Nov 18, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Operation Barkhane: France’s military operations in Sahel

  ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-1: Modern World History GS-2: International Affairs GS-2: Democratic & military rule; Human Rights Context: On November 9, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of the decade-long Operation Barkhane in Africa. France President Mr. Macron said that, “Our military support for African countries will continue, but according to new principles that France have define with them.” What is Sahel Region? The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of transition in Africa between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a semi-arid climate, it stretches across the south-central latitudes of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. The name is derived from the Arabic term for “coast, shore”; this is explained as being used in a figurative sense in reference to the southern edge of the vast Sahara. The Sahel part includes from west to east parts of northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, the extreme south of Algeria, Niger, the extreme north of Nigeria, the extreme north of Cameroon and the Central African Republic, central Chad, central and southern Sudan, the extreme north of South Sudan, Eritrea and the extreme north of Ethiopia. What is Operation Barkhane? France began its military operations in Sahel in January 2013. Titled Operation Serval, it was limited to targeting Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda who took control of northern Mali. However, in 2014, the mission was scaled up, renamed Operation Barkhane and was aimed at counter-terrorism. The objective was to assist local armed forces to prevent the resurgence of non-state armed groups across the Sahel region. Around 4,500 French personnel were deployed with the local joint counter-terrorism force. Has France achieved its objectives? France has a mixed record in achieving its military objectives, with failures more evident than the successes. French operations had two objectives in the Sahel. First, to liberate Mali from the insurgency in the north Second, to see through counter-terrorism operations in West Africa, including the neutralisation of key terrorists. In its major successes, France regained Mali’s northern regions from the extremists in 2014 through Operation Serval. In 2020, Abdel Malek Droukdel and Bah Ag Moussa, key leaders of al-Qaeda in this region were killed in French-led operations. The 2014 success led to the inception of Operation Barkhane aimed at counter-terrorism in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad. However, Operation Barkhane saw a series of failures. First the region, despite the operation, witnessed the growth of new groups affiliated to terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State. Second, the failure of the operation led to a humanitarian crisis. It is estimated that the violence had claimed 5,450 lives across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in just the first half of 2022, recording a significant increase from the previous years. Further, nearly 2,000 incidents of Islamist violence were recorded in the Sahel in 2021, compared to the 1,180 incidents in the previous year. Third, Operation Barkhane’s unfulfilled objective to resolve the region’s insurgencies sparked an increase in civilian support to the military and has contributed to the subsequent political uncertainties in the Sahel. Why did France pull out? First, France’s relations with the military rulers grew hostile after a series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Relations between France and Mali soured after the latter expelled the French ambassador when he disagreed with the Military’s decision to remain in power until 2025. In addition, France was unhappy about Malian authorities negotiating a peace deal with insurgent groups. Secondly, since Operation Barkhane was widely perceived as a failure, anti-French sentiments flared up with a further demand for France’s withdrawal from the region. Finally, France, and other Western countries claim that the Wagner Group, a private military company close to the Russia, is playing a major role in fuelling the insurgency and discrediting French withdrawal. For Africa, the Wagner Group is an alternative that engages with military governments, without abiding to human rights and democratic standards. What next for France-Africa relations? First, France’s relations with Africa are undergoing an unprecedented transition under present President Mr. Macron. The end of Operation Barkhane signifies France’s acknowledgement that it did not achieve their intended objectives. The French decision is unlikely to improve Africa’s security situation and may lead to the assumption that Paris abandoned the continent. Second, France has indicated a willingness to restructure its approach to Africa. However, if France aims to address its anti-French sentiment, then Paris needs to look beyond military operations and needs to engage with the political leadership, push for dialogue and understand the complex dynamics of the actors in the conflict. Third, for the African leadership, particularly authoritarian and military leaders, partnering with Russia is easier. Therefore, to remain an important external partner, Paris has to fasten restructuring its Africa policy. Do you know about Great Green Wall of Africa? Though unrelated to the issue that is discussed above, the initiative aims to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in one of the world’s poorest regions, the Sahel. The African initiative is still only 15% complete. Once fully completed, the Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet – an 8,000 km natural wonder of the world stretching across the entire width of the continent. African countries during the UNCCCD COP14 sought global support in terms of finance to make the Wall a reality in the continent’s Sahel region by 2030. Main Practice Question: What was the nature of France’s security involvement in Africa? What has Paris achieved so far and did it outweigh the failures? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 18, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18th November 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) – CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don’t forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today’s test 🙂After completing the 5 questions, click on ‘View Questions’ to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test Click Here

Nov 17, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th November 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Corbett Tiger Reserve Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment and Ecology Context: Recently instances of tiger deaths in the country became a blot on India’s tiger management records. A tigress strode into a busy marketplace in the district of Almora on the night of November 14, 2022. Then, in a move that has had many outraged across the country, the animal was shot with a service rifle used by forest department staff. According to reports emerging from the area, the animal was aged 11-12 years. It had strayed into the Marchula Bazar area from the Kalagarh division of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.   About Corbett Tiger Reserve: Corbett Tiger Reserveis an ideal home for many majestic animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Reptiles, Birds and many other wild animals. The park was then named as the ‘Hailey National Park’ and was later renamed as ‘Corbett National Park’after James Edward Corbett the noted hunter turned conservationist of the area. The area came under ‘Project Tiger’ in 1971 when Gov. of India launched this ambitious conservation project. The total area of Tiger Reserve extends 1288.31 sq. kms spreading over three districts of Uttarakhand viz., Pauri, Nainital and Almora. Corbett National Parkcovers an area of 521 sq. km and together with the neighboring Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest areas, forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Geographically it is located between the Shiwalik Himalayas and the terai. The park is an ideal home for many majestic animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant and many other wild animals. Due to healthy population of wild today, Corbett is one of best preserved parks with 164 numbers of tigers and over 600 elephants. Corbett survey reveals the highest density of population of tigers in the country at 20/100 square kilometers. As per the recent the various habitat types of Corbett is occupied by Sal forests, Khair-Sisso forests, Mountains, Chaur, and rivers and streams that owes their distinct assemblage of plants. According to botanical survey of India Corbett has 600 species of plants – trees, shrubs, ferns, grass, climbers, herbs and bamboos. About National Board for Wildlife: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA). WLPA provides for the Constitution of the National Board for Wildlife with the PM as its chairperson. The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B. The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife) the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board. The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done. The NBWL Standing Committee chaired by the Union Minister, Environment & Forests is duty bound to ensure compliance of the mandate’s statutory processes prescribed by the WLPA in letter and spirit. Specific provisions in the WLPA include: Sec 33 (a): No construction of commercial lodges, hotels… shall be undertaken except with the prior approval of the National Board Sec 35(5): No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park except on a recommendation of the National Board; Sec 35(6): No destruction, removal of wildlife or forest produce from a National Park or diversion of habitat unless State Government in consultation with the National Board authorizes the issue of such permit Sec 38-O (g): Ensure Tiger Reserves and areas linking one protected area with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses except in public interest and with the approval of the National Board. Sec 38-W(1) & (2): No alteration or denotification of Tiger Reserves without the approval of the National Board for Wildlife. MUST READ:  WLPA Source:  DownToEarth Previous Year Questions Q.1) With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements : Wild animals are the sole property of the government. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2022) 1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 3 only Q.2) Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? (2021) Nagarhole National Park Papikonda National Park Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 and 2 only 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Global Shield Financing Facility Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment Context: Recently the World Bank Group has announced a Global Shield Financing Facility to help developing countries access more financing for recovery from natural disasters and climate shocks. About Global Shield Financing Facility Initiative: The Global Shield Against Climate Risks initiative was launched at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The Global Shield Financing Facility will channel grants to developing countries through World Bank projects or through projects prepared by other participating partners, including UN agencies and multilateral development banks. It will also work closely with key stakeholders, such as civil society organizations, risk pools, private sector and humanitarian partners. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Fiji, Senegal, Philippines and Ghana will be the first to receive assistance under this initiative. The initial contributions for this initiative are provided Germany, Denmark, Ireland and Canada. About V20 Countries: The Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group was established with the inaugural meeting of the V20 Ministers of Finance of the Climate Vulnerable Forum chaired by H.E. Cesar V. Purisima, Secretary of Finance of the Philippines, on 08 October 2015 at Lima, Peru in conjunction with the 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund. The call to create the V20 originated from the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s Costa Rica Action Plan (2013-2015) in a major effort to strengthen economic and financial responses to climate change. It foresaw a high-level policy dialogue pertaining to action on climate change and the promotion of climate resilient and low emission development with full competence for addressing economic and financial issues beyond the remit of any one organization. The V20 is a bloc consists of countries most threatened by climate change including’s members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Costa Rica, East Timor, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, the Maldives, Nepal, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Vietnam. MUST READ: G7 Source: DownToEarth Previous Year Question Q.1) “Climate Action Tracker” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a :  (2022) Database created by coalition of research organisations Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change” Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank Q.2) Consider the following statements: The Climate Group is an international non-profit organisation that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative “EP100”. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals. Some Indian companies are members of EP100. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”. Which of the statements given above are correct?   (2022) 1,2, 4 and 5 1,3 and 4 only 2,3 and 5 only 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 Birsa Munda Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History In news: On the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, the Centre marked the second Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to celebrate the contributions of tribal communities to Indian culture. President Droupadi Murmu, India’s first tribal woman president, visited the birthplace of ‘Bhagwan’ Birsa Munda and paid floral tributes. The statue of Alluri Sitharama Raju was inaugurated by the Prime Minister this year. About Munda tribe: Inhabited the Chota Nagpur region of today’s Jharkhand. The British introduced a feudal zamindari system, destroying the tribal “Khuntkatti” agrarian and land ownership system that was more community-based. The Raj brought in outsiders like moneylenders and contractors, as well as feudal landlords to aid them. With the impact of British rule and activities of Christian missionaries, many tribals became critical of the British and missionaries’ presence. About Birsa Munda: Born in 1875 in Ulihatu village in the Khunti district of Jharkhand. Received his early education under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal Nag Converted to Christianity in order to join the German Mission school but opted out of the school later. From 1886 to 1890, he spent a large amount of time in Chaibasa, which was close to the centre of the Sardari agitation. The Sardars’ activities had a strong impact on him and he became a part of the anti-missionary and anti-government programmes. He soon emerged as a tribal leader who brought people together on fighting for these issues. He became a God-like figure, leading the faith of ‘Birsait’ which was joined by members of the Munda and Oraon communities to challenge British conversion activities. On March 3, 1900, Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his tribal guerilla army at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur and died in Ranchi jail due to an illness on June 9, 1900, at the young age of 25.   His Contributions: In 1899, he started the Ulgulan movement which involved the use of weapons and guerrilla warfare to drive out foreigners. Encouraged by Birsa Munda, the tribals refused to follow colonial laws and paying rent and challenged religious practices to fight against superstition Due to this, Birsa Munda began to be known as ‘Bhagwan’ (God) and ‘Dharati Aba’ (Father of the earth) by his followers. He played a significant role in mobilising the tribal community against the British. Birsa Munda’s struggle led to the passing of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908 which restricted passing of land from the tribal people to non-tribals. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q1.) With reference to the history of India, Ulgulan or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events? (2020) The Revolt of 1857 The Mappila Rebellion of 1921 The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900 Q.2) With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to (2021) Dance forms of Northwest India Musical instruments Pre-historic cave paint Tribal languages Entry of females in Indian Navy Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The Union government informed the Delhi High Court that entry of female candidates in certain branches has been permitted at par with male candidates. About the change: The Indian Navy is now recruiting female candidates at par with male candidates. This is through Indian Navy University Entry Scheme. Certain branches covered are – executive branch general service (X) cadre, IT and technical branch engineering and electrical branch. The plea alleged that the said discrimination on grounds of gender is a violation of the right to equality (Article 14), the right not to be discriminated on the ground of sex (Article 15), equality of opportunity in the matters of public employment (Article 16), fundamental right to practice any profession and occupation (Article 19 1 (g)) and human rights of women. Source: Indian Express PM’s gifts at G20 meet Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Art & Culture In News: At the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted heads of states curated craft pieces from Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the two states he visited recently for election rallies. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni  – Patan Patola Scarf UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – Mata Ni Pachedi Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese –Pithora paintings US President Joe Biden – miniature paintings from Kangra Indonesian President Joko Widodo – Kinnauri shawl and silver bowl from Surat Leaders of France, Germany and Singapore – Agate bowls from Kutch Patan Patola Scarf: It is a colourful dupatta woven in the northern part of Gujarat It was encased in a decorative sadeli box, a wooden craft native to Surat. The double ikat scarf can be worn on both sides. The motifs weaved on scarf were inspired from the Rani Ki Vav, a stepwell in Patan, built in the 11th century AD. Mata Ni Pachedi: It is a sacred textile piece made by nomadic communities (Vagharis) in Gujarat. It has a central figure of the female deity. The sacred textile also includes references to the religious epics and images showing Lord Krishna or Rama. Pithora Paintings: Pithora paintings are a ritualistic tribal folk art by the Rathwa artisans from Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat. They are based on the cave paintings that tribal people used to make, reflecting their social, cultural and mythological life and beliefs. These paintings resemble the aboriginal dot paintings of the indigenous communities of Australia. Others: Agate bowls from Kutchh: The semi-precious stone is found in underground mines of Rajpipla and Ratanpur in riverbeds, and extracted to produce a variety of ornamental objects. Miniature painting from Kangra: It is based on the theme of love as a means of devotion. Kinnauri Shawl: The design on this specific piece shows influences from Central Asia and Tibet Silver bowl from Surat Source Indian Express Previous Year Question Q1.) Kalamkari painting refers to (2015) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India Red-crowned Roofed Turtle Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment In News: India has put forward a proposal to better protect red-crowned roofed turtle under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Other countries have proposals to include hippopotamus, straw-headed bulbul, red-crowned roofed turtle and African elephant to Appendix I and to include requiem and hammerhead sharks in Appendix II. The 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES began in Panama. Previous conferences were held in Paris (in 2018) and Melbourne (in 2019). About CITES: CITES is an agreement regulating the movement across international borders of certain wild animal and plant species. It has three appendices:- First – for species currently threatened with extinction Second –for species not necessarily threatened with extinction but demands intervention to keep a check on trade and avoid its utilisation that may threaten their survival. Third – when a specific country wants to regulate trade in a given species. Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga): The turtle is native to India and Bangladesh and is at a high risk of extinction. IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered Freshwater reptile species Threats like habitat loss due to pollution and hydrological projects specific in the Gangal lowlands of northern India and Bangladesh, overharvesting the animal for illegal consumption and illegal international trade. Over 11,000 tortoises and freshwater turtles have been seized in India from 2009-2019, found a study by TRAFFIC, a global NGO working on trade in wild animals and plants and their conservation. Source: Down to Earth Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015) IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws. Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 India – Israel Relations Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) Context: India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992 and since then the bilateral relationship between the two countries has blossomed at the economic, military, agricultural and political levels. Diplomatic Relations: India officially recognised Israel in 1950. Soon after, Israel established an immigration office in Bombay which was later converted into a Trade Office and subsequently a Consulate. However full diplomatic relations were established only in 1992 and Embassies were opened. Defence Cooperation: India imports critical defence technologies from Israel. There are regular exchanges between the armed forces. In February 2014, India and Israel signed three important agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Cooperation in Homeland Security, and Protection of Classified Material. There is cooperation on security issues, including a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. Indian armed forces use Israeli Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems), Heron drones to Barak anti-missile defence systems. The Indian military deployed an Israeli-developed comprehensive integrated border management system (CIBMS) along its border with Pakistan in August 2017. At the 15th Joint Working Group (JWG 2021) meeting on Bilateral Defence Cooperation, countries agreed to form a Task Force to formulate a comprehensive Ten-Year Roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation. Economic and Commercial Relations: The bilateral merchandise trade grew from USD 200 million in 1992 to USD 6.35 billion (excluding defence) during the period 2021-2022, with the balance of trade being in India’s favour. India is Israel’s third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh largest globally. Israeli companies have been instrumental in transferring technology to India in areas like renewable energy, telecom, water technologies. Many of them have also set up R&D centres in India. India is also in dialogue with Israel for concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Major exports from India to Israel include precious stones and metals, chemical products, textiles and textile articles, etc. Cooperation in Agriculture: Under a comprehensive Work Plan for cooperation in agriculture signed on 10 May 2006, bilateral projects are implemented through MASHAV (Centre for International Cooperation of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and CINADCO (Centre for International Agricultural Development Cooperation of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). A three year joint work program has been signed between the two countries in 2021 for development in agriculture cooperation. It is aimed at establishing Centres of Excellence, intensifying value chains and encouraging private investment. Israeli drip irrigation technologies and products are now widely used in India. Some Israeli companies and experts are providing expertise to manage and improve dairy farming in India through their expertise in high milk yield. Science and  Technology: The two countries have established a Joint Committee on Science and Technology, established under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in 1993. India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) has been set up to secure cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Israel Innovation Authority, Government of Israel to promote, facilitate and support joint industrial R&D projects. It will address the challenges in the agreed ‘Focus Sectors’. Israel has also offered to assist with India’s Clean Ganga Mission by providing its expertise in water management to address water scarcity. Energy: Tamar and Levianthan gas fields off the coast of Israel were explored recently and India has been one of the first countries to bid for an exploration license in order to extract and import natural gas from the fields. India’s ONGC Videsh, Bharat Petro Resources, Indian Oil and Oil India were awarded an exploration license by the Israeli government, a clear sign of the ongoing diversification in ties between the two countries. Indian Diaspora: There are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian-origin in Israel (with at least one Indian parent), who are all Israeli passport holders. The main waves of immigration into Israel from India took place in the fifties and sixties. The majority is from Maharashtra (Bene Israelis) and relatively smaller numbers from Kerala (Cochini Jews) and Kolkata (Baghdadi Jews). In recent years some Indian Jews from North Eastern states of India (Bnei Menashe) have been immigrating to Israel. Reasons for Evolving Engagement: Both countries have come a long way from policy of estrangement to engagement primarily because of: Kashmir question: West Asian countries have strongly supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue so Israel came across as the natural partner. Abraham Accord: Signed in 2020 amongst USA, Israel and UAE to normalise the relations between Israel and the west Asian countries. Subsequently, Bahrain, Jordan joined too. The engagement process is still on. Oslo Accords: The 2 state solution was tried to be achieved with both parties Israel and Palestine signing two subsequent accords in 1993 and 1995 respectively. With direct parties in the conflict coming to peace, India has shed its inhibition of having increasing cooperation with Israel. India’s defence requirement: With the fall of Soviet Russia, it was an imperative for India to diversify its armament supplies. In doing so it found Israel as a natural partner. Recent Developments: UNGA Resolution, 2017: India voted against the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel. UNHRC Resolution, 2018: India voted in favour of a resolution condemning use of israeli forces against the Palestinians. UNHRC Resolution, 2021: India abstained from voting in a resolution intended to set up a permanent commission to probe human rights violations in Gaza, West Bank and Palestine. Despite India voting against Israel in the UN or abstaining from voting in favour of Israel, both countries have levelled up their engagement since 1992. Pegasus row: It is spyware software manufactured by a private Israeli company. The news of Pegasus being used in India created a public uproar. Geo-strategic experts are of the view that the row won’t affect the India-Israel relationship as it’s the consenting governments who buy the software for their internal and external security. Way Forward: India and Israel need to overcome the vulnerability of their religious extremist neighbours and work productively on global issues like climate change, water scarcity, population explosion and food scarcity. A more aggressive and proactive Middle Eastern policy is the need of the hour for India to reap the maximum benefit of the geopolitical realignments gradually being brought in by the Abraham Accords. P2P contact: Despite increasing bonhomie between the two states, the people to people contact still lacks. Increased citizens engagement will give further depth to the relations between the two countries. Bigger trade volumes: Though the trade volumes between the two countries have been increasing year on year, still it’s much below its potential level. FTA should be executed soon and the trade basket must expand. Though Israel comes across as a natural partner, India should also be concerned about the human rights issues in Palestine. So far, India has been able to balance its geostrategic needs and international morality. Source: Indian Express Supreme Court on Religious Conversion Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: Recently While hearing a PIL on religious conversion, the Supreme Court said that “forced” religious conversions are “very dangerous” and may “ultimately affect the security of the nation as well as the freedom of religion and conscience of the citizens”. Mass conversions in independent India, though rare, have been acts of protest against social discrimination. The conversion of BR Ambedkar and over three lakh followers, mostly Dalits, to Buddhism in 1956. In 1982 Meenakshipuram conversions, when 180 Dalit families in a Tamil Nadu village embraced Islam, were acts of political revolt. The Supreme Court views on the Issue: The bench urged the government to “make their stand clear and file counter on what steps can be taken by Union and/or others to curb such forced conversion, maybe by force, allurement or fraudulent means”. When the court singles out the issue for its attention, asks what action the government proposes to take, it implies both that “forced” religious conversions are a significant problem and that existing laws are insufficient to deal with it. Article 25 of the Constitution says “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion”. But at least 10 states have legislated anti-conversion laws, beginning in the 1960s. The claim is that legal safeguards, including IPC provisions, have failed to stop religious conversions through “coercion”, “intimidation”, “allurement”, “threats”. However, these are loosely worded terms prone to misinterpretation. The current context of the conversion debate appears to be missionary activity in tribal areas and inter-religious marriages, labelled as “love jihad”. About Anti Conversion Laws: Princely states headed by Hindu royal families were the first to introduce laws restricting religious conversions during the British colonial era, especially during the latter half of the 1930s and 1940s. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh passed anti-conversion laws that outlaw religious conversion solely for the purpose of marriage. Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religious Ordinance, 2020 also requires a 60-days-notice. However, it also requires the Magistrate to conduct police inquiry to ascertain the real intention behind the conversion Under the Madhya Pradesh law, the burden of proving that the conversion was done in a legitimate fashion lies with the person converted. Under the law, any marriage where a husband or wife has converted (even consensually) will be declared null and void unless prior notice is given to the state government. Recent Karnataka law says any person intending to convert to another religion after the law comes into force will have to notify the district magistrate two months in advance. Judicial pronouncements on such laws: Salamat Ansari- Priyanka Kharwar case of Allahabad High Court 2020: The right to choose a partner or live with a person of choice was part of a citizen’s fundamental right to life and liberty (Article 21). Hadiya Case: Matters of dress and of food, of ideas and ideologies, of love and partnership, are within the central aspects of identity. Neither state nor the law can dictate a choice of partners or limit the free ability of every person decide on these matters S. Puttuswamy case: The autonomy of the individual is the ability to make decisions in vital matters of concern to life. Any interference by the state in an adult’s right to love and marry has a “chilling effect” on freedoms. Intimacies of marriages exist within a core zone of privacy, which is inviolable. The Uttarakhand HC, in November 2017, held that conversions for the sake of marriage “a sham” and urged the government to enact the law against such conversions. This became the basis for the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018. Sarala Mudgal case: The court had held that the religious conversion into Islam by a person from non-Islamic faith is not valid if the conversion is done for the purpose of polygamy. Way Forward: Anti-conversion laws must be backed by a concrete study on the ground-realty of forced conversions. At the same time, it is the duty of the state to enable and facilitate inter-faith/inter-caste marriages. State while enacting anti-conversion laws should also respect their Freedom to get convert and should not put any vague or ambiguous provisions for the person who wanted to convert of his own will. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights mentions everyone has the right to freedom of religion including changing their faith. Since it is a state subject, the Centre can frame a model law like Model law on contract farming etc. Source: Indian Express Appointment of VCs in State Universities Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 Education, GS 2 Governance In News: Two recent judgments of the Supreme Court of India on the appointment of vice chancellors (VC) in State universities in violation of the regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC) are significant in the context of higher education in a federal country such as India. Context: Education is a subject on the Concurrent list. Hence, both the Union and the State can legislate on the matter. A VC is appointed by the Chancellor under the relevant (State) University Act, but the Supreme Court has brought in Article 254 of the Constitution to rule that if provisions of the State law are repugnant to the provisions of the Union law, the State law will become void. Article 254 (1) states, “If any provision of a law made by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament, or to any provision of an existing law with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List, then, subject to the provisions of clause ( 2 ), the law made by Parliament shall prevail and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall, to the extent of the repugnancy, be void.” The Judgements: Framed by the Supreme Court, current issue is about whether the appointment of VCs should be made as per the UGC Regulations or the provisions of the State University Act. The Supreme Court quashed the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in the following two cases because they were against UGC regulations (Union Government). The Court declared State law was repugnant to the UGC regulations and the appointment under the State law had become void ab initio. In Gambhirdan K. Gadhvi vs The State of Gujarat(2022) on the ground – search committee did not form a panel for the appointment of VC, and, therefore, was not in accordance with the UGC Regulations of 2018. In Professor (Dr) Sreejith P.S vs Dr. Rajasree M.S. (2022) on the ground – search committee recommended only one name, which is against the UGC Regulations. This decision of the Supreme Court triggered resignation of 11 VCs of other universities of the Kerela on the ground that their appointments too had become void after the Supreme Court’s judgment. Faulty Conclusion: The Court’s conclusion that the provisions of the State University Acts are repugnant to the UGC regulations under Article 254 is faulty. First, repugnancy under Article 254 relates to a State law and a substantive law made by Parliament. Repugnancy can arise only between the provisions of the University Acts and the UGC Act, and not the regulations of the UGC. Article 254 impliedly excludes rules, regulations, etc. Rules and regulations are made by subordinate authorities like UGC The term ‘Law’ does not contain rules, regulations, etc. Second, the rules and regulations made by the subordinate authority, though laid in Parliament, do not go through the same process as a law. do not require the approval of Parliament. have an inferior status as compared to an Act. Third, the Constitution does not, in general terms, define the term law. The inclusive definition of law given in Article 13(2) is applicable only to that Article. Fourth, the regulations made by a subordinate authority of the Union overriding a law made by a State legislature will amount to a violation of federal principles and a negation of the concurrent legislative power granted to the State by the Constitution. Finally, the UGC Regulations on the appointment of VCs are outside the scope of the main provisions of the UGC Act as none of its provisions refers to the appointment of VCs. Suggestions: Regulations are not independent legislations. They should be within the scope of the parent Act as otherwise they will be ultra vires the Act. A perusal of Section 26 of the UGC Act, which empowers the UGC to make regulations, would show that the appointment of a VC is not a matter on which the UGC can make regulations. So, the UGC’s legal authority to make mandatory regulations on the appointment of VCs of State universities needs to be re-examined urgently. Article 254 needs to be analysed in depth before reaching such conclusions. Such an analysis would make it clear that a State law can be repugnant only to the central Act, and not the regulations and rules made there under. The right of States to manage university education must be preserved under the federal spirit. Reconciliation of provisions must be made by the court even when there is repugnancy. Way forward: The Supreme Court held in S. Satyapal Reddy vs Govt. Of A.P. (1994) that “the court has to make every attempt to reconcile the provisions of the apparently conflicting laws and the court would endeavour to give harmonious construction… The proper test would be whether effect can be given to the provisions of both the laws or whether both the laws can stand together”. When this is done in most of the cases, there would be no need to strike down a State law on the ground of repugnancy. Source ORF Online Baba’s Explainer – Climate Change and Global Health Climate Change and Global Health Syllabus GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Context: A recent report by Lancet, has traced in detail the intimate link between changing weather events and their impact on the health of people. The 2022 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Health at the Mercy of Fossil Fuels points out that the world’s reliance on fossil fuels increases the risk of disease, food insecurity and other illnesses related to heat. Read Complete Details on Climate Change and Global Health Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Chotanagpur Tenancy Act 1908 in India during the British rule? Johannes Baptist Hoffman Birsa Munda Lala Lajpat Rai Which of the following statements are correct? 2 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) With reference to the agrarian practices in India, the ” Khuntkatti” belongs to Chuars of Midnapore Bhils of Western Ghats Mundas of Chotanagpur Santhals of Rajmahal hills Q.3) With reference to India’s biodiversity, consider the following statements: Jim Corbett Tiger reserve spreads across two districts only. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for the Constitution of the National Board for Wildlife with the PM as its chairperson. Jim Corbett Tiger reserve included in the Project Tiger. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 2 and 3 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’17th November 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 16th November – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – a Q.2) – d Q.3) – b table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Nov 17, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Climate Change and Global Health

  ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Context: A recent report by Lancet, has traced in detail the intimate link between changing weather events and their impact on the health of people. The 2022 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Health at the Mercy of Fossil Fuels points out that the world’s reliance on fossil fuels increases the risk of disease, food insecurity and other illnesses related to heat. What does the report outline? For long, much of the world believed that those predicting the harmful effects of climate change were part of a doomsday cult with a touch of the dramatic. It is now increasingly clear that the deleterious effects of climate change not only have the potential to severely disrupt life, but that they are already upon us. Climate change is not an isolated incident or occurrence, but a global phenomenon, leaving its impact on almost every aspect of life. The 2022 Lancet Countdown report comes at a time when the world is face-to-face with the threat of climate change. It says: “Countries and health systems continue to contend with the health, social, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and persistent fossil fuel overdependence has pushed the world into global energy and cost-of-living crises. As these crises unfold, climate change escalates unabated”. The report further states that “Climate Change’s worsening impacts are increasingly affecting the foundations of human health and wellbeing, increasing the vulnerability of the world’s populations to concurrent health threats.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of health — clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. The Lancet report indicates that rapidly increasing temperatures exposed people, especially vulnerable populations (adults above 65 years old and children younger than one) to more heatwave days in 2021 than annually in 1986–2005. How is it leading to rise in infectious diseases? The changing climate is affecting the spread of infectious disease, raising the risk of emerging diseases and co-epidemics. For instance, it records that coastal waters are becoming more suited for the transmission of Vibrio pathogens. It also says that the number of months suitable for malaria transmission has increased in the highland areas of the Americas and Africa. The WHO has predicted that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 2,50,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. What about food security? Every dimension of food security is being affected by climate change. Higher temperatures threaten crop yields directly, with the growth season shortening for many cereal crops. Extreme weather events disrupt supply chains, thereby undermining food availability, access, stability, and utilisation. The prevalence of undernourishment increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and up to 161 million more people faced hunger in 2020 than in 2019. This situation is now worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the report underscores. Is the world dependent on fossil fuel? The war has led many countries to search for alternative fuels to Russian oil and gas, and some of them are still turning back to traditional thermal energy. The Lancet report argues that even if implemented as a temporary transition, the renewed demand for coal could reverse whatever gains have been made in air quality improvement and push the world towards a future of accelerated climate change that would threaten human survival. Instead, a transition to clean energy forms would undeniably be the sustainable way ahead. Are there any solutions? But the report is not all gloom and doom. A health-centred response to the coexisting climate, energy, and cost-of-living crises provides an opportunity to deliver a healthy, low-carbon future. Measuring the rising coverage of health and climate change in the media, the governments’ commitment to assess and address the threats from climate change, are positive signs, the report stresses. This is the way a health-centred response would work – it would reduce the likelihood of the most catastrophic climate change impacts, while improving energy security and creating an opportunity for economic recovery. Improvements in air quality will help prevent deaths caused due to polluted air from ambient PM2.5, and the stress on low-carbon travel and increase in urban spaces would result in promoting physical activity which would have an impact on physical and mental health. The report also calls for an accelerated transition to balanced and more plant-based diets, as that would help reduce emissions from red meat and milk production, and prevent diet-related deaths, besides substantially reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases. This sort of health-focused shifts would reduce the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, reducing the strain on health-care providers, and leading to more robust health systems. However, the data shows that the pace and scale of climate change adaptation, planning, and resilience is insufficient. In this context, the report calls for global coordination Funding Transparency Cooperation between governments, communities, civil society, businesses, and public health leaders Main Practice Question: What consequences does climate change have on global health? What measures would you suggest to deal with those consequences? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 17, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 17th November 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) – CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don’t forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today’s test 🙂After completing the 5 questions, click on ‘View Questions’ to check your score, time taken, and solutions.To take the Test Click Here

Nov 16, 2022 IASbaba's Courses

‘S-ILP 2023’ Crack UPSC Prelims in 6 Months – The Most Comprehensive Self-Study Program (English & हिन्दी) recommended by Toppers starts 5th December!

Success is a combination of – “Ideas, Planning, Strategy, Quality Approach and Guidance” If you miss any of these elements, success will be a far-fetched dream! When we asked Rank 58 – Divya Shakti, Rank 134 – Sam Varghese, Rank 169 – Ankita Mishra, Rank 189 – P K Siddharth Kumar and many more toppers from our Institute, they all said one thing – YES! What made it possible for them to say ‘YES’? Let us first understand a fairly simple but most ignored concept of ‘Success’. What is Success? Success is a combination of – Ideas + Planning + Strategy + Quality + Approach + Guidance… If you miss any of these elements, success will be a far-fetched dream! But what happens when this combination is set right? A ‘Revolution’! “A radical change in the established order”! A Change Embarked upon by Team IASbaba! While the entire coaching ecosystem revolves around classes and test series, the team at IASbaba understood one key issue – not everyone gets an equal chance. Despite being talented, immensely knowledgeable. And so Integrated Learning Programme – ILP was conceptualized – To reach the motto of IASbaba i.e., a person in the remotest corner of India can get a chance to achieve Rank – 1 Designed in a way that it respects the differences that may exist in terms of affordability, accessibility as well as time constraints, ILP is one POWER program that will power your dreams to Rank 1.  With more than 300 ranks in the last 6 years, ILP has become the most preferred choice of civil service aspirants. “This thought itself is a radical shift from old times”. What do we have in store for the UPSC Aspirant Community? ILP as a product has several components, each designed meticulously by a team of experts to ensure that you receive the best content and guidance. It has a unique self-assessment paradigm integrated with the program that keeps you on your toes, always testing your commitment to the process and outcomes. That is what we call ‘smart’ in this context. Let us be honest here: We hold a very strong belief – In your success lies the success of IASbabaIn your faith lies our determination to walk the extra mile andIn your support, lies our resolve to always keep getting better. And this ILP is even more special – because of all the qualitative upgradations that we have made! Yes, you heard it right! (Read on for the surprises) IASbaba is known for its well-targeted content amongst all the noise and content terrorism that is going on with upcoming portals, YouTube and Telegram Channels. We have helped aspirants to clear Prelims with targeted initiatives like 60 Days Plan and Integrated Learning Program (ILP) every year. We have supported thousands of candidates through ILP in the last 6-7 years. Each year we add many novel features to our offerings. This year also, we have introduced several new features to help you traverse the UPSC journey with ease and fun. As you go through the remaining write up, we expect you to keep the ‘smartness’ paradigm in mind. You will realise that each feature of ILP contributes towards this paradigm. Use it to your advantage and we are sure of your success. We have been receiving many emails and calls to start a new batch of ILP – 2023, So, we are finally here with a new batch with a new schedule for the Integrated Learning Program (S- ILP) – 2023.We are launching ‘S – ILP’ which is aimed at covering the Prelims Syllabus comprehensively in 6 months along with Sectional Tests, Exclusive Current Affairs Tests and Full Mock Tests along with CSAT Tests. Mains Exclusive Modules will be covered after the Prelims 2023 Exam.Click Here To Read The Complete Details

Nov 16, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th November 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Operation Sea Vigil Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Context: Recently the third edition of the ‘pan-India’ coastal defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-22’ is conducted by the Indian Navy. About Operation Sea Vigil: Sea Vigil is a national-level coastal defence exercise which was conceptualised in 2018 for enhancing maritime security since ‘26/11’ Mumbai terror attack. The exercise is being conducted by the Indian Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and other ministries involved in maritime activities. The exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7516-km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone of India. The exercise involves all the Coastal States and Union territories along with other maritime stakeholders, including the fishing and coastal communities. Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum Maritime Security challenges. Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX) is an inter-service military exercise conducted every two years. Additional Information: An Automatic Identification System (AIS) was made compulsory for all vessels above 20 metres after the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. A project to install transponders on small fishing vessels, under 20 metres in length was planned and the pilot started in Tamil Nadu. The transponders with positioning navigation systems have been modified into a two-way communication system in this pilot. Source: The Hindu Indian Biological Data Centre’ (IBDC) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: Union Minister of state for Science and Technology recently dedicated Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) to the nation. About Indian Biological Data Centre: The Indian Biological Data Centre is India’s first national repository for life science data. It will store all life science data generated from publicly funded research in the country. It operates with the assistance from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). In long-term, IBDC seeks to become a major data repository for all life science data originating from India. It was established at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB) in Faridabad, Haryana. It has a data “disaster recovery” site in National Informatics Centre (NIC) in Bhubaneshwar. It has a data storage capacity of around 4 petabytes. It hosts the ‘Brahm’ High Performance Computing (HPC) facility. The objectives of IBDC: Provide IT platform for archiving of biological data originating from India. Develop standard operating procedures for storing and sharing of life sciences data based on FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principle. Perform quality control and curation of data, maintain data backup and manage data life cycle. Develop web-based tools/APIs for data sharing or retrieval Organize training programme for analysing of large data and create awareness about the benefits of data sharing. Significance: At present, most Indian researchers depend on the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and National Centre for Biotechnology Information databases for storing biological data. ‘Indian Biological Data Bank’ will reduce our dependency on them. TB Bacteria sequences will help not only in understanding the spread of multi-drug and extremely drug resistant TB in the country, but also aid the search for targets for new therapies and vaccines. With genomes of humans, animals, and microbes present in the same database, it will also help researchers in studying zoonotic diseases, that is, diseases that jump from animals to humans. Source:  PIB Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment In news: The latest Climate Change Performance Index has put India eighth amongst a group of 59 countries and the European Union (which account for 92% of the total GHG emissions) Denmark and Sweden have been assessed to be the top performers this year as well. The UK has been ranked 11, Germany 16, while China and the United States are placed at 51st and 52nd ranks respectively (China has dropped 13 places). About CCPI: Published annually since 2005, it tracks countries’ efforts to combat climate change. Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network publish the index. It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries. The national performances are assessed based on 14 indicators in the following four categories: GHG emissions (weighting 40%) Renewable energy (weighting 20%) Energy use (weighting 20%) Climate policy (weighting 20%) About India’s performance: India moved up two ranks. India earns a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, with a medium for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy. The country is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below 2-degree Celsius scenario). However, the renewable energy pathway is not on track for the 2030 target. India’s upgraded NDC (nationally determined contributions) net zero target for 2070. at least 50 per cent of its electricity generation in 2030 from renewable energy sources (up from 40 per cent earlier) cuts in emissions intensity, 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, instead of the 33-35 per cent which was the earlier target. India’s climate actions were still not consistent with the 1.5-degree Celsius goal since India has plans to increase its oil and gas production by over 5 per cent by 2030. Source: Indian Express Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News: The Supreme Court of India has ruled in favour of residents of four Odisha villages (Tumulia, Jhupuranga, Ratansara and Kirpsara) whose land had been acquired by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) in 1988. The landowners will be given compensation per the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (which replaced the old Land Acquisition Act, 1894) This is the first time the State has been obligated to ensure that resettlement and rehabilitation were provided in addition to compensation. Compensation by MCL includes developing housing plots, one-time cash settlements of Rs 25 lakh and to provide employment to two members of the displaced families with other monetary and tangible benefits. About Mahanadi: It is a major river in East Central India. It arises from Raipur district of Chhatisgarh and flows for about 851 km through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and finally merged with Bay of Bengal. Its tributaries include Seonath, the Jonk, the Hasdeo, the Mand, the ib, the Ong and the Tel. Hirakud Dam is located on the river. About Coal reserves in India: India ranks 5th in terms of coal reserves in the world. A total of 326.49 Billion tonnes of reserves estimated as in 2019 by Geological Survey of India. India has 50 Gondwana coalfields (250 mn years old) and 18 Tertiary coalfields (15-60 mn years old). Gondwana coal fields make up 98% of the total coal reserves and 99% of total coal production in India. Talcher coalfield, Odisha, is having the pride of highest geological reserve of 51.220 BT in the country. Distribution of coal in India is as follows: Jharkhand coal fields are as follows: About Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL): It is one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. It was carved out of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in 1992 with its headquarters at Sambalpur. In 2019, it got Miniratna status. Joint Ventures of MCL include Mahanadi Basin Power Limited (SPV), MJSJ Coal Limited, MNH Shakti Limited, Mahanadi Coal Railway Limited. Source: Down To Earth Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following rivers: (2021) Brahamani Nagalwali Subarnarekha Vamsadhara Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats? 1 and 2 2 and 4 3 and 4 1 and 3 Urban infrastructure investment report Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: The report released by World Bank, titled ‘Financing India’s Infrastructure Needs: Constraints to Commercial Financing and Prospects for Policy Action’, estimated that India would need $840 billion over the next 15 years to meet the needs of the growing urban population India needs to increase its annual investment in city infrastructure from an average of $10.6 billion a year in the past decade to an average of $55 billion a year for the next 15 years. Findings of the report: By 2036, 600 million people will be living in urban cities in India, representing 40% of the population. Currently, the central and state governments finance over 75% of city infrastructure, while urban local bodies (ULB) finance 15% through their own surplus revenues. About half of the investment needed – $450 billion – in the next 15 years was in the basic municipal services sector, while most of the remaining amount was to address urban transport requirements. Private sector participation in urban infrastructure investments is only 5%. As per ULBs of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Over 3/4th of the total urban capital expenditure was from the Union and state governments. State governments share = 70% in Tamil Nadu and 55% in Gujarat Commercial financing share = only 1% in Gujarat, while 12% in Tamil Nadu Commercial financing means primarily loans from state-controlled financial institutions. Between 2011 and 2018, urban property tax stood at 0.15% of GDP compared to an average of 0.3-0.6% of GDP for low and middle-income countries. Low service charges for municipal services also undermines their financial viability and attractiveness to private investment. Recommendations of the World Bank Making the transfer of funds to cities formula-based and unconditional and increasing the mandates of city agencies gradually removing market frictions that cities face in accessing private financing. Source Indian Express NMFT conference Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: The Third Ministerial ‘No Money for Terror (NMFT)’ Conference will be hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, with representatives of 75 countries and global bodies. Previous conferences were held in Paris (in 2018) and Melbourne (in 2019). About NMFT conference: Aim: To discuss key issues including use of dark web, virtual assets, crowdfunding platforms, Money Transfer Service Scheme and hawala networks by terrorist entities To discuss global trends in terrorism and terrorist financing, the use of formal and informal channels of funding terrorism, emerging technologies and terrorist financing, and requisite international cooperation to address related challenges The declaration acknowledged the “essential” role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in this regard and asked member states to enhance the traceability and transparency of financial transactions. About Dark Web: The dark web is the part of the World Wide Web (or the Internet) that isn’t indexed by search engines. It uses a technology called “onion routing,” which protects users from surveillance and tracking through a random path of encrypted servers. Such as , when users access a site through Tor, their information is routed through thousands of relay points that cover the user’s tracks and make their browsing virtually impossible to trace. People use the dark web for both legal and illegal purposes. Illegal uses include buying and selling of illegal drugs, weapons, passwords, and stolen identities, as well as the trading of illegal pornography and other potentially harmful materials as well as malware, DOS attacks, espionage, etc. The dark web’s anonymity has also led to cybersecurity threats and various data breaches. MUST READ:  FATF Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements: (2022) Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data. In Web 3-0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks. Web 3-0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Sovereign Green Bonds (SGB) Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 (Economy) and GS 3 (Environment) Context: The Government and the RBI have decided to issue sovereign green bonds during Q4 of FY23. The finance minister in her Budget 2022 speech announced the government’s promise to issue a sovereign green bond to boost green investment. About Bond: A bond is a fixed-income instrument that represents a loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically corporate or governmental). A bond could be thought of as an (I owe you) I.O.U. between the lender and borrower that includes the details of the loan and its payments. Bonds are used by companies, municipalities, states, and sovereign governments to finance projects and operations. Owners of bonds are debtholders, or creditors, of the issuer. About Sovereign Green Bonds: It is a type of fixed-income instrument that is specifically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental projects. The first green bond was issued in 2007 by the European Investment Bank, the EU’s lending arm. This was followed a year later by the World Bank. Since then, many governments and corporations have entered the market to finance green projects. As a part of the Government’s overall market borrowings in 2022-23, sovereign green bonds will be issued for mobilising resources for green infrastructure. A project is classified “green” on the basis of four key principles. These include: encouraging energy efficiency in resource utilisation, reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, promoting climate resilience and improving natural ecosystems and biodiversity, especially in accordance with SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). Aims and Objectives of SGB: They are aimed at energy efficiency, pollution prevention, sustainable agriculture, fishery and forestry, the protection of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, clean transportation, clean water, and sustainable water management. They also finance the cultivation of environmentally friendly technologies and the mitigation of climate change. How are they different from conventional government bonds? Government bonds or government securities (G-Secs) are normally categorised into two — Treasury Bills and Dated or Long-Term Securities. Treasury Bills have a maturity of less than one year and they do not carry coupon rates. These are issued at a discount, while redeemed at face value. Dated Or Long-term securities are issued for a period above 1 year and up to 40 years. These bonds carry coupon rates and are tradable in the securities market. SGB is one form of dated security. It will have a tenor and interest rate. Money raised through SGrB is part of overall government borrowing. SGB may carry lower interest rate than that for regular government borrowings. The government and the RBI decided to borrow ₹5.92 lakh crore in H2 FY23 through dated securities, including ₹16,000 crore through issuance of SGBs. Benefits of investing in Sovereign green bonds: Environmental causes: green bonds provide a way to help environmental causes through investing. Buying a green bond might be too costly for retail investors: Still there are green bonds that make it easy to invest in baskets of green bonds. Exemption from taxes: green bonds provide you with a way to earn income that is exempt from taxes. No Harm: The money that is being invested is being used in a way that is not harmful. Fight climate change: The green angle attracts a growing number of people who are more aware of and want to act to help fight climate change. Higher demand for green bonds equals lower cost of money which means reduced spending for business: These savings are passed on to the investor in the form of a dividend or used to lower the cost of funds thus increasing profitability. Some issuers also use the money to help restore water habitats and biomes and to take steps to reduce carbon output: These bonds tend to carry the same credit rating as other debts issued by the same firm. Longer maturities can lower the borrowing cost for green projects: Sovereign green bonds have been issued with an average tenor of 14 years the longest being 40 years issued by the Chilean government in 2021 drawing long-term investors like pension funds, insurers and those with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Challenges associated with Sovereign Green Bonds: Borrowing programme: The government has a gross borrowing programme of around 14.95-lakh crore. But in this case, there will be earmarking of the amount raised to specific targeted projects. Therefore, the crux is that the recipients of such funds should be compliant. Monitoring challenge: There would be a challenge with respect to monitoring how this green grading performs. This will be a challenge until such time the system of evaluation is streamlined as deviations from the norm are hard to capture. Pricing issue: Should they be lower than the regular bond or higher is the major question here. Ideally, it needs to be higher; this is because investors need to be rewarded for choosing to promote ESG goals. On the other side it can be argued that the rates can be lower than normal because investors like to reward green projects, anyway. Overseas launch: The downside is that once the government goes global, then credit rating will matter a lot as all bonds issued globally need to be rated. Once one is rated by them, there is constant scrutiny on domestic policies. Presently, this does not matter because the government of India does not borrow from the overseas market. Way Forward: Centre’s approval to the framework for sovereign green bonds will definitely solidify India’s commitment towards its Nationally Determined Contribution targets. The flows from green bonds could be derailed for some time due to the war between Ukraine and Russia but over the long term we should be moving ahead fast in reshaping the climate debate and ensuring more funding for climate friendly initiatives. Developing markets, including Serbia, Nigeria, Egypt, Colombia, Fiji, Indonesia and Benin, have also issued sovereign green bonds. The proceeds were allocated to climate mitigation or adaptation projects. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the India economy, what are the advantages of “Inflation-Indexed Bonds (IIBs)”? Government can reduce the coupon rates on its borrowing by way of IIBs. IIGs provide protection to the investors from uncertainty regarding inflation. The interest received as well as capital gains on IIBs are not taxable. Which of the statements given above are correct? (2022) 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Need for Judicial accountability and judicial independence in India Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: In recent times, Judicial accountability and judicial independence are seen as the opposite concept but it is necessary to ensure a balance between them. Meaning of Judicial Accountability: The term judicial accountability means that the judges are responsible for the decisions they deliver. It also means that Judges be held accountable for their conduct. The Judiciary is not subjected to the same level of accountability as the Executive or the Legislative wings of the Government. The reason is that the principles of Judicial Independence and Accountability are sometimes regarded as fundamentally opposed to one another. Judicial independence is considered ‘an essential pillar of liberty and the rule of law’. So, if Judiciary is made accountable to the Legislature or the Executive it will impact its Independence. So special provisions have been provided to ensure judicial accountability. Provision of Judicial Accountability: The Constitution of India provides for the removal of the judges of the Supreme Court of India (Article 124 of the Indian Constitution) and the High Courts (Article 124) for misbehaviour and incapacity by means of impeachment. Article 235 of the Constitution provides for the ‘control’ of the High Court over the subordinate judiciary. It provides an effective mechanism to enforce the accountability of the lower judiciary. In 1997, the Supreme Court of India adopted a Charter called the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life. The behavior and conduct of members of the higher judiciary must reaffirm the people’s faith in the impartiality of the judiciary. Need to Enhance Judicial Accountability: Speedy Justice: Speedy justice is not only our fundamental right but also a prerequisite for maintaining the rule of law and delivering good governance. Impartial Functioning: It will help in ensuring an impartial functioning that would augment public trust in the institution of the judiciary. No Legal Obligation: Unlike the executive, the judiciary is not under any legal obligation to prepare annual reports or table them before Parliament or the State Legislature. Guardian of the Constitution: Judicial accountability is more important, as the derogation of values in the judiciary is far more dangerous than in any other wing of the government as the judiciary has to act as the guardian of our constitution. Narrow scope of the RTI: The scope of information which the courts are willing to share under RTI is not too wide. Public Confidence: The judiciary as an institution needs to preserve its independence, and to do this it must strive to maintain the confidence of the public in the established courts. Not under the direct control of SC: Under our constitutional scheme the high courts are autonomous constitutional bodies not subject to administrative directions of the Supreme Court. Challenges in enhancing Judicial Accountability: The most important challenge for the regulation of judicial accountability is that the judiciary is an independent organ and the independence of the judges cannot be done away with. Any attempt to make the Judiciary accountable to the Legislature or Executive will make it susceptible to external pressure. It is very difficult to balance the Judicial Accountability vis-a-vis Judicial Independence. There exists no other way in which a judge can be removed except through impeachment and the process is long and complex. Due to this, it is difficult to augment judicial accountability. Again, the process can’t be diluted as it will impinge on judicial independence. Moreover, the SC and HC have the power of contempt that prevent imposition of anything on the judiciary without their consent. The judiciary is the final interpreter of laws, policies, rules etc. and can easily strike down anything as per its will. Way Forward: The Supreme Court should be entrusted with direct responsibility for the functioning of the high courts. Only then can the highest court be an effective apex court, only then can the Supreme Court be made answerable, as it should be, for judicial governance for the entire country. Judges of the court must make annual financial disclosure statements, not privately to their respective chief justices, but publicly as done by the world’s oldest democracy, the USA. Judges must set an example for ministers, central and state, for members of Parliament and of state legislatures, and for all high officials of government, to follow. Judicial accountability should be ensured by enacting a law on the lines of the American model. Lot of care needs to be exercised so that the anti-corruption measures taken do not undermine the independence of the judiciary. The actual challenge is to grant as much judicial independence as is necessary to have cases adjudicated impartially and neutrally. Maintaining this equilibrium between accountability and independence is the real task at hand. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Indian Judiciary, consider the following statements. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit by the Chief Justice of India with prior permission of the President of India. A High court in India has the power to review its own judgement as the Supreme Court does. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Inclusive Growth Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 Economy, Science and Technology Context: The use of technology in financial inclusion stands to be pertinent in today’s context as it paves the way towards inclusive growth through the upliftment of disadvantaged sections of society. Globally, from 51 percent in 2011, over 76 percent of adults now have a bank or mobile account. In addition, more than 80 nations have introduced digital financial services, some of which have attained a sizable market, including those utilising mobile devices. As a result, millions of formerly excluded clients are switching from only using cash for formal financial transactions to using digital banking services over mobile phones or other devices. What is financial inclusion: Financial inclusion refers to the availability to both individuals and companies of useful and cost-effective financial goods and services. This includes payments, transactions, savings, credit, and insurance, that are sustainably and ethically provided. It allows social mobility and empower individuals and foster communities. It aids in promoting economic growth by launching and grow enterprises through utilising credit and insurance. Enhance overall quality of life by making investments in their children’s or own health or education, manage risk, and recover from financial setbacks, all of which can Impediments to financial inclusion: Urban-Rural Digital Divide: Only 4.4% rural families have computers, compared to 14.4% of urban households and 14.9 percent of rural homes have internet connectivity, compared to 42 percent of families in metropolitan regions. Only 13 percent of adults in rural regions have access to the internet, compared to 37 percent in metropolitan areas. Nearly 80% of the population has a bank account but Indians are still not fully integrated into the formal banking system. Almost 18 percent (81.38 million) of bank accounts are inoperative, having “zero balance” 38 percent of accounts are inactive, which means that there have been no deposits or withdrawals in the past year more than 310 million individuals needing a basic cell phone which prevents account holders from receiving crucial information, such as details relating to account transactions. Increasing dependency on local agents because financial institutions are less willing to deliver messages for transactions of small quantities. Complicated banking procedures such as requiring identity credentials and maintaining a specific balance in an account. Access to credit is low small-time lenders charge high-interest rates in rural regions. Government programmes are yet to reach more remote areas to improve loan availability efficiently. Individuals find that online loans need more options from reliable financial institutions or digital lending. Limited access to computer and communication technologies due to low affordability and knowledgeable to utilise the internet. Lack of financial literacy causes low potential to maximise technological interventions. About 266 million adults are illiterate. Financial cyber-crimes are peaking in proportion to the growing distrust among rural residents, leading to lower adoption rates and a 6-percent jump in cybercrimes in the same year. Burden of providing diversified content across different regions, as individuals across India have different mother tongues. Personal Identifiable Information (PII) guidelines are not strictly enforced, causing large quantities of data readily accessible to numerous parties, raising serious concerns about data privacy. This includes Mobile numbers and Know Your Customer (KYC) Data. Few business correspondents’ (BCs) agents secretly record biometric information in clay, where they would subsequently recreate it for fraudulent purposes. Suggestions towards inclusion: Technological advancements through various e-governance schemes such as GeM portal. Robust policy framework focused on the needs of citizens and the disadvantaged: Information and Communication Technology policies are primarily top-down and supply-focused. These policies should focus on digital inclusion strategies to ensure that rural areas can access proper internet connectivity. To ensure digital financial inclusion encourage the middle-aged bracket to educate themselves in reading and writing to use the various facilities they provide. Government websites to have information in multiple tongues, keeping in mind the language barrier and access to technology. To combat financial fraud, implementing a one-to-one Management of Financial Services (MFS) agent mentorship programme that focuses on vulnerable populations and teaches them the fundamentals of mobile and online interaction is possible. Removing barriers to financial service access for low-income persons by reducing transaction costs could facilitate increased participation, as observed in Nepal, where free and easily accessible accounts were more prevalent among women. Way forward: The inability of the country to adapt to robust telecommunication infrastructure with a stable broadband internet connection and lack of access to technology has widened social exclusions already present and deprive people of necessary resources. The digital divide affects every area of life, including literacy, wellness, mobility, security, access to financial services, etc. Therefore, for a fast-growing nation such as India, the focus needs to shift from simple economic growth to equitable and inclusive growth. Source ORF Online Baba’s Explainer – Importance of agri exports Importance of agri exports Syllabus GS-3: Agriculture; transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints 
 GS-3: Effects of liberalization on the economy Context: India’s agriculture exports have grown 16.5% year-on-year in April-September, and look set to surpass the record $50.2 billion achieved in 2021-22 (April-March). Interestingly, even commodities whose exports have been subjected to curbs — wheat, rice and sugar — have shown impressive jumps in shipments. Read Complete Details on Importance of agri exports Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) With reference to “Climate Change Performance Index,” consider the following statements: It is released by the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network. It is a biannual publication which was first released in 2005. India is ranked 10th in the latest CCPI. Which of the following statements are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) The report “Financing India’s Urban Infrastructure Needs” is published by the International Monetary Fund United Nations Conference on Trade and Development World Economic Forum World Bank Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding Indian Biological Data Centre’ (IBDC): The Indian Biological Data Centre is India’s first national repository for life science data established in Bengaluru. It operates with the assistance from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’16th November 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 15th November – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – a Q.3) – c table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Nov 16, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16th November 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) – CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don’t forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today’s test 🙂After completing the 5 questions, click on ‘View Questions’ to check your score, time taken, and solutions. To take the Test Click Here

Nov 16, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Importance of agri exports

  ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-3: Agriculture; transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints 
 GS-3: Effects of liberalization on the economy Context: India’s agriculture exports have grown 16.5% year-on-year in April-September, and look set to surpass the record $50.2 billion achieved in 2021-22 (April-March). Interestingly, even commodities whose exports have been subjected to curbs — wheat, rice and sugar — have shown impressive jumps in shipments. Are exports growing despite restrictions being imposed by government? The government had, on May 13, banned the export of wheat. Yet, according to Commerce Ministry data, wheat exports, at 90 lakh tonnes (lt) during the April-September 2022 period, were nearly twice the 23.76 lt for the same period last year. On May 24, sugar exports were moved from the “free” to “restricted” list. Also, total exports for the 2021-22 sugar year (October-September) were capped at 100 lt. Sugar exports, likewise, grew 45.5% in value terms to $2.65 billion during April-September, and are on course to exceed the all-time-high of $4.6 billion reached in the 2021-22 fiscal year. On September 8, exports of broken rice were prohibited, and a 20% duty slapped on all other non-parboiled non-basmati shipments. Despite these measures, non-basmati exports have risen from 82.26 lt in April-September 2021 to 89.57 lt in April-September 2022, alongside that of basmati rice (from 19.46 lt to 21.57 lt). What is happening at the imports side? The impressive growth in exports is, however, offset somewhat by imports that have surged even more. The above table captures trends in India’s farm products exports over the past decade. 2021-22, one can see, registered both record exports ($50.2 billion) as well as imports ($32.4 billion). The resultant surplus of $17.8 billion was much below the $27.7 billion surplus in the previous all-time-high export year of 2013-14. The first six months of the current fiscal have seen the surplus narrow further- — the reason being imports grew at a faster rate (27.7%) than exports (16.5%). The surplus in agricultural trade matters because this is one sector, apart from software services, where India has some comparative advantage. Agricultural trade surplus will help in narrowing the India’s overall trade deficit. India’s deficit in its overall merchandise trade account (exports minus imports of goods) widened from $76.25 billion in April-September 2021 to $146.55 billion in April-September this year. What are India’s top agri-export items? The above table shows India’s top agriculture export items. As many as 15 of them individually grossed more than $1 billion in revenue during 2021-22. All barring two (cotton and spices) have posted positive growth in the first half of the current fiscal too. In cotton, not only have exports collapsed from over $1.1 billion in April-September 2021 to $436 million in April-September 2022, imports have increased from below $300 million to $1.1 billion. This has primarily been due to lower domestic production caused by untimely rains forcing mills to import. In the process, India has turned a net cotton importer. Equally interesting is spices, where India’s exports in recent times have been powered mainly by chilli, mint products, oils & oleoresins, cumin, turmeric, and ginger. On the other hand, in traditional plantation spices such as pepper and cardamom, the country has become as much an importer as an exporter. India has been out-priced by Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Brazil in pepper, while it has lost market share to Guatemala in cardamom. Another traditional export item where India has largely turned an importer is cashew. In 2021-22, the country’s cashew exports were valued at $453.08 million, compared to imports of $1.26 billion. How is Vegetable oil tilting the agricultural trade balance? Almost 60% of India’s total agri imports is accounted for by a single commodity: vegetable oils. Their imports were valued at a massive $19 billion in 2021-22, and imports have increased by more than 25% in the first half of this fiscal. Vegetable oils are today the country’s fifth biggest import item after petroleum, electronics, gold, and coal. This explains two major decisions taken by the government recently. The first is the raising of the minimum support price of mustard from Rs 5,050 to Rs 5,450 per quintal for the 2022-23 crop season. This increase, over is more than that declared for wheat (from Rs 2,015 to Rs 2,125 per quintal). The second decision has been to grant clearance (“environmental release”) for commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) hybrid mustard. Seed yields from the transgenic mustard DMH-11, bred by Delhi University scientists, are claimed to be 25-30% more than from currently-grown popular varieties. A similar approach, aimed at boosting domestic output and yields, may be required in cotton. Insect pest-resistant GM Bt technology helped nearly treble India’s cotton production from 140 lakh bales in 2000-01 to 398 lakh bales in 2013-14, and exports to peak at $4.33 billion in 2011-12. Production has since been falling, touching a 12-year low in 2021-22, even as India has turned a net importer. All these reinforces the fact that government must start focusing on domestic production and productivity, while not blocking technologies that enable these. What initiatives have been taken for the export promotion of agricultural and processed food? B2B Exhibitions: Organising B2B (Business to Business) exhibitions in different countries, exploring new potential markets through product-specific and general marketing campaigns by the active involvement of Indian Embassies. Agriculture Export Policy 2018: Key objectives of the AEP are to diversify export basket and destinations, to boost high value-added agricultural exports, to promote indigenous, organic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports. Financial Assistance Scheme: It is an export promotion scheme by (APEDA). The primary aim of this scheme is to assist businesses in export infrastructure development, quality development and market development. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under APEDA Act, 1985. It is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the scheduled products. GI and Other Initiatives: Several initiatives have also been taken to promote products having registered Geographical Indications (GI) in India by organizing virtual Buyer Seller Meets on agricultural and food products with the United Arab Emirates and on GI products, including handicrafts with the USA. Main Practice Question: How has liberalisation impacted India’s agricultural trade policy? What are the headwinds that Indian agri-exports faces in the near future? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Nov 15, 2022 IASbaba's Courses

[EVENING BATCH] Baba’s GURUKUL FOUNDATION for Working Professionals and Students ’– UPSC/IAS 2023 & 2024 – Above & Beyond Regular Coaching! – New Batch Starts 28th November!

From the ancient times we have had the tradition of imparting knowledge directly from a Guru to Shishya. The process of this direct dissipation of information from the source not only built knowledge base but also helped in building a strong character’ in the students. THE MECHANISM WAS CALLED ‘GURUKUL’ Where students were like the family of a Guru.  But with the present education system, students have become more distant from the teachers. There is a strong dis-connect! This lack of connection between the teachers and the students and fear of asking questions has not helped much in the process of learning as it should have actually happened. Considering the impact and efficiency of the age-old practice, we decided to revive the good old structure of Gurukul with modern changes to continue the Guru – Shishya Parampara. So, what made this Gurukul unique? It was the special bond that the Guru and Shishya used to share with each other. The affection of the Guru for his pupil and the respect of the Shishya for his teacher made learning a pure and immersive process. The stories of teachers like Vishvamitra, Sandinapani and Drona and the anecdotes about the brilliance of students like Ram, Krishna and Arjun are an integral part of our life journey. Isn’t it? We wondered if the parampara could be revived! Yes, it could! With this intent we started the Gurukul program two years back at IASbaba. When we started this initiative, we were very sure that the process will be liked by the students and most importantly it will become the most result-oriented program in the history of UPSC/IAS coaching. The result of the first batch exceeded our own expectations! 3 Ranks out of 50 Students, 40% Success rate in Prelims, 33% Success rate in Mains. Yes! We are in the process of making your UPSC journey a more intimate one. We are going to redefine the relationship between the teacher and the students to ensure that the UPSC aspirants get an opportunity to prepare in a highly focussed environment, under the close guidance of a Guru. Although it would be unfair to expect the same level of dedication and discipline in today’s modern times, in terms of its overall essence and objectives, we can always make an honest attempt to create a milieu where the benefits of Guru-Shishya parampara can be reaped in a modern avatar.Click Here To Read The Complete Details