Apr 3, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Eastern Religions Vs Western Philosophy– Inspirational & Educative Articles

Eastern Religions Vs Western PhilosophyIt is said that historically India is the only land which did not have any moral codes or regulations by which people were ruled and governed. This country existed and flourished purely on its spiritual and religious roots.People here simply knew how to live just by understanding the process of life happening all around them. Nobody had to tell them what to do. Knowledge and wisdom was imparted naturally through the system of experience and understanding.This is radically different from the western philosophy and its approach to life. Greeks were the first people to have a state run by standard rules and regulations to be followed by everybody within the state. The birth place of western system of thought is Greek philosophy.Unlike the east which held the spiritual and religious wisdom passed down through the ages as the highest human ideal, western philosophy believed that the state and the patriotism to the state was the highest of human ideals.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in his famous book ‘Eastern Religions and Western Thought’ explores this conflict beautifully. He talks about the origins of the modern society and the root causes of conflict and disengagement in the modern man.An individual stands at the pinnacle of human aspirations. There is no ideal greater than the one that helps an individual to discover himself. A state can at the most provide the basic framework of survival, but it can never replace the thirst of a longing soul to know itself.The journey of life is meaningless without a struggling individual at the middle of it all trying to understand himself and reach to his perfection. Eastern religions have always provided the necessary pathways to understand and explore oneself through systems like meditation, yoga and others.The highest system of thought in western philosophy however, is logic. According to this, there is only one purpose for human life; it is to logically understand what is happening around us. Obviously the flaw of this system lies in the fact that it looks at a very personal human experience as an indifferent mechanical process which goes on irrespective of the individual and his spiritual needs.Modern man now is more wealthy, secure and safe than ever before, and at the same time he is more afraid, empty and uncertain than ever before. The world is now coming to realize the fatal mistake it has made of adopting a blind logical system which is unsympathetic and indifferent to an individual spirit which is at the center of all happenings.There cannot be any diplomacy in concluding which system of thought can lead man to his higher self. Last two hundred years of wars, struggles and politics has shown beyond any doubt that logic is simply an enormous monster which knows only how to chew and spit out the human spirit, just so that it can prove itself right.“The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”Read more such articles– Click Here

Apr 2, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 2nd April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 2nd April, 2016   NATIONAL   TOPIC:  General studies 2 Indian Constitution, significant provisions and basic structure.  Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary   Harking back to an interventionist era – Article 356 Article in part XVIII (Articles 352-360); among the Emergency provisions of the Indian Constitution During President’s Rule- President administers the state through the governor and the Parliament makes laws for the state Maximum period: Three years 44th Amendment Act, 1978: Beyond one year, the President’s rule can be extended by six months at a time only when- A proclamation of National Emergency should be in operation in the whole of India, or in the whole or any part of the State Election Commission must certify that the general elections to the legislative assembly of the State cannot be held on account of some difficulties Resolution: Should be passed by simple majority   Perfecting the art of capitalising on dissidence (BJP) Exhibiting an egregious sign of degenerating political morality while transporting the country to the period prior to the 1990s when the Centre, mostly when the Congress was in power, used to invoke the Article cynically and whimsically to bring non-Congress regimes to heel. Creation of a new methodology to bring out regime change without having to dissolve the Assembly or placing the relevant Presidential Proclamation before Parliament— The Uttarakhand example A partisan decision that flouts the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Bommai case of 1994 Justification for the resort to Article 356 of the Constitution: the supposed loss of majority of the Harish Rawat regime, as evidenced by the Finance Bill being passed by voice vote, disregarding demands for a division; the disqualification of nine members for alleged defection ahead of a confidence vote set for March 28; a sting video purportedly showing Mr. Rawat offering inducement to some of the dissidents to return to his fold, thereby raising the possibility of horse-trading and unethical means. But… There was no ground for invoking Article 356 within the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court or that a situation warranting Central intervention had not yet arisen Whether the Appropriation Bill can be passed by voice vote- barred from judicial scrutiny by Article 212 of the Constitution (which disallows courts from inquiring into internal matters of the legislature) Governor’s response— Refusal to have a division raised a presumption of loss of majority and therefore, asked the Chief Minister to prove his strength through a trust vote because the manner in which a Bill is passed — by voice vote, show of hands or a division — is normally well within the province of the Speaker, and he cannot take the absence of division itself as proof of loss of majority. BJP’s objection to the Appropriation Bill being passed by voice vote- Ionical because its own party’s Chief Minister in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, won a confidence vote in the State Assembly in 2014 through a voice vote SC: The Proclamation of President’s Rule as a pre-emptive measure against a possibly manipulated vote is impermissible (Only in case of an extraordinary situation — such as all-pervasive violence) Arunachal Pradesh:  An established pattern: A political pattern behind the crisis that led to the current situation; The pattern involves dissidence within the ruling party, the opposition joining hands with the rebels, confusion over the likelihood of a floor test, and the Governor intervening in a partisan manner Supreme Court declared in 1994, that the only place for determining whether a Chief Minister has lost or retained majority is the floor of the House Sad spectacle of partisan politics overshadowing constitutional propriety— BJP: Instead of finding ways to facilitate a floor test it has imposed President’s Rule in the midst of an ongoing hearing before a five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court Congress in the State Failed to address the dissidence in its camp against Chief Minister NabamTuki and now, avoiding a floor test as it has not sought interim orders to that effect from the court. BUT- Six months had elapsed since the last time the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly met and this itself became a valid ground for Central rule Also, the past crisis has led us to seek a constitutional question of whether the Governor can summon the legislature on his own and whether he can send a message to the Assembly on what motion it should take up is now before the Supreme Court. The K.R. Narayanan Minute Sent by President K.R. Narayanan urging a reconsideration of the recommendation to dismiss the Rabri Devi government in 1998; advising the Vajpayee government that a case of breakdown of constitutional machinery would not be made out unless the Centre had elicited explanations and sent out directives and warnings to the State government concerned The Vajpayee government saw the wisdom in the argument and did not reiterate its advice. In 1999, the same President did sign a proclamation under Article 356 after a Dalit massacre in Bihar, but the government revoked Central rule within three weeks after realising that it may not receive the Rajya Sabha’s approval. Since an Assembly cannot be dissolved prior to both Houses adopting resolutions approving President’s rule, one way of achieving some political objectives is to— Dismiss the State government first, and utilise the period in which the legislature is under suspended animation to install a new regime consisting of defectors backed by the Opposition serving the following purposes: Utilization of both the floor-test requirement and the bar on premature dissolution of the Assembly   Hurdle posed by the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule)— 2003 amendment: A legislature party can’t split into two- Legislators dissatisfied with their party can only merge with another, but such members will have to constitute two-thirds of the original strength for it to be a valid merger At play ‘the defector’s privilege’: As only a formal act of voluntarily giving up membership of the party that set one up as a candidate or voting in the House in violation of a whip will attract defection, rebel MLAs now feel free to voice their criticism of their Chief Minister and join hands with the Opposition in political activities. If the Speaker takes note of their activities and disqualifies them, the plea that they had been arbitrarily disqualified without adequate opportunity to explain their position is often invoked to challenge the action. Also, partisan Speakers use the disqualification provision to sustain a regime’s lost majority or gloss over the support bought over from Opposition members or independents. Question: whether the Speaker is the right authority to adjudicate matters of defection A view: Speaker’s “tenure being dependent on the will of majority therein, likelihood of suspicion of bias could not be ruled out.” Need: Changing the adjudicating authority in matters of disqualifying defectors Connecting the Dots: Discuss the possibility of short-term gains dictating priorities when the procedures are clearly laid out for settling disputes over House Majority. Critically examine the steps taken on the roadmap of India’s democratic principles in order to uphold constitutional morality and democratic traditions.   MUST READ Medical Council needs urgent therapy Hindu Related Articles: Getting Medical Education on track - MCI   The Pathankot paradigm Hindu Related Articles: Save security from the establishment - Pathankot incident             Accidents and criminal liability- Kolkata flyover collapse Hindu Indian Express   The American hug- Fundamental military alignments with US, taking place without open debate, may foreclose India’s options Indian Express   Clearing the air on LPG-Several questions have been raised about our estimates of the savings from the DBT scheme for cooking gas. But all parties accept that the programme reduced subsidised sales by 24 per cent. Indian Express Related Articles: Transforming India into a cashless economy   Like-minded partners- The successful EU-India Summit gives a new momentum to ties Indian Express Related Articles: India, EU summit agrees on new agenda for strategic partnership   Can saving a wetland become an election issue in Assam?- At a time when every city is facing water crisis, saving our wetlands has become important not just for biodiversity but for the entire urban landscape Live Mint

Apr 2, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Prime Minister 3 Nation Visit

ARCHIVESPRIME MINISTER 3 NATION VISIT   Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for a three - nation tour to Belgium, United States and Saudi Arabia.  Prime Minister will take part in a India-EU summit and series of activities at Brussels apart from addressing Indian Diaspora. In his second leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will attend the fourth Nuclear Security Summit at Washington DC. Before wrapping up his trip, the Prime Minister will visit Saudi Arabia where 2.96 million Indians are residing. Agenda at Brussels Belgium was one of the first Western countries with whom India established diplomatic relations right after we became independent in 1947. Next year, that is 2017, will mark the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Belgium has supported India’s quest for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council. In 2008, they supported in the NSG waiver and second largest trading partner in the EU after Germany. India is looking to enhancing India-Belgium cooperation in areas of priority for us and areas of mutual interest such as counterterrorism, renewable energy, biotechnology, shipping, ICT and taxation. Later that day Prime Minister will also take part in India EU summit where he will take forward the ongoing consultations with the European Union, EU on finalization of Broad based Trade and Investment Agreement, BTIA and sectoral cooperation in specific areas like renewable energy, water, urban development, education, skilling, ICT, research, innovation, culture. Agenda in USA The PM will attend nuclear security summit that would deliberate on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism. Leaders would discuss ways and measure through which to strengthen the global nuclear security architecture, especially to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material. Focus of discussions would be on international institutional actions to strengthen nuclear security. The focus would be on international follow-up through institutions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations (UN), the Interpol, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and the G8 Global Partnership. The summit will adopt a five draft action plans that focus on follow-up on nuclear security through these institutions. Through this summit India is expected in raising high level awareness of the threat of nuclear terrorism and the need to strengthen international cooperation against terrorists and nuclear traffickers. The summit would help bolster legal, institutional and enforcement measures to strengthen the security of nuclear material, radioactive sources, associated facilities and technologies. India will also press for countries to sign up to and implement the legally binding instruments related to nuclear security. Agenda at Saudi Arabia During the visit, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will hold discussions with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. India and Saudi Arabia share friendly relations based on close people-to-people contacts. The 'Strategic Partnership' established through Riyadh declaration in 2010 envisions a deeper engagement in political, economic, security and defence areas. In recent years, there has been significant progress in bilateral cooperation in such key areas of mutual interest. Saudi Arabia has become our 4th largest partner with bilateral trade exceeding US$ 33 billion in 2014-15. Saudi Arabia is also India’s largest crude oil supplier accounting for about one-fifth of our total imports. Indians form the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and their contribution in the progress and development of their host country is well recognized. There are over 2.96 million Indian nationals presently working in Saudi Arabia. Click here and search for spot light/ News Analysis dated 29th March 2016.

Apr 1, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 1st April, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 1st April, 2016   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. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate   India, EU summit agrees on new agenda for strategic partnership Background: India and the European Union (EU) have endorsed the 'EU-India Agenda for Action 2020' as a common road map for the strategic partnership in the next five years during 13th edition of India-European Union Summit which was held recently in Brussels, capital of Belgium. The EU-India strategic partnership was launched in 2004. The last summit i.e. 12th edition was held in 2012 in New Delhi. The summit laid out concrete priority actions for the strategic bilateral partnership in areas like trade and investment, climate, energy, water and migration in the next five years. The sectors of partnership range from foreign policy, counter terrorism and disarmament to transport and space. The Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations have remained deadlocked over growing differences regarding greater market access sought by both aides for merchandise exports   What is Strategic partnership all about? A strategic partnership is a long-term interaction between two countries based on political, economic, social and historical factors. Such a partnership manifests itself in a variety of relationships. India has signed “strategic partnerships” with more than 30 countries. India has strategic partnerships with the United States, Russia, China, Japan, UK, France and others. It is obvious that not all strategic partnerships are equally important. Some have a dominant political element, while others have a prominent economic dimension. In some cases, the security dimension may be the most important.   What were the key outcomes of the recently held summit? EU-India Agenda for Action 2020: Both sides endorsed the agenda to concrete the road-map for the EU-India Strategic Partnership for the next five years. EU-India Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA): The BTIA negotiations have remained deadlocked over growing differences regarding greater market access sought by both aides for merchandise exports. Point of contention is that EU has consistently sought lower import duties on a range of commodities. This time, the EU is seeking the lowering of tariffs on automobiles and wine products. Issues related to facilitation of greater movement of professionals from one country to another, arising out of the Mode 4 provisions of the 1995 General Agreement on Trade in Services is another point of contention between the two sides. Both sides agreed to further the negotiations on early conclusion of the BTIA. The new agenda pushes for a broad based approach to resolve trade irritants in particular concerning goods, services and investments, and strengthen trade and investment relations. Terrorism: Both sides adopted a Joint Declaration on Counter-terrorism to step up cooperation to counter radicalization and violent extremism. It will also allow jointly countering the flow of sources of terrorist financing, Foreign Terrorist Fighters and arms supply. Also called for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN. They have also agreed to explore the possibility of India and EUROPOL, the EU’s law enforcement agency, to share intelligence.   Loan assistance: The European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed to lend loan of 450 million Euros for the construction of the first metro line in Lucknow. Agenda for Action on environment issues: EU has agreed to help projects including the ‘Clean India’ initiative and the ‘Ganga Rejuvenation Initiative,’ in terms of developing a solution to clean up the river as well as developing legal and governance frameworks for managing the basin. To control and organize migration: The Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM), which was also adopted, is designed to control and organize migration – a pressing concern for the EU. Significantly for the EU, the Agenda for Action includes items on facilitating the return of irregular migrants and the possibility of exploring a ‘Readmission Agreement’ — returning visa over-stayers to their home countries. The Agenda also includes the prevention of human trafficking and promoting international protection as priority areas. Points of special interest to India on the agenda are easier visa procedures for skilled workers, IT professionals, and business travellers. For now, the CAMM is a political declaration and not a legal agreement. Arbitration procedure on the Italian Marines: Both sides expressed their confidence in solving the marine case currently underway in the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Connecting the dots: What does strategic partnership mean? What are the key outcomes of recent held India-EU summit which help in strengthening strategic partnership?   NATIONAL   TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources   India’s Drug Industry Data fabrication and duplicity at Ranbaxy- Penalties of $500 million on Ranbaxy Increased scrutiny by the USFDA and other foreign regulators Heightened focus on quality-related issues within the Indian pharmaceutical industry   Dysfunctional System: An alarmingly high rate of substandard medicines being prescribed in publicly-funded programmes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and places like the Railway Hospitals and the Armed Forces Medical Stores Depots (AFMSD) Percentage of locally procured substandard drugs at a high 32 per cent in one year European companies were selling medicines in India that had not been approved in their home countries, or, for that matter, in any developed country. Ministry of Health had failed to investigate the officials who granted such ‘illegal’ approvals despite the Ministry giving a written commitment to Parliament. Recommendation making mandatory basic quality testing such as bioequivalence studies for all generic drugs was ignored (reason for rejection- India lacked the infrastructure) but encouraged such testing for exports because countries like the U.S. will not accept any drug formulation which is not proven bioequivalent. Only a minority cases results in a prosecution and even in those cases, judges wilfully ignore the mandatory sentencing provisions of at least one year of imprisonment, preferring instead a “simple imprisonment till the rising of the court”, thus allowing the convicted person to walk free as soon as the judge rose for the day.   Focus on improving quality- Targeted at only those manufacturing facilities that make products for export to lucrative Western markets Little done by either the industry or the government to improve the quality of medicines sold in less-regulated markets like India — and its poorer neighbours in Asia and in Africa. Need of centralised licensing— Even when the drug inspectors are of a high calibre, very little can be done to stop the flooding in of substandard drugs from Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand- because only the governments in the respective States can cancel the licences of the erring drug manufacturers located there Two legislative efforts in 2007 and 2013 to centralise such regulations failed because of sabotage by the Indian pharmaceutical industry Long-term Effects Growing antibiotic resistance: a growing serious worldwide public health problem which has a series of negative impacts such as prolonged morbidity, hospital stay and increased risk of mortality Birth of deathly superbugs Public health, especially to the poor and vulnerable, thereby, increasing health care costs and financial burden on the families Related Articles: Pharmaceutical Sector: India’s Drug Policy   MUST READ Building with Brussels- PM Modi’s visit can help bring a necessary pragmatism into the India-EU relationship Indian Express   For security’s sake-India must use the opportunity offered by the Nuclear Security Summit to pursue purposeful nuclear diplomacy. Indian Express   Fertiliser imbalance-Policy changes are needed, not just advice to farmers Business Standard Related Articles: Neem-coated truth: Urea policy isn’t a game-changer   An Act that hinders competitiveness- The provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, are more coercive than what were required to address market failure Business Standard Related Articles: The Real Estate Bill   How bankruptcy code will save lenders- A key design focus in the proposed code is speed of resolution. Delay is disincentivized at various stages Live Mint Related Articles: Dealing with Failure: Bankruptcy Code Working through the bankruptcy maze   Aadhaar versus public goods- Aadhaar is exactly the kind of shiny new toy that further distracts attention from the core duty of government Live Mint Related Articles: http://iasbaba.com/2016/03/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-9th-march-2016/ http://iasbaba.com/2016/03/the-big-picture-legislative-backing-for-aadhaar-how-will-it-help/ http://iasbaba.com/2016/03/1-decision-give-statutory-backing-aadhar-will-go-long-way-laying-strong-foundation-social-programmes-run-government-also-will-put-rest-rising-concern-ov/   How disabled friendly are India’s cities?-Hyderabad tops the list of India’s million-plus cities in terms of employment for disabled persons Live Mint Related Articles: Disability Law & the Invisible People Mental health Policy’ in India   MIND MAPS   1. EU - India Summit

Mar 31, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st March, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st March, 2016   ECONOMICS   TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.   100% FDI in e commerce: An evaluation The government recently announced rules for foreign direct investment in online retail firms to attract more foreign investments in the fast growing retail sector(Goldman Sachs estimates the market for the sector to be $69 billion by 2020).     What does the policy say on percentage of FDI? Foreign investors can now own 100 % in e-commerce firms, but only those having a market place model. Some important definitions: Market based model: It means providing an IT platform and acting as a facilitator between buyer and seller (vendor). Simply putting, the e-commerce firm is merely acting as an intermediary. Inventory-based model: it is a model where the e-commerce entity owns the goods and services, and sells to consumers directly. How does the policy affect a market based e commerce firm? At the outside it may look good for the firms as they can raise more foreign investments and expand the business in India. However two hurdles in the policy for them: The new rules say that market place firms cannot offer discounts; only the vendors selling their goods on the e-commerce sites can offer discounts. This means that market place firms like Amazon cannot offer discounts like 80% off etc. If discounts are less people tend to not buy the goods online, this means less business for the e commerce firm. Any single vendor or a group company of the market place e-commerce player cannot account for over 25 percent of the total sales. How will this impact? WS Retail, a familiar name to anyone who has shopped on Flipkart, is believed to account for more than 70 per cent of total sales on the platform. This has to end now as it crosses 25% cap. As for Amazon India, the most prominent vendor is Cloudtail, which makes up for about 40 per cent of the sales on the platform. Even this has to end.   What can the e commerce firms do now? So far e-commerce firms had been chasing gross revenues by offering hefty discounts. While this helped show higher revenues and raise huge sums from investors, it led to massive losses. With the new rules banning discounts, the firms will have to differentiate themselves through innovative services. What do the new rules mean for consumers? Most likely, the juicy discounts offered by e-commerce players will soon disappear, unless the firms can find a way to get around the rules. What are brick and mortar retail companies (offline ones) saying? They have welcomed the rules saying it will provide a level playing field as e-commerce firms were so far hurting their business by luring consumers online with unsustainable discount offers.   What is IT body NASSCOM’s view on the rules? NASSCOM feels limiting sales of a vendor to only 25 percent of the sales in the marketplace may prove to be restrictive, more so if the vendor sells high value items. Also, there could be difficulties in case of sale of electronic items, where a vendor maybe offering exclusive access to certain items or discounts. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the impact of the new government policy by allowing 100% FDI in e commerce on e commerce firms consumers Critically evaluate various legislations that regulate e commerce industry in India.   MUST READ   Road map for a robust defence industry Hindu Related Articles: Towards Military self-reliance   Lessons from the Palmyra victory - Syria Hindu   On the margins in a city of dreams Hindu   India's e-waste problem- The new rules will hopefully do better Business Standard Related Articles: E-waste Management in India Solid Waste Management: Waste not, want not   Indian states highlight institutional decay- Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh are the exhibits of this worrying trend Live Mint Hindu Related Articles: Article 356—Arunachal Pradesh: Is President’s rule being misused?   New health protection scheme for the poor- The scheme will provide health cover of up to Rs 1 lakh per family, and it will work similar to a family floater plan Live Mint Indian Express   Economics of the Brexit referendum Business Line Related Articles: EU referendum: the big questions for Britain MIND MAPS   1. Alimony

Mar 30, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Water Problem in Maharashtra and Karnataka

ARCHIVESWater Problem in Maharashtra and Karnataka Recently section 144 was imposed in Lathore district of Maharashtra to prevent water riots from happening. Due to frequent droughts, diversification of economic activities and illogical use of water, the water crisis in India is looming far greater than what is expected. With Monsoon still 3 months away the problem seems to increase if proper measures are not taken on time. The article deals with the issues and solutions related to water problem.Poor water management techniques are the important reason attributed for prevalence of water crisis in India. In last six decades the successive governments have not given enough importance for proper water management. The only thing that has been done is construction of dams. But very less emphasis or zero emphasis has been given for maintaining the quality and quantity of water in such water bodies leading to present water crisis.Another reason attributed for water crisis in this reason is sugarcane lobby. Maharashtra is having the highest number of sugarcane mills in the country and sugarcane is one such crop that requires more water compared to other similar cash crops. In this way the cultivation of sugarcane also has contributed for such a crisis. To address these problem farmers can shift to less water intensive crops like oil seeds which are presently being imported from other countries.Secondly improper attention given to management of watersheds in the region. The scientific way of managing water from watershed is well tested for positive results. Silting of wetlands is also a problem, with periodic silting and degradation the water retention capacity reduces significantly and adds to the crisis.The government needs to come up with solutions like changing the cropping pattern which requires less water and rectify the mistakes that are being done over years. There needs to have a multidisciplinary approach involving various scientists and ecologists to devolve various water management techniques so that effective solutions are created than building dams and canals.Need to shift energy consumption pattern from thermal power plants to renewable energy resources like solar, wind, etc so that we can reduce the use of water in thermal power plants.Click here and search for Spotlight/ News Analysis dated 26th March 2016

Mar 30, 2016 RSTV Video

The Big Picture - Bhagat Singh: Legacy & Nationalism

ArchivesThe Big Picture - Bhagat Singh: Legacy & NationalismToday marks the 85th martyrdom of Bhagat Singh. He along with Rajguru and Sukhdev laid down their lives for larger purpose of our nation His idea of nationalism continues to fascinate youth for generations. In this article we will see Bhagat singhs idea of Nationalism and how relevant it is today.Nationalism is the strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance. Also, the belief that a people who share a common language, history, and culture should constitute an independent nation, free of foreign domination. However Bhagat singh idea of nationalism is beyond the interest of nation state. He was not what he is appropriate today; Bhagat singh was an atheist, Marxist influenced by former Soviet Union., and a rationalist who sought social justice trying in his own ways to get rid of injustices created and followed in Indian society and by colonialists.Nationalism is a not a fixed reality. It is a phenomenon that changes with time. It is necessary to understand the kind of nationalism Bhagat singh followed or understood. Bhagat Singh said about the society he wished for. It is evident that he found fulfilment through serving humanity and liberating it from sufferings and distress. He equated that cause to that of India’s freedom. Working towards building an India where poverty, socio-economic disparity and exploitation did not exist, rather than achieving freedom from the British alone, was his goal.Bhagat Singh saw his fight for India’s freedom as well as his life’s fulfilment in selflessly working towards the goal of removing these inequalities, injustices and absence of opportunities faced by his fellow citizens. This was his ‘nationalism’ and this was his ‘patriotism.’ It was universal and not confined by boundaries of religion, caste, race, creed or even nation.It is unfortunate that stalwarts like him are equated in a narrow perspective to gain political mileage. It is necessary to truly understand the concept of Bhagat Singh’s nationalism and try to emulate it at individual level to uproot certain inequalities that are present even after his 85th martyrdom.Mains Question Q.1) What do you understand by the term nationalism? Comment on the kind of Nationalism showed by the revolutionary terrorists during India’s freedom struggle

Mar 30, 2016 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 30th March, 2016

Archives   IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 30th March, 2016   ENVIRONMENT   TOPIC:   General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Biodiversity   Decline of pollinators threatens food supply Role of wild pollinators in the production of crops: Crops- some pulses, sunflower seeds, cardamom, coffee, cashew nuts, oranges, mangoes and apples Pollinators:  An army of more than 20,000 species of pollinators including birds, bats and insects service these crops Most important pollinators- Thousands of species of bees Annual economic value of the crops pollinated by animals worldwide- Estimated to be between $235 billion and $577 billion (in 2015) Indian context Important pollinators of food crops: Various species of honeybee, Apis, such as A. Dorsata, A. Cerana, A. Florae, A. Andreniformes and A. Laboriosa The European honeybee, A. Mellifera, also pollinates many crops and fruits such as apples Decline of the wild pollinators— Will imperil our food supply Shrinking of bees colonies Himalayas: Apple yields in recent years have decreased (attributed to reduction in the number of bees) Poor knowledge leads to poor policymaking— Very poor knowledge of the pollination systems of our animal pollinated crops No idea about How best we can manage the pollinators for optimal yields How are our wild and managed pollinators responding to ongoing loss and fragmentation of natural habitats What are the effects of widespread pesticide use Is climate change implicated in the spread of new diseases among honeybee colonies Loss— Potential crisis not only for biodiversity but also for our agricultural economy (huge economic stakes) Poor management of our pollinator species- may be leading to lower crop yields and to losses of hundreds or thousands of crores annually   Way Ahead— To restore the integrity of pollinators: Improvements in the science of pollination, Better land management, Strong regulations underlying pesticide use Restoration and protection of habitats for wild pollinators There is an urgent need for monitoring wild pollinators, and for strengthening the governance of natural assets. Harness the potential of the network of Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO) established by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to monitor the country’s ecosystems Need of the pollinators, their behaviour and habitat to be made a significant component of future ‘smart cities’. Policies and governance for managing landscapes — natural, agricultural, urban — are equally important and thus, the government agencies must rethink conventional sectoral approaches and narrow disciplinary perspectives and work on well-integrated approaches to successfully address the issues. Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) Created in 2012 by more than 100 governments; established as an intergovernmental body akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Secretariat in Germany, is administered by the UN, including the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Seeks to provide scientific information about biodiversity and ecosystem services to policymakers of the member countries The scientific panel (UN Report) was brought together by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) (Endorsed by the governments of 124 countries)   ‘Ecosystem services’— Many benefits which society derives from nature: fresh water; fertile soil; wild plant resources such as foods, fibres, medicinal plants and the wild relatives of crops; wild pollinators and the natural enemies of crop pests; carbon sequestration from the atmosphere; and the important spiritual, aesthetic and recreational values of nature. Connecting the Dots: Discuss the ecosystem services provided by the pollinators. What are the best methods we can employ, to save them from further deterioration, both w.r.t. their quality as well as quantity? Poor management of our pollinator species may be leading to lower crop yields, but our level of investment in research on pollinators has been negligible—Discuss   DEFENCE/SECURITY 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: Mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.    Towards Military self-reliance Background: The Union Government has unveiled Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 (DPP 2016). It was unveiled on the sidelines of the Defexpo-2016 held in Goa. The DPP 2016 will replace the Defence Procurement Procedure 2013 (DPP 2013) and shall come into force on 1 April 2016. The DPP 2016 has been framed based on the recommendations of the Dhirendra Singh Committee that was appointed in May 2015 to review the DPP 2013. The Committee was tasked to evolve a policy framework to facilitate Make in India in defence manufacturing in order align the policy evolved with DPP-2013. It was also tasked to suggest requisite amendments in DPP-2013 in order to remove bottlenecks in the procurement process and also rationalize various aspects of defence procurement. The new policy places the highest preference to a newly incorporated procurement class called ‘Buy Indian-IDDM’, with IDDM denoting Indigenous Designed Developed and Manufactured. What does Defence Procurement Procedure  (DPP) all about? The DPP, the governing manual for all defence procurement, was part of a set of military reforms undertaken to address the many deficiencies noticed during the 1999 Kargil war. What is newly incorporated procurement class called ‘Buy Indian-IDDM’ all about? This category refers to procurement from an Indian vendor, products that are indigenously designed, developed and manufactured with a minimum of 40 per cent local content, or products having 60 per cent indigenous content if not designed and developed within the country.   Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016: The Defence Procurement Policy 2016 made public is a step forward in increasing the participation of India’s private sector in military manufacturing. It replaces the last DPP unveiled in 2013, and has several recommendations for improving indigenous procurement. Aim of DPP: Aim of the policy is to ensure timely procurement of defence (military) equipment, systems, and platforms required by the armed forces through optimum utilization of allocated budgetary resources. Scope of DPP: It will cover all capital acquisitions undertaken by the Union Ministry of Defence, Defence Services and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) both from indigenous sources and import. What are the changes inculcated in DPP 2016? The policy has also liberalized the threshold for offset liabilities for foreign vendors — now the obligation to invest at least 30 per cent of the contract value in India. The policy lays stress on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and on “Make in India”. A 10 per cent weightage has been introduced for superior technology, instead of selecting the lowest bidder only in financial terms.   What are the drawbacks in DPP 2016? DPP 2016 falls far short of the expectations raised by ambitious “Make in India” initiative that aims to transform the country into a global manufacturing hub as India is the world’s largest importer of defence equipment, and indigenizing production is need of the hour. The DPP is noticeable for the absence of Chapter VII, titled ‘Strategic Partners and Partnerships’, Under Strategic Partnerships, select Indian private companies were to be given preferential status in major defence projects.   Why India needs to be self-reliant in military equipment? India has all the necessary prerequisites for a robust military-industrial complex: a diverse private sector, a large base of engineering institutes, and a growing defence budget. The fact that India faces a combination of security threats from both state and non-state actors is an obvious reason why it needs to be self-reliant in military equipment. It will significantly reduce the potential for corruption in military procurement.   What are the Capital Acquisitions Schemes Under this policy? Buy scheme: Outright purchase of equipment and procurements under this scheme are further categorized as Buy (Indian- IDDM) (IDDM stands for Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured.) Buy (Indian) Buy (Global). Buy and Make scheme: The procurements are categorized as Buy and Make and Buy and Make (Indian). Make category Scheme: It seeks developing long-term indigenous defence capabilities and procurements. It empowers Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) to take a fast-track route in order to acquire weapons, which were limited to the armed forces till now.  Buy (India-IDDM): It seeks to boost indigenous production and procurements under it should 40% sourced locally in terms of the content. It will promote domestic manufacturing, including government funding R&D and recognition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in technology development.   Why there is a case against higher FDI in the defence sector? Airbus wanted the foreign direct investment (FDI) to be increased to more than 49% if India wanted to get “OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) of quality” Any further increase in FDI limit in the defence sector may not be in the long-term national interest and surely will be a disaster for the country’s attempt to build self-reliance There is already a provision in the new FDI policy that permits more than 49% investment, even as high as 100%, on a case-to-case basis with the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). Higher FDI would be permitted only when the investment is likely to result in access to modern and ‘state-of-the-art’ technology in the country. This carefully considered clause also conveys that in national interest, government will bend backwards and make exceptions. It is for FOEMs (foreign OEMs) like Airbus to accept the challenge and provide niche cutting-edge technologies in India to earn 100% FDI. Higher FDI in defence would reduce Indian partners of FOEMs to passive spectators and destroy the indigenous Indian companies.   Connecting the dots: What is the aim of Defence Procurement Procedure and what are the changes included in DPP 2016? Discuss how does DPP help India to become self-reliant in military equipment? What are the challenges ahead? Do you think increasing FDI in defence sector is the right step? What are the steps taken by Government of India to facilitate Make in India in defence manufacturing sector?   MUST READ India’s case on its solar policy Hindu Related Articles: A Solar-y Alternative INDIA AND INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE Shifting India to Clean Energy   Towards military self-reliance Hindu   Myanmar lifts curfew in Rakhine four years after communal violence- The curfew was imposed in June 2012 after violent clashes that displaced more than 100,000 people, mostly Rohingya, in addition to the loss of life. Indian Express Related Articles: Victor’s challenge- Myanmar   Together in Brussels-Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to attend the India-EU Summit, despite last week’s terror attacks, sends a strong message that will resonate across the world. Indian Express   Lessons from Brazil-Brasilia did too little to curb structural weakness Business Standard   The clean energy deadline is close- Policymakers need to think a lot more about the repercussions of the fossil fuel power plants currently being planned Live Mint MIND MAPS   1. Rouhani's Pakistan Visit

Mar 30, 2016 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Eastern Religions And Western Thought – Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Eastern Religions And Western Thought – Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Amidst the chaos and confusion of historical events which appear to be driven by hunger for power and supremacy, there is a far deeper spiritual and universal purpose that has shaped the world as we know it today. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice-President and the second President of India, whose name was synonymous with Hindu philosophy and religion, explores the eastern philosophy and the ideology of western thought in his marvelous book. Eastern Religions and Western Thought is a thorough and complete investigation into the ancient eastern systems of self-perfection and the western ideas of purpose and fulfillment. It is an eye opener for all those who are too obsessed with the western idea of material self-sufficiency. This book is a fascinating read if you would like to explore the eastern philosophies of Advaita Vedanta, world religions, politics and social renaissance. The book marvelously compares the inner dimension of eastern philosophy to the outward appearance of western thought. If you would like to know what is the real meaning of life and living; why is it that there is so much of pain and suffering inspite of all the economic and social developments across the world; read Eastern Religions and Western Thought. Radhakrishnan was the professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at University of Oxford. He was the foremost authority on the comparative understanding of Eastern Religions and Western Philosophy. This book is a must read for all those who are interested in the social, religious, political and economic landscape of India and the world. “This Book Review is a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Mar 29, 2016 AIR

All India Radio - Access to Clean Water for Sustainable Development

ARCHIVES   AIR Debate - Access to Clean Water for Sustainable Development   22nd march is celebrated as world water day. World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. In this regard we will look at certain issues and solutions in India to make water use more sustainable and accessible to all. India is inherently blessed to have an abundant quantity of water resource especially in the form of ground water. Many times India is referred to as ground water civilisation. However in recent times due to in appropriate use of ground water the water levels in many parts of the country have come down. This problem can be addressed through efficient management of ground water. Agriculture is by far the thirstiest consumer of water globally; accounting for 70% of water withdrawals worldwide, Rain fed agriculture is the predominant agricultural production systems in India and around the world. Wrong Cropping patterns, more reliance on ground water etc are some of the unsustainable practices that should be avoided and effective water management techniques like rain water harvesting, choosing the right crop, Drip irrigation etc is the need of the hour. Industry, energy and domestic sector together account for 30% of water demand. Technological interventions are needed to recycle the water through cost effective, eco friendly, less energy intensive sewage treatment plants. The water crisis at Delhi, Mumbai can be effectively addressed through such effective technological interventions. At the individual level one needs to be conscious about the his/her water use and need to understand where the water comes from. Awareness programs by government and school lessons for children should be taught at very young age so that every person becomes sensible when it comes to use of water. Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in. There is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. But due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, every year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choices and educational opportunities for poor families across the world. Drought afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries, worsening hunger and malnutrition.