Apr 15, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Safeguarding Minority Rights: Role of Judiciary

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.

Apr 15, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - India China Strategic Dialougue

ARCHIVES India China strategic dialogue   NSA Ajit Doval will be traveling to China for a strategic dialogue with his counterpart Yang Jiechi. This will be the first such dialogue between India and China in over a year. The two sides were scheduled to hold talks in January but Doval cancelled his visit to Beijing in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack. The long standing issue territorial dispute will be the centre of discussions. India and China have not had a dedicated boundary discussion for a long time now. This is probably due to the fact that after the border incursion during Xi Jinping's visit in September 2014, there has been little activity reported from the border areas. There was a second incursion in the Depsang area in Ladakh in the spring of 2015 as Indian and Chinese armies faced off, but it was resolved fairly quietly. Both china and India have deep interests in the region, some are economic some are military; the interests that are military are also tactical in nature. Economic interest needs to take front seat in resolving issues of mutual interest. Also India and china have common interest in so many areas like climate change; ending terror, etc were we can find common ground to resolve our issues. In the meantime, China has announced a $46 billion economic corridor through Pakistan and a section of territory claimed by India as a flagship project in the One Belt One Road initiative. It has taken its place in the Taliban reconciliation talks as part of the Quad. This needs to be taken with prudence while having discussion as china will not do anything against its interests in the region where it has huge investments. It is also necessary to understand the deep strategic underpinning that china attaches with Pakistan. Given the huge investment that china has in Pakistan, it is open secret that china covertly supports activities with Pakistan that is against the interests of India. It is in this backdrop that India needs to assert her stand so as to evolve a consensus to resolve the outstanding issues like demarcating the boundary and ending territorial dispute between two countries. Click here and search for Spotlight / News Analysis dated April 9th 2016

Apr 14, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 14th April, 2016   NATIONAL/HISTORY   TOPIC:  General studies 1 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country   Babasaheb Ambedkar – 125th Birth Anniversary (Please note this is a comprehensive article sourced from The Hindu, Business Standard, Indian Express, Business Line, Live Mint. We have tried our best to cover the article comprehensively) The 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is an apt occasion to assess and reassess his thoughts and ideology and their relevance in India and the world today Democracy— Democracy is not merely a form of government. It is primarily a mode of associated living of conjoined communicated experience. It is essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards fellow men A society based on liberty, equality and fraternity should be the only alternative to a caste society, and that is why he attached greater importance to the principle of “one man, one vote; one man, one value” Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy—It means a way of life which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. He followed the words said by the Irish Patriot Daniel O’Connell— No man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty   Nationalism— Argued very passionately for adequate representation of the untouchables in the legislature, executive and public service Usage of ‘nationalism’ as the core plank to take a stand against the struggling humanity within the country and thereby creating fertile conditions for the upsurge of rank communalism The governing class in India always raised the cry of ‘nationalism/Bharat mata is in danger’ whenever the exploited classes demanded justice and fair and equal treatment and affirmative action for representation in the legislature, executive and public service The governing class was aware that class ideology, class interests, class issues and class conflicts would spell disaster for its rule and therefore always side-tracked the issues and interests of the exploited masses by playing upon the sentiment of nationalism and national unity   Society— Caste is a notion; it is a state of the mind. The destruction of Caste does not therefore mean the destruction of a physical barrier. It means a notional change. Believed that the annihilation of caste and negation of capitalism are imperatives for change and taking India and the world forward, declaring at the same time, that the bourgeoisie (capitalism) and Brahminism are the twin enemies of the people On demands of untouchables demanding separate electorates and being described as anti-national in spirit- Ambedkar rejected the description by stating that separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs and Christians did not make them anti-nationals and also mentioned that nationalism and anti-nationalism have nothing to do with the electoral system and they are the results of the extra-electoral forces Social Justice- Caste is described as being anti-national and he wanted to address the scourge of caste discrimination and exclusion through the instrumentality of law, which he poetically described as “the greatest disinfectant against inequality” Key components of social justice are liberty, equality and fraternity In his speech in the Constituent Assembly, while stating that India is an integral whole, he cautioned, “The sooner we realise that we are not yet a nation in the social and psychological sense of the word, the better for us. For then only we shall realise the necessity of becoming a nation and seriously think of ways and means of realising the goal.” Therefore, he stressed on justice, not only political and economic but also social justice. Hindu Code Bill: To achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment in full measure Muslim Society in India: Afflicted by the same social evils as afflict the Hindu Society but, maybe, a bit more— The Purdah System and its deteriorating effects upon the physical constitution of Muslim women— Deprives Muslim women of mental and moral nourishment Usually victims to anaemia, tuberculosis and pyorrhoea Bodies are deformed, with their backs bent, bones protruded, hands and feet crooked and ribs, joints and nearly all their bones ache Heart palpitation is very often present in them and the result of this pelvic deformity is untimely death at the time of delivery. Purdah Hardly any organized movement of social reform among the Musalmans of India on a scale sufficient to bring about their eradication So what then is an ideal society— Existence of social endosmosis An ideal society should be mobile, should be full of channels for conveying a change taking place in one part to other parts In an ideal society there should be many interests consciously communicated and shared There should be varied and free points of contact with other modes of association. In other words there must Statistics: Almost 38 per cent of the SC community lives below the poverty line, Only 43 per cent own permanent homes only 17.7 per cent own homes in rural areas Socio-Economic and Caste Census Data 2011: less than 1 per cent of the SC community in rural areas had a member earning more than Rs. 10,000 a month   Economic— Analysed nationalism in the context of the demand of the Indian commercial community/class that sought to replace Europeans in the field of trade and commerce –critically observed such profit-seeking orientation of the commercial class and disapproved of their predatory economic pursuits under the garb of nationalism He had made his viewpoint clear that the national movement was dominated by an elite, of which the masses were the first victims. For, as he said in 1943 before trade union activists, the working classes “often sacrifice their all to the so-called cause of nationalism. [But] they have never cared to enquire whether the nationalism for which they are to make their offerings will, when established, give them social and economic equality Statistics: Economic survey of private enterprise in 2005 revealed that the share of the SC community in total private enterprise was a mere 6 per cent in urban areas and 10 per cent in rural areas, far lower than their population The 2005 Economic Census shows that dalits in India own just 9 per cent of enterprises despite constituting 16 per cent of the population; a majority of these are small, single-person businesses THE CRITIC OF GANDHI: Age of Ranade and the Age of Gandhi In the age of Ranade the leaders struggled to modernize India. In the age of Gandhi the leaders are making her a living specimen of antiquity. In the age of Ranade, leaders depended upon experience as a corrective method to their thoughts and their deeds. The leaders of the present age depend upon their inner voice as their guide. Not only is there a difference in their mental make-up there is a difference even in their viewpoint regarding external appearance. The leaders of the old age took care to be well clad while the leaders of the present age take pride in being half clad If the India of Ranade was less agitated it was more honest and that if it was less expectant it was more enlightened. The age of Ranade was an age in which men and women did engage themselves seriously in studying and examining the facts of their life, and what is more important is that in the face of the opposition of the orthodox mass they tried to mould their lives and their character in accordance with the light they found as a result of their research. In the age of Ranade there was not the same divorce between a politician and a student which one sees in the Gandhi age This ‘Gandhi age’ is the dark age of India- It is an age in which people instead of looking for their ideals in the future are returning to antiquity. It is an age in which people have ceased to think for themselves and as they have ceased to think they have ceased to read and examine the facts of their lives.   Ambedkar& WW II— Dalit Issue: Continued to collaborate with the colonial power in exchange for concessions to Dalits and the working class at large Religion of Humanism: Opposing Mahatma Gandhi’s decision, in August 1942, to launch the Quit India Movement, he declared that the “patriotic duty of all Indians” was rather to prevent such movements from creating “anarchy and chaos which would unquestionably help and facilitate the subjugation of this country by Japan” In July 1941, he joined the Defence Advisory Committee that had been set up by the viceroy to involve Indian leaders in the war effort and to give to this forced participation of India in the conflict a greater legitimacy. In 1942, he entered the executive council of the viceroy as labour member- developed social legislation Managed to have passed the Indian Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill, making compulsory the recognition of a trade union in every enterprise under certain conditions Also introduced the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill and numerous Factories (Amendment) Bills — which were all passed Obtained a larger recruitment of Dalits in the army and, in particular, the reinstatement of the Mahar battalion   ECONOMICS TOPIC:  General studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.   India will struggle to cash in on its demographics India’s working-age population hasn’t grown fast since 2006; the growth rate is in fact steadily falling; in 2027 the annual increase is projected to drop below 1%. Census 2011 data shows that India’s working age population (15-64 years) is now 63.4% of the total population, as against just short of 60% in 2001. Over the next decade, India is expected to be the leader is growth in terms of working-age population among the world’s 10 biggest economies. India is home to 18% of the world’s working-age population. There is a immediate need to have 2% annual growth in a country’s working-age population to have a sustained economic boom but India’s working-age population hasn’t grown that fast since 2006. The growth rate is in fact steadily falling; upon that in 2027 the annual increase is projected to drop below 1%. What does Demographic Dividend mean? Demographic dividend, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund  (UNFPA) means, “the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working-age share of the population (14 and younger, and 65 and older).   Why Demographic Dividend is vital for India? A country with both increasing numbers of young people and declining fertility has the potential to reap a demographic dividend. Due to this Demographic dividend there is a great potential for economic gains, which has been termed the "demographic gift". In order to realize this "demographic gift", younger population must have access to quality education, adequate nutrition and health including access to sexual and reproductive health. Upon that by 2030, India is projected to reach its demographic sweet spot i.e majority of its population will be working age, with a relatively small share of children and elderly to care for.   Why are we not able to reap dividends out of demographic dividend yet? Major portion of working-age Population are not working — at least not in ways that bring economic growth and social progress. Lack of quality education and increased dropout rates in schools. Rural regions still largely cut off from the national economy Relatively affluent urban residents who fall working age group see no point in looking for jobs. In India women being major part of labour force are not able participate to their full potential. Labour-force participation among working-age women is too low. Mismatch between worker’s skill and job market’s requirement. Due to automation and mechanization in middle skill occupations such as operating machinery, driving vehicles, doing clerical work has squeezed workers out of their jobs Legal uncertainty and misguided government policies discourage job creation, while the transportation infrastructure and educational system are in need of giant upgrades.   What are the mechanisms through which benefits can be reaped? During the course of the demographic dividend there are four mechanisms through which the benefits are delivered. The first is the increased labour supply. The magnitude of this benefit appears to be dependent on the ability of the economy to absorb and productively employ the extra workers rather than be a pure demographic gift. The second mechanism is the increase in savings. As the number of dependents decreases individuals can save more. This increase in national savings rates increases the stock of capital in developing countries already facing shortages of capital and leads to higher productivity as the accumulated capital is invested. The third mechanism is human capital. Decreases in fertility rates result in healthier women and fewer economic pressures at home. This also allows parents to invest more resources per child, leading to better health and educational outcomes. The fourth mechanism for growth is the increasing domestic demand brought about by the increasing GDP per capita and the decreasing dependency ratio.   What happens if we neglect to strengthen demographic dividend? India’s youth bulge could just as easily turn into a youth bomb. If policies are implemented ineffectually, or are not enough to cater to a large enough section of the population, the result will be an over-abundance of young people who have not been educated adequately and are unemployed or under-employed. This in turn could build resentment as well as force this section of the population into illicit activities leading to a rise in crime and terrorism.   What are the initiatives taken by the government to realize full potential of Demographic dividend? Increase in the investments on Public health, Education and creation of jobs (Make-in-India). Effort to connect more Indians to the national economy through the Aadhaar national identification number system, which is now being followed up with a project to link all Indians in a digital-payments network. Digital India to bridge Digital divide to reap benefits out Demographic dividend    Way ahead: Given that India’s working age population will continue to be over 50% of the total population till the end of the 21st century, there is enough time to exploit it fully for the benefit of the country. Connecting the dots: What does demographic dividend mean? Is India’s Demographic Dividend a Liability or an asset? Critically Examine.   MUST READ The art of leapfrogging Hindu   Evaluating India's well-being- The past decade has seen significant improvements in India's health indicators, but it still lags other Asian countries Business Standard Related Articles: Contraception—a woman’s burden   Just the tip of the money-laundering iceberg- The Panama Papers leak is not representative of the fact that countries have become smarter at detecting money laundering. The global financial system continues to favour those with the means to hide their money Business Standard Related Articles: The panama papers explained AIR Debate – Panama Paper leak   Narendra Modi to launch digital platform for trading farm produce today- The e-platform called National Agriculture Market will connect 21 mandis or markets from eight states in the first phase Live Mint Business Standard   Social boycott to be a crime in Maharashtra-Maharashtra passes bill that aims to crack down on extra-judicial bodies that promote social discrimination Live Mint   Wealth, happiness and liberty- Restricting liberty to prevent self-destruction has the makings of a nanny state that can lead to unhappiness Live Mint   Govt plans merger of anti-dumping, import safeguard bodies-The single entity will be called Directorate General of Trade Remedies, which will be similar to US International Trade Commission Live Mint   More rains won’t fix India’s water crisis-India is in the unenviable position of making a big bet on coal-fired power plants just as climate change raises the threat of once highly improbable events Live Mint MIND MAPS   1. Prenuptial Agreement

Apr 13, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Simultaneous Elections: Is it Legally and Practically Possible?

Archives The Big Picture - Simultaneous Elections: Is it Legally and Practically Possible?   The issue of holding simultaneous elections has been debated periodically in this country. With recent holding of elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu the debate has resurfaced again about the feasibility of holding such elections.  The article deals with the issues associated with holding simultaneous elections. The issue gained traction when the parliamentary standing committee in Dec 2015 submitted a report on holding such simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Need for holding such simultaneous elections as per the standing committee recommendations Reduce the massive expenditure that is currently incurred for the conduct of separate elections. Reduce the policy paralysis that results from the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct during election time. Reduce the impact on delivery of essential services. Reduce the burden on crucial manpower that is deployed during election time. Recommendations of standing committee Elections of legislative assemblies whose term ends six months after the general elections to Lok Sabha can be clubbed together. In order to hold early elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, a motion for an early general election or a no confidence motion must be passed by the House. Elections could be held in two phases. It stated that elections to some Legislative Assemblies could be held during the midterm of Lok Sabha. Elections to the remaining legislative assemblies could be held with the end of Lok Sabha‟s term. Concerns: Experts believe that proposal could be motivated by political considerations, as when simultaneous elections are held voters tend to vote for the same party. Low awareness among voters creates the tendency for voters to get carried away by wave theory( If there is a wave in the favour of the Union that that would continue for the States, at least that seems to be the motivation for him) According to article 83(2) states have the prerogative to decide when to call for elections, But in doing it for conduct of simultaneous elections, they would be misusing the Constitution. The state assemblies can be dissolved at any time without completing the fixed term, then the idea of holding simultaneous elections cannot be a reality all the time. If simultaneous elections are held politicians will visit voters only once in five yearsàVoters cannot hold politicians accountable à less efficiency. Benefits: Gives boost to the economy, create more jobs. Prevent local and national issues from getting mixed up in the minds of the voters. At present 700 to 800 companies of paramilitary forces are required, holding simultaneous elections will increase the number of paramilitary forces required to conduct the elections, àmore recruitment àJob creationà Better enforcement in troubled areas. The idea/rationale of holding simultaneous elections may seem to be good on paper but practically impossible to achieve due to various issues mentioned above. This proposal is a non starter for a country like India whose entire democratic setup is different than other western countries which follow the model of holding simultaneous elections. Nevertheless the Standing Committee noted that relief from frequent elections was “important for India if it is to compete with other nations in developmental agenda” there needs be more debate on improving processes of conducting the elections than changing the way we conduct elections  and need to evolve  consensus over the issue.

Apr 13, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 13th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 13th 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;   The LPG reform - Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Until 2013, 75 lakh predominantly rural, subsidised BPL connections were disbursed under various schemes Fifty-five lakh subsidised BPL connections are claimed to have been provided in the last year under the “Give Back” scheme linked to the “Give It Up” campaign.   Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) – The Rs.8,000-crore scheme aims to provide subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to about 60 per cent of below poverty line (BPL) households (five crore households in three years) Real test: how they translate the provision of connections to sustained use of LPG or other clean fuels such as electricity or biogas   Concerns related to PMUY Household air pollution Use of: solid fuels such as biomass, dung cakes and coal for cooking HAP: the second leading risk factor contributing to India’s disease burden Poor sanitation: ranks 15th According to the World Health Organization, solid fuel use is responsible for about 13 per cent of all mortality and morbidity in India (measured as Disability-Adjusted Life Years), and causes about 40 per cent of all pulmonary disorders, nearly 30 per cent of cataract incidences, and over 20 per cent each of ischemic heart disease, lung cancer and lower respiratory infection   Cost and distribution Cooking fuel should be available at an affordable cost to back up the initial provision of subsidised connections as each BPL household would have to spend up to Rs.5,000 each year on LPG even at current subsidised prices — in addition to a one-time cost of Rs.1,800 for the connection (unaffordable to many). PMUY- has proposed payment in instalments for stoves and cylinders to address this challenge The distribution system needs to be strengthened to be able to meet the expected increase in demand, particularly in rural areas, as non-availability of fuel could push people back towards using solid fuels Steps needed to ensure reliable, sustained, last-mile supply— A large extension of distribution networks, especially in rural areas, since each rural distribution agency typically caters to fewer customers than urban agencies Robust implementation of direct benefit transfer schemes Effective monitoring and grievance redressal systems to ensure that the problems in the scheme are highlighted and addressed early Accompanied by a focussed public relations campaign, similar to the national tuberculosis or Swachh Bharat campaigns, to build awareness and create a “demand pull”, not only for clean cooking but also for good service Strengthening the refining, bottling and pipeline infrastructure Widening the reach Need to widen the net for two reasons: Known inclusion and exclusion errors in BPL lists BPL may be a narrow definition of deprivation and many non-BPL households may also not be able to afford LPG connections What do you mean by the wider net—All rural households or all households except those meeting well-defined exclusion criteria such as ownership of certain categories of assets The Aadhaar legislation— Imperative to first determine who is eligible for that subsidy Information required: Income and other such information, which is outside the domain of the Aadhaar programme Aadhaar database- only demographic information of individual As per the new bill, Aadhaar’s only purpose is to “target” those individuals for subsidies Aadhaar— Not a sole Saver; a sum of Rs 14,672 crore was saved in LPG subsidy for the year 2014-15 under the direct benefits transfer scheme but the savings can be attributed to a fall in global oil prices Question of ‘unidentified identity’— Of the 15.7 crore active LPG consumers who received an average annual subsidy of Rs 3,327 each in FY14, 13.7 crore have switched to getting cash subsidy in their bank accounts rather than subsidised LPG cylinders But as of March 2016, only 12.3 crore LPG consumers have provided their Aadhaar numbers Question— Who are that the remaining beneficiaries then— claims of Rs 15,000 crore of saving in LPG subsidy solely through Aadhaar are erroneous and deceitful Connecting the Dots: Does there exist a direct relation of smokeless kitchens with economic development. Discuss   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.   India- US relationship- a Strategic Imperative Background: In a significant decision that could have far-reaching implications for India’s military posture, India and the U.S. have agreed “in principle” on a logistics support agreement — Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) , this would make it easier for both militaries to share each other’s facilities. The two countries agreed in principle to sign an agreement on providing logistics but have yet to finalize the draft of the agreement LEMOA is a fine tuned version of Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and LEMOA will be tailored for India and will not be a general Logistics Support Agreement (LSA). LSA was part of the three controversial agreements that the US has been pursuing India to sign for nearly a decade. The U.S. administration has wanted India to sign three agreements to deepen the already existing India-US military relationship.   Three agreements: Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA); Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geospatial intelligence.   What are these agreements all about? Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)  : Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is fine tuned version of Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) is an agreement on sharing of military logistics between India and the American forces and will facilitate support such as refuelling and berthing facilities for each other’s warships and aircrafts on a reimbursable basis. A formal agreement, when inked, will access supplies, spare parts and services from each other's land facilities, air bases and ports, which can then be reimbursed. An agreement in principle on logistics would move India closer to [the] US as a strategic partner Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA): Signing the CISMOA would enable India to get encrypted communications equipment and systems allowing military commanders to communicate with aircraft and ships through a secure network. Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geospatial intelligence: BECA would provide India with topographical and aeronautical data and products, which will aid navigation and targeting.   What is the significance of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) agreement? The LEMOA would be beneficial at the time of disaster relief operations like the one India undertook in the wake of the Asian Tsunami and exercise done in wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Maritime security, maritime domain Awareness Military-to-military relations will deepen Rules-based order and regional security architecture conducive to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean will be established. Defence Trade and Technology Initiative and initiate two new pathfinder projects on digital helmet mounted displays and the Joint Biological Tactical Detection System.   How do US see this LEMOA agreement with India? US want a stronger Indian military to deter, not provoke, conflict with China. Indeed, this was not the case about 20 years ago. The most significant difference between now and then is the growing capability and assertiveness of the Chinese military. The trajectory of China’s growing military capabilities threatens to widen the gap between China’s military capabilities and those of India. This is the kind of gap that increases the chance of conflict. And the US and India have an undeniable common interest in trying to prevent it from growing further. The new approach has been branded the “Third Offset Strategy”. Like the two earlier offsets — tactical nuclear weapons and precision-guided conventional munitions — the US hopes that AI and associated technologies will help America counter the quantitative superiority its rivals Russia and China enjoy in Eurasia and the Western Pacific. The US has other interests as well, such as maintaining its military edge and ensuring that its “crown jewel” defence technology doesn’t find its way into the hands of adversaries like Russia.   What is India’s point of view regarding deepening military ties with US? India needs a policy framework and engagement with Washington to take advantage of a tech revolution critical for its own security. Rapid advances in robotics, machine-learning and big-data analytics are at once driving the so-called “fourth industrial revolution” and the transformation of modern warfare. At the centre of it all is the science and engineering of artificial intelligence (AI), or computer algorithms that can perform many functions, such as vision, voice recognition, decision-making and the capacity to process vast quantities of information, which are usually associated with humans. For India too, artificial intelligence (AI), might be critical in coping with the growing gap in conventional military capabilities that has opened up with China. The Chinese defence budget is now more than four times that of India and Beijing has devoted considerable intellectual and policy energies to transform the organization and doctrine of its armed forces. AI is also likely to play an important role in countering Pakistan’s low-intensity conflict against India through such proxies as the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Effective use of these will help India accelerate its own economic growth, address its national security challenges and gain an effective voice in the international regulation of autonomous weapons and robotic warfare. India was rather slow in waking up to the impact of the cyber revolution; it can’t afford to make the same error in relation to the AI transformation.   Why there is anxiety amongst Indian strategic community that India is about to embrace the US strategically and get locked in an anti-China alliance? This anxiety is fuelled by three mistaken factors: Firstly, lack of reading of China’s Defence White Paper of 2015, wherein the debate between the continentalists and the maritime people has been settled in favor of the maritime lobby. China is going to become a maritime power in the Indian Ocean. Second, “One belt one road” is the larger plan to change the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean to support the permanent presence of a Chinese fleet. It’s admittedly a long-term plan. Third, the Chinese are going full speed to get Gwadar and Djibouti ready for the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean.   Way ahead: Though in surface combatants, the Indian navy will outnumber the Chinese taskforce 2:1, outnumber the maritime patrol aircraft 2:1 and be superior in strategic anti-submarine warfare and satellite communication infrastructure. India could put the squeeze in the Indian Ocean but Indian navy is required to play a supporting role in ensuring freedom of navigation and ensure a peaceful Chinese rise than the ability to squeeze the Malacca jugular as a strategic threat. As India work with the United States to realize the full potential of India's Act East policy, India also seeks a closer partnership with the United States to promote shared interests in India's west, especially in the context of the emerging situation in West Asia India-US relationship will be one of the key global partnerships of this century. Defence cooperation is a central pillar of India's multi-faceted relationship with the US. A stronger India-US partnership will promote peace, stability and progress in Indian Ocean region and the world.   Connecting the dots: Is Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) viewed as a move India supporting US in forming any alliance against China? Will the agreement Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) lead to establish Rules-based order and regional security architecture conducive to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean? Comment.   MUST READ How to be free of caste Hindu   Keeping tigers in the green zone Hindu   Who needs public banks?- The critical debt problem calls for deep surgery, not more band aid. Indian Express Related Articles: Fashioning a Banking Turn- Public Sector Banks Capacity building in Banks and Non-Bank Institutions BASEL III norms and INDIA The problem of debt concentration ‘A solution, with its own problems’- Strategic Debt Restructuring Scheme   A higher price for education- As IITs raise their fee, it is time to consider innovative ways of financing education for elite institutions that require a higher level of funding to support research. Indian Express Related Articles: http://iasbaba.com/2015/08/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-13th-august-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/09/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-12th-september-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/08/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-4th-august-2015/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-16th-october-2015/   Pollution is not just about odd-even-Companies that help provide environment-friendly alternatives to existing methods will benefit Live Mint Related Articles: Delhi’s traffic experiment – Will this reduce the Emission Levels?   Rebooting India’s agricultural policy- The efforts of the government in revamping the crop insurance and land titling schemes are long-term solutions which will take time to bear results Live Mint Related Articles: Need to Revive Agriculture A second green revolution in India   Depression, anxiety cost world $1 trillion each year: WHO study- The World Health Organization study presents a strong argument for greater investment in mental health services in countries of all income levels Live Mint Related Articles: A State of mind MIND MAPS   1. LGBT - Legal Solution

Apr 13, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 12th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 12th April, 2016   ECONOMICS   TOPIC:  General Studies 3: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it; Banking General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Governance   Unified Payment Interface— A step towards a cashless economy A cashless economy is a system where flow of cash or physical currency is non-existent and all monetary transactions are done electronically via internet enabled banking or wallets, and debit or credit cards; at most abolishing or at times, reducing the physical presence between two transacting parties. Such transactions can be purchases, bill & utility payments and clearances or transfers and India moved a step closer towards becoming a cashless economy with the launch of National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI’s) unified payment interface (UPI). Touted as one of the most important innovation of the financial sector with 19 banks partnering with NPCI (an umbrella organization for all retail payments systems) to offer services based on UPI which will have a significant impact on the ease of retail payments at a time when mobile banking transactions (surged 82% over the same period the previous year) is picking up.   Unified Payment Interface (will) Make e-commerce transactions easier— Improvement in the ease of making payments, the ease of saving and the ease for buying financial products Facilitate micropayments and person-to-person payments: e-payments on delivery & digitizing last-mile payments Allow customers to instantaneously transfer funds across different banks with the use of a single identifier which will act as a virtual address and eliminate the need to exchange sensitive information such as bank account numbers during a financial transaction Working of UPI— Interface- been built on the same infrastructure as the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), which is currently used by banks for real-time transfer of cash Transaction limit for IMPS-1 lakh/transaction   Steps towards a cashless economy Payments Banks- Objective: to accelerate financial inclusion Will provide basic savings, deposit, payment and remittance services to people without access to the formal banking system; will not be in the business of lending Small finance banks- will offer basic banking services, accepting deposits and lending to unserved and underserved sections including small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and entities in the unorganized sector. Courtesy (image )- http://www.livemint.com/Industry/BTgri6AXTbue3WFPyp6dEN/Unified-payments-interface-new-banks-signal-revolution-in-b.html IASbaba’s Views: Banks should take upon the onus to facilitate its expansion by communicating the benefits of its usage to their customers via various channels, to make it a norm. Grievance redressal mechanisms need to be worked upon and effective technologies need to be put in place to lead to its efficient working and expand its access to formal financial channels NPCI should work towards protecting the system from security breaches and fraudulent transactions Focus should also be towards bringing in those outside the payments universe and those without smartphones under the UPI payment landscape.   Connecting the Dots: Critically analyse the issues associated with payment banks in India Does there exist a direct correlation between a developed economy and a cashless economy? Justify your stand Mindmap— https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B12w56GDVUrSbW5Sd3ZHZUlZMVE/view NATIONAL   TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  General studies 3: Disaster and disaster management.   When populism trumps public safety The Sunday fire tragedy at the Puttingal Devi temple in Kollam, Kerala, which claimed more than 100 lives, raises several questions with regard to public safety management and the role of the district administration in ensuring safety during occasions such as major religious festivals.   Questions that rise after the incident: The chief issue is whether the Kollam administration mainly the police was incompetent or merely negligent because of external pressure. An enormous Kumbh Mela that attracts several millions passes off without incident. But a Kollam festival that draws just a few thousands ends in a colossal mishap. How does one explain the contradiction? Is it that the Uttar Pradesh civil set-up is more sensitive and efficient than its Kerala counterpart? Or is it a case of government reluctance to be tough on the eve of Assembly elections?   Complex task of Indian administration: One of the most complex tasks the Indian administration has to perform is the handling of massive religious congregations. On all these religious occasions, the local administration have to encounter devotee indiscipline of the worst order, particularly the desire to be the closest to the sanctum sanctorum. Devotee excitement is usually compounded by the lack of control over the event by the organisers, normally a local committee of citizens, some with a dubious reputation for managing finances and some with high political connections. Public safety, for them, is often low priority. Festivals and fireworks: In the Kollam horror, there are reports that the local administration had turned down the request for a fireworks competition between groups which are regular participants in the festivities and come from various other temples in the region. If this was so, why was the order not implemented? The distinctive feature of many Kerala festivals is that they cut across religions, and are looked upon as more of a social event. The fireworks display is the most exciting feature of religious festivals in Kerala. In fact, it is a huge draw for foreign tourists.  A point to note here is no State government in India would like to antagonise even the smallest of religious denominations. This is the tragedy of our polity. There are no signs that this appalling situation will change even in decades.   A statistical outlook: Both stampedes and fireworks at festivals have caused a large number of casualties in our country. Perhaps these account for far more than what we have suffered at the hands of terrorists. The stampedes at the Mahamaham Festival in Tamil Nadu (1992; 50 casualties), the Nashik Kumbh Mela (2003; 39 casualties) and Mandher Devi temple in Satara, Maharashtra (2005; nearly 300 casualties) come readily to mind. Consider these along with the fire accidents in Delhi’s Uphaar cinema (1997; 59 deaths) and Kolkata’s AMRI Hospital (2011; over 90 deaths) to convince ourself that we either do not have a uniformly stringent fire safety policy, or the wisdom and courage to enforce it if we ever had one. Lessons not learnt: We have learnt only few lessons from these gory happenings. The routine appointments of commissions of inquiry and suspensions of police personnel are a knee-jerk response to what is becoming a human rights violation by the state in neglecting fundamentals to regulate religious assembles and to strictly implement safety measures on public occasions or inside public buildings. Connecting the dots: To what extent religion can act as a tool for bridging social capital in India?   MUST READ Giving peace a chance in Yemen Hindu   Clearing the smoke on LPG reform Hindu Mind-map http://iasbaba.com/2016/03/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-24th-march-2016/   Raja-Mandala: India, US and Artificial Intelligence- Delhi needs a policy framework and engagement with Washington to take advantage of a tech revolution critical for its own security Indian Express   The Next Leader of The UN- Innovations to the selection procedure this year will make it more transparent. Indian Express Related Articles: A greater need for UNSC reforms   US wants a stronger Indian military to deter, not provoke, conflict with China- If the United States could flip a switch and make the Indian military more powerful than it is today, it would have every interest in doing so Indian Express  The biosimilar opportunity for Indian healthcare companies- The market for biosimilars is an attractive one for Indian companies, with Japan being the third-largest market after the US and the EU, according to a report Live Mint   The myth of the dumb Indian peasant- The perception of a farmer as a ‘dumb peasant’ in public policy lies at the core of the agrarian crisis Live Mint   With eye on China, India signs key defence pact with Maldives- Pact among a handful signed between PM Narendra Modi and Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday Live Mint Related Articles: China factor in India Maldives relation: an analysis TLP 2015   Time to give meaning to land ownership - Poorly defined property rights have undercut India’s economic potential Live Mint      

