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Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 23rd August 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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[BATCH 3 and 4] Baba’s GURUKUL FOUNDATION for Freshers’– UPSC/IAS 2023 – Above & Beyond Regular Coaching! – New Batch Starts 12th September!

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

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd August 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity & Governance In News: Defence Minister said that the Government is committed to make the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) more empowered and responsive and implement measures that were required in this direction. Armed Forces Tribunal It was established in August 2009 by the Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007. The Law Commission’s 169th report stated that disciplinary and service matters required quick resolutions and proposed a special tribunal for the military forces. It is a military tribunal with the power of adjudication or trial of disputes and complaints related to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service. Besides the Principal Bench in New Delhi, AFT has 10 Regional Benches. Composition The Tribunal is composed of Judicial Members as well as Administrative Members. The Judicial Members are retired High Court Judges. Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held rank of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more; or the Judge Advocate General(JAG) who have experience in the post for at least one year. Power/Jurisdiction The Tribunal is empowered to adjudicate appeals against any order, decision, finding or sentence passed by a court-martial or any related matter. It is also empowered to grant bail to an accused who is in military custody. The Tribunal may have the powers to substitute for the findings of the court martial. It may: remit the whole or any part of the sentence, with or without conditions; mitigate the punishment awarded commute such punishment to any lesser punishment or enhance the sentence awarded by a court martial. Armed Forces Tribunal has both Original and Appellate Jurisdiction Jurisdiction of other courts In 2015, a Supreme Court bench had held that AFT verdicts could not be challenged before the high courts. It had also said that an appeal against the AFT orders would lie before the apex court but only if a point of law of general public importance is involved. In January 2020, the Supreme Court made it clear that the verdicts of the Armed Forces Tribunals (AFT) can be challenged before the high courts. In March 2022, Delhi High Court held that the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 excludes the administrative supervision of the High Court under Article 227(4) of the Constitution. However, it does not exclude the judicial superintendence and jurisdiction under Article 226. Note: Over 4.83 crore cases are pending in courts across the country, While over four crore cases are pending in lower courts, the Supreme Court has over 72,000 pending cases. Must Read: Pendency of Cases + Mediation Bill, 2021 Source: The Hindu GI Tag for Mithila Makhana Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The government has awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana, a move which is expected to help growers get the maximum price for their premium produce. Mithila Makhana or Makhan is a special variety of aquatic fox nut cultivated in Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal. Aranmula Kannadi The sector fell into bad times as labour and raw material costs increased due to floods and the pandemic. Aranmula Kannadi literally means the mirror of Aranmula, a small town in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. It was the first craft item from the state to receive a geographical indication tag in 2005. These special and rare mirrors are created by a handful of highly skilled traditional artisan families belonging to the town’s Vishwakarma community. The alloy formula they use is a secret passed down through generations. Made on demand, every piece, irrespective of its size, takes significant time and effort to finish. The uniqueness of this mirror is its front reflection, unlike the back reflection in normal glass mirrors. This means the reflective surface is placed on a back support, as opposed to regular mirrors where the reflective surface is behind glass. These mirrors also have a cultural significance in Kerala: It is regarded as one of the eight auspicious objects (ashtamangalya) displayed during religious festivals or auspicious occasions and ceremonies. It is believed to bring prosperity, luck and wealth into the life of its custodian. GI Tag A GI is primarily given to an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin. GI tag in India is governed by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. It is issued by the Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai). This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed. Benefits of GI Tag It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications thus preventing unauthorized use of the registered GIs by others. It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory. The GI protection in India leads to recognition of the product in other countries thus boosting exports. Must Read: Narasinghapettai nagaswaram Source: Indian Express Downtoearth.org Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status Banaras Brocades and Sarees Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma Tirupathi Laddu Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Mandala Art Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Art and Culture What is mandala and its origins: Literally meaning “circle” or “centre” in Sanskrit, mandala is defined by a geometric configuration that usually incorporates the circular shape in some form. It is believed to be rooted in Buddhism, appearing in the first century BC in India. In Hinduism, the mandala imagery first appeared in Rig Veda (1500 – 500 BCE). The meaning of the motif: It is believed that by entering the mandala and moving towards its centre, one is guided through the cosmic process of transforming the universe from one of suffering to that of joy. The eight spokes of the wheel (the dharma chakra) represent the eightfold path of Buddhism (practices that lead to liberation from rebirth), the lotus flower depicts balance, and the sun represents the universe. In Hinduism, a mandala or yantra is in the shape of a square with a circle at its centre. Mandala in modern Indian art: While it continues to appear in thangka paintings, it has a central place in the practice of mainstream artists associated with the tantric and neo-tantric spiritual movements. In 1960s Sohan Qadri and Prafulla Mohanty gained widespread recognition for their works that were imbibed with tantric symbolism, such as mandalas that are also used in the rituals of tantric initiation. Geometric compositions also dominated works of artists such as Biren De, GR Santosh, Shobha Broota, and famously SH Raza, who visualised the Bindu as the centre of his universe and the source of energy and life. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote (2020) measurement of land coins of different monetary value classification of urban land religious rituals Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: A recent study published in Environment Science and Technology has found that rainwater from many places across the globe is contaminated with “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” (PFAs). What are PFAs? According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PFAs are man-made chemicals used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, firefighting forms and many other products that resist grease, water and oil. PFAs can migrate to the soil, water and air during their production and use. They are called as “forever chemicals” because of their tendency to stick around in the atmosphere, rainwater and soil for long periods of time. PFAs can migrate to the soil, water and air during their production and use. Since most PFAs do not break down, they remain in the environment for long periods of time. Some of these PFAs can build up in people and animals if they are repeatedly exposed to the chemicals. What harm do PFAs cause? A variety of health risks that are attributed to PFA exposure, include decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, interference with body hormones, increased cholesterol levels and increased risk of some cancers. Recent research has also revealed that long-term low-level exposure to certain PFAs can make it difficult for humans to build antibodies after being vaccinated against various diseases. How can these chemicals be removed from rainwater? While there is no known method that can extract and remove PFAs from the atmosphere itself, there are many effective, albeit expensive, methods to remove them from rainwater that has been collected through various rainwater harvesting methods. One way to do this would be to use a filtration system with activated carbon. The activated carbon will need to be removed and replaced regularly. Also, the old contaminated material must be destroyed. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements: (2022) Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties. Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage. Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products. Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions. Which of the statements given above are correct ? 1 and 3 2 and 4 1 and 4 2 and 3 National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News:  Union Home Minister inaugurated the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS). According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, NAFIS, which was developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), would help in the quick and easy disposal of cases with the help of a centralised fingerprint database In April this year, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to identify a deceased person through NAFIS. What is NAFIS? Conceptualized and managed by the NCRB at the Central Fingerprint Bureau (CFPB),the NAFIS project is a country-wide searchable database of crime- and criminal-related fingerprints. The web-based application functions as a central information repository by consolidating fingerprint data from all states and Union Territories. According to a 2020 report by the NCRB, it enables law enforcement agencies to upload, trace, and retrieve data from the database in real time on a 24×7 basis. NAFIS assigns a unique 10-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to each person arrested for a crime. This unique ID will be used for the person’s lifetime, and different crimes registered under different FIRs will be linked to the same NFN. By automating the collection, storage, and matching of fingerprints, along with digitizing the records of fingerprint data, NAFIS will “provide the much-needed unique identifier for every arrested person in the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) database as both are connected at the backend. Since when has India relied on fingerprinting as a crime-fighting tool? A system of fingerprinting identification first emerged in colonial India, where it was tested before it spread to Europe and beyond. At first, it was used by British colonial officials for administrative rather than criminal purposes. William Herschel, the chief administrator of the Hooghly district of Bengal, from the late-middle 1800s onwards, used fingerprinting to reduce fraud and forgeries, in order to ensure that the correct person was receiving government pensions, signing land transfer deeds, and mortgage bonds. The growing use of fingerprinting was deeply tied to how 19th century British officials understood crime in India. How did the use of fingerprinting develop in crime fighting in India? The uniqueness of every individual’s fingerprints was first proposed in Europe by the German anatomist Johann Mayer in 1788, and was confirmed through detailed studies by the Scottish doctor Henry Faulds around the same time that Herschel had begun to implement fingerprinting as a means of identification in Bengal. Tracing a single set of fingerprints from a large collection of fingerprint cards required a workable system of classification. While similar attempts were made in England and beyond, the Bengal Police were able to create fingerprint records which replaced the use of anthropometric measurements by 1897, when the world’s first Fingerprint Bureau was established in Calcutta, four years before a similar decision was taken in England. The Inspector General of the Bengal Police, Edward Henry, recruited two Indian sub-inspectors, Aziz-ul-Haq and H C Bose, for this task. It was Haq who first devised a system of primary classification and a system for indexing names in court conviction registers. Henry, however, declined to acknowledge the crucial contributions of his Indian subordinates when he presented the so-called “Henry System of Classification” in England in 1901, and established a fingerprint bureau in Scotland Yard. It was only in 1925 that Henry admitted the invaluable efforts of Haq and Bose to the system of classification, for which the colonial state bestowed on them the titles of Khan Bahadur and Rai Bahadur respectively. Source: Indian Express Facial recognition technology Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: Right to Information (RTI) responses received by the Internet Freedom Foundation, a New-Delhi based digital rights organisation, reveal that the Delhi Police treats matches of above 80% similarity generated by its facial recognition technology (FRT) system as positive results. Why is the Delhi Police using facial recognition technology? The Delhi Police first obtained FRT for the purpose of tracing and identifying missing children. According to RTI responses received from the Delhi Police, the procurement was authorised as per a 2018 direction of the Delhi High Court in Sadhan Haldar vs NCT of Delhi. Things took a turn after multiple reports came out that the Delhi Police was using FRT to surveil the anti-CAA protests in 2019. In 2020, the Delhi Police stated in an RTI response that, though they obtained FRT as per the Sadhan Haldar direction which related specifically to finding missing children, they were using FRT for police investigations. The widening of the purpose for FRT use clearly demonstrates an instance of ‘function creep’ wherein a technology or system gradually widens its scope from its original purpose to encompass and fulfil wider functions. As per available information, the Delhi Police has consequently used FRT for investigation purposes and also specifically during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, the 2021 Red Fort violence, and the 2022 Jahangirpuri riots. What is facial recognition? Facial recognition is an algorithm-based technology which creates a digital map of the face by identifying and mapping an individual’s facial features, which it then matches against the database to which it has access. It can be used for two purposes: firstly, 1:1 verification of identity wherein the facial map is obtained for the purpose of matching it against the person’s photograph on a database to authenticate their identity. For example, 1:1 verification is used to unlock phones. However, increasingly it is being used to provide access to any benefits or government schemes. Secondly, there is the 1:n identification of identity wherein the facial map is obtained from a photograph or video and then matched against the entire database to identify the person in the photograph or video. Law enforcement agencies such as the Delhi Police usually procure FRT for 1:n identification. For 1:n identification, FRT generates a probability or a match score between the suspect who is to be identified and the available database of identified criminals. A list of possible matches are generated on the basis of their likelihood to be the correct match with corresponding match scores. However, ultimately it is a human analyst who selects the final probable match from the list of matches generated by FRT. According to Internet Freedom Foundation’s Project Panoptic, which tracks the spread of FRT in India, there are at least 124 government authorised FRT projects in the country. Why is the use of FRT harmful? India has seen the rapid deployment of FRT in recent years, both by the Union and State governments, without putting in place any law to regulate their use. The use of FRT presents two issues: issues related to misidentification due to inaccuracy of the technology and issues related to mass surveillance due to misuse of the technology. Extensive research into the technology has revealed that its accuracy rates fall starkly based on race and gender. This can result in a false positive, where a person is misidentified as someone else, or a false negative where a person is not verified as themselves. Cases of a false positive result can lead to bias against the individual who has been misidentified. In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union revealed that Amazon’s facial recognition technology, Rekognition, incorrectly identified 28 Members of Congress as people who have been arrested for a crime. Of the 28, a disproportionate number were people of colour. The use of this technology by law enforcement authorities has already led to three people in the U.S. being wrongfully arrested. However, even if accurate, this technology can result in irreversible harm as it can be used as a tool to facilitate state sponsored mass surveillance. At present, India does not have a data protection law or a FRT specific regulation to protect against misuse. In such a legal vacuum, there are no safeguards to ensure that authorities use FRT only for the purposes that they have been authorised to, as is the case with the Delhi Police. FRT can enable the constant surveillance of an individual resulting in the violation of their fundamental right to privacy. Source: The Hindu Public Goods Vs Private Goods Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: Government of India has clarified that there is no plan to levy any charges for UPI services. Finance Ministry said, UPI is a digital public good with immense convenience for the public and productivity gains for the economy. The clarification came amid some reports that there may be possibility of UPI transactions charge. What are Public Goods? Public goods are the commodities or services provided by the nature of the government of a country, free of cost or by taxing the few people to offer smass benefit to the public in general. Characteristics of Public Goods These commodities or services develop the infrastructure and living standard of a country. Features of Public Goods Non-Rival: The public goods are non-competitive, i.e. it can serve many people at the same time without hindering the usage of one another. Non-Excludable: These goods are usually free of cost and can be used by anyone without any restriction. Non-Rejectable: The consumption of such goods cannot be dismissed or unaccepted by the public since it is available collectively to all the people. Free-Riding: The goods categorized under public goods benefit even those who have not paid for it. Such people are termed as free-riders. What are Private Goods? Private goods are the products or services which are manufactured or produced by the companies owned by entrepreneurs who aim at meeting customer’s requirement to earn profits through the trading of such goods in the free market. Characteristics of Private Goods Private goods serve the personal needs of consumers. Following are the various characteristics of these goods: Rival: The private products involve rivalry or competition among the consumers for its usage since the consumption by one person will restrict its use by another. Excludable: These goods involve cost, and therefore the non-payers are excluded from the consumption. Rejectable: Private goods can be unaccepted or rejected by the consumers since they have multiple alternatives and the right to select the product according to their preference. Traded in Free Market: Such goods can be freely bought and sold in the market at a given price. Opportunity Cost: These goods have an opportunity, i.e. the consumer has to let go of the benefit from a similar product while selecting a particular private commodity. Digital Public Goods Digital public goods are open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices, do no harm by design, and help attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? (2020) Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies Social Capital development Free electricity supply to farmers Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2 and 5 only 1, 3, and 4 and 5 only 2, 3 and 6 only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Non Fungible Tokens Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Non Fungible Tokens Anything that can be converted into a digital form can be an NFT. Everything from drawings, photos, videos, GIFs, music, in-game items, selfies, and even a tweet can be turned into an NFT, which can then be traded online using cryptocurrency. Working of NFT: If anyone converts its digital asset to an NFT, he/she will get proof of ownership, powered by Blockchain. There is a need for a cryptocurrency wallet and an NFT marketplace where one can buy and sell NFTs. Some of the NFT marketplaces are OpenSea.io, Rarible, Foundation. NFTs are different from other digital forms in that they are backed by Blockchain technology. NFTs can have only one owner at a time. Apart from exclusive ownership, NFT owners can also digitally sign their artwork and store specific information in their NFTs metadata. This will be only viewable to the individual who bought the NFT. How is an NFT different from a cryptocurrency? Apart from NFTs and cryptocurrencies being built on Blockchain, both are different from each other. Cryptocurrency is a currency and is fungible, meaning that it is interchangeable. For instance, if one holds one crypto-token, say one Ethereum, the next Ethereum that the one holds will also be of the same value. However, NFTs are non-fungible, which means the value of one NFT is not equal to another. Nonfungible means NFTs aren’t mutually interchangeable. Every art is different from others, making it non-fungible, and unique. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements.(2022) They enable the digital representation of physical assets. They are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain. They can be traded or exchanged at equivalency and therefore can be used as a medium of commercial transactions. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only. 1, 2 and 3 Number of women scientists goes up Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs – About CSIR Mains – GS 1 (Society); GS 2 (Governance) In News: The appointment of Dr N Kalaiselvi as the first woman director general of India’s largest research and development organisation, the 80-year-old Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), underlined a significant trend — official data show the participation of women in science research has been generally increasing over the past two decades in the country. Stats More than a quarter — 28% — of participants in extramural R&D projects in 2018-19 were women, up from 13% in 2000-01 due to various initiatives taken by successive governments. The number of women principal investigators in R&D had risen more than four times from 232 in 2000-01 to 941 in 2016-17. The percentage of women among researchers went from 13.9% in 2015 to 18.7% in 2018, the data show. The increase in women’s participation, especially in research, is due to a combination of government programmes and natural progression. Results of the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019 showed a 53% and 55% participation of women in science education at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels respectively, numbers that are comparable with many developed countries. But at doctoral level, women graduates (44%) lagged behind men (56%). Department of Science and Technology supported Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) project, based on the UK’s Athena Swan Charter, was introduced. In the first phase of GATI, 30 educational and research institutes have been selected by DST, with a focus on women’s participation in leadership roles, faculty, and the numbers of women students and researchers. What are the Causes for Under-representation? Stereotypes: The paucity of women in STEM is not merely due to skill inadequacy, but also a result of assigned stereotypical gender roles. It is still considered okay to judge the parental or life-partner status of a woman scientist while deciding to hire her or give her a leadership position, overlooking her merit. Patriarchal and Societal Causes: There are patriarchal attitudes in hiring practices or awarding fellowships and grants etc. Matters related to marriage and childbirth, responsibility related to running of households and elder care further hinder the representation of women in these ‘non-conventional’ fields. Lack of Role Models: Lack of women leaders and women role models may be preventing more women from entering these fields. Absence of Supportive Institutional Structure: Women leave the workforce, due to the absence of supportive institutional structures during pregnancy, safety issues in fieldwork and workplace. Initiatives launched to Promote Women in Science Vigyan Jyoti Programme was launched to address the underrepresentation of women in different fields of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the country. Initially, it was introduced at the school level wherein meritorious girl students of Class 9-12 were being encouraged to pursue higher education and career in the STEM field. Recently, the programme was extended to 100 districts in its 2nd phase. KIRAN scheme was launched in 2014-15 to provide opportunities for women scientists in moving up the academic and administrative ladder. The Department of Science & Technology has also additionally established Artificial Intelligence (AI) labs in women universities with the goal to foster AI innovations and to prepare skilled manpower for AI-based jobs in future. Under the Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (WISTEMM) program, women scientists can work in research labs in the US. The Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) program was launched to develop a comprehensive Charter and a framework for assessing Gender Equality in STEM. Way Forward The problem needs to be addressed at two levels – at societal level which requires long term effort and the policy and institutional level, which can be started with immediate effect. There is an immediate need to invest in supporting infrastructure, incentivising institutions to promote gender equity, transparency in decision making to bridge the persisting gender imbalance in STEM majors. However, schools need to break the ‘gendered notions of intelligence’ and encourage girls not only to take science at secondary and higher secondary level but also to pursue their career in STEM. This would help not only in women being able to chase their dreams but science itself would be benefitted from other points of view. While the situation is definitely improving, and the increase in numbers of women in STEM is indicative of this, the road is yet long. We have a long way to go. Source: Indian express Cloudbursts Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Geography Mains – GS 1 (Geography) Context: Recently, over 20 people have been killed in destruction caused by cloudbursts and flash floods in different parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the last three day. As heavy rainfall was observed in these states during the short duration of time which leads to the heavy rainfall triggering landslides and flash floods that have disrupted rail and road traffic, and resulted in house and wall collapses. What are cloudbursts? A cloudburst is a localized but intense rainfall activity. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) a cloudburst features very heavy rainfall over a localized area at a very high rate of the order of 10 cm per hour featuring strong winds and lightning over a geographical region of approximately 20 to 30 Sq. Kms. By this definition, 5 cm of rainfall in a half-hour period over the same area would also be categorized as a cloudburst. How common are cloudbursts? Cloudbursts are not uncommon events, particularly during the monsoon months. Most of these happen in the Himalayan states where the local topology, wind systems, and temperature gradients between the lower and upper atmosphere facilitate the occurrence of such events. However, not every event that is described as a cloudburst is actually, by definition, a cloudburst. That is because these events are highly localized. Because of the nature of terrain, the heavy rainfall events often trigger landslides and flash floods, causing extensive destruction downstream. This is the reason why every sudden downpour that leads to destruction of life and property in the hilly areas gets described as a “cloudburst”, irrespective of whether the amount of rainfall meets the defining. Is it possible to forecast cloudburst? The India Meteorological Department forecasts rainfall events well in advance, but it does not predict the quantum of rainfall — in fact, no meteorological agency does. The forecasts are for a relatively large geographical area, usually a region, a state, a meteorological sub-division, or at best a district. As they zoom in over smaller areas, the forecasts get more and more uncertain.) Therefore, specific cloudburst events cannot be forecast. No forecast ever mentions a possibility of a cloudburst. But there are warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall events, and these are routinely forecast four to five days in advance. As per the IMD, there is no long-term trend that suggests that cloudbursts are rising. However, the incidents of extreme rainfall, as also other extreme weather events, are increasing, not just in India but across the world. Several studies have shown that climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts in many cities across the globe. In May, the World Meteorological Organization noted that there is about a 40% chance of the annual average global temperature temporarily reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level in at least one of the next five years.       Source: Indian Express Solar energy: For Amrit Kaal in agriculture Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 3 (Energy); GS 3 (Environment) Context: By making solar energy the ‘third crop’, promoting this innovation on a mission mode, the government can double farmers’ income. Recently, India celebrated 75 years of Independence and entered the Amrit Kaal toward 2047. The famous slogan of late Lal Bahadur Shastri, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” was extended by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to include “Jai Vigyan.” Now, our current Prime Minister has extended it to, “Jai Anusandhan”. Challenges with respect to growing population and availing the food: As per the latest UN Population reports, India is likely to surpass China by 2023. So, the biggest challenge will be feeding a country whose per capita income still hovers around $2,300. The per capita income is likely to grow between 5 to 6 per cent per annum, under normal conditions. As they rise from low-income levels, people are likely to demand not just more food but safe and nutritious food. So, the first challenge would be to align our Agri-policies and strategies to the emerging demand pattern. The above infographic shows that: Poultry and fisheries have the fastest growth, while it has been the slowest in cereal production despite regular Government intervention is the most in cereals through the massive procurement of rice and wheat under MSP. While those sub-sectors of agricultural economy that rely on market forces, no matter how imperfect, still perform better. We need to focus on the food system as a composite entity. It has five dimensions: Production, marketing, and consumption is the traditional part of the food system and need to add two more. The environmental sustainability of our food systems and their nutritional outcomes. As in the past, The Green Revolution of the 1960s brought about a marked improvement in the yield of agricultural crops such as rice and wheat. However, intense use of irrigation, chemical fertilizers and pesticides lead to negative environmental consequences. Promotion of climate-resilient and environment sustainable agriculture. To check on declining groundwater table, rejuvenate our soils, and Carbon markets need to be developed so that farmers can be incentivized to change existing farming practices that are not compatible with environmental sustainability. Adaptation of digital technology (e-technology in the aid of farmers) will help in better adaptation and implement of this initiative. We need to become a nation of innovators in agriculture like Israel, Holland, and the US. Making the agri-food system vibrant and competitive requires significantly augmenting farmers’ income by Diversification of crops toward high-value crops by building efficient value chains by the participation of private sector. There is also need to bring innovation and advancement of technology in the field such as use of solar energy (“solar as a third crop”) on fields. On one acre of cultivated land, which grows two crops a year, one can have more than 400 solar panels (trees) of 10 to 12 feet in height, with due spacing for regular cultivation. So, it will help the adding the farmer’s income in two ways Reducing to zero, the current electricity bill Generating income by selling solar energy: As Solar energy generated from 400 panels will be the “third crop” that can be bought by the power companies and incorporated into the grid for distribution. A pilot programme in the Najafgarh KVK area revealed that farmers could earn additional income of up to Rs one lakh/acre, when the capital cost is being incurred by another entrepreneur. In addition to that it will help in pollution reduction, therefore it will be sustainable crop production. Therefore, the production of crop by using the method is “inclusive growth, green growth” model that needs to supplement the solar parks model being developed by entrepreneurs which will help in better utilisation of social capital and powers of mobilization. And it will lead to double and stabilize farmers’ incomes which will help in achieve the purpose of slogan of “Jai Anusandhan”. Source: Indian Express Source: Indian Express Baba’s Explainer – Freebies Freebies Syllabus GS-2: Elections GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Read Complete Details on Freebies Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) PFAs are man-made chemicals used to make products that resist grease, water and oil. They are called as “forever chemicals” because of their tendency to stick around in the atmosphere, rainwater and soil for long periods of time. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Mithila Makhana, a special variety of aquatic fox nut was awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently by Government of India. Mithila Makhana is cultivated in which of the following state of India? Odisha Madhya Pradesh Bihar Rajasthan Q.3) Consider the following statements about Non Fungible Tokens They are backed by Blockchain technology. NFTs can have only one owner at a time. NFTs aren’t mutually interchangeable. Choose the incorrect statements: 2 only 3 only 2 and 3 None Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’22nd August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 20th August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – c Q.2) – d Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Freebies

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Elections GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What are freebies and how did freebies culture originate? The literal meaning of freebie is something that is given free of charge or cost. In India, this usually happens during the times of Elections. Freebies have been known to be provided to attract voters to cast their vote in a particular election. They create limited private benefit for the receiver and do not contribute towards strengthening public goods/facilities. The culture of freebies in Tamil Nadu was started during the 1967 Assembly elections. The then DMK chief C.N. Annadurai offered three measures of rice for ₹1. The practice of providing freebies was followed by subsequent Chief Ministers who promised free TV sets, free laptops to students, free rides for women in buses, free gas cylinders and stoves, a goat and a cow for poor farmers, and so on. Political leaders have justified freebies citing social justice as it aids those at the bottom of the pyramid. The representation of people’s act has provisions against direct bribery of voters. Among the corrupt practices detailed in Section 123 of the Representation of Peoples Act is bribery which is defined as “(A) any gift, offer or promise by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent of any gratification, to any person whomsoever, with the object, directly or indirectly of inducing— … (b) an elector to vote or refrain from voting at an election, or as a reward to—(ii) an elector for having voted or refrained from voting…”. What are the benefits of freebies? Welfare Schemes: Freebies not only include unviable pre-election promises but also a number of services that the government provides to meet its constitutional obligations (DPSPs) towards citizens like PDS, Free Covid Vaccine and MGNREGA. Examples include The ‘Mid-day Meal Scheme’ was first introduced in 1956 by Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister K. Kamaraj and then it was adopted as a national programme a decade later. NT Rama Rao’s promise of rice at Rs. 2 per kg in Andhra Pradesh is the original avatar of the current day National Food Security Programme. Rythu Bandhu of Telangana and Kalia of Odisha were forerunners of what is now Kisan Samman Nidhi. Upliftment of Lower Class: As the states with comparatively lower levels of development have a greater percentage of their population living in poverty, such freebies become more useful for upliftment of lower strata in these states. Essential for Fulfilling Expectations: In a country like India where the states have (or don’t have) a certain level of development, upon the emergence of the elections, there are expectations from the part of people which are met by such promises of freebies. What are the criticisms of Freebie Culture? Creates Private Benefits:Freebies violate the constitutional mandate of extending benefits for public purpose and instead create private benefits. The main beneficiaries of the freebies provided by government were the ruling party’s core supporters and swing voters who could be influenced easily. Depoliticises Poor: Freebies will not only depoliticise the poor and marginalised communities but also indirectly deny them their due share of state resources. Erases Rational Thinking: Freebie encourage personality cults in a democratic polity. Populism encourages mediocre political critics and erases critical and rational thinking, which are important to raise questions to people in power. Patron-Client Syndrome: Unsolicited freebies cultivate a patron-client syndrome. Providing freebies is to treat people like subjects, whereas citizens are entitled to constitutional guarantees. Clientelism is a political or social system based on the relation of client to patron with the client giving political support to a patron (as in the form of votes) in exchange for some special privilege or benefit (freebies). Against Welfare Politics: Welfare initiatives are an embodiment of civil rights, whereas unsolicited freebies show benevolence at best and apathy at worst towards the poor by the ruling parties. Doesn’t enhance Productivity: It was observed that distributing free laptops does not serve the purpose of increasing the quality of education. Also, free electricity, free water, farm loan waivers, etc. have not contributed to increased productivity. Fiscal Burden: Freebies imposes burden on the state’s financial status contributing to huge fiscal debt. Vulnerable to Corruption: Freebies culture paves way to corrupt practice because of the involvement of middle man. Not Sustainable in Long Run: The social, political and economic consequences of freebies are very short-lived in nature. Also, they cannot be provided free forever, at some point these goods have to be rationalised. What has been the judiciary’s view on the freebie culture? View on Freebies: The Supreme Court gave a ruling in favour of offering of freebies stating that freebies are not corrupt practice as it is mentioned in election manifesto. In S. Subramaniam Balaji v. Govt. of Tamil Nadu (2013), the court said that “Although, promises in the election manifesto cannot be construed as ‘corrupt practice’ under Section 123 of Representation of People Act, the distribution of freebies influences the people shaking the root of free and fair elections.” In 2021, The Madras High Court expressed its strong displeasure over the way in which political parties were competing with each other to garner votes by offering freebies. But to ensure checks: The Supreme Court has taken a decision to form a body of stakeholders to examine ‘the distribution or promise of ‘freebies’ ahead of elections’ issue. But this move raises the question of whether the legislature can be bypassed on such a far-reaching exercise. The Court is not going to issue guidelines, but only ensure that suggestions are taken from stakeholders such as the NITI Aayog, Finance Commission, Law Commission, RBI and political parties. All these institutions can submit a report to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Government. A suggestion that Parliament could discuss this issue was met with scepticism by the Bench, which felt that no party would want a debate on this, as all of them support such sops. The Bench also disfavoured the ECI preparing a ‘model manifesto’ as it would be an empty formality. The Court’s concern over populist measures seems to resonate with the Government too, as the Solicitor-General submitted that these distorted the voter’s informed decision-making; and that unregulated populism may lead to an economic disaster. But the Supreme Court, too, should stick to its normal posture of not getting embroiled in political thickets. The court may, at best, nudge all stakeholders into a new model code of conduct which defines freebies and regulates their use in elections. The existing model code was also adopted with the assent of all political parties, and there is no reason to suppose that political parties cannot formulate a similar agreement on the usage of freebies in elections. Should India regulate freebies? A June RBI paper said that the provision of free electricity, free water, free public transportation, waiver of pending utility bills and farm loan waivers are often regarded as freebies, which potentially undermine credit culture, distort prices through cross-subsidisation. This erodes incentives for private investment and disincentivise work at the current wage rate leading to a drop in labour force participation. Who can regulate: It is not the Parliament’s business to regulate freebies. States are free under the Constitution to make laws on such topics. The problem arises when states dole out freebies, merit or non-merit, beyond their fiscal capabilities. As a percentage of GSDP, revenue receipts and own tax revenue, Punjab’s freebies in Budget FY23 is among the highest in India The debate on freebies also needs to be looked at from the perspective of income of states. As the Centre imposed more cesses, the share of tax revenue that the Centre gives them has dropped. The end of Centre’s GST compensation payout has further reduced the headroom available with states for social sector expenditure. Arguments in Favour of Freebies Given that in the last 30 years there has been rising inequality, some kind of relief to the population in the form of subsidies/freebies is justified. It may actually be necessary for the economy to continue on its growth path. It is the prerogative of the political executive to offer freebies who is well aware of its impact on fiscal stability. Also, since 2005, surveys from RBI has shown that states have adhered to the limit in terms of their gross fiscal deficit. Therefore, the argument of fiscal impact of freebies is an inflated one Freebies which improve the productive capacity of its receivers will be useful for strengthening the social security net and enabling conditions for higher growth in future. One such example is freebies in education sector. Schemes like providing free bicycles, grants to students belonging to weaker sections of society, free bus passes to all students, have undoubtedly contributed to the increased level of education. Therefore, in this case, freebies are not wasteful expenditure but investment in the future. The Way Forward Drawing a Line Between Welfare and Freebie: Freebies must be understood from an economic perspective and connected to taxpayers’ money. Differences between subsidy and freebie are also essential since subsidies are justified and specially targeted benefits meant to meet specific demands. Clear Rationale and Indication of Funds: Programs must provide a clear rationale for investing more in basic amenities and have a clear indication of the funds to sustain the state’s economic health. Voter Awareness: In a democracy, the power to block or allow the march of freebies rests with the voters. There is a need for consensus between regulating the irrational freebies and making sure voters don’t get swayed by the irrational promises. Judicial Intervention: A constructive debate and discussion in parliament is difficult since the freebie culture has an impact on every political party, whether directly or indirectly. Therefore, judicial involvement is required in order to propose measures. The Supreme Court has recently recommended creating an apex authority to provide recommendations on how to regulate gifts given out by political parties. Amendment of FRBM Act Under the current FRBM provisions, governments are mandated to disclose their contingent liabilities, but that disclosure is restricted to liabilities for which they have extended an explicit guarantee The provision should be expanded to cover all liabilities whose servicing obligation falls on the Budget, or could potentially fall on the Budget, regardless of any guarantee Strict Monitoring by the centre Under the Constitution, States are required to take the Centre’s permission when they borrow. The Centre should not hesitate to impose conditionalities on wayward States when it accords such permission. Use of Financial Emergency Provision Constitution of India allows the President to declare financial emergency in any State if s/he is satisfied that financial stability is threatened. It is therefore important to ensure that the prospect of a financial emergency in case of gross and continuing fiscal irresponsibility is not just an abstract threat but a realistic one. Focus on Skill Development Rather than Freebies: It is always better to provide useful skills to the people than to give them freebies. Mains Practice Question – Should a policy-led elaborate social security programme that seeks to help the poor get out of poverty be justified if conjured up just before an election? Discuss. 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 22nd August 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

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 2 Questions [22nd August, 2022] – Day 55

Hello Students  TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers and is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standards before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (The RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2023 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here – CLICK HERE  To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) – CLICK HERE To Access Day 55 Questions – CLICK HERE  P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

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

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Har Ghar Jal Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Government Schemes Mains – GS 2 (Governance); GS 3 (Development) In News: Prime Minister congratulated the Goa government for becoming the first state to be Har Ghar Jal certified, which means every household in the state had a piped water connection. Union Territories of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu had achieved the feat as well. Jal Jeevan Mission Launched in 2019, it envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority. It comes under Jal Shakti Ministry. The mission ensures functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water quality monitoring and testing as well as sustainable agriculture. It also ensures conjunctive use of conserved water; drinking water source augmentation, drinking water supply system, grey water treatment and its reuse. Features: JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level. Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse, is undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes. The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission. Implementation: Paani Samitis plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain village water supply systems. These consist of 10-15 members, with at least 50% women members and other members from Self-Help Groups, Accredited Social and Health Workers, Anganwadi teachers, etc. The committees prepare a one-time village action plan, merging all available village resources. The plan is approved in a Gram Sabha before implementation. Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories. The following components are supported under JJM Efforts should be made to source funds from different sources/ programmes and convergence is the key. Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household. Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system. Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum service level of 55 lpcd; Greywater management Support activities, i.e. HRD, training, development of utilities, water quality laboratories, water quality testing & surveillance, R&D, knowledge centre, capacity building of communities, etc. Any other unforeseen challenges/ issues emerging due to natural disasters/ calamities which affect the goal of FHTC to every household by 2024. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’? (2017) To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. To reduce the incidence of anemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 and 2 only 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 4 only 3 and 4 only Recife Political Declaration Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: In line with the World health Organisation’s (WHO’s) global strategy on “Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030”, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued draft guidelines to improve the working conditions of all categories of nurses in all healthcare institutions across India. The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 In May 2014, the 67th World Health Assembly, adopted this resolution as a follow-up of the Recife Political Declaration on Human Resources for Health. Member States requested the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop and submit a new global strategy for human resources for health (HRH) for consideration by the 69th World Health Assembly. The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 is primarily aimed at planners and policy-makers of Member States. However, its contents are of value to all relevant stakeholders in the health workforce area. Which includes public and private sector employers, professional associations, education and training institutions, labour unions, bilateral and multilateral development partners, international organizations, and civil society This framework identifies the health worker competencies needed to provide quality, integrated, people-centred, health-promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care services This provides key principles required for effective interprofessional collaborative practice, including recommendations for policy and governance structures, health system infrastructures, and education programmes and opportunities. Source: Business-standard.com Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following pairs: (2020) International agreement/set-up        Subject Alma-Ata Declaration – Healthcare of the people Hague Convention – Biological and chemical weapons Talanoa Dialogue – Global climate change Under2 Coalition – Child rights Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? 1 and 2 only 4 only 1 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Government Schemes Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23 Recently Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds in tranches for 2022-23. The SGB scheme was launched in November 2015 with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the domestic savings – used for the purchase of gold – into financial savings. The Gold Bonds are issued as Government of India Stock under the Government Securities (GS) Act, 2006. These are issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Government of India. Bonds are sold through Commercial banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices and recognised stock exchanges, National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange, either directly or through agents. The bonds are restricted for sale to resident individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), trusts, universities and charitable institutions. Issue Price: Gold bond prices are linked to the price of gold of 999 purity (24 carats) published by India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), Mumbai. A fixed rate of 2.5% per annum is applicable on the scheme, payable semi-annually. The interest on Gold Bonds shall be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act, 1961. Investment Limit: Minimum permissible investment is 1 gram of gold. Gold bonds can be purchased in the multiples of one unit, up to certain thresholds for different investors. The upper limit for retail (individual) investors and HUFs is 4 kilograms (4,000 units) each per financial year. For trusts and similar entities, an upper limit of 20 kilograms per financial year is applicable. Term The gold bonds come with a maturity period of eight years, with an option to exit the investment after the first five years. Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual has been exempted. Source: Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and ‘Gold Monetization Scheme’? (2016) To bring the idle gold lying with Indian households into the economy. To promote FDI in the gold and jewellery sector. To reduce India’s dependence on gold imports. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) With reference to the Indian economy, what are the advantages of “Inflation-Indexed Bonds (IIBs)”? (2022) Government can reduce the coupon rates on its borrowing by way of IIBs. IIBs provide protection to the investors from uncertainty regarding inflation. The interest received as well as capital gains on IIBs are not taxable. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Lord Curzon Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History Context: The Bardhhaman municipality has decided to erect a statue of Bardhhaman’s Maharaja Bijay Chand Mahatab and his wife Radharaniin front of the landmark Curzon Gate in the city. This imperialist former viceroy continues to trigger outrage and revulsion 117 years after he left India. Who was Lord Curzon? Born in 1859, George Nathaniel Curzon was a British conservative politician who was educated at the elite institutions of Eton and Oxford. He served as Under-Secretary of State for India (1891-1892), and for Foreign Affairs (1895-1898), before being appointed Viceroy of India in 1899. Of all the Viceroys of India, Curzon is possibly the most criticised — he is the man who partitioned Bengal in 1905, and triggered a wave of Bengali nationalism that contributed to the wider Indian national movement. 1900, Curzon famously stated, “We could lose all our [white settlement] dominions and still survive, but if we lost India, our sun would sink to its setting”. Why was he disliked then? A staunch imperialist, he took a series of extremely unpopular measures, including passing, in 1899, the Calcutta Municipal Amendment Act which reduced the number of elected representatives in the Calcutta Corporation. The Indian Universities Act (1904), that placed Calcutta University under government control, and the Indian Official Secrets Amendment Act (1904) that reduced the freedom of the press even further. He believed that the Indian National Congress had lost its influence and appeal amongst the Indians, and in 1900 declared that the organisation was “tottering to its fall”. Ironically though, it was his biggest and most reviled decision — to partition Bengal in 1905 — that led to a spurt in nationalist sentiment and revitalized the Congress. How and why did the partition of Bengal take place? Calcutta was the capital of the British Raj, and Bengal Presidency was one of the largest provinces in India. Calcutta was the nerve centre of the educated nationalists, the resistance to colonial rule Home Secretary H H Risley noted in 1904, “Bengal united is a power; Bengal divided will pull in several different ways.” In July 1905, Curzon announced the partition of Bengal into two provinces. East Bengal and Assam, with a population of 38 million, was predominately Muslim, while the western province, called Bengal, was reduced to 55 million people, primarily Hindus. Protests began almost immediately after the announcement, with meetings taking place in more than 300 cities, towns, and villages across Bengal. What were the consequences of the partition? In opposition to the partition, nationalist leaders organized a campaign of boycott of British goods and institutions, and encouraged the use of local products. After a formal resolution was passed at a meeting in Calcutta in August 1905, the Swadeshi movement began. Swadeshi Movement Students were at the forefront of the movement, which was characterized by boycotts of British educational institutions and law courts, and large bonfires of imported cotton textiles. There was a surge in nationalist rhetoric, and the song ‘Bande Mataram’, set to music by Rabindranath Tagore, became the informal anthem of the movement. The Swadeshi movement and boycott was soon spread other parts of the country, including Punjab, Maharashtra, and parts of the Madras Presidency. Several secret societies, such as the Anushilan Samiti of Bengal, sought to overthrow British rule through violent means. Revolutionary groups used bombs, attempted to assassinate colonial officials, and engaged in armed robberies to finance their activities. In 1905, Curzon resigned and returned to England after losing a power struggle with the commander-in-chief of the British Army, Lord Kitchener. The protests continued after his exit, and the colonial government in 1911 announced the reunification of Bengal, and the capital of the Raj was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements: (2018) It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries. The National Council of Education was established as a part of the Swadeshi Movement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until (2014) The First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended. King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911. Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement. The Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan. Corruption Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance); GS 4 (Ethics) Context: The CBI and Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) are investigating allegations that the Delhi excise department that allowed a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore to the liquor cartel on the tendered licence fee, and that funds were ‘diverted to public servants’. The CBI has named 15 individuals in its FIR filed in connection with the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. then Delhi Excise Commissioner and two other senior excise department officials were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to excise policy for the year 2021-22 without approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licencees post tender. Corruption in India “Just as it is impossible not to taste the honey that finds itself in the tip of the tongue, so it is impossible for a government assistant not to eat up, at least a bit of King’s revenue.” – Kautilya Corruption is dishonest behavior by those in positions of power. It starts with the tendency of using public office for some personal benefit. Moreover, it is unfortunate that corruption has, for many, become a matter of habit. It is so deeply entrenched that corruption is now considered a social norm. Hence, corruption implies the failure of ethics. Status of corruption in India India ranks 85th rank in corruption perception index of 2021. Country’s score has remained stagnant over the past decade, some of the mechanisms that could help reign in corruption are weakening. CPI highlighted that unfair and opaque political financing, undue influence in decision-making and lobbying by powerful corporate interest groups, has resulted in stagnation or decline in the control of corruption. Causes of corruption Legacy issues Rampant poverty and empty coffers of the government at the dawn of independence leading to chronic low salaries of the government officials Pre liberalization license permit raj catered by Monopolies and restrictive trade practices facilitated the corruption. The lack of economic freedom led to abuse of the system. Necessities of development overshadowed vigilance procedures. Political system Use of black money in elections to win at any cost creates the need for the recovery of that cost through malpractices. Election funding is not transparent making it prone to the usage of black money and funding based on quid pro quo. It leads to crony capitalism, an unholy nexus between politicians and corporates. Criminalization of politics- when the rule-breakers become rule makers, the casualty is the rule of law. Economic structure Low levels of formalization (merely 10%) of the economy breed black money. Stringent compliance rules for entry and exit for businesses result in bribery. Unequal distribution of wealth – Transparency International data suggests that corruption is directly proportionate to the economic gap in a nation. Legal lacunae Archaic laws like IPC 1860 don’t capture the complexities of administration and lead to the escape of wrongdoers. Lacunae in the Lokpal act and delays in the appointments both at the state and central levels Dilution of the RTI act and political misuse of CBI and other agencies. Administrative lacunae Loopholes give discretionary powers to the officials making working prone to corruption. Lack of resources, funding, infrastructure and manpower in the vigilance institutions. Lack of incorporation of standard practices by organizations like Banks, sports organizations which results in multi-billion-rupee scams. g. Punjab National Bank scam, commonwealth scam. Judicial delays Lack of protection to good Samaritans Targeting of upright and non-corrupt officials and rewards to corrupt officials Near non-existent whistleblowers protection Social problems The mindset of the citizenry that doesn’t look at the problems seriously and even accepts it as a necessary part of the system. Increasing consumerism in the new middle class that is ready to bribe to get things done. Failure of social morality, education system to inculcate the values Impacts of corruption Hindrances to developmental process Loss of wealth due to corruption and siphoning away of taxpayers’ money leave little to spend in the social sector. Corruption in the social sectors like PDS, health and education schemes lead to demographic disadvantage. Economic loss Undermines ease of doing business. Corruption in the public services sector carries high risks for conducting good businesses. Companies are likely to unwanted red tapes, petty corruption, bribes for finalizing any procedures or deals. Wrong allocation policies result in undervaluation of resources like Coal blocks, Hydrocarbon projects, Spectrum allocation. Eg. 2G scam, Coalgate. This mismanagement of resources leads to environmental degradation and exploitation. Corruption of financial sector officials like Banks, the stock market erodes the strength of the economy. E.g. PNB scam, PMC scam, Harshad Mehta scandal Social sector losses Corruption in government projects targeting poor and vulnerable section of the society increases the economic gap between the rich and the poor The corrupt system denies the poor a chance to improve their status rendering them eternally poor Legal Framework for Fighting Corruption: Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 provides for penalties in relation to corruption by public servants and also for those who are involved in the abetment of an act of corruption. Amendment of 2018 criminalised both bribe-taking by public servants as well as bribe giving by any person. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 aims to prevent instances of money laundering and prohibits use of the ‘proceeds of crime’ in India. The Companies Act, 2013 provides for corporate governance and prevention of corruption and fraud in the corporate sector. The term ‘fraud’ has been given a broad definition and is a criminal offence under the Companies Act. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 sets out provisions which can be interpreted to cover bribery and fraud matters, including offences relating to criminal breach of trust and cheating. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 regulates the acceptance and use of foreign contributions and hospitality by individuals and corporations. Regulatory Framework: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for an establishment of an ombudsman for the central and state governments (Lokpal and Lokayuktas, respectively). These bodies are required to act independently from the government and have been empowered to investigate allegations of corruption against public servants, which include the prime minister and other ministers. The Central Vigilance Commission is mandate is to oversee the vigilance administration and to advise and assist the executive in matters relating to corruption. Way forward There is a need for windfall reforms in each and every section of the system to fight the menace. Every aspect of governance must be improved for efficiency, economy, and effectiveness. Electoral reforms Imposing limits on the overall expenditure of the political parties. Making state funding of elections a reality. Empowering ECI by giving legal force to MCC and making paid news a criminal offence. Strengthening of autonomous institutions Protecting the autonomy of CIC-giving him/her a constitutional status Eliminate overlapping of jurisdiction- e.g. Lokpal and CBI Administrative reforms Establishing the Civil Service Board to curb the excessive political control over the administration. Conducting periodic sensitivity training for the civil servants. Simplifying the disciplinary proceedings and strengthening preventive vigilance within the departments to ensure corrupt civil servant do not occupy the sensitive position. Police and judicial reforms– implementation of Prakash Singh recommendations. Governance reforms e-gov apart from advancing the good governance objectives of accountability and transparency also seeks to reduce the manual interface between state and citizen thus preventing the incidences of bribery Drives like Digital India projects like Government e-Marketplace must be implemented. Enactment of the right to service act. E.g. Rajasthan social accountability bill Economic reforms Negating legal lacunae in banking, stock market legislations. Improving corporate governance by implementing corporate governance committee reports Formalization of the economy Social sector improvements Awareness of citizenry by training them in RTI act, Citizens charter, social audits. Increasing democratization of the masses. Curriculum reforms to inculcate values even in higher education by which youngsters acquire high standards of ethical mindset. Integrity, transparency, and fight against corruption have to be part of the culture. They must be thought of as fundamental values of the society we live in. In India, some recent anti-corruption initiatives have been taken. For example, various Supreme Court’s ruling in pursuit of curbing criminalization of politics, many e-governance initiatives will improve transparency and accountability. These measures are indeed steps in the right direction, but bringing behavioural change in society will act as the most potent weapon against corruption. Source: Indian Express India-Thailand Relations Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) In News: The External Affairs Minister attended the ninth India-Thailand joint commission meeting. India-Thailand India’s bilateral relations with Thailand are rooted in history, age-old social and cultural interactions, and extensive people to people contacts. The classical Sanskrit and Pali texts from India carry references of the region using various names such as Kathakosha, Suvarnabhumi (the land of God) or Suvarnadvipa (the golden island). A French scholar named George Coedes coined the term ‘Farther India’ to refer to those states that experienced “the civilising activity of India’. Geographically, it refers to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Malay states. In the past two decades, with regular political exchanges, growing trade and investment, India’s ties with Thailand have now evolved into a comprehensive partnership. India’s ‘Act East’ policy has been complemented by Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy in bringing the two countries closer India’s religious links to Thailand The most important influence of India on Southeast Asia was in the field of religion and how Shivaism, Vaishnavism, Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and later Sinhalese Buddhism came to be practised in the region. The Mon kings of Dvaravati and the Khmers had patronised Buddhism and built several Buddhist edifices, but at the same time had also adopted Brahmanical customs and practises. Apart from the popular Brahmanical deitiesof Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, those that are largely absent in Indian socio-religious landscape, such as Indra are also worshiped in Thailand. Although there is no archaeological evidence of the story of Rama in Thailand, but the Ayutthaya in Central Thailand, which emerged in the 10th century CE, is derived from Ayodhya, birthplace of Lord Rama. Cultural Cooperation: The nationalist historian RC Majumdar, for instance, noted that “the Hindu colonists brought with them the whole framework of their culture and civilisation and this was transplanted in its entirety among the people who had not emerged from their primitive barbarism”. Many local languages in the region, including Thai, Malay, and Javanese contain words of Sanskrit, Pali and Dravidian origin in significant proportions. The Thai language is written in script derived from Southern Indian Pallava alphabet. The Thai language translation of the Constitution of India was launched by the President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand in March 2021 at an event organised by the Embassy under the banner of India@75. Indian Diaspora in Thailand: There are an estimated 250,000 people of Indian origin in Thailand, many of them having lived in the country for several generations. Economic & Commercial Partnership: The bilateral trade and investment between our countries is robust and growing. Our bilateral trade was US$ 12.12 billion in 2019 and it reached US$ 9.76 billion in 2020 despite the pandemic situation. Connectivity: The number of Thai tourists to India was close to 160,000 (mainly to Buddhist pilgrimage sites). India and Thailand are closely cooperating on improving regional connectivity through initiatives such as India- Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Asian Highway Network (under UNESCAP), BTILS under BIMSTEC framework. Defence Cooperation: Since 2015, India is participating in Ex-Cobra Gold, the largest Asia Pacific Military exercise as ‘Observer Plus’s category. Bilateral exercises are held annually between the armed forces of both countries. Exercise MAITREE (Army). Exercise SIAM BHARAT (Air Force). Multilateral Forum Cooperation Both countries are important regional partners linking South and Southeast Asia. They cooperate closely in the ASEAN, East Asia Summit (EAS), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) groupings , Mekong Gang Cooperation (MGC), and Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), The Indo-Thai relation today is not just looked upon from the angle of socio-cultural ties. Since the relation in today’s context has become very comprehensive in its scope. This bilateral engagement has the potential to foster growth not only restricted to the two nations but for the entire region. This is very much evident given the fact that cooperation in the areas of security, economic, and connectivity being interconnected, would also have the same level of impact on the neighbouring States and the region. Source: Indian Express Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements about Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23 These are issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Government of India. The bonds are restricted for sale to resident individuals and charitable institutions only. The interest on Gold Bonds shall be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act, 1961. Bonds cannot be used as collateral for loans. Choose the incorrect statements: 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 2 and 4 3 and 4 Q.2) Which of the following legislation was passed during the tenure of Lord Curzon? Indian Official Secrets Amendment Act, 1904 Calcutta Municipal Amendment Act Indian Universities Act, 1904 Choose the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements Jal Jeevan Mission envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household by 2024. Paani Samitis plan and implement village water supply systems. The plan prepared by Paani Samitis has to be approved in a Gram Sabha before implementation. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 1 and 2 2 only 1, 2 and 3 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’20th August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 19th August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – d Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 20th August 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

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – Essay Questions [20th August, 2022] – Day 54

Hello Students  TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers and is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standards before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (The RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2023 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here – CLICK HERE  To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) – CLICK HERE To Access Day 54 Questions – CLICK HERE  P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th August 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Inflation target breach Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: The Reserve Bank of India will call a special meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in October to discuss a report it will have to submit to the Union government explaining the reasons for the average retail inflation remaining above the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent for three consecutive quarters. The Union government, in consultation with the RBI, fixes the inflation target for the central bank every five years. It had fixed it at 4 per cent plus/ minus 2 per cent (upper limit 6 per cent, lower limit 2 per cent) for the period August 5, 2016 to March 31, 2021, and retained it for the next five years ending March 31, 2026. A monetary policy framework was signed between RBI and government on February 20, 2015. The RBI Act, 1934, was amended in May 2016, giving effect to this framework agreement. The framework agreement requires the RBI to submit a report to the Union government if it is in breach of the inflation targets for three consecutive quarters. In eight years, this will be the first time the RBI would have let retail inflation slip beyond the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent for three straight quarters. The average retail inflation in January-March 2022 and April-June 2022, according to data released by the National Statistics Office, was 6.34 per cent and 7.28 per cent, respectively. The data for August and September is scheduled to be released on September 12 and October 12, respectively. Upon failing to meet the inflation target, the RBI, would have to state the reasons for failure to achieve the target, propose remedial actions to bring it down to 4 per cent, and also provide an estimate of the time-period within which the target would be achieved. These would be presented in a report to the Union Ministry of Finance. The sources said, it would be up to the government to make the RBI report public. The special meeting of the MPC would discuss the RBI report before it is submitted. Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Under Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered to constitute a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The Section 45ZB lays down that “the Monetary Policy Committee shall determine the Policy Rate required to achieve the inflation target”. Composition: Section 45ZB says the MPC shall consist of 6 members: RBI Governor as its ex officio chairperson, Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, An officer of the Bank to be nominated by the Central Board, Three persons to be appointed by the central government. This category of appointments must be from “persons of ability, integrity and standing, having knowledge and experience in the field of economics or banking or finance or monetary policy”. Must Read: Various Instruments of Monetary Policy Source: Indian Express The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)? (2017) It decides the RBI’s benchmark interest rates. It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year. It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 1 and 2 only 3 only 2 and 3 only Q.2) With reference to Indian economy, consider the following: (2015) Bank rate Open market operations Public debt Public revenue Which of the above is/are component/ components of Monetary Policy? 1 only 2, 3 and 4 1 and 2 1, 3 and 4 NIDAAN Portal - National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: India’s first portal on arrested narco offenders gets operational. A first-of-its kind database of arrested narcotics offenders has been made operational for use by various central and State prosecution agencies tasked to enforce anti-drugs laws in the country. The portal — NIDAAN or the National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders — has been developed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). It is part of the narcotics coordination mechanism (NCORD) portal that was launched by Union Home Minister. The NIDAAN platform sources its data from the ICJS (inter-operable criminal justice system) and the e-Prisons (a cloud-based application) repository and it is planned to integrate it in the future with the crime and criminal tracking network system or CCTNS, a senior officer said. The ICJS, an initiative of the Supreme Court e-committee, was created to enable seamless transfer of data and information among different pillars of the criminal justice system, like courts, police, jails and forensic science laboratories, from one platform. NIDAAN is a one-stop solution for all narcotics offenders’ related data and will help investigative agencies as an effective tool to connect the dots while probing narcotics cases. NIDAAN hosts data about those accused who have been arrested and jailed for drugs offences and those who are directly or indirectly involved in the produce, manufacture, possession, selling, purchase, transport, warehousing, usage, consumption, inter-state import and export, import into India, export from India or transshipment of any narcotics or psychotropic substance Any agency can search for the crime history, personal details, fingerprints, court cases and appeals made etc. with regard to a drug offender from any part of the country. A distinct feature called ‘criminal network’ on the portal can also be accessed by agencies, as part of which specific links of an accused to other crimes, linked police FIRs and those who visited them in jail can also be accessed, the officer said. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) ‘SWAYAM’, an initiative of the Government of India, aims at (2016) promoting the Self Help Groups in rural areas providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs promoting the education and health of adolescent girls providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations In News: The Indian Navy has formally commenced its cooperation with the Bahrain-based multilateral partnership, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), as an ‘associate member’. About Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) CMF is a multi-national naval partnership to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes. CMF’s main focus areas are counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities in order to improve overall security and stability, and promoting a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors. The 34 nation grouping is commanded by a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral, who also serves as Commander U.S. Naval Forces CENTCOM and U.S. Fifth Fleet. All three commands are co-located at U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain. In the immediate neighbourhood, Pakistan is a full member of CMF. When requested, CMF assets at sea will also respond to environmental and humanitarian incidents. CMF has four Combined Task Forces: CTF 150 (Maritime Security Operations outside the Arabian Gulf) CTF 151 (Counter-Piracy) CTF 152 (Maritime Security Operations inside the Arabian Gulf) CTF 153 (Red Sea Maritime Security) It is a flexible organisation and members are not bound by either a political or military mandate. Contributions can vary from the provision of a liaison officer at CMF HQ in Bahrain to the supply of warships or support vessels in task forces, and maritime reconnaissance aircraft based on land. India has in the past cooperated with CMF on various occasions. For instance, the CMF’s CTF 151 has coordinated with Indian and Chinese warships deployed on anti-piracy duties to patrol the Maritime Security Transit Corridor. India and CMF At the India-US 2+2 in April this year, India had announced that it would join the CMF as an Associate Partner. Joining the CMF is the latest in a series of multilateral engagements by the Indian Navy as part of India’s widening military diplomacy. Commitments to resources and personnel are limited for Associate membership and it will be cooperative engagement based on the needs and requirements. Source: The Hindu The Hindu Endosulfan Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: The Supreme Court directed the Kasargod District Legal Services Authority in Kerala to inspect the medical and palliative care facilities provided to endosulfan victims. The bench ordered the legal services authority to submit its report in six weeks. The order came after victims, complained of the lack of health care infrastructure provided by the State despite the best efforts of the district administration. The State Government has recently filed an affidavit informing the apex court about the disbursal of compensation to 98% of the victims. In May, the apex court slammed the Kerala Government for doing “virtually nothing” for endosulfan pesticide exposure victims. The court had said the State’s inaction was “appalling” and amounted to a breach of the apex court’s judgment in 2017, which had ordered the State to pay 5 lakh each to the victims in three months. The court noted that “The right to health is an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Without health, the faculties of living have little meaning.” What is Endosulfan? Endosulfan is an organochlorine insecticide which was first introduced in the 1950s and is commonly known by its trade name Thiodan. It is linked to a slew of grave medical conditions, such as neurotoxicity, physical deformities, poisoning and more. It is sprayed on crops like cotton, cashew, fruits, tea, paddy, tobacco etc. for control of pests such as whiteflies, aphids, beetles, worms Endosulfan is listed under both the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. What are the Impacts of Endosulfan? Endosulfan in the environment gets accumulated in food chains leading to higher doses causing problems. The endosulfan ingestion results in diseases ranging from physical deformities, cancer, birth disorders and damage to the brain and nervous system in humans and animals. Rotterdam The Rotterdam Convention is the name of the Convention, which was adopted by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in 1998 in Rotterdam (Netherlands). It intends to promote shared responsibility with respect to the global trade of hazardous chemicals. The convention’s secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure is implemented under the terms of the Convention, which establishes obligatory legal responsibilities. What is the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure? It is one of the key clauses of the 1998 Rotterdam Convention. It says that parties must legally obtain and communicate the decision to receive future shipments of the substances listed in Annex III of the Convention before they can import them. The importing parties must make sure that the exporting parties abide by any judgments made on their imports. Members The convention has 163 parties, including 158 UN members, the Cook Islands, the State of Palestine, and the European Union. The United States is one of the non-member states. On May 24, 2005, India became a party to the Rotterdam Convention. The Rotterdam Convention became effective in India on August 22, 2005. The Rotterdam Convention’s covered provisions are as follows: The convention includes industrial chemicals and insecticides that are outlawed or subject to rigorous regulations. Any concern about industrial chemicals and pesticides encourages their inclusion on Annex III of the agreement. Annex III lists 52 chemicals, 35, 16 industrial chemicals, and one chemical that falls into both the pesticide and industrial chemical categories. The Stockholm Convention: It is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants. It was opened for signature in 2001 in Stockholm (Sweden) and became effective in 2004. POPs are listed in various Annexes to the Stockholm Convention after thorough scientific research, deliberations and negotiations among member countries. Objectives: Support the transition to safer alternatives. Target additional POPs for action. Cleanup old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs. Work together for a POPs-free future. India ratified the Stockholm Convention in 2006 as per Article 25(4), which enabled it to keep itself in a default “opt-out” position such that amendments in various Annexes of the convention cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/ acceptance/ approval or accession is explicitly deposited with UN depositary. The convention calls to ban nine of the dirty dozen chemicals (key POPs), limit the use of DDT to malaria control, and curtail inadvertent production of dioxins and furans. The convention listed twelve distinct chemicals in three categories: Eight pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene) Two industrial chemicals (poly chlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene) Two unintended by-products of many industrial processes involving chlorine such as waste incineration, chemical and pesticide manufacturing and pulp and paper bleaching (poly chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, commonly referred to as dioxins and furans). Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Triclosan considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following? (2021) Food preservatives Fruit-ripening substances Reused plastic containers Toiletries BioSentinel Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims: Science & Technology In News: NASA’s Artemis I mission will send yeast to deep space with BioSentinel. NASA’s BioSentinel will carry microorganisms to deep space to help scientists better understand the effects of deep space radiation on biological lifeforms. Objective: The primary objective of BioSentinel is to monitor the vital signs of yeast to see how the microorganism fare when exposed to the radiation of deep space. Yeast cells have biological mechanisms that are like human cells, including DNA damage and repair. Due to this, scrutinising yeast in space will help us better understand the risks of space radiation to humans as the space agency plans missions to the Moon and beyond. For this, BioSentinel will study yeast cell growth and metabolic activity after exposure to a high-radiation environment. A key component of BioSentinel’s mission is a novel biosensor. NASA refers to it as a “miniature biotechnology laboratory” that is designed to measure how living yeast cells respond to long-term space radiation exposure. BioSentinel is just one of the Artemis I mission’s ten secondary payloads that will hitch a ride to deep space. All these satellites are mounted in the Orion stage adapter on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Must Read: Artemis I mission Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following pair(s) is/are correctly matched? (2014)             Spacecraft                   Purpose Cassini-Huygens        Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth Messenger                   Mapping and investigating the Mercury Voyager                        Exploring the outer solar system Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 India Blockchain Platform Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims: Science and Technology Mains: GS 3 (Science and Technology) Context: India has made a significant effort to become a digital society by building a large citizen-scale digital public infrastructure. As, With the commencement of the Digital India mission in 2015, our payments, provident fund, passports, driving licences, crossing tolls, and checking land records all have been transformed with modular applications built on Aadhaar, UPI, and the India Stack. The Government of India and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have been promoting simplification and transparency to increase the speed of interaction between individuals, markets, and the government. What are the Challenges of public digital infrastructure? For better implementation of digital technology, it is prerequisite that digital infrastructure should be designed based on principles of availability, affordability, value, and trust. Which can be made by using design principles, legislative frameworks, governance frameworks, and public engagement. But the current digital ecosystem, it is identified that existing different digital infrastructures are not interconnected as a design; a technical integration is required to make them conversant and interoperable. Most of available digital data is stored on private databases, which makes the validation of data more complex as the network grows, driving up costs and creating inefficiencies. Web 3.0 to address these challenges: Yes What is Web 3.0 (Web3)? Web 3.0 (Web3) is the third generation of the evolution of web technologies. The web, also known as the World Wide Web, is the foundational layer for how the internet is used, providing website and application services. Web 3.0 will have a strong emphasis on decentralized applications and make extensive use of blockchain-based technologies. Web 3.0 will also make use of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to help empower more intelligent and adaptive applications. Web 3.0 architecture can be the next resilient platforms, which is capable of scaling and solving the current challenges in a cost-efficient manner. The Web 3.0 architecture establishes a new version of the Internet protocol incorporating token-based economics, transparency, and decentralization. A user can access all ecosystem benefits using a distributed token where they can show proof of ownership, tax history, and payment instrument. Therefore, A blockchain-based infrastructure can provide all these attributes without the need of trusting any actor to verify a ledger’s history. The blockchain records could be visible, compiled, and audited by the regulators in real time. Increasing global adoption of blockchain infrastructure: Many countries have already begun establishing their blockchain policies and infrastructure. Estonia, the world’s blockchain capital, is using blockchain infrastructure to verify and process all e-governance services offered to the general public. In Britain, the Centre for Digital Built Britain, a partnership between the University of Cambridge and the UK government is running the National Digital Twin (NDT)program to foster collaboration between owners and developers of digital twins in the built environment There are also well-established Decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms that rely on blockchain infrastructure like Ethereum, however, pegged to the base cryptocurrencies owned by that platform. DeFi allows users to borrow and lend cryptocurrencies on a short-term basis at algorithmically determined rates. The digital roads that India must build using blockchain The Indian digital community, including fintech’s, academia, think tanks, and institutions, should focus on supporting research in standards, interoperability, and efficient handling of current known issues with the distributed technologies, scalability and performance, consensus mechanisms, and auto-detection of vulnerabilities Also, at present, end-user devices such as smartphones do not support blockchain-based technology and, as a result, the last mile is always outside the network. Current regulation mechanism and what need to be done? Currently, the blockchain models are unregulated and rely on intrinsic standards. The ideal solution to solving most of the known issues of decentralised technologies lies in the middle path,e., a national platform. blockchains (both permissioned and public), application providers (decentralized applications — dApps —and existing), token service providers, and infrastructure managers. As a result, together they can form a reliable and efficient network for the Indian digital economy. The need of the hour is to work on an indigenous solution of the people, for the people, and by the people. A digital infrastructure based on blockchain technology will transform the digital ecosystem in India, and will enable the future of digital services, platforms, applications, content, and solutions. Considering the current situation worldwide, one can safely assume that we are at the beginning of the curve, but the days are not far. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to Web 3.0, consider the following statements: (2022) Web 3.0 technology enables people to control their own data. In Web 3.0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks. Web 3.0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation Which of the following given above are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements: (2020) It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only Restrictions to online content Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: The website of VideoLAN Client (VLC) has been banned in India. Although there is no official information on the ban, VLC states that according to its statistics, its website has been banned since February this year. What is VideoLan? VLC gained popularity in India in the late 90s when advancements in information technology led to the penetration of personal computers in Indian homes. It continues to be one of the most popular media players. Apart from being free and open source, VLC easily integrates with other platforms and streaming services and supports all file formats without requiring additional codecs. Why VLC was banned? Civil society organisations have repeatedly filed RTI applications with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). These applications have been met with similar responses stating that “no information is available” with the Ministry. Lack of authoritative information from the government has led to speculation that VLC was banned along with the 54 Chinese applications in February this year. Although VLC is not a Chinese app, reports from cybersecurity firms, such as Symantec, in April this year suggested that Cicada, a hacker group allegedly backed by China, has been using the VLC Media Player to deploy a malicious malware loader. This is also being used to explain why the present ban is a soft ban rather than a hard ban. In which situations can online content be blocked to the public? There are two routes through which content can be blocked online — executive and judicial. First, the Government of India gets this power from Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 69A allows the government to direct an intermediary to “block for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource” if it is “necessary or expedient to do so, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence”. Section 69A draws its power from Article 19(2) of the Constitution which allows the government to place reasonable restrictions on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. Second, courts in India, also have the power to direct intermediaries to make content unavailable in India to provide effective remedy to the victim/plaintiff. For example, courts may order internet service providers to block websites which provide access to pirated content and violate the plaintiff’s copyright. What is the procedure for blocking access to content online? It is provided in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 (IT Rules, 2009) that have been formulated under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Only the Central government can exercise this power of directing intermediaries to block access to online content directly, and not the State governments. The procedure typically provides that Central or State agencies will appoint a “nodal officer” who will forward the blocking order to the “designated officer” of the Central government. The designated officer, as part of a committee, examines the request of the nodal officer. The creator/host of the content in question is given a notice to submit clarifications and replies. The committee then makes a recommendation on whether the request of the nodal officer should be accepted or not. If this recommendation is approved by the MeitY, the designated officer can direct the intermediary to remove content. How can this process be improved? There has been demand for certain reforms to the IT Rules, 2009 for some time now. The first is on the aspect of transparency. As witnessed in the case of VideoLan’s website blocking, there is no clarity on why its website has been blocked. Rule 16 of the IT Rules, 2009 provides that strict confidentiality is to be maintained with respect to any requests or actions under the IT Rules, 2009. Second, provide opportunity Even though the IT Rules provide for an opportunity of hearing to the creator/host of content, given VideoLAN’s cluelessness it seems that this opportunity may not be afforded to affected parties in all cases. T he lack of an opportunity to submit clarifications/replies by the creator/host violates the principles of natural justice. It can also lead to erroneous decision making by the committee, that can have significant financial consequences for the blocked online service provider. Third, role of Review Committee A recent RTI has disclosed that the Review Committee, which is required to meet every two months to review orders of the committee, has not disagreed with a single decision of the committee. This raises doubts on the effectiveness of the review mechanism which has been provided as a safeguard against excesses of the committee. Fourth, Careful appilcation Given that non-compliance with directions under the IT Rules can lead to loss of immunity from liability for content being hosted, it has been argued that intermediaries over-comply with these directions, which can have chilling effects on free speech. The Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal has upheld the procedure enshrined in IT Rules, 2009 on the basis that it provides for adequate application of mind and transparency. The government would do well to follow its own rules, in form as well as spirit. Must Read: Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 Source: The Hindu India’s labour reforms Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 3(Economy- Labour Reforms) India’s “tryst with destiny” was to provide “Poorna swaraj” (i.e., full freedom) to all its citizens: political freedom, social freedom, and economic freedom. After 75 years of independence, we examine whether we have been able to provide socio-economic freedom to one of the most deprived classes of or population: labourers India’s fault lines: State of Working India 2021: ‘One Year of Covid­19’ brought out by Azim Premji University’s Centre for Sustainable Employment reported that 100 million jobs were lost during the April-May 2020 lockdown. Though most of these workers had found employment by mid-2020, 15 million remained out of work. Between 1980 and 1990, every 1% of GDP growth generated roughly two lakh new jobs; between 1990 to 2000, it decreased to one lakh jobs per per cent growth; and from 2000 to 2010, it fell to half a lakh only. India’s gravest socio-economic problem is the difficulty a vast majority of citizens have in earning good livelihoods. Their problem is not just employment. It is the poor quality of employment: insufficient and uncertain incomes, and poor working conditions, wherever they are employed — in factories, farms, service establishments, or homes. The dominant ‘theory-in-use’ to increase employment is to improve the ease of doing business, with the expectation that investments in businesses will improve citizens’ ease of earning good livelihoods. In this theory, large and formal enterprises create good jobs, and labour laws must be ‘flexible” to attract investments. Investors say the laws protect labour too much. Labour reforms: Background In India, labour is a subject in the Concurrent List, so both the Parliament and the state legislatures can enact laws on it. Before the new labour codes were passed, there were more than 40 central laws and more than 100 state laws on labour and related matters. The Second National Commission on Labour (2002) recommended that the central labour laws should be integrated into groups like: Industrial relations, Wages, Social security, Safety, Welfare and working conditions. The Commission suggested simplification of the labour codes for the sake of transparency and uniformity. The new labour codes: In 2019-20, the Parliament enacted 4 labour codes to consolidate these multiple laws: Code on Wages, 2019 Industrial Relations Code, 2020 Social Security Code, 2020 Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020 Impact of reforms: The V.V. Giri National Labour Institute’s interim report, “Impact Assessment Study of the Labour Reforms undertaken by the States”, provides insights into the impacts of the reforms so far. The report has focused on the reform of the Industrial Disputes Act, which is to raise the limits of applicability of laws relating to terms of service and modes of dispute resolution (roles of unions) to 300 people. The report spans the period 2004-05 to 2018-19. It focuses on Six States which have implemented reforms. The report reminds readers that labour laws are only one factor affecting business investment decisions. Investors do not go out to hire people just because it has become easy to fire them. An enterprise must have a growing market for its products, and many things must be put together to produce for the market — capital, machinery, materials, land, etc. not just labour. Therefore, it must be worthwhile to employ more people before firing them. Reforms of labour laws have had little effect on increasing employment in large enterprises either. The report says, employment in formal enterprises is becoming more informal. Large investors can afford to use more capital and are also employing increasing numbers of people on short-term contracts, while perversely demanding more flexibility in laws. Way forward: closing the gap Fundamental reforms are required in the theory of economic growth: more GDP does not automatically produce more incomes at the bottom. And the paradigm driving employment and labour policies must also change to enable the generation of better-quality livelihoods for Indian citizens, now and in the future. To achieve this, fundamental reform is required in the ways policies are made. If the benefit of reforms is supposed to be the improvement of ease of earning, better livelihoods for all citizens and with more dignity, whether they are farmers, factory workers, or service employees, they must be listened to most of all, within their enterprises, and in the process of shaping policies. Source: The Hindu Baba’s Explainer – Integration of North East Integration of North East Syllabus GS-2: Federalism and Challenges “India will be successful when the North East develops at par with the other developed states of India” – Narendra Modi. Read Complete Details on Integration of North East Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is formed as per the provisions of Banking regulation Act, 1949. RBI Governor as its ex officio chairperson of MPC. RBI has to submit a report to the Union government if it is in breach of the inflation targets for three consecutive quarters. Choose the correct statements: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 2 only Q.2) Consider the following statements about NIDAAN Portal It is a first-of-its kind database of arrested narcotics offenders. The NIDAAN platform sources its data from the ICJS and the e-Prisons repository. Choose the incorrect statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) CMF is a multi-national naval partnership to promote security, stability and prosperity in world’s most important shipping lanes. The CMF grouping is commanded by a U.K. Navy Vice Admiral. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’19th August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 18th August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – d Q.3) – c table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }