Sep 18, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 18th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 18th September, 2015   NATIONAL   The LGBT agenda in India India was among the 43 countries that voted in support of a Russian-drafted resolution that proposed removing benefits for same-sex partners of United Nations staff. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in India face legal and social difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT persons. Sexual activity between two persons of the same sex is criminalised and is punishable by law in India.     LGBT in India : Statutory status Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code dating back to 1860, introduced during the British rule in India, criminalises sexual activities "against the order of nature", arguably including homosexual acts. Section 377- Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offense described in this section. Legal battle for the rights of LGBT community : Naz Foundation (India) Trust, an activist group, which filed a public interest litigation  in the Delhi High Court  in 2001, seeking legalisation of homosexual intercourse between consenting adults. In a historic judgement delivered on 2 Jul 2009, Delhi High Court overturned the 150 year old section, legalising consensual homosexual activities between adults. The essence of the section goes against the fundamental right of human citizens, stated the high court while striking it down. However, On 11 December 2013, the Supreme Court of India ruled homosexuality to be a criminal offence setting aside the 2009 judgement given by the Delhi High court by stating "In view of the above discussion, we hold that Section 377 IPC does not suffer from the vice of unconstitutionality and the declaration made by the Division Bench of the High court is legally unsustainable”. Analysis of the judgement : The Delhi High Court derived most of its reasoning in decriminalizing Section 377 on the basis of it being violative of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution of India (Right to life and equality). The supreme court by quashing the Delhi High Court judgement will deny basic human rights to sexual minorities in the country. Further, it will inhibit discussion on an issue already considered controversial and taboo, especially as discussion on sex and sexuality in any form is rare. And also upholding section 377 will lead to further alienation of LGBT persons and groups, and cause a severe setback to HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). This law can also be used to blackmail and perpetuate violence against sexual minorities.   Way Forward: With the supreme court judgement – after a brief period that was considered a breakthrough in LGBT rights after the Delhi High Court verdict– India once again joins the ranks of countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is considered a criminal offence and the penalty is life imprisonment or even death. This is a regressive move from the world’s largest democracy. Connecting the dots: Discuss the current statutory provisions regarding LGBT community in India. Critically analyse the Supreme court’s judgement in criminalizing sexual activities among LGBT community in India.   Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Skilling the gaps By 2020, the average age of India’s population will be the lowest in the world and will be the only country with a youth surplus of about 45 million while the global economy is expected to face a shortage of young population of around 56 million. To get maximum benefits out of this demographic dividend, India must take all necessary steps on mission mode to bridge the skill gap and make its youth more employable. Various Reports and Studies give a check and express serious concern on the education level, skills and employability of Indian youth. Some of them are: According to PISA (Program for International Student Assessment; which measures the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds), Indian students’ scores were way behind OECD average. ASER (Annual status of education report) shows low level of learning among 5-16 year age group (unable to do basic 2-digit carry forward subtraction). A report by an online talent assessment company asserts that only 10 per cent of MBA graduated and 17 per cent of engineering graduates in India are employable. According to research report by NCARE, only 10 percent of people with secondary education in India have access to higher education.   Opportunities to improve standards The Lack of quality education at basic levels and accessibility at later levels are the driving forces behind the ill statistics. While India has achieved near universal enrolment at elementary level and enhanced hard and soft infrastructure, the challenge lies in providing access to secondary and higher education to make the youth employable. Growth of information technology, increased internet user base, greater smart phone penetration and policies of government such as digital India, National optical fibre network provides immense opportunities to provide education and skill development via online platforms. Massive open online courses (MOOCs), with their unlimited capacity to teach millions at scale, can play a key role in India’s future. People who do not have chance to receive traditional college degrees from top institutions can now earn certificates from MOOCs offered by the world’s top institutions. What are Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)? It is a recent and widely researched development in distance education using online platform. It provides free and unlimited access to thousands of courses from various universities across the world. Premium services like certification and placement are also offered by many course providers at a nominal fee. Large non-profit organizations like ‘Bill and Melinda gates foundation’, ‘MacArthur foundation’, ‘National science foundation’, ‘American council on education’ etc are stood behind MOOCs Platf World’s Top most universities like Standfrod, Harward, MIT, Texas etc have offered various courses. NPTEL courses from IITs and IISc are also offered in MOOCs.   Initiatives by Government for education and skill development Recently the Union government acknowledging the huge skill gap among Indian youth, launched a development mission to make India a centre of skilled talent. Various programs of government towards skill development are, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Technical Quality Education Improvement Program (TEQUIP) National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) Department of Skill Development and entrepreneurship has been created under Ministry of skill development, Entrepreneurship, youth affairs and sports. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Koushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is a placement linked skill development scheme for poor rural youth. NaiManzil for education and skill development of dropouts; Upgrading Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) to conserve traditional art/crafts and build capacity of traditional artisans and craftsmen belonging to minority communities. NaiRoshni, a leadership training programme for women MANAS for upgrading entrepreneurial skills of minority youths. Source: Economic survey 14-15   Connecting dots: India’s GDP growth has nearly halved from last three years. Can this be attributed to large skill gap prevailing among Indian youth? Does India have the potential to become a economic super power? Analyse What are the issues and challenges to reap the benefits of larger demographic dividend of India?  

Sep 17, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 17th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 17th September, 2015   NATIONAL   Where is my Right to Despise? Article 19: Freedom to express ones views + opinion + belief + convictions including contempt + enmity and disaffection openly (applied) Article 19 (2) State can impose reasonable restrictions on this exercise if: Hampers sovereignty + integrity + security of India Comes in the way of friendly relations with foreign states Disruption in Public order Contempt of Court Defamation Incitement to an offence     Restrictions: Not arbitrary and impairment of freedom must be ‘as little as possible’ Ushered in an era of Revolutions: For Independence: Courageous men used their power of free and fearless reasoning to gift us freedom Social Change: Voices rose against massive levels of poverty, unemployment, malnourishment, price rise, and lack of health care, farmers’ suicides, and discrimination against the minorities, women and Dalits   Freedom of Press: Most paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people and this can be observed in the improvement in ranking (136th) of India in the ‘World Press Index Freedom 2015’. Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify the suppression of Free Speech & Assembly Recent examples of agitations taking place in India: Agitation by the Patel Community in Gujarat The agitation by ex-servicemen for ‘One Rank One Pension’ One day, nation-wide Bharat Bandh observed by 15 crore workers across India To justify suppression of free speech there must be reasonable ground to fear that serious evil will result if free speech is practiced and that the danger apprehended is imminent. Section 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 Pertaining to criminal defamation, constricting free speech beyond reasonable limits Law Commission of India:criminal defamation laws violated international norms, and that the penalty of incarceration up to two years was clearly disproportionate. The recent history of defamation laws is riddled with misuse by politicians and corporations to silence the media, activists and criticisms. May harm public order and are covered by Sections 124, 153 and 153A, and so criminal defamation does not serve any overarching public interest.     Important Judgements by Supreme Court: The Supreme Court recently observed that one cannot resort to abusive language against historical figures in the guise of artistic expression and free speech to accentuate sensationalism. Liberty of ones thoughts cannot be an excuse for abusing nationally revered figures. The Public’s “Right to Know” is directly affected by Section 66A of the Information Technology Act Recent Examples: Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi held for cartoons allegedly mocking Indian Constitution 2 girls in Thane held over a post on Facebook Upholding the rights, SC mentioned that the law will no longer allow someone to be arrested for posting any content online and issued advisory that arrests need consent of senior officers. Government: Panel to look into post-66A security concerns as security agencies raised concerns about activities on digital media that threaten national security and are inciting violence. IASBaba’s Views: Freedom of speech is not absolute and should be curtailed only when the right to life is at stake. Punishment for mere suspicion in a democratic country like India, should be strictly dealtwith and since the online intermediaries have a huge pool of content, cooperation is a must to establish a set of procedures for effective monitoring of ‘dangerous’ content and not a ‘dissenting’ one. Connecting the Dots: ‘The remedy to evil counsel is more speech, not enforced silence’. Comment Mukesh in the documentary ‘India’s Daughter’ says: “The death penalty will make things even more dangerous for girls. Now when they rape, they won’t leave the girl like we did. They will kill her.” Is this statement amounting to “hate speech”? What do you mean by hate speech? Suggest a way forward to deal with it.   INTERNATIONAL   India- Saudi Arabia relations India and Saudi Arabia enjoy multifaceted relations reflecting the centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties. The bilateral business ties between the two countries have steadily expanded and further strengthened by continuous interaction and cooperation, including regular exchange of business delegations. Besides being a major trade partner, India sees the Kingdom as a major pillar for its energy security and an important economic partner for investments, joint ventures, transfer of technology projects.   Why India needs Saudi Arabia? Economic & Commercial: Saudi Arabia is the 4th largest trade partner of India and the bilateral trade was USD 36 billion in 2013-14. The import of crude oil by India forms a major component of bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia being India’s largest supplier of crude oil, accounting for almost one-fifth of its needs. Oil is one major commodity that determines the need of Saudi Arabia to India. India is now the fourth largest recipient of Saudi oil after China, the United States, and Japan. Saudi Arabia is the 14th largest market in the world for Indian exports and is destination of more than 1.86% of India’s global exports. Investments : Twelfth five year plan envisages an investment of one trillion dollars into various infrastructure projects. In this regard , Saudi Arabia may need the useful. Saudi Arabia is the 46th biggest investor in India with investments from April 2000 to June 2012 amounting to USD 33.81 million. On the other hand, Saudi Arabian investment authority has issued 426 licenses to Indian companies for joint ventures/100% owned entities till 2010, which are expected to bring total investment of USD 1624.60 million in Saudi Arabia. Remittances: More than 2 million Indian community is working in Saudi Arabia and contribute more than one tenth to the total remittance amount into India. Strategic need: Saudi Arabia supports for India, an observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference. Organization of Islamic Conference: The organisation founded in 1969 ,works as a collective voice of the Muslim world and also to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony" Saudi Arabia has also been supportive of Indian moves to reduce tension in Kashmir and has tried to move beyond its traditional approach of looking at India through a Pakistani prism. Saubi Arabia can be an important player in India’s look west policy. Why Saudi Arabia needs India? Saudi Arabia and Iran have long competed for power and influence in the Persian Gulf. The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran added a new edge to the rivalry, as Iranian ayatollahs sought increasingly to challenge the Saudi officials on religious matters, such as the rules and regulations surrounding the hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. To counter Iranian influence on India , Saudi Arabia is getting closer to India. Also in wake of Arab spring in the middle east , Saudi Arabia is looking towards a country which has stabilized democratic setup for its investments. Saudi Arabia and India , both are countries facing threat of terrorism .Coming together of these two countries indicate a stronger fight on terrorism. For the above reasons Saudi Arabia signed "Delhi Declaration" with India in 2006, calling for a wide-ranging strategic partnership, putting energy and economic cooperation on overdrive, and committing to cooperate against terrorism. Way Forward: India as a part of its “look west” policy needs access to middle east and Saudi Arabia as a part of its “look east” policy needs access to Asia . This creates a win-win situation to both India and Saudi Arabia to engage in a strategic dialogue with each other. Connecting the dots: Comment on India Saudi Arabia relations in the wake of look west policy of India. Do you think Saudi Arabia is a natural ally of India. India Saudi Arabia relation is more of a need based relation than compared to natural friendship. Critically analyse.  

Sep 16, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 16th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 16th September, 2015   INTERNATIONAL   India’s ties with Australia and in the indo- pacific region India and Australia have several commonalities, which serve as a foundation for closer cooperation and multi-faceted interaction, on lines similar to what India has developed with other Western countries. The relationship has grown in strength and importance since India’s economic reforms in the nineties and has made rapid strides in all areas - trade, energy and mining, science & technology, information technology, education and defence. With India being the emerging democratic superpower of Asia and Australia with its matured economy, gives more scope for the relationship between India and Australia to be developed and strengthened further.   Deepening ties with Australia: The shared history with Australia, coupled with the shared democratic values and a strong interest in a secure Indo-Pacific region, provides India with a firm foundation upon which we can confidently pursue future engagement activities in support of joint interests. Economic relationship is also strong between the two countries. Indian investment in Australia was AU$10.9 billion in 2014, and Australian investment in India was AU$9.8 billion. And the annual trade is worth nearly AU$16 billion. Australia and India are natural economic partners and a mutually beneficial, high quality agreement will help unlock the potential of the already strong Australia-India relationship. In this background both the countries  have agreed to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement by the end of the year. As two prominent Indian Ocean states, India and Australia are cooperating closely in the region. Building cooperation helps to provide for a more secure maritime environment. By 2030, the Indo-Pacific region is expected to account for 21 of the top 25 sea and air trade routes; around two-thirds of global oil shipments; and one third of the world’s bulk cargo movements.  With the region being very important, improving security will be crucial . Under these circumstances the two countries should focus on a greater defence engagement.   Strategic aspects of indo pacific region : Economic growth is transforming the Indo-Pacific region, which is becoming the global strategic and economic centre of gravity. Reports predict that by 2050, half of the world’s top 20 economies will be in the Indo-Pacific. Some also predict that India, China, Indonesia and Japan will be in the top five economies in the world with the U.S. India’s own economic growth will be a key driver of energy demand. The shift of strategic weight to the Indo-Pacific is driving economic, energy and trade interdependence across the region, as states economic wellbeing and prosperity increasingly depend on free and open trade. Greater interdependence between states is encouraging, as it reduces the likelihood of destabilising actions or conflicts. Across the Indo-Pacific, states are modernising their forces in line with their growing economic prosperity. This becomes imperative for countries to use peaceful means to resolve regional disputes, in the light of regional military modernisation.   Way Forward: Both Australia and India border the Indian Ocean and have a shared interest in the maintenance of freedom of navigation and trade. Australia recognises India’s critical role in supporting the security in the Indian Ocean. As two prominent Indian Ocean states, India and Australia should cooperate closely in the region to build a more secure maritime environment. Connecting the dots: Comment on India’s ties with Australia from the time of its independence. A greater engagement between India and Australia is required to maintain peace in indo pacific region. Critically analyse.   NATIONAL   Smart cities in India : An analysis A year after the government first announced the Smart Cities project, we now have the list of 98 cities which will be given funds and other support to build infrastructure aimed at improving living standards. The good thing is the majority have less than a million people, which makes the work of building smart cities less difficult. Need for smart cities in India: In the years to come India will need between 700 and 900 million square metres of new housing space annually. That’s an area equivalent to two cities the size of Mumbai. Water consumption per capita will increase by 45 litres a day. The energy use could double in the coming decade. In addition, the existing cities would require internal infrastructure that are equally critical — land improvement, road and earth works, sewerage, storm water drainage, flood management, solid waste management, landscaping, street lighting, building works, telecommunications, gas grids, captive power plants and light rail transport. Without the latest technology, India’s cities will not be able to meet these challenges. What is a smart city? A 'smart city' is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability. It is a city where information technology is the principal infrastructure and the basis for providing essential services to residents.   Characteristics of a smart city : Information, communication, and technology (ICT)-enabled governance:. Efficient utilities - energy, water, solid waste and effluents. Meaningful PPPs for capital creation and to bring professionalism. Safety and security of the people within the city. Financial sustainability. Citizen-participative local government. Sufficient social capital. Challenges wrt creation of smart cities in India: The biggest challenge is lack of high-speed internet access.  The National Optical Fibre Network, now renamed Bharat, has been delayed by several years. Mobile operators, still struggling to get 2G voice services right, will take more time to offer uninterrupted 3G and 4G services. Second challenge is wrt availability of private capital.  The GIFT(Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) Project spread over 886 acres, for example, will involve investments to the tune of Rs. 78,000 crore in the next 12 years. While the government will fork out a large part, private investors may not be willing to wait for 20-30 years. The third challenge is wrt land acquisition.  Most of these smart cities are being built on land currently owned by villagers who may not be open to change of ownership or may want a premium price. Lack of coordination between various government agencies on project execution is the other area of concern. Way Forward: The government could look at setting up a smart city governance cell that can monitor and coordinate the projects. There are other challenges such as segregation of domain expertise and authorities such as police and municipal corporation with their own agendas and structured processes.  The realization of smart city in India will be possible if the above challenges are overcome. Connecting the dots: Explain the concept of smart city by taking examples from cities across the globe. Explain the characteristics of a smart city. What are the various challenges that government may encounter while building smart cities in India. NOTE: For more information, refer ‘IASbaba’s Monthly Magazine’- July & August 2015 .

Sep 15, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 15th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 15th September, 2015   NATIONAL   The bias against women keeps countries poorer In 100 nations around the globe, ladies are excluded from doing certain work exclusively in light of the fact that they are ladies. More than 150 nations have no less than one law that is prejudicial towards ladies. What's more, just 18 nations are free of any law disadvantaging ladies. New World Bank Group research in the ‘Women, Business and the Law 2016' report demonstrates that in 32 nations ladies can't make a difference for driving license permits in the same way as men 18 nations they can't work and hold a position if their spouses feel it is not to the family's advantage; Jordan and Iran are among them. In 59 nations, there are no laws against sexual harassment at workplace. Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Armenia are among 46 nations where there is no legitimate assurance against domestic violence. Basically, the research makes for discouraging perusing when you think about consideration and closure neediness. Outcome of gender disparity: Nations whose laws oppress ladies and don't advance gender balance suffer monetarily. Past researches revealed that gender gaps in women’s entrepreneurship and labor force participation represent estimated income losses. Positive outcome of Increased Women Participation Rate: Nations like Bangladesh are empowering cooperation of ladies in the workforce. On the off chance that they remain focused, their female workforce will develop from 34 to 82 percent over the next decade, adding 1.8 percent to their GDP. Progressive way ahead: Enabling women in decision making When women are permitted to work in a calling of their decision, when they have entry to money related administrations and when they are secured, by law, from domestic violence, they are not just financially enabled, they likewise live more. The more say they have over the family income and the more they take an interest in participation in the economy, the more young girls are registered in schools, the bigger the advantages lie ahead for their children, their groups, and their nations. Research also suggest countries where women had more noteworthy representation on boards, those associations were more averse to be hit by scandals like bribery or fraud. Way Ahead: Policy makers can take steps to enable women to participate in economic activities and tackle gender based barriers. It will help in maintaining decent gender equality in our country. In turn, women participation will insure informed decisions, rise in economic activities, better earning of families and raised living standards. Connecting the dots: GS paper 1: Role of Women and women’s organization What steps can government take to increase the women’s participation in working force? What positive implications such a move of government will have? How a nation suffers on economic front if gender disparity is high? What steps can be taken to ensure gender disparity? How will ‘gender equality’ help a country in terms of socio and economic front?   INTERNATIONAL   The new Great Game in Asia: Two strategic agreements are currently being negotiated by the world’s trading giants which is likely to determine the global balance of economic power for years to come. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are two free trade agreements (FTAs) being designed to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade between countries that conduct the bulk of global commerce. The TPP negotiations are led by the U.S. and involve 11 other nations that share a Pacific Ocean coastline. Seven of those countries — Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam — are also party to RCEP negotiations. RCEP comprises the ASEAN nations and six others: India, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Comparing TPP and RCEP : RCEP is the more modest, seeking to implement and build on World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments without stressing more on IPR. TPP seeks to frame a new agenda for global trade, requiring countries to commit beyond their existing multilateral obligations under the WTO which includes IPR protections especially in cyberspace. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is the centrepiece of U.S.’s Asia policy, with USA investing considerable political and diplomatic capital in it. RCEP even though is not a China-led process, but involves Beijing as a key player. Why RCEP Is Vital for India? From India’s point of view, the RCEP presents a decisive platform which could influence its strategic and economic status in the Asia-Pacific region and bring to action its “Act East Policy. It is expected to be an ambitious agreement bringing the five biggest economies of the region – Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea – into a regional trading arrangement. It would be the world’s largest trading bloc covering a broad spectrum of issues such as trade in goods, services, investment, competition, intellectual property rights, and other areas of economic and technical cooperation. Together, the RCEP group of countries accounts for a third of the world’s gross domestic product, and 27.4 per cent and 23.0 per cent of the world’s goods and services trade, respectively. It is interesting to note that, compared with the TPP group of countries, India’s trade share with the RCEP group of countries as a percentage of its total trade has increased over the past decade and half, underlining the importance of its trade with key countries in this group. Advantages of joining RCEP: There are three immediate benefits for India by joining RCEP First, the RCEP agreement would complement India’s existing free trade agreements with the Association of South East Asian Nations and some of its member countries, as it would deals with Japan and South Korea. In this respect, the RCEP would help India streamline the rules and regulations of doing trade, which will reduce trade costs. It will also help achieve its goal of greater economic integration with countries East and South East of India through better access to a vast regional market ranging from Japan to Australia. The RCEP can be a stepping stone to India’s “Act East Policy.” Second, the RCEP will facilitate India’s integration into sophisticated “regional production networks” that make Asia the world’s factory. The RCEP is expected to harmonize trade-related rules, investment and competition regimes of India with those of other countries of the group. Third, India enjoys a comparative advantage in areas such as information and communication technology, IT-enabled services, professional services, healthcare, and education services. In addition to facilitating foreign direct investment, the RCEP will create opportunities for Indian companies to access new markets. Way forward : On the foreign policy front, India has moved closer to the U.S, but wants to remain invested in RCEP. At the same time, it does not want to be seen as being too close to China, whose IPR and cyber policies leave a negative point for India. At this backdrop, any step by India should benefit it as a whole, as in foreign policy there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies only permanent interests. Connecting the dots: Compare and contrast TPP and RCEP. India benefits more from joining RCEP than going with TPP. Critically analyse. Can India emerge as a regional superpower in Asia by joining RCEP. Analyse.

Sep 14, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 14th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 14th September, 2015   INTERNATIONAL   A greater need for UNSC reforms TheUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, five permanent members (USA, Russia, France, China and United Kingdom) with veto power and ten non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term. Security Council over the years has performed its task of maintaining international peace and security. However, many critics argue United Nations Security Council is not that effective in its present form and that it needs to be fundamentally reformed. What reforms are expected? New categories of membership: This deals with enlargement of UNSC with current 15 members ( 5 permanent and 10 non permanent). Two models have been proposed so far. Model A proposes adding six new permanent seats, with no veto, and three new two-year term elected seats. Model B creates a new category of eight seats, renewable every four years, and one new two-year non-renewable seat. Candidates to those new category seats: This is one question which countries are debating for a very long time. Lot of groups have been formed among the countries to lobby for the UNSC permanent seat. G4/Group of 4: Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. G4 is one of the strong contenders for UNSC permanent seat. Focus on regional representation: Africa with a population of 1.1 billion has no permanent representation in security council. Similarly Asia with population of 4.4 billion has only 1 country(China) as a permanent member of security council. There is a need for a more balanced regional representation of countries in security council. Question of veto powers : The veto powers in present security council reflect 1946 economic status. However over the years the economic status of countries have changed a lot especially that of Asian countries like India, Indonesia etc. The veto powers of the council should reflect present economic status and not that of 20th What should be the relationship between Security Council and general assembly: UN General Assembly is always subordinated to Security Council in terms of decision making in critical issues like military sanctions etc. Both being important organs of the United Nations, should work together on critical and important issues. In this regard reforms are needed. Parties lobbying for the UNSC reforms: G4/Group of 4: Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. In favour of 6 new permanent seats and 4 new non-permanent seats. L69: A group of 43 developing countries (also including Brazil and India) in favour of new permanent seats, and in favour of adding veto rights to new permanent seats. Also in favour of dedicated non-permanent seat for small island states. C10/African Union: 53 African countries. In favour of 2 permanent seats for Africa, including veto rights. 14 African countries are also part of the L69 group. Furthermore, South Africa and Nigeria concur with the G4 position. The C10 coordinates the African Union’s position and consists of Algeria, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. UfC (Uniting for Consensus, alia the Coffee Club): 12 core members (Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Spain and Turkey). Indonesia and China participate in meetings. Against new permanent seats. In favour of adding non-permanent seats and /or longer term and renewable seats. Arab Group: In favour of new permanent seat for Arab States. CARICOM (Caribbean Community): group aligned with the L69’s position. Pacific SIDS (Small Island Developing States): Aligned with L69. In favour of non-permanent seat for SIDS. Procedure for reform: 2/3 of the whole membership of the General Assembly should vote in favour of a resolution with Security Council reform proposal. 2/3 of the Security Council membership, including five permanent members, should ratify the reform proposal. Why India deserves a permanent place in UNSC? India was among the founding members of United Nations. It has been a member of UNSC for 7 terms and a member of G-77 and G-4, so permanent membership is a logical extension. It is the second largest and a one of the largest constant contributor of troops to United Nations Peacekeeping missions. Today, India has over 8,500 peacekeepers in the field, more than twice as many as the UN's five big powers combined. India, largest liberal democracy is home to world's second largest population. It is also the world's tenth largest economy by nominal GDP and third largest by purchasing power parity. Some of Permanent members supports G4 membership in UNSC like Russia & UK Way ahead : (Iasbaba’s view) Any reform in the Security Council should reflect the following: A more reflective, representative and legitimate council, which reflect contemporary power realitiesof the 21st century. A council which is more capable and democratic in functioning. Permanent in long time: Power in international politics is not a constant. The rise and fall of empires throughout history is testament to this fact. The once powerful are no longer powerful and the once weak are now strong. Any reformative model should look into this aspect as well. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the reforms that are expected to be brought in UNSC. Does India really deserve a permanent membership in UNSC? Critically analyse.   ECONOMICS RRB’s further distance themselves from the poor The regional rural banks (RRBs), the Indian Grameen Banks, would have been the most suitable institutions to serve the poor, better than the so called ‘world’s best model’, ‘Grameen Bank’ of Bangladesh. However, continued distortions in the name of reforms by successive governments have distracted them from their original goals. The final blow in that direction came to them in the form of the recent RRBs Amendment Act, 2015. Background of RRB’s in India : The RRBs came into being in 1975, through an ordinance, which was later made RRBs Act, 1976, with the sole purpose of catering to the credit and other needs of the poor — small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, rural artisans, street vendors, petty traders and all those below the poverty line — as enshrined in the very preamble to that enactment. The share of Centre, States and sponsor banks in the RRB’s is in the ratio 50:15:35 respectively. By 1990, that is, within 15 years, as many as 196 RRBs were established with 14,500 branches in the un-banked rural, tribal and far-flung areas of the country. About 123 million poor were given loans to support their small farming and other economic activities. All this was not without some cost, but this was within anticipated levels. These banks had been genuinely successful in achieving the goals set. But that was before the so-called reforms set in.  The reforms that hindered the development of RRB’s : The architects of the RRBs had rightly forecast in the very beginning that they would incur some losses, which should be treated as essential social cost for the social benefit of covering the rural poor. But the accumulated losses of Rs. 621 crore by 1991-92 of 152 out of 196 RRBs had resulted in the policy prejudice of the later day governments, whereby the loss sustained was blown out of proportion, although it worked out to just Rs. 18 lakhs per RRB per year — peanuts compared to the service they had rendered to the millions of poor people. The policy makers who had become obsessed with making profit went ahead with the overhauling of the RRBs. The first crucial distortion was made in 1992-93 when the RRBs were allowed to finance to the non-target groups — the rich borrowers — removing the barrier of financing exclusively to the weaker section. The priority-sector norms were set just on a par with other commercial banks: limiting only 40 per cent of their lending to that sector and 10 per cent of the total to the poor. These ratios, however, were slightly altered to 60 and 15, yet bringing down the weaker sections’ share of RRBs’ credit from 100 per cent to 15 per cent. In addition, the RRBs were given freedom to fix their own interest rates, allowed to liberally invest in shares and securities and the choice of opening and closing the branches was left to the RRBs.  Another significant change was the sponsor bank-wise merger of RRBs in each State. Following the Vyas Committee’s recommendation, 196 RRBs have been condensed to 57 as of March 2014.   The distancing of the RRBs from the rural poor did, however, result in increasing their profits. As per the latest available data, all the RRBs made profits in 2013-14. The net profit earned in the year was Rs. 2,833 crore. The banks made the above profit at the cost of rural development and claiming lives of many poor rural farmers. A final blow in name of RRBs Amendment Act, 2015 : The amendment to the Act facilitates the raising the share capital of RRBs from the present Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 2,000 crore, infusing capital from other than the present owners to the extent of 49 per cent against the present arrangement of the Centre, States and sponsor banks sharing in the ratio 50:15:35 respectively. These changes will pave way for their part privatisation and pure commercialisation, totally ignoring the very purpose of their birth. Way ahead (Iasbaba’s view): With increase in farmer suicides within the country and low financial literacy among the rural population, the new amendment to the RRBs Act will surely help for the deepening of the reforms process which means further distancing the rural poor, from the access of institutional credit, with great impunity. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the role played by RRB’s in rural development. Over the years, the RRB’s have slowly distanced themselves from the rural poor. Analyse the above statement with special reference to RRB’s amendment bill 2015.

Sep 13, 2015 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Footwear Outside Please! – Inspirational & Educational Articles

Footwear Outside Please!   ‘Hey, don’t laugh too much or you will cry soon’. ‘All your sufferings are because of your past karma, you can do nothing about it’; I am pretty sure that India is the only country where people use such ridiculous statements and give equally ridiculous justifications for using them. You have to wonder as to what is wrong with us, are we neurotic or something. What disease have we caught that makes happiness unbearable to us. Before your patriotism blinds you completely, just look around; you will see how sad, grim and worried we Indians are. We are the most worried people in the whole world. Of course, if you are an Indian, you would not agree with me; after all, there is no machine out there that can measure how much you worry every day! If there was one, then the worrying results of the worrying machine would certainly have been worrying! Here, we have heard people talk about robbers, rapists and murderers so often that it almost seems like our day isn’t normal if we don’t meet at least one such person on our way to work. Just ask yourself this simple question; how old are you now? And in all these years, how many personal one on one encounter you have had with such people; there are good chances that it will be none. We surround ourselves all the while with that idiot machine called television, whose primary purpose is to search for the most exceptional cases of horror and re-glorify it in the name of safety, education, awareness and entertainment. Just flip through the channels, observe a little carefully and you will see. If you are obsessed with watching television, then there has to be a part of you that is obsessed with violence and pain, or else you will soon lose interest in what you are watching. The ones who create these television programs know this; if the whole purpose of the game is to captivate your senses, what other better ways there are of doing it than by using excess of violence and pain. There are some who make a living by keeping you sad and then there are others who make a living by preaching you ideals of happiness; beware of both. Maggots feed on you only after your death; there are blood sucking leeches who feed on your living emotions. Life is your journey, you are the only player here, rest all are mere spectators. Don’t let them tell you how sad and grim life is, nor let them convince you that it is a beautiful paradise. Every moment arrives to teach you something and then disappears to make way for another. Be available to that moment; it will teach you more than all your preachers ever can. The world is merely a collection of your experiences; nothing exists here apart from what you have stumbled upon in the dark. If you cannot make sense of what is here, nobody else can. We live in a wonderful world; a tapestry of colors, beauty and magic. Here everything is perfectly set for your adventure. The early morning breeze, the chirping of birds, the conspiracy of the earth and sky to lay those early morning dew sprinkled grass carpets; what a stage for the play of life. Well of course; this is not the view of the world you are most familiar with. If you allow yourself to be surrounded all the time with ideas of fear, death, disease and destruction, how can you see anything beautiful? Your mind is a shrine, it is not a public toilet for everybody to come in, do their thing and go. Allow only those who can worship to enter, and let them leave their idiotic ideologies and footwear outside.   Read more such articles– Click Here   Copyright Disclaimer “No part of the articles in this section, in part or in full shall be reproduced without the written consent of the author. The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Sep 12, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 12th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 12th September, 2015   NATIONAL   Blurred division of Responsibility- Case of Punishment Posting In India, the elected representatives are responsible to the people and the civil servants are responsible to the Ministers. Due to some vested interests, ‘political neutrality’ has paved way for ‘political interferences’ and this has led to the phenomena of ‘politicisation of the civil service’. Recently, the cases of arbitrary and questionable moves by the political masters have increased manifold and has strengthened the temptation to resort to collusive practices to avoid untimely transfers and to play safe, giving rise to ‘political neutrality’ as a new hallmark. Recent examples Maria, who was heading the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case was shunted out of the post and promoted as Director General of Police Home Guards. "Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in Transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful." -Khemka(46th transfer in the service of 22 years) Constitutional Provisions Articles 53 and 154 vests the executive power of the Union and the States in the President or Governor directly or through officers subordinate to him and these officers constitute the permanent civil service governed by Part XIV of the Constitution. The President or Governor is required to act according to the aid and advice of his/her Council of Ministers, appointed under Articles 73 and 163 of the Constitution and this grants a political colour to the work-process. The Minister has the mandate of the people to govern, but the Secretary has an equivalent constitutional mandate to advise the Minister. Once his/her advice has been suitably considered, unless the Minister passes an illegal order, the Secretary is bound to implement it and the Minister is required to support the Secretary who is implementing his/her order. Safeguards w.r.t arbitrary transfers: Constitutional:Article 311 A civil servant cannot be dismissed by any authority that is subordinate to the one by which he was appointed. An enquiry is important to present the information of the charges he has been framed with and to give him the ‘Right to be heard’.   Recommendations by Committes: AD Gorwala Committee Report, 1951 Greater understanding between ministers and civil servants Hota Committee, 2004 Amending certain sections in the Prevention of corruption Act and code of Criminal procedure to protect honest civil servants Code of Ethics Public evaluation of performances Steps taken by the government: T.S.R Subramanium vs Union of India Creation of an independent Civil Services Board both at the Centre and the State for promotion and transfers of bureaucrats Provision of fixed tenure in service giving them protection against biased transfer by politicians All bureaucrats should record the directives given to them from their administrative superiors and political authorities   Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1955, have been amended and a new clause inserted- The Central Government, in consultation with the State Government or State Governments concerned, may determine the tenure of all or any of the cadre posts specified for the State concerned in item 1 of the Schedule to the Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulation, 1955 A cadre officer appointed to any post for which the tenure has been so determined, shall hold the minimum tenure as prescribed except in the event of promotion, retirement, deputation outside the State or training exceeding two months An officer may be transferred before the minimum prescribed tenure only on the recommendation of a Committee on Minimum Tenure as specified in the Schedule annexed to these rules Steps taken by Supreme Court: Spend a minimum of two years in a posting before they can be transferred Setting up of a Civil Services Board to check political interference Advices with regards to appointments and postings should be recorded ensuring transparency and accountability Impact on the Officer: Motivation is important. The loss of morale when asked to leave behind his/her vision and a failed opportunity to bring about a change is painful. Uncertainty of tenure leads to fear and instability in the mind that should be without fear for the proper delivery of services. Incentives encourage hard work but punishment attracts more malfunctioning, crippling the quality of governance.   Way forward: The nature of transfer should be done in an independent manner on sound administrative grounds that are clearly spelt out. Fixed Tenures for critical ranks like DGPs, District SPs & SHOs; to ensure smooth functioning of administration The tenure should be directly linked to performance targets and fast-track advancements on the basis of forward-looking career management policies and techniques should be managed by autonomous Personnel Boards for assisting the high level political authorities in making key decisions. Civil service boards should be constituted under statutory provisions The repeated shuffling is a menace for good governance and if the officer is concerned about the disruption in the flow of services due to his transfer, he should be given a chance to take his case before an Ombudsman. Ministers must uphold the political impartiality of the civil service and not ask the civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the civil servants. Connecting the Dots: Hota Committee (2004) has emphasized much on domain knowledge and merit as the basis for Senior Level Appointments. Does it appear like a case of corporate professionalism or a better way of enhancing performances? Analyse. Is minimalist State approach the best approach that can be followed? Critically examine in the light of globalization. Critically examine Article 311   Reforming teacher management in public school system In order to improve the learning outcomes of children, it is critical that robust systems for developing high quality teachers must be in place. Lack of trained teachers seems to be one of the biggest impediments in improving the quality of education. Teachers and teacher management have to contribute to the ultimate goals of educational development to which a society and government have committed themselves. National Policy on Education 1986 envisages to overhaul the system of teacher education and establishment of DIETs (District institute of Education and training) to organize training courses for teachers. What is Teacher management? Teachers Management include following functions Getting teachers to school (Supply and deployment) Managing Teachers (Administration of pay and remuneration mix, Transfers, Motivation) Improving quality (Training and use of IT) Monitoring teaching (at school and central levels, role of non-government actors. Enable teachers to do good work from both pupils’ and teachers’ point of view. Respond to major existing (especially financial) constraints.   Why Teachers Management is required? Parts of the teaching force are not fully ‘used’ due to the existing school structures and the rules and regulations governing teacher training and allocation. Teachers need to be motivated and provided with adequate training and professional support to be effective in teaching. Existence of Inequality in teacher treatment, dissatisfaction and lack of unity among teaching staff are hindering the performance of teachers. Attracting enough qualified graduates towards the teaching profession is a big challenge in the light of decreased attractiveness in teaching profession (lower levels).   Loop holes in the existing TMS The Block and district levels do not have the capacities to undertake regular inspection and assessment given the expansion in schooling that has happened over the past two decades. The macro level policy formulation of teacher management is intended to promote the issues of quality education and improved learning outcomes. Due to the large number of teachers in the public system, the policy interpretation at intermediary level is not driven by macro level policy and fails to stress the academic purpose of school. Lack of utilization of information technology. A few states have employed CIS(Central information systems) and IT for gathering data on schools, issues such as transfers (Karnataka), with lot of technical glitches.   Way forward/ Reforms required The district and sub district levels must be equipped to address the issues of teacher management which must be in coherent with macro level policy. This will reduce the inefficiencies and release more time for academic work at the school. Information technology must be made use to a larger extent in the areas of teacher training; alternative methods of peer learning and peer driven assessments have to be encouraged. Proper implementation of Digital India will improve connectivity and smart phone penetration. This leads to the use of social media (posting of innovative solutions to common, but difficult educational problems) and discussion forums. Transparency, decentralization of power, development of appropriate legal and organizational frameworks and procedures as well as effective tools, incentives and control mechanism for teaching staff management are much required.   Example of Karnataka: Karnataka has been a front-runner among Indian states in introducing many pioneering reforms in teacher recruitment and transfers. In 1993, it introduced a merit-cum-reservation based recruitment system to improve objectivity and transparency in selection. Districts select teachers from a merit list of  qualified    In 1999–2000, clear priorities for postings (transfers through counselling) and computerization of the system were introduced. BACKGROUND: The National policy on education: NPE is a policy formulated by GOI to promote education amongst India’s people. It covers elementary to higher education in rural and urban areas. The first NPE was promulgated in 1968 and the second one in 1986. NPE 1968: Following the recommendation of Kothari commission, NPE 1968 called for “radical restructuring” and equalize educational opportunities in order to achieve national integration and economic development. The policy called for fulfilling compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14, as stipulated by the Constitution of India and the better training and qualification of teachers.   NPE 1986: This policy called for “Child centred” approach in primary education and launched “operation blackboard” to improve primary schools nationwide. And it also expanded the open university system with IGNOU. DIETs (District institute of education and training): Established based on the recommendations of National education policy 1986, which is the third tier (after NCERT and SCERT) of training and resource support structure, at the district level. It Conducts different kinds of trainings programmes for teachers to improve the quality of basic education and strives to prepare master trainers / resource persons to guide and train the teachers who are working in primary and upper primary schools. Supervise the on-going different schemes of Basic Education and guide the teachers to implement the scheme in an effective way.   World Bank and education: Over the past three decades or more, the World Bank is playing a major role in development of education. In the 1990s, the Bank significantly boosted loans for education, dispensing an average of US$1.9 billion for the period 1991-1999, approximately 8.2% of its overall lending. Since 2000, the WB has committed over $2 billion towards development of education in India. It also provides technical support. Various schemes of government of India are progressing with the help/aid of WB. Which includes Early childhood development, sarva shiksha abhiyaan, rashtriya madhyamik shiksha abhiyaan and various vocational education and training programs. Under Technical Quality improvement program it provides about $300 million loan assistance. (scholarships, research and infrastructure to technical institutions). Recently it approved $250 million program to improve the quality of Elementary teachers in Bihar. Connecting dots: Does the lack of good quality education at primary and secondary level at public schools be attributed to improper teacher management system? Examine How digital India initiative can help reforming the education sector in India ? What are the provisions need to be included in digital India policy framework to address TMS? The service rendered by a professional is maximum and efficient when he is provided with a conducive atmosphere and adequate motivation at work. What are the moral obligations you think a teacher encounters in his/her service? What measures can be taken to keep his motivation high?  

Sep 11, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 11th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 11th September, 2015   NATIONAL   MSME’s: Engine for Growth Contributes 8% of GDP 40% of the total exports 45% of manufacturing input Keeping in view the contribution of MSME’s in the growth of Indian Economy, its development hasbeen assigned an important role in India’s national plans. Therefore, there is a need for the Government to take concrete steps in order to resolve those concerns which continue to thwart the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the years Action Plan for Make in India Initiative of MSME  E-Governance: Different procedures and lack of mutual trust leads to hidden costs and slow paralysis Strengthen the communication between stakeholders Establish a proper procedure pan-India Improve efficiencies in service delivery Public Participation to be enhanced via the integration of Social Media Building up of a database to measure the levels of productivity of the products Identification of products in need of research and development   Financial Inclusion: High cost of credit, requirements of collateral, limited access to equity capital, lack of access to global markets, and the absence of a mechanism for the revival of sick enterprises Frame guidelines for micro and small enterprise financing; business, registration, regulation and accreditation of MFI entities; promoting right technology solutions; and formulating a credit guarantee scheme for loans given out to micro enterprises Financial Education of the borrowers for empowerment Statutory guidelines to stipulate penalties or interest for big corporations which delay payments to SMEs Skill development for bankers : Standardising simple format for accounting purposes for MSMEs, Competent development of human resources, Cultivating business ethics and standards, and Imparting training to MSMEs Steps taken: All loans to come under Priority Sector Lending Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank expected to partner with coordinators at the State level to provide finance to SMEs. A corpus of Rs.20,000 crore has been allocated to the bank. The Union Budget has proposed to set up ‘Trade Receivables Discounting System’ (TreDs), an electronic platform that will facilitate financing of trade receivables from corporates and other buyers through multiple financiers.   Employment Generation & Skill Development: MSMEs are labour-intensive and have the capability to create more jobs to cater to a young demographic country like India, where the climatic vagaries render many unemployed in the agricultural sector. Training of educated unemployed youth both in conventional and most advanced production and management technology/processes Developing Modular Courses and training of trainers Developing districts wise skill development needs and training providers. Up-scaling in collaboration with NSDC, Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Labour and Employment Steps Taken: Virtual Cluster web portal, to provide facilities like common application forms, credit scoring models etc. and a platform for Industry-Academia linkages has been set-up. Employment Facilitation Portal enables matching of job providers and job seekers Technology and Energy Efficiency Compulsory procurement of materials by public sector units from SMEs Setting up of common research and development facilitation centres Up scaling cluster approach for infrastructure development and technology support Augmenting the past initiatives for further absorptions Steps to reduce wastages and innovative designs for waste-management Zero Effect Zero Defect Manufacturing Promoting Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme (LMCS) in mini-clusters for Zero Defect manufacturing Promoting Energy Efficient Technologies using Clean Technology ZED Certification scheme in consultation with QCI, Industry Association and Rating Agencies   Steps taken: Quality Management Standards (QMS) and Quality Technology tools (QTT): to enhance their competitiveness ICT Scheme: for adopting ICT tools and applications through Cloud Computing IASBABA’s Views We also need to take care of the welfare of our artisans and workers and enable an environment which not only helps them survive but also, provide them a life full of dignity. The government has, thus announced the USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme in Varanasi, which is expected to enhance the traditional skills of craftsmen and artisans there. In the run to achieve a status of a developed country, we need India’s growth story to be narrated with the concept of development banking at its core with the intent of nation building. Connecting the Dots: Can virtual clusters launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, supplement the existing physical clusters? Critically examine. Write a short note on MUDRA Bank. Amid all the noises surrounding the issue of GI, the hoarse history of neglecting our traditional artisans and workers, fail to ring bells. Is it possible to establish a synchronization between the empowerment of our craftsperson and MSME? Suggest a way forward.   INTERNATIONAL   A greater engagement with the islands in Pacific The summit hosted by India on august 21,2014 in Jaipur, for the 14 members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), came at the drop back when India was trying to engage itself more with island of pacific ocean. As a part of extended Act East policy, India is trying to actively promote good relations with smaller islands nations of the South Pacific, along with heavyweights in the region, and cooperate on multiple issues that impact India. Forum for India-Pacific Islands cooperation(FIPIC): It is a multinational grouping developed in 2014 for cooperation between India and 14 Pacific Islands nations. Though often grouped together, the Pacific countries belong to three ethnically distinct subregions: Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Micronesia, spanning the north Pacific, consists of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru. Polynesia includes the independent countries of Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, Niue and the Cook Islands.  Melanesia — covering Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. What can India expect from PIF? Even though PIF countries have relatively small land areas, their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) encompasses fairly large areas of the ocean.  The EEZ areas range from Kiribati (3.55 million sq km) to Samoa (120,000 sq km). The existence of large EEZs makes it important to optimally manage marine living and non-living resources. Management of fisheries and development of aquaculture and the “blue economy” are particularly important. Other areas include oil and natural gas, mining, IT, health care, fishing and marine research. What has India done in this region? During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Fiji in November 2014, India offered some major assistance projects in Fiji. The projects offered include setting up of a special fund of $1 million for adapting to climate change, establishing a trade office in India and Pan Pacific Islands, e-network to improve digital connectivity.  They also include extending visa on arrival at Indian airports for all the 14 Pacific Island countries, cooperation in space technology applications for improving the quality of life of the islands, and training to diplomats from Pacific Island countries. Also, India has increased the annual grant-in-aid from $125,000 to $200,000 to each of the 14 Pacific countries for community projects, and launched a new Visitors Programme. These represent a significant upgrade in India’s relationship with the PIF countries. Way Forward: India’s relationship with PIF is usually cast in terms of their natural resources, strategic location and countering China’s growing influence in the region. But the Pacific is a lot more than mineral resources or strategic locations, and China merely one of several players competing for influence there. As it steps up its engagement, India would do well to remember the complexity and diversity of the Pacific, and learn from the experience of other major countries that have done business with it. Connecting the dots: Comment on Fiji as a gateway for India into island wealth of Pacific ocean. Other than countering Chinese influence, what is India’s stake/interest in the islands of Pacific ocean?  

Sep 10, 2015 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs - 9th & 10th September, 2015

Archives IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs- 9th & 10th September, 2015   NATIONAL   Cleaner Coal vs. Zero Coal Issue: Recently, World Bank has clearly stated that with few exceptional circumstances, it will no longer fund coal projects in developing countries. Related concern: Coal based plants are polluting environment and also they are contributing to climate change and associated risks. In India, coal based projects cannot be phased out, there are many cheap plants installed and running to capacity and many are under construction. These plants do not run optimally. They are not efficient and also degrading environment. Though India has huge potential for Renewable Energy, there lies a gap in switching from coal based power generation to renewable energy future. In the face of the World Bank’s stand on funds for coal based project, CIL will continue to take up coal projects. Also, CIL has repaid the loan taken from World Bank and will continue its business as usual approach   Coal Emission: India China vis-a-vis : In 2012, China emitted 5 times as compared that t India’s carbon emission. Aim of India is not to reach the level of carbon emission as that of USA and China. But, India cannot limit the emission at the cost of human development.   Way Forward: If carbon emission is troubling whole world and is a concern, then efforts should be made for better coal utilization. Carbon emission can be reduced by improving efficiency. Waste ash needs to be treated and particulate emission should be minimized by treating it before releasing in atmosphere. Adequate provisions need to be followed. Carbon Emission can be reduced by Optimal use of coal, this can be ascertained by use of less coal for more output Moving from present sub-critical coal power plant to super-critical coal power plant. Replacing the power plant with the super critical plant alone will reduce the coal usage by nearly 15 percent. Need of hour: Clean coal is under development worldwide. But, cleaner coal in terms of more efficient coal plant will need technological innovation, policy support and financing. Power grid also needs balancing; with smart grid in operation we can assume coal to be cleaner. India will depend on coal to meet energy requirement, without global support and push for improvement, the result would be suboptimal and more polluting plants. Improvement in technological innovation and financial support are inevitable need for treating high ash content Indian coal effectively. Better policy, switching gradually from coal based energy generation to cleaner coal based plant can help in reducing emission and can lead to development not at the stake of environmental degradation. Connecting the dots: ‘The global push to end coal appears to be a manifestation, which is sometimes aimed at limiting dangerous forms of growth but often ends up being against all new growth’. Comment in light of the statement. ‘Cleaner coal requires innovation to work well with high-ash Indian coal.’ What other steps can India take to ensure clean coal use?   INTERNATIONAL   Does India need Russia anymore? Relations with Russia are a key pillar of India's foreign policy and Russia has been a longstanding time-tested partner of India. India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. With India being the second largest market for the Russian defence industry, more than 70% of the Indian Military's hardware came from Russia. However over the years, with Russia facing severe economic hardships and also development of close relationships between India and the western countries like USA, France, a question arises : Do we need Russia anymore ? Present economic crises in Russia : Russian economy mainly depends on export of crude oil and military defence experiment. Over the last few months the global crude oil prices have hit an all time low of $50per barrel impacting negatively the Russian economy. Western countries economic sanctions on Russia over the issues of Ukraine and Crimean annexation have turned the problems in Russia into a crises situation. Russia can no longer afford an ambitious $650-million defence modernisation plan, particularly since -unlike western defence industries that remain commercially viable by producing both weaponry and civilian products - Russia's defence industry serves only military buyers. Alternatives available to India :  Unlike in the 1990s, India has many more alternatives, The United States is today eager to bolster India as an emerging counter-balance to China. US Ambassador Richard Verma, at a recent speech in Delhi endorsed India as a "leading power" instead of a "balancing power". US, the global emperor of defence technology, has opened the technology door to India. Over the past five years, ‘over-the-counter’ sales to India in defence equipment has been worth of $10 billion. The recent Rafale deal between India and France over the buying of 36 fighter jet planes, illustrate the ample opportunities India has other than Russia. Should New Delhi turn away from a Russia in economic distress, or do there remain opportunities for us?  The answer can only be "Stay tuned to Moscow!" Russia greatly assists India with technologies that the western bloc is unwilling to. One example is nuclear powered submarines. From 1988 to 1991, the Soviet Union leased India the nuclear powered attack submarine, INS Chakra, and helped create the building blocks, including design assistance, that has evolved into a successful Indian nuclear submarine, INS Arihant. Russia has recently offered to co-develop with India a highly advanced engine for the "fifth generation fighter aircraft" which USA and other western countries have denied from a long time. Another main reason to tilt towards Russia is to prevent a catastrophic Russian turn towards Beijing and Islamabad, which would prove costly to Indian defence. Way ahead (Iasbaba’s view): Over the years USA and other western countries are trying to get closer to India, due to its favoured location in the Asian continent. Barring few circumstances , compared to western countries , Russia is the only natural ally of India. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the statement Russia is a natural ally of India. Should India focus on diversifying its defence procurement or import. If yes why and with what countries. Between USA and Russia, who is a natural friend of India and why.   ECONOMICS   Model Draft by Law Commission on Bilateral Investment Treaties: Law Commission in its 260th report has recommended ModelDraft to ensure the balance between the rights of investors and the rights of the state. Bilateral Investment Treaty: It is a treaty between the two nations that provides certain basic protection to investors of one nation investing in the other nation. These treaties ensure investor of fair and equitable treatment. White Industries Case: White Industries is an Australian Entity, it obtained foreign arbitralaward against Coal India Ltd. White Industries initiated proceedings and for about 10 years no progress was made. White Industries claimed that it has been denied for effective means to its investment in India for more than 10 years. The arbitral tribunal accepted the plea and in turn India was forced to pay huge sums for the delay caused. Since the award made by arbitral tribunal as many as 17 other investors have opened their cases for arbitration against India. These include Vodafone and Telenor. These investors together can pose enormous liabilities on the government arising out of the settlements. ModelDraft, a way out of the mess: Law commission of India has proposed the following: To modify the enterprise based definition of investment to asset based definition, this would ensure that an investor who has not set up an enterprise will not be in a position to receive protection from the state. MFN principle should not be granted, as India might choose to provide differential treatment to trading partners depending on the influx of the investment arising from those countries. To introduce ‘denial of benefit’ clause, this would deny benefit to an investor if he is found to be engaged in corrupt practices or is involved in an act contrary to the law of the nation. To set up dispute resolution mechanism in home country, to make mechanism workable Law commission has suggested the omitting of the jurisdiction bar which earlier had a provision whereby an investor had to first approach local court to settle the dispute.   How will Model Draft help investors and state? It will help in safeguarding interest of both the investors and the state. It has proactively suggested the dispute resolution mechanism which will speedily settle disputes arising between investor and state. It has come up with the new solution to problems associated with the investment like it has given outlook to the new definition of investment to be on the basis of asset and not solely based on the enterprise. Connecting the dots: How to strike a balance between the investor’s interest and state’s interest, also ensuring the maintenance of favorable environment for investment? Critically comment on the recommendations suggested by Model Draft proposed by Law Commission of India.

Sep 9, 2015 IASbaba's Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

IASbaba's Monthly Magazine- AUGUST 2015

                                                                                                                                      ARCHIVES   Hello All,   We are glad to present our Third edition Magazine-AUGUST 2015 before you :) This magazine consist of issues not news of previous month and some of the last year important issues as well. Our main focus in future magazines will be Mains related issues only, where we will be covering present and past issues of importance. The issues covered in these magazines are very important for upcoming Mains. The questions under "Connecting the Dots" will give you full insight about the dimensions to be prepared. We will also cover these issues in our TLP-2015 Mains Answer Writing Initiative. Kindly go through them seriously as they will help you in revising the important issues and help you save your precious time. We regret for the delay but assure you to give best quality without any compromise. Kindly share your feedback so that IASbaba Team will be at the apex of energy level to work even better and produce better quality than what we have produced till now. Thank You :)  Click on the image to download