Apr 12, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Panama Paper Leak

ARCHIVES AIR Debate - Panama Paper leak   The Panama Papers are a leaked set of 11.5 million confidential documents that provide detailed information about more than 214,000 offshore companies listed by the Panamanian corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca that includes the identities of shareholders and directors of the companies. The documents show the myriad ways in which the rich can exploit secretive offshore tax regimes. The list also contains 500 people from India which has raised serious debate about the issues relating to money laundering. Mossack Fonseca is a Panamanian law firm that helps its clients to create Benami businesses, shareholders, directors etc concealing the original identity of the person involved. More than 11 million documents from the secret files, known for its factory-like production of offshore companies for its worldwide clientele of the well-heeled. These records reveal a list of individuals who have paid the firm — and bought the benefits of the secretive, lax regulatory system in which it operates — to set up offshore entities in tax havens around the world. With such incidents, Offenders under Indian law are violating income tax and money laundering act which demands serious prosecution under appropriate legal framework. The Benami transaction act which is of Indian origin does have its jurisdiction beyond Indian borders, this makes the law literally void making the offenders walk free and commit crimes without any restrictions. The government of India had launched what is known as Disclosure scheme under which all the black money offenders were given a Compliance window period to declare all undeclared assets within the fixed time frame and pay required taxes with minimum penalty. However beyond the fixed time period all non complaint offenders under disclosure scheme will be brought under Black money act which demands legal prosecution, hefty penalty, and even prison. To prevent such practises India along with G20 have come along to sign an initiative known as Base erosion and profit sharing. This will make the sharing of information’s regarding taxes and black money more easy and dynamic. India is effectively taking steps to implement this initiative which makes the process of stashing unaccounted money difficult. Under statement of exports, over invoicing of imports, bribery, etc account the most sought after sources for generation of Black money. The release of Panama paper is slated to create huge uproar in civil society and in parliament of many countries. Government of India has already ordered enquiry against this backdrop. However the need of the hour is to expedite such cases of money laundering through establishing of special courts and punishing the offenders so that it create an effective deterrence to repeat/commit such crimes. Click here and search for Spotlight/ News Analysis dated 6th of April 2016

Apr 11, 2016 PIB

IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB)- 4th April to 10th April, 2016

ARCHIVES GS-1 National Tribal Carnival (Topic: Indian Culture and Tradition) About- First National Tribal Carnival will be held in Delhi from April 29 to May 02, 2016. Purpose- To showcase and promote various facets of tribal culture on a large scale- Culture + Tradition + Customs + Skills and to expose it to the general population with a view to utilize the potential for overall holistic development of the Scheduled Tribes Event Highlights- Displaying documented traditional socio-culture aspects, Collection of art/artefacts, Cultural performances, Demonstration of skills like sports, Paintings Traditional healing practices etc   GS-2 Memorandum of Understanding between India and Sweden (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interest) About-Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to MoU signed on 15th February, 2016 between India and Sweden on Technical Cooperation in the Railway Sector. MoU will enable technical cooperation in the following areas- Benchmark railways policy development, regulations, organization and specific characteristics for each country. Exchange of knowledge, technical expertise, innovation, technology, sustainable solutions and research. Other cooperation projects agreed between the participants, such as, freight operations in cold regions, tilting coaches/trains, capacity allocation (time tabling) and optimisation of maintenance and improved freight/combination traffic. Training and continuing education program in reliability and maintenance of rail transport system for railway engineers and managers.   MoUs provide- Platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. Facilitate exchange of- Technical experts, Reports and technical documents, Training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing.   National Programmes for Smart Pumps for Farmers and Energy Efficient Fans  (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) About- In order to make country more energy efficient: National Energy Efficient Agriculture Pumps Programme National Energy Efficient Fan Programmein Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Vijayawada to be the first city to implement the National Energy Efficient Fan Programme EESL will distribute 2 lakh Smart SIM-enabled Agricultural Pumps sets free of cost to the farmers in AP  FEATURES OF NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENT AGRICULTURE PUMPS PROGRAMME Smart BEE star rated Energy Efficient Agricultural Pump sets be distributed to farmers Farmers can replace their inefficient agricultural pump sets free of cost. Pumps to come with Smart Control Panes that has a SIM card and a Smart Meter. Smart Control Panel will enable a farmer to switch on or switch off these pumps through his mobile and sitting at the comfort of his home. Smart meters to ensure the farmers to monitor consumption on real time basis.   FEATURES OF NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENT FAN PROGRAMME Energy-Efficient, 50 Watts and 5-Star Rated Ceiling Fans Fans are 30% more energy efficient as compared to conventional fans, which range from 75- 80 Watts At present, two energy efficient fans will be provided to each consumer at Rs 60 a month per fan on EMI basis It is estimated that consumer’s electricity bill will reduce by about Rs 700-730 per year- which means that the cost of this fan can be recovered in less than 2 years.   Transnational Skill Standards in India (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Aim- To support two major initiatives of the Government: Make in India + Skill India To align to skill standards which are recognized globally MoUs signed between- NSDC + Association of Colleges (UK) and NSDC + UK Awarding Organization City & Guilds + Pearsons Education MoUs signed to- Enable sharing of best practice Staff exchange and development of new models to increase employer engagement and investment in skills   India-UK Partnership- Standards in skill development are benchmarked to United Kingdom across 82 identified job roles India chose UK standards to benchmark Indian Skills standards since all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries recognize UK skill certification. Transnational Standards will highlight the gaps in Indian Standards against the UK standards. To cover the gaps, those intending to migrate, will undergo ‘bridge training’. Further Education Colleges (FE) of the United Kingdom will partner with Indian Training Providers to impart training on bridge courses. FE Colleges to set up Skill Academies of Excellences in the identified sectors in India. Further the UK Awarding organization, such as City & Guilds and Pearsons, in association with Indian SSCs will certify the trainees on the gap. Importance- Endeavour to benchmark the standards so as to support international mobility of Indian workforce and also prepare them to work in international companies having their operations in the country. To bring more quality in vocational education which will open more avenues for employment across countries for the youth   Indian Sector Skill Councils participated in the project are- Automotive + Agriculture +Life Science + Healthcare + Capital Goods + Apparel + Textiles + Beauty and Wellness + Telecom + Hospitality + IT & ITeS + Construction + Retail + Electronic and Security   Farmers’ Fair and Exhibition for creating awareness among the farmers about Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) About- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India is organising Farmers’ Fair and Agricultural Exhibition across the country at 583 Krishi Vigyan Kendras   Aim- To create awareness among farmers about new Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana Information, knowledge and advisory on various crops, horticulture, livestock and poultry related questions are also being addressed by the Scientists in the farmers-Scientists interface programme being organised by the KVKs.   Key Highlights- Literature about the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana is being provided to the farmers. Question-answer sessions are also being held and a comprehensive CD containing the film on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana is also being shown to the farmers.   ‘Grand Innovation Challenge’ (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) About- NITI Aayog launched the first phase of the ‘Grand Innovation Challenge’ to seek citizens’ inputs on the key developmental challenges facing India. Grand Innovation Challenge is being launched on- MyGov portal, to involve citizens at the very first stage in innovating for India’s development.   Idea is to- Work together with the States and every citizen as ‘Team India’ to ensure progress leaving no one behind.   Focus on- Social sector, Most vulnerable sections To involve citizens in crowd sourcing ideas to address challenges facing India’s development Phase I NITI Aayog will seek the views of the citizens on the key challenges facing India, across areas significant for the country’s development. Idea is to find out from the people what are the critical issues which need to be addressed to develop the social sector and the challenges which need to be tackled on a priority basis Phase II Shortlist of the urgent challenges as suggested by citizens would be prepared and innovative solutions would be sought from the people to address them using appropriate technology Idea is to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship & citizen-led solutions to problems through this Grand Challenge. End phase- NITI Aayog will identify and acknowledge 10 most pressing challenges from among those suggested by the citizens of India. Best 10 entries will receive certificates of acknowledgement from NITI Aayog. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to NITI Aayog as special guests for a discussion on the Atal Innovation Mission, along with key policy makers of the Government of India.   Background- Move comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to reiterate the importance of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for India’s Development at various forums NITI Aayog is leading this key goal for India by formulating guidelines for implementing the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). With the launch of AIM, NITI will provide fillip to the swelling Innovation potential in the country. Partnering with the best minds nationally and internationally will bring together experts in academics, technology, industry, entrepreneurship and research.   Special Purpose Vehicle for Bhubaneswar Smart City takes off  (Topic: Government Projects and its implementation) About- Odisha capital Bhubaneswar which came at the top of the first batch of 20 smart cities selected by the Ministry of Urban Development also became the first to get its Special Purpose Vehicle. Project management undertaken through- Engagement of Project Management Consultancy. CEO was authorized to finalize the terms and conditions and manner of recruitment and also engage agency for providing various services.   Smart City Guidelines- Under Smart City Mission Guidelines, SPVs for each smart city are to be set up to enable faster execution of projects by delegating to them powers of various concerned departments and agencies.   International Convention on World Homoeopathy Day (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/ Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources) About- AYUSH inaugurated the International Convention on World Homoeopathy Day. Homoeopathy in India- Potential of Homoeopathy remains largely unexplored and, therefore, underutilized in public health, despite the fact that Homoeopathy is practiced in more than 80 countries of the world and is known to be effective in various communicable and non-communicable diseases, chronic diseases and diseases of children and mothers. During pregnancy, when expecting mothers are usually advised not to take much medication, Homoeopathy is a safe alternative. Scope of prevention of various epidemic diseases through Homoeopathy is also huge, but not yet tapped. Government Efforts- To develop centers of excellence in Homoeopathy. North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy is being given impetus and work on All India Institute of Homoeopathy has been initiated. Centers of excellence so formed would be models for education, research and patient care in specific fields. World Homoeopathy Day- The International Convention on World Homoeopathy Day is being organised by CCRH, an autonomous research organization of Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and an international organization Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis (LMHI) Event is being organized to commemorate the 261stbirth anniversary of the founder of Homoeopathy Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, who was a great scholar, linguist and acclaimed scientist Theme of the convention is- ‘Integrating Homoeopathy in Healthcare’ Convention will deliberate upon- Various significant issues in Homoeopathy Includes special sessions on- ‘Homoeopathy on Cancer’+ ‘Homoeopathy on Mental Health’+ ‘Homoeopathy on Epidemics’+ ‘Homoeopathy on Public Health’ + ‘Clinical Research studies’ + ‘Drug Validation and Drug Development’ among others.   Launch of new health initiatives and Mobile APPS (Topic: Government health initiatives)             About- Celebrating the World Health Day, the Health Minister launched several new e-health and m-health initiatives.   Aim- To focus on the youth and adolescents of the country, To prevent and combat lifestyles diseases such as Diabetes Prevention and awareness about non-communicable diseases which are largely linked with our way of living, dietary habits, lack of exercise etc. Initiatives Launched- ‘Swasth Bharat Mobile application’ and ‘ANM Online application-ANMOL’ ANMOL is a tablet-based application that allows ANMs to enter and updated data for beneficiaries of their jurisdiction. Ensure more prompt entry and updation of data as well as improve the data quality since the data will be entered “at source” by providers of health services themselves. ‘E-RaktKosh initiative’ It is an integrated Blood Bank Management Information System that has been conceptualized and developed after multiple consultations with all stakeholders. Initiative will be of great use to persons and families in need of blood transfusion. Application launched will enable not only information of the nearest blood bank on a mobile but also of the availability of the particular blood group in a given radius.   ‘India Fights Dengue’- As the fight against Vector Borne Diseases, especially Dengue, can be won only with effective community participation, this App empowers the community members how to contribute towards prevention of Dengue. Guidelines for Dialysis Centre in a PPP Mode Every district in the country will have the facility of a Dialysis Centre operated under the PPP mode to leverage the potential of the private sector. Expanded facilities will help the renal disorder patients and reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure incurred on dialysis.   Union HRD Minister Releases ‘India Rankings 2016’: India’s First Ever Rankings of Indian Institutions (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/ Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources) About- Union Minister of Human Resource Development released the India Rankings 2016 and dedicated India’s first ranking to the nation. India Rankings 2016-  National Institutional Ranking framework (NIRF) is the first of its kind. Rankings are a step towards bringing the Indian institutes on a global platform.   Importance- Ranking would empower citizens as it would endow them with the power as to how they observe the institutions to be. Rankings will also help students make informed choices about the institutions they want to join One of the  biggest challenges in the higher education sector have been that citizens who engage with these institutions feel that there is no level playing field in terms of transparency and the data that they need from these institutions with regard to the choices they, specially the students, need to make.    GS-3  First New Semi High-Speed Train “Gatimaan Express” flagged off (Topic: Infrastructure- Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc) Aim-  To increase average speed of all passengers and freight trains and Indian Railway have already started working on mission “Raftaar” and would be accomplished in 5 years time. Key Features- Gatimaan Express- Is indigenously built Coaches to be used, are new LHB coaches with enhanced passenger amenities are turned out by RCF/Kapurthala Coaches have been fitted with bio toilets IRCTC- Onboard catering on this train is being organized by Railways’ PSU, namely Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Train Speed- 160 km per hour, covering the 184 km distance between Delhi and Agra in 105-110 minutes. Powered by a 5500 HP electric locomotive, the non-stop train will have two Executive AC Chair Car and eight AC Chair Car coaches. Technology- Another unique feature of this train is free of cost on board entertainment facility. Under this facility, passengers can view various entertaining videos during travel on their Smart Phones, Tablet or Laptops even without internet connection through Wi-Fi.   “India Water Week” (Topic: Water conservation) India Water Week— A key initiative for sharing best practices and exchanging ideas to identify timely solutions to the critical water issues confronting our world today.   To showcase- Technologies and solutions for improving efficiencies in water use. Prioritize- Resilient eco-systems, modern data management systems and innovations in technology   Important programmes to achieve this objective- Government’s Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan Integrated Watershed Management Programme   22nd Basic Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change (Topic: Climate Change, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment) About- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising the 22nd meeting of Brazil, South Africa, India and China, called the BASIC Group.   Aim- To discuss climate change related issues, including how to take forward the decisions adopted in the Paris Agreement.   Meeting is being organized In- New Delhi on 6th and 7th April 2016.   Extremely relevant because-  It will help to further consolidate the positions of the countries and secure the interests of developing countries, before the 196 UNFCCC member countries meet for the first time in May 2016 after the adoption of the Paris Agreement.   BASIC- First meeting of the BASIC Group, after the Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015. Ministers reflect and deliberate on various provisions of- Paris Agreement and related decisions including Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Transparency framework for action and support Matters relating to global stocktake Progress towards achieving the 20 C goal and the Pre 2020 Actions and review issues.   About 21st BASIC Meeting- Held in-> Beijing, China, in 2015 Highlighted-> Importance of cooperation among developing countries. Voiced their support for-> Further strengthening common positions of developing countries in Paris through the Group of 77 and China.   National Hydrology Project  (Topic: Conservation, environmental impact assessment, disaster and disaster management) About- Union Cabinet has given its approval to Implementation of the National Hydrology Project Aim- Water management through scientific data collection, Dissemination of information on water availability in all blocks of the country Establishing of National Water Information Centre To reduce water disaster ultimately helping vulnerable population                                       Help in- Gathering Hydro-meteorological data which will be stored and analysed on a real time basis and can be seamlessly accessed by any user at the State/District/village level. Project envisages to cover-Entire country as the earlier hydrology projects covered only 13 States. NHP will result in the improvement of: Data storage, exchange, analysis and disseminationthrough National Water Informatics Centre. Lead time in flood forecastfrom 1 day to at least 3 day Mapping of flood inundation areasfor use by the disaster management authorities Assessment of surface and ground water resourcesin a river basin for better planning & allocation for PMKSY and other schemes of Govt. of India Reservoir operationsthrough   seasonal yield   forecast, drought management, SCADA systems, etc. Designof SW & GW structures, hydropower units, interlinking of rivers, Smart Cities. Fulfilling the objectives of Digital India Inculcate a people centric approach   Foundation Stone for Underground Cabling Work Under IPDS At Varanasi  (Topic: Science and technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life) About- Foundation stone for underground cabling work under ‘Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)’.   Launched- “Kashi-IPDS Mobile App” for project monitoring of IPDS activities in Old-Kashi in a transparent manner   Aim- To strengthening the power sub-transmission and distribution network in urban areas across the country and help to ensure 24×7 power for all. App provides- Details of plan, Progress of various activities, Proposed timelines, Area-wise work plan etc. for better information dissemination.   Help- Implementation of the IPDS scheme will help in improving the quality and reliability of power supply in the city apart from giving it an aesthetic look and ensuring safety.

Apr 11, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 11th April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 11th April, 2016   INTERNATIONAL/ECONOMICS   TOPIC:  General studies 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests  General Studies 3: Effects of liberalization on the economy; Currency; Banking   Time for a single world currency The world economic crisis shows the "inherent vulnerabilities and systemic risks in the existing international monetary system” and therefore, there is a need to better insulate countries from the ills of one country or one currency Dominance of Dollars— The pricing and trading of almost all standard commodities, including crude oil, are carried out in dollars ("dollar goods") Most international assets/liabilities are held in dollars ("dollar stocks") The dollar represents the "vehicle currency" in the international foreign exchange market Role of the dollar (foreign exchange) The exchange rate of any single currency vis-a-vis the dollar is taken as the most important indicator for its external value Almost all foreign exchange transactions concern trades between the dollar and some other currency (the dollar serves as the "vehicle currency") Exchange rate expectations are formed primarily with respect to future movements of dollar rates   Thus— Influences the relative price between commodities and manufactures in world trade, The terms of trade between industrial and developing countries, The speed of inflation and deflation in world trade The level of the real interest on international debts   Historically speaking— Collapse of the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates in 1971 paved way for different crisis and mini-crisis because of the absence of any kind of global monetary order- Despite the faults— it gave the world a monetary order, within which trade, investment and portfolio allocation decisions could be made without the distorting effect of uncertain, uncoordinated and volatile exchange rates Utility of system of fixed exchange rates stands valid, thus, in a world even more globalized today, and even more subject to destabilizing volatility Negotiations on the new global currency Urgent need— Destabilizing and destructive volatility in global trade Investment and financial capital movement patterns induced or exacerbated by the excessive volatility of flexible exchange rate regimes National objectives leveraging damaging spill-overs for other countries (how America's economic problems — and by extension the dollar — can wreak havoc on nations around the world) In the form of excessive volatility in capital flows and associated movements in their exchange rates Crisis of 2013 had badly affected India, and so—the right thing for the Fed and others to do would be to take account of these harmful spill-overs when they formulate monetary policy   Arguments against a global currency— Under fixed rates (or a common currency), countries would lose their ability to pursue independent monetary policy, and that this loss would be significant (the correlation of macroeconomic conditions across regions) No parallel institution existing at the global level to establish adequate checks and balances Desirable to maintain some level of competition, as through a number of channels, global currency competition provides a check on inflation   Major obstacles— Would require acceptance from nations that have long used the dollar and hold huge stockpiles of the U.S. currency Managing such a currency would require balancing the contradictory needs of countries with high and low growth or with trade surpluses or deficits Keynes- No national currency should serve as a world currency, instead, a genuine world currency should be created as a basket of the main national currencies International settlements should be handled at fixed exchange rates by a "Clearing Union." Temporary disequilibria in global economic goods and financing should be corrected by expansionary policies in the surplus countries and not by belt-tightening measures in the deficit countries. In this way equilibrium can be restored at a higher rather than a lower level of activity Way Ahead: The IMF should create a "reserve currency" based on shares in the body held by its 185 member nations, known as special drawing rights, or SDRs- should be used for trade, pricing commodities and accounting, not just government finance. The basket of currencies forming the basis for SDR valuation should be expanded to include currencies of all major economies. Proper representation and a bigger voice for the developing countries are the need of the hour Connecting the Dots: How does the interaction between dollar interest rates, dollar exchange rates and dollar prices determine the movements in the real interest on international debt?   NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2: Indian Constitution, significant provisions.  Constitutional Bodies - Election Commission & issues related to Election   Of liquor bans and the ballot box: Alcohol and elections seem to be the two great signifiers of Indian politics as they both mark its deep sense of hypocrisy, populism, cynicism and realism. Debates in constituent assembly over the issue of liquor ban: The approach of Gandhians: Prohibition of liquor, more than khadi, was often the ideological plank Gandhians identified themselves with. During the Constituent Assembly debates, the Gandhians, in their ideological way, wanted to introduce prohibition as part of the Directive Principles of the Constitution. In this, they, the Gandhians, were almost strict and correct in their attitudes. Protest by the tribal leaders: Many tribal leaders protested against the ban as it seeks to interfere with their religious right as consumption of liquor brewed from rice was part of a tribal religious tradition.   Constitutional provision wrt banning of liquor: Article 47: Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health Politics of democracy and poverty: Prohibition of liquor has a different logic. It is a part of the Indian politics of democracy and the politics of poverty that we must try and understand. Prohibition seeks to ban the production and consumption of alcohol in an attempt to control the social consequences of alcoholism. Banning the consumption of alcohol has been a part of electoral politics. Many people falsely locate it as a vestige of Gandhian ideology. Prohibition is part of the symbolic politics of India where we create official diktats in order to conceal a series of epic violations. But the logic and hypocrisy of prohibition lies in the fact that it helps get electoral support, especially that of women.   Policing and the loopholes: Prohibition, as sociologists will tell us, never works completely. It is a policing system with too many loopholes. Case study of Kerala: The Kerala government introduced graded prohibition, arguing for the eventual idea of a liquor-free State. It did so by restricting the provision of liquor to be served only in five-star hotels. Yet, one could not quite decide whether liquor was the cause of Kerala’s social problems or a symptom of a wider social breakdown brought about by change. The Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision while contending that introducing prohibition was a difficult task.  Pressure from the tourism industry: However now the Kerala government bans the consumption of hard liquor but permits the consumption of beer and wine. The tourism industry is often cited as a rationale for withdrawing prohibition. The court itself read this decision as a two-step gateway to more consumption. It is clear that the government is caught between two constituencies — a civil society of social workers and religious groups afraid of familial breakdown on the one hand and a tourism industry afraid that tourists may stay away from a puritanical Kerala on the other.   Way ahead: The moral expression of prohibition is clear. The requirements of revenue are equally demanding. The real silence is about how to moderate the consequences of alcoholism. Civil society and state must enter into a new conversation that goes deep into an understanding of social life and its possibilities. Knee-jerk moralism or instrumental politics is the last thing the issue around the consumption of alcohol or governmentality needs. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the reasons for growing demand for banning alcohol consumption in India. Should alcohol consumption be banned in India. Substantiate.   MUST READ Panama papers: towards a collaborative future Hindu   The problem of secretive tax havens Hindu Related Articles: The panama papers explained Fiscal responsibility and federalism Gear up for changes in tax laws, treaties   On detecting and delaying diabetes Hindu   Their separate ways-A varied electoral cycle for national and state legislatures and local bodies acts as a check against demagoguery and oligarchy Indian Express Related Articles: Are simultaneous elections to Panchayat, Assembly and Lok Sabha feasible?   Wake up, smell the leakage- Substantial number of interest subvention scheme loans are diverted to non-agricultural uses. Government must switch to an income-support subsidy regime Indian Express Related Articles: http://iasbaba.com/2016/01/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-8th-january-2016/ http://iasbaba.com/2016/02/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-17th-february-2016/ http://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-20th-october-2015/   Protect the campus-NIT Srinagar row must be settled urgently for the sake of J&K’s future Indian Express   Farm error- Forcing healthy PSUs to revive fertiliser plants won’t help industry or agriculture. Government must deregulate pricing. Indian Express   Economic growth vs environmental sustainability Live Mint   National life and economic destiny- Are we better off with many competing city-states, a bunch of mid-sized nations or a few super-countries? Live Mint MIND MAPS   1. MGNREGA    

Apr 10, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Achieving Your Goals – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Achieving Your Goals:There are two things that are indispensable if you have to succeed and attain to your goals. One is the right understanding of your self and the other is the understanding of the direction in which you are headed.Firstly, if you don’t possess the right understanding of the functioning of your mind and body, you will not be able to identify and make the necessary changes that are required for attaining your goals.Since almost all your goals are self-created or imposed by the society around you; you have to continuously adapt to the changing environment both within and around you, in order to make sense of your journey towards success.Most of you simply have no clue about the fundamental functioning mechanism of your mind and body. Try and answer these questions to know how much you understand yourself. Answer them using your experience rather than your knowledge. What is memory and what is its relationship with time? How does the mind grasp and remember information? Is there a pattern to how we learn? What is stress and what is its relationship with learning? What differentiates you from others? What are your top 5 distractions? What is that one thing you can do better than most others?Well, these are just a few examples. Unless you ask yourself these fundamental questions and try to find answers to them, you have not made an attempt at understanding yourself.There are two kinds of people out there in the world. One set of people continue to do what they are doing and hope that they reach their goals. The other set of people continuously question the fundamentals of their way of living, to make the necessary alignment to reach their goals. While the first set of people leave their success to chance, the second set of people take control of their destiny.Then, here is the first fundamental rule of success - Know yourself!The second most important feature of success is knowing the direction of your journey. This is a lot trickier. Imagine trying to figure out in which direction your flight is moving, while you are travelling.Knowing your direction is all the more important because in the journey of life, you are not only the traveller but also the pilot. If you don’t know where you are headed, nobody can help you.The other reason why knowing the direction is so important, is because the path to success is never a straight line. You have to keep changing the direction to align yourself to your goals. And how can you change the direction, if in the first place, you don’t even know the direction.Then, here is the second fundamental rule of success – Know your Direction!So, how can you know yourself and know the direction of your journey that can help you to attain all your goals.Here is the answer. You only need to possess these two things; Awareness and Honesty. When you become aware of your actions moment to moment, it gives clarity to understand and make decisions. Ruthless honesty helps you to separate emotions from actions so that you can take objective decisions to move towards your goals.Here is the magic formula to success. ‘An honest man who is aware of himself always succeeds.’“The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”Read more such articles– Click Here