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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Non-Statutory bodies Context: The SC has called it a caged parrot, and CJIs have expressed doubts over its credibility and said it is no longer trusted. Attempts to secure its independence have been opposed or overturned by successive governments. In this regard, let us know the institution in detail: What is CBI? The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is an elite force playing a major role in the preservation of values in public life and in ensuring the health of the national economy. It is also the nodal police agency in India, which coordinates investigation on behalf of Interpol Member countries. It functions under the Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances of the Government of India. It is not a statutory body; it derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. It works under the supervision of the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) in matters of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. History of Central Bureau of Investigation: Following corrupt practices in World War 2, the organization known as the Special Police Establishment (S.P.E.) was created under a Deputy Inspector General of Police by the Government of India, in 1941, by executive order. he Central Bureau of Investigation traces its origin to the Special Police Establishment (SPE) which was set up in 1941 by the Government of India. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act was brought into force in 1946. This Act transferred the superintendence of the SPE to the Home Department and its functions were enlarged to cover all departments of the Govt. of India. The jurisdiction of the SPE extended to all the Union Territories and could be extended also to the States with the consent of the State Government concerned. The Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption recommended the establishment of the CBI. The DSPE acquired its popular current name, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), through a Home Ministry resolution in 1963. In 2021, The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, of 1946 and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, of 2003 were amended to extend the tenure of CBI and ED directors Director of CBI: Director, CBI as Inspector General of Police, Delhi Special Police Establishment, is responsible for the administration of the organization. In 2014, the Lokpal Act provided a committee for the appointment of CBI Director: Headed by Prime Minister Other members – Leader of Opposition/ Leader of the single largest opposition party, Chief Justice of India/ a Supreme Court Judge. Home Ministry sends a list of eligible candidates to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Then, the DoPT prepares the final list on basis of seniority, integrity, and experience in the investigation of anti-corruption cases, and sends it to the committee Jurisdiction of Central Bureau of Investigation: Initially, the offenses that were notified by the Central Government related only to corruption by Central Govt. servants. As a large number of public sector undertakings came up, the employees of these undertakings were also brought under CBI purview. Similarly, with the nationalization of the banks in 1969, the Public Sector Banks and their employees also came within the ambit of the CBI. From 1965 onwards, the CBI has also been entrusted with the investigation of Economic Offences and important conventional crimes such as murders, kidnapping, terrorist crimes, etc., on a selective basis. CBI can Suo-moto take up investigation of offenses only in the Union Territories. The Central Government can authorize CBI to investigate a crime in a State but only with the consent of the concerned State Government. The Supreme Court and High Courts, however, can order CBI to investigate a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the State. Source: Indian Express            National Logistics Policy Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: The Prime Minister launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi; a significant step in fulfilling the ‘Pran’ of India being a developed country. India is the 5th largest economy in the world but the logistics cost is high at around 13-14%. Under the policy a new digital platform Ease of logistics Services -E-Logs has also been started. Through this portal, industry associations can directly take up any such matters which are causing problems in their operations and performance with the government agencies. About: The National Logistics Policy is an overarching interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, and multi-jurisdictional framework for the development of the entire logistics ecosystem and will bring new energy to all sectors. Objective: To develop world-class modern infrastructure through the integration of all stakeholders in holistic planning and implementation so that efficiency and synergy are achieved in the execution of the project. Need for logistics policy: High logistics costs in India as compared to other developed economies. To improve the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export markets. To improve efficiency cutting across various sectors of the economy, encouraging value addition and enterprise. Steps to improve logistics sector: PM Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for muti-modal connectivity Unified Logistics Interface Platform or ULIP will bring all the digital services related with the transportation sector on a single portal, freeing the exporters from a host of very long and cumbersome processes. Increasing total capacity of Indian ports and the average turn-around time of container vessels, which has come down from 44 hours to 26 hours. For promoting export, 40 air cargo terminals have been constructed and 30 airports have been provided cold-storage facilities as well as 35 multimodal hubs are coming up in the country. Many new waterways are being built for eco-friendly and cost-effective transportation Kisan Rail and airports having the facility of Krishi Udaan have been constructed. Paperless EXIM trade process through e-sanchit and faceless assessment for customs Provisions for e-way bills, FASTag that have greatly increased the efficiency of the logistics sector. Unified tax system like GST in smoothening the issues of the logistics sector Change in drone policy and connecting it with the PLI scheme is promoting the use of drones in the logistics sector. Sagarmala, Bharatmala scheme and Dedicated Freight Corridors to improve logistics connectivity for systematic infrastructure development. Benefits of the policy: National Logistics Policy has immense potential for development of infrastructure, expansion of business and increasing employment opportunities. Improve competitiveness Ensuring quick last mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturers, prevent wastage of the agro-products and improvement in coordination. Strengthening of the logistics sector will not only make the life of common man easier but will also help in increasing the respect of labour and workers. Issues related to logistics are reduced and when the country’s exports increase, small industries and the people working in them benefit the most. Way forward The PM said, “When parameters, roadmap and timeline for performance come together then policy plus performance equal to progress emerges” The world is looking at India as a ‘democratic superpower’ and the ‘extraordinary talent ecosystem’ of India has impressed the field experts. Today the world’s attitude towards India is changing for the better. Source: Pib.Gov Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Govt schemes In News: As per the data collected by the Indian Medical Association, over 1,800 doctors have died in the line of COVID-19 duty. However, dependents of doctors got just over 20% of the total money distributed under the insurance scheme for health workers. A special leave petition has been filed in the Supreme Court in this context. About PMGKP: It is a comprehensive relief package of Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus and enable them to buy essential supplies and meet essential needs. It was announced in March 2020 It includes an insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakh per health worker fighting COVID-19 80 crore poor people to get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month 20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders to get Rs 500 per month for next three months Increase in MNREGA wage to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 13.62 crore families Ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 to 3 crore poor senior citizen, poor widows and poor disabled Issues: Over 75% of doctors who succumbed to the infection have not benefited from the scheme because a majority of them were not working in COVID-designated hospitals. Total number of beneficiaries as on August 31 was 1,962 and the amount disbursed was ₹981 crore. However, just over 21.5% of the money disbursed under the PMGKP has been given to doctors. Source: The Hindu              Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: (2018) It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It, among other things will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2, and 3 Accreditation of HEIs Open in new window Syllabus Prelims: Current Affairs In news: National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) withheld the grading of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda after receiving an anonymous complaint that the university unduly tried to influence the peer review team with gold, cash and other favours. The council is currently considering reducing the role of the peer team visits in the overall scheme of things. About: There are 1,043 universities and 42,343 colleges listed on the portal of the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) and 406 universities and 8,686 colleges are accredited. Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of accredited colleges, followed by Karnataka. Tamil Nadu has the most accredited universities at 43. About NAAC: It is an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC). It carries out quality checks or assessments of Indian Higher-level Educational Institutions (HEIs), It certifies HEIs with gradings as part of accreditation. The ratings of institutions range from A++ to C. If an institution is graded D, it means it is not accredited. Through a multi-layered process, a higher education institution learns whether it meets the standards of quality set by the evaluator in terms of curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, research, and other parameters. Methodology: Accreditation has been made mandatory through the UGC (Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012. The current approach to accreditation is “input-based” implying heavy reliance on self-assessment reports of applicant institutions related to quantitative and qualitative metrics. The data is then validated by NAAC expert teams and is followed by peer team visits to the institutions. The process of Peer Team Visits adds substantial effort on the part of both NAAC and the HEIs. Only higher education institutions that are at least six years old, or from where at least two batches of students have graduated, can apply. The accreditation is valid for five years. When an institution undergoes the accreditation process for the first time it is referred to as Cycle 1, and the subsequent five-year periods as Cycles 2, 3 and so on. New considerations: A shift from “input-based” to “outcome-based approach”. Rather than relying exclusively on the self-study reports of the HEIs, the NAAC should ask institutions to provide evidence such as samples of learning materials, continuous assessment tasks and final examinations to show they have outcomes of learning specified in the syllabus. Issues: The fear of obtaining a poor grade or no accreditation at all holds back higher education institutes from voluntarily applying for evaluation. Way forward It is recommended that the role of Peer Team visits be facilitatory in nature and not have a significant weightage in assessment and accreditation. The new system of Provisional Accreditation for Colleges (PAC) under which even one-year-old institutions could apply for accreditation should be further explored while maintaining quality. NAAC should help the colleges improve the quality of education they provide, such that they can be successful in meeting the standards that NAAC accreditation calls for. Source: Indian Express UNSC Sanctions Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (International Relations) Context: China defended its controversial move to block a joint India-U.S. effort to place a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist on the U.N. Security Council’s 1267 committee sanctions list. Type of UNSC Resolutions: A UNSC resolution is of two kinds: One is obligatory: An obligatory or binding resolution of the UNSC is passed under Article 39, Chapter VII of the UN charter. Other non-obligatory: A non-binding resolution of the UNSC is one that is passed under Article 33, Chapter VI of the UN charter. During UNSC voting, abstention by non-P5 members merely means that temporary members do not wish to take sides in a resolution. When a P5 member abstain from a resolution, it is called a Veto. Resolution fails in this case. Important Resolutions adopted by the Security Council in 2022: Resolution 2650 : The situation in the Middle East (UNIFIL) Resolution 2650 : The situation in Mali Resolution 2648: The situation in the Central African Republic Resolution 2636: Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan (UNITAMS) Resolution 2626: The situation in Afghanistan Resolution 2623: Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly on Ukraine Source:  The Hindu Doctrine of Basic Structure Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 2 Indian Constitution In News: Recently, a bench of five judges of the Supreme Court has been constituted so as to determine whether the Constitution 103rd Amendment Act, 2019 violates the “basic structure of the Constitution”. Doctrine of Basic Structure: The doctrine states that no amendment to the Constitution is permissible if it alters “the basic structure or framework of the Constitution”. It was developed by the Supreme Court of India in a series of constitutional law cases in the 1960s and 1970s that culminated in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala in 1973 where the doctrine was formally adopted. The doctrine thus forms the basis of the power of the Supreme Court of India to review and strike down constitutional amendments and acts enacted by the Parliament which conflict with or seek to alter this “basic structure” of the Constitution. The basic structure is a tool or judicial innovation to ensure that the legislature does not abuse the power given to it in Article 368. Components of the Doctrine: The doctrine has not been specifically defined but the various court judgements have helped in formulating a scope of the same and it includes the following: Significance: It has been applied to discover the intent of the constitution makers in framing the constitutional provisions, as in the case of Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain. The basic structure doctrine constitutes a high watermark in the assertion of the Supreme Court’s judicial power in the teeth of a determined majoritarian regime. It protects the fundamental rights of the citizens against arbitrariness and authoritarianism of the legislature. It strengthens the cause of democracy and maintains the sanctity of the vision of our founding fathers. Challenges: Fundamentally, it is inconsistent with the principle of separation of powers – By propounding the basic structure theory, the guardians of the Constitution had at one bound become guardians over the Constitution. In other words, constitutional adjudicators had assumed the role of constitutional governors. Vagueness and elusiveness of the basic and essential features of the Constitution – When the highest law of a country is not defined, persons in authority can manufacture definitions that can serve their political ambitions. It is, thus, dangerous to leave the meaning of ‘basic structure’ open-ended. The doctrine does not provide a technical solution to the amendment of constitutional amendments, which was the reason for its birth. Way forward The Constitution of India is an organic or living document and needs to be amended with the changing time and needs of the society. The framers of the Indian Constitution were aware of the fact that no generation has a monopoly of wisdom nor has it the right to place its decisions on future generations to mould the machinery of government according to their requirements. However, such power of amendment must be used judiciously. Ninth Schedule of the Constitution In order to free India from the zamindari system, the Constitution went through its First Amendment, in the year 1951 and the Ninth Schedule became part of this document. It contains a list of central and state laws that are shielded from Judicial review. The Ninth Schedule is the detailed explanation of Article 31-B of the Indian Constitution. Initially, it had 13 laws, all of them aimed at land reforms but presently it contains 284 laws covering reservation, trade, industries, mine, etc. Amendments as per article 368 The framers of the Constitution took a middle path and made our Constitution rigid as well as flexible. Dr. Ambedkar called it a “flexible federation”. Part XX of the Indian Constitution contains Article 368. This article gives the Parliament power to amend the Constitution. It mentions three types of amendment: By a simple majority of both the houses of the Parliament (the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha) By a special majority of both the houses of the Parliament By a special majority of both the houses of the Parliament and ratified by half of the states. Ratified here means introduced as a bill on the floor of the state assembly and passed by a simple majority i.e., more than fifty percent present and voting. Note: Various doctrines of Supreme Court Doctrine of Pith and Substance – if the substance of legislation falls within a legislature’s lawful power, the legislation does not become unconstitutional just because it impacts an issue beyond its area of authority. Doctrine of severability – when some particular provision of a statute offends or is against a constitutional limitation, but that provision is severable from the rest of the statute, only that offending provision will be declared void by the Court and not the entire statute. Doctrine of Eclipse – any law which is inconsistent with fundamental rights is not invalid. It is not totally dead but overshadowed by the fundamental right. The inconsistency (conflict) can be removed by constitutional amendment. Doctrine of Laches – emanates from the principle that the Courts will not help people who sleep over their rights and helps only those who are aware and vigilant about their rights. A party is said to be guilty of laches when they come to the Court to assert their rights after a considerable delay in that respect. Doctrine of territorial nexus- It means that the object shall be located outside the territorial limits of the state and has a territorial connection with the state. Doctrine of Colourable Legislation – It means when a legislature does not have the power to make laws on a particular subject directly, it cannot make laws on it indirectly. Doctrine of Harmonious Construction – when two provisions of a legal text seem to conflict, they should be interpreted so that each has a separate effect and neither is redundant or nullified. Source:  Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2020) The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 Scandinavian social democracy Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – International groups and maps Mains – GS 2 (Governance and International Relations) Context: In recent Sweden elections, the Social Democrats a party with origins in the neo-Nazi movement conceded defeat even as Moderates are expected to form the government with other right-wing parties offering support. This shows a declining popularity of the Nordic model, or “democratic socialism”, as advocated by the new Green Movement and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, in the Nordic countries themselves. Socialism and social democracy in Scandinavian: Terming the political-economic system in the Scandinavian countries, despite its strong welfarist basis and emphasis on collective bargaining as “socialist” would be a misnomer. For one, the term “socialism” is associated with the regimes of the erstwhile Communist bloc, which had a heavy preponderance of the state in not just the ownership of the major means of production but also in political life with a one-party system drawing its ideological basis for rule on behalf of the working class. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, new socialist regimes in recent years have sought to distance themselves from the one-party model in the so-called “second world”, instead focusing on retaining the functioning of market economies, while emphasising redistribution of wealth and a greater preponderance for the state in this process. The regimes in Latin America led by ruling parties in Venezuela, Bolivia and recently in Chile, can be termed “democratic socialist” — seeking to achieve socialist goals of redistribution and restructuring of formal democratic and liberal institutions in vastly unequal and elite driven systems. Political circles began to associate social democracy with Keynesianism, the Nordic model, the social-liberal paradigm, as well as welfare states in the late 20th century. Defining features: Within socialism, social democracy is a left-wing political, social, and economic theory that promotes political and economic democracy. It is defined as a policy regime that supports economic and social interventions to advance social justice inside the framework of a liberal-democratic polity and a mixed economy that is capitalist-oriented. A dedication to representative and participatory democracy mechanisms for income redistribution management of the economy in the public interest social welfare policies The ‘exceptional’ Scandinavian model In the Scandinavian countries, on the other hand, the systems are more akin to typical “social democracies” — reliance on representative and participatory democratic institutions where separation of powers is ensured; a comprehensive social welfare schema with emphasis on publicly provided social services and investment in child care, education, and research among others, that are funded by progressive taxation; presence of strong labour market institutions with active labour unions and employer associations which allow for significant collective bargaining, wage negotiations and coordination besides an active role in governance and policy. All these countries also follow a capitalist model of development, allowing for entrepreneurism and funding of welfare policies through a large degree of wage taxation in relation to corporate taxes. Success of the Nordic countries: The commonalities in the Scandinavian countries — Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland — on many of these counts are measurable. For example, among countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (featuring most high-income countries in the world), Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway have the highest proportion of the workforce belonging to trade unions. Education is free in all the Nordic States; health care is free in Denmark and Finland and partially free in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland ; workers get several benefits — from unemployment insurance to old age pensions, besides effective child care. Therefore, labour participation rates in these countries are among the highest in the world (even among women). The five Nordic nations rank in the top 10 among OECD countries in government expenditure on health and education if calculated as percentage of GDP. India can take a cue from the Nordic model since the State needs to find employment for its youth as well as provide welfare support to its vast section of vulnerable population. Way Forward: One key reason for the thriving social democratic model in the Nordic countries has been their relatively smaller and more homogenous populations enabling focused governance. The “corporatist” model of involving interests of both capital and labour, mediated by the government at many levels, has allowed these countries to transition from agrarian to industrial to post-industrial (in some cases) and knowledge/service economies relatively smoothly. Thus, the Nordic model of social democracy offers lessons to the developing world, including countries like India despite the myriad complexities of diversities, differential internal development, and histories. Source:  The Hindu                The hijab case and the essential practices doctrine Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Polity and Governance Mains – Polity and Constitution Context: A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India is presently hearing arguments on the correctness of a Karnataka High Court judgment that upheld the ban on the use of the hijab by students in Karnataka. The Karnataka Hijab row: A dispute pertaining to school uniforms erupted in Karnataka, when some Muslim students of a college who wanted to wear hijab to classes were denied entry on the grounds that it was a violation of the college’s uniform policy. Several educational institutions Karnataka government’s compulsory uniform order and denied entry to Muslim girls wearing the hijab. This was challenged in the Karnataka High Court (HC). The Karnataka HC, while it upheld the restriction on Muslim women wearing a hijab in educational institutions, made three primary findings in its judgment: First, it held that the use of a hijab is not essential to the practice of Islam. Thus, the right to freedom of religion was not violated. Second, it ruled that there exists no substantive right to freedom of expression or privacy inside a classroom and, therefore, these rights were simply not at stake here. It held classrooms as “qualified public spaces” where individual rights must give way to the interests of “general discipline and decorum”. Third, it held that the ban did not stem directly out of the government’s order, which only called for a uniform dress code to be prescribed by the State or school management committees, and, hence, the law did not discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against Muslim students. To decide on the correctness of this verdict, the Supreme Court need not answer all the questions posed before it. A reversal of any of the three findings made by the High Court ought to result in a nullification of the ban. Law and religion: In theory, the issues emanating out of these submissions ought to be capable of easy resolution, through an application of ordinary doctrines of constitutional law. But, as transcripts from the hearings have shown us, every time an argument over religious freedom in India is made, it invariably mires itself in the court-crafted doctrine of essential practice (ERP). Essential religious practice (ERP) test is a doctrine evolved by the supreme court (SC) to protect only such religious practices under fundamental rights, which are essential and integral to religion. The doctrine of “essentiality” was invented by the SC in the Shirur Mutt case in 1954. Constituent Assembly Debate: The essential practices doctrine owes its existence to a speech made by B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly: “Ambedkar was striving to distinguish the religious from the secular, by arguing that the state should be allowed to intervene in matters that are connected to religion but are not intrinsically religious”. Judicial verdict in Shirur Mutt case: Supreme Court (SC), in the Shirur Mutt case (1954), held that to determine what constituted an ‘essential’ aspect of religion, the Court ought to look towards the religion concerned, and to what its adherents believed was demanded by their faith. It has allowed the Court to narrow the extent of safeguards available to religious customs by directly impinging on the autonomy of groups to decide for themselves what they deem valuable, violating, in the process, their right to ethical independence. The Sabarimala verdict on ERP: The essential practices test is not without alternatives. In his concurring opinion, in the case concerning the ban on entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud proposed one such doctrine: a principle of anti-exclusion. The anti-exclusion principal postulates that where a religious practice causes the exclusion of individuals in a manner which impairs their dignity or hampers their access to basic goods, the freedom of religion must give way to the over-arching values of a liberal constitution. Way Forward: But until such time as the essential practices doctrine is overruled by a Bench of more than seven judges, the Court is bound to apply its tenets. Perhaps that reassessment will happen when a nine-judge Bench constituted in the review petitions filed against the judgment in the Sabarimala case passes judgment. For now, any Court hearing a matter touching upon a matter of faith including wearing hijab has the unenviable task of acting not merely as an expert on law but also as an expert on religion. Source:  The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of the application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India? (2022) Article 14 Article 28 Article 32 Article 44 Q.2) Consider the following statements:   (2020) The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights, and democracy. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Baba’s Explainer -CBI and its troubles CBI and its troubles Syllabus GS-2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Context: Time and again, Supreme Court has called out on the partisan nature of CBI, India’s premier investigative agency. CBI has been termed as “caged parrot” pointing towards subordination of agency to the executive and its disastrous consequences for the cause of justice. Read Complete Details on CBI and its troubles Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements: The power of Judicial Review has been defined in the Constitution. The legislature has full powers to amend all the Fundamental Rights of individuals. As per the Supreme Court, every constitutional amendment has to be judged on its own merits. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and only 2 and 3 only 2 only 3 only Q.2) With reference to Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), consider the following statements: It was announced in March 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic. It, among other things will also provide insurance cover to health workers. It aims to provide employment to the poor in rural areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 1 and 2 only 1, 2, and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India: The Santhanam Committee recommended for the establishment of the CBI. CBI Director is appointed by the committee which is headed by the Home Minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’20th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 19th September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – a Q.2) – d Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - CBI and its troubles

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Context: Time and again, Supreme Court has called out on the partisan nature of CBI, India’s premier investigative agency. CBI has been termed as “caged parrot” pointing towards subordination of agency to the executive and its disastrous consequences for the cause of justice. What is the status of CBI? The CBI was established as the Special Police Establishment in 1941, to investigate cases of corruption in the procurement during the Second World War. Later, the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption recommended the establishment of the CBI. As a result, it was set up in 1963 by a resolution of Union Home Ministry. The Special Police Establishment (which looked into vigilance cases) setup in 1941 was also merged with the CBI Later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel and now it enjoys the status of an attached office. The CBI is not a statutory body. It derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. The CBI is the main investigating agency of the Central Government. The CBI investigates crime of corruption, economic offences and serious and organized crime other than terrorism. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been constituted after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 mainly for investigation of incidents of terrorist attacks, funding of terrorism and other terror related crime. The CBI is headed by a Director who is assisted by special/additional director. The Director of CBI has been provided security of two-year tenure by CVC Act, 2003. As per the CVC Act of 2003, the Central Government shall appoint the Director of CBI on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Chief Justice of India or Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him. If there is no recognized leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, then the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha would be a member of that committee. The CBI Academy is located at Ghaziabad, UP and started functioning in 1996. It also has three regional training centres at Kolkata, Mumbai & Chennai. The superintendence of CBI related to investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 lies with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and in other matters with the Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT) in the Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Grievances of the Government of India What are the functions of CBI? Investigating cases of corruption, bribery and misconduct of Union govt employees Investigating cases relating to infringement of fiscal and economic laws Investigating serious crimes, having national and international ramifications, committed by organised gangs of professional criminals. Coordinating activities of the anticorruption agencies and various state police forces Taking up, on the request of a state government, any case of public importance for investigation. It takes up investigation of conventional crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape etc., on reference from the state governments or when directed by the Supreme Court/High Courts. Maintaining crime statistics and disseminating criminal information. The CBI acts as the “National Central Bureau” of Interpol in India. The Central Government can authorize CBI to investigate such a crime in a State but only with the consent of the concerned State Government. What types of cases are handled by CBI? Special Crimes – for investigation of serious and organized crime under the Indian Penal Code and other laws on the requests of State Governments or on the orders of the Supreme Court and High Courts – such as cases of terrorism, bomb blasts, kidnapping for ransom and crimes committed by the mafia/the underworld. Economic Crimes – for investigation of major financial scams and serious economic frauds, including crimes relating to Fake Indian Currency Notes, Bank Frauds and Cyber Crime, bank frauds, Import Export & Foreign Exchange violations, large-scale smuggling of narcotics, antiques, cultural property and smuggling of other contraband items etc. Anti-Corruption Crimes – for investigation of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Public officials and the employees of Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, Corporations or Bodies owned or controlled by the Government of India. Suo Moto Cases – CBI can suo-moto take up investigation of offenses only in the Union Territories. The Central Government can authorize CBI to investigate a crime in a State but only with the consent of the concerned State Government. The Supreme Court and High Courts, however, can order CBI to investigate a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the State. What are the issues with CBI? Structurally constrained The CBI has been stymied both by the legal structure within which it functions, and by the changes made by governments in the Rules governing it. Over the years, these have progressively made the agency subservient to the Union government. To prosecute any MLA, state minister, or MP, the CBI needs sanction from the Speaker of the state Assembly (in case of MLAs) or the Governor (for state ministers). In the case of an MP, sanction is sought from the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Vice Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Since all these sanctioning authorities have links to the ruling dispensation, Opposition parties feel they are unfairly targeted. It is understood that the agency has no freedom to probe anyone on its own. It is the government, at the Union or in states, or the court, which will decide who will be investigated 2.Withdrawal of Consent due to Federal Politics The work of the agency has been further constrained by the increasingly hostile relations between the Centre and the state governments. As many as nine states have withdrawn general consent to the CBI. Most of these are Opposition-ruled states, which have alleged that the CBI is being used by the Centre to target the Opposition. In March 2022, Meghalaya, where the BJP is in a coalition government, withdrew general consent. Since CBI needs consent of a state to probe offences in the state’s jurisdiction, a general consent is given to the agency so that consent is not required for every individual case. Withdrawal of consent means CBI cannot investigate even a central government employee stationed in a state without the consent of the state government. However, this is not unique to the NDA regime. Throughout the history of the agency, several states — including Sikkim, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka — have withdrawn general consent. No Ban on Post-Retirement Appointments Critics have also pointed to the way in which successive governments have used the lure of post-retirement jobs to make CBI Directors toe their line. Former CBI Director Ashwini Kumar was appointed Governor of Nagaland by the UPA in 2013. Other former CBI chiefs got post-retirement jobs as members of the National Human Rights Commission under the UPA. The NDA government in 2021 amended the DSPE Act to give the CBI Director a tenure of five years, but added a caveat that after completion of the SC-mandated two-year tenure, the Director would get an extension of tenure each year at the pleasure of the government. Many saw this as an attempt to make the Director toe the line of government Inadequate Administrative Capacity The agency is dependent on the home ministry for staffing since many of its investigators come from the Indian Police Service. The CBI also relies on the ministry of law for lawyers and also doesn’t have functional autonomy to some extent. The CBI, run by IPS officers on deputation, is also vulnerable to the government’s ability to manipulate the senior officers because they are dependent on the Central government for future postings. Outside the ambit of Right to Information CBI is placed in the 2nd Schedule, Section 24 of the Right to Information Act. It provides an exception to obtaining information from intelligence and security organizations specified in the second schedule to the Right to Information Act or any information furnished by them to the government. The CBI was not one of the organizations included in the exempted category. It was much later in 2012 that the CBI was brought in. CBI was not brought into the ambit of the RTI initially because the CBI was not considered to be one of those organizations which really looks into the strategic interests of India. However, Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Research & Analysis Wing or RAW and such organizations which gather intelligence, dealing with strategic matters were from the very beginning kept in the exempt category. The CBI was never considered to be one which collects or maintains such information which are of strategic importance for the country and hence not included in the exemption list of RTI. However, the CBI made out a case that they are also investigating into all kinds of cases- and that these cases include those which are of strategic importance for India and therefore, if they would be subjected to the RTI, much of that information would go out into the public domain. The then government had agreed to this. Declining Trust of Public on the institution Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana lamented that the agency had gone from being the people’s most trusted to the subject of deep public scrutiny. Earlier in 2019, then CJI Ranjan Gogoi had questioned the role of the CBI in “politically sensitive” cases, and said that it reflected “a deep mismatch between institutional aspirations” and “governing politics”. How has Judiciary played its role in reforming CBI? The struggle to free law-enforcement agencies such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) from the stranglehold of governments and political parties has been ongoing since the 1990s. The landmark 1997 Vineet Narain judgment of the Supreme Court (Vineet Narain & Others vs Union Of India & Anr) dealt with this issue in detail. The Supreme Court fixed the tenure of the CBI Director at two years. This mandatory tenure was meant to insulate the CBI Director from the pressures of the executive that ended in transfer of posts if not adhered to will of executive. The Rajiv Gandhi government, through what is known as the “single directive”, introduced a provision in The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, (from which the CBI derives its powers) which barred CBI from investigating officials of joint secretary level and above without permission from the government. This was struck down by Vineet Narain case, but was reintroduced by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. After it was struck down again by the Supreme Court in 2014, the Modi government introduced Section 17A into the Prevention of Corruption Act through an amendment. This amendment went far ahead of reintroducing the “single directive”, and barred the CBI from probing any public servant without the consent of the concerned government. Higher Judiciary has often reprimanded investigators for their sloppiness and deviation from ethics. This has brought in some sort of fear among investigators & prevented the agency from losing the trust of the public. Meticulous supervision by the Supreme Court in some important cases has made difference to the honesty of investigation. There is palpable fear among CBI officers that the judiciary could intervene were an aggrieved person to prove that an investigator had been arbitrary and dishonest. What is the way ahead? Investigators needs to stand up to unethical pressures in order not to betray the trust reposed in them by the public. Courts need to enforces discipline and adherence to the law. If investigators deviated from the path of objectivity and neutrality, they should pay for it dearly. If the CBI has to tread the path of virtue, it should have the strongest leader with a distinct belief in the law and ethics. There needs to be a strong and virtuous leader who will not only be honest but also protect his honest deputies if and when confronted by an unscrupulous political heavyweight. The leadership should focus on weeding out the dishonest among officers and rewarding those who have shown and proven themselves to be honest and professionally innovative. Main Practice Question: Justice should not only be done but seen to be done. Analyse the statement in the light of recent criticisms of CBI. Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Quota for Dalit Muslims and Christians

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Society GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Context: The Centre is likely to soon decide on setting up a national commission to study the social, economic and educational status of Dalits who converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Several petitions are pending before the Supreme Court seeking Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation benefits for Dalits who converted to Christianity or Islam. What is reservation? Reservation is a system of affirmative action in India that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education, employment, government schemes, health, insurance, banking, foreign higher education, scholarships and politics. Reservation in India is a government policy, backed by the Indian Constitution (by means of various amendments). In India, reservation is provided in: Government Educational Institutions like IITs, IIMs etc as per Article 15 – (4), (5), and (6) Government Jobs like IAS, IPS etc as per Article 16 – (4) and (6) Legislatures (Parliament, and State Legislature) – as per Article 334 Before 2019, the reservation was provided mainly on the basis of social and educational backwardness (caste). However, after the 103rd constitutional amendment in 2019, economic backwardness is also considered. A vacancy reserved for SCs or STs or OBCs or EWS (Economically weaker section) cannot be filled by a candidate other than an SC or ST or OBC or EWS candidate , as the case may be. Reservation is provided not only with respect to direct recruitment but also with respect to promotions for SC/ST category Article 16(4A) There is no concept of ‘creamy layer’ with respect to SC/ST reservation. This means that irrespective of the income status or the government posts held by the parents, children of SC/ST parents will get SC/ST Reservation. However, creamy layer concept applies to OBC reservation where those people belonging to OBC and having income greater than the prescribed limit (currently Rs. 8 Lakhs/ annum) is not eligible to claim reservation benefits and is considered as belonging to open general category. Apart from the reservation quota, additional relaxations like upper-age relaxations, additional attempts, and lower cut-off marks are also provided for various reservation categories. Why is reservation needed? The framers of the Constitution believed that, due to the caste system, SCs and the STs were historically oppressed and denied respect and equal opportunity in Indian society and were thus under-represented in nation-building activities. It’s the duty of the government to provide equality of status and opportunity in India. Reservation is one of the tools against social oppression and injustice against certain classes. Otherwise known as affirmative action, reservation helps in uplifting backward classes. The objective of providing reservations to the Scheduled Castes(SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) in services is not only to give jobs to some persons belonging to these communities. It basically aims at empowering them and ensuring their participation in the decision-making process of the State. Is reservation for Scheduled Castes based on religion? The original rationale behind giving reservation to Scheduled Castes was that these sections had suffered from the social evil of untouchability, which was practised among Hindus. Under Article 341 of the Constitution, the President may “specify the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes, races or tribes which shall be deemed to be Scheduled Castes”. The first order under this provision was issued in 1950, and covered only Hindus. Following demands from the Sikh community, an order was issued in 1956, including Sikhs of Dalit origin among the beneficiaries of the SC quota. In 1990, the government acceded to a similar demand from Buddhists of Dalit origin, and the order was revised to state: “No person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste.” Does this religion-based bar apply to converted STs and OBCs as well? It does not. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) website states, “The rights of a person belonging to a Scheduled Tribe are independent of his/her religious faith.” Following the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, several Christian and Muslim communities have found place in the Central and state lists of OBCs. How is caste and Islamic religioun interlinked in India? It is understood that there are four distinct categories to broadly summarise division of Muslims in India: The Ashrafs who claim descent from foreign origin — these include the Sayyids, the Abbasids, the Mughals and are at the top of the social hierarchy. Then come upper caste converts such as Butts, Rajput Muslims or Jat Muslims. Members of other Indian tribes that have converted to Islam formed another run which included communities like the Darzis, Dhobis, Faqirs, Julahas, Kumhars and others. The last run of the social ladder inlcluded the converts from lower castes that were considered “untouchable”, such as Bhangis Today, upper caste Hindus who converted to Islam are broadly considered be Ashraf. The neologism Pasmandas (meaning those who were left behind) is used to refer to Ajlaf and Arzal Muslims, considered lower in the social heirarchy by the Ashrafs, who have historically dominated the social, political and economic sphere. Ajlafs’ statuses are defined by them being descendants of converts to Islam and are also defined by their pesha (profession). Marriages between Ashrafs and Pasmandas are still looked down upon in several places. What efforts have been made to include Muslims and Christians of Dalit origin among SCs? After 1990, a number of Private Member’s Bills were brought in Parliament for this purpose. In 1996, a government Bill called The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill was drafted, but in view of a divergence of opinions, the Bill was not introduced in Parliament. The UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set up two important panels: The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, popularly known as the Ranganath Misra Commission, in October 2004 A seven-member high-level committee headed by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Rajinder Sachar to study the social, economic, and educational condition of Muslims in March 2005. The Sachar Committee Report observed that the social and economic situation of Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians did not improve after conversion. The Ranganath Misra Commission, which submitted its report in May 2007, recommended that SC status should be “completely de-linked from religion and Scheduled Castes should be made fully religion-neutral like Scheduled Tribes”. The report was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on December 18, 2009, but its recommendation was not accepted in view of inadequate field data and corroboration with the actual situation on the ground. What are some of the arguments made against providing reservation to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims? Changes the tenets of Religion: Reservation would amount to a formal introduction of a caste system in Islam and Christianity, thus changing the basic tenets of these religions, which is outside the jurisdiction of both Parliament and the judiciary and also contrary to the provisions of the Koran and the Bible. May lead to Inequitable distribution of reservation benefits: One of the primary concern regarding granting reservation rights is the fear that Dalit Christians, who have wider access to education and other benefits, may get the upper hand in placements. Challenges in Article 25 (2)(b): It is argued that the logic of including Sikhs and Buddhists (and not Dalit Christians and Pasmanda Muslims) in the affirmative action programme is that these are part of the larger Dharmic system, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism are deemed to have been impacted by caste-based inequities. This is why Article 25, which promises freedom of religion, says specifically in section (2) (b) that freedom of religion does not mean that the state cannot intervene to render social welfare and reforms in Hindu religious institutions of a public character Explanation II: In sub-clause (b) of clause, reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jain or Buddhist religion Main Practice Question: Analyse the impact of caste based inequalities in society with special reference to its interplay with different religions in India? Note: Write answers to this 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 20th September 2022

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

मासिक पत्रिका जुलाई 2022 – हिन्दी IASbaba सामयिकी

Archives Hello Friends,This is जुलाई/July 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 जुलाई/July 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 - जुलाई/July 2022 Important Topics Covered In The Magazine Includes: Election of President and Vice President Cloud bursts and floods Antarctic Bill by India Vikrant: Indigenous Aircraft Carrier GST - 5 years on And Much More.... Download The Magazine - जुलाई/July 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 – 19th September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Ecological niche modelling Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Tech In News: Researchers at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh used ecological niche modelling strategies to examine the economically important of spice, saffron. About Saffron: Crocus sativus, is a flowering plant, propagated through underground stems called corms. It grows best under Mediterranean climate According to latest reports, Iran grows nearly 90% of the worlds saffron. Uses: Adds flavour to food, helps in healing disorders of the nervous system, acts as an anti-depressant, and also shows anti-cancer India produces 5% of the worlds saffron and historically, some of the world’s most prized saffron has been grown in old lake beds of Kashmir. Agro-climatic conditions: well-drained soil of high pH value (6.3 to 8.3), summer temperatures (when flowers develop) of around 25°C and good soil nutrient availability. Average national yield = 2.6 kg per hectare About ecological niche: An ecological niche is the right set of environmental conditions under which an animal or plant species will thrive. A range of ecological niches can occur within an ecosystem. Biodiversity is the result of these niches being occupied by species that are uniquely suited to them. Desert plants, for example, are suited for dry, arid ecological niches because they have the ability to store water in their leaves. Non-living, or abiotic factors like temperature, amount of available light, soil moisture also affect ecological niches. Due to Climate change, the ability of existing species to hold on to their biogeographic niches may be altered. Effect on Agriculture: Practices and crop choices that have worked well for centuries may no longer be ideal thereby affecting availability of food and nutrients, occurrence of predators and competing species. About Ecological Niche modelling: It is a predictive tool for identifying new possibilities using computer algorithms such as — new inhabitants for an existing habitat, or new geographical locations where a desirable plant may grow well. It compares data about the environment and makes forecasts about what would be ideal for a given ecological niche. Need: To bridge ecological considerations and economic realities and to examine economic feasibilities within the context of changing ecological scenarios. The study identified 4,200 sq. km. of new areas suitable for saffron cultivation in places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North Sikkim, Imphal, Manipur and Tamil Nadu. The above studies carried by using the following technologies. Big Data: It refers to extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions. It is characterised by 3Vs – Variety, Volume, Velocity Space shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM): It is an international research effort spearheaded by the S. defence agency and NASA to generate the most complete high-resolution digital topographic database of Earth. SRTM payload was outfitted with two radar antennas using the technique “interferometric synthetic aperture radar”. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR): It uses pulses of radio waves to create high-resolution images of objects, such as landscapes with comparatively small physical antennas. SAR is typically mounted on a moving platform, such as an aircraft or spacecraft and uses the motion of the radar antenna over a target region to provide finer spatial resolution than conventional stationary beam-scanning radars. The larger the aperture, the higher the image resolution will be. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q1) Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?   (2013) Ecotone Ecological niche Habitat Home range Using ‘spooky action at a distance’ to link atomic clocks Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: An experiment carried out by the University of Oxford researchers combines two unique and one can say even mind-boggling discoveries, namely, high-precision atomic clocks and quantum entanglement, to achieve two atomic clocks that are “entangled.” This means the inherent uncertainty in measuring their frequencies simultaneously is highly reduced. Quantum Entanglement: In quantum physics, entanglement is a weird phenomenon described as a “spooky action at a distance” by Albert Einstein. It is a way of saying that the physical attributes of two independent systems, say spin or frequency, vary in tandem. Instead of making separate measurements of those attributes which involves a fundamental limitation of precision in measurement, you can compare the two together – measuring the attribute on one system, tells you about the other system in Quantum Entanglement. This in turn improves the precision of the measurement to the ultimate limit allowed by quantum theory. Atomic clocks: An atomic clock is a clock that measures time by monitoring the resonant frequency of atoms. It is based on atoms having different energy levels. This phenomenon serves as the basis for the International System of Units’ (SI) definition of a second – time taken by 9,19,26,31,770 oscillations of a caesium atom with accuracy of gaining or losing a second only once in about 20 million years. “Optical lattice clocks” uses strontium atoms and are more precise as they lose a second only once in 15 billion years. Proof of concept: Quantum networks of this kind have been demonstrated earlier, but this is the first demonstration of quantum entanglement of optical atomic clocks. The key development here is that we could improve the fidelity and the rate of this remote entanglement to the point where it’s actually useful for other applications, like in this clock experiment. For their demonstration, the researchers used strontium atoms for the ease in generating remote entanglement. They plan to try this with better clocks such as those that use calcium. We can now generate remote entanglement in a practical way. At some point, it might be useful for state-of-the art systems. Applications: Studying the space-time variation of the fundamental constants, probing dark matter, precision geodesy, accurate time keeping in GPS, or monitoring stuff remotely on Mars etc. Source: The Hindu Commonwealth Nations Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Groupings Context: The death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the country’s longest serving ruler, who reigned for over 70 years, marks not only the end of an era for the British monarchy, but also a turning point for the 14 Commonwealth realms of which she was the Head of State. What is the Commonwealth and what are its realms? The Commonwealth of Nations is a group of 56 countries comprised mostly of former British colonies including India. The Commonwealth consists of both republics and realms. The British monarch is the Head of State for the realms, whereas the republics are ruled by elected governments, except in the case of five countries — Brunei Darussalam, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Tonga — each a self-governed monarchy. The realms are comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. How is the Commonwealth viewed by its members? Even if the situation is changing vis-à-vis ,the broader Commonwealth group, remains strong and fosters policy coordination among its members through its Heads of Government Meetings, even post-pandemic economic recovery. This has not always been the case. During the Queen’s third and final visit to India in 1997, many expected an apology for the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre of 1919, carried out by the erstwhile colonial government, and ordered by General Reginald Dyer. Yet that apology never came, and instead the Queen only referenced the killings during a banquet speech when she said, “It is no secret that there have been some difficult episodes in our past. Jallianwala Bagh is a distressing example.” It was also in 1997 that the U.K. handed over control of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China, thereby losing after 156 years what was considered to be one of the most important colonies in Asia. Which nations are moving towards ending formal ties to the British monarchy? The debate in some of the Commonwealth realms, including for example Australia, has led to popular movements to reposition the country in question as a republic. In this regard it is likely that there will be a referendum on the question of severing official ties to the monarchy in the months ahead. While Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand has said that her country would support King Charles, she added that it would become a republic “in time”. Similarly, Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Bahamas has said he intends to conduct a referendum to remove King Charles from the role of official Head of State, thereby moving the country, which gained independence in 1973, towards being a republic. Governments in five other Caribbean nations — Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica and Saint Kitts and Nevis — have signalled their intention to act similarly. Thus, it is not beyond imagination that following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Commonwealth realms might fade into being a relic of the past, and nations that suffered a history of colonialism — along with its attendant violence and resource extraction — will move forward to establish themselves as republics. Source:   The Hindu Geopolitics without geoeconomics, a fool’s errand Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Organizations Mains – International Relations Context: Over the past few years, New Delhi has managed to emerge as a major pivot of the global Indo-Pacific grand strategic imagination, avoided the temptations to militarise/securitise the Quad (Australia, Japan, India, and the United States), and has ensured that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states do not feel uneasy by the ever-increasing balance of power articulations in the Indo-Pacific. Indo-Pacific (IP) Region: The term ‘Indo-Pacific’ has gained currency as a new construct in recent times. The Indo-Pacific provides a geographic and strategic expanse, with the two oceans being linked together by the ten ASEAN countries. Significance of Indo-Pacific region for India: Strategic significance: Indio-Pacific is a multipolar region, contributing more than half of the world’s GDP and population. A stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific Region is an important pillar of India’s strategic partnership with the other countries especially USA. Mineral Resources: Maritime territories have also emerged as depositories of vital resources ranging from fish stocks to minerals and offshore oil and gas. The South China Sea, for instance, is estimated to hold some 10 per cent of the global catch of fish as well as 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of gas. Economic Growth: According to a report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), countries in the Indo-Pacific produce over 60% of global GDP, making the region the largest single contributor to global growth. Commerce: The region consists of many of the world’s vital choke points for global commerce, including the Straits of Malacca which is very critical for the growth of world economy.  The Indo-Pacific region also stands at the intersection of international trade, with around 32.2 million barrels of crude oil pass through annually and 40% of global exports come from the region. Maritime Trade: Pacific islands are strategically significant from New Delhi’s point of view as they sit astride important sea lines of communication through which important maritime trade is conducted. Chinese threat and increasing presence: The Chinese regime claims that it has historical ownership over nearly the entire region, which gives it the right to manufacture islands, declare defensive perimeters around its artificial islands, and to chase ships from other nations out of the South China Sea. The International Court of Arbitration at Hague rejected this claim in 2016 but China rejects the authority of PCA, Hague. China’s increasingly active presence in the Indian Ocean region as well as its efforts to expand geopolitical reach in Asia and beyond by the use of trade and military Demand rule-based order to secure India’s interests and free trade. In the present time, the control of sea lanes and ports would be the game. What New Delhi is missing: And yet, New Delhi’s vision for the Indo-Pacific appears half-baked. Policymakers in New Delhi today do not appear to appreciate the inescapable linkages between geopolitics and geoeconomics. China’s share in global trade today is 15% and India accounts for 2%. India’s decision to take to the Indo-Pacific and Quad in a big way while unwilling to join two of the region’s key multilateral trading agreements goes to show that geoeconomics and geopolitics are imagined and pursued parallelly in New Delhi, not as complimenting each other. The most recent example is India’s refusal to join the trade pillar of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) while deciding to join the three other pillars of the IPEF — supply chains, tax and anti-corruption, and clean energy. India’s move to stay out of IPEF, a U.S.-sponsored soft trade arrangement at best, comes two years after India walked out of the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which came to effect earlier this year. Both the agreements lay at the heart of the Indo-Pacific and could potentially shape the economic character of the broader Indo-Pacific region. A regressive step, China factor: There are several reasons why New Delhi’s decision to stay out of various regional trading agreements is a regressive policy decision. For one, the absence of the world’s fifth largest economy from various regional trading platforms will invariably boost China’s geo-economic hegemony in Asia. Given the growing fear in India about the negative implications of China-India trade, it is important to have a nuanced view of this. For one, the fear in India of China dominating the Indian market is not entirely unreasonable. The reality is that despite the military stand-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India-China trade has only increased in the past year. Therefore, if it is not possible for India to avoid trading with China; it is better for India to deal with the issue sooner rather than later . The optimism that many of the foreign investments and businesses in China would relocate to India after COVID-19, did not materialise. Most of them went to countries such as Vietnam thereby highlighting the fact that we need to get our house in order; joining some of these multilateral trading arrangements will force us to do precisely that. if India is indeed serious about its maritime grand strategy, which cannot be solely military in nature, it needs to get the states in the region to create economic stakes in India (something China has done cleverly and consistently) and vice-versa. More so, without creating economic stakes with the states of the region, India’s ‘Act East’ policy will revert to its earlier avatar — ‘Look East’. Way forward: New Delhi should rethink its geo-economic choices if it is serious about enhancing its geopolitical influence in the region. Given that India has not closed the door on the trade pillar of the IPEF, we have an opportunity to rethink our position. India should also rethink its decision not to join the RCEP and seek to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) from which the U.S. walked out and China is seeking to join. India should also proactively lobby to become a part of the Minerals Security Partnership, the U.S.