May 18, 2016 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

IASbaba '60 Day Plan' - Prelims Test 2016 [Day 3]

Click here to get all the Tests- Archives Hello Friends Hope you enjoyed Day 1 and Day 2 questions. The link for Day 2 solution is active now.  Why we asked you to comment? Now go back to check your answers that you posted with honest effort. Edit your answers with marks. Everyday like this you can self monitor your progress for all 60 days. Accountability to self is the only way for success IASbaba '60 Day Plan' - Prelims Test 2016 [Day 3] Q.1) Which of the following statements correctly explains a ‘Cordillera’? It is a massive mountain range with two or more parallel mountain ranges. It is a huge volcanic depression formed due to collapse of a volcano crater. It is lake formed in mountain valleys. It is lake formed in depressions of rocky deserts. Q.2) Consider the following statements about the Aravallis? They are the oldest mountain ranges of India. Aravalli is an example of block mountains. Guru Shikhar is the highest peak of Aravalli range. Aravalli hills lie perpendicular to the direction of monsoon winds causing heavy rainfall in eastern Rajasthan. Which of the above statements are correct? a) 1 and 3 b) 2 and 4 c) 1,2 and 3 d) All of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements: When an air parcel is pushed up, first dry adiabatic cooling take place and then wet adiabatic cooling take place. During dry adiabatic cooling, air contains no water vapour. The rate of dry adiabatic cooling is constant across the world, while rate of wet adiabatic cooling constantly changes. Which of the above statements are correct? a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3 c) 1 and 3 d) All of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements regarding Bhabhar plains: It is the northern most tracts of Indian plains lying at the foothills of Siwaliks. It contains fine alluvium deposited by the Himalayan streams. It is very fertile and suitable for cultivation of crops. Which of the above statements are incorrect? a) All of the above b) 1 only c) 2 and 3 d) None of the above Q.5) India and its neighboring countries are generally referred to as the Indian Subcontinent. The reason behind this is: Political dominance of India Region’s isolation from rest of the world Vast size of the country Typical trade links with the rest of the world Q.6) Mt K2 is the highest peak of India. In which of the following mountain ranges does it lie: Karakoram Range Greater Himalayas Central Himalayas Siwaliks Q.7) Which of the following statements are the major causes of drought in India? High variability of the rainfall Absence of forests resulting in rapid runoff and hence droughts Rainfall is not distributed throughout the year Amount of rainfall is inadequate Select the correct code from the following: a) 1,2 and 3 b) 2,3 and 4 c) 1,3 and 4 d) All of the above Q.8) Consider the following statements regarding India’s Shola forests: They are evergreen mountain forests. They are found only in high altitudes (>1500m) in tropical areas. Trees are stunted and have low or no timber value. Which of the above statements are correct? a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3 c) 1 and 3 d) All of the above Q.9) In which of the following regions there is a possibility of finding laterite soil? Hot and humid Hot and dry Cold and dry Cold and humid Q.10) Consider the following statements regarding ‘Deccan Trap’: It is a vast area of basaltic lava plateau. The rocks are stratified into different layers showing multiple events of volcanism. It is an area of large volcanic cones. Which of the above statements are incorrect? a) 1 and 2 b) 3 only c) 1 and 3 d) None of the above Q.11) In which of the following coal mines do we get Anthracite coal? Kalakot, Jammu and Kashmir Jharia, Jharkhand Neivelli, Tamilnadu Select the correct code from the following: a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 c) 1 and 2 d) All of the above Q.12) The eastern and western coast of Indian peninsula has got contrasting features. Which of the following contrasts are correct about the coastal plains? Eastern coast is an example of submerging coast while western coast is an example of emerging coast. A number of rivers form deltas on the western coast, while it is not true for the eastern coast. As compared to eastern coastal plains, the western coastal plains are much broader. Select the correct code from the following a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3 c) 1 and 3 d) None of the above Q.13) Consider the following statements about the Indian Thar desert The underlying rock structure of desert is the extension of Peninsular plateau. Fluvial erosion is common making mushroom rocks and shifting dunes. Rivers flow in short streams and disappears showing inland drainage. Which of the above statements are correct? a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3 c) 1 and 3 d) All of the above Q.14) Consider the following statements and identify the personality? 2015 marks 108th Birth Anniversary of this historical personality He founded India nationalist youth organization, Naujawan Bharat Sabha He was inspired by Anarchism and Marxism Select the correct code a) Udham Singh b) Lala Lajpat Rai c) Bhagat Singh d) Chandra Shekhar Azad Q.15) ISRO has successfully launched ASTROSAT. Consider the following statements w.r.t it It is a kind of telescope It is India’s first Space Observatory It is the first of its kind in the world Select the correct code a) 1 and 2 b) Only 2 c) 2 and 3 d) 1, 2 and 3 Q.16) Consider the following about ‘Samvatsari’ It is known as 'Introspection’, is a process during which Jain repent for their sins It is also known as ‘International Forgiveness Day’ and is the holiest day of Jain Calendar Chose the incorrect statement/s a) Only 1 b) Only 2 c) Both d) None Q.17) Consider the following Nuakhai Gudhi Parwa Chavang Kut Gawai Dayak Which of the above is/are Agricultural/Harvest festivals of India? a) Only 2 b) 1, 2 and 4 c) 1, 2 and 3 d) 2, 3 and 4 Q.18) Consider the following The largest biomes are temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands biomes The region is colloquially referred as ‘Stans’ The region experiences very dry climatic conditions, and inadequate precipitation has led to heavy dependence on the Syr Darya and Amu Darya for irrigation. Identify the region based on given statements a) Eastern Asia b) Eastern Africa c) Western Africa d) Central Asia Q.19) Consider the following statements with respect to LEGUMES Legumes have an ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere Legumes help in increasing soil fertility Legumes are highly nutritive but also contain anti-nutrients that are harmful Select the correct codes a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3 c) 1, 2 and 3 d) Only 1  Q.20) ‘Bhama Kalapam,’ ‘Parvathi Parinayam’ and ‘Bhakta Prahlada’ are related to which of the dance forms Kathakali Kuchipudi Bharatnatyam Odissi Q.21) Consider the following Atropa Belladona Datura Morphine Opioids Which of the following does not belong to the category of Drugs? a) 1 and 3 only b) 1 only c) 2 and 3 only d) None of these Q.22) Rio Olympics is round the corner. Consider the following statements The official mascot of Rio 2016 Olympics is Vinicius The Olympics will be held in Capital city of Brazil known as Rio De Generio Select the correct answer a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both d) None Q.23) Consider the following Ringworms Ascaris Filariasis Which of the following is caused by “Fungi”? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 2 and 3 only Q.24) Consider the following statements with respect to Rehabilitation of Bonded labour scheme 2016 The quantum of financial assistance under this scheme is increased from Rs 20 thousand to one lakh rupees. The scheme aims to address new forms of bondage such as organised begging rings, forced prostitution and child labour for which females are mercilessly used by the powerful elements. The scheme is implemented by Ministry of women and child development. Select the correct option a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 2 only d) All the above Q.25) Emphasis to restore Jagannath temple at puri was in news recently. Consider the following statements with respect to Puri Jagannath Temple The idol of Jagannath temple at Puri is made of wood and is replaced once in twelve years. The temple was rebuilt in 12th century by Eastern Ganga dynasty King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva The puri Jagannath temple constitutes one of the four Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to visit in his lifetime. Select the correct option a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 2 only d) All the above Download the Solution- Click here  P.S- Attempt these questions within 20 minutes with full honesty and write your results in the comment box. Next day, come back and check your result. You can also discuss the important concepts and issues, in case of doubts (among peers) All the best IASbaba

May 18, 2016 Topper's From IASbaba

TOPPER'S STRATEGY: Annapurna Garg (Rank 68) CSE - 2015

Dear friends, We are happy to share strategy and words of wisdom from Annapurna Garg ( Rank 68) . Friends, you know her as one of the regular writers of TLP. She featured regularly in our top TLP writers. We are very proud of her as she stood by us during our tough times , she believed in us This infact motivated us to treat her as some one in iasbaba family close to us that we called her during mains for answer writing.   Her mail lines read thus: "Please find the attachment - it's the article that you had asked for with a special emphasis On answer writing. I again thank the platform for playing a major role in my success. I am truly grateful to such an organised and focused initiative. May iasbaba keep on working like this and helping many young people to realise their dreams."     Friends remeber " God helps those who help themselves , whatever be the negativity" On this note we sign off and share the strategy.   Annapurna Garg's Strategy  (AIR 68, CSE - 2015) The path that I chose three years back has finally reached its destination. The road was bumpy and nauseatic at times, but it was equally gratifying and fulfilling at the end of the day. All the note making, reading The Hindu line to line, NCERTs, test series, scribbling on walls, social isolation, listening ‘Lakshya toh Har haal me paana hai’ and ‘aashayein’ have finally born very sweet fruits. My dream has come true and so can anybody’s. It's a dream seen by millions of young Indians but only a few see the happy ending. So, here are a few things that I think I did differently from others that gave me an edge:   Preliminary examination: Keep your sources very limited. The more books you try to read, the less you actually absorb. So much of material in market attracts, but you have to resist. Stick to the basic books. It's important to read those basic books again and again. I used to underline in the books itself and did not make any exclusive notes, for prelims examination. I personally feel that writing what is there in book already is a sheer waste of time. Invest that time in revision instead. But make very short and concise notes of the current affairs (especially factual ones). I used to make soft notes so that these could always be updated. While studying, one knows one’s strengths and weaknesses. It's important to strengthen the strengths and identify and accept the weaknesses. For example, if you come across a question on zonal council, and you realise that your knowledge about zonal councils is lacking somewhere, go back to the book and read it again. And very importantly, write ‘Zonal council’ in a check list of things to revise. This ensures that you build upon your weak areas in a very organised fashion. Newspaper reading for CSE is an art. Any news has to be read with a 360 degree view of it. For example while reading a news on Uttarakhand president's rule, try to mentally go through what, why, how, when of the topic. Any voids in the understanding should be filled by going back to the chapter and re reading it. The same strategy applies to mains as well. While reading any news, a mental analysis of the topic is important – both plus and minus of the issue at hand. Thus, things have to be done in a highly holistic manner. This strengthens the memory because well connected ideas are more likely to come to you in a streamlined flow.   Mains examination:   I failed in 2014 attempt because of my reluctance in practising answer writing. There is a psychological concept of conditioning. If we avoid something anxiety provoking, anxiety reduces and we feel good. Thus avoidance becomes a conditioned response and hence a habit. This happened with me in 2014 attempt. Thus, its very important to know one’s inner self and then devise the strategy accordingly. Self deception leads to failures. I realised this mistake of mine in this attempt and started writing  2-3 answers daily on IASBABA without fail. This made my answers better and better every day.   Answer writing practice is the key mantra to success in mains examination. Here are a few important things to keep in mind in answer writing: Read the question very carefully and stick to what the question is asking. Be very specific in answering. This is because we sometimes have so much knowledge on a topic that we tend to stretch things beyond the requirement. This doesn't fetch more marks, but only eats up the precious time. Think about an answer taking a 360 degree view of the issue at hand – political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, etc. This gives a good breadth to the answer. I wrote most of my answers in a particular format: firstly a very brief introduction, then the actual content in point format, and lastly a suitable conclusion. Conclusion should be in a positive tone and have some suggestive content. This ensures that you are making your impression on the examiner as a person who is optimistic and believes that things can improve for good. There is a common doubt whether to write answer in point format or paragraph format. Though no style can be the only best way, but I personally preferred point format. This is due to the fact that writing answer in point format covers various dimensions of the topic in less number of words. Also such an answer has more visibility and hence makes the work of examiner easy. Underlining the important aspects in the answer has its own value. It highlights the crucial matter, makes answer good to read, and hence eases the job of examiner. However, make sure that only the very important words or group of words are underlined. I underlined with the same pen to save time. Adhering to the time limit is very very important. Now GS papers have 20 questions, which boils down to around 9 minutes for each answer. Try doing it in 8 or 8.5 minutes. This ensures that all questions are attempted and still time is there for a bit of revision. This can be achieved by practising using a stopwatch. Try attempting ALL questions. Even if you have scant idea about an answer, write something about it. This may fetch you 1 or 2 marks which may matter a lot in deciding your rank. Relating an answer to the current events is a good idea. Even if not explicitly asked in the question, mention may be made of the related current government scheme or initiatives. For example, on a question of climate change, a mention of Paris summit and solar alliance would be good. Usage of good examples in the answers reflects good understanding. For example, in an answer on women empowerment, a mention may be made of sage Gargi of ancient India. This also reflects that the candidate is well read.   Sustaining oneself for such a long period of time is a challenge. Here the psychological concept of motivation comes to a great help. Motivation is that force which drives a human being. A demotivated person is less likely to give his best. Thus, here are a few things that I used to do to sustain myself: Keeping a good motivational quote as the wallpaper on my gadgets (I pad and phone). I used to change it every few days. Scribbling on walls, almirah, and what not – Annapurna Garg IAS Feel good factor about self – a mental imagery of one’s own achievements in life helps one to cultivate a positive self image and gives a positive attitude. This is one factor that can help you stand apart from others. Belief in God gave me an internal strength and hope that good days will definitely come. This operates purely at psychological level and works as a magic potion, especially in times of distress. So don't lose faith. Feedback from IASBABA on TLP answers was also a force. When I got that prize of TLP winner, it motivated me to work more to continue this performance. If some 1100 people can do it, I CAN ALSO DO IT. Keep “I” at a very high place. Don't let the noise of other people opinions drag you down.     “Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. Keep dreaming because dreams do come true.”        

May 17, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 17th May, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of Executive and Judiciary   Unequal access to Justice Supreme Court: Directed parties to an ongoing civil litigation to each pay a fixed sum of money to enable them to have their cases heard, and potentially disposed of, at an early date Imposing costs on one of the parties at the end of a protracted litigation— A common method in practice to act as a deterrent against litigants abusing the process and the system of the law Prioritisation of the case (over another) by granting early dates of hearing to those, who are capable of paying huge sums of money— A matter of shame as it reinforces a scheme of classism that has no place in any court of law Imposition of a pre-deposit—A capitalist’s calculation For rich corporates: A sort of fast-tracked justice tailor-made for those corporates who are keener for the settlement of mundane issues of little public consequence One of the steps which can be adopted to reduce pendency and discourage litigation Transformation of the Court into a court that now stands to serve only for the benefit of a few Indians, or the “big clients”   Justice—A luxury For ordinary men: Serves to deeply burden— the price to be paid for an early hearing would simply be out of reach The Constitution, wrote Justice S.N. Dwivedi in his separate judgment in the famous Kesavananda Bharati case, “is not intended to be the arena of legal quibbling for men with long purses” Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees to all persons a right to equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws— the idea of providing equal access to justice inheres both in Article 14 and in any reasonable notion of the rule of law. To achieve a perfect model of equal access would require every person to be possessed of an equal ability to defend his or her rights—Difficult to achieve in a society as unequal as India’s The same Court, in the 1980s, for expanding the right to legal access— had allowed claimants, whose rights were not directly affected by actions of the state, to approach the court on behalf of the larger public. “The legal aid movement and public interest litigation seek to bring justice to these forgotten specimens of humanity who constitute the bulk of the citizens of India and who are really and truly the ‘People of India’ who gave to themselves this magnificent Constitution,” wrote Justice P.N. Bhagwati in People’s Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India (1982). “It is true that there are large arrears pending in the courts, but that cannot be any reason for denying access to justice to the poor and weaker sections of the community. No state has a right to tell its citizens that because a large number of cases of the rich and the well-to-do are pending in our courts, we will not help the poor to come to the courts for seeking justice until the staggering load of cases of people who can afford is disposed of.” Change in the court’s underlying philosophy—Almitra Patel v. Union of India Public Interest Litigation filed to regulate solid waste disposal in the city of Delhi—Supreme Court wound up chastising the slum-dweller instead— “The promise of free land, at the taxpayers’ cost, in place of a jhuggi, is a proposal which attracts more land grabbers,” wrote Justice B.N. Kirpal. “Rewarding an encroacher on public land with free alternative site is like giving a reward to a pickpocket.” Ensuring equal access to justice (United Nations Development Programme) Means much more than improving an individual’s access to courts and the guarantee of proper legal representation— not only asks for a proper definition to emerge for the concept of ‘access to justice’ but also grant the concept the importance of it being the necessity for just and equitable legal and judicial outcomes “When dealing with a question of court fee,” wrote Justice D.A. Desai in a 1978 judgment of the Supreme Court, “the perspective should be informed by the spirit of the Magna Carta and of equal access to justice which suggests that a heavy price tag on relief in Court should be regarded as unpalatable.” There is a need for the Court to thus, change the path its treading upon as it just marks “an imposition of an inequality”, thereby making illusory some of the Constitution’s most cherished promises entrenched in the Preamble, of justice, social, economic and political, and of equality of status and of opportunity. Connecting the Dots: Critically examine if the recent decision taken by the Supreme Court w.r.t each paying a fixed sum of money to enable them to have their cases heard, and potentially disposed of, at an early date.   ECONOMICS   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: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth; Intellectual Property & Patent related issues   An IP policy with no innovation Background: Intellectual property (IP) regimes suffer a classic paradox. While they attempt to encourage innovation and creativity, they have themselves been shielded from innovation experimentation. For some years now, India has been attempting to break this mould and craft a regime to suit its own distinctive set of concerns. Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970, was a bold attempt in this direction, aimed at eradicating “evergreen” drug patents. At last count, a total of 2.37 lakh patent applications and over 5.44 lakh trademark registrations were deemed as pending, some of these hanging fire for years. The main reason for these pendency figures (updated March 10, 2016) has been attributed to the shortage of manpower in the country’s intellectual property offices. The unclogging of the pendency and quality examination are at the heart of improving the robustness of India’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) system, something that the government has moved towards by announcing the country’s first IPR policy.   What are the objectives of the government’s new IPR policy? To focus on strengthening the legal and legislative framework of IPRs, their commercialization; and reinforcing the enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for IPR infringements.   What are the different categories in Innovation domain? Technology-driven innovation: Which involves the development of new advanced technology systems, such as the Aadhaar platform, Bajaj Auto’s DTS-i technology or Vortex Engineering’s solar powered ATMs. Market-driven innovation: Which includes products that create innovative value propositions for new customer segments. Examples include Tata Ace one-tonne commercial vehicles and GE India’s low-cost ECG machines. Operations-driven innovation: Which includes innovations in processes achieved by adopting cost-efficient practices or by creating new supply and distribution channels, Examples include companies such as the Narayana Health Group and Aravind Eye Hospital that have lowered the cost of heart and eye surgeries through operational efficiencies achieved from volume-driven business models.   What is the current status of Investment into Research and development? As of 2014, India’s spend on research and development (0.8 per cent of GDP) significantly lagged global counterparts such as China (1.9 per cent), Korea (3.8 per cent) and the US (2.7 per cent). In 2015, India ranked a dismal 29th out of 30 countries in the International IP Index released by the Global Intellectual Property Center of the US Chamber of Commerce, a ranking that measures the overall IP environment in a country. China was ranked 19th in the same list. Intellectual Property Rights(IPR ) policy: Pros: The new National Intellectual Property Rights policy seeks to put in place a legal framework that will encourage the IPR regime and reduce the time taken by the government to approve a trademark to a month by 2017. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) acts as the nodal agency for regulating intellectual property rights in the country. For those in industry, the government’s move to streamline the IP related laws under a single department is a big positive, considering that this will help in streamlining of the intellectual property framework in the country. The policy needs to be commended for taking note of our “informal” (rural) economy and the need to encourage the prolific creativity found within. Cons: Intellectual property accelerates innovation in certain technology sectors, but it impedes innovation in others. The biggest flaw of the new policy is that it does not acknowledge this The entire edifice of the present IP policy is built on this flawed foundation equating more IP with more innovation. Granted, India is lagging on several counts. When compared with its glorious past boasting pioneering innovations from the likes of Sushruta (the father of modern surgery) and Nagarjuna (metallurgy), India has hardly had any noticeable technological marvels in its recent history. The policy sounds almost militant when it proposes that despite our ancient “laudable” heritage where knowledge was freely and extensively shared, we must now make amends and convert each piece of our knowledge into an IP asset. This flawed frame results in a number of problematic assertions in the text of the policy. It advocates that publicly funded scientists and professors must compulsorily convert all of their discoveries into IP assets, much before they have even written this up and published it in reputed science journals — and that their promotions be predicated on the number of IP applications made. We must encourage a plurality of approaches when it comes to IP and innovation; our scientists should be free to take this call on whether or not they wish to register IP. Doing so for the mere sake of it is stupid, quite apart from the fact that on an empirical cost-benefit analysis, most U.S. universities lose more money on IP registrations than they make through IP royalties.   How does IP policy affect SME (small and medium enterprises) sector? The IP issue is even more compelling in the context of the state of India’s SME (small and medium enterprises) sector, which employ 40 per cent of India’s overall workforce but contribute only 17 per cent to the nation’s GDP. This is mainly due to an unfavorable regulatory environment, marked by the need for multiple procedures and high paid-in capital to start a new business As a result, a whopping 94 per cent of SMEs are currently unregistered, which leaves them struggling with issues such as shortage of skilled workers, limited market exposure and restricted access to capital. Way ahead: The new policy will try to safeguard the interests of rights owners keeping in mind the wider public interest while combating infringements of IPRs The country would retain the right to issue so-called compulsory licences to its drug firms, under “emergency” conditions, and would not immediately need to change patent laws that were already fully WTO-compliant. Compulsory licenses are already provided in our patent law. That existing provision will continue. Compulsory licenses enable a domestic drug manufacturer to produce patented drugs that are not available to the public at a reasonable price. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)? Throw light on how does recently concluded Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) power R&D, national growth?   MUST READ The fee for NSG membership Hindu   An IP policy with no innovation - Intellectual property accelerates innovation in certain technology sectors, but it impedes innovation in others. The biggest flaw of the new policy is that it does not acknowledge this Hindu   Waiting to exhale - After topping the list of cities with the most polluted air, Delhi’s ranking has improved in the latest air quality assessment published by the World Health Organization Hindu Related Articles: Delhi’s traffic experiment – Will this reduce the Emission Levels? Clearing the Air: An alarming rise in pollution levels TLP 2016   Shining the light on climate action Business Standard For detailed analysis of the ‘Climate Change: Paris Summit’, refer the below link http://iasbaba.com/2015/12/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-14th-december-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/12/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-2nd-december-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/11/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-24th-november-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/11/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-10th-november-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-24th-october-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-9th-october-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-2nd-3rd-october-2015/   States at war with e-commerce firms- The need of the hour is to support e-commerce companies through benign policies and not to treat them as mere cash cows Business Standard Related Articles: 100% FDI in e commerce: An evaluation The Big Picture – FDI in E-Commerce – whom will it Benefit? TLP 2016   Anything but NEET- The Constitution makers would have never imagined that democracy would descend into anarchy through kritarchy Live Mint Related Articles: NEET order: What’s in store?   Unfair trade goes beyond dumping- Trade with countries that have very different economic, social, political models raises concerns about legitimacy Live Mint   The pros and cons of subsidies through direct benefit transfer-The main takeaway is that PAHAL is potentially a much better alternative compared to PDS Live Mint Related Articles: Time for expansion of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)   How subsidies have bled us dry - This is a truth many refuse to accept. Instead of freebies, the masses could have had better drought-proofing and more metros Business Line

May 17, 2016 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

IASbaba '60 Day Plan' - Prelims Test 2016 [Day 2]

Click here to get all the Tests- Archives Hello Friends Hope you enjoyed Day 1 questions. The link for day 1 solution is active now.  Why we asked you to comment? Now go back to check your answers that you posted with honest effort. Edit your answers with marks. Everyday like this you can self monitor your progress for all 60 days. Accountability to self is the only way for success IASbaba '60 Day Plan' - Prelims Test 2016 [Day 2] Q.1) Article 13 declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the fundamental rights shall be void. Which among the following laws can be challenged in courts as violating FR? Ordinances issued by the president or the state governors. Delegated legislations. Constitutional amendments. Choose the correct codes (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) All the above Q.2) The term ‘State’ has been used in different provisions concerning the fundamental rights.  According to Article 12, the State includes which among the following entities Executive organs of the Union and state governments. Legislative organs of the Union and state governments. Judiciary at Union and state levels. Local Self-governments created under 73rd and 74th amendments. Statutory authorities. Non-statutory authorities. Choose the correct codes (a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (b) 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 only (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (d) All the above Q.3)  Which among the following FR does a foreign citizen can avail Freedom to manage religious affairs. Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. Freedom from attending religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions. Right to elementary education. Protection of language, script and culture of minorities. Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. Choose the correct codes (a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (d) All the above Q.4) The concept "Equality before law" connotes which among the following The absence of any special privileges in favour of any person. The equality of treatment under equal circumstances. The equal subjection of all persons to the ordinary law of the land. Choose the correct codes (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above Q.5) Consider the following statements regarding Fundamental Duties enshrined in the constitution of India These are applicable to all the residents of India irrespective of their caste, creed, sex and religion. The parliament cannot impose legal sanction against the violation of Fundamental duties. Choose the correct codes (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.6) Which of the following statements can be considered as significance of Fundamental Duties? They help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law. They are enforceable by law. Choose the correct codes (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) Which among the following legal provisions are meant for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties enshrined in the constitution of India? Unlawful activities (Prevention) Act. Representation of People Act (1951). The Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015. Choose the correct codes (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above Q.8) Which among the following is called as "Conscience of the constitution" by Granville Austin? Fundamental Rights. Fundamental Duties. Directive Principles of State Policy Choose the correct codes (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All the above Q.9) DPSP are like the instrument of instructions. These instructions or recommendations to the State in which among the following matters Legislative organs of the central and state governments. Executive organs of the central and state governments. Judiciary at Union and state levels. All local authorities of the country. All public authorities of the country. Choose the correct codes (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) All the above Q.10) In Minerva mills case (1980), according to Supreme Court which among the following constitutes the core of commitment to social revolution Fundamental Rights. Fundamental Duties. Directive Principles of State Policy Choose the correct codes (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) All the above Q.11) Consider the following statements regarding ‘Quo-Warranto’: It prevents illegal usurpation of public office by a person. It cannot be issued in case of Ministerial office or private office. This can be sought by any interested person and not necessarily by the aggrieved person. Which of the above statements are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above Q.12) Article 34 of the Indian Constitution provides for the restriction on fundamental rights while ‘Martial Law’ is in force in any area within the territory of India. Which of the following statements regarding ‘Martial Law’ are correct? The concept of Martial law has been borrowed from the ‘English Common Law’. It refers to a situation where civil administration is run by military authorities according to their own rules and regulations. The expression ‘Martial Law’ has not been defined anywhere in the constitution. Select the correct code from the following: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above Q.13) Which of the following Fundamental Rights are available only to citizens and not to foreigners? Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Equal opportunity in matters of public employment. Freedom of speech and expression. Protection of language, script and culture of minorities. Select the correct code from the following: (a) 4 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) All of the above Q.14) Consider the following statements regarding Uniform Civil Code: It is a Directive Principle of State Policy given under article 45 of Indian Constitution. It is a Gandhian directive principle. Uniform Civil Code refers to the body of laws governing rights and duties pertaining to property and personal matters like marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance. Which of the above statements are correct? (a) All of the above (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only Q.15) Which of the following statements are a correct comparison between Fundamental Rights(FR) and Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSPs): FRs are justiciable while DPSPs are not. FRs are negative as they prohibit state from doing certain things while DPSPs are positive as they require state to do certain things. In a conflict between DPSPs and FRs, FRs always prevails. Select the correct code from the following: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above Q.16) Consider the following regarding the Fundamental Duties: They were added as Part IVA of the Constitution by 44th Amendment Act. Initially there were only 10 Fundamental Duties. 86th Constitution Amendment Act 2002, added the duty to provide education to one’s child or ward between the age of 6 and 14 years. Which of the above statements are incorrect? (a) 2 and 3 (b) 1 only (c) 1 and 2 (d) None of the above Q.17) Consider the following AmritMahal Khillari Sahiwal Hallikar Gir Which of the following are Indigenous drought breed cattles? (a) 1, 2, and 3 only (b) 3 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) None of the above Q.18) Consider the following Udaan is a Special Industry initiative that aims to provide an exposure to the unemployed graduates to the best of Corporate India. It is implemented by Ministry of skill development and Entrepreneurship. Select the correct answer with respect to UDAAN scheme (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both (d) None Q.19) Consider the following Lebanon Croatia Cyprus Which of the following country is/are surrounded by Mediterranean Sea? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 2 only Q.20) Consider the following statements with respect to Green bonds Green bond is a debt instrument issued by an entity for raising funds from investors The funds generated are used to fund both green and non-green projects In India IDBI,EXIM, Yes bank have started issuing green bonds Select the correct answer using the code given below (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) All the above (d) None of the above Q.21) Consider the following statements with respect to Ethanol blending. Ethanol is derived only from Sugarcane. Recently Central Government has scaled up blending targets from 5% to 10% to promote blending of ethanol with petrol and its use as alternative fuel It reduces the carbon monoxide emissions by up to 30 per cent. Normal cars can be used up 10% ethanol without any up gradation Select the incorrect statement/s from the above (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 2 ,3 and 4 only Q.22) An issue of updating the National Citizen Register (NCR) in Assam was in news. Consider the following statements w.r.t NCR The provisions governing NCR updation in Assam are Citizenship Act, 1951 and The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity cards) Rules, 2003 Policy decisions, guidelines, funds for NRC updation and implementation are provided by and are done through the State Government machinery. Persons whose names appear in NCR, 1955 are eligible for inclusion in NCR Select the correct code (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None Q.23) The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval to the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy (OWEP). Consider the following w.r.t India’s Wind Energy Potential and policies India’s onshore wind energy potential is more than offshore National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has been authorized as the Nodal Agency for development of offshore wind energy in the country Offshore Wind Energy Policy allows wind energy development, research and development activities upto seaward distance of territorial waters i.e 12 nautical miles Select the correct statement/s (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 Q.24) Consider the following statements It is also referred as ‘dancing deer’ Its habitat is located along the largest fresh water lake in eastern India. The dancing deer is found in its natural habitat over the floating biomass locally called "phumdi" Identify the species based on given statements (a) Reindeer (b) Goral (c) Himalayan Tahr (d) Sangai Q.25) Consider the following w.r.t Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) The inactivated polio vaccine produces antigens in the blood to all three types of poliovirus. IPV is not a 'live' vaccine It is also called the “Salk vaccine” Select the incorrect statement/s (a) 2 and 3 (b) Only 1 (c) Only 3 (d) None Download the Solution- Click here  P.S- Attempt these questions within 20 minutes with full honesty and write your results in the comment box. Next day, come back and check your result. You can also discuss the important concepts and issues, in case of doubts (among peers) All the best IASbaba

May 16, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Violence Against Cattle Traders: Is it Harming the Rural Economy?

Archives     The Big Picture - Violence Against Cattle Traders: Is it Harming the Rural Economy?   The issue of violence against cattle traders came up for discussion in Rajya Sabha. The MP brought to notice of hanging of two cattle traders in Jharkhand and demanded actions against the perpetuators. However on broader perspective violence against the traders have always been in the limelight. With India being one of the top exporters of beef the violence against the helpless cattle traders assumes significance. The article deals with the issues associated with the cattle traders and how such can be resolved. India has the largest cattle population in the world and is also is one of the top exporters of Beef. India has been exporting beef since ages and it is the source of livelihood for poor and marginalised farmers once the cow/buffalo stops giving milk. As a result, violence against cattle traders or someone who is involved in this business is extremely condemnable. A lot of artisans are involved in leather making business that is dependent on leather from cattle’s. If the supply of leather from slaughter houses decreases the livelihood of the people involved in leather industry gets affected and they will be rendered unemployed. Also cattle’s are considered as insurance for middle class farmer families at the time distress. If there are no cattle traders who buy these cows/bulls, farmers and the whole rural economy get affected. (29k crores was the value of beef exports in the last fiscal) Instead of committing violence against hapless traders we need to evolve to a more pragmatic policy. Even though the constitution bans slaughter of cows, nobody has offered solutions to dealing with aging bulls. Attaching religion to the food is not plausible in a country where the cattle business is going on hassle free for centuries. Even if the cattle slaughtering is banned, the larger question of environmental impact that the corpse of a cattle causes is a big question mark. Finally India is a country which has given the element of religion to animals. Given the kind of cattle population that India has and the level of poverty, banning of cattle at this point of time is not a one stop solution. However other aspects of discourse like banning the use of milch cows for beef and stricter enforcement of such rules is the need of the hour. All said and done the positive environment impact that the cows has on eco system should not be forgotten (pest management) the health impact of consuming beef is also largely questioned by doctors. There needs to be a slow and steady process that involves health NGO’s in creating awareness to people about negative impact of consuming beef, use of leather items etc. At present abetting violence in the name of cruelty to animals is a short sighted action that gets nowhere out of the actual conservation efforts that needs to be taken to protect the cow.

May 16, 2016 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

IASbaba Prelims 2016: [DAY 1]/60 DAY PLAN

Hello FriendsSo, here we are with the very 1st Day of 60 Days Plan. Let us pledge to make it a game changer in the next 60 days!The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won't suffice.So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise.How you can make the best use of it?Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.Do not get into negative feeling that I don't have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then?The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions.Don't cheat with wiki/xyz....Kindly NoteWe won't publish the solution the very day. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box with actual time taken. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement!Solution will be activated the next day. But make sure you check the solutions of all the next day.P.S- People who score 20 (2 marks for each question) and above get a salute from IASbaba :) Are you ready? Deviyon aur Sajjano, Let's Play then :P [Day 1]: POLITY AND CURRENT AFFAIRSQ.1) Consider the following statements with regard to Constitution of India and select the incorrect statement/s from the codes given below: Constitution authorises the Parliament to alter the areas or boundaries of the existing states without the consent of concerned state legislature or union territory. Constitution does not guarantee any state of its territorial integrity or continued existence Constitution declares that laws made for admission or establishment of new states can be passed by a simple majorityChoose the appropriate code(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) 3 only(d) NoneQ.2) Which among the following are the features of Government of India Act of 1935? It introduced responsible governments in provinces It created a new office, Secretary of State for India It provided for the establishment of a Reserve Bank of India It provided for the establishment of Supreme Court, which was set up in 1937 Choose the correct code(a) 1 and 2(b) 1 and 3(c) 1, 2 and 4(d) 1, 3 and 4 Q.3) According to Dr B R Ambedkar, which among the following is a ‘novel feature’ of the Indian Constitution?(a) Directive Principles of State Policy(b) Fundamental Rights(c) Preamble(d) Judicial ReviewQ.4) In which of the following points is the Indian Constitution similar to that of Canadian Constitution? Federation with a strong Centre Office of Governor Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court Vesting of residuary powers in the CentreChoose the correct codes(a) 1, 2 and 3(b) 2, 3 and 4(c) 1, 3 and 4(d) All of the aboveQ.5) Which one of the following Acts of British India established a system of double government?(a) Government of India Act of 1919(b) Indian Councils Act of 1909(c) Government of India Act of 1935(d) Pitt’s India Act of 1784Q.6) Consider the following statements with regard to States and Union Territories. Which of the following statement is/are incorrect? ‘Union of India’ is a wider expression than the ‘Territory of India’. The states are the members of the federal system and share a distribution of powers with the Centre. The union territories and the acquired territories, on the other hand, are directly administered by the Central government.Choose the correct codes(a) 1 only(b) 3 only(c) 2 and 3 only(d) NoneQ.7) In which case, the Supreme Court held that ‘the Indian Constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles’?(a) Kesavananda Bharati case(b) Berubari case(c) Golaknath case(d) Minerva Mills caseQ.8) Which Schedule of the Constitution deals with Acts and Regulations of the state legislatures dealing with land reforms and abolition of the zamindari system?(a) Schedule Eight(b) Schedule Nine(c) Schedule Eleventh(d) Schedule TwelfthQ.9) Which one of the following Acts of British India introduced for the first time – bicameralism and direct elections in the country?(a) Indian Council Act of 1892(b) Government of India Act of 1919(c) Government of India Act of 1935(d) Indian Independence Act of 1947Q.10) Match the following             Type of Writ                                        Meaning Habeas Corpus                            A. we command Certiorari                                      B. to be certified Mandamus                                   C. you may have the body Quo-Warranto                             D. what is your authoritySelect the correct code(a) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D(b) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D(c) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D(d) 1-D, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A Q.11) Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy’s authority over his executive council by substituting ‘Portfolio’ or departmental system for corporate functioning?(a) Indian Council Act, 1861(b) Government of India Act, 1858(c) Indian Council Act, 1892(d) Indian Council Act, 1909Q.12) Consider the following statements with regard to the Constitution The Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth but not on the ground of residence. The Constitution of India has introduced the system of single citizenship and provided uniform rights for the people of India to promote the feeling of fraternity and unity among them and to build an integrated Indian nation.Which among the above statements is/are true?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Nether 1 nor 2Q.13) The detailed provisions regarding acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship are contained in the Citizenship Act which was passed by(a) The Indian Parliament in 1955(b) The Indian Parliament in 1950(c) The British Parliament in August 1948(d) The Constituent Assembly in 1949Q.14) Consider the statements regarding loss of citizenship: If a person voluntarily renounces Indian citizenship, every minor child of that person also loses his citizenship. When a citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship automatically terminates. This provision does not apply during a war in which India is engaged. The citizenship is terminated if the citizen has unlawfully traded or communicated with the enemy during a war.Which of the above statements are correct?(a) 1 and 2(b) 2 and 3(c) 1 and 3(d) All of the aboveQ.15) Consider the following statements regarding Constitutional provisions of Citizenship: The Part II of the Indian Constitution deals with Citizenship. Detailed provisions of acquisition and loss of citizenship are mentioned in the Constitution. Any law made regarding citizenship is considered as a Constitutional Amendment.Which of the above statements are incorrect?(a) 1 only(b) 2 and 3(c) 3 only(d) None of the aboveQ.16) Which of the statements regarding Overseas Citizen of India cardholder are correct? They get a multiple entry, multipurpose lifelong visa for visiting India. They get parity with NRIs in respect of economic, financial and education fields except acquisition of agricultural lands. They are required to register with local police authorities once their stay in India exceeds 180 days for the first time.Select the correct code from the following:(a) 1 and 2(b) 2 and 3(c) 1 and 3(d) All of the aboveQ.17) Consider the following statements with respect to Asiatic Lion The Gir Forest, in Gujarat, is the last natural range wild Asiatic lions. It is critically endangered as per IUCN red listSelect the correct answer(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both(d) NoneQ.18) India successfully test-fires advanced interceptor missile from Abdul kalam Island. Select the correct option with respect to Abdul kalam Island.(a) It is the new name of Sri Hari Kota located in Andhra Pradesh.(b) It is located in French Guinea(c) It is an island located off Odisha coast.(d) It is located in Andaman and Nicobar islands.Q.19) Consider the following statements with respect to “Porpoises” Porpoises are group of Marine amphibians Vaquita marina is the world’s smallest porpoise They are critically endangered They are endemic to Gulf of California and MexicoSelect the correct option(a) 1, 2 and 3 only(b) 2, 3 and 4 only(c) 1, 3 and 4 only(d) 1,2,3 and 4 onlyQ.20) Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary accounted for a large number of fatalities over the past six months. Chinnar Wild life sanctuary is located in which of the following state/UT of India(a) Karnataka(b) Tamil Nadu(c) Puducherry(d) KeralaQ.21) Consider the following statements about the Fiscal Policy. Fiscal policy is the use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy The most immediate effect of fiscal policy is to change the aggregate demand for goods and services. Fiscal policy is said to be loose or expansionary when revenue is higher than spending.Which of the above statements are correct?(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) AllQ.22) The High Court of Rajasthan has declared the practice of ‘Santhara’ as illegal. Which of the statements correctly explains Santhara?(a) It is a ritual of sacrificing Bulls in front of Goddess Kali in local annual festival.(b) It is a Jain custom of voluntary death by performing fast until death.(c) It is the name given to the performance of Child marriage in Rajasthan.(d) It is a practice of honour killing of a couple if a girl and a boy of same village gets married to each other.Q.23) Consider the following statements regarding the scheme ‘Sakhi’: The scheme is meant to help women suffering from sexual, mental or emotional harassments. It is an initiative of Union Government under the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ for women safety. Women will be provided vocational training to make them feel confident and earn livelihood as a part of ‘Skill India’ initiative.Which of the above statements are correct?(a) 1 only(b) 1 and 2(c) 3 only(d) All of the aboveQ.24) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched a new joint project named SERVIR-Mekong. Which of the following statements regarding this project are correct? The SERVIR program helps governments and development stakeholders in incorporating Earth observations and geospatial technologies into natural disaster response to improve food security, safeguard human health and manage water and natural resources. It is recently launched for five South Asian countries namely Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.Which of the above statements are correct?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Q.25) Consider the following statements: Bank of Baroda has introduced Maharaja Sayyaji Rao Gaekwad award. The award will be conferred to such personality every year which has made significant contribution in creating awareness and spreading Marathi language amongst people.Which of the above statements are incorrect?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Q.26) Consider the following statements regarding ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan’: The campaign has been launched by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The campaign focuses on making public buildings accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The campaign also focuses on enhancing the accessibility and usability of Public Transport, and information & communication.Which of the above statements are correct?(a) 1 and 2(b) 2 and 3(c) 1 and 3(d) All of the aboveDownload the Solution- Click here 

May 15, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Accepting Failure – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Accepting Failure: Success is simply an art of failing gracefully. The very definition of success involves many trials and errors, many slips and misses, many regrets and failures. If you are not willing to fail, then you are not willing to succeed. Failure is not just a part of the path of success; it is the very process of succeeding. Success is simply the garland of failure that you wear at the end of a long and arduous journey in failing. Open the bag of success, all you will find there are the gifts of failure. Ask the one who has succeeded how he did it; he will have nothing to talk about except his failures. His success will simply be a result of not giving up in spite of all the setbacks and failures. He succeeded just by holding on to the rope of failure a little longer than others. The journey of life, to put it mildly, is a little rough and bumpy. There are many speed breakers and pot holes of frustrations, regrets and disappointments to pass by. More often than not, the road is blocked by failure; where you have no other option but to turn back. If you are not willing to go through all this, you will not travel far. There is enormous grace, beauty and dignity in trying hard and failing. Only the action is in your control, never the fruits of it. You have to somehow learn to accept and detach yourself from your failures so that you can keep moving. Playing the game well is all what you can do. We have always admired, and sometimes even wondered at this popular saying from the Geeta;‘Perform your actions, without any expectation of the fruits of your action’. But we have never truly understood the meaning and impact of this saying. An action has to be performed for the sheer joy of doing it; not just for the end result. An action by itself is complete and fulfilling; the resulting success is simply an additional reward for all your efforts. There is no other better attitude that you can bring to your actions than a sense of detached attachment. Somehow, knowingly or unknowingly, our whole system of education has become an enormous printing machine, whose only job is to print the slogan ‘He did not succeed’ on innumerable intrepid souls, while by accident missing a few whom we call successes. In such a system, if you cannot accept failure, you are doomed. Only when you have learned the art of singing and laughing at your failures, you would have learnt the secret of succeeding. Anyways, success is not a tag someone gives you at the end of your long journey; it is a pat on your back you give yourself, every time you fail. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.” Read more such articles– Click Here  

May 15, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 14th May, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 14th May, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Indian Constitution, significant provisions and basic structure Separation of powers between various organs , dispute redressal mechanisms and institution Structure, organization and functioning of Executive and Judiciary   Upholding Criminal Defamation The origins of criminal defamation lie in the Court of the Star Chamber of King Henry VIII, where it was used as a means of “punishing disrespect towards authority”. Defamation originates from the concept of scandalum magnatum – the slander of great men – which protected the reputations of aristocrats. The crime was linked to sedition, so insulting a lord was akin to treason Defamation can be committed by the spoken word, which is slander, or the written word, which is libel. The historical distinction between these two modes of defamation is based on the permanence of written words In largely illiterate societies, the spoken word was more potent and that’s why films and radio have long attracted censorship and state control in India. Before mass publishing forked defamation into libel and slander, there existed only the historical crime of libel. Historical libel had four species: seditious libel, blasphemous libel, obscene libel, and defamatory libel. Seditious libel, which has been repealed in Britain, prospers in India as the offence of sedition which is criminalised by section 124A of the IPC. Blasphemous libel, repealed in Britain, fares well in India as the offence of blasphemy under section 295A of the IPC Obscene libel, as the offence of obscenity, is criminalised by section 294 of the IPC. And defamatory libel, repealed in Britain, which is the offence of criminal defamation that the Subramanian Swamy case upheld, continues to exist under section 499 of the IPC   India— Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India guarantees all Indian citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression. Article 19(2) allows the state to make laws which impose reasonable restrictions on this right in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. Of these, only defamation protects the private interest in protecting an individual’s reputation. All the other interests are essentially public interests. The test in determining the constitutionality of a law under Article 19(2) is whether the law is a “reasonable restriction” on free speech. Supreme Court has laid that there should be reasonable restriction—the limitation imposed on a person in enjoyment of the right should not be arbitrary or of an excessive nature beyond what is required in the interests of the public   Creation of an artificial balance between the fundamental right of free speech under Article 19(1) (a) and the right to reputation as part of one’s right to life under Article 21— Politics and censorship Political interests have adopted defamation law to settle scores and engage in performative posturing for their constituents—a new front for political manoeuvring The three that received the most news coverage were those of Subramanian Swamy, Rahul Gandhi, and Arvind Kejriwal—rarely, if ever, suffer punishment There are numerous cases which politicians have filed against private members of civil society to silence them and when presented with these concerns, the Supreme Court simply failed to seriously engage with them Powerful entities such as large corporations have exploited weaknesses in defamation law to threaten, harass, and intimidate journalists and critics—Powerful elites frighten journalists into submission and vindictively hound those who refuse to back down. Such actions are called Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), thus creating a new system of censorship   The Supreme Court’s refusal, in Subramanian Swamy vs. Union of India, to strike down the colonial offence of criminal defamation is retrograde and out of tune with the present times—criminalising defamation serves no legitimate public purpose; the vehicle of criminalisation – sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – is unconstitutional Failure to recognise the harm that criminal defamation poses to a healthy civil society in a free democracy Supreme Court’s failure to distinguish between private injury and social harm Declares that reputation is protected by the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution but it offers no sound reasoning to support this claim—Reputation is not absolute- is a social construct based on shared perceptions. Society agrees on a person’s reputation and can likewise agree that it was mistaken. Fails to explain why the private civil action of defamation is insufficient to protect reputation Failure to understand the concept of Crime— When an action is serious enough to harm society it is criminalised. Rape strikes at the root of public safety, human dignity, equality, and peace, so it is a crime. A breach of contract only injures the party who was expecting the performance of contractual duties; it does not harm society, so it is not a crime. Similarly, a loss of reputation, which is by itself difficult to quantify, does no harm to society and so it should not be a crime. Mistakes— The judgment is delivered by one judge speaking for a bench of two—Such critically significant constitutional challenges cannot be left to the whims of two unelected and unaccountable men Retreat of the SC from being the guarantor of individual freedoms— will have far-reaching and negative consequences for India’s citizenry   Two core constitutional questions posed by the Subramanian Swamy case— Does the crime of defamation fall within one of the nine grounds listed in Article 19(2) of the constitution? Article 19(2) contains nine grounds in the interests of which a law may reasonably restrict the right to free speech. Defamation is one of the nine grounds, but the provision is silent as to which type of defamation, civil or criminal, it considers. However, B.R. Ambedkar’s comments in the Constituent Assembly arguably indicate that criminal defamation was intended to be a ground to restrict free speech Are sections 499 and 500 of the IPC which criminalise and punish defamation reasonable restrictions on the right to free speech? Criminalising defamation serves no legitimate public purpose because society is unconcerned with the reputations of a few individuals. Even if society is concerned with private reputations, the private civil action of defamation is more than sufficient to protect private interests. Further, the danger that current criminal defamation law poses to India’s free speech environment is considerable   Can lies invite criminal liability? Supreme Court has argued saying that society is premised on the need for truth; so lies should be penalised Wanderings of defamation law into moral policing— The Supreme Court quotes from the Bhagavad Gita on the virtue of truth. But while quotes like these are undoubtedly meaningful, they have no utility in a constitutional challenge. In reality, society is composed of truth, lies, untruths, half-truths, rumour, satire, and a lot more (more shades of opinion there are, the livelier that society is) If the law criminalises untruth, then it must sanctify truth— In addition to proving the truth, the journalist must prove that her writing serves the public good. So speaking truth is illegal if it does not serve the public good (example) Connecting the Dots: Defamation cases are a weapon by which the rich and powerful silence their critics and censor a democracy. Discuss Note: Today not many important issues, so we have stuck to only to One Issue in today’s Daily News Analysis.   MUST READ IPR ensures safeguards for Indian pharma industry Hindu PIB Related Articles: India’s Drug Industry Pharmaceutical Sector: India’s Drug Policy Diminishing credibility of Indian Pharma Legally Knotted ‘Innovations’   Can India grow at 8 to 9 per cent? Hindu

May 14, 2016 Important Articles

IMPORTANT: IASbaba's PRELIMS 2016: 60+3 Day Plan

Hello FriendsThank you for the amazing response for 60 Days Plan. This shows the craze and enthusiasm you carry to be in that holy list. Anyway, it is more important to carry the same with a dedicated approach and here we are with 60 days Plan that turned the game for many of you, last year.Now the competition is huge since not many knew about it last time. The number of aspirants having access to this is many fold so tighten your belt. Its never going to be easy this time. Competition starts from home and all IASbabaians are ready to pedal!Always remember One thing you cannot recycle is "Wasted Time" So be cautious!This time we have given whole plan at once so that you will have flexibility to reorient it with your own strategy.Things to remember This whole program is to make you equip with the UPSC’s theme and let you revise all important issues in less time in a smarter way. People in ILP 2 and 3 must use this as final acceleration .With our test series and this program we aim to hit 80% of questions/same concept this time (everyone has right to dream big if worked hard for it, so do we :) ) Though we will be covering all static subjects, you will find questions having relevance in current affairs. Even for subjects like History or Culture, we will frame questions based on themes or facts popping up in current affairs. We have covered all the important chapters from Economic Survey and India Year Book also. Questions in 60 days plan will be different from our ILP test series so do not avoid it just because you have enrolled member of ILP :) We insist to follow it religiously without fail. Do not make a habit of collecting information for the end time. It won’t help you!Important Points No need to refer all the mentioned sources. Focus on mentioned themes only and prepare from any one source or you must have prepared most of them by now. So just revise from your own source. Current Affair Coverage: We will create our own data base of last 1 year’s important issues from current affairs and present it in the form of Questions, so that you learn and revise them. If we mention months, days etc., it will just kill your time. In 60 Days, let’s be realistic. Do not expect spoon feeding of plan by asking which chapter of Laxmikanth or Bipan Chandra. It is so obvious that a sincere aspirant eyeing 2016 will know this or in worst scenario will find it from the mentioned them :)Time Table Plan starts from Monday, 16th May 2016 and will end on 23rd July 2016 Every Sunday is Off Daily Prelims Quiz running from Monday to Friday will be merged. You will always have those 5 questions without fail. 3 Full Mocks on 27th July, 31st July and 2nd August 2016 Total Number of Questions 20-25, depending on topic including 5 Daily Prelims Quiz. Commit to yourself that you won't back off, commit to yourself that you won't give up. It is he/she who sweat blood that tastes the success. Dreaming big won't make you a dreamer, try to live what you dream! Download the full Plan- Click here

May 13, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Quota for Economically Weaker Sections in Gujarat

ARCHIVES AIR Debate - Quota for economically weaker sections in Gujarat   Gujarat government on Friday announced a new 10% quota in jobs and college admissions for the economically backward among upper castes, in an attempt to defuse the agitation by the Patidar community. It assumes significance because members of the Patidar, or Patel, community in Gujarat, who have traditionally voted for the BJP, have been demanding other backward class (OBC) status to avail of government jobs and secure admission to colleges. The constitution of India does not allow any reservation based on economic criteria. It is only the social and economic backwardness that counts while allotting the reservation. However on the other side of the coin there are economically weaker sections in the so called upper caste society who are not able to get the benefits of the government due to their financial conditions. It is in this move that the Gujarat government has responded to the agitations by giving them a fair shot in the developmental process. Perhaps there is problem with the Gujarat governments move to allot fresh reservations. In 1992, the Supreme Court set a ceiling of 50% for all types of reservation while ruling that the Mandal Commission’s recommendation giving reservations to OBCs was constitutionally valid. The new 10% quota will take the state past the 50% reservation limit set by the Supreme Court. However government is ready to defend its move and further judgements on this regard from the courts should be awaited. Some argue the move to allot fresh reservation is a political stunt as the assembly elections in Gujarat are round the corner. However framing a policy to appease a population for mere votes is definitely a bad precedent. There is a need to evolve over the reservation thing so that permanent seal of caste which is attached with the beneficiary be slowly removed and let him to join the main stream society without any glitches. Allotting reservation for political gains is not just good for the country but against the socialist principles enshrined in our constitution. The issue of reservation is a complex topic that is debated since its inception. There is a need to find new innovative avenues other than reservation to address the burgeoning issues like jobs, skill development, education etc. The new schemes like make in India, Digital India, and Skill India is one step in this direction. But there will be no success if these programmes fail to deliver what they are expected.  The principle of Social justice which forms the core principle of our judicial system should not be disturbed by undue forces that tweak policies to distort the core values of our constitution. This debate was aired on 30th April 2016