Archives Hello Friends This is the TENTH edition of IASbaba’s Current Affairs Monthly Magazine for UPSC Civil Services Examination. This edition covers all important issues that were in news in the month of MARCH 2016 Click on the image to download the file
ARCHIVES GS-2 MoUs between India and United Arab Emirates—Cooperation in preventing and combating of Human Trafficking (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) Objective- Strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries Increase the bilateral cooperation on the issues of- Prevention, Rescue, Recovery and Repatriation related to human trafficking especially women and children expeditiously Features of the MoU- To strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking, especially that of women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country. Taking preventive measures that would eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking. Anti-trafficking Cells and Task Forces will work on both sides to prevent human trafficking. Police and other concerned authorities will work in close cooperation and exchange information which can be used to interdict human traffickers. Repatriation of victims would be done as expeditiously as possible and the home country will undertake the safe and effective re-integration of the victims. A Joint Task Force with representatives from both sides would be constituted to monitor the working of the MoU. MoU between India and Bangladesh—Cooperation in the field of Fisheries (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) About- Union Cabinet was apprised about the MoU signed between India and Bangladesh in September, 2011 on bilateral cooperation in the field of Fisheries and aquaculture and allied activities. Importance- Has strengthened the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh Promote development of cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture and allied sectors through mutually agreed activities and procedures. India and South Korea sign MoU for Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Development of Ports (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc) About-MoU was signed by Government of the Republic of India and Government of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai MoU is for- Cooperation and mutual assistance between India and Republic of Korea in port related matters MIS, 2016- Maiden flagship initiative of the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India that provides a unique platform for participants to explore potential business opportunities in Indian Maritime Sector. Help both countries- To encourage and facilitate the development of ports, Port related industry, Maritime relationship and cooperate in the tasks of sharing of technology Experiences in the fields of port development and operation, Exchange of information on-> Construction+ Building+ Engineering and related aspects in the field of port development, Joint participation in-> Port-related construction+ Building + Engineering projects that both parties are interested in, Exchange of experts including officials from the relevant ministries of each country in the field of port, and related education and training, other types of cooperation that may be mutually agreed upon between the two countries. Sagarmala National Perspective Plan Released (Topic: Government schemes and polices Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc) Sagarmala: Government’s flagship program to promote port-led development in the country Importance- It will considerably reduce the logistics cost which is very high in India compared to China and European nations. Substantially reducing export-import and domestic trade costs with a minimal investment. Plan is based on four strategic levers- Optimizing multi-modal transport to reduce the cost of domestic cargo, Minimizing the time and cost of export-import cargo logistics, Lowering costs for bulk industries by locating them closer to the coast, Improving export competitiveness by locating discrete manufacturing clusters near ports. Aims- New Ports- To modernize India’s port infrastructure, 5 to 6 new portshave been proposed to be built. To deliver impact through over 150 projects and initiatives in four broad areas. Additionally over 40 port-capacity enhancement projects will be taken up. Besides increasing capacity, these projects will result in a more modern port infrastructure through the mechanization of berths and deepening of drafts to accommodate larger vessels. Port connectivity- Over 80 projects are being planned. Include connectivity infrastructure projects like a heavy-haul rail corridor to evacuate large volumes of coal in Odisha, freight-friendly expressways to enable efficient movement of containers on key routes, and the development of strategic inland waterways. Port-led industrialization- To boost industrial and export growth along the coastline. Will be realized through 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) along the coastline, each of which will house a number of industrial clusters. Clusters will have industries from the energy, bulk materials as well as discrete manufacturing segments, all of which will be able to use high-quality infrastructure which is fully-integrated with the corresponding ports. Coastal communities- Harnessed by focused skill-development to support port-led industrialization. Set of initiatives under this head also includes developing opportunities for fishermen and other coastal communities as well as development of the numerous islands along India’s coastline. Maritime India Summit 2016 – A Round Up (Topic: Government schemes and polices Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc) Maritime India Summit- First Maritime India Summit in Mumbai, besides resulting in business agreements for Rs 82,905 crore investments, played a key role in highlighting the role of port led development for faster and sustainable economic growth. Summit provided a platform for participation, engagement and interaction from 42 countries. More than 5000 delegates from around the globe participated in the Summit. Highlights- Thematic session on Maritime Nations highlighted the global nature of the shipping industry and the importance of co-operation & collaboration between maritime nations Focus sessions on maritime States brought to fore the investment opportunities in various maritime States and Union Territories of India. Sectoral seminars on- Shipbuilding and ship repair, Skill development through maritime education, Inland waterways development, Cruise shipping and lighthouse tourism, Fisheries development and maritime security, which saw serious deliberations. Maritime Heritage Museum – A top draw One of the top attractions at the Summit was the Maritime Heritage Museum, built in the form of a container ship with interiors resembling a Spanish Galleon. Museum depicts the 5000 years rich maritime heritage of India, right from the earliest port at Lothal to the modern days of shipping in the form of artefacts, replicas, photographs, maps and navigation equipment. Indo German Agreement on Namami Gange Signed (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) About- An Implementation Agreement for Ganga Rejuvenation under the Namami Gange Programme was signed between the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and German International Cooperation (GIZ) of Germany. Based on- Indo-German Knowledge exchange and practical experience on strategic river basin management issues, effective data management system and public engagement Objective- To enable responsible stakeholders at National and State level to apply integrated river basin management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga Project- It will closely cooperate with other National and international initiatives including Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) and ‘Sustainable Environment-friendly Industrial Production’ (SEIP) Project duration is three years i.e. from 2016 to 2018 and the German contribution in the project will be to the tune of Rs. 22.5 crore Initial actions will focus on the State of Uttarakhand, with scope of expansion to other upstream Ganga States Ultimate goal is to adopt the successful river basin management strategies used for Rhine and Danube and replicate the same, wherever possible for attaining the pristine status of river Ganga Namami Gange Programme It is a flagship programme of Government of India with a renewed impetus to decrease river pollution and conserve the revered river ‘Ganga’. In this connection, the Indian Government solicited support from various countries to rejuvenate the Ganga. Government of Germany, with its vast experiences in cleaning and rejuvenating European rivers such as Rhine, Elbe and Danube, was keen to join hands for collaboration with Government of India. Government of India and the Republic of Maldives (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) About- Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Maldives signed two Agreements for- Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes and Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income derived from the International Air Transport Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes- Agreement for the Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes is based on international standards of transparency and exchange of information. Covers taxes of every kind and description imposed by the Governments of India and Maldives. Agreement enables exchange of information, including banking information, between the two countries for tax purposes, which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. Agreement will enhance mutual co-operation between the two countries by having effective exchange of information in tax matters. Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income derived from the International Air Transport- Agreement provides for relief from double taxation for airline enterprises of India and Maldives, by way of exemption of income derived by the enterprise of India from the operation of aircraft in international traffic, from Maldivian tax and vice-versa. Object of the Agreement is that profits from the operation of aircraft in international traffic will be taxed in one country alone and accordingly the taxing right is conferred upon the country to which the enterprise belongs. Tax certainty for airline enterprises of India and Maldives. Mutual Agreement Procedure for resolving any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the agreement. Commercializing “NEMHARI”-A Plant based Formulation for Management of Mulberry Root Knot Disease (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) About- Commercialization of “NEMHARI-A Plant based Formulation for Management of Mulberry Root Knot Disease” developed at Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute (CSR&TI), Central Silk Board (CSB), Mysuru. Highlights- NRDC has been appointed as the nodal agency for commercialising the technical knowhow in India and abroad. Company has ambitious plans in taking forward this technology to all sericulture regions in the world through a network of dealers and also promoting through different Government support schemes of the Department of Sericulture and other Allied Departments in various states. Formulation is safe to the native soil micro flora and fauna but effective against the nematodes causing the root knot disease in mulberry. Tests conducted in the field revealed reduction of disease severity by about 84% and prevented loss of leaf yield by 24%. Initiative of NRDC aids the “Make in India” Mission of the Government of India. UIDAI cautions public against sharing of their Personal Information with unauthorized Agencies for Printing PVC (Plastic) Aadhaar Card (Topic: Government polices and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) About- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) cautions people not to fall to ploys of some unscrupulous entities who are charging anywhere between Rs.50 to Rs.200 for printing Aadhaar on a plastic card in the name of smart card, as the Aadhaar letter or its cutaway portion or downloaded version of Aadhaar on ordinary paper is perfectly valid. Some entities have also been charging far more for simply laminating the downloaded version of Aadhaar. Issue- There is no concept such as smart Aadhaar card In case a person loses his Aadhaar card, he can download his Aadhaar card free of cost from https://eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/. Print out of the downloaded Aadhaar, even in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter sent by UIDAI. Public for protection of their privacy are advised not to share their Aadhaar number or personal details to unauthorized agencies for getting it laminated, or printed on plastic card. E-commerce companies such E-bay, Flipkart, Amazon etc., are hereby informed not to allow their merchants to collect Aadhaar information from general public for printing Aadhaar card as collecting such information or unauthorized printing of Aadhaar card or aiding such persons in any manner may amount to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under Indian Penal Code and also Chapter VI of The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. Workshop on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (Topic: Government Schemes and policies) “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” will celebrate the cultural vibrancy of India while establishing a concrete mechanism to inculcate nationalism and cultural awareness among the fellow citizens of our nation. National workshop organized by- Ministry of Culture in collaboration with NITI Aayog to initiate focused group discussion with various stakeholders. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat- On the occasion of birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of India proposes to launch a new initiative called ‘EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ Programme aims to give a boost to the existing cultural connect between different parts of the country and enhance interaction between people living in different states. National Agriculture Market (Topic: Government Schemes and policies) Aim-Initiative will usher in transparency which will greatly benefit the farmers National Agriculture Market- In the initial stage 21 mandis in 8 states have been linked to National Agriculture Market today. By September, 2016 two hundred mandis will be included and by March, 2018 five hundred eighty five mandis. Features- Project will operate through an online portal which is being linked to the mandis of the States. Its software will be provided to all the willing states without cost. A knowledgeable person is being deployed for one year in every sharing mandi so as to facilitate the smooth functioning of the portal. Under this Project, Government of India is providing a grant of Rs. 30 lacs to the proposed agriculture mandis of the states. Farmers will be provided “farmer helpline services round the clock” for obtaining information related to this portal. Launch of “Deep” E-Bidding & E-Reverse Auction Portal” for Procurement of Short Term Power by Discoms (Topic: Government schemes and policies) About-Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy launched “DEEP (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price) e-Bidding & e-Reverse Auction portal” for procurement of short term power by DISCOMs. Web portal- Ensure seamless flow of power from seller to buyer; will be a very strong weapon to curb illegal transactions and will help in price reduction through competition. Web portal is a common e-bidding platform with e-Reverse Auction facility. Advantages include dissemination of information on nationwide power procurement to a wider network including the stakeholders in power sector; Uniformity in the process of power procurement and enabling Distribution Licensees to procure power in a short time. Signing of “Power for All” agreement by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh ICMR and National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan sign Letter of Intent (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of social sector/ services relating to Health, Education, Human resources) About-Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) of Japan signed a Letter of Intent on the sidelines of the meeting of the Health Ministers from WHO South East Asia Region and Western Pacific Region countries at Tokyo. Help in- Deepening the relations between the two in research and development in scientific areas, particularly public health. Highlights- Recognizing the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact on global health security; Development of integrated surveillance program covering epidemiology data and genomic data of antimicrobial resistance in each country Mutual exchange of information of molecular and epidemiological data of antimicrobial resistance by developing of comparable surveillance program in each country GS-3 South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (Topic: Wildlife conservation) About- Union Cabinet has given its approval for India adopting the Statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) and India becoming its formal member It is to- Strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through-> Communication + Coordination + Collaboration + Capacity building + Cooperation in the region SAWEN- It is a Regional network comprised of eight countries in South Asia- Afghanistan + Bangladesh + Bhutan+ India+ Maldives+ Nepal + Pakistan+ Sri Lanka. Aims at- Working as a strong regional intergovernmental body for combating wildlife crime by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region Objectives set to attain the goal- To take initiatives for bringing harmonization and standardization in laws and policies of member countries concerning conservation of fauna and flora; To document the trend of poaching and illegal trade, and related threats to the natural biodiversity within and across countries in the region; To strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by-> Promoting research + Information sharing + Training + Capacity building + Technical support + Sharing experiences and outreach; To encourage member countries to prepare and implement their National Action Plans in curbing wildlife crime and to collaborate towards effective implementation. 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation (Topic: Wildlife conservation, Tiger conservation) While several Tiger Range Countries like India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan have registered an increase in tiger population, the status of Tiger remains “endangered”. Tiger population has decimated to non-viable level in some range countries, which is a cause for concern. Discuss all important issues like- Landscape conservation and habitat management, Tiger reintroduction, Monitoring protocols, Anti-poaching strategy, Modern tools and technology for monitoring, MEE and CA|TS, Resource Mobilization and Networking. Countries will report the status and progress of their Global/National Tiger Recovery Programme and will come out with a futuristic declaration for tiger conservation. India’s efforts- Government of India is committed to the conservation of our national animal, ‘Tiger’. Due to the concerted efforts of the Government and other stakeholders, more than 70% of the global wild tiger population is in India. Review of Rain Deficiency and Drought affected areas of the Country (Topic: Environment conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment) Highlights- Issue of the timely initiative on diesel, seed, and horticulture and fodder subsidy relief during drought was reviewed. Other critical issues of providing additional employment of 50 days under MNREGA over and above 100 days, preparation of crop contingency plans for districts facing drought and allocation for drought relief to be provided under RKVY were also discussed. Food grain situation and its distribution through Public Distribution System under National Food Security Act, Assistance under National Disaster Response Fund /State Disaster Response Fund, Provisioning for nutritional requirement of children and lactating mothers, Mid Day Meal Scheme, and most importantly, the Drinking Water Supply were also reviewed. Union Cabinet Secretary directed the Central Government departments and ministries to take the following steps- Make immediate allocation of funds to the State Governments under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for procurement of fodder as well as for National Life Stock Mission A detailed Advisory will issue on measures for increasing availability of fodder to mitigate the effects of drought; release funds for rural drinking water supply to obviate problems faced by State Governments; Ensure that the drought affected States give wage employment to people over and above the stipulated 100 days, and release funds timely to the States. Liquidate its liabilities accrued on the issue of wage payments to the states; Immediate drought relief to be provided through release of funds under the State Disaster Response Fund; Norms for immediate financial relief to drought affected states under National and State Disaster Relief Fund should be re-cast to take care of this situation; norms to be finalized and implemented; Relief being provided on account of water supply through Rail and Water tankers to be maintained; Cabinet Secretary shall monitor the situation arising out of rain deficiency and drought at regular intervals. Bhimrao Ambedkar – Multi-purpose Development of Water Resources (Topic: Water conservation) TOo Highlight his contribution in water sector and discuss way forward to realize his vision Bhimrao Ambedkar is well known as the main architect of India’s Constitution and leader of oppressed. However, his contribution in the field of management of India’s water resources is not widely known. During his tenure as Member (Labour) of the Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942-1946), Dr. Ambedkar steered formation of a definite All-India Policy for the development of water resources in the country. In order to further this task, he laid foundation of Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission (CWINC) which was forerunner of the present day Central Water Commission (CWC). Ambedkar advocated the concept of River Valley Authority or corporation for integrated development of the rivers. He introduced the concept of multi-purpose development of river basin in the country and his efforts in this direction have culminated with multipurpose development of Damodar, Mahanadi and other rivers immediately after independence. He was instrumental in inclusion of Entry 56 of List 1 and introduction of article 262 regarding the adjudication of disputes related to waters of inter-sate rivers or river valleys. His vision for water sector in the country is still relevant even after lapse of more than 65 years.
Archives IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 18th April, 2016 NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. A case of public health in India Those at the helm of policymaking in the country have been, for some time, strongly advocating austerity as the principle for public expenditure policies, particularly for the social sectors. The extent of austerity in health sector: Arvind Panagariya, the vice-chairperson of the NITI Aayog, suggests that “for just three-quarters of a per cent of the GDP”, 0.76 per cent to be precise, “the government can provide at least a modest healthcare cover for the bottom half of the population” after which “there does not remain a case for additionally free provision of the service by the government”. A keen look at the budget allocations for the health sector: The projected 13 per cent increase of total allocation on health for 2016-17 over previous year’s spending of 33,841 crore amounts to a nominal increase by Rs.4,365 crore. Using CPI-IW as deflator and assuming that inflation will stay at this year’s rate of 5.9 per cent, an estimate in real terms projects an erosion of 2,000 crore. So, in real terms, the increase in 2016-17 amounts to a mere 6.6 per cent. This is especially meagre if we consider the fact that last year’s health expenditure (revised estimates) had declined in real terms from actual spending of 2014-15. In proportion to GDP, this year’s total allocation on health has reduced to 0.254 per cent compared to actual spending of 0.256 per cent in 2014-15. Gradual weakening of the National Health Mission (NHM): One of the major concerns in the health sector of India is the gradual weakening of the National Health Mission (NHM) whose main components are public health care infrastructure other than tertiary care, programmes for prevention of communicable diseases like TB, vector-borne diseases, etc. The share of NHM in total health budget has been gradually reduced during the last three years from 56.2 per cent in 2014-15 to 54.1 per cent in 2015-16 to this year’s allocation of 49.8 per cent. What does the budget focus on then? Another significant reduction is in Family Welfare Scheme whose allocation this year is less than half of 2015-16 expenditures or less than one-third of expenditures in 2014-15. The budget is primarily for promoting, procuring and distributing contraceptives and other materials and for information, education and communication (IEC). A tilt towards tertiary health care: It is evident from the tragic deaths of women in Bilaspur sterilisation camp in November 2015 (in a private set-up), that the IEC without infrastructure and welfare services means nothing. The maternal health and welfare component of family has been given just a mere representation. Thus, instead of welfare, the budget is tuned to population control! Medical care institutions, primarily in the tertiary care sector, see a boost of 18 per cent over 2015-16 at the cost of primary and secondary healthcare institutions. The majority of the population lags in access at that level. What this policy programming indicates is that while the majority of the population has been left to its own devices, the state has become a protector of the medico-industrial complex catering only to the rich. Neglect of allied sectors: People’s health is dependent upon allocation of allied sectors such as food subsidy and ICDS, and these have declined in real terms. Water and sanitation, which had faced significant budget cuts in 2015-16, have been allocated just the amount incurred as expenditure for 2014-15 in real terms. Allocation in MGNREGS, an important scheme to boost rural employment and wages, has also declined in real terms from the revised estimates of expenditure for 2015-16, even without considering the Rs.6,000-crore pending payments. As a percentage of GDP, allocation in food subsidy, MGNREGS and ICDS have declined compared to 2015-16 and 2014-15, while that of water and sanitation have reduced vis-à-vis 2014-15. Way ahead: Mere reallocation of resources from the primary care sector to the tertiary with paltry health coverage for a small section of the population through health insurance is grossly inadequate. The substance of the latest Budget for health is that it promotes not universal health coverage but the medical care market. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by universal health coverage? Explain the measures taken by the government to achieve universal health coverage in India. To what extent National Health Mission can be used as a tool for promoting better public health in India. Substantiate. For Detailed Analysis ‘Healthcare issues & challenges’ refer the below links- http://iasbaba.com/2015/08/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-25th-august-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-5th-6th-october-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-11th-12th-october-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-22nd-october-2015/ NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Governance Issues Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues with Urban Governance Outcomes of weak governance— Horrific flooding in Chennai in 2015, Delhi’s newly acquired status as the world’s most polluted city, Mumbai’s forever-potted roads The eye-popping rise in the number of rape cases from 165 to 643 Cases of molestation rose from 483 to 1,675 over the last four years What constitutes weak urban governance? Weak urban governance refers to institutional defragmentation, whereby multiple agencies often have overlapping roles, are run by officials who are not accountable to citizens, and the absence of a single individual accountable to the polity. Whose city is it? Mayors are deemed accountable for cities but in spirit it is the chief minister. Cities are controlled by armies of bureaucrats and the chief minister, while the world’s major cities, like London, New York, Paris, and Shanghai, are all run by powerful mayors Urban areas are not large enough for them to determine the fate of a general election which ultimately leads to lack of focus on urban governance reforms. Urban dwellers are not sufficiently represented in the sanctums of decision-making. Delimitation, that is, allotment of the number of seats in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) to the states, and the total number of existing seats in the Legislative Assemblies was last done on the basis of Census 1971. According to the 84th and 87th Constitutional Amendments, this allocation will only be altered based on the first Census after 2026 (Blocks focus + funds) The economic might of cities makes them appealing to the political classes thereby increasing their tendency to continue enjoying the significant leverage that can be traded to raise funds which, in turn, are used to fight elections in rural India. The lack of human resource capacity in the country spanning the political class, the intelligentsia, the bureaucracy and the private sector proves to be the main reason for the slow pace of reform Eg: The ongoing debate on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill— designed to create a harmonized tax structure by subsuming several local body taxes, like the entertainment tax, advertisement tax, entry tax, and luxury tax. If passed, the urban local bodies (ULBs) will lose their own source revenue streams without adequate legal provisions in place to mandate steady compensation. The 10 Point Urban Reform Programme— Reform the 74th Constitutional Amendment to empower city governments, bolster the metropolitan system of government, and move to a system of a directly elected mayor. Fix governance at the Centre and in the states to reduce fragmentation and facilitate alignment of functions. Make the office of the mayor politically relevant to create a culture of meritocracy and performance. Build world-class institutions to catalyse capacity at scale. Establish a National Urban Finance Corporation of India to fund urban infrastructure projects. Set up the regulatory architecture required to facilitate efficient and effective urban services delivery. Reform the civil service, and establish executive agencies to hollow out inefficiencies. Revitalize the role of the State Finance Commissions to bolster municipal finances. Introduce state-specific laws on land use and transport to override legislative vacuum. Deepen citizen engagement in cities to drive change across localities. Connecting the Dots: Is India following an incrementalist approach towards urban governance? Critically examine. MUST READ Lessons from the Mallya case Hindu The new KG scam Hindu Country without a pause –Simultaneously elections Parliament, State legislatures and local bodies Hindu Related Articles: Are simultaneous elections to Panchayat, Assembly and Lok Sabha feasible? Chew on this: the risks of smokeless tobacco Hindu Related Articles: A coffin named Tobacco Tobacco and Pollution : Can we afford to breathe easy? ‘WB’s green norms must not compromise on development’ India is the largest recipient of World Bank loans and has received $52.7 bn Hindu NITI Aayog takes steps to foster cooperative federalism- Officials said though the Aayog is in news for big reports and recommendations, it has quietly managed to get some fundamental changes done in the states Business Standard RCEP negotiations: India likely to take a more aggressive stand- Commerce ministry estimates that signing the agreement will lead to a revenue loss of as much as 1.6% of gross domestic product Live Mint Related Articles: Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) & India The new Great Game in Asia Should bank defaulters’ list be made public?- Tarring all defaulters and bankers with the same brush will choke the flow of funds to business, scare bankers and kill entrepreneurship Live Mint New law, statutory body imperative to foster fair trade practices in India- Frequent stories of big brands indulging in false advertising should be no surprise, as there is no law to check it Live Mint MIND MAPS 1. Urban Governance
Hello friends,We hope that you are healthy, full with energy and motivation, and working sincerely to achieve your goal.Time and again we have mentioned the importance of ‘Current Affairs’ in both prelims and mains examination. As prelims is approaching we want you to have as much practice of Current Affairs questions as possible so that you get accustomed to different dimensions on how a question can be asked from a topic. To provide you this practice we are starting a new initiative at IASbaba-“The Daily Prelims Quiz”.Every working day (Monday- Friday), five quality questions will be posted on the site. They will be accessible to everyone. Through this we will try to cover almost all important current events from last October 2015. We hope that you will be regular and take maximum benefit out of it."Remember our 60 day plan"In out of 100 questions more than 44 came in prelims paper.. That is our hit ratio.This is another step in that direction. Remember, everyone having a sword does not become a warrior. Knowledge of concepts is a different thing and how to use, apply them is a totally different thing. Many candidates have brilliant knowledge but fall short on the second front. That can only be learnt through continuous practice. So be consistent till you succeed. Like we always say -“Karne se Hota hai”.Let’s sail towards victory together.All the best.IASbabaDay 1Q.1) Which of the following is the correct explanation with respect to Petrifaction?(a) Process of fossilisation in which dissolved minerals replace organic matter(b) Process of accumulation of toxic substances along the food chain(c) Process of removal of toxic substance through use of bacteria(d) Process of rearing earth worms.Q.2) Ecuador was in news because of the recent earthquake. Consider the following statements with respect to Ecuador1. Ecuador is a small islandoff the coast of Japan.2. Ecuador which lies in close proximity to shifting boundary between tectonic platesis more prone to such earthquakes.Select the correct answer using the codes given below(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both(d) NoneQ.3) Consider the following International institutions1. International Development Association2. International Finance Corporation3. International Centre for Settlement of Investment DisputesWhich of the following is/are not the organs of World Bank Group?(a) 3 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) None of the aboveQ.4) Consider the following statements with respect to recent development in India’s Defence corporation:1. Logistical exchange memorandum of agreement or (LEMOA) is a defence agreement between India and Iran.2. According to LEMOA militaries of both the countries will share facilities for refuelling, supplies and spares.3. Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA) have been signed with US.Select the correct answer using the codes given below(a) 1 and 2(b) 2 only(c) 2 and 3(d) All of the aboveQ.5) Recently Tara Bhagavati cult, a lesser known sect of Buddhism was in news. Consider the following statements about this sect:1. This cult belongs to Mahayana sect of Buddhism.2. It was popular in Southern part of India.Which of the above statements are correct?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Download the Solution- Click here
The Art of Saying No: There is no success for the one who cannot say no. In a world where everybody is trying to grab your attention; from newspapers to television, from internet to cell phones, from movies to promotions, there is nothing more important than learning the art of saying no. In the past, there were so few distractions that one could easily put his/her mind to accomplish anything. You only needed to possess a strong passion for what you were doing. With so few things to distract you from your goal, moving ahead was infinitely easier. The scenario is somewhat different today. Passion alone won’t suffice now. With the magnitude of things that can distract you, you need to learn the art of putting on the blinkers to all the unnecessary time and energy draining distractions. You can almost define the modern times as the era of entertainment. Never before in the history of human evolution has entertainment been so accessible. With Television, internet and cellphones, it is right at our finger tips. Well, to put it mildly, entertainment is everywhere now. For an aspiring mind, entertainment is entanglement. Once you are ensnared in the whirlwind of entertainment, you are almost certain to lose the most important ingredient of your success; Time. Not to mention, the dilution of knowledge from all the made up facts. Well, it’s not a rocket science to figure this out. Between movies, IPL matches, weekend get-togethers, and talking about all these, where will you find the necessary time to complete your important tasks? Of course in today’s world, entertainment is in; but you will have to find your way out of it if you have to attain to your dreams. There is a time for everything. Entertainment has its place and purpose but you have to decide when and where. The ability to say no without feeling guilty is a rare and useful quality to possess. It keeps things simple and clear. It helps you to stay focused by clearing out your path of all the distractions. Once you are possessed by a dream, you only say yes to those things that help you to get closer to it. For all other things, there is a short and sweet response – NO! “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.” Read more such articles– Click Here
Archives IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 16th April, 2016 INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2: Bilateral, regional , global groupings and agreement involving India and affecting its interest India and its neighborhood- relations. General studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Maritime India Summit 2016: Taking initiatives to push maritime trade Background: Recent inaugural of the Maritime India Summit 2016 in Mumbai, Maharashtra is India’s first ever Maritime Summit and the flagship event organized by Union Ministry of Shipping. The main focus of summit is to give impetus to Make In India and blue economy under the Union Government’s ambitious Sagarmala Project emphasizing on port-led development Current status of Maritime trade: Skewed pattern of trade: Goods imports are 50 per cent bigger than exports, so ships that bring goods to Indian ports often have no return cargo In the case of some ports, the import-export ratio is as skewed as 90:10 Freight rates are high Lack of port-based development as an industrial strategy. Importance of Maritime sector: The maritime sector has a vital role to play in India’s growth story. As India enjoys long coastal boundary it is of paramount importance to revitalize the ports and the shipping sector to increase capacity and efficiency. India’s marine export-import trade has been growing at a rate of 4.5 per cent annually and accounts for 95 per cent of total exim trade volume for India. A three-pronged plan consisting of a workable policy, fiscal incentives and infrastructure would ensure development of India’s coastal shipping sector and strong growth. Apart from having a multiplier effect on the economy, the maritime sector itself has the potential to significantly contribute to GDP. India’s main trade commodities are crude and petroleum products, bulk commodities such as coal, iron ore and containerized cargo. Trade growth is expected to remain strong, at 5-10 per cent, for most commodities over the next 10 years representing massive opportunity. Ocean of opportunity: The biggest benefit from a robust shipping sector will be massive cost-saving: The cost for coastal shipping is Rs. 0.15-0.2 per tonne/km compared to Rs. 1.5 for railways and Rs. 2.5 for road. This represents the potential to lower logistics cost by Rs. 21,000-27,000 crore by 2025. Coastal shipping can be a catalyst for coastal industrial clusters and fit in with the plan to develop new smart port cities. Inland water transport is an environment-friendly and cost-effective mode of transportation, which has the potential to reduce logistic cost and relieve the congestion on road and railways. Compelling reasons to invest in Indian ports: Government has allowed 100 per cent FDI in ports and 10-year tax holiday has been extended to enterprises engaged in developing, maintaining, and operating ports, inland waterways, and inland ports. Projected cargo traffic to be handled by 2021-22 is 1,695 mt according to the National Transport Development Policy Committee, an increase of 643 mt from 2014-15 Around 2,422 mt of cargo handling capacity is required by 2021-22. Additional cargo handling capacity of 901 mt is required to be created in the next 6-7 years. Need of the hour: focus on the improvement of infrastructure and deployment of technology To project sea transport as the prime mode of transportation and effectively utilise our 7,517-km coastline we need - First and last mile connectivity Large scale containerization of cargo Development of efficient multi-modal transport services. Setting up port-based SEZs at all ports housing a cluster of maritime-related industries Warehouses and ship repair facilities would help develop a robust maritime sector. Working on improvising trade infrastructure: Inland waterways extend to about 14,500 km across the country. In sharp contrast to peer countries, only 3.5 per cent of India’s trade is being done through waterways as against 47 per cent in China, 40 per cent in Europe, 44 per cent in Japan and Korea, and 35 per cent in Bangladesh. Colombo can handle more container traffic than all of India’s ports put together because India’s ports are too shallow to accommodate big container vessels. Way ahead: increase port capacity with the help of private companies For instance Adani private group of companies have increased the capacity of Mundra port in Gujarat to overtake Kandla to become the country’s largest. Building deepwater port at Vizhinjam in Kerala designed to take some of the trans-shipment traffic away from Colombo. Strategic aspect of Maritime trade: Apart from the length of the coastline, 7,500 km, India’s maritime potential also lies in its strategic location on all major shipping highways: India has begun to collaborate with neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar in building waterways and port infrastructure. This is essential as ultimately it is economics that provides the necessary push to take forward strategic overtures. Indian Navy played a pivotal role in containing piracy on the high seas and is positioning itself as the ‘net security provider’ in the broader Indian Ocean region with capacity building, joint exercises and increased multilateral exchanges. New emphasis is two-sided — securing energy and trade routes to sustain economic growth and keeping a check on increasing forays by other countries into India’s backyard. Recent Initiatives to strengthen maritime trade: Sagarmala Project: The key objective of Sagarmala project develop port infrastructure in India that results in quick, efficient and cost-effective transport to and from ports. It also includes establishment of rail / road linkages with the port terminals, thus providing last mile connectivity to ports; development of linkages with new regions, enhanced multi-modal connectivity including rail, inland water, coastal and road services. Key Activities under Sagarmala project: Port-led industrialization and Port based urbanization Port based and coastal tourism and recreational activities Short-sea shipping coastal shipping and Inland Waterways Transportation Ship building, ship repair and ship recycling Logistics parks, warehousing, drilling platforms Specialization of ports in certain economic activities such as energy, containers, chemicals, coal, agro products. National Waterways Bill, 2015: The Bill identifies additional 101 waterways as national waterways. The Bill repeals the five Acts that declare the existing national waterways. These five national waterways are now covered under the Bill. Bill states that while inland waterways are recognized as a fuel efficient, cost effective and environment friendly mode of transport, it has received lesser investment as compared to roads and railways. Since inland waterways are lagging behind other modes of transport thus there is need to evolve policy for integrated development of inland waterways. Connecting the dots: Can Sagarmala project and National waterway bill pitch-in merry-time for maritime trade in parallel with strengthening inland waterways? INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Bilateral, regional , global groupings and agreement involving India and affecting its interest Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. The Obama Doctrine Foreign Policy Shift Holds strong views on foreign policy issues; having little regards for the Washington-based tribe of U.S. foreign policy experts (“The Washington playbook”), and even less for their enduring belief that military force is the answer to every problem Exhibits little interest in the West Asian affairs and in the politics of oil at the same time being harsh in his judgement of leaders of West Asian countries Shows interest in the “Pivot to Asia” and the consequences of the rise of China and India in the region; while being accommodative of China in his-scheme of outlook Forsaking old friends Display of distrust or disdain for long-established relationships and allies—the “black hole” and the Achilles heel of the pronouncements The reluctance to accept his foreign policy mistakes, preferring to put the blame on allies and friends Holds a viewpoint that the West Asian sheikhdoms are “free-riders” and at the same time, he sees an emerging Iran as a bright patch as far as West Asia is concerned. The President is thus, preparing to jettison Saudi Arabia — despite it having been the U.S.’s staunchest ally for the past half century — and readying to embrace Iran His criticism for Mr. Cameron as a mere tactician lacking in strategic vision does sound the death knell for the “Special Relationship” that has been part of U.K.-U.S. entente since the end of the Second World War (Libyan imbroglio) Obama is also contemptuous of is Russia’s Vladimir Putin (events in Ukraine and the West’s debacle in Crimea)— describing Putin as business-like and eager to reclaim for Russia the co-equal status that it once enjoyed with America The core logic of the Obama Doctrine being: The U.S. no longer needed to engage in geopolitical competition with powers like Russia and China The collapse of countries like Egypt was of little consequence to the U.S The primary concern was to avoid risking the lives of U.S. citizens unless the vital interests of the U.S. were directly involved To get others to do the hard work of fighting on issues relating to ensuring a rule-based international order and defeating terrorism. Lessons for India India needs to understand and formulate its own strategic viewpoint w.r.t. its own strategic interests as well as Obama Doctrine’ before arriving at a certified conclusion. With no conflict of interest as far as the South and East China Seas are concerned, it risks provoking China if it gets more deeply engaged on U.S. insistence— when the U.S. cannot be expected to come to India’s aid in the event of an India-China conflict along the disputed land border or anywhere else The U.S. has been willing to sell F-16 fighters and attack helicopters to Pakistan, so that Pakistan can fight its battles in Afghanistan and the region as well as is willing to placate Pakistan on the nuclear issue, even implying that Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons programme was possibly a response to India’s Cold Start doctrine—despite India’s concerns about this move IASbaba’s Views: Although, the new Framework for the India-U.S. Defence Relationship (signed in June 2015) as intended to increase strategic cooperation to help safeguard security and stability across the region and around the world is touted as one of the defining moments of the 21st century, it is imperative for India to take a closer look at such entanglement with the U.S. With the signing of a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) which would ultimately pave way for a Strategic Logistic Agreement in the near future, India is not only opening up to the U.S. in terms of buying military hardware but also as a meaningful strategic partnership— one, which has to pursued, keeping with our national interests in the region and beyond. While appreciating Obama’s role as the likely bridge to an era of retrenchment, burden-sharing, great-power accommodation and spheres of influence, India also needs to construct a secure balance of power in Asia and the Indo-Pacific— that will have much to collaborate on with a changing America (Logistics is the activity of organising the movement, equipment, and accommodation of military forces— forms the backbone of military operations and is considered the first step in any military campaign) MUST READ Oceanic opportunities Hindu A fragile peace in the Valley - Why managing the post-cricket match tension in Srinagar’s NIT is a litmus test for Jammu and Kashmir’s new government Hindu The power of symbolism Hindu Allow foreign university campuses, says Niti Aayog- The report has justified NITI Aayog’s support for the proposal on the ground that foreign universities will help meet the demand for higher education in the country, increase competition and subsequently improve standards of higher education. Indian Express Delhi seems ready to compete with Beijing where it must and cooperate where it can-The UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh struggled to overcome many of the traditional weaknesses of India’s China policy Indian Express Related Articles: Storm on the South China Sea Seizing the ‘One Belt, One Road’ opportunity Lessons for unifying agricultural markets- Karnataka’s experience shows success depends on taking along all stakeholders. Indian Express Related Articles: E-platform for trading farm produce to make agriculture remunerative Governments stifling innovation ecosystem- Governments lack clarity on how to deal with new technology based business models—whether it’s the evolution of retail or the advent of sharing economy Live Mint Related Articles: Legally Knotted ‘Innovations’ A Progressive Logic of Trade- Global trade, unlike yesteryears, has moved to the centre of the US political debate, with opposition to trade deals becoming key plank of presidential campaigns Live Mint MIND MAPS 1. SAGAR over Sagarmala
The Power of Now is a fascinating book by Eckhart Tolle to understand the concept and reality of now. He talks about how life is always in the moment and how easy it is to keep missing life by not being in this moment. The Power of Now is a revival of the age old mystical truth that everything that is happening in the world is happening right now, and the only place you would rather be is here and now. Emotional and psychological problems of fear, worry, anger, anxiety etc. are a result of moving away from the now. When you are constantly lost in either the desires of your tomorrow or your worries of yesterday, you become a stranger to yourself and life. The Power of Now in the form of questions and answers beautifully explains the concepts and principals of being in the present and practicing it. By being in the present, the doors to your success, happiness and wellbeing become accessible to you. The book explores a very simple and yet profoundly impactful philosophy of life. Life knows neither the past nor the future, it only knows the present. As of now you are a stranger to the present. You constantly live in the past and the future, once in a while visiting the present. Eckhart Tolle urges people to make present their home and move into the past and future only when required, to accomplish the worldly goals. In this way, you can free yourself from almost all the misery and suffering of life. The Power of Now is a true eye opener. It is simple, elegant, and marvelously applicable. Read it Now! Copyright Disclaimer “This Book Review is a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”
ARCHIVES World health day and Role of AYUSH in the Indian health care system: The theme of this year world health day is “Diabetes” Diabetes is the fast growing ailment among vast majority the people nowadays. Sedentary life style, lack of proper food habits, stressful lives etc. are common reasons attributed for diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes is more observed in developing countries and according to WHO estimates nearly 400 million plus people are suffering from diabetes worldwide. In India as per WHO estimates 70k men and 50k women have died in the age group of 30 - 59 because of diabetes. Diabetes totally accounts for nearly 2% the total deaths compared to 27% deaths due cancer and 7% due to cardio vascular diseases. However early detection of prediabetic conditions have significantly reduced the adverse impact created by Diabetes. AYUSH Paucity of health workforce in rural India has always been a problem. Lack of interest of modern allopathic graduates in serving the rural poor has worsened the situation little more. The National Rural Health Mission brought an innovative concept of mainstreaming of AYUSH and revitalization of local health tradition by collocating AYUSH doctors at various rural health facilities such as community health centres and primary health centres. In this context a study was aimed, based on secondary data, to make a situational analysis of health workforce in rural India and thereby analysing the status and role of AYUSH Doctors in filling this gap of health workforce inequality. In this background Government has constituted new ministry for the promotion of AYUSH as an alternate system of treatment. The key strategies that were identified by the Government of India towards the process of mainstreaming were Integration and mainstreaming of the Indian systems of medicine and Homeopathy into the existing public healthcare system and the national health programmes; Encouragement and establishment of Indian systems of medicine specialty centres; Facilitation and strengthening of quality control laboratories for the AYUSH system; Strengthening drug standardisation research; Advocacy for AYUSH; and Establishing sectoral linkages for AYUSH. Efforts have been made for the promotion of AYUSH by the government. Health is not just a physical aspect. It is the perfect amalgamation of physical, mental and spiritual dimension. With recent signing of MOU between WHO and Ministry of AYUSH, it has a long way in creating an impact among all people. For that to happen more efforts are needed to market the AYUSH than how it is promoted now. Click here and search for Spotlight/ News Analysis dated 7th April 2016.
ArchivesIASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 15th April, 2016ECONOMICSTOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.General Studies 3: Marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmersE-platform for trading farm produce to make agriculture remunerativeBackground: Trading of farm produce in India is set to go digital as the government plans to introduce an electronic trading platform for farmers in its efforts to build a national market and double farm incomes by 2022 The e-platform called National Agriculture Market will connect 21 mandis or markets from eight states in the first phase. The platform will begin by trading in 25 crops, including wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds, potatoes, onions and spices. Current scenario of agriculture and marketing: As Agriculture and Marketing fall under state subjects, each wholesale mandi being governed by its own Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) of the states. Thus there is a variation in farm marketing from state to state and also within the states as these mandis require separate licenses and charge different marketing fees. Farmers have no option but to sell their produce at the nearest mandi at a price quoted by traders who suppress prices by forming cartels. Falling prices of key commodities such as rice, wheat and cotton have dented farm incomes in the past few years. Lack of unified markets has led to varying rates of horticulture crops such as onions and potatoes in different states. Lack of warehouses equipped with facilities for weighing, grading and standardization of stocks sold through the electronic platform. Lack of technology leading to lack of transparency in transactions, which eventually hurts farmers. Advantages of "e-mandi" platform - National Agriculture Market: Goal of the NAM platform is to double farm incomes by 2022. Farmers can sell their produce in any one of these markets where prices are quoted higher Platform will improve transparency and provide farmers with wider choice and better prices. For instance: Karnataka already has a statewide barrier-free electronic market for farm produce which has resulted in better price realization for farmers by reaching out to more buyers, including food processors and organized retail chains. The new national platform will broadly follow the Karnataka model. The Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), the nodal agency for running the new electronic platform will serve as an aggregator through its existing or specially created local units. Hurdles ahead:Limited integration: States like Kerala and Bihar which do not have an APMC Act have to amend APMC act to get integrated to the platform. Several states levy taxes and duties on trading of farm produce and they may not want to forego these revenue sources. For instance, Punjab does not want to lose the5000 crore they earn from this route. Way ahead:The three critical prerequisites to be addressed to integrate a wholesale mandi with the online platform state governments have to amend their APMC Act to ensure that there is Single wholesale trading license valid across the catchment area Single-point levy of market fees E-auction as the mode for price discovery.Inter-state trade: Goal of a national market will fall flat if laws are not streamlined to allow for inter-state trade. Inter-state sale of agri-produce will be allowed once the targeted 585 wholesale mandis across the country are integrated with NAM by March 2018 after addressing issues related to taxes among others. Lack of Dispute redressal mechanism:Lack of disputes settlement mechanism arising out of lack of quality standards of farm produce traded on the platform. For instance: Selling apples over the electronic platform claiming they are of good quality, but if the actual shipment turns out to be of a poor quality then such disputes must be addressed to deliver quality service to customers.Connecting the dots: Can "e-mandi" platform - National Agriculture Market, make agriculture remunerative and de-stress agriculture distress? Comment.DEFENCE/SECURITYTOPIC: General Studies 3: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention. General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Cybersecurity trends for financial services industry If ‘financial inclusion’ has become an established vision for the government via Initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India coupled with the surge of ecommerce and introduction of digital wallets, the country has simultaneously also become an attractive target for cybercriminals In 2015, financial institutions were prime target of cybercriminals looking to maximize their payloads and in fact, the impact of some high-profile hacks of financial institutions, in the US, has been valued at over $100 million.The financial services sector especially of the emerging economies, is more vulnerable to cyberattacks and thus, necessary steps need to be taken to ward off the evil named ‘cybercrime’ Increase Transparency Need to establish uniformity in Asia when it comes to laws mandating the disclosure of cyber breaches. While sharing less with regulators may keep the heat off organizations in the short term, it increases the chances of additional attacks targeting similar organizations with similar techniques. Steps taken— establishment of the Cyber Threat Alliance—a group of cybersecurity solutions providers coming together to share threat intelligence on attacks taking place across the region, including motivations, tactics and information on those responsible.Increase SecurityThe level of investment in cybersecurity solutions needs to be accelerated (increase their security budget by over 70%) as cybercrimes in India alone- more than doubled in 2015 compared to the previous yearAdoption of International regulations on cybersecurity The introduction of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which aims to help US companies to work with the US government to combat hackers need to be evaluated by Asian countries as well as be adopted while fostering the principle of sharing the cyberthreat information. They also need to ensure that there are responsible privacy protections in place, for the purpose of identifying, preventing, mitigating and responding to cyberthreats, vulnerabilities and malicious campaigns.A more holistic approach to cybersecurity With new technologies there will be new vulnerabilities created, giving hackers more opportunities to carry out targeted attacks and thus, there is a need to re-architect the systems and networks—from legacy platforms to adopting next-generation technology to cover all bases, which include the network, endpoint and the cloud.Big Data adoption for security purposesGartner expects over 25% of global firms to have adopted big analytics for at least one security and fraud detection use case by 2016 and therefore, countries such as India, China, and Singapore will find themselves at the receiving end, if they do not translate their failure- to adoption of Big Data for increased security purposes.Alarming third-party risk Frequent instances of compromised client data due to lapses in vendors’ security serves as a reminder that it is no longer just about banks, but also about their vendors, subcontractors and suppliers who have access to the data Regulators need to take a closer look into how banks are managing risk when it comes to taking on third-party vendors, and as more enterprises in the region make the move to invest in more resilient platform-based security platforms.Connecting the Dots: Cyber security will only become more important as more devices, ‘the internet of things’, become connected to the internet. Discuss. MUST READThe tip of the tip of the iceberg – PanamaHinduRelated Articles:The panama papers explainedAIR Debate – Panama Paper leak Reviving a good ideaHinduName Of The Bill- Lok Sabha should create consultative mechanism for speaker to certify a money bill.Indian ExpressA lopsided strategic partnership- We should be honest enough to acknowledge our strategic partnership with the US may be valuable, but has clearly defined limitsBusiness StandardRelated Articles:India- US relationship- a Strategic ImperativeMiles to go for Dalit entrepreneurs- Business Standard analyses the state of Dalit entrepreneurship in the countryBusiness StandardRelated Articles:Death of a Dalit scholar: Ancient Prejudice, Modern InequalityThe promise of Dalit capitalismAll India RadioIndia world's largest recipient of remittances in 2015: World Bank- This despite a $1 bn drop in remittances from previous yearBusiness StandardAuction process for dredging works should be made accountable- Consultants, public port authorities, policymakers and administrators need to introspect on making tendering financially accountable to secure best outcomesLive MintTrust in states’ fiscal responsibility vindicated- Contrary to fears of fiscal profligacy expressed by some following the FFC award, the states have maintained fiscal prudenceLive Mint Fancy valuations of e-commerce marketplaces run into policy hurdle- The government seeks to curb pricing power of e-tailers, responding to calls by brick-and-mortar store chains that can’t match the deep discounts that have propelled the exponential growth of online retailLive MintRelated Articles:100% FDI in e commerce: An evaluation The disruptive potential of P2P financingBusiness LineMIND MAPS1. Maharashtra Water Crisis
Archives The Big Picture - Safeguarding Minority Rights: Role of Judiciary Secularism is one such topic which is widely debated and subjected to wider range of interpretations from time to time. The debate on secularism invariably includes the role of judiciary and the how the rights of minorities are interpreting and implemented in reality. In latest round of debate vice president Hamid Ansari’s passionate plea to Supreme Court to clarify the contours of principles of secularism and composite culture and as to how state and religion should be kept apart to promote harmony in the society has triggered a huge discussion. This article deals with the role of judiciary in safeguarding minority rights. To expect Supreme Court to define secularism is too much of an obnoxious outlook as Supreme Court by itself is not bound by its own judgements. With changing times the dynamic issue like secularism is more prone to evolve as the generations evolve. The Supreme Court in its various judgements has implicitly mentioned that the society should move towards having a uniform civil code. But this is not easy as it is said. However governments and political executives need to work towards creating a favourable environment so that the society can adopt uniform civil code without compromising the interests of the minorities. The role of the state in such transitions should be as minimal as possible but not zero. Political executive need to be sensible and prudent in not creating any undue situations so that the idea of secularism is distorted to the advantage of few. However other experts are of the view that the role of the judiciary in interpreting things like secularism comes only when the executive and legislative has failed to give a proper understanding to the public if otherwise has the potential to create unwarranted tensions in the society. It is necessary to have faith in constitution, executive, legislature in resolving such issues rather than bypassing all three and looking for solution in judiciary. The concept of Secularism is like flowing water. It is never the same. It is not possible have a fixed ideas about it. Rather it is necessary have wide ranges of debate as time evolves and try to accommodate ideas to the best interest of people of our country reaffirming the vibrant culture that is celebrated over years. The issue is complex and has high probability for misinterpretation; it is the duty of the state in preventing such incidents and work towards creating more just and humane society.
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