-led 11-member grouping to secure supply chains of critical minerals. Source:  The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) In which one of the following groups are all the four countries members of G20? (2020) Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and New Zealand Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea Blended Biodiesel Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS-3: Economy & energy; Environmental Conservation GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Context: As part of efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to fly an AN-32 transport aircraft modified to operate on 10% blended biodiesel for 200 flight hours in the next six months. The global aviation industry is one of the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The fuel consumption of the IAF for 2021-22 was 6.2 lakh kilo litres, which contributed 15 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide. On the civil aviation front, an official from aircraft manufacturer Airbus said it had plans to offer 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) compatibility on its commercial aircraft latest by 2030. The aircraft took flight on biodiesel blended with aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the first time in December 2018. So far, an AN-32 has flown 65 hours with a 10% blend of biofuel and the performance has been very satisfactory. A second aircraft, a Dornier, was now undergoing ground tests after it had been cleared by the original manufacturer of the engine, Honeywell, for use of 50% biofuel. MUST READ:  Ethanol Blending Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? Cassava Damaged wheat grains Groundnut seeds Horse gram Rotten potatoes Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2, 5 and 6 only 1, 3, 4 and 6 only 2, 3, 4 and 5 only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 New rules for child welfare panel members Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: Recently, the Government of India recently notified the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection Amendment) Model Amendment Rules 2022. The Juvenile Justice (Care or Protection of Children) Act/JJ Act, 2015: The Act was introduced (by the Ministry of Women and Child Development) and passed in 2015 to replace the Juvenile Delinquency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. One of the main provisions of the Act is allowing the trial of juveniles in conflict with law in the age group of 16-18 years as adults. Under the Act, offences committed by juveniles are categorised as heinous (with minimum or maximum sentence of 7 years), serious (with 3-7 years of imprisonment) and petty offences. According to the Act, juveniles charged with heinous crimes and between the ages of 16-18 years would be tried as adults and processed through the adult justice system. The nature of the crime and whether the juvenile should be tried as a minor or a child, was to be determined by a Juvenile Justice Board. The Act streamlined adoption procedures for orphans, abandoned and surrendered children and the existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has been made a statutory body to enable it to perform its function more effectively. The State Government may, by notification, establish one or more Child Welfare Committees (CWC) for each district or group of districts to exercise the powers conferred under this Act. The Committee shall be composed of a Chairperson and four other members, at least one of whom shall be a woman and another a child expert. The Juvenile Justice (Care or Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2021: The amendment has been based on a National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) report (2018-19) in which over 7,000 Child Care Institutions (CCIs or children’s homes) were surveyed. The report found that 1.5% of CCIs do not conform to rules and regulations of the JJ Act and 29% of them had major shortcomings in their management. It also found that not a single CCI in the country was found to be 100% compliant to the provisions of the JJ Act. The amendments: According to the amendment, District Magistrates (DMs), including Additional District Magistrates (ADMs), can now issue adoption orders under the JJ Act. This is to ensure faster case resolution and increased accountability. The new amendment prohibits the opening of any new CCI without the sanction of the DM. Now, DMs are also responsible for ensuring that CCIs falling in their district are following all norms and procedures. The DM will also carry out background checks (including educational qualifications) of CWC members, who are usually social welfare activists, as there is no such provision currently. According to the Act, serious offences will also include offences for which the maximum punishment is more than seven years in prison and the minimum punishment is not prescribed or is less than seven years. The Model Rules state that a person associated with an organisation receiving foreign contribution shall not be eligible to be a Chairperson or member of the Committee. As per the Chairperson of NCPCR (Priyank Kanoongo), those on CWC have the power of a magistrate and are equivalent to government officials, who are barred under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, from receiving foreign funds. It also states that anyone involved in the implementation of the JJ Act in any NGO or organisation that creates a conflict of interest will be ineligible to serve on a CWC. It goes on to say that anyone with “any family member” or “close relation” working for an NGO is ineligible to be on a CWC. Anyone involved in rescue and rehabilitation in the district, as well as anyone representing someone running a CCI or a member of the Board or Trust of any NGO, is not eligible to serve on a CWC. Retired judicial officers have also been omitted from the category of persons who can be considered for appointment to a CWC. Criticism of the new rules: The rules are broadly worded, with no definition of who is a family member or close relative. This reduces the pool of human resources available for CWC appointments. Many CWCs have yet to be appointed because they cannot find members to fill those positions. Source: The Hindu Semiconductors Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Mains – GS 2 (Governance) and GS 3 (Science and Technology) Context: Emphasising on the need for India to build semiconductor manufacturing capacity to cater to its organic demand, the country could face competition from regions such as the US and Europe as they deleverage dependence on Taiwan — the world’s largest semiconductor country. In this context let’s discuss semiconductors in detail: What is Semiconductor? It is a material product usually composed of silicon, which conducts electricity more than an insulator, such as glass, but less than a pure conductor, such as copper or aluminium. Semiconductors are critical technological components for emerging technologies viz. artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things applications, 5G communications, cloud computing, automation, electric vehicles, with a wide coverage of applications from basic consumable electronic gadgets and automobiles to areas of strategic operations. Opportunities for India: India’s consumption of semiconductors is expected to cross $80 billion by 2026 and is expected to reach $110 billion by 2030. India has exceptional semiconductor design talent pool, accounting for up to 20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers. The current decade presents a unique opportunity to India. Companies are looking to diversify their supply chain and for alternatives to their bases in China. The establishment of the value chain for semiconductors would ensure a multiplier effect on the entire economy. The semiconductor manufacturing and testing bases are heavily concentrated in East Asia, the Act East policy provides an opportunity to connect and strengthen ties with key players in the region. Challenges before semiconductor industry: Huge requirement of Investment Multi billions of dollars are needed to set up a fab manufacturing unit. The conversion of raw water to water of ultrahigh purity is thus a significant and costly activity for all semiconductor fabs. Water and Electrical supply Semiconductor manufacturing consumes large quantities of water for a variety of purposes ranging from equipment cooling to wafer surface cleaning. Technological competitiveness The making of a semiconductor chip involves some technological skill . Inadequate logistics and absence of proper waste Inadequate logistics and absence of proper waste disposal have further exacerbated the poor state of its production. Uninterrupted quality electricity supplies. Covid-19 The trigger point was the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns across the world that forced shut crucial chip-making facilities in countries including Japan, South Korea, China, and the US. The chip shortages due to Covid-19 have hit automakers with a revenue loss of $110 bn in 2021. Russia-Ukraine conflict The Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implications for raw material supplies for the semiconductor value chain has also poised chipmakers to invest in strengthening the semiconductor supply chain. Initiatives  taken by India: Semicon India programme It provides $10 bn fiscal support and other non-fiscal measures The Semicon India Program aims to provide attractive incentive support to companies / consortia that are engaged in Silicon Semiconductor Fabs, Display Fabs, Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors (including MEMS) Fabs, Semiconductor Packaging (ATMP / OSAT) and Semiconductor Design. India Semiconductor Mission: It has been set up as an Independent Business Division within Digital India Corporation having administrative and financial autonomy to formulate and drive India’s long-term strategies for developing semiconductors and display manufacturing facilities and semiconductor design ecosystem. Production Linked Incentive scheme The government also recently announced the PLI and DLI schemes as major steps towards building a semiconductor ecosystem in the country. The recent Cabinet approval with an outlay of Rs.76,000 crore spread over a period of six years for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem is expected to be a shot in the arm. This will claim to attract Rs. 1.7 lakh crore private investment in India. Way Forward: Semicon diplomacy India must seize opportunity and become an attractive alternative destination for semiconductor manufacturing. The way ahead is conceptualising a semicon diplomacy action plan. Semicon diplomacy is pivotal to India’s Act East Policy, which aims to build resilient ties in the Asia Pacific region. It can be leveraged by increasing multilateral and bilateral cooperation and Quad has immense potential in this regard. Development of Policies The semiconductor value chain is interrelated and linked with several industries; governments must develop policies that address all the crucial characteristics in the long run. Government policies should also focus on assuring and securing access to foreign technology suppliers through trade and foreign policy to ensure a global level of collaboration. Source:   Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned? (2022) Cloud Services Quantum Computing Visible Light Communication Technologies Wireless Communication Technologies Q.2) Consider the following communication technologies:  (2022) Closed-circuit Television Radio Frequency Identification Wireless Local Area Network Which of the above are considered of the Short-Range devices/technologies? 1 and 2 only. 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Sea Cucumbers illegal trade Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 3 Environment In news: The study conducted by the Counter Wildlife Trafficking team of the WCS-India (Wildlife Conservation Society- India) regarding illegal trade of marine species recorded 187 media reports citing marine wildlife seizures by various enforcement agencies in India from 2015 to 2021. The publication also shed light on the international trade routes for seahorse and pipefish and sharks and rays. About the findings: Sea cucumbers were the most frequently seized marine species group. Tamil Nadu recorded the highest enforcement action followed by Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, and Karnataka. Sea cucumber illegal trade was followed by sea fan, seahorse and pipefish, seashell, shark and rays, sea coral and sea turtles. Due to the legalised trade of sea cucumbers in countries with close proximity to India, the sea cucumber consignments were often smuggled through those countries, to be laundered and then re-exported to the Southeast Asia markets (34 incidents either mentioned attempts to illicitly export sea cucumbers to neighbouring countries) Methodology: Sea cucumber trade was researched using ‘crime scripts’, to understand how the smuggling networks operated. The crime script had been prepared on the basis of the 122 incidents of seizure bringing out what went into the preparation, pre activity, activity, and post activity phase of the smuggling of the marine group of species. The largest volumes were harvested as an incidental catch in unselective fisheries such as trawling and gillnetting. A high number of seizure incidents alone does not always indicate a high frequency of wildlife crime, and it may be a result of effective enforcement or more media interest About Sea Cucumbers: Sea cucumbers are named for their resemblance to the fruit of the cucumber plant. These are echinoderms – marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Found on the sea floor worldwide with the greatest number being in the Asia-Pacific region Uses include human consumption or use in aquaculture systems. They serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter, after which bacteria can continue the decomposition process. What are crime scripts: A narrative crime script is a step-by-step account of the procedures and decision-making processes involved in a particular event, usually relating to an illegal activity It is constructed using a logical sequence of events that is easily interpreted by an observer to make themselves a participant viewer. Example, an observer doesn’t need to see firefighters at a burnt house to know they were there. Impact of Illegal Wildlife Trade: Species face extinction because of demands arising out of illegal wildlife trade. Overexploitation of the wildlife resources due to its illegal trade creates imbalances in the ecosystem. Illegal wildlife trade as part of the illegal trade syndicates undermines the economy of the country and thereby creates social insecurity. Wild plants that provide genetic variation for crops (natural source for many medicines) are threatened by the illegal trade. Various Species-Specific Enforcement Operations: Operation Save Kurma: To focus on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises. Operation Turtshield: It was taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles. Operation Lesknow: To gain attention of enforcement agencies towards the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known species of wildlife. Operation Clean Art: To drag attention of enforcement agencies towards illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hair brushes. Operation Softgold: To tackle Shahtoosh Shawl (made from Chiru wool) illegal trade and to spread awareness among the weavers and traders engaged in this trade. Operation Birbil: To curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species. Operation Wildnet: It was aimed to draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country to focus their attention on the ever-increasing illegal wildlife trade over the internet using social media platforms. Operation Freefly: To check illegal trade of live birds. Operation Wetmark: To ensure prohibition of sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the country. India’s Domestic Legal Framework for Wildlife Conservation: Constitutional Provisions for Wildlife: The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds was transferred from State to Concurrent List. Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution states that it shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests and Wildlife. Article 48 A in the Directive Principles of State policy, mandates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Legal Framework: Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Environment Protection Act, 1986 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 India’s Collaboration with Global Wildlife Conservation Efforts: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) World Heritage Convention Ramsar Convention The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC) United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) International Whaling Commission (IWC) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Tiger Forum (GTF) About Wildlife Conservation Society: It is a non-governmental organization. Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, the organization is now headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York. It aims to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 14 priority regions. Way forward: Countering marine wildlife trade requires paradigm changes in fisheries management as a whole to reduce their capture in the first place. Thus, the international organization, national  governments along with civil society should work to bring comprehensive changes in the conservation of marine species and prohibit their illegal trade. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC): TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. Which of the above statements is/are correct? (2017) 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Inflation and Monetary Policy Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Economy Mains: GS 3 (Economy) In News: India is not out of the woods on inflation management, with inflation in August at 7% and the wholesale price index (WPI) at 12.4%. However, in comparison with the US and most European countries, where inflation is higher (8 to 12 per cent), India has done fairly well. Pakistan has an inflation at 27 per cent, and Sri Lanka at 64 per cent. On average, during 2004-05 to 2013-14, inflation averaged 7.9% (and GDP growth was at 7.7 per cent) and during 2014-15 to 2022-23 it’s 1% inflation but GDP growth at 5.6% has been poorer. It seems that GDP growth is likely to come down a bit lower than the RBI’s earlier forecast of 7.2 per cent, and the IMF’s 7.4 per cent. If India manages 7 per cent GDP growth along with 7 per cent inflation in 2022-23, it would still do fairly well, though that is not the most desirable outcome. MUST READ: Inflation MUST READ:   Monetary Policy Source:  Indian Express                Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) In which one of the following groups are all the four countries members of ASEAN? Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Singapore Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, and India Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Vietnam Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea Q.2) Application of semiconductors involves in which of the following digital consumer products: Mobile phones / Smartphones Televisions Washing machines Digital cameras Refrigerators LED bulbs Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 3, 5, and 6 only 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 only 2, 3, 5, 4, and 5 only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Q.3) In India, which one of the following is responsible for maintaining price stability by controlling inflation? Department of Consumer Affairs Expenditure Management Commission Financial Stability and Development Council Reserve Bank of India Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’19th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 17th September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – b Q.3) – c 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 19th September 2022

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

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[UPSC Mains 2022] GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 4 (GS4) ETHICS – UPSC CIVIL SERVICES (CSE) MAINS EXAMINATION 2022

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

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Telangana State Integration Day Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (History) Context: The diamond jubilee celebrations of the merger of Hyderabad State with Indian Union, being organised by the State government, commenced on 16th September . Key Points: The erstwhile Hyderabad State which also included the present parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra became independent with large number of people who fought for it laying down their lives. The last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan had merged the Hyderabad State with Indian Union in spite of a section led by Qasim Rizvi opposing it by sending Rizvi to jail. MUST READ:  Telangana Rebellion & Movement Source:  The Hindu              Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct? Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of Andhra region from here. Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here. Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (Governance) About EMRSs: EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas in order to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors. The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students. At present, there are 384 functional schools spanned across the country established at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya with focus on special state-of-the-art facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development. They are administered by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Tribal Affairs Ministry in May , 2021, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to help Tribal schools such as Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and Ashram Schools have digital transformation. The MoU was signed digitally in an online event ‘Empowering Youth for Success’. Note: National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), is an autonomous Society has been set up under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to establish, endow, maintain, control, and manage the schools and to do all acts and things necessary for or conducive to the promotion of such schools. The NESTS shall function through an Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Tribal Affairs. Other Initiatives Related to Scheduled Tribes: TRIFED – is under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 and the main purpose of TRIFED is to bring socio-economic development to the tribal people of India. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs administers the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). Development of PVTGs. Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes etc. MUST READ:   Forest Rights Act, 2006 Source: The Hindu                           T Madhav Rao: Administrator par excellence Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (Personalities) About T Madhav Rao: Raja Sir Tanjore Madhava Rao was an Indian statesman, civil servant, administrator, and politician who served as the Diwan of Travancore from 1857 to 1872, Indore from 1873 to 1875 and Baroda from 1875 to 1882. Madhava Rao was born on 20 November 1828 in a prominent Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. He was the nephew of the former Diwan of Travancore T. Venkata Rao and the son of another Ranga Rao. British Liberal statesman Henry Fawcett called him “the Turgot of India“. In 1866, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India. He brought a steam engine to the city and drove a vehicle with it, made telescopes with bamboo pipe and found value in the use of early projectors (magic lanterns) in educating children. He triggered girl’s education in the city by sending his own daughter to the newly started Zenana Mission school. He was senate member of Madras and Bombay Universities, was one of the early members of Indian National Congress. He was a great follower of sociologist and political theorist Herbert Spencer. Minor Hints and Hints on the Training of Native Children authored by Dewan Madhava Rao and biographies on him by Sakha Rama Rayar Lakshmana Rayar and Kulathu Iyer bring to light some of the rare facets of his personality. Administrative Reforms: His administrative reforms include strengthening the Public Works department by appointing Mr. Greenway as Civil Engineer in 1860. The telegraph office was started and the anchal (postal) department, which was so far carrying only official letters, was opened to the general public. The Education Department was formalised with the appointment of Sanakra Subba Ayyar as Director. In his final administration report, he demonstrated his vision of development as “ to provide every subject within a couple of hours of journey, the advantages of a Doctor, a School Master, a Judge, a Magistrate, a Registering Officer and a Postmaster”. Historian Malayinkeezhu Gopalakrishnan rates the foremost contribution of Madhava Rao as ‘Pandarapatta Vilambaram, in which Government land that was given on lease for farming were given to the land holders for a nominal price. This had magical effect on Kerala society as the youth who aspired for modern education sold the land and pursued education, triggering a renaissance. Titles and awards Fellow of the Madras University- 1862 Knight Commander of the Star of India- 1866 Title of Rajah- 1868 Source: Indian Express                Cheetahs and others: know the 7 big cats Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment and Ecology Context: The cheetah, which is being re-introduced to India from Africa, is not to be confused with the leopard, which too has spots that look somewhat similar. The following are the list of members of the ‘cat’ genus Panthera, Puma, and Acinonyx. Panthera This is the genus of large wild cats that can roar, but can’t purr. Among them, the lion, the leopard, and the jaguar are more closely related, while the other strand has the tiger and the snow leopard. The snow leopard is an exception to the rest of the group in that it can’t roar. Tiger (Panthera Tigris) Size: 75-300 kg | IUCN Status: Endangered It is national animal of India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and South Korea. It is primarily a forest animal; they range from the Siberian taiga to the Sunderban delta. Tiger is the largest of all wild cats and also the earliest Panthera member to exist. As per the census released in December 2021, the population of tigers in India is 2,967, hosting approximately two-thirds of the world’s tigers in less than one-fourth of the global range. Madhya Pradesh has largest population of Tigers (526), followed by Karnataka (524) according to latest report by MoEF&CC. Lion (Panthera Leo) Size: 100-250 kg | IUCN Status: African lion: Vulnerable, Asiatic Lion: Endangered Native to Africa and Asia, the lion is the most social cat, and lives in groups called prides. They prefer open forests such as scrubland, and adult males have a prominent mane. There are approximately 600 Asiatic lions left in the Gir Forest of Western India, their last remaining natural habitat. The lion is arguably the most widely recognised animal symbol in human culture be it the Ashoka pillar in Sarnath, the main entrance to Buckingham Palace, or the 20th Century Fox and MGM logo. Jaguar (Panthera Onca) Size: 50-110 kg | IUCN Status: Near Threatened The largest cat in the Americas, the Jaguar has the strongest bite force of all wild cats, enabling it to bite directly through the skull of its prey. Melanistic (black) Jaguars are common and are often called black panthers. Jaguar was a powerful motif in the Mayan and Aztec civilisations. Leopard (Panthera Pardus) Size: 30-90 kg | IUCN Status: Vulnerable Similar in appearance to the Jaguar with a rosette patterned coat, the leopard was described by Jim Corbett as “the most beautiful of all animals” for its “grace of movement and beauty of colouring”. The most adaptable of all big cats, they occupy diverse habitats at all altitudes across Africa and Asia. Like black jaguars, melanistic leopards are called black panthers. In some African cultures, leopards are considered to be better hunters than lions. Snow leopard (Panthera Uncia) Size: 25-55 kg | IUCN Status: Vulnerable The ghost of the mountains, this Smokey-grey cat lives above the snow line in Central and South Asia. The most elusive of all big cats, it cannot roar, and has the longest tail of them all — which comes in handy for balance while hunting along the cliffs, and also gives warmth when wrapped around the body. The snow leopard is the state animal of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Puma Closely related to the domestic cat, this genus has only one extant species, the cougar. Cougar (Puma concolor) Size: 40-100 kg | IUCN Status: Least Concern The cougar is the second-largest cat in the Americas. (The Jaguar is the largest.) Cougars are also called ‘mountain lion’ and ‘panther’ across their range from the Canadian Yukon to the Southern Andes. Concolor is Latin for “of uniform colour”. The Incas designed the city of Cusco in the shape of a cougar. Acinonyx : This is a unique genus within the cat family, with only one living member, the cheetah. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Size: 20-70 kg | IUCN Status: Vulnerable The fastest land mammal, the cheetah is the only cat without retractable claws — the grip helps it accelerate faster than any sports car (0-100 km/hr in 3 seconds). Cheetahs are not aggressive towards humans, and they have been tamed since the Sumerian era. They don’t breed well in captivity — picky females play hard to get. Source:  Indian Express  Previous Year Questions Q.1) Which of the following is not a bird? (2022) Golden Mahseer Indian Nightjar Spoonbill White Ibis Q.2) Consider the following animals   (2021) Hedgehog Marmot Pangolin To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts? 1 and 2 2 only 3 only 1 and 3 Q.3) Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous? (2020) Kanha National Park Manas National Park Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary Q.4) Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”? (2019) Corbett Ranthambore Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Sundarbans Remember Periyar with a pledge to embrace dissent Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – History (Personalities) Mains – Indian History Context: We celebrate Periyar E.V. Ramasamy’s birth anniversary (September 17) as Social Justice Day. The World Day of Social Justice is an international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. It is celebrated on 20th February every year, different from India’s case. About Periyar: Born E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker in 1879 in Erode district of Tamil Nadu (TN). He quarrelled with Gandhi over the question of separate dining for Brahmin and non-Brahmin students in Congress Party. He resigned from the party in 1925, and associated himself with the Justice Party and the Self Respect Movement, which opposed the dominance of Brahmins in social life, especially the bureaucracy. Periyar’s fame spread beyond the Tamil region during the Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924, a mass movement to demand that lower caste persons be given the right to use a public path in front of the famous Vaikom temple. He would later be referred to as Vaikom Veerar (Hero of Vaikom). In the 1940s, Periyar launched a political party, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), which espoused an independent Dravida Nadu comprising Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada speakers. Periyar died in 1973 at the age of 94. Over the years, Periyar is revered as Thanthai Periyar, the father figure of modern Tamil Nadu. About Self Respect Movement : Self-Respect Movement was a dynamic social movement aimed at destroying the contemporary Hindu social order in its totality and creating a new, rational society without caste, religion, and God. The movement was started in Tamil Nadu in 1925. It was an egalitarian movement that propagated the ideologies of breaking down of the Brahminical hegemony, equal rights for the backward classes and women in the society and revitalization of the Dravidian languages like Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Social justice and Periyar: Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities. Social workers aim to open the doors of access and opportunity for everyone, particularly those in greatest need. Social justice and rationality define “the best possible version of truth” for a large majority of people. (The quality of being based on or in accordance with reason or logic.) Foundation of rationalism : Periyar’s vision was about inclusive growth and freedom of individuals. He presented rationalism as a solid foundation for thinking along these lines. He said, “Wisdom lies in thinking. The spearhead of thinking is rationalism.” Periyar said, “Any opposition not based on rationalism or science or experience, will one day or other, reveal the fraud, selfishness, lies, and conspiracies.” We can posit this with regard to the extreme-right activities we see happening across the country and sometimes abroad too. All the reforms he shared with people could not be implemented at the time because of the searing discussions they led to. One such reform measure he felt was needed to change the caste dynamic in society was ‘Priesthood for all castes’. Relevance of Periyar in current times: On one level, a few people are benefiting greatly from the rampant rise of acts of violence against minorities. These people have such an external defence mechanism that it becomes easy for them to use incendiary rhetoric and get away with it. The discussion that Periyar initiated continues to-date, and is the antithesis to this manner of societal regression. Periyar proclaimed that he would always stand with the oppressed in the fight against oppressors and that his enemy was oppression. Spaces for debate are shrinking all over the world. Majoritarianism and populism are not enabling sensible conversations in any public sphere. At such a time, Periyar stands as a stellar precedent, reminding us of a time when people with opposing ideas were invited to the stage for a debate. Conclusion: As a part of creating a society with social justice at its core, let us pledge to create open spaces for discussions in our communities. If need be, let us spearhead such activities on whatever scale. Only these spaces have the potential of creating a positive change at an ideological level. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?  (2021) Bal Gangadhar Tilak Jawaharlal Nehru Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Sarojini Naidu Q.2) Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School? (2021) Annie Besant Debandranath Tagore Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Sarojini Naidu Q.3) Consider the following pairs:                (2019) Movement/Organization                               Leader All India Anti-Untouchability     League Mahatma Gandhi All India Kisan Sabha                   Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Self-Respect Movement               V. Ramaswami Naicker Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 The consequences of declining fertility Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (Reports) Mains – GS 1 (Social Issues) Context: Though the global population, in terms of numbers, has been steadily increasing — some reports suggest that it could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 — there is an interesting aspect to this: average global fertility has been consistently declining over the past 70 years. The average number of children per woman in the reproductive age group has declined by 50%, from an average of 5 children per woman in 1951 to 2.4 children in 2020, according to the World Population Prospects (WPP) 2022 by the United Nations population estimates and projections, and prepared by the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (UN-DESA). WPP 2022 Findings Related to India : India’s growth rate stood at 3 % in 1972, which has dropped down to less than 1% now. In this period, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has come down from about 5.4 to less than 2.1 now. This means that Indian has attained the Replacement Level Fertility (RLF) Rate, at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. Reasons for changing trend of population: This is the result of speeding up the social phenomenon of demographic transition. Demographic transition refers to the historical shift from high birth rates and high death rates in societies with minimal technology, education (especially of women) and economic development, to low birth rates and low death rates in societies with advanced technology, education, and economic development, as well as the stages between these two scenarios. Poorer countries seem to be speeding up the transition ladder a lot faster than the richer ones. The newly released World Population Prospectus also notes that the global fertility rate fell from three in 1990 to 2.3 in 2021. Sub-Saharan African countries are expected to contribute more than half the population growth after 2050 and grow through 2100. Most advanced economies have their fertility rate below the replacement rate of 2.1. Indian scenario: The Indian setting is no different, with its fertility rate falling below the replacement level for the first time to 2.0 in 2021, according to the latest National Family Health Survey 2021 (NFHS- 5). The rate has dipped 10% in just five years. At the time of Independence, India’s fertility rate (TFR) was 6 per woman, and it had taken 25 years to reach 5, with the government launching the first ever family planning programme in the world in 1952. As reported by the NFHS 2021, only five States have a fertility rate above the replacement rate: Bihar, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Manipur. Advantages of having low fertility rates: Lower fertility impacts women’s education positively, which in turn lowers the fertility of the next generations. With better infrastructure development, better health care, and education, fertility drops and income rises. Demographic Dividend– The spiral of lower fertility leads to a window of time when the ratio of the working-age population is higher than that of the dependent age groups. This high proportion of people in the workforce boosts income and investment, given the higher level of saving due to lower dependence. The falling fertility rate will also lead to lower pressure on land, water and other resources and would also contribute to achieving environmental goals. However, A fall in fertility rate beyond replacement level  would have a negative effect on the proportion of the working population: TFR < RLF will negatively affect output in an economy. A rise in education and independence among women would enhance their labour participation, which could arrest the fall in labour participation up to a limit. An influx of immigrants from countries with higher population growth could also play a positive part but this would change local demography, leading to political unrest. A paper, “The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population”, by Stanford economist argues that falling fertility could diminish the creative capacity of humankind. He points to the need for ideas in technological advancement and productivity boost, which even artificial intelligence is still not capable of. An ageing population will also affect global interest rates negatively as the share of people over 50 years will form almost 40% of the population by 2100. In their book The Great Demographic Reversal, economists explain how falling fertility will have a positive effect on inflation through higher wages due to lower labour supply and a change in the nature of unemployment inflation trade-off, as now low inflation can be maintained even with low unemployment. Way forward: Dealing with fertility decline The fall in fertility around the globe has been a result of decades of demographic process, and hence needs scientific and sustainable policies for mitigation. The advancement in health care and better nutrition around the world have increased the life expectancy and productivity of older citizens. Countries across the globe are experimenting with policies to boost fertility. Germany found success in boosting births through liberal labour laws, allowing more parental leave and benefits. Denmark offers state-funded IVF for women below 40 years, and Hungary recently nationalised IVF clinics. Poland gives out monthly cash payments to parents having more than two children, whereas Russia makes a one-time payment to parents when their second child is born. Liberal labour reforms, encouraging higher female labour force participation rate, and a higher focus on nutrition and health would ensure sustained labour supply and output despite lower fertility. Source: The Hindu                     Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following organizations brings out the publication known as ‘World Economic Outlook’? (2014) The International Monetary Fund The United Nations Development Programme The World Economic Forum The World Bank Baba’s Explainer –Urban Flooding Urban Flooding Syllabus GS-1: Urbanization, their problems and their remedies GS-3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Context: Parts of Bengaluru, India’s IT and startup capital, have been facing unprecedented floods in the recent days. This is not the first instance of urban flooding in India. In fact, urban flooding is becoming increasingly common in many parts of the country with this monsoon season itself seeing many such instances in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The fact that such instances are spreading to more cities and happening with greater frequency, suggests that something is broken in our response to such events. The repeated and growing problems of urban floods is a systemic problem and the root cause of this is prioritising economic gains over everything else. Read Complete Details on Urban Flooding Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) With reference to Indian history, Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy/Periyar associated with which of the following: Self-respect movement Vaikom satyagraha Dravidar Kazhagam Justice Party Select the correct option using the code given below: 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.2) World Population Prospects (WPP) is a report published by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) UN Population Division United Nations Statistics Division Population Council (NGO) Q.3) Consider the following statements, with respect to Asiatic Lion Asiatic lion is categorized as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List. There is significant rise in population of Asiatic lions in last five years. Gir forest in Gujarat is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’17th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 16th September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – a Q.3) – b table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }