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[INTERVIEW] ‘Simplifying Interview Preparation’ by Mohan Sir @ BENGALURU, DELHI & ONLINE! Part of the Interview Mentorship Program (IMP)

Dear Students Thank You for the Overwhelming Response and Heartwarming Feedback on our DAF -II Sessions with Serving IAS Officers and One-One DAF Sessions with Mohan Sir (Founder IASbaba).  The Personality Tests/Interview is set to start very soon and one should start with the Interview Preparation right away without wasting any more time.Before you start your journey, please understand that your personality is composed of many aspects, so to simplify this, we are coming up with ‘Simplifying Interview Preparation’ by Mohan Sir’. In this session, Sir will be dealing with  How to start with the interview preparation? How to handle controversial questions ? How to Score 190+ in an Interview? How many Mocks to take? Thumb rules to be followed during the preparation process Attitude & Mindset required during the preparation process & on the day of the interview. Myths & Common Mistakes committed by students DAF Questionnaire The Sessions will be held in BANGALORE, DELHI, and ONLINE. BANGALORE AND ONLINE DATE - 17th DECEMBER (SATURDAY) @ 11 AM. VENUE - IASBABA's BANGALORE HEADQUARTERS. CONTACT - 9019276822 (Zoom Link will be shared with Registered Students) DELHI DATE - 19th DECEMBER (MONDAY) @ 11 AM. VENUE - IASBABA's DELHI CENTRE:  Plot 22-B, 3rd floor, Pusa Road, Bada Bazar Marg, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi- 110060 Landmark: Above Dominos CONTACT - 8077036613 REGISTER HERE FOR THE SESSION - CLICK HERE For further queries with regard to the IMP Programme, you can mail us at imp@iasbaba.com or call us on 80770 36613(10 am to 5:30 pm). All the Best IASbaba Team

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th December 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Sixth schedule Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity In News: Several political groups in Ladakh have been demanding Statehood and possible inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, on the lines of Jammu & Kashmir. In 2021, Ladakh’s only member in the Lok Sabha, the BJP’s Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, demanded constitutional safeguards by amending the Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Council (LAHDC) Act for the protection of land, employment, and the cultural identity of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule The Sixth Schedule: It is under Article 244 It applies to Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram (three Councils each), and Tripura (one Council). It provides for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions — Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) — that have some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state. ADCs have up to 30 members with a term of five years. ADCs can make laws, rules, and regulations with regard to land, forest, water, agriculture, village councils, health, sanitation, village- and town-level policing, inheritance, marriage and divorce, social customs and mining, The Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam is an exception with more than 40 members and the right to make laws on 39 issues. Aim: protects tribal population and inclusion in socio-economic development. Ladakh’s situation: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs tabled a report in the Rajya Sabha which said that, according to the 2011 Census, the tribal population in the Union Territory of Ladakh is 2,18,355, that is 61% of the total population of 2,74,289. Ladakh administration had recently increased the reservation for Scheduled Tribes in direct recruitment from 10% to 45%. The committee recommended that special status may be granted to the Union Territory of Ladakh considering the developmental requirements of the tribal population. The Committee further recommends that the possibility of including Ladakh in fifth or sixth Schedule may be examined. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (2020) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people. This would create a local self-governing body in that area. This would convert that area into a Union Territory. The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State. Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance (PTUAS) Scheme Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: MSMEs have availed the benefit under erstwhile PTUAS scheme. PTUAS scheme: PTUAS is a credit linked scheme. It is a sub-scheme under the Scheme – Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI). SIDBI is the Project Management Consultant (PMC) of the scheme Aim – to facilitate MSMEs of proven track record to meet national and international regulatory standards (WHO-GMP or Schedule-M) It includes interest subvention or capital subsidy on their capital loans, which will further facilitate the growth in volumes as well as in quality It is envisaged to support about 400 Pharma MSME units under this sub-scheme during the scheme tenure. Further, one national and 10 State level outreach events were conducted, involving the State Governments and Pharma Industry Associations for maximum outreach and awareness for larger participation by Pharma MSME industries to avail the scheme benefits. Details are available at https://spi.udyamimitra.in SPI (umbrella) scheme: It was launched in July 2022. The SPI has a financial outlay of Rs. 500 crores and with a tenure from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025-26 Aim of SPI to provide infrastructure support for pharma MSMEs in clusters to address the issues of technology upgradation of individual pharma MSMEs It has following three components Assistance to Pharmaceutical Industry for Common Facilities (API-CF) Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS) Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices Promotion and Development Scheme (PMPDS) Source: PIB Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to ‘Stand Up India Scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016) Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. It provides for refinance through SIDBI. Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither1 nor 2 Factors of production Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy Factors of production (FOP): These are resources that are the basic building blocks of production in any economy. They are basic inputs that are necessary for producing any good or service that is useful to final consumers. Land, labour, capital, and material are widely considered to be the three main factors of production. Others may include time and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is considered to be the most crucial factor of production that brings together the other three factors. It may involve an element of uncertainty due to time factor and can be seen as the product of mixing the three primary factors of production, namely land, labour, and time. An entrepreneur’s ideas can be considered fundamentally to be a form of labour as well. And the real estate and other materials the entrepreneur personally uses for work can be classified as land. Ownership of FOP – Marxist economists FOP need to be collectively owned by the state. This was the driving philosophy behind centrally planned economies like the erstwhile Soviet Union in contrast to economies Private ownership of the factors of production leads to the exploitation of labour supplied by the working class and the mismanagement of scarce resources. Stale planners can overcome both these problems by framing a proper collective economic plan. Free market economists: Believe in private ownership of all factors of production in an economy. Private ownership offers resource owners the incentive to use the factors of production most efficiently, both in terms of avoiding unnecessary wastage and extracting the most value out of limited resources. In the United States factors of production are largely owned by private individuals or groups. Source: The Hindu ‘Gokul Grams’ under Rashtriya Gokul Mission Open in new window Syllabus Prelims: Agriculture & Allied Sectors Context: Funds have been set up for setting up of 16 “Gokul Grams” Aim: Conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds in a scientific and holistic manner. By: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying The Impact Milk production in the country has increased from 146.31 Million Tonnes in 2014-15 to 220.78 Million in 2021-22 that is by 6.3% per annum during the last 8 years. Value of output of milk is more than Rs.9.32 lakh crore during 2021-22 which is the highest on all agriculture products and is even more than the combined value of Paddy and Wheat. Playing an important role in enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet the growing demand of milk Making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country. Leading to multiplication of elite animals of indigenous breeds and increased availability of indigenous stock. Source: PIB Agristack Project Open in new window Syllabus Prelims: Policies and Interventions Context: The Department has commenced the work for creating Agristack and has finalized the core concept of “India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA)” which lays down a framework for Agristack. Agristack is a federated structure and ownership of data is with the States only. Access to federated Farmers’ database is with Government only. No private company is involved in developing the federated Farmers’ database. What is Agristack? AgriStack is a collection of technologies and digital databases that focuses on farmers and the agricultural sector. AgriStack will create a unified platform for farmers to provide them end to end services across the agriculture food value chain. It is in line with the Centre’s Digital India programme, aimed at providing a broader push to digitise data in India, from land titles to medical records. Each farmer will have a unique digital identification (farmers’ ID) that contains personal details, Each ID will be linked to the individual’s digital national ID Aadhaar. Benefits Problems such as inadequate access to credit and information, pest infestation, crop wastage, can be addressed by use of digital technology It will increase innovation and investment towards the agricultural sector Focus Areas: For consolidating Agri ecosystem across the value chain (farm to fork) to empower the farmer using data analytics in 100 villages. For the establishment & launch of “Nation Agriculture Geo Hub” and for using their ‘ArcGIS’ platform enabling a GIS layer over farmers’ database. For digital services across the agri value chain and creating an innovation ecosystem around digital agriculture For collaborating with the department of agriculture for a pilot project to promote digital agriculture For farm management and farmers’ service For taking up primary intervention module, i.e., advisory (basic as well as advanced) service in first phase For building a customized ‘site specific crop advisory’ service and digitization of dairy value chain and support wheat crop operations For conceptualizing a proof of concept in effective knowledge sharing between farmers, administration, academia and industry For a digital marketplace to contribute effectively towards increasing the income of farmers and improve farm efficiency/efficiency of the agriculture sector For developing and hosting the agri marketplace platform Scale the pest management solution for cotton farmers to about 50,000 lead farmers and 500000+ cascade farmers in 2022 Kharif season. Create AI/ML solution. Source: PIB India likely to be first to hold satellite spectrum auction Open in new window Syllabus Prelims: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space In News: India will be the first country to auction spectrum for satellite communication (SatCom). TRAI is working on a model for the auction of space spectrum – to encourage and promote investment in the sector Working on seeking permissions for satellite communication from various Ministries — Information and Broadcasting, Space and Telecom –to seamlessly enhance ease of doing business in the sector. The Way Forward Should be designed to attract investments in the sector TRAI to come up with a consultation paper on the spectrum auction as per the standard process meant for satellite communication. Note: While telecom operators have proposed allocation of spectrum through an auction for satellite communication, satellite industry players have opposed it. What is a Communications Satellite? It is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications. The GSAT (Geostationary Satellite) satellites are India’s indigenously developed communications satellites, used for digital audio, data and video broadcasting. Working of a Communication satellite  A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunications signals through a transponder. It basically creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on earth. Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications. There are currently 2,134 communications satellites in the earth’s orbit and these comprise both private and government organizations. Several are in geostationary orbit 22,236 miles (35,785 km) above the equator, so that the satellite appears stationary at the same point in the sky. The orbital period of these satellites is the same as the rotation rate of the Earth, which in turn allows the satellite dish antennas of ground stations to be aimed permanently at that spot; they do not have to move along and track it. Since the high frequency radio waves used for telecommunications links travel by line of sight, they get obstructed by the curve of the earth. What these communications satellites do is they relay the signal around the curve of the earth thus making possible communication between widely removed geographical points. Communications satellites use a wide range of radio and microwave frequencies. To avoid signal interference, international organizations have regulations stating which frequency ranges (or bands) certain organizations are permitted to use. This allocation of bands reduces the chances of signal interference. Source: The Hindu Stiff-Person Syndrome Open in new window Syllabus Prelims: Current Affairs Context: French-Canadian singer Celine Dion has opened up about being diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological condition that makes the muscles spasm uncontrollably. Stiff-Person Syndrome It is a syndrome of fluctuating but progressive muscle stiffness and spasm that preferentially affects axial (back and abdominal) muscles It is a central nervous system disorder, meaning encephalomyelopathy, in which myelopathic features predominate in most patients. It frequently affects women with a median onset of 35 to 40 years of age What are its causes? Spasms occur at any random time and can be triggered by loud noises, touch, and emotional distress. Autoimmune disease is caused by antibodies to proteins, resulting in impaired GABAergic (Gamma amino butyric acid) inhibition of the motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It is associated with GAD65 (Glutamic acid decarboxylase) and amphiphysin antibodies. 70 per cent of patients with GAD antibodies have diabetes mellitus as comorbidity. It is associated with other autoimmune diseases like cerebellitis, myasthenia gravis, hypo/hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus The malignancies associated with stiff-person syndrome are breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and small cell carcinoma of the lung Common Symptoms SPS is known to affect the body posture of a person due to severe pain and stiffness in muscles in the trunk (torso), arms and legs. But symptoms can also include a person having greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress Treatment Since it is a rare disease with heterogenous clinical manifestations, the diagnosis may be delayed by an average of six years following symptom onset Treatment involves the use of both symptomatic agents to enhance GABAergic influences and Immuno modulating treatment aimed at the autoimmune basis of the disease. In patients with paraneoplastic Stiff Person Syndrome, identification and eradication of the underlying malignancy can alleviate symptoms Source: The Indian Express Remission of a crime Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 Polity and Governance In News: Supreme Court judge, Justice Bela M. Trivedi recused herself from hearing a writ petition filed by Bilkis Bano against a Gujarat government decision to prematurely release 11 men sentenced to life imprisonment for gang-raping her during the 2002 riots. The convicts were released under the Premature release policy of the Gujarat 1992. Context: Bano has argued that the early release of the convicts amounted to a violation of her fundamental right to life. She has said the remission policy of the State of Maharashtra, where the trial happened, and not Gujarat would have governed the case. The Government of India conveyed the concurrence/approval of the Central government under Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for premature release of 11 prisoners. Bilkis Bano case: Bilkis Bano and her family were attacked in 2002 Gujarat Riots. She was gangraped and seven of her family members were murdered. The Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the incident and arrests were made in 2004. In 2008, the Special CBI Court in Mumbai sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charges of conspiring to rape a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under the Indian Penal Code. One of the convicts had approached the Supreme Court for the remission of his sentence. This plea led to the remission of the sentences of the 11 convicts. The apex court directed the Gujarat government to look into the issue of remission, following which the government formed a committee. Following the recommendation of the committee, the government decided to release the convicts. Rules of Remission: Life imprisonment means convicts remain in jail for the whole of their life. However, they can be released by the State and Central governments but not before they complete 14 years, by remitting the remaining prison term. Judicial decisions advocate both subjective and objective norms for remission. Courts have ruled that remission should be informed, fair and reasonable, and not arbitrary; that it should not undermine the nature of the crime. In Laxman Naskar vs Union of India (2000), the Supreme Court laid down five considerations: whether the offence is an individual act of crime that does not affect society; whether there is a chance of the crime being repeated in future; whether the convict has lost the potentiality to commit crime; whether any purpose is being served in keeping the convict in prison; socio-economic conditions of the convict’s family. A remission panel usually consists of government officials, officers in charge of parole, rehabilitation and probation of offenders and prison officials. Section 432(7) of the CrPC says the appropriate government will be “the State within which the offender is sentenced or the said order is passed”. Challenges: Brutal and horrific nature of the crime of gang-rape. Against Current remission policy (2014) – It bars those found guilty of heinous crimes from being given remission. “Prisoner convicted for murder with rape or gang rape” are not eligible Absence of mandatory consultation required under Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), in a case investigated by the CBI, prior to remission. However, the remission has been granted by the Gujarat government without consulting the Centre. The Supreme Court has also ruled that ‘consultation’ means ‘concurrence’ in this regard. Presence of political functionaries on the committee that recommended remission may have influenced the decision. It contained some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries, including two MLAs. The injustice of exceptionalism – the district judge is understood to have opposed the grant of remission. The 1992 policy did not clearly state eligibility criteria. Convicts in the Bilkis Bano case were not eligible under the 2014 policy for remission. Suggestions: The question whether Gujarat is indeed the appropriate government may also be raised again, even though the order by which the Supreme Court wanted their remission plea to be considered has already given its finding. In 2003, the Justice Malimath Committee submitted a report advocating a permanent statutory committee to prescribe sentencing guidelines to reduce ambiguity in the award of such sentences. In April 2022, a Supreme Court bench, led by Justice U Lalit, revoked the death sentence of Mohammad Firoz, a man convicted for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. Way forward: There is a need to balance retributive justice with restorative justice Justice must not be denied on account of jurisprudence and technicalities of law. Source: The Hindu Rare Diseases Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 Developments in Science and Technology In News:  Rajya Sabha MP from the Nationalist Congress Party Fauzia Khan on Friday raised concerns over the benefits of the National Policy of Rare Diseases (NPRD) not reaching any patient with rare diseases even after several months since its introduction. Context: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified the NPRD in March 2021. An estimated 5000 to 8000 rare diseases have been identified worldwide, affecting approximately 6 to 8% of the population. Individual rare diseases affect few people, but cumulatively have a major impact on public health. What are Rare diseases: A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population such as fewer than 200,000 people across a broad range of possible disorders. These rare diseases are majorly thought to be genetic and are passed on from one generation to the next. In India, Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle cell anaemia and Primary Immuno Deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, Lysosomal storage disorders such as Pompe disease and Gaucher’s disease are in the rare diseases list. National Policy of Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021 Objectives – promotion of research and development for diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Promotion of local development and manufacture of drugs and creation of conducive environment for indigenous manufacturing of drugs for rare diseases at affordable prices. The rare diseases have been identified and categorized into 3 groups. Group 1: Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment. Group-2: Diseases requiring long term/lifelong treatment having relatively lower cost of treatment and benefit has been documented in literature and annual or more frequent surveillance is required. Group 3:- Diseases for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to make optimal patient selection for benefit, very high cost and lifelong therapy. Eight (08) Centres of Excellence (CoEs) have been identified for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of rare diseases. Five Nidan Kendras have been set up for genetic testing and counselling services. Challenges in India: Lack of treatment: About 95% rare diseases have no approved treatment and less than 1 in 10 patients receive disease specific treatment. Loss of lives due to delayed and misdiagnoses, limited access to resources, and absence of specific therapies often preclude patients from receiving proper, timely care. Impact on children: Children are disproportionately affected by these diseases as compared to adults 50 percent of new cases are observed to be in children, out of which 35 percent of children die before the age of one year, 10             percent die between the ages of 1 to 5 years, and 12 percent between the ages of 5 to 15 years. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 2017) High cost: The cost of treatment of rare diseases may vary from INR 10 lakhs to INR 1 crore on an annual basis. Issues in policy design: India does not have its standard definition for rare disease and neither does sufficient data on prevalence exists. The Government of India launched the Indian Rare Disease Registry only in April 2017. Only 450 rare diseases have been recorded in the registry as per data available from tertiary hospitals Unending delay and lack of urgency in policy implementation Eg lack of will of Centres of Excellence (CoE), designated as per the NPRD policy, has endangered the survival prospects of 415 patients, largely children, diagnosed with rare diseases. Majority of these patients have been diagnosed with Gaucher disease, for which therapy approved by Drug Controller General of India is available for many years. Lack of governance In NPRD policy, many CoEs were yet to seek financial support as per the policy for treating the patients. Suggestions: The amount of 20 lakh sanctioned under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi, although appreciable but is barely enough to cover the costs of treatment. The Central Government recently informed the Delhi High Court that a digital platform has been made operational for crowdfunding of treatment and medicines for rare disease. Support from foundations, NGO’s and crowdfunding-led initiatives is extremely helpful, however, it will not be accessible to all and is only a stop-gap solution. As of August 2019, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company’s programme has covered 199 patients from 13 countries including India. Sustained medical and financial support to the patient from Government. Robust and inclusive policy in consultation with the State Governments. Public health concern is addressed sustainably to provide respite to thousands of victims of rare diseases and their families in India. Way forward The private initiatives are leading the war, but without support from the Government, such solutions are not sustainable. Strength of policy making is integral to the strength of the government as a whole, and that of the country at large. Source The Hindu Climate Finance Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 Environment Context: The UN secretary general stated that the adaption finance needs of developing countries will gallop to $340 billion annually. While funding contours and future contributors remain unclear, least developed and vulnerable smaller island nations in need of assistance to tackle climate disasters are its likely beneficiaries. Not only must India continue pushing rich nations to contribute additional monies for past excesses, but also mobilize more private capital finance on its own by co-creating an auxiliary funding mechanism. What is climate finance: It refers to the financial arrangements that are specific to the use for projects that are environmentally sustainable or projects that adopt the aspects of climate change. It includes Production of energy from renewable sources like solar, wind, biogas, etc. Clean transportation that involves lower greenhouse gas emission Energy efficient projects like green building Waste management that includes recycling, efficient disposal and conversion to energy, etc. Current situation: A glance at the OECD’s climate finance trends report 2022 indicates that of the targeted $100 billion aggregate climate funding, about $83 billion was mobilized from developed nations via global agencies through 2020. Of this, bilateral and multilateral public climate finance from the developed West stood at $68 billion, comprising concessional and non-concessional loans (71%), grants (26%) and equity (2%), while private climate finance and export credit extended via agencies comprised just $15 billion. Experience suggests that depending solely on timely Western public funds, per current or post-2025 quantified agreements, will be unwise in times of geo-strategic competition and recessionary fears. Monies from rich countries are unpredictable, yet the allocation thereof by global agencies is predictably done among least developed and developing nations across Asia (42% of the 2020 total), Africa (26%) and Latin America (17%). Challenges in India: High borrowing costs due to asymmetric information, higher risk perception and governance issues. Green-washing or false claims of environmental compliance Plurality of green loan definitions Maturity mismatches between long-term green investment and relatively short-term interests of investors. Lack of adequate market infrastructure and policy framework Public sector orientation – Climate finance funds on concessional terms will largely be earmarked for select public sector projects or renewable energy mitigation and low-carbon transport systems planned under India’s long-term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) for climate action. Presently, adaptation and mitigation financing for compact businesses, SMEs and local communities is not in focus. Fiscal incentives like production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes may work in drawing manufacturing mitigation investments for utility-scale solar or wind, however the same are not resilient and sustainable. Suggestions: New financial instruments such as green bonds, carbon market instruments (e.g. carbon tax) and new financial institutions (e.g. green banks and green funds). A banking framework wherein Indian banks are nudged to lock in long-tenure, low-cost private climate capital from alternative sources, like overseas investor institutions, global pledge organizations, private philanthropy, CSR budgets, etc, and are incentivized to on-lend cheaper loans to diverse businesses. Arming banks with risk weight and priority sector incentives can help extend concessional low-coupon, shorter tenor sustainability financing to clients. This may also deepen funding liquidity for lower-rung entities and improve global forex inflows at a time of weak exports. Delineated projects of larger companies or well-rated special purpose vehicles(SPVs) that meet pre-set mitigation specifications should continue to be encouraged to raise funds through domestic financial institutions (DFIs), project financiers and private and sovereign green bonds. Impact funds, blended finance instruments and venture capitalists betting on new climate technologies need to be nurtured for the purpose. Fintech start-ups and digitization can play a big supporting role in connecting small clients with banks. Regulators and financiers need to evaluate various use-case scenarios before implementation. Decentralised approach – For instance, block-level wholesalers/transport operators or fertilizer and tractor sellers can be incentivized to arrange machinery for mulching crop stubble into farm fields or recycling waste for biofuels, with the objective of lowering husk-fire emissions and air pollution across the Indo-Gangetic plains. DFI funds and direct fiscal transfers by the government may only work partially. Low coupon sustainability-linked bank loans or overdraft facilities at the entity level would be a more practical adaptation solution for many across the rural and urban divide. Way forward: As India lays out a G20 agenda, the government should set the direction for augmenting our private climate finance framework, too. As the country marches forward in its quest towards net-zero emissions powered by a people’s movement as much as low-cost climate finance. Inclusive growth with relentless and resilient development (“Sahit Vikas, Satat Viksan”) should be our mantra. Source: Livemint Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) With respect to Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), consider the following statements: ADC are formed under article 244 in the Fifth Schedule of the constitution. ADC are applicable to only four states. ADC can make laws on social customs. Which of the statements are correct: 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 only 1 and 2 only Q.2) Which of the following are factors of production: Real estate Gig workers Entrepreneurship Angel investors Management Information System Trade Unions Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2,3 and 4 1, 2, 3 and 6 1, 2, 3 and 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance (PTUAS) Scheme It aims to facilitate MSMEs of proven track record to meet national and international regulatory standards. It includes interest subvention or capital subsidy on their capital loans. Choose the correct statements: 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 ’ 14th December 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 13th December – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – b Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 15th December 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 solutionsTo take the Test Click Here

[CURRENT AFFAIRS] IAS UPSC REVAMPED Current Affairs Magazine NOVEMBER 2022

Archives Hello Friends,This is NOVEMBER 2022 of IASbaba’s REVAMPED Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation.An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it!This edition covers all Important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of NOVEMBER 2022.Kindly leave your feedback in the comment section below on the new design and presentation of the magazine. We would love to hear from you Download The Magazine - November 2022 Important Topics Covered In The Magazine Includes: India’s Foreign Policy World Heritage Sites Under Threat Aadhaar Rules Amendment Gangetic Dolphins India’s First-ever Night Sky sanctuary in Ladakh PSLV-C54 launch World’s Biosphere Footprint And Much More.... Download The Magazine - November 2022 To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow-TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccountYOUTUBE – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQFACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/Also, SUBSCRIBE to the WEBSITE Below, so that you don’t miss out on important posts!Thank YouIASbaba

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th December 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Geminids meteor shower Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: This year, the Geminids will peak around December 13-14, when, with a clear sky and away from bright city lights, you can watch scores of meteors streak across the sky. This year however, the moon is bright, and so only 30-40 meteors per hour will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere. What are meteor showers: Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from asteroids Meteors are usually fragments of comets. As they enter the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, they burn up, creating a spectacular “shower”. When these objects come around the Sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colourful streaks in the sky About Geminids: One of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers With new moon and clear weather, the Geminids can produce approximately 100-150 meteors per hour for viewing. The Geminids are unique because unlike most meteor showers, they originate not from a comet, but from an asteroid –3200 Phaethon. As the 3200 Phaethon moves close to the Sun while orbiting it, the rocks on its surface heat up and break off. When the Earth passes through the trail of this debris, the Geminids are caused. The name Geminids – from constellation Gemini, from whose location in the sky the meteor shower appears to originate. It serves to aid viewers in determining which shower they are viewing on a given night. The constellation is not the source of Geminids. Geminids are visible throughout the night sky, not just in Gemini constellation How to watch: Chances of a successful viewing are higher from locations far away from the lights of cities. Generally, pollution makes viewing meteor showers from India difficult. But in areas where there is no light or air pollution, viewers do not need to use any special equipment to view the showers. Make sure to give your eyes enough time to adjust to the darkness, which can take about 30 minutes. Additionally, viewers should try to stay away from their phones, as looking at bright screens affects night vision. Asteroid 3200 Phaethon: Discovered on October 11, 1983. Named after the Greek mythology character Phaethon, son of the Sun God Helios. It takes 4 years to complete one round of the Sun. Miscellaneous: Gemini constellation is located northeast of the constellation Orion and between the Taurus and Cancer constellations. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Questions Q.1) What is difference between asteroids and comets? (2011) Asteroids are small rocky plane­toids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and mercury. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Base Editing Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In news: Described by scientists as “the most sophisticated cell engineering to date,” an experimental treatment would provide the teenager Alyssa, diagnosed with blood cancer, a new lease of life. About T-Cell blood cancer: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). T-ALL affects the stem cells in the bone marrow that produce a particular kind of white blood cells (WBC) called T lymphocytes (T cells). These cells provide a person immunity by killing cells carrying infections, activating other immune cells, and regulating the immune response. At least 20% of these WBC are atypical– as they accumulate in the bone marrow, they crowd out “good” WBCs and hence weaken the immune system. These unhealthy cells can also accumulate in other parts of the body like the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. While found in both children and adults, T-ALL’s incidence decreases with age. Its treatment: Similar to any leukaemia– chemotherapy and stem cell/bone marrow transplant. Chemotherapy – either kills the cancerous cells or stops them from further dividing. It may also wreck immunity system along with it. If chemotherapy fails, bone marrow transplant is done. Patients receive an infusion of healthy bone marrow cells that will hopefully multiply and restore immunity. Overall treatment for T-ALL is pretty effective– children have a survival rate of over 85 per cent after five years of receiving this treatment. Treatment received by Alyssa: Alyssa received a dose of healthy T-cells from a donor that would hopefully attack her cancerous cells without destroying each other. Known as CAR-T therapy, this principle has been around for a while, but Alyssa’s case was different. Traditionally, CAR-T therapy involves following steps: First, an individual’s own T-cells are removed, which are then modified and reintroduced to the individual. Adding a gene to T-cells that causes them to seek out and destroy cancerous cells. The modified cells are known as CAR-T cells. Problem with CAR-T therapy: Very often, when an individual is really sick, it is simply impossible to obtain enough healthy T-cells to create CAR-T cells. While donors can provide healthy T-cells to an individual, these T-cells from a foreign body attack every single cell in that patient’s body, making the treatment counterproductive. Thus, scientists have resorted to what is known as base editing– through this technique of genetic editing, they make it possible for one donor to supply T-cells to multiple recipients, without the traditional risks associated with it. Thus, Alyssa received genetically modified cells that were programmed to specifically attack her cancer while leaving the rest of her body alone. What is base editing?   Bases are the language of life. Just as letters in the alphabet spell out words that carry meaning, the billions of bases in our DNA spell out the instruction manual for our body. Scientists can zoom into a precise part of the genetic code to alter the molecular structure of just one base, effectively changing its genetic instructions. A team at the Great Ormond Street Hospital managed to use base-editing to create a new type of T-cell from a healthy donor that would not attack other cells in Alyssa’s body, not kill each other, survive chemotherapy and finally, hunt down all other T-cells in Alyssa’s body (healthy and cancerous). Source: Indian express Previous Year Question Q.1) What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? (2017) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients A gene that makes plants pest-resistant An herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops Fusion energy Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology In News: Scientists in the United States have, for the first time, achieved a net gain in energy from a nuclear fusion reaction, seen as a big step forward in the decades-old endeavour to master a technology that is considered the most dependable source of energy in future. Fusion is a different, but more powerful, way of harnessing the immense energy trapped in the nucleus of an atom. This is the process that makes the Sun and all other stars shine and radiate energy. Attempts to master the fusion process have been going on at least since the 1950s, but it is incredibly difficult and is still at an experimental stage. The nuclear energy currently in use across the world comes from the fission process, in which the nucleus of a heavier element is split into those of lighter elements in a controlled manner. In fusion, nuclei of two lighter elements are made to fuse together to form the nucleus of a heavier atom. A large amount of energy is released in both these processes, but substantially more in fusion than fission. For example, the fusion of two nuclei of a heavier isotope of hydrogen, called tritium, produces at least four times as much energy as the fission of a uranium atom which is the normal process of generating electricity in a nuclear reactor. Besides greater energy yield, fusion is also a carbon-free source of energy, and has negligible radiation risks. But fusion reactions happen only at very high temperatures, 10 times the temperature that exists at the core of the Sun, and creating such an extreme environment in a laboratory requires huge amounts of energy. So far, the energy released in such experimental fusion reactions have been lower than what is consumed to create the enabling high temperatures. At best, some of these reactions have produced ‘near break-even’ energies. That is why the latest experiment conducted at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California is being considered a big deal. Source: Indianexpress.com Wildlife Protection Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 Environment conservation Context: The expeditious passage of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 (WPA) needs comment. While the aspects of protecting species from the wildlife trade, in line with international standards, have received thoughtful scrutiny by civil society, the impact of the criminal legal framework adopted by the WPA is less known. Pitting wildlife species against communities as human-animal conflict has eluded the true cost of criminalisation under the WPA. The Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972                                             It is the primary legislation protecting the country’s unique flora and fauna. It has safeguarded numerous species of wild animals and plants by prohibiting all forms of hunting and, more importantly, creating inviolate areas where wildlife conservation may be carried out. WPA (Amendment): It further invests in the conception of protected areas and species by bringing in newer species to be protected, augmenting the penal repercussions. Rationalising schedules: From 6 to 4 – removing schedule for vermin (V) and a new schedule for CITES listed species. Obligations under CITES: Central government to designate a: (I) Management Authority, which grants export or import permits for trade of specimens, and (iii) Scientific Authority, which gives advice on aspects related to impact on the survival of the specimens being traded. Invasive alien species: to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession or proliferation of the same. Better Management of Protected Areas: It provides for certain permitted activities like grazing or movement of livestock and Bonafede use of drinking and household water by local communities. Protection of Forest Lands: It is so critical because it equally inculcates the protection of rights of the people who have been residing there since ages. Section 43 of the act amended which permitted the use of elephants for ‘religious or any other purposes’ Challenges to the Act: Social Injustice: A study by the Criminal Justice and Police Accountability Project (the CPA Project examined arrest records of the police and Forest Department in Madhya Pradesh and found that persons from oppressed caste communities such as Scheduled Tribes and other forest-dwelling communities form the majority of accused persons in wildlife-related crimes. Use of muscle: The Forest Department was found to use the threat of criminalisation to force cooperation, apart from devising a system of using community members as informants and drawing on their loyalty by employing them on a daily wage basis. Pendency’s in cases: Cases that were filed under the WPA did not pertain solely to the comparatively serious offence of hunting; collecting wood, honey, and even mushrooms formed the bulk of prosecution in PAs. Over 95% of the cases filed by the Forest Department are still pending Misplaced regulations: Hunting offences against lesser protected species formed over 17.47% of the animals ‘hunted’ between 2016-20. Animals hunted the highest, only one in top five belonged to Schedule I (peacock). Surprisingly, fish (only certain species relegated to Schedule I) formed over 8% of the cases filed. A whopping 133 cases pertaining to fishing (incorrectly classified as Schedule V species) were filed in the last decade in Madhya Pradesh. Forest Rights Act subservient to the WPA – due to natural overlap of recognising forest rights in intended-as-inviolate PAs, thereby impeding its implementation. Collective Forest Rights not recognised in buffer zones over usage of forest resources, fishing, and protecting forest resources. Criminalisation of Fishing – which forms an important part of subsistence for tribal communities Due to their occurrence in Pas, they become punishable by three to seven years. In a case from 2016 documented by the CPA Project, the catch weighed less than 500 grams, yet the accused were charged with causing damage to a wildlife habitat under a host of WPA provisions. Fear mongering is a crucial way in which the department mediates governance in protected areas, and its officials are rarely checked for their power. Criminal cases filed by the department are rarely compounded since they are meant to create a ‘deterrent effect’ by instilling fear in communities. Unchecked discretionary policing allowed by the WPA and other forest legislations have stunted the emancipatory potential of the FRA. Way forward: The need for criminal laws to assist wildlife conservation has remained unchallenged since its conception. From regulated hunting to complete prohibition and the creation of ‘Protected Areas (PA)’ where conservation can be undertaken without the interference of local forest-dwelling communities, State and Forest Department control over forests and the cattiest underpinnings of conservation would not have been possible without criminal law. Source: The Hindu Rural Manufacturing Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 Indian Economy Context: There is growing evidence to suggest that the most conspicuous trend in the manufacturing sector in India has been a shift of manufacturing activity and employment from bigger cities to smaller towns and rural areas. This has often been interpreted as a mixed bag, as it could transform the rural economy, but presents a set of constraints, which could hamper higher growth. However, the compulsions of global competition often extend beyond the considerations of low-wage production and depend on the virtues of ‘conducive ecosystems’ for firms to grow. Current rural scenario: Urban-rural manufacturing shift: Work Bank report (Ghani, Ejaz et al (2012) “Is India’s Manufacturing Sector Moving Away from Cities? Policy Research Working Paper, World Bank”). Manufacturing is moving towards rural areas, while informal sector is moving from rural to urban locations. Significant contributor to manufacturing Output: Annual Survey of Industries for 2019-20 – 42% of factories are in rural areas, 62% of fixed capital is in the rural side. Rural factories contributed to exactly half of the total manufacturing sector. Employment: In terms of employment, it accounted for 44%, but had only a 41% share in the total wages of the sector. Production cost differentials – Wages, property, and land costs are all lower than in most metropolitan areas. Cheap labour: Big firms deliberately shift production from cities to take advantage of the availability of less skilled, less unionised and less costly rural labour. Factory floorspace supply constraints – When locations get more urbanised and congested, the greater these space constraints are. Capital restructuring – there is a tendency for growing capital accumulation and centralisation by large multi-plant corporations. Significance of shift: Helped maintain the importance of manufacturing as a source of livelihood diversification in rural India. This trend helped to make up for the loss of employment in some traditional rural industries. In the aftermath of trade liberalisation, import competition intensified for many Indian manufacturers, forcing them to look for cheaper methods and locations of production. One way to cut costs was to move some operations from cities to smaller towns, where labour costs are cheaper. an economic base for the transition out of agriculture. Challenges: Higher cost of capital for firms operating on the rural side, despite benefits of lower costs via lower rents The rural segment accounted for only 35% of the total rent paid, while it had 60% of the total interest payments. The benefits reaped from one source seem to be offset by the increased costs on the other front. Skills shortage in rural areas Manufacturing needs higher skilled workers to compete in the highly technological global ‘new economy’. Manufacturers who depend only on low-wage workers simply cannot sustain their competitive edge Manufacturers who need higher skilled labour find that rural areas cannot supply it in adequate quantities. Suggestions: Institutional arrangements: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises encompasses many such organisations – KVIC, National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), Coir Board, Council for Advancement of, NABARD, SIDBI Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC): SFURTI – Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries, PMEGP – Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme National Small Industries Corporation Limited: Export credit insurance Rural Industrialization, Raw Material assistance, Providing Infomediary Services, etc. Integrated infrastructural development: Nayak Committee (1992) recommendations – raising project outlay from Rs.30 lakh to Rs.50 lakh in the single window scheme, timely supply of credit, etc. Government programs: Cluster Development Programme: For holistic development of selected MSEs clusters through value chain and supply chain management on cooperative basis. Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) – implementing incubation and commercialisation of Business Ideas Programme through technical/research institutes Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) – Technology upgradation of small-scale industries, including khadi, village and coir industrial units, by providing 15 percent upfront capital subsidy (limited to a maximum of Rs 15 lakh). Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) – implemented by KVIC, a total of 5.45 lakh micro enterprises have been assisted with a margin money subsidy of Rs 12,074.04 crore, providing employment opportunities to an estimated 45.22 lakh persons since 2019. Provision of more education and skilling for rural workers. To establish rural areas’ comparative advantage of low wages, higher reliability and productivity hasten the process of the movement out of agriculture to higher-earning livelihoods. Augmentation of Sources of Demand and Supply Opportunities for Large-Scale Industries – utilization of traditional methods and materials in small-scale industries will make provision of enhancement opportunities for rural individuals. Way forward: Need for clear solutions to the problems of rural manufacturing so that rural economy can jump-start a revival. Given the size of the Indian economy and the need for balanced regional development, the dispersal of manufacturing activities is a welcome sign. Source: The Hindu Carbon Trading Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 Environment In News:  Parliament passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill-2022 that enables the Union government to set up a carbon credit trading scheme and specify the minimum amount of non-fossil sources to be used by designated energy consumers. Context: India had taken the lead when it came to energy transition. As per India’s commitments under the UNFCCC as given by the PM at COP-26 last year, the goal is to cut emission intensity by 45% and achieve 50% of the installed capacity of electricity generation from non-fossil fuel sources. Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill-2022 The Bill amends the Energy Conservation Act-2001. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) would be the regulator and that the carbon price would be determined by the market. The Bill covers large buildings — those with connected load of 100 kilowatt and above — for compliance with energy conservation and sustainability codes. States had been empowered to lower the threshold to include a wider section of buildings. The Bill did not make a provision for those under the 100KW threshold who want to voluntarily submit to the energy conservation mechanism. What is carbon trading: Carbon trading is the process of buying and selling permits and credits that allow the permit holder to emit carbon dioxide. It is a market-based system aimed at reducing greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, particularly carbon dioxide emitted by burning fossil fuels. An emissions trading scheme (cap-and-trade system) sets a regulatory ceiling or ‘cap’ on greenhouse gas emissions being regulated under the scheme. The right to emit a tonne of CO2 is often referred to as a carbon ‘credit’ or carbon ‘allowance’. There are broadly two types of carbon markets: compliance and voluntary. Examples – European Union’s Emissions Trading System(ETS) The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), adopted under the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. Emission-reduction projects in developing countries have generated carbon credits used by industrialized countries to meet part of their emission reduction targets. Significance: Help achieve current and future climate ambitions by tapping existing markets. Bring about development co-benefits: improve air quality and health outcomes and ensure energy security. g. trading in sulphur dioxide permits helping to limit acid rain in the US. Carbon trading is much easier to implement than expensive direct regulations, and unpopular carbon taxes. If regional cap and trade schemes can be joined up globally, with a strong carbon price, it could be a relatively pain-free and speedy method to help the worlds decarbonise. Boost competitive advantage of businesses by reducing risk of stranded assets. Open low carbon opportunities for MSMEs through Technology transfer Spur clean innovation Provide liquidity to Indian credits Unlock climate finance Challenges: Creating a market in something with no intrinsic value such as carbon dioxide is difficult. Need to promote scarcity – and you have to strictly limit the right to emit so that it can be traded. In the world’s biggest carbon trading scheme, the EU ETS, political interference has created gluts of permits. On account of corruption, carbon credits have often been given away for free, which has led to a collapse in the price and no effective reductions in emissions. Another problem is that offset permits, gained from paying for pollution reductions in poorer countries, are allowed to be traded as well. The importance of these permits in reducing carbon emissions is questionable and the effectiveness of the overall cap and trade scheme is also reduced. Greenwashing – in which companies falsely market their green credentials, for example, misrepresentations of climate-neutral products or services Double-counting of GHG emission reductions Suggestions: Carbon taxes – Taxes on energy content or production are in place in many European countries. Taxes exist in India, Japan and South Korea and they have been imposed then repealed in Australia. Direct regulations – Governments have tried to regulate their way to lower emissions. This approach is being tried in the US, where President Obama has imposed a Clean Power Plan on energy producers, designed to reduce emissions from this sector by 32% by 2030. Way forward: As per latest IPCC report, developing countries will need up to US$6 trillion by 2030 to finance not even half of their climate action goals (as listed in their Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs). Carbon finance will be key for the implementation of the NDCs, and the Paris Agreement enables the use of such market mechanisms through Article 6. 83 percent of NDCs state the intent to make use of international market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. MUST READ Greenwashing Baba’s Explainer – India’s Cooperative Sector India’s Cooperative Sector Syllabus GS-2: Issues with Federalism GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Context: The Bill to amend the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Winter Session on 07 December 2022. Opposition parliamentarians alleged that the Bill’s provisions encroached upon the rights of State governments, demanding that it be referred to a Standing Committee for scrutiny. Read Complete Details on India’s Cooperative Sector Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) With respect to T lymphocytes (T cells), consider the following statements: T-Cell blood cancer incidence increases with age. They are found in the stem cells of bone marrow. Which of the statements are correct: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Recently seen in news, “The 3200 Phaethon” is A meteor shower An asteroid A natural satellite A new galaxy Q.3) Which of the following organization is/are constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972 Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Central Zoo Authority National Board for Wildlife Choose the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 3 only 1 and 3 2 and 3 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’ 14th December 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 13th December – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – c Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - India’s Cooperative Sector

  ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Issues with Federalism GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Context: The Bill to amend the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Winter Session on 07 December 2022. Opposition parliamentarians alleged that the Bill’s provisions encroached upon the rights of State governments, demanding that it be referred to a Standing Committee for scrutiny. What is the history of India’s cooperative movement? According to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), cooperatives are people-centred enterprises jointly owned and democratically controlled by and for their members to realise their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations. Friedrich Raiffeisen, who along with compatriot Schulze-Delitzsch in Germany, and Luzzatti of Italy, pioneered cooperatives in Europe. Raiffeisen based them on the principles of self-help, self-governance, and self-responsibility. Known for their trustworthiness and resilience against financial crises, most were known as Raiffeisenbanks, spreading to other parts of Europe and America. India’s cooperative movement originated in the agriculture and related sectors as a means for farmers to pool their resources to prevent exploitation by money lenders. India’s cooperative movement was formalised at the end of the 19th century, inspired by the German model of agricultural credit banks. In 1904, the British government in India enacted the Cooperative Credit Societies Act. While this Act dealt solely with the extension of credit, the sector was opened up to other activities in 1912. Administrative reforms in 1919 transferred cooperatives to provincial control. After Independence, the framers of the Constitution placed cooperatives in the State list. They came to be considered instruments of socio-economic development and became an essential focus of the initial Five-Year Plans. As a result, States made their own laws to regulate cooperatives within their jurisdiction. Article 43B of Indian Constitution inserted by the 97th Amendment says that “states shall endeavour to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of cooperative societies”. According to the Ministry of Cooperation, there are around 8.5 lakh cooperatives in India, with about 1.3 crore people directly attached to them. Union government has created a new Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 for strengthening cooperative movement Also, the percentage of cooperative members in proportion to the total population increased from 3.8% in 1950-51 to 22.2% in 2016-17. Today, Cooperatives in India range from those providing credit to those producing, procuring, or marketing products like fertilisers, milk, sugar, and fish. Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative (IFFCO) has around a third of the market share in fertilizers, while Gujarat’s Amul is a highly profitable dairy cooperative. What are Multi-State Cooperative Societies? Cooperatives are a state subject, but there are many societies such as those for sugar and milk, banks, milk unions etc whose members and areas of operation are spread across more than one state. For example, most sugar mills along the districts on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border procure cane from both states. They draw their membership from both states, and they are thus registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 1984 (amended in 2002) Their board of directors has representation from all states they operate in. The board of directors are from all the States these collectives operate in and controls all finances and administration function. Administrative and financial regulation & monitoring of these societies is with the central registrar, with the law making it clear that no state government official can wield any control on them. Since the law was enacted, 1,479 such societies have been registered, of which 9 have been deregistered since. Maharashtra has the highest number at 567, followed by Uttar Pradesh (147) and New Delhi (133). Credit societies constitute the bulk of registered societies at 610, followed by agro-based ones (which include sugar mills, spinning mills etc) at 244. There are 96 multistate cooperative dairies and 66 multistate cooperative banks. What was 97th Constitutional Amendment Act and what was the judicial verdict on it? The Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 made following changes New Part IXB regarding the cooperatives working in India added Part IXB dictated the terms for running co-operative societies like the number of directors a society should have or their length of tenure and even the necessary expertise required to become a member of the society. In Art. 19(1)(c) the word “cooperatives” was added after “unions and associations”.  This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives by giving it the status of fundamental right of citizens. A new Article 43B was added in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) regarding the “promotion of cooperative societies” Gujarat High Court in 2013 had struck down certain provisions of the 97th CAA by reasoning that Parliament cannot enact laws with regard to cooperative societies as it is a State subject. This was appealed by Centre in Supreme Court. Supreme Court in July 2021 upheld the validity of the 97th constitutional amendment Act, 2011  but struck down certain provisions of it Struck down part of Part IXB which dealt with cooperative societies confined to states. Court held that co-operative societies come under the “exclusive legislative power” of State legislatures and Centre can’t shrink State’s exclusive authority. However, Part IXB of the Constitution is operative only in so far as it concerns multi-State co-operative societies. This is because Multi-State Cooperatives comes under Union List. The court also took exception to the fact that the 97th Constitutional Amendment was passed without ratification from the States. Significance of the verdict It allays States’ fears that new Union Ministry of Cooperation would have dis-empowered them. Judgement reiterates State’s exclusive legislative power over cooperatives within their territories. What are the issues with the cooperative sector? As envisioned by the Indian constitution, the independent and autonomous character of cooperative societies was crucial to their functioning. However, as government and legislative control of cooperatives increased over the years, there were increasing reports of mismanagement and corruption. Their inclusion in the planning process as development instruments made the sector an avenue for dispensing patronage to the supporters of ruling political parties, either by way of nomination to governing boards or sanctioning schemes specific to the cooperatives. Also, providing various forms of financial assistance enabled State governments, “in the name of public interest,” to directly intervene in the working of cooperatives which are legally autonomous. Not surprisingly, the most successful Indian cooperatives such as the AMUL, ndian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), are outside government control. Globally, seven of the top 10 cooperatives by asset size are from the financial sector. The Indian financial sector is nowhere in the picture going by asset size. When a cooperative bank scales up, maintaining its cooperativeness is a challenge. Cooperatives have also become avenues for regulatory arbitrage, circumventing lending and anti-money laundering regulations. MSCSs are facing issues regarding trust, which is the very basis of cooperation. MSCSs were, therefore, brought under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in 2018, and all urban and MSCS banks were brought under the radar of the Reserve Bank of India in 2020. These developments have brought MSCSs under multiple controls from the Centre, giving rise to fears that monitoring would take a top-down approach as opposed to a grassroots one. Cooperative banking suffered from the top-down quality. Recent initiatives such as an umbrella organisation for urban cooperatives and a new Ministry of Cooperation at the Centre threaten to further this approach in the absence of safeguards. Why does the government plan to amend the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act? Experts on cooperatives talk of loopholes in the Act. The exclusive control of the central registrar, who is also the Central Cooperative Commissioner, was meant to allow smooth functioning of these societies. The central Act cushions them from the interference of state authorities so that these societies are able to function in multiple states. What was supposed to facilitate smooth functioning, however, has created obstacles. Experts pointed out for state-registered societies, financial and administrative control rests with state registrars who exercise it through district- and tehshil-level officers. Thus if a sugar mill wishes to buy new machinery or go for expansion, they would first have to take permission from the sugar commissioner for both. Post this, the proposal would go to the state-level committee that would float tenders and carry out the process. While the system for state-registered societies includes checks and balances at multiple layers to ensure transparency in the process, these layers of checks & balances do not exist in the case of multistate societies.  Instead, the board of directors has control of all finances and administration. For expenditure above a certain level, the annual general body meeting of the society has to be called. Many experts have noted there is an apparent lack of day-to-day government control on such societies. Unlike state cooperatives, which have to submit multiple reports to the state registrar, multistate cooperatives need not. The central registrar can only allow inspection of the societies under special conditions — a written request has to be sent to the office of the registrar by not less than one-third of the members of the board, or not less than one-fifth of the number of members of the society. Inspections can happen only after prior intimation to societies. The on-ground infrastructure for central registrar is thin — there are no officers or offices at state level, with most work being carried out either online or through correspondence. For members of the societies, the only office where they can seek justice is in Delhi, with state authorities expressing their inability to do anything more than forwarding their complaints to the central registrar. There have been instances across the country when credit societies have launched ponzi schemes taking advantage of these loopholes. Such schemes mostly target small and medium holders with the lure of high returns. Fly-by-night operators get people to invest and, after a few instalments, wind up their operations. In Maharashtra, the state commissioner used to get multiple complaints of this nature but could not take any action, given the lack of ground staff necessary for verifying the antecedents of such societies. What are the key provisions of the proposed Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022? To plug the “loopholes” in the MSCS Act, the Centre introduced a Bill seeking to amend the 2002 law for more “transparency” and increase the “ease of doing business”. The amendments have been introduced to improve governance, reform the electoral process, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and enhance transparency and accountability. The Bill provides for the creation of a central Co-operative Election Authority to supervise the electoral functions of the MSCSs. The Bill also seeks to improve the composition of the board and ensure financial discipline, besides enabling the raising of funds in MCSCs. It envisages the creation of a Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund for the revival of sick MSCSs , financed by existing profitable MSCSs which will have to deposit either Rs. 1 crore or 1% of their net profit. In order to make the governance of these societies more democratic, transparent and accountable, the Bill has provisions for appointing a Cooperative Information Officer and a Cooperative Ombudsman. To promote equity and inclusiveness, provisions relating to the representation of women and SC/STmembers on MSCS boards have been included. The Bill makes only members eligible to be elected to the board or as office bearers of the cooperative society. The Bill also increases the penalty amount for violation of the law to Rs. 1 lakh and potential imprisonment from six months to a year. Main Practice Question: Why cooperatives are a necessity to realise Gandhiji’s decentralisation dream? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 14th December 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 solutionsTo take the Test Click Here

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 15] 2022 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2022, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP) - Day 15 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes in this set of questions. Which family member of yours has influenced your personality the most? Is it your father, mother or sibling? In what ways your personality reflect his/her influence? Do we often underplay the role of family in our lives? Do you care enough for your family? Think about it. Set 2: Analyse the following issue:  There were elections in three states during the month of December. How would you assess the role of ideology in Indian politics in light of the evolving electoral discourse? In what ways does it differ from the politics of western democracies? What are its implications? Think about it.  We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank YouIASbaba

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th December 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) NavIC Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: To promote the use of ‘NAVigation with the Indian Constellation’ (NavIC), the Indian version of GPS, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will introduce the L1 frequency in all its future satellites, for civilian navigational use. What is NavIC: It is the navigation satellite system and homegrown alternative to GPS. Developed by ISRO, it was first approved in 2006 but became operational only by 2018. At present, it consists of eight satellites, covering the whole of India and up to 1,500 km from its boundaries. The seven satellites in the NavIC constellation use two frequencies for providing positioning data — the L5 and S bands. The new satellites NVS-01 onwards, meant to replace these satellites, will also have L1 frequency. NavIC is as accurate as GPS. What is L1 frequency: The L1 is the oldest and most established GPS signals Even the less sophisticated, civilian-use devices such as smartwatches can receive it. Thus, with this band, the use of NavIC in civilian-use gadgets can go up. GPS satellites generally transmit on two frequencies—L1 (42 MHz) and L2 (1227.60 MHz). Use of NavIC: It is mainly being used in public vehicle tracking, to provide emergency warning alerts to fishermen venturing into the deep sea, and for tracking data related to natural disasters. The government is also pushing for its increased use in smartphones. Advantages of NavIC: Since it is homegrown, will be more accurate than other systems. With a fully operational constellation and ground stations outside of India — ISRO plans to set up ground stations in Japan and France to better triangulate the entire area under NavIC coverage – the system is likely to become more accurate than GPS. The satellites placed directly over India also ensure better availability of signals in varied geographical regions compared to GPS, which India receives at an angle, making it difficult to access in dense forests or valleys. Other navigation systems: Galileo – European Union GLONASS – Russia China’s – Beidou QZSS – Japan Source: Indianexpress Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: (2018) IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only None Artemis 1 mission Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: NASA’s Orion capsule splashed down back to Earth The Orion’s landing in the Pacific Ocean marked the end of the inaugural Artemis 1 lunar mission exactly 50 years after Apollo’s final moon landing. It also performed a new landing technique called ‘skip entry’, designed to help the spacecraft accurately splash down at the landing site. Orion entered the Earth’s upper atmosphere and used the atmosphere and its lift to “skip” back outside the atmosphere only to re-enter once again. What is the Artemis I Mission? Artemis I is an uncrewed mission of NASA. Named after the sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, it is NASA’s successor to the Apollo lunar missions from fifty years ago. Artemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to build a long-term human presence at the Moon for decades to come. The primary goals for Artemis I are to demonstrate Orion’s systems in a spaceflight environment and ensure a safe re-entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery prior to the first flight with crew on Artemis II. It is only a lunar Orbiter mission even though, unlike most Orbiter missions, it has a return-to-Earth target. Artemis I is the first step into that new space age of achieving the promise of transporting humans to new worlds, of landing and living on other planets, or maybe meeting aliens. What are the Upcoming Artemis Missions? Artemis II: It will take off in 2024. Artemis II will have a crew aboard Orion and will be a test mission to confirm that all of the spacecraft’s systems will operate as designed when it has humans on board. But the Artemis II launch will be similar to that of Artemis I. A crew of four astronauts will be aboard Orion as it and ICPS orbit the Earth twice before moving to the direction of the Moon. Artemis III: It is scheduled for 2025, and is expected to ferry astronauts to the moon for the first time since the apollo missions. Source: Indianexpress.com Previous Year Question Q.1) “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft”. The experiment in question refers to (2020) Voyager New Horizons LISA Pathfinder Evolved LISA India-China Tawang clash Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current affairs In news: Indian and Chinese troops clashed in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector, beating each other up with sticks and canes in their closest encounter since the deadly Galwan incident in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. About: The clash in Arunachal Pradesh took place along the LAC in the Tawang heights near a point called Yangtse in Eastern Tawang. This part of the LAC is one of the “agreed disputed areas” between the two sides, according to military sources. This time the PLA had “pre-planned” the transgression for an “opportune” time. The location of the skirmish is described as heavily forested terrain, with Chinese troops occupying “top of the wall” positions with deep supply lines and infrastructure. The incident came days after China expressed objection to Operation Yudhabhyas, an India-US joint military exercise at Auli in the Uttarakhand hills China claimed it was a violation of 1993 and 1996 border agreements. The continuing military tensions at different points along the 3,000 km-Line of Actual Control comes as India took presidency of the G-20, a grouping of the world’s leading economies that includes China. After the clash, the Indian side is said to have used Radio Frequency (RF) signal geolocation equipment to reconstruct satellite images. Other incidents: In September 2022, Indian and Chinese troops disengaged in the Gogra Hotspring area of Eastern Ladakh. The Galwan incident, which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers, came after the two sides had discussed disengagement in the area. Tensions in Ladakh continue over the build-up of Chinese troops in Depsang, intrusions in Demchok and the rapid infrastructure build up by the Chinese, including two bridges over the Pangong lake that will reduce Chinese mobilisation time on the southern bank. Source: Indianexpress Previous Year Question Q.1) Siachen Glacier is situated to the: (2020) East of Aksai Chin East of Leh North of Gilgit North of Nubra Valley Meitei script Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Context: The script, once patronised by Meitei rulers but which fell into disuse with the advent of Hinduism and eventually disappeared, is now enjoying a new lease of life after a decades-old movement for its revival. The Meiteilon script The Meiteilon (Manipuri language) script is fairly old. The earliest epigraphic record of the script is a stone inscription from Khoibu village which was erected on the orders of Meidingu Kiyamba (1467-1508). ‘Meidingu’ are kings who belong to the Ningthouja clan whose rule extends from 33 AD to 1949 AD. The Meitei Mayek or Meitei script evolved with time and this led to conflict between various proponents. The inscriptions on the coins of the 7th and 8th Century were perhaps in the 18-letter script, which, with the advent of Hinduism in the 17th century during the reign of Meidingu Pamheiba (1709-1748), was perhaps expanded to the 36-letter script. With the advent of Hinduism, Bengali scripts became so popular that stone inscriptions in the 18th and 19th century were in Bengali script. A movement to revive the Meitei Mayek started in the 1930s and gathered strength in the 1950s. By a Cabinet decision taken on May 18, 2005, Manipuri written in Meitei Mayek was introduced in schools and by now, it is taught even at the university level, replacing Bengali script. About Meitei Meitei, also spelt Meetei or Meithei, also called Manipuri, dominant population of Manipur in northeastern India. They are predominantly Vaishnavite Hindus. They are divided into clans, the members of which do not intermarry. An interesting aspect of the village socio-economic organization in Meitei society is the Marup system (literally means friendship association), a type of cooperative saving and credit institution. They speak a Tibeto-Burman language, they differ culturally from the surrounding hill tribes by following Hindu customs. Rice cultivation on irrigated fields is the basis of their economy. Source: Indianexpress.com Female leadership in government Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Society) Context: According to government data presented in the Lok Sabha recently women representation in Parliament and most States legislatures is below 15% with 19 Assemblies having less than 10% women lawmakers. Recent Study A recent study in the United States reports that States which have female governors had fewer COVID-19 related deaths. They say this is partly because female governors acted more decisively by issuing earlier stay-at-home orders. The authors of the study conclude that women leaders are more effective than their male counterparts in times of crises. What does the US study reveal? A recent study in the United States reports that States which have female governors had fewer COVID-19 related deaths. They say this is partly because female governors acted more decisively by issuing earlier stay-at-home orders. The authors of the study conclude that women leaders are more effective than their male counterparts in times of crises. What does the study about India’s gram panchayats reveal? Female leaders perform significantly better than men in implementing policies that promote the interests of women. This was demonstrated in another study conducted by Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo and co-author Raghabendra Chattopadhyay. They used the system of mandated reservations of one-third seats of pradhans for women in gram panchayats to test the effectiveness of female leadership. Villages chosen for the mandated reservations were randomly selected. The differences in investment decisions made by gram panchayats could be attributed to the differences in gender of the pradhans. In addition to the importance of promoting more space for women in public policy, this is an important goal from the perspective of gender equality. Underrepresentation of women in politics Female members make up only about 10% of the total ministerial strength in India. The underrepresentation of female Ministers in India is also reflected in the fact that there is only one female Chief Minister. Despite this, women constitute just over 14% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. This gives us the dismal rank of 143 out of 192 countries for which data are reported by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Reasons for Low Representation Gender stereotypes: The role of managing household activities has been traditionally assigned to women. Women should be encouraged to move outside their stereotypical roles and participate in the decision-making process of the country. Lack of Political Education: Education influences the social mobility of women. Formal education such as provided at educational institutions create opportunities for leadership, and impart leadership essential skills. Because of a lack of understanding of politics, they do not know about their basic and political rights. Work and Family: Uneven distribution of family care responsibilities means that women spend far more time than men in home- and child-care. Lack of Political Networks: The lack of openness in political decision-making and undemocratic internal processes pose a challenge for all newcomers, but particularly for women as they tend to lack insider knowledge or political networks. Lack of Resources: Because of their low proportion in the inner political party structure of India, women fail to gather resources and support for nurturing their political constituencies. Women do not get adequate financial support from the political parties to contest the elections. Social Conditioning: They have to accept the dictates imposed on them and bear the burden of society. Public attitudes not only determine how many female candidates win a general election but also directly and indirectly how many are considered and nominated for office. Unfriendly Environment: Overall political parties’ environment too is not women-friendly, they have to struggle hard and face multi-dimensional issues to create space for them in the party. There has been increasing violence in politics. A significant rise in criminalization, corruption, insecurity has driven women out of the political arena. Government Efforts The Women’s Reservation Bill 2008: It proposes to amend the Constitution of India to reserve 1/3rd of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament of India, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies for women. Reservation for Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions: Article 243D of the Constitution ensures participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions by mandating not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. Parliamentary Committee On Empowerment Of Women: The Committee on Empowerment of Women was constituted for the first time in 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha of the Parliament for improving the status of women. The Members of the Committee are expected to work together for the empowerment of women cutting across party affiliations. What steps could be taken to reduce prejudice? The major party constituents of India can sidestep the logjam in Parliament by reserving say a third of party nominations for women. This will result in increasing numbers of women in legislatures and subsequently in cabinets. Increased female representation in policy making will improve perceptions about female effectiveness in leadership roles. This decreases the bias among voters against women candidates. This also results in a subsequent increase in the percentage of female politicians contesting and winning elections. So, such quotas have both a short-term and long-term impact. Source: The Hindu Public Health Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 Governance Context: A failure to examine and interpret public health problems from a population perspective is leading to ineffective and unsustainable solutions. Propagating individualism has always been a characteristic feature of a consumerist society as every individual can then be a potential ‘customer’ in the face of risk and susceptibility. All forms of individualistic approaches in public health need to be resisted to safeguard its original principles of practice, viz. population, prevention, and social justice. However, public health must be based on population characteristics and economic resources. Meaning of Individualism: A strong tendency in public health to prioritise individual-oriented interventions over societal oriented population-based approaches, is known as individualism in public health. Determinants: Misconception that what is done at an individual level, when done at a population level, becomes public health. Atomistic fallacy in public health: The public and health experts will make the mistake of judging a population’s characteristics based on individual experiences. Market’s role and the effect of consumerism in public health practice: Health effects are more visible and appear convincing at the individual level, wherein improvements at the population level will be clear only after population-level analysis Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) It falls under Ayushman Bharat It is the largest publicly-funded health insurance scheme covering hospitalisation expenses for a family for ₹5 lakh a year. It aims to ensure ‘free’ curative care services for all kinds of hospitalisation services so that there is no financial burden to the beneficiary. Challenges: Lack of population-based health-care planning. Giving assurance to every individual without ensuring the necessary health-care services to the population is not sustainable. As per NSSO 75th round – on an average, only 3% of the total population in India had an episode of hospitalisation in a year. Ideally, the Government needs to ensure health-care facilities to only 3%-5% of the population to cover all the hospitalisation needs of a population. Low proportion of benefit distribution: More than 90% of those who were given the promise do not need hospitalisation From an individualist perspective, any individual can be at risk for hospitalisation anytime but from a population perspective, one can confidently argue that each year, the maximum proportion of population in need of hospitalisation will be in the range of 5% of the total population. Covid management issues: Around 20% of the total COVID-19 positive cases needed medical attention, with around 5% needing hospitalisation and around 1%-2% needing intensive care (ICU) or ventilator support. Most of the deaths due to COVID-19 reflect the failure to offer ventilator and ICU support services to the 1%-2% in desperate need of it. Suggestions: Quantum increase in budget allocations India spends one of the lowest amounts as a country on health – 1.1% of its GDP. The National Health Policy recommends increasing the outlay – Centre and state combined – to 2.5%. It further recommends that state budgets increase health allocation 8% of the total budget. Supplementary nutrition programmes Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey in 2019 – anganwadi centres in many states introduced eggs in their meals for protein requirements. Strengthening of the Public Distribution System(PDS) Chronic disease control For example, tuberculosis continues to push people into poverty – in southern Rajasthan people incur a debt of Rs 22,000 on average before presenting themselves to outpatient clinics Most stop working due to the disease’s ill effects. Early diagnosis and treatment: A report the Centre for Policy Research showed – in 15 states, not a single Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) meets the national public health standards set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Building skilled manpower: India has one of the highest numbers of medical colleges in the world. India has 0.7 per thousand physicians in the country as opposed to the WHO-recommended 1 per thousand; and regional disparities compound this problem. A General Physician (GP) in UK treats about 20 patients per day compared to treating up to 250 patients per day in India. Social justice in healthcare The biological advantage reflected in the lower infant mortality rates among female babies relative to the males is offset by social and cultural preferences for male children. Distressing incidents of discrimination in care for women in southern Rajasthan, where many families often deny women and girls hospital care even in life-threatening situations. Way forward: The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted several issues in healthcare systems like high treatment costs, overburdened health facilities, lack of access to medical equipment, etc. We must now rise to anchor a revolution to change the face of health services in the country rooted in sustainable, evidence-based changes. Only then can we solidify India’s commitment to providing an equitable and inclusive healthcare service model to its citizens. Source: The Hindu Judiciary and Executive Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 Indian Constitution Context: A major confrontation is on between the Union government and the Supreme Court over the former’s resentment towards the Collegium system of appointments and its push to have a dominant say in judicial appointments and transfers. The government has also started airing its grievance against the invalidation of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) by the court in 2015. Government’s repeated public criticism of the Collegium system on the ground that it is “opaque”. A ping-pong battle between the Collegium and the government over the names being recommended and reiterated for appointment in constitutional courts. Collegium system: It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges It has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution. Supreme Court collegium is headed by the CJI (Chief Justice of India) and comprises four senior most judges of the Supreme court. A High Court collegium is led by the incumbent Chief Justice and two other senior most judges of that court. Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system and the government has a role only after names have been decided by the collegium. What is MoP: The MoP is the playbook agreed upon by the government and the judiciary on the appointment of judges, in accordance with the Collegium system. It was laid down in 1998. It states that the initiation of a proposal for appointment of Supreme Court judges vested with the CJI and that of High Court judges with the Chief Justice of the High Courts concerned. The MoP required the Chief Justices of High Courts to initiate the proposals six months prior to vacancies. The Constitution (99th Amendment) Act was passed by Parliament to provide for a National Judicial Commission, which was duly formed by the NJAC Act. In 2015, the court struck down the NJAC Act and the Constitution Amendment which sought to give politicians and civil society a final say in the appointment of judges to the highest courts. The challenges: Government’s view Delaying judicial appointments by the Collegiums, both at the Supreme Court and High Court levels. The Supreme Court itself has six vacancies. Thwarting of NJAC that allowed proportionate representation to both centre and judiciary. Lack of due procedure: High Courts are not making recommendations six months in advance of a vacancy. In 2022, there are 332 judicial vacancies in the High Courts out of a total sanctioned strength of 1,108 judges. The High Courts have made 146 (44%) recommendations which are under consideration of the government and the Supreme Court. It said 43 High Court judges are scheduled to retire between December 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023, taking the vacancies up to 229. So far, no recommendations have been received. Dominance of Supreme Court: It rejects 25% names recommended by the High Courts for judgeships. While making 165 appointments during 2022, 56 proposals were rejected by the Supreme Court Collegium. Efficiency: The delay in the appointment process has affected the timely filling up of vacancies in the High Courts and efficient working of the judicial system. Suggestions: No immunity from disclosure of the reasons recorded on the file when questioned in court. The concept of an open Government is the direct emanation from the right to know which seems to be implicit in the right of free speech and expression in article 19. Mandatory Requirement of Recording views of all consultees in writing. Full-scale Judicial Review about transfer or non-appointment of a candidate/judge. Difference between challenging appointment by proceeding in quo warranto vis a vis challenging non-appointment at the instance of the candidate. Way forward: The Collegium system, combined with the MoP, is the current law. The Collegium and the government should work with a sense of “constitutional statesmanship” Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India? (2012) While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India. The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only. The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote. All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 3 and 4 only 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Fiscal deficit of India Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 (Economy) Context: India needs to bring down its fiscal deficit which is highest among G20 countries India and G20 presidency As India takes over the G20 presidency, one of the big jobs under the finance track is to ensure that G20 nations come up with a credible policy framework to tame inflation, especially food inflation, while protecting growth and ensuring overall financial stability. What happened? The massive stimulus that was injected in almost all G20 nations to circumvent the fear of recession during Covid-19 has come back to haunt them in the form of excess liquidity, causing inflation. On top of that, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has flared fuel and food prices while climate change in the form of intense heat waves, floods and droughts, is also hitting at food prices in several countries. The year 2023 will be a test case for the collective wisdom of the G20 in taming inflation and protecting growth. Other economies Global growth is likely to tumble from 6 per cent in 2021 to just 3.2 per cent in 2022 and 2.7 per cent in 2023. Advanced economies are likely to see even lower growth at only 2.4 per cent and 1.1 per cent in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Against this global backdrop of inflation and growth, India can surely stand tall and may be able to give a lesson or two to the G20 on how it has managed not to let food inflation go out of control and yet maintained the highest rate of GDP growth. How did India manage inflation with growth? Managing inflation with growth was done in a synchronised manner by the RBI, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Food, and many other ministries. It is like playing an orchestra with various policy tools to create a symphony. Fiscal Deficit However, there is no room for complacency even for India as we step into 2023. While our GDP growth prospects are the brightest and inflation is under control our fiscal deficit at 9.9 per cent (Centre and states combined) is the highest amongst all G20 countries. Reasons for High Fiscal Deficit The Fiscal Deficit can happen either due to poor revenues or high expenditures. However, the reasons for this are macroeconomic in nature. The reasons for the high fiscal deficit during COVID-19 is due to: Lower Revenue Realisation – Because of interruption in simple business deeds following the pandemic and lockdowns, the fiscal deficit has faced a lower revenue realization. Higher Expenditure: With an identified increase in revenue expenses for food and public Maintenance and development of rural areas could be imputed in pandemic relief programs by the government, the increase in Expenditure has one noticed. Implications of Fiscal Deficit Inflationary Spiral: Borrowing from RBI, increases the supply of money in the economy, which increases the general price level. A prolonged increase in the general price level results in an inflationary spiral, i.e. borrowing from RBI > Increase in money supply > Increase in prices > Inflationary Spiral. National Debt: Fiscal Deficit gives birth to the national debt. It hampers GDP growth, as a large portion of the national income is spent on repaying past debts. Vicious Circle of High Fiscal Deficit and Low GDP Growth: When there is a high fiscal deficit constantly, it gives rise to a situation in which GDP growth remains low due to high fiscal deficit and the fiscal deficit remains high due to low GDP growth. Debt trap: Borrowing leads to two main problems, with respect to the repayment of loan and payment of interest, because the payment of interest again increases the revenue deficit. And more borrowing will be required to finance interest payments which results in a debt trap. Crowding Out: Crowding Out Effect is an outcome of Fiscal Deficit. It refers to a condition when high government borrowings because of high fiscal deficit, decreases the availability of funds for private investors. This reduces overall investment in the economy. Erosion of Government Credibility: High fiscal deficit destroys the credibility of the government in both domestic and international markets. This lowers down the government’s credit rating, and the foreign investors will begin withdrawing money that they have invested in the domestic economy. As a result of which GDP is reduced. Measures Taken A high fiscal deficit can also be good for the economy if the money spent goes into the creation of productive assets like highways, roads, ports and airports that boost economic growth and result in job creation. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 provides that the Centre should take appropriate measures to limit the fiscal deficit upto 3% of the GDP by 31st March, 2021. The NK Singh committee (set up in 2016) recommended that the government should target a fiscal deficit of 3% of the GDP in years up to 31st March, 2020, cut it to 2.8% in 2020-21 and to 2.5% by 2023. What can be done? Instead of subsidies same expenditure on building irrigation facilities, roads, warehouses and other infrastructure would help farmers earn higher incomes on a much more durable basis. Reduction in GST rates would be easier to implement, this measure would put more money into the hands of the people. Private firms would bring into use their excess capacities, and ultimately incur the much needed capital for increasing production and generating employment. Note: Source: Indian Express Baba’s Explainer – E-Rupee Vs UPI E-Rupee Vs UPI Syllabus GS-3: Money & Banking; RBI and its monetary Policy GS-2: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. Context: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of India’s much-awaited Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), E-Rupee, a sort of official cryptocurrency, for retail users from December 1. RBI defines the CBDC as the digital form of currency notes issued by a central bank. It is a sovereign or entirely independent currency issued by the central bank (in this case, RBI), in accordance with the country’s monetary policy. Read Complete Details on E-Rupee Vs UPI Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following pairs: Pass                                             Area Mana Pass                       Old silk route Nathu La Pass                Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Sela Pass                          Tawang Which of the statements given above is/are correctly matched? 1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 3 only Q.2) With reference to “NavIC”, consider the following statements: Presently, it has 7 satellites. Its new satellites will use S and L2 band of frequency. Among other things, it helps in weather forecasting for fishermen folk. Which of the following statements are correct: 1 only 1 and 2 only 3 only 2 only Q.3) Which of the below given pairs is/are correctly matched? Lunar Mission                                 Country Artemis 1                                NASA Beresheet                              Japan Hope                                      UAE Choose the correct code: 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 1 only Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’ 13th December 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st ANSWERS FOR 12th December – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – c Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - E-Rupee Vs UPI

  ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-3: Money & Banking; RBI and its monetary Policy GS-2: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation. Context: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of India’s much-awaited Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), E-Rupee, a sort of official cryptocurrency, for retail users from December 1. RBI defines the CBDC as the digital form of currency notes issued by a central bank. It is a sovereign or entirely independent currency issued by the central bank (in this case, RBI), in accordance with the country’s monetary policy. What is the retail e-Re? E-Rupee (e-Re) is the common name associated with CBDC or central bank digital currency. It is a digital form of legal tender or currency. E-Re could be wholesale and retail. A pilot for the wholesale was launched on November 1, while that for the retail version was on December 1. Four banks – SBI, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank and YES Bank – will participate in the first phase of the pilot and four more banks – HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank will subsequently be added to the plan, which would cover 13 cities in a phased manner. Just like how telecom operators launch products, e-Re will also be tested on closed user groups or CUGs. The pilot phase is aimed at customers of those banks roped in for the project, as the aim is to test the efficacy of the product. Eventually, the retail version of e-Re can be used by individuals for all transactions, where they use cash to buy things, to give to friends or relatives, to repay debt, etc. While there are no specific transaction limits in value or volume terms, in the initial phases, e-Re may be limited to low-ticket usages. How will e-re work? Consider cash being consumed out of the digital wallet instead of physical wallets; that’s the way e-Re would function and it would bear the sovereign stamp. In the pilot phase, e-Re would be a push product. Banks would send out a link to identified customers through an email or text message, whereby the e-Re app could be downloaded. Using the mobile number, the customer verification or KYC would be conducted and upon successful completion of KYC, the digital wallet is good to use. The user will then be able to transfer money from the bank account to the wallet. Simply put, instead of withdrawing money from an ATM, you are transferring money into a digital wallet. The amount transferred would assume the exact denominations of physical cash and will not earn interest when parked in the e-wallet. RBI is not in favour of e-rupee with interest. Because people might withdraw money from banks and convert it to digital rupee – causing banks to fail. Therefore, how much non-interest generating money would a user be willing to accommodate would be a determining factor to gauge the acceptance of e-Re. Why is the RBI moving towards the e-Re? e-Re seems to be a natural next step in the evolution of official coinage (from metal- based money, to metal-backed banknotes, to physical fiat money) There is a cost incurred in printing, transporting and storing currencies and coins that can be rationalised through e-Re. E-Re is also targeted at those who don’t have a bank account, but can use digital currencies similar to a pre-paid mobile recharge card. Likewise, it is not aimed at just smartphone users, but every person with a mobile phone. The e₹ can be converted to any commercial bank money or cash. It would be a fungible legal tender for which holders need not have a bank account – hence, strengthening the cause of financial inclusion. Therefore, e-Re would aid in formalising the digital consumption of money. More importantly, it would provide the general populace an alternative to unregulated cryptocurrencies and their associated risks. It will add efficiency to the settlement system and boost innovation in cross-border payments space and provide the public with uses that any private virtual currencies can provide, without the associated risks. Issuing CBDC allow central banks to more effectively satisfy public policy goals, including operational efficiency, financial stability, monetary policy effectiveness, and financial integrity. The RBI had stated that the key motivations for exploring the issuance of CBDC in India among others include reduction in operational costs involved in physical cash management, fostering financial inclusion, bringing resilience, efficiency and innovation in the payments system. What is UPI? Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a common platform through which a person can transfer money from his bank account to any other bank account in the country instantly using nothing but his/her UPI ID. It was launched in 2016 as Mobile First digital payments platform It enables immediate money transfer through mobile device round the clock 24*7 and 365 days based on the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) platform so as to make cashless payments faster, easier and smoother. UPI is completely interoperable and as such, it is unique in the world, where you have an interoperable system on the ‘send’ and ‘receive’ side It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience. Developed by: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the guidance from RBI. NPCI, an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. It is a “Not for Profit” Company under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013), with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s Payment Vision 2025, UPI is expected to register an average annualised growth of 50 per cent Will usage of e-Re hurt the adoption of UPI? This is a genuine fear, but UPI can continue to find takers. UPI works on a settlement basis between two banks. That is, on the front-end, money transfer happens instantly, but at the backend, it takes about a day for inter-bank settlements to conclude. There is a settlement risk in UPI, since there is an intermediary involved. But in e-Re, there is no settlement risk, since it is issued by the RBI and could also be much faster. Further, since UPI is a bank-to-bank payment mode, there is a transaction or audit trail it leaves, which e-Re won’t because it is wallet-to-wallet transfer. RBI is likely to allow anonymity in e-Re transactions, at least in the small-ticket ones. Those who don’t want an audit trail will prefer e-Re. Three, customers are unlikely to be charged anything for using e-Re since usage of cash does not involve any charges. UPI is free now, but could become chargeable going ahead. Users could shift to e-Re from UPI, if it proves efficient and trustworthy, and does not have technical glitches. But those who prefer to keep money in bank deposits and make payments using these interest-earning deposits will continue to prefer UPI. What are the challenges with retail e-Rupee? From a customer perspective, UPI has established ease of use. Therefore, e-Re needs to prove that it is equally user-friendly with sound technology and data privacy provisions, to lure users. Users also face digital theft such as hacking and virus attacks, which could deter some people. The cultural and social mind-set in the country, which leads to greater use of physical currency, is also a hinderance. Main Practice Question: Why is digital rupee the need of the time? What do you think are the challenges in adoption of such digital currency? Note: Write answer his question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }