in India. (If India-US have BIT, it will be strategically advantageous for India.) Too much confusion There is a growing feeling among host countries that BITs is leaning in favour of protection for corporations and it compromises the regulatory space of the governments. There is a need to include investor obligations and responsibilities and rights in such agreements. Also, there has been an exponential increase in investor-state arbitrations. It has been observed that tribunals tend to come out with conflicting opinions. Countries have also been sued for the same underlying dispute under more than one BIT. The tribunals have given remedies based on potentially more favourable clauses in BITs, other than the one invoked, by incorporating the standard under the MFN clause. These arbitrations have alarmed the governments and have made them rethink their strategies. It has been also reflected in G20 Guiding Principles for Global Investment Policymaking. There has to be a change in approach which Affirms a non-discriminatory and predictable investment climate. Asserts the right of host governments to regulate investments for legitimate public purpose. Supports a robust ISDS system, with safeguards to prevent abuse.   Need to reform ISDS If a permanent investment court is feasible or not has to be mooted. The permanent courts may have a system of appeals within its framework. Also, it can be only be an appellate tribunal. Such a reform will bring some certainty in the system and prevent divergent or conflicting opinions on the same legal provision. The challenge is that there are about 3,000 different BITs in force with differing provisions. Hence, there may be a problem of coherence and cross-application of arbitral awards. Balanced System needed Countries can undertake specific commitments to provide speedy adjudication of disputes in domestic courts before invoking international arbitration. This has been also met with resistance. They can also negotiate for compulsory alternate dispute settlement mechanisms like mediation in the BITs. There has to be research in finding the best possible approaches to BITs that balance investor rights and countries’ regulatory space. The new BITs have to be mindful of the sustainable development goals and find ways to encourage responsible investment. As the distinctions are fading between strictly capital-importing and capital-exporting states, all countries must proactively seek a more balanced IIA system. This requires more cooperation and open-mindedness across the states and investors India has already initiated steps to reform IIA regime and it should be the starting point of a larger debate. Connecting the dots: What are BITs? Discuss the problems pertaining to implementation of BITs and how can they be solved?   MUST READ The new war on piracy Hindu   Speaking truth to power Hindu   Citizenship without bias Hindu   New engagement with an old neighbour Hindu Related article: Why “looking east” and “acting east” is important?   Surrogacy bill gets the Cabinet nod Hindu   Protecting Good Samaritans Hindu   Elephant seals to measure changing ocean currents Hindu   Deforestation caused reduced rainfall in Ganga Basin, NE India Hindu   Theatre of the absurd Indian Express Related article: Sedition drama Sedition: An unconstitutional tool Upholding Criminal Defamation   Health Security At Stake Indian Express   Defining public interest Indian Express   Knowing your submarines: Scorpene submarine leak Indian Express   TB cases in India may be double of estimates: new study Indian Express   Cabinet clears new India-Cyprus tax treaty Livemint   Industry must lead the way in skilling India Livemint   Inflation: Risks of global price rise Livemint   Scientists find Goldilocks planet in Earth’s galactic backyard Livemint   Global human footprint growth slower than rise in population, economy: Report Livemint   Perumal Murugan returns Livemint   India’s new position at RCEP Livemint   India to receive normal rains, not surplus, as La Nina chances fade Livemint   India right in flagging Baluchistan Business Line Related article: Before Balochistan   Ethanol blend petrol Business Line   Calendar concerns Business Line   Centre looking at options for GST rollout date Business Line

Aug 25, 2016 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 4]

Click here to get all the Tests– Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to Bawariya tribe They are natives of Haryana They were declared criminals under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 in British India Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 1 and 2 None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) It is in line with the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (FTA) It is chaired by Chief Economic Adviser It is an inter – ministerial body on trade facilitation Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Swacch Yug’ It aims to make all villages along the banks of the Ganga Open Defecation Free It is concerning Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a part of this campaign Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 Only 3 All of the above Q.4) Choose from the following the disputes which were a part of India-US trade disputes at the WTO— Solar Panel Case dealing with the domestic content requirements Increased Visa fees by the U.S.A Ban of poultry imports from U.S.A Ban of pulses from India Select the correct option: Both 1 and 2 Both 1 and 3 1, 3 and 4 1, 2 and 3 Q.5) Consider the following statements in regard to electronic payment system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) which is in news recently: Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system was recently launched by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella organisation for all retail payments in the country. Unlike NEFT or RTGS, which typically takes a little more than an hour, UPI provides immediate payment service but is available only during the bank’s working hours. Select the correct statement(s) from below options: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Download the Solution- Click here All the best IASbaba

Aug 24, 2016 PIB

IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB)- 15th Aug to 21th Aug, 2016

ARCHIVES GS-2 Birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children (Topic: Women and child development) About- Minister of Women and Child Development, held Regional consultations with Civil Society Organizations on the draft ‘Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2016’ in Chennai Suggestion come forward- Timelines for repatriation of trafficked victims should be included in the Act itself. Begging is an important area where trafficking is rampant and should be taken up seriously under the Act. Project Abhayam- Abhayam is an initiative of the NGO Dayaa Foundation. Purpose- For safety, rescue and rehabilitation of children in the city of Chennai. Establish a Citizen Council for child safety— initiative of bringing citizens together for protecting children Steps taken by WCD Ministry- It will be starting a new initiative for providing birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children— will help street children obtain an identity for their future use to move ahead in life. Measures being taken by Government for safety, protection and care of children— Children’s helpline i.e. Childline, Initiative with railways on missing children, New Juvenile Justice Act, New Foster Care programme Reform of Adoption System   Scaling up Citizens’ Participation in SBM (U) (Topic: Government policies and scheme and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)   About- Union Minister for Urban Minister inaugurated a consultative workshop on Scaling up Citizens’ Participation in Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) {SBM (U)} to a 'Jan Andolan' in New Delhi. Organised by- Ministry of Urban Development & Tata Institute of Social Sciences Help- To share ideas, experiences and also to know the good practices this will help to bridge the gaps in SBM  Steps for increasing citizens’ participation- Swachh Survekshan, thematic drives with citizen participation, engaging students and Self-Help Groups- drivers and change agents for social behaviour change Engaging nearly 20,000 swachhagrahisacross the country to motivate communities to stop open defecation Intensive PR and social media campaigns being run continuously to engage with citizens to trigger and sustain their motivation to participate in cleanliness drives Creation of infrastructure- be it construction of individual and community/public toilets, facilitate waste processing into value-added products, setting up technology-enabled collection and transportation systems for solid waste, setting up waste-to-compost and waste-to-energy plants for waste processing To encourage production of city compost from solid waste, it has now been made mandatory for fertilizer companies in states to purchase the compost produced by city compost manufacturers. India is now looking at a potential compost production of 23 lakh MT per annum by March 2017, which is likely to go up even further Progress: About 122 cities have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status so far and a total of 739 cities will achieve ODF status in this financial year. Three States – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala have committed to be 100% ODF by March 2017.   Launch of ‘TARANG’ ‘e-Trans’ & ‘DEEP’ (Topic: Government policies and scheme and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) About- Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines launched the ‘TARANG’ Mobile App, ‘e-Trans’ & ‘DEEP’ e-bidding web portals, developed by Rural Electrification Corporation Transmission Projects Company Limited (RECTPCL), a subsidiary of REC Ltd, in New Delhi. Aim- To enhance transparency in power transmission sector of the country by launching TARANG- a powerful monitoring tool that tracks upcoming transmission projects and monitors the progress of Inter-State & Intra-State transmission systems in the country, being developed through Regulated tariff mechanism as well as Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) route. ‘TARANG’ (Transmission App for Real Time Monitoring & Growth) Mobile App & Web Portalhas been developed by RECTPCL, under the guidance of Ministry of Power. Introduction of the electronic platform shall enhance ease, accountability & transparency and would boost confidence of investors in power transmission sector. Better price discovery shall ultimately benefit the power consumers in India. TARANG shall also include status of stalled/delayed transmission systems in country which would enable the stakeholders viz. Ministry of Power, State Governments, all private sector transmission developers and PSUs like Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., for expeditious completion of such projects. Green Energy Corridors, an important component of our renewable energy mission, would also be monitored through TARANG and help to meet our ambitious targets in same on time. e-Trans- web platform for e-bidding and e-reverse auction for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) in transmission projects   DEEP- Launch of the ‘DEEP (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price) e-Bidding’ portal for medium term (1-5 years) purchase of power Portal will provide a common e-bidding platform with e-reverse auction facility to facilitate nation-wide power procurement through a wider network so as to bring uniformity and transparency in the process of power procurement. Benefits- Introduction of e-Bidding and e-reverse auction process for medium term (1-5 years), the time span of the complete bidding process and the cost of procurement of power is expected to be reduced substantially, thereby significantly benefiting the ultimate consumers. System of e-reverse auction is being introduced with concept of L-1 matching. The provision of multiple progressive bidding based on the fuel choice has also been incorporated in the system.   2nd Meeting of BRICS: Disaster Management (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and affecting India’s interests) About- 2nd Meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, and China & South Africa) Ministers for Disaster Management will be held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on August 22-23, 2016. Focus on- Flood Risk Management Forecasting of Extreme Weather Events in the context of Changing Climate. Outcome of- Recognizing the common challenge posed by natural and man-made disasters, BRICS countries have identified Disaster Management as an important area of collaboration. The Ufa Declaration signed by BRICS Nations at the 7th BRICS Summit on July 9, 2015 identified the need to promote cooperation in preventing and developing responses to emergency situations. Declaration also acknowledged the fruitful discussions on natural disasters within the context of BRICS cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation. It also reiterated BRICS commitment to mitigate the negative impact of climate change. All the five BRICS countries have signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. They are also parties to the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in March, 2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. A number of SDGs have specific targets related to Disaster Risk Management (DRM). Objectives of this meeting are- To share experiences on flood risk management particularly with regards to Flood risk assessment, Flood forecasting and Early warning and emergency response To share experiences on current systems in each country for forecasting extreme weather events -- heat and cold waves, and episodes of extreme rainfall– particularly in the context of a changing climate To identify opportunities for- Collaboration between institutions of respective BRICS countries in the area of flood risk management and extreme weather related events. Challenges for Disaster Risk Management- Mainstreaming DRR in key development sectors Capacity building at local level Strengthening of response mechanism Forecasting and early warning on floods and extreme weather events- Key early warning challenges Highlights of recent scientific and technical developments Lessons learnt for ensuring last mile connectivity/community level action on early warning Disaster risk in a changing climate Emerging disaster risks as a result of climate change DRM practices evolving in view of emerging disaster risks in a changing climate.   NMCG and IOC sign MoU for industrial use of treated water (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and affecting India’s interests) About- Foundation laying of STP in Mathura which will provide treated water for industrial use. Industrial use of treated water- MoU was also signed to this effect between National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Adoption of hybrid annuity mode by NMCG the complexion of Yamuna will change completely in Mathura-Vrindavan by the year 2018. Every effort will be made to stop the flow of polluted water of Yamuna from Delhi to Mathura Vrindavan. Use of pressure technology in irrigation we would be able to save about 60 percent water of Ganga and Yamuna which will help to maintain good e-flow of water in these rivers.   NMPB to launch National campaign on Medicinal Plants at Jaipur (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of social sector/ services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources)   About-National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) of the Ministry of AYUSH will launch a National campaign on Medicinal Plants on 20th – 21st August, 2016 at Jaipur. Campaign will be organised at- State Institute of Agriculture Management (SIAM), Durgapura, in Jaipur. Participants- Approximately 500 farmers who are cultivating medicinal plants from across the country will participate. Benefit- Most of the stakeholders will be benefited through this event. NMPB- NMPB has been working for the growth and development of medicinal plants in the country since its inception in year 2000. At present, NMPB promotes medicinal plants conservation, cultivation, research, marketing, quality and other activities under Central Sector Scheme for "Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants" and Medicinal Plants component under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission for cultivation of medicinal plants.   Health Minister inaugurates 3rd World Trauma Congress (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of social sector/ services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources) About- Health Ministry will soon come out with a National Injury Control Program to provide trauma healthcare and save lives of the lakhs of persons lost in accidents and to injury. Objectives- To exchange ideas, experiences and lessons learned about the role of internationally accepted systems and protocols in the field of trauma care, mass causality incidents, and disasters. Need of such program- Road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between 5 and 44 years of age. Unless immediate and effective action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the 5th leading cause of death in the world, resulting in an estimated 24 lakh deaths each year. Road injuries and deaths cause a colossal economic cost of up to 1.5% of the Gross National Product (GNP) in the low- and middle-income countries. Latest statistic- In India 52 persons died every hour in various accidents in 2014, the major causes of accidental deaths in India are “Traffic accident, “Drowning”, and Poisoning” and “Accidental fire. India has the highest Road crash mortality in the world. As per the statistics quoted in the report of the action for road safety, each year nearly 16 lakh people die globally as a result of a road traffic collision— more than 3000 deaths each day—and more than half of these people are not travelling in a car. About 2 to 5 crore more people sustain non-fatal injuries from a collision, and these injuries are an important cause of disability worldwide. Ninety percent of road traffic deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries, which claim less than half the world's registered vehicle fleet. Important reasons of increased mortality- Non-availability of trauma systems which include care from the injury site till rehabilitation Pre-hospital care is absent in many states, and in some states very primitive without the state of the art ambulances, trained manpower and proper organization in a definite geographical area In-hospital trauma care infrastructure presently cannot cater to the needs of ‘multiply injured patients’ due to lack of trained manpower and resources Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Legislation is not uniformly adapted Only state of Gujarat has enacted it; Lack of authentic data and trauma related research Non-existent or few rehabilitation facilities WTC- 1st WTC: ‘Rio de Jenario’ 2nd WTC: Frankfurt 3rd WTC: India Additional facilities extended to persons residing in India on Long-Term Visa (LTV) (Topic: Steps taken for upliftment of minority community) About- Central Government has extended certain facilities in last two years to persons from Minority community of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians  staying on Long Term Visa  (LTV) in India,  such as affidavit in place of renunciation certificate, LTV for five years instead of two years, facilities for education and employment, etc. Aim- To provide them fair opportunities for a more comfortable living and hassle-free movement and pursuit of economic activities within the territory of India, Government has decided to extend the following additional facilities to this class of LTV holders- Permission to open bank account Permission for purchase of property for self occupation and suitable accommodation for carrying out self–employment Permission to take self employment Issuance of driving licence, PAN card and Aadhar number Allowing free movement within the State/UT where they are staying Transfer of LTV papers from one State to other Reduction of penalty amount to Rs.100, Rs.200 and Rs.500 instead of existing amount of $30, $130, $230 on non–extension of short term Visa /LTV. Permission to apply for LTV from the place of present residence when the applicants have changed place without permission.   GS-3 India set to seize big opportunity in logistic costs saving through Sagarmala (Topic: Infrastructure- Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.) Augmenting operational efficiency of ports & optimizing logistics evacuation can give boost to Indian trade and help seize the big opportunity of growth in Indian cargo traffic at ports which is estimated to increase to 2.5 bn. MMTPA by 2025. The origin destination study on cargo traffic projections & logistics bottlenecks lays emphasis on the need for creation of efficient infrastructure at requisite demand and logistic chain centres. India’s logistic cost— Currently 95% of India’s trade by value and 70 % by volume take place through maritime transport. Globally, maritime nations such as China, South Korea and Japan have effectively used their coastline for ‘port-led development’. It is therefore essential for India to optimize logistics cost and identify capacity additions required at different ports to prepare for future traffic flow. Focusing on the total demand and supply situation of major EXIM flow of key commodities currently being handled by ports, the report suggests- Opportunities to optimize logistics cost for existing and future cargo capacities Capacity additions or reconfigurations needed at various ports to prepare for future traffic flow, including new ports development. Study estimates- Potential to save around INR 35,000-40,000 Crores per annum by optimizing logistics flows for key commodities by 2025. Some of the key drivers identified for this are promoting coastal shipping of bulk commodities like coal, setting-up coastal clusters for bulk commodities like cement & steel, and providing last-mile connectivity of ports with National Highways and Railway network. Programme aims- To change the way logistics evacuation happens in India Save logistics costs nationwide for cargo handling and evacuation through seaports Boost overall economic development through ports Empower coastal communities. Identifying the opportunity of increase in cargo traffic to 2.5 bn MMTPA by 2025 Establishing new trans-shipment port, creating dedicated coastal berths ports for coastal shipping, setting up storage capacities at origin-destination ports to shorten turnaround time and developing adequate ship-repair facilities in the maritime states Scope of Sagarmala implies- Partnership with and support from key stakeholders Aligning with the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, private-sector participation through PPP models will be explored for developing port infrastructure, railway infrastructure and coastal shipping.   NHAI collaborates with PFC—Adopt a Green Highway Program (Topic: Infrastructure- Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc) About- National Green Highways Mission (NGHM) under NHAI has collaborated with Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) for plantations work on NH 7 in Nagpur region (Borkhedi – Wadner, & Khatara – Kelapur) covering 87 km stretch. Power Finance Corporation Ltd. has provided financial assistance of Rs. 13 crore for plantation and five year maintenance under their CSR funds. Adopt a Green Highway Program- This event is historic as this marks the first collaboration with the National Green Highways Mission - NHAI under their ‘Adopt a Green Highways’ Adopt a Green Highway Program is an initiative by NGHM to engage Corporates, Public Sector Units, Governmental organizations, institutions and individuals under CSR and Public Private Partnership for developing green corridor along NHs This will open new vistas for PSUs & Corporate houses to utilize their CSR funds for greening of highways and creation of ecological assets. Discussions with other PSUs such as Coal India Ltd and other corporates are under process to promote Greening of Highways. For the proposed work in Nagpur, NGHM has engaged four empanelled agencies to execute plantation and maintenance work. The agencies have been mandated to engage at least 70% work force from the local community, thereby enhancing livelihood opportunity. Out of these four agencies, 3 are start-ups, which is in line with the vision of PM to promote start-up India campaign.   BARC develops portable kit for detection of Chromium-contamination of water (Topic: Achievements of Indians in science and technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology) About Chromium- Chromium is widely used in various industries like leather, steel, chrome plating, paint manufacturing, wood preservation etc. Untreated effluents from these industries cause widespread contamination of water as been reported in several parts of the country. Chromium in the environment primarily exists as Trivalent Chromium Cr (III) and Hexavalent Chromium Cr (VI). The later is toxic and the World Health Organization has classified it as carcinogenic and can cause stomach ulcers, and cancers and severe damage to kidneys and liver. As per Indian standard IS10500 for drinking water, the maximum permissible concentration of Cr (VI) in drinking water is 50 microgram per litre. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a still lower permissible concentration of 10 microgram per liter. Detection of Cr (VI)- At such low levels is not only technically challenging but also expensive and time consuming since it involves collection of water samples from affected areas, transportation to the laboratory, storage and finally analysis. The method can be used for limited water samples with errors due to conversion of Cr (III) to Cr (VI) and vice versa during transport and storage. BARC- BARC has developed a simple, user friendly, quick and cost effective kit for onsite determination of Cr (VI), which meets IS10500 as well as EPA criterion. It provides the much needed solution to measure the level of Chromium contamination in drinking water and tap water, lakes, rivers as well as ground water. Procedure involves adding a specified amount of specific reagents to the water sample and identifying the developed color. Color chart- Color develops within 5 minutes and the distinction can be made with naked eye. For ease of comparison a color chart is provided with the kit. Water samples can be immediately categorized as being safe or toxic for drinking from Chromium (VI) point of view. Kit provides several advantages including onsite detection and instantaneous results, elimination of use of sophisticated instruments for analysis, low investment on infrastructure for production of the kit, easy availability of raw materials and very good accuracy for the intended purpose.   BRO Launches Ambitious Tree Plantation Drive (Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment) About- Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under Ministry of Defence, which is one of the premier road construction agencies of the country, launched a massive tree plantation drive in the Northern & Eastern states of India.   Plantation Drive- Almost two lakh saplings will be planted across the country under this programme. Aim is to protect the ecology and increase the green cover along the border areas of the Country Apart from planting of the saplings, the most important thing is to ensure their maintenance and care. Effort is also aimed at saving the precious life and land from soil erosion and consequent flash floods caused by the incessant rains and also to make the people aware about the importance of tree plantation. BRO also plans to conduct numerous activities to create awareness amongst the people, by way of organizing community participation, competitions for children and by organizing a mini-marathon with the theme ‘Run for the Roads’ in the near